NOTE: This is an email I started composing to you several weeks ago & had it saved in my drafts. I've since realized that you have visited the Flickr Snowdays Flakers group, & I see that Shellie had contacted you about it. I'm so glad she did. Here's the email I was going to send you:
 

Hello X,
 

I hope this email gets to you through this email address, and I hope you & Mrs. X have been enjoying your new life in BC. I want to wish you a belated Happy Birthday - I noticed that you are no longer on Facebook.
 

I read the comments you posted at your website on your Birthday, and I agree with you - Snowdays just isn't the same since the changes in the program. I rarely go there anymore. As you said, there will always be new flakers, and I can tell when I visit every now & then that there are still people making friends & sharing those friendships. People are making some very impressive flakes with the new program, but somehow, the magic is gone since the changes. As easy as it is to use the Polygon to make the straight lines, I still feel like the old Alt method allowed for more shimmer, and there's nothing quite like the distortion flakes that were made with the Alt.
 

But the REAL magic as far as I'm concerned, was the "X Factor" which I've talked about in the past. The X Factor is what elevated the snow-flaking experience to the next level - a level which the folks at Popular Front could never provide.  Yes, they created the program, but you stepped in there & provided excitement, mystique, inspiration and just plain fun. 
 

So much has happened since the changes in the program. I don't know if you had heard that the Code Guy is no longer working for Popular Front. You may have read that on his flake at the time, but you were in the midst of moving, so maybe you hadn't heard. Before he left he told us that he would continue doing some work on the program. In fact, before he left he did a lot of work perfecting the new program which was appreciated by flakers. He also created a way where we could import our snowflake images & choose colors & resolution.
 

Also, I don't know if you had heard that Kathryn Evans passed away. She made so many beautiful fractals & posted them at your website. Another talented flaker and really special person who passed away is Phyllis Hesse (Frogaholic). 
 

My latest passion (which has replaced my former passion of making snowflakes) is coloring snowflakes and using various graphic programs to manipulate the designs. You are the one who first sparked my interest in coloring flakes, then Mary Seibert (Merripat) invited me to join a Snowdays Flakers group she created at Flickr. 
 

Flickr is a great place to create & share photographs and graphic art. There are numerous groups that can be joined. Merripat is extremely talented. She has been studying Photoshop for some time now, and makes some really outstanding designs. Shellie/Nevada ("flurry doodles"), who as you know makes exceptional snowflakes at Snowdays is doing remarkable things with her flakes using graphic programs. 
 

A lot of my designs start with snowflakes, but I also use fractals and photographs. I remember that you had done some cool photography experiments which you still have at your website. You might want to check out Flickr and see all of the amazing images photographers & graphic artists post there. I think you would fit right in!
 

I've wondered if you might consider having a place at your MisterX website dedicated to not only colored, manipulated snowflakes, but other forms of graphic art as well. Maybe you can even have a tips 'n' triX section for coloring & editing snowflakes. If you don't want to do this, then maybe you can take a look at some of the stuff that goes on at Flickr and join in the fun. We've been trying to get other flakers to join the Flickr group, and several are interested, but they are uncertain how to go about it, so we're considering ways to provide them with tips on how to do it. I myself would like to learn more about resolution - Mary has been very helpful in this area, but I still have to get a better grasp on the subject.
 

That was the email I had started & saved in my Draft folder. We really miss you, X! I hope that we can continue to connect with you through your website or Flickr, and share snowflake-related art as well as other forms of graphic designs. I'm still looking forward to a newsletter telling us of your new life in BC!
 

~Jeanne/TN  (leaflady)
 

P.S. I noticed a while ago that the search feature at Snowdays is messed up again. It is not bringing up ALL of our flakes - I've made over 4,000, & it's only bringing up 139 of them. I don't even know who to report problems to anymore.

First of all, thanX so much for your wonderful letter, and my apologies for answering you THIS way!  It's just that your email covered MANY topiX that I have been wanting to discuss here, so this made it a lot easier on me.

First off, I think many folks don't realize that for the past few years I have been taking the summer "off", as far as the web site is concerned.  This year that off-time started in February due to my big move, so I have been noticeably absent for some time now.  This doesn't necessarily mean that I have intentions of never working on MisterX.ca again, although I must admit that I have enjoyed this time off more than I usually do!

I had had full intentions of reworking the flake area of the site to reflect the new changes at SnowDays, but unfortunately I now feel that that work isn't going to happen.  This is due mainly to the fact that I really don't have the enthusiasm that would be needed to do this, AND I don't have the inclination to spend the man hours that would be required.  I don't think most folks realize that the flake area of MisterX.ca literally has THOUSANDS of man hours invested in it, and this -I suppose- was a one time investment.  The "X" factor you mentioned existed because of my sheer delight with SnowDays for MANY years.  Unfortunately, at this time anyway, I am NOT delighted with the place, so I couldn't duplicate that "magic" if I tried.

As for "Code Guy" leaving PF, yes I had heard that news while snooping about on the Slopes.  He actually contacted me afterwards and sent me the original file, which apparently had been "missing" for years until he found it.  He also said he was going to send me a "SnowDays care package" in the mail.  I have yet to receive that, but we had a postal strike up here for several weeks and that may have something to do with that.  I haven't spoken much with CG, but the conversations I have had with him have led me to believe he is a VERY nice individual :)

I had also heard of Phyllis Hesse (Frogaholic) passing away.  I didn't know her very well, but had spoken to her on occasion, especially when Mary Seibert (Merripat) was coloring her creations for my Colored Flakes page.  As for Kathryn Evans (Flake Fan) passing away, I DID know her VERY well and spoke to her quite regularly.  I often "fixed" her computer for her over the years through emails...I think of her fondly.  I have suspected that other flaker friends have passed away over the years, but never had confirmation of it like this.  Very sad indeed...

As for the FLICKR GROUP, I love it!  I'd encourage ANY dedicated (or non dedicated for that matter) flaker to go there and join in on the fun.  Even if they don't know how to color and manipulate flakes themselves, the images others have posted there are well worth a visit on occasion!  Just this morning I saw a flake where someone was saying they had found the site, but they didn't know how to leave a message there.  (Folks, it's EASY to do so.  Just create an account for yourself and you're good to go!)

And as far as MisterX.ca is concerned...I really haven't made ANY plans for the site and what I will do with it.  A few flakers have offered to make up some newer material for the flake related part of the site, and I WELCOME all submissions.  All I ask is that they supply me with screen shots of the flake and technique being discussed, along with written instructions.  I'll take it from there!  ;)  Folks interested in doing something like this should contact me first, to make sure I'm interested in publishing their material before putting a lot of work into it.

I like your idea of instructions for graphic programs, and of course it doesn't have to be flakes that are being colored or manipulated.  I have been pondering doing an in depth eXplanation of Irfanview and what it can do, and would LOVE to have similar instructions for other graphiX related programs, too!  As I mentioned, I am certainly up to submitted material from others...it could be fun!  There are no limits to what can be published at MisterX.ca, but as I'm sure you know, I DO like to have a theme related to creating artwork :)

Now, about my newletters... I realize it has been ages since I have sent out a "MisterX.ca - UPDATE" email.  I DO still have everyone's email addresses, I've just been rather lazy about it all.  I'm sure these will increase as the summer ends...I haven't decided to stop sending them out, or anything like that.  In the meantime, I suggest checking out the front page from time to time to anyone interested in what's going on at the site.  I still place new links there eXposing any pages I have recently completed, or other things related to the site ;)

So once again, thanX very much for your nice email Jeanne :D  I miss you ALL too, but even though I'm not on the Slopes much these days, and I no longer have a Facebook account, I am STILL lurking about...  Anyone is welcome to drop me a line if they feel inclined to do so, and as I mentioned, things at the site should perk back up again in the fall ;)

I hope to talk to you again soon~
"X" July 28th/2011