I’m not blaming Daylight Savings

But holy fuck, am I ever tired. The adjusted clock read 10:40pm and I was just completely done for the day, so I went to bed.  We bought some new Melatonin for me since I ran out and I was back into my bedtime routine and although it took me about ten minutes to fall asleep, I slept well for a couple of hours. It was probably around 2am that I first got up and from then until the alarm went off, it was toss, turn, nightmare, gas, and pain in my arm. It was an almost-gall attack again but thankfully not full blown. Today, I just feel like complete shite. I have a mild headache and a general uneasiness in self.

Still, it’s not going to stop me from making a daily post and doing some drawing. I’m almost done page 6 of the Surge. I’ll work on that before Rusty’s speech therapy and then be on my way by noon for that. Nick needs a haircut after school today because he thinks he’s starting to look like a girl. He took a bath last night and his hair was puffy today. I found him a hooded shirt so he could hide his hair, haha. Sometimes he actually kind of acts like a girl… when it comes to his hair, at least.

No daily drawing for today since I’ll be inking for the Surge. If I draw something, I’ll post it later.

I haven’t posted in two months.

I fell out of the habit of posting everyday really quickly when I fell ill. It’s been a horrible couple of months, physically, and sort of emotionally. I’ve just been feeling gloomy and like general shit about everything for reasons too personal to go into over the blog. Regardless, there it is. FWP to the Nth degree.

The good news is that over the past two months where I’ve been practically nonexistent, I finished my contribution to Toronto Comics volume 2. I illustrated, inked, and lettered a story written by Daniel Reynolds and got it in the day before the deadline, February 28th.

On the art front, I have a couple of things to mention.  I’m working on the Red Surge again and hope to finish that soon. I’m doing the inks in Sai and the background line work in Manga Studio because I really dig their perspective tool.

As far as other art is concerned, I’m working on a Totoro piece for a dear friend of mine. He commissioned three pictures of Totoro for his young boy: Totoro on a train, Totoro in a car, and Totoro in the Cat Bus.

I’ll make Totoro on the train a daily drawing pic, even though I did it a few weeks ago and it’s still a WIP. Cheating, cheating.

I’ll try to post everyday again.

Habits, habits

I need to form the habits again to be posting every single day.

It’s amazing how when you stop doing something for as little a time as a week, the habit just falls away. I was writing and drawing everyday and posting both and then after the week before Christmas, stopped. I will commit to this again.

On the drawing front, I actually HAVE been drawing on a daily basis, but I just haven’t been posting anything for it. I’m working on the Surge still and I’ve finally finished the concept drawings for Toronto Comix vol 2. I just haven’t been posting them because I’ve actually been ill the last few days.

Even as I type this right now, I have the chills while sweating.

Last night, we took the tree down and I did a good chunk of the work while sitting. Sweeping and bending over took a lot out of me and when it came time for bed, I passed right out.  I had another cramp attack earlier that day, too, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as before, which leads me to believe that it might’ve been a symptom of what I have, considering that Alex had the same cramps a couple days ago.

Or, it was psychosomatic.

Anyway, Alex came home early yesterday to get Nick to Beavers because there was no way in hell I was in any condition to drive.

Today was garbage day and we didn’t get anything out last night. I was in no condition to carry anything up and down stairs and I can’t really blame Alex for not wanting to be alone in taking out all that trash.  Instead, still sick, I took the trash out today. We missed recycling again.

Sunday was a great day. I went to Cindy’s house for a few hours and blended/carded some fibre I’ve been meaning to take care of for a long time, now. I also did some work on a sock that’s been a WIP but put it down after about five rows out of frustration of fucking up. When I got home, I had to cook dinner, and the rest of the evening was spent playing Grey Warden Sparkletwat in DA:O.

That’s that, I suppose. I’m going to get some drawing done, fold some laundry, then stretch out and try to recover until I need to get Nick from school. I have to cook dinner again tonight and I just feel like shit. Still, I have to do it.

Feh.

I missed a day!

Not that anyone reads this, hahaha, but yeah. I missed yesterday. You know, it completely slipped my mind, but to make up for it, I have some pics to show off. I inked for a good four hours yesterday and am going to spend a generous chunk of today inking, too.

I also got the chance to play with my new copic markers the other night. I drew a simple Ivy and Harley picture and did some experimentation.  I think paper will have a lot to do with it, though this sketchbook has 60 lb paper. Regardless, I’m going to give it a try on my mixed media paper to see how that works out. It’s definitely a thicker grade paper and will probably retain the ink better.

I just need to figure out what I want to draw on it.

In other news, nothing really is going on. I have to do groceries and I have to run a couple errands, but they can wait until after I finish all my drawing for the day. We have no plans for tonight and no plans for tomorrow, as per the norm. Maybe I’ll make Chinese food tomorrow to carry on my grandmother’s New Years traditions.

Yesterday was a bad day, emotionally. I felt like complete shit for the majority of the day and it only started to lift later in the evening, somewhat.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I’ll upload some art as separate posts to fill in the appropriate days.

I assure you, I HAVE been drawing daily

I’ve been drawing everyday, I promise. I’m just doing so traditionally and am not posting them online as of yet.  I’ve been working on Toronto Comix vol 2 and on the Red Surge. I need to delegate my time for each to feel productive, though.  I’ll likely do some streaming to the Red Surge later, so don’t fret. I’ll also post some preview thumbs to see.

What’s been going on? Well, I finally got my copic markers and a travel case for my art supplies for when I leave the house. That way, everything is in one package that I can grab and go with. I also rearranged my desk! My printer and scanner are on the top shelf, along with my art books and art supplies. The bottom area, which is the main area, has the laptop, the light pad, the tablet, and the copics.

I also have a yarn bowl on the main table part which I’ll use next time I have time to knit. Tonight is knit night and I won’t be going. Quel suprise.

Today’s agenda: do Rusty’s laundry, as he wet the bed again, and draw. Story of my life!

Damnit!

I think I’m coming down with my kids’ cough.  I was actually up at 5:30 this morning, unable to sleep, no matter how hard I tried. SO, instead of lying there, miserable, I came downstairs and worked a bit on The Red Surge. I was back up within about an hour and finally fell asleep until both boys were awake at 9:30. Damned kids just haven’t been wanting to go to sleep. Nick was up as late as 11pm and, as usual, we had to lose our shit at him before he went to sleep.

I just don’t get it; the little fuckers just don’t care. They only understand the “lose my shit” tone of voice and then get mad at me that I yelled. If only their hearing could pick up on the twenty thousand fucking times I ask them to do something NICELY.

 

Nick, can you please do this?
Nick? Please can you do the thing?
Nick, please do the thing, honey.
Nick? Nick… please do the thing.
….
(deep breath)
Nicholas, can you please do the thing?
Nick.
Nick!
NICK!
(at this point, he might look at me like a deer in headlights)
NICK! DO THE THING!
(by now, he’s staring at me, bewildered, as though he’s only started to hear me speak to him)
NICK! GET UP AND DO THE THING RIGHT NOW!

and at this point, “OKAY! OKAY! GEEZ!”

Really? Holy fuck.

Anyway, another day with the kids; Alex is bottling beer with Rob and starting a new brew. Five hours…

 

I slept wrong on my back last night, too. My right shoulder is excruciating right now. Stupid pinched nerve.

Today’s agenda: more drawing.

So much to do!

Well, yesterday was busy. I inked 1/3 of page 2 of The Red Surge. Today, only one panel, and not even the whole panel. I just have too much to do, plus my children are wild animals who are crawling all over me like parasites. SO, I got an hour of drawing in, but that’ll have to be it.

Tomorrow is my major focus. There’s a Comiccon one day event and Toronto Comix has a table. I’ll be going to sit at the table and am bringing my art supplies, some old paintings to sell, and some prints. I have to get prints made today to sell tomorrow. I think $10 each is a fair price.

Other things to do today: Get Alex’s gift from the boys. I have something thoughtful in mind and it’s a cheap gift. Therefore, all good. Also, his gift from Santa, which is the basic yearly gift he gets of underwear and socks.

I got to sleep in today until 11, which was an amazing treat. I wasn’t expecting to be able to sleep so late.

Anyway, with so much to do, I’d better get my prints on SD card and ready to bring to Staples. Happy Saturday!

It just HAD to snow…

It feels like every time we get really bad weather, I have to go to class. Of all days, it’s always when I am going to downtown Toronto in the middle of rush hour.  As I mentioned yesterday, we got some snow. By some snow, I mean 15cm of snow. For my American readers, that’s about six or seven inches.  Add, on top of that, the wind blowing it around.

It made for some really treacherous driving, as the roads were slippery and the plows can’t be everywhere at once.  I left home at 3:30, got Nick from school, and got to my husband’s workplace at 4:15. After that, it was actually surprisingly smooth sailing.  I was really pessimistic at first, but I suppose that more people than not decided that they’d stay at home and NOT drive.  All the better for me. Greg and I got to the Korean restaurant at 5:15 and waited an hour for the others to show up. Then, it was a matter of SHOVELING our food into our pieholes and arriving at class just when it was supposed to begin. At least we made it.

I got some really good feedback on my story and have some significant changes to make. I’ll sit down with Alex this week and make those changes. Also on the list, lots of stuff. Here’s a checklist, mostly for my own reference.

 

  • Work on Red Surge inks
  • Work on pages for Condo story
  • Get prints made for the table at comic con this Sunday
  • assemble craft for Nick’s teacher
  • draw picture for Nick’s principal
  • knit cowl for Nick’s librarian
  • knit for my mother
  • knit for my cousin’s son
  • knit for my niece
  • laundry — dear god, the laundry
  • dining room table
  • drive out to a secret location to pick up a secret gift for Alex
  • go giftmas shopping for the kids and get gifts for Alex from the kids
  • bake cookies with Nick

So much to do with such little time. So much to do that I don’t wanna do it… but it has to get done.

Off I go to knit.

Still Ploughing on!

Well, I’ve finished some art today. Page 1 of The Red Surge is finished, all inks and lettering complete. I need to do some of page 2 today, and I need to do some knitting in the worst way.  I also need to draw a picture for Nick’s principal sooner than later and finish his teacher’s Christmas craft.

Oy, vey. Have I taken on too much?

It snowed last night; how rude. About a foot of snow on the ground and probably an extra hour to and from my class as a result of it. I’ll be leaving home right after Nick gets out of school and braving the terrible drivers. Snow, I can deal with. People? Not so much.

So, yesterday a few things happened.

I spent the day drawing and inking, as I usually do, and Rusty didn’t nap. We went to get Nick, then went to CostCo because Nick had no more snack foods for his school lunches. Once that was taken care of, we went home, only to find that the gifts that my mother had sent us were left on our doorstep by UPS without a signature or confirmation. Just left out there for anyone to take, should they desire. What a piss off.  I brought them inside, then I dropped off the groceries, and then we went back to school, the three of us, because Nick had his Christmas concert.  Alex was stuck in traffic because people are morons but made it JUST in time for Nick’s performance.  I didn’t properly videotape it with the phone because I was distracted, but we amusingly discovered that he’s the kid who yells the lyrics of the sounds, rather than singing them. It was adorable.  He was also very into the choreography and whole ordeal. Such a good kiddo.

During the show, Rusty decided that he was gonna be a terror, more than usual.  He got out of his seat, pushed past the people in the aisle, and made his way right up to the stage where the kids were doing their show.  One of the teachers grabbed him and brought him back to me, then the lovely librarian took him to the kindergarten room so we could actually watch the show.  Later during the performances, she had brought him back to the gym where the Principal was keeping an eye on him.  Unfortunately for him, he took his eyes off of Russell for ten seconds, during which time Russell made another dash for the stage, and was once again apprehended.

I was just glad it wasn’t my fault that time, and thankful that the little bugger didn’t make it ON the stage, as he knows exactly how to get up there.

We had Harveys for dinner afterward because I had a coupon and Nick took FOREVER to eat his burger. I’m talking, 40 minutes to eat a kid sized burger. Bloody hell, kid, seriously? We spent way too long there cos all Nick did was fuck around.

The last stop was the dollar store for some candy canes for our trees and for gifts.

When we got home, Alex rushed in and I took care of getting the kids inside. One of our letters in the mailbox was from the dentist’s office and they had misspelled our last name, meaning I couldn’t mail in the claim. That, coupled with the kids being wild animals, I was happy to get Rusty and Nick ready for bed. After the kids were in bed, Alex and I worked on my homework and I think we have a nicely solid story in mapped format.  We’ll see what kind of subplot Ty will throw in there for us. Tonight, if class isn’t cancelled, Ty will also be teaching us how to write a roast, which will also be awesome. I can’t wait 😀

The last thing I did before bed was work more on The Red Surge. Sometime while drawing, the layers got merged down. I didn’t notice until I was out of Undos. OMG, I was PISSED. I put the work down for awhile and played PVZ until bedtime. This morning, I rectified the mistake and finished the work.

All good, all good.

Oh, I also stepped on what used to be a banana, all mushy and cold and slimy, on a chair which I was resting my foot on. A gift from Rusty.

How thoughtful.