the tree house

My friend Chris told me recently he and his son had lived in a tree house in Africa for a few months. I was green of envy, and so I made him a little drawing of me in my own little tree house:


Chris said my tree house looked lovely, and could he please come and visit. I said I could do better than that - I could make us neighbours!

Ha ha, perhaps I am not an artist, but I am a visionary for sure!

Help me 2-1B, you're my only hope!

I should be in a bacta tank, healing from this vile plague that ravages my delicate constitution:

But instead I'm blogging a drawing of myself in a bacta tank, healing from a vile plague that ravages my delicate constitution.

pure bliss

Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon/evening at one of the oldest Spas in Stockholm: Centralbadet.

I had a sauna, flopped in the jaccuzi and had a little swim. Then it was time for a 90 minutes long hot stone massage.

It's hard to describe the feeling of being massaged by boiling hot lava stones - it is somewhat too hot, too hard but just amazingly nice and relaxing at the same time. I love it.

Then I took the train home. My hair was still full of massage oil and I felt half asleep. Once back in my flat I jumped straight into my pyjamas.

I made a cup of tea and a cheese and cucumber sandwich. Then I went straight to bed.

This morning I woke up and felt like a brand new person. I had slept like a baby for a good 9 hours straight. Why don't I pamper myself more often?!

Tylor's new spot

We're off to France!! *SUBWAY SKETCHING IS STILL ON WITH PETER CHAN!*

We're on our way to France right now for the Bande Desinee festival in Angouleme!
This is one of my favorite trips every year and I can't wait to get there.

Here are some sketches I did from last year that I wans't able to post. I didn't get to do as much sketching as I hoped to, because I was too distracted with all the sites, sounds...and smells!

..these were the first things I saw when we arrived..




...Best waiter EVER.


..a writer that sat in front of us at a Moroccan restaurant. The place had the best kuskus.


And this one was a gift for Bernadette and Monique who let us stay at their place while we were there. They were such gracious hosts and made the best home made jams and cognac drinks :)

Monique loves to collect elephants and she has a beautiful collection from around the world, and I'm so happy this is a part of it.



That's all for now.
<3Kei

A Belated...

My momentary burst of energy over the rebirth of Scrabbulous was but a lapse. I am now returning to the cough syrup-induced haze from whence I came.

Jeez!

I'm not often lost for words.
But today I was left gobsmacked.

You see, I have started to order my food/groceries online. It costs 85.- (£8) to get it home delivered, and I love the fact that I don't have to carry flour, cat litter, washingpowder and other heavy stuff home.

And so today I was due a delivery between 7-9 pm. I fell asleep in front of the telly around 7pm and got woken up by the doorbell.

I jumped up. My hair was sticking out. I had taken my tights off under my skirt and so my hairy legs were on display. I opened the door and told the delivery guy where to put the bags of shopping.

I saw him looking into my livingroom and down the hallway before entering the kitchen. He asked me if I lived here on my own?

"well, not exactly" I said, pointing to Kif and Tylor who were happy to see a visitor as per usual.
"big flat" he commented. "Really nice place, you look like you're doing alright for yourself!"

I laughed a little - not quite sure what to say.

" you seem spot on really - can I ask you something?" he continued. I just looked at him.
"can I have your phonenumber? And take you out for a coffee?"

I still didn't know what to say or how to respond. My usual "I have a boyfriend"-comment didn't even appear in my head. I just stared at him in disbelief and finally said "what on earth is your name?"

He introduced himself and handed me his phone and asked me to put my number in his mobile.

And I did!!! I don't know why, but I was so shocked I seemed to have lost all common sence.
Then he left. I stood there and wondered about what he'd said:

"Do you live here on your own? Bif flat. Nice flat. You seem to have done alright for yourself. Can I have your number?"

Now, about 30 minutes after he's left my flat, he's already texted me about a coffee date. I don't drink coffee. And not with a cheeky delivery guy. Suggestions, please?!

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's cheesy... I know. But it seems appropriate since so much of our cheeses come from cows.

Anyhow, wishing you and yours a Happy Chinese New Year!

Bobby

today I have:

• refurbished the livingroom
• finished building the cats' scratching/climbing pole
• done 4 loads of washing
• ironed all the washing
• cooked a chicken casserole for lunchboxes next week
• painted all but one wall in the bathroom
• changed the bedlinnen

I am officially pooped. I have just had a bath and will paint my toenails, make a cuppa and watch a movie before heading to bed.

Madoff for the New York Times.

This week I did this painting for the New York Times . . . there's a bit of a story behind this as well as more sketches and steps while working on this job. to read and see more, click here.

what a start to the weekend

I have had the most wonderful week at work.

It's been hard work and busy busy busy, but productive, lots of great results and last but not least FUN!

I have worked long hours and sorted out some real hick ups, interviewed new members of staff and attended meetings with curators, doctors, nurses and organized staff training days. You get my drift I'm sure?

And today I sat at home and worked all day. Sorted out my departments finances, wrote some memos and made about a thousand phonecalls. Then, about 3 pm I walked up to work, made some photocopies, printed out my memos and checked all the different money boxes for staff and patients. Then I had a meeting with a curator at 6 pm before heading down to the pharmacy.

... And then my dad phoned. Asked how I was doing. I said I was great.

"Are you going home already?" my dad asked.
I said I was on my way to the pharmacy (for work - no private errands of course!), but then I was going home.
"I have had the bestest week at work" I continued. " I really love my job!".
"Don't go and ruin it then" he said sharply.

I asked him why he'd say such a thing. Did he think I was? He said no and told me he just didn't want me to "fuck it up".

I said people usually say things for a reason and hence I would very much like to know what his reason for saying that was.

He got angry. Said it was meant as good advice. I hung up.

I had to go for a walk for over an hour to calm down. What a great way to start the weekend... How is it he always manages to insult me soooooo much?

GTA IV Sweepstakes Winner

About one year ago prior to the release of GTA IV last April, Rockstar Games Social Club website was launched and Grand Theft Auto IV Custom Portrait Sweepstakes was one of the very first competitions to be announced.

The potential winner(s) will be determined in a random drawing on or about 5/5/2008 from among all eligible entries received. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor. Sponsor's decisions are final and binding. The potential winners will be selected at random from among all valid entries received. Potential winners will be notified by email on or about 5/7/2008.

One Grand Prize Winner will have their portrait illustrated by Rockstar Games in the Grand Theft Auto style. The winner will receive a digital copy of the portrait and a cropped version of the image will be used as the avatar for the winner’s Social Club membership. Winner will be required to prepare and submit a series of reference photographs upon which the portrait will be based. The winner’s reference photos will become property of Rockstar Games and may be used to publicize the Sweepstakes.

Some of you might have forgotten about it, but people at Rockstar Games Social Club didn’t. In fact one year later they actually came up with the winner.

Congratulations to Louis Bojko of Devon, England - our winner of the Grand Theft Auto IV Custom Portrait Sweepstakes. All early adopters of the Rockstar Games Social Club who registered accounts prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto IV last April were entered in this once-in-a-lifetime prize for true GTA fans: to have their likeness custom drawn by the same illustrators at Rockstar Games responsible for all of Grand Theft Auto's iconic character art. Louis received the final illustration digitally, as an exclusive avatar for use at the Social Club, as well as on canvas in a striking 34 by 44" print.

Source: socialclub.rockstargames.com

PLEASE READ: On a serious note...

Now, I don't really talk about anything serious on this blog. I talk about seriously nerdy stuff, but I never talk about serious topics. Today, I thought I'd make a little exception--I hope you all don't mind if I get a little personal, and a little serious.

Some time ago, I suffered a great loss. No one died, but it was a great blow to my morale... and in a way, my innocence died. I realized how fragile happiness can be. I found myself lacking motivation. I was anxious and listless at work. In short, my heart was broken. Over time, I healed--the loss faded from the forefront of my mind. I moved on, but I never truly forgot.

But recently--as I suspect you all know by now--something amazing happened. Something big. This didn't just affect me, but the whole world. A move that gave me a reason to hope, to dream... to live again. The loss that I had suffered, was now erased, and replaced by something more stable. Something beautiful, and inspiring.

Of course this loss and subsequent inspiration that I'm talking about is the death of Scrabulous and its recent rebirth as Lexulous.

I have a reason to live again. Praise Thor, god of thunder and wordplay! I think that's right, isn't it?

Lost And Damned Website

Rockstar Games has launched the official website for GTA IV: The Lost and Damned. The website now has two new mini-trailers ("Billy Grey" and "Malc"), over 30 new screenshots, a detailed character and game description, a list of exclusive features and an official box art.

Game Information

Johnny is a veteran member of The Lost, a notorious biker gang. Johnny has been creating business opportunities for The Lost in Liberty City, but his first loyalty must be to the patch he wears on his back and to Billy Grey, the club's President. However, when Billy returns from rehab hell-bent on bloodshed and debauchery, Johnny finds himself in the middle of a vicious turf war with rival gangs for control of a city torn apart by violence and corruption. Can the brotherhood survive?

Developed by series creator Rockstar North and set in Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned features a new main character, Johnny Klebitz, and plot that intersects with the storyline of Grand Theft Auto IV; new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City with new multiplayer modes, weapons and vehicles; and a diverse soundtrack with additional music — all with the incredible production values that are the trademarks of Grand Theft Auto.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is the highly-anticipated first episode of Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content for Xbox 360 and will be available exclusively on Xbox LIVE on February 17th, 2009 worldwide.

Exclusive Features

All-new missions and a new storyline that interweaves with the original story arc of Grand Theft Auto IV.

Play as Johnny, a member of The Lost Motorcycle Club. Experience Liberty City now with the perspective and lifestyle of a member of a biker gang.

Added range of weapons - including the all-new grenade launcher and sawed-off shotgun. New weapons will be available for use in single-player and in all new multiplayer modes.

New vehicles - featuring a collection of bikes that include Johnny's own customized heavy-duty chopper.

New and improved bike handling and physics.

Set of new action-packed multiplayer modes - details coming soon.

All-new in-game TV, internet and radio content featuring new radio shows and original music.

Plus new side-missions and Xbox 360 Achievements...

How To Buy

Starting February 17th, 2009, simply go to Xbox LIVE Marketplace with your connected Xbox 360 console and purchase the Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned download for either $19.99 or 1600 Microsoft Points.

Note that to play Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned requires a copy of the original Grand Theft Auto IV release for Xbox 360 - but you can play it even if you haven't finished Niko's story.

If you haven't registered an Xbox LIVE account, you can do so online here.

If you need a copy of the original Xbox 360 release of Grand Theft Auto IV, you can browse online retail options here.

Source: rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned

A day as a cat owner

08.30 Kif decides that I should wake up and cuddle him. He therefore lays himself across my throat and puuuuurrrrrrssss!

9.00 My alarm clock rings. Tylor crawls up from under the duvet and puuuuurrrrssss, tossing and turning on my chest.

9.30 I'm out of the shower and so Kif and Tylor are IN the shower (to drink the warm shower water left in the bath tub).

9.40 Breakfast for me. Tylor sits on the newspaper to make sure he doesn't miss any food I might drop. Kif runs around like a racer car playing with rope he loves so much.

10.00 Whilst putting my make up on in the bathroom Kif sits on my shoulder, playing with the mascara brush. Then he opens the bathroom cabinet with his paw to steal a cotton wool bud that he plays with in the sink. (yes, he steals one EVERY morning).

14.00 Whilst shopping for work at a DIY store, I buy a shelf for their climb/scratch post I'm building.

16.00 I pop in for 15 minutes to have a cuddle before going back to work. Both cats greet me by the front door and Tylor jumps on my shoulder and puuuuuuurrrrsss. Kif runs straight to his favourite toy (yep - the black rope) and carries it to me.

21.00 Back home. I flop on the floor and we all have a cuddle before I make myself a cup of tea. Kif drinks quite a bit out of my cup. Tylor runs around like a racer car chasing a toy rat.

23.30 I brush my teeth with Tylor on my shoulders. He plays with the toothbrush (again - EVERY night!) and with the water as I wash my face.

Midnight I go to bed. Kif comes straight away and gets in under the duvet with me. ON my chest. He falls straight to sleep. Tylor joins us about 15 minutes later.Tylor gets in under the duvet and lays himslef right across my legs. He falls asleep.

And so the next day begins, pretty much exactly like the day before. It is lovely being a cat owner. At least to Kif and Tylor it is!

Lost And Damned Previews

Gaming sites across the web and around the world recently got a chance to ride with Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned.

"The new levels not only extend the appeal of GTA IV as a game, but also widen the possibilities of storytelling within the video game format." - Telegraph

"Rockstar Games, having already taken a sawed-off shotgun to single-title sales records with last year's Grand Theft Auto IV, has figured out how to save downloadable gaming content" - Esquire

"If our time with "The Lost and Damned" taught us one thing, it's that we just can't spend too much time in Liberty City... we feel like we were born to ride with The Lost." - Gamespy

"..the first downloadable episode looks like a sound investment at just $20." - Kotaku

"Liberty City returns in all its impressive glory in this first
Grand Theft Auto 4 downloadable episode for Xbox 360" - 1Up

"This is what DLC is supposed to be! Rockstar, who over the last decade have consistently stood at the tip of the gaming spear as it thrusts ever forward into bolder and broader areas, has yet again delivered a landmark moment in the evolution of our gaming culture." - Gameplayer

"Downloadable content is about to get a major kick in the ass. The release of GTA IV: The Lost and Damned on February 17 is going to change the way people think about DLC." - IGN

"Everything from the presentation to the content is up to the standards Rockstar established with GTA IV. In some ways, it's even better." - Game Informer

"GTA 4's first downloadable episode, The Lost and the Damned, is the most epic DLC weve seen yet." - UGO

"The Lost and Damned gives you a chance to go back to this virtual place you love and see it through fresh eyes." - Team Xbox

Source: rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned

Chinatown Wars Previews

Several gaming websites had a chance to be the first to try Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars, the next installment of GTA for the Nintendo DS. Strong hands-on impressions across the board from the gaming sphere... A selection of quotes below...

"Stay tuned, because this game is going to be a hot one... The city is sprawling, massive and fully explorable... the game will be as in depth and ambitious as any Grand Theft Auto game has ever been." - IGN

"Chinatown Wars is packing an absurd amount of gameplay into the tiny machine... With the vastness of Liberty City contained inside of Chinatown Wars, it already seems a bit bigger than any Nintendo DS game has a right to be... Chinatown Wars feels like a Grand Theft Auto bounty." - Gamespy

"This is GTA, people, and it looks like Rockstar's doing it right... This game has jumped to the top of my most anticipated DS games list." - UGO

"The thought and energy that has gone into creating an experience that's unlike any other DS game is instantly noticeable." - Game Daily

"Chinatown Wars' stylized look immediately grabbed my attention... Simple, memorable, and satisfying in a twsited way... From what I've seen, developer Rockstar Leeds has put big-time effort and thought behind this release." - 1Up

"We've played Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and it's our new favorite game." - Games Radar

"If one of the main aims here was to combine the best elements of various GTA titles, then based on our first in-depth hands-on, Chinatown Wars may just pull it off." - Kikizo

Along with some new screenshots and information Rockstar Games released three new characters artworks.

Today's numbers

Number of:

cups of tea drank today: 6

evaluations written: 10

introduction leaflets written: 2

conferences attended: 1

disguisting lasange's made: 1

textmessages sent: 14

phonecalls: one billion

wonderful cats: 2

All in all it's been a good day.

A new year, a new 'pet monster' painting!

Hi!

I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!-- I know its a bit late but.. I wasn't able to post for the past weeks and I wanna thank everyone who visited and left really nice comments. Thank you and I wish all of you the best in 2009!

This is a new painting I did for our "Pet Monsters" book.
Bobby and I are doing this book with mostly traditional media, so it may take some time (because of other work, or waiting for paint to dry lol..) but I hope you'll keep an eye on it.

<3Kei





For Lorne and Sherry.

Sick as a...

Inked with a Sakura brush pen, and colored with Tombow markers.

a different kind of new year

New year's eve I had to work. Noone, apart from a part time girl, wanted to work and so I said I'd do it. I told the part time girl that we'd make the BEST new years party ever for our patients, and so we did!

First of all we decorated the kitchen :


One of our patient's made beautiful place cards:

I cooked a three course meal - smoked salmon and horseradish starter, fillet of beef and potatoes au gratin with a side sallad as a main:

Of course the office had to be run as per usual too, and my co-worker took this picture of me running in to the office to answer the phone - party hat on and all! :-)

After our meal we ventured upstairs to the TV room where both staff and patients enjoyed dessert and a good old sing song with PS2's Singstar:

It really was a great night! We sang and danced til midnight:

In all honesty I would've loved to have the evening off, but it was definetely one of the best shifts at work ever! I do love my job. Well, I think the picture above says it all really, doesn't it?

Spring is not in the air

Here's something I whipped up a few months ago... I had some notion of holding on to it until the spring, but I'm a bit short on time these days and in need of a post:

click above for larger view

I sketched this out in non-photo blue pencil, and inked it with a Sakura brush pen. The idea for this illustration just randomly sprang into my head, and I decided to use it as an opportunity to try some new Photoshop techniques. Um... enjoy?

evaluation

My appraisal/evaluation at work as a team leader:

Dana has a good leadership role and shows her leadership unmistakably in the team. Most of the staff group shows her respect, listens and follows instructions but there are a few who don’t in the same extention.

Dana quite often turns to her boss for feedback and exchange of ideas and updates her boss on a regular basis. By doing this it gives both parts an excellent opportunity to give each other both positive and negative criticism and update eachother. Dana shows a strong, genuine interest for her job and for the individual patient’s needs.

Her communication methods with the staff varies to a high extent depending who she is talking to and what they talk about. If she speaks with a person who often disagrees with her or disrespects her she makes a strong point of her leadership role in a positive manner (even though the staff member might not see it in the same way).

She is very clear as a leader, but is the nice kind of leader which is both positive and negative. Some staff members try and take advantage of this.

Sometimes Dana takes too much on. She has a very busy job and doing too much at the same time might lead to concequences in the future. The staff group might expect her to take on more and more if she continues to work in the same speed she does now.

There is a good team spirit in the group when it comes to getting the job done, but one can clearly see that some members of staff do not get along. This is very noticeable during staff conferences when certain staff always argue with one and other or avoid looking at eachother.

Today I got the above appraisal about me and my team from an external evaluator (is that even a word I wonder?). I'm well chuffed actually!

The one thing I do not agree with is that some might take advantage of my kindness... Ha ha, for those of you who knows me will not agree either I'm sure! :-) I'm pretty good at putting my foot down when needs be.

However, I do take on too much at once. Mainly because I enjoy it so much. And it is something I need to get better at not doing.

Dana, the early riser

Christ all mighty. Today I had to get up at 7 am.

I can't even remember the last time I had to get up so early. For some strange reason the cats kept me up half the night - Kif by trying to sleep on my face (I think it's affection but perhaps he is trying to smother me to death?) and Tylor by jumping up and down on the bed, purring and dribbling whilst rubbing his teeth against my ear to wake me up, then running off again to scratch the wardrobe door.

Then, around 5 am Tylor decided to puke in my bed, under my duvet right by my stomach, bless him, poor boy.

So, needless to say, I had a rather disturbing night and then to top it all off I had to get up at the crack of dawn. The reason for this was a seminar I had to attend. I met my colleguages and our boss outside the building and felt surprisingly fine...

... I had a cup of tea and a sandwich in the lobby and felt surprisingly fine...

... But then we sat down to listen. And I couldn't keep my eyes open!

I tried to move a little on the chair. I tried focusing. I tried doodling in my notepad. In the end I tried pinching myself real hard. Yet my eyes would constantly close. And eventually I fell asleep!

My plans for today were to go into town and do a few errands after the seminar, but I felt so tired I went straigt back home instead. Once inside my flat I wrapped a blanket around me in the settee and fell asleep for a good three hours. Kif fast asleep on my legs and Tylor ditto on my chest.

Tomorrow we're not getting up until 9 am as per usual. Thank god. Mustn't forget never to get up at 7 am. Never ever again. The whole day gets ruined!

That Girl(?) is Poison

Today's post is for yet another re-design challenge at the He-Man.org fan-art forums. The thread is here, my post is here. The first round voting threads are here and here (my entry didn't get enough votes to proceed), and the final vote is here.

Apparently, in an issue of the UK He-Man comics, Hordak disguised himself as the "Dream Mistress," and tried to deceive Stonedar... Stonedar didn't fall for it (lucky for him). [Place your own cross-dressing joke here]

I chose to interpret the Dream Mistress as a shapeshifting entity who works for Hordak as a spy and saboteur. Here she/it is, in both Horde (right) and non-Horde (left) garb:

click above for larger view

The non-Horde version isn't significantly altered, so I threw in the Horde version as a re-design (or alternate costume, at the very least). The pose is rather generic, pretty much just a minor variation of a standby that I go to when drawing women (or shapeshifters that look like women). I was a bit short on time for this one.

this is me

Oh my god! This is me!

Online Art Class with Jason Seiler

Open for registration!

Instructor: Jason Seiler
Course: The Art of Caricature with Jason Seiler
Lessons: 9
Assignments: 9
Fees: $898 USD
Pre-Requisites: None. This course is for any skill level.
Start date: January 23, 2009

Register at Schoolism.com

Check out the class blog HERE

getting married

Despite the headline I am not getting married.

However, I promised myself a long time ago that if I ever was to get married I would never take the man's surname unless he had a really nice, unusual name.

My ex's surname is Willis. "Dana Willis" didn't have a nice ring to it at all. But my boyfriend before him is named Liddiard. Such a nice name and how lovely "Dana Liddiard" sounds. However, marriage was never on the cards with mr. Liddiard of course...

... Once a few years back I was invited to one of those fancy balls and got placed next to a man named Brotherhood. We sat down and introduced ourselves to eachother:

"Brotherhood?!" I cried out "Marry me please!"

Needless to say the poor man looked pretty chocked and never really seemed to get over my initial frase of greetings, ha ha.

Now why am I blogging about this, you might be wondering?

Because I came across some of the most beautiful old Jersey names today whilst sorting out huge piles of paperwork. And how I love those names!


De La Haye

Le Brocq

La Maistre

Etienne

L'Efant

So if you happen to have a single male friend with one of above surnames - please give him my phone number! :-)

Dana De La Haye - admit it sounds great!?

Army of One

Sometimes people (such as Kevin) suggest that I draw things. And I do. I just take forever to get around to finishing and posting said things. Here's OMAC, done up old skool:

I was kind of strapped for time, so I just grabbed this piece because it was already drawn and prepped for coloring. I actually ended up having fun pulling this one together, even though it's pretty simple.

tossers at the doctors!

I went to have some blood tests done today. Sat in the waiting area for over an hour whilst one poor nurse was running back and forwards with tests, paper work and god knows.

When it was finally my turn to meet the stressed out nurse it turned out my doctor hadn't emailed her the details she needed. She was searching the files on her computer frantically when I offered to go and find my doctor and get him to sort it out. Meanwhile, I suggested to the poor woman, she could take the next patient waiting. She said thank you and off I went.

After finding my doctor I returned and knocked on the nurse's room. Asked if she had time to see me straight away as I was running really really late for work. She said yes and soon thereafter I had a needle in my arm.

She put the needle in perfectly. Never seen anyone do it so good before, and therefor told her so.

Her eyes filled up. Said she'd never met anyone so kind and positive like me. She said most people had been coming in shouting at her for having to wait so long in the waiting area. It turned out her colleague was off sick and she was working for two. She hadn't had time for a toilet break let alone grabbing something to eat. She told me about how she wanted to the day to finish and go home and have a cry of exhaustion cuddled up next to her dog.

And then she thanked me again, all sincere and weepy eyed. I was horrified. Poor poor woman! I said I was really late for work, but could come back in an hour or two with a sandwich for her if she wanted. Then she gave me a hug and said her friend was on her way already.

But surely to god everyone in that waiting area could see how stressed out she was, running back and forwards? Surely they could all figure out it wasn't HER fault they had to wait for their turn? How DARED they have a go at the one person who were helping us out and putting our needs before her own?

This place is full of wankers. And it makes me really really angry.

new favourite spot

The cats really like to lie on top of the windowsill above the massive radiator in the livingroom. Especially when the sun is shining through the window too.

Yet Another...

Green Lanterns seem to pop up on my blog with surprising frequency. Here's Guy Gardner, the hot-tempered and loud-mouthed hero:

I drew Guy as kind of a rough-looking, broken-nosed, tough guy--this is how he was most often depicted in the 80's and 90's. More recently, Guy tends to be drawn as better looking, which is apparently more accurate to his original appearance.

The pose I gave him is awfully stiff... and his torso is too short. Bah!

that feeling

My gut feeling is trying to tell me something. The problem is - I don't know what?

I have had a strange feeling since yesterday. Something that I should/should not be doing but I can't for the world of me think what it is.

I have a severe gut feeling. Always have had, but it is growing stronger and stronger each year. This might sound strange and perhaps even like bulls**t, but believe me - it's for real. For a while I tried to ignore it and be "rational" and made some of the biggest mistakes in my life as a result of it.

Last night I couldn't sleep. Felt something was wrong and that I needed to change it around. But as I said - I still can't figure out what. So until I do I will try and relax. But how? Tricky.

Niko Bellic Statue

An 8" sculpture of Niko Bellic from Grand Theft Auto IV by Jaime Margary.

My sculpture of Niko Bellic, measuring at about 8", is finally done. Basing it off the familiar promo shot, I used Sculpey clay, a metal skeleton made of screws (needles for finger bones) and acrylic paint.

Multiple shades of each color were used to prevent it from having a toyish look. I based the pose on the promo shot but the details on the in-game model.

Source: kalapusa.deviantart.com

different kind of exercise

Yesterday I had a day off, and so I decided to venture out and do some errands that I've put off for quite some time.

I took my shopping trolley (yes, like your grandma used to have!) and went to a pet shop to buy a massive bag of cat food. With a little help from the shop assistant we managed to get it into my shopping trolley. Then I saw they had a special offer on cat litter... And just HAD to have a huge bag of that too! Down it went into the shopping trolley. Barely.

Getting home was a different kettle of fish! I struggled to get the shopping trolley on the bus. And off the bus. Not to mention to get it up the stairs to my house! But home I got in the end and was pleased with the purchases.

I emptied my shopping trolley and ventured out on the bus again. This time to the DIY-area Kungens Kurva. I bought some brackets for some wall shelves, extension cords and other bits for the flat.

On my way back to the bus stop I just happened to walk pass my favourite shop Wilma's where - surprise surprise - there was a sale on... 3 dresses later I walked out of there with a big smile on my face and a big hole in my wallet.

And then I realized I could really do with some grocery shopping whilst I was out and about. Needless to say my shopping trolley was pretty full already and I needed lots of things. So I carried on shopping - groceries, loo rolls, toiletries, you name it.

Then the same scenario started again. I could barely get my shopping trolley on to the bus - and this time I had the trolley and a couple of shopping bags. The bus was jam packed. I irritated quite a few passengers with my ungaily convoy of shopping. Then I irritaded them a bit more when I tried to squeeze pass them to get off the bus.

Back home I was exhausted. But what a productive day! So today I have everything I need to get pottering around the flat. I think I'll start in the kitchen and work my way around the flat.

time flies when you look at my hair!

2005 was the year I got invited to the Nobel Prize Gala and had a part time job (as well as studying 3 full time courses at uni at once) as a hair model as Toni and Guy... I had some fab hair do's!

2006 I got a job as a project coordinator which I hated, but moved to a great little pad. Chopped my hair a little and went a bit shaggy for a while.

2007 is all in a fog. But I had some seriously good hair days.

2008 I went a little bit OTT with the hair thing, but finally quit that horrible job, moved to a great big flat and life was good again!