According to the calendar and various females in my family, today is my birthday. Seeing as how i'm a guy and, therefore, don't remember the dates of anything even remotely important, i'll choose to believe what they're telling me. Since I usually feel like Methuselah these days, the difference isn't noticeable. I'm still the modest know-it-all/brooding cynic/evil, charismatic, sexy hunk of a man genius that we all know and love that I was yesterday. =p

Also, my brother, in typical male fashion, informed me that I can now, legally, buy alcohol. After this remark, my mom encouraged me, the anti-social hermit, to go bar-hopping, get roaring drunk, and wake up in the morning in a half-melted snowbank with no memories of the previous night. I'm still not sure if she was joking or not. You know you're loved when.... 

Anyways, happy birthday/hatch-day/successful genetic experiment-day to me!

I've decided i've got another good rant left in me today. It's on the subject of why the world is out to get us and Winter is it's season of choice.

Winter is the season of viruses and other unpleasantries; The common cold, flu, hypothermia, pneumonia, etc. It's enough to make a man want to run around outside in his long underwear and make snow angels.

Why are colds so common? Because Winter has lowsy air circulation. Most people don't throw open their patio doors/windows to 'catch that delightful breeze' blowing outside during Winter. Why? Because it's damned cold. So we breathe the same air over and over again until we, finally, succumb to the germ particles floating around. That's enough of a science lesson for today.

I suppose i'm in a bad mood because those damn germ particles have finally gotten to me. I have a large family. Lot's of people living under one roof. A major downside? Chain-reactions. If one person gets sick, it's not a question of if you're going to get sick, but when. I should probably paint 'Quarantine' on a board and nail it to my front door.

Being sick for Christmas seems to be a family tradition of mine. I know Christmas is a time of giving, but a virus doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and toasty inside...unless, I have a fever that is....

 

 

So, today I was brooding(something I do quite often) on the subject of the Egyptyian gods and I noticed something that others may or may not have already noticed....

If you look at the personality of an Egyptian god/goddess, you may notice that they seem to possess the personality traits of their animal counterparts. Is this deliberate? I mean, did the ancient Egyptians have a reason for placing certain animal heads on certain gods...something more elaborate that 'eeny-meeny-miny-mo!'

For examle, Anubis: He possesses the head of a jackal. A jackal is a scavenger. They're wild animals that usually live off of the leavings(dead things) of others. Anubis' career is based on the leavings of others(dead things). Coincidence?

Amid the mighty Egyptian gods of Death, War, and the Sun, etc. Anubis is left with the exhalted position of Embalming. Doesn't that just inspire a person to get down on their knees and worship you...In my opinion, Anubis got a raw deal in relation to the job department. But, at least, he looks cool.  

Maybe i've let the Discovery Channel's Egypt Week go to my head....

  For those that I am doing art for: It'll take more time(see below for details)....

  A few days ago, I made one of the biggest mistakes an artist can make... *dramatic pause* I agreed to do some art for a family member. *insert horrified gasps from captivated audience* Normally this isn't a problem, as it's usually just one or two quick scribbles.
 
  However, my sister is planning her wedding and asked if i'd do some designs for her. Family loyalty demands that I agree and do the art beyond perfection, and, of course, it backfired on me and snowballed. A few simple designs soon turned into me designing the lettering for the cake, banners, the invitations, etc.
 
  Some of you readers may be unfortunate enough to know that nothing is pickier than a sister/woman planning her wedding--everything has to be perfect(not to mention they have the prerogative to change their mind every thirty seconds and they exercise it often.) Maybe it's my cynicism talking...but I don't really believe that. =p

  To sum it up, the strive for perfection has messed up(i'm getting really technical here) my arm and I am unable to draw--unless I use my left arm--but, you don't want to go there....

  Even typing this message is a pain. I use the hunt-and-peck method. Although, I prefer calling it the search-and-destroy method. You now, like Battleship? For example: Instead of 'E3' it's just 'E' and your missiles are your fingers...it's surprisingly entertaining....

  Anyway, I am unable to draw just now, and it really sucks....

Today, I have entered the realm of satellite TV users. The novelty of having the ability to be indecisive about which show to watch next has yet to wear off. Before, I had the choice of watching one channel, the other channel, or nothing at all...

Allow me to explain, my TV used to have only an arial for reception. Considering my house is surrouned on all sides(is that redundant or what?) by towering mountains of rock, it's needless to say, reception was bad, and that's putting it kindly.

I used to posses 1.5 channels--count 'em--1.5. One came in clear, and the other was as temperamental as a woman in deciding whether or not to grace my family with a clear picture. No offence to temperamental women(redundancy again? I'm on a roll!) =p

So, here I now sit, being lured into a lifestyle of vegetating on the couch, and snarling at all comers who'd dare to pry the remote control from my vice-like grip, by a siren named satellite television.

Someone save me from myself...when it's a commercial break.... =p

I think it's time for an update on my life's(or lack of one) progress.

I've been doing a lot of website designing lately. Not much time for doodling and random sketches. But, i've already got a few sketchbooks full of 'em so it's no big loss.

Teaching myself to paint digitally. It's going slow, but i'm working on it. Colour is the bane of my existence and right now we're working out an uneasy truce. Hopefully the shaky alliance will last.

I went driving for the first time since I got my G1 yesterday. Learned a few things about myself. Namely, that I have an affinity with speed and a reckless disregard for human mortality. Must be because of all the racing videogames i've played. According to my chinese zodiac(the tiger) i'd make a good race car driver. The passenger in the vehicle at the time agrees with the previous statement. Or else I just need more practice. 

That's it for now....

I have learned recently that family members make horrible critics(i've had suspicions of this for years but today they were utterly confirmed.) You can draw a complete piece of crap, ask your family if it's ok and they look at it and go "uh-huh." Lately i've drawn two different versions of a baby gryphon. So I ask my sister which one looks better...

Her:'Aww...they're both so cute.'
Me:and?
Her:It looks like a little puppy...
Me:*banging head against wall*

Um, yeah, the moral of the story boys and girls is that family make horrible critics...

'The diary is sad and empty'...pfft! Yeah, and it's not the only one:(
Not much happening today...lack of sleep is slowly wearing me down but, oddly enough, I do my best work when I can't sleep...soooo...maybe it's a good thing?
Maybe I can spew out a few more pics...before...I...*zzzz*