Take that, you stupid germs!

[exatron]

My cold is now mostly gone; however, I need to catch up on a night's worth of sleep.

I'm not quite sure of the source, but I had a horrible stomachace that kept me awake last night. At about four or five in the morning I started having thoughts that I almost never have- I was considering calling in sick and skipping my personal training session on Tuesday.

Those thoughts scared me a bit since I'm usually much more resilient than that. I once drove to Lansing and back with a really bad cold that was affecting my sight and hearing.

Thankfully, I finally fell asleep after that and woke up feeling a bit stuffy, but otherwise fine, even if it was an hour later than I usually get up.

Accidentally sleeping in made me a bit late for work, but things were kind of slow today, and my boss was understanding since I've never been late before. She probably would have understood if I had just taken the day off, but I had a meeting to go to. (Naturally, it was rescheduled after I got to work.) Heck, she probably would have encouraged me to take two days since I've only asked for one or two days off outside of client holidays since I've been here.

I also learned more about the the technical testing role that may be opening up soon. The person I could be replacing needs to take some time off because he's really sick. Even though he does need to concentrate on getting better and I want to move to a position where I can use my technical skills more, I'd feel guilty about taking the job since it would be like I'm profiting at his expense.

The cold also hindered my attempts at drawing over the weekend, and hopefully I'll be able to find some extra time for practice during the week. I feel like I've fallen out of a nice art groove, and I want to get back into it even if I have to force myself.

Maybe, I just need a vacation. I haven't had a proper one in a long time.

Comments

[nekura-ca.livejournal.com]

Most of the time when I'm sick, I find that I'm terrible through the night, but as soon as morning comes, everything clears away, so I have no reason to call in sick, and then they return in the evening. It's weird. I've only called in sick three time in as many years, and one was from the emergency room when I thought I broke my arm.

If you're feeling guilty, try thinking of it as covering his job so he doesn't have to worry about if it's getting done right or not. In a situation like that, you'd only need to feel guilty if you did something to deliberately get him out of the way. As long as you realize that you may have to step down when he returns, there's no harm, although I doubt most companies would do that.

I should try some more art myself.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

That is weird. It's usually the opposite for me, and I just realized that I don't have one of the things that really helps an upset stomach- Vernor's Ginger Soda. It's an acquired taste, and technically a folk remedy, but it's always worked for me.

I'll have to remember that, especially since the job hasn't technically opened up yet.

You should definitely try more art. The drawings you posted last time were nice.

[nekura-ca.livejournal.com]

Vernors is great, I use to go through a case of that stuff a week in university. I loved to give it to people just to see their reaction.

I'm trying some fish right now, nice and simple, but anything more then a profile is a bit of a challenge. I'll post something soon.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Good to hear that you're familiar with Vernors. It's distribution is usually so limited that I'm never sure if people outside Detroit have heard of it. And it is great seeing how other people react to the taste.

Ooh, fishies. I look forward to seeing what you'll post.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Good, so you didn't get the monster lingering bug then. Pretty sucky how it still manages to get in the way of so much tho, doesn't it?
Tho I hope the stomach problem doesn't return. So take a day off now, I'm sure you must feel rotten without that sleep.

Heh...I'm sorry, but I've been screwed over so many times by coworker breaks (maternity/med leaves), I'd have no qualms about jumping into the job. XD

Ooh! Ooh! I have drawing suggestions XD J/K.

Vacations good! Do eet!

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I am so glad I missed that nasty bug, even if mine got in the way more than I would have liked. Sure, my record of no missed workouts remains, but I didn't get to play in the snow or do much drawing.

So far, the lack of sleep has only made me really sensitive to noise. In almost every other way I feel fine, especially since the stomach thing hasn't returned.

I think what made me feel bad was that I was originally given the impression that he was just moving to another job, not going on medical leave. I want the people around me to be well.

While I do have an idea for some fanart for you, I don't mind suggestions.

I was originally going to save my money and time off for AC 06, but I can probably afford at least one interesting trip before then. The hard part will be finding something that I haven't done before and possibly finding someone to take with me. I found that I have the most fun when I'm with at least one person I trust.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Snow is EVAL, dangit! ;-)

Izzat so? :::Pops his gum in a way that sounds like a gunshot ;-)::

Well, how long is he going to be gone?

Heh, if I had random thoughts I'd be drawing them myself. Do you have other characters, tho?

I hear you, I hate vacationing alone, which is why I never go anywhere. Went to Canada once with some school friends...won't be going with THEM again. Prolly gonna try Australia sometime if I can find someone to go along.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Why do you think I like it so much? Besides, everybody knows that evil is the new good.

You'll have to get in line if you want to do that. I've already got a coworker crinkling a bag of chips and the client's boisterous sales and marketing department making plenty of noise.

From what I understand, he's going to be gone indefinitely.

I have random thoughts to spare. The trouble is that very few of them would work as art, and I do need to try designing other characters. I just need to think of a few personalities, species, builds, and other stuff first. It would probably help if I were the sort of person who doodles.

Ah, Canada. I've been there countless times. (Not surprising since it's a quick trip to the south.)

Australia does sound like an interesting place to visit.

One more thing

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention one other thing about vacations.

I think I'm a better host than a visitor.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

LOL. "Evil is the new good." I've got to steal that for future use XD

Heh, well, how are you feeling today? Good thing nobody had Mariah Carey records ;-)

Then don't feel so bad. We're still trying to replace the woman who left this Spring, initially for an indefinite medical leave, which became permanent in the fall. You never know what happens.

Oddly, I never doodle either; I either draw for completion, or...I don't. Hormones tends to drive me most, I guess ;-)

Ah, lucky. I'm curious what more of it is like, we just went to Vancouver.

Too raight it does. ^.^ I admit I'm not much of a "good" tourist either, and I'd have no idea what to do. Most of my "vacations" are more "visits"....

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Go right ahead.

I'm doing much better today, and Mariah doesn't really bother me since what she makes is clearly music. I make a distinction between music and noise. Music has structure and makes me feel better, but noise is just random, unorganized sound that disrupts my natural rythm.

I'll have to remember that, and I hope you can get a replacement before work starts getting busy next year.

The thing that seems to drive me the most is having a fully-formed idea in my mind. Hormones usually come into play until after I notice that I've made some progress with a drawing. I need to think of something that will show off Dan's back so I can work out how his spots blend together.

Eastern Canada is an interesting place, but I tend to take it for granted since it's so close. Toronto has a really nice science center (I should probably write that as 'centre' since it's in Canada.) and downtown Toronto has a lot of cool stuff. I also make the occasional trip to Casino Windsor to put $20 in the slot machines. (I won 2000 quarters once.)

Well, if you ever feel like visiting Detroit, just let me know. The area has some fun attractions, even if my favorite restaurant closed back in 2001.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Yes, but she does the high notes, and I don't know what that would do to sleep-deprived sonic enhancement ;-)

Not lookin' good at this rate, the windowfor hiring time is closing x_x

Huh, interesting! With me, it's more like "I wanna draw so and so, so how can I go about that?" I guess the hormones are always in play.
Yeah, let's see that spot pattern. ^.^

Kewlness. I've wondered what the French areas are like.

Thankee, I'll keep that in mind. What do you think of Los Angeles? ;-)

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Surprisingly, high notes don't affect me much. It's sounds that can't really be helped, like crinkling wrappers, that I notice most.

That's not good. I'll hold on to some of my better stories and jokes just in case you need a good laugh during the height of tax season.

The only downside to my method is that it kills almost all of my attempts at being spontaneous. Hormones really help when I'm trying to get the anatomy right.

Dan: "You just want a good look at me from behind, don't you?"

I'm thinking of printing out a copy of one of my earlier drawings of Dan so I can practice drawing his spots without damaging the original image. My original plan was to use drawing his spots as a way to get some practice with a tablet, but my computer still isn't cooperating.

I haven't seen much of the French areas, but they're definitely unique since residents are very protective of their cultural identity.

It sounds like it would be fun to vist LA, even if I don't handle heat very well.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Well, guess that comes from being feline instead of canine ;-)

Dunno, jokes tend to get lost on me during busy times. Pointing me in the direction of punching bags is better ;-)

Heh, well, don't sweat that, I never do spontaneous art either, really.

:::Koff:: I don't know what you're talking about. Although I do prefer the front, in general ;-)

That works. I still don't have a printer.

So I've heard. But I've never been to...well, hardly anything outside the US, so I'd like some extra culture...

Ooh. Um. Yeah. Avoid summertime at all costs then XD

[exatron.livejournal.com]

That's about right.

Duly noted. No jokes, but posting flash games that involve beating stuff up should be posted here for you to find.

At least you have speed on your side. That can create the illusion of spontaneous art.

Yeah, there are a lot of things to like about the front.

Technically, I don't have my own printer. I just use my mother's when she isn't around.

Other than Canada, I've never been outside the country; however, I have been to an absurd number of places within the US.

I can probably handle heat better now that I can wear shorts without feeling self-conscious about my legs.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Heh. I don't do those often, although I do remember the ones where you hit a penguin's head across landmines XD

True. People are always surprised at how fast I am.

I gotta admit, I'm a borderline tummy fetishist, if there is such a thing x_x

That's still something. I end up using the office printers (not often, of course).

I haven't done much of the US either...it's mostly been cons.

Heh! I hear you, I wish my legs looked better too. But it's impossible to be here without wearing shorts, so I let it slide. But wearing something sleeveless...I insist I look better before I dare that....

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I think I missed that one, but I do have fond memories of Poke the Penguin.

I'm more fascinated than surprised. In some ways, I actually prefer your quick sketches since they really capture how you're feeling at the time.

Yeah, I remember you mentioning that. I'm fond of that part of the body too. (Given how I draw Dan that shouldn't be a surprise.) I think you missed the comment where I mentioned the guy at the renaissance festival. His abs were so good that it was one of the few times that I regretted not owning a camera.

If I thought they wouldn't notice, I'd gladly send you one of my parents' printers. They have way too many of the things and the herd needs thinning.

That's too bad. There are a lot of interesting things to see in this country. If you want to hear about some of the places I've been, just let me know.

My personal trainer actually had to point out that I was making great progress with my legs before I really started to notice that they were getting a nice shape. I'm also starting to develop decent arms. (Noticing that I actually have triceps was a huge thrill.)