Poor little fledging died. We let it out this morning as it seemed to have really picked up. It flapped about on the ground a bit and the parents came down to look at it. There were more much more robust and agile chicks in the trees. Sadly the parents didn’t seem to want to invest in this chick anymore, and within a few hours it was huddled under a bush and looking very weak and dazed again. I popped it in the empty nest and it took some food and water from me. Left it in peace. But by lunchtime it had given up the ghost.

Could have had other internal injuries, or it could have just been the weakling of the clutch which led it to being caught by the kitty in the first place. Very sad, but we gave it the best chance we could. On a positive note, there were at least 5 Great Tits in the willow trees, and since they are so rare I’m very pleased for these otherwise successful parents.

There’s a tiny Great Tit in my bedroom inside a plant incubator. Cat brought it in and I found her looking very disinterested while it trashed about between her feet and a plant pot, really crying out like a fledging does. Probably not long out the nest though it has full feathers. I thought I’d lost it when the dog moved in. He’ll snap up anything in true terrier fashion, and he has in the past.

So I have a cat by the scruff in one hand, the dog by the other, both going wild, and I’m calling for help for ages until someone drags themselves off the sofa to see what the fuss is. Then instead of helping out, I get questions like “what is it, what is it? Show me? Point it out.” I can’t point, I’m holding down a crazed pussycat and a salivating dog.

Eventually both are taken away. I emptied the plants from the incubator and popped the poor thing in there on some sawdust and paper. Dropped in a few meal worms, water and left it in the bedroom where it's dark and quiet. If did flutter about a bit, and it felt like everything was intact. No blood. But as soon as it was on the sawdust it shut its eyes and started nodding off. Poor thing may well be dead from shock already, but I’m not going to disturb it for a good few hours.

If it dies I will have to hand over the next gloomy task to someone else. I’ve buried enough animals this last month.

Kero has died suddenly and I do not know why. I don't think she was more than two years old. I checked before bed to see why she had not come out for her treats, and she was curled up in her nest.

My gorgeous little girl is gone, and hardly a month since I lost Kupo. It's been hot today, but I don't think the heat alone could be the reason. I am wondering if she had a stroke as she seemed to be moving stiffly when my nieces wanted to look at her earlier. But I thought Kero was just a bit drowsy as usual. I told them to let her sleep as I hate disturbing her during the day. Now I am stricken with guilt that I should have noticed something off. Or that I did or did not do something. Or just because I don't really know why she died. I can't see anything physical on her, she does not look dehydrated. There's nothing. I just don't know.

And this on a day my sister has entrusted me with her two Syrians while she's on holiday. I spent the evening fixing up their tiny cages because the poor things didn't even have working wheels. And all along I didn't know Kero was gone. I feel so awful inside.

This month it's tiny dwarf Kjrn I've been fretting over as she's lost condition and I've been giving her antibiotics. She's just started to pick up and I was feeling good, but now Kero is lost. I would never have expected.

I will donate my big cages to my sister so at least her pair can have the spacious homes they need and deserve.

Thank you for being such a great little friend, Kero.

Not posted in a while because I've been furiously job-hunting and have yet to snag the ideal position. I haven't liked the offers so far. And my last interview was 90 minutes long. NINTY minutes. Employer testing my stamina, obviously.

It also looks like I’ll need another trip to the dentist. Contrary to popular belief, my mouth is not that big, and there’s no room in there for the wisdom teeth. Now that they’ve grown right in, they’re pushing painfully on my jaw and I’m forever suffering bone pain and infections where I keep biting the back of my own face. So I’m rustling up some funds for the inevitable. Because we all want to spend our hard-earned money on having teeth pulled.

I’m taking offers on my dragon head pendant because I know I’ll need that money soon. Will paint to your colour specification.

Furbid Auction here.
You may use the Buy-It-Now option. If you'd like the item in white to paint yourself please let me know; I can close the furbid auction anytime before the 1st bid, so please get your offers in quick!

Click here for direct link to the DA page

Dragon Head Pendant by =TheNeonGryphon on deviantART


In other news Linkaton won the 23,456 kiriban over on DA.
Her prize:


If you fancy an EyeCon you can find the order form here: portal through time

My Birthday on the 23rd, and I have new friends to celebrate it with. (I know that sounds so lame. I have people friends really...).

Kinkajuu and Tosca. Not sure those names will stick yet so taking suggestions! Trying to avoid names from games and frequently watched TV shows. I can't play FF and listen to MontBlanc shout 'Kupo' without bawling.

Tosca:


( Beware )

Life’s giving me a rough time at the moment. I’m currently in the midst of trying to change employers, while battling a grievance against a senior staff member at my current position for continually bullying and harassing me over the last year. I finally decided enough was enough with that, and I want to get out of there. But finding the right job is proving a serious battle and my nerves are frayed going through the Union with my grievance (and this is not the first time I’ve complained about this staff member, but nothing was done previously. This is why I’m feeling forced out. But I don’t want to get desperate and grab at any old thing going).

With the other recent bills and personal loses, I am on such rocky ground it’s becoming hard to sit down and focus on artwork. I don’t know what the rest of you do when you get hideously stressed, but I don’t know Tai Chi and I worry I might bite my wacom in half.

A few WIPS of current commissions.

Brya and Trill for Newenglander


Serious Haruhi Suzumiya eyes going on, and her little skirt too. <3


( More WIPs with no colour )

(Are these too big and stretching people's page? I have a large res and nothing smaller to compare it on).

Well done to Kalamburd and Anke who both spotted Kai the fastest. They each won a sketch bust-shot of a character of their choice.

If you couldn't find Kai, here he is:

red line by Anke

WOW

It's snowing for the first time in almost 20 years. And in April. I am awsomesauced (but the flowers aren't).

( WTF SNOW photos )

To mark this strange occassion, I will give a real art prize to the first person that can red line me the Kai in this photo. I swear he is really in there. Some comments screened. One guess each, guys. !! EDIT: Anke and Kalamu win it !!



And if you don't know what it is you're looking for:

Kupo didn’t win his battle, though I know he tried really hard. I lost him in the early hours of this morning. I kept him warm under my blankets with the heater on and sat with him until he was gone. Even when you know they are about to go, it’s still this shock when they do. He had his second vet visit, antiobiotics at home, and I tried pipette feeding him. But in the end he was just too tiny.

I will probably always blame myself for this, because Kupo had health issues that concerned me all through his life. If I could have done more for him back then or acted further on those niggling worries when I thought he wasn’t getting big enough. The vet said congenital problems, they said he wasn’t underweight, just tiny. But I know really, there is always something more that could have been done. I suspect his teeth played a part, which is something none of the vets ever checked, and nor did I until the last day. I will be watching Kjrn and Kero with great paranoia from now on, I know.

But he was such a bright active spark right up until the last days. These little guys rarely give much away until they’re just too ill. I will miss you so much, Kupo.

And the fool that said ‘hamsters only exist to teach kids about death.’ Let’s hope you’re never a pet owner. Because if you are able to give an animal a happy, comfortable home, it’s your responsibility to do that.  I will always make room in my life for them for as long as I can.

Thank you everyone who donated to Kupo’s battle. I really would like each person that contributed to pick themselves prints from my gallery. Please let me know what ones you would like and drop me your address in email. I would very much like to do this for you.





( Goodbye Kupo )

Hamster Kupo is not well with pneumonia. I could hear this wet clicking noise in his cage last night and wondered why he wasn’t out on his wheel for his daily 10k super-charged marathon. So I opened up his nest and he was soaking wet on his face, neck, belly and feet, digging about in a circle with one eye glued shut.

I got 4 hours sleep I’m so worried about him, and took him to the emergency vet first thing this morning. I don’t care that it’s expensive because I want to give him a fighting chance. The vet weighed him at just 23grams, then gave him a shot of antibiotics. The needle was huge compared to poor Kupo, and I was really fighting back the tears when she stuck him with it. And he bit me as it went in just to let me know how much it hurt, and wouldn’t let go. And I didn’t care at all because he’s got it so much worse. And the vet made more of a fuss over my stupid finger than my hammychan.

How can I be upset over a hamster? Because I am and he’s my buddy and I love him. And I blame myself because I think I could or should have spotted something wrong sooner. He’s always been tiny and underweight, and the vet said it was probably something congenital and she didn’t have much hope as he’s got so little reserves to fall back on.

But I really don’t care because he’s got to be given every chance; He’s not even a year old. I’ve separated him from Kjrn and Kero and popped him near a little heater with some baby food and water. But he’s not taking any of it yet.

I’m not letting up without a fight and am going to put every penny I have into giving him a fair go.

If anyone would like a print of anything in my gallery, please note or email me with the title. I am going to sell them cheap for 11.5 x 8 inch $7 incs shipping. Or if you can spare a dollar I would be really very grateful.

And if anyone knows of ways I can make him more comfortable, I’m listening to all and any advice. This might be the end of him but I am not going to let go so easily.

His eye is not gunky but he can't seem to open it. I will try to clean it if he'll let me touch him later.


Here is a happier photo last month when he was o.k

Viruses, trojan horses.

I HAZ DEM.

I was forced into a system recovery and wiped everything. I just about have everything sorted now I hope. Sorry if I vanish then reappear for any length - I don't know how stable my system is. What bad luck D=

On the plus side, computer's going faster now and it feels kinda new again! What crap can I fill it with now?

Edit: Everything was backed-up so no loss of commissions! Just some really crap music.

The Physics Teacher magazine are going to publish my EyeCon work on the cover of their next issue. Never thought a science journal would be using my art. The paper is about resolution and the human eye entitled "Megapixels and Human Recognition of Resolution."

http://scitation.aip.org/tpt/


Eye-con commissions. Re-Opened -
C. Spriggle commission - 50% paid -
Newenglander commission - 100% paid -
Ulario commission – 100% paid
K. Moore commission - 100% paid
Eventide gift art
Zhon trade


This kiriban is also getting close:

Get that rat off my bird table! >8(







There were three; this is the middle-sized guy. NO FEAR.
I like rodents, but what about the birds? Should I get one of those anti-squirrel feeders, or are rats too smart for that?

Finished. I really enjoyed this.

Prismas win because they don't make my hands filthy.

Eventide


Working through commissions even though it's the bank holiday weekend. Anyone else slogging their guts out? I can tell a festive holiday a mile away because people suddenly send me so many emails and notes asking for commissions or prints in an excited fashion. Then two days later when the holidays are over, they must lose the good-will spirit and decide NOT to spend the money after all, because I normally don't hear from them again! The worst D=

Eye-con commissions. Re-Opened -
Asiri commission - 100% paid -
Newenglander commission - 100% paid -
Ulario commission – 100% paid
K. Moore commission - 100% paid
Eventide gift art
Zhon trade

Here's the WIP for Eventide. This one will be eal media.



Hope everyone had a gormlessly drunken St Patrick's Day. And don't be forgetting St George's day on April 23rd. It's Meh Birfday 8F I would really love a PS3 please.

Happy Easter!

A few approved WIPS to show I am working through my to-do list each evening. I am not just avoiding my coursework and playing FFX much


Digital lines. Photoshop 7.0.

( Images behind cut to avoid strrreeeetch )

EDIT: I forget to mention. I went to my chosen University's open day on Saturday and was pretty impressed, so I finally bit the bullet and accepted their offer on a placement. I will be going to medical school in Sept 2009. Between now and then I need to save £££ x NINE TWELVE THOUSAND!!!

Finished at last. I really spanked my stylus hard over this one.

 

I have about 6 more EyeCons left to finish, and I’m really going to push to get those done before I go to Rome on Tuesday 26^th. If you are waiting on one, it’ll be with you very soon. But not tonight because my painting hand is crippled and my eyes have pixel burn @___@

The internet is dead.

Here’s some toothy bewbs.

Eye-con commissions -
Asiri commission - 100% paid -

Kmye sent me some prints in thanks after I sent her a t-shirt I bought with some of her stolen artwork on. Grimy backstory if you like that kind of thing here.

When I opened the package I was gob-smacked by the size and quality of the prints. Everyone in the house gathered around and swore up and down they were originals. Lush.
If you have some post-Christmas money to spend, I recommend you do so here http://kmye-chan.deviantart.com/store

EyeCons: Thanks to everyone who bought an EyeCon. Though sadly only half the people who enquired actually reached the payment stage. I will blame the time of year. But this means I also still have vacancies and a fast turn over. If you’d like an EyeCon, please click the thumbnail below:

EyeCons $15 each


Also, Newenglander sent me the world's biggest pack of prisma pencils. Which is like GOLD in the UK because nothing exists here except waxy crappy crayola. My glee then asploded into gift art.



Is there anyone outside the UK who can get hold of prisma markers cheap? I can import via e-shops, but it’s overly expensive. I'm looking for the greyscale set, and a big colour pack to replace what I have, which are all getting a little tired. Will of course be paying and/or making art in exchange. Whichever you prefer. If you could help I'd be really grateful.