Listening: 'Keep bleeding' by Leona Lewis

Welcoming the cool change at last but it's still pretty stuffy and warm in the house despite having the balcony door open for some cooler air. It's been pretty steamy these past few days.

On sunday, the illustration gang met up at Robin's parents' place for a special lunch to meet some illustrators and an art director. Have to say it felt pretty intimidating and nerve wrecking that morning. Just getting my stuff in a folder and the hot weather wasn't helping at all. Munkle came over to print some stuff and decided we should go together. Two nervous people there. I really wanted to wear shorts but Zeren kept saying it's gonna be important people I'll be meeting so best to wear jeans. It turned out the illustrators were all in shorts. !!!!!!! It was a good lunch overall. Great to see my mates and teachers. I really didn't know what the illustrators and director would say but what they did say to me was pretty much the opposite of what I expected. And even an honoured compliment from Patricia of Omnibus. Good to know I'm heading the right direction. Just have to keep drawing everyday.

I'm also getting started on my website. Been delaying this for months as I had school and I didn't want to start with high expectations. Pretty much agree with what zeren said about people planned for the website to be something but it always turns out to be something else. It did for me when I tried the first time. Became pretty terrible that I had to ask Alan and Zeren for help. My flash experts. I've been doing research on other illustrators and photographers websites. Not going much for a graphic designer looking one. Too complex I reckon. Another thing is whether to add a photography section as I'm not that professional in it. Probably add a section of it but main title would be kept as illustration. I'll start with the expectations of something simple and easy. I hope *cross fingers*

I have no idea what came over me in swimming but my intentions was to swim 13 laps straight. (It was the most I've done so far ever) As I went along, 13 became 15 and 15 became 20. I swam 800 metres freestyle straight without stopping. You get used to breathing underwater that it's like breathing air on land. So it felt pretty normal. Only until I hit the showers did the aches slowly crept up. Started with tingles in the nerves and tendons. But all is well and recovery is fast for me. Now I'm planning to invest in some cool goggles. The Speedo Opal Silicone Swim Goggles! Mirrored coating and hopefully I get a dark blue or something. If I were a competitor, I would have gotten that and the swedish design. The blue ones are incredible underwater. You can see so much better. Next up is to re-train in the flips. I've been depending on arm momentum to do the flips when I need to use my upper body.

Alrighty more art work.

Been having quite a sleep these past few days. A very up and down cycle and with times, I wake up with a stiff jaw. I went for a biopsy checkup with a new doctor. I told him my story where I felt with the lump in front of my ear, I was able to pop the right jaw in and out. In which, he stopped me just there. He checked my ultrasound scans and the lymph nods are only 1-1.4cm in diameter. He twisted it and said, 'it can be your jaw that is causing you the lumps.'

Down with the interrogation with grinding of teeth which my sister is aware of. She said it started in high school. He highly suspects it's TMJ - temporomandibular joint syndrome. With stress, people tend to grind their teeth unconsciously in their sleep. This causes pressure on the jaw as a result. I finally asked Zeren if I grind my teeth. Without a doubt, 'Actually you do'. Great, I feel like a snake who can dislocate its jaw just to feed on its prey. My mouth opens abit bigger when that happens. Just waiting for Amazon to send me the book I ordered for this.

Had a good swim yesterday though I skipped last week. Surprised myself by pushing my stamina alittle further. I reckon the lower temperature of the water helps alot too. My arms didn't feel any strain or anything during swimming. It was only after I came back home with slight soreness. I was really drained and tired as Zeren woke up at 5 to get ready for his 7am class. And I'm supposed to get up at 5.50am. 50min of tossing and turning and pulling the blanket over my face. Ah well.

Was randomly reading some blogs of people. I just couldn't help to link up the similarities in their content. Shopping and money. It is a common subject but it is what they're after that is the similarity. People sure do want 'big' things.

Have a look at this video if you can. It's about dog geniuses. Particularly intrigued in the exercises the lady did to the 3 day old pup. Upside down exercises, cold towel. I wonder if it works for human kids to stimulate their brain cells.


Dog Genius

More work from last week.

Happy chinese new year

Hand Studies

Blue pencil and china white on cardboard