'Super series' - Illustration 2

Our next illustration is again informed by the Arkham Knight batman game, which has been a popular discussion point lately. This drawing, again by the talented M, is Poison Ivy. Anyone who has played the new game will recognize the lack of pants. Honestly not sure why the game makers chose to have her pants-less, but creative license will prevail and all that.

  

 In case you haven't played this new Arkham game, I can tell you, as an outside observer, this is a fairly accurate rendition of the character. Except the 'pew pew'. Still not clear on that. 

Presenting: the first in a series of original artworks

So M has discovered that the 'Memo pad' app on our brother's Samsung phone has a draw function. Which leads me to present, without further ado (okay, there's going to be a little ado, but more of an explanation 'ado' than a pomp and circumstance 'ado'), in honour of the Arkham Knight Batman game, "Batman"

Why the 'Pew Pew' you may ask. I don't know. I didn't draw it. But it seems to be a recurring theme in what we will call the "super series". Stay tuned for more majestic illustrations.

DIY Bangs - what I've learned

Posted by K  




I think I mentioned before, probably about a year ago I started growing my hair out, mainly as part of my cost savings exercise (I love me some short hair but that is $$ to maintain!). I also stopped dying it red (they discontinued my colour :(  ) but I'm going to keep drawing it red for clarity's sake between me and M.

This summer my hair reached that 'slightly past a bob but still awkward to put up' stage, and I was not loving it. I was bored.

I decided to go with what they call a "blunt" bang as it sounded straight forward. I conducted thorough research (i.e. googled 'blunt bang' in images), picked a couple of pictures to put on my phone and pretty much went for it.

Inspiration:

I grabbed the scissors and had at it!! Of course what my extensive planning didn't take into account is the fact I have fine/thin hair.

I kept adding more hair to make it look less stupid, but I still wasn't sold.

You know that panicked feeling when you start doing something without thinking about it, and then realize you're have to go all in to fix it? It was like that. I kept quizzing friends and family: "should I add more? Does it look too short? Should there be more short stuff on the sides??"
M suggested I add a bit more, but to make sure I stop after that. I half-listened,

It became a bit of an obsession. Everytime I washed my hair I'd keep adding more. The bangs were like quicksand...except on my face.

I finally reached a point where I felt I had achieved the 'blunt' bangs I wanted. The downside is they literally take up half my hair, I kid you not, when I turn sideways they are half my head.

Le sigh.

Oh well. I definitely like them, and I guess that means less hair to deal with! I have started to limit myself so I don't get into mullet madness territory. The struggle is real. And it's on my head.

So definitely a cautionary tale to people with thin hair, but you can get there if you COMMIT!!

Saga of the Windshield Wiper Fluid

Posted by K  



I was encouraged to fill up my windshield wiper fluid yesterday in anticipation of the storm here today.

It was -23 with the windchill so that was not awesome.
I lined up my equipment (and yes, my hood makes me look like a cone head, but it's really warm so I've accepted it)

(1 jugs of fluid and a funnel*)

*side note, this funnel is the most useful thing ever, especially if you have trouble pouring a huge heavy jug into a tiny hole, like me. This tip brought to you by my Mom)

10 minutes later...

I could not for the life of me get that freaking hood to open. I popped it using the button but there's a magic latch I have to trigger as well. I have literally done this a dozen times, but no dice this time. I looked like I was try to rub a magic lamp or something.

I even sacrificed my poor hand to the cold to try it and still no luck.
I had to check the owner's manual. I'm sure the people in my building with an overview of the parking lot enjoyed my antics.

I don't know about anyone else, but no matter how many times I verify that I'm pouring it in the windshield fluid tube I always have a panic attack that it's the coolant tube or something

Anyway, all this to say, welcome to winter! Sarcastic Yay!

Car News : Adventures in Tires

Posted by K  



Okay, there's been a stupid long amount of time between our posts. I have no idea how to summarize the gap right now, so instead I will ignore it! One note though, my laptop died awhile ago so I managed to lose a bunch of my paint templates, so my drawings are going to be rough. Very rough.

Anyway, on to our first new post in forever! I present:

Adventures in Tires: First 9 months!

For everyone out there like me who HATE the bus and desperately want a car, I've decided to evaluate my experience in car ownership. I ended up doing a lease takeover in December, so I have my car for 14 months (I figured this would mean I wouldn't be trapped if it didn't work out, and it was cheaper than buying a car outright).

It has been an adventure of highs and lows, and mainly I learned that it is always more money than you expect or plan for. Sigh. Anyway onto the post!


 

Week 1-3: Excitement!

Much excitement and enjoyment, apart from several snow days when I didn't feel comfortable driving. Gas was more than I figured; I have a very long work commute and ended up needing to fill the tank about once a week. Still other than some slippery ice patches I was having a good time!

Okay, so my drawing is a little rough. Sue me.

Week 3: $45 Fly in the ointment

Most of the week's work commute went well, until Thursday:

Thursday on my way to pick up the bro, the car suddenly started making noise and moving all over the road.

I handled the problem with dignity:

I was convinced the car was totally broken,  a write-off. Then my brother kindly noticed the front right tire was flat. After a rescue from my brother in law, and a $45 patch, we were back in business!

Week 6: Why tire, why?

A couple weeks later, I noticed the car seemed to be pulling to the left. It turns out the front left tire had a slow leak. I had help monitoring it and keeping it filled every 3-4 days.

Week 15: What did I do in a past life to deserve this?

While driving solo to work on the Monday, I went to change lanes and accidentally bumped the curb. I pulled over initially, but everything looked fine, so I drove another 15 minutes. Then the car started pulling to the right like crazy.

I pulled over again, and found the front right flat. I decided that as a car owner I should be able to change a flat myself, so I got out the spare tire and jack. I got the car jacked up (in -20 degree C weather no less), but I couldn't seem to get the tire to lift up. That was when I looked behind me and discovered the back right tire was also flat. Sometimes I hate life. And the car.

After a long conversation with Toyota, I established that the car covered and I wouldn't have to sell my kidney to get a tow.

Me: "Am I still covered under warranty?? Because I really can't afford this right now!"

Toyota: "I'm checking right now, hopefully it's ok"

Me: "Seriously, you need to tell me if I'm covered because I don't want the tow if I'm not!"

Toyota: ....

Me: "please please please please"

Toyota: "I am very happy to tell you the car is still under warranty!"

Me: "Oh thank god. You are awesome."

Then I had to describe the parking lot, which was another adventure in and of itself, but I digress.

Fast forward past another huge bill including 3 tire patches (the slow leak was fixed) and an alignment I was once again mobile. Much poorer, but mobile.

Week 20: Should I just drive this off a cliff and put me out of my misery?

 Once again, I noticed the car was pulling to the right. I was now pretty good at testing the psi tire level, and the front right once again had a slow leak.

I refused to pay more for another patch so I started filling the tire ($1 at the gas station) about once a week.

Hatred level for car: very high.

Week 25: New lease on life (just to be clear, old car, new tires!)

With the help of M and my brother-in-law the car got some new, less evil tires.

Shiny new tires!

Week 36: Present day, extreme paranoia mixed with cautious optimism 

9 months later, I am older, wiser, poorer...with about 5 months to go on the lease! I'll try and keep an update on if the car explodes. On the plus side, I do love driving, and I have definitely been healthier (less exposure to the germ factory that is the bus). We'll see how it goes...