Happy Chinese New Year!

Xi Nien Quai Ler! Gong Xi Fa Chai!

In short, Happy Chinese New Year to you all, my loyal (and begrudging) supporters! No, this isn't a continuation of the story, but rather a short break to wish you all good fortune and good health in the upcoming Year of the Dog. Now that my year (Rooster) has gone, it's about time I started thinking more seriously about life and taking more responsibility.

Either way, make sure you don't break any of the new year taboos and follow the recommended fortune-bringing steps. Doesn't matter anyway because I'm rather hopeful that this year will bring good fortune to us all. Enjoy the company of your family and friends and don't forget the good food.

I'll be back with the story (or some other filler material) shortly, but one of the taboos is not to use sharp objects during CNY. Cut off fortune, you know! AHA! You all take care then!

Uninvited - The Story Pt 3

BM: Funny thing, though... If you just stop and think for a while all that resentment eventually dissipates and what fills the void is a sense of admiration. We were well and truly beaten by the best, and they weren't poor winners either. Shaking hands, we bid each other farewell.

BM: If you let that admiration stay with you, though, it can sometimes become something stronger. Although the competition was long over, there was this nagging little thought in my mind that I just couldn't get rid of. My little encounter with her had left a permanent impression.

BM: Of course as time passed I began to accept that I would never see her again. Our schools were far apart and the only thing I had of her was a memory. Man, I sure was pathetic and I regret that. Anyway, it's not like I didn't have other things to think of at the time. Exams were drawing near and preparations had to be done. Panic partially dulled the emptiness.

BM: Strange thing about my life, though: God has always given me second chances. Always. I don't know what I did to deserve them, but this was one of those times...

(To be continued...)

P.S. Additional notes in Comments.

Uninvited - The Story Pt 2

BM: Yeah, life was pretty good for a while... or as good as high school life could be. I was with a team that consisted of some of the best the school could offer and we held our positions firmly.

BM: That was before we faced THEM in a debate. School vs school and we had the homeground advantage. Man, I can't even remember the topic anymore much less wether we were for it or against it. It didn't make much difference anyway. All our advantages did us little good.

BM: They blew us out of the water. She alone could have taken us down. She... who at that time seemed like a terrifying warrior with her words. Every trick in the book was thrown at us and the judges loved it. She was relentless and almost demonic in her abilities. We were way out of their league.

BM: Defeat was bitter. There was the standard line-up of emotions. Fear of what we were up against. Disbelief and denial at our loss. A short burst of indignation, but mostly a seething resentment at our shattered pride.

(To be continued...)

Uninvited - The Story Pt 1

BM: You know what? Love really stinks.

D: Yeah? What do you know about it? Is there some dark tormenting secret that I haven't heard of before?

BM: Hmph...



BM: You ever hear the song 'Uninvited'?

D: That Alanis Morisette song?

BM: Yeah that's the one.
BM: I tell you, there's not another song that stabs me as much as that. That song always brings on the memories...

D: Surely you're exaggerating. It really can't be as bad as that.

BM: Well, there's a story that explains why, but it's long...

D: Call me curious... what happened?


BM: Well.. when I was in high school, I was an avid debater and elocutionist. Even represented the school a few times...

(To be continued)

I've got an angel on my shoulder.... la la la

My apologies for having a rather mediocre (and fairly uninspired) post. That 'story' I promised in my last one is still under works. I was working on the story line and then deciding how to make it work out. I'm WAY too lazy to make it in a proper comic format and the story needs to be told in proper words anyway, so I'm still deciding. I'll probably cop-out and do a cheapass version, so be prepared. Don't expect anything too remarkable too soon either way.

On towards the pic introductions. Like I said, for most of the week I wasn't very much in the mood for sketching. Call it 'uninspired' if you will, because I certainly wasn't. Not until fairly recently anyway, but I digress.

At some point, the depression thing struck again. Not too work-related but it was of the rather personal-sort. The 'I-am-not-worthy' kind and lo-and-behold out pops another depressed chap. This one doesn't seem to match the creepiness of the last one, so I apologise for that. Can't you see he's already in enough pain?

Second one started out as a hamster-rat-like creature. After that I stared at the empty space and said something like 'Gee, that's lame. I wonder what else can I do to make it even more so?' End result? A giant hand coming to grab it. Wow. I just had to have a flashback to when my family had a pet hamster.

Now the LAST one was when things picked up. By now I SHOULD have impressed the fact into you that I am ONE helluva slacker. You really must be asking yourself, what makes me keep doing this? Well, partly I'm one vain S.O.B. and I crave attention. But even more than that is the numerous support I get from many parties. One solid supporter is very much like Seraphim is to Piro (Megatokyo, as discussed below: http://www.megatokyo.com/). Constantly bribing me with things to keep putting stuff up (even if they're half-arsed). Naturally, she isn't the only one seeing as even my sis has made passing comments (and that's high praise, if you knew what siblinghood was like!). All in all, the supporters are the big push this blob of laziness needed to keep this up, so thank you.

Okay, mushy... must mush now. MUSH!

Hey wait.... who's that girl?!?

And a late evening to you peeps! I'm fairly on time this week! Woohoo for you! Nevertheless, I had some leftover sketches from the last update and one recently finished one! The heat has gone and work has resumed but sleep has been fitful. Oh, well...

Picture 1 was supposed to be a tribute to this FFXI online representation of one of the characters on MacHall (http://www.machall.com/) but ended up looking just queer. I know, the pose is a bit stiff and the sketch is rough, but it was a second thought addition. Now, while this isn't topping the charts of my favourite webcomics, I'll have to say they can be very insightful (painfully so, often) and rather funny at times. It's interesting to note that they show a notable progression of art to something similar to Applegeeks (see below). All-in-all a very good comic to check out.

Picture 2 is a tribute to Sin City. No, not the original comics. They are pretty gritty and gruesome, but you should know by now that my preferences tend towards manga and anime. Still, the movie was awesome and the storyline fits my sadistic mind. Everyone loves Marv and his nasty, nasty ways in the movie. Well, no matter what criticism I have against Frank Miller, I just can't emulate his work. Therefore I present to you a really bad version of Marv. If you haven't seen the movie, go see it NOW.

Oooh... who's that girl in picture 3? Who's this enigmatic little Geisha? Those captivating eyes and the sensual pose? Perhaps you're wondering if she was taken out of my twisted mind. HAH! Well, if you don't know who she is then you're better off not knowing. To you who do know, well... I can only hope I captured the right... elements.

And picture 4, another passing fancy. See, I got this book with crazy Japanese fashions seen on Shibuya and Harajuku for my birthday (a long while back). I have terrible sense of fashion and thus all my previous sketches are so drab looking. Well, I decided to open up the book and choose some fashions to sketch here and there for ideas. Well, here's one. I'll work on some others later.

Just another note that my friend and I have been discussing putting up some past memories into comics but there are several issues I would not like to reveal at present. Nevertheless, it was good to reminisce of the old days. I shall put into consideration this option for the future. Stay tuned. Until then, take care and enjoy the new year. Hope it's been good. Oh, did I wish you all a Merry Christmas? Well too late for that. Enjoy anyway.