Dad has improved and is off Chemo treatments. It's been a hard 3/4s of a year since last August, and he is on a monthly monitoring to see if he will need further treatments.

As for myself, the majority of my surgical pain is thankfully gone. I am able to drink caffeine again in abundance.

I haven't been on messenger lately due to sleeping in on the weekends, work has seen me get a minor back injury. It was nothing serious, but they needed to redo their safety regulations.

I hope you are all well, and look forward to drawing again soon. Lots of sketches on the desktop are unfinished.

Dad's on assisted living at the moment, so in addition to the chemo treatments and doctor's visits we have certain things that need to be done before and after I return from work.

My apologies for the lack of content I can produce. People who have commissions are always welcome to a full refund- they have waited far too long.

I wish you all well. This isn't easy.

Back and forth from the hospital as well as having the flu and missing some work allowed me a little down time to rest.

As it stands Dad is loosing too much nutrients through the treatments, they are continuing; but we will see for how long.

Before I know it, it will be the end of the year.

Hope you are all well.

Dad's surgery has failed, and they did not wish to spread the cancer further as they discovered more than they could safely remove. Last month he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and now it's been a battle to keep him healthy enough for Chemo Therapy.

Every moment not spent at work was rushing him to a doctor's office for blood tests, and eventually back to the hospital where he succumbed to jaundice a second time. The last stint put into his gallbladder now allows him to drain without clogging, so that much has improved.

I'd had finished some drawings if not for Jury Duty which lasted the past two weeks. Thankfully the parties involved settled out of court, as it was a partial blame workman's comp. case. We were going to find all parties involved responsible- and the the two companies wanted to cover their asses. Very complicated and uninteresting.

Due to Jury Duty, my car in the shop and Hospital bills piling up it's left me with no free time for myself. I return to work tonight, and considering the swing of things I and the other contractors will be terminated by year's end or the beginning of next.

Time to start on a new resume.

I hope you are all well. Sorry for not being online. The summer is never kind for free time with me.

Currently working 48-56 hours a week and between Doctors appointments and the daily chores I've had no time to work on artwork. My apologies.

Dad's surgery was a bust, they couldn't help him without spreading the cancer as they found another malignant growth upon exploratory surgery. As it stands he's currently being looked at as a candidate for Chemo and kept on insulin in the mean time. Mom will have her eye surgery on the 24th, and I am still recovering from my own same day surgery 3 weeks ago.

When it rains it pours.

The reason I haven't been around much, or on Aim is due to my father's pancreatic cancer.

Since Dad's condition it's been a lot of sleepless days for me. Right now they are determining how far along it's spread, and if he is a candidate for surgery if there is still time.

Currently he has just had his tracks drained, and his jaundice has gone down so his skin and eyes aren't green and yellow anymore. It looks like he lost about 30 pounds in his upper body and is still in a weak condition. His gallbladder was thought to be the cause of the problem at first, and upon inspection of the biopsy and a few hours in an MRI machine was diagnosed at Vassar.

I haven't stopped working, it's just that I cannot expect when the doctors office visits and emergencies arise; so when I am not working at night I am back and forth for him during the day. By the 26th of July I will know if he can have removal which will involve a 6-8 hours process of rearranging the surrounding tissue and removing as needed.

As always if you need to get in contact the cell phone is left on for obvious reasons. I'll try and livestream where I can get an hour or so for myself and draw on my overdue work or personal things. My tablet hasn't had internet access at work, but I remedied that with my employer yesterday.

AC was very enjoyable, and I agree with a new acquaintance. The more I think about it, the more I am glad I didn't stay with a single group the entire convention. I am writing this so late afterwards because the job has had mandatory overtime on a slow portion of the quarter, so it's been grueling.

It was relaxing this year, and that is a first for me. I am glad there are no people to constantly please, and I can just run off and do what I would like. I think during the con I was a philanthropist though between social events, that blind guy and his wife, one woman who hadn't been at a convention in some time and needed help getting situated, and a number of smaller fiascoes. Felt good to just relax.

I never saw the cleaning lady so happy before either, apparently I was a good tipper and so were many others. The people on the street seemed happy the convention was going on, no more remarks about "Cartoon Nightmares" or pedophile slurs as I walked. Bars emptied, and people asked me to snap pictures. I held about 12k in cameras all weekend long.

Saw people I haven't seen in years and it felt good. Tried to offer refunds again, but people insisted on having the art instead of their money back. That was moving for me, and felt good. I am glad I didn't stop caring about that type of satisfaction.

There was a person following me who shouldn't have been following me; but surprisingly the people I was with chased them off or made eye contact for me to shoo them away. I am dreading that this may have been  sabrewing 's doppelganger who harassed that guy with the infant. That stalker in question was carrying multiple different badges. I wish I had snapped his picture, but we kept scarring him off before I could get the tablet ready. He was always about 10 feet away before he stomped off with a sour face each time he was spotted.

Oddly enough people who had seen me at previous ACs and had avoided me, had no trouble approaching me this year and enjoyed some socializing. Got to talking about the reasons they stayed at arms length, and it's understandable. I apologized they saw me at bad moments with certain people. All in all it felt really good. Wish I had had more time, but I was constantly on the move.

I hope you are all doing well. I'll have a few days off this week in between some unexciting work periods. Work continues on art, but my father has fallen ill and needed hospitalization. He will talk to a surgeon, but they cannot give him anything within 4 months and that's a lot of time for things to go wrong.

This week has seen a doctor's appointment nearly everyday. Ah well, the doctor already told me I was healthier than he was and I am too young to be there. It will be a few tests for a while.

I offered most commissioners in person, or by proxy a refund at AC. Everyone said no, they want the artwork; so I strapped up the Air Conditioning and have set into the work. I am touched by the faith, but I keep explaining my time constraints. Hopefully I can steal a week near the 4th of July and dedicate that to working on commissions. I can only hope work let's us have a furlough since there is little to nothing to do. Again, thank you for letting me make good and thank you to the people who had taken refunds. I still have your sketches and they can be easily done stream once the others are completed.

If you got a sketch from me at AC, please scan it and sent it to me. I'll be happy to edit/redo it. My apologies for being preoccupied, but those health issues just kept bugging me when I was suppose to be relaxing. I was flattered the people I drew for were happy to spend some time chatting as well.

I had a fantastic time, and I'll get in contact with MJ about those badges. Hopefully she'll let me make up the not hanging out with her up somehow. I shoulda asked for her cell phone sooner ><

I'll be at Ac at the double tree. I decided to just go for my own room when I saw some options had opened up.

If you wish to get in contact with me or meet up, I'll have my tablet computer as well as my cell on hand. Although I have an ear piece I tend not to wear it, so I am not rude when talking to people-so don't be surprised if I don't answer immediately. Note me for contact info, and I'll be on twitter as usual for direct messages.

This is the first vacation I've had in a while, and I intend to make the most of it. I am currently working on a sort of 'Game of Thrones' sorta badges style for the theme as time allows. Hopefully I can get them done in time to at least be view able on the mobile digital portfolio. It's gonna be weird going without a physical sketchbook or materials.

Have a safe trip to everyone going, and enjoy not spending money for those who aren't.

I found there is a hide comment function! How nice. Just what I needed. Shows you how often I get online.

Work has been rather grueling lately. Hopefully by the end of the quarter I will have a day or two to myself.

I managed to snag a day off of work, but it doesn't look like there is much free time in my future regrettably. I'll see the regulars at the live streams.

Don't get me wrong money is great, but I'd rather had some downtime at least once a year. I don't foresee myself getting anything done, which is regrettable. Commissioner's money as always is here and waiting to be refunded. I have not forgotten about those who are owed work.

Got the first Christmas party for work tonight, and the other department has invited me to theirs as well as a show of appreciation for next week.

Been looking back at the archives of things I've been able to save, and I feel things have been slowly improving. More time and devotion would help, but I cannot do that in this economy. All commissions were retained from the last drive failure thankfully, and this is the first time I don't feel like scrapping them and starting over fresh.

Should you want a full refund as always your more than welcome to it, and I've already accommodated two people. I've kept you all waiting far too long.

I'll have Sundays off so that is an extra day to stream this month. Thanksgiving went well. I hope the rest of you are enjoying the weekend.

If you care to watch me draw or have a request your always welcome at the livestream. My status is updated on my twitter account rather than here through journal spamming and take down submissions.

http://twitter.com/#!/Palladinthug

I'll be sure to update that on my page info.

As for news I have been looking at acquiring a Photoshop license and a 24HD Cintiq. Only draw back is- they are sold out of the tablet everywhere I look. I'd rather not buy a second hand 21UX on EBAY with screen blemishes and have the pen with the unit to start straight away with drawing.

Even the main page is sold out, and I understand it's a new product but I thought the 2700 price tag alone would deter people enough to not buy them out. I can only guess the industry has eaten them up. It bugs me it claims to be HD when it's a DVI port and not a HDMI plug connector. Maybe I read the specs wrong on connectivity, or don't understand how far DVI can go in terms of resolution; but I saw no improvements other than 3 inches more than the 4 year old 21UX.

I'd rather not buy a new 12UX. Even a used one is 500- and putting that towards a better product may make all the difference.

I'll just have to wait. Ebay doesn't even have any auctions of 24HD up since the product is so new. If anyone has experience with said product please tell me your opinions on it. I've seen a variety of reviews in the last 4 months of shopping for one.

I've backed up all my data. I'm not gonna repeat that mistake again a third time. WD 1TB drive USB 3.0 keeps me up to date. UPS works fine. Wacom instous 3 still works great, so I'll just grin and bear it.

I hope you're all well.

We just got power back- and it's looking like sections of road have been washes away and broken to bits. Half the area here is being pumped out and has been evacuated as the power company hands out water and dry ice. Thankfully I wasn't one of the people who lost power for more than 2 days as there are some waiting on a week before being allowed back into their homes.

I think this end of the month activity cinches my chances of getting a comic together on the side lines of this job- I managed to back up everything on a 1 TB portable drive ahead of time and managed to lose nothing thanks to the UPS warning me of impending failures throughout the day.

At this point I am not sure what to do, I've been employed for over a year now and am down to 222 pounds, losing nearly 38 from last year. I've already beaten my goal of 225 for this year and now have to move on to working upper body.

I have a long 4 day weekend ahead of me, and while I would like to stream a bit I cannot guarantee I will even be available online in an unbroken stretch as I am seeking a chance of promotion to double my pay scale. As it stands the lead software tester will be talking to the manager again. Should this happen this time, and it has passed me by twice already due to not having a copy of my degree offhand, I will have substantially more money available.

I'm starting to wonder if I should just buy a tablet and write, paying someone else to do the art for me. While I do like creating the look of a character the long and harrowing process of a total process is beyond me and will be well beyond me if I start working at the software level at this job (Where the servers costs 1 million dollars and the software for said server costs 20 million).

Not to mention I've unfortunately been dumped with the task of running my area. I didn't want to be the boss. I didn't want this. It just happened. I cannot even fathom why they would all think I was in charge just because of my snazzy jacket. And what's worse is they poke fun at me. So far I've been called the good humor man, and a host of other things like ice cream man. Everyone asks me for chocolate ice cream of some type or another. that's another thing all my ice cream was not salvageable, and I was saving it.

It's not a bad jacket, it's just that I don't wanna be in charge.

What's worse is that the other shifts all start talking to me like I am in command, and while it is nice to be prepped in advance to start and let others know what they are doing to get us up and going I don't see the logic in it all. Simply because I run things smoothly and the big boss is away, the tech is elsewhere- somewhere- oh God please come back- and the supervisor is...where is my supervisor? I haven't seen him in three months, he left one day and said "John, good luck!" I thought he was joking. Please come back.

Anyway I haven't had any real problems to speak of, other than a distinct lack of time. There have been some little communication issues with people online, but hey that's nothing new for me. People wanna be moody, and I wanna be elsewhere. Have some ice cream. You'll feel better.

Also I forgot to tell you I committed a class A felony, and no one cares. Apparently the issue with the economy is too great to worry about some guy rummaging around the restricted government supply areas on a day the operation is closed simply because he cannot understand what a holiday weekend means. I didn't want to be a workaholic, but it's just so much more rewarding than talking to disembodied text on a screen. Which is what I'll be doing next of all things.

I need to buy more ice cream this weekend.

I've been busy at the new job. I didn't say anything last year due to the unusual circumstances of where I work and the nature of the business. As it stands I currently doing well.

Despite working in a business that is all about computers and software I am strangely and sadly the only one who knows how to use them or handle drivers/firmware etc. These software engineers/testing/operators don't seem to have a very good grasp on actually using a computer outside of a very limited routine. One of them cannot even update their blu-ray player. A great deal of these people are 50 and over, making it difficult to associate on pleasant terms.

Updates have been piling up, and I haven't had time to post many results due to the week by week schedule which changes on the fly. I'd like to post more, but it boils down to simply choosing exercise over sitting down and drawing. Had I nights to work on drawing, instead of working third shift things would be different.

2 commissioners have finally accepted refunds via pay pal. I still have the money for the others and do not intend to spend it. If you want a refund please contact me with your email for PP and I will send the money to you as I have all the receipts handy. I do wish I could commit to finishing, but I'd much rather you have a full refund at this point, regardless if the work is done or not.

I don't intend to share the results of these commissions and the people who commissioned me were shown regular progress, all of which I was dissatisfied shortly after making. It's entirely a personal preference and the commissioners shouldn't have to pay for my dragging feet and inability to remain flexible. If after you receive all your money back and still want the work, it will be given to you at your discretion.

I hope you are all well.

I'll post again when I begin it rather than just a reminder. People kept asking me on messenger why I hadn't done this, and it has been so long I'd forgotten. Sorry to those people who missed out.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/palladinthug-sketch

Password: lion

I can't believe so many of you look at sketches. I'll be working on a commission or concept.

Well 29 now. Currently job hunting, and having a tough time working on comissions while the power goes on and out all throughout the day. I finally reset my password as I keep forgetting it. I'll be going to another Graduate open house soon. Hopefully this one will actually be informative about the programs and not just show off the campus.

I'll be updating soon with people's work for commissions and stuff towards the Nemean Lion. It may please a few of you to know Nemmy and his enemies have a home now. I'll talk more about that as it develops. As it stands alot of characters who were concepts and descriptions are getting

I'm tempted to ustream work on comissions just to get them done, though xp is very unkind to streamers and desktop recorders as the dreaded siezure inducing cursor can occur. I'll download a few new apps and post a time if that works out. If I feel like doing work towards a character for the Lion I may do that as well.

I'll be offering badges with a caveman theme soon and post a few samples I did for friends up as well as I struggle between outtages. One of the main things I do now a days is draw women. It's terribly consuming, and I find myself just staring at women's faces. Improvement is coming, but at a snail's pace. It seems there are tricks involved around the hips and cheek bones. I blame Rexxwolfe and BearKing. Thankfully the problem with the video card just needed a standard cleaning and reseat.

Thank you to all the commenters and watchers from the past month. It surprises me how many new people pass through even without me updating. I suppose that in itself is encouragement to get new stuff up all the faster and get the layout together. Take care all.

People rarely read these things =D

New water heater today, so hopefully no more sponge baths. I may even get to shave!

Expect the 16th to see Spiritwolf's and Rexxwolfe's commissions and a bday present for Rexx. EDIT: Sinus infection. Terribly behind.

May 4th will have Rasslor's commission done. Between then I hope to have other things done as well.

Got linework waiting to be colored from the other commissions.

I'm getting Stoneage concept art done for the AC 2010 conbook. If you'd like to OC and get in on that, I'm usually on Skype or Aim with Maskedlion or Saberwing slaving away. Suggestions are welcome, but it must be clean after all it's for the conbook.

I got the Kindar project's concept and backgrounds underway.

I'm designing the cover to "Lion of Olympus" and already redid it about five times with the running people underneath em. I'll have the last few panels of issue 1 done by February 28th.

Jobsearch will begin as soon as they put net in my room. Also the whole being able to clean myself properly thing may help a bit too.

Don't be discouraged if I don't send you a note back immediately. As you can see it's been busy already.

People have asked about commissioning me, and I hope to reopen that as soon as I get the current load down. I'm also thinking about offering stoneage and greek theme badges. We'll see how time goes.

I have resumed commission work. It shall be uploaded upon completion. I hope the commissioners will be as happy as I am with the results.

Kindar and I are working on a small project together. More on that later.

The Nemean lion project will pick up once I get the commissions done. I've been working here and there on concepts, and so far people have been rather pleased. I am surprised to go through my trash folders and salvage a bit of the work.

Here's hoping to a happy and productive holiday season. With or without a desk and my main rig.

I knew Rusty from the time I met him at Fur Fright, and he was fun to talk with. He showed me a great deal of artwork, all of which I scolded him for not submitting to Further Confusion for their conbook. He admitted it would have been a great idea and he was still down on himself for it.

As I got to know him a little, I could see he was a man who was very passionate about his work. Particularly for his characters, and for his appreciation of other people's through his fan art and praise.

I regret I shall never see him, nor talk with him again. I did not keep in touch with him, and I was all the poorer for it.

If anything, perhaps Paul now has a friend to talk with, huh Keo?. Both of these men were all too young when they were taken from us. I'm still amazed how many pass each year, and how many more still to come.

Thank you oO.

I hope to post something if time and the situation allows it, but more than likely I will remain inactive until thanksgiving.

I've honestly never seen this many favs or watches before. I didn't do anything. You've really perked me up after all those drudging assignments in my first week.

I'm here, and currently have the rig set up, and getting things in order. I scanned in a few more sketches I may or may not upload and few more I may still finish up.

Commissions will be posted as well, and soon I may offer some special things.

The comic will take a back seat to school work, but it will still have some attention since I am not teaching.

Things look pretty grim, so I gotta work myself outta this hole.

EDIT: I always make sure to clear 'favorites' page by page rather than nuke. Thank you sincerely for your attention =3

Ustreaming now

5:40pm EST

Password is "mask".

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pallysketch

Woke up from a nap late.