I'm under a blizzard warning, yay!

I don't anticipate any real problems, and I'm still planning to stream this evening, but I haven't gone outside to shovel yet. There's about 6" of snow on the ground, and it isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow morning. We're also supposed to get high winds and drifting and blowing snow this afternoon, but I need to get out there and shovel at least once today, or the husband won't be able to make it in to work tomorrow. Hopefully it won't wipe me out. I'm not concerned about lifting things anymore. My surgery scars are all healed up and I don't even notice them anymore. There's just A LOT of snow, and I'm going to have to get out there and move it at least twice in the next 24 hours. Blah.


UPDATE:

Neighbor was awesome and came over to help clear my driveway with his snowblower! Spent afternoon baking cookies for awesome neighbor.


UPDATE 2:


Aaaaand I managed to briefly dislocate my right knee while trying to put on shoes to take cookies to neighbor. Owwww x.x

It's okay now, aside from a little soreness. It was more the shock of sudden pain and "dear god, knees are not supposed to make those sounds" that left me briefly curled up on the kitchen floor yelling in agony. Taking ibuprofen and letting it rest for a bit. 

I've been basically doing a soft open on commission work for the past week or so, and I figure it's about time to make it official. I am OPEN for new commission work again! If you were wanting something, feel free to drop me a note or email zannah[at]rainbowsaber.com

You can find my price spreadsheet here. If you have questions or need a firm quote on a piece, just let me know, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Right now I'm not putting a limit on slots, but if I somehow get inundated I'll cap them off around 10 and close for a bit again. I don't anticipate it being a problem, but that's just to keep me from getting overwhelmed. =)

For those who might be interested, the next chapter of A Night to Remember has been posted to my Patreon along with a brand new illustration! Patrons get early access ($1 minimum), and some fun thank you gifts depending on what level they pledge. =)

For those of you not using Patreon, the next chapter and pic will eventually be posted here on FA as well, after a delay.

I fell asleep with my cats instead of starting my stream this afternoon like I was supposed to, and consequently my errands/chores got pushed back. c.c Guess I needed the nap. In any case, I'm still planning to stream today, but it'll probably be later this evening after I get caught up on stuff around the house and feed the husband. I'll pop up the usual notices once I'm clear to draw.

Sorry guys, but I seem to have picked up a stomach bug. x_x

It's nothing serious, but I'm feeling less than myself today as a result. Hopefully I'll be back on my feet tomorrow and able to do a longer stream then. For now, I'm chugging fluids and gonna make myself some soup and take it easy for awhile.

I got caught up reading a book and forgot to stream tonight. Sorry. c.c;

Eee!

Thanks to a couple generous folks who've pledged, my Night to Remember Patreon Project hit its first milestone goal today! That means I need to carve out some time to work up a new pic to post with the next chapter. Patreon subscribers will get to see the new art and read the chapter first, in addition to any other subscriber perks they've signed up for. I'm super excited to get back into posting more of this. I really do love the story and the characters, and sharing them with you all.

To those who aren't using Patreon, no worries. I'm not a fan of pay walls. FA will get the same update. You'll just have to wait longer than the subscribers. =)

Hey guys,

Not sure if I'm up for streaming tonight. I spent over two hours in the car fighting Chicago traffic getting  kiba to the airport, and back home again, and my brain is just fried. I gotta try and make some dinner, and then I'll see how I'm feeling.

Packages went out today for:








Aurora

Hey folks!

I know this can be a touchy subject, but this is something I've thought long and hard about. Aside from adding a couple new things and a few tweaks, I haven't appreciably raised my prices since 2010. Five years is kind of a long time to be stuck in one place, though until recently I've been pretty okay with my prices as they were. I'd been thinking about raising them for awhile, though, so I tried an experiment at MFF this year. I didn't want any take-home work, so I made up a price sheet with higher than normal rates... And I still ended up with homework. Welp. That tells me pretty plain that I haven't been charging enough, so I decided to make some of those changes permanent for the new year.

Not everything has changed, and some of the increases are very minor indeed. Some are less minor. The full-color stuff is going up by about 50% in the most extreme case, but I'm also offsetting it by upping the base number of characters allowable at that price, so it's not really that big a jump from what it was. Also, if you are on my carry-over queue from last year, your rates have NOT changed. Anyone who commissioned me at 2014 rates continues to get 2014 rates until the commission is discharged. I'm not open for new work yet, since I still have a good bit of my queue to work on, but I wanted to give everybody a heads up so there are no surprises once I do open again.

I am open to honest feedback, questions, concerns, etc. I've run my new sheet by a few folks I trust before I released it, and gotten generally positive responses. I don't feel what I'm asking is unreasonable, and there are plenty of lower-priced things still available on my sheet. Nor do I mind doing things in installments or upgrading a piece as a commissioner is able to pay. I will not, however, tolerate abuse, complaints, or whining that my prices have gone up. This isn't a spur of the moment decision, and I do have a business to run. Not that I anticipate much, if any, of the later. =) Most of you guys are pretty awesome. You can find my new rates in a spreadsheet linked here:


http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4483638/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4483638/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4483638/

Hey Guys!

I felt a lot better today. While there's still the occasional sneeze and whatnot, it looks like the cold has run its course without further complications. No horrible wracking cough this time! And I can breathe through my nose! This is a huge improvement. Thanks so much, everybody who sent well-wishes. =) I'm really glad this was a short one with minimal symptoms. Hoping I'll be more or less back to "normal" tomorrow.

On the surgery front, except for some lingering soreness, I'm pretty much good as new. It's still a little tender in the area between my biggest incision and my naval, but I don't have to take painkillers constantly anymore, just incidentally when it bugs me. Everything seems to be healing up well, and I'll see my doctor again in 5-6 weeks for another follow up to make sure my body's regulating itself the way it's supposed to. So far, so good!

On the art front, I spent the last couple days on a personal project to keep myself busy (will share pics later) and should be back on track with commission stuff shortly. I'm still closed for new work until I get the backlog a little more under control. Dunno if we're doing anything for New Year's. We actually went out and had a nice dinner with  nicholai this evening, so tomorrow may just be nice and sedate at home. We'll see. I have no plans at the moment. =)

I'm a snot monster. :( so if you haven't head from me for a couple of days, that's why. Nobody wants to watch me sniffle and snort my way through a stream right now, so I'll spare you all until I feel better.

Hey guys!

I'm still a little slow and tend to tire easily, but I'm definitely back on track to being "normal" again. Much as I ever am. XDD I'm going to be whittling away at my MFF homework and my commission queue over the next couple weeks as I'm able. Just as an aside, I'm going to hold off mailing things out until AFTER the holidays. I don't want to risk anyone's art getting lost in the Christmas rush. So if you're waiting on something from me, I will be sending it out in early January, and I'll post a notice when it goes out. Aside from that, while I'm still sore, my pain levels have been much better lately. =) I'll be streaming art off and on. Just look for the notices!

I have been so blessed this year with the opportunity to meet and get to know so many wonderful new friends, both here and on Tigerdile and elsewhere. You guys are seriously awesome people! Despite a year of health hazards and financial tight scrapes, I feel like I've come out better for knowing you all. I've seen the trend of posting wish lists and whatnot pop up here on FA, but I'm not going to list mine now.

Yep, you heard me.

I don't actually NEED anything. The pain from my surgery hurts a little less each day. I'm warm and safe, have a roof over my head and food to eat, and kitties to snuggle and more art supplies to play with than I know what to do with. XD That's an amazing problem to have!

So what do I want?

I want all of you to have a safe and happy holiday. I know that sounds trite, but it's true. Things can get rough around this time of year. Do what you need to do to keep yourselves sane if you're dealing with crazy relatives. Take a moment to breathe. Stuff your face with delicious things and screw the diets for a little bit. Enjoy exchanging gifts, if that's a thing you do. Have fun!

I appreciate the time and the gifts you guys have already given me, so please nobody feel like you have to get me anything. I wish I could do art for all of you, but there're too many of you to make that reasonable. XDD Wow. When did that happen? Anyway, thank you all SO much for hanging out in my streams, chatting, commenting at me, and generally making 2014 a pretty kickass year for me. You all rock!

I am minus one ovary AND fallopian tubes on the left side, as well as all the cyst crap and endometriomas. The doctor also scraped the fibroids out of my uterus and removed a cyst on the right side, but that ovary is healthy.

We decided not to administer another Lupron shot today, so the office HAS it, but we’re holding off in case it looks like I need one more dose later down the road. The stitches are self-absorbing, and he snipped the knots today to help them heal faster, but said otherwise everything looked like it was healing well.

He gave me three boxes of BC hormones to start taking when I begin my next real period, and said to schedule an appointment for halfway through the second month once I’m normalized. That should keep the endometriosis under control. So yeah! That's the long and short of it.

I've probably mentioned it before, but it's worth putting out there again. and I won't be making FC this coming year. Between my medical bills and recovery time needed, it's just not feasible for us to do the convention this year. We can't swing the expense, and I won't be able to lift and carry stuff like I normally do, so we're sitting this one out. Makes me a little sad, because I love FC and I won't get to see those west coast folks who don't get out to this part of the country... but I still have holes in my lower abdomen, so that ain't happening' right now. c.c;

That being said, I'm interested in maybe branching out and doing a few more conventions this coming year than I normally do. I've had a couple folks ask me about FurSquared, which is a reasonable drive for me and held in February, so I should theoretically be healed enough to haul my stuff. Then the question becomes Artist Alley or Dealers' table, assuming they still have space. I dunno if they do or not. I only do conventions to work or staff these days, so it has to be economically feasible for me. If I can at least break even on costs, it might be worth my time. =) Not sure if the husband would want to come along or not. I like having him with me, but it's less work to haul just myself to the convention. Anyway, thinking about that.

 blaez is also prodding me to go to BLFC in May. =P I dunno, but I'm gonna do some cost analysis to break it down and see if that might be a thing I could do.

Hey, I feel like coloring, but I lack the brainpower to draw right now. Anybody got something they'd like colored?


1. Has to be either YOUR art, or you MUST have permission from the original artist if you didn't draw it.

2. Needs to be high enough resolution that I can print it out without it being a pixelated mess. Think coloring book page, or along those lines.

3. This means INK or CLEAN PENCIL that I can go over with markers after I print it.

4. I will pick ONE thing to color. If I feel up to it, I might do more. No promises.

5. And here's the big one: this is FREE. I just want to color. I'm not looking for any more commission stuff here.


Got something that fits that description? Link it in a comment or email it to zannah[at]rainbowsaber.com

I don't know which one of you sent me the Amazon gift card, but thank you! =D I got an e-book and some Apoxie Sculpt so that I can play with custom ponies again if I want to.

Yesterday started off kind of rough, but ended okay.  nyil came over and we watched food porn shows and documentaries. It was awesome. I've had to take the stronger pain meds again despite some of the issues I have with them. I'm a wimp. I don't like pain. I've discovered that I really do have to eat a freaking meal to get the damn Vicodin to sit without making me sick, but at least when it works I don't hurt.

The hot flashes have been brutal the last couple days in particular, but I'm not running a temperature at all, so no fever. Just sweaty and gross. I'm allowed to shower now! This is a huge deal. I love being clean. @.@ I'm very frustrated at being stuck mostly in bed... And have been yelled at to not push it. c.c

I know, I know. I'm just bad at the recovery part of things. I want to get up and clean my damn house, but I can't because I'm still hobbling hunched over like a little old lady. I can't pick things up. Can't run the vacuum, barely managed to load the dishwasher yesterday... Somehow I need to get the cat boxes clean before they turn into a giant stank disaster. Argh. u.u this is why I try not to get sick. So much of this stuff Nius just can't do, and when I can't either, the house goes to shit. Right now I just want to get things under control before  nicholai gets here next Wednesday. Supposedly I should be driving by then. We'll see. My follow up appointment is the same day. Hopefully I'll also find out what they actually did to me that day, since we didn't get any information on the actual day of surgery. Blargh.

I'm mostly just grouchy and venting. I AM getting better. It's just not happening fast enough to make me happy.

Yep, I'm off the Vicodin. Ow. Still, soreness is better than puking. Got up long enough to feed the cats and check my email, and now I'm back in bed waiting for the Tylenol to kick in. I may try drawing later today if I feel better. Being stuck waiting to heal is the worst part. u.u.

Well, I'm awake now, more or less. Not sure if I can keep taking the Vicodin they gave me, though. Even with the anti-nausea drug the doctor prescribed, I'm starting to get that codeine related stomach pain again. If I have to tough it out on extra strength Tylenol again, then I will, but it really, really sucks. Right now I'm sore, spacy, and kind of cranky, so I probably need to take another nap. Ugh. Recovery is the worst part. I know it'll get better, but right now it just sucks.

Oh, in other news, I am now CLOSED for new commission work until I get caught up on what I already owe. I will also be changing and updating my pricing after the first of the year (this will not affect anyone who is already in my queue). I raised some of my prices for MFF in an experimental attempt to not have convention homework, and it didn't work. c.c So there will be some increases next year, though I'm also going to change the structure a little bit. Still working out the details on that.

Oww. Hi internet I'm home and sore and have kitties keeping me warm. I sleep now.

Hey all,

Just wanted to let people know we're home from the con. It was a pretty easy trip, considering that we live about half an hour from the hotel. =D Did get to see someone arrested and hauled off by the police when we stopped for lunch on the way home, though, so that was exciting. Lady tried to skip out on paying her bill and made the cops chase her. Got arrested over a $9 lunch bill.

Anyway, I posted earlier, but we're both fine in the wake of the incident at the Hyatt. We evacuated with no trouble, other than the alarms not going off in our section of the hotel. We thought people were just being obnoxious in the lobby until Twitter exploded over the chlorine. Our room was all the way across the hotel and several floors down, so while we did get a whiff of it because we waited to evacuate, none of us suffered problems from gas inhalation. Spent most of the time in our nice warm car, listening to the police and fire people take care of things. The Hyatt staff were, as always, an incredibly professional and attentive group. Please don't pester the hotel or the convention for refunds. It was out of their hands, and it's not reasonable to demand money back for a criminal action they could in no way have anticipated or mitigated. Also, punishing the cleaning staff by withholding tips will NOT hurt the hotel. That only hurts the minimum wage workers who do all the heavy lifting cleaning those rooms. Be sensible, and don't be assholes about this, guys, seriously.

In other news, I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning! I should be home again around noonish, according to my doctor. If you want to follow whatever progress I can post, my public Twitter handle is asholohan and I'll be sending updates when I can. I make no promises about how coherent I may be, but usually I shrug off anesthesia pretty quickly. I don't know yet what they're giving me for painkillers, so we'll see how cracked out they leave me. c.c; I had folks at the con suggesting I do an art-while-drugged Tigerdile stream for crazy-ass commission slots. If I did that, I'll put away any REAL paid work first because I don't want to wreck my con homework because painkillers made me loopy.

Hey guys!

Sorry for the lack of communication. I feel like death warmed over, but I am just fine. That's mostly lack of sleep. We were several floors down and on the opposite side of the hotel from the chlorine, and while the alarms didn't go off properly on our floor or in our room, we evacuated safely. We spent about four hours sitting in our car on the top floor of the parking garage with a couple friends who had been visiting our room before we got the all clear to go back inside. We're all okay. I'm just tired from running on about 3.5 hours of sleep.

I worked the artist alley open to close again today. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and said hi or chatted with me. This weekend is such a blur that I will probably forget who you all are, but you're lovely people. I have homework to do, which I'll get to after the con and my surgery once I'm no longer medicated. As for right now, I need a nap. Hardcore. Ugh.

Woogh, done with Saturday in the alley! Now I sequester myself in my room and plug away at art until I have to sleep. Guess I should eat something too, heh. Well, I'm room 612 at the con if anybody here happens to be on site and wanted to stop by. Just gonna be arting.