It's here! It's here!

I was chatting with my brother when I heard some really loud and urgent banging on the door. I run downstairs convinced that someone is chased by a whole bunch of hungry zombies: tired from all the running away, they (the victim-to-be, not the zombies) are desperately trying to take refuge in my house.

Ok, I can't really draw zombies. Yet.

I got to the door and opened it, ready to fight off any zombies that might be getting too close. All the kitchen utensils are by the back door, so I was sure I could grab a can opener or spatula if needed.

Zombie spatula

But there were no zombies, there was only a grumpy old guy there. As soon as I opened the door he put a sizable box next to my feet and instructed me to sign for it. I signed quickly and shut the door, just in case the zombies were around the corner.

I picked up the parcel and looked at it. It was for me. For ME. It could only be one thing. It's here, I thought, feeling a bubble of excitement appear in my stomach. I run upstairs and started clawing at the box. It felt like Christmas Day.

The box was sealed pretty well with lots and lots of tape. I clawed some more. I tried pulling. Then pulling and clawing simultaneously. Then I remembered that Egyptians invented scissors and that I own a pair. I found the scissors but couldn't really use them properly - I was getting too excited and needed both my hands to operate the scissors. I finally got into the box and inside...

...there was another box.


I took it out and tried to slow down my breathing, as it was getting out of control. I felt very excited and a little lost. For a moment I didn't know what to do, but then I peaked into the box and inside...

...there was another box.

It was all too much for my little head. The excitement bubble was growing and squishing my organs more with each passing second. I was so excited that I felt confused: what the hell is going on with me? Any more excitement and I was going to hyperventilate and have a panic attack.

I gave myself time out: left the third box unopened and went downstairs to get some food. I figured that putting some food on the excitement might help to control it. Either that, or I will just choke on the pasta bake and end this ridiculousness for good. Win-win.

Eating helped a bit. I could return and face the third box and anything it might contain (although I prayed silently for no more boxes).

I opened it and inside...

...was my new shiny graphics tablet.

The excitement bubble growled under the pasta bake, but I shushed it and relatively calmly unwrapped the rest of the contents. It's here.



End Notes:
1. I can't draw zombies. I'm not sure why I did, but I did, so here they are.

2. I don't normally get this excited, I think it must have been a mix of post-exam stress, hunger and delay-frustration. With a tint of excitement.

3. I spent that day drawing lots of random things just to get a feel for the tablet, as I've never used one before - turns out it's quite tricky and it will take a little while to get used to. I need to sort out my computer and some drawing programs. I hope that things will get better and easier over time. For now I'm just playing around. Sorry if it's not up to your standards. But then again, if you got through all of the above nonsense and you are reading this - then maybe it will be fine.

4. I wanted the drawings to be in colour, but I quite like the sketches... What do you think? I think I'll pick one style and be vaguely consistent in the future. Might take a while though.

Delay

I hoped to have at least one proper post up here by now. That hasn't happened.

It hasn't happened because I decided to buy a graphics tablet before I start blogging. I was about to buy one off Amazon last week when a random clicking through sites led me to a land of Low Prices. The prices were a lot lower than on Amazon and, the poor student that I am, I decided to buy the tablet from the magical Low Prices land.

After initial troubles, error pages and a few emails to ensure my payment was received I managed to place an order and decided to give it some time to sort itself out, as I imagine even computerised-order-systems have the right to take a day off during a long bank holiday weekend. I waited till Tuesday morning and then climbed up onto my chair and switched my laptop on. I waited for it to boot.

Yes, this is the way I sit on a chair.

I got rather excited when my mail program updated and made the familiar PING! I got even more excited when I noticed that one of the emails I received is indeed from the Low Prices land.

I hoped my tablet has been dispatched and is on its way. I would have it soon. I would have it soon and could start drawing all the awesome pictures bashing against the walls of my skull. It was going to be truly awesome and everyone would love it... 

Then I read the email. It wasn't an order dispatch, it wasn't even an order confirmation. It was a question regarding my order and a stupid one at that, as I already provided those details earlier.

That meant a delay. My tablet is not on its way, it's still stuck somewhere in a horrible and dark warehouse, all by itself, wondering whether it's ever going to find a new home. I was disappointed, but answered quickly to ensure that the order gets processed asap. I sat back, but promptly received another email with a new question. I answered the email. They couldn't open the pdf file I sent and so emailed me again. Then told me to email another person. I emailed that person and explained the whole situation the best I could. They had questions though. I answered. They directed me to someone else. Who had questions and wanted the files. Then couldn't open them. I sent info in a different format. They had questions...

I tried to be understanding and stay calm, but with each PING! something in me rattled. Maybe those were all the awesome pictures increasing their against-skull-bashing rate and desperately trying to get out. Maybe it was the realisation that the poor little tablet would have to be lonely and scared in the horrible dark warehouse a lot longer than I anticipated. Maybe I just got conditioned against the PING! sound and associated it with problems leading to unpleasant delay. I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that with the last PING! I suddenly had enough. 

The frustration erupted in an aggressive, although short-lived fit. I growled at the laptop waiving my arms at it, as if it could solve all the problems and stop the PING!-ing. It didn't. The fit was quickly over though and after answering the last email I received a confirmation that everything should be in order now, they have all the information they need and will proceed to process the order for me.

So hopefully I will have my lovely tablet in a week and can actually make a proper start here, drawing some slightly more impressive pictures than the ones above. I just hope that the tablet will make it out of the horrible warehouse without any serious psychological damage caused by the prolonged wait. Psychologically damaged tablet + contents of my skull might be too much for an average reader.

Under construction

This blog is going to be full of illustrated stories. There are a few things I need to sort out first, so...

...please. Thank you.