Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Since I've Been Sick: Captain EO, Festive Lily, and Misty Watercolor Meeeeemorriiiies!

After two weeks of being down and out with a mild cold-turned-ear infection, I still have broken glass shards for sinuses, I'm half deaf in one ear - which is completely clogged - and near-deafened by the loud ringing in the other, which is not.

I've been living in front of the humidifier, sleeping sitting up, drinking gallons of ginger tea, and using the neti pot once a day. I've been through a 5-day regiment of antibiotics, I'm taking huge doses of garlic and probiotics, regular doses of ibuprofen, and just recently Flonase. The only thing I'm NOT taking is Sudafed, since even this misery is preferable to a panic attack.

It's been SWELL.

Every night John assures me, "You're going to wake up all better tomorrow." I think he may stop, though, since the medicated glint in my eye turned especially murderous this morning.

Still, it could be worse, and today I think - I hope - I'm finally turning the corner.

I've had just enough energy to do a few things while I've been sick. Here are my favorites:

Last week, the day before we realized I wasn't getting better, I was getting an ear infection, John helped me make a special trip to Epcot. I was pretty weak even then, but I was on a mission: to say both hello and goodbye to an Epcot classic:


The last time we'd seen Captain EO - and the first time, for John - was in California six or seven years ago. He'd never seen it here at WDW, and I hadn't since it first opened when I was a kid. Blame my agoraphobia, which makes me panicky in theater situations.

I've been working on that, though, and I was determined to see EO one last time. (It closed permanently December 6th.)

The place was practically empty, so I got some nice pics of the lobby area:


Fuzzy panorama shot:


Inside the theater, a cast member let us sit in the very back row, usually reserved for the disabled:


They'd already turned off all the special features, so the seats didn't move and there were no water or air affects. Even so, it was awesome seeing EO on the big screen again. I literally sat at the edge of my seat, bopped around to the music, and wondered WHY I'd waited so long to do this again.

So in case you're keeping score, that's:

Jen: 1, Agoraphobia: In your FACE! 
(I'm bad at smack talk, I know.)


Just walking to EO had drained me, so we headed home right after. On the way we talked about this year's Christmas cards, and I suggested taking some festive - but ridiculous - photos of Lily.

John set it up, and somehow we got the whole thing staged, shot, and edited in one night. I'm keeping the final design a surprise for now, but here's one of my favorites from the "reject" pile:



"We must never speak of this again."

And finally, and most recently, I've been trying something that's honest-to-goodness artistic for the first time. John cut some watercolor paper into ACEO size, bought me a $4 Crayola set, and told me to have at it.

 
 I'm still getting the hang of it, of course, but it's been surprisingly nice just experimenting.

Here I'm trying out different outlining styles:

 I hope you guys like the middle one, since that's what I went with. o.0

Those will be gifts for a few special people who I hope wouldn't have preferred a nice candle or something.

And speaking of gifts and awkward segues, I just listed a final batch of Epbot pins over on Etsy. Anything that doesn't sell by tomorrow (Thursday) night will be pulled, so if you'd like a pack in time for Christmas, be sure to grab it now!

49 comments:

  1. I love your Epbot drawings! SO nice! The shading, the varying line widths, the simple elegance of all of the designs is just really good. You're an artist, aren't you?

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  2. those cards are the cutest ever.

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  3. Aww those are so cute!!! I love the middle one. EO was there when I went to Disney as a kid. I really enjoyed it (even if it meant we didn't do Haunted Mansion) and I'm sad to see it go, but totally understand. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

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  4. Those are all cute!

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  5. Love the catch up on real life, lol!
    I saw Captain EO when I was at Epcot in March -- glad I did now since it is closed.
    Love the Lily picture you posted.
    Absolutely adore the water color pictures! I love robot drawings, so it is perfect no matter which outline you use! <3

    -- Becky (dinkime on IG)

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  6. Congrats on seeing Captain EO! That's a radical victory! (I couldn't remember any of the slang from the film, but I know 'radical' is 80s.) Praying that you feel better and are healed up soon, too.

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  7. I had totally picked the middle one as my favorite before I read far enough to see that it was what you decided on! I feel special.

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  8. Jen, you are so talented! Hope you're feeling better very soon! Love the Lily picture too -- boy, does she look miffed. Congrats on getting to EO. I enjoyed going to the one at DL many times.

    -Zippy

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  9. Love the Epbot pics Jen!!!! And bummed, dont get paid till Tuesday and down to $7. ha. Oh Christmas.... I'll have to wait till the next round of pins!

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  10. Hope you feel better soon!

    I have fond (if fuzzy) memories of seeing Captain EO with my cousins when we were at Disney for a family reunion a couple of years ago- glad you got to go make a memory one more time before it closed!

    And hooray more pins!

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  11. I'm sad now. I saw Captain EO as a kid and we are planning a trip in May, I'd already told my husband all about it too.

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  12. Captain EO has always been my absolute favorite attraction at Epcot. I saw it 56 times over the years, and I got to see it at all three parks where it played. I'm going to miss it.

    Hope you're feeling better soon!

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  13. Oh wow I love all your crayon drawings. Hope you feel better soon!

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  14. Oh my gosh! You should *definitely* keep playing with water colors. I think they like you.

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  15. Yay, I finally got a set of pins. Woo 😀

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  16. First, I don't think you need to worry about your cold anymore because Lily is clearly going to smother you in your sleep. ;-) Second, your watercolors are AMAZING. More, please. Much much more.

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  17. I had NO idea that EO was perma-closed :(

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  18. hooray! I got some pins...and dang straight...just keep drawing...it's great! <3
    Oh, and Lilly? She's a good sport.

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  19. Some unsolicited advice from one panic-sufferer-with-sinus-issues to another: Children's Sudafed is a good option. I'm also small like you, and I find that a dose for a 4 year old (yes seriously) is enough to take the edge off of sinus trouble without causing anxiety or racing heart. It can be hard to find but ask at your pharmacy counter!

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    1. Have you ever tried Coricidin? It's a brand of Sudafed but for people with high blood pressure (HBP) so it doesn't have the pseudophedrin in it. It's all I can take. One pill of regular Sudafed either leaves me in a crazy panic OR totally tweaked out -- instead of making me sleepy, I'm literally crawling up the walls and feel like my heart is going to explode. Just a couple of years ago a doctor suggested trying an HBP formula and it works so well for me! I'd never heard of the brand before, but it is popular enough that every pharmacy chain makes a generic knock-off.

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  20. Sounds stupid but works: 1 tablespoon local honey with 1/4 tsp cinnamon; take it 2 times a day for 3-4 days.

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    1. Yes, I've heard that one! I warm it & add a little lemon juice, too, which makes a fantastic cough syrup.

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  21. Poor Lilly... Now I'm going to go home and do that to my cats, I'll send you the results. :D

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    1. Mwah-ha-haaa! YES. (I made sure to get her out of the sweater within about 15 minutes, to minimize the humiliation. ;))

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  22. Triple your liquid intake! Go lay on your left side! Soak in epsom salts! More chicken soup! Ok....that's all the medical advice I have. Hope you feel better soon.

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  23. Jen you are seriously talented. If this whole blog thing doesn't work out (heh) you should try selling your art. Or maybe just sell your art anyway because I love it and I would buy it.

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  24. the middle was my favorite. a close tie with the one on the left. for me personally, the one on the right was outlined too bold. in reality, they are all fantastic. you are quite talented! is there anything you can't do?

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  25. Aw...I had no idea Captain Eo was still going. That makes me a little sad. Also-your art is lovely.

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  26. I'm so glad you were able to see Captain Eo one last time. Personal victory ftw. So many good things in your life! And the sick. That sucks.
    How is the Epbot fundraiser button working? Is effective?

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  27. Love love love the watercolors! Gorgeous!

    Ok, wish I had known about the Sudafed/panic attack connection this past fall when my allergies were going crazy so I was constantly taking Sudafed (the one otc medication that seems to work for me)...and having constant panic attacks. While my husband was on a long work trip and I was alone with our two young kids. Good times. I will definitely remember that for next time!

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    1. Oh man, yes, steer clear of Sudafed! Even peeps with no anxiety issues at all seem to have them on it.

      Also, if you ever have dental work or minor surgical procedures that require numbing, tell the doc to use the non-stimulant lidocane/numbing shot. I learned that one the hard way, when I had a panic attack within 15 seconds of getting the shot. o.0

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  28. Please consider selling prints of your watercolors. They are awesome! I'd love to put one in my geeky corner, with my homemade lanyard of Cake Wrecks and Epbot pins. (Okay, so the lanyard hasn't exactly happened yet, but I swear, it's going to!)And that picture of Lily is one of my favorite things this year.

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  29. I've been trying not to get sick for about two weeks now. Today I found I have finally lost the battle. Ugh. I hope you are truly on the mend, and only partly in hopes you will post more so I have something to do while *I* am laid out on the couch drowning in mucus.

    Yes, yes, the middle one is my favorite, too, but I NEED the one with the snitch. Must. Have. You are selling these in the future, yes?

    On a final note of glee: I scored my pack of Epbot pins! I am soooo, happy. They are all mine! Woohoo!

    -Just Andrea

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  30. Oh! And...I would totally be okay with a full post of Festive Lily pictures. In case you were wondering.

    -Just Andrea

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  31. You are so talented! I hope you will include one of these in your art roundup give away!

    Hope you on the mend -- hugs!

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  32. Dammit, seriously? The pens are sold out again. Darn it, I keep being too slow. I'm gonna need to put your store on alert on my phone or something.

    Oh, wait, this shouldn't be all about me. I hope you feel better soon!! My ENT told me to use my sinus rinse two or three times a day if it helps.

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  33. I've been sick off-and-on for about three months with cold-flu-strep-something-or-other. Also went 10 days on antibiotics, Flonase (which I stopped because I broke out in a rash over about 40% of my body), double doses of anti-histamines, probiotics, etc., and I have to say the only thing that's really seemed to help is - Sudafed. Or what I call pseudo-Sudafed because you can't buy the real thing here anymore.

    Have you tried the pseudo-Sudafed (real name: Phenylephrine HCl)? It might not give you panic attacks.

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  34. When I saw EO when I was...14? 13? they didn't have the special effects of the seats, etc. That would have been pretty cool (and freaked my mom out!) So thank you, THANK YOU for letting us say goodbye too. *sniff*

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  35. Jen, if you still think you haven't done anything "honest-to-goodness artistic" before, then you're just being silly. Figment looks like a movie prop, he's so realistic, your Lady Vadore costume /was in a museum/, and let's just look through your vast collection of cosplays, jewelry, furniture, and other handmade stuff. Girl, accept it. You are one gosh-darn talented artist. (And so is John, Mr. Let Me Just Build This Entire Room. But this post is for Jen. Sorry John :P). Your watercolors already look awesome--you really have a knack, and you put so much energy into making all these beautiful things. Let us heap praise upon you :)

    Plus, if finding the most adorable cat christmas pajamas isn't a work of art, I don't know what is. All her fluff is squished, teehee! Seconded on a full post of festive Lily pictures so we can all vicariously enjoy your patient cat. I think you're a really awesome person and I love hearing what you're up to. Congrats on going out to EO!! Woohoo!!! GOOD JOB BUB errr JEN

    Anyways, you are an honest-to-goodness artist, and I hope you feel better soon! <3 =^.^=

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  36. It's going around, 3 people in my office, including myself are sick with it. I don't know if you drink alcohol or not, but my husband's family swear by this. a shot (or less) of goldslager (sp?). It numbs the through just enough to stop a coughing attack. Its cinnamon flavored. I take just a sip or two when I'm coughing so hard i can't breathe. The alcohol burns away gunk, everything calms down. i try not to take a lot since alcohol restricts your blood vessels, and you want stuff open, and you have to make sure it doesn't interact with meds! But after 3 hours of suffering last night trying to sleep, it did the job. My doc recommended zyrtec, which dried me up tonight. feel better!

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  37. Feel better soon!
    BTW, am loving the new banners on CW which lead to Epbot posts. It's like "Where's Waldo" to spot the'Bot on the banner. Where's he going to pop up this time??!!

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    1. Ha, I'm so glad! Although John's set an impossible standard for us, since we have to hide the 'bot in ALL of them now! o.0

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  38. Jen, I have to say, I'm rather jealous of your watercolor ability. I've dabbled in all sorts of mediums and watercolor is the one that I feel I just can't get. It's infuriating! :) My Grandma was really good at it too, so I'm always in awe of anyone who can get it. Kudos to you for trying something new, and being pretty good at it right off the bat!
    I truly hope you are feeling better like, right now. <3

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  39. I don't know if you're using the NeilMed neti pot, I use the sinus rinse bottles now daily for hay fever. But should it develop into an infection I step it up to at least twice a day (apparently up to six is safe). There's even the option of doubling the packets ("Hypertonic") to get that gunk loose and OUT!

    I hate it when the ears join in, I once had to present at a conference half-deaf, ugh.

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  40. I love your Epbot drawings, I would definitely buy one if you started selling them and I hope you are feeling better soon.

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  41. I recommend Zicam mentholated nasal spray if you have nasal congestion. It's almost magical. I only take meds as a last resort (not for any real reason except stubbornness), so I have to be extra miserable to take it, but it works miracles. I usually keep Sudafed on hand because I have drainage problems and it makes me somewhat prone to ear infections, but I take it so rarely I haven't even been able to look for a panic connection (though I may have attributed panic to claustrophobia triggered by difficulty breathing).

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  42. Feelbetter soon! I fail at neti pot use, it ALWAYS ends up clogging my ears. I know some folks who love them though. The watercolor looks awesome! As for the pins...ARGH...yet again I have failed to get my hands on some. This time due to not reading the post right away because of my daughter being sick he last few days. Curse you etsy for not alerting me!!

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  43. Your watercolors look great! You're every bit as good as some of artists you feature in your art roundups.

    Several different kinds of REALLY nasty respiratory stuff is going around. Up here in Gainesville almost everyone I work with has had something or their kids have. I've been sick 3 times since the first part of October.

    You may want to double check on using the Neti pot right now. I've been told that Neti pots are great for hayfever but you shouldn't use them if you have a sinus infection because it can make it worse and can cause an ear infection by spreading around the germs. You've already gotten the ear infection now (sorry) but something to keep in mind for next time.

    My doctor is really big on using Mucinex since I get panicky on Sudafed too but I recently learned the hard way that there is a rare interaction with abuteral inhalers that can aggravate low mood if you have a tendency towards depression. It wasn't bad enough that I'll avoid Mucinex entirely but it's one more thing to keep an eye on.

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  44. Those explorations into art are very worth you doing a lot more, Jen!

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