Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sick transit paintia

 Sick self-portrait
Marker, coloured pencil, 
and watercolour crayon on notebook paper
6 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
It should read sic transit gloria -- Latin for "so passes
the glory of the world," but in this case it means sickness
stops painting.  I woke up with the room twirling violently
yesterday, and was very sick.  Steven called Medvisit
and a sweet Dutch doctor came, tested me thoroughly and
concluded that I had an inner ear infection which causes
Vertigo.  May I just say that Vertigo is bad.  Not something
you ever want. Twirling rooms, horrible nausea, and I had
not had anything to drink, or any obvious cause.  The doctor
put me on antibiotics.  The room stopped whirling.  But I
am still feeling punky -- so here's today's offering, a quick
self portrait before I go back to sleep.

Be well.

Have an I'm-not-getting-sick day.

16 comments:

Sheila Vaughan said...

Get better soon Barbara. My mum has had vertigo. It is not funny.

Kim Rempel said...

Oh Barbara...awful! Speedy recovery my friend!

Pam Holnback said...

Hope you get well soon!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sheila,

Thank you. No it is really not funny. I'm sorry for your Mum.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Thanks so much. I'm with you there.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Pam,

I feel a bit better. Thanks for the good wishes.

XOBarbara

Liza Hirst said...

So sorry to hear this! I wish you a quick recovery, Barbara!
Great drawing!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

It was a great surprise to me. Thanks for the kind encouragement. Yes -- it's a sick drawing isn't it?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Nicki said...

Hi Barbara,

Oh... not fun at all. Vertigo is brutal. I hope you have are feeling much better soon. I can't believe you got a sketch done while you are feeling so bad. You are inspiring!

XO Nicki

eldon said...

Really sorry to hear you're having to deal with the vertigo. Get better please.
E

cohen labelle said...

this is an amazing portrait and your friends love you - I echo their sentiments - but you exemplify the cliche 'no experience is wasted' by putting pencil to paper - and in so doing you rally - I guess with the help of antibiotics and the Dutch doctor and Steven and Sam! I'm so glad you're on the mend - might one expect a graphic novel from this? snuggling in bed with Fiona and a good read and drifting in and out of sleep is not a waste of time!
Love, Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

It is brutal indeed. I am never sick beyond a bad cold, but was 10 years ago, and Steven and Sam were so worried that this was going to be just as awful. It's not and I'm on the mend. Great news about your show.

Super work.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

The vertigo is over, but I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Still I'm getting better. Promise.

Your friend in Toronto,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

I wish I had the oomph for a graphic novel. But you've got it right, Fiona the faithful Siamese is with me
non-stop, and I am on the mend. Antibiotics make me very, very tired -- not used to the feeling. Glad you say it's not a waste of time -- hoping to be completely up and running tomorrow.

Love,

Barbara

Anonymous said...

Oh Barbara, i wondered why your usually regular posts had ceased for a while...i thought maybe you went away. I'm sorry about your vertigo. It's wretched...had the same thing last year, it was scary. in the end believe it or not the best thing to relieve symptoms was a remedy that is homeopathic "vertigoheel". It took away the horrible spinning. I'm really glad you're now on the mend. By the way you are amazing to get a portrait done while sick. good one.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Thanks so much. It has been rough. The vertigo went away as soon as I started the antibiotics, but the nausea and horrible lack of energy is just starting to recede. Whew. I realize how blessed I am to be well and have tremendous energy most of the time. So there's the good part.

Thanks for the medicine recommendation. I better get some in stock, and thanks for your kind words.

XO Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!