what it took

What would it take to get me to wear my bike helmet. My ugly, uncomfortable helmet. I always thought I would wear one if I had one that was mine and not something that was given to me that doesn't fit. Today I bought a helmet that I liked. It is white with colorful polka dots. It isn't very aerodynamic but my bike itself isn't very suited to the city anyway. I rode it all around today and am very pleased with it.

It took a death to get me to wear my helmet.

Yesterday I road past a crime scene; Burnside was blocked off and police were milling about. Yesterday, Sean had told me about passing it right as they were pulling a tarp over a body. This morning Sean called me and told me it was Tracey Sparling. A new student to PNCA, a transfer student and communications design major. I didn't have her in any of my classes but I'm sure we have met in passing. She was 19. Even if I didn't know her, just by being here it brings us all together.

I took part in the memorial ride for her. We went up Burnside, hundreds strong, a slow procession dinging our bells. Being there was very surreal, the spot where she was killed was a spot I pass every day on my way to school. I'll bring some flowers to the spot tomorrow.

The day was just an odd haze for me. I went and got my helmet and a little strap to put around my ankle for loose pants (some pants don't roll up well and I don't have rubber bands big enough). I went to the bank, was told to come back in an hour and a half because the lady was going to lunch/meetings. Went to Goodwill and found a close enough to the pivotal part of my costume. Went to Pro Photo and got two more rolls of film (the last I will have to buy). Went to the school to see the memorial. Went back to the bank and opened up an account. Went back to my apartment.

Lindsay lost her voice, I had to call in sick for her this morning. She is still ill.

I left early to see if Red Light/Buffalo Exchange had any of the other key parts for my costume. Buffalo Exchange had the pants (for cheap too, booyah!) and another part. All I need is the hat now. Didn't need to go to Red Light. I then cruised down Burnside and at around 5:45 met at the Bridge and waited for the procession to begin.

After we rode to the spot, I parted ways and went to PNCA for the art film night. More people here this time so that was great. Paprika was fun but I was really distracted.

I left after Paprika, and Jim and I chatted at length over some hot beverages (mine was a steamer with raspberry goodness, his was something with caffeine). We parted ways and I was about the ride home when Nate, Jack and a guy I didn't recognize but he clearly thought my name was awesome came out from the movie night. We talked a little bit and Nate and Jack left and I talked with the mysterious third guy who is named Blair. He was checking out the school and also NCA in Poulsbo so I told him about the area (both Portland and Kitsap). We parted ways and I was about to ride off when someone shouted my name and I turned around and it was Craig, Matt, and Andy. Some more talking at length. Craig left for the studios and Matt and I talked about hanging out tomorrow afternoon. Their ride (Michael) showed up and so then I made my getaway before any more familiar people could show up.

One of my Olympic College classmates died in a car crash. I don't really understand that hole that is created when someone you don't know, but are aware of, dies.

baaa-a-a-a

Got my Internet back up. Easy peasy, reset all the IP's myself with no need to call Nathan. I'll try not to make a habit of blogging the day after.

Worked more on musical textures for our photos in class. I think I am starting to get it, rather out there for me but that is good. It is bending my concepts about things and stuff. Gordon really knows what he is talking about, art wise. He is very smart just a little aloof but I think that is great. He told us about how Allan McCollum is going to be in town and giving a lecture so I'm going to try and check that out.

People are getting sick all over the place. Lindsay has lost her voice, Matt is sick, Sean was sick. I'm drinking my vitamins so I don't too get sick because I know if I get sick I will still go to school. I don't like missing out on things.

Mel's friend Melissa is in town. Mel is short for Melissa. Melissa and Melissa, how cute is that? Arvie let her sit in with our drawing class and she did some really nice art.

My contour drawing, while the head was big I still liked the detail in the folds. My lady ended up being a little small on the page as I was trying to get the whole composition around her in as well (he set up some wooden slats with drapery). She is small but fairly well proportioned I think. I think I'll bring my tube with me today and bring some of my work home.

I had a dream about this certain kind of granola bars with chewey chewey pieces of fruit and tasty tasy pieces of chocolate. My dreams now have commericals in them, dangit! So anyway, I saw it as a sign and went to get said granola bars from Trader Joe's during lunch. I ran into Matt and lunch and we rode up together. The granola bars were delicious. Everything I wanted them to be.

Sean was making steak and had Black Sheep from blockbuster. The steak was tasty and the movie was fantastic. The creature effects were marvelous, Weta really knows their stuff. It also wasn't really a stereotypical creature feature and behaved totally separate from any idea I thought it might have. Wonderful movie. Oh and Weresheep! Those were cool. I think it and Severance would make a good double feature.

No advertisements in my dreams tonight. Whew!

macs have their revenge

The internet was reset at Goose Hollow and I need to get the new IP adress so I can connect. In other words the internet was down for me last night and so there was no post because of it. Guess I shouldn't have made fun of all those people with macs who didn't have their internet for weeks (macs are lame).

Having the internet down gave me time to tidy up the apartment and to read the new volume of Exterminators. I just love that comic, it is setting everything up wonderfully and the story telling is brilliant. The colorist does such a good job, really lovely piece of work. I love how Mrs. Perez became an exterminator and whooped butt on those roaches. I need to reread it all, so much is going on and there are only three volumes out.

I got all my six photos in for the line/texture/value assignment. My value pieces were a little iffy but all in all I had some dynamic photos. The last one of the surfers looks great, all the fancy burning and stuff worked out wonderfully. Had to time it for 23 seconds at 75 magenta and burn in the sky for 10 seconds at 45 magenta. Oh how I wish it were as easy as taking a photo but like abstract art it can't be done by just anyone.

We moved onto video in Time Arts and we spent time fooling around with some clips of kids washing a dog and getting familiar with iMovie.

Mum emailed me saying dad might not be home for Thanksgiving.

And Happy Late Birthday to dear ol' Grandpa Pedersen.

Tyler Durden works at Trader Joe's

Broke in my new bike baskets. Okay not broke but I used them. After the darkroom I went to Trader Joe's to pick up some groceries. Great prices not much in the selection department. They had orange juice, cookies, grapes, bananas, apples and those really good Terra chips so I was set. The nice guy who wrung me up (I believe it was at the "Flanders" register, as all had little street signs from the streets in the Alphabet District) had a name tag that said "Tyler Durden". He made my two bags even in weight so it would be better to bike with. The mass of the baskets made me rethink how I was biking and what I could squeeze between and I bumped into them with my leg on occasion (but it wasn't at all painful so it's all good). Got back home nice and safe with lovely groceries to stock my cabinet.

Wrote up some post cards and sent them out. Sean came over and brought with him UBER GOODIES!! He bought me a tube for carrying art (it is blue and semi see through and has a shoulder strap and is awesome) and he made brownie/cheesecake combination that was delicious and total face stuff worthy. I stuffed my face good and we watched the awesome that is House. They do mix it up occasionally on the show and when they do the episode has more impact and meaning. After House we watched the last hour of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Horrible movie, just bad acting and general lack of...yeah. Silver Surfer silver surfed for about 10 minutes and then Doom wrecked up the place (okay I kind of like Doom but only because the actor who plays him is also one of the doctors in Nip/Tuck and I totally need to add my address to the parents Netflix so I can watch the fourth season of that show).

I spent my time in Digital Tools trying to figure out the audio texture of bubble wrap, skirts, jackets, doors and hula hoops. Yeah. It made a lot of sense at the time and now when I think about it, seems a little crazy. But hey! It's art school.

We have returned to models in drawing class (hurray) and for the first part we did gestures and a subtraction figure study. The second part was a more geometric/measuring way of drawing the figure and we were introduced to crosshatching. My first drawing looks snazzy, the second ended up being unfinished.

Went to Subway with Michael for lunch. Thank GOD someone else out here likes Heroes. And it turns out that Matt and Andy are Michael's roommates. I put two and two together and figured out that Matt was the guy that was with Michael at Stumptown Comics Fest and Craig had been with a tall fellow that I realize to be Andy. Small world!

After drawing I spent two and a half hours in the darkroom. Did a bunch of shots of Ibanez and a few shots of Diana and Chervona for fun. 5/6 of my images done and will have time in the darkroom tomorrow to work on that final one. Huzzah, I am on top of things!

basketed

Woke up with terrible pains all up my legs. My thighs hurt when I put pressure on them and my calves ache when I twist my legs in different positions. Not sure if it is vitamin deficiency, dehydration, or just the extra funtime exercise I did over the weekend. Either way, it has stuck with me all bloody day. Ahhg. Advil worked a little bit.

Art History, we went over the pre-Greek art. Pretty spiffy and I was able to contribute to conversation. Got a B on my test, which was pretty spiffy because she only took away points from the areas I know I missed (locations and titles). We got out a little early so I called mum and asked her to send me some important top secret documents.

Felt all confidant and stuff when I was helping set up the darkroom. Walked about like I knew what I was doing (and I mostly did). Sally liked a great deal more of the photos from the two rolls, and I did too. Some of the night shots look great and maybe two of the photos I took of Chervona has parts in focus/not blurred. The beach trip photos have a thick blanket of gray. I developed a smashing picture of grass and plant life blowing in the bluff winds and a shot of the street at night, both of which she was all "oohhh!" over and said that "I got it". Huzzah. I'll probably work in the darkroom after class tomorrow, just gotta do two more prints for the assignment. And about six prints just for fun. And go to Trader Joe's and go shopping.

Rachel brought in her baby Byron during lunch. Cute little kid; wasn't scared of me or nothing. Rachel also had dyed her hair with the same bang dye job as Diana's. Well similar to it, looked really great.

Finished up my animation during class (about 10 people still did not have theirs finished; I thought they were due today and I was behind?). Put it into the animation lunchbox and it looks AMAZING. Exactly how I wanted it to be. I forgot to draw the clothes on the lady (she climbs over the box and it tips and she rolls over the front of it out of frame) but you can't really see anything...Hahaha. If I have time I think I'll ink it and reshoot it. The pencil lines are soooo light. Oh and put clothing on her. Diana was helping me animate it and when I finished and hit play she went "woah!" and Rose came in and went "woah!" as well. After class she complimented me with some more "great job"'s. I'm so proud of myself. I doodled a bit more of the lady in the animation. After speed drawing it is hard to slow down.

Rode home with the aching legs and swung by the front office to see if a package had arrived for me. And it did! I have side baskets for my bike now. I attached them all by myself too (Lynsey helped with one of the screw/nut dealies but I did the other five all by my lonesome). Really hard to do it by myself, lots of maneuvering around the basket and back tire and reaching around with a wrench and screwdriver. But I got them attached just faboo.

Sean stopped over right as I was starting to work on my sketchbook assignment so we sat on my porch drawing together. I didn't have time to not do my city scape perspective assignment (to ignore it and watch tellie) tonight so I moved my TV onto the porch and we watched Prison Break and Heroes as I drew the city around me and Sean drew whatever.

Prison Break: OH MY!! THE BOX! Ahhhg how why what? Prison Break always amazes me with their lack of compassion for main characters. It really moves along. They could have drawn out the "what is in the box?" bit for a few more episodes but NOPE. They didn't. And ahhg I can't believe they did that. And Michael doesn't know. Oh gee, at least he is smart enough to not trust Bellick. Hee Hee and Sucre is back, they can't get rid of all the characters.

Heroes: Okay, so he doesn't care what is in his box and he snogs bad-accent. Pfft. And Sylar can't quite recoup his powers which is a bummer but he did need a cap on his abilities somewhere along the line. Haha I loved Kensei's expression as Hiro ditched him. That was brilliant. And HRG as the enigma is back (I'm wondering if their is a second guy in those frames but probably is Bennet as Bennet was sorta bad). And Claire snogged that guy? He was a peeper! Ewewew!! Those twins and their plot line bore me, maybe because my reception is fuzzy and I can't read the subtitles.

Not so happy with my cityscape, oh well.

Legs hurt, blaaahh.

missing pipes and a little drizzle drizzle

Got my two rolls developed at Fred Meyer today. Both were done in twenty minutes with no problems at all. Take that Rite Aid and Pro Photo! The Fred Meyer was on 20th and Burnside, when I biked their I remembered it as the area I got so lost in when I was first biking back to my dorms over a month ago. It is all so familiar and easy to navigate now. Well easier. I don't know why they don't have a bike lane on Burnside, seeing as how it splits Portland into North and South. Sort of a major road.

After that I went to PNCA to work in the darkroom. The darkroom had the chemicals ready to go but the water was weird; there was a missing pipe and the temp gauge said the water was well over what it was supposed to be. I didn't want to fiddle with it alone so I just cut my film and put it into the sleeves (some of the shots look great, booyah!).

On First Thursday, at Floating World Comics, Jason told me Exterminators volume three was in my box. I picked it up today and still have not read it (whats wrong with me? It is AMAZING the only trade paper back I'm actually splurging on). Its my reward, I have schoolwork first!

Biking back from Floating World Comic's it started to rain. I am now familiar with biking in the rain. Bike gets good traction, I just get chilled.

I'm a little over 2/3 done with my animation. The last 1/3 is the fast part so it shouldn't take as long as the first thirds took. Watched Death Proof while working on it. It's much longer with the added scenes but I don't really like the added bits and without Planet Terror the first part is painfully boring. But that car chase is AMAZINGER since I last saw it.

Earlier today I did my laundry, wheee! Oh and I had some of Sean's stew for dinner and watched a little bit of 5th Element. And I ate some more delicious taffy.

The sprinkler is still leaking.