I drink [my] milkshake

Yoga was cancelled today! Nooo! I'm all tense and stiff, I need the bending! So instead of getting bent I made my comic run. Got the new issue of The Boys(awesome) and Doktor Sleepless(need to get caught up). Daniel and his beard were in the shop as well so we chatted about comics. He suggested some and said he would loan them to me so I didn't have to buy them. What a swell guy. One of the indie comics, The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane(actually it is a children's book), caught my eye when Daniel pointed it out. It has such beautiful artwork and color (Crane is a printmaker, or so they say) that I picked it up on the spot.

I didn't etch or print in Printmaking. I mostly viewed another long long demo and worked on correcting my plates. I added hard ground to one, aquatint and hard ground to another, and smoothed down the bigfoot one. Now it will have a shadow of the old image when I redo it. Actually I think the leave have potential to be quite cool and airy.

I gave a little speech on Gerald Scarfe. It wasn't the best. I should have practiced more. Passed around my tome of an art book.

Comic club was more pizza and more jamming. Not as awesome as the last jam but still quite fun. We finally got paper for our own utilization. Now we just need to compile the comics into a zine.

Hung around school looking at places and contacting a few people about them. I need to bike around North Portland a bit to see how far I can go and what is an actual reasonable distance. I have no sense of biking time and space when it comes to other areas. I should learn. If the weather is nice on Saturday I might go out.

I came home, did my laundry, got some groceries, made a milkshake, had dinner, read some comics, and generally relaxed. Miss my yoga. She offered a makeup on Sunday.

THE LIST

It is 10:20pm Tuesday night. I have three things left on my "oh my God I'm stressed out with all that I have to do" list. The first isn't due until Friday and that is a proposal. I just have to figure out what part of the book I am adapting. No biggie. The second is figuring out what to do for my Art History piece. I already have an idea, I just need to sketch it out and start on it. Also no biggie. The third is just a general, "I need to print" memo.

In short: I have passed by the major stressful assignments. I have the painting rewrite in. I have a good chunk done on my sequential piece. I wrote my paper on Gerald Scarfe and selected images from my artbook to show the class. I have my stone etched. I am ready to take on Finals Month.

So Experiments in Drawing was mostly discussion. Is just talking about a concept art in itself? How do you price work? And some other stuff. I contributed a little less to the conversation than normal. It was really hard to jump in as I kept having people talk over me. This was true for a couple people. Mmmm. I walked back home with Lindsay. It was raining slightly but that was okay.

I perused Craigslist for apartments and ate some lunch. I want to move out after this semester so now is the time to look. Hard to find a place when you are a student with no income (seeing as how I won't have my custodian job when this semester ends). I went in early to talk to the lady at housing. She gave me some lists of places to call and other print outs. It is a pretty long list, must be a few cheap places open.

After that I sort of threw together a better proposal. I'm still not solid on it but I think I can make it work with a more careful choice in my subject matter (who I paint and how I present them).

Painting was spent working on my mountain men piece. They are dancing around a fire at night and the drumming mountain men catches a wink from one of the dancing mountain ladies. Charlie digs it.

Returned and picked up some library things. I have some open time to relax now. Whoo! Need to take it, because it will be crunch time soon.

Final Project List/Things to Finish by Finals:
Art History: Renaissance to WWII: Piece influenced by Art History/Final Test/Final Paper on a piece in the Portland Art Museum
Experiments in Drawing: Presentation of a concept. No piece produced, just an idea and have that be art (yeah, I don't know either. Somewhere along the line the "drawing" part was forgotten from the title).
Painting Techniques for Illustrators: Sequential painting. Series of portraits that reflect a timeline of my life.
Printmaking: Intaglio & Lithograph: Finish first stone and six prints. Second stone, two color prints of currently unknown number. Rework old plates and produce some more prints.
Illuminating Manuscripts: Comics, Strips, and Graphic Novels: Read and respond to Alan Moore's From Hell. Produce my own comic (I am illustrating in comic form a scene from Ryu Murakami's Piercing).

That's it.

task master (I wish)

Whoo! I am back on task!

I have a good restart on my sequential painting. I just emailed Daniel about the comic jam and anthology. I did half of my experiments in drawing assignments (I didn't quite know what was assigned for the other half, I'm not too worried). I have some ideas about my rewrite, but that isn't on the deadline yet. Yup. Still frustrated but getting less so. Now that I have my list. Always have to have that list.

Art history actually filled a class with great theory and interesting concepts. Libby got into a great monologue about her quest for the sublime. We looked at The Death of Marat. So powerful. Amazing to think the portrait was based after post-mortem etchings David did. MMmn.

Yoga had a couple new faces. It was unusually stressful on my shoulders today. Normally I don't have as much pain there but today it was hard to stand. I'm also really tense. Yoga is much needed!

I met with Martin French, my developmental advising dude, after class today. I think he likes me. My opinions on Modou were not totally one sided. I know what I need to work on and asked mainly how to seek them instead of deny or wait for him to point it out. He said that I have the potential to be a really great painter. It was a nice little meeting. And because I met with him on Monday, the first day and when he was all open, I got a special prize! A micron pen! Whooo!!

After my meeting I did the photoshop assignment for Modou. Didn't take that long. It also doesn't look much like a pencil drawing. Ehh. Yeah. That class is that class. It is what it is.

The nice weather is all gone so now I'm not over burdened by my sweaters and coats. I love my new bike route. So much more scenic. Much better view.

Hung out with Karen, Robin, and Jen tonight. We watching The City of Lost Children in the background (I have forgotten so much of that movie). It weirded them out a little. Then again, it is a movie that if you look away for 10 minutes and look back you are normally faced with some weird happening on screen. What can I say, it's French. I sketched and started painting my sequential. The lighting looks a lot better. The more dramatic, the easier it is.

Now I sleep a little easier. A little less stressed.

frustrated I am

I don't like my painting. I'm going to just start over. It looks like crap. The color is washed out, or it is too thick and all wrong. I don't want to spend six hours trying to fix one piece when I have to do three. Wasted so much time on it. Thought it would be good. NUH UH.

Blegh.

Couldn't get a full night sleep. Ibanez kept bothering me. Lindsay is still gone.

I hate Sunday night. I am not ready for another week of school. I haven't even recuperated.

Transporter was a good action movie. Jason Statham invented whole new kinds of ass to kick. Read more Scott Pilgrim and got caught up with The Boys and finished American Virgin(what a horrible ending). That was fun.

Talked to mom about stuff.

I'm frustrated.

what a piece of work

I thought the first etch would take a long time to do. Turns out it only took me about 15 minutes. It is the other etch's that are much more time consuming. I over rubbed mine, or I did it too hard, and it became a little washed out. Actually, I thought some parts were too dark so I don't mind that that happened. I just wish I had more control and it was intentional that I did it that way. Oh well.

Got that done, I am way on top of things! Printmaking wise.

Since I got my paycheck I went to my local comic shop. I was only able to but Scott Pilgrim volume 4 and that was just because I had only my purse to fit it in. There was a new issue of The Boys out but I didn't want it to get wet (no larger bag to put it in). I am so going on Tuesday (or tomorrow...) to get it. Apparently Edgar Wright(Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Spaced) is in line to direct the Scott Pilgrim movie. The series isn't even done yet. He is a great director and I think he would fit nicely with the comic. The more I think about it, the more I realize just how great a comic it is. Go Bryan Lee O'Malley! You rock.

It was raining so I spent the rest of the day inside. Cleaned up. Snuggled with Ibanez. I took it easy because I didn't get a nice full sleep. Hopefully tonight I will. None of that waking up at 5am then 8:30, then 10:02 crap I've been having. OR FIRE ALARMS. Bah.

I picked up a package from Fedex for Karen. I've been her little helper on several occasions now.

Jim came over and hung out for a few hours. He uploaded his finished graphic novel onto my computer for my free reading enjoyment. It is around 150 pages I think, it was a big file. It has taken him five years to complete. Go Jim! But yeah, we hung about and looked at some stuff on youtube. I made us cheese steak sandwiches. He said they were quite tasty.

Nice to have some company. Lindsay has been out and about with her friends since Thursday afternoon (she has only been home once since then, and I didn't see her when she was).

My main Sunday goal is painting and emailing. Now that I have written it, I must follow through.

alarming

The fire alarm went off at 2:30am. I had to shove Ibanez in his carrying case and go outside in my jammies. I didn't get back into bed until about 3:00am. My alarm goes off at 6:30am. How I managed to get up, get to school, and stay awake through it all is beyond me.

Oh yeah. Green tea. Such a blessing. Just enough kick to keep me up but not addicted.

Well my first tea of the day was this Pomegranate White Tea. Tasty stuff. I love fruity teas. I barely nodded off once. The outside noise kept me alert as well. In between the people in between the walls sawing wood and the car alarm, it is really hard to find time for a few winks.

Matt Kindt's Super Spy is a pretty groovy graphic novel. I love the non-sequential narrative and how all the characters keep popping up in the background. I like stories that express the importance of all the otherwise anonymous individuals. It was put together really well. All the shorts fit together into a cohesive plot quite well. Not so fond of the artwork.

Work went quick. The MFA's did a heinous thing in one of the toilets that required some courage out of me to clean up. And here I praised how nice and good they were. Not any more! Jerks. The bathrooms all were pretty filthy so the intensive cleaning I do on them normally really showed this week. I drank another thing of tea for lunch, this was the green tea with raspberry. It was cold tea, and oh so tasty.

I finished Super Spy (we are talking about it over two parts of class) during my break and doodled a little on a scrap piece of paper.

We have to do a comic for our final in my class. I am going to graphic novelize a section from Ryu Murakami's Piercing. I like some of his other work more, that one is just more fresh in my memory and I have ideas for how to present it already. I don't have time to come up with my own story.

I picked up my paycheck after work. My largest one ever! Yay! But my largest paycheck from PNCA is still one-third the size of my paychecks from Olympic College. But money is money. Now I can go buy more Scott Pilgrim. And groceries.

I managed to stay awake for a few hours upon returning home but at around 6:30 I decided to nap. Ibanez stopped by a couple times to cuddle. I rolled out of bed to eat dinner and watch some TV on my computer. I'm going to return to bed in a few.

Tomorrow I shall etch my stone. That is my main goal.

Portrait of Llyw (work in progress)

10"x14"(total)
Watercolor on paper.
(this is a poorly photographed section of a larger work in progress)

no clue

In drawing class we had a lecture from Lennie about art schools from across the globe (mostly Europe). He talked about Slade and how massively prestigious it was and how he was part of the critique board there. I worked on a little drawing during the lecture. He didn't talk that much about the school in Belgium that I want to go to. We got out early.

I finished up the new comic club flier, photocopied it, and put it up around school. Walked and talked with Christopher while I was doing it. It is a pretty cool and catching flier. Very clear as to what it is (not like some others we have had).

Went home, worked on some pieces, read some of my textbook, ate some food, prepared some paper for class, and watched City of Lost Children. Well only part of it, I am going to watch it all the way through with Karen some time this weekend (probably). I am sure I did more during my break between classes but looking at my to-do list proves that thinking incorrect. I didn't do much. Damn.

Oh, I got my Easter care package from home. It had an adorable Peter Rabbit chocolate bunny which I chomped down. And so many fruit leathers and peanuts and sweets and pens and such cool cool stuff. Wheee.

Class was spent all in sketching mode. I'll paint it over the weekend and sketch the next part. Can't start the next part without finishing the first. Annie handed back all of our work. I only have a perfect score on one piece, and that one isn't that great. The ones I put serious effort into all came up short. Some I understand why, others it really pisses me off. I spent way more time on them than was probably necessary and still I don't get a good score. I understand her not wanting to be a "well you tried, here's an A" teacher but come on! Every piece, save for one, comes up short some how? It is a 13 piece stack and 12 of them... argh! That didn't make me happy. I also have to come up with a concept and a form of presentation for my final and I don't know how I am going to do that. No clue. None. I just wanted to get better at portraits. To be able to draw people how they look, to capture what makes them them and identifiable. I wanted to work on that but now I have to focus on how they work as a whole, how to tie them together, how to express something deeper. I don't think I have enough skill right now to do both. I know what I need to work on but I have to muddle that up with trying to overextend myself into forcing messages and themes. I don't want to do that but right now I'm loosing lots of points because I am not. Damnit all.

Walked around the stalls around school. First First Thursday in a while where they had them up. Nothing great beyond one nice artist lady from RISD who had some beautiful etchings.

I've started riding up Johnson and then going home along 19th. Its a bit of a climb at the start but after Burnside it is pretty much all coasting. The route is prettier as well. I got so sick of 13th.

Read more of my text. Ate some junkish food. Watched lego animations of Eddie Izzard routines. Stressed out. Really stressed out. I have to etch and write a report and paint and read and email some people. And I don't know how I am going to tie together my final in painting. Or what I am going to do in comic lit either. The school gives you breaks at the worst possible times. You get a good working momentum, then it all stops, then you have to do the pre-final push. And then then final push.

to the victors go the ice cream

Did some drawing tonight. Had to catch up on certain things I should have done a week or so ago. Not school related, other related. Can't mention it here though. I will later, just not now. I'M MYSTERIOUS!

I also had another cheese steak sandwich for dinner(or as someone called it, a Trilly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Har har.)

So I had printmaking today. I came in and only a handful of my classmates were there. I started in on the tusche for my stone. Rachel and Aaron were at my table in the back. Tusche was slower going than I thought. Took a lot of time to build up the layers.

Later on I noticed that only the people at my table were actually there, everyone else had left for whatever reason (Yoshi and the assistant, Maymie (?) were there). Rachel didn't return after lunch and Aaron left early. I was left all alone to tusche. Everyone else became a victim of the amazingly beautiful and sunny weather. They went to enjoy it while I sat and diligently did my work. But that actually worked out really well because Yoshi came back from lunch with mint chocolate chip Ben & Jerry's ice cream! He is so totally awesome. The three of us sat about and ate the pint and talked about assorted what-nots.

I fear my piece is a little dark. I can't go back or go over it. I'll look at it again tomorrow. I love the way the tusche dries. I hope the etching and printing process works out because I would love to return to this technique in the future.

So yeah, five hours of work and I'm still no where near the actually time consuming part.

I did get to enjoy a modicum of the sun. I sat by the Jamison Square Fountain and read my textbook and then I went inside and read more of my text and nibbled on sunflower seeds. Chatted with Robin and Michael for a bit and then it was time for yoga!

This time it wasn't as stressful. I even touched my palms to the floor! My back is getting so bendy and awesome. Mia and Heather joined us for class. It is getting nice and full while the Monday session is still fairly vacant. In general I'm feeling better and better about how in shape I am. As in, I am actually getting in shape. Whodathunkit: Trillian in shape. Never in a million years.

Made myself a sandwich. Did the immense pile of dishes. Then I drew! Tomorrow is a lecture and hopefully painting.

cheese, hair, and Colbert

Well today was a big nothing, class wise. But some cool things did happen!

About six people showed up for class. It was pretty much decided on general consensus that it would be a "do whatever you want" day. I decided on what image to photoshop. And then I showed Karen and Vanessa the David Lynch: Problem Solver videos on youtube. Then Karen, Lindsay and I walked home. Well I rode very slowly on my bike along side them.

I ate some oatmeal. Then some rice. Then some tea. Then some juice. I checked the mail like four times and it wasn't until Lindsay texted me a prank about my package being at school that the word finally came through that my order had come in! About a week ago, Threadless was having a super shirt sale. I am not very much into their stuff but I thought I would check it out and see if anything sparked my interest. Only one shirt did and it was so totally me. I ordered the (on sale)long sleeve right away and have been waiting for it to arrive. And it finally did! It fits wonderfully, it looks great, and I am so happy with it!

I was so happy to go to school and show it off to all my school chums. I left early to print out some references for painting class. I received a call informing me that Annie was sick and class was cancelled so I didn't have to come to school (too bad I was already there). I printed out my things, called up Karen, and we met out front of the school. She and Diana both agreed that my shirt was totally me. I love my yes-women.

I wanted to pick up a zine from Powell's about Steampunk (zines being independently published magazines about specific subjects, typically on cheap paper and on sale for cheap). I got the last copy and sat around waiting for Diana and Karen, who took the streetcar, to catch up with me. Turns out they were in Anthropologie.

Today was absolutely beautiful. Sunny and not too chilly. It was marvelous to walk around Portland today. We went to the Portland Art Museum gift shop and looked at art books. I was feeling peckish but when I suggested going to eat that was when it was realised that work had to be done and it was time to go home. Diana parted from us on 14th and I parted from Karen on the 3rd floor. I reaaaaallly wanted a cheese steak sandwich and I figured that I might as well learn to make them, seeing as how I love them and all that. So I pulled up a recipe and went to Safeway.

Meat and cheese costs more than it should. Damn you delicious tasty goodness!

The sandwich was amazingly easy to make. Actually, it scared me how simple and quick it was. And it barely used any ingredients. I have enough left to make two to three more. The meat and onions were cut a little thick but boy was it tasty! Mmm mmmMMMM!! The fancy mayonnaise from Whole Foods is scrumptious (it has omega stuff in it). It was tasty and filling and juicy and messy. Mmm. I am so proud at my skills. Go me!

Later on I went to hang out with Michael for a bit. Just about an hour and a half or so. Nice, clear night for biking to and from his place. We walked around the 23rd area and then returned to his place and ate some of Stephen Colbert's ice cream. Fun little evening.

lack of faith

I'm back in action! Back to school! Back to yoga! Back to the amazing frustration that is Experiments in Drawing!

Art history was fine. More gaudy baroque era. I lost all focus during the second part. My brain suddenly shut off and I couldn't wake up. It is interesting stuff, I just couldn't get why I had such trouble.

I was the only one in yoga today so it was like a free private lesson. Stretched all the bits. I managed to get my palms on the floor while bending over with straight legs! I'm getting so much better. Go me! I wonder if it was the yoga that wiped me out. Hmm.

Rode home along 19th. Such a pretty area. Then I got home, put on my pajama bottoms, and set my phasers to sloth.

I was interrupted by the fire alarm, which went off right as I got Ibanez downstairs.

I am hooked on Life on Mars now. Such a great drama! With half way awesome, half way cheesy performances that are so typical of the BBC. All my other shows are on a break till more episodes can be made (damn writer's strike!).

Still stuck on my sequential narrative idea. I'll get it together. I have a few hours tomorrow to work on it as well.

Experiment in Drawing is moving on to a new assignment...which seems to be along the lines of taking photos of your old assignment and redrawing it digitally. Modou isn't even here during this week to properly explain so we are going off of an instruction sheet. That class is all over the place. I have no clue what is going on. I have barely learned anything. It is a waste of time and money. I wanted to believe in Modou so badly but I just can't anymore. I have no faith that this class will amount to anything.

these pants are all I ever wanted

Me and my girls went over to the East Side today. And by my girls I mean Karen, Diana, and Robin.

Karen drove us(at this time it was only her, Diana and myself) over to the East Side and dropped off her car at Jiffy Lube. We meandered down east Broadway and popped into a bead store. Lots of pretty colors but I don't know what to do with them. Might learn some day because I had some ideas for jewelry based after what I saw. But I don't wear jewelry, at least nothing beyond the pieces that have meaning to me and I wear every day (the rings, watch and necklace). I could always make it for other people... But I am getting ahead of myself.

We met up with Robin outside Peet's Coffee and then we went with sushi for lunch. The place was decently priced and we finished all that we ordered. The sushi just wasn't anything spectacular. It was a little bland and the pot stickers paled in comparison to my own. Karen enjoyed the sauce. Diana laughed whole heartily. Robin ordered eel.

Afterwards we hit up the first Goodwill of the day. I was really surprised at how much the Portland Goodwill's charge. Easily two to three bucks more than Silverdale and Bremerton. Sure its just a couple of dollars but Goodwill isn't a place when you have to debate buying clothes. It is a cheap way to get funky pieces that you don't have to worry about wearing that much. There are some things I would have bought but I had to pass because $10 for a dress at Goodwill is outrageous! We had a lovely time trying on clothes and getting and giving opinions. Diana acquired a cabinet and a few tops and dresses. Karen bought some shoes and a few tops. I got high-heeled calve height boots that fit really well (and were half off), a pair of bright red imitation snake skin pants (also very cheap, hence why I bought what amounts to a pair of novelty pants), and some extremely comfy brown knee length shorts (I am wearing them right now, they are great).

We returned to pick up Karen's car and then we crossed the river to the second Goodwill. They had slightly better prices but even worse selection. Still I found a nice gray sweater with the zipper placed askew and Karen pointed out a fun patterned dress that fit perfectly in all the places (don't have to take it in anywhere, a rarity for a dress). Diana picked up some frames that she will convert into bulletin boards and Karen found some things that I didn't get a chance to see on her but I am sure they are fabulous. That dress is so cute, and it is fairly thick so I can start wearing it now (with a hoodie and leggings of course).

Robin didn't find anything but she was wearing a cute new top. She didn't have to find any new fabulous thing.

After the second Goodwill we dropped Diana off at her home. We also helped her haul up her findings of the day. We hugged goodbye and the Goose Hollow girls went home.

We sat and chatted about the Sunday comics with Karen for a while and then she kicked us out so she could go to work. I showed off my days work to Lindsay (whose light show piece is looking bloody brilliant now, I can feel my face melt just thinking about it). She got a good grin out of the red pants, which is exactly my intention behind them.

Put on my new sweater and short pants and went to Robin's and hung out for a little bit. I drew, we looked at Youtube, she applied acrylic medium, and we were generally awesome. She and Diana were getting together to watch Sense and Sensibility, and as that isn't really my thing I be adieu to her.

Ate some salad and pasta. Watched some Life on Mars.

School starts tomorrow.

crummy crum crums

Sort of a crummy day. Tossed my shoes. Sat about mourning the loss of them. Watched the last few episodes of Project Runway. Watched another episode of Life On Mars.

Finished reading Scott Pilgrim volume three. I must refrain from buying the fourth volume.

The day just sort of vanished. It went in a haze of upset stomach and sitting around.

Saw Karen briefly. Will probably hang with her and the gang tomorrow.

Doodled with my tablet. Thought about my upcoming projects. I did do that painting of Llyw, so it isn't like I haven't produced anything in my 10 days off.

Goodbye Red Shoes

At a little after 7:00am this morning, Ibanez puked all over my beloved Red Chuck Taylor's. These lo-tops took me to Japan, to Portland for the first time, and generally anywhere I have been in the past three and a half years.

What's this? Simon Pegg without Nick Frost?

Back into a full swing of doing nothing. Well, that is not true. I did go outside.

Woke up, got out of bed, grabbed volume two of Scott Pilgrim, went back to bed and finished it. It was really hard to get out of bed this morning. I was so relaxed. I'm looking forward to going back into it in a few minutes. Mmmm.

Scott Pilgrim has really sucked me in. It moves so fast. Okay it introduces a lot of characters but they fit nicely in a strange way. I wish I didn't breeze through the volumes so fast, but they are cheap so it's all good.

I went to Starbucks because I had to write out some things. And read in a different, distraction free place. It was nice. Had my standard coffee shop drink (a tall caramel steamer).

It hailed lightly this morning.

Sort of killed time with the rest of the day. Lindsay and I went out to eat at West Cafe. We both had the meatloaf meal. It was a little dry. Then we went to see Run Fatboy Run, the new Simon Pegg movie. It was a cute flick. I don't think I will see it again though. Mom will probably rent it in the future. It had a nice ending, not to perfect. The kid was adorable.

There was a weird man yelling in the park when we walked back from Fox Tower.

Lindsay went out to her regular club tonight (her friend is painting live along with a light show). Just me and the cat and Project Runway.

fun times

Tuesday Night:

Llyw and I did end up going to the Roxy after he arrived. Had a nice little late snack. Nicole was there as well, the first of many people we ran into that showed just how popular I actually am. It was raining a fair amount during our walk back to my place but if we let the rain keep us in, then we would not have had any fun this weekend. We went home, dried off, set up the spare mattress, hung about and chatted and caught up. My bookshelf matched up to his in more ways than just me reading what he has suggested to me (going way back when to Neil Gaiman). We both had the Kurosagi something something manga in Japanese and The Stars My Destination (I had to read it for Politics and Literature).

Wednesday (Yesterday):

We woke up to a gray day. Or maybe it was sunny, but it later became gray and wet. Anyway, it was a day of mixed weather but we still went out. After a delicious breakfast of french toast (that Llyw made, what a guy!) we departed out into downtown Portland. There was mostly just a plan of going to Powell's and then going to PNCA and decided where to go from there once we got done with those things.

We caught the streetcar down to Powell's. Such an easy way to travel.

Powell's was Powell's. Huge but not so crowded. Decent selection in some areas, better in others. I took note of what comics to buy at Floating World instead(I get a discount there). The science fiction section had William Gibson's Neuromancer for only a couple bucks so I took the chance on the paper back. We ran into Rachel(painting class Rachel, not one of the printing Rachel's) at the store, who had lost her mother to the Powell's bookshelves (her mother was being shown around during Spring Break as well). Llyw found a few good deals on a philosophy hardcover and a comic. Departing the store we were happy to find that the rain had stopped.

The PNCA tour was short. Some of the art was off the walls due to painting. The alphabet show looked only about 1/6 of the way done. Sort of a bummer that a great deal of the gallery space did appear to be in a transition stage between shows. Robin was in the computer lab and she came out to say Hi and give me a hug.

After PNCA we went to Tea Zone for tea and scones. Quite tasty. I love that place, such a nice vibe to it. And my spot is always open. Just need to become a regular and stake it out now. For a little time, Llyw showed me his XO laptop which is quite awesome. It is one of those "buy one for charity, have the chance to buy one for yourself" laptops, where it is designed for the children of lesser developed nations. So it is small and durable, solar powered with great wifi detection, and just generally cool for hanging around in tea shops typing away and checking your email. And you know, being generous.

Next up was to show off my lovely little comic shop, Floating World Comics. No new issues were in for me but I just had to pick up the second volume of Scott Pilgrim (have to admit, I got into it in the last few chapters even though the character designs are annoying) and the sixth volume of the Invisibles (also addictive and Chris Weston is in this volume drawing so that rocks).

Oh wait, we went to Compound Gallery before Floating World Comics. Yeah. Llyw spied some prints by Kana Ohtsuki that we more than reasonably priced. He and the gallery manager got to talking about Osaka. That conversation went a little over me but Craig and his (also in town visiting) friend Avi showed up and we chatted a little. Gave Craig the "what I have been reading/watching" list and we talked about the show at Elizabeth Leech. Wandered around the gallery revisiting the Alice in Wonderland themed show. And THEN we went to Floating World Comics. Yeah, that is how it happened.

We backtracked a little and caught the max back. As it was the yellow line we left it in Pioneer Place and meandered back, stopping every now and then to marvel at the architecture. I knew Portland had a nice design to it but all the OOOOing and AHHHing from Llyw brought it into a new light. When we were walking to FWC I pointed out the 511 building that PNCA now has and that was the first major OOOOHHH that lead to more photo taking of the local scenery. Churches, apartments, some houses...all had their photos taken. I was in a few shots as well, so it wasn't all about the pediments and keystones.

It was nice and dry for the rest of the day after the Tea Zone (excluding a short time at night). We dropped our stuff down at home, snacked, relaxed, and unwound. The daylight and clear skies were still with us so we opted to walk around some more, but this time mostly in my neighborhood and not down town.

It was pretty much the same walk that Karen and I did about a month ago, but this time with a little more light. Revisited the great and fancy houses. Sat on the swings. Looked out on the overlook bridge at the city. It started to sprinkle so we went back. Didn't come down too much, so that was fortunate. The four story apartment complex shoved into the hillside was beautiful at night with the light inside illuminating the stained glass. Lovely!

Robin stopped by to say another brief hello. The rest of the night was spent inside. We had omelets for dinner (not made by me or Lindsay).

Part of my final for painting is a series of portraits and Llyw was very willing to sit and be painted. He held his pose extremely well(some of the PNCA models could learn something). Last night I just got the sketch done, with the intention of painting it tomorrow (instead of going out). The sketch didn't look like how I see him but it has a decent amount of resemblance and accuracy when it comes to form and fabric. Finished drawing, we put on our jammies, chatted a little, then went to sleep.

Thursday (Today):

Llyw made yet another meal, but this time it came from a can. Tasty and delicious cinnamon buns with orange icing. Mmmm. We woke a little early so that I could get a jump on painting (I wasn't about to paint him sleeping, that's creepy). After breakfast and the morning routines, the rest of his short visit was spent with him being painted. I'm not done but most of things left are parts like fabric and I can invent that easier than I can the skin tone. Right now it looks like him a lot more than the sketch did. I can't wait to finish it. I would like to say I am getting faster at painting but it still takes me a really long time. He was very good and didn't complain. The time passed all too quickly and before I knew it, it was time to go to catch a train to catch a train.

On the max were some ticket checkers but they were not talking to people. That still was very close. We arrived right as people were getting seat assignments. Excellent timing. We hugged and said our goodbyes and then he was on his way back to Seattle.

These days went by so fast and were oh so fun.

I took a leisurely stroll back to my place and about 10 minutes after I got home the fire alarm went off. The loudest noise I have ever heard! It was just horrible and painful and auuughhhh. Had to stuff Ibanez in his cat carrier and leave the building. Got down to the lobby to find that it was just a glitch with the system and the alarm would be off shortly. Still waited around downstairs, away from the brute of the noise, petting poor Ibanez.

The fire alarm, yeah oh so not fun.

Now I guess I'll go read comics. Mom, Dad, & Co. are not coming down so it is just me kicking back for the next three days. THREE DAYS! WHAT? Dang. Well, it has been a great break. Fun time with a friend and days to sleep in and rejuvenate.

visitor from the North

Yay! Soon, very soon, I am going to Union Station to see Llyw! He is visiting till Thursday.

Because of his visit I spent the day cleaning up my place and getting things in order. Didn't take that long really but it is such a big difference. My room has room. The kitchen doesn't have dished filling the sink. The bathroom doesn't have cat hair over everything. Really amazing!

Did a quick grocery and bank run. The lady at Fred Meyer's was really nice about bagging my things so they would work with my bike baskets. The people at Safeway suck at bagging. They have no clue and just stuff things together. Boooo Safeway! Go nice girl at Fred Meyer's. You rock!

Finished off my meat for dinner. It cooked up nicely and I did it all by myself.

Life on Mars is a very interesting show thus far. It is a little extreme with how bad the 70's police are but still funny.

So yeah, going to meet Llyw at the station at 9. Might take him to the Roxy after for some grub. Or come back here and watch the light show. Don't know. Don't have any real plans for what to do in the next couple days...we will just wander around and I'll pretend I know what I'm doing and where I am taking him. Ha.

Wow it got dark quick.

there goes my face

A day to do nothing. What a wonderful day! Okay I've been doing a great deal of nothing but this is the 3rd day off. It isn't just a weekend any more! Yayy, whoo!

Lindsay painting on her backdrop. I slept in. I watched Project Runway and Little Children. I was vastly mistaken as to what I thought Little Children was about. I'm glad it wasn't about what I thought it was but the real plot, once I knew it wasn't that, unfolded a very little originality. Characters sought redemption, they figured out where they needed to be, found truth, stopped the lies...and so on and so forth. The only thing that really made the movie was the casting and the narration. Kate Winslet was pretty and subtle, Patrick Wilson was also pretty and subtle (so happy that he is cast as Night Owl), and everyone else did a great job. It required subtle performances and it got that, the script just wasn't worth the casts talent.

Munched on food throughout the day. Food included a salad! Wow!

Ended the night with Lindsay testing out the light show. The lights and color started to melt my face off in a very psychedelic way.

Now I am watching Life On Mars. British cop show with John Simms (the Master in the new series of Doctor Who). It has time travel.

a date? really? well, I'm not so sure myself...

When it comes to Jim and Michael, it is almost odd how I always see one and then the other within 24 hours of each other. They are just free to hang with me at the same times during the week and weekend it would seem.

Just got back from what is a long bike ride for me. Came from around SE Morrison & 20th, crossed the Hawthorne Bridge, and rode up the not so fun hill to SW Clay & 16th. But it didn't seem like that long. Half of it was downhill and it was an amazing night. Totally clear and peaceful. I love the view that happens when you come over the bridge at night. I rarely see it so fully (I am normally on the max when I cross the bridge).

When crossing the bridge I saw Modou and stopped and said hello.

So I went on a date with Jim. Well I think it counted as a date. He paid. Guy paying = date right? And I think we talked about going on a date. Hmm. Uh. Well I'm counting it as a date. My....second one in Portland? Including the blind date. Uh yeah.

Anyway, so we went out. Dinner and a movie. Pizza and In Bruges. We were going to meet at the theatre but right across Hawthorne Bridge I rode past him before he got to his bus stop and we walked the rest of the distance together. I parked my bike at Cinemagic and we grabbed some pizza and drinks at a near by place (the only place open so late on a Sunday). Chatted and nibbled on food. Only the pizza slices in that place were affordable. And not that great. I miss Seabeck Pizza. Then we went to see In Bruges.

Just as great, moving, amazing, beautiful, tragic, and perfect as the first time I saw it. If not moreso.

Then I walked Jim home, said our goodbyes, and I peddaled off into the night.

Last night as Michael's was fun. Made some more of the nest things, looked at photos and art books, chatted, and ate the nest things. It was late but we decided to still watch Serenity. We both sort of dozed off while watching it and because of that I ended up spending the night as opposed to riding home in a half awake state (I think mom would prefer I didn't do that). Michael moved to the Nob(tee hee) Hill area of Portland. Lots of cute houses and apartment complexes near to Trader Joe's and fashionable boutiques. I would love to live in that area. It looks so quiet and colorful.

Riding home was nice. A little moist but still enjoyable. I went past all the Easter church goers in their fine clothes.

Spent the rest of the day relaxing, eating a cucumber, petting Ibanez, and watching House and Project Runway. Need more House, probably should take a break from Project Runway.

I can't wait till the weather picks up. I really want to spend a day riding my bike around Portland.

meat

So yesterdays exhaustion might have been tied to a lack of iron in my diet. Well Lindsay said so. Makes sense. I have been eating lots of carbohydrates lately. Simple, filling stuff. I made a grocery run and picked up some meat, salad, and other nummies. And I made myself a little beef chunk and salad lunch! Lindsay guided me in the preparation of the meat (because I was never shown how) and it turned out fairly decent! Not as juicy as I normally like but entirely edible. Even had a salad on the side. Go me! I feel much better. In the morning I was still tired.

Spring break will be about recovery. I'll get my sleep, I'll get my vegetables, and I'll be all ready for the rest of this semester.

Watched I Am Legend. Maybe if I had seen it before I knew all about what would happen, then I would have enjoyed it more. It was good, nothing great. Decent effects. Also watched more Project Runway. I think tomorrow I will start Life On Mars.

Lindsay is working on her massive light show painting. It is insanely bright. The only problem with it is that she can't step back and look at it. At most, she can only get six feet away from it and considering it is as big as her wall, well six feet doesn't mean much.

I made Egg's Nests today. Well I'm going to make them again later, I just wanted to do a test run. Pretty much they are shredded wheat, melted chocolate, and malt balls shaped like eggs combined and style into nests. You mix the chocolate and shredded wheat and form it into nests and let them set up with the eggs placed in them. I couldn't find any malt eggs to go with them but as is they were a delicious, crunchy, and really easy treat!

Tonight I am going to hang out with Michael. Going to help him unpack and all that jazz. Have to return the DVD's he loaned to me months ago as well. I'll be making another Nest's batch over there.