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ARCHIVES : FEBRUARY 2003

friday, february 28, 2003

> Last night, i fired up my computer drawing tablet. I think 8-9pm is my new drawing hour. That was probably the first time that I had genuinely just sat down and played with it. It was fun. When I do my usual stuff, i 'draw' using the bezier curves -- and in that regard, the drawing tablet has no real advantages and you have to relearn how to work the curves after having used a mouse for 10 years. Last night, i was messing with pencil and brush tools, working on a march sleepypie redesign. Everything was looking like children's art museum graphics. So, you have that to look forward to.

> Recently i was thinking that it was about time for another pixar film. the next one, coming out in may, is a fish movie: FINDING NEMO. i am really excited to see it. I know that all the underwater fish and plant life will be super cool.

thursday, february 27, 2003

> I thought it would be fun to post a new illustration that I just finished, WITH the original sketch. I'm trying to stay close to the sketch, because i've found that the original has something that sometimes gets lost in the translation to a painting. i took this sketch into illustrator and traced it exactly.

> I got my sharper image order yesterday. I decided to go with the fancy, black, wind-resistant umbrella. It folds up really small....but i can't figure out how to get it to fold back up.....there's only one button and when i press it, it doesn't do what i need to to do.....sigh.

wednesday, february 26, 2003

> We had a bit of an ice storm here and so, i got to stay home yesterday and hang out. I spent half the day wallowing in bedly goodness and the other half drawing on the computer. There's nothing like suspended time -- like having a 'snow day.' It was a nice change of pace.

> I meant to post about the grammys...they barely mattered that night and they matter even less 4 days later. But, i just want to say that robin williams is NOT funny and that faith hill's dress was WAY too short.

> i like to visit urban outfitters every 3/4 months to try and keep up with the scene. I don't usually buy much...just a shirt or two and i like to look at their home stuff. the place is a bit of a struggle. i love it and hate it. inevitably, they will be playing some loud raging music in there and when that happens, i know that my time is up. i have never liked loud raging music and when my ears are exposed to it, i just want to go running. its like a medical condition. I don't even know what kind of music it is. Sometimes this happens in local music stores. When i walk in the door, i know that its a toss up on whether i will actually be able to shop--all depending on what they're playing.

monday, february 24, 2003

> Saturday Night Perfection.
Me. Recliner. Blanket. Pajamas. Lap full of popcorn. Glass of dr. pepper. The Mike Tyson fight on the big screen in HDTV. It was magical. I was excited to watch the fight, since i'd never seen one before. It was just like they'd depicted it to be on celebrity death match...all of the commentators in their black ties. The whole scene was quite a spectacle and i still can't get over Tyson's coach, Freddie Roach. The guy looks like a web designer, not a boxing coach. Also, Tyson's opponent, Etienne, had flabby man-boobs. I knew he was going to lose. Anyway, the fight lasted something like 49 seconds. That's MY kind of sporting event. Afterwards, they interviewed Tyson, and he started going on about something that I couldn't followed. Something about 'elevating your life' and how boxing is his job and letting other boxers fight you cause they need the job and money, etc.

> Dinner last night was awesome. We had pan-sauteed proscuitto-wrapped grouper and steamed asparagus. It was the bomb.

friday, february 21, 2003

> I got a gift card from sharper image for christmas. The gift card isn't for that much (by sharper image standards) and so i've been cruising the site trying to make a decision. I think i've got my sights set on this glowy $20 night light. I like the words in the description that says, "blending technology."

thursday, february 20, 2003

> I'm not one of those girls that squeals with delight upon seeing a cat or dog. in fact, i'm allergic to both. but these puppy and kitten photos are too good to resist. French Bulldogs, 1 and 2.
( via squidfingers )

> I found this article on cyberbegging (via obscure store). Few things get my blood boiling like this topic does. When I read or hear about or think about or talk about this stuff, i can literally feel my chest tightening like i can't catch my breath. Here's a quote from one of the sites that is asking for money: "I understand that there are so many great causes out there," Palmer says. "All I'm trying to do is pay off my debt. If you have a dollar to spare and you don't want to give it to me, fine. But give that dollar to someone."

"....so many great causes out there?" ?????? really? Ya think? Could there really be a better cause than me sending my hard-earned money to help you pay for your idiotic money-wasting lifestyle??????? What's even sadder is the people that actually send their money to these losers. Sigh. I better go look at some puppy pictures to calm me down.

wednesday, february 19, 2003

> I carved this little stamp recently. It works really nice for thank you card and such. I finally broke down and bought some new linoleum cutter tips to replace the ones that i've had for 9 years. Its amazing what a fresh tool will do for you. I think that they cost me all of about $4/5.

> When you greet your boyfriend at the door, and he says, "what's up with your face?" That's when you know your little eyeshadow experiment didn't turn out so hot.

tuesday, february 18, 2003

> Do you like staying in a hotel room? or not? ( let's assume its safe, clean and not very stinky )

I love it.

A coworker is getting up at the crack of crack tomorrow to drive to another city for an all day meeting. I suggested that she just cough up $60 for a hotel and drive there tonight. Its the plan that dreams are made of. She mumbled something about the money (which doesn't hold a candle to sleep, to me) and not being able to sleep. I guess i don't have the trouble-sleeping problem. When the internet boom was happening, i went on a few overnight business trips and savored every one of them. I also got to travel to San Francisco for a week. THAT was hotel heaven. I could leave the hotel and immediately, i was in the middle of shops and food and stuff. But, anyway, not to get off the subject -- being in a hotel, especially alone, is the ultimate in nothing-ness.

It's like the Simpsons episode where homer and lisa get in the desensorizing capule in the back of this voodoo/herbs store. A hotel room is just like that, except there's a tv and tightly tucked cold sheets. Heaven.

That reminds me.. one of the times when i was in a hotel on business, I woke up in the middle of the night and the power had gone off ( which took me a little while to realize ) My alarm clock was dark. The tv wouldn't come on. There was NO light. That was kinda freaky. I called down to the front desk and she told me a bedtime story and i went back to sleep.

monday, february 17, 2003

> Last night, i was baking brownies for a friend. I set the timer and made a phone call. I instinctively knew when 35 minutes had gone by and went into the kitchen and noticed some smoke coming from the oven and then i noticed the oven dial was on broil. at that moment, snail came running in and then the smoke alarm went off. I told my firend that i had to call her back. I opened the oven and saw that our thermometer said 550 degrees. The brownies were seriously charred. We opened up the house and all that, but the smell was nauseating. I swore i caught a wiff as I was getting ready this morning. That's unusal for me to burn something. I was glad to burn something that I hadn't spent a lot of time making.

Speaking of brownies, I stepped in a yard brownie as I was preparing to leave for work this morning. I don't even know where to start on that. I was pulling ( walking backwards ) the garbage out to the curb when it happened. I'm just glad it was me and not snail, cause he's already stepped in dog poo twice. this was my first time at this residence. I wiped most of it off, but in order to prevent possibly smelling it all day ( from residual microbes ), i went ahead and changed shoes. If i had a dollar for every time i've cursed some crappy dog and their crappy owner....

( disclaimer: I'm sure there's PLENTY of great pet owners out there. )

thursday, february 13, 2003

> Its time to drag out your crusty illustrations and bent up photographs and enter the Communication Arts Illustration or Photography Annual. The deadline is March 14th and each submission is $25. You can print out an entry form off the site. I entered last year for the first time. And while i never expected to get in (and didn't), I think its good practice to fill out the form and pay the entry fee and go through the motions. Also, no need to worry about not being published, there is an 'unpublished' category as well as a 'for sale' one.

Now.....................................GO !

wednesday, february 12, 2003

tuesday, february 11, 2003

> This could easily be my cheesiest post ever, but my good friend just had her second baby girl and I am wishing i could hop the next flight back home to see her. We have known each other our whole lives...our parents were next-door neighbors when we were born. She's a pretty good friend, but doesn't know the meaning of picking up a phone to call (except for special occasions, like birthing a baby). She has ALWAYS been this way and so, she is the only one that can get away with such obnoxious behavior.

> Texans like to sell their goods on the side of the road. Maybe people in other states do too, i don't know. At one time or another, I've seen the following for sale: puppies, beef jerky, chairs, birdhouses, rugs (with tigers and parrots on them), mirrors, firewood. I have never been tempted to stop. The newest set-up is "Billy Bob's Paintings."

> Oh brother. I just found this on marthastewart.com

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon - Serves 6

1 1/4 pounds thickly sliced bacon
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar

Heat the oven to 425°. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Lay bacon on the paper, and sprinkle the brown sugar liberally over bacon. Transfer bacon to the oven, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and carefully drain the fat into a container. Return the pan to the oven, and bake until bacon is crisp, 6 to 7 minutes more. Transfer bacon immediately to a wire rack, and let sit until cool enough to eat.

monday, february 10, 2003

> I was really excited about seeing the voices of the simpsons on actor's studio on bravo last night. joining james lipton, were the 6 voice talents: dan castellaneta, julie kavner, yeardley smith, hank azaria, nancy cartwright, and harry shearer.

first of all, the show was super edited. with 6 guests, they had a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time. secondly, when james pretended to interview the actual characters ( homer, lisa, bart, moe, marge, etc, etc ), they would show clips from the show while the actor was doing the voice.

it was the most annoying thing EVER.

I have seen more than my share of the simpsons ( which is why i am even bothering to tune in ), i don't need to see clips from the show. I am familiar with the characters. I was there to watch the actors doing their voice, live.

when julie kavner was doing marge, we didn't get to see her AT ALL. as soon as she was done talking like marge, they cut to the stage and james started asking someone else questions. we were speculating that maybe there was something in her contract about being seen live doing the voice. ( also, she mysteriously left halfway during the show... ? ). overall, we only got to see about 10% of the live voices. Here's another article about it, with a note about julie cavner not showing up.

the simpsons is about to be the longest-running sitcom show ever. don't they think most of america is familiar with the characters? did they really think that they needed to remind us?

ay carumba!

friday, february 7, 2003

> The kids at the sub shop get $1 in their tip jar if i see them wash their hands before making my sandwich.

No washy, no tippy.

thursday, february 6, 2003

> Latley, I've been slowly exploring the world of dried fruit and my most recent discovery, dried sour cherries, is quite delicious. Its nice to have some dried fruit (cherries, cranberries) to toss onto your cereal or to have as a snack.

I was taken aback the first time I saw Snail dump 3 kinds of cereal into one bowl -- what I refer to as the cereal cocktail. I know the concept is simple enough, but the thought or desire to treat cereal like a salad bar and add your own toppings, had never crossed my mind. I have grown tired of raisins (which can be found in about 1/3 of all cereals) and so, now i have something delicious to add instead. Additionally, the dried fruit in cereal tends to be on the dry side. If you buy it seperate, its nice and moist and yummy. Next, I think i'll be adding my own nuts.

I have heard of people making their own granola, but like raisins, oats are overused, and so, i'm over oats (unless we're talking oatmeal). I'm sticking with cereal.

tuesday, february 4, 2003

> Drawing on the computer is fun because its so easy to change colors and placement of elements. Keeping up with layers and layers in Illustrator is not fun.

> The Lambikin is a folktale of India and is one of several tales with the same theme of 'Eat me when I'm fatter.' The first line of this tale cracks me up: "Once upon a time there was a wee wee lambikin, who frolicked about on his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly."

monday, february 3, 2003

> I am really feeling the monday-ness of this morning, but i'm sure the cobwebs will be cleared out in time for my turkey sandwich at lunch. Its supposed to be warm today and I am going to get outside and get in it.

> I've seen a few movies recently:
Iron Monkey: Loved it. Entertaining and fun the way movies should be.
Changing Lanes: Don't like shaky camera. Don't like Ben Affleck. Still, an entertaining film. A bit of a downer until the happy ending. Lots of evil-doers.
Donnie Darko: We watched this movie for movie night. I'd heard about this film, but hadn't really heard what it was about. It was good. Love the scary, evil rabbit.

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