California: Arbor and Bird Day Annual Update

Update. I finished the whole thing at eight ten today. Finally!



I'm excited to watercolor this later tonight. All I have to do first is erase the blue lines first.

California: Arbor and Bird Day Annual

I started this project on my own on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010. You can kinda see, it's on size C paper, 24 by 36. I like working with new sizes of paper and especially a new way of drawing. Before I used to use a pencil to outline everything and before that, I did everything free hand. I'm doing a lot less nowadays. I started using blue pencil, and I like the way it works out.

Here's a close up of some of the lettering. You can see some of the design outlined in the blue pencil. It doesn't show up in photocopies!

I haven't worked on this thing for four days. But now it's sunday. I've started working on the project again, and finally got to outlining everything.

I'm proud of this part most in particular.

Here are some of the tools I use. The Rapidograph #3, a Number 5 Ink Letterer, Rapidograph ink and a ruler.

Catchup

So to catch up with reading this, I've got some things to let you know about.

I've been working hard at things in Berkeley. I've started to do art again, it's a really soothing, and I really love the Arts and Crafts posters of Will Bradley. Stay posted for the start of that project! :)

Sunday, I got my brow pierced.

Saturday, Coulter Woolf and I just had an adventure. St. Mary's college, Fruitvale, Alameda, NAS, The Kingfish and the Albatross!

Bach

Hoegaarden part two

I just met a girl, Cassie. Cassie god knows what her last name is, told me to met her here at this time. With a fist full of cash and an open mind. A really open mind. I stood there, thinking, this couldn't be possible, that everything that had just happened in my usual breakfast place was just a dream. Yet, here I was, standing by the Cable Car turnaround and in my jacket pocket, eight hundred dollars. I watched the masses of tourists line obediently around the concrete bollards, waiting for their chance to ride the world famous cable cars of the city. I jerked the pale keffyeh closer around my neck and looked around one last time. Five minutes i'll give her. Five.
I heard my name, pitched out through the cold air. "Max!" I spun on my heels to look around. I didn't see anything. People just kept milling about their businesses, togged up in cold weather clothes. "Max!" I heard Cassie, I just didn't see where she was. She finally pushed her way through a throng of tourists. "Max, there you are. Come on, i've been waiting forever. Come on silly."
She grabbed my arm, leading me through the crowd and down into the BART station towards the entrance to the mall. She gripped my arm with a strength I really didn't think she had. We wandered down, below Market street and we found ourselves immersed in the Westfield mall. Couples, groups of college students, all milling about looking and trying on things. I looked at my drab clothes, a pea coat, collared shirt and levis. Nothing exciting. She dragged me towards Nordstroms. All around me stood mannequins dressed sharply in plaid and checkered patterns, beautiful looking people with their noses in the air and old ladies, dressed in their best shopping. Cassie took me by the hands and looked me in the eyes.
"You need this. It's not too late to back out. Just say so, and i'll disappear like fries in front of a fat kid"
"Of course I do. Why else do you think i'm here?"
"Allright. Prepare to go from drab to dapper."
She skired off for a moment then returned with the floor walker.
"Yes I see ma'am. I'll see what I can do. Please."
The floor walker escorted me into a back room and suddenly, without warning, i'm covered and swamped in clothes. The sheer combinations and colors was overwhelming and soon, I found myself presented before Cassie. Wearing a pair of dark trousers, a plaid shirt, skinny tie, wool jacket and a small porkpie. Only one thing could come out of my mouth.
"What is the cost?"
"Sir, this entire combination runs for about fourhundred and seventy five."
I choked. "Come again?"
"four hundred and seventy five. Plus Tax might I add."
"Ah. Well."
Cassie poked me in the ribs again. "Do it."
I forked over the cash. "I'm wincing as I'm doing this as you know."
"You're doing good. I've got a kiss for you." She leaned into my face and placed a small kiss on my cheek.
"Whey hey hey."
"Thank you sir, here is your receipt."
I grumbled in my new outfit as we walked out of the store. Cassie held my hand. I couldn't help myself.
"Let's get a drink ok?"
"I guess."
"Allright, we'll go to The Peaks."
She pulled me onto an F car and we rumbled together into the Castro.

Hoegaarden part one

A short story:

I'm not the sort of guy, to try something new. Hell, I'm afraid of trying a new beer. In high school, my friends called me Maxed out Max. Not cause I did things to the extremes, but more because I had exhausted out everyone from not wanting to try anything other than my usuals. In my first two years of college, I continued in this fashion until my third year, which is where this story begins.

My eyes tend to remain shut, they dont really open until well after I've emerged from my cocoon of comforters and blankets. It usually tends to happen, just about halfway through brushing my teeth, and shaving. As usual, my roommate is still fastened firmly to his mattress, his legs dangled limply over the edge in a pair of red basketball shorts. The little clock beside his head began to chirp a soft alarm and his hand, edged towards it like a snake and with a single, deft motion, chucked it at me. I just managed avoid being hit by morning missiles. His head ducked under the covers and I pulled the thick, linen curtains open. Light streamed through the large windows and he sat up. Blinked a couple times and covered his head with a pillow. I only stared at him contently and finished dressing and got out.

At the cafe, I ordered my usual breakfast and my usual coffee. I had it at my usual table with my usual newspaper section from my usual newspaper open.

I dont know what it was, but you know that feeling that some people get when something just clicks in their head, and they go flippin bananas? I kinda had that. I stared at my table and only one thing came into my mind. Disgust. I motioned for the waiter, and he came by.

"Mr. Max, good to see you. Is there something with your breakfast?"

"Yes, there is."

"But, what could it be? It is the exact same thing our cook Maurice has made for you for the past two years."

"But that's just it. Could I have something different?"

"But of course. Here is a menu, I'll be back."

I stared at the piece of paper. Although, there were 12 different breakfasts, it felt like staring down 1000 different entrees. My mouth began to pulsate with fear and excitement. Each option looked more liberating that the next and each one began to scare me like no other. I could only look at the next one down and almost feel my teeth chatter. The waiter came back.

"Mr. Max, are you ready?"

I looked at him, and then back to the menu. My mouth trembled in fear.

"I'll just stick with what I got."

"I see..."

Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. It wasn't any voice I knew, none that was familiar to me at least. It was sweet, and sour at the same time. It rang in my ears but was pleasing. I turned around and saw a smiling, bubbly face. She sat there, in a calico print sun dress, her hair was clipped short and she sported a cycle cap and thick framed glasses.

"Could I get, a carafe of orange juice, a chicken fried steak, some home fries, no... let's have hashbrown patties today, and a fried egg on the side. Sunny side up. Something new this time."

I was in awe of how easily she just picked new things. I turned back towards my plate of eggs benedict and hashbrown pattie and looked back at her. Something in my gut said I needed her. I stood up and sat myself down at her table.

"I'm Max."

"Oh. Hello. That was rather forward. Well. Hello Max, welcome to my table." As she said this, she made a flowering gesture with her hands. "Now Max. What can I do for you?"

"Well, this might sound silly. But hear me out ok?"

"It's fine. Just tell me."

"Ok, well... I'm in a rut. I cant try anything new. I've been the same, straight laced guy for the past 20 years and I think you're the person to help me change that."

"Why would I want to help you?"
"I just feel it in my stomach. The way you ordered breakfast, I could never do that."

"Haha, silly. But that's just breakfast. It's what I feel like."

"But why do I always feel like eggs benedict and patties?" I jerked the dish from my table onto hers. The eggs landed with a rattle and bits of potato scattered about.

"Oh man. Are you some nutjob or something?"

"No, I'm honest. Look. There's no one in my life that's radical, different, etcetera. I want to live a little. I want to... I want to do things my mother would be angry at."

"That's not a problem. Ok first off, let's order breakfast."

"But I got breakfast right here." I motioned to the eggs benedict and patty.

"Not anymore." She spit on her palm and smacked the benedict. "You're ordering something new, and i'm helping you. What do you feel like?"

"Me? Uh. I dunno."

"Pick something."

"Ahh. phoo... um. Pigs in a blanket covered in gravy sound good actually. I've never noticed them before."

"Then Piggies you shall have! Waiter!" She motioned over my waiter. "This gentleman will have..."

"Uh... Can I get the pigs in a blanket covered in gravy."

He looked at me stunned. "Very good. Anything else?"

She looked at me. I looked at the menu.

"Champagne and orange juice. I'd like that please."

"Very good." A smile spread over his face as he walked off to put the order in.

"That's a great start. I'm proud of you."

"T-thanks. It's new."

"Cassie."

"Pardon?"

"Cassie Innsbruk"

"You?"

"Of course."

"huh" I nodded vigorously. The waiter came back with a plate of sausage gravy draped over a pair of piggies. I wolfed them down. They didn't taste like they should have been in my mouth at this hour, but it was invigorating. The Champagne came next and it washed it down with a bubble. I grinned at my new found ability.

"Turns out you do have free will"

"Heh, I guess so. Hey look, I know it's kinda out of the blue, but would you like to go out with me? Help me continue changing me? It'll be for the good of the world."

She looked at me stunned. "Ok. I'm not seeing anyone, and something like you might be a fun project. But we gotta do heavier shit than just bacon and eggs. Now. What other problems do you have?"

"Well, where should we start?"

"How about them threads. When did you last go shopping."

"On my own?"

"Sure."

"Never."

"Oh my god. Meet me at Powell station in 45 minutes. Bring a buttload of cash."

to be continued...

Movie Review: Paris (2008)

Going through my netflix today, I stumbled upon a really beautiful film I had en-queued but since it was recently just released in the US, it was put on watch now. The cinematography is amazing and the choice of music and soundtracking is excellent. I highly recommend it.

It follows the stories of several people around the city of Paris. Though several of the story lines never interacts, some do come in contact with each other without even knowing it. Just to give you an idea, the main story follows Pierre and those around him. He's diagnosed with a disease and his miserable attitude just creates a wall of just interaction and I've never seen anything like it before. I mean, I've watched movies with just as many story lines but never interacting in the way that Cedric Klapisch had woven the movie.

On scene, the movie takes advantage of many parts of Paris, the beautiful architecture and all sorts of wonderful sets as far off as French Morocco and Cameroon.

if that doesn't interest you, you see Melanie Laurent in a bra for a few moments. That made me happy enough.

Whom Death hath bourne Away

When Laurence Matheison died, his wife commissioned this sculpture as an expression,

of her love for him.


I wish I had a girl like that. Doesn't every girl want that too?

William Whyte: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Hahahhahahahaaa

Funnies about Funnies

February, I think a video month

Foolishly Seeking True Love from Jarrett Lee Conaway on Vimeo.

Siphon Coffee and Espresso

Espresso, Intelligentsia from Department of the 4th Dimension on Vimeo.

Syphon, Intelligentsia from Department of the 4th Dimension on Vimeo.

Remember why?

I can still sort of recall when I first put the bicycle gadget up on my blog. I was actually, pretty excited to know that we were nearing a sort of, big day since it was a couple days until it would be 1200 days since any new bike lanes were installed. I thought: Yes. Change will happen. New bike lanes will be installed... etc, etc. Now, it's been 1310 days since. I'm still hopeful, but much more rather doubtful.

400th Post: New Years Resolution:

New Years

I've got a golf game tomorrow. Well, today at eleven with Marc. I haven't seen him in awhile. I still dont really know what I plan on doing for the festivities tomorrow.

I'm still trying to figure out what's going to happen.

Beat the Calendar

Yes folks, remember how awhile ago I mentioned that I was nearing 400 posts? And at some time in the past year, that's when I had hit three hundred. That was about a year and four months ago. It's kinda died down, but i'm making up for that really bad last year.

So my goal. This will be the 398th post. 400 By New Years. It shouldn't be hard you say? Well, i'll have to clear and finish all the drafts left in my entries box.

Flights of Freedom

I stood only dressed in a pair of warm ups, and a tshirt. The dark, and the cold had no meaning to me as I stood, breathing in the crisp cold air. My eyes shut for a moment, and my ears focused on the sounds of the world. The ringing in my ears from years of exposure to loud noises, the low whir and hum of the cars rushing home from Christmas celebrations and the whistle of the BART trains, speeding on their last trains for the night. Today is boxing day.

For a second, I hear, the sounds of a flock of Canadian Geese. The systematic honking, the berating of their wings and beaks. A smile pursed over my lips and I recalled when I was younger, wanting to be reincarnated as a duck. The thought teased me as I watched the silhouetted V fly above me. Darking out the stars as it passed, then the star reappearing as it passed. I thought, of all the things, the places those geese have been. Canada, the wild mountains of Montana, the rainforests of Washington, all the way to the southern climates of Southern California. I longed to fly with them, and to be free from the monotony of life on land.

I wanted to be mingling with Canadians, dancing over the Rockies, lounging on the fields of Los Angeles. My head jerked back and my eyes opened again. Slowly, my family's garden came into view, the tomato plants caressing the cages, the trees, barren and bereft of leaves and the flat tones of the flagstones beneath my feet. I was not a duck, but a man. Standing warm in out of the cold, and inspired.

I am, a wandering bird.

Morris, the Midget Moose

Merry Christmas to All

And to all, A good night.

May your yule log burn bright,

and your inlaws run with fright.

From the turkey that's undercooked,

and hotels that are overbooked.

Merry Christmas from Alameda, Burlingame, San Francisco, Victoria B.C. & My little desk in my room.