kick ass! it's only 5am! This one only took 5 and a half hours to do! A new record....

Sweet molasses!

I am tempted to just let this post say only what I'ved typed above in a fit of serendipity.. but there is stuff to say , so I guess I won't use up my "look at me" time with a meaningless post.
watch out, this could be read as a totally self-absorbed and pompous post... (because i'm totally self-absorbed, prolly)

two things:
my senior show went up this week... or last week, or whatever.. so, it's up right now.
but, the room it's in is kind of not flattering, and I had a really depressing critique on monday where noone said anything about the work, they just talked about the space and presentation theirin, and how it wasn't flattering. So, today and tomorrow, I'm going to be in there making sure it looks good and people can focus on the art and not on the shitty lighting or dirty walls. heh. Because the reception is friday night from 6-9 pm in the design building, and I hope lots more people will see it then than will see it while it's just open during the day. You are all cordially invited to my senior show reception. My mom and dad and little brother will be there so if you have ever wanted to see my genetic source material or flash your genitals at a 13 year old boy, now's the chance. There will also be lots and lots of awesome food (provided by my mom, and carly's mom too), wine, sodas(for legal reasons), and some good music playing in the background. Don't tell anyone but it's kind of a party or something. I hope anyone who's reading this that's in the vicinity will try and make it, it should be fun. There will also be some affordably priced books and prints for sale.



Also:
I was recently interviewed about my participation in this upcoming anthology called Project:Superior, which is mostly "arts comics" people doing their own types of super-hero stories.. My piece will be printed in full color, and is 10 pages long. This is very exciting for me becase i've never had any comics printed in color and i've tried to really outdo myself visually with this one. Anyhow, this is the first time I've ever been interviewed for anything, but i think it turned out pretty well.. There are admissions of geekery and 3 pages of preview art there, if you're interested in what kind of superhero I would do, or what my color comics would look like, check it out

Last night I had my first dream starring all Killoggers. Ones that I've never met.

So we have these magical toilets at work that flush when you get up, I'm sure you've seen them before. Anyway, there is one in particular that every time I go to drop the kids off at the pool, when I lean over to clean my backside it flushes. This forces me to do this kinda crazy dance to avoid a back spray of urine and fecal matter all over my bottom. One would think I would learn and try and avoid this particular toilet but it has become a challenge for me.



I've also heard that almost every male American is familiar with the "Sloan Valve Company" from starring down at the tops of urinals their entire lives, while most women are completely unfamiliar with it.

I made this as part of my Thanksgiving dinner with a few friends of mine. It's super easy to make and super good. It takes, literally, about 20 minutes to make. Serve it with your favorite bread.

Ingredients:
3 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 cup whipping cream
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup (packed) grated sharp cheddar cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro

---------------------------------

Bring chicken stock and whipping cream to boil in heavy medium pot. Whisk in canned pumpkin, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, coriander and nutmeg. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until soup thickens slightly and flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Soup can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally.) Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with cheddar cheese and cilantro and serve.

Makes 4 (first-course) servings.

It's December already.

I'm still in denial about how cold it is (getting). When I walk down the street in my parka with most of the buttons missing, I clutch my coat together where it gapes open and shut my eyes tightly against the wind. Winter is so lonely, so cold, and so dreary. It is hard enough trying to stay motivated when the weather is nice, it becomes just a little bit harder for me when this time of year rears its ugly head. I belong in the warmth and sunshine. This is ironic considering I spent so much of my teen years running away from it because I HAD to stay pale to maintain an unrealistic pallor my olive skin was not ever meant to achieve.

Today after catching up on my entertainment magazines in Barnes and Noble, I made my way down Pratt street, my hood pulled up to block the wind whipping at my face. As I crossed Light Street it was then that I heard a voice say "I hate those recordings." He was referring to the muffled audible crosswalk signs. The walk sign to cross light street is ON. The walk sign to cross light street is ON. The walk sign to cross light street is ON." "Yeah, that guy sounds creepy", I say, thinking that those words will be the end of our exchange.

I peek out of my peripheral impairing hood to see a wiry guy standing next to me, stringy brown hair to his shoulders, badly grown mustache, and arm full of sketchbooks and journals. He begins walking with me, as if he's a friend or even someone I've encountered for more than a couple seconds. "Guess what I'm doing tonight? I'm going salsa dancing!!" he exclaims excitedly. His voice is slow and the words sound like they're being squeezed out in little droplets.

Now, it is here that I will explain to you about how I'm way too nice in these kinds of situations. Instead of being able to say "Look strange dude, please don't waste my time...." I let him walk with me, and even asked him about his salsa lessons. I didn't look at him at all, just listened to him talk. "I'm a painter and an artist...." As I approach the bank, I drop this strange alien man a clue that I wish to part ways. The clue is ignored and he follows me into the bank. "Hey, I have a check I need to get cashed. Do you think I could do it here? Actually, could I give you the check and you cash it for me?" He pulls out a check and waves it in my face. "Sorry dude, but i don't know you at all. That would be a really stupid move on my part." "Yeah, I understand...." and then he tells some story about some crazy guy who tried to pull a scam and I'm wondering if I'm on some kind of hidden camera show. This guy has to be a joke. "So umm...." he begins awkwardly, "do you think I could get your number....?"
"I have a boyfriend..." I say.
"Yeah. That figures. God! I should have known."
(now maybe he will go away)

Oh no! that would be too easy. Instead, he follows me further whilst tripping over a bunch of loose branches on the sidewalk. "I love the sunset. It's my favorite part of the day. Just all those colors mixing together. It's like a red and orange sea in the sky...."

"Yeah...sunsets are cool...." (goawaygowaygoaway)

"So what's the worst thing you've done today?" he asks.

"I've been pretty good today. What about you?"

"I stole a candycane. From Hooters. I wanted to draw one of the girls who works there but she was busy. So I just walked out and I took a candycane and was like SEE YA!!"

"Well, I'm sure that didn't screw with your karma too much...."

"I don't know how I feel about Hooters. I'm not sure if it's degrading. (pause) I hope you don't think I'm stalking you...."

"Well, you did kinda come out of nowhere."

"I am usually a big turnoff for girls..."

Finally, we reach the light rail (his destination) and I internally breathe a giant sigh of relief. "Well, here you are....Have fun at your salsa lessons. Byebye."

And I leave him at a light, waiting to cross the street, the wind flapping his long eccentric nerd hair in every direction. I'm not sure why my life has been so frequently peppered with weird scenarios and characters like the one just described. I constantly wonder WHY that is. I certainly can't complain too much, I guess it keeps life interesting.

Lately I feel like I find myself talking to people who have too much on their minds to truly listen to what I have to say. This is such a self absorbed generation, and I am as guilty as any other one of my peers. I just have this habit of being an excellent listener which seems to get harder and harder to find in other people these days.