I found some old charcoal in my drawer and started sketching tonight. I love using charcoal and conte, but I can't seem to find my conte anywhere...
It's so cathartic to make quick sketches, I've got this big pad of newsprint on the table and whenever I walk by in between cleaning, drinking chai tea, I add some stuff. I found my wood carving set from studio class in my drawer as well...may get some lino and do a print.
I think it's time to check out the Apprentice in a moment, see what they're all up to...

I was just at a training session at Crisis Centre for the Youth in BC online program. It's a really neat new program where volunteers-such as myself can chat with youth, in BC or anywhere really, in an MSN style thing. It's great because rather than phoning in and getting shy, they can be more anonymous. The only thing I'm a bit afraid of is not knowing the chat room lingo: ROTFL, or IOH (rolling on the floor laughing, or I'm outta here. Yikes, I'm not up with the kids anymore. Jess, I'm sure you come across the lingo in the classroom hey?
I found myself watching Oprah today, she announced her new book club selection, a Pearl S. Buck book. When will she select books that are by new authors?
I made a lentils and rice stew type thing for supper; it really wasn't as exciting as it sounds though and really, I was just hungry after eating it. I think what it was missing was cheese.
I think it is time for a hot chocolate across the street, where I will do some reading, or knitting.

Ed and I went to see Garden State tonight after work. It was written and directed by Zach Braff-of Scrubs fame. It was great, a little offbeat, zany, cute, sad.
The sunset was just a nice warm salmon pink bright enough so I had to close my eyes, I though of sitting on the roof but sunsets always go away before I can go up there.
Dinner tonight will be pretend "chicken" meat with green peppers, onions and black bean sauce.

It is PNE day today. A day of mini donuts, corn on the cob, the Superdog show, and maybe one ride. Fairs make me nostalgic. I love all the junk that's sold, little crappy foam creatures, people with microphones delivering sermon-like speeches on the "next big miracle in cleaning."
I remember being a kid and fascinated with all the flashing and glowing lights and sweet cotton candy smells floating through the midway. I always got sick on the spinny rides but couldn't stop myself from going on. The thrill of feeling like you're going to fly off the tracks or be flung off the Pirate Ship.
I just had to call the city pound on some jerk who had left his Doberman in a locked truck for over 24 hours now. The guy at the pet store said he'd seen the guy giving the dog food and water this morning. But when I went by, the truck was in the sun and the dog was panting.
I was advised to call 911 by the lady at the pound, but when I went out to double check the truck was still there, of course it was gone. Probably moved to a new location.

I had a good and productive morning. Went for breakfast with Tanya at Solly's Bagelry. We wandered Main Street in search of shops that were open as everything opens at noon. We did however go and buy jeans at this discount jean store.
It is Comix and Stories today where Ed and the Bent comics crew are hawking their wares (comics and the Gravyard DVD and their drunken rap CD. I visited them and tore myself away from buying two books from one of my favorite artists: Genevieve Castree. One was Pamplemoussi, which includes an LP and a graphic novel and the other is Lait Frappe. You can check out some of her art from Pamplemoussie here...beautiful stuff.

I just had macaroni and cheese with Schneiders veggie wieners. I've been cleaning the apartment this evening. I thought it was time as I was tripping over balls of dog fur in the corners. I've been burning Jasmine oil in my new little essential oil burner from Daiso, and listening to Ed's new Roots CD.

Arrggh
Must clean apartment. Now. I keep running into little balls of dog fur everywhere. The part of cleaning I really hate is the starting part...it isn't so bad, and can actually be rejeuvinating and fun, once I get started. Of course this is why I'm playing on the computer, so I don't have to start. I'm listening to Ed's new Roots album and burning jasmine oil in my new little white essential oil burner.
Ok, the motivation has gripped me, wish me luck!

Leanne and Tanya and I went to Daiso tonight-the big Japanese department store where everything is two bucks. I bought a little white essential oil burner which is sitting all glowy in the bathroom right now with lavender and orange oil in it. Smells like a pretty meadow; much better than wet dogs.
Also bought a little mini eyeshadow and blush container- I love miniature things, even comes complete with a mirror.

I went to Michael's Crafts today with my Mom to buy a stitch marker for my knitting. We ended up spending a while there. They're pretty overpriced, but some good inspiration for crafts. I saw some cute old fashioned black typewriter key bubble stickers. I thought that if my kid self was in there during my sticker collecting days, I would have gone through the roof with the racks and racks of shiny, sparkly and kitchy stickers. There were also some Victorian era ones-dress up girls.

The Post Punk Kitchen is a neat vegan cooking site,based on the TV show from Brooklyn. I haven't yet tried any of the recipes, but the reviews look good. I have made tofu balls before, which were almost exactly like these. Ed and I had them at Christmas with a mushroom gravy on top, pretty yummy-the key is the peanut butter-I guess you can use any nut butter though-to bind them together. I may try the Jerk tofu as well. I'll let you guys know.

OOOH
Just saw that new Bust is out August 31st!
I live for these things.

I was music shopping yesterday and noticed so many new albums from old favorites have come out recently: the Cure, Morrissey, the Orb, Tanya Donnelly. Like a big ol' blast from the past.
I may need to buy the Morrissey album at least, sounds pretty good.
I've been watching some of the Olympics, like the marathon yesterday-so dramatic and exciting. I though it was all over yesterday until I turned on the TV and its still going on! When does it end? It will be tiresome soon.
Its nice and cool out today, sweater weather again and curling up with coffee. I've got to work later but must do my piles and piles of laundry first.

Just saw Napolean Dynamite today. It was great! The best movie I'd seen in a while. Nerds rule! Something I didn't know: Haley Duff-older sister to Hilary- is in it too.
It's been a rainy rainy day here, not quite chilly but milder than usual, grey skies, but the blinding heat was getting tiresome.
It's night now. Streetlights are glowy in the rain and the roads are shimmery, looks like evening in a TV show about the suburbs. I wore my sweater and fuzzy winter boots. I can't wait for fall.

I worked at the Kitsilano Book Warehouse today. On the way home I kept seeing Bif naked everywhere, wandering around chatting on her cell phone (wanting to be seen of course). I'm such a dork, cause as soon as I saw her I started singing her song "tango shoes" in my head and then started humming it. I stopped just in time as she wandered right by me again.
I am in shoe shopping mode. I want these shoes, or something similar to them, maybe like these, or the pink ones at the end. I resisted the pointy toes kind for so long, but they might look alright with jeans-not too much of a heel.

I cannot quite believe how much of a time waster sites like this are.
Anyway, I'm sitting around playing on the internet, drinking really strong coffee from my Bodum. Sometimes really strong coffee is all there needs to be. I've got a headache since yesterday that will not go away. I went to a couple galleries on Granville street yesterday with my mom. I never think about doing that, just walk by, thinking "that's just a store, why do I need to go in there". But there is always some great inspiration inside.

Ed and I arrived back in Vancouver early yesterday morning from Saltspring Island. Our five day trip was just time enough to relax, get to know the island a bit, swim in the lake.
I became obsessed with blackberry jam after our cabin host left us some that was homemade for our breakfasts. I hunted high and low for two days before finding some at the Ganges Saturday market, which by the way is one of the nicest outdoor markets I've seen in a while, save for the cool flea market one in Paris.
I really want a garden now, seems like most of the island is filled with either farms, or wild gardens.

There are a bunch of web comics I've been reading lately, thanks to Ed finding them. These include Cat and Girl, and Achewood. More things to keep me on the internet. I'm going down to the ocean with Ed. I will swim. But first, "Moolattes" from Dairy Queen. I'm hoping they are as satisfying as the Tim Horton's Iced Cappucinos. I love summer drinks. Sunset's at 9:15 tonight, gotta go.

I like the comic series Artbabe by Jessica Abel, and I was just on her site and found she has a DIY section on how to draw comics (remembering that everyone's style and process is different). This is good because I keep feeling like I want to try my hand at drawing comics. It is a bit intimidating for many reasons: much skill seems to be involved, patience, and motivation. Anyway, I may just try going through her steps, see what I come up with. Wish me luck.

Ok, here is the best time waster there is on the internet today: Portrait Illustration Maker
I spent, I believe three hours altogether today creating all the different Nans I could. I'll post the latest as soon as I figure out how.
It'll change I'm sure.