Recent Reading

So, Annelise lent me "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. Quite a satisfying read. When I read a book like this, I realise how enclosed my life is. I enjoy myself immensely in the life that I lead and am aware how good we've got it. However, it is extraordinary to me what other times and cultures will accept/defend as normal. Certainly, the big flippers that I refer to as my feet could never be smooshed so small and that would just be the beginning of my failures!
Dad has been sending a few books. So, of course, I hone in on the junky fiction first: "Hannibal Rising" by Thomas Harris. I really enjoyed "the Silence of the Lambs." Saw it first as a movie, so never made up my own images when reading that book though. I did read "Red Dragon" before seeing either of the films & found that to be a very absorbing story.
The book "Hannibal" was soooo lacking. I felt like everything that could have been interesting was sucked out to make more room for anxious chases and grotesque, graphic scenes. I won't even go into the boredom that was the film.
"Hannibal Rising" was very appealing to me though. I particularly enjoyed the way that it wove history with fiction in the first part. The last half was a little pointless, but will probably make the movie more jumpy.
Anyhow, I think that Anthony Hopkins will forever be type-cast in my mind. I've seen a lot of films he's been in. But, the other night we were watching "the Fastest Indian" and when they showed him turning on a light at the beginning, all I could think of was the line about fava beans.

Glosoli

http://www.sigur-ros.is/sirkus.html
This is such a neat music video. It just goes so well with the music.

Last King of Scotland

So, we went out with Diane yesterday and saw the Last King of Scotland. You can check out the synopsis and the cast and such at the movie's website I am sure.
I thought that it was really, rather well done. Whitaker was great in his role as the dictator Idi Amin. Definitely pretty hard to watch - and that was a glorified movie version. I can't even begin to think what it must have been like to live thru (or die as the case may be) that.
Diane found it as hard as I did - she kept shielding her eyes when it got violent. At any rate, I would highly recommend it. However, that said, I hope to not see it again any time soon.

I hate wallpaper!

There used to be a time when I didn't care much one way or another about the whole wallpaper vs. paint thing. That has all changed now with my attempts to remove wallpaper in a tiny bathroom. I've been working on one bit of wall for hours. I tried DIF or whatever that "special" remover is called. All I can say is that I am having better luck with hot water and a sponge.
Heeeelllllllppppp!!!!

Music for filing

Here is my play list for today's work getting my 2006 filing put away, tax stuff organized and new 2007 files set up. Yes, I am deluding myself into believing that music will make this more fun:

Welcome to Paradise - Green Day
Taxman - the Beatles
One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash
Hold On, Hold On - Neko Case
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
Time - Pink Floyd
Lost Cause - Beck
Message in a Bottle - the Police
A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murpheys
April Skies - the Juesus & Mary Chain
I Saw the Light - Hank Williams
Spring/Allegro - Antonio Vivaldi

That's right

That's right - it's an old silo with a tree growing out the top of it - how cool! I pass it on my evening walk and often think how sad it'll be when there are brand new mcmansions going up in there...

Nap time

So, I am sitting here reading the president's state of the union (we're going to tell you what we think you might want to hear & then do what we want anyhow) speech from last night. Ernie is napping and it is time for me to take off and run a few errands...poor little dude.

Underpainting

So, a lovely gift came for Serena over the holidays. Our dear friends Stephen, Kara and Eva sent me, amongst other things, some small primed & blank canvasses that I'd been hoping for.
I have only begun this first one with a sort of under painting. When it's finished, there will be more vegetation and while she'll still look dead, I hope to get rid of her 5 o'clock shadow. Anyhow, if I get satisfaction from the finished product, it might make a good study for a larger painting.
Makes me think of that old standard "The Banks Of The Ohio" (my fav version is by the Kossoy Sisters off of their album Bowling Green).
So, thank you for the surface guys & as I mentioned to you - when I get together something a bit less morbid, I'll send it along.

Shortened

As promised. This was taken of the elusive creature in his natural habitat - very rare footage!

New music - sorta

Curt first turned me onto David Ford on youtube.com doing 'State of the Nation':

Pretty cool concept and really good song. Since then we've been listening to the rest of the album. Some not so great, but my favourites are "Cheer Up," and "I Don't Care What You Call Me."
Definitely worth Checking out.

Drawn from the inside...

Our friend Ann sent me this link. I think that it is just incredible....http://fcmx.net/vec/get.swf?i=003702

Ern-man

In all his glory...

Midian

I like Curt giving Midian directions to look in the camera. That's like playing a silent video for Ernie; unless it's coated in bacon grease, there's just never going to be much interest.

All about Clovis

Dogs are derived from bears right? I think Clovi's ancestors were break-dancing bears though...you should see that pup spin!

More

So, here is a quickie self portrait. I did this one before sunrise looking into my reflection on a glass cabinet door. Perhaps it shows my inner desires for my outer self. After all, in reality, my nose is bigger, but my eyes and lips are smaller. Although, I must say I also made myself up to look grumpier than usual. Hmnnn...

Just fruity

Here is a sketch that I've been working on by candle-light. Kind of mushy, but interesting to try and draw without a very strong or clear light source.