waiting...and waiting.


We all had a terrific time at the Corning Museum of Glass opening last night. The show, Voices of Contemporary Glass, showcased the new collection that was recently given to the Museum of a life's collecting from Ben and Natalie Heineman. The work is extrodinary as it really is the best hits for some of the most celebrated glass artists since the seventies, but that this work was collected as a series of bodies of work from the jewels to the work before and after that. So, though I thought I knew many of the artists, the context of before and after--the groupings of many pieces really highlighted where the artist found personal traction but the work that sprung at the same time and what was paused or left behind. Interestingly, Rob pointed up that the aspect of design really begins to emerge as a focus in how these artists grew. Yes, in the beginning, they had the chops to actually make stuff. But, the aspect of design entering the work beyond the sheer craft is what took it from a "I can make this" to this is Work-- and it is artful. interesting for me that this plays across many of the arts from being a musician to an illustrator, from a dancer to an opera singer, from a potter to an architect. What is transcendent is that the step beyond craft (or maybe there are many steps) leads to art. If you stop with the craft...(and this is not putting craft down), but if you stop with the I can make it...then the next step which is about refinement, realignment, rethinking, redesign is lost. This second step is what takes the work beyond.

I hope I can stay as engaged in this as i am now with my training. I love these little ah ha epiphanies...that seem to be so obvious, but for me--revelations.

We visited with the architects of the show, Paul and Barbara Haigh, who created an exquisite environment of white and black...sort of a residential world within the white walled gallery space to showcase this collection in a way that it gave a nod to the apartment the Heinemanns live in, and housed their treasures. It was lovely to see them. Old friends from Corning and new artist friends abounded. Kitty and Alex were on fire with the opening. They LOOOVED the glass. They LOOOVED the Haigh design along with catching up with old and new friends (with handshaking, eye looking, funny things to say...) I must say, I felt like I was hanging out with some pretty cool people I never had met (meaning my kids). remarkable. I am so charged (as are Kitty and Alex) that we are planning to go to 2300˚ this Thursday.

We got Alex off on a camping expedition this morning. The HS outdoors club are camping and canoeing at the Delaware Water Gap...with two nights of fun, high jinx, swearing, spitting and italian sausage. How can that be beat? Alex would pipe up and interject that perhaps there could be some cigars and gambling--more teenaged bravado!

We dropped off all of our toxic garbage today at the dump to great excitement. Barrels of lead chips from paint scrapings of the house. Paint. Pesticides from the 40s that we unearthed somewhere. This is a great thing.

R had his eyes checked and got new glasses. I ordered some new sunglasses (the first pair in years...I would say since having kids...17 yrs.(?)). So I am delighted. It is Robs bday so cake and steak are in order. I need to think quickly about a card and card picture.

Must go. Here comes the enormous storm promised. The willow is bending to the ground and the sky is pale green...must shut down

Heads up.



I am posting my teensy sketches from the awards ceremony last night. These things can go on and on, but if I have a notebook in my lap and a juicy pen, the time passes quite pleasantly. The awards ceremony was nice as the kids that you thought would be on a rail back and forth to the stage last night were not rewarded so intensely. Wider range of kids..good choices. It makes me nuts that the hometeam is lackadaisical about the work, grades etc. They have decided that mediocre is fine...and as much as I harp on it...they refuse to acknowledge this. Both Rob and I work hard...and they have seen it since coming home from the hospital--so I don't understand why they do not even connect us with work. Or, maybe they do and this is there little pushback. We get it..and forget you. OY OY OY> They are making choices they will rue. But they are making them.

The goofy heads are evolving from the Flora model. The lady heads are using the Murray nose and bottom lip conventions--with a little promise for later. Am finishing up the thesis paper (checking, rewriting, renumbering) and plan to have this done by the end of the week to get out to the editors. Am fixing Fu dog by redrawing the type and adding some texture. Somehow the color is not printing right. I have cleaned the epson...maybe saving it as a jpg and printing that might help.I hate this aspect of the work that there is voodoo around printing, the humidity, the day of the week, the mood of the paper, the age and amount of ink... OY.

I am finally making little noodly steps out of the mire of work. No gym until I can see the boundaries and borders, edges and light. Right at it from 8 am until 7 or so each day. Ten minute lunches...Firing away. I feel good as I have been able to keep all the balls moving with uploads, amendments, new designs. I am lucky to have such thoughtful customers too.

Need to get some grown up paperwork done today. We have some deadlines that are definitely accomplishable, but an extra layer to the work. My prizes for Hartford are here. Need to find a ribbon to gussy them up with (along with my buttons? or maybe Hartford Buttons! Could do that...one more of those. But could.

Connecticut people


Slow as molasses. I write this while I wait for the pc to boot up on this way secure line with passwords and special digital keys. Then, once I jump the hurtles of time and numbers, the chutes and ladders of this crazinesss, I finally can do some work. But as I wait, I figured I would multitask and get a little riff going here.

Am doing a bunch of little studies of little men. I was hoping to do a Flora valentine...but to be honest, I need to finish this thesis and get going on the Jean Tuttle/ Nancy Stahl research and sketch.

I need to research and illustrate (sketch for the class) a person from Connecticut or roots in Connecticut....Hmmm. I do love Mark Twain or better, his wife Olivia who was one of the founders of the University of Hartford....but then again, there are pirates and sea captains...maybe famous Shakers (Enfield Shakers?)? The lady above is Sister Mildred from the Endfield Shakers.However, Livy Clemens is a local celebrity here as she grew up in Elmira and I probably could get some originals to scan/shoot--reference that would be fresh. I have found some good ones...but maybe something poingnant and sweet. She was Mark Twain's heart...he wooed her and was always thinking and writing of and to her. She was a remarkable woman in her right--college educated, motivated and connected. She was one of the women that formed the nascent University of Hartford. So its a double hit with Elmira and with Connecticut.

Just had a mini scream fest over the most recent report card with Alex. Kitty I am waiting for. They think they are working hard and its "good enough" in their minds...no push to excel. Makes me tear my hair out in clumps.

Award event tonight. Must go.

Tuesday: split personality


Rob has my car today. The 15 yr old volvo smelled like gas and frankly when we bought it used it had it's issues, and now that it is ancient (or so the world thinks--I think something expensive like a car should last at least 30 years...but that is why i am not an economist or marketeer)---those issues have become overwhelming. Anyway, this is my round about way of trying to explain my little commuter man at the top who is popping up in my sketchbook. I am dating Jim Flora this week, and my love overfloweth.

Its been wild here as Erich is out for the unprojected second week post baby. Its hard for him (the lack of sleep) and the baby somehow doesnt want to cooperate and be perfect. She's hungry and insistent. So, like the radiant suns in our cupboard off the porch, she too is letting those big people know who is ruling that nest. So, to focus the light back on you know who (me), I am doing my job and Erich's job which is tough as the work I send out, comes back to me (flypaper, me) and then back and forth we go. Sometimes its tweaks ("change the dash to an em dash") but more often it's "the graphics didn't "grab" the chairman...on topics like power and such. Power is such a hard thing to depict as electricity, or Power and Glory americana ness such is so obvious. Symbols for power (at least traditional ones) are seeped in mythology and history which the common worker just does not track on. Maybe I should shift my focus to the celebrities of Inked, Dancing with the Stars or American Idol (none of which I watch)...There's power for you. Or that adorable Miss America having no ability to communicate anything other than what she was prepped for...or my favorite, Miss Teen South Carolina, really showing off:

Though, truly, the real power and the real "Miss World", British Idol contestant was Susan Boyle...someone not packaged, not prepped, and real symbol of talent, who blew people out of their chairs... it will be interesting how they package her to match her true talent and power.

Phone is ringing--designer, corrector, editor and receptionist job awaits.


Just had a blended Mother's Day and birthday luncheon chez Sheldrake for Kitty and my mother in law. Rob's bday is this week as is Kitty's party for her friends. So party central.

Thrilled that I ordered a big stretched valentine (36" x 48") as a sample. Also have buttons coming for the show. Need to finish my paper (this pm is the hope) and get to an editor this week. Need to finish the octopus, and a few others. Plus with the new Flora/Tinkelman/Provensen/ Tim Biskup inspired work, there might be a floradora valentine to finish the set...pointing the way to new styles, new approaches.. Have always wanted to do a series of totem poles with these wiggly guys...so this might be the answer or one of the approaches. I have a month to do one more. I think I might be able to pull this one off.

Gotta get going. The stink on this dog is enough to curl your toes. She must have rolled in something extrordinarily dead. And her scent really projects. Sounds like bath time!

I heart Picasso


I am giving myself a break from the thesis work to do these silly little people and work with Flora inspired/more graphic heads/style. It is quite liberating to have these new finishing skills (which I hope with some work with Nancy Stahl and Jean Tuttle) will extend to my ability to bring an inked drawing to finish quickly. I have not worked in this strongly simplified style (yesterday) because frankly, its been an easy style...a whisker from the stuff I knock out for my client. However, the easy part is the style. The hard part is making it artful. The guys from the other day are from a type of little guy I did early...and never knew to redraw, refine and really finish. These are miles ahead (before leaning into them) than before. I am thinking of doing work with either or both on the next body of work (6-8 pieces) on growth. I would also like to do some holiday (christmas) pictures with both too. Then, there is the body of work whose working name is "The Obtuse Saints"-- which are the figures we associate with holidays that have nothing to do with the christian beliefs. Such saints might include Saint Frosty, Saint Rudolph, The Easter Bunny....and they might be little illustrations of the shrine image of these respective icons.

The bedside book today is about Picasso, who, you probably don't know, I am a new BIG fan of. I never thought I would be, but like blue cheese and oysters--you can hate them and grow to like them; hate them and hate them forever; or like them immediately.

Picasso, for me is a former..hate and grow to love. Why? Well, first off, Picasso is a drawer and a do-er. This guy kept sketchbooks and worked solidly his whole life. None of this "when the spirit moves me" stuff. He worked. Solidly. I dont remember which book it was, maybe it was at the library when I was doing my "shop around" approach to the visit. But, this book was chronological, showing on this day, this year-- Picasso produced these sketches which evolved into those pieces. A steady thread of 3-5 images daily. Indeed, an impetus for all of us to just plug away...3-5 sketches a day. His thinking and evolving as an artist through these distinct bodies of work that kept wrapping the same imagery into new styles, new approaches, new "flat" thoughts (I think he is a decorative guy too, eh? Murray?). The harlequin of the blue period pops up as a cubist piece. His portrayal of his current squeeze in sometimes lovely modes, sometimes less lovely but thought provoking. Animals, particularly goats and bulls...it goes on. So, even Picasso had his "mis en place" of content...and let the style and approach go where it will...one flowing into the next. I think this is what happens, at least for me. One body flowing into the next. One style flowing into the next. Content evolving with sparkles from the past studding the future.

I am looking at the Vuillard body of work that Picasso did. Extrodinary stuff. This is the moment that Picasso stripped everything aside and with lovely sweeping lines drew these simple women, men moving to detail heads, another figure, a minotaur, a lovely woman. The purity of these graphic pieces (and the writer refers to this as graphic art...not the nasty graphic design graphic art(s)--but art). Picasso moves from the sensitive portraits and images (ie the Blue Period) to the imagery of Guernica (a sort of warm up for Guernica) in this elegant approach. The image above is one of the less graceful ones of the series...but beautiful none the less...masterful in his massive, confident figures, his design sensibility and his understanding of line and form.

Must go. Am being nudged to go outside. More later.


Am working on little men pictures. I should do more of this as it is important to have a bit more confidence with funny little people pictures as there is a demand for this sort of thing as an option to "cartoons". Jim Flora entered the mix along with Murray and Quentin Blake. Purusing the Flora website was the spur that yes, I needed to get going on this card and yes, I can try....I am not a total washup. So, the image just posted was my first attempt.

What is great is that I have the tools now to finish a hand drawn piece...and get it to a pretty nice level of presentation thanks to the valentines who taught me a lot about this sort of process. I am thinking I may want to work on little people in my spare time as having confidence in doing something like this might be very valuable in the day to day "we need a cartoon" expectation that often arises...

chasing my tail


Erich out. The baby is coming...or at least his wife's labor has begun. So, its just me for a week or so. But this baby has been very polite in letting us get through a big chunk of work prior to taking her daddy away from us. I do have quite a bit to do for the two of us..

At the House of Health again! and to my pleasure, Big Red was running a training session down the inlet for their eight man crew teams. They were taking it easy until the coaches had them race each other which was remarkable and graceful. Brawny and yet so tenuous and delicate. Loved it. What a great way to get the old brain going.

Just bought the nice paper I used for the Syracuse thesis for this new Hartford paper. I am getting some sample output from Picture Salon--particularly 3 big ones ( on canvas/gallery wrapped 36" x 48"). How to handle the smaller ones...I am still working out. I have buttons to buy. Am thinking square...though I have found diamond and oval shaped buttons as well...(unfortunately a bit too big/horsey). And personal postcards, am on it (psprint.com).

Woke up around 2:30 am. today with all sorts of problem solving and thinking. I was thinking about a body of work on stripped down/silhouette based (with only 2 flat detail colors) for a deck of Chinese Zodiac images. How about a Utamari based illustration for San Francisco with cable cars and bridges designed into her clothing? The sleeping pig...vector or hand drawn? And solved taxes, savings etc. for today. Am thinking of quarterly / semi annual 6" x9" 16-24 pp promotional publications to promote a body of work like the Pushpin Graphic publication or even U&lc.

Its late, the day has fled...and I need to sleep.

Mish mash mozzarella


This is the raw double happiness that I am going to edit with color/lines/tones.
I was looking at Chinese export china and want to better understand how the color worked--its a multiple series of weights of the same blue. Sometimes the grounds are a tinted grey green. Plus, the Chinese export illustrations and landscapes are divine. There could be some traction around a body of work generated from this adoration of these china patterns. I have always loved this blue and white pattern(s) and buy it whenever possible. I had a little stash of saucers and bowls that I brought home from San Francisco to feed this fire. So, this picture (with the double happiness symbol from Chinatown) speaks to these acquisitions...and the valentine theme.

Had a nice chat with Murray so that I can further describe the 80/20 rule in my thesis. He, as always, nailed it with good analogies and language. I wish I could be so smart and succinct. I got a great series of notes and feedback from Doug at Hartford which I can put into action. So, left foot, right foot. I am forward moving....I ordered my prizes to give out on graduation day (Luckystone Prizes). I don't think I can find the volume of luckystones to tie to each present...but we have some time and Kitty (with her eagle eyes) to comb the Luckystone beach for them. I am quietly pretty pleased with these prizes...and though small, they will, I hope, have some meaning.

I have "I love Fu", and the soon to be done" Double Happiness" for the San Francisco pictures. I am researching pigs as I still want to do the sleeping pig picture... I was also thinking of doing some silhouettes of the Chinese zodiac symbols (a la John Alcorn)--for the talk too. The sleeping pig might be vector...?~ Something to look forward to...

Ordered some great stuff from the Regional Access (local wholesaler to local restaurants that we locals can buy from). Alex is eating like a nut these days...devouring fresh mozzarella as if we have the mozzarella bush out back. So a big mozz is coming our way along with big containers of pesto and parm. to keep his engines stoked. The wonderful lady who took my order pointed up a great deal they have on natural (sold at GreenStar) chicken thighs (less than $2. a pound). She also told me about this 40 lb box of chicken ribs (perfect for soup she raved) . The entire box for $10.

Today was a mountain of small stuff. I am Sir Edmund Hillary standing on top of my tiny summit!

Natural History pranks.


Look at the scrollie ribbons on this thing...with the details interspersed from coffin to scythe. Flipped image/detail... And the hourglass (from the tombstones) winged (which some are) along with the more realistic skull, but gynormous shinbones that cross beneath/behind it. Ohhh, look at the skeletal hand holding something in the right and left corners. Sensational.

Up at the lake for the night and today. Rob is hoeing out Professor Wells' tool shed separating old chemicals and poisons from newer ones, metal and wood parts. Professor Wells was a professor of paleogeology at Cornell. He was a great collector of crap, a great maker of do-dads out of iron, and had a certain aesthetic which we lovingly refer to as "Wellsian". More of his touch gone....A- M E N. 

Rob discovered a nest of little robins which he showed us. These babies were quite remarkable as it was almost cartoonish where there was absolutely no visible bodies to these birds-- just these golden radiant suns (five of them) that were their beaks that if anything moved, they would immediately open--with a view down their throats. These yellow circles with views down their necks look like targets to drop the food into. No question what was going on there. If we didnt move it all, the little suns went away, and we saw tiny little brown and black heads, with eensy black beaks...all seemingly unrelated to the radiant suns. Freakish.

The trillium have opened as have the daffodils. We have forsythia with the lilacs being hard buds. Kitty filled all five bird feeders and two suet boxes so we should have wonderful birds flocking for our amusement and their pleasure. Just sited--3 male goldfinches, a female goldfinch and a thrush. Kitty found a skeleton and is bleaching it--wondering and watching, proclaiming its for her nascent Natural History collection. We have a single raccoon tail in the driveway independent of a pile of fur puffs under the trumpet vine. And I found two tiny bright blue crab claws (lake crabs>?) that are added to this collection. Kitty figured if RISD could have a natural history collection, why couldnt she? I am on board with this as it will give me permission to purchase moth earred taxidermy and know it has a welcome home. A Jackalope? What next?

Back on track


Finished up the first round on the paper and got to Murray and Doug. Murray called yesterday around noon very positive about the content, the work and the actual paper. He was very complimentary and kind...which makes me proud. Also, a bit hesitant as it now has to be better in the final. I guess I will hear from Doug at some point. After that, I will hire an editor and then refine. The work needs to be refined (some redrawn). And, there is one valentine on the desk that is to go into the final. Time to polish and finish. This is why there has been a lull in my writing my daily drivel to you....too much going on in this arena and work(!). Bizeee...

Speaking of Murray, his work and words are featured this week on Leif Peng's very interesting and expansive blog, Today's Inspiration. I highly recommend Murray's entries as it portrays what illustration studios were and how talent was brought along and emerged from this system. When I started as a designer at Corning Glass Works, we had an illustration studio in town that did line drawings and gouache paintings of Corningware, Pyrex and the consumer products for their catalogs and sell sheets. These poor devils had illustration jobs, but not the more glamourous jobs the Cooper Studio and even Pushpin had for their artists. But there was work for renderers, inkers, painters even in Corning, New York. Now the concept of an illustration studio seems inconcievable except in the case of illustration based companies such as Hallmark and American Greeting Cards. I also recommend the entries on Murray for a peek into the risks he took as a brash, young man with tremendous talent and occasionally not the most perfect timing. I love the illustrations from the baseball player and the wacky machine (the early version of the man machines he did for U&lc), the armidillo, the wonderful wolverine and the wealth of whimsical pen and ink work he did. It is a real shot in the arm for me...a gift to keep going and to not pick fights...Murray is an inspiration with his work, his persona, his gift as an educator and mentor and a friend. And, bless Carol for letting him do what he had to do to become this person we know and adore.

Zina Saunders, wonderful illustrator, insightful writer and all round high energy person noted the Peng entry on her page on the Drawger site. She also included an illustration she has done in a woodcut style that is fabulous. This artist never stops.... Wonderful work, wonderful writing and very interesting and wonderful comments on her page. Take a look.

I am hot on little people drawings. I loved Murray's baseball player for the spirit of the little man the simple face, the feeling. I was looking (and I admit, reading Roald Dahl's Matilda) at Quentin Blake's illustrations and was prompted to take all of the examples (BFG, Esiotrot, The Witches)off the bookshelf to see his work. Blake also has a very cute and amusing website that presents illustration content in a very happy, nontraditional way (categorically) and uses an almost "cloudlike" table of contents with flash animation to enliven and make the site sparkle as much as Blake does. His writing and storytelling is wonderful. And, Blake shares pictures of his studio, his house, his life that adds to the humanizing the legend. Love his pencil neck children along with the imperious, ogre like grown ups often with bad facial hair and warts. Now that I am looking at little people--I am going to have to plunge in. I have a birthday card to design for a client...and illustration definitely is in order.

Now that the valentine piece is coming along, time to design some heart patterns for end pages and section transitions. I am mulling over whether I do a perfect bound publication with Lulu or whether it is wire-o from Lulu. Though the perfect bound is pretty, the requirement of the paper is no printing on the backs. I think that wire-o might suit that better. Plus, they have a few nice color options that could be good. Need to order fu dog buttons (and a few more as there is no limit to the numbers of images to include in the order) and a postcard or two. Nothing over the top. Also need to get some sample output done on canvas and on maple plywood. The wood could be great with black printing on it...24" x 36" panels. But big canvas ones could be good....I should get a sample of each and see which works.

The image at the top is from my work on Avian Flu. I have been a bit wired (read neurotic) about the new Swine Flu (which is now PC to refer to as H1N1). Swine is better than avian for me because at least the vaccines are not incubated in pigs...just eggs. Plus, if you knew the annual flu statistics that we all do not even miss a beat on, 30,000 people die annually from the the "regular" flu. But, the full on pandemic is not someone wants to go through--and I have taken it to a mental image of a Bruegal-esque moment of death and destruction, catherine wheels and fog, a barren landscape of sorrow. Bird headed doctors (the plague masks were bird beaks that had a scented cloth in the beak to stave off the stench of the dying), carts of corpses rattling down Camp Street. Nothing is impossible in the world that grips me at three in the morning (won't life be great once menepause is over?) What is in this head transcends a school closing and please wash your hands and cover your mouth precautions. I am happy though that the family of man...globally, are behaving consciously and responsibly to maybe make this a quiet emergency versus a global trauma. There may be some pig pictures coming to the fore....

New web concepts we need to talk about later: Issuu, Squarespace
New vendors: Justbuttons

And I have a new wonderful surprise I am not spilling until I try them.... I am THRILLED to be so witty!

More later, my friends.

Porcine apologies


It was tactless of me to post the pigs. It was unintentional as I was doing research for a picture of a sleeping pig for a picture to illustrate the Chinese belief in these dormant pinkies being a charm for a happy house. With the Swine Flu on everyone's mind (except mine, it seems), it seems inappropriate. I apologize for my tackiness. I have been reading about this Swine Flu and am a bit worried about the state of the world, the state of the health of our children and the economic spin that could happen should a pandemic roll through. No more sleep for me. I had this before prior to the Avian flu fear ripping through the media. But, this seems more real with our President O making statements, the school sending letters and a high mention on the radio every morning and evening. Frightening. I hope with the positive reactions the Mexicans are having at their airports and Mayor Bloomberg is having in NYC can effect staving off this possible pandemic. The sleeping pigs were cute though..and a picture of one lying on a little pillow with a blanket are cute too.

It is remarkable weather today. Bright blue skies. Cloudless. Bright grass and the frillilaria and daffodils blooming. Shady Grove is relishing her naps on the porch with deep growls in her throat as the passing parade of pooches and people stroll by Camp Street.

Gotta go. Volunteered to help R. out with some typography they need tomorrow. Yikes.

true love


The weekend became a blur. We dusted and cleaned on Saturday at the Luckystone. The place was covered in that fine gritty plaster dust due to spackle (yay) and general construction dust (yay--new furnace, new pass through water heater, new filter system all in place in the newly configured former closet now energy center) and new vents. So a bit topsy turvy. I remembered the savior of our moving into the Camp House and the zillions of years of mites, motes and dust-- the ultimate dust buster, the Hoover Floor Mate machine. The name does not express how wonderful this thing is.. First it is a dry vaccum (if thats what you want) but the transcendent part is that it can be a wet floor scubber combined with the vaccum...so you can pull all the dust up, then run a quick wash and pull up all the scungy water along with it. Two or three passes on a room on a warm day ( it went up to 93˚ on Saturday and HUMID) and you have it covered. Plus, they make all sorts of megamixes with Lysol or Old English which actually does a bit more. So, I took a spin at the first floor floors and Alex, so inspired, took on the second floor. Lots of top mopping, and dusting. R. sorted all the copper that came out of the walls and organized all the materials (go,stay, reuse, to the dump) along with no end of other projects that he automatically and continually did. Saturday p.m. We took the kids to Shortstop for the promised Suicide Sandwiches (a hometeam favorite of the favorites, the ultimate of bribes)--and we sat outside watching these sandwiches be sucked down (can you say floor mate?) in rapid order. Kids then had time on the commons (Kitty and a friend to go to the basement of Trader Ks (a consignment store) for prom dress shopping, and Alex and friend to buy vinyl records). Rob and I went off to Home Depot for cleaning supplies and boring parental purchases. I bought a small quantity of groceries at Wegmans while R. got a haircut.

Then, to pick up the kids, we went inside Blue Bird Antiques, my new favorite antique place. The owner has a pechant for exactly the same things I adore. The odder the better. She had ton of masonic posters, framed prints, medaillions, necklaces, and these teaching scrolls (one I had to buy). This scroll is covered in symbols from the all seeing eye, to Hirams Temple, to a picture of George Washington with his apron on. There was the slipper and the sword next to angels coming down a diagonal latter from heavenly clouds. Wigged and wonderful....and now MINE> There is a bunch of Chinese propeganda posters, indian common art (and figures), wonderful photographs of Native Americans, great frames (for work) at a good price. It is not give away cheap, but the stuff is terrific and the edit that happens in the buying is wonderful. Cannot say enough about what an inspiration this place is. Illustration reference out the ears!

Sunday was spent by some organizing and others (me) cooking for the organizers and writing. I am within an eyeshot of completing the thesis work. I hadnt thought about the writing, but as I have 14 pieces versus the minimum of 6, that would increase the work section by almost 2.5x--thus the time. I find the writing very revelatory as it is forcing me to think chronologically and actually surface some of the unconscious stuff that normally isn't peered at. So, on the way. May make the May 1 deadline (certainly going to try)--and then after that, I will amend the illustrations per the SF contact, and redo the Double Happiness as it has a kernel of an idea, but isnt there quite yet.

Must go. Have a special education committee meeting I am committed to attend at 9. This week looks doable (I hope) with not too many specials to keep me from finishing projects and hopefully starting new ones.

>> For more on the Suicide Sandwich, please reference "Tasty-Ass Sandwiches of the Ivy League: The Hot Truck Triple Suicide" by Nick Summers