the poop

One year in NEW YORK CITY

2008-06-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Round two for the NYC summer. Got started a bit later this year and is now in full swing.
The Feast of Saint Anthony marked our first year in New York. It's a 2 week long street festival that signals the beginning of summer. I also marched in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade with the group from Dr. Sketchy's. Took a dip in the ocean to celebrate summer after the parade.
I'm working on my comic book. Very slow going on that one. I'm also starting work for the Saints & Sinners show in Baltimore.

Mika bought me a bicycle as a gift to get in shape and commute. I'm really out of shape and have only ridden the bike twice. Been using the heat and my exhaustion from work as excuses. They really are prohibitive to riding but I have to get in the mindset to not let that stop me.

I really enjoy riding the bike. I just got a water bag for my backpack so no more excuses!
It will be a few weeks before my legs are ready for the regular commute to work.

Speaking of work, my current job sucks ass even more. The few tips I got used to budgeting are now shot to hell since I started working at the new store in Midtown. I'm lucky if I walk with twelve bucks for a morning shift. I'm looking for new work to say the least.

I am also looking at prices on tattoo equipment. It's high time to start forging a path as an artist and stop working for jackasses who don't give a fuck about me.

chinese take out

2008-05-12T16:15:00.001-07:00

These are 3 of my favorite Chinese take out restaurant names. Hung far Low from Portland OR, New Big Wong from Washington DC & Lucky coming in the Bronx NY.

spring cleaning

2008-04-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

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I cleaned my studio to get ready for what I hope to be a busy summer working. School is over and now I am going to apply what I learned to getting illustration work. Working at the coffee shop is barely making my ends meet. In addition to making new art and looking for buyers, I'm also looking for a part time job that will make me more than 300 bucks a week. Mika's helping as much as she can to help with the bills but at this rate I have only another month before finances start to really get stressful.

On the bright side I sold my first art in NY at the Open Space Gallery in Beacon. That's a good start. An awful toothache caught me off guard this week and going to see the dentist to fix it next week. Perfect timing as my planned diet was to begin this week. Sean Wheeler stopped in the city for just one day during his whirlwind East Coast tour. It was so good to see him. Hope he moves out this way. I sure do miss my friends from Seattle.

Planet Wings opened up last week after almost a year of construction. Is it any good? Uh, fuck yeah.

Went to Woodstock for Mika's birthday a few weeks ago. Stayed at Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel. It's a funky little dive motel in the Catskills owned by Kate Pierson from the B52's. Mika got lots of shopping done and we had a really fancy birthday dinner. Upstate New York seems to be the place we both want to move towards.

working

2008-03-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Started working this week at Oren's Daily Roast, a really great coffee roaster here in NY.

Getting excited about my art show Thursday at Ave. A Sushi.
I'll have to bail on school because the opening is @ the same time as class. This week was spring break for SVA so I'll miss two weeks of school.

I'm off to Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School again today.
Mika has been put under Gob and Dash's sleeping spell.

When I get home tonight I have to finish Jenneve's birthday painting,
Mika's birthday painting and work on paintings for the Zealous show and the Open Space show in Beacon. In addition to all this, I am doing studies for my velvet paintings now.

I also have to start putting ideas together for a show in Baltimore in September.

work is good.

Almost over the yuck

2008-03-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

Things I can be thankful for

my studio and my gift for art and music, coffee, a comfy bed, my computer and my trusty assistant, being alive to experience the massive human creation that is New York, Mika, sleeping, fuzzy sleep helpers,
Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy Ale, Pistachio donut and the Best Pizza on Earth-mine! Snow.

the yuck

2008-02-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a week now that I've had the yuck. Going to the doc on Monday to confirm that it's the yuck and give them money for anti-yuck drugs. Perfect timing because my fat lazy stoner boss pulled the rug from underneath me at my job without so much as a warning. Maybe in his smoke addled mind he had it all worked out, but it came as a complete shock to me.

I got some great painting done and it has forced me to rethink my direction artistically. I've had some time to reconnect with people via email that I've missed due to way too much work. New doors are opening as I close the one on a waste of time little pizza place in the Bronx.

Going to Dr. Sketchy's tomorrow for the second time. I need a good life drawing session to energize my brain. Looking into the options I have for pursuing a BFA @ SVA. I'm really enjoying my classes and am ready to tackle a degree. My website may never happen. Just when I thought I was going to get something going..nothing. The designer who offered to make my site has basically ignored my inquiries and I am again looking for someone to make it happen. I'd do it myself but if I did it would be 2020 by the time it got finished.

One thing at a time.

artistic breakthroughs

2008-01-15T08:01:00.001-08:00

Just signed up for a new class at SVA. This one is for learning how to market myself as a visual artist. Missinglinkart dot com will soon be a reality. Working on Michelle's big-eye painting is almost done, the velvet paintings are in the works, the first CHOAD recording is a couple hours from being mixed down and a new issue of the CHOAD comic will be out in April. Oh Yeah, and I finally shaved after 4 months.

It's Hot in Here

2008-01-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Sixty degrees in the Bronx and it's only the first week of January! what a start to the year.
Just registered for another class at SVA that starts on the 28th of January. The last class in the fall was awesome! It was a comics appreciation/visual narrative/sequential art class taught by Tom Hart, a wonderful instructor who has an awesome comic, Hutch Owen.
This next class is a course on how to fine tune a design/illustration portfolio to begin getting work. The plan is to start making a living with my art. Next course will be learning some html and computer skills.

Rung in the new year on a quiet note. Nicole, Nilda, Jessica, Mika and myself for snacks, wine and an intense game of Cranium. Had the first xmas visit with Maureen and Craig in 7 years down in VA. Got to see their pups, Marly and Gertie and the cutest little bulldog, Rambo who really needs a home. If I was working at home I'd adopt him in a heartbeat.

It was a great getaway from NYC. Mika finally got to meet my friend Laura and we wrapped up the week vacation in Mobtown with Jim and Tara. A trip to the American Visionary Art Museum was a real eye opener. Many return trips there are in store. Xmas tattoos at Jim's studio Saints & Sinners www.saintsandsinnersink.com were our gift from Jim. A mural in their attic is soon in the works.

2008 is the year of the CHOAD, a band that I am managing. The CHOAD are recording their debut CD at this moment. They have a Myspace page www.myspace.com/choadrocksballs.

My website has been delayed due to some nonsense with the designer that was supposed to be creating it. A visit from Rick the day after we returned from our trip was a wonderful surprise. We went out for Indian food at the Taj Mahal on 6th st. [Bon Jovi and ZZ Top ate there!]The next day we went to DIA Beacon and the Open Space gallery. I love Beacon. Will be making the train ride again soon. He will take on my website construction. Yay!

Now I have to save up for a trip to Denver. Many trips to Denver and when the snows melt away I can run down to Ouray. I have a good feeling about 2008.

Gob and Dash both made new blogs. Gob's journal is www.thenotoriousgob.blogspot.com and Dash's is www.dashyernesto.blogspot.com.

I'm now officially a New Yorker

2007-09-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

I had my bicycle stolen on labor day. Someone simply unscrewed the lock cylinder to the iron gate that leads into my back 'yard'. I now consider this grounds for being an official citizen of the Big Apple. Dropped my bartending job in the LES for a job with less hours, better working conditions, better boss, better money and closer to home. I am getting ever so close to finishing my online gallery.website. Working using my illustration skills is going to be a reality soon.
Turned 39 years old a few weeks ago. Had a relaxing day wandering downtown with Mika. The birthdays gods gifted me with 'Seattle' weather. It was 68 degrees and light rain. A elcome break from the 90 plus temps and 100% humidity.
Took a brief trip back to DC. My dear friend Bob D hung himself. I ventured to the memorial service and it was a strange sort of family reunion of sorts. It was great to see so many people that I've lost touch with after 12 years on the west coast.
I have the apartment to myself tonight. Mika is on a camping outing with her school. Just me and the poopers. It's very quiet.

a bronx cheer for the new kids on the block

2007-07-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

I resume this writing now in the heart of the Bronx, NY.
My computer bit the dust as the roadtrip began and now it's fixed.
I still use the public library to conduct my correspondence and surf the web so I have to deal with their hours and terms.
The trip was awesome. After a rough start at 4 in the morning departing Seattle we officialy said farewell to mild weather.
The high desert was harsh on both the cats, Gob especially. Since neither had been on the road longer than a trip to the vet it was also a shock to their walnut sized brains as to why suddenly they were trapped in this rattling noisy, stinky, overheated cage.
Ouray Colorado was incredible. Besides peace of mind and breathtaking [literally] mountain air, I had some of the best chocolate at Mouse's chocolates. The stay was too short and off to Denver to fly east after only 4 days of Rocky Mountain high.
Got to see Rick Griffith after 12 years and that was a treat. He arrived in New York for the Webbies just a month later and got to hang out with him and see the Faile collective's latest show in the LES and eat some duck. The show was invite only and Rick was smooth enough to get the dude at the door slip me in past the velvet rope. Crashing an exclusive art show barely weeks into living here, that's what I'm talkingbout.
Mika and I hit the ground running and had appointments to see apartments within mere hours of landing. We found our current apartment within two weeks. I snagged 2 bartending gigs in the same time and already quit one so I feel like a local already. Le Pere Pinard is a cool little French restaurant on Ludlow and it's alright as far as jobs go. Slow for summer, but it's busy in the fall and winter so getting in now is a good thing. I'll get time to get get to kow the regulars and really get to know the neighbors. The Red Eye Grill [or the Brown Eye as I prefer to call it]was my second experience at a truly corporate job and it ended as my first experience at such a job did 10 years ago. I walked out mid shift telling the management to fuck themselves in so many words. The place sucked big time. That's all I need to say for the moment on that.
Mika got a teaching job that she digs at an arts oriented high school and I finally got my paintig studio set up.
After pulling up our Seattle roots of a dozen years each, accomplishing all that here in under a couple months is cause for celebration.
I sure miss my friends from Seattle. That's the hardest part to deal with, is realizing that all my friends are not here. That will change soon enough.
On the upside, I don't drive every day [although I do miss Bertha], I bike and walk everywhere [will be in the best shape of my life by this time next year], amazing ffod everywhere and hell, I'm in fuckin' New York.

the magical sending unit

2007-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

After much stress and frustration, the fabled sending unit arrived late yesterday afternoon too late to be installed until this morning.
While writing this, Mika is at the auto shop getting the part installed. We will be Colorado bound tonight! We will slip away quietly into the night. Next stop Twin Falls Idaho! To be in a mold-free room on a king size bed will be a little slice of heaven after this past month of sleeping at the spore farm. Off to Trader Joe's for munchies. Then I need to get some NW essentials to share with my mountain dwelling family- coffee and salmon! A few items to complete the road-emrgency/first aid kit, a nap and 5,000 baby.
I'll miss the whole goddamn moldy old town of Seattle and it's wacky, wonderful critters. Funny thing about the plans being backed up a bit is that Mika and I both got to see some special people just a few minutes more and were able to see some folks who couldn't make our going away party, so in the big picture, it all worked out for the best. I got to see some friends I haven't seen in 13 years from DC and found a good home for Bertha! So with that, I love you all & You all know who you is.

the party's over, but not really

2007-05-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Whiling away the hours now to my departure from Seattle. Tomorrow I have my first meeting to have a buyer look at Bertha. Had my last chiroprator session yesterday,accupuncture this morning and my last rolfing session is tonight.
The going away party was a blast last Tuesday. Just about everyone I wanted to see one last time made it. A few folks were absent and dearly missed but seeing them again will happen. Seeing everyone again will happen, hopefully they can all visit NYC [not all at once please].
Mika andd I made a nice chunk of gas money from extremely generous donations. Funny how sometimes the good-things-happen-to-good-people thing actually works out. We budgeted a minimum of 300 bucks just for gas to Colorado and lo an behold there was 360 in the jar. That should cover some of the motel bill for the trip.
The highlights of the evening were Rusty and Pete's jazz lounge stylings, Erin's concertina performance on the sidewalk [she wrote a beautiful song just for the occasion] and original art from Jeremy Eaton, Kristen Ramirez, Sir Mark Bruback, Nathan Brutzman as well as an assortment of thoughtful gifts from Erin, Sarah, Gail, Sir Mark...golly can't remember all tose that were there but everyone's mere presence was a gift in itself.
The plan is to take off on Thursday at the latest. Gotta meet with Nicholas to take pictures of my paintings before they go in the moving box. That is proving to be a challenge time-wise. It will all work out.
I'm hoping by the end of the day Mika will be saying more than one word answers to me. She had a bit of a problem yesterday admitting fault and apologizing for something that is basically extremely trivial but it's one of those things however, that if not apologized for is a pretty good indication of where things will go once we reach our destination. I sure hope she sees both the reason and understands why I need a sincere apology for what happened.
I'm just rambling now and if there was a soul who even reads this blog one day, they will be scratching their head saying, 'what the hell is he talking about?'.
Well in a few days what the hell I'm talking about will be a bit more clear to all parties concerned, you included dear reader.
This is a pivotal point for this humble blawg whereas from this point on there is a good chance that someone besides myself will be reading this.
Why? that will never be understood.

A perfect day to not stay home

2007-04-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those magical days. Clear blue sky and not too hot, not too cold. Baby bear would be freaking out it's so fucking pleasant. I've been cafe hopping and perusing the wonders of the web. had a relaxing and helthful breakfast at the Madison Market and have been wandering somewhat aimlessly taking deep breaths all the way.
The fact that I can actually draw air in through both nostrils is a marvel. I am not in any hurry today and I want to focus on the pace of the day and my breathing as I take this mindset into everyday practice. sure there will always be days where it doesn't seem like there's enough time to do all the things that need doin' but today is a lesson in acceptance. My truck won't be ready until Monday. All I know is Monday. They can't tell me what time or even approximate. Tuesday is the going away party at the Pub for me and Mika. Would be amazing if I could sell Bertha by Tuesday afternoon and roll out of the moldy green burg that is western Washington to drier climes.
I'm looking forward to seeing Jim Woodring's and Bill Frisell's performance at Fantagraphics tonight and then Kim's b-day party.
Car troubles and mold aside, today is damn near perfect.

places & thangs I will miss in Seattle

2007-04-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

in no particular order these things and places I will miss dearly. Things peculiar to the Pacific Northwest, Seattle mostly and some in Portland and other parts. Many of these places are long gone and will be missed whether I moved or not.: STUFF Cafe & Collectibles,Sit & Spin,SCUD/Jello Mold building,Vox Populi,Moe,Last Exit,Glamourama,Cafe Paradiso,OK Hotel,The Lux,Confounded Books,Penny & Perk,Ruby Montana's,The Black Lab Gallery,Sub Level 3 Gallery,Kut Kulture Gallery,Peoples Pub,Mr. Spot's Chai House,OKOK,Schmancy,Nancy,Fancy + Pants,Plastic Passion,VAIN,Shorty's,Fremont Sunday Market,Bambino,Fantagraphics,Cranium Collectibles,Cafe Venus + Mars Bar,Joe Bar,the High Spot,the Five Spot,the High Dive,the Five Point,the High Life,Eileen's/Ernie Steele's,Coffee Messiah,Space Oddity,Collective,Dingo Furniture,Red Light,the Neptune Theatre,Harvard Exit Theatre,The Egyptian Theatre,Grand Illusion Cinema,Tall Grass Bakery,Great Harvest Bakery,Cascioppo Bros. Meats,the Globe cafe,the Breakroom,Bailey Coy Books,the Re-Store,Earthwise,Georgetown Liquor Co.,the Hangar Cafe,Fritzi Ritz,Victrola,Bauhaus,Auriface Cafe,Online Coffee Company,the Can Can,Ballard Sunday Market,Re-bar,The Sunset Tavern,The Elysian Brewery,La Panzanella,Coastal Kitchen,Big Wheel Bingo,Gorditos,Laundry Room Recording Studio,Speakeasy,High Maintenance Bitch,Smokin' Pete's BBQ,Atlas clothing,Wall of Sound Records,Trading Musician,Uwajimaya,Panama Hotel,Pink Godzilla,Baguette Box,Pig Iron BBQ,House of Good BBQ,Willie's Taste of Soul,Roy's BBQ,Le Frock,Columbia City Farmers market,Vivace,Vashon Island,Machiavelli,Bertha,Fuji,Aoki,Madison Market,PCC,Reload bags,Second Ascent,REI,Fremont Antique Mall,Edmonds Antique Auction,Aurora Antique Pavillion,Nitelite Lounge,Jive Time Records,Twice Sold Tales and all the Kitties,the Jimi Hendrix statue on Broadway,the 'Hammered Man' i front of the Blue Moon Tavern,Anchor Tattoo,Rain City Video,Gasoline Alley,Artcore Tattoo & Gallery,Seattle Tattoo Emporium,Seattle Public Library,the Ferrys,Tulip Festival,Mount Rainier,Archie McPhees,Not A Number,the Juice Goddess,Comics Dungeon,Zanadu Comics,Rocket Comics,Greenlake Family Dentistry,SIFF,Westlake Center @ Xmas,Seward Park,Greenlake,Discovery Park,Ballard Locks,Golden Gardens,Carkeek Park,Myrtle Edwards Park,Volunteer Park,Woodland Park Zoo,Lake Crescent,Hoh Valley Rainforest,Ruby Beach,Horning's Hideout and the peacocks,,Roq La Rue,Wright Bros. Cycles,Bike Works,The Pound Gallery,Silent Movies at the Paramount,Port Townsend,Sunsets,the view from 18th Ave & Union St.,Taxi Dogs,Mighty-O Donuts,Top Pot Doughnuts,Cupcake Royale,Stumptown coffee,Powell's Books,Billy Galaxy,Jackpot Records,Half & Half cafe,Reading Frenzy,Paradox Cafe,Avalon Vintage & Daisy the sweetest pug in the world,King Burrito-Papas con Fritas!,Voodoo Donuts,Bumblekiss,Just Be Compound,Upper Playground,Thriftstores in Oregon City & Milwaukee...I will have to ammend this list as there are some places & things that I am most likely forgetting. These all just kinda flooded my thoughts as I composed this list.

mold sweet home

2007-04-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

The house I'm staying in until the end of April has not been lived in for almost 8 years. It is filled with the remnants of an auto-emissions testing business, an office [complete with pee-soaked cubicle dividers and over a dozen electric typewriters], and an espresso cafe. The owner of the house is a patron of the cafe Mika works at and offered us the place to camp out in while we are in limbo before our move. Nice enough guy. Didn't want any money. Just did this out of teh goodness of his heart and for that I am thankful. It boggles the mind that while an evergrowing part of the population can't afford adequate shelter there are people who have multiple properties and houses that don't even take care of them. This is one such case. The basement is a 1000 square foot petri dish. Half of the basement is standard dusty antiques and a washer/dryer setup. The other half is a 6 foot pile of discarded clothing, mattresses and god knows what else but the mold makes my eyes burn and my nostrils close up tight. My allergies this time of year are worse than ever and this is the salt rubbed in the gaping wound. We have shut all the doors to downstairs but its no use. The mold is oozing through the floorboards and is on the windows, doors and baseboards [even the molding has mold]. All my clothes now are beginning to take on the smell just from being in the building a week. Sleeping is difficult to say the least. I am taking every opportunity to escape being in the house and that doesn't come cheap. Origially the agreement for staying at this place was that I would assist the owner in ridding much of the excess crap stored there by posting it for him on ebay and craigslist. This should have been done by now but he hasn't hooked up any internet connection which was another thing he promised. Heck, when Mika and I first went over to clear the room we were planning on using to sleep in there was no electricity and hot water. That was an easy fix and at this point I could care less about the internet but the mold may well be the death of me. I think it's crept into my brain. I'm posting a picture of some pretty pink flowers to get my mind off this miserable ssituation for a hot minute.

a rainy day

2007-04-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Today is another perfect day. In contrast to the warm sunshine and clear blue skies of yesterday, today is cool and rainy. My morning has been spent at Fuel coffeehose organizing my email contacts and getting my address book in order for the upcoming move. Gob fell asleep on my chest last night. A first. Normally he goes right to Mika's side. This picture is Gob aka the Notorious G.O.B. aka Poobucket aka Poopmaster G aka Gobalicious aka Poonugget aka Poopaw aka Gob Marley aka the Poopinator. seems to be a theme going here. wonder why? Gob is sporting his spring/summer haircut. He's actually been relatively poo-free this past month [except for his feet].

where were we? oh yeah, not blogging

2007-04-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

ure
It's been nearly a year since I've made a bloggings. I totally forgot I even had this thing. So much has happened. Where do I start? My leg has fully healed from last March's knee surgery. I'm painting again. The monkey book will be fiished this year.My online gallery is a few months from being finished. I'm leaving Seattle for New York in just a few weeks. Mika and I are taking Gob and Dash. Found a new home for Echo. Putting together a webite finally and will be working to get my illustration career off the ground. Mika will be teaching highschool. The cats will eat, poop and sleep. The picture in this post is about closure. Last week as Mika and I moved out of our house, we had to take some things to the dump. among those some things were the foam letters that once spelled STUFF CAFE. As each letter was tossed in the pile of crap a weight was lifted from my soul. For the record, today is possibly the most beautiful day ever.

laundry

2006-05-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

Gob is watching birds. Earlier today he ran headlong into the picture window in the living room as he was running away from Dash .
He was stunned momentarily, but as often is the case with small brained fluffballs, he brushed it off returning to his pile of unsorted laundry to make a nest for his mid-morning nap.
I am going through my recent acquisitions on my i-tunes, weeding out songs that I won't listen to regularly [and the really boring ones]. I'm up to the "b's" now and at the late period David Bowie recordings.
I realy want to like 'Earthling' by David Bowie. I like his music and his creativity but something about the drum 'n' bass overkill on this record is bugging me. The drumming/drum machines distract me from the music. There are some tracks that catch my ear because they have really deep riffs, hooks and don't rely on the DJ sounding drums exclusively to carry the tune.
I appreciate David Bowie's constant need for trying out new musical styles and using contemporary trends to his advantage, hell even the great 'Space Oddity' and 'Hunky Dory' were a mish-mash of Dylan+Beatles, but this drum 'n' bass is just plain annoying.
At least I have to give him credit for taking a chance on making the album in the first place.
In the big picture, even 'Earthling' is pretty hip all things considered for a 50 year old guy.
Even the annoying parts are a heap better than what's cranked out on the MTV.
Echo is sleeping in the same spot that she's been in all day.

2006-04-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day, almost perfect. Clean sheets and chocolate with crisped rice & crystalized ginger end it sweetly. Echo crapped all over my painting studio. She's really high on flower essences right now and I will keep her that way until she stops shitting every where. When she isn't hissing at the other cats or pissing on my drum kit she's adorable. On the bright side, her turds are nice and hard and easy to clean up. It would suck if she had slimy diarrhea and sprayed the room brown. Look at that face, how could anyone get upset with her? Even if she has her issues, she's my girl. Love is indeed blind.

please don't interrupt me while I'm ignoring you

2006-04-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am still asleep. I have already done everything I need to do today [in my dreams]. For the next 10 hours I have to really do the things I already thought I did and then the ultimate goal:go back to sleep.
What more can one possibly ask for? Oh, lots more. For more intricate details stay tuned to this goddamn blawg for details.