real winter

Well, I made it to Canada after a loooOOOOoooOOOoooOOoong journey. Landing in Chicago was crazy! The winds were so strong we had to make 3 attempts to land. And when we finally did, the storm got worsen, making it almost impossible to fly out. But luckily, I made it only after a 4 hour delay. (Some people were in the airport for about 2 days).

I'm here now and it feels good to be back. Had dinner at Bombay Bhel, my favourite Indian restaurant. I kind of want to go back again! mmmmmmmm samosa!

Anyway, it's really winter here! Not unbearably cold, but definitely below zero. And the best part is that there's LOTS of snow! It really looks like Xmas, except this year the Christmas lights are not EVERYWHERE like last year. I guess people are getting smart about being energy efficient.

MERRY X-MAS EVERYONE!!!

post 200

well...as of today I will be travelling. In a few days I will arrive in Canada. So the posts will be slow in between.　I'm really excited to see my friends and family. And I'm a little anxious about Canadian winter...Here I've been walking around with a spring jacket, and going out for lunch without any jacket. I mean, it's still raining here! In Canada it's between -10°C and -1°C. And I bet there's more than 30cm of snow already.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. I have a good feeling about 2008! 良いお年を！

Usagi to tsuki no odori

Well, here`s a photo of the final. It`s not a scan, but I`ll have to do for now. I`m happy with it and I hope that it is selected to be the book cover that I`ve trained it to be. My little brain child all grown up...It makes me feel so proud!

next week

Well, I will be going back home in a few days. It all kind of set in today. I've been so busy lately that I've hardly had any time to think about anything. I haven't started packing or anything. This morning I realised that the year is almost over, that Xmas is almost here! Man, time flies, doesn't it?

Ok. Well, as it has become a tradition, I will write a list of the things I want to do/eat:

•A&W Poutine (with a frosty mug)
•zucchini and cauliflower
•CENTRAL HEATING!!!
•see friends and family (of course)
•praat Afrikaans
•bagels and croissants
•feel REALLY cold!
•talk to a stranger
•go pants shopping
•see the AGO and the ROM
•have dinner on the CN tower—while it's still the tallest in the world!

Ok well, those are the things I want to do/see/eat while I'm back.

Go Tiesma, Go!

This is a shout-out to Benjamin!

His original Xmas song still makes me a little weepy when I hear it. I was there when he and Alison recorded it in our little Albion shack in London. It in itself was a precious Xmas memory. Ah, Alison...Where did you go? Anyways, here is this years Xmas song by Benjamin Tiesma: Snowflake Heart. (Left click to play, right to download)

Thanks, Benjamin, for adding to the 'Holiday-music-I-don't-hate' list. Yes, buddy, you are right up there with 'Christmas in Killarney'!

If you have a link to 'Missed You So' (I think that's what it was called, right?), please send it my way!

Well, here we have it folks a little Xmas present for everyone, courtesy of Benjamin.

the messiness of life

So recently I've been working on a book cover for some competition. It's been a while since someone actually gave me an art project, and it actually feels really good to be working on something. But as always having so much pressure to work on something has thrown me into a creative beret-wearing phase. I think when you are actively doing art you look at life with completely different eyes.

The theme is the moon. The thumbnail I drew looks something like this:


Of course it's not done yet. The final is in progress on my desk. And when I look around in my room, I see exactly how crazy messy your environment has to become to work on art. I`m not sure if it's like this for everyone...I mean, I'm sure there are some artists who have a spotless workshop as if they wipe up every spilled drop of paint.

My creativity almost demands that it be messy. Everything I could possibly need within grabbing distance.

remarkable eyes

I posted a story I wrote recently here. It's nothing special, but it spontaneously came out of me, and I had time during my internet-less period to write it out. So Enjoy!

punctuation!!!

I love this! I wanna reproduce something like this as a skit. I wish I knew about this when I went to arts camp!

meat rocket!

Anyone want some uncle meat?! You can ride it like a space ship and eat it all night long! But remember kids, if your real uncle ever asks, you say "no!" Unless you live in one of those countries where you can call any older male 'uncle', then it might be OK. Just be careful, sometimes the rocket can burn you if you touch it. Why? ...'Cause it's HOT like a Plasma screen TV in Detroit, dammit!

the winter feast

So during the stint where I had no internet, Kazue-sensei had a winter feast in her beautiful apartment. It was like 4 of mine joined together and took up half the floor of the apartment building. It was a potluck party and everyone brought something nice to eat. I made a wheat salad; kinda sweet curry flavour. But the impromptu cooking prize goes to Erin, who made an incredible pasta salad. Of course, everything was good, though!

Here`s the spread. It looks like a Thanksgiving meal at home! Yay, real food! (Of course, I ate wheat salad for the next week!)

After the meal we relaxed with wine and had a `pile-on` on Akiko as soon as she laid down. "PILE ON!!!!!"

Good times!

Crazy Canadians!!!

This is crazy! First time I look at Canadian news and this is what I see!

Basically: Guy breaks up with girl. Girl goes crazy. Grabs a katana and goes on a rampage. Destroys a car and slices a fire-fighter.

READ ALL ABOUT IT! WOMAN GOES NUTS WITH A KATANA!

Maybe we need a sword registry in Ontario...

games shows

Japan is a country of game shows. The television is almost always filled with some kind of game segment, a panel of experts giving their opinion on something, and a section on food. It is all pretty entertaining. Although I never watch TV except in very rare situations, when I do (even in a few brief seconds) I usually catch only GOLD!



This is from one of these shows. Psychological, man...I tell you.