November 19

Last year our family came up with the great idea of visiting restaurants of different ethnicities as a way to expand our palates. We selected well-rated establishments within 20 miles of home, put the names in a hat, and started randomly drawing them. To give the youngest, fussiest member of the family more incentive to try new foods, we posed as restaurant reviewers and put up a blog to inform the world of our opinions.

Great idea, but somehow between me starting Weight Watchers and not wanting to eat out, and Ian spending weekends with his friends, the plan fizzled. However, last night, with a little fanfare, the Meltzer Gang sallied forth once again to sample the fares of a local ethnic restaurant. Our random selection was French, but a quick phone call revealed that they were booked out till 9 pm. So the next draw was Mexican, and off we went to visit Señor Fred. You can read the review here.

While waiting a LONG time for our waiter, we put our reviewers' pads and pens to good use. Here's a sampling of the mutual portraits Lauren and I produced.

November 18

Walk 2 from Walking L.A. explores the "rarefied air north of Montana Ave" in Santa Monica. Yvette and I saw beautiful houses and ocean views, and the sweaty butts of many people slogging up and down the extremely steep staircases that link Adelaide Ave and Entrada Drive. After brunch at a nice Montana Ave restaurant, we got our fill of tactile pleasure at L'Atelier. Once again, a lovely morning; you can see all the photos here.

November 17

It was a gorgeous day today, and I am feeling SO much better. I walked down to Trader Joe's and took the long way home, passing this piano frame at the gutter in front of someone's home. It's been there a while -- the grass is growing up around it. I would have stayed longer and drawn more detail but the icecream was melting.

November 16

I caved under the nagging of my dear husband last night and started a course of antibiotics. My dreaded lurgy must have been at least partially bacterial, because I'm feeling a lot better today. Not exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, mind you, but well enough to notice, and be bothered by, the dust bunnies in the hallway. Also alert enough to feel the returning pressure of All The Things I Have To Do ... a Pol Sci quiz, that damn Leadership Project, the web site job I accepted last weekend, on top of the graphics for Josh's show. And to wonder why there's no food in the house, and what the heck do I feel like eating anyway.

So here's the question ... do I use my little reserve of energy to clean the house somewhat, hoping that it'll make me feel even better and give me renewed strength for the Other Stuff? Or will an hour spent vacuuming and putting stuff away and maybe even cooking a meal wipe me out for the rest of the day?

As you can see, I'm floundering. Lucky there's always another option. Make art.

November 15

I took a slow walk to the post office, and on the way home heard a loud, unfamiliar bird call. Finally I spotted this large creature atop a distant telephone pole. I'm not sure, but I think it was the red-tailed hawk that lives in our neighbourhood.

November 14

A birthday card for a special little friend. It'll arrive late (sorry, Eve). I haven't been on top of the birthday card situation since saying good-bye to Mum. I haven't been on top of so much ... my eating and exercise habits, especially. Right now I'm on Day Three of a cold, so I'm particularly feeling it -- I haven't been taking good enough care of myself. Screw the birthday cards -- I need to prioritize my well-being.

November 13

November 12

November 11

This morning my friend Evie and I did Walk #1 from the book Walking L.A.. We explored the Castellamere neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades, enjoying wonderful views, fresh sea air, and some gorgeous gardens. This tree is in "Nana's Garden". What a great way to start the day. Thanks so much for the book, Annette. I can't believe it's taken me so long to start using it.

November 10

Oh my god, I just spent ALL DAY (eleven hours straight, actually) on this week's assignment for my Political Science class. Two essays, twenty short answer (paragraph) questions, and research into my two state representatives. I can't believe it's only worth 100 points, the same number of points as last week's assignment, which just required asking 25 of my friends what political party they most identified with.

Still to come: the big Leadership Project, for which I'm watching all these movies. (Tonight: Hotel Rwanda. Or maybe not tonight. I'm pretty buggered—not sure I want to watch a few hours of bloodshed tonight. Or any night, for that matter. Which is why I keep procrastinating about watching it.)

Before I began this morning, while I was still in my jammies, I adapted my new web site graphics to business stationery. I'd post a picture here but I don't think I want to put my home address on my blog. Just in case one of you out there is a crazy Los Angelean. Not that you couldn't find out where I lived if you were, and you wanted to try. OK, now I'm rambling. Time to turn off the computer.

November 9

"You can measure the impeccability of your word by your level of self-love. How much you love yourself and how you feel about yourself are directly proportionate to the quality and integrity of your word. When you are impeccable with your word, you feel good; you feel happy and at peace." —Don Miguel Ruiz

"I observe my thoughts and entertain only those that empower me." —T. Harv Eker

November 8

Waiting for a file to print at work ...

November 7

The doll perched on the top right is Agatha, a wingless guardian angel with a very large bottom which I made to watch over Mum when she had major surgery a few years ago; it was one of the gifts I brought home with me after Mum's death. Now she watches over my shoulder as I sit at my studio table.

On another note: it's hot here today! 94°F (34°C) in November -- in the northern hemisphere! God I love southern California's weather!

November 6

Cabbage white butterfly larvae are devouring my broccoli plants. I don't think I've ever actually eaten any member of the brassica family from my garden, in all my years of growing veggies -- they always get snavelled by these grubs. Where's a good hungry toad when you need one?

November 5

Josh has started work on a new pilot that involves a comedic judge. I made this magisterial sock puppet prop for him today. Apparently it's going to be a major star on the show. Fame and glory for my advanced doll-making skills, at last!

November 4

Renting movies is something I -- we -- very rarely do, but I have to watch a bunch (from a specified list) for my Poli Sci class and write an essay on leadership. It's due soon, so tonight I brought home Citizen Kane. I saw this movie as a teenager and am looking forward to watching it again. But tonight all I had time for was a sketch, in Photoshop.

November 3

For weeks now I've been feeling so very grateful for everything. Every time I've felt the start of nagging negativity I've quickly turned it into gratitude. Annoyed with a child for her stubborness? I'm grateful for her strength of character. Pissed off by a demanding client? I'm grateful for the work and income. It hasn't been hard to do, it hasn't been forced ... and this tiny (?) mental turnaround has given me so. much. joy.

But yesterday, in the face of bad choices made by a teenager I love, I lost my Pollyanna smile. So W.S. Merwin's words are a timely reminder that there is always something to be thankful for, and if we choose to focus on that instead, our lives are infinitely better.

Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
standing by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
taking our feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
thank you we are saying and waving
dark though it is

- W.S. Merwin, Thanks

(The art above is by Federico Acerri, who sent it to me as part of a postcard swap in Feb 04. It's been on my pinboard ever since.)

November 2

Josh and I are so very sad tonight. Parenting is tough.

November 1

The "business" end of my new web site ("graphic services") is up here. I'd really appreciate it if you would check it out and tell me if you find anything broken. I've used tables to build each page so I'm especially interested if the bits don't line up in your browser. If you do find anything wrong, please let me know know what browser and operating system you're using. Thanks so much for your time :-)

October 31

I spent all morning working on a new web site for my graphic design business, then tossed the lot and started again. Now I'm exploring the idea of using the same site/design for both my "work" and my "play" art. Here's what I've got so far ... what do you think?

October 30

October 29

People are preparing their costumes ...

October 28

Another drawing inspired by National Geographic. Original photo credit: Ian Waldie, Getty Images.

October 27

Halloween's a-coming ...

I found a wonderful photo of Antrozous pallidus in a recent National Geographic that inspired me to draw their crazy shape.

October 26

October 25

I've been so impressed with Danny Gregory's portraits of late, that I was inspired to try a few of my own.

October 24

October 23

Copied from a stock photo while waiting for a large file to print at work.

October 22

More spearmint flowers.

October 21

The hummingbirds and the bees love the spearmint bush (which I keep cutting back with no detrimental effect). Check out the load of pollen on this little guy's legs.

October 20

I came home to a happy family and a happy garden. I'm so glad I live in a climate with a long growing season. My capsicums (bell peppers) are turning red, the eggplant bush is full of fruit, and tonight we ate fresh-picked salad greens.

October 19

October 18

October 17

October 16

October 15

I'm on the road again.

October 14

I had to smile when commentors on a recent post asked how I ended up with all those mittens. You might also ask how I ended up with a [fake, life-size] severed foot. The answer is the same -- my husband is a prop master. We have a LOT of weird and wonderful and useless stuff in our garage and storage units.

His latest gig is a new cable show that features a lot of body parts. He had a few spare feet hanging around this week, so he brought them home. It is, after all, nearly Halloween.

October 13

October 12

October 11

October 10

In my dreams nearly every night lately I am aware that my mother is dead. Sometimes, like last night, I sob in my sleep and awaken with a blocked nose and wet face. I miss you, Mum.

October 9

October 8

Not sure what to do with them now that I've drawn them. Anyone want six pairs of white fleece mittens?

October 7

We were all at a bit of a loose end this morning. Lauren unsuccessfully tried to organize a friend to play with, and Josh wanted to spend time with her but desperately needed to rest after working nearly 70 hours this week. It was such a gorgeous day that we all wanted to be outside. So we found something that pleased us all. We drove to beautiful Serrania Park, and Lauren and I hiked 2.2 miles (3.5 km) up to Mulholland Drive and back, while Josh snoozed in the shade of this sycamore tree.

It turned out to be more of a photography day than a sketching day. Perfect late summer Southern California weather, and Lauren had a blast playing with all the dogs in the park before and after our hike. Afterwards she hugged me and said, "Thank you Hashi. This was MUCH more fun than having a play date."

October 6

It's Blind Contour First Friday, and this month's theme is "SPOOKY".

As a non-American, I find Halloween to be pretty bizarre. I mean, you spend all year telling your children there's no such thing as monsters, and that they should never accept food or gifts from a stranger, then on this one night you deliberately scare them and send them off to ask strangers for candy. Makes no sense to me.

But anyway, I was going to get down the freaky alien fetus that is stored in our Halloween box in the garage, but I was too lazy to haul out a ladder and move a bunch of boxes. So I found this pretty scary mask to draw instead. Wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley, that's for sure. Unfortunately, my rendition is more innocuous than the original.

October 5

MISSING: Three fire-bellied toads.

October 4

I dropped into Chinatown on my way to today's press check, and took the opportunity to sketch the very large rooster on the roof of Superior Poultry. This store, I've heard, has been a landmark in Chinatown for more than 50 years and is said to be the last place in Los Angeles to sell live chickens to retail and wholesale customers. EDM Challenge #41 - Draw a landmark of your city.

October 3

When I arrived at after-school care to pick up Lauren, there was a note on the door saying they were all at the park and would be home soon. Aha, thought I, some drawing time. I had no paper with me, and only a scratchy ballpoint pen, but I found an old composition book inside the garage so made do with a page torn from that. Here's as far as I got before the van-load of kids arrived back.

October 2

I had the idea of introducing frogs to my veggie garden to help keep the ants under control. This morning, I sunk a sturdy plastic container in a shady corner under the spearmint bush, filled it with water, and went searching for a frog to inhabit it. Not having a pond full of tadpoles nearby, I went to the pet store. There I was informed that all their frogs were hand-fed from birth, and would never survive in my garden. The only breed that would live outdoors would be the Southern Toad, and they didn't have any. But the next pet store had little (2"/5cm) Fire-bellied Toads, so I bought one. Back in the garden, it seemed very happy with its new home -- it hopped off to snavel a few ants and came back to the pond. Greatly encouraged, I sent Josh off to buy a couple of friends for it.

I am inordinately delighted with the three new tenants. I hope they stick around. And eat a LOT of ants.

October 1

September 30