Monday, November 30, 2009

nice

Had a nice big fat holiday weekend. Went to the parade, got home in plenty of time to stuff and roast a big ol' turkey. Next day after my run, my wife and son came to the studio to help print this year's holiday cards [which I will post once they're all in the mail], then a nice party down the hall that evening. Saturday was karate class for my son, a birthday party in the neighborhood for a sweet little three year-old in our building, then a terrific fifteenth anniversay dinner for the little lady and me, at Melt, a place I love, and more importantly a place with no kids' menu. I had a braised lambshank with truffled grits and my goodness gracious sakes alive it was good. And we had champagne, of course. Sunday I had another nice run and workout in Prospect Park, then a little studio time, and got home in time to start some turkey soup. And then we had our first dinner of leftovers: stuffing, turkey, butternut squash, green beans and spinach. And the last of my wife's incredible--incredible-- pumpkin freaking pie, with a graham cracker crust, no less. Like I said, a nice big fat ol' holiday weekend.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving/Happy Anniversary

Glass of Wine, 2000, oil on canvas, 35x39in.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Forgot to mention

Last week in the park [see pic in previous post] we saw a huge and gorgeous great blue heron walking along the river bank, no more than fifteen yards away.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

From the studio, via the iPhone camera

Playing around with the iPhone's camera, some shots of works in progress in the studio:







The Speed of the Sound of Shuffling, or: Parenting in the 21st Century

"Daddy, why can't zombies move fast?"

Hmm, Dr. Spock doesn't cover questions about the undead from five year-olds. Does Dr. Van Helsing have a parenting book? Maybe there's a need for this kind of thing, maybe I should write "What to Expect When You're Raising a Vampire Hunter."

The question is really my fault, anyway. We were playing a game on the way home from school where I pretend I don't know where he is, even though he's riding on my shoulders. And while he's up there (this started around Halloween), he makes spooky noises to scare me, like ghostly moaning, witches' cackles, jingling skeleton bones, etc. And then he makes a noise and says it's zombies. "Well," I say, "I don't have to worry too much because zombies move pretty slow."

Hence, later, the question. My answer touches on logical reasons, you know, the crumbling bones and wasting muscles, etc.

And also, "Hey bud, you know there's no such thing as zombies, right?"

"Yeah, Dad!"

Later, he asks his mother the same question, just to check up on me, I guess.

Friday, November 6, 2009

surprise

Never thought I'd have an iphone. But I do, and it's cool. I got that Brushes app but haven't played around with it much yet; hopefully will post some the decent results here, in time.

Have to figure out what this year's holiday card will look like.... For the first time in years, am completely high and dry with no sense of what to do. Usually I have a few alternates from the year before percolating, but not this year, not yet.

great dane

I'm no Joe Dog Whisperer, but Scooby Doo is an monstrously large dog, even for a great dane, I think.

And I don't say that just because I was scared of dogs as a kid.

I mean, I'm no Michael Vick, but don't it make you wonder who'd win in a fight between Scoob and Marmaduke? Not that anyone would want to see it.

These are the kinds of observations that sound completely original and witty to me in this little corner of the internets, but which have probably been made about a million times at other places on the cyberhoohah. Or at least, I should hope, in Mad Magazine.

And we'll leave Clifford out of the equation entirely.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Finally

At least the 2009 season is over. I was watching up till the seventh inning stretch last night, but went to bed after I realized how disheartening it was to be watching a Joba Chamberlain v. Shane Victorino matchup. Those two hot dogs.

Some consolation in knowing lil' Vicky made the last out. I guess.

And another thing: just you wait till next year.

****

In more positive news, a great Halloween weekend. Party in our building on Friday, a full day of scary stuff to do on Saturday, mostly in Prospect Park, with Boo at the Zoo and its Haunted Barn, and the Audobon Center. Then that evening, trick or treating and the parade in Park Slope. This ex-Ohia boy was impressed with the big city trick or treating. And my son, of course, had a blast.