Monday, November 24, 2008

Toast Not Bombs

So I was just google-searching 'how to make my podcast widget look better' because not only do I plan to give you some autumn-style musical treats, but also because I have no idea how to program computers and most default graphics look terrible. I only got as far as googling 'how to make' and I paused on this Top Ten list:

How to make money
How to make a website
How to make out


How to make a toga
How to make a resume
How to make pumpkin seeds
How to make jello shots
How to make a paper airplane


How to make french toast
How to make a bomb

Hmmm. This is the popular ranking of the ten things that Americans desperately need instructions for. I'm so happy that people are wanting to roast pumpkin seeds before building a bomb, but I'm worried about adding togas and jello shots to the mix. As for 'How to make out', well.. that's just sad.

ed. note: FRENCH TOAST NOW AVAILABLE IN CANS.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Dog Lady

I paint all the time. But do I draw? Barely ever. Luckily I took a silkscreening workshop at Community Print yesterday, where my friends and I all made our own Crusty-Patches®! I couldn't resist showcasing my hidden (ok, not-so-hidden) psyche:


This little weirdo, The Hairless, is my fave:


And tomorrow, my neighbor Young Chad is going to help me build a big long table in my studio, perfect for drawing. Perhaps it will become my winter JAM.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

BLOWOUT

So many shirts for just $10!! Get 'em while you can!!


In other news, I'm doing a very boring 'cleanse' involving no sugar, wheat, or alcohol. B-O-R-I-N-G. However, this has prompted me to consume vast amounts of movies, to get my mind off of OHMYGODCARAMELBUTTEREDFRENCHBREADGIMLET. So, while I can't exactly recommend plain kefir flax shakes for breakfast, I can tell you about this great documentary I watched last night: The Cats of Mirikitani.


Actually, without any sugar or wheat or alcohol to fuel my typing, I'm just going to let you read about it here.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Castle of Solace

Yesterday I re-arranged my studio a bit; I hung a bunch of recent work, grouping it all together on the long wall. And I stepped back, and thought:


1. Hey! That's what the inside of my head really looks like!
2. Mondrian's Tree.
3. Am I turning into a H.Darger type? Obsessive revisits to characters that have backstories/interactions only known to myself?
4. I really need to start painting more tigers. Tigers = FUN.


And 5: I am a creature of extreme habit. I will paint on the floor even though I know it's bad for my back. I will buy the same shoes as last time. I will eat a egg and coffee for breakfast tomorrow. Repeat to infinity. There is comfort in routine. Realizing that you are conservative (and I'm talking in the sense of risk-taking, shaking things up.. not in a social or political sense) can be an awfully strange feeling.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Scorpzzz

It's Scorpio time again! All my pals are having bdays.. including the one and only Justin!


Today! I love that on the calendar I wrote 'Justin turns 35!', only to see it crossed out and corrected with '36' a few days later. Oops. In my heart you shall remain forever young. I wish I could say that I was gifting you with a gaggle of rescue pups, but since we don't live on a farm, that's not gonna happen. I hope this memory foam pillow is a worthy substitute! And homemade squash ravioli with walnut-sage buttercream sauce too.. tickets to Iceland; that might have to wait till xmas.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Carrot Milk

FREE SHIPPING WEEKEND starts right...


..NOW!! Grab a 2009 calendar or corn mug, and don't forget to show some love to my pals:


Sam McPheeters!


Wynne Greenwood!


Abigail Adams! And so many more. We are all part of the extended Buyolympia.com dysfunctional-artist family. Our Thanksgivings are AWESOME.

And a big gigantic Olympia THANK YOU to my new pal Tula, over at the superrrrad Whorange for featuring my calendar. Check out her blog for delicious style and design features!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Roadrunner Xing

What is the collective sound of thousands of individual plops and blops pouring down upon the roof, garden, grass? DRIZZLE, my friends. That's right, the grey doom has finally arrived in the Northwest. Only 7 more months of rain!


If you live in sunny, temperate Southern California (which is such a total moment of 'grass is greener' personal admition; I spent many an October afternoon cursing and sweating on the freeway in those consecutive 105 degree Valley days..), might I suggest a trip to Joshua Tree? There's going to be a RAD art swap meet on Saturday at the High Desert Test Sites curated by those crazy Yao sisters! And Kye and Julia are making grab bags.. they have a lot of stuff. I mean a lot.


Meet me at Skull Rock!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Epiccccccccc

Dudes! HIGH-FIVES all around!!


Knut the Polar Bear wants to especially give some skin to my Mom, who voted for the VERY FIRST TIME in her life!


The Macca says THUMBS UP!


I don't even know who's cat this is, it just pops up when you google image search 'happiness'.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Consult Your Mescal Oracles

Feeling a little.. oh, I don't know.. ANXIOUS? I have prepared tipz:


1. Avoid those local bar election get-together drinkathons. Sit with a pet, at home, on the comfy couch. Enjoy wine.
2. Or, go to the forest, desert, mountains. Turn off the TV. Reign in compulsive internet-checking.
3. Take a warm bath. Read lightly.. camping catalogues and the giant book of Dog Breeds will do.
4. Cook yourself and a loved one a delicious CALM CASSEROLE. Here are your ingredients:


medium yellow onion, diced
touch of olive oil
two cloves garlic, minced
one cup of great northern beans (like white kidneys)
one block firm tofu, drained and squared
one pepper, sliced.. try a sweet yellow/red bell, or a roasted pasilla
6 or 7 small corn tortillas
two cups green or red enchilada sauce, either is fine (see how MELLOW this is? nice)
cumin, red pepper flakes, chile powder, apple cider vinegar, tapatio, lime, salt and pepper to taste.

plain yogurt
one or two avocados


Enjoying your wine? Oh.. also, you should put on some music. NO TV. NO NPR. Soul collections and various string quartets might be nice. But NO KRONOS.


Heat the oven to 400. Put a cast-iron on medium, and sweat out that onion in a little olive oil. About 5 minutes. Toss in the garlic and brown for a moment. Add tofu cubes, douse in cumin, chile powder, tapatio, salt, pepper, and a little apple cider vinegar. Turn the heat up a bit and let the tofu soak up the flavor for a few. Add beans. Turn off heat. Take out a potato masher or pastry cutter. Mash beans and tofu together till chunky but not totally incorporated. Country-style. Throw in peppers. Add lime juice, more salt and pepper to taste, and perhaps some additional ACV or red pepper flakes.

Coat the bottom of a 7.5 x 11" glass baking dish (or whatever kind of casserole pan you have lying around.. no biggie) with a cup of enchilada sauce. Lay down two or three tortillas to completely cover the bottom. Add the filling, spread it out evenly. cover with some more tortillas. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top, douse completely. Do you like cheese? Grate some sharp cheddar over the top or sprinkle on some cotija. Bake that sucker for 30-40 minutes, till you see everything bubbling nicely up from the bottom. Cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with a blop of plain yogurt and sliced avacado. Serves 3 or 4.


Ok, now you can do a little check to see how the FATE OF THE WORLD is going. Just for a sec.


Feel better? Good. Or, you can always go vision-quest style and do the anagram of Calm Casserole: consult your Mescal Oracles, but I wouldn't reccommend it on a night like tonight. Better to save it for New Year's!

ed. note: i am scared shitless basking in some sort of temporary relief! the only way i can deal with could have dealt with a day like today is to try to pass on calm advice to others. plus the wine helps a little a lot.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

And Then I Did A Headstand on the Dance Floor!

Yesterday I drove into Shelton, white-knuckling it for a good stretch on the undivided 101 while logging trucks zoomed towards me during a particularly epic afternoon rainstorm. This specialness was waiting for me when I pulled into town:


A double!! Total score. It's been grey and soggy up here, but not without it's own certain beauty. Today J.T. and I discussed that great hypothetical question.. 'if you had to move somewhere in the continental US, realistically, but you could move wherever you wanted, where would you go?'. We both pulled out the immediate gut-responses.. not eastcoast, not midwest. San Diego got tossed around a bit, Flagstaff was mentioned (?!), I rooted for my fave, Portland, and Justin mused on the Central Coast of Cali. Los Angeles has already been crossed off the list. Speaking of L.A., Dia de Los Muertos was all up in our DJ night last night at the QB Lounge.. Justin pulled together a TIGHT set of spooktacular tunes, I dressed up like a sugar skull.


And you know, I have to say.. I think this whole mexi-goth thing is a good look for me! I felt strangely comfortable donning so much raccoon-eye. The black lipgloss though.. that makes eating a Large Peanut Cilantro Salad with Avocado and Tofu a touch on the messy side.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Will Mraw For Food

Oh hey!

'Sup?


I'm just watching Otis finish off this jar of almond butter. Look at those bunny ears! And speaking of ears..


..I decided to bring back the 1970's Utter Family Budget Halloween Costume and go as a leopard. Items needed: One hat. One pair paper cat ears. Sharpie or eyeliner for whiskers. Optional leopard-print sweater/tshirt/jacket. Voila!


But the best costume I saw was my friend Lucy who, being recently canned from her teaching job, dressed-up as a giant pink slip and proceeded to hand them out to us during the night. Genius!