I'm enjoying some Chef *oyardee ravioli right now as I listen to some Shadow. I've been making and eating pho for the past 3 days and it was getting a bit tiresome so changed it up. Frig. I went all out on the pho this time around. I usually add onions, green onions, cilantro, bean sprouts and beef shank or beef balls plus peppers but bought some omasum at the chinese grocery the other day and threw that in as well. Omasum is a cow's third stomach and is a thin white bumpy membrane. Pretty tasteless on it's own but sucks up the broth and adds texture to the meal. Sounds gross but, God, I love it. I'm sure Jesus would agree.

I finished this just now.

I'm debating whether I should add 2 more characters in there. I kinda like it on it's own. I also have think about how much room the logo and some text will be taking up. That's a battle for another day, though.

TAK

Well, I was normal for a day and I messed it all up by workin' through the night again.

I've been urged to go see King Kong by some buddies. They've even given me a free ticket to go. Problem is, I have no desire to sit for 3 hours and watch this movie. I'm conflicted. I'm sure it will be a great movie with amazing effects and shit and I'll be entertained by the swinging monkey and stuff but, no. I refuse. I'd rather pay money to see something else like Nine Lives or rent a bunch of movies I missed last summer. To hell with it!!

I realized I need a new wardrobe. Everything I own dates 4+ years with edges fraying away. I saw some cool jeans and some nice shirts on Robson St. the other day so I'll go back and take a look.

Man, this is turning into such a lame post. I suppose I'll try and rescue it with an image. Some stuff I'm working on for BFX. Kabooooom!!!!

Over the last week I finished a Mary Jane issue, drew a cover for a future issue and polished off the next BFX installment. Yeah, pretty productive. I'm currently starting to breakdown the next MJ issue and working on some great BFX bonuses so look out for all that stuff.

I don't know if you've been watching but Turner Classic movies (ch.46 in Vancouver) has been showing a marathon of Miyazaki movies every Thursday all month. They show each film dubbed, then subbed, all uncut. UNCUT! It's the best way to watch them and kudos to the network for allowing to show them uninterrupted. I just watched the second half of Only Yesterday (Omohide Poro Poro) and was reminiscing myself about things past and present. If you haven't seen it you can follow the above link to a plot summary but, in short, it's a simple tale of about finding self and contemplating past choices made and to be made. I can't praise this movie enough for it's universal voice and nostalgic reflection on what was and what is. I think, most importantly, it turns the general idea of what a film should be or what elements it should possess to work on it's head. It makes it own rules and I appreciate the willingness to stay so pure. There is a beautifully scripted and "acted" ten minute dialogue scene where two characters talk in a car. Just sit there and talk.

Damn, it's good.


Unfortunately, I think this is the final Thursday of the marathon. I wish they'd just put it on repeat all year.

TAK

I've realized I love coffee too much to limit it to just a couple cups a week. At least I've set a cap at 1 a day and decaf whenever I go out. I've been plenty productive since cutting down to a reasonable level so I think I've found the perfect balance.

I lost my eraser shield. I think that's what you call it. For you non-art nerds it's a small thin metal plate you lay on top of your art in order to erase some areas and keep others intact. I spent all afternoon sifting through loose-leaf and looking under the couch but nothin'. I've resorted back to using paper on paper to shield things. What a pain...

I found out today that Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #1 is available through bit torrent. Like, wow. I'm surprised someone took the time to scan and distribute it. It's almost flattering in a way. Of course, in the same file, it comes with 50 other comics that came out the same week. 50+ books at 32 pages each = roughly 1600 pages to scan. It baffles me to think someone would sit there scanning all those pages. Anyway, thanks for reading my book, loser!!!

I read "Off Road" by Sean Murphy last night. A buddy was raving about it and lent it to me. I had read the giant 50 page preview online a while ago and was genuinely curious to read the rest so it was pretty timely. My thoughts? I liked it. I especially liked Murphy's reason for becoming an artist. I high five that shit. I was the same way and felt a connection there. The story is a simple but effective one: a bunch of buddies hop in a Jeep and off road to find truth and meaning. Straight and to the point. Too many books become self-conscious and convoluted and it was refreshing to read something that was confident with every element of it's self. Anyway, along the way various hazards both natural and unnatural interject and test loyalty and patience as well as heighten our relationship with the characters. Great stuff. I felt some of the extended introspective scenes were a bit too long and found myself skimming some of the dialogue but, otherwise, a smooth and consistent read nicely peppered with light humour and insight at the desired times. The art goes from highly detailed to very loose which I appreciated. None of that crazy black I see in a lot of comics. Nice use of the brush for the blacks and whites. I can see his love for Bill Watterson. The gutters between panels were a bit too wide, though, but that's just my petty complaint. I hope to read more from Murphy and that he maintains this level of quality. Yeah, I'm a fan.

TAK

Currently watching: Black Jack: the movie
Currently reading: The Rebel Sell, Kowloon: City of darkness
Currently eating: anything in my freezer that hasn't been burned to death
Currently listening: to Ferry Corsten: Passport Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ferry Corsten: Creamfields, DJ Shadow: Endtroducing
Currently drawing: BFX2 week twenty-six, Spiderman Loves Mary Jane #4
Currently wanting: a new guitar and new 2006 calender
Currently toiling: over cleaning my apartment
Currently waiting: for my 2 months of free time to roll around
Currently downloading: Ainori eps. 297
Currently playing: Resident Evil 4 the mercenaries extras (5 away!)
Currently experimenting: with making Kimbap

TAK

Y'know what? Madonna's new single ain't all that bad. It's got a sweet house beat and that high pitched rolling in the back is funkass hawt. I may have to pick this up if I keep listening to it.

Finished this last night:


It's the image for the forth coming BFX week's cover. Also, working away on the next Mary Jane issue. Christmas killed me so I'm knee deep in it. Again...

Oh, I've cut my caffeine intake by a LOT. I finally realized 3 cups a day gives me jitters and I can't sit still. Why it took me this long to figure out I'll never know. I was busy being jittery, I guess. Over the last week I've only had 2 cups which I drank after a load of work and switched to diet caffiene-free coke. Man, I felt like such a pussy buying it, though. Do the cans HAVE to be gold?? Anyway, I'm being more disciplined this year. Go me.

TAK

Wow. Freakin' wow. It's 2006.

I got home from Toronto last night really really late. My plane was delayed, then had to be sprayed with anti-freeze gunk, and once we landed in Vancouver they couldn't get the cargo doors open or some shit. So, after all that I just went straight to bed and skipped any sort of new years festivities. Oh, and get this, I woke up in the morning to people screaming and yelling and no power in my apartment. I thought the world had ended or y2k had finally seeked death in the human race. Turns out it was just a power outage and the annual polar bear swim happening just outside my window. Damn.

Christmas was pretty cool. It's always nice to sit down to a warm meal you don't have to make or pay for. I took full advantage of being back home by doing loads of laundry and driving instead of walking. Sorry to all those that expected a call or some sort of contact from me. I forgot my address book and didn't have any numbers, plus, didn't feel like going out that much. I've been ignoring my e-mail as well and didn't send any Christmas cards this year either due to work. So, yeah. Been kinda cutoff from the world. I did manage to drag my ass out to Ottawa to see my buddy Paul and his wife. Lots of snow and ice in that city. Also, lots of wicked Korean food care of Ji Hyun. Delish. Don't think I'd ever want to live there but after touring a handful of galleries I've been fired up to start painting again. Paul was using a variety of non-toxic materials which was my main concern since I don't have a "studio" to really paint in. Got to hang out with past Queen's kids right before flying out, too. It was a nice finale for my stay in Toronto.

As far as Christmas gifts go my sister bought me a dock for my ipod, some new earphones and a sweater. My bro got me 2 books The Rebel Sell and On Bullshit. Good reads. My parents gave me money which I've already spent and some clothes. I wasn't really expecting anything so it was nice to get a few gifts.

What else...

Oh, been busy playing Resident evil 4 today. Damn, this game is GOOOOD. The new system and game format is a sweet change of pace compared to the previous incarnations. I think I'm a good example of a past diehard fan who got bored with the franchise, forgot about it and was pulled back thanks to all these radical changes. I love the tempo of the game. Constant pressure and bombardment from enemies. The ability to upgrade your weapon is a stellar advancement and the ability to dodge attacks during cinematics keeps you on your toes. I've died so many times reaching for my coffee. Like, "Ah!! ohhhhhhhh.... ouch." So, now I can't wait for Rezy 5.

Gotta catch up on my massive amount of e-mails now.

TAK