11/10/10 to 11/17/10

Along with rereading the Harry Potter books, I am currently rereading The Witches by Roald Dahl. When you mention Roald Dahl to most adults, they smile fondly and reminisce about which books they read as children. His were the first books I read all by myself, and they helped to spark my love for reading. His humor and storytelling are so engaging that his books still resonate with me as an adult reader. Here is a response he gave in an interview regarding what it is like to write a book:

When you’re writing it’s rather like going on a very long walk, across valleys and mountains and things, and you get the first view of what you see and you write it down. Then you walk a bit further, maybe up on to the top of a hill, and you see something else, then you write that and you go on like that, day after day, getting different views of the same landscape. The highest mountain on the walk is obviously the end of the book because it’s got to be the best view of all, when everything comes together and you can look back and see everything you’ve done all ties up. But it’s a very, very long slow process.

The house of Carl and Karin Larsson

Here is a drawing of the wonderfully inspiring home of Carl and Karin Larsson. If you don't know who they are—and you like watercolors—look them up.

Since I am currently rereading all of the Harry Potter books (I just finished Order of the Phoenix), my quote of the day is from J. K. Rowling. I have this quote hanging up at my desk next to a picture of a baby dressed up as harry potter, broom and all. SULTAN OF HARRY POTTER!!!

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.

— J. K. Rowling

10/18/10 to 10/26/10

Remember last year when the Giants were surprising everyone by first, making it to the playoffs, and second, winning it all? I know I do, and so does every San Franciscan. Here is a journal page from October when all anybody could think about were the Giants. There was the time I pulled Nicole into the Giants frenzy while we watched the game and drank margaritas at Tres. There was the other time when I was at an Alexander McCall Smith book reading event and someone interrupted his talk and told the crowd the Giants were up in the final inning and the crowd cheered. And then there was the time I saw Jonathan Sanchez in Safeway, and I swooned a bit. Good times were had by all, except Eric Dahlke. The new season is about to begin, and while a repeat performance would be too much to ask for, it doesn't stop me from throwing out a "Go Giants" even though I don't really care.

Oils pastels, memories, and footloose (and my realization that everything really does link back to Kevin Bacon)

A friend recently asked to see my old journals, so I got them out. I realized I had not posted any work from past journals in a long time, so I thought it was about time. This is the only drawing I have ever made using oil pastels. I kind of like it. I like how objects, drawings, and photos can bring you back to a partly forgotten moment in time.

I lived with three boys in Santa Barbara when I drew this. There was rat king, who never left his room; Teiwaz, the crazy monkey man who liked to twirl his hair; and my boyfriend, Mr. Brown Town. Teiwaz and I were having a lazy day at home--folding laundry and watching a miniseries. Teiwaz got out his oil pastels and started to draw, not caring if he drew off the page all over my coffee table. I could never resist a drawing party, so I joined him. I liked the colors and how you could smear every line.

I guess I should use them again sometime. Teiwaz, want to bring over your wolf and draw sometime? Then we can invite Alden over, have a dance party, and listen to footloose. Awesoma power.

10/9/10 to 10/17/10

I haven't left the states in quite a while, so lately I have been fantasizing about traveling far far away. In no particular order, here is a list of some of the places I would like to go.

Australia

Spain

Switzerland

Germany

Austria

Sweden

Ireland

There is also a lot to see in the states, and I have a couple of places closer to home that I would like to go to.

Grand Canyon

Maine

Chicago

Ashland

Petaluma

9/30/10 to 10/8/10

Last night I had the house to myself, and it rocked my world. OK . . . it didn't exactly rock my world; it more like cuddled my world. I listened to Harry Potter while cooking dinner, doing dishes, and making chocolate chip cookies. (And by making chocolate chip cookies, I mean making cookie dough, because let's face it--that's why I make chocolate chip cookies.)