Another old entry

This entry consists of: a letter from a cool lady named Teja; cut up art noveau–style paper from Caro; Karate poses from an envelope Teja sent; and drawings of two girls based on photos of children in England during WWII. This entry was made in September 2006.

I wanted a bird as a child. My friend had two lovebirds but then one died. I liked to play with the remaining bird, but one time, when I was holding the it, the bird walked up my arm with a devilish gleam in its eye and started biting my ear. I got it back on my hand, but it started biting my finger. I started shaking my hand in panic, and the bird was thrown across the room. Undeterred, the bird started toward me with the same look in its eyes; it was out to get me. I haven't really wanted a bird since. (Plus, it seems sad to be given the gift of flight, only to be locked up in a cage with your wings clipped.)

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.)

Books I read, Jan. 2010 to Jan. 2011

Here are the book covers of the books I read from Jan. 2010 to Jan. 2011.

The trends: young adult novels, women authors, women heroines, Alexander McCall Smith, and James Bond. As seven-year-old Bella would say, "That's typical."

Books I reread: Jane Eyre, Persuasion, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I read Jane Eyre for the first time in middle school, and it started my love for books written in the 1800s by women authors. Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel. I am currently rereading the whole Harry Potter series, while also rewatching all of the movies and knitting a gryffindor scarf. DORK ALERT!

Most disturbing book I read: Sorry Girl with a Dragon Tattoo andUnlovable, but The Road won by a long shot; it wasn't even close.

Favorite novel couples from this selection: Katniss and Peeta, Jane and Mr. Rochester, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, Molly Gibson and Roger

Ultimate novel couple: ...this is kind of hard...but not really...but wait it is...my gut tells me it is Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, but my childhood won't let me forget Jane and Mr. Rochester...I'm going with my gut; Anne and Wentworth are the winners.

Let me know if you have any book recommendations for the New Year. Did you have a favorite book you read in 2010?

9/21/10 to 9/29/10

My head feels like it is filled with stones today.

Song I am currently listening to:

Let's go fly a kite from Mary Poppins(reminds me of Danelle since the only kite I ever flew belonged to her)

Book I am reading:

Persuasion (I think this is my third time reading it. It is so good!)

Next up:

The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith

Shows I am watching:

Finishing up the final season of Buffy (what will I do without the kickass slayer with the witty one liners?) and watching the 2nd season of fringe

Looking forward to:

My birthday this Friday and going to see the new Harry Potter movie.

9/12/10 to 9/20/10

I saw Rufus Wainright at the symphony. The show was great, but not enough Rufus. He sang five Shakespeare sonnets. I liked watching the violinists. If I could magically be able to play any instrument, I think I would choose the harp.

This weekend was momentous. Besides seeing Rufus, Mike and I finished converting our bathtub into a shower. I took my first shower in it last night and it was fantabulous. The smell of the new plastic shower curtain makes me happy.

Red Balloon 2

I like rain on the weekends because I don't have to get out of bed. I can listen to the sound of the rain hitting the roof and windows in the warm safety of my covers.

The Red Balloon 1

While I enjoyed watching movies like Meet Me in St. Louis and Cinderella when I was a child, my brother liked to watch The Red Balloon. I found the movie a little too sad. I watched it, but all the balloons in the world could not change the fact that the awesome red balloon is murdered by a mob of boys. BOOOOOOO. My brother recently moved into a new place, and he wanted me to give him some paintings to hang on the wall. He suggested I paint some stills from The Red Balloon, so I rewatched the film. It is so beautifully done. Every still could make a wonderful painting. However, the red balloon is still killed at the end and it is still sad. Here is the first painting I did.

On another note, GO GIANTS!

Boy with Bear

Here is my first drawing of the boy with bear photo (as seen in post from Sept. 15). More to come.

9/3/10 to 9/11/10

Apparently I have a doppelganger in L.A. with the last name Fletcher. I have a proposition for her. Want to come up here every Friday, go to my work, and pretend to be me while I take the day off? No. Well let me know if you change your mind.

I took this past Friday off and was a tourist for a day in my hometown. I went to the cliff house and the zoo. At the zoo I rode the train, swooned over two baby monkeys, and considered buying a sloth doll to keep me company when my live sloth was not around (Mr. Brown). It was a grand old time.

8/25/10 to 9/2/10

Highlights of this weekend:

Going to a wedding. It is always a good time celebrating love and drinking free booze. Plus, when you go with Mike, you never know when he is going to break his glass. He may even break it as the bride and groom are saying their vows.

Throwing a party and getting to see some good friends.

Walking with Arrow, Max, and Whitney at Fort Funston and watching Arrow ignore his groupies (two mini poodles who loved nothing more than following Arrow around and smelling his butt).

Going to my dad's birthday party. I got him an old Marlene Dietrich record and Julie London record. He played them. It was the first time I really appreciated the difference between records and cds. It sounded like Marlene Dietrich was singing live in the next room. Awesome.

Low light of this weekend:

Having someone puke in my bathtub. Definitely not cool, but one must pay the party gods.

8/19/10 to 8/24/10

I finished reading Jane Eyre yesterday. I have not read it since I was in middle school. My review: a governess, plus a passionate man, plus a crazy woman locked in a room who likes to start fires, makes for a good story.

The things I will/might do this weekend:
go to a barn dance
watch a baseball game
drive to Santa Cruz to ride the giant dipper
buy a dress to attend a wedding
go to a birthday dinner
sleep, sleep, sleep
watch some ultimate

A happy weekend to all, and to all a happy weekend.

boy with bear

Hello hot stuff,

I was sorting through the photo bin at Scrap. I was about to give up when I dug deep and pulled a pile of photos up from the bottom of the bin, and this is what I found. A boy with a baby bear on a leash. Yes please. Sign me up. I love this photo. Be on the lookout for a painting of this picture. I have not started it yet, but it is only a matter of time.

The highlight of my day: my outfit

The lowpoint of my day: the stifling heat in my office due to the broken ac

8/10/10 to 8/18/10

Three-day weekends are wonderful. How I spent my weekend:

Watching Mad Men

Floating down the Russian River on a daisy

Eating corn and mint watermelon with lime

Walking with the girls, plus my boys, Mike and Arrow

Going to the movies, I saw The Kids are Alright (you know what? I think those kids are going to be alright)

Reading Jane Eyre

8/1/10 to 8/9/10

7/23/10 to 7/31/10

"Do leprechauns get punched in the face or have their cars stolen?"

--Nicolas Cage in Next

7/15 to 7/22

These photos are from 7/17 when I went to SLO to hang out with Dre and Danelle. We made a lovely picnic made from our farmers' market purchases while we sat on a rock overlooking the ocean. It was glorious.
Today, while walking with Amy back to work from lunch, a woman turned the corner with her hand held out in front of her and walked toward us as if she wanted us to give her something. As she did this she said, "hate, I hate the haters."

Halloween

This entry goes out to Danelle, a true Disney lover. This drawing is based on a photo of my brother from Halloween many years ago. He always had great ideas for his cosumes and went all out. One year he was the invisible man, another he was Jack the prumpkin head from Return to Oz. The boy trick or treated with a pumkin on his head. I never knew what I wanted to be, and I would make my mom try to read my mind and then get mad at her when it wasn't exactly what I wanted.

The month before Halloween:

Mom: What do you want to be?

Me: I don't know.

A week before Halloween.

Mom: What do you want to be?

Me: . . . I don't know.

The day of Halloween:

Mom: You can be a penguin and where this white botton down shirt with a black coat. Here is a nose.

Me: NO! I hate it.

Yes, I was a halloween costume BRAT.

7/6/10 to 7/14/10

On Friday, 7/9, I was lucky to get to go to lunch with Granny (Mike's grandmother), Mike, and Arrow. It was a lovely day filled with great company. I may have accidentally dropped root beer all over Granny's lunch, but Granny seemed to like her soggy burger. (Just kidding. Mike replaced it like a good grandson.)

On the following Monday, Mike and I learned that Granny had a bad fall. Mike's family visited her in the hospital, and they were all able to say their goodbyes.

Mike gave her a letter I wrote. For the past couple of years, Granny had been my faithful pen pal. Getting her letters in the mail was always a highlight in my day.

She died a couple of days later at the age of 93. I am fortunate and happy that I was able to know her. I would like to write her one last letter. I don't know if it is too late, but I would like to think it isn't.

Dear Granny,

Thank you for your kindness, humor, and your cursive filled letters. Thank you for always being a joy to be around. You were always thanking us for spending time with you, but no thanks were ever needed. It was a privilege to have known you. You will be missed.

Love, your pen pal,

Claire

Where have I seen this before?

Are you ready to play Where have I seen this before? There are three elements in this journal entry that reference past journal entries. Can you spot any of them? The most obvious is the whale. The whale made an appearance in my January entry. This page is directly behind that other whale, and the watercolor bled through the page, so I drew him on this page and added another wash of paint. The other two elements are harder to spot, especially considering the spread I stole from is not posted on this blog. MUHAHA. I am actually surprised that I have not posted it before. I will try to post it shortly for comparison. In the meantime, I will let you stew over what parts I took. Is it the cloud? Is it the umbrella? Is it the tree? The suspense is killing you, I know, but we all must pass some day.
On a random note, I had pine nut syndrome at the beginning of the week. It sucked, and now I am afraid of eating pesto. I love pesto, even if my dad thinks it is overrated. Alas pesto, we will just have to love each other from afar.

6/27/10 to 7/5/10

Sorry for the quality of the last two images. I am experimenting with my scanner to see if it can scan okay images from my journal. The scanner is not very big, so the scans come out a little blurry.

Looking back at the entries for these days makes me happy because I realize I am making the best of summer even though I am still working full time. Here are some things I have enjoyed doing this summer:

Going to Healdsburg and floating down the Russian River

Seeing the Musee d'Orsay exhibit at the De Young

Seeing A Secret in Their Eyes with my dad

Taking walks around my favorite lake in Golden Gate park with Arrow and my sister

Sitting in the sun drinking iced chai tea

Reading

Forcing myself to wear dresses on warm days

June 3rd to June 26th

The other day I saw a dead pigeon on the sidewalk. Nothing like a little death to end my day. Which reminds me of last night, when I watched some Ms. Marple. Gosh, I love an old woman who solves murders while drinking tea and knitting.

Today I saw a construction site gone wild, and I don't mean there were large construction workers showing off their man boobs. A digger must have hit a main water pipe, and a flood of water was gushing out of the ground at least 20 feet high. It looked like a geyser in the middle of the city.

Since June 26th, I have started drawing daily pictures again. I am going to keep it up this time . . . honest . . . but maybe not. We'll see.

the journey is the destination

One of the books that has had the biggest influence on my life is The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon. His journals inspired me to keep my own journals, which, as this blog attests, I still keep today.

Last night I dreamt a shark attacked me, but since the ocean was in an office building, I was able to escape down a hallway with no water. I was not afraid in the dream. In fact I much preferred it to the other dream I had where an insect or alien had laid eggs in my hand, and I had to tear back some of my skin to try to push the eggs out. It was gross. Sorry if I just grossed you out. I probably should have kept that dream to myself. Oh well. Pleasant dreams.

Outfits

This is for anyone who stays up at night wondering "what did Claire wear on April 10th 2010?" Now your curiosity can be satisfied. I have started to keep drawing lists in my journal to help me remember things like what I wore and what books I read. I am currently reading Moonraker, the third book in the James Bond series. It is a fun read, but it does make me want to sleep with Daniel Craig--even if he is gay as Brennen insists he is.

Cool Camp 2010

Got back from Cool Camp on Sunday. A list of things to remember about this year:

waterfall

water basketball

shooting stars

running water

James Bond and Sylvester Bond "You're teeth look sharp. Can I see you naked?"

Period pieces with modern musical numbers

Cole in drag

Indiana Jones with sock puppets

"Look at me. I'm fat. I have poop on my face. I'm pathetic."

the mysterious Ms. Cole

Batman vs. Superman

Blue Moon

Werepires

Clown cars

bobcats

Sophie the cat

film crew

bowling

Hans

camp fire

young adults who will always be children in my eyes

Annie Hayworth

My adoring fans have spoken (all four of them), and they requested more blog entries. So here I am, giving my fans what they want. In return, I only ask for love, praise, money, and your firstborn child. I am most generous; now kiss my ring. Here is another drawing based on The Birds by Hitchcock. This is Annie Hayworth. She is a brunette and a spinster, so she must be killed by the birds. Those are the rules of Mr. Hitchcock. In real life, the actress who played Annie lived to the age of 71, and got married three times. Take that Hitchcock.

bears and hawaii

When I open my journal, this is the first thing I see. I just got back from playing in a frisbee tournament in Hawaii. Man I could really drink a Chi Chi or a Pina colada right now. Hawaii was wonderful.