LOST MOVIES
I recently decided that the best way to trim my movie rental expenses AND overcome the pitiful selection of films at my local Blockbuster, I should do the whole online thing. Since then, I've seen several old classic movies, with a particular emphasis on catching up on some Orson Welles. He did many a fine project, both acting-wise, directing-wise, and both-wise, after creating "Citizen Kane". I've seen "The Third Man" (greatest movie entrance for a character, EVER), "A Touch Of Evil" (the restored, recut version which remains true to Welles' original cut, before the studio hacked it all up and stuff), and "The Trial", which is just wonderfully dark surrealism containing a timeless message of the struggle between the individual and the state, and who usually ends up on the losing side of said struggle.

I've also caught up on some of the Sci-Fi forerunners of "Star Wars" and co. These include the Russian thought-drama "Solaris", "Silent Running (clearly influencing the idea of droids, and R2D2 in particular, a few years before ol' George shocked the world with his whole space-epic thingie), and a few others.

And "Shane"... one of the finest westerns ever put on celluloid. Except of course for "Unforgiven", which remains my favorite movie ever.

So I've found some lost classics... and, just this morning, realized that I've lost some newer films. Way to go. And this is from the guy who never loses anything. I am always the great finder of the misplaced items of others. Although I tend to let paperwork, junk mail, bills, notes, receipts, spare change, and bits of fuzz collect on nearly every horizontal surface I own, I am the King of the Organized Mess, and know where everything of import is at all times. I put essential items in particular places and NEVER lose stuff. Well, almost never. Now I've lost two movies I've rented and it makes no sense. I know where I put them, roughly. They just... evaporated? So if anybody finds "Human Nature" and "Havana" (it's a Lena Olin thing) laying around unattended, please be kind enough to sent them over in a note or something. Otherwise, I'll be shelling out full sale price for movies I don't seem to have anymore, and that never feels quite right.

SPEAKING OF LOST...
So, I arranged for a sitter and went out last night to see my old bandmates play in their new Irish Drinking-Song band at a local club. My compass consisted of, apparently, misunderstood directions from my ex. I drove all around the better part of Northern Cincinnati for over an hour before I called it quits. I never did find the club. I was so sure I was so far off track, I couldn't even decide on a suitable gas station to ask directions. So I went home. PaTHETic. Better luck next time, I guess. On the upside, I got some time to myself and some of my favorite tunes via my iPod, so that's always a plus.

WESTERN MEDICINE GETS A SHOT IN THE ARM
I, for understandable reasons, truly mistrust our entire medical system here in the states. Very much so. But god do I love House. I can honestly say that watching this show, aside from just being mesmerized by Brit sketch comedy vet Hugh Laurie's acting tour-de-force, has helped me ever so slightly to overcome some long established phobias and misgivings. Not too much, I mean, it IS only a TV show... but the constant barrage of medical cases and illnesses and quease-incuding inner body graphics have had a kind of eroding effect on the bastion of my distrust. At some time, ever-body gonna need a doctor. Let's hope it's a good one, and health insurance steps up to the plate. Or just goes away and lets us and the doctors be.

Anyway. My little props for a brave little show that seems to be doing quite nicely for itself. Mostly because Hugh Laurie is kind of amazing. YOU try being British and faking an American accent consistently and being brilliant to boot.

LETHARGY NOTWITHSTANDING: A RATHER OPTIMISTIC *GASP* GIFTART UPDATE
=sprite-ariel - I know EXACTLY what I'm going to draw for Loki's Nordic art request. Got it AAALLLL figured out. Yep. Just waiting for this strip to draw itself. Any day now. Surely. *nods*

~gundamkiwi - Ditto. A two-parter, actually. I'll try to keep it tasteful, but then, you DO kinda write, well, slash. Guess I've got my work cut out for me

~TenshiNoShin - Yours is mostly figured out. Just need to figure out the composition. Conceptually, it's a lock.

~Latif - Always a challenge, trying to find a way to do your characters justice in my style when they look SO good in your own, very original style. I'll do my best!

~VanishedDragonfly - Congrats on your recent good news. I had no idea! So, of course, I'll have to slightly modify my original concept. Already have a new one that takes into account recent, urmm, developments. Question is... will I stick with charcoal or try my hand at vector. GAH! Let's hope I'm smart enough to stick with the charcoal.

*DrStrangebob - OK, OK... It's gonna be Velvet. Doing something. Cool. Like. Really! Totally! Hmm. Valley Girl Velvet? Gah! Perish the thought

AAAAAAaaaaaannnnd... that's the update, or as Animal Mutha once taunted, "Talkin' the talk" Please understand, fine folk, that if I didn't procrastinate, I would have NO idea what to do with all that sudden free time!

A mighty chug of Peace Lager for all, compliments of the house

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Sketches and paintings coming sooner or later...

10,000 KIRIBAN

-- Portrait of Dream


FINAL SKETCHES

-- Wolf

-- Dragonfly (plus?)

-- Something Velvety.


SPECIAL REQUEST:

-- Queen Nuri

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YE AULDE GIFTART HALL OF INFAMY:
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DIGITAL: "Aneurin" - working title for requested ART
DIGITAL/COMIC: The Norse in Narnia (oh, NOOOoooo!!!) - giftART
DIGITAL: Something Norse (big surprise)
DIGITAL FOR LOKI: Picture of Hela
PROSE: "Boy Yoga" - giftART
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