Zoo Weekend

City Park

Illustration Friday – Contained

Old World

Anyway, so here’s the other half of that so-called ‘zine-like project I was talking about. And, yeah, I know I already posted one of these pages, but now it’s in context, assuming that matters at all, considering the shape the world’s in. Meanwhile, even though I’m supposedly studying for various CLEPs and also for a giant and frightening Algebra exam, I’m for some reason really stuck on reading The Grapes of Wrath. Like, there’s no pressing reason to do it…but, once you get past the turtle chapter, it turns out it’s a pretty ripping yarn (I mean, the turtle chapter’s okay, except it makes you wonder a little about when exactly the story’s gonna start). Anyhow, I just finished the scene with the one-eyed man at the junkyard, the one Tom and Al get a piston rod from. I love that guy, despite his general grossness, and wish he was in a spin-off book, ’cause he’s such a magnificent specimen of the classic American loser. I mean, he’s the exact same kind of person we have nowadays, too…somebody who’ll complain heartily about the current state of affairs, and yet will go ahead and vote for a candidate who offers nothing but more of the same b.s., just ’cause, I guess, those kind of people like to complain instead of doing something constructive, like voting for a candidate who’s whip-smart and decent and chock-full of youthful energy. Anyhow, I reckon that’s why I also love it when Tom gets annoyed with the one-eyed guy and tells him how he oughta just get an eyepatch and quit whining about how crappy his life is.

Otherwise, I’m totally looking forward to reading Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. My wife (who rocks, in case I haven’t mentioned it today) brought back a signed copy from the book festival they had here this weekend. I couldn’t go on account of the Algebra, but I’m glad she got to meet Mr. Alexie, who also rocks.

P.S. Don’t get me wrong: complaining about the current state of affairs is a perfectly understandable reaction to eight years of corruption, incompetence, and just all-around tom-foolery. But, you know, in a few weeks we have a chance to do something about it and change things for the better, so it’s a complete mystery to me why some folks keep clinging to the idea that some guy with nothing but old, outdated ideas is the way to go. ‘Cause he’s so not.

P.P.S Why, why do I even have to take Algebra, given my incredibly advanced case of senility?

New World

So I guess this is pretty much the layout for the so-called book I guess I’m working on, in-between other tasks and chores and whatnot. Although, I oughta mention, this thing, it’s not exactly a real book, instead it’s more of a ‘zine-like object, although who would want or need this particular ‘zine is a real good question. Also, it’s not even really a ‘zine, on account of how it doesn’t contain a longish confession of childhood misdemeanors or a cartoon illustrating the kinds of epiphanies people can have when watching leaves fall off of trees or a recipe for a weird kind of candy or any super-obscure music and book recommendations. Or, well, I mean, I reckon I can recommend uploading your files to the sound of Guitar Paradise of East Africa (Cardiac Records, 1991), and also, it’s fun to read The Crying of Lot 49 at the same time as you’re reading The Grapes of Wrath, though don’t ask my why I’m doing that, ’cause I don’t actually know.

Random Animals

Just a bunch of random sketchy junk today, all of which is sort of for an assignment, if I can ever figure out what the heck I’m doing. Anyway, the main thing I’ve gotta re-learn really soon is how to do all the stuff I forgot how to do years ago (dang bureaucracy job washed my brains out good and proper). First though, I’ve gotta get off this crazy computer box thing.