Skulls

One day Nate and I got in an argument.

I was pissed.

I said out of anger:

"What?!  You're dead! No, really I hope you're constantly running for dear life, always being chased by death!"

Then I took a spray can and did this on his car while he was sleeping.

My 2 Hours with Marilyn

Didn't know much about her before the movie. Other than a magazine article I read about her in Vanity Fair (is this a womens or mens magazine? I could never tell - it was in the bathroom) delving deep into her diary.
She was troubled..

Help Help
Help
I feel life coming closer
when all I want 
Is to die.


Scream-
You began and ended in air
but where was the middle?

..and poetic.

We didn't even plan on watching it but when we got to the theater My Week with Marilyn was the one showing the soonest. I wanted to see Descendents. But the movie was good. Michelle Williams is a great actor, I've never met Marilyn but it seemed just like her. She had hot and talented going for her, Marilyn not Michelle.

And there were inspiring things.
Like this awesome commercial shown during previews:


The tickets modified:

Fluorescent Dreams

How a complicated idea becomes something simple - inspired by signage and weird shapes on a billboard:

Oil and house paint on canvas

Hustle

Arco Station. West Grand. Oakland.
DAVE parks steps out of his car. Pulls out his wallet, takes out his credit card and inserts it in the machine. KEJON SWIFT young black kid, wearing shorts and a red T-shirt approaches him, hand held out for a handshake.

"Good afternoon sir, my name is Kejon Swift."

Anticipating his request, I say over his intro

"Sorry man, I don't have any cash"

As he continues..

"Could I pump your gas for you?"

Kejon walks away saying nothing.

After a moment I realize I do have cash, kept in my car for toll,  which I haven't used since getting my Fastrak pass years ago. But it didn't matter I was in a hurry I didn't want to be bothered.

After thinking for a moment, 'Ruthlessly eradicate all hurry from your life' and knowing it'd take a while to pump all 20 gallons into my tank, I called out

"Hey kid you want to pump my gas for me?"

"What's your name?"

"Kejon, K-E-J-O-N  Swift"

"So you hang out here a lot doing this?" They learn to hustle at a young age. ...... impressively enterprising - I thought.

"Sometimes"

"You go to Franklin Elementary?" looking at his shirt.

"No, I'm in 7th grade!" He laughs, embarrassed.

"Oh, I was just looking at your shirt"

"So what are you trying to buy with the money?"

"A movie"

"Oh yeah"

"I almost have all of it with the dollar you give me, I'll have it all. I'll take it, go down the street and around the corner right over there and get it. Bout $3 bucks." He explains as he points

"What movie is it?"

"Happy Feet Two."

WiFi

My life has changed drastically since going on leave and starting to paint full time. I was doing personal admin work in the studio but soon realized I'd rather separate admin and painting because it gets too distracting and there's something about keeping a space purposeful or sacred. So I now go somewhere most mornings to do stuff on my computer, read, write but I haven't really found a good spot here in Oakland. I did go to Urben Blend a few times but parking's a drag sometimes and the ambience is just alright. Starbucks was cool but on Sunday mornings, super crowded, walked in and right out. Found solace at Colonial Donuts across the street, plenty of space and pretty distraction free but no WiFi, except I did catch Starbucks' network but it only lasted a few minutes. Gave Rooz on Park a shot, but it was also pretty crowded and I have to buy something - I have to do that for all the places, which adds up, I'm not even a coffee drinker - I don't mind. Finally decided the main library with it's newly installed WiFi would be a good spot, which was true except there are few tables with access to an outlet.  Oh and sometimes I go to Carls Jr on Broadway for a quick breakfast, the sunlight's always good, plenty of room, never crowded but unfortunately no WiFi.

So the search continues. .

On my way to the library I saw this girl cross the street in front of me.

Self Diagnosis - After the Fall

The ladder slipped from underneath me yesterday as I was trying to reach for something high on a shelf. I was on the ground before I knew it.
The first thing I said was..

"I'm alright"

Even though I could barely get the words out. I was in so much pain. Mind over matter I suppose. Not really. It hurt. I can't slow down I had 8 days at the time til it's all over. Today it's 7.

I think I fractured my left elbow. I'm not sure. All I know is I don't have insurance and the time to go to Highland.

I called Kaiser. They offered me a good deal but even if I sent in all the forms today it wouldn't kick in until a week from now.

For now - ice and maybe Ibuprofen (hate pills).

Lighters

I was driving to the studio this morning and this song came up on the radio and I was thinking how it was catchy and nice to listen to, a pleasant melodic background at best if I didn't really listen to the lyrics. But then if I start to pay attention to the words a little bit,  it initially seems unrelatable, I don't care that you love Eminem like Dre I'm just listening because the music is pleasing to the ear  - I don't care about your personal problems, nothing to do with me. But as I really start to pay attention - it's the dudes story and it makes sense because at some level it's my story. I get it. It suddenly becomes profound, develops meaning and it sounds nice too. Maybe that's what art's about: first you're drawn to it, you like it, want it because it looks pretty and then you stop and look at it at first and think ah he's talking about some funk he's gone through, but then you sit and stare and you realize it reminds you of this or that or the fact that he's going back into his story makes you want to go back into yours. And then who knows where it could go from there. .

A profound morning thought thanks to Eminem, Bruno, and Royce Da 5'9"


You and I know what it's like to be kicked down
Forced to fight
But tonight we're alright
So hold up your light
Let it shine
'Cause this one's for you and me, living out our dreams
We're all right where we should be
Lift my arms out wide I open my eyes
And now all I wanna see
Is a sky full of lighters
A sky full of lighters

Peter Lamb

I've been liking this guys work a lot.
It's really been changing the way my stuff looks. It's figurative yet abstract, super loose and energized.
Peter Lamb

And if you were to buy one to put in your home, this is what it would look like. Awesome.

Maplewood Ave

360

There's an on going debate between my childhood friend (my age) and his sister (my sisters age) about whether my sister stood on the swing and did a full 360 around the horizontal pole way back when she was a kid.

My sister says it never happened.

This never happened.