Friday, September 30, 2011

FROST PARK: ST. JOHN


The theme of this week's Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge (season four, episode twenty-seven) was fountains, in celebration of the Frost Park fountain being restarted by the City of Tacoma. I drew St. John of Nepomuk, patron saint of running water as a tribute. Small purple cuttlefish (seven of them) swim around his halo.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

HONEYBEE'S LAST BREATH


I discover honeybee on the sidewalk, gasping for breath. I slide her onto a piece of cardstock and place her beneath her beloved flowers. A few minutes later, her body is still, quiet. I hope that someone will show me as much compassion and reverence some day.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

SQUIRRELS


The Dog lies in wait for squirrels beneath the Italian prune tree. Patience is a virtue.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

SAMUEL ADAMS OCTOBERFEST


Octoberfest, an Oktoberfest/Märzen by Samuel Adams.

Served on tap in a Samuel Adams Octoberfest dimpled mug.

---

I kept hearing good things about this seasonal offering from Samuel Adams, so I decided I would keep my eye open for it. I found it on a lunch outing with The Wife.

The generous dimpled mug arrived with a red-brown beer with two-fingers of ivory head. The nose was of a sweet dark bread. The flavors were primarily caramel and nuts, with a hint of the same sweet dark bread beneath. This is much sweeter than I expected, but the sweetness is just about right.

This is a beer that would easily complement sauerkraut and brats or a burger and fries. I had it with wild salmon and seafood chowder, which worked as well.

---

This is a great beer for someone new to the world of craft beer or trying to explore a transition from macrobrews to microbrews. Also, very sessionable.

Friday, September 23, 2011

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS


TWT and The Child watched some Friday night high school football at Puyallup's Spark Stadium. Rogers HS (Puyallup) versus Todd Beamer HS (Federal Way). Final score of Rogers, 50 to Beamer, 24.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

THE PARIS MAGAZINE


A friend of mine recently returned from a European vacation. Prior to her departure, I told her that if she was in Paris that she should visit the historic Shakespeare and Company bookstore. She did and returned with an unexpected, but joyfully accepted, gift for me: a copy of the fourth issue of The Paris Magazine.

The Paris Magazine was conceived as "The poor man's Paris Review" by it's founder George Whitman. That seems to have been achieved. It was also conceived of as a quarterly literary journal. In that aspect it is a huge failure. Only four issues have been published over the past forty-four years—in 1967, 1984, 1989, and 2010.

Issue number four is equal parts literary journal and bookstore promotion. It contains pieces by literary authors and poets such as Michel Houellebecq, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Luc Sante, and Todd McEwen. It also contains a brief look at the bookstore, the magazine, and George Whitman by his daughter, and successor, Sylvia, as well as "tumbleweed diaries" by wandering writers who have spent the night in the store during their travels.

Therefore, the magazine functions as souvenir, historical document, homage, literary journal, snapshot of a particular time (2010, 2011), descendent in a lineage of European writing. And now, as cherished object, reading material, thought provoker.

I delve deeper within its rich pages...


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

THE GATES OF HELL

"The enticing odor which comes out of the mouth of a whale / represents the lust of the flesh. / The jaws which close on unwary schools of fish / symbolize the Gates of Hell closing on the lost. / The mistake of a sailor who chooses evil for good, or / danger for safety, is the tragic error that leads / to utter damnation."
—page 237, Notes from a Bottle Found on the Beach at Carmel by Evan S. Connell.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

PIETÀ

"I begged the empty earth / of him. Death / believes in us whether / we believe / or not..."
—from "Pietà" by Kevin Young, as found in the September 2011 issue of Poetry.

Friday, September 16, 2011

SAINT PAUL


Saint Paul by Troy's Work Table. Pen and ink on paper, then digitally colored.

I was "commissioned" to draw art for a work project. "Saint Paul" is the third of three saints I drew, somewhat inspired by Greek Orthodox iconography and somewhat inspired by the cartoons of Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill).

SAINT JAMES


Saint James by Troy's Work Table. Pen and ink on paper, then digitally colored.

I was "commissioned" to draw art for a work project. "Saint James" is the second of three saints I drew, somewhat inspired by Greek Orthodox iconography and somewhat inspired by the cartoons of Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill).

SAINT PETER


Saint Peter by Troy's Work Table. Pen and ink on paper, then digitally colored.

I was "commissioned" to draw art for a work project. "Saint Peter" is the first of three saints I drew, somewhat inspired by Greek Orthodox iconography and somewhat inspired by the cartoons of Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill).

FROST PARK: KRUSTY PUP


Another Friday afternoon equals another session of the Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge, specifically Season 4, Episode 25.

I wasn't feeling especially inspired. The theme was "SEND A MESSAGE TO A POLITICIAN" or alternatively "EVERYBODY DRAW a MAYOR DAY!" I toyed with a cuttlefish mayor, a monkey mayor, and The Dog as the "mayor of mischief." I ended up with "Krusty Pup, Mayor of Fair Food." I wasn't all too happy with the execution. Oh well.

Then my spirits were lifted by some of the other Frost Park artists and observers. They variously described Krusty Pup as "disturbing," "obscene," and "NSFW." I figured it was a actually a good art day.

It's no Michelle Bachmann encounter with a corn dog, but I'll accept the "compliments."

Monday, September 12, 2011

SNUGGLED IN


The Dog manipulated, tugged, and wrestled one of The Child's blankets until it was just right, crawled into the middle, and promptly fell asleep.

Friday, September 09, 2011

Thursday, September 08, 2011

DACHSHUND

Troy's Work Table introduces a new character: The Dog. The Dog is a seven-year-old female dachshund rescued from a shelter. She immediately took to the idea of her new home.

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

THIS IS NOT...


I saw this sign outside the Puyallup post office where the Lyndon LaRouche supporters set up their table with a poster depicting President Obama as Hitler. It reads THIS IS NOT FREEDOM OF SPEECH! THIS IS DISRESPECT OF AN INDIVIDUAL! WHETHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN BE A SOLUTION NOT A FINGER POINTER OR COMPLAINER! STAY OFF OUR PUBLIC SIDEWALK!

Friday, September 02, 2011

FROST PARK: GHOSTOPUS


Ghostopus of Chalkings Past by Troy's Work Table.

Another Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge, another cephalopod, this one slightly recycled.

Five weeks later, faint hints of "Octopus Rides a Bike" were still visible. Therefore, TWT used the outlines of the mantle and the two outstretched arms for the basis of Ghostopus. Goodbye, bike helmet. Goodbye, bicycle. Goodbye, bike horn and glass of wine. Hello, candle-lit lantern. Hello, stick of blue chalk. Ghostopus wrote his own title behind him.

The chains of his past (chalk) lives weigh him down, even in the deeps of the netherworld sea. Rest in peace, Octopus. Haunt well, Ghostopus.