stuff i could tell you about...

...i could tell you about my delightful new paint software. i bought it after deciding the only way to properly nourish my long-dormant inner artist was to actually nourish her. i’d been futzing around with an extremely rudimentary online drawing program for months, which served its purpose but which was ultimately not really satisfying. so i hemmed, hawed, researched and decided on a paint program from corel. it is now rocking my world, daunting though it is. it’s extremely sophisticated, and kind of makes me feel like a completely talentless moron, but i’m learning as i go. i drew this yesterday...with my mouse...in virtual charcoal...


...i could tell you about the back-to-school stories i’m writing. i’m not a parent, so (like the paint software) it’s a bit of learning as i go. pun intended.

....i could tell you how i’m supposed to be in florida right now, but airfares never dropped to what i consider an acceptable level on my given dates. i say "given" because last saturday to this coming saturday was/is my designated week at the condo with mom (dad got week one, and young beatrix gets the last week...mom stays for all three). but i’m here and she’s there. sorry, but i just refuse to pay $700 (or more!) on a flight to tampa. i think at one point the top price for a ticket was over $2000. um, no.

...i could tell you about the lovely walk i went on yesterday, where i strolled through the neighbourhood, looked at the expensive houses with their expensive landscaping, and took photos of the trees and bushes in bloom. it was beautiful out -- sunny and 14ºC -- so i went a'wandrin.

...i could tell you about Hallam Foe, but i still haven’t watched it yet, so i’d just be telling you what i heard, which is that it’s much darker than one would expect based on its trailer.

...i could tell you about how white trash-y neighbours seem to follow me wherever i go. back at hell house, there was a family whose house backed onto the rear of my building...and their backyard was almost right under my (3rd floor) bedroom window. they would spend many a summer night outside on their porch, SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY AND PLAYING GUITAR AND SHOUTING AT THEIR ANNOYING AND EQUALLY LOUD TWEEN DAUGHTER, CLAIRE, OR THEIR DOG, CHILI...BOTH OF WHOM I SUSPECT ARE DEAF GIVEN THE VOLUME AT WHICH THEY WERE ADDRESSED. ugh. each year i counted the days until winter when it would be too cold for them to sit outside bellowing at each other. when i moved in here, where i am now, the top-floor apartment in the house adjacent to the building (coincidentally, once again near my bedroom window) was empty. and blissfully quiet. but a new, young, LOUD girl moved in there in early fall and *began* making use of her deck with her young, loud friends...but the cold weather hit soon and they were all forced indoors. but now spring is here, and the weather’s nice, and she’s done up her deck with chairs and a big BBQ and frequently has company...like she does right now. unfortunately, the positioning of the deck vs. the building means sound is amplified and everyone with apartments facing north can hear every word of every sentence anyone says on that deck. it’s going to be a long summer.

...i could tell you about the giant sandwich i had for dinner. with carrots. very summery.

...i could tell you about the giant fruit salad i made just before the giant sandwich. maybe “fruit” salad is overstating it. it’s two enormous (and sweet and delicious) navel oranges and a huge fuji apple. cut up. simple but good.

...i could tell you that my massive mane of hair will finally be cut next week.

...i could tell you that i have my six-month check-up at the dentist on wednesday and that i am currently hoping and praying for a clean bill of dental health.

...i could tell you that i’m going to a screening of What Happens in Vegas first thing in the morning, and that i’m hoping it doesn’t blow.

...i could tell you that i haven’t had any dreamlife dreams since my last entry.

i could tell you all that stuff, but instead i’m gonna go paint another picture.