Lunch Break Sketching 2

Today's lunchtime effort was more focused on a smaller section of a building, but it was also done in a shorter time frame. I had to buy my lunch today, so there needed to be ample time to attend to the belly. Still, it was a great break in the day. I find the afternoon doesn't seem quite so long when I actually have a break in the middle of the day. Of course, the flood of work started to reappear on my desk, so that could have something to do with the faster movement of time.



A little bonus... and boy do I mean little—just some doodles from the train ride home. On the right you'll see a specimen of the rarely viewed pigbearalope. With all the flooding in the midwest this year the species is experiencing a resurgence, and might even be downgraded from endangered to merely threatened. Of course after the Antler-Tangled-in-the-Fence incident of 1993, we'll have to take a wait and see approach.

I think I need to god to bed now. Thanks for stopping by!

Lunch Break Sketching

There was a slight slow down in the madness at work today, so for a change I got out of the office at lunchtime. There are some nice benches at the corner of Wacker and Lake in Chicago, and you can just glimpse the Specialty's Bakery over the raised garden beds when you're sitting in the little oasis. The green stuff is the only thing that makes it an oasis because the "L" still rumbles by, and the road traffic is there for your listening pleasure as well. Still, it's not the office... sitting at the desk... staring at the computer, so it's a big improvement.

Didn't get all the details finished up, and I'll probably never do so. It is just a sketch after all. It was a marvelously relaxing way to spend part of my lunch hour though.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Dregs

Woefully behind on so many parts of my life at the moment, but ahead of the game on the parts that put bread on the table, so I can't complain/apologize/agonize too much.



I couldn't tell you exactly the day or hour I drew this gentleman, but I could tell you the morning light was warm coming in from the left side of the train. I could tell you there was something about him that reminded me very much of my maternal grandfather. I could tell you that he really wasn't as old as he ended up in the drawing—less is more, and my pencil got away from me, so he ended up looking older than he should.



Ah doodles...who doesn't love a good doodle session. On the train again, and you might not believe it but those two heavy black dots were a couple of puddles. It had rained that day, and the pavement was drying. The squiggly line is the border between the wet and dry pavement and there were these two puddles, you see. Speaking of seeing, the knot in a particular piece of wood ended up as an eye. Need I go on? It's a doodle. It's the stream of consciousness of the artist. I couldn't tell you when they were put on paper, but I remember each moment they were put there because of the poignancy of the moment.



An Illo Friday gone to neglect. It seemed like the idea at the time, but is a bit macabre upon review. Still true though, just because it's a bit dark doesn't make it any less true. You know that moment of anxiety, when you look yourself in the mirror and have to shock yourself into a different frame of mind with the cold dash. This is that, just the nth degree.

Anyhoo, this is kind of the dregs of what has been coming out of the pencil and pen lately (not that there is a lot more), but there is something coming. Don't get you hopes up, but it'll be a little different.

Thanks for stopping by!

25th Anniversary Party Pics (and 200th Post)

Sorry it's been such a long time, but I finally have something worthy of a 200th post.


Gimli was a very good host for the evening. "Hurry up! They're coming!"


Liquid refreshments on the back porch.


Mixin' and minglin' in the back yard. View 1.


View 2.


View 3.


Phil & Maddie and Dad & Connie—feelin' a photo comin' on.


Phil & Roger have had a very happy 25 years together...oh, uh...that's Connie & Roger...yeah, right.


Note to self: Time to get back on the bike. Or switch places with Erin next time, chucklehead. Oh, **ahem** hi, family photo taken by Tom Tarpey—expert photographer currently moonlighting as gardener.


Our fantastic, talented entertainment for the evening: Heather Broadbent, violinist (stringswi.com), and Andrea (I'm ashamed to say I didn't get her last name), cellist. They played music near and dear to us all, and were indulgent and patient with us when we asked them to play those pieces again. And, happily, the neighbors reported enjoying the music as well!


The cake, obviously. The credit goes to Chef Julie White of Gourmet Everyday for this beautiful creation in addition to dinner and appetizers (in reverse chronological order). It was mighty tasty too!


Chef Julie created a wonderful presentation for all the food as well. It was reeeeeaaaalllly nice not having to lift a finger—we were all very spoiled. Thanks Julie!


Chef Julie giving the Suthards (and a Bolton) the low-down on her biz, for future reference. Sorry, I didn't get pics of the table before everyone tore into the eats.


Alas, there was no mushing of cake up each other's noses. They might pride themselves on a remaining silliness in their relationship, but it's a moderate and appropriately distinguished silliness that does not, I repeat does not, include smeared cake. Awwwww...Okaaaay.


Finally the warm wishes of loved ones, and some **ahem** other "entertaining" material.

Thanks for stopping by!