Journal of a Sabbatical

November 20, 2000

where the time goes

Today's Reading: The Story of the Stone (a.k.a. Dream of the Red Chamber): Volume 3 by Cao Xueqin, Autumn from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau edited by H.G.O. Blake

So I've been wondering where the time goes. Well, besides doing two more entries of the China trip journal (7 and 8), going to the doctor for a checkup (I'm fine, unbelievable as that may seem), walking all over North Andover with the walking buddies, Saturday night dinner with Nancy at House of Tibet Kitchen, Sunday dinner at La Madre's (Thomas really knows how to make mashed potatoes - that's the recipe they should've put in the newspaper) for Kevin's birthday, driving to a zillion (OK, three) different Staples stores to find premium quality 4x6 inkjet photo paper, and spending way too much time having coffee wtih Tom and Julie, I've been cultivating my delusions of talent. Result of said cultivation is the sketch of Cliffy above. Not bad for a person who can't draw. Through the miracle of Corel Print Office followed by Photoshop I actually got this to look the way I wanted.

Flush with my success on the Cliffy sketch (by the way Cliffy has been adopted!) I decided to try this idea I had for an image of the Potala looking like a 19th century engraving or sketch - y'know, the kind the Brits would've done during the Great Game. This was not so successful. I mean it looks OK, but not like I envisioned.

And when I'm not wasting my time trying to convince software to compensate for the fact that I can't draw, I'm mesmerized by the third volume of The Dream of the Red Chamber. I just can't get enough of the daily lives of decadent rich people in 18th century China.