Thing-a-day.com

Happy leap year, thing-a-dayers!

My least favorite haircut ever, especially on corporate dudes who thinks it heps up their suit.

A girl who looks like she’d be a patron of the revolutionary Biba store in the early 70’s. Apologies to Andy Warhol. Just a doodle with some color applied.

I spent a little time in Japan a couple months ago. Japanese gal culture is fascinating. So much of it is by-girls, for-girls, and it’s so driven by details. A sweet lolita in full regalia, done in sharpie on th back of some scrap paper with digital color added.

In California, the camelias were in bloom. In MN, nothing is in bloom…yet. It was nice to get a preview.

First of all, Rory is a guy. And he’s a Cornish Rex cat, which means he has short, wavy fur. He is the world’s best cat: he has a fantastic sense of humor, wags his tail like a dog, is a grandpa, and is a therapy animal. His worst trait is that he’s a mooch, and wants to share anything you’re eating.

More little doodles, merged into some sort of musing on technology… ink on paper

In the battle of Eric vs. kitten, Eric always wins, retaining his title of World’s Greatest Cat Kisser. ink, with chintzy digital color… I only had 20 mins, ok?

I TRIED to get them to go, but they said no, no, no.

More doodling on spreadsheets… this time something ‘old Hollywood.’

College guys waiting for their burgers and beer at Father’s Office, Santa Monica. Great food, all kinds of beer.

I overheard what sounded like an extremely misguided film pitch on Montana in San Diego:

Was “300″ even slightly erudite? Must’ve missed that.

Trashy is as trashy does.

On Robertson Blvd.: Beware - Here be Cougars!

Between picking up a Michael Stars t-shirt at Kitson and a Frappucino at Starbucks’, the fearsome cougar has stalked and captured her prey: a 21-year old male model…

Silverlake was as far NW as I got on this trip. It’s a hepster neighborhood with arty cafes and indie clubs. Here is a Silverlake girly who appears to have been damaged by listening to too much M.I.A. Obligatory trendy headband included, no charge.

Pretty day at the beach, photographed so I remember that the sun does still exist and Minnesota snowstorms do not last year round. They should end… about June, I’m guessing.

I haven’t been slacking off, I’ve just been traveling with no access to a scanner! I was at a trade show in San Diego and a business junket in LA. This is a little drawing of people browsing booths at the show. And I mean little… maybe 3″ high.

I had a boring meeting today. When that happens, I doodle to keep alert. This one, on the back of a spreadsheet (you can still see the spreadsheet cells though the page in spots… meh), is of Steve Priest, the bassist for the Sweet.
If you remember (and how could you forget, really), the immortal glam rock anthem “Ballroom Blitz”, Steve is summoned forth in the opening line and contributes memorably psychotic rants throughout the song. Rock stars were fun in 1973. SP was spectacularly good at being bad: I would venture punk rock before punk rock happened - except that he could play. He wore clothes that could make your eyes bleed. He had (has - still does) purty red hair.

You find record nerds. Like me. Only I’m not in the picture. I’m buying records.

Here we have some regulars: the inevitable-guy-with-Johnny-Thunders-hair and extremely-obscure-krautrock-guy. Krautrock guy is living in his mom’s basement, but his records have their own apartment. Krautrock guy’s long-suffering girlfriend is tagging along, but she just wants a couple of old metal albums her mom trashed when she was 17.

Not leaving the house today because it’s -10 outside, so I am going to stay in and keep things toasty by making soup. Leek soup. And a haiku to go with it, so it’s less of a cop-out.

Leek Soup - w/ Chicken or Veggie variations:

Ingredients:

bunch of leeks (approx. 3 -4)

1 clove garlic, chopped (or more to taste)

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, cubed (omit for vegetarian version)

64 oz. stock (chicken or vegetable, your choice)

approx 8-10 small redskin potatoes, washed/quartered.

2 ribs celery, sliced

2 medium carrots, sliced

olive oil, salt, pepper.

Clean leeks thoroughly by cutting in half lengthwise and rinsing in cold water to remove sand. Trim roots and tough green leaves. Chop cleaned leeks into 1″ pieces. Saute leeks and crushed garlic clove in olive oil until leeks are soft and white portions transparent. In separate pan, saute chicken until completely cooked. Add stock to cooked leeks, then chicken, and bring to a simmer. Add potatoes; cook until tender; add carrots and celery as soon as potatoes are done. Simmer for a few minutes more, then correct seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Eat up, be warm!