31st (Tuesday)
Stretched paper for the drawing
called 'Gentle Thoughts'. Developing
the idea this afternoon & evening. UBC
& Spanish Banks after lunch. Heavy
rain this morning, then wind & sun,
added up to a magical fall afternoon
Reading 'Vermeer' & looking over new
U2, at Barn Cafe, in a cozy,
intellectual atmosphere. Talked to
Shari around noon. Planning to see
Impressionist exh on Thursday
'Beautiful Day'. Girl outside Student
Union, strings of lights around her
arms & legs. 'What are you?' - 'A
galaxy - or an atom. Whatever'
November
1st (Wednesday)
Betty & then Susan called. Hadn't
talked to either since August
2nd (Thursday)
Saw Impressionist ex at VAG this
morning with Shari. Looking at a
painting of a forest upstairs, S
remarks, 'His name's DeForest & he
can't even paint a tree.' At Gallery
Cafe complaining about a guy who was
'playing with himself'. This evening
saw the same exhibit with Betty in
20 minutes. Half a minute to
examine the Degas, a few seconds for
the van Gogh, before we were herded
out
3rd (Friday)
Refining ideas for the drawing
4th (Saturday) [A Gentle Thought]
Started drawing early this afternoon,
while Grizzlies/Lakers played downtown
Dropped in on Cassi late afternoon
Showed her photos of the 'girls'. Liked
B&W of Trish, & Beatrice profile
Showed me her latest 'skull', with
spiked head & cat's eyes. Across the
hall, a little granny at an ironing
board, old mannequins behind
5th (Sunday) [A Gentle Thought]
6th (Monday) [A Gentle Thought]
Perfect late fall afternoon. Reading
FLLW at dining pavillion. View of Mc-Bl
bldg above the trees. Charming Oriental
girl, vacuming the rug, asked if they
'lit fires here'. Was puzzled until
she realized I meant the fireplace
7th (Tuesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Answered phone at 10am 'Go Bush,'
was the first thing Annie said
Beginning of a bizarre day & night
of US election coverage until
nearly 3am
8th (Wednesday) [A Gentle Thought]
9th (Thursday) [A Gentle Thought]
Sunny fall afternoon, with a little
winter chill in the air
10th (Friday) [A Gentle Thought]
Finally got a chance to talk with
East Indian woman at VAG, who was
charming
11th (Saturday) [A Gentle Thought]
12th (Sunday) [A Gentle Thought]
13th (Monday) [A Gentle Thought]
14th (Tuesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Finished outline this evening. Another
chilly, clear day. Talked to Lani on
the phone this morning, who is always
a joy. Girl behind Gran Island fish
counter wearing something that was a
hybrid apron/hipwader, in red rubber,
which would have made a delightful
portrait. Idea crossed my mind of a
series of portraits of Granville Island
Market girls
15th (Wednesday)
Another chat with East Indian woman
at VAG. Suggested a gallery, & a name
Has two children, but isn't wearing a
ring. Girl at computer place at
Sinclair with a neat little European
accent, & some advice about what to
put in my e-mail letter. Some nice
banter with blonde girl working at
Capers. Had some fun joking about
this toy monkey sitting above her
cash register
16th (Thursday)
Barn Cafe, & then walk along Spanish
Banks all the way to the Crab Wharf
Standing on the floating part of the
pier, as it rocked slowly up & down
in the shifting current. Seagulls
emerge from sky darkened pink & grey,
above the twinkling lights of the
downtown skyline, close enought to
hear the beat of their wings
Chinese bundled in jackets & hoods
tossing crab traps into the water,
in counterpoint against the
freighter anchored in the bay
Shari phoned tonight
17th (Friday) [A Gentle Thought]
Conversation with girl at Capers,
whose name is Shannon. 'You should let me
do a portrait of you.' 'What sort of
portrait?' 'A drawing. I'm an artist.'
Told her she had a 'nice style'. Thanked
me & then told her I'd bring some photos
in. 'Yeah, bring in your stuff,' she
replied. Vivid pink sunset
18th (Saturday) [A Gentle Thought]
19th (Sunday) [A Gentle Thought]
Described idea for 'Destiny of Art' to
Brazilian/Lebanese girl at bakery, who
understood the idea right away
20th (Monday) [A Gentle Thought]
21st (Tuesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Perfect late fall afternoon, walking
across the bridge, the sun burning
brightly through a light veil of mist,
that gently embraced the land & sea
22nd (Wednesday) [A Gentle Thought]
23rd (Thursday) [A Gentle Thought]
Brunch with Shari at Lonsdale Quay
Complaining about the quality of the
pork, 'The guy who cut this meat should
be ashamed.'
24th (Friday) [A Gentle Thought]
25th-26th (Sat/Sunday)
Met an unusual girl at Surrey Central,
from Kiev
28th (Tuesday) [A Gentle Thought]
29th (Wednesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Sent first e-mail, with the help of a
charming woman from Slovakia, to Ho Im
30th (Thursday) [A Gentle Thought]
December
1st (Friday) [A Gentle Thought]
Nice talk with new woman upstairs at Deli
Comfortable, easy banter about Chinese
politics, the weather, etc. From Taiwan, has
a different accent, she told me, when she
speaks Chinese, than Yun. Gave Risako some
new rubber gloves, size small, which I'd
bought by mistake. Didn't like virgins face
in 'Religous & Erotic', though 'Genisis'
seemed to impress her. While we were
talking 'girl with black hair' came over to
buy coffee, which she's done before, &
seemed to be looking over when she was back
behind her counter
2nd (Saturday) [A Gentle Thought]
3rd (Sunday) [A Gentle Thought]
Showed Lebanese/Brazilian girl, whose name
is Hanne, all the portraits. Chose Misty &
Lisa. Gave her photo of 'Genisis'. Told me
she was putting it in her book, & that she
was inspired to write a poem to go with it
Asked her to reconsider the portrait. Has
my number now, & the portrait might happen
when she gets back from Brazil. A very
intelligent, intriguing woman
4th (Monday) [A Gentle Thought]
5th (Tuesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Great visit with Betty, at store on Georgia
Perceptive remarks about Lisa & Misty
Interested in buying 'Genesis', & wants me
to take photos of her
6th (Wednesday) [A Gentle Thought]
Charming Vietnamese girl at Grand & Toy,
Pacific Centre, lovely cool, clear, early
winter day, with fog in the evening. 4 hrs
on the phone... 2 with Shari
7th (Thursday) [A Gentle Thought]
Finishing touches on the drawing tonight
Received first email, from Hoim This
morning. Slowed Slovakian girl the 'Fuji'
pastels. Forgot which one she chose, but
she was charming, & very interested in
seeing some of the other week. Vietnamese
girl at G&T, but I didn't bet a chance to
talk with her. This afternoon at Rob
Market bakery the Chinese girl was there
Attractive, affable girl, very easy to
talk to. Showed me a little trick with
string, her mother had taught her
Works at a pizza place on Robson, near
library
8th (Friday)
Math Work, UBC A little work in
the submarine. In a right triangle,
calculated h & y length of each side from
the opposite vertice. I thought it would
show something interesting, but it didn't
Corner table at the Barn, Xmas tree in
the other corner, outside chilly & dark
9th (Saturday)
Risako came over to write some Japanese
on Winter Fuji. Recognized the setting
for 'A Gentle Thought' as being 'Outswitz'
from the barbed wire & the striped jacket
Thought the girl looked 'angry' & looked
like a guy except for the skirt. Had an
explanation for why the bird wouldn't be
fried on the wire
