22nd (Friday)
Beside the back window at the Barn Cafe this morning,
reading the Brando biography, the low winter sunlight
slanting through the bare branches of the trees. Spent
an hour or more at Koerner, writing text for 'Heather's
Drawing'. Trying out the new fragrances with Natalie
at the Bay. Mentioned to her that I needed a Japanese
girl to model for Empress
23rd (Saturday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle describing the things she bought in Seattle that
included Special K cereal & seven pairs of pants
Natalie showing how her stomach has grown in the last
week or so, that seems noticeable. Yajing looking
good this afternoon in dark grey pinstripe pants. Her
word of the day was 'exotic'. Gave me a small
Chinese cookie with pineapple in the center
24th (Sunday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Nice drama in NFC title game, Saints/Vikings. 'The
Deer Hunter' tonight, with Vesna
25th (Monday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle phoned a couple of times this afternoon,
worried about some Shiseido rep stopping by the
counter & upsetting her. Told me she tipped the
scale at 99lbs yesterday. Brought her hot water &
Smarties this evening. Steady light rain & gusts
of wind
26th (Tuesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Tacos with Natalie at the Food Fair. Told me she wants
a girl, & that the child was about the size of an
avocado, & how she adds cranberry & walnut to her
oatmeal. In the late afternoon darkness, walked with
Myle to Macs where she pulled out a two foot long
receipt to return something. And then to HMV to buy a
Big Loser Bootcamp workout DVD. Later in the evening
bought her some potato chips. Yajing looking good in a
lace sweater laced with gold thread. Talking to Vesna
on the phone, from the Rabbit Hole
27th (Wednesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
'How's the jellyfish coming along?' I ask Reanne. 'I
am SO still working on it,' she replied, & then
explained how it was set up in her living room, but
wasn't quite finished yet. Myle a little distracted
this morning. Brought her hot water, kiwis, a
shrimp salad & two cocoanut clusters. A rather pretty
Korean girl (I'm assuming) at Soody's, who I'd love
to do a portrait of
28th (Thursday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
More pleasant banter with Reanne, who wants a classic
old car for her wedding day, to take her to the
ceremony. I suggested a '62 Cadillac, in white. Myle
charming this morning. Bought her an orange, being
the first day of what we're calling 'boot camp'. On
the Skytrain to Whalley late this afternoon. The sky
heavily overcast, the winter branches darkly
outline against the sky which was lovely hues of
bluish-grey. The white snow of Mt Baker faintly
outlined on the eastern horizon, beams of orange
light slanting through gaps in the clouds on the
southern horizon, touching the islands of the Gulf,
& San Juans
29th (Friday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
'Sleeper' at Vesna's tonight. Wants to go to Cloud
Nine next Saturday
30th (Saturday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
'Raging Bull' at Vesna's this evening
February
1st (Monday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle phones, speaking in a whisper, telling me she
lost her voice, & that she has some food for me
Something her & her mother made on Sunday, that
she's calling 'vegeterian'
2nd (Tuesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle brought me a small bag of tea which is
supposed to work as a detox. Gave Natalie chocolate
& dessert squares. Reading the Brando bio at City
Market, looking out at the winter branches,
thinking about things. Heavy rain this evening
Along Davie saw Baeta through the door at Kins
'Long time no see,' I said to her. 'Why?' she
asked. Her feelings seemed to be a little hurt
that I hadn't stopped by for so long. Talked to
Hunny as well, who is taking courses in English
3rd (Wednesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Natalie telling me how much she enjoyed the
dessert squares. 'They're the best granola bars
I've ever had, bar none,' she told me. 'Where did
you get them?' 'No way!' Not sure now if she
wants a boy or a girl, because she likes the name
Liam so much
4th (Thursday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle looking a little pale this morning. Still
talking in a whisper because of her throat. Went
over to the Bay & was told Natalie was off sick
Went back to Sears, & gave Reanne candy &
granola bars. Told me she was doing a photo
collage, with the jellyfish off to the side,
though she's still working on it. Described my
idea for 'Empress' to her. Myle returned to the
counter saying she'd thrown up...
5th (Friday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Myle still looking a little stressed this morning
Brought her some hot water. Natalie off sick again
6th (Saturday)
Myle charming this morning. Fish & chips at C-Lovers
in Langley, with Susan. A lovely mild sunny day,
with a few dragon clouds. Enjoyed hearing Susan's
description of guys she knows on-line from Iceland,
Denmark, Morocco, & Liverpool. She wants to write a
play, & we had some fun putting together ideas for
an outline. I suggested the name 'Working Title :
Hot Feathers' Tea down the street, S. describing
the strange behaviour of the old man living above
her. A card & potato chips from Vesna, & then
watched 'Taxi Driver', which she said 'affected'
her more than the others
7th (Sunday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Saints/Colts playing a good game while I watched,
worked on the drawing, washed dishes, & replied to
birthday greetings on Facebook. Received a gift of
brightly embroidered coasters from Yajing
8th (Monday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Admiring the beams of light from Burrard Bridge, &
then down below at Sunset Beach, with Vesna. At 10
o'clock this evening visited Myle at Sears. She
described to me the death of her uncle in Vietnam
before she was born, & the accident her mother had
when she was pregnant with her, in the countryside
Cheeseburger at McD's near Hotel Vancouver, near
midnight, thinking about things
9th (Tuesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Reanne telling me she added wax to her jellyfish
drawing, & that it was a lion's mane. Thought she
had about an hours worth of work left. Myle a little
stressed about something her manager said to her, &
is annoyed with her co-workers. Bought me a large
bag of snacks, & has no idea who Marlon Brando is
Talked to the Oriental girl at Lancome. Told her she
had a lovely smile. She's from southwestern China,
& her name is Mei
10th (Wednesday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Natalie back at work this morning. Bought the
Japanese flag for Empress, & noticed a couple of
Japanese girls (I hope) working in a sushi place on
Robson. One of them had hair colored red in a
ponytail, who would be nice for the drawing
11th (Thursday) [Flaxseed Oil Pastel]
Mei showing me the city she's from, which is
Chungking
12th (Friday)
A surreal sort of day downtown. Watched the Olympic
Flame being handed off at Burrard & Davie, from a
distance down Nelson to Granville, along Robson near
Howe, close-up at Robson Square, & finally moving
east long Georgia towards the viaduct. At 9am it
seemed strangely quiet & serene inside Sears with
Myle. Natalie suddenly appeared, asked me to feel
how 'hard' her stomach was, which I did twice. N
amused by Myle's 'Olympic Program'
GALLERY501