Clouds, McCloud

In the final analysis, a drawing simply is no longer a drawing, no matter how self-sufficient its execution may be. It is a symbol, and the more profoundly the imaginary lines of projection meet higher dimensions, the better.
-- Paul Klee

Tuesday, May 11, 1999
One year ago: Object of My Affection

I was tired yesterday afternoon. I came home, got into bed, and slept. My sister called me on the phone, and we spoke, briefly. I got out of bed at midnight, and read email and a few journals. The rest of the night I was back asleep.

I was feeling bad enough this morning (backache, cramps) that I stayed home from work. This is expensive when you are paid per hour! Since the press screenings for the Film Festival have started, I decided to take one in. I can't say much about it here, since the festival hasn't started yet.

It was overcast when I went in to the theater, but it was raining and chilly when I came out! I decided to go downtown on the bus anyway. I needed to pick up my neighborhood parking permit, since my old one had expired at the end of April. I wanted to get this taken care of -- I've received parking tickets in previous years when I didn't get around to procuring this sticker. It doesn't cost anything. I could have just sent in the form any time in the past few months, but we know that actually getting things in the mail isn't my strong suit, so I obviously hadn't done that.

Bus downtown to the Municipal Building, a walk along Fourth Avenue to Wendy's (because I just missed the bus back up to Capitol Hill), then a bus trip home. I was half soaked and chilled from the constant dripping rain, so I popped myself into a hot, lavender-scented bath.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

I finished a book that I borrowed from Jack the other day, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics. I've looked at bits and pieces of it before, but hadn't had a chance to go through all of it before. McCloud is great! He makes clear all kinds of conventions and structures for sequential graphic art.

McCloud's website is well worth visiting, even though there are splash pages and stuff to drill down through, which I don't approve of. It's all part of the "experience," I suppose. His newest piece talks about his recurring chess obsession.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

I'm all caught up on my laundry now. It took about four hours! I was tempted to just go buy more socks and underwear, but overcame that sloth.

I needed to get this taken care of because the Film Festival starts Friday! The regular screenings start then, that is. There's a big gala opening night deal on Thursday, but I don't think I've ever gone to that. It's fifty bucks! And usually for some Hollywood thing that will certainly open theatrically soon. The marginal cost/benefit ratio just isn't there!

Still to be done before the fest: put new batteries in my fluourescent flashlight, get provisions, sort out the first few days with my buddy A----. I'm getting psyched!