I started playing hockey on Tuesday nights about 2 yrs ago - we must be hilarious to watch - a bunch of middle-aged women chasing a puck around the ice. But the exercise is good and the company is wonderful. I really enjoy hanging out with women who like to play sports... (slo-pitch starts in May - that's a whole 'nother addiction)

When I was a girl, hockey wasn't an option - girls wore white figure skates and boys wore black hockey skates - there was no crossover unless you were willing to take the punishment that kids can dish out - which, being the introvert I am, was out of the question (see: 01/30/12). But playing hockey once a week doesn't mean that I don't love skating on figure skates too. Tonight, one of my favourite places in the world, Cedarena should have celebrated it's 85th anniversary, but since the ice is strictly natural, and the weather has not been cooperative, they've had to postpone... forecast doesn't look good for next week either. So, I know it's not a popular opinion, but hoping for it to get really cold in the next week or so.

I read an article in the paper today about how introverts are undervalued. No news to me - during my time in the corp world, I never felt comfortable having to crow about all the great things I did for the good of the company. (Truth be told, I could never think of anything when asked anyway...) But good news, people are noticing that introverts have things to contribute too - again, no news to me. There was a quiz too - nobody is all one or the other, but I thought it was funny that out of 20 questions, I only answered 3 where there was any doubt about where I landed. Who else but an introvert would wear a hairstyle that mostly obscures her face!

introverts/extroverts

Dave is a much better guitar player than I am an illustrator, but then, he practices more than I do...

This didn't capture his likeness as well as I'd like, but
here's hoping the next 50 weeks or so will be lots of time for me to try again.

Love you honey!

that 'slight cold' I mentioned on Robbie Burns night hit me like a brick yesterday...  spent last night and all day today under a blanket - my better half brought me tea and soup. Disappointed that it interfered with my weekend plans, but sometimes we have to take these setbacks as opportunities to stop and smell the lotus blossoms...

... are often very interesting characters. Last night's model was a fine arts grad, performance and tattoo artist, who decided it would be interesting to see how it felt to be on the other side of the room. I hear she's wonderful to draw in costume too - she has a collection of 'fetish' stuff; corsets, stockings & Animè outfits - great dreadlocks with all kinds of interesting textures woven in - looking forward to drawing her again

Busy at the pub last night... haggis & neeps, a wee dram, couple of beers... the band played a lot of 'Scottish' tunes (using the term very loosely) told really bad jokes and generally behaved in the usual manner. Tried to get a a sketch of the piper, but he kept moving around the room so I improvised a bit (gotta practice  catching quick gestures). His very cute 2-yr old daughter entertained everyone by dancing around him throughout his solo - urged on by several other patrons. Maybe she'll take up the torch someday. (Why do you suppose more women don't play bagpipes?)

In spite of a slight cold, it was a nice night - always good to spend time with great friends.

ok, not every drawing is going to be great...  but the exercise was just get in the habit of drawing something - every day - good wasn't actually in the criteria.

Last night, around 10:30 I went to my local for a pint & to wait for my good half to finish his dart game... Once everyone was served, Smitty, the bartender went back to texting (his girlfriend, judging by his expression) - a quiet night all around.

Tough night for my Super Bowl predictions...
good thing I'm not a betting person

Aka - 'The Cat' or sometimes 'Teflon Cat' because it took us so long to come up with a name that would stick to her.

No one remembers how old she is or when she first came into the family... her favourite person in the house is my son who's been her advocate (no pun intended) forever. He's the one who always makes sure there's food in her dish, so when he's home and anywhere near the kitchen, she lets him know - everyone else she pretty much ignores. Since I started working from home I feel like my real job has been to open and close doors for her. She usually spends her days sleeping next to the fireplace in my office in a chair that was supposed to be for guests, but now that she's claimed it, no one else dares sit in it.

No question that this will be tough to maintain for 365 days, but at least Thursdays should be easier, given that I'll be attending a 3-hour class every week. Here's 2-30minute portraits of last night's model 'Shine' - (really, that's her name). The assignment was to block in shadows in simple shapes. You can't see it from the sketch, but she has a very cool haircut - everything on the right side is longish & straight, but the left side is close-cut... funny, since yesterday's drawing was a similar look that came entirely from my imagination... hmmm - art imitating life?

...before I'm procrastinating - meh. Well, I drew, but didn't post... at least that's what happened Tues - yesterday just got by me altogether... so just pick up where we left off then - nothing more to say.

Tuesday I turned on the TV to find 'Tank Girl' just getting started... not a great movie, but a fantastic comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin http://www.tankgirl.info/tankgirl/. I've admired Hewlett forever - he's gone on to do amazing stuff with Gorillaz and others, but I've always had a soft spot for his female characters... so while doodling, I found myself creating my own version of Becky Buck. She's a bit too much 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - kinda channeling a bit of Amanda Miles too (hmm, I gotta get darker at this)

My friend Michele stopped by today to discuss her wedding invites... I wasn't expecting her, so the house was a disaster area (as usual) but I decided a long time ago that my house isn't me - it's usually messy, but friends are always welcome to come in, clear a space and have a cup of tea... I can usually rustle up some cookies too. Actually, maybe my house is me...

Don't be surprised to find Baz and TC on this blog - being the family pets, they may be subjects on a regular basis.

Basil is a wonder dog this year though - last July he suffered an 'event' called an FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Embolism) - sounds nasty, because it is... I find myself describing it as a doggie 'stroke' because it's easier than describing FCE... In layman terms, a small piece of cartilage breaks off of a vertebrae in the spinal cord... ok - if you're really curious, go here: pethealth.petwellbeing.com/wiki/Dog_Fibrocartilaginous_Embolism_-_FCE  "with no blood supply, the section of spinal cord affected by the embolism dies, and the dog becomes paralyzed in one or multiple limbs'

For 4 or 5 weeks he was unable to move his right legs... 100lbs of dog to carry around the house - inside/outside... he spent most of his outside time in a wagon, laying on his side. I'll fill you in more as the year goes on, but bottom line is that after many weeks & months of therapy, he's able to get around on his own steam - carefully though. My husband likes to quote the Disney movie 'Lilo & Stitch' when Stitch says of his new family "small & kinda broken, but still good!"

Note to self - don't wait until 10:30 pm to draw... A few of the locals after their soccer game, playing pool and having a few beverages at the legion club room.