Maxine's BD: Trip to San Francisco, Part 1

...Where the CHS Choir embarks on a great adventure, participates in a choir clinic, goes rollerskating, and makes it over the state line.

Maxine's BD: Trip to San Francisco, Part 2

...Where the CHS Choir gets stranded in the middle of nowhere (California), gives an impromptu concert, and finally makes it to San Francisco.

Maxine's BD: Trip to San Francisco, Part 3

...Where the CHS Choir sings in a church, goes to an amusement park and has a pool party.

Maxine's BD: Trip to San Francisco, Part 4

...Where the CHS Choir sees Alcatraz (or doesn't) before leaving for Portland.

(Post Scriptum: Although the author is pretty sure she's got a great memory, the exact chronology of some events may differ, clothes colors may vary, etc.)

Maxine's BD: Vacations to Hungary: Early Memories, Part 1

...Where the author meets her dad's family...and her cousin Tünde.

Maxine's BD: Vacations to Hungary: Early Memories, Part 2

...Where all good things eventually come to an end.

My Life is a Mess (05-19-09)

Anyway, I've got so much material to write about, it's like I am living a sitcom.

So, for now, I'll keep it to happy memories.

On the Bus: Woman and Man (ca. 03-09)

They were not a couple, but I like the way they both are disconnected: the woman looks away to negate the close proximity of other people, and the man has that suspicious look everyone takes on when gazing at others on the bus. (Who knows, with my sketchbook and pen, I may be some sort of crazy freak...Am I?)

On the Bus: Man Sitting (ca. 03-09)

This man looked like he was in his mid-50s, but I felt that he had a lot of life experience (I know, hat sounds inane, but there was something weary and wise about him).

A plant at Thuy's (ca. 03-09)

I liked the graceful shape of this plant in the waiting room at Thuy's (my long-time Vietnamese hairstylist).

Maxine's BD: Vacations in Hungary

...Where young P. gets acquainted with her paternal grand-mother.

Is the author a slacker or a procrastinator? (03-04-09)

Well, I've been sick (one thing after another) and then, I keep getting distracted by such activities as having to make a living (grrr...) when all I want to do is work on my creative projects.

Anyway, I have several stories down on paper and hardly any time to sit down and draw. This is crazy because working on this stuff is my absolute priority in order of importance, and yet, time after time, it gets relegated to whenever, if ever.
The same thing applies to my other blog, "The Hyphenate." Dozens of sketches have been scanned and are still waiting to be organized and posted.

Anyway, check out my Yeti on the "Maxine on the run" blog; it's pretty cute, in a rustic sort of way.

Yeti (03-03-09)

Here is a Yeti.

Movie: "Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard" (2005) (ca. 02-09)

Bruce Willis in another stupid movie...

Food Cart on Hawthorne St. (ca. 02-09)

It was a cold, morose day, so I stopped for a cup of hot and delicious Gumbo from this food cart (the business operating Po' Boys has apparently expanded since).

Pretty Girl (02-18-09)

I drew this girl while waiting in line at the medical clinic. Her eyes and smile reminded me of a friend I haven't seen in a long time.

Movie: "Die Hard 3: With a Vengeance" (1995) (ca. 02-09)

Really, the things I do to make my husband happy...even watch this type of formulaic schlock.

Movie: "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" (1966) (ca. 02-09)

We watched "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly," a classic Western with Clint Eastwood.

I remember my French teacher in 6th grade using the soundtrack of this movie as background to teach an elective "Relaxation" class, enthusiastically telling us that Ennio Morricone was a living genius. Anyway, it IS a great movie, and the actors' faces are unforgettable.

On the Bus: Woman and Child (ca. 02-09)

On the Bus: Homeless Man with a Hat (ca. 02-09)

I like the way he looks from under the rim of his hat.

"Daires" Rehearsal at Bridging the Gap Night (02-05-09)

I dropped by Cleveland High School and went to listen to the top Choir rehearse (J. is a member).

Movie: "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" (1990) (02-09)

Another formulatic movie. I miss Alan Rickman as the bad guy, though.

"Play Retreat" in Port Townsend, WA (01-29 to 02-02-09)

I went to Teesha Moore's "Play Retreat" at Fort Worden, WA. I did several drawings while there and posted them on a side page called Play Retreat 09.

On the Bus: Pirates (01-28-09)

Two homeless guys (with great pirate faces) at the front of the bus, -one of them holding a cup of coffee- (this is Portland after all...), engaged in a lively conversation.

Sketch of Feet

A quick sketch done at the doctor's office.

Crystal Ballroom (01-25-09)

The Crystal Ballroom was open to the public in celebration of its 95th anniversary, so J. and I went to just look around.
As it was, the violin player in the group featured when walked in the 3rd floor ballroom was a girl J. knows from Dragon Boats.

PDX Collective (01-25-09)

After reading an article in the Mercury, J. and I went to check out the PDX Collective Sale at the Ace Hotel on Sunday. I wanted to see what type of clothes were sold in local trendy boutiques, like Le train Bleu, Moxie and others.
Really cool and great stuff, but $200 for boots on sale, that's just, uh, not my price range, -budget-wise, I'm more like a Target Clearance shopper,- not cool, but I still like looking at cute stuff even if I can't buy it.

I did a quick sketch of the shoppers.

Condiment Bottles at Sayler's (01-24-09)

We were invited to Sayler's Old Country Kitchen and had a great dinner.
I had just enough time to draw these bottles of condiment before the waitress brought my plate, and the steak was so good,I didn't want to let it get cold by drawing anything else.

Rose Festival Meeting (01-24-09)

J. had to attend an informational meeting organized by the Rose Festival Association because she applied and for the Rose Festival Princess program and was found eligible to participate.
I think it's great to see J. continue what seems to be a family tradition at this point, since both sisters M. and V. had also applied when they were high school Seniors.
This is a perfect opportunity for a young woman to learn to be confident, to talk in public, and to have a chance at representing the city.

I was late to the meeting due to a prior engagement and barely had time to start this sketch before the meeting was over.

Update: See the article in the Portland Mercury about how it unfolded...

Dinner at Firehouse (01-23-09)

M. asked us to take her to Firehouse restaurant for her birthday. M. had wanted to eat there for a long time: Matt, her former boss at New Seasons' is the owner.
We enjoyed a delicious meal and great service, from the pizza to the chicken to the desserts.

I got my diploma! (ca. 01-09)

Amazing News! I finally got my degree from Portland State University: a Master's in General Arts and Letters!

Moso's Birthday (01-21-09)

I took M. to Todai for her birthday.
It was an epic meal; I watched her accidentally send a shrimp fly across the table.
In this sketch, M. is concentrating on what food on her plate she is going to attack next.

Presidential Inauguration (01-20-09)

I wanted to mark the date in some manner, so I did this so-so sketch of Obama mostly from memory.

On the Bus (01-20-09)

I did this cool sketch of a young guy sitting across from me. I thought he looked like an artist.
I was trying to look casual, glancing at him every once in a while, but must have been totally obvious, since the woman sitting next to him thought I was drawing her! She got up before getting off the bus and asked to see the sketch. And then she was telling me how wonderful it is to be able to draw, etc., and the usual, "Oh, I wish I could draw, but I can't, just stick figures, etc."
A few minutes after she was gone, my young guy pulled out a sketchbook and started to sketch people on the bus! (So I was right about the artist part...) I showed him the sketch before I got off the bus.
Now, picture a bus where everyone could be busy drawing everyone...

My present sketchbook (01-18-09)

This is a photo of the sketchbook I am using right now.
My dad got several of these wonderful books in Hungary. I love the compact format, the many pages, the attention to details, the leather binding, the old-fashioned patterns...
Unfortunately, the manufacturer has discontinued this particular size of books. I still have a few blank ones stashed away, and when they'll be completed, I will have to reluctantly move on to something else altogether.

"Fête des Rois" at the Alliance Française (01-18-09)

The Portland French Alliance had a demonstration of how to make a "Galette," the traditional cake for the "Fête des Rois" (this is the day the Wise Men arrived at Jesus' Manger, January 6 according to the Catholic tradition).
After the demonstration, we tasted some galettes from Pix Pâtisserie.

Movie: "Die Hard" (1988) (01-17-09)

I did these sketches while watching the first "Die Hard" (Bruce Willis still had hair!).
It was fun watching this old, yet still pretty cool movie, with Alan Rickman as Head Bad Guy and various terrorists with Rock Star 70s hairstyles.

I often draw while watching a movie, even in a dark theater...

On the Bus (01-14, 01-15-09)

Years ago, as I was sitting and drawing a woman who looked a little, let's say, mad (like crazy), she suddenly jumped up from her seat and sat down next to me. I immediately shut my sketchbook. She leaned over my book and asked what I was drawing. I reopened the book at random, relieved she hadn't seen the drawing I'd done of her. Since then, I try to be discreet and to not look too obvious; I don't want someone to get upset with me.
To draw people in a closed environment like a bus, I glance at people once in a while and try to remember details of their faces, adding them in afterward if necessary.

Church (01-11-09)

We had Ward Conference at Church today. This is a sketch of the inside of our chapel.

Maxine's BD: Family Dynamics

...Where P. feels resentful (again).