General Life Notes (I)

Drawing

I'm working on a recent picture with Jasc. One of my character's face. I do my usual thing. I "ink" one side of the face, from where the hair starts down to the jaw. I copy the "ink" work, mirror it, then paste it on the other side of the original ink job. Gives the face a more symmetrical look and, frankly looks better. There is usually a noticeable difference between the "ink" work and my original. An almost embarrassing difference, sometimes.

Not this time.

This time, the "ink" work matched up the original almost to perfection.

Now I've had other recent pictures that were par for the course, so this isn't exactly earth shaking. But it's another sign I'm improving, that I'm getting this drawing thing down.

Too bad the eyes weren't perfect.

Or the ears, for that matter.

But that'll come. I know it.

Sibling Rivalry - Writing

The new novel? Stalled. I can but only laugh. Still too green, to use a term from Damon Knight's book on writing. Needs a bit more thought. Of course, it's one of my older ideas... but that's nothing new, either.

However, on other fronts there are disturbing rumblings. Brother Eric let slip that he's been working on his fantasy series. When the mood takes him, but more now than in recent years. This is fantastic news, as I've always found Eric's world to be interesting and Eric himself a killer writer. But the thing is, I wanted to have the first publishable novel (already have first novel, heh heh heh). He keeps this up, and I keep my stuttering up, he's going to beat me. He's already beat me at driving and dating... what more does he want?

Clearly I need to get off my duff and get to work. Maybe on ole' "Crawl..."

But this is not the "worst" news. Oh no. Brother Eric has also submited storied to be published in his college's magazine. The very nerve! Doesn't he know I'm the only Waters Boy who gets published in our portion of the family? Little Brother's asking for a smack down, that's what I think.

Sibling rivalry aside, I'm pulling for Eric on the novel and the stories. I think he can do it. I really do.

Sibling Rivalry - A Speedy Exchange

This is something of a more older vintage, but I've been meaning to bring it up, and what better place than in this meandering piece?

Several years back, I stepped into Brother Todd's room, for what purpose I've forgotten. But knowing me and my family, it would have ran something like, "Hey Spirtle, where's the Oscillation Overthruster?"

Rather than focus on the important thing, i.e. what I wanted, Todd responded, "Spritle?"

This is, of course, something I wanted him to catch and almost (but not quite) as important as the Overthruster. For those not in the know (and haven't hit the link I gave), Spirtle is the little brother of Speed Racer, hero of my youth and adulthood. He and his buddy, the chimp Chim-Chim, caused havoc wherever they went and was annoying as all get out. Thus, using the name serves as an insult.

As the eldest, I need to set a proper example at all times. So the smirk I give him is most restrained. Smarmy but restrained.

Even without the smirk, Todd knows enough about the cartoon to see what I'm getting at. Being a teen at the time, his normal tone is tolerant condensation. This reply, however, is dripping with scorn, "I suppose you're Speed Racer."

"Nope," I said, smirking even more now. "I'm Rex." Speed's older brother. "Eric's Speed. You're Spritle."

Which won the contest, even though he tried to call me Chim-chim (weak!)

The thing is, the comparison is pretty close age-wise. Todd's the baby brother, he's annoying, it's just great. If I was a bit older or Eric a bit younger, it would be a perfect match. The one area my parents failed me in.