My buddy, Mike, asked me to create a logo for his hockey team featuring a stripper and the number seven... I'm finally doing it. Well, I should say I've finally begun working on it. Why so long? I needed reference and found my inspiration from Bill Wenzel. The 60's pin-up style is pretty sweet: it's got the curves from the previous decade mixed with a hint of jet-set. (The pig tails and bangs are maybe too rockabilly but a personal favorite.) These are my first sketches and will likely morph into something else... I'll dump this into illustrator and begin illustrating to see where it goes. Since it's ultimately going to be an embroidered crest, it must stay simple which is where I want it to be anyway. I'm not convinced either seven is what I want but I'm happy with the 3/4 positioning.

Christmas was good. My son woke up at 4:30 crying to be fed or maybe he dreamed he was getting blocks instead of a go-kart, a remote-controlled helicopter, a catcher's glove, a Dino Cicarelli jersey and a car stereo. Whatever his reasons, his wimpering triggered his sister to awaken and it was on. Somehow we cajoled Zooey into waiting another hour before unbaring Santa's offerings, but we did and all turned out well. Except I bought Zooey a kitchen set that's identical to the one she loves so much at school and, well, she pretty much ignored it. No problem...it's a kitchen. But for $300 bucks I was hoping for at least a wink of approval. Katrina says it's an investment for the future: once Zooey is done with it, Oliver can play with it. Maybe. Maybe after he breaks his legs trying to jump over the house on his bike he can pretend to bake a cake that grows into a gargoyle that only eats idiots and craps them out on the planet Zoltron. That's my boy.

As you can see, these visuals have nothing to do with anything. I think I'm done with monkeys and donkeys or at least in this style.

We had our departmental holiday lunch today and this is what I wrapped and tossed into the pile. It was a bit weird submitting a painting for a gift but it was cheaper than buying a bottle of Stolichnaya. It's cute. Everyone said they wanted one too -- that was cool.

Well, here's my holiday card. It's okay. These things always kill me...each time I try to do something witty and clever, the few skills I have disappear. I do like what I started with Katrina -- she has much more interesting features than I usually show. It also helps that she's dog-tired making her that much more fun to draw. She pissed me off the other day and I drew a little portrait of her that was damn ugly -- perfect! (I think it's best to keep it off here for the time being.)

Anyhow, happy holidays.

My drawing abilities have crawled in a hole in a meadow of holes and it's going to take me some time to find them. Some might argue why bother...others may suggest this in an opportunity for me to focus on other pursuits...and then there might be a few who will celebrate my hiatus by going on a bender. Whatever. It's not fun to have meager talents and be left with little more than self-pity when they disappear.

I just learned my lovely friend Jaronna has viral meningitis which is by far better than bacterial meningitis -- the latter will eat your brain effectively dashing your dreams of being a Samba champion. She is so lucky. Don't you love when something crappy happens to someone and somebody will say how fortunate that something even more shitty didn't happen to them? Speaking of shitty, I think a person exposes themselves to the risk infected meninges by touching poopy holes or licking public toilet seats or having intercourse with feral donkeys. Or someone can just cough in your face and you're screwed for two weeks.

Happy day two of Hanukkah. I was telling my daughter the story of eight-day-oil-miracle and my wife ridiculed me. I think tomorrow night is the night my wife places my daughter's wish list in an old shoe on the window sill and the elfen fairy will take it to St. Nick for fulfillment. Good luck.