Dralion
Wednesday, 23 July, 2008
Monday 14/7/08
I went in to work around 9:30/10 am feeling very tired. I dealt with my email and Sola Panel things and my children of divorce article (I hammered out an outline). I had lunch at the Tea Inn with Elsie (BBQ pork and won ton noodles, with an almond milk tea with coconut fruit) as I hadn't brought any lunch. We didn't end up reading the Bible and praying, but we talked a lot about stuff—the theology of wealth and possessions, and how that squares with the temptations of the world. In the afternoon, I had my 15 minutes of fame with Tony and mentioned the whole home loan thing to him. It's good to know that other people also freak out slightly about borrowing enormous sums of money.
In the late afternoon, I kept working away at my children of divorce article, and then drove home around 6. Ben made a vegie stir fry for dinner. We watched taped Law & Order SVU and then Sir David Attenborough's The Life of Mammals (just think! In three weeks he'll be talking about giant pandas!) and The Farmer Wants a Wife. I did the laundry, folded and put away the clothes from the previous week (it's always so depressing when the previous wash cycle catches up with the next one) and did the dishes. Then we watched Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Then I realised that Once was due back at the video store, so I went out and dropped it off (this was at 11 o'clock at night).
Tuesday 15/7/08
I got up at 8, had a shower, read my Bible over breakfast and prayed, and then we set off for the Customs House Library. There were lots of pilgrims on the train and around Circular Quay for World Youth Day. We went up to the third floor and sat on the white barstools near the windows overlooking the foyer. I tried to work on my children of divorce article but had huge troubles with the introduction (I think I was in the “Everything I write is rubbish and why would anyone want to read this?” stage. We went to have lunch at Wagamama (chicken ramen this time:
Yum!) and then came back, but it was no use. I knitted an Urchin hat instead. At 3, I bid Ben goodbye and walked towards Pitt St. I stopped off at the City Recital Hall at Angel Place and picked up tickets for the night's performance, then continued on to Greater Union on George St to see Get Smart which I wanted to see (and also I had to use up these movie vouchers my brother had given us for Christmas which expire in August). I wanted to get popcorn but a small is definitely not small; one person can't eat that much on their own (nor should they). So I didn't get anything, and munched on my Asian crackers and sipped my water.
The movie was fun but nothing special. I liked that Anne Hathaway was playing someone grown up for a change, instead of someone on the verge of adulthood. Afterwards, I ran into Liwen and Ramya in the foyer (they were on their way to see Mama Mia) and then on to the GPO at Martin Place. I went downstairs to the food court, found myself a table with enough light, and scribbled until Bec showed up, looking spiffing. We ordered food from Woodfired Pizza—a Caprese salad
and a prosciutto and funghi pizza:
Yum yum! And Bec looked over my children of divorce outline, and we compared notes on what the divorce experience was like for us (which made us both feel sad). I was feeling down about my article but then Bec said, “Well, I want to read it,” so that made me think I had to finish it, if only for her.
At 7:45 we headed over to the City Recital Hall for The Red Tree. I bought a program and Bec bought a copy of Shaun Tan's The Red Tree. The first half was the Australian Chamber Orchestra playing Shostakovitch with images from The Arrival projected onto the big screen. (Read Bec's account. I pretty much agree with what she said, with the only addition that I started falling asleep towards the end of it, and no wonder because every movement was adagio!)
We went out to stretch our legs during intermission. Bec flipped through the program and I flipped through The Red Tree.
Then it was back inside for the performance with music composed by Michael Yezersk.
Unlike the first half, the pictures matched the music more closely and it was beautiful—uplifting and sad, yet so very beautiful (though they left out the illustration of the girl drawing herself on the wall which was a shame). I hope they record it; I'd love to hear that music again.
Afterwards, we walked back towards Pitt St and parted ways—me to the station to catch the train home, and Bec to the buses.
Wednesday 16/7/08
Day off. Yet not so, given how little I accomplished the day before. I got up, had a shower, read my Bible over breakfast and prayed, and then got stuck into work—dealing with Sola Panel things, Faithful Writer things, work email things, different bits and pieces (like panicking because I realised I hadn't blocked the Henry scarf for my father, and going out and doing it) and blogging. Oh, and chatting to Bec on IM (Guan was away at MYC).
I was a bit out of it but nevertheless we were ready on time to drive down to Sylvania, and we even got to the restaurant (Masa) before my dad and Helena (a first!) Despite this being the third time in the space of about a week that I got to have Japanese food, I was not sick of it. (And it was delicious too! The sashimi was fresh and it practically melted in your mouth.) We talked property with them (because they're the ones who are urging us to think about buying). We also exchanged presents. The meal was finished off with green tea ice cream.
Then Ben and I drove home, and went to bed.
Thursday 17/7/08
I got up, had a shower, read my Bible over breakfast and prayed. Ben and I got into work at around 9:30, and I dealt with my email, Sola Panel things (I neglected to mention I was looking after comments while Gordo was on leave), Briefing things, Interchange, and so on. It was staff lunch day: since I had picked the song, Warren picked the lunch. We had Ben's Thai (I had sukiyaki) and then the staff tried to sing “Happy Birthday” to “Night and Day” by Cole Porter (Jess was the most successful at it!) We ate cheesecake topped with passionfruit puree.
In the afternoon, I went down to see Bec, and then went out to buy some vegetables for dinner. I really got stuck into my children of divorce article. I conquered the introduction and made some progress on the body (the logic was the trouble). We left at around 6:30, came home and I made rogan josh chicken with steamed broccoli and mushrooms. We watched taped The Simpsons, then both Law & Orders, then cleaned up and went to bed.
Friday 18/7/08
With all the road closures taking place for World Youth Day, I wasn't quite sure what the parking situation would be like around work. In any case, Ben needed the car to go to counselling, so it was easier to just work from home. I woke at around 8, had a shower, read my Bible over breakfast and prayed, and then got stuck into it (after dealing with Sola Panel things, positions vacant, email etc.) Slowly and painfully over the course of the day I managed to make significant progress on my children of divorce article. We had leftovers for lunch and then Ben left for counselling. I kept going with it, and by the time he came back, I had 1,200 words.
As soon as he got back, we left for the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter. According to their instructions, there was still a way to get in there, despite the road closures (which, when we got there, we could not see any evidence of there being any). We went across the Anzac Bridge and through the Cross City Tunnel, then down Ocean St and Queen St through Woollahra, across Oxford St, down Moore Park Road and Driver Avenue and then into the Entertainment Quarter. There was no traffic, and it was a breeze to get there so I don't know why I stressed about it.
We went into the Love Sac shop and sat on the love sacs because I wanted to. Then we went to Cine for dinner (pizza and salad) before going off to see Cirque du Soleil's Dralion. My brother had originally bought the tickets for my mum for her birthday. But when she realised that the dates coincided with World Youth Day week, she wanted to change. I think he couldn't be bothered changing the date so he asked if we wanted them (yes! yes!) So that's how we got to see Dralion (and how I managed to celebrate my birthday all week!).
And they were totally awesome seats too—fifth row from the front on the right hand side of the stage. We splurged on popcorn and fairy floss and a program (I love getting programs for things like this), and when we entered our row to find our seats, we discovered two people already sitting there. The guy showed me his ticket and it had the same seat number, row and section on it, so I went to talk to the usher. Then the guy realised that his tickets were for the following Friday night. His date didn't look too impressed. We were given the seats, but I felt sorry for the couple—I hope they weren't on their first date or anything, and that they managed to find good seats elsewhere.
During intermission, we went outside to stretch our legs. It was cold outside but very warm under the big top. Then we went in for the rest of the show. Highlights included: the trampolinists, the Chinese ballet dancers who did pointe on lightbulbs (who thinks of these things????), the aerial pas de deux, the aerial hoop, the juggler, the dralions (giant balls that acrobats would stand on and make them roll, and then do somersaults on them), and the skipping ropes at the end where the acrobats would form a pyramid and yet still jump rope. Overall, I didn't find it as spectacular as Varekai (I loved the Flight of Icarus and the Russian Swings) but I still thought it was wonderful and beautiful (the costumes were more beautiful) and vastly entertaining.
Afterwards we headed back to Cine for dessert (lemon meringue pie and chocolate cake with ice cream) and then drove home through no road blocks.
Saturday 19/7/08
The alarm went off at 8:30 but I couldn't make myself get up 'til 9. I had a shower, read my Bible over breakfast and prayed, then jumped on the computer and dealt with email, Facebook, Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and blogging. Ben went and got us fish and chips for lunch (yum!) and then did the vacuuming. I spent the day on the computer, catching up with blogging.
In the evening, Ben had leftovers for dinner and I made myself noodles. We watched taped TV, then went to bed.
Sunday 20/7/08
I set my alarm for 8:30 but didn't get up until 9. I had a shower, then ate breakfast, read my Bible and prayed. Then I jumped on the computer and dealt with email and Facebook, and got stuck into writing my children of divorce article. It was hard going. I wrote all day, only stopping to make lunch (grilled salmon with boiled vegetables). After lunch, I kept going. I finished just in time to leave for church. I printed four copies and, at church, gave one to Bec, one to George, one to Guy and one to Kurt. Rod preached on divisions and it was a really interesting sermon. I must admit, I wasn't following too well in the question time afterwards.
Supper was buy your own takeaway, bring it back and eat it together. George, Bec and I walked up to Yum Yum Thai to get ours, all the while George telling us about her new job and the difficulties she was encountering. It was sprinkling with rain which was kind of annoying as only one of us an umbrella (me). We brought our food back to the hall to eat and were one of the first ones there. Eventually the others trickled in and ate with us. I started compiling a list of books to lend to George for her to read on the bus (she has an enviable ability to be able to read while on buses and in cars; I get motion sickness). Then Bec had to go and George had to go. I stayed around for a little while, chatting to Lesley and James, and finished another scarf/shawl.
Then I went home, put away the clean dishes, prepared for Monday, washed and changed the sheets, and did a whole heap of computer things—sent out my article to a bunch of people asking for feedback, sending out reminders to register for The Faithful Writer conference, and so on. Bec came online—she couldn't sleep. I was worried I had made her sad with my article. She had read it pretty much straight away, and gave me feedback on it via IM. We talked for a while. I ended up going to bed around 11:30.
Current:
Bible: 1 Chronicles (ESV) 28/10/2008 (0)
Bible: 2 Peter (ESV) 25/10/2008 (0)
seen: The Duchess 23/10/2008 (0)
Bible: 1 Peter (ESV) 22/10/2008 (0)
Bible: Jonah (ESV) 20/10/2008 (0)
Bible: James (ESV) 16/10/2008 (0)
Bible: Obadiah (ESV) 14/10/2008 (0)
Bible: Amos (ESV) 13/10/2008 (0)
read: Rapunzel's Revenge (Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and Nathan Hale) 12/10/2008 (0)
seen: Whisper of the Heart 10/10/2008 (0)
seen: My Neighbour Totoro 10/10/2008 (0)
Bible: Hebrews (ESV) 06/10/2008 (0)
Bible: Psalms (ESV) 03/10/2008 (0)
Bible: 2 Kings (ESV) 29/09/2008 (0)
Bible: Joel (ESV) 28/09/2008 (0)
Bible: Hosea (ESV) 24/09/2008 (0)
read: Pastoralia (George Saunders) 23/09/2008 (0)
listening: Kismet (Jesca Hoop) 23/09/2008 (0)
seen: Howl's Moving Castle 20/09/2008 (0)
read: On Chesil Beach (Ian McEwan) 20/09/2008 (0)
Bible: Philemon (ESV) 19/09/2008 (0)
Bible: 1 Timothy (ESV) 18/09/2008 (0)
Bible: 2 Timothy (ESV) 15/09/2008 (0)
read: The Game (Diana Wynne Jones) 14/09/2008 (0)
seen: Mr & Mrs Smith 13/09/2008 (0)
read: Make Like a Tree and Leave (Paula Danziger) 11/09/2008 (0)
seen: Hellboy II: The Golden Army 09/09/2008 (0)
read: Star Wars: A New Hope manga volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (George Lucas, Hisao Tamaki, Tom Orzechowski, Adam Warren) 06/09/2008 (0)
seen: Paris Je T'aime 05/09/2008 (0)
Bible: 1 Timothy (ESV) 03/09/2008 (0)
seen: March of the Penguins 25/08/2008 (0)
read: Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi) 25/08/2008 (0)
read: Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile (Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha, Craig Hamilton, James Jean) 18/08/2008 (0)
seen: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 17/08/2008 (0)
read: The Nanny Diaries (Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus) 16/08/2008 (0)
seen: Stranger Than Fiction 15/08/2008 (0)
Bible: 2 Thessalonians (ESV) 14/08/2008 (0)
seen: The Royal Tenenbaums 13/08/2008 (0)
Comment:
Bravo Karen. Superb writing and illustration (especially the high contrast frames).
And yes I noticed the transformers poster on the last page! Nice 
Thanks Bec!
Good job, all of you! It looks fantastic!
Heheheh ... Hello Kitty is my muse!
See! I told you they were cute stick-figures - especially when they’re angry!
Kawaiiiiii!
Heheheh ... H, it’s never going to happen! Carpe diem!
Kere: Yes, I own all three of Scott McCloud’s books on comics, but I’ve found Making Comics hard to get through—I guess because, as you say, his primary target audience is artists. But it’s very interesting and helpful all the same.
Very nice
I’ll put this, too, on my list of things to do when I have more time…
Any discussion of the purpose of art is going to huge and unwieldy. And in the end, I suppose, my question would be whether or not it truly matters or if it can be defined in a way that truly encompasses, rather than limiting, the possibilities of art and the roles of the artist. In the end, I don’t have to write (there is no compulsion) but nor do I write for any end purpose (which to me would still involve some form of compulsion). I write because it’s part of who I am, because I love it and would rather do it than not. The process is enough for me, is the enjoyment. It’s not the story or the characters or the theme or message - all of that is about the end product - but the work itself, the way it happens, the word choice and the way its chosen, the way each part works together and how I’m making that happen. It’s said that a work of art is never completed only abandoned and I think that’s true and that this is why: art is about the creation, not about the product.
But that’s just my point-of-view - it’s the importance of art for me - and there are no ends of artists and critics who would disagree with me and do so strenuously. And I don’t know that there is a right or wrong here. For me the end product is… very nice and I’m happy to do something with it. I’d like to think it can express something important to other people and that that message should be to God’s greater glory. Which, as you’ve pointed out, it cannot help but be. But for me it’s about the process which is, to some extent, a view of art for art’s sake.
Well, that was convoluted. I’m planning a wedding! I have an excuse! ;p Hope that made some sense. ^-^
Hihi. The book Jon recommended to me when I started my graphic novel is Scott McCloud’s ‘Making Comics’. I found it quite useful, though a lot of the stuff it says are things you would think of yourself given the moment to do so and he’s very much coming from an artist’s point-of-view and seems to assume that the drawing comes before the writing. Still, he had some interesting things to say and in an interesting manner.
I’m very glad you’ve done some drawing for this. I found it interesting to think in the right way for this kind of static visual form, unlike a form like film which is… *tries to find the word* based in action rather than having all the action happening between images. (Why sue one word when ten will do?! ;p ) It takes some getting used to, though I’ve been doing layouts as I write which helped no end.
Anyway, this is alll shiny. ^-^
Good discussion and reminder, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of this series
It’s something I think about from time to time, and should probably devote a bit more thought to, although I’m approaching art from the point of view of a profession/vocation more than as a vital form of self-expression. But I will often be among people who do, so shouldn’t ignore that aspect.
I wonder if there’s a name for that kind of creative/artistic circularity ...
George, one day I will come and borrow your collection ... once I get through my unread pile!
Kathleen: no, not yet. It’s sitting pristine in a ziplock bag ;P
Hee hee, yes I did! And today I found some blue pencils so I’m going to have a go at using them.
We will have to collaborate some time in the future ... I will keep thinking up more ideas for four-page comics ...
And that Copper tutorial was great - informative and funny. Did you hold the pencil the right way?
So glad you went for it! I was going through my notebook the other night and found my sketches and thought, I wish I had had time
It’s so lovely, like something made out of spiderweb! My “string” illustration was based on a sketch I made of you knitting it (although I didn’t know it at the time).
By the way, I have every Georgette Heyer book (all the romance ones). She’s one of my favourite authors.
That was such a funny, enjoyable read especially the thing about the knitting needles. Funny stuff and sad but true
I love going to Brizzy. I like how laid back the city is, there’s little aggro, and I love the weatherboard architecture. I have a friend who lives near St Lucia (actually Kenmore) and I always love going there… Ah! I miss it.
Yes, but there’s a difference between following the rules and trying to convince people they are reasonable
It was a very excellent chair, Karen - and your photos all turned out really well. I’ve got some sketches up on Flickr (but they don’t look like you!).
Used the sketchbook yet?
About the bamboo knitting needles, they follow rules as a requirement of their job. As with most people, keeping their job is most important so regardless of how silly the rules are, they must be followed as she would be well conditioned to do so.
Tea Inn! And freezer section of Asian supermarket.
Thank you again - it’s lovely!
the last spray bottle I got I got from woolies (in australia). I would be suprised if they have stopped selling them. Maybe you should try looking in the gardening bit? I can’t remember where it was.
you have inspired me to get a wii fit too! I am rubbish at the soccer heading game. but I like the ski jump!
alison 8-)
Ooh, where do you get dessert dumplings? Hang on, I think I might have had them in some Chinese restaurant. Not with the soup though.
1. Dessert dumplings!! Have you ever had them? White on the outside, filled with peanut sauce or black sesame on the inside. You have it with a sweet watery soup. Also, you can get ice-cream type dumplings (if that’s stretching the definition of dumpling a bit far 
)
2. Duck gyoza?? Yum! Wanna try that!!
Wow! That is amazing!!
Sorry about that! My blog must be rather hungry, eating comments like that ...
So glad you’re still reading Been praying for you.
Hi! *I’m* still reading your blog!
sounds like you had a nice time!
the last comment I left got eaten (i.e. never appeared) so better luck this time??
Alison P.
Thanks for this. I have it all sorted! I wonder why all that other html stuff comes up whenever I look at other rss feeds, when it’s that simple ...
Regarding Google Reader:
Click on “Add subscription” (LHS menu).
Copy and paste the relevant feed URL. My blog is complicated because there are four:
- If you want full posts, use http://hippocampusextensions.com/karen/rssfulltext/
- If you want full posts and my del.icio.us links, use http://hippocampusextensions.com/karen/rssfulldelicious/ (at the moment, however, the del.icio.us feed isn’t quite working because there’s this one thing I don’t know how to do).
- If you prefer just reading headlines and excerpts, and then clicking through to the full post if it’s interesting, use http://hippocampusextensions.com/karen/rssexcerpt/
- And I also have a feed for all the comments that get submitted to my site: http://hippocampusextensions.com/karen/rsscomments/
Click “Add” and you’re done!
This has nothing to do with your post, but I am clueless as to what to do with your feed things on here up there in the corner, and can no longer get this blog in google reader. So, can you enlighten me as to what I might do with that html stuff up there?
Everyone automatically gets copyright on work they produce and publish. You don’t need to (C) 2008 the work, its automatic law.
You can release that work under a license otherwise it defaults to the normal copyright law. A license can give certain permissions and apply certain restrictions in the use of the work.
Often people release works under more than one license, for say a commercial license and a free license where free may have some restrictions such as preventing re-sale of the item.
Patent law only applies if you obtained a patent, which only applies to inventions which are new and original. Unfortuantly people can patent too many things these days such as DNA and thereby own living organisms.
*struggles to express thought coherently* What Kathleen said. ;p If your enjoyment of the activity is suffering because of the pressure other people’s suggestions place on it, then perhaps you should cut back on accepting those suggestions. I now have a default response of “no” to most suggestions that I offer the things I do to relax or for my own enjoyment in the service of something or someone else. Not that this stops me offering to do things but I know it’s easy to feel like you should do something because people have suggested that it might help.
This is really lovely, Karen. I’m always in awe of people who can knit: it’s always been beyond me. This is just gorgeous.
I think it’s something you work out only by getting into that situation. I’ve been there, and learned to say - I’m not enjoying X anymore… why was I doing X and how important is X? And if the demands of other people’s wishes and suggestions and deadlines interfere with both that reason and other things that are more important, then I don’t agree to them in future. It sounds like you knit for relaxation and creativity, to rest and recreate for the rest of life, and the extra obligations imposed on knitting ruin both the r&r;and (therefore) hurt other areas of your life.
It’s the sort of thing you learn by trial and error. I’ve had to learn to make extra activities based on those things a default ‘no’, and then have a really good reason if I change that.
I agree with Nathan, I don’t think you can copyright the pattern, you’d have to get a patent. Sounds like wishful thinking on the pattern creators part.
No doubt people weren’t aware that others were selling stuff made from their patterns. But now that we have the internet, it’s easier to track these things.
From the brief reading I did, even if Australian copyright law were slightly different, because of how other countries subscribe to certain forms of international copyright law, they can still claim their rights even if you’re in Australia and they’re in the US.
Anyway, the problem come when you sell what you knit; if you give it away for free, it’s fine.
I’ve gone and asked for permission from the original designers of the patterns I used. One said a flat out no. I’m waiting to hear back from the other two.
I was wondering about this the whole time I was admiring your work. The thing is that it’s not clear cut in any way shape or fashion. Some patterns will say that you can’t sell any products from the pattern but some will say nothing at all. Nathan insists that the only thing that can be copyrighted is the paper/online pattern itself. If the designers didn’t want you to create and sell from the pattern then they should have patented it.
It’s very murky. Copyright australia website has some pdf helps but even then I’m unsure on the whole copyright vs patent issue.
I think this is only a very recent thing in the crafting world. Before it used to all be about sharing patterns and sharing ideas for the common good. But now it’s all about ‘gimme, gimme, gimme’.
If you made a derivative work of another, which all creative people do all the time anyhow, it is up to the copyright holder to prosecute you.
Or otherwise, you can ask the copyright holder for permission to use it as such in which case they can say yes sure, or the can ask you for money.
Blinks:
Serving breakfast to kids in the classroom boosts attendance, increases attention spans and helps kids ease into the school day as they get to socialise and relax before class begins.
Voice operated searches can now be conducted through Google on the iPhone. This service will soon be expanded to other mobiles.
Via Rod B. Sermon outline on how to think biblically about Facebook.
The Black Dog Institute's 5th annual writing competition. Deadline: 31 January 2009.
Studies in the UK shows that marriage is good for children, whereas family breakdown leads to poverty, personal debt, drug and alcohol addiction, failed education, unemployment and dependency.
Via Dave: build and buy your own muppet.
Services like eGuardian which have been set up to protect children may also sell their information to marketers and advertisers, prompting concerns about privacy.
Amusing article about how retail packaging is changing in the face of consumer complaints that they are too hard/dangerous to open.
Cory Tennis's advice to someone who wants to be more creative: just get out there and do stuff.
The impulse to create is interesting: "...I have these strange feelings all the time, like I want to sit down and write a song or a poem or create something, but I don't know where or how or what ... or why."
Print your own fabric--from photos, illustrations, etc.
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Comments
I saw The Red Tree here on Monday night and thought pretty much the same thing - and that I now want to go read the book with a magnifying glass because those close-ups on the huge screen were amazing.