The Mood Is Set

I'm writing a story for kids. I had never tried it out on anybody. We were having siesta after lunch and I was relaxed and I felt brave.

Me: Should I read you my story now? But you have to pretend you're a kid.

Tom: OK.
...Who am I again?

Me: You're a little kid.

Tom: What am I doing?

Me: You're getting ready to go to sleep.

Tom: Am I sick?

For One Week

Sea Ranch is our favorite place to vacation, because when we go on vacation we don't like to do anything except walk around in a stupor looking at things. But look who walked right by us this evening! This guy and seven of his friends.

Almost There

When we get to the Boat House (above) for fish tacos, we know we're on vacation. It's at the north end of Bodega Bay right next to Candy & Kites.

Did I tell you that the Nebulous died in the middle of downtown yesterday? So at the last minute we rented a mini-van for our trip, the only thing available at our neighborhood car rental. It doesn't look or feel "mini" to me. It's a monster, a Dodge Ram. And when I drive it, it has a very unwholesome effect on me. It makes me want to do bad things.

Lynda Barry

an image from Lynda Barry's new workbook What It Is

My favorite parts from the Sunday New York Times article by Carol Kino:
“I can go three weeks without leaving, or driving my car,” she said in a recent interview.

“I think of images as an immune system and a transit system,” she said; not only does working with them keep her emotions running smoothly, but it has also taken her to unexpected places. (As she told the class: “I am here in Pittsburgh because I drew a picture. And all of you are in this room because you saw this picture.”)

Perhaps she has memorialized childhood because she didn’t have much of one herself. By 16 Ms. Barry was virtually independent, supporting herself by working nights and weekends as a hospital janitor. “I lived at home,” she said, “but that was it.” The experience gave her great exposure to people’s stories. “I don’t think it was good for me, necessarily, but I saw stuff, and I grew up really, really fast. And I wrote all this really sad janitorial poetry.”

... Ms. Barry made it to college, where she struck up a long friendship with a fellow student, Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons.” In those days Mr. Groening was editor of the school newspaper, and she was a reporter. As a self-described hippie, “I used to love to torment him because he looked really straight,” she said.










photo by Fred Milton

Lynda's voice, and more images from her new book

New Trail

We started from Lincoln Blvd. near Baker Beach and walked almost to the bridge. We took a detour from the path (below).

If you continue on under the bridge and around, you'll come to the Warming Hut, my favorite spot. You can get coffee and a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and see the best views in the city.

In Treatment

Turn on your sound to hear my last therapy session word for word.

Carpet Sample

It's exasperating when the Nebulous is in use and I actually have to walk in order to get to my walking place. I stuff the earbuds in my ears and stomp down the street. But this color combination stopped me in my tracks.

Jewel

Spring Training at Ocean Beach

Dollars in the Sand Today

Fun With Google

Have you noticed the new link at the top right of your iGoogle page? It's called Get artist themes. For a new lease on life, try it! It's almost as good as buying a new pair of tennis shoes. Make that several pairs of tennis shoes–because the themes change throughout the day. My favorite is Mark Frauenfelder's (shown above).

I just this minute realized that you can create your own iGoogle themes by going here! If you want, you can submit them to Google–there is no pay–but it's a place others might see your work, if you fall for things like that. (I do.)

Just In from Hope Town

Tom van Dalen e-mailed us a batch of incredible photographs from Hope Town this morning. I need to figure out how I can post larger images–these tiny images don't do justice to his photos. Tom, are you still there? What did you have for dinner last night?