Hunk with a book

Always nice to see, but still, leash the pooch.

Took me over two years to fill this sketch book, though I carried it everywhere. Lack of travel added to the lack of entries, but it was probably grad school that slowed the pencil from moving a bit.

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Back when I worked at MIT, walking across campus from Stata Center to Building 56* on a November day warm enough to walk sans jacket.

Very possibly an innocent move on the part of the leaning fellow, but it looked more than suggestive.

Funny how time moves. Even if they were grad students, these two are more than likely graduated and long gone by now!

*fun (?) fact: most buildings at MIT campus aren't named, they are numbered. Even if they have names, more often than not, they are better known by their numbers.

Mystery Bros

Given we have assigned tandem spaces, and there's no AirBnB allowed in my building, the turnover in the coveted garage spaces in my loft building is low. I'd never seen these dudes before, nor since.

The worst

I passed on the snorkeling, since my only experience prior hadn't gone well. I figured, I shouldn't be incapacitated on a business trip. I overheard, with horror, a private pilot trying to hit on this woman in my group. It was revolting. So entitled.

I want to go home

I have a few quick sketches from Machu Picchu, but nothing will really capture it. Instead, here's a sad moment. As I hired the Inca trail around Machu Picchu, I crossed paths with many hikers, who had been hiking for days, and through the rainy zone. One woman was absolutely miserable. 

Part of me wanted to follow her to back to Machu Picchu, in hopes that she would be awestruck at the site and the sights. And that she'd dry off quickly. 

The only downside of the time here was one of our party wasn't prepared for the hike and had a few issues themselves. Another group member took it upon herself to care for and entertain said co-traveler. She was very angry at our guide.

Definitely created a sour vibe for a bit.

Just to underscore the sketch, it wasn't me who wanted to go home, it was the hiker.

 

Oof

I captured three terrifically attractive men in my sketchbook. The first was a real stunner. More salt than pepper American with his lady friend. The second, a Latin hiker who I forced my assistance on as he struggled to get the selfie he was aiming for. The third, much later, at our hotel in Quito. Like many very tall men, someone felt at liberty to ask in astonishment how tall he was, which I overheard. That's how I know.

SOS life drawing

I participate most years in Brickbottom Open Studios, to be community-active.

But what our building does is really spotty during Somerville Open Studios. These sketches stem from us putting a better foot forward.

In addition to a handful of my neighbors opening their studios, there was a gallery exhibit, a few booths in the lobby, a dance troupe performed, and I think a keyboardist was playing somewhere.

And we had a scheduled life drawing sketch sessions, where we (and the public) were encouraged to participate. It was fun, and festive. And people seemed to like watching us draw.

Time for a new pair

I've removed the bar name though it's highly unlikely this fellow still works there... but the show of crack and dirty, holey undies made me kind of sad. Everyone deserves a fresh, clean pair.
 

Airport people

 

I love people watching (and drawing at airports). They pass through your life so quickly.

People watching en route to and around Leeds

 It wasn't that long ago, I guess. But everything is relative.

Lots of amazing people watching between the airports, the local, and the comic con!

And Xavier got his dig in about my hair, too.

I keep forgetting about this one...

Drawn in Monica Gallagher's sketch book while I manned her table at Thought Bubble!

Public Picking

Here's tomorrow's post! Happy Boxing Day.

Each Monday, I join my neighbor, Pier (and some times other neighbors as well) for trivia at the closest bar to our building, American Fresh Brewhouse—Boynton Yards more commonly and easily referred to as Slumbrew. It's the tap room of a micro-brew and the place is a real wild card. Some times you're literally the only one there, sometimes it's standing room only.

This past Monday was pretty full. There was a party of fairly cute guys. the one on the end was no exception. Kind of jockish but definitely more armchair jockish.

Suddenly he dove in for a pick. Maybe he had a terrible itch to scratch? I could have been Ok with that. But as I watched from my peripheral vision, I saw him keep going in. I couldn't stop watching, like watching a lava lamp or fish tank. 

But when he wiped it on his face, I then had to stop watching. 

I'm guessing he didn't know he was doing it. Things like this make me wonder what am I doing right now that I have no awareness of? Am I picking my nose without realizing it??? 

Diversion

Waiting for the Scotland-bound train Monday morning, we saw many a formally dressed gent in tightly tailored suits.

 

Little bit of a panic but quickly resolved at the ticket counter. Though it did a few hours to our transit time to Glasgow.

Feels like old times

Last night, over drinks, my neighbor Pier asked if I ever drew people from life.

I replied, "Sure, but only a few times with models. Mostly people on the subway." And then added, "...but they still mostly look like the way I draw people."

In August I had to jaunt to DC for a day for my day job. Waiting for my colleague's arrival in Terminal C (my first time there! I'm usually in Terminal B or E at BOS!) I saw they ginger otter reading a BOOK and couldn't resist sketching him.

I used to do this all the time on the subway. Mostly to get the way someone was holding something, or the folds of cloth, etc. Sometimes people "caught" me and were all into it. Others didn't care. Only once was someone annoyed. 

Hair today

This young man caught my fancy, with his slutty-preppy look and really nice hair. I did not catch his fancy, sadly.

Oh, the (lack of) humanity!

For many years, I took the T (Boston subway) to work. When I lived near Porter Square, I began bike commuting to work 2-3 days per week. Since I bought my loft, I no longer live nor work on the T...or at least easily. I am only about a 10 minute walk to Lechmere, but that's green line—even worse, the E train! I only take it maybe about twice a month now, when I go downtown rather than twice a day to work. Since my commute is solitary, and my work environment homogenous, I don't see the slice of humanity I used to. Therefore, I'm not sketchy from that seen reality.

But this past weekend, I took the train downtown to appear on a comics panel at the Nat'l LGBT Journalist Association's annual conference (this year held in Boston). It was a fun panel, and I hung out in Boston Common on the way home. On the way there, I got to see this jittery gent, grooming himself en route to Park St station.

The closed chapter

Following up on all my business travel, and my enjoyment of the company of professional peers, I was intrigued by the goings-on at a NYC-school I interviewed with back in spring 2009. A lot has changed since then!

Through these conversations, I was convinced by my counterparts—and myself—to apply for an open position there. It was a great professional opportunity, and not a bad one financially. So I went about the evaluation process with personal factors: do I want to give up what I have ? do I want the NYC experience?

Along the way, it became increasingly clear, that while I would get a lot out of the NYC experience, I finally feel comfortable and "at home" here and with my life. 

Though I've been in my evolving position at MIT for some time, before and since, I've moved around a bit. NH, Saint Louis, San Diego, CT, Boston, back to Saint Louis, back to Boston. Between the time I graduated college and bought my loft 3 years back, I lived in 15 different apartments!

While "moving" is a lot of work, it's not change and moving that was causing me anxiety in the decision making process; I've moved, I've relocated, I've changed, I've adapted. I know I can do that. But I've never felt comfortable before, and I often deny myself happiness for the sake of a new challenge. Before I bought my loft, the longest I'd lived anyplace since I left for university is two and a half years. Three years and counting in my loft is new frontier for me; comfort, and happiness is new frontier for me. So, in short, staying put is the greater challenge for me to tackle at this point in my life.

It was an interesting journey to reach the decision, and professionally, I am remorseful for it. But one must make these decisions, yes? I'll miss the opportunity to live closer to my many NYC friends, but every coin has a flip side, and in this case, it means I won't have the awkwardness of living closer to, hrm, someone who it would be highly awkward to live closer too! I hope someday I have the opportunity to live in NYC when the timing and circumstances are right...but for now, as the post title suggests, the chapter is closed.

For your delight, waiting for my train for my trip for my second interview, I spotted this ample lass in tight & short clothing. Like one of the fellows I sketched in Toronto, she sported a bolero length denim jacket. All the rage I guess.

Jiggling, I mean jogging

Cooling down after his run, checking his pulse and still jiggling.

You saved MY Saturday, too!

Let's get this part over with—yes, I know I mindlessly, carelessly smudged up the drawing and then sort of gave up on making the car look nice. There.

Memorial Day weekend, I was headed up north to spend time w/my family and work in my dad's woodshop. If you check my Facebook, you can see the two case pieces I made.

Stopping for gas on my way out of town, I noticed a cute fellow dressed all cosplay for (I hope) the anime con that was in town. He finished pumping his gas, and got in his car, leaving his tall ice coffee on the roof.

Part of me desperately wanted to see how it would play out. But, the nice guy in me (well, maybe 2/3 the nice guy...) knocked on his window, and then reached up for his coffee and handed it to him. 

"Dude, thanks!" said he, "you totally SAVED my Saturday!"

Well, no, thank you, for brightening mine.  

Attention gamers/anime fans, do you recognize this character? If it's not a Gatchaman member, Sailor Moon or Pikachu, I'm lost.

Toronto boys

this scanned poorly, didn't it?