I am excite!

Posted by jupe

So, I got a LOT written last night. I wrote the story bibles, the outlines, the supporting cast, and mapped the story out. I then wrote out and did mini thumbnails for the entire first act.

This is all from the little outline I wrote for homework last week. My buddy Tom helped me refine Act IV and I think it really works now.

The comic will be available for free online (with a donation box in case someone likes it enough to toss me a couple bucks) and it’s coming along really  nicely.

In addition to that, I have Red Surge work (which I’ll show in the Projects tab soon) and the second Toronto Comix anthology to work on, as soon as I am assigned a writer to draw for.

In other news, I have a lot of life stuff to deal with today. Alex is brewing beer all morning and afternoon with his buddies and that leaves me with the kids and a giant to do list to take care of. Groceries, cat food, craft supplies, and more. I’m working on a visual communication system for Rusty who isn’t speaking much and I’m really hoping that it’ll continue to make life easier. We have a chart up for him already and it’s working but we need more charts with interchangeable words and demands so that he can make choices. Also, I need to pick up Nick’s scout popcorn order today. I think I’ll just take the boys out for lunch when I run all these errands.

So, with that, I leave you all. Today’s daily drawing is a bit of a cheat, as I decided to colour yesterday’s drawing. IT’S ALLOWED. Have a great Saturday.

What could be better than Rasta Pasta?

Posted by jupe

Well, as far as jerk is concerned, not much. Rasta Pasta is a hole in the wall in Kensington Market but is well worth the visit. It’s a tiny, well kept space, and your meat is grilled on the barbecue. I was happy with the fresh side of cabbage, carrot, and peppers, as it’s really good winter food. Packed full of vitamins. I came across it when I was walking the area with EK and Brett Weaver back during TCAF and finally went back with Greg before class.

We got downtown fairly early, so after eating we actually had time to sit somewhere and hang out.  We opted for a small tea shop around the corner and sat in warmth and comfort while we did homework and notekeeping from the previous classes. I was hesitant before writing the Rom Com because they can be, well, boring and predictable… but it was the assignment and I didn’t want to go to class emptyhanded. The previous night, I played around with the idea of a person becoming friends with a dog and ran with it yesterday.

It turned out surprisingly well.

It turned out so well that I decided that I’ll make it into a comic. I need to do the writing and scripting still, plus the story bible, and I’ve never drawn dogs before. It’ll be a fun exercise and a good way to keep up the daily drawings. Expect a lot of pictures coming up of dogs and a lesbian teen.

I spent the entire morning working on the picture for today’s daily drawing, but I’m okay with that. I do, however, think that I’ll work on more pictures by hand, as I find digital drawing takes a lot longer than pencil sketching. Plus, I do enjoy using the new scanner. Might be the easier way to go.

I got all my chores and to do list done yesterday, which is nice. I also came downstairs this morning to see that Alex had emptied the dishwasher last night for me. It was a good way to start the day. I immediately filled it up and ran it again; I’m almost caught up with the kitchen chores!

As for today, I think that I’ll spend some more time doing some writing. I do have to go out and get Nick from school, but that shouldn’t be much of a distraction.  It’s barely 1pm and Rusty is napping on the couch. I’m cool with this because it allows me some quiet time to do some writing, browsing, and even chores. I may not be able to watch tv during his nap, but I think that’s okay. I may even bring up some laundry to fold. We’ll see, yes?

Today’s tea was David’s Tea Ceylon Star. It’s a somewhat earthy and yummy black tea with a hint of sweetness. I had a bit of milk in it and some sugar to curb the bitterness that I find black tea gives.  I steeped it at boiling for 3 minutes this time.

Dinner tonight will be something with chicken breast. Maybe a nice noodle and red pepper stir fry. Or, maybe some homemade chicken fingers. I don’t know, yet. We’ll see what happens. In any case, I’ll photograph it later and post the recipe.

Wow, did we ever get it.

Posted by jupe

And by get it, I mean snow. Not nearly as much as Buffalo, mind you, who got a meter dumped on them… but for Toronto? This much snow this early in the year? Yeah.

Driving was fun, yesterday… and by fun, I mean a fucking nightmare. I was fishtailing all over the place and slid off the road at one point — while doing 20kph. Unbelievable. It took me twenty minutes to drive six kilometers. Luckily, I got Nick in time from school and all was well — plus, Rusty had no potty accidents. He even fell asleep in the back seat, blissfully unaware of the chaos on the roads. I wish I were a kid again.

So, because of the weather, I’m deciding to stay in for the majority of the day. Alas, it won’t be for the entire day; I have writing class today and must brave the weather and the traffic to learn amazing things this week.  I still haven’t done my homework, but that’s mostly because I hadn’t thought of anything to write about.  I might actually sit and finish up in a bit because I came up with an idea late last night.

Alex was home late again last night. It took him over an hour to get home in the snow last night. The roads must not have been salted yet. He said this morning’s commute was “only” 45 minutes. (double the regular commute) and that certainly beats last night’s commute. He got home after 10pm. Poor bastard works 12 hour shifts most nights, other than Thursdays. I’ve given up my knit night because his workload is SO intense.

I wish they’d hire more people to help him. It gets lonely in the evenings without a snuggly, warm husband to watch tv with. Cats are nice, but husband is better.

Anyway, here’s today’s checklist:

★ Draw
★ Blog
★ Write the romcom outline
★ Dishes
★ Get Nick from school
★ Class
★ Survive the drive home

I have no idea what I’ll be eating for dinner tonight. Greg hasn’t texted me yet. I should text him about it. In any case, I’ll post again tomorrow. I want to do this everyday. I will do this everyday. I can do this everyday.

Have a great day. 🙂

Chicken Jumbalaya

Posted by jupe

jumbalayaI picked up this original recipe from AllRecipes and modified it to fit my family’s tastes.  The picture to the right is how it looks before the rice starts to cook.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
6 boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces, and 3 sausages, diced
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup diced celery
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 tsp parsley
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups uncooked white rice
4 cups chicken stock
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

 How to prepare

 

  1. Heat oil in a dutch oven, large pot, or very large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add onion and sautee until it begins to soften
  3. Add the celery and continue to sautee until the celery is soft and the onion is clear.
  4. Remove from the pot and add the garlic. Cook until aromatic.
  5. Add chicken and kielbasa and add your oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook on medium-high heat until lightly browned
  6. Stir in onion and celery, and add the red pepper.
  7. Season with cayenne pepper and onion powder.
  8. Add rice and bay leaves, then turn to maximum. When you start to hear sizzling, stir in chicken stock
  9. When everything comes to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
  10. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce.
  11. Serve and enjoy!

This is the first post on my blog.

Posted by jupe

I started this today, and even though it’s incomplete, I’m going to post in it today. The goal, which is fairly lofty, is to draw and write every single day about something, even if it’s just one line to update whoever may be reading it as to what the heck is going on in my uneventful life.

This blog will also be a collection of recipes that I enjoy, a list of art projects I’m working on, and a gallery of daily art which will also be posted to my deviantArt.

I’ll have some site buttons up sometime and I’ll post my picture for today after I finish it. In fact, I have twenty minutes before I need to start dinner so I’ll draw something right now.

Tonight’s dinner is chicken jumbalaya with chicken thigh meat instead of white meat. I think it tastes better.

Anyway hooray for new blog!