Was driving towards Davis one day and caught this guy hitching a ride on I-80. Quite unsafe, don’t you think? I drove slowly behind the semi, as to not startle him, but I think he was more worried about his fur getting in his eyes than getting noticed. There’re times when I’ve too “hitched” a ride to my destination the unconventional way. Maybe not to save time, or convenience, but because it was the only means I could get to where I needed to be. Uhto might have sacrificed safety (although I think his fur would help cushion any fall. Plus, could a creature like him get hurt, anyway??) but he taught me that sometimes its necessary to take risks to get to where you want to go.

I was a bit worried, since it was nearing 8pm and it didn’t seem like Uhto was going anywhere to stay for the night. Did he even stay in the city at all? Or does he just come during the day, like me, and go home after dark?

“Where is your home, Uhto? Do you live here?”
The city may seem especially lonely at night when everyone around you are bustling home to their families, a hearty meal and their comfy beds. I’m glad he looks fuzzy enough to keep himself warm; the autumn wind has only started to pick up recently.

“I hope you have a pleasant evening, then.”
And I walked to the train station to begin my commute home.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing”
“No. What is it?”
“… it’s nothing.”

It makes me wonder sometimes where creatures like him come from. Maybe he’s a projection from a faraway dimension or just my food coma hallucination. Perhaps he’s something only I can see, but his appearance comes like an interruption. Just when I start to let the seriousness in life start to take hold of me, this creature bumbles into the sharp cityscape like a contradiction. +10 pts if you can guess where this photo was snapped. I didn’t take another shot of him, just out of politeness (no one likes paparazzi antics). I’ve given him a name, for convenience sake, “Uhto”, as in “Uh, totally obvious” but apparently he’s not as obvious as I think he is. Oh, well. See you around, Uhto… I hope.

I have this breakfast rule that’s a bit like hobbit eating habits. After waking up at 6am I’ll eat my First Breakfast. After my commute to work I may eat a smaller Second Breakfast. Either way, as long as I eat breakfast, zombie transformation will be halted and I can assume normal life.

On my morning commutes I take the train from one of the first stops, so it gives me the opportunity to pick seats first. Being the polite person that I am, I usually pick the seat closest to the window, and not one of the disability-priority seats. As the ride goes on, the train gets pretty packed, but there are some days, when even by the 5th stop, the seat next to me is still empty. Nothing is worse than watching people step on the train to bypass you to become someone elses’ morning commute buddy. Even more ridiculous is when they prefer to stand than sit next to you and the train is already full. Seriously, give me a perfume-reeking girl, snoring oji-chan or squirmy kid — I JUST WANT TO FEEL LOVED.

Sunday progress for “Panel of Experts”. I still don’t know how I want to paint it so I’ve been drawing the ink portion for each piece. I found this great little book at Half Price on West Coast flowers and plants that will help me with the botanical parts. In the midst of drawing my creatures I realized that my body proportions are quite awkward. How are they posing like that? And those feet stand kinda funny… so much for 3 years of figure drawing, oh well.

I like this guy; he looks like he means business.

Inked and ready for watercolor.