Tragic Gripes or
As if I didn't have enough problems...

Okay - I'm Canadian. I'm used to paying a lot of taxes. A hell of a lot of taxes. But yesterday was a bit hard to take.

With a new budget for Ontario yesterday, my provincial taxes went up over 35%.

I'm told we have to do more with less. Sacrifices need to be made.

My tax bill went up by 35% - yet someone making over $100,000 saw an increase to their bill of around 5%.

There are things that have to be done. We need to all do our part.

Why do I have the feeling that what has to be done is cram cash into the pockets of looters and leaches and why is my part larger than anyone elses?

Tragic Blogs or
Links a plenty...

I should have done this ages ago. Here are a few images that you can use for linking back to the site. Of course, my preference is that you right-click, save 'em and host on your own site... but if you're kind enough to link to me, a little extra bandwidth isn't too much a price to pay.

Tragic Blogs or
but I can only tell it once...

The Drawing Board for today is completely accurate. If I ever make the mistake of talking about something that's in progress too much, I actually satisfy whatever creative drive was in me to do the work to begin with. I can still do the work - but at that point it becomes a drudging chore and takes at least twice as long to complete.

So I have no notes. Very few - if any - prelim sketches. The half dozen or so projects I have bouncing around in my head stay there if I want to have any hope of any of them seeing their way to completion.

Conversely, at some point I have to tell someone something about an idea of mine. If I've never mentioned a project, it can safely stay in the recesses of my mind. But if I give voice to it and let someone else know - then it's like I've made a pact. To not start on that project would be to go back on my word of honour.

So once in a while I'll spit out a little bit about something I'm wanting to give life to just to insure that it does get going - but delicately try not to reveal too much, lest my love of the project wither before pen hits paper.

Ye gads we art types are a neurotic lot, aren't we?

Tragic Blogs or
what’s for dinner tonight…

• ¼ cup of wine
• 1 Large Portobello Mushrooms
• 1 Onion
• 3 strips of bacon
• 3 potatoes
• 1 grilling steak
• ½ cup of Coca-Cola
• ½ cup olive oil
• handfull of assorted herbs and spices n’ stuff

Put the potatoes into boiling water. Reduce heat to simmer and leave for a half hour or so. Meanwhile – place the grilling steak on a platter and marinate in the Coca-Cola.

Go surf the internet. Play some games. Doodle a little.

Okay – pull the potatoes out of the pot and slice them however you prefer – wedges, chips, cubes, julienne, whatever. Just don’t cut them too thin is all. Now liberally cover in olive oil and mix in your assorted spices. Plop into an oven at 400 and leave ‘em until they start to get nice and golden brown.

Meanwhile, slice up the mushrooms and onion and set aside. Slice up the bacon into nice fine bits and throw into a pan. When the bacon looks like it’s halfway to being done – drain the grease and add into the pan the mushrooms and onions. Stir as needed. Once it starts getting crispy, add the wine and reduce the heat to simmer.

Take your steak and put under the broiler for a few minutes each side.

Plop the steak onto a plate. Stick your ‘taters beside it. Cover your steak with your mushroom/onion/bacon mix.

This is what I’d be having for dinner if I had the time to actually cook and enjoy it. As it is, dinner for me will be a handful of nachos and a piece of cheese. Bon appetite.