Back in the saddle.

Finally things are smoothing out and getting more promising. I've resumed work on the fourth chapter, and today I pulled the Progress Whiteboard out and filled in all the X's that show how far I am. I had eleven X's to mark! Eight new pages started and a couple completed. I am so ready for this book to be done, and there is no way out but through, so putting my horns down and plowing ahead is the only way this thing will ever be complete. I'm trying to channel my inner Alec Longstreth and divide my days up a little more clearly into workable chunks, while not forgetting the ultimate goal of getting pleasure out of doing this tedious and often unrewarding work. The most pleasure comes at the end, but the end only comes after the painful and difficult journey, and I just have to keep slogging toward the horizon.

HOWEVER. I've been known to completely throw myself into utter fandom every now and then and totally wrap myself up in a show, book or other character-driven media. And this season of Project Runway has captured me in no uncertain terms. And guess what? Hometown girl Leanne Marshall is SO TOTALLY GONNA WIN!! I can't wait until the season finale when I'm out with all the luckless friends I can wrangle, cheering drunkenly and spilling into the street, setting piles of Buffalo Exchange cast-offs on fire and flipping cars. I've been hitting the Tanker on Hawthorne and 48th to watch the show live, which is a little weird to go to a bar by myself, but I'm not alone in my fanaticism. Last week I got there a little early, and to pass the time I sat and tried to draw each remaining contestant from memory, which is a lot harder than it seems.


God I hate Kenley, but there's a good chance she'll stick around for a while.

I saw photographs of the final collections of the last 6 designers at Bryant Park on the internets today, and I swear to God, I actually GASPED ALOUD when I looked at Leanne's pieces. They are breathtaking. Korto's were also gorgeous but they just didn't come close. The rest were fucking jokes. Leanne busted out this extremely restrained spring palette of cream, tan and the most beautiful aqua, fully showcasing her crazy folded-fabric origami skills. The girl is going places, and if you don't believe me just take a look for yourself.