my $732 sketch

I sketched this while on the phone with AT&T . . .  for an hour and a half!

I was cut off three times. Once by an operator who said their system was down and she couldn't access the records, then she hung up. The second time I called, someone put me on hold, then eventually the call was abandoned. When I called the third time a message said the phones were off-line and that I should call back tomorrow.

I called a forth time and got a very helpful account rep. He said that my account was suspended by my request, which I knew.

But I asked him: "If it has been suspended, why am I still being charged $122 a month?"

He left me on hold and returned in about 5 minutes. Said that that is what AT&T does with suspended accounts.

"Wait a minute" I said "you mean to tell me that I can't make calls while it's suspended but I still get the same charge a month. Why would I ask for the suspension?"

"That is the policy here at AT&T, Sir. This is what was done with your account."

"But then why would anyone "suspend" their account? It just doesn't make any sense."

I gave him the details and history of being away in China for months at a time, calling AT&T to ask what could they do for me while I was away. How they recommended that I "suspend'" the account. I told him I was told that I would not get charged. "I mean, why should I be charged?" I reasoned.

"Just a minute." and he was gone again.

After what was another 10 minutes he came back and told me that there were two kinds of suspensions. The kind I was on and a "Vacation Suspension." With the later type I only get charged $10 a month for the privilege of keeping the number while away. "Let me see if you qualify for this." And he was gone again for another 10 minutes. Long story short he put me on the "Vacation Suspension".

In the end, when I calculate it all up, I saved about 732 bucks over six months by persistently calling AT&T and asking cogent questions. Not bad for an hour an a half of my time.

And here's the best part, while on hold I got a sketch done in the new sketchbook.  (Cool cover, no?)

...dave
Hallmark Card: “I’m so miserable without you, it’s almost like you’re still here.”

Daily Illustrated Journaling

I try to make it a point to journal everyday, if only for a few minutes. The main point is to remember the fun people, enjoyable food, and warm friendships made and enjoyed, especially while in China.

Journal about the simple things
Of course, you don't have to go to faraway places to record memories. For example, Ruth showed some how to make sushi, Hawaiian style (or at least as mom made it). We had wine and coke. We made barley tea, a very strong Japanese tea that requires boiling, as well as Chinese green tea. (That's the little green things in the upper right portions of the left page. Can't you tell?!) These are simple activities that are easy to record anywhere.

Of course, none of the daily sketches are anything fancy but they bring back tons of memories. I post these to help you see that your entries don't have to be fancy, they can take just minutes to do but years later you'll have a richness in your journal like no other.

A sketch is worth 10,000 words
If a photograph is worth 1,000 words, then your own sketch must speak 10,000. I've often looked at a photograph I took and couldn't remember the people or the event. That's never happened with any of my sketches.

We remember our sketches and the feelings they bring back much faster than written words. The words though, supply what the pictures cannot. The two combined make for a powerful record of a memory book. Lewis and Clark practiced this kind of journaling when they traveled. Their journals are some of the most incredible, especially when you consider the conditions under which they were written. No hanging out in an air conditioned RV overlooking the setting sun. No. More like tents and backpacks resting against rocks while they massaged sore feet from miles of walking. Still they found time to write and sketch. (Check out the Lewis and clark journals here.

Rather than paste stuff cut out of magazines into your journal, I'd encourage you to draw your own memories. Don't do anything real fancy. Keep it basic. Over time your sketches will improve, perhaps become framable art. But the point is to remember the times. A few lines in your journal will do that.

I notice that many that come to my blog are searching Google for "365 Journal Entries." My guess is that they want journal to record a year's worth of memories. My journals are usually at least about 400 pages. This enables me to carry a years worth around with me. Sometimes when I get stuck, I'll flip back and re-read or review other sketches. It's enough to boost me or jog my creative juices to create the next day's illustrated journal entry.

Later when the paints come out, color wash a few and enhance your images. You'll be surprised that a little color (or even a monochromatic hue) bring your quick sketches to a whole new level. Oh, and while you have color on your brush, go back and touch some more past sketches. You'll be glad you did.

Use the right tools
Craftsmen know that good tools make a difference. The only thing to keep in mind for illustrated journaling is to use a waterproof ink. I use uni-ball Vision Micro pens everyday. They are cheap, easy to purchase at any Walmart or art store, and provide a jet black line. I wish uni-ball made them in brown.

These sketches were done in Noodlers waterproof whaler's brown ink. (I mean, come on, you need waterproof ink on a whaling ship. Right? I know this isn't too politically correct but don't blame me, I didn't give the ink its name.) This ink was a special run and I picked it up from jetpens.com but you can get a similar Noodlers Standard Brown Fountain Pen Ink at Amazon.

But if you do go out to jetpens.com check out their cheap Preppy 05 fountain pen. I bought about four of them and filled them with my own ink. Just remove the cartridge and fill the body with the ink of choice. (Put a little Vaseline on the threads to prevent any possible leaks.) For three dollars you can't go wrong.

...dave
Every artist was first an amateur. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

illustrated journaling - China apartment

Just a quick sketch from our China apartment. Trying to get a sketch-a-day out but not too successful.

Sometimes the journal becomes a list of TODOs.

The cabinet was found in a second hand store. There are so many solid wood items in second hand stores here that it makes me wonder why anyone would visit the Ikea-Look-Alike store here. Most of that stuff falls apart within weeks. It's only "pressboard" (sawdust mixed with glue) and looks so sterile. There is to character.

The owners of the apartment bought the entire living room furniture (couch, eight unmatching wood chairs, table, three cabinets) in a day and had it delivered for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere or if purchased at Ikea.

The sketch was done with a Preppy Fountain pen filled with brown Noodler's Bulletproof Whaler's ink. Then I added a quick watercolor wash.

(Still sketching in China but the days are numbered. Check out travel.daveterry.net for details.)

...dave
Failure is not an option. It is a privilege reserved only for those who try.

trash truck

trash truck
Originally uploaded by daveterry

A quick sketch of a trash truck I panned while I'm here in China. More details at travel.daveterry.net

...dave
Drawing is just taking a line for a walk.

Yunnan shop owner

Another quick sketch, this time done from a computer image. I shot this in China (Yunnan) from a local bus window while on the way to the grocery store. I'd rather sketch on location but this is the next best thing.

My goal is to fill up the Moleskine watercolor sketchbook I brought along on this trip. (A noble goal.) I'm also keeping a travel journal and a travel blog.

It's amazing that I get out at all!

...dave
Experience is what enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. - Earl Wilson

bathroom break

Originally uploaded by daveterry

As promised I'm blogging here whenever I have a sketch to share.

It seems that 365 Journal Entries has sort of focused on sketching. So even though some of these may be posted out on my travel blog, for those of you only interested in the sketching and NOT the travel, it is here for your browsing pleasure (or agony, which ever it is for you).

I don't consider this a successful sketch but it nonetheless captures the moment.

You can also follow the travel blog too.

...dave
Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure. - Earl Wilson

The Flying Biscuit

The Flying Biscuit
Originally uploaded by daveterry

Why do people talk so loudly at their tables? Do they really think everyone is interested in their conversations?

I must be getting old because I simply can't find a quiet restaurant anymore.

When the waiter first sat us inside, the forced water through the capuchino machine sounded like it was in my ear. Ruth had to scream at me to ask if we could sit outside.

But the five women at the outside table next to us complained endlessly about their relationships. Funny thing was, as each one groaned on, no one was listening. They talked over each other. No one responded in a thoughtful way. In fact, after an especially long winded complaint, the others jumped in simultaneously: "Men are like that."

We are? All of us? Really? Me too?

At one point in the meal three fire trucks punctured their conversation and deflated their lungs. There was a very brief pause. But soon after they were back at it again.

I looked over at Ruth and asked how she was doing. She screamed: "Can't hear myself think!" She wasn't saying much because she was afraid of losing her voice.

I believe that there is a market for quiet restaurants. I know there is money in it. I would pay more. Even though we used a 50% off coupon I don't think it was worth it.

I think the place is called "The Flying Biscuit" because I'm allowed to hurl them at other customers.

...dave
Quiet restaurants are an endangered species. - dave terry

old age

old age
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

Mother-in-law to wife:


"How is ... what's his name again?"

"Dave!"

"Right, Dave, how is Dave doing?"

"He's fine mom."

"When are you guys coming to Hawaii to see us?"

"Mom, we were there in November."

"Yes, that's right, I remember."

Old age is such a cruel master.

...dave
Our mother started walking 3 miles a day when she turned 85. Now she's 95 and we have no idea where she is.

design is teamwork

design is teamwork
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

A concept design I did for work. Designed to illustrate that ideas are circulated and then born from a team of thinkers.

Copied from Nancy Margulies Site. I love her people representations. No details in the faces but her ability to capture the body flow is fantastic. She does what's called "Graphic Facilitation" which amounts to illustrating on large rollout paper a brainstorming session, usually a business idea of some kind.

I have been experimenting with pure black and white with grey shadow. I like the clean, open look that results.

...dave
It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit. - Anon

the barrel cup

starbucks barrel mug
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

It's getting a little cooler now. It's about 50 degrees outside and inside it stays about 70 or so. The AC doesn't kick in nor does the heater. It's really perfect indoors.

It's early now. Still dark outside.

By the time I shuffle into the kitchen and turn the coffee and hot water on I'm awake already. I use the hot water to pre-heat the mug. Once the mug is pre-heated the coffee stays hot for about 15 minutes.

I fire up my Google email and read last night's posts, deleting most of it before actually reading the details. I can tell by the subject line it's not for me.

But I mainly write this post to tell you about the latest Starbuck's mug I bought. (No, I don't work for them nor get any revenue for mentioning them here. In fact, truth be told, they get revenue from me regardless of what I write.)

Anyway, this Starbuck Coffee Barrel Mug is the best yet.

starbucks mug
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

I already own the tall (Venti sized) ceramic mug for drinking on the road. And another beautiful mug I've never ever seen in any Starbucks shop since Hawaii.

However, this new mug is the one I grab now.

Just think about it:

it IS heavy, weights 15.7 oz empty (31.6 oz filled)
has a creamy white porcelain finish
has a 3-finger handle
has an ever-so-slightly curving top and bottom (thus the "barrel" look)
it only cost me seven frog skins

But here's the best part:

It holds 16 oz (not 8 or 12 but 16 oz!) of pure hot liquid java. To die for.

(Now I know some of you people drink iced coffee, but that's just wrong, pure and simple. No coffee snob would put ice in their java just as no self-respecting sommelier would even dream of putting ice in a jammy cabernet sauvignon. It's just morally and ethically wrong.)

Wait a second, I hear the coffee maker slurping. That means it's ready. I'll make my undetected journey in the dark (it's 4:22 a.m.) and retrieve the oily liquid. Be right back.

Now it's true, I have plenty of mugs and I ought not buy yet another but this mug feels so wonderful cradled between my two palms. It's about the size of a grapefruit but smooth like glass.

barrel Starbucks cup
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

And when I peer down into the depths of the inky black liquid I feel like an oil tycoon that has just discovered a golden vein.

This is the perfect WFH (work-from-home) mug, no spillage, sits flat, holds a large amount of liquid which means few return trips to the coffee maker.

Odd thing is, I couldn't find any pictures of this mug on starbucks.com nor on flickr.com nor even on google images. That's really weird.

So I took my own picture and drew a quick sketch.

Wow, it's time for another cup.

...dave
A morning without coffee is like sleep. ~Author

tough guy

Been doing lots of painting these days...painting the inside of a friend's condo that is.

I guess I sort of enjoy painting because although I painted all yesterday afternoon, I felt compelled to paint this guy this morning.

I drew him from a link on the Internet. (Sorry, had to remove the link of my sketch because the artist didn't want me to copy from her without including a link to each of her sketches. Originally I didn't because of the words she uses in her illustrated journals were not family friendly.) I found on the Internet yesterday, he looks so much more menacing painted.

I do feel like such a cheat sketching other peoples sketches, but it's a great way to learn. They've already done the hard part by simplifying the image for me. My goal is to be able to do these kind of sketches in public, from life. Right now, I just don't have the confidence to do that.

Ever had the experience of a little kid peering over your shoulder and then leave just seconds later, and overhear him say: "He ain't that great mom." Some people's greatest fear is speaking in public, not me. My greatest fear is sketching in public.

(How do the Urban Sketchers do it?)

It's great though to be able to visit any place via the Internet. I think this guy might be Russian and wearing a Ushanka. But I can't be sure since there wasn't much information about him on the net.

Of course, there is nothing like actually visiting the country and feeling totally out of my element. Not understanding a word spoken to me. Not certain I'll ever find the hotel. That's the stuff of foreign travel.

In fact, I've been reading Lavinia Spaldin's book "Writing Away" about travel writing. Great ideas on making lists, getting details, and what to record.

...dave
“You have this preconceived notion of him [Sly Stallone] as a big, tough guy, but he speaks four languages and he likes to watercolor.” - Rachael Leigh Cook

Designers waste my time

time wasting
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

I'm frequently amazed at modern designers who have total disregard for my time. They absolutely have no concern. I can tell by the manuals that come with the incomprehensible devices they create.

These modern electronic devices have shrunk in size while the manuals for the tiny things have the heft of a New York City phone book. Worse, they expect me to read them.

Camera phones

I tried to turn off my Blackberry's camera sound, which is absolutely annoying. I don't understand why the designers of these digital devices insist they need to make the noises their mechanical grandfathers made. It's absolutely ridiculous. I spent 30 minutes searching through the menus and then another 30 minutes in Google.

However, I should't have bothered trying to discover how to shut the sound off as . . . there is no way to do it!

Are you kidding me? What if I mute the phone? No? Not!

So what designer thought of this clever feature? Who designs this stuff? Kids? What a total waste of time.

A chair

I went to OfficeMax to buy a chair. I sat in several leather chairs checking for comfort, tilt, and swivel. I found the best in the bunch. It was on sale. It had a piston mechanism that allowed for height adjustment. The only thing it didn't have was tilt. All the other chairs had it. I couldn't imagine this one didn't.

I tried the knob under the chair but that didn't do it. I tried forcing myself back in the chair, thinking that if I just pushed hard enough it would disengage the stiff back and let me rock backward, but it didn't. I was frustrated and started to leave. I didn't care how much of a discount there was, if it didn't tilt back I wasn't interested.

But then I thought about my thin wallet of little cash. I needed a chair for the office. I needed this chair. So I flopped back into its buttery soft leather pillow seat and inhaled the wonderful fragrance of the chocolate colored tanning finish. I've got to get this wonderful piece of furniture.

My hand dangled downward in complete surrender and hit the lever I'd been playing with and suddenly the chair rocked backward.

What did I do? How did that happen? I sat forward, leaned over and jiggled the lever again to see if it was just an accident. Suddenly the chair back stiffened again.

What on earth? What's happening?

After 30 minutes I discovered what I was missing. I had to pull the lever outward to release the back. Ohhhhh...you pull the lever outward. I get it. Clever design that.

Who would have ever figured that out? I only did by accident.

This is what drives me crazy. A simple embossed arrow on the plastic handle could have given me a clue.

But the designers either didn't think of it or were too busy to bother. I can hear them in the R & D lab:

"How can we make the seat rock backward without adding another lever and mechanism?"

"Let's just make this up/down lever double as the back release."

"Hey, what a great idea. Think of the money we'll save. Less hardware, more markup."

"How do we give the user a clue as to how this will work."

"Ah, let them figure it out."

Designers waste my time.

...dave
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

Glass Jar Sketch in Ink and Wash

Glass Jar Sketch in Ink and Wash
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

"Oh" she said "this binder doesn't have the bar code on it."

"Oh, yeah, look at that."

"Do you think you can go get a binder that does?"

"Ah, well, yeah, I guess."

I walked across the store floor and found one of the binders with a bar code. But when I walked back to the counter she had already begun ringing up a lady with a basket full of stuff.

I waited patiently for the woman to find her discount card in her cavernous purse. Then she rummaged through it again looking for coupons. The cashier didn't acknowledge me but kept scanning the woman's items. The woman asked over her shoulder "I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all." I lied.

The cashier continued to ring up the sale and I continued to wait. I stood by the counter holding a single bar coded binder in my hand.

But I was tired of waiting. The woman now in front of me had more coupons to use. She had pulled cards of items too big to fit in her cart and the cashier scanned them and rang up more dollars.

Finally I set my bar coded binder on the counter and walked to the door without a word.

I really did mind.

...dave
"Treat every customer as if they sign your paycheck…because they do." - Author Unknown

A Tale of Two Pens

a tale of two pens
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

Oh the eternal search for the perfect sketch pen.

And so I bought a maple wood A.G. Spalding & Bros. roller ball pen. It's got a great heft and lays down a bold black wet 0.5 line. The fit and finish is perfect. The wood has a smooth natural feel.

A.G. Spalding & Bros. also makes several other wood finishes and pen designs. For example, they have a fountain pen in the same wood design. They are also available at jetpens.com. (I'm not affiliated with A.G. Spalding & Bros. nor Jetpens, I just like their huge selection and speed of delivery.)

Here's the bad news, the ink is not waterproof. Rats. So the sketch looks a little blurry and muddy. As I painted over the sketch with the watercolor wash some of the pen's ink mixed in with the color, thus producing the darker hue. If it were waterproof ink, it would be a perfect 0.5 sketch pen. If you buy the fountain pen you could fill the cartridges with your own waterproof ink, such as Noodlers Bulletproof Black. (You can read more about some of my experiments with Noodlers Bulletproof Black here.

The Helix 0.5 here pictured is waterproof but the cap doesn't post which makes the pen short and light. It doesn't have the heft of the Spalding. It came in a four pack with several other line weights: 0.1, 0.3, 0.8.

I suppose if I were more of an artist it wouldn't matter WHAT pen I used. I sure envy Andrea Joseph's work. It's outstanding. And she does all her sketching with discarded pens. Her work is quite incredible.

So maybe that's my problem. I'm spending way too much time shopping for pens rather than drawing with them.

...dave
To believe in one's dreams is to spend all of one's life asleep. - Chinese Proverb

The Remodel

remodel
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

I've been doing a little remodeling lately. There are several trades present: plumbing, electrical, paint, carpet, etc. I'm not involved in any of those very skilled jobs. I'm on demolition.

And I guess that's a good thing. All I really need is a sledge hammer and I'm good. Just point me in the right direction and I'll start swinging.

So me and a crew of 15 went at it this last Saturday crashing through walls and plumbing and wiring and ceilings. We helped the carpenters beef up rafters where the walls we tore down used to be.

The resulting entryway looked so different, I decided to draw the changes in a crude architectural drawing. I figure that by the time the new tile and paint is in, it'll hardly be recognizable.

And that's the reason for my illustrated journal anyway. I want to capture the highlights of the day. I want to slow things down a bit.

The way I figure it, when I'm old and sitting in the rocker out back, I want to remember what I did so that I can reminisce with friends and family. Otherwise I'll just sit and drool. And that's no fun for anyone.

...dave
I think I'm nearer the end than the beginning. - Dave Terry

When you don't feel like sketching...

You can always use a web-based tool, like Wordle.net.

It's a word generation program. Very cool. You key in the words you want (or cut and paste from somewhere), make a few adjustments and wham: a very cool layout.

You could paste it into your journal, or on your journal. Or you could watercolor wash it.

So many ideas, so little time.

...dave
Why is the slowest time of traffic called the 'rush' hour?

a rude purple chair

purple chair
Originally uploaded by daveterry.

Our offices have a unique selection of chair colors. The desks are pretty much the same gray muted tone but the chairs are a fantastic mayhem of color.

This chair stared at me from across the table while I ate lunch. It was fairly quiet, didn't even move, but it's presence was evident. You can't hide purple in a stagnant lunch room. It popped at me.

As first I thought it was being rude, just sitting there, looking at me. But eventually I ignored it, and then I decided to draw and paint it.

That'll teach it.
...dave
Red meat is not bad for you Fuzzy purple meat is bad for you.