Things I've Done in Iowa City during my Break

1) Watched internet videos of Queen performing live.
Freddie Mercury died of AIDS when I was five years old, denying me the opportunity to ever see him perform live. I regard this as a major loss. The man's energy is palpable even in video format. If I had a time machine, I would probably use it first to see the 1985 Live Aid performance by Queen, and only afterwards meet Abraham Lincoln. And I would probably only be able to talk about Freddie Mercury, the whole time I was hanging out with Lincoln.

2) Played video games.
I wrought electronic havoc, accomplished nothing tangible, yet felt nevertheless pleased. I can't imagine the mentality that went into pinball wizardry during the 1970s and '80s, but it must have been exactly the same thing. I spend time on an entertainment application which goes to nothing productive and illuminates nothing. What does this say about the futility inherent in the human condition?

3) Practiced drawing at work in the parking booth.
My friend Janani gave me an instruction book for drawing which was published in 1963 (or something) and contains quite dated instruction, which she picked out for her own reasons but is in fact exactly what I would have wanted! If I ever learn how to draw, ideally I would draw just like Jack Kirby. So the book is perfect. I practiced for about 2 hours aggregate (of a six hour shift I spent 2 hours reading history, 2 hours doing a NYT Friday crossword, and 2 hours drawing) and the improvement over my usual awful scribblings was tangible, even if I was using a pen instead of a pencil because I didn't have anything to sharpen with. I can draw my own portrait with some alacrity, and I tried to draw my friend Travis with minimal success. I think he may have a feminine jawline, though this is no judgment against his character. Maybe in subsequent revisions I'll be able to figure it out. I think I'll try to master the face and then move on, as the book suggests. Drawing is a frontier for me. Something that I can't do, that I want to learn how to do, that is probably possible for me to do. I'm looking forward to this.

4) Bought things with my Barnes and Noble gift cards, online.
I ordered a couple of graphic novels in the new Dark Horse "Conan" series, plus the deluxe version of Dethalbum, the album by the fictional cartoon Death Metal band Deathklok. I eagerly anticipate the arrival of these packages, lowbrow though they may be.

5) Slept 'til nearly 2:00 PM. And it was everything I thought it could be.