Day 27

This project is stalling at the moment. The major hurdles are to do with my organization and available time.

Day 26

A snowstorm made for a shut in kind of day. Both school and work were closed.

Day 25

Day 24

Badminton today. Three hours of somewhat listless play. This echoed my general state throughout the day.

Day 23

Day 22

I was finally able to get in to see my daughter and partner today.

Day 21

Nothing to report.

Day 20

Today was my Grandfather's birthday.

Day 19

Physical

Today was yoga.

Culinary/Eating

Stewed chicken, prime rib

Artistic

More developments on the VAN front. In the meantime, a group show of which I am part opens in 3 days.

Intellectual

Ken Lum opening address to the Sydney Biennial.

Organizational

Got up late today.

Musical

None

Aesthetic

None

Social

None

Technical

None

Day 18

On my way back to work from class, I stopped in at Liberty Cycles and spontaneously bought a bike. It is a beautiful red bike made by Devinci called Stockholm. Currently in minus fifteen weather, the bike is a bit of an early purchase but it is worth it.

Physical
New workout regime care of Brent (my peripheral trainer). Workouts are now much more involved than before. Bench press, leg press, lateral raises, lat pulldowns, seated rows, tricep extensions, calf raises, pilates ball situps, shoulder raises, curls, and pec flys, are the exercises I now do thanks to Brent. 3 sets of each.

Culinary/Eating
Caribbean chicken and rice with mushy vegetables, 3 green teas, one red tea latte, penne. Developing a culinary theme for my show which includes some of the ubiquitous 70’s foods with a slight twist. Devilled eggs anyone?

Artistic
More developments on the VAN front. In the meantime, a group show of which I am part opens in 3 days.

Intellectual
Discordant and ambiguous messages in official representations of Empire
Versailles 1845, Crystal Palace 1851

Organizational
Got up late today.

Musical
Mogwai seems like an interesting start point for a songwriting style.

Aesthetic
None

Social
None

Technical
None

Day 17

Just got back from Pan's Labyrinth. I am exhausted by this gorgeous, visceral, haunting film. I am including a sample of the prototype wallpaper pattern for my upcoming show.

Physical

Minimal, short yoga session

Culinary/Eating

Bad eating, green tea, coffee, pizza, sirloin burger, errazuriz cabernet 04

Artistic

The VAN show is underway.

Intellectual

Discordant and ambiguous messages in official representations of Empire

Versailles 1845, Crystal Palace 1851

Organizational

7:30

Musical

CBC Radio 3

Aesthetic

none

Social

Pan’s Labyrinth

Technical

Learned modeling with NURBS in Maya, learned overprint simulations in Illustrator.

Day 16

Three and a half hours of badminton today. I have found my grip! Unfortunately, my whole body is sore now. More 3D modeling angraphics today.

Day 15

Today I bought an oversized remote controlled truck called the Raminator. Soon it will be an ottoman.

Day 14

Today was yoga, weights, bike, and a small get together with friends. Amarone and Stratus Cab Franc were the wines.

Day 13

Today was filled with activity including school, work and a letraset party. We install tomorrow morning.

Day 12

Today was a long day including 6 hours at school and 7 hours at work.

Day 11

Today I met with a physical trainer called Brent. He has started me on a basic program and will expand it next week.

Day 10

YMCA, Maya, O'Connell

Day 9

Badminton. Once more I met my goal/adversary. Luke annihilated me today 15-6. It is a bit of a cat and mouse scenario at the moment.

Day 8

Sundays seem to be the most low key days. Today was comprised by yoga, graphic design, housework and schoolwork. It is possible that I have tourrettes. Often I emit strange sounds in my daily goings on. Last night, a flutist told me about her father who can whistle 2 tones simultaneously. That is a skill.



My friend Edwin took a shot of my mug at the opening. Here you can see I have shaved and gotten a haircut. For many people, this is a basic function of daily life. I however, am just learning to shave regularly. Later on in the project, I will enlist the expert services of an esthetician to make my pours and eyebrows less crazy.



Here is my more organized template I will use to describe my daily goings-on:

Physical

Today was yoga, situps and pushups (a sad weak number)

Culinary/Eating

This morning, instant oatmeal and coffee. Lunch was croissants and poached eggs. Dinner was roasted chicken with a fig reduction, roasted beets, potatoes, and a brilliant 2004 Stratus White wine.

Artistic

March is fast approaching. With my tester shadow box frames, I installed a piece from a blockbuster video video sign. Dioramas are going to be tricky.

Intellectual

Pretty anemic here. An article about a french design collective called 5.5.

Organizational

8:30 wake up.

Musical

Listened to Mogwai today and practiced guitar. My piano needs tuning badly.

Aesthetic

No progress here. Some more thoughts about my uniform.

Social

Recluse day

Technical

Continuing my Maya tribulations. Simple renders look like hell. I won't be hired by Pixar anytime soon.

Day 7

Artist talk and margarita party. Failed day indeed.

Day 6

Today was filled with school and work. I am starting to crave physical activity.

Day 5

Thanks to chef Adam Wale, I will be learning some knife technique and culinary basics. Yoga.

Day 4

YMCA today. Bike, Volleyball. Snow.

Day 4

I lost brutally at badminton in almost every game. This is in spite of my new raquet. My project has a new character. He is a friendly adversary who totally outclasses me on the court. He is Luke. Typically, being 30 is hardly an excuse to be annihilated on the court, but I am going to pull the age card on this one. So, in the next few months, I would like to somehow beat Luc at badminton.

Day 3

Today was interesting, I weighed in at 224 pounds. My workouts are slow and anticlimactic. Today I was pretty sure an elderly woman was bench pressing more than me but I've got to start somewhere. Oatmeal is my new morning routine. Quick oats with yogurt, fruit and even flax.

In the afternoon/evening, I participated in an out of the cold program. In this venue, over a hundred people came in for food and warmth. It was equally heartening and depressing.

For this blog, I will start to include topics each day: physical, food, art, aesthetics, and miscellaneous. The day jpegs are a nod to Om Kawara. The title of the whole project is a spin on Kelly Mark.

Day 2

Today was really a failed day. Not being able to leave my job until 11:00 tonight interrupted the plans. Not all was lost. A concert of new Canadian compositions was put on by the gallery players. Two of the composers were there and I had an opportunity to speak with both of them. When asked about how far fetched it would be to compose a piece of music by the spring, the sentiment was that it would be doable with notation software and a keyboard.

Day 1

Today, I purchased a membership at the YMCA. They have computerized workout trackers. I am setting up an appointment with a trainer on Sunday. I have stopped drinking coffee and have switched to green tea with mint. My calendar is full. I got a haircut and purchased a vegetarian cookbook from a place in BC called Rebar. I have begun downloading french lessons to my iPod, but I am not sure if they are the most effective ones. I am part of a group show in two weeks and a solo show March at a small gallery called CRAM. Last night I tried playing my piano but it really needs to be tuned. I woke up at 8:00am which is much too late for this project. From here on, I am going to wake up at 6:30.

Tomorrow, I weigh in. I suspect I am 220 - 225lbs.
A uniform is required to properly carry out this project. I will start with a work outfit, and a physical outfit. These should be very easy to care for, non-descript, strong, and well-tailored.
Tomorrow is my first shopping trip for ingredients.

I really will transform from myself to myself+
The first phase takes place between now and April. It is a new year's resolution to make up for all of the others.

Here are the basic goals of my project:


1. Lose 25 pounds and become fit. Overall increase in energy.
2. Improve my overall look - clothes, hair, face, etc...
3. Learn a language.
4. Learn to cook decadent and healthy food. Integrate cooking into everyday.
5. Improve and increase my art output. Have at least one show during the project.
6. Become organized.
7. Learn and hone 2 new physical activities, ie yoga, and cycling
8. Learn more about music and learn to play well.

As the project unfolds, I will add and edit as required. Tracking will take place here.