Kalamazoo WaHOO

This past weekend was spent with VIP people in the very low key city, kalamazoo. A friend once noted that, "whoever came up with that name was having a good day." Each time i visit it feels the same as before, the familiarity is nice.

Heres a picture,

THE STRUTT radiates charm and coziness.

All Hale My Bests Birthday!!

Today, the best friend ill ever have was born. It took 19 years for our paths to finally cross, but when they did the collision was that of an explosive glittery firework. It was my first year of college and i was eager to meet everyone, do everything, and ultimately get into the most trouble as possible without getting arrested.

It was during this week i noticed a blonde haired boy in ALL of my classes. We were in the same department with the same schedule. A recipe for perfect catastrophe. During our friday class i turned around in my seat, stared directly into my targets eyes and crazily said, "Hey im Heather, we have every class together. Were going to be BEST FRIENDS."

After time, I later learned upon our initial introduction the best friend thought I was completely insane.

Those initial feelings were later confirmed through our friendship.

William has stood by me, picked me up, and fell down with me time and time again. I cant emphasize how amazing he is and how much I love him.

SO heres to you BEST FRIEND!

And i even drew you a picture....meet me at the ice cream truck?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!!

Breaking Up

This post will have more words than pictures...just forewarning you.

Last night a very close friend of mine was robbed and attacked outside of her apartment in Detroit. I feel powerless and cant help but be angry at everything. I cant even imagine how she feels. This occurrence triggered my personal reflection on my lovetohate relationship with this city.

Last year I blindly followed my roommates to our new apartment about 20 minutes outside the city. During the moving process I remember being HAPPY to leave. Within the past few months however I have MISSED being in Detroit and have even been looking into purchasing a loft downtown. This recent incident reminded me why I was once excited to leave and live elsewhere.

Over the past 1/2 year I have enjoyed jogging at dusk without worry. I can ride bikes with friends without looking over my shoulder. When I walk outside it is not a given that Ill be hassled. Oh the comforts and normalcies of "the burbs".

However, during this break from the city, like any fucked up relationship, I started missing it and wanted to go back.

Im sick to death of hearing the cliche "it happens everywhere, in every city, you just have to be careful, know your surroundings.."

Spare me.

I am so back and forth with this relationship. As of now, were in a HUGE fight, but by Sunday we'll be having make-up sex.

For all of you out there "saving this city", I applaud you. It needs all the helping hands it can get. And I cant help but think these saviors have a similar relationship with the city that I do. Its infuriating, but you keep coming back to it.

Your Dad

I was drawing a blank for something to doodle and a friend suggested I draw "her dad". I have never met him, but my friend is pure quality and I imagine her dad to be a rock star like she is.

Mixing some Medias

This is a piece that should have been finished a longlong time ago..it has been a year in the making. My idea was solid, but I jumped right into it without planning much and putzed around with various executions. It is the beginning of a soon to be series focused on detroit's revival and it's effect on the city's youth. Im hoping I'll kick the other ideas out more quickly than this one.

Enough with the words, here's some visual stimulation.

Planting

I have a sorry excuse for a tomato plant sitting in my room. It doesn't produce fruit because its

-20 degrees outside and my room doesn't see much sun..

I don't blame the plant, it's doing it's best.

It somehow acquired a different species of greenery..and now there is a large beanstalk looking plant protruding from the pot.

It could be a weed..

OR maybe it IS a BEANSTALK.

There he is without the beanstalk because I have not taken a picture of it yet.

BUT here's an illustration!

GO RAINBOWS.

Drinks and Sketchbooks

I enjoy warm beverages with alcohol. It's a nice surprise and each sip almost hugs you. I, however, despise maraschino cherries. ick. So I gave mine to my friend, Leyland, who appreciated them more than I ever could.

All in all, fun filled, productive Saturday night.

Knights

I seem to get a lot of good ideas when im suppose to be listening. This is rude to admit, but if youre talking to me, Im more than likely thinking about manatees, ninjas, or in this case, kings men. So heres a post dedicated to my future knight in shinning armor. Hes not much of a fighter, but he can play a mean french horn.

manAtees

I can not stop drawing manatees.

I recently traveled to Florida to visit my best friend and while there I had an amazing opportunity to swim with wild manatees. Manatees are practically dinosaurs, they are an ancient 50,000 year old species and I'm fairly certain their sole purpose is to swim around and be awesome.

They're continuing to do a great job at this.

Unfortunately, manatees are becoming extinct for a number of reasons, but the most infuriating is that they are slow swimmers and don't stand a chance against fast motor boats. Their closest relative is the elephant and their behavior resembles a cross between a cat and dog.

So here's a picture of a manatee hanging out with this snazzy older gentleman.

Being Sketchy

Just a couple pieces to prove I still sketch once in a while..

done while eating my usual, runny eggs and coffee, at National.

And here is a picture of a manatee!

With that I will also leave you all with a quote about manatees from my intellectual friend, Leyland DiVito:

"yeah, manatees, a little quirky, but not too obvious like a dolphin."