Summer seems to be winding down or am I just being pessimistic? I am hoping that I still have a pretty long tail to my existence, but who knows? Maybe I could be spending my time more usefully than making this newsletter, but so what?
Monday
Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas is a wonderful collection of comics by Spanish cartoonist Paco Roca. Most of them are related to his life, but some are like mini essays on society. I had not heard of him before, but after finding this at the library, he has become my new comics hero.
Tuesday
I have been using Duolingo to practise Japanese for a few years now. I used to be fairly comfortable at speaking Japanese badly, but I have otherwise been out of practise. And since we are going to Japan next month, I am hoping I won’t be totally useless at it. I find the app relatively painless and have incorporated it into my morning routine, right before I draw a comic. Do you use Duolingo?
Wednesday
I have a contract to check the content of some educational interactive computer programs. Unfortunately, the developers have only been making Windows versions. So I had to figure out how to run Windows. I tried the trial versions of a few different programs, which were okay until the trial ended. Finally, I ended up setting up Windows 10 on Mac on a “spare” laptop, which seems to get the job done and doesn’t cost any extra money. I watched some YouTube videos and fiddled around until it somehow did what I needed.
Thursday
Empire of Wild is an intriguing novel by Cherie Dimaline set in a Métis community in Ontario. Métis are perhaps quintessentially Canadian, being descended from indigenous people and French fur traders. This story mostly follows a Métis woman looking for her husband who mysteriously disappears. I had not heard of a rougarou before, but it is half wolf half human. Unlike werewolves, a rougarou is not affected by the full moon.
Friday
I don’t usually follow politics that closely, but I still find it mysterious that so many people still think Trump should be president of the United States. Just yesterday, I saw an old white guy in my neighbourhood in Vancouver wearing a cap to that effect. Even though I ought to know better than to believe the smooth words of any politician, I did enjoy listening to the inspirational speeches from the Democratic convention, including the poet Amanda Gorman.
Saturday
Maybe I was overreacting but it had dropped to 13 C. I forgot to draw the hair on my legs, which sort of helps with insulation. At the moment I am back in shorts with a hoodie on top. I am so far refusing to switch the heat pump to heat mode. Hope you are comfortable where you are.
Sunday
This was in the alley, behind an empty shop where the Himalayan blackberry is spreading, at least that is what I am guessing it is. Given how many other berries are red, I think it’s interesting how these go from red to black when they are ripe. Do you have these where you are?
That was my week. I hope you had a good one, with a better one to come.
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