Nate Beaty's Brainfag

Meathead trashpile vs. Teenage girl

posted in Home Jabber on August 07, 2005

I've had some wonderful last few days. Soon Bok and I hung out with our friends John and Lilli last night, along with Alec who was in town from New York for the weekend. It's been a long time since I just felt comfortable and relaxed in a social atmosphere -- like I didn't have a dozen pressing projects that I was neglecting to slice out a bit of socializing. I'm getting things in order with my life, and it allows me to RELAX when I need to. Also, John's niece or cousin (I can't remember, sorry!) was hanging out with us, and it's the second time I've been in the strangely invigorating company of a crazy teenage girl in the last few days. Soon Bok's family drove down to visit from Boise on Friday, and I got to meet her Aunt, Grandpa, three teenage girl cousins, and her goofball 10-y.o. cousin Blade. We inflicted Beaterville with an energetic & chaotic family dining bomb.

Also this weekend was the Portland Zine Symposium, and although I was only there a total of maybe 4 hours, I had a great time. I had quite a few people come up to me and say "aren't you Nate? I'm a big fan.." or tell me they follow my website. Haven't had that high from zine flattery for a *long* time, and it was much appreciated.

I've been writing a lot of letters, mostly to older folks in my family that I should write to a lot more often. The drawing above is from a letter I wrote to my Great Uncle Carl who just recently was in the hospital and isn't doing so hot. He reminds me so much of my Grandma Cleo, who passed away last February. I was really close to my Grandma, and watching her siblings have health problems is really hard. It's like losing even more pieces of her, and makes me feel very close to her brother and sister (who's my godmother, consequently).

We had plans to go innertubing today, but unfortunately no tire shops were open and we were short on tubes. Instead, Cliff, Soon Bok and I went way the hell up the Sandy river to a nice spot for the day. The experience has made me want to start drawing diary comics again. I was inspired by a gaggle of dumbfuck teenage kids high on acid and drunk and just spewing trash everywhere. I'm always baffled by how much trash finds its way to the river. Maybe this was nature explaining things to me.

A funny note -- we utilized Cliff's wench on the front of his truck to pull out an Oregonian dispensing machine that had been tossed over the hill. We also brought home a good portion of the meatheads' trashpile for some good samaritan karma coins.