I do art things sometimes...

Sometimes...
Not of the greatest quality.
But sometimes.

Thusly, a little set of zentangle doodle experimenty thingy-mabobs:

Electric Paisley

Lil Tangles

Oceania

Exploring some odd color combinations that I would otherwise not choose.
Playing. Satisfying.
I've actually begun drawing again. Not just simple zentangles, but some proper graphite renderings. Sketchy still, but my fingers have been resilient through each test. In that regard, I had an idea to make a little Özil sketch after every Arsenal game during the season. Could be an amusing series. Mostly just amusing for me, but I might post them to my art tumblr if I can keep up with it.

A little preview. The actual series will be only greyscale... I think. Mesut played his first game for Arsenal last Saturday. He had a stomach bug. Poor kid. Wenger wouldn't have played him if the team wasn't so thin due to injuries/illness. Despite being sick, coming off of two successful International games, being slammed by nasty Spanish press, and having his life turned upside-down... he made his first assist for the club after just 11 minutes. And it was a beauty. Great long pass from Gibbs as Mesut took off down the left wing. Timed his run to have the ball come down over his left shoulder, split-stretched to slow its fall with the perfect touch of his left foot, passed it with an exquisite nutmeg to Giroud, who knocked it into the goal with a perfect finish.

Jokes were made that he adjusted rather quickly to the Premier League. I couldn't stop laughing. Partly from how great it was. Mostly from relief.

His debut at the Emirates (Arsenal's home stadium) is in... about 2 hours. My schedule is a bit screwy again, but NBC has full game replays online, which is amazing.

Alright. That's all. I'm off.

Gone to the Gooners...

"In WTF news... Real Madrid bought Gareth Bale. Not sure if I want. The midfield is already cramped. Could be great, but if our bug-eyed, crinkly-eared hero doesn't get the minutes he deserves, we're gonna have a problem."

During Bale's presentation at the Bernebau, Madristas were chanting, begging for Perez to not sell Özil. For more than a day, rumors flew that Arsenal had made a record-breaking bid for Mesut.

A problem... we have.

30 minutes to the end of the transfer window...

dear fans of real madrid,

thank you very much for three wonderful years with all of you. my time at real madrid was unique and special for me. sometimes things develop differently, than i would have expected them to a few days ago.
although I’m leaving real madrid I wish you and the team the very best for the future.

now I’m looking forward to my new club: THE GUNNERS!

And there you have it. One of the best players in the world, arguably the best central attacking midfielder in the world, one of the most beloved players by Madridistas and all football fans alike, happy, committed, and living his dream to play for Real Madrid and train with Zidane...

Forced out.

Forced out, because Perez wanted Bale as his shiny new toy and Ancelotti had to reform the midfield around that. Mesut's position disappeared. They forced him out.

Heartbreaking.

Luckily, Mesut is away from the chaos in Spain, training with the German National Team for a WCQ on Friday. And likely got the critical information he needed from his teammates Podolski and Mertesacker that he would be loved and trusted at Arsenal. Mesut hoped to retire in Madrid, but seeing how quickly they were ready to dispense with him, he probably decided he would prefer to go where he would be welcomed with open arms and confidence. What a shitty position to be in though. Geez.

All I can hope is that he'll be energized by the transition rather than deflated.
He didn't deserve that treatment. Hopefully he'll be able to rise above and do well with his new team.

Arsenal. The Gunners.
Apparently the saying goes, "Once a gooner, always a gooner."
We shall see.