secondGemini

hellos

man, this vacation has been relaxing.  a great christmas, and a well needed rest from school.  it feels like it's been 3 weeks since i've been in class, but it's been just over a week.  sweet!  i guess i'll just have to hang out more, play more music, party, drink beer, play vids and see my friends.

while at home i love to play with the dogs.  this is kona.  he's hilarious.  he's such a playful little guy, and we get along swimmingly.  although, i have to say..... he is a little bit of a jackass.  but it's very loveable jackassery.

The Christmas Village

This is the Christmas Village that is set up on my mom's grand piano.  It started out years ago as hills of snow, one building, a fence or two and some people.  But now, it's a burgeoning metropolis!  Well, maybe not quite.  But it has become big enough to really make it look like things are happening there.

It's got that classic Christmas village vibe.... Dickens style.

Merry Christmas Folks!!

Stone Hunting

The term is over.  Yusssss.

Now that the crushing load of anatomy, kinesiology and physiology has lifted, I'm far more at ease and ready to sit back and enjoy my holidays. 

A few friends and I made a trip up to French Beach this morning to collect rocks for our hot stone massage course next term.

I think Shannon (above) enjoyed getting out of town and down to the beach as much as I did.

It's.... So.... Beautiful!

It's not often I refer to an old post in a new one... but in this case I'll make an exception for myself.  Thanks Matt!  No problem me. =)

What I'm referring to still, is that oh so gorgeous light at the end of the Term 1 tunnel.  It's been a long 3 months.  Probably the longest 3 months I can recall.  Except maybe for that record breaking heat wave in Toronto a few years back.  Jesus that was bad......  ANYWAY!

It's an interesting mindset I have this time round for finals.  The only recollection I have of finals is from highschool.  I would always freak out and cram like mad to try and at least comprehend something from the subject at hand.  Not this time though.  It's weird actually.  I'm far more calm and relaxed for the finals, than I was for any of the midterms I've had.

I guess when you constantly study, the info tends to stick.  And stuck it has.

I dedicated this entire weekend to "cramming" for finals.  And well, I've read over some stuff, and yeah I was reminded of a few things here and there, but generally speaking.... I'd say I'm ready. 

How about that.

light at the end of the tunnel

I'm ramping up for finals in the next 2 weeks. 

I really can't wait for this term to be over.  It's been a crazy ride, and I'm happy to have done so well.  But I honestly have no idea how people keep up this kind of "book" pace for anywhere from 3-6 years of school.  It's rediculous.

As a little gift to myself, I bought a new lens for my camera.  It's a Canon 50mm f1.4 prime lens.  In a nutshell what that means, is that it has a fixed focal length.  There is no zoom on this lens.  So it's me the picture taker who's got to do all the zooming... with my feets.  Back and forth!  It definitely takes some getting used to, but I'm getting the hang of it.

It creates a crazy shallow DoF (depth of field) as you can see, it goes blurry only a few lines in. Your average "point and shoot" camera lens would take a picture of the whole page of writing.  Anyway.... it was a nice little gift to myself for getting through this crazy term.

Even though I'm not quite finished, I'm more than convinced that I'll cruise through with stellar marks, so I went ahead with the gift giving.  Plus I plan to document the festivities this year.  Everything from Christmas Eve dinner with the fam at the Blue Crab (8th year in a row), to all the music I'll be playing, to all the friends I'll be hanging out with, which of whom I haven't seen in ages.

So, Christmas this year will be:

a) flippin' awesome
b) full of booze
c) completely devoid of all things school
d) filled with jam sessions, rehearsals and a few gigs
e) all of the above

hmmmmmm......

Evening Sky

It's 1 am.  I should be sleeping, but I'm not. 

What I am doing is digging through the archives again.  Never fails either.  I seem to always come up with some goodness when I go rooting through the 34 gigs of images i have on my mac.

I took this one last year when Mike and I had that sweet condo with the giant sunroom/balcony on Vancouver Street.  It was an amazing place, and we definitely put it to good use.

I hope I get to live in another place with such a view.
We shall see I guess.

Maybe now I can get some sleep.

zZzZzzZZzZZz.....

Curbside Autumn

When I get up in the morning it's grey and wet.  When I finish school, it's usually still wet, well past grey and quickly approaching dark.

I miss the glow of the sun off the rediculously coloured leaves littering the roads in early October.  This is however the time of year where myself, and many others have to grin and bear the long winter ahead.  "Seasonal Affective Disorder" I think they call it.  Also known as "SAD" ironically enough.

I'll just go ahead and call myself grateful right now that it doesn't send me into some horrible downward spiral..... but I definitely feel it.  Especially now that I'm cooped up and bogged down with tons of work.

Just think about how much easier it is to get up in the morning when you can feel that summer sun slowly making its way through your bedroom window.  So good!

B&W on the beach

Last weekend I did a shoot with a good friend and his family.  Fortunately for everyone, the weather co-operated, I was able to get what I was after and it was a pleasant experience all around.

Edward (right) has the most amazing family.  His kids are some of the kindest, loving and most respectful kids I've ever met.  Not to mention pretty easy to work with!  Johnny (right) and the youngest Natalie (far left) were a little shy, but soon forgot I was even there, as it just became a day outside with the family.  Grace however, (middle) LOVES the camera.  She never really let me forget it either.  I've photographed her before, and I think posted here.  She and I have a bond that I'm very thankful for.  As I think I've said before.... I adore her. =)

Grace definitely gets it from her mom.  Nancy is a gem of a lady.  I've never met someone more hospitable!  They've had me over a number of times, and simply treats me as one of her own.  It's great!  Their place has that authentic festive Mexican vibe all year round... and her cooking is fantastic.  Best fajitas in town.  No doubt.

I can't wait to visit them again, play with the kids, have some amazing food and see my work on their walls!

Happy Halloween Boo!!

It's busy busy this Halloween.  I can't remember the last time I actually had to study my ass off the day of Halloween.  Never actually now that I think about it.

Study groups, A&P chapter reviews (anatomy & physiology), resistance palpation practice for next weeks exam, and then there's the vertebral column introduction reading for MSAK (muscular/skeletal) lecture. The bloody knife is starting to look pretty good. =P

This year is going to be a little more mellow than last year.  Although I'm not sure I could outdo last year even if I tried.  Seeing as how we had the most crack-a-lackin' game show party last year.  It was beyond fun and amazing.  Plus that apartment Mike and I had was just the ideal location for parties.  It's a good thing we made the most of that venue.

I've got a photoshoot to do Sunday morning as well, so all the more reason to not make it a rediculous evening tonight.  I still need to scout the locations a little more today, somewhere between all the studying I need to get done.  There will be time.  I'll make it.

The weather is even going to co-operate with me for tomorrow too I think.  That would be handy.  Cloudy with sunny periods they're calling for.  Beautiful!

So everyone have a fun Halloween!  I hope you can find a party to go to, because certainly not everyone wants their house destroyed.  These parties usually get out of hand.  So a big thanks goes out to all who are having people over on this rediculous night.

I have to say though.... I kind of miss the sound of random huge explosions.  But I guess it's really for the best that they got rid of that.  I'm just glad that I can say "when I was a kid.... we bought explosives at the corner store for Halloween!"

October Foliage

Huuuge leaves!

I guess this is what happens when I post a shot that isn't landscape format.  Oh well.

It's been another long week of homework, tests and projects.  I'm thankful that it's done for now.  I still have lots of studying to do this weekend though.  It's disappointing too because I was going to do some studio work on Sunday.  I was invited out to OakStone to lay down a bass track, but I've just got too much on my plate at the moment.

I did however find the time to finally get out and shoot today.  As I was riding home I couldn't help but notice the vibrant reds, yellows and oranges in my neighbourhood.  Outstanding!