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BLOG HAS MOVED.

I'm finding I'm more and more tempted each day to move my blog to a different hosting website, one with a bit more traffic perhaps, or one that more friends are on.
My NEW blog is here:
http://phototunage.tumblr.com/

Check it out, bookmark it maybee :)

I'm still definitely going to be posting here however. I think I'll leave my more personal stuff here, because not that many people read it which is what I want for my personal stuff, but the people that do read it are the people I care about the most to be open with about such topics :)

Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for and try my best to wake up every day remembering that life could be MUCH worse, and that I should be thankful for the day ahead.
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Saturday

It's early Saturday morning, I barely slept last night. I went to bed at like 11, but was tossing & turning until like 1:30am, and then woke up every hour or so after then. Brutal. I was up at 7 and couldn't fall back asleep either. Ugh.

I have my driving test today. I'm excited, nervous, but confident. I feel I'll do excellent on it and walk away from it with a smile. I've wanted to get my license for a long time now, and I'm thrilled I'm doing my test. I've been putting it off because I wanted to be able to get a car around the same time.

Well, somebody has loaned me the money to get my first car. I'm even more excited about that. It's pretty cool too, because I can kinda pay a different amount each month, which is probably the best possible way to do it. With a bank I would mostly be set in with a fixed rate for 2 years, which kinda sucks. However, since this is family, which I'm ever so thankful and blessed with, I can pay perhaps $250 one month, then perhaps I work a few hours over time the next month I can do a bigger payment of $500 in that month. Very excited for this, I think I want a Honda Civic EX. (The fully loaded one) with some nice speakers inside. Then I can save up for nicer stuff. Cobra, which is a brand of police radar's is sold at race tech here, something I might ask for, for Christmas. I believe it's about $80, and they are fully legal (As they do nothing to effect the cop radaring.)
I've researched it, there are two types of radars. One, is illegal. This one actually jams the cop's speed gun! Meaning, when he points it at you, he doesn't receive a signal bounce back. For obvious reasons, these ones are illegal. However, there's another type, the cheaper one that just warn you. They beep when you're approaching a speed gun, the faster the beep, the closer it is. It also has all the speed traps from some GPS database, which warns you of an upcoming red light camera. Not that I plan on speeding around and need a warning device to let me know about police, it's just something I think would be super cool to have, especially in Calgary where they spend more money a year on the police, and less on fixing some of the brutal roads. They're everywhere, and majority will pick at anything to give you a ticket. (Practically everybody is this city has at least one ticket from something)

Anyways, I'm off later to practice a bit before my test, get to know the area I'll be testing in, and then take the test!! :)
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Sick Day

I'm home sick today, it really does suck, but whatever, I'm missing Psychology.
I finished all my homework anyways. I have a presentation due Friday so I've been working on it and am happy with it.

After I finished my homework I was bored. I really suck at sleeping during the day, it just doesn't work. Once I wake up, I'm up. I can never fall back asleep unless it's one of those very cold mornings during winter break where it's pitch black in your room, and if you don't look at the clock you still think it's 2am, then I can fall back asleep :) I love those mornings, I can't wait for them.

Anyways, here's something I just finished up. I want to start doing something on Sunday's. Normally we head out to somewhere nice, a waterfall, the zoo, etc. I absolutely love weekends, especially with them off from work, the weeks seem to fly by, and the weekends last forever.
So, I'm looking to do something to expand my horizons a bit on my weekends for the fall and heading into winter. I've been trying to sell some work recently, it's difficult. I had a small exhibition open house thing last weekend, it turned out great. But I find selling online is impossible. So, I've decided I'm going to start trying to head out to these gorgeous waterfalls we normally go to, except meet up with a family, a person, etc. and do a portrait session!

I feel pretty confident in moving into this new style of photography. I'm hoping it's successful. I am in love with the idea, and plus, it'll give me a little extra to put towards my car if it works out.




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Wise Words

Today, I sat in class, blowing my nose every 5 minutes, sniffling up a storm, and coughing my brains out. It was brutal, however, nothing was wrong.
It was a good day other than this head cold I have.

As I sat in class beside some friends, I remembered some wise words somebody told me this summer. Paul. Braden's dad, my best friend. They're practically family to me, honestly, I love them all, and their words mean just as much as my own families do. Family is always first, and today, I just remembered back when we were in NYC.

I remember Paul had told me never to let my dreams go. Never let a girl get in the way of the goals you want to achieve, and what you want to do and where you want to go in life.

Today I thought about that, and really liked it. It made me happy, and reassured me with everything I'm doing right now in life. I feel like I'm doing the right thing, going the right way. Working hard to achieve goals I want to achieve, working to be what I want to be. I like that, and nobody is going to stop me or change my dedication in what I do, how I do it, where I go, and why. It's me that I have to live for, well, most of the time. I need to think about me more and the ones who truly matter, and just continue striving to be the best that I can. I'm not saying that none of these people matter, hell, I talk to a ton of people daily, I think I'm trying to express that I need to stay truer to myself, and not stop for anything at achieving what I want.

Just something I thought about throughout my day.

A teacher approached me today, which was very neat. This particular teacher has come to me twice because I never wear the stupid ID around my neck. She's warned me if she has to ask me a third time about the ID there would be more to it. This time I had my ID, and I was simply standing at my locker. Of course the first thing that came to my mind was what did I do wrong?
"Are you Spencer Hogg?"
"Yeah." *Gulp*
"Oh wow. I've seen you before, I've been following you flickr for a while now, and I just have to say you are extremely talented, and are an amazing photographer."

It really made my day, and gave me goosebumps :)
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Sick

It's Sunday. I woke up sick. Well, I didn't even sleep last night. I was up every few hours or so, and then the remote fell off my bed onto the floor, which always wakes me up from the sound. Ugh. I should just leave it on the floor.

Been a crazy week. Went to bed at 5am Friday, was out hanging out with some friends and playing cards, was a fun night. But it was late, went to bed at 5am, woke up at 9am, drove home, showered and continued on with my exhibition. I was exhausted by the end of the night.

We had a lot of people over. The neighbor came over, which was cool. My neighborhood is pretty much all foreign. The one right beside us pretty much is the only ones that aren't. The guy is like a car idol, he drives a black Subaru STI with gold rims & red pads, with a huge exhaust. It's pretty wicked. I'm jealous every time I hear that car start next door. He went out to wash the car before they went out later that night, his girlfriend came over. She's really sweet. You know when you see someone, and have never talked to them, but you've seen them a billion times and just have an opinion on someone. It was kinda like that, and then when you talk to them you completely don't expect it? Yeah, she's a pretty cool neighbor, and even bought some of my work which was cool :) She told me her boyfriend was looking to do some photos of his card to submit to a import calender for next year. She said he was thinking about asking me after tonight, which is awesome! :) It was an overall very successful night, I had tons of fun, saw a lot of the ladies from JC which I haven't seen since before I left, so it was great, they're all like big sisters to me :)

I'm at about $600ish / $3000 for a car right now. I'm making about $220 a week working, which is great!! :) I just started thinking about it like that. It sounds better to me than $1000 a month, cause weeks come faster. I dunno. It's hard to explain, but yeah, I'm pushing towards this goal and have no thoughts of slowing down! I have been looking at a ton of cars, and each time my opinion changes. I'm still pretty set on the Prelude, but then again, if something is wrong, they don't make them anymore so it might be harder, more expensive and take longer to get parts of repairs. I'm looking again at a Honda Civic Hatch, or a VW Golf Hatch. As well as an Acura Integra, I saw a few on the street this past week with kits and they looked pretty sweet. So I'm pretty undecided still, I'm just happy making $220 a week and saving up and then get something, drive it around in the winter while I continue working and then dropping again on it for the kit, painting, rims, lights, audio system etc. :)

We're off to Elbow Falls today. It's in the low 20's or high teens, not sure. But it's nice out for once. Calgary is still dumb though. It's cloudy and shit out now, but then the sun just randomly comes out. It's kinda pissing me off, I wish this stupid ass city could just decide what it's going to be and stick with it.
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No Longer Retired..Employment Pt. 2

Alright, there we go. Done.

I got the job, well, my old job back. Hey, it might suck. But, there are tons of worse jobs out there, there are people who hate their jobs more than I ever will, and I can deal with it. Working sucks, no matter what job you do. Even if it's something you love, you still may feel at times that you would love to get paid for doing nothing. I guess that's not the way this world works though, so for now, I'm back to working.

We learned today in Psychology why we may not like work. It tires us, bores us, or, if we're lazy, makes us actually move around physically and DO SOMETHING. Honestly, the only one of the above that stands for me is the lazy part, and I should cut that habit right now. I'm not a lazy person, nor want to be seen as one. Also, like said before, I like the work for what I have, so, it only makes sense if I smarten up and get back to lifting boxes. PLUS, my biceps, I love them!!

So, here we go. I start tomorrow from 5-9. 4 hours. Monday - Thursday. PERFECT. Just what I wanted. I also wanted to work all day Sunday, but, they aren't open Sunday's. So, I took into consideration working every second Saturday. Guess what, they want me back so much they are giving me EVERY Saturday free. That means I get two days of the week to sleep in past 6am! Woohoo!! As well, it gives me weekends to have a life, instead of being consumed by work.
I'm pretty happy right now, going to enjoy my last night of not working, and then get back into things tomorrow.

My calculations however become a little wonky with that weekend day of work being taken out of the picture. That's about $200 less than I want a month. Which, isn't really a good sign, but I believe it's worth it, because I DO want to have a social life on top of working almost every day of the week in the evenings. This is good though. I used to work Monday/Tuesday nights. Those two nights went by FAST. Honestly, the fastest days of the week were those two, then it was already Wednesday and I was on home stretch to the end. NOW, I have Monday-Thursday...which, will completely FLY, which brings me to the end where I stop, a Friday. The END. So I will be whizzing through the weeks, stopping for a break at the END of each week, the fun time of the week. The time I have no work, & no school. This means...fly fly fly, party, fly fly fly, party, fly fly fly...I hope this kinda makes sense. Every 15th I will be getting paid, amazing. The 15th will come by so fast because the weeks will be going by faster than ever, and the weekends too. I will be rolling around town in my first car like I want to be in NO TIME.

Even if there's snow on the ground, I've talked to a lot of people, standard cars are much better in snow, easier to control, better on gas, AND more fun to drive ;) Haha, (The mall parking lots empty at 7am when I start school, summer tires + snow + ebrake??? lol)
Once the snow melts I can begin work on it, like most teenage boys, I want a nice ride.

So yup, it's a good day, good night, and starting tomorrow the fast forward button is going to be stuck, and I'll love every bit of it. I'm motivated.

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Employment.

I don't even really know what to put right now, but I want to express something, somehow.
I want to talk about working. I've been working since I was around 13 or 14. I worked in a restaurant for about a year, and eventually quit. Coming home from work smelling like grease was disgusting, and $9/hour wasn't worth it.

Next, I began work at Jenny Craig. Lol. You may laugh, hey, even I do. Everybody used to laugh when they asked where I worked and I told them that... I originally worked there because I wanted to save up for my own computer. I did, I remember, it was $600.00 and took me only a month to get. Once I got that, it kicked in. I can get whatever in I want in the world, as long as I work hard for it. Everyday I worked I had that computer on my mind. I achieved it, and it was one of the best feelings and realizations in the world. From that point onwards Jenny Craig provided me with whatever I wanted, as long as I worked for it. I have a lot of stuff, a blackberry, a custom build computer, heck I even spent $220 on headphones! Who the hell spends that much on headphones? I'd call anybody crazy to spend that much on headphones, but really, it was something I wanted, I listened to music every single day, and so I got them.

It's an amazing feeling though. A lot of kids parents buy them stuff, $2100 Louis Vuitton hand bags, Lexus's & BMW's. Me, I got my wants myself. Not that anything I've wanted and gotten can compare to a car or anything like that, but it's still the same thing in a way. When people ask how did you get all of the stuff you have? Did you parents buy you it? It feels good to say I worked for it myself. I mean, not that my parents don't buy me stuff, hell, they get me a ton of stuff. They provide me with everything! But no way in hell would I ask them to buy me $220 headphones, or spend $1000 on a computer when the one they use is only half that! So, it feels great to say I worked for it myself, and got it myself. I did all the research myself, and set it up & learned it myself. It's amazing.

So, now that Summer is over, I need to find a new job. A job that will do the same thing it did when I originally got one. This has proved to be an extremely difficult task. You would really think with the experience I have at my age it would be easier, but nope, it's becoming impossible and tedious. So tonight, I started thinking about Jenny Craig again. Should I go back simply for the reasons I started there in the first place? To provide my WANTS? I think so.
Now, before I was working about 3 days a week, even that tired me out. But right now, I'm probably carrying the easiest class schedule of the entire school, and spend my after schools doing nothing. I've gone out with people here the past few weekends, which has been fun. I've met a ton of new people, which is definitely becoming a good thing. So, do I want to go back? This time I am looking to work 4 evenings a week, and then a full day on the weekend. Perfect right? I could work Sundays, when most people are at church etc. WRONG. JC isn't open Sunday, so that doesn't work. That leaves Saturday, the busiest day of the weekend, because it's the only day. I would have to work Saturdays, which then, scratches off any plans of going out on Friday nights.

So, I believe I have come up with a plan. Monday - Thursday's 5-9. PERFECT. I don't work too late, which gives me time to do any homework I may have, and any I don't finish I have a spare block to work in the learning room on it the following day. That gives me Fridays off with friends. (JC closes when I get off school, so Friday's wouldn't even need discussion) That leaves that dreaded Saturday. Without it, I'm about $300 short of my expectations. But with it, I have absolutely zero social life. (I'm looking to work HARD until I get a car, then hopefully drop down a few of those week days) So, this would work here. Every second Saturday off. Becuase, I don't want to go out EVERY Saturday, that becomes tiring and repetitive. So, if I work every second Saturday, that brings me to my wanted amount of hours a month, and I would be making just over $1000 from work a month.
Hard work, I know. Can I do it? Certainly. Am I motivated? Definitely.

A really close friend of mine has been contemplating on switching to the applied math course down from the pure math course. It's caused her a ton of stress, pure math is HARD, and the final exam is worth 50%. It's HARD. She wanted to switch so badly. But after tonight, she realized she can do the pure, and get into the top university. She can do it. The hardest work possible. If she can do pure, then I can work 5 days a week. We can do it together, with each other pushing one another forward, to keep going, to remind them of their goal. In 3 months, once we've both achieved our goals, the feeling will be beyond explanation. We can look at each other, and say we did it. We made it. Just knowing that, that a friend so close to me will be there doing the same amount of work, pushing me to work hard too, while I'm doing the same thing for her, motivates me. That one key concept of being able to do anything you work towards motivates me more than anything, and therefor, I can do it, and I WILL do it.

Plus, my bicep has gone down increasingly. Not good, I'm weak now! Once I get back into lifting and throwing around those 40 pound boxes, sometimes more than one at a time, I'll have these killer bicepts back in no time! :)
(Plus have money to go to the gym to work on the abs too! woop woop!!)

So motivated. Look out cause' it's over. I'll fix that place up.
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9:10 PM. -- Night just got good.

Been a slow, crappy night.
Nothing to do, you're out on a party bus, I'm doing a good job not worrying too much about you, I trust you, and know you're smart.

Nonetheless, still a crappy, boring Saturday night of nothingness.

It just got changed around though, Much Music ended, I usually turn the TV here, but nope, 50 Cent documentary just started. My favorite rapper out there, night just got good.
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Make up your mind

Few things annoying me right now, the way people can't make up their mind, or continuously change their minds of stuff. Honestly, make up your mind, don't change it 10 times, it just confuses you and everybody around you. It's really not that difficult to make easy decisions and stick to them.

Another thing bugging me is the way people can't keep a conversation going. I've talked about this before, but today it has happened the most. Don't initiate a conversation with me, say three words, then head off and do something leaving your phone in your pocket. I took the time to reply to your initiated message, the least you could do is keep your end of the conversation up.

It's a shitty day. It's rained non-stop in this stupid city the past 7 days, today's the first day without rain, but it's still completely cloudy, about 2C and disgusting outside, plus it's cold inside too. I just want to go to sleep in my warm bed until the sun comes back out and dries up these stupid fall leaves so they're crunchy - the way they should be.
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Thursday - Friday.

I have never done a blog like this before, about a good day. It's usually just been rants, frustrations, disappointments or struggles. However, today was different.

Today was amazing. Well, the morning sucked, but hey, what mornings don't suck. I slept in about 30 minute late, so I was running to be ready before my ride was here. You know how I am about my hair, it takes a long time, and if it's not the perfect dryness after I blowdry, then styling just doesn't work. I almost re-washed it this morning after my shower, but I had no time so I made due with the mess I had going on. It got better later in the day, haha, after I spent a while in the washroom's fixing it. I started with my two main subjects side by side in the morning. I've come to conclude Thursday's are the worst of the week. My two heaviest English/Psychological classes are first thing. However, once lunch hit's it's HOME FREE! I have Art, then spare. It's the best feeling being done the worst classes and only having easy classes left, then knowing that Friday's are always easy because of the short day, then the weekend is here. It's great.

After school was good, well, I ended early because of spare last. Me & Abbey went to get Jugo Juice, like our favorite thing to do. Then just kinda drove around, talked, listened to our music loud, and had an awesome afternoon. I missed days like today, the ones we had back in the summer. Having nothing to worry about and just having fun. It was really nice to have a day like today, especially with the feeling of the week being almost over. It was a lot of fun, and I'm very thankful for all the relationships I have, and the connections I make with my friends and family. It was definitely a great day.

I ended the night by selling my bike. I know, selling my bike, I blogged about this in the car blog, I'm crazy. It definitely kills me to sell it, but hey, I won't be riding it much for a while, until next summer at least, I needed the cash for my car, and I'd rather somebody be able to enjoy it on the crunchy leaves come fall when I can't. So hey, I'm pretty happy about it. I sold it for $400, which is a crushing blow in a way. It was almost $800 when I got it new, fully loaded front and back disc brakes and everything. However, the price of used bikes is crazy, so I had to go low in order to sell it. So I did, I sit here with a $400 stack of 20's beside me. It feels good, I haven't worked in a long time so having some money is definitely good. I feel I'm a pretty good business man, hah. I buy stuff, then years later re-sell them for a good price, so I'm never losing too much money.

Jersey Shore was on, I'm absolutely addicted to it, it was probably one of my favorite episode yet, Vinny's Uncle is HILARIOUS, the way he talks, I wish I knew somebody who talked like that hahaha. It was good.

I'm listening to Il' Divo right now, very calm and relaxed. Probably the best way to end a long week. I'm going in for an earlier night tonight, hopefully around 10pm.
Have a great weekend :)
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Brooklyn's Finest

I just wanted to do a quick blog on this day.
This photo here is being displayed / has been displayed on the Flickr Explore HOME PAGE all day today!
Honestly, it's the biggest achievement to get on Flickr, and I really can't believe seeing my own photo on there! I'm blown away!!
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Finney' - Saturday


Finney'
Originally uploaded by Spencer Photography
So, right now I'm in a pretty modest mood I guess. I'm definitely missing Ontario, New York City, & my best friend.

The same shit has happened so many times to me, honestly, you would think I would be smarter by now? I'm the one who everybody comes to with issues, wants my opinion, my opinion is generally quite helpful, and then I end up out of the picture. I guess this isn't building up to what I want to talk about, but, It kind of does. Whenever somebody needs reassurance, I'm always the first to tell them everything will be alright, because personally, I've experienced it so many times. Being worried, can't breathe, etc. and in the end, it was alright. So of course I feel I'm pretty good at calming others down, not so much myself sometimes, but eh, I can't do it all haha!
I just hate how some people can become so caught up in remembering every single person, always making time for everything, putting all their focus into one thing, like school etc. and then becoming so obsolete and forgetting the ones around them, the ones who really cared, and the ones who were always there for reassurance.

Everything was so amazing in the summer, and now that school's in, it's like everything has been thrown away, everything has become about doing and going, that people around you mean nothing to you anymore. Seriously. Ugh.

Another thing that I want to rant about is the way some people explain things. You ask a question such as "whats up" and get a reply to something that needs explanation. "Preparing." Honestly? Preparing for what? Do I REALLY need to ask? Are you seriously going to wait for me to ask? "Preparing to ___" How much harder can that be? Ugh...I hate when people can't have a conversation, or when a conversation becomes fragmented into shitty one line sentences that need further explanation. OR, when somebody say "I hate when ______" And you have to ask "why ____ isn't happening/there etc." Like, couldn't you have just said "I hate when there's only like a quarter tank of gas in the car" (This is DEFINITELY not the conversation, the topic was no gas, but this is just an example.)

I'm frustrated right now. Well, not so much now as I was before. Blogging is pretty awesome, once you type out something bothering you into words, it's like it's gone, out of your mind, now somewhere floating in the internet. I guess it's pretty cool eh. Hah.

No idea what I'm doing tomorrow, hopefully something fun, school sucks. Lol.
My life's about to get REALLY busy too, as soon as I get a job I'm going to be going nonstop. I am prepared for it however, I can do it, because I'm motivated. As soon as I get a job, I want to be hopefully working 4 days a week, evenings only, and then a full day on the weekend. I'm REALLY hoping for Monday - Thursday evenings, Friday/Saturday off so I can do stuff with friends, then work Sunday. (Since most of my friends are Mormon and Sunday is generally a day I do nothing on) WHICH, would result in about $4000 by the end of the year. Which is amazing, I get pumped up just thinking about it. I'm so motivated, and I can do it, and I know when I achieve it I will feel so good, just like I always do when I accomplish something I've been so motivated for. (My camera, biking this summer, etc.)
Which reminds me.. I'm selling my bike. WHY??? I love biking. However, the seasons coming to an end, and I wont be riding until next summer probably, so the extra money from the bike can go to my car, and then after I get my car, I can buy a new, better bike for next summer. Then I can drive to the mountains, with the bike on the back!! hahaha!

It's September 11th.
It is unbelievable to think of the events that happened this day, so many years ago. I still remember the day perfectly, home from school, seeing it on TV, not understanding why my mom was crying out of shock.
It's even more unbelievable to think I was standing on the street across from the exact place the events took place just last month. It really is, and it's definitely a sad topic.
My thoughts are with the families whom lost somebody on this day years ago, and may the ones killed on this day rest in peace.

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First Car...

Like with every single thing I do in my life, I take a TON of time thinking about it. Hell, I even over think it, I over think every single thing that crosses my mind, seriously.

Anyways, I've wanted a car ever since I first turned 14 and drove home from writing my G1 test. I plan on getting my G2 AFTER I have enough money to purchase my first car PLUS have enough money for a years worth of insurance in my savings account. I'm looking at around $3000 - $4000.
Now, if you know me, when I set my mind to something, and I want this something bad enough, nothing can stop me. I want a DSLR Camera? I work my butt off and get it. I want everything I have in my room (Now I'm tellin ya, I could sell my computer setup and buy a car, but I don't want to, cause then my photography would be pretty much nothing without a computer.) But everything I've ever wanted so bad, I've gotten. I have pictures of my wants everywhere, my cell phone background, computer background, picture in my wallet. Every time I look at my phone, computer etc. I am reminded what I'm currently working for and dedicating my hard work into.
My current want, something long overdue, is a car. Now...like most 17 year old boys, I love cars, I have all the car magazines, and I don't want some old Toyota. No, I want a car that will makes heads turn. (I'm like that about everything, gotta have the LV bag etc. I guess this might not be such a good thing, but I don't feel cocky about it, it's all stuff that makes me happy.) Back on topic, I need a ride. Now, when buying something, I find a vast range and contrast between the wants. I compare and compare, read peoples opinions, and I mean opinions, every singe person I know has to have some input in my decision. So, anyways, back to the vast range of cars I want...
Now, I guess I lied before, I have a Toyota on my list. The BOTTOM of the list however. A Supra. Here's the list of cars I'm looking at:
(Now, these are "finished" products. I'm looking to drop $2000 on a used vehicle, with a good clean interior and then work on the car as a project. Meaning, the car will be stock when I buy it, but over time (Like EVERYTHING I have eg. Computer.) it will get better. I'm talking my favorite rims, with the 14" subwoofer, tinted windows, lowered body kit, carbon fiber hood, HID lights, interior lighting, the whole package..) So, here's the list:
First, Toyota Supra


VW Golf


Honda Prelude


Acura Integra


Now, I know this might be biased. I mean, different photos, some may be better than the other, however, they're all the cars I'm interested in. Also, WHITE. Must be white, with black rims, red frame, or REALLY nice chromes. Haha, now... the decision. Why is it so complicated? I should just pick the most white person car out of the group. Jokes. Perhaps I could throw all four in a hat and pick one randomly. But what if I get that Toyota. That's at the bottom, cause it's probably the most expensive, considering most are right hand steering here that I've seen for sale. (Expensive!) I'm definitely learning towards either the VW Golf, (Obviously that picture is slightly boring, but still the type of car / year) OR, the Honda Prelude. In that order is what I'm currently thinking about, the Acura is close behind the Prelude, except that I like the back of the Honda better. So you can see how this is a complicated process. The more I think about it the more I want a prelude. But then I think of how easy the VW would be to park, and how much more room I'd have in the back for speakers. But then I think of all the trunk space in the Prelude. Such a tough decision. At least I'm not indecisive with school crap...haha. I mean, the next three months of my life will be put into achieving this goal. (I bet you hate that I don't have the same kind of motivation towards school. But I still do fine. 70's + always.)
I'm thinking of honestly just working as a cashier somewhere. I mean, I've applied at multiple camera stores with to no avail, as well as Futureshop multiple times. I'm thinking of just sucking it up and working 4 days a week 5-10, and Sundays as a cashier somewhere. I mean, I've checked the pays, they all average around $10-$11 an hour, which, from my calculations with the amount of hours I'm willing to put in, is roughly $1200 a month with tax reductions. So, $1200 X 3 = $3600, which is perfect for a $2300-$2500 car, + 1 year's insurance. (Then I drop my hours down to twice a week, I'm able to drive to work, I have money for my phone, gas, and a hundred or two hundred to spend on clothes/food/movies/drinks/games/gym membership & whatever.

(I also have to have a plan for everything in life, this being the plan for my next three months. Goodbye afterschool life of doing absolutely nothing. This will be good, I'll have something to do, time will go quicker, meaning, a car will be parked in the driveway before I know it. Not to mention my EASY final year of high school. I even switched out my Gym to Art, which, wasn't because I'm lazy, it's to make room for being able to work after school, PLUS, art is a million times more beneficial to me getting into a photography programs once I graduate than kayaking down a river in gym in... hah!
1
What am I feeling right now? I have absolutely no freakin' clue.
The first full day of school was today. It was alright I guess. Not sure how I feel about it yet.
We chose our locker specifically on the corner of the school in hopes for a less crowded area, but nope, looks like it got more crowded than last year. Dislike.
Also, the way people just walk off is kinda annoying. Like..you're in a conversation with somebody, and talking, then another person comes by and says hi, and they sorta somehow manage to shift around to that person, start talking, and then walk away. Like...are you serious? Did that shit just happen? To me? Like...wow. Just wow. I don't even know how I feel now.
First day back to school - and I'm already dreading it. I have to switch out of Gym. Honestly, gym's gotten pretty stupid too. I used to love gym. It was fun... but now they have a week camping trip for the grade 12s, and a ton of off campus stuff. SURE it's amazing, I love it, I should be thankful, not many schools go golfing, kayaking in the river, bowling, skiing, camping, ice skating etc. but it conflicts with so much this year.
This year I want to get working as much as I possibly can. I've applied at Futureshop, (two locations) and a place called Seneal's Camera here. It's a more professional place. Both job opportunities are awesome, and fit my perfectly. Both something I would absolutely love to spend a lot of time doing. Plus, I want to make money, and save up for a car hopefully, by spring 2011. (OR SOONER!!) I've checked online too, I found a 1998 VW Golf - Yellow - Automatic everything, sunroof, steering, cruise control, perfect condition from a dealership. $2,300. Honestly. I would buy that without hesitation if I had $2,300 right now.
So, I'm hoping to work after schools a few times a week, and then hopefully either a full day Saturday, or Sunday. I would like to start saving, hopefully have that amount within two to three months. I want to have the car, insurance for a year, gas money & phone bill paid. I just want a job, I think it would make my life a lot happier right now. Not that I'm not happy, but I just feel so lost without anything to help drive the wants I have.

So yeah, today was alright. School went by fast. I have an easy year, the teachers seem nice so far, I'm REALLY hoping a certain somebody get's her request to change her class so her spare's with mine. I'm also hoping I can drop Gym, move my Art 20 into the gym place, then put Art 30 in place of where Art 20 was. Is that too hard of a request? I need these requests filled by next week too. Hopefully it all works out. Right now I wish I had somebody to talk to. There's only a few people though that I really feel a million times better after talking to, and none of them are around. It kinda sucks, it's making my mood worse, I feel somewhat lost.

I hate when people text you something short too. Honestly, I text "Hey, how was your first day of class?" and get a "it was good urs" like are you fucking serious? .... go on? good. Well isn't that freakin' amazing. Let's end the conversation right there. "Good thanks" At least I have the time to spell out "yours" and even took the time to think about you & how your day might have went. Like wow. People piss me off. A lot of people do. So many stupid people live in this world. Doing some of the dumbest things, like don't they have brains? Think about shit before you just do. Everything has a meaning, and everything impacts something. So seriously, next time you do something, think about it.
Damnet.
Hope everybody has a good weekend :)
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Ollie


Ollie
Originally uploaded by Spencer Photography
Well, today seems to be Wednesday. My last day of going to bed whenever I want, waking up whenever I feel, and doing whatever I would like to in the day. It's the end of summer. It was the fastest summer yet, but also the best, and most memorable. School starts soon, I guess that's not a bad then. Hell, I can't even complain, one core, 2 options and spare everyday.. I probably have the easiest course list in the school. So I can't complain. It's going to be a good year, from what I've heard grade 12 has been the best for everybody. I'm optimistic about it, I think it's going to be good. No, scratch that, I don't think it will be good, I know it will be good. I get to ride to school every morning with someone who I care a lot about, and by ride to school, I mean we're going early, because that's the only way she will have the car, this creates time to prepare for the day, get Starbucks, or grab breakfast on rushed mornings. Then the day begins, with my easy classes. English, spare (2 hour lunch) Gym, Psychology. Easy. Day ends, go home etc. So I am positive it's going to be an amazing year. It's the final year too. All our life up to this point has been spent mainly in school. Learning, training, for what? The real world? But...the past 12 years have been the real world? No? I know they haven't. Which to me sounds scary. It's only just the beginning. We have been learning for these past years, to now be prepared to set foot into living life on our own terms. I am happy to be done it, and to be able to get out and achieve my goals and dreams, and do what I want to do. I'm slightly sad however, that it's over. It's a once in a life time thing I guess, (Unless you fail or drop out or something and go back) but I will never see this young age again. I'm not sure how I feel about getting older. I want to be older. I know all parents say no no, you want to be young. I don't full understand it, maybe when I'm older I'll wish I was still young? Probably. But right now, I was to be older, so I can have more freedom, more options, more things to do, places to go, people to see, money to make, dreams to achieve.

I applied for a job a few days back here. I'm worried, I REALLY want this job, I NEED this job. I applied at a camera store, a more professional store than Black's. When I went in and handed them an application, they asked what camera I used. I told them I used a Canon 450D. I don't know if that was enough. She said so many people apply in the store, and don't even know what camera they're using. I've worked long and hard on my resume, and I must admit, I am a little impressed with myself on it. I'm hoping they read it through, and take time to actually check out my Flickr on my business card I attached. I think if they check my Flickr, they will definitely see that I know what I'm doing when it comes to photography and such. I guess I can just hope for the best, and hold the bank down until I get a new income.
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Sunday

Eh eh eh. It's Sundayy.
Lol.
I need to get back into blogging, being creative, being inspired, and perhaps inspiring.
This is my last week of summer holidays. It's raining outside (Disgusting rain, not even the nice rain) School starts soon, which is alright. Don't know how I feel about it.
I have all the shopping done and am pretty happy with everything right now. My classes are absolutely amazing, they could not get any more perfect. Seriously, Core / Option / Option / Spare every day, and my spares are even with Abbey! Seriously, no, it's cant get any better, it's perfect.
So I guess I'm looking forward to it, and getting it done with, my final year, school. It's incredible to really think about it, my entire life up to this point has been lived in training, learning, being educated in school. Once it's done.. I'm into, a more free life? More options, more to do, no homework, no waking up and having to go to school. Like wow. It's incredible to think, to know, that my life is just beginning. & not to be cocky or anything, but I'm also pretty confident in what I want to do after I graduate. PHOTOGRAPHY! I already do it!! Can I wake up every single morning, at whatever time, perhaps have work, perhaps have a day off? Maybe even work a few days a week, or work the entire week! Whatever I have booked. That's amazing to me. Being booked. I want that, people to call, want photos, or services, and book me. I mark it on the calender, and that's a day of work. Wow. I don't even know how to explain it really, or if I'm getting this out right. Probably not. Lol.

So, everything's pretty good right now. I'm pretty happy.
I think I'm going down to my buddys house to play some xbox, have an all niter I think.
Gotta have one of those before school starts. I got eyedrops too, cause even looking at computer screen or TV's for like an hour just destroys my eyes. So hopefully they work.

Today my flickr went up 600 views. I was a little worried, I mean, where did they come from?
I did some research and still couldn't find it, but I had a feeling a friend of mine might have been looking at them. So it turns out she was, and she showed her dad, which is really cool. I think they looked at all of my photos, which is also really cool :)
It made me actually look back at some of my older work, some of the stuff I uploaded two years go. And then I jumped back to my current day work, and right as I did that, the goosebumps went crazy!! All over the place. That happens to me when something significant happens. I realized how far I have come from two years ago. From shooting low quality images of bee's with a tiny point & shoot, to spending vacations with my best friend in NYC and producing some incredible work. It's crazy. Comparing my OLD OLD work, to my current work that I'm uploading. It still sends goosebumps down my spine.
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Wednesday

Well, here I am. Still alive. I made it. I feel amazing, and am really happy. With everything. My summer has been the best in the books to this date, and I don't think anything else could be better, or have been better. Summer was amazing. Ontario was fantastic, just being there with my best friend makes everything worth it. The long months of working the shitty job, helping people lose weight and listening to complaining, and getting asked to do this and that, over, and over and over. It's always been worth it, anything is worth it. Even going down for a week in the winter to ring in the new year is worth it. And I'm incredible grateful for all the opportunities I get. With working, and with being blessed with such a good friend, and with the fate that has brought us back together with an even closer relationship than we had when we were back in kindergarten. It's unbelievable really. Being in Ontario was amazing, I've said it once, and I can't say it enough. I can't even find a word that emphasizes how great it truly was. We don't even have to be doing anything, just hanging out, talking, watching movies, walking around the town, everything. It means a lot to me.

New York City, was honestly a dream come true. Never had I thought that at my age I would be making to it NYC. Sure, maybe I thought someday when I'm hopefully a famous photographer I would travel down there to do something for perhaps Vogue or Elle magazine, but not at my age did I think I would be visiting NYC for a vacation - with my best friend. Seriously? I can't even describe it! It was unbelievable!! I didn't take too many photos, however, the ones I did take turned out to be breathtaking. Looking over them I can't even believe I can say I took that shot, or that it's mine! So, later today, or, within the next 10 minutes here I'm heading out to the mall, I need a new pair of jeans, and I am bringing in the stuff I want to get put into the books. (Like I did last year) So this means a book will be sent out your way, probably not for a little while as it takes them ages to finish, and then mailing it will takes a few days too. But I will have it done, and I can't wait for you to see it Chrissy! :p
Hehe. New York City 2010.

So yes, I don't even know what else to write about my summer. If I tried, I would just end up all excited about how freakin' unbelievably awesome it was and eventually start just mashing the keyboard out of frustration of not being able to find the right words...something like "zaskrfgahjekrghsegrkhwl3t4298dfgaesrgaejrghakergjhsekjhrgiajwehrighaeirgaedrg"
And then I would mistakenly press a series of keys that would turn my entire computer off, and then it would all go down the drain. Hahaha! So I'll refrain from it for now.

Definitely keep checking out my Flickr.
I'm uploading one photo a day in moderation, with a few breaks from NYC upload to Cambridge uploads. Mainly of Ollie, or really cool doors that caught my eye. But yes, keep an eye on there. Check it daily as I'll have something new everyday!

Also, thank you so much Chrissy, & Paul, & Kailey & my broski Braden.
Seriously. That was the hardest goodbye so far. I was all confident in not being teary eyed this time, because I guess it was closer to school, and I had stuff to look forward to about coming home too, but right at that gate, it all went downhill and Spencer almost cried. I did cry, like what the hell kinda man cries at an airport. Well, I do. All the way through security. The lady looks at me "Any aerosols, liquids, firearms in your bag?" I just shake my head no... She starts putting the bag into the bin. "Are there cameras, laptops, cell phones, mp3 players in here?" I shake my head yes. She said it kinda sarcastically. I just dumped it all out and let her put it in separate bins. The lady after the scanner was sympathetic though, I'm not sure if she had been watching me from the gate, I felt she had been, I don't know why. I think I beeped when I went through, and she asked to see my hat. I guess the top has metal in it, but she made me smile when she said she really liked the hat, and wasn't going to confiscate it only because it was Superman, and not the blue jays :) So thank you guys, so much. I can't even put how thankful, and grateful I have such amazing people in my life. You guys are like family, and I care about you all like family. I had an amazing time, and am so thankful for it, and couldn't be happier. I hope you guys all have an amazing rest of the year, and perhaps I will see you on New Years again or something? :)

Ps: Sorry I didn't get this up sooner. Seriously, I'm like "Chrissy! I'll have a blog up tonight" *Crickets* Where's the blog?
Okay okay, I'll have it tomorrow for sure...
As I'm sitting in a movie with Abbey, *Crickets*
haha, so now it's 11:41, and I'm off to the mall to have these books done! :)



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No easy way to say goodbye

Goodbyes are always the hardest. July 27th - August 21st went by incredibly fast. It was an amazing time, more than words can express. School starts soon, that means saying goodbye to everything summer brings. Soon it will be 6 months of snow, cold mornings, (and I mean COLD as in -38C school's still open) Goodbyes are always the hardest.
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Thursday

0

Art.



I love this.

I also love this quote..
"You only live once, and the way I live, once is enough." - Frank Sinatra

5 days. So excited I'm off the charts.


I got really inspired and went out and shot a ton of photos with a lens I'm borrowing from a friend, I love what I produced today.
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Some things on my mind..

I miss you. More than you think. I'm going to miss you, more than you will ever think.
But it's okay, I think it is a good thing.

Ontario - 6 days. OMGosh. I still remember sitting in class, with a small "countdown" application on my iPod, it stated "181 days." I texted Braden "BRO!! ONLY 181 DAYS!!! WOOO!!"
Wow. 181 days sure goes by fast. It's crazy really to think about. So much has happened in 181 days, I seriously don't even remember much of it. I guess that's life though. Times flies. I guess this could relate to the saying "Time flies when you're having fun." I guess I was having fun. I still feel really in the moment currently. Living with what's happening around me, and really enjoying it. I believe this summer has been the most meaningful to me so far, and I also predict it's only going to get even better, more meaningful, and create tons more memories. I'm in love with my life right now. (I guess that sounds pretty cocky, but I mean I love my LIFE, not myself) Just the people that surround me, my inspirations. I'm living just being able to sit at home, with no plans, nothing that MUST be done, and hang out with my best friend for a "skype hangout." We had skype on for 11 hours yesterday. I bet you don't believe me. But we have pictures proving it. 11 freakin' hours. That's pretty much the entire day. That's crazy. Seriously!! We obviously did other things, I lifted weights and such a few times, we listened to music, we both took a short break or two leaving to play xbox, or talk to our families, grab something to eat etc. But it's was 11 hours. Yesterday somebody asked what I did in the day. I told them I hung out on Skype with my best friend. They replied sarcastically "That sounds fun." It kinda struck me. Probably more than it should, but really, it was fun. To have the kind of connection with somebody you have known ever since you can remember, and to the technology that allows us to connect as if we were literally right beside each other. It means a lot to me. I don't think many people will ever really understand the significance either. To be so close to somebody you have known for years, yet so far away? Everybody in life comes and goes, people move cities, countries, etc. To have such a bond with somebody, that lives on almost the opposite side of the country, is just crazy. That's more than "true friendship." It's amazing.

We went to Elbow Falls today. The water levels were really high since the last time, obviously from the constant rain and crappy weather here lately. It even rained a bit while we were there. It was still really nice, and I still got some nice photos :)

The previous two nights before last night were brutal. I did not sleep at all! But, this happens every single year. You would think I'd be used to it by now enough to be able to sleep, but nope. It's terrible. Being awake at night alone sucks. Probably one of my biggest dislikes. Usually I have my iPod which is good I can put on some Il Divo for a bit and then I can sleep again, but the past nights my iPod was dead (It's summer!) These sleep issues are caused by my sub conscience. I guess I'm nervous about flying. I don't know why. It's something inside me. In my mind, I feel fine. Honestly, I love to fly. Taking off, going 500mph on the ground is such a cool feeling to me. Being above the clouds is amazing, I love it. But for some odd reason I am nervous. I'm the worst person at worrying about things you'll ever meet. I don't know. I wish I wasn't, but I find it makes me more aware of everything. (Because again, I hate not knowing) Anyways, last night I took some medicine for it. I finally got into bed at 1am, and literally passed right now. I slept the entire time, and woke up around 8:30. I woke up, looked at the clock and was like..woah, really? I didn't wake up!! That was the best sleep ever!! (Pretty sure I had some awesome dream about seadoos lol)

Some things I really love right now//
You. Soulja Boy. Explosions in the sky. Plaid shirts. Jeans. Popsicles. Monster. Arizona. Vitamin Water. Tumblr Blogs. Late nights with lights dimmed. Art. Instrumental music.

-Spencer

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Inspired

Right now I am incredibly inspired by a photographer by the name of Jasmine Star.
She's incredible. She's a lifestyle and wedding photographer, and her husband is her business partner. Amazing. She does some AMAZING work, and her life in general is really amazing.

"The more you fail, the more you succeed"
In her documentary she says this. Really inspiring to me. Something I've never thought of, something I don't think many people think of. The more we fail, the more we succeed. I'm still not entirely sure of this concept, but it's an intriguing idea to me. Failing, it can mean so many different things. I feel one thing is common however, and that is that failure is something we sometimes may fear, and definitely not something we want. But failing, allowing us to succeed? I've never looked at it this way before. To me, I take this as failing, something we surely try to stay as far away from as possible, actually may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps failing is good. Not good in the sense that we have failed at something. But good from the perspective that now that we have failed, we perhaps have learned, and from this experience, we have opportunity to try again. We can always try again. No matter what it is at, no matter when, or how. We can always try again. So perhaps failing the first time only prepares us and sets us up for future success? What if we come across a situation that we have failed before in the past multiple times. Let's say we fail the first time around. The second time around we succeed, but what if the third time around the same thing occurs. Do we fail or do we succeed? I think we succeed. Success is huge to me. I think it's my number one goal in life, succeeding as what I want to do and what I want to be.

Just something that I wanted to get out right after watching her short documentary :)

-Spencer
0

Soarin'

So. I don't know what to write. I just want to write.
Today has been crazy. I don't even know what to do. I really don't want to see something so amazing be gone. I couldn't handle it. I wouldn't know what to do. So many events that have meant so much to me, and have brought new emotions with them, emotions I haven't felt before. Emotions that I can't control. It's crazy. Being a teenager sucks. Nothing ever seems to really go the way it should, and everything seems like it's going to be the end of the world. I guess everything is an experience. We learn from such experiences, each differently, and we can take what we want from it.
This blog is sounding depressing. There's just a lot on my mind. I don't even know everything that's on my mind, nor do I fully understand what I do know. But I know one thing for sure, life is life. We live it. We breath. We do. Everything is for enjoyment. We get an education so we can get a good career, and we work in order to have fun. That's what life is. Fun. I guess we each have a certain role in life, and definitely specific goals we want to accomplish.

10 more days (Counting Saturday. I never count the day we're in though, because it'll be over just as fast as it began.) 10 days until I can step away from everything, perhaps it will even help me understand it all. This is probably going to look so obvious because of recent blogs and the order this is coming in. It's not what you think though. I guarantee I am making it sound far worse than what's really goin' down. But it's still something happening in my life right now, something that is on my mind, and something I just wanted to get down in words. I have no idea. All I know for sure is in 10 days, I will be soaring above the clouds...

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Upset.

Sometimes the most insignificant things in my life bother me the most. I need to learn to not take things so seriously. Well, normally I am like that. But when it comes to this, I'm not always so easy going. Maybe it's caused from events in the past. Maybe it's subconscious. I don't know what it is, but I'm sorry. < 3
0

Scary.

Wow. So, life's good. I think I've just been really in a "live the moment" mood lately. Taking everything as it comes. I'm CRAZY super super super excited to go back to Cambridge soon!! 13 days. Honestly, I still remember countin' down last semester from 180 days. Wow. Time goes by FAST. I can't believe it. I can't believe a lot of things right now. Mainly how fast time goes, and how soon I will be sitting with honestly the only friend that I feel so close enough as to call him a brother. It means a lot to me, and I just can't wait to sit back, and have an amazing summer with my bro. Hangin out, doin the stuff we do, and laughing non stop and the millions of inside jokes we have that honestly nobody would ever understand. Oh I can't wait.

Things are good. I'm really happy with where I am right now, and where I'm going. Where WE are. Where WE are going ;)

Yesterday sucked, a lot. I was down south cause I slept at a friend house there. We got up and decided to drive to the north, hang out, grab some dinner, go pick up Abbey, and then drive down to Stampede for a late evening out. I was pretty excited, it was going to be fun!
Well, as we're driving up from the south to get to the north, the darkest cloud I have ever seen blew in from nowhere. (And please take into consideration, I love storms, and I've seen lots of dark clouds) This cloud was PITCH BLACK. The entire city felt like it was in night mode. It wasn't raining, but the lightning was crazy, and the thunder was loud. We were driving, and we got RIGHT underneath the storm.


This picture really doesn't even do the storm justice. That little lighter cloud was moving REALLY fast circular, it really looked like a tornado was forming. Tornado's don't really happen here, well they do, but they don't touch down because they can't really get lower than the cross wind coming from the mountains that cuts them off I guess. Anyways, it was dark, and it was scary. But there was no rain. So we're waiting at the intersection in the photo above. The light goes green and we start going. Right as we get out of the intersection, a huge mist came out of nowhere and just covered the car. It was mist. It was the weirdest sound and feeling ever. It lasted literally 5 seconds, and then stopped. It was really weird. By now, we were honestly directly under the darkest part of this cloud. The lightning stopped, the thunder stopped. It was silent, eerie, and DARK. I was a little scared to be honest. We just kept driving however, trying to beat the rain and talking about how it would be better for it to rain now than later at stampede. oops. Spoke too soon. kaboom. We had no idea what the noise was. We heard it again, it honestly sounded like something from an apocalyptic movie. Like meteors crashing down. My friend driving was freaking out. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!!" "Man I don't know WTF!!"
BOOOOM!! Honestly, this hail was crazy. I've never seen hail this big before in my life!! It smashed the hood of his car, and we knew what was happening. My friend screamed "IS THAT HAIL!?" We both lean forward and watch the hood of the car. Another came crashing down, and just broke into a bunch of pieces once it hit the hood.

This is a picture somebody sent in to the weather network here. We knew we were in trouble. We both lean forward and looked up out the windshield. KABOOM. One hit right on the windshield. Just as fast as it hit, a big circular crack formed. My friend screamed "THATS A CRACK!!!" I was freaking out. I'm yelling "DRIVE GET TO THE BRIDGE!" .. It was too hard. All the dumb ass drivers decided to simply stop mid highway, instead of get to the bridge about 1km ahead. Honestly. Such idiots. We couldn't move, people were driving up the curb on the grass to get around people and get to the bridge, we couldn't get forward. We were stopped. We knew this was very bad. Then it started. It just started to come down. I've never seen such a thing. Every single piece that hit the window, smashed a huge crack in it. It looks like bullets hitting the windshield. They were coming down SO fast, SO hard and they were huge!!! We were sitting there, freaking out, both on our phones calling people to figure out what the hell to do. We couldn't even hear people on the other end the hail hitting the car was so loud. People were honking, it was a mess. It lasted about 5 minutes. We sat there for five minutes helpless and just getting pummeled. We were SO worried about the windshield actually cracking and shattering in on us. It was horrific. If a single piece of hail hit in a spot that another hit, we would have been done.



We finally got up the bridge as you can see in the picture above. But we weren't under it. Everybody else was. Such dumb asses.

After that we got home. The cars front bumper piece that comes out on the front was cracked and the corner broke off. His wiper broke off when hail hit the wiper, but I got that back on for him. The window was toast. And if you saw the car, I would say there was over 40 dent holes from the hail. It looked like he drove the car though gun fire. Brutal. Luckily his insurance should cover it. Still very scary.

So this pretty much ruined all plans however. The entire city was under a tornado watch. We couldn't go to Stampede. We just sat at home and watched movies. We watched Superbad, Step-Brothers, and the movie Gamer. Honestly, never get Gamer. It was the dumbest movie I've seen in my entire life. It seriously made absolutely NO sense. Honestly, it went from some guy fighting in a game with guns, to random half naked girls dancing around. It seriously made no sense. It was pointless, it didn't have any plot, and made no sense, again. One of the biggest wastes of money ever.

It's Tuesday now. That leaves only 13 days until I leave. Abbey leaves this weekend, but comes back next week for the week before I leave. She's getting her wisdoms out, I hope everything goes well. We'll have a week of movies :)

1
I have no idea where I'm going. Normally that would kill me. I must know everything, must have a plan for everything, and must always be knowing what's happening, and what's going to happen. But for once, perhaps the first time ever, I am okay with it. I am alright with not knowing. I don't even know what it is that I don't know, I just don't know. There's a lot going on right now, this summer has been absolutely one of the best. And I definitely know it's only going to get better. I can't wait until I get back on an Airplane. But again, I'm okay with being patient, because I'm enjoying it. It's been a great start to the summer, and it's going to only get better. But so far, I have had no real plans. It's been me, and somebody that means a lot to me. It has been the best. I'm okay with not knowing, not knowing where the road leads to. I have a feeling that it's going to lead to something beautifully spectacular.
1

God.

Wow. So, have you ever prayed so hard for something, and then it comes true, and you have that feeling afterward, that there truly is a god? A god that listens to you, a god you can always talk to about anything no matter what. Well, I've had this feeling many times before. So many times actually. I've never believed in god more than I do today. (I say that every time I feel like this though, but today's big)

So, lately I have been spending time with somebody who means a lot to me, and somebody I really care about. It's an incredibly long story, so I will just leave it at the fact that I really care for her.

Anyways, she got invited to a party this morning with some of her "old" friends. The group of friends that is into drugs (And not just entry level ones) drinking, and other dark stuff like that. Stuff I don't like. I guess it's not the fact that I don't like them because of that, but more the idea of somebody I truly care so much about to be around that. I know she would never do it, but just the risk associated with hanging around it is sometimes too much.

So last night I prayed. I prayed for her to be safe, and for her to be looked after and protected.

I woke up this morning to a text message "My sister's very sick, so I'm staying home to take care of her, and now the (group of people) are getting mad at me for not being able to come"

Obviously I calmed her down and explained how selfish it is of them to choose themselves over her sister. Family is always #1.

Today, I believe in God. I always have, but today, I really, really do.
2

Sunday.

This is a shot from Driven, which I went to a few weeks ago here. It was awesome, and still makes me drool looking at the pictures.

Yesterday I went to the Dentist. I absolutely HATE the dentist, every time I go I get stuck with the meanest one there, who picks at every single tiny problem in my mouth to try and make more money....the other dentist that works there (the main one) just told us she's a "government worker and just wants to make money" and always reassures me the things she pointed out are just the way my teeth are formed, and aren't as big of a deal as she makes it sound.
I still hate the dentist. It usually hurts, well, it always has hurt. Yesterday was different though. I got a new lady, and she was SO nice. She was very gentle, and actually talked to me and asked about my summer and such. It was much nicer than any other time I've gone. She was gentle, and did a really awesome job. Seriously, if it was a tradition to tip dentists like you do waitresses, I would tip her a lot!! After she was done with the check up / cleaning etc. the other Dentist came in. (The main one who owns the dentistry) and looked in my mouth, and we talked about NYC and such. This dentist is awesome, he's into photography as well (He's the one who gave me some equipment a while back for free!) We talked about all the stuff there is in NYC, and then he looked into my mouth. He made a joke about me having a big mouth, but then said that it was a good thing, because my wisdom teeth are able to actually fit in my mouth! (They are already clearly visible and grown in) He checked them and said they have room - so I am VERY happy about that. One thing I have always worried about is getting wisdom teeth pulled. Going to the dentist is one thing, but getting dental surgery would not go over well. So I was happy to hear that. In the end he said all is good, no cavities, and my stupid K9 or vampire teeth whatever they are have continued to grow in. So I'm pretty happy right now :)

I finished yesterday off with a 13mile bike ride in the evening, and tonight I am going for a walk with somebody ;)


This is an update, I'm editing this blog again:
So I'm on Skype...Papa comes in "OH LOOK IT'S ARSEHOLE! You got a girlfriend yet? Braden's got plenty, and he likes to share... you can have one when you come up."
Hahahaha oh my gosh I love Papa he's so funny!!
1

Wednesday.

Calgary sucks. Well, the weather at least. Honestly. It has been raining for 2 weeks. Saturday was nice, it was about 25 and we were so happy that the rain was gone...nope, this damn city decides it's going to rain again for the rest of the week. At first it was only until Thursday, I checked earlier today and now they're calling until Tuesday next week, and that's just cause the forecast only goes for a week, I'm sure it will last longer. Like seriously. What the hell is this crap. So stupid.

I'm down about 2 pounds now :) Pretty happy with that, still going to be working hard! Hopefully 10 by the end of this month! Then hopefully 10 by the end of July!? Woohoo! :) 6 Pack please come visit - thanks cya soon.

Going out with a friend tonight, and then tomorrow he's over here, and then Friday meeting up with another friend for a movie. :) The new Megan Fox one. Hahaha, Johan Hex or something like that? All I know is Megan Fox is in it. Lol.

There's this new lady who works with me now. She seemed very shy at the start! I think she was just nervous and overwhelmed with everything at work. It's been crazy busy lately. Last night we finally got some time to talk and meet each other and such, turns our, she graduated with my friends sister from the same school that I'm in right now, and had her wedding (2 months ago) shot by the girl I job shadowed!! So, she knows a ton of people that I know -- SMALL WORLD!! (Really, it made it seem so small haha) But it's pretty cool finding people like that. I kinda of feel bad :( We're all quitting right when she gets there!! I hope she's ok, and if not, I hope she doesn't stay and suffer, she's crazy nice, and I would feel terrible if she got stuck there.

I got asked by this woman my mom knows (And that I've met before) to assist her in shooting photos for the Stampede this year. She's REALLY well know, a really big Lawyer here in Calgary, on the committee for the Stamapede, and also does photography on the side! So, she asked me to come assist her! It's going to be an awesome opportunity to get my name out there. So I'm pretty excited about that. A little nervous, the email said "on the back of a golf cart" so...I'm assuming on the sidelines. No way in hell will I be on the road during a parade with all those eyes watching you...NO. (This goes back to my other blog -- people watching me take photos. + people watching me in general. I mean, even when I'm not taking photos, being on the spot is a huge NO.)

I'm really bored :( I've been talking a lot to a new...person. :) Haha. We were gonna got on a walk tonight, but because of this stupid city's weather - it got rained out. So I'm goin to hang out with another friend, and I think they are too with one of their friends. I think when we go to the movies Friday...they will be coming too :) Hopefully this rain stops so we can do something next week! No idea. Lol.

That's all. I have run out of stuff to discuss here. Have a good rest of the week!! :)
40 Days :)
2

Sunday :)

Today is Sunday! Every time I remember I don't have to go to school for a long time, I become ecstatic. Really, it's almost untrue, unbelievable, NO SCHOOL!!! Woohoo!!!! Puts a smile on my face.
Of course I have to go write my English exam on Tuesday, but hey, that will be CAKE!! It's English! You read a story, and answer the question. "Who is the antagonist" "what is the climax point" "what is this - simile / hyperbole etc." CAKE CAKE CAKE!!! Woohoo!!

I went to Driven 2010 yesterday. It was freakin' incredible!! All the custom import cars, I can't wait for a car. I'm hoping for it by Spring next year. (Maybe earlier) but I have to save a lot of money. But wow. I saw some really famous Youtube all-stars, Timothy Daleghetto, who has like 9 million subscribers. Wow. Pretty insane. Lamborghini, Ferrari, and SO many Subaru STI's. I want a white honda prelude, and then custom it with carbon fiber kits and lights and all that jazz :)


Here's a shot from it. I have so many more!! Haha.

I think I'm off to do a 10 mile bike ride now :)
0

Thursday.

I just started drawing, writing down whatever popped into my mind. Ideas, words, everything.
(Click it to view it large)
1

Thursday.


Shot by: Jörg Dickmann. (Hopefully I don't get another one of those locks on my blogger for having other people's photography on it. I'm citing it...and not making any profit off it!)

I'm sitting in comp/ graphics again. I'm running out of stuff to do in this class, actually, running out is the wrong word, I have ran out. I'm done everything. Every single project. I calculated up my marks and am around a 96% in this class right now, but that's just the computer editing stuff. I whipped through the photography stuff...heh, what a surprise.

I'm listening to Weezer - Beverly Hills on my iPod with the beats on, it's pretty sweet. But I'm bored. I have a whole hour left. Damn.

No school tomorrow, as it's graduation day for grade twelves. Pretty crazy to think I'll be one of those grade twelves graduating at this time next year. Woohoo! I am kinda lost at what I'm going to do once I graduate. I think I have it, but then again I don't know. I guess you can't really know, but just hopefully have dreams and ideas, and that would be to do something with my broski :) Maybe travel, that would be cool. Europe? Africa? UK? Beverly Hills? hahaha.

I have 4 days left of school. Holy crap. I can't type. The excitement is too much. Wow - wow. Friday I'm out at 10, and boom, I am DONE!!!!!!! Hallelujah. Hahaha, well, I still have my one exam on the 15th, but that will be a piece of cake.

I biked 5 miles last night (The route I plan on running) It took me 13 minutes to do the hill, and I biked the entire thing. It was crazy. I really didn't think I would be able to do it, I paced myself, and by half way I was going to slow up the hill, but still going. The mosquitoes were EVERYWHERE, so I guess that's what motivated me to kick it up and tank it up the hill as hard as I could. I didn't stop once, not even at the top I kept going all the way home. It was great, and I woke up and my legs felt great! No idea how much calories get burned by biking 5 miles like that, probably not as much as running, but now I know I can bike it in 22 minutes, perhaps run it in an hour and a half? Crazy!! I'm gonna' do it! I am!! And I'm gonna get that 6 pack out. It's hiding, what a little arse. But oh I will force it out. hahahahaha.

Summer. So soon. NYC. So soon. Every time I talked to Braden I get super excited. I cannot wait to see his face in the window of the airport haha!! Hopefully, I will shoot more photos while flying this year. I've said that every single time so far, and not once pulled my camera out on the airplane. No idea why, I HATE doing stuff like that. It's the only thing I dislike about photography I guess. Being the only one with a big camera out, everybody's heads turn. And when everybody looks at ME, I go RED. Awkward.... I love being with people and having it out though, I'm completely fine. No idea why. I just cannot take photos alone, well, at least when other people are around. Hah. This time I'm just gonna do it.. I'll probably pull out my laptop on the plane even and start editing some stuff hahahaha.

Wow. It has only been 7 minutes. Seriously? What will I do for the rest of the period.... I know.. 20 minute washroom break :)
1

In Class...

I'm currently in my Computer Graphics / Photogragraphy class, it's pretty simple. I'm pretty much done everything, as it's what I do...Heh, photography :)

So I worked on my English Oral all weekend, and like I stated in my last post, I was pretty confident about it. Well I go into class today, the first kids presents, I say to the kid beside me "Me next..." Boom, guess who's name got randomly chosen out of the hat...should have kept my mouth shut. But actually, I'm extremely happy about it. I went, presented my speech which I perfected and practised a million times, and then sat down. I made perfect timing, and some people told me they say the teacher giving me 3/4's in each column. So, I'm pretty happy right now. It's DONE, and OVER with. SO happy. The feeling of getting a major assignment over with like that feels great. Now I just survived for the next 6 days of school, and then write my final exam. I already know my final exam is going to be a breeze, it's reading comprehension, and, I have a way with words, essays and interpreting stuff. Maybe not the same way that I have a way with cameras and computers, but I still get 90's on my essays. Writing is easy. I love expressing my ideas and understandings through words, but not as much as I love doing it through a still image. But it's still pretty easy. And I like it.


I'm acing everything in this computer graphics class, I just got my mark back for my last assignment, 92% and I did it in one period! :)

This is a long blog. I have some exciting and motivation to express too. I am crazy super incredibly unbelievable excited for NYC and Cambridge this summer. I can't wait to see my broski, sit back and hang out. Then, to make it 1 billion times better, getting to see the big apple with my bro for the first time!! Oh my goodness. It's going to be one of the best summers yet. We have some awesome projects planned! :) I can't wait!!

Recently I watched a video of a guy on YouTube. He was clocking in around 200 pounds when he made his first video. He did a "20 day challenge" where you have to post a video response each day and do the workouts with him. He ran between 1-5 miles a day, and did a workout after each run each day. He did this back in November 2009, so it's over now. But when you watch Day 1, and then skip to Day 20...He went down to 180, now rocks an amazing 6 pack, and has some killer biceps. (Not as big as Paul's though...hahaha) Still, it really motivated and I am really pumped to start my own sort of "challenge." I plan to run every single morning from the time school's out in June here (June 12th) all the way to the end of July . I plan on running 5 miles each run. I know that's pretty ambitious of me, but I believe I can do it. Obviously I will be stopping and walking every little bit when I first start off, but by the end of July I know I'll be able to run the entire thing. I have the route planned out, and it includes one of the biggest hills in the area, so I know it's going to be a challenge but I'm so pumped. After each run in the morning I'm going to do some ab routines and bicep work. Then, hop in the shower, and the day begins. I will already be feelings amazing after doing the run and workout, and then realizing it's only 10AM (I plan on doing this in the morning, when it's not 31C out..) It's going to be great. I hope to drop maybe 10 pounds. (Probably more, but I will be replacing body fat % with muscle, so my mom said I would most likely maintain or drop a bit.)

So here's where my "challenge" comes into play. I'm going to be blogging DAILY after each workout routine. This is going to help me stay on track and stay motivated. I can't wait!! :)

1

new york city


new york city
Originally uploaded by mudpig
It is Sunday. Tomorrow is the last day of May. Holy crap. Wow. I'm so excited. Really, school to be done with is so exciting!!

I am pretty happy with my final oral presentation that I am presenting tomorrow. I worked pretty hard on it and feel I did it really really well. So I'm pretty excited to just go and get it over with, and get it over with well :)

I checked up my teacher online at ratemyteachers.com, and found her at a 1.6/10 rating with every single review describing how horrible of a person she is, and how she picks on students for no reason. I'm pretty glad to be out in less than 2 weeks!! :)

This weekend was pretty uneventful, and the upcoming week seems to be as well. All week we're having students present their presentation, so I think it's gonna be pretty laid back except for when I have to present. Oh well, it will go by fast, and then Friday's off for Grade 12 Grad.

I'm planning on doing some big blogs once school is out, and hopefully getting started on planning some of the projects me & Braden wanna work on this summer :)

Here's a small idea of one we want to do.
A Photography / Videography collaboration, where we both find a few strangers in NYC (Who don't look to be Tourists, we want people that have lived there for a long time) and ask them a question like "What is your favorite thing about NYC?" And then ask to take their portrait! I think it could be really neat! Being able to talk to somebody (Hopefully of older age if they've lived there all their lives) and find out their most favorite thing, and then being able to express their soul through an image to combine with the video footage to publish to Youtube, Vimeo, Flickr etc. We think it could be a hit! :)
1

Tuesday...

Well, it's Tuesday. School's done, so that's good.
I survived my Macbeth written final test in it, and I feel really good about it too. I filled in everything, wrote a ton, and I feel I knew everything I was writing down very well! :)

So, after that was done it was a big relief. So much stress was gone. Until...the teacher, (Who is looked at as racist by majority of the class) decides to throw on another book to it, and yes, it's another "play."

Are you kidding me? Two weeks left of school! Seriously? We have a god damn Final Oral Presentation, AND then our Final Final exam....And NOW you're going to speed up and throw us another book. The book isn't even in the curriculum, we're just getting it because she has nothing left to teach as we got done Macbeth early. This is a god damn joke. I hate school, I hate the teacher, and I wish she wasn't such an ass. Honestly. I hope her kid suffers just as much as all of us do in school, and oh boy I sure hope her kid gets sarcastic and racist comebacks at him when he tries to answer a question...

Can't wait for this crap to be done with.
1

Alot to talk about...

So, today is Wednesday. I just got home from going out and purchasing....my new lens!! Welcome to the family Sigma 10-20mm! :) You're going to work hard for me this summer! Hehe!
I'm pretty happy! :)

But, let us go back a little bit...All the way back to yesterday afternoon. I figure I will go in the order of the day, instead of the order of topics. (You'll understand towards the end of this)

Anyways, yesterday afternoon. I walk into English class. All is well, I just deal with how much I hate that class and try my best and give my full effort at everything we do in it. (Even Macbeth, although I dislike it too.) Alright, so it was a normal day. We went through our readings as usual, got into the "understanding" of the latest Act we read. (We're mid way through the last one now, yipee!) Anyways, it was going well. The teacher decided to go around the class and ask each student if they had any questions. We each HAD to ask a question or comment on something we may not understand, of something we do understand. So she got to one of the students. (Who happens to be from somewhere far East. No idea where, just over there somewhere...) So he asks her a question. He asks her if Macbeth actually wants to speak to the Witches, or if he may be hesitant when he pursues them. Alright, I must admit the question isn't the best. But hey, she was forcing us to ask, and we had to think of something! The teacher asked where he got the idea that Macbeth may have not wanted to be talking to the Witches. He told he he wasn't sure, he just felt that way from reading and wasn't sure if he was interpreting it right. So after he told her that he wasn't sure about where he got his "motivation" from, she straight up replied "What kind of question is that? Are you Chinese?"

Woahh woah woah. Let's hold on a minute here. Did I hear correctly? Did she just make a racist comeback to a student, better yet, a student who is clearly not anywhere close to Chinese. (And I must add, my school being on the top of the IB Program list in Canada, is FILLED with multicultural people from all over the world who come specifically because of the IB.)
The room went silent, and the teacher knew what she said. She even was silent. You could hear the mumbling of the students, and she quickly moved on and stopped asking students questions and moved into the reading. (She left the other 3/4 of the class question less.)

First off, this is not the first time this teacher has been rude, or make a sarcastic remark like that. Even today she actually made one about how nobody put up their hand to answer a question so she would be giving us all zeros. I cannot believe it really, and you really cannot go to a single person in the school as they all work together and will somehow find a way to brush it off. Some of the students have been talking about talking to the learning administration of the entire city about it. I'm not sure, all I know is that I'm super happy to be on summer holidays soon!

The next topic, now relates to my first part of this blog. (I told you it wouldn't be in topic order)
So, yesterday after school I called a guy up who was selling the camera lens that I just bought today (from the store) He told me he was going to sell it to me yesterday for $465, an amazing price!! Anyways, he asked me to meet him at the Superstore. So we did. We waited...and waited...and waited...I eventually called him back and his wife picked up (Obviously his home phone number) and told me to call him on his cell. So I did. "Where are you, I've been waiting for 20 minutes already!" He replies "I couldn't see you so I'm driving back home..."
Are you f*cking kidding me?? You can't find somebody who went out of his way to make YOU money, so you drive home instead of calling ME?? (He had my # from the start, I had to get his form his wife...) You gotta be kidding. I almost lost it. I told him to come back immediately. So the call ended, and we waited some more...Soon I get a call from him. "I'm standing on the yellow lines of the crosswalk, where are you?" (As he said that, I get out of the car and walked to the crosswalk....He wasn't there...) "I'm standing on them too. I don't see you?"
He tells me to go over to the Liquor Store, and meet him at the entrance, so we did. Again, he was not there....
Then, he says "The police station across the parking lot..."
My mom could hear him on the phone, and realized...The Superstore with a police station is the one in Coventry Hills. You MUST be kidding me...I then told him he's at the Coventry Hills one, and I'm at the Country Hills one...Honestly, I checked the email, he said "COUNTRY."
There's a 20 minute drive difference between Coventry, and Country. What a dumb ass... Even on the phone he was saying "I'm at Country Hills" and I'm saying "NO you're at COVENTRY"
God damnet. Then he got mad and said "cancel cancel cancel cancel!" I just hung up on him there...
Almost was late for work because of this idiot. Honestly. I could barely even understand him on the phone, and I don't think he could understand me telling him there's a difference between COUNTRY and COVENTRY. I was pissed. But, like my mom said, the lens was probably broke, or destined to be broken soon, and it was probably for a reason that this happened.

So here I am, where a brand new one. That's good. But now I'm stuck for the end of the year with a crazy racist teacher. I found out my final is worth 25% of my grade, which is awesome as I'm not doing to hot in that class and may be able to bring my mark up a lot at the end of the year! :)
Here's my first shot with it :) SO wide! It fits my entire room in one shot! Don't mind the mess please...LOL.
 
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