The End...or the Beginning

Ok it is the End and Beginning all in one.  The year is coming to a close with a few things still outstanding.  Me trying hard to plan the year ahead already.  Wow this is what happens when I have no work to clog my head with.  I am on the verge of doing things I would not have thought of doing a while back.  I am looking at something and I think I may have to go shopping.  Oh it is bad bad bad.  Not good.  I guess that is the price for having time to think and then see.  In the end I have reached the decision and that is I will go for it.  I have worked it out and it is not out of reach.  I am happy to say that in the end I will be much surprised and happier for having done the shopping.

Oh boy......stay tuned

Yeah.  Happy New Year Everyone.  I thought I would put it out there early.  I just wanted to wish 2014 an enthusiastic bow of appreciation.  Thanks once again, the ups and downs of life.  Cheers.  To 2015 may it be full of Great Health, Great Happiness and Great Wealth (for those wondering not everyone measures wealth in the same way but may you have what you need and a bit more to allow your passions to spring forward).

negative to positive part 2

So after a couple of days work I am seeing good results.  The next things I have done is changes the setup a bit.  I am now shooting off the tripod.  Camera still using the same settings with one change i am now using the white balance setting to the warmer tones.  I am using incandescent for white balance.  This is proving to remove the cooler blue cast that I am seeing out of the camera after I change the curve.

Outside of that the post processing I am now going with auto tone and auto color.  I have found this works well.  I am sometimes adding a single curves adjustment which I am clipping the highlights and the shadows to give me good colouring.

So this is the result of the auto tone and auto colour.  Not bad really.  Probably need to do some slight adjustment but I also do not have the exif data to know if the flash fired or not.  I am assuming that it did fire and that is why the harsher light.

This is me trying to find the right colour tone in photoshop.  As you can see it is cooler and has blue green tones.  I am also going with the fact that I was shooting auto white balance which may also result in this cooler tone.  

More to come 

Negative to Positive or how I am trying to move some of my old negatives to digital

First off this is by no means an exact science at this early stage.  As I am still really gathering information and working to try and put this together as best one can without purchasing a lot of gear.  That said I am not opposed to using some funds to purchase some gear.

So let us start with the basics here.

I am setup with the following gear.

Nikon D600
Lester A Dine 105mm macro lens ( f mount) - for those of you wondering these are similar if not the same as the kiron lenses.  They were used by dental offices to do photos of teeth prior to digital.  They are wonderful for macros and I would suggest an excellent lens.  You used to be able to find them cheap on eBay and such but since people have found them the prices are going up a bit.  That said they are great alternatives to Nikon branded lenses.  Fully manual by the way.
Nikon Mount bellows (improving the 1:1of the image I think)
Nikon SB 700 flash
Younguo 622 flash triggers
Light box
flash light
Nikon remote for shutter (no hands on the camera during the shot)
Some paper made into a roll for the flash
Paper cut and taped to the front of the light box for holding the negative

Camera settings thus far:

Manual mode
1/200 of sec on the shutter
ISO 100
f2.8
Flash setup at 0.0 ev

Here is the Nikon with the bellows and trigger for the flash.  Note I have been focusing with the bellows and lens to test out the results.  Thus far the lens is easier to work with in this configuration.

This is the light box and flash.  Normally I have the flash positioned behind the light box with the tube (white paper rolled up and taped) up against the back of the light box.  I then slide a negative into the green paper on the front of the light box and position it into place.  

At this point the setup is really about taking a photo.  I use Live view on the nikon to zoom in on the negative and then attempt to focus the image.  Using the flash light (see the list of things I have above in the setup) I illuminate the negative so I can see it on the live view screen.  Now once I have the focus setup.  I shut off the flash light and use the remote and trigger the shutter.

After this it is time to take the image into photo shop and start working the magic.  Below is an image that I have converted from a negative.  Note there is still a bunch of steps to go to get things looking good.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this adventure.

Let all begin

We have arrived at that time of the year where you get to peel back the layer and start new.  Get things in line to restart the engine and set the goals that will certainly be a challenge to live up to in about a week after the new year.

I am amazed by the large amount of stuff that gets piled into a year.  365 small short days that we try and squish into something more.  I know a lot of folks that simply are living with the time and hoping for something better. I am in a much better spot this year.  Not sure why but I suspect it has a lot to do with pressures at work and life in general.  I have found something a little more stable to stand on or something like that.  Nobody is immune from life, it creeps up on you and tackles you from behind and let me be the first to say it has certainly provided us with some fun this year.  

Mostly right now I am sitting with a pile of used kleenex beside me.  Yep 1st day off and boom life hands me a cold so my vacation is spent not sleeping and fighting this in the hopes it is gone in the next day or so.  what can I say it is simply just the way it goes.

I had some deeper thoughts on this but really we are all here living it day in and day out.  I have taken a longer stride into my pictures this year.  I have seen a lot of improvement when I go back I like what I have created.  I am always looking now for some opportunity to use my camera.  I have started to do some HDR stuff and I am planning some negative conversion but that we will see.  I think I mentioned I would post it if it works out.  1000 ways to not make a light bulb come to mind.  But that is the part that is both frustrating and inspiring I may get it working who knows.

With that my photos this year seem to be getting more interesting I think my mind is open a lot of the time and I am composing better.  Or I am just full of shit and the only person that really likes the pictures is me.  But if I am the only person that likes them so what.  I am the person that wants to create them.  On top of that I am really enjoying the post production process which is what I am truly starting to learn and develop those skills.

Lets talk about something else now.  Cameras and pictures are great but what about the rest of the creative process.  I have found that I am much more at home with creative people I love the creative mind set.  I first thought about this when I met some folks in Winnipeg at my Uncles funeral.  It was at that moment I thought wow I love being around people that are creatively open.  It was like the clouds cleared and I could see.  So as I have taken a look back at what I have been creating I have realized a lot of that has come with the desire that has grown.  I enjoy creating.  Even if the stuff never leaves my house it is what I enjoy and at time love.

Back to the holidays now.  I hope everyone is ready for the holidays.  I also hope everyone is ready to relax and enjoy and not get all stressed out.  This world is sooooo stressed it is seems like it gets harder for people to find that opportunity to unplug.  So hey, just relax, nobody needs to get all in a twist if the turkey is not quite 100%, really just enjoy the moment and the people you have with you.  Enjoy life.

With that have a great Christmas and I will either get another note in prior to the new year or maybe it will be a 2015 post.  who knows.

Cheers everyone.

Desire

in an effort to put something meaningful together I am finding that writing things is not as easy as one thinks.  I have struggled to try and find that little bit of something interesting and convey it to the world in an intelligent way.  Most of my ramblings come to me int he middle of the day or on the train on the way home.  Not exactly the best time to try and capture those thoughts or directions that I would take a comment.

I really do want this to be a place that is interesting and somewhat worth the time to stop in and read. That being said the ability to find a topic and hold it to make a point seems to elude me at times.  I have often had little thoughts about a story about a place in time in the future where things are not very bright.  My main character is Ryan.  He is a guy trying to continue to survive in the future.  Sometimes I think he should have a partner in life and other times I think he is better as a loner.  Ryan is a guy that is collecting the only thing that is valuable which is data.  He scavenges the outskirts for parts and pieces in the hope that he finds something that he can sell or trade.  The data has been lost or abandoned.  Most companies and other institutions are broke down.  The government uses people like Ryan to collect the data that is out there to use it for "good" purposes.  In his travels Ryan decides he can no longer use his normal approach to gathering he decides to go out further beyond the safe zones and see if he can find something that will give him more renumeration.  To find that big chunk of data the mother load if you will.  What he finds is something different, data that nobody knew existed that shows him what the world is and was.  A vision of how the government pushing things onto the people.  While out past the the safety of the zone Ryan finds he is vulnerable and has to draw on who he is and what he stands for.  He has to question what he is doing and why he is doing it.  There is nobody to tell him it is wrong or right he has to decide.

Ryan is now trapped out of the zone.  He has to survive but he also learned some dangerous things.  Things that others do not want him to know.  It is here that Ryan's true challenges start.  He returns to the safety of the safe zone with this knowledge and begins to see things differently.  He does not know who to trust or what to trust.  He begins to venture back out of the zone and search and discover more about what is truly out there.

So that is my thought my story my character.  I have not developed much beyond that but I am thinking maybe somewhere there is a story in this.

Enough for now and maybe now that I have that out there I can start to build it.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....??

Yeah back again for another moment.  Seems I have the need to get things out in the open.  It has again been a very busy few weeks.  There never seems to be an end to the things that are popping into our daily world.  Do this do that.  Lots and lots of things and yet nothing seems to be stopping us from getting through the days work. Work is a big push it is suddenly spend this budget and get it in before you take a break.  Then it is "oh are you checking emails when you are on vacation?".  Uh, NO!  that is why they call it vacation people.  I find it hard to think that I am working like crazy to meet short deadlines and high demands to only find you want me to what?  Work on my vacation?  I really do not think so.  I plan to vacation on my vacation in other words sleep in and enjoy my time doing the things I love to do with those I care about.  That said I am looking forward to holidays.  I am also hoping not to have anything to do with work.  I really feel like it has been a great bit of work completed in a short timeframe then it is time for a break to recharge.  So sorry guys not looking at my email.

Moving on.  I have been looking at things lately for moving my negatives over to digital format.  It has been a bit of an experiment.  I like my father inlaw are taking a slightly less traveled path for this process.  I will see how things go and if the results are anywhere worth talking about I will let you know.  Not because I care to share this activity but I really think those that put a little bit of useful information out there on the internet for people like me should get something back.  So I will try and add some useful content on the web.

Other things on my mind, well not a lot of stuff really.  I have been trying to find a way to look at getting more out of my picture taking trips.  Seems like there is a lot opportunity coming up so I have put some effort into trying to find some interesting locations to go and shoot photos.  I am hoping to maybe get out to some different places over the christmas holidays and see what can be found.  If I can't leave town then I will explore the city a bit more.  Couple of areas I want to explore a bit, night shots.  I am thinking maybe some longer exposures.  We will see.  Also I would like to do a few more HDR images.  They have become more of a favourite for me.  I enjoy making them and then seeing the depth in the image.

Moving away from the world of cameras lets get into the concept of what is happening in our house.  We have torn out the main wall.  Gone.  not pretty right now and definitely not really moving forward.  Biggest challenge to this is that we need to figure out our plan. Trust me we did the thing we felt we would never do that is to find a person to help us lay it out.  They did give us a plan but that plan is really not sitting very clearly in our minds.  The more we think about it the less we feel it is 100% what we want.  So we are sitting on the plan for bit and then we said lets think about the order in which the work is done and how much can we do if we needed to move ahead a little at least to get the flooring and ceiling done.  We have the hardwood and we are doing that install ourselves.  But the ceiling work is a job for pros that can mud and sand the drywall so nice and smooth.  So we will see probably move forward in January a little bit but I am certain the layout will change.  Our main designer that we have used Mickey was not really looking at the kitchen area as that is a specialty but we used a person she suggested and I think that has not panned out quite as well.  So we will move on and probably get Mickey to come back in.

So with that I have to go back to working on some patches on servers at work and probably should pay some attention to the systems.  But have a great week hope to post a few more times prior to the end of the year!

Catching up again

So folks here we go.  December has rolled in and we are at that point in the year where you wonder where did it all go.  2015 is looming on the corner with that ugly stare in its eye saying "guess what?".  I honestly do not know where things have gone.  Probably one of the biggest things this year has been our wonderful dog and his slow and graceful aging.  It has been strange to see the changes that have taken place the last few months.  Seems the more I think he is the same old fellow the more he becomes an old dog with sore hips and joints.  I am saddened to think that he is getting to that stage in life where we may not have him in our life.  I hate the thought that creeps in to my mind that I will have to make a choice some time soon in the future.  Really I know it will be a very sad and difficult moment.  To me the thought of deciding whether he will still be here or not just seems like a cruel step in life.  That said he is still here he still wags his tail.  He is wonderfully sharp for 12 and half years old.  The body may not think too much of the stairs in the house but we have come to grips with that and helping him get up and down.

Moving to other things that have gone on around here.  Let's start by saying the year has produced many fun things.  I see everyone becoming so independent from Traci and I.  As Traci has pointed out she is trying to hang out with me and do things with me as it is getting more common place that we have our life to live and the kids are really becoming so self sufficient that we are not so needed.  Not that we are totally out of any of their lives nor do we want to be.  But they just do not have the demands on our time as they once did.  That said we are left to basically do our own things.

We have been busy mostly with the general things in life.  No big adventures or plans.  I am for the most part finding that I am in a calm place.  Life is wonderful.  I know that when I get to this place usually something flies at me but I am hoping this is really just a good place to be right now.  So much depends on our own desire to be happy.  I have found this year that I am seeing my future a lot clearer.  I know what I have and that what have is what I need.  It is a nice feeling.

So I will wrap this short post up by saying in a couple of weeks I have a nice 2 week holiday from work.  I have a very busy work schedule in the next 2 weeks.  January is already planned for work and traveling for work.  I know the new year will come at me with a lot of stuff.  But for right now.  I am going to enjoy where things are at.  I am happy.

Peace and Love

Wait for it...

Yep that is it folks.  Summer months are behind  us and we are now heading towards that next season here.  Fall.  The light is softer in the evening and the air is cooler in the morning.  Hard to think that summer as we usually look at it is over.  So much happened in a short period of time.  Hard to keep it all in line.

Let me see I will turn back the clock a bit and put it out there.  We started with a summer of riding to work the long way.  I was turning about 60km per day on the bike and I was feeling the wonderful effects of being able to ride all the way into work.  The down side was that some that riding was on the road and it was definitely a bit more dangerous that I would like.  Only a couple of near misses but most people driving cars in the morning should have at least a coffee or red bull before they head out.  Just sayin.  But later in July they opened my favourite bridge in the world, the one closest to me and it gave me the ride I was familiar with back.  So now not much road riding and a lot less stress for me.

Moving on I was at a photo event at the zoo having a great father's day.  Traci had treated me to a really cool event where you get access to the zoo and there are only 200 people there.  No kids or not photography types.  Gives you a great opportunity to shoot pics of the animals.  Then I got the call that Lyndon had crashed on the track.  Hurt his knee and was off to the hospital.  Yes that is one of those oh crap moments.  Thankfully it was not major and he was going to be fine.  He had managed to hyperextend his knee as he clipped a hurdle.  It was not fun to watch on the video let me put it that way.  The other thing was he had hoped to progress in his pole vault which he has done quite well in and now it all came to a stop.  He was also looking at a spot on the summer games and team Alberta in the westerns.  So we suddenly had time.

I have to admit it was strange at first we had track events lined up and such in our calendar and then nothing.  Seems strange for us really as we are so often on the go with sports.  But June turned to July and we were not up to much.

The Girl?  Yes somewhere in there our girl was meandering in and out of the house and working and running and yoga'ing.  She was the sort that took summer and embraced it with a deep need to just relax.  I thought she would be more into visiting her high school friends but no.  She was not really wanting to do much.  She found work  at Canadian Tire and I think found space to just turn off the noise for a while.  We managed to take in some fun events.  I had a chance to go to couple concerts with her.  It was awesome to spend a bit of time and to laugh and have some fun.

Back to the summer.  Sinclaire was training but really she was healing from a knee issue that has plagued her for almost a year.  So running was more about training and not competing.  This fall we will see where she goes with it.  So mid July rolls around and they tell us they want Lyndon to go for pole vault to Saskatoon as part of Team Alberta.  But we are concerned if he can compete with his knee.  Not to bore everyone but yes he did make it back and he did compete.  It was a great time and great opportunity for him.  He was 100% and cleared to go so he went with the team.  He vaulted great for a person that had 2 weeks to get his form back.

Well it was getting hotter and cycling was awesome.  I did sooooo much of it in July.  I looked at my calendar and I think I missed 8 days the whole month.  I lost some weight as well which is important. The month moved on and we rolled into August.  In that time I found a vacation.  The kid he went hiking and then came back for a hurdle camp.  Me I went fishing twice.  The kid came with for one of the outings.  I had forgotten how much I loved fishing.  I have not fished that much in the past few years.  To be honest not at all last year.  So getting back on the stream was awesome.  I like to call it touching the water.  It makes me feel so calm and simply put it is one of my favourite ways to spend time.  We fished and we laughed and smiled and had a great time.  It was perfect.  Traci being off work chose to relax and read and read some more.  I tell you she is wearing out the iPad with books....well not wearing it out but if we had to have a library it would be a large one.  We did a bunch of fun stuff on August long.  We went to sunfest which turned into a shopping spree in inglewood.  I had a good time just watching Traci and Sinclaire hang out and walk and talk.  Sinclaire and Traci did manage to find lots of great one of a kind things to purchase but that was what it was all about anyway.  Sun and shopping.

So the vacation came and went quickly and back to work we all went.  The light started to disappear in the morning on my rides in to work.  Noticed that right away.  Sinclaire started to stack stuff in the front room for University again.  Lyndon he simply took it easy hanging out and working on his drivers test.  We squeezed another weekend in to go fishing and it was awesome again.  I managed to cut my leg open.  Should have put stitches in it but hey we were fishing.   I joked about using a hook and some fly line.....but we didn't, would have hurt more than bashing my knee on the rock did.

So we wound down summer, we had hiked, biked photographed, shopped, relaxed and read books.  We had one more little surprise, our roof needed to be repaired so instead of the money for the kitchen we now have a new roof.  Oh and while the summer rolled on I was spending all my other free time painting the outside of the house as we needed a new coat of paint.  So the house is almost fully done, some weather delays.  But the roof is new.  the eaves are coming soon...delays there as well.  I have jumped ahead a bit.

August came to a close it saw us driving to Lethbridge again with the girl, moving her into a new dorm and watching her start another chapter in her life as a student.  Lyndon he managed to get his drivers license.  Got his car registered and he took off with his friends and his freedom.  He is enjoying the driving (maybe not the coolest car but it is his car) especially the freedom.

Summer has come and gone the morning rides are getting frosty.  Then good Ma nature drops a winter bombshell on us.  Yep snow and ice and cold.  Way too early folks.  The bike took a break and we all growled and shook our fists at Ma Nature.  Well maybe I did that but it was thought by everyone.  I spent the last week riding a train.  thinking It is way too soon for this.  But hey that is how it goes.

So with the passing of the summer came a few last things.  My parent celebrated their 50th anniversary together.  It is amazing that they are here in their lives and at this stage.  Seems foreign but it is where they are at.  My grandfather gave way and decided he had finally reached a stage at 93 almost 94 years of age where he wanted help.  So my parents and sister moved him out of his apartment at the end of August into what sounds like a wonder place for him to live.  He has meals and friends and I think maybe just maybe a bit of happiness.  I think he was bored and lonely and probably not eating what he should.  I need to call and talk to him this weekend.  See how he is doing.  Then I turned around and found myself looking at my 20th wedding anniversary!  Wow, 20 years.  Seems strange to me, almost foreign, I think I mentioned that earlier.  What a crazy ride.  What a wonderful person to take on this Journey.  I am not sure how to fully express this but my life is so very complete with Traci in it.  I think about her and our family and I smile both on my lips and in my heart.  It is what makes me the happiest.

So with the 20th out of the way I have a brief sadness.  The day after marks 1 year since my uncle Rick passed away.  I thought about him often since he has gone.  I thought about him and his family a lot on the 11th.  I feel that emptiness, I am sure no where near the level they do but I feel it.  I have no idea what it is that makes this feeling hit me this way.  But I think it was that very subtle and gentle way that Rick had of being a part of who you are.  I thought about Rick, I laughed to myself and smiled, he brought that happiness to me in my memories.

I do not want this to end on a sad thought.  I want this to end on a warm and positive thought.  In the past couple of months I have had moments in my life where I have thought about all of my grandparents at some time.  Grandma Fischer, Grandma Forrest, Grandpa Fischer.  I have thought about Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Sisters, Nieces, Nephews, and parent.  I do not know what the mind has wondered to thoughts about everyone, but just so you know at some point in the past couple of months I have thought about you, I probably smiled and laughed to my self when I did.  Because life is awesome.  I hope everyone has had a great summer and well we all know that Fall and Winter are around the corner.  In some cases Winter came for a brief visit.

Take Care everyone!!!!

The upside to the way things are?

Hello again.  So I guess the posts are fewer and maybe that is a good thing in some respects.  I am left to ponder how this spring has progressed.  Easter is here.  The bike has sat in the garage idle waiting on the wheels to spin.  I have found myself lacking in the ambition to pedal.  Sometimes this ambition has been diluted due to the spring weather other times it is just me justifying the need to not ride due to the extra effort I have to put in on the road right now.  We are still in repair mode on a bunch of the pathways since the flooding last summer.  I am left to my own voice in my head telling me that I do not want to ride that path on the road right now.  Which is why I am sitting around too much waiting for something better to take place.  This is where the rant may begin folks.  I have had this debate with myself about how much the one bridge changes my ride, it would be so awesome to have the bridge back.  Well the other voice is sitting on the other side going be grateful for the pathways you have and take the bike and ride.  This struggle has ensued for a couple of weeks now.  Cold temps and wind, rain, snow and then bam warm sunshine for the afternoon.  Well I for one feel frustrated by our winter, I loved winter as a kid, street hockey, sliding on the snow and ice, skating outside.  So many things, but lately this winter stuff has been unrelenting I for one would like some warm weather something to let me turn off the furnace and shed a few layers.

So what is the upside of this situation?  Is there an upside?  I do not know.  At this point there is nothing that a person can do but take the plunge or don't.  Which way do you go?  I for one have reached that point where I truly feel the need to change the mood.  Blah is boring and that is where I feel like I am at.  So here is to hoping that monday will look a little less like January and little more like sunshine and warmth.

Have a Happy Easter, stay safe love yourself.

April posting

So not much posting going on here.  Seems to be a little competition for the workstation with Project life.....so I will suggest to those that are usually interested in what is happening, I am not going to have a lot of time for posting.  I wish it could happen more but I will check in as best I can.

Marching ON!!!!

Yep March is here, have to say I am not sure what happened to February, I am still in shock at the cold probably.  Again it is that time for the snow to melt and the roads to open up and the bike to take to the street.  Once the ice clears.

I am just saying hello to all and I am 4 days away from holidays and a nice vacation with my son and father inlaw.  So have a great March if I don't get back here soon.

Think Big

So always wanted to be a big person.  Yep as a little person in life you grow up wanting to be a big person.  I wanted to be 6'4" and 250.  No question. Never happened. Then I realized as I grew older that maybe not being that large was a good thing.  I credit my spouse with keeping me to a more normal size as I think I could easily have turned into a very large round person.  Yes I could see that happening.  So in thinking big I was thinking I wanted to be that big guy I saw on the street or on tv.  Now I am much happier that I am me a regular size guy with maybe a few pounds that he needs to shed.  I am sooooo happy not to be 6'4.  Well maybe not the tall part.  Anyway I am who I am is what I am saying.  So what is the point of this?  I really have no point but I was just thinking about things as a kid I wanted to be huge, now as an adult I am glad to be where I am.  Funny how your perspective changes.  Anyway, I guess that is about it.

Love yourself 100%!!!!

I feel great right now I feel like I have found a very positive stride.  Oh yeah 2 full days not a soda can in sight!  Working on day 3.   Tough but my goal is to make it 5 full days without a soda.

Cheers.

My first car

Well Happy Valentines day to those of you feeling the love today.  Always enjoy this day it is so nice to have a day where you get to give a few extra kisses and get a few extra back.  It was a little strange as my lovely wife is away but she will be home in another day.  I did manage to have a little of the high quality chocolate left for me, I think she may have had a helper.

So what about my first car?  Somewhat strange that title is it not?  What about the car or what are you driving at?  Well, I thought I would ask you about that first time you got behind the wheel and drove away on your own.  Remember that feeling, you could crank the stereo or simply drive wherever you wanted to go.  I am going to take you way back now as some of you may remember being allowed to get behind the wheel and not have to put on the old seat belt.  Seems like a really bad idea now does it not?  Well as you got better at driving, maybe more adventurous you maybe drove a little fast or did something silly/stupid with your car, maybe drove it a little harder than you should have?  Maybe you did not change the oil or fill it up with gas?  Low tire?  Do I have you wondering where I am taking you?

Well what eventually happened to that car?  Did it breakdown?  Did it go to the junkyard or maybe you just sold it and got something newer a little nicer?  Upgrade those options?

Well let's say that car is your body the shell or physical being that you call self.  Would you drive it harder than you should, push the limit or maybe even do silly things?  I spent some time last night watching a video on sugar.  The fact is that I am one of those people that do some of those silly things with my body.  I went to hockey tonight and skating felt like I had lead for legs.  Maybe it was the pizza I had on Wednesday?  Maybe it was not enough sleep?  I keep coming back to this video on sugar.  How does the food industry get away with putting HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in everything?  Fructose and Sucrose not good things for you or your body.  

So more to the point I have lived in denial the last year and half or so.  I fell off the wagon and have had a very hard time curbing my love for an ice cold soda.  Not that I drink 5 or 6 a day.  I am more of a 1 a day sort of guy.  I like one during the lunch or maybe on the weekend.  I am tired of fighting this craving.  I have spent the past 2 months working to cut back this intake.  I have cut it by half.  but Now I am going to cut that back again.  I am working towards maybe one every so often.  I think a person can still have one every now and again.  But the daily intake will stop. It is one of those things for me, I know what needs to be done and I had it under control and then boom stress or work or something pushed me and off the wagon I went.  So time to get back on.  That is right I have this first car, my body.  I have certainly not always treated it the right way but it is time.  Taking control and putting an end to this out of control desire.  I hate it and I know it is simply mind over matter.  So this weekend I will focus on cutting back  so that next week we will reduce the intake by half again.  and then in March it will be half again.  and so on. 

So as for the title of this post?  Me, my body, the physical being that is me is my first car, it is also my only car, I will continue to work on improving what is happening to it.  Yoga, healthy foods, hockey, biking, calm positive thoughts and grateful feeling for who I am and what I have.

Make sure you are taking care of that first car.  It is amazing what can happen if you do.

peaceful simple honest love

Hello World....uh hello?

So again much time has passed since I posted and I can't really say if there is any particular thing that makes me want to post but I am ready to write again.  I have for the most part found my stride, I have to say I have not felt this good in a long time.  Almost finding balance, peace with myself.  Hard to do  sometimes as we are so busy with this that and the other thing.  I am really focused on doing things that make me happy, I even have my wonderful wife keeping me in check when I start to slip a bit.  No room for the negative, none.  I have been focused on the "now".  That and "gratitude".  You know the start of the year the word was change, it was what I wanted from myself, a change to the positive and to find that balance of peace and lightness.  Trust me the tests have been out there but in front of me, yes there are moments but I have pushed past them with a great amount of pride. I think in the big picture it just feels like a different time for me.

So let's see what we have to report on, well I have been doing yoga and that definitely has exposed the physical need to strengthen and focus/calm my mind and body.  Wow, who thought sitting on a mat would be so hard.   Yeah right, watching some people bend in stretch in ways that make me grimace just thinking about them.  But I focus on me, and what I am doing.  The best part is my wife is there with me, we are doing this together, I have found this wonderful reconnection with Traci. It is an amazing feeling, just love it.  Anyway nobody needs the mushy stuff.  The Girl is on the count down to 18, she is under 2 weeks away.  Hard to believe she will be 18 but it is true.  She is such an awesome girl, amazing kid.  The young man has just come out of his first pole vault competition this past week, he and I are bachelors this week as Traci is in sunny hot phoenix with her Mom staying at my parents place.  Not sure but I think the US economy will get a resurgence of some sort with those 2 down there shopping.  Good for them, little girl time.

So photography my new found passion, I have some news, I am officially spending too much on lenses.  you heard it here.  I was allowed to spend a bit of cash on a dream lens for me.  It is not new but it is awesome.  I have to sell a few things to make it work but that is the trade off.  The best part is this is the lens I was hoping to have when I go to NY in a month.  See that is how awesome my wife is she said go for it, just make it work she knows it means a lot to me.  That is the wonderful part of this life I have.  Love, family and health.

Anyway, things are moving along we are hoping to start the plans for the Kitchen reno, omg that will be a big one for us.  But I am so looking forward to how that will come together.

well take care everyone more news to come I am sure.

Back to it in style....

Hello again.  Back at in style.  That is right I am back to ramble and muse.  Seems like a long time since I have had time to remove the thoughts in my head.  Simple pleasures in the past few weeks.  I have been working quite hard at getting back to normal.  Playing hockey, riding my bike in the basement.  Planning a small trip that sort of thing.

Now most of the time I am not too concerned about the simple pleasures they are all around us we typically do not see them.  But I have become very aware of them the past few weeks.  I notice things that are not always apparent.  Since my better half needed a yoga partner I have started that activity.  Not a simple pleasure really but you know I have started to notice things like sitting up straight.  Yes I can hear all the mothers out there going I told you.  But you know how great it feels to straighten up and breath.  Wow simple pleasure.

I have found some common ground on the photo and ps side with my better half.  She is doing a project life thing this year.  So I am trying to help her out.  I find us sitting in the den working on photos and talking.  Simple pleasure.  Rocks.

I have been focused on Change this year.  For me it is finding my inner peace and finding a positive path to move down.  I honestly have found that there are some situations this year that would have pushed me too far.  I have handled them with a different attitude and different energy.  I can honestly say it feels great to be in this mindset.  Life has a way of pushing on us and we need to find a way sometimes to shed that weight.  I am very positive and very calm inside right now.  Feels awesome.  Simple pleasure.

So looking ahead I see we have Valentines day coming.  Hmmm what to do?  Well the better half is heading to phoenix for few days of sun and shopping hopefully the loonie survives and she can find some deals.  The other major event is the girl, she is 18 this month.  Big day!  Hard to believe that we are at this stage but it feels great and she is such a wonderful person.  We will see how she feels about 18 as it has been a big part of her focus.  Being in university and being the last person to turn 18 some how her birthday has turned into a major event in the dorm.  Too funny.

Well breathe deep,

Peace

Just a short note to oneself.

Self.  Yes you the guy looking at this screen.  Pay attention please.  So it is hard to say where things are going to go in the next little while and it is somewhat hard to say how to control the thoughts and emotions that will come.  It may be a change in things or maybe a simple opportunity that never was.

Now the struggle.  How does one help/motivate a 15/almost 16 year old?  I am finding my thoughts dwelling on my sons lack of interest and vision.  He is proving more of a challenge to me all the time.  Sometimes kids especially your own will show you the things you like least about yourself.  You know the things that you want to change.  Well he has chosen to demonstrate this very concept to me in the past month.  Taking an I do not care approach to anything and everything.  Like there is a hill in front of me so maybe I will turn around and go back down.  What the hell is that?  Frustrated and confused to say the least.  I know he has a sharp mind I have seen it in action and it is a powerful thing.  But it is matched with a person that sees life as something he will get to later.  This will probably be the biggest challenge I have to date, how to find a connection to get my son to see his life is full of options and possibilities, he only needs to apply himself to them and he can succeed.

<sigh> I am not a parent that stops, nor am I a parent that will sit by and take this as that opportunity to let him flounder.  But as with many things in life it is all in the approach and delivery.   Let's see if we can get this together.

To those out there in the world I am about to wake the sleeping high school student, a creature many fear, others just open the fridge and walk away.


Talk to you soon I think.

Boom shake shake the room!!!!

So we are halfway through the first month of this year.  Yep that is right 2014 is chugging along.  So change.  Got any in your pocket?  Not so much, the demise of the penny has left my pocket rather free of change.  Come to think of it I really enjoy not having all those pennies floating around.

Well I am a couple weeks in and I have been implementing the minor changes that need to happen to make my life a positive and enjoyable time.  I have found that most of the change that I see coming in my life are centred around well being and finding positiveness.  With my hamstring injury last year it became more apparent that I need to find a different way to look at things.  There were other things in 2013 that made me feel reflective.  But in the end it was about what I wanted and needed to do.  With that I have now taken up yoga with Traci.  She being much more flexible than I it really becomes apparent when I am watching myself attempt to bend and flex.  It was very awakening to realize that my flexibility is well on vacation somewhere warm, I think.  I definitely felt the stretching but it felt so great to do that.  I hate to say this but I think we are now a yoga couple....what an odd thing.  If I did not know any better I would suggest it is one of those things that happens because it needs to.  Happiness.

Next on the list is may diet, it is good but not as good as I wanted it to be so I have gone to the world of there is an app for that.  Yes I use an app, why not, it has been on my phone and or iPod for some time and it has been there to show me what I need to keep an eye on.  What am I putting in and what I am putting out in terms of work.  So now that we have that habit in place.  Change time, eat less, feel better about my weight and get in better shape.  Simple change.  It is all there just takes a moment or two of time to reach the goals.

So what else.  Well we are as always amazed by the kids and their world.  The girl is back rockin the Uni world.  First track meet for her this weekend.  She is going to see how the knee feels.  It has been a long road back for her but I think she is ready to go and we hope the best for her.  Grateful she is healthy and back to running which she loves and misses.

The young man?  Well always a subtle joker and sometimes PIA.  But he is ready for final and then the work begins a very daunting semester of core subject, math, science and english.  He is very excited so we will see how it goes.  He is very anti homework but I think he is in for a surprise.

Well that is the summary the thoughts.  Now there are other potential changes coming they will arrive when they are ready.  I feel fantastic and really look forward to the next opportunity.  Always an opportunity.  Have fun, play, jump in the snow.   Better yet start a mini snowball fight..... :)

The train is a comin!!!!!

Hello everyone and welcome back.  The days of January are moving along very quickly already.  It seems quite odd to look back and go hey where did the month go!  But for me the holidays were spent covering the work shift.  I did get a few days the basic ones.  It was actually quite nice to be at work and have a little time to think things through and really get organized.  I actually feel that like I am on top of things and not struggling to keep up.  I am sure that bit of satisfaction will probably pass shortly.  I am still working on the changes in my life.  I have managed to get my exercise routine back, the hamstring felt very good last week at hockey.  I am so glad to be back at it even after all these years of playing this crazy game I love the ice.  If I ever have to stop playing I think I would go crazy.  I think I started at age six that is close to 40 years of this.  I have had any number of great things happen and few not so great things.  I have gentle reminders from my back, neck and knees as to what the game gave me and what I gave back.  But you know I still love playing.

So where are we at?  I think I mentioned the change thing.  The word for this year is change, an attitude change or perspective change.  If life is giving you head winds change your sails.  Change is a strong thing, it is a risk and it is powerful and motivating.  I also believe it can be for right or wrong reasons.  Myself I want to be more positive and move past some of the unimportant things.  I have to change myself but it is all about making positive changes and take control of my life and what I want to be.  The best version of me.  I have also found there is some interesting things that happen when you change something.  People treat you a little different if they can not get you to react to their negativity.  Well, it is a new year and a great time to be here and changing.  Love it!

Photos?  Taken a bunch had some great days out there with the camera still not sure I am ready for my debut in a gallery.  But I have 3 photos in frames now and a I am looking for 1 more to finish the wall.  I can then move on to the next one.  Lyndon and I are going on a vacation for his 16th birthday we have decided to take a trip, taking his grandpa and me with him.  His choice, so more to come on that as we get closer and also maybe some cool photos we are going to an interesting city......apple juice anyone?

Anyway I feel great I feel pumped.  I am back to counting calories and creating a caloric deficit each day!  Cycling in the basement, walking the dog, playing hockey and generally having a great time.

One other potential change and this is a big one, we will see what happens over the next few weeks.  Yeah, we will see.  Remember they phoned me.  So who knows it may be the change a person needs or it may be the change that a person decides is not the best one to make.

Cool Beans everyone!

The end and beginning all in one

It is now 2014 for those of you that have not checked your watch/calendar.  My mistake check your phone, nobody uses a watch anymore.  Time that wonderful thing that we all feel we have so much of but never enough of.

Time is something that is always running out.  Whether we are aware of time or not it is aware us, not.  Time continues to move on and we are just move along by time.

Wow too deep too soon.

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope everyone has had a very safe and wonderful New Year!.  I myself spent a rather quite evening and relaxed.  No real crazy adventures.  Just family which is nice.  I think the thought of going out and spending a bunch of time pushing and shoving to see fireworks just does not excite me.  Weather was a little cold and so it goes.

Well last year I decided to define my New Years resolution with a word rather than a wholesale resolution.  What did you want to change or do.  So I chose a word.  I am working on that word today as well, sort of leaning towards a specific one but will maybe decide in the next day or two no rush, no law in my books saying I need to have it in hand right now.  So with that I am going to go forward with some other thoughts.  Great health, Great Wealth, Great happiness.

I am also going to be pushing myself towards some other things that need to happen, which will maybe help me land on that one word for 2014.

What else, yes the best version of me, I have found that I am doing some things that I feel have helped me improve myself.  Ralph Smart guy I found on youtube, really like some of his thoughts on improving yourself.

I had a moment the other day where I know I hated what I heard and felt I now what I think is wrong and what they think is right.  Now how do I act on this?   I have ways.  I think this year has so many possibilities.  I will achieve a lot things in 2014 and I can see it as a turning point in my life.

My son today shared a view point with me.  Not something that people may equate with unusual but you have to appreciate it when your children start forming their own opinions and you as a parent have to find a way to let them have that opinion.  I was impressed by he thoughts and comments.  I gave him some extra fuel for thought and I could see he was truly thinking about my comments.  Very proud of both my kids.  I know they think and they are very keen to be something more than ordinary.

Some bragging from a parent standpoint, the girls first term marks rocked.  She had a great time at school and I think her marks reflect a person that enjoyed what she studied.

So as I start 2014 and reflect on 2013 I have found a new center.  I feel very grounded and ready.  I am not sure what this is about but I feel very excited for 2014.  I will change in this year, and I think as I close this out that is what I will reveal, my word "change".

To those that I love I wish you great health great wealth and great happiness.

Time moves on and so do we.  Cheers.