Timing is Everything

Yesterday was a day of good timing… other than missing my bus in the morning. Well the evening was full of good timing anyway. After picking up Rae we decided to go to Ivory for supper and had far too much to eat. Our only worry was missing the IIHF World Junior, gold medal hockey game between Canada and the USA. We decided to take our time and enjoy the meal and figured that it wouldn't be that big a deal if we missed part of the first period. When we finished supper the Mâitre d' asked us if we would be going to the Forks to see the Olympic Torch pass through Winnipeg on it's way to Vancouver. We said that we would likely go but really wanted to hurry home so we'd miss as little of the game as possible. Main street looked like a parking lot when we left Ivory, because it was blocked by police cruisers to give the torch a clear path. As we turned down Broadway, the eastbound lane had no vehicles other than a few cruisers, cars with Olympic markings and a Coca~cola rig handing out flags and crap. We waited a few minutes and caught the passing of the flame from torch runner to torch runner right in front of the Hotel Fort Garry. Then the World Junior game popped back into our heads and we made our way back home. As soon as I turned on the TV and tuned into the right channel, the announcer said "And they are ready to drop the puck to start the first period!" or something to that effect.
It's too bad our Juniors couldn't take the gold last night but it was an exciting game to watch and the beginning of a great hockey rivalry.

Christmas Gift Illustration

This is an illustration that I did for my Dad this past Christmas. My Dad was a Fire Fighter for about thirty years up in Thompson Manitoba, so it seemed an appropriate subject. I did it in conté and chalk pastel on an orange paper. It was kinda rushed as I hadn't had an idea for it until the 25th and had to deliver it on the 27th. I am out of practice when it comes to illustration but was pleased with it overall.

Sacrilegious Content Advisory

Wow, haven't blogged in quite some time now. I really gotta stop starting every other post like that. Not a lot new going on, so I guess that is why it's been so long. I'm just enjoying the summer too much I guess.

Anyway, the point to this post. Yesterday, after work, Rae and I were flipping through the channels when we stopped on Bravo. This weird film was on called Circa, that was a story about some strange circus magician, his abused assistant Lisa, and the sad clown she falls in love with. It had absolutely no dialogue and was told though short scenes with the actors, an couple performing interpretive dance sequences, and the music by a three piece band comprised of a stand up bass, a jazz drum kit and the sad clown singing and playing the accordion. As you may know, I have an appreciation for depraved and dirty clowns and the baroque carnival style, So we ended up watching the rest of the film. The three piece band struck me so much that I did some internet sleuthing to find out as much as I could about them and it turns out that they are a band from the UK called "The Tiger Lillies"that have been around for quite some time and classify themselves as "The world's foremost Death Oompah band". Some notable songs featured in the film, Circa, were a haunting rendition of "Send in the Clowns", "Souvenirs" which is a great story telling song of a man who traveled the world collecting STD souvenirs, and the song that dropped my jaw and brought Circa to a climactic end, "Banging in the Nails" featured in the embedded video below. This must be a fan video because… well it just doesn't make sense. Regardless, I may have a new favorite band, enjoy.

My First Video Uploaded to Flickr

Last week Rae and I went to my friends cabin at Winnipeg Beach for the third consecutive year. What began as coincidence, by the third visit, has become an annual tradition. We arrived on Thursday night and were welcomed by high winds. After a dinner with Jamie and his Mom at an Italian restaurant (can't remember the name of it but their Penne al Diavlo with Italian sausage was incredible), we took a walk down to the beach front to find that the beach was gone. It's quite dark, but the video shows just how ferocious Lake Winnipeg was that evening.

Canaday Day at the Downs

Last week I spent Canada Day with Rae and a few friends at the Assiniboine Downs. Lost more than I won but it was a beautiful day spent with good friends and I had the opportunity to see Canada's rarest race horse (pictured above and below). This horse is rare due to it's amazing, steel blue, coloured eyes and that it is the only one of it's kind that is also a registered race horse. These picture don't do justice to just how striking this animals eyes look.

Leo Mol 1915 – 2009

Manitoba's finest sculptor passed away last Saturday. Leo Mol died at age 94 leaving behind an impressive collection of sculpture on display at the Assiniboine Park, Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.

I have enjoyed photographing his sculptures that can be seen on my Flickr account here.

Fathers day weekend

The reason I haven't been posting is that since returning from holidays I've been busy catching up on things. This past weekend being no exception. After doing some freelance photography I did manage to get out and take some photos that were blogworthy. The weekend began with attending the UCW (Ultimate Cage Wars). I won five seats at a table through 92.1 citi Fm. The main event on the card was canceled and it was mostly submissions but a good time was had by all… except maybe for the guys who lost their fight. Then after an early photo shoot the next morning, Rae and I went to the new Pixar movie, "Up", which is a definite must see for any Pixar fan.


After the movie, we took in a Goldeyes game with our friends Carol and Don. The Goldeyes managed a bottom of the eighth, come back from behind win (9-4) over the Joliet Jackhammers to end a multiple game loosing streak. Lets hope it's a sign of a good, long winning streak to come. I've only been to a few Goldeye games and even though I am not a huge baseball fan, for great seats at $12 a pop, I think that these games are the best value for your buck for any sport in Winnipeg. Pictured above is the game winning hit by Big Dee Brown of the fish.

I'll try to posts more regularly.