Summer fades

Summer fades
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

It's over. August that is.

I made it to Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks for the last sunset of August 2006. It was grand.

Also grand was the beer I had at the Jericho Sailing Club's patio.

'Tis a most beautiful place to live.

Cheers!

I love The Drive

Really...
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Ah, nothing like a little positive re-enforcement whilst strolling the back alley's of Commercial Drive.

I found several interesting things to capture Wednesday after a long day writing Alberta news.

Today was a repeat. And I am heading out to shoot some more, after along day.

One day off and 7 days of work are currently standing between me and a 2 week stretch off (as it now stands).

Cheers!

Framed

Framed
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Finished work today (in the basement bureau) and was feeling restless. Hopped in the car and headed north and west and north again... Deep Cove, North Van, West Van... and eventually Squamish. If I didn't have to get up at 5:30 a.m. I would have kept going to Whistler... and beyond.

Discovered lots of funky stuff to shoot, meaning a return trip is in the cards. And with more than my point and shoot.

Bridal Party

Bridal Party
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

It was good times this weekend at Chris and Lorrie's wedding. Lots of pressure as I was tagged to be the official photog.

The only thing harder and more stressful than shooting the wedding of friends? Photoshopping the photos afterwards!

Although I must say I am quite happy with the early results.

Back to work at the CBC this week. Covering Alberta. Then the weekend in TV news here in Vancouver... before taking Labour Day off.

Or is that no-labour day?

Cheers!

New used wheels

New used wheels
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

The new used car. $1500. :)

from the "back from Salmon Arm" dept.

Salmon Arm stories:

It's tough to recap three days of go-go-go mixed with amazing music and super cool people. Such was this past weekend.

It began Friday (08/18/06).

After a rough start (owing to my moodiness from too much work and too little chill-time recently) Brent and I loaded up the semi-new car and hit the road for Surrey. It was 7am or so.

The purpose of the trip: to shoot more material for Brent's documentary on Leroy "The Grandmaster" Young. He's been playing in many festivals this summer -- and the Salmon Arm fest was to be his last appearance in Canada. Brent's been following GM for several years now, and this is a very important chapter of GM's story.

In Surrey we hooked up with Brent's sister and her hubby and kids. We transferred our stuff from my car to their packed-to-the-rafters minivan.

And we were off. It's not a short drive to Salmon arm - about four hours. Although there is the excitement of paying a toll on the way up.



We arrived at Brent's extended family's summer retreat just outside Salmon Arm. We dropped off the family and continued on to Salmon Arm where GM would be waiting. We'd be sharing a room.



GM wasn't there but his stuff was. We dumped our stuff and headed over to the festival office and to get our paperwork and passes.

We met GM there... and started formulating a plan... which included a visit to the media tent and a surprising setting.

Unlike other festivals, Salmon Arm set up a large tent for media that was also a hang out for musicians. Packed with retro-furniture, groovy carpets and funky lamps, it was an oasis of coolness right next to the main stage.

That night we caught African artist Lagbaja on the main stage. Funky and fun, but no Salif Keita.




Saturday:

Grandmaster had a light schedule, but there was still lots to do. We discovered more interesting music and then shot a workshop with GM than included Apache Indian and the Reggae Revolution:



That afternoon, we headed to Sorrento to have a big family BBQ with Brent's kin and GM. The big question: what would happen when GM was plopped into the middle of a rather white situation. The answer: a heck of a good time!



The deep fried turkey was a hit as well.

We shot more b-roll and interviews and that night we watched Feist...



... and part of the Apache Indian & the Reggae Revolution performance on the mainstage.



And called it a night.

Sunday:

The busiest day. GM had several workshops, including one with the incredible Mirhirangi - an Maori singer/songwriter/loopguru from New Zealand.



GM absolutely cooked and had the crowd hopping at his second workshop Sunday.



We were knackered by the end of it all. But there was more to come: the four hour drive home.

We left S.A. around 8 got to Surrey around 11:30 and I arrived home after midnight.

Luckily, Monday was a day off. Aaaah.

That's the short summary. More photos to come.

Cheers!

Bye bye!

Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Yep. Another trip. Short one this time: to Salmon Arm.
Reason: more shooting of Grandmaster's Canadian tour.

Brent and I head out Friday morning, return Sunday night. It's going to be hot and hopefully a blast.

Other things in the works too. More on that soon!

I'm leaving my computer at home as well.. so there will be no updates until Monday.

Cheers!

from the "short and sweet" dept.

Descent
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Let's see:

Nothing big to write about from the weekend. I worked.

Monday was a busy day off: insured my new old car. Images to come.

Lunch with Randy in Deep Cove. Talked much business. He's off to Toronto Tuesday to pitch various tv show/doc ideas.

Lots of running around followed: Canadian Tire, Future Shop, Mark's Work Warehouse, etc.

Headed to YVR for sunset/planespotting.

Back to work in 12 hours.

Cheers!

from the "Cookin'" dept.

Cookin'
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Despite the long work week combined with middle-of-the-night start times, I managed to get out Friday night to see "The Golden Voice of Africa" -- Salif Keita.

The Mali-born singer/songwriter and his ultra-tight band played Vancouver's Orpheum theatre to a good sized crowd. The show was something like two hours long, though it flew by.

At the end, Salif invited everyone on stage for the final number. At least 100 people managed to fit.

The little break comes to an end today. Back to the world of international news for two days -- before a extremely rare day off. Of course the day is already filled with errands a plenty!

And so it goes...

Cheers!

Play Ball

Gratis
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

It was a beautiful summer afternoon for a "nooner" at Nat Bailey. The C's played Everett... and the beer was good.

Short break

Feets
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Whew! Initiate whine:

Monday. Day off. Errands and goofing about with Brent on a holiday Monday.
Tuesday. Work. 4am. Buy car. Visit Diaso. Eat at Hawker's Delight.
Wednesday. Work. 4am. Nooner at the Nat. Upload photos.

Yep. A busy week. 4 days of work to go. Freedom Monday!

You bought a car? Yep! Details soonish!

Cheers!

Courtesy Katkam.ca

Courtesy Katkam.ca
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Saturday: it was nice not having to get up at 3:30 a.m. this morning. And the day blew by... so it was all good.

I walked home from work and snapped a few images (see flickr). I cracked a beer and waited for the sun to set. And when it did, I was treated to an obstructed view of the final night of the Celebration of Light fireworks competition.

Even with the skyline getting in the way, it was a dandy show.

If you'd like highlights, check out the archive at Katkam.ca -- and see more pictures like this.

And the grind continues Sunday.

Cheers!

Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, Decisions
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Well. Here we are. The end of the week. And what a week.

As I wrote previously, I returned to Vancouver from Calgary Monday morning. This was my first day off in six, though not much chance to sleep in as the flight departed cowtown at 8am.

And then I had more tax obligations to take care of. My second quarter GST calculations had to be done by midnight.

This can be a slow process as it entails shuffling through towering piles of receipts and trying to make sense of them all. Many require complex reverse calculations to figure out how much GST I actually paid.

I then subtract that number from the GST I've collected from clients. Usually I remit a few hundred bucks. This time I'm getting $18 back.

Woo hoo.

Once the GST was put to bed, I delivered the forms to the downtown post office -- and kept going all the way to Deep Cove. Reason one: to get some salmon patties at The Crab Shop. Reason two: to wolf down sushi and discuss business with Mr. Walden.

It seems our documentary idea regarding buried valuables during the holocaust is moving along again. It is due to be pitched in Toronto in a few weeks.

So that was Monday.

Tuesday I worked. Wednesday I worked. Days, which was nice. But my shift ended at 7, so I didn't get home until 8 -- and by then it was time to be lazy. Not having to get up super early was like winning the lottery.

That ended Thursday. I was back writing online news -- this time for the Ottawa market. And that meant getting up at 3:30 a.m. so I was somewhat coherent by 4 a.m.

The scenario repeated itself Friday. And while I was done by 1 p.m., I was very tired. An inability to nap or sleep in late means that I average 4-5 hours of sleep a night. And the effects are cumulative. Needless to say, I feel and look like a zombie tonight. Perhaps I should shave and shower.

I'm not even at home this Friday night. I am housesitting for friends who are camping. It's nice and peaceful and the view is stunning. Their place is located near the corner of Main St. and 6th Ave. and looks towards the skyline and North Shore Mountains.

A little satellite radio in the backgound and a Slovenian beer beside me and all is right in the world.

Saturday it's a return to the world of TV news. It'll be busy -- but the start time is 10 and I can walk to/from work for a bit of exercise. Also, the finale of the Celebration of Light is Saturday night and Don and Linda's provides an obstructed view. And no traffic concerns. Perfect.

Sunday is more work. Brent is due to stay in the city that night. Lord knows what we'll get up to. Newfie Bar? Caffe Barney? There is also a party but a few blocks away at Sue B's.

Decisions, decisions.

Monday is a day off, crammed with doing a million things. Including the purchase of a new old car. I'm moving up in the world: a 1995 Dodge Stratus. $1500 clams. And the business (mine) will buy it.

I'll park it in the garage and drive the beast for a little while longer -- until I sell it or have it hauled away.

Tuesday through Friday of next week I'm back covering Ottawa news and rolling out of bed at 3:30 a.m. And then back in TV news the following weekend.

Christ!

But there is light at the end of the tunnel: 3 days off, one day of work (Alberta News) and then 4 days in Salmon Arm to film at the Roots and Blues Festival. That should be a hoot.

Anyway, that's the most recent news. Little else happening other than working. And it will remain this way until October. At that point, Daddy will need a trip. Methinks Nova Scotia on Aeroplan points. Or Belize if I can snag a $450 flight.

Big dreams and lots of time to figure it out. 10 p.m. -- I believe I'm way past my bedtime.

Cheers!