Super insomnia!

Actually... it's probably not even to an actual insomniac level yet... but it kinda feels crazy to me anyway. I know I need to be up for work and I just can't seem to get myself into bed... my very comfortable, cozy bed which I actually enjoy quite a lot. It's a very strange thing to try to wrap my mind around... unsuccessfully. Such is the way of things. Life if full of actual mysteries. Mundane as they might be, even.

Doing business.

Today was the first time I really handed off a project to an editor that I hired for a project. It is something I probably should have tried to do many times in the past but always had difficulty trusting it would get done the right way. Now, even though the project isn't terribly complex, I worked through those doubts and learned to trust the editor and that he will create a quality edit for the client. It is, in many ways, a great relief and, at the same time, I still carry a little doubt about the project as a whole. This is the normal part of being in business for yourself, though, and I am certainly no stranger to carrying worry through until the customer/client has finally received and approved the project. A mini "refiner's fire", you might say. And one of the many reasons I love being in business for myself!(most of the time. ha)

The continuous efforts.

What value can be found in the repetitive moments of daily reflection? They are so often very trivial and they have little to no visible impact on my life or the life of anyone I can think of... yet I keep doing it. There is a personal level of satisfaction for doing something with consistency. Doing anything with intentional consistency is a chore but also reflects an important character trait that is difficult to discern as clearly in many other ways... self-control. I do find it interesting that I often feel a lack of self-control in many areas of my life despite maintaining the self-control necessary to sustain my writing habits. I wonder why general self-control can splinter in quality throughout the person's whole? Perhaps self-mastery is always meant to be a journey through all the various aspects of one's lack thereof. Learn to master one thing and the next door can be opened in turn. A door that is closer than it is far.

Now and when.

Sometimes it's easier to dwell on what is happening currently than it is to recognize what might be coming down the road. Sure, today was kind of a non-entity on my timeline of personal usefulness... but the coming week looks to be something I will enjoy as well as a week that could produce some decently productive results in a couple important areas. Progress is always more attractive the regress.

Fantasy Superbowl.

I made it into the two-week long Superbowl of our work fantasy football league which technically started on Thursday this week. What this means is that I have been over-obsessing about my lineup selections many of my waking moments since Wednesday. Some of it is my desire to do well and win but some of it is because it fills the boredom moments when a certain level of my OCD needs something to focus on. I am sure I could be actually productive doing something more creative, and when the season is over I might give that a shot, but there is definitely a lot of worse things I could be doing to spend the time.

Napping and eating.

I've probably ridden this wagon a little too long over the last couple or so days but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It is probably boring but sometimes that's just how life shakes out. I did watch an interesting round-table conversation with some screenwriters that kind of opened my eyes a little about some things I have thought about somewhat recently with my own writing. Mostly it just increased my motivation to tackle script writing with more actuality... meaning actually doing it instead of just thinking about it all the time. Only time can reveal the fruit of that motivation, I suppose.

Holiday stuffing.

Which is just the short way of saying it's time to eat too much food and be lazy. Sure, the holidays have a great deal of meaning that can be attached to them but I mostly think of it as family time these days. Now I'm gonna get a little less sleep than preferred to wake up for breakfast but I'll make sure to get a solid nap in sometime during the middle afternoon or so. Naps are the treasured currency of the sleep deprived.

The slow pace of the holidays.

It probably sounds a little strange putting it that way but when you consider the crazy pace of work I usually experience. Pace, in this case, would not only be referring to the speed or length of the typical workday but also the consistency of continuous work/lack of breaks. Thus, I am quite appreciative of a Christmas break that is actually just that... a break. My suggestion to my future self... always respect the value of a break. I tend to forget it all too often.

Getting more than expected.

We got an order for four more videos today, without having even delivered the first one yet, based pretty much solely on how the first shoot went with them. How awesome and highly unexpected and how much more I will now work to validate their trust in us. I am not sure that will actually translate into some mystical 110% effort since I was already planning to give them my best but my mutual level of respect for them is increased. This totally emphasizes that trust/respect is a more valuable commodity than any form of financial compensation.

Large group collaboration.

It is part of the appeal in my line of work. Yet, at the same time, it can be a very solitary endeavor if I choose for it to be. I do, on occasion, like to do some writing or editing alone. Anyway, people are fun and intensity can bring even more fun. Plus we all get to learn how to play serious games together. Serious games that may or may not matter. Ha. Entertainment is fun!

The long days of shooting.

They are quite common for those who are fully engaged with this line of work... which is mostly comprised of people living in the Los Angeles area. We, here in Seattle, don't have the same level of opportunity but still make a pretty immersive go at it from time to time. And on days like to day I have to be grateful for the opportunities I have stumbled upon. A nice piece of the holiday, I'd say.

The weekend is a good thing to respect.

Which is sort of like saying it's good to take a break from work on a consistent basis... weekly, even. So today was my day. The break was thorough and deep. I look forward to the next week with slightly more refreshed eyes, I suppose. Plus... it's Christmas week so that should be fun.

Review of the potential future.

I had a semi-high dose of introspective and deep thoughts bang around in my head today and sadly I can't recall much more than that right now. I can, however, remember the fun time experience of watching the new Star Wars movie tonight. I am not giving it a complete review right now but my basic thoughts on the whole thing are quite positive. It was a very solid production. And I definitely look forward to seeing the next steps it takes. Lots of fun. Lots of emotion. Good times for all.

Always fine-tuning the process.

Which generally represents the act of learning but also expresses the diversity of my chosen career. Sure, I've only been at it for half a decade or so(if you include schooling) but it never fails to surprise me how each situation really is it's own experience. Lighting situations, talent behavior and skill levels, environmental differences, crew dynamics... and that's seriously just scratching the surface. I have to say this is one of the very unexpected benefits I didn't consider before moving my career path this direction. Score!

The bright future of tomorrow.

Is that a somewhat redundant statement? I don't know... anyway, I am glad to be inspired by the work of the upcoming graduating class from my alma mater(which sounds kinda strange to reference it that way). I have known their character to be good but now I know their work to be good also. They all openly expressed their passions and shared them with us. I think more of the professional world could take a hint from their examples.

Beginning a business relationship.

It can be a delicate, intense, or smoothly collaborative engagement... and today, as it is generally preferred, was, delightfully, the latter. We were very lucky to have the opportunity in the first place but I think after having spent some time with them that it already feels like a good fit for both them and us. We can provide the product they are looking for and they can trade us the financial means we need to do it. Equitable trade... the mark of successful business... for which I am grateful.

Still getting to do the fun things.

Which is how I hope my career continues on forever. Sure, I will often have to take a more technical or managerial role from time to time but I definitely plan to continue working with the creative tools I am so grateful to have. Fun is certainly not prerequisite to happiness but it definitely injects the all important smiles into what can sometimes be a painful road.

Mingling with good friends.

It is always the biggest bonus of a good friend's wedding. Sure, the wedding itself is awesome but I tend to appreciate the social opportunity above all other reasons for going... delicious free food being a close third. It was nice to chat it up with a new face or two as well tonight, which was somewhat unexpected but appreciated. And... I am grateful for the reminders that two individuals can become one couple.

Working for the big boys... and girls.

It's an interesting experience working for Microsoft executives. I don't really know how high up the chain they were but they all seemed like pretty solid business people. Many of them shared very similar traits, generally speaking, and most of them seemed fairly personable, too. I was technically working for somebody else who had this particular gig so I don't necessarily expect to do this kind of work again anytime soon but just seeing this little slice of life was a very interesting experience that makes me more grateful for the opportunities of my work.

Technochallenges.

It seems absolutely appropriate that the experience of technological mayhem followed the very next day of my technological elation. A learning experience is really what I will call it... and an opportunity. So we pulled through it fine, though, which was all well enough. Luckily, we had some extra time to spare today... which was definitely the biggest thing to be grateful for since it ultimately allowed the learning opportunity to develop.

Technophile.

But only in the most utilitarian way, I'd say. I always look forward to the next upgrade in whatever form it comes. And, despite my somewhat intense enjoyment of such things, I am often even more delighted when the technology is finally able to get out of the way. When it can disappear invisibly into the mechanics of my art. Synergy, anyone? Anyway, it's a grand thing to enjoy.

Still fighting to lose weight.

I am glad I get to play basketball a couple days a week but it definitely isn't enough to keep my scale read-out descending into the range I'd like to get to. Sure, Thanksgiving kind of ballooned me back up a bit but I still don't expend enough physical energy on a regular basis to really increase my fitness and health in the first place. Finding a good weekend burn could definitely help. What to do, though? What activity can I make a habit out of somewhere near that time slot?

The sluggish Monday greys.

I saw an article online today that noted we not only had a record-setting amount of rainfall today(crushing a nearly 50-year old record by an almost 10% increase) but it was the 2nd darkest day on record this century due to the thickness of the clouds passing through the area. It kinda looked like it was mid-dusk pretty much all day long. Did this have any adverse affect on the non-weather parts of my day? Not to my conscious mind, however, the day's work seemed to follow suit... work was slow and fairly boring. Not something I minded, really, but if there is such a thing as a "case of the Mondays" it could have easily been recognized by anybody even half-awake today(myself being the case in point.)

Tuning the craft.

Every time I have the opportunity to participate in a shoot is another opportunity to level up my game therein. Sometimes it might seem like a bit of a coasting session but that never is actually the case. Experience is irreplaceable. Attention to detail is king. Challenge to any degree is the effective instructor... including failure.

Revisiting the classics.

This is often an entertaining trip through old memories but is also an opportunity to discover something new. And often that is the somewhat overlooked reason they are the classics in the first place... the quality of valuable repeatability. Maybe after the humor's influence drops out a bit comes the clearer perspective of it's other non-humorous qualities... but I would say the relaxing and enjoying and light-hearted laughing is the sugar-coating to it all... and I am definitely a deeply entrenched sugar-addict, anyway.

A day of positivity.

Sometimes I get lucky and just about every step during the day feels like a positive gain. The pace of action was quite agreeable as well. I got to meet up with some friends who are some of the raddest people I know. I got to do some business with what seems thus far to be an excellent company to both work with and for. And I even enjoyed my regular work despite the generally diminished pace of work due to the recent end of my regular production cycle. And it was payday so that's always pretty cool. Loves me some scrilla from time to time. Helps me get some good ol' tools for the trade.

The loss of an influence.

Today was marked as the day Scott Weiland passed beyond this mortal coil. Celebrity mortality is not something I have typically responded much to in the past. I feel compelled to share a few thoughts, however, because music has been an incredible influence on my life for as long as I can remember... and some of the music this man was a part of was, at some points in my life, some of the most influential, exceptionally appreciated music I have experienced. MUSIC IS NO SMALL THING. Despite my almost complete lack of connection to this man's personal life I am sad he has finished his story in this life. I hope the music of his soul finds peace in the new existence it now resides in.

Scott Weiland(born Scott Richard Kline)
October 27, 1967 - December 3, 2015

Unusual insomnia.

I am generally a bit of a night owl(as the evidence of the time I usually write these would suggest) but I wouldn't normally consider myself an insomniac. I am not sure what has kept me up tonight, though, and on a few of the more recent nights as well. I generally feel pretty calm but wonder if there's some sort of underlying anxiety or the like. Luckily my workload is relatively light over the next few days so my expectedly lethargic demeanor shouldn't be too much of a game breaker.

My bumbling bee buddies.

Over the last several weeks or so(maybe a month, even) I have had a very minor bee infestation in my bedroom. I am not sure where they are coming from but it seems that they might be hibernating inside the wall before they find there way into my room since they have all seemed a bit on the lazy/confused side of things. I have easily caught several of them with a glass and taken them outside while several others have just landed themselves on the ground or desk somewhere and basically died. None of them have ever seemed antagonistic, either. Just lazy... and die-ish. Oh, well. At least I'm still getting good sleep.

Rest well, my slumbering friend. Come morning time, if thou still livest, a sweet release be thine reward. If not thy life extends its cause, a release of sweeter magnitude... and more garbagier repose.

A slightly lengthier lull.

It being Monday, the first day of the business week, I was basically expecting to dive right into the busy stuff I am used to diving into. It was something quite a bit less than usual but since I expect my labors to increase a lot over the coming months I can't be too unhappy about it. A break is not only appreciated it is often wise. I'm not sure it was necessarily wise for me but I won't complain about it now. Ha.

Good work makes good sleep.

Not only is the body prepared with the gift of exhaustion and sometimes even pain... but the conscience, heart and mind can become eager for the break as well. We dream at times to realize the possibilities in concept. The past can also sense its conclusion, retired to memory occasionally called back for another trip to the stage. Memories in motion from a day well spent.

A simple sort of Saturday.

It is nice to have a break from work once in a while. It happens on occasion, however, that after more than a couple days things tend to get a bit lean on the excitement factor. Sure, it's nice to be lazy once in a while but that's not always the most enjoyable thing when it's hard to forget about all the projects you could be working on. In any case, I won't complain about a moment of peace and rest... I'll just work harder at enjoying it.

The blackest Friday.

For my crummy little smart phone, that is. It recently started corrupting my life(the alarm clock stopped working, calls were being missed, etc) so I had to let the little guy go. Retirement, I suppose. And with that inevitable demise came the birth of a new digital smart-chapter in my life. You might call it an iChapter 6s Plus. I decided that since I am now going whole hog on the business part of my life that going whole hog on the single most used tool in that part of my life would be appropriate. Sure, my phone bill will more than double but with it comes a certain business-reliability, stability and efficiency that I have not previously experienced. Which, indeed, makes this the blackest Friday I have ever had.

Gratitude in general silence.

I try very hard to express my gratitude as it comes upon me, for things, opportunities, and various kindnesses I have been given as well as for help which has been rendered on my behalf. I even recognize the myriad blessings I have in life which do not come through the purpose of others directly, things like my skills, my health, the place I live, my enjoyment of food, sports, music, art, games, and perspectives of the world and my place in it(even this being a list pale in its scope of my blessings, understood or not). In short, my position in life is something I should cherish and respect... the magnitude of my blessings far exceed my ability to properly acknowledge and appreciate them. Thanksgiving seems like an important holiday if for nothing else but that reminder. Its importance is increased, however, if the impetus to respect those gifts by responding in kind is acted upon and concurrent changes become the operational motion of life. I am sure I could have paraphrased all of this in a much simpler, clearer way. I needn't apologize for trying to improve myself, though, so I'll just be thankful that I can at least understand what I have said right now and hope that if/when I review this in the future it will imbue a similar effect and feeling upon me at those future times. Future win!

Reliable technology.

Without it I become a less reliable human. I had this epiphany this morning when I woke up and learned I was missing an important work meeting due to my unfounded trust in my phone alarm, computer alarm, and iPod calendar alert. The last two were intended to be my failsafes when the phone alarm didn't do its job... except I accidentally sabotaged those backup plans all by myself. Anyway... the simple lesson is this. If I am to be a reliable, trustworthy individual there is no expense too great in procuring the tools to enable that facility. I went cheap on my phone, assuming it was merely a communication device, and failed to recognize its greater role in my attempt to become the reliable human. I will not make this mistake again.

The evolutionary band.

I guess they haven't been practicing much over the past couple months(mostly due to the "main man" getting married) but they still seem to have progressed since the last time I saw them. I am sure it happened when I was with the band but was certainly more difficult to recognize looking at it from the inside out. I think the bulk of their progress might be founded on the drummer's increased comfort and fluidity with the material. It's an awesome thing to behold! I look forward to seeing further progress moving forward! Also, I do miss being a part of it all. It makes me want to start composing music just so I can have a piece of that outlet in my life once again.

Brainstorming for things I don't know much about.

It is one of those activities that I enjoy no matter the topic of exploration. This is probably just the bliss of any active mind as the opportunity to flex the thinking muscle is always just that... an opportunity. Perhaps it is even more an opportunity when working in unfamiliar territory. Or maybe it just feels that way since the quickest learning often takes place in the beginning stages of any particular topic. Though, not to presume contemplation and hypothesis is, in itself, a form of learning... it it, however, a function of "greasing the wheels", so to speak. And prepping the ground in which one intends to plant is often just as important as the fruit that eventually springs from it. Each is a part of its process... its journey. I obviously enjoy brainstorming a lot. Ha.

Life alone is a difficult thing.

I know this from personal experience to some degree. It is something I have witnessed in the lives of a few of my close friends, though, with a couple of them to an even more isolated state than I have ever experienced... I still have my family even though I lived quite far away from them for a time. The holiday season is a time of year that we who connect to those who lack those other meaningful connections need to be more conscious and hopefully more willing to reach toward them. It is the time of the year that is physically darker due to shortened days but often feels emotionally darker as well. And, despite my general enjoyment of the season, this might be one of the reasons I am so annoyed by the increasingly early capitalization of the Christmas season(Halloween just ended people!)

Day 30 of the web series shoot.

I have only participated in about half or so of them but it has still been quite an experience. Some of the crew faces have changed but we've maintained a fairly consistent core for a good chunk of the time, as well. It has been interesting to see all the different actors come and go and a few of them come back again. Mostly this would be due to scheduling and scene order but it seems we have had some parts re-written on the fly to accommodate scheduling challenges, too. I think we only have a few or so shoot dates left and I look forward to joining as many as I can... and they will come and go far too quickly for my taste as usual.

The colden days are upon us.

And whether you enjoy what they bring or not, the world definitely feels like a different place during this time of year. It's sort of like traveling to a different place altogether. People act differently, the environment looks different, and many basic habits(such as getting ready to leave for the day, which now includes warming up the car) even get tweaked a bit. It is all just the normal flow of life's seasons that remind us how ever-present the driving force known as change really is.

Is editing sort of like truck driving?

I think that sitting behind a desk is not a very positive way to spend your time. Certainly there are lots of good things that can be done but the act of sitting must have an erosive effect on one's health. I wonder how many hours I have spent sitting behind a desk? At least if you are driving a truck you are moving your arms around a bit and you are likely more consistently mentally engaged in your task at hand, namely driving on pavement instead of people and lines and other vehicles and such. I really don't mind working a long edit once in a while but it always reminds me why I much prefer more active lines of work, like camera operating.

My last shoot day of the season.

So began the last shoot of the season as I, the single participant in today's work, worked a full day shooting b-roll for the story. The work was brisk and pleasant. The weather, despite it's generally chilly disposition, cooperated as much as I was hoping it would. I made the appropriate hand-offs before heading out and the drive home only required a 20-minute nap about half way here. I think the people we are helping are great folks and I look forward to seeing how everything turns out once it finally airs on television sometime next year.

Getting the ball slowly rolling.

We have now had two meetings about the creation of a new media division at the Flea. It feels like we are better understanding what it is we are trying to achieve and now the plans for how to do it are starting to formulate with a little more clarity. This is an exciting endeavor to undertake, for sure, and being able to see a little further down the timeline certainly increases my enthusiasm in almost measurable ways.

Hiding in my own face.

This sort of thing seems to happen just about every time I shave all my hair off. I do it with somewhat consistent regularity but people almost always seem to forget what I look like anyway. It's just part of my regular habit as I have always enjoyed changing things up, though, I guess age has started limiting the options a bit. Luckily for me, change is something I have learned to enjoy... most of the time.

Rolling into a fresh week.

There are always fun things lurking about on the horizon. This week looks to be an interesting mix of fun and work, too, and I think it will turn out some solid results in a few different areas. I get to do a couple different shoots, crank out an edit for a customer, and cap it all off with payday on Friday(with the possibility of another shoot or two on through the weekend.) And the weather is doing some sort of winter thing lately and I've seen rumors that it might be pushing on into the next few days or so. Fun!

Sometimes football gets in the way, though.

Even though I have been awake since before the football games started playing I didn't really jump on my writing soon enough to get to this before getting distracted. No matter, I have had a pleasant weekend. It was nice to visit with some of my old co-workers from Borders Books at the annual Piemas party. It's strange how it seems to come and go so quickly. I actually missed last years one and still it felt like I had seen most of the folks very recently even though their lives have changed a fair amount in that time. I do look forward to next year's event in any case.

Sometimes sleep comes quicker than writing.

And even though I usually do the writing when I am already pretty exhausted I guess it's fine to do it the next morning when I am supposedly more refreshed. I do see writing as an element of stability in my life but it is also an opportunity, so having regular experience with it, whether at night or in the morning, I shouldn't worry much about when it comes together. Nothing teaches one better than the actual experience of doing something. Something I have begun to really understand as it applies to my filmmaking endeavors.

There are always steps forward.

And even though today wasn't exactly a slow day it certainly felt a little stale. I think I would have to attribute most of that to the lengthy battle with my video editing program since I didn't actually conquer the problem I was(and currently am still) trying to fix. Spinning wheels or something like that. Anyway, tomorrow looks much more promising than today felt. This brings me to the reminder that even though things my feel a certain way reality of the situation might actually be something totally different and, in this case, good. Logic vs. Emotion: Round 13,799.

Getting new things off the ground.

There's always a lot of learning involved to actually build any momentum. Sometimes it comes at the cost of a few mistakes(or many mistakes) but hopefully it adds to the knowledge base required to increase and sustain the momentum. Luckily, in the case I am thinking of as I write this, there is an excellent group of minds involved which each add their perspective and experience and definitely increase the potential success of every step along the way. What a cool opportunity this becomes!

Technically almost done.

The travel day was definitely the least difficult, though, it could be simple to think it would be considered "easy" instead. Travel, when handling several large cases of gear, is definitely an experience that teaches one about focus and multi-tasking... and planning(the smartcart is an essential tool of the trade!) Now I will settle back into the more static way of life and look forward to the next changes to come.

And that's another wrap.

Even though it's the first wrap of this kind for me. I think I did some good work but definitely have a lot to learn and expect I can improve quite a bit if I am offered another chance to prove it. It was a very enjoyable challenge and I am grateful for the people we were able to serve. It has been a great week.

Hard work accumulation.

Due to the difficulty of the physical elements of my work, if I don't fully recuperate between shifts, the work seems to become even more difficult as each day passes. My muscles are actually aching. My back is not in pain but definitely feels fatigued. Luckily, this shoot is down to it's last day. Tomorrow will certainly have its challenges but I feel confident we/I can get through it in one piece.

Physical and mental work.

It was an incredibly challenging day of work today. Almost equal parts physical and mental, with an extra portion of intensity heaped into both. My body feels the effects of such a challenge while my brain seems to have mostly recovered by now. Tomorrow should be a similar experience with a slight increase on the complexity which will luckily be helped a bit by my early entrance into slumberland tonight. Rare but true.

Day one in the books.

And with it my hope and dreams. Ha. No... just my dreams. I had some really weird dreams last night and I hope they don't come back. Centipedish bugs crawling into holes in my skin and stuff. Probably kind of a nightmare but strangely not scary... just whack weird.

Travel, work, and comradery.

This is the exciting part of my life. The travel and the comradery are the obvious inclusions to that sort of a short list... the work part, however, is possibly the highest actual candidate to appear there. I really love my work and thrive on the challenges and opportunities found therein. Excitement is merely an aspect of my emotional response to it.

Tomorrow it begins.

It was originally scheduled as a travel day but due to the somewhat extreme expected workload they have authorized me to start shooting shortly after arriving at the location. I am quite down with any schedule help I can get in order to accomplish said goals and look forward to the challenges before me this week!

Relative performance.

It is not something I am normally into evaluating. It takes some of the onus of self-measured quality away and I much prefer the absolute performance quality to shine, regardless of what it might be measured against. Tonight's showing, however, felt like a win nonetheless. I objectively don't think we were clearly the best or anything like that... but I think we could be considered in the top three or so candidates reasonably fairly. Now to see what the actual judges think about it all.

Rampling up to the big time.

I'm down to only a couple days before I travel to my first shoot as an actual camera operator. I have a good deal of brush up to get my game into gear but I expect good things as I know my effort will be increased leading up to the shoot. I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity to succeed!

Working hard to play hard.

Though, I am not entirely sure what my play objective is since my work is so satisfyingly play-like already. I am working hard to work harder, perhaps? Cooler, more interesting toys, I suppose. Eventually it will lead to more than that but that is where it leads for now. Building a future takes starting with a foundation.

Old friends in basically new places.

I have to say it is pretty much totally awesome to run into enjoyable people from your past when you least expect it. I have no idea why I would have reason to cross just about anybody from my past's path(a very clunky sentence) since my general whereabouts are somewhat far removed from those former days but, if I think long enough about it, I probably shouldn't be too surprised, either. Beyond change being and ever-present constant in life, I would say surprise would be a close second.

Cutting like a mad fool.

Except I'm not mad at all... though, probably still quite foolish. It feels good to get a solid, completed cut finished. It's one of those semi-euphoric experiences that is sadly somewhat rare to repeat. It goes along with any piece of art one sets out to finish. Well, maybe it's more of a rarity in my life. Anyway... I look forward to seeing how it is received.

The crash of economy.

It has now begun to threaten those that I work with. We see the inevitable end looming ever closer and the boots have certainly been rattled. Now we need to work through it somehow or become separated at the seams... not gradually I would expect, but abruptly. We have been here before. "We", being the Flea upon which our work is built. And the changes ever pursue us nonetheless. We can brace and prepare for its imminent impact.

Time to speed up then slow down.

And not just because that's like a normal reaction to gravity. It's more of a statement about the things of my work-life as they are currently planned over the next month or so. I know I have a lot to keep me busy right now, and I think I have a decent amount to pursue shortly thereafter, but I know I have a good amount of digging to do if I am to find an appropriate level of work after that. If I am lucky, my job will pick up another show to start working on. If I am unlucky, I will make my own way through the slump and that doesn't really sound so bad, actually. Challenges like that are valuable learning experiences, after all.

Increased motivation for quality.

The commentary for our recent filmic attempt was pleasant, and not technically negative, but somewhat telling in a way that exposes my shortcomings a bit. And while I don't rail against supportive, positive notions cast our way, I am starting to recognize them a more supportive than impressed. In short, I am far from the filmmaker I would like to be. In medium, experience is the irreplaceable teacher that improves one's quality and skill. In long, paying attention to an audience's response is important(perhaps the most important) way to understand one's place in the process of it all.

48-hours of madness intended.

And such is the way of the hyper-expedited production schedule. But it is quite appreciated and thoroughly challenging and exceptionally memorable all at the same time and I am quite grateful for the awesome crew of folks I was privileged to share this weekend with! I am not entirely sure how far it will go in the realm of things to come but I am proud of it all nonetheless and despite its potential(win or lose.) The product of experience is sometimes strictly better than anything else that could come of it, anyway.

The beginning of the beginning.

It is often the hardest part of a new experience... especially when writing about it. But the excitement tends to help smooth it all out. And, about 9 or so hours into it, we have a good footing on something pretty sweet, I'd say. Our writing session seemed a bit more solid and I think our final product(inasmuch as pre-production can call it final) is fairly compelling. Now to see how our production chops can do in bringing it all to life... or death!

Ten times intense at times.

But we rolled as smooth along the lines of 'hood's proclaim
Through shadow, cross the lights by the bustle and glance
Singing praises long to future chance
Hopping with a heart sublime enchanted brain
Recite a cant from pasting echoes deeper thought
And chain it lightly twixt to and from
As art repeals the function's place before the form

New lines of work.

I am really enjoying the new things I am getting to work on as it relates to my career. I am starting to realize I have some other things I should be working on, however, as it relates to my pudgy belly that I probably won't enjoy so much. Ha. It's not the pudgiest or most annoying thing, generally speaking, but it definitely has to go... somehow... and the pain it will take to get there seems like an annoying path to take. Oh, well. That's just how it always is when the human body is part of the equation.

The professional compliment.

I am quite encouraged by the opinion of a respected professional in my field of expertise. Especially the sincere compliment. It also feels good to realize my efforts are actual contributions to the cause. I know I am fortunate for all the opportunities I am afforded and I hope to make the best of them as often as possible. I also make many obvious statements about obviously good things that happen to me. Ha. I guess it's just another thing I do well.

The trickling momentum.

Things are slowly building up. "Things", meaning work/career stuff. This is a good thing that I appreciate but it would be nice for other areas of my life to pick up some progress, too. It is nice to get back to some athletic endeavors, too, and I'm finally starting to get down on my weight. It'd be nice to lose another 15 or so.

Shadow by day.

Insomniac by night. Well... not really... I'm just a very poorly disciplined sleep-time observer. Anyway, it was pretty awesome getting to shadow my future position a bit today. I certainly feel much more enabled and confident that I can do a good job. This makes me quite happy, indeed!(appropriately exclaimed)

Potentially huge things on the horizon.

And even though it isn't exactly the direction I would plan for the most fun outcome in life, it might be the direction for the most financially-stable(therefore wise) outcome in life. I might have thought the idea of corporate work to be a bit of a turnoff in my younger years(though, I'm not actually sure of that thought), but I am certainly thrilled by the prospect now. Now I just gotta work hard to keep up our level of awesome in every way possible.

The bigger team picture.

I so often run the solo parade that I think I kind of forget how powerful the team-style dynamic usually is. Synergy is such a difficult thing to quantify and qualify. I feel quite blessed to be able to enjoy it incidentally. The opportunities to do as such are not automatic by any means.

Took a day off to work.

I basically worked all night at my job so I didn't really have the time to write in here last night. No worries... I am super zapped from another long day and quite looking forward to playing tomorrow afternoon and evening. The upcoming several days look to be quite exciting and interesting. Work, play, and potential future work all get turns on the battlefield. Fun!

Good friends and laughs a'plenty.

I quite enjoy my time spent with the old friends. Their sense of humor is so familiar, and potent, to me that it is like a fresh breath of air. I am very stabilized by the experience, though, that isn't to say that I am particularly unstable otherwise. And there's always a somewhat intriguing thing about connecting your past to your present.

The reminders of love.

I suppose I haven't gone to too many weddings lately. I suppose "lately" is a very relative term. I suppose weddings are full of relatives. I suppose I relate to the idea of love and weddings even if I haven't been "in love" for several years. I suppose that several years is quite a bit longer than I would have preferred to be ultra-solo-guy. This ultra-solo-guy supposes frequently at the end of the day.

Shooting bands is just about as fun as being in one.

Even if I don't know anybody in the band. It's one of those extremely challenging, high focus events to shoot. All the musical changes, the low-lighting, the continuous movement, the blaring loudness(depending on the band, anyway), and crowd navigation all make for some interesting obstacles. Plus, it actually feels sort of like being in a band when you are working with a crew to do it so that's cool. Ha. Now if I could just figure out how to make money doing it.

Patience = luck?

It is a strange concept, I must admit, but sometimes it seems like the only way to describe some situations. In any case I am quite grateful to be the recipient of good things that I wasn't expecting. Nothing is for sure yet but I am starting to like my odds.

Taking care of business.

Which in today's case meant that I was taking care of my equipment. I did a little repair of my own as well as sending off some gear for warrantee repair. I also made the important calls and sent the important emails and whatnot. Not the most exciting stuff most of the time... but generally the most important stuff. Gotta keep the wheels greased and the tank full, after all!

The grand feeling of importance.

I was hired to help a production today that, even though they reached out to me before it started to get my pricing which ultimately inspired them to give the production a shot without me, after the first day went a bit harder than expected I was asked to come help anyway(this whole sentence is quite unwieldy... sorry about that). Anyway, the whole thing kind of made me feel a bit heroic. Maybe that's one of the reasons I really enjoy steadicam operating... I get to fill a niche very few people really do.

Making costly mistakes.

We made a minor error during our film competition clean-up and it inadvertently caused some real problems at work the next morning. It is a terrible feeling to make a mistake that could have easily been avoided... it is an even worse feeling when it compounds into exponentially more trouble. I am lucky to work for such understanding people, and I did not incur any particular punishment beyond my own emotional self-beating, but I wish I could do something to make it up in some way. Alas, it can not be done, however, and life sort of punches me in the face once again.

Staying busy with business.

I can probably go into work and stay busy doing just about anything pretty much anytime. I suppose it's a nice thing but it can be a bit overwhelming if I get too connected to a project. That personal level of responsibility starts to take over some of the normal self-preservation functions on occasion, sleep being one of the first casualties almost every time. I need to practice better decision making for sure!

Gettin' it done on time.

Which we did... though the cheap flash drive I purchased to deliver this project has another thing to say about that. Technically we were a little late but the organizers were fairly lenient and allowed our entry to stand. I look forward to seeing how it all turns out in a couple weeks!

The many virtues of the "oner".

The challenge of it, the potential beauty of it, but, most delightfully, the efficiency of it in post-production. It is difficult to properly express my appreciation of having the bulk of the work done as soon as the shooting is done. The stress levels simply dive into oblivion. I need to do this sort of thing much more frequently!

Busting into day 1.

We got quite a pretty easy crop of "curveballs" to work with and, even though writing is never an easy process, I think we got that stuff out of the way in a fairly simple stretch tonight. I would have gone a different way, personally, but I will make that attempt another time. In any case, I think we can craft some decent quality over the next 38 or so hours.(I'm sure my math is way off. ha)

Closing in on another sleepless weekend.

Actually, I plan to get some decent sleep on each of the weekend evenings this time around. The workload will be distributed in a fairly unusual way compared to what we have done in the past so I expect it to be a much easier weekend in that way. Certainly the challenges of writing and prepping are going to be more difficult and extensive but I expect it will pay out in the quality of the final product.

It's fun to dive into different genres once in a while.

Mostly because diversity of listening habits improves the experience of each piece by contrast. I tend to get in the habit of overplaying the same playlist, much of it because I still tend to enjoy it fairly thoroughly, but stumbling into a couple unusual beats, mixed with some classic jazz vocals is pretty much always a treat. I'm not sure why I haven't done much exploring in that direction for a while... maybe five years or more. Weird. At least it seems weird to me.

Slow rolling motivation.

I think there are some things rolling around in the tumbler that might be picking up a little steam. Ideas that were somewhat below the surface until the last few days or so. A possibility of a new direction or two with my creative energy... and it even feels a bit sturdier than the usual imaginary delving. Fun stuff. Very vague. Still fun.

Feeble steps are still steps.

The quality of the thing sometimes isn't quite as important as the quantity of it... especially when the quantity is more than zero. Progress is important in every form. I just usually forget about that because of the life noise and all that. The funny thing about the life noise is that even though it may seem like it's competing for attention it really isn't. It's more of an immense, narcissistic force that simply wants to exist prevalently.

Chasing natural art.

There is something to be said for the work one puts into one's craft for the sake of something seemingly trivial to the public as a whole... and I will say it right now. Art is love. Art is sacrifice. Art is personal. Art is experiential. Art is education. Art is.

Parking tickets are lame.

I guess me parking for 4 hours instead of the maximum 3 was probably lame to somebody else, though, so I shouldn't complain. I just gotta pay better attention... to time. It's a life trait I am somewhat fluky with. Patience isn't always a virtue, I guess.

A job well done.

It often leads to more jobs, done well. It is always good to hear a happy client's positive commentary about the work produced for them. I am not even sure how much the actual work is even a part of the equation, too, since I expect I would be happy to help just about anyone in any situation. Certainly, a better paying client would be more beneficial... but I ain't complainin' when they aren't.

Selling ideas.

It seems to be a craft almost purely based on presentation. Ideas themselves can often elicit their own passage into the enthusiasm of a potential buyer... but I tend to think it is the sugar-coating offered by their purveyor that really gives it wheels. Sometimes it's simplicity and directness. Sometimes it's flash and form(with a little alliterative sparkle). It might be the best, however, when the combination of substance and style carry equal share of the fuel. Even that assumption could be wrong... but it does feel at least somewhat right.

Unexpected utility.

Which comes in the form of my skill diversity. I am sort of used to it at certain times of varying needs but today was a surprise that I was happy to have. It is especially nice on a day that I was expecting to be fairly boring. Sometimes you just get lucky for being skilled, I guess.

In continued search of the art.

Every day I get to practice my craft is a day I get to improve it in some way. The steps might be microscopically incremental but that is often the best step to take. And the value comes two-fold; an increase in skill/capability and an increase in maturity/experience. Occasionally, depending on the nature of the practice, it is also an increase in social connection. And maybe I am only bothering to mention this all because I am grateful for my understanding of it(which is still exceptionally limited in its scope, mind you) and I feel inclined to briefly share... maybe it has meaning to somebody else, too.

Gears in motion.

I learned today that the feature film I worked on earlier this year is almost done with its rough cut and might actually get submitted to the Sundance film festival in time for the submission deadline. It sounds like the editor is doing some pretty good cutting as well so that's exciting. I look forward to seeing how it all comes to life!

A new week begins.

And even though I have a pretty good idea how it will be starting I feel pretty vague about where it will head. I have a bit of the optimistic slant on things but not much else beyond that. There just isn't much going on at the moment. I know I really need to pick up the pace on a couple of my projects... so at least there's that.

Doin' the fun, non-dirty work.

Any time I get the chance to pull out the 'bazooka' I am in a happy place. This probably sounds strange until you know that the 'bazooka' is my gigantic lens that basically looks like its nickname. It certainly isn't the best lens I own but it is currently the one I consider the funnest to use. It's heavy, unwieldy, and somewhat complicated to use to it's strengths and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ever planning for things yet to come.

This is generally considered a good state to be in. It is importantly coupled with the completion aspect, though, which is quite often skipped due to lack of resolve, poor planning in the first place, or circumstances beyond one's control. This doesn't invalidate the planning... but it can certainly rain on the planning parade a bit if you're not paying attention to the important good that comes by planning in the first place. Each attempt brings its own rewards for sure.

Polishing the craft.

The part of the craft I don't do very often but enjoy nonetheless. Much of it hearkens back to my old graphics and photography background but much of it is somewhat new, interesting and challenging as well. A new area of self-education that I am sure experience will only teach me... repetition is king. The subtle nuance of a well-crafted product is truly its own reward.

Hunting for additional work.

My next shoot just got cancelled so I have about ten days of technical break time to fill. I do have some personal business projects to occupy a little bit of that time but I would definitely like to grab a new experience or two(compensation attached) if possible as I will certainly need to refill the coffers relatively quickly. Gotta stay ahead of the game as long as possible, eh!

The plate is basically overflowing.

And I might only be thinking it now because I have made an actual "To Do" list identifying as much of it as I could think of right now... there's probably a few things that I missed. Anyway, it seems like quite a bit to try to catch up on. My list might always be this big but I am usually oblivious/ignorant in my own way, I think. Spelling it all out helps, though, despite the increased feeling of challenge that comes along with it. The clarity is highly invaluable.

Developing the tough ideas.

It is something I enjoy doing pretty much anytime about pretty much anything. It seems especially useful when it might be a money-making idea, though, and even more so when it involves other people. And the tough ideas are potentially the place where the best ideas can be found since, by their nature, they would be less likely to be discovered by somebody else. Well, that's how it seems to be, anyway. I like thinking I come up with somewhat unique(an oxymoron?) ideas.

Two days of shooting.

It went fast but fun. I think the crew worked well and the cast was great, despite being a bunch of kids. And now begins the edit. It should only take a week to complete so we will be rewarded for our efforts more quickly than the usual production cycle usually does. I definitely look forward to the next one coming up!

Idea momentum.

Sometimes they just carry the energy they have been generating forward like the groovy good-times brain train. The only problem I have with that particular analogy is the implication that those ideas are somehow bound to a track. It might be a fine thing to do, actually, since having a track further implies a known and connected destination. Anyway, the momentum is exciting no matter how you slice it... or roll it... while burning coal inside the engine of it.

Unexpected ideas.

I can usually trace an idea that I have back to its inception and fairly easily understand where it came from and what it might have been aiming for. It's usually a practice in reverse dominoes, basically identifying the triggers for each step in the thought process and what inspired each one before it... usually a logical chain of some type. Today I had an idea that I found so entertaining so quickly that I am actually not sure what caused it exactly. I have some of the pieces together but it almost feels like a piece of unexpected chemistry leapt into the formula somewhere along the way and caused a positive reaction in my brain... so I suppose that'll just be good enough. I plan to run with the idea for a while anyway. I think it might be quite fun and challenging all at the same time!

Getting back into the rhythm.

Which is sort of misleading since a rhythm implies consistency which was not a very typical aspect of my working life to begin with. It's cool, though... I like to make some rhythm when and wherever I can. Broken rhythms are cool with me. Anyway... I enjoy my work. And even though the break was nice the work is still my friend.

The trip has ended!

I have finally returned to my computer and can resume my blogging ramblings once again. There were so few people that actually read this with any regularity that I am sure it probably isn't that big a deal. Ha. Anyway... I'm tired now so I won't start elaborating on any of my recent thoughts until tomorrow's entry... when my brain works a bit better.

The old haunts made new again.

It has been several years(more than five, I think) since I went to food with any of the high school chaps at the Ram. It felt like a totally new place, really, since we and it were a totally different chemistry than what we used to be. Not in any strange sort of way, though. It felt just familiar enough mixed with the odd sensation of newness one might feel at a place they've never been before. Maybe some of the conversation felt very similar to that. In any case it was fun and I consider myself quite the lucky fellow for the experience. I have, and have had, an incredible number of awesome people in my life.

Unusual nature.

Because widespread natural fires are fairly uncommon in these parts. The common effects go largely unnoticed by most people, it seems, other than the occasional small-talk references about the weather. I know most of the effects are subtle anyway. The color-shift of the sun's light is sometimes striking to me, yet almost indiscernible at other times. The smell of the smoke is more difficult to recognize. The haze in the atmosphere is quite thick, though, and even hid the sun almost completely from view noticeably earlier than the actual time of sunset. At one point it was so faded I could barely tell what I was looking at. Anyway, I'm enjoying it. Like most of natures unusual occurrences, I tend to enjoy the oddity of it all.

Kids are way cool.

And they are very interesting case studies of human culture. They seem to reflect many of our better intentions in a very unambiguous way. Their perspectives are so limited and at the same time they seem so boundless. The kindness of the human soul emanates from their innocence. It is a good reminder of these things whenever I am in their company.

Capturing the memories of youth.

It is pretty much always fun to be around very young people. They have an energy and motion that inspires all by itself. And I am looking forward to being a part of it tomorrow as I get to capture a moment that will hopefully reflect that energy for years to come to the families of those involved. I like the idea of being a part of history even if it's just a part of somebody's personal history.

The wily, cool music scene of the day.

I went to a music show in a bar in Ballard tonight and was quite impressed and unexpectedly surprised by the music which was witnessed therein. It wasn't the quality that I was surprised by as much as it was the style; something unique, entertaining, fun and somehow a bit further from the musical path I have explored... which, in itself, is quite a broad path to say the least. Ultimately, I intend to seek further into both of the band's historical discographies which is not something I have often thought of doing after a small-sized show of this kind in the past.

Pulling hamstring like a non-champ.

At least, I can't remember hearing about a champ who did that. I did it in the middle of a pretty normal, very humble basketball game where the only spectatorship derived from it's waiting participants. Maybe that's a good thing. No stakes, no actual loss. It hurts to walk around... and sit... and bend forward... and lift my leg... but thems the breaks, man. I just hope it goes away faster than the last two times it happened.

Writing, producing, editing, and camera operating all in the same day.

Which means it was quite the fun day for me. Outside of music, art and sports, there is very little else I could have even added to the day which could have made it actually better... which probably isn't saying all that much, now that I think of it. But whatever. I was a pretty lucky dude today.

Working on Saturdays.

I think it used to be so much more of a hassle. I remember there being a time when I had worked Saturdays so frequently and for so long that getting them back was a momentous occasion which I cherished greatly. Now, even though it doesn't happen that often anyway, I don't seem to mind losing them to work. Maybe this is a sign of my deep entrenchment in the anti-social life I have become a part of. Kind of a bummer, that. I should probably try to change that.

Welcoming the return of the rain and gloom.

I have become quite accustomed to the unusually hot summer this year, largely because of my higher outdoor exposure and higher than typical temperatures along with it, but my fondness for rain certainly didn't take a vacation. And today's Washington-like weather brought more than a few smiles to my face(at different times of the day, of course... since I only have one mouth). And, even though my work was pretty decent today, you can tell I enjoyed the weather even more than normal since it is definitely the main topic of this post. Boom(thunder-style). Bloggin' in(about) the rain.

Long, sunny day.

We were expecting it to be long but the exceptional level of sun was a bit under the radar. It made for a splendid day of work, however, despite it being a bit more of a physical drain on the energy levels. I have only seen a little more than half of our footage so far but I think it looks decent. I will pick the rest up on Tuesday and I think it'll be quite exciting to see what our other shooter got today. All in a fun day's work!

Highly productive days are highly satisfying.

The big work comes tomorrow but all the prep work ends today. And, of course, there is always quite a bit more one can do to prepare for any emphasized moment... but the satisfaction of feeling like the effort expended to prepare actually means something certainly helps the confidence which, almost invariably, increases the quality and chances of success as you go through the moment. It is sort of a layered, multi-faceted reality. Every positive piece of the equation encouraging the others, directly or indirectly, improving the synergistic momentum toward the ultimate goal. Anyway... it's a big, messy way of saying something simple... which I am currently at a loss to do... mostly due to lack of focus and need for sleep.

Inspirational advice.

When somebody who has walked quite a bit further down the road, in any particular facet of life, I am always quite interested to hear his or her perspective and share a bit of his or her experience. And it's always a fun experience to do it in a group setting with many other people keen on gleaning the same kind of wisdom nuggets I am. Wisdom nuggets rock!(couldn't pass up on that one)

Getting ready for the big-time.

Only a couple days away from some pretty interesting, very technical, very exciting shooting and I am almost as prepared as I would hope. Tomorrow will be plenty of time to knock the rest of the prep out, though, and I am quite enthusiastic about wrapping up the pre-production process on this project. We have been planning for nearly a year... so that's pretty much awesome. Anyway, I am probably just a bit overly excited about all of this. Fun times.

Time is so easy to overlook.

It seems to daunt the impatient but almost anesthetize the oblivious. I feel like I am not totally in the 'oblivious' camp but do tend to think I am not far from that end of the spectrum. The moments when I seem to recognize this can be somewhat harrowing, though, and often lead me to thinking about all the time I 'seem' to be wasting. I could be so much more actively engaged in the quest for a significant other. Work and career are not necessarily unworthy endeavors, though, and do seem to claim the largest chunk of my focus. I guess it's all a massive and fairly understated tug-of-war in my priority scope. Oh, the fun of divided intention vs. the merits of undivided attention.

Friends with radness.

It is an enviable position and one I am grateful to enjoy. For the radness I appreciate is incredibly kind, talented, and often willing to have me along for the ride. The indelible pleasantries afforded most people who take the time to pay attention.

Another busy weekend.

And even though this weekend will be more of a work weekend I will be delighted for the opportunity nonetheless. A relaxation of a different kind. The relaxation of enjoying and focusing on something that I love doing that happens to be considered work.

Unqualified success.

Despite our 48-hr team not finding any additional awards for the night we still had fun and are definitely encouraged by the experience as a whole. The competition was incredibly good but we definitely saw it as an achievable level for us. We truly were the kings of the night!(and queens)

Things still moving forward.

And staying busy being productive and not just busy... which does actually happen a lot if I'm not careful. I think it would be part of the reason I have not found any meaningful relationships over the last 15 or so years. Right now the busy stuff is actually leading to new and potentially important happenings. More of the community building and other similar sorts of things. Is it a sacrifice or an artful dodge, though? Even I don't really know the answer to that. Ha.

Building a community.

This is never an easy task. The interest level is only marginally affected by the things one can attempt improve it. The fluidity of its membership is almost directly controlled by life factors for each person that are almost entirely outside of the groups influence. Every individual has a different understanding and motivation for what the community even means to him or her. And through all of it, whatever form of leadership that exists is only as good as its communication and ability to inspire both those being led, those leading and the individual leader him or herself. Building a community will only occur through failed steps and the repetitious engagement in the learning that follows each one.

Returning to the week.

I am quite grateful to have an extended weekend once in a while. And it is even more fantastic when you get to throw a little camping into the mix. A nice, easy transition back into the work swing is practically icing on the weekend cake. Which means work should feel somewhat shocking tomorrow. Ha. I've been tromping around in the sun and now I need to jump back into the water. No worries, though. It looks to be like some of the normal-quality stuff I've been enjoying lately.

Jamming and camping.

I just got back from a delightful weekend of music in the woods. It was a big group of friends that gets organized at a friend's house out in the sticks near a river and there's food, musical instruments, a big field, beautiful weather, and lots of fun to be had by all. I found it to be incredibly relaxing and just the right thing for my weekend. I got to hang with my nephew so that was cool, too. Plus, I didn't have any internet or phone access the whole time I was out there... which is definitely an awesome thing to experience every once in a while.

Doing good work for good people.

In reality, doing work for just about anybody is technically the same thing. But doing work for people who are specifically investing their own time to help others feels somewhat more rewarding in its own way. It probably seems a bit strange when you consider the industry that I have chosen to invest my energy into... the people I serve are almost explicitly consumers during the moments they engage in the product I am a part of producing. But, if there is some small piece of opportunity to be had in my line of work, it would be to inspire, teach, and provoke the goodness of our world, to share the unknown perspectives which strengthen and improve our own. Maybe, doing good work for good people helps me feel a little closer to the pulse of those same ideals.

Learning from those further down the road.

This is generally the relationship between a teacher and a student. And sometimes further down the road doesn't necessarily mean older, more experienced, or even better at the thing they are teaching. They might simply be exposing things to the student that can only be learned from the more advanced perspective. This perhaps recognizes the absolute value and importance of perspective in all things.

The indecipherable future.

Some things on the horizon are fairly clear. Some things sometimes seem like they will be clear but kind of turn a different direction, retreating into the exceptionally vague. This is nothing new. Life is full of surfers... at least, life on the California coast is. Perhaps I bring all of this up because of the simple, somewhat perplexed feeling I currently enjoy as I contemplate where things are headed for me right now. It is somewhat bemused puzzlement with a hint of tingly optimism... and a dash of cold, hard reality. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Inching into the future.

Maybe that's how it should have always been presented to me. Or maybe it always was presented to me that way and I just didn't notice. Either way, patience is certainly a key function of life that everyone should learn to operate with. Discretion and determination should probably also be mentioned in those lessons. It seems like an overabundance of patience, without either of those other ones, might be somewhat detrimental, too... or perceived as laziness... or just plain dumb. Ha.

A day of rest is nice, once in a while.

And even though today wasn't originally slated as a day off, I am quite pleased it was and a much needed day of relaxation it was. I have not had more than a day or so off in the last couple or so weeks. My brain needed the break. The coming week might be quite busy.

Doing the busy work for days.

It can be pretty draining to stay busy so consistently. It is usually made worse by my crumby sleeping habits. Oh, the tiredness and lethargy. Luckily,(and if I'm lucky) I will get to do some fun work tomorrow, weather permitting. Then... the busy work will all be worth it once again.

Reminiscing with the old crew.

It is always a fun time to visit with old co-workers and see how life has changed and evolved since the times I was a part of. The personalities are largely the same but the personnel is become something altogether different. There are many fond memories to recant along with an almost equal share of the negative ones. Having put some considerable space between the negative ones and now gave them an almost whimsical spin, however, hardly stifling the pleasure of our collective recollections. I look forward to enjoying such an experience again in the future.

Challenging life changes.

Sometimes things happen in life that actually change the normal tone of things forever. Death would probably the easiest example of this to recognize and understand how it changes things. Sometimes, however, there are some far less obvious things that can happen which can cause a similarly profound life change... a car accident, a graduation, a lost friend's contact info, moving into a new place, etc. The effects are not necessarily negative and the changes are not necessarily noticeable at first. Anyway... I have to sort of grapple with a life change right now. The impact isn't immediately noticeable but it likely will be permanent. And I will learn to manage and adapt and continue moving forward just like I always have. Life is all kinds of fun sometimes!

Getting things done in the interim.

Even though I don't even know if/when I might get to start doing the things I really want to do at work, I am staying quite productive doing things that aren't so bad and somehow feeling like I'm almost doing nothing at all. I think that would just be an effect of thinking on the potential future more than recognizing the present. I am not sure how often I do this kind of thing normally... I recognize it now as quite a trap, though, and would probably do well to avoid doing it as much as possible. The present is always the most important part of life.

Basically non-stop work.

Sometimes there is little else in a day full of work. It streamlines one's focus and generally makes the time pass noticeably faster... depending on the type of work, I suppose. Now, the exhaustion is pleasantly pulling me into bed a bit quicker than usual so that's good too.

Forgetting things.

Especially commitments. These are the most unfun things to forget. Even little commitments. In some cases the potential damage is somewhat easy to circumvent. In other cases, however, the damage is done the moment it slips your mind. I am glad I didn't have that sort of event today. Life is generally quite forgiving for one in my sort of situation, being that my ties of responsibility are relatively localized and uninfluential. So, maybe in that light, forgotten commitments can be seen as the spice of life? Ha. I suppose that would often be true anyway.

One step closer to extended success.

Merely finishing the project within the allotted timeframe is, indeed, a success in its own right. Obtaining peer approval from our perceived competitors is an added level of success we could not have expected in the least. And what a grand gesture it is! I am quite pleased to share the glory with such a fine group of folks!

Rockin' in and out of it all.

I was quite happy for the opportunity to jump into another band's set tonight to help cover for their missing bassist. I was no doubt far from the quality they were used to but they seemed quite happy with what meager improvised elements I provided. The greater joy tonight, however, came in watching the latest incarnation of my former band play. They have my replacement bass player but also have a new drummer and they have certainly carved a new niche for themselves. It was, of course, a bit of a sting to not be a part of such a delightful experience from the inside... but it was also an honor to enjoy it as a participator from the outside. And I look forward to seeing their future successes as the years move on.

Excellent momentum.

We had an excellent meeting today which did well to carry the motivation and energy of the weekend forward into our potential futures together doing more of the movie making awesomeness. We all talked out the highs and lows and sort of reveled in our somewhat brief success thus far. It appears we almost unanimously look forward to all of our future endeavors together. Fun times!

Initial success.

It feels like something we can build on in a meaningful way. It certainly inspires me. I am quite proud of the team for all of our efforts and really think we might be able to claim a prize or two before this thing is all said and done. And beyond this, I think we can continue making good things happen in a variety of ways. And it energizes my optimism just thinking about it.

Unusual blame.

Today I had an experience that I found quite perplexing. I was essentially blamed for somebody else tailgating me and the gate coming down on their vehicle while doing so. There are more details to the situation, of course, and I can see somebody twisting things enough to somehow make it my fault but it is such a stretch that I was somewhat frustrated by it for the rest of the day(well... whenever I would think about it for the rest of the day... which wasn't really that often). It mostly just reminds me that nobody, including myself, is anywhere close to perfect. I am definitely my best self when judgement is held in reserve for the moments that truly matter.

Incredible appreciation.

I feel like my patience has been highly appreciated far beyond what I thought it could have been. I wouldn't call it gushing praise or anything hyperbolistic(it's always fun making up words that sound cool) like that but I definitely feel something positive that is motivating and something I appreciate. All this talk of appreciation might seem boring but it definitely feels important to do whenever the situation is right.

Our labor, well-received.

We put an incredible amount of work into this one thing without the certain expectation of its result. The tension this creates internally can be somewhat bothersome if left unchecked. The initial responses to its presentation, however, did well to lay our anticipatory anxieties to rest and begin to build our anticipatory optimism that our work has a better chance of doing somewhat well. I am grateful for the team which shared this experience and almost equally grateful for the audience that validated it.

Returning back to the world.

It has been a mere 48-hour experience which has claimed the time and attention of this one of late... but now that its window has passed I am glad to return to the mundane and exciting life I enjoy on a regular daily basis. Anyway... regular life is good. 'Fake' life is fun and good. Work is good. My bed is the best.

Video game prowess.

It is definitely something that diminishes with age. I spent a few hours in the arcade with my buddy today and more and more I came to realize that I am not the video game adept I was in my younger years. I still had the fun I was hoping to have but it certainly came with a higher percentage mixture of somewhat confused frustration than was expected. I have to say, though... button mashing can also be therapeutic.

A million miles a day.

Or just a million miles this day. And the strange part that I only realized a moment ago is that I didn't even flinch about all the driving no matter how far or how much expected traffic would be part of the experience. Just knowing I have a quality traveling companion probably caused that effect, I suppose. I haven't added up the miles(and in reality they weren't an insane number to be sure), but the fact that I went from Puyallup to Seattle to Tacoma to Tukwila to Tacoma to Seattle to Tukwila before coming back home to Puyallup at least sounds like a million miles in my head.

The old crew.

Or at least one piece of it. And any piece is a fine piece in my book. It's always fun to reminisce and be reminded of some of the glory days. Not that there actually were any 'glory' days but, you know, some twisted sort of version inhabits my memories anyway. And I'm all down for twisted fun. Anyway, it's good to see the friends of my past finding their way back into my life from time to time... even if only for brief moments here and there.

Independence is not always a choice.

Which is often something taken for granted. And, in many ways, we are never truly independent as we reach out toward others looking to interact in some way... but that doesn't diminish it's value. Rather, I would tend to think it increases it. Interdependency is a strength to those who recognize and value it. Therefore, if my incredibly convoluted thinking has any actual credibility(I am quite tired and wielding a fairly foggy mind at the moment), independence = synergy(?) Ha. That almost sounds like one of those misleading ad slogans of the army recruiter commercials.

Chillin' with the dudes.

It always feels like the right thing to do despite the fact that all three of us basically commiserate our ever-continuing status' as 'unattached' with the frequency rivaling a whiner's pace(did I use flowery language to obfuscate the point, there?). Basically, we can be a sad bunch of singleton's from time to time. Ha. Anyway, they are good for motivation if nothing else... and they are good for so much more than that. Good people make for good times no matter the status. This is a highly appreciated truth, to me!

Digging into the more creative things.

Today I got to embark into two different projects where I will get to spread my creative wings a bit. And even though I already have a lot on my plate I am quite excited to participate in both projects and look forward to seeing the end results of my involvement with them. I am a very lucky fellow!

So much to do!

Dealing with an equipment cache that has been building(and occasionally subtracting) for maybe close to two decades is not my idea of fun, generally speaking. It's kind of cool to explore the items I have some familiarity with to assess what is still useful in some way. It's kind of annoying coming across so many items that just don't seem to belong anymore... mostly antiquated technology that was once quite a gem. Oh, well, it will will be nice to eventually get things to the state of order one would hope for and appreciate.

Workety work work.

Most of the time I am lucky enough to really enjoy it. Occasionally, I am not the biggest fan. Mostly for lack of direction lately, though. I know I can be helpful in a variety of ways... but I do certainly feel much more inclined to be doing things closer to my goals than not. I guess I am probably just venting a little bit. Goodish times!

The ball is rolling.

And it's a ball I am fairly fond of. I tend to like ball games a lot, too. But this ball could mean the step in my career that I have recently made mention of. It's a shiny, fun ball. I think it could take a little longer than I'd prefer to make its way back to me... but I am nothing if not patient... most of the time.

Slowly settling back into regular life.

I have to say I am quite unused to the slow pace but am almost equally glad for it. The brain needs a bit of time off even if the body was happy to continue the march. Tomorrow I should get the opportunity to have a meeting to see if I might be able to start doing other things at my job that could be much closer to my professional goals, if not a bit more lucrative as well. Then, if I am lucky, I can start readjusting to the faster pace once again.

I can't say I didn't see it coming.

The day that I reached 200lbs in weight. I'm not actually sure if it happened before today, since I never had a scale handy during my last three-week trip, but I was basically that exact weight when I got home today. I thought somewhere in my mind that I would be able to easily avoid it somehow... but, as the quaint and sometimes wise quote states, failing to plan is a plan to fail. Anyway, it's not like being this weight is technically failing... but I definitely want to get back to the much healthier 165lbs or so where I belong.

The end of a semi-long road.

Which in many ways was actually a real, physical road. I didn't fly to either of the last two shoots and both of them were so far out in the sticks that the location was a decent distance from the more populated areas(with one of them only accessible by passing through a gravel road to get there.) I generally don't feel very homesick whenever I travel but I have to admit there is a little piece of it lingering somewhere in the back of my mind. I guess I am still looking forward to my next trip no matter when it comes.

Coming down to it.

We close in on the end of another fine shooting experience. It certainly did not go without its share of trials. And it still has a day of interesting paces, I imagine. I don't know what the weather will be like but, short of an actual tornado, I don't think we will see anything we haven't already faced. Then it will be back to Seattle with us! And the undetermined future will bring a new set of challenges and decisions.

I'm glad I don't live down here.

Because of the mega-hot, ultra-humid days like today. It is oppressive... like a taskmaster with a massive, syrup-covered whip. It just makes you feel gross constantly. And I'm even the lucky one that gets to spend a decent amount of time inside an R.V. Anyway, I look forward to my return to Washington... where the climate is humanly exceptional.

The intensity of a shoot.

It commonly comes in the form of time constraint and shot complexity... this shoot, however, brings weather and animal danger into the ring as well. Our B-Cam operator literally got heat stroke due to the fact that he had to wear a full-body Tyvek suit because the house if full of Brown Recluse spiders, animal poo, mice and potentially snakes. Yep, that is pretty much about as crazy as it could be. This is the first time I am actually grateful I am not a camera operator for this shoot.

Road trippin' into the South.

It was a beautiful, fun experience even though it was too much of a long trek. I really enjoy the different vegetation and land formations that you see along the way. The skies were cloudy and blue. The oddities were plentiful and interesting. I just really get a kick out of traveling and I think doing it by land is always the richer experience.

And... that's a wrap.

Not only was today the last day of my current shoot... it was the day I learned that my next shoot will be my last one as a Media Manager for the foreseeable future, possibly forever. I would prefer to continue my work, of course, but this could perhaps lead to the next important step in my career so I really shouldn't complain. And I know the reasons for discontinuing the use of Media Managers right now are in many ways the right thing for the company. So, in reality, today was good in multiple ways, more of a bitter-sweet end to the week.

Basically hitting the stride.

My job is not an easy one. It isn't particularly complex but it isn't particularly easy, either. I tend to think most people could do the work but definitely recognize the importance of adhering to the specific instructions and consistency with attention to detail thrown in the mix. Having been doing this for the past four or so months I am finally starting to feel like I am pretty much on top of it. I do see room for improvement in my time management skills but I think that will continue to improve for a while to come anyway.

The beautiful countryside right at your fingertips.

And most of the time it is pleasant to the touch... except when a tick, nettle, or other obnoxious piece of nature gets on you. That's hardly a deterrent for the serenity part of it, though. I'm really into that serenity stuff. I'm certainly a very lucky fellow for getting to enjoy it as often as I get to... an unexpected perk of my job on occasion.

Followed by a little more than expected.

Today was a bit of the opposite of yesterday. I was asked to shoot some of the B-roll that was actually necessary to the shoot. Nothing extremely important but it was nice to be asked to do it nonetheless. There is definitely an increased level trust getting thrown my way. I can't let it get to my head, though. Seriously... I still have all kinds of work to do in my current position.

A little less than expected.

Which is to say that I was not entirely needed for the camera work I was initially asked to do. It's cool, though, since I did get to do something, at least. The weather was pretty much ridiculously muggy/hot but the skies were inspiringly beautiful and the camaraderie was jovially entertaining... and that's all cool with me!

Shooting opportunity.

It seems that, because of a somewhat overloaded shooting schedule, I will get the chance to shoot a couple quick scenes tomorrow. It isn't something that is very mission-critical as far as the episode is concerned but I think I might be able to put together some pretty usable little pieces of work and hope that it can lead to some better opportunities in the future. How exciting!

Mini-shoots are cool.

They certainly have a different feel to them. In some ways they might be better for the subject as I am sure the intimidation level of such a small crew would be quite a bit smaller. Greater challenges exist for the crew, however, as many different roles(camera operator, producer, sound, gaffer, etc) need to be taken on by fewer people and, as such, the quality of each role's need naturally suffers. By the same token, the multi-tasking aspect also increases the diversity, uniqueness, and potential fun of the work. It's all a good time to me but it is always cool to mix things up a bit whenever the opportunities arise.

Tornado warnings are cool... and warm.

Which is pretty cool if you ask me. We didn't actually see any signs of the tornado but the crazy windy cloudiness was something I don't recall seeing too much of in my lifetime. And, with the temperature being so tropically warm, the heavy rain just felt weird and unusual. Not like a shower, per se(probably because I was wearing clothes), but something sort of surreal anyway. So I guess that's the life of a traveler... sometimes.

The deeper emotions.

I think we produce a fine, story-telling experience in the work that we do. It shares a slice of life that most people would never have access to while, at the same time, drawing connections between the human emotions we all share. I think the story is such a beautiful and powerful form of communication and I think we as humans already understand that on an innate, fundamental level.

Staying in is a good thing sometimes.

I pretty much go out every night for dinner, which is kind of the normal thing since I am technically always out(being on the road for work), but have started to recognize the value of something different. My hotel room is not the most home-like place to be but there is still something to be said for the ease-of-mind I enjoyed for just relaxing here for the night. And, to be a bit more explicit, I am not know to get homesick, generally speaking, so I tend to feel somewhat "at home" pretty much anywhere I go... which is a personal feature I am quite grateful to enjoy.

Drama behind the scenes.

There is always something more going on below the surface of any visible experience. Certainly this episode will show a decent level of drama, based on the things that happened today, but we will never get the full sense for the challenges faced surrounding this whole trial's inception. It probably isn't critical that we(or anybody unrelated to it all) fully understand the gravity of these things... but it does mean there is always more room for learning, understanding, and empathy.

Getting into an exercise routine is tough.

As much as I really enjoy playing basketball, I seem to have a very difficult time forcing myself to do much else in the way of physical activity. It could be that trying to do just about anything as my first activity of the morning would be fighting an uphill battle, regardless of my interest in doing it, but it seems like that will be just about the only time I can guarantee is open. Well... guarantee might be a strong word since my will power is so far from guaranteed. Ha.

Round nine?

I can't remember what shoot number this is for me exactly... nine sounds right but I definitely could be wrong. Anyway, it looks to be a very interesting experience with a solid, well-rounded crew. The weather should be interesting, with mid-eighties and rain here and there, as well as the story that might be told through our efforts... I look forward to seeing how it all turns out!

Holy lateness!

So... I get up to get on a plane in a couple hours. I know the flight will be 4 hours long so I'm basically planning to sleep as much as I can on then... and I hope I'll be so wiped out by the end of the day that the new time zone will be easy to crash to anyway. At least, that's what I think can happen if I am lucky. Ha(feeble internal laughter).

Gettin' in on the gimbal craze.

Now, I too, can say I am a gimbal operator... if that would be the appropriate term. I've been doing it this whole season of Hoarders but can now say I own my own gear to do it anywhere I am requested for it. Cool! It's a solid little piece of tech that should compliment my current arsenal quite nicely. Plus I will get to rent it to the Flea to mitigate it's cost, even! Bonus cool!

Lots of stuff shows up tomorrow.

And, in a way, it's like a mini-June-style Christmas... just for me. Ha. Not to be greedy about it and all that. I will be receiving a piece of gear that I will be able to rent to the Flea to help pay it off. It was a business decision that happens to be fun as well. I am quite grateful for the opportunity! So, after a long day at work I will get to play a little tomorrow evening, and for the foreseeable future as well!

The action is a'comin'!

So the break will be extra appreciated! I now have two, back-to-back shoots on the near horizon and considering the upcoming decline in Media Manager numbers I will certainly be slated for the remaining shoots with more consistency and increased frequency... which is pretty much awesome. I know the work will start to grind at some point but I am quite glad I am still enjoying it now. And the good attitude is always a good thing to carry into the challenging situations.

Taking an actual day off.

It is something I didn't quite do today but I did come pretty close. The mind, body and spirit definitely need a break every so often and I am certainly not very good about my break consistency or quality. It could be quite helpful in regaining some level of normalcy... and sanity. Ha. Good times are always had with sanity... or is that insanity?

Refocusing on home.

I don't spend a whole lot of time here in between my production trips with my job, but I do spend enough time here to get some momentum going with the projects I am working on here... at least, I am capable of it. I seem to take a bit of a longer break than is needed but maybe I am just being hard on myself. I averaged about 12-hours per day for five of the last seven days with a couple 6-hour days on both ends of that. Rest is important. Gotta get my brain back.

Final day of fun.

Every shoot is really something different. Each personality we are documenting leaves his or her own stamp on the experience we all share together. And the effects are definitely extensive as is easily evidenced by all the stories carried from prior shoots into the conversations during this one. Our subject on this shoot certainly needed the help and I think her life could definitely improve in quality in the coming years... but only if she is willing to accept the help, beyond all the possessions/objects which she has no difficulty in accepting already. I'll be interested to see what happens.

Back on the roll.

Things just movin' along at the pace of production. The splendid weather still found its way as a minor topic of discussion... and I don't even mind. It's nice to talk about the positive things in life, small or large.(though, I've never heard of 'large' talk. ha) Anyway... I'm up way too late and my brain is not spittin' at the same targets right now. I like the weekend.

Millions?

Probably not that many since it probably was not as hyped as it was the first time around... but I am pretty sure my three or so tiny little pieces of camerawork were still viewed by way more people than anything else I have done before. The episode as a whole was a bit of something else but all good things must start somewhere. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of this season's work, for sure!

Parting the clouds.

So, maybe the sky was listening and decided to spill its guts everywhere else today. Pretty much every person who came to the location today was seemingly puzzled by the distinct lack of evidence pointing to any rainfall there... despite the heavy, dark clouds quite nearby nearly the entire time... and the thunder storm sometime in the middle of the day. Don't worry... I won't complain.

Riding the lightning.

Which is just about as elusive as any semi-frequently experienced piece of nature can be. I've snapped off hundreds of photos in my attempt to capture it but have only achieved capture after slowing my attempts into video form... which doesn't actually make me feel like any less of a shooter. Ha. Sure, my little piece of video only has a little bit to speak of, but I did claim it all on my own... and it even looks like an actual bolt!

Far away from the world.

Back on the road, after a brief trip through the sky, surrounded by green mountains and valleys long. We soon delve into the life and mind of another disorganized soul. We will all have the opportunity to learn something important in the relatively short span of time we share together. I am highly enthused by the radness of my work!

Old friends and good times.

I think the frequent travel and work make me appreciate my friends and family more than I usually do. It's one thing to not see someone for a while when life isn't changing much in the interim... I think it seems to be something else when life is all kinds of adventure. I am not entirely sure if it's just being happy to have interesting news to share, if it's finding more reminders of what I am missing with greater regularity, or something to do with the act of traveling in general(or something else entirely). Anyway... I'm glad I get to hang with my old buddies... even if it's the only time it might happen for the foreseeable future... especially if it's the only time it might happen for the foreseeable future!

The cathartic manual labor.

Which might seem a bit odd but it seems to be the case with me. It sort of replaces the athletic endeavors I am not indulging in so much these days. A little bit of using my hands, brains, and braun in a sometimes creative and refreshing way. I like building things in general and manual labor just seems to fit that bill somewhat nicely. I am lucky I have the opportunity to do it in my regular work from time to time. The change of pace is also highly appreciated.

Toenail smashing.

Whenever I play basketball it seems to be one of those basically guaranteed experiences. Smashing my own toenails, that is. It has been happening for so long I can't really remember when it first started happening... maybe high school? Anyway, now I will bide my time waiting for the nail to be ready to pull off. It sounds somewhat gruesome(and sometimes it kind of is) but, hey, out with the old and in with the new I guess. I probably didn't really need the old one that much anyway.

Engagement photography.

It is one of the more enjoyable photography experiences I can think of. The stress level is low. The opportunity for creativity is high. And, if I have a positive chemistry with the couple(which is pretty much always the case), I get to humorously hang with people and try to get some natural, hopefully photogenic shots of my friends. It's a big win for everybody pretty much every time. I think I would even enjoy it with a couple I don't know simply for the challenge of meeting them and hopefully improving their days. A fun challenge, indeed!

Cracking into the edit.

One scene at a time. There are approximately 186 total scenes which comprise the entirety of the movie so there's certainly quite a bit of work yet to do. It kind of seems like it's supposed to be a sprint but I know that a sprint will not produce the quality it deserves... so, as much of the tortoise's wisdom as I can muster is certainly welcome. Steady anything is always welcome, regardless of speed.

Getting closer.

To the future... to the dream... to the freedom... to the challenges... to the intensity... to the pain... to the opportunities... to the truth... to the people I love. Life is always moving one way or another.

The friends in need.

I am always willing to help the people that I love. At least, I have always been willing to help the people that I love so far. I would like to think I can remain perfectly willing in all future endeavors of service... but that might be asking too much of myself. In any case, I really enjoy service and especially to those I am closest too. I consider it a blessing to even have the opportunity.

Interconnected.

It is a somewhat unclear aspect of living... the way we relate to those around us and the way they relate to us and others. We are elements of energy that reflect and channel the energy of those closest to us in every possible direction. And never is the 'golden rule' more applicable and affective than it is in this way. Simply put, we are all working for each other in just about every important way whether we realize it or not. Learning that lesson is never an easy thing.

Earning the recognition to move forward.

I really enjoy working with the seasoned professionals I am surrounded with at my job. Gaining a bit of the insight they have is exceptionally invaluable. It is both encouraging and a bit of a trial when I consider how far behind I can feel despite how confident I am in my relative abilities. Some of my success will only come because of my associations, which can seem somewhat frustrating, but much of that is contingent on how I am able to show my worth through my skills so that seems more acceptable and appreciated than first glance would suggest.(that last sentence confused me a bit when writing it... sorry, if it doesn't accurately state my thoughts. ha)

Getting to do the things I enjoy.

I am quite thankful for my position as a Media Manager, for all the many challenges and opportunities to learn that come along with it. I am even more thankful when it allows me the opportunity to do a little of what I really want to do, though, which is operating a camera. It really is just something different than most other things in life for me. A delightfully harmonious blend of the technical and artistic.

Getting things lined up just the right way.

Which is especially difficult to do most of the time since a multitude of schedules are basically impossible to juggle. But, sometimes when the odds don't actually come into play, the good things can find a way to happen and the schedules somewhat magically align in just the way I was hoping for. Serendipity, to some... dang awesome, to me!

Learning a new place and people.

I really enjoy seeing something I haven't seen before. Whether it's environmental, social, intellectual or otherwise, I seem to enjoy pretty much everything that's new to me. Which makes all this travel that much more enjoyable. Even when I go to someplace that is kind of like somewhere I have been before it still seems new and interesting to me. Every inch of this planet is somewhere different and I guess I'm thankful that I get to enjoy the differences even if they are subtle.

Back in So-Cal.

And the weather actually isn't quite as nice as it was in Washington when I left... weird. But it's still pretty good, so no complaints there. I think we have a pretty solid crew for this shoot so I am looking forward to seeing how it all goes. Every shoot is a new adventure and a new opportunity to learn something new!(probably too many 'new' words in that last sentence)

Disc golf catharsis.

Especially when I get to do it with my buddies. The weather couldn't have been better. The conversation was fun. The athletic component, while not very taxing, was still quite nice. And all at the meager cost of a gallon or so of gas and a few hours time. If I could enjoy such a thing with any regularity I would consider myself quite lucky... which is what I consider myself for even having the privilege of enjoying today alone.

The vanishing educators.

It is a bit of a strange thing to learn that your school is essentially "going out of business". I am not entirely sure how I should even feel about it. It doesn't particularly bother me in regards to how it could affect my life but it does make me a bit sad to see something that I appreciate disappear. I still consider it a good opportunity that I was fortunate enough to participate in and enjoy along the way. It was a very positive effect on my life and I am grateful for all that it brought me.

Hitting the busy stride.

I have been pretty much mega-busy since the beginning of the year and for quite a good span of that time had almost no days off. Like any new schedule it took quite a bit to adjust to and now, after several months of that break-neck sort of pace, I feel like my stress levels have finally calmed down as I consider all the upcoming work. Accompanying that is the pleasant feeling of exhaustion that causes me to actually go to bed at a decent time every once in a while. That alone is sort of a break through in its own right... sadly. Ha.

Last day of the shoot.

This was an interesting shoot with a somewhat expected, but unfortunate, result. The subject may end up going to jail and/or losing his house. I hope none of that happens but, despite our offer to help with his problem, he chose not to accept it willingly. Now, I will be leaving this place and will not get to see the positive impact we could have had... the one we usually have. It's a bit of a bummer feeling but I guess that's life. Better luck next time, I guess!

A new place, a new adventure.

Not that every new shoot is somehow not already a new adventure in its own way... but this one promises to be something else. The format is unusual due to its inclusion in a first-time-ever 'live' show event that is being put together. So the actual things that we are doing are also different. We actually don't know what will happen tomorrow, as the subject may or may not accept what is being offered, and it is entirely possible we will very quickly have nothing to do. I look forward to the drama as it unfolds in real life!

Action must be very difficult to write well.

So much of it is simply imaginary before getting to the set, I would think. Important beats in the action are planned, I'm sure, but so much of the little stuff, much of which is potentially very cool, seems like it needs to be created somewhat spontaneously. Maybe I just have a difficult time conceptualizing it because I practice it so little... maybe it's not that hard once you've done it a lot. Anyway... I have a lot of respect for those that are actually good at it. It makes life that much more exciting from time to time.

Might actually get to shoot.

I have been asked to take an extra camera for the upcoming shoot "just in case" they can use the extra footage I would be able to get with it. I know it's not an actual request for me to assume the actual position of a shooter but it's definitely one step closer. Plus, it looks like my own camera will be the perfect one to fit the bill. I am quite enthusiastic to see how it all turns out!

The non-hoarder hoarder.

In general, almost every hoarder denies that he/she is a hoarder and it usually takes an expert's opinion to get them to realize the error of he or her thinking... and this is usually only a tiny step in the path toward recovery anyway. It is a strange thing, however, when, after taking the customary first tour of the home, almost everybody agrees with the 'hoarder' in question and is confused by the label which has somewhat hastily been assigned our poor subject. Having to 'pull the plug' and head back to town really left a strange feeling lingering in the gut, I have to admit. We're happy for the 'hoarder' anyway... just sad for losing the experience as a whole. I really do enjoy my work.

The almost enormous mistake.

Which, even though it is not the best portmanteau I've come up with, I want to call it a 'megastake'... you know, a really big mistake. It was simple oversight to be sure. Something anybody could have done. But it would have been quite disastrous for me if it was not fixed through the caring efforts of my parents as it had been. Simply put, don't leave your main tool of work operation behind... ever... that is all.