Whirlwind…

The last couple of weeks have been ... intense. Just about two weeks ago, we said goodbye to our precious Willow. We ultimately ended up having the vet come out on the Monday as we detected another problem with her and we just didn't want her suffering any more. I'm not going to lie; I … Continue reading Whirlwind…

Looking at the year ahead with hope…

‘Twas the night before Christmas…. How can another year be nearly over? I can say with all honesty that 2022 has flown by. The last year has been one hell of a ride; it’s been full of challenge, growth and endurance. I sailed past the two year anniversary of my last hospital admission with barely … Continue reading Looking at the year ahead with hope…

That is another course done! I got my results back from my final assignment last night, and with them comes the end of my current course as this course does not have a final exam. While I didn’t do as well as I would have liked, on the final assignments, my overall mark for the … Continue reading

Good news, bad news…

Where to even begin. I’ve kept busy over the last few weeks, though I did manage some much needed downtime during the latter part of October. I spent a couple days working through workshops hosted by Adobe Systems, which showcased improvements and changes to the software I use all the time with my photography. A … Continue reading Good news, bad news…

Getting a curve ball…

Photo by Alexas Fotos on Pexels.com To say that October has not gone according to plan is ... something of an understatement. I reached out to Dr. M at the centre to find out when I was on the radar to be seen as the fall is when we usually check in. The news I … Continue reading Getting a curve ball…

Beginning to live life…

The year continues to fly by. It doesn't seem possible that we are well into the first week of September already, yet here we are. I'm not going to lie, the past few months have flown by way too fast. I can't believe that I have been staff at the paper for over ten months … Continue reading Beginning to live life…

Feeling strong…

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I've last wrote. Things have been ... busy. Aside from a lull in the closing days of July and the first few days of August, work has been keeping me pretty steady. It seems like whenever I am have got things just about wrapped up … Continue reading Feeling strong…

Tweaking things…

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com It is unbelievably the middle of July already. This year has been flying by. Between work, school and cramming in some time for Lynn my schedule has been pretty busy. Still, despite the craziness I have been pushing myself to make some changes. I've been out wildlife shooting a bit … Continue reading Tweaking things…

Productive downtime

My time on the bench is coming to an end. I worked Monday and Thursday as full days this week, and Tuesday and today are half days. Due to a rodeo kicking off tonight in Stettler, I'm also working this weekend. I'm okay with it though, I love covering rodeo! I've been out shooting in … Continue reading Productive downtime

Making changes…

Well, after spending half a decade shooting with my venerable T6i it's time to say goodbye. While the camera was still taking reasonable photos, it was beginning to develop some issues that were making it less than an ideal platform for my journalism and other photography needs. Basically, the issues coming forward were really making … Continue reading Making changes…

A Break from Routine

Well, Calgary Comic Expo is done for another year. The fact that I was able to handle three days of crowds tells me how far I have come in m mental health recovery. I did have a four day pass, however due to the crowds on Saturday, and how badly overwhelmed and over stimulated I … Continue reading A Break from Routine

Why I am all in on the Apple ecosystem

So, I’ll admit, over the last year or so I have turned into a bit of an Apple fan-boy. Okay, maybe it goes a little further back than that…. Having had enough of PCs, I saved up and purchased a MacBook Pro for myself in 2018 and it is a move I have not looked … Continue reading Why I am all in on the Apple ecosystem

Finding my path…

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com I can't believe that it has been nearly a month since I've written here last. I think I have finally found the path I am meant to be on. Work has been keeping me busy. I've been making inroads into the community of Stettler, and people are starting to … Continue reading Finding my path…

Checking in…

I'm entering my third week as a full time journalist, and I am feeling great. The last two weeks have been great, though busy. Hell, last week was insane, but I'm not complaining. I'm just grateful that I managed to get some downtime yesterday. Aside from doing some social media posting for work, yesterday was … Continue reading Checking in…

Over sharpening a blade…

Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com My first week officially working full time is drawing to a close. Truth be told, there hasn't been much change from previous weeks aside from the security that it is full time, and in fact my workload has decreased a bit with no longer having as many regional … Continue reading Over sharpening a blade…

Finding routines…

Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com I think something that has been helping my mental health so much lately has been a matter of routine. Getting up and going to bed at around the same time every day has really helped with that. Usually, my first alarm goes off at 0640-hrs, with me normally out … Continue reading Finding routines…

Changes afoot…

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com It's official, sports fans. My permanent part-time position is transitioning to a permanent full-time position effective next Monday, with my new position as the new multi-media journalist for Stettler and Castor. The only real changes between what I am doing now and the position is that the new position will … Continue reading Changes afoot…

Finding positive stress…

Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com It's hard to describe, but this week has been equally frustratingly busy and agonizingly slow. This was was my first week doing layout for both papers, which was definitely some added challenge. Still, being so early in the new year, combined with cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 … Continue reading Finding positive stress…

Feeling Driven…

Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com Today was a sharp contrast compared to the day off I took yesterday. Unfortunately, we said goodbye to Lynn's mom early this morning. With cold and snowy weather moving into the region again starting tomorrow, she decided to take off a couple days earlier than planned. After she left, … Continue reading Feeling Driven…

A blank page…

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com Today is the first day of a new year, a blank page in a fresh chapter of life. What will be accomplished this year? What highs will elevate us beyond our highest expectations? What lows will challenge us to the edge of our ability to cope? Regardless of our expectations … Continue reading A blank page…

Learning, Quickly…

Photo by Soubhagya Maharana on Pexels.com It is that time of year again where time seems to have little meaning; that twilight zone between Christmas and New Year's where the days just seem to bleed together. While Lynn is taking some much needed time off -she closed the store from Dec. 24 until just after … Continue reading Learning, Quickly…

Pleasant surprises…

Photo by Vladislav Murashko on Pexels.com Sometimes I succeed in surprising myself. I woke up to my Communications exam marks in my email box first thing Saturday morning, with pleasantly surprising results. Due to the few questions in the exam that I was drawing a complete blank on I was expecting a mark somewhere in … Continue reading Pleasant surprises…

Time flies…

It has been a minute since I've been able to come up for air long enough to write. To say the last couple of weeks have been busy is an understatement. Work has been keeping me busy. It has definitely been more hours than I was expecting, but I am not complaining. The work is … Continue reading Time flies…

Contemplating life’s pathways…

Photo by Eva Elijas on Pexels.com As another week draws to an end, I find myself in a contemplative mood. I'm feeling better than I have in I don't know how long. I'm feeling stronger. Calmer. At peace. Yet, this fall has been brutal. I've lost friends to cancer and friends to COVID. Regardless, I've … Continue reading Contemplating life’s pathways…

CMNS 201: Reflective BLOG

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.com Through eight modules, at least twice that many readings, and five months worth of studying, I'm on to the final assignment of a journey started on July first. Re-reading my some of my blogs from August, when my journey through the course was still in its infancy, I … Continue reading CMNS 201: Reflective BLOG