// It Just Did Not Live Up To It's Potential

This week really should have been a lot better then it was, and now I am frustrated, upset, and just plane ol' tired.

This week I was suposed to go to the Canucks game, reunite with the A Team in Squamish, and meet up with an old high school friend. The week looked a little intimidating with a huge test on the Tuesday with Rules, not to mention we had Rules and Regs 3 days in a row, Tuesday, Wednseday, and Thursday. Anyhoo, none of the following good happened. We still had are test though, on the Wednseday which was nice, and I think I did rather well. The week just royaly sucked though.

At school I love to have a good laugh, and a lot of the times i'm the butt end of the joke, and usually I don't mind it, and I just laugh with them. Lately however, I feel as though I am being laughed at, and I really am not enjoying that. Infact, it's pissing me off and school, which was once a great place to be worry free, has become incredibly stressfull to just deal with all the crap they are throwing at me.

Fred and I fight about hockey all the time, and because of that, I had to miss out on the Canucks game Wednsday. I really wanted to go and I originally thought that I would be going, but I just could not go with Fred. That was incredibly disapointing. Nevertheless, I had a youth leaders meeting that night so I got a free meal! Well, the meal wasn't very good. It was my first time with a Greek Restaurant, and probably my last. First of all, I wanted beed Souvlakia, and they brought me chicken. The serving was small, and not very tasty. I thought I could make up for it with a DQ Blizzard, but just my luck, they were closed. On a high note, Gilbert Brule scored in OT to give the Giants a 3-1 Series lead over Prince George. That was the high of the night.

Thursday was a boring day of class. Navin got kicked out of his place so it was interesting to listen to what happened. I was suposed to meet up with Ste Claire, an old friend from high school I have not seen FOREVER! So we were all set to out for a dinner and a movie, but she never contacted me. No call, no email, nothing. I couldn't get ahold of her. Home has been incredibly annoying lately, so I just wanted to go out, and thank God Navin called me up and we went for dinner at Moxies. It was a highly entertaining night, and I had a three beef patty burger. After that, we went back to his new place, and just chilled there which was very nice. We talked to Nick and both him and Navin had me all excited about Squamish the next day, and how we would once again unite as the A Team! So I went home feeling farely happy since I got to go out and have some good times, and since tomorrow was going to be awesome!

I woke up today earlier then I needed to, but I was just way to excited! (I'm feeling it now though) I got to school and we were all set to go. Unfortunatly, Navin didn't show, for some reason I still don't know why, I haven't been able to contact him. I had just been with him the night before and he was all excited about Squamish, so I'm pretty sure something huge has come up. The bus ride up was once again filled with jokes aimed to me, and they took my gloves, and vest and what not, which was pretty childesh, so I just wanted them back. Once we got there, it was going to be a while before I got to take my turn switching cars around. I got to check out the new shops the museum just inherited from BC Rail, and I wondered around the old BC Rail Squamish yard. I got to go visit the Royal Hudson, as she is starting to get put back together, piece by piece. I met a guy named Trevor who was working there, and we had a good little chat. I think with the month of May I will spend a lot of time up in Squamish checking out the Hudson. Anywho, it was lunch, didn't do anything productive really.

We had lunch and they screwed up my order at Wendy's, and it seems people just keep screwing up my orders. Anyhoo, on the way back, Nick bails out on Thomas and me as a group, which just really pissed me off. Like I was pretty hot. I told him "i'm disapointed in you man..." and he said thats the way the A Team rolls.

Excuse me? Last time I checked, teams stay together! Thomas and I worked with Adam, so it wasn't all bad. It wasn't really what I was expecting, but it's still fun playing with the real thing. Probably the best part of the day was Thomas and I just went around taking pictures of each other which was just tons of fun. He has all the pictures, so I won't be posting any. Plus, last time I posted pictures, the blog was all messed up for a while. Anywho, we went on home and I kind of just stayed to myself after the guys made their last jokes, I just shut up and stayed at the front of the bus.

Now, I am extremly tired and I have youth in 20 minutes. I think the worst part about the week is when people ask "how I'm doing." I especially hate it when family asks, because I don't feel like explaining myself. I just tell everbody I'm okay, but really, I'm just pretty frustrated this week and I am emotionally drained. My shoulders really hurt too.

If somebody would like to give me a massage, I will be eternally greatful.

Out

// Nobody Said I Was Perfect

You Are 38% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

// Top Five Things On My Mind

1. School. I am incredibly behind in math, as I have 4 tests left, and I have lost all enthusiasm to work hard. I know I must work hard, but I'd rather go play NHL 2004. Priorities? I don't know, I have no priorities. I'm also not doing extremly well in one of the important classes... and I am a little worried about that.

2. May. I have officially decided that I will take the month of May off so that I can do something, but I don't know what. I would LOVE to travel a bit, and I'm still looking into it, but I don't know where to start. I am extremly stoked for Historymaker as my video will premiere at one of the sessions, and I may have to go up early to Historymaker, which would make it even more exciting! However I'm not sure if I'll be able to find a job immidiatly, and where I would work if not for the railway at the time.

3. A Job. I am not very enthusiastic about the entire railroad scene anymore, as you may have been able to tell with the school post, and I am not looking forward to starting a career with the railway. I am excited to work with the railway, but not if I'm going to be working in the pooring rain at 3am. I don't even know where I am going to work, but I would love to work on Vancouver Island right now, but that possibility is not for sure.

4. Home, Moving Out. Sometimes it drives me crazy. With everybody moving in at once, it has finally drivin' me insane, and it is very rare for me to have the house to myself anymore. Fred sometimes makes me incredibly angry with his crazy anti-american views and his bizare ethics. My dad makes me feel guilty (not on purpose) because he keeps giving me money! He also makes me do chores at the worst time possible! At least the food is good! If I were to move out when I get a job on the railway, I would not know how to cook, and meals would be crappy! So that kind of worries me. On the other hand, I could have free rent at home, and put up with madness for a couple more years.

5. Future. Not knowing what my future looks like scares me, and excites me at the same time! I know I wanted to go to Summit, and I keep that in my mind, and I will at least do the Omega Course, I have promised Jesus, and myself that. I really want to further my knowledge with Motion Graphics and Video Editing and go deeper in that technology, and use those skills to create some wicked awesome video's for whoever, myself, Christ, whatever it may be. I hope to only stay in the Railroad Industry for five years at the most. I'll have been able to save a large amount of money for whatever school I chose to go to, and hopefully things will turn out well. I really really hope to grow deeper with Christ, deeper then ever before, and stop some of the things that hinder me from growing deeper with him. I am afraid that maybe these plans might not turn out the way I planned! I'm not sure what exactly will happen. That's why I can at least grow deeper with Christ, and the fear may not bug me anymore.

// Pre-Breakaway

Tonight was fun! At least it was when I wasn't stressed out about buying film and so on and so on. I really didn't do much besides chat with Alex and Wesley up at the sound booth but I got some stuff done!

It was incredibly, I don't know, what's the word I'm looking for...neat! It was weird to, especially since Chad (Canoe) was saying "You're not even a part of the church anymore!" Is it true? I mean, I guess, in a way, I'm not really part of the church. It was weird to see how much the youth group has changed too. I didn't recognize half the people there, and I didn't even get names for anybody! For the first time I feel like i'm on the outside...which I guess I never really saw coming, but I'm at another church, what do you expect?

I think tonight showed me just how much I miss some aspects of youth. Being a leader would be tons of fun with RPC. Bonding with Alex and Wesley was great! Anywho, it should be even more interesting tomorrow night! I shall be some-what upgrading my filming technology, as I will be recording the audio for both the worship and session, as well as another camera (that's right, there's going to be two!) filming from the balacony. Nicole will be taking over filming duties so I can only wish her the best of luck.

Last but not least, the Opening video! I'm going to be completly honest, I was kind of disapointed that I was not even approached about the Breakaway video this year, and I treated this as a missed oppurtunity. It was frustrating, in a way. It was also frustrating that Pastor Andy didn't even show my promo video! So I must say, I was very negative about video's when the Opening Video was about to air. I watched it, and I must say, I couldn't help but like it. I really didn't want to like it, and that may sound pretty harsh, but it's the truth. Fact is, the video was really good, and incredibly creative. I was expecting more of a Histoyrmaker opening video, but it was more like a SPARK video, which I haven't made for a while. I used to enjoy making video's like that, but the music video's just caught my attention. So putting everything aside, good job on the video Steph.

Now comes the real thing. I've told some of my guys to try and win all the prizes! Hahaha! I wonder if it will be just as weird for Jade as it will be for me tomorrow...

Let the games begin.

// BC Ferry sinks off coast of Queen Charlotte Islands

Canadian Press; Broadcast News
Published: Wednesday, March 22, 2006

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. -- Grateful survivors of today's ferry sinking off the Queen Charlotte Islands are telling graphic stories of their ill-fated journey. Passenger Lawrence Papineau, one of the 100 people who took to lifeboats in choppy seas, says it was like a scene out of the Titanic. He says passengers heard a crashing noise, then the 125-metre ship tilted to one side. Within an hour, Papineau says the vessel tilted again and levelled out before it "sank down to the sixth deck, came up like the Titanic, dipped and then it went under."

The orderly rescue of dozens of people from the ferry's lifeboats -- 42 crew members and 59 passengers -- and the fact that no one was seriously injured is nothing short of miraculous, said the president of B.C. Ferries.

"Anytime you have a major incident and you have no one hurt or killed in this type of thing, I think you always think it's a miracle," David Hahn said. "You always think, thank God, and you (are) thankful for the crew. That's what they're trained to do. They've done their job once again."

The Queen of the North, sailing south on a 450-kilometre overnight trip from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy along what's known as B.C.'s Inside Passage, hit the rock in choppy seas and high winds. It took about an hour for the boat to sink, allowing those aboard the ferry to get on the lifeboats and giving rescuers time to reach them.

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which was in the area and on the scene by 2:10 a.m., and a fishing boat from Hartley Bay, the Lone Star, were instrumental in the rescue.

The Lone Star, in fact, "played a very valuable role" by pulling passengers from the life rafts and taking them to the Hartley Bay community centre, Canadian Coast Guard spokesman Dan Bate said. Other residents of Hartley Bay took speedboats out to the site of the incident to help rescue passengers.

Local community offers comfort
Most of those rescued from the lifeboats were taken to a community centre in Hartley Bay where the town's residents brought them blankets and coffee; the others were still aboard the Sir Wilfrid Laurier. They were all to be taken to Prince Rupert later Wednesday.

Some of the passengers were in their nightclothes when rescued. The ferry left Prince Rupert at 8 p.m. PST Tuesday and wasn't due to arrive in Port Hardy until noon Wednesday.

The 125-metre-long vessel was completely submerged about 135 kilometres from Prince Rupert after hitting the rock, listing to one side and then sinking.

"It's unfortunate to lose the ship, but if that's the cost of having nobody really hurt or killed, then fine, I think we'll live with that," Hahn said.

Hahn and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell were headed to Prince Rupert to meet with those rescued from the ferry. An eight-member team from the Transportation Safety Board was also due in the area later in the day.

Nicole Robinson, a receptionist at the nursing station in Hartley Bay, said she talked to several members of the ferry's crew who were sleeping when the ship began to take on water.

"They heard a loud bang like it grinded a bit and they said the cabin started filling with water," she said.

Some people were hurt, but not seriously, said Robinson. Many were "stunned."

"We've just had a few patients come and go, minor injuries. The community all got together with blankets; everybody's pretty cold but they're all down at a community hall," Robinson said.

Injured flown to Prince Rupert
Hartley Bay resident Wally Bolton, helping out at the village cultural centre where the ferry evacuees were taken, said a medivac helicopter was taking some passengers with minor injuries from Hartley Bay to Prince Rupert.

"I know there's one head injury and I think there's a sprained wrist and a case of high blood pressure," Bolton said. "All the rest of the other people are OK.''

Bolton said the evacuees were shaken and tired.

Shelby Robinson, 13, said the entire village of Hartley Bay, with about 200 residents, pitched in when the distress call came in.

"I stayed here to get ready for them when they came in, get blankets ready and everything," she said.

Robinson confirmed fishermen from the isolated village rushed out to help evacuate the sinking ferry.

"Most of the guys went out and got their boats running right away and they took people in by groups," she said, adding witness said the ferry was listing to one side.

Added Chris Bolton, the former band manager of Hartley Bay: "We had two gillnetters go out and four speedboats that went out to assist taking passengers in from the ferry to Hartley Bay. We had the ladies prepare refreshments, coffee and sandwiches for the passengers that came.''

Seas were reported to be choppy and winds were blowing at about 75 kilometres per hour.

"From what we hear, it took about an hour for the ship to sink so most of the people did manage to get onto lifeboats," said Capt. Leah Byrne of the Search and Rescue Centre in Victoria. "There was an orderly evacuation of personnel from the vessel, including passengers and crew."

According to the B.C. Ferries website, the ship was built in Germany in 1969 and refitted in 2001. It can hold up to 700 people and 115 cars.

The book The Ships of British Columbia says B.C. Ferries bought the boat for $13.8 million in 1974 and named it the Queen of Surrey. The ferry was retired in 1976 until it was decided to put her on the Queen Charlotte run in 1980. More than $10 million was spent to prepare her for her days as The Queen of the North.

// This One Is A Keeper

Again I have changed the template of the blog, and this time I really enjoy it! Unlike my last template, there was just something that bugged me about it. Now it doesn't bother me as much with this blog as I finally have my crazy Vertigo Circles in the background!

Basic changes were the font size the layout since I think those were the two things that bugged me with the old template. Anywho, I really don't know what else to say about the template. What do you have to say?

// The Trains Roll On

Recently my brother and I have started downsizing are train collection, since we have so many cars we really don't know what to do with them.

One of my CN Locomotives has sold.

Then there is box one.

Box two

and box three... the boxes have not been selling well, I don't think anybody really wants old crappy cars, unless you're just starting your collection.

Indeed I really muct be getting rid of some cars, it is very sad to see them go. These were the trains that my brother and I grew up with. This is what we started out with and these truly were the rail cars that made are train set back in the day. They have been around longer then anybody I know. Even though they are just objects, I feel bad selling them. It's like telling them 'I have no use for you anymore, it is time to go' which is basically what I'm saying, but I mean they have so much sentimental value! Once I get rid of them I'll never remember them!

It just seems so sad to say goodbye.

// Canucks, oh Canucks

Ever since hockey has made it's triumphant return, I haven't really posted much about the Canucks this year and how I've been enjoying the season. Overall, I am disappointed, and a little disgusted.

Here is the one major thing that bugs me. There is a 40 million dollar salary cap and the Canucks can't afford to sign any foreign talent in the off season, such as Scott Niedermayer, or Peter Forsberg, and they practically keep the same team together, when the same team has had problems in the playoffs. The one thing I really could not understand was how power-house teams like Detroit and Colorado could afford to keep their all-star players. Why? Because their star players took pay cuts, when are star players, and not even star players, got pay raises.

It comes back to Vancouver's "we must keep the core of the team together because one day we eventually will win" theory... And it has really started to piss me off! The team might not even make the playoffs at this rate! We have a team that can not function properly!

Let's look at the top line:

Markus Naslund, the captain of are team has a 6 million dollar contract. He has had somewhat of a decent season, however he is only 24th place in the league with 64 points, and after tonight, teammate Henrik Sedin passed him. The point here is that a player making 6 million dollars should be up in the top ten scoring leaders, not below the top 20. Need I mention that he is a -10 as well. I remember when Markus would just go to the top of the circle, and snap a wrist shot, and it was almost a guaranteed goal every time. Now the guy can barely get a shot on net. Naslund has to pick up his game for the team to go anywhere far in the playoffs.

Todd Bertuzzi has been rendered useless in my books this year. After he started to look a little better half way through the season, I gave him the benefit of the doubt, only to be disappointed my his poor numbers, and stupid penalties he takes. He often shows the fans the he is a very lazy player, and he never parks himself in front of the net anymore. I guess with 5.3 million dollar contract, you don't have to work hard anymore. For a 5 million dollar player, he isn't even in the top 50 point leaders, and has a pitiful -12. Bertuzzi has to get a reality check. Canucks fans complained when we didn't have him in the playoffs against the flames last season, but right now I don't think it would make a difference.

Brendan Morrison was a player I actually liked before he became incredibly high on himself, and decided that he deserves 3.2 million dollars. Moe is not an elite center-man, if fact, far from it. Here is a list of center-men that are, from my point of view, are much better then Morrison, and make under 3.2 million dollars: Steve Yzerman, Pierre Turgeon, Brian Rolston, Craig Conroy, Shane Doan, Mike Ricci, Mike Comrie, Scott Gomez, Petr Nedved, Daniel Briere, Jason Spezza, Olli Jokinen. Honestly, where does Morrison get the idea that he is better then all these players? How does he figure he deserves more money then these guys? Morrison is having a horrible season, with only 45 points, and with a -1, and he is only 97th in points. The guy has had no impact on the team this season, and it was only sensible to bring in another center-men, and get ride of Brendan Morrison's huge salary, or at least put him on the third or fourth line, make him so he can realize "oh wait, I'm not that good..."

Vancouver's Top Line
Total points: 164
Salaries Combined: $14.5 Million

Here are some other stats for top lines around the NHL, all teams that are higher in the standings then the Canucks

Detroit's Top Line
Total points: 210
Salaries Combined: $8.9 Million

Colorado's Top Line
Total points: 178
Salaries Combined: $13 Million

Nashville's Top Line
Total points: 136
Salaries Combined: $9 Million
*Note. Legwand has been injured for some of the season.

Dallas Top Line
Total points: 150
Salaries Combined: $12 Million
*Note. Modano not on top line

The point I'm trying to get across here is that are top line is too expensive and they are over-rated. I can't blame Nonis completely here, because the fans in this town believe they should keep the team together, when in reality, change is needed badly. Bertuzzi was signed by Burke however, and not by Nonis, but this was back when Bertuzzi was actually good. Morrison never was as good as they thought he was back in the summer. With the money we save on those salaries by bringing them down a bit, we could have been able to afford Forsberg, and it would have been a completely different game.

Goaltending has never been a problem for me, and in fact, I'm rather happy Dan Cloutier was injured this year. As much as I am a Cloutier fan, he never really did prove himself in the playoffs, and he had a rather large raise in the summer, even with a poor playoff background, and no positive statistics. Who could have done well against Calgary, but who knows. Nevertheless, Auld has stepped up to the plate, and answered the call rather well. He may be taking a lot of heat this season for the lack of success with the Canucks, but look at it, does Cloutier do any better? I think this will be an eye opener, and the Canucks will deal Cloutier away sooner then later, and we'll have a little more cap room.

The new players we got on the deadline are alright, but I haven't really seen them in action all that much. I was really hoping we would get more forwards, but that never happened. I had a high potential for Richard Park, but he never really did as well as I thought he would do.

The Sedin's and Carter, now there is line Canucks fans can be proud of. I never really liked the Sedin's, because they were so inconsistent, but then again, I used to like Bertuzzi and Morrison. Henrik is having a career high season, and he makes how much money? Not 6 million, not 5 million, not even 3! He makes 1.25 million dollars. Wow. We pay a player that much money for 65 points? That's robbery for the Canucks right now...

Canuck's Second Line
Total points: 169
Salaries Combined: $3.5 Million

I thank the Sedin-Carter line for actually doing something.

What do the Canucks need to do to win? Honestly, I'm not sure. Right now it looks as if half the team isn't trying, and that they really don't care anymore. They are making there millions of dollars, why work hard for it? Until they realize that they aren't invincible, and that they are not an elite team, which everyone thinks they are, we will never go far in the playoffs.

Why can't the Canucks just pick up the slack?

// Last Moments On Earth

I was just checking out Kelsey's newest blog (yes another one) and I came across one of her posts where she encountered a snake! I really hate snakes! Anywho, this is stolen directly from her blog...

...I nearly died in my second encounter with a green mamba. For those of you who don't know, the green mamba is one of the fastest and most poisonous snakes in the world. I was daydreaming and not looking where I was going (as usual) and I turn the corner to enter the washrooms and I hear this loud hiss at my feet... So I jump back in surprise and then to my horror, there's this massive green mamba not a foot away from me... And the ONLY reason I'm not dead (aside from the extremely relevant point of divine intervention) is because it had a rat or something in its mouth, so its fangs were occupied... Otherwise it would've bitten me and I would've had 8 minutes max, or something ridiculous like that... I don't really know.

Holy crap! I really hate snakes! So anywho, I was discussing this story in class today with some of the guys today and something popped into my head. You have 8 minutes to live after you have been bit by the snake...What would you do with those 8 minutes?

What would you do?

// A Blog Worth Blogging For

I really need to do something to spice up the place. I seem to rarely post anything and when I do I feel I don't have anything interesting to say. This is one of the posts where I just post about posting because posting is at a new low and I need some better posts and the word post is used a lot in this sentence.

I'm going to a BCIT interview thing today, where they put me on a DVD for high school kids. I'm a little nervous, and I don't know why because it is pretty easy. All they will do is ask me questions. Anywho, it is an easy $50, or is it? Apperently it is almost 2 hours. Nice use for my Sunday afternoon.

What should I do to spice up the blog? Your input matters.

Out

// It Was Over Before It Began

I think this was the only Canucks game I ever went to where there would be no possible way I would leave angry.

I originally would have gone to the game with Fred, but good old Thomas won tickets to the game! He invited me so my Dad and Fred went, and I'm glad I didn't go with Fred... the game would have been completly different.

Darren, Nick, Thomas, Navin and I were the gang tonight, and later joining up with us at the game was Thomas's room-mate. We went to the Shark Club again, and per usual, it was tons of fun. Since GM Place is almost right beside the Shark Club, it was easy just to walk over.

We just joked around and had tons of fun. Navin decided to cheer for Nashville so we were always making fun of each other. The Canucks scored the first goal in the second period, by Anson Carter. Then in the third, Nashville tied it up. However, the Canucks took the lead again! Not until Nashville scored again! So we went to overtime! How intense! It was so exciting! We're going to...

Damnit! Nashville scored 6 seconds into overtime! We left happy though, which was incredibly awesome. It was nice that we could leave such a horrable ending happy, because we actually enjoyed the game! Fred was furious when we came home, and I would not have been looking forward to that.

I think one of the best parts of the night, I can't even remember, it was just too much fun!

PS. Check it out, I'm famous. In the article Weekend at Don Robson's look in the third paragraph...yep! That's me!

// You Know You're a 90's Kid When...

You can sing the rap to "The Fresh Prince Of Bell Air"
You've worn leggings and felt stylish
You yearned to be part of the Baby-Sitters club
You use to love playing with your My Little Pet Shop
You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons
You wore a ponytail on the side of your head and had scrunchies
You remember reading "Goosebumps"
You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, wax off"
You have pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf
You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school
You remember the craze then the banning of yo-yo's
You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...
You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green Ranger were meant to be together
You collected Pokemon cards, Go Pikachu!
You wore socks over leggings scrunched down
You knew what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare"
You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
You played and or collected "Pogs"and knew what a "slammer" was
You used to pretend to be a MIGHTY MORPHIN Power Ranger
You had at least one GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere
You watched the ORIGINAL Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Ninja Turtles
You remember when the new Beanie Babies were always sold out
You used to wear those stick on earings, not only on your ears, but at the corners of your eyes
You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"
You thought it would be so cool to be Alex Mack
You know the Macarena by heart
"Talk to the hand" ... enough said
You thought Brain from 'Pinkey and the Brain' would finally take over the world
You were made to wear a pair of leggings with the straps on the bottom
Your parents made you wear a fanny pack
You collected tazos
I'LL BE BACK!
You knew all the words to every Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys song ever made
Furby's were totally where its at
You made wishes on trolls with gems on their stomachs
Skip-It was your favorite hobby
You know what T.G.I.F. stands for
When everything was "the bomb"
You remember when the Olsen Twins were babies on Full House
You know exactly why you shouldnt say Beetlejuice three times
You EVER watched the following shows:
-Darkwing Duck
-Dog City
-Muppet Babies
-Dinosaurs!
-Saved by the Bell
-Animaniacs
-Where is Carmen Sandiego
-Student Bodies
-Step by Step
-Family Matters
-Boy Meets World

Blast from the past... Stollen from Fun With Pinto

// Goodbye Canada

It just wouldn't be very like me to not say goodbye before I head out of Canada for only the third time in my life, the first time since I was 12.

Yes, I'm off to Seattle! Right now I am incredibly tired and I wouldn't mind just going to sleep right now, but instead i'm going to the United States of America! I'm not sure what to expect out of the weekend since I am incredibly drained, physically and mentally. I've been all over the place lately with my mood, and I've been pretty excited all week, but now, let me go to bed!

Haha! What an attitude eh?

Again, I'm not really sure what I want to accomplish, besides of course picking up some leadership tips and what not. I don't know what kind of things I could pick up either! It's just so new to me! Anywho, I shall take my camera and take some pictures, and tell you all about my adventures when I come home Sunday! Even though I'm just going 3 hours away, it feels like I'm going so far away from everybody! I've only left Canada once! This is a huge deal! Well, here I go!

Bye everybody! I'll miss you Canada!

// I Work For Elevation Media

My video career highlights just got a new item to throw on, and the biggest one yet! Let me start at the very beginning...

ASTRID Multimedia was the creator of the Historymaker Promo video and Opening video, and I must say, I was a huge fan of his work! Last year at Historymaker: GO! I realized that the video was much lower in standards, and I asked Craig if he made the video. He said that he did not because he was involved with a full time contract. I asked if he would be making anymore videos for Historymaker, and the answer was "time will tell..."

Historymaker released it's Promo for LIFE, and I could immediately tell Craig was not the working mind behind the video. Immediately, a spark lit my brain on fire, and the very thought of creating an Opening Video ran through my mind. The idea's came to my mind in days, and parts to my plan would just appear out of no where. Once I realized what song I was going to use, I would play it in my car while going to school, over, and over, and over again; creating the video in my mind, and getting more excited about it every time. It was time to go to the operating table.

The video took me about a week to finish. I worked on and off on the project during the week, trying to fit in my usual activities of school, gym, and hockey. Luckily, as I said before, I had already created the video in my mind. Once I finished, I realized that it was a pretty special movie, and it even put goosebumps on my arm. I watch every now and again just to get me excited.

I emailed Darcy McAlister telling him about the idea's that God had put in my mind, and that I used them to create an opening video for Historymaker! He was very appreciative about the idea, but apparently there was already an opening video in the working process. He said that he would love to see the movie anyway, so I sent it to him. I was excited at the time, and I knew that I was at least on his radar, but it would have been awesome if I could have seen it playing on the big screen in Historymaker.

A couple weeks go by and I figure Dacry just put the email aside and moved on. However, I got an email Tuesday from Dacry, and the reply was completely unexpected!

Hi Matt,

WOW.

We are VERY impressed... It's really powerful.

There was a little bit more information, telling me that he would like me to send it back, just taking out a couple things, and then we have this at the end...

If you can work with us - we'd love to use it - at HM in some way.

Maybe on the Monday.

Keep up the amazing work.

Darcy

I honestly just went through the roof when I read that email! My goodness, we'd love to use it at HM! OH SNAP! I was just so overwhelmed and I just could not believe it. Honestly, I still don't know what to say!

I replied back telling them I would love to work with then in anyway possible, and now it looks as if I'm about to completely take my video career up another notch! I can only thank God for the wonderful gift that he gave me. I love this stuff...It makes me feel like nothing else can make me feel...

Recently I sent Andy my promo video for Breakaway 06. I actually created it long ago, just because I was bored, and I've had it waiting to come into action! I never got to ask him about an opening video for this year! Last year's opening video was probably the most fun video I ever got to make, and maybe even my most creative. I got to work with Sam a lot, and we had a day out to Galiano for some major filming. We were supposed to have the car on Galiano, but the keys were missing, so Sam and I had to walk around in the poring rain on Galiano for something like 4 hours! We were incredibly tired after. The video turned out extremely well.

I want to make another Breakaway Opening! Get Sam back in the spot-light! Goodness, that was too much fun! Well, I guess it worked out for the best. School has been incredibly busy, and I've been working on the Historymaker Opening as well. I mean, I'd rather create an opening video for Historymaker then Breakaway anyday! You have probably thousands and thousands of more youth watching, and you really really know, that you have been gifted to do something like this. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me with the Opening in May, and with my entire video career in the future...

Dream On