"Take a journey through the mind of a Riddler"

So this morning I sat, at the unholy hour of five am, oatmeal in hand, clicking my way down the list of photography blogs that’s accumulated as of late in my favorites column. What with joining [b] school, I’ve added a half dozen new links to scatter among my usual Jasmine Star and Jessica Claire visits.

In an effort to really align with the schools attitude I know how important it is to have regular visitors, let alone the rampant joy a new comment brings (Don’t tell me I’m the only one here whose smile could rival Jack Nicholson’s Joker when someone new comments!)

So there I was the last of my apple cinnamon delight faced with four un-updated blogs. Well. How, rude. The nerve of some people! Don’t they know that I’ve got to have something to read in amidst blow drying my hair and tying my shoes?

And that’s when I came here to notice that indeed I haven’t just let one or two days pass like my fellow photographers; it’s been a whole week since my last post. So maybe you’ll forgive my previously complaining paragraph, as procrastination, me and him, we’re pretty tight.

I’ll try not to list my way through familiar excuses though will note that I spent the last three days consumed with packing tape, boxes and newspaper. My original thought had been to wait until we were settled and my new Imac arrived, but in relying on Canada Post we could be here a while. In an attempt to eliminate whining next week about my woeful shipment problems as an excuse for blog neglect I figured I’d post and say I am attempting to improve my patience.

Let’s stare at my beautiful new computer—I am still unsure which joy is greater, the joyful ease of an Apple making it’s way into my hands, or the joyful glee in which my PC will be tossed of the balcony….I’ll get back to you



In googling this, I found it might not be the most appropriate description, I was going for unbridled happiness, not deranged psycho, but ah well, can't be perfect.



** Note: If anyone has comments just bursting out of them feel free to leave some here and spread some of the love to my fellow [b] school friends :) **
Catie Ronquillo
Jenn Galloway
Jessica Hanaumi

"I want more, impossible to ignore"

September 17th, 9:47am I placed a ridiculously panicked phone call to Amanda. [B] School registration had started early and between my improperly loading browser and Alberta’s inability to be a State I was jittery, nervous and convinced that there was no way she was typing fast enough.

After several irritated minutes she finally submitted my application, and after several more agitated hours I got my email acceptance and let my intense sigh of relief morph into a ludicrous shriek of excitement.

With my patience sometimes akin to that of a six year old, logging in that first time felt something a little like bursting into Toys ‘R’ Us on Boxing Day. Needless to say I’ve spent the last few days perusing, and even surprising myself by contributing in several board discussions.

As a side and random tangent that I promise wraps around to my point, I’ve been re-reading my most favorite of novels “Breaking Dawn”. There’s this quote near the end where the ever so marvelous Edward tells Bella “It’s not every day that you get everything you wanted, and everything you didn’t think to ask for”. It is not only my favorite part of that book, but such an amazing description.

It is exactly how I feel about this site. The people, discussions, clubs, friends, I think it’s going to be revolutionary and it’s only just begun. Even so early support swells over the edges of the forum, I can’t wait for all that is to come…

In business with catching up, I owed some photos on here of my mini-excursion to Rocky Mountain House. My grandfather has decided months back to make the trek from Nanaimo to our beautiful prairie-laden province, and I managed to finagle a couple days of work off to head up with him to my Uncle Brendan and Aunty Anne’s new place.

We had a fantastic time jam-packed (literally) with every type of athletic adventure possible. It was a great trip all around, and while several of my muscle groups ached for Bailey’s and a massage I managed to come back to Calgary all in one piece.

Here’s my most favorite photos, with some lovely added commentary (Bear with me for some, it was a little hard for my brain not to stumble for an adequate description of Aquatic Target and Race to Mow.)

Our first day started with an approx. 4 hour trek with this sign at the front, it made me slightly weary:



This waterfall at the end was beyond worth the kajillion kilmetres it took to reach:


The Gang: Grandpa, Anne, Me and Brendan.


This photo is so entirely my Grandfather I feel like it could have been taken down the lane from where he grew up in Ireland.


Then we moved onto poker, of which our music selection was delightfully chosen by Aunty Anne:


Game Face:


Game Face?


Ahhh and now I can explain that while most take in rainy days with a good movie and a fire we spent ours launching twenty eight water balloons at poor innocent teddy bears:


I so had the disadvantage in this round, I tied all of these and had to experience several fatal accidents in where me, the dogs, the window and the entire kitchen floor were soaked by imploding renegades:




On to Croquet, where I may add I was half an inch from winning when my sneaky Aunt punted me to the next acreage:




And now for pictures that won't hardly come close to the incredibly awesomeness that was racing the John Deere around a timed obstacle course across two acres.

Here's Grandpa kaiboshing our plans for rings of fire. Seriously.


Aunty Anne's strategy: Fly like a bat out of hell.


These next two pictures are visual proof of my quest to say true to my authentic self here on this blog. On the course there was indeed a section to parallel park, and apparently even on a lawn tractor it scares the poo out of me...on both runs I trampled the innocent 'cars', I swear I had good intentions :)

"Life is both a major and a minor key, just open up the chord"

I AM … happy.
I WANT… a macbook.
I HAVE … an indescribably wonderful family.
I KEEP … ticket stubs, birthday candles, and letters.
I WISH I COULD … go skydiving.
I HATE … people who are reckless with other people's hearts.
I FEAR … not saying I love you enough.
I HEAR … the ticking clock of St. Nick...only 100 more days till Christmas!
I DON’T THINK … before I open my mouth sometimes.
I REGRET … nothing.
I LOVE … science fiction, pride and prejudice, the word fanny, and long hugs.
I AM NOT … perfect.
I DANCE … the sprinkler, shopping cart and lawn mower, all preferrably to James Brown.
I SING … loudest alone in the shower.
I NEVER … say never.
I RARELY … wear the same shoes.
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … Steel Magnolias.
I AM NOT ALWAYS … loud.
I HATE THAT … Stephanie Meyer has stopped writing Midnight Sun.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … life sometimes.
I NEED … chocolate and laughter.
I SHOULD … get back to work.

Oh my life is changing everyday, in every possible way"

I am SO over the moon excited, it’s hardly containable.

When I stumbled into this world of wedding photography months ago I couldn’t help but be drawn in by all of the breathtaking portraits, exquisite details and loving stories. I have continued to brighten more and more to the idea of having two of my most favorite things combined into a future career: love and photography to a point where I’m nearly bursting.

I’ve drifted continually from site to site of the many photographers out there, who have now come to be my most prominent influences and inspiration, Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, Jesh De Rox, and most of all [b]ecker.

[B] started with the idea that “the rising tide raises all ships”, his generous beliefs have morphed into the most phenomenal upcoming resource for new photographers everywhere: The [B] school. After a torturously long, but entirely worth it wait he has unveiled it’s opening October 1, 2008. When I thought I could not possibly wind up with any more enthusiasm an exclusive offer to join in private school was posted and I bubbled over the edge. Come September 17th, you will find me praying to every existing high deity, with credit card in hand, four leaf clover in pocket and a steady finger on the refresh button. Fingers crossed I slide my way in there :)




Oh and here's a teaser for my next post, I promise the photos to come are just as utterly fantastic as this bad boy!

"You think you're one of millions, but you're one in a million to me"

Saturday morning was my favorite kind of sleepy delight, sandwiched between Layne and Marc, my fingers sticky with jam, and mouth full with biscuits I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for my family. I had finally had a chance to get over to my Aunty Pam's house, something I've let be pushed off my plate for far too long since she returned from an unbelievable trip to Norway.

The kids eventually left in their chaotic twister and we spread across the busied counter photographs, brochures, and european chocolate. She shared her trip memories like a collection of preciously whispered tokens and I realized fully how much I really had missed her even just for those couple weeks. There's some piece so large she brings to my life that my hearts feels entirely capable to keep chugging but lacks part of it's usual zest without her. Like a key to let the most ridiculously Camille parts of me shine horrifically and fantastically bright; the story of my life rings happily with her laughter as a permanent slot on its soundtrack.

"This could be the very minute I'm aware I'm alive"

It’s been nearly a month since and I am still finding myself grappling with stubborn insecurities. And it seems they’ve gotten the better of me.

Again.

Things have happened that I wished I’d wrote here but I guess I just felt too….shy. Now any one within an actual sphere of my world reading this would probably choke with astonishment at such a word in any way attached to my usually frighteningly loud gushing self, but it seems here in this substantial cyberspace of photographer-land I am swallowed in fear and retreat quickly to the safety of daily blog stalking and blank silence.

In feeding off the wonderful quote I added to the left, I am going to truly envelope myself in my own uniqueness. I know the wonderful me, I need to put aside being afraid to share that. Need to remind myself not to feel so discouraged when things don’t come easy, a quality you’d think I’d have grasped by now.

Here’s to my fifth or sixth kick-in-the-ass to smarten up. To be accountable, to be committed. To photography, to this blog, to others around me. To myself.