Photography class, halloween and asterix and Obelix

Yesterday was my very first photography class. I love taking photographs but I found myself always using the AUTO function on my Nikon D40 Digital SLR camera practically because I am afraid of trying manual settings never having been trained properly to learn about aperture, shutter speed, white balance, etc. A fear of the result being poor quality pictures.

This first class was like a first date if you wish. You know when you first meet someone and you don't know so much about that person and have butterflies and jitters in your stomach from being so excited to get to know that special someone who makes your heart skip a beat.

Well, that is sort of how it felt last night. Okay I admit it may be a silly analogy but I can't help it. Nonetheless, it was all about getting to know our cameras a little better. As I, a lot of the people, knew the AUTO function quite well practically because it is so much easier rather than play around with the settings.

The teacher was amazing. No really even better than that but I can't find the right adjectives to describe. All in all a feeling of awesomeness took over me after that first class. I admit I was a little anxious as to whether it would be too basic and end up being boring. I mean, do not get me wrong, I need a basic photography class since I have never taken one before. I always regretted not doing so when I took the graphic communication program at Laval University , but it is all in the past, better look to the future. It is never too late to learn something new. After all life is a journey in which one never knows everything she needs to know. Never stop learning that is what keeps you young and interesting as a human being.

Okay, I skidded a little off track from what I was talking about to sound a little to philosophical. Let's get back to last night's photography class.

As I was saying, the teacher was quite amazing and I have a good feeling that I will learn a lot. Money well spent I am sure. Anyway, that is something I have been looking into for a while now, just never found one class that I thought would be great.

I ended up having a very interesting discussion with her as well after class, I asked her if I could show her some of my photos, posted on flickr and give some feedback if she could. I found out she is a designer as well but her first love is photography and that she took the very same university program at Laval University as well, of course she took it before me as she is older. So, we ended up talking about the classes and program and she told me she found that Claude Cossette was too much into the advertising, the program changed so much when he got there. She also did an exchange and went to alberta and studied design there and found the teacher were better, some were from switzerland and an other place that I cannot remember. A part of me wished I had taken more initiative like this when at Uni, and keep thinking that if I had been a little holder to take the program I might have put more focus and be more determined to achieve more.

We also talked about the design world, searching for work in ad agencies and how sometimes it is a very cruel and uncertain world. She ended up starting her own business because she couldn't deal with people showing her so much lack of respect. One guy once told her: "while you work here, I own your life". Not a direct quote but similar to that, meaning that if he asked her to work 24/7 and not have a life she had to accept it. She ended up telling him to his face to never ever talk to her like that just because she is working for him and then quitting.

The class and chat after definitely was a very positive experience.

I am totally psyched for that class and I am hoping that with learning how to take much better photograph I can finally do something with my etsy account and perhaps start selling my photos and make some extra money.

On another note, tomorrow is Halloween and my and shawn's halloween party. I still haven't had time to finish putting decorations since I filled up my schedule with soccer, drawing class, volleyball and now photography class. Yes, I know I take on so many things but I can't help it, so many things do interest me. Also got books to read, and exercise routine that I must say I failed at keeping it up once more. I need a day with more than 24 hours, yes that is what I NEED desperately.

Shawn is coming over and will help me with the decoration and I need to get some veggies and dip, hopefully people bring some snacks as it was written on the invitation. I want to get some berry punch to make a dragon's blood punch as well and put in a bowl in the plastic cauldron I have for decoration at the entrance. And I need to roast the pumpkin seeds too, I don't want to waste this. It is bad enough that the pumpkin I carved has now died. RIP pumpkin Hedwig, I carved an owl.

Shawn's pumpkin is still standing but I do not know for how long. I guess the lesson here is not to carve it the weekend before but rather a day or two before the party.

Another topic was something I saw on google yesterday, the logo was changed for the 50th aniversary of asterix and obelix. Anyone else remember watching them on radio-quebec during cine-cadeaux? I don't know but for me it is a highlight of my childhood, every christmas I was glued to the TV to watch the episodes or movies, not sure what they were.

Perhaps english people would not remember that, I think it might have been translated since it was originally made in french.

I search on youtube for some of the episode and managed to find them, this brings back a lot of memories.

On that note, I am tired and I think I will go to sleep soon.

Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

DFTBA

Harry a History by Melissa Anelli: A must for every HP fanatics

I recently just finished the a book called Harry a History. As you probably have guessed by now, it has to do with the Harry Potter phenomenon.

The book is quite different, it isn't a fantasy or love story, more like a recollection of everything that has been surrounding the publishing of Jo Rowling's amazing novels.

From the point of you of one girl just like you and I, living in New York, who had finished college and was working at a job that she was not enjoying while searching for what she really wanted to do. In the meantime playing an active part in the harry potter phenomenon, checking message bord, reading fanfic checking the major harry potter sites for news on her favourite book serie.

She ended up becoming the webmistress of leakycauldron.com and reporting for them, her major was journalism. Ending up doing more reporting for leaky than her current reporter job and enjoying leaky reporting a lot more that she eventually made the decision to quit her job and concentrate on reporting for leaky, organizing conferences and pottercast (podcast shows). And concentrating on writing the very novel that I am reviewing at the moment. And ended up flying to england to interview Jo Rowling herself for leaky, reporting the news on on the website for all HP fans, but I do believe it was not just for the website, and was more than that.

Upon reading this book, it made me realize that calling myself a harry potter fan for reading books and watching the movies over and over was a little misguided. There is so much more to this phenomenon. Let's face it, we can call it a phenomenon for sure.
With, fans attending conferences such as leakycon, etc., writing lyrics and composing music based on their favourite parts of the seven different novels and creating a brand new genre of music called: wizard rock, which I just recently found out about and downloaded songs for my iPod. Soon groups like Harry and the Potters, the instigators of the new wizard rock genre, consisting of two brothers who obviously loved the HP serie, The parselmouths, the mudbloods, the whomping willows which oddly enough is comprised of only one member, the moaning myrtles, etc. Organizing tours of different bookstores in several cities, mostly american cities though, to my disappointement. Now I sort wish I lived in the united states to be able to attend one or some of those wizard rock shows.

I also found out that at some conference, they actually play quidditch. Without the flying on broomstick part of course but a muggle version of the wizard game. In an attempt to make the wizarding world of Harry Potter seem real. What am I talking about IT IS REAL, Hogwarts DOES exist. I just haven't yet received my admittance letter to the school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Yes, I do know I am weird. From reading the book I realized that I am not the only one who wish this school existed and feel like they would fit in better in that environment because they too are different and unique.

And I refuse to believe or say the word conventions. It is called Harry Potter conferences. Conventions are for geeks, trekies [not certain if this is spelled this way]. Perhaps a little in denial here. lol

I really felt as though I experienced a little bit of the phenomenon as I was reading the book. If she succeeded in making me feel this way from reading this story, she accompliged her goal and I am certain many more people who haven't had much chances to participate fully in the entire Harry potter phenomenon would feel as though reading this book gave them a sense of being part of something bigger than just reading the books and waiting for the release of the movies by themselves.

I felt like I was not alone in loving this serie so much. And that, is quite comforting.

Well, on that note I think I will end this post by recommending this great book to you if you are a fan of the serie or if you just want to see the extent of this phenomenon. 100% worth reading.

Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Lesson to learn: set smaller goals, seriously. 50 books in a year, what was I thinking.

All right, I just found a list of books I made for myself and planning to read 50 books in a year. I am not certain this goal will happen, I am soooooooooo behind.

Read:

Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Fantastic Beast and Where to Find them
Quidditch throught the Ages
The Alchemist
The Magician
The Sorceress
His Dark Materials (three books)
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Charlotte's Web
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
The Return of The Little Prince
Looking for Alaska
An Abundance of Katherines
Paper Towns
Let It Snow
Harry a History

Reading:

The Lost Symbol
Missing Time


Planning to read:

Wicked and Cursed
Inkheart
Eragon
Ten Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Prince Caspian
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass
Wicked
Son of a Witch

Sadly I may have to accept defeat, there is no way I can reach that goal. Moral of the story, set a smaller goal next time. Sigh. Unless a miracle was to happen.

Well I supposed that is it for this post.
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Goodnight.

The Wild Things, Homemade Pizza, Soccer win and Wii Active

Hello blogging world,

The weekend was relaxing and fun altogether. On saturday I invited friends over and we made ourselves a pizza dinner, not store bought, homemade. It tastes much better. We made my variation of a recipe I found online for Onion Olive pizza.

I usually had peppers, mushrooms and chicken as it does not have much toppings and switch the feta cheese for regular cheddar. St-Albert, the best, if you cannot get P'tit Quebec that is. ;)

Than we went to see "Where the Wild Things Are". I had seen previews for it and knew I had to see it. No regrets. It is the story of a boy, who can be quite a handful, acts up and gets punished a lot and also misunderstood I would say. He uses his imagination to invent himself a world, with different creatures who have quite distinct characters similar to some of the people he has encountered in his life, and that he can quite relate to. Instead of eating him they make him their king.

I loved it and can relate to the story because I did just the same as a kid, use my imagination to invent myself new worlds. Making up various stories and getting lost in my imagination.

On another note, tonight I had a soccer game at 9pm. Quite late for a game, I was already a little tired to begin with. I don't think I was in my best shape, but nonetheless we won 8-4 if I am not mistaking. And I also got to play up a little, defense and offense. I have to say: "It's a whole lot of running". But I still like it more exercise, we just sub more that is all.

I did go back to goalie, it gave me time to catch my breath. I think I may have little remnants of a cold because I was more exhausted than usual after running.

After the game I went to drop off catherine and we got stuck for a while waiting behind three fire truck as a fire alarm obviously went off downtown. No flames or smoke though, must have been either a false alarm or someone tried to make toasts and burnt them.

So, when I came home I did some Wii Active. I know it is a little crazy especially after playing soccer, but I started the 30-day challenge and this time I HAVE to keep up with it every day. Tomorrow is a rest day though so will relax.

I just took two tylenols to make sure I do get rid of any cold symptoms and am currently sipping echinecea tea.

And now, I am going to bed. I need the rest.

Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

D-Activ8, "firsts" and FREE parking

Well folks last night was amazing. It was a spur of the moment decision but I am glad that I kicked myself in the butt and experienced this.

Ok, you might be thinking: "What in the world is she talking about?" Last night I went to a club in downtown Ottawa, not a dance club mind you but a small club to hear a ne and upcoming band play. By new I mean starting out in this business because they were not completely new to everyone there.

The band is called D-Activ8, I heard about them from Ben, a guy who was in my soccer team, it is his brother's band. It is a rock band heavy rock I would say at least heavier than the type of music I listen to, save Eric Lapointe of course. Check them out on myspace music. If you like this sort of music that is.

They are great and they definitely deserve to make it in this business. I think they are going straight to the top.

Of course I a not an expert when it comes to music, all I can say is that THEY CAN ROCK. And that is what they did last night: ROCK THE HOUSE if I may say so.

The opening acts were not bad at all either. One was called "The Birthday Boys" and I forget what the first one's name was, although compared to D-Activ8 I would say they were good. :)It is safe to say that last night, they gained a new fan.

Experiencing something you might not have done before, and I am talking a couple years ago if you told me that I would be going to a club downtown to hear a new band and be part of the social scene, I would have told you: "Are you kidding, this is not my thing".

First and new experiences are great. Life is about new experiences because if you always stay in your little comfortable bubble and never force yourself to do anything new, you simply cannot grow as a person.

The show was at the Live Lounge, if I remember the name carefully. It was really cute and well decorated and also kind of cozy, meaning that it was not huge and able to fit and insane amount of people. I prefer this sort of thing to incredibly crowded places.

I almost went into the wrong club though, club that is kind of the "slut club" as Ben called it. He calls it that because you see all these girls in skimpy outfits and you clearly know what their aim is: possibly hook up with some guy. Yikes. I got all the way to the cash to pay the cover charge when luckily I asked if it was where D-Activat8 was playing. When the girl said "no, it is next door" I ran out of there a little embarrassed at my mistake but hey it happens. lol And also glad that I didn't join in on that crowd which is definitely not my type of crowd.

First experiences are great but I do not think I want to start going to clubs known as the "slut club". I much prefer the cozy and artist feeling of the live lounge and actually hearing some new music rather than the purpose being to see all these people hook up with just about any guy. I really felt like I didn't belong as I was standing in line and kept wishing to see someone I knew, aka ben or perhaps catherine who said she might go, just to know that I was not in the wrong place and indeed I was.

That is totally me for sure though, making a mistake like that and almost going into the wrong place. lol Well, lesson learned and now I can say I have found a great place to go if ever I want to hear some new groups.

I always thought that it might be dangerous or scary to walk in the market at night. But somehow I didn't feel so scared. Mind you I made sure to be extra careful and park my car in a well lit area, no parking garage as this can be a little shady. But when I got out of the club at the end of the show, there was a lot of people walking around and I did as I usually do, make sure I walk amongst the crowd rather than on some street on my own, always holding my cell phone in my hand as my mom always made sure to warn me just in case. Even though I live close to the market, well possibly a 15 to 20 minutes walk, yes I walk slow, small legs lol, I prefered to take my car since it was at night and walking back to my place this late alone, is a stupid move for any girl. It is sad to say but the world can be a scary place sometimes for girls, with creepy weirdos that come out at night and everything you hear on the news, mind you I haven't really watched the news or TV lately but I do hear what happens and make sure I am safe at all times.

I was not sure I would find parking downtown at night. I found a spot after a couple times of driving around and I was looking at the meter-thingy to find out how much it cost and how long I could stay there for when a couple asked me the very question that was puzzling me: "How much does it cost?"

We later found out that it said FREE until 8:30am and nothing on it said we had to put money in it at night. Sweet! I mean if we got tickets we could have contested it because the machine CLEARLY stated "FREE UNTIL 8:30AM".

All in all, it was a fun night. I was quite tired as I got back home around 1am but it was totally worth it.

Awesome experience and amazing new band.

This year is totally the year of firsts for me. Started playing soccer, well I started that a little before this year but I digress. I joined a volleyball group and went out to a pub after a game with them, signed on for a drawing class and a photography class. I like this new me, becoming a little bit more social. No worries though, the liking my alone time will never disappear, I am still the little nerdy girl prefering to sit in a coffee shop's comfortable chair and spend hours reading or drawing or learning geeky programming from google or painting in the comfort of my home. Which lately I haven't found the time, but I will eventually. I MUST since I have a great idea for a painting and am quite antsy to start putting colours on canvas.

Bye for now, folks and hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: A MUST READ!

Well, hello again internet. I have just finished reading Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. So, I thought I would blog about it and give you my impressions of this book series so far. I say so far because I have a feeling, from the ending, that there may be a book three. We'll see. ;)

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

With the sequel, catching fire, the capitol is angry. The capitol wants revenge.

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

I can sum it up in one word: AMAZING! The surprise twist at the end was unexpected to a degree. I knew that the one they now called "the mockingjay" aka Katniss, our heroine in this story would cause a rebellion and uprising against "the capitol" in the districts, unbeknownst to her. By winning the first hunger games, something district 12 twelve tributes rarely do due to lack of sponsors and totally denying the capital by pulling out those poisoned berries and pretending to eat them along with Peeta, refusing to kill and prefering to commit suicide and forcing the capitol to have TWO victors that year. Making the capitol look bad in the eyes of all the districts which was definitely not appreciated by the latter.

This book is riveting, full of suspense from beginning to end, just the right amount of romance without being "cheesy" and a survival of the fittest type of story. It has a reality TV type of feel but much better, I am not one for watching reality show as I do not believe it makes for excellent TV programming but with this book it works. I would even say that it is even better and more thrilling than The Hunger Games, the first novel of the serie. Suzanne Collins definitely won with this one, a must read. I put her on my list of favourite writers definitely. She has succeeded in making me love a book serie, if not more, just as much as JK Rowling's Harry Potter serie. And that in my book is the greatest accomplishment of all.

The ending leads me to believe that there will be be a book three coming, if so I MUST find out when it comes out and be there ready to get it on the day it is out.

We are left with Gale telling Katniss that district 12 is no more but that her family is safe. At the end of the hunger games, when the capitol realized that they have been played by the gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, who had secret plans for years to overthrow the capitol and included some of the quarter quell tributes in his plan asking one to create a hole in the force field surrounding the arena and when Katniss realized who the enemy was aka the capitol, she used one of her arrows, tied beetee's wire to it and finish what beetee was supposed to do. Though Peeta and Johanna were captured by the capitol to eventually be forced to speak up and tell the capitol what they knew about this, Katniss, Finnick and Beetee were rescued by a hovercraft from the supposedly extinct District 13 by Plutarch Heavensbee and Haymitch.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that there is a third novel being written. Suzanne Collins cannot leave the readers not knowing what happens next. Though I must admit that is a perfect suspense ending leaving the reader wanting more.

I give this story ten thumbs up.

If you haven't picked up The Hunger Games yet, I would highly recommend it if you like this type of story that is. Than pick up the sequel later on. You definitely will not regret it.

Bye for now,
Hopefully I will see you tomorrow.

Soccer, drawing class, the sorceress and catching fire

Well, it has been a while since I have written anything on here. I know I am bad, I cannot keep a daily blog. ;)

The only free nights I have during the week are thursdays and fridays, which will change around mid-october since I will have a photography class on thursdays. I know I might be nuts but I love to keep myself busy rather than work, go home and sit in front of the computer or tv.

On monday my soccer team won 18-2. I am goalie, ME, a girl who always has been afraid of the ball. I really didn't want to let any goals in though winning 18-0 would have been good. I might ask if sometimes I can play defense or offense sometimes though, I want to trya nd run a lot more and learn to play other positions.

I received the ball on my nose, from my own teammate of all people. By accident of course, I did not expert it. I am not certain to be human though since most people would have been bleeding, I did not. I don't think I have blood in my veins. lol

Yesterday was the drawing class I signed up for. I know what you will think, but you already can draw. True indeed but this class is different it teaches to draw from the right side of the brain, forget what you know and draw what you see, which sometimes I have trouble with especially when trying to draw hands. I can draw fantasy things because I can make them look any way I want, using my imagination, but when it comes to drawing something real I have always had some issues.

The class is quite interesting, it forces us to see the object as shapes, a bunch of shapes put together to create the said object. And it works! According to the teacher, anyone can draw and she tells us don't call it a hand, or eye or whatever the object is. Call it a shape.

Taking a drawing class also has gotten my creativity flowing once again, it has given me an idea for a painting, all I need to to find the time to paint. That is a whole other story.

Tonight I have volleyball. I quite loved the first game last week. The people are nice, and even though they are better than me and have been playing longer, they do not make me feel like I am not good. I still feel part of the team and allowed to try and if I miss it is ok. They gave me some good tips as well to improve. And I actually smashed the ball for the first time ever.

I am pretty good at serving I might say. Better even then the other time I played with the Alicats. I used to hit the ball over the net once and had trouble repeating that good move a second time, last week I was on fire! lol

I bought a wrist protector. It is just basically a cushioned wrist band that people can wear when they play sports, but I am hoping it will give me a little bit of protection until I learn to hit the ball properly. It is always the left wrist, the ball always ends up right on the bone on the side and it hurts. So I thought I would do something to protect my wrist.

I finished "the Sorceress". The third book of the serie by Michael Scott. One word comes to mind: AMAZING!

The story has everything, fantasy, based on historical landmarks and characters, adventure, magick, 21st century technology, etc. I love reading a novel and clearly seeing that the author spent a lot of time to do research and add some historical facts into his story.

I will review the book on my nerdfighter bookclub blog since this blog is just for quick updates on what I am doing or what excites me.

I just wanted to mention how amazing this book was. And that I suggest this serie to anyone who loves reading about magick, adventures, shadow realms, mixed with historical facts and characters and set in a 21st century environment.

And if you loved the Harry Potter serie, I do not doubt that you would get into this story as well. I am super excited to know that there is a fourth book being written. It is called the Necromancer. I can't wait.

In the meantime I have a lot of other great books to reads. I started Cathing Fire, the sequel to the Hunger Games. This two is an amazing storya nd the second novel is even better than the first. I have already read part one of this book. It is safe to say that I am devouring it, figuratively speakign of course. The story is quite different from Michael Scott novels but just as great. I highly recommend them.

I just picked up Dan's Brown new novel as well which came out mid September I believe. It is called The Lost Symbol. Ever since Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code I have been a fan of Dan Brown's novels. Well written, captivating to the end, for the first two uncovering some hidden truths about christianity and the church. The lost symbols has a picture of the white house on the cover, I am hoping it will have some truths and mystery abotu what goes on in the united states.

The book ended up costing me 14 cents. hehe. It was not really 14 cents, it is just that I had this chapters' gift card and the amount left on it since I bought catching fire with it, covered the price of the book minus 14 cents.

I can't wait to start reading it. I have way too many books to read and not enough hours in a day.
Ok well, that is about it for now.

I will see you later. I will not say tomorrow since I am not sure if I can stick to blogging every day.