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Public: Return to the Dragon - 10:56 AM 12/07/2010
It's no secret that I've missed my team. The Ice Dragons were my first ever hockey team. They were also a team that I massaged and crafted from nothing into a Division Leader. Leaving Edmonton meant leaving them behind. But I will always be an Ice Dragon. Sean and Andrew have kept the team alive into their second season, and I made a promise to return for at least a game. This weekend, I fulfilled that promise in the most glorious fashion.

The last time the Dragons played the Fury, it was something of a blow-out. The Fury were the undefeated #1 team in the division. The Dragons decimated them 15-2. Something was certainly wrong. They maintain their first place status while the Ice Dragons follow closely in 2nd. This team had been so powerful, yet they fell apart so amazingly. It was certain that they would be representing this game in a big fashion for Div-B supremacy.

It was a tight, back and forth game. Wrap-arounds, grinding on the boards and in front of the net, we pressed and pressed. By the 3rd period Mojo and his line-mate Jesus were both maxed out at 2 goals per person. Andrew had pocketed one as well, putting us at 5 goals to their 4. Then they scored again about mid-way through the period. It was 5-5 with less than 2 minutes to go when my line hit the ice. While we were backing up on defence, their player dropped a neutral zone turn-over to Mojo. Mojo on the right wing, Sean in centre and myself on the Left, we streaked down the ice. A poor defensive screen obscured the goalie's vision as Mojo passed the puck to Gursky. A little short and between his legs, Sean missed the puck as it came straight to me. A little wrist action, a little lost balance, and a whole lot of CLANG as the puck found the post in the back of the net. 6-5. Sure the EMHL credited the goal to Sean, but I'm cool with that. They even gave the assist to Leanne, who was on the bench at the time. Spread the wealth I say. We'll never forget who actually scored the goal.

Go Dragons.
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Public: All about the Mountains - 1:15 PM 04/07/2010
One of the perks of moving to Calgary was "We'll be much closer to the mountains when we just want to go hiking". Then we spent the better part of the year sitting in doors and watching TV. Ok, so that's not really true, but the sad state of affairs towards hiking has finally been rectified.

For Canada Day we finally ventured out on our first day-trip of the year. We drove to Kananaskis bound for Chester Lake, which is a day-hike into the mountains for fishing. Photos/GPS. There is no camping allowed at Chester, but we wanted to see what it was like. We packed a back-pack onto Max and brought him along on his first mountain adventure. I also brought my GPS enabled cell and it's solar charger, which both worked great. It was a successful journey, that was a lot shorter than we'd expected, but then again we're used to the full day in, and a full day back.

Following Chester of course, was a day back at work. Stupid Thursday holiday. However not to be buttoned down, we were back at it on Saturday, this time hiking to the Pickle-jar lakes. Photos/GPS. This time we actually took our fishing rods, and even considered taking the tent and sleeping supplies as well. In the end we opted to make a day trip of it, and were slightly better off for it. Turns out these Kananaskis hikes that take less than 3 hours, are filled with the type of riff-raff that don't actually understand the whole 'leave no trace' philosophy. Large groups with big fires and duffle-bags over their shoulders... these guys are the Anti-Super-Camper.

Regardless we had a really nice, scenic hike. We caught some fish, which though small, were wild and therefore a little more fun. We had a couple great days in the mountains, and are now planning a nice, deep, long excursion. It should turn out to be a great summer for hiking.
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Public - Go Bison! - 10:57 AM 28/05/2010
One of the most heart breaking things I was forced to leave in Edmoton, was the Ice Dragons. My first ever hockey team was the one I created with a group of friends and friends of friends. We meshed as a unit, performed as a team, and really made an impression on each other. It was a great season. And now they're playing without me.

Coming to Calgary, I started playing with Andrea's Univeristy VET team, as a member of The Free Martins. It was still a lot of fun, and within my skill range, but it never really felt like *my* team. I wasn't a member of the class, I didn't have a matching jersey. I just filled a gap in the roster.

Now having been in Calgary for nearly a year (say what?) I've gotten a spot on a new team. While I don't have quite the emotional investment I did with the Ice Dragons, I feel that I'm performing better than I ever have. I'm left wing on The Bison. #3 was already spoken for, so I've opted to take the perfect cube (27 aka 3³) in it's place. I'm playing with a colleague from work, and a selection of his friends. While we haven't been going out for beers after the games yet, we're starting to gel as a team. It was 3 losses and a tie before our first win, but we've got our first win. The 1-3-1 Bison are starting to play like a team. I'm one of very few players to show up for every game, and I've gotten at least a point (Goal or Assist) in each one.

I had joked about going to Calgary and starting a new hockey team "The Fire Dragons" who would meet the Ice Dragons in Red Deer for a yearly Alberta Grudge Match. While that may not be an exact possibility yet, I'm well on the road there.

Andrea's been kind enough to attend and photograph a number of games. I'll get around to creating an independent gallery for them soon enough. For now, you'll have to be happy with the POTD's.
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Public - MY Lost Finale - 10:32 AM 24/05/2010
So this is what happened after the credits.

Cut to Windmore lying in Other-Town, dying of a gunshot wound that Ben has inflicted upon him. Hearing the sound of an aircraft, he reaches into his belt and produces a small button, which he grins as he depresses.

Lupedis feels a shutter go through the plane, as he loses control. He screams for everyone to hold on. An exterior shot shows an explosion shear the tail off the aircraft, as it breaks up over the Island.

The sound re-awakens Jack in the bamboo forest, from where stumbles out to find the wreckage. He looks around at the debris, hearing the roar of the engines still running on the beach. The music swells and we get Ol' faithful. BLACK SCREEN, LOST.

The Beginning/The End.
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Public - Calgary Comic Expo - 11:45 PM 24/04/2010
Well that was hilarious. More here.

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Public - Another Customer Service Letter - 7:41 PM 15/04/2010
Hello Merrell product performance,

I purchased a pair of Merrell hiking boots, which I use for tours around the Rockies. I've worn through 2 pairs and am onto my 3rd, which I still quite enjoy.
My problem arose recently when I awoke in the morning, 16km into the bush, to find a major failing with my shoes. Simply put, your shoes are either too delicious or made from materials too well suited for building nests.

You see, I climbed out of my tent and discovered that the big toes from both my shoes were missing, complete with tell-tale claw marks on the toe of the left foot. You can see the image here.

My request is simple. Less delicious fabric or an official notice to the animal kingdom, that being out in the bush with open toe shoes is not conducive to a pleasurable hiking experience.

That said, I'm happy to report that the shoes did hold up on our return to the trail head, despite their water-resistance being somewhat compromised.

Regards,
Gordon Bird
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Public - Easter Photo Walk - 11:53 AM 05/04/2010
Sean and I have started an unofficial spring tradition. Our April photo walk. It's terrific to see the different shots we come out with from the same walk. We each look at a situation differently and come out with drastically different work. But not always. Amazingly sometimes the shots are exactly the same.

After a hearty Denny's breakfast we followed a similar path to last year, however we went clockwise around the city instead (route map).

Our goals were simple. Get some shots of the new Alberta Art Gallery, walk through the river valley, get some pictures, possibly some discrete stranger photos. I had a few places that I knew would be photogenic, particularly the Rossdale area, and it turned out in spades. The weather was perfect and there were lots of people around, so I think we had some tremendous successes. Some of the highlights were:

The bridge:


The concrete tube:



My long lens for discrete candid stranger portraits:


I'm a lot happier with my work this year than I was last, but it's still rather dull in colour. We'll blame Edmonton for that. I've not edited any of these photos in the slightest. Not for levels/contrast or anything. I was tempted to make the candid/stranger shots B&W, but opted to leave them all untouched.

Thoughts, comments, and just enjoying are all welcome. Gallery is here, you can find Sean's here.
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