[erica's blog]

Jason

2008-02-28T19:44:00.001-08:00

A little motivation is all I need, really.

"Jason Turcott lost his Grandmother to cancer in late 2007,

he'll always keep her memory in his heart as well as on his sleeve."

Here is a photo I shot of my best friend Jason. It was a last minute submission for The Photosensitive Cancer Project, a collective project by professional and amateur photographers who want to make a difference. This particular project, The Cancer Project, will travel around Canada for 2 years opening peoples eyes to the horror that is cancer and all the live it has affected. Photographers were supposed to capture portraits of people who have cancer, have had cancer or who have been affected by cancer. I chose Jay cause he recently got this tattoo for his Gramma, Irma my favourite party animal, who passed away in September after a lengthy battle. I think that I captured what I wanted, a simple shot with the 2 most important objects, Jason and the tattoo. A book will be published as well. Hopefully I make the cut.

A Christmas gift for you.

2007-12-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A gift for you all, ENJOY!
It's my Dad dancing to Billie Jean, he's wasted.

The crazies are here, and the aintg gonna quit.

2007-12-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, okay. Crazy neighbour rant: Part one.*brace yourself.It started back in April when we had our homecoming party, naturally.

Let me just say for the record, he seemed normal when we met him when him and his girlfriend/wife moved in only a week after us. Nice people, friendly, some what normal. A nice change from the crazies we encountered in Belleville, and at least we knew that our apartment wasn't going to fill up with a curry aroma that we'd carry around with us where ever we would go because it would be embeded in our clothing, that's another rany, another time. ha.

Okay, so we partied, we puked, we play guitar hero all night. I thought that we were relitively quiet in the situation, it was loud but NOT out of control at all. Previous to the party we knocked on there door to tell them of our nights event and to warn them that if things did get loud to kindly inform us and we'd tone it down or take it else where. But I dunno, the would NOT answer the door for whatever reason, maybe not home, or are just avoiding us to get it on or whatever. SO no answer, one time, two times, three times, eventually at the sixth time we concluded that they were not home so gave this place the whats for and threw down. We tried later on in the evening to see if they had just arrived home, and again nothing. A quarter to one rolls around, the night is still young at this point. We are having loads of fun. Jason, for whatever reason, being drunk or the fact that the stair well was FILLED with shoes that he may've tripped on he fell down the stairs putting a human sized hole in the wall at the foot of our stairs. The crazy flies out of his apartment, up our stairs and starts flipping out, I mean understandably so. We ensured him that it would be fixed and that we'd start sending people home. That wasn't good enough he wanted to called the police and then proceeded to try and fight my brother Josh, Brants bro Jed and drunken Jason. Seriously. Like raaaaaaaage ensued over him and he wanted to throw down. His wife-friend came out and dragged him back inside we sent everyone on their was and that was that.
I can understand why he'd be mad, I really do. But trying to fight 3 guys half your age? eff off, rage monster.

I'll be back for part two later. Chirstmas shopping is calling my name, I need to get this done.

Haha, what a fun night.

must....keep....going....

2007-12-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

HA. Thought I forgot about this didn't you?(just cause it's cute)

I still have to tell my crazy neighbour story but it's long and I need to scroll it out before I tell it all, it's a good one.

Until then, Photo 003
This was taken in the summer time, M&L, brant and I went to Toronto to see Sloan and The Golden Dogs at The EX. Didn't take too many photos though. This one is cute and I love it. M&L cutely walking to the car at The EX.

Dala-cious.

2007-12-09T21:59:00.001-08:00

Yay, it's day 2 and I haven't screwed up my promise, yet. And that's saying a lot.

Photo 002

Dala, a lovely band who opened up for Matthew Good during his solo acoustic tour this past fall. October 30, The Empire Theatre, Belleville, Ontario.

*Tomorrow I will be back with an angry rant about my neighbour and how crazy he has become over the past few months, you'll get a kick out of it, I know it.

"erica's back, alright!"

2007-12-08T21:18:00.003-08:00

Bloggin' ain't easy, baby.

So I've decided to begin blogging again, ispiration one, Krista. She is a great blogger, great photographer and great friend. GO KRISTA. Go check out her blog and be amazed!
Maybe it's also something about the winter months and being inspired to write or post photos, or even take photos for that matter.

Getting settled into and out of jobs in my new thing, temp jobs even. Which I'll have you know are BALLS.

While just getting settled into one job nicely leaves me dissapointed to say goodbye and say hello to a new job, a new start and a new goodbye soon to come.

I haven't taken any serious photos since leaving KTW in September, and now that I am working at Sears, taking filthy snotty kids portraits it leaves me tired of the camera, tired of doing the same thing over, over, over and over.

But it's something I should do more, and I plan to. Here's hoping.

Recent-ness:

I recently got some tattoo work done, the canary in September (ish) and the poppy in mid November. Both are memorial pieces, the canary for my BF's Jay's Gramma who recently passed away and the poppy for my Grandpa who we called Popie. I'll be getting more work in the months ahead working on getting the whole arm done, sleeve styles.

In other news:

Lookit what I did to my eye. Pretty sexy eh? We met after a long day/night of barfing my guts out after M&L's house warming party on the 1st. It was barf fest up in this bitch like no ones business. It's pretty hardcore to puke THAT much that your fucking blood vessels in your eye burst, honestly. Children are afraid of me and old people stare at me like I'm the devil, it's very good for my self esteem, HA.

(it started like this...)

(now it looks like this....)

So if all else fails at least I will post a photo a day, and maybe some fun stories like this one, tales of barfing and bloody eyes for your reading pleasure. I'll have to do something REALLY cool this weekend to make up for it, we'll see what happens.

In keeping with my new idea, and hopefully sticking to it, the first official photo of the day.

Photo 001Matthew Good, October 29th, Stages - Kingston, ON

Hot.

2007-06-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

This is my new tattoo(s) done at Archetype in Kingston.

Alcan Shoot No. 1

2007-05-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to make up excuses as to why I haven't been blogging recently, there's really no excuse. Though I have been busy. School's over and I survived a hellish year of Print Journalism, I only refer to it as hellish because I endured a year of first and second year courses so that I could finish in one year instead of two. It's worth it though.
Now that I am done school, moved back to Kingston it's been awesome and crazy all at the same time but now I can get back into my love for photography which has only grown since I've returned. And now I'm working at two jobs that allow me to express that love fully, I'm back at Kingston This Week and working part time at Japan Camera with Brant which has turned out to not be all that bad.
Here are some shots that I took yesterday on our adventure with Shayne to the old ALCAN building -

This first shot is in it's original state, colour and all. I think it's fab, i took it at dusk which give the two toned red and mauve look.

This is the same as the shot above it only I was feeling a little artsy and decided to eff around with it in photoshop. As a journalist you rarely get to do things like this, I dig it.

And finally, here's a shot of Brian ghostly walking through the frame. It sort of reminds me of an old factory worker, now passed wandering around his old building. I also really enjoy this shot.

(there may be more to come from las tnights take.)

Trew-riffic.

2007-02-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Last night we ventured out in the freezing cold to catch The Trews in Kingston playing a free show in Market Square. It was incred. Here are a few shots:

There's no place like home, there's no place like home.

2007-02-04T08:15:00.000-08:00

So this is where we are moving in 2 months. It's a cute triplex on Scott Street, more uptown than down but it's perfect for us.
It has hardwood floors throughout, NO goddamn carpet which is a HUGE plus. Many pet owners hate carpet, myself included and can't wait to never have one again. Since we've gotten Bella things have been interesting as far as the carpet goes, she has accidents, it's almost garunteed. Especially since she is a puppy and it's 30 below out and about 1 foot of snow in our yard it makes things hard. She sheds, so do the cats and our vaccum is broken so that's also awesome.
I'm totally stoked to move, obviously I will missed certain aspect of living in Belleville, more so the people than the place. But I wish that I could move in now.
I've sort of given up on this place, it's messy, things are strewn about and I don't care. If no one else here can make the effort right now then neither can I. I've been gone since Wednesday, dishes were done, things relitively normal. It's now Sunday and there are dirty dishes piled high and I don't care, someone else can clean them this time. Brant claims to have only used 2 plates and I kind of believe him. I want to start over fresh and clean, and keep it clean.

Hurry up April, please? Only 8 weeks to go.

Introducing.....

2007-01-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

BELLA!

This is Bella, she's mine and Brant's new baby wiener dog. We've had her for 2 weeks, but since having no internet and living in Hellville no one has seen her. Here's our mini photoshoot.

As photographic evidence -

2007-01-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

I FINALLY partied with my class.

Fishbowls, whiskey and Jalapano peppers = death.So much fun, me, Kristin, Jess, Briar and Heather.

Classic. Get a drink into me and I'm all over everyone. BUT- cool cause here we are on a SCHOOL BUS! We took a free bus from res to Boston Pizza where it was Fishbowl Friday.

No fish were harmed in the making of our intoxication.

......we drank A LOT.

Okay, worst idea ever. I ate 2 chips filled with jalapano peppers (seen here) it was okay at the time because i couldn't feel anything, untill this morning. ick.

Briar, Shannon and Me.

FUN FUN FUN. I have no idea what I am doing here.

Briar and I shaking or money makers.
I couldn't stand up to save my life.

This is the "Take me home" pic. I look like death.

All in all AMAZING night, next Friday anyone?

Happy Birthday!

2006-12-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Brant!
I love you

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

I'm bringing sexy back…

2006-12-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

So the other night I thought that I was going to shit my pants laughing at the following funniness.

I clasically dance in bed, while lying down and I like to pretend I am in a kareoke bar while brant is trying to sleep while I sing real loud, of course I was going to dance-sing it was JT's 'My Love' on the radio. But the convo that comes next made my life.

e: I love Justin Timberlake.

b: You'd totally be dancing like that it he was in bed with you right now.

e: YES.

pause.

e: C'mon! You'd totally love it if Cameraon D went down on you right now!!!

b: Ugh, NO I WOULDN'T.

e: why?

b: She's repulsive, I'd be afraid that I'd lose my dick in her gigantic fucking mouth.

it made us laugh for like 10 mins. Maybe not that funny now, but I love it. Brant is awesome.

This city is racist.

2006-12-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Belleville is ridiculously racist as followed:
I was waiting for the bus to come home from school as per usual, it's dark, cold and there are a million people crapmed into the shelters. The bus comes, 6 minutes late, we board. I sit down close to the front where all the tards sit. People are flowing through the aisle, a cute little Japanese girl and an East Indian guy get on one after another then I hear this, their voices in disgust.

Women # 1 (wearing a red hoodie, hood up, with a green windbreaker, orange-ish brown hair popping out or her hood, carrying an LCBO bag and a fucking cooler!!!): "You'd think that this was Toronto."

Woman #2 ( Old frump, with no teeth, lips sunk in, wearing a black bucket hat, round glasses and blue ski jacket): "I know eh?"

Woman # 1 : "They're everywhere!!"

Ummmm, where are you bitches from, 1910? Jesus.

When does one person have too many clothes?

2006-12-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

Rumour has it that girls often have way more clothes than guys. I beg to differ.
Brant and I discussed going through all of our clothes and getting rid of everything that is ripped, old and that we just don't wear, or only wear because we have to when nothing else is clean.
Here's why. We rarely do laundry because we have so many clothes, one may think that that is awesome. We can go an entire month without doing any laundry (underwear included) we have too many clothes so upon the months end, as in right now, our baskets are overflowing with nasty dirty laundry everywhere. We have a huge closet and two dressers, one large and one small still we cannot put things away so it get strewn about leaving our room a huge disaster.
So today while Brant was at work I got a head start sorting our laundry into his and hers piles and then sorting through my own stuff. I went from 2 baskets to 1. Easier than I thought. Brant is still at work but when he gets home he has work to do, he has 2 giantly overflowing baskets plus stuff in the closet to go through.
Happy sorting love.

Gooey Louie is alive.

2006-11-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

So I meant to blog about this last week, here's a dream I had.

Watch Louie's Brains POP When The Special Gooey Gets Picked!

After waking up in the middle of the night with a clogged nose packed with snot I fell back asleep and began dreaming that I went to school like that and needed help getting them out. My class mates started playing Gooer Louie with me. It was ridiculous and extra funny, luckily I woke up before my brain popped out. haha.

Happy Birthday Bitches.

2006-11-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

My friends are AMAZING.

My birthday shaninagans were held this past Saturday thanks to Mr. J.T.
Brenna, Jay, Krista, Brant and Myself went to see The Santa Claus 3. It's tradition that each year for my birthday we all go and see a christmas movie, and Tha Santa Claus was the only thing out. But don't get me wrong, I loved it. It was wonderful. What would've made it even better is if we had've been drunk. That would've been wicked. Shortly after the ended, Jed came and picked us up and we got dropped off at Jays and that's where everything cut loose.
We got sooooooo drunk, it was ridiculous. For example, look at the picture shown left. We thought it would be wonderful to spell things with Alphabets, and this is what we condered up.
Note how we spelled "Labia" wrong.

Probably one of the best things was getting to see Jay's new roomate for the first time. His name is Simon, Jay described him as looking like this, "He has a Steve-O face and a Vin Diesel Body." and.....uh he couldn't have been more right. He is ridiculous. We called him "Stiesil" for the rest of the night. He left and we drunkingly ramsacked his room. We found some treasures, like this. Then after that we drank even more, sang karoeke then geared up to go to the bar. But I was feeling like some light reading. Stiesil is is war studies at RMC, he was writing a 17 page report about Terrorism and war so I decided to do some reading. Yeah, great idea. He came home while I was reciting his 17 page rant while chilling in his chair. AWKWARD, but really funny. The we headed off to the bars/Burger King to find Beardo then we hung out there for some more funniness, free cabs and kissing Krista. haha.

But out all of the REALLY funny things that happened this was probably one of my favourite birthdays, it was awesome. It would've been that much better had everyone been able to come out. Here are some photos courtesy of Krista's camera.There will be more photos to come when I seal more from Jay and Brant. <3>

Zoooooooo.

2006-11-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here's my Zoo blog post. We went to the New York State Zoo in Water town, we saw Mountain Lions, Grizzley Bears, Elk, Wolves, Wolverines, Bald Eagles, Flying Squirrls and more.
It was so much fun, the animals were so cool and the zoo actually took care of them and they had really nice areas to roam. It was nice to see animals who looked happy at a zoo.
The best part of the day was watching the Wolverine dig up a dead rat corpse and crunch on it's tail. haha.

Here are some photos of me and the animals. More to come.

Here's me and the goat with no ears, I call him Oreille. He was trying to eat my hat.

....here's me and my best friend Llama.

Me and a scary FISHER! they eat small animals, like cats, dogs and small babies.

Gah.

2006-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

I think I have a stye on my goddamn eye. fuck.

On a lighter note, WE'RE GOING TO THE ZOOOOOO. We're going to see wolverines and mountain lions, heck yes!

A day of shopping and zooing in Watertown here we come.

Photos to come.

Facebook motherfucker.

2006-10-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

Art therapy.

2006-10-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight Traci and I PAINTED. Finally.
I think that our art is pretty wicked.
I did a coffee themed "Wake Up" piece and
Traci did a Scarlet Johanson Jesus piece.
Check it out. Totally rad.

They had emos in the 1800's.

2006-10-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Cut off my hand and bury it with my baby.

I went to the library today and signed out quite possibly the nerdiest book EVER.
I signed out Judie Carty's "What's in a name? The origin of Belleville street names"

Basically they all suck, except mine. Moira Street.
Most of them are just names after people and that's it, just because.

This is why Moira Street has its name.

"The many titled Earl of Moira, Marquis of Hastings, Lord Rawdon was a Brittish statesman who served in the American Revolutionary War. Lord Rawdon was born in 1754 and died in 1826. He left directions that, on his death, his right hand should be cut off and clasped with the hand of his deceased wife. His wish was granted."

I think that that is awesome, in an extra creepy romantic kind of way.

Kriss Kross'll make ya jump, JUMP.

2006-10-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today I wore my pants to school backwards, I'm a retard.
It would'nt have been so bad had they been tracks or something say, other than dress pants. It took some explaining thats forsure.

"Oh my god, how did you manage that?"
"I really dunno."
"But....how did you do them up? did you know that you were doing them up at the back?"
"I didn't do them up..."
"..........WHAT? then a....?
"I just slid them on."
"That's even weirder."

Imagine, class mates that are stupider than me. Go figure.

Pennsylvania, not Transylvania.

2006-10-22T02:51:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania, not Transylvania.

We're in Pennsylvania for the EOBA Baseball teams tournamnet down here and it's been pretty cool so far despite losing the first and only game yesterday discouraging the guys a bit. They have nothing to get themselves down on they havn't played since their last game four weeks ago and I think that they did well considering.
The scenery here is breathtaking, really. Hills and mountains everywhere painted in reds, yellows and oranges, it's like a painting everywhere I look...except for the nuclear powerplant. ha.
I've been up since 5a.m. and I'm in a ridiculously good mood it's sick.
I love American restaurants, mainly Applebees and Friendlys which are basically the same thing but they were both damn good.
There was no Hot Topic in the mall here which blows so no fun for me but there were some cool stores, an awesome toy store called K-B Toys that I bought a Troll and a funny suprise present for Traci, a Suncoast video/DVD store which I bought Elle Driver and Beatrix action figures. (I know I'm a huge nerd.) I've wanted them forever now and they were on sale for $6 each. I also hit up a book store and bought 2 photography books, one was $4 and the other was $3. I got the deals. I also bought a wicked vest, shown above. It's hot.

We're leaving in 1/2 an hour for more baseball games, go team go. Hopefully we win, then it's back to Canada eh. A nine hour drive ahead. Holla.

Here are some more pictures;These photos don't give the size of these mountains justice. Really.

...And now for something funny. A ridiculous conversation that I had with my brothers girlfriend lastnight on MSN.

Amango: So is anyone actually going to the Halloween dance?
What’s up?
9:46

[eric] is in Pennsylvania.
I'm chilling in the hotel room.
9:46

Amango: So is anyone actually going to the Halloween dance?
hotel eh?
9:46

[eric] is in Pennsylvania.
yeah, we're in Pennsylvania.
9:46

Amango: So is anyone actually going to the Halloween dance?
sleeping with garlic tonight?
9:46

[eric] is in Pennsylvania.
Thats Trannsylvania. hahaha.
9:47

Amango: So is anyone actually going to the Halloween dance?
haha, oh shit.
9:47

[eric] is in Pennsylvania.
That was wicked.
9:47

素晴らしいトリップNikki を持ちなさい。

2006-10-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Miss you Miss. Pryjma.
Nikki is going to Japan to teach English for a year, she will do nithing but great things, I'm sure.

<3

Just a quick photo post -

2006-09-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Quick photo post, a more lengthy update coming soon.
-some photos of Traci that I took on Saturday night. Check out the sweet hat I scooped for $5. I want to do a series of photos of women in this hat, if you are interested holla back 'yo. *More photos coming soon.*

The sun suffocates behind darkened skies.

2006-09-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Purely a photo post, selected photos from last year that I haven't had a chance to post.

Nothing too spectacular, just photos that I really, really like. <3

Experiment Day, 1

2006-09-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

The cat's peed on my carpet. I will never get it out, ever.

So, we're having piss issues. What makes this extra annoying is it's not entirely mine or the cats fault.
When we moved into our apartment last year (at this time) the carpets had been cleaned but not well. Over in the nook there is a corner that smells like urine, not so much cat urine, I'm think dog urine. The tennent before us had a cat, a dog and other animals. I'm thinking that the dog/cat used it as a toilet and it was never properly cleaned, problem is now Tweeter and/or Ansel have discovered it and are taking turns marking their spots. Annoying.
I've tried everything, I've scrubbed it mutiple times, fabreezed it, even use rubbing alcohol because I read that that eliminates the smell. So now my living room is scented with Pachuli, rubbing alcohol and a faint snell of cat pee when a breeze strikes it right. I'm going to use baking soda and something called "Nature's Miracle" today as a last ditch effort before I will probably have to get a carpet cleaner in.
As well they've been peeing on the kitchen tiles, it's easier to clean but still annoying nevertheless.
So tonight I'm going to do an experiment. Ansel is going to be locked in the bathroom, with a litter box and food and Tweeter can roam, tomorrow night I'll switch it up. Eventually I'm going to find out who's really doing it and then I'll get them vet checked to make sure there isn't a more serious issue.
Experiment day one begins.

10,000 words and 15 weeks later.

2006-09-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

This is my first column, written for my last day at The Kingston This Week.

How many words do you think one person could write in four months of community digest items?
I can tell you.
About 10,000 of them.
Digest, digest, digest.
It’s all I thought about for the past four months straight, “Is the digest done?”, “Did I forget anything?”, “Is the 39 Dance Club in this week?”
Despite all of the really great assignments that I’ve had all summer, the great people that I’ve otherwise would not get the chance to meet, I have and the experience has been great, but the digest has been the most entertaining and most difficult, to say the least.
Even more nerve wracking than shooting a front page photo, if you don’t get the shot there is always a back-up but if you don’t get a digest item in, you’d hear about it.
A few times we’d get phone calls that we’ve missed an event and some were more understandable than others, we did what we could to accommodate everyone.
I got to write everything and anything, even items that I never thought existed, like Senior Belly Dancing. But I wrote it anyway, one right after the other.
First thing in the morning I’d walk over to the shelf scoop up papers and head back to my desk and type, and type, and type.
Finally, finished. So I thought.
I’d head back grab some more and finish those, but it just keeps coming, uncontrollably - especially around Strawberry Social season.
I wrote digest once in the morning, once after lunch and then again before I left, this seemed to do the trick. This way, I wasn’t sitting here with digest up to my eyeballs in digest for hours on end.
But we’ve managed this summer and somehow it all got done.
For something so insignificant to some, it means all the world to those who rely on us to advertise their bake sales, dinners and entertainment, and it taught me a lot.
Be prepared to write - forever, get organized, stay organized, and it’s never really over.
10,000 words and 15 weeks later and I think that I have finally got it under control And it’s my last day.
Good luck guys, you’ve got your work cut out for you. It’ll never stop coming.
But you knew that.
And if you need the digest done, call me, I have experience.

The pink pills are for you sanity.

2006-09-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

My last day on the early morning #1A for awhile.

On my way to work this morning I thought to myself, "what a normal bus ride." Usually the #1A bus is packed with garbage wrestlers and crack whores. Today was different, business women, children with their moms going school shopping, old ladies with floral dresses. Everything was fine up until Giant Tiger, on Princess St. The bus jerked over to the side, flung open the door and a giant man with suspenders climed on. Dialog as followed -

Fat Stinky Man: *Shows Bus Pass*

Bus Driver: It's no good.

Fat Scary Man: What do you mean it’s no good?

Bus Driver: It’s September 1st.

Fat Scary Man: *thinks*.... Well I have to go and get a new pass!

Bus Driver: You can pay the $2.25 to ride the bus.

Fat Scary Man: I’m a long time Kingston Transit rider, I shouldn’t have to pay to go get a pass!

Bus Driver: *stares at him.* Well you can’t ride the bus unless you pay.

Fat Scary Man: FUCK YOU!

Throws his bus pass at driver, flips him off then walks on the bus and sits down.

Bus Driver: *Shakes head and pulls away*

I wouldn't wanna mess with this guy, if it was me I would've let it go too. The man looked like a 350lb pig wrestler who hasn't changed his clothes in weeks, maybe months. He wore fat man jeans, a grey T shirt with a pocket on the chest, suspenders and bubbles glasses. Too funny.

I'll miss the #1A...actually no I won't, although the material is great for blogging, but belleville is populated with drunks, whores and assholes too. So wait for my Belleville blog next week, it'll be gold.

"Honey I think we should go casket shopping, I hear Costco has a great deal on those nice maple ones."

2006-08-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Costco really DOES have everything.

Upon browsing on the Costco website for beds, I stumbled upon a tab at the top of the page that read "Funerals" My first thought was what-the-fuck?
My curiousity got the best of me and I clicked it, knowing full well that I was going to get the creeps from looking at erns, stiff flower aragments and un-heartfelt sympathy cards that sported bible versus.
I was wrong. Really wrong. Although I found all of the above items, but I found something better. Caskets, full blown I'm-dead-bury-me-under-the-ground caskets. Maple caskets, walnut caskets, cherry caskets and overnight caskets (which by the way I'm still trying to find out what an overnight casket is. If you know, let me know.) casket, caskets, caskets. If you don't think they really do sell everything, check it out.

Costco Casket Specials.

[update:] I found out what the "overnight" caskets are. They are the ones that they'll ship overnight, haha. Fast AND conveinent!!

Tip of the Day, 5

2006-08-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Don't smoke.

Quite blantantly too, don't smoke. I really hate cigarette smoke and even more so that I've been living at home at the 'rents for the summer. I'm always afraid that I am going to leave the house smelling like cigarettes, my hair, my clothes, my backpack. Ew. But what annoys me more than that is when curly gel haired bus drivers get off of the bus to take one million years to haul on a cigarette then when all the buses start to leave they rush to finish and jump on the bus pretending that they didn't realize the time and blow a plume of grey second-hand smoke to linger throughout the bus for the entire ride. Once or twice ok, but every goddamn day? gimme a break. Go put some more gel in your hair cock knocker.

A+ student.

2006-08-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'm heading back to school, aw yeah.
I'm pretty excited although it's going to be a rough year. I have class conflicts but great teachers whom I am familiar with who are willing to accommodate me.
I'm pretty stoked. A two year course in one year, I can't go wrong even if it kills me.
I'll be in the newsroom again, which will be wonderful coming straight out one after all summer, I'll be learning how to specifically write for magazines, colour photography (easy!), portfolio, as well as a few writing classes, civ lit and another internship. holla. So it looks like I'll be heading back forsure, for another year and digging deeper into debt, but really I don't mind. I might as well do all of these things before it's too late right? exxxxxcited!
All I have to do now is try and apply for OSAP (hopefully I qualify) and register at the school, hopefully I can do that by phone.

Summer's fading fast and fall is on it's way.

2006-08-28T17:10:00.001-07:00

Friday's my last day at the Kingston This Week. How sad am I? hella sad.

I'm heading back to Belleville Friday or maybe Saturday, I don't really know yet. I have to take a massive summer load of crap up there, basically just stuff that I've accumulated over the summer but I dunno how yet. My dad's truck is classically broken and won't go above 60km/h.
The summer is fading fast and fall is on it's way, which means studenst are heading back to school, I'm heading back to school. I need to get one more year in. Print Journalism. I can take one year of print because I've taken two years of PHJ. I'll be extra qualified, bitches.
I also wanna get one more great summer shoot in while I still can, I'm going to steal Krista this week, whether she likes it or not, but we all know she will 'cause she's a whore for my camera and for me, she's wicked. And when fall arrives, I wanna make a special trip when the colours are right and do it all over again.
Krista is my main gal, the original gangsta, but, I need more models. I need to recruit, anyone interested? seriously.
Now that my stint at the KTW is sadly over but I need to shoot for me, get some of my creativity back, it's still here it's just fading away.
But on the plus side of everything, I'll be in Belleville with Brant, Tweeter, and Ansel. I've felt like I've abandoned them for a few months - Annnnnnd - Traci and I are getting drunk and listen to Alexisonfire ALL WEEKEND! awesome.
This post was pointless really. ha.

Snakes on a plane - Review.

2006-08-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

"I want these motherfuckin' snakes off this motherfuckin' plane."

3 snakes out of 5
There are tits, ass, dicks and you guessed it snakes. AND- guys just for the record, if the thought of a snake biting your dick off while you piss doesn't cross your mind, it will now, promise. *I* don't even wanna use outhouses or park/recreation toilets.
Anyway, so last week I saw Snakes on a plane, and although I wasn't really itching to see it, especially after hearing people say that it sucked, I genuinly liked it, like really liked it.
You have to go to the movie not expecting for it to be an amazing blockbuster hit but as a fun night out, get ready to laugh and get sort of grossed out.
This movie is pretty much the most ridiculous movie, ever, and not believable at all. But thats what makes it so good, so what-the-fuck good.
So basically, if you happen to see a murder, don't watch it, don't get caught just run asshole, Or ELSE, you'll end up with killer snakes on the motherfuckin' plane.
How the hell would you get snakes on a plane anyway, SERIOUSLY. You wanna know? In a bunch or lei boxes, how convienent. Not only that but the box has a timer that makes the boxes explode to release them.
So now, we have poisoness snakes AND explosives. wicked.
And I'm also glad that the snakes can slither by wires inside of the plane and and disconnect them, I think it need and inspector, that's not cool.
So now, the snakes are out inside of the plane chilling out then they start to go nuts and biting people. Why you ask, oh it's simple. Pheromones. The bad guys spray them on the leis that the retards on the plane are wearing.
And from there on out snakes kill people, are you surprised? C'mon.
The best part of the movie it the fat lady that is asleep on the plane getting felt up by a snake and moaning, ick. Then she wakes up and the snake bites her eye out, goary. Awesome.
Then some more people die, they make a baracade with a floatation device, they smash the window to suck the snakes out, they land.
The End.
Basically, all in all, go see this movie, even if you don't want to you'll have a great laugh and you'll have something to talk about for days with your friends, no lie. 3 snakes out of 5, holla that.  

SOAP review coming soon.

2006-08-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

[motherfucking] SNAKES ON A [motherfucking] PLANE MOVIE REVIEW COMING SOON.

You know, it was the song written by the guy - who wrote it.

2006-08-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I shot Blues Fest, Krista joined me at around six we watched a band then went for a brew at the Tir nan og. Just like Tuesday, one pint turned into two, then three, then four and so on. Again, we were both drunk and it was amazing. Robert came and joined us for Potachos [don't remember what they were called] basically nachos put in potato form. They were hot. We missed most of Suzie McNeil but caught a few tunes, I couldn't shoot anyway cause it was too dark and my flash blows. Annnnyway, we went to The Joy Supper Club, which was funny cause honestly it's a club for older men and women which we weren't supposed to be in there but we got in cause I had my media pass, holla. It was awkward but I can see why they won't let the younger crowd in there, it's beautiful, modern and very chic AND there were no Cougs there, must be too grown up for them. No young meat. It's totally where I'm going to go! We left then thats when things got funny. We went into the alley for "Sugar Balls", graffitti sprayed on the walls, and Krista found a giant Colt 45 bottle posed with in then smashed it on the wall....no harm right? there were already tampons, broken glass, garbage. No one would know we thought, the stores that line the alley were all closed, again so we thought. So smash went the bottle then we sat there and giggled for awhile then the back door creeped open and Krista screamed, we all took off running and me well being fat and with a massive backpack on full of gear I lost them and ran a complete opposite way, and not very fast either. It was SO scary and we're idiots. haha.
God, I felt like I was in highschool again, bless you alcohol.

Tip of the Day, 4

2006-08-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Do NOT wear these pants, they are NOT cute, they have to be a cruel joke thought up by someone who thought it would be funny, unfortunately the trend caught on with teenagers, cougars and I've even seen grandmas sporting these godaweful pants, and I'm almost as sick of seeing these as I am Crocs.
I was on the bus (surprise, surprise) on my way home from work when I saw this teenage girl with a pair that had "Angel" on the backside of her pants.
Her ass was having a feast on her pants and ate the letter G leaving her pants to say "Anel."
Totally funny for assholes like me to laugh at.
But really, Next time I see anyone with the words, "Juicy", "Hottie", "Angel" or something else lame I might just slap them. Seriously.
If you wanna wear sweats, fine, If your at the gym, lounging around at home or out jogging. Nothing else. I'm serious.

Tip of the Day, 3

2006-08-23T17:07:00.001-07:00

Do not have an explosive shit attack all over a public toilet and it's surrounding and just walk away.
Yesterday I walked into the restroom at the Merchant during my drunken escapade and half walked into a stall that some asshole had an explosive shit attack all over, it was disgusting.
How is it even possible for you to have an attack that messy? I would really like to know.

I don't understand how someone could walk into a stall, shit all over the toilet, the floor, the side of the stall wall and walk out of the washroom without being covered in shit. Honestly I am baffled.

Drunks, Lovers, Sinners & Saints.

2006-08-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

Alexisonfire: Crisis Review

4.5 stars out of 5

Alexisonfire's third and much anticipated release Crisis has got a little bit of everything and a whole lot of rock.
Refreshing and better than ever, the guys deliver rocking beats, explosive guitar riffs and the three solid and completely different voices - which of course, my favourite part.
Dallas, George and Wade all contribute their uniquely different voices that make the band.
Many have experimented with "melodic-screamo" tunes, which has proven to be difficult to pull off but, Alexisonfire has proven that they can do and do it well. Two parts Dallas, three parts George and one part Wade, makes for one badass album.
There are songs, aside from the single that stand out like, You Burn First, Boiled Frogs, Crisis and Rough Hands, But seriously, there isn't a song that I strongly dislike.
If you want my advice, want to hear something different from you typical cookie cutter bands and want to rock the fuck out buy this album. You won't be disappointed, if you are I'll personally refund your money. I love this album this much.

Lemony Snicket

2006-08-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

[Last night during celebratory birthday drinks with Jay down at the Merchant.]

Lastnight was Highball Tuesday at the Merchant, $3 drinks all night!
1 drink turned into 2 which turned into 4 and then 6, needless to say I was drunk by 10 p.m. sitting down at the Merchant patio listening to hilairious music coming from the Curry Village and feeling a cool breeze on my back, a sure sign that fall's coming.
Pineapple and Vodka was my drink of choice, a last attempt to sway my mind into thinking that summer was going to last forever.
I should've really gotten out to more patios for more drinks, we still have a few good weeks left of summer and I want to use it to it's fullest. Expect a some nature-y photo blogs soon, I feel all lumberjack lesbo-ish. Aweosome.
Did I mention $3 drinks at the Merchant? Who's up for next Tuesday? I know I am.

[AOF review post coming soon.....]

uuuuuhhh. in a Cher voice.

2006-08-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's 10:34 a.m. Guess what the means?
21 years ago this crazy cross dressing asshole was born, jesus.
Addicted to vodka since birth he's been keeping the bars in business ever since, as well as wig shops.
Happy Birthday Jay, you rock.

(let's get our drink on this weekend!)

Happy Alexisonfire Day!

2006-08-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my lunch break, went over to Futureshop bought the NEW ALEXISONFIRE disc and got some lunch on the way back, which by the way I haven't even eaten yet cause I'm SOOOOO excited!
I don't think anyone knows how super stoked I am, I can't even beleive how excited I am. I can't even remember the last time I was this excited for a Tuesday when a new CD came out. I wasn't even this stoked for the newest Matthew Good greatest hits album, maybe I knew what to expect. This is totally new, totally rad and makes me want to jump around. I <3 Alexisonfire and THANK YOU jesus, some great new music that I actually can get excited for.
I can't wait till 4:30 when I can go home and blast it SO loud that the neighbours can hear it.

ahhhhhhh! <3

You're so damn hot.

2006-08-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

I don't care what anyone says, Damian Kulash is SO hot. That's all.

NO! Not the kiki!

2006-08-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

I've been giving the apartment a complete overhauling tonight. I think I'm going crazy. I'm throwing shit out left, right and centre and I don't even care.
Maybe it's Matt Good's fault, or rather inspired by, ever since I've read his blog regarding recent events and his need to throw shit out. Of course my need isn't for the same reasons but I just don't think I need certain things. And we have too much shit.
My motto this weekend is, If I don't use it I don't need it and it's gone. Who needs 17 different candle holders, broken lamps, vaccums that don't work? not us.
Inbetween my spontanious cleaning escapade I managed to set up a miniture studio on the corner of our apartment and snap a few shots.
This one's my fave, Brant's eating Ansel, what a jerk.
And what's with all this blogging? wicked.

Surprise, surprise.

2006-08-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

I got another piercing. I'm a retard, but i love it.

I felt extra stupid when I called to make an appointment with the peircers and thought that someone was going to over hear me asking to make an appointment to get my Conch peirced and mistake conch for crotch. That would've been interesting. haha.

Tip of the Day, 2.

2006-08-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cars stopped at a red light on Princess St., Kingston

White car stopped at light (literally right beside a garbage can); *Teenage boy throws fast food cup out the window.*

Mom in big green van climbs out of the passangers side while husband and kids watch; "Do you mind picking up your garbage that you just thrw out the car window?"

Stupid teenage boy; "Why should I?"

Mom; "You just threw that cup out of the window, there is a trash can RIGHT THERE!."

Stupid teenage boy; *laughs*

Mom; "Seriously. I want you to get out of your car and pick up your trash."

Stupid teenage boy; *continues to laugh* "Whatever."

(Street light turns green.)

Mom; "It's our earth we have to keep it clean, it's people like you who are killing nature!"

Stupid teenage boy; *gets out of car, picks up cup, throws it in trash.*

(Cars honking)

Mom; "Thank you."

(Each gets back in car.)

Mom; *shakes head.*

Stupid teenage boy; *laughs, speeds away.*

(Green van gets stopped by red light, cars behind are pissed.)

Kudos to that mom in the green van, she made my day.

Your music, music career is going down--

2006-08-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

DO IT! --
"London Bridge" is the worst song ever made, seriously.

Tip of the Day.

2006-08-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Riders of the #1 Montreal Bus - 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18.

Woman sitting in the front "disabled/elderly" row; You are not elderly so you must be disabled. Oh what's that you are neither? Then GET THE FUCK up when 90 year old women get on the bus and have to hold on for dear life while you sit there and pretend you do not see her. You are a douche, and if I see you agin I might make you disabled so you have a reason to sit in the front row!

80 year old senile women; Please do not look at me like I am a monster because I have piercings throughout my face. I'm not the one with a floating wig. AND, why don't you get a wig that matches your thinning grey hair, your mermaid red wig looks like shit.

Fat Man sitting in front of me; TAKE A GODDAMN BATH. You smell like shit, you have the greasiest hair in Canada and you are wearing ripped clothing, not just ripped clothing but ripped clothing that looks like it is rotting on your buldging body. Do everyone a favour shower, or at least hose yourself off.
Man in the red baseball cap; When you shaved this morning you missed a spot. Just thought I'd let you know.

Woman wearing the green short-shorts; This coming from a bigger women myself I hope you will understand when I say: You shouldn't wear short shorts that are creeping up your ass, it makes you look cheap and nasty. I'm sorry. OH! and -- Your Orange tan looks bad too.

Toothless wonder; I'm just curious why you think that it is so cool that you have cigarettes in a bag that you must pull them out on the bus and show them off, why?

Love Erica, oxoxox.

A no goodbye suicide mystery.

2006-08-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Reason # 01 why my dad rocks.

He is in the driveway klinking tools around while working on the truck belting out Apparitions by Matthew Good. Hilairious.
I love my Dad, he's ridiculous.

PS - [photo] Say hello to my mom and dad, they thought it would be funny to try and use my camera to
take self portraits in the drive way on the LCBO, alas it didn't really work but it funny none the less.

What's on the agenda tonight?

2006-07-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

Getting sauced, reeeeeal sauced.

Here's my get-off-your-ass-and-do-something-tonight post.
Rock Crew Anniversary. TONIGHT. BE THERE BITCHES.

Tonight should be pretty spectacular. Krista's birthday dinner, Buskers and RockCrew's anniversay party. All to be amazing I'm sure. More photos to come, lots of drunken pics I suspect. yee-haw.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTA

2006-07-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Lova, hope you get nice and sauced.Happy birthday Krista, welcome to the age that well, isn't that much different then the one you've left behind, just now you have a little bit more experience and know which bars to go to and which to stay away from.
Tonight shall be full of jokes and fun times.
Yay birthdays.

<3 eric

2006-07-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

There's a lot going on, too much going on.

I love my job and am really not looking foward to the end of August when my stint is over but I may just have something else lined up and ready to go.
I don't really want to say forsure until I get things all worked out and whatnot, it'd be nice to do both jobs really and hope that I will get that chance.
I feel like a retard for having this annoying all "top-secret" blog post I just don't want to make a big deal over it and then it fall through. I hope everything works, although both jobs will keep me away from Brant while he's away at school for his last year and I think that that's what is eating me up about it, but I've gotta get my rid of my pussy and get some balls. [No not literally.]

I guess there's nothing else really exciting that is happening, OH WAIT.
ROCK CREW is having their 4 year anniversary party TOMORROW NIGHT @ The Elixir, you'd better all be there bitches. It's gonna be hella cool, The Golden Dogs, Pelt and many more. $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
Now I'm off to the Busker's kick off party, free food, free booze. I'm wicked like that. holla.

Okay so I lied.

2006-07-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Canada Day and All That Jazz.

Here are some shots that I took on Canada Day of the fireworks and City Hall, I'm pretty proud of them, no tripod used on an 8 second exposure! Holla.

Crazy shots of Brant and I.

Phil got a Girlfriend.

More shots to come later including Toronto trip on Friday to see Dallas, Nik and Joe and other random newspaper shots, I just thought that I should update cause I haven't in like 10 years, cause I suck. <3 eric

Update coming soon--

2006-06-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Soon as in TONIGHT.
[promise.]

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind.

2006-06-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

I miss Brant and I'm acting like an idiot. I hate it, I've been so short with everyone and have been in a pissy mood all week and it's going no where fast. Sometimes I just feel like I want to drop everything and go back there, the city that I hate where everyone looks like they should be feature on Jerry Springer on s show called "I got this women pregnant and I think she may be my sister...or mom...or cousin".

Gloomy rainy days don't help this feeling either.
I wish that I have taken more photos recently, I haven't been taking as many photos for the paper but I've been writing my ass off which is good it's the area that I need to improve the most in, I think that I'm doing that. Tomorrow I am heading to a press conference to cover a man named Tony who is biking across America, should make for a great story. Tomorrow some of my articles will be published and I'll post a link later or something, one is about a youth organization called Take Charge, they promote healthy living and non smoking in teens and the second is about the KEYS job connect program. Not very interesting but they're news.

BUUUUT---- aside from being gloomy, Saturday we're going to Ajax to visit Nikki and Joe where we will hang out all day I think that we are going to Toronto where we will go to some wicked shops, have lunch and what not. I'm stoked. Bring on a day that will be fun-filled with 3 of my favourite people, Brant, Nikki and Joey-O!

[who kows what will happen this weekend]

Local swimmer ready to take on Lake Ontario

2006-05-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

15 year old Jenna Lambert plans to do a marathon swim across Lake
Ontario this July to raise money for the local YMCA and Y Penguins.

The inspiration of Vicki Keith has made a marathon swimming protege out of one of her athletes.
Jenna Lambert, 15, a member of the Kingston Penguins swim team, will attempt a 32-km crossing of Lake Ontario this July. Lambert, born with cerebral palsy, is aiming to become the first person with a disability to swim across the lake.
And just like Keith, it’s all for a good cause.
The Kid 4 Kids Marathon, as its been dubbed, will help raise funds for the Kingston Family YMCA’s Character Brick Building Campaign which includes facility upgrades, a new 25-metre pool and 18,000 square-foot fitness area.
The $4.5 million dollar expansion is hoping to receive $2.5 million through fundraising, which Lambert hopes to boost.
Lambert says that Vicki Keith, her coach and good friend, has been a great inspiration to her and will be for her swim.
“Taking a God given gift and putting it to use for the good of others, that’s a goal worth striving for,” she says.
Keith will be there to support her along the way.
“No one can prepare you for the heights you will soar until you spread your wings,” says Keith.
The Y expansion project is close to Lambert’s heart. As a member of the Penguins swim team, she has found a new love in life. Lambert was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that reduces her movement and had forced her to walk with a walker.
Swimming for the past five years has improved her strength and movement she now walks with forearm crutches.
She has triumphed in the pool, too, recently winning her first international medals in competition. The next competition is against Lake Ontario.
The swim in July will begin in Point Peninsula, New York and will finish approximately 24 hours later, at the shore of Lake Ontario Park in Kingston.
To contribute to The Kid 4 Kids Marathon campaign visit the Y location at 100 Wright Cres., online at www.kingston.ymca.ca or call 546-2647.

Oh you silly stupid pastime of mine.

2006-05-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Despite wanting to be done my stint at the Kingston This Week I won't be for another three months or so. I did so well that they have offered me a summer position saying that out of everyone who interned with them that I showed the most enthusiasum and potential which really is great to hear. Weeee! As ridiculous as it sounds I will say it again that my 4 weeks [I decided to do another week] I have really grown, I'll go to shoots and get things done, approach people more openly and actually really like the stuff that I am producing. I am really excited because I feel like they actually like me and the work that I am producing and not just using me for 3 weeks to do stuff so they don't need to...But I would'nt have thought that anyway because the staff at the KTW are wonderful. So here's to a great summer, or what I will try to make out of it without Brant. boo. It'll be hard but we can do it.

ALSO - I'm SO going horseback riding TOMORROW!
Woot! Brant's cousin Jodie and her husband are having thir one year anniversary party tomorrow in Athens and we are going, I'm pretty excited they have 17 horses and probably other animals that I will get to see, they are having a dinner and a bonfire. I can't wait. This will be the closest thing to R&R that I have had in the last month...The baseball tournament SO doesn't even count either. Freezing your ass off in May doesn't count as relaxation at all.

But yeah, thats it. Not to sound like a retard but I'm really happy with the things that I have accomplished in the past little while it's awesome, I just hope that Brant will understand and support me, which he will I'm sure.

Yay for FUN! <3

You look like me, I look like hell.

2006-05-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

So my internship is over which I did exceptionally well at, so well that they offered me a temp job there for awhile! I'm pretty excited. I worked my ass off for the past month and will have to for the next few months. It's a great job, a great publication and great people to be around, people who I really enjoy working with.
Despite being totally stoked I wish I was in Belleville, not to be in Belleville but to be with Brant.
I'm so lame right now and feel like a total girl and an idiot for writing on my blog when I feel crappy and when I miss Brant.

I feel and look like shit.

So I'm going to stop writing.

<3

You used to be one of the rotten ones an I liked you for that.

2006-05-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

So I clearly haven't updated in eight-teen forevers, I've had a good reason though. Intern has taken over my life, but not in a bad way.

I love the Kingston This Week and everyone who works in the Editorial department. I've worked my ass off but I think that it shows and everyone here can see that.
The first week was pretty slow, only doing news briefs, community events and taking some photos while going out with Rob, KTW's photographer/photo editor, which was probably one of the best things that I could've done. It taught me alot and I got to see how he did everything. I got a few photos published in that paper but this week was the biggie, I got 3 stories, one which is on the first page published! and 7 photos in.
I think that that is a pretty big accomplishment for being an Intern and I'm glad that the staff there are confident enough in me that they will assign me alot of things and know that I will get them done by deadline no matter how hard I have to work.
Working at the paper actually makes me want to work for a newspaper, who would've thought 2 years in a photojourmalism course didn't give me the desire to do this but working at the newspaper really makes me want to do it.

Working with one of my favourite writers Lynn Rees-Lambert who is a phenomanal writer and loves what she does, she would be what I'd want my career to be half as good as hers is. She is a coloumists and is in charge of the A&E section at the KTW--which is exactly what I want to do!.

To say the least when next week is over it'll be sad but I think I wanna still write for them while I am working next year in Belleville, it'll give me my in to the community and it'll still feel like I am actually doing something that still feels like spending $20,000 on has been worth it.
Something I've found interesting while working at the KTW is the stats for newspapers around Ontario, The Kingston This Week is one of the smallest papers and get a lot of shit from bigger papers like *cough* TheWhig *cough*, although a great paper the KTW is above them in stats. More people read the KTW then bigger papers around the province.
I dunno, i just found the interesting. go ktw!

Here are some of my favourite things that I've shot ---[This is the Queen's Solar Car, Kids were having a tour of it.][Kingston's Track & Feild Championships][QECVI Baseball game][Highschool students planting trees in honour of Kingston's title of Canadas First capital]

So Intern's going well and I graduate on June 8th. Yay, real life. boo. But still exciting.

In other news: Traci got Dallas Green tickets for us cause she's the sex. So we're off to Toronto in June to cum in our pants.

I wanna learn how to dance, dance away from fat stinky men.

2006-04-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Brian's Record Option is the SHIZZNAT!

The greatest place in Kingston is Brian's Record Option, hands down. The place is filled with 80,000 records, literally. Walking in there is overwhelming with all of the stuff piled everywhere and the smell of a grandma's attic but some where in there you will find one of the cutest old man ever. Brian. He is possibly one of the greatest people ever to talk to, he's just so ridiculous. The guy has a phenomenal memory and among 80,000 records, hundreds of CD's, music books, posters and who knows what else he can find anything you ask for without any hesitation. He knows exactly where everything in that store is and it's pretty cheap there too. Records are $8.oo and are all in pretty good condition, maybe a bent or scuffed cover but the records are pretty good. If you are in the area go visit him! His shop is on Princess St. basically right across from the A&P....and buy something damn it, you'll be surprised what you'll find.

---and now for a ridiculous but funny photo of Brant.

---He can also be hot when he wants to be too.

Tonight after our venture to Kingston, where I shot my celebrity portrait [which is horrible] were the POTY awards at the school. They were awards for the first year Photo J's Picture Of The Year awards. It was short and well..Okay. But it was the first year for them and I applaud the fact that they organized it. I wish we had of had one. I got all dressed up for an hour to only come home to do home work cause I'm lame. Must get everything finished before my intern which I'm getting hella excited, but nervous for. It begins in a week. eeek!

On another note: 600lb men who smell like rotting flesh with 4inches of plaque on their teeth need to stop fucking talking to me when I'm out and about. Call me when you lose 400lbs and get that rotting flesh disease cleared up. Oh and brush your motherfucking teeth. On second thoughts don't even bother. Die.

You can't get shot in the back....if you don't run.

2006-04-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

Matthew Good in Montreal...

Matthew Good in Montreal was OUTSTANDING! This being my third time seeing Matt in concert, you can't really compare a acoustic show to a full blown rock concert. Although I will say that I loved it. Maybe even more so then the full band show with all of the bells and whistles, but just slightly. Seeing your favourite musician is exciting of course but driving four hours with your friends to see them makes it really that much more special.

And the story begins---
Everyone who knows me knows how much I love shows and love Matthew Good's music knows how upset I was when the Kingston show was "postponed" on the second of this month and how I was even more so upset when it was officially cancelled on Friday.
Upon talking to Krista in Friday and declaring our disappointment to one another I left the conversation weeping and listening to the "Rooms" CD, bonus to MG's "In a Coma" disc, then returning to my computer some time later to a message from Krista saying that her, rob and her boyfriend Emory were heading to Montreal to see MG. And seriously how could I not go, really. After talking to Brant we swindled a ride from our friend Brent who was up for the trip, I bought his ticket and paid for some gas as payment to drive my ass up there.

[then comes monday.]
I was oozing with excitement and couldn't wait to go, we left Kingston around 3ish and an hour later text'd Krista to see where they were/if they were in Montreal yet, seeing that they were leaving long before us.
"The car brokedown"
shit. Luckily we were 10mins away from where they had brokedown and we happened to pull of of the same exit and saw them in a drive way of a big white house.
We saved the day really, well for Krista and Rob. Emory sadly had to escort the car back to Athens on a giant flatbed tow truck.

[three hours later]

We arrive in Montreal. A busy city with screaming truck drivers, transports full of nasty-ass chickens, twisty roads and Rabbis.

[we find the place, stand in line, wait till the show begins. Blah, blah, blah.]

Melissa McClelland. What could possibly be said about her to really explain how good she was, seriously. She was amazing live and blew me away.

And CLEARLY Matt was amazing!
A Solo Acoustic show really shed a different kind of light on all of my favourite songs.

My favourite played being, Fated, Tripoli, Prime Time Deliverance and It's Been Awhile Since I Was Your man. Here's the whole set list. Amazing. [MG photo's are by Krista, cause we weren't allowed to take "professional" cameras into the venue. It was kind of nice to see a show that wasn't through a lense.] <3>

The end of the night was pretty awesome, meeting Matt and Raymi were two highlights of the night for sure.
God, i loved that night, i loved the show, i loved meeting new people, and of course loving being with my friends and lover.

....And here's a picture that Brant took of me while we were waiting to meet Matt. i love it.

FIN.

Look happy, it's the end of the world.

2006-04-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

i m i s s m y g i r l s + joe.

Seriously.

I don't think i've been as down this year as I am down now. I mean I'm in an okay mood but for some reason I see that going downhill hard. It's only been less than a week here since everyone has gone back to their hometowns or off on internships and it saddens me, a lot. But relly how could I not see this coming? I did. I dreaded it and tried to keep my mind off of it completley. Having 5 days to dwell on the fact that this is it, it's where it's at. everyone's gone and will never return to belleville if they are lucky. This town draws life out of people, and even more so when your support group, your whole reason for putting up with this godforsaken town are all gone moving on to bigger and better things while I'm stuck here feeling lifeless and having no purpose. Bah. As retarded as it sounds I think listen to MG and watching americas next top model really made it sink in. I'm a loser. In the meantime hopefully the Matt Good show is rescheduled, maybe thats part of the reason why I'm sad. Boourns.
<3

Ding-Dong the strike is dead!

2006-03-24T20:23:00.000-08:00

THE STRIKE IS OVER MOTHERFUCKERS!

[a message to my good friend whom I've gotten closely acquainted in the past 18 days, Mr.Strike.]

I hate you, You ruined the past 18 days of my education.
Now there's one week to say adios to all my class mates who live crazy far from here if they haven't all ready gone home.
You were fun for the first little while as these things are, it's worn off.
In fact it wore off like a week and a half ago.
Fuck you, along with all of the annoyances to come that have spawned off of this whole fiasco.
I'm glad you croaked, never come back. No one should have to go through that. Seriously.

-Erica

where no one knows my name.

2006-03-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

to my love, erica dawn MARIE barton:

I LOVE YOU.

...more than urkle loved laura
...more than zach loved kelly
...more than uncle jesse loved aunt becky
...more than hannibal loved it when a plan came together
...more than michealango loved to party
...more than max loved his pet monster
...more than sam malone loved diane
...and then rebecca, after she left

i love you more than the late eighties and the early nineties combined.

i f'n love you.

i'm yer boo.

and this is true.

-b

[i found this while cleaning tonight and that it was supa cute. it's my v-day poem that brant wrote me last year. aw. i'm such a girl.]

My mom called me a cunt.

2006-03-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

The strike caused me to put holes in my head. That's my story.
This is what I did to my face.
I felt I needed another piercing, I don't really know why forsure I was having doubts about my lip ring and took it out but have obviously put it back in. After going to the mall last week I completley felt disgusting. Way to many greasy wannabe punks running around with their studded braclets and belts.
I was feeling like if I had the peircing I'd be associated with them in the eyes of strangers. After having a talk with Traci and Brant [and after my mom got mad at me for taking it out...cause she's funny!] I decided to put it back in---That was of course after I got my Monroe piercing, and well I <3>

Poster Of a Girl--

2006-03-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

Photos A La Krista

Tonight was as cold as faak, not a pleasent night for a photo shoot and poor Krista was such a good sport in staying outside for far too long as I really had no idea what I was doing with my flash or Brants tripod.

Aside from the blistering cold and me not knowing the gear it was a pretty fun night.
Krista is really awesome and I'm glad we've finally met after countless one worded encounters. She's one of those people I've always wanted to meet, like a celebrity. You see them everywhere but when you do you are afraid that they will look at you strange when you approach them and you'll feel stupid. Which is obviously weird in itself. She's definitly someone who I could totally see myself becoming great friends with, really. I can't say that often about people, there are only a selection of people who I can really say that about. But yay for new friends and photo fun.
I knew what I wanted to do but upon the wintery night and wardore mishaps (on my part...I had something in mind of what I wanted so me waiting till the last minute and going to the thrift shops downtown and not finding exactly what I wanted or in my price range - - - just for the record Phase 2 in hella expensive for a used clothing store let me tell you!) it was a pretty good shoot. I am happy with what I got, although I would've loved to shoot more. Which I will hopefully get a chance to do in the studio sometime soon with again, Ms. Krista.
So here's what I came up with - - - This was my vision. It came out okay, I'm happy with it for a first attempt.

Okay I lie, I'm really happy with it and hopefully Krista is too!
(As well, the photo at the very top Brant took in the "Ghost Alley" near the Toucan and Chez Piggy.Brant, Myself, Kevin and Krista in ghost alley.)
Mainy all my shots were used in this, here's a different one from ontop of the parking garage in front of The Hotel Dieu Hospital. City Hall is in the background and the lights of Kingston.
So like I said we're gonna do another shoot this time it'll be in the studio where I'll have control over the lights and temperature. I'm pretty excited for that, I really wanna do some studio work alot. I've missed it ever so much since last semester. And what the hell....Here are some hot Metric pics for the show on Tuesday night at Grant Hall. Killer show. Thanks Rock Crew!!!
The opening band were pretty cool. Islands and Holy Fuck. Holy Fuck was rad as hell. (like i just sad rad, sweet!) Brant picked up their CD and I have yet to listen to it all the way through, i best be getting on that soon.
Matthew Good is the next big show that I am SUPER excited for!! I can't even wait! one more month, then after that is City & Colour in Otts with Traci and Brant!! weeee!!
It's 3am and I need sleep. I've been up forever editing photos on Brants Laptop. He's probably wondering why I'm not in bed yet...Night. Enjoy the photos. Posting more sooooon.
<3

I'm coming home.

2006-02-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

I'm coming home!
On Sunday , reading week officially begins. Although today is my official beginning to a week of days off I'm still in Belleville and holidays don't feel like holidays untill I'm in Kingston.
Holidays are holidays to most but mine will be jam packed with lots of work, work that I need to get done or should've been done already. But not the entire break with be taken over by work. Fun is bound to be had as most of my friends will be down this week for holidays too or they are permanently fixed there.
Metric and Stars are both playing this upcoming week. I really want to see Stars but I've had my heart fixed on going to Metric. Although they are on different days I must choose one in my current financial state. Which sucks. We're getting a roomate in a month which will be great.
Traci is moving in! She's in my Photojournalism with moi and we were going to move in with her at the beginning of the year but apparently we can't have 3 peoples name on a lease. But we've decided that that doesn't mean that she can't live with us anyway. Our rent is $695.00 a month fo a 2 bedroom and we use the second bedroom as a computer room and there is enough room for us to just put in in our bedroom or in the living room. So now instead of Brant and I splitting the rent and having to shell out $350.00 we'll all only have to pay $231.00. I totally dig that! I'm not opposed to it whatsoever! so yay!

This week I am also doing a shoot at some point with the lovely Krista. I'm very excited.
We still haven't finalized everything but I know it's going to be great.
And boooooo for my documentary. I have to do that as well and I have no idea what I am doing. The suspension thing hasn't quite panned out and i pnly have 2 weeks to complete it. It's a 12 page book spread. Ahhhh! I'm doomed.

Bring on READING WEEK. I never really go why they call it reading week, no one reads. ever.
<3

I got my internship BITCHES!

2006-02-20T12:14:00.001-08:00

INTERNSHIP BEEEEEOTCH!!

I am pretty excited right now. As the title states I got my Internship. It's kind of nice feeling ahead of the game for once. It's good to be on Frank's good list. I'm pretty sure he wants to kills us all. We are horrible and I think that a maximum of 5 people in my section have their Intern spots, maybe not even that many. But yay for me!
I love the idea of working for a free community paper that is a weekly. Some journalist frown upon weeklys like daily are the only way to go. fuck them. Weekly's are just as important.
If anything I am going to become a better journalist for it. And the editors there are SUPER nice and I'm really excited to work with them.
Yay! for Internships and Yay! for me......

All About Cats.

2006-02-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

So this is my first blogger ode to my cats. They are pretty wonderful cats when they don't pee on random plastic bags, loose peices of kleenex or on our bed pillows after I gave them their worm pills. We inherited Ansel from our neighbours when they saved her and her siblings from being drown in a river but some retard who didn't want them. We named her Ansel after Ansel Adams, a photographer that I like and we also thought that she was a boy. I like to call her Ansella now. It's more girly.
This is Tweeter, I got her almost 2 years ago from my good friend Laura. I went over there under strict instruction to not bring a cat back, but I did anyway. I'm glad that I have her now. I planned on taking her away with me to college lastyear but our crazy landlady hated cats. I hated her. She wasn't even there for 7 out of the 8 months that Kar and I lived there. She was off gallovanting with some man in SanFrancisco while our house was infested with mice and bugs and while our shower suddenly broke. Having a cat would've benifited us. Tweets would've kept us company and gotten rid of the annoying mice.
And thats my cue to get off of the bitter bus and say Fuck Lastyear. Luckily we are allowed to have cats here at our new apartment and everythings cool and relitlvly quiet.

I've had cats growing up all of my life. I love cats and my mom loves cats. We have enough cats to house a cat baseball team or some sport with alot of players. Neither my mom or I can stand to see a cat homeless or at a shelter. All of our cats have come from the shelters (Except Tweets and Ansella) having my mom work at Petcetera is difficult because they have an adoptions room where animals from the shelter are always sadly on display, actually that's how we ended up with Shem and Panda. Along with loving cats, my mom and I head to a local cat show annually. Neither of us drive so it's hard to go to all of the others which are far away, and dragging my dad into the mix would make for a grumpy man, so we stick to one cat show a year untill there are more in a closer area for us.
Sooooo anyway, last weekend was the CCA Valentines Day Cat Show.
Mom entered Sherman and Panda. They are beautiful cats. They were both entered in to the "Household Pets" section even though Sherman is a Turkish Angora and Panda is a Norwegian Forest Cat. The weekend was an overall sucess. Neither of them won any 1st, 2nd or 3rd's which is all right. We don't really go there to win. We go there for fun really. It always helps that they like it. Sherman is so relaxed and at peace there it's bizarre, he was literally mad at my mom on Monday and sat near his carrier that was near the door meowing. It's kind of ridiculous. haha.
Almost as ridiculous as us winning for
Best Valentines themed cage. My mom won a Royal Canin Cat Encyclopedia that is a limited addition, which she was pretty excited about. She also won a cat scarf and sterling silver cat earrings.

Lastly, here are 2 photos of ze kids with a judge:

A weekend update, almost 4 days overdue.

2006-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

Of course FEB FEST was this past weekend in Kingston and I made the long trek from my college life in Belleville back home, a long 45mins that is. Which of course isn't that long but I had an itch to shoot. I was excited because the "Rail Jam" was being held the night the night we got in at pretty much the same time we arrived.
Exciting and Fun? Hells no.
The Rail Jam advertised as having a huge jump and a rail where skiiers and snowboarders do tricks and crazy stunts. HA!
If huge jump and rails mean that there is scaffling and plywood covered in zamboni leftovers with a rail at the bottom with slush to break your fall then yes, exactly what the event entailed.
It was such a dissapointment from what I had been expecting. Could I have been expecting to much of this so called Rail Jam? no. I don't think that I was.
I thought that it would be crazy fun, imstead all of the skiiers did exactly as eachother and the snowboarder as the ones before them. The highlight of the nigh was seeing one of the boarders nose dive off of the side of the ramp. The only reason why I laugh at the fact is that I was lead to believe that this was put on by professionals, it wasn't. Cocky 14year old boys who think that they can jump and girls to afraid to go down the hilly ramp thing entered. I'm sure the winners prize of some odd hundred dollars sounded sweet but humiliation must've been great I'm sure.

After the Rail Jam I saw the worst movie ever. Annaopolis.
I agreed to go with my cousin because I mistook it for Elizabethtown. I wanted to see me some Orlando Bloom. Damn.
I have no idea where the hell this movie came from. It was random and was some movie about the Navy and Boxing. Alas, it was horrible and the only reason why my cousin wanted to see it was 'cause she wanted to see the leading guy, whose name I don't know. This is why we have the internet. I could've saved myself $9.00.

The rest of FEBFEST was rather dissapointing as well to say the least buuuuuuuut, guess who was actually there. Yeah, thats right. 90210's Jason Priestly. *melt*
I actually couldn't believe it. Jason mother fucking Priestly. Although not bad ass enough to be using "mother fucking" what are the chances he'd be at a winter festival playing hockey?
Hmmmm. Well good I guess.

The festivals concert featuring some chick singer from Rock Star INXS (who I really didn't give 2 shits about) and Betablokka, who I really wanted to see was basically rained out. It poured like a mother fucka! and me being a complete retard forgot my ID here in Belleville for the OKGO and controller.controller show at the Grad Club resorted to going to the all ages show instead of the 19+ show. A side to all of the underagers and immature bitches it was a FANTASTIC show. I love that band. They are wonderful. They put on a great show finalised with the Million Ways To Be Cruel dance! They danced. *sigh* I'd do 'em after that. haha.
The lighting was really bizzarre and I think I got shots unlike anyone else there who were using their flashes which would result in mediocre shots to admire by all of your friends. Mine are wicked awesome. Applause to whom ever came up with this. Genius.

So I guess it turned out to be an OK weekend, thanks to OKGO and seeing my mom and dad, which sounds so lame but I love seeing them. They are the most random and hilairious parents ever, they're great. lol.

Soooooo, I think that this is enough of a rant. Enjoy the photos I guess.

This weekend I am back off to K-Town for the Limestone Cat Club Show. A cat show.
My mom is showing 2 of our cats, who which by the way looooooove it. I'm sure Sherman won't get out of his carrier for hours after he comes home again. So expect some show shots and we'll see what else.

Nothing will top last year festival.
<3

Welcome.

2006-02-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome! If you are reading this, you've found me.

This is your cue to get excited about hearing about me and seeing my photos!

I'm really excited about having a new blog that I can costumize to my liking. Although having a blog on LiveJournal was fun it just wasn't doing it for me. I guess I could've costumized, or joined some groups who liked the same things as I, but didn't.
I just felt like what I wrote there went unnoticed and passed right by for something more interesting. C'mon, no one is more interesting then me!....or so I'd like to think.
Onward with the new Blog and somewhere that will be spectacular!
Okay enough about it, on with something intersting.

I'm rather excited about this weekend, why you ask?
It's.....FEBFEST!
...okay not so exciting, maybe. But I heard Jason Preistley is suppose to be there, I have a feeling that that is a dirty rotten lie just to get girls like Karen and I there to see our pre-teen crush. *sigh*
Brant and i will be coming to Kingston on Friday night, hopefully with enough time to catch the Snowboarding Demo at market square before i head off to the movies with Amber and Amanda.
I'm stoked for Saturday; OK GO and controller.controller at The Grad Club! holla that. It's going to be an amazing show! Before that I will be heading down to Market Sqaure to re-kindle my memories of highschool and underage drunken bus trips to Toronto. Betablokka is playing around 7pm. I've only seen them once since Shayne left the band. The only way it would be like old days is if Tanya and a potatoe were there.
I'll have some photos of weekend shenanigans and FebFest up on Monday, maybe my photojournalistic skills will get put to use and I get something worthwhile, we'll see.

Stay Tuned.
<3

[erica's blog]

Jason

A Christmas gift for you.

The crazies are here, and the aintg gonna quit.

must....keep....going....

Dala-cious.

"erica's back, alright!"

Hot.

Alcan Shoot No. 1

Trew-riffic.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home.

Introducing.....

As photographic evidence -

Happy Birthday!

Merry Christmas!

I'm bringing sexy back…

This city is racist.

When does one person have too many clothes?

Gooey Louie is alive.

Happy Birthday Bitches.

Zoooooooo.

Gah.

Facebook motherfucker.

Art therapy.

They had emos in the 1800's.

Kriss Kross'll make ya jump, JUMP.

Pennsylvania, not Transylvania.

素晴らしいトリップNikki を持ちなさい。

Just a quick photo post -

The sun suffocates behind darkened skies.

Experiment Day, 1

10,000 words and 15 weeks later.

The pink pills are for you sanity.

"Honey I think we should go casket shopping, I hear Costco has a great deal on those nice maple ones."

Tip of the Day, 5

A+ student.

Summer's fading fast and fall is on it's way.

Snakes on a plane - Review.

SOAP review coming soon.

You know, it was the song written by the guy - who wrote it.

Tip of the Day, 4

Tip of the Day, 3

Drunks, Lovers, Sinners & Saints.

Lemony Snicket

uuuuuhhh. *in a Cher voice.*

Happy Alexisonfire Day!

You're so damn hot.

NO! Not the kiki!

Surprise, surprise.

Tip of the Day, 2.

Your music, music career is going down--

Tip of the Day.

A no goodbye suicide mystery.

What's on the agenda tonight?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTA

Okay so I lied.

Update coming soon--

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind.

Local swimmer ready to take on Lake Ontario

Oh you silly stupid pastime of mine.

You look like me, I look like hell.

You used to be one of the rotten ones an I liked you for that.

I wanna learn how to dance, dance away from fat stinky men.

You can't get shot in the back....if you don't run.

Look happy, it's the end of the world.

Ding-Dong the strike is dead!

where no one knows my name.

My mom called me a cunt.

Poster Of a Girl--

I'm coming home.

I got my internship BITCHES!

All About Cats.

A weekend update, almost 4 days overdue.

Welcome.

uuuuuhhh. in a Cher voice.