2011 Cap Off and My Resolutions

This really caps of 2011 doesn't it? My last blog of the year, not that I blogged much in 2011. To says this year has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. This year has been all over the place mentally and physically. I did things that both surprised and disappointed me.

On the brighter sides of this past year, I spent a lot of it attending college. A total eye opener for me, my view of the world and what was in it began to open. I found a new confidence in myself as fledgling as it was. 2011 marks the first year where I haven't had to deal with The Carpenters and their self-created vendetta against me, a welcome change. I also managed to recover from the damages my editing/ company networking sustained due to their drama de jour so to speak. I'm usually not one to go out, meet up with people or try forging new friendships. My life has been a dumping ground for social disappointment. It surprised the hell out of me that I did meet up with Colin and Justin. I'm actually more surprised I didn't throw up on Colin ( He was beside me). I was that high strung and so tightly wound I initially missed them in McDonald's, Justin had to call me. Then with in about 8 minutes I was totally at ease and really content in their company. Which was new for me and a turning point. After that day I found myself doing things on the social front. Actually going to a party or two and not just blending into the background. Where would I be without my Scottish big brothers and really all of this inherited family I've picked up along the way, y'all know who you are. 2011 also saw me finding myself as an artist all over again. I kind of got lost as a video editor and just stuck to formulas that worked instead of feelings. 2011 has seen a lot of mental and emotional changes.

2011 hasn't been all fields of daphodiles, daisies and whatever else may make up one one of Justin's corsages come to think of it, I don't know most of what makes up a corsage. I know a pin is involved somewhere. I definitely got stressed this year and it manifested in my body. I got kinda fat, fortunately having rather large muscular legs it seemed well proportioned but sweetie the love handles where there.  I also questioned so much this year and more often than not it was my own self-worth. The job hunt hasn't gone all that well for me, sometimes It's like having a brick thrown in your face. Thats been a struggle through all of 2011 and hopefully the tides will change in 2012.

That pretty much sums up the year for me and now for my Resolutions.

1.  This year, I'm taking time for ME. It's something I didn't do to much of in 2011.

2.  I'm kicking ass and taking names! I'm delivering my own stuntreel for 2012. It's not going to be easy to get back into my stunt prime of 145lbs.....40 lbs ago. I've got a lot of opposition saying I wont do this but I will because I want it bad enough.

3. TRIP! it needs to happen, I haven't done a thing since 2008. Where  to? I'm not sure but it won't be Toronto. Toronto is not a Trip it's a staycation.

4. I'm going to reflect on myself in a more positive light despite what a lot of people say of  or to me, think of me.

5. I'm going to Grow

My own darkness

Excuse my Rouge Eye Brows, No time to tame them!

"Never going to be" it appears that this has become my mantra an ever repeating phrase that plays it's own staccato beat within my soul. Negativity has become my own dark passenger, even the positive has morphed. I've become a master of masks, each day I'm becoming numb not knowing what to feel anymore. I'm not depressed but I'm certainly not happy, not sad but probably not angry just am. More and more when stare into my own eyes, I don't like what I see staring back. Where there used be light now resides darkness. I must be my own worst enemy, I should of learned to conform to fit everybody's mould of what I should be, who I should be, How I should feel, How I should act, How I should dress, How I should live, what I should like, what I should like, who I should like and who I shouldn't. But I just can't do it. Damn it I've tried,tried and tried again but the mould will never fit nor will I contort to fit. If I were to contort I'd no longer just not like what I see in the eyes staring back, I'll hate the person in the mirror because there would be nothing left of me just stuff to make everyone else happy with me. Is that really worth it?  Everyone's happiness with me in exchange for living in my own personal misery and hell. They say only the smallest fleck of light is needed to keep the darkness at bay so for now I'll hang on to that tiny barely there speak of light and not let this darkness consume.

FAG, NIGGER and The View

FAG it's a three Letter Word
NIGGER it's a six Letter Word
Both are used to define a community of people
Both are Negative
Both discriminate
Both are socially acceptable
Both are socially unacceptable
Both incite derogatory slurs and hate

Now here is my opinion of these words, They suck. At the same time, I've accepted there in the dictionary and people are going to use them weather or not I like it. I do agree that hate is hate. I'll never be the one sit around and condone hate but at the same time I think both of the very community in which these HATEFUL words Define are equally at fault for the words use and equally as stupid as those who use them.

I don't believe in this bullshit, I hear spun round by both these communities.
" I can use it because I'm BLACK"
" I can use it because I'm GAY"

If a gay tells another gay " Your a Fag" or calls a straight person " Fag" well that is no big deal there "GAY". Yet if a straight person says those things, it's considered the roots of HATE.  The same could be said of a black. If one black says " Whats Up Nigger" to another black person. No big deal it's just a greeting a happy hey how you doing but if a white person says that, well there a Racist Bastard. Despite the exact same context being used if the non-gay or white person says it all of a sudden it's a hate crime.

Am I judging the entire community of Blacks or the Entire Community of Gays, Nope. That would make me a rather large douche bag and a little hypocritical seeing as one of my greatest friends is not only Black, He's Gay.

There is homophobia happening with in the LGBT community itself and racism happening with in the Black community itself. It's my thought and opinion that believe unless these words are eradicated out of the vary community that complains about them being used as hate worlds then the continued use of those words outside of the very communities will always be seen as somewhat socially acceptable and not as big of a deal as the very communities want the world to see them as.

This being said, I don't agree with racism and I don't agree with homophobia. I think both the communities themselves and the a community outside have a level of responsibility  in stoping both racism and homophobia. Neither can expect either to change without being willing to change themselves.

Summer 2011

It's officially Fall, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere. I've had quite a rocky summer, got thrusted into situations that I'm not used to. The biggest factor for me was having eight people in my house. I didn't grow up living the Brady Bunch life, didn't share my room growing up past the age of five. I've never had to figure out how to sleep with a room mate who snores like a rogue bone grinder in that horror movie you probably shouldn't have watched the night before. Due to the influx of relatives I lost a huge part of summer and couldn't go to many places. Factor in a pregnant women who is irritable without a bun in the oven and positively insufferable when their is one being baked. Then add four house hosts who are all used to having their own space and you've got a perfect recipe for a stressful summer.  Today it's not about the negative it's about all the good that came with this summer.

Warning: Contents Are Crazier Than They Appear

It should go without saying, The biggest highlight of summer 2011 involved two Scottish decorators named Colin & Justin.  I distinctly remember being a high school senior and watching Home Heist. Trust me it had nothing to do with my wanting to better my sense of interior style. I was 18 shooting Justin's corsages with a sticky dart gun and watching the break-ins pretty much did it for me. I was working in a woodwork at the time that specialized in furniture and always said " I'd had to be their carpenter". There was always a carpenter who endured the famous rants of the fab twins. If not the carpenter it was painter or Cheryl ( Gotta Love Cheryl) it made for some immensely entertaining TV not that ever stuck around long enough to see a reveal. It wasn't until my twenties where I developed any real appreciation for their work beyond the comedic value of Home Heist. I was probably 21 before I started watching the show again and noticing brilliance of all their designs, ultimately my over all opinion of the show changed.  Needless to say six months ago just about everything I ever summed up in my head about these two got turned on it's head. It started with them asking if I had the common cold or man flu and the rest as they say, is History. Anyways I finally got around meeting with the boys and having lunch. It was such a huge highlight and that lunch really helped break up some of the stress and toll this summer had taken on me. I wouldn't trade these two guys for anything and their great big brothers and good examples to follow. Sshh I can still be seen shooting darts at corsages sometimes.

Another cool highlight had to be the Zoo. I
absolutely loved it. Getting to see animals that I don't really get to see in my everyday life and capturing them on film was incredible. I've always loved animals. The nice thing about going to the Zoo in your twenties, you can see over the bars on your own and see more stuff because you've got to go to the potty far less.
My favourite animals were the SnuffleSnouts, Hippos and the Jungle Cats, MEOW.

SO BRANDON & KEITH

If I wanted to be technical Keith really doesn't count as a summer highlight, I knew him way before but he plays a pretty huge part in this whole thing and another part of his own. Realistically if Keith were not in the picture there would be no Brandon.

Brandon's kind of an unknown and it's a shame because more people should know him, he's probably one of the most incredible men I personally know. Theres a story there and you can catch up that on Brandon's Blog. I ended up talking to him through Keith and it's been one of the most mentally positive things to happen to me in a long time. I find myself more educated on a number of things because of him, things I would of been considered beyond averagely educated in and things I had no clue about.
Even though he's threatened to beat me several times, I've scored a good friend in Brandon. Now I'd scored a good friend in Keith a lot earlier. Keith is another incredible guy despite his 5'7 he has the heart of man ten times as tall.  He's always helping people weather that be massaging away physical aches or doing his part to fight breast cancer, he just doesn't stop, need a good massage find him HERE. I bug him mercilessly about his affair with the gym but I think he's rubbing off on me because I find myself spending more time getting fit and wanting to help more people. Both of them are making me healthier and wiser and frankly knowledge is invaluable.

Combat Hospital was a highlight for me, being passionate about he military and always enjoying a good tv show this was good summer fun. It was said to be a modern day MASH and much like the Hawaii Five-0 re-make I found this to be completely different to it's associated pre-desesor. Combat Hospital is far less campy than MASH and gives more of a human face to what goes on in Combat Hospital over in Afghanistan. It also helps that it's fine CANADIAN programming.

Rookie Blue was the show of last summer for me, it was a fresh brand new show but in it's sophomore season the new car scent was gone and the trusted beat up Ford Pick Up was here. What made Rookie Blue great was the RBparties on Twitter, Yes I'm that much of a geek.  It was dorky but it was fun live tweeting with hundreds of other viewers and the cast every week and tweet with some of the same people over again.  The cast & crew of this show are so involved with the viewers it's unreal.





Another cool thing that happened this summer, I became somewhat of a brand ambassador for CheapSk8shoes, BuySkateShoes, BuySnow and BuyWake. They are providing me the product to give my own honest blunt opinion on. It's an amazing set up for me because it's letting me divert my limited cash flow back into producing my reels and college. What really gets me about this umbella of brands, The people behind it are so down to earth it's almost sickening.

Along with these there were several other moments of the summer I loved. Talking to friends, walks in the park and a cold freeze pop on a blisteringly hot day. There were moments of laughter and frolic. My summer wasn't so bad over all.

A little Q & A with Hutch

It never stops amazing me that a lot of random people and some not so random people have such a vested interest in my life. I haven't wrote a blog in a long time and tonight I thought I'd answer some of the questions people have been asking me. I'm to lazy to reproduce names and stuff, I also don't remember who asks what anymore. I just save questions I think are great. So there almost mini blogs within a blog.

1. Whats with all the nicknames and handles?
It started when I was nothing more then a wee sprout, My dad started calling me Izzy. My dad's life long best friend called me Geoffrey for a good 16 years thanks to Fresh Prince, I apparently really liked his character so was always Geoffrey when his kids and I would play house. Which is why to this day I'll answer to Geoffrey.  As years friends made nicknames for me or decided to call me something and many of them stuck and I respond to them. The most recent would be Booth, my friend Alicia is a ginormous Bones fan and because I remind her so much of Seeley Booth in terms of personaliy, I became Booth. Lets not forget the 3 billion variations of Hutch that Justin and Colin are responsible for. 

2.  Baby Blanket or Stuffed Animal?
I had both, I had a yellow blanket with the ABCs on it with Apples and Cats my mother made for me. I carried it everywhere with me. I loved it to shreds, in 8th grade I'd gone on an outdoor education trip and left it at home, I was at that age where I started to develop some level of pride. It'd fallen off the top bunk and was on the floor so my mother threw it out. Needless to say I was devastated at the loss of my blanky and didn't talk to my mother for a month. I also had a stuffed teddy bear, A doctor bear in green scrubs with a surgical mask and hat another constant companion. Ever the genius child I named him Teddy Doc. I still have him but he's lost his pants.

3. Whats your favorite book?
My favourite book is Red Wall from the Red Wall Series of Books by Brian a Jacques. Red Wall has a lot sentimental value for me, it was the first book I read. I was 12 and had struggled with reading all my life but Red Wall made me want to learn if only I could enjoy the book. Through grade school I was a bullied, rejected loner. Reading the Red Wall books let me escape from all the crud and focus on something more pure. The books taught me to look beyond whats in front of me and think about the bigger picture and the journey that is ultimately Life.

I think I'll just do Three of them at a time.

I've often been asked why I'm so accepting when it comes to people, lately this has been the case with people on twitter. Without fail each day somebody messages me regarding on of my followers.
Do you know you have gay decorators following you?
Why are you friends with a porn star?
OMG do you know your following a tranny?
The list goes on and on and if I don't get a do you know question, I get a why are you question.

The thing is I usually have some retort to these questions but instead I'm just going to give you the cold hard facts. I was an ostracized, bullied social reject through the large majority of grade school. I didn't get invited to parties or out to movies. I was a reject because I was a little weirder than the rest of the bunch and I spent most of my lunches eating by myself. I had my bike thrown into a valley during 10th grade and my brake line and tires cut in 11th.  I remember being in 11th grade on the acrosport team and training back layouts off heights. I was in the spotting belt, the coach was afraid I'd over rotate because of my fast rotation.  The coach had broken off to use the bathroom and I was sat 5ft up on a stap of tri-fold mats two of the guys on the team grabbed the ropes and yanked me backwards off the mats so I'd landed on my back and had the carabiners jamming into my back and breaking the skin.  Knocked the wind right out of me. Before I could regain my breath two other guys pushed the stack of tri-fold mats down on top of me. While the rest of the team watched and laughed.

Needless to say I know what it's like to be disregarded and bullied based on the preconceptions of people who honestly don't know a flipping thing about you.  They just stop at your very first ism that doesn't fit for them. That hurt growing up. Why would I put somebody through something I hated by being bigoted or stupid over somebody else's isms. Thats why I'm so accepting because I've looked into your heart and thats what matters

A week of heaven and hell

This week has been nothing short of a roller coster. I'm a bad news, good news kind of guy. The hell part of my week has been my sister, the visiting one. It's safe to say she's been a huge factor in my month's bullshit meter on top of some other things like loosing my personal space and hours of sleep. I'm used to being dumped on for any number of things through out the week but this has been ridiculous. Sure being pregnant allows for some grievances, I get it,  you've got kankles and look like a beached whale. However it's no excuse for being a complete dick and it's pissing me off because she is only that way with me. She wouldn't dare be that kinda bitch to our oldest sister, older cousin Sam nor Our Parents.
I've been yelled at for drinking out the juice, for the garbage can being full hello there are eight people in the house right now, do the math! Obviously a carton of juice isn't going to last a week seeing as it holds 6.5 standard cups of juice give or take. The garbage is going to be filled faster more people equals more crap to dispose off.  I've been getting yelled at for eating all the cookies, chips, candy and soda pop in the house. Which is funny because the only soda pop I've had this week in it's entirety has been Root Beer compliments of Justin ( Thank You Justin). Speaking of Justin on thursday while I was at the mall. I'd ended up at the mall with my sister on thursday to lift a few heavy boxes and stuff. My sister is visiting from the Caribbean and her phones locked. After Justin called the first time and I called him back my sister needed the phone to call her man and used mine. She had to have been on the phone for a good twenty or so minuets possibly more. In that whole time knowing full well I was going to be meeting up with some scottish V.I.Ps she neglected to inform me of incoming calls. I found out about this yesterday while checking my voice mail. I had to have had like 5 messages from Justin. Which frankly I'm ticked about because I pride myself on my punctuality.  She's cussed me, cursed me and everything under the sun and possibly the moon and it's intensified with my parents being on vacation.  That has been my own little taste of hell...now now the heaven bit.

So It's been I dunno how long but I finally got to catch up to and hang out in the "Shwaw" with Colin and Justin. We had McD's for lunch; My hockey induced diet went out the window after being encouraged into chicken nuggets.

Colin might just be one of the select few people in this world that could match my usual leve of ADHD pound for pound.

Colin also got a pinch at my cheeks a very rare experience, you've got better chances at the lotto

Can't forget Justin, I always pegged Justin as the one who'd be verbally louder. Turns out he's the quiet guy in the couple at least on this particular day. Which was nice because I was already stone tired.

So to have that nice fusion current of a calmer Justin and Goofy Colin had me in a nice blissful happy state.

I also got to talk to Cheryl on the iPhone which I'm sure has left over nugget grease on it from my chicken eater fingers. She was like the icing on the cake.

I actually really like the pictures and how they turned out. Colin with the fries and his adorable big smile and then Justin who's once more glaring but seemingly after a snuggle.

I also got to check out their sexy car! Once we parted ways I actually ended up buying a check shirt and then running into my buddies Brad Sexton and Colin Fish talked for a bit. To cap the mall trip off, I went to Campus Crew one of my mall haunts to hang out with Chuck for a bit. Chuck and I go way back about eight years. He's my mall gay, if I need an honest opinion on pants he's the source.

The Check shirt

On friday I went to the Zoo. I haven't been since I was wee kid of about 7 and to short to see over barriers without climbing or being lifted. I actually had a lot of fun seeing all the animals.

Going to the zoo is definitely a bit more fun when you actually know how to use a camera. I saw some monkey porn and I could have really lived with out that bit.

I had peacock eat ice cream with me. They are such cool looking birds and seem to be very social or at least very use to us human things sharing their space.

I think my favourite Animals were the snufflesnouts( Elephants) and the Hippos, I really really like Hippos for some reason.

That basically sums up my week, the good, they bad and the ugly. 

I've decided I need some short term goals

I've come to realize, I need to have some short term goals. I'm a goal setter but the majority have been long term goals. So at the moment my current goal is to replace my desk lamp. ohhh there is an interior decorator term for a desk lamp...it's task lighting or something.

Right now my desk lamp is Radio Flyer Wagon Red, the Light bulb dangles as it's become loose and it another one of those hand me down items I got from the older siblings, parents ECT. I have a huge problem with Wire Spaghetti in my room from my various electric toys. So the desk lamp I'm getting is

It's from Walmart part of the Your Zone line of stuff thats aimed at teens but I'd imagine is pretty popular with the college crowd because face it, college kids are broke and want affordable, functional stuff.

This just seems like it work perfectly for me since Orange in my favourite colour next to red or plaid. It's got an outlet so i can charge up my cell or iPod while doing work. It has organizer features for pens which would eliminate my collection of plastic cups.

I'm slowly going to be doing an overhaul on the bigger bedroom when I get it back. I'll probably keep the three light blue walls and get rid of that burgundy red focal wall with a Darker blue or something I don't know...I have resources to point me in the right direction with that.

I figure I'll replace that lamp at the start of the school year when I'll actually need it again. I figure if I do things bit by bit instead of all at once things'll be easier.

Gay Soldiers

* KeyNote I will refer to every branch of the military's ceremonial formal dress uniform as simply dress blues in a lot of cases( Some Branches have evening dress uniforms for galas and balls this would be included).  For the save of visuals I'm using the United States Marine Corps uniforms as examples. Servicemen extends to both soldier's wit manparts or womanparts, not sexist just lazy* 

USMC Dress Blues

I recently got into a bit of a spat with one of my twitter followers. It wasn't anything substantial just some good natured arguing. This year they'd allowed gay servicemen to march in San Francisco's pride parade. Being Canadian seeing a handful of gays marching in the parade is old news, I have no problem with it. However I voiced something I believe to the root of my being. I believe a formal military dress uniform such as the United States Marine Corps dress blues shouldn't be an option for marching in the parade.

Now before every reader gets up in arms over this belief I hold, hear me out. I'm not homophobic, far from it. It has nothing to do with it being a gay soldier wearing a form dress uniform in a gay parade, I'd have the exact same beef if a heterosexual wore the same uniform in a straight pride parade if we had them. This has to do with how I view this one type of 

uniform in every branch of the Canadian, American or any other countries service.

Being a guy with a substantial military family history on both sides of the Atlantic. Maybe I view the uniform different to a lot of people especially non-servicemen which this spat usually happens with.

To me, a soldier's dress blues are a ceremonial uniform which should only be worn to official military events, galas, balls, funerals or presentations. Presentations would extend into holidays that honour the service or fallen soldiers along with educational purposes. The only time I can see a suitable exception to this, one's wedding. However I there are quite a few other uniforms that do the job just fine for showing one's military pride while marching for one's gay pride.

USMC Charlies

If one for whatever reason decided to go all out and wear a uniform that shows one's medals than why not the a service uniform such as the USMC Charlies? 

Most military branches have some uniform with in this classification. The colours are probably different the Air Force would probably have light blue shirts and dark blue pants in lieu of the USMC's khaki and green combo and the hat can vary and pants depending on sex or rank. 

Considering that pride is in the dead of the summer. Most servicemen who decided to go on a pride march would opt out of dress blues and even uniforms like charlie in favour of the Utility uniform.  Because the utility uniform allows for some wiggle room.

USMC Utility Uniform

 

Now the combats/ utility uniform is far more versatile, yes  camouflage is unique to each branch of the military. The utility uniform allows your to remove the jacket and just wear a branch issued t-shirt, roll the sleeves up and frankly camo is distinctly rugged and sexy while still being fun. Come to think of it in Toronto it looks like most of the soldier's opt for their utility uniforms and often forgo the jacket. What I like about the utility uniforms personally for something like pride is to the untrained eye all the branches look about the same. They become one large unit visually, something gay servicemen had to do in order to get that ability to serve openly. Navy, Marine, Army, Airforce all had to work at the same goal in one cohesive unit. Achieving that unified look could never happen with any other issued uniform because all the branches have drastically different dress uniforms.

Thats just my thoughts on that.

The Ever Growing List of Insults

I have 1 channel on youtube that I use for vblogging and reviewing product sent me way. I don't know but this particular channel has become a hot spot for dumb ass poser bitches that like to spread their venom.  I decided to compile a list of these insults and remind myself that I'm better than that.

These are just a few of my personal faves:

" ya really the dude that does this vid is one of the most weird looking ppl ive ever seen.. VERY UGLY!!!!! "( Submitted By: TheSnowKing21)

" you don't deserve to wear a flat brimmed hat, now go fuck yourself"  (Submitted by: TheBrosFlow)

" wat a fag hahahah its "pathetic" he has a buz lightyear toy on his shelf " (Submitted by: thecewcrew)

" fuck off hoe u dont do shit to deserve a skullcandy sticker u have the room of a pre pubesent fuck oh thats exactaly wat u r" ( Submitted By: thecewcrew)

I probably should feel insulted over these remarks but frankly I just find them dumb. The people are spend the most time cutting other people up for the videos are the ones who've never put themselves out there. Trolls who either have zero videos or video compilations of their video games. Ironically all of these were from one video.

Bullying Bites but at least I can say the bullies I faced in grade school had the balls to do it to my face. No body went online to bully people they've never met. Wow times change and youtube bullying is lame.

If your going to cut up my video, cut up " THE VIDEO" not me because it accomplishes nothing just ends up in my blog for me to look back on and laugh.

 

  

Boys, Balls and Justin Bieber

Thats Right, I went there!

At this point if somebody doesn't know who Bieber is their living in a warzone bunker 300 meters below the ocean with no connection to the outside world. I'm not a " Belieber" so this isn't a post of Bieber glorification. However this isn't a bieberslam either. This is all about the backlash that boys in the general public receive because they just happen to listen to Bieber. I stress boys because it's normally the young guys and even girls who make the biggest fuss when a guy listens to Justin Bieber because kids are cruel and they have not hit that point in life where people just listen to music they like because of the music and not so much because of it's popularity. Not to mention adults just don't care whats on the other guys playlist beyond the possibility of finding a new song they may like.

Personally I'm not a fanboy, I knew about Stratford long before I knew about Bieber. I also knew about Bieber before most of the world..." Go Warriors" but none of this is important. The important thing is, I Listen To Justin Bieber.

I've sustained quite a bit of flack for it. Because you know everyone who listens to Bieber is a pre-teen girl, lesbian or a gay guy. I have go to say, I'm check that list and for some reason, I'm not falling into any of those. There are a lot of grown women who listen to some of his music, straight men, pre-teen boys who listen to the Biebs. There are musicians, dancers, athletes, construction workers, soldiers, teachers, girl guides, cub scouts and cadets and brownies who listen to him. It looks like there is a lot more of a spectrum to the Biebers audience.

If a guy happens to have some Bieber on his iPod it doesn't mean he's got a boy crush, doesn't mean he's gay or in the closet, doesn't mean he's a pedophile and it doesn't mean he's lost his balls! It probably means he finds some of his songs good.

I'm Hutch and I Listen to Justin Bieber.

P.S

I didn't play on the Stratford Warriors with Justin. He played divisions below me when I played two seasons in Stratford. He was actually a solid skater if memory serves me correct.

Getting Busted without Getting Busted

Skater: Ryan Mergl, Photographer: Hutch Gibbs

It's been a long term goal of mine to produce a full-length skateboard movie, it's proven to be no easy task. I'm used to being a one man team when it comes to my personal edits or two man teams when it comes to collaboration edits. I'm completely in uncharted territory with this one. I'm working with multiple people, multiple filmers, photographers and skaters. Today in Toronto has really put that into perspective for me....but thats a story for another day.

My trip to Toronto ties in with the general theme of this post, Getting Busted but not Actually Getting Busted.  When your the run of the mill regular joe filming in Toronto is a completely different entity and it's something I've learnt these past four years.  Despite people capturing news on their cell phones in the blink of an eye and amateur photographers swarming the city the process of actually filming in Toronto is cock blocked to a degree. We can't exactly film without going through Toronto Bureaucracy and filming offices, which we never do.

The thing with filming tricking and skateboarding it's an activity that either has the potential of damaging property when skateboarders are ignorant and tricking damages nothing but people often believe we'll sue them if we get hurt. A lot of places will sick security on us or pull one of these " do you have a permit" bits in the parks while they've walked by several people filming their kids riding bikes and so forth who you know don't have permits because they are filming on cell phones. The second you have a semi proper camera involved and anything extreme your getting busted because somebody will complain.

A long the way I have learned if you just apologize and say you didn't see any signage and pack up and head out, your not going to run in to any real trouble because most places have some sign in an obscure corner a skater isn't going to see and even more places have none and assume they we'd assume we can't be around it because it's pretty or whatever. The skaters who stay and argue the point it results in the cops coming out to play. Nobody wants to get busted while trying to make things happen as a young  person with projects that take money none of us have not to mention nobody wants to invest in. At least when we use our god given manners we can go back to a place enough times to get the footage and never be a real problem.

If I were in Your Underwear Drawer

I'd probably be these boxer shorts if I were in your underwear drawer. Not exactly your sexy shorts built to impress and definitely not your flashy thong thats probably undependable in a lot of situations. Not your traditional white briefs that are sturdy. I'm the comfortable ones, Your sunday funnies. Dependable if a little flashy.

Yeah I'm Your Joes

Sometimes a Little, Really Means A lot

I have to admit, despite almost all my bedroom furniture being hand-me downs, growing up in clothing that wasn't always brand name clothing, I grew up comfortable. I never truly went hungry or slept outside because I had no choice. I was never forced to experience a childhood from the sidelines while other kids played sports, I may not of had the best equipment but I still played. I never had endure blistering Canadian winter without a coat but for a lot of people those things are a reality.

I live in a world where I go to a grocery store with a solitary box titled "Food Bank" just beyond the check out. A positive thing but when I peak inside and see a couple packages of ramen, half a dozen cans of peas and few boxes of Kraft Dinner despite the 300-500 people that have checked out through the day? it's pretty sad isn't it.
Sure the economic situations aren't ideal and a lot of us bring home the groceries and can't believe thats all we got with $150,  while a lot of people go hungry that night, at least we were able to get.
I sit back and I even look at myself. How many times have I ran to the store to pick up burger buns that cost three bucks broke a five and stashed the change and walked out right past that box. Would it have been to much work to grab a can peas and carrots for the box, NO. Would I have gone hungry the next day because I bought that can of food, No. Would some else have had something to eat, Yes. I wonder what kind of difference it would make if everybody who had the means to shop for groceries bought one extra non-perishable item for the food bank or gave up one from what they already bought, probably a hell of a lot.

I find myself pondering at night how many of us have winter jackets in our closet that honestly we'd never wear again. How many families have their kid's old winter jackets just tossed away in some box in the basement while each year several children don't have warm coats. Cause believe me winter can be harsh enough with a good winter jacket let alone without.
The thing is I live in a world where I can do something with my old coats now that my nephew has outgrown me! If I'm getting a new coat for the winter. I specifically go to WEST 49 and drop of my current coat in their coats for kids barrel, that way I know something good will become of it. WEST 49 also offers $25 off any winter jacket they carry which is awesome.  Even if WEST 49 wasn't my thing I'd still drop off the coat because it's convenient means of getting rid of an old coat and doing somebody a world of good.

It's crazy when I think about it despite there being a lot of people in this world who only think of themselves. In a world that often seems so dark with several of us so caught up in our own lives and what we view as despair that we often forget those who are in a true position of despair. In that same world world of darkness there are tons of these little lights like West 49's Coats for Kids, Canadian Tire's  JumpStart Program, The local food banks and homeless shelter out their flickering like stars in a country side's night sky....face it stars are so much better out in the country than the city.

The way I see it there are literally organizations and people out there that are making helping those in need relatively idiot proof a complete guide for dummies has been laid out for us in a position to do something, to do something.  We might as well do something, we feel better about ourselves, those that et helped feel better about themselves....it's really a win/win.

-Hutch

Another peep into my life.

Over the years I've grown mentally, physically, Socially and as an editor. My editing was the catalyst that sent me careening into the world of social media and networking. Two very important aspects of my life that have lead to some very incredible things in my life that I never really strung together until recently.

When I started filming I was probably 13 or 14 years old. I was given a cheap digital camera for christmas, if it had three mega-pixels it had a lot. The memory card held no more then 60 seconds of video and video quality to match. I tripped on Movie Maker( I was a PC guy, So misguided) and started splicing little videos.  Eventually in 2005 I found myself uploading small videos on to youtube for the sake of preserving precious storage space on my family computer, My humble beginnings.

Those grass roots on youtube paved the way for a lot of discovery. I found something I was good at; it wasn't an athletic sport it was an art. Nobody was looking at my videos, everybody thought they were a waste of time but that all changed. I found an audience and always expanding audience, developed a system, networked with the right people and did something with it.

Looking back on that and looking at the position I am in now, I could of never even dreamed this in my wildest dreams.

 As of 2011 I have edited multiple reels for Hollywood Stuntmen and Martial Arts Word Champions Jackson Spidell and Chris Brewster. Two men that have gone on to work on movies like  Transformers, Twilight: Eclipse, Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Tron Legacy, Avatar, The Last Air Bender, Ninja Assassin, Dragonball Evolution, Takers  and X-Men First Class which is currently in theaters. I had the pleasure of being key editors for both these guys when they only had small screen tv appearances like the Tom Journey Show, Just for Laughs Festives and NBA half -time shows.  The very reels they used for casting calls before their resumes could speak on their own.  Now-a-days they don't need my help for reels their movie credit portfolio speaks volumes.  It's unreal when I really take time to look at this and can honestly say " I helped him launch his career" to sit back in the theater and watch a big budget hit Hollywood movie and go " I can't believed I helped him get to this point". These were edits that also helped me hone my craft, they were not paid but I'm alright with that.  I had a falling out with Brewster years ago. The hatchet has been buried between us recently but we'll never restore the relationship we had in the past. We are OK now and even friendly and I still look out for his work. Though Jackson and I became good friends in the process and we still talk and remain friends, something no amount of money can buy...even though he tossed me a bit of it on his own accord.

Chris Clodfelter another silver studded success story World Muay Thai Champion, UFC hopeful and Eight Points Muay Thair/ Fitness owner. I was lucky enough to be extended rights to his footage and make his reel and gain another friendship with deep roots that goes far beyond what I do or what he does. I call his son, My kid! and make fun of his model tussle hair and call him Pretty Boy Swag.

Buddy 1 Leg, Seriously his name is Buddy and he has one Leg is that so hard to grasp? Thats got to have been a good 5 year relationship now. It's also one one of the weirdest it's the only relationship on an editing front that started with friendship and ended up in editing. At the moment he stands as the only guy in the world who snowboards the way he does. My editing for him goes beyond showing what he does but into the world of Adaptive Sports Activism, Promoting Adaptive Sports. Buddy's stuff might be the biggest I've had my hand in. I was around before the snowboard set up prototype was built and before it's forearm crutch and duct tape predecessor, long before the second amputation of the same leg and a good portion of his youngest kid's chemo treatments. It's literally a story I've lived.

All of this editing and social networking has put in contact with some amazing people, people that had you asked me if I'd ever be talking to in the past, I would of laughed in your face.  Not even a year ago Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan were just loud, rambunctious motormouths( Endearingly So) and immensely entertaining decorators on the TV.  They definitely were not the Scottish Brothers and at times  confidants they are today. Having Twitter conversations with Hollywood legends like Peter Fonda are you kidding me not even a crack( never tried it, won't try it) induced haze could I have figured that into my future but it's happening. There are so many other incredible people  Keith, Sue, Colette, Seonaid, Tina, Cheryl, Rock, Morgan, Gemy, Gayle, Gale, Dexter, Noelle, Dee and so many others I interact with on twitter who invest their time into the likes of me, just another average joe out of Canada. If I had the time to sit type and declare my undying love for you all, I would but my fingers would fall off and my arse cheeks would deflate from sitting to long.

I'm definitely not boasting or bragging about achievements, I'm pretty sure a lot of you had no idea about a lot of these things, I had no idea that there was so many of these things. But it's part of my life, part of whats sculpted me into, ME. Things that will continue to help define parts of me, people who've in some way sculpted a small part of me.

What to Expect from Affliction Films

2009/2010 was an off year for me, I didn't put out to much material edit wise. It wasn't so much lack of material but perhaps lack of inspiration or good old editor's block. Summer 2011 is shaping up to be incredible! I have quite a few projects happening. I've also decided due to the amount views on my original Brickers channel. I will migrate videos from the Affliction Films channel over there and I will rename the page.

This year I'll be taking on a huge skateboarding project a full length video of the local colour. It's going to be pretty cool because there will be a lot of collaboration involved with a younger filming talent whom I had the pleasure of lighting the fire that led him toward filming. Skateboard films at full length usually run between 10-30 minutes. I'm not sure what I'll be calling this probably something collaborated between everyone involved.

That's whats Up

Another thing I'm excited to announce is there will be a brand new Buddy 1 Leg instalment in the Buddy 1 Leg Series. It will be the sixth full edit in the series.  It's crazy when I look back on the whole saga, this series is truly a continental project worked on in two countries on opposite coasts, The genuine North American Article. It's crazier despite a ridiculous age gap and I being the younger of us we've gotten to watch each other grow athletically, personally. I've watched this guy take on some of his own editing and even grow a quite a bit in that field. He's was around 4 name changes before Affliction Films and even the the day I considered hanging the towel and leaving the editing world.  He's also one of the few people who favoured my childhood nickname Dillinger and stuck to calling me Dill. So these edits are pretty big on all fronts for me.

If I have time this summer, I'll be doing something I haven't done in a long time. A personal demo reel. A video where I've become both filmer, subject, producer and editor. Although it may turn into a Fall Project, still have a bit more training I'd like to garner beforehand. I want nothing but my A-Game going into this and at the moment it's very C-game. Between getting over various injuries from the year, I'm rusty.

I can't wait to show you guys the finished products.
-Hutch-

Who's peeping in my bedroom?

When your 22 and you still live with your parents because it's economically sound for you. Your bedroom becomes a lot more than a vessel for slumber, relaxation and any other extra activities one might use a bed for. It's literally work/study space, sleeping space, Sports Storage/Locker Room, Entertainment Center and when nights are rough the dinner table. I'm one of those people so my room has a lot of stuff in it. At roughly 10X10 ft it's quite honestly a box and I'm not sure how the hell I fit all of my stuff in it. Most of which probably is bad taste but I'm sure it'd look so much better spread out in an apartment when the time comes. Because I film a lot of videos and take a lot of pictures in my room a lot of people ask me about certain things, repeatedly so I thought I blog some of them.

The Munchkin Shelf

I get asked about this, Let's just say area way to much and a lot of different questions to.

Whats wrong with your shelves?
They were my chester drawers when I was wee from the toddler days. When I was about 11 my clothes wouldn't fit the drawers. So I kept the carcass and cut a piece of spare wood from some other old furniture in the garage to fit it. I was 11 of course it looks weird.

Whats with all the crap?
I'd like to consider it an upper class answer to a kitchen rummage drawer. I have a cord or adapter for just about anything in one of the boxes,  Another box has collectables I don't display, another files my tax stubs, pay stubs anything accounting related. I have my binders, drawing books, pencil crayons, markers, hockey cards and baseball cards in a recipe box and  loose change in the other, a lock box with my knives, guitar tuner, video games for sega, my belt buckles, wood glue, star trek audiobook, two bibles, my high school diploma, track & field ribbons. If you can't find something you need in their than it's somewhere else in the room. The RC cars I used to collect the small flat one is about 20 years old. Also the snowboard boots have no where to go no room under the bed or in the closet. They'll be thrown away if they are in the family shoe closet or basement. So they've become holders for my juggling clubs and my juggling balls.

Stickered to Death

My cub-bard is another thing I get asked about especially over it's adornment.  This outside of my bed is the only piece of furniture I own that didn't belong to sibling first or my grandmother. I think they are from Wal-Mart and I got them when I was 13 and they are probably my favourite piece of furniture in my room.
The stickers didn't show up until I was about 17 and it started with the the diagonal bumper stickers  in Orange, Red and Blue and they say
Red: " It's Ok Not To Drink"
Blue: " It's Ok Not To Do Drugs"
Orange: " It's Ok Not To Smoke"
They were three stickers that spoke to me a lot. There was always this constant pressure in high school to Smoke, Drink and Do Drugs. If you didn't do them you were banished plain and simple. I didn't touch a drink until I was 19 ( Legal in My Province). Waiting until I was legal I also learned how to have a good time without relying on booze like sort of social lube to make it easier.
The sticker collection grew with new experiences or hold some meaning to me.

I get asked about this poster quite a bit from people who see it. Given the fact I'm a sworn Baltimore Orioles fan and my favourite all-time player is Cal Ripken Jr. The Jay's poster throws people off. When I first started really getting in to baseball around four a friend of my dad's got an Alomar poster for him to give to me.  It's from 1992 the year the Toronto Blue Jay's took the world series. It's still in it's plastic and hopefully when I move back over into the bigger room and re-paint it I'll be able to frame it and hang it.  Right now it's just standing with a few of my ball baseball trophies and a ball that I get to be all nostalgic about.

Normally I make the bed! I promise your not drunk, dead or high your actually seeing stars and clouds. Oh and did I mention my bed room doubles as sports storage thats only have the hockey sticks.

Hey...your a FAG.

I know it's a repulsive title but it fits the theme. I've decided through out my blog to feature posts that deal with bullying and it's various off shoots. Despite being well known as some what of a smart ass and at times even a royal bastard; I'm also an individual with some depths to my being. I have no rhythm or Rhyme to what order these will come in.  

Considering the fact that I hang ten with some of the best of the gays with each variety of plumbing. Some of my best friends come in the gay variety, heck I'm the wee Canadian brother of gay decorators hopefully a bit of their sense of interior feng shui rubs off on me in time for my room re-model, just saying.  Yes, Yes I know I've got the whole rainbow of friends going on, keeps life colourful.

I was browsing through the comments on my personal youtube channel. Designed for my use and not mass appeal and stunt reels, I noticed one common trend every insult involved some form of a gay reference.
Just to give a few of the things commented on my videos.
"wat a fag hahahah it's "pathetic" he has a buz lightyear toy on his shelf" - posted on a video about iCon2 headphones

" You sound kind of like a Fluffee Talks" - Posted on a headphones video


" You are so Fucking Homosexual" - Posted on my main channel page.

Besides questioning the creativity of the general population and their ability to deliver a real insult without falling on the remedial insult of fag. This really was the catalyst for my first post in this blog series and it also helps that I have so many great, wonderful, dorky, creative and amazing gays in my corner who I wouldn't trade for all the apple pie in the world, well I might trade some if you throw in ice cream to....ok I really wouldn't get rid of any.

These half assed insults however got me thinking about gay stereotypes, there often used to bully gays and the rest of the general population despite being positively stupid.

Butch Lesbians are good with tools, dumb stereotype I know quite a few butchity butch butches that don't know philips from robinson.

Gay Guys have great fashion, Hello visit your gay villiage  you will see that couple holding hands wearing black pants, white socks and brown leather thonged flip flops and some equally hideous shirt.

Gay Men are friend's with women other people can't stand, How many straight men are married to women nobody likes?

All lesbians are cat people, I can find a handfull who wouldn't be caught dead owning a feline.

See where I'm going with this? Whats the point of bullying people gay, straight, stuck in the middle or otherwise over a set of preconceived stereotypes of gayness that essentially are completely stupid. Treating them like they are some required checklist people use to figure out their orientation.

Last time I checked the only real requirement for being gay was natural physical attraction to your own gender and a desire to love them on a intimate, physical, emotional level that is only reserved for the one you marry and have your happily ever after white picket fence or modern condo with a bubble chair with not that a set of gays need to have modern condos, bubble chairs or a white picket fence.

There is no point to the stereotype
How many straight guys suck with tools, How many gay ones know how to use a drill?
How many straight women have terrible hair, How many butch lesbians have well fluffed, shiny hair?
If we all had to sit their and check boxes of gay stereotypes for our genders....frankly we'd all be a gay.

Long Story Short if your to insult somebody make sure it's a deserved insult and do better than " Your a Fag"  it's a pointless insult because beyond same gendered attraction there is nothing to correlate.

Come to thing of it how come they call a Heterosexual straight and a homosexual gay? somebody wanna answer that one for me?

Springs in the Air

I'm a winter guy, I love the snow and often even the cold that comes with it but the spring and summer are nice as well. I figure with spring 2011 I'm going to start including more blog posts about whats going on with me and whats around and even my photos. I do enjoy photography sshhh don't tell anyone. I'm a closet photographer, just kidding I'm out and about and proud of that one.

I don't know what kind of flowers they are, they are just some hanging basket plants in the yard.

I've always loved a good BBQ and last year dad and mom by proxy caved and invest in a new one. The old one was 30 something odd years old and only burning at quarter strength took years to cook a wiener that microwave in ten seconds. I spend a lot of time cooking outside.....real men don't over clean their BBQs the rack/ grill is pristine the rest is much like the tool shed looks used. The guarding on the deck was last years summer project.

With this new warmer weather I got fed up with waiting. My mom takes forever to set her garden just so and I often end up eating my out door dinners on with my ass on the steps for the first few months. So this is what I worked on today.  I took some of the old blue Muskoka chairs out of the shed and washed the bird crap off them from two summers ago. Normally some boxy white chairs are chucked their for the odd church BBQ. Then left the  old wee park bench that frankly was kind of brown from a winter out side and scrubbed that down and then I threw some kind of plant i found on the deck which my mother hasn't set yet. So that'll end up moved but for now...thats all be between the bird bath and the trees. LOL and yes I realize that one chair is right under the branch sort of and the there is a bird feeder a few feet away. I did that intentionally so I can sit and watch the birds and maybe get some nice pictures.

I guess that sums up my outside time today. I was going to mow the lawn but the cables gone and needs fixing oh well another day. It is nice to have a day full of the work I actually want to do.

My own struggle

Born with sepsis My parents were told their child would never surpass the age of 5 mentally, have no eye hand co-ordination and be forever unable to take care of themselves. That child was me. It was something my parents had to accepted. I was never lied to about being " Different" or sheltered from it. Before I could even really start life the roads were walled off and gates locked shut.

School proved to be a nightmare from the day I step foot in kindergarten. My academic file was labeled learning disabled. I couldn't print properly and it just seemed the teachers never cared. I never got the help I needed they just took and said it was fine.  Year after year it was the same story, I was just handed from one teacher to the next, passed on from one great to another with out ever having learned a damn thing. As I got older teachers started to tell me I wasn't able to do the work, I'd never be able to do the work and essentially I should just accept it and stop trying. Because I was so obviously different other children never  wanted to play with me, I was just the class retard. It later grew into intense bullying and teachers often turned a blind eye to it all. No matter how many times I'd informed them. With no friends to corroborate my stories I was never believed. It was chalked up to retarded delusions. 

As I grew older teachers found a use for me, muscle a proverbial jock. Gym classes proved I was almost unstoppable infront a net or behind the plate, nothing got by me. It was a small improvement but they still never helped me academically I was still just the class retard incapable of doing work albeit I was an athletic one. 

In 7th grade I'd had a steak knife with my lunch and I was eating my steak, two kids who's personal life's mission was my misery told the new VP I'd pulled a knife on them. I wasn't believed, If I had the knife I obvious did it, was suspended for 40s days. As it turns out because I was retarded it was reduced to four days, I wasn't even good enough to be punished like a " Normal" person.  When I got home I got hell for it. I spent four days in my room, no tv, no toys, no video games, I had books though. It didn't do me any good because I couldn't read them. At 12 years old I was sitting in my room with 1st grade level picture books and I couldn't read them. I broke down got frustrated and I whole heartedly cried and I felt. That same week I was pulled out of public education and put into private. The school being private didn't catered to learning disabled children but they were not going to turn down another student. They needed the income that tuition brought. I was put down to 6th grade and didn't go out for recess at all that year. I stayed inside the class room on my own  trying to build basics.  I passed that term with straight D and an A in gym. Such was my life into 8th grade. I graduated elementary with mediocre grades despite spending three times what peers did on work.

High school came around and I stayed with in the private sector, they kept me in mainstreamed classes. I struggled through grade nine. I was still a loner and I had teachers that just couldn't handle me or didn't want to so once more it was up to me to figure it out on my own. I failed math, hardly passed any of the other subjects that year with once more the exception on gym. Grade 10 saw I made it on to the schools one athletic team an acrosport/ cheersquad...ironically we had no one to cheer for so we toured the North Eastern American coast instead. I'd found a bit of a fit although I was never taught I was once more the muscle. It was more of meeting demands and never receiving the help. I taught myself to do flips. Academically it was the same story, I taught myself. I some how managed to leave with a 3.0 70%.  cumulative average. Outside of my high school principal whom I'd played men's rec hockey with, who saw something in me and from time to time invited me for dinner with his family. Everyone was shocked though a lot chalked it up to modified work and pity from educators. Although high school did something it removed learning disabled from my file or whatever the political correct thing to say is now. It took me 5 years instead of 4 but I did it.

I got into college  taking a general arts and science programe. First semester went by in a breeze for me. Math, Marketing, Photography, Communications 1, Computers 1 and a short view of world history courses. They were cut and dry courses....They told you what to do and you handed it in on the due date. I worked hard and relied on nobody.

Then Semester two came around....I had Literature, Communications 2, Creative Writing, History of Popular Music and Computers two.  Literature was worked for me the set up read the stories, write the paper hand it in. Communications and Creative writing were the exact same lab hours to get the work done in the class or do it at home and hand it. It was Computers and Music that really took the piss out of me. Computers had this hybrid computer hour where that extra in class hour for work was lost, it royally screwed me up my focus was no longer tunneled and set. Music is something I love dearly but this course just killed me 3 hour lecture course with no lab hours for work...it's not a big deal but when your me, it's pretty big. I found myself doing the work and then forgetting parts of the process to submit it via the schools network so many things just get lost in translation for me. It was a course I really struggled with even though essentially it was easy both projects being group work and growing being shunned from groups for being one of the speds and later on being screwed over with groups because I never learned how to work in one, communicate in one. Even with sports despite being on a team. I was  in essence on my own I stopped the ball or stopped the puck it was my job. I didn't have to really depend on other players to be in there positions or even talk to them about it. Despite being able to carry out a conversation just fine in certain settings I'm intimidated and painfully shy. So when i hit this wall in this courses were I just couldn't do it, it wasn't working past habits that were instilled into me stopped me from going for help. Because if I couldn't do it....it meant they were right all along I'm not capable. I didn't talk to the teacher at all about it. Don't get me wrong....he's a good guy, passionate about what he teaches it shines through like a gay pride float.  But past experiences just grabbed me and stopped me. I could never show weakness growing up ever and that was something I taught myself. Not to mention I was scared to my wits end about being told....I can't do it. So I never said anything about having trouble focusing that I in fact do have some trouble up stairs that effects my concentration and how I execute things and often forget process and steps. Because it's something I've been judged by so much in my life for that dictated so much of my child hood and in away dictates what I do now on an academic level.

To cap the most important tail ends of that semester...one of my best friends had his mom pass away and that really affected me hard. Because I was hurt for my friend and mourn the loss as well. I have an Aunt who is dying. I caught a cold which turned into bronchitis, then caught the stomach flu and not even a t week later developed strep throat. All with the past month and a half. Which ultimately affected my work ethic. But I've never been a half assed student and I feel as if some of teachers might feel this way after the semester. Though there were a couple teachers I actually connected with which ultimately was a first for me. One simply over a ingrained canadian love of all things ice and puck and another one who just got me in away.

So I wrote it all, got it all out. I have no idea where my semester is going probably in the shitter and that'll hurt a lot because it's a huge smack in my face on some level because all I hear is the voices of educators in the past telling me i couldn't do it, I'd never do it and that I'd fail. But maybe I'm learning as I go. I'd like to think I'm getting better with all of this getting past ridiculous fears that sculpted in a young child's mind. I'd like to think I'm growing and evolving, I actually strike up conversations with teachers now and even try to joke. Instead of saying nothing and staying backed into a corner. 

I'm by no means special, I'm just me and there are things I struggle with and things I excel at. I think for the first time in a long time. I'm beginning to realize it's ok, I'm ok that I'm worth more then just athletic muscle and meat. That there is a brain between my ears and it works even if it choose to take it's own route which seems to be the path with the most rocks, rivers, cavern caves and moose it'll get there. I've made it this far all while making up for 9 years of education I'd lost because I was branded retarded. I'm not retarded I just have trouble in areas. A lot of people miss it because I talk clear and these days I can socialize in most settings and hell I can even have fun now.

hmmm maybe they were right...putting things down does lift tension.

I'm out of here.

Colin and Justin's Home Heist...the not so stylish addiction

Over the past little while, I've had the pleasure of getting to know quite a bit of  Scottish designers Colin and Justin. I've got to tell it's like getting a decoder ring in a box of cereal and actually having it work. It's been an odd night, mind you I should be doing homework, gotta love having audiobooks. A buddy of mine happend to make a threat about heisting Colin and Justin's Toronto condo and redecorating it.
My friend Joe his middle name is Justin and mine just so happens to be Colin. So we are Colin and Justin and we've just heisted Colin and Justin's Condo, wow thats confusing.


We can't travel anywhere without our mobile style laboratory a beat up Ford pick-up from the 90s with a hula dancer on the dash and red bullballs on the hitch. Our awesome truck opens up to a hunting lodge with bucks mounted on the walls and chandeliers made from antlers. We magically change into matching blue over-alls and plaid shirts. Justin has a pack of beef jerky in his front pocket and Colin's got a bit of a mullet starting. We don't let Colin and Justin helpt with the style transformation. We've packed them up and sent them out on a wilderness retreat with the clothes on their back, 2 canteens, 2 swiss knives, a lighter, tent and rifle . We are all about transforming the home owners after all.


Safe in the knowledge that Colin and Justin won't be gobbled up by bears we jump into our truck and make our plans.


First the bedroom, ah the love nest where the two ducklings cuddle and watch prime time TV. It has to be romantic and that'll be achieved with lovely mustard yellow walls, Red snap on tool chests for dressers, fake pine wood end tables with alcohol decanter flower holders on top. With amazing green and orange bedding and a poster of Dog's playing poker. To add to the romantic atmosphere we've had a quilt made of Justin's corsages. The whole room is tied in with cow print leather curtains. There is a lovely string of yellow and red christmas lighting around the room.


Now the bathroom it should be relaxing and tranquil and I Colin want to bring through there Scottish nature in full force.  We've custom ordered a deep soaker tub with two beer can holders and a matching toilet in tartan. Not even we like to shag in the bathroom so we've thrown faux wood tiles down. Did we mention the double sinks are red tartan as well?  Nobody likes there 2 ply toilet paper on display so there is a gun safe to keep it nice and tucked away. We've left toy water pistols and a bucket full of rubber ducks for bubble bath duck hunting. We do have pot lights!




Now the Media room is a man's best friend the emphasis must be on the tv. The boys are die hard Canadian Hockey fans and I've decided to have the builders install white tile and the painters to paint an ice rink pattern on it. It was Justin's fabulous idea to have the entertainment unit resemble lockers and the TV to be fitted into a Hockey net. Keeping with the yellow baseboards of a hockey rink. Justin has brought in a yellow leather sectional. I built the penalty box and threw in a hard bench. Fighting over the remote warrants a two minuet minor, loves pushed off chairs results in a 5 minuet major. There is a blow up ref in the corner. The perfect light fixture a score board over head.


The boys will love it.
.........Just in case we'll start running now.


Mind you this was all in good fun. We haven't sent the boys off into the great canadian wilderness...that would be mean.