Finally moved into a new place now. Oliver and I were looking for apartments and we found a bunch of dope ones in our price range, but we never got any of them because of stupid things. First place, Oliver found, they were stoked on us, he gave them damage deposit check and everything, I changed my addresses over to this address, then his check bounced because a bill had come off his account automatically, so he didn't have enough afterwards, and because of the N.S.F check no other place would approve him because when they would do the credit check they noticed it. Second place the guy was stoked on us, but when we gave our application to the building owner, he didn't want two tenants in the suite. Third place was the best, huge, new appliances, right downtown, we really wanted it. Oliver applied for it, but then we realized later that night about the N.S.F check situation, so we had to call the landlord back first thing in the morning and make sure she didn't process it, and we would go back and put it in my name, at this point we have driven there atleast 5 times. She said she would do the credit check and call me the next night, but in the end we got no call, she was ignoring our calls, and then we found out she gave it to someone else the night I gave her my application, so lame.
So now it's the 31st, we don't have a place to live, and I need to get all my stuff out of the old place, because the place was trashed, holes in the walls, and everyone has already moved out, except for me... so if the landlord showed up I would have to be explaining (and paying for) a lot of things, so I needed out. TJ let us stay at his old place for the night and we piled our stuff there. Oliver and I went looking for places on Craigslist at the library, but it was closing in 20 minutes, so we wrote down as many numbers as possible and started hunting again. We called all of the numbers except for one and they were all too small, no answer, or something else, but the very last number got through and we checked it out a minute later, since we drove to te apartment before we called. We ask her how many people have applied for the place, and she said nobody because the old tenant moved out two hours ago and didn't give a notice. My credit check wet through on one of the old places (the only one that processed it) so I knew that if we just applied for this place we would get it for sure.
We got a call yesterday morning at 9:30am saying we got approved and that we would have to give her money and get the keys, but Oliver had gone to Richmond to buy a new car (well, old car), he got a blue Firefly. He took 5 hours for some reason, and during that time the landlord at TJ's place showed up (my old landlord) and was furious when he saw all of our stuff piled into the place. He wanted to show the apartment to people and needed to clean the floors and paint the walls, so I had to move everything out asap... by myself. We put it in a storage room downstairs until Oliver came back with his old truck to start taking loads over to the new place, as well as moving TJ and Jen's stuff to their new place. Then I had to work at 3pm, so we were rushing because they took so long getting the car. I paid the landlord her money, got the keys and rushed down to work a bit late, then Oliver and TJ handled the moving of everything from place to place. I got off work but I had to stay longer and take all of the bulk candy off the wall and put it around the store, because we are getting new shelves today, and we needed to clear it out. I'm not surprised I woke up really sore today.
The new place is two buildings from English Bay, my favourite sushi place is on the corner, my bank is right down the road, London Drugs is a few blocks away, so I can get 35mm film developed there, everything is in the area (Davie, Denman, Robson), and I work on Robson so I can bomb a hill to get to work and get home as well, perfect! There's a bus out front that goes straight to the skate plaza, we have a dishwasher, sink garburator, lots of storage space, and we're stealing wireless right now and it's faster then my old internet, and rent is cheaper then all of the other places we had found, I'm so stoked!
So... our cable and internet got cut off, but the cable still has channels up to 100, just doesn't work with the box anymore, so I was out of internet for over a week. I also lost my phone during that time, which really sucks. I had no life outside of work and home. Made me realize how much we depend on technology. Hassy fish came!
We got evicted two days ago and have to move out as soon as possible. Roommate put hot sauce on the neighbours truck, and the neighbour put paint thinner all over Clayton's car and called our landlord (he used to live in our place then moved next door). The landlord has had a few calls from him before so he wasn't happy and came over and told us we had to leave. It's been stressful the past few days, but things always work out, so I'm not worrying.
I'm back in Vancouver now (since the 1st) and it's nice to be back. The flight from London to Toronto was only 20 minutes long, then I was supposed to wait 3 hours in Toronto for my flight to Vancouver, but my first flight was a little slow getting off the runway, so that 3 hours turned into 1 hour. My second flight sucked, my seat wouldn't recline for some reason, it was broken. I even tried asking if they could put me in first class, no dice. I have the worst sloutch so sitting upright for 5 hours sucked a lot. When food came around I was so jealous because I wasn't supposed to get any, but they said I was entitled to a sandwich and snack (courtesy of my cancelled flight, I'm sure). I got a roast beef Quizno's sandwich, I've always wanted to get one on flights... but it ended up being disgusting, way too much lettuce, hardly any meat, and the sauce was whack.
Went to cash a pay check yesterday but the bank was closed, so I have to wait until monday. I bought a new sweater and two polos from the Gap, need to keep it fresh. I was on eBay two days ago and saw a Hasselblad 30mm CF T* fisheye with a "Buy It Now" price of $2200 but it also had a "Best Offer" option, so I lowball offered him $1500, but it automatically got denied by his preset minimum, so I then put $1800, but it got denied, so I then put $1850, and it went through. I just needed to see if the guy would accept the offer. I wake up yesterday and I see in my email that the guy accepted the offer. This lens usually goes for around $2600 in the condition that it is, and I got it for $1850. I'm stoked. Should be here on Friday! Now I just need to sell my Bronica kit with fisheye, Dylan Davies has dibs.
I sold two Vivitar 285hvs last night, thanks to Craigslist. I sold my Sekonic L-508 light meter to Mitchell DeYoung, might downgrade or upgrade... not too sure yet. I also sold my Hasseblad 80mm CF T* to Curtis Rothney to possibly fund a 60mm (haven't decided yet).
Going snowboarding tomorrow morning with old roommate TJ at Seymour, stoked to go riding because I never took my snowboard home for the holidays, it would have cost me 100 bucks each way for the extra bag, so 200 bucks to ride on a hill that is 300 feet long or wait for 2 weeks to ride a real mountain, I waited.
Once again I was too lazy to upload cell phone pics, soon enough though.
I've been waiting for the Hasselblad to come in the mail for the past 2 weeks, it was slow because of the holidays, and I was super anxious waiting for it, I would wait for the mailman everyday. I was supposed to fly back to Vancouver today, I get to the airport, my parents drop me off... then an hour later they tell me my flight is cancelled due to mechanical problems, and that they will have to give me the next available flight... which is tomorrow because all of the flights today were full. So much hassle.
I didn't think the Hasselblad would come before I left, I was bummed out, because my parents would have to re-ship it to me in Vancouver, and I hate waiting for stuff in the mail... but as I was leaving to go to the airport, I opened the front door to load my bags into the van, and the package was sitting right on the front step. Perfect timing. I couldn't believe it.
Went over to Erika's last night, we got loose for Morgan Smith's birthday, I got him a Gucci Mane cd, he's stoked on it. Jamal and Dustin T-M even came out, it was a fun night!
It's my roommate Will Durie's birthday today as well as homie Jamie Walker, and on top of that New Years is tonight, I was so stoked to get back and party, but of course I can't get back until tomorrow, bummer.
I have lots of cellphone pics from over the holidays that I'm too lazy to upload right now, I'll post them up soon.
I went back to Ontario yesterday to see family for the holidays. I only brought my digital with me (and cellphone, if you're into those photos, haha) Erika gets back from Cuba in a few days, so I'll get to see her soon... I haven't seen her in one year! Also found out yesterday that my one dog Bailey is deaf, he wasn't the last time I saw him, so it's not the same around him now, if his eyes are closed you could yell and he wouldn't even know. I have been on a spending spree lately, here is what I have bought:
From Patrick Driscoll: Quantum Q-Flash T2 with Turbo battery, charger and household to miniphone cord
From Eric Thompson: Hasselblad PM5 45 degree prism 5 rolls of Ilford Delta 100 (120)
From Zander Taketomo: Quantum Turbo battery with charger
From Mat Levine: Hasselblad 500cm (chrome) including wlf, 150mm CFT, 80mm CFT, a12 (x2), a16, all caps and 1 roll of velvia 50
Went downtown today with the homies to shoot something legendary, but it was super windy and cold, so nothing happened, we'll go back soon. Here's a photo from a while back that never got used for anything:
Once again I have been slacking on updating the website, sorry. I moved out on the first. I'm living with Kyu Tae Kim, Will Durie, Clayton Uhlig, Ryan Smith, and the dog Chico. Got everything into my room now, and I've been organizing everything. Then as soon as I go on the internet the power fuse blows, so I had no heat and no anything for the second night, landlord is the only one with a key to the fuse box, so I had to wait until today to get it sorted out. Been snowboarding twice so far (Seymour), and I'm stoked that I'm not injured this year and can actually ride. I'm going to Ontario to see family for Christmas from the 14th-31st. I'll post some cell phone photos soon.
I haven't shot skateboarding in so long, damn this weather. To keep you guys entertained (youtube videos get lame after a while), here's a shot from the Okanagan Trip from back in the summer that I'm stoked on:
I bought a pass to Mt. Seymour this year. Last year I dislocated my elbow first day out at Grouse, so I only got to ride twice the entire season, so I'm stoked to ride this year. They were expected to open on Nov 29th, but since it's been snowing a lot up there (40cm last night) they are opening up tomorrow (Friday, Nov 20th). But of course I work that day and the next day, so I'll have to be patient!
I'm moving out on Dec 1st to the Monmouth house. Kyu Tae Kim, Will Durie (my manager), Clayton Uhlig, and Ryan Smith will be living there, so I'm stoked. Won't have to live in a living room anymore!
I'm going home for the holidays (London, ON) to see family from Dec 16th to the 30th, I'll take some photos while I'm gone and keep you guys updated.
