January 21st, 2006 >> New Years' Adaptation
I don't know how much of a blog this will turned out to be. I'm not all that inspired to write these days. I started this year out behind the eight ball, so to say. Not that I was a bad New Years, but I wanted to have more resolution with 2006 before making any new ones in 2007.

521,600 minutes... If I measured in love, I'm sitting somewhere between 66% and 75%, and considering that number was in the high 90's at this time last year, I find myself striving to be in the frame I once was. Who's to tell what 2007 will bring though?

Lots of updates this month, check the WERKS section.

Cheers for now,
Russell

September 17th, 2006 >> Summer's Over!
Lazy turned to busy when I not only found one, not two, but THREE jobs over this past summer. Happy that I didn't get stuck going back to restaurant serving for another summer, I was able to find jobs that I'm going to school for! That means a whole whack of portfolio updating for me... For all of my work projects over this past summer, I will be designing a 'Mini-Site' to showcase what I did and for who. The first Mini-Site is up right now; you can view it at the WERKS section.

This whole summer turned out pretty well! I got to see Jeff Martin open up for Live at Massey Hall in July. I may even get to live a dream of mine to produce album artwork for his next release; here's hoping he kept those designs I did up for him.

But what made this summer worth the painstaking 4 year wait for new material was the release of "Ghost Stories", Chantal Kreviazuk's 4th studio album. I was lucky enough to win passes to see her in concert for the first time in 2 years, 1 month, and 9 days at the Sony BMG Head office in Toronto for a private gig! She did a meet and greet after her 7 song set (that's where I got the picture above), and when I asked her how I could get into the TV taping she was doing at Bravo's Rehearsal hall, and she got me in herself!!! So the next week, I went to a nice, intimate gig at CHUM tower. I talked to her and of all the things to say, she thanked me for coming... I couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn't go; the pleasure was COMPLETELY MINE!

After that second gig, I waited with baited breath to hear if I was a winner for CHFI's contest to get into her Album Release Party at Casa Loma on August 29th. I found myself in awe when I got an e-mail titled "Chantal Kreviazuk Contest Winner!" I couldn't concentrate on my work AT ALL for the rest of the day! I took my dad to the show with me. It was his first time seeing Chantal in concert and he enjoyed it thoroughly; or so he says, heh...

After the gig, I waited along with a number of other CK fans for what seemed like forever as she was doing press photo ops with people from Sony BMG, Garnier, and members of the media... But the wait was well worth it!!! She popped out and saw me and said "Hey Russell, how are you?" OMG... It was like we were friends or something! I stuck out my copy of Ghost Stories and I told her that I couldn't wait any longer to listen to it. So instead of waiting to receive the free copy that all the guests of the Album Release Party got, I bought my copy at 10am; right when the stores opened. As she signed my CD, I asked her if I could get another picture with her once she was done with signing for the people behind me. "Actually we'll do it right now! ...Since Russell's my biggest fan, he'll get an autograph and a picture! The rest of you need to choose one or the other," she announced to the hall full of people... It's now OFFICIAL! I'm Chantal's BIGGEST FAN!

Now work is done and school has begun... Time for me to hit the books... (Yeah, right...) Stay tuned for more updates and more artwork!

Cheers for now!

May 1st, 2006 >> Wow, it's been a week already?
Yep, I guess it has been... Last Monday's concert at the Pheonix was alright, it would have been better without a couple of drunks bashing around, but 'it's a rawk show' I guess. That's not the absolute worse thing that's happened to me at a show,heh. I had no clue of what to expect; but what I got was a phenomenal performance of Black Snake Blues and Turn The Lamp Down Low! For a full review of the show by a couple of fans, click here.

I met the band; look left, and Jeff finally recognizes me! (From left: Michael Lee, Me, Jeff Martin) - Thank you 'Yogi' for taking the picture.

Chantal's finally finished her forth studio album! It's being mixed now, and I'm waiting with baited breath. Jakalope also has a new one out at the end of the month; it should be good.

Hmm, off to Florida tonight for a week... Disneyland time for my daughter; I hope she'll like it. Let's hope the plane rides aren't that bad. I'll be back on the ninth!

April 22nd, 2006 >> Welcome to the new layout!
I've finally got enough time to sit in front of my computer all day for my own uses.

I'm also free from all of that nonsence with regards to the Ontario college strike; that was a BIG waste of time, and I'm still waiting for my refund, along with all of my other classmates. It's just rediculous that we pay for professors to teach us, and when we don't get the service we paid for, we don't get compensated for the things we missed. NONE WHATSOEVER!!! Erg, it gets me so ticked off that here I am, wanting to learn the skills I NEED to get into the industry I'd like to work in, paying to learn the skills I NEED to get into the industry I'd like to work in, and all I have is "professors" telling me to "fiddle around with the [computer] program, and see what you can learn on your own..."

Now that I'm done with exams and projects and everything, and that I'm still sick of working in a restaurant, I hafta find a brand spanking new job... So if y'all know anyone who needs a website done or a logo prepped up, send 'em this way!

This Monday I have the Jeff Martin concert @ the Phoenix to look farward to. I read that the Montreal show sucked ass; too short and too many tech problems... Hopefully Jeff will bother doing a soundcheck or sumpthing... And maybe add a couple of GOOD songs to his setlist... Oh well, I guess I can't judge his show until I see it.

BUT, I DO know I can judge that album of his... I just don't know if I want to gripe about that right now...

I'm still a huge fan of the man; I'm going to the guitar clinic he's putting on at the Long & McQuaide in Mississauga next Thurs. That should rock! He's still my guitar god musical mentor... Just his attitude needs some serious work...

I hope you like the new layout, more updates to come!
Russell