New Camera, New Life?

I finally bought my first DSLR.

Ever since I first had a digital compact camera, I've always been very intrigued by photography and creating interesting compositions. I suppose that stems from my 'talent' with visual art.

When that camera broke (due to me dropping it...) I was devastated, but I remember saying how the next camera I would buy myself would be a DSLR.

This past spring, after spending my first few months in Vancouver, I realized this was the perfect time for me to make the big purchase/investment. I spent all summer testing out different camera's, reading reviews, and talking to those I know who have legitimate experience in the area of photography.

My ultimate goal was to get one just before I flew home to Ontario for Thanksgiving, so that I could take hundreds of good quality pictures of my family. However, I just couldn't wait any longer, and today I broke the bank and made a big dream of mine a big reality.

Being a proud owner of a Nikon D3000, I am SO very excited to bring creativity and art back into my life (in a new and exciting format!). I live in a very beautiful city, that has endless photo ops, and so many versatile people to shoot.

A part of me feels as if I'm starting something new, as if this isn't just a new toy, but a new huge part of my life.

I took a lot of test photos today, but of course I'll be horribly amateur for quite some time, so I've just posted my 2 favourite so far. Both featuring David.

Video's by David.

Here's another.

Video's by David.

Since I've been here David has been lovely enough (as per usual) to take some video clips of me, and throw together an entertaining video to send home for my family.

Here's one of them!

Alison at Mt. Seymour from David Schuurman on Vimeo.

New Post, New Place!

I suppose the reason for me not posting to this blog for almost a year now, is because of a long list of things; some of them being excitement, anxiety, neglect, procrastination, instability, busyness... But whatever the excuse, I'm back to tell whomever about my trials and tribulations of my younger years, all the while sending my love to friends and family who remain on the East side.

A brief recap of the past 10 months:

While anxiously waiting to finish up working/living in Banff, AB, I excitedly took a few (very) long bus rides to Vancouver, BC, in the month of November, to slowly but surely move all of my belongings to David's place, with the near-future plan of moving there myself come January.

When December rolled around, I said my farewells to the Fairmont and flew home for Christmas, and spent 3 wonderful weeks with my family in Guelph, and a few days with Dad in Syracuse, NY.

Come January 8th, 2009, when I took a one way flight to Vancouver. The first month or so I spent fairly stressed and anxious, trying hard to find a job and a potential place to live. I spent my free time snowboarding at Mt. Seymour with David, where he works in the winter season.

By February I had found a place in North Burnaby, with some friends of David. Soon after I finally found a job, serving at a restaurant in downtown Vancouver.

I quickly settled into my new place, and into my new job, dealing with the fact that I was about 30-40 minutes away from this job. Luckily the Vancouver bus system is excellent, and it was a fairly easy commute.

As I got more comfortable at work, I found that I really enjoyed myself and the people around me. I was fitting in, learning a lot about food and wine, and developing a passion for it like those around me.

Spring in Vancouver was absolutely beautiful; according to locals, I've been very lucky with the way the weather has been on the coast these past few seasons. Not so rainy, mild temperatures and pretty sunny! The summer has been fairly dry, resulting in fires starting around the BC interior unfortunately however.

So recently I've been continuously developing relationships at work, and I've even started doing some office management/accounting type stuff for the restaurant. I'm there 5 out of 7 days a week, and I really enjoy myself. This has probably been the best summer since 2005, when I spent the summer driving wakeboard boats in Muskoka.

Even more recently, I moved out of my place in North Burnaby, into a fantastic, newly reno'd 2 bedroom apartment, much closer to work/downtown. It's not perfect, but it's clean and has no carpets, and is affordable! I am officially a Vancouver resident as of August 1st.

It being a 2 bedroom, I have a lovely girl named Robyn joining me to live there at the end of August, moving here from Barrie, ON, with her boyfriend Brian who will be living with David. Quite the nice set up we'll have I think!

This is also the very first place I've ever moved into that is completely unfurnished, just waiting for someone to give it their own personal touch. I'm very excited about putting some time and money into it and I can't wait to be able to show it to people!

All these pictures are just some favourites of many that I've taken since I arrived here, so I hope you enjoy them, and I promise not to be so neglecting to this blog anymore!

It's all downhill from here... ?

It's finally September!

In fact, it's already over half through--that is a very comforting thought. I knew if I could just make it to September, I could make it to October... then November, then I could finally leave this place behind knowing I stuck it out regardless!

This summer was unfortunately, well not a favourite of mine. Very high stress, lonely, and frustrating to say the least.

As it gets colder things change around here; changes I welcome! On August 31st we had our first snowfall (see pic) and it got me pretty excited! We had a few chilly weeks, with snow all over the mountains, and I found my new snowboarding jacket that I can't wait to put into action. I've been saving all of my pennies for my perspective 2009 goals; moving to Vancouver.

I've been advised that worrying is the opposite of faith, you can't practice both at the same time, one is evidently more positive than the other and either can make or break you! Not saying I've stopped worrying about everything completely, but I'm able to (more often than I used to) sit back and tell myself that worrying is not going to get me anywhere, especially worrying about the future. That being said, even though I do not have a place to live or a job opportunity for Vancouver in January, I'm not about to worry about it just yet. The plan is to be financially stable enough once I get there, that in case I DON'T have a job waiting for me, I'll be able to at least survive for a few months on money I've saved this fall alone. Of course, I'm not sure I could mentally go a week without working or being employed, and I also don't think I'd have too much trouble finding someone who would hire me.

Vancouver is in my future because David has moved there, and by that time it will have been just about a year that him and I have lived in separate provinces, working at a long distance relationship. As confident as I am that we've done VERY well over these past 7 long months so far, it would be very nice for once to be able to take a city bus or a nice walk to my boyfriends house, whenever we wanted. I believe I've more than proved to myself, and anyone else who cares (mom), that I CAN be independent, not having to rely on someone else to make/keep me happy or financially stable.

All that being said--this fall is going to be FUN! Snow is in this week's forecast, as well as a quick 4 day vacation to Vancouver :) This will be my very first time on the pacific coast and I do not doubt for one minute that I will be just as glued to the plane/bus window as I was when I flew into Calgary 7 months ago!! Possibly even more excited than then, since not only are their mountains in Van, but also the ocean, big bridges, and a gorgeous city (one thing I find myself craving most these days--a city).

When I come back here at the end of the week, it will again be just over another week until I get to fly home for Thanksgiving, where I will be able to spend ample amount of time with my family and with David's!

Quickly after thanksgiving, when I fly back to Banff, I will be then looking forward to the arrival of my Dad at the end of October! As short as a visit it will be, it will be a seasonal highlight for me. Then, I have 10 days off in November that will be spent again in Vancouver... then a few more weeks of work here at the Springs, then DONE! And home for Christmas.

That sure is a lot to look forward to--not to mention snowboarding and the like!

Sorry this was so long but there was much to say!

Until next time,
missing and loving always,

Alison

It gets tough

more and more... every day it seems.

Right now I'm working 6 days a week, 8 hours a day, up at 5 every morning to make my 6am shift. The hotel's numbers are very high right now, so our numbers for breakfast in the morning are also very high. I say good morning and ask approximate 500-700 people a morning, what their last name is. On top of just being the door hostess, there are a million other things that I have to take care of that I didn't quite expect to be part of the job description--but its okay.

I'm continuously being challenged day to day with this position, some days being more durable than others. I'm making a whole lot of mistakes, but working very hard to only make them once. Since our shifts start so early in the morning, its very likely for colleagues to not always show up on time or even miss a shift (which in the Fairmont world, is incredibly unacceptable). Therefore, it is my responsibility to document them accordingly. This is one thing I'm trying to get used to, its not incredibly easy to remember who is where doing what and how and when they should stop... who didn't show, who's missing, are they on a suspension now or not? Especially once breakfast starts, because its very difficult for me to leave the door--in fact I'm not really supposed to.

However, like I said, I'm learning and really doing my absolute best.

There are so many outside circumstances that will sometimes distract me from remembering certain things, or even just the stress and business of the restaurant can deter me from following through with something. It's HARD to keep up with everything, when you have to focus on colleague audits, performance reviews, personal development interviews etc... and when you have 600 guests coming through the door all wanting a window table, and then your 25 colleagues all want or need to leave early because of this and that.

Some people I work with can be discouraging, especially when it seems the only things they see me doing are the mistakes I'm making. How does that motivate me at all to want to stick around? I would rather positive recognition, than negative. Ah well.

The pretty pictures are of the surrounding area: One night there was a storm and the sky looked pretty awesome... The river is an sweet colour... Lake Minnewanka is nice around dusk... And Norquay looks so snow barren, HOLY MOLY I can not wait for it to be COVERED.

It's been awhile...

WOWWWW.

Has it really been over 2 months since I last posted?? How very un-awesome of me!

I do apologize! I know my few readers have contacted me and asked me whats up, and why i haven't been posting--I can attribute most of it, to life stress in general haha.

How about a brief update to get us all caught up!

Since the end of May, I've continued with my new position as Door Supervisor, it becoming ever so difficult and challenging along the way. I flew home for a week at the end of June, and flew back in tears and heartache over leaving home/David. I almost made the decision to stay in Banff for only a month longer, at least until David visited me one more time (which we had planned to be for the end of July). Every day was a teary one, and not very good for blog writing to say the least!

My good highschool friend Kendra had moved with her boyfriend Brett, to Calgary during this time, and we've gotten together and visited a few times since. She is a blessing in my life--we're quite opposite in some areas, personality wise, yet, we've seem to grown into thinking on the same level in terms of life morals, and dreams and goals for ourselves. We're both over the partying and irresponsibility, we both want to focus on our relationships and our current/future careers. I'm really thankful for her and stoked she lives in Calgary now!

I've also acquired some new dreams and goals for myself over the past few months: I can't stop thinking about being a flight attendant for WestJet, and how beneficial it would be for me and where I am in my life right now!

Let's look at the pro's:

• I would live in Calgary, rather then Banff (which I have unfortunately grown to dislike very much this summer, due to all of the raging party kids who I happen to have absolutely nothing in common with--for the most part), which is amazing because I need a city again! Calgary is a growing community with hard workers and a minimal party scene--unless you're looking for it.
• I would still be independently living out west, but have the opportunity to experience other cities all over North America at no cost.
• I'm not the most stable of people, and I think being a flight attendant isn't the most stable career--hopping around from city to city and never working with the same person twice (at least not often)!
• I could fly home to see my family at no cost
  
• I could fly to Vancouver to be with David at no cost
• I could fly my family/friends out here, at a minimal cost
  
• I would be working with people, and serving people--one of my passions.
  

I believe I am fully capable of being one of their best employees. However, I know that in order to get this current dream job of mine, I need to put my time in at the Fairmont and finish up with them on good terms. Sure, almost everyday I want to pack up and leave, go home and/or follow David around... but that is the easy/irresponsible/short-term-pleasure way. I know that if I want what my heart REALLY wants for myself in the future, then honoring my contracts, and continuing to get through this challenge without quitting, is the only way to go.

I mentioned earlier that David will be in Vancouver--it's true, he's moving there at the end of August to take part in a college program for cinematography. His passions are filming and snowboarding, so he really doesn't need to be anywhere BUT Vancouver I think! I'm happy that he'll technically only be just over an hour away... by plane.

I'll leave you now with the link to my Dad's new blog, 'Finding Freedom'. Take a look and bookmark it, cause I guarantee it will only be beneficial to your life!

tonyten.blogspot.com

Oh, and that's a picture (kind of dark) of me hard at work!