In the swing

So after a small gap to tend to Judith's raw eyes after her Lasik surgery (she can see again, more on her blog I'm sure) I'm back in the swing and taking a bunch of pictures over the next three or four days.

In about a half hour I have this guy

Followed by two people tomorrow... both shooting Playboy Centerfolds for me...

Oh and I have this girl lined up for a date on Sunday too

It's gonna be busy I think

Liverpool House

Last night we had dinner at Liverpool House - the third in a row of "The Menu is on the chalkboard" restaurants owned by the same people and saddled with a stellar reputation.

The atmosphere was great, rustic, laid back, busy and buzzy. The wait staff sexy (in an Angelina Jolie, 'I cut myself' way) and knowledgeable - but like Liverpool FC the overall experience didn't live up to the promise and the whole thing faded as the campaign went on. Throw in a bill for $150 (with only one of us drinking and a shared dessert) and you have a recipe for disappointment. Rather like this post.

But then it's 7.15am, I'm prepping for Jude's eye surgery at 8.15 and the animals are growling, prowling and punting for food

More industrious than a 6 year old Chinese factory worker promised adoption upon completion of her 50,000th shoe

I've been working hard today. First and foremost I think that I've found an office space - one that I can share with others in small, creative businesses, yet still grow into.

It's cute, it feels right, the people are around the 'right' age, there are conference rooms, a meeting space and lockers and it's not hideously expensive. Plus it's in a pretty cool part of town. Just waiting on some sort of condo / co-op committee approval now.

I also started to pen an idea that I think might actually do some good in the world. I know a lot of people who specialize in trend forecasting - and they tend to be good at identifying how people are feeling and what kind of emotion they'd be searching for as a result. Then I know a lot of people who can take a product and link it to an emotion via ads, packaging, design and editorial. Where there's a gap is in the middle --- someone who can take the trends, turn them into products and brief the comms people on what the product does. That someone could be us. I hope. Vague I know - but there you go.

I also did lots of house things today - polishes, cleaners, tidying, bills, buying food, thinking recipes... it doesn't take too long and I actually find that I enjoy it. Which is very odd. Still may be short lived as I have a trip to Toronto next week that I'm hoping will result in some work and a couple of projects further afield on a low simmer.

Fingers crossed on the space...

Not quite what I expected

So yesterday, after skiing, I had a shoot with a model. He was looking for some headshots and some gritty, grainy outdoor stuff... I was looking for some fun studio stuff and a pose for my "70s Playboy Centerfolds made-over series"

Of course I was most excited about the last one - as it's the first in a series of 120 and I'm hoping to shoot a full year (12 shots) over the next two weeks.

But of course what happened was that all of the shots for his thing are gorgeous - the best pictures that I've taken to date in my opinion - while all the stuff I did for myself is, well just a little "Reader's Wives"... I guess that you live and learn... here's a very roughly edited version of the first in what will be 120 shots for your perusal... and many thanks to Sam for being as patient (and as game) as he was.

And he takes... the Bronze

With the snow coming down,   people spinning off the road, winds whipping up the 6 feet high drifts and snow banks into devil's tendrils and people generally driving as though there was a medal for pussydom we headed for Bromont and the ski slopes...  where I took a lesson, got a feel for the mountain, lifted my head, conquered the ski lift and moved smoothly and with parallel skis down the mountain - slowly but in complete control.... result? I passed my Bronze level and now have a lesson lined up for silver (speed, control and more parallel)

Of course keen to show off my new found skills to Judith I promptly slipped, skidded, fell, floundered and generally flailed at the very sight of her... but then she has that effect on some men. Waiting for a model to show up now... hope it's gonna happen