Back in the Home Land

I made it safe and sound back to Canada. And boy was I happy to see trees, grass, and water (George I'll stop making fun of your tree hugging ways now). I arrived back in Bowmanville at about 18:15 PST (9:15 pm EST). Hopefully I'll see you all soon. :)

T-Minus 18 Hours

It is getting closer. Only thing left now is for a little sleep and a plane ride (and some packing). :) It is so exciting to be coming home tomorrow.

My next post will be from Canadian soil. :D

31 Hours and Counting

Well it is almost time. Tomorrow night at around 7 PM EST I'll be arriving at YYZ (Pearson Airport). Yes I'll finally be back in the home country. Can hardly wait...well don't have much longer to! :)

My flight (America West 262) will be leaving Phoenix at 12:11 PM PST and arriving in Toronto at 7:27 PM EST. So now those who wish to follow the flight of Ryan (probably Grandma and Dad) can.

See you all soon. :)

P.S.
Don't worry, I'll bring all 9 rolls of prints for everyone to see.

That was a busy day

Well today didn't turn out the way I intended. It was meant to include a trip to Tempe Camera's lab to get the prints that I didn't get with my many rolls of film, and maybe get Lacey to buy a camera. But as I mentioned that didn't happen.

I woke up to Gilberth knocking on my door with some slightly hysterical comments about the fact he should already be on his plane to New York. After I wake up and come out to see what the fuss is all about I learn that his flight to New York was not for Sunday morning, but rather Saturday...two hours prior! So I tell him to call the airline and sort out how to deal with it (since I didn't know anything better to do about a long missed plane).

So he spends a good 30 minutes sorting out his options and ends up getting a ticket for tomorrow (Sunday morning) at 7 am, and only $100 to reschedule. So with issue one dealt with it was off to his apartment to clean out (since it wasn't Sunday he needed to leave).

This excursion turned into a little ordeal as well. It seems the apartment (well actually it is a golf resort) had not been charging his corporate card in $1000 increments as they said, so instead he was stuck with an $8000 bill. Quite frankly his card didn't cover that. So after an hour or two of sitting while he tries to sort this out I take off (with his car) to go to the Hertz rental to renew my own rental. Note that it is about 2pm when I pick up my car....I have missed the Tempe Camera lab, they closed at 1pm. :(

After I eventually get my car renewed and pick up Gilberth and get back to the ranch it is 4:30, so much for dim sum. So there goes the days original plans. The new start with breakfast, lunch, and diner all at once, at BJ's (they make excellent deep-dish pizza). After a satisfying meal John joined Lacey, Gilberth, and I for some Cold Stone ice cream. Think of gelato, but with ice cream and they mix in real items like raspberries, chocolate bars, etc. Very tasty.

The remainder of the evening was filled with visiting the used CD store, returning Gilberth's rental and a night at Iguana Mack's. But more on that later.

Something is missing

I can't seem to find the car keys. The car is still there, but I haven't seen the keys since I grabbed my wallet from the car on the way to Tempe Camera. Hopefully a night of rest will allow the old brain to sort out the mess.

The Pictures Are In

So today was the day Graeme made it here. Well that isn't the real news of the day, just something to keep you in a little more suspense. What really happened was that I picked up my 9 rolls of film. 8 from the last two outings: first to Monument Valley, second to the Grand Canyon (both with a bit of Sedona); and one mystery one that came for the trip to Arizona in my camera--this one containing some Christmas photos (games night I think), as well as the hike Alex, Kat, Joy, and I took on a winter river (Elora I think). After a small donation to the Tempe Camera lab of almost $90 I was racing back home to see how they turned out. [As a little jump ahead note, the prints turned out great and don't regret paying a little more to get them done at a professional lab.]

As soon as I get home, I sit down and start to go through all the rolls of prints--of course being sure to re-sort them into their proper order. I seem to be missing 7 prints, I'll have to call/visit the lab tomorrow to clear this up. There are some beautiful pictures contained in these prints, I must find a way to share them with everyone as soon as possible (George I think you might be jealous of the night shots). So it looks like I might have to go and look at either print scanners or bed scanners this week, since I don't know anyone here with a scanner.

Oh and before one comments on the potential need for a digital SLR--*cough* George *cough*--wait until you see these photos.

Canyon Crew

From left to right: Mas, Caroline, Ryan, and George

For our trip to the Canyon we had a bit larger group this time. This picture is taken just after we had the sunset photo-shoot. Note that this picture was taken with George's D70.

Away from home

I don't know about you guys but I could really use being at home. I miss Joy, I miss my family, miss my friends. I miss home. And I'm tired of stressful weeks of work and then being the entertainment coordinator for after hours. I think I need a rest.

Change of plans

Well after a day of helping people fight fires and such we didn't leave for the Canyon early Friday afternoon. :( Instead we all had to give extra attention to work. So, our new plans are to go up tomorrow morning and be in Sedona for lunch, maybe get to the Grand Canyon for sunset (doubtful that we will make it for the entire sunset). And then just go with whatever happens. We'll see what happens.

It is an addiction

So today around 3pm or so George and I found ourselves at Tempe Camera again. I was looking for a used wide-angle lens, 24mm in particular. I just so happened that they had just received one that had not yet been put into the display case. It also ended up being in mint condition and only 200 USD. So it has found its way into my growing collection of lenses.

The new lens is a Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 fixed focal length wide-angle lens (you can see it here). This should be excellent for doing landscapes of such places as the Grand Canyon. Which we may find ourselves at this weekend.

On Monday of this week we had Caroline and Mas arrive down here in Chandler. I don't know if they are planning on the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas for the weekend. I do believe however that George is wanting to go to the Grand Canyon for his last weekend here. Given that I have all of negative 30 minutes in my available working time for the this week, we may get an early start tomorrow. ;)

The Joy of Work

Hi everyone,

How is your week going? Is it as busy as mine. Just like to say that as fun as it is to be done early on Friday I don't enjoy the consumption of my time during the rest of the week. I'm just about at my 40 hours for the week and it is still Thursday with plenty of work to go. Sigh.

Overworked & underpaid,
Ryan