photo by rob hillstead

well, it's that time again, moksha, freedom from the wheel...of work, a minimum of 3 weeks off, a maximum of 4 months. coming to this brink of life-reorganization, i look forward to the days of creative expression that i hope to optimize my time doing. plus the family time, the lack of physical labour, the few moments here and there where i can just relax and appreciate the pleasantness of my own company...

here's to my unemployment, merry xmas, happy new year and all that jazz, hopefully i'll get to see some of you again, if you haven't already forgotten me...

motions have been set in action for the album that's been coming for 7 years to be recorded. rehearsals have commenced, and it is very exciting to hear some of these songs being reenacted, recreated, innovated. The lineup has yet to settle, but the show will go on, expect to hear sneak peaks as soon as mid-january.

renegadepress.com is coming to a close for another year, and despite my greatest wishes, it will shoot again...same time next year, though i assure you next year, you won't see my name on the credits (truly, i pray that they don't appear on this season). the good paying shows seem to be scant this winter again. in an attempt not to stress out about the upcoming poverty-stretch, i'm turning my interests solely to personal projects.

last tuesday, i shot off 400' of 35mm film for a short anniversary project for the filmpool. the shoot itself went strongly, and despite time constraints and budget constraints, we have a project in the can, and come mid-january, the film arrives, and by the 2nd of February, it'll be complete for a screening, again likely at the Mackenzie Art Gallery. mr. bangsund would have my head for that last sentence, but hey, i'm a free-thinking individual and if my rambling posts don't make sense, too bad... :)

focus turns to my documentary idea, Rehab is not Redemption. I received word that i was turned down for funding to create the project, though i received $500 in equipment rental credit. better than nothing, it becomes clear that the only way to get this project made is to get off my ass and shoot it, then i can worry about the expensive part (the processing of the film), later, and hopefully i can get some money for post-production and get that paid for, but i have to have something worthy of such attention. the destination is clear, the path is clear, it just feels like i'm running as fast as i can, without really getting anywhere closer.

i look forward to this projected "time-off". feel as though a retreat will be the perfect thing to turn my mind away from the petty things and toward more productive and fulfilling actions...

and because it seems i almost never post, i will wish a happy holidays to everyone, don't get caught up in the hub-ub, just relax and reflect, we could be in an infinitesimal variety of perilous situations, instead our biggest fear is how much one another will like their present.

peace, love, empathy
rob