Long time no blog

The title really says it all but it's kinda a lie...
I have been blogging...
...
...micro blogging!

My account at Twitter has been my online home when it's come to blogging and social media networking. I find it incredibly useful and enjoyable. If you have an Twitter account feel free to follow me. Not only have I found countless resources on art, design and the like...but made quite a few friends along the way! Whatever you're into you're bound to find people with like-minded interests. Once you're on Twitter to find others of similar interest try Just Tweet It and to find a Twitter app to use on just about any device look at Twitdom: the Twitter applications database or Twitter Apps.

I follow quite a few artists, designers and developers who actively tweet and even lend a hand when I happen to call out for help. The support network is huge and I am so grateful for their on-going support! I am also incredibly thankful to the creators of Twitter because the connections I've made and the resources I've found have accelerated my learning in web design and graphic design dramatically.

I just installed Twittix for my Nokia 6220 Classic phone which will make tweeting on my phone much more easier and enjoyable. I've given it a test run and it's a beautiful and brilliant little app!

Twitter has become another site to join the multitude of sites blocked at work, which is why I need to tweet from my phone during business hours. It joins the list of sites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace but even file sharing sites such as Dropbox! Limited access to these file sharing sites are sometimes problematic.

Twitter is one of the best social media/networking communities out there right now and blitz' all other communities in terms of SPEED! :) I'm living life online in the fast lane right now thanks to Twitter! Are you?

A Fresh Face

Gosh it's been over a year since I've written a blog entry! I assure you I didn't vanish off the face of the earth :)

It's been a good year for me, one of great challenges and travels.
For the most part of the year (since my last blog post) I was working as a Junior Web Designer; my first full time commercial position in web. I found web designing quite challenging but I endeavored to work the best that I could with the knowledge I had.

Since leaving my position I've continued to work as a freelance graphic/web designer, completing projects for the Centre of Learning Innovation and finally updating my own website. There's still a few little updates to be made to my website over the next week. These updates will include an auto-scrolling carousel for the portfolio, project information using transparent sliding panels over the project images and a small contact form which will fill in the void.

The design inspiration has come from my love of my late dog Spotty who died last year who I still miss very much. The cesna flying in the sky represents the love of my life, Daniel who has taken to the air as a pilot in training over the last year. Hopefully that little cesna becomes a big 747 one day! :)

Last year in October, Daniel and I also had a small trip of our own flying over to China for two weeks. That turned out to be quite an exciting trip, even though it seemed like a short visit. We traveled with China Best Tours on their China Splendid trip. It was a brilliant trip even though I was very sick on the 2nd day there, the day we climbed The Great Wall. I think it was from having a vodka and orange drink with ice in it. It just slipped my mind when I was out with friends. I learnt from that mistake! Next time we go to China we're hoping to visit more of the traditional country side to China and hopefully go on some bike riding adventures too!

Peeping Tom Beat It Up in Sydney!

Last Thursday the 21st of June I had the privilege of witnessing an unbelievable night of hard core, funk, hip-hop, rock and alternative music! With a line up that big you'd think I went to a festival to see a multitude of performers. Ironically that is what Peeping Tom is! Mike Patton's Peeping Tom is made up of an eclectic mix of genres, styles and performers which come together to make music that is captivating, experimental and inspiring to the taste of a diverse range of fans (including myself).

Patton didn't fail to impress the Sydney audience at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia. His remarkable vocal range changes, beat-boxing abilities, experimentation, energetic performance and audience participation had everyone including my friend, Elisa and I in awe and excitement the entire time. There is probably nothing that Patton cannot sing which is what I love. Having grabbed the last two tickets from just a hand-full available from Ticketek the day before his performance, we certainly didn't walk away disappointed (even though we were right at the back in the circle at the top). I was made to feel like I was right down at the foot of the stage with every song and bringing binoculars along brought me down there.

Opening the night was Sydney's Tango Saloon who are also made up of an eclectic mix of talented musicians who delve into experimental forms of Tango music with a 'spin of Spaghetti Western'. This band's ensemble included trumpet, trombone, accordian, drums, double bass, keyboard, guitars, and a multitude of percussion instruments. The absence of a singer didn't take away anything from their performance. Their contemporary spin on traditional tango music really struck a cord which was a complete fusion of various rhythmic styles.

Later Patton and his band of merry men and women comprised of, The Dub Trio, Dan the Automator, DJ Cresp, Imani Coppola, and Butterscotch continued to work up the frenzy and excitement at the Enmore. He never ceased to acknowledge the audience and even the two people that somehow managed to get on stage and stand next to him! About half way through the set audience participation kicked in and Patton had us all theatrically laughing along with him as he built it up into a song lead in. It was funny at the end of the lead up, when he pointed out that he was the only one laughing. This experimentation was amazing and really put a spot light on the extremities of his vocal abilities.

Other special highlights in the set were the individual performances from Butterscotch,DJ Cresp, and The Dub Trio. Butterscotch (West Coast Beatbox Champion 2007) joined Peeping Tom on stage and ripped it up even more after blowing my mind with her beat-box solo. Damn I didn't even know vocals and base tones could come out so seamlessly natural. Watch Butterscotch rip it here.
Having never seen a DJ live, DJ Cresp made his mark by scratching up the DJ tracks to various beats and records.
The Dub Trio brought in the heavy metal and solid rock as they jammed it in their group performance as well.

What a night at the Enmore it was! Adrenalin pumping and exciting! The only thing that dampened the night was the fact I had to work the next day...funnily enough near the Kings Cross area which Patten mentioned before one of his songs. :)

To view pics from the concert visit Triple J's Gallery

Farewell Spotty, we will never forget you...

Today has been a very sad day for dad, my brother Chris and I, as we said our final goodbye to our beloved dog Spot who has been a huge part of our lives for the past 17 years (c.1990-13/05/07).

Spot began taking medicine for his failing heart at the start of this year, but unfortunately his condition was not curable and his health was rapidly declining. We made the tough decision to end his suffering and took him to the vet today for one last time. Before Spot was laid to sleep, even in the midst of our sadness Spot did manage to make us all laugh when he did a little fart as dad lifted him on the veterinary table. :) Memories such as this and many others we have shared with him over the past years will never be forgotten.

They have been some of the most unforgettable years of my childhood, adolescence and adulthood. From the first day we picked him up as a puppy at the beginning of 1990, he made his mark of ownership when he peed on my jumper. He later grew to be a feisty young dog full of willpower, hunting qualities and the need to chase down my dad's Ute when he drove round the neighborhood block. A local visiting white cockatoo was also of interest to Spot, back in his early years. He also loved playing tug-o-war with us, my aunt's dog Snoopy and playing soccer. He would have made an excellent goally. Spot's unremitting athleticism, spirit and love of life is something that we believe helped make his life such a fulfilled one.

He rests in peace here at home with some of his belongings like his favourite tattered old soccer ball, underneath our lime tree in the backyard where he often slept to soak in the warmth of the morning sun or to get out of the heat of the afternoon sun.

Short break

It's been quite some time since my last post and a lot has happened in the last couple of months, good and bad but all in all it's been a worthwhile experience. I no longer work for Xavier Communications but take what I gained from that position into my stride and continue as a designer. I've taken a few blows, but none that I regret happening and for that reason I'm taking in some of the best recent advice given to me by industry professionals; both personally and professionally. I've been given some sound advice and passed through some interviews which has helped me sort out where I want to go.

Starting from tomorrow though I'm going on a mini holiday to Victoria, Australia with my long-time school friend Elisa. Just planning parts of the trip before even leaving has been a little daunting and not to mention *time consuming* but after several hours research online and making several phone enquiries we've managed to work out our rental car arrangements! :) We never knew how expensive renting a car from Avalon could be!

We'll be staying in Geelong for the first day and half of the second as Elisa is graduating from Deakin University. From there we'll be doing a small loop of Victoria to the Grampians through Ballarat and then the Great Ocean Road. I'm looking forward to the trip but not our early rise tomorrow when the shuttle bus picks us up at 5am! It'll all be worth it though. Can't wait to write up on the adventures when I get back.