Damn gained 2 lbs -

Alex and Vitali are in Florida. Lucky dogs. I got a real cheeky email about it being 41c as they drove through Georgia. Meanwhile, its August and I had to put on a sweatshirt as I walked outside in Thornhill, yuke. As we expand in Florida I will be forced to travel there regularly - what a pain heheheheheh. So if any Excellence or DGVideo customers are in Miami West Palm Beach this winter let us know. I would gladly shoot your Engagement Photos on the beach.


If your a Boca ExcellencePhoto customer, we are looking for cool new places to shoot. Here is our current list, if you can suggest some more it would be greatly appreciated.

• spanish river park
• south beach park
• Mizner Park Mall
• City Place West Palm
• MoriKami Museum Park and Gardens
  

I'm in a pickle. I need to find a new series of books to read for pleasure. I have tons of business books to finish. I read 75% business and 25% pleasure, but I cant read only one at a time. I just remembered that I ordered a bunch of book online at Amazon - You can see my favorites by clicking the link on the left of this page. I'll update my reading list soon.


Guys. Seriously. As most of you know, I am extremely busy. PLEASE email me if something is not done correctly on the site, or if you are missing something, or just want to talk. You can tell Marianna and I guarantee she will tell me, but I will likely forget it. But if you email me I ALWAYS respond. I hate it when couples come in and the first thing they say is something that they need fixed on the site, or emailed to them that could have and would have been done in second had they just emailed me when they thought about it.

I've nearly finished something cool!! Next week there will be an announcement look for it.

In the meantime, we have many couples bringing in their photo and video orders. Remember that ALL Excellence and DGVideo customer save %50 off the final cost of any services at TorontoHomeMovies.com and FloridaHomeMovies.com.

If you are coming in to place an order bring us your 8mm, Super8, 16mm, old video tapes, Records and Tapes, even 35mm slides and we will convert them to DVD or CD. This would give you and your friends/family a discount from retail of over 67%!!!!!

Bye bye Harry. Wow I'm a geek

I finished the last Harry Potter book late last night. I actually stayed up until 2am reading to finish the book. I've got so little free time that I cherish what I call "me time"

I'm really a little depressed. I bet someone has a name for the feeling you get when you say goodbye to a series of novels. It's not just that you finished the book(s). You are saying goodbye to all the wonderful characters in the books. Its the same with movies series. When the last Matrix movies came out or the last Star Wars movie it was the same. But in this case I'm feeling it way more.

Post tramatic evolutio - I'm making this up, but it sounds right.
latin word for reading a scroll evolutio : unrolling and reading of a scroll, reading of a book.

I dont have my all my book available to update my reading list. Basically finished all but Blink. I bought a bunch, need a new set of pleasure books.

I read 2 types of books.

Self Improvement - Business, Photography, Investment, Mind expanding self motivation, Videography, web development, weight control, Food, etc

Pleasure Reading - Fantasy, romance, spy, action all types of Fiction. Stuff that really makes me happy.


JUST A REMINDER.

We are out of the country next week from Sunday-Thursday. If you need to reach Marianna or me email!!

I love to play my Tuba

Lately I've been dreaming about playing my Tuba. Seriously. It seems that during the summer months as I spend a large portion of my day being creative, I long for days of music. Even yesterday as I spoke to a fantastic bride (she reads this blog) who was picking up her engagement portrait, I couldnt help but remember the good ole days of making music.

Music is a lot like photography. I mean you have to be technically proficient in your craft but the fundamentals are the same.

Music.

The event is the performance. Yet if you don't practice you are not likely to have a successful performance. You need hit every single note with confidence while understanding the nuances of pitch control, volume and intensity.

Photography

The event is the moment of capture. Yet if you don't understand the event you are not likely to have a successful photograph. You need to expose the image perfectly, not too much light and not too dark, at the same time understanding the nuances of exposure, depth of field and colour balance.

So who knew that while I was training to be a musician I was actually learning to master photography?

Well its starting.

Today I offically call to order the Fall season. With 4 inquires regarding our availabiliy for next year, and even one for this fall, it looks like I will be back to spending my nights at the studio. The team has started to work on www.saveyourmemories.ca

Soon you will be able to learn how to take your parents old negatives and turn them into digital photos you can then share in facebook. Fun huh?

The crazy time is about to begin

Have you ever had that feeling that something is going to happen and you can't control it. Like grade 11. When you had that math test and even though you were sure you knew all the answers and would do fine, you could wait for it to be over?

Well thats the month of September for me. Wake me up when September ends.

• 10 weddings
• kids go back to school
• 2 bridal shows
• 15 videos due
• 15 photo packages due
• 100 evening appts for new and exisiting customers
• taxes taxes taxes
• need to book December trip
• THM begins to get busier and need to update summer staff
• lose 1 editor back to university
• at least 10 engagement shoots
• at least 10 family
  
• Vitali goes to winter hours leaving us 1 manager short
• WORK every single day minimum of 630am to Midnight - yikes

On the other hand. 30% of our yearly sales for Excellence happen in September. Would you call hanging out at the Bridal Show meeting nice couples, hangin out with cool competitors work? Its not like I have to carry bricks up a ladder all day like one of my grooms. Now that guys works hard. His art lasts for hundreds of years.

It all about planning.

About months ago I made a list of my dreams. The idea being if I put it in writing the chances of them coming true inceases. Lets see how I've done.

1. Buy a house in Florida -- Still looking - The Florida real estate market is crashing and we will be ready to buy when it hits bottom.
   
2. Make 2000$ us a month FHM - Not yet, but we have had some really good nibbles. We will continue
   
3. lose 40 pounds and hit 200 lbs - I'm down to 205 from 246.8 - I'll get there
   
4. Make 10,000$ a month THN - WooHoo did it. For the past 2 months.
   
5. get my eyes done - I'm waiting until November
   
6. Buy a new laptop - Got it!! I'm sing it right now.
   
7. Buy new video cameras _ Got them - New Sony and Panasonic
   
8. get an audi truck or Lr3 - Waiting for the lease of my Jag to run out
   
9. pay off my credit cards - Hoo Hum does anyone ever do this?
   
10. get control of my accounting - WooHoo - new bookkeeper, accountant is done, GTD yippee
    
11. get a hd camera and tv, home theatre system - :) still waiting
    
12. buy a cool pinball machine-- :) still waiting

So not bad! Here is my new list

1. Book the Disney Cruise for December
2. Buy a house in Florida
3. Make 2000$ us a month FHM
4. lose 25 pounds and hit 185 lbs
5. get my eyes done
   
6. get an audi truck or Lr3
   
7. pay off my credit cards
   
8. get a hd camera and tv, home theatre system - :) still waiting
   
9. buy a cool pinball machine
10. GPS for my car.
    

Long weekend blues

Nice to have a day off. So I've decided to try and get caught up with my GTD list. Its down from 600 items to around 300.

So it you are one of the wedding couples who are waiting for your wedding or engagement slideshow - please email me. I want to get up to date by the end of the week.

FloridaHomeMovies.com was hit by Turkish hackers last week. Aparently they target American companies who sell online. I wonder if they would have bothered us if they knew we were Canadians who sell in the US?

As most of you already know, I'm the kinda guy that rewards good service and product with loyalty. For example: I have eaten twice a week at a Hong Kong restaurant on Hwy 7 and Leslie called Big Mouth Key for nearly 8 years. Its not just the food that makes this place such an enjoyment, but the people. I know that if I come in at 10pm or 3am they will say "Hey Jean! with a smile and will remember that I only eat squid on Tuesdays (Its deepfried and I have a whole week to work off the extra calories) If you look behind the girl in the photo you can see live lobster, fish and crab. At the bottom is live snakes and eels. ewweeewweewewe

wow. Just writing about it is making me hungry. But tomorrow is Dr D day so I have to resist!!



BOOKS:

• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (Paperback - April 3, 2007)
• The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin (Hardcover - May 10, 2007)
• The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow by John C. Maxwell
• Winning by Jack Welch and Suzy Welch

MAGAZINES

• Men's Health
• Digital Photo Pro
• Canadian Business
• Videomaker
• PhotoShop User
• Entrepreneur
  

Yesterdays weddings were great. Alex and Natasha spent the day riding in golf carts and Vitali and I went to the grand chalet and then to a movie.

Because we finished at 10 and Natasha and Alex didnt finish until 12 vitali and i went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Of course we had all the equipment so we had to get the manager to come to the front desk. I didnt want anyone thinking we were going to tape the movie. She was so surprised, and really nice about it, thanking us for being honest. Wierded me out. Do that many people sneak into movies with $50,000 worth of photo/video eqipment?

Movie kicked ass (hehe) then we went back to the studio to meet Alex and Natasha. Back up cards, put away tapes etc. Meanwhile alex beat us there and was watch entourage while burning his backup. By the time i got to sleep it was just before 3am. 3 hours later Isaac was sitting on my chest and asking why I have hair in my nose.

Ran 3 miles in 30 minute at the gym this morning( well sort of ) My trainer told me not to run for a few weeks to use the elliptical machines. Almost made my personal best of 5 KM under 30 min but was short by 26 seconds.

Sore all over

Well I'm slowly getting used to being sore all over. After 4 sessions with my personal trainer Mike I've come to the realization that working out is a lot of work. But its kinda nice to have an objective eye (as opposed to an ObjectiveEye hehehe - if you dont get it read more of my blog or click on the link)

Turns out he reads a lot too. I really didnt put my faith into the work of personal trainers until DesignerGeek built a site for the National Association of Body Fitness. After reading through all of the material they provide I was convinced that if I would ever meet my personal physical goals I was much more likely with professional help.

I've received tons of email requesting my reading list. I'm sorry I don't have the time to put a list together (I've read thousands of books) but, starting today I'll list what I am currently reading and will try to update with each post.


BOOKS:

• Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson
• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (Paperback - April 3, 2007)
• The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin (Hardcover - May 10, 2007)
• The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow by John C. Maxwell

MAGAZINES

• Men's Health
• Digital Photo Pro

Dvořák Drum Corp and The Simpsons

Yesterday was a wierd day. I started off going to the gym. When I reached the 40 pounds lost mark I decided to reward my hard work with more hard work. I've hired a personal tranier. Its been a dream of mine for nearly 2 years. So after putting away pennies for the past few months I waited until I reached my goal and went for it.

I write about how I think I doomed myself to pain by being me another time.

Anyhow. As we are (well I am) working out we get to talking. I had a memory (I wonder if I every mentioned the memory game Marianna and I play).

I remembered 1990 I was at the Ramapo College campus in New Jersey training for the 1990 Drum Corps season with the Cadets of Bergen county. Every Tuesday we would have a 5 mile run. Anyhow, as I was telling him this I was immediately overwhelmed with incredible memories of the past. Travelling throughout the USA, pushing myself to the limits. I couldnt help but think about how soft I have become. Well, I'm feeling the pain of the gym today.

Drum Corp involves performing music on the a football field. An 11 minute show with Brass instrucments, drums and Dancers. You can only be a member until 23 I believe, but it used to be 21. At 21 you age out and cannot be a member anymore. Its one of the most painfull memories I have. In fact, on the night of your last performance we always leave our shoes on the field and walk off in socks.

Im actually tearing up. boohoo.

Anyhow the day wa crazy at the office with one appointment after the next. I[m working on a new project I cant discuss but it involves several multinational companies and online advertising.

Finally everyone was a sleep and I though I would wind down by going to see the new Simpsons movie. I wont ruin it for anyone, its a good movie. But I had a terrible experience. I got there early and got to sit in my favorite seat - front row centre. I had to wait 20 minutes and the place filled up. At the last second these to guys sat to my left. They wouldn't shut up. The one guy close to me made comments on every scene. I too nice to say anything but it completely ruined the movie for me. It was watching the baseball game with the radio on to describe what I'm seeing. By the end of the movie I was falling asleep in my chair.

Cant wait for Friday - The new Bourne movie comes out. I've read every single Robert Ludlum book.