The last time I saw Joy, I was standing on a train platform watching her drive away. It was December of 2003, and we had become best friends in video production school in South Africa. Despite the years and the distance between us, we managed to stay in semi-regular contact with one another via telephone and web-cam. She says I was her rock. I say she was my confidante. We never knew when, if ever, we would ever see one another again. Five years later and we rendezvous in Tahoe to go skiing. Life's a journey, and I'm enjoying this scenery!

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I missed my bus this evening, so I share about why I quit my job.

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Guy Madden, a Winnipegger and obscure film director, recently released a black and white docu-fantasy called "My Winnipeg." Filled with half truths and half lies, he shows the history of Winnipeg and his attempt to escape the city by 'filming himself out the place.'Amanda is a sassy Seattelite who, around the same time as I, moved to Winnipeg and we became friends. She wanted to make a video for her parents birthdays (5 days apart), as she was unable to make it back to Seattle this year to celebrate. I have wanted to make a video about my life in Winnipeg since I first moved here and fell in love with the city, but I never had the drive, the purpose, to follow through. Amanda gave me that purpose. Since we travel in similar circles, I feel like this is my video of Winnipeg, and my friends, to all of you. While the tour of her apartment isn't my own house, and her hot boyfriend isn't mine either, all of the places we show are special to me and leave me in awe of this great city. Call yourself Mom or call yourself Dad and enjoy Amanda's My Winnipeg.

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Reading the story on my "Goats Do Roam" bottle of wine.

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Amanda and I spent the day wandering around Downtown Winnipeg and the Forks Market. The river has recently risen over it's banks and the walk way that follows the Assiniboine down to the Forks. That did not deter us from enjoying the river walk and catching some of the sights and sounds of Two Rivers.

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The event that was opening the groomsmen gifts the day after the wedding.And in case you missed my awesome poem:the having,the holding,the new life unfolding.the cleaningthe scrubbingthe plumbing unplugging.I got them a pressure washer.

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A few posts ago I told you that I guessed that David would be on the radio. I taped the show on my cell phone and the quality wasn't disappointing. Good work David!

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I may have been an Oracle in a past life.

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I got mail...

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I found my first article of dumpster furniture today. I got to keep it because my roommates are Mennoties who value simplicity of life, pacifism, nonresistance, and free stuff.

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Despite what my friends suggested, I don't have mono! Man, just saying that makes me feel a whole lot better. I went to see my family doctor today. He suspects that I have a variation of the flu that does not involve excessive respiratory inflammation. So the chills and headache and lack of appetite fit under the category of influenza as well. He said I should feel better within a few days, and that lifts my spirits. Perhaps I won't flunk out of school after all. Here's a funny video about me theorizing about how my humidifier could be making me sick, 3 days ago. While it probably wasn't the cause, I'm glad I caught it!

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I got an invite to go curling for the first time in my life. Nobody there really knew how to play, so we were instead guided by the energies of our great Canadian forefathers and battled through a few rounds of this most social game.

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On Wednesday I was drawn to the outdoors by the beautiful Manitoba blue skies shining above the university. Kyle and I were going to spend part of the afternoon together after he finished classes, and was excited when I mentioned a skating date! As per tradition, I enjoyed a hot dog after a satisfying glide across the Red River with my boy.There is no explanation for the spate of skating videos of late. I'm having a lot of fun though, and am considering investing in a pair of skates for myself!

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My friend Mike sent a mass email asking his friends to come and support his hockey team, the CMU Blazers. They were playing against a team they dearly wanted to beat, the Provencher Freemen, and fan support is what the doctor ordered. I'd never been to a hockey game before. I thought it would be a great way to support a friend and try something new.I got there early. Once his other friends arrived, the support escalated into something entierly only marriage could tollerate. It was like married couples gone wild!And Mike didn't even look at us the entire time, even though we had SIGNS! You have to see it to believe it. I think I like this sport!

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Winnipeg recently took the title as home to the longest skating trail in the world! The trail runs from the Red River to the Assiniboine and clocks in at 8.54 Km. Come live vicariously through my friend Melissa and I as we strap on some rental skates and hit the ice. See local ice conditions at The Forks website.You might also like to watch my previous skating adventure on the former longest skating trail in the world on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa.

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Copyright law in Canada is under review. If consumers don't step forward and voice their concerns, we run the risk of being shut out of the reform process. I helped to form the Fair Copyright for Canada: Winnipeg Chapter's (FCCW) first meeting, where we introduced ourselves to one another and discussed reasons why fair copyright is important to us.Join the Facebook group here. Stay up to date with the latest information about Fair Copyright for Canada.�

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You don't want to miss this! I met Melissa for the first time today, but she was introduced to me nearly two years ago on a bus in a foreign country! Now we're not only living in the same city, but working across the road from each other!. She's got an infectious laugh and a quick whit: we were instantly compatible. I'm glad that we've met and can be friends!

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Tim began steak night 3 years ago, and it's since become a bi-yearly event. He likes it because it bridges the gap between his groups of friends. A group of randoms united by friendship with one man. It was a good time. I even joined the facebook group.

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Adam and I went skating yesterday on The Forks ice trails. It was a load of fun, and there's even points where the trail goes up and down hill: A first for me in skates. I didn't fall once and was thoroughly tired by the second time round. The skates are cheap to rent at $3.50 for unlimited use. I'll certainly be back there before the winter is over.

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I wandered my favorite hiking spot during my visit home and reflected on it's significance.

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I'm going back to Southern Ontario for Christmas.

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I'm in the height of exam fever at school, but in the spirit of procrastination I feel I have to share my study tips with you.

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I had a great birthday party with my friends. We played Settlers of Catan, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite board games. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect party!

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Broomball. Never heard of it until Carolyn invited me to a wedding shower for Marc and Chars. At first I said that I wasn't going to play 'cause of my arthritis. But about 20 seconds into the game I realized that I was missing out on a world of fun! It wasn't that intensive as I imagined. I hurt today, but it was worth it. You should all know that I did indeed play the game for about 45 minutes and then decided to film the remainder. I blocked approximately 4 goals. I have no idea how I ended up in net half the time. My team was no where to be found. There was also little by way of comparison between myself and the broom stick.

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The end of semester one is quickly approaching and I feel good. I'm on top of my assignments and have been performing excellently thus far! I didn't always feel this way about school, though. We'll travel back in time to see me stress about registration.

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There's no easy way of saying this, so curl up beside me and let me find my voice.As always, this was completely unscripted. This is my first 'coming out' video to to my friends and family, though I had discussed the issue with people in larger circles. I filmed it because I wanted to see how much of a dork I actually was, and also because I have a way of blanking out my memory in stressful situations. I never imagined that I would one day post something so personal and awkward to the internet.Eight months later I was in the middle of writing the coming out letter to my family. I had told a few close friends back in Southern Ontario before I left, and everyone I knew in Winnipeg knew that I am gay. But I had kept the secret from most people I know in Southern Ontario because I wasn't ready to tell my family yet. The risk of them finding out before I was ready grew exponentially with each person who knew.However, the longer I was out, the more comfortable I became with my sexuality and situation. I came across the video on my hard drive about a month ago by accident, having forgotten that I had even filmed it (see above re: blackout). It suddenly dawned on me that there aren't very many videos such as this available to the public. I knew this, because I had done extensive research across the blogosphere searching for inspiration and the wisdom of those who had been 'there' before me. I thought that this might be my gift to the cause. It also saved me having to tell hundreds of people in person.My hope is that some other closeted individual might come across this video and see that it can be done, you can tell someone you love I'm Gay, and life will continue.

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It first big snowfall of the year and my first blizzard ever in Winnipeg. A sign of things to come, no doubt!

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Here's a fast forward view and instructions on how to look like a zombie for cheap! The whole setup cost me $13, and I have enough materials to create a zombie army.

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My friend Carolyn and I have a symbiotic relationship. She edits me unversity essays, I edit her videos. Carolyn was recently speaking at her church and wanted to introduce the topic of her sermon with a video.

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Something Delicious.That's the name of the Sunday evening dinner ritual at Murat's palace in Tache Hall. Once a week Murat gathers some rezbians from his floor and invites thm to shop, chop and cook SOMETHING DELICIOUS! This is the first vlog I've made with the rezbians. Perhaps more will follow!

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That's the name of our phenomenal flotation device, made by Coleman, which allowed for an awesome adventure muddy Assiniboine River. Six friends embarked on a first: Lazily tubing on the medium current of filthy water, not knowing what we would encoutner around every bend. We made the 6 o'clock news.And rightly so. I've searched for stories of people who have plied waterways of Winnipeg on raft or tube and come up empty handed every time. The water is truly a turn off, resembling refined sewage without the smell. Could we be the first people to float down the river in an inflateable Mini Party Island? I'm willing to bet YES.

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It's the end of part one. I'm moving to Winnipeg in a few hours. I've got a new summer job, and over the months have been cultivating some new goals for myself. I'm going to the University of Manitoba for Environmental Studies starting in September, however I wanted to see the city and put down some roots ahead of time. I heard this song by The Violet Archers and bought their CD immediatly. It nearly entierly encapsulates within 14 tracks where I am and how I feel at this point in my life. I've been imagining this video for a month. I feel that it's one of my best ever.

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I really wanted to explore my favorite hike in the world during the winter, however the opportunity to visit in the last 6 months didn't come up, and all the snow melted away.Thanks to a freak Easter Chill I got to experience the forest with a dusting of snow across the oranges, browns, and greys of the sleeping forest! It was a great day.

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I spend the evening with my brothers and their friends. We shoot each other to the death.

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As you may remember, autumn is my favorite time of the year. I brought my friends to my favorite hiking spot for the first time last fall, but I didn't edit it right away because the timing wasn't right. I wanted to savour the memory and wait for a miserable rainy day in the spring to recall our wonderful day together.The video is purposely large because I wanted to capture in quality the beauty of the season.

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A few weeks ago Chewy was sprayed by a skunk. I was home alone and had to deal with him before I left for work.

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I've finally slain this video beast! It's Ottawa Day 4: The Parliament Buildings!

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I spotted my friend Christof on television last night. Here is a tribute to him.

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This is a wedding video that I created for my friends Shawn and Kayla Brenton! I really like making wedding videos because I get to hover around all the action, but can steer clear of the wedding stresses entierly! Watch this video and you're transported behind the scenes of a Christian wedding. Experience the wedding carriage decoration(isaster), the groom grooming, nailpolish drama and more! Best of luck, Shawn and Kayla, in your Newfoundland life together!

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Somehow or another, we all had the evening off and spent it with my Mom on her birthday.Music provided through Podsafe Music Network.Bangoutproductions, Blazej Lindner

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At 3 frames for photo, with nearly 2000 pictures.Don't blink or you'll miss it!

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Chewy was unsuspecting prey to the backside of my textbook. All it took to reduce him to a desk was steady, open handed stroking. I was in this position for an hour before I realized I should take a video.

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Seems like a different life altogether when I watch my old work. I was SO sure where I wanted to go--where I was capeable of going. And when I got there, I hated it. No, I don't produce video professionally any more, but this is a fun reminder that sometimes the things you want most in life are only temporary.This video is the story of my Video Production education in 2003.P.S. No, I am not for hire.

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Jared and Paul came over for a movie and pizza the other day, and they laughed and ridiculed me for my art. I was so jealous of my gift for my Mm this Christmas that I had to get my own calligraphy set. It's traditional, you have to dip it in an ink well and all that. The page you'll see was my first attempt ever. I think I have a knack for it.

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This course has been consuming much more time than I originally anticipated. It's been good to catch up on a 7 year educational slumber, don't get me wrong. I'm enjoying it. I just have no time. No time to videoblog. No time to hang out. Francois came over last night and I spent half the evening holed up in my room with my nose in a book.

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Our first split family Christmas, and Paul is no where to be found.

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Christmas for me is all about family, and so is this video.? I love you sibs, and can't help but broadcast your special talents to the world!

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I helped to create this video intro and outro for this year's Christmas Pageant at my church. I didn't get any footage of the live theatre, but just know that once the first scene fades to black all of the nativity scene pieces are lit up on stage in the same position where they fell. Each piece becomes animated and gives an impressively memorized monologue about who they are and how they fit into the Christmas story. After each turn, the character sets himself up into the proper position. The show went really well and was very, very cute :)After all the characters are in the right position, the last half of the video begins. The minute of music afterwards is for the actors to come forward and give a bow. It turned out great!

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Hey Cate, I gave you two options with this one. I converted it as Quicktime 3ivx, and stretched it to Pal proportions. There is a letterbox. I deinterlaced the footage also, I hope it looks good on your screen in Germany.!!I like the second take the best.

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After months of delaying, I finally pushed myself to look into getting a British passport.? You will see my mind melt to mush in the mire of bureaucracy.

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One of my favorite things about shooting scripted stories with friends is the bloopers afterwards!? West Country may have been a 30 second commercial, but we really put our heart and soul, and a whole lot of laughing into this student production!

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Based on a fictional soap opera styled after Shakespeare's play Hamlet, my sister was given a grade 12 English assignment; create a commercial advertising next week's episode.I was glad to help with the technical side of things, but the creative side came entirely from her. We shot and edited this together in less than 30 hours.Leah's oddly exuberant face confuses some viewers at first, so I must explain that in the play, Ophelia goes crazy after Hamlet kills her father in a bid of mistaken identity and then drowns herself.West Country is a region in England, but not the setting of Hamlet, which took place in Denmark. She chose it because it evoked thoughts of the wild west, while still European.Any accents you hear are Australian.

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Come out with me on my walk to work, and I'll show you a thing or two about dressing for magic hour.At first I thought I would bike it.

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I finally parked my car at home, and won't be driving it in the near foreseeable future.? I share some thoughts on the losses, and gains, of parking my car.

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I've been digitally different the past while, some of you might have noticed. The month of October can do that to you. It sure did it to me. Autumn colours, awful viruses and altered surroundings abound. Here's an update of October 2006. Where I'm at, recent decisions, excuses and a tour!See Vous Play is on it's way, I promise. That's explained in the update.P.S. When I say "I've started typing," I meant 'typewriting'. You know, with a typewriter!

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I just love Des, she's all around creative and impuslive.? Go visit her site after you watch the video, and send her some luvin'!

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It's Thanksgiving in Canada. We celebrate 3 weeks before the States, because our harvest on average ends earlier, due to our higher latitude.I'm sick and thankful.

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I love CBC Radio 3 and listen to it in the car on lumber roads.? The autumn is quickly going bald, get out and take in the colours before it's too late!

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My wonderful friend (whom I've never had the chance to meet), Lozza, sent me a little sumthin sumthin to make me feel like a million bucks, and a million pounds.You are awesome! P.S. You can still see the hospital band on my arm.http://thorntons.co.uk This video is licenced Public Domain

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...and my name is massacred by CBC Radio3 host Grant Lawrence. Or is it?? You be the judge. More on my name genocide later. This file plays funny on the blip player, so click on the below link.http://blip.tv/file/get/Shangao-IWonAHat846.mp3

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I recently switched over to spray deoderant. At least, until the bottle is empty. Sometimes new habits are hard to mix with old traditions.

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On day two after my procedure, I am feeling fine and enjoying my favorite time of the year. Then a tree almost falls on my head.Tune in to the VousVous Play concert, streaming live on Sunday, October 1 2006!Links:http://www.bandeapart.fm/http://radio3.cbc.ca/

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There's a burning in my loins. That is, every time I try and pee.The deed has been done.

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I visited my rheumatologist today and received some bad news. And then some more.Trip to Kenya, anybody? I'm ready, apparently.

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This is a video I made for my talented friend Lynlee, who is applying for a dance troupe in the USA.

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My friend Michael Sumner and I visited the Mediatheque, Downtown Toronto to watch some talented Canadian Produced media.Visit MediathequeSummary of "The Take"

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This is fake. There's no disaster. It's computer generated.Casey, I have no idea if this is what you're looking for. Chop away.

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Renee makes the move to school, perogies and all.I really like rotoscoping.

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It's labour day, the officially unofficial last day of summer.? There's some things that I didn't get to do.

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Jeremy's short lived visit comes to an end.

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Jeremy's short lived visit comes to an end.

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main text to go here when i have the time.

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Late night musings.

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In the continuing saga of my financial discontent, I am further buried 'neath unrelenting circumstance.?

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I have a wonderful friend named Joy in South Africa who I love very much. I am dissatisfied with the distance between us, and am experimenting with different ways to fill the gaps. Pioneering Expeimentation In The Expression Of Love Over Long Distances. You can call it that if you want to.PEELOL'd

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Jonny sent me instructions, and I followed through

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Go to my website and read the latest "behind my back"

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I recently switched over to spray deoderant. At least, until the bottle is empty. Sometimes new habits are hard to mix with old traditions.

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Click the right hand column for links to fabulous new Canadian indie, and some personal that sing what I'm feeling.

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Josh Leo and I travelled to Grand Haven together after I visited him in May. Here's another perspective of our fun day together.Bizzaro is a Seinfeld reference.

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A year ago today, I posted my first videoblog about my dirty apartment in Los Angeles. It was a funny video, albiet very long. And it was also a lie.A lot has changed in my life in the past year, and I've watched myself age, grow, and move onward in my journey to many places I would have never believed if you asked me back in the day. If videoblogging has taught me only one thing, it's that I have no idea what to expect of the future. It's also taught me that the past is always good for a laugh.Thanks for coming this far on the journey with me. I've appreciated your company :)YoursMichael Tyas

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Waiting for my Macleans article to come to light.

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Therese and I love Valancy Jane with both our hearts. After the initial shock and excitement of meeting each other for the first time ever, she and I concluded that a video without Valancy Jane would be out of the question. VJ, this video is for you first and formost :)Read Online, Valancy's Favorite Book Ever: The Blue Castle

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Today I teach you a valuable lesson that will be able to enrich you for years to come, filling your heart with happiness and your computer harddrive with memories.Ignore the bad termonology. This was unscripted, as always.Additional footage created by Josh Leo

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for kity kity and her collaboration project

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Therese and I are off on a totally scientific adventure of quantum proportions!? Then it get's cut short.? Time flies when you're having fun...

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a video for kity kity

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Melissa and Brendan tie the knot.

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