A Year Of Learning

'What's Wrong With Me?'
-Julia Stone

(Disclaimer: I have chosen to speak very frankly below.  By doing so you may feel offended and angry. Just know I wish you peace as there is no time to truly be angry in your day at the words and thoughts I choose to share.  I mean you no harm and hate, just that we are of different paths now and that is ok.)

Dear Readers of 'The Gawduner,'

When things happen in ones own life that cause a inner reflection at what they really want out of their life things begin to change.  Things can change for good or even bad.

As I have said in the past 2011 became a pivotal year for me, and it was a good one in the end.

I accomplished my goal of distancing my self from the constant addiction of Facebook except in regards to the ARG IMAG Photography page which needed keep up for my business.  I experienced a once thought to be a budding relationship turn to dust over night (Literally), which later turned out to be one of the biggest plays I've ever been through.  (And I've been played before.)  I experienced the forced loss of a job and the luck of being offered a job all because of the impact I have left on people around me.  I gained a powerful recharge in my photography that has taken me light years of where I was this time last year.  A charge in the way I look and practice physical health was embraced this past year, I have never looked nor felt better.  I have also experienced the sifting of friends and finding those that have stayed close to me even when they live miles, city's and states away.  I have also started new friendships by the common connection of simple iPhone apps and love of music.  During that same time with friendships I have greatly learned that several I called friends in my own town were not such.  It was more of a friendship of convenience, one in which they took and gave when they felt inclined.  And if I did not do the "keeping in contact 100% of the time" it was my fault I was not part of parties or get togethers (just a heads up a phone works two ways and there are many ways to contact me other than phone.)  I experienced a look at my own beliefs and religious beliefs, and just where I stand in regards to them.  And I experienced a dark and deep depression.

I am not bitter for any of the things I learned and went through in 2011.  I thank those who helped me in depression and despair, sometimes even making sure I was actually eating.

My Family
Sydney
Kenley
Nicole
Fred
Daniella
Channa
Emily
Kevin
Katie
David
Molly
Roxanne

I take to 2012 with this new mind.  Full of knowledge and ability to accomplish greater things than ever before.  My blogging may pick back up and it may not.  I have chosen to live my life doing what I like and enjoying my passions.  This means the pull of the inter-webs to blog and Facebook my every moment, unless for photography related items, may be infrequent.  But do check back from time to time.  You have not heard the last of me :)


'The Memory Machine'
-Julia Stone


-Gawdun

Of Course I Would

'Cobrastyle'
-Robyn

I thought about not posting on the passing of Steve Jobs, but I feel like I should pay respects to one of the great technology innovators.

I get a lot, and I mean LOT of slack for being an Apple fan from social acquaintances, and friends.  My family never really comments now that I think about it, other than my Aunt Dawn, but she's an avid Apple user as well.  I understand and know that a good majority of Apple owners just own them as it is a status symbol and cool factor.  I on the other hand own them because of the line of industry I am in, photography.  I do not need to own every object they invent or revamp.  Heck I still need to upgrade my OS from Snow Leopard to Lion but am fine for now, and currently use and do all my business on my 13inch white MacBook.  (Although it is time to get a desktop from the increase of work and clients I'm now having.)  Let's get to the purpose of this post though...

Steve was not flashy from what I ever noticed in his Keynote presentations.  He and his design team created things with the client and users in mind.  While at a 'Beloved' photography seminar recently we spoke on how your appearance in public can describe your product before the client even sees it.  From my opinion Steve knew that.  Jeans and a black turtle neck is all we ever saw him in.  That translated to his creations... Simplicity and comfort, less confusion, beauty and shine.  I'm always learning something new about his inventions that I own every time I use them.

I guess there is no concise theme to this post except how grateful I am for the awesome and simplified technology that Steve envisioned and brought us.  (I mean Microsoft, really?  Do you have to be so confusing?  Take a lesson.)

Thanks again!

'Deep Blue'
-Arcade Fire


-Gawdun

Good Times to Be Had

It's interesting the things your learn about people.  I  invest to much time into friendships that are just social encounters and not friendships.  I am a firm believer that you can tell a true friend by the amount of miles you have between you and the amount of communication and interest that fills that distance...  One of my best friends has lived in the same town as me, different countries and states and yet we have never grown apart. 

When you live in the high school world you think the number of friends means something.  Heck even in the Facebook world we live in today we think the number of friends means how cool we are.  But I have learned as you get older that number isn't important.  Your best friends are first your family, then the other people.  I am grateful for my family above all but so grateful for the friends that I can call friends in my older years.  Sorry to all those that are just social encounters, it's nothing personal, but we just never had it...

 Oh and on a side note:  Judging me by friends and/or associations then calling yourself my friend is so far from the truth.  Thanks but I don't need that negative energy in my life.

-Gawdun 

My MInd Has a Part 2

Earlier this week I posted a blog of two topics that were on my mind...

I had a feeling was leaving something out and that would be #3...

3.   This Darn NFL Lockout!

Back at the end of the NFL season the stupid NFL moved into this "Lockout" mumbo jumbo.  I mentioned it to a few people that I found this to be a giant waist of crap news.  Here is why...  If I remember right almost every darn year at the end of EVERY sport season there is some sort of strike or lockout.  Mostly they want money is the underlining theme but they usually cover that up with some sort of other bull crap.  

So there I was talking to a friend and I said, "mark my words the NFL lockout will come to an end right before the training and preseason kicks off."  Boy I need to be paid for my predictions.  There I was this last week in the gym locker room and on EPSN they were talking about they players were being allowed back into the locker rooms now as training season begins as long as they got their physicals.  Huh ironic.  Pre season is just weeks away and the "lockout" sounds like it is vanishing away.  

Just be honest and say you are giving your players more money for the next season.  I believe they just use the "Lockout" also as a cover up to make it so much easier for us to accept the fact they are going to once again get pay raises and they deserve it.  We wouldn't easily accept a raise if they just gave it to them.  This is just further proof that the majority of America is blind and can't think on their own.  

(Once again this is just my thoughts and opinions if you did not like this post then you really should... I don't know, but you should do something.)

-Gawdun

Drink Responsibly & Get Sponsored Responsibly...

'Home is a Fire'
-Death Cab For Cutie


It's about time I posted a blog about this...

Let's face it!  I am a water racist.  I wont drink any other water but a certain Glaceau kind.  What kind would that be?  SmartWater.  It just taste better, smells better has better ingredients and I could keep going on for hours.  Oh but I must not forget to mention has the coolest packaging.  I have been drinking SmartWater exclusively for 4 years and before then I would mix my water purchases with tap water or San Pellegrino.  But I have been a avid fan of the Glaceau brand since I read an article on them in the Entertainment Weekly back in spring 2001.

There is just something magical about SmartWater.  No I don't feel smarter (which is the same lame joke people ask when they see me drinking it).  ---> I have always wanted to tell them that just talking to them makes me smarter, but I refrain.  Seriously the only ingredients are; Vapor distilled water and Electrolytes.  "So pure and crisp like from a cloud," as one of their marketing campaigns stated.  It's just down right tasty.

Thus brings me to my current goal...

I have spent enough money on this company that I deserve to be a major share holder in the company but I will actually settle for a major sponsorship of some sorts.  I'm sorry Jennifer Aniston may make drinking SmartWater look sexy in black and white (another campaign that ran last year) but I look sexy drinking it in color ALL the time, not just at the turn of the page.  I am a major advertiser for them and they don't realize it but it's high time they do.

So by year end I want a sponsorship with them!  I sent out a tweet about this a few months ago and one of my photography network members actually tweeted back saying Glaceau sponsored one of their wedding promo events and they ended up with tons of bottles left over.  To prove that I drink this liquid heaven everyday and everywhere I will be taking a photo of me and the SmartWater everyday until they notice.   I am creating a separate Tumblr page then my "Behind ARG IMAG Photography" page.  I will have the link for you by Friday as I am in the midst of designing the page :)

It's gonna be sick!

Let's look at the dedication I have to this liquid heaven:

1.  I have a 1L bottle with me during my gym work-out, which I attend 6 days a week.
2.  I have at least a full bottle and a backup one here in the office at all times.
3.  All road trips consist of a separate area in my car where I can reach a SmartWater at all times, even if I'm not driving.
4.  I will not waste a single drop by dumping out.
5.  Before crossing airport security I will guzzle the entire bottle I have left (see #4), which then causes me to pee a lot before flight and in flight.
6.  On my mission my dear friend Roxanne would send me packages in the mail with at least 3 of the 1.5 L size bottles at least once every 6 months.  I would ration it out to be used only during meetings and when I had a rough day teaching.
7.  I have a bottle with me whenever I do any public speaking.
8.  When I find it on sale it's all over.  I will buy a shopping cart full, but not in one trip, I make several trips.  I don't want people to think I run a mini-mart.
9.  I don't just throw the bottle away I will place it in the proper plastic recycle location just as it suggests.
10.  I actually just paused between 9 and 10 to drink some.
11.  Only water I will put in my protein shakes after each work out.
12.  I will turn my nose down at you if you reuse the bottle with any kind of water that is not the SmartWater.  I am not afraid to admit it.
13.  I can tell you are a good friend if you actually knew all this about me and don't offer me anything other than SmartWater at your BBQ's, parties, etc.
14.  Even when I was laid off I still managed to buy it and support the dedication.

AND ONE MORE:

15.  I have a bottle with me at EVERY photo shoot I do.



See I deserve a sponsorship!  So get ready for me to have it by year end of 2011.

(I totally just took this)

'You Are a Tourist'
-Death Cab For Cutie


-Gawdun

"Jesus Has Me Blogging Again..."

(Taken on a recent trip to Laguna Beach:  ARG IMAG Photography)

I would say that the famine of blog postings started back on January 30th when I last posted my most honest blog posting.  All the rest were true but fillers to cover my hectic life making it appear I was alive and well.  I mean yes I was and still am alive.  But as for 'well,' that is debatable.

I don't like rehashing the past anymore as it truly doesn't get you anywhere, but I learned several things in February that I must share.

Caring about someone can consume every ounce of you.  It is raw, powerful, scary, memorable, intense, gentle, overwhelming and the list can go on.  A word that deserves most focus would be CONFUSING.

Unemployment.  Is.  Horrible.

I have come to part of my life where I want a dog.  In the words from the great film, Empire Records...  "Shock me, shock me, shock me, with that deviant behavior."

I am working again part time when not working on photo shoots.  Outback Steakhouse has me now, and actually wanted me to be there from the get go.  I am honored to have been so desired as an employee by the management team.  :)

I really hate the way this blog is turning out to look and sound.  Man I don't think blogging is my thing anymore.

I joined a gym a week ago and have been tearing it up.  I decided to join one after my running habit turned into a 6 day a week habit.  As I tell my friends my lower half is looking all sorts of fit and nice while my upper half is looking the opposite.  Can't look disproportional now can I?  So thus I made it all 6 days to the gym while allowing Sunday as my only day off.  Monday and Thursday I do yoga.  Mon-Thurs I attend the gym at 5am with a friend.  Friday we go at 6am and then Saturday I told her that I plan on going around 10am.  Each time I am there I stay around 2 to 2.5 hours.  I wont lie going super early in the AM is tough but I manage to have self motivation, who would have thought.  Once my friend Trudi get's out of school for the summer I told her I want to start around 9:30 weekdays.  I know it's only been one week but I am loving it more and more every day.

I don't do a lot of personal Facebooking anymore, unless it is on my business page.  I just don't think everyone needs to know everything I am in the midst of.  You want to know, then call me.  :)  Plus there have been people who have been using my posts and such as fuel to create preconceived ideas of my personal and professional life.  This would also explain my un motivated desires to blog.  I just don't care to share anymore :)  We have become a society of "must knows."  So good luck with "must knowing" Gawdun.  Consider this post to be the last of it's kind in the personal life of Gawdun.  Don't fret I'll still blog from time to time but I won't be giving out personal life details.  Once again as Dragonette sings, 'Pick Up The Phone' if you want info...

I'm hungry now and want a steak so go find something else to read  :)

-Gawdun

I Am Here

As much as I love blogging it sure sometimes feels like a job.  

With that I am here still, and storing up on the topics to put down here for you fellow readers, but I just don't have the time.  Ok that is a lie, as of this very moment I do have the time I just don't feel like posting a long winded story from the travels of Gawdun.  DEAL WITH IT...

Here is a photo to swing the mood... into what way it swings I will leave that up to you.

And yes this is one of my images.  In fact if you would like to purchase this in the form of a print to hang on your wall or somewhere else contact me through...

arg.imag@gmail.com

-Gawdun

2011 A Grand Start

Besides loosing my bartending job this week due to Ruby Tuesday closing all it's franchise locations I am having a FANTASTIC 2011!  I'm sure it will get better but I would like to see it try!

My photography business, ARG IMAG Photography, is growing, and my personal life has taken a huge jolt of "I didn't see that coming but I love it!"

Hope you are all having a great start as well.  February is next week!!

...The End

-Gawdun

Feed Your Ears Vol. 2

Due to internet connection issues this list was not available to post on the 1/1/11 like intended.  Here it is now.  (Once again for those new readers if listening to music while blogging I post the song that was playing when I started and the song that was playing when I ended the post.)

2010 Blogging Playlist In Review

 'They'
-JEM

'Who's That Girl'

-Eve

'Kids (Soulwax Remix)'

-MGMT

'Waterfalls'

-TLC

'Oops (Oh My)'

-Tweet feat. Missy Elliot

'Take It Like A Man (Suarez Remix)'

-Dragonette

'Paris is Burning'

-Ladyhawke

'Rocket'

-Goldfrapp

'Run This Town'

-Jay Z (feat: Rihanna & Kanye West)

'Here Before'

-Lissie

'I Want You'

-Fefe Dobson

'Shine Right Through'

-Correatown

'Your Heart Is An Empty Heart'

-Death Cab For Cutie

'Modern Nature'

-Sondre Lerche

'I Love LA'

-Randy Newman

'Bad Romance'

-Lady Gaga

"Valnetino"

-Diane Birch

'Hospital Beds'

-Cold War Kids

'Beauty in the World'

-Macy Gray

'New Divide'

-Linkin Park

'Gimme Sympathy'

-Metric

'Heartbreak Warfare'

-John Mayer

'Pocketful of Sunshine'

-Natasha Bedingfield

'Stop Draggin My Heart Around'

-Stevie Nicks w/ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

'Take Everything'

-Greg Laswell

'Sweet Disposition'

-The Temper Trap

'Next Best Thing'

-Nikki & Rich

'Everywhere I Go'

-Lissie

'Dance Anthem of the 80's'

-Regina Spektor

'Take Care'

-Beach House

'Die'

-Carissa's Weird

'Empire State of Mind (feat Alicia Keys)'

-Jay-Z

'My First Kiss (feat Ke$ha)'

-3OH!3

'Click Flash'

-Ciara

'King of the Berry (Piano Slam Mix)'

-Happy Monkey

'Dying Day'

-Brandi Carlile

'Electric Feel'

-MGMT

'Tom's Diner'

-Suzanne Vega

‘Kiss With a Fist’

-Florence + the Machine

‘4 Minutes (feat Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)

-Madonna

‘3’

-Britney Spears

‘Odyle’

-Heloise & the Savior Faire

‘Why Don’t You Love Me (Jump Smokers Radio Edit)’

-Beyonce

‘Got Love to Kill’

-Juliette and the Licks

‘Living Dead Girl (Subliminal Seduction Remix)’

-Rob Zombie

‘Fade Into You’

-Mazzy Star

'Everybody Hurts'

-R.E.M.

'Belong'

-Cary Brothers

'Got Nuffin'

-Spoon

'Emancipated Minor'

-Ani Difranco

'Whip My Hair'

-Willow Smith

'Bad Romance (cover)'

-Lissie

‘Cannibal’

-Ke$ha

‘We R Who We R’

-Ke$ha

'Made For Us'
-Mackintosh Braun

'All Dressed in Love'
-Jennifer Hudson

'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'
-Aimee Mann

'Christmas Lights'
-Coldplay

'The Night Before Christmas'
-Brandon Heath

'Christmas Tree'
-Lady Gaga

'Time of the Season'
-Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

'My Only Wish'
-Jessica Simpson

If you missed last years playlist here is a link...  2009 Blogging Playlist in Review

-Gawdun

Blessed And Highly Favored

2010 has not been an easy year.  2010 was the year where things I thought were not and things that were, became a thought.  I have learned of being confused and then of having a clear mind.

My family has been a great support and I know and hope will always be as things get interesting in 2011.  I can just feel it being a interesting year, but then again I say that every year and I am always right ;-)

I owe a great deal of thanks to a specific group of friends I have.  They have accepted your blogger, a certain Gawdun, and been a great deal of support and sound board.  They are a great group of guys.

Ok that is the limit I have on emotion for this year.  Quota full.  Enjoy your final day of 2010!!!  Here's looking to 2011

-Gawdun

In Rome they Do It BIG!!!

'Christmas Tree'
-Lady Gaga (probably the most random Xmas song EVER, but then are you surprised being from Gaga?)

As mentioned a few post prior I traveled to Vegas for a day of Christmas shopping with the destination set for the new H&M location that was replacing the old FAO Schwartz toy story in the Forum Shops at  Caesars Palace Las Vegas.  If you read the past post you would know that they actually didn't open on the scheduled November 20th.  Instead it would be two days from the day we were there.  So of course I was lucky that I had to attend a roller derby game that same night when it would open.  So you bet your bottom dollar this boy, and his friends Kenley, and Nicole got up early and drove down just so we could get the lucky opening door gifts.

We got there and had to WAIT in line to even get in the store, it was AMAZING!  I have never for one waited in line for a movie so to wait in line for a store to let us in was beyond me.  But we managed to score some sweet re usable shopping bags, and little note books.  I loved it.  However the highlight came when we got close to the door.  They gave out these little poker chips with scratch spots on the back.  Once scratched it had a money denomination.  I had $25 so that meant I pretty much had free money.  You better believe I used that up.

Now before I shut up and post the photo's of this marvel of a store let me describe the reason why I love me some H&M.  First off they are comparable, but better, to the Old Navy of Europe.  However you don't find many shirts with stupid decals of the store of pictures on them.  It's simple, well designed, decal-less, affordable clothes for the person looking to dress high style and not spend 50K on a new wardrobe.  Perfect for me as I have began the transition to get rid of my decal stamped Shirts and go for a more modern 50's look, which is were I love.  Think Mad Men style.  For opening day they had killer rack deals, $5 clothes and such.  So with that in mind here is what I spent and saved.  I WOULD HAVE spent $201.60.  I LEFT PAYING $59.40.  I'll let you do the math on how much I saved.  Only one item did I pay full price for it, and that was a GIANT bow tie.

Enough of the ramblings on saving, here are some pics for this gem.  Oh and I did find out for those interested that this location has a live DJ (I hope he wasn't just for the opening) and they will have items in this location you WILL NOT find in any other H&M.

Now here are the main reasons for this post, the eye candy I wet myself for.  The store seriously has the best displays in my opinion it just blew my mind.  Mind you it is 3 stories when you see these.

 Yes that is a DJ and his mannequin partner in crime

All the mannequins were hanging from wires and out of control rockin awesome

One final thing about this place is my mind as a photographer goes on major overdrive.  Styling is a huge part of photo shoots and the entire time I am there I am thinking what would be great for a shoot and such.  So if there are any guys or gals out there that want to collaborate with me and this store let me know!  I am for real let's set something up!

'The Night Before Christmas'
-Brandon Heath

-Gawdun

Bows of Holly

'Christmas Lights'
-Coldplay

I have been gone from the blog world for a minute.  I know, I know "The Horror!"  I could tell you that I have been busy which is yes very true as I have had family photo shoots and also a wedding shoot in Vegas, along with bartending and table waiting but that would be a lie if I used just "being busy."  I have had no desire to sit down and blog simply put.  I have been a blog party crapper.  Maybe it has to do with the fact I am running 3 blogs (or attempting) with one being ARG IMAG Photography, the business blog.  Whatever reason may be I have taken a blog hiatus but am back now.

I've begun compiling the listing of all the music mentioned at the start and finish of blog posts from this year.  That playlist will be available to view come January 1, 2011. (1/1/11)

St. George this week has flooded.  Not as bad I guess damage wise as the 2005 flood.  HOWEVER I have just one irritation with the hype around it.  Some of you may have seen this remark as my Facebook status but I must explain.  I HATE when people make reference to floods as a "common occurrence."  Unless you have factual evidence I don't want to hear the phrase, "oh this is a 100 (90, 75 etc) year flood.  Simply put I don't think weather truly has a pattern like the human race does.  I think the simplicity of my brother backing the toilet up has more of a pattern and can be called one than flooding does.  I had someone this week tell me that the flood of 2005 (which I didn't live here then) was a 100 year flood and the one of this week was a 90 year flood.  I won't lie, I laughed in their face and called them out.  Not nice but had to be done.  -The end of my flood rant-

December has been a busy Sin City Roller Girls month.  Nicole is also back from her master program in N.C. so we have attended most of the events.  I did the Twitter feed once again for the team during their bout this month.  We also attended yet another roller disco event they hosted.  They moved it from the Rain nightclub at the Palms to The Joint at Hard Rock.  Not as fun I will admit but it was a good time.  I opted to not skate it up and took some sweet photos.  I will be posting them tonight along with my photo's from the H&M opening at the Forum Shop.  That opening blew my mind!


'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'
-Aimee Mann


-Gawdun