Like most people I go through periods where I am at odds with my consumeristic nature. For many of us these feelings of guilt or other emotions creep up on us around Christmas. However, this post has nothing to do with any feelings of guilt. I really can't apologize for the fact that I am looking forward to opening any presents that I...

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I always get the tiniest thrill when I find one of my photos on another blog or somewhere on the web.Today I was browsing technorati, and I found one of my photos from the recent strike on this blog. and thanks to this group on flickr, this photo was also featured as one of the photos of the week on labourstart.org. ...

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as if to say Originally uploaded by *raffaella. "If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!--Charles Dickens A Christmas CarolBeginning to wrap presents has put me in the holiday mood. ...

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I have watched a string of good movies at the local cinema lately. This could just be good luck or I have been more selective in my cinematic experiences. Some recent gems, the last Harry Potter film, Rent, Walk the Line, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Speaking of Narnia... it had been years since I read the...

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Should anyone so desire... (and by anyone I'm referring to all those lovely folks out there who might be looking to buy me a mercedes benz or other such extravagant gifts), I have a PDF list of the majority of the books I already own. If you would like to verify that you will not be buying me duplicates please send me an...

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My room often resembles a small warehouse. Keeping with that theme, I spent the afternoon and evening cataloging my prize possessions (my book collection) using this fabulous application called delicious library. It was a bit labour intensive since I had to transport all of my books from the neat stacks in the corner on to my bed so I could input the ISBN...

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I enjoy this site, let them sing for you... I used it to earlier today to reprise a lecture for my younger brother. I wrote: "stop lying to your mother brother those devil games will make your mind disappear"My mother told me that my sense of humour has gone awry. ...

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hills like white elephants Originally uploaded by *raffaella. it's shocking to think that December is here already and the year is very nearly about to disappear. I wish that my student loan could disappear as quickly as time does. ...

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I'm dead tired, but I wanted to say just one thing.Rent is an absolutely fantastic movie.Go see it. ...

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my little white beast of burden (my aptly named iBook) continues to improve. Best news, I have now installed the drivers necessary to use my tablet so I am now fully operational to edit photos on both my beautiful wuxga screen silver bullet (factory named, rechristened d'ell in honour of el mariachi) and this little work horse. There are a few flaws with...

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It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like.--Jackie Mason That quote seems to epitomize my life right now. I seem to be hit with whatever sickness is flying around. I thought this was the weekend of my convalescence... I felt rather chipper and was in rather good spirits after watching the new Harry Potter...

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I arrived for work earlier than usual... and I was greeted with a sea of zebra cowboy hats and sparkly feather boas. unbeknowst to me, it's funky friday.and tonight we celebrate. ...

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health update: no dislocated ribs... cough is decreasing...I try to be out of the ordinary, but I think I'm failing miserably. It's probably what's left over from my cold, but I'm feeling a little bland and just the tiniest bit unspecial. Maybe I'd like just a little adoration to make me feel unique again. and not just from my flickr fans. show me...

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 I made the interestingness page on flickr. Me...  ...

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Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.--Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)I went to the drugstore this morning to buy some cough suppressant... and as I walked down my driveway I couldn't help but think that I really do have to pull out my longjohns from storage. And that realization depressed me. I like the look of snow, but...

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classic bob Originally uploaded by *raffaella. I've been sick all weekend. It's been horrible, not because the worst of it coincided with my weekend, but because it's been one of those rancid sicknesses that has drained me of most of my energy and racked my abdomen with tuberculosis-like coughs that wake me from the deepest slumber. If I didn't have to worry about...

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WUXGAShort for Wide Ultra eXtended Graphics Array, WUXGA has a resolution of 1920 horizontal pixels by 1200 vertical pixels. ...

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here are a few gems from this evening. a friend of a friend was visiting from a nearby city and we all went for dinner and then watched Finding Neverland while drinking delicious Red Mellow Bush (a roobois tea by Numi). Oh, and before I forget... W. I'm sorry, I think I forgot to bring my cup to the kitchen. Forgive me.but back...

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rather productive night... which seems unusual for me. I need to come up with an idea for a group project for this cultural resistance symposium for my course on communication and culture. This week we're discussing feminism in relation to the Dove Real Beauty Campaign and I'm thinking of doing something along those lines, but I still want it to be original and...

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Here's a little beatnik poetry that I did not perform at tonight's open mic at the local coffee house staffed by simple barristas. "Why did I not perform this poem?" you ask. Well I can assure you it was not because of stage fright as there was no stage. In fact I did not even attend this evening's open mic night at the...

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Here's a scene from my Friday evening out... a pair of very mod friends (boy and girl, mod in the stylish dress sort of way not so much the riding of motor scooters) are out for dinner at a rather trashy diner. The waitress approaches the two with her order pad and pen poised to take their order. "Have you decided?" the waitress...

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I'm feeling like I'm stretching myself in too many directions right now. It's a bit frustrating because there are so many things that I have on the go right now, but at the same time I feel like I'm not paying enough attention to any of the things I'm involved in. On top of all that I'm feeling a lot like I did...

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While setting up a blog for the class I work in, I came across these cool links. Check them out, they are both interesting visual treats.Their Circular LifeThe Thought Project ...

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You scored as Elizabeth Bennet. As one of Austen's most beloved characters, Elizabeth Bennet represents what most women would like to become: strong, independent, and loyal. Of course, she has her faults including a stubborn will of iron and a clinging to first impressions. Overall, Lizzie is bright and lovable...something to admire Elizabeth Bennet75%Emma Woodhouse59%Elinor Dashwood56%Lady Catherine50%Marianne Dashwood47%Jane Bennet44%Charlotte Lucas38%Which Jane Austen Character...

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keeps the doctor away Originally uploaded by *raffaella. some might scoff... but being on the computer when you're feeling a little tired (or feeling like total junk like I was this afternoon and so far this evening) is no different than watching a little tv. And since I have no tv to watch and I did not have enough energy to concentrate on...

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I'm not going to run the risk of losing another blog post from dashblog, at least not tonight anyhow, so I've returned to the basics (the basics that is just blogger, even barer bones as I'm using Safari and not Firefox). I have no real purpose for this post, I just felt like writing something before bed. I read something interesting today on...

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hmm...not good. I just lost a lovely blog entry that I just spent the last twenty minutes typing up using dashblog widget from my dashboard. Now I'm not pointing fingers or anything like that, I know that these things happen from time to time, not everything is perfect... but it's still very annoying because it was a lovely blog post where I talked...

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Just came across this language site on the BBC website. Use it to spruce up your language skills for free. Just came across this language site on the BBC website. Use it to spruce up your language skills for free. ...

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I was just demonstrating to my little bro the miracle of widgets. In response he said (in his deep man voice), "Apple is forging boldly into the future." The little boy's got vision.This morning I found a postcard from my aunt and uncle who are off on a worldy excursion. This postcard came from Paris (although it didn't have any postage so I'm...

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nor did i have your black hair Originally uploaded by *raffaella. I've been orienting myself to the little white beast... The poor machine has received a few scuffs in its time and when it gets going the harddrive chugs along like the little engine that could. The screen can in no way compare to the blazing beauty of d'ell (or silver bullet if...

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I feel like a real geek today, I'm here in my room with two laptops on my bed, one with a beautiful screen, the other with a beautiful operating system. But that's not why I feel like such a geek. I spent a couple hours today solving some internet issues at my house. During the spring cleaning purge some information was misplaced... some...

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while I watch Catherine Zeta Jones' musical number on PVR I just thought I'd post a little something from the little present that was brought home for me today. Yes, that's right, I'm posting from a dashboard widget on my little white beast, my almost new ibook that I'll be using for work. W. is helping with my indoctrination into the world of...

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My replacement keyboard arrived today. The entire story of why I needed a replacement keyboard in the first place is long and painful to tell (synopsis, cats are evil), as is the story of why I hadn't replaced it earlier (synposis, I was blinded by rage and my research was faulty)... but I now have a fully functional keyboard that enables me to...

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I found this meme on one of my blogs... thought I'd give it a bit of a whirl.Leave your first memory of you and me together. It doesn’t matter if I know you a little or a lot, anything you remember! Next, post this in your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. ...

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I'm quickly dozing off here but I thought I'd share with the world a couple of the things (stats mostly about blogs and such) that I discovered tonight.From Feedburner: Daily Circulation Readership Details (last 24 hours)Bloglines 3NetNewsWire 3A Java-based feed reader 1FeedFetcher -Google 1My Yahoo 1Yahoo-Blogs 1From Bloglines: I have five people who subscribe to my flickr photostream within blogger (five people subscribe...

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One kind word can warm three winter months. Japanese proverbI have had a hideous cough for several days now. What was a minor nuissance in the beginning has rancidified into something quite unpleasant. It wakes me from my deepest sleep and disrupts the zen atmosphere of my family home.In other news I returned to work today. As a general rule I tend to...

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while I wait for some things to finish downloading I just thought I'd mention how today I met a man who is building a castle in his yard. It was interesting to say the least. I didn't take any pictures because it was raining and I wasn't brave enough to take out my camera (but probably a more accurate reason was that it...

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what is exciting in my world? well, I am happy to report that one of my photos made the interestingness stream on flickr. The stream features different photos each time the page reloads so I had to go and search out the photo after someone left a comment to tell me about it being deemed interesting (what that means I don't really know),...

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I was reminded that sometimes I am a bit much sometimes. I burden others too much, but I know why I do it. Here's my explanation, my justification if you will.Go in for a closer look here, the description on the photo is exactly the same as the text below.call me verbose, it won't hurt me. Well maybe it might, because my need...

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hmmm... a few things to report on.On the strike front, the BCTF's assets were frozen, which apparently means that they can't pay strike pay... but I haven't heard any news yet that the teachers are returning to work.On the photography front, I took photos of my two brothers at the park across from my brother's house. The weather was very cooperative, it was...

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I have been trying out Google Reader recently, comparing it to Bloglines. Both are web based rss readers, which I like because both are free and when I was spending a lot of time switching from computer to computer at school, I always had access to my feeds. It's interesting to see the threat that Google Reader posed on bloglines, because following suit...

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I never chronicled my abba mania experience. I guess I forgot to, but I experiencing some minor fatigue earlier this evening I seem to have received a second wind so I will share a condensed version of my abba experience.On Friday W. and I attended Abba Mania. It was a funny experience, I fit into the middle age demographic as the majority of...

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on strike Originally uploaded by *raffaella. the strike continues... unfortunately for all parties involved, for the longer the strike continues the situation for teachers seems to get worse. On Thursday the BCTF is expected back in court to receive the ruling of the fine for being found in contempt of court. It's a nasty situation... it really seems like there is no solution...

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There are reasons to avoid movies that have romantic story lines. Mainly, they are depressing when you live and work in a place with seemingly no romantic prospects. I should just stick to gritty dramas that make me feel good about my life.One thing I have to feel good about, one of my flickr contacts wrote me a testimonial. Another thing to feel...

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In the age of dvd and special features I usually like to watch the trailer for the film I have just viewed just to compare how much the trailer might have given away about the plot, or how much the trailer misconstrued the plot. I find that the english trailers for foreign language films tend to present a very different story than the...

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heh... I came across this flash game where you can play a memory card game using tags from flickr. There's nothing really spectacular about it, but it's fun to play using tags that are unique to your photostream. Or you can search generic tags... but isn't it more fun to play a matching game of your own face? heh... I came across this...

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On the eve of stage II of job action I'm pleased to announce that I now have more hours to work. Starting tomorrow I will be working as an Educational Assistant II. I'm absolutely thrilled. The hours work perfectly with my schedule... as I will have afternoons and evenings free for school, and I will be working 20 hours a week... which will...

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it's 6:18am and I can't sleep. I'm not usually up at this hour but thanks to my ridiculous tendencies to feel to deeply I'm agitated and unable to sleep. My eyes hurt, my head hurts, and my body is tired. In short, I feel like super junk.and it seems that not even the cheesy tunes of the BeeGees help. ...

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Today is the day of the big photo shoot extravaganza. And least that is what I've been lead to believe. My insecurities tell me that I will be stood up. However, I refuse to belive such foolishness... I can only cling to the hope that my vision for this portrait session will be fully realized.Can I mention that I'm bloody excited? I didn't...

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Tonight I was like a caged housewife who attacked the unsuspecting vaccum salesman with tedious conversation. That's the type of life I lead you see, that of a trophy wife. A dusty trophy that sits on top of a high shelf with all the other useless awards that people collect over time. Or, if I were to relate the text to the photo...

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Just some of the recent photos I've taken and posted to my flickr photostream. I'm very pleased with the work that I've been doing lately... and really, that's what I consider my photography, work, but work that I enjoy immensely.W. and I did our first individual portrait session for a client today (we've shot couples, weddings, and families... but never an individual client)...

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I would love to be a fashion photographer. Correction: I'm already a fashion photographer, I just want to get paid for it.Check out my latest photoset and hire me for your next portrait session.UPDATE: This photo was selected as Digital Photo of the Day on the Digital Photography Weblog (for September 23, 2005). I've now joined the ranks of International Weblog Sensations (a...

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I don't exactly hide the fact that I adore musicals. One of my favourites has always been Singing in the Rain. So I couldn't help but appreciate this new ad for the VW Golf GTI.Watch it here at Ads of the World. ...

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raspberry beret Originally uploaded by *raffaella. watch my flickr photostream over the next few days for some fabulous photos from my most recent photo expedition. I've posted a few photos already, as the tempation was far too great and I could not wait another day.Anyhow, this photo expedition involved pincurls, A.'s prom dress, fabric that was orignally intended for my bedroom, and of...

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when in Victoria I picked up one of the best magazines I had seen in a long time. It was the Communication Arts Photography Annual. It filled me with ideas and inspiration. If you're ever looking for a magazine subscription to buy me, I would suggest this magazine. I highly suggest picking one up if you're a designer or in any way interested...

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beat with an ugly stick Originally uploaded by *raffaella. random poetry to contemplate (really random, I went to the poetry archives @ eMule.com and clicked random poem and this was the first one to come up).Sounds of griefby SapphoMust I remind you, Cleis,that sounds of griefare unbecoming ina poet's household?and that they are notsuitable in ours? feeling bleh last night, feeling a little...

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Here's a little something for the communication scholar in all of us... A History of Communications 35,000 BC - 1998 AD.and in other news, I had a job interview this morning. I think it went quite well, but that never means that I am assured a job. It's not very much work at all (about five hours a week) but the job is...

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from the wonderful world of RSS here are some items of interest... the very handy google blog search developing "social" browser called flock ...

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for some odd reason this photo has been viewed 115 times. There is no logical explanation for that many views... it's not that spectacular of a shot (no offense to the subject or the photographer) but it was hastily composed and really consists of me acting like a bit of a fool and that's all.Today I would like to comment that I wish...

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functional yet sturdy Originally uploaded by *raffaella. Tonight was my refresher course on what winter nights are like... no one to talk to, searching for movie trailers on the internet of films that I won't be able to see for months until they come out on DVD, and watching the clock hoping that the evening will disappear into nothingness. I am still without...

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I came across this through the wonder of RSS a few days ago, but I didn't get around to checking it out until now. My response time was delayed simply because I am not a resident of the UK, therefore this service is not available to me. I wonder if (or rather how soon) this type of service will be available in North...

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that I used to make my living helping people find work... It's so much easier to give people tips when you have steady income and the knowledge that when you leave the house the next morning you're going to the same office, rather than a series of different offices with your resume in hand.in other news I left my camera at W.'s house...

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mamapanda mashed potato Originally uploaded by *raffaella. I was looking up photoshop tutorials this afternoon, and I came across a site that gave some basic instructions how to create your own ipod ad. I have to say that the instructions were not very detailed, and I kind of had to make it up as I went along, and I still don't know how...

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Please note that this photo is not posted to my flickr photostream because I am honouring the terms of agreement with my friend and fellow photographic muse W. As some of may well know, I am back from my three week bout of face-to-face academia at Royal Roads in Victoria. It was a nice three weeks, but could have been better. I had...

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blazing green Originally uploaded by *raffaella. I go back home tomorrow... back to no man's land... back to the land where there snow is due to arrive any day now. I really shouldn't perpetuate the stereotype of the frozen north... I'm sure the temperature will be average for september.anyhow, I have one last night in Victoria, but all of my Victoria friends are...

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I'm converting an AVI file to a .mov file for my group presentation. My head hurts, my heart aches, and my eyes are sore... and my computer is more or less tied up for the next what seems will be a few hours. But before I go and prepare myself for the big day ahead... I'll share with you an element of my...

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My residency is winding down... and I'm getting ready for the opportunity to sleep in and not have to wake up at the crack of dawn and stand in the street with all of the trash waiting for orangina to come and pick me up.I'm tired and hungry and I am still at the university. When I go home I have to prepare...

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I have to find a job... and I hate looking for work. It drives me absolutely insane. But tonight I'll be doing up my resumes for more jobs. Needless to say I'm not in a good mood about the whole thing. I need a hug... my head is swimming and my life is going nowhere. I have to find a job... and I...

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whiter whites and brighter brights Originally uploaded by *raffaella. I took myself on a solo photo excursion this evening. I walked downtown armed with only my camera and tripod. The sun was still up when I left the house and it was still kind of warm (not windy like yesterday evening) so it was a rather pleasant walk. I have to say that...

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It's positively amazing what one can create with next to no web design knowledge. It won't be a surprise to most people that I've spent the day on the computer working on my various school related projects. I could have saved some things for next week but I wasn't feeling all that great this morning when I woke up so I did not...

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ocean view illinois Originally uploaded by *raffaella. Can't sleep tonight... wish I could because I have to wake up early tomorrow. But thanks be to all things good and unholy that tomorrow is Friday and I will get to sleep in on Saturday.I'm feeling a little burned out right now... but that doesn't seem to make much sense since I haven't been up...

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all alone in vic city... slowly getting better... second week of my residency almost over.I wish I had a live in cook who would make my supper tonight and my lunch for tomorrow. ...

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whatever they are... I want them for my studio Originally uploaded by *raffaella. This is a pretty boring photo. Just some cool equipment from the film set for Xmen3 that was filming at Royal Roads (my university campus for any of those who don't know). Anyhow, it's my most viewed photo now. At 7400 views which is absolutely crazy insane. ...

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Posted some pics to my flickr photostream... go forth and comment. ...

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