Rob Dyer - Skate 4 Cancer

About 4 years ago as I've mentioned before I went to Wakestock, as I always do every summer, as of late anyways. That year though I spent the entire weekend there, which is something that I hadn't done before. I usually go one day on the weekend, as time allows. That year I had gone with different people each day. So on the Saturday after spending the day there with one friend we were on our way home and got on the ferry. We sit down and a couple other people sit down beside us, one including Rob Dyer http://twitter.com/robdyers4c Now at this point I had no idea who this guy was; other someone who had obviously been at Wakestock and had a skateboard in his hand. Just like every other guy that was on the ferry. Also sitting beside us were a couple girls, who recognized him and started asking him questions. Being nosey I started eavesdropping and heard him start to explain that he had skateboarded across Canada to raise awareness about Cancer prevention. I had heard something about it from the media, but hadn't really paid a lot of attention, until then. After they were done talking to him I started asking questions and explained that I had heard something about it on TV, but didn't really know anything about it. He explained a bit about what it is that the charity's goals are and what he was trying to accomplish, then invited me back the next day to the booth that he had set up. I said I would return and bring the people that I was coming back with as well. We smiled and said our good byes.

Sure enough the next day I went back and we were greeted with a warm smile. The booth had all kinds of brochures about preventing Cancer, as well shirts. Since then I have done some research and looked more into the charity and Rob's story. Everyone knows someone that has had Cancer and Rob is no exception. Every time I read his story I cry.http://www.skate4cancer.com/history.aspx Skate 4 Cancer is his life and he's making it his life mission to do what he can to raise awareness about Cancer prevention.

Rob has soooo much support behind him. Since starting Skate 4 Cancer at the age of 17 he has been on numerous tours with bands, as well as Festivals like Warped Tour.

Rob DJs as well as hosts Skate 4 Cancer events that are free, just to raise awareness, but I think the biggest part of the whole charity is the fact that he skateboards around the world. He has skateboarded across Canada as well as the states and just last year skated Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately he was hit by a car and had to come home, BUT he's all better and eager to go back this year to finish :D Along these skate tours he makes stops at schools to talk to kids about the charity, cancer prevention, and his story.

Having followed his progress and doing more research I finally met up with him again last year and again was greeted with a warm smile and a big hug. This is a guy that through everything is always smiling, no matter what. I follow him on twitter and in doing so, learned that he had entered a contest to get money to open a drop in center.The Dream.Love.Cure Center, which has become the motto for Skate 4 Cancer. A place where people can go to if they need to talk or get information about Cancer prevention. He didn't win, but he's still determined to open the center and has since opened an online center http://www.dreamlovecure.com/ Here you can find out about events, what's new, and videos, etc. He has also begun funding in order to open the drop in center downtown. He hosts dance parties throughout Toronto where you will be sure to hear S Club 7 and the Spice Girls :D and all ticket sales go towards helping open then center, as well as selling t - shirts at West 49 http://www.west49.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=skate+4+cancer

During all of this he has filmed a documentary of his incredible journey and it is set to premiere February 19 at the Mod club http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WHyfvggsEw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JhNczsLB18

Tickets are $25 and are sure to sell out fast. http://www.wantickets.com/EventDetail.aspx?e_id=147225

Rob is someone I look up to and love to bits, no matter what he is always there to give you a hug or greet you with a warm smile. He loves life and is grateful for everything he has. For someone so young to have gone through so much he has done a lot, not just for the Cancer community, but also for the younger generation, that if you can dream something then nothing is impossible. He is so dertermined and strong willed. You are going to change the world Rob Dyer :D

New York!

As promised here are some New York pictures. I really love it there. We were only there for a few days, but it was so much fun while we were. I'm petrified of flying, so to calm my nerves I took pictures. It was pretty cool getting aerial photos that you can't get any other time. We went to this really great restaurant that I really really love. It was soo laid back. It was healthy food and it was good. I can't remember the name of it, but so good. Our hotel was right near a subway stop too which was perfect. It was soooo hot though, we ended up doing a lot of stuff in the early evening and later at night. A friend who was there a couple weeks prior, told me some really cool places to go and one that he recommended was Washington Square Park, for the culture. It's right by NYU, so there was a lot of younger people and a lot of things going on.We went and met up with a friend the next day that was there on tour and afterwards went to a bar that Pete Wentz owns. It's so cute and small, just like him haha. Definitely a place I'd go back to though. After we left there we decided to go for a walk and enjoy our last night and I saw a bunch of skateboarders in Union Square Park, so we sat and watched them for awhile, while a bunch of guys behind us were filming a music video.

Day by Day: 1: When we arrived we got there in the early evening and spent the night going around to Times Square, John Lennon's old house, Trump Tower, The Late Show, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Station.

2: The next day we went down to Bleecker Street, Washington Square Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Battery Park, and The Empire State Building.

3: The next day we went down to Chinatown and then that night went to see a concert.

John Lennon's old house

The small part off Central Park that I did see

Times Square NBC StudiosRockefeller Center A cool spot we found just outside the Rockfeller Center Grand Central Station

Bleeker StreetWashington Square Park Statue in Washington Square Park
New York Stock Exchange - Wall StreetThe Brooklyn Bridge Top of The Empire State Building

Toronto = home :o)

New Beginnings

I've decided I'm going to try and use this to expose and promote my photography. Why pay for a site when I can use this for free :p As of right now you can check out some on here http://mariam1.sites.livebooks.com/ That's a temporary site right now, that I'm testing and you can find more on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldrush21 I'm always adding to that one too :o)

As for updates:

SCHOOL, eh. It's December and I'm still exactly where I was 6 months ago. I have more contacts, but no closer to a job.

I don't know if I even want to go back to school. I want to finish the program I started, about is how I'd have to study something, or do homework and study things at certain times, and if I don't want to, then I end up hating it in the end, and want nothing to do with it. I just want to make the right decision if I do go back. Not that the first course was a wrong one, but I can't get a job. The second one though, was very wrong. I want a program that interests me, that I can work around my schedule, and that I'll end up with a job afterwards. It's just such a pain, there are way too many options, end of story.

LIFE: I got a kitty! He's a menace, but he's cute :o) Isn't he cutest? He such a curious little guy and he has to be involved in everything :o) He's had a rough couple months, but it's all good now. At least it better be :p

Soo this building; not so cool. Won't get into details, but let's just say too many people and too many problems. I do however, like living in a building much better then a house.

New York was sooo cool. I want to go back and spend lots more time there. I love the pictures that I took while I was there. I took sooo many and I want to take soooo many more. I'll post those in a new blog after this one.

Went to my brothers birthday the day we got back from New York, like literally hours after. Sooo tired and ended up staying awake until about 5 that morning. It was an interesting night to say the least, it was fun though and met some cool people.

Never made it to Wakestock, and although it sucks, I wasn't that upset. There wasn't anything there that I really wanted to see. It just sucks that I missed it, because I do like going and seeing everything and just enjoying the sun, the outdoors, the culture, and of course taking pictures.

I was planning on going to Warped Tour, but never made it there either. I don't really remember what happened, but I do remember we left it until too late in the day. I also remember a sinking feeling every time it was decided we weren't going and then getting excited again when it was decided that we were. I remember sitting on the court stairs asking if we were going or not haha Then finalizing plans with a friend that I'd broken everytime we decided we were going to go.

I kind of gave up on the south pacific swap. I think I'd rather go there on my own, for the amount of time I want, do things that I want to do, and not have to worry about working or any other stressors that come with working in a new country.

Jumping on a tour didn't happen either *thumbs down* it's just soo hard to get an opportunity in that field period. It sucks.

No TFC game either. My brother couldn't get the tickets this year, and nobody wanted to go with me. I need more athletic friends or at least ones that are interested enough to go to games with me or try the actual sport itself.

Summer was still fun, got to know new people and did some things in the city that I haven't done before or don't really get to do that often.

Update - 9.5 months too late :p

I've decided I'm not good at these and I'm not going to try and say I am, but yay for an update :o)

So here it goes.

School: I have decided that I am giving myself this year to get a job doing what I want and if that doesn't happen, I'm going back to school to finish what I started, and get a job doing that. I hate it with as much passion as I have love for music, but that's the way life is and it's a job. After 7 years of trying to get the job I want or at least a foot in the door, I figure 6 more months won't hurt, but that's enough. If after 7 years I can't get a job, then that means I need to figure something else out. I'm pissed off beyond belief, but whatever, life's never fair right?

I was looking into other courses and there doesn't seem to be anything that fits with my schedule. I need to work ha ha. Everything I was interested in is full time and some being 3 or 4 years long, or some that after I'm done I have to go on for my masters if I really want to do something with it. I am looking at some part - time / night school / general interest courses, so we'll see where that goes, I guess.

Work: Meh, still at the same place, doing the same thing. Still pursuing music. I pretty much touched on this earlier, in the fact that I'm giving myself this year. I've made more contacts and done more research. It seems like either jobs are popping up more now or I just am able to find them easier. I think between, facebook, myspace, twitter, and other social networks, it's easier to connect with people, and companies know this. I have definitely applied to the jobs that I have seen and once unpacked am going to do what I said I was going to and go through all my books, see what's what and apply to what I'm qualified or interested in doing.

Life: Life ha ha, oh life. It's busy, stressful, fun, sad, happy, great, exciting, maddening and so many other emotions.

I moved...... my landlord went psychotic, surprise, yet another one. The last one was just mentally unstable psychotic, this one was just an idiot. It got pretty bad near the end to the point that we ended up in court. Anyways, so we are now moved into a building (not in the best area) hoping that things are more legal and better. The day we moved was a complete disaster, we were up for 40 hours straight after having worked all day, we then called to get our keys and while signing the lease, we saw some things that had some major red flags, and by the time we got our keys the movers had showed up and we ended up making them wait for an hour. We finally got our stuff in around 8 ish and went back to the old place to pay the movers and eat when we got a text saying "you were supposed to be moved out of MY house at 12 pm today. I'm throwing your stuff out." That's the kind of psychotics we had to deal with and of course her dad sitting in the driveway staring at us for hours not saying anything, even when you smile or say hi.

I went to Montreal to visit a friend that had gone there for school. I had never been there and that was somewhere that I had wanted to go for awhile. It's an interesting place and old an one. We ended up going the wrong way when we thought we were going home, ended up in a shady area and then of course it started raining, ha ha good times.

Met some really cool people late last year / beginning of this year and reconnected with some old ones that I hadn't talked to for awhile.

Finally made it to a concert that has been on my list of bands to see for like 5 years now, SILVERSTEIN, yay. http://www.myspace.com/silverstein It was a 10 year anniversary show. One of the bands that I met late last year opened for them, which was super cool. The Artist Life check them out when you get a chance. Great band and great people. http://www.myspace.com/theartistlife

I also finally saw Hedley for the first time in concert. I don't know why I haven't seen them before, but it was a good show. We went twice back to back and the second time was just as good as the first one.

Finally going somewhere ha ha. I've been itching to travel and decided on New York. It's not far, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to go and never been. I have a friend that's there right now and he said it's just an amazing city with so much to see and do. Pretty excited to go and take pictures of a place that's not Toronto or anywhere around it. Especially excited to take pictures of all the lights!!!! Stereos are doing a show there and I'm pretty much in love with them :D Side note: a friend of mine is working for them, so extremely proud of him :D Check them out when you get the chance too. Only one of the biggest bands in Canada, no big deal. http://www.myspace.com/stereos

I do have some big plans for next year however. I haven't even started planning yet, though I have asked about some info. It's still a ways off and still looking into it, but stay tuned, see what happens. Though sadly it probably won't be posted here ha ha Facebook ftw.

I also just found out that one of my friends got me a concert ticket to a show I wanted to go to, but wasn't sure how I was going to get there. Bamboozle, yay. There is a band on there that is on my list of bands to see, so we are getting down this list, which is good.

Went to London about a month ago for a friends birthday. Not London, England unfortunately, but it was still fun, minus the all ages club we ended up at after....... I still don't know how I feel about that..... On our way home I made a wrong turn (if you're in the car with me, it's going to happen everyone knows this. It's that or almost hitting something, both of which usually happen anyways) and we ended up finding a really nice park. That's the one good thing about making wrong turns, as long as you have gas and know for the most part where you need to go, then there's always something interesting to be found.

I went for a drive the other day. Found an apt building that I fell in love with. I tried taking a picture of it as it was a skyscraper on top of a college and near the top was this ginormous patio with 3 guys standing by the railing watching the world go by. However, cameras on phones suck for pictures especially when you are driving.

Wakestock is going to be in Collingwood again this year, I don't know why, such a pain ha ha Looking into renting a cottage or maybe we can rent a trailer and camp out for a couple days while there. I loooooove Wakestock, possibly the best thing that ever happened to the music and sporting world. HOWEVER, last year was quite the story, but a long one, the short version is I didn't really make it :o(

Looking more into the South Pacific swap and I still would love to do that, but not right now. I just love this city too much to leave and I have too many connections and things going on right now that it's not the right time.

Me and a friend were thinking about hopping on a tour this summer and helping out for a couple weeks. Figured it'd be cool to spend a couple weeks helping out, travelling, making new contacts, see if it's something we actually want to do. So if anyone knows anyone, holler :o)

Hobbies: My hobbies are still the same ha ha I don't think those are ever going to change. Photography is my biggest past time.I take pictures of everything and realized I see things others don't. I have this great view at work that because I'm there can't get pictures of, but I always see these amazing sunsets and their is always great light in the morning. Talking to a co worker, it was early in the morning and I looked out and saw this great light that wasn't too bright and it was kinda dull, but it was snowing a really light snow, i just wish I could have gotten a picture. It was the perfect scene for a Christmas card, or the background to someone in the front licking the snow off their gloves.

Hoping to get to a TFC game or 2 this year. My brother owes me from last year ha ha. I would love to go to a baseball game this year too. I haven't been in soooo long.

Summer: Summer is pretty much covered in the above ha Concerts, travelling, pictures, etc

It's the long weekend and I love it. It reminds me that summer is right around the corner, cottages, the beach, and campfires. I love summer, so much is going on and people are way happier. Though I can't complain, this winter wasn't bad at all, and I love snowboarding. Of course this year I got snow tires and didn't need them. I never get them and then the one year I do.........

It's definitely going to be a busy summer and I'm looking forward to it :D

I'm attaching a couple pictures of a huge botanical garden that's near my house that I always go to, to get pictures. It never gets old; I always find a new area that I like.

I was playing around with the lighting and loved how it was coming through the trees.

These, as well as the one at the top, were taken just after winter, when the snow was preeeeeeetty much all gone, but not quite. It was damn cold and I couldn't feel my hands by the time I got back to the car. I had planned on going for a walk and it turned out to be quite the hike. Even though it's a lot warmer now, it still reminds me that summer's not quite here just yet :o)

Long time

My god I'm terrible at these.

Let's see updates

School: Done, failed like every class I hated, or just didn't get, and have yet to decide if I want to go back and finish it. I'm leaning more towards I should, as I have an unfinished void that I hate having until something is done. I also don't like that I was this close to being done, but never got there.

I'm now thinking about going back for Interior Design, a program I've always been interested in, but for some reason always put on the back burner.

It's damn hard to find a program that's near by, part time, and not 3 or 4 years long too gees.

I'm also looking into taking a general interest course in photography. Learn different techniques, angles, anything else anyone's willing too teach me.

Work: Still pursuing music. I've been making more connections and I think I might have more in the future, but I don't seem to be meeting the right people. I'm starting to give up. Every now and then I get this impulsive urge to look up and apply to every label I can find, but then bring myself back to earth and think no, 'cause you're not going to hear back from anyone, so it's a waste of time.

Starting to get frustrated with it though........... come on already

Life: Life in general has been pretty good. Can't say I've done a whole lot, but I have done alot in general and that to me is fine. There is definitely way more that I would like to do, like skydiving. I REALLY want to go soooooo bad. I've been looking into it and looking into different places, doing some research, etc, so we'll see. I also REALLY want to travel. I haven't gone anywhere for awhile, and am itching to move. There are some options that I am looking into. One being a swap to the South Pacific. I have always wanted to go to Australia and the swap for the South Pacific looks amazing. Figured I'd stop in Cali on my way over, as that is another place I've always wanted to go.

Hobbies: Still music as always that will never change and right now even with all the downloading (which I'm embarrassed to admit I have become a victim to) I think is a good and bad thing. Good in the fact that bands have it waaay easier to get recognition and publicity, therefore actually getting a record deal and making a career, but bad for the fact that people are essentially stealing music and both bands and labels are losing money, therefore making the music industry in general go down the drain. So it's kind of a catch 22 for upcoming bands, because yes they get the recognition and publicity, etc. but they also can lose a lot of money and its a lot harder to sell those albums, because everybody wants that one song. Anyways, photography is another hobby that is becoming more prominent. I've always been interested in it, just ask my parents when I was younger I remember my dad having this nice camera and him standing there saying get in the picture and me running to him and saying no I want to take the picture.

Summer: This summer was pretty laid back compared to last summer. There was only a couple concerts, no wakestock, and no warped tour. Now that being said it was still fun. Random wake up calls to a friend freaking out, because he needed something that was 2 hours away, random road trips, a trip to a cottage where I finally ended up in Wasaga (thumbs up,) sporting events, random walks to random places, the reunion of a band I never thought would happen, festivals I always wanted to go to, but never got there before, climbing a mountain, making new friends, deepening existing ones, and of course the beach :D

Thought of the day: Talking to some people and a question came up that nobody seemed to be able to answer: What is considered mainstream music?

Weekend

So this weekend was a birthday party that was 45 minutes away. We had to be there just before 10 to leave with everyone, and I had to wrok until 8. Now me and time are not friends or anything close. So after finishing work right on time, I still had to go to the bank, get food, and get gas. Then home to shower, pack, and change. It was also earth hour that night and I can't see on a good day let alone in the dark. My room mate is asleep and here I am fumbling around in the dark and tripping on everything. After I get out I see that it's now 9 and Jewel is still at her house which by bus is a good 30 minutes away. After getting ready and talking to her on msn it's not close to 11 and she's still at her house. I'm on msn with my brother, a computer that keeps freezing and I'm getting stressed. We finally left Toronto around 11 55. We made to Oshawa at 12 07 and still had to get to Adam's drop our stuff and get a taxi to the bar. The taxi took about 45 minutes to get there and by the time we got inside almost everyone I was supposed to meet had left and we couldn't find her friends anywhere. After searching everywhere they were the last spot we looked and had a good night and got to catch up with a few people.
Then Sunday we had stuff planned and again time was not in our favour. We had to be back in Toronto for 3 30 and we didn't leave Oshawa until 12 30 and we then had to go to my mom's house (which was a quick 10 minute visit), go to my work, and drop some stuff off for a friend (snother wuick 10 minute visit) we skipped some other things we were going to do, and we still had to get our butts back here, pick up her daughter, and take her to a birthday party that we were about an hour late for, but all in all it was a good weekend.

Welcome

Welcome welcome blogity blog blog........ I've had blogs before and they didn't last, so lets see how long this one does :o)


Lets see there is 2 weeks left of school and I've never been happier. Not sure why I went back and doubt I'll be going back (at least full time) anytime soon. Not too sure why I went into law either. I've never been more disinterested in school then I am right now.


Moving on to happier things SUMMER. It's coming; very slowly, but it is coming yay. It's definitely going to be a busy one. One of my favorite things to do every summer is WAKESTOCK it came to Toronto a few years ago from Wasaga, because they didn't want the tourism, so now we have it yay. Then Warped Tour is coming to Toronto as well, then I plan on doing some travelling this summer as well. Not sure of where to....... And of course there are always concerts. Whether it's an indie band or a major one I'm down. All you have to say is music and I'm there.
Hmm... summer hurry up