This past Saturday I was invited to a track day at Calabogie Motorsports Park by my friend Yami. It would be my first track day in over a decade, and my first ever track day on a motorcycle. Should be noted, my first track day resulted in my cars engine self-destructing after just 45 minutes total track time. I was feeling extremely intimidated about this track day for many reasons.
Yesterday everyone got together for the first TADDMUG in I think 21 months. Though in many ways it didn’t feel that way at all. We’d seen each other at weddings, Anime North, and other little get togethers in smaller groups. But also it felt like we were all able to just carry on as though the gap had never happened, which I think in itself says a lot about the group and how close everyone is.
Tailgrab has a new home and a new theme. Pretty much since the start of the site it’s been a self-hosted endevour, always learning how to do things via Google or just trial and error. I learned a lot over the years, much of which has been useful in changing professions over two years ago. … Continue reading Changes to Tailgrab
Back while it was still summer and the weather was a bit too hot and humid, a former co-worker and friend of mine asked me out for some ice cream and photos along the Grand River in Cambridge. Naturally, as we were both doll collectors we brought them along too.
Arguably it’s been one of the best summers for outdoor activities in Ontario with so many sunny days all season. Except when TADDMUG wants to go to Toronto Island, then it rains. Once again we used our fall back, Marché, because we never need a reservation. Well… We didn’t, but it was close this month. Every room off the main area seemed to be reserved except for a small out of the way corner. This ended up working perfectly for us because the group who reserved the rest of the room never showed up!
Unfortunately there aren’t any photos for this meet because it never happened. Sure, TADDMUG got together at Ryoiji in Toronto for a doll meet but that’s not what went down.
On labour day this year I was invited out on MrCool’s family’s boat to go out on Lake Ontario for the Canadian International Air Show that takes place over Toronto, Ontario. It’d been years since I’d been to the show, and I’d never watched it from the lake before. More over, I’ve never shot with a telephoto lens while on a boat either, it turned out to be quite a challenge.
If I weren’t so indecisive this post would have gone up months ago. But for some reason I just could not decide on a post-processing style for the photos. I liked aspects of two different processes I’d tried and just kept flip flopping on them. Eventually I stopped looking and kind of forgot… Now I’m forced to decide to get the post written because I have a back log again!
The turnover rate at Marché must be pretty high, we go there so often but I don’t think we’ve ever been recognized by any of the staff as repeat customers. You think the dolls would stand out and make us pretty memorable. Once again we met at Marché, way back on World Doll Day. Which we didn’t know was a thing until last year, it’s apparently the second Saturday of June.
I have to admit, I’m pretty disappointed with the photos I have from Anime North. Being as hot it was I didn’t have much energy to take photos outside, and Doll North ended up being the only place I went with decent air conditioning and things to photograph. And even still, as I write this post I notice I didn’t get some photos I thought I had!
