Of updates and contemplations...

   So the studio is finally finished save for getting that heating unit and possibly some insulation. I'm so excites about it! I already set up the lighting and got the backdrops set up; so it's going along nicely. The studio itself has a got an attic feel to it, and I like that, for now. I got some new backgrounds yesterday, and I'm happy to say I think they are going to look good. All is going right with the world and if I can keep the Studio warm then I'll have it made! Looking into beginning to make some new props, as well as buy a few. It's going to be a slow process, but I know that over time Heart and Soul will be the best studio around! 


    Well it's that time of year again; time for turkey, thank fullness, relatives we don't like, some we do, and eating so much that we make decadent Rome look puritanical. I'm talking about Thanksgiving! Yeah, I know as far as holidays go this one isn't the greatest. It's that lull between the candy overdose of Halloween, and the child like bliss (not to mention presenty goodness) of Christmas. I was talking with an associate of mine yesterday, and he mentioned that he was already listening to Christmas music, because well, "Christmas is more fun".


    The fact is whether you are Christian or not, there is something magical about that time of the year. Thanksgiving just really can't compete (especially with all the commercialism Christmas gets nowadays, but that's a rant for another time). When we are younger we look forward to making turkey's out of our hands and putting on school productions about Pocahontas and the pilgrims. We don our little construction paper black hats and write reports about the Native Americans. In general what was the beginning of a very long and bloody struggle of western expansion, is prettied up to look like a story about some hungry people, a fat turkey, and lesson in sharing. Ever notice how you never made the connection that these same people that fed our Anglo Saxon ancestors are the same ones we forced onto small reservations after a lot of heartache and bloodshed. To me that is the real magic of Thanksgiving, the fact that we can pretty up and dumb down the beginning of a massacre ( and like all good massacres that have come after and before it; it began with a meal.)


   Christmas (unless you take into account that we're going to painfully kill that baby we are singing about in the Spring) is much more light hearted, there is merriment, candy, songs, parties to go to, and lest I forget the presents. I don't know about you but I generally use Christmas to buy all those things I want but can't afford to get during the year. All over there is general feel of good will and happiness, it's like they put ecstasy in those candy canes and chocolate covered cherries.Not to mention, if you're religious, the absolute holiness about this time of year, birth, light, love; such blessings in the darkest time of the year. There's something wondrous about it.


   So yeah, how can Thanksgiving compete with that? Especially if you take into account it's just a local grown holiday; people outside of the US of A don't celebrate it, kinda kills that whole since of unity, you know. Still, we should give Thanksgiving it's dues, cause as cheesy as it is looking back on it; your grade school teacher is right; you do have a lot to be thankful for (even if you are just thankful this blog is drawing to a close). After all the year is coming to a close, and you can begin to make a fresh start, and alright alright Christmas is just around the corner. So yeah, as you are digging into that fiftieth helping of dressing, and the bird has all but been demolished; pause and take a moment, to just be thankful, if nothing else but for the fact that you get a holiday were you can eat like a pig and not feel bad about it. Take care and I wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

On thoughts of holidays, and getting the studio up and working...

Greetings and Merry Meet,


I hope everyone had a spectacular Halloween, I've already seen some awesome photos of the costumes that there were. Ape and I went down to Jessie's (another very talented photographer) house, with Lousia and we had a big old time with a bonfire and hayride. It was a blast, and Lousia (from Germany) roasted her first hot dog. We have pictures that Jess's aunt took. We also had the Writer's Guild party, and I'll post some pics up of that in a little bit. So, yeah I had lots of fun and hope you all did.


Well it's official, we've finally closed up the windows, and the heat has been turned on, here at Chez' Tolar it's winter time. We are still looking for a way to heat/insulate the studio, they have bubble wrap up at Wal Mart in good sized rolls that I'm favoring. Just got to get the funds up. Of course now that we are entering November comes talk of turkey and Thanksgiving, already Ape's family is making preparations. We at the Tolar house are waiting for the cash to get the big old gobble gobble. Lousia will be spending Thanksgiving with April and I, and we're looking forward giving the girl her first Thanksgiving. I'd love to hear what you are doing for Thanksgiving or even see pictures of past Thanksgivings, so yeah, just drop me a line, you know the address, and I'll make a special Turkey Day post!


 There is a sort of insane chaotic organization to the opening of the studio. I have just about everything I need, and have the space, but as mentioned the studio doesn't have a viable heat source or insulation yet. So we are going to need to fix that. We have to get a cable for Wolfgang too, cause he's going to be cabled when I work. It's just for the best. As time goes on and the money comes in, we will be able to make the studio better, but for right now the studio may move in the house for a little bit, :P. It's supposed to be nice this weekend so that means bombing the studio and getting it cleaned up some more...Huzzah! I'll see if I can get some before and after pics so you can see how far we've come and how far we need to go .  For now, I take a deep breath and get prepared for a day of editing photos and role playing when I get the time .


I've done a couple of photo-walks and I'll put up those photos later as well. So much to put up! Anyways, my coffee has gone cold and the father person just returned with chocolate, so this is my cue to go ask for some, and get to work. Hope you all have a good day.


Take Care and Merry Part,
    Sandy