  Currently playing: Four Non-blondes- What's Up Mood: Giddy I have to thank Sheri for making my day today. She emailed me and told me a little tidbit of info about D that made me smile. It seems Sheri can make us both smile easily and I know she's having fun doing it (admit it).
Those bastards were back again last night trying to go through my truck. The doors were locked but the tool chest was unlocked so they popped the lid again. Still nothing taken. I've locked it so they'll get a surprise tonight those little shits. I'm now 24 but I feel like I'm 18.
It might be all the graduations I've had to attend in the past week. The constant message of being in control of your destiny and having a world of opportunity in front of you if you just seize it has got me thinking like I did when I graduated. It's amazing how quickly you become pessimistic once you've left high school. I listened to the principal tell the graduating class not to see the obstacles but the goal at the end. I remember being told the same thing at my graduation but all I can see now are the obstacles. They're bigger than anyone tells you they are. I will not see the obstacles but the goal. I remember a time when I could do that and it seemed to work. I heard so many times throughout my life from teachers, friends and my family that I could accomplish just about anything if I put my mind to it. For some people that's just not possible because they lack the skills or drive or intelligence, but I've seen it work for me.
I know I'm capable of doing some really great things. I never give myself credit for being skilled or talented and tend to downplay any achievements I make. I won third best news photo in Alberta and currently up for the top prize for news photo across Canada but I don't talk about it or even think about what it means. It's just an award. My columns have been reprinted by the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's magazine, I've received dozens of thank you notes from people for stories I've written, I've been asked to speak about journalism and news photography because the organizations respect my work, but I don't focus on any of this. I still have a long way to go before I'm any good in this journalism business. I see all the mistakes I make.
I see all the stories I could have made better by digging a little deeper or spending a little more time writing. I hate my writing. I read other people's stuff and wish I could write as well as they can. I'm still an amateur. This thinking has prevented me from doing what my parents have been asking me to do for years, and that is to send my writing and photography to magazines.
They keep telling me I have the talent to write for the big glossy mags and the large dailies but I don't feel I have what it takes. I see all the obstacles instead of the end result. I'm going to stop thinking like that and start sending stuff in. What have I got to lose? 
