Alive and well

I know, I know. I haven't been keeping up on this blog thing like I said I would but at least it hasn't been six months since my last post.

School is going pretty good, I am keeping busy with school, work, and homework. My class schedule is pretty easy on MWF with intro to advertising and then I have work WF from 12:45 until about 10 at night which isn't to bad. TR is really busy though with digital photography at 8:30 till 11:30 and english from 11:30 to 1 and web development from 1 to 3 and then I get to relax and do my homework.

I am working back at the Shakespeare Festival again doing the same thing. I am a supervisor again this fall and it is going pretty smooth, the only fire wasn't on my shift and I just had all of the high school kids come and watch shows during my watch. I had to work a triple on Friday because of the high schoolers and I was suppose to work another double but I was able to talk the other supervisor to trade me one shift for the evening so I had at least somewhat of a Saturday.

I have been keeping busy with my photography. I did some head-shots for a friend of mine in the theatre department and another one of my friends in the theatre department gave my name and number to one of the directors and I am now doing a photo call for one of the student shows here on campus. Photo call is just a night after the show were the cast stays in costume and does certain scenes from the play starting from the end and moving to the start. This is because the actors are already in their end of show costumes and the scenery is set up for the end of show.

I miss everyone and I hope I get to see all of you guys really soon and I will try and keep up to date on this here blog but i am not sure when the next time will be!

Austin

he IS alive!

I know what y'all are thinkin and yes I am alive. I know that I have slacked pretty hard on keeping this thing going over the last year but I will try and do better this year!

Work has been going on for the last few weeks. We have been really busy this year! Ticket sales are up 20% from last year and I got a raise this year so I am getting a little bit more dough. This year instead of just working at one theater I have to work at both the indoor and outdoor theaters. So far work has been pretty calm. We have only had a lot of wheelchairs and no dogs yet this year. I have made $30 in tips this year as well. We are discouraged from taking tips but nowadays any little bit helps!

This summer was a lot of fun! I was able to go to Yellowstone for the first time and see all of the cool geothermal sights and take some pictures of all the different animals there. It was good to just have some time with my mom and Royce and not have to worry about work or school or anything like that.

I also got to go to the supercross finals in Las Vegas this summer with my dad and everyone. It was really fun and a new experience. Lots of girls there ;) and a lot of exhaust fumes but that I was expecting. It was fun to experience that and see something that I enjoy.

School is going to be pretty easy going this coming semester. With just one class on MWF and three classes on TR I am going to be pretty busy with projects and homework but I think I will survive.

I hope to see everyone soon!!!!!!
Austin

Flikr update

I have updated and added to my Flikr account,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/t-bird_cameraman

You have to select it, copy and past it into your address bar.

Sorry I forgot to let you all know, all the black and white ones at the start are the ones for my class and I had to develop all of them myself in the creepy darkroom here at the school :D

Check it out!

Austin

WOAH! It's already March!!!!

I know, I know,

Long time no blog. I have been pretty busy lately with all these projects that I have to do for my classes. But I am now starting to find a little bit more time now that I am getting fewer and fewer projects because of Spring Break and the fact that finals are almost here.
Spring Break starts this weekend, Saturday to Sunday with no homework will be heaven! I don't really have any plans for it though, however I am still in the planning process. I do know that I am going snowboarding again with some friends at least one last time for the season, but other than that I don't really have plans. Who knows maybe I will just go snowboarding every day with a different group of people or something, that could be fun.

School has been going pretty good I guess. My large format photography class is for sure my favorite this semester. I am shooting with film and I have to develop it myself in the dark room and the 4X5 camera is a whole new realm for me to learn but it has been fun. As soon as I get more time I am going to upload the pictures that I have taken in that class to my Flikr account and I will put them on the other blog too. The other studio class that I have is 3D Design, that has been a more challenging class but it has been good. For one of the projects that I had to do in there was to make a 7X7X7 inch cube out of cardboard and put some kind of object into it that would hold the form of the box. I decided to use chewed gum. Luckily my friends all pitched in and helped me chew all the gum. It took a lot more gum to fill the cube than you think and I even put a smaller cube in the middle so I wouldn't go broke buying gum. But all that chewing did me good, I got a good reaction from the class, lots of "ewwwwwwws" and "Aww sick!" That was by far the best project I did in that class, in fact it was so good my professor wanted to put it on display in one of the cases outside of the classroom and I figured that I would let him, everyone that I talked to about it was surprised that it was mine and they all told me how sick it was, that could have been because it was slowly starting to fall apart in the case and was making a mess so I had to throw it away the other day so the case could be cleaned.

As for this summer I have yet again got a job with the Shakespeare festival and I will be doing the same thing that I did last year. Ushering. But it is a job and it is a pretty good job at that, nothing really bad to complain about and I did meet some awesome people because of the festival. This year the 3 Shakespeare plays are
-Merchant of Venice
-Macbeth
and - Much Ado About Nothing.

well I am procrastinating some work so I really should get it done.
Till next time,
Austin

Classes

Hey all, long time no post.

I have been kinda busy lately with classes and homework all ready. I am only into week two of classes and I am busy, busy, busy. I have a big plate full this semester. 17.5 credits in fact. I am taking:
3D Design
Intro to Film
Chemistry
Large Format Photography
Art insights >:P
and SNOWBOARDING!
I like all my classes even though they have just started. I REALLY like my snowboarding class though. I don't have to go on any certain day of the week just when ever I go snowboarding I just have to let my professor know and I have to get a minimum of 20 hours. I actually just got back from a nice day of boarding. It was great! My two roommates Sean and Shay our friend Dillon and myself went up this morning and were up there all morning. The weather was cold and foggy but the fresh powder and the great runs made up for it by far. I already have 14 hours for my class and I am going next Sunday with a bunch of my friends from Arizona. I forgot to mention that with the class I had to get a season pass for the class but it was at a discounted price and I got it for about $100 cheaper than normal. I love it!

I'm going to go sit in the hot tub with the guys and some friends and relax the rest of the night, I have a long drive tomorrow. I have to go to Arizona for my friend Kaylyn's wedding. I am going down with Dillon and his girlfriend and we are going to stay at Kaylyn's house until Sunday when we are going to head back up here to Utah.

Until next time,
Austin

P.S. here are some pictures from today's board session.

Christmas Break

Finally the winter break has begun, I am sitting around at my moms right now with a few days.....well weeks actually instead of days. It is going to be really nice, no work to worry about or anything nearly school related :D. I am really excited to be home for a little while and I can't wait to see everyone at Christmas!!!

Austin

Long time, lots of stuff going on.

I know, I know, it has been a long time since I updated and I haven't been up on it like I was last year but more homework this year.

Thanksgiving was lots of fun, I went to my dads house for Thanksgiving this year and we had a lot of food! we did a big breakfast of French toast and eggs and all that was followed by delicious food all through out the day!

I left good ol' Emery County and I get to wait one more week and I get to go back for the Christmas break. I can't wait to see everyone up there! It's going to be a nice visit and so good to see everyone and catch up!

I do have a bit of cool news though! My friend Kurts brother is getting married in a few months and his original photographer that they lines up to take the engagement pictures flaked out on them and so they asked me to do it for them and I get to do that on Friday! It's really exciting and still more good news! My friend Kaylyn is engaged to my friend Kurt and they have also asked me to take their engagement pictures AND wedding pictures. I'm going down to Mesa for new years to take the engagement and spring break I get to take the wedding pictures and hopefully I can make my name known here in Cedar and take more pictures for other peoples weddings and make some money!

That is all for now, I need to go study for finals next week.

Austin

Classes

Well folks it is that time of year again. I am choosing my classes for the spring semester and it is looking very full already. I am taking chemistry with a lab, large format photography, a small computer class, intro to film, and the ever evil that is art insights. I am going to be very busy this up coming semester but it will be full of fun!

Austin

SNOW

This is the second day it has decided to snow here in Cedar,yesterday we got a skiff and this morning I woke up to the sound of a snowplow. This is going to be one great Halloween!

Vollyball and Deer

Hey everyone,

This last weekend was the start of the deer hunt, I didn't get my buck but I did get a shot off at a real nice big buck but missed :( I had a good time up on the hunt with everyone and it was really fun to hang out around the campfire and all that.

After I got back home on Monday afternoon I hit the sack early because I was so exhausted from the deer hunt and then Tuesday classes were really easy thank goodness! Tuesday night I went to the Volleyball game here on campus with some friends and we were asked to participate in a competition with my friends and other people and we had the chance to win a ton of prizes and all that, all we had to do was serve a volleyball over the net and hit the prize. Unfortunately no one hit anything including me but we all had fun and it was exciting to do it after last year and the bungee basketball thing. Unfortunately our volleyball team lost and it was kinda depressing but oh well there is always the next game!

Until next post,

Austin

Long time no write

Hey there family,

Been a while since I have updated, I know. I have been pretty busy lately with school. I have been doing well and of course keeping busy like I said, my classes have been going pretty good. Web Design 1 isn't exactly what I thought it would be but it is just as much fun. My drawing class is going good, still not a very good drawer but I am improving so that is always good. We are drawing from reference photos right now and I really enjoy the one that I took, I'm going to put it at the end of my post. English is ok, it is at a really bad time because I'm up early for web design and then I have a HUGE break and then English so it is really hard to stay awake and get everything that I need to do but I manage.
I have some good news though. I have a job for a few more weeks now. I am back working for the Shakespeare Festival as a House Manager again but this time I am a supervisor, I get paid $35 a show and I only work for about 4 hours a show so it isn't to bad. The shows for the fall are all ok. Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged is by far the funniest and the best one this year, and that isn't just my opinion. Lady in Black is suppose to be scary but I was rather disappointed in it and Tuesday's with Morrie was ok. I still like the book better though.
I am really liking school so far this year, the place I am living is really cool and it is a lot cheaper than what I was paying last year. So that means more money for food right now :D I am still friends with all the same people as last year. In fact I am at my friends, Kaylyn, house right now typing this up. We have been having a lot of fun and over the weekend we went to the abandoned train tracks here in town and took some really cool pictures with my camera. They are all up on Facebook so they are there to take a look at (way to many to upload here onto a blog :P) I haven't been taking as many pictures as I had hoped to so far but the semester is still young and I will have plenty of time to take more!
Connie and Frank stopped through on Friday on their way to Bryce Canyon and took me out to lunch at Hermies, the best burger place in Cedar City and the maker of the number 5 hamburger in the state, it was really fun to catch up and visit with them and talk to them about my classes.


I have a little bit of homework to finish up for tomorrow so I had better get going, I'll try and update a little more often I promise!

Hugs to everyone,
Austin

School already

Hey y'all

Well school started again on Monday. I'm pretty happy with my class selection even though I know I'm gonna hate the work I am going to have to do. My Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes are
9:00-Nutrition and Food Sciences
10:00- Drawing I
12:00- American History
I don't get a single break between these classes so I am always starving by the time I get out of history. Drawing I is going to be really hard for me because I struggle with drawing and that kind of stuff but I am confident I will get a fairly good grade.
Tuesday and Thursday's are pretty easy.
8:30- Web Design I
2:30- Writing About Art
I do get a break between these two classes, a fairly large break but it is well needed. Web Design is a 3 hour class and the entire time I'm in front of a computer monitor.
That is my schedule for this fall semester. Not to hard but enough to challenge me and make me learn new abilities that I may not know about myself.

As for work.... I am on my last week now. Sunday is my last day. I have to help clean up the theater and the grounds just to say thanks to SUU for letting us use their grounds and buildings. I have had a lot of fun with this job but I am kinda glad that it is ending. Some people just drive you crazy and others are just so nice. Some people can be really mad about something so small and minute when that same thing will make another persons day a little bit brighter and my job is to please both parties. It just started to get frustrating is all. I will miss some of my co-workers and some of the people that I was able to get to meet through out the summer.

It's off to bed for me right now, long and early day for me tomorrow,

Love ya all,
Austin

another long few weeks

Hey y'all,

These last few weeks have been pretty long but at the same time they have went by pretty quick.

Work has been going rather smoothly and there hasn't been a whole lot of excitement, we have started a count bored in our little office area and we have been keeping track off all the little random and odd things that have happened. We now have.....
1 naked baby
1 Broken window
1 broken door
7 stray dogs
1 guy with a gun
1 patron loose control of their bowls
1 drunk patron
and countless angry or upset patrons.

We still have a few more weeks of work and I'm sure I will be able to add to the list here.

My Dad and everyone came down for some baseball games here in Cedar so it was good to see everyone (minus Tylynn) and talk to them a little bit.

My Mom and Wendy are going to be down here on Saturday to see As You Like It, 'it is one of the best shows that is playing this year', exact patron words there.

That is all I have to update right now... School starts in a few weeks and I get to move into my new place in another week :)

Austin

Work

So these past few weeks have been pretty busy at work. We have had at least 730 people for our evening shows and around 300 for the afternoon shows. But there has been a few crazy nights as well.

The first crazy night we had was the opening night of Comedy of Errors, there was about 3 minutes left in the show and one of the stage crew members broke a big plate glass window which we had to get cleaned up right away so patrons wouldn't walk in the glass and all that fun stuff, the second crazy night happened just this last Saturday, I was standing at my post waiting for the free pre-show to end when one of the girls I work with needed help dealing with 2 stray dogs that were running around the area. I had to catch the bigger of the two dogs times because he broke a leash and escaped our make shift kennel. That same night we had a man with a .22 pistol in his pants and he was trying to get into the outdoor theater so we all had to look for him and make sure the gun didn't make it into the theater, for obvious reasons, we were able to find him and take his gun from him for the night and hold it in our office.

I went on a hike this last Saturday as well on a trail up Kanarraville canyon. It was a blast, we had to walk through a river almost the entire time and climb up a couple of water falls and we got soaking wet but it was well worth the blisters, the cuts,and the cold. It was very beautiful country and was a really fun hike.

Off to swim now,

Austin

That has been my last few weeks at work for everyone, the weather down here is extremely hot but really nice.

Mini-update

So the weather here in Cedar has been great but the other night while I was at work it started to rain and it wasn't just a sprinkle, it was just a straight downpour. We had to move the greenshow, the free show that is held out in front of the Adams Theater, inside along with the first act of Henry V. I volunteered to stay outside and help people get inside and get them pointed in the right direction. Well there was a tour bus full of elderly people that had come to see the show so I and my roommate helped the bus driver pull up out of the water, watch the video, so the people wouldn't slip and we helped them get over to the show. At one point or I should say several, I was hoping from the sidewalk to the street to help people cross the gutter and a few times I did get wet from almost slipping or the water splashing. Well I was helping this gentleman across the gutter and he had a bum leg and the best way for me to help him was to just put my foot in the gutter. I know no big deal but after you see the video you will understand. I got soaking wet, but got him across ok. After that I had to help set up rainstage, where everything that was outside goes inside, this included helping angry patrons and stocking playbills. After the play started the rain pretty much cleared up and the rest of the night went pretty smooth. I also got this cool picture of the Randall theater on my phone.

update

I figured I should keep updating this since I started is again for work....

Work has been pretty good. Been a lot better now that training is over and work is actually starting. Yesterday (Monday) was the first day that I had to work with people who bought tickets to see the show even though it was just a preview. It wasn't at all that hard to do. Give directions to the restrooms and answer a few questions here and there and that was about it. I think it is going to be a lot of fun once things pick up. The longest part of the week is going to be the nights we have to work the long shows which are Henry V and As You Like It. the are each about 3 hours long and it gets kinda boring when all you can do is sit and watch for people so they don't walk by the theater during the performance. My favorite play though has to be The Comedy of Errors. It is really funny and it is short, 2 hours, and there isn't a whole lot that you have to pay attention to, just watch and laugh.
Another great kids show is "The Secret Garden". I wasn't able to see this or the other that are playing at the Randall Theater but I did hear nothing but good things about all of them.

As I have been writing about the plays I have been trying not to sell them to everyone but I can't help it. Comedy is great for kids, lots of colors and tons of laughs. Henry V is a history and it does get a bit tiring but it is a good play, lots of fighting and "blood" so not so great for kids, that and it is 3 hours long. As You Like It is a good little love story with some humor and some fighting in it, it is also not so great for kids due to the length of the play. Last and not least, the Greenshow is free to everyone and excellent for all ages. Lots of songs and dances and some funny skits and things to get the audience involved.

Just saying...if you are looking for something fun to do for the summer, USF (Utah Shakespearean Festival) is the place to be. ;)

I've done my promotion for the summer,
Austin

Work Training

Hey everyone,

I know it has been awhile since I posted last but I was enjoying my summer.

For the summer I went back to Emery County to hang out with some old friends and my mom and dad and everyone. It was a lot of fun.

The trip up to Seattle was really fun and good for me. While I was up there I looked at the college that I want to go to and I was able to get a tour of the photo labs and where all my homework will be done.
It was really fun to see Rob and Heather again and to meet little Maisey and Gus. They are such a good looking family. We went with them to a Mariners game one day and to Pikes Place another and water watching as well. I got some really good pictures of the trip but I can't post them up yet. (I'll tell you why in a minute)

I went camping with the Gillins family after getting back from Seattle. We had a lot of fun going out riding the bikes and paintballing and just sitting around the campfire. It rained most of the time we were up there though so we didn't go on any really long rides or hikes or anything.

Now I'm back here in Cedar City for work. I started yesterday. We are just training for this first week and then on Monday I really start to work. Training has been going good but really, really, REALLY slow. The ladies that are doing it just like to tell stories about when they did house management.
The place that I am staying at is really nice but small. So far it is just me and my old roommate Sean that are living there but that can change.
The appliances are funny though. We have this really small stove and no microwave what so ever. There are a lot of foods that need to be microwaved that are easy to make. I also have no internet at this apartment that is why I can't add pictures of Seattle of the camp trip. I am sitting in the school library checking everything I have like emails and facebook.

It is BEAUTIFUL weather here in Cedar City so I am going to go out and enjoy it.

Your working kid,
Austin

Almost done

Hey family,

This is my last full weekend here at SUU for this school year. It is kind of depressing, leaving some really good friends for the summer but then it gives me a chance to visit my old friends and of course my family and that I get to make new friends this summer when I come back in June and when classes start back up.

As for the Cabinet position that I was running for...I didn't get, but it is ok because I get to work with the School Spirit Coordinator and I get to remain the president of Thor Corps because I am the head of the Thor Corps Board. I'm not sure what happens or what I will even do yet but I'm just glad I get to get to do something with the student government.

Today I am almost done with my hardest art project yet. I'm really excited to see it all finished and to see how it looks all around. Sorry but I can't put a picture up of it right after I get done because it wont be dry enough for me to bring it back to my apartment but as soon as I can I will post a picture for everyone with the finished relief and the picture that I used for the relief.

I'm off to work on my webpage portfolio for my digital imaging final.

Austin

Upcoming

Hey family,

Finals are coming up fast and I feel unprepared. Go figure. My hardest class is Philosophy but I have faith that I will do well on my final in that class and I have been studying for that class pretty dang hard. All of my other classes are going good, nothing to difficult but I still have a week of regular classes left.

I am going to be moving back to Emery County May 1st because I finish with all of my finals on Thursday. It will feel so good to sleep in and not have classes for a few months but I think I will get bored quick because I wont have anything to do during the days really. I don't remember if I mentioned in my last entry that I did get the job with the Shakespeare festival. I can't wait to start and to be making money again. Working here in Cedar helps me with more than just one job. I can apply to some of the stores here during the summer for a job during the day and then I can have a job after the festival is over. I'm hoping I can find one though. :S

I had my interview for the student government position a few weeks ago and I have been so anxious to find out if I got one of the positions that I wanted. I will finally get to know tomorrow sometime. I can't wait to find out, I am so excited to be making a change here with in the campus and student body.

It's time to get back to studying now,

Austin

Good Friday

Hey family,

This week has went by super fast.
I went in for an interview for the student government position I applied for, I feel like it went well but only time will tell.

Also, some great news. I got the summer job at the Shakespeare festival that I was trying for. I start work on June 22 and I am going to move in June 21 if not earlier. I had the chance to stay here in Cedar after school to help move some furniture and stuff around for the place where I will be living but I would never make it back home so I decided not to. I want to see everyone for at least a little bit.

June 4- 10 my mom,, Royce, and I will be staying in Washington with the Heather, Rob, and Maisy. I can't wait to see them and finally visit Washington. When I'm there I want to visit the art institute in Seattle so I can see if I like that school and if I want to go there after I graduate from SUU. I can't wait

After the trip to Washington Royce and I are going camping with my dad, Tedann,Ryker, Tylynn, Tate, Bo, and Jerica (yes I know I spelled them wrong. It is early in the morning for me) and the rest of the Gillins family. I'm not sure where we are going but it is going to be a way fun trip and I can't wait to go on this trip either. This will be the only time I get to go camping this summer unless I want to make a short trip up the canyon here in Cedar on a Sunday and come back Monday afternoon so I can work.


Until later,

Austin