"Ha ha ha ha ha.... Wipe Out"

Yes, those are the lyrics of the popular sixties hit 'Wipe Out' by the teen sensation The Surfaris.
There. I just dated myself.
This is a pic I grabbed during Saturday's B.C. Summer Games on Shumway Lake. 14-year-old trick skier Adrienne Davidson of Vernon had a good 2nd run but lost it towards the end of her last effort of the day.

Cheers -- EAG

feels like 'my' day

After running all day long shooting sports at the B.C. Summer Games I've had just about enough. I feel like the the player getting straight-armed in the face. Ah, at least the game ends soon. It's nearly 5 o'clock. Quitting time. --EAG

boys of summer

If it looks like summer,
If it sounds like summer,
If it feels like summer
Then it must be summer.

Somehow it only feels like summer about two days out of each week for me.
I need to find a beach and plant my feet in the hot sand.
Maybe build a campfire and eat some smores.
Or, collect rocks on the beach.

Anyway -- holidays just seem so far away. -- EAG

left, right, left, right

When I came across this shot I took last year along the South Thompson river it reminded me of my walk with God. How we all can sometimes wander off on our own course. We can get confident in our own stride. And pretty soon we're strutting like Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. I know I definately would not look good doing the Richard's strut. Just not me.
I'm probably walking more like the Charlie Brown shuffle.

Psalms 86:11 says: "Train me, God to walk straight; then I'll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear."

Psalms 119:1 says: "You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right -- you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel."

Later -- EAG

"last one in's a rotten egg"

O.K. So why can kids be so unbridled with their reactions to water and adults can't?
We tend to stick one toe in the water to test the temperature -- then both feet. It takes a lot longer for us to even get close to the level of excitement that kids can experience almost instantly when it comes to getting wet. They just jump right in.
It kinda reminds me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song, Dive.

...My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there's no turning back.
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That's telling me it's time
To take a leap of faith.
So here I go.

I'm diving in, I'm going deep
In over my head, I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow,
The river's deep, the river's wide,
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in.

...But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood.

...Come on let's go. - EAG

"oh...canada"

Keep your head up. Those are good words of advice for anyone. Especially for a photographer.

My dad would tell me as a child, "Don't run with your hands in your pockets." I forgot his advice until about eight years ago when I fell with my hands in my pockets and broke the face of my watch. A few scratches on my arms and a bruised ego helped remind me of my father's sage words.

I caught this shot of the canadian flag while heading to my last photo assignment of the day. One I wasn't looking forward to all that much -- a lacrosse game. You know the fans must be dedicated when you walk into the arena and are overcome with the damp, smell of sweat hanging in the air. Yuck! As the lyrics of our national anthem state, "We stand on guard for thee." Maybe those sweaty teenage lacrosse players could make a few extra passes with a stick of 'right guard'.

Smell 'ya later -- EAG

mercury rising in the Thompson-Okan-oven

Today I like my job. A lot. It's pretty nice when you can head to the lake to do a story on hot-shot water skiers beating the heat with a dip into the emerald-green waters of Shumway Lake for the Water Ski & Wakeboard B.C. Classic championships this weekend. The three event competition -- slalom, tricks and jumps -- concludes Sunday and is a precursor for many young athletes coming to Kamloops for the upcoming B.C. Summer Games. My godson Christopher and brother Curtis Sowden are attending the clinic and competition this weekend. It seems not that long ago I used to one-arm my slalom turns. At least for one, maybe two turns and that was it. Spaloosh! It didn't take long before I started acting my age. At least on the water. -EAG

header goes here

The Canadian U-20 national girls team played Mexico in the first of two FIFA soccer matches in Kamloops, British Columbia on Wednesday night. The new Hillside Sportscentre was officially opened with a new stadium filled to capacity with soccer fans. The game was a draw at 2-2.

look up... way up

Ever lay back and look up at clouds in the sky? I've been doing that a lot in the evenings. I been making a point of trying not to be so busy before heading to bed each night. Sitting out on the patio looking up at the heavens has been a favourite pastime of mine. I don't really care that I don't know much about the constellations. Or if I remember all the different names of the type of cloud formations from my college geography classes. Instead, I simply enjoy their shapes and textures. Just like in childhood days when you didn't really care about the where or why. Or how things happened. Just that they did. I enjoy keeping the mysteries of life a mystery. In a childlike faith sort-of way. It just is. They just happen to be there... just because. No really... why? ...cause.
As I lay back and admire the heavens each night I'm always reminded that my Creator made it just so.
It's His handiwork.
His design.
And that's pretty cool. - EAG

a nother an ni versary... remember the flowers and card

Yes, today is our 22nd wedding anniversay. Carolyn and I met in Kamloops in 1982 and married in 1984. I'm looking forward to a special dinner out tonight and some quiet time with a glass of wine together on the backyard swing. Anniversaries really are a time to outwardly agree that you both made the right decision so many years ago. Actually it's more like we just listened to God's voice in our lives and were obedient to Him. He's a great matchmaker. Cheers. - EAG

blog newbie

Yes. It's true. I love and hate at the same time. Blogging that is. Something to do with old dogs and new tricks.
Hi. You may know me from an actual real life encounter. Maybe at one of The Well gatherings with freshwaterjones. Maybe our paths haven't crossed yet in the physical realm - only by the meter of one keystroke after another on a glowing screen.
Anyway, hello again.