For our upcoming Japan trip I decided to buy my first ever camera. A cute little point and shoot Kodak.
I’ve always had access to digital cameras as they developed over the years. My father was always big into photography and technology and I was a menace with the family cameras and camcorders. I loved to take pictures and at a young age always wanted to be a photographer. Even though it’s a cheap and simple camera, this is the first one that’s MINE and I’m SO excited to fool around and have fun with photography again.
Also a benefit that I’ll be able to save my phone battery and storage for navigation and translation during the trip.
Oh yeah, my temporary partner visa just got granted yesterday too 👀🙌🙌 two more years with Bayley Joyce and I can officially become a permanent resident of Australia!
My time in Division 9 2025/2026 Summer Rec League with the Southern Lights is through, and it was a helluva season. Got off to a great start, enjoying the vibe of a new and openly queer team, riding high on a couple of wins, and feeling confident in my own skill. Midway through the season our main goal scorer was moved up to Div 8 and while that put a hurtin’ on our offensive side of things, the team’s defense held strong and played well despite the losses we endured. Each game we played I could feel the team’s collective offensive build, we were just waiting for the hockey gods to smile upon us and all our hard work. On the last game of the season, with the potential to get into playoffs on the line, we net ourselves a win and had to let the game being played right after ours determine if we made it in or not. Unfortunately that games result did not allow for us to move into the playoffs but I think the team was still riding high on a victory to close out the season. A week later and it’s presentation night. I didn’t know what to expect besides having a nibble, a few drinks and a last hurrah with the Div 9 team before I moved up to Div 8 (still in the same club). What I did not expect was to be awarded the team’s MVP. I have never earned an award like this in my life. And I know, it’s just Beer league, but I gotta say, I busted my ass this season. Gave 110% every single game. Made sure to correct any mistakes made in previous games and was able to watch my own growth. Feeling the team help to lift me up even during games I thought I carried the weight of a loss on my own shoulders. I can play defense pretty well now I think. Of course there’s much room for improvement. And I got the opportunity to play a new position in Center, that I have found to be a greatly rewarding challenge to learn and develop my own personal game within. I’m looking forward to what the next season and next division brings me in terms of growth, enjoyment, and community. Thank you Div 9 team and thank you coaches! I couldn’t be more proud of my achievements on the ice!!
I got the heartbreaking news last night that my peanut, my sweet pea, my Clementine has passed away. To say I’m devastated is an understatement. I haven’t seen her in two years since moving to Australia and I have this horrible nagging thought that she passed away of a broken heart, missing her partner. She would have been 12 years old this December and she was mine for that entire time. I loved her dearly and we had been through so much together. She was my perfect travel buddy, she was the sweetest and most spunky partner a man could ask for. What I wouldnt give to hear her cat call me one more time 💔
I wish I could post all 10 years worth of photos and videos I have of her. I wish I could show everyone her love of baths, apples, snack stealing, and cuddles/head scratches. She had a personality that just couldn’t be beat and was the best bird I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. It’s grieves me so to be away during her passing and I still have a lot of processing to do as it’s all still so fresh.
I love you Clementine. You are sorely missed and so greatly loved throughout your life. Thank you Mary Ford Kleinhenz and Emily Kleinhenz for caring for her while I’ve been in Australia. It means the world to me the care you provided her and the peace of mind you provided me 🧡🧡
Victory Sunday!
I played in my first ever team sport/beer league in ice hockey. Our team Played 12 games, fought in the 13th game semi finals to earn the right to play in the grand final and in our 14th game we won the championship 5-0. What a great game, what a great sport, what a fantastic team, what an incredible experience!! I couldn’t be more proud of our squad and the improvement I saw in both myself and my teammates throughout the season.
Safe to say I’m in it for the long haul! On to a new team and on to the next division up. Huge thanks to our coaches Carl Brewer Jayne Burgess and Mia!! I’ve learned so much and have plenty still to learn but I feel like I’ve got excellent building blocks to move forward in a sport I love 🧡
When @allbayleydoes comes home and surprises me with roses of my favorite color, I cry 🥹🥹 nobody has ever bought me flowers before. Feeing very loved and extra blessed to have this wonderful woman in my life. I love you!!
Officially on a squad. I’ve never been on a team where I’ve had my own name and number on the back of a jersey. I’m pretty damn proud of myself and absolutely thrilled to be a part of something like this. Developing a new skill, making new friends, and having a blast playing the game.
Looking forward to a stellar remainder to the season (we’re 3-0 so far! 🥳)
Another night of spoken word in a queer space. I read for my second time ever last night and was held by community as I spoke my thoughts and emotions. The outpouring of connection I felt when people came up to me after to chat or thank me for reading was inspiring and validating. Really starting to think I've found my voice expressing myself in a way I've only recently remembered I have always loved. Growing up I wrote many stories, some for school assignments, others I wrote because I was a horny teenager. Now I'm realizing I can breathe some life into stories that aren't fantasy. I can speak my experiences and thoughts and still weave a beautiful story. Thank you @kentst for providing this space and thank you @bobickmore for hosting and giving folks like me opportunity to speak our truths 🧡
