aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

OK, so I have to leave in a bit, but I've not written in a week, so sorry, I know how much you enjoy reading this blog.

well, first off I'm really dissapointed in a friend of mine now attending university in Fredericton. he/she believes I think I am "better than everyone else" because I go to school in Toronto. and this person has not spoken to me since I got here in August. this person has ignored my e-mails, my messages, etc. etc. and likes to pretend I suddenly don't exist. what a mature way to deal with problems.

tonight I am playing in an RTA (for all those of you who live under a massive boulder, last time I am writing this = RTA is short for Radio and Television Arts, MY UNIVERSITY PROGRAM) band night tonight, I am so nervous. why? because it's going to be a bunch of rowdy, loud drunk people expecting hardcore rock shows, until I come out with my mellow songs and they boo me offstage. ooooooooooooooooooooh, man. so nervewracking.

I went to B&M, the agency I thought I'd chosen to sign with. instead, the scout-agent-buddy told me to 'clear up my face' (I thought my skin was clear??? well not quite yet) and grow out my hair, and come back first thing in January. aaaaah should I wait for them, or sign with Velocci instead? I don't really fucking know. I have been waiting / looking around for forever.

and my classes are done Monday, not Friday. whatever - and I am going home on the 16th I believe! 3 weeks at home = not bad at all!

OK so the show - I need to go get ready. but for your entertainment, here's a pic from my "merman" photoshoot this past saturday with st. andrews-by-the-sea's very own Caleigh Dunfield, shot in the photo studio of the image arts building @ Rye.

The end !
(and yes, that is a real octopus. thawing, though, not alive.)

Yours

Joel

I just wanted to write my friday five, really.

Blogger, stop trying to convert me.

You see, every time I sign in to Blogger, I am asked to switch over to the new "Beta" Blogger, which requires me to get a G-Mail account, and... I don't know, can't I just keep Blogger the way it is? I'm open to change, but come on now. My blog is precious, let's not mess with this.

And let's not mess with the Friday Five - the latest possible time to do it, Thursday Night! Ho hooo!!!! What a badass I am.

The (VERY VERY BELATED) Friday Five

1. How much time do you spend on the Internet daily?

Um, too much.

2. What are your favorite 3 websites?

There are two categories here. First, there are the 'necessary' favorites, i.e. things one must check on a regular basis.

1) Facebook.com
2) Hotmail.com
3) JoelsGrandLife.blogspot.com

Then, there are the enjoyable favorites.
1) NatalieDee.com / MarriedtotheSea.com (Same creators, same section.)
2) GroupHug.us
3) LiquidGeneration.com


3. Do you eat at your computer?

Totally, especially breakfast. (Yes, I am such a pig.)

4. Pick one and why - Reading the news online or in a newspaper?

Newspaper, it's just a more intimate and timeless medium. (BUT ALWAYS RECYCLE YOUR NEWSPAPER!!!)

5. How many people are on your instant messenger buddy list?

We're not going there. Needless to say a frightening amount.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

^ good divider, eh? I'm glad we're clear as to where my Friday Five ends and real blogging begins.

so, my coming weekend seems to be pretty fucking awesomely cool, let's check it out. (and yes, academics are included!)

tomorrow :
-gym @ 9
-meeting with Anna D. @ 11, a friend from work (and Elmer Olsen model! HOLLAAAAA)
-meeting with sana @ 11:30, then to ash's for our historic set meeting (a project in which we must perfectly describe everything going on as a family walks down Yonge Street on December 20, 1952)
-Spanish class 2-3
-possibly going for a run with Dean
-working on my English essay
-going over to Vicky's and drinking !!! FINALLY seeing her appartment. CAN'T WAIT.

saturday :
-working on my English essay in the morning
-MY VERY FIRST photoshoot @ 12PM, with caleigh, I get to be a merman posing with various sea creatures - however it's not through an agency, as I've yet to sign any contracts, caleigh is in photography and asked me to model for her. HOLLAAAAA
-Abercrombie 2-7PM
-possibly cavalcade of lights?
-sexy party @ a very sexy condo

sunday :
-gym
-English essaying my day away, surely intertwined with fun times somewhere, especially if I finish my essay early, which is doubtful, as I'll probably be working on Historic Set at the same time.

yours,
Joel

P.S. went to the Toronto Reference Library this morning, to look at old newspapers from December 20, 1952, on microfilm - AMAZING. WOW.

SUPER-FREAKING-DUPER

ooooooooo YAAAAA. wow, super-stressful day, I won't go through all of it again, but rest assured, it was a ridonculous day. hooooooooooooly.

allright, so, I basically just feel like giving you every single imaginable detail of my past weekend in New Brunswick, so, here you go!

Thursday, November 16:
-Packed like a muthafucka and went to bed, also like a muthafucka.

Friday, November 17:
-Woke up at the delightful hour of 3:30AM, and had the strong desire to shooooot myself. Oh well!
-Waited for my shuttle on the corner of Bond and Dundas at 5:40AM. Alone. And a large black man approached me and asked if I needed a "place to crash." TRAUMATISING.
-Took my shuttle to the airport, checked in, had a scone at Starbucks, waited for my flight, boarded, took off, read, and landed in Saint John at 11:05AM Atlantic Time!!! WUUUT.
-My mom picked me up at 11:40ish, and we chilled at her work until 2:30ish. I helped her to type up stuff, and she introduced me to all her co-workers, and they seemed shocked to see I was so tall and 19 years old and yadda yadda.
-Came home, helped make dinner, and got SHOCKED by how tall and skinny Tom had suddenly become. And he had super-straight teeth as well, hooooooooooooooooly.
-Surprised Ben when he came home! IT WAS GREAT. And hugged my Dad, I missed him so much as well.
-Had dinner with the family, then went out to see Ben's hockey game! And Mishelle came, and we talked for an hour, it was really nice.
-Did some West Side shopping, i.e. buying an umbrella, and my mom buying me a coat.
-Went home and slept like a MOFO.

Saturday, November 18:
-Woke up and went to the IRVING NATURE PARK. HOOOOOOOO MAN. And I ran it! Ya, I had to stop a few times because I've been focussing on weightlifting rather than cardio lately, but hey. There was a point where my Mom and Dad caught up with me, and we all ran together. It was truly a family "Bodybreak" moment. :)
-Came home and had a ridonculous brunch. Oooooooooooooooh, yeahhh. It's wonderful to not have to pay for your food!!!
-Went uptown with Mom! It was SO NICE. We looked at Christmas decorations - as soon as I get back we're gonna go look for Christmas stuff, I'm the professional home decorator. MUTHAFUCKAAAZZZZZ!!!!
-Went to Ben's basketball game, that was great. Ben's so competitive.
-Had a quick dinner, and then went to the Saint John Santa Claus Parade! THAT WAS GREAT.
-Came home, and chilled, i.e. watched T.V. for like 5 hours, exactly what I needed. And had a ridonculously good sleep.

Sunday, November 19:
-Woke up ridonculously late, and we didn't even go to church... Hollaaa! Instead my Mom and I went shopping... Yes, again. But it's because Tom saw my coat, and wanted it, and therefore took it. And so we went shopping for a new one. We didn't find a coat, but we DID find an old man sweater for me. I'm not convinced as to whether or not I like it yet, I'm going to have to wear it for my friends and get their consent before wearing it in public... Very important.
-Came back in time to go skating with Ben and my Dad at Lancaster Arena. It was f***ing awesome - I AM SUCH A GOOD SKATER - even if I only skate like once or twice a year, fuck that. My mad hockey skillz will stay with me forever and ever.
-Walked home by myself, through my old neighbourhood. (The hood I lived in until I was 5 years old.) SO NOSTALGIC, SO NICE!
-Had a huge turkey dinner with my family - and yes - this included MÉMÈRE, YEAHHHHHH. We had a great chat - and she made a really good chocolate cake. And slipped $70 under my pillow - awww yeahhhh.
-Watched old home movies with the family. I apparantly adored eating snow - kind of disgusting, yeah.
-Wished everyone good night, as only Dad would be the only one to wake up at 4:15AM with me.

Monday, November 20:
-Woke up at 4:15AM, packed up, went to the airport with Dad, flew off to T-Dot.

et voila, that's it. I have nooooo energy to write a thing more, hope you enjoyed!!!!

I'll give you an update as to my T.O. life very soon!!!!

Cheers,
JOEL

ummmm

please lay off the crack, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell.

yikes. reminds me of my "boy toy" halloween costume... Wind It Up

mi casa en dos dias!
-joel

beefing up = good times

hooooly smokes (to quote my friend Mark Cheel,) life is foolish for university students in November. and my life is no exception!

my group finished its final genre production this past thursday, THANK GOOOODDDD. here are two pics from the production to give you an idea of how hard we worked.

Dinner scene: Christmas With the Cooks set.

Talk show scene: The Shannon Derby Show set.

so THAT is a huge relief to have that over with - it was our final project, aka the equivalent of an exam, so SWEET.

this weekend I got super-drunk on thursday and pretty drunk on friday as a result of being finished with this project. it was greeeatt! I worked saturday, pretty slack as usual, and yet crappy. every shift I have, the title of "model" loses more and more glamour, and the less and less I want to work at abercrombie. I just to sign a damn contract already and get to real modelling, but I still have more open calls to do, two more this week! B&M and Velocci, hope it's good. I hope someone wants to sign me on the spot, though that never ever happens.

P.S. this girl I know from Hong Kong, her sister is a model for EliteHK, and she is submitting my pictures to them - apparantly my 'kind of look' is really big over there, so we'll see how that pans out, man am I excited (yet somewhat doubtful) about this opportunity.

and yes, I am indeed going home this weekend. I am leaving very early friday morning, and coming back very early Monday morning, (I'll be up at 4:30AM probably.) why, you ask? airfare was cheap, I've not seen my family since August 24 and I miss them very very much, what else is there to say? I am so damn excited!!!

late friday five, just for you.

1) If you had to move 100 miles or more to the north, east, west, or south, which would you choose, where would you end up, and what's so great about there?

I would go to Paris, just because it's Paris. And because I'm French, but mainly because it's Paris.

2) Do you have a favorite stretch of highway or byway for driving, touring, or wandering?

Yes - I discovered it over the summer - it's on the road between Crystal Beach in Grand Bay and Kingston. I think it's called the Kingston Road, but it's fucking amazing - there's one point, right after you pass a church, it looks it's straight out of a postcard, Katie and I drove there in her convertible this summer, pretty foolish. and there's lots of other roads, but hey, that's too much to write.

3) Are you happier to start a trip or return home?

Always happier to start a trip, because coming back I'm always tuckered out. Usually, anyway - there are exceptions.

4) Plane, train, automobile, bicycle, or foot?

By plane or foot!

5) Do you overplan or underplan your travels?

I overplan my travels, for sure. But hey, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

done, friday five.

allright, so that's cool for now - I have already written quite enough. I need to do some actual work... sigh, story of my life. (it really is... I'm a real university student! and yes, Ryerson is a real university.)

yours

Joel

put your hands up for detroit!

only the truly music-savvy will recognize my nickname and its meaning. (that's not true... probably only people who like dance music like I do. those who like music enough to buy Z103.5's Street Mix 2k7. I can't decide if that was a waste of $20 or not, but it's a damn good CD, I gotta say. P.S., Z103.5 is a local radio station here in Toronto.)

OK! so, sorry for the randomness and basic lack of any updating at all. I am very chill right now, relaxing after another ridonculous day of 2nd-year Radio and Television Arts, (much more affectionately known as RTA here at Ryerson.) sadly enough, I always have to explain where and what Ryerson it to those in New Brunswick. yikes.

speaking of New Brunswick! I am definitely considering going home from the 17th until the 20th, just to see my family and ward off the homesickness. but, the ticket price is kind of high... $347 I think? but that's a return trip. hm... what do you think?

and speaking of money!!! I got lots... ON MY 19TH MOTHERFUCKING BIRTHDAY!!! IT WAS SO DAMN FOOLISH! I went to the gym, went shopping with Jenee, had lunch with Jenee as well, had Spanish class, drank champagne and cleaned with Alyssa, made my first legal trip to the LCBO, had a pre-drinking party in "Club 19," (my revamped senior suite on Floor 13,) and finally had a wild night at Mink. all in all, a foolishly amazing birthday, thanks guys!!!!!!

OK, so in other news, my Studio final genre production is on THURSDAY. let me tell you, we have been slaving over this project for THREE WEEKS NOW. yesterday we spent 6 hours together, today was basically the same thing. so foolish!!!!!! as much as I love my group, it's really overwhelming. once we're done on thursday, we're going to SUSHI TIME! so that's my basic consolation right there, hahaha.

ah, I'm visiting Giovanni tomorrow, a brand new agency! my modelling situation at the moment is quite ... complicated. looks like I may have to wait until January to sign anything - but I am guaranteed to be a model anyway! here's the rundown with every agency I've ever visited, just in case you're curious.

Stylus signed me in early February of this year. they wanted me for commercial print and commercials, and they wanted me to spend money on my portfolio, which I thought was sketchbags, but is actually legitamate. I doubt I'll ever go back with them, but they did give me my first modelling contract ever.
Elmer Olsen was very nice. they told me to 'beef up' and come back and see them in 3-6 months - which would probably mean in January for me.
Nam doesn't want me. they thought I was "beautiful," which is nice! but I'm "not right for them" and there was something about having too many models. oh, well! P.S. their site was last updated when Michael Jackson was cool.
Sutherland Models wants to sign me. very, very, very exciting. but they want me to spend a lot of money for classes and portfolio, $840 alltogether. they have a new set of classes on January 2nd, which sucks, because ... well, read what Ford said, then you'll understand.
Ford was REALLY good as well. the agent there was the nicest I've encountered so far I believe. he said they were only looking for black models between the ages of 20-30, but they would be letting go of some of their models before the end of the year, and that they're looking for new faces. he suggested I come back in the new year. AWESOME! but that's why I want to wait for January. Sutherland said their next classes probably wouldn't be until six months after Jan. 2nd, and, yeah. the classes last two months, so by the time I was ready to become a model, I'd be going home for the summer. unless... I'd be staying here for the summer? WHO KNOWS.
and finally, I visited Next on Thursday, and they told me I was too tall, much like Elite told me back in February after I cancelled on Stylus.

sorry, that was retardedly unnecessary. I bet you anything Ashley (Jane) is shaking her head in disbelief right now - sorry ash - I promise you I am not obsessed.

ah, that took bloody FOREVER. I am totally going to bed. see you soon, homies.

JOEL IS 19!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's NOVEMBER 2006... where has time gone?

actually, I am trying to make time go faster, because I miss home. if that makes any sense!

anyway, needless to say, I have not updated in a little while... a whole week actually! what has been up with me? Halloween festivities, for sure! Going to the Ram, Picadilly's, and MOD Club were all great times - I was a boy toy - a pretty creative costume, I must say. HOWEVER, pretty sure I already know what I'm going to be for Halloween next year... but that's a secret for now. (so good.) I felt my costume was much more subtle than several costumes on Church Street, and much less offensive than a costume at the MOD club, (dead Steve Irwin. NOT COOL.)

anyway, without further ado, here are some pics from my Halloween.










Picture 1: Apparantly, the even smelled like strawberries. Wow.
Picture 2: Yes, that is Brock (lion) and Carling (pirate) with a giant slice of processed cheese.


Picture #3: Brock and I with a huge Chinese food box man!
Picture #4: Mmm, she was tasty. (Bunch of grapes.)
Picture #5: I don't really know what this buddy was, but it sure was extravagant!!! Wow.









OK! So that is that. School right now is FOOLISH - essays coming up, AND final Studio project!!! We (my group of four) spent 6 hours on Hallowenn and 6 hours today working on our paperwork off death and brutality... but SHIT SON it is going to be worth it!! we ae so fucking aweosme, J.A.C.E. PRODUCTIONS BABY!!!!! (J.A.C.E. stands for Joel, Amanda, Clara, Elli - the members of our grand team.)

my last exam is December 15, (I am pretty sure) soooo I should be back either that day or december 16th in Saint John! (that is if I don't come home later this month. I cannot believe it is already November, how ridonculous.)

since being offered the contract from Sutherland, I have been rejected by Nam (the agent advised me while stuttering severely they had too many models and suggested I see other agencies,) and have visited Ford and Next models. Next was a bust, I'm too tall for them, but Ford was great!!! he said he has too many white male models right now, and is looking for black men between the ages of 20-30 years old. (in case you didn't know, I am 18 and white. oops)he suggested I come back in january, after he has 'let go' of some of the models, as they aren't making enough money apparantly? yiiikes... but good for me! i will visit at least two-three more agencies before deciding on an agency.

and SPEAKING of being 18... 2 more hours until I turn 19 YEARS OLD! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH YESS!!!!! I had a beautiful dinner this evening at Mr. Greenjeans, and will be having an EXCELLENT birthday tomorrow (knock on wood,) with the following activities planned :

Morning-ish : trip to the gym!!! yes, my traditional friday trip to the gym, despite it being my birthday!
10:30 : meeting up with Jenee and shopping at many places, including abercrombie, where i will get some deeply discounted clothing. SHIT SON, YES. we will probably have lunch together, too! it will be really, really nice - I wonder if dean's coming too, as per our usual adventure fridays?
1-2: studying for my Spanish composition.
2-3: doing my Spanish composition.
3-?: drinking champagne with Alyssa, so excited
? - 8: doing something random for dinner with Ash maybe?
8-9: cleaning my suite and getting ready
9: DRINKING BEGINS, PEOPLE COME OVER!!!
10:45: leaving for Mink nightclub.
10:45-then on: having the best damn night of my life!!!!!!!!!

I am done now, I have some work to do, and I have to rest up before tomorrow gets foolish!!!!!

yours
JOEL