balance

I just printed everything I've written over the past year.

It's 57 pages and over 27,000 words.

It's actually quite liberating to have that much written material in your hands.

I think over the break I'll read and re-evaluate key points and questions, and maybe use those towards something bigger and more concise. Because, if I were to go back and elaborate on most of the ideas and questions presented, the number of pages could have doubled.

I'd love for some other writers out there to try the same, and maybe an exchange could be made.

that makes a bakers dozen

Cracked lung strikes again!

For those of you who have been reading this blog for more than a year, this may sound familiar to you.

That's right. Pneumonia again!
This time it hit me like a shit-ton of bricks. No warning, no sloppy nose work, no headaches.

Just BAM! Right into the lungs it goes, without leaving behind the sweatiest chills and worst obstructed sleeps I've ever and.

However, I'm quick on the antibiotics and should be back to my psychotically busy life in no time.

new blog business

Friends! Alert!

As of tomorrow I will stick to the Spreken Ze Talk blog for the three week period of my trip through Eastern Europe.

I will do my very best to narrate, humor, and inform you on what's happening. Pictures will also be uploaded as much as possible. I guess it all really depends on the internet connections I come across.

Either way, I hope you join me.

I am a business

So I decided to get my taxes done yesterday. Nearing the end of the session at H&R Block (which was terribly located on the fifth floor of The Bay near the kids clothing section, and they only told me the address of the building), I was asked if I had any other source of income. I bit the bullet and reluctantly said that I was an artist (and not because of tax evasion purposes). After a bunch of questions and fine print reading, I qualified to be a small business owner!

In reality it's probably not all that cool, but this will definitely be beneficial for me seeing as I can claim all of my material expenses on my income tax returns. And that is a lot of money. I roughly estimated that over one thousand was spent within the last eight months. But, you have to give to get I guess.

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always enjoyed personal banking, not business. I still go to my branch to pay my bills and make transactions. In fact, I've never even attempted online banking before. There's something about the tangible exchange of money that just feels more sound in my mind, and it gets me out of the house. Does this mean I have to starting wearing my suits? Sweet! I fucking love wearing suits.

if this post is riddled with spelling mistakes, please cut me some slack. it was done one-handed

come and get hugged

Hey all. Just wanted to plug the fact that there will be an opening event for my recently-hung work here in Toronto. The show features three large pieces; none of which I've taken photos of yet (on purpose? that means you'll have to come see!). I consider this to be some of my more mature work to date, focusing on a more technical approach to the ever-simple subject matter that is the prairie landscape. Yet, they're big, colorful, and for sale. If anyone has any questions on the night, just shoot me a line by email and I'll give you the all the deets. And if you come I'll hug you, no doubt. Thanks.

andrew.allan.schmidt@gmail.com