blog | grahamwardle.net

Gratitude, balance and living simply

2011-12-04 23:32:24

Dear fellow internet people,

I have been absent for quite some time. I must say that I can't thank you all enough for your support and inspiration. Reading your comments on here has been a great reminder to continue exploring and expressing myself. So thank you all.

I am planning to do another Google hangout with 9 random people very soon. I will keep you all updated via Twitter on when it will happen. I loved the last one. Although I wasn't planning on it going for an hour, I thought it was a perfect time frame. This next one will also be for an hour as well.

Heartland Season 5 is completed and it was a challenging one. I'm very grateful to have been apart of it and am looking forward to hearing all your feedback. Right now I have 5 months off and I love it. Hang out with friends. Meet new people. Try new things. Travel. Meditate. Build stuff. Explore. I love it.

BTW the picture was taken during the filming of an upcoming episode. It's actually like 2 or 3 away I think. One of the camera guys took it and sent it to my email.

I've also got a bunch of fan mail that I'm slowly replying to. Please bare with me everyone. I read every piece of mail I get but it takes me a bit to write back.

In other news I went out and saw the new Muppets movie. Anyone else seen it? I thought it was incredible. I have always loved the Muppets humor. I took my little sister and kicked back and enjoyed a good quality film. It was cool because there was all ages there. Good quality entertainment there.

So in closing thank you all for your support I will be doing another Google hangout soon!

Much love

Graham

Floating on a Motorcycle cloud back to Heartland.

2011-04-04 01:25:52

Fade In:

Hey everyone. Welcome to another addition of Graham's blog,

I'm your host, Frogger.

Thank you for visiting the site and taking a look around. We really do appreciate all your comments and insights. If there is anything special you think would be a great addition to the site or just wanna ask some questions please let us know in the comments below.

Today Graham cleared his final test for his motorcycle license. He only had two slip ups one on a left turn and the other on his U-turn. He's glad it's over, tests aren't his favorite thing to do. It's a beautiful sunny day in Vancouver so that made the whole process a lot smoother. If I could direct your attention to the top of the page there is a picture for you to see.

In other news Graham took apart an old SX-70 Polaroid camera and was able to manually fix it with some fancy screwdrivers and other random tools.He didn't think he'd be able to fix the shutter, but did so with some tinkering. Definitely a mini triumph for him. It now closes properly and now he's gotta get some film in it and make sure all is good. In case anyone else out there is into old polaroid cameras there is a great site for getting film called Impossible Project. http://www.the-impossible-project.com You can buy film and I think they even have some cameras for sale as well. And now over to Rob with insight into Graham's life...

Thanks Frogger,

Glad to be on board and yes we do have some crazy insight into Graham's life. A week ago today Graham journeyed out to North Vancouver to try a float tank he had found while searching the internet. He's been looking into this for around two years now and is happy to say he finally found a place to float and he loved it. For those of you out there who haven't heard about floating or are curious here's a little video to inform ya.

Video Plays:

[media:565]

Fade Back in:

Well folks there ya have it. Graham said he hasn't experienced that kind of relaxation ever. Simply wonderful. Unfortunately there aren't many tanks for floating in Canada. And there aren't even any float centers specially for floating in Canada. Only a few tanks in people's homes. It's an unusual method of relaxation but it's by far the best we've found. An now back to you Frogger...

Thanks Rob,

Graham will be headed back to Calgary this week to start shooting on the fifth season of Heartland. He's received the first two scripts and it has been reported they are a great start to another year at Heartland. That's all for now folks and I'll leave you with a fun video,

Stylish and Simple. Like a fancy cracker with good cheese and an apple slice.

[media:564]

And this one!

[media:563]

:D Don't know where the idea of posting to my blog as a news crew came from but it was fun. ahaha

Letting Go

2011-02-22 20:22:30

"The fear of failure will paralyze one into everlasting mediocrity."

I had an audition today and it was a great eye opener to say the least. Life has a funny way of dealing me just what I need even if I don't agree. Today was a perfect example.

I had 19 pages of lines to memorize which ended up not being that bad in the end. They only asked for the 2nd and 4th scene to be done. So It worked out to be around 7 pages. So not too bad. But very intense content. It was quite heavy stuff... Anyway, got there and went in to the audition and did my first read and couldn't connect. Couldn't get in touch with the character. I don't know why. The structure was all there but no real emotion or heart was in it. So the casting director asked me how I felt after I finished and I said, "Okay, nothing special." I know I could have done better. When practicing the night before I had the emotion and could connect, no problem. But accessing feelings is a tricky thing for me. Sometimes I just close up and protect myself.

*Acting is such a weird thing to do when you think about it*

So anyways she agreed with me and said she couldn't connect or feel the characters pain. Then asked me some other homework questions and we talked a bit. She asked me if I wanted to take 5 min and come back in later and try again or just go again right now.

I thought about it. There was a part of me that wanted to go outside and take some time. But I knew that would only lead to me beating myself up about how I couldn't connect. And once you leave and then come back in there is all this pressure so I then thought about staying and just going again. I knew I was having difficulty and going again to quickly might just lead to a repeat of the last read.

So then I thought, "Screw it." I'll go again and try something new. See if that works. If it doesn't then well... (That's about as far as my thought pattern went)

So I sat down and had another go at it. It went better. But I didn't fully let go. It wasn't where I felt it needed to be if I was directing the film. I knew it was an improvement though. It was tough to get a feeling off the casting director as to what she thought about it. I thanked her and the other person in the room who was reading the lines with me and left.

Feeling satisfied I was able to up my performance but slightly bewildered as to why I couldn't completely commit to the scene or the character for that matter. I've had auditions in the past four years while filming Heartland but haven't had any really intense ones that test me as an actor. This one pushed me to my limit and revealed my weakness. My fear of failure and attachment to results. It was a bitter taste in my mouth.

Thank God it was sunny today. It was 6 Degrees and the sun was out just being the sun, awesome in every way. So that provided some natural antidepressant.

So in short I guess I'm saying get outside your comfort zone. That's where all the fun happens anyway.

One Love,

Graham

And for those who haven't seen it yet here's a great video I posted on my twitter the other day,

http://vimeo.com/19900368

I want to go to space one day...

2011-02-08 16:50:06

I mean when you think about it technology IS moving pretty fast. So I'm hoping by the time I'm 45-50 there will be spaceports with cheap flights to mars. I mean right now it's all rocky, red and bland but who knows! What if we were able to discover water there and do a little gardening here and there and volia! Tropical paradise! Wishful thinking maybe. Plus I think we gotta get this planet in order before we start venturing out into other territory.

I'm just saying one day I would like to take a road trip through space on my Tron like motorcycle. Cuz how cool would that be? Awesome.

Blast-off into the sky on a motorcycle spaceship.... so cool.

Okay, so now that I've geeked out my fair share, it's time for creative writing. I'm loving the stories everyone has posted to the last entry so I want to keep this rolling. Keep having fun with this.

The picture above is for your inspiration. Incorporate it into your story or simply use it as a starting point. Stories can be in any language and any length.

And to get the ball rolling here is mine.

Wilson and Winston.

These fellows were the best of travel friends. They had grown up in the same tree. Birds of different parents but they shared the thirst for adventure.

Wilson always sat up front on the raft since he had the better eye sight. Winston would steer the raft from the back by pulling a tiny string back and forth which was attached to a fin like apparatus that propelled the raft forward. Winston came up with that one.

They had been gone for several months at sea exploring and plotting everything in a small book they called the Winchester. They had finally returned home after such a long trip. They had grown. Each of them now weighing at least 5 pounds more than when they left. Winston really enjoyed his goldfish. He'd sometimes eat 50 a day. Of course this would keep him full for the next few days but still that was a big meal.

"AHOY!" Someone shouted from the distance. "Wilson... Winston? Is that you?" The voice echoed along the water.

Wilson turned back to his friend and smiled a bird like smile. "He remembered." Winston said with a twinkle in his eye. Wilson laughed to himself and called back with a familiar bird call.

"WILSON! You made it!" Gasped the voice on the shore.

The birds slowly steer their raft towards the shore. The sound of tribal drumming pushes its way through the trees and across the water. There is a celebration for the two weary travelers.

The figures on the shore become clearer as they move closer. Two men standing with open arms now waving them back and forth. Winston slows the raft as the they approach. It grinds into the sandy shore and comes to a gentle stop. Wilson walks off the front and onto the shore. Leaning down and picking up some sand in his mouth and then throwing it over his shoulder. He ruffles his feathers and stretches them out. His feet grip the earth.

Winston jumps off the raft pulling a leather strap that's tied around Winchester, the book. Together they walk up the shore towards the giant fire they have made in their honor.

Wilson leans over to Winston and says in a hushed tone, "They're not going to be able to read our writing."

Winston looks back at him and shrugs. "Memories are always a little brighter with some creativity."

From a distance we can see the two birds walk up the beach.

The end.

Alright everybody,

That's mine. Thanks for reading. Hope you are all having a good one and I'm looking forward to reading yours!

It's been awhile!

2011-01-12 01:37:24

Hey yo

It's been awhile since I've blogged and that's because I didn't really think I had anything worth talking about really. I mean I could have blabbed on about boring stuff and movies I've seen and what I'm doing in my time off but really that doesn't excite me to blab about my life to others so I just waited until I had something to share.

I want to start a little contest for fun.

The picture attached is the starting point. If it inspires you, write a short story in the comments section. It must include the bed and the details of the picture but the story is entirely up to you.

All languages welcome!

So that's it. Now to get the ball rolling, I'll give it a try myself.

The ladder up to the bed begins to sway back and forth. The ropes tighten and groan with the added weight. A hand reaches up into view and grips the metal bed frame. It's frail and slightly shaking. It's an old lady with long white wavy hair. She's wearing a brown robe with colored beads and on her feet are white fluffy slippers with bushy tails hanging off the heels. She crawls up onto the bed and gets comfortable amongst the pillows. Laying on her back, she sways her body from left to right causing the bed to swing from her movement. She builds this momentum with confidence and familiarity. Reaching out her right arm, she grabs her book from the shelf with the lamp. On the next swing of the bed, she flicks the light on.

Back and forth the bed rocks.

The ropes stretch and relax with each swing. The birds from above always enjoy these last moments of daylight.

Back and forth.

She smiles to herself. Something she just read reminded her of her past. All the while enjoying the final sways of her bed.

Back... and ... forth... The bed comes to rest.

She continues to read while her eyes flutter gently. Her body sinks deeper into the pillows. She slowly drifts off to sleep.

All is quiet.

A voice from the left says, "Good night sweetheart."

And a hand swings in and flicks off the light.

The end.

It doesn't end here...

2010-12-31 15:17:29

Round and round forty five yellow moons

Through the inside and back until it stops

Again

Faster and more clear

Again

Once more for old times sake

Again

Now it's all around and completely formed.

Six have stayed
and all but one have been here before.

Together they jump

Over and under

Down and into

What they will become

And forget where, what and why

but does it matter?

Not to them.

They will always be and have always been,

Home.

BBM ROBOT

2010-12-31 15:03:15

I really didn't like my Blackberry Storm phone. I know people who love their Blackberry's but I had a terrible first experience so I switched to the iPhone and haven't looked back.

But enough about that. I found my old Blackberry the other night and was like, "I wonder what it looks like inside?" So I started taking it apart. I couldn't get very far without the proper screw driver so I decided to use my camping knife to pry it open. Then I thought well maybe I should dig out the cool parts. So I did.

In the photo here there is the lens for the camera, The CMOS chip (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) which processes the images taken with the camera, The LED Flash, the weighted spinning piece of metal used to make the phone vibrate and two small magnets used for the speakers.

I spent a few hours playing around with them then decided to arrange them and take a photo.

Then I added some effects to give it a cool feeling.

Enjoy.

Dreams and Other Worlds

2010-12-31 14:38:26

Where do our souls go when we sleep?
Do we float around this world
while our bodies rest quietly in our beds?
Do we create?
Do we imagine?
Do we repair or renew?
How does the soul return to the body?
Or was it always there?
Or was it spread out like a sheet and
then folded up after waking?
Can, could or what if my soul
was to split into two?
Would I become two
or just one from two points?
Does it matter?
Sure, I say it does. So what is it?
Belief in something bigger than you cannot
be explained but only felt
as a reality in one's heart.
Seek not the equation
but rather the balance of it.
For the equation does not actually exist.
It acts only as a rule of thumb
but cannot be defined or categorized.
Only balanced and felt.
In and out, up and down,
here and there, one and all.
Breath.
You're still alive aren't you?

Two 4 One

2010-12-31 13:46:20

Two 4 One
Everything is Half packaging
75% of toxic plastic until 9PM
Buy one get another slave Free
All you can throw away buffet
Free Beauty
Free Acceptance
Free LOVE
Don't Pay until your eyes bleed
VALUE SIZE 30% less life
BONUS Distraction
All I want for Christmas...

Remember

2010-11-18 17:12:46

The Driveway

2010-11-18 16:37:39

Hope

2010-11-18 16:36:57

bAnAnA

2010-11-18 16:36:18

Drip...

2010-11-18 16:35:21

Listen A bit More

2010-11-18 16:34:39

Lamp Heads

2010-11-18 16:32:01

Tokyo Club

2010-11-18 16:25:05

Sandles

2010-11-18 16:23:40

My Web Tressures

2010-09-14 22:08:47

So I thought I would share with all you some of my favorite sites on the web and videos I'm diggin' right now.

The internet is obviously I love of mine and I want to share with you what I enjoy on the world wide web.

If any of you have something you want to share that you found particularly interesting or just plain awesome please comment below and link it for everyone else and myself!

1. 8 TRACKS

www.8tracks.com

A website for music lovers that allows users to create playlists of their favorite music and share them with the world. This is a great site for finding new music and just rocking out to whatever mood your in. Just type your mood into the search box and someone will have created a playlist for you. My user account is www.8tracks.com/graham714

2. Julian Smith

http://www.youtube.com/user/juliansmith87

This guy is a creative genius in my eyes. Hilarious and wildly creative. One of my favorite videos from his http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVEe7TrUabg

3. Freddie W

http://www.youtube.com/user/freddiew#p/c/7/_DypnQQDAaU

Great with special effects. Lots of guns and action. He's become a youtube celebrity.

4. TED Talks

http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector

One of my favorite ways to spend time. These videos are amazing. From inspirational to mind expanding. I love these videos. Here are some of my favorite.

David Blaine talking about holding his Breathe for 17 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFnGhrC_3Gs

Ken Robinson Talks about schools killing creativity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

5. Derren Brown

This guy is incredible. A hypnotist and magician. You gotta watch this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej_bT4PJFrg

Now it's time for you to share your favorite parts of the internet...

Mr. Nobody ;)

2010-08-09 00:28:44

Hey yo,

So I saw this movie called Mr. Nobody this weekend. It's a Canadian Co-production and a wicked film to say the least. Like inception but for the soul. A very insightful film indeed. I recommend for the older crowd. It's rated PG but the concept is pretty advanced. Whatever go check it out if you wanna see it don't listen to me babble. I liked it so I'm letting you know it's cool! Haha here's a trailer for the film

http://vimeo.com/5001193

It's hot in my apartment right now, Maybe I should get up and open the window... Gimme a sec...

Much Betta.

So yeah I saw that film this weekend which was awesome. I also planned my trip out to 100 mile in British Columbia. There is this house building seminar for these crazy self sustaining houses that I'm going to go to with a bunch of friends. I'm pretty excited to learn about them and at the end of the day we get to help build one which should be a lot of fun. Here is a video explaining how these houses are different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TbxhpG-Y4Q

I also want to have a giant party room in my house that is rigged with sprinklers and strobe lights. So I can Dj my parties and spray water in sync with the music with lights are flashing. :D

Now I wanna hear from you peoples, What is your dream house like?

Peace and love

Graham