Graffiti Photo Book

I have been working hard at trying to get out a photo book featuring Freight Train graffiti that I have taken photos of in Swift Current, SK. It has been an enlightening experience. I first had to start out by editing the photos to showcase them in such a manner that it best shows the work put into making the graffiti. This took quite a long time as I have over 160 photos I hope to put in, and twice as many that did not make the cut, never mind all the time and effort involved in taking those photos. The next step was deciphering what each piece said, to pick out the taggers/crews involved in it's creation. Then came all the research of these taggers and crews to find out where they are from, though many of them I could find very little information on, some no information, which considering the legalities of graffiti art, should come as  no surprise. Even so the research was very intriguing, and I found that by the end I could decipher more of the tags, and even recognize some taggers work without seeing their signature. Now I am working on putting this all into the book form and doing the cover art.
Lots of work, but we will see when I am done if I am happy with the way it turns out. If I am I will make it available for purchase, if not then It was a fun learning experience.

Now Selling My Photos!

So I was happy to discover I have sold 3 photos through a site I use, as well as sold 1 photo framed locally. I have recently discovered redbubble.com and have started selling under the profile tpeters745.  Here is a link https://www.redbubble.com/people/Tpeters745 but also sell through my facebook group Tony Alexander Photography https://www.facebook.com/groups/453437844784168/ Happy with both. The Facebook group is a great way sell local canvas, metal, and photo prints. Redbubble is cool though as they have a wide variety of products to put your art onto, mugs, travel mugs, phone cases, clothes, canvas, tapestry, greeting cards, and much more. So cool.
Also selling on https://fineartamerica.com/artists/tony+peters. This company sells a lot of the same things as redbubble, but has better duvets, has towels, portable chargers, and much more.
Also selling print only versions of 10 pieces in odd sizes, on yourartgallery.com profile tpeters745.
As well as on https://www.artpal.com/tpeters745/ with just prints available here.

Love that people seem to be enjoy the artistry of my creative photography, as that is the point of the hobby.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my work!

Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow: Book review

Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow Book 1 of Napoleon-Wellington Quartet 3.5 Stars

Napoleon and Arthur (Wellington) are the focus of the book. It starts out with their births and their childhoods growing up, including the great demands that they were put under by parents who are struggling to maintain status. They both wind up in the military through having little choice, but they end up thriving. When France goes through a revolution it throws both of these men into the fray and gives them the opportunity to rise to the top.
I always love all the historical details that Scarrow includes in all of his novels and this novel is no exception. You can tell all the research he puts in throughout every chapter. Another strength would be his character development. He always has a depth rarely found in novels. I did find it difficult to be going back and forth between these characters constantly, as just when you are getting into one character's story it switches to the other one, which feels like letting air out of your tires. Overall though this is great read, but I feel his Cato and Macro series is better. Still good for a one-time read. Just ordered the last book in this series.

Book Review: The Directive by Matthew Quirk

The Directive by Matthew Quirk 3.25 Stars

Michael Ford is getting married, but before the wedding he wants to reconnect with his brother Jack. By going to see his con-artist brother he sets into motion a downward spiral of deception. Dragged into stealing a well-kept secret that whomever possesses could make billions. The Federal Reserve Bank controls the fate of America's stock market, his theft stands to allow whoever is pulling the strings to control more than just Michael's fate. He must make the heist in order to save everything that he holds dear, but will he manage to save it all, or let it all slip through his fingers?

The Directive starts off kind of slow, but keeps just enough of your attention to keep you reading. It has several great twists and turns and does get more intense as the book goes on. We see Michael Ford trapped in a tough situation. These twists were not always unpredictable, but were still interesting. I did feel that the characters could have used a little more work. Michael Ford is the only one really developed fully. His fiance Annie is naive, and shallow; she comes across as being dense and stupid. I wish Quirk had her being a little more supportive and Michael being more honest with her instead of treating her like she is fragile, especially in regards to her father. She would have figured out his past years before this event.
I also feel that the comment on the front of the book about if you like Ludlum then you would like this book. I am not a Ludlum fan as I find him wordy, but his books have much more depth of character and way better twists to the plot. The comparison isn't really fair to Ludlum.
Overall I likely would not pick up another of Matthew Quirks books. It was good for a one-time read, but did not grab me enough to keep me going with more of his books.

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth Review

Four: A Divergent Collection 3.25

This book just fills in little bits that were already covered in Divergent, only from Four's perspective. I really enjoyed how it fills in information that helps develop Four's character a little more. I feel like this whole book could have been combined straight into Divergent, by simply making the whole series third person. I have mentioned this in reviews of the previous books, and the book Four, just reaffirms this in my mind. I did enjoy the book, just feel that it is kind of redundant. Short stories are harder to get into, but overall I think this book was good. In the future I would actually recommend reading this once you are finished reading Divergent.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth 2.5 Stars

Tris and Tobias find themselves not happy with the outcome of their fight for freedom. Tobias' mother Evelyn takes over the tyrant role. Soon war is brewing once again. They now find the option of leaving the city as a viable option that must be explored. Leaving the city could have other unforeseen consequences and could further shatter the way of life they have always known. Sometimes finding out the truth is what destroys you, rather than setting you free.
I was a little disappointed with this book. It just did not captivate as the previous two books in this series did. I almost felt like the last three quarters of the book was not needed. The plot just seemed like it was not filled out like it should have been, and seemed rather forced at times, as if she was not sure what direction to take. Veronica Roth jumping back and forth from Tris to Tobias' perspectives was kind of distracting and annoying. If she wanted to do this then she should have written the series in 3rd person perspective to allow the freedom to do this. In fact this may have been the better way to write this anyway, it would have filled in details where they lacked. The characters as per usual for her writing, were very deep, and felt very real. I did not like the ending of this book either, it just felt dragged out, as if Veronica Roth could not decide how to end the book.
Overall I think this book actually turned me off of the whole series, this book is one I would not recommend.

The Guild Restaurant

 The Guild offers a unique dining experience. The decor and atmosphere remind me of a modernized British pub. It contained some very interesting and unique items throughout the entry and dining area. The service was decent, although not as attentive as I might like for the price of the food. That being said though, the waitress was very friendly.

 My wife at their Applewood-Roasted Half Chicken, this came with a side of poutine. She mentioned that the poutine was extremely delicious, and the chicken was very moist, but tasted like any roast chicken. My West Coast Octopus came on a bed of smoked black barley, bacon-steamed clams, green peas, samphire, and carrot puree. This was simply delightful and packed with flavours of great depth. I would order this again anytime. The Carrot Cake came on a bed of carrot puree that I feel it could have

done without. The cake itself was okay, not worth the $10 cost. My wife makes way better, as does my mother-in-law. Was light, but the cream cheese icing was not near cream cheesy enough.
Overall a decent restaurant, worth visiting for a good quality meal.

Blink Restaurant & Bar

Blink Restaurant & Bar was a very upbeat place to eat. A little noisier than the other places we have eaten in, but that was due to the very open concept in the restaurant. It's ambiance was that of hip and modern, the decor being Rustic and Antique. The servers were friendly, but maybe not as attentive as other places we have eaten in. Not the best place for a romantic dinner, but certainly one for a night out, sans children. The open kitchen allowed us to see the chefs preparing the meals, which is a kind of entertainment of its own. My wife ate a Quiche with broccoli and cheese in it, that she enjoyed though the crust was a little tougher than she is used to. My steak was served with potatoes on a bed of spinach and grilled beans. It also had an asparagus and pea puree. The beans being grilled added a bit of crunch to the meal, and the steak was beautifully seasoned with peppercorns and salt. The potatoes could have used a bit more seasoning but the vinaigrette was very tasty, as was the puree. Overall it was a pleasant meal, at reasonable prices.

Ruth's Chris Steak House- Calgary Tower

Crab Cakes

Ruth's Chris Steak House 

Lobster Tail

Lobster Bisque

Mashed Potatoes and Corn Medley

I must say I loved this Steak House, although the prices were a little steep for what you get. The atmosphere was perfect for our 10th Anniversary Celebration. Quiet, peaceful music, romantic atmosphere. They put Happy Anniversary confetti on our table and had a card for us as well. We did not even have to pay for our deserts which they customized with Anniversary Writing. We were treated very well by our waiter who was very attentive and respectful of our space. He was there when we needed him, but not hovering. My Crab Cakes were very easy to eat, the crab flavor comes through as the main focus, but could have used a tad more seasoning. The Lobster Tail was great as well, though was a little tougher than I  was thinking Lobster Tail would be. My wife's Lobster Bisque was delightful, a great way to start off her meal. The mashed potatoes were light and fluffy, though a touch of dill or garlic would have put this over the top. The corn medley was good as well, but again a touch of salt would have been all this needed. My wife's steak I would say was the highlight of this meal, as a steak should be. This had the correct amount of fat marbled throughout to make it tender, and it melted in your mouth, not much seasoning on this, but it really did not need it. And finally the best part of my meal, the desserts! My wife had Creme Brule with berries, and this was simply heavenly! Perfect! I had an amply named Sinful Chocolate Cake, that was surprisingly gluten free. This devilish cake definitely tasted so good and melted in your mouth like good chocolate should.
I would return to this restaurant again for a nice quiet evening, though prices could be shaved down considering the amount of food.

Steak

Gluten Free Sinful Chocolate Cake

 

Creme Brule

Teatro Ristorante

Atlantic Char

Lobster, Scallop, and Prawn Lasagna

Apple Cannolis

Teatro was an elegant and quiet restaurant. I liked that we could see the chefs in the kitchen and the smells were fantastic. One complaint would be that where we were seated was near the cleaning area of the kitchen that you could not see but we could smell the bleach. The waiter was attentive and kind, but at times seemed unsure of what he was doing. My Atlantic Char was delightful and vibrant, a great light lunch, a little seasoning would have been better, but overall a great mesh of flavours. The Lobster, Scallop, and Prawn Lasagna I could only sample a small bite of as it contains dairy.  The bite I did take though was amazing. So full of tastes of the sea, and packed with flavour. The Apple Cannolis were like little Apple pies and were a good way to finish off the meal. I was glad the dairy portion was on the side, that way I could eat some of the desert. Overall this is a great restaurant to visit in the arts section of downtown. 

Yellow Door Bistro

Pork Tenderloin with Spelt and Sweet Potato-Apple Puree

Chamomile Duck Breast With Mushroom-Split Pea Risotto

Apple Fritters and Gingersnaps with Rum Caramel and Vanilla Cream

My wife and I decided to take a short trip to Calgary for our 10th anniversary. The Yellow Door Bistro in Calgary, was our first downtown restaurant stop. This restaurant was very modern and provided a quiet spot to enjoy an evening out. The service was excellent, very friendly and prompt. My wife had the 3 Course Chef's Choice, which entailed an appetizer of Split Pea Ricotta Filled Pasta, entree Pork Tenderloin with Apple Sweet Potato Puree and Spelt, with a dessert of Apple Fritter and Ginger Snaps on a bed of Vanilla Cream and Rum Caramel. My meal was Chamomile Duck Breast with Mushroom-Split Pea Risotto. I must admit I had never had either duck, nor risotto before; I am definitely sold after eating it at this restaurant, it was absolutely delicious. My wife loved every course of her dinner and having sampled them myself, I must say her food was excellent as well. The fritters melted in your mouth, they were so light and airy. Was impressed with everything about the Yellow Door Bistro and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in downtown Calgary.

Insurgent By Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (4 Stars)

Tris finds herself in a fight again, this time a completely different kind of fight. Instead of fighting to get into a faction, she is fighting to find out the truth, and free society from the lies that have kept them enslaved. Tris is willing to give up everything to stop Jeanine from keeping the truth from them; Tobias, family, factions, friends, and her own life. Her sacrifices could mean freedom, or a future unknown.
The plot just gets thicker in this installment to the Divergent series. Veronica knows how to make you twist and turn with every page. She keeps you on the edge of your seat. Her characters have depth, and change as the story line demands it. I do agree with her assessment that Tris should have shown much more grief over the loss of her parents, even the betrayal of her brother. That being said, everyone grieves in different ways, so it is hard to bottle up reactions and say everyone should react in this way. I love the ending as it brings things together and sets up for a dramatic next novel.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (3 Stars)
Hazel has been battling cancer for quite sometime. Unable to breathe on her own, she relies on a breathing apparatus to help her do what most take for granted. She is in a routine that works for her family, until she meets Augustus Waters. He has been cancer-free for a while, at the cost of his leg. He provides her with happiness, something she did not even realize she was missing. Wrapped in an author who may not be what he seems, they find comfort in his novel. Life seems to be looking up again, until it all fall apart.
This is the second John Green book my wife and I have read together (Paper Towns being the other), both books seem to have the same basic issue; John Green likes to use big words. His use of big words distracts from the plot, his characters use these words in sentences where people would not use them, and he makes it seem commonplace. In the end this just comes across as ostentatious and pretentious. Rant over.
His characters are well rounded and have depth rarely seen in novels these days. The situations they are in are heartwarming at times, and heart wrenching at other times. Loved the overall plot and how things flowed. I do wonder what his obsession with his characters egging cars is? Although in this novel it was rather amusing. I must say with both this book and Paper Towns,  I enjoyed the movies more than the books, a rarity for me. 
Would I pick up another one of his books? Probably not, although I know many out there who would disagree with that!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth    4/5 Stars
Beatrice has been in her faction her entire life. She is now 16 and must decide if she stays or changes factions, leaving her family behind. She soon discovers she is different, a dangerous truth that she does not understand. Making the decision she moves to Dauntless. A decision that will affect every aspect of her life.
The book was not quick moving until the very end, but it was captivating in its own way. I did enjoy the movie more, but the book does fill in more character-wise. They all seem to be well developed characters and have intricate backgrounds. The plot does move along at a good pace and keeps your attention. The plot is fairly deep and that shows in the conclusion. Set up nicely for the next novel in the series. Overall a great read, that I would recommend to young adults especially, but anyone who likes thrillers or futuristic novels.

Eagles of the Empire: Invictus by Simon Scarrow

Invictus BY: Simon Scarrow

3.5 Stars

I haven’t done a review in quite a long time, so please bear with me as I try to get back into the groove.

Cato returns home to Rome and does not get the reception he was counting on. His wife has died and now he must get to know a son he has never met. As his world crumbles around him, he gets the call to go back into the line of duty. Trying to prevent Hispania from leaving the Roman Empire. They are up against a cunning rebel leader who will stop at nothing to stir up rebellion in the colony.

This was off to a slower start than I am used to with Simon Scarrow novels. I did enjoy seeing the personal side of both Cato and Macro as it really assisted in their character developments. It did take quite a while to get into the book and I would not recommend starting with this particular novel in the Eagles of the Empire series. Once they do reach Hispania things pick up pretty quickly, but by this time you are a third of the way through the book. When the fight begins it is up to Scarrow’s usual standards, he has a great way of keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout the battle. Scarrow’s research on these lands and the time/event he is telling of is always impeccable and shines through. The conclusion of course leaves room for another instalment. Overall a good read, just wish he had found a way to make the first third more attention grabbing.