C.A.T.'s Cradle

Vimy Ridge

2007-04-13T18:52:00.000-03:00

Our tour was over, but our guide surprised us with an added stop at Vimy Ridge. If you don't know about Vimy Ridge, look it up! As Canadians, we should be really proud of the contribution we made to ending the First World War. Many people believe this victory by the Canadians was the turning point in the war.

Above is Daniel, hanging out by the Canadian Flag.

They have restored the trenches, so you can see the elaborate system that both the Germans and the Allies used during the battle.

The French were so grateful for the help, they gave Canada the land where the battle was won. Technically, we were all in Canada. For years, you could even have your passport stamped by the Canadians, but unfortunately this is no longer available. Although, all of the people working at the site are Canadians.

Above is the Canadian front line, and across the field you can see the German front line. They were so close, for so long.

It took me a while to clue in that the bumpy landscape was actually due to the non-stop bombs that were dropped in this area during the war. Some of the craters were so big and deep that it's hard to believe any bomb would be powerful enough to displace so much earth.

The huge Memorial commemorating the victory was under repair at the time we were there. But it has since been unveiled as part of the 90th anniversary.

Paris II

2007-04-13T18:32:00.000-03:00

We had amazing weather throughout the entire trip. Paris was the only place it actually rained, and that was just in the morning. By the time we emerged from the Louvre, it was all blue skies again.

Here is the view down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the most expensive strip of property in Europe. At this point, we had a choice to make. Take a walk down the avenue, enjoying looking at the luxury shops and cafes, on our way to the Arc de Triomphe. Or head to the Disney Exhibit taking place at the Grand Palais.

We chose the Disney Exhibit. :) We had seen the Arch de Triomphe from the bus, and thought the Disney Exhibit would be more up our alley, and a little something different. And it was definitely a good choice! It was huge, and so inspiring. The artwork was incredible, and there were videos, models, toys, paintings, fairy tale books, model sheets, layouts, etc. It was so big, we had to rush through in the end to meet our bus. Fortunately for us, it is now in Montreal, so we will definitely be making a trip to see it again, and I encourage all you animators and Disney lovers out there to do the same!

It was a rush to get back to the pick up spot, but we took a second to take a photo at "the most romantic of all the Paris bridges".

For our final evening in Paris we went to Montmartre, and saw the famous Sacre Coeur Basilica. This area of Paris is definitely worth a visit. Known as the hang out for many famous artists including Dali, Picasso and Monet, it still retains the atmosphere of the historic art district.

After an amazing Parisian meal, we walked to Paris' red light district, and saw the Moulin Rouge. We opted out of the Cabaret trip, and instead explored more of the city.

Paris

2007-04-13T18:19:00.000-03:00

When we arrived in Paris, we had escargot and champagne waiting for us at the Contiki Village. Then we took a night tour of the city. This is definitley the best way to be introduced to Paris! The city is brilliant at night, and especially the Eiffel Tower.

The following morning we went up the Tower. This is the view down. Perspective is a funny thing! It was really windy, so being at the top was less than pleasant. The whole thing was swaying quite a bit, and if you turned one corner it seemed likely you'd be blown clear off the platform! But the views were breathtaking.

Two days is really not enough to fully experience Paris. We decided to stick to the key points of interest, like Notre Dame Cathedral....

...and the Louvre. The place truly is massive, so we had some choices to make. We decided to see the three key pieces: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory & Venus de Milo. Then I chose the Italian Masters wing, to see more Michelangelo.

Here's me with Psyche and Cupid.

Introducing Max Xavier Thornhill!

2007-04-13T10:14:00.000-03:00

Chris and Ang welcomed their second baby boy on April 10, 9:15am. Max Xavier weighted 8lbs, 10oz. All are happy and healthy!

The proud parents:

Happy Family!

IWK Nudie Run

2006-12-23T12:30:00.000-04:00

For the last 6 or 8 weeks we at Collideascope have been collecting our spare change to donate to the IWK Children's Hospital. A little friendly competition between the first floor (represented by Ron Doucet) and the third floor (Mark Cappello) was inevitable. An agreement was reached that the loser would run around the block in downtown Halifax wearing... well... see for yourself!

As you can see, the first floor was victorious... and Mark made it to the front page of the Chronicle Herald. (That's me crouching on the left!)

Here Gord passes Mark a celebratory cigarette as he rounds the final corner to the finish line. I'm sure many videos are available on YouTube if you haven't seen enough. :)

Staff donations were matched by Collideascope, and in the end a total of $4000 was donated to the IWK! Go Collideascope!

Jungfrau II

2006-12-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

Here's me enjoying a piece of Daniel's Toblerone bar. I can't imagine a better treat for the top of the Alps! The temperature was officially -4.5 celsius, but it varied depending on where on the mountain we were. I'm actually sitting in an observation post called the Sphinx, which is 3571m high. From here we could see France, Germany, and Italy.

Below is the view down from the Sphinx to the glacier below. This glacier got stuck here during the last ice age, and has been here ever since. Those little specks are people walking the path. We were nearing the end of the tourist season, but usually there are a number of activities, from skiing to husky rides to tobogganing.

Below is me and Daniel talking on the path on the glacier. At the very top of the closest peak behind us is the Sphinx, where the previous photo was taken from. Very high!

It was incredibly hot on the plain. We were totally sheltered from any wind, and the sun was reflecting from every direction. We were warned of sunburns, but no one listened. :) And hey, now we can say we got sunburned while in the Alps!

One of my favourite photos:

Just as the chip bags exploded on the way up, my water bottle (last sealed on top of the mountain) imploded on the way down!

Jungfrau Mountain

2006-12-11T20:19:00.000-04:00

Our second day in Switzerland was spent exploring Jungfrau mountain, the highest mountain in Europe. The mountain is 4158m high, but we only went as far as 3454m. Beyond that is only for serious climbers. We took a train half way up to a station called Kleine Scheidegg, then changed to a cog railway which took us up the rest of the way. It's a special type of railway that can handle to steep incline. Below is a view from the train into the valley below where we came from.

The altitude changed pretty rapidly, and many people bought chips just to watch them puff up as the pressure outside decreased. This is Ankie (from South Africa) with her bag of chips. We thought for sure they would explode, but the bag was just too strong. :)

This mountain range actually has three peaks, Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. There is a legend that the Ogre (Eiger) was putting the moves on the young virgin (Jungfrau) when a monk (Monch) intervened, and somehow the three were turned to stone. (I probably should have paid more attention to the tour guide. :))

The train heads for a plateau between Monch and Jungfrau. On it's way it actually goes THROUGH Eiger mountain. And periodically there are stops were we could get off and look out of windows dug out of the side of the mountain. Wow.

After about two hours on the train, we finally made it to the pleateau! The altitude gave me a bit of a headache, but that went away pretty quickly. The only other effect of the altitude was just how much harder it was to hike through the snow or walk up stairs. We'd get out of breath quickly, and it was easy to over do it!

This is us with Jungfrau behind us... the highest point in Europe. This is also the highest post office and highest train station in Europe.

Lauterbrunnen Switzerland

2006-12-11T20:11:00.000-04:00

After leaving Lucerne we travelled to the base of the Alps and stayed in a town called Lauterbrunnen. Coming in to town we were delayed by slow moving cows. :)

We stayed at a campground, which has little cabins and a big chalet. We all stayed in the chalet. Chris and I got a giggle out of staying at a "Swiss Chalet" but apparently the restaurant chain is only in Canada, so no one else understood our amusement. :)

There were waterfalls everywhere. The one behind our campsite was really pretty. We were able to climb up and follow a path that leads right behind the waterfall and look down on the valley.
This gorgeous little bridge was how we got to the dining hall. It was just amazing scenery here... lush valleys with huge mountains on either side, and the Alps in the background. The bridge crossed a very cold and fast moving river.

Europe VI: Switzerland

2006-12-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

Switzerland had gorgeous countryside. So green! I still think Austria beats it for beauty, but the addition of the Alps adds a lot to Switzerland's appeal.

Our first stop was in Lucerne for some shopping and sight seeing. It was a beautiful city with a fast moving river and a cool covered bridge. The picture below is taken from the bridge, newly repaired after a devastating fire.

Below is a monument to the Swiss Guard. If you don't know anything about them, you should look it up - it's fascinating. This monument commemorates the more than 700 Swiss guard who died while defending King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette during the French Revolution. The Swiss Guard were betrayed by the French who failed to inform them that the royal family had already fled the building. You'll notice the proud lion is stabbed in the back by a spear, and lies on a broken shield decorated with the Frence fleur-de-lis.

Europe Part V: Venice

2006-11-12T00:02:00.000-04:00

I love Venice. Going there is like an event, not just a visit to a city. It's like going to Disneyland or something. Mostly we just wandered around and got lost... and did a lot of shopping.

I'm so glad it wasn't raining this time!

There is a great leather shop on the Rialto Bridge:

And I finally got to take a gondola ride!

I can't wait to go back there again.

Freaks and Geeks

2006-11-11T23:36:00.000-04:00

There wasn't much to do in the small Austrian town we were staying in, so Contiki hosted a "Freaks and Geeks" costume party. We did our best with what we had!

It seemed to be a popular idea to wear underwear in unusual ways:

My freakiest asset seemed to be my hair.

The next day as we left Austria, Louise serenaded us with songs from the Sound of Music.

Europe Part IV: Austria

2006-11-11T23:24:00.000-04:00

Austria was amazingly beautiful. The rolling green hills and gorgeous countryside. It was also where we had our big adventures! First we went white water rafting in the Tyrol region. We even rafted past Schwarzenegger's home village!

Chris kept getting waves in the face... Luckily he protected me from the worst of it. :)

Next stop was paragliding! Just fantastic views from the take off point.

This is my point of view. We were about 600 meters up, I believe.

I didn't realize parachutes could go upsidedown! The G-forces were crazy when we were spinning!

Europe Part III: Germany

2006-10-17T19:18:00.000-03:00

We spent two nights in Germany. The first in a little town in the Rhine Valley called St. Goar, known for it's ice wine and beer steins... and also for having the worlds largest hanging cuckcoo clock!

It's amazing they can harvest the grapes from the vineyards on the steep slopes of the Rhine Valley. Some are as steep as 60 degrees, and they need to use special equipment to reach the grapes without sliding down the hill.

The next day we headed to Munich:

This is the Glockenspeil in the Marienplatz in Munich. Nice building, but the Glockenspeil itself is a bit overrated. Kinda long and boring... and the bells aren't even real anymore, they just play a CD!!

It was no accident we were in Munich during Oktoberfest. But I didn't realize it was the opening day! It was absolutely crazy. So many people! But everyone was amazingly friendly, and it was a great atmosphere. I always thought Oktoberfest was all about the beer, but turns out half the visitors are children! They come for the rides and games.

Most of the tents were closed due to overcrowding by the time we got there, so we waited for a while outside a tent we heard was most popular with the locals. All the beer steins hold exactly 1.1 litres of beer, and these things are heavy! I had to use both hands to drink mine. I admired the waitresses who could carry five steins in each hand!

We finally got inside with the help of a friendly local couple, and were amazed to see how many people were in each tent. This one held over 10,000! And there were 16 tents. Although, I should mention that "tent" doesn't quite describe these buildings. True, they are temporary structures, only erected for the three weeks of Oktoberfest, but these buildings were solid!

Overall, I think Germany wins the "friendliest people" award. Maybe Oktoberfest had something to do with it, but even away from the crowds everyone was super friendly and helpful. I hear that may be a trait of the Bavarians, which sets them apart from Germans in the north who have a reputation for being more stern and reserved.

Europe Part II:Amsterdam

2006-10-17T19:07:00.000-03:00

Amsterdam was one of my favourite stops, but I have surprisingly few pictures to share. Probably because it's inappropriate or even illegal to take pictures in a lot of places, such as the Red Light District, or inside Anne Frank's house. But the city was beautiful!

I'm not lost, really:

This is our tour manager singing for us on our Canal Cruise. :)

I highly recommend visiting Amsterdam. It's a beautiful city with something for everyone. Lots of shopping, beautiful canals, fantastic nightlife, loads of history... and something called "Stroopwaffles", these delicious waffle cookies, which I recently discovered you can buy here at the Superstore!

Scotland3

2006-10-17T18:38:00.000-03:00

I just can't get enough of the Scotland photos, so here are some more of Edinburgh.

Here's the castle lit up at night:
This spooky gothic monument is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott:

My dad suggested we check out Rose street, which was great. Lots of cool bars, like Dirty Dicks, the Bad Ass, and Filthy McNasty's! But things were a little slow on a Tuesday night:

This is a path to Calton Hill which reminded me of Labyrinth:

Curvy Street in the Old Town, with great shops:

This is the hostel where we stayed, "Budget Backpackers". I highly recommend it!

Coming Clean

2006-10-13T19:36:00.000-03:00

I haven't found the time to go through the 1300+ photos taken on the Europe trip yet, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to come clean about the Ruby photo. In case there was any doubt, this was a joke. Although I did not conceive of the hoax, I was certainly an accomplice! :) It started out as a way of teaching some Photoshop techniques. Then we thought it would be a fun prank to pull on our workmates at Helix, after hearing all of the stories about the building we were in.

Being a skeptic myself, I did not think the hoax would be successful at all. I thought the truth would be revealed within the hour, and did not intend for it to continue for as long as it did. Keep in mind that unless you were at Helix, this photo was not even intended for you. But wow, did it spread fast, and get WAY out of hand! I hear at one point we even had somebody at Harvard verifying the authenticity of the photo!

As time went on, I actually ended up really enjoying all the conversations that were sparked by the photo. It got people thinking about what they believe... life after death, spirits, god. And it revealed a lot about the people who viewed it... who were skeptics and who were believers, who could take a joke and who couldn't! :) I just hope that you believe me now when I say that no malice was intended when this photo was created. All in good fun! :)

Carrie

Scotland2

2006-10-03T21:43:00.000-03:00

Urquhart Castle on Loch NessChris falls in a well.
Loch Ness Cruise

"Fightin' Around the World!"

Loch Ness... where's Nessie?

Europe Part I: Scotland

2006-10-03T21:17:00.000-03:00

Thought I'd start sharing some photos and stories from our trip to Europe! We landed in London and went straight to Scotland for the first three days.

This is me heading to Hogwart's!
Scottish Highland Lake.

Piper in the Highlands.

Hamish!

Edinburgh Castle at night.

Highland Glen.

BLOG Hiatus

2006-09-06T22:01:00.000-03:00

I've got lots of valid excuses for not posting lately! Been really busy finishing up Og and moving back to Halifax. Finally in my new place and almost completely unpacked. But the excuses don't stop there! I have no internet until after I return from my vacation. So, I'm on a bit of a blog hiatus until I return, hopefully with some fresh drawings from my travels.

Secret World of Og! CBC! Saturdays at 9:30am!

Ruby, is that you?

2006-08-15T21:00:00.000-03:00

I've spent many late nights here at the Helix Digital studio, and eerie sounds are not uncommon, but this:
...this is just nuts! This photo was taken last weekend. Here's the original if anyone wants to check it out.

Attitude

2006-08-13T18:53:00.000-03:00

Just having some fun with Flash. I really need to learn something about colour, 'cause I have no idea...

Helix Tribute

2006-08-13T16:50:00.000-03:00

Things are winding down here at Helix Digital, so here are some pictures! This is our staff picture a couple weeks ago:

And this is our staff picture now:

Okay I'm exaggerating a bit. We still have six animators. But it's not quite the same since all the others left. :(

Here is Wieme (drinking some moose milk!) who just left on Friday:

And who could forget Caroline, queen of the funny face:

And finally, here's my tribute to the many sides of Mr. Patrick Paradis:

Ed & Fred

2006-08-06T17:47:00.000-03:00

Any drawing ability I have seems to lie in copying what I see. Coming up with ideas out of my head has never been my strong suit. But I am aware that it makes a blog much more interesting, so here's my latest attempt.

...speaking of wild things

2006-07-26T18:47:00.000-03:00

While at the wildlife park I came across some other strange creatures...

Can anyone guess what this wild thing is doing?

And the elusive, tree-swinging, snow crocodile!

Into the Wild

2006-07-26T18:37:00.000-03:00

A few weeks ago a couple of a few of us decided to go draw some animals at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park out on the Mira River.

Sadly, these were the best out of a days worth of drawing. If only the animals would sit still! :)But I must say I saw an improvement as the day went on. It can only get better from here!

Rain, rain, go away!

2006-07-14T17:47:00.000-03:00

Sometimes all you need is one umbrella.

Happy Birthday Liane!

2006-07-14T17:40:00.000-03:00

Here we are waiting for a table at Governor's, our favourite Sydney restaurant. The occasion? Liane's 23rd!

How Appropriate...

2006-07-12T21:19:00.000-03:00

This is my nephew Jack. This being the Cradle, it seems somehow appropriate that my first drawing is of a baby.

It started as a quick sketch for a painting I plan to do once I'm settled back in Halifax. But, once I got the idea that I might put it up here for the world to see, suddenly it wasn't good enough and I started adding more and more detail. I've gotta become less critical, and more brave, otherwise I won't end up posting much!

Why Cat's Cradle?

2006-07-11T21:51:00.000-03:00

Well, to begin with, my initials are C.A.T. Plus, I like the song, enjoy the game, and thought the definition of cradle quoted above was surprisingly appropriate for the intent of this blog. You see, I’m an animator who never draws! There is something fundamentally wrong with that. So, following the example set by many of my friends and coworkers, I thought that a blog could be a new beginning… a way to cultivate my creativity and improve my drawing ability.