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Rebekah will not be blogging until the end of the week due to work overload.

I feel bad neglecting the blog, but I've got a pile of assignments to get through before the week is over.

I haven't even been able to keep up reading blogs I follow much less come up with creative, interesting posts...about myself.

The bright side is, beginning on Saturday, I will have a week off due to it being Reading Break.

Four more days...I can make it - at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Thanks for being patient.

R&R

Today is an Rest & Recuperate day.

I'm not going to think about work, school, projects, schedules or agendas.

For the last couple of days I've been running around feeling ready to bite somebody's head off - just a little stressed.

I'm down in the Lower Mainland right now taking pictures, interviewing people and getting audio for a multimedia project on migrant workers here in the Fraser Valley.

While it's an interesting issue delving into these farm workers' lives and learning of some of the difficulties they face, making sure I get all of the material I need in the two and a half days I'm down here is a bit nerve-wracking.

I've done everything I can for the moment however and I've sent off my required articles for the Omega and today I'm going to clear my mind of school and work responsibilities.

Instead, I'm going to take advantage of the beautiful weather and head down town and play "pre-Olympic" tourist.

Apparently they've spruced it up even more since I was here last and from pictures I've seen. I must see for myself.

A slow-growing hum

Even with an impending busy day, there's something nice about enjoying a quiet morning on campus.

It's before student street becomes a buzzing hum of people chatting on their way too and from classes.

It's before the herds of students sprawl themselves messily on all the tables with text books, binders and discarded Tim Hortons cups and wrappers.

It's before there's a 15 minute wait line stretching outwards from the Tim Hortons.

It's even before my ink-wrinkled, coffee stained agenda that orders me around throughout the day has really woken up and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

Instead, I'm taking a moment to sit quietly on the upper floor of Old Main with a travel mug of creamy Earl Grey tea and watch as students slowly filter in, filling all the cracks and crannies of available space.

Seeing red: Olympic torch relay

The Olympic Torch came through town on Wednesday and I was able to be front and centre shooting photos for it.

I also learned a few things the other night:

1. The Omega newspaper was too insignificant to get a press pass for the Olympic torch relay when it came through town.
2. Twitter has now provided me with two great opportunities.
3. I should get in the habit of carrying my "Omega business card" with me in my wallet.
4. You get a lot better pictures when you've got a press pass.
5. I need to start building my lens collection and get a flash.
6. Practice in night photography and low lighting is needed

I was bummed and a bit annoyed the Omega student paper wasn't able to get any media passes for the event and tweeted about it - my new venting outlet.

A couple hours later I checked back and saw I'd gotten a direct message from Sunpeaks' Spin Magazine (@sunpeaksnews) telling me to give them a call regarding press passes for the torch relay.

Sweet!

I phoned them and who should answer, but my friend Lailani who works for them - a detail that had slipped my mind. Better yet, she was the person who was attending the event. Her boss had backed out, meaning there was an extra pass which was bequeathed to me.

I was very excited. It was fun rubbing elbows at the front with all the other "real" media outlets.

As the the torchbearers ran through town, I kept running ahead to try and get a better shot. I ended up running much of the downtown route, then walking the rest of the way to the stage on the university's track and field.

Between trying to get the right settings for the light, vying for good positions, crossing my fingers hoping I got some good shots and attempting not to look like a complete newb, I couldn't tell you much about what actually happened at the event, but it was fun!

For some more pictures I got, check out the Spin photo gallery and also, check out Lailani's review of the event.

Funny faces and smelly sweat

The gym is an amusing place...just to people watch.

But no, I didn't just people watch today, I did work out.

These pictures were from the photography class I took.

It was a power lifting session.

And some pick-up basketball.

I guess I might have been one of those funny faces and stinky smells too.