2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Year

On Friday night I attended the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, where for the second year in a row I / Editing Luke was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year. With even more nominees in the category this year I was fully expecting to lose, which makes it that much sweeter to report that I actually won!

We  bought a full table at the ceremony and I had my family there cheering me on. I did my best to temper their expectations as we did this last year and lost. It's great to be recognized / nominated regardless, however the best part about winning has been all of the amazing messages that have come my way as a result. Even more here. 

When you invest so much energy into your own business it means the world to know that anyone is paying attention, let alone to be recognized by the local business community. In its own description, the Young Entrepreneur award is given to the business that best exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership, innovatively applied know-how, and excellent potential for growth; that shows a high level of social, cultural, and environmental awareness and a demonstrated commitment to the wider community. That's some pretty high praise.

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Oct 15, 2016 at 9:35am PDT

I want to thank everyone who continues to support and work with Editing Luke. It's a pleasure to be able to create the kinds of videos, photography, and multimedia content that I do in this community and around North America. It's awesome to be able to share this good news with all of you, and to once again say thank you for making opportunities like this possible.  

9 Years of Editing Luke

There's certainly something to be said about starting a website in film school, and then not just maintaining and updating it for 9 years, but having it become the backbone of your own media business. That's exactly what happened though, and I'm still amazed at how this passion project has continued to evolve and present new opportunities year after year. 

I remember sitting in my dorm back in 2007 and wanting to start a blog to share the videos I was shooting in film school. I was also trying to drum up support for some of the film festivals I was entering at the time. Editing Luke reached 10,000 people in that first year, and little did I know that my photo essays, documentaries, travel edits, and general ramblings would eventually accumulate hits into the millions. At last count, over 34 million so far. 

The greatest lesson I've learned in this process is that personal growth is a continual investment. The goals and focus behind Editing Luke have changed numerous times in the last 9 years, but this site has always motivated me to do more. From shooting photo journals abroad to telling unique stories with video, Editing Luke has always been an elaborate work in progress. If anything, it's kept me accountable to my own ambitions. And with over 2000 posts to date, it's also become a massive library of original content. 

A lot has happened in the last 9 years, and I mostly wanted to post this to say thank you. There's no way this would have continued if it wasn't for the support, engagement, and feedback that I've received while doing it. Original videos, photography, and content have always been at the centre of this online journal and I can't see that changing anytime soon. So really, thank you. Editing Luke wouldn't be what it is now without you. Explore more here. 

Projects in the Works for 2016

It's very early to start making predictions about what 2016 will have in store, however there are some things that I'd definitely like to work on this year. These are a few projects / plans you can expect to see on Editing Luke in 2016.

1. Best of Around the Hat

My photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta has been in the works since 2012 and has grown by leaps and bounds in that time. This year I plan on streamlining the collection and putting together "best of" posts where I showcase some of my best shots. This will include a variety of updated posts to summarize the collection. Here's an example I did of the Saamis Teepee. Next step could be a photo book or exhibition ...

2. More Travel Shoots

Expect to see even more travel related posts and photo essays in 2016. In addition to expanding on my Roadside California and Pacific Northwest series' (which is content that I've already shot but haven't shared yet) it seems likely that I'll do more shoots around Alberta and Canada in general to keep the momentum going. 

3. Media Passes

From concerts and festivals to other high-profile events, I'll be making an effort to get more media passes again this year to bring more original content to Editing Luke. These things are never guaranteed, but the chance of reaching a larger audience make them worth pursuing.

4. Collaborating with a School

I posted about this just a few days ago. Here are more details about this project. 

5. Brand New Video Productions

I have a handful of brand new cultural videos already in the works this year. What's exciting is that many of these projects have a regional influence that have involved me in shooting all over southern Alberta. This is obviously something that I hope continues well into 2016, so if you have an idea or concept that you'd like to discuss you can get in touch with me here. Curious about some of my previous work? Explore here.

There are some big things in the works. I can't wait to share them with you!

Editing Luke in 2015

What an eventful year that 2015 turned out to be! It was a year of rebuilding, a year of embracing Editing Luke as my full-time career, and a year where I finally had the freedom to chase more of the opportunities that really mattered to me. Editing Luke reached millions of people in 2015 - yes, millions! From videos and photo essays to blog content and instagram posts, I saw my content thrive this year in some incredible ways. 

Here are some of the things that made my 2015 memorable:

January 2015 - I officially launched my Roadside California photography series. Over the course of the year this lead to numerous travel shoots around the state and some amazing new contacts and followers. Although the collection has already grown by thousands of images, much of what I shot has yet to be released. As a result you can expect some exciting posts coming up in 2016. View the Roadside California series (so far) here.

January 13, 2015 - My reveal of the former Earl Kitchener School transformation into a private residence went viral locally. Capturing my hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta has lead to some incredible opportunities in previous years, but this one lead to tens of thousands of hits in only 24 hours. In only 3 days it had acquired over 2.1K likes/shares on facebook and over 25K hits on its own momentum.

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Apr 10, 2015 at 8:30am PDT

February 2015 - I photographed the Tongue on the Post Folk Festival. I didn't realize music and concert photography would become such a major part of my year, but this was the event that kicked it off.

March 3, 2015 - I repaid my student loans in full.

March 16, 2015 - I released a brand new video project in collaboration with Medalta and the Medicine Hat College called, Bits to Atoms.

March 2015 - I took a "working holiday" to Hawaii with my family and photo journaled the entire experience. From exploring Honolulu to sailing on the ocean to hiking Diamond Head, one of my personal highlights was renting a Bentley and road tripping around Oahu. This is the photo series that followed.

Oahu, Hawaii
From hula dancers on Waikiki Beach to surfers on the North Shore, there's nothing quite like getting lost in some iconic scenes around Oahu, Hawaii. These are a few moments I captured while shooting my Aloha Hawaii photo series earlier this year: http://goo.gl/BDRZxE
Posted by Editing Luke on Thursday, October 22, 2015

April 30, 2015 - I released a new video I shot for the Travelling Exhibition Program, highlighting an experience between professional artists and kids in an elementary school classroom.

May 13, 2015 - The former / abandoned I-XL brick factory in Medicine Hat's historic clay district was opening for tours for the first time and I had the chance to explore it. Check out the images here. 

June 4, 2015 - I released a new video for the Sunshine Skillet highlighting the vibrant culinary scene emerging in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Roving Dinner, Downtown Medicine Hat
Earlier this year the Sunshine Skillet Food Festival put on this really cool event in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta. Guests were treated to 3 courses at 3 unique downtown locations - Twist Wine & Tapas The Cypress Club Madhatter Roastery. Here's a quick look at how it all went down. http://goo.gl/ThrpWA
Posted by Editing Luke on Monday, October 26, 2015

July 1, 2015 - I photographed the fireworks around the Saamis Teepee during Canada Day.


July 2015 - From postcards to a travel guide, I did some really cool work with Tourism Medicine Hat in 2015.

August 5, 2015 - Approved for a media pass, I attended the incredible Shambhala Music Festival in British Columbia to photograph the experience. This is the photo series that followed.

August 20, 2015 - I had another viral blog post on my hands when I released my 7 Wonders of Medicine Hat.

August 25, 2015 - I was hired to create the launch video for the brand new Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat. I had shot the project over the summer, and had the privilege of getting to see the video debut on the jumbotron. 

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Aug 1, 2015 at 3:56pm PDT

September 2015 - In what became one of my most ambitious road trips to date, my friend Mike and I took his brand new BMW on a coastal drive from Seattle down to San Diego over the course of 2 weeks. It was another incredible "working holiday" where I photo journaled everything. Lots and lots of pictures from this adventure are still to come in 2016.

September 29, 2015 - One of my favorite video projects of the year was finally released called, "If These Walls Could Talk". Highlighting the originality and cultural impact of Medalta Potteries, this video got a lot of buzz online.

"If These Walls Could Talk"
How much do you know about Medalta or The Market at Medalta or Medalta International Artists in Residence? Earlier this year I had the opportunity to explore this historic site in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada with the goal of creating a video to showcase what makes this place tick. I can tell you one thing for sure - as cool as the history is, it's a lot more than just a museum today.
Posted by Editing Luke on Thursday, October 15, 2015

October 5, 2015 - After nearly 2 years of waiting, I was overjoyed to see the permanent art installation featuring my photography unveiled in the brand new Medicine Hat Airport Terminal. 

October 17, 2015 - I was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

October 30, 2015 - I released a brand new video celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

Esplanade@10
This month I had the pleasure of being asked to help create a video to celebrate the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre's 10 year anniversary in Medicine Hat, Alberta. There was no way I was going to be able to incorporate all of the stories I heard during the shoot, but in the end I think some really genuine moments were captured.To create this video, we connected with Esplanade Staff, Volunteers, and Esplanauts (Discovery Centre art class participants) ranging in age from kindergarten to retirees. Each participant was asked to share a memorable Esplanade story, moment or experience from the past ten years. From over three hours of interview footage, a very honest, thoughtful, and emotional seven minute video emerged, capturing the essence of the Esplanade’s impact on this community.And what about your stories? I'd love to hear about some of the positive memories / experiences you've had at the Esplanade too!
Posted by Editing Luke on Wednesday, October 28, 2015

November 1, 2015 - In addition to photographing the annual Black & White Gala fundraiser at Medalta, I was asked to create a custom design to showcase on 12 sets of vintage Hycroft dinnerware to be featured in the live auction. My plates ended up selling for over $3000 with the proceeds going to help fund Medalta's community programming. 

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Oct 26, 2015 at 8:44pm PDT

November 20, 2015 - My portfolio site got a massive overhaul.

December 1, 2015 - With some big strides made in 2015, I put together a list of 8 things that I figured most people didn't know about Editing Luke.

December 2015 - I closed out the year much the way I began it with another "working holiday" in California. Focused around Los Angeles and San Diego this time, I came back with some exciting content that will feature strongly in 2016.  

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Dec 31, 2015 at 3:21pm PST

In looking back it's pretty incredible to see what a significant year it really was. This site has afforded me the luxury of keeping track of my time and accomplishments, and once again it's provided the motivation to keep reaching for those new challenges. Thank you sharing your time with me in 2015. Let's make 2016 even better!

8 Things You Didn't Know About Editing Luke

One of the biggest challenges in creating a personal site like Editing Luke is that it takes a long time to build a solid foundation and figure out exactly what you want it to be. 

I began this project as a film student in 2007 and used the site (and rather successfully I might add) to promote my work in film festivals. This lead to Editing Luke becoming a decent platform for me to discuss my transition into professional video production. Eventually, this evolution lead me to showcase more of my work, share my entrepreneurial ambitions, create regular content, and finally launch my own business.

These are 8 facts about Editing Luke that may give you a better idea of who I am, what I do, and why this website is such an important component of my professional life. Or, maybe it's just 8 random things you didn't know about Editing Luke.

1. This is my full-time job.

Since the beginning of 2014 I've been producing video content and photography under the banner of Editing Luke as a full-time independent business. Before this, I was producing media content for another company as a day job and using my website to gain contract projects on the side. This leap to go solo has allowed me to be more selective about the work I take on and explore opportunities that only a couple of years ago seemed out of reach.

For those that I've worked with, this point will be obvious. However, every now and then I still meet people who think I do all of this as a hobby or that someone else must be supporting me to be creating content as regularly as I do. Neither of which is the case. I've simply found a way to make a living doing something I enjoy.

2. My content has reached over 30,000,000 people since 2011.

It's been a long road to get to this point, but in 2011 (after regularly posting to this site for over 4 years) I actually started thinking about a content strategy. I began doing targeted posts, focusing on consistency, and paying attention to where my content was being shared. The combination of my blog, video, and image impressions over the next 4 years that followed resulted in a massive online reach that extended far beyond my own website. 

3. Editing Luke is ad free and the content isn't sponsored.

I treat this website and blog as my storefront. The content I share is a way to showcase my business and skill as a photographer and videographer. 

In many cases I work to spec when creating content, meaning that I'll capture a location or event knowing that there's a demand for those images. I'll then make a pitch to sell them after the fact. This might be for tourism, for prints, for a related business, etc. However, I only do spec shoots on my own terms - not as freebies. 

Even if images for a certain post never sell, if the content is strong than at the very least it works as marketing by attracting visitors to Editing Luke. 

On the reverse end, if I'm hired by a client, as an added bonus I'll sometimes share the images or video I produced on my website if it fits my criteria of being a showcase of my skill set. The posts themselves are never sponsored though and from the beginning Editing Luke has always been ad free. It's my opinion that this keeps the content at the forefront. 

4. Editing Luke's tagline is Exploration, Culture & Lifestyle.

In building a media business I've worked hard to distinguish myself as someone focused on a very specific type of photography and video production. For example, I don't shoot family portraits, I don't do wedding videos, and in general I don't think of myself as merely a media "service".

My goal has always been to create engaging content - from travel, tourism and experience based photography to narrative promotional videos, documentaries, and web shorts. I've always approached my work with the audience in mind, realizing that even if I'm promoting something the story has to come first. The rules I've established aren't hard and fast, but in general they do set my brand apart. Have a look at what I mean by exploration, culture & lifestyle by exploring a few of my projects here. 

5. My viewership is younger than you might expect.

A lot of my content focuses on history, art, culture, architecture, location, and the general aspects of producing video and photography. It's not exactly the easiest site to summarize and as a result the appeal is quite varied. However, while you may think some of these topics would skew towards a slightly older audience, actually 59% of the following on my Editing Luke facebook page is between 18 to 34, and 77% is under the age of 40.     

6. Instagram is my most engaged with social media platform.

This might seem like a no-brainer for a photographer/videographer, but I was actually late in joining Instagram. Once I started I quickly made up for lost time. With a modest 5,000+ followers (@editingluke) my images have amassed over 175,000 likes so far.



7. My background is in video production.

I attended the University of Regina majoring in Film and Media Production. As a student I took part in a number of international film festivals from the UK to South Korea, and I even won a few awards. After university I became an editor for a small production company and went on to build the in-house studio for an online retailer where I shot web videos and photography for their magazine and website. 

Photography came second nature to me after focusing so much on video early on. Not only was photography fun, it seemed easier because audio and motion were removed. Today my work is split fairly evenly between both video and photography.

8. Editing Luke is based in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Depending on where you found my website or the post that initially lead you here, you may be surprised that I'm actually based out of the small city of Medicine Hat in southern Alberta, Canada. In the last few years, after doing a lot to establish myself locally with my Around the Hat photo series, I began expanding my content to attract new visitors and potential business. This means that despite being in Medicine Hat, I actually travel frequently for work. My following has grown dramatically all over Alberta, with new pockets forming on the coast after my Pacific Northwest and Roadside California projects took off in the last year. 

CONTACT ME 

Did you have any other questions? I'm always game to discuss project ideas, collaborations, and read your messages. Get in touch with me here. 

8 Years of Editing Luke

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the launch of Editing Luke. On May 31, 2007 I began this online project as a film student. Editing Luke has evolved dramatically over the years, but it continues as a travel journal, video archive, and general showcase of my professional work as a photographer, film maker, editor and producer of original content. 

I'm continually surprised by the ways that this project has changed my life - the people it has introduced me to, the opportunities it's presented, etc. In addition to all of that, it's proof of how persistence can make your goals a reality, even when you weren't sure what some of those goals were when you started. Thank you for sharing this experience with me and for continuing to make the journey exciting. Have a look at what my first ever post was here.

Explore more of my work here.

Stats after 8 years: 
1861 Blog Posts - 505,800 Unique Blog Views - 1.1 Million Page Views - 1.7 Million Video Views 

Exploring the History of Alberta

I have always been fascinated with history. If you're familiar with my Around the Hat or Around Alberta photography projects then you've likely seen some of my photo essays on landmarks and cultural sites throughout the province. So, what's new?

I recently launched a brand new Facebook page dedicated to the History of Alberta - and I promise that it's not nearly as dry as it sounds! From cool railway travel posters to vintage postcards to captivating turn-of-the-century street scenes, my goal is to showcase history with a bit of creativity and style. My motivation behind the project is to create a larger platform to share my photography and original content specifically about Alberta, while rounding it out with the support of archival imagery and historic resources. In essence, to link creativity and facts. 

More than just providing a glimpse at archival images, I want the page to link to stories and content that get people excited about where we are in the world. I think my existing library of original images gives me a head start, while also providing the potential to expand on my ghosting series - where I merge archival images with my modern day shots.

I'm excited to see how this project evolves, and I'd love for you to be a part of it. Have a look at the new space and give it a LIKE on Facebook to follow along as it grows! Click here to explore the brand new History of Alberta.

Portfolio 6.0

Over the last few weeks I've made some massive updates to my website and portfolio. Much of it has been behind the scenes to fix links, switch out old content, and streamline a few of my layouts. This kind of thing is always a work in process, however the biggest change has been the complete overhaul of my portfolio site - fandrix.com.

I always like to talk about simplicity in regards to my portfolio. It's meant to be my online hub, linking to all of my social media, latest projects, contact info, and this blog. My portfolio has never looked as clean or had a more streamlined and user friendly mobile version for cell phones and tablets. See the latest changes for yourself.

Editing Luke Goes Viral in Medicine Hat

This week I experienced something that hasn't happened in this site's nearly 8 year history. The post and photo series I did on the Earl Kitchener School renovation - specifically the reveal of the new private residence that it's been turned into - went viral in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

I've photographed hundreds of locations in the last few years, and many of my Around the Hat photo sets have thousands of views themselves. They've all been moderately popular, and to this day continue to attract hits. What was different this time is that it literally happened overnight.

On Tuesday my post went live at 8am. I was out the door for an all day shoot and was cut off from updates until I got home at 5pm that night. I sat down at my computer and immediately noticed the flood of messages and updates in my inbox. I then checked my latest post and practically did a double take when I realized that 5,000 people had already viewed it.  

In 24 hours that number was over 10,000 - not counting the thousands of other views for my previous posts on Earl Kitchener and the other photo sets I'd done of Medicine Hat that people were drawn to. It was a bit surreal to see my website flooding my facebook newsfeed. Hundreds of people were sharing it and drawing in thousands of visitors to Editing Luke each hour. Everyone from the mayor to the contractors who did the project to former students of the school were sharing it. It turns out I had the exclusive on the reveal. 

Here we are 3 days later and that Earl Kitchener post has nearly 15,000 hits (plus 2100+ facebook likes) and has contributed to nearly 25,000 page views on my site in the same time. Those are some pretty good numbers for only 3 days! I'm just blown away by how quickly it all happened. As I joked on my facebook page, It seems everyone else was just as curious as I was about what the home looked like inside.

To all of those new followers that were introduced to my work, website, and photo series as a result, I want to say welcome! The Earl Kitchener post was just a small piece of a much larger project known as Around the Hat. View the complete list of locations and highlights from the project here. I hope you continue to explore the Hat with me.

Roadside California: A New Series

In early December I returned to Southern California to retrace the steps from my previous road trips and begin shooting new footage for my long delayed, Searching Salvation video project. The new trip was once again focused on photo journaling, and it made me realize how much photography I'd already shot around California. It was from there that I decided to start putting together a new series for my site - Roadside California.

The series will be largely brand new content, but will also incorporate older posts to show certain locations and experiences from varying perspectives. A lot of what I've shot around the Salton Sea for instance will be comparisons, showing some of the abandoned locations 5 years ago (or further with archival shots) and what they look like now. 

The new Roadside California page is still very much a work in progress at this point, but you can explore some of the existing and upcoming content here. Expect a lot of interesting posts from around California over the next few months. It should be a great start to 2015!

Editing Luke in 2014

The last year was one of major transition for me, and it's something that will undoubtedly continue into 2015. After being laid off at the start of the year, I took the leap and began pursuing the work I'd already been doing and sharing on Editing Luke in a more full-time capacity. This meant more corporate and promotional shoots, more varied video projects, and overall, a lot more risk. It's something I'm still figuring out. 

The challenges I faced in 2014 made the rewards seem sweeter, but they also added new stresses. As a result, it's the first time in years that I can honestly say that major changes have become a necessity. New career goals, the potential for a new location, and a desire for new opportunities could make 2015 the biggest transition year for me since I came back from university in 2008. My future has never seemed as open-ended as it does right now, and it was the events of the last year that made this clear. 

These are some of the things that made my 2014 memorable:

January 2014 - I began my year still riding high on the news of the art wall that the City of Medicine Hat had commissioned from me for the new airport terminal expansion. While technically an end of year project in 2013, it was in January that I revealed what the art wall would look like and delivered the finished panels to the City. My permanent art installation should be installed in the new terminal in 2015.

January 21, 2014 - I debuted a new video created for the Mayor's State of the City Address, featuring All Hell for a Basement by Big Sugar. 

January 28, 2014 - Images that I shot of Aaron Nelson's exhibition at the Esplanade were published in Ceramics Ireland magazine and on C-File.

February 19, 2014 - For the first time I worked out a consignment deal and began offering framed prints available exclusively through the Peacock's Feather in Medicine Hat. 

February 28, 2014 - I was laid off. After nearly 5 years as the Web Media Editor, creating original photo and video content for Weddingstar.com, I said my farewell.

March 2014 - I documented the 2014 Calgary International Auto Show and the Cars of the Big & Small Screen exhibit at Heritage Park.

March 31, 2014 - I celebrated my 30th birthday.

April 14, 2014 - Several of my images were published in a spread for Studio Magazine.

April 18, 2014 - One of my photographs of Redcliff, Alberta became the subject of an elementary school's art project. See the result here.

April 25, 2014 - I documented the Sunset Dinner, an opener to the 2014 Sunshine Skillet Festival.

May 2, 2014 - I began working on an archival project with Medalta Potteries to edit the limited footage of the I-XL Brick Plant when it was in operation. These were some of the images I captured while exploring the factory.

May 29, 2014 - The Thinking Hat exhibition that I collaborated on gained a bit more attention when it went on display in downtown Medicine Hat just before Spectrum.

May 31, 2014 - Editing Luke celebrated 7 years.

June 11, 2014 - I was hired to do a shoot for Salazar Films, a production company based out of Vancouver, BC.

June 13, 2014 - I took part in a panel for Now We're Talking 2014.

June 2014 - The biggest photo project I undertook this year was expanding my collection of Alberta imagery. At the end of June I kicked this off with a week long road trip, driving the length of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. This continued with a few more photo journaling trips through the Canadian Badlands, and visits to several National Historic Sites located in Southern Alberta. Explore the complete collection here.

July 22, 2014 - I was invited to document the interior of the abandoned Redcliff Pressed Brick Factory before work began on partially demolishing the site for a park.

August 18, 2014 - I was hired to shoot aerial photography over the Canadian Badlands (near Horseshoe Canyon) from a helicopter. 

August 25, 2014 - Working on the fundraising campaign for the new Regional Event Centre, I had the opportunity to tour the construction site with the mayor while shooting footage for the project.

September 5, 2014 - I was contracted to do a shoot of Mad Hatter Coffee Roastery for the fall issue of Westworld Magazine. 

September 2014 - My video short Art Casual debuted on a giant inflatable screen during Alberta Culture Days on the front lawn of the Esplanade.

October 2014 - The time had come, and I did a massive upgrade on my editing suite.

October 25, 2014 - For the 2nd year in a row, I was the official photographer for Medalta's Black and White Gala.

November 25, 2014 - I did two speaking engagements for the Medicine Hat College, one to Visual Communications students and one to a larger audience for the Inspire Lectures series. I spoke about pursuing your passion and entrepreneurship.  

December 2014 - Something that had been on my to-do list for several years, at the beginning of December I returned to Southern California to retrace the steps of the road trips I had taken with my friend Dave before he passed away in 2011. The resulting photo series and video project will debut in early 2015.

December 12, 2014 - Following last year's success, I collaborated with Matt Teel again to produce another calendar using the imagery from my Around the Hat series.

December 20, 2014 - As difficult as it is to sum up my year in a single post, I did my best to summarize my top 5 favourite photo shoots that I completed in 2014. See the post here.

A video posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:50am PST

It's the ups and downs that keep things interesting, and for that reason I can't help but be optimistic about what 2015 will bring. I wish you all the very best in the new year ahead, and want to say thank you for your continued support and interest in the work I share here.