To take your mind off the weather and focus it on swimwear and the guys that wear them, here are a few pics of the latest from Wettackle Australia. You're familiar with the video clip, now here are a few stills to add to that.
I think these are sharp-looking suits, not to mention the model, Jon Gothard. Enjoy! - Volker 
Well, tropical storm Kyle was briefly a category 1 hurricane when it reached southwestern Nova Scotia during the night (Sunday) then died in intensity. There was plenty of wind, rain and some fallen trees but the storm was not as strong as anticipated. At its height there were about 40,000 households without electricity. Much of that has been restored. The map above obtained from NOAA in the United States shows the predicted path of the storm moving north toward Labrador. There were no deaths caused by the storm as far as I know. Meanwhile, tropical storm Laura is moving north in the north Atlantic Ocean. The map below, also from NOAA, shows its predicted path towards the British Isles. I was reading today that 18 hurricanes may be spawned during this hurricane season ending November 30th.
The reason for my interest in these storms is two-fold. I've long had an interest in weather phenomena of all kinds but also because Brad comes from southwestern Nova Scotia where his family still live. Then its also interesting to watch the paths of these storms from beginning to end. If you'd like to see the latest on the weather situation, check out TheWeatherNetwork and/or NOAA for the latest details. Googling that should easily get you the right links. - Volker 
Since the weather was so warm and very summer-like, I went into Vancouver to have another walk along the seawall at Stanley Park before having my blossom white tea at Starbucks and returning home. Fall is in the air and the autumn colours are evident if you look carefully. I'll have some photos soon on that subject. Meantime, I took the above photo at the Fraser Cemetery in Sapperton (New Westminster) a couple of weeks ago. Notice the Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer) on the side of the tree in the photo. Its a member of the woodpecker family. It took some doing to get this photo since I was playing a game of hide and seek with the bird in order to get this one. I saw another one today on my way through the cemetery to Sapperton station (SkyTrain) from where I was heading into Vancouver. Their call is the same as the Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus) found back east which is the one I'm most familiar with. The call is unique and unmistakeable! 
Chrysler introduced plans to produce three electic cars, the Dodge Durango, the Chrysler Aspen and the Dodge EV (pictured above). The latter has a similar colour scheme as the Superbee. Together with the ones to be produced by General Motors this should give consumers some choice, if we can only get around the price tag. Mass production will certainly bring down the per unit cost but all this is a beginning. By the way, Brad has a Dodge Charger Superbee. How interesting is that?!?! There was a photo of his car in his last post. Speaking of Brad, he hasn't arrived yet but I feel his arrival is very soon. I've got a parking spot arranged for his vehicle (the parking will be included in the October rent), so he doesn't have to worry about having his car towed, and they are anal about having vehicles towed here in the lower mainland. The cell phone that I have gotten for him, and is on my plan, should make it very easy for us to keep in ready communication. Plus it allows him to call others as well. The phone has other features which I'm sure he'll love but I won't get into that now. You'll just have to wait for my future post after he reacts when he's received the phone. So, its after 10 pm and nearing bedtime. Monday is the start of another work week and you all know what that means! Have a good week, and keep posted for more news plus exciting stuff. - Volker Well, tropical storm Kyle will make its presence known in eastern Canada if it hasn't already. With waves between 6 to 8 metres ( a metre = 39 inches, so you do the math) plus the winds, it should be interesting. Check out more on Kyle for a complete story on the weather bulletin. - Volker
Its been a while but here's another focus on abs and pecs in this series of pics. Check them out and if you like what you see, do a Google search to find blogs with other photos of your favourite model. You can start with Cisoto (see the sidebar for the link), le gay blog, and many others too numerous for me to list. My favourite, as always, is Edilson pictured above. What can I say? Then there are others such as Kerry Degman, Joseph Sayers and a number of Brazilian hotties.
Well, I hope these pics have excited you and given you inspiration to both admire the work that others have done to keep themselves toned and fit plus inspire you to improve your own physique. Nothing like the present to start and its something that benefits you today and throughout your life in all activities you undertake. It might even lengthen your lifespan and lessen the physical and mental impacts felt in old age. And regardless of your sexual persuasion, it might even spice things up in the bedroom, so here's to a long and prosperous life! - Volker 
Just a few examples of what couples can engage in to make life more exciting. Let your imagination go wild to spice up an otherwise dull life! If its overcast, rainy and otherwise cool like here, there's plenty to do indoors. - Volker 
There are good things, very exciting things that require time. Patience is something that I have in great abundance, not to mention gentleness! So while I'm waiting for Brad to arrive from back east, I am just getting over yet another cold. This is the third one this year if my memory serves me correctly. My allergies are likely being triggered by the dust from the construction site near work (I'm allergic to dust) and with the cooler nights the mold spores in the air are likely proliferating (I'm allergic to three kinds of mold spores). All that aside, I am getting over this cold. The worst is behind me though and now I'm just coughing up phlegm as the body tries to rid itself of the cold virus and regain health. Stress levels have been higher than normal waiting for Brad to show. Concern for his health and well-being is top on my list. A simple email or IM does wonders to relieve the concern for a partner and Brad has done that and more! All will be well for both of us once he's here. Then we can settle down to enjoying each others company as I take photos (and perhaps he does the same) and he does what most interests him. We can share each others trials and tribulations, benefitting from each others strengths and share the joy of discovery together. The mind dreams and then we make these dreams reality. Without dreams what would life be like but an empty existance, just plodding along without hope. We aim to show you that dreams are not only possible but more than just attainable, they will give others hope as well and inspiration to follow their own! Keep following!!!- Volker
Brad, I am yours and you are mine! You are the only man in my life, the only one that I focus upon! I offer you my whole being without reservation, without any hesitation. We are fellow men on a journey through life. What ever is yours is mine and what ever is mine is yours! I love you but mere words cannot convey the emotion of the thoughts in my mind! I await your arrival so I can show you how much I truly love you! You are my only one!!! - Volker
There is only one hot pic this time round because of time restrictions (got to leave for work soon) but let this one warm you up to what is coming in the near future. Once Brad arrives I'll be very busy taking plenty of hot photos of both of us, at least that's the plan. He hasn't called me yet but I am most certain that he's going to surprise me! Pleasant surprises are good!!! Have a good week! - Volker
With the mundane things behind me yesterday I was out for a walk on the seawall at Stanley Park today (Sunday). The autumn colours are starting to show after a week or so of coolish nights. The day time temperatures were around 27 Celsius today but the nights are still cool. This is just perfect weather for showing the fall colours. I'll have some shots soon to show this as the days progress. The horse drawn trolley was photographed last Sunday at Stanley Park. Its a leisurely way of taking in the atmosphere that is the park! So I completed my walk around the park, had my blossom white tea and something to nibble on and then made my way home only to notice that the full moon is coming up on September 15th. I saw it rising above the Fraser River as the train was arriving at Sapperton Station. I'm back to work Monday, so its an early night for me! Have a great week!!! - Volker
Today has been a slow day, a day to take it easy. After a week of getting up just past 5 am, it was nice to just sleep in for a change. So, its been a day to catch my breath, have a leasurely late breakfast, read emails and then get to the laundry (three loads) which are being tackled now (its just after 5 pm). While the laundry is doing its thing, I am drinking a tall beer, "la fin du monde" , a beer brewed by Unibroue in Chambly, Quebec. Its 9 % alcohol if this interests you. My favourite beers are those from Belgium, so any beer in the Belgian-style is my kind of brew. When the laundry is done, I'll be having supper (left over soup from the day before last: chicken with rice and vegetables). The soup tastes so much better the day after or so as the flavours mingle. In the meantime, I've not heard from Brad but he's likely focused on getting here, so no news is good news. He does plan to call me but pay phones are hard to find along the highway but when he does find one and plans to call, my cell phone is one, except when its charging which I leave for late at night. When I take a shower in the morning, I will obviously miss a call but my cell phone will tell me that I've missed a call and indicate the number unless its blocked. So how has your day been? - Volker
There is nothing like bright colours to perk one up! This bumblebee (Bombus ssp.) is doing what comes natural, collecting nectar to make honey for the young! This photo is one of a series I took at the rose garden at Vancouver's Stanley Park last Sunday. The plantings are different than last years but interesting as usual plus I've long been fascinated by bees and butterflies of all sorts, even dragonflies! Enjoy the colour!!!
Well, it seems autumn has been in the air lately. Nights are cooler for the most part and the other morning I was waiting for the bus to the SkyTrain in thick fog and some drizzle. There are signs of the changing season everywhere like colour on the leaves and seed laden flowers such as above. The above photo of a sunflower with seed was taken last Sunday at West Georgia and Denman Streets in Vancouver. Stanley Park is not too far from that point. However, the coming days should prove to be extremely summer-like with temperatures nearing 30 Celsius over the weekend and into Monday and perhaps the last stretch of very warm weather for a while. Autumns are nice here too, especially before the rains come. Something for Brad to look forward to when he arrives. Enjoy your weekend where you are when you get there! - Volker
WOCN31 CWHX 071200
POST-TROPICAL STORM HANNA INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE
CANADIAN HURRICANE CENTRE OF ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 9.00 AM ADT
SUNDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 2008.
For more details, check out the actual alert from Environment Canada regarding Hanna. I am posting this alert for Brad's advantage even though he may not be directly effected and others who might benefit from knowing these conditions in advance. Stay safe! - Volker
Over the last few weeks I've been doing some online research looking for studio lights and local dealers that carry them. There are two possible sources, one in Kitsilano and the other in Kerrisdale, plus two where I can order them online and have them shipped. Of course there are always others. However, my preference is to look at the lights first and then make a decision. This part will be left until Brad arrives. You do know where I am going with this, don't you? Well, Brad will be my first and main model with a focus on abs, pecs and so on. We are both so excited to get this going. So the lighting kit above serves as an example of what I'm looking at. Proper lighting for interior shots is so important and is the difference between a great shot and one that doesn't cut it. The models below are further examples of what can be done in the outdoors or inside but in all cases lighting is the key!
Proper lighting can make the model look awesome and show them off to their best advantage. We plan to post photos of both of us, not just Brad alone. This will also allow me to branch out from taking land and seascapes, wildlife and such. This will add to the pleasure of taking great photos. Meantime, enjoy these hot pics found on the web. Let them get your imagination going and whet your appetite for more! Have a great Sunday what's left of it, or for those that have started their work week, have a good one! - Volker 
Kerry Justin Degman, born October 4, 1988 (Libra), at 6'0" (183 cm) is an awesome model. Just look at those well-developed pecs and abs. There's an inspiration to look up to! Perhaps this will provide the motivation to improve your physical condition, whether its just to tone or build muscle. Enjoy these pics while you contemplate your future actions! 
Things will be moving along shortly. I received emails from Brad twice earlier in the week and last evening we were chatting on msn for a while. We're both so excited that he'll soon be resuming his journey westward, that when we finally do meet, we'll have a lot of catching up to do. He's got a lot to share which is currently bottled up ready to spill. Besides, I think we'll both be an emotional mess when we do meet. It'll be a lot of hugging and perhaps tears of joy and who knows. Brad loves coffee and I tea, so we'll sit down to get engrossed in conversation. More on all this later. Meantime, enjoy the pics! Have a great weekend where ever you are!!! - Volker 
Sunday I was at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver's Westside to have a look at the UBC Botanical Gardens. This is just one of many photos taken. I hope these colourful blooms perk up your day! Have a good one!!! - Volker
Since moving to the Vancouver area in early 2006, I've walked across the Burrard Street bridge many times admiring the scenery from that vantage point but also admiring the architecture of the bridge itself. Here are some photos I took Saturday to illustrate the architectural features of the bridge. At the end of the post I'll provide a bit of it's background history.
This is the bust of Captain George Vancouver on a prow on the west side of the bridge. The bust of Sir Harry Burrard-Neale is found on the east side.
The Burrard Street bridge consists of six lanes for vehicular traffic plus a divided walkway on eather side of the bridge for bikes and those on foot. The bridge was designed by George Lister Thornton Sharp of Sharp & Thorton in Vancouver. The engineer was John R. Grant. It was designed in the Art Deco style in vogue from 1910 through the 1930s. Its approach spans are Warren deck trusses and the centre span reverses to a Pratt truss to allow for shipping. The bridge has numerous architectural and sculptural features such as the torch-like entrance plylons (see photo), decorative street lamps, the busts of Captain George Vancouver and Sir Harry Burrard-Neale in ship prows. The bridge was opened to the public by Mayor Louis D. Taylor on a Friday afternoon, July 1, 1932 and connected dpwntown Vancouver with the southwest suburbs in Kitsilano. Google to find out more about the bridge, its architects, history and current situation. Wikipedia would be a good starting point. That is where most of this background history came from.
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