Greg Shchepanek

Cartier Square Drill Hall I have returned to my brothers , comrades & friends . For too long now I have been without them & this marks a most memorable return to the ground that I learned how to drill . So many memories have been replenished as I walk through those doors that I had thought I would never return to. But now I am back & I so want to stay now. It is fitting that I make my return to the open doors of the Regimental Museum . A place I never visited while in the Regiment of the Governor General's Food Guards (GGFG) but now I find a new home to explore & cherish. So many forgotten names came rushing back as I walk through the Drill Hall . I cannot wait for this exciting new chapter in my life as a thankful volunteer to a place that once gave me a home away from home. My Night at the Museum Just a few samples of what I did see in this great collection of priceless artifacts . In such a small place is housed the great history of the GGFG Regiment . ...

 One of Ottawa's Hottest Birding Areas Hairy Woodpecker ( Dryobates villosus ) at Shirleys Bay , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is just hanging out & watching what is going on. Birds abound at the feeders' of Hilda Road at Shirleys Bay . If it isn't the squirrels or bunnies you are interest in then there are so many birds to observe & chase at this location that is part of Ottawa's Greenbelt , almost surrounding the city. Almost every bird you can imagine for the  Ottawa Region can be found here. These are just a few I came across this weekend but I spent most of my time with the  Showshow Hares .  In a box ... Common Redpoll ( Acanthis flammea ) enjoying the seeds at Shirleys Bay . Ready for take off : Black-capped Chickadee ( Poecile atricapillus ) at Shirleys Bay.

The most foul & violent beast of this World ... Beware of the  Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog !! He shall devour you if you venture to close to this unnatural creature from the depths of this Earth . You will surely have to " Run Away !! " for he is the vilest monster to forage upon this Earth & you shall witness its wrath if you come across its path of death &   ultra violence !!!!!!! I have warned you it is now in your hands what you shall do.  

 Adorable Little Doodles at Work & Play When life gets you down head on over to Chipmunk town. They will surely make you smile & laugh brightening your day as they work & play. These little guys are always on the move & are a times very hard to capture in a good pose. But if you are patient they will give you what you need. Any of the Squirrel family is always such a delight to photograph for they do the damnedest of things & are just hilarious at times when they get up to their antics. Photographing Squirrels is one of my main subjects because I have great fun doing it & a lot of people/followers just simply love my take on the Squirrel . My Flickr Site : https://www.flickr.com/photos/gmspanek has proven that people just love to see the antics of the Squirrels and mu photos have been featured in Explore on the site. Featured here is the Eastern Chipmunk ( Tamias striatus ) in all its glory. Anyways Greg, quiet talking about them & start showin...

  Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Brown Anole  ( Anolis sagrei ) Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary , Florida, United States of America. Ramsar site no. 1888. Wow ! Corkscrew the place I call the living museum . I had the greatest time exploring this wild jungle of swamp down in Florida. I will never forget this awesome adventure in this one of my favourite Ramsar Sites that I have visited.  Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a definitive Wetland of International Importance & you can see from my photos a very rich place for Flora & Fauna . The Ramsar Convention was so very wise to make this beautiful swamp a special protected place & as well it is the home to the  National Audubon Society . American Green Tree Frog  ( Hyla cinerea )  Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary , Florida, United States of America. Ramsar site no. 1888.  American Alligators American Alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis )  Audubon's Corkscre...

 I Simply just Love the American Desert  What a most cool place, Joshua Tree National Park , just East of Los Angeles I had such a great time exploring the desert & hills of the Mojave Desert . Not too many animals to discover but lots of Flora abound from cool cacti to delicate colourful desert flowers . I had great fun climbing & discovering the rocky hills of this park & it was there I found the most interesting things. Desert Canterbury Bells ( Phacelia campanularia ) Joshua Tree National Park , California, United States of America. Conservation Status: vulnerable (G3?) (NatureServe) Vulnerable . Endemic to southern California in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts at elevations less than 1600 m. (Baldwin et al. 2002). Western Side-blotched Lizard ( Uta stansburiana ssp. elegans ) Joshua Tree National Park , California, United States of America. Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus ( Echinocereus engelmannii ) Joshua Tree National Park , California, United Stat...

This post is dedicated to my new family in my life & you might find it a little preachy . I am only thinking of my gf's Girls/Ladies/Women as I write it & I am concerned as to the World we see Today . What will they inherit from us humans' as we are now inflicting so much of our influence on the Beauty of Gaia & that is where only I am coming from : For my New Family I write this letter to you, who are most special to me, my heart & my soul. You are still right here beside me ... Family. I feel alive

 California Dreaming ... so Wish I was There ! Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard ( Uma scoparia ) Kelso Sand Dunes • Mojave National Preserve, California, United States. Endemic in Mojave Desert , US: native and occurs nowhere else. I had the best of times chasing & photographing this amazing little guy as he skittered over the hot desert sands of the Kelso Dunes . I was in heaven & I realised the the American Desert is my second most favourite Ecosystem in the World . It comes in just behind Canada's Arctic which will forever be my most favourite place on earth . OMG! I am so very in love with the Mojave Desert & I so wished I had spent more time there. Mojave Desert Tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) Kelso Sand Dunes • Mojave National Preserve, California, United States. Listed as vulnerable: www.iucnredlist.org/details/9400/0  . Conservation Status: imperiled (S2) in California, US (NatureServe) Beavertail Cactus  ( Opuntia basilaris ) Mojave National Preser...

 & it will be a Great One ! There is nothing like a bunch of Chipmunks to brighten up the day & get you out of the dumps from the days' before. Went with the gf to the Jack Pine Trail , our first official walk in the woods together. Saw so many of the little doodles scampering around & doing their thing looking ever so adorable & cute. It was so great to see butterflies out & about as well seeing two Mourning Cloaks & a Comma as well. It was absolute heaven to be back in the wildlife & so very good for the mental health that I have been inflicted with of recent times. The birds also did their job of bringing laughter & smiles to our faces as they danced around us. I cannot emphasise enough the benefits of being in nature to cleans the soul & get everything back on track returning the chakras back to normal. Eastern Chipmunk   ( Tamias striatus ) Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

 Red Red Wine ... Gato Negro Thank goodness for bottle number two. I needed the spirit pick me up so very much last night for I had my lowest day yet ... with all the good that was happening I had to eventually hit the lowes sooner than later. But once again my gf has come to the rescue, she will soon become my main spirit guide in life ... but right now I need my super friends to back me up a bit while my gf settles into her new role of soul provider & main spirit guide to this   crazy  little old man. Yes, this Cheeky Monkey can be a overwhelming at times ... but you super friends all know that I cannot help but be this way & I want to thank you all for your support & understanding . Any who, I had a really great sleep & cry last night and I am hoping today will get me back on track to all the great possibilities that are out there. I am not going to say who ... but there are some people out there who are trying to steal my thunder ... I do...

 Love, twitterpation and all the Good Things that Come with Spring Let's Celebrate. Spring is here & soon the flowers will start blooming and there will be much rejoicing. I so needed a Spirit Guide yesterday and someone came through to guide me back to the this Earth. I was Grounded by best of friends who is always there when I need him ... you know who you are buddy & much love I send your way today ! Now all I need is my gf to return to Ottawa & get me more Grounded with celebration & appreciation of the best things in life ... I can't wait, been so giddy with anticipation for her arrival. But for now I still have to wait for her, so that is why I am letting out some good love & warm feelings to the people who are nearest & dearest to my heart ... Yes you know who you are & it is my great pleasure to call you all my Super Friends ! Blah Blah Blah Happy Spring Everyone !!!

 & my Business Successes for the Week Wow, this week had been a whirl wind of advancements in my new found professions & businesses. GSDesignPhotography  has finally become a registered business & now has the paper to prove it. As well my site  GSDgraphicartist   has hit the ground running & I want to thank all of you my friends ' & supporters ' that have given me such the  encouragement & positive warm thoughts to keep this guy in the game. So this weekend will be all about celebration & appreciation of my Family & Friends' , my  businesses success & my  accomplishments at the GoC . I purchased these red wines on Friday in anticipation of my  celebratory weekend & it will be on Sunday when my gf returns & we can jointly woot woot what a great week it has been. I won't get into the gritty details of all the hills I climbed this week I will just say there were a lot of them. Bac...

Someone Mentioned Beer on the   Book of Faces ...  Now here I go My cousin Pauly gave me my first sip of beer when I was a wee little lad & I have not stopped worshiping this beautiful elixir of Dionysus & Baccus has given to us. I first started drinking Grolsch when I was a dishwasher/busboy @ The Wildboer in downtown Ottawa on Queen Street. It was when I was first kicked out of my family home in February of some winter & I needed jobs to survive out of the nest. So I joined the Army & started working in Pubs & Restaurants in the Greater Ottawa Area . I love the Dutch beer the most & will always be a loyal fan & follower of everything beer & drinks . Heineken is just always the reliable goto when you are looking for a drink @the party or music event ... you always need to get a drink on when you are hitting the dancefloor @your favourite nightclub or venue that is playing your favourite music . I found this most awesome beer ste...

  Famous Pet Shop Boys song ... It's a Sin I produced this illustration with the songs of Pet Shop Boys : It's a Sin & Creamer & K : Seven on my mind while I was designing for a special party event here in Ottawa for August 26, 2005. The name of the event was Holy Fnck II and the theme of the night was the Seven Deadly Sins & indulgence in those sins for the party . Below you can see the final product that was printed for the Event Invitation . The digital illustration was produced using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop for the final product . Creating invitations & flyers had been one of my most cherished & enjoyed professions in my early years of design & freelancing .