Chelsea Van Den Kumka is dead. Chelsea Ribbon has risen like a phoenix from the ashes.
Many moons ago while I was working for Advanis I would use the paint tool to make art while working. I liked writing my name with the slanted paintbrush. I know it's supposed to look like calligraphy or whatever, but it mostly reminded me of a ribbon.
I started writing Chelsea Ribbon. I liked the way it sounded. It sounds natural, like it actually could be somebody's name. It's easy to say, has a good mix of hard and soft sounds and an even vowel to consonant ratio.
I changed my Facebook name to Chelsea Ribbon because I wanted to reinvent myself. This summer I'm single. The last time I was single for the summer was when I was 18 years old. I feel like I should make changes with my life and make sure that I have the most awesome time this summer!
Ribbons are fun and colorful, pretty and useful. Used to adorn gifts or tie up a special box, to see ribbons floating in your dreams denotes pleasant companions.
I am Chelsea Ribbon.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The CBC Airport
I had the most crazy fucked up dream that CBC was half airport half broadcast station. The reason it was like this was because we had to physically fly our tapes to Toronto.
So we we’re down to crunch time. Sean Reynolds and I had spent all day in the snowy mountains getting footage of... I don’t know what, but we were on skis the whole time. We decided to take a break and go skiing for a bit without the camera before heading to my parents place for a lengthy lunch.
When we got my parents, there were a lot of people in the house. I put on my bathrobe and was relaxing at the table with my sister. The doorbell rang. It was George Cloony.
George Cloony: "Do you always answer the door dressed like that?"
Me, falling out of robe on purpose: "Yes, do you like it?"
George Cloony: -silent blank stare-
Some other famous people were at my mom’s for lunch, but Sean and I had to go. As we were heading back to the station we almost died because Sean was driving so fast around the mountains I thought we were going to fly off. And there's no guard rails.
Me: AHHHHH FUCK YOU REYNOLDS; IF I DIE WHO WILL CUT YOUR STORY?
At the station/airport everyone was going crazy editing so that they wouldn’t miss their flights. It also didn’t help that to get in and out of the CBC building you had to weave your way through a Bangkok style marketplace. People were out selling scarves and pottery and produce. It was very crowded and busy.
I had our edit pack tape and was going through customs with Sean Reynolds. Sabrina Seepaul was in charge of it. She stood there to conduct the metal detector test. She was making me open my mouth and show her my teeth and stuff to make sure I wasn’t hiding a weapon. Sean was ahead of me buying our plane tickets.
That’s when someone pulled a gun. It was an important higher up CBC employee, one I’d never met before. Except it wasn’t a gun with bullets; it was a gun that shot little balls of fire. (If you’ve ever played the game Worms Armageddon, well that’s how it burned things.) The gunman’s demeanor was similar to that of Eric Gordan in Billy Madison (played by Bradly Whitford.) You know at the end of the decathlon when he pulls the gun and starts swinging it around in a rage, yelling? Same thing.
Everyone freaked out and got down. I scrambled through my purse to get my cell phone because I thought my cell phone was also a gun and could vanquish him. I kept trying to shoot at the gunman with my cell phone but it wasn’t working.
Me: “Why isn’t this working? Why isn’t my cell phone also a gun?!”
My cell phone had the “panic” button on it like cars do. I hit it and it started making car alarm sounds. This was supposed to confuse the evil man, but instead he got annoyed and shot a ball of fire at me. He missed, but set the tip of my cell phone on fire.
Everyone else got out their phones and blackberries, looking for an app to save us. Some people used their phones as lasers and made a red dot go on his forward. The gunman went crazy over this!
Gunman: “Stop it! Stop it! Argh blarrgh gaah”
I’m not sure how he died, if he even died, but the people of CBC defeated him somehow. All we had were our blackberries... so that must have been it. Also, not a single camera person was rolling on any of this. Nobody had a flipcam either. With all our cellphones, nobody shot a grainy cell phone video either. Amazing.
Chris Armstrong was incapacitated, he may have been set on fire, I don’t know, but Sean Reynolds took it upon himself to be the leader. We now had to reorder and RECUT the ENTIRE 90 minute show. We had to start from scratch. It was 4:30 and the show started at 5:00.
Someone, dramatically: “We’ll never make it!”
Sean Reynolds, equally as dramatic: “But damn it we’re gonna try! Alright move it people, let’s go!”
I was in charge of recutting and pushing David Common’s story. I can’t remember what it was about, but that was my job. Everyone got scrambling, there were little fires everywhere from the gunman shooting fireballs at us. We just all hopped over them and continued what we were doing. Nobody called police or the fire department. Just a regular day at the CBC I guess.
That’s where the dream ends. My fucking cell phone beeped in real life and woke me up. I was so angry. Could we really have gotten to air in 30 minutes? Considering the hellish day we all went through, I’m thinking it was a pretty good possibility.
So we we’re down to crunch time. Sean Reynolds and I had spent all day in the snowy mountains getting footage of... I don’t know what, but we were on skis the whole time. We decided to take a break and go skiing for a bit without the camera before heading to my parents place for a lengthy lunch.
When we got my parents, there were a lot of people in the house. I put on my bathrobe and was relaxing at the table with my sister. The doorbell rang. It was George Cloony.
George Cloony: "Do you always answer the door dressed like that?"
Me, falling out of robe on purpose: "Yes, do you like it?"
George Cloony: -silent blank stare-
Some other famous people were at my mom’s for lunch, but Sean and I had to go. As we were heading back to the station we almost died because Sean was driving so fast around the mountains I thought we were going to fly off. And there's no guard rails.
Me: AHHHHH FUCK YOU REYNOLDS; IF I DIE WHO WILL CUT YOUR STORY?
At the station/airport everyone was going crazy editing so that they wouldn’t miss their flights. It also didn’t help that to get in and out of the CBC building you had to weave your way through a Bangkok style marketplace. People were out selling scarves and pottery and produce. It was very crowded and busy.
I had our edit pack tape and was going through customs with Sean Reynolds. Sabrina Seepaul was in charge of it. She stood there to conduct the metal detector test. She was making me open my mouth and show her my teeth and stuff to make sure I wasn’t hiding a weapon. Sean was ahead of me buying our plane tickets.
That’s when someone pulled a gun. It was an important higher up CBC employee, one I’d never met before. Except it wasn’t a gun with bullets; it was a gun that shot little balls of fire. (If you’ve ever played the game Worms Armageddon, well that’s how it burned things.) The gunman’s demeanor was similar to that of Eric Gordan in Billy Madison (played by Bradly Whitford.) You know at the end of the decathlon when he pulls the gun and starts swinging it around in a rage, yelling? Same thing.
Everyone freaked out and got down. I scrambled through my purse to get my cell phone because I thought my cell phone was also a gun and could vanquish him. I kept trying to shoot at the gunman with my cell phone but it wasn’t working.
Me: “Why isn’t this working? Why isn’t my cell phone also a gun?!”
My cell phone had the “panic” button on it like cars do. I hit it and it started making car alarm sounds. This was supposed to confuse the evil man, but instead he got annoyed and shot a ball of fire at me. He missed, but set the tip of my cell phone on fire.
Everyone else got out their phones and blackberries, looking for an app to save us. Some people used their phones as lasers and made a red dot go on his forward. The gunman went crazy over this!
Gunman: “Stop it! Stop it! Argh blarrgh gaah”
I’m not sure how he died, if he even died, but the people of CBC defeated him somehow. All we had were our blackberries... so that must have been it. Also, not a single camera person was rolling on any of this. Nobody had a flipcam either. With all our cellphones, nobody shot a grainy cell phone video either. Amazing.
Chris Armstrong was incapacitated, he may have been set on fire, I don’t know, but Sean Reynolds took it upon himself to be the leader. We now had to reorder and RECUT the ENTIRE 90 minute show. We had to start from scratch. It was 4:30 and the show started at 5:00.
Someone, dramatically: “We’ll never make it!”
Sean Reynolds, equally as dramatic: “But damn it we’re gonna try! Alright move it people, let’s go!”
I was in charge of recutting and pushing David Common’s story. I can’t remember what it was about, but that was my job. Everyone got scrambling, there were little fires everywhere from the gunman shooting fireballs at us. We just all hopped over them and continued what we were doing. Nobody called police or the fire department. Just a regular day at the CBC I guess.
That’s where the dream ends. My fucking cell phone beeped in real life and woke me up. I was so angry. Could we really have gotten to air in 30 minutes? Considering the hellish day we all went through, I’m thinking it was a pretty good possibility.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Change of Plans
After a series of events I've decided that in late 2011 or early 2012, I will be leaving Canada and working abroad for 6-12 months. Destination: Australia!
It's something I've always wanted to do. The timing was never quite right in the past, but I know if I don't go soon I'll regret it forever; I just have to save up $5000.
This website, swap.ca is my inspiration.
Another source of inspiration is a coworker of mine who spent 6 months in Australia when he was 19. He told me to go, leave now, pack my bags, just do it! I'm really stoked. I've never been on a plane before and I told myself that the first time I fly it's going to be to Australia. Looks like my wish is coming true.
Also, we had an intern at CBC last summer who was from Australia. Maybe I'll catch up with her while I'm there. AND I had a pen-pal from Australia when I was in grade five. How cool/creepy would it be for me to randomly approach the address she used to mail me from?
In other news: I had a random funny thought. Imagine if I started using polyseme adjective words incorrectly? Here's some examples I thought of:
Don't touch that spicey element!
Throw the can in the sad bin, please.
I couldn't think of any others after that so it's probably not really that funny. And I went as far as to actually google what I was doing and didn't get too far.
It's something I've always wanted to do. The timing was never quite right in the past, but I know if I don't go soon I'll regret it forever; I just have to save up $5000.
This website, swap.ca is my inspiration.
Another source of inspiration is a coworker of mine who spent 6 months in Australia when he was 19. He told me to go, leave now, pack my bags, just do it! I'm really stoked. I've never been on a plane before and I told myself that the first time I fly it's going to be to Australia. Looks like my wish is coming true.
Also, we had an intern at CBC last summer who was from Australia. Maybe I'll catch up with her while I'm there. AND I had a pen-pal from Australia when I was in grade five. How cool/creepy would it be for me to randomly approach the address she used to mail me from?
In other news: I had a random funny thought. Imagine if I started using polyseme adjective words incorrectly? Here's some examples I thought of:
Don't touch that spicey element!
Throw the can in the sad bin, please.
I couldn't think of any others after that so it's probably not really that funny. And I went as far as to actually google what I was doing and didn't get too far.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Daydream vs Lucid Dream
Text from the website: Types of Dreams
I think I made a mistake before. This blog post of mine stated that I thought I daydreamed for more hours in a day than the average person.
What I actually think is happening is that I would start off concentrating on something, start to daydream about it, and then slip into a lucid dream. I believe I have "cultivated the skill to remain in a lucid state of dreaming."
The reason I found out about all this is because I was looking up the word "lucid" in the dictionary. I wanted to make sure I was using the word correctly in a sentence. (I was.) I typed it straight into the Google search bar instead of going to dictionary.com like I usually do. That's when I found sites about Lucid dreaming.
I have lucid dreams every single night before falling asleep and every morning when I wake up. I should really start to keep a dream journal again. Since I start work so late in day, I'd have time to update it properly and in full as soon I woke up. In high school when I tried to start a dream journal, I made probably 4 entries, and just stopped writing in it because it took too long to do and cut short my get-ready-for-school time.
And in other news, that's vaguely related: I'm almost 2 months behind in my Creative Writing course. I haven't written my 1500 word short story to be submitted for review yet. There were no restrictions about what needed to be included in the story and it was too overwhelming to think about a story idea at the time.
Usually, I literally dream up a character, plot line, or scenario and write about it. Even though I've got several characters and story ideas written down, or even half started, I just wasn't dreaming up the right stuff I needed for my next short story.
Right now I'm feeling really inspired though. Dave's gone all weekend; he's getting a suit fitting done in Brandon for his friends' wedding. I'll have plenty of open space to write.
I've got an appointment at 10 am to meet my Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg match, Elle, and her mom Rochelle. Then my pole class at noon. I'll be in high spirits, and energized on Saturday. I'm thinking that if I don't get a story finished by the end of the weekend, you are to flog me mercilessly and then ask politely for me to finish it. Thanks guys, you're the best!
Daydream
Studies show that we all have the tendency to daydream an average of 70-120 minutes a day. Day dreaming is classified as a level of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness. It occurs during our waking hours when we let our imagination carry us away. As our minds begin to wander and our level of awareness decreases, we lose ourselves in our imagined scenario and fantasy.
Lucid Dream
Lucid dreams occurs when you realize you are dreaming in the middle of your dream. "Wait a second. This is only a dream!" Most dreamers wake themselves up once they realize that they are only dreaming. Other dreamers have cultivated the skill to remain in the lucid state of dreaming. They become an active participant in their dream, make decisions in their dreams and influence the dream's outcome without awakening.
I think I made a mistake before. This blog post of mine stated that I thought I daydreamed for more hours in a day than the average person.
What I actually think is happening is that I would start off concentrating on something, start to daydream about it, and then slip into a lucid dream. I believe I have "cultivated the skill to remain in a lucid state of dreaming."
The reason I found out about all this is because I was looking up the word "lucid" in the dictionary. I wanted to make sure I was using the word correctly in a sentence. (I was.) I typed it straight into the Google search bar instead of going to dictionary.com like I usually do. That's when I found sites about Lucid dreaming.
I have lucid dreams every single night before falling asleep and every morning when I wake up. I should really start to keep a dream journal again. Since I start work so late in day, I'd have time to update it properly and in full as soon I woke up. In high school when I tried to start a dream journal, I made probably 4 entries, and just stopped writing in it because it took too long to do and cut short my get-ready-for-school time.
And in other news, that's vaguely related: I'm almost 2 months behind in my Creative Writing course. I haven't written my 1500 word short story to be submitted for review yet. There were no restrictions about what needed to be included in the story and it was too overwhelming to think about a story idea at the time.
Usually, I literally dream up a character, plot line, or scenario and write about it. Even though I've got several characters and story ideas written down, or even half started, I just wasn't dreaming up the right stuff I needed for my next short story.
Right now I'm feeling really inspired though. Dave's gone all weekend; he's getting a suit fitting done in Brandon for his friends' wedding. I'll have plenty of open space to write.
I've got an appointment at 10 am to meet my Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg match, Elle, and her mom Rochelle. Then my pole class at noon. I'll be in high spirits, and energized on Saturday. I'm thinking that if I don't get a story finished by the end of the weekend, you are to flog me mercilessly and then ask politely for me to finish it. Thanks guys, you're the best!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
1000 Blank White Cards
I have stumbled upon the greatest game ever created! I was at work and googling random things and I happened to find this game called '1000 Blank White Cards.'
It was invented by Nathan McQuillen Phoenix. This guy was in a coffee shop and saw a box of 1000 blank, white flash cards. Inspired, he bought a box and introduced his game to some university students, improv theater members and club kids in Madison, Wisconsin.
It's a game that has almost no rules at all and of course, the rules vary from group to group. How I've started playing is like this:
At the start of a game, each player is dealt 5-10 blank cards and encouraged to create something on them. Each card must contain a Title, a picture, and then a point value, story, or action to be taken.
Points range from -1000 to + 1000 in increments of a hundred.
When the cards have been created they are shuffled together, or else added to an already existing pile of cards and each player is dealt five cards. When it is your turn you must play a card, either on yourself or somebody else, and then pick up a new card from the deck so that you always have five cards in your hand.
Several blank cards are also shuffled into the deck. If you draw a blank card you must create another card to enter into play. You cannot create cards while it is your turn. If you have no cards ready to be played when it is you turn, you lose your turn.
Play continues like this until all cards have been played. At this point, all players add up their cards and the highest scorer wins. (Yes, you can have a negative score at the end of the game.)
Here are some examples of cards that have been created in my deck so far:
It's a great game to play with an unlimited number of people. We even use stickers on some of our cards.
After you've finished adding up the points it's time for The Epilogue. During The Epilogue, the current players decide the fate of every card created. Only the creme-de-la-creme are to be saved. This helps get rid of cards that no one likes and also keeps the deck on the smaller side so that more new cards can be created without having to shuffle, literally, 1000 cards.
If you don't know where to start, go to the dollar store like I did and buy 1000 blank index cards, a pack of pens, and some assorted stickers. Go to the thrift store and find a nifty box or tin to keep your stuff in. Find a couple people to play with and just see what you come up with.
It was invented by Nathan McQuillen Phoenix. This guy was in a coffee shop and saw a box of 1000 blank, white flash cards. Inspired, he bought a box and introduced his game to some university students, improv theater members and club kids in Madison, Wisconsin.
It's a game that has almost no rules at all and of course, the rules vary from group to group. How I've started playing is like this:
At the start of a game, each player is dealt 5-10 blank cards and encouraged to create something on them. Each card must contain a Title, a picture, and then a point value, story, or action to be taken.
Points range from -1000 to + 1000 in increments of a hundred.
When the cards have been created they are shuffled together, or else added to an already existing pile of cards and each player is dealt five cards. When it is your turn you must play a card, either on yourself or somebody else, and then pick up a new card from the deck so that you always have five cards in your hand.
Several blank cards are also shuffled into the deck. If you draw a blank card you must create another card to enter into play. You cannot create cards while it is your turn. If you have no cards ready to be played when it is you turn, you lose your turn.
Play continues like this until all cards have been played. At this point, all players add up their cards and the highest scorer wins. (Yes, you can have a negative score at the end of the game.)
Here are some examples of cards that have been created in my deck so far:
It's a great game to play with an unlimited number of people. We even use stickers on some of our cards.
After you've finished adding up the points it's time for The Epilogue. During The Epilogue, the current players decide the fate of every card created. Only the creme-de-la-creme are to be saved. This helps get rid of cards that no one likes and also keeps the deck on the smaller side so that more new cards can be created without having to shuffle, literally, 1000 cards.
If you don't know where to start, go to the dollar store like I did and buy 1000 blank index cards, a pack of pens, and some assorted stickers. Go to the thrift store and find a nifty box or tin to keep your stuff in. Find a couple people to play with and just see what you come up with.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Crisis!
Life as I know it stopped this afternoon when I received an email stating that "due to unforseen circumstances, Pole III on Saturday will be cancelled."
Nooooooooooooooo! Do not want!
I was given an alternative: switch to the Pole III class on Wednesday at 7pm. I cannot do that because it obviously interfers with my shifts at CBC.
I asked if I could just retake the Pole II class on Saturday. I'm sure it won't be a problem. Saturdays are split classes though. That means I'd really be taking the Pole I/II class
I'm totally over-qualified for this class. I'd be a big fish in a little pond. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone in class will look up to me and be totally in awe of my amazing skill and talent on the pole.
I've been training with Danielle, the instructer, for two months now. She knows what my abilities are and I'm sure that she will give me harder or more advanced things to work on while the others learn what I've already learned. She's cool that like.
Also, my pole fitness is far from perfect. I have lots to work on, so maybe repeating the class might actually make me a better dancer since I'll get that extra practice in before moving on to Pole III - if there ever will be a Pole III class.
Nooooooooooooooo! Do not want!
I was given an alternative: switch to the Pole III class on Wednesday at 7pm. I cannot do that because it obviously interfers with my shifts at CBC.
I asked if I could just retake the Pole II class on Saturday. I'm sure it won't be a problem. Saturdays are split classes though. That means I'd really be taking the Pole I/II class
I'm totally over-qualified for this class. I'd be a big fish in a little pond. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone in class will look up to me and be totally in awe of my amazing skill and talent on the pole.
I've been training with Danielle, the instructer, for two months now. She knows what my abilities are and I'm sure that she will give me harder or more advanced things to work on while the others learn what I've already learned. She's cool that like.
Also, my pole fitness is far from perfect. I have lots to work on, so maybe repeating the class might actually make me a better dancer since I'll get that extra practice in before moving on to Pole III - if there ever will be a Pole III class.
