If it's not overwhelming but, it's definately not underwhelming - Is it just whelming
It's been a very stressful couple of days - I'm not getting enough sleep and I have tons on the go! Apparently I forgot to blog yesterday and don't have time to think of something good today - that's why the title is a take-off on a line from Clueless. So just cause it sums up my feeling right now... here's my resignation.
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple; When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.
All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.
So . . . here's my checkbook and my car-keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.
And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, cause........
......"Tag! You're it."
Work on the File Footage
I was watching Canada AM this morning and they had a story on ambulances in Alberta, which was great. However, the shots they used for both the ambulance and paramedics were from British Columbia - as it clearly stated on the arm patches of the paramedic's uniform.
Ooops - I wonder if they were in a hurry or simply weren't paying attention.
I had a moment of disappointment today - I had an interview set up to meet a lady for an interview. I enlisted a friend of mine to take the busy to a less desirable area of town with me. I arrived there and waited for an hour. I am still waiting to hear from her. It is very frustrating and so disrespectful of the lady. They story I am working on is to promote (or at least talk about) her non-profit organization... That totally sucks - now I won't have the time to try again.
Forces Recruitment
Today I was a day full of interviews; I had one with the head of security for the University and one with a charming Forces Recruitment Officer. I know it seems strange that any recruitment officer comes off as anything except slimy... I'll never forget my first conversation with an officer all he kept doing was reassuring me that I probably would never have to shoot anyone.
But today's interview went very well - I felt he was honest and while he seemed to be taken back by some of my questions he answered them all as best as he could.
It was great for me though - I approach as the doe-eyed journalism student (making sure to put emphasis on the student bit) then ask questions like:
"What attracts University graduates to the forces?" (Read: what makes a well educated student possibly want to be cannon fodder). The answer to that was money (no big surprise) and excitement/adventure. Who would have thought that war/killing people could be considered an adventure - well to each their own.
My favourite question was:
"With the changing face of politics and the negative public opinion of war and the military are you have a hard time recruiting?" He said no - with all the coverage the Canadian Forces are getting more people are actually approaching them. This was the most surprising to me, but I guess after he told me people joined for adventure, it shouldn't have. I know I should be more supportive because I know that we need to have a presence in SOME places, but it simply reminds me of a t-shirt my friend Stacey has...
"Join the Army, travel to exotic places, meet amazing people....... then kill them"
The End of the Strike
I found out this morning that the Regina City Workers strike was over. I was in the gym doing sit-up (eww) staring out the window trying to get my mind off the ache that was starting in my gut when I noticed something.
"There's a bus" I looked around me for someone to point it out too but I was alone. I finished my workout sprinted back to my dorm-room and turned on my computer - as of last night they settled and the buses began to run as per normal this morning.
I hope this means the *smell* of strike in the air will be on it's way out and hopefully this means the CBC will be back in soon too! I need to hear more than Classical Music and old Sounds like Canada reruns on Radio One. The rumour (I know someone, who knows someone that might know something) is that the CBC will be back before the Hockey season starts! That's fabulous - mind you I will miss the BBC...
Pictures that change the world
Our professor asked us to think about pictures that have had an effect on us. This made me think about the photos I want to take and photos that change the world. Here are some that I believe have had a major imact on changing outcomes..
Also checkout the world press photo webpage...
http://www.worldpressphoto.nl
Use your Imagination
I have the coolest Broadcast lab instructor in the world...He is amazing to watch talk. He pretends to step off (and on) soapboxes; switches topics from cameras to world traveling in the blink of an eye; mutters like a pirate and has so much advice.
He has a Buddhist monk friend (trust me if you knew him this would not seem strange, in the least) who says "If you have a problem don't look at it as something new that needs to be solved. Remember that you inherently know how to solve it - because you have solved it before."
My one media critique for the day: To the BBC reporter in Texas, the pink polo shirt was not a good style sense and please stop adjusting your shirt and pants during your segment. You are only on camera for 30 seconds - stop fidgeting!
Last thought for the day: By Reading this you have momentarily given me control of your mind. That's the power of the media choose what you read carefully!
Happy Birthday to me!
I am another year older - I know this because I received cards from all over the world: from as close as Victoria, to as far away as Toronto, England, and Northern Italy. It was last year at this time I was sitting in the pouring rain in Ucluelet after celebrating with a seaplane flight.
It was a low key day - I went to class where a couple of people wished me Happy Birthday and then came home to pursue a few stories - didn't get anywhere so I made myself a cake.
More than one of my roommates stopped to tell me that it seemed sad to make myself a cake. I'm not sure why - one of the best parts of any celebration is a good cake whether it is you who is celebrating or if you are simply attending. At least that's what I thought - and still think. So after our pizza tonight we had a simple white cake with chocolate bits (made from scratch) and it was lovely.
I made my wish - as always for world peace; for all the people I know and love to get everything they ever wanted and be safe; and of course for good luck in the year to come. I blew out all three candles (shhhh apparently we can't have candles in residence) with our breath (come on I'm not *that* old) and we ate.
The 3 wonderful girls I live with presented card to me on which my eldest roommate wrote "Don't be sad. Age is just a number." When that makes it to your birthday card - you know you are getting old. And yet I feel like I have so much to accomplish.
It's funny each year that passes I get more concerned with what is happening in our world and more aware of how I would like to make an impact on it.
Well, Hello 23 - hopefully my 23rd year of existence will be filled with everything I want - or at least passing grades and even more good roommates!
Sask. Science Centre & University Res
I know it has been forever since I posted - I have moved again - I now reside in Regina, the South Tower of New Residence at the University. Currently everything is fairly boring - there are two reasons for this:
1. It's the Labour Day Long weekend and thus most things on campus are closed
2. The buses are on strike and therefore it's fairly tough to access the activities that are going on around the city.
Today I decided to make the 3km trek to check out the Saskatchewan Science Centre - it was pretty cool - they had lots of displays with computer games and interactive events. FANGS is the display on snakes which was definitely designed for children - very simple information and games, not many snakes. However, the snakes that they did have were very cool - they had a fake bridge set up over the Plexiglas snake habitats. It created an Indiana Jones type effect. There was also a computer set up with 'Try Science' Computer games which allowed you to compete with people using the program from all over north America - I was being tested on true/false questions in a dolphin games with kinds from Florida! It's hard not to be cynical sometimes though; the farming /microbe display was sponsored by Pfizer and the display on energy by sasktel. The IMAX I say was beautifully shot however it also brought about feelings of cynicism. The Scared Plant talked about how we need to learn from our elders how to treat mother nature with respect - great message, however it was a Walt Disney Film. All I could keep thinking was maybe if you didn't treat your developing country employees so poorly and flatten the earth to make room for more theme parks and pollute we would have a better chance at preserving our environment. The coolest part of the centre was the climbing wall (included with the admission). It runs every hour on the half-hour and they allow people to climb there 60foot wall. It was great fun - I think I was the only person over the age of nine and over 4' but I really enjoyed it. The staff there was great too - Paul who was belaying for the climbing wall was super encouraging to everyone and the front office guy who put with my 101 questions.
The walk from campus was beautiful a trail follows around Wascana Lake, and the lake is absolutely flooded with wildlife. There are so many ducks and geese that I understand why it can be sludgey.
In other news, so far the roommates I have met are nothing like my roommate from hell. There is a possibility that the girl behind door 4 (directly attached to my room) is a barstar - but I have yet to meet her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Until I get started with classes that's it.
