Wearing My Flood Pants

It's been an interesting two days. We had a black swan event with the crazy downpour on Monday evening and my area still doesn't have power. The food in the fridge is likely on the verge of being a bio-hazard and I complete this post through my blackberry.

To keep things upbeat, positive and somehow fitting to the theme of being under water (though Torontonians generally had a walk in the park compared with their Calgarian counterparts): I present my first on-screen debut as an audience member of the Marilyn Denis Show: http://www.marilyn.ca/Video and search for the July 8th episode (doing this on my Blackberry has serious limitations)

Have fun and stay dry!

A Whole Lot of Heart, in "Bell Bottoms"

Some of you might have spent your lunch hour today, talking with your buddies about the Super Bowl and how the game went (I don't know how it went since I don't follow!) or you watched the half-time show anticipating a wardrobe malfunction or even sat through every single commercial because let's face it, this is the one time that people will plan to be seated the entire game--even through the commercials.

Many large companies invest a lot of money and efforts to create the perfect 60 or so seconds for possibly the biggest audience during the year. My pop culture maven, Amber, was naturally watching or at least catching up on some of the highlights of the evening and sent me the commercial for Buddweiser this year. I found the extended version and cried my eyes out some more.

I've always had an affection for these gentle giants who look like they're wearing retro bell bottoms. I immediately thought of Bonnie and all the antics she's pulled on me in the last little while. Riding her has been challenging but it's probably some of the most fun I have during lessons since she's got such a sassy streak in her!

I checked out Twitter responses about the commercial and while I was touched at comments like, "I was drinking Buddweiser and then I see that... how does a man not get humid in the eyes??? Only natural", I am now intrigued with helping name the new little guy! Actually... they didn't mention if the foal was male or female. You can betcha I'll be thinking about names too!

Which Simpsons Character Are You?

At my workplace, there are employee affinity networks--similar to the clubs you had in high school. These groups have a common theme that unite them and members get together to throw events, work on career development or just provide informational workshops. While each network is open to all employees, they typically target specific groups. I took advantage of a network's recent career development workshop about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

The MBTI testing is essentially a questionnaire, used to determine basic personality types based on psychological studies done by psychologist Carl Jung; further extrapolated by a mother-daughter team: Myers-Briggs. The full assessment can take a full day to complete, if you're having it done by an accredited consultant but we got the condensed version.

There are 4 quadrants which are reviewed by participants:
1. energy
2. attention
3. decision making
4. lifestyle

Each quadrant has 2 choices which you tick and bop the descriptions closest to what you'd likely respond. From there, you will end up with 4 different letters--one from each quadrant.

My outcome is revealed as an Introvert-iNtuiting-Thinking-Judger. This doesn't mean a lot for most people who might think, "judger???" Well, to put things into context, someone has managed to MBTI various Simpsons characters. Guess who's the identified INTJ?

 

The Simpsons Myers-Briggs Test from Lina Trullinger

If you're interested to take a super condensed version of the MBTI to determine your Simpsons' character, check out this link. Remember to go with your first instinct.

Something Old Becomes New, Again

Since moving my lessons to Fridays, I feel like there's a big void during my week. It makes the work week seem even longer than it usually is. When I had lessons on Wednesdays, it was getting me through the week since I already look forward to Fridays (who doesn't?).

While I was browsing through my Netflix library, I saw the Star Trek: the Next Generation series. In May, I went to Calgary to check out the 25th anniversary for TNG. I've watched episodes upon episodes of TNG but never in order and always through the eyes of a youth. I felt compelled to check out the first episode and see why trekkies are so taken with TNG. Not to say I don't love watching TNG, but I've never held the same type of appreciation for the series as AW and GM.

Everyone knows that Sir Patrick is a stage actor first; and that stage actors are usually particularly intensely skilled actors. And it makes total sense since they only ever get 1 take at their lines. As I was watching the first episode where Sir Patrick embodies Captain Jean-Luc Picard, I understood how fans become so enamored with his acting prowess. He's powerful, inspiring and convincing when he speaks. It's impressive because he morphs into the character in every aspect. I think that I gained this appreciation after seeing him on stage with his comrades of TNG at Calgary. His real life persona appears very relaxed, easy going and full of life. Not that Jean-Luc was by any means not passionate about life, but the fact that Jean-Luc is more militant, commanding and formal because of his character's station, I wouldn't have believed that his real life persona is not similar to his on-screen character was a real wake-up.

Just watch some highlights from episode 1 (Encounter at Farpoint):

Enjoy!

VD OD

If you watch Vampire Diaries and have issues with being patient, you know that watching week to week is too much for the old ticker. This season, I decided to accumulate half a season's worth and sit down with Amber and just go through it all at once. I figure that if I OD on VD, I might be able to easily walk away from the show for a bit and not feel completely deprived.

Guess what? It's worked. I don't feel the slightest inclination to need to find out what's happened next. But between episodes on Saturday, we certainly were eager to jump to the next episode.

So, what's happened this time? Last season, we left off with Elena waking up... after drowning. Looks like this is going to be rather interesting. Without going into too much detail (because I'd otherwise cross into spoiler territory), I like the direction this season has done so far. There are some interesting liberites which they took but regardless of what's happened, they've been able to keep consistent with the characters and their individual growth.

Next VD OD? Some time in January 2013!

Prodigal Geek

I never got into science fiction, horror and fantasy... I was just always drawn to those genres--be it television, cinema or literature. It's part of who I am. So, it was no surprise that I got really excited when a marketing piece came on The New VR. Anyone remember? It's a Barrie television station that has affiliation with CityTV. The commercial featured a series of sci-fi and action stars that I followed on my weekends. One of them, was the amazing Hudson Leick of Xena: Warrior Princess. I am pretty sure that I wet myself from excitement like a miniature Chihuahua. In addition to advertising for the expo, they were seeking volunteers... volunteers LIKE ME!

I contacted them and said I was EXTREMELY interested and that I could be a critical asset to the team of volunteers they were assembling for the weekend. I got a call to attend their orientation meeting. There I met Philip, Matt, Little Joel, Big Joel, Asian Joel, Toni and Aman; partners in crime for the years that I continued to help out.

At one point, I sort of went on a hiatus to pursue other personal interests... much like a young senior would consider doing before going off to university; I thought I had to find myself so I stopped going. I say 'sort of' because I continued to watch many of these shows--new and old. Behind closed doors, I was watching Star Trek Voyager, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek The Next Generation... Regardless, I thought I was growing out of this phase of my life.

Years later, while watching tv with AW, an evolved version of the same ad about the expo played. This time, it wasn't me who got excited... it was AW, "wowow! Edward James Olmos! Damn that's expensive...". I looked up and replied, "We can go if you want. I've friends I can visit". I think AW crapped himself when I said that. We didn't get the date right and missed Edward James Olmos that year.

This year, we flew out to Calgary for the ST: TNG 25th anniversary fanexpo. This is the first time in over 2 decades that a cast who played together for nearly a decade, came together. I stood in line again. I waited for ~2 hours. I saw patrons in cosplay. I smelled the UW math nerds. I blow dried AW's hair to look like Lore and painted GM's ears for his Data costume. And you know what? I missed it. It felt really good to be back--so to speak. To make things come full circle, I bumped into Aman in Calgary of all places.

A lot of things have changed since I first went into this bright eyed and bushy tailed. But, when I reflect upon this weekend's events I realize that I can't wait until I can return to the Toronto fanexpo.

A Reminder

I spend a good deal of time seeing the negative, I'm told. I'm not sure if it's intentional or if it's something that I've worked into my psyche over time. Despite this, I feel that I'm a realist and not necessarily heartless or cold. I recall a character from Xena who told her that "The entire world is driven by a will - blind and ruthless. In order to transcend the limitations of that world, you need to stop willing, stop desiring, stop hating." What does this mean, to me?

I've come to understand the first part and I can see and even accept it much more easily now. It isn't that I don't care, but that I don't need to try to control something that is outside of my realm to control. While one might be able to change one's thoughts and perspectives, there is a great deal that we're helpless to enact actual control over. Death, sickness, taxes... These are things that are just a part of the world we live in.

I was thinking about a coworker who was recently diagnosed with a serious condition and thinking about his situation and how it affected me. I recognize that his family is going through hell and back with this whole thing but, I noticed a sort of indifference in myself. I felt neither sad nor happy about it. I didn't even feel numb; I felt nothing.

My boss is someone whom I feel is passionate and expressive; perhaps the opposite of what/who I am. When I dropped by today, to ask about the care package that was being put together, I made a passing comment about the gift that was communally put together and how I didn't understand how it would help, given the rather dire prognosis. A smile crossed her face and she said to me [paraphrased] "it's not about him using this 'toy'. It's about how this item will bring the family together and give them a beacon of happiness to look forward to, during the time of hardship." At that moment, I felt ashamed and foolish about my previous thoughts. I realized that it doesn't matter the outcome--good or bad, but that the happy time he has with his family is what matters because nobody is playing the fool; they're just trying to live their lives and appreciate each other and what is provided them.

A Great Leader is the Same, Anywhere, Anytime

I found an awesome blog post from Forbes Magazine. It's titled Five Leadership Lessons from James T. Kirk. I thought this was ingenius! So, today I'm going to summarize the blog post and if you're interested, you can check out the original blog post by Alex Knapp. Alex Knapp writes for Forbes about the future of science, technology and culture. Sounds like an all round nerd/geek to me :)

While I never got that engrossed with the Kirk franchise since he always struck me as being kitschy and an all round womanizing playboy, I have to admit, when you strip all that stuff away, I'd follow this guy into space on a starship. Then again, many of the Starfleet captains would fit this description as well...

1. Never Stop Learning: "You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But there's no such thing as the unknown--only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood."

2. Have Advisors with Different Worldviews: "One of the advantages of being a captain, Doctor, is being able to ask for advice without necessarily having to take it."

3. Be part of the Away Team: "Risk is our business. That's what this starship is all about. That's why we're aboard her."

4. Play Poker, Not Chess: "Not chess, Mr. Spock. Poker. Do you know the game?"

5. Blow up the Enterprise: "All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. 'You could feel the wind at your back in those days. The sounds of the seas beneath you, and even if you take away the wind and the water it's still the same. The ship is yours. You can feel her. And the stars are still there, Bones"

A Day at the Beach

Some of the best weekends are spent just watching television (if you can't tell by now, I love tv). While I caught up on more current tv, I also spend a lot of time with an old friend, Xena. It's been many years since I've spent a Saturday afternoon watching the series again. It's really refreshing to see the same things again, only differently.

Anyways, the past week's been pretty grey and boring. Nothing going on and nothing to inspire me to write.

Nothing is open today and I was doubly disappointed when T&T was closed but I decided to head out to visit the robot in disguise! If you've ever been out to Cherry Beach, there's an industrial type shed with large windows facing east and at sunset, you can sometimes see this monstrous looking machine sitting quietly in the dim light. It must have been let out for the day so, I managed to snap some photos this afternoon out at Cherry Beach instead...

There's something intriguing about the little hut...

There were a lot of trees lining the park.

Nobody swimming yet! Though I did see a guy on a small sail-type boat.

Standing at the shoreline playing with a nice low aperture.

That's it for now. Hopefully with the weather lightening up a bit, I'll be able to get out some more and take more photos around the city.

Rich Girl Problems

Mondays are almost always a little more than just manic. I had the opportunity to test my patience and tolerance this morning after I was already running really tight with time and waited around (it's punishment for smashing the alarm so many times) for another 20 minutes of delays to clear up and the train to have enough room for me to get on without breathing the next person's armpit for a 10-15 minute ride south.

Kind of makes me wish I had just stayed at home.

While the weekend was filled with the death of Whitney Houston and the Grammys, I didn't have time to get too involved with all that jazz. Instead of the Grammy Awards, I was getting caught up again with the Walking Dead; this is the second season of the comic inspired zombie apocolypse drama series.

The Walking Dead has won awards (and been nominated) for various categories--one of them being the best drama on tv. As I mentioned, the series itself is not new; it's based on a comic book that was written in 2003.

I got into this series at the insistence of others... Usually, I find zombie themed movies or shows, too hopeless feeling inducing to watch. I mean the entire world is dead and it's very likely that there are only pockets of living humans left. What are you supposed to do? Everything you have ever known, is gone and whatever you have probably been working towards in your life, is now null and void. Actually, most stories that have to do with a type of apocolypse are intriguing. It really gets you to think about how humans innately are and forces you rethink your own life... what would you do if you were one of those few humans left? You're trying to survive everyday, in very challenging circumstances and maintain some of your humanity.

One of my coworkers told me, "I like you because you still do the right thing, even when nobody's looking". I think of Rick Grimes. While it's flattering that others deem me to be morally intact, I wonder what I would do if I was faced with the same questions that Rick faces throughout the series? He's their leader now... and doing the best that he can do, to keep them together and get them through to the next day; and if there's one thing that's struck is, that most people are self-serving sheep who don't actually have any morals.

While most people do the right/best thing these days (and that's easy when food, shelter and safety are not a primary concern), the real test comes when faced with all the tough choices or even worse, no choice. Sounds a little hopeless but early humans were prey to larger carnivores and had to survive on much less.

I've gotten some more VD

As predicted, it's VD day! I couldn't resist. And just in time for the other VD--Valentine's Day! Love is in the air tonight.

Last week's cliff hanger left us all wondering what would happen now that Esther has returned. We last saw Klaus shaking in his booties expecting his mother to kill him; but she forgave him.

I got the same kind of blank stare when I first watched it too!

This week continues on the storyline of Esther. Unfortunately, the closest we get to getting some Tyler injected into the show is his voice when he calls Caroline to console her on her father's death and tells her that he is fixing himself so that he could be with her. And (just in time for Valentine's Day!) he told her he loves her. *swoon*

When the series started out, Tyler was portrayed as the football jock who's a big bully and isn't that nice to anyone. But, with a face (and body) like that, who could resist for long? My apologies ladies for not posting a suitable photo for y'all to drool over. I'm trying to be proper, afterall! But, because I'm a sucker for a boy in glases, this one appealed the most.

Tyler is one of Klaus' hybrids (werewolf-vampire). But now he's got this sire bond that keeps him compelled to do whatever Klaus wants, even after he denies Klaus outright. Caroline's dad said that he would forbid Tyler to be with Caroline unless he resolves the "problem".

The primary love triangle--Elena, Damon and Stefan... blahblah. This episode had a real weak progression with that. Stefan keeps saying he doesn't feel or care. Damon on the other hand cares TOO much and is now becoming really controlling. I tire of both the Salvatore brothers.

Back to the Original Family!

**SPOILER ALERT**

Esther holds a huge evening ball (the ones you get all dolled up for and wear ball gowns. Not those skanky short dresses) in celebration of reuniting her family. I wonder when I can hold a ball....?

Right, back to the point. Esther invites Elena personally. Rebekah invites Matt. Klaus invites Caroline, complete with a beautiful evening gown. Caroline totally blows off Klaus--as she should! She's spoken for, afterall. But Klaus is taken with her and when she shows up in the dress (her excuse was she didn't have anything else to wear--but really, what can compare to that stunning dress?), he is instantly taken with her. *dreamy swoon*

He tries to relate to her and shows his interest in art, paintings and sketches. He's quite the artist! And as an old school gentleman (and with Joseph Morgan--the actor--being from Britain), he's got that old world charm about him; so much so that it's... hypnotizing. After Caroline puts him in his place (and I'm glad she does) by telling him that he just tries to buy/force people and never actually makes a connection, she leaves. When she returns home, there is a gift box on her bed. She's annoyed because she thinks it's another trinket but when she opens it in frustration, she unrolls a sketch that Klaus made of her and her favourite animal.

I know, this is a romance novel written all over it.

Anyways, rewind a bit and return to the ball. Elena goes to speak with Esther and discovers that Esther has been stuck on the "other side" for a millennium and has returned to.... kill her children.

Another totally unexpected, right! I thought she was turned into a vampire or something and Klaus kept that from everyone or that maybe she was going to do something more drastic. But now what? Isn't killing Klaus exactly what they all wanted, to begin with?

What's wrong with Simple?

Hello everyone! It's the start of a new week and I spent the weekend watching figure skating programs and several movies that were playing on the WNetwork. Some of the fondest memories I have of when I was a kid were of me and my brother sitting in front of the television watching figure skating (yes, he watched) on the weekend afternoons or getting ready to catch the Disney movie on Sunday night, following the newest escapade of Sarah Stanley and her east coast cousins.

I usually don’t like doing nothing because I always have something to do (or due)! And the worst stomach sinking feeling is twiddling your thumbs until you realize you forgot something due Monday.

I decided it would be one of those weekends where I was going to forget about the rest of the adult world and do whatever I felt. I also caught the Digital Film Fest’s showing of Back to the Future. Talk about a blast to the past.

I wonder why that is… why people… all people--seem to sit back and remember a time when things were carefree, blissful and fun; and recall times they were a kid. While reminiscing generally makes me happy, it often ends with me feeling a little sad. Sad because it makes me wonder… does that mean that our lives are now so complicated and stressful that we aren’t having fun anymore?

This thought actually brings me to parallel life to: Road to Avonlea. The plot starts out with a young city girl, accustomed to fine city living in Montreal, who moves to the simple country life of Avonlea. Whenever I think about the series' progression, I think about how the characters and their adventures shadowed the lives of their growing (as in aging) audience. It was like growing up with the kids of Avonlea and getting in the same types of trouble and encountering the same issues that each of us grew up with. Ah, simpler times.

I compare this to similar shows of late, that follow the growing pains of kids and I think of Glee. When I watch Glee, I know that I impose some of my adult perceptions on the characters but, man, if that is how life has become, I'm really worried about the kids of this day and age.

Now, kids grow up with Hanna Montana hanging off a pole or other shows where the parents are complete twits and the kids run the stage!

Sometimes... just sometimes simple and (maybe) traditional is better.

Did you catch VD last night? I did

Did I get your attention? I've been waiting to use that line the moment I realized that the acronym for Vampire Diaries also implies venerial disease--depending on how you say it. Though really, anytime you use those two letters subsequently in the same breath, your listener will probably think you got yourself some herpes.

So... Vampire Diaries. What is someone as intelligent, worldly and inquisitive like me (yea yea, keep your mouth shut!), doing by getting caught up in a teeny bopper vampire-werewolf fad? Well, lemme start by introducing you to the Salvatore brothers: Stefan and Damon...

Yes ladies, it’s not you—it just got hot in here. These two brothers are nothing like “Edward” or “Jacob” of Twilight. Though I have to admit that Stefan’s hair-do is reminiscent of your contemporary “vampire hair”. But that's ok! Why? Because this show just keeps getting more and more… beautiful! As if the regular cast wasn’t already some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever laid my eyes on; the lovely Nina Dobrev is a Canadian who played Mia on Degrassi (the newer series).

Anyways, as fun and fascinating as all this is, let’s get to the real ‘meat’ of what transpired last night… in this story, vampires are not demons. The concept of nature and balance of good, evil and supernatural is one that is woven throughout the series. Witches are stewards of this natural balance and vampires happen to be an unplanned freak accident and werewolves are natural creatures.

The Original Family who became vampires were human. They were early settlers to Mystic Falls (where the series takes place) who were looking for a new life. After a tragic death of one of the young children, their father insisted on protecting his family and asked his wife (a powerful witch) to achieve this invincible immortality. She changed them into vampires with super human powers and immortality. But she herself was not permitted to change because she is a witch. Note that Originals can't be killed in the same conventional ways as regular run-of-the-mill vampires.

The primary protagonist for the season, Niklaus Mikaelsen is the most feared and respected Original and it was he who set the myth of the vampire-werewolf curse in motion. To maintain nature's balance, the witches suppressed his werewolf side but he wanted to release that so that he could become the ultimate hybrid.

Well, he’s managed to achieve this and has created a super species. There’s a catch, he needs the blood of the Petrova Doppelganger (Nina Dobrev’s character, Elena) to complete the transformation of each of his hybrids. At some point, early in the story, he somehow murdered his mother and his siblings never forgive him for this act.

That is… until last night.

**SPOILER ALERT**

His siblings are awoken from their centuries of slumber, and confront him to make him pay for what he did to their mother… the door opens and they hear footsteps. They turn around and see their mother walk in, without having aged a day from her death. Though Niklaus fears that his mother is there to kill him (because he is “an abomination of nature”), she says she forgives him and she wants them to be a family again.

I know, right? Too much to take in. Now you’re thinking what I am… what’s going to happen?! And what about all the other story lines (which I didn’t mention)??? Stay tuned for what happens next week! If it’s as juicy as this was, expect me to post again ;)