There is nothing like having high winds and rain in the middle of January... honestly I'm beginning to think we'll have snow in July- not that a cool summer is a bad thing (hehe) but then I'll have to make my sister a cape to go with her wedding dress. which would just be a shame.
So what am I up to tonight? Well instead of reading or working on some necessary stuff for any of my 6 courses I've decided to take some time to myself while being constructive. I'm currently watching a very entertaining movie, one that allows laughter and smiles along with critical thinking and cinematic observation to be had. I speak of no other than Mel Brooks' "Robin Hood Men in Tights". IF you don't believe me watch it for yourself.
Did you know that Mel Brooks is one of few movie making giants who aims to keep the audience in check with reality and the falsities of the cinematic experience? Certain objects, moments, incidents and acting motives are strategically implemented to keep the viewer interested, entertained and in touch with the fact that they are watching a movie which is simply a portrayal of real instances, objects, incidents etc. One might consider the work of Plato and the concept of mimesis to explain the purpose of movies such as the ones Mel Brooks creates.
Well that's all for now.. the movie doth await me.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
And It begins...
I've been struggling all week to get work done on the first seminar presentation for one of my new seminars and I am finding the hardest challenges I have ever had to face.
The presentation for seminar is the shortest one's I will ever have this year- my final year. The professor- whom I am absolutely stoked to work alongside of- made the seminar presentations in the format of 500 word responses which is slightly out of step with the usual 8-15 minute presentation requirements of other seminars I have encountered and am currently enrolled in.
Now you might be saying to yourself... "500 words is nothing!" and in comparison to the 2500 words that was the average for seminar presentations as of last semester, you would be correct. But do not let such an "easy" word count fool you. It is definitely proven- in the case that I've done it before- that writing anything in 500 words, getting all our your points across and having to do it as succinctly as possible is no easy feat. In fact it requires a lot of work, stress, concentration, screaming, yelling, pain and overall discomfort.
Luckily i decided to present my first of two seminars the first week (ie tomorrow) and I say "luckily" because the readings for this week are simply poetry selections and not an entire novel. But considering I was not really given much instruction and when asking for some guidance was not provided with much help from my fantastic professor, I am facing a great issue... the question that has been my brick wall the past 36 hours has been thus: "do I respond to simply one text of poetry? Or do I choose two and respond to them simultaneously?" *sigh* the answer to which I am still unsure. And yes, I present in approximately 10 hours.
Anywho, I just hope I can survive the next couple of hours and get myself in bed in time to catch atleast 6 hours of sleep.
Sherman Alexie why do you conflict me so??? *sigh*
XOXO
The presentation for seminar is the shortest one's I will ever have this year- my final year. The professor- whom I am absolutely stoked to work alongside of- made the seminar presentations in the format of 500 word responses which is slightly out of step with the usual 8-15 minute presentation requirements of other seminars I have encountered and am currently enrolled in.
Now you might be saying to yourself... "500 words is nothing!" and in comparison to the 2500 words that was the average for seminar presentations as of last semester, you would be correct. But do not let such an "easy" word count fool you. It is definitely proven- in the case that I've done it before- that writing anything in 500 words, getting all our your points across and having to do it as succinctly as possible is no easy feat. In fact it requires a lot of work, stress, concentration, screaming, yelling, pain and overall discomfort.
Luckily i decided to present my first of two seminars the first week (ie tomorrow) and I say "luckily" because the readings for this week are simply poetry selections and not an entire novel. But considering I was not really given much instruction and when asking for some guidance was not provided with much help from my fantastic professor, I am facing a great issue... the question that has been my brick wall the past 36 hours has been thus: "do I respond to simply one text of poetry? Or do I choose two and respond to them simultaneously?" *sigh* the answer to which I am still unsure. And yes, I present in approximately 10 hours.
Anywho, I just hope I can survive the next couple of hours and get myself in bed in time to catch atleast 6 hours of sleep.
Sherman Alexie why do you conflict me so??? *sigh*
XOXO
Sunday, January 1, 2012
This Minute...Some 2012 Motivation
I received the following motivational message in an e-mail on Dec 31st from a very wise friend who understands that importance of not sweating the little things... So take "a minute" to read as it is Definitely worth thinking about when wondering what to do with your time during this brand new year.
This minute is the most important one, because this minute is the one you
can use. There is so much you can do in this minute if you'll simply allow
the best possibilities to unfold.
Let go of the regrets and guilt and resentment you've carried with you from
other times. See how foolish it is to be held back by fears about days that
have not yet even arrived.
Think of all the good things that truly mean so much to you.
Give your focus to those things, and make use of this minute, right now and
right here, to expand on that goodness in your world.
Don't be concerned about what might or might not be, or what others might or
might not think of you. Live instead from your authentic center, and make
this minute one that adds value to your experience.
Though you may have good excuses for holding back, use this minute to move
forward. Though the effort will not be easy, your life is worth the trouble.
This minute is filled with promise and possibility. Right now is when you
can transform it into real and lasting value, so do.
- R. Marston
_________________________________________________________________________________
can use. There is so much you can do in this minute if you'll simply allow
the best possibilities to unfold.
Let go of the regrets and guilt and resentment you've carried with you from
other times. See how foolish it is to be held back by fears about days that
have not yet even arrived.
Think of all the good things that truly mean so much to you.
Give your focus to those things, and make use of this minute, right now and
right here, to expand on that goodness in your world.
Don't be concerned about what might or might not be, or what others might or
might not think of you. Live instead from your authentic center, and make
this minute one that adds value to your experience.
Though you may have good excuses for holding back, use this minute to move
forward. Though the effort will not be easy, your life is worth the trouble.
This minute is filled with promise and possibility. Right now is when you
can transform it into real and lasting value, so do.
- R. Marston
_________________________________________________________________________________
"We make choices to survive but we still have to survive our choices. Choose wisely." ~Ky-Mani
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Don't waste time on a dead-end (M.C)
I hope you all have a wonderful 2012 year and it brings you fantastical challenges, trials, fears, joy, peace, successes, happiness, sadness, pain, pleasures, excitement and wonder! Take the time to appreciate the life you have and the world you live in.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Goodbye First Term, HELLO Winter Break!!
I am finally finished exams for first semester and it feels really great! And a little sad.
...
I know... I'm a nerd what can I say? I had a really great term, and I managed to survive hell month and maintain a B- average, even on the silly classes. I think that deserves a pat on the back. *pats self on back*
*sigh*
Wow am I ever tired! I was at school for about 7 hours, 5 of which were spent studying fiercely, and two of which spent writing with furious insanity. Gotta love hand cramps! At least I survived. we'll see how my grades work out in the end though.
I discovered something about myself tonight that really made me happy... I actually know what I'm doing! I'm not a screw up anymore! It's crazy but In my insanity, I think I've actually done something right this semester. I knew it!!! I'm super proud of myself for actually pulling the grades I'm meant to get. Doing work really does pay off :P *jokes* I'm just thrilled that I did the right thing this term, and that switching programs 3 years back was really the best decision I could have ever made. I just hope I can keep this outlook on life for next semester. Unfortunately I'm overloading one course which means I'll not only have 2 seminars BUT i'll also be dealing with 4 2nd and 3rd level classes. And that means 4 final exams next Spring. Ugh! Forget about it, for now lets celebrate the success of this term! Cheers!
I`ve got tons of sewing to get working on ASAP! I`m hoping to have a quarter of it done by this upcoming Monday... It's already Dec 14th.. oh my gosh! I've got to get working.. too bad Santa's elves are busy, I could use the extra hands. *sigh* Just need to button up my cardigan and get a sewing!
I'd also long to get some writing done during the break... and maybe get a head start on the readings for next semester.... I don't get it, this year Christmas is on a weekend, final exams don't finish until the 21st but we still return to school January 4th! It's outrageous! Thats so not enough time!! Oh well...
Daddy and I are going to pick out our family Christmas tree tomorrow.. yay! and hopefully it will be decorated by the end of week *fingers crossed*
Gonna get some much needed sleep now... Why is Sleep the only thing you can't catch up on? I don'[t know whats harder really, catching up on sleep or making the money tree grow... hmm
XOXO
C
...
I know... I'm a nerd what can I say? I had a really great term, and I managed to survive hell month and maintain a B- average, even on the silly classes. I think that deserves a pat on the back. *pats self on back*
*sigh*
Wow am I ever tired! I was at school for about 7 hours, 5 of which were spent studying fiercely, and two of which spent writing with furious insanity. Gotta love hand cramps! At least I survived. we'll see how my grades work out in the end though.
I discovered something about myself tonight that really made me happy... I actually know what I'm doing! I'm not a screw up anymore! It's crazy but In my insanity, I think I've actually done something right this semester. I knew it!!! I'm super proud of myself for actually pulling the grades I'm meant to get. Doing work really does pay off :P *jokes* I'm just thrilled that I did the right thing this term, and that switching programs 3 years back was really the best decision I could have ever made. I just hope I can keep this outlook on life for next semester. Unfortunately I'm overloading one course which means I'll not only have 2 seminars BUT i'll also be dealing with 4 2nd and 3rd level classes. And that means 4 final exams next Spring. Ugh! Forget about it, for now lets celebrate the success of this term! Cheers!
I`ve got tons of sewing to get working on ASAP! I`m hoping to have a quarter of it done by this upcoming Monday... It's already Dec 14th.. oh my gosh! I've got to get working.. too bad Santa's elves are busy, I could use the extra hands. *sigh* Just need to button up my cardigan and get a sewing!
I'd also long to get some writing done during the break... and maybe get a head start on the readings for next semester.... I don't get it, this year Christmas is on a weekend, final exams don't finish until the 21st but we still return to school January 4th! It's outrageous! Thats so not enough time!! Oh well...
There's just no rest for the wicked I suppose.
Daddy and I are going to pick out our family Christmas tree tomorrow.. yay! and hopefully it will be decorated by the end of week *fingers crossed*
Gonna get some much needed sleep now... Why is Sleep the only thing you can't catch up on? I don'[t know whats harder really, catching up on sleep or making the money tree grow... hmm
XOXO
C
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
End of November Already? 0_0
I managed to surive Hell Month somehow but I'm still not finished. Though i've entered the final stretch of my ridiculous essay word count goal i'm still 2500 words away from the finish line :(
I managed to get an extension from my prof and did not have to turn in an unfinished, unedited piece of literary garbage.. yay! But now i've still got to get this paper done between now and Sunday- which if you know me, you know how much my weekends are write offs. *sigh*
Gonna push myself to do at least a page and a half single spaced today, if not more.. 2500 words is approximately 7 pages double spaced, which when single spaced equals to only about 3 pages and some leftovers.. I love typing in single space, its much more gratifying to double space your work and have it hit 7 pages rather than trying to write 7 spaces straight through. Perhaps I'm just insane and it's my subconscious brain trying to pacify my stress.. Either way it works, I can (as they say) "get'er done"
Speaking of "get'er done".. Is anyone else happy about today being the last day of November? or is it just me? I can't wait to see the clean shaven men around campus again! If I have to see one more cheesy 70's caterpillar, hitler stash, dirty sanchez, captain hook, handlebar or teenage mustache I will bring clippers to school.. honestly, i'm surprised none of the women have gone "Sweeney Todd" on their men yet! Thank you for the support of men's cancers but that furry thing has to go! Only Johnny Depp and Hulk Hogan look good in a mustache okay?
ooo Randomness! I ran into my old choir conductor yesterday.. third time this month! Back in October we met in the hallway and he had asked me if I wanted to join the women's ensemble he was conducting, starting January and I said yes. Yesterday he came round again while i was in the Aristotle's Republic headquarters (yes I know it was Plato's republic, you had to be there) and we picked a day for me to sing for him... he wants to place me properly which is great since he hasn't heard me sing since I was probably 12 years old. Fingers crossed! I'm hoping to sing a nostalgic piece from my childhood days in the CCCC that I'm certain will bring back fond memories for him and I really hope I can sell it to the back of the house- if u will.
Enough of that now, i've got to write my head off. Drop me a comment or e-mail me if you're still reading me.. i know i've abandoned my blog for a while, but i feel more alone in the giant internet sea than ever before!
XOXO
Cris
p.s if you're wondering what happened with my NaNoWriMo story this November... well, it didn't. I made 1000 words and then face the hardest month of reading and writing academically that I have ever faced. here's hoping for next year!
I managed to get an extension from my prof and did not have to turn in an unfinished, unedited piece of literary garbage.. yay! But now i've still got to get this paper done between now and Sunday- which if you know me, you know how much my weekends are write offs. *sigh*
Gonna push myself to do at least a page and a half single spaced today, if not more.. 2500 words is approximately 7 pages double spaced, which when single spaced equals to only about 3 pages and some leftovers.. I love typing in single space, its much more gratifying to double space your work and have it hit 7 pages rather than trying to write 7 spaces straight through. Perhaps I'm just insane and it's my subconscious brain trying to pacify my stress.. Either way it works, I can (as they say) "get'er done"
Speaking of "get'er done".. Is anyone else happy about today being the last day of November? or is it just me? I can't wait to see the clean shaven men around campus again! If I have to see one more cheesy 70's caterpillar, hitler stash, dirty sanchez, captain hook, handlebar or teenage mustache I will bring clippers to school.. honestly, i'm surprised none of the women have gone "Sweeney Todd" on their men yet! Thank you for the support of men's cancers but that furry thing has to go! Only Johnny Depp and Hulk Hogan look good in a mustache okay?
ooo Randomness! I ran into my old choir conductor yesterday.. third time this month! Back in October we met in the hallway and he had asked me if I wanted to join the women's ensemble he was conducting, starting January and I said yes. Yesterday he came round again while i was in the Aristotle's Republic headquarters (yes I know it was Plato's republic, you had to be there) and we picked a day for me to sing for him... he wants to place me properly which is great since he hasn't heard me sing since I was probably 12 years old. Fingers crossed! I'm hoping to sing a nostalgic piece from my childhood days in the CCCC that I'm certain will bring back fond memories for him and I really hope I can sell it to the back of the house- if u will.
Enough of that now, i've got to write my head off. Drop me a comment or e-mail me if you're still reading me.. i know i've abandoned my blog for a while, but i feel more alone in the giant internet sea than ever before!
XOXO
Cris
p.s if you're wondering what happened with my NaNoWriMo story this November... well, it didn't. I made 1000 words and then face the hardest month of reading and writing academically that I have ever faced. here's hoping for next year!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A little story called "hell month"
One evening I was walking in Toronto and I came across the Bloor street Viaduct... I gazed out across the Prince Edward Bridge and felt a cool chill run up my spine. The moon shone high and three nuns passed near me dressed in The Color Purple and singing a song.. not about Paradise but from what I could gather, about a man who was wearing fur walking down a concrete sidewalk. I stopped one of the Sisters and asked for her name. She said it was Alice. I introduced myself as Toni and inquired about the song they sang. She told me that it was by a woman named Harriet... Harriet Jacobs who lived in the 1850's. She then proceeded to recount a tale to me. One of a woman- named Linda, who once encountered a man In The Skin of a Lion during her Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl who had struck her quite a Funny Boy. When she had finished her story, the nun- Alice, turned and walked away striking up the tune once more with her sisters whom she had introduced to me as Celie and Ruby. As they walked away I couldn't help but notice that a stray advertisement had adhered itself to one of the nuns habits. It was for a female parental figure for a motherless child and at the bottom said "call Morrison" listing a number. As I turned smiling to myself I saw a young man, Ondaatje was his name and writing was his game. He stood beside a huge Iron cooking pot speaking to a book by A. Walker, threatening to throw it into the pot unless it revealed itself for what it was.. a Book. Before I could do anything to stop the insane torture of literature, a man sporting an azure silk scarf and a flamboyant green briefcase initials in Pink reading S.Selvadurai walked up and snatched the book out of the man's hands frowning a little. I giggled a bit to myself and then realized I would be late to give my lecture and so I rushed on ahead and entered the building on the corner just as Jim was discussing Etienne's last letter, Z.
If you were wondering why this story makes no sense.. well dear reader it is because my brain currently and my everyday state of living also make no sense. To the untrained eye this little paragraph would seem little more than a blurb from a silly short story but to the critically analytic literature buff it would be a clever and almost juvenile mash-up of the names and titles of 5 authors and 5 of their respective works: Alive Walker's The Color Purple, Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion, Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy, Toni Morrison's Paradise and James Kinds Etienne's Alphabet. Now how's that for Randomness!
This paragraph was also a way for me to spend 5 minutes in creative abandon away from the stuffiness of formal academic writing that I am currently up to my garters in :(
The end of the month'e essay line up looks like this:
Monday: seminar 4CF3 contemporary lit- final paper on Funny Boy (2500 words) and final seminar pres. on In the Skin of a Lion (1500 words)
Tuesday: seminar 4AA3 african american womens lit- final paper on Color Purple & Paradise (2500 words)
Thursday: 2M03 modern concepts of culture- final essay on TBA (1500 words)
Tues November 29th: 3Q03 history of critical theory final essay on TBA (1500-2000 words)
Random small assignments between Novel 27-30: 2m03 final tutorial discussion question (200 words), 2K06 term 1 sum up response, 4aa3 seminar sum up reponse. (1000 total)
Total Wordcount between Nov 20 and Nov 30th- 10 700 words!
Great.
Googly.
Moogly.
HELP!!!!!!!
XOXO
C
If you were wondering why this story makes no sense.. well dear reader it is because my brain currently and my everyday state of living also make no sense. To the untrained eye this little paragraph would seem little more than a blurb from a silly short story but to the critically analytic literature buff it would be a clever and almost juvenile mash-up of the names and titles of 5 authors and 5 of their respective works: Alive Walker's The Color Purple, Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion, Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy, Toni Morrison's Paradise and James Kinds Etienne's Alphabet. Now how's that for Randomness!
This paragraph was also a way for me to spend 5 minutes in creative abandon away from the stuffiness of formal academic writing that I am currently up to my garters in :(
The end of the month'e essay line up looks like this:
Monday: seminar 4CF3 contemporary lit- final paper on Funny Boy (2500 words) and final seminar pres. on In the Skin of a Lion (1500 words)
Tuesday: seminar 4AA3 african american womens lit- final paper on Color Purple & Paradise (2500 words)
Thursday: 2M03 modern concepts of culture- final essay on TBA (1500 words)
Tues November 29th: 3Q03 history of critical theory final essay on TBA (1500-2000 words)
Random small assignments between Novel 27-30: 2m03 final tutorial discussion question (200 words), 2K06 term 1 sum up response, 4aa3 seminar sum up reponse. (1000 total)
Total Wordcount between Nov 20 and Nov 30th- 10 700 words!
Great.
Googly.
Moogly.
HELP!!!!!!!
XOXO
C
Friday, November 11, 2011
11 11 11
Another year.. and We Remember.
We Give Thanks to our Veterans, To all of those who served our Canada so faithfully. Thank you for our Freedom! Thank you for our Country! God Bless all of our soldiers; past, present and future. Let them rest in peace, bring them home safe and let there be no war for them to fight in anymore.
Check my tribute video to John McCrae's poem on youtube!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUdRo8Zr0Fk
XOXO
C
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae-
We Give Thanks to our Veterans, To all of those who served our Canada so faithfully. Thank you for our Freedom! Thank you for our Country! God Bless all of our soldiers; past, present and future. Let them rest in peace, bring them home safe and let there be no war for them to fight in anymore.
Check my tribute video to John McCrae's poem on youtube!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUdRo8Zr0Fk
XOXO
C
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