I seem to be incapable of going a full week without forgetting my flash drive in one of the computers at school. What's worse is that my house and car keys are attached to my flash drive, meaning I not only misplace my schoolwork, but my access to house and vehicle. I am trying to be a proactive student, and backup my work in multiple locations, yet this is the fourth time I have forgotten my flash drive and keys somewhere. What really frustrated me last night, as I realized I had done it again, was that I needed a file saved on the flash drive. This meant I had to drive from home, back to school, in rush hour traffic. I was not impressed.
There were, however, two things that made my hour and a half excursion quite interesting... 1) A man on a unicycle was peddling down the sidewalk on Pembina Highway. In the seven years I have lived in Winnipeg, I have never seen that. And this guy had the biggest smile on his face. He looked like he was having a great time. It made me laugh.
2) I also witnessed a car accident, and was actually able to assist in determining who was at fault. It wasn't anything serious - just one person rear-ending another - but I just happened to turn around in time. The person who was at fault wasn't very excited by my presence, but the person who had been hit was ecstatic. I think that qualifies as a good deed?
Anyways, I was initially very angry at myself for leaving my keys at school. But, on the way home, I felt much more relaxed. It had been a strange adventure, and at the very least, gave me something to blog about.
A few people have let me know that they are annoyed with my last post about the Projector story. They are annoyed because they have no intention of travelling to Red River College, and therefore, will not be reading the story. To make everyone happy (and because it's a great space-filler), i am posting my story. This is the unedited version, but here you are...
“Going in, I expected it would be top notch,” commented Eric Sochasky, at the September 12th Splatters Paintball Series tournament.“I had such a good time today that I’m definitely playing next year.”Sochasky played with team Riot, and was one of the 16 teams on the field Saturday.The tournament was one of four held at Splatters this summer.There were three levels of competition; the young guns, for newcomers; the rookies, for mid-skill level players; and the novices, for seasoned tournament players. The 420 Army Assassins prevailed in the novice division, and the 420 Army Alpha took rookie.Poondock Saints won the overall series at the novice level, and the Albino Rhinos took the overall series title for rookie. All teams were primarily from Manitoba, but three additional teams travelled from Ontario to participate.
In Manitoba, and Winnipeg specifically, paintball is a lively industry.Every year, roughly 15 teams from Manitoba play competitively throughout North America.On a recreational level, there are numerous fields open for anyone to check out.Giovanni Spina, co-owner of Canadian Paintball.com, encourages everyone interested in paintball to visit his field and experience the fun firsthand.Watching and asking questions are perfect ways to become immersed in the sport, and networking and enthusiasm are necessary to connect with other players in the province.Sochasky, a five-year veteran of paintball, pointed out that seasoned players are always willing to assist those who want to become involved, whether they want to play recreationally or on a tournament level.“The paintball community is so small here,” he stated, “that everyone is willing to lend a hand and help a newbie out.”Local paintball entrepreneurs also work together to promote the sport and sponsor each others events, as it is important for the industry to grow as a whole.
Evan Schroeder, General Manager of Splatters Paintball.com, began construction of his paintball complex in 2000.He created Splatters as a side business in 2003, and it became his full-time profession in 2007.Schroeder began organizing tournaments in 2005.Giovanni Spina began his paintball business in 1999, when he opened a field just outside Winnipeg.The company became an internet business in 2000.By 2004, 5 pro shops had been opened in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.Spina coordinates and participates in activities at his field, and commented “I’m dedicated to paintball.”A few of Canadian Paintball’s professional teams have included the Youngbloods, CP Army, and Manitoba Fury.His teams have travelled to Huntington Beach, Disneyland, and throughout Canada.An interesting side note is that team Manitoba Fury is featured in NPPL Championship Paintball 2009, a paintball video game for XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.
“Paintball is a rollercoaster,” Spina stated, and has undergone numerous transformations over the years.As explained by Evan Schroeder, General Manager of Splatters Paintball.com, the sport originated in the seventies and eighties, when it was discovered that Pneumatic Marking Devices--commonly used to mark cattle and trees from a distance--easily doubled as a tool for sports play.Participants initially dressed in camouflage, played in wooded areas, and viewed paintball as a recreational activity.This basic, militaristic aspect of the sport was revolutionized in the 20th century, and Spina explained that “technology did have an impact.”
Markers that could shoot faster were introduced to players, and new hoppers were created to compensate for the increase in speed.Professional teams that competed in organized tournaments emerged, as well as colourful, matching uniforms and sponsorships. Fields were built smaller, roughly half the size of a football field (compared the large 5 to 15 acre expanses used previously). Instead of hiding in the woods, these new fields consisted of maintained grass or Astroturf, and small inflatable bunkers became the only protection from the opposing teams. Strategy and planning, as well as athleticism became core aspects of the game.
Recently, the paintball industry has shifted back to previous recreational and militaristic styles of play.The cost associated with entering a tournament as a professional team was a huge factor, and playing recreationally became cheaper than playing tournament paintball.Despite this recent change, Spina and Schroeder are both confident the industry will continue to grow over the next few years. They both believe paintball will return to the large tournament style popular in the past, and the number of professional teams actively participating will increase.“Technology is not maxed out,” Spina commented, and “there’s still room for development of product and gear.”
An important point to note, Schroeder explained, is that “you don’t have to be physically fit or anything to be good at paintball.Anyone can play.” Paintball is as much a mental game as it is a physical one, and having a good strategy is just as important as being athletic.“You have to be able to see and be able to move,” he commented.“You can be 10 or 60.It’s really anybody’s game.”
Well, I am officially an involved student at Red River College. Yesterday, my first contribution to the Projector, the college newspaper, was published. Despite some editing (that was bound to happen), I can happily say that I am proud of my story. It was a Feature, which means that my writing took up and entire page, complete with two pictures!
Now, the online Projector website does not appear to be working properly, so anyone reading this will have to take my word for the fact that my story was AWESOME! A number of my classmates contributed as well, and I think CreComm Section One is off to a good start!!
In my blog profile, I vowed to slowly revive classic novels. I plan to do just that, and the best place to start is with my personal favourite.
The novel is called "Middlemarch." It was written by George Eliot, and published in 1874. An interesting side note is that "George Eliot" was actually a pen name for the female author, Mary Anne Evans. She was an author during the Victorian Era, a time when it was not considered "ladylike" to be a writer. Evans used a pen name to ensure her work would be taken seriously, and given a fair chance at being published. I think this is one of the reasons why I love the book. I admire Evans courage. I t is also rumoured Evans used a pen name to avoid scrutiny over the fact she was having an affair with a married man, but i'm going to leave that one alone for now...
There are four main plots in the novel. Each plot follows either a man or a woman, and highlights their trials and tribulations as they attempt to find both a lover and a successful place in society. The plot line I am most interested in is that of the young Dorothea Brooke. She is a very religious, severe young woman who wants to use her intelligence to make the world a better place. This is normally an admirable quality, yet in Middlemarch, women are expected to play the piano and act as couch ornaments. I will not give away too much, but i'll just say that Dorothea doesn't find true happiness until the end of the novel.
Middlemarch is a fictitious town located somewhere in Central England. The fact that the entire novel takes place in a small town adds a comical aspect, because everyone makes a point of knowing everyone else's business. It is almost impossible for someone to sneeze without another person hearing about it 30 seconds later. This makes it very difficult for the characters in the novel to do as they please, as others are constantly interfering.
Overall, I think this is a novel everyone should read. It is well written, not that difficult to follow (even for those who aren't into the classic novel thing), and it teaches you what NOT to do in a relationship. I love it!
This may seem like a weird post, but the following rant is something that has been bothering me for years...
A week ago, I was getting ready for school, and knew exactly what shirt I wanted to wear. I opened my closet, still half asleep. Not finding the desired garment immediately, I began shuffling through the hangers. Once... twice... three times through my closet, and still no shirt! Now, I know some women can relate to this problem. How many times have you known exactly what you want to wear, and then can't find it? I was mad! I quickly decided upon a second choice, and ran out the front door to catch my bus.
Three days ago, I was faced with the same situation. I knew exactly what I wanted to wear, but couldn't find it. Then, this evening, the SAME THING happened again! Now I am missing a shirt, a scarf, and a sweater. I don't remember taking them off anywhere and forgetting them. I don't remember doing laundry and hanging my clothing somewhere out of the ordinary. And, I KNOW my family isn't playing a trick on me, because I get very, VERY cranky when I can't find something.
The conclusion I have reached is that my wardrobe is slowly eating itself. Either that, or there is a monster in my closet who disagrees with some of my clothing choices. Either way, I have lost three items in a week and I am definitely not happy about it. I wonder if i'll lose anything tomorrow...
A few of my classmates have mentioned that I tend to be quite long winded with my blogs, so I am making a conscious effort this evening to write a shorter one. Last night, my boyfriend and I met at the University of Manitoba to study. We are both students, but attend different schools. This means we have only limited opportunities to spend time together, and study sessions are currently one of our only options. I used to be a student at the U of M, so I was comfortable going there to work.
We met outside the Elizabeth Dafoe Library, and went inside to find a place to sit. We worked for about an hour, at which time I decided I needed a break. Instead of leaving the library, I decided to walk through the rows of books on each of the three levels. It only took a moment to remember how much I love it there.
I don't know for sure if it's the smell of the books, the sounds of students quietly studying, or the feeling of intellectual energy that attracts me to this particular library. Most likely, it's a combination of all of the above. But as I walked around, I was instantly relaxed and content. I love to read, and I spent a lot of time in libraries when I was a child. There is something comforting in being surrounded by so many authors.
I returned to my seat and continued to study, but with a renewed sense of appreciation for Elizabeth Dafoe Library. If you find a quiet corner, it truly is a magical place to spend an evening, and is something I recommend to everyone.
How NOT to behave like a child when faced with a stressful situation...
Last night, something happened. It's slightly embarrassing, and I wouldn't normally say anything. But, I know at least a few of my CreComm classmates will read this blog, and they can probably relate. I was having serious computer difficulties, and my browser window crashed twice. Being a semi-mature individual, I did what many people do when faced with frustrating technical problems. I had a temper tantrum.
When technology works for me, it's fabulous. I can accomplish a task quickly, and move on. On the other hand, when all I need to do is print a document, and things aren't working, I get mad. Very, very mad.
I am one of those instant gratification kinds of people. When I need something to work, I need it to work NOW. I don't have time to wait, reboot, and repeat. When faced with a long to-do list and not enough hours in the day, it's easy to become frustrated quickly. Especially when the first task on that list involved a computer that is intent on giving me trouble. Therefore, my troubles began...
As the computer screen froze, I growled at it unattractively. When that didn't work, I started swearing. I guess my computer took the profanity personally, because after that, all I got was the black screen of death. Therefore, I did the most productive thing I could think of at that moment. I threw my binder -- with all my school work -- down the stairs.
Those of you who have thrown a binder in anger are fully aware of what happened next. Paper went flying everywhere. In addition to my frustration of wasting time with computer issues, I now found myself sitting on the floor collecting and reorganizing the scattered papers. As I sat there organizing, I started laughing at how ridiculous I must look. There HAS TO be a better way to deal with anger...
The following is a list of anger management techniques I looked up after my computer and I resolved our difference of opinion. You may laugh, but next time i'm going to try breathing instead of throwing things. It might just work...
Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm (breathing from your chest won't help)
Slowly repeat a calming word as you breathe (I think that "banana" or "onomatopoeia" might work for me!)
Visualize a relaxing experience, using a memory or your imagination
Stretch or perform slow yoga exercises
Remove yourself from the scene until you can calmly return
