Video Games

I never thought video games would have a place in my creative writing class, until I saw the unit on the course outline. I was confused and wondered what could we possibly learn about video games in a writing course. Now you must first know that when I think of video games my first thought is Zombies and gun fights… after I stopped to think about it I realized that the realm of video games expands way past shooting monsters and Super Mario, and that even shoot ‘em up games take a lot of creative writing to keep the gamer engaged.
In our last double class we got to play some video games, that is where I found out it is a good thing I decided against majoring in Psychology because I can’t even keep a virtual marriage from falling apart. This particular video game was based on text. The couple were fighting and you played by talking to them. Everything they did depended on their interpretation of what you said to them. I had never heard of such a video game. We also played another text based video game based on Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. That one I kept losing as well… turns out I’m not very good at video games. It was interesting because you told the game what you wanted to do with words and the game usually replied with a snarky comment and prompted you to try something different. It was oddly addictive.
Then there are the more popular games like Mario and those zombie-shooting type games that I never really thought of as creative writing worthy… until I was forced to think about it. I then realized that those games are all one giant story, kind of like the choose your own adventure stories that everyone I knew used to read back in the fourth grade, only now instead of flipping pages in a book you are choosing commands with a controller.
Writing one of these types of stories would take forever because not only do you need to come up with an interesting story, you need to come up with all the potential angles that the gamer could take. So really you are writing many stories all piled into one with a bunch of graphics to keep people entertained for hours, weeks or years depending on how good they are at the game.
Video games are one of the most creative things and I have learned that they should be in every creative writing course, because when you get right down to it, they are just one really complicated story.

We Were In Love - Part 2

Here is the end of my short screenplay! Enjoy!

INT. STACEY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

STACEY’s phone beeps waking STACEY up. She fumbles for her phone, knocking over the pile of books that sit by her bed.

STACEY
Son of a bitch! This better be important!

STACEY finally grabs hold of the phone, opens it and up pops an incoming text.

STACEY
(reading the text)
From Steven. Hey Stace. What you doing?

STACEY (V.O.)
I actually stopped breathing when his name appeared on the phone. What do I do? Do I ignore it? Do I answer? I thought he never wanted to talk to me again... What is this?

STACEY starts texting

STACEY(V.O.)
I knew I shouldn’t text back... but I couldn’t stop myself.

Text beeps again. Text pops up on the screen. From Steven. I was gonna say you should come over but if you’re already sleeping...

STACEY (V.O)
I took back a little control by not responding, but I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night. Did I miss my chance? Would I ever hear from him again?

INT. STACEY’S CAR – NIGHT

JESSICA
Thanks for the ride Stace.

STACEY’s phone buzzes in the cup holder of the car. 1 new text message pops up on the phone. Both girls look towards the phone.

JESSICA
Everything alright Stace? You look like you’re having a heart attack.

STACEY
What? Oh yeah I’m fine Jess. It’s just... my sister.

STACEY (V.O.)
It wasn’t my sister. But I couldn’t tell her it was Steven, I barely believed it myself. All I knew was I had to see him... it wasn’t a want... it was a need. I felt like a drug addict, and Steven was my drug.

INT. STEVEN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Only the glow from the inside light lit STACEY’s path towards the front door. She pauses for a moment before knocking, the only sounds she can hear are her heart pounding and the muffled sound of Star Wars coming from inside the house. Finally after standing there for a moment STACEY gains the courage to knock on the door.

STEVEN
Hey there stranger.

STACEY
Hi.

STEVEN holds the door open for STACEY to walk through. A few awkward moments of silence occur.

STACEY
So... how have you been?

STEVEN
I’m doing good, how ‘bout you babe?

STACEY
I’m a little shocked honestly.

STEVEN moves closer to STACEY and she has to catch her breath. STEVEN puts his arm around her and pulls her close. Their hands intertwine as their body’s press up against each other. STEVEN moves in and kisses STACEY. STACEY pulls back at first but then starts kissing him again passionately. STEVEN pulls away but keeps hold of her hand.

STEVEN
I’ll show you the way.

STACEY follows STEVEN upstairs.

STACEY (V.O.)
Following Steven up those stairs was against my better judgement. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew what I was getting myself into and I knew it wouldn’t end well. But I knew I couldn’t stop when every part of me wanted him. I couldn’t help it. I was still in love with him.

INT. STEVEN’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

STEVEN and STACEY are cuddled up in STEVEN’s bed. STACEY’S head resting on STEVEN’S chest and he has his arm around her shoulder.

STEVEN
You know I never stopped loving you. I didn’t want to hurt you. I miss you so much Stace.
STACEY gets up and starts walking towards the door. STEVEN follows her.

STEVEN
Stace... Stacey wait!

STACEY
For what Steve?

STEVEN
For me. I meant it, I meant everything I said. I still love you Stacey. Do you still love me?

STACEY
I wish I didn’t.
(sigh)
but I can’t help it. Of course I love you, but that isn’t what matters.

STACEY walks out the front door.

EXT. STEVEN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

STACEY slams the door shut and runs down the sidewalk, slowing down as she approaches her car. She turns around to face Steven’s house and starts walking back. STACEY reaches the front door which was left partially open and pauses when she hears STEVEN’S muffled voice.

STEVEN
Hey baby. What you doing?.... Oh yeah... well why don’t you come over? I’ll make you feel all better. Just like I did last night sexy..... I’ll see you soon babe. I can’t wait to have you all to myself again.

STACEY walks back to her car as her phone buzzes.
1 New text. It was great to see you beautiful. Love you.

INT. STACEY’S CAR – NIGHT

STACEY is driving through the Winnipeg streets. The only lights are the headlights from the car and the red stoplight in front of her. It is raining outside, which is matched by the tears running down her face. The stoplight is reflecting in her eyes. Inside the car is soft country music playing.
STACEY (V.O.)
We were in love. At least we were once upon a time, but our time was over now and that was something I was just going to have to get used to. We would never walk down the street holding hands and making plans about our future, we would never argue over which movie to rent and then curl up on the couch, safe in each other’s arms watching it. I would never wake up next to him and look at his sleeping face and be so happy and thankful that he was mine. He wasn’t mine anymore. And I was ok with that. He loved me, that I was sure of... But he loved the chase more. We were in love... but that was a lifetime ago. For the first time I could think about him and I wasn’t sad about what I lost, I was thankful for what had happened.

FADE OUT.

We Were in Love - Part 1

For our Creative Writing class we had to write a screenplay. I totally fell in love with my characters so I thought I'd share the screenplay with all of you. I think it is something everyone can relate to in one form or another. So here is the first part. Enjoy! Just for reference V.O. stands for voice over.

FADE IN:

INT. STACEY’S CAR - NIGHT

STACEY, 21, is driving through the Winnipeg streets. The only lights are the headlights from the car and the red stoplight in front of her. It is raining outside, which is matched by the tears running down her face. The stoplight is reflecting in her eyes. Inside the car is soft country music playing.

STACEY(V.O)
We were in love. The perfect romance novel, happily ever after kind of love. He was my prince, we fit.
(pause)
We just fit. We never made any sense, that I knew. He was from the small town and I was from the big city. We had come from two different worlds, but somehow we fit. We were in love. Our relationship was a passionate roller coaster, great days followed by big fights, followed by even bigger make-ups. The sex was great... no it was better than great.
(pause)
And it proved we were in love.
(long pause followed by a sigh)
We were in love....
until her.

Music gets louder as the light turns green and the car drives away.

INT. STACEY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

STACEY is lying in bed. Her digital clock radio casts a little bit of light in the room with the numbers 3:00 glowing red. Her cell phone is charging on her bedside table. The Phone rings. STACEY’S hand reaches out from under the covers, grabs the phone and without opening her eyes answers it.

(PHONE CONVERSATION)

STEVEN
Hey Babe.

STACEY
(still sleepy)
Hey you! How are you doing? Did you win your hockey game? Wait... What are you doing up so late?

STEVEN
I’m fantastic Stace.... I have something I need to tell you.
STACEY sits up in bed and leans against the wall looking worried.

STACEY
Is everything ok? You alright?

STEVEN
I’m fine. Everything is great... well for me anyway.

STACEY
Ok... well then... what’s up baby?

STEVEN
I met someone else.
(long pause)
And she’s awesome. She’s beautiful and sexy and she wants me to be with my friends and play hockey. She’s just amazing. She’s the one I want. Her, not you.

There is a long pause where nobody says anything.

STACEY
I.... umm.... what?

STEVEN
My phone’s about to die, and when it does I never want to hear from you again. Goodbye Stacey.
STACEY stares at the phone in shock, a single tear falls down her face.

INT. STEVEN’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

STEVEN, 21 and VICKY, 19 are cuddling on the couch while STEVEN puts his cell phone on the glass table. The clock above their heads reads 3:10.

VICKY
How’d she take it sweetie?

STEVEN
Oh like you really care babe.

VICKY
I might..

STEVEN grabs VICKY and pulls her close. VICKY gasps as she is caught by surprise and they kiss passionately. She grabs his hands and moves them onto her body.

VICKY
I’ll show you the way.

VICKY moves STEVEN’S hands to her shirt and helps him unbutton it. They move in for another passionate kiss.

INT. STACEY’S CAR – DAY

STACEY and PAUL, 22 are driving down the streets of Winnipeg. The sun is bright and shining and the tress are blooming. Inside the car an upbeat pop song is playing.

STACEY (V.O)
After months of crying and attempting to convince myself I was over Steven, that I was better than that and I didn’t need him in my life I thought I had finally accomplished it. He finally couldn’t hurt me anymore. I found myself happy and spending a wonderful afternoon with Paul. Paul was nice, a real good guy, he was safe and I really did like him... but for some reason that day I couldn’t stop thinking about Steven.

PAUL
You ok Stace?

STACEY
Fine. Why?

PAUL
You just seem a little off today. You’re really quiet, just not usual bubbly self.

STACEY
Sorry hun. I just have a lot on my mind, no biggie. I’m all good.

STACEY (V.O.)
But it was a big deal. Everywhere I was I thought of him, of all the fun, of all the good times... and now he was having them with her. Just when I thought he couldn’t hurt me anymore it felt like he was ripping my heart to pieces.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Feeling Lucky? A deeper look into St. Patrick's Day.

As today is St. Patrick's Day I thought it fitting to dedicate my blog post today to the Irish holiday.

Thinking about it, I realized I don't know very much about St. Patrick's Day, the traditions surrounding it or even why we celebrate it. All I really know is that on March 17 I go out dressed in green, drink way too much green beer and enjoy the music and company of many others doing the same thing I am.

So what is St. Patrick's Day really? Well put your green beers down and read on to find out.

St. Patrick's Day is a celebration to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. When it first started it was a Catholic holiday, and turned into a feast day. It was believed to be a one day break during Lent, which you were allowed to feast and drink. It became an official Irish holiday in 1903.

Now it is celebrated by parades, the longest in Canada taking place in Montreal, and people gathering to eat, drink and be merry.

Who is St. Patrick?

Well according to Wikipedia, little is known about Patrick's early life. He was born in Roman Britain in the fifth century and at the age of 16 was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. During this time he converted from paganism to Christianity, and went on to become a bishop after returning to Britain. He later returned to Ireland to convert the pagans to Christianity and was very successful in his endeavors.

According to Irish folklore he used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland. Which explains why the shamrock is one of the most common symbols of St. Patrick's Day.

Symbols.

Shamrocks, Four-Leaf Clover, Leprechauns

Shamrocks are a tradition due to Christianity. It is said that St. Patrick used shamrocks to teach the pagans about the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).

Four-Leaf Clover

Because most clovers only have three leaves, finding a rare four-leaf clover is said to bring you good luck. It is believed that each leaf on these rare clovers means something different.

1. hope

2. faith

3. love

4. happiness

According to legend leprechauns look like little old men and dresses like a shoemaker. He is very sneaky and unfriendly. They spend there time looking after their pots of gold and fixing the shoes of the Irish Fairies. Legend says if you catch one you can force him to show you his pot of gold, but be sure not to take your eyes off him or he will vanish and you will never find his gold.

Now that you know a little more about this holiday, make sure you wear your green, drink your beer, and be on the look out for four-leaf clovers and leprechauns.

Enjoy the day to celebrate the luck o' the Irish.

Good times in Arborg, Manitoba

For a journalism/advertising assignment we were instructed to break into small groups and travel "beyond the perimeter" to a small town of our choice. My group consistent of the lovely Jen Hanson, John Rymon and Tammy Karatchuk, and on Friday we piled into Tammy's new car and hit Highway 7 all the way to Arborg.

*Interesting Fact: Tammy Karatchuk was born in Arborg.*

The drive down was filled with... shall I say interesting.... conversation, I'd tell you all about it but what happens in Tammy's car stay in Tammy's car. After about two hours of driving down the foggy highway we finally saw it, the town sign, Welcome to Arborg.

Tammy took us on a driving tour of the town... which only lasted about 10 minutes, and we ended up at her old high school. In Winnipeg they won't let you just walk around a high school and in classrooms while school is in session, but in Arborg they just let the four of us walk right in. We even got an impromptu interview with the school principal, Arlene Perry. She told us all about the new band program and raved about Arborg Collegiate. Graduating from a high school where my graduating class was just under 300, I found it very strange to see a high school being so small and looking at grad pictures with only 32 graduating students.

After the high school, Tammy drove us to the bar at the Arborg hotel. The hotel and burned down twice since its opening, and had just re-opened. The decor was stunning, bamboo floors and black tables. It was not what I had expected to see in a small town bar. However they were playing the country music that I had expected to hear.

The hotel itself was just as impressive and classy as the bar. As Owen Eyolfson, the owner of the Arborg hotel said, " Just because you're in a small town doesn't mean you have to make everything look like a tin shed."

After that we decided to stop in at the Chicken Chef for lunch, where I had the best onion rings. I still dream of those onion rings... and that milkshake... mmmm milkshake.

Anyways, we then went to see the curling rock and as any good tourists would do we took crazy amounts of pictures in front of it, managing to get some weird looks from the locals.

On the way home we stopped at Tammy's farm and got a brief tour of where she'd grown up. Then it was back to reality and the big city for us. Sad to leave the small town atmosphere, but very happy to be near a Timmies again!

I would also like to thank Jen Hanson for allowing me to use her photos of the trip on my blog. Thanks Jen!

Vampire Academy

Reading has always been my favorite escape from the pressures and stress of the real world. I can pull out a book and within minutes I'm in some far away land, away from all the troubles that come with living life.

One of my good friends, Caitlin Shale, recommended this book series Vampire Academy and I started reading and I was hooked! I finished the book in a few hours and the next day I was at Chapters buying the next two books in the series.

I love the book because it is so easy to get lost in their world. The world is a mix between real life and vampire fantasy. The characters have such qualities that you feel as if you know who they are, almost like they are people in your real life.

I don't want to give too much away about the book but I suggest everyone go out and read them. They are an easy read that doesn't involve much thinking, perfect for those stressful days where you want to escape from life for a while.

Here is the back of the book for all of you.

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires- the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa'a best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...

Their problems will make yours seem so small that the world seems like a better place after reading these books. Plus who doesn't love forbidden love and dangerous vampires? Go to Chapters and buy the books!!!

Facebook or Twitter???

Facebook or Twitter? That is the question. A question I have found people have many answers to. People seem to use both these social media sites for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways.

I am a Facebook girl. I love Facebook, after my e-mail it is the first thing I check.... I believe I may have an addiction. I use it to keep in contact with old friends, family that has moved away, to see pictures of ... well everything. I love the photos (I spend WAY too much time going through other people's photos...) and the status updates. I enjoy knowing what my friends are up to, it makes me feel like a part of their day even if they are hours and hours away. Facebook also makes inviting people to events so much easier! Long gone are the days of telephone calls and written invitations.

Me and Twitter don't get along quite so well. Probably mostly because I don't understand it. But I go on these types of websites to keep up with friends, I don't really care what businesses and celebrities are up to, I can find that out other ways.

So to find out what other people really use these sites for I came up with the brilliant idea of asking them!

I found that most of my friends are also Facebook people. (probably why we're friends) They use it in the same way I do, to stay in touch with people and to creep peoples profile pages. (Don't judge. You do it too!)

My friends who use Twitter like it because you get the "Status Updates" and you can find out famous people and companies are doing. You can also get your news from Twitter, which is not something so easily done on Facebook.

Facebook or Twitter? For me it is Facebook, always has and always will be. (It's not real until it's on Facebook) But for many people Twitter does serve a purpose.

So I ask one last time. Facebook or Twitter, which is for you?

Family Traditions: Superbowl Sunday!

Superbowl Sunday is a staple in Pitsanuk family life. How we celebrate changes from year to year but the sentiment is always the same.

As a family we always sit down together and cheer on our favorite team... I am usually highly out-numbered but I do have a tendency to win!

This year was a particularly exciting Superbowl as the New Orleans Saints took on the Indianapolis Colts and the Pitsanuk house was full of excited football fans.... well maybe just full of excited people.

Football may have been the excuse that brought us all together but the reasons were far more.

Food!

The amounts of food that were in my house that night could feed a small army.... or at least a hungry teenage boy... We had chili, veggies, pizza, chips, chili, dip, chili and did i mention chili. We still have a fridge full of the food, which works well for me because I don't have to actually cook anything I can just warm it up!

Booze!

It was the Superbowl... with a house full of adults... enough said.

Commercials!

Only the best part of the Superbowl!!! This year we had the American commercials playing on the TV. This year my I had a few favorite commercials.

Google.



Budweiser.



Doritos.



When anyone was out of the room for the commercials, we had people yelling that they were on and a stampede came into the family room to enjoy the commercials.

And of course the game!

Watching the Colts LOSE to the Saints was amazing!!!! The game itself was exciting and when you added the shots we were taking at each other, the excitement of watching the team I was cheering for win was awesome!

Looking forward to Superbowl Sunday next year when the Patriots are going to win!!!!

Sanity Saver: For the Love of Musicals

I went to Alive on Saturday night and was happily suprised when the live band came on and started to play Footloose. I am now a firm believer that all clubs should play at least one song from a musical everytime I'm there! This song made my night.

Enjoy!

I was... am one of those people who are happily caught in the middle of the romantic vampire craze that seems to be getting bigger by the second. For me it all started with Twilight.

My dear friend Megan spent hours telling me about the series and telling me that I would instantly fall in love with Edward. At this point I didn't even know who Edward was and honestly I wasn't quite sure I wanted to find out. Megan went out and bought me Twilight and it sat on my shelf for a good couple months. After constant pressuring I finally gave in and read to book.

The first thing I noticed was that the writing was a little childish but within about 10 pages, I was hooked. It became almost an addiction. I would stay up all night to read the book, I even brought it to a party and while everyone else sat and socalized I found a little corner and read my book.

Megan was right. I did fall in love with Edward, well as much as you can love a fictional vampire anyway, and as soon as I was finished the book I ran off to Chapters to buy New Moon and Eclipse. I read both of them just as quickly as the first. I loved the little world they put me in where love really did conquer all, even blood-thirsty vampires, werewolf best friends and keeping it all a secret.

When the movies came out I was so excited, but that was quickly followed by disappointment upon watching the first one. Lucky the books had such an effect on me that when New Moon came out this past November, I went and gave the mpvies another chance. New Moon wasn't the best movie i'd ever seen but it was much better then the first.

My love for romantic vampires had been rekindled. Then I happened to notice a new series on THE CW called The Vampire Diaries. The show became addictive very quickly, soon I was watching it every Thursday night. Then my friend Caitlin introduced me to the books, I wasn't going to read them but....

One day after a particularly good episode I decided I couldn't wait for a week to find out what was going to happen. I rushed down to Chapters and bought the first four books in the series. Now all I have to do is find the time in Crecomm to actually read these books.

Here is a little taste of the television show that inspired this blog.

Thanks for the Memories: Love in the Library

Sitting at one of the tables on the second floor of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba, I am hit with memory after memory. Most of the memories are great, some now make me sad but I'm really glad I got to experience them all.

It was at these tables that I met and made many new friends, that I learned to study and most notably it was at these tables where I really first fell in love.

Almost three years ago, when I was in my second year of university I found these tables but had no idea how much they would change my life. I was taking an Intro Stats course, and as the fact that I am currently in CreComm would explain it, was not doing well. Lucky for me I happened to have a friend who not only was good at Stats but was also willy to teach me, even though I am among the mathematically challenged.

We spent day after day studying and eventually I found myself looking forward to studying Stats and genuinely missing the days where he wasn't there. As luck would have it we eventually started dating and continued to meet in the library, to study together every chance we could.

Unfortunately as the years went on our lives changed and the study dates became rare, but that seemed to make them all the more special. Sadly as they became almost non-existent our relationship also fell apart.

Sitting here at these tables now, I truly miss the days where we could not wait to meet each other, even when it was only to study math. Still every time I hear someone pass by I look up to see if it's him. And sometimes when no one is around I can still see him walking towards me in his Senators cap, blue eyes glowing with excitement and the biggest smile so happy just to see me. Then I blink and I';m back to reality, sitting at these tables in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library, on my own. Thankful for the memories and to Elizabeth Dafoe for letting me fall in love.

His Perfect Package Packed a Pair of Pretty Pecks

Today's Sanity Saver is one of my long lost loves. When my sister and I were little... and by little I really mean we were still doing this five minutes ago... we would sing Disney songs when we felt tired, stressed, sad, mad, happy....

After not the greatest day today she came into my room singing a song from Disney's Hercules. My favorite Hercules song Zero to Hero. She made me forget about my crappy day and remember how fun and simple life was when you were little and sitting on the couch singing Disney songs. Thank you Lena!

Now I will share the song with you to make you smile and remember that life is good.... even when you don't know it.

In October Prime Minister Stephen Harper surprised everyone when he showed up on stage at a National Arts Centre Gala in Ottawa. Harper showed up on stage during what was supposed to be the intermission of the Gala, and joined by Yo Yo Ma and a few other musicians and together performed a rendition of The Beatles song, With A Little Help from my Friends.





This "event" was found shocking to some people due to the fact that Harper had made some unfavorable comments about musical galas, much like the one he was at. This "event" also came at a very opportune time for the Prime Minister, as only days later he called four federal by-elections.



This "event", I believe was a ploy to attract voters in the areas having a by-election because Harpers unfavorable attitude towards the Arts is partly blamed for the lack of Conservative voters in Quebec. The "event" worked well for Prime Minister Harper, his popularity went way up after the surprise appearance.

I think pseudo events, much like this one, are a fantastic PR strategy. They get people talking about your product/cause/client and word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to achieve free publicity. If people know about what you're trying to sell/inform them about, they are far more likely to care.

Remember the Sales Associates this Holiday Season

The snow has fallen, the trees are being decorated, Christmas shows are taking over the television, it is that time of the year again. I love the whole Christmas season... with one exception. Shoppers. (dun dun dun)

Being a slave in children's retail around Christmas means taking your sanity and will to live and checking it at the door. Here are a few things you shoppers should keep in mind next time you go to a store and deal with the people working there.

1. We are not there to make things difficult for you. We are trying our best to help everyone, much to your suprise we do not wake up in the morning and think about how we can ruin you day.

2. If we say we don't have it in the back, we really don't have it. Don't ask us if we are sure it's not there. If we've taken the time to go back and check and come up empty handed, we don't have it. We want you to buy it, why would we leave it in the back. Look around the store it is busy, other people have bought your item. Not our fault. I'm sure your daughter really wants it but there is nothing I can do for you, you should have shopped earlier.

3. Yes there is a line. You knew that when you walked into the store. There was a line last Christmas and there will be a line next Christmas. Suck it up and stand in line. And no you don't get to skip ahead because you are busy, you can wait in line like everybody else.

4. Gift Reciepts. When I ask if you need them and you say no, don't tell me after the transaction that you need them.

5. Just because it was on sale last week doesn't mean it will be on sale this week. Don't yell at me about it.

6. After you have just watched me fold an entire table of shirts, please, please don't unfold everyone. It will make me cry.

7. When returning, you get the same amount of money back that was spent on the item in the first place. Its not my fault you thought it was worth more.

8. You cannot barter the prices of the items with me. The price is on there for a reason, an dthat is the way it will stay, no matter how hard you try. I don't have the power to change it.

9. When debit and credit go down, I didn't do it. I would love for it to be working more then you know, and yelling at me about it is not going to fix it.

10. Yes the Christmas carols playing in the store are annoying. Just remember you get to leave the store, I'm stuck there for eight hours.

To all of the customers who don't complain, who understand that we are just doing our jobs, and who don't yell at me becauseit's five pm on Christmas eve, you didn't get all your presents and the mall is now closed. We, the poor sales associates, love you.

Just take the time to say "Have a nice day" and you can make our crazy day a little bit better. When you do your Christmas shopping, have a little respect for the sales associates, we probably want to be there about as much as you do.

Twitter.....

So today, after much protest and trying to put it off as long I could I was finally forced into joining the ever growing social media cult of... Twitter.
My PR insctuctor, Melanie, had the entire class join today and I must say its not quite as bad as I thought. I have been very carefully avoiding joining Twitter, but after being forced to join I have come to the conclusion that if I can ever actually understand it I may kind of like it.
A scray thought I know.

My first impressions were a mix of confusion and shock, however I did figure out how to change my background! I also was able to try to work my way around Twitter, but only because I had the help of my trusty "How To" paper! Thanks Melanie!

I hope that it will all become less confusing the more I experiment withthis whole Twitter thing, I guess this is a new adventure brought to me by CreComm.

I guess I'll just have to see how it goes....

A Real Life Hero

Joining the Armed Forces was never a question for Major Anthony Battad; it was in his blood. His grandfather served in the Second World War and he has lots of uncles in both the United States and the Canadian militaries. "It was also a way for me to get my education paid for, but most of all, a way for me to serve Canada," Battad says with pride.

Major Battad was deployed with 1 Canadian Field Hospital to Kandahar as part of the International Security Assistance Force for the first time in 2006. Battad has gone back every year since, for three months at a time. he is not scheduled to deploy again but "if I was told to go, I would. I don't question where my government sends me."

"It's always difficult being away, especially in a strange and dangerous place. We were very busy tending to the wounded in our hospital. We also took care of a lot of Afghan kids and civilians and got to travel to villages where we provided care. I got to know a lot of the local customs but it was still a difficult place to be." This last tour Battad wass in Kandahar over Christmas. "My daughters had a really hard time with it. My wife is an amazing, strong woman though, so there is never any worry on my part." Battad's favourite memories occurred on this tour. "I remember giving out candy at Christmas to all the kids who came to our camp from surrounding vilages. For a short time they forgot about the war around them, and they were just kids. Much like kids in Canada at Christmas. It was awesome."

The Canadian militery has been in Afghanistan since 2002. Many Canadians who have not been to Afghanistan wondeer if we still belong there and if we are helping, myself included. Battad is a firm believer that we are in fact doing more good then causing harm. "I think we are certainly helping the people of Afghanistan by building schools, providing security and providing needed medical care. If these changes are lasting, only time will tell."

"Remembrance Day for me is a reminder of the sacrifices people have made for our great country, not only the men and women of the Armed Forces, but also the men and women of the RCMP, the police forces and firefighters, etcetera. All the people who risk their lives, so we can live in a safe country. I have been all over the world, and I really do believe that our way of life, and the freedoms we enjoy are worth fighting for." Since Battad has returned from war his view on Remembrance Day has not really changed. "It just hits home for me a little more, since I've actually gone to war and lost friends." Battad normally goes to his daughters' school to participate in their ceremony, then on November 11 he takes his family to one of the services. "After the service, a few of us usually go to a Legion and have a drink with some of the older vets."

"Our war experience is different from the older vets in some ways, but in a lot of ways eerily similar. It just goes to show you that war sucks, no matter what generation."

Icelandic Love Poem

This poem is dedicated to my CW Professor at the U of M. Thanks for all the helpful feedback on it. Its also dedicated to... well you know who you are. Enjoy everyone!

Walking with the stars
sparkling ever as bright
the river reflecting in the glasses
that he wears hiding his feelings.
Hand in hand, step after step
their lives march ahead with time.
Has she been left behind?
Did she miss a step?
The man she now holds is a different man,
at times she still catches glimpses of his past.

In an ancient children's storybook,
the kind with princesses and magic,
is where she once lived with him.
He made her smile, believe all things were possible,
and made her feel safe-
she is still safe.
Her life changed the instant he walked in,
and has been changing ever since.

At all times she walks with the stars,
fascinated with what he hides behind the glasses.
Hand in hand, step after step
Aware that she'd remain there
regardless what time the pair were living in.
He will be the half that releases the grip.
Awaiting then, the pair will walk,
deeper and deeper, farther and farther
strengthening themselves, tied with desire.
He is she as I am you
And it shall remain as that.
Eg enn per

*Note from Sam: Eg enn per is Icelandic meaning me and you*

Trick-or-Treat

So Halloween is quickly approaching and I decided that with barely a week left it was time to finally figure out what Halloween costume I would be sporting this Halloween. Now I know it sounds silly but after just one year I had forgotten how much I hate buying a Halloween costume.

Reason #1: The Price

Buying a pre-made Halloween costume costs the most ridiculous amount of money, anywhere between $20 and $90, plus then you have to buy the accessories to go with the costume. In the picture the girl is all dressed up in all the items you need to make your costume perfect, but when you are actually holding the costume you quickly realize that everything but that little dress is sold separately. You almost need to take out a loan to buy this costume that you are only going to wear once, and only for a few hours at that.

Reason #2: The Line

Now this one is probably completely my fault. If I was smart I would either go during the day or earlier when the Halloween costumes first came out but I am a master procrastinator so this will never happen. Sadly it seems most of Winnipeg is like me and less then a week before Halloween we climb into our cars and drive out to the costume store. Party Stuff on Regent is my favorite; I go there every year, along with half the city... We go and look at those really small pictures on the wall then stand in line to tell that poor, underpaid worker what number and size we want, praying they still have it left. Then wait what seems like hours (actually only about 10 minutes) for then to find it in the back. Then you go up and down the crowded aisles to find all the necessary and the unnecessary-but-can't-live-without accessories to make our costume better then last year. We then look for the end of the cashier line, which wraps around the whole store... twice, cursing all these people for shopping the same day as you. No need to feel bad about this, they are all cursing you as well. After spending half your life in line you finally get out of the store, only to have to wait in line to leave the parking lot. It is at this point every year you tell yourself, Sam next year you will go early. And you believe it for about 5 minutes.

Reason #3: How Small Are These Costumes

Ok ladies, I have some news for you. You know who you are. Just because it is Halloween does not qualify as a good enough reason to wear a shirt for a dress or a top that shows everything from across the room. I know, I know that is pretty much all they sell these days. Maybe if you just look a little harder.... And to you people designing the costumes. Please, please use a little more fabric. For the prices you charge you can add a little more.

Now don't get me wrong. Really I love Halloween. It is one of my favorites, I mean free candy and getting to be whatever you want for a day, what's not to love. But costumes.... oh costumes.... you make me broke....

Happy Halloween Everyone!

This Thanksgiving I was thankful for....

This past weekend was one of my favourite weekends of the year. Thanksgiving weekend! I consider any reason to get together with friends and family and eat a HUGE amount of food, especially when its turkey, is a great thing. This year I was in charge of making dessert, so I decided, seeing as it’s Thanksgiving and all, to make some pies. Now I hate pumpkin pie, therefore I refused to make it. So after a long deliberation on yummy and not so yummy pies I decided on apple pie and lemon-meringue pie.

So my mom and me headed out to the grocery store to battle it out with the other shoppers for Thanksgiving Day cuisine. We managed to find everything and were so excited to get out of the busy Sobeys, both vowing to shop early but both knowing that was never going to happen. We finally made it home both alive only to find that we forgot to get the pie crust.

Now how in the world am I supposed to make my yummy pies with out the crust? I couldn’t come up with a way either; so back off to the store I went. Lucky for me I live only about two minutes from an Extra Foods, so there I headed… alone… I had no idea of what was about to happen…

So I’m walking in Extra Foods and all the way in the back corner is where they keep the pie crusts. I’m trying to make my way through the endless carts, hoping to make it out alive. Then I see it. The heavens open up and the angels start singing, it is the last box of pie crusts. The very last one.

I very happily open the freezer and grab the box, shamelessly doing my “I-got-the-last-pie-crusts” dance, and turn around to head for the checkout. This is the part where it starts getting messy. This old lady stops me and says, “I need those pie crusts”.

Now I’m thinking what in the world is this lady talking about. I must have had some weird look on my face as if I didn’t understand her so she repeated her previous comment as she grabs for the box I’m holding in my hands.

Now I’m standing in the aisle, pulling on one end of the box while the old lady is pulling on the other end.

“ I’m sorry but this is my box,” I said politely.

“But I need them”

“But these ones are mine”

“ There are no more”

“But I have this box, go find some somewhere else.”

“I want these ones”

At this point I am getting angry, and a little surprised at the grip this old lady has. But I manage to get the box out of her hand, almost falling to the ground, and book it to the check out with the old lady yelling stuff at me.

I walk home, pie crusts in hand, in total shock that I just had to fight and old lady for pie. But I will say those pies were pretty tasty! This Thanksgiving I was thankful for pie!

Buyer Beware

For our advertising class we were broken up into groups for a Buyer Beware project. My group decided to examine Planet Antares/ Wealth Builder seminar. We were sceptical when we first heard about this “business adventure” and thought it was worth looking into. We got lots of the information from the company itself, as John attended the seminar Planet Antares hosted. We noticed a lot of things wrong with this idea right away.

Things such as the idea of getting rich almost overnight, the fact that in the original material that they sent out to potential investors, an initial investment of $87,192 is expected and they do not give you very long to think the idea over. The company encourages you purchasing multiple machines for the get go and they recommend you maintain a secondary source of income.

We found by going out to possible venues for the vending machines that not many people use them anymore, and the locations with large enough traffic to potentially generate a profit already had contracts with vending companies. We found that on a Saturday during the peek hours at Cindy Klassen Recreational Complex the vending machines collected less then $10 in two hours. Taking the prices we found at Costco of products to fill the machines with 1 time cost an average of $137. Also once Planet Antares has you money for the vending machines they leave you on your own to deal with everything, from finding a location to filling the machines to repairing vandalism on the machines.

We also noticed that it was hard to find any complaints on the Internet about the company, which we found shocking. So we looked into them and found out that Planet Antares has the sites they control at the beginning of the search engines. It takes until the second page before you get feedback from other sources, and the feedback is not very pretty.

As a group we decided that Planet Antares is a scam and we hope that after reading this people will stop falling into it and other scams like this which are after your money and then leave you to pick up the pieces.