Blog Clog
Sorry for the test again...The end of my last blog seems to have eaten itself and it's editing feature. So in the interest of going ot sleep somtime soon I'll finish it here. There was music from LOTR and Star Wars Ep. 1, which was kind of funny. It seemed really surreal having driven there in a huge pink Cadillac.

Other than that the weekend was rather uneventful. I got to go swimming again, which was nice. Germany lost the world cup, which wasn’t as nice. That's all. Bed Now.

HRH

Only in the Czech Republic

I had an interesting weekend. This morning I was actually so relaxed that raising my arms to put them on the lunch table was a whole lot of work. Anyway, M and I wend out to his father’s house about 35 km outside of Prague. You really don’t have to travel far to feel out of the city. It was a nice time. M and his Dad played a lot of Chess. I got through a book of Herodotus and had some beefsteak tar tar. Not too shabby. While I was reading The Histories, M commented that it must be really dull reading and doubted the vaildity of Herodotus being "the father of history," as only M could. He did, smartly say, that it should be required reading for everyone. Which it incidentally was for me. I find it really interesting. I find the exploriation and expalination of the known world circa 460 B.C.E. really captivating. Far more interesting than most modern fiction (unless it has aliens or wizards). Part of me would love to be the kind of academic that could quote interesting sections of The Histories at really poignant moments. Unfortunately I only have that span of knowledge and understanding for the Star Wars universe. Someone from Queen's should hunt me down, slap me and take my degree away.

Back to my story. Yesterday afternoon we went to a near by renaissance fair in M’s father’s pink 1957 Cadillac. Needless to say it gets some interesting looks in the country streets of the Czech Republic. It's so fun to ride in. Especially when M's Dad is playing some Elvis music. Sitting in the back of that car you can understand why so many parents were afraid of their kids getting into trouble. I’m almost six feet tall and I could easily lie down back there. In fact I fell asleep on the drive back from the fair (I think it was the sangria). These huge old American cars or nothing like the small cars of today. There’s, like, no room for maneuvering if the two parties involved are anything but small. Of course, I’m not talking from experience, merely speculation. (Tall girls + Japanese cars = something usually very ungraceful and unproductive).

Anyway, we went to this fair where they were doing a recreation of a medieval battle. M’s dad said there were like 6 guys last year and while it wasn’t a huge production, they fought well. This year, it was like a huge battle with like 3 factions. There were cannons and horses and lots of guys in armor crossing a river. It was cool. I'm not sure who won, but M pointed out that it was unlikely that they had someone doing play-by-play in the 12th Century. Also they wouldn't have had a full musical score from Lord of the Rings and

Return of the Clones

No, I'm not having a Star Wars mix up. I just got word from the Movie Guy at TPP that one theatre in Prague has the subtitled version of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of The Clones for a little while. I'm so very excited. I wanted to see it again a couple of weeks ago, but was saddened to read that I could only find dubbed copies everywhere. This way I can see it one last time (before DVD) and not have to hope that it's still in theatres in Canada when I go home to visit.

I had to go back to the Irish Pub where I worked for 6 months when I first arrived in Prague, today. (Bad sentance). I was putting up fliers for the Rugby tournament we're hosting next week. We host sports tournaments as fundraisers for our education programs. I went to all of the Irish pubs in the center of Prague and could feel myself breaking out in hives. It's so strange to look back on that part of my past. I made the best of it, but working in that environment really made me miserable. I'm not the type of person who likes hanging out in a bar. I've never been like that. So it's amazing that I worked at one for so long.

HRH

Phasing out

I'm sitting here in my office while my co-workers are doing phone interviews with candidates for this scholarship program we offer. I'm just sitting here listening and for a moment or two, was phasing out of reality as this candidate was really dull, until he started talking about government involvement in tourism. That woke me up and made me a grumpy capitalist.

As Kari and M have said in their Blogs today, we all went to see The Morgan State University Choir, from Maryland (what the?), last night. I'm not religious, but there's something very fun about the music. It's a shame that it's all about this god guy. They finished with my favourite gospel song (not like I know a lot of them), "O happy day." I felt a little silly about singing along, but the harmonies and melodies are so lovely that I just had to. Its the same thing that makes me sing christmas carols.

HRH

Sick Blog

This is mostly a test because it seems that my blog as choked on itself. Please get better blog... Where else can I be as vain?

HRH

How it all smells

I'm sure it comes as no suprise to anyone that I'm a perfume whore. Given the whole obsession with make-up and being rather picky about how things smell it isn't shocking that I have 8 perfumes I wear on a rotating basis. M has cut me off from buying any more, stating that "no one needs that many different perfumes." Which may be true, but there is literally a pantheon of scents out there.

I'd thought that I'd found my personal scent last year when I discovered Gucci Rush, which is what I wear most days and have gone through serious amounts of in the last year. However, the honeymoon was soon over. I still love it and use it with glee, but it's not the scent that embodies my being every day. Somedays, I feel really preppy. Like I'm toitally together and capable of reworking the world to my liking. Those days I wear Romance by Ralph Lauren. (I should totally do marketing for a cosmetics company). Days when I'm feeling light and tropical (yes pale girls can feel tropical) I wear Miabai, by Chopard. They also make really nice diamonds. On special occasions with M I wear another Chopard scent called Casmir. He really loves it. I like it, and I love that he loves it. I think I'm a little allergic to it though because it always makes me sneeze when I wear it. A small price to pay for smelling good for your man.

M's family gave me this Bob Mackie scent called Perhaps. It's not something I'd have picked myself as it's a really adult fragrance and a lot sweeter than I usually wear. I generally like what they call spicy scents. Still, if I'm going into a situation where I need to be really adlut and posh, but all the etiquette training to the test, it's a perfect smell.

Finally, my wonderful Chanel. I've been wearing Chanel No. 5 since I was 14. I still wear it almost as much as I wear Rush. I think it's the scent I'll wear for most of my life. Finally, I wear Allure, also by Chanel. I bought it when I was one my way to Prague for the first time, and as such always think of it as my Prague smell (which is much better than remembering how Prague actually smells...).

Okay, sorry to all the readers for that really dull post... It's just stuff I think about, and maybe it's strange that I think about perfume as much as I do, but I'm not the only one (cosmetic producers aside). Everyone should read Perfume by Patrick Suskind. It's incredible for anyone who has an appreiciation for smell and a facsination with serial killers. I don't really like the killers, but I suffered them gladly for all the smell stuff.

Perhaps another time I'll subject everyone to my theories about smell and attraction. Needless to say M smells very good.

HRH

Drawing a blank

So I was walking to work today, will all these great ideas of what I was going to write in my Blog, and once I got here, sitting in front of my cute blue imac, my brain was suddenly empty. Feet shuffled, a dark barked somewhere... then silence. I was thinking about writing something about hair products, or maybe talking about the WorldCom scandal, but it didn't seem right.

More later,
HRH

Funny because it's true... and cats

I always love it when people who are far away reach out of the void of the past, tap you on the shoulder and say "yo, I'm here." I had one of these pleasant experiences today when a fellow GW alumnus contacted me to tell me that he was reading MY blog and that he was enjoying it. Why I blushed like a southern belle on prom night! Anyway, he has a humour website, The Big Jewel, that I would be a fool for not sending everyone to, You'll find it added to my links, just after I get this post out. Pretty much everyone I'm close to will find this week's article funny. I know I did. I'll have much more to say on this topic (not in a funny way) when I get back from the World Bank water workshop in Budapest and next Novemeber during the Prague NATO summit. With so much time for rants, why bother now.

As many of you know, M and I have a small menagerie of pets. A big grey cat named Zeus and an also big ferret named Oscar (Oscar the Hutt I call him in jest). People say that pets often reflect the personalities of their masters, which can't actually be true, but makes for fun dinner conversation. As Zeus is my pet (in that I bought him and brought him into M and I's relationship, otherwise he is effectively ours) I will try and compare pet and owner.

Pet: Takes frequent baths. Bathes using own tounge.
Master: Also takes frequent baths. Uses water and soap (Not going there otherwise).
Pet: Requires a great deal of grooming.
Master: Also.
Pet:If pet does not receive the desired amount of attention and affection, will resort to meowing.
Master:If master does not recieve the desired amount of attention and affection, will resort to sulking.
Pet:Very picky eater.
Master:Also.
Pet:Will lash out with claws and hisses if in an unpleasant situation.
Master:Also.
Pet:Has been known to spend entire days in bed sleeping.
Master:Also.
Pet:Does everything on it's own terms.
Master:Also.

HRH

Strengths & Weaknesses

If you have look at Mike's blog today you'll see why I'm breaking out in a Math rash. He's figuring out his optimal mortgage rate, which is a really noble pursiut, but invovles a great deal of algebra. Something I don't know. I hate saying that, but it's true. I'm a math retard. There's no reason why I should be, but I am. I hated it so much in highschool. It was like pulling teeth. I remember my Finite teacher asking me what my grades were in other classes, suggesting that maybe I wasn't cut out for the advance stream. He could only shake his head when I showed him my transcript full of A's in most every subject except for Math and Physics.

Thinking of highschool academics gives me the stomach flip flops. My friends at the time were all totally psycho about grades. It was all that mattered and they were nasty about it. Like rude. One should never feel ashamed of their intelliegence and without a doubt be proud of how much they know and the skills that they have. But using said possession of brains and skills as a weapon to cover up for social insecurities seems to be a contradicition of having brains. It's a sore spot for me.

HRH

Other things...

Having read my blog yesterday, Kari pointed out that M.A.C. could stand for M and Chelsea, so provided our relationship stands the tests of time, that's monogrammed for me too.

Mike and I had this great debate yesterday, becuase he was trying to figure out how I could be interested in the philosophy of Ayn Rand and be interested in Wicca and all that earthy magic type stuff. You see, you can't embrace a philosophy that rejects mysticism and be a mystic. It's like they say in Atlas, "if you find a contradiction, then check your premises." So here's the answer. For a little over 2 years now I have returned to my intital feelings about faith. I believe in myself and my actions. I have rejected mysticism. It has been a long time coming. I hadn't even performed any rites for about 2 years before I made my decision. So my days of dabbling in the black arts were brief but interesting, and now I know all kinds of party tricks.

HRH

Woo! Guy

I actually made a note in my phone to remember to write about this guy. Last night M and I went to see The Frames at Akropolis. They're this really talented band, that M loves and makes a point of seeing them every time they're in Prague. I've seen them twice now, and while they're not my genre of choice, they're undeniably talented and a great show. So anyway, we're a the show and standing right beside us is the Woo! guy. You know the guy I'm talking about. He goes Woo! at inappropriate moments, usually when you're trying to listen really hard to something the singer is telling you. Sometimes it's approprite to Woo! at the band. Like in a response, but this fellow (who also seemed to have come to the show to talk to this buddys about how great the show is - which is great dude, but I'm trying to listen to the band sing a really nice slow song and your yapping is tainting the mood) was just givng out random Woo!s. No rhyme or reason. There's one at every concert. And in some venues you never really notice. Like 2 weeks ago when I saw Jamiroquai at Peagas Arena, I'm sure there were hoards of Woo! guys, but I couldn't hear much above the bowel shaking bass. The Frames were a much more intimate show, and hence Woo! guy was rather conspicuous. M was pretty much impervious to him, as he is to most things irritating. It's a very cool skill to have. It's like irritating things and people just aren't there.

Concerts are great places to people watch. When Wendy and I went to Jamiroquai, we spent some time talking to eachother, but agreed that we were missing a fantastic people watching experience. In some cases it's really cool to see people really lose their inhibitions, let go and have a great time. They're the kind of people that make you feel happy just watching them. I strive to be that person, but conditions have to be pretty much perfect for me to really get down, and if you know me, you know that conditions are rarely perfect. The opposite of the happy people are the "too cool" people. There are some people who simply don't dance. Which is fine. Everyone is free to express themselves as they see fit. Most people who don't dance bob their head or tap their toe. It's clear that they are absorbing the music around them. But there are people who seem to stand still in a form of protest against the music. I don't get them. Finally there are the people who simply are or go nuts. It's like the music has possessed them with the spirits of 500 interpretive dancers. There's one at every show and you can't begrudge them or mock them as they're having such a good time and are clearly lost in the musical experience. However, it's hard to watch without shaking your head. Like last night there was "Tai Chi" guy who, I swear to god, looked like he was doing some sort of disco/martial arts hybrid. I was occasionally hypnotized by his dancing and stopped concentrating on the music. One of the darndest things I've seen in awhile.

HRH

Last post today I swear...

Wendy just passed this on to me in reference to our Saturday night shin-dig.

This is my creed:
Happiness is the only good;
Reason the only torch;
Justice the only worship;
Humanity the only religion;
and Love the only priest.

Robert G. Ingersoll
1833-1899

She says that it sounds like her in many ways, which I'm pretty sure explains why I like her so much. We have further shin-digs planned. Musical nights (which presently features movies that are dealing with the Nazis. Kari has never seen The Sound Of Music and Swing Kids was filmed in Prague. I've been informed that I'm being unfairly critical of a movie about people trying to dance their way out of Nazism. I'm sure you're baffled too.), Make-over nights, Mexican nights, Boys can be so irritating nights (sure to invovle some tacos and tequila) and whatever other reasons we can think of to get together and celebrate our collective greatness.

HRH

Some thoughts about work

During our evening of girl talk and philosophy, Kari made a really good point about work and how she feels badly that she doesn't have enough work to fill the entire 9 to 5 of her day. (Well more like 11 to 6 or 8 to 3). And I understand that. When I first started working, I got so much done right away and people were so amazed at my productivity, but then I ran out of tasks and became somewhat like the rest. My job is such that it get busy in spurts. The spring and fall are always insanely busy, but the summer and winter make me feel useless. I know it all balances out somewhere, but I feel odd.

Needless to say, I'm experiencing some serious down time. And it's just making me lazy. When I'm really busy and the adrenaline in pumping I'm happily having 10 hour days and running around at a break-neck speed. Am I a weirdo? Well, yes, but can I work effectively in the working world. My boss seems really happy with my performance, so I guess this is all my problem with me. I just loved doing so much and being able to use so many different skills. It was such a rush. Hopefully my blah downtime won't adversely affect my chances of doing that again.

Most of you know that one of my side-jobs is being a freelance lifestyle columnist. It appears that the section I'm writing for is undergoing a revamp. This is good, as the survival topic has pretty much been exhausted. Rumour has it that the section is now going to be divided into different topics - Health & Fitness, Kids stuff, Shopping and (ta da) Beauty. I'm going to go out on a limb and hope that I'll be the author of many of these and do a dance of joy that I can FINALLY write about that which I love. Beauty. New products on the local market, spas, salons, you name it. Sometimes I think this is what I was born to do If someone was ever destined to work for In Style it was me. Of course I can't afford the clothes in there at present, but I use the beauty bible well.

You should see my palm pilot. It has a whole memo category devoted to beauty - new products I want to try are divided into categories by brand name, inventories of what I have so that I don't duplicate when shopping, a wish list (which is going to be a big part of my Xmas list this year) and then holiday notes for entertaining. Beauty isn't just about making yourself beautiful, but also making your immediate environment look and feel beautiful too. Then there's my super binder, where I've collected printout's from the web, torn out pages from magazines with things I'd like to remember (usually outfits) and instructions for make-up application, hair styles and personal grooming. The binder is also filled with printout's from Martha Stewart on-line with all kinds of housekeeping and cleaning tips. I'm a monster with these things and I have SO much fun with it.

Sure this stuff isn't for everyone, and people look at me like a nut when I get talking about it. It's a passion. My boss Kelly just started laughing at me when I started explaining the Alpha Hydroxy Acid phenomenon. She was laughing in kind of a "why on earth to you know this, and of course you would know this because you know things like this" way. My close friends have figured out that I'm like an idiot savant when it comes to dealing with beauty issues. If I had the resources, I could help women and men feel better about their appearance and not feel overwhelmed by products and silliness. I know that not everyone loves this stuff as I do, and in fact finds it irritating beyond belief (like the other women in my family). So I do the leg work for them and give them the solutions they're looking for without the fuss.

Okay, so I've clearly talked about this way too long. It seriously excites me, so sometimes I get a little out of hand. If you, the reader, have any beauty questions email me and I'll help you fix it. It would be a great pleasure. Otherwise, here are some links I highly recommend.

In Style - Check out the beauty 123 section or steal this look (I'd love to be as cool at Nataile Portman and have a lipstick inspired by me and then actually use said lipstick in a Star Wars movie. There is a MAC lipstick named Chelsea, but I'm certain that it was inspired by the arty/Goth scene in Chelsea London and all the Chelsea Girls, not me. It looked okay when I wore it, but not so much my style, or at least not my style since I gave up the princess o' darkness look).

M.A.C. - Possibly the best make-up line in the world and Canadian to boot. I started using this stuff when I was about 14 and in terms of foundations, eyeshadows and everything lip wise have not found a superior line.

These companies are hands down the best for skin care. Clinique for normal or combination skin or if you're a guy. Mario Badescu from NYC is one of the best for problem or sensitive skin. Clarins is possibly the master for older or aging skin. Their hand cream can work miracles. And finally Kehils , again for most skin types. I'm looking forward to getting to Holt Renfrew in Toronto where they sell Kehils. Apparently their shampoos and lip balm are to die for.

Finally, Chanel. I've been bonkers for this company since I was a teen. Luxurious and rich, their products make me squeal with glee each time I use them. I honestly don't think I would want to live without their eyeliner and the smell of their lipstick is one of my fondest memories of my adolescence.

I know this will sound silly, but I generally try and buy cosmetics from companies that start with the letter C. Of course if there's a great product like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream or Lancome Defencilis Mascara, then I'll buy in. I guess I'm just very lucky that some of my favourite lines start with C. The reason I do this? Everything is instantly monogrammed. I noticed this years ago when I was still using Cover Girl products and was like, "hey, those are my initials. Of course I don;t use Cover Girl anymore as it's generally as good as it costs and I'm a brand snob.

Another great link is Gloss which is like an on-line make-up super store. Perhaps tomorrow we'll talk about brushes.

Okay, done now.

HRH

It's raining, it's pouring

So today, I'm wearing pants. Not something to alert the media about, but it does mean that the temperature has dropped enough for me to be able to do this. The sky is cloudy and grey. I woke up to the sound of rain drops and was just so happy. It's a pleasant 20 degrees today. Something I can deal with.

Looking at the news today, it seems to be a good thing that I'm not back in Canada today. There's a G8 meeting going on in Alberta, and of course there are anti-globalization protesters taking our their anger at their parents on elected officials. No, I'm not going to go on a rant about this movement. I'm sure I'll have lots to say about it in Novemeber when the NATO summit hits Prague. I just had such a good weekend, where I was able to confirm many of my convictions and then seeing this as the frist thing on the news was a bit of a bummer.

In other news, my gracious best friend Mike, who has forgiven me for wishing him a happy birthday 2 days late, has just bought property for the first time. Pretty grown up. It's something I'd love to do someday, but it seems far far off in the distant future. He got a condo in Toronto, which looks like a pretty sweet deal. I'm proud of him. He's all growed up now. Which means that M may have one of those "we have no assets" days. I think we're doing very well on our own terms. Houses and mortgages will come. I'm still impressed when I have a surplus at the end of the month after paying all the bills and contributing to my savings. (won't have one this month...boo). I'm easily impressed and I'm still trying to settle into this adult thing. Mike has embraced the financial responsibilties of adulthood very well. And I'm totally impressed by it, but I just still see myself in this limbo. An adult in most ways, but still shocked when I do adult things.

HRH

Shame, shame, shame...

Not an emotion I really have a lot, but I'm feeling badly as I forgot to call my best friend Mike on his 26th birthday. It was on Thursday, and he was sweet enough to think that I was just waiting for the weekend to call and wish him the best on his yearly celebration of himself. I remembered that June 20th had come and gone on June 22nd. How much do I suck? I'll just have to have a party for him when I'm at home visiting...

I remembered that I was the worst best friend ever, when I was having a wonderful dinner with my friends Kari and Wendy. We'd all just finished reading Altas Shrugged, and have all found the book life altering. Wendy and I had both read it before and in fact both consider it our favourite book. It was a nice occassion. We dressed up nicely, had sekt, great food provided by the super-Wendy and conversed about the jackassness of guys (it happens to the best of them) and the merits of greatness, loving your life and the books of Ayn Rand. We also sang a great number of musicals. Truly a magical night. The moon was huge too. We then went out to a couple of cocktail bars, found M on Old Town Square doing some writing and brought him along with us. It was great. I had that same feeling when the four of us went to see Episode II. It was the feeling of "I'm doing something I'm enjoying so much with my favourite people." It would have been perfect if I could have had Mike there too, but I think the only time I'm going to have all of my favourite people in the same place will be when I get married.

I'm working on getting Kari to move to Toronto with us. She was even looking a journalism jobs at The Globe and Mail. I was seriously touched. I think she could work anywhere she wants now, so all I have to do is teach her how to spell Canadian style and we're all set. I wouldn't be against living in the US, but it's really hard to get work there, and part of me doesn't want to live in a country that could have been so great. Canada is my home and I've accepted that it's a Social Democracy and there's not a lot that can be done to fix that. The US could have been a great captialist state, but is instead turning into something more like Canada, and less a place where great people can be free to do great things without government interference and taxation. Wendy says that I'm the most American Canadian she's ever met. She's invited me to come and help her defend her consititution when she finishes law school, which I think is pretty cool.

Back on my "yesterday was such an awsome day" kick. I got to swim in a pool yesterday. M's father had us out to his house in the country and we brought Zeus with us, so he could run around. Things actually went pretty well and I think in 2 or three more visits he'll be comfortable. M's Dad and Step-Mom were really helpful with Zeus. M's dad has an above ground pool, that's the perfect size for a kid. Dominik, M's 6 year old half brother, has a ball in it, as he can comfortably touch bottom. Regardless of the depth issues, I had a great time in the pool. Dominik and I played for a very long time and it reminded me of the joys of summer. Laughing and playing in the water, being surrounded by trees with cats playing in the grass near by. It was awsome. M's family really showed us a great time. Great food too.

Finally, we're back in the city today and it was 27 degrees at 9 am this morning. Gah. I'm MELLLLTING (in the style of the wicked witch of the west....).

HRH

Ick...

By the flaming pants of christ, it's way too hot to be alive. Oh and happy summer to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere. Yesterday was the longest day of the year. I never understand why people actually embrace this day. Aren't days long enough as it is? You see, I love my life and I enjoy and embrace every day I get up, but I really hate the sun. I understand why we need it. Photosynthesis, vitamin D, warmth, but does it have to be so unrelenting all the time. I'm just still ticked off that I'm in a heat wave in a land locked country.

HRH

The jinx of my support

No I'm not talking about an ill fitting bra. I have this jinx where sports teams I support lose. It didn't always seem this way. I loved the Bulls for many years and they won a great many games and championships. Aside from that, it seems that my chosen team usually faces the sharp stabbing pain of defeat instead of the joy and exaultation of winning. Notable expections in the last year being the Canadian Olympic team and Bayern Munich. I think the whole curse of my support started in 1993, when I was cheering for Michigan in the NCAA basketball finals. This was the year of the Fab Five, Chris Weber, Jalen Rose and three other freshmen who were starters on a NCAA division 1 team. They were in the final against Duke in the years for Christian Latner, and Chris Weber called for a time out they didn't have in the dying minutes of the game. It had been a great game too, but the ensuing technical foul made a win for Michigan impossible.

Oh yeah, my point. England lost this morning. As I was leaving for work Rivaldo (one of the Brazilians who only goes by one name... haven't sorted out if it's his first or last), scored the equalizing goal. I guess I didn't hear a great deal of singing and cheering from the Irish pub just down the street from the office so I should have known that our colonizers lost. So now I'm left cheering for the USA, who starts playing about now. I'm also inclined to cheer for Germany and I'm more German than I am American, and German cars are way cooler than US ones... but then an American invented the car... either way I win.

We have one television at work and it's been moved into the production office so that all the Americans (there are no German's working here) can watch the game. I'm not sure if I'm going to watch, but just listen for the cheers.

Continuing with my television spree, I watched the MTV movie awards last night. Saw Kelly Osbourne lip synching (would Ozzy approve?), SMG actually singing, Jack Black being.... well Jack Black and feeling badly for the youth of North America. I'm certain that NA is doomed after watching 2 hours of badly written sex jokes interspersed with even worse acting. I'm, of course, not talking about SMG and Black, but all the presenters, the only ones of whom were interesting to watch were Mike Myers, Nataile Portman & Ewan McGreggor. The only acceptance speech I really thought was cute was Reese Witherspoon. Maybe I'm just getting old and crotchety (I don't really even know what that world means). Still I'm glad I saw it. I love awards shows. I always have and it really betrays my otherwise cool existence (you can believe that if you don't read all the nerdy Star Wars stuff below). I must give big kudos to Miguel for being such a devout taper for me. That's friendship... a friend who understands and supports your silly fascinations.

HRH

It's never going to be a good day when you get the grey screen of death...

I came into work this morning to write my daily blog, and make just adjustments to my template. As I clicked on the save changes button, my cute little blue iMac crashed in its usual way. When I attempted to restart, I didn't see the smiling computer, but instead a grey screen. Even for grey it was an espeically boring screen. I attempted to restart again, with no luck. I decided to talk to the IT guy, but found him looking anxiously at his Powerbook, trying to politely tell me that he'll be awhile as the website doesn't work (This is a big problem as a newspaper without a webiste is sorely out of date, as I'm sure it will be online again soon you can check it out here). So I returned to my office and turned off the grey screen, unplugged the computer, plugged it in again and restarted. Lo and behold, there was my happy computer face, which was followed by the wonderful Mac OS 9.2 startup screen. The panic of being disconnected from the outside world abated and everything was fine.

Now that that's out of the way... The predicted break in the heat wave has been postponed until tomorrow. Apparently the rain was needed somewhere else. Yesterday it was something like 33 degrees in the shade. All I want is a lake... I engaged in another viewing spree last night. Four episodes of Angel. M was very happy as he digs the show far more than I do. Not much to say about it. It was nice to watch it, but it really confirmed my preference to Buffy. Maybe it's a chick thing, or maybe there's just way too much suffering on Angel.

In other news, I'm beginning my hunt for a Czech version of the Attack of the Clones poster. I figure since I saw it here, I should always remember that by displaying the poster in Czech. I don't think it will be too hard to get an Episode 1 poster for my collection, but I want that in English anyway. If you want to see some of your favourite movie poster with Czech names and titles head here and have a look at the nuttiness that is Czech. BTW, if anyone is wondering how my Czech is coming, let's just say I understand a great deal, but get the things that I want and I need through and elaborate series of mimes. It's not such an effective technique on the phone...

HRH

A quick addition.

If you dash over to Miguel's blog, you'll find a link to a proposal for a brand new WTC. A big and klunky structure, the new design hopes to serve as a new center and as a memorial. I'm a wholehearted proponent of rebuliding, though I like the fictional center depicted in this painting that was finished a week or so before the attack on the WTC. M and I have a print of this.

HRH

Ticked right off...

M and I received the season finales in the mail yesterday, and promtly went off on a 4 hour viewing spree. Considering the unrelenting heat, there wasn't much else to do. It's kind of nice having new TV to watch this late in season. We made our way through Friends and Buffy (thanks to M for letting me have my way!). Friends was quite funny, though the baby stuff gave me the total wiggins. People do that to their body on purpose? I'm not to thrilled about the multi-proposal cliff hanger. Rachel just had a baby, give the girl a moment or two to rest!

Buffy. Sigh, Buffy. Decent finale, but nothing can really compare to last year. That was devestating in such a good way. Also, doing the Sarah McL. song thing again was a touch cheese, but only in the respect that nothing can compare to the use of "Full Of Grace" at the end of Season 2.

Things I liked: Dawn and Buffy fighting together. Thank you to the writers for finally letting Dawn grow a little. Anya, everything about Anya. I loved the "I'm blond now." comment to Giles. Loved Giles. Always do. I squealed with glee when he arrived. Jonathan and Andrew using Star Wars references in common speech. It's always exciting for a nerd to hear their language spoken. Buffy's appreciation for life. One of the things that has made me enjoy this season less has been the issues she's been dealing with. I love Buffy as a hero, but the whole idea of a hero who does not love his/her life is a condradiction. Of course I realize that was the point of showing it. How does a hero deal with this contradiction? I just found watching the character deal with that really painful, hence uninteresting. So yay for loving life and being a hero!

Things I didn't like: Xander. But that's nothing new. The whole "world saved by a carpenter" thing was a little stomach turning as was Xander's usual self-pitying rant about how he's failed everyone. Blah, blah. It's great that he got Willow back and kudos for him for being a friend to her. I think the look of admiration Anya had for him when Giles told her that it was Xander who'd saved the day was well deserved. But he still has a long way to go.

Next is Spike. Just stake the Ass already. I'm am so irritated about this soul crap. Of course one can't evaluate what that means until we find out if this means that he's William again, or yet another Vampire with a soul. How original... Why does Joss always try to make characters as evil as possible and then create a situation where they're stripped of accountability for their actions? It was interesting with Angel, because he's looking for redemption for his crimes. Spike? Can they write this story twice? Needless to say, there will be suffering for him now that he has a soul. Maybe Joss and Co. are trying to expose the hypocrisy of people like me, who liked the character of Angel and his quest for redemption, but who despise Spike as he was introduced to the show as an evil character? Same principles of wrong doing, but from a different angle. It would be like them to do something like that.

I was going to go on a rant about moral principles and the like, but I've chilled some. I was going to vow that if Spike and Buffy got together again I'd quit watching the show (I said that to M last night), but I'm just going to wait and see what they do. They're aware of what's happened and they're (they being the writers etc) aware of the dangers of having Buffy forgive Spike for what he tried to do. Rather than foam at the mouth over it, I'm just going to wait and see. It's not like this is my battle, it's just a TV show.

In other news, my friend Wendy just lent me a book for my upcoming trip to Budapest. She has this thing for buying books in different langauges. Like getting Peter Rabbit in Japanese. So she just came into my office and lent me the Star Wars Episode 1 encyclopedia in Hungarian. I may not be able to order food, but I will be able to say "May the force be with you." Useful I'm sure. I'm can now learn about Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Lovag (Knight) and his Fenykardok (light saber). Translations are very fun things.

HRH

The heat hasn't broken yet, and I'm getting tired of being slimy. Summer is such an unproductive time when you don't have air conditioning. I find myself standing around in banks and hotels trying to cool down. I spent about 15 minutes at the river today, watching a swan try to stay cool in the heat. If it weren't for all the pollution in the river, I might have jumped in with it. Oh how I miss my Lake Ontario and the frosty climate of my parents house. I'm so much happier when it's chilly. Further proof of my oddity.

I'm going to miss the World Cup when it's done. It's been really nice getting up in the morning and watching it until it's time to walk to work. I'm not really sure who to cheer for now. I had Ireland in a sweepstakes pool, but they were outsed by Spain. M is cheering for Germany. I'm sure much to the chagrin of his heritage. It makes sense of course, it's a lot like me cheering for the US. The big country next door. And his EUFA (sp?) team is Bayern. So not such a strech. I think I'll support the USA and England. Not that I have any particular connection to either country (save my name form the English), but I can at least sing along with their national anthems. Shallow I know, but it was either that or uniform colours...

Things are looking good. Hot, but good. I signed on to the Star Wars message board yesterday and suddenly didn't feel like the biggest nerd ever. That said, I did feel an incredible urge to post like crazy and discuss with my own kind. I held back in the hope that I may not totally lose my grip on reality. I've resolved that I have to spend more time talking to actual people tha people on computers this week. Could be tough. On a sadder note, it seems that Attack of the Clones is no longer playing in Prague with Czech subtitles. Which means that all the copies here are dubbed. I was hoping to see it again in theatres, but I don't think I can handle it in Czech. Hopefuly it will still be somewhere when I get back to Canada in July. Crossing fingers...

HRH

It begins. I can only hope there's a spell checker somewhere... otherwise... my biggest sorrys to the readers.

Today was one of those greviously hot days in Prague. Work was okay, but I'm feeling kind of useless. Matej went out with Evan after work so was left to feed myself. Something I'm totally no good at. I'm a brilliant and talented person, but if I learned to cook that would mean that there's nothing I can do, which would make me pretty anti-social. i must keep this flaw to stay in touch with society. (Pretty good rationalization for being lazy, no?) Back to point...Thanks to a pasta place on the way home, I've been relieved of the responsibility.

I've been thinking about Star Wars a lot recently, as I've become emersed in the story and lore again. I hope I don't turn into the ferocious nerd I've been in the past. I'm looking forward to getting back to Kingston where I can have a look through all my books and comics (told you...nerd). I was, however, informed last night that comics and novelizations of movies are "cheesy." This said to me by a man who has a Sandman action figure. Anyway, I'm excited. I'm also suprised at how much I remember from the uber-obsessed years. I guess things like that never really leave your head.

Kari just came back form the states, toting a soon to be discontinued Clinique lipstick and the Buffy season finale. Mike's tape has yet to arrive, so we'll see which version I watch first. It's all about different commercials. I like the US ones because they're glossy and cute, but then they're mixed in with stupid things like "Karl's world of head-cheese" type commercials, which really make me fear returning to North America. The Canadians ones have accents that I'm used to and that quirky Canadian charm that no literate person seems to be able to pin down. Knowing me, I'll watch them both... a lot.

HRH

Hello and Welcome

(I am totally cheating with this bio page, as it is often updated, and was not written in 2002, but 2005. Eventually I will make a custom page, but for now...)

Hello there. My name is Chelsea and this is my Web site.

I was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1976. I grew up in a house made of wood and glass on the waterfront and to this day am ill at ease if I can’t be near water. I feel most natural under water. Handy thing that I scuba dive.

I was raised to be strong and capable. My mother taught me how to love art, to love people, how to pick your battles and how to thrive. My father taught me how to solve problems, how to be fearless and how shoot a basketball.

Music has always been part of my life. I began playing the piano at the age of three, but found my instrument (the double bass) at the age of 11. While I love the act of singing, I am an introvert so that career never had much hope. If I could have shaped my destiny I would have been a dancer. But being almost six feet tall and born with less than ideal joints means it remains a favourite fantasy.

Brief highlights of my youth include playing in several orchestras as double bass player extraordinare, playing varsity basketball for 4 years, driving a massive 1983 stationwagon that my parents and I covered in surfing and snowboarding stickers, and being fairly unashamed of my nerdly leanings, while being totally obsessed with my hair. These were the years when my fascination/obsession with makeup and beauty began.

Life got really interesting when I started school at Queen’s University in Kingston. I began that phase of life studying Psychology, and then decided that the people in the Film Studies program were nicer. In film school I worked in a record store, wore a lot of eyeliner and read a lot of Hobbes. It’s good to be a cliché at least once in your life. I dabbled in Art History and spent more time than I should have in the offices of the student humour paper Golden Words.

Golden Words is where my pseudonym comes from. When you’re writing somewhat offensive humour on a University Campus, you don’t always want to use your real name. Her Highnessness is what Han Solo calls Princess Leia in a hallway in the rebel base on Hoth. I’ve always been a Star Wars geek and a bit of a princess so when I had to choose a name, it was the only choice.

Mid way through University I melted down and that’s when I really got to know who I am. The most important thing that I learned from being depressed was that I’m pretty awesome. I realize that sounds really strange, but learning to love me was what made the difference between swimming and sinking. When I forget that and get down on myself things can get dark and dramatic. As I’ve gotten older I’ve fallen into the pit of self-loathing less and less. This may be part of why each year of my life is better than the last.

During University I made several important attachments; I added Mike (or as I call him Miguel) to my very short list of best friends and learned, for better or for worse, what it is like to be known; I began my time with my cat Zeus, who has been the most precious thing in my world since I brought him home from the humane society; and I met the love of my life, M, who has been the lover and companion I have been looking far as long as I’ve been aware of such things. I could talk about how much I love him and how wonderful he is for pages and pages, yet I can sum him up in a word. Perfect.

I enjoyed Kingston until the age of 23, when my beloved M wisked Zeus and I away to Prague, Czech Republic a day before graduation. We lived in Prague for three years. I studied art and culture at the NYU campus there, learned that sometimes survival is more important that dignity when I was a waitress at an Irish pub, taught English, tried to teach Czech teens about the importance of sustainable development and civics and had the wonderful opportunity of sharing my experience of learning how to live my life in a new country and culture with the English speakers of the city in a weekly newspaper column. When I wasn’t working one of my many jobs, I spent many of my days in cafés by myself or riding around the city on the trams, just so I could see it all.

I also ate a lot of fried cheese and drank lakes worth of mineral water.

I started this site in the summer of 2002, a little more than half way through my eastern European adventure. It was initially intended to keep friends around the world in the loop as to my comings and goings (very handy during the floods of that summer) and to reflect on my experiences living overseas. Then we moved back to Canada in 2003. I found a great job, a great home and re-discovered the company of my friends. The Royal Word had become another way of communicating for me, like talking, so I’ve stuck with it.

Between Christmas and New Year 2005 M took me down to New York city and pulled off the best marriage proposal ever. We follwed that up with a wedding that exceeded my wildest dreams. I got a snazzy fanstastic husband and a shiny new last name. You can see the evidence of all the good times here on the site of our most awesome photographer Varia.

On this site you will find what I’m up to, see a lot of photos of my cat, many photos of me, photos of trees and my garden. You will also find a lot of writing about my experiences with all things relating to beauty and personal grooming. Please enjoy.

HRH