I'm afraid of Canadians... I'm afraid of the world

First read this article (I'm sorry it's from the National Post, but the new Globe Site crashes this computer so I can't read it online anymore. Which makes me really mad at the Globe, Apple and Microsoft).

A liberal MP does it again. Great idea. Condemn a nation for being hateful and wanting to go to war by drumming up hostility, while being snotty enough to call the US names while bragging about how "peaceful" Canada is. In the same fecking statement! Does anyone else see the hypocrisy here? If you don't want to go to war, fine, that's your decision to make and I can respect that. As an MP I can only hope that you are representing the view of your constitutents as well as your own, but something tells me that Mississauga doesn't hate Americans. Do not pretend like you're the "peacekeepers of the world" whist calling your economic meal ticket and long-time friendly neighbour a bunch of "bastards." In any other country in the world if a member of the government said that they "hate" an actual nation of people, my god, imagine all the hullabaloo. I know it's done and I know that people in the western world sneer at those who do it for not being able to get along and being so "backwards". So much for our cultural sensitivity. Makes me SO proud of my government.

So let's review everyone. Saying that you hate a nation of people and making mass generalizations is a bad thing. There's an awful lot of it going on on both sides of this issue and I'm going to have to start doleing out spankings here soon. You can't take the moral high ground if you're out there calling nations names. If you dislike the policies of a nation, say so, but so it in an intelligent fashion. What Carolyn Parrish has done is childish and is just amplifiing the problems between the two nations. I used to be so proud of how well Canada and the US got along.

Getting off my soap box, I'm fairly sure that on some occaisions I'm deserving of a generalization spanking myself. I do try to deal with everyone as an individual (which get's really challenging when you're dealing with international politics I tell you), but I have been known to make fairly disparaging comments about Communists, hippies, religious fanatics and people who wear dresses with jeans. But I'm trying to be better and keep dealing with everyone one on one. Except for those dresses and jeans people. I mean, make up your mind already.

HRH

Today's Game

It's a question people ask in magazines and in "man on the street interviews"...What's in your purse?. It's supposed to be a shallow window to the soul and I figured what with all the quiz taking an introspection as of late I'd add this to the fray. Do it yourself, make a list (an honest list) of what's in your purse, briefcase or *shudder* pockets and ask yourself why you carry what you do. I'm sorry to say that I don't carry a towel with me wherever I go, but I do think that my clie could pass for a Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.

To preface, I have 3 jobs, am often on the run, sometimes having to interview people or meet with people and not getting home until late. So I have to be prepared. Oh, and I'm anal too. Also, I didn't used to be one of those women who always had a pen on them. One day, on a whim, I put on in my purse and that was the very day M asked me to lend him a pen as I "seemed like the type of girl who'd always have a pen on them." I'm convinced it added to my appeal and have become one of those girls who always has a pen on them.

Anyway, my purse today, and most work days is a black leather over the shoulder bag with a taupe plaid lining (my mom gave it to me, she rocks) and many wonderful compartments. I adore it. Contrary to what it's holding it's not so huge and heavy... though it may explain why my neck and shoulders are such a mess.

Front pocket: Matching purple pen and pencil, black Sharpie, Sky blue Nokia 3310 Mobile phone, silver business card holder with (*gasp*) business cards, matches from The Museum of Communism, tiny Mag-lite on a string, half a pack of Trident Raspberry Twist gum, Sony ECM-DS70P stereo microphone, halogen light key chain with office key on it and house keys on cheesy heart keychain.

Front pocket 2: City map of Prague, Sony PEG-T665C Clie, passport.

Inner purse section 1: Prada wallet (black), Sony Net Mini Disc Walkman/Recorder MZ-N707 (in carrying case) and MDR-G72 wrap-around headphones (both sliver) and 8 mixed mini-discs.

Inner purse section 2: Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien and a clear blue polyfile A5 envelope (containing: the Spusa winter movie night schedule, 3 Massive Attack 100th window promo postcards, a letter I have to mail for M, an A6 lined notepad, the reciept for the massage I had today and a blank withdrawl slip).

Inner purse section 3: A Sterile Epinephrine Auto-Injector, a purse sized wooden hair-brush, Dove Protective Care Hand Balm (you SO wanted me to write blam, didn't you), black sunglasses in black leather glasses case and a pink Clinique make-up bag (contents: MAC Studio Fix NC20, MAC concealer N1, Chanel eyeliner in brun with sharpener, small tube of Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion, Labello rose lip BLAM, Nivea Deo Compact (the MOST useful thing to have in your purse, esp. in the summer), Body shop lip gloss in Nemo, Clinique soft-pressed powder blusher in Warm Rasin, Naturisitcs sweet-lips lip gloss in Raspberry, Lancome Miracle perfume stick, Clinique Long-pretty lashes in black, ahem... tampons, toothpicks, daytime cold medication, allergy pills and one precious anti-anxiety pill.)

Inner purse pocket: Extra battery holder, Aveda brilliant lip shine and L'Occitane lip BLAM in Wild Rose.

HRH

Busting a Gut

Last night I finished the most recent delivery of North American TV, graciously sent overseas by the wonderful Mike. And frankly, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Why was a guffawing my guts out you ask? Clone High, blessed wonderful Clone High. I didn't think that something that good could come from MTV... but lo and behold. It's totally insane, and works on so many levels, but I loved it. It's really my kind of humour, absurd, critical and quick. I almost cried I was laughing so hard during the Marylin Manson food pyramid song.

Ohh I needed that as my $^#&*% computer is still demonically posessed.

HRH

Return of the Mac

Nope, not another computer blog. Just a shot out to the mighty Mel G (from the old Spice Girl days) in Vancouver. Someone that Kari and Wendy should seek out (she's also a Libra!). Very much super-girl material. I met Melissa at University and while we shared less than 2 years together, we did enjoy many drives to mall (on our way to work -- we were both living cliches. She a film student working at a coffee shop and me, also a flim student, working at a record store. You could have made an angsty Gen Y movie about us, heavily sountracked with Radiohead -- and delivering GW's around campus), movie nights, boy talks and one high speed car accident while listening to Tori. Ahh those were the days...

Anyway, I'm happy to be back in touch with her and wanted to let her know that while she waits for my next letter. It's nice that Gryffen is still all kitteny. Give him some rubs for me.

HRH

$(&%^$@)*&#

I don't like to think of myself as a potty mouth. I make an effort not to swear, but I'm one of those people who if surrounded by people who swear will turn into a bit of a foul mouthed sailor given a bit of time. One of my ex-boyfriends could swear a blue streak. It was like every second word. When he left I felt like a dark cloud had been lifted from my vocabulary. As though I suddenly I had manners again once free of his influence.

Sometimes I curse. I do. But everytime it happens I feel unnatural. Like it's not right for me, kind of like polka dots. I feel like the really straight laced kid at a party trying a cigarette for the first time. Not really doing it because he wants to, but because he thinks it's what's done. It's not like I think it's wrong to swear (while I do think it's wrong to smoke). Somtimes you just have to say things like that to express or empahsize certian things. I've just never felt natural doing that. Maybe it's a Canadian thing? I don't know.

Today, I think I am at a point where I think I would sound pretty natural cursing. Random devils in cyberspace have sent me several emails that continue to crash my antique computer. Spam makes cursing feel just right. So totally right. I really would love to get my hands on one of those &^#*&$ &*#$'s that send out spam and waste my time. I've been fighting with this #&* #**^@@# $*%#*#& email for almost 2 hours now. Who are the $#(@*& morons that click through on these emails and make them a viable advertising tool. I want**&#@$% names here people so I can hunt these people down like the porn starved, small penised morons that they are and smash their computers open on their large no doubt greivously sloped skulls. #*&$ers.

Ahh, much better.

HRH

Totally (un)intentional

It's been pointed out to me by several people that in my beauty posts I've repeatedly referred to lip BALM as lip BLAM. You should all know by know that I'm a little dyslexic, that I type much faster than I think and that I cannot proof read my own work (evil eyes). That said, I'd like to offically change lip balm to lip blam (if I ever create my own make-up line that's what I'm calling it). Think of it this way, you have dry, boring lips... put some of this stuff on and "BLAM" gorgeous.

I think it's totally brilliant.

HRH

More from the Mode

After spending more than an hour on this site I can now tell everyone what a computer program thinks of me, having asked me questions that sometimes do no apply. I've decided to say that if the appraisal of me is flattering, then the program works perfectly, otherwise it's fatally flawed.

My values...
You appear to have exceptionally high ethical standards when compared with those around you. It also seems that you typically manage to adhere to those ideals and expect that others do the same. Whether it's admitting what you've done wrong, returning things that aren't rightfully yours, or holding yourself back from snooping into others' private things, you work to uphold the highest integrity. These standards can lead you to bring out the best in yourself and others. However, they may also mean that the people around you let you down from time to time when they conduct themselves in ways you find dishonest.

Must have fooled the test engine for body image...
Your body is a work of art, and you're damn proud of it! You exude body confidence. Pat yourself on the back because that's a rarity in today's world. You've managed to overlook the pressure that society and the media impose on women. That's a huge feat, and we commend you for that. It is getting more and more difficult for a woman to look in the mirror and think, "I'm hot stuff." Whether it's an incredible metabolism or a terrific outlook, your healthy body image allows you to have your cake and eat it too! Congratulations, you've successfully avoided falling prey to the body trap! The thought of bathing suit season probably makes you excited for summer, rather than nauseous in anticipation. And chances are that you look in the mirror without pinching and cringing. Keep in mind, however, that it's normal to be occasionally self-critical. And it's natural for a woman to want to look her best. As long as you keep a healthy perspective, you're in great shape!

They got this right...
Chel, your theme song is Groove is in the Heart!

My inner rock-star is...
Sade! Ooooh lady, you've got it going on. The rock star part of you is all Sade. Sleek, sexy, and untouchable, you are the ultimate smooth operator.

My Zodiac sign should have been...
Libra. You are one polished and elegant individual! And as a Libra, you require romance in your life. You prize beauty in others, and the stars predict that you are quite a piece of eye-candy yourself. But beware: If an emphasis on physical appearance is taken too far, you'll be viewed as judgmental and somewhat superficial. A passion for balance and order makes your symbol a set of scales. You crave harmony and are extremely diplomatic. As an air sign, you are a great communicator and are, therefore, quite relationship-savvy. Although you have an easygoing and optimistic personality, you can be narcissistic at times. Libras are all about sophistication and are revered for their unmatched charm.

...which works out well since I am a Libra.

Oh and the leg shaking and figeting are explained at last
You're a Mover 'n' Shaker. You're full of nervous energy — the more stressed you feel, the more you feel the urge to move. Taking a run or doing some jumping jacks is a great way to burn off physical tension instead of letting it build up. Or you may find that your body kicks into high gear automatically — fidgeting and foot tapping are often signs of internalized, otherwise-unexpressed stress.

HRH

Sort this one out Dr. Freud

Friday night I had some odd dreams. I'd like to think it was because I had Indian food for dinner and my delicate belly was at odds with it, but the fact that I remember most of the dreams so vividly (something odd for me) makes me think it was one of those subconcious anxiety type things.

I had a dream that as some sort of punishment (guess I have some guilt about something) I was sent back in time 5 years. I could remember the 5 years of my life that I had lived, but no one else could. And I wa scared. I love the now. I really do. I wouldn't change a thing and in my dream I was terrified because I wanted to be sure that I would get to the now, which would mean I would have to go through those 5 years making all the same mistakes -- already having learned the lessons from them -- so I could get to now.

Mental.

HRH

Like we didn't already know

Sarcasm
Oh yeah, you're really funny. (Actually you are, but you're so sarcastic that it's hard to tell when you're joking.) You mean what you say, but almost never say exactly what you mean. In fact you usually say the exact opposite. For instance, if your friend is wearing an ugly watch, you might tell them, "I wanted a watch like that once, but I got the wrong Happy Meal." Yep, there's a slight edge to your humor, but all you are really doing is telling it like it is, only like it's not.

Whether you're roasting a friend or playing social critic, your deadpan delivery and dry cynicism go a long way to expressing your true feelings...and making people laugh along the way.

From emode.com

HRH

Further notes

Having looked at yesterday's post, I realized that it may have come off sounding like I don't love my home country and that I'm moving to the US because I didn't like the budget. If I move to the US, it will because I get a job in my desired feild, that's all. I would really love to live in a place where I actually had the right to work and didn't have to ask permission to do so. That said, I'd love Canada more if it wasn't run by Morons and Capitan Slimey. I guess I made the moving to the US comment because when you live in a country where you have no voting rights, it's easier not to be as emotionally involved in politics. As I said to a friend today "I would think better of it (the budget) if it was done in the best interest of Canada. Which it wasn't. It was done in the interest of JC's ego." Grrrrr.

HRH

Wow, am I ever happy I have no income in Canada or A brief political interlude

Morons, Morons, Morons. Like I needed another reason to move to the States. Just before he FINALLY gets the hell out of office, JC has decided to plunge the country into debt and unrealistic exepectations. Way to go jackass. I guess it clear who was the voice of reason within the Liberal party. After spending years balancing the budget and actually creating a surplus, Paul Martin is outsed as finanace minister and the Liberal Remnant just starts throwing money at everything. Money they don't have, nor have made contingencies to get. Morons!

HRH

Props to the "Smack"

I know I should have included Lip Smacker in my listing, as I used to be just like Kari with a tube of Red Raspberry in every purse, but I found that I was spending more time eating it off my lips and reapplying than just letting it be. It also has a tendency (on me) to get all chunky and turn white, which is less than attractive. I still have one in my desk drawer at work and one in my weekend purse (Mint Chocolate Chip, sent to me by Mike -- how cool it is that my best guy friend sends me lip blam.).

One wonderful lip blam I wanted to list, but didn't have in my bag yesterday (everything else I was able to write from memory) was l'Occitane tinted blam in the variety "Wild Rose." Laura gave this to me for Christmas and I'm in love. Smells good, adds a hint of tint (he he) and doesn't do that freaky chunky white thing.

Ohhh, I watched 4.5 hours of American television yesterday. Somehow breathing feels easier today.

HRH

Chelsea's Best Beauty Buys Blog

In light of my fall out with the most recent In Style Best Beauty Buys article, I figured I should put my money where I mouth is. This isn't to say that I don't agree with In Style on many counts, but I think they made some mistakes (it's hard saying that...). Some things on their list I've never had access to (but someday I will get my chance at Bobbi Brown, Stila and Trish McEvoy). Also there are some product categories I haven't had any experience with (though I will someday when I'm making people up professionally), like foundations for dark or dry skin, products for curly hair, etc. Sorry. So I'm going to tell it like it is, or at least tell it like I would if I were making the call.

:::Hair:::

Best Shampoo
Bumble and Bumble. Hands down the best. Pick up some of the Sunday shampoo as well for weekly clarifying.

Best Conditioner
Aveda Brilliant Conditioner. Makes hair feel so soft. Only use 2 times a week to avoid weighing down hair.

Best colour amplfiying Shampoo
The folks at Aveda know what they're doing. Back in the days when I used to colour my hair, using their colour shampoos I could punch up or tone down my colour. For bright blond try Blue Mulva, for light brown or to chill out some overly blond highlights get some Clove, redheads or those who wish to enhance their red should wash with Madder Root and to darken your dark slap some Black Mulva on your head. The shampoos are slightly drying so be sure to use a conditioning treatment at least once a week.

Best Inexpensive Shampoo & Conditioner
You should all know this by now. Pantene (Green for sleek hair, Purple for Body - the Blue is way too heavy)

Best Styling Product
Thermasilk styling mouse (so wanted to write moose), maximum hold.

Best Hair Spray (natural hold)
Clinique natural hold hairspray. Keeps things in order without helmet head. Best for styles with movement. The smell won't choke you either (don't go inhaling it on purpose silly).

Best Shine Product
Redken gloss on. A light finishing product that adds shine without weight.

Best Anti-stink-Get-Another-Good-Day-Out-of-Your-Hair Product
Aveda Brilliant damage control. Spray a little on your hair to extend your hair one day further. Be sparing. Use a little more and blow dry to boost blow out. Smells SO good.

Best Brush
I haven't been able to get my hands on a Mason Pearson Brush (someday) but so far the best brush I've known was made by Aveda (Paddle Brush). Durable bristles, soothing on the scalp, nice finish. Worth all $50 dollars.

Best Curlers
Con-air hot rollers with foam. Great shape, no pain, really light. You have no idea how happy I will be to see my curlers when I unpack all my things in storage.

:::Skin:::

Best Cleanser (for oily skin)
Cetaphil. Dermatologist Recommended, nice price, ugly bottle. Runner up: Clinique cleansing bar, comes in 4 varieties from sensitive to dry. Hypoallergenic too!

Best Toner (for oily skin)
Can you tell I'm an advocate of the 3-step? Seriously though Clinique Toner is simple and effective. Smells awful, but does the job. Also comes in serval intensities.

Best Moisturizer (for oily skin)
Clinique Dramatically Different. I use the oil free version, which helps. It's light and the company claims that a bottle is sold every 4 mintues somewhere in the world.

Best Blemish Killer
Mario Badescu Pink Lotion. Note that it only works if you don't pick. Leave the evil be, put on the pink stuff and watch it vanish overnight. Love this stuff.

Best Eye Cream
Neutrogena Healthy Skin eye cream with AHA. Great for getting those starting wrinkles. Can be used under make up, works best if patted on instead of rubbed in.

Best Anti-wrinkle Night Cream
La Prarie. Better for older skins. Only availble in Europe. Very pricey. Full of fish eggs.

Best Anti-wrinkle Night Cream you can afford
Stop your grousing, you can use Biotherme night cream.

Best Eye Make-up Remover
Chamomile Eye Make-up Remover from The Body Shop. Super gentle and effective.

Best Make-up Remover
Nivea Make-up remover. Was introduced to this by M's stepmother. Gentle, leaves no residue and easy on the wallet.

Best Body Lotion
Sometimes it's the simple things that are best. A big ol' bottle of Lubriderm will keep you soft through even the driest of winter months.

Best Hand Cream
It could be that the smell makes me think of my childhood and playing in my mother's garden, but I think more than that it's my very soft hands. I love Mario Badescu's Hand Creme with Vitamin E.

Best Foot Cream
I've spent my whole dry and cracked, nasty footed life looking for this product. Time I used to have to spend exfoliating and pumicing my feet can now be spent reading, eating or saving the world as I have discovered Dr. Sholl's Foot Softening Lotion. Use it nightly and enjoy your happy feet.

:::Lips:::

Best Lipstick
Chanel. This could be a personal bias as MAC has more shades and is pretty damn good too. There's just something so extravagant about the smell and feeling of Chanel lipsticks. Makes you feel beautiful.

Best Lipliner
MAC. Everyone raves about the Spice lipliner. Going through my liners the other day I found that of my two MAC liners, nither were Spice, but both are fantastic.

Best Lipgloss
MAC Lipglass. Super shiny, but very sticky. Great on it's own or over colour.

Most universally flattering shade
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It's light and it looks different, but good on everyone I've seen it wearing it.

Best Lip Blam
Such a hard choice to make, as I'm a bit of a lip blam junkie. Pratically speaking it would be Labello. For a touch of colour, pick up the Cherry or Rose varieties and enhance the natural look. To keeps looking and feeling supple, also try Aveda Lip Saver. Pricey at over $8 a tube, but total luxury for your lips. Guys can use it too and not feel like their masculinity is threatened.

:::Eyes:::

Best Eye Liner
Hands down, without a doubt leaving everyone in it's wake is Chanel Eye Definer. I've been asked by friends, people on the street, assistants at the dentist's office what I use on my eyes. Can be put on thick to look like liquid or light to be natural. More than worth every penny. Truly intense colour from a pencil and it comes with its own adorable sharpener.

Best Mascara
The debate of the ages. If there's one thing I collect almost as much as lip blam it's mascara. There are several products worthy of mention. Unless you're a total mascara hound your best bet it to buy Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. The formula is great, and it's price won't make you cringe when you have to throw it out after two months (yes, that's right after two months. Eye infections... no fun). If you're a fiend like me, try one of these: L'Oreal Intensifque (basically the same forumla as Great Lash with a much better brush  - try the black it's fabu), MAC Pro Lash (dramatic lashy goodness, but put it on with care, can clump if you're clumsy and it takes a little while to get off) and my favourite Lancome Flextencils (long, curly, great brush, goes on really smoothly, makes me look good -- I like that).

Best Eye Shadow
MAC has the best colours. Ranging from natural to totally insane, (Why I bought bright green eyeshadow I'll never know, but it is an amazing colour none the less) these shadows are easy to work with and last like you wish crushes did.

Best Brow Pencil
If you've seen my brows you'll know that I don't actually use brow pencil, so I feel like a bit of a fraud giving advice on this one. However, having been around several browless wonders it seems that Maybelline Brow Definer (comes in a red pencil) is the way to go.

Best Eyelash Curler
These things freak most people out, myself included. I'm more inclined to spend more on a curling mascara than use an eyelash curler. That said, I do own one from Revlonand it has never really hurt me. Thank you Mr. Eyelash curler.

:::Face:::

Best Foundation for Oily Pale Skin
I'm actually off foundation for awhile. I realized a ways back, that when I get older and my skin starts to pigment and get all freaky, I'll be slathering the stuff on every day. So until then, I'm a strictly concealer and pressed power (to get that silly shine out of the way) kind of girl. I'm going to let my youthful radience shine through until it's only my state of mine.  However, I still have to attend "events" where ful make-up is de rigeur, so on those days I use and love MAC Studio Fix It's a powder, it's a cream, it's a compact... it's everything really.

Best Pressed Powder
Chanel Pressed Power kills the shine, lets that which is good about your skin come through, feels light and has a really classic case (which conveniently has the letter C on it...).

Best Concealer
If you ever want to see a young woman freak out and act like a junkie in desperate need of a fix, come into my home and take my little tubs of MAC concealer away from me. Then you'll see what hysterical really is. On my list of needs, it's right below food some days. Use your 4th finger to apply under the eyes, nose and lips, then use a concealer brush to manage spots and discolouration.

Best Highlighting Stick
If you're going the foundation route, you'll need to use a highlighting stick to give your face some dynamics. Make-up is meant to look like your face, not like you're a bad painting. Full foundation requires that you highlight some areas so that when light hits your face you look normal and not oddly monotone. So go out and buy a NARS highlighting stick. Now.

Best Bush
If we're talking powder blush and I think we're talking power blush, we should talk about MAC powder blush. Of course, I'd rather talk about cream blush, which I'm currenly all "Yay" for as not only it is great blush, but in a pinch you can use it on your lips, sparingly on your eyes and, of course, on your cheeks. You should carry some Clarin's Multi-Blush in your emergency kit. You'll thank me for it later.

Best Brushes
I'm putting this in the face category. If you've got $250 to invest, get yourself to MAC and pick up some brushes. Like any project, this first thing you need are the right tools. The basic brushes to have at your fingertips are a lip/concealer brush, an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, an eyebrow brush/eyelash comb and a big soft loose power brush. A cheaper set that I've had some sucess with you is from The Body Shop, but stay away from the eyebrow brush/lash comb. It has a habit of shedding, falling apart and generally pissing me off.

:::Nails:::

Best Nail Polish
Maybe it's all the amazing colours, how it goes on and stays on so well or maybe it's the totally fantastic names (last time I was buying I picked up "It's my Prague-ative" and "Red Red Rhine") but OPI is simply the best nail polish out there.

Best Nail Polish Colour That I'm currently Obsessed With
From the Chanel Spring collection, it's an intense hot pink called Kabuki. Perfect for giving some life to the toes.

Best Nail Polish Remover
Cutex. It's really that simple.

Best Nail File
It's called a manicurist. Go see one.



As I'm always trying to learn more about beauty products, if you have had any "Oh wow" experiences or have a favourite product of your own, click on the "me" button above and tell me about it.

HRH

Some conclusions

Well, I've been thinking long and hard and have finally come to my own conclusions about the impending war. I'm not going to go into them here, as I like to think of my blog as a happy place and not a politcal place. And frankly, I'm just sick of thinking and talking about it. But I just thought I should let you know that I've made a decision. So now you know.

HRH

Morning math

1 imac + 3 open IE5 windows + Sarah McLaughlan's song "Ice Cream" = crash...

Have tested this theory 3 times now. It's eerie. Also odd is the fact that the new Globe & Mail site also crashes this computer. Evil

HRH

All things Czech and musical

This past weekend M and I got our culture on. It all began on Friday night, when we had press passes to see the new Janek Ledesky musical Galileo. It was, well, interesting and the seats in the theatre were really comfortable, so it made it a bit easier to stomach the lack of acting talent on the stage. I had an interesting take on it, not understanding a lot of the words, I was really reliant on the props, singing and dancing. The language barrier really didn't work in my favour, as I lost all willing suspension of disbelief and sat there thinking "don't these people look stupid dancing with telescopes." The songs weren't very catchy (save one, but once M explained what the song was about I liked it a whole lot less), and it was really silly to use modern rock songs in a historial piece without giving it any sort of context. It was, however, neat to see some Czech TV personalities on stage and in the audience. One of the joys of living in a small country. Technically the show was really interesting. They used a revolve fairly well, and had a great skrim/projection thing going on. All in all I have to say that I was glad that it was free.

Saturday night, (I only saw half of it) we watched a Czech musical on TV, by a man who's name escapes me, about the building of the tower of Babel. Being a peice about the biblical creation of languages, the show had a very tribal feeling to it. I was able to understand the gist of it fairly well, but even if I hadn't I would have been happily entertained by the staging, costuming, singing and really great choreography. It's called (fittingly enough) Bablyon. If you ever find yourself in Brno (sounds like the beginning of a country song) and it's on, get a ticket. I don't think it will disappoint.

Finally, last night we saw an interesting collective creation peice called The Labryinth of the world. You can read a preview piece here, written by someone you might know. While I entered the show thinking I really wasn't going to like it (given my aversion to all things clown), I ended up having a good time. The show was enjoyable and the performances were good. Once I let go of the idea of trying to understand all of the languages being spoken (I had the English part down, got most of the French, some of the Czech, some of the German and none of the Slovak or the Serbo-Croat or Hungarian (couldn't really tell what it was) I really started to get it. It was also interesting to hear the reactions of the audience to different languages. Like the Slovaks would laugh at the Slovak parts, the English speakers to the English, etc. It was nice that some things were universally funny.

We're trying to get all the culture we can while we can still get our hands on press passes and all things complimentary. I imagine when we return to the new world, we'll also have to return to the paying ticket line. Indeed, we will have to have a moment of silence for all the comps we'll no longer have access to.*sniff*

HRH

So much to say

To begin with, there is no way I'm going to be in a chorus line with Honza. He's going to make me look fat and I bet looks cuter than I do in pink. That aside, I'm totally up for the Singin' In The Rain sing and dance a-long, so long as I get to be the girl in the green flapper dress in the "Broadway Melody" sequence. My legs were ment for it. Oh, oh! Can we use the wires to do the "Smack my Bitch Up" scene from Charlie's Angels? And we'd need horses, Orcs and swords for this party too.

While we're singing and dancing our way through movie history, I would also have to train M to dance like Rolf from The Sound of Music so we can sing "Sixteen going on Seventeen" and do the Gazebo dance squence (I would be SO cute in that dress). Then I would don some rollerskates and work my way through some of the better parts of Xanadu. Throw on some black and do my best "Cool Rider" from Grease 2 and then someone would have to animate me so I could do Cindarella and Beauty and the Beast.

Of course the movie party wouldn't be right without a good lightsaber battle...

In light of Wendy's musical extravaganza movie idea, I feel compelled to tell all of you about my plan for a Once more with feeling sing-a-long party (this means that Wendy has to become familiar with the episode... I leave that in your capable hands Kari). M and I have been working our way through the song book that Mike and I gave eachother for Christmas (how cool is that) on guitar and piano, while I've been trying to determine what parts would suit the voices of my dear friends that share my love of OMWF.

In all honestly, I have the whole thing pretty much planned (from costumes to drinks), but have one major hitch. You see, all the people needed to make this dream a reality live all over the world. I'm doing my part to remedy this by moving back to North America, thereby getting all the key players on the same continent. Then I just have to get myself to Toronto, get Kari and Wendy and Jon to Toronto and it's magic time.

You'll all know when I'm about to pull this thing off when you recieve your scripts, singing parts and CDs in the mail. It's not about doing it perfectly, but about having a hell of a lot of fun.

HRH

Tram adventure

I do this thing where if I have the time I ride the tram to the end of the line, just to see what's there. Does that make me a transit geek? Perhaps. Or maybe it's a way to seeing the whole city while making the investment of a metro pass just that bit sweeter. Anyway, I had some time today, so I took a tram adventure.

Today's adventure took me out to the housing projects of Repy. Ick is all I can say. Tha way there had a couple of highlights... the Motol forest and that part of the track where it felt like the tram driver had gone off-road. That was exciting. It's s beautiful day in Prague, but a little chilly for walking, so it was just right for taking in the sunny sights from the tram. The way to Repy was rather pleasant (off-roading aside). I was in a good place mentally. The ride had been pleasant as I shared the car with people who were quiet and left we totally alone.

The ride back, however, was enough to make me want to blow out the damn about Prague and wash the whole city away. Loud people who had to shout at eachother when standing mere centimeteres apart, children sitting behind me that pulled my hair reapeatedly, kicked my chair and had an all and out hissy fit when one of their balloons popped because they were squeezing it too hard. I had NO sympathy. Why are kids so ya ya over balloons anyway?

Anyway, my relaxed vibe was ended, reminding me to keep my tram adventures to weekends and to avoid housing projects.

HRH

Good luck

I wrote this long and ranty post yesterday about language and people who are too lazy or insecure to communicate, with a couple of not-so-vauge cultural slags that Blogger kindly ate before I had a chance to make an ass of myself all over the Internet. Sometimes the glitches work in your favour. As the post vanished, I become clear headed and less angry at the rude man who had cut me off repeatedly on the phone and deemed it un-blog worthy. Also, no doubt, keeping my relationship with Czechs, the French and most of North America nicely in tact.

Not much news to report otherwise. Am moving offices today, hopefully to somewhere quieter (yay!). Oh yes, I did have something to pass on. In Style has released their annual Best Beauty Buys list online. I am happy to report that I own many of the products on the list (obviously not the ones for dark, dry skin or for curly hair), and now have some new and exciting additions to my wish list. I see a trip to Sephora in my future. I was pleased with most of what I saw, but oddly enough there were some products I didn't agree with them on. There were some things that I found to be better than what they suggested *gasp*. Could this be the beginning of the end for In Style and myself? Say it ain't so.

HRH

Out of the loop

Maybe I'm not right person to be upset about commercials, as I haven't seen one in English for over a month. I think it's pretty cool that KZJ is doing T-Mobile spots. I just don't get all this "A-list" crap that's tossed around, as most of the people on the "A-list" do voice overs for many American commericials (Gene Hackman comes to mind) or they're doing commercials for products in other countries (Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna). So if American eyes don't see it, then they're not hypocrites? Or better yet, it's okay for a serious actress to be doing commercials so long as she's selling cosmetics? I just don't get it, and it ticks me off some. This isn't to say that a lot of these celebrity endorsed commericals aren't awful (I hear the Celine Dion Crysler ad is horrific), but hate the ad not the actor.

Stefi and Andre are still pimping T-mobile over here, and at least they make sense. Czech commercials... You simply have no idea how totally absurd they are. Oskar mobile has to be the biggest criminal when it comes to making nonsense commercials. Sometimes they pull it off, and other times they have commercials that take place in a sperm bank, and you see someone mixing the sperm of two different men. Gah!

Then there's a Staropramen "Men's camp" commericials where all the sterotypes of big beer swilling Czech men are proved true. Sometimes I miss commericals from home. How they're played over and over again until I go crazy. I actually miss that. I don't, however, miss that horrible chirstmas ad from Telus with the monkey opening the present. That one still keeps me up at night.

HRH

How can anyone be mad at Catherine Zeta Jones?

I'm listening to the new Massive Attack as I write this. Whoo lordy, am I a happy girl. It's so good I even forgive the repeated use of Sinead O'Connor on the album. And I needed something to be good today. I really tried to be healthy today, but it didn't work. I had to cancel my classes and stay home. It's hard to be a convincing educator when you're constantly shaking.

I'm getting REALLY ticked off about this whole sick thing. 3 times in less than 30 days I've been knocked on my ass by something. So not cool. And it's making me really really homesick. I was homesick to begin with, but I've come to that point in my sickness where I'm reverting to being a small child and just want to cry "I want my mum!"

HRH

Sanity is a grey cat

I watched a "chick" flick today, something I generally avoid. I think that normal life gives me cause enough to be emotional, I don’t seek emotional release through film or literature. Many other people do, but I’ve never really been into it. There seems to be a sort of vicariousness to it all. Another version of the same vicariousness that I employ when I watch or read all my fantasy and science fiction. I guess I’d like to pretend that my version is somehow more legit because it’s totally impossible for it to actually happen, but really, that’s just crap. We all do it, we just do it with different stimuli.

So I watched Girl, Interrupted. My Mum sent it to me, as it’s about a girl who’s depressed about being on the fringes of society and ends up in a mental hospital with a grey cat. I’ve never been hospitalized, but I suppose I had my share of issues and I do have one very grey cat. She sent it to me (the movie, not the cat) almost 2 years ago and I never really made time to watch it until now. And, surprise, I was crying like a baby by the end of it. I really have no excuse either. I’m not pre-menstrual, I’m not over-tired (I’ve been sleeping for about 3 days trying to kick this flu/cold thing), I’m not over-worked and I’m not harboring any deep dark secrets that might come to the surface in the presence of people dealing with "issues." I just cried, because it made me sad.

Is that lame? I don’t know. Part of me cried out of relief. This is going to sound so trite, but here goes. I was relieved because I never came to that. It would have been really, I don’t know, something to just give up trying to get it all together and just be sad, crazy and in desperate need of affirmation. This isn’t to say that I wasn’t those things, but I did my best to keep them in check. It was so tempting though, but I couldn’t do it. Something inside made me pick myself up. I have a mixture of pride, in that I was the one that got me through all the crap, and shame, in that I was in a situation like that in the first place.

The other part of me cried because it was sad. Simply sad to see people in that state. I’m a coward, you know. I turn my head from the difficult and upsetting things in life. I put my headphones on when I walk so I don’t have to hear people. I don’t watch the news. I worry about scented candles, introspection, my calorie count and recycling. I know nothing about suffering. My crazy days were, in comparison, a cake walk to people who have real troubles.

What are the things that we cling to for sanity? Is it the pattern of knowing that every week you need to do the laundry or that the cat needs to be fed at least once a day? Is it the feeling of comfort that I have from knowing where everything in is my bag? Sure it saves time, but does it mean anything in the big picture? Why do I feel good when I see the trams go by full of people that I’ll never know? Like there are so many thing going on that are bigger than I am. Why doesn’t this make me feel small and insignificant? I don’t know. Why is everything right in the world if I’m having a good hair day, when clearly things in the world are so horribly wrong?

Am I sane or have I become such a pro at fooling everyone that I’ve finally fooled myself? I don’t wake up in the night anymore. I’m only a fraction as paranoid as I used to be. But is it because of a change or because I’m hiding? Is it normal to look back on your youth and think "I was so full of it."? Am I actually more comfortable with who I am, or have I simply just stopped associating with people who challenge me? Tricky questions. Should I wake up and face the world?

This is why it’s much easier to watch science fiction.

HRH

Again

I'm the healthy one, right? Apparently not. I am, again, home sick. It's stunning and shocking to me that I've been so sick in the last month. I'm starting to think it's because of the diet I'm on, but I think it's unlikely that chocolate, potato chips and bread are the building blocks of my immune system. So I'm at home in bad again.

I had to miss my bellydancing class last night, and was very sad about missing it. I decided to soothe myself by watching the entire first season of Twin Peaks and think of Kari and Wendy surrounded by all those trees. In fact I had to call Kari to tell her that. Which was nice.

Now I'm going back to sleep. Boo-urns to all of this.

HRH

Important news

I feel compelled to tell everyone I know that my phone now rings the theme song from "Wallace and Gromit." I simply adore technology.

HRH

Update

Finally got through to NYT on the web and had a look at this article (registration required) and had a look at the two finalists. While I really like the idea of the Eifel tower like structures designed by "Think team", it does seem like a poor use of space in an area so starved for office space. Really pretty, but maybe impractical. The other design by "Team Daniel Libeskind" has some really interesting shapes, and the idea of a procession down to ground zero seems like a fitting tribute to the attacks.

Check out the site. It has a really neat applet that goes through many of the designs so you can get a better idea of how they work in the space provided. Go have a look for yourself already.

HRH

Still Chelly from the block...

First to dear Wendy. Somehow it's more impressive and wholly more worthwhile that you were ripping out pages from The Economist as opposed to my fit of distiness last weekend. Don't get me wrong, I read The Economist and I think I get it, but I shamefully admit that my biggest problem is getting myself to care. I am SUCH a bad person.

In other news, two final designs have been chosen for the WTC site. It's unlikely that either of the designs will be used verbatim, but they will serve as a inspiration of style. I haven't seen either of them yet, thanks to web traffic, but I have heard about how tall they will be. Thankfully people got over their fear of heights and the two new WTC designs are on course to be the tallst buildings in the world. One coming in I think just over 500 meters and the other at 533 meters. Just to give that a reference point, the tallest buliding in the world (in Singapore?) is 433 meters. Cool. I'm really looking forward to seeing the designs. I like anticipation.

Speaking of anticipation, I was able to listen to another song on the upcomng Massive Attack CD. Of course, it was amazing. Wether or not I listen to the rest of it, is up in the air. While I was considering listening to the whole thing after being graciously given a link to a streaming audio version of the album, M gave me a scolding for peaking early and made some good points about artists rights, copyrights, appreciating the music as intended by the artist and other such things, which ticked me off because I knew he was right, but I wanted to listen to it all SOOOO badly. So I comprimised and listened to one song of nine. The song was so good I hardly felt guilty anymore. That done, I can wait. I can do this. But damn, sometimes it's hard. I may just keep going back and listening to the single over and over again rather than having to endure god-knows-what-hour on Radio 1 on the off chance that they might play it. Still, I'm comforted by hearing the other song. It's going to be good. Yay!

Moving on. Today's item of bewilderment comes from Muchnews where apparently rocks from Napanee are being sold on ebay, simply because Avril Lavinge lived/lives there. Rocks... from NAPANEE? Sure she's cute and she's a big deal right now, but really people. By the time you're getting to Napanee, you're getting out of the limestone area and out of the Canadian sheild, so all you can hope for is boring Joe rock. Seriously, have these people SEEN Napanee, and seen what a dive it is? Sure, it has one really cute street and some red brick houses, but come on! You just could not imagine the amount of eye-rolling that went on while I was writing all of that.

HRH

In which Chelsea is reminded that she has wonderful friends and contemplates the future

It's come to a point where it goes without saying that Kari and Wendy are just amazing friends (but look, I said it anyway!). In my mailbox today I recieved some fabulous treats in an envelope with hearts and dollar signs on it. Ahh my girls.

Not only did I get another copy of the shopping magazine Lucky (which I'm TOTALLY digging), but I also recieved a Lord of The Rings fridge magnet (Yay!), Star Wars band-aids (one of which I'm using on my foot--damn blisters, at least the force will help to heal it), some yoga instructions and the fruits of Kari and Wendy's colouring session last week. Included was an alien offering me peanuts (yes that's PEANUTS girls), a page of Buffy quotes and Kari's goth-y art (sure you weren't a goth girl in school?), a lovely underwater scene tempting me to move to the Pacific North-west and a plea for me to get myself out of this land-locked country. Man was that ever a colouring party I would have loved to be at. Thanks girls, you totally made my day (maybe my week--too soon to tell). I'm working my way in your direction. The trees and the ocean are calling me. People have stopped wearing all that plaid in the PNW, right?

In other news, it's a bit after three p.m. here and I've finished everything I need to do today. I have 3 hours to wait for my Czech class, what the heck am I going to do? I mean, besides admire my new band-aids.

HRH

How could I have forgotten this?

Yesterday morning great news was heralded across the land and I heard it. I heard again the music that makes my knees weak and takes my breath away. I felt tingly all over and felt hope. A little after 11 o'clock yesterday I heard the newest Massive Attack single, Special Cases. And oh my- f*cking-god it was amazing. Six years is far too long to have to wait, but I'm grateful none the less. The fact that a new album (100th Window)is immenent (February 10th to be exact-in ONE week!), it's the my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. Weeee!

HRH

Baby steps

A trans-atlantic move is not a thing to be taken lightly. Sure it's many months away, but the preliminary steps are starting now. Some people might prepare by sorting through their clothes, deciding what to give to good will or maybe look through their books and choosing keepers vs. sellers (I don't think I could ever part with a book, however). And I'll be doing these things, as well as trying to use up the 6 bars of soap I have and finding a home for my curling iron (in fact my 2 identical curling irons--Thank you Kari). My first step in preparing to move? Going through all my In Style magazines and pulling out articles and outfits I want to keep.

Maybe it's not a priority for most people, but there was no way I was paying to transport almost 3 years worth of In Style across the ocean. There was also no way I was letting all that wonderful information go to waste.So I spent about 4 hours yesterday ripping and filing. I mostly kept beauty articles, smart shopping guides (aka how to buy a suit or luggage), the how to's and the Ask us section. I only kept the `Steal this look for people in movies that have similar colouring to me and I only cut out 2 pages of clothes that I was interested in re-creating. Fashion comes and goes, but proper lipstick application... that's timeless.

I though that after my beauty orgy I'd be tapped. I'd be in a place where I could no longer absorb, where I wouldn't care about my eyeliner for a least a couple of days. But no, it appears that I'm stonger than that. Of course I had some whack dreams last night. Coupled with the playstation binge M and I had with his half-brother on Saturday I was having dreams of stylishly dressed video game characters with really great foundation. Ick.

HRH