like chocolate and peanut butter

What am I up to at the moment?

Totally fretting about my smallsword exam next Sunday o_O I wish we had more time. We don't. *screams* I really like smallsword, really like the technique, specificity, and the grittiness - it's a dirty weapon. Fast, sneaky, and dirty. I want to do the scene justice, I want to do the fight and choreography justice... I just wish we had more time to work it and perfect it. Often I feel clunky. I want it to flow and swoosh! Swoosh!

I did my quarterstaff exam a few weeks back. I was really chuffed with our performance, totally did the best we could. Though not good enough for a distinction. That was disappointing but at the same time *shrugs* what can you do if you've already done all you can? I did learn a lot from the feedback we got, so I should be able to use that in my other fight tests.

August is coming.

I have two weeks off work *YAY* so I can do a two-week intensive in broadsword and swashbuckling *SQUEE* I have done swashbuckling already, but don't mind doing it again - it's hella fun!!!

But it will be stressful.

Last year I did sword'n'shield and knife. It was a good tough challenge. This year, I'll be doing the two weapons plus doing the smallsword exam again because there's a guy in our class who's fight partner bailed on him... enter moi! *lol*

So yes, this summer, I'll be doing three weapon exams in two weeks. I'm worried about my line learning. Acting is potentially my weakest point when it comes to fight tests (actually acting the script/dialogue, rather than reacting to getting hit or killed, which I think I'm okay at), acting and remembering lines. I find choreography so much easier to learn.

In between all this swordplay, I'm potentially going to sign up to a Film Fights course however, I'm not sure if I will yet as I might be involved in some fights filmed in 3D - heee, how cool would that be?!

There's also another high-falling opportunity, which I'd love to do, but it's costly. I have time to decide still, but I may have to skip it and sign up next time it comes 'round. I never did the fire stunts course. Too expensive. *boo* Next time!

YOU'RE ON MY FRIENDS LIST, I want to know 28 things about you. I don't care if we've never talked, never really clicked, or if we already know everything about each other. I really don't. You are obviously on my flist, so let me know with whom I'm friends!

1. Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song or Album:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
9. Do we know each other outside of LJ?
10. What's your philosophy on life?
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?
12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
13. What is your favorite memory of us?
14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarky) - what are they?
17. Can we get together and make a cake?
18. Which country is your spiritual home?
19. What is your big weakness?
20. Do you think I'm a good person?
21. What was your best/favorite subject at school?
22. Describe your accent
23. If you could change anything about me, would you?
24. What do you wear to sleep?
25. Trousers or skirts?
26. Cigarettes or alcohol?
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together? (If you have no idea, just say something crazy, it'll entertain me!)
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you?

...yes, a to-do list!

*cracks knuckles*

In no particular order:

1. Familiarise self with hosting post on The Kawoosher - it's been a while and I've forgotten what Kawoosh! accepts as a valid link *nervous giggles...0=)*

2. Post Foreign Language Challenge results on The Kawoosher.

3. Work with this AJAX tutorial - I want to incoporate this feature into Kawoosh! at some point with searching and listing.

4. Play with BAM.

5. Launch a tactical vid-purge at Kawoosh!.

6. Tidy up the submission form at Kawoosh!.

7. Think about a new LJ layout.

8. Clean up tags. For both my LJ and The Kawoosher.

9. Repeat everything done for Kawoosh! with The Impala.

10. Repeat everything done for The Kawoosher with impala_kaz2y5.

Deadline? *thinks* Like... a year ago! =P

I start out by pedantically tagging my entries very well on LJ.

Then I go through a lazy "meh" phase and either tag with silly labels or don't tag at all.

When I pull myself together again, I feel the need to tidy up my tagging mess, which leads me to a necessarily tedious chore of going through all my entries from day one, tagging each appropriately with whatever "organised" system I may have at the time.

I do this often...

...I'm wondering if this e-mail-to-LJ still works.

*sends*

I've introduced my boyfriend to the awesome world of SG-1. He's been blitzing through the DVDs and now he's on season 10. He's completely spoiler-free and I've been extremely good at not giving away anything.

I just got a panicky call from him saying:

What the hell is going on? Is this a joke? I don't understand. I'm watching "200" and it said, "Previously, on Stargate SG-1..." and there's this bear talking to Daniel Jackson saying "we are the Furlings" but we've never seen them, I don't remember them, did I miss an episode?

Not surprisingly, I was in hysterics at this point.

Can I carry on watching? Am I supposed to have seen the movies? I don't remember seeing this though.

Bless him.

All I told him was to "carry on watching, it's okay, I promise"... *lol*

If there is one person or more on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt (and hoody, and bag, and mousepad...).

But I miss it. Been thinking about it a lot. What also surprised me was that when I listen to certain pieces of music, mainly trailer music, flashes of someone's music video pop into my head.

Though now I have way more important priorities and less time, I don't want vidding to become just a phase that was part of my past, I want go back to it. At some point. I miss the Kawooshers - one day I'll poke my head in. Maybe.

I actually do have a video project at hand - I need to edit some rushes of a sword fight. Heh. Not exactly a music video but once its done, there's nothing stopping me to play with a little X-Ray Dog.

I started it a couple weeks ago and it wasn't long before I was faced with incompatibility errors, audio/video sync problems... brought back nostalgic memories of staying up at 4am, watching the rendering progress bar tick over to 98, 99, 100%... playing back a hot-off-the-press music vid... realising the widescreen ratio didn't pan out how it should and going back to tweak and re-render... heh, good times(!)

I liked vidding and everything that comes with it.

For once in a very long time, I woke up and chucked myself out of bed when my alarm went off at 6am (instead of hitting snooze all the way 'til 7am).

I like having calm mornings. I really don't like rushing around, getting ready, flying out the door with a piece of toast in my mouth (if I'm lucky). Calm mornings mean I can sit here on ZedPM with my cup of coffee, do all my e-mails and messages, create a to-do list etc. and generally organise my day.

Last couple of weeks have been manic on the kickboxing front... I grade for my maroon belt on Saturday. Then I'll be half-way up the grading system for black. Eek.

I've temporarily stopped trampolining. I discovered that I needed an evening off during the week; little old me just couldn't take all the training plus the full-time job. Once all my stage combat classes are done (all three of them: quarterstaff, smallsword and fighting for film!) I'll get back into it. I'm at a stage where I can do front drops from standing now *yay* and swivel hips *yay* and jump higher *lol*

Though this week has been frustrating as I've sprained my wrist (like... in March!) and finally saw my doctor about it (because it still hurt) only to hear what I knew he'd say, which was the reason why I never went, because I always listen to doctors 'cos I think they know best and feel guilty if I don't... I need to rest my wrist for at least a week or else he'll refer me to a physiotherapist. o_O I have no time to faff around with physiotherapy!!!

So yeah, all this week, no tumbling, no swordfighting, not really supposed to be typing or playing piano either... blah.

*le sigh*

On the up side, more time for the boyfriend =)

Incidentally, I've been told I do a good impression of Mr Hankey.

Did I ever mention I've started trampolining? Well. I've started trampolining!

Today was my third time and it's the first time I felt like I achieved something. My first time, I was getting used to bouncing on a trampoline. The second time, I was getting used to being so high...

...today, I did a tuck *boing* half twist *boing* straddle *boing* sit drop *boing* pike *boing* and a full twist! That whole sequence, over and over. It was brilliant!

I need to work on my full twist, but it's just like doing them at tumbling.

Did I mention I've started doing acrobatic tumbling..? =)

Ah, the life of a stunt(wo)man trainee.

...peering over the open side of the scaffolding, you see the giant blue inflatable - technically known in the stunt-world as an airbag. (We were using a two-something airbag. I forget the 'something' but it meant the bottom half always had air in it as the top half dispersed the air with each impact).

You look down and flashbacks of all the warm-ups and practice you did on the crash mats flutter through your head. Then you recall all the instructions and tips the teacher announced before. Suddenly, the little chatter-monkey in your head, saturated with adrenaline and doubt, screams, "WHAT THE FRELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!"

Your eyes widen as you back away from the edge and only then do you realise your heart pounding against your chest, trying to break out of your rib-cage yelling, "No, let me out, she's going to jump, she's crazy!!!"

Then a familiar voice begins to talk, "You're safe, you're all right, you know what to do." - it's Alasdair, our teacher, patient, supportive, and a very nice guy.

He tells me what I already know. He says I'm going to walk off the platform. And when I do, I'm going to kick my legs out, like I did on the crash mats in practice. I'm going to land flat on my back, not on my head or feet, and then I'm going to roll to the right, off the airbag.

Yup. I nod. I know that. Then he makes us tell him what we're going to do. Just so he knows what's going on in our head. And so I tell him, "I'm gonna walk off the platform, I'm gonna kick my legs out, I'm going to land flat on my back, and then I'm going to roll off to the right."

Good.

Now then, he's going to count me in, after three... 1, 2, 3, go-- no wait, wait, I was meant to go on three not on 'go'. Now I'm just stalling. I don't want to stall. I'm stalling subconsciously. Okay, enough talking, let's go again. 1, 2, 3, go...

...and off I went. Nervously yet casually, I walked off the edge of the five-metre platform. *whoosh* All you see is the big blue airbag getting closer and closer-- it's really close! Need to kick my legs out! *voom* And magically it flips me onto my back. It's that simple, it really does work. Now I can see the ceiling. It's getting further away from me. And omg, the realisation that I'm actually falling, free-falling, as it were... then *bam!* Wow. I'm on the airbag. And I'm alive. And I held my breath through all that so I really need to start breathing.

*breathes*

That was... frickin' awesome! Yeah! *rolls off the airbag*

I looked back up the scaffolding and wondered if I really did it. Then everyone else was clapping and asking how it felt and you're still feeling a little 'omg' yet you can't help but smile.

I joined the back of the queue to go again. Yes, it was still scary, but the more I did it, the more I was familiar with it, the more I trusted myself, and the more confident I got.

But that wasn't really the highlight of the day. There was a guy there, very bubbly and friendly, who was on this course to get over his fear of heights.

He went up a few times, came back down, went up again and sat on the 8-metre platform (that was for the advanced fallers)... he stood on the edge, backed off and came back down... then he went back up and stood on the edge longer than before. And through all that time, Alasdair would be there, talking to him, making him feel safe and comfortable. He then climbed down to about 4 and a half metres. Tony (the stuntman helping us that day and whom the airbag belonged to) stood up there with him... the suspense... and then...

...he leant forward, let go, and fell. He kicked his legs out, landed on his back, everyone clapped and cheered =D he rolled off and beamed so proudly! And then he went and did it again from 5 metres! He was really awesome! It was unique to see his progression throughout the day. Everyone was so happy for him.

And so yeah, that pretty much sums up my day doing a high falling course at the London Stunt School.

Next time, it'll be fire...!

...so I launched myself off a piece of scaffolding today - five metres high. *grins*

Five metres doesn't sound very high, it didn't to me when I was first told. Five metres? Pah, easy-peasy.

Five metres is very short horizontally. You could walk five metres, no sweat. However, turn that five metres vertically and think about falling... five metres is the height of house gutters, we were told. Yeah, all the way up there. I fell off a house today. *lol*

Hopefully I've got something good on film. If I do, I'll think about posting it on here. I don't think I've posted me on LJ before.

I was going to write an account of my day, my first taste at some sort of stunt thing... but I'm frelling knackered! Bottom-line, I had an awesome time, everyone there was amazingly lovely, and I learnt how to fall off a five-metre high structure.

(Next time, I can go eight metres...!)

I want to be a stunt(wo)man. I do. Yes, it's tough. Yes, it's difficult. But it's not impossible.

PS
Thank you sooo much to everyone who sponsored my friend and I to wear pyjamas for Comic Relief - we raised a total of £580!!! =D

Myself and friend from work are wearing our pyjamas all day tomorrow, and we'd like anyone out there to sponsor us!!!

>>> http://www.myrednoseday.com/pyjamagirls <<<

When I say "all day", I mean all day... I mean leave the house in our pyjamas to go to work. Get on the tube to work. Then work in the office in our pyjamas.

I even have stage combat class after work. And yes, I'll be doing that in my pyjamas!!! We'll probably go to the pub afterwards. I'll still be in my pyjamas!!!

We're doing this for Red Nose Day (click the link for more info) and we really want to try and hit our £200 target.

So please, please, please click the big link above and donate - every penny counts, it doesn't have to be much at all, really, we appreciate absolutely any amount!

I have a week and a half to get my abdominal strength to "frickin' awesome". At the moment it's kinda "meh".

I signed myself up to a High Falling Course and the application form clearly states that I must be able to do:

"2 x 20 V sits
2 x 20 Back raises
2 x 20 Dorsal lifts

If you can’t this you should forget being a stunt person!"

...

Right.

So as of Monday, I've started doing at least 200 sit-ups a day (and about 50 back raises). I need to stick to it. If anything, it might reduce that little rubber tyre that seems to be forming above my flubber-butt. But I'm hoping this "training" will make me fit enough to do this course and they won't send me home.

I'm kinda scared. I'm happy doing stage combat with swords and stuff, I'm confident enough with it now. But this to me is not only a new level but a whole new ball game.

No doubt I'll tell y'all how it goes!

APA stands for Adam's Purple Armageddon. I think it's Adam. It might be Alan. Or Adrian. Or some other boy's name beginning with 'a'. I don't know why it's Adam's (or Alan's or whoever) but I do know that it's awesome and it tastes like a purple Skittle.

This is what's in it:

1 shot of Blue Aftershock
1 shot of Archers
1 shot of blackcurrant cordial
1 bottle of Smirnoff Ice
Topped up with lemonade

All in a pint glass. (Drink it slowly).

I'm posting this here for future reference.

Oh, and another purple(ish) drink that tastes like a purple Fruit Pastille:

1 shot of Midori
Lemonade
Splash of blackcurrant cordial

And you get a nice colour separation going on too.

Must not forget these drinks. Ever. They're awesome.

(Amaretto and cranberry juice is also nice, tastes like glacé cherries... amaretto and Coke tastes like Dr Pepper... and ruby port with blue WKD tastes like Vimto. Yum. I think things that taste like soft drinks. Oh oh oh, double Southern Comfort and lemonade tastes like bubblegum.)

I can't sleep. So I'm going to type.

I slept all day today. Pulled a sickie at work. Monday I had an excruciating headache and sore throat. I went into work anyway, because I'm stupid, and didn't really do a lot of work. Tried very hard though, made lots of effort, and while I kept getting asked "are you okay?" as I sat at my desk clenching my head, I persevered to get through the day.

Half five, I was out of there.

(Incidentally, I went to kickboxing that evening because I thought it would make me feel better. I think I'm just masochistic. Pain is weakness leaving the body.)

So this morning, I woke up before my alarm and omg why is this headache still here??? I rarely get ill, but when I do, it's usually really bad and painful and damn annoying. I get in a right mood because I get so frustrated I can't do anything properly. My throat was killing me and I was so hazy and dizzy. I thought long and hard about whether I should go into work. I wanted to because there was a lot that needed to be done, but at the same time, after what happened Monday, it's not like I did a lot of work anyway.

I flipped a coin. I do this often when I can't decide. Heads = go to work, tails = call in sick. Heads. Okay. Go to work.

I went downstairs... went back upstairs... and collapsed on my bed. I managed to text my friends at work saying I wasn't coming in before passing out.

It was about 2pm when I woke up again. Still a bit hazy but the headache slightly less painful. I staggered to the kitchen for food so I could take some paracetamol. After that, I slept some more.

Then it was about 6pm. Woke up and ooh, I think I'm fine... I think... no, still got a sore throat and ow my head but, meh, this is bearable. Yay okay, so... there's a kickboxing class at 8pm... ;)

So I had my swashbuckling exam today and passed.

With distinction.

YEAH, BABY!!!

My first reaction when the examiner told me was:

O_O SERIOUSLY?!

Then it was:

:0()

And then it was:

AWESOME!!! \(^o^)/

I gave my fight partner a hug and high-fived our teacher as we squeed out of the classroom.

( Babbles from an (actor) combatant... )

I'm frickin' ecstatic that I earned a distinction today. I still need to work on being "too safe", I really need to go for it and with that I will gain speed, but that's something to think about for the next fight test!

I've started watching Battlestar Galactica (yes, I'm aware I'm very behind, nevertheless I stand by my strict spoiler-free philosophy).

I found the Atlantis season 5/series finale disappointing. And I blame Galactica.

( Babble on BSG season 1 and Atlantis season 5 finale )

I feel like this is day 3 of the new year because I only went back to work this Monday. Back into my old routine of waking up and wondering wtf I'm doing... then getting on the sardine-cramped tube... balancing in the carriage for 40 minutes before that short walk to the office. *le grand sigh*

So, what's new?

Water.

(Not counting Monday, because Monday was an evil day and I needed to splash out) I haven't had any caffeine this week. =) I'm trying to drink more water, especially in the office. I sit a metre away from the water cooler and hardly drink any, and I know I should because I'm often dehydrated but then choose to drink coffee or a can of Red Bull or coke instead. So yeah, water is the new caffeine.

I'm also attempting, once again, to save money by bringing lunch from home. I can easily spend £5 a day on lunch when I'm in the office - it's ridiculous. So yesterday, I spent just under £6 in the supermarket, go home and cooked a batch of pasta stuff that'll last me three days. Ker-ching!

Tomorrow's day four of this tedious work thing and in general, it's going okay. Yes, I'd rather be running around with a sword in my hand, but I have to compromise. The previous months have been super-combat-busy, so now I guess it's time to do some work before the next super-combat-busy period comes along!