Story Project - Please help!

I'm in need of a little help so I thought the best way of getting that was to throw it out to all you and see what I get back. I'm working on a new mini-project and it's all about stories. So all you need to do is answer a few select questions which are temptingly located below. My eternal gratefulness will be yours forever (or at least a couple of weeks).

1) If you had to describe what a story is to a baby/ alien/ child raised by wolves, how would you describe it?
2) What is your favorite story?
3) What does a story have to do to make you cry?
4) What does a story have to do to make you laugh?
5) What story do you tell all the time? Please tell it to us. Pleeeease. Pretty please.
6) What was the last item of news that you remember/ was moved by? Why did it have staying power?
7) When is a lie OK?

Please send in via comment, e-mail, post card or carrier pigeon - whatever works best for you. Thanks in advance for your help - you're all brilliant!

My Wii

Now I've succumbed to the craze. I didn't mean to as I haven't been into video games since I was a kid. We started off with a Vic 20 and then progressed to our own Nitendo Console where we spent hours playing Super Mario Brothers 1, 2 and 3 alongside the ever famous Duck Hunt. I'm surprised my mom even let me play that one as she didn't allow guns (plastic, cap or otherwise) into the house. But my nights of playing upside down, sideways and right side up on the sofa ended as puperty began so I've never really bothered with consoles. Until now.

The Wii. It's fun. It's so much fun. I just got Wii Fit and I've used it every day since I bought it. I keep going - one more. I'll just do one more. Oh. I unlocked something. I'll have to try that first. Then an hour has passed. My muscles are actually getting a workout and I'm having fun at the same time! Amazing! The funniest thing about the Wii fit (other than the virtual male trainer's ponytail) is some of the warnings in the operations manual for the Balance Board. I'm sure they are very useful but I found them humorous...

WARNING: SEIZURES

To reduce the probability of a seizure when playing video games:

• Sit or stand as far from the screen as possible
• Play video games on the smallest available TV screen
• Do not play if you are tired or need sleep
• Play in a well-lit room
• Take a 10-15 minute break every hour, even if you don't think you need it

Now most of the video games addicts...I mean players...break all those rules on a regular basis. I don't remember those warnings on any of the video game consoles I've ever played though. It also said that you should stop playing if you get convulsions, eye or muscle twitching, loss awareness, altered vision, involuntary movements, or disorientation....um. Yes. I would call a doctor immediately if that happened. I just hope it isn't video game related. Actually I just hope I never get it at all.

Amongst other warnings, it also says to stop use immediately if any foriegn matter or liquid touches it. This includes water, juice or....pet urine. It actually says that in the manual. Ah. Bless-ed Nitendo. You think of everything. I'm glad I don't have a pet. I think I'd kill it if it decided to pee on my £70 balance board. And by kill I mean give away (or maybe kill).

I will keep you up-to-date on my Wii progress but if you hear of any kick-ass games or know where I can get guitar hero for cheap, please let me know...I don't think I'll be leaving my house anytime soon.

The aftermath of snow day

Snow day is officially over but the aftermath still persists. On the radio they were warning people to not go out. To stay home unless it was really necessary. I had to go out but it really wasn't that bad. Well it was icy but Alberta Icy. Schools are still closed and transport is still limping to a halt. There was a quote somewhere that said if any enemy wanted to take over England, they'd just have to wait until a few inches of snow would fall and walk right on in. With snowshoes of course.

SNOW!!!!

Snow day
Snow day
We had a....
Snow day!

It's official! London had a blissful snow day. Well blissfull for me who didn't have to work cause the schools were all closed. According to the news 20 cm of snow fell in my part of town in one day. Here is an official article on the chaos that ensued:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aDqSUgAuCe8c&refer=home.

Now I have never had a snow day. Even when it was -40 and 3/4 of the school couldn't get there cause the snow was too deep, I was there (I had the misfortune to live across the street!) But as I had my official first snow day, I had to do snow things. Hoorah! So Sara and I went out and made a lovely snowwoman named "Mable" Many people stopped and took photos - we are Canadian so we've had a lot of practise! Here are some pics of the snow...if you look at them in order, the captions create a little story about our experiences in the snow: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211582&l=5ed5e&id=870155541

Yaaaaaaaay snow day!!!!

Catching up facebook style

I forget sometimes about this space. Well forget a lot as it's now way into 2009 and I've last been here in September. I meant to write about lots of things - thoughts about how I'd experienced the film festival, seeing my film for the first time, the travels to Cornwall, the bar fight in Edinburgh. But instead I made them into a series of Facebook status changes. Facebook is the new black. But not as exciting as the old black. ANYWAY...a lot has happened so in order to catch up here they are from September until now...

• Heather is happy for the lovely turn out on her and Becky's birthday as they made it so special. For those who didn't make it...she still likes you :)
• Heather can't wait for another coffee...
• Heather is typing from a train and loving it.
• Heather is wondering what to do...
• Heather had an awesome day with her auntie and uncle!
• Heather says hoorah for National Poetry Day...is it wrong she'll be spending it tonight at the theatre?
• Heather predicts a riot...she predicts a riot.
• Heather is looking for female musicians, sketches and comedy acts for the Corset Club next Wednesday. Let me know if you're available and want to do a set!
• Heather wants to sleep but there is no bed nearby...
• Heather is looking for work - anyone need some coffee fetched?
• Heather says thank you for those who came to her film premiere! You guys rock!
• Heather has found out through Ivan that she too is on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiL22f1krdM.
• Heather says thanks to Nick Richards who drew the lovely sketch to the left.
• Heather has donated their status to remind everyone to vote for Barack Obama today. Donate your status: http://causes.com/election/27106929?m=628c09c_e
• Heather's just home from STK where she watched Obama win with tears in her eyes. As the sun rises on London she thinks, dawn of new day? Maybe romantic but she hopes so.
• Heather is chuffed she just received her Masters in Creative Writing - with distinction! Now she can be the master of...well...making cups of tea?
• Heather is wondering who's in London for x-mas as she can't go home this year. She's thinking dinner & drinking on the big day for those who aren't going home too?
• Heather says stop mean muggin' me!
• Heather is planning a wicked Nut Roast for x-mas - any takers? (turkey can be made for meat eaters...)
• Heather touched a real live astronaut - 675 hours in space babee!
• Heather is loving Hamster on a Piano. Go to http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tRzTfgds0UI and you will too!
• Heather 's first episode of her Canadian in UK series is now online. Listen here: http://peopletalk.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=404037
• Heather is needing more work due to companies going under - she can do most things so if you hear of anything, let her know as she likes to eat and pay bills...
• Heather is now a permanent resident in the UK!!! She is still in shock after waiting 6 months for her passport back. Thank you Home Office for making me so happy!
• Heather is preparing for fancy dresses and pretty shoes.
• Heather is performing at "Utter! Dalston" tonight at the Arcola at 5 pm - only £5 for a line up including Simon Munnery and Bob Boyton.
• Heather is performing at LUSH at the Marie Lloyd Bar (beside Hackney Empire) tonight at 7:30. It's FREEEEE so please come :)
• Heather is writing about beds...but would rather be in hers.
• Heather is putting a call out for a mate of mine - anyone with a car who wants to be a runner tomorrow please let me know ASAP. You will be paid...
• Heather loves random meetings on the tube...
• Heather is performing tonight at Dodo Modern Poets, Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden - 8 pm! See you there...
• Heather is writing about beds and dreaming about cornwall.
• Heather is unsure if her dentist was hitting on her or was trying to get her to get cosmetic dentistry.
• Heather says to those of you in Dubai, go see The Last Thakur at the Dubai Film Fest - http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/films-explore%20r/?%20id=2554.
• Heather is in a new film! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FbowYfRgp-s
• Heather is loving the run up to Christmas...yay Christmas drinks...
• Heather invites all those staying in London to mine on x-mas eve for Christmas movies & drinks. Drop me a line for the details!
• Heather is full of Christmas cheer after going to the carol service at St. Paul's cathedral. It was so beautiful!!!
• Heather is still up at 5 am...santa's never going to come at this rate...
• Heather thinks Christmas rocks (and wishes her family was here)!!! Happy holidays everyone!
• Heather is preparing for new years in Edinburgh. It's going to be so cold...brrr....
• Heather is on the train to Edinburgh with the crew. Brr.
• Heather is eating breakfast in her apartment in Edinburgh. Bring on New Years!
• Heather is gonna dance dance party party with 100,000+ revellers tonight...
• Heather got kicked and put in a headlock trying to protect Sara after she was suckerpunched in the face. Happy Scottish New Year!
• Heather is happily travelling home from Edinburgh. Hopefully no fights will break out on the way home. Her shins and neck are too sore for another tussle.
• Heather loves weddings!
• Heather is seeing Edward Scissorhands tonight. Sooooo excited!
• Heather still loves Spaced. Thank you Virgin TV on Demand for having season one and two for me to watch.
• Heather's body is falling apart - Damn you cold. Damn you misaligned back.
• Heather is excited about filming on Thursday...woot!
• Heather has had the fear of God put in her - driving for the first time in 7 years. In London. At rush hour. Still shaking...
• Heather shot some kick ass doc trailer footage - and met cute firemen in the process. She also drove through London for the 2nd & 3rd times today-it's not too bad!
• Heather totally wished she saw this for real: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM
• Heather is glad that a woman has written the inauguration poem. Go America.
• Heather is writing treatments.
• Heather is talking to solicitors. So much fun.
• Heather is at the BAC tonight. There are many fun things happening. You should all come! 7:30 - 9:30 pay what you can.
• Heather is updating her blog.

So now that's us caught up then.