In Defense of the Cyberstuffy

Missy Fuzzy-Buzzy and her husband Keith Enchilada

Walter Macaroni reading to old Uncle Horace Hippoworth

The residents of Hippoworth Estate:R-L
Missy Fuzzy-Buzzy, Walter, Yatta, Horace, Keith Shigami and Sam (on stool).

Thanksgiving

Hawaiian Vacation

 These are some of the colourful cyberstuffy characters that I studied during my Master Thesis. An entire world exists covertly telling story online. This particular story can be read in installments on Facebook. The Facebook Fan Page titled Hippoworth Estates. 

Off to a meeting in a few minutes to upload my thesis onto UBC's library of research. It has been a crazy March up here on the mountain. It seems once or twice a week I wake to snow. And wouldn't you know it, this was the winter I decided not to ski because I found myself too booked teaching Zumba. BTW, I must go and purchase new dance shoes--they wear out in a month--stretch to become too wide and fail to support my feet. Also they need to be almost flat otherwise  my ankle can slip over during all the turns I do. Need to go to a professional physio or massage as my legs have ached for 2 weeks and wake me all night long and I must change positions. Will go to meeting, return home to pick up my babes and we'll do something fun perhaps a trip to the H2o Centre to swim (either today or tomorrow). 

Below are a few pics of my defense in action:

So Long Cyber World!

Ready to go, bright and early (7:30 a.m.) off to UBC to defend my thesis (Pablo looking on):

 I passed my thesis defense. Happy, relieved. The biggest surprise was that I passed with a #1 recommendation. That means all I have to do is correct a few typos. I was prepared for major revisions. I had the most sound sleep I've had in a month. Today I am correcting the typos so it can be published for the Thursday meeting I have at UBC.

I defended my thesis, changed my outfit and taught my noon Zumba class in the UBC ballroom. A crazy way to come down from the defense stress. I was so dead tired by evening that my celebrations included supper out at Joey's ( Haute cuisine is wasted on me. I eat what ever my stomach desires in the moment and last night it was Joey's fries and gravy. That was it). Peter and I then caught a stupid movie. I had a few laughs so it was all good. I will throw a big dance party in the future though--rent a hall and dance the night away.

Today, Peter has driven to Kamloops to collect our youngest daughters and their cousins from my parents'. I am correcting the typos so I might be free.

So many thank-yous needed. So very many. I thank every single real and cyber identity that helped me accomplish this huge (it sure felt huge at times when asked to totally rewrite entire chapters of my thesis for the 3rd time) goal. I think I shall post a few pics of the cyberidentities that created the magical world of Hippoworth Estates. It is these bigger than life characters that have absorbed my intellect for the past few years--next blog. Let me tell you, this world is so hilarious, I almost cracked up at some of the slides during my defense. The narrative is very witty, bordering on ridiculous.

Time was the most difficult thing to manage with this M.A. degree. Time was out of my control--when I accepted that, I relaxed a little. Yes, the delays cost me thousands of dollars in useless tuition payments. But there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

Are We There Yet?

My darling dog boys: Pablo and Fernando on a recent car ride. Fernando's (little black dude in back) expression cracks me up!

This blog post is a little lesson in procrastination. I have the entire day to prepare for my thesis defense tomorrow. I made 9 am my start time. So, this post is a little over the mark. But so much more fun to do than try to cram everything into my stubborn brain today. I do not teach any dance today--so good. My babies are all visiting relatives, Peter works all day so I have a full day to cram. I shall sign off now and leave you with a picture I could not resist posting of my dogs in the back of our Rav4. Here I go...into brain cramming bliss.

That was Lovely. I Have to Scream Now.

My Pip and I this morning. Her antibiotics kicked in in the night and she is much improved...Thanks Theresa for Fernando's meds.

O.K. I just stopped by to vent.
I arrived home to amazingly gorgeous new hardwood floors in all the bedrooms thanks to Peter and my wonderful parents :)
However, the house is upside down--all the furniture in the living room. So difficult to navigate the girls off to school when their dressers are impossible to access.
 My girls arrived home from a lovely Easter at Aunties. It was so good to see my babies again. They are the very best. Though, darling Pip had a 40 oC fever last night.

The crazy part is that my thesis defense was postponed due to an external committee member so it is this Friday morning! Not to mention, Pip's big birthday party is on Saturday. And to add to my freak-out, I have a three day conference on Monday and am presenting a paper Tuesday morning at it.
Also, 2 jobs to apply for within the week.
All of this and an upside down house.
Focus...thesis first, organize house, prepare for the party and then prepare for the conference. The jobs???
Waiting for Vipassana to simplify my life. I suppose a really good kamma change takes time...

THE PINOCCHIO REVOLUTION

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA OKANAGAN

COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS DEFENSE ANNOUNCEMENT

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Arts in Education

Melissa Hart

will defend the thesis entitled

THE PINOCCHIO REVOLUTION: BEYOND THE E-BOOK --WHEN PROTAGONISTS COME

TO LIFE

Abstract

Fall down a rabbit hole and enter into a digital world where reality and fantasy intermingle and avatars are not only phenomenological but also tactile.

Beyond the eBook: The Pinocchio Revolution-When Protagonists Come to life delves beyond the e-Book into a digital fiction unrecognizable in the

traditional sense of fiction. This thesis focuses on research that examines the covert fiction practiced on Facebook. This fiction involves cybercitizens

that are stuffies (in the United Kingdom they are referred to as fluffies)-stuffed animal toys. The stuffies do not represent an actual human individual

but rather, an autonomous fictional character created by a (covert) human being. However, the characters' identities often intertwine with that of their

human creator.

The ethnographical research uncovers a secret world where the boundaries between fantasy and reality are blurred. The role of identity, authority,

agency, audience and the evolution of story: the hypertextual (multi layered digital texts, graphics, audio and links to other sites) ways in which the

story is "written" are examined. Facebook story is both fiction/non fiction and offline/online distinctions are blurred as offline and online worlds

become indistinguishable. It is a novel and covert approach to creating fiction-the participants are violating Facebook policy by their mere

existence, as all Facebook members must be an actual human being with a minimum age of 13 (Facebook, 2009). This adds a dimension of tension

to the story as authors create with the constant threat that their "work" and cyber identity may vanish at any moment.

This study challenges the multifaceted role of researcher as participant, covert creator and researcher. Theories that influence the study are the

theories hybridity and intertextuality and socio semiotic theory; all included in the broader multiliteracies theory. In addition, the theory of popular

culture as everyday culture theory is considered. Furthermore, as the cybercitizens are both tactile and phenomenological, the theory of

phenomenological immersion is explored in the paper.

The research will benefit the areas of Education, Media, Literacy and the Arts. Exploring new ways in which story is evolving through a multiliteracies

theory is important for educators. They will learn new and innovative ways in which students practice literacy, writing skills and artistic expression

within new media. Facebook fiction includes but is not limited to online: prose, poetry, video, audio, photography, multi-authoring, role-playing, and

social interaction. As well as offline: art creation, set design, costume design, travel and social interaction. Especially interesting to educators and

new media designers will be the formation of online identity and the relationships between identity, cyberidentity, cybercitizenship and

cybercommunity and cyberartifact.

Faculty, students and the general public are welcome to attend.

Stylin' Tabs

Tabs in her new fedora, Pumas and jean jacket--all purchased in Seattle.

I have been told not to blog until I have finished my thesis defense (Monday). But I am addicted to writing.

Met with my committee this morning. The meeting was a record 3 hours. Now I have to do more revisions. I feel good about it all though. I received good comments about the strength of my thesis: being ground breaking research and very well written. Also one member commented that my literature review is excellent because it grounds an unknown field in strong literature about digital fiction. I also felt good about my ability to defend any questions that came my way on my study. All in all, I feel proud of this research and thesis. I gave it my all in writing it. Though it is not done yet so I cannot say anymore. Unfortunately, the girls music festival pieces are on Monday--Peter will have to take them--I'll miss their performances and he'll miss my defense.

I am addicted to  dancing Zumba. Have danced every night since arriving home--trying out every studio. Tonight my teacher I recognized as a ballerina from Ballet Kelowna--she gave a killer workout. I am hunting down the best teachers in Kelowna to learn from them. She was good. Dancing each night is the cure to all that ales me. I am hooked--it is what I desire to do each and every night--just dance. It is so good for the mind, body and soul. I can only compare the addictive quality is has to sex. It is satisfying and you just want to do keep doing it. But I must never eat before class. Tonight I so regretted that burrito.

So, all I am doing for the week is Thesis, Zumba and applying for one job in media writing and communications at UBC that I sooooo want--the deadline is Friday.

Pike Market, Seattle

Pike Market, Seattle

Have to blog even though I don't feel like it...have to put some space between me and the bathing suit shots. They're all right, but I am sick of myself.
Arrived home exhausted. We pulled off the highway in Hope at 9:30 last night because it was really snowing on the Coquihalla and Connector and icy. We drove home this morning. I am about to leave for a meeting at UBC and then rush the girls to piano and rush myself to Zumba. Peter will have to pick up the kids from piano and then drop  by Zumba and pick up Pip (who will have to watch the class for awhile).
Seattle was tiring because I had to work each and every day. The last 2 days were overwhelming. Dancing 9 h days and too much information for me!
My life right now is insane. I might even venture to say that at times I do not like it. No, I do not.
But I am in transition mode. I don't know what to give up for now and what to keep. I fear giving up something will limit my income possibilities. Yet, trying to work so hard in so many areas is killing me. Getting my painting going again, my writings published, Zumba teaching, applying to teach k-12 again, applying for every single job I can. Worrying about more workshops to further train myself in my fields. And at this time, defending my thesis and looking after my family of 3 kids. God, I am not enjoying this. It is too soon to know what door will open for me and thus what fields I can put on hold.
Right now teaching Zumba requires so much time and serious work--it is something perhaps I should have waited to do. But again, I think teaching it to kids will help me get a k-12 job.
YIKES gotta leave for that meeting...

POISON

Another one of my photos made it in the Globe and Mail. It's in there today #6, I believe. It's a pic I took in the Taman Negara Jungle--we were visiting a Batek Tribe settlement far down the Trembling River. The pic is of the inside of a poisonous blow-dart storage case. It is made from bamboo. The darts and case are 100% formed from various trees in the jungle, including the poison which is a boiled sap from yet another tree. I watched a man in the tribe make these darts from start to finish... I miss the jungle! The poison is enough to stop a human heart. They actually aim for as close to the heart as possible so as to not have the poison spread through the victim's body and make it toxic to eat. Although the Batek tribe is one a few tribes still allowed to hunt tigers in Malaysia, they choose not to because of their rarity. They mainly hunt monkeys and smaller creatures.

So, April cannot get any crazier. My thesis defense is April 11. My paper is only now being read by my supervisor and internal committee. I am leaving for Seattle tomorrow, to train for 2 Zumba instructor courses (adults and kids). I get home late, Sunday evening and have my committee meeting the very next morning. Then, I have until the 11th to perfect my thesis and prepare my defense (1/2 h Power Point on my thesis). I leave on the 13th for a ten day silent meditation retreat in the mountains off the Coquihalla--between Merrit and Hope. I have one day to make any changes needed for my thesis before it must be sent in to UBC in order for me to graduate this spring (April 15 cut off for this year).

Yes, I am a little freaked by it all. But I will do it. Up, day and night to get it perfected.
And I am going to complete 3 painting by June 1 so I can show this fall at Lake Country Art walk. It is a juried show, so let us hope I make it in. Then, I will complete 3-7 more for September 1. I am still planning to get to France this summer for the Renaissance course. I figure it won't be long until I can make a decent income from my paintings alone. Add that to income from teaching and it will be nice. And of course, when my writing starts to generate an income....It will be even nicer.