Gishperience 2016 Team Le Radis!

My Gish Experience.

As per my previous blog post,  I was hesitant to join GISHWHES, even though I really, really wanted to. There were many reasons, but in the end there were more reason to join, than not to.

It was a BLAST. My team mates were awesome and so dedicated - just fantastic.

One of the conditions I set for myself, with the support of my team co-captains, was that I wouldn't overdo it - that I wouldn't over commit. My personal resources (specifically health related) have been strained lately and I didn't want to burn out.

At our 1st team meeting, on Gish Day 1 - and it was a doozey at 4+ hours - I agreed to take on about 4 tasks - that's not a lot, but I was already getting nervous about being able to complete them.

The first was right up my alley - hand made birthday cards for Ryan:

http://abc7.com/society/boy-from-big-bear-with-severe-autism-wishes-for-birthday-cards/1424726/
We had some young helpers at our meeting who where more than happy to make a few to get us started. Another team member volunteer his daughter to also make one, and I made one too. I gathered all the photos of the cards and stamped envelopes and made my 1st submission.

Success.

I was pretty happy with what I had done and felt ready to look at what else I had agreed to.

I had to Mail myself... This was super fun! The postman at work, Louis, was as excited as we were to make this happen. Again, with another team member to take the photo, the task was completed and another submission was on its way.

One of the tasks involved me waiting for a specific tweet from Misha Collins on a specific day... the specific details of task remained unknown until the last minute.  Nothing is ever simple. This task ended up  being a Twitter Poem - started by Misha, retweeted by me, with the next 2 lines of the poem and tagging  someone on our team to continue... total of 14 team tweets. Not so easy to coordinate. I had to walk a few folks through the twitter process, as some don't tweet much. But it got done!!   (Had a picture here - but seems to be gone.) :(

Another takes was a 360 degree  video with an exciting intro but very boring footage - all within 14 seconds. - I filmed the inside of an empty cube van. Nothing too interesting, and significantly more difficult than I had originally thought. But, I got it done.

Along the way, there were side tasks, related to the hunt, but not actual items to get points. Many on our team played along. I wrote a Haiku for Commandment #36 and tweeted it at a specific hour on a specific day.

I had looked over the task list many times by this point and had committed to do another task - Zachary Levis... Paint a portrait of Zachary Levi on a pair of Jeans. I wasn't too stressed about this one and surprised myself with how well it turned out.

  

Original image:

I also took on Living my Dream - well, more like nightmare...

I offered my skills and experience to the team with cropping images or putting together multiple shots for an entry, basic video editing, as well as uploading image and video entries.  Some of my faves:

Spider-Man does chores (Photoshop)

Regional Pictures (Team Photos -Photoshop)

Coupon Fairy (Photoshop)

Hope Bra (Photoshop)

Artichoke Bouquet (Photoshop)

Corn-husk dress (Photoshop)

Plasticine Front Page (Photoshop)

Gishwhes Jingle (video editing)

Bad Lip Reading (Expert camera holding skills)

I ended up being a key participant in a few other entries as well...

Selling Ottawa Air (Props & photography)

CosPlay Misha Collins at one of the Wonders of the World...

we couldn't get to any, so we chose a Giant Spider "Maman".

Hipster Kilroy Meme (meme creation)

Fighting Drones (Expert drone flying skills)

There were so many other fantastic entries by my team mates, I was just blown away.

All things considered - I'm glad I did it, and that I didn't commit to more!

I felt excited and exhausted, I wanted it to be over, and yet, never end.

It was an amazing experience with a fantastic team!

A little bonus footage of Pineapple Jogging!

Can't wait for next year!

A small, random act of kindness & Gishwhes

I'm not so well off that I can throw money around. I can't even throw money at my own problems enough to make them go away.

Along with financial, I also have a plethora of medical and family issues, but in the grand scheme of things, I'm doing alright.

These issues have limited my activates, and although I really, really, really wanted to, my medical issues specifically had me questioning my ability to join & participate in Gishwhes 2016.

At the last moment (before the deadline extension) my would-be team co-captain encouraged me once again to sign up, and I did!! I am the 15th member of Team LeRadis. (TheRadish).

As is my nature, I let the excitement take hold and wash over me.

On the weekend, I headed out to forage for food and stopped in at the local Dollar Store.

Whilst parking, I noticed a colourful shopping bag near the garbage bins at the back end of the lot. Upon further scrutiny, I saw that there was a person tucked beside the bins, sleeping (I hoped). He was on the ground, face down. There was a cardboard box with the words "Help Please".  I couldn't see his face, and I couldn't tell  how old he was or get any idea about the person at all.

I've seen homeless folks before, of course, but I wasn't in an area that this is normally seen. I just wasn't expecting to see it, and it shocked me, and hit me hard.

I proceeded to park and go about my trinket shopping, but I couldn't get the image out of my head.

As I trundled through the Dollar Store I found a Big Red Tennis Ball - 'What a great idea' - I thought - 'for a larger than life Radish mascot for our Gishwhes team!'  

As I roamed the store looking for more supplies for my new project, I stumbled into the food isle. I couldn't help but think of the man by the garbage bins. 

I kept walking, looking. I started to get thirsty. I couldn't help but think that the man by the garbage was probably thirsty too.

I strolled thought an isle with school supplies and a few knapsacks.

I stopped.

What was I doing?

Here I am picking up stuff - for fun - for a Gishwhes Team mascot - and some dude is sleeping beside a garbage bin. It didn't seem right.

Somehow, for reasons that are very apparent, the image of Misha (and his kids) popped into my head...

(from www.popsugar.com)

In March 2015, Misha brought his kids along to hand out coffee, doughnuts, and gift certificates to the homeless.

I picked up a knapsack and headed back to the food isle.

I stared  to add some more stuff to my basket;  a few cans of chicken and ham (no can opener needed) some crackers, fruit cups, bottled water...  and some cold Gatorade from the fridge by the cash.

I grabbed some wet-wipes and a toothbrush, toothpaste too.

I don't know what this guy needs, and I sure can't solve all his problems - but food and a little dignity might be nice, ya know?

Paid for my haul and packed the knapsack.

I was a little nervous, but I hopped in my car and wrote a note....

"Looks like you're having a hard time.

Hope this helps.

Hope things get better.

Don't give up."

I drove towards the garbage bin and saw that the man was awake, now crouched.

I (snapped a pic. and) got out of my car, hesitantly, heart racing.

"Excuse me sir."

I had to say it a few times before he looked up.

I handed him the bag, but he didn't take it.

"This is for you. There's some food, drinks and other things. I hope it helps."

His eyes widened in disbelief and he shook his head.

"This is for you..." I offered the bag again.

He spoke and I didn't quite understand, but his body language was clear.

Something  like "This is for me? really?"

He still wouldn't take it, so I placed it by his other bag and I said again " For you, I hope it helps."

He looked at the bag and back at me and nodded a "thank you" and spoke something again, in broken English and I began to walk back to my car.

He then made a little cheering motion and a big smile. I smiled too, and he did the cheer motion again.

I mimicked the cheer motion with a big smile and got into my car.

We waved at each other as I drove away. I think he was happy, grateful. 

I don't know if I anything in that bag was of any help - probably, at least the water.

But maybe what was inside wasn't what mattered - maybe it was some other living person on the planet acknowledging that he was there, and offering some sort of kindness... I don't know.

...but I know that I cried on my way home.

p.s. I think Misha would approve.

...be kind.