Right here we go, obligatory end of year meme pilfered via trusty google...
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I went to Cardiff, I completed a round trip of 26 hours of air travel for essentially 23 hours on the ground where I was going, I survived full time work and full time study – not only survived but kicked ass, thank you very much. Everyone complaining about their workloads please move to the left, I have no sympathy.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I can’t remember if I made specific resolutions…I know I wanted 2010 to matter, I felt that it was going to be important somehow. I wanted to stay open to possibilities, I wanted to not let my fear of failure and of getting hurt get in the way, and I wanted to be open to try new things. I did all of that, I think. I got a new job, I spoke at an academic conference on something I loved and found I actually enjoyed it, I travelled, I went on dates, I met new people, did new things, tried new things, and was generally happy, if stressed. All in all, I think 2010 was a good one, really. I think I did well.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I think so. I get the feeling someone did. I just can’t remember who. Oops. I do however know my cousin is expecting her third child at the moment. That counts, right?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately yes, I lost my maternal grandfather in October and it seems fitting that I post this today, on what would have been his 80th birthday.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Wales, Thailand, South Africa.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Wow, I don’t really know. Magic? The world at my feet? A purpose? A publishing deal? Who knows!
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’m not so great with dates. First weekend of October is pretty hefty. I also keenly remember starting my "first proper job” on May 17th…but only because I count every month I’m there as a victory of perseverance and count down the days till I can leave! I know, it’s a horrible thing to say.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Speaking at an academic conference, and passing all my subjects – or rather maintaining a consistent distinction average. As an academic, I don’t think I’m doing too shabbily really.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting a HD average, le sigh. Still not getting published. I really need to get my act together there.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shock, horror, no! Nothing more major than the standard ol flu.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A pair of black boots. Sherlock DVDs. Plane tickets to Melbourne for fangirling purposes.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
What a strange question. I’m going to say Roze, for being the intelligent, wonderful friend she is and remaining calm and composed during the trials and tribulations of house renovations, a law degree, work in its various forms and illness and injury. (You are a champion dear, I’m working on getting you that Pacey you want :P )
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
These are strong words and I don’t know if I really have anyone to attribute that to right at this moment. Perhaps I am too full of Christmas good will (aka chocolate and alcohol) to dwell on depressing topics at this moment. I’m tempted to say RTD, I’m sure he did something to appall and depress me at some point during the year!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Fandom, naturally. Isn’t that where it always goes? Actually I think most of my funds were squandered on plane travel this year. It’s a toss up between that and various car expenses…but let’s go with plane tickets, it’s more exotic.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Oh, so many things. I’m quite the excitable loon.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
If I had you by Adam Lambert. Yup, I am still in love with this song.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? Thinner. Though all this chocolate may have changed that.
Richer or poorer? Hahahaha, much poorer. Despite the acquisition of full time employment. Isn’t life funny?
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercise and writing. I really need to get in the habit of doing both on a daily basis. Also blogging. I’ve really fallen off with that!
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stressing over things, let other people get me down.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Uh. Bit late for that. Next year’s will be spent freezing to death, if all goes to plan. Yay!
21. How will you be spending New Year?
Hanging with my oldest friends, laughing over silly things, if history is any guide.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
In the words of Betty, “Falling is easy, you just fall.”
23. How many one-night stands?
Oh my dear quiz, you don’t know me at all.
24. What was your favorite TV program ?
Of the year? Sherlock, hands down. It is, without a doubt, the greatest, best, most brilliant, wonderful thing to enter my life. I also discovered and fell deeply in love with Fringe. Other happy discoveries include Mad Men, Modern Family, Walking Dead, Human Target and Going Postal, while my love of Lie To Me, Numb3rs (now cancelled *sob*) and Doctor Who continues strongly – as would my love of Merlin, no doubt, if only someone would actually be so kind as to show it on aussie tv.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t really hate people, it’s a bad habit I feel.
26. What was the best book you read?
I have shamefully not read much this year that wasn’t for uni or that I haven’t read before. But I did finally read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and thoroughly enjoyed it, so let’s go with that.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oooooh. Hard. The National? I think I’d have to go with that, yes.
28. What did you want and get?
So many things! I can't really think of one specific thing.
29. What did you want and not get?
Uh. Perspective? Haha. No, well. I don’t know. I still don’t feel like I’m any closer to knowing what I actually want from my life (only what I don’t want) but that seems like a big thing to ask from a year. Baby steps.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
There were quite a few brilliant ones this year. Has to be Inception though, surely? I'm posting my top 10 films of the year on Tumblr, check it out here if you’re interested.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent my actual birthday in the company of my parents, having a lovely brunch and going shopping. For my birthday, however, there was a gig and a road trip to Palm Beach. To my utter horror, I am all of 23 now.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My car not requiring so much attention, for one thing. Not having debt for another! Haha, oh the middle class aspirations.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
In general my fashion concepts still continue to vary wildly depending on my mood, I do in general still prefer the Beckett effect, though I have been prone to more shorts, skirts and dresses. Also heels, lots of lovely, lovely heels. And boots. When not in the corporate gear for work, of course. I’m considering throwing all that out in the new year anyway. Why bother? It’s not like I actually have to see clients. They know I’m a capable employee, if I want to dress like a deranged emo kid that’s escaped the local holding facility, I see no reason why that should be a problem (idealism, isn’t it wonderful?)
34. What kept you sane?
My friends, my parents, my puppy, and music. Always music.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Benedict Cumberbatch. Definitely. Yes.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Our useless election being useless. That’s more a general observation than being ‘stirred’ though.
37. Who did you miss?
My family and friends who I can’t see regularly. I’ve said it before and I will say it many, many times more – teleportation!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met some lovely new people both at uni and at work, I think it would have to go to the very nice girl I met at the TW conference.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Things usually happen in ways you least expect, and when it’s least convenient. You need to trust yourself to know when it’s the right thing for you, and pursue things on your own terms, and not because you think anything is expected of you. At the end of the day the only person you need to answer to is yourself, and if you’re honest with yourself , well, who cares about a little complication? It’ll all work out in the end.
40. Quote that sums up your year.
“The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things....hey....the good things don't always soften the bad things; but vice-versa the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” - The Doctor, Vincent and the Doctor
Music: Textbook - We Are Scientists
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Smile for the morning light
Merry (belated) Christmas!
I hope everyone had a lovely time and are enjoying the festive season which inevitably always drags out until New Years. Prosit! *clinks wine glass*
I've been on a much needed, and deserved, break from the interwebz for the duration. It's been brilliant and laid back, starting with a fun dinner with family friends on Christmas Eve and family time on Christmas Day. I've been quite spoilt this year, and am best described as a happy little geek fangirl, if ever there was such a thing. Along with many dvds and chocolate (naturally), I've also acquired a sonic screwdriver torch, the Eleven Doctors figure set, the Sims 3 (yes, I may never see daylight again) and a 1TB My Book external hard drive. Like I said, happiest little geek fangirl. The figure set amuses me to no end because apparently my father wasn't keen on buying it for me and would only do so after he received approval from other people in the shop. Win.
Not been up to much, really. Chillaxing, catching up on a ton of television and film watching, doing some writing and sleeping in till midday. If the weather was better, I'd be lazing about outside but it's been rather miserable and wintery. Can't have it all!
What else? Let's see....Oh, the Doctor Who christmas special A Christmas Carol was actually shown on Boxing Day, fantastically brilliant to actually get to see it around Christmas time for a change, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than the specials we were subjected to last year - you deserved better Ten! The trailer for next season looked absolutely epic, but of course new Who in all its forms is always a very welcome thing.
On the social front, I ventured out for a lovely impromptu movie session at R's, much fun as always, and managed to catch up with L yesterday. Watched The King's Speech which is every bit as brilliant as everyone's been saying, and I highly recommend it. Much love for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush. Tomorrow I have to clear out my desk, something I've been putting off for months, and also maybe, possibly tackle my wardrobe (woe). I will of course also be attempting the obligatory end of year lists and resolutions, blah blah all that. Still can't quite believe another year is over already. Time, you fickle thing!
Random things. I was stumbling about Tumblr this morning and came across this -
Dear Steven Moffat - You have convinced me that the world is full of tall, skinny, socially awkward genius men with ridiculous hair and a geeky love of science-y things. I expect the delivery of mine forthwith. Thanks very much.
Haha! Tis funny cause it’s true. C’mon Steven, don’t hold back now.
Tumblr also delivered this -
Leading to a moment of 'Heeeeey, I've been there, I sat on that grass, I got sunburned on that grass!'
It's the little things, people. The little things.
Now I must really be excused as I need to finalise the NZ trip. I'm so stupidly excited about that, it's silly, I know. My number one rule is not to look forward to anything, and I've already managed to break it with this. Fail. But it is something I've been wanting to do for so long, I can't seem to help myself. Sigh. Ah well.
Au revoir ma cheris, fais de beaux reves.
Music: A little's enough - Angels and Airwaves
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| Original |
I've been on a much needed, and deserved, break from the interwebz for the duration. It's been brilliant and laid back, starting with a fun dinner with family friends on Christmas Eve and family time on Christmas Day. I've been quite spoilt this year, and am best described as a happy little geek fangirl, if ever there was such a thing. Along with many dvds and chocolate (naturally), I've also acquired a sonic screwdriver torch, the Eleven Doctors figure set, the Sims 3 (yes, I may never see daylight again) and a 1TB My Book external hard drive. Like I said, happiest little geek fangirl. The figure set amuses me to no end because apparently my father wasn't keen on buying it for me and would only do so after he received approval from other people in the shop. Win.
Not been up to much, really. Chillaxing, catching up on a ton of television and film watching, doing some writing and sleeping in till midday. If the weather was better, I'd be lazing about outside but it's been rather miserable and wintery. Can't have it all!
What else? Let's see....Oh, the Doctor Who christmas special A Christmas Carol was actually shown on Boxing Day, fantastically brilliant to actually get to see it around Christmas time for a change, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than the specials we were subjected to last year - you deserved better Ten! The trailer for next season looked absolutely epic, but of course new Who in all its forms is always a very welcome thing.
On the social front, I ventured out for a lovely impromptu movie session at R's, much fun as always, and managed to catch up with L yesterday. Watched The King's Speech which is every bit as brilliant as everyone's been saying, and I highly recommend it. Much love for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush. Tomorrow I have to clear out my desk, something I've been putting off for months, and also maybe, possibly tackle my wardrobe (woe). I will of course also be attempting the obligatory end of year lists and resolutions, blah blah all that. Still can't quite believe another year is over already. Time, you fickle thing!
Random things. I was stumbling about Tumblr this morning and came across this -
Dear Steven Moffat - You have convinced me that the world is full of tall, skinny, socially awkward genius men with ridiculous hair and a geeky love of science-y things. I expect the delivery of mine forthwith. Thanks very much.
Haha! Tis funny cause it’s true. C’mon Steven, don’t hold back now.
Tumblr also delivered this -
Leading to a moment of 'Heeeeey, I've been there, I sat on that grass, I got sunburned on that grass!'
It's the little things, people. The little things.
Now I must really be excused as I need to finalise the NZ trip. I'm so stupidly excited about that, it's silly, I know. My number one rule is not to look forward to anything, and I've already managed to break it with this. Fail. But it is something I've been wanting to do for so long, I can't seem to help myself. Sigh. Ah well.
Au revoir ma cheris, fais de beaux reves.
Music: A little's enough - Angels and Airwaves
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tis the season
It being the festive season, there are many festivities happening about town - the result being quite a busy week. Many lunches, dinners and socialising have been on the agenda, and much fun and enjoyment ensued.
On Wednesday, I had a chance to attend the premiere screening of TRON: Legacy at the IMAX. I felt quite special as they even confiscated our mobiles prior to the screening so there wouldn't be any leaks. First time that's happened. Visually, the film is quite something. For the uninitiated, it has been one of the most hyped geek films of the past two years and is a sequel to the 1982 film TRON. You don't need to be familiar with it to get on board for this one, though I understand the nostalgia factor is quite nice. It centres around 27 year old bad boy Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund, riffing off Chris Pine's Kirk and Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker) looking into the disappearance of his father, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), and finding himself transported into the digital world his father had been working on. Here he meets Quorra (Olivia Wilde) who takes him to Kevin, trapped in the world by his mirror image, the generated Clu (a quite creepy young Jeff Bridges animation). Father and son undertake a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning, dangerous cyber universe to reach the portal that will bring them back to the real world while avoiding Clu and his helmeted cronies, hell bent on taking their quest for perfection beyond the digital realm.
I've never seen the first film but had no problem following along...mostly because the story is virtually non-existent. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable enough film, but it does feel somewhat lacking in care factor, just sort of falling into it and dragging along with the sheer power of its visual flair. That said, the light cycle races are everything they've been hyped up to be, and the light disc battles are brilliantly executed. The acting is solid enough for an action film, even if I can't buy Jeff Bridges in any sort of benevolent role and his aging hippy routine was wearing a bit thin. Newcomer Garrett Hedlund manages unremarkably fine, while Michael Sheen is just love, love. And then there is of course Olivia Wilde, who I always appreciate regardless of what she happens to be doing. Much has been made of the Daft Punk soundtrack, and with good reason - it matches the alternate digital world perfectly. As much as I despise 3D, I think this is one film that actually made the most of the technology - alternating between 2D for the real world scenes, and 3D for the digital, really heightening the impact of it all. Overall, if you have no expectations, it's an enjoyable enough film with intoxicating visuals but carrying little weight.
The rest of the week has been filled up with christmas shopping and christmas dinners. Friday night's one was held at a lovely Korean BBQ place in a hidden corner of the city, a real discovery and a great night out. I also discovered peppermint chocolate milk tea which is obviously something I've been missing my whole life. Last night was the opposite, a mellow dinner in and watching Carols in the Domain - everyone got quite involved in marrying me off to Josh Groban. I'm not objecting. He's a funny guy. And he plays the piano.
In other news, I have violet hair! Well, kind of. My hairdresser insists that it needs to be bleached before she'll dye it, and I am not bleaching my entire head, so we have reached a compromise. What used to be the red layer is now violet, as well as a few streaks. It's very...subtle. My hair being naturally dark, it's not showing up as vibrant as the red used to, but by all accounts it is noticeable enough and I can certainly see it in the right light. I like it, I like being all dark again. I've tried to take a pic of it but the light's pretty woeful.
This week also saw the announcement that Andy Lee and Megan Gale had split up. I was devastated. Devastated. I wish I was kidding. Background - Andy was until recently one half of my favourite radio program, the Hamish & Andy Show. For the months of my full-time employment, the duo have made me look forward to sitting in peak hour traffic on the drive home. Last month they sadly hung up their headphones, though will no doubt still get up to hi jinks on television or some such. Anywho, Andy has been dating supermodel Megan for four years. I adore Megan, I think she's gorgeous, intelligent and has a wonderful sense of humour. I also adore Andy. It's simple maths that I'd be entirely invested in them together. In fact I was wailing about it to mum last night asking "I just don't know what happened, where did we go wrong?" We, indeed. Sigh. Mum of course finds me highly amusing. I suppose that's a good thing. Double sigh.
Anyway, today I've been chillaxing, watching Repo Men, a rather gruesome action with dark comedy flick starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker that really screws you over in the end, and my latest discovery Blackpool, featuring an all-singing, all-dancing David Tennant complete with Scottish accent, and thereby the best thing ever. David Morrissey is the lead and I will now never be able to watch The Next Doctor without wishing for a song.
But I digress, time yet again to press onwards to more pre-christmas socialising and yet another dinner. Fa la la la la la la la.
Music: Betrayed by bones - Hellogoodbye
On Wednesday, I had a chance to attend the premiere screening of TRON: Legacy at the IMAX. I felt quite special as they even confiscated our mobiles prior to the screening so there wouldn't be any leaks. First time that's happened. Visually, the film is quite something. For the uninitiated, it has been one of the most hyped geek films of the past two years and is a sequel to the 1982 film TRON. You don't need to be familiar with it to get on board for this one, though I understand the nostalgia factor is quite nice. It centres around 27 year old bad boy Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund, riffing off Chris Pine's Kirk and Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker) looking into the disappearance of his father, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), and finding himself transported into the digital world his father had been working on. Here he meets Quorra (Olivia Wilde) who takes him to Kevin, trapped in the world by his mirror image, the generated Clu (a quite creepy young Jeff Bridges animation). Father and son undertake a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning, dangerous cyber universe to reach the portal that will bring them back to the real world while avoiding Clu and his helmeted cronies, hell bent on taking their quest for perfection beyond the digital realm.
I've never seen the first film but had no problem following along...mostly because the story is virtually non-existent. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable enough film, but it does feel somewhat lacking in care factor, just sort of falling into it and dragging along with the sheer power of its visual flair. That said, the light cycle races are everything they've been hyped up to be, and the light disc battles are brilliantly executed. The acting is solid enough for an action film, even if I can't buy Jeff Bridges in any sort of benevolent role and his aging hippy routine was wearing a bit thin. Newcomer Garrett Hedlund manages unremarkably fine, while Michael Sheen is just love, love. And then there is of course Olivia Wilde, who I always appreciate regardless of what she happens to be doing. Much has been made of the Daft Punk soundtrack, and with good reason - it matches the alternate digital world perfectly. As much as I despise 3D, I think this is one film that actually made the most of the technology - alternating between 2D for the real world scenes, and 3D for the digital, really heightening the impact of it all. Overall, if you have no expectations, it's an enjoyable enough film with intoxicating visuals but carrying little weight.
The rest of the week has been filled up with christmas shopping and christmas dinners. Friday night's one was held at a lovely Korean BBQ place in a hidden corner of the city, a real discovery and a great night out. I also discovered peppermint chocolate milk tea which is obviously something I've been missing my whole life. Last night was the opposite, a mellow dinner in and watching Carols in the Domain - everyone got quite involved in marrying me off to Josh Groban. I'm not objecting. He's a funny guy. And he plays the piano.
In other news, I have violet hair! Well, kind of. My hairdresser insists that it needs to be bleached before she'll dye it, and I am not bleaching my entire head, so we have reached a compromise. What used to be the red layer is now violet, as well as a few streaks. It's very...subtle. My hair being naturally dark, it's not showing up as vibrant as the red used to, but by all accounts it is noticeable enough and I can certainly see it in the right light. I like it, I like being all dark again. I've tried to take a pic of it but the light's pretty woeful.
This week also saw the announcement that Andy Lee and Megan Gale had split up. I was devastated. Devastated. I wish I was kidding. Background - Andy was until recently one half of my favourite radio program, the Hamish & Andy Show. For the months of my full-time employment, the duo have made me look forward to sitting in peak hour traffic on the drive home. Last month they sadly hung up their headphones, though will no doubt still get up to hi jinks on television or some such. Anywho, Andy has been dating supermodel Megan for four years. I adore Megan, I think she's gorgeous, intelligent and has a wonderful sense of humour. I also adore Andy. It's simple maths that I'd be entirely invested in them together. In fact I was wailing about it to mum last night asking "I just don't know what happened, where did we go wrong?" We, indeed. Sigh. Mum of course finds me highly amusing. I suppose that's a good thing. Double sigh.
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| Tears. Tears everwhere. |
Anyway, today I've been chillaxing, watching Repo Men, a rather gruesome action with dark comedy flick starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker that really screws you over in the end, and my latest discovery Blackpool, featuring an all-singing, all-dancing David Tennant complete with Scottish accent, and thereby the best thing ever. David Morrissey is the lead and I will now never be able to watch The Next Doctor without wishing for a song.
But I digress, time yet again to press onwards to more pre-christmas socialising and yet another dinner. Fa la la la la la la la.
Music: Betrayed by bones - Hellogoodbye
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Days don't stay the same
I am wrecked. I am overblown.
I am also fed up with the common cold.
But I just hate to say goodbye,
To all the metaphors and lies,
That have taken me years to come up with.
Say it's true. Say you like me.
(I like you.)
Just for the night.
For me, it's been eternity...
And as I gently sip this drink,
I think about my lack of future,
And all the places I could learn to fall in love.
I know I shouldn't waste my time,
Wishing I'd been better designed,
Yet for some reason still think...
I am wrecked. I am overblown.
I am also fed up with the fucking common cold!
When I just want to feel alive, for the first time in my life,
I just want to feel, attractive today.
Music: Attractive today - Motion City Soundtrack
I am also fed up with the common cold.
But I just hate to say goodbye,
To all the metaphors and lies,
That have taken me years to come up with.
Say it's true. Say you like me.
(I like you.)
Just for the night.
For me, it's been eternity...
And as I gently sip this drink,
I think about my lack of future,
And all the places I could learn to fall in love.
I know I shouldn't waste my time,
Wishing I'd been better designed,
Yet for some reason still think...
I am wrecked. I am overblown.
I am also fed up with the fucking common cold!
When I just want to feel alive, for the first time in my life,
I just want to feel, attractive today.
Music: Attractive today - Motion City Soundtrack
Monday, December 13, 2010
Finding something to do
Today we are talking music. Mostly around the idea of how much of it is subjective. It’s one of those things that is intrinsically tied to where you are at personally in your life, how you feel, what you want, all that stuff. That’s why emo appeals to teenagers, cause that’s what being a teenager is. I don’t think you ever stop loving an album you loved way back when. You’re not going to turn around one day and hate it. Surely? But you are bound to shift and change, and so too will your musical tastes and you may no longer care much for that band.
So we come to My Chemical Romance. I don’t think I’ve ever been so underwhelmed with an album before. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is, to put it simply, lacklustre. It has no heart. It has no passion. It has no anger. And as Abbi rightly points out, when a band like MCR isn't angry anymore, what’s the point? It's all hollow, empty play-acting and it’s boring. I rate it a resounding MEH.
It’s just so disappointing considering how much I adored The Black Parade. I wasn’t expecting more of the same, but something with the same edge at least. All three previous albums had that edge after all, now it’s just…gone. Maybe 18 year old me wouldn’t be so down on this record, but 23 year old me doesn’t care for it at all. All I ask from my music is that it means something to me, creates some sort of feeling (other than disappointed), and this really doesn’t. I’m now especially glad Fall Out Boy called it quits when they did.
On the flipside, the new Hellogoodbye album is nothing short of fabulous. Much of the silliness is gone, but it’s still bucketloads of fun and is just overall pop perfection. Yay! **dances** Would it kill you? sees Forrest and co discard the dated overblown synths and fully embrace catchy hooks. It feels fresh and has the natural touch of a band following their instincts, and doing it well. Forrest continues to write his particular brand of lovesong, set to breezy melodies that are infectious, alternately soft but also frenetic. It’s sentimental without being unbearably saccharine, and is overall everything progression for a band should be. All the quirky, sunny Hellogoodbye elements that had you grinning four years ago are still there, just more developed and refined. Would it kill you? is an upbeat, cohesive album that should appeal not only to the band’s original (and sadly aging) fanbase, but also to those who missed them the first time around. I think it’ll be a staple for me this summer.
I’ve also heard lots of good things about the new Yellowcard – yes, they’ve reunited, like a lot of bands they’ve wised up to their delusions and realised they’re much better together than apart (how are those solo careers working out for you, Panic?) It’s called When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes and is only due out in March. I hope for good things. They do have a violin after all. Timing is spot on for me too, I’ve been listening to Ocean Avenue a fair bit lately.
While I’ve moved more into indie territory, I think that pop punk, when done well, still has the ability to make me happy. I just have refined my tastes now and I’m not so willing to give every single one of them a free pass onto my ipod. They’ve got to earn it. It’s a saturated market and a sea of mediocrity. If a band doesn’t mean it, if they sound like every other band and don’t even try – well, why should I? We’ll always have the golden memories of 2006-2008 kids, but you’ve got to lift your collective game.
On a note that has nothing to do with emo, power pop or indie music, I am so digging Jet's Shaka Rock at the moment. It's a year after its release, but hey, rather late than never! I've realised that I really like Jet. I wasn't keen on the second album, but both Get Born and Shaka Rock hit just the right spot, filling a void for a band that recalls both The Beatles and AC/DC. How it hasn't gone platinum, I don't know. Perhaps I'm continuing my trend of liking albums other people generally don't. I sort of adopted 'Are you gonna be my girl?' as an anthem when it was first released and I didn't think they'd ever be able to match it - 'She's a genius' does it though. I love it. So, so much. I fear part of my love of this band may be narcissism, but hey, who cares right? Rock and roll. They're also exceedingly good live, better than I had expected them to be, so if you ever get the chance to check them out, I'd recommend you take it.
Now back to the very un-rock-n-roll world of employment drudgery.
If what you know is who you are, then she's everything
You don't need an education to know the class you're in
They said, oh hey there girl, tell me what do you do
She said, um nothing but I'm damn sure it's more than you
Music: She's a genius- Jet
So we come to My Chemical Romance. I don’t think I’ve ever been so underwhelmed with an album before. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is, to put it simply, lacklustre. It has no heart. It has no passion. It has no anger. And as Abbi rightly points out, when a band like MCR isn't angry anymore, what’s the point? It's all hollow, empty play-acting and it’s boring. I rate it a resounding MEH.
It’s just so disappointing considering how much I adored The Black Parade. I wasn’t expecting more of the same, but something with the same edge at least. All three previous albums had that edge after all, now it’s just…gone. Maybe 18 year old me wouldn’t be so down on this record, but 23 year old me doesn’t care for it at all. All I ask from my music is that it means something to me, creates some sort of feeling (other than disappointed), and this really doesn’t. I’m now especially glad Fall Out Boy called it quits when they did.
On the flipside, the new Hellogoodbye album is nothing short of fabulous. Much of the silliness is gone, but it’s still bucketloads of fun and is just overall pop perfection. Yay! **dances** Would it kill you? sees Forrest and co discard the dated overblown synths and fully embrace catchy hooks. It feels fresh and has the natural touch of a band following their instincts, and doing it well. Forrest continues to write his particular brand of lovesong, set to breezy melodies that are infectious, alternately soft but also frenetic. It’s sentimental without being unbearably saccharine, and is overall everything progression for a band should be. All the quirky, sunny Hellogoodbye elements that had you grinning four years ago are still there, just more developed and refined. Would it kill you? is an upbeat, cohesive album that should appeal not only to the band’s original (and sadly aging) fanbase, but also to those who missed them the first time around. I think it’ll be a staple for me this summer.
I’ve also heard lots of good things about the new Yellowcard – yes, they’ve reunited, like a lot of bands they’ve wised up to their delusions and realised they’re much better together than apart (how are those solo careers working out for you, Panic?) It’s called When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes and is only due out in March. I hope for good things. They do have a violin after all. Timing is spot on for me too, I’ve been listening to Ocean Avenue a fair bit lately.
While I’ve moved more into indie territory, I think that pop punk, when done well, still has the ability to make me happy. I just have refined my tastes now and I’m not so willing to give every single one of them a free pass onto my ipod. They’ve got to earn it. It’s a saturated market and a sea of mediocrity. If a band doesn’t mean it, if they sound like every other band and don’t even try – well, why should I? We’ll always have the golden memories of 2006-2008 kids, but you’ve got to lift your collective game.
On a note that has nothing to do with emo, power pop or indie music, I am so digging Jet's Shaka Rock at the moment. It's a year after its release, but hey, rather late than never! I've realised that I really like Jet. I wasn't keen on the second album, but both Get Born and Shaka Rock hit just the right spot, filling a void for a band that recalls both The Beatles and AC/DC. How it hasn't gone platinum, I don't know. Perhaps I'm continuing my trend of liking albums other people generally don't. I sort of adopted 'Are you gonna be my girl?' as an anthem when it was first released and I didn't think they'd ever be able to match it - 'She's a genius' does it though. I love it. So, so much. I fear part of my love of this band may be narcissism, but hey, who cares right? Rock and roll. They're also exceedingly good live, better than I had expected them to be, so if you ever get the chance to check them out, I'd recommend you take it.
Now back to the very un-rock-n-roll world of employment drudgery.
If what you know is who you are, then she's everything
You don't need an education to know the class you're in
They said, oh hey there girl, tell me what do you do
She said, um nothing but I'm damn sure it's more than you
Music: She's a genius- Jet
Sunday, December 12, 2010
There's no sign of life
So reading the paper this morning revealed that Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy have apparently been dating for the past six months. How many rockstars do you need, Hudson? How many?
Sigh.
FNB is going well, we had our second meet-up last night and it was a very enjoyable evening. After our discussion of the books - Marian Keyes' The Other Side of the Story proving the more popular choice over Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner - it was decided the evening needed to be continued with our favourite pass time, movie watching. We headed off to the local rental place to scare customers away and aggravate employees and finally settled back on the couch for a long evening of silliness. We stuck to the chick lit theme of the evening and went with romantic comedy types. T'was quite hilarious. Our next genre is YA and it's my choice - I've nominated Summerland by Michael Chabon, and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. There's been some contention over whether the latter is in fact a YA novel, but according to the rules of the book club, I think I am comfortably within the right to recommend it.
Sunday's been pretty hazy, but I've been buzzing. I've had an idea for a story for a while now and it's finally clicked into place enough for me to want to write it. Yay! I've missed this feeling. I try not to worry about it too much when it's not around, mostly because when I try to force myself to write, it's just depressingly second-rate. To actually feel somewhat motivated again is great. Too bad I have to work tomorrow. What can we do?
I was totally angsty over that on Friday actually. That whole 'you have to work, what can you do' thing. I can't stand it. I can't handle the thought that this is what life is. Maybe it is, you know, but there has to be something else. There just has to be. I don't want to settle for anything less, for convention and tradition, and expected hopes and dreams of a good career, buying a house, all that stuff. It's fine for some people, but it's not me. It's not what I want, it's not what I've ever wanted. Maybe I don't really know what I want. I just want to look back on my life one day and know that I was always entirely true to myself, without affectation and without compromising who I was or what I wanted to fit in with some sort of expectation of what I should or should not want or be. A counterintuitive life. Anyway, I get a bit manic when I'm cooped up in an office, dragging myself through dull mediocrity, and that leads to such thoughts. I know saying this sort of thing comes across as overly idealistic, naive even, but I just don't think I'm cut out for it and I don't see why I should have to settle. I refuse to. I'm still too young to do so, anyway.
While grocery shopping today, I caught sight of this ultra violet hair colour that's taken my fancy. I've got an appointment at the hairdressers on Saturday and I'm seriously thinking about going for it. I love my red layer, and I get tons of compliments on it, but something different might be nice. Thoughts?
In other news, my William jeans are fraying at the hem. Sad. These jeans are my favourite pair, possibly ever. I will wear them until they disintegrate completely.
Music: Modern Love - David Bowie
Mood: Creative
Sigh.
FNB is going well, we had our second meet-up last night and it was a very enjoyable evening. After our discussion of the books - Marian Keyes' The Other Side of the Story proving the more popular choice over Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner - it was decided the evening needed to be continued with our favourite pass time, movie watching. We headed off to the local rental place to scare customers away and aggravate employees and finally settled back on the couch for a long evening of silliness. We stuck to the chick lit theme of the evening and went with romantic comedy types. T'was quite hilarious. Our next genre is YA and it's my choice - I've nominated Summerland by Michael Chabon, and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. There's been some contention over whether the latter is in fact a YA novel, but according to the rules of the book club, I think I am comfortably within the right to recommend it.
Sunday's been pretty hazy, but I've been buzzing. I've had an idea for a story for a while now and it's finally clicked into place enough for me to want to write it. Yay! I've missed this feeling. I try not to worry about it too much when it's not around, mostly because when I try to force myself to write, it's just depressingly second-rate. To actually feel somewhat motivated again is great. Too bad I have to work tomorrow. What can we do?
I was totally angsty over that on Friday actually. That whole 'you have to work, what can you do' thing. I can't stand it. I can't handle the thought that this is what life is. Maybe it is, you know, but there has to be something else. There just has to be. I don't want to settle for anything less, for convention and tradition, and expected hopes and dreams of a good career, buying a house, all that stuff. It's fine for some people, but it's not me. It's not what I want, it's not what I've ever wanted. Maybe I don't really know what I want. I just want to look back on my life one day and know that I was always entirely true to myself, without affectation and without compromising who I was or what I wanted to fit in with some sort of expectation of what I should or should not want or be. A counterintuitive life. Anyway, I get a bit manic when I'm cooped up in an office, dragging myself through dull mediocrity, and that leads to such thoughts. I know saying this sort of thing comes across as overly idealistic, naive even, but I just don't think I'm cut out for it and I don't see why I should have to settle. I refuse to. I'm still too young to do so, anyway.
While grocery shopping today, I caught sight of this ultra violet hair colour that's taken my fancy. I've got an appointment at the hairdressers on Saturday and I'm seriously thinking about going for it. I love my red layer, and I get tons of compliments on it, but something different might be nice. Thoughts?
Music: Modern Love - David Bowie
Mood: Creative
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Rise up and take the power back
On Thursday, Lizzie and I met up to see the illustrious Muse at the Acer Arena. It was, in a word, awesome. They brought their full Resistance tour out and it's always such a treat when bands actually bother to do that - it being such a logistical nightmare to get things to venues and all.
I'll admit that I was rather apprehensive as it started - the big reveal of the platforms was cool and all, but I could not see a piano anywhere. Then they played New Born and I was almost immediately heartbroken at the thought of being deprived this particular thrill. Oh, ye of little faith! I think Lizzie summed it up best really when she said I pulled the most manically happy face the minute Matt hopped on the piano. It's entirely true. I was glee-ing like an idiot. Not that I don't appreciate his musicality in general, everything he does is so effortless, like he was born doing it, like it's an extension of himself. But the piano is just something special.
Overall, it was an excellent set and as always, a fantastic tech show. Lots of lights, lasers, confetti, smoke, the whole lot. Moving platforms, insane visuals, rotating drum kit. It's just a great set-up all round. It's so odd how they don't really speak during their sets at all, there's very little verbal interaction with the crowd. Matt said maybe all of three sentences, which is two more than the last time I saw them, and again Dom did most of the general chitchat - even then significantly less than any other band I've seen. It's extremely minimal. Yet Matt still gets the crowd to respond to him, so he clearly has the whole enigmatic frontman thing down. Maybe he just hypnotised everyone with his reflective tinfoil suit. It's just interesting in comparison with some of other bands at the same level.
It was a great gig and I completely enjoyed it. I'm still amazed that three people (well four if you count the guy lurking in the background) can make so much noise. Speaking of noise, Biffy Clyro opened and tore it up. I did not expect them to be that loud. Brilliant set though, I was very pleased. They're doing a show at the Factory tonight but I had other commitments, so I'm glad I got a chance to see them. I'd say the aussie weather wasn't agreeing with their scottish sensibilities, but then Simon is always running around shirtless anyway. So yes. Good gig. Great night. Go team.
I'm in quite the chipper mood. Things took a charming turn. Now off to book club. I have sangria and dessert. I am clearly the best guest everrrr.
Music: A praise chorus - Jimmy Eat World
I'll admit that I was rather apprehensive as it started - the big reveal of the platforms was cool and all, but I could not see a piano anywhere. Then they played New Born and I was almost immediately heartbroken at the thought of being deprived this particular thrill. Oh, ye of little faith! I think Lizzie summed it up best really when she said I pulled the most manically happy face the minute Matt hopped on the piano. It's entirely true. I was glee-ing like an idiot. Not that I don't appreciate his musicality in general, everything he does is so effortless, like he was born doing it, like it's an extension of himself. But the piano is just something special.
Overall, it was an excellent set and as always, a fantastic tech show. Lots of lights, lasers, confetti, smoke, the whole lot. Moving platforms, insane visuals, rotating drum kit. It's just a great set-up all round. It's so odd how they don't really speak during their sets at all, there's very little verbal interaction with the crowd. Matt said maybe all of three sentences, which is two more than the last time I saw them, and again Dom did most of the general chitchat - even then significantly less than any other band I've seen. It's extremely minimal. Yet Matt still gets the crowd to respond to him, so he clearly has the whole enigmatic frontman thing down. Maybe he just hypnotised everyone with his reflective tinfoil suit. It's just interesting in comparison with some of other bands at the same level.
It was a great gig and I completely enjoyed it. I'm still amazed that three people (well four if you count the guy lurking in the background) can make so much noise. Speaking of noise, Biffy Clyro opened and tore it up. I did not expect them to be that loud. Brilliant set though, I was very pleased. They're doing a show at the Factory tonight but I had other commitments, so I'm glad I got a chance to see them. I'd say the aussie weather wasn't agreeing with their scottish sensibilities, but then Simon is always running around shirtless anyway. So yes. Good gig. Great night. Go team.
I'm in quite the chipper mood. Things took a charming turn. Now off to book club. I have sangria and dessert. I am clearly the best guest everrrr.
Music: A praise chorus - Jimmy Eat World
Mood: Pleased
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Secret-keeping is a complicated endeavor
Leonard: Sheldon! How could you just sit there and let them spy on me?
Sheldon: They were clever, they exploited my complete lack of interest in what you were doing.
I...am sick. Yes, just as summer decided to kick in properly, I succumb to some or other form of space virus. So today has passed with a head feeling full of cotton wool, lots of coughing and a box of tissues. Tres attractive. Regardless however, I've crossed the last thing off my EPIC to-do list that spanned the last two weeks. Yay! Now it's onto the next one, but it's luckily only one (and a half) magazines instead of the horrible three. I am thankful for small mercies.
What else is new? Um. Not much. The house has yet again been transformed into a festive madhouse, and I will be finding glitter in my hair and clothes for the next month at least. I haven't done any christmas shopping, so that's a bit of a worry - especially as I am broke. All my car bills are due next week, so there's not much I can do about that.
On the topic of monies, and not having them, I'll happily attend any of the following gigs in the new year. If any takes your fancy, let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to acquire tix when I have some disposable income at least. I really want to see TGA though, I may cry if I miss it.
Interpol 4 Jan @ The Enmore $83.50+BF
Future to the left 5 Jan @ The Annandale $$42+BF
Hot Hot Heat 6 Jan @ The Metro $44+BF
Cold War Kids 6 Jan @ The Metro $75.60+BF
The National 7/8 Jan @ The Enmore [Sold Out]
Amanda Palmer 26 Jan @ Opera House $56.95+BF
Sufjan Stevens 27/28 Jan @ Opera House [Sold Out]
Yeasayer 7 Feb @ The Metro $55+BF
Jenny & Johnny 7 Feb @ The OAF $58.90
Deerhunter 8 Feb @ The Metro $55+BF
The Getaway Plan 11 Feb @ The Metro $39.10+BF [on sale 11/12]
Andrew McMahon 12 Feb @ The Metro TBC [on sale 10/12]
Ben Jorgensen 22 Feb @ The Gaelic $19.80
The Gaslight Anthem 28 Feb @ The Metro $49.80+BF
The Hold Steady 8 March @ The Metro $49.90+BF
Sparkadia/Operator Please 1 April @ The Metro $28.70+BF [on sale 6/12]
Jimmy Eat World 8 April @ The Enmore $68.70+BF [on sale 9/12]
In other news, my uni assignments have been returned. I have received two HDs and three Ds. I am actually amazed cause I really didn't think I'd manage, what with the three full time subjects and full time work. At the same time though, I am maybe, maybe just a teeny tiny little bit disappointed as well. How screwed up is that? See what it's like in my head? Insanity! It's only because it frustrates me that my critical theory work is graded better than my creative writing. I don't know when this started happening, I used to cruise through creative writing classes. That's postgrad for you I guess - theory starts clicking properly (ie you know exactly how to write an essay that makes them think you know what you're on about) and they start tightening up on marking. I can't really be disappointed. Anyway, all things considered, I should be averaging a high D for the entire course so far, 2:1.
Not much else happening. Work is work. Life is life. I am generally happy. Seeing Muse this week, woo! Here's hoping I can get the band to kidnap me...
Ugh, sniffling! Make it stop! Blargh.
Music: Top Gear
Mood: Not amused, health. Not at all.
Sheldon: They were clever, they exploited my complete lack of interest in what you were doing.
I...am sick. Yes, just as summer decided to kick in properly, I succumb to some or other form of space virus. So today has passed with a head feeling full of cotton wool, lots of coughing and a box of tissues. Tres attractive. Regardless however, I've crossed the last thing off my EPIC to-do list that spanned the last two weeks. Yay! Now it's onto the next one, but it's luckily only one (and a half) magazines instead of the horrible three. I am thankful for small mercies.
What else is new? Um. Not much. The house has yet again been transformed into a festive madhouse, and I will be finding glitter in my hair and clothes for the next month at least. I haven't done any christmas shopping, so that's a bit of a worry - especially as I am broke. All my car bills are due next week, so there's not much I can do about that.
On the topic of monies, and not having them, I'll happily attend any of the following gigs in the new year. If any takes your fancy, let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to acquire tix when I have some disposable income at least. I really want to see TGA though, I may cry if I miss it.
Interpol 4 Jan @ The Enmore $83.50+BF
Future to the left 5 Jan @ The Annandale $$42+BF
Hot Hot Heat 6 Jan @ The Metro $44+BF
Cold War Kids 6 Jan @ The Metro $75.60+BF
The National 7/8 Jan @ The Enmore [Sold Out]
Amanda Palmer 26 Jan @ Opera House $56.95+BF
Sufjan Stevens 27/28 Jan @ Opera House [Sold Out]
Yeasayer 7 Feb @ The Metro $55+BF
Jenny & Johnny 7 Feb @ The OAF $58.90
Deerhunter 8 Feb @ The Metro $55+BF
The Getaway Plan 11 Feb @ The Metro $39.10+BF [on sale 11/12]
Andrew McMahon 12 Feb @ The Metro TBC [on sale 10/12]
Ben Jorgensen 22 Feb @ The Gaelic $19.80
The Gaslight Anthem 28 Feb @ The Metro $49.80+BF
The Hold Steady 8 March @ The Metro $49.90+BF
Sparkadia/Operator Please 1 April @ The Metro $28.70+BF [on sale 6/12]
Jimmy Eat World 8 April @ The Enmore $68.70+BF [on sale 9/12]
In other news, my uni assignments have been returned. I have received two HDs and three Ds. I am actually amazed cause I really didn't think I'd manage, what with the three full time subjects and full time work. At the same time though, I am maybe, maybe just a teeny tiny little bit disappointed as well. How screwed up is that? See what it's like in my head? Insanity! It's only because it frustrates me that my critical theory work is graded better than my creative writing. I don't know when this started happening, I used to cruise through creative writing classes. That's postgrad for you I guess - theory starts clicking properly (ie you know exactly how to write an essay that makes them think you know what you're on about) and they start tightening up on marking. I can't really be disappointed. Anyway, all things considered, I should be averaging a high D for the entire course so far, 2:1.
Not much else happening. Work is work. Life is life. I am generally happy. Seeing Muse this week, woo! Here's hoping I can get the band to kidnap me...
Ugh, sniffling! Make it stop! Blargh.
Music: Top Gear
Mood: Not amused, health. Not at all.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A snippet of my day
The following parental exchange just occured. Scene: I'm sitting outside writing an email, dad's watching the Ashes, and mum's pottering around the kitchen.
Dad (calling out): Hey, here's a guy for you!
Me: What?
Dad: Come look! He's a cute guy.
Me: For which side?
Dad: England.
Me: Is it Stuart Broad?
Mum: No (that long suffering 'we're not idiots' kind of no) but this England side isn't a bad looking bunch.
Me (stumbling inside): What are you talking about?
Dad: This Cook guy. He's just 25 too.
Mum: And your type as well, dark and british.
Me (watching said guy celebrating his century): Yeah...but Broad is so pretty.
Mum: Hmmm I wonder who his dad is.
Me: Why? Do you think he's another expat?
Mum: He just reminds me of Jimmy Cook. Google it.
Me: With a name like Alastair how can he not be English?
Mum: I'm just curious.
Me: I don't want - oh, alright fine. (googles) These team photos are always horrible....see, definitely english....sounds quite clever though....oh he plays the piano!
Mum: And suddenly he's the cutest guy on the team.
Me: Shut up.
Mum: Mocking is how you know I love you.
Mocking is loooove. Parents are nutters.
Music: Neighbour mowing his lawn
Mood: Sleepy
Dad (calling out): Hey, here's a guy for you!
Me: What?
Dad: Come look! He's a cute guy.
Me: For which side?
Dad: England.
Me: Is it Stuart Broad?
Mum: No (that long suffering 'we're not idiots' kind of no) but this England side isn't a bad looking bunch.
Me (stumbling inside): What are you talking about?
Dad: This Cook guy. He's just 25 too.
Mum: And your type as well, dark and british.
Me (watching said guy celebrating his century): Yeah...but Broad is so pretty.
Mum: Hmmm I wonder who his dad is.
Me: Why? Do you think he's another expat?
Mum: He just reminds me of Jimmy Cook. Google it.
Me: With a name like Alastair how can he not be English?
Mum: I'm just curious.
Me: I don't want - oh, alright fine. (googles) These team photos are always horrible....see, definitely english....sounds quite clever though....oh he plays the piano!
Mum: And suddenly he's the cutest guy on the team.
Me: Shut up.
Mum: Mocking is how you know I love you.
Mocking is loooove. Parents are nutters.
Music: Neighbour mowing his lawn
Mood: Sleepy
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Right in front of us
Today, I am 23 years old. Imagine that. I've polled my friends and apparently it is still too early for a mid-life crisis, so I'll put that off for another couple of years. All in all, it's been a fabulous weekend. I feel very loved and grateful for everyone in my life - general good vibes for all!
Things kicked off on Friday night with Em. Dinner in Newtown followed by dessert at what has officially become my favourite cafe, and then on to the Factory for Cute is what we aim for. We wasted as much time as we could hoping to miss the opening bands, but this didn't quite work out and we still had to sit through two of them. Not that opening bands are terrible things to be avoided just...well, we're jaded, what can we say. We were both very taken aback by the age of the audience - on average they appeared to be about fourteen - and spent much time reminiscing about days when we were still that naive/excitable/embarrassing. Maybe not doing as much reminiscing as lamenting. Cute had undergone complete line-up changes in the five years since we'd first gotten into them, so we actually had no idea what the current band looked like and that in itself led to some amusement. It is fair to say neither of us had very high expectations, and it is also fair to say we were both very pleasantly surprised. It really was a wonderfully fun show, comprising of mostly first album songs we had been dying to hear. Shaant was channeling Tyson Ritter in his performance and he was completelymanic captivating. I still cannot believe how blue his eyes are. Jaw on floor. I have no idea who the rest of the band are, but they are all very good and the bass player is all sorts of adorable. As bass players inevitably seem to be. So yes, it may have been five years late, but it was a fun gig and well worth the wait.
I gathered the willing on Saturday morning for a road trip up the coast. Arguing with the GPS aside - "it's the scenic route!" - we arrived at a sunny, tranquil, very windy Palm Beach just in time for lunch. What followed was a lazy afternoon of sitting about, laughing (a lot), playing cards and taking far, far, faaaar too many photos. Memorable quotes include:
"I don't know what I use, I just walk in and some gay guy tells me to try this make-up and I say ok."
"I'm full." (Randomly interjected by Em as Roze and I were mid friendly disagreement)
"We have achieved our goals!"
"I'm so wise."
"It's a heli that copters!"
Hmm. These were all much funnier at the time. Anyway, following the blissful madness, we packed up and headed back to mine where we consumed yet more junk food (namely pringles and chocolate) and watched Beauty & the Beast. As you do.
As for my actual birthday, it has been very mellow and spent in the company of the parentals. We had a lovely brunch, and then mum and I spent much of the day shopping. I'm not one to make a big fuss over my birthday, and honestly, when I have these gorgeous laid-back weekends, I don't see why I should. It's much more me, isn't it?
Music: Existentialism on prom night - Straylight Run
Mood: Happy
Things kicked off on Friday night with Em. Dinner in Newtown followed by dessert at what has officially become my favourite cafe, and then on to the Factory for Cute is what we aim for. We wasted as much time as we could hoping to miss the opening bands, but this didn't quite work out and we still had to sit through two of them. Not that opening bands are terrible things to be avoided just...well, we're jaded, what can we say. We were both very taken aback by the age of the audience - on average they appeared to be about fourteen - and spent much time reminiscing about days when we were still that naive/excitable/embarrassing. Maybe not doing as much reminiscing as lamenting. Cute had undergone complete line-up changes in the five years since we'd first gotten into them, so we actually had no idea what the current band looked like and that in itself led to some amusement. It is fair to say neither of us had very high expectations, and it is also fair to say we were both very pleasantly surprised. It really was a wonderfully fun show, comprising of mostly first album songs we had been dying to hear. Shaant was channeling Tyson Ritter in his performance and he was completely
[from here]
I gathered the willing on Saturday morning for a road trip up the coast. Arguing with the GPS aside - "it's the scenic route!" - we arrived at a sunny, tranquil, very windy Palm Beach just in time for lunch. What followed was a lazy afternoon of sitting about, laughing (a lot), playing cards and taking far, far, faaaar too many photos. Memorable quotes include:
"I don't know what I use, I just walk in and some gay guy tells me to try this make-up and I say ok."
"I'm full." (Randomly interjected by Em as Roze and I were mid friendly disagreement)
"We have achieved our goals!"
"I'm so wise."
"It's a heli that copters!"
Hmm. These were all much funnier at the time. Anyway, following the blissful madness, we packed up and headed back to mine where we consumed yet more junk food (namely pringles and chocolate) and watched Beauty & the Beast. As you do.
It was so much fun. I'm glad that after years of wanting to do so, we finally managed to get to Palm Beach.
As for my actual birthday, it has been very mellow and spent in the company of the parentals. We had a lovely brunch, and then mum and I spent much of the day shopping. I'm not one to make a big fuss over my birthday, and honestly, when I have these gorgeous laid-back weekends, I don't see why I should. It's much more me, isn't it?
Once again, big thanks to everyone for all the kind messages. Now time for some more writing!
Music: Existentialism on prom night - Straylight Run
Mood: Happy
Done with what we've lost
When the sun came up,
We were sleeping in.
Sunk inside our blankets,
Sprawled across the bed.
And we...were dreaming.
There are moments when,
When I know it ends.
The world revolves around us,
And we're keeping it,
Keep it all going,
This delicate balance,
Vulnerable, all knowing.
Sing like you think no one's listening,
You would kill for this,
Just a little bit, just a little bit,
You would.
Sing me something soft,
Sad and delicate.
Or loud and out of key,
Sing me anything.
Music: Existentialism on prom night - Straylight Run
Mood: Pensive
We were sleeping in.
Sunk inside our blankets,
Sprawled across the bed.
And we...were dreaming.
There are moments when,
When I know it ends.
The world revolves around us,
And we're keeping it,
Keep it all going,
This delicate balance,
Vulnerable, all knowing.
Sing like you think no one's listening,
You would kill for this,
Just a little bit, just a little bit,
You would.
Sing me something soft,
Sad and delicate.
Or loud and out of key,
Sing me anything.
Music: Existentialism on prom night - Straylight Run
Mood: Pensive
Thursday, November 25, 2010
A still verdictless life
I am really epically frustrated with myself today. With my job, my attitude, my lack of preservation, my inability to do anything properly. And then I get mad at myself for being frustrated. Oh, how I amuse myself.
So what, so I've got a smile on
It's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
Don't believe me, don't believe me
When I say I've got it down
Everybody is just a stranger but
that's the danger in going my own way
I guess it's the price I have to pay
still 'Everything happens for a reason'
is no reason not to ask myself
If you’re living it right
Music: Why Georgia - John Mayer
Mood: Frustrated
So what, so I've got a smile on
It's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
Don't believe me, don't believe me
When I say I've got it down
Everybody is just a stranger but
that's the danger in going my own way
I guess it's the price I have to pay
still 'Everything happens for a reason'
is no reason not to ask myself
If you’re living it right
Music: Why Georgia - John Mayer
Mood: Frustrated
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Standing in the back
Today was mainly soundtracked by the following songs...
Zombie Tuesday out.
Music: A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World
Mood: Creative
Zombie Tuesday out.
Music: A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World
Mood: Creative
Monday, November 22, 2010
Statues at the gate
I am having serious productivity issues. In the sense that I'm not doing much at work. Don't know why, it's not a lack of things to do, I just...can't be bothered, I suppose. Sigh. Which is why I'm sitting here on a Monday night trying to write profiles, since it's just not happening while I'm actually within work hours. Oh self, you are so frustrating sometimes.
On that note, I think I'm going to let nano go quietly into the night. I'm never going to make it without pulling some serious big numbers, and I've got tons of other stuff to write. I don't like giving up, but the last month has been pretty crazy and other stuff's been happening...look, I'm trying not to feel too horrible about it.
In other news, I have just been informed that we are going to New Zealand. Woo! My not-so-subtle suggestions have paid off. As much as going on holiday with the 'rents can be a bit of an ordeal, with much swearing that it's the last time without fail at least once, I was angling for this trip because I wanted to go before I headed to the UK and with saving for that, I can't afford a self-funded trip. Luckily, the parentals have wanted to go for a while and it all works out quite nicely now. It's a bit sentimental too I suppose, last serious quality time before I abandon them. But yay! New Zealand! I am going to Lord of the Rings fangirl all over the place. Including doing this. The aim is to fly into Christchurch, head to Queenstown and then make the journey up to Auckland. Well, that's the tentative plan at the moment. Bit ambitious for two weeks if you ask me, but we'll see. So yes, that'll be end of April. Come here travel, let me hug you.
Hours pass, and she still counts the minutes that I am not there
I swear I didn't mean for it to feel like this
Like every inch of me is bruised
Music: Bruised - Jack's Mannequin
Mood: Working
On that note, I think I'm going to let nano go quietly into the night. I'm never going to make it without pulling some serious big numbers, and I've got tons of other stuff to write. I don't like giving up, but the last month has been pretty crazy and other stuff's been happening...look, I'm trying not to feel too horrible about it.
In other news, I have just been informed that we are going to New Zealand. Woo! My not-so-subtle suggestions have paid off. As much as going on holiday with the 'rents can be a bit of an ordeal, with much swearing that it's the last time without fail at least once, I was angling for this trip because I wanted to go before I headed to the UK and with saving for that, I can't afford a self-funded trip. Luckily, the parentals have wanted to go for a while and it all works out quite nicely now. It's a bit sentimental too I suppose, last serious quality time before I abandon them. But yay! New Zealand! I am going to Lord of the Rings fangirl all over the place. Including doing this. The aim is to fly into Christchurch, head to Queenstown and then make the journey up to Auckland. Well, that's the tentative plan at the moment. Bit ambitious for two weeks if you ask me, but we'll see. So yes, that'll be end of April. Come here travel, let me hug you.
Hours pass, and she still counts the minutes that I am not there
I swear I didn't mean for it to feel like this
Like every inch of me is bruised
Music: Bruised - Jack's Mannequin
Mood: Working
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Go get your rope
It's aliiiiiiive!
Barely but just. Uni is done for the semester. Dead and defeated. Essays went in two days after I intended, but they went in. Won't get penalised for it, so who cares. I'm not entirely convinced of their quality, but then again I never am. I had a whole slew of others I was going to write for submissions and stuff, been to knackered to get round to them.
Tired is my default state these days. Last two weeks I've barely slept more than five hours a night. Not entirely unworkable, but it starts to show after a while. I've been wholly unproductive at work, a problem since there is just so much to do.
Guess I've been preoccupied.
Saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with L on Friday - my heart, my heart, and other cries of woe. This is it, you know, my childhood is officially ending. I still don't know how anyone who hasn't read the books has any idea what's going on though. Yesterday, I caught up with a uni friend to see Red. It was quite enjoyable, but I was just pleased to find Karl Urban starring in it. Wearing a suit no less. He completely won me over at Supanova last year, such a nice guy.
Spent the evening at R's in excellent company, playing poker for genres and devouring too many m&ms. I won the first round so I didn't feel too guilty eating my 'chips'. Unsurprisingly, it rapidly descended into chaos, and by midnight we were nursing snap related injuries. I'm bleeding! Look at my hand! Your nail stabbed me! It's your ring! So we've learnt that we can get quite viscous when it comes to snap, and really we are still 12 on the inside. Cards everywhere!
Admittedly, I don't think I was the best of company. Bit tired, bit out of it, bit grumpy. I was running late for everything, which didn't really help matters much. And I had three venti quadruple shot lattes and no food till 8pm, so maybe not surprising that I was weird and twitchy.
I had big plans of catching up on all that missed sleep today but my brain had other ideas. I haven't slept that badly in weeks. Will try to put a dent in my nano total today as I realised I essentially have 10 days to write 48 000 words. Suspect it's a bit of a lost cause. Wait and see I suppose.
Even if I lay my head down at night
After a day I got perfectly right
You won't know
Music: You won't know - Brand New
Mood: Blah
Barely but just. Uni is done for the semester. Dead and defeated. Essays went in two days after I intended, but they went in. Won't get penalised for it, so who cares. I'm not entirely convinced of their quality, but then again I never am. I had a whole slew of others I was going to write for submissions and stuff, been to knackered to get round to them.
Tired is my default state these days. Last two weeks I've barely slept more than five hours a night. Not entirely unworkable, but it starts to show after a while. I've been wholly unproductive at work, a problem since there is just so much to do.
Guess I've been preoccupied.
Saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with L on Friday - my heart, my heart, and other cries of woe. This is it, you know, my childhood is officially ending. I still don't know how anyone who hasn't read the books has any idea what's going on though. Yesterday, I caught up with a uni friend to see Red. It was quite enjoyable, but I was just pleased to find Karl Urban starring in it. Wearing a suit no less. He completely won me over at Supanova last year, such a nice guy.
Spent the evening at R's in excellent company, playing poker for genres and devouring too many m&ms. I won the first round so I didn't feel too guilty eating my 'chips'. Unsurprisingly, it rapidly descended into chaos, and by midnight we were nursing snap related injuries. I'm bleeding! Look at my hand! Your nail stabbed me! It's your ring! So we've learnt that we can get quite viscous when it comes to snap, and really we are still 12 on the inside. Cards everywhere!
Admittedly, I don't think I was the best of company. Bit tired, bit out of it, bit grumpy. I was running late for everything, which didn't really help matters much. And I had three venti quadruple shot lattes and no food till 8pm, so maybe not surprising that I was weird and twitchy.
I had big plans of catching up on all that missed sleep today but my brain had other ideas. I haven't slept that badly in weeks. Will try to put a dent in my nano total today as I realised I essentially have 10 days to write 48 000 words. Suspect it's a bit of a lost cause. Wait and see I suppose.
Even if I lay my head down at night
After a day I got perfectly right
You won't know
Music: You won't know - Brand New
Mood: Blah
Cut and run
'How would you like to get the hell out of here? Here's my idea. I know this guy down in Greenwich Village that we can borrow his cab for a couple of weeks, He used to go to the same school I did and he still owes me ten bucks. What we could do is, tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont, and all around there, see. It's beautiful as hell up there. It really is.' I was getting excited as hell, the more I thought about it, and I sort of reached over and took old Sally's goddam hand. What a goddam fool I was. 'No kidding,' I said, 'I have about a hundred and eighy bucks in the bank. I can take it out when it opens in the morning, and then I could go down and get this guy's car. No kidding. We'll stay in these cabin camps and stuff like that till the dough runs out. Then, when the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all and, later on, we could get married or something. I could chop all our own wood in the wintertime and all. Honest to God, we could have a terrific time! Wuddaya say? C'mon! Wuddaya say? Will you do it with me? Please!'
'You can't just do something like that,' old Sally said. She sounded sore as hell.
'Why not? Why the hell not?'
Oh Holden, how often I ask myself that question. Surely everyone wants to run away sometimes, just drop everything and go. Even if just for a little while. No apologies, no regrets.
Music: Creaking trees
Mood: Restless
'You can't just do something like that,' old Sally said. She sounded sore as hell.
'Why not? Why the hell not?'
Oh Holden, how often I ask myself that question. Surely everyone wants to run away sometimes, just drop everything and go. Even if just for a little while. No apologies, no regrets.
Music: Creaking trees
Mood: Restless
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tell me what you find
Sun sleepy and tired out. Lovely weekend catching up with friends, categorically not doing uni work. Technically it's all due tomorrow, obviously not done. Such is life. Don't feel like fighting things today.
Mary, this station is playing every sad song.
I remember like we were alive.
I heard and sung them all from inside of these walls.
In a prison cell, where we spent those nights.
And they burnt up the diner where I always used to find her.
Licking young boys blood from her claws.
And I learned about the blues from this kitten I knew.
Her hair was raven and her heart was like a tomb.
My heart's like a wound.
I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my first wife.
Everybody leaves and I'd expect as much from you.
I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my old life.
Everybody leaves, so why, why wouldn't you?
Mary, I worried and stalled every night of my life.
Better safe than making the party.
And I never had a good time, I sat about my bedside, with papers and poetry about Estella.
With great expectations, we had the greatest expectations.
I've said this before on twitter, but TGA make me nostalgic for...something, something undefinable. Bygone eras and moments that can never be reclaimed.
I think if I could live in any fictional place, I'd choose Lothlorien.
Music: Great Expectations - The Gaslight Anthem
Mood: Sleepy
Mary, this station is playing every sad song.
I remember like we were alive.
I heard and sung them all from inside of these walls.
In a prison cell, where we spent those nights.
And they burnt up the diner where I always used to find her.
Licking young boys blood from her claws.
And I learned about the blues from this kitten I knew.
Her hair was raven and her heart was like a tomb.
My heart's like a wound.
I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my first wife.
Everybody leaves and I'd expect as much from you.
I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my old life.
Everybody leaves, so why, why wouldn't you?
Mary, I worried and stalled every night of my life.
Better safe than making the party.
And I never had a good time, I sat about my bedside, with papers and poetry about Estella.
With great expectations, we had the greatest expectations.
I've said this before on twitter, but TGA make me nostalgic for...something, something undefinable. Bygone eras and moments that can never be reclaimed.
I think if I could live in any fictional place, I'd choose Lothlorien.
Music: Great Expectations - The Gaslight Anthem
Mood: Sleepy
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Stay awhile and then you'll see
This is what a dog midway through a thunderstorm related meltdown looks like. Suffice it to say it makes typing quite a challenge. I need my arms! Is this a valid excuse for not handing in an assignment?
Music: Unwell - Matchbox 20
Mood: Writing. Trying to. Still.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Chasing the light
Come July, we'll ride the Ferris Wheel, go round and round and round.
And if you never let me go, well I will never let you down.
But you know the summer always brought it, that wild and reckless breeze.
And in the backseats, we're just trying to find some room for our knees.
Music: The backseat - The Gaslight Anthem
Mood: Exhausted
And if you never let me go, well I will never let you down.
But you know the summer always brought it, that wild and reckless breeze.
And in the backseats, we're just trying to find some room for our knees.
 |
| Photo from here |
Music: The backseat - The Gaslight Anthem
Mood: Exhausted
Held up to the light
It’s 8.45 on a Monday night and you’re standing on a beach watching the sky tear itself apart. The air is heavy with a sense of foreboding, the wind is picking up, and you know you should really, really be getting home. But there’s a flash, and another, and…you can’t bring yourself to walk away.
The clouds are immovable mountains around the bay, spreading out thick and far, alive with light. It’s not quite there yet, not quite escaping, but it speaks of a fury you cannot quite understand.
You’re standing there, alone, in the night, in the rain that’s falling steadily harder, and you’re thinking about your life the way you always do when you’re overcome by your own insignificance. Not a hopeless insignificance, but an awe-struck one. One where the vastness of life, the universe, and everything in between, is so breathtakingly obvious and insurmountable that it ceases to matter, and everything collapses and narrows to the now. Your life, your dreams, your fears, your thoughts. Dramatically encapsulated in a single moment of experiencing something so much bigger than you are.
And you wish, you wish…well.
Your drive home takes you straight into the storm. Lightning flashes quick and close, seconds of blue-white clarity in hours of night. It’s frenzied, it’s intense, and for some inexplicable reason it entirely enthrals you. As if it holds the answers to all the questions you have ever asked, or ever will. As if it knows all your secrets. As if it approves.
Later, you risk turning it into a metaphor for life. How much it can change in the space of twelve hours, from a perfectly content sunny morning to this. How it can be both destructive and beautiful, both enlightening and bewildering. How it’s what you make of it that counts.
And you realise that it was just a case of the right time and the right place. Would you have stopped any other time? Would you have cared?
As sleep steals across you, you realise that it doesn’t matter. You did, and you do. You make your decisions and you stick by them. If nothing else, at least you can say you live life on your own terms.
Music: Tonight, tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
Mood: Still stressed - but getting there, that's a plus.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sink my teeth in deep
Two chapters done, no essays, two chapters to go. My eyes hurt, the sun is out, and I've got this song inexplicably stuck in my head.
Tonight I’ll have a look
And try to find my face again
Buried beneath this house
My spirit screams and dies again
Out back a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Behind the TV screen
I've fallen to my knees
I said you got me where you want me again
And I can’t turn away
I'm hanging by thread and I'm feelin’ like a fool
I'm stuck here in-between
The shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away
I need to get away
Now you know
Yeah you got my back against the wall
Oh god
I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down
Like a sittin’ duck just waitin’ for the fall
You know
Yeah you got my back against the wall
Bit random, but the southern drawl fits the day quite nicely. I've certainly had worse songs stuck in my head.
Onwards!
Music: Back against the wall - Cage The Elephant
Mood: writewritewritewrite-breathe-writewritewritewrite
Tonight I’ll have a look
And try to find my face again
Buried beneath this house
My spirit screams and dies again
Out back a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Behind the TV screen
I've fallen to my knees
I said you got me where you want me again
And I can’t turn away
I'm hanging by thread and I'm feelin’ like a fool
I'm stuck here in-between
The shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away
I need to get away
Now you know
Yeah you got my back against the wall
Oh god
I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down
Like a sittin’ duck just waitin’ for the fall
You know
Yeah you got my back against the wall
Bit random, but the southern drawl fits the day quite nicely. I've certainly had worse songs stuck in my head.
Onwards!
Music: Back against the wall - Cage The Elephant
Mood: writewritewritewrite-breathe-writewritewritewrite
Friday, November 5, 2010
Heart on a hook thrown out to the sea
I re-discovered Fast Times at Barrington High on Thursday. It's been two years since its release, somehow I hadn't realised it had been that long. Time is a funny thing, the way it is such a set, regulated, inevitable thing and yet entirely malleable in the human thought process. I wrote a critical essay last semester based on this premise.
Oreo is doing the most ridiculous thing - she just crawls across the bed when she's halfway through stretching out and it looks hilarious. She knows I'm laughing at her and I am earning a reproachful look *shakes head*
So yeah, the album. I really think of it as a summer album, and hence I feel this falling in love with it again is a bit premature. It's been cold and wet all week, not appropriate for the album's tone at all. Where is summer? I'm tired of spring's mediocrity. The result of this clash is that a vacillate between listening to Fast Times, and listening to The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me - because it is raining, and Brand New are my quintessential rainy day band, and because that album speaks to a part of me that I don't think I can fully express or understand. It is still my most listened to album according to last.fm.
Top 5 Fast Times songs:
♪ About a Girl - predictable choice perhaps, being the main single. But it's catchy, and sing-a-long and encapsulates the tone of the album so perfectly.
I'm not in love, this is not my heart, I'm not going to waste these words about a girl. I'm not in love, this is not your song, I'm not going to waste these words about a girl.
♪ His Girl Friday - it's the same deal as the previous one really. It sums up why I feel this album is entirely successful in what it tries to be, a throwback to those 80s teen films like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. It's the romanticised hollywood high school experience, tapping into a joyful quality of our shared consciousness without falling into nostalgia.
Call on a Monday, come on a Tuesday, they'll never know. Pop off a cork for a Wednesday, stay with me Thursday, but she'll always be his girl, his girl Friday.
♪ The Test - slow it down, it's time for angst. There's a visceral quality to the album, I can see it, I can feel it. Here, there's that sense of walking the streets alone at night and giving in to over-thinking. Its resignation that plays out across a scene characterised by routine, a scene that is oppressive in all that it holds.
If this is a test, I'm losing my shit, would it kill you to care as much as I did? If this is a test, I'm wasting my breath. You're a stranger I know well, and not at all.
♪ Coppertone - arguably my favourite track, I love the flow of the lyrics, the repetitious imagery. There's a hopefulness to it...but hopeful is not the right word. It's anticipatory almost, submissive yet determined, and to me it seems to suggest a contentment with the changeable nature of everything and the risks that requires.
But this charade is never going to last, so pick the poison and pour yourself a glass, I still feel the same, no one's to blame.
♪ One more weekend - This one is such a giant hopeful sing-a-long chorus type song that it's almost sickening in its overtness. BUT it is the last song on the album and bookends the whole thing so perfectly that it's sort of hard not to get into it - Fast Times does feel like it spans across the last year of high school, and even though my high school experience was absolutely nothing like this, thanks to movies and tv it's still instinctively recognisable. Maybe it isn't musical genius, but it is so effective in the scene it conjures, that first taste of freedom in your life, that all I want to do is turn it up and drive around with the windows down and the sun at my back to nowhere in particular.
You'll go off, you'll forget, you'll grow out of hanging from the edges, breaking off the past. You'll know when to move on, you'll know when to take all the right chances, never looking back.
Top 5 The Devil and God songs:
♪ Jesus Christ - I've been staring at this for longer than I should have, trying to figure out what I can say about this song. The ones I did before came quickly, and without much thought, but this...I don't know. I've been listening to this album for four years, you'd think I'd have a better grip on its appeal. But sometimes I think music touches upon things that are hard to articulate, and because it does, I find it hard to articulate how it appeals to me. I have a weird affinity with Jesse Lacey. So perhaps it's a wasteful exercise trying to pinpoint why I love the songs on this album, and it will just have to suffice that I do. Also, I will be quoting favourite lines for this, instead of just the chorus.
Well Jesus Christ, I'm not scared of dying, I'm a little bit scared of what comes after. Do I get the gold chariot, do I float through the ceiling? Do I divide or fall apart? Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark. This ship went down in sight of land, and at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
♪ Sowing Season - The second verse of this song is taken from the Rudyard Kipling poem If. That poem was printed in the back of our high school diary in SA. Random facts.
Do you miss the blend, of colour she left in your black and white field, and do you feel condemned just for being there? I am not your friend, I am just a man who knows how to feel. I am not your friend, I'm not your lover, I'm not your family.
♪ The archers bows have broken - With this song, it's the chorus. It's just always worked for me. And I love the intensity the song carries throughout, it's constant and exhausting, as it should be.
What did you learn tonight? Shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing, you're a voice that never sings, it's what I say. You are freezing over hell, you are bringing on the end you do so well, you can only blame yourself, it's what I say.
♪ Handcuffs - This song is credited entirely to Vin Accardi (both music and lyrics), it's the only lyrics on the album not written by Jesse. It's so twisted, and sad, and...yeah.
I'd drive my car off of a bridge, if I knew that you weren't inside. With the pedal to the floor who could ask for more, a fantastic way to kill some time.
♪ Millstone
I used to pray that God was listening, I used to make my parents proud. I was the glue that kept my friends together, now they don't talk and we don't go out. I used to know the name of every person I'd kissed, now I've made my bed and I can't fall asleep in it.
These are all subject to change though, and change they do, quite regularly. I love doing top 5 lists, makes me feel like I'm in High Fidelity. Never mind that I'm procrastinating.
Speaking of, unsurprisingly my schedule did not work out so well. I got so hung up agonising over stuff that I only managed to finish chapter 2 last night. I'm not entirely convinced of its quality, but I can't waste anymore time on it. So that leaves me with two chapters and an essay each day of the weekend. Nano has completely fallen by the wayside in the process and come next week I'll be 15,000 words behind. It'll be hard going but I should be able to catch up. I'll try anyway.
The week has been long and trying. I've been busy, I've been tired, I've been angsting. Now I've reached the zen state that seems to eventuate as the aftermath of those things colliding.
Oh, I got a speeding fine in the mail from last Thursday. I was driving Martha so it came in on dad's name - he nearly had a heart attack and then realised I was to blame. He was positively gleeful telling me about it. I'm quite pissed about it, not because I got caught but because it's almost as much as my previous fine, and the offence was actually worse last time. How is that fair? There should be some sort of scaling system! Not just some standard fee for all traffic offences. Woe. I think I got another one this week - shall see if it eventuates. I'm contemplating moving to Germany where I won't be penalised for driving a decent speed on a highway.
Expect only to hear from me again when chapter 3, 4 and my postmodernism essay is complete. If you hear about some girl found wandering the streets babbling incoherently, please contact the authorities and see that I am returned home.
Music: One more weekend - The Academy Is...
Mood: Working, or preparing to
Oreo is doing the most ridiculous thing - she just crawls across the bed when she's halfway through stretching out and it looks hilarious. She knows I'm laughing at her and I am earning a reproachful look *shakes head*
So yeah, the album. I really think of it as a summer album, and hence I feel this falling in love with it again is a bit premature. It's been cold and wet all week, not appropriate for the album's tone at all. Where is summer? I'm tired of spring's mediocrity. The result of this clash is that a vacillate between listening to Fast Times, and listening to The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me - because it is raining, and Brand New are my quintessential rainy day band, and because that album speaks to a part of me that I don't think I can fully express or understand. It is still my most listened to album according to last.fm.
Top 5 Fast Times songs:
♪ About a Girl - predictable choice perhaps, being the main single. But it's catchy, and sing-a-long and encapsulates the tone of the album so perfectly.
I'm not in love, this is not my heart, I'm not going to waste these words about a girl. I'm not in love, this is not your song, I'm not going to waste these words about a girl.
♪ His Girl Friday - it's the same deal as the previous one really. It sums up why I feel this album is entirely successful in what it tries to be, a throwback to those 80s teen films like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. It's the romanticised hollywood high school experience, tapping into a joyful quality of our shared consciousness without falling into nostalgia.
Call on a Monday, come on a Tuesday, they'll never know. Pop off a cork for a Wednesday, stay with me Thursday, but she'll always be his girl, his girl Friday.
♪ The Test - slow it down, it's time for angst. There's a visceral quality to the album, I can see it, I can feel it. Here, there's that sense of walking the streets alone at night and giving in to over-thinking. Its resignation that plays out across a scene characterised by routine, a scene that is oppressive in all that it holds.
If this is a test, I'm losing my shit, would it kill you to care as much as I did? If this is a test, I'm wasting my breath. You're a stranger I know well, and not at all.
♪ Coppertone - arguably my favourite track, I love the flow of the lyrics, the repetitious imagery. There's a hopefulness to it...but hopeful is not the right word. It's anticipatory almost, submissive yet determined, and to me it seems to suggest a contentment with the changeable nature of everything and the risks that requires.
But this charade is never going to last, so pick the poison and pour yourself a glass, I still feel the same, no one's to blame.
♪ One more weekend - This one is such a giant hopeful sing-a-long chorus type song that it's almost sickening in its overtness. BUT it is the last song on the album and bookends the whole thing so perfectly that it's sort of hard not to get into it - Fast Times does feel like it spans across the last year of high school, and even though my high school experience was absolutely nothing like this, thanks to movies and tv it's still instinctively recognisable. Maybe it isn't musical genius, but it is so effective in the scene it conjures, that first taste of freedom in your life, that all I want to do is turn it up and drive around with the windows down and the sun at my back to nowhere in particular.
You'll go off, you'll forget, you'll grow out of hanging from the edges, breaking off the past. You'll know when to move on, you'll know when to take all the right chances, never looking back.
Top 5 The Devil and God songs:
♪ Jesus Christ - I've been staring at this for longer than I should have, trying to figure out what I can say about this song. The ones I did before came quickly, and without much thought, but this...I don't know. I've been listening to this album for four years, you'd think I'd have a better grip on its appeal. But sometimes I think music touches upon things that are hard to articulate, and because it does, I find it hard to articulate how it appeals to me. I have a weird affinity with Jesse Lacey. So perhaps it's a wasteful exercise trying to pinpoint why I love the songs on this album, and it will just have to suffice that I do. Also, I will be quoting favourite lines for this, instead of just the chorus.
Well Jesus Christ, I'm not scared of dying, I'm a little bit scared of what comes after. Do I get the gold chariot, do I float through the ceiling? Do I divide or fall apart? Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark. This ship went down in sight of land, and at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
♪ Sowing Season - The second verse of this song is taken from the Rudyard Kipling poem If. That poem was printed in the back of our high school diary in SA. Random facts.
Do you miss the blend, of colour she left in your black and white field, and do you feel condemned just for being there? I am not your friend, I am just a man who knows how to feel. I am not your friend, I'm not your lover, I'm not your family.
♪ The archers bows have broken - With this song, it's the chorus. It's just always worked for me. And I love the intensity the song carries throughout, it's constant and exhausting, as it should be.
What did you learn tonight? Shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing, you're a voice that never sings, it's what I say. You are freezing over hell, you are bringing on the end you do so well, you can only blame yourself, it's what I say.
♪ Handcuffs - This song is credited entirely to Vin Accardi (both music and lyrics), it's the only lyrics on the album not written by Jesse. It's so twisted, and sad, and...yeah.
I'd drive my car off of a bridge, if I knew that you weren't inside. With the pedal to the floor who could ask for more, a fantastic way to kill some time.
♪ Millstone
I used to pray that God was listening, I used to make my parents proud. I was the glue that kept my friends together, now they don't talk and we don't go out. I used to know the name of every person I'd kissed, now I've made my bed and I can't fall asleep in it.
These are all subject to change though, and change they do, quite regularly. I love doing top 5 lists, makes me feel like I'm in High Fidelity. Never mind that I'm procrastinating.
Speaking of, unsurprisingly my schedule did not work out so well. I got so hung up agonising over stuff that I only managed to finish chapter 2 last night. I'm not entirely convinced of its quality, but I can't waste anymore time on it. So that leaves me with two chapters and an essay each day of the weekend. Nano has completely fallen by the wayside in the process and come next week I'll be 15,000 words behind. It'll be hard going but I should be able to catch up. I'll try anyway.
The week has been long and trying. I've been busy, I've been tired, I've been angsting. Now I've reached the zen state that seems to eventuate as the aftermath of those things colliding.
Oh, I got a speeding fine in the mail from last Thursday. I was driving Martha so it came in on dad's name - he nearly had a heart attack and then realised I was to blame. He was positively gleeful telling me about it. I'm quite pissed about it, not because I got caught but because it's almost as much as my previous fine, and the offence was actually worse last time. How is that fair? There should be some sort of scaling system! Not just some standard fee for all traffic offences. Woe. I think I got another one this week - shall see if it eventuates. I'm contemplating moving to Germany where I won't be penalised for driving a decent speed on a highway.
Expect only to hear from me again when chapter 3, 4 and my postmodernism essay is complete. If you hear about some girl found wandering the streets babbling incoherently, please contact the authorities and see that I am returned home.
Music: One more weekend - The Academy Is...
Mood: Working, or preparing to
Monday, November 1, 2010
Of heads and being in over them
Right, my life is currently woefully unorganised and considering how much I have going on, this needs to be remedied. Time to go into intense I-know-you-hate-it-but-just-do-it mode.
Schedule! Let’s go!
Tuesday
Until 5pm – Work (no lunch break, too busy, Melbourne Cup eating up valuable time)
6pm – Home, if I’m lucky.
7pm – Take Oreo for a walk. I need some fresh air.
8pm – Redraft chapter 2 for Theory & Writing
10pm – 2000 words for nano
Wednesday
5am – 1000 words for nano (yes 5, yes I realise this is probably futile)
7am – Leave for work
8.30am – Work? Although a lot of time is dedicated to personal emails. If the editors didn’t love me so much, I’d be fired.
12.30pm – Writing, either nano or redrafting chapter 3.
1.30pm – Work (this week this involves chasing 7 outstanding profiles, writing a feature article and a double page waste of time thing the ad reps booked late. Deadline is Friday. Life is fun.)
4.45pm – Leave for uni
6pm – Theory & Writing, just class workshops this week
10pm – Home, dinner, redraft chapter 3.
Thursday
5am – 1000 words for nano (yes, I hate myself)
7am to 4.45pm – see Wednesday. Variety, I don’t know the word.
6pm – Writing Seminar, presentations and more workshopping (note to self: will need red bull)
10pm – Home, dinner, redraft chapter 4
Friday
5am – 1000 words for nano (I may beg for death, don’t give in to me)
7am to 5pm – see Wednesday, Thursday, variety yadda yadda
6.30pm – Home, maybe. Always late on a Friday.
7pm – Write up postmodern essay, however long that takes
Saturday
Dedicated to adaptations presentation/essay. If I manage to finish it at a decent time, I’ll make sure the postmodern one is well rounded and then work on chapter 5.
Sunday
Have to finish up chapter 4 and 5 as they’re due Monday. Then, if I am still coherent, work on nano.
I will need lots and lots of chocolate, junk food, and iced red tea to get through this. Also if I’ve made any social engagements with anyone…uh yeah, sorry about that. You can come over and do some of my writing if you like?
Now I must stop wasting time and write the 6 profiles I actually have info for. Cue superhero cape swoosh!
Music: Helicopter - Bloc Party
Mood: Maybe getting a little stressed. Just a little.
Schedule! Let’s go!
Tuesday
Until 5pm – Work (no lunch break, too busy, Melbourne Cup eating up valuable time)
6pm – Home, if I’m lucky.
7pm – Take Oreo for a walk. I need some fresh air.
8pm – Redraft chapter 2 for Theory & Writing
10pm – 2000 words for nano
Wednesday
5am – 1000 words for nano (yes 5, yes I realise this is probably futile)
7am – Leave for work
8.30am – Work? Although a lot of time is dedicated to personal emails. If the editors didn’t love me so much, I’d be fired.
12.30pm – Writing, either nano or redrafting chapter 3.
1.30pm – Work (this week this involves chasing 7 outstanding profiles, writing a feature article and a double page waste of time thing the ad reps booked late. Deadline is Friday. Life is fun.)
4.45pm – Leave for uni
6pm – Theory & Writing, just class workshops this week
10pm – Home, dinner, redraft chapter 3.
Thursday
5am – 1000 words for nano (yes, I hate myself)
7am to 4.45pm – see Wednesday. Variety, I don’t know the word.
6pm – Writing Seminar, presentations and more workshopping (note to self: will need red bull)
10pm – Home, dinner, redraft chapter 4
Friday
5am – 1000 words for nano (I may beg for death, don’t give in to me)
7am to 5pm – see Wednesday, Thursday, variety yadda yadda
6.30pm – Home, maybe. Always late on a Friday.
7pm – Write up postmodern essay, however long that takes
Saturday
Dedicated to adaptations presentation/essay. If I manage to finish it at a decent time, I’ll make sure the postmodern one is well rounded and then work on chapter 5.
Sunday
Have to finish up chapter 4 and 5 as they’re due Monday. Then, if I am still coherent, work on nano.
I will need lots and lots of chocolate, junk food, and iced red tea to get through this. Also if I’ve made any social engagements with anyone…uh yeah, sorry about that. You can come over and do some of my writing if you like?
Now I must stop wasting time and write the 6 profiles I actually have info for. Cue superhero cape swoosh!
Music: Helicopter - Bloc Party
Mood: Maybe getting a little stressed. Just a little.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tracing the arc of the hour hand
Friday, October 29, 2010
Photos From My Sidekick
In a Mat Devine type of move, I will subject you all to the photos saved on my phone despite that a) I am not Mat Devine or indeed a rockstar and therefore my photos are not nearly as interesting or funny, and b) my phone's camera is quite crap. So there.
Music: About a girl - The Academy Is...
Mood: Chipper
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| This is the view from my desk. The bike magazine guys are loitering out the back, I silently refer to them as the Blink Revival Crew as they run around in long shorts and backwards caps as if its still the 90s. (Please note the post its were there when I started.) |
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| My random pineapple. Having it around made me feel like The Doctor. Random fruit is so his thing. |
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| The current reading pile. |
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| Don't know why I took this. I was lying on the floor. I'm sure I had my reasons at the time. |
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| Mini house guests. I had ramped my little car off the deck and they rushed to my defence. |
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| Only to take said car hostage. This was last week. Since then I have discovered soldiers lying in the fountain without legs and arms. Casualties everywhere! |
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| High tea time! |
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| This is the look I'm now getting. Seems like a good time to stop and take a certain ridiculously spoiled princess for a walk. |
Mood: Chipper
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