The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 20

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry

I’m not ok by My Chemical Romance. Or Ride the wings of pestilence by From First To Last. It really depends on what kind of anger, or what induced it. Do not, however, listen to Marilyn Manson because it will just further enrage you. Pro tip.



Still one of my all time favourite videos. Oh, MCR. We'll always have the memories.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 19

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

According to last.fm, my most played album is still The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me and I can’t really argue with that. Therefore, let there be Sowing Season.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 18

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

I wish I heard all my songs on the radio – and I don’t listen to Triple J where I actually might cause the hipster oozes through the speakers and hurts my me. But then I would probably hear more Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, and that wouldn't be a bad thing. Today, right at this very moment, I would like to hear The Decemberists’ This is why we fight.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 17

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

At the moment I’m not really listening to the radio a lot cause Hamish and Andy aren’t on regularly anymore *sadface* And at home we only listen to the ‘classic hits’ station and they sure love playing Supertramp a lot. But I’m going to give this day to Rihanna’s S&M which I seem to hear everywhere I go.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 16

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

This would be overplaying getting involved. I don’t really know. I think I’ve done this with Starlight by Muse, but I don’t hate the song. I just don’t really listen to it anymore…and kinda skip it, if it comes on.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 15

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Oooooh, god. I want to say Admit It!!! by Say Anything, but I’ve already used it. She I’ve used as well. Um. Oh! Everything is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack.



I’m sick of the things I do when I’m nervous, like cleaning the oven or checking my tires, or counting the number of tiles in the ceiling, head for the hills the kitchen’s on fire. I used to rely on self-medication, I guess I still do that from time to time, but I’m getting better at fighting the future. Someday you’ll be fine, yes I’ll be just fine.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 14

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Meet me halfway – The Black Eyed Peas. Every time I mention I like this song, everyone goes 'Really?' So that qualifies it for this, I guess.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 13

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Toxic by Britney Spears.



Shut up.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 12

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

I don’t really hate bands - with the exception of Baker Street, I don’t really hate music. There are a lot of things I don’t like, at all (I’m looking at you, Bruno Mars), but I always try to keep in mind that music is a crazy subjective thing. Going back a few years, I rather disliked Metro Station, so song would have to be Shake It I guess.



Oh wait, I forgot about Avalon Drive! They’re locals I’ve seen play more times than I care to remember. Ugh. And then there's Hinder of course. And Escape The Fate. I'm not saying Nickelback cause that's just too easy.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 11

Day 11 – A song from your favorite band

She by Green Day. Great Expectations by The Gaslight Anthem. Jesus Christ by Brand New.







Also: Do Better by Say Anything; Classifieds by The Academy Is... (oh so young in this video! My heart hurts); Lips like morphine by Kill Hannah; New Born by Muse; Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance; G.I.N.A.S.F.S by Fall Out Boy

Becoming who we are

Hello from sunny New Zealand. Well, it was sunny a minute ago...the weather is rather changeable out here. But whatever, I still bid thee good day from my very excellent holiday. I am currently sitting in a rain forest and taking the opportunity to blog - it's ironic that I've managed to secure reception here when it's been patchy throughout the trip so far - Vodafone, useless everywhere!

Anywho, we are currently in Franz Josef on the lush West Coast after spending the first week of the trip traversing the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. I am so in love with southland it defies description. It is just beautiful with all the autumn colours and stunning blue lakes, rolling farmland and then these description-defying mountains. Anyone in good ol Oz who always wanted to go to Europe but never got there for whatever reason, don't worry. Just come down to the end of the South Island, it is just as stunningly beautiful and the people are so, so nice. Just love. Queenstown in particular has agreed brilliantly with me. I can happily imagine living there.

There's such diversity here and so much on offer. Every day is different, even if you're staying in the same spot, and you just don't know what you're going to get. Everything is just stunning though. We got caught in the first snow of the season as we left Queenstown for Te Anau, on our way to Milford Sound, crossing the mountains looking all white, and beautiful - and freezing. When we came back two days later, it had all melted and the scenery was completely different. It was totally lucky - I imagine the place is an entirely different experience in winter. The weather has thrown up everything at us, from rain when we landed in poor Christchurch to a beautiful sunny day yesterday. Today's been lovely as well, but the clouds are massing again and rain is predicted for tomorrow.

It is NZ after all, so there has been lots of action and adventuring. So far I've gotten drenched horse riding in Glenorchy, got yet more drenched under a waterfall while cruising along Milford, took a luge down Bob's Peak in Queenstown, sat front and centre in a helicopter over Franz Josef Glacier and clambered around Fox Glacier after a snow landing, and cantered around the dry river bed below Franz Josef village. It has been awesome. Now I'm sitting in our little campervan, surrounded by ferns and 300 year old trees, while my parents are off enjoying the glacier hot pools. It'd be utterly serene and peaceful if not for the constant background noise of choppers flying overhead. Glacier flights are a big business down here.

Speaking of the flights - helicopters are fantastic. I was a little iffy but the minute it took off, it was just the best thing. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't try skydiving at Queenstown now (or the Canyon swing, that looks like so much fun) but I was already freezing my ass off at the time, and jumping off anything was not very appealing. But anyway, helicopters. So much fun. I highly recommend it. I'm going to try and squeeze in another flight sometime during the trip. As well as more horse rides - that's heaps of fun too. Great way to see some of the country that others don't get to see.

Anyway, I'm just rambling. I'd better get off this and start getting stuff together and organised. We're heading along the coast tomorrow and then up over to the North Island on Monday. So far it has all gone reasonably well. We've managed to not kill each other yet, which is no small achievement considering we're all in close quarters. Luckily the campervan is a decent size, and I've got the front section to myself. And all things told we're all fairly independent, going off doing what we want and meeting up again later. So that's fine, really. I've also managed to secure the front seat most of the time as mountain roads and I are not good friends at the best of times - let alone when sitting in the back of a lumbering truck. And that's essentially what these damn things are. I find it super uncomfortable to be honest, but other than that, every thing's fine. I really think the South Island is one of the most beautiful places I've been and I'm loving every minute I get to stand around gaping at everything while soaking/freezing/being pestered by what may or may not be sandflies. As per usual, I've taken far too many photos.

Best part is knowing it's only a three hour flight from home, so coming back does not seem like such a huge ask.

Music: Wake me up when September ends - Green Day

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 10

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

I’m not sure if this is being literal or figurative. Genuinely fall asleep or boredom fall asleep? Going with the former, I like listening to Frank Sinatra when falling asleep. Particularly Summer Wind, which I always associate with lazy summer afternoon naps. I can practically feel the sun warming my skin *drifts off*

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 9

Day 9 - A song that you can dance to

Currently, I am most consistently dancing to Hurricane by Panic! At The Disco

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 8

Day 8 - A song that you know all the words to

Duuuude. I know all the words to a lot of songs. I am most proud of knowing all the words to Say Anything’s Admit It!!! though, because it is awesome.



This, incidentally, is also a major player in my favourite song selection.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 7

Day 7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Um. This is hard. But I'm going to say Blood from The Black Parade which will always remind me of the Chemical Holiday and all the madness that ensued. While any song off this album would probably do, we were particularly fond of loud renditions of this one.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 6

Day 6 - A song that reminds you of somewhere

This is random. Massachusetts by the Bee Gees always, always reminds me of Chamonix, France. I hear it and I see alps. No, it’s not supposed to make sense.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 5

Day 5 - A song that reminds you of someone

There are so many! Low, of course. That Blinded by the light song, haha. So many others. The one that first came to mind wasYellow Submarine by The Beatles. Years of business studies and art class sing-a-longs have left their mark.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 4

Day 4 - A song that makes you sad

Wake Me Up When September Ends was the first song to ever really devastate me. I also have a crazy emotional response to Set Fire To The Third Bar by Snow Patrol (feat Martha Wainwright) for some strange reason.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 3

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy

This challenge is going to be agonising, isn’t it? There are many songs that make me happy. At the moment, A Praise Chorus by Jimmy Eat World is making me happy.

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2

Day 2 - Your Least Favourite Song

Baker Street by Gerry Raferty. I loathe this song with the burning of all the firey pits of hell. Don’t ask me why, I can’t really explain it. But when I hear that sax solo, I actually feel physically ill.



I couldn't even listen to it to make sure this video is decent quality. Sorry.

Not the ordinary kind

My parents…are killjoys. Dad was vintage car shopping the other night, so naturally I got in on the action and loudly flapped about demanding we purchase one. Or really, trying to wheedle him into going halves with me on one.

“That cheap! It’s only $15,000 each!”
“What about that one? That’s nice. We can paint it.”
“Oh, get that one. We can fix it up. You can show me how to fix the engine properly. Just think, it can be our project. Wouldn’t that be fun? Huh? Huh? Come oooooon.”

I’ve been able to convince my dad of a lot in my life – I am, after all, daddy’s little girl – but here we come to an impasse.

Unfortunately, both he and mum are unfailingly practical on this particular topic. He’s more than happy to look at all the gorgeous vintage goodness and keeps showing me all the Mustang convertibles he finds, but then keeps being a downer in saying I can’t drive it every day and how expensive the upkeep would be etc etc. And then there’s mum chipping in with how much petrol the thing would take (also I’ve realised as most of the old cars run on leaded fuel, where would I even go to fill it up? It's all unleaded these days or, worse, ethanol.)

Sigh. They just rain on my parade.

I just want to live Marge, won't you let me live!?

On a similar note, a guy dad works with is selling his Impala. Selling. His. Impala. How is that not a sign? Now personally, they don't really do it for me - my heart’s been set on a Mustang since I was like 13 - but if an opportunity just comes begging, I’d settle for an Impala. Despite it being ginormous. It’d probably park the entire street in. Or as dad said, “Why do you want this old thing? It’s so big, you could live in it!” Which is actually a pro if you think about it because if I purchase a vintage car, that’s exactly where I’d have to live.

Actually, speaking of Impalas. I was watching Supernatural last night (how can a show so funny be so emo? You hurt my heart, show!) and got to thinking – in light of all these negative, practical facts my parents insist on bothering me with – how do the Winchesters even keep that thing on the road? I mean hell, petrol is expensive.

Also, not once in the last two seasons has it broken down. My car is 14 years younger than that thing, and if I drove it across country hunting demons all the time, it’d totally be a gibbering wreck. Driving 88kms a day in traffic is already turning it into a gibbering wreck. Oi, suspension of disbelief, please come apply yourself to my almost-vintage car as well.

If I hold onto Jack for twenty more years, I think he’ll qualify as vintage. There must be a nutter somewhere collecting Daihatsus.

Dear car, please come and park yourself in our garage. Thanks.

That one is actually perfect. Excellent condition, original owners, just perfect. So…how much can you get for a kidney these days? Ugh. I’m just going to sit here in the corner, softly crying. Don’t mind me.

This is what dad wants, just so by the by. He’s old-school rock n roll.

PS: I'm amazed I don't have a tag for Jack. Considering how much I've whined about him, you'd think I'd have a car appropriate post label. Hm.

Music: Kill Tonight - Panic! At The Disco

The 30 Day Song Challenge: Day 1

Saw this doing the rounds on FB and since Abbi has transferred it to her blog, I thought I'd follow in her esteemed footsteps. Besides, as we all know, a meme is better than productivity. I’ve actually scheduled it all to go up across the next 30 days in lieu of top 10s and such - I will still post randomly as per normal programming...sorry if any feeds get spammed. You know how it is.

Day 1 - Your favourite song

It’s nearly impossible for me to narrow it down to a favourite song – do you know how many songs I love? No? Well, it’s a lot. But I’ve decided to go with the first thing that pops into my head, and that would be Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty McColl. I have in the past declared this my favourite song without real hesitation, so it’ll do.

Get off my lawn

Where do my weekends go? Actually, where does time go in general? I have none of it. If you see some, kindly send it my way.

So close to being on holiday and yet I am filled with horror at how much I have to do before then. Breathe, remember to breathe. Tonight alone, I need to draw another 2,000 words out of my hat - magically naturally - so I can have the full amount necessary for my meeting on Wednesday. I also kind of wanted to finish my editing assignment before I left, but that hasn't happened. Alas, alack, all that.

Not to mention all the people I owe emails - I will get round to it before I go, promise!

So what have I been doing with my time? Well, Friday night I saw Jimmy Eat World with L at the Enmore. It was her Christmas gift, and I think it was a lovely gig. They're really one of those bands that just nail those anthemic sing-a-long songs, and they played all my faves so I was happy. This is the first time I'd seen them in a smaller, indoor setting and it was so much better. Some bands are just not cut out for festivals or stadiums. It just loses too much in translation.

While the band delivered a great set, the crowd annoyed me to no end. We seemed to be in the crazy photo section, and if one more person stuck an iphone up to take a group photo, I was going to shove it down their throat. Also, people who talk during sets are going to a very special circle of hell. And why pray tell are people constantly walking around? What are you doing? Where are you going? Stand still, dammit! If you want to stand around drinking beer and yelling at each other, why pay $70 to see a band? Stay home, turn up their album really loud, and you can do that for free. And yes, I realise this makes me a jaded, grumpy old lady but still....get off my lawn! Or in this case, get out of my gig! And people are so rude. So fucking rude. You expect some pushing and shoving while at gigs, naturally, but I'm talking about common courtesy. Apparently it doesn't exist anymore. Bah.

Anywho. Busy, if generally unproductive weekend. Got hair done cause I couldn't stand the thought of a two week holiday (and holiday snaps) with the coppery mess it faded to. I like the violet hair, it's dark and subtle and you know, nice. But I do wish it had more of a kick to it. I got so many comments on the red, it was so much bolder, and I miss that. Vanity, I know. But anyway, it's pretty again, that's the main thing. I dropped by R's as well, watched The Princess and the Frog which is a lot like an updated Beauty & The Beast with ethnic diversity and accents. It wasn't bad, but I don't know if I was really that into it. We also watched another episode of My So-Called Life, which I am pretty much insisting on watching every time I'm over so I can shamelessly drool over Mr. Leto. Well, I say shamelessly, but it's really not. It's filled with lots and lots of shame. But oh well.

I spent today shopping with mum and spending money I don't have. Bought new jeans for the trip, and a cheap little digital camera that I can take places when the SLR won't make it in. Mostly, I just spent money on horse-riding gear. I've got some proper stuff now, including boots and jodhpurs. I figure as this is something I genuinely enjoy, I might as well do it properly. It's good exercise, gets me outside, and I have a great time. I'm pretty committed to it as my new hobby - only took me 23 years to wise up to it.

Next three days are going to be insane at work. Too much to do. Don't even want to think about it. I'll be working late tomorrow and Tuesday to try and get through it. Wednesday, off to uni. Thursday morning, bright and early flight to Christchurch. Aaaaand, exhale.

Music: Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

Anticipation's on the other line

I wrote this on Wednesday but for some reason it never posted. But hey, here it is anyway.


I was sitting on R’s couch on Saturday both lusting after and bemoaning Jared Leto, when she asked me why I thought he was a jerk. Well R, here’s a classic example. He posted this link on Twitter this morning to mark the anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death. That’s a nice gesture, right? At least I thought so when I started reading it. I was totally thinking ‘Huh, this is actually pretty decent of you, Jared.’ And then I got to the end where he just couldn’t help but chuck in a video he’d made. And this is where it all sort of falls apart for me because he does these things, and no doubt he means well, but it just ends up feeling like he makes everything all about himself. It’s grating.

So, anyway. Had a blast this weekend, cooking breakfast with M and R and commandeering R’s couch for the rest of the day, and spending time with mum on Sunday. Horse riding was brilliant – Centennial Park is such a great place for it, even if it was stupidly busy. Why are there so many people out and exercising at 9am on Sunday morning? Don’t they have beds? That aside, I think horse riding is fast becoming my favourite outdoor activity. I get to be outside, get a great workout and actually enjoy it. Win. Too bad it’s an expensive hobby.

Work is the predictable hub of chaos and mayhem, trying to get stuff done before I go on leave is proving more problematic than anticipated. Plus my intern displays an alarming reluctance to use the phone, so I’m not entirely sure I can trust her to follow up on outstanding material *narrows eyes* I’m sympathetic, after all I loathe the phone too, but unfortunately it’s a necessary evil in this industry…most industries, really. Still want a new job, but will worry about that when I get back.

Caught up with L last night – had the best burger ever, om nom. We saw Never Let Me Go which is various levels of depressing. So much woe and angst. Angst!

Um, um. What else. Worked late tonight and missed writers' group, have yet again fallen behind on emails, and have about 2,000 words to write for uni. Oh and readings to do. Ha. I always have such good intentions but really, I never paid much attention to those so far in my uni career, why would I start now? Eight weeks to go. Slightly terrifying.


Music: The Calendar - Panic! At The Disco

On the borderline

Sometimes I look at my life and I can't believe how much things change and how you don't even notice until you really think about it. It just sort of shifts under you. Like we're all just standing around on quicksand and everything you know, the relationships, the way you deal with things - all of it can just move and fold and change and disappear at any time. Things that meant the world to you at one point just shift into the background, or people you spent so much time with disappear from your life. Some people change with you, while others don't seem to think it's worth the effort. I mean, change is an inevitable part of life, but it's so sneaky. Whenever you stop to look at things, something's different. Maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with constantly moving-going-being. If you're always running, there's no time to look back.

Music: Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day

My diagnosis

You are in a perpetual quest to find the new, the exciting. Emotionally volatile, you are known for sudden changes of opinion, of appreciation, and behavior. Following rules and established methods is difficult for you and the difficulties of higher education are usually quite daunting. Knowledge is best gained through an intimate association with the matter at hand. Usually driven by attitudes and desires of the group, you are talented in an established field of endeavor. Emotions come and go without a strong understanding of their causes. They are unexpected guests in an otherwise placid landscape. You live by your own codes of conduct, which can be noble or terrible depending on the individual. Authority is meaningless to you. You hate to be predictable, at all costs. Rarely verbally effusive, you can at times feel as if your feelings are too deep for words. You are very observant, but rarely express these observations to others.

From here. Love random personality tests.

Music: Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National