Cue long exhale. Busy week was epically busy.
Everything has gone by in a mad rush. In fact, this evening was the first time I've actually been home to cook dinner all week! My emails have mounted up to a scary number, heaps of research I need to start and laundry I need to do. But I can't be bothered to do any of it (and starting on my emails seems to daunting) so here we are.
First off, this week was SO LONG. It was painful. I thought it was Friday on Wednesday already, which left a whole two days to suffer through. Do not want. This was mostly due to work drinks on Tuesday evening. One should never have a night out so early in the work week, it just snowballs terribly. But yay, free cocktails!
The whole delightful experienced was marred slightly by my usual incompetence as I lost my oyster card somewhere along the way. Fail. Luckily, they won't sell you a monthly travel card without you registering it first so I could simply ring up and have it transferred to a new card. Took a couple of days, but it's better than losing heaps of money for my stupidity. You have got to love this oyster card system - paper tickets are for the weak! I even accidentally put mine in the wash once and nothing horrible happened to it. If it had been a paper ticket, I'd have been crying over soggy mush. Not ideal.
Other than that, I headed out to dinner with a friend from Twitter on Thursday (all hail the powers of social networking) and last night, after a day of drinking with work mates, I decided in my infinite wisdom to trek out to Sheperds Bush to watch some Super rugby - specifically the Crusaders game. Of course, I would be seated at the same table as a bunch of Chiefs fans (even though the game happened earlier in the day, none of us knew the result so we could pretend we were watching it live) so there were a number of lively disagreements. And my boys won, so all arguments are invalid as far as I'm concerned. It's really weird, but I miss kiwi boys. And when I say kiwi boys, I mean Maori boys, and islander boys. There is a distinct lack of them here and they always make things much more fun. Moan.
Anywhoodle, have been busy hunting more BT Artboxes in the rest of my free time. From Heathrow to Stratford, we're canvassing London. The great thing about this is I get to see parts of town I wouldn't generally wander into. I think I'll do a post on the travel blog about the whole experience once we're done. In the meantime, hop over to Abbi's blog as she's recapping it all in wonderful fashion whereas I'm too lazy to get myself organised at the moment. Today we started in Hyde Park, crossed the London Pride Parade and headed up Baker Street in our noble quest (and also stopped for some shopping, as you do.) Tomorrow, it's another day of hunting around Shoreditch and South Bank. We're going to pass through Old Spitalfields market, so no doubt there will be more shopping. All hail the first weekend after pay-day. Such a joy.
Tiredness has now descended with a vengeance. After all the box hunting (and Oxford street crowd dodging), I cleaned my room, went to the gym, did some grocery shopping and cooked a proper meal for a change (schnitzel with my mum's signature cheese sauce - which again, was not as good as when she makes it, but fine all the same.) I think it may be time to head to bed with some tea and A Feast For Crows. Oh, the horrors that await.
Music: Chop Chop - The Academy Is...
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
We're going fast
Right, let's round this up, what have I been up to? Well, good question, cause I have absolutely no idea. Apparently not having a routine is good for your memory (very organised people with set habits supposedly don't need to remember things as much as people who have no idea what they're doing one day to the next) so I suppose that counts for something, right?
Made lasagne last night which was infinitely disappointing... it's just not as good as my mum's. Sad. My mum's lasagne is pretty much my favourite thing ever so I while I was eating mine, I just kept thinking how woefully subpar it was. But it was nice to eat something baked for a change. While I was slaving away trying to put this all together, I watched In The Loop and since I was at it, I followed it up with the first season of The Thick Of It. It's such a random show but oh, so many good insults.
I sort of want to start a list of movies I've watched, it's growing rather rapidly. Ah, what not having a television does to you. Thing is, I already can't remember what I've seen...I mean, yeah, I remember when I see their names but off the top of my head, it's not something I can really recall. But not the end of the world, as I see most of my films with Abbi and she already catalogues them in her excellent Film Friday write up (check it out if you get a chance, t'is always entertaining.) I do however know that we watched Attack The Block this week... and I thought it was very good. Well worth all the buzz it had. So yeah. There's one thing I did this week.
I got paid on Friday from ze old job, huzzah! Had a moment of panic when I thought they hadn't actually paid me but no, crisis averted. I have spent most of it already. Oops. But not all frivolously! Some has gone into my savings, and I also bought some groceries and my monthly train ticket. So you know. Responsibility. I have it. Sort of. Sometimes.
Anyway. Definitely didn't have responsibility Thursday evening when I was up until 3am writing a travel article that I've known about for oh, three months? Longer? Fail. Epic fail. And then I accidentally switched off my alarm Friday morning instead of snoozing it, meaning I woke up at 8.30. Eek. Miraculously somehow made it to work on time. I have no idea how that works. Sometimes I catch a train 10 minutes later than normal and arrive at practically the same time. What witchcraft is this? I held up pretty well too, wasn't too useless at work and went for drinks afterwards, so yeah. Not bad.
I just remembered what else I did this week - book club! Thursday in the St James's Park, so lovely. As I mentioned before, we read 50 Shades of Oh God Someone Edit This Please and A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. It's such a good discussion group with everyone really getting into talking about the books, so that's lovely. I've ordered my next lot of books, can't wait for them to arrive. I'm so thrilled to be reading again. It feels like it's been ages for some reason. Yay!
OH! I almost forgot what was arguably the most exciting part of the week! We got free money! I know, I know, sounds insane, but it happened. A promotional team had set up shop near work and after pandering along to their marketing scheme, you'd get a code that generated a random sum of money between £3 to £100 for you. I got £20, absolutely thrilled. I love working in the West End, there's so much happening and you're always getting free stuff. Sure the crowds of tourists are frustrating, but I think it's worth it.
Anyway, to celebrate my new found disposable income (this was pre-pay day, so things were pretty dire), I recruited Abbi for a trip to M&M world...where I got completely carried away, but it's okay since this was also when we found our first BT Phone Boxes. New project alert! I've always followed Ab's previous < insert appropriate painted object > hunting, sad that I couldn't join in cause it seems like such a fun way to get out and about town, discovering new places. And now I get to do it too! Two days of official hunting and 26 boxes down.
The upcoming week is looking pretty busy - plans for practically every evening. But now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ummm and aaaah over a t-shirt buying opportunity for a bit.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down
Made lasagne last night which was infinitely disappointing... it's just not as good as my mum's. Sad. My mum's lasagne is pretty much my favourite thing ever so I while I was eating mine, I just kept thinking how woefully subpar it was. But it was nice to eat something baked for a change. While I was slaving away trying to put this all together, I watched In The Loop and since I was at it, I followed it up with the first season of The Thick Of It. It's such a random show but oh, so many good insults.
I sort of want to start a list of movies I've watched, it's growing rather rapidly. Ah, what not having a television does to you. Thing is, I already can't remember what I've seen...I mean, yeah, I remember when I see their names but off the top of my head, it's not something I can really recall. But not the end of the world, as I see most of my films with Abbi and she already catalogues them in her excellent Film Friday write up (check it out if you get a chance, t'is always entertaining.) I do however know that we watched Attack The Block this week... and I thought it was very good. Well worth all the buzz it had. So yeah. There's one thing I did this week.
I got paid on Friday from ze old job, huzzah! Had a moment of panic when I thought they hadn't actually paid me but no, crisis averted. I have spent most of it already. Oops. But not all frivolously! Some has gone into my savings, and I also bought some groceries and my monthly train ticket. So you know. Responsibility. I have it. Sort of. Sometimes.
Anyway. Definitely didn't have responsibility Thursday evening when I was up until 3am writing a travel article that I've known about for oh, three months? Longer? Fail. Epic fail. And then I accidentally switched off my alarm Friday morning instead of snoozing it, meaning I woke up at 8.30. Eek. Miraculously somehow made it to work on time. I have no idea how that works. Sometimes I catch a train 10 minutes later than normal and arrive at practically the same time. What witchcraft is this? I held up pretty well too, wasn't too useless at work and went for drinks afterwards, so yeah. Not bad.
I just remembered what else I did this week - book club! Thursday in the St James's Park, so lovely. As I mentioned before, we read 50 Shades of Oh God Someone Edit This Please and A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. It's such a good discussion group with everyone really getting into talking about the books, so that's lovely. I've ordered my next lot of books, can't wait for them to arrive. I'm so thrilled to be reading again. It feels like it's been ages for some reason. Yay!
OH! I almost forgot what was arguably the most exciting part of the week! We got free money! I know, I know, sounds insane, but it happened. A promotional team had set up shop near work and after pandering along to their marketing scheme, you'd get a code that generated a random sum of money between £3 to £100 for you. I got £20, absolutely thrilled. I love working in the West End, there's so much happening and you're always getting free stuff. Sure the crowds of tourists are frustrating, but I think it's worth it.
Anyway, to celebrate my new found disposable income (this was pre-pay day, so things were pretty dire), I recruited Abbi for a trip to M&M world...where I got completely carried away, but it's okay since this was also when we found our first BT Phone Boxes. New project alert! I've always followed Ab's previous
The upcoming week is looking pretty busy - plans for practically every evening. But now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ummm and aaaah over a t-shirt buying opportunity for a bit.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down
If it doesn't matter then just turn around
We don't need our bags and we can just leave town
You can sit beside me when the world comes down
We say, we do
The lies, the truth
And all I need is next to me
Music: Mona Lisa - The All American Rejects
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Shopping time!
I have been paid, I have a new job, it’s a loooooong weekend and I want to buy a t-shirt. This is how I celebrate (well, I also celebrate by having too much rum, but we took care of that last night SO! Moving on.) Problem is I am still a skint backpacker really, so I can’t go nuts and buy ALL the things, like I really want to. And that’s where you lot come in. Opinions pleeeeease, dears. Vote for the shirt you like most and help me pick the latest addition to my geek arsenal.
The only qualifying remarks I will offer on this is that I am leaning towards a Sherlock tee, and also that I don’t particularly want another black tee as pretty much all the tshirts I have with me are black - a little diversity would be good.
Anyway, here goes. Ten shirts to choose from. Yes, I know that’s a lot but it took me ages to get it down to even that. Yes, I have issues. That’s why we’re here people! (Also I had nothing to do at work this morning and too much time on the internet leads to too much choice. What can I say.)
Music: Cherry bomb - Joan Jett
The only qualifying remarks I will offer on this is that I am leaning towards a Sherlock tee, and also that I don’t particularly want another black tee as pretty much all the tshirts I have with me are black - a little diversity would be good.
Anyway, here goes. Ten shirts to choose from. Yes, I know that’s a lot but it took me ages to get it down to even that. Yes, I have issues. That’s why we’re here people! (Also I had nothing to do at work this morning and too much time on the internet leads to too much choice. What can I say.)
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| Elementary - The first of the Holmes options. You can't really see it here but the shirt is like a creme colour which I'm not very keen on, but it's a Threadless tee so at least I know it's decent quality. |
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| Moriarty Crown - probably the most expensive of my selection but also kinda my favourite. I like shirts that are more obscure in its references. |
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| Spruce Moose - Absolutely cracked up this morning when I saw this. Classic Simpsons moment. |
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| Avengers Assembly - I was amused. |
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| Loki - I do what I want Thor! Quite fond of this one too, again cause it's kinda random. |
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| Starfleet Academy - I do worry that I'd feel like too much of a fraud if I got a Star Trek shirt. |
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| Princess - I do not own any Star Wars tees. This seems like an oversight. |
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| Sherlock - Third of the Holmesian options. |
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| Travelling Lemon - Again, love it for the obscurity. Unless you're a Cabin Pressure fan this will make absolutely no sense. Brilliant. |
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| Harry Stardust - I just really like this design. |
Music: Cherry bomb - Joan Jett
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
All hail the four day weekend
I have just returned from my graduation. Third time, don't you know. It all went smoothly, even though I had to navigate stairs in heels - it was at the Conference and Exhibition Centre this time, rather than the uni Great Hall. I didn't fall over and that is the main thing. It was nice to catch up with some of the others, I made at least two good friends during Masters. The parentals spent far too much time running around being nutters and buying a lot of random stuff, but what can you do. We rounded the day off with an early dinner in the city. Overall, not a bad end to a long weekend.
I may have had four days off but predictably, I have done nothing I was supposed to. I had a list and everything! Ugh. I need more time and/or self-discipline. Especially when it comes to shopping. But, as I keep telling myself, it's trip related.
I have acquired the following -
I am in love with these Dr. Martens. Mum took me to see them on Sunday and I just couldn't turn my back on them. She knows me oh so very well. They're very vintage, very WWI military style and they have these awesome ribbon laces. You can fold it down so it's a half-boot as well, nice and versatile.
Mum's been on my case about getting "proper walking shoes" for the trip but as I have an aversion to hiking boots, it's been fairly painful for both of us. Until I discovered Converse do an 'outsider' range of shoes based on a design they did for the military way back when. It's leather, removing the rain problem you'd have with cons, and also has a little more lift in the heel and thicker soles. Kinda vintage, totally awesome. I'm very pleased with it cause let's face it, cons suit my wardrobe way better than a hiking shoe ever would.
Of course today also marks the day that Donna, my hiptop/sidekick, officially stopped working. The operating system has been switched off and she's no longer with us. I loved that phone, we've had some great times. Out of all the phones I've had so far in my life, I was most attached to these. But technology waits for no man and until it eventually rises up and enslaves us, I guess you have to keep up. So I ordered this instead, still waiting for it to arrive -
It's a Samsung Galaxy 551, which has now been discontinued. I went for it purely because it was the only relatively new Android with a keyboard I could find. I must have a keyboard. My OCD is not compatible with a touchscreen at all.
My parents bought all of these things for me. Well, mum went halves with me on the Docs, but everything else they got. I'm not entirely sure why they're being so nice (or rather I should say I am suspicious of my dad's motives, but I'm sure this will emerge in due time as always) but I am very grateful all the same. Awesome things are awesome! Yay!
In other news, watched the Doctor Who finale. Oh Em Gee, people! 'Silence will fall when the oldest question is asked. The question hidden in plain sight.' It’s so deceptively simple that it’s genius. I was rather pleased with the finale, even if I saw the beach thing coming. But I like the underlying idea behind it – it’s sort of an allegory for the show’s success in a way. But I can’t really get into it without spoiling things and it’s only showing here next week. So.
I also watched the Merlin premiere, cause I figured if I didn’t take things into my own hands I would never see it. Such a huge improvement on last season already, well up until the informant was revealed in Camelot. Really, again?? They really need to introduce some sort of security screening or something. At least with Morgana revealed, she gets to do more than smirk evilly – big improvement, even if her amazing wardrobe is going to suffer. I also love having the knights around. Gwaine’s internal monologue must consist entirely of ‘These idiots have no sense of self-preservation’ and I love that Percival has sleeveless armour. Haha. Also, Lancelot being around is always a nice change cause at least someone knows about Merlin and that sort of dilutes the fact that Arthur is a blind fool. The knights are just awesome, okay? Okay. And Uther! Will there be no shrieking about magickz and rash overreactions? Only time will tell! I think it bodes well for the season though.
Now, is it too early to go to bed? I am absolutely dying from hayfever but the tablets make me sleepy. I'll need to be up early tomorrow too -no doubt I'll have about 200 emails waiting for me. Sigh. Further updates as events warrant!
Music: How I Met Your Mother
I may have had four days off but predictably, I have done nothing I was supposed to. I had a list and everything! Ugh. I need more time and/or self-discipline. Especially when it comes to shopping. But, as I keep telling myself, it's trip related.
I have acquired the following -
Of course today also marks the day that Donna, my hiptop/sidekick, officially stopped working. The operating system has been switched off and she's no longer with us. I loved that phone, we've had some great times. Out of all the phones I've had so far in my life, I was most attached to these. But technology waits for no man and until it eventually rises up and enslaves us, I guess you have to keep up. So I ordered this instead, still waiting for it to arrive -
My parents bought all of these things for me. Well, mum went halves with me on the Docs, but everything else they got. I'm not entirely sure why they're being so nice (or rather I should say I am suspicious of my dad's motives, but I'm sure this will emerge in due time as always) but I am very grateful all the same. Awesome things are awesome! Yay!
In other news, watched the Doctor Who finale. Oh Em Gee, people! 'Silence will fall when the oldest question is asked. The question hidden in plain sight.' It’s so deceptively simple that it’s genius. I was rather pleased with the finale, even if I saw the beach thing coming. But I like the underlying idea behind it – it’s sort of an allegory for the show’s success in a way. But I can’t really get into it without spoiling things and it’s only showing here next week. So.
I also watched the Merlin premiere, cause I figured if I didn’t take things into my own hands I would never see it. Such a huge improvement on last season already, well up until the informant was revealed in Camelot. Really, again?? They really need to introduce some sort of security screening or something. At least with Morgana revealed, she gets to do more than smirk evilly – big improvement, even if her amazing wardrobe is going to suffer. I also love having the knights around. Gwaine’s internal monologue must consist entirely of ‘These idiots have no sense of self-preservation’ and I love that Percival has sleeveless armour. Haha. Also, Lancelot being around is always a nice change cause at least someone knows about Merlin and that sort of dilutes the fact that Arthur is a blind fool. The knights are just awesome, okay? Okay. And Uther! Will there be no shrieking about magickz and rash overreactions? Only time will tell! I think it bodes well for the season though.
Now, is it too early to go to bed? I am absolutely dying from hayfever but the tablets make me sleepy. I'll need to be up early tomorrow too -no doubt I'll have about 200 emails waiting for me. Sigh. Further updates as events warrant!
Music: How I Met Your Mother
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday laziness
I feel like a truck has run over my head, repeatedly. Rather than pretend to have anything useful to say, here's a list of things I currently want -
Marvel gym bag from Superhero Stuff
Pretty much every Think Geek t-shirt ever.
'The Better Man' print from Society6
A corset
Doctor Who series 5
White Collar series 1
New fingerless gloves
Burgundy Doc Martens
Fragrances from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (Wanderlust range in particular atm)
And...other...things. Brain fried, going to fully appreciate Neal Caffrey's suave awesomeness now.
Music: White Collar
And...other...things. Brain fried, going to fully appreciate Neal Caffrey's suave awesomeness now.
Music: White Collar
Sunday, April 10, 2011
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
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
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reconcile the violence in your heart
Guess what? I’ve let go of the deranged Leto thing, and have diverted my attention elsewhere. The Super 15 season (or should I just call it Super Rugby now?) started this weekend, so I can go back obsessing over that for a while instead. First things first, it somehow escaped my notice but my boy Dan got engaged at the end of last year. I guess that makes him officially grown up now, awww. We’ve had some times *reminisces* He’ll always be my favourite. Anywhoodle, I actually managed to watch all the games, except for the SA ones as I’m disinclined to staying up all night in order to be aggravated. Oh and, thanks to having a migraine of epic proportions, I slept through the first half of the Highlanders/Hurricanes game…not that I missed much.
But yes! New season! Not a bad start overall, my team lost…but we always start slow, and it wasn’t a big loss, so it’s still good! My other team won by a mile, so there’s that at least. Hilariously, my family and I are playing against each other in a fantasy league. If you were in my house on Saturday night, this is why you’d have heard me yelling “I need a cheap hooker!” and no other reason. Ahem.
Overall, quite a nice weekend. I left work early on Friday after aforementioned migraine attempted to kill me – it was in a class of its own. Dragged on into Saturday, but I managed to numb it somewhat with drugs and head off to picnic with M and R. It was absolutely lovely, and I very ungraciously won a game of Trivial Pursuit. Sunday was dedicated to exploring these markets I’d just found out about with L – they were sadly very little and it was far too humid for comfort, so off to airconditioned shopping mall it was. There was much browsing, a nice lunch and a lovely catch-up. Saw boots I desperately want…need? Must exercise self control! Aaaah! Curse you, responsible adulthood.
Headache returned in the evening. Perhaps heat related? Not sure. Not entirely 100% healthy at the moment, in fact I generally just feel pretty crappy. Probably stress. Need a holiday. A proper holiday. Can’t wait for April – only 51 days to go, but who’s counting?
In other news, I finished The Iliad. I am so proud of myself. I know I attempted reading it before when I was younger, but I can’t remember ever finishing it. Anyway, huzzah! Now I can return to the library triumphant and shuffle slightly forward in history. Also borrowed a stack of books from R on Saturday, so recreational reading is definitely on the cards. Brilliant. Back to uni next week, don’t think I have much required reading for a change, so yay?
Well. That's my boring update. Work to do. Still scrambling with the last lot of deadlines with new ones looming. Also quite a busy week ahead with writers group Wednesday, and other things, plus I’m off to help out at the Kiama Sevens on Saturday, then there’s Soundwave on Sunday. Next week is going to be a tough one – after thoroughly exhausting myself by hanging around outside all weekend, I’m seeing The Gaslight Anthem on Monday night, and then uni 6-9 on Wednesday and Thursday. I’ve said it before, and I will say it many more times in my sad little life – sleep is for the weak.
PS: I know I skipped the Top 10 last week – blame the migraine. Will pick it up again Friday.
Music: Undisclosed desires - Muse
But yes! New season! Not a bad start overall, my team lost…but we always start slow, and it wasn’t a big loss, so it’s still good! My other team won by a mile, so there’s that at least. Hilariously, my family and I are playing against each other in a fantasy league. If you were in my house on Saturday night, this is why you’d have heard me yelling “I need a cheap hooker!” and no other reason. Ahem.
Overall, quite a nice weekend. I left work early on Friday after aforementioned migraine attempted to kill me – it was in a class of its own. Dragged on into Saturday, but I managed to numb it somewhat with drugs and head off to picnic with M and R. It was absolutely lovely, and I very ungraciously won a game of Trivial Pursuit. Sunday was dedicated to exploring these markets I’d just found out about with L – they were sadly very little and it was far too humid for comfort, so off to airconditioned shopping mall it was. There was much browsing, a nice lunch and a lovely catch-up. Saw boots I desperately want…need? Must exercise self control! Aaaah! Curse you, responsible adulthood.
Headache returned in the evening. Perhaps heat related? Not sure. Not entirely 100% healthy at the moment, in fact I generally just feel pretty crappy. Probably stress. Need a holiday. A proper holiday. Can’t wait for April – only 51 days to go, but who’s counting?
In other news, I finished The Iliad. I am so proud of myself. I know I attempted reading it before when I was younger, but I can’t remember ever finishing it. Anyway, huzzah! Now I can return to the library triumphant and shuffle slightly forward in history. Also borrowed a stack of books from R on Saturday, so recreational reading is definitely on the cards. Brilliant. Back to uni next week, don’t think I have much required reading for a change, so yay?
Well. That's my boring update. Work to do. Still scrambling with the last lot of deadlines with new ones looming. Also quite a busy week ahead with writers group Wednesday, and other things, plus I’m off to help out at the Kiama Sevens on Saturday, then there’s Soundwave on Sunday. Next week is going to be a tough one – after thoroughly exhausting myself by hanging around outside all weekend, I’m seeing The Gaslight Anthem on Monday night, and then uni 6-9 on Wednesday and Thursday. I’ve said it before, and I will say it many more times in my sad little life – sleep is for the weak.
PS: I know I skipped the Top 10 last week – blame the migraine. Will pick it up again Friday.
Music: Undisclosed desires - Muse
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The hardest part is letting go of your dreams
There is so much I’ve been meaning to blog about, I just can’t seem to find the time. If I don’t sit down with my laptop straight away coming home from work, I just don’t do anything. It’s highly disconcerting considering I have quite a bit that needs to be done – and it will no doubt be an even bigger problem when I go back to uni in two weeks. Besides, I just miss rambling about nothing every day. Stupid "real life."
Things I intended to blog about:
> DVDs I've watched recently including Adam, Milk, and The Brothers Bloom.
Conclusion: Might want to consider more cheerful things. Adam was so painful, I could barely watch it. Brilliant, but painful. I quite liked The Brothers Bloom but I suspect it may be one of those films that no one else does.
> The girl with the dragon tattoo which I finished on the weekend.
I had my doubts starting this but there comes a point about halfway where it just starts working. It’s been aaaages since I’ve spent an entire afternoon just devouring pages like that at my own prerogative (ie not for uni) and I’ve forgotten how great that feels. Reading love. I was really enjoying the unconventional heroine too until the last chapter.
> Fourth season of Torchwood
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello had the following to say about new characters:
> The Doctor Who finale
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Yup. That pretty much sums it up. You know, there might be a paper in running RTD and Moffat against each other – provided there isn’t one already (probably is, geeks are quick on the uptake and not as lazy as I am)
> Eclipse
My brain has either given up completely or the acting is getting better. It was surprisingly rather enjoyable. R and I were of course laughing in bits that weren’t meant to be funny, but somehow that’s become part of Twilight’s appeal. You go in knowing it’s not going to be cinematic genius and somehow that makes it ok. And this one actually has action (it’s in the talking scenes that this franchise truly falls apart) which is definitely a plus – especially since that action involves a lot of Jasper. I always liked Jasper and knowing he had a bigger role this time was definitely part of the reason I actually wanted to see Eclipse. Screw Edward and Jacob, Team Jasper ALL THE WAY. R and I still had a muttered running conversation for the duration of the film about Jacob and Edward. She’s very much pro-Jacob, and I – well, I have serious issues. My loathing for Cedric’s Edward is matched equally to my loathing of book-Jacob. I want to be pro-Edward, but my instinct is to mock Cedric, and I like movie-Jacob, but my instinct there is to run the character over. So I am sure you can imagine my dilemma.
Things that have happened:
> Dented another heart
> Visited the radio studio across the road
> Window shopped for costumes
> Applied for a press pass to world con
> Bought another pair of boots
Things I’m contemplating:
> The logistics of going away for a year
> The huge amount of work I’ve been slacking off on - this includes not doing any writing for myself lately, including blogging, and an essay I was supposed to submit a month ago.
> The giant hole in my budget caused by things such as unforeseen insurance premiums and ginormous roaming-inflated phone bills.
> Buffy season 3 - will it get less angsty, and how long do I have to wait for Spike to show up again?
> The glitch in the uni system that’s telling me I’ve failed a subject, which is highly improbable. I missed one class and got marked for all the assignments, so clearly someone screwed up somewhere along the line.
> The validity of buying a bustle skirt. This ties in with the previously mentioned costume window-shopping. Bustle dresses are too stupidly expensive to buy outright and I can’t justify having an eight hundred dollar dress sitting in my wardrobe for the occasional outing on halloween/fancy dress parties. It’s not exactly the right fit for a masquerade either, and that is generally where my "I must attend!" instincts go (and in my costume searchings I have found that there is a group that actually holds proper masquerade balls quite regularly). There is a masquerade ball at WorldCon in fact, so I’d like to get something that would do for both that and Halloween. Now I tried briefly to convince Em to make it for me – she wisely declined – and then thought hey, why not improvise? I have a dress I like to refer to as the Panic dress as I bought it with the then still vaudevillian Panic! At The Disco in mind. It is red with black lace overlay, tulle underskirt, and a corse-style top. I can get a red bustle to attach to it, make a matching long taffeta skirt to go underneath, and logically that should give me a layered, not quite historically accurate, bustle dress. Teamed with this red and black venetian mask I found on trusty eBay, gloves and fan I already own, and a Victorian velvet jacket, it should be a reasonable costume, right? Price wise, It should work out roughly the same as hiring a costume for a weekend would, and significantly less than actually getting a proper dress. Hmmm.
I have other things floating around this silly brain but sadly work beckons - but I'll be back to ramble some more later, never fear. Take a look at this in the meantime:
The Seven Stages of Grieving After Purchasing a Full-Price Hardcover Book You Later Find To Be Awful
A drink for the horror that I'm in
For the good guys, and the bad guys
For the monsters that I've been.
Three cheers for tyranny,
Unapologetic apathy
Cause there ain't no way I'm coming back again.
Best thing about Thursdays is being alone in the office and being able to give the trusty ipod free reign.
Music: Sleep - My Chemical Romance
Mood: Blah
Things I intended to blog about:
> DVDs I've watched recently including Adam, Milk, and The Brothers Bloom.
Conclusion: Might want to consider more cheerful things. Adam was so painful, I could barely watch it. Brilliant, but painful. I quite liked The Brothers Bloom but I suspect it may be one of those films that no one else does.
> The girl with the dragon tattoo which I finished on the weekend.
I had my doubts starting this but there comes a point about halfway where it just starts working. It’s been aaaages since I’ve spent an entire afternoon just devouring pages like that at my own prerogative (ie not for uni) and I’ve forgotten how great that feels. Reading love. I was really enjoying the unconventional heroine too until the last chapter.
> Fourth season of Torchwood
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello had the following to say about new characters:
I’ve gathered on the new season (airing on my new favorite cable network,Call me unprogressive if you like, but where’s the sci-fi? This just sounds like James Moran’s Girl Number 9. I don’t want high drama or the X files, I just want my cheesy show back, is that really so much to ask for? Normally I’d say give them the benefit of the doubt, but I frankly don’t see why I should.
Starz), the show is out to cast a new series regular — Rex Matheson, a wickedly
funny (operative word: wicked) CIA agent born to make waves. Almost as key to
the new season are recurring characters Esther Katusi, a CIA grunt in her early
20s who learns what she’s really made of only when she’s forced to, and Oswald
Jones, a convicted murderer and pedophile who will be as shocked as anyone to
learn how easily infamy and fame can be exchanged for one another.
> The Doctor Who finale
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Yup. That pretty much sums it up. You know, there might be a paper in running RTD and Moffat against each other – provided there isn’t one already (probably is, geeks are quick on the uptake and not as lazy as I am)
> Eclipse
My brain has either given up completely or the acting is getting better. It was surprisingly rather enjoyable. R and I were of course laughing in bits that weren’t meant to be funny, but somehow that’s become part of Twilight’s appeal. You go in knowing it’s not going to be cinematic genius and somehow that makes it ok. And this one actually has action (it’s in the talking scenes that this franchise truly falls apart) which is definitely a plus – especially since that action involves a lot of Jasper. I always liked Jasper and knowing he had a bigger role this time was definitely part of the reason I actually wanted to see Eclipse. Screw Edward and Jacob, Team Jasper ALL THE WAY. R and I still had a muttered running conversation for the duration of the film about Jacob and Edward. She’s very much pro-Jacob, and I – well, I have serious issues. My loathing for Cedric’s Edward is matched equally to my loathing of book-Jacob. I want to be pro-Edward, but my instinct is to mock Cedric, and I like movie-Jacob, but my instinct there is to run the character over. So I am sure you can imagine my dilemma.
Things that have happened:
> Dented another heart
> Visited the radio studio across the road
> Window shopped for costumes
> Applied for a press pass to world con
> Bought another pair of boots
Things I’m contemplating:
> The logistics of going away for a year
> The huge amount of work I’ve been slacking off on - this includes not doing any writing for myself lately, including blogging, and an essay I was supposed to submit a month ago.
> The giant hole in my budget caused by things such as unforeseen insurance premiums and ginormous roaming-inflated phone bills.
> Buffy season 3 - will it get less angsty, and how long do I have to wait for Spike to show up again?
> The glitch in the uni system that’s telling me I’ve failed a subject, which is highly improbable. I missed one class and got marked for all the assignments, so clearly someone screwed up somewhere along the line.
> The validity of buying a bustle skirt. This ties in with the previously mentioned costume window-shopping. Bustle dresses are too stupidly expensive to buy outright and I can’t justify having an eight hundred dollar dress sitting in my wardrobe for the occasional outing on halloween/fancy dress parties. It’s not exactly the right fit for a masquerade either, and that is generally where my "I must attend!" instincts go (and in my costume searchings I have found that there is a group that actually holds proper masquerade balls quite regularly). There is a masquerade ball at WorldCon in fact, so I’d like to get something that would do for both that and Halloween. Now I tried briefly to convince Em to make it for me – she wisely declined – and then thought hey, why not improvise? I have a dress I like to refer to as the Panic dress as I bought it with the then still vaudevillian Panic! At The Disco in mind. It is red with black lace overlay, tulle underskirt, and a corse-style top. I can get a red bustle to attach to it, make a matching long taffeta skirt to go underneath, and logically that should give me a layered, not quite historically accurate, bustle dress. Teamed with this red and black venetian mask I found on trusty eBay, gloves and fan I already own, and a Victorian velvet jacket, it should be a reasonable costume, right? Price wise, It should work out roughly the same as hiring a costume for a weekend would, and significantly less than actually getting a proper dress. Hmmm.
I have other things floating around this silly brain but sadly work beckons - but I'll be back to ramble some more later, never fear. Take a look at this in the meantime:
The Seven Stages of Grieving After Purchasing a Full-Price Hardcover Book You Later Find To Be Awful
A drink for the horror that I'm in
For the good guys, and the bad guys
For the monsters that I've been.
Three cheers for tyranny,
Unapologetic apathy
Cause there ain't no way I'm coming back again.
Best thing about Thursdays is being alone in the office and being able to give the trusty ipod free reign.
Music: Sleep - My Chemical Romance
Mood: Blah
Sunday, May 23, 2010
When I gain those ruby slippers, my power will be the greatest in Oz!
Ladies and gentlemen, I....have a shoe problem. Over the last two weekends, I have bought a grand total of six pairs of shoes. Would you like to see them? No? Oh well, too bad, here are some of them anyway:
- Black matte flats with a weave thing happening on the front
- Black flats with silver and half-snake-skin-esque trim
- London Rebel 'Della' black kitten heels of the open sandal-type variety
- RMK 'Renta' purple suede stilettoes
- Court Couture 'Ballari' grey ankle boots
- Court Couture Cady brown suede boots
The flats and sandals are justifiable as practical work shoes, the others not so much. Especially since I already have three pairs of boots...four if you count my cowboy boots...wait no, five, including the faux-wellingtons. It was only with tactical persuasion on my mum's part that I didn't buy these Tony Bianco's either. They looked so nice on *wistful sigh*
Thing is, on top of the fact that I have a converse addiction (I have nine pairs), I have nowhere to put any of it. I've had to keep all my new purchases in their boxes and stack them so they'd fit in my closet. It's a organisational mess. I'm going to have to get some of those clear shoe boxes.
I never had a shoe problem before (well, except for the converse) - I blame those super comfy ankle boots I bought last year. All you need is one pair of comfy heels to convince you they're not all symbols of pain and suffering. I'm buying shoes first, and outfits second. It's highly impractical, but I just can't seem to help myself! Like I needed another obsession *shakes head*
Anyway, I still have two essays to write this evening. Wish me luck!
Music: That ridiculous Usher song that gets stuck in my head
Mood: Thirsty
- Black matte flats with a weave thing happening on the front
- Black flats with silver and half-snake-skin-esque trim
- London Rebel 'Della' black kitten heels of the open sandal-type variety
- RMK 'Renta' purple suede stilettoes
- Court Couture 'Ballari' grey ankle boots
- Court Couture Cady brown suede boots
The flats and sandals are justifiable as practical work shoes, the others not so much. Especially since I already have three pairs of boots...four if you count my cowboy boots...wait no, five, including the faux-wellingtons. It was only with tactical persuasion on my mum's part that I didn't buy these Tony Bianco's either. They looked so nice on *wistful sigh*
Thing is, on top of the fact that I have a converse addiction (I have nine pairs), I have nowhere to put any of it. I've had to keep all my new purchases in their boxes and stack them so they'd fit in my closet. It's a organisational mess. I'm going to have to get some of those clear shoe boxes.
I never had a shoe problem before (well, except for the converse) - I blame those super comfy ankle boots I bought last year. All you need is one pair of comfy heels to convince you they're not all symbols of pain and suffering. I'm buying shoes first, and outfits second. It's highly impractical, but I just can't seem to help myself! Like I needed another obsession *shakes head*
Anyway, I still have two essays to write this evening. Wish me luck!
Music: That ridiculous Usher song that gets stuck in my head
Mood: Thirsty
Sunday, January 31, 2010
You run with the devil
She left a week to roam
Your protector's coming home
Keep your secrets with you, girl
Safe from the outside world
I have done some sort of damage to my right knee, it's swollen and sore and I am not amused. When something has happened and it hurts, at least there's some justification - this just came on the back of walking a lot yesterday and that's simply not a good enough reason for this kind of insanity. You should be ashamed, knee. Ashamed.
As for the walking, this came from going to Paddington markets with J after work yesterday. After perusing the bohemian wonderfulness of it all, we decided to amble down Oxford street and appreciate all the sales. Now, Paddington is not the cheapest area of this wonderful town and visits to boutiques like Alannah Hill does nothing but increase want beyond means. J and I strayed into Incu, our purveyor of Topshop, and I of course found the only coat they had and promptly fell in love with it. The coat fetish! I can't help it. It was marked down too, $160 from $400-something. That in itself is extortionate if you ask me, I can buy coats on the Topshop website for half that price and have it shipped here, who do they think they're kidding? I did end up buying a t-shirt from Rif Raf, who take great pride in declaring Paris Hilton shops there when she's in town...not exactly what I'd call a great endorsement but it's a nice shirt and it was on sale *shrugs*
We kept going and eventually resolved to merely walk back to the CBD, stopping every now and then for vintage sales, markets, and one opportune garage sale, all rounded off with ice cream. It was a lovely afternoon, J is an endless source of random information and so conversation is never dull. It was only when I got home later that my knee started acting up.
I've dedicated today mostly to sitting around refusing to move and uploading some music.I’ve just compiled a bunch of random alt/elec/indie stuff for Abs so if anyone is interested in some random tunes let me know and I will send you the links. There are full albums by Lykke Li, Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, Wilco, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, and Lydia; along with two misc folders containing tracks by Florence + The Machine, Bowerbirds, Casiokids, Camera Obscura, Frightened Rabbit, fun., Fyfe Dangerfield, Girls, Grizzly Bear, La Roux, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Royksopp, The Raveonettes, She & Him, Steel Train, The xx and Yes Giantess.
As you lay to die beside me, baby
On the morning that you came
Would you wait for me?
The other one,
would wait for me
Music: Your protector - Fleet Foxes
Mood: Sore
Your protector's coming home
Keep your secrets with you, girl
Safe from the outside world
I have done some sort of damage to my right knee, it's swollen and sore and I am not amused. When something has happened and it hurts, at least there's some justification - this just came on the back of walking a lot yesterday and that's simply not a good enough reason for this kind of insanity. You should be ashamed, knee. Ashamed.
As for the walking, this came from going to Paddington markets with J after work yesterday. After perusing the bohemian wonderfulness of it all, we decided to amble down Oxford street and appreciate all the sales. Now, Paddington is not the cheapest area of this wonderful town and visits to boutiques like Alannah Hill does nothing but increase want beyond means. J and I strayed into Incu, our purveyor of Topshop, and I of course found the only coat they had and promptly fell in love with it. The coat fetish! I can't help it. It was marked down too, $160 from $400-something. That in itself is extortionate if you ask me, I can buy coats on the Topshop website for half that price and have it shipped here, who do they think they're kidding? I did end up buying a t-shirt from Rif Raf, who take great pride in declaring Paris Hilton shops there when she's in town...not exactly what I'd call a great endorsement but it's a nice shirt and it was on sale *shrugs*
We kept going and eventually resolved to merely walk back to the CBD, stopping every now and then for vintage sales, markets, and one opportune garage sale, all rounded off with ice cream. It was a lovely afternoon, J is an endless source of random information and so conversation is never dull. It was only when I got home later that my knee started acting up.
I've dedicated today mostly to sitting around refusing to move and uploading some music.I’ve just compiled a bunch of random alt/elec/indie stuff for Abs so if anyone is interested in some random tunes let me know and I will send you the links. There are full albums by Lykke Li, Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, Wilco, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, and Lydia; along with two misc folders containing tracks by Florence + The Machine, Bowerbirds, Casiokids, Camera Obscura, Frightened Rabbit, fun., Fyfe Dangerfield, Girls, Grizzly Bear, La Roux, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Royksopp, The Raveonettes, She & Him, Steel Train, The xx and Yes Giantess.
As you lay to die beside me, baby
On the morning that you came
Would you wait for me?
The other one,
would wait for me
Music: Your protector - Fleet Foxes
Mood: Sore
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I still cannot believe this whole cruise control debacle. I mean really people, was ATMOS involved? Also, it seems that he managed to stop the car by pulling the handbrake...so dare I ask why he didn't try this earlier? Ah well, poor sod.
Hung out with the girls last night. Lizzie and I met up with Annie and Sam, then the other three joined us at the restaurant later. There was tapas and Sangria. I firmly insist nothing can go wrong if you have Sangria. The Spanish are clearly brilliant. It was a crazy evening and I had an absolute blast. We were loud and inappropriate, so I think the waitstaff were quite glad to be rid of us when we moved to the Three Wise Monkeys. More loud and inappropriate behaviour ensued. Photos were taken. A lot of photos. R'n'B was indulged in. And when it was all over, I dragged the three left over, aka Liz, Roze and Mon, to McDonalds - the place where all good nights end. Haha, we're all class.
I managed to be showered, dressed, and outside by eleven this morning. No small feat on my day off. Got my car registration renewed, which took all of five minutes. The RTA was virtually deserted, that never happens! I was very pleased. So while I had made the effort, I swanned off to finish my Christmas shopping. Just need to pick up another voucher for dad and then I'm done. Woot. I got my usual puzzled looks as I walked about in skinny jeans and combat boots which is becoming rather tiresome. I know it's hot people, but I really don't care, you don't have to look at me like I'm green and I've just arrived from Mars. Relax. I almost bought a cute little sundress at Zimmermann but realised that Christmas shopping does not involve buying stuff for self. Self-restraint, I do have it.
Things I should acquire once the broke Christmas period is over:
- new sun visor
- new car seat covers
- Sims 3
- Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming (I don't care what anyone says, I love Tommy Hilfiger fragrances. This one is perfectly light, just subtle and floral enough for me to use regularly.)
- Tom Ford Black Orchid (I had my doubts about this one but it wears really well, exquisitely in fact. It's all old fashioned charm and smokey vintage 1940 Hollywood appeal - it makes me think of gilded ceilings, kohl eyes, slinky black dresses, champagne and cigarettes.)
- Zimmermann military cut jacket
- Suit from Portmans, including the goooorgeous waistcoat. Seriously it is the single most beautiful piece of clothing I have seen lately. I have such a suit fetish. It's bizarre.
Today's observations - Numb3rs is still awesome, as is Lie to Me. Baskins & Robbins candy floss ice cream is my favourite obsession this summer. Women turn feral in beauty shop sales. Chocolate milkshakes are the best cure to walking ten blocks in the sun. I don't know who the boy in this 'White Collar' show is, but he is rather cute.
Sorry for all the messages I missed or replied to really late, I've been running about all day and spent the rest of it in traffic listening alternately to Green Day and the Killers.
Now. Tea.
Music: All these things that I've done - The Killers
Mood: Content
Hung out with the girls last night. Lizzie and I met up with Annie and Sam, then the other three joined us at the restaurant later. There was tapas and Sangria. I firmly insist nothing can go wrong if you have Sangria. The Spanish are clearly brilliant. It was a crazy evening and I had an absolute blast. We were loud and inappropriate, so I think the waitstaff were quite glad to be rid of us when we moved to the Three Wise Monkeys. More loud and inappropriate behaviour ensued. Photos were taken. A lot of photos. R'n'B was indulged in. And when it was all over, I dragged the three left over, aka Liz, Roze and Mon, to McDonalds - the place where all good nights end. Haha, we're all class.
I managed to be showered, dressed, and outside by eleven this morning. No small feat on my day off. Got my car registration renewed, which took all of five minutes. The RTA was virtually deserted, that never happens! I was very pleased. So while I had made the effort, I swanned off to finish my Christmas shopping. Just need to pick up another voucher for dad and then I'm done. Woot. I got my usual puzzled looks as I walked about in skinny jeans and combat boots which is becoming rather tiresome. I know it's hot people, but I really don't care, you don't have to look at me like I'm green and I've just arrived from Mars. Relax. I almost bought a cute little sundress at Zimmermann but realised that Christmas shopping does not involve buying stuff for self. Self-restraint, I do have it.
Things I should acquire once the broke Christmas period is over:
- new sun visor
- new car seat covers
- Sims 3
- Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming (I don't care what anyone says, I love Tommy Hilfiger fragrances. This one is perfectly light, just subtle and floral enough for me to use regularly.)
- Tom Ford Black Orchid (I had my doubts about this one but it wears really well, exquisitely in fact. It's all old fashioned charm and smokey vintage 1940 Hollywood appeal - it makes me think of gilded ceilings, kohl eyes, slinky black dresses, champagne and cigarettes.)
- Zimmermann military cut jacket
- Suit from Portmans, including the goooorgeous waistcoat. Seriously it is the single most beautiful piece of clothing I have seen lately. I have such a suit fetish. It's bizarre.
Today's observations - Numb3rs is still awesome, as is Lie to Me. Baskins & Robbins candy floss ice cream is my favourite obsession this summer. Women turn feral in beauty shop sales. Chocolate milkshakes are the best cure to walking ten blocks in the sun. I don't know who the boy in this 'White Collar' show is, but he is rather cute.
Sorry for all the messages I missed or replied to really late, I've been running about all day and spent the rest of it in traffic listening alternately to Green Day and the Killers.
Now. Tea.
Music: All these things that I've done - The Killers
Mood: Content
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I will bend the light pretend that it somehow lingered on
Aaaaah. Birthday weekend was absolutely lovely. Lovely! That can be said in an Eliza Doolittle voice if you so wish.
My dad insisted we go out to dinner last night as a family, so off we went to some place he saw in the paper and decided we needed to try. It was quite unique, once we eventually got there. Parking was a nightmare and I was rather less than enthused when I realized I had to walk 6 blocks in stilettos. These shoes were not made for walking over uneven terrain. It was not as bad as I expected, shockingly enough I think my feet are getting used to such abuse. But anyway. It was a Brazilian BBQ place that is sort of like an all you can eat buffet except they constantly walk around with plates of food that they bestow upon you when they pass your table. I must admit I was more interested in their jugs of Sangria, the solution of all of life's problems. I possibly drank a little too much, at my father's encouragement which makes him a terrible influence. Just for the record.
This morning I went into the city to drop some things off at uni and mum tagged along. We stopped at some factory outlets on the way back, which led to too much walking but I did acquire a frozen cocktail mix that comes with the instructions "Add bottle of dark rum and freeze." Perfect for the next 49 degree day with the girls, me thinks. Speaking of, my gorgeous friends all came over late afternoon, Lizzie first, followed by Roze, Em and boyfriend. There were board games, a lot of loud talking and teasing, quoting of Troy, Glee watching, Thai food, cake, lollies of all description, and it all ended in Uno. Yes, we are that hardcore. It was epic amounts of fun, so much thanks to the girls for talking me into doing something.
Roze also gave me a brilliant birthday card, which she always does, but it bears mentioning. Oh and also got my laptop bag! Heeeeeee. Em got me a gorgeous Paris themed suitcase-container-thing (technical term) which I've been coveting. My room is slowly morphing into a France theme, unsure when exactly this happened.
All the shenanigans means I have not worked on NaNo much, which leaves me with about 4 chapters to do tomorrow if I wish to break 50K. To the writing mobile!
Music: Clarity - John Mayer
Mood: Pleased
My dad insisted we go out to dinner last night as a family, so off we went to some place he saw in the paper and decided we needed to try. It was quite unique, once we eventually got there. Parking was a nightmare and I was rather less than enthused when I realized I had to walk 6 blocks in stilettos. These shoes were not made for walking over uneven terrain. It was not as bad as I expected, shockingly enough I think my feet are getting used to such abuse. But anyway. It was a Brazilian BBQ place that is sort of like an all you can eat buffet except they constantly walk around with plates of food that they bestow upon you when they pass your table. I must admit I was more interested in their jugs of Sangria, the solution of all of life's problems. I possibly drank a little too much, at my father's encouragement which makes him a terrible influence. Just for the record.
This morning I went into the city to drop some things off at uni and mum tagged along. We stopped at some factory outlets on the way back, which led to too much walking but I did acquire a frozen cocktail mix that comes with the instructions "Add bottle of dark rum and freeze." Perfect for the next 49 degree day with the girls, me thinks. Speaking of, my gorgeous friends all came over late afternoon, Lizzie first, followed by Roze, Em and boyfriend. There were board games, a lot of loud talking and teasing, quoting of Troy, Glee watching, Thai food, cake, lollies of all description, and it all ended in Uno. Yes, we are that hardcore. It was epic amounts of fun, so much thanks to the girls for talking me into doing something.
Roze also gave me a brilliant birthday card, which she always does, but it bears mentioning. Oh and also got my laptop bag! Heeeeeee. Em got me a gorgeous Paris themed suitcase-container-thing (technical term) which I've been coveting. My room is slowly morphing into a France theme, unsure when exactly this happened.
All the shenanigans means I have not worked on NaNo much, which leaves me with about 4 chapters to do tomorrow if I wish to break 50K. To the writing mobile!
Music: Clarity - John Mayer
Mood: Pleased
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Follow the spiders? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies?
Oh dear god. I went to check the mail just now and as I come in through the front door, I feel something hairy under my foot before I really take a step so I look down and there is a FUCKING HUNTSMAN JUST SITTING THERE. I quickly hop down the hall muttering various curses in between every "ew ew ew ew ew". Is this how you repay me nature? I sing your praises all morning, chillaxing in the garden with my Iced Tea and SPF 30 sunblock, enjoying your gorgeous 34 degree summer weather, and you send a spider into my home. That's not on. I forgot how many damnable creepy crawlies there are around in summer. Major SHUDDER. Anyway, I had to get rid of the thing or else I wouldn't be able to ever go anywhere in the house again. Luckily it was sitting right between the front door and the screen door so I could just shoo it out by flapping the door about. I'm sure that if there were any neighbours around they would assume I'm a bit mad. "There there love, the door can't hurt you now." Maybe the door can't but stepping on a giant, hairy arachnid sure can. Note to self: WEAR SHOES. Ugh.
For the internationals who have the blessed luxury of not being faced with these terrors on a regular basis, this here is a specimen of the lovely fellow.
"Hello, I will eat your flesh while you sleep."
Out of all our spiders, and oh isn't there a nice selection, they aren't actually that bad. They can't kill you or anything, but they are ginormous and that makes them terrifying. I can't help but come to the conclusion that Ron Weasley would never have any peace here.
I now need to stop looking at pictures of spiders, definitely feeling ill.
Yuck.
Well now that has definitely ruined my hippy-I-love-Sydney-in-summer mood, I have no choice but to do some uni work. Hmmm, maybe spiders aren't so bad in comparison.
I only have about one more meeting with Mandy left. We discussed some of the concerns I had with my piece yesterday so I can tighten it up and send it back over again. Fifth draft, sheesh. She's been really excellent through all of this actually. She's completely supportive and soothes my neurotic insecurity about my writing. I've been really lucky to have a prolific writer with real standing within the community as my supervisor.
I went shopping afterwards, finally got those denim shorts and skinny black jeans. Not the Levis though since the style they had wasn't what I was after, but I did get a pair of Lee Riders that are just gorgeous. I know black jeans are really not in this season but I don't care, you should always have a pair of black jeans on hand. Plus, they look amazing with the black and white slingback gladiator-esque heels I bought the other day. Myer is a stock-less wasteland, not quite sure what's happening there. I was quite frustrated by the lack of pretty much anything decent in the shops, but that is not really an uncommon occurrence. I found a nice white t-shirt (to go with the jeans, see?) at Dangerfield that has a print of the James Dean pic that inspired 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' as well as a quote from 'Catcher in the Rye.' I suspect it may be a guy shirt but as per usual I care very little.
The aim for the next two days is to make headway on my exegesis argument. Tomorrow, I'm breaking midday to see Final Destination. I'm not quite sure how I got talked into that.
Music: Every breath you take - The Police
Mood: Grossed out
For the internationals who have the blessed luxury of not being faced with these terrors on a regular basis, this here is a specimen of the lovely fellow.
"Hello, I will eat your flesh while you sleep."
Out of all our spiders, and oh isn't there a nice selection, they aren't actually that bad. They can't kill you or anything, but they are ginormous and that makes them terrifying. I can't help but come to the conclusion that Ron Weasley would never have any peace here.
I now need to stop looking at pictures of spiders, definitely feeling ill.
Yuck.
Well now that has definitely ruined my hippy-I-love-Sydney-in-summer mood, I have no choice but to do some uni work. Hmmm, maybe spiders aren't so bad in comparison.
I only have about one more meeting with Mandy left. We discussed some of the concerns I had with my piece yesterday so I can tighten it up and send it back over again. Fifth draft, sheesh. She's been really excellent through all of this actually. She's completely supportive and soothes my neurotic insecurity about my writing. I've been really lucky to have a prolific writer with real standing within the community as my supervisor.
I went shopping afterwards, finally got those denim shorts and skinny black jeans. Not the Levis though since the style they had wasn't what I was after, but I did get a pair of Lee Riders that are just gorgeous. I know black jeans are really not in this season but I don't care, you should always have a pair of black jeans on hand. Plus, they look amazing with the black and white slingback gladiator-esque heels I bought the other day. Myer is a stock-less wasteland, not quite sure what's happening there. I was quite frustrated by the lack of pretty much anything decent in the shops, but that is not really an uncommon occurrence. I found a nice white t-shirt (to go with the jeans, see?) at Dangerfield that has a print of the James Dean pic that inspired 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' as well as a quote from 'Catcher in the Rye.' I suspect it may be a guy shirt but as per usual I care very little.
The aim for the next two days is to make headway on my exegesis argument. Tomorrow, I'm breaking midday to see Final Destination. I'm not quite sure how I got talked into that.
Music: Every breath you take - The Police
Mood: Grossed out
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Silent and resigned
It's big band and show tune central here at the moment. Reminds me of my childhood, when I used to sit in the living room with my grandfather and he'd listen to his Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby records. Still one of my favourite things to do in summer, when an afternoon is really warm and lovely, is to open my windows and pop on my Frank Sinatra cd and just fall asleep to it. Afternoon nap to Summer wind. It's so relaxing.
However, relaxation is not high on my list of priorities right now. Starting a daily checklist of productivity, asses need to be firmly kicked into gear. We're all a bit crazy at the moment, everyone has stuff due. I haven't done anything this weekend really since I spent most of today sleeping. Not quite sure how that happened. When I did eventually emerge bleary eyed into the light of day, I had to go grocery shopping since mum's still down for the count. You know you've really reached "adulthood" when you're doing the weekly grocery shopping for the household. Anyhow, not a complete waste since I acquired two pairs of heels while I was out. What? I was out, wasn't I?
Now I'm suffering from the stomach ache of doom and listening to aforementioned show tunes. [and no the stomach ache is not caused by the choice in music.] I'm also reading an essay entitled "From simulations to hybrid space: how nomadic technologies change the real" and I'm sure I've read this before. Everything I have left to read was saved in May and June, which means I must have read it for my Cultural Studies assignment. Damn you feeble brain, can't you ever retain useful information?
Hmph. Thanks for nothing brain.
Music: Think of me - Sarah Brightman
Mood: Confused
However, relaxation is not high on my list of priorities right now. Starting a daily checklist of productivity, asses need to be firmly kicked into gear. We're all a bit crazy at the moment, everyone has stuff due. I haven't done anything this weekend really since I spent most of today sleeping. Not quite sure how that happened. When I did eventually emerge bleary eyed into the light of day, I had to go grocery shopping since mum's still down for the count. You know you've really reached "adulthood" when you're doing the weekly grocery shopping for the household. Anyhow, not a complete waste since I acquired two pairs of heels while I was out. What? I was out, wasn't I?
Now I'm suffering from the stomach ache of doom and listening to aforementioned show tunes. [and no the stomach ache is not caused by the choice in music.] I'm also reading an essay entitled "From simulations to hybrid space: how nomadic technologies change the real" and I'm sure I've read this before. Everything I have left to read was saved in May and June, which means I must have read it for my Cultural Studies assignment. Damn you feeble brain, can't you ever retain useful information?
Hmph. Thanks for nothing brain.
Music: Think of me - Sarah Brightman
Mood: Confused
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Someone's got the answers
But I'd rather think there's nothing to be found
One of my pet hates is being woken up in the morning and then, when I am less than enthused, being met with "It's 10 already!" When you got to sleep around 3, ten is not that late, hmmmk? I have been up at 7 (which my body still thinks is 6 thanks to it being the first week of daylight saving) and in the library pretty much all week. I am entitled to sleep until noon if I want to. For one thing I work better at night, so if I can rather get up late and stay up late, it works beautifully. I don't care if you think that's dysfunctional. My life, my rules.
Raaawr.
It appears Fall Out Boy are putting out a greatest hits album, I suppose it was inevitable with the taking-a-break-for-who-knows-how-long thing. Gah, to buy or not to buy. My compulsion to own a complete set of albums, is challenged by the fact that I have all the songs. That's why I didn't by the From Under The Cork tree deluxe edition either, cause why should I buy the same thing twice if I can download the supposed bonus song anyway? Sigh. I'm actually surprised how little effected I am by this "taking a break" business. I suppose because they seem fairly convinced they will play again together at some point. I don't know dudes. Fall Out Boy kind of characterized a very particular time in not only the industry, but youth culture. I think we should call it the emo movement. I'm fairly sure that ship is preparing to set sail. I doubt they will ever have success again the way they had now. To me that's not a bad thing. It means they'll no longer play over-sized venues and go back to playing grungy clubs and I can finally seem them play the way I've always wanted to.
It has come to my attention that Dolce & Gabbana have some rather gorgeous military jackets out. I couldn't actually find the one that caught my attention features in the ad campaign in the store, but here it is. Covet.
I have not really had a good day today. Meh says it all really.
When the dark flood came
We wrapped ourselves inside a dirty blanket
Citing different opinions
On whether we should move
Music: I can barely breathe - Manchester Orchestra
Mood: Meh
One of my pet hates is being woken up in the morning and then, when I am less than enthused, being met with "It's 10 already!" When you got to sleep around 3, ten is not that late, hmmmk? I have been up at 7 (which my body still thinks is 6 thanks to it being the first week of daylight saving) and in the library pretty much all week. I am entitled to sleep until noon if I want to. For one thing I work better at night, so if I can rather get up late and stay up late, it works beautifully. I don't care if you think that's dysfunctional. My life, my rules.
Raaawr.
It appears Fall Out Boy are putting out a greatest hits album, I suppose it was inevitable with the taking-a-break-for-who-knows-how-long thing. Gah, to buy or not to buy. My compulsion to own a complete set of albums, is challenged by the fact that I have all the songs. That's why I didn't by the From Under The Cork tree deluxe edition either, cause why should I buy the same thing twice if I can download the supposed bonus song anyway? Sigh. I'm actually surprised how little effected I am by this "taking a break" business. I suppose because they seem fairly convinced they will play again together at some point. I don't know dudes. Fall Out Boy kind of characterized a very particular time in not only the industry, but youth culture. I think we should call it the emo movement. I'm fairly sure that ship is preparing to set sail. I doubt they will ever have success again the way they had now. To me that's not a bad thing. It means they'll no longer play over-sized venues and go back to playing grungy clubs and I can finally seem them play the way I've always wanted to.
It has come to my attention that Dolce & Gabbana have some rather gorgeous military jackets out. I couldn't actually find the one that caught my attention features in the ad campaign in the store, but here it is. Covet.
I have not really had a good day today. Meh says it all really.
When the dark flood came
We wrapped ourselves inside a dirty blanket
Citing different opinions
On whether we should move
Music: I can barely breathe - Manchester Orchestra
Mood: Meh
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Well, if we're going to descend into anarchy...
Random thought of the day, I am so glad I never had any siblings. I may have turned out social awkward and emotionally closed-off, but at least I've avoided the minefield of sibling fights. I get into spats with my dad which is bad enough, but fighting the way siblings do...ugh no, so not for me. Petty jealousy, misunderstandings, miscommunication, close proximity with another individual far too close to my own age. It sounds like a nice special kind of hell to me. Though I know those with brothers and sisters would disagree with me and say that despite the disagreements (which are unavoidable I suppose when you're living with someone) they really wouldn't trade their sibling for the world and it's given them someone else to bond. I'm happy for you, really I am, but I'm also quite happy being a lonely only child that has only ever had to share out of my own volition (which I am quite happy in doing) and have always had my own space 99% of the time (which I am exceedingly not happy sharing or being disturbed.)
It's the drama, and the exhaustion it induces, that gets me. I fight with my dad about every three months I suppose, and it is usually built up from my snarky remarks and impatient eyerolls, it blows up into a huge argument that involves every trick of emotional and psychological warfare on both our parts, before promptly dissolving into three days of not talking to each other, until he seems to forget, I glower for another two days before finally getting some concession, whether for better or worse. I hold a grudge and I nurture my passive aggressive observations until I can no longer stand to keep quiet. I can't do the whole talk-argue-fight-cry-hug thing. I totally missed that class in girls school. One of the many I missed.
Anywho, speaking of my abnormality, arrived home from the library to find the first result of my internet shopping spree awaiting me, namely a t-shirt from ThinkGeek declaring "You never forget your first Doctor." I am a geek, and proud of it. My t-shirt collection shall stand as proof through the ages. I'm quite impressed it arrived so soon, well worth the shipping fee I was moaning about. Also Roze informed me my customized Torchwood laptop bag is ready. The girls are getting it for my birthday...have I mentioned that I love my friends? They really nurture my loser fangril side.
I barely slept last night but I'm feeling quite good actually. I had the productive day at the library finishing off my third draft (it's been sent off for editing...again. It never ends!) and did some reading research. At this rate, I may actually manage to compose a first draft exegesis by next week. I'm being naively optimistic, but what the hell, it's worth a shot.
The IT boys have hooked me up with the latest Merlin eps. That is tomorrow's silver lining after work, research and getting my hair done. Really, it's good being a geek.
Oreo is five years old today. I can't believe it. What did I do without the little furball in my life?
Anyway, the night awaits.
Fais de beaux rêves.
Music: Big Bang Theory: The Cushion Saturation
Mood: Rather mellow really, but it could just be the sleep deprivation talking.
It's the drama, and the exhaustion it induces, that gets me. I fight with my dad about every three months I suppose, and it is usually built up from my snarky remarks and impatient eyerolls, it blows up into a huge argument that involves every trick of emotional and psychological warfare on both our parts, before promptly dissolving into three days of not talking to each other, until he seems to forget, I glower for another two days before finally getting some concession, whether for better or worse. I hold a grudge and I nurture my passive aggressive observations until I can no longer stand to keep quiet. I can't do the whole talk-argue-fight-cry-hug thing. I totally missed that class in girls school. One of the many I missed.
Anywho, speaking of my abnormality, arrived home from the library to find the first result of my internet shopping spree awaiting me, namely a t-shirt from ThinkGeek declaring "You never forget your first Doctor." I am a geek, and proud of it. My t-shirt collection shall stand as proof through the ages. I'm quite impressed it arrived so soon, well worth the shipping fee I was moaning about. Also Roze informed me my customized Torchwood laptop bag is ready. The girls are getting it for my birthday...have I mentioned that I love my friends? They really nurture my loser fangril side.
I barely slept last night but I'm feeling quite good actually. I had the productive day at the library finishing off my third draft (it's been sent off for editing...again. It never ends!) and did some reading research. At this rate, I may actually manage to compose a first draft exegesis by next week. I'm being naively optimistic, but what the hell, it's worth a shot.
The IT boys have hooked me up with the latest Merlin eps. That is tomorrow's silver lining after work, research and getting my hair done. Really, it's good being a geek.
Oreo is five years old today. I can't believe it. What did I do without the little furball in my life?
Anyway, the night awaits.
Fais de beaux rêves.
Music: Big Bang Theory: The Cushion Saturation
Mood: Rather mellow really, but it could just be the sleep deprivation talking.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The word black is black, and blue is just blue
Oh dear god where has the weekend gone? And why did it have to do such damage to my savings account as it went? So not a productive time. Damn geekdom! You lead me into temptation! I have bought....I don't even know what. T-shirts. Books. Random fandom related stuff that will arrive here in the next few weeks and I will have no idea where to put them. I still have more shirts bookmarked for the coming weeks, and my Forbidden Planet shopping basket is still awaiting checkout as well. I balk at the pound, it must be said. I mean with the US dollar I lose little under a quarter, but the pound is double the worth of my puny earnings. Oh but how I love internet shopping. I look forward to being randomly surprised by packages over the coming weeks. I've given up on Amazon though, I'm still waiting on Roze's birthday present and that's been over a month as I didn't want to pay their extortionate express shipping fees. Besides, when it comes to books I can get most things from The Book Depository. Of course, when all else fails, there is always the wonderful world of eBay. Now that I have a debit card, it's beautifully angst free.
Still, I should be spending my time more productively. I definitely shouldn't spend hours watching Big Bang Theory, or watching reality tv, or getting into petty arguments with my father. So, tomorrow, there will be progress! I need to fix up my CV and print out a profile piece since I have to put in my Masters application on Tuesday. That'll be fun *woe face* Also, re-write. Then for the rest of the week....RESEARCH!!!
Maybe the capslock will convey the urgency of this situation to my apathetic self.
Music: Baby, it's a fact - Hellogoodbye
Mood: Guilty
Still, I should be spending my time more productively. I definitely shouldn't spend hours watching Big Bang Theory, or watching reality tv, or getting into petty arguments with my father. So, tomorrow, there will be progress! I need to fix up my CV and print out a profile piece since I have to put in my Masters application on Tuesday. That'll be fun *woe face* Also, re-write. Then for the rest of the week....RESEARCH!!!
Maybe the capslock will convey the urgency of this situation to my apathetic self.
Music: Baby, it's a fact - Hellogoodbye
Mood: Guilty
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Between the dust and the debris
Most people are fine in small doses, it's when you get to know them and spend more time with them, that you usually begin to understand why other people don't like them. There you were defending them to everyone, only to find yourself in that very same boat. It happens sometimes. We humans are weird creatures.
I've heard someone use the expression life is going to hell in a handbasket. That pretty much sums up 2009 for me. It's just one thing after another, like a ship being battered against the rocks repeatedly. I feel so run down and stressed out. Instead of going absolutely insane as I normally would have, I'm early calm and apathetic. I am the voice of logic, I am cleaning up and making dinner, I am tying up loose ends, making phone calls, driving all over town. At the moment, I am running this household. Thing is, I drew up a timetable at work yesterday and I virtually have to spend every free waking hour working on my thesis. I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance at it, one thing or another keeps popping up and I just can't concentrate or think or bring myself to put this first. I really have to. It needs to be a priority, not just something I'm doing when I have a spare moment. This is utterly ridiculous.
Speaking of the dreaded thesis, this reminded me of it:
It seems, as one becomes older,
That the past has another pattern, and ceases to be a mere sequence—
Or even development: the latter a partial fallacy
Encouraged by superficial notions of evolution,
Which becomes, in the popular mind, a means of disowning the past.
The moments of happiness—not the sense of well-being,
Fruition, fulfilment, security or affection,
Or even a very good dinner, but the sudden illumination—
We had the experience but missed the meaning,
And approach to the meaning restores the experience
In a different form, beyond any meaning
We can assign to happiness. I have said before
That the past experience revived in the meaning
Is not the experience of one life only
But of many generations—not forgetting
Something that is probably quite ineffable:
The backward look behind the assurance
Of recorded history, the backward half-look
Over the shoulder, towards the primitive terror.
Now, we come to discover that the moments of agony
(Whether, or not, due to misunderstanding,
Having hoped for the wrong things or dreaded the wrong things,
Is not in question) are likewise permanent
With such permanence as time has. We appreciate this better
In the agony of others, nearly experienced,
Involving ourselves, than in our own.
For our own past is covered by the currents of action,
But the torment of others remains an experience
Unqualified, unworn by subsequent attrition.
People change, and smile: but the agony abides.
[T.S. Eliot - The Dry Salvages]
I have to submit my application for Masters on the 28th. I need to compile a portfolio of my writing before then as well as get all the relevant paperwork sorted out. Please brain, remember this.
Tomorrow's schedule begins with a 6am wake up call in order to fit in exercise, shower, and breakfast before leaving at 7.30. I will spend the day in the state library, hopefully with Roze's company, where I will complete this creative piece and either do some research or start the re-writing process. Probably be there until 4ish. I think I'll make pasta for dinner while indulging what is now almost-fandom night. Reading to conclude days activities.
Rinse, and repeat.
It's strange but depsite the fact that I have been so busy with all this other crap, I've been more social this year than ever. I generally feel quite good too. In the social situations, I mean. I'm not really stumbling along in the awkward AVPD labyrinth hell it usually resembled. In that respect, it's been a good year. It's the silver lining of 2009, the things that don't make this year a total wash-out so far - a social life, great friends, confidence, and Abbi visiting.
I've sent quite a bit of time virtual window shopping tonight. Fairly sure I want to acquire this skinny authentic black Levi's from Just Jeans. There's also a gorgeous trench I've fallen in love with, but honestly, what need do I have for a UK trench coat? None, I tell you! I still really covet it though. My jacket fetish knows no bounds. Perhaps I can fit in a bit of shopping tomorrow too. I need tights from Dangerfield, shorts, aforementioned jeans, and new sunglasses. I doubt I can justify a shopping spree when Jack is standing in some garage twenty minutes away, awaiting his new head gasket. Woe.
There is a piece of cake on my blogger icon, does that mean it's Blogger's birthday?
Look down, the ground below is crumbling
Look up, the stars are all exploding
Music: Last day on earth - Kate Miller-Heidke
Mood: Thoughtful
I've heard someone use the expression life is going to hell in a handbasket. That pretty much sums up 2009 for me. It's just one thing after another, like a ship being battered against the rocks repeatedly. I feel so run down and stressed out. Instead of going absolutely insane as I normally would have, I'm early calm and apathetic. I am the voice of logic, I am cleaning up and making dinner, I am tying up loose ends, making phone calls, driving all over town. At the moment, I am running this household. Thing is, I drew up a timetable at work yesterday and I virtually have to spend every free waking hour working on my thesis. I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance at it, one thing or another keeps popping up and I just can't concentrate or think or bring myself to put this first. I really have to. It needs to be a priority, not just something I'm doing when I have a spare moment. This is utterly ridiculous.
Speaking of the dreaded thesis, this reminded me of it:
It seems, as one becomes older,
That the past has another pattern, and ceases to be a mere sequence—
Or even development: the latter a partial fallacy
Encouraged by superficial notions of evolution,
Which becomes, in the popular mind, a means of disowning the past.
The moments of happiness—not the sense of well-being,
Fruition, fulfilment, security or affection,
Or even a very good dinner, but the sudden illumination—
We had the experience but missed the meaning,
And approach to the meaning restores the experience
In a different form, beyond any meaning
We can assign to happiness. I have said before
That the past experience revived in the meaning
Is not the experience of one life only
But of many generations—not forgetting
Something that is probably quite ineffable:
The backward look behind the assurance
Of recorded history, the backward half-look
Over the shoulder, towards the primitive terror.
Now, we come to discover that the moments of agony
(Whether, or not, due to misunderstanding,
Having hoped for the wrong things or dreaded the wrong things,
Is not in question) are likewise permanent
With such permanence as time has. We appreciate this better
In the agony of others, nearly experienced,
Involving ourselves, than in our own.
For our own past is covered by the currents of action,
But the torment of others remains an experience
Unqualified, unworn by subsequent attrition.
People change, and smile: but the agony abides.
[T.S. Eliot - The Dry Salvages]
I have to submit my application for Masters on the 28th. I need to compile a portfolio of my writing before then as well as get all the relevant paperwork sorted out. Please brain, remember this.
Tomorrow's schedule begins with a 6am wake up call in order to fit in exercise, shower, and breakfast before leaving at 7.30. I will spend the day in the state library, hopefully with Roze's company, where I will complete this creative piece and either do some research or start the re-writing process. Probably be there until 4ish. I think I'll make pasta for dinner while indulging what is now almost-fandom night. Reading to conclude days activities.
Rinse, and repeat.
It's strange but depsite the fact that I have been so busy with all this other crap, I've been more social this year than ever. I generally feel quite good too. In the social situations, I mean. I'm not really stumbling along in the awkward AVPD labyrinth hell it usually resembled. In that respect, it's been a good year. It's the silver lining of 2009, the things that don't make this year a total wash-out so far - a social life, great friends, confidence, and Abbi visiting.
I've sent quite a bit of time virtual window shopping tonight. Fairly sure I want to acquire this skinny authentic black Levi's from Just Jeans. There's also a gorgeous trench I've fallen in love with, but honestly, what need do I have for a UK trench coat? None, I tell you! I still really covet it though. My jacket fetish knows no bounds. Perhaps I can fit in a bit of shopping tomorrow too. I need tights from Dangerfield, shorts, aforementioned jeans, and new sunglasses. I doubt I can justify a shopping spree when Jack is standing in some garage twenty minutes away, awaiting his new head gasket. Woe.
There is a piece of cake on my blogger icon, does that mean it's Blogger's birthday?
Look down, the ground below is crumbling
Look up, the stars are all exploding
Music: Last day on earth - Kate Miller-Heidke
Mood: Thoughtful
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Yesterday just took me hostage
Could someone explain to me what the deal is with Tumblr? I don't quite get it...and I hate not getting things. Especially interwebz related things. And music related things. And book related things. And...oh who am I kidding, I'm a sponge.
Abs introduced me to My Life Is Average today, cause yes, I needed another avenue of procrastination, there can never be too many avenues of procrastination! I had to share this one since it is so completely and utterly me:
Today I took a quiz on fb that said "How will you get kicked out of Wal-Mart?" It said that I would be kicked out for sneaking around the isles suspiciously and humming the mission impossible theme. I know what I'm doing tomorrow. MLIA
I am amazed I haven't been kicked out of a store yet. There are often sword fights, spoon fights, and weirdness along those lines. Back on point though, is there a particular reason why there are so many Harry Potter reference on that site or is it just mere coincidence of everyone using it being awesome?
Work this morning was uneventful, if quite busy. The most noteable thing I did was read Mat Devine's latest Q&A blog post. Oh that man, he kills me. He's equal parts scathing sarcasm and brutal honesty. It's fantastic.
Q: Mat, my friend is missing, she just disappeared today. We were going to meet at the train station, but she didn't show up and I didn't have a phone to call here with so I had to go home and try to call her cell. But she didn't answer and I can't find her. What shall I do?
A: You did the right thing. Everyone knows, in the case of an emergency, go online and email a lead singer. Ok people, pay attention: Please do not ask me questions that are gonna get me either sued by parents or involved in some Interpol investigation. my resemblance to a police sketch of the Wicker Park Rapist from 3 years ago already has me on the short list for the next season of To Catch A Predator. Please don’t give them more ammunition.
I managed to make it to my meeting in time. I'm really settling in well with Mandy, I think we're perfectly suited to each other. It's very rare in my academic setting to have someone say "but it's all so subjective, really" as she did within our first five minutes. I am a firm believer in subjectivity, and it's nice to have someone who understands where I'm coming from. We seem to be very similar in our approach to writing. We've got another meeting next week, so I hope she gives me some useful feedback on my piece. In the meantime, she's lent me a copy of a collection she's just edited to read.
I have this desperate need for someone to really tear my creative piece to shreds (metaphorically, in terms of criticism). I don't know why.
Today also featured a trip to the UTS library, where actual books were checked out for the first time in four years. I'm a bit disappointed since I was hoping I could go my entire academic career there without ever needing their library, but it was not to be. It's all Wolfgang Iser's fault. I can't believe the State doesn't have his work. So I've got plenty of reading to do this week. Better start forming a theoretical framework I suppose. Fun *cough*
It was an odd sort of day really. I was feeling rather confident, tired and coughing, but completley balanced. Doesn't happen very often.
My biggest problem going to uni is the way I can't resist stopping by Basement Books, which always ends in the acquisition of something or other. Honestly, why can't I just say no? It's the only way I ever read classic literture though, they sell all the Wordsworth and Penguin classic editions from $2-$8. Today I went in looking for poetry. I emerged with 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'The Last Man' by Mary Shelley. Since I only planned on getting a couple of library books, I had my Muse tote and it now loathes me for squeezing eight books in there. Well, I say the bag loathes me, but really it's my shoulder.
There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinctions, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings. It is better not to be different from one's fellows. The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live, undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet.
In other news, I need new black jeans, I'm thinking skinny ones, and I desperately need new sunnies. Why do the damn things break on me? Oh, and those shiny footless tights Dangerfield are peddling. They'd go well with my newly acquired purple dress. Don't know when I'll find time to actually go shopping though. Sigh.
Tomorrow the moving starts. Out comes the paint-spattered BFMV shirt and torn jeans. I will probably be off-line for a bit. Well, as off line as I go anyway. I'll post up a playlist tonight but sans downloads I'm afraid. I don't want blogspot deleting any more of my posts (bastards). However, should anyone actually want any of the songs, I am always more than happy to oblige, just drop a comment.
Music: Believe - The All American Rejects
Mood: Accomplished
Abs introduced me to My Life Is Average today, cause yes, I needed another avenue of procrastination, there can never be too many avenues of procrastination! I had to share this one since it is so completely and utterly me:
Today I took a quiz on fb that said "How will you get kicked out of Wal-Mart?" It said that I would be kicked out for sneaking around the isles suspiciously and humming the mission impossible theme. I know what I'm doing tomorrow. MLIA
I am amazed I haven't been kicked out of a store yet. There are often sword fights, spoon fights, and weirdness along those lines. Back on point though, is there a particular reason why there are so many Harry Potter reference on that site or is it just mere coincidence of everyone using it being awesome?
Work this morning was uneventful, if quite busy. The most noteable thing I did was read Mat Devine's latest Q&A blog post. Oh that man, he kills me. He's equal parts scathing sarcasm and brutal honesty. It's fantastic.
Q: Mat, my friend is missing, she just disappeared today. We were going to meet at the train station, but she didn't show up and I didn't have a phone to call here with so I had to go home and try to call her cell. But she didn't answer and I can't find her. What shall I do?
A: You did the right thing. Everyone knows, in the case of an emergency, go online and email a lead singer. Ok people, pay attention: Please do not ask me questions that are gonna get me either sued by parents or involved in some Interpol investigation. my resemblance to a police sketch of the Wicker Park Rapist from 3 years ago already has me on the short list for the next season of To Catch A Predator. Please don’t give them more ammunition.
I managed to make it to my meeting in time. I'm really settling in well with Mandy, I think we're perfectly suited to each other. It's very rare in my academic setting to have someone say "but it's all so subjective, really" as she did within our first five minutes. I am a firm believer in subjectivity, and it's nice to have someone who understands where I'm coming from. We seem to be very similar in our approach to writing. We've got another meeting next week, so I hope she gives me some useful feedback on my piece. In the meantime, she's lent me a copy of a collection she's just edited to read.
I have this desperate need for someone to really tear my creative piece to shreds (metaphorically, in terms of criticism). I don't know why.
Today also featured a trip to the UTS library, where actual books were checked out for the first time in four years. I'm a bit disappointed since I was hoping I could go my entire academic career there without ever needing their library, but it was not to be. It's all Wolfgang Iser's fault. I can't believe the State doesn't have his work. So I've got plenty of reading to do this week. Better start forming a theoretical framework I suppose. Fun *cough*
It was an odd sort of day really. I was feeling rather confident, tired and coughing, but completley balanced. Doesn't happen very often.
My biggest problem going to uni is the way I can't resist stopping by Basement Books, which always ends in the acquisition of something or other. Honestly, why can't I just say no? It's the only way I ever read classic literture though, they sell all the Wordsworth and Penguin classic editions from $2-$8. Today I went in looking for poetry. I emerged with 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'The Last Man' by Mary Shelley. Since I only planned on getting a couple of library books, I had my Muse tote and it now loathes me for squeezing eight books in there. Well, I say the bag loathes me, but really it's my shoulder.
There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinctions, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings. It is better not to be different from one's fellows. The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live, undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet.
In other news, I need new black jeans, I'm thinking skinny ones, and I desperately need new sunnies. Why do the damn things break on me? Oh, and those shiny footless tights Dangerfield are peddling. They'd go well with my newly acquired purple dress. Don't know when I'll find time to actually go shopping though. Sigh.
Tomorrow the moving starts. Out comes the paint-spattered BFMV shirt and torn jeans. I will probably be off-line for a bit. Well, as off line as I go anyway. I'll post up a playlist tonight but sans downloads I'm afraid. I don't want blogspot deleting any more of my posts (bastards). However, should anyone actually want any of the songs, I am always more than happy to oblige, just drop a comment.
Music: Believe - The All American Rejects
Mood: Accomplished
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Today was a day just like any other
I know I said I'd post a playlist today but my net wasn't working for most of the day, so I haven't had time to upload it all. I actually resolved not to go online cause my headache is a thousand times worse than it was yesterday, but I seemingly can't help myself. I still try to convince myself that I'm not cheating - oh, just a quick look here, and oh, just quickly check that - yeah whatever. I don't even fool myself.
Managed to drag my reluctant carcass off to Westfields where I spent well over an hour swearing profusely at the style this season. Everything seems to be black and grey. This wouldn't bother me normally (in fact, I'd be perfectly content) but I have to attend the multi-colour party tomorrow so no good. Ended up buying a purple tunic-esque dress. Still wearing a black jacket though, sorry!
I'm so apathetic it's painful.
Here's another pity, there's another chance
Try to learn a lesson but you can't.
If we can burn a city in futures and in past,
Without a change our lives will never last.
Cause' we're going fast.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down,
If it doesn't matter then just turn around.
We don't need our bags and we can just leave town.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down.
I have this habit of becoming obsessed with certain lines or images from songs (or poems too I suppose). Just one single thing that sticks with me, regardless of the whole. For example: I'm an addict for dramatics I confuse the two for love; In a clear view there’s a silhouette and I watch you and I can’t forget; Do I divide or fall apart? Cause my light's too slight to hold back all my dark... It happens sometimes in ficion too though, I just fall in love with a sentence. I don't know what it is.
Music: I'm ready - Jack's Mannequin
Mood: A litte down and out
Managed to drag my reluctant carcass off to Westfields where I spent well over an hour swearing profusely at the style this season. Everything seems to be black and grey. This wouldn't bother me normally (in fact, I'd be perfectly content) but I have to attend the multi-colour party tomorrow so no good. Ended up buying a purple tunic-esque dress. Still wearing a black jacket though, sorry!
I'm so apathetic it's painful.
Here's another pity, there's another chance
Try to learn a lesson but you can't.
If we can burn a city in futures and in past,
Without a change our lives will never last.
Cause' we're going fast.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down,
If it doesn't matter then just turn around.
We don't need our bags and we can just leave town.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down.
I have this habit of becoming obsessed with certain lines or images from songs (or poems too I suppose). Just one single thing that sticks with me, regardless of the whole. For example: I'm an addict for dramatics I confuse the two for love; In a clear view there’s a silhouette and I watch you and I can’t forget; Do I divide or fall apart? Cause my light's too slight to hold back all my dark... It happens sometimes in ficion too though, I just fall in love with a sentence. I don't know what it is.
Music: I'm ready - Jack's Mannequin
Mood: A litte down and out
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