Positivity

OK, so after slipping into a sort of....funk (No, I'm NOT going to say the D-word, even though it may be appropriate, I'm not going to go there here, give me some credit). I'm TRYING SO HARD to see the bright side of things. Because happiness follows positive actions and vice versa etc, you know what I mean.

Phew, it's tiring.

So this post is to go through some of the great parts of my life. It is Thanksgiving today, so I'm going to be thankful for all of the wonderful things in my life right now. In no particular order:

I live in a pretty cool share house in suburb de jour, Brunswick.

I just got a kind-of promotion, where I get a pay rise and more challenging work. On top of that, my workmates are all pretty cool people who I respect and get along well with, and I think they might even like me too, which is cool.

After a slow start to the second season, my serial TV show of choice, Heroes, is beginning to pick up some speed, with Hiro back in the present, Peter regaining his memory (and hopefully some balls - Peter needs to seriously STEP IT UP this season and do some Sylar-Adam arse kicking), the revelation of Adam's identity (can't believe I missed that), and a bit of sexy looks between Mohinder-Nikki-Nathan. Me likey! Oooh, and Matt's powers are growing. All good stuff. Keep up the pace Tim Kring, and thanks for listening to the fans.

My housemates have pointed me towards Empire Cafe on Sydney road - good organic coffee, yummy food, a non-pretentious non-threatening atmosphere, and..... FREE WIRELESS!!!! I shall live here now.

I finally bought some super cute capri pants and when I wear them with my red flats it is very Audrey Hepburn and I love it.

I'm surrounded by some pretty wonderful and supportive friends and family. Truly, I'm very very fortunate.

Sleep is getting slightly better.

I have pretty great hair (I was going to add it needs a cut but, no, positive) and it can pull off pretty much any colour, its currently burgundy and I love it, but it is also comfortably blonde. How lucky am I? (I'm aware that this and the capri one are very superficial, but beggars-choosers etc)


So....yeah. I'm a pretty lucky person, and I have a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

New Job...

So I found a new job. This is noteworthy for a number of reasons:

- It is my first job in 7 months.

- I am an Arts graduate. <<---- *Twilight Zone music*

- It is full-time.

- It is media-related but not "in the media" (my ideal).

- It is not advertising or marketing or sales.

- It is full of young people (albeit some kinda weird), unlike old work.

- I have to get up at 4.15am, 5 days a week. <<---- Yes, true.

- It is kind of what they call "a foot in the door."

I'm pretty happy, I'm single and working on a new wardrobe... All I need now is a share house with friends and this blog may will turn into copies of "The Secret Life Of Us" scripts.



I promise it wont.

Bloggn' in '07

From Thailand with...

This was the view from our balcony on Koh Tao in Thailand. Quite spectacular, yes. Here and Now: CFT, apart from having the best location and views on Koh Tao, was quite an unpleasant place to stay. The staff were outwardly unfriendly and unaccommodating, never displaying any sense of consideration or concern for guests - strange considering that was basically, you know, their job. For a place that was supposed to be all new-age positivity promoting good energy, the energy was pretty bad. Then again, it has been my general experience with new-age types that they are not the most moral of creatures, despite their self-proclaimed on-to-it-ness. But overall, Thailand = good.

And so a new year begins. While there are a million things I could blog about - new tap dance classes, job searching, new friends, relationships, how much I love "What Goes Around" by JT, the prospect of FINALLY moving out of home - I prefer to blog more about popular cultural issues I know about, like Joss Whedon leaving Wonder Woman (seriously, I wrote a thesis on Internet fan communities in Cultural Studies and I STILL DON'T GET THIS GUY!), and Oscar Nominations. You know, the real important stuff.

I'm still deciding whether to morph this blog into a cultural critique blog or to just start up a more "professional" one. Once I've made my decision I'll let you know. I will be starting a Flickr account though - Yay!

OK, that's enough.

Convoluted and tired...

Hi all,

Thought I should give a quick 'life update,' as I've been neglecting this blog lately. Apart, of course, from the wonderful pieces of literature I've been writing in response to Australian Idol, which I'm sure will one day be studied alongside The Bard.

But all in all, life's...uneven.

The big news is 'the thesis.' Its coming along. I'm at about 13,000 words and I have some more to write. I also have a lot to cut, so I think word count will be ok. My supervisor is happy with my theoretical work, she said it was "rigorous and robust," so that's encouraging. My major problem is my sloppy, convoluted writing style and bad use of grammar. This is no surprise to me. I'm terrible at basic level literacy and writing's never been my strong suit. I can formulate arguments, successfully analyse and scrutinise work, and research well. I'm a kick ass public speaker too. But getting my thoughts on a page...I find it difficult. So I will be taking my thesis to some proofreaders to work me through that, and it should be fine. Its OK my supervisor said "look, it's not so bad, it doesn't read like English is your second language." WELL PHEW!! That's a relief.

My personal life is ok. I'd like to state that I have some wonderful friends. They have been so super supportive over the past year. Including the boy who I've had dramas with - he's always at the other end of the phone for me. We've both been pretty stressed lately and we seem to be leaning on each other a lot for comfort...not probably the smartest thing to do, but it feels good. we're quite good for each other. He calms me and I cheer him up.

My hair is looking super hot, despite needing a cut. I've spent a fortune on:

Redken Fresh Curls
My hair is less frizzy and so nice and soft. Worth every penny. Now I need to cut it.

OK, well I'm off to visit my special friend to hang out. <----- Read into that what you will, sickos.

Even though no-one tagged me...

I haven't been tagged, so chances are you don't care, but I haven't written about myself too much. These things are far from being truly illustrating, but they're fun to read, I guess.

So, for a bit more about me:

Three things that scare me:
Whales
Rejection
Loosing my family

Three people that make me laugh:
My friend Becky
GOB from Arrested Development
Trumpet

Three things I hate the most:
Middle age men who patronise me
Feeling boxed in a slow moving crowd
Environmental damage

Three things I don't understand:
How somebody could actually kill someone else intentionally
Other languages
Foucault (shhhh! Don’t tell anybody!)

Three things I'm doing right now:
Not feeding my nagging cat
Listening to the radio
procrastinating

Three things I want to do before I die:
Live somewhere else, preferably alone
Have children
Watch the sunset with someone I love, spend the whole night with them, then watch the sunrise (I know, I know, indulge me this one thing please)

Three things I can do:
Play the euphonium
Public speak
Read maps, know where I’m facing and direct people places

Three ways to describe my personality:
Outwardly confident, inwardly insecure
Very warm and affectionate one minute, very reserved and blunt the next
Over-analysing over little things, impulsive and laid-back over big things

Three things I can't do:
Paint or play as well as I’d like
“Pick up”
Be “cool” - although I think through accepting this I get cooler

Three things I think you should listen to:
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Bach
Marvin Gaye

Three things you should never listen to:
current affair programs
Wagner – ugh
Anyone who doesn’t listen to you

Three things I'd like to learn:
the guitar
How to fix my guy problems
To make the most of my hair

Three favourite foods:
anything berry
Anything fried
I dunno, chocolate. I hate this question, I like all food.

Three beverages I drink regularly:
coffee
Water
Beer

Three shows I watched as a kid:
You can’t do that on television
Fraggle rock
Full House


Last thing you burned while cooking?
Sometimes I burn the coffee in the percolator…

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Affectionate, reserved, insecure

How long does it take you to get ready for your day?
Generaly 15-30 mins. Never more than 45 mins. If I’m getting ready for a very special occasion, then maybe about an hour.

Are you a health freak?
Not at all.

How many people have you thought were The One?
None, and I’m not sure I believe in that whole thing. But I fall in love easily. Quite deeply. Commitment is anther issue.

What turns you off about the opposite sex?
Ignorance, dullness, no connection, too much effort into following fashion trends.

What kind of car do you drive?
My mother’s Toyota. I had a corolla, but I totaled it. One of the worst moments of my life.

Favourite thing to toast to?
Another person.

What celebrity would you have coffee with?
John Mayer. I’m so his bitch. Or maybe Steve Martin. Older flirty me love me.

What celebrity would you not have sex with?
I dunno. Puff Daddy? Or maybe Oliver Stone. Ewwe!

What is the main ringtone on your mobile?
The Goonies R Good Enough. I’m NOT joking.


What were you doing at midnight last night?
Watching Ch 10 Sex and the City Rerun.

Last tv show you watched?
Oprah was just on, and it was one of her “favorite things” episodes. She was giving away new washer and dryer sets to the teachers in her audience. Oh, and cute cute CUTE track suits for them to look cute while they do their washing. Soooooo GRRRREEEATTTTT!!!!!!

Who is your best friend?
No one person. I have favorite people and people who know me very well and love me. I’m very close to my brother, mother and father. I have a close group of about 4 girls, and my ex, who I’m very open with.

Who in your family do you get along with?
See above. I have a large extended family, I’m close with one of my uncles and my two aunts.

What is your top 5 hollywood hottie list?
Easy: Kiefer Sutherland, Mos Def, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix, and Nick Stahl. Runner up? Jake Gyllenhaal.

Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
Michael, you don’t know him

When/where was the last place you travelled?
Easter, BrisVegas

Sinful snacking weakness?
Hmmm, probably chocolate or chips. I love chips. Pretty un-weird

Best clothing style?
I wear a lot of skirts, but I’m quite un-stylised.

Ever run out of gas?
No

Worst date ever?
We went to see “The Aviator,” but accidentally walked into “Meet the Fockers,” which he’d already seen.

Personal records?
Most “likes” in a sentence, I guess.

What would you do if you could be the opposite sex for a day?
Hmm, be arrogant and a slob and get away with it. Sounds terrible, but it would be great to not feel under so much scrutiny.

Total jail time?
Well, there was that time in Mexico...

Have a crush on anyone you work with?
No, no cute boys at any job.

In your cd player right now?
Nothing, I tend to listen to the radio. Wynton Marsalis I listened to the other day.

What is something you believe in?
Myself, ultimately, I know nothing else for sure.

What is something you fear?
Whales, quite badly.

Big or small?
What? Big. Whatever.

Worst physical pain you ever experienced?
Physical pain? Coral poisoning in my foot. Pain shuddered up my leg, terrible.

Tell us something about your childhood?
I would torture my poor brother. The worst thing was not playing with him. He used to beg me to come play legos with him. I’d go and start something, then get bored and just walk away. He’d be so devastated. Now I compete for his attention.

Best time to catch you in a good mood?
Honestly don’t know. I could be having a shitty day and still be upbeat. I generally try to be cheery all the time.

If you could be anything for a day, what would it be?
A great musician

Most prized possession?
My eupho, this computer

Would you ever sell it?
Yes, yes

What is one of your pet peeves?
Slow walkers taking up footpaths.

Favourite actor/actress?
Nup, don’t do favorites. I hate a few though. Like Natalie “I went to Harvard, listen while I use big words ever so quaintly” Portman.

What song are you listening to right now?
Madonna’s on the radio. Crappy.

If you could sucker punch someone right now who would it be?
Who cares?

Any secrets?
Yes, plenty.

Unhealthy addictions?
Nervously biting my nails. Saying “sorry.”

Unhealthy fascinations?
Yes, but that’s a secret.

Favourite sexual position?
Depends on the type of sex one is having. What works best physically is not always what you want all the time.

What do you notice first about the opposite sex?
Centre of circle, part of circle, or out of the circle. Out of the circle is the best.

Favourite physical part of the opposite sex?
The neck, hands and upper chest.

What physical part would you change about yourself?
I’d like my legs and torso to be a bit longer. My shoulders less round, and my boobs just slightly smaller so I can wear singles without big bras in summer and shirts don’t gape.

Soft sensual sex or porn star sex?
Both.

Would you go on a date with someone you met online?
No, I can barely go out with someone I know for real.

Work attire?
Currently don’t work, but it wouldn’t be grey suits. Boring.

What is your best physical feature?
Depends who you ask. My hair, boobs and eyes tend to be the frontrunners. One of my girlfriends envies my legs, but they’re a bit chunky on top.

Do you think anyone actually has read this far?
Yes, because people are idiots.

THANKS FOR READING KIDS! YOU THE GREATEST!

My New Distraction Or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Blog

Hi there.

Reasons for starting a blog:

1. Procrastination: This is a big one. My life seems to be one distraction after another as i sink into further and further denial about my honours work. They say denial is the first stage of grief. Yep, I'm grieving my sanity.

2. Relevancy: Considreing my thesis is about new media and the internet i figured it was getting rediculous that i didn't have a stable internet home. You can expect a post a couple of times a week. I used to have a film-review related one at RottenTomatoes, but got bored.

3. Subcultural Capital: Ahh yes, the wank reason. Lets face it, its getting cooler in the circles I travel through (the Arts student worlds, see links) to have one of these self-indulgent corners of the www. Hey, it could be worse, I could be an "emo" or jazz muso or something.

So yeah, I'll be back later to tell you more about little old me. I hope some will be at least remotely entertained, maybe even informed. It will probably be media-based critique stuff, but hey you might get lucky sometimes and get a rant about my latest argument or romantic escapade. Ha! "Romantic escapade." That was a good one Stef, write that down. Wait... but I aready did! Spooky.