Honestly?

 

Hello everyone!

Things have been crazy and I haven't really had much time to myself lately, so here's a little update.

Work was getting a little crazy - understatement - what with holidays and working a few back to back shifts. People take their free time for granted until they no longer have it. I've cut back on my hours now that university's started up again, and it's amazing the little appreciations I have for everything. Showering. A proper meal. Dreamless sleep. Socialising. A reasonable bed time!

Sometimes serving people strips you of your humanity if you're doing it too often without properly taking care of yourself; and that's something I've finally had to accept. No matter how many times people ask how I am, it's just easier to say that everything's fine to not burden the question asker. I'm finally accepting that I haven't been well as of late. I got used to jet-setting, jumping around everywhere and anywhere; it felt like such a natural part of me. Coming back and staying still again feels like a betrayal of my personality and I have to learn to accept the 'waiting room' part of life again.

University! Once I cut back my work hours and started hanging out on campus again, I realised it was something I really missed. All that's expected of me is to think, try my best, and achieve a personal potential with you to motivate yourself - and I like to think that's something I am fairly good at. Classes are actually really interesting to me at the moment and I'm happy to meet new people as well.

We'll see how I go, now that things finally feel like they're getting better.

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Play hard, but work hard too.

Abisko, Sweden.

Hello! I'm happy to report that things have been quite busy lately. Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through certain things, before remembering that I'm working toward something. It'll all be worth it.

University trimester starts up again, and I'll be pondering more of the media and its hypnosis on the general society again. There's also a Study Abroad Club on campus that helps out the international exchange students, and I'll be joining! I'll help out students adjusting to Melbourne and this insane country.

I opened my letter to myself that I wrote before I left. It was full of a respect for the unknown that I wasn't quite expecting; and just another example of how far I've come.

I've read and watched The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Daydream Nation, respectively. I've reviewed both on my Tumblr page for your viewing pleasure, and they've both been such a surprise to me. Both came within 48 hours of each other and it's made me see things yet again differently.

I've finished 2 Broke Girls, and I'm debating about rewatching Buffy for that extra boost of self-respect. 2 Broke Girls has gotten me more curious about New York, and the people that can be found in little corners and down streets. Places like Soho and Willamsburg. Central Park. South Manhattan. I'm hoping to see Metric while I'm in North America; coming across Emily Haines' music in Daydream Nation has steered me back to listening to Metric and rediscovering my old favourites.

 

Ice skating's going well, I've signed up for a term and I've been going to the rink on weekends. I'm exploring different areas of Melbourne that I haven't previously and I'm loving it. I went with my friend Jewels to the Monet exhibition and then we wandered around the Business District.

As always, you can find more informal stuff on my Tumblr, and I'll keep updating once uni starts.

Maybe we'll fly the night away...girl...

Did you miss me?

I've started Torchwood. I think the thing that will stick with me was when I got my complete boxed set in the mail. It brightened my day, it was well packaged, and it was timely! I'm still waiting on something else to come and it's been about a week already.

Ed Sheeran this weekend! I'm very excited. You have no idea.

My TV Studio Production class is currently working on the minor project...presenting the news! I've since found a role and feel a little more like I know what I'm doing. Plus thinking of bogus news is kind of fun.

This made me absolutely fangirl.

And yeah, I've been living really. Essays. Blogging (academically, mainly). I've actually gotten quite a bit of good feedback - and I think it's something to do with my established confidence in the blogging universe.

Maybe I fell in love when you woke me up ♥

Ed Sheeran in a few weeks. I've been listening to + in preparation. And his cover of Wonderwall is enough to make anybody fall in love.

I've also started a blog for a class, Crazy Academic Waitress. If you would like to see my academic musings on globalisation, feel free.

I've also decided not to go to the True Blood con. Once I find somebody to benefit from my change in decision, things should be fine. Hopefully.

Waiting on people has ruined me - I think I've lost faith in humanity. The regulars are fine, they've gotten to see me for the person that I am. It's just the people that expect to be waited on as though they were royalty. Yes, ordering six coffees at the one time and expecting them to arrive in a timely fashion when there's so much other crap going on around you... of course the world doesn't centre around you!

Needless to say, I was nodding as I read this blog post quite emphatically; I think I got whiplash.

Sometimes it's all too much and I forget what it's like to feel - other than empty and broken, I mean. Sometimes there's that wonderful reminder. Music's always been something that's helped me feel; it's always been there for me. Not that I know too much about it, but it's a more emotional connection than a technical one. I'm a very up and down person. Emotional extremes.

Animation class.

Television studio...

Started my television studio class; and boy, I now have a lot more respect for the crews out there everywhere.

After the OH&S walk through, we were given a news exercise that we would run through a few times, each time rotating the many roles involved. The first role I filled was lighting desk; this involved setting up the two lighting set ups the exercise involved - after that it was switching between the two.

The next role I had was shadowing audio - but this turned out to be assisting audio. This involved miking that rotation's presenters, and keeping in synch with everyone involved in the control room; the director's cues, DA, visual mixer, EVS etc.

The next rotation I was out on the studio floor observing; and from this viewpoint the chaos of the control room was hidden - all but the backstage monitor beside me. The packages and audio were sometimes late and graphics had some sort of hiccup, but that's all part of the learning process! And it was so much fun this time around.

At least I wasn't director or DA...this time.

Don't wait for too long.

I didn't know that you were going to be such a good thing.

Classes are finished for now. I only have the one exam left and an assignment.

I have a pile of entertainment awaiting; both books and television. Community will be next, after Angel, and Pride and Prejudice will be succeeded by titles such as Lauren Kate's Rapture, John Green's Paper Towns, David Nichollis' One Day, and many, many more. There will be reviews here.

Seriously considering a study exchange program. Paperwork and money problems are discouraging, but I know it's something I want to do. Sweden is a big possibility.

And I've been deciding on wall decoration for my room at my aunty's house. I'm making a conscious decision to stray from my adolescence and these are similar to what I've eventually decided on.

I hope you are well; may your life be full of wonderfully crazy catastrophes.

Recommends!

So in about three weeks, I'll be done with this trimester of uni. I have an exam (boo, hiss) and a couple of big assignments to go. Trying my best. That's all I can really do.

Other than that; I just read John Green's The Fault In Our Stars, and I can see why people why are enamoured with it - because I am too. It was another one of those books I couldn't put down; the characters were very down to earth and I can't imagine losing somebody really close to me to cancer. It's a very touching book that I would recommend to anybody.

Also just saw Napoleon Dynamite for the first time, and it was a film I quite liked without logic; things happened as the characters were developed; not like the traditional character development/things happen/character re-evaluates themselves/character is restored/happy ending linear format. Plus that dance and its aftermath was quite remarkable.

I'm eagerly awaiting Chad Sugg's new EP Modern Sway; the release has been delayed, but he's put up the EP for a free preview. Shake Shake and 25 are stand out tracks. I myself, I'm still reeling from Wizards. This guy doesn't get enough credit; compared to 'top chart' people like Paris Hilton who get attention for doing nothing.

Julie Benz is coming to the Melbourne leg of Oz Comic Con; the wonderful actress from shows like Buffy, Angel, Dexter, Supernatural; the list goes on. Oz Comic Con is shaping up to be a wonderful choice of mine!

And Once Upon A Time has started airing here in Australia (I think the US just got the Season 1 finale, double boo). From the first couple of episodes I've seen (it's mainly a lot of setting up, which is fairly necessary for any series, I mean look at how Buffy started out!) I quite like it so far.

And I said that's fine, but you're the only one who knows I lied.

So things are, again, hectic. Good old Sufjan Stevens seems to inspire me when I'm not quite inspired enough on my own for university essays and the like.

Music wise? I'm looking forward to Metric's new album Synthetica coming out next month, and I just listened to Birds of Tokyo's self titled album. Really liked that one.

I've also gone a little crazy with online shopping. I've never done it before, and that excitement when there's a package in the mail a couple of weeks later is something quite new to me. It's mainly band t-shirts.

I've recently watched Pan's Labyrinth. On recommendations, which I'm glad I did. The librarian squealed with delight when I went to check it out at the campus library, so I was kind of like, yeah.

Don't get me wrong, there are many layers to Labyrinth, and I do like listening to the original Spanish dialogue it was shot with. But I think Donnie Darko will always be my favourite film to fit that niche, despite the fact that I had to study it to death in school... twice.

Work's been a little strange lately, but things are always strange with me I think.

I also got a very high score for an essay on hyper masculinity (which I had kind of pieced together while I was in Thailand and was not exactly expecting too much of a great result). The subject had interested me enough, and hey, Lorne! It was a pretty fantastic score for something I had honestly pieced together without obsessing too much over it. I admit that I'd struggled once I returned from Thailand (and hey, I think you could agree that anybody would feel the same in my position), so I was fairly surprised to say the least.

Lorne from Angel. He's the kind of character who's grown on me in the past couple of weeks.

As well as Fred.

 I'm near the end of season four with Angel. I'm slowly getting there.

The weekend that just past was more social than usual. Saturday I organised a special surprise dinner for my aunty (we dressed all formal and fancy and made dumplings). And Sunday involved a bit of homework before a dinner for Mother's Day; we had people over and everything.

I'll be working all next weekend (which I honestly don't mind too much, but), the three assessments due next week make things a little difficult.

Coldplay dates were announced in Australia! I'm hoping to snag some tickets.

And my NaNoWriMo memoir, about things happening to me the previous November, will be available online for purchase soon. I'm very excited about that.

Sin City!

My goodness, why hadn't I seen this film sooner? It's a visually stunning piece.

I knew about two minutes in that it was going to be a visual treat for me, in addition to the storyline. It's films like this that keep my analytic mind in check. Vegetation is not an option for me, even with this five month break I'm three months into. 

This was also the second instance of renting instead of buying a film or television series, then watching it and wishing that I had bought it. 

The first instance was the complete series of Firefly. I just want to watch the opening titles every time. Are there any shows that you just leave the opening credits going because they're that awesome? It depends if I'm having a marathon of the show or what; but for me there's Dexter, NCIS, True Blood (the latter when it returns for a new season and you're just bursting with excitement all over again) and The Slap, which is simply a clear plate breaking in slow motion.

The DVD menu for Sin City is quite hypnotic; I think I sat there watching it for a couple of minutes before I had actually started watching it. 

NaNoWriMo.

For more info, visit here.

Can't take the kid from the fight? Take the fight from the kid.

Happy October! And yes, there were numerous statuses on my Facebook feed about waking up Green Day.

My first year of university is drawing to a close, and things are starting to slow right down. The waitressing is something quite small, but also a rite of passage for me, strangely enough. Monitoring human behaviour and running around 2-3 times a week opens up more worldly values and new ways of thinking.

Well, it beats being a regular university student by day. By night slicing pizzas and making lemon lime and bitters are the little moments I privately enjoy.

The scarecrow walks at midnight, but I walk all alone.

See the post from last week for the Youtube clip this was in.

So I finally saw the last Harry Potter film. And I have no idea how to feel about it, honestly. I'm numb. They screwed up things such as how Lily's sacrifice saved Harry through the end, Teddy Lupin, how the Elder wand saved the day. But overall it could have been worse.

Work's going much better. It's so much better than the gym, I'm on my feet for hours and I'm being paid for it. Plus I come across people who look like celebrities. Like Jesus from True Blood and Sam from Glee. And one group I served had heavy Irish accents that I couldn't understand at first. I'm having trouble balancing my readings/essay/documentary pitch with work, but I'll get there. I have to.

You're such a nerd. ...will you marry me?

This. THIS. This.

Oh, my. Wow.
I read the books when I was younger, but this shows an inexpressible passion.
What a creative homage/expression of love.
You could say, it gave me goosebumps.

So I'm back at uni, and trying to juggle between uni and work. The reading load is the stuff of nightmares! And I'm not feeling so well at work, either. Worried that I'll be fired any day now.
Out of a cannon.
Into space.

On a lighter note, the people of 1895 watched this in cinemas. Their reactions were of horror and running for the exits because they thought the train was coming right at them. It makes me wonder about reactions to new technology.

So many sausages.

So this weekend involved a little crazy time with relatives.

Which happened to include some sausage making. Things went wrong, and it was a longer process as a result, but as my aunty says, we'll appreciate them more when we eat them.

At one stage I had to guard the process from this little devil.

Uni starting up again this week. HARRY POTTER released this week, as well. Here's hoping that I don't go into film analysis mode when I do finally see it.

We're marchin' on.

So the exact moment when I start feeling a little more confident about my job, a certain song starts playing in the restaurant that makes me stop in my tracks.

Bette Davis Eyes.

This has to be some sort of sign.

Regulars may remember my fascination with achieving Bette Davis Eyes status. Hearing the song tonight has made me wonder; have I achieved Bette Davis Eyes status? Or if not entirely, in the right direction at least?

Music video of the week: Marchin' On/Harry Potter. The editing is amazing, they've incorporated the song's beat into the visual cutting, so the overall rhythm of the clip is perfect. I wonder how they manipulated the footage to be a little faded and yet even more visually striking?

There'll be a review of Lauren Kate's Passion coming up soon.

Sigh.

I want to take you far from the cynics in this town...

200th post, everyone!

...I found my music video had been shared over at bridezillamusic.com - with a 5/5 rating, no less! I'm just blown away by that.

Went out with housemates last week. I think having somebody needing to be that drunk to hit on somebody else is a major turn off. It could almost be an insult. I prefer those kinds of things sober, thank you very much.

I've finished classes for the trimester, with only one more essay to complete: The Shining vs Cry Wolf.

Random phrase of the moment during Facebook chat? 

"Enough of my self victory vomit."

And a job interview tomorrow! Hoping it goes well.

The way you make me feel...

Why not?! Shame. Because I love me.
What, I can't express how much I love me?

So I spend my days alternating between activities like:

• Tracking down awesome songs from my youth or having heard them randomly somewhere.
• Writing essays/presentation speeches.
• Eating junk food... but only during the weekly film. Or absentmindedly while essay writing.
• Deviantart scanning.
• songmeanings.net scanning of pretty much most music I listen to that is lyrically intriguing.
• Playlist sharing!
• Catching up with friends.
• Trying to put a dent in my pile of unread novels!
• Food shopping. There's a certain something, perhaps a loss of innocence, strolling through supermarket aisles by yourself.

I lost my mind long ago, down the yellow brick road.

Facebook relationship statuses are so overrated.

No, really. I mean, if I were to set it to 'In A Relationship' right this minute, I guarantee you that people will jump on it like a freaking trampoline. Other people making that kind of thing their business, when it really isn't. This unhealthy obsession with other people's personal lives, this... voyeurism. Lack of privacy. It's just plain ridiculous. Not to mention, attention seeking. Anyone who wants that kind of attention over something not too serious, well... I won't incriminate me and you, reading this, with my opinion.

As you may be able to gather from this, I have removed my relationship status option all together from my Facebook. Not really my style, anyway. Do things really need labelling?

So I'm plowing through the essay and nearing the finish line.
...Edward Scissorhands, I will destroy you.
...well no, not really.

This I just LOVE, by the way. Credit on the picture.

This week's film was Fist of Fury.
Um, what to say about Fist of Fury?
...well, watch, if you've never heard of it. Bruce Lee? Action? Then yes.