NaNoWriMo.

For more info, visit here.

The fire of love sends you northbound.

This band are quickly becoming a new favourite (one of many favourites) of mine after purchasing their new album Bruiser (which just so happens to have a ram, or goat on the cover. I can't tell, is it some strange hybrid of both?). The Duke Spirit are awesome enough, they just don't have the right exposure.

Things are fairly busy, even with the absence of university. Job interviews, starting to drive (again), and relatives. Watched Firefly and loved it. Watching Chuck S3, and well, no idea what it will be after that. I like not knowing, though.

Television habits.

The night has reached its end, we can't pretend, we must run.

So my first year of university is finished.

I'll still be hanging around Melbourne, though. Working, and reading so that I'm not entirely vegetative by the time uni starts up again for me in March next year. I've finished Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - and in the process finally understanding Resistance - Muse - and I've started on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Others on my list are Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and Becca Fitzpatrick's Silence.

It's turning into nicer weather in Melbourne, and I've been keeping a lookout for more dressy kinds of clothes. I'll be going to Sydney for a weekend next month for a cousin's wedding, that'll be loads of fun.

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.

Happened When

Numeriklab did the NCIS theme song (and they did many other themes that the show used, notably 'Specimen' which was used as Abby's ringtone for a time) and there was a time when I just played their SoundCloud on their blog. I think their blog was the reason I got a blog at this particular hosting site.

Anywhoooo, 'Happened When' is my absolute favourite track. And here it is.

Dancing in the dark.

Hello! I'm in Mildura right now, relaxing and thinking about next essay, somewhat... missing Melbourne all the while, but I know I'll appreciate it all the more when I get back.

What else to say? Work is busy, university for the year is drawing to a close in a few weeks, my family are amazing...tired and busy has become a permanent state of being.

Relaxerly.

So right now I'm on a couch watching Monsters, Inc. on a Saturday night. I don't really mind though; things have been so crazy for the past few weeks that any moment free is a moment to unwind. Writing the last few essays for my last trimester of this year, and collapsing in bed after a hectic night at the restaurant tends to drain even the most energetic of us.

University break starts next week, and I kick things off with visiting Mildura for a few days, before coming back to work until uni starts up again.

I have previously read Kiersten White's Paranormalcy (which I enjoyed quite tremendously!) and have as of today have acquired the sequel Supernaturally. Paranormalcy has been described as a cross between Men In Black and Buffy; I highly recommend it.

Talk about stunning book covers...

Do you have any books to recommend? I mean, any? Feel free to leave a comment.

Ongoing shenanigans...

My friend Nicola and I went to a couple of panels from the Melbourne Writers Festival. This included meeting people such as Leigh Hobbs (creator of Old Tom) and all the way from the US, Maggie Stiefvater!

Anywho, going to these panels has inspired me to keep writing, no matter how busy things may get.

Pottermore sorting...I don't know how to feel.

House description from Pottermore...

Congratulations! I’m Prefect Gemma Farley, and I’m delighted to welcome you to SLYTHERIN HOUSE. Our emblem is the serpent, the wisest of creatures; our house colours are emerald green and silver, and our common room lies behind a concealed entrance down in the dungeons. As you’ll see, its windows look out into the depths of the Hogwarts lake. We often see the giant squid swooshing by – and sometimes more interesting creatures. We like to feel that our hangout has the aura of a mysterious, underwater shipwreck.

Now, there are a few things you should know about Slytherin – and a few you should forget.

Firstly, let’s dispel a few myths. You might have heard rumours about Slytherin house – that we’re all into the Dark Arts, and will only talk to you if your great-grandfather was a famous wizard, and rubbish like that. Well, you don’t want to believe everything you hear from competing houses. I’m not denying that we’ve produced our share of Dark wizards, but so have the other three houses – they just don’t like admitting it. And yes, we have traditionally tended to take students who come from long lines of witches and wizards, but nowadays you’ll find plenty of people in Slytherin house who have at least one Muggle parent.

Here’s a little-known fact that the other three houses don’t bring up much: Merlin was a Slytherin. Yes, Merlin himself, the most famous wizard in history! He learned all he knew in this very house! Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Merlin? Or would you rather sit at the old desk of that illustrious ex-Hufflepuff, Eglantine Puffett, inventor of the Self-Soaping Dishcloth?

I didn’t think so.

But that’s enough about what we’re not. Let’s talk about what we are, which is the coolest and edgiest house in this school. We play to win, because we care about the honour and traditions of Slytherin.

We also get respect from our fellow students. Yes, some of that respect might be tinged with fear, because of our Dark reputation, but you know what? It can be fun, having a reputation for walking on the wild side. Chuck out a few hints that you’ve got access to a whole library of curses, and see whether anyone feels like nicking your pencil case.

But we’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.

For instance, we Slytherins look after our own – which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you’ll be glad you’ve got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we’re concerned, once you’ve become a snake, you’re one of ours – one of the elite.

Because you know what Salazar Slytherin looked for in his chosen students? The seeds of greatness. You’ve been chosen by this house because you’ve got the potential to be great, in the true sense of the word. All right, you might see a couple of people hanging around the common room whom you might not think are destined for anything special. Well, keep that to yourself. If the Sorting Hat put them in here, there’s something great about them, and don’t you forget it.

And talking of people who aren’t destined for greatness, I haven’t mentioned the Gryffindors. Now, a lot of people say that Slytherins and Gryffindors represent two sides of the same coin. Personally, I think Gryffindors are nothing more than wannabe Slytherins. Mind you, some people say that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor prized the same kinds of students, so perhaps we are more similar than we like to think. But that doesn’t mean that we cosy up with Gryffindors. They like beating us only slightly less than we like beating them.

A few more things you might need to know: our house ghost is the Bloody Baron. If you get on the right side of him he’ll sometimes agree to frighten people for you. Just don’t ask him how he got bloodstained; he doesn’t like it.

The password to the common room changes every fortnight. Keep an eye on the noticeboard. Never bring anyone from another house into our common room or tell them our password. No outsider has entered it for more than seven centuries.

Well, I think that’s all for now. I’m sure you’ll like our dormitories. We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You’ll sleep well; it’s very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night.

Hold on tight... I'm a revolution.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind blur of work, essays, blasting dance music, stress and just some general fun. As well as the bonding moments here and there.

A friend went to LeakyCon in Orlando (yes, I was so jealous but very happy for her!) and she brought me back a little something (in the photo below). My mind was blown.

I went with a friend to a book signing of none other than Lauren Kate herself. This would not be a complete blog spot without some sort of proof photo, so here it is.

We gorged - yes, it's appropriate use here! - afterwards at the Pancake Parlour (I haven't been since I was perhaps five years old, I think?) and then went and saw Potter (my second time). Finally tried Ben and Jerry's... expensive but great.

The weekends also give me something to work towards. Sometimes student life gets a little too solitary, so the weekends with my relatives are a great grounding.

There will be a review of Lauren Kate's Passion undoubtedly coming soon, and I'm thinking of doing NaNoWriMo again this year. I've also managed to secure a place for early access to Pottermore, which I'm very excited about. I hope you all are well.

Rainbow striped socks.

When I had acquired rainbow striped socks like the above a few months ago, I was overjoyed. To own something so unusual and yet iconic as well as rare, is something in itself. Like Tim Burton style black and white striped socks.

Anyway, at one point I lost one of them in the wash. It had me thinking about the other one if it were personified. How would it feel? Being one half of a whole, with the other half being elusive and hard to find? How could it ever find someone else like it again? Would it feel incomplete?

At this thought I tore my room apart, trying to find this other sock to make the pair whole again. I found it on top on my wardrobe - have no idea how it got there - and put it with the other one, and oh happy day.

My point? We're all hunting for that lost sock, that other part of ourselves out there.

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.

These expressions. Um?

Bow-chicka-chicka-wow-wow.

This is why I'm here.

These were taken while sitting outside on my break with my 7-11 slushie, pasta from work and my monster of a textbook on this lovely day.

It was nice to ponder media theory while sitting away from the street, watching people go by. Admittedly, it may have been classier if I'd had chai instead of a slushie - but hey, convenience. A small oasis that lasted for half an hour before getting back to work.

Working for the man... every few nights and sometimes an afternoon.

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.

Who is she? And where is he?

Credit.

Who is she?

She is a nomad.

Floating through life,

All she can see

Is lies and betrayal.

When her attention

Is caught by another

They don't see her.

They never see her.

Who is she?

She is a ghost.

Somebody who has

Been long ago dead.

Who is she?

She is looking

For the one person

Who does see her.

The one who can 

Speak her language,

Hear her thoughts,

Share her dreams,

See her pain.

...where is he?

You gotta love turbulence.

So I had a parent tell me that my brain activity is on such a higher level, I don't have to concentrate on mundane things such as keeping my balance and equilibrium.

...I like this kind of thinking!

I'm back in Melbourne, and I enjoyed catching up with some people from high school that I would not have otherwise seen. The flight back had quite a bit of turbulence before landing, which was okay but not ideal.

I have work later on in the week, and I've just recently gotten into The Big Bang Theory. As well as True Blood returning for S4 last week! Since reading the novel series, I'm able to appreciate the show coming up with new story lines for the supporting characters of the show (as presented in third person); as opposed to the single story line, first person point of view presented in the novels themselves.

How amazing is this promo poster?!

...okay, I'll be honest for a minute.
There's times when I'm so secure about things that I'm positively glowing. I'm just bursting with happiness and I think life can't get much better. I'm living for myself, in a city I love, studying intriguing media theory with the support of a part time job.

...and then there's times where I'm just...I think the appropriate word is...
scared.
Of the future, the truth, myself.
For others' well being.
Whether I'm doing the right thing for myself and others.
Of being alone again.
Of my subconsciousness.

But maybe I have to acknowledge this feeling.
Hiding from it only made things worse.
Maybe I have to break free of this sick cycle carousel.

But this is how the story ends.

Just hanging by a moment here with you. ♥

What with all the craziness going on with work and family, I neglected to mention that I'll be in Mildura for a week. I've been here for a couple of days and I know that this place was a mere purgatory, my waiting room until I could be ready for something better.
So coming back here...well...

Catching up with friends is pretty much the highlight of the week. And the flight here was fine, I'm growing to like flying. Especially on my own, there's a certain something about hanging around Melbourne Airport solo.

...although it would be nice if people were there too. I'm not going to embrace isolation entirely.

These sound awesome! Maybe I'll have a go at it if I get unlimited access to a bar or something.
...and then on a crazy whim, I searched and found this. My, oh my.

Anyway, have a good week

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.

Anything else I can get you?

My first few shifts as a waitress have not come without a few cringe-worthy mistakes; dropping things, forgetting orders, not knowing a few things and just general humiliation in front of customers.

But my goodness, it comes with a few good moments as well.

Joking with co-workers, a little laughter with customers, free pizza after a shift, and I even balanced three plates on my second shift.

What with university holidays stretching for a few more weeks, I have the time to perfect my waitressing until trimester starts up again.

And I know that I'll be fine after that, so let's just get this learning curve through with and off we go.

I'm just a waitress.

So... I've got a job. At least I can say the "I'm just a waitress" Sookie Stackhouse line without quoting it like usual.

So learning a menu for homework. And table numbers.

Let's just say, I'm glad I'm not telepathic at the moment.

Anyway, I think this is a great opportunity to people watch as well, once I nail it all down. The first order I took was from a guy who had this fairly strong accent (French? Italian? Somewhere from Europe!). That was fun.

And - even though it's been a while since I was consistently clumsy - this may help to exorcise my Demon of Clumsy once and for all. Though I won't press my luck and try balancing three plates. That would be something to learn later.

It's load of fun. I think I'm going to like it.

Sigh.

Random creative writing idea.

He stared, as though in a hypnotic trance, down at her empty bed.

The wrinkled, colourful sheets, which twisted around her as she lay.

The smooth, clean pillow, which had caressed her cheek as she dreamed.

The frayed mattress, which had supported her weight for nineteen years - and still continued to do so.

He perched on the bed slowly and laid down on it, his head brushing the pillow.

Bending sideways to smell the pillow, what felt like hundreds of adjectives to describe it bombarded his mind.

Floral. Spiced. Musky. Light. Crisp.

He closed his eyes.

...it was intoxicating.

She was intoxicating.

He could just breathe her scent, her perfume, for what felt like a lifetime.

Small, hesitant footsteps made his eyes snap open. He'd been caught in her room - lying on her bed - with no plausible explanation.

He instantly jumped into a sitting position, only to find she was just a couple of feet away.

"Hi," she whispered, and a small smile inched slowly across her lips.

It was the smile that told him that he needn't have to worry about his presence in her room. His pulse picked up at the sight of it. The smile that he saw when she saw him. The one that choked up so much unexpected emotion about her.

"Hi," he breathed back.