Light or Set Fire; Arouse or Inspire

I finally did it. I went and got myself a Kindle. It's a Kindle 3, keyboard and wi-fi only version. I found it listed on a classifieds group on Facebook. It came with a case and all of the books the previous owner had loaded onto it. I had fun staying up late last night customizing the screensaver images and reading the original Grimm's fairy tales. Very happy with my purchase.

I read the latest in Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series. The Last Guardian is the finale and is very, very good. The entire series is extremely good for that matter, bar one. The second last book I found to be funny in parts, but had a dissatisfying ending and felt a bit like it had been written simply to fill a gap or pass time. Don't let that discourage you though, I highly recommend the series. The stories are about a teenage criminal mastermind and a city of magical beings who live hidden just beneath the Earth's crust. Here's the Amazon blurb for the first book.

At the moment I am taking a weeny break from reading the second book in a series by Ally Condie. Another young adult fiction, Crossed is the second in her Matched series, with the third being released in late November. Crossed is about the society that has risen up in place of this one after it has broken down. Everything is perfect, or so it seems. Everyone gets the same food, everyone is safe and secure and everyone is 'matched' with their life partner. Cassia lives in this world, but when she begins to see the cracks and falls for a  boy who is not her 'match', she finds out just how rotten this idyllic bubble is.

My interview on Thursday went very well. I met Dr. Matthew and he, I and another applicant for the job discussed how we would go about making two brochures. He is very into whales. There are dozens and dozens of pictures on the walls of his little office.

As of late, I have been watching the last episodes of one of my favourite TV shows. House MD was one I scoffed at in the beginning. I thought it was silly to name a television show 'house' and mocked it, saying they'd name the next one 'window'. But, I was hooked. Dr. Gregory House, the show's twisted, genius main character is such a fantastic character. Season eight finished this year, I think. I've been waiting a while to see the last few episodes because I've been rewatching them all with my boyfriend who hasn't seen them. The ending has some of the most heart wrenching twists I've ever seen in a show. If you're looking for something good to watch, definitely go and watch House.

Listening to: Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonny Tyler

Eating: Musk sticks

Wearing: Shirt decorated with butterflies and short shorts. For the first time in several months I am actually wearing shorts!

Feeling: Like I desperately need to get back to reading. Ciao all!

Good Day, Chaps

Well, my voracious and virile viewers, you have helped me to recently surpass four-hundred views. For this you will receive a tiny round of applause (it is only me clapping after all) and a cookie. Shipping costs extra. :P

Well, today has been quite a lot more successful than the last couple. Something has been getting me down, but it seems to have taken a vacation - for now anyway.

I was actually able to stay awake in class today, which was a bit of a first. The clay sculptures I handed in last Wednesday have dried and turned out nicely. I had a lot of fun trying to mould a perfect cube out of a lump of clay. I am quite happy with how smooth and even the sides are and how sharp the edges got. Everybody else seems really impressed with it too.

On my way home, the vending machines provided me with $1.40, bumping my total this semester to $12.20.

When I got home, I watched some YouTube videos. There is a bunch of guys from the UK who call themselves Hatventures. Chris Trott, or Trottimus, Ross Hornby or DJH3MAX and Alex Smith or Alsmiffy are the three misfits who make up the team. They started out making videos about themselves playing Minecraft, which became a very popular series, and have since then moved onto playthroughs of other games. Currently I'm watching their DayZ series. DayZ is a modified version of the game Arma II. It's a realistic, multilayer online, zombie survival game. What they get up to is pretty funny, but the conversations the guys have are the best bits. Have a look at their channel here: HatFilms.

A Portrait of the "Hatters"

In other news, I have to contact international artists for an assignment. The first one I managed to contact was yesterday, and he, believe it or not, has actually worked on the set of Hellboy and Doctor Who! I was so excited! He sent me this long, delicious email of all the stuff I need for my write up. *Squee!*

I also contacted a fella who wanted some graphic design work done by a uni student. He's a doctor studying minke whales and he  seems to want some brochures for something. So, I've got a meeting with him tomorrow. Looking forward to that. :)

A very good day chaps.


Feeling: Talkative. Or write-ative. Is there an adjective that means you want to type a lot at things?

Wearing: Jeans and an old black shirt with 'Stussy' written on it in highly stylised letters. Just Googled the name. Seems to be a Californian surfing brand originating from the 1980s. It's botique. Cool. I always just though it was a scruffy old shirt lol.

Listening to: The Hatventures theme repeating over and over in my head.

Eating: It's four o'clock and I'm still as full as a goog. Had these delicious fried chicken crispy bite things for lunch. It was quite a large helping - and then I went back for seconds.

The Door into Summer

Have you ever felt so ill and tired that you slept on the floor outside your lecture theatre? Bonus points if you used your bag as a pillow and squished the sandwich inside.

That was the start of my relatively uneventful and overcast day. Lectures were pretty much the same. I'm very sure that my photography lecturer simply utilised a presentation from a subject I did last year.

After lectures, I headed home. Found 30c in vending machines along the way. Decided that I wanted to watch some Disney movies. Watched an old classic, Aladdin, and for the first time heard the genie for who he really was. I only found out just recently that he was voiced by none other than comedy king and actor, Robin Williams. I've heard some say that they didn't bother giving him a script, they just let him take it away. They did have to get him to tone it down on multiple occasions though; it was a children's movie after all.

Then I decided to watch the original Tron. Having already seen the new Tron Legacy, I thought it only right that I see where the whole thing started. I was quite surprised too. The movie was quite fun for a sci-fi and even though the effects were outdated, I seemed to forget the fact after a while.

Last night I decided to be daring and buy something off Ebay. Usually I don't go shopping, online or in real life, apart from food and other necessities. But I was feeling down, and it was cheap and there was no shipping fee. The product purchased, my pertinent peeps, was a book by Robert A. Heinlein. The Door into Summer was published in 1957 and it is a rather brilliant little science fiction novel. There is time travel, robots and a rather memorable cat. My father once borrowed it from a far off library and we mused over the predictions the author had given of the future upon its publication. Some of these predictions were actually quite accurate.

Feeling: I've got a headache. It's not very nice...

Wearing: Red connies, Top Gear Stig shirt, jeans and jumper.

Listening to: Hang on, let me find a song... Planetary (GO!) - My Chemical Romance

Eating: Had some Milky Bar chocolate. Yummy...

OCD Doggy Thoughts

Nothing interesting happened today. I'm serious. Nothing. I was so unproductive it's not funny. I woke up at midday, watched two movies and then lay lethargically on my bed, half awake, half asleep. The same thoughts keep running through my head like some OCD dog running around its house for hours on end. "I must do my assignment. But I don't want to." I've considered all my other options too. I have opened a new browser tab I don't know how many times, only to close it again. I feel useless. I've read and seen all sorts of motivating speeches where they say all you have to do is make yourself get up and do something. I want to, I really do, but I just can't... I don't know if this is an actual problem for me, or whether I'm just being silly.

It was overcast today. That was a small change.

I've found that when I lie in bed I can hear this really annoying thumping noise. It's very. very faint, but when everything else is silent, I can't help but focus on it.

Writing is also eluding me, for one reason or another. I'm either too busy with assignment work, or too lazy/lethargic to work on anything. At least I've done this post. Maybe that will spark some enthusiasm.

What a truly dull blog entry. I apologise most sincerely.

Wearing: Jeans, U2 tee, jumper and a new, sparkly purple nail polish. So sparkly...

Feeling: Guilty and sleepy.

Listening to: Naught.

Eating: Just had some chicken and a mouthful of bland rice. It was leftovers night in the dining hall. I might supplement my evening with some Mi Goreng noodles later.

You Can Call me V...

Today feels... Different. Exciting. Full of possibility. It feels like Christmas day. Or like I have a big event on tonight; a Cosplay or something. It just feels big and important. I woke up with the feeling and it's really quite wonderful. I get the sense that something is going to happen today. It probably won't but it's a nice feeling to have anyway. It gets me motivated. Does anybody else get these kinds of feelings?

Now, I can rant about a pet peeve, discuss an awesome game or review the movies I watched yesterday. I really need a dice or something. Or I could just choose the topic out of a hat. I'll do that.

And movies it is!

First off, I watched the new Star Trek movie. Even though I have no real knowledge of the Star Trek universe, apart from 'red shirts die first' and 'live long and prosper', I thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie does not follow the original storyline from the TV series and past movies. It's an alternate timeline about how Jim Kirk become captain of the Starship Enterprise and how he and Spock become friends, so it works well if you haven't been into Star Trek before. You don't really need any prior knowledge. Also, Simon Pegg is in it. I frickin' love Simon Pegg.

The special effects were wonderful, the acting was good and the opening scene made me cry. I love it when movies make me cry. It means they're doing something right.

Then, because I hadn't seen it yet and I felt rather guilty about it, I decided I'd watch V for Vendetta. I was not disappointed. It's a fantastic movie. The infamous vigilante who calls himself V, dons a black cape and Guy Fawkes mask is out to put and end to a corrupt and disgusting, futuristic English government. There are a couple of good plot twists along the way, skewing your views on this masked hero, and then the movie concludes with a sad, yet uplifting ending. My favourite parts were the use of Tchaicovky's 1812 Overture, and V's voice. You will not get over that smooth, absolutely eloquent voice.

The third movie I watched was called Into the Wild. A biographical drama about a young college graduate trying to break free of the chains of society and find himself. Alexander Supertramp, as he renames himself, hitchhikes, drives, kayaks and walks through the US and Mexico, always aiming for Alaska. Along the way he meets people who inspire him and change his life, and in turn he changes theirs.

I found this movie to be good. It was extremely highly rated, which was why I decided to try it out. The ending was sad though. Stupid sad, in my opinion. I can tolerate it if it's a bittersweet ending, some bad things happen, but there's a pretty happy ending, but I cannot bear watching movies where the ending doesn't really seem to have a silver lining. It feels like I've wasted two hours of my life and a cup of tears.

Lastly, I found a French film called The Intouchables. This one was also highly rated thus prompting me to give it a shot. It's about a quadriplegic aristocrat who hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. There's humour and drama as each of the pair teaches the other to step (figuratively for Phillipe, as he is confined to his wheelchair) outside his comfort zone. A simply beautiful movie.

Feeling: Excited.

Wearing: Grey singlet and old, blue, scungy pants.

Eating: Just had a lunch of BBQ chicken wings. Yesterday's lunch was way better. Had the most delicious burger there ever was made.

Listening to: Nothing at the moment although I will probably put Bangarang by Skrillex on later. Normally I wouldn't like dubstep, I think, but this one I do. I think it's because my brain has associated it with fun. It's what they were playing on most of the show rides at the Rodeo in July.

The Evil That is Vending Machines

As a general rule, I quite like vending machines. Not in the way you think though. They are full of outrageously priced, horribly sugary snacks that are all too tempting for the hungered university student. The only good thing about the is that they, upon occasion, provide me with actual cans of delicious Vanilla Coke - my worst vice - and people often tend to leave their money in the change return slots. This has led to a new habit forming for me. Along my route to classes I can check the slots of pretty much every vending machine on campus. So far I have managed to rack up about $20.00 worth of silver. Yesterday I would have collected another $1.80, if not for that one evil vending machine...

It started with the usual checking of a set of four machines in a corridor halfway along my route home. The last vending machine had three packets of chips that had fallen down inside it. I mistakenly took it for one of the machines that would only open the retrieval compartment door if you purchased something. So I convinced my friend to go halves in a $2.00 packet of chips so we could retrieve all four. Much to our dismay when we selected the snack and it fell to the bottom of the machine, the retrieval door still did not open. It was actually a simple push open to retrieve door that had gotten stuck. I guessed as we walked away, bitter and slightly embarrassed, that the two people before us had tried the same trick only to find out what we knew. So, we put a great big sign on the stupid thing warning others that the greedy machine was in fact broken. So, no you have been warned. Vending machines are fickle beasties.

And so went my first-world-problem saga for the week.

On another note, I have recently finished a large Kim Possible binge. I used to watch the show as a kid and even now as a near-adult, it's completely epic. I can't help but giggle at the corny villains, be constantly entertained by the beautifully animated fight scenes, and go all gooey and fan-girly over Ron and Kim's sweet little romance. I remember waking up one morning, turning on Saturday Disney and spitting my cereal out in shock after watching the season four intro in which you can see a split second of Ron and KP kissing. Oh they are just so cute together! End fan-girl squee. Continue warm, fuzzy feelings.

Pet peeve #192. White text on a black screen. It leaves the weirdest, most eye watering afterimages etched into my retinas. White on black needs to be banned. Banned, y' hear!? *Shakes fist at sky*

Feeling: Warmer than usual. Just had a nice steamy shower.

Wearing: Pjs o' course.

Eating: Nothing at the moment. Had curried sausages, rice and wedgies for dinner. No, not the underpants type of wedgies. It's what I call wedges. I just cant help but get excited about them, they are one of the most delicious things ever.

Listening to: Tainted Love - Soft Cell. The only reason I know this song is because of the second episode of the new Doctor Who. How much of a fan-girl am I? Yeah. That much. Be afraid.

And now a random picture.

Yes. Banana.

 

Alternative Uses for Boyfriends

I read something, somewhere in the depths of the internet, that to get people more interested in your blog, you have to offer them something to keep them coming back to it. I nodded to myself when I read it and though, 'Yes. That makes sense. There's a blog that I follow because it give great advice on writing.' So for a while I have been pondering what to offer YOU. Yes, you. My avid little readers! Aren't you just so cute, with your widdle cheeks and... Ahem. Or not so cute. Whichever you prefer. Yes, sir, those are nice fangs I see. I apologise for the randomness, it's a weeny bit past midnight and I think my brain is leaking out onto my shoulders. Which will leave an awful stain on my nice white jumper. You know how hard it is to get stains out of this thing? I got a spot of beetroot juice on it once. It was so bright against the white. My mother was the one who eventually got it out. What was I saying?
Ah, yes. What I am going to offer to my readers. Well, I've had a long think about it and really haven't had any super brainwaves. I considered writing advice about writing. I might still do that, but my brain keeps telling me that I may not be really experienced enough as a writer to start giving advice. Maybe in the future. So, for now, I give you a placeholder.
Heh-hem.
Tired of doing ordinary things with your beloved? Getting bored of using everyday objects and/or services? Why not combine the two? I present to you a list of alternative uses for a boyfriend.

• Chauffeur
• ATM
• Blanket
• Foot warmer
• Back scratcher
• Massager
• Butler
• Bodyguard
• Handbag holder
• Coat rack
• Muse
• Model
• Grief counselor

My other half and I were amused when we found that he was indeed a good blanket and foot warmer, then began thinking up other alternative uses for him. He was the one who suggested compiling them into this list.

So, I hope this blog post has come in handy. Check back next time for more useless advice!


Feeling: Cold again. It's hot in the middle of the day, but when I go in the shade I have to put my jumper back on.


Wearing: Booties, jeans, grey singlet, stripy jumper, blue woolly fingerless gloves, neon yellow nail polish. It actually glows under black light.


Eating: Naught. I did have some Delta Creams earlier. Nummy.


Listening to: Give It a Go - Timbaland & Veronica. A song from Real Steel. An awesome movie.

The Wolf and the Butterfly

Which, funnily, is the name of the second chapter of the newest book in a series I love. A shout out here to the marvelous Mr. Derek Landy and his awesome series Skulduggery Pleasant.

Yesterday was pretty average in terms of days at uni - apart from one thing. It started out normally. I really didn't want to get up. It was much too cold. "19 degrees is cold?" I hear you scoff. Yes. Yes it is. For a North Queensland girl anyway. I wanna see you deal with temperatures averaging on 40 degrees in summer. 

Eventually I got up, proceeded to rug up, have brekky, attend classes, fall asleep in classes, etc. Upon walking home from said classes, something beautiful and surprising happened. Across the small car park in front of the college neighboring mine, there fluttered an enormous butterfly. To my utter astonishment it flew towards me and alighted on my shoulder. I think she had mistaken me for some large, exotic flower due to the hat I was wearing at the time. For my birthday, my friend had given me this gorgeous, red, fluffy wolf hat. The ear flaps extend down into mittens with paw prints on the inside, and there are two fluffy ears on top. The red fur in the sunlight must have seemed irresistible to my new friend as she took off, then came to land on my other shoulder. (Ew! I just found tinned spaghetti sauce in the hair above my right ear! I have no idea how it got there... Ew... It's actually above both ears...Weird...) So, eventually the beautiful creature realised I was not edible and flew away, leaving me with a glowing feeling for the rest of the day. It was just so lovely to have such an encounter like that.

She was a Cairns Birdwing - The largest butterfly species in Australia.

*Woof!*

Feeling: Really good. I seemed to have avoided the flu going around here.

Listening to: To The Sky - Owl City. It's one of the songs from the movie Legend of the Guardians, a truly beautiful movie. Go watch it if you haven't, purely for the beautiful animation.

Eating: About to go have lunch in the dining hall. This will either be sandwiches of some hot food and chips. Here's hoping for the latter. I get sick of sandwiches sometimes.

Wearing: Dad's Custom Car Club tee, jeans, red connies and wolf ears.