tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801403384248268242024-03-05T20:24:38.997+08:00My Life In AustraliaHi. My name is Cristina. But my friends call me Stinu. I moved to Australia in 2001 when I was 14. In this blog I write about things I like, my everyday life and anything else I'm interested in.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-85398517756150548402012-10-28T21:41:00.000+08:002012-10-28T21:41:37.635+08:00I just remembered that I have this blog. Terrible, I know. But hey, at least I'm writing something now. Hopefully I'll keep it going this time... but probably not. The reason I don't think I will keep this going over the next month is that next month is November. What does this have to do with me? <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org">NANOWRIMO</a>!!!!
Basically it means that in November I will try to write a novel. Or 50'000 words, to be exact. A novel usually has more than that, but still I should be able to get a decent chunk of a novel down at least. But only if I write at least 1667 words per day, every day in November. So you see why I don't think I will be keeping up with this blog. I have an awesome story planned. Or at least I have parts of it planned...
Today there was a meeting for the north of the river Perth nanowrimos. A pre-nanowrimo meeting to meet other people from our region. There were also some people from south of the river there, because apparently their region is a little less active. Last year I only found out about nanowrimo 10 days into November from a friend. I still had a go, but didn't get all that far. I did about 20'000 words.
Meeting everyone was interesting. There are so many different people doing nanowrimo, and while a lot of them have similar interests I can't imagine such a diverse group of people getting together for anything else. Ages ranged from late teens right up into the 60s.
So, maybe I will keep this blog updated with how I'm doing with nanowrimo, and maybe I won't. Either way, I really want to reach that target of 50'000 this year!Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-50733861724858764282011-01-31T01:24:00.006+08:002011-01-31T01:47:22.821+08:00And life goes on...Earlier this month I spent many conversations with many different people talking about how fast the previous year passed by and how time just seems to fly. I guess time goes by while we live our mundane lives. But I think so long as you're having fun time may fly all it will!<br /><br />A few weeks ago I went shopping. Now there's nothing too remarkable about that, I go shopping every once in a while, especially during the holidays or when I need to buy something in particular. This particular shopping trip I am writing about is just a normal shopping trip with little things that happened that made it memorable to me. :)<br /><br />I was sortof looking for a satchel-like bag. My sister has a really nice black leather one, which she bought in Europe. I thought the design with the long strap looked practical and was amazed at how much stuff she could fit into a bag that really didn't look all that big. I was kind of hoping for a brown bag, because I thought it would be more versatile and casual. I had a look at all the shops which sold bags (I was at Joondalup Shopping Centre). I saw a couple that were nice but too expensive for me. I wasn't looking to spend much, because let's face it, I can't afford it. I came across a bunch of nice bags in Target. Not too expensive and actually with further savings on top of the already marked down prices. I wasn't quite sure yet, however and decided to keep looking. My search took me into K-Mart where I didn't find a bag I really liked within my price range. There was one bag which was quite cute, but alas it didn't pass the water bottle test. (Any casual bag of mine needs to have room for a 600mL water bottle in addition to my wallet.) I decided to have a look at the children's shoes and came across the perfect summer sandal for this season. Below a picture of them. I wasn't really looking for sandals, didn't really need them and yet they were unlike anything I already owned. I checked to see if they had them in brown (more casual :P) but they only had them in black. I should perhaps mention here that I have tiny feet and usually buy children's shoes which has it's advantages (usually cheaper) and disadvantages (generally less variety and lower heels). I tried the shoes on, took a photo which I sent to my sister for her opinion, took the shoes off, looked at them, took another photo, put them on again, took another photo and eventually sat down, staring at my sandal-clad feet. At this point an older lady who walked past told me: "They look lovely." Shortly afterwards my sister replied telling me they were awesome and I totally should buy them. So I took them to the cashier where to my surprise they were much cheaper than the marked price ($12 instead of $19). AWESOME! And I'm happy to report that I've been wearing them a lot lately and they go very well with many of my outfits! :D<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLZVs6ncbcs695emo6SV0cHpIncRS3lyXbf4wt5meBY4zgASh3mf9-B3_WstZ1GFRXsJWCZ7EXTkMLPQDcQzUHxhsu4lckuhJvVCH4yyQGr7CS7CSG8BEwIxImIo1qwBfYeR0U-L4pWba/s1600/sandals.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLZVs6ncbcs695emo6SV0cHpIncRS3lyXbf4wt5meBY4zgASh3mf9-B3_WstZ1GFRXsJWCZ7EXTkMLPQDcQzUHxhsu4lckuhJvVCH4yyQGr7CS7CSG8BEwIxImIo1qwBfYeR0U-L4pWba/s320/sandals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568034969959605138" /></a><br /><br />After that great purchase I headed back to Target to have a second look at the bags there. On the way to where the bags were I passed some teenage girls who must have been talking about a guy because I overheard one of them say: "He's hot, but not, like, oh-my-god hot." Bless. I hear ya sister. :P<br /><br />Once at the bags I put the ones I was interested in through the water bottle test and eventually bought a black satchel like bag. It has since become my favourite bag. It's not too big and yet fits everything I need for my every-day casual needs, although I'll need to go back to a bigger bag once uni starts, I think. <br /><br />Oh, and I also went into a new shop called <a href="http://www.typoshop.com.au/">Typo </a>. It's a stationary store of sorts. It's affiliated with cotton on. I think it's one of my favourite stors now. When I went into the Harbour Town location later on I bought a really pretty notebook (even though I really don't need any more notebooks, I'm a notebook whore). It has so many quirky, pretty, useful, useless items to brighten up one's day. :)Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-46746095046000516112011-01-12T23:45:00.003+08:002011-01-16T20:47:37.072+08:00The year that was 2010What a year it's been! I was going to write this post way earlier, but my laptop died at some point back in December. Right now I'm tap-tap-tapping away on my I-phone. So, now to have a look at the year that was...<br /><br />HIGHLIGHTS:<br /><br />• Friendships: making new friends, renewing old friendships, deepening existing friendships... 2010 was definitely a good year as far as friendships were concerned! :D<br />• Finally getting my driver's license. My pursuit for a driver's license has lasted the better part of five years (on and off) and in 2010 I finally got there! The independence and potential for spontaneity and freedom (as well as the all-important air-con in summer) are truly a dream come true.<br />• Seeing the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra live in concert. What can I say, the were absolutely amazing! Swoon-worthy! <br />• Taking a year off my studies to concentrate on improving my viola playing... And actually improving a lot, despite not always being entirely disciplined with my practice. Being congratulated on how much I'd improved by various people was just the cherry on top of that particular cake. :)<br />• Having the whole family under one roof again after my sister spent 6 months in an internship in Switzerland. Sure, we all get on each other's nerves sometimes, but it is still nice to all be together.<br />• Getting a new viola! This instrument is fantastic. So responsive, it actually makes me sound like a real violist. It has the most beautiful tone. Here's to many hours of music making on my new viola. :)<br />• Making my viola teacher's new pet bird sing. What could be a more rewarding response after you put your all in the music and make every note special than a bird singing in response?Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-87852353484975606252010-04-27T03:27:00.002+08:002010-04-27T03:30:19.935+08:00Why are musicians so hot?Recently I got to know a cellist who looked quite hot when he played the cello. Away from his instrument he wasn't that amazing. Not bad looking, but certainly not hot. And once he opened his mouth to talk, well, the illusion was completely shattered. <br />This is not the first time that I've met someone who looks way hotter when they're playing an instrument. Why is this? They don't even have to especially amazing at their instrument, just capable enough to do the job they're there to do. Weird.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-42633013401897088992010-04-27T03:26:00.001+08:002010-04-27T03:26:54.071+08:00Deja VuDeja vu is a strange thing. Recently in a violin lesson I was giving my student shuddered and said: “Woah, déjà vu.” I was mildly impressed that a thirteen year old was familiar with the concept of déjà vu and then thought no more of it.<br />And then last Saturday I had my own most recent case of déjà vu. It was the closing night of Into the Woods, a musical I’ve been playing in. I was sitting in the green room with some other members of the cast and crew, some of whom were signing programs which were lying on the table. At the end of the last show every member of the cast and crew gets a program that other people can sign if they want to. Mine was signed by a couple of nice people. Anyway, I was sitting there, feeling sorry for myself due to lack of sleep and having had a full day, when it suddenly occurred to me that I had dreamed this a few weeks ago. I’d dreamed it after I knew that I was going to be playing in Into the Woods, but before we’d had any rehearsals for it, so I’d just assumed that it was a random dream, because I had no idea what the venue looked like. Anyway, as I was sitting there I remembered the dream. Well, not the whole dream but at least part of it. In the dream I walked through the green room, down the ramp into the makeup area, up the stairs past the black curtains into the backstage area and up the ladder to the orchestra area. I’ve heard that déjà vu is a feeling you get when you think you’ve experienced something before, but really it’s just your brain “remembering” something that you haven’t really experienced before. However, I distinctly remember this dream because I remember thinking how ridiculous it was that I’d dream about the orchestra being up a ladder. I mean, when does that ever happen in real life? It’s such a dream thing! Although as it turns out, it did actually happen. This is not the first time I’ve had dreams that later turned out to come true. Mostly it’s just banal stuff. But I wonder if other people have dreams like that too, and if this is proper déjà vu, or something else altogether...Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-51474178459187780922010-02-20T21:52:00.016+08:002010-02-23T16:03:18.345+08:00My new favourite street style blog.Let me begin by saying that I love street style blogs. I don't always look at many especially at times like these when our internet is slow because we've reached our limit but I like to look at some of them for inspiration and to admire the awesome fashion sense displayed by people around the world.<br /><br />For some reason I can't link in this blog, so I'll just type the web-address in brackets.<br /><br />One that I've always really liked to look at is The Sartorialist (thesartorialist.blogspot.com). These are really fashionable people, from around he fashion capitals of the world wearing a mixture of pieces from vintage to designer. They all have their own individual style and all look incredibly put together and classy.<br /><br />Recently Gala Darling (http://galadarling.com) published a post with a list of articles she has written for ChinaShop Magazine (www.chinashopmag.com). One of them is about street style blogs from around the world. I browsed through them and the one that really caught my eye was Dropsnap (www.dropsnap.jp). This is a street style blog from Japan featuring both men and women. I spent a long time yesterday looking at a lot of the pictures on the site. I love the variety of styles and the attention to detail. But the thing that I like most about this blog is that I can relate to it more than to the Sartorialist. The people on the Sartorialist are all very stylish but I always feel like I could never emulate their looks and if I tried it would not look right on me. I have my own style and while I certainly take inspiration from other people's looks and fashion in general I don't copy others' looks entirely. However just from looking at Dropsnap once I already got some ideas about putting together some items in my wardrobe that I usually don't put together (ie wearing a top that I usually wear with pants with a skirt, not a very dramatic change, I know, but still a big change). Maybe it's that my personal style is a lot more playful than that of the people on The Sartorialist, but I find Dropsnap a lot more relatable and got really excited looking at it. I even showed it to my brother in the hope that he would find some style inspiration. I think it certainly made him realise how limited his usual outfits are... :P<br /><div> </div><br />The February issue of Australian Cleo contained a great article on Australian Streetstyle Bloggers. I think it is so interesting to see what people in the city you live in are wearing. I'm always curious to see if I know anyone, or if I have seen any of the outfits on the Perth based blog when I was out and about. Here are the bloggers featured in Cleo:<br /><div> </div><br />Hayley Hughes is takes pictures for her blogs melbournstreetfashion.com and fashionhayley.com. I think she has a great eye for style. <br /><div> </div><br />Emma Bergmeier is Perth's resident streetstyle blogger. Her blog Dropstitch (www.dropstitch.com.au) features only the best of the best of Perth's fashiony people. I especially love the photos from Laneway. I'm so sad that I couldn't go. (Just plain couldn't afford it.)<br /><div> </div><br />Hailing from Sydney is Fernando Frisoni (www.fernandofrisoni.com). I love the pictures he takes. Such a great eye for fashion. <br /><div> </div><br />Paul-Simon Djite is another person who chronicles Sydney's street style in his blog kahlanswardrobe.blogspot.com. Both Fernando and Paul-Simon come across as really great people. I think Paul-Simon's revelation that he finds it a little intimidating to approach strangers and ask if he can take a picture of them, especially as the better they look the harder it is, but he adds that he doesn't let it daunt him because the feeling of getting that perfect shot overrides any nerves for him.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-19282011399222378652010-02-18T22:26:00.012+08:002010-02-19T01:42:10.198+08:00Songs for Radical Self Love MonthI've been listening to a couple of songs which encourage me to be the best I can and just live. My internet is slow at the moment, so I can't check if the lyrics I have are correct, and I don't really want to post them until I can make sure that they're absolutely right. So I will just tell you the name of the song, the name of the artist and why I like it. :)<br /><br />But first a little picture.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdz35TyK2ipaGbbE4voMBvXsRaiEm1OH1Scga6wNDRwKnzE8bxgEMhrOPdC4LOEwjgf1OzDOWaIBpPM_MLMT_fldyLrHmLGeTlhw3jyJ_tQbHPfmx1D2VQsqywDcVaiTDPxllW4jYAK26M/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdz35TyK2ipaGbbE4voMBvXsRaiEm1OH1Scga6wNDRwKnzE8bxgEMhrOPdC4LOEwjgf1OzDOWaIBpPM_MLMT_fldyLrHmLGeTlhw3jyJ_tQbHPfmx1D2VQsqywDcVaiTDPxllW4jYAK26M/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439591956769721394" /></a><br />I'm not sure where I got this picture from. I assume I found it when I google image searched something to do with music at some point. Now it lives on my hard drive. I think it's super cute. I would love a music outfit like that. Although I don't know where I'd wear it. Anyway, onwards with the music...<br /><br /><strong>Maria by Blondie</strong><br />This is one of my all-time favourite songs. I find the opening lyrics absolutely liberating and inspiring. They are:<br /><br /><em>She moves like she don't care,<br />Smooth as silk,cool as air.</em><br /><br />Love, love, love it. Obviously the girl in question does care deeply about things, but she moves like she doesn't care about what other people think of her. Genius. That's how every girl wants to be I think. The rest of the song is catchy and talks about how awesome Maria is and how you wanna take her home and make her yours. At one point the lyrics are: "Don't you wanna break her?" which obviously isn't as uplifting, but I tend to just ignore that bit and instead loudly sing along with the next chorus... "Mariiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaa..." :D Incidentally I'm not really sure what the lyrics of the chorus are as it is one bit I never quite understand when I listen to it. PS: I have an ex boyfriend who used to call me Maria (it's my middle name). I loved the song before I met him, but it just made it extra special. :)<br /><br /><strong>Rooftop by Sasha</strong><br />Another oldie but a goodie. This one's from 2002 I think. I'd forgotten that his song existed when it came up on my mp3 player which was on shuffle. I'm not entire sure what it is I'm meant to shout from the rooftops. Possibly "Here I go". I don't think it matters when the song contains lines such as:<br /><br /><em>Doesn't matter what they <br />You do your own thing anyway.</em><br /><br />and:<br /><br /><em>To spend a little ain't no crime,<br />Please yourself from time to time.<br />We all get caught out in the pouring rain<br />We get we the same doesn't matter, no, no.</em><br /><br />and of course the two variants of the chorus:<br /><br /><em>Ain’t nothing better<br />Than a heartbeat over mind.<br />So shout it from the rooftop, here I go.<br />Beat it on the backdoor of your soul.<br />Walking on a tightrope, don’t you know<br />Takes you higher, takes you higher.<br /><br />Dancing on the sidewalk, let it go.<br />Jumping on a fast train, nice and slow.<br />Surfing on the backbeat, no control.<br />Takes you higher, takes you higher.</em><br /><br />It's just such an up-beat song. It reminds me to by myself and that it doesn't matter what other people think of what I do, "it's only someone's point of view." :P<br />PS: I was especially delighted to hear this song on my mp3 player because previously my mp3's shuffle mode seemed to have an unhealthy (and slightly depressing) obsession with playing Sasha's Lonely. You know, the song that goes: "I feel lonely, lone-, lone-, lone-, lone-, lone-ly, You're the one and only that makes me feel so blue. Definitely not Radical Self Love Month material that one. <br /><br /><strong>Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall</strong><br />This song is on a "Chickflick Soundtrack" compilation CD I got from one of my movie-obsessed (male) friends for my last birthday. It is full of awesome, inspirational, love or otherwise, fabulous, strong, delicious, funny, old, new songs. :D This song in particular I had heard before. Everybody has. However when it came up on my mp3 player I really started listening to the lyrics:<br /><br /><em>Her face is a map of the world, is a map of the world.<br />You can see she's a beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl.<br />Everything around her is a silver pool of light<br />The people who surround her feel the benefit of it<br />It makes you calm<br />She holds you captivated in her palm</em>.<br /><br />Such a strong opener. Who doesn't want to be like that girl? I think the chorus: <br /><br /><em>Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)<br />This is what I wanna be etc.</em><br />really says it all. The lyrics go on to describe this amazing girl. I love listening to this song as I'm walking home from the bus or on the way to uni and imagining that I am the girl that this song describes. It's such a boost. Of course I am beautiful. Everything around me is a siler pool of light and the people who surround me do feel the benefit of it. It makes me wanna be the best me I can be. Caring, beautiful in all possible ways, full of love for myself and others. <br /><br />Honourable mentions:<br /><br /><strong>There are worse things I could do from Grease</strong><br />This is Rizzo's song from Grease. She is one of my favourite characters in the musical (although I kinda love them all...). I am very different from Rizzo. I tend to be overly cautious and not take chances and I am actually a lot like one of the girls she describes that she's not like, so I listen to this song to remind me to come out of my shell and live a little. <br /><br /><strong>I'll be OK by McFly</strong><br />This song is the on that first got me into listening to McFly I heard it on a flight from Europe back to Perth, via Singapore. The guys looked cute on the video clip, the melody is pretty and catchy and the message is very comforting when I'm having an off day. I listen to this song and I know that I will indeed be OK. :)<br /><br /><strong>I Look Up by Shameem Taheri-Lee</strong><br />With lyrics such as "I feel like I could have the universe for afternoon tea" (I paraphrased it here) and "<em>My mama told me we were created to show love for one another</em>" plus the opening lines of he chorus:<br /><br /><em>When I look up, look much higher,<br />When I look down I see the sky.</em><br /><br />this song had to be on my Radical Self Love month playlist. Shameem Taheri-Lee recently graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and this song is from her debut album. I'll write more about her in a later blog entry. For now just know that she is awesome and go check out her <a href="http://www.shameemtaherilee.com">website</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/shameemtaherilee">Myspace</a> page.<br /><br /><strong>Here to Stay by Christina Aguilera</strong><br />There's no doubt Christina Aguilera can sing, has bunches of talent and is absolutely gorgeous. Plus she shares a first name with me. :P So of course she's great. The lyrics for this song are so so perfect for Radical Self Love month! Another song that is also on my playlist for this month is <strong>Beautiful</strong>, also by Christina Aguiera, of course.<br /><br /><strong>Some Disney Songs</strong><br />No playlist of mine would be complete without at least one Disney song. Here are some that made it into my Radical Self Love playlist:<br /><em>Circle of Life from the Lion King</em>, When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio, <em>You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan</em>, I'll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan (hey, it's the ultimate in motivational songs), <em>Go the Distance from Hercules (ditto), </em> A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella, <em>Just Beyond the Riverbend from Pocahontas (to remind me to keep looking ahead), </em> and occasionally Out There from the Hunchback of Notre Dame to remind me how lucky I am and how amazing this world we live in is and how easily it is to get complacent and stop being in awe of the things that seem everday and common and boring to us.<br /><br /><strong>Take It Easy, Take It To The Limit and New Kid In Town by the Eagles</strong><br />The Eagles have of course written many classic rock songs. These three made it onto my RSL playlist for their good advice. The first two are also quite optimistic while the third one is a little melancholy. Take it easy in particular makes me giggle with the opening line of:<br /><br /><em>Well, I'm a runnin' down the road tryin' to loosen my load<br />I got seven women on my mind;<br />Four that wanna own me, <br />Two that wanna stone me,<br />One says she's a friend of mine.</em><br /><br />The reason this makes me giggle is that I suspect I just had a close escape from being one of the first two and have landed safely back in the saying I'm a friend of a guy who no doubt has me on my mind along with a couple of other women. :P<br /><br /><strong>Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf</strong><br />My mum used to sometimes sing it when I was little, so I knew the lyrics even before I knew what they meant, but I think this is a great song to live by. <br /><br /><strong>Leb Deinen Traum from the Digimon Soundtrack</strong><br />Don't laugh, this song is really inspirational. I've never heard the English version, but the German title literally means: Live your dream.<br /><br /><strong>Take her to Sea Mr Murdoch from the Titanic Soundtrack</strong><br />This one's an instrumental. It's very rousing and for me personally it brings back happy memories of playing it in an orchestra a few years ago. We played a Titanic medly and it contained all the major themes from the movie. It finished with a really cheesy version of My Heart will go On complete with drumkit. Such fun! :D<br /><br /><strong>I Can Wait from the Hairspray Soundtrack</strong><br />This song didn't end up making it into the movie but I absolutely love it. The message is to do all you can to achieve your dreams but that you can't rush fate.<br /><br /><strong>It's My Life by Bon Jovi</strong><br />Of course. This staple of mass singalongs in the clubs is also great to belt out in the bedroom or car or any place really... It's guaranteed to make you feel awesome.<br /><br /><strong>Soak Up the Sun by Cheryl Crow</strong><br />I'm gonna soak up the sun, I'm gonna tell everyone to lighten up...<br /><br /><strong>It's Funny by Junia</strong><br />It's funny, so funny, come on keep smiling honey, we wanna show that we got style!<br /><br /><strong>Keep on Movin' by 5ive</strong><br />Get on up when you're down...<br /><br /><strong>Bitch by Meredith Brooks</strong><br /><br /><strong>Girls Just Wanna Hav Fun by Cindy Lauper</strong><br /><br /><strong>Life is What you Make it by Mishelle Branch</strong><br /><br /><strong>(You Just) Believe in You by Princessa</strong><br />You just believe in you and after time you'll see you underestimate your capability...<br /><br /><strong>Stand up (for the Champions) by Right Said Fred and Ready For the Victory by Modern Talking</strong><br />These two are just good for some hyping up of oneself. Stand up for me COS I AM THE CHAMPION and of course I'm totally ready for the victory in whatever form it may come...<br /><br />These are just a few of the songs on my Radical Self Love Playlist. Of course I have many many more songs in my playlist and I also listen to a lot of classical music which is fabulous. I know this blog goes on forever, so congratulations if you made it to the end. :D Don't forget to make your own Radical Self Love Playlist if you haven't done so already.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-2124700125712419772010-02-16T21:40:00.008+08:002010-02-16T23:08:32.746+08:00Radical Self Love QuestionsA bit over a week ago <a href="http://www.galadarling.com">Gala Darling </a> published a <a href="http://galadarling.com/article/radical-self-love-questions#comment">blog</a> with some questions to ask ourselves about Radical Self Love. I read the questions. And then I took a while to digest the questions. Today I finally found the courage to tackle some of the questions. I don't know why I was so reluctant to answer the questions. Well, now I've thought about some of the questions. I have to say the answer to the first question was a lot longer when I thought about it in my head, but when I wrote it down it came together in a more succinct way and yet still says everything I think about it. In any case I left extra space in my note book in case I decide to expand on it. So without any further ado, here are my answers to some of the questions:<br /><br /><purple> What does Radical Self Love mean to you? </purple><br />Radical Self Love to me pure and simply means to love oneself. Of course there are many aspects to it. It means striving to be the best person one can be, but to also accept and learn to love one's faults and weaknesses. Taking the bad with the good and attempting to live life to its fullest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv-4n1DDSDMNBps9Kw_YaJMxnrTqdnipcraJw3BF5N5pBjX2n4dnSAezHPQyY4NVbvLEl0wtVMcMv5xyKH7IYTwZcPNvJdRrgkLTqK0YCbups0QA8ztODX9Qnyoiwq5LkGMPTx3ia8n48/s1600-h/camera+photos+december+2009+011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv-4n1DDSDMNBps9Kw_YaJMxnrTqdnipcraJw3BF5N5pBjX2n4dnSAezHPQyY4NVbvLEl0wtVMcMv5xyKH7IYTwZcPNvJdRrgkLTqK0YCbups0QA8ztODX9Qnyoiwq5LkGMPTx3ia8n48/s320/camera+photos+december+2009+011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438855874307774482" /></a><br /><purple> If you were engaging in Radical Self Love on a daily basis what tould it look like? </purple><br />In response to this questions I drew a picture of myself hugging myself and smiling. Just looking at it makes me smile. :)<br /><br /><purple> What small pieces of that can you bring into your life today? </purple><br />Even though I didn't answer the previous questions with words I surprised myself by actually having concepts in my head that went along with the picture. :) My answer to this qustion was:<br />Treat my body well: - Sleep enough (or at least try)<br /> - Get regular exercise (I just joined a gym!)<br /> - Not eating too much junk and substituting in healthier food where possible<br /><br />Dressing up and looking the best I can so I can be proud walkng around, even if I'm not feeling great or I'm in a bad mood or I'm feeling lonely. :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_nipYaZLwnZiH1_ct_wfSneTET2hz2dw5y63MO3bAEHrelNLwqa3KPONVdvwYmSyTQxZl_gJOk9sqPp0o06mxYNqfxV1G7OuJj3BklYxQ1hPBsqAkHyc2RTl-DaWbd7pKg36UgUPDTq/s1600-h/Image012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_nipYaZLwnZiH1_ct_wfSneTET2hz2dw5y63MO3bAEHrelNLwqa3KPONVdvwYmSyTQxZl_gJOk9sqPp0o06mxYNqfxV1G7OuJj3BklYxQ1hPBsqAkHyc2RTl-DaWbd7pKg36UgUPDTq/s320/Image012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438854078661902754" /></a><br />Telling myself that I'm awesome on a daily basis.<br /><br />I wrote the next two questions into my Radical Self Love Bible and left a page free each to answer them. I'll post them on here when I've answered them.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-12981750361440937132010-02-06T02:24:00.002+08:002010-02-06T03:13:50.612+08:00It's Radical Self-Love Month!I've decided to participate in Radical Self-Love Month on <a href="http://www.galadarling.com">iCiNG</a>. I think Gala Darling is a genius for coming up with the idea! She is also super adorable! <br /><br />I have to say this past week I've been having a few less than sterling days. I'd been feeling uninspired during practise sessions and had a general feeling of listlessness. It all came to a head on Thursday last week when I had what I later realised was PMS combined with the sort of day where you get out of the shower only to realise that you should've washed your hair. Needless to say I wasn't feeling great. I wasn't certain what I was going to do this year as I had gotten a phone call the day before saying that there was some confusion as to what I was actually planning on doing this year. Apparently there had been some misunderstandings and now there was some uncertainty as to whether I'd be able to go into the third year of the Bachelor of Music as I had intended to do. I went into uni on the Thursday with the intention of talking with the head of strings at the conservatorium. I wasn't looking forward to it because I wasn't feeling very reasonable. The last thing I wanted to do was throw a tantrum. :P So I had a meeting with the head of strings. Actually I had two, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, both very informal (one in my practise room, the other in the hallway) to discuss what I'd be doing this year. In the end he suggested that it might be better for me to do single studies (doing select units rather than all the units which are part of a bachelor) instead of the bachelor. At first I was a bit taken aback. Did they think I wasn't good enough? But the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea. The reason I am deferring the final year of my bachelor of education is to get better at playing the viola. If I do single studies and just have lessons and participate in ensembles I will have way more time to practise than if I do the full bachelor programme which includes history, aural, harmony and a few other things. Now I'm really excited for the year. I'm planning on practising 6 hours a day (minimum). A year to just practise! :D I told my viola teacher and he said that sounded like Paradise! I want to start with my practise regime next week (if I'm not doing the bachelor there is not much point in sticking to normal semester times and the sooner I start with my ultra-charged practise the better!). No more holidays for me! And what better way to kickstart this fresh new year than by participating in Radical Self-Love Month? I am certain I will need to love myself and be happy with me and all my strength in kicking off my new regime. It won't be easy but I believe that I can do it! <br /><br />I mentioned before that I was feeling kind of down on Thursday. Apart from the happiness that stemmed from knowing that I would have a year to just practise (Yay!) I was still feeling a little lethargic yesterday and today. However, then a few things happened that lifted my mood. :) Firstly, I got the latest Gala's Guide to Radical Self Love blog in my inbox. It contained a video with the first assignment. I had to find a journal and write down a mantra for radical self love month and also find a totem. I scrounged around my room. There were plenty of journals but none that didn't already have something in it. I wanted a completely new journal. So I went to the local newsagent and bought a journal. Just a generic exercise book. I didn't really need anything fancy so I got a lined exercise book with 96 pages. I don't care what it looks like on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts. :P While I was there I bought two more of the same exercise book to use during the year as I plan out my practise sessions and work out the best way to keep myself motivated and not waste this precious year. I also bought a lot of butterfly stickers. I thought I might decorate the outside of the journal with them. Gala calls it the Radical Self Love Bible. :D But then I realised that the plain exterior of my Radical Self Love Bible makes what's inside it all the more exciting! Like a delicious little secret. Next I tried to think of my mantra. I was having trouble defining my thoughts. I was still feeling a little out of sorts and not sure what to do. Sure, I want to love myself, but that seemed a little broad. I've been getting better at loving myself in general anyway, so I wanted something a little more specific. I had less trouble finding a totem to remind myself of my mantra and to love myself! I got a heart shaped mirror from Ikea for my birthday from one of my friends. At the time my room was too messy to find any room for it so I left it in its wrapping and put it on my desk on top of other stuff. But a few weeks ago I finally cleaned my room properly. And then today I unpacked the mirror and propped it up on my desk. I love it! It reflects the ceiling when I'm sitting in my bed and looks quite glowy and magical! :) When I'm standing directly in front of it it reflects my tummy and thighs which made me smile when I first realised it, because those are the parts of me I'm most critical about. However it's difficult to criticise anything that is reflected in a heart shaped mirror. I have to bend down a little to see my face reflected in the mirror, or sit down, but that's ok.<br /><br />So, next I really had to come up with a mantra. I decided to read through the comments people left after Gala's video. And sure enough I found my inspiration in things that two other people put as their mantra. I don't remember who wrote the comments and I'm too tired to check. (I'm sorry.) But I ended up with writing "Be You. Find You. Be Happy With That." At the top of the page in pink pen. Then I stuck a pink metallic butterfly sticker underneath that. Further down the page I wrote: "Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could. - Louise Erdrich". Both those things struck a chord with me when I first read them. I need to be myself and be aware that being myself, finding myself, knowing who I am is good enough for me to be happy. I should be happy with who I am. If I am not I need to find out why and strive to improve myself, or learn to love myself with all my imperfections. Above all I have to be myself. The paragraph by Louise Erdrich really made an impression on me. I have a tendency to be very cautious when it comes to love, maybe overly so. I've been told this is partially because I am a Cancer. I chose to write the paragraph in my Radical Self Love Bible to remind myself to let go and love. And to taste all the apples I can. :) So that is the very start of this Radical Self Love Month. I am excited to see how it goes from here. <br /><br />Anyway, I mentioned that a few things happened to cheer me up. :) The first was the above mentioned video by Gala Darling. The second was that I read my horoscope for February on <a href="http://astrologyzone.com">Susan Miller's Astrology Zone</a>. And boy does February look like a good month! Just reading the forecast made me smile. :) Even if it does not all go as great as the forecast predicts knowing that there is a chance that it might made me feel better. I especially like what she wrote about Valentine's day: "You seem to have everything going for you, for on February 14, the moon will be in the divine-for-Cancer sign of Pisces, and Venus, Jupiter, and the moon will all be hugging each other closely in a near-perfect alignment. This is so remarkable that if you are single, you must promise me you will circulate." <em>... you must promise me you will circulate.</em> I find this so endearing. Actually, in the entire forecast Susan Miller seems genuinely excited about the exciting and great month she is predicting for all cancers out there. It's so sweet. :D And then I read my crushe's forecast, as one does. :P The month also looks great for him, if slightly differently. I already had a grin on my face from reading my forecast and reading all the success that might potentially be coming his way made me smile more because I will be very happy for him if he does get success! :) I strongly suggest you go read your forecast this months. The planets seem to be in great alignment for all star signs and reading a favourable horoscope is always a great pick-me-up. :D <br />Another thing that cheered me up was talking online with friends. And receiving a text message from a friend thanking me for the "sweet text message" I'd sent her. :D And tomorrow I'm going to a lovely lovely friend's wedding ceremony. I am so happy for her. Not quite sure what I'll wear yet. I'll figure something out... Truly life has many good things to be happy about. The future looks great. And I can't wait to "circulate" on Valentine's Day. :PStinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-34124454093617297772010-02-03T22:22:00.002+08:002010-02-03T22:56:04.351+08:00Things I Love Thursday...Now I love the idea of this and have shame-lessly stolen the idea from <a href="http://www.galadarling.com">Gala Darling</a>. You should check out her blog. It is fabulously amazing! I absolutely love it!<br /><br />So now to my things I love for this week:<br /><br /><strong>50s Housewive Chic</strong> I'm on holidays at the moment so I have the time to actually think about what I'm wearing and make myself look pretty. And then do housework in dresses, heels and with full make up. And grocery shopping (minus the heels because I had to walk to the shops). A couple of days ago I made Chocolate Rum Pots. I felt very 50s housewive chic. :D<br /><br /><strong>Roller Skating</strong> I hadn't been in years and then a friend told me that she went roller skating and I thought I should do it again sometime. So I've been roller skating two days in a row and I'm pretty cautious and unfit but it's still such a blast! :D Almost like flying.<br /><br />Pink Nailpolish, Discovering clothes you forgot you had in your closet, Cookbooks, Creamy cocktails, Holidays, Kahlua chocolates, Sequins, fabulous dresses, Getting drunken text messages that make you smile :), Weddings (tis the season), Not wearing black, <a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com">Bakerella</a>, Looking at photo albums, old school Nintendo 64, Friends :), Mini Marshmellows, Cute guys, Going for late night solitary walks then tracking down the nearest swingset and swinging under the full moon (what can I say, I'm a Cancer, I thrive at night by full moon :P), Reading the horoscope of the guy you have a crush on to see what his day is going to be like..., Butterflies, Dreaming of winter in summer, Looking pretty, Getting compliments from strangers when you weren't sure if your outfit was too much, Music, <a href="http://dinosaursalive.tv">Dinosaurs</a>, Bookstores, Getting postcards, Drinking mochas, Secret admirers, Not so secret admirers, Diaries (and getting organised), new things, old things <br /><br />That's pretty much it. :) Keep smiling.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-44819552472449468892010-02-03T21:24:00.002+08:002010-02-03T21:39:10.868+08:00Hugs, Kisses and Fluffy Bunnies...It's been a while since I wrote on this blog. I get so busy and lazy.<br />A lot has happened. I've been on the WAYO tour. Unfortunately that didn't end too well. I won't go into detail here but it was very sad and one member of the orchestra will be sorely missed by all his friends and family. <br /><br />Actually it has just occured to me that if I just write down everything this will be a very long and rambling post. So I've decided to create lots of little posts. That way if I get bored half-way through it doesn't matter so much. And hopefully it will make more sense, because it will force me to order my thoughts a little more. <br /><br />I will leave this post with a lovely picture I found in the Life Archives on Google I think. It's model Jenny Belle wearing a visible slip. Pretty.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYTwkEWCLbtrmoS1BTT9MLHkpJGy1KClUi-3f46tTgiupknrXXh4qI_xcn-4gw9nR3lQa3wr76n1Z9Is9uU0wafp331ML-qHbkBxqOv9-QB0xTPRKli0vW44ccy-mzQCE3tzE2VT0uE7c/s1600-h/fashion+model+jenny+belle+wearing+a+visible+slip.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYTwkEWCLbtrmoS1BTT9MLHkpJGy1KClUi-3f46tTgiupknrXXh4qI_xcn-4gw9nR3lQa3wr76n1Z9Is9uU0wafp331ML-qHbkBxqOv9-QB0xTPRKli0vW44ccy-mzQCE3tzE2VT0uE7c/s320/fashion+model+jenny+belle+wearing+a+visible+slip.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434010995345627954" /></a>Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-59650451086550945322009-10-03T22:21:00.009+08:002009-10-03T23:14:45.487+08:00Very unlike me...So I love cook books. Which is a little strange because I'm not a huge fan of cooking. Actually, that is not entirely true. I don't mind cooking as such and I always try to think of ways to improve a recipe. I'm also not a terrible cook. Things I cook usually turn out quite delicious. I do however hate the post-cooking cleanup. Guh. Cleaning the kitchen... :S<br /><br />Anyway, so on Tuesday we're having two run-throughs of the opera. One is the Sitzprobe, which we were meant to have on Monday, but which got moved to Tuesday because most of the brass players will still be in Melbourne, where they attended the brass festival, on Monday. So now the Sitzprobe, which is a run-through of the entire opera without costumes, is on Tuesday in the morning. Also on Tuesday we have the Dress Rehearsal 1, which was already scheduled for Tuesday evening anyway. This is a run-through of the opera with the cast in costume and the orchestra dressed in black. For some reason we're having two dress rehearsals, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. So we poor orchestra members will have run out of blacks before the opera even starts proper performances. :P There will also be a photographer present at one or both dress rehearsals to take photos for publicity purposes.<br /><br />The opera, by the way, is Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc, though the singers will be singing in English and not the original French. Performances are in the Geoff Gibbs Theatre at WAAPA from Saturday, the 10th until Saturday, the 17th of October, although there are no performances on Sunday and Thursday. Tickets are available from the WAAPA box office during office hours and presumably also at the door. <br /><br />So with Tuesday being such a long day (the dress rehearsal starts at 7.30 pm and finishes around 10.30 pm) I thought I'd bake something to eat during the day, and maybe share with fellow prisoners of the opera. ;-)<br /><br />So far I haven't quite decided what I'm going to bake. At first I thought I might bake savoury versions of the mini pumpkin pies I saw on www.bakerella.com but then I couldn't find any canned pumpkins anywhere, so I guess that is out of the question. So then I went through my collection of recipes and cookbooks (of which I have a few, because as I said, I love cookbooks!) and picked out possible things for me to bake. So far I've narrowed it down to:<br /><br />Chicken and Mushroom sausage rolls<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhSZKd7NzOULBR1W4qHwaQa3vHaZYfDfQhtwsed-tVmmFs-d1q3p9DFBB-Jj9rpQ_SKyexztEgPs2I_GFLkIDnS9Te2PGFgZNi3ZT5aMnuC2lIE4-tixvTXG_icVeRBFEZBogHBK__Hnh/s1600-h/sausage+roll.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 84px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhSZKd7NzOULBR1W4qHwaQa3vHaZYfDfQhtwsed-tVmmFs-d1q3p9DFBB-Jj9rpQ_SKyexztEgPs2I_GFLkIDnS9Te2PGFgZNi3ZT5aMnuC2lIE4-tixvTXG_icVeRBFEZBogHBK__Hnh/s400/sausage+roll.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388384099601611218" /></a><br /><br />or Corn and Bacon Muffins<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4mdwDsywwDP7bneYVTCYZS37qWe_ZuX5c0_D-DfTF_JlBoztIrYp0Rkr664N6SG1g9pa61acn6j6RuNH9-3jDWunbWMbAhB-7vUevIPaQGL75yHPYLePJJdd10B4HME8pM4Px9hz-X-C/s1600-h/muffins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4mdwDsywwDP7bneYVTCYZS37qWe_ZuX5c0_D-DfTF_JlBoztIrYp0Rkr664N6SG1g9pa61acn6j6RuNH9-3jDWunbWMbAhB-7vUevIPaQGL75yHPYLePJJdd10B4HME8pM4Px9hz-X-C/s400/muffins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388385718949666962" /></a><br /><br />or maybe Banana Muffins<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPcImRhClEv31qjfgVQzctZoZZV5co6dAiW3AE47akzPnOIPux1f3aHm8PbnFDW4BBBhyphenhyphenrPdfPCuwcaNZUCmtIVHMnNT6bmU39hyrFrbE5fvmFC0ojL_IGMwoe4Murmndi_0is1TcI1Lh/s1600-h/banana+muffins.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPcImRhClEv31qjfgVQzctZoZZV5co6dAiW3AE47akzPnOIPux1f3aHm8PbnFDW4BBBhyphenhyphenrPdfPCuwcaNZUCmtIVHMnNT6bmU39hyrFrbE5fvmFC0ojL_IGMwoe4Murmndi_0is1TcI1Lh/s400/banana+muffins.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388391690662271778" /></a><br /><br />I don't know. So far the sausage rolls seem most appealing to me. Somehow I've never been particularly attracted to muffings. Although I do prefer savoury muffins, so the corn an ham muffins aren't totally out of the question either. I really don't know. I want to reach a decision tonight so that I can buy the ingredients tomorrow. Hmmm... maybe I'll come across some other recipe that decides it for me once and for all...Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-88942056992039480042009-09-30T22:44:00.002+08:002009-09-30T23:08:49.995+08:00Holidays. Finally!Today I spent all day in bed. It was glorious. I like to spend at least one day during each break in bed, reading, watching movies, surfing the net... Just relaxing.<br />So we finally have our mid-semester break at ECU. Calling it a mid-semester break is a bit of a joke though, because we've already had 9 teaching weeks. After the break WAAPA has another project week followed by three more teaching weeks and then it's exams already. Wow.<br /><br />This break isn't all that relaxing either. On Monday it was a public holiday. Queen's birthday? And I had a conducting test at uni. Still, that unit is finished now, so at least that gives me some more time and less stress on Mondays from now on. Tomorrow my quartet is rehearsing at uni from 12 til 2 pm. I'm hoping to drop off my last overdue library book (I couldn't find it when I dropped off the other ones) at Joondalup library and grab an early lunch at Joondalup shopping centre before I head into uni. A very early lunch. Maybe something from the spud bar? I'm not usually a huge potato fan, but I love their Ciao Bella spud, even though it's Italian. It contains cheese, mushroom, mild chilli bean, tomato, wilted spinach, light sour cream and chives. And of course I always also have butter on my spud. It's absolutely delicious. I reckon if I ever get sick of it I might try one of the other ones or build my own. They all sound so good. :D<br /><br />After the break I'm going to be full on busy again. I want to try to write my education assignments which are due the first thursday back during the break and I guess I'd better make a reasonable attempt at cleaning my room, to keep my parents happy. Sigh. No more days in bed until the summer break for this young lady. :SStinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-37837772005667639352009-07-23T00:43:00.004+08:002009-07-23T01:25:42.649+08:00So embarassing... if he ever finds out. :PI hate it when I can't remember someone's name and it gets to the point where it's just too late to ask for it. Gah. To fully understand my predicament, I have to go back, to last semester.<br /><br />I was wandering through the hallways at WAAPA looking for a practise room. There weren't any. Just as I was about to give up a door opened, and this guy asked if I was looking for a practise room. He said I could have his, because he had a lesson but would I mind if he left his stuff there. I said that wasn't a problem and started practising, delighted at having found a practise room. It was great, because I was looking after his stuff (bag, laptop, instrument case) I didn't want to leave the room, which I occasionally do when only my stuff is in the room. I think it's one of the most focused practise sessions I've ever had. :D After an hour he came back in and I asked if he needed his room back. He said no, and explained that he now had a lecture with his instrumental teacher, which he was running late for. He told me who his teacher was, but I can't remember. Maybe Paul Pooley? He asked if I minded if he left his bass in the room and I said no worries. So I remained in the room for another hour and did some practise. After that hour the guy came back to grab his bass. I'd had enough of practise and decided to leave the room as well. So while we were both packing up and grabbing our stuff we talked for a bit. Introduced ourselves and said which course we're doing and what instrument we play. I'm pretty sure he said he's doing contemporary bass. Pretty sure. So then we both left and I saw him when I was eating dinner in the lower foyer later that afternoon and he was leaving to go home. Oh right, it was a Friday, so I was going out straight from the city. My sister had a modelling competition. :D<br /><br />So I was really happy that I had a room and was very greatful and told everybody about the nice guy who let me have his practise room. :D I couldn't remember his name but I figured it didn't matter because I thought he probably wouldn't remember mine either. We passed each other a couple more times at WAAPA over the next few weeks and said hi, or gave a nod each time. So I though, ok, cool, he doesn't remember my name either. :D However, in one of the last few weeks of last semester (first semester of 2009) I was running late for a class in building 14 having had a chamber music rehearsal at WAAPA in building 1. As I was walking I could see that jazz/contemporary concert practice must've just finished because the jazz and contemp students were making their way back to WAAPA or their cars from building 17 where their concert prac is held. As I was reaching the building next to building 14 I crossed paths with that guy again. And he said: "Hi Cristina, how's it going?" I smiled and told him I was fine, running late for class, how are you? After he said he was good or whatever I said bye and walked off quickly to get to class. I though: "Oh crap, he knows my name, and I have no idea what his name is." I knew that he was a first year contemporary bassist, so that was something. However none of my friends I asked about him knew who I was talking about. So I still don't know his name. Whic I guess wouldn't be so bad.<br /><br />But then today I was heading towards the aroma cafe after doing some practise and saw some of my fellow third years looking for the location of their harmony class (I'm not enrolled in that unit because I'm doing education). I suggested where I thought the class might be and cheerfully sent them on their way with a: "Have fu-uuun!!!" :D I was about to follow them on my way to the cafe when that guy walked past and said hi. I said hi back and we were almost past each other when he said: "Oh, wait.", and pulled me back. I said: "yes?" and smiled. He said: "Would you be interested in going to the casino on Saturday?" I said: "Sure!" He said something along the lines of: "It's just some WAAPA students going. Saturday at 8 o'clock." I said: "cool." He said: "Well, that was easy." I said: "Yeah, I'll see if I can make it." And we both walked off. :)I'm not exactly sure what possessed me to say Sure! so enthusiastically without knowing any of the details. I think I'm still in holiday mode. After I walked away I realised that I still didn't remember his name. Although I think it might be Stephen. Also, how am I going to get there? And where exactly are they meeting at 8? Burswood isn't exactly small. Even narrowing it down to the casino doesn't help much. Although I guess they'd meet at the entrance. And who else is going? Do I know any of them? Presumably they're mostly first year jazz or contemporary students. I don't know many of them. I'm friends with some second and third years and some of the Cert students. Oh, wait, I guess I do know a couple of jazz/contemp first years although not that well. And why did he ask if I wanted to go? We're not really close friends or anything. I talked with him once quite a while ago (it can't have been later than early June). So I figured I'd leave it open-ended if he asks me if I'm going on Saturday. I sent a text message to a friend who I've been meaning to go out with for ages and asked her if she wanted to go out on the weekend. She said yes and suggested Saturday. We both figured Burswood was the place to go, so unless she cancels at the last minute again I will be in Burswood, just not necessarily in the casino. I guess if I see whatever his name is I'll say that I forgot that I'm going out with my friend, but if she cancels at the last minute which she did the last two or three times (although I may have cancelled one of them, actually) I might go to the casino. Life's so complicated. I wish I had a better memory for names. I wonder if he's got a nametag on his bass case or bag. :-/Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-59033418658019262352009-06-27T21:48:00.003+08:002009-06-27T22:01:23.574+08:00A bunch of rants... Or is it a pack of rants?So, it's once again weekend. Saturday, to be precise. Which in this household means chore time. Except I have a tendency not to do my chores. I'm amazed with how often I get away with this. Today I actually mended some socks (my main chore is mending clothes) and I'm in the process of tidying up my room. Anyone who's ever seen my room (and I mean ever) will know that this is a long and drawn out process. And the tidyness will not last long, once I've finished. Three days is all it takes for my room to look like an explosion hit it during a tornado.<br /><br />Tomorrow I have work. It will be ok I guess. Necessary if I want some money. :) And I do want money. One thing I'm not looking forward to is the loop tape. This month's loop tape is actually not too horrible. Although I'm getting really really sick of seeing the Bride Wars trailer. Such a mediocre movie. It's got some rare funny bits but most of it is really condescending to women in general. The idea that two women would behave like that over something so trivial is just moronic. <br /><br />So yeah, apart from that work generally isn't too bad. Sundays tend to be quiet which can get boring, but at least it's not all that stressful. Except for last Sunday. For some reason last Sunday was insanely busy. I barely had time to eat lunch. Anyway, so I need money because a) I'm trying to save some of the stuff and b) I saw some shoes I want. :D They're Scooter shoes. The style is called Newbury. I saw them in Emporio when I was catching up with a friend in the city and the size 5, which they actually had in store (it was even on the shelf) magically fit me! Here's a picture:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g8J_at7xAB8gGvuHs6yEJ4zZFrz21sTWfjZk8oJ1mkwL9NxTBCfhXmXVrkQAwr3izis34tPxkcdcSBWqDHQojfUlvER3xcrWCkepEs3h5BhyaC_DCrAXYAUzB7StQl1k3UyLdtgx1S_h/s1600-h/newbury_blk-hi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g8J_at7xAB8gGvuHs6yEJ4zZFrz21sTWfjZk8oJ1mkwL9NxTBCfhXmXVrkQAwr3izis34tPxkcdcSBWqDHQojfUlvER3xcrWCkepEs3h5BhyaC_DCrAXYAUzB7StQl1k3UyLdtgx1S_h/s400/newbury_blk-hi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352006292940152738" /></a><br /><br />So I've decided if I manage to save up enough over the next few weeks I get to buy the shoes, if I don't I'll have to live without them. It's not like I really need them. <br /><br />So apart from shoes I can't stop thinking about this guy I like. And it's really stupid because I need my brain for other things. It's like I'm incapable of really concentrating on anything because I'm always thinking about him. It's stupid. I don't even know if he likes me. Actually, he probably doesn't like me. If he did he'd ask me out, surely. So now I've decided to just enjoy being friends with him and if he likes me he can ask me out, if he doesn't we'll still be friends. And I have to stop obsessing!Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-48380212456835983422009-06-22T23:50:00.002+08:002009-06-23T00:30:26.378+08:00Woo, holidays!So now it's holidays. And still I'm busy. This week I'm taking it fairly easy with practise so far, although I really wanna get stuck in after Wednesday before WAYO rehearsals get frequent during the school holidays. Tomorrow I've got a viola lesson. Yay. Gotta get some help with my AYO excerpts. And I still haven't found the viola part for the Brahms. I think maybe I did accidentally return it to the library inside something else... I'll have to drop by the uni tomorrow on my way to the lesson (it's not really on the way...) and check again. I've looked before, but only briefly. And I'll ask at the WAAPA box office, although whoever's working will probably give me a <i>look</i>. It's the third time this semester I'll have asked the box office if someone handed in something by me... Last time someone had. Yay. My pencil case... I was so glad that it was there. I don't care much for the actual pencil case but some of the pens would be difficult to replace.<br /><br />Then on Wednesday I'm catching up with one of my friends from high school in the city. That will be fun. I always enjoy chatting with her. Filling each other in on all the latest gossip. Usually we wander around for a bit and then get something to eat or a coffee or something. I'm really looking forward to it. We also plan to go out together sometime. Of course that's been in the works since we both turned 18 in year 12... We've had concrete plans twice so far, but both had to cancel once each... Maybe it will work out sometime this holiday? We'll see. I need some occasion to wear my awesome high heels. :DStinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-3139925243921537192009-06-13T22:45:00.002+08:002009-06-13T22:55:37.588+08:00On the home stretch...Nearly done with this semester of uni now....<br />I've only got one more exam and after that it will be fun fun fun! :D Hopefully...<br />Right now I'm meant to be practising for my aural exam, it's just some prepared singing and rhythms. Usually I play them on the piano but it's getting late, so I decided to put them into Sibelius. But of course I keep getting distracted by the internet. Such a big and wondrous place. :P<br /><br />So my aural exam is on Monday. And afterwards I'm going shopping! I need some new dresses for winter and maybe a jacket if I can afford it. I'm thinking I won't be able to afford it, but we'll see. Afterwards I might go back to uni and watch a recital, depends on how I feel and how much shopping I have to carry... :D Hopefully lots of shopping for very little money...<br /><br />I've discovered a new website to help me procrastinate. It's called polyvore.com. One creates an account and can then create sets. Fashion sets, Art sets, Interior design sets... whatever. Here's one that I created:<br /><div><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/angel_music/set?.mid=embed&id=9433330"><img width="400" alt="Angel of music" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFnhKVlZsMk5YM2hHa3Z5UWprRDVPc2cAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg" title="Angel of music" height="400" border="0" /></a><br/><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/angel_music/set?.mid=embed&id=9433330">Angel of music</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.mid=embed&id=835881">Stinu</a> featuring <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christian_louboutin_shoes/shop?brand=Christian+Louboutin&category_id=41">Christian Louboutin shoes</a></small></div><br />Hopefully that works...<br />I should also be practising my AYO excerpts. I don't know if I'll get into anything, but I'll give it a try. I've played two of the excerpts before, so that should help...<br /><br />Anyways, so on Tuesday, my first official <span style="color:#ff99ff;">HOLIDAY!!!!</span> day, I'm wasting the day away and then giong to see the student preview of 42nd Street, this semester's musical theatre performance with Annie. Lots of my other friends from uni will also be there. Yay! I'm looking forward to it. Might go watch some more recitals during the week, not really sure what's on. And on Friday it's the end of semester party! I'm going with Annie and other friends will be there. It will hopefully be awesome!!!! (The guy I like will also be there.) So it will be a fun-filled week all round. Hopefully I'll pass aural just to make the week perfect! :DStinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-3991437608391537542009-06-09T02:15:00.002+08:002009-06-09T02:26:03.039+08:00I should be sleeping right now...I stayed up late to study. Of course I didn't exclusively study. I also watched Sailor Moon and checked my Facebook and twitter for updates. But I did do some harmony study.<br />And I filled in my National music camp/AYO application. Now, as soon as I get dad to fill in the credit card details I get the excerpts. Should be interesting. They're supposed to be hard. Usually I do ok at learning excerpts. I think I played the ones for the last WAYO audition quite well. And my viola playing keeps improving, thankfully. It would be terrible if I stayed at this mediocre level forever. Now I'm trying to motivate myself to pack up all my stuff and go to bed. I was also going to wash my hair, but I think I'll do that tomorrow morning, if I manage to get up. If I don't my hair will look absolutely disgusting. I'm meeting Annie and Ji-Min in the library at uni at 10 to do some harmony revision. I hope I can be a productive member of our study session.<br />I would love to wear heels to uni, but when I have to carry my bag and viola it's just too heavy to walk around in heels all day, especially since I catch public transport. I really need to get my license. I should see if I can book a test for the holidays. Although my parking needs more practise. Sigh... practise... Everything in life needs practise.<br />I didn't get into the final of the concerto competition, but I didn't expect to, so I'm still happy. I played well, and hopefully it will make for an awesome concert with the people that got in the final. The people that got in are Madeleine Antoine, Aidan Boase, Katherine Shinnick and Alexander Ong. Maddie and Aidan were also in the final last year and Aidan won it. Let's see if he can pull it off again this year. ;-)<br />I watched the afternoon performances on the second day of semis and all the performers were really good to the point where I'm not sure how the judges picked the finalists. I'm glad it was their job and not mine.<br />So now it's time for bed. Tomorrow I'll look like a zombie and probably feel like one too, but it should be an alright day. In the afternoon the ABC is recording the Cage piano concerto performed by Resonator, the new music ensemble at waapa with Anthony something as the soloist. He's really good. It's amazing how well he knows the piece and how he can play the style. It's mostly graphic notation, so it turns out differently each time. So that's tomorrow afternoon. I'm looking forward to it. :D And then hopefully I'll never have to play the piece again. :P I don't mind the music, but it's not my favourite. I much prefer Tchaikovsky! :DStinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-22312378546012645492009-06-02T14:25:00.003+08:002009-06-02T15:06:15.613+08:00Study Week!So the semester is nearly over and it's once again study week.<br /><br /><br />The last few weeks have been so busy. Last week I had two concerts with the Faith Court orchestra. On Wednesday and Thursday we played to a full house in the Music Auditorium at WAAPA. It was quite a short concert comprising of only two pieces. Ben Martin joined the orchestra for the first half of the concert to perform Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. After the interval the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. I think the theme of the concert was Russian Romantics. The Russian's are in vogue at the moment. WASO just gave a concert entitled Russian Fire and WAYO is playing The Rite of Spring in its next concert. The Faith Court concerts went well. On the first night we performed the Tchaikovsky better than the Shostakovich and I think on the second night we gave an excellent performance of the Shostakovich but the Tchaikovsky didn't quite have the energy it did on Wednesday night. Neville Cohn wrote a favourable review of the Wednesday night performance for the West Australian.<br /><br /><br />On Tuesday Eneksis sang in the free classical lunchtime concert at WAAPA. Eneksis is a chamber choir at WAAPA which one of my lecturers runs. I auditioned for it for the first time this year and was, I have to admit, a little surprised when I got in. This was the second concert for the choir this year, but I had a cold during the first performance, which was combined with the WAAPA strings and so didn't sing, but I played in the string orchestra. The Tuesday lunchtime concert performance went quite well, I think. Photos of the performance are on Facebook somewhere...<br /><br /><br />On Friday night I had a rehearsal with WAYO for the Sunday conert "The Planets". The rehearsal was originally scheduled for Thursday night but got postponed to Friday because of the Faith Court Orchestra Concert. Most of the brass players in Faith Court are also in WAYO as are three of the violists. Four before Alix quit WAYO. We had another WAYO rehearsal on Saturday morning but I came down with something over the course of Friday and felt really sick by then end of that night's rehearsal. So I spent Saturday in bed. However by Sunday I was feeling well enough, and stubborn enough, to go to that morning's "sound check" and to play in the concert that afternoon. I put sound check in quotation marks because usually the soundcheck comprises of topping and tailing the pieces we're playing and maybe going over some of the more tricky questions. But on Sunday morning we went through all the pieces in full. We played Bolero twice! Personally I think this wasn't a great idea, because we only had two hours to recover afterwards and I know the brass player could've done with more recovery time. Myself I wasn't feeling great anyway, because I was still a little sick so I didn't have that much expendable energy. The concert still went well, I think. :-)<br /><br /><br /><br />After the concert I got changed into some blacks that were less cleavagy and covered my knees and got a lift with someone to a temple in Warwick where we were performing a Cantata which Sam Parry had arranged. We got some dinner when we got there and then we performed it. I think the performance went well. A few of us had already been in the WAYO performance (including Sam) and were correspondingly tired, but it was a good performance to a big audience.<br /><br /><br />This week is study week. Right now I'm waiting for some chicken nuggets or something to finish. I put them in the oven about 20 minutes ago, so they're nearly done. After I've eaten some lunch I'll have to get onto practicing. I'm competing in the Warana Music Award Heats 2009 tomorrow. The Warana Music Award is the concerto competition at WAAPA. It was held for the first time last year and it is quite competitive. This year there are 24 hopefulls competing, three of which will go through to a final performing with the faith court orchestra and one of those will be the winner. Last year the finalists were Madeline Antoine, Joshua Webster and Aidan Boase. Aidan won. I don't think I will go through to the final, mainly because I know how well everyone else in the heats plays. I entered for the experience and because I don't have a performance exam this semester because I'm an Ed student. So it gave me something to work towards. Unfortunately I was insanely busy over the last few weeks and then got sick over the weekend (I spend Monday in bed, recovering from Sunday) so I haven't practised my piece as much as I would've hoped. Thankfully I had it up to performance standard before all the bussy-ness kicked in. So, lunch is cooked, time to eat and then do some practise.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-44928903726849552242009-05-24T23:00:00.002+08:002009-05-24T23:08:32.584+08:00So I like this guy...I like this guy. He goes to the same uni as me although he's not in the same course or year as I am. He's a tad younger than I am. He's really really nice and sweet and funny and of course good looking. :-)<br />I don't think he knows that I like him and I don't think he likes me in that way. Sigh... I'm too shy to say anything and besides we're friends. I wouldn't wanna ruin our friendship. It would just be weird.<br /><br />Other than that life is busy. It keeps going. The world keeps spinning. As far as I know anyway, I'm no expert on the whole earth rotation thing...<br />This week I've got four concerts. Five if you count the one where it's two nights of the same concert. Busy busy busy. Tuesday I have a lunchtime concert with Eneksis, as chamber choir at uni. Wednesday and Thursday I have concerts with the uni orchestra. It's called the Faith Court Orchestra in honour of Faith Court. We're playing Rachmaninov's piano concerto (no 2, i think?) and something by Tchaikovsky. One of his symphonies, I think. Then on Sunday I have a WAYO concert. We're playing The Planets by Holst as well as Bolero and a new composition by Johannes Luebbers. Johannes is an awesome young Western Australian composer. He recently won a jazz award over east. The piece is called Soluiloqui for Change. Should be a good concert. Also on Sunday I have a smaller concert of a Cantata that one of my friends arranged for orchestra and choir. Originally it's for piano and choir. I just play in the orchestra. We'll see how that goes. I'm already tired just thinking about that week... And then of course extra rehearsals for each of those ensembles. I think it's time for bed now... Gotta save my energy.<br /><br />Who knows maybe I'll find the courage to tell the guy I like that I like him? Doubt it...Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-35483066810587133582009-04-30T22:04:00.002+08:002009-04-30T22:36:19.753+08:00Keeping busy...I'm keeping busy. Or at least keeping pretending to be busy.<br /><br />Yesterday I was at uni for 15.5 hours. I got there at 7.30 to do some practise. Didn't actually do a lot of practise because I didn't have a practice room booked. Tough. I shared the MA (Music Auditorium) with one of my friends. I also forced him to listen to the opening of my concerto and give me some feed-back.<br /><br />Later we had two hours of harmony. The lecturer spent the first half talking about our next assignment. Apparently he already talked about it in the last lecture, which I missed. Then I had an aural lecture. I can't really remember what it was about. Oh, except "Think note names when you play your guitar." And we did some singing.<br /><br />Then it was time for lunch. Sat with Trev, then with Nat, then went to the library to get a book out. Then went to the library to see if they sold safety pins at the bookshop to fix my broken bag a bit better. Couldn't find safety pins, so decided to buy some pens and asked the lady behind the counter if they sold safety pins. She said no and asked how many I needed. When I told her that I just needed a few to fix my broken bag she said that she might have some in her bag. She did and gave them to me free of charge. How nice of her! I'm very grateful. So I went back to Nat and my bag and fixed it good. :-)<br /><br />Then I talked with Naomie and Aby and walked to Clusters cafe with them and then it was already time for orchestra. Three hours later orchestra was finished and my quartet had a reheasal. I had to borrow the key to the "cage" off Rob to get some stands out. My nice violin friend stayed back and gave us all some pointers, which really helped. Thank you crasian violinist. :P<br /><br />After that I had a much needed break and then got on with some practising. I wasn't all that inspired but still got some decent work done. When I took a break at around 9 pm I ran into two of the second year jazz singers I know. I talked to them for a bit and then Dale (a cute second year guitarist) came along and asked if we wanted to keep him company while he ate dinner, since it looked like we were on a break. The two girls said that they weren't on a break, and went back to their practice room. I said, sure, I'm on a break anyway and walked to some chairs with Dale. Then the other two girls decided that it was time for a break after all and joined us. :-) Fun fun fun. Then we all went back to practise. I did some further practice on my concerto and actually made some good advances. Although it's still not nearly perfect. Later I joined one of the singers and Dale for another break. They then decided to jam and asked if I wanted to jam too, but alas, I had to decline because I'm not trained in the art of jamming. I'm a classical violist, so I don't possess the skills for jazz playing. Comping, soloing, improv, it's all one big question mark to me... Soon after my parents called and picked me up from uni on their way home from Tango dancing. And another long day at uni came to a close.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-18851315870948172272009-04-26T17:46:00.003+08:002009-04-26T18:08:19.099+08:00Not much happening...Not much to report today. I had work in the morning. I set my alarm for 8.30 and then decided to sleep for another ten minutes which turned into half an hour, so I didn't have time for breakfast at home. My breakfast consisted of a delicious Kinder bueno. Yummo! :-) Not very nutritious but it tasted good.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was surprisingly busy at work today. People must be stocking up for the public holiday tomorrow, although Blockbuster will be open. Maybe they're just bored with the weekend. From all the games and new releases being rented you wouldn't know that we're in a recession. Or maybe it's because we're in a recession... people are renting movies and staying in rather than going out. I get the movies for free. :-) Every job has it's perks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Right now I'm waiting for my parents to come home and give me a lift to WAAPA. The orchestra I'm rehearsing with on Sunday's to perform a partita or something which Sam Parry arranged rehearses at WAAPA this week and the next two as well from 7-9.30 pm. My parents were going to drop me off at the train station, but they went dancing in the afternoon and didn't want to come home that early, so they're giving me a lift and then they're going out for dinner. Lucky them. :-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow it's a public holiday because ANZAC day fell on the Saturday. I organised a rehearsal for my string quartet at Natalie's house. Hopefully everything will go according to plan and everyone will turn up and we'll have a good rehearsal. Fingers crossed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In other words I finally figured out why that kid in Forbidden Kingdom looked so familiar. It's Michael Angarano from Sky High. I didn't know his name because his castmate for Sky High, Steven Strait was cuter.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328939001425009442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr9cetxR7HF2bXPQ2ztyF02-BHwoxytk5K5TfHUAIePHzaxMp6JrQmVtYFUtK02bIfSgp5XvFfJzTdXCEFbHZHS36Sedl73Feb2WbQWOFNhVVLDFHY5Mvlc5IuN_rDAzDp-0_Mrzvz-HV/s400/sky+high.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p>Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-56517673969711782042009-04-25T20:33:00.003+08:002009-04-25T22:21:33.061+08:00Yay, they remembered me. :-)So I finally got a letter from the State Library. I'd gotten out some music a while ago. It was due back ages ago. I know this. The quartet I got out I don't need any more. However the other piece I got out I really like. I expected them to send me a letter earlier. They didn't. I was already beginning to feel neglected when I finally got a letter yesterday. Yay! They must be behind on their paper work. Now I have six days to renew or return the items.<br /><br />I'll probably go in on Monday and return the quartet and renew the other piece. Oh wait, Monday is a public holiday. I'll go in on Tuesday.<br />Right now I'm watching a movie. Pathology. I saw the trailer while I was working. It came out on dvd last month. The idea looks interesting and promissing. The execution isn't that great. It's not a terrible movie, but it's not a great movie either.<br />In other news, I bought my brother a birthday present. More on that later. :-)Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-18537531002171927862009-04-13T22:12:00.003+08:002009-04-13T23:12:14.266+08:00I LOVE those shoes!<div><br /></div><br /><div>The other day while I was cleaning my room I was leafing through last month's issue of 'Shop til you drop' before putting it on the magazine pile in the hallway. As I was going through it sighing at all the pretty clothes and items I will never own I realised that I hadn't looked at the rmk shoe catalogue inside it yet. I decided to see what shoes are in fashion at the moment. As I was looking through it I saw the most amazing shoes. At first I thought they were a little strange and I wondered what they looked like on. Conveniently a model on the opposite page was wearing them (the pair in the catalogue is purple). They actually look really good on. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>The pair of shoes that had captivated me thusly was the Macdowell. Pictures below.</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324192611381810226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG9zi9cDa194xzTi25pArBWrvOQ1Wm2jTVqZ7urtke26Q3jIGunpJaQLR8BW2t8i93ycr_-6Lt5QZvjHVxA3HrSXQLhDH7wmb5mFtEqjaKHjjRITB4z5F6LYwD-KrvS25aYKCdlYuRXc9/s400/macdowell_purp.jpg" border="0" />I had originally been drawn to it by the purple colour. However I would probably buy it in black because that is more versatile and I need black shoes for concerts and such. So, I love these shoes. However, I know that sometimes my tastes can run towards the kitschy and so I decided to show them to my sister and ask her what she thinks.</p><br /><p>So when she was home yesterday I got out the catalogue and told her that I loved these shoes. She replied: "I've got those shoes!" Ok, so she obviously doesn't think they're too much. She did say not to wear them with any really short dresses because that would be skanky. That being said, she wore them at a bikini model comptetition. Although I guess the aim there is to make your legs look as long as possible.</p><br /><p>She brought them over today so I could have a look at them. She'd told me that they were really comfortable and I tried them on. They really are comfortable. Of course hers are too big for me because we're not the same size. Still. I'll go have a look at the store tomorrow and see if they have them in my size. :D With any luck I'll soon be the proud owner of a pair of these sweet shoes!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324193892390297026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLg3tSPMD0MSkrwaeoCuG8hicrsZdL0HYSm-HC7mmYD9lUHLte_PL1KL3em70Paz8KYlt_x5KzBR3neGObkYke62unoCnLq89pyV5ehSHorsc79ZdZAZUKS8C6SqfSvw-2QKRmlR041cE/s400/macdowell+purple+and+black.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><div></div>Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140338424826824.post-88418831459499499812009-03-28T18:09:00.000+09:002009-03-28T18:12:16.964+09:00I'm sick. :-(So I’m sick. Lucky me. Headache, sore throat, upset stomach, the lot.<br />I started feeling sick on Thursday. I initially though the headache and sore throat were down to listening to students bashing away on keyboards, drums and electric guitar and talking over said instruments, respectively. But apparently not. The next day I managed to get through teaching the year 10s for first period and it was actually the best lesson I had taught so far. After that it went downhill with me feeling like I was going to throw up, my throat hurting like hell and my head punding. Yay. I stayed until after school, watched the barbershop choir rehearse and then went to the city to buy a present for my friend who has her 21st tonight. Which I’m not attending cos I still feel like shit.<br />Thursday night I couldn’t sleep properly and kept waking up because my throat was killing me. Yesterday evening I was about to head home when Annie called me and said that she had tickets for this Greek performers in the concert hall. It was some fundraising thing for St. Andrew’s. Apparently they have Greek ties, who knew? It was fun. It reminded me of holidays in Greece. Especially with all the Greek people in the audience. Greek women sure know how to dress tackily. Well, not all of them. Just the ones in their 30s and 40s. Ah well. Who knows, maybe I’ll be walking around in a spandex reptile print turquoise mini-dress one day... Just like when I was 10. Oh the memories.<br />Anyway, I ended up leaving during interval cos I felt like shit and was soooooo tired. Luckily for me my parents were on their way home from the movies and had just got on the freeway. So they decided to turn around and come pick me up at the concert hall. Yay!<br />So this morning I didn’t go to WAYO. And tonight I’m not going to my friend’s 21st. I was really looking forward to it. Seeing her and all my other friends from high school again. I don’t see them nearly often enough. Finally meeting her boyfriend. Partying after teaching all week! But just the thought of leaving the house is enough to make me collapse on my bed indefinitely. Well, at least for the next ten minutes. There is no way I’d survive more than an hour at a party right now. And what would be the point in that? I also called up my boss and told her that I can’t work tomorrow. She was very nice about it. I wonder who’ll be doing my shift...<br />Oh, I should also call Sam and let him know that I won’t be at rehearsal tomorrow evening. Gah. Being sick is more effort than just turning up to rehearsals, work and parties.<br />So now I’m listening to Reggae in an effort to actually know more than the year 9s I’m teaching next week.... I’m trying to get as much lesson planning as possible done on the weekend. When I get home from school I’m too tired to get much work done. I really want to do some practice. Right now I don’t have the energy to play viola, but hopefully once I’m better I can squeeze in ten minutes or so... I’m also supposed to learn my part for eneksis. Although not sure if my throat will be up to singing by Monday’s rehearsal... So, time to do some work.Stinuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11287192148052927330noreply@blogger.com0