Pretty close

Hamish + Pirates

It doesn't get much better than that.

Official Memo

Today is cowboy day. Although I've already been told I look too 'indie rock'. It's not my fault. This is the best I can do- I lent my chaps to Emmalaura!

I can see through time

There's new info on the Meredith website. She'll be turning sweet sixteen ........ and never been kissed? It's exciting already and only six months to go.

Don't put up with trash!

Well, that's it! I'm done with Britney! Not really. It's more that I'm done with the cult of celebrity. I hearby renounce my vows. I'm cancelling my 'Britney' daily news alert, and quitting reading trashy tabloid magazines. All it is doing is fuelling the paparazzi, stalking these people and making their lives hell. As well as making Britney look like she is a bad mother, it is making all those mothers out there feel they are doing a bad job as well. I challenge any one of you to ask your mother if she nearly dropped you, even once, when you were a child. These stories are putting unreal expectations on the mothers of today.
I don't know if this is actually making any sense, but it's been brewing for a while. I have also been drinking for a while this evening though, so feel free to disregard all that heas been said, excepting the sentiment. And don't put up with trash!

Country life

I saw a dead wombat, that had been hit by a car, on the side of the road this morning. I guess this would be another piece of evidence supporting those claims that I live 'in the country'. "Somewhere on the way to Sydney" I have even heard some say. Regardless, I'm glad to be able to take my morning amble in a place where there is plenty of trees. Much better than gulping in lungfulls of pollution and car exhaust. Here are some examples of natures surrounds....aah nature. Although some of the 'wildlife shown here could be a little frightening.

Andrew at Meredith

My camera is broken.

Seminal

This time not the act itself, just using the word a lot. Andrew Mclelland's Mix tape. He wa pretty funny, but mostly in the way that he was a funny guy. You appreciated his humour and were entertained, but didn't neccessarily feel the need to laugh out loud. Not to say that there weren't things in there that i nearly pissed myself at. Somehow it was really my brand of humour, I guess it helped that when the chick next to me complained St. Kilda wasn't getting enough representation Andrew told her it was because it was on the wrong side of the river. She also spent the last half of the show rustling around in her bag, jigging her leg, and looking towards the exit. She came by herself so no one had forced her into it, but she didn't seem comfortable at all. Oh those southsiders. What can you do?

Wet behind the ears

I haven’t posted for ages. I guess it’s because I’ve actually been doing things in the real world, not just in the land of the computer nerd. Holidays in Byron were gorgeous. Such fantastic weather, company, camping, music.



It feels like such a long time ago already. This cold rainy weather has really brought me right back down to earth. Smack! Or whatever sound a wet slap to the face makes. Again we've booked the site for next year, so Kath and Nick you'd better be there too, and those who promise better make good on that.
Since I’ve come home I’ve kept the routine of going to shows though, but shows of a different kind. Dylan Moran on Sunday. Man was he funny, not to rub salt into the wounds of anyone who missed the season, but he was great. Even if he did totally lose track of what he was going on about towards the end. He may try to say that Bernard is just a character, but he really is Bernard.
Elbowskin last Wednesday was great, those gys just get better and better. The Comedy Festival is a great time to be out and about in Melbourne. There is just so many people everywhere. And unlike during the Melbourne Festival they're not all snobby and arty, just out for a laugh and a good time.
Then Saturday was The Lion King.


Amazing costumes and puppet work. Not to mention all the topless hotties throughout. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get to see it.

Apart from that it's been lots of catching up with everyone, beer and burning, soccer and even a little bit of work on the side.

sunshine

Hey there crazy kids! The sun is shining in Byron and I finally feel like I've got the energy to enjoy it. Five days straight of live festival music, and all the drinking that accompanies that 12 hour day sure takes it's toll. Not to mention the random nights afterwards spent at the pub on the beach with even more live music and an appearance by the cat empire busking on the street. Cocktails, beer, wine, beer, cocktails, beer. Ahh, this is the life. Coming home to wintry conditions isn't too appealing, but back I will be on Saturday night. And then ready for the beer and burn of anzac day. I bought a badge bobby, you'd be proud of me. See you all soon.

Opportunities

My JoeyJoJo is coming tomorrow! Yay. It's sad that she's coming under such heart wrenching circumstances. But there's one of these opportunities that we can see instantly. Unfortunately I won't be around for much of her three week stay, 'cos I'm going on a holiday of my own, but I'll just have to make the most of our time when she is here. Can't wait. See you soon!

From great change and endings, come new beginnings and opportunities.

Yesterday moring my Mum's dad died of a massive heart attack. He was walking to see the nurse, to have his dressing changed on the skin cancer had just had removed from his back, when he collapsed on the footpath. The village called us to say he had collapsed, but it wasn't until my Mum arrived that she was told he was probably dead before he hit the ground. It was a huge shock to all of use, even his doctor. He was a very fit and healthy man, albeit at the age of 86.

Vats away!

If anyone is looking for me during the day this weekend I'll be up at The Vat.
This weekend brings "Taste of Montsalvat Festival", which I've been told is opening all artist studios as well as having food, wine, beer and gardening business happening. I've got no idea what it is really, but there's no doubt it will be all the more bearable if I've got friends who come and visit me. I used to think Matcham was crazy for resenting the 'tourists' at Montsalvat, everything was always their fault. "If you don't like them," I used to think. "Then why live in a publicly open place?" That was until I moved my studio in there. The worst thing about the place is ther tourists. They just come in and stand there with this stupid 'how quaint' look on their faces. They never actually want anything and don't seem to understand that people actually work there. Anyway, I've been making it pretty for them all day today. And also rearranging some things so that they feel like they're in the studio without having to get too close to me. Ha.
So if you feel like cheering up a jaded 'artist', come visit some time this weekend.

Ooh la la-la!

Yay Soccer! Even though I only played six minutes I'm taking full responsibility for our ass-whooping tonight. Soccer is officialy fun again. There was a while there at the start of the season where it was looking a bit dodgy, but then we remebered how to play and started winning and now I love it. I'll have to get a beach game going in Byron. That's right a week and a half an I'm on the beach. Can't wait!

Long time ago

Just in case you weren't aware........... Mel, Dam and Rob are back! Looking at these pictures reminds me just what a funny morning that was. Lucky you guys are worth waiting over an hour on no sleep, at the airport for.

Hurrah for it began!

Well. Now that this whole Com Games fiasco is over I'll post the photos fromt he opening ceremony. We watched the fireworks across the road from the G on Tom's rooftop, resplendent with Men's Gallery sign as usual, and celebrated with my first drink of the cleanse. And boy did we do it in style- champagne form mugs. What were we meant to do? There were no jars around!
It was quite an eerie night. Punt road was absouloutely dead. We'd parked ages away and walked across because we thought it would be a nighmare getting in there but there was just no-one around. That was until about half way through the ceremony when the performers who were done started coming out of the venue, all their costumes of shiny pants and bad wigs. It all looked a little Rock Eisteadford to me. I hope it didn't come across that way on tv. Then the flying tram came past and was exciting.



The fireworks were cool too, not a skerrick of the dissappointment they could have been. They were really big and went for ages. They even came from ontop of the buildings in the city and along the Yarra.



Then, when it was all over we saw just how may people can fit into the MCG. They'd all caught the train and had to try and do the same to get home again. We did our best to entertain them while they waited, you know random yelling and getting them to give us the little flashy things they were given. But it still would have been pretty annoying to have to wait that long to get into such a packed train. The roads have been quiet all week though. They keep on saying it's because public transport is free if you're goint to the games, but it's just beacause people thought it was going to be hell on the roads. I agree with Bracksy on this one- the only thing people will support is free beer. And come next week I'll be supporting that proposal. Although the TAC has drummed it onto us so well that if there was free beer we probably would be catching public transport, 'cos we wouldn't be driving.

motorcar adventures

I'm taking last nights adventures as a sign that i should stop driving as much as i do. From now on it's only the essentials, like getting to work and going to the supermarket.
First up I drove down Punt Road to Richmond in peak hour which wasn't bad at all. Not too much traffic and a good run of lights. So I was in my rockstar park outside the Corner by 6.00. 2 hours later, after a fairly intense live to air set by Augie March, and then a quick soujourn for felafels, I come back to my car to find I left the lights on and have a totally dead battery! (Why my lights were on at 6.00 just after the autumn equinox is far beyond me.) So we're stuck in the middle of Richmond with no car eating stupid healthy food and noone seems to have jumper leads. Two cars had been broken into though over the course of this gig, so at least we weren't the worst off in the place. Finally we got on to Tom and he saved us. After finding one car with jumper leads but no keys, then another car with keys but no leads, then trying to jump start but it was too far dead, then finally the roll start. I was a little dubious of this method as failing to start meant rolling out onto Swan Street, but it all worked out in the end. Thanks you're my hero!
You'd think that would be enough excitement for one night, but no. I then proceeded to nearly kill Heath and myself at the end of Hoddle street crossing over the freeway. Suddenly I was up on the curb and then skillfully swerving away from the oncoming Light pole towards the stationary car int he other lane, then back onto the road in my lane all is well. I've got no idea how I ended up on the curb there. I've always thought that intersection could be confusing now they've put the new ligths in, but never actually been comfused by it myself. So I don't think that was it. Must be I'm just a crap driver and this is the universe's way of telling me to stop or as the master has said (Google that is) "Amy needs to wake up or get some will power". See?

Friday Afternoon

dYesterday I was so happy to be at work. All this week has been great. Being in charge, selling lots of dresses. But now it's Friday afternoon and I'm sick of it. It's been a lot quieter, without any appointments, which I was glad for. But that also means I'm stuck out the back with people who are starting to grate on me and no reason to go out the front and get excited for people.
Going out for Liz's/Shay's/St. Patty's tonight. I think I'm going to have to break my detox for just one green beer should the opportunity arise. I'm sure my liver will thank me for it in the long run. I have to work tomorrow though, and all my appointments seem to be rescheduling, so even though I have to be in for 9.30 I then have 2 hours before my next appointment. Plus I have to find things to do for one other person- not sewing? It's gonna suck I can tell.
There's still a chance I may have to work Sunday too. A gig in Werribee for a festival parade. I doubt they'd call me now though for that though. Would they? Perhaps subliminaly to avoid that confirmation call, I left my phone at home today.
Ok that's enough random rambling.

Wielder

I feel so handy! I just changed a tyre for the first time. Not that unexplainably a sharp and owie piece of metal pierced my tyre and it was dead flat when I got out to it today. (Well, when my mum went out to it as she was borrowing my car.) So I got down on my knees in the mud with all my tools and changed it. I had been needing some attention paid to the balance of my tyres so I guess this is just a kick up the bum to go and do something about it. The spare tyre is pretty crappy, and the rear ones probably both need replacing so there goes another weeks paycheck on sorting all that stuff out. Boo. At least I'm saving money on alcohol by not drinking. But I bought myself a hair straightener/curler last week, so it all evens out to still having no money.

No Nose Knows

So. I decided not to post about it 'cos it was making me too pissed off. But now I'm over it so it's irrelevant anyway. Suffice to say I'm a jerk, and I'd cut off my own nose if I thought it would get me out of ever going on a date. Which it probably would, (no offence to those without noses) so lucky I'm only exaggerating.