"Smile..."

"You look like a dropped peach."
- Luke



(lvl. 3, carpark overlooking Nepean Highway,
Southland,
Tuesday morning)

People still wear cargo pants, wtf

Lovely Sunday night.

Began with Distress Call at the Rob Roy. Awesome. A funny old man made his way to the front and danced by himself with his eyes closed. I'd like to say this was a beautiful moment but all I could think was, "Oh, how cliche!" and roll my eyes to myself in my head. Aside from the old man, without hesistation, I say Tim was the standout star of the gig; I like it when rockstars wear their glasses, he had the sexiest guitar, he can really really play and was the only one who's guitar matched his outfit.

Met Anastacia, Simon and Georgia at Black Cat and discovered Miso. Miso, a gorgeous array of dubby- trip hoppy sounds joined by a darling, almost jazz, singer who dances and charms while supported by various strings and the sweetest percussion. We stayed for this and we'll probably come back for another dose. If you have nothing to do every second Sunday night, have little money and I don't know, maybe your pillow is too soft for early nights and giving you that sinking feeling, come out ad see ( and maybe see me see) Miso at Black Cat, it's a really good idea.

Went to the Yacht Club because they are our friends and no matter what we do there it never costs us more than $20 all together for some reason. Good for us, huh, maybe bad for business. Oh well, it was grand. Or at least, having been drinking since 5pm, we thought we were grand. Luke began to take particular interest in other patrons fashion sensibilities, when a rather ordinary individual made an appearance and shouted something suitably forgettable Luke exclaimed back and over the top "People still wear cargo pants, what the fuck?!". I know it must have been a good night because at the time we thought this was the sharpest pinnacle of wit and finnished the night somewhere around here laughing hysterically. HA Ha ha!

And also:
We have a new friend, Matt, from Louisiana (yes, it's true, a real live American just like on tv) Yay!.

Yeah, I'm kinda bored today.

So here is another picture


of my favourite leg


pretty fancy


huh

Get a haircut

First I thought CAKE, then I thought PINATA, then I thought, no, let's do a DRESS. But do you think I actually did any of these things? Of course not. And that, strange creature, is the beauty of the blog. Try it. Many things can be said and written, promises, musings and histories, they all get writ down. Whether or not they ever occur or mount to much is not in the PD of the blog and neither I nor the blog will be held accountable for your virtual disapointment. The plain truth has always belonged in another stratosphere that I'd rather not contend with and prefer not to acknowledge it's possible existence.

And anyway, Caitlin's party didn't need my baking and craft corner intruding, it was just dandy in itself. Lots of good people came out of the woodwork and danced to Madonna. Something got broken, somebody fell down, somebody threw up on Ewan's slab, all the prerequisites that are required so you know you are having a party were met early on. It was great, I want to do it again. Caitlin, lets have tea on friday, ok?

I'm waiting by the phone again today. Why do they tell me that they love me and then never call?

I think I need a haircut.
"Get a haircut" - that's what my Dad told me to say to Jeff Kennet if I ever saw him. I think it was for when I was performing with my primary school band in Melbourne Parliment House. Shame, Jeff never showed up. I wrote him a letter once, somethng about not needing a Grande Prix and could he consider improving hospital facilities and the Elephant encloser at the zoo. Not sure if it ever got sent. Do you think he will come back? No, me neither.

Here is a slightly out-of-focus picture of my cat.

I didn't get the job

It was between me and one other person.
The one other person had some admin experience. (Pfft!)
Experience schmeariance, I say.

So my life still looks like this:



At least until next week. The same company wants to interview me on Monday for another position they have going.

But I don't even care anymore,
I think it is because of this:



Also there is Caitlin's party on Saturday, and since there have been suggested Napoleon Dynamite overtones to this apparently non themed night of frivolity, I don't know, maybe I'll bake her a cake...Or better still, a pinata!

A Room for an Interview

A couple of weeks ago I sent an email to a recruiting agency stating that I am looking for an entry level position as an administration assistant. Two hours later I got a phone call that asked me if I could come into their offices for an interview and would I consider working for them. I got dressed up, bought the pointiest healed boots I could find, I made sure my hair was extra neat and smooth, no whispy bits anywhere. I imagined myself as a bubbly, outgoing , straight thinking young woman from Brighton who likes house beats and cosmopolitans, only. I considered my character's aim and desires for the upcoming scene. I was ready for a little impro.

And I went.

They put me in an empty room without without any magazines to read. I looked out the window at a beige-brown brick wall for a really long time, I thought of a lame joke to tell about the view but then thought better of it, this is serious. I looked at my reflection, but tried not to annalyse it too much. I got nervous and practised my Laban.

A knock at the door followed quickly by an entry of someone who looked just like me now. We did firm eye contact handshakes and everyone was very polite and smiley. I talked about a girl who likes working with people, under pressure, and gets excited by the word "TEAM". Another handshake and I'm in front of a computer doing a "Skills Test". PCs, are different to Macs, huh. Not to worry, they still love me... why?

Another handshake and I'm off to another office in a different street, in a similar room without any books or magazines. We talk really vaguely and in officey jargon about the job. I still have no idea what it is I actually do, but they promise me lots of training and social events. Handshake.

A few days later and I'm doing a "Psych Test" and a "Metric Test"*. I am supervised by a boy who looks like he's wearing his Dad's suit, but he gives me what I take as being a look of sympathy and says "awesome" everytime I answer a question, so I smile for him and we talk about the weather and how strange/intimidating the building is when it is all over. Handshake, slight stumble backwards.

Yesterday, another room, another interview. I spoke with many managers and other people in similar positions that I could soon be in. Everyone was just so nice, I felt as if I might be invited to go out out clubbing with them at any moment.

And that's how I got to be sitting at home, just waiting for the phone to ring, and slightly hoping in won't.

I am a little frightened of becoming a nobody in an office. A little frightened of becoming my mother.

Last night, Mum told me that she once studied Literature, Theatre, Film and Television at Uni, like me, but things happened and she had to give it up. I had not heard much of this before and I worry that these things might be genetic.









* I thought they might measure me here. Dissapointingly, it was just more questions.

I Feel Better Now

I got my special cord thingy for my phone. I have to go through virtual PC to use it though, doh.

But by golly gosh this is fun

Please

I just need a moment

I have little energy today for blogging.

I have been somewhat unwell. Half just wanting to die, half concerned I just might.
And also, I'm waiting for the chance to buy a special thing that connects to my phone so I can upload pictures that will illustrate my stories, because what is a blog without any pictures?...

...Well, it could be Nanashi's blog.

I think I will just hand it to the keeper today.

So may I introduce you to the enigmatic and most divine,Nanashi Travelling. No pictures, just words, good and well arranged ones. And please, take your time.

Memememememmememememememememmmmmm!

I am getting into the habit of taking lots of pictures of myself with my shiny, new phone.

Look, it's me!

Went to Port Melbourne and got some Sand in my Shoes

I found myself maudlining along a beach yesterday morning (strange).

Had driven my favourite, darling creature to a job interview and then realised that for at least an hour I was going to feel a bit lost. I was alone in Port Melbourne with no purpose (of all places). I walked towards the beach and trudged though the sand beside water inappropiatly in suede boots. I watched personal trainers and their trainees get stuck on stairs, forever walking up one or two steps only to reverse back down and try again. I kicked into a great pile of pippy shells. A small dog did a circle around me as it passed with it's owner. I picked up a few shells that stood out, still pippies, but in colours I like. An orange, fat man got rather undressed for the weather and public and entered the water without a flinch or flicker of self-consciousness. I looked for sea glass, but didn't find any. I lay my black velevet jacket on the sand underneath me and curled up with a book. I dozed off, just a bit.

I dream-thought about the beaches in Scotland and then about Dubrovnik.

When I woke up I was still in Port Melbourne. It was very quiet. The trainers and trainees were gone. the dog and his man had moved on, and the orange fat man was now just a head gliding across top of the water, back and forth in straight lines. I got up and ran back to my car. It had been over an hour and I was due for a parking ticket. I moved Fog to the other side of the road and found my familar. We ate chicken on the beach together and considered the seagulls warily. When we were severly outnumbered we moved to a cafe that served very well suited men and women with extra pointy shoes. Maybe some of the women's faces didn't quite match their hands and maybe I could have felt sorry for them for that, but then, they had a rather-nice-for-monday-morning bottle of wine join them at the table and seemed quite content with it all.

Luke observed that there were ships carrying tonnes of cargo appearing out of nowhere and then disapearing just the same. Nobody else seemed to care about this, much like his observation of peacocks waiting at Alphington Station.

Such an odd place to put a beach.

Dear Diary

We went to the Supper Club and now I have no money.

So many parties, much of them based around the pretty people of Polly.

A previously postponed Polly Christmas Party was okay, but I had to go home and have a lie down rather earlier than my usual sign-out time - never do cope well when the drinks are free and this time the shots were coming out furiuosly on little trays.

I took my first Sunday off in months so I could actually go out on a Saturday night (Woo!). So when I was let off work @ 11pm Saturday I grabbed my bandit mask and fencing sword and headed for the big smoke like I imagined everyone else must do on a Saturday night. I arrived late but well armed for Leigh's Last Shift at Polly Party, which in the style of John Farhnam's Finale Tour, was really just the beginning of a long succession of farewell Leigh gatherings. Got to taste Cristal here (ridiculous).

A Superhero House Warming for Annastasia's Simon moving into Paul's. Just caught the very end of it at around sometime when the sun was rising after Leigh's Last Shift party. Bandit mask and fencing sword came in better use here.

Had drinks at Comfortable Chair last Wednesday, got to meet Chris's lovely girlfriend and didn't have to talk about the Commonwealth Games. I didn't get that comfortable in my chair though - the crowed was crap, apart from us of course, and some guy behind the bar asked me if I'd like a glass of milk (grrr!).

I'm sure there has been more but I forget; only just recovered from a late night @ the Supper Club. We were celebrating Chris (a different Chris) turning 30 and I was probably saying goodbye to Leigh again and again. Anyway, I learnt something that night that I'm sure is only going to destroy me financially in the future, and that is: Wine is really, really nice when you say to a waiter "here, take this money, I don't need it, and because I know nothing about wine, HERE! (handing them the wine list) You choose!" And that ladies and gentlemen is how you get yourself a really nice bottle of wine that surprises you with a Leunig cartoon on the label. (How cute!) But You must be careful when drinking wine if you are even just a little like me. Too much wine makes you think you own the world. I however, was fortunate enough to have somebody like Matt there to help me. Put me back down where I belong like a professional. Did that weird grabbing thing just above my knee, and in seconds I was on the floor, and hit my head on the table on my way back up, Ha! What fun hey?!

Oh, one last thing: Goodbye Leigh, hope Edinburgh is good to you, Bon Voyage and all that goodhappy travelling stuff. I'm Sorry I cannot come to the airport, it's a clash with Coheed and Cambria, but I promise I will still be waving to your plane this evening anyways. Look out for me if you can, I'm small I know, but I will be wearing my fluoro orange skirt so you should be able to still spot me. Goodbye, goodbye...oh (sniff).

Breakfast with Champions

I've been doing some thinking. Thinking I might take a left turn. Might not go back to uni this year, might get a healthy 9-5 job for a bit. Save up some real monies and go for a wander.

Had breakfast at Montsalvat with Luke yesterday morning. He talks of watercolours, concept bands and novel ideas. I let him wear my sunglasses, makes him look like Kurt Cobain at first, then a regular beatnik and then Warhol. Then he stops talking and actually starts writing his first chapter. Gets his guitar fixed and starts packing the watercolours to take to the Grampians. And I'm coming too, we're heading to the Grampians for a few days, leaving Tuesday...I could make another attempt with charcoal, probably appropriate, but somehow it always ends up a smudgy black cloud...No, things are a little different now.

It was V day

So we headed for the hills... Well Badger Creek at least. Luke and I had a lovely picnic, despite the very distinct lack of badgers. Had the park almost completely to ourselves, maybe just a few grannies dotted here and there, probably left behind since the departure of the last tour bus. I made a cake, a chocolate fudge cake, and applied my extensive stencil art skills in the form of icing sugar and heart shape, we ate it too. After meandering through Healesville, having an obligatory drink at the Healseville hotel we strolled into a nice little bottle shop that boasted an assortment of fine local and interantional wines. Thought we might find some cheap plonk to impress my folks with. We did, and very nice it was too. But also it was revealed to me once more that the world is really much more modest in size that it outwardly appears. We met Bec and Ben in the bottle shop. Bec is from Kangaroo Ground, (which makes us neighbours really) and contemplating dinner at Ginger Garlic in my hometown. Ben, it turns out, is great mates with Tom, Polly Tom, or rather, no-longer-at-Polly Tom. Ben was a bearer of a little bad news, Polly is changing it seems, the end of an era for many I think, sad really. But as an aside; Luke noted, and I think he might be right; we'll probably bump into Bec and Ben again sometime, there was that feeling, you know? Ah well, we'll see, hey.

"We should all be working with dogs"

Longtime hey?
I'm sorry Kim, I realise now that it IS my responsibility to distract you from whatever it is you get paid to do in that shiny air conditioned environment.
Where have I been?
Hanging out with a cowboy who looks remarkably like the Milky Bar Kid of course.
Getting to know Brunswick quite intimately in the process. I even have my own blockbusting video card there now.
Wearing the same dress for 3 days and noting that it is getting as black as the soles of my feet. Yes, getting MESSY Dell, you would be impressed! Playing in the park until the rest of the world gets up and passes through on their way to work. Walking back to boyfiend's place at sunrise. Catching a glimpse of a smacky ho ho reflected in the window of Esprit and realising "oh that's me" before adjusting the plastic rose in my hair so that it is just so.

HAPPY INVASION DAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON!
Like most days of late, it was HOT!
Went to the Corner, it's changed huh. Had to wait for a 5 yr old to finish with the pool table before we could have a go.

Things are grand, see:





***
Sitting on a rooftop yesterday evening, I watched a trail of blacksmoke creep accross the sky just beneath the clouds. But then it got dark quickly and it was almost impossible to see.

Taken

So we went to the zoo. The monkies were ok but the elephants were the best. And now a boy is painting an elephant on his wall. Look.


Pictures are a bit dodge I know, camera phones are not fantastic and I admit I am no pro with the techno.

It's just in beginning stages, but isn't it clever? I secretly think the elephant should be white, but since my demands for a bed-in were met with parallels being drawn between Yoko and I I'm keeping my mouth shut about artistic pursuits for a bit. Don't want to break up the band.

More updates on interior decorating of the studio and other schemes to come. Stay tuned folks.

Hi Cara

Thanks for these pretty pics.My blob's a little thirsty for pictures at the moment, sad cos that's my favourite thing about other peoples' blogs. Soon I will get a digi camera, don't worry, and then there will be less words and more pictures, mostly of me, and my feet, you can be sure.



A Christmas dinner with your family with you not there except via satelite was intriguing. Like celebrating a ghostly presence really. Oh, I'm becoming morbid again, I'm sorry. I have a Friday 13th exam tomorrow, I'm freaking out just a tad. It's for my Humour, Comedy and Culture subject, don't laugh. I shouldn't be here really, should be memorising Freud's half-baked ramblings on humour, ready to churn them out with gusto when they ask me "What's so great about Woody Allen anyway" - Seriously these are the kind of essay questions I tackle these days. This is rock the world (to sleep) research.

Postmodern/Postcaring
X

Kidnapped

It's a little motif that's been running through my life lately. People seem to want to take me places these days and I'm not used to being taken. Today I'm being taken to the zoo by a boy who looks a little like Harry Potter...well he has blond hair and tatoos but asides from that...maybe if you shut your eyes. Anyway both his parents are magicians and I like animals and magic so it's hard for me to say no.

Went to see The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe yesterday, even though it is for Christians. Goddam that lion is wonderous, I just want to hug him, and Tilda Swinton's hair looks better than ever, but above all: Mr Tumnus is sexy. Unfortunatley the children were a bit annoying, somehow Lucy managed to ruin huge chunks of most scenes with her smartarse comebacks and general air of goody-two shoes smugness. Peter is a knob. But Edmund was much more likeable than I imagined from the books, perhaps just by comparison with the others and perhaps just because he looks like a long lost brother of mine. Leigh pointed out that this film must have been difficult to make since they have worked with both animals and children at the same time, often in the same scene. However I think the children we CGIed in later in some post production trickery.

I caught up with a lot of relatives on Christmas day. Lot's of people are having babies at the moment. I got invites to stay in places all round the world. London sounds exciting but I'm a bit dubious about Dubai. I also got news about family members that I missed in the papers. My cousin's husband was nearly kidnapped in Afganistan a few days ago, while flogging some satellite communications stuff while in the city. Strange men drove into the back of his car and chased him. But he had some British armed guards of some description with him that got out of the car and apparently fired a few shots and scared them away. Some people say "wow, exciting stuff happens in your family", but I think I could do with a little less excitement.

Polly Parties are Good. And I'm not particularly interested in grammar at the moment.

People get very friendly. So I made a lot of new friends. I talk nonsense to Enzo and he doesn't mind, in fact I think he likes it. Murray is always a cowboy and a perfect gentleman simultaneously. Dave recognised me from a Radiohead concert that was a long time ago. Wow, ego boost. Seth is back in town and wants to take the boys sailing, hope I get an invite even though I'm a girl. I'm a good sailor you know. Runs in my blood. I met Adam at his 25th birthday party, he lives in a converted pub. There is a well in the cellar for some reason. Everyone went to the Eltham Fruitbowl when they were 14-15 except me. Everyone seems to have an enormous tv from the sixties except me. There is lots I don't have at the moment. Cookie is getting married soon.Hooray for Cookie. Matt is leaving Polly very soon. Boo for Matt, well not really...well yeah actually a bit. Hannah is very generous and looks after you when it all gets too much. Let's you stay in her house and you don't even have to ask. She's also the perfect host, and smiles at you in the morning no matter what you look like. She hosts a Ladies Day every Monday, I want in. Tom is kind too. Poor Tom got very tired and had to have a lie down on the floor behind the bar. Must stop assuming friends are dead just because they aren't answering their phone. There are other possible explanations. Just because you think you can moonwalk doesn't necessarily make it so. Rolling spliffs is much easier than people make out. But it's nice when people regard you highly at parties for such a learnable skill. Some rabbits are quite sociable. It is possible to survive a few days on nothing but beer, wine and various spirits and cocktails. But it starts to hurt after a while. Chin up, there'll be more tonight.

Diana of the Hunt

A quiet weekend. Mum showed me the Koran of diet books, the CSIRO diet. I've been trying it for fun. It's been three days now, but I'm finding it hard to keep up, I just can't eat that much. Also you are only allowed two glasses of wine a week. Mum says she'll be going by her own interpretation. Dad's interpretation seems to be something along the lines of replacing allowed food units with units of wine. Says he's been feeling very good lately.

Apart from observing this new religion I've been pretty sensisble lately.

But then somebody threw a pizza at my car on Friday night while I was working. A blatant personal attack that rocked my sensibilities somewhat.

On Saturday while washing the pizza off my car Leigh and Kim turned up. We sat in the sun drinking tea and observed how once again we were not at Meredith. We discussed Lily's film, her general brilliance at everything and how she is "one to watch" according to The Age (Lily, we are watching you). The issue of a cat outshinning us in life was also brought up but not elaborated on.

Leigh reckons he'll start a Mediocrity Club.
I wrote the manifesto:
One must not achieve...Much

But Leigh says I can't join. Nice guy.

I had dinner at Cara's mum's house. Mad and Simon O came too. We all got to hear Cara's voice for the first time in a long time. Hello Cara. One day of undergraduatness left hey? Congratulations, most smart and accomplished cookie X.

Was working for the boss on Sunday again. He had a Christmas party for his family at the bar. His aunty is Elaine McInnon, so I kept my eyes open, but saw no famous people. So I broke a latte glass, somebody yelled, "taxi!", boss yelled, "centrelink!", and I got scared.

The boys came round again and took my mind away from such dark possibilities. We saw Harry Potter. I didn't understand much but it did make me go blank for a bit. CGI overdose. And I wanted to hear more about the dragons. Apparently, there are books to read and 3 more movies to be watched. I guess I was a little under researched for the subject.

Highlight of the weekend: A possum kissed my toe.

When the movie was over Kim found a wand and picked it up.
I lit a cigarette and we all saw something move in the distance. Something rat-like in the carpark. It was my mission to touch it. The boys stood back, I was fearless. Kim yelled "No, be careful!" and the rat turned into a baby ringtail possum.
Leigh warned, "Those things can be vicious."
I called over my shoulder, "Don't worry, I've done this before."

And the possum kissed my toe.

Nothing to read here.

No new thoughts
Forgotten old ones.

Just a few small hopes for the day.

Let's clean up this mess.
Put on dress
Take an armful of fresh herbs to the boss
See if you can make him smile
After meandering through bookshop reading first sentences
Actually buy a book
Finish overdue Fawlty Towers essay
Make a Waldorf salad
Finish and post psycadelic rock mix to Xara
Run with the whippet along the aquaduct
Start scheming how you will win those tickets to the Wolfmother gig at the Corner
Consider offering sexual favours to whoever answers the phone at the radio station
Or whoever is on the door that night
Nah, need to save it for the band
...
Stop fantasizing
Put on dress
Harvest herbs
Wish me luck