34B Burlesque

Yesterday I blogged about my fantastic visit to the Tribute To Elvis burlesque show at 34B Burlesque.


Gypsy Germaine. Classy, gorgeous and elegant.


If I wasn't such a big homo, I think I'd have a major girl-crush on her. ...and no, it's not just Fan Envy.


The lovely Kira Hula-La, fantastic dancer and hoop twirler.


Ah, what you've all been waiting for, right? It's sexy chunk time Ladies & Gennamun! KD Twang stepping up to the mike. Half-way through the act he stripped off the western shirt to reveal the pasties. Dude also had mad tambourine skillz, make of that what you will.

Whoo, is it just me, or is it get in hot in here all of a sudden?


Amelia Wood. Funny and sexy, she did a fantastic acrobatic routine that involved 'log rolling' in high heels. Not for the faint hearted.


Belladonnas De Lux. The army never looked so good.

This is only some of the acts from the night, there were other musical acts and some of the performers did a couple of numbers each. The lighting conditions meant that it was sometimes hard to capture the performers without too much movement blur, but I'm happy with the shots I've posted to Flickr so far. The pics above give you a pretty good idea of how much fun the show was. These guys worked hard! The show ran for 2 hours plus and was hugely enjoyable. They change the themes of the shows, and I'm looking forward to going again sometime soon.

There are more pics from the night over at Flickr, and I may yet add some more. The full set of my pics so far are here, and there is now a 34B Burlesque group for everyone else's photos from the venue.

I Wanna Be Your Teddy Bear

Ages ago I mentioned that I was going off to see a burlesque show to do a group shoot (dirty!) with the Sydney Photobloggers Flickrazzi. As it turned out events conspired against me and I didn't make it. However, last night I finally made it to 34B for the Tribute To Elvis themed show. What a fantastic night! I had an absolute blast!



The club has a MySpace page which gives you a bit of an idea what it's all about, but there is also a 34B group on Flickr now where people are posting their shots from the show, and that probably gives you a better idea of what the show's like. Funny. Sexy. Wonderfully retro in style and content. The girls were a mixture of all sorts of sizes and shapes, not all traditionally skinny, which was great to see. Curvy, healthy looking bodies.

The mix of tease (the girls got down to panties and pasties only), acrobatic type acts and live music was a winner, and as the venue is really tiny and intimate it has a great feel to it. The crowd was pretty cool too, lots of amazing looking kids in rockabilly gear, some of who were busting out great swing dancing moves.

Best of all the performers are not the slightest bit fazed by being faced by a bank of photographers. In turn we all did our best to be considerate of them and make sure we didn't use flash. Even with a 'fast' setting and the aperture cranked wide open it meant that a lot of the shots had major movement blur, but I still got plenty of good pics from the evening. (I haven't gotten them off my camera yet because of my ongoing PC problems, but I'll post some of the better ones here in the next day or so - in the meantime go and check out the Flick group for other people's photos from the club.)

Oh, and all you chunk lovers out there. Just so you don't think it was All Girlie - All The Time, one of the music acts was a sexy cowboy who a) played a mean tambourine b) seriously rocked it and c) stripped off his shirt to reveal some sexy chunk and a pair of silver pasties! He got my attention.

It's True

It's True
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

You are.

And because you are all such nice people I want to say thanks for sticking around. It's been a 'low content' week here at TOA, mostly on account of the fact that I'm still sick. My cold became a chest infection and so the past week has been me running the wheel of work/volunteer committments/home to bed like a caged mouse. A big mouse, with a chest infection. As another blogger once said "you have to live your content first", but I would add that you've got to have content worth reading.

Anyhoo, that seems to have turned the corner in the past 24 hours and I feel a bit better. I even went out last night and socialised, like a normal person! OK, normal(ish). A quiet few drinks and dinner with some of my Sydney Photoblogger peeps. Good times.

Makeshift Love

Makeshift
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

Love. Something we all crave, yes? Makeshift or otherwise.

I snapped this pic of the top of a peeling advertising banner the other day, while out walking in Newtown. I really like the textures, the mixture of fonts and the way the two words work together. Love feels kind of makeshift a lot of the time, don't you think? Sort of cobbled together and kept going with string, tape and good intentions.

Kylie's Latest Hit

I found this piece of discarded packaging in a lane near where I live when I was out walking recently. Do you think this means that my neighbourhood is full of women so intent on self pleasuring that they can't wait to get home before ripping the package open? All I can say is that there were several things about it that creeped me out, not least of which were the mental images I got from 'suction powered' and 'waterproof'. You know, ewwww.

Anyhoo. I guess the flipside is, at least the batteries were included for once... which is thoughtfull, don't you think?

The Bookish Meme

Morgan tapped me for a book meme, and just so you don't think it's all cute ice skaters and reality tv in my world, here goes:

1. One book you have read more than once:
There are plenty of these. I'm a hoarder when it comes to books, and one of the reasons is that I love to go back and re-read them. I'd have to say that probably 75% of all my books I have read more than once. So I'll pick a book that I've read lots of times.

It's not Literary. It's not high brow. It's almost a little embarassing to admit. It's a detective novel about a New York wiccan amateur detective called "Speak Daggers To Her" by Rosemary Edgehill. It's fun, the dialogue is full of some great one-liners and snaps along at a cracking pace, and the characters are quirky and enjoyable. Sort of Beach Reading. I've read the sequel "Book of Moons" a bunch of times also.

2. One book you would want on a desert island:
Something escapist. Something long. Something involving. Something that would stand up to lots of re-reading. I think I'd have to opt for the 3 books in 1 combined edition of "The Lord Of The Rings" by Tolkein. Predictable?

Either that or "How To Survive A Desert Island (& Ensure Rescue) For Dummies".

3. One book that made you laugh:
Hard to pick just one, but I'll go for "Good Omens: The Nice & Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Again with the witches! Cackle-out-loud funny. Early reading of all the Hitchhiker's books produced a similar effect, but "Good Omens" stands out as a very funny book.

4. One book that made you cry:
By now you all know that I'm a weeper, right? I mean, I cry during Oprah and Opera for chrissakes. So there are a number of books that have turned on the waterworks. I would have to agree with Morgan about Tim Conigrave’s autobiography "Holding the Man". So very sad! As I said, there are others. I'll update this if a better example comes to mind.

5. One book you wish you had written:
In terms of Filthy Lucre, I'd say whatever is topping the Best Seller list. A Harry Potter book or two would be nice. Ka-ching! In terms of books I like, books I admire and wish I had the skill to write, "Wicked" be Gregory Maguire. Dark, gothic, full of 'magical realism' (to use an over-used term), and a book that taps into my love for all things "The Wizard of Oz". Plus a fabulous read. Oh, and witches again. I never realised it until now, but there's a trend...

6. One book you wish had never been written:
I can't actually answer this because I believe in the freedom of speech of authors to write what they want. I can tell you one book I started, against my original intention and better judgement, for the lame reason that it was a gift and I felt like I 'should' at least try it, and then promptly threw across the room. "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis. Some people love this book. Many words have been about the Literary Merit of it. It's shit, IMHO.

7. One book you are currently reading
"The Neutronium Alchemist" by Peter F Hamilton. A huge and far ranging SF novel, the middle book of a trilogy, and a cracking good read.

8. One book you have been meaning to read:
Just one? Um, they are legion. Any of the original Wizard of Oz universe novels by L Frank Baum jump to mind. Or maybe Tab Hunter's recent biography. That and just about any title on a list of Classics. You know, Worthy Reads. That sort of thing. Books that aren't Beach Reading, or SF, or Fantasy...

9. One Book That Changed Your Life
A little hardback book of collected sayings and thoughts by HH the Dalai Lama called "Ocean of Wisdom". (The name "Dalai Lama" can actually be translated as Ocean of Wisdom.) It was the first Dharma book I ever read and my first introduction to some of the thoughts that are core to Buddhism. I still remember sitting on a train reading it and it was like an epiphany. It was my Aha! Moment.

10. Now tag five people:
I don't like to tag people, but I would invite anyone who is interested to play. Either give me your results in the comments, or leave a comment with the tag to your entry if you have a blog.

An Open Letter To Hamish Blake

Dear Mr Blake,
I would like to take a moment to apologise for the fact that if you Google "hamish blake is gay" right now I seem to be the #1 result.



Of course, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I'm sure that if you Google "hamish blake is funny" or "hamish blake is a talented young comedian", or even "hamish blake is hands down the funniest thing on spicks & specks by far" you'd get even more results than, um wow, the 158,000 results above.

Cordially,
The Other Andrew

PS: 158,000?!

Strange Tale

I've been home today, playing hookey from work on account of a nasty cold I've developed. I was checking Flickr this afternoon, looking to see what pics my friends and acquaintences have posted, and looking to see if there were interesting discussions going on in any of the groups I belong to. There's a spot on Flickr where it alerts you if anyone has left a comment on your pics, so that you can go in and read what people have said. Much in the same way that comments work on this blog really.

So I noticed that this very cool photographer who lives in my 'hood, and hangs around a couple of the same Flickr groups I do, had posted a comment on this pic of mine. The strangeness of this tale? In her comment she told me this:

"you are famous! i work at an opshop, and today I noticed someone donated a leather notepad so I leafed through and your blog spot address was hand written inside!! and nothing else, just that! what a coincidence hey?"

I mean. Whatthefuh? What are the odds of that happening? I thought it was pretty amazing when a few months back a stranger recognised me in a pub from this blog thing, but my url ending up being the only thing written in a book that someone who knows me looked through?

Of course, it may be a fever dream and the cold meds talking... in which case - as you were.

Why I Love 'Reality' Television

Reason 1:


Reason 2:


Sure, Torville & Dean's Dancing on Ice kind of sucks a bit. The Channel 9 hyperbole about the show meant that expectations were way higher than a show like this could deliver. I mean, the format isn't that new let's face it. Not to mention the fact that the show has shed "stars" through injury faster than a tart sheds her knickers.

There's some stuff to love though.

A cute pint-sized presenter, who is (as I noticed in a long shot) actually standing on a box:


Twinky, cute, boy-next-door (if you live on Fire Island that is) professional skaters:


And of course:

Jake Wall. Model. Boyfriend of last year's Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins. Excellent skater. Former DNA Magazine model. Perhaps surprisingly, for those who judge the pretty ones harshly, extremely charming and quick witted. Oh, and easy on the eye. I'm not the only one that thinks so either.

Boos! & Yays! Time

I know some folks love a good session of Boos! & Yays! Well the Muse of Boos and the Gays of Yays have both been whispering in my ear of late, so here for your minor edification I give you Boos! & Yays! for the 2nd of August, 2006.

• The weather! We're slowly sliding towards Spring in this part of the world folks, and that gets the biggest Yay! of the day from me. Yesterday was mild and sunny, so nice in fact that I decided to walk home from work, an hour stroll in the slowly darkening dusk. (Yay!)


• This morning I woke up with the first symptoms of a head cold. Head in vice, scratchy nose and throat... you know the drill. (*sniff* BOOOOOO! *sniff*)


• Photography. I'm a bit stymied by not being able to download any photos from my camera onto my PC at the moment (Boo!), on account of memory space problems on my old machine, but I seem to have gotten over a small creative crisis and am loving playing with the camera again (Yay!).


• I plan on buying an external hard drive this week, as a temporary measure to solve the memory issues of my PC and as eventual back-up storage for the gigs of skanky porn photographs I've been accumulating (Yay!)


• Today is my sister Fiona's 44th Birthday (Yay!), although in her eyes the number is a definate Boo!


• She always kicks off Birthday Month in my family, which means that 42 is just around the corner for me ( ::stunned silence:: )

BFF

Catching up with my old friend Robbie over the weekend was fantastic. Robbie and I have known each other for around 20 or 21 years, half both of our lifetimes. I have two other friends that I have known for even longer, who between the three of them I have clocked up around 77 years of friendship. Robbie and I can go 6 months or a year without seeing each other and still just pick up exactly where we left off. There is so much experience and familiarity between us that we are completely at ease with each other, able to talk in a kind of shorthand made up of shared references, and be able to cuddle without any sort of sexual tension.

I was thinking about this the other day and realised it's unconditional love. Familiarity hasn't bred contempt, it's bred a mutual understanding of who we both are and a mutual appreciation of each other - warts and all. It's really beautiful and very special.

The Best Monday Morning Email Ever

[Caution: the following post contains some bad, bad, bad words.]

Take away coffee? - check. Monday morning ass drag into work? - check. Mood requiring a little lifting? - check.

Step 1 turn on computer at Christian Charity Organisation workplace.
Step 2 log in.
Step 3 open up email.
Step 4 scan through boring work emails, la la Christian-y work announcements, pray for this (pray for that) exhortations... spot unusual 'Quarrantined Email' announcement from Christian Charity IT Department.
Step 5 read the reasons for email being quarrantined, shunned, and painted with a giant red "A" on its chest.
Step 6 spray keyboard with coffee, lose shit and cackle like a maniac!

I know it's automated, but I had an image of some poor little Christian-y IT Department operative analysing and then typing the following:

"Scenarios\Incoming Rude and Explicit

• The phrase "fuck" was found


• The phrase "sex" was found


• The phrase "ass" was found


• The phrase "cock" was found


• The phrase "fucking" was found


• The phrase "xxx" was found"

Hee hee. It's even funnier because it isn't spam, it's an email from a potty mouthed friend.

Brief Hiatus

I'm taking a short break from blogging guys. Just until next week. I've got lots of irons in the fire this week, some shit to pull together, and some neurons to either fire up or fire. Add to that the fact my sweet friend Robbie is in town at the end of the week, someone who's known me for half my life so far, and we've got some town to paint pink. By next week this should hopefully be Anecdote Central.

See you next week, and in the meantime think rest not retirement. Ta ta my lovelies. Later!

Craving Blue Skies

The Two Towers
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

See that big blue sky there? That dome of unbroken blue, right behind and all around the gorgeous entrance towers to Luna Park?

I'm craving it. I need warm sun on my skin, some heat in my bones.
Yeah gods, I swear that Winter has never affected my like this before. I want it over. I want shorts. A pair of slides on my feet. Sun streaks in my hair (natural or otherwise).

Last night it rained torrents. Big heavy downpours that shredded the flowers and beat down the plants in my garden (but thankfully didn't down anymore trees into my courtyard). I lay in bed listening to it crash and roar, enjoying the drama of it but wishing it was the whir of a ceiling fan and the drone of cicadas instead. Bring on Summer.

Of Christmas, Small Dogs & Pirates

Weekend recap time! This weekend was a busy one. A weekend marked by long train journeys, social events with good company, small puppy dogs & pirates.

Morgan had a full weekend of his own planned, one which involved a trip to Canberra to meet up with a couple of friends, so in order to try and fit all of the things we both wanted to do this weekend we had to divide and conquer. I stayed in Sydney while Morgan went to Canberra.

On Saturday two good friends of mine Ian and Steve hosted their annual Christmas In July party at their house.* I spent a large part of the day just getting there, because the 1 hour trip out to where they live stretched to almost double that on account of trackwork and the need to take a different route. Curse you CityRail! Once there I had a great afternoon and evening, catching up with the boys, my good friend Stephen who was down from Brisbane, and other folks I only see once or twice a year. I stayed over in order to avoid a long train ride home late at night. That way I also had more quality time to play "Where's The Monster?", "Get Your Ball!" and "Why Does Your Breath Smell Like Ass?" with their adorable little Jack Russell terrier.

I was invited to go to a wedding on the Sunday, which was the other reason my friend Stephen from Brisbane was visiting. The wedding was in the mountains in the afternoon and the logistics of getting there and back ended up being too hard unfortunately. I could have gotten a lift up there, but as most people were staying over Sunday night getting a lift home afterwards was too hard to organise. I couldn't take Monday off without giving up a day's income, so had to skip it.

Instead I made the trek home on the train, scared the shower alcove to death by giving it a major exfoliating scrub (ewww!) and then headed out in the late afternoon to meet up with some of the Sydney Photobloggers from Flickr and Morgan (freshly back from Canberra) for some food and a movie. We saw "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and I loved it. A real romp of a film, which although it covered some of the same sort of ground as the first film, stood up fairly well as a sequel I thought. Good old fashioned uncomplicated fun. With pirates. And squid faced people. A good night!

So a busy weekend, with lots of socialising and many miles covered.

* It's hard to explain the Christmas In July concept if you are used to a Northern Hemisphere Christmas, but imagine having Christmas in the middle of a Summer heatwave. Sound odd? Well that's what we have every year, so some enterprising hoteliers started to popularise a second Christmas 'Yule' type event in the middle of the year (when it is winter here). Christmas pudding, songs about sleigh rides and pictures of snow covered trees all seem a bit more enjoyable when it's cold outside. Basically it's an excuse to have another big eat-fest, without the need for airconditioners.

Abstract

Take away the clues about context and even photos can be abstract works of art. Add in something that creates scale, something that is identifiable and a known reference point and suddenly meaning starts to take shape.



But throw in something unexpected or seemingly out of context, and the meaning is probably no clearer.



[All these photos were taken at the retro bowling night with the Sydney Photobloggers. The ball storage racks were all lit with different coloured lights, making cool patterns of the chrome bars. I'm sure the other patrons wondered what the hell I was doing, and at one point a dude came and took one of the balls away while I was in mid-shot. Making art is hard yo!]

The City Of Lost Shoes

Ever notice something, say a person on crutches or a redhead (for example), and then for the rest of the day, or the rest of the week, you keep noticing the same thing?

For me this is Lost Shoe Week. It started with a man's black brogue in the gutter near my house. Then the unusual sight of a pair of Adidas men's slides in another street in my neighbourhood. Unusual because the Lost Shoe seems to be normally a solitary beast. Yesterday it was a lavender coloured child's Croc clog in the gutter outside a pre-school near my house (since collected). Today it was a cheap multi-coloured lady's mule, sort of a summer sandal type thing, in a street near my work.

It would have made a good photo essay, all these Lost Shoes, but being such a reclusive creature they only seem to come out of hiding when I don't have my camera with me.

Congratulations Mr & Mr Hayes

After years of avoiding the question, ex-Savage Garden lead singer Darren Hayes not only comes out of the closet but marries his boyfriend Richard. Congratulations on the marriage boys, and congratulations on singing it loud and proud Darren. As far as I can tell nobody was all that surprised, but kudos to him for standing up and stating it.

It sucks that they had to get married in the UK though, c'mon Australia it's time to treat all your citizens with the same degree of respect.

I Was Dreamin' When I Wrote This...

I rarely ever wake in the morning with any awareness of having dreamt during the night. I know I do dream, or at least I believe the researchers who tell us that we all do. If I had to swear to it though, based on personal experience, I would say that I don't 99% of the time.

Lately I've been dreaming up a storm. Huge technicolour widescreen dreams, big sexy or scary ones. Ones that wake me up, full of things that writhe and pulse with dark shadows and grainy light. Maybe it's on account of the book I'm reading at the moment which is all dark, gritty and gothic, or my diet, or the cold and wet nights... any number of things. I think it's only the odd ones that are bothering to make themselves known, the quiet sweet little ones are content to disappear. The meek.

While it lasts it has been quiet interesting. I don't buy into the concept of dreams as portents or significant psychological markers. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Me, I subscribe to the theory that they are purely mental gymnastics; a clearing out of pathways, of the brain stretching, relaxing and having some fun, a clearing out junk - sort of a debrief and defrag all in one.

However, the one last night, the one with the worms, that one I could do without.

Small Kindnesses

Morgan and I went bushwalking at Wattamolla Lagoon in the National Park a few weekends back. Along one of the paths someone had found this bracelet and then carefully placed it over the guardrail for the owner to hopefully collect. My attention was drawn to it because we passed a little girl who was chattering about who owned the bracelet, maybe we did?, as we passed her.



I love these little gestures of kindness that people pay to each other. To unknown strangers. The acknowledgement that someone would be upset to lose something so pretty, that it would be wrong to just take it, that it would be nice for them to find it and have it back. There's kindness, a degree of respect for an unknown stranger's feelings and hope that is sweet.

Sure it's only a small gesture, and you might think I'm blowing it out of proportion, but I sure hope she found her bracelet. Maybe it's still there.

My Birthday Is Less Than Two Months Away - I Need This

But if you can't get it for me, just give me the book instead.

Sterrrrrrike!

Last night Morgan and I, and around 30 of the Sydney Photobloggers, went to a retro bowling night to celebrate Elton's birthday. A while back the Sydney Photobloggers conspired to make Elton a star, so the least we could do was have an event in his honour - complete with groovy retro style t-shirts and a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Elton of course. Oh, and there were prizes. Mini books of photos of Elton, of course.









It was a fantastic night. We all got to dress up and have fun. The yellow shirt I'm wearing is a vintage bowling shirt - which judging by the stitching on it was previously owned by someone called "Corky" who bowled for the Allegheny Creamery team. Therefore it was only natural that my name for the night was Corky St Clair. We finished the night with a late dinner at the pub next door, before heading home around midnight. More good times with the lovely Sydney Photobloggers crowd.

What Can I Get For This Semi-Functioning And Sometimes Reclacitrant Stapler?

The news story of the blogger who swapped a paper clip for a house has really fired up my imagination. I mean, I have all sorts of office stationery lying around this house... I'm sitting on a freakin' goldmine!

It's a pretty cool story. I like the ingenuity of it, and the fact that he wasn't out to scam anyone. With each barter he tried to make sure that the person he was trading with genuinely wanted whatever he had to trade. I like it because it says a lot about how good natured people can be, that they took on board what he was trying to do and decided to help him out. Oh sure, the publicity did none of these people any harm, but that was part of what he was trading them in return. I think it's pretty cool.

His blog has the full story and details each trade. Now, where did I put that stapler?...

It Was The Marinara What Done Him In

It seemed to be a Wednesday like any other. No, scratch that. A better Wednesday than most because I was able to cut out of work early and have a haircut in the late afternoon. Long and scraggly locks be gone. The way to a mo's heart? A good haircut. Can I get a "hell yeah!" from my sisters?

Anyhoo. Morgan and I went to the movies to see the very, very entertaining Tristram Shandy: A Cock And Bull Story. (Think a "Waiting For Guffman" or "Best In Show" style mock-umentary about the making of a historical drama. Very, very funny.) Afterwards we went to a local pasta place for a quick bite.

Do you see where this is going? Spaghetti with Marinara sauce. Later that evening, it was like I was in my own technicolour drama. Widescreen, and my seat was waaaay to close to the screen. There might have been wailing even, although the sort of wailing done with clenched jaw and clenched buttocks. Perhaps more of a keening... You would think I had changed religion from the amount of times oh God! passed my lips.

So I avoided having to be anywhere yesterday; work and The Internetz were all just too hard quite frankly. Today is much better. Whatever it was left my system, along with all my electrolytes and a couple of (hopefully) minor organs I think. Still, never mind. I'm sure they'll grow back.

Alone Again, Naturally

It's just me in the office again today folks, until my boss pays a flying visit to relieve me for lunch. I'm trying to be nice about it, after all my boss is a single parent and it's school holidays, childcare problems means she has to work from home and look after her son, but c'mon. Seriously, this situation is a pain in my ass. And not in a good way.

So, I'm doing the only responsible thing I can do and surf The Internetz for a little while. Got to give those boys in head office IT something to do, right? Did I mention I'm working for a Christian charity at the moment? Big "C" and little "c". They do good work, but conservative. Methodist. So, no porn... not that I would ANYWAY, of course, but well... we always want what we can't have, right?

Weekend Recap

Time to dust off the old tradition of the Monday morning weekend recap, to shake off the mothballs and see if it still fits over my hips without straining.

Friday night was a night out with the Sydney Photobloggers, dinner at "Super Bowl" in Chinatown and then a stroll for gelati.


The Sydney Photobloggers mob outside Gelatissimo in Chinatown, click the pic to go to Flickr and see who's who.

The post-gelati plan was for a visit to a burlesque show, but Morgan and I were both a bit weary and wanted to have an early start to Saturday so that we could go bushwalking. I know, I know, I built up all that expectation about going to a burlesque show only to disappoint you. There were about a half dozen brave souls who continued on, to all accounts the show was lots of fun. Risque but not sleazy.

On Saturday Morgan and I went bushwalking in the National Park. It was a cool but clear day, and by the time we walked inland a bit and out of the cool coastal breeze it was warm and lovely. We did some of the coastal walk and saw a few water spouts in the distance, our second encounter with whales this migration season. We finished the day with really good pizza and settled in at my place for a night of DVDs with Bodhi and his daughter Ashley. I could not believe how much The Brothers Grimm sucked. Yikes.

Sunday morning Morgan and I took a stroll through Newtown to find suitably retro gear to wear for the retro bowling night the Sydney Photobloggers are having next weekend. The brief is 60's/70's but as it turns out my retro bowling shirt and 'letterman' jacket will put me more into the 50's than 60's. I guess I can always explain that I'm a late adopter... Having said that, I'm pleased with what I'll be wearing and I already owned most of it, which is a plus. Morgan picked up some really cool second-hand gear, and should look really good.

So here I am, Monday morning. I'm a bit pissy because all of my work mates have called in sick, not showed up, or emailed me to say they are working from home. It's just me here folks. Of course everyone has been saving up their queries all weekend, so the phone hasn't stopped. I'm working for a charity that deals with the frail aged, and sometimes the phone calls are hard work. Aaargh!

Sunday Is Available When?

Sunday Is Available When?
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

Whatthefuh?

A bit of inspired lunacy from the Red Rooster fast food chain, just around the corner from where I am working at the moment in Summer Hill.

[Click the pic, best viewed large.]

Tiny Bit Scared

...by the thought that tonight's Sydney Photobloggers meet includes a burlesque show.

I mean, I've been to a sleazy strip joint. Once. I was 17. I told my friends that dragged me there for a Boys Night Out that I was gay almost immediately afterwards. (Yes, having to never go there ever again was a motivating factor.)

You see, the show is called Pork Hotel and the advertising flyer features what appears to be little piggies tumbling out of... a woman's... um, 'lady area'...

Scary, huh? I'm guessing I might have one hell of a blog post from this one though...

A Long Week

This is not a downbeat "Yeah verily for I am weary" post, but Jeezalou it seems like this week has gone on forever. I know that my US readers had a holiday this week, so this one is not likely to speak to you on a personal level, but for me this seems to have been a loooong one. It's been at least, what, 9 or 10 days so far, right? I'm sure of it.

Maybe it's end of financial year/start of the new one which has made me busier than usual. Maybe it's after hours busy-ness with stuff to do at the Buddhist centre. I'm not sure what the cause is but it sure has made me look forward to the weekend. I was supposed to be working on a book stall at a Tibetan cultural festival tomorrow, but I've had some volunteers drop out and it has put the project in jeopardy. You know what though? I'm not that bothered. It would be nice to have the day free. Tonight is a night out for dinner and a burlesque show (!) with some of my favourite Flickrazzi peeps, so not getting up early tomorrow would be nice.

Real nice.

Bodhi Is An Enabler

After the recent talk of Mint Slice biscuits, and their wiley mood enhancing ways, I arrived home last night to find a new food item in the now sparkling (and still vanilla scented) refrigerator... a gleaming new packet of Mint Slices. Ahhhhhh.

Ten Canoes

Last night was full of treats, an embarrassment of riches if you will! I met up with Morgan straight after work (treat number 1), and we had an early bite to eat at Happy Chef in Newtown before heading to the cinema to see the film Ten Canoes by Rolf der Heer and Peter Djigirr (treat number 2).

Oh and there was a Boysenberry choc top ice cream thrown in to the mix too (which understandably was treat number 3).

It's quite a rare gem of a film and a really different cinema experience. Filmed entirely with a cast of indigenous Australian actors and in the Yolgnu Matha language of Arnhem Land, with English narration, it tells a traditional story in the traditional language. It's about the telling of a tale, in this instance an education tale told by an elder to instruct a younger member of the tribe. A simple story told in a complex way.

The 'present day' aspects of the film are set before the coming of white men, with the flashback segments of the story set many generations before, so the setting portrays the traditional lifestyle that most non-indigenous Australians would have limited awareness of. What I loved about it though is that the personalities and humour of the characters come through wonderfully, with the traditional language adding to the experience. The charismatic narration by David Gulpilil also adds to the enjoyment and humour of the film. Aside from the humour, the film has a great look too, with beautiful tight close-ups and sweeping panoramic shots of the Arafura Swamp region of northern Australia.

Here is an early article about the film from a few years ago, when filming was about to commence. This review from the Hollywood Reporter has some interesting factoids about the film.

On the way home Morgan and I had a close encounter with a friendly and very inquisitive possum (treat number 4). I tried to get a picture of him but had trouble focussing in the dark. Morgan held up his mobile to snap a few pics, and got some pretty good ones as the possum reached out for the phone.

A great night.

My Name Is TOA, And I Have Seasonally Affective Disorder

At least, I hope I do because then that makes me a victim you see rather than someone who has the poor taste to just be grumpy. Then it's not my fault, capice?

It's grey, it's raining, I'd like to pull up the covers and call in dead today but no work-y no money. Ack, sing a song of woe time folks, follow the bouncing mood swing! Another cup of coffee, maybe a restorative morning tea time Mint Slice biscuit or two four and dry socks/warmer toes later and then expect a post on How Very Grand Life Is.

So. What's to tell, let me see. I changed pillows last night. I've gone so overboard with the kitchen cleaning routine (using my new favourite product Vanilla Fridge Wipe - last night it was the inside of the dishwasher's turn) that my entire kitchen smells like vanilla. It's a bit much. For the second time in about 6 weeks my home phone line seems to have gone down last night. Dead air.

Time for a Mint Slice I think...

5 Ways To Cure A Sunday Morning Bad Mood:

1. Clean bedroom* and wash almost every piece of clothing you own.
   
2. Organise to have the neighbour's banana palm that broke off and landed in your backyard chopped up and taken away.
   
3. Throw out all the dubious food in the refrigerator and clean that sucker to within an inch of its enamel with something strong and vanilla smelling.
   
4. Crank up an extended remix of a favourite song, set to REPEAT, and dance in your bedroom, on your own.
   
5. Most importantly, meditate on the suffering of others. I spell that P-E-R-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E.

[* Big job. Make take several bad moods.]

Hurry Summer

Furled
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

You know how by half way into winter you start to crave the hot sun on your face? Lightweight, flat fronted trousers? Open toed shoes? Lazy picnic afternoons? Boys with their shirts off? Yeah gods, it seems like winter has been hanging around for ages. I'm all caps OVER IT I must say.

Thankfully hibiscus have the good grace to flower all through the winter here. Giving their tropical middle finger to the concept of winter. A litle punch of hot red in the face of a grey day. And yes, it also means that by much of the world's standards this time of year is incredibly mild mannered. Still, it's a question of what you're used to because summer in Sydney is heaven.

Bitesize

Bitesize
Originally uploaded by morgspace.

Morgan just posted this pic to Flickr and it cracks me up. I'm not sure whether he's calling me bitesized or the mini cupcake...

[Picture taken at the Sydney Photobloggers get together at Meredith & Andrew's house last night, for the eating of Mexican food and the viewing of honeymoon pics. I bought along 2 dozen mini cupcakes from a fabulous store called BabyCakes. Nummy nums.]

Merely Labelled

Weed
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

One of the terms that crops up all the time in teachings by Lama Zopa Rinpoche is "merely labelled". Every time we receive some sort of stimulus, we apply labels to it. The first label might be "flower" but it might also be "pink" or "pretty", or in this case "weed". This is Lantana, it is both pretty and also a noxious weed in Australia. Without knowing that I would definately have labelled it "pretty", I mean it is pretty, let's face it. It's a 'good' label. Knowing that it strangles out great swathes of native plants though makes me also apply the label 'bad' to it.

We make these judgements and apply these labels all the time don't we? One day the beach is glorious, another day the sun's too hot, the sand's getting in your shoes, I'm going to get sunburned... The beach hasn't changed, so what has? You. Your mind. Your attitude. The way you choose to label it. That's what Rinpoche is trying to make us see, everything around us we have labelled. It's important to challenge those labels, and examine how true they are.

Snapshots In Time

Blogging is a curious thing. Fabulous, sometimes a bit of a struggle, and frequently very illuminating. I never kept a diary before I started blogging. I would decide to, jot down a few pages, and then lose motivation. Inevitably I would have just read the diaries of Virgina Wolfe, or Gertrude Stein or some other vintage diarist (not just lesbians I hasten to add) and decide that being a diarist would be Very Grand Indeed.

History of the "such-and-such did such-and-such on this day" type bores me to tears, but books about how people lived, what they enjoyed, how they dressed and what they ate fascinate me. Social history. I'm nothing if not social, and apparently it's how I like my history too. I mention this because being a diarist, or journal keeper, or even blogger of the "today I had noodles for lunch" school does not really interest me. Thoughts and feeling do, sometimes I like to record a day in words or pretty pictures sure, but mostly this is about how I felt on that day.

So I mention this in the context of the entry I made on Monday night. It reflects where I was at on the day. I'm not distancing myself or downplaying it, just putting it into the context that it is a snapshot of a moment in time. A moment when I was pretty cranky with myself for being silly, a bit paranoid and for forgetting some of the lessons I've spent the past few years learning. In that context it's interesting for me too, as I hope it might be for you, because it also reinforces what I know to be true.

Impermanence. None of us are the same person we were two years ago, two weeks ago, or two hours ago. Ditto for the future. This too shall pass, the 'good' and the 'bad'. Trying to hold onto any of that, thinking that things can exist as fixed in time, or that there is an unchanging "I" that can be fixed in time, is a recipe for disaster and dissatisfaction. Sometimes this blog shows me all sorts of lessons about just how changeable things are, and just how different my thoughts, reactions and judgements can be depending on the mental state I am in at the time. Potent stuff and a valuable lesson.

Committee

So, tonight I attended the AGM of my Buddhist centre, nominated for a position on the Executive Committee and was elected. I'm really pleased. As important as being the bookshop manager is to me, it'll be great to also be a part of the team that is responsible for guiding the bigger picture. More about ensuring that all the goals of the centre are met. I'm chuffed because it's a way of giving back to a centre that has given me so much. My role running the bookshop won't change, because the committee only meets about 4 or 6 times a year and is primarily concerned with structure and direction. Exciting times ahead.

Old Patterns

Do you ever see yourself as others see you? Do you ever have moments where you see your behaviour as someone else might see it? Just the outward appearance of things, without all the back story, hopes, fears, decisions, justifications, experience and weaknesses that lead you to that point? To only see the tip of the iceberg, the bit that manifests above sea level. See level, perhaps.

Sometimes I get those moments and they can be quite sobering. Sure that's me, my words and my actions, but that's not the full picture. There's a story behind it. There's a prologue, footnotes and a glossary that needs to be read before you really understand the sentence.

I see the way I can behave when rattled, when feeling that things might not be going right and there must be something, anything, I can do to stop it. To fix it. To make sure that things really are alright. The slightly crazed manic edge, the one that endlessly asks "Are things ok? Is it ok? Are you ok?" but is really asking "Am I ok? Do you think I'm ok?"

Gah. Even I find it exhausting and irritating, and its my behaviour we're talking about here. All that energy seeking validation.

I don't want to overstate the issue, we're talking about occasional behaviours here. One thing I am not is a gibbering validation seeking missile. I'm talking about the moments when you hear the words as they leave your mouth and you go "Oh, shit. Here we go again with the same old song. Why did I say that, rather than just keeping my big mouth shut?"

Anyhoo, seeing a problem is the first step in understanding and then solving a problem. The ruthless exploration of my own mind, and all the many lessons I've learned through Buddhism about mind delusions, about how destructive the stories we tell ourselves can be, have both helped and made the behaviour more noticeable to me.

Partly we're talking about confidence here, about not getting paranoid, about not expecting worst case scenarios, about not applying the Doom Filter and learning to just basically chill the fuck out for Chrissakes.

More Proof Of My Puppy Obsessiveness

After a cool start to the day this morning, the sun came out and it turned into a gloriously mild and sunny winter's day. A lunchtime meeting with a blogger friend of Morgan's, and her family, down at Coogee beach turned into a great afternoon of eating, chatting, taking photos and spot of seaside strolling.



We walked along to the 'off lead' dog park around the point from the beach, and chanced upon a crowd gathering to watch a couple of whales frolicking just off shore. I didn't have a strong enough lens to capture the whales (although Morgan did!), but I did see some wonderful leaps through a pair of binoculars.



But, oh the PUPPERS! Dogs everywhere. This beautiful Shepherd came and sat with me for a while, received some pats and sat for a few pics, before heading off again.



This miniature Schnauser was one of a pair, owned by a lovely lady who stopped and chatted, encouraged her dogs to pose and receive pats, and watched whales with us for a bit. There were dogs of all shapes and sizes, playing in big friendly packs.

Heaven.

Surrender Dorothy

So, the show last night was fantastic. The orchestra played live in front of the movie on a giant screen, to a digitally remastered print that had all the music removed. The main songs and all the incidental music. I wanted to get up and warble along with Judy on more than one occasion. Sadly, no skipping arm in arm with my favourite cowardly lion though (although I could have possibly found a bear or two in the audience).

The logistics of playing in time with a pre-recorded vocal boggle my mind a bit, although it's probably not that far removed from what movie orchestras have to do when recording a regular soundtrack. The conductor would have to match the timing of the original orchestra and then not deviate from it noticeably.

The sound quality of the movie varied a bit, which was a teeny bit distracting every now and then. In few scenes the dialogue was a bit soft and the sound effects quite loud. No fault on behalf of the orchestra though, they were excellent. Much of the time I found myself so caught up in the film that I forgot it was an orchestra I was listening to! The audience reaction was very enthusiastic, but the format obviously does not allow for an encore. Hey, let's play that all again! Once more from the top!

But what you really want to know is, was the place crawling with gay boys? Well yes, and no. There were couples here and there, and the odd gaggle of six or so, but it was a popular night with families. Kids, kids and more kids. Morgan and I had 4 pre-teen girls behind us who got The Look from me for chatting and seat back kicking a few times, but I kind of hated myself for it a bit afterwards because it was a long show for small kids to sit through. They did ok.

The Morgster and I both looked pretty fine, me in a high button black suit with striped shirt and charcoal silk tie, and himself in a dark navy suit and charcoal shirt. The Opera House was a glorious as ever, glowing slightly in a misty and slightly rainy winter's night. We had a light, late supper afterwards of savoury pastries and a hot chocolate over looking the harbour.

It was a great night.

Breakfast Of Champions

A winter Saturday morning.



Plus porridge with honey & sultanas.



Plus strong black coffee = a good start to the day.

I'm kinda happy right now.

Just When You Thought I Couldn't Get Any Gayer...

Tonight Morgan and I are off to the Opera House to see a Wizard of Oz extravaganza. A celebration of Garland in a gingham frock, with red shoes that kind of clash with that outfit really, but being sparkly and magical and all we are willing to overlook that fact.The Sydney Symphony will play along with a newly transcribed score, including previously lost pieces, while a new remastered print of he film plays behind.

I'm guessing there'll be 6, maybe 7, straight men in he entire place, tops.

There's no place like home, for homos at least.

Now all I need is for Wicked to make it's way Down Under...

Here Kitty Kitty!

Just so you don't think I only like puppies...



...I'm partial to kitties too.

[Chinatown shop window, snapped last night on the way to dinner with the Sydney Photobloggers.]

Small Packages

Man, I need a dog. I cannot pass a creature of the canine persuasion without cooing and reducing myself to a complete gibbering idiot. On Monday night Morgan and I had dinner at the home of Morgan's friend Canice, and both Morgan and I were desotted by his little dog. A little bundle of personality with black button eyes and fur soft as silk. Oh sure, those of you with Small Dog Aversion are probably struggling to see the charm right now, but picture a cross between an ewok, a mogwai and a teddy bear and you are close to this little bundle. Chuck in a fiesty attitude towards the game of fetch and a healthy ability to play tug of war with a squeaky ball. All thankfully yap-free.

I generally gravitate towards bigger dogs, but having had a pack of smaller dogs (in a previous life as Dog Show Widow) I grew to appreciate the little fiesty guys too. All that personality in a pint-sized package. Anyone?

Winter Is A Comin' In

Some lunchtime sights, on a grey and rainy day. Most of today it rained lightly and constantly, then when I left work the sky was piled up with heavy, slate coloured cloud. Back lit and somehow nacreous. Ten minutes later it was full dark and raining heavily, and I was glad to have my umbrella, scarfe and heavy cashmere & wool coat.

In the middle of the day though, all it took was a close glance to see that everything had been glossed, coated in shellac, and sprinkled in gems.

Nice Feelings

1. Really warm feet on a really cold day.
   
2. Little puppy dog snuffles in your ear.
   
3. A new doona.
   
4. Holding a small dog in the crook of your arm.
   
5. A belly full of really good genuine home-made Thai food, made by a lovely Thai lady.

Winter Colour

Finally a bright and sunny winter Saturday! It was cool, but not so cold, and a perfect day to run rampant with a camera in the company of a bunch of my Sydney Photoblogger friends from Flickr.



This lady was one of a pair of costumed characters passing out fortune cookies with road safety warning messages and conducting a survey about road safety in Newtown. Possibly the strangest Road Safety concept ever, but memorable.



A fabulous vintage ride on King Street south. I heart fins and rocket tail lights.



A bakery window on King Street. If the place had been open there would have no biscuits left to photograph and my ass would twice its current size.



My mantra.

Seriously Freakin' Famous

Being a celebrity is hard y'all.

Well not really, but I got a minute taste of celebrity last night. Oh, and by that I don't mean that I saw someone famous and licked their face like a puppy (although there are a bunch of special and noteworthy exceptions that I would break the 'no lick' rule for, but I digress...)

Morgan was out with a bunch his workmates last night so I had a night out with Mikey (The Lovely Ex) and another friend Dave for a session of recreational beverages at the Green Park Hotel. During the course of the evening I noticed a man looking at me quite frequently, then towards the end of the evening he came over and asked me if my name was Andrew. He introduced himself, and amusingly (and apt for this blog) his name was Andrew also. As I was wracking my memory for a context to where I might know him from, and why I didn't recognise him, he filled me in.

A blog reader, who recognised me from this blog.

Happily, I can report that he confirmed what I always suspected about you all. You are sweeter, funnier and downright better looking than your average blog audience.

Dancing Shoes

Dancing Shoes
Originally uploaded by Other Andrew.

Is this a look that would work for me, do you think?

I mean, the sensible heel isn't too much of a challenge and the tights would both keep out the winter chill, and disguise my hairy, hairy legs. Just a thought.

(Japanese teenager I snapped in Central Station last Monday while out with Morgan, Bodhi and Quintessential 60's Girl. When I was taking her pic she even gave me the classic "V" peace sign, even though I was shooting only her shoes. She was very cute.)

Prognosis Good: Not Dead

Sorry, it wasn't my plan to have a mini hiatus but that's what the past week morphed into. Thursday night through to last night was a blur of starting a new job, preparing for Lama Zopa Rinpoche's visit, the actual visit and then tidying up afterwards. With some time off for good behaviour to meet a real life Flickr buddy (and frequent TOA commentor) the stunningly lovely Quintessential 60's Girl.

So, again sorry.

Now it's your turn to tell me that:
a) you still love me despite my neglect,
b) that, actually, the disdain was kind of a turn on, thank you for asking,
c) you, um, hadn't noticed I was even gone, or
d) well, anything really. Wa'ssup?

Rendezvous With Lama

It's late and I'm tired, after a long day of work at the new job (good), attending the opening of the new centre (very good) and getting to meet Lama Zopa Rinpoche and receive a blessing (excellent). Then I had to stay back and pack up the bookshop for the event tomorrow night (kind of sucked), but that only took a little of the gloss off the day. Suffice to say that things seem a bit less blah from where I sit right now.

Tomorrow will be kind of long but exciting. After a full day at the new job I'm off to hear an evening of teachings with Lama. Apparently he always teaches until he feels he has said everything that needs to be said, and it's not out of the question for him to talk until the small hours of the morning if he feels the need! It's scheduled to finish at 9pm, but in reality we could still be there at midnight or later. He's an amazing teacher though, so provided I can stay awake it should be a perfect opportunity to hear some excellent teachings. A rare opportunity.

I took some pics at the opening of the centre today, which I'll post soon. For now I'm watching he rest of the Amazing Race finale and then off to bed. Nighty night.

Geekarama At Wagamama

Last night was the 22nd mid-week Sydney Photobloggers Flickr meet. As usual there were drinks, food, photos and loads of laughs.



We started and ended the evening at the bars of King St Wharf, first James Squire's and then Cargo Bar. Morgan captured some great shots from both bars.



Highlight of the evening for me was definately dinner at Wagamama. I love the food there, and it's so much more fun with 15 of your favourite geeks along for the ride.

Oh, and big news of the night is that there are now three romances amongst the photo geeks! Who ever said photography was a solitary pursuit?

Blah Dee Blah

It's been cold and raining here for about 4 days solid now. Oh sure, those of you who spend months a year shovelling your driveways are thinking "And, so what?", but 4 days of solid rain with just tiny breaks of not raining is taking its toll. I already posted about not really feeling ready for Winter, about really enjoying Summer this year. This rain has ushered in a mini dose of the blahs. Just a mini one.

Stress is playing a part maybe. While everywhere else seems damp, coincidentally work has dried up this week. Next week will be better I'm sure. IT WILL, RIGHT? It will. You know what, while I'm being honest I might as well add this thought, I fucked up. A year of great income and how I managed not to save money is beyond me. OK, I did clear some debt, but really not as much as I could or should have. I don't want to go back to that job, even with the money, because although it started ok it was a pretty toxic environment from around the start of the year onwards. Good riddance.

Morgan and I are still good, great in fact, but we're at that three month danger zone. The one were you start renegotiating things, where excitement starts to get tinged with reality. Maybe you spend a little less time telling each other how fabulous they are and start reacting to little perceived negatives. Do you know what I mean? It's not a bad time, but it's a noticeable change and that needs to be treated with care. It's the time when all the little stories we all make up constantly about why someone says or does something, or doesn't do something, what they are thinking or what their motivation is, are potentially dangerous.

I've been really busy at the Buddhist centre this week, and the next four or five days will be very busy too as we are hosting our spiritual head Lama Zopa Rinpoche and a few hundred students for a series of events. The bookshop I'll be running is expected to be busy. Frantic, no doubt.

So, the blahs. In some ways I think it's a bit of a standard response for me when things seem a bit too much. Parts shut own. The lights in the unused wing get turned off and the furniture covers are thrown over for the duration. I'm not depressed, I'm certain I'm not, it's far short of a visit from the Black Dog. Moody is maybe a better description.

This too shall pass. A successfull event over the weekend, some work next week, a few kind words and a bit of blue sky will fix it. Oh, and maybe a cupcake.

[Updated: Ok, if you write it, they will come. The work thing is sorted for the next six weeks now, I just got a call from my agency. Bad news, they wanted me to start tomorow which completely throws my plans for setting up the bookshop at the event on Friday into disarray. Cripes. I managed to negotiate a half day tomorrow, which lets me attend the official opening of the centre, but I need to be there all day on Friday. Crap. I'm grateful for the work, but c'mon people your timing sucks.]

A New Home

The past few days have been a whirlwind of activity. Tonight the spiritual head of my Buddhist tradition Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrives in Sydney to give a series of teachings and to officially open our new centre.



The paint is still drying, and my permanent bookshop fixtures haven't been built yet, but the centre is 95% finished and boy does it look impressive!



Light, bright and airy, yet the touches of earthy accent colours and all the traditional Tibetan art make the centre feel like a real modern Buddhist centre. It's stunning.



The facilities are a huge leap forward from our old centre. Where we used to crowd anywhere up to 30 people in our old gompa (meditiation room), a room that was not much larger than a big bedroom, now we have a massive purpose built space.



Thursday night were are expecting a few hundred people to come for the opening ceremony and some teachings wih Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Then once the place is full and buzzing with students it'll feel like we're really in our new home.

[Click the pics for a trip to Flickr and the full size versions with descriptions. All my photos from the new centre are tagged Vajrayana Institute.]

Search Engine Surprises

A check of my stats this afternoon showed that I scored surprisingly well on some very interesting search requests...

• "a go go" chandler friends "the one"
  
• jerry springer episode he's mine all mine
  
• gay Jeremy Sheffield
  
• porn
  
• questions and answers on dem dry bones
  
• klimt word association
  
• lust pics
  
• foreskin

So, (a) there are some very disappointed folks out there, who expected hot lust pics of a trashy Jeremy Sheffield's foreskin and got something like cupcakes instead and b) there are strange, strange people out there and c) it seems there's a strange person in here, or at least Google thinks so.

On How To Be Pop-ular

Cupcakes are the answer.



That's right, my top 3 most popular and most interesting pictures in Flickr are cupcakes. Cupcakes. Not artsy fartsy botanical shots, but pretty cupcakes.

I infer no plaigarism, but others have also gone down the 'cupcakes road' recently. Hell, there's a whole cupcakes community out there.

Don't get me wrong, I also infer no criticism here. I mean I love to eat the little buggers, but if I'd known this was such a sure fire way to popularity I would have spent my entire High School years in the kitchen. Just sayin'.

[Michael honey, the title of this post is a Wicked shout-out just for you! I'm buying the soundtrack his weekend. Original cast, natch.]

Accidentally Closeted

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you didn't engineer, but find it hard to extricate yourself out of? Last week I mentioned my 'partner' to a work colleague here at my temp job, but then later in the conversation he mentioned 'my girlfriend' and it sort of passed me by without me really clocking it. A few sentences later I was like oh, wait on... but the moment had passed, and a nun had joined the conversation*, and well I let it slide. Now he's getting all hetero on me, mentioning my girlfriend all the time and pointing out women to me in magazines.

I mean, is he blind and deaf? Or just dumb?

* True, I'm currently working in a Catholic hospital.

The Winter Of Our Discontent

Shhh, don't tell anyone but I'm engaging in a prohibited activity, using The Internetz at my current workplace. Last day here, so whatevs... I'm so kinda Devil-may-care, don't you think?

Despite the title of this post, it's not a whine. Not really. I will not be covering myself in ashes or tearing at my hair, I mean ME intentionally MESS MY HAIR? Never. Going. To. Happen.

I digress. You see, it's officially the second day of Winter here. I'm not happy. Normally I like the changing of the seasons, but I'm not ready for it this year. I'm not emotionally prepared. I haven't made peace with the concepts of 'cold' or 'wet', yet.

(Small reality check. Let's face it the changes in seasons here in Sydney are really not that dramatic. There will be no snow shoes required this Winter, for example.)

I've enjoyed the Summer and early parts of Autumn this year, relished having lost weight and being able to rock out in warm weather clothes without feeling blobby and uncomfortable. I've just about lived in my favourite pair of Esprit shorts. In my Book of Memories this summer is forever stamped with meeting Morgan, fun photography outings, day trips in the car and long strolls into work with a camera in hand.

This Winter feels more uncertain. Work is up in the air, for example. Much of what was great about Summer will be still be great in Winter though, Morgan and photography outings just two examples. The difference is largely point of view. Seasonally Affective Disorder.

It's hard to keep the sunny outlook, when it isn't.