The Cult Of Tovey

(Or: Chiver Me Timbers, It's Russell!)

I've been out and proud about my love for Russell Tovey, favourite history boy and totally squeezable interstellar Ensign. And me, well I love a good costume, of that there's no denying. Costume drama queen? So very, very present!



OMG, squeeeee. Couldn't you just die? Russell Tovey as John Chivery in BBCs "Little Dorrit". I don't know John Chivery from John Cleese, but I hope he's totally sweet and kinda sexy, in a cute stickie out ears sort of way. Only in a frock coat and top hat. That would be good. I'm getting all Dickensian just thinking about it.

Personal Computing For The Businessman

It comes with Windows Vista, preloaded.

[Via Vintage Ads.]

Fiscal Responsibility

You know what is most excellent? What is most excellent is getting the news that you have $31 left to pay in order to be done with a credit card debt that has been a millstone around your neck for the past few years. OMG, yay. I cut up the card a few years ago and have never replaced it, and have been making weekly payments to get rid of the bastard thing ever since. The thought of being free of it, clear, done and dusted, makes me want to sqeeeeeee! Such a good feeling.

The timing of paying this off couldn't be better either, because it looks like I'll be only partially employed over the Christmas/New Year period, as my employer is closing for three weeks. (At least I'm pushing hard to be able to come in and do some work during that period, it's entirely possible that I won't be able to.) The break would be nice, but as a temp no work = no pay.

Anyway, this is supposed to about joy! I nearly leapt down the phone line and smooched the call centre operator when I confirmed the outstanding balance. $31 never sounded like such a paltry sum!

Seriously, credit cards are evil. I could not be trusted with them. Cutting it up was hard at first, but now that I have been living a cash only existence for the past few years I could never go back. I recently got myself a debit Mastercard so that I could do some internet shopping if I wanted, but because the cash comes straight out of my account the temptation is not there. Probably the wisest decision I ever made. I wish I could time travel and freeze time like Hiro Nakamura on "Heroes", because I would snatch the credit card application out of my own hands all those years ago.

The plan is to be done with my other smaller debts in the next 6 months. I'm on a mission! Then there will be a (budget savvy) celebration the likes of which have not been seen for some time. I'm expecting joyous tears. Maybe even The Happy Dance.

I did a lot of thinking over the weekend and came to the decision that I'm going to get another flatmate in. I love living by myself, but the % of my pay that disappears in rent is kind of ridiculous. I actually feel pretty good about the decision. It's not just motivated by finances, I think I need to reintroduce the social aspect and discipline of living with someone else. It's so easy to let the dishes pile up, and the bookshelves go undusted if it's only me that has to live with it. Sydneysiders, if you know of anyone looking for a place to live keep me in mind, 'kay? All applicants must be housebroken.

Nikos Floros

I had heard of the work of Greek sculptor Nikos Floros before, but hadn't seen the scale or scope of his work until I saw the fantastic blog entry on Sandman's blog. Sandman visited an exhibition of his works, and took lots of photos that give a good idea of the number of pieces in the exhibition.



Floros meticulously cuts and weaves strips of aluminimum cans into fabric that is shaped into stunning sculptural costume pieces. In the case of this exhibition, the famous costumes worn by Maria Calls. The colours of the pieces are created by careful choice of the cans Floros works with.





The short video on the Nikos Floros official website mentions that the works take months and years to painstakingly make. Wow. I admire his vision and committment to the process, but it boggles my mind also to imagine spending all that time in the process of making.



Aside from making beautiful objects, Floros is making comments about iconography, consumer culture, craft, and recycling. Interesting stuff.



Check out Sandman's blog entry, he writes more knowledgeably and eloquently than I possibly can.

They're Creepy & They're Spooky...

Last night was Web-Goddess & The Snook's 6th annual Halloween bash, and the third year that I've attended. So much fun! Web-Goddess & The Snook (aka Kris and Rodd) looked fantastic as Lucy & Charlie Brown. (Kris even the knit the jumper Rodd is wearing.) I took along James, who was dressed as a bogan styled Wicked Witch Of The Westie ("yes, it's a costume") and he had a great time too.

Kris and Rodd always go to heaps of effort with the food and decorations, which really sets the mood. As does the presence of gen-u-ine Americans! I mentioned before that Halloween isn't really a big thing here in Oz, but it's great to participate with people have a real joy and tradition of Halloween.

Finn and Bex looked amazing as Sweeney Todd & Mrs Lovett. (Note to self, don't eat the pies.)

Amy as the original Caribou Barbie(TM), Mrs Sarah Palin. (Note the tail). She's gunning for YOU.

Braaaaaains. Peach pannacotta never looked so smart.

Amy Whinehouse gets stuck in. Reecie's performance was very 'method'.

Charlie Brown tackles The Giant Tim-Tam. Giant Tim-Tam loses. Nom nom.

I went as Nearly Headless Nick from Harry Potter, in a grey Elizabethan costume I made years ago (photos to come). I was looking for grey make-up or body paint, but unable to find any I settled on a pearlescent silvery color. So not flattering (and now I know how Brent Spiner felt), but with a bloody red stripe across my neck and white spray in my hair I looked sufficiently ghosty.

The party wound up around 1am and then it was time to wander home, having had a great night!

Scary Knitting Ninjas

My friend Judy pointed me in the direction of a couple of funny youtube clips tonight, as we were relaxing after going out for dinner.

First up, apropos of Halloween, hang onto your needles it's Scary Knitting time!

Next, this clip had me rolling with laughter... and I don't think it was just the two generous glasses of Pimm's I had at Judy's. Ninjas are kind of scary, right? I mean, they can be apopros of Halloween too, maybe? What about Ninja Cats?

The "Scrooge" of Halloween

I had the most fabulous night catching up with my friend Judy tonight. We hadn't seen each other in a while, and had lots to catch up on. When I was rushing home to get ready to meet Judy I passed this sign on a neighbour's front gate, and had to go back and do a double and triple take. WTF?

[Clickety click to embiggen it and read the patronising fine print.]

Just as I raced into the house to grab my camera and record this piece of cray-zay Judy arrived and I had to show it to her too. I'm glad I had an objective witness to confirm I wasn't imagining it.

Someone call the Fun Police! There are urchins on the streets!

Gut Reaction

Well, after briefly mentioning KFC yesterday a certain wise sage said "...KFC? Have some respect for yourself." Yes, ho ho, well. So, with the sheepishness of someone who knows they deserve an I told you so I have to admit, I've been sick ever since. Yup. You don't need the details, but it began with an emergency exit from a mode of public transport and ended with me lying within a short dash of the bathroom for most of today. (With laptop and knitting of course.)

Michael, sweetpea, from this point forward every piece of advice you give I will follow to the letter.

I haven't eaten much all day, but I did just wander around to the local corner shop to buy a loaf of bread. My local deli is run by a young Vietnamese family, who have a couple of kids, and for the first time ever neither of the parents were behind the counter. Instead this gorgeous little face was peering over the counter. Yup their son who must be all of about 7 greeted me and with all the seriousness of a kid being very grown up, scanned my order, repeated back to me what I was buying, told me how much it was and then carefully checked the money I handed over. If I hadn't been plotzing so badly from all the cuteness I would have realised that I probably just got the best customer service I've had in ages.

Muriel Was Voted "The Girl Least Likely To"

And you know, she was completely fine with that.

[Pic via Shorpy.]

Cancels Noise, But Does It Cancel Homophobia?

Here's an ad for a noise cancelling bluetooth earpiece device, that was banned in the US.

Now, fair warning if you're watching this at work, the ad involves a bit of hot guy-on-guy action.

Apparently only the two actors involved and the camera crew knew how the story would pan out, and the rugby team extras are a real rugby team. Check out the reactions on the guys faces. (Oh and one of the guys, the one with the tatts, I recognised as a reasonably famous gay porn star.) I don't think it's a particularly good ad, and the Surprise Gay! thing is somewhat amusing on one level, but a bit... well, homophobic.

Maybe I'm being humourless about this, what do you think?

Luminous

“Life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning”

~ Virginia Woolf

As much as I love colour, sometimes it's light that really takes my breath away.

5 Things About Wednesday 29th October: Bingetastic Wednesday Edition

• Hump day! Hump-diddly-ump day! Rejoice.
  
• It's only just after 11am on a miserable wet day here, and one of the guys from the warehouse just said "I'm going on a KFC run, do you want anything?". I think the volume and enthusiasm with which I responded "Shit yeah!" could be heard in the farthest reaches of the warehouse.
  
• And yes, I'll regret it as soon as I've eaten it. Nothing makes me judge myself harsher than submitting to a KFC binge. Welcome to the eye of the shamestorm.
  
• I realised last night that I'm watching less commercial tv, and more clips of shows I can't get on tv on youtube. Currently obsessed with "Top Design" (Nathan has to win. Eddie needs to get over himself and the fact that he WORKS FOR MARTHA STEWART. And Preston needs to get under my sheets.), and John-Paul and Craig's romance on the English soap "Hollyoaks".
  
• If it weren't for the fact that they've disabled the sound on our work pcs (on account of the NO FUN policy) I'd probably be watching them right now.

Sometimes It's Best Just To Do Nothing

I'm not normally one for rash behaviour. At least I like to think that, but in reality if I turn the objective magnifying lens on myself I have been known to make plenty of last minute and unplanned decisions. Jobs quit. Relationships ended.

I nearly made another rash decision in the past few days, and almost ended my relationship with this blog. It's kind of odd because over the 4 and a half years I've been blogging I haven't had a patch like that. I've taken short breaks, and I've had times when posting was quite tough, but I haven't come so close to packing it in. In truth I would miss it too much, and everyone that stops by here and reads and engages with me through the comments. The weird thing is I've actually enjoyed the posts I've been putting up over the past week or so, but somehow the experience has been unsatisfying.

Maybe I've just fallen victim to a malaise that seems to be affecting some of my blogging buddies? Posting frequency and comments seem to be down on heaps of blogs that I normally read. I'm still considering taking a short break, but it would be just a bit of time away to refresh, rethink, recharge. This blog is kind of organic, sometimes it's incredibly personal and other times (as maybe is the case of late) it becomes a cabinet or curiousities, and a collection of... stuff. The one constant though is that I've enjoyed the doing, the sharing.

Anyway, a couple of sweet comments put a smile on my face. I was watching a tv show about adoption reunions and I had a BIG cry (seriously, I cry at the drop of a hat, but happy stories can make me blub like a baby!). A bit of release, a bit of perspective, and I'm glad in hindsight that I didn't decide to pack it in.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Arkala suspected that the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name was doing a bit of whispering amongst the Troop.

[Pic via Shorpy.]

They Made Ice Skating A Sport!

You know who loves the gays? Mecky Stecky does!

And consequently, we love her back.

(This has been cropping up all over so indulge me if you've seen it already, but really it's too cute not to post... and if you haven't, enjoy!)

Precious Purple

Some colours are like magnets. They draw your eye to them, red is one of those colours for example. Purple is a magnetic colour for me and it always draws my eye in.

I'm especially drawn to dark, rich purples. One of my favourite shirts is a purple so dark it's almost black. I can appreciate the beauty of lavender and pale purples though. I especially love the combination of sage-y grey greens, leaf greens and lavender in the picture above. The little tiny touch of yellow in the flower centre that gives a punch.

I manipulated this pic to up the contrast and give it some drama, but I didn't really alter the colour much. I tend not to play around with my pics that much generally, because I like to capture what I see as naturally as posible, but I like the end result of this one. The high contrast gives a sort of solarised effect that I kind of dig. We all need a bit of drama now and then.

I suspect that if I went through all my photos I would find and a very high percentage of purple flowers and objects. Magnets are there to attract, after all.

It's A Fact Worth Stating

I could never be your woman. Just so you know.

"Your Woman" by White Town, 1997.

(Oh and really, some songs just should be left well alone. Yikes.)

Quick Question

Where the frig is everyone? Is the internet no longer 'it'?

kthxbai

Halloween Inspiration

I have an invite to a Halloween party next weekend, and I'm a little stumped for inspiration. I don't want to do anything too predictable this year, so I'm looking for something a little unexpected, a little multi-layered. Some concepts currently under review:

Chorus understudy of the all-eunuch revue "Frock The Casbah: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Harem.""...

"Me Tarzan, me Jane also."...

"Tinselman II: Knights In White Satin"

Maybe this look that says "Honey, I am more than a little familiar with Milky Bars."

Or perhaps I could rope in a few friends and do this "Girls Gone Wild!: Tupperware Party Edition"...

So many choices!

Monkey Puzzle

I scored a free ticket to the first night of the new Aussie film Monkey Puzzle last night, thanks to our favourite media insider Mr James O'Brien. The weather was pretty bad last night, cold, wet and blowing a gale as I wandered up Oxford St. I had stopped by the Night Noodle Markets in Hyde Park on the way to the cinema, and there was the sad sight of row after row of food vendors primed for business, and about a dozen sodden and beddraggled customers. Eleven, plus me. There was a point as I made my way up Oxford St that I thought I could be snuggled up on the sofa with the laptop and a hot chocolate right now. But I pressed on.

I quite enjoyed the film. The story centres around a group of 5 people who go on a bushwalk through the stunning but dangerous terrain of the Blue Mountains, outside of Sydney, in search of The Wollemi Pine. (You can actually go down the shops and buy one now, which would have saved them a lot of bother, frankly.) What they were searching for I gather was the original discovered specimens.

So, things go wrong. People are annoying. There's some shouting, some kissing, and some inexplicable business about a secret relationship. Some spliff smoking, and a tag along drug dealer. Honestly, young people.

The film is beautifully shot, in what looks like very close and difficult circumstances most of the times. The film really is visually stunning. Mostly because of this:

The Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

And this:

Ryan Johnson aka "Dylan". Hot dish coming through!

I agree with Margaret & David though, the secret relationship storyline doesn't really make sense, one of the more interesting characters exits stage left too early, and quite a bit of the dialogue deson't really seem to hang together. Plus, given that I am generally a fan of redheads I have to say that watching Toni's character go through her (annoying) paces made the expression needs a smack like a redheaded step-child skim through my forebrain more than once.

I give it 2 1/2 stars.