No picture today. I took some recently but am not happy with them, and I hate withholding bloggable thoughts just for a photo (which is what I usually do).

I think I am the last person in the world to have discovered MP3 CDs. AMAZING. Who knew you could put 10 albums’ worth of music or more on one CD? Everyone but me, apparently.

I’ve been downloading some of my favourite Australian albums to send to Mr Past. I’m now listening to Augie March’s Sunset Studies on this computer and am falling in love with it all over again. I really should give Strange Bird a proper listen, but it just hasn’t grabbed me.

My horoscope for 26 May (that nearly made me choke, which is why I’m sharing it with you, dear reader):

This can be a time of extremes in relationships and sexuality. You feel like you want all or none. It is not very easy to be moderate now. The key here is that you can change patterns in these critical areas by bringing difficult matters to a head.

I had my petrol/gas stolen again, but this time they took the cap, too. I had to get an emergency cap because none of the spares at the service station fit Bernard (naturally). Then the emergency cap fell off, so I had to get another one. After quite the day of drama, I bought a lockable cap. There was a bit of fun on Friday when I spent nearly 20 minutes trying to unlock it, but finally some kind stranger helped me. I’m not replacing the cable that closes the door flap because the sad, sad thieves will just cut it again. I’m going to wait a bit to send them a message that they’re not getting my petrol.

—–

Got a press release from White Pages, which listed the top 10 surnames in Melbourne at the moment. Interesting:
1 Smith
2. Nguyen
3. Williams
4. Brown
5. Jones
6. Wilson
7. Taylor
8. Lee
9. Anderson
10. (tie) Tran/White

—–

Ducked out of work this week to go on a candy raid, to a nearby candy store that proposes to be the world’s largest. The labels were better than any of the candy we found. My favourites were the “reject lollies” and the assorted mix so unfortunately abbreviated to “ass. chocolates”.

Ha ha, ass chocolates. I am still laughing about that one.

CDs I have purchased recently:

Tortoise: Millions Now Living Will Never Die (replacement)
This one has a strong memory attached to it, but not so strong that I can’t listen to it. Oddly enough, hearing the music again didn’t satisfy me as much as when I replaced Sam Prekop. That was like a revelation, I tell ya.

Cat Power: The Covers Record
No memories attached to this one, and again, not as satisfying as I thought it would be to hear it again. But still good.

M.Ward: Transistor Radio
I heard “Hi-Fi” on 3RRR and liked it while simultaneously thinking it sounded a bit like Machine Translations’ “She Wears a Mask” (which, incidentally, was another track I heard on 3RRR that prompted me to buy the CD). Then I got a random comment on this site from someone named Craig who suggested I buy this album. I listened to it on Amazon and at Polyester but couldn’t really tell either time if the whole album was worth investing in (samples too short, store too noisy). Then Kristy and I heard it playing at the $2 DVD rental place nearby and both agreed I had to buy it. It’s really, really good. And no, Kristy, you can’t borrow it until you return my Jens Lekman CD.

David Byrne: Grown Backwards
I’ve really enjoyed the more recent David Byrne tracks I’ve heard on the radio, such as “Glass, Concrete & Stone” and “Lazy”. I think it might be a trick, though, because I still only like those tracks and am not feeling the love with the rest of this CD. I should have noticed that “Glass…” was the first track. It’s all downhill from there. Well, not really bad, but I’ll put off subsequent listens for a bit because I wasn’t really all that wowed.

Mason Jennings: Century Spring
I have Mason’s first two albums and wrote about seeing him live on Diaryland awhile ago. He played an amazing song called “New York City” at that show that has been stuck in my head ever since, but I haven’t been motivated to buy the CD (or even seen it for sale, for that matter). Then I saw it at JB Hi-Fi yesterday and figured, what the hell. It’s surprisingly good and very different to the first two albums. It’s all about true love and is almost sickeningly sweet but not, in the same vein as Ben Lee’s “Gamble Everything for Love”. Makes me feel all happy and gooey.

Next in line for purchase:

 
There are more on my wish list, which is currently on my fridge. I’ll gladly take suggestions, too, even from random commenters on this here blog (thanks, Craig). I’ve been out of the music loop for so long that I’m confident there’s stuff I should know about but don’t. Please inform me.

This is where I run away when I get a chance to duck out of work

 
As if right on cue, the second half of today’s weekly horoscope says:

And don’t expect anything or anybody to add up just yet. This period of flux has a purpose. Sort out what counts no later than June 15.

Bah.

I am in such a Peter Alexander mood, especially that turquoise crushed velvet robe being advertised right now. Yum.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been in bed so much the past few days. I caught what Mr S.T., and Kristy, and everyone in my office, has already had.

The good news is that I was the last one to get it (yay, improved immune system!), and it’s probably the mildest cold I can remember having in ages. I’ve also been able to confine the worst bits to the weekend, which stinks in terms of entertainment (I missed the birthday party with the bouncing castle for adults that I was so hankering to go to) but is good in terms of not having to work or be anywhere.

You know I’m bored when I start watching the director’s commentary on a DVD I already own. Last night it was Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

I didn’t know it was the first feature film project for both Tim Burton and Danny Elfman and was even more surprised to learn that 1) they had an extremely small budget and found many of their props in thrift stores, and 2) Danny Elfman was “terrified” (his words) and had to be talked repeatedly into doing the movie. That movie is so brilliant (especially the music), and the way they talked about it made it sound like they were just goofing off the whole time. And Tim Burton’s voice sounds just like Pepe. Weird.

As a general rule:
Tim Burton + Danny Elfman = amazing
Tim Burton + Johnny Depp = amazing
Tim Burton + Johnny Depp + Danny Elfman = f***ing amazing

which is why I’ll be watching the new Willy Wonka film, even though I’ve heard horrible reviews.

Currently listening to Red House Painters (the rollercoaster album), which brings back memories of lying on the floor of my bedroom in high school, just listening to this on repeat for hours on end. I was (and still am) so in love with his voice, and the lyrics are just as good now:

Glass
on the pavement
under my shoe
without you
is all my life amounts to

—–

I had/have this brilliant idea for a scarf that has now not worked twice. Oh, felting, how unpredictable you can be.

I tried to rescue the second attempt in what I thought was an innovative way. Then Kristy came over, took a look, and said I should make a scarf that looks exactly like the idea I’ve had in my head. I wonder if she could see the steam coming out of my ears?

I will get there, eventually, and it will be the greatest scarf in the universe, unlike the almost-felted strip of pink vomit that I made instead. Just you wait.

taken on my lunchtime walk today and a surprisingly apt metaphor

 
This image says it all, doesn’t it?

—-

So busy, so tired. To quote Mr Darren Hanlon, “Like the sign says: ‘Too much fun for just one day’.”

Dazza’s show two weekends ago was awesome. I know I’ve already gone on about the Northcote Social Club, but I really like that venue for a number of reasons (especially the lack of cigarette smoke). He never disappoints, and Jens Lekman from Sweden was a fantastic opening act. I’d heard a few of his songs on 3RRR but wasn’t sure if I wanted to cough up the money for a CD. I was totally won over by his live show, though, and bought the CD afterward. I can’t tell you the last time I did that for an opening act. Maybe never, actually.

Saw a few movies in the past few weeks. Enduring Love was creepy and dark, much more so than I thought it would be. Shaun of the Dead, on the other hand, was hilarious and light-hearted most of the time. How funny that the zombie movie would make me happy and the (supposed) love story would make me feel ick. Rhys Ifans was believable as a creepy stalker. Ew.

I’m feeling pretty confused at the moment. About lots of things. My gut instinct is usually so good and reliable (or at least very much present). In the past few weeks, though, my gut has seemed to disappear altogether for long periods (at which point I want to call out, “Hello, gut? Where are you?”) and then wrench about once every few days. Very sporadic and unusual for me.

This week has been particularly exciting and fast-paced, with just as many major things to be confused about as major things I have decisively decided upon. The situation with Mr S.T. and my visa status seemed to be occupying parallel territory for a while there. And just when — despite all the complexity — I thought I had everything figured out, I got an e-mail from someone from the past that said (in its entirety):

Dear Honey,
Sometimes I feel as if I’m haunted by you.
Mr Past

How does one react to something like that? There was a long followup e-mail that was poignant and spooky and threw me off guard, even two days later.

 

What kind of tree is this? I very much like the silhouette.

 
I think this is going to be one of those weeks when I’ll have to sit and stew on things a bit longer to really get to the heart of the matter. No quick management-type decisions this week, as much as I’d like to handle things in the usual way.

A few mornings after a very upsetting and unsettling visit with my lawyer, I spontaneously yelled out, “Universe, I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE!” on the drive to work. If only I was making that up.

Last night was probably the height of all the weirdness, although I didn’t know it at the time. I only realised it after I couldn’t get to sleep — something not normally affected for me. I went for a walk at lunchtime today to try and clear my head. It helped a bit, but I think I’m going to have to pay the ocean a visit sometime soon.

The good news is that I am learning and absorbing at an amazing pace. The spooky e-mail was only one in a list of things from my past that have resurfaced recently to give me perspective on who and where I am now. Yet another missing package has shown up in the mail, too — this time Kristy’s Christmas present. I am starting to feel like there is almost too much meaning in everything right now.
—-

After countless times restarting the clock on my food intolerance diet because of wheat-related setbacks, I have given up.

Soy sauce contains wheat, it turns out cous cous is really wheat, and — the tipping point — I learned spelt, which my local baker recommended and sold to me, is also wheat. I was at Mrs T’s and yelled out, “I quit!” as soon as I found out. Then I angrily jumped up and down a few times (not my style), which did, surprisingly, make me feel better and got a laugh out of Mrs T.

I have far more willpower than the average person, but I gave up because — as I now see it — the entire world is made of wheat, and I just can’t avoid it. If I know what I’m not supposed to eat, that’s one thing, but I’m tired of all these surprises. So I celebrated with champagne and pizza, two big no-nos for the past few months. No drunkenness, but my legs did feel a bit wobbly after I ate the champagne-soaked strawberry. Champagne verdict: fun to try, but probably not worth the money spent.

—-

Food highlights of the past few weeks: 1. BBQ tofu sandwich at the Napier in Fitzroy with Dazza (marinated in barbecue sauce and tequila (!) and served with guacamole, corn/tortilla chips and sour cream); 2. pumpkin and tofu stirfry from the Red Door Deli, the new veg restaurant within a two-minute walk of my place that also sells giant bottles of hard-to-find Dr Pepper; 3. spinach and coconut cream something from Lentil as Anything in Brunswick (new northern outlet for the name-your-price veg restaurant of the same name in St Kilda); 4. dinner at Shakahari in Carlton with Mr S.T. — always a treat.