Still sick

I'm writing to you from the HMS Vertigo*, where I'm still sick.

Not Labyrinthitis but we think it's vestibular neuronitis? ... okay. In bed another week. Will try and write some more posts over this time, if the spinning stays at bay.

xx

*Coined during an email to Sarah-Rose, and it made me giggle.

Week Thirty-Eight

I'm still in bed, but sitting up and felt like I could put up my weekly photo post (from the week beginning 12th Sept, so I'm still behind). I decided to shoot in black and white for the week and like the results I got. With the exception of Friday, it's all on my camera, too..

Sunday

Nearly time for bed/another week.

Monday

It's autumn now and the light is definitely changing.

Tuesday

Candidate boards at work..

Wednesday

I'm the last one at work..

Thursday

My favourite shot this week (maybe this year..) - the gorgeous light/buildings on Gorgie Road. Click the shot for the large version. Love.

Friday

Ooh la la, I'm in the bath.

Saturday

Wardrobe.

and..

I'm adjusting to the hair..

Labyrinthitis

I am too sick to write just now but a whole slew of posts shall come soon. This is what I'm sick with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinthitis

It sucks. A lot.

Day Twelve: Blogging

Day 12- How you found out about blogging, and why you have one

Well. That's all really thanks to the lovely Pamie.com.

I began using the internet in 1997, after my brother brought home a decent PC, starting playing a MUD and told me: "You're not allowed". So of course, I played it.

In 1999, a friend there (who I cannot recall for the life of me) linked me to Pamie's blog, which at the time I think was known as squishy, rather than just Pamie.com. Pamie's writing amused me greatly, and it was one of the first blogs where I felt I could connect to the writer, despite us having a little bit of an age difference.

I started reading TelevisionWithoutPity at some point after that, and then realised that Pamie was one of the folks writing the recaps. From there I realised I wanted to read both, so I started following Pamie, as well as many of the other writers on the blogs. (AB Chao is another recap-ist who cracks me up, and I love seeing videos of Pam and AB together).

The amazing thing about blogging, is that strangers from the other side of the world can feel some pretty powerful emotions after reading your site for a while. The fact that a blog is like a diary where you share your innermost thoughts, means that people think they know you, and after a while feel a bit stalkery. But I laughed (and identified) with Pamie's klutziness, loved her cats and her geekiness, felt like crying when things went badly for her, felt so happy on her wedding day, learned about roller derby, and bought all of her books (yes, Pam's a novelist, too!).

As Pam's life and career got busier, the diary entries changed to less personal diary-like entries and became stories/anecdotes. Youtube videos emerged, such as the great "activating" series, the video of the lesbian party night with Cat and what followed in the car afterwards (as well as a hilarious video of them trying to cook or bake, I think? that I watched and laughed until I cried), and then.. Twitter, which now lets fans talk to bloggers/celebrities directly, which does feel a bit odd at times as you know a lot about a person, but you are essentially a stranger to them. I don't send many tweets to her, though, as I still feel like a crazy ridiculous stalker.

As a kid I always loved to write, so inspired by Pamie, I started my own websites at 13/14 where I wrote a lot of my thoughts down and always tried to be entertaining and insightful. I started a livejournal in 2003 2001, started this blog in 2005, and there you have it. I hardly think I'm as good of a blogger as Pamie was/is, and hell, Sarah-Rose has a better written blog than me, but I really enjoy it. I feel like it's cathartic and helps me express myself, and being one of those creative types, I get all weird if I can't express myself and get some things out.

So yeah. Pam, when you find this, don't worry. I'm a harmless Kiwi girl living in Scotland. I'm just a klutzy, silly, geeky person who loves to write.

ETA: My first livejournal was actually 2001, I think. The earliest entries I can find reference deleting the first journal.

Day Eleven: Friends (part deux)

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Some more special people (and some more shots of the previously mentioned friends!)

Zehra, Susan, Debs

Tim, Laura, Neha

Kels, CJ, Carly

Group, Jeeves, Chris

The incomparable Sarah-Rose, Becs

Day Ten: Songs

Friday at work was a bit busy, Saturday I had Yom Kippur services and then I went to Newcastle with Dave, my brother and his fiancee yesterday and it was exhausting. So I am catching up now!

(Except for the photos of the week. Those'll be up tonight, as they're on my camera and I went for a black and white photos week!)

****

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

I'm going to steal Sarah-Rose's idea and just list what I've been listening to lately, as songs for many moods are hard to list...

* Sarah McLachlan - Awakenings (one of the only songs I really love on the new album, sadly)

* Chris Tse - Be Still, Be Brave

* Taylor Swift - Mine (I know, I know..)

* Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way (addictive!)

* Peter Gabriel - Flume

* Freight - Down By The River (local Finn Brothers-esque duo that played at a gig I also played recently..)

* Barenaked Ladies - Moonstone (seeing them Wednesday and Friday this week! yay!)

* Robyn - Hang With Me

* Ben Folds - Cologne

* Joni Mitchell - River

Some old, some new.. just 10 songs I'm in love with lately..

Day Nine: Something I'm Proud Of

Day 9- Something you're proud of in the past few days

I had a good think yesterday about things on my way home.

You see, I complain a lot (to myself, in my own head) about how things are not exactly what I want at this stage in my life, and how I want to change it. And due to finances and time and energy, I never really get around to fixing things or making it how I see it.

But lately? Many things I needed to accomplish have been sorted.

** I have been aiming for 1 gig a month minimum. I may be a performer, but I've been so ridiculously low in confidence over the past few years that the idea of trying to book these things and approach bars and clubs and musicians was a bit terrifying. But! I've had 3 successful gigs since June, might have 2 in October and a Holiday-themed one towards the end of the year.

** I'm going back to dance and starting to work out again.

** I've bought cabling for more gigs and a mic stand to start properly recording again.

** I've organised our budget, so that we can survive and know our limits.

** I have researched flats to buy, so that we can start looking.

** I'm soon to start learning something I've wanted to learn for a loooong time: dressmaking.

I have a job I enjoy (most of the time), a nice flat, a great boyfriend, an iPhone, piano/equipment, new mini laptop, great camera, small video camera for gigs and living, bike, wonderful Jewish community/shul, great work colleagues, blogs/sites/connections I'm proud of... there is so much to be grateful for; so many reasons to be proud. I just have to take a step back and appreciate it way more often, and stop complaining or wishing for things I don't have.

It'll all work out wonderfully in the end, and we won't be broke forever. I just have to remember to be patient, to make the most out of everything and just take life one day at a time.

See? I'm adjusting. I'm growing up. I'm human, after all. Thank heaven for that.

Day Eight: Short term goals

Day 8- Short term goals for this month and why

Yeah. It's already September 15th. I guess if it was September 8th this would be easier and make more sense, but we're halfway through. But some goals for the next wee bit, anyway!

* Master my hair. Oh the new crop. How you tease me. You kink up when I wash you, you boof up in the mornings. I will tame you. My new wax will help.

* Start exercising again. Regularly. The poor Wii Fit that I pined and pined for has been neglected for quite a while. I must get back into a routine of doing it for a decent stretch when I get home, and adding some pilates into the mix. I used to love doing pilates. I don't know why I'm so lazy. Well, I love being lazy. But, I need to get going. My body is confused and wobbly from all this chocolate lately.

* Start making clothes! I start a dressmaking course on the 27th September. I am ridiculously excited, even though it's awkward to get to and I might have to lug a sewing machine around. But yay! I might be able to actually make my own dresses!

* Ballet, darling. I start dancing classes again on the 30th. It has been a while, but I'm really excited to be getting back into it. It should help with the waistline, too.

* New spending plan. Every other month I have to be cheap. If it's that damn pretty, it just has to wait. And just spending money because I have it is foolish. (I'm starting this next month, of course, after I buy some brogues). If I save some, I'll be able to do some good exchange rate shopping in NZ, anyway.

* Photography. I love taking photos. Hell, I think I'm quite good at it. But I've relied on my iPhone for a long time now, and I need to change that. This means copying my lovely Sarah-Rose, and taking my camera everywhere. I am slightly concerned that I'll come off of my bike and squish it, though (not that I've been actually cycling in the past few weeks!).

Well. What a well-rounded and creative individual I'll be if I accomplish these things! (aside from the exercise - I hopefully won't be well-rounded. Hee hee. Oh shut up.)

Day Seven: Impact on Me

Day 7- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Ugh. I can't pick one thing. Here is a smorgasbord.

THE PERFORMERS

THE SHOWS

THE SONGWRITERS

THE BANDS

THE POETS

Day Six: Superheroes

Day 6- Favorite superhero and why

I... really don't know.

I have spent 11 years of my life being friends with a group of guys who are very into comic books, superheroes and at times, action figures (I'm looking at you, Andy). I understand why liking these things is fun, but I've never liked the supernatural superheroes like Spiderman or the Incredible Hulk. It's fun to watch, but I'm not going out to grab it on DVD to keep forever. If I'm allowed to go a little outside the box for my pick, my favourite superhero would be Buffy.

Chosen to be the one girl in her generation that fights and kills the vampires, she is given superhuman strength and dexterity and you know what? she didn't ask for it. She was just this sassy, popular teenager and one day, everything changed. Over the series you see her struggle with this. She doesn't just do it because she has to. She struggles with being chosen to always be the one to save the day.

I suppose the real hero here is Joss Whedon, who consistently writes amazing female characters, because he feels there aren't enough of them out there. But I'm not going to start fangirling about him today.

And yes, I have the Buffy DVD box, comic books and action figures.

Week Thirty-Seven

This week is pretty hair-riffic.

Sunday

One of the best things about the iPhone's camera is the shutter speed. Fantastic shot of the end of Festival fireworks. It just gets better each time I look at it.

Monday

I discovered strawberry laces. Mmm! 38p or 3 for £1 - bargain!

Tuesday

Pondering how incredibly hairy I am, and how it'll all be gone soon.

Wednesday

Evening service for Rosh Hashanah.

Thursday

Waiting for my Japanese takeaway.

Friday

Yeah, it's creepy, but here is my ponytail. I'm going to donate it!

Saturday

Green room at the Electric Circus, before my gig.

and...

I love this super-ruffly top.

Day Five: A Place

Day 5- A picture of somewhere you've been to

Odd that this post falls on September 12th (9 years to the day "9/11" happened for me, New Zealand time), as I'm about to write about one of my favourite places in the world: New York City.

I've spent a good chunk of time in this amazing city, and just can't get enough. Sometimes I feel sad that I may never live there again, but hey. Never say never. And I will definitely visit again ASAP.

Here are some of my favourite shots. (NB: These were all taken before I gained any sort of real interest/knowledge in photography, and when I didn't want to look like a tourist

- I'm looking forward to going back to get more!)