A closed mouth gathers no feet

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:06:40 GMT

BEWARE: Following contains uninteresting musings about life, the universe and my stomach.

My dream in life, as an adult is an unoriginal one. I would like to achieve some kind of work/life balance where I am actually doing things I enjoy. Being a musician is all well and good, and there is no way in hell I could ever NOT be a cellist./muso of some description, but I need other activities in my life to keep me entertained/interested/focussed.
I guess one of my problems is that once I decided to do music primarily, no one ever offered up the idea that I am allowed to do music AND something else. Sure, my parents didn't want me to be a musician at all in the beginning, but once I showed that I actually had the ability to do it they were all for it (although occasionally my mother would suggest becoming a speech therapist instead, god knows where that came from). My lecturers/teachers at uni were the type of people that music is their life blood and they can't function properly thinking about any other alternative. So I guess it never occurred to me that maybe you can do music with something else to make a living.
My other problem faced is that I have NO other skills to utilise, because my life has just been dominated by music. So when I went on my little sojourn to London this year, and realised it was neither the place I wanted to be, or the thing I wanted to be doing, then I started thinking about the other interests in my life. I have a major interest in fashion and fashion design. What was holding me back from doing any is a) lack of skill and b) lack of expensive equipment to get any skillz.

I have decided to do a Cert IV in textile design at TAFE next year. My friend has permanently lent me a good sewing machine. I have been practising my hand sewing (as seen on facebook if you care). I am going to pick Dylan's mother's brains for dressmaking techniques so i am not a total novice when I start classes next year.

The main thing for me is that I am doing this for me, and if I suck, I suck, and I can quit and try something else. But I don't have to worry about whether I should have tried it once I've turned 50. And you never know where it might lead.
Most importantly, I don't give a fuck what my lecturers think of me anymore.

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:03:53 GMT

Oh yeah. Livejournalling from my bed, wearing donut pyjamas. Until the iPhone starts to shit me, which because it's apple I'm sure it will, i will say best new toy ever

Also I have won a bike from eBay which I am naming veronica. My car is called betty. Get it?

Who's going to cone riding with me? I'm looking at you flyingblogspot and droneboy, when you are over next.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:50:35 GMT

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh blissful weekend worthy of a post.
Saturday wasn't blissful but I did have three gigs which were most appreciated by my bank account, and also I got to work with some lovely people so that made it much more bearable. then Saturday night was a birthday part at my good friend's apartment. Wasn't really aware of the contents of the punch, which apparently ended up being mostly vodka, so the next morning my head was PAIN and I wasn't too happy. I taught a student at 11am, got some monies, went to the chemist and got some pills to make the PAIN go away.

Then my boy and I had a lovely hour or two just sitting and talking... which words can not explain how lovely it is to be able to do that. Then I punished him for his wonderfulness by making him come tot he gym with me. (Legs frightfully sore today, which is odd considering I went at only half speed the whole time)
Then a couple of hours of videogames, followed by AWESOME curry at 2 Fat Indians.
Managed to get in a quick visit to flyingblogspot and Walter the Evil Bunny. I love that bunny. And H is awesome too :)

To wrap up day of awesomeness, we finally went to see Inglourious Basterds. Well frickin awesome and funny and sad and gory and great. Bongiorno.

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:27:09 GMT

I'm not sure what to do next year.
I've been planning on doing a Grad Dip Ed, but looking at the uni sites, I have found out that I am able to do a psych grad dip if I wanted. The latter would interest me far more, but the dip ed would provide me with more immediate employment opportunities to supplement my music career.
Wah. Maybe I'll do the dip ed, then later on do the psych one.I dunno.

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:54:22 GMT

List of complaints for today:

-Sudden allergic reaction to unknown allergin, causing all over body rash, swollen lips, itching.

-possible middle ear infection or possibly glue ear; left ear feels likes there is a wad of cotton wool in the ear and I can't hear properly. Well I hope it's one of those things, otherwise it means I'm going deaf in one ear and that means career SCREWED. Have an ear specialist appointment in two weeks. Fuck. I want it tomorrow.

-while washing my hair before going to the doctor to discuss previous problems I put my neck out causing SEVERE PAIN

Plus side I have an interview for aged care next week. Woot.

Now I am going to bed to wallow in my own crapulence. Wait, that's not crapulence. Gross.

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:44:35 GMT

If you be my body guard I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty, and Betty when you call me, you can call me al

I love "You Can Call Me Al" with a passion.

I named my new car Betty, because of that song, and because she really is a Betty. And I love her. I may or may not have joined a Datsun 1200 online forum/club. Am I turning into a bogan? No. Am I loving driving a wicked piece of Australiana around listening to 1080 6iX? Fo shiz my niz. Also, I have plans to make dash board and rear shelf covers out of some kind of shagpile like material. Preferably green or purple, to go with the yellowness of Betty.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:01:41 GMT

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA two weeks till the boy gets to London! Weeee, excuses to do mega touristy fun stuff. And go to Ronnie Scott's again, and again, and again.

London is HOT this week. Well, mid twenties. But that means the tube is about 100+ degrees. The English are the worst people for ventilation, and just general organisation. I went for a drive with the family on Sunday... we got on the M40 (?) and got in a two hour traffic jam. They had closed three of the four lanes, because of a pot hole. On a sunday. When people were getting out of town and there was nice weather. Pretty sure the pot hole didn't appear with in two mins. Pretty sure they couldve closed off the one lane that had it and kept the others open so the traffic flowed. But no, that would be too convenient for the English.
Also, you should see the bicycle lanes on the roads here. They just appear and disappear randomly, basically making it more dangerous than safe for the cyclist. No wonder so many people get rundown and killed on their bikes here.

Oh wait. Now it's cold. Sigh. Gotta love it.

Wed, 13 May 2009 22:29:29 GMT

flyingblogspot tell me of your meditation. Ist question: have you used specific methods (ie Buddhist, Transcindental) and gone to classes?

Sat, 09 May 2009 20:07:26 GMT

Summation of my health over the last two weeks:

-severe indigestion for a week
-Cold
-painful sinus blockage
-spectacular stack on the streets of Soho leading to sore ankle.

I'm in the wars people!! Not that I would ever whinge about anything ever.

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:03:42 GMT

Hey peoples
I'm on Twitter. I don't know what I am doing really. So help me and follow me :)

I am anna_spdoinkle or whatever

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:35:34 GMT

Well, I'm in London.
To be precise, I'm in Boston Manor, because I stayed at my lovely friend Jesse's house last night. Boston Manor is fairly South West (I think) out towards Heathrow. Bloody Woopwoop I tells ya.
Anyhoos, it's Easter Sunday, so I am going to drag Jesse up to St Paul's Cathedral for a Service...nothing like their choir and organist to get you in the Jesus spirit.

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:57:36 GMT

hmmm let's see if this works.

dolphage is a big baby eating freak!

YEAH!!!!!!!!

I mean. He's ok.

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:35:17 GMT

YAY Dylan is on Livejournal.
I won't take offence that it's mainly so he can be more of a internets friend with Flyingblogspot.

Question: How do you do that little hyperlinky thing for people's facebook names?? I've never known.
TELL ME

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:56:05 GMT

Sigh.

Moving overseas=stress

"not my boyfriend" going away on tour for ten days right before I leave the country=SAD.

Raif and Sara, if you feel like seeing a bit of Aussie Hip hop (and I know you do) go see The Typhoons at The Espy on the 26th...
If I say it's minimalist would that convince you? (it's not though).
Go and smack the Sax player across the head for me.

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:51:50 GMT

Spectacularly awful weekend so far, with bits of awesome thrown in.

Gig on Friday evening was a complete disaster. Somewhere along the line, we had been given false information, leading to me and my violinist sitting in completely wrong spot on Matilda Bay Reserve waiting for a wedding that wasn't happening... we were eventually tracked down and moved to the right spot. But it meant the bride had to do laps in the car waiting for us to arrive, and we had to do the walk of shame past the entire wedding party to set up... we looked like total morons and IT WASN"T OUR FAULT!!!!!

At least I got to then go out, watch Mace Francis ORchestra, drink champagne, talk crap with my mates. And by god can those boys talk crap!
Sad thing was I had a rude awakening to the fact a person I thought was a good friend, really is pretty much a jerk. Shame. But then again, I already knew it, so I shouldn't have been so shocked.

Then today had the gig from hell. It was in York, so two hours drive each way. Then rocked up to the farm that the wedding was taking place at, to find it wasn't a nice garden wedding, but 4km into the property, on a hill in the middle of nowhere. It was hot, windy and full of flies. We had to move every five minutes because the shade kept shifting. So lame. I was so cranky.

At least, I got home at 10pm and promptly went out again to a friend's birthday drinks at their house, and talked shit for a few hours. Bliss.

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:50:39 GMT

I'm drinking Little Creatures beer and listening to mum's god awful student in the other room.

I leave for London in exactly three weeks tomorrow.

I'm scared.

And excited.

And writing very short sentences.

I'm also about to make lamb noodle. WHO IS ENVIOUS OF MY LIFE???

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:50:17 GMT

I just had a cool email from my dad, which basically was from a conductor in London, saying he read the CV my dad sent him, and he'd consider me in future.

Doesn't mean I'll actually get any work out of it, but it's nice to know that he would take the time to say that, because he really didn't have to.

I'm off to a BBQ at my friend's, in Freo. Then off to Salsa later in the day at the Charles Hotel.

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:08:13 GMT

Why do I always get stuck with the far far away gigs on days of 40 degrees?
Saturday I had to drive to Freo, then Jarrahdale, then back to Freo for lots of gigs. The shower I had when I got home was one of the most cleansing experiences I have ever had.

Sunday was Good Vibrations. Fun times. Totally not worth paying 100+ dollars for, and luckily I didn't have to.
My best mate's band was playing early on the Roots stage. I was waiting around in front of the stage, when they all emerged into the audience looking upset and worried. On asking what was wrong, I found out that my mate had left his saxophone mouth piece at home. So, with ten minutes till they were due on stage, I was in a sound guys truck (who knows who it belonged to, I was just given the keys) and busting a move out of there, back to D's place to get his mouth piece and then back to the festival to get him on stage. He only missed the first 15 mins of the set. So YAY for me, and my *new* ability to drive a faily large van/truck.

I'm glad that I persevered and stayed at the festival till 8pm when Qtip played. It was a damn fine performance I have to say. Everyone was raving afterwards. It'll be hard to top that hip hop I have to say.

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:34:32 GMT

YAY! I just received an email telling me I got my visa approved! Hooray! I can officially go to the UK for 2 years.

Who knows how long I'll really last though :)

Uh oh. Now the panic is setting in.

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:57:55 GMT

I had great cheap steak last night.
I highly suggest booking a table (you do need to book) at Llama Bar on a Wednesday night. If you buy a drink and order a steak (or the pasta option) you get the steak for $10. Awesome.
Then The Royals play fabulous funk/soul tunes.
Although, a new band will start playing Wednesdays in a couple of months, because two of the boys are moving to London with me! Well, not with me, the same time though. Still gonna be cheap steak though :)

Long bloody night though. Ended up going to Gold and dancing and drinking till 5:30am. Ouchies. I'm not as young as I used to be. My body can't handle a hangover anymore.
Then I had to go and play cello for an old friend of mum's this evening. Was not up for it. Managed not to mash it though. Go me.

I'm excited that the Ellington Jazz club is opening up soon. I was talking to one of the owners (who is unsurprisingly stressed out, since it's two weeks till opening and the insides are done yet), and found out why there are many many opening nights. I'm going to two of them. FUN.
Roger, are you going to head into any of them?

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:09:02 GMT

A lack of money led me to be at home alone all night. I'm not exactly complaining. Sometimes it's nice to sit around and not do anything, especially since I generally am out every night of the week.

I was going to go and see Mister Sister, a friend's band, playing down at the Kidogo Gallery in Freo, but my mate who was going to take me piked.

So, instead, Scrubs series 5 rewatch, loads of internets, and a video of a very old production of a Mrs Marple book. Tops.

It also led me to discover (or have spoonfed to me by a much better informed mate) Ray LaMontagne. He is lovely.

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:03:28 GMT

I played tennis yesterday. First time ever.

I suck.

Then I had some homemade lasagne, so that made me feel better :)

Hey Raif and Sara, when you go to NZ, you aren't technically on snowdome duty, because I already have one from the North Island. But if you see anything that you think I would love, you know what to do and where to send it.

SNOWDOMES!

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:42:13 GMT

What an absolute ripper of a weekend!

Due to the universe doing that weird alignment thing that happens every so often, I managed to find out about a wicked concert the day before it was on. Therefore not missing it and wanting to cry or anything. In fact I basically cried because it was such a beautiful concert.

The story goes:
I saw a movie called Once, about a year ago. LOVED IT. It was about people making music together. the main actor was the lead singer of the Frames. Bought the soundtrack immediately after the movie, along with some other cds from the same people.
Anyhoo, hadn't listened to the cds in ages, and discovered at my mate's house that he had the soundtrack too. Which isn't so odd in a way, but it's not a particularly well known movie, less so the cd. So we listened and compared general "how awesome is the soundtrack/movie" ideas.
So then it made me want to listen to the cds more at home, so I did.
On Saturday, while organising going to see some jazz in freo, my mate Emma informed me she couldn't come because she was going to see The Swell Season (the band from the film). It blew my mind, I had no idea they were touring or anything. And only the day before i had started listening to the cd again!!!
Life can be crazy.
Sad story is that my mate who loves them couldn't come, but I bought him a cd that he doesn't have so hopefully that will cheer him up.

I went, it was awesome. Beautiful music, beautiful people, beautiful weather.

Then I had a birthday bbq for a friend, and played a couple of hours of drunken tennis. Fun times.

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:52:38 GMT

Fine. Whatever.
I must have jinxed myself because now I can't move my neck/head.
Who puts their neck out while towel drying their hair?? ME! That's who. Last time it was when I was washing my hair.

Maybe the lesson is I shouldn't clean myself.
Or try to be productive.
I was going to practice today! LAME

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:18:38 GMT

Weeeeeeeeee, I've only been up an hour and I'm already being productive. Although, slightly hindered by the fact I can't actually do what I want to do today (ie apply for my visa, can't be done till three months before the departure date). BUT, good news is that I can go over on a one way ticket. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. The thought of having to buy a flexible, return, 2 year ticket was making me very very anxious.

Now alls I needs to dos is buy my ticket (today I shall be very productive and get lots of quote, maybe buy a smoothie), suss out how much it'll cost me to get a cello travel case, and do some practice. Hoorays!

I gonna go to London.

Need a job over summer though.
Shite.