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Summer activities
Tickets to the OpenAir cinema go on sale on Thursday. I went when it was on ealier this year and it was a really nice night out. You can't beat the view from the Botanical Gardens, so pretty. And ahhh, I want to go and see this and this (although I think the performance by the Mark Morris Dance group might be sold out by now). Man, I need more friends interested in stuff like that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Happy New Year y'all! Have fun and stay safe :)
I'm heading down to Kandace's farm in Bowral with the usual crew where we plan on having our own New Year's fireworks display. With everyone paranoid about the whole terrorist thing in the city, I don't think we could have picked a more remote place to go! This should be interesting, especially since the guys are aiming to finish a keg (which holds 50 litres of beer) before midnight. I wonder if we'll go cow tipping...
Ear candy: "Red Alert" -- Basement Jaxx
Riss' Soundtrack to 2002
It’s about this time of year that surveys and lists about people’s favourite things of the year- movies, memories, parties etc. are floating around. Here is my little contribution.
As I’ve said before, music is the soundtrack to my life in more ways than I can begin to describe. The following songs (released this year) have been ear candy for me at some point during the last 12 months. Selected not only because I think they all sound good, but also because they all have some lyrical significance to me and were played at/remind me of memorable moments.
01. All You Wanted – Michelle Branch
If you want to, I can save you, I can take you away from here
02. Sweetness – Jimmy Eat World
Sinking into sweet uncertainty…
Lyrical significance, but also reminds me of the night we had JEW’s cd on coming home from a party with 7 of us squished into Sam’s car. Somewhere near Brighton we had to pull over during this song and pile out because two of the guys had to throw up.
03. No Such Thing – John Mayer
I'd like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve
‘Who is this?’ was what all my friends were saying at the start of the year when I started playing his CD that my aunt had sent me from America because it wasn’t going to be released in Australia for months. Now I have successfully converted all of them into being fans, hehe. One of the highlights of my year was going to his concert! But yeah, I guess most people know that ;)
04. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
05. Echo – Incubus
There's something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
If someone were to ask me what my favourite song of the year is, this would be it. I remember actually considering changing the day of my 21st birthday party after everyone had RSVPed, reservations were made, cake ordered etc. when I found out Incubus were in Sydney for a concert on the same night. Haha, my mum cracked the shits and I couldn’t change it. They also played the next night but it was Kathryn’s 21st party and she would have killed me if I didn’t turn up.
More subtle than something someone contrives
Your movements echo that I've seen the real thing...
06. Passenger Seat – Stephen Speaks
Aww, I just think this is an incredibly sweet song.
07. Special Ones – George
So rather than trying to open my heart, I’m going to lock it with a key
So that only the special ones can ever get through to me
I thought this song was fitting when I was going through my ‘males are an overrated waste of space’ phase. Actually, I'm still there but it's slightly been amended to 'males are an overrated waste of space, but there are a few exceptions' phase ;)
08. The Scientist – Coldplay
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
09. Cochise – Audioslave
I've been drinking life while you’ve been nauseous
10. Screaming Infidelities – Dashboard Confessional
After one of my close friends broke up with her boyfriend of 3 years she had this song playing in her car on repeat for about 2 months. We didn’t know what else we could say or do to help her get over the cheating fuckwit him. Quite depressing really, but I still think the song rocks.
11. Breathe In – Frou Frou
And I'm high enough from all the waiting, to ride a wave on your inhaling
12. On a High – Duncan Sheik
If you’re fine then you’re fine- it’s all how you see it
‘cause there will never be no conspiracy of happiness
13. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I’m safe there in your arms
14. A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
This was actually the ring tone on my mobile for the majority of the year, hehe. I hold Mika solely responsible for introducing me to the lovely Miss Carlton via an interesting description she gave in a journal entry.
15. Everywhere – Michelle Branch
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
If I had bonus material on my CD, I’d include the music video of ‘Like I Love You’ by Justin Timberlake so I could oogle him dancing, as well as John Mayer's video for ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’ because what he does in it is so sweet, it gets me everytime.
If anyone else can be bothered to do this, post it in your blogs/LJ's. It'll be interesting to see what 15 songs other people would pick.
Ear Candy: "Become One Anything One Time" -- The Promise Ring
The Two Towers
Marry me Legolas!
*swoons* He is so dreamy, hehe.
Good Lord, I should have brought a bib to keep me from drooling. It was quite amusing to hear the collective sigh that erupted from the female (and no doubt some male) members of the cinema when Legolas first appeared on the screen. At least he had more to do and say this time round instead of just standing there and looking good.
Aragon is all kinds of sexy too *fans herself*
Anyway, back to the actual movie…
The film moves along at a frantic pace, and barely feels like an hour, let alone 3. There is so much going on and such rich detail that leaves me wanting to see it again to pick up on the things I missed. I loved how seamless everything worked, although I got a little frustrated towards the end when they kept on cutting from story to story…
All of the characters developed well, without it seeming forced. I liked how the strengthening bonds between the characters were shown, especially that between Legolas, Aragon and Gimli, “Toss me, but don’t tell the elf”. I also liked how Arwen was worked into this even though she doesn’t appear in the books til the next part. Although one of the things changed from the book and irked me a lot was how Faramir was portrayed. That along with…well, I can’t say because it may spoil it but if you’ve read the books you’ll pick up on them.
If you thought that split personality/mirror scene in Spiderman was good, wait til you see Gollum/Smeagol. Andy Serkis and the wizards at Weta were so successful in bringing Gollum to life that the character just leapt off the screen.
But what really made this movie kick ass were the battle sequences. The Battle at Helm’s Deep was worth the admission price alone! Absolutely spectacular. The sound and the musical score make it even more awesome.
Freaking hell, I can’t wait another 12 months for the final instalment! I want it now!! Kudos to Peter Jackson for bringing Tolkien's beautiful fantasy world to life, storytelling at it’s best.
Ear Candy: "Possession" -- Sarah McLachlan
Last minute shopping
I am not a snob! ;p
Moving on, how fun would it be being a little kid now? They have the coolest toys! I had some fun checking out all the spiffy toys in the toy department at GB’s today whilst looking for a present for my Goddaughter. One of the things she wanted a Rapunzel Barbie doll, and it had to be a Rapunzel one because the other ones weren’t “as pretty”. All the stores around my area had sold out and so the sales guy told me to go into the city.
When I got to the Barbie section there wasn’t any on the shelf but there was a guy about my age looking completely clueless standing nearby holding two boxes, one with a Ballerina Barbie and the other one of course had to be the Rapunzel Barbie. I promised her I'd get it for her, and not one to break promises, I figured I'd have to get the doll from the guy.
Riss: Are you trying to decide which one to pick?
Guy with Barbie Dolls: Yeah, it’s for my little sister
Riss: I reckon Ballerina Barbie is so much cooler than Rapunzel Barbie
GwBD: Really?
(Thinking to myself: Riss you’re going to get bad Christmas karma for trying to scam this guy)
Riss: For sure. She can do so much more stuff than Rapunzel Barbie, like she can do all those ballet moves. Does your sister do ballet?
GwBD: Yeah, she just had her end of year concert.
Riss: Well, she’ll have fun teaching the Barbie how to do all those special positions that she learns in class and also dress her up in tutu’s. I got a kick out of that when I was little. The only thing you can really do with Rapunzel Barbie is brush her hair!
Pimp that Barbie Riss! The guy stands there and thinks about it for a couple of minutes while I pretend to take an interest in the Barbie Accessories, which by the way are kinda funky for a little girl.
GwBD: Good point, I think I’ll get it. Thanks for your help. Hook, line and sinker. Too easy. I grin triumphantly as he walks back and returns the box with the Rapunzel Barbie to the shelf. I wait for him to be out of eye sight before getting it. Nice. Last present checked off my list.
Season's Greetings 
Ear Candy: 'Big Yellow Taxi' -- Counting Crows & Vanessa Carlton
(What a great version of Joni Mitchell's song! As much as I like hearing Adam Druitz sing, it would have been good to have more Vanessa in it)
Schmeh
I feel like calling someone up and talking to them about anything and everything til we're both too tired to keep our eyes open.
Write. Post. Publish.
Journal writing. Such an outlet. A beautiful form of expression everyone seems to be using to the very fullest.
I don’t know about other people, but I have this journal/blog because I think your memories are what you are. They are what make you into something different, to accumulate them and have them add up to something is what life is partly about.
Having a journal sort of lines up memories behind me. It gives me something to look back on. People. Conversations. Events. Going from day to day you begin to pile up experiences, but I think a lot of the times you do not get to keep any of the little ones that are really important. I realised that I was not really getting to keep any of the really little memories. It is really a sad reality if the small things in your life are the ones that you lose track of ...because it is really the little things that do make up a memory.
This, the four years of archives I have floating around and the numerous ‘thought’ books I have strewn around my room, serves as a guide to my past and possibly a guide to my future, it helps fill the void my brain creates as memories start to fade. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll look back on all this and laugh. I’ll probably re-read these journal and blog entries about 30 years from now and shake my head at what a melodramatic and incredibly silly girl I was.
What baffles me though is why people read other people’s journal and blogs on a regular basis. I don’t even understand what compels me to read other people’s blogs, let alone why others do the same thing on a fairly regular basis. I guess it’s kind of like the indescribable attraction some have to finding out gossip about celebrities. Why do we patiently wait for the page to load with the hope that that person has decided to share a little more of themselves with us?
Perhaps we continue visiting because we feel some sort of affinity with the author. After all, you are privy to their thoughts, their troubles, worries, things that make them happy and all their other quirks that you may otherwise not know if you didn’t read their blog, so how can you not have some concern about them? Hmm, perhaps I should add this to my list of things I don't get.
Ear Candy: 'Never Be Amazing' -- David Franj
( Yeah, I know. Another guy with a guitar. Shut UP! :p )
Fun in the sun
Spent yesterday out with friends cruising around Yowie Bay on a couple of the guys jet skis and hanging out in row boats. Ah, such a hard life we do lead. I so want a jet ski when I eventually get rich and own a three story house by the water, heh. One of them was a two seater, the other one was a three, so you can just imagine the accidental groping that occurred as we sped around the water and grabbed anything that would help us not fall off.
“Riss, I know you want me but save it for when we’re on dry land”
“Eww, as if I’d purposely want to touch you or your man boobs!”
My butt and the back of my legs are so sore from getting flung around so much. I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs, so I now have a very noticeable mark where my boardies end and the sunburnt skin begins. Oww. At least I don’t have a totally sunburnt back with a picture of a nekkid lady on my back like Michael does, the others decided to get creative when they were putting sunscreen on him. Mature, real mature...
Bleh
One of the annoying things about this time of year is the extended trading hours. I have to work til 8pm tonight and tomorrow, but Thursday night is going to suck ass since I have to work til midnight. Hmph.
Watching The Amazing Race last night left me wanting to throw things at my television in anger because Ian is such a jerk for treating his wife in such a condescending manner. I know that editing on these shows probably exacerbates their worst character traits but still, what a complete tool. She should have cut the rope when he was rappelling.
Things that make you go huh? Part II
Continuing on from Part I...
Dark undies and pants/skirts
This is as bad, if not worse, than VPL. Why do people feel the need to wear black/dark coloured undies when they wear white pants? The worst offenders have to be those people who have on tight, virtually spray on, white pants and a black g-string. Seriously, do guys find this look attractive or what?
Button-fly pants
I fail to see the logic or practicality behind this option on pants/shorts. It’s all not good if you ask me. When you really need to go to the bathroom, the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around trying to undo those bloody buttons. They’re enough of a hassle when you’re sober, let alone after a few too many drinks. Give me a zipper any day.
And how many guys actually own button-fly pants? Wouldn’t it look a little suss standing at the urinals fiddling with those buttons?…
Why are guys wallets always so much thinner than girls?
I was with Dom the other day and she said she wanted to buy a new wallet for herself. She ended up buying a guy’s one because most of the ones we saw were too chunky. It’s not like we have that much more crap in our wallets, maybe a few extra credit cards here and there, but that’s about it. We even have the option of dumping extra coinage we can’t be bothered to shove in our wallets into our handbags, so I don’t get why our wallets are so much fatter.
Watches and handedness (is that even a word?)
Why do (the majority of) people who are right-handed wear their watch on their left wrist, and vice versa? I wonder how this convention started. I think my dad is a odd because even though he is right-handed he still wears his watch on his right wrist.
Ear Candy: 'A Praise Chorus' -- Jimmy Eat World
(I'm probably pissing the neighbours off by playing this song so loudly this early in the morning, but loud is the only way to listen to JEW, hee. I can't wait to see these guys live!)
Television
Because I take my television viewing seriously, I couldn't resist doing this week's Seven on Sunday.
If there were to be a television channel created with a program line up just for you, what seven shows would you want to have on it?
1. The West Wing. I adore this show, the cast is phenomenal and the storylines are always interesting (well not so much this season). I can’t understand why Channel 9 shafted this to a 10:30pm timeslot. Bastards. And Because I’m weak, I did end up buying the season 1 DVD boxed set the other day.
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Preferably seasons 1-4, plus ‘The Body’, ‘The Gift’ and ‘Once More With Feeling’. I didn’t like the ‘Riley’ season (with the exception of ‘Hush’) or the whole Buffy and Spike nookie of s6. I can’t believe this season is going to be the last one. *sobs*
3. Sex and the City. The show cracks me up, I watch this all the time with my dad! Seriously.
4. Dawson’s Creek. Shut up! This show was the goods at the beginning, it went downhill after Pacey and Joey broke up and the writers decided to forget about continuity. But I’m still watching the show because, well, it’s Dawson’s.
5. Gilmore Girls. Quality stuff, the sad thing is my friends and I purposely make plans to go out later on a Saturday night so we can watch this before we go out. Yes, we’re dorks but it’s great show! The banter between the characters is hilarious.
6. Felicity. I absolutely fell in love with this show when it first started (who didn’t?!?). And no, it wasn’t only because of the cute boys or because I liked Kerri Russell’s hair, but because it dealt with things I could relate to. I remember the big bruhaha that happened when Channel 7 decided to stop showing it. I’m glad people managed to get it back on our screens. Sucks that it’s finished, I’ll definitely get it if they bring it out on video or DVD. And I have to say: she should have chosen Noel! ;)
7. Friends. This show reminds me of high school and the bus ride every Tuesday morning to school discussing the show. Could this show be any funnier?
Runners up:
The Sopranos, Astroboy (best cartoon ever), My So Called Life, Seinfeld
Ear Candy: 'Close Your Eyes' -- Christopher Beck
( If you know which TV couple has this as their theme song, then you automatically rock in my books ;p hee)
Finito
Uni results have come out, and after having successfully passed all our subjects, my uni friends and I can now officially say that we've finished!!!! I HAVE FINISHED!! w00t!
Thank you for your messages my lovelies *smooch*   
University is often casually referred to the place where you gain all the knowledge you'll need for the real world, some place that apparently requires a lot of discipline and knowledge. All my life, I have been doing things in preparation of entering this real world. All the skills I've obtained prior to entering the real world, achieved through attending a classes for years, at least, will finally be used when I enter this mysterious place I've heard of for so long.
Where am I now then? Pre-real world? Does that even exist? Why aren't I in the real world now? Are all of my experiences thus far totally meaningless because I'm not at my final destination in life? No. It doesn't work like that. I'm in the real world now. I have to be. Everything I do today will play a large role in what I can do tomorrow. This is the real world. Is every careers advisor afraid to admit that what I'm going through now, everything I'm working for and everything I believe in, is happening in the real world? Are they afraid we'll put too much pressure on ourselves? Some of us already put too much pressure on ourselves even with them hiding the truth. Disguising reality doesn't ease pain.
I'm here. I'm here, drowning myself in a world everyone is afraid to admit I've entered long before I knew how to swim. I've been here and I will remain here, with my cynical and sometimes rebellious attitude haunting all card-carrying members of the real world, until my existence is acknowledged. I expect to be pushed around, trampled on, and ignored entirely, but it won't happen forever. Soon enough, I'll receive my membership card in the mail. I'll hold it in my hands and smile. Then, I'll cut it up into little pieces and decorate the floor with colourful pieces of real world plastic. I don't need a card to prove my existence. I know I'm here. I'm only waiting for you to see me.
In the mean time, I get to spend the evening baby sitting three hyperactive children whilst their parents go to a Christmas party. Lets hope I don't want to poke my eyes out with a Barbie doll by the end of the night.
Ear Candy: 'At the Stars' (cover) -- Howie Day
Dear Santa
Me: Dad, what do you want for Christmas?
Dad: A Playstation 2
Me: *laughs* No really, what do you want?
Dad: A. Play. Station. 2. You and your mum can go halves. Ten minutes later…
Me: Hey mum, what do you want for Christmas?
Mum: A Gameboy.
Me: But you already have one!
Mum: The new ones are much better, and they come in different colours. Pfft, whatever. I think they're seriously deluded. Although I must say, my mum kicks ass at playing video games. Parents these days…
Trying this whole Christmas shopping thing in the city again tomorrow, this time by myself because I’ve come to the conclusion that shopping with Kathryn will only lead to me buying more useless crap for myself. Although, those season 1 West Wing DVD’s would look really good in my DVD collection…
Because everyone else seems to be posting their Christmas wishlist (and because I am 12 not 21), I'm going to post mine too.
1. Band of Brothers DVD set. Best mini-series I've seen in a while, the DVD extras look like they'd be pretty interesting too.
2. Perfume. Issey Miyake or Miracle would be nice.
3. A beach towel. I want one of these. So pink and girly but still uber spiffy.
4. Jenga. This game is so much fun to play, sober or drunk!
5. Ballerina figurines. I have been collecting little ballerina trinkets and teddy bears (actually, any stuffed animal wearing a tutu) since I was little. I still haven't grown out of this phase.
And that's about it really.
Ear Candy: 'Everywhere' -- Michelle Branch
Weeeee!!! I'm in a live chat with John Mayer now on his official site!! Rock on!!!
It's nice to see artists being appreciative of their fans:
Question from TheOneOverThere: How much credit do you give to the internet for your current popularity?
John: I give the internet total credit for it, because I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for the people listening to my music in such a way to almost skip an entire lineage of steps which really define my career in that I never sat at home with a record deal, being told a whole bunch of excuses why we weren't going into the studio for 6 months. My fans gave me a career before any man in a suit ever could. Consequently, my fans gave me the ability to never be frightenend of a man sitting in front of me.
(They're going to post a transcript of it soon if you missed it, check in the news section of his site)
Randomness...
The Amazing Race. Channel 7, Monday and Tuesday nights at 10:30pm. Do yourself a favour and watch it. Quality television viewing, especially if you like travelling. (Anyone who has been watching this season, how much do you want to tell Ian to shut up!?! Seriously, could he get anymore annoying? If I was Teri I'd tell him where to shove it) *** LOTR: The Two Towers tickets go on sale on Thursday, and being the LOTR dork that I am (I’ve read the books 4 times each, and three of those times was before Fellowship came out), I’ll probably go and get tickets then. Think of all that Orlando Bloom goodness. Woo hoo! *** There’s something I find strangely comforting about staring out a rain drop streaked window pane as the wind blows the trees, and watching the little rivulets trickle down and merge into one another. The sound of the rain hitting the ground outside has lulled me into a sort of mellowness that is altogether quiet rare for me. It’s also proved to be a nice distraction from all the cursing I’ve been doing about being a girl. There has got to be something more useful out there than Neurofen and Naprogesic that you can buy over the counter. If not, for the love of all that is good and holy, someone make something that is.
Ear Candy: 'Last Christmas' -- Jimmy Eat World
(The way all Christmas Carols should sound, hee)
GJ Pub Crawl
30 friends + a bus + 8 pubs + a lot of alcohol = an excellent night.
We started our bus adventure from the dodgy establishment that is Gymea Pub at 7pm and didn’t get back til 3am this morning. 8 hours of solid drinking. Nice. Despite the boys yelling obscenities and flashing body parts to innocent commuters on the road, we were relatively well-behaved, and no one gave their upchuck reflexes a work out which is always a bonus.  
Dan, Owen and I were working this morning and we had a carefully laid out plan of drinking hardcore last night til 11pm and then stopping so we could sober up. This plan failed when we couldn’t make out what time it was on our watches...
We got the most odd stares from people at every pub we rocked up to. The suits and cocktail dresses we were all wearing was a stark contrast to the casual attire that the other patrons were dressed in. Oh well. Like they all say, better to be over dressed. I wonder what they would have though if we had stuck to our original plan of going fancy dress.  
I didn’t take the digital camera because I figured it would get damaged or lost, so I took along my trusty old still camera to take some incriminating pictures that could possibly be used to spread some saucy rumours in the future, heh. Most of the pictures at the beginning of the night turned out well, but as the night progressed (with the camera kidnapped by various drunken friends) the quality went downhill. But I guess you never know when a picture of my friend's feet or elbow will come in handy...
The funniest incident of the night was with Hayley’s dress. Hayls (the blonde girl in the pale blue satin dress who, funnily enough, has a drink in her hand in every picture) is our resident Cadbury girl, whose glass-and-a-half antics the source of much amusement every time we go out. We were walking towards the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi but Hayls didn’t want to walk anymore (actually more like couldn’t stand, let alone walk anymore), so Ben decided to give her a piggy back. As soon as Hayls hopped on his back the split at the back of her dressed suddenly got a whole lot bigger…and it didn’t help that she went psycho, jumping off Ben’s back but tripping over her feet in the process. We were in hysterics seeing her sprawled in the middle of the road, but we cracked up even more when she eventually got up with the split at the back of her dress half way up her butt effectively flashing, err, everything. Okay, so it doesn’t sound as funny now but I guess you just had to be there.  
Ear Candy: 'Across the Universe' -- Rufus Wainwright
Where there's smoke...
Bushfires have flared up all around Sydney today, and that is the view from my bedroom window. Eeek. It looks like we're in for a long summer...
Ear Candy: 'Passenger Seat' (acoustic) -- Stephen Speaks
(Yeah, still listening to it. If this song was a guy I'd date it, heh. Looking at my webstats and referrals for the last couple of days it seems a lot of people have been coming here looking for the lyrics. The lyrics and MP3 of the song can be found here. Check it out!)
I have a dream. That was the topic of pretty much the first real essay I had to write. Anyway, we wrote about our hopes and dreams...
Some people wanted a million dollars...
(hey, we were kids, we didn't know we could ask for more)
Some people wanted to be stars in sports...
(I think baseball and football were cool back then, not basketball)
Some people wanted to fly...
(okay, maybe I'm wrong about the basketball thing)
Some people wanted to be princes and princesses...
(why not kings and queens, I do not know)
Some people wanted to be rich and famous...
(people like Michael Jordan would tell you - just be rich, forget about fame... it's too much of a hassle)
Some people wanted to be stars in the bright lights...
(I was gonna be a big star)
Some people wanted to rule the world...
(this is a year 6 class with great ambition)
I wonder what we'd all say if we were asked to do something like that now. I know that I wouldn’t be able to fill the page as easily.
I’ve never really been able to look far into my future. It's difficult enough to think about what I'll be doing next week (what will I be doing next week?), let alone in 5 years. During the very rare moments when I pull out my crystal ball and look deep into the future, I rarely see anything even somewhat positive.
Actually, I don't believe I ever have.
I'm not wishing bad things upon myself by doing this, I'm simply being cautious in my mind. I don't enjoy getting excited over something that has a strong possibility of not happening.
But pretty please?
Ear Candy: 'Passenger Seat' -- Stephen Speaks
(These guys are my latest obsession. John Mayer is so last year ;) hee)
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