L i f e o n P e n n y L a n e

A Change Of Scene

2010-02-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

OK well I am finding it really hard to regularly write up what I've been up to on this particular blog, even though I love the fact that - through my other friends and I having blogs - we can sort of stay updated with each others lives. So... I'll leave this blog up because every so often I like to go back and read what I wrote a few months/years ago.

But I actually want to start on an idea I've had for a little while. In the past few months I have been trying to educate myself in Japanese pop culture. I really believe the key to learning a language properly is to love it and live it, not just flip through the textbook and talk in the classroom. It is one of my little missions this year that I learn more than just the language - just that isn't enough for me. So that brings me to the blog. I've seen a lot of blogs out there where people who document their everyday lives while they are living overseas. But I think it would be good if someone could also show how they got to that point; the good and bad points of learning the language, realistic tips that I've figured out on the way - even maybe what I've been learning in class.

Not sure if it'll get many readers - I guess its more of a personal development thing. But hopefully it'll be a good guideline and interesting read for people who are embarking on the same mission that I am. No clue about URLs yet - I haven't even set it up yet. I will in a minute though :)

I originally intended to start the new blog once I had moved over there but it will be just as beneficial and interesting (hopefully - ha ha) to document how I got to be an English teacher and so involved in Japanese culture along the way as well. I am bouncing around inside, eager to start the part of the blog where I can take the people I know in Australia into my life in Japan but naturally (and sadly) that will be a few years yet.

So that's about it really. Oh and I do get why some people find it odd and maybe even unpatriotic how interested I am in this culture. I was thinking about the other day but could not really come up with any firm explanation yet. The closest I came to I think is simply that I just feel like I've found my place, my clique in a way. That's not very explanatory but it's the best way I can put it I suppose. Anywho - I'll post the URL once its decided for anyone that is interested.

A New Year - A New Perspective & Challenge

2010-01-23T19:54:00.001-08:00

My goodness; first post of the year and we are almost a month in already. 2009 was a blur; a crazy, amazing blur. I didn't even see it pass. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting on the bus, clutching my brand new textbook and clean notebooks, heading towards my first Social Science lecture. Although I was scared stupid, at the same time I knew that the year that followed would be a new start for me. I didn't have to be the awkward, shy kid I was in high school. I think every first year uni student goes through this blissful realization. Just as expected, I got to be whoever I wanted. I went through a few things last year that helped me re establish what I wanted to believe in and what kind of person I wanted everyone to see me as. I'm very happy to say that in the past few months my faith in God has become a lot stronger and I've relied on his help which of course payed off and worked out for the better, as it always does. I am hoping that perhaps this year I'll find a church where I can fit in. I am not sure how my family will react to this idea because as they are still religious personally, in the past we had pretty much given up on the idealistic 'church community' concept after some bad experiences. But now I feel myself drifting away from my religion and seeing Sabbaths as Saturdays, any other day of the week. I don't want this to happen. So... we'll see what happens.

There have been so many other positive traits that I wanted to take on board as well as some that I wanted to lose in the past year. However near the end, around November and December I realised the most important thing. Changing and bettering yourself is not an instant - just add water – process. I was starting to feel a bit annoyed that nothing had changed very much in the last 12 months. But once I thought about it, I have changed for the better. Not necessarily in leaps and bounds but more like just little things that people around me and I myself began to notice. This, I've finally realised, is enough and all that can be asked of one mere human. So this is the new mentality of 2010 – expecting everything to fall into place immediately is so two years ago. So this year one of my closest friends Kirsty and I have a joint resolutions list which is an excellent way to ensure that we both stick to these resolutions. The general theme behind them is nothing too specific and making our goals as realistic and attainable as possible. We came up with them one afternoon in December on the steps of Salisbury station. That was a really good day by the way :3 So yeah, highly looking forward to the year ahead.

Now some news just in which some of you have already heard about; in the next month or two ahead I'm moving house and going to live away from home for the first time in my life. I am very excited about this but naturally a tad bit nervous. It will definitely be a good experience. I am looking at the possible new address tomorrow morning. It has all happened so quickly. It was only yesterday afternoon that my mum and I decided it would be a good experience for me and started looking on realestate.com and now less than a day later, I have a potential new home. I can't wait to see if this place really is as good as it seems. I have also been applying for jobs like my life depends on it today. I already work at a bat at Oxley like a lot of you know but I will need more income. So far I've applied for a whole lot of positions that look so good. Hopefully this will all work out.

That's it for a while I suppose. I have to work tonight - > < very nervous. Oh wait, did I already mention this. Well I'm going to say it again because I am quite nervous about it. Hopefully I will do alright

Till next time readers xx D

P.S. Have a look at Evermore's new song and video 'Underground' on their You Tube page if you are interested. Naturally they have done an amazing job again. Cant wait till the album's release and Evermarch's arrival : D YAYA

Clean White Love And A Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-28T18:58:00.001-08:00

Yes, it is 1 in the morning and yes I rarely have trouble with sleep. But there are some nights where something just says "Right, you're not sleeping tonight". It's usually on sticky hot nights like tonight. But it's a bit more than that; I just feel generally restless and uncomfortable. I hate it because I am actually really tired but sleep just will not come. It's very frustrating and I am glad I don't suffer from insomnia and have to put up with this every night.

Well it's a few days off from another new year. I always get very excited and hopeful around this time. Christmas, although it has some really nice things about it, frankly, on a whole, does not do or mean all that much to me. Sure it's fun selecting the perfect gifts for my family and I even appreciated the soft colourful lights of the Christmas tree and candles accompanied with some carols in the background on Christmas Eve; but I detest, like passionately hate, the commercial sceptical the holiday has become. Apart from a few beautiful ones, Christmas carols usually get to me; the way they are playing everywhere, you can't escape them. There are millions of other things I could list but I'll just leave it there. I don't want this entire entry to be on how Grinch-like I have become haha. I can execute an excellent 'BAH HUMBUG'. However back to the reason I bought this up. I don't particularly care for Christmas but New Years Eve holds some kind of magic for me. There's something so heart warming and special about being with the people you care about most, frocked up, welcoming in the first few seconds of another year. As opposed to Santa Clause or Rudolf, in a way I do believe in that idea that the people you are with on New Year's Eve are the ones you'll have close for the rest of the year. My family and I are going to spend a few days at the property we're fixing up at Gympie and 2010 will be bought in at Noosa beach somewhere. I absolutely love that place, I could very happily live there. It will be so good to go back there again as I haven't been all year.

In reflection, this year has been so amazing and I want to do a particular post on it tomorrow but for now I'll just catch you all up on a really nice Christmas. Kirsten and I went urgent last minute present shopping and got some really nice things for our families. I am sure I briefly mentioned this but anywho – I only ended up getting something for my sister because nothing was good enough for my parents and I did not want their gifts be some cheap $10 thing. I got my sister a book on the weird and wonderful stuff inside the world of astronomy which she is very interested in as well as a Lush bath bomb in 'Sakura' scent (Cherry blossom). I am planning to get my mum a piece of jewellery and my step dad a Fleetwood Mac music DVD (which I secretly wouldn't mind watching either). On Christmas Eve during the day my mum and I spent a crazy amount of money on food for our Christmas dinner and lunch the next day. Then we got home (after some drama which I won't go into) cleaned up the place and started spreading the Christmas atmosphere around the house. There were some nice carols playing on the radio as we all sat down to a vegetarian roast which I loved even when I did eat meat but Bob had a piece of real roast rather than our fake yummy one haha. The next morning we all woke up fairly early (my mum had a few really beautiful expensive gifts from the families she works for sitting under the tree so she was as bad as a five year old ^^ - it's so so good to see her happy again). We all sat around the tree, including the cats funnily enough (they got new food bowls!) and spent the next hour opening them up. I got the New Moon soundtrack, Wanted on DVD xD a beautiful necklace and my favourite T2 tea from my sister. My mum had gotten me, as an early Christmas present, my new phone (Nokia E63), a (pricey) dress I have wanted from Mombasa for quite a while and a new bag for university. But I also got a beautiful little denim shoulder bag, which was kind of from Bob as well as a gorgeous hairclip and cookie cutters – which I have been hinting at for ages now haha. It was a totally perfect Christmas for a Grinch like me. Just simple and beautiful.

Boxing day my mum and I decided to brave the psychotic shoppers and see if we could get some bargains while visiting my sister at work. I can not believe how capable and professional she looks in her store, I was quietly very proud of her. My mum and I found this very cute denim skirt in Sportsgirl that amazingly does something for my figure (this is a first in light coloured denim skirts), a big, sun combating but still beautiful hat from Myers (ONLY $20!!) as well as one of those environmentally friendly canvas bags from Sportsgirl as well (only four bucks) and a white flower hair clip from Diva. It was a really productive day shopping wise. My wardrobe is finally stocked at least until I can buy my own pieces that catch my eye. Speaking of I start work in a few weeks!! In case the punctuation marks didn't indicate – I'm very excited to start earning money and working with one of my best friends.

Actually – I'm finally relaxed enough to sleep I think,,, so I'll post this along with a 2009 summary, thankyou's etc. before sleep leaves me again. Goodnight xx D

Organization Is The Mother Of Cleanliness

2009-12-16T20:12:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting here with piles of papers around me and my bin overflowing with last year's work that I won't be needing (simply saying rubbish makes it sound like I live in sewer level conditions lol). Today is one of those days where I don't mind summer so much. The breeze is bringing in some natural air conditioning. Cicadas are chirping away – that's such a classic summer sound – cicadas. My room is clean but still insanely unorganized so I decided that its time I went through EVERYTHING and just cleared it out. It's actually a lot easier than I thought. It will make it a lot easier to move next semester. It's good that I am finally in the mood to go through it all.

A little while ago I started to read a book on blood types and the different kinds of foods that benefit or are bad for each type. It seems to make logical diet sense; I realized that the foods that are apparently bad for my blood group – A+ - actually do make me feel lethargic or a bit off. The usual contenders like unhealthy food in general and starch based foods are usually listed as bad for all groups. But then you get certain foods that are highly beneficial for one group and the last thing you should be eating for others. Unlike most 'diets' this particular one seems very practical and real. My particular blood group benefits the most from a vegetarian diet. I overlooked this bit of advice for a few months but the other day I decided that it would probably be in my best interest to give it a go. I was vegetarian while growing up and so far I've had no trouble with the change. Oporto make the most delicious veggie burgers.

So what else has been happening this week...
I had a lovely weekend. On Saturday my mum, sister and I had a girls day out. We went to Chemist Warehouse to get some much needed make up and things. I really do love that shop; it is pretty cheap compared to all those ridiculously priced chemists and department stores if you look carefully for the good stuff. After we all got the stuff we needed (including a larger than life hairspray can) we looked in a cute store at Sherwood and then I showed them a health food grocery store I discovered at Indooroopilly at the beginning of the year. We went a bit crazy and bought a whole lot of stuff, including some snacks for the movie we were going to see afterwards. My new favourite food in the world is almonds soaked in Tamari (soy sauce with less salt content). ^^ Yummy! After that we saw Departures again so that Mum and Beki could catch it before it went out. Surprisingly it was just as moving; it really is a beautiful and touching film.

Sunday was very eventful. Manda had told me a few days before that Brisbane artist Dan Parsons manager (also her lecturer at uni) was asking for people to be in Dan's new video. So we showed up after some difficulty finding the actual place (QUT Kelvin Grove is SO big). It was a really fun day. We met the band, crew and other dancers. I had been listening to Dan's stuff the night before and was hoping that they would be filming the song 'Fire Starter'. Turns out they were! It's a really good head banging style dancing song. We all danced to the song I don't know how many times through. But we started at about 11 and wrapped it up at 3. I have never drunk that much water in my life ^^ But it was a really good workout. The band and crew were all so nice and very talented at what they do. I developed a bit of a crush on the bassist – hehe. Everyone who showed up got put on the door list for the single release show on Saturday night at the Troubador. It will be an fantastic show no doubt and I'll have to put the video up here when they release it so you all can see me and Manda dancing away in the background.

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful but I did hang out with my favourite friend Kirsty yesterday, showing her around the city and walking around everywhere. We found an Asian Grocery Store which I had long forgot about. I bought some grapefruit lollies and Tanuki Udon which is, surprise surprise, a style of making udon noodles. I have not eaten it in years! The name always made me laugh because Tanuki is a type of Japanese racoon. There is also Kitsune udon which is 'fox udon'. I have no idea why they called it this. But I do remember eating Kitsune Udon while watching people sing karaoke at the hot springs down the road from our house. T . T It makes me so sad thinking about what an amazing life I had over there. I can't wait to go back and really appreciate it!

You all are visiting me too; you don't have a choice ^^

xx D

Insecurities, Departures & The Year Ahead

2009-12-10T02:03:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to remember when my last update was without consulting my website itself. I am pretty sure it was Sunday afternoon. So far this week has been so enjoyable. I got to see many of my friends that I've been missing a lot lately. Monday I caught the train to Wynnum so I could spend some time with Karrine at her new house that I hadn't seen yet. She had been urging me to come over and see it so she could show off her little home. I've missed her so much recently, even though we talk on the phone regularly. We went to the shops for lunch and then went for a swim in the pool to cool off. We chatted about almost every person, story and moment we could remember from high school. Although it's true that, well if I was being vague, I have a hard time looking back at my high school years fondly, I have to admit that I did take away some good memories. We watched some TV and then had dinner with her partner and her family who I hadn't seen in years. Allan, Karrine's partner introduced me to Gossip, the most beautiful white wine I'd ever tried. It was probably the most I've ever had to drink, it was so sweet! I had about four glasses of my own and snuck sips from Karrine's now and again. Then I fell asleep on their very comfy couch at around 12.

Tuesday I left Karrine's place fairly early and went to meet Lara and Josh at Graceville Regal Cinemas. It was a pretty stressful morning getting there because I caught wrong buses and had to find changes of clothes in a hurry etc. but I arrived about a minute to 10, just as the ads were starting. Its actually a really nice cinema with only two theatres and nice old people in suits taking your ticket at the door rather than the usual young employees in the black Birch Carroll and Coyle uniform. The three of us saw this little Japanese film called Departures. If you watched the Academy Awards last year you probably would have seen the director receive an award for Best Foreign Language Film and I think I remember it also being nominated at the Grammy Awards for its soundtrack. In brief, the story follows a young, newly married guy who loses his job playing the cello in a small orchestra and Is forced to move back to his hometown. He stumbles across a high paying job with a company that, well, prepares the dead body to be put in the coffin; in a non gory way if that makes sense haha. As some of you might know, death is a touchy subject and people who dealt with death in their jobs were considered a sort of bad omen in Japan for years. I imagine even today this movie would have been a daring move and some people would be uncomfortable watching it. It was without a doubt if not the best movie I have seen ever, then definitely the best in a very long time. My step dad mentioned a little while ago something that I apply to this movie experience. After we had gone to see Mao's Last Dancer with my mum and sister, he said that one reason why he found the film so excellent was because he was in the right frame of mind at the time. This really is how I relate to many books and movies – not only do they change your way of thinking or approach to something [this is not a very rare occurrence, for me anyway] but it goes beyond that when you kind of feel that if you had seen this movie or heard this song at any other time it would not have had the same affect on you. 'Departures' was one of these movies. Now maybe I am overanalysing this; like I said it was really highly strung that day for some reason. But I just really felt the movie and took it to heart in a way. I'm almost reluctant to go see it with my mum [who is also very eager to see it] because I would hate it if the 2^nd time I see it, it just isn't as special and in a way it would be ruined for me. If you're interested, I recommend it very highly.

Anyway, the next day was spent watching Studio Ghibli movies that I hadn't seen yet [or in a long time] on AniLinks [which is the best thing since bubblegum] and some YouTube videos; movie trailers, music, xteenager's site which is like my beauty reference guide these days. I also finished the 2^nd ImaDoki manga that I'd borrowed from the library just the day before. It's such a sweet series; its becoming a favourite! That afternoon I made a call to me new boss-to-be and set up a time to meet the next day [today]. So that meant that this morning I had to get up at 6 to get ready and train it to Oxley by 9 because he was busy for the rest of the day. Wasn't too bad – I walked past this really beautiful house there which I'm embarrassed to say I took a photo of on my phone. I just hope people inside didn't see my across the road and get spooked. It was just so beautiful – I couldn't leave without taking a little piece of it with me. If I ever got the right funds, I'd pay these owners any price for it. It's not flashy or 'modern'; just a cosy looking house painted dark blue, a veranda all around [as far as I could see] and some beautiful, large, shady trees all around. If I ever find my usb chord that allows me to put phone photos up here, I'll have to show you. [Is this scary stalker behaviour yet? hahaha] The interview went really well; it's just a small, quiet bowls club which you can easily imagine is the local senior citizens hangout spot. The job involves working behind the bar, serving up drinks. When he showed me around I was a tiny bit freaked out that I would never get the hang of it, but I know that it will be fine eventually. I'm really looking forward to getting started and I was promised that before I get chucked into the hard stuff I'd get some good practice at making drinks and stuff. It sounds fairly basic. After I finished up there I went to this place that I have been very curious to check out for a while; it's a little café/deli called Marmalade Deli. I was definitely right to have a look inside; it was very cool in a kind of relaxed 'we didn't put that much effort in, it just came out looking this good' kind of way. The floors and kind of dark concrete with some scratches and paint stains which looks like a purposeful look rather than some accidental mess. Had some ice coffee, read my book 'The Windup Bird Chronicles' [which I have not been reading for the past week for some reason] and did some light people watching. I went to the shops and found a 2010 day planner that I will buy sometime soon from Kiki K.

I got a mild case of heat stroke from walking to and from the bowls club which is about 15 minutes from the train station. So here I am; that was my week. Right now I'm watching a very handy video on xteener on this cute updo bun that I'm keen to try and listening to a new artist that I love already, Brisbanite – Dan Parsons. THANK YOU MANDA! Hehe :3 that girl has A Class taste in music. Well I really need to get my body temperature down before I pass out or something. No idea why I came here before the shower when I got home. If I survive this heat, I will write later

xx D

Getting Behind [oh well]

2009-12-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

I am very picky with when I write my blogs. I find it hard to document each day as it passes because especially now that it is summer holidays, my days are mostly spent just lulling around the house, reading, watching movies and cleaning funnily enough. I have been trying very hard recently to keep the house in order because its really beautiful when its clean. Mika and Bean are finally getting along and are beginning to enjoy things like chasing each other up and down the hallway and attacking our Christmas tree. Bean especially has taken to the habit of biting at the lights chords.

Kirsty and I have been able to hang out alot these holidays which is excellent. It's been lots of fun to start discussing and planning her wedding with her, even though it is still a few years ahead. We spent one afternoon in the library going through wedding magazines which I used to do alot with Karrine but it was quite different this time. We're not just imagining, are real wedding is actually getting planned this time. I'm absolutely honoured to be Kirst's third bridesmaid and I know that I will get all teary on the day haha. Anyone know a good waterproof mascara?

My lack of money recently has been quite a downer. But Kirst's work seems to be needing people so I am hoping that I will get a position because it actually pays fantastic money. I am meant to be saving up so that hopefully one day Manda and I can actually share a little house in New Farm like we've dreamed for a while. These expenses on top of thinking ahead of the move to Japan after graduation and general day to day "Oh that skirt is so beautiful. I wish I had the money" makes my unemployed status a tragic issue.

I have finally decided which classes I want to take next year and also gotten all my results back. I got a credit for Linguistics which was a pleasant surprise; as well as distinctions for Japanese Language & my Japanese Culture classes. I was slightly disappointed with Japanese Language because I set my goals alot higher than that and was hoping to get a High Distinction. Oh well, there is always next year. In 2010 - Semester One I will obviously be continuing my Japanese education with Japanese Introduction Level 3. I am really happy that I decided to start from the basics. I never got a formal education in Japanese; I just picked it up through natural conversation so I have many gaps in my knowledge. I'll also be taking Second/Foreign Language Teaching Methodologies which I am really looking forward to! On top of that I will also be taking an International Relations class as well as Asian Societies. For me this is quite a heavy study load but I am hoping that a full schedule is what I need to break my habit of procrastination. I think Jayne claims that no one can waste time and put things off as much as her but I beg to differ. I have perfected all nighter essays to an art form but if this continues I will end up with some deep set wrinkles way before my time for all that intense stress. So, point being, this cure will either work very well or will prove to be just way too much.

On a lighter topic, right now I have developed a new appreciation for a very popular Japanese band Kobukuro. I discovered this band a little while ago on a made for TV short film/ad on youtube. Their song was playing during one part and someone had conveniently provided the band and song name in the comments below. I often say that they are like the Backstreet Boys of Japanese music [even though their a duo]. I particularly love one of their songs 同じ窓から見てた空 - The Sky Seen From The Same Window. I am never sure if anyone actually follows up the music I talk about - I highly doubt it. I guess my taste in music is quite, well, unique sounds a bit self indulged, but it is the best I can come up with right now. I will put up the youtube link if anyone is interested to listen to this track anyway. I can barely understand this song myself but I've found I appreciate the music and vocal quality alot more when you have no chance of understanding the lyrics. Try it! This track starts of quite slow and almost dull, which is why I never listened to it in full before. But after a minute or two you definitely begin to hear some really good music.

Well this entry has ended up being quite long after all which is good but if anyone has read to this point thanks and I'm impressed :) I am going to go try some of my chicken and mushroom rice now. Hopefully it is a success. I got the recipe out of a wonderful cookbook about making obento or those beautifully presented Japanese lunch boxes. I hope that one day I can be that coordinated. It is also another one of my goals to understand the lyrics to my favorite songs by Japanese artists one day. When I can do this I will be happy with my level of the Japanese language at least. Interesting bench mark huh :3

Well bye bye for now xx

OH THIS IS THE LINK IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivIIqq3Kc0&feature=related

Huzzah For Summer Holidays

2009-11-22T23:21:00.001-08:00

So as of this week, I am on summer holidays!! This means I can finally read a book or cook without feeling guilty that I'm not studying. [Not that this ever stopped me during the semester haha] Point being – HURRAH! This means three months and a few weeks of time free to do whatever my little heart desires. Although that sentence sounds like heaven right now I know that by January I'll be bored and anxious to start classes again. Anywho, Thursday I woke at 5am so I could make it to my 8.30 Japanese exam on time. In case you're wondering, yes it does annoy me immensely sometimes that I live so far away from my campus but I love early morning starts anyway so that's not an issue. I believe I did alright in my exam but wasn't my finest hour. Later on I had many 'How could I forget that!!!!!!!' moments. After having some well deserved quality chill time with Tama-chan, Anna and Kirsty I went home and had a quiet, uneventful night.

Friday was great on several levels. I woke up early cleaned the entire house from top to bottom, read and then went to see The Boat People with my favourite gig buddy Manda. It was the first time I'd been to the Globe and I absolutely loved it. Any venue which allows you to sit on the ground and not feel two million miles away from the stage is perfect in my books. I also got to see a band called The Last Dinosaur which was a very good dancing band. I then got to meet Dead Letter Chorus' manager which was pretty cool. It never ceases to surprise me how many connections Manda has. ^ ^ Saturday I spent the day with Jess watching CNN, helping her sort out a stack of surveys for her report due on Wednesday and stalking people on Facebook. I'm never sure whether I love hanging out with her or taking advantage of her Foxtel though. ^ ^ ahahaha. Then when I got home I watched Hana Kimi and also started watching a new drama called Mei-chan no Shitsuji. Is this way too much Mizushima Hiro [<- brilliant, sexy actor] for one human to handle? Me thinks not! Sunday I spent the day around the house, reading and cleaning my bomb shell of a room which ironically missed out on the big clean I had done two days before. Then in the evening my sister and I went over to my sister's friend's pool for a swim and dinner. We had a beautiful view of the moon rising which was so nice. I can imagine I am going to miss having a pool all the more this summer.

Oh I can't believe I didn't mention this in the first line! This week Bob, Paula, Beki, Bean and I have welcomed a new addition to the family, a white little cat with brown markings on her back and face that make her look like the Zoro or a ninja maybe. We all love her already except Bean naturally because he feels that we are replacing him and this other cat is invading his domain. Anyone who has met Bean more than once knows he has a very big ego sometimes, meaning that at first he took this as a direct hit at his position as top cat. However I'm very happy that Bean seems to be accepting the other cat a lot better today. The new cat does not have an official name yet but I am hoping that the family will like my suggestion of Mika, pronounced as the Japanese name, not the singer hehe : ) It was so funny this morning, Mika was sitting behind my mum's curtain to get some morning sun. And Bean walked in to find me I imagine and saw Mika's tail and foot poking out from beneath the curtain. He was clearly scared that Mika was going to turn on him any second, not realizing that she couldn't see him. So for the next five minutes Bean slowly edged closer and closer to the curtain before giving Mika's tail one little sniff then losing his courage and running for his life. Mika didn't notice a thing ^ ^ It is very nice to have another cat around the house.

Today was spent googling some recipes to try during these holidays. The big Japanese cook-off Kirsty and I are planning to have. It is amazing that so many of my friends are getting engaged and starting to be in serious committed relationships. In some ways I feel quite left on the shelf but on the other hand I have to just shake my head, accept that everyone's different and if you really have found someone you're really in love with, whether it be at 19 or 99, why shouldn't you settle down? Hmm, I just can't imagine that happening to me at this age, if ever. It just may turn out that I am some form of hybrid human who can't really get along with anyone so well that I am comfortable enough to fall in love with them. Time will tell…

x D

A Spring Day That Reeks Of Summer

2009-11-16T17:21:00.001-08:00

So I feel very slack right now. All my friends who happen to have blogs are so good at keeping them up to date. Unlike me, who posts whenever she remembers, Monique and Jayne especially do such a good job at keeping everyone up to date. And I suppose there is no purpose behind a blog unless you are going to update it, well – a lot more often than I update mine. Seeing as quite a few of my friends live a fair distance away, this would be a good way for us to stay in each other's lives. See this is one reason why we love the internet. So that being said…

Today is one of those days in spring where it might as well be summer. Thank goodness for the breeze out here. And I say out here because yes, I have finally discovered the joy of those little internet connection in a USB things. I have to admit though that although I do whinge a little about summer heat, I do love the fact that summer seems to bring out the smell of the white blossoms right outside the kitchen and my bedroom even more. I have got YouTube up as well so I can have Joe Hisaishi's 'View Of Silence' playing. I'm half considering making myself a ice coffee but considering I promised myself that today I take this diet Kirsten and I are trying seriously, water seems to be the better option. Today I plan to clean the entire house from top to bottom before my family begins to arrive home. Then spend the rest of the day trying to imprint strange yet oh so intriguing characters that apparently mean something into my brain. For those who are not used to my somewhat odd way of expressing myself, that's kanji practice. Why couldn't I have just said that? [haha] Well I wouldn't be myself if I had put it that way. =)

I have to say that I've been on a roll assessment-wise the past few weeks and if I was being entirely honest I have gotten away very easily with a slack attitude this semester. Thank you Mr. Karma. I do realize that I am very lucky that I have put in minimal effort and gotten credits and distinctions in return; certainly don't expect to get away with it again next year. I know Kirsten is going to be on my case about study as I promised her that I'd be on hers. But just so I can have my moment of glory, I have recently: received 34 out of 35 for a Japanese culture essay that I wrote the day before, got a credit for an oral that I was forced to wing [special thanks to my laptop for that] and completed two fairly straightforward exams - [I'm not going to say easy because they were not really]. So as you can imagine, I'm very happy about this. I'm also really looking forward to my 2^nd Language Teaching classes next year as well as work experience in a real language school, God willing. I'm also thrilled that my mum and step-dad are finally back together and seeing my mum happy again is a huge weight off my shoulders. It is so nice to have a good father figure after having a not so good biological one my entire life. I can honestly say that I have much more respect and common ground with my step dad than my real one.

As for all the petty relationship dramas that I have had recently, I'm happily pushing my insecurities and overly stressing brain out of my life and just taking it as it comes. I have hurt some good friends and put others in unnecessarily difficult positions. I highly doubt either of them are reading this but I'm still sorry. We're starting again on a level playing field and I'll try not to let ridiculous, minor things get in the way this time. It's funny how differently I am approaching this year ahead as opposed to every other birthday I have had since about 14 or 15. Every year I would promise myself that I would be totally different, convinced that I couldn't ever possibly be happy and accepted as myself. But come on, seriously? I've believe now that it is humanly impossible to completely change your life, personality, everything about you around. We're born the way we are; we think the way we think, we like what we like etc. so why fight it? So this year, with a surprisingly small amount of effort, I have changed my attitude. There are some things that I need to change hence the diet etc. but essentially I'm not going to try become something else. I feel like I'm rambling but anyway…

At my 20^th I was in a much happier place. I've surrounded myself with some amazing people and gotten rid of the toxic ones that keep me in the past. University and TAFE I imagine have done wonders for me in more ways than just academics. So right now I've got Light Surrounding You featuring The Connections Choir from when they toured Australia. Making me wish I'd been at that concert to see it live and feel very impatient for March 2010 when I can catch up with Jon, Pete, Dann and hopefully Calvin too if his still hanging around.

Will be an excellent year! x D

2009-10-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

So my train of thought lately is... why can't we all have crystal balls that will give us the right advice.

I dont want to settle, accept that its impossible to find someone THAT compatible for me and just be happy I've found a guy I can at the very least be friends with. But then again, what if I'm being incredibly stupid and sap, waiting for some ridiculous pigment of my imagination to just walk through the door one day. Sadly I seem to be incredibly picky with these things. Things would be so much easier for me if I could just force myself to be realistic. But then again, what if I'm not asking too much.

I've tried to just push all this stuff aside and just be with someone who I really do genuinly like... that lasted about two weeks. So clearly there's something wrong here. And I can't pinpoint the exact problem so I can fix it. Whenever I try to explain all 'this' I come to same conclusion. It just dosn't feel right. It feels like I'm selling myself short and saying that I don't deserve anything better.

[I should be doing my essay so I'll just leave it there] So, if we infact did have those crystal balls the first thing I'd ask is "Am I living in a Disney movie and being incredibly unrealistic or doing the right thing?" Guess we'll never know...

I hate second thoughts -_-

2009-10-19T21:39:00.001-07:00

Flickr.com/EvermorePhotos
Follow them as they take over Europe!

Over&Out

2009-10-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

despite the fact that my smile here makes me look like a vampire
[kudos to the unnaturally pointy teeth for that one]
i do love these two girls. my sidekicks in crime and japanese class ^ ^

Today was Thursday. Thursday the 15th. Thursday the 15th of October. On Thursday the 15th of October, I had a bit of a lightbulb moment.

If I''m not happy with my situation, no one's going to go altering the world for me. I have to do it myself. I know people go in and out of these epiphanies all the time and there's no guarantee that this one is any different. I just hope it lasts. And I'll do my best. It would be a relief if one day my reality can be just as good and satisfying as my daydreams.

And I think I am starting to get to that point. It is true that my way of thinking and perspective on the world may be a bit odd and naive to some people. But I should stop holding that over my own head. There's too much good stuff going on right now to miss out. It's funny actually, last time I wrote I was under the firm belief that karma hated me. But maybe its one of those 'need something bad to happen to see just how lucky you are' scenarios. Like I said before, I was lucky to have friends who care this much about me and my mental state ^ ^ Just yesterday I was [I'm embarrassed to say] surprised a little but touched that one of my friends was worrying about me a bit more than he let on.

So with all this support how can I not try and give this a shot. Putting myself out there and accepting that life's not perfect and bad things happen. There are points where you feel like every force and element in the world is out to make everything just a bit harder. But then you get the good bits. And I'm willing to risk that.

And do realize that this entry has almost zero real information but if your slightly confused just read the last one. Should make a bit more sense ^ ^ Oh, and I discovered today that I have learnt close to 150 kanji this year yet I apparently would not stand a chance at passing Year 3 Japanese.

Enough said...

2009-10-12T03:48:00.000-07:00

[I should post more often. I'm going to try put some life back into this blog again. Just went out of fashion with me for a while. But for now at least, blogging is cool again kids ^ ^ I really can't be bothered reliving the past few months when I havnt been writing. Made some good memories but there are also some big chunks that I'd love to white out. So... lets not go there.]

Today was one of those quiet and uneventfully perfect days. Seems like I'm a very easy person to please; I only really need a few good friends to keep me company. Woke up just before 6 and had the usual scramble to coordinate textbooks, hair straighteners and lunches. Then the few moments of peace on the bus. [Why do most people hate bus rides? Its the rare minute I get in my day to actually stop and think]

Grabbed a Green Tea & Mango Mantra from Boost for breakfast and noticed this girl taking photos of the morning rush. Not sure if she was a photography student or stalker but seriously wanted her camera. First half of Japanese was interesting, that annoying loud girl I've complained to a few people about actually shut her trap for once. Had an awkward moment where Sensei was using "I broke up with my boyfriend" for the grammar form we were doing and commenting that, "Oh if you say it this way, it sounds like you did it without emotional attachment or feeling". Um, were you looking at me while you were saying that? [She was] Peachy! What are the chances of my teacher being able to read guilty looks on her students faces?

And speaking of this topic; you really dont know just how much your friends really care about you until you split up with someone and about to crack into lots of tiny pieces. Whether this sympathy is due or necessary is beside the point; thanks guys for all those supportive hugs. Especially Lara and Saya, you guys have no idea how much I needed that. Friday was... well lets just say, I totally believe in karma coming back to bite you now. And looking over your shoulder before saying something you don't want another person to hear. Hmm. So much for not discussing this...

So had a quick flash back to my experience in the Japanese education system in my Culture class which was something I hadn't thought about/discussed in a while. Its amazing with this class, every week I'll learn something that will have me thinking oh is that why they did/said/had that haha - rivating stuff.

Oh and speaking of that too, it just makes my day when I get a text from Saya or Sasuke with some Japanese-English to make me chuckle. I know this is very hypocritical on several levels as they both speak better English than I do Japanese, and they never laugh [well not often] But it is done unintentionally and sometimes you just cant help but at least let out a little bit of a laugh at it. Got a text from Sasuke in Culture tutorial in response to my message [which most likely woke him up - at 2pm I must point out lol] but yes anyway, it said 'I just woke up today'. Not his best ^ ^ nothing will ever derail the fairywheel but it still made me smile.

[If your still reading this, wow] So after Hiroko Sensei set us free for the day, Kirsty and I hanged out for a while eating sushi and bland Naan bread while discussing our very serious life problems that we will probably look back on when we're 4o-something and laugh at. Finally showed off my new camera [that I'm oh so in love with] to Sasuke and chatted to him for a bit too. Also starting to feel like I need a small notebook with me at all times whenever I'm around anyone Japanese but especially him recently, just the amount of random information and words I pick up. And the sad bit is I couldn't even begin to tell you what words I picked up today, hence the little notebook.

And to add on to a really good day, managed to capture some beautiful photos of the fog across from the bus stop in the morning and sunset on the way home. Excellent!

2009-08-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

So I dont know what it is, but after 3pm my university becomes really beautiful. Something shifts in the energy and its very obvious if your just sitting still, watching it change. It must be something about the fact that the day is about to end and everyone is happy about this fact. After 3, Griffith Uni is less hectic, running around with textbooks falling everywhere and people yelling OUT OF MY WAY. There's less study and more laughter and groups of guys playing footie on the grass. And funny that I never have or will be interested in football as a game but something about watching it from this angle makes me appreciate the mateship behind it. They look happy. Maybe thats it, everyone is happy after 3. Especially on Fridays. Friday afternoons around this place makes you happy to be alive. ^ ^ I'm such a people watcher.

Incase you wondering, I'm not making that observation in a poor me, look at all those happy people while I'm so sad way. I'm a bit drunk from happiness today. But not in the way I usually am, when something unusually good has happened. Just had one of those quiet, uneventful yet perfect days.

I woke up at 5. 30 (yes am - but didn't mind too much) had an easy run with my hair and got to uni an hour early. Then had my 9am Japanese tutorial which is always good. I really like my Wednesday lecture. She's one of those people who you'd describe as a truely charismic person. Not just quirky but a really memorable person. I think some people find her intimidating but I quite like her. Then (of my own will), I went over my kanji for an hour or two. Right now, for some odd reason, I love writing the kanji for 'think'. It's such a pretty character (haha). Here's what it looks like:

If you ever study Japanese or any language that has special characters you'll quickly learn that - yes - you do develop favorites. So then I had a garden salad sandwich and pub squash with my favorite guy buddies. Even though I'll openly admitt that I usually get along better with girls, it is really nice to have some good male friends to hang out with. There was a very serious discussion as to whether Japanese girls are much 'cuter' than Australians (haha), which probably proves my point. Sometimes its so much easier and enjoyable to just roll your eyes at the perves and just have simple, pure fun without that 'competativeness' or 'bitchiness' you sometimes get in female conversations.

So now here I am. The sun is filtering through the clouds and trees, one of my favorite scenes of nature. That soft light that casts a hallow around everything. And just to show how long its really been since I've written a blog, there is the slightlest hint of summer in the air. Most days its not just a hint actually, you'd think summer was already upon us. But right now its my favorite temperature - just bordering on cold.

Yeah, today was a beautiful day.

remind me why i'm still up again?

2009-06-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely day with my cat. Took a few wonderful photos of him and I together as well as a few solo shots when he would cooperate.

(my new favorite outfit)

Can not wait till holidays - exactly one week and three exams to go till I'm free. So much planned for so little time. Shopping with my new American friend Maggie, I get to show her around to some of Australia's best clothes stores. My sister's birthday party will no doubt be a laugh, can't wait to give out her gifts. Some lovely Dusk candles, Smiggle stationary and Gilmore Girls Season 7 for her enjoyment just as much as my own.

Hopefully will catch up on some writing and this blog of course - I have been neglecting you lately. Get Ebay shopping all official and sorted. And last but surely not least is the greatly anticipated Truth of the World tour. I am still coming to terms with the fact that I will see my favorite live band in a less than two weeks. Marvelous. No doubt I will write a very pretty entry about the night with lots of photos and footage for you to enjoy. But for now I shall leave you and go fill my hot waterbottle, pick up my cat also known as my personal heater and get some rest.

Did I mention I hate exam week with a great passion? xx

2009-06-13T00:57:00.000-07:00

How I wish I had a scanner. Flipping through Vogue (sigh, yes again) I found a dress I could fall in love with, in the most literal sense. I can not find a photo though - I have looked everywhere. = . = So sad. It is by a little label called Land's End and in my favorite shade of navy blue. The front collar is a kind of heart shape cut and the back is bare, in a less sexy, more classy way - if that makes sense. Its quite sad that I can't allow everyone love this dress as well. If you can get your hands on it, the dress is on pg 40 of the Feb 2009 issue of Vogue Australia. On a happier note: I found some lovely little Studio Ghibli inspired creations on Deviantart. At least I have some documentation for these.

Mimi O Sumaseba or Whispers of the Heart.
without a doubt my favorite movie in the whole world.

Howl's Moving Castle.
the cutest little figurines of howl and sophie
you will ever see

Lots of Studio Ghibli Characters.
so wonderful i had to save it!
special favorite is the soot creatures from spirited away

My Neighbour Totoro.
well you can actually read that for yourselves right?

Kiki's Delivery Service
A wonderful recreation of this cute little witch

Kiki's Delivery Service.
a real life version of kiki and jiji as a stuffed toy.

Howl's Moving Castle.
the necklace - i want it!

Howl's Moving Castle.
i would love the entire costume actually

A Post From Quite A While Ago - But I Just Didn't Want To Delete It

2009-06-09T02:38:00.000-07:00

have not written in a while eh? I have been so busy, running around like a cartoon character with dust billowing behind it and the background keeps on repeating itself... and yes you get the idea. Sitting in my favorite beanbag right now with a fuzzy bathrobe as a blanket and sitting as close to the heater as humanly possible without burning myself. Bean, my darling little morsel of cat seems to be enjoying himself as he kneads his furry paws into my leg, which hurts alot but must be tolerated for his happiness. That's cats for you right.

Anywho. Last night I saw something horrid - absolutly unspeakable. Terminator 4. I can't even begin to explain. However that's what you get when its two girls against six guys picking the movie. But that being said, the night overall was lovely. Brisbane city is beautiful around dusk and there was alot of laughing, smiling and miso soup all around. I wish I could document these moments more for when I'm having a boring day in my trackies. There's nothing like it, feeling part of a group; we all take it for granted so often.

So just lying here watching interviews with the wonderfully gorgeous James McAvoy and a favorite Japanese comedy show, DOWNTOWN. In between YouTube and nuzzling Bean, I was flicking through some Cosplay portaits on DeviantArt.

When I went outside with my cat just a few minutes ago, I had the sudden wish to camping, on Rainbow Beach maybe, or Jarvis Bay in New South Wales, sitting around a camp fire with hot chocolate and smores. The moon was so bright and beautiful. Sometimes I wonder if I actually love the night just as much as the morning after all. How can you choose either the sun coming slowly through the fog and crisp, freezing cold air or sitting on the grass, everything glowing brightly under the moon, feeling small under the stars and, again, shivering slightly in the cold air. It's impossible.

2009-06-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

As if I was not anticipating Evermore's tour enough - they had to go release an incredible video didn't they. Its not like I wasn't counting down the days or anything. Yes, I'm a bit of a groupie, a fan girl - whatever you want to call it. But watch this video and then tell me what's not to love. These guys are like the super humans of the music world. Just as I think they have reached their best - they pull out something a million times better. Absolutely incredible.

Anyway, hope you love this video as much as I did.

can you hear me from Posse Video on Vimeo.

Ok so, there is a storyline behind this particular song, but to understand the full message and beauty of this song you have to listen to the entire album. But this is why we love concept albums no? Music and story all in one. I really can't recommend the album highly enough. The video really got me - I just had my hand over my mouth, dazzled. Just the lighting and everything, totally exceeded my expectations. And less than a month till the concert...

Gah I hate waiting for things - I am so impatient.

2009-06-02T03:02:00.000-07:00

Guess what everyone. That ghastly essay - distinction, thank you very much! *Cyber High Five* I could not believe it. I was internally cringing as my lecturer was handing them back - absolutely convinced that I was going to fail miserably.

So proud

random moment

2009-05-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up early, in a warm bed and just lay there listening to beautiful cello music on the radio, watching the sun slowly begin to filter through the fog. I think its one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a while. I don't now where I'd be without these moments in nature. Just simply stunning beauty.

Wish I had taken a photo

2009-05-24T03:24:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I am doing everything in my power to avoid this assignment, I
will put a paragraph or two up so not only everyone can see what kind of pain
I'm in but also because I suspect that in a year or two I will look back on this
and laugh at how easy it was. Yes a little something to look foward to
obviously.

In relation to the individual as a social entity, religion is an important
factor that very much determines how the individual person places themselves in
society. Particularly when the majority of a country accepts a certain religion,
like the Catholic Church in Europe, does religion seem to define its society
through the individual. Durkheim believed that religion was a positive and
necessary influence of society, in the sense that whatever an individual will
believe about spirituality will simply be the result of society as a single,
collective entity. (Bessant ed. al. 2007 p. 245) In The Elementary Forms of the
Religious Life, Durkheim defines three key ideas of religion as follows.

“[R]eligion is society becoming ‘conscious of itself’, although in a
symbolically transmuted form, [secondly] that the representations created in
religion are thus the initial source out of which all subsequent forms of
human
thought have become differentiated, [and last of all] that, as
creations of the
superior being which is society, religious symbols are
accorded a peculiar
respect…” (Giddens, 1972, p. 20)

Marx on the other hand was much more passionately opposed to religion. He strongly believed that god and spirituality was a form of repression against the individual. Rather than establishing a relationship with a spiritual superior, Marx believed in establishing relationships between man and his external world. In ‘The
Thought of Marx’, this perception is described in the form of alienation. “It
was god who had usurped man’s own position; religion served the double function
of a compensation for suffering and projection of man’s deepest desires.”
(McLellan, 1981, p. 106) In this way Marx’s concept of alienation does apply to
religion. Like his perception to work, Marx thought rather than be governed and
suppressed by a higher being, man must be his own superior. In this way
Durkheim directly opposes Marx as to whether religion and spirituality
contribute to or hinder society and the individual. (Stupid work)

odds and ends: the loves of may

2009-05-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

sushi gone creative.
photographer anthony amos.
artist fafi and her adorable creations.
pretty candles.
beautiful valentino shoes.
unprinted and unpublished journals.
alice steinbach.
being outdoors in winter.
vincent vangough paintings.
palsma picasso.
pride and prejudice film.
cute anime pictures.

and other stuff that should be added to this list:

matthew macfadyen: the very best mr. darcy i could imagine.
i never saw mr. darcy having blue eyes until now. absolutly perfect.

clean, simple fashion photographs.
this beautiful shot caught my imagination's attention
in particular. rather than cluttered and 'conceptual' shoots,
give us naturally beautiful photos

this photo is actually part of the collage but i love it so much
i just had to add the larger image. it makes me want to
watch bambi, and brings memories of that magic you
always got in those childhood picture books i love so much.

2009-05-21T04:25:00.000-07:00

(I've been meaning to write this blog for months)

One of the best feelings in the world is when you are on the brink of finishing a wonderful book. Just one more chapter to go now. It is so exciting, fuzzy feeling but also sad - in a very good way though.

Currently I have one more chapter to finish in 'Without Reservation' by Alice Steinbach, a lady I deeply admire and aspire to be like. She shares many of the same perspectives that I do: about people, nature, beauty and the world in general.

Like Alice would say, I imagine, when I first saw a photo of her I felt like I already knew what she would look like, like I was looking at the photo of a friend for the first time who I was already acquainted with. I can't recommend her two travel journals enough.

I was so immensely lucky to have found out about her, or maybe I was always meant to read about her. I just happened to glance at this interesting looking book cover. I had passed it a few times on the sale tables and just happened to pick it up to read the back - I will always be so glad I did. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I will always have some physical connection with my books but of course, being a fiction lover myself, I never really had this with a real, non fiction book and while reading both books I had to keep reminding myself that this is what Europe really looks like, and these are real experiences. Such a beautiful read.

I won't ruin it for you by even hinting at what these two books contain. But I promise you that you won't be disappointed. They'll claim a little place in your heart.

2009-05-20T21:06:00.001-07:00

Why do some people insist on being so contradictory and, yes let's say it, pathetic?

A myspace photoalbum that I looked at once was full of statements that say "I don't Photoshop." right next to "Omygod I look so bad here." Ok so you are proud that you dont make yourself look fake, fair enough. But why put it up there if you 'think you look terrible'? And this kind of stuff is everywhere. If you look so bad, why did you put it up there?

Either y0u will admitt that you look pretty good in that photo and don't try to be all ashamed of it, or don't put photos of yourself up at all. I think the legendary John Mayer wrote something on this once. I'll have to find that blog entry, I remember he put it really well.

But yes, this is driving me nuts.

2009-05-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

I love so many things. Usually very simple but beautiful.

The sound of rain falling outside.

Curling up in the warm sun with a book.

Moments with my beautiful cat.
People watching

Overcoming writers block

Bracing a freezing morning with a warm scalf.

Flipping through old copies of Vogue with a cup of coffee

Waking up and realizing you have a whole free day ahead of you

Having a very long and satisfying conversation

Feeling like you have learnt something amazing or stimulating in class today

Flower fragrence catching in the breeze and drifting through the window

A weekend met with sunny weather.

Waking up to find your room beautiful and clean

5am starts

Discovering a under rated but incredible musician

Furry hugs at 1 in the morning

His the sweetest little soul I've ever known. Such a beautiful personality and the cutest thing.

2009-05-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Ipswich,

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but, you seem to have forgotten your shoes today; and I can’t help but point out that you usually do. Of course, it is a stupendous effort to slip into a pair of $2 thongs every morning but, to be perfectly frank, deal with it! If the rest of the world manages to remember their feet each day, so can you. Not only do shoes say ‘I am a civilised member of society, not a feral primate’ but grimy brown soles are also a real turn off.

If you need additional information about footwear, deodorant or your nearest job agency feel free to contact me.

Best Regards

Danielle

=============================================================================================================

I just stumbled across this now. Could be that I was really annoyed that day ^ ^
Sorry Ipswich, you are very beautiful. But must your Centrelink lines be so long?

2009-05-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

Its a sunny, breezy and crisp morning in Brisbane. My favorite kind of day. The lady sitting across from me has taken advantage of the hot coffee and free Internet at McDonalds like I have. Study and blogging is so much more interesting with some caffeine beside you for moral support. Every day I wake up to more signs that winter is on its way. The mornings are getting colder and the nights are requiring softer blankets and hotter water bottles. I love it.So many people think I am crazy, how can anyone love the cold. Very easily. It is impossible to explain but I thrive in the cold. I'm happier, brighter, more awake. Winter means I can bring out my favorite red trench jacket and impressive scarf collection. It gives you a reason to stay inside and even more excuses to drink hot coffee.Winter is many things. Its pumpkin soup, the best food a girl can get. Its hugs for no reason except you are freezing. Its fire, boots and colourful beanies. Winter does not care if you are having a 'Why have I got nothing to wear day'. You can just put on your favorite jacket and brace the day.Winter is embracing the few precious moments of sunlight. Winter is reading in the sunroom. Winter is feeling the cold pinch your face. Winter also means snow - which makes me miss Japan all the more. Winter to me also means homesickness. Home sickness for my second home and favorite country in the world. But on this particular Wednesday morning, winter means that I have work to do and I should get a move on.Winter is beautiful.

であた　ところ　に　かえりたい

2009-05-05T16:46:00.001-07:00

The title of this blog: 'Back To The Place Where We Met'. Not only a good way to start this entry but also one of my favorite episodes of Inuyasha, a Japanese anime. It some how struck me as appropriate.

As some of you know, I've been missing Japan quite alot lately. Alot of my friends at uni speak Japanese or are interested in the country so it's just an annoying reminder of how much I want to go back. Here are some photos of my beautiful years in Japan.

This is a photo of Mt. Fugi in the summer. It was very brown and of course very big. Sure it was a bit of a bummer that it was not as magnificant as most people imagine it, without the snow. But it was still an incredible experience and a very good bragging right. The veiw is of course, incredible.

This is a photo of me at age 12 I think. The horse next to me, Sekito Boy, was the first horse I had ever ridden. I still remember how big and slightly scary he was. But also what a beautiful temprement he had. I still miss him, even though we were only friends for an hour or two.

This castle was unbeleiveably tall and magnificant. It was at a place called Matsumoto. Inside it was like a museum for things like (very) old samurai armour and such. Even thought it was raining that day it was still one place I'll never forget.

This is my sister and I in yukata - summer kimonoes. This festival was held right outside our house in the park. At night matsuri (Japanese festivals) is full of the most beautiful smell of food and summer. The lanterns look amazing of course. I'll have to find a photo we took of them and put it up. The best experience ever, if you're in Japan, is a summer fireworks festival. You will never forget it.

Now you can see why I miss this beautiful place so much.

This time last year...

2009-05-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

I don't know what brought up this topic in my thoughts. But... what was I doing this time last year??

Alot has changed. But then again, not much has changed either. That's time for you...

I was at TAFE last year. Somehow I remember May 2008 to be one of the most perfect times of my life. At that time I was on good terms with an 'ups and downs' friend. I really miss that, especially seeing as we don't speak much anymore.

I had good direction and was very happy. It felt like anything was possible. I don't know, maybe because it is the middle of the year and I was alright with the direction I was heading. I think I was working on my 'icons' speech about Bono - an icon in his own right.

I was on top of my work and everything was chill. May 2007 was good.

The Little Cullens Have Finally Lost It

2009-04-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

Twilight violence sweeps the net

Hating Twilight could be bad for your health.
Message board Twilight Sucks has been cataloguing attacks by "Twihards" — hardcore fans of the vampire romance franchise, who allegedly get violent when they hear bad things said about their beloved novels and films.
The violent incidents range from minor assaults — some of Twilight's detractors claim to have been punched, slapped and had books thrown at them — to attempted homicides. One over-the-top tale reveals how a Twihard supposedly threw acid in a boy's face then stabbed him repeatedly after he insulted the books. While several of the stories on Twilight Sucks have a distinct whiff of fiction about them, there's no denying that many Twilight fans do have an intense obsession with the series and its vampire protagonist Edward Cullen. The second Twilight film, New Moon, hits cinemas in late 2009.

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I should be more surprised than I am right? Everyone saw this one coming. Although I really do love the books (not the movie) this is just pathetic. Sure tweeny 'Mrs. Cullen's get on my nerves most days but come on - attempted homicide and chucking acid at people? Harry Potter fans are not this demented. I'm just waiting for the day that someone bites a Twilight hater. But seriously - if you feel the need to kill someone just because they disagree with you, I would recommend a muzzle and some therapy

2009-04-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Supernova, I have been googling cosplay costumes alot. An insane amound of effort goes into them and so many pull it off wonderfully.

Favorites:

this is my absolute favorite.
the photo quality, costume, hair, eye colour - everything is just as master howl would have it. perfectly beautiful

2009-04-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

Yes - I have returned from a day of awsome, over the top cosplayers and a spending spree that will have my wallet in tears for weeks (um try years). This weekend Brisbane was taken over by a band of local anime fans, such as myself. This weekend was Brisbane Supernova.

One of my favorite activities around this wonderful time is to sit back and admire the huge amount of work put into some costumes, and especially to watch other peoples reactions to the cosplayers. Last year I saw Inuyasha's real life twin. Today's highlights were Snape (Harry Potter) and Ichigo from Tokyo Mew Mew. I was like *homer simpson scream* when I saw the Snape lookalike. The resemblence was amazing. Me? No, no I didn't dress up. I could have but didnt expect many people to on the last day of the event. But next year, at least I'll have my costume already.

Because cluelessness is the mother of invention I decided to go as Kiki because I had similar hair length and colour. Below is a beautiful picture of my costume inspiration.

I also got the most wonderful badges ever. (One below is Seshomaru, also bought Inuyasha)

Also finally purchased a DVD copy of my favorite anime witch. Although I'll miss the video version I recorded with the Japanese ads.

It was hot, threatening to rain, my feet were killing me but I loved every moment of it. Can't wait till next year when Moniku and I will make our annual journey to the RNA Showgrounds (and no doubt get hopelessly lost again)

2009-03-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

brandon flowers is a legend. but when you consider the fact that he wears eyeliner and singing this song - well you got to wonder hey ;)

the kings of cool. not enough footage of dave though - his like the modern day michael hutchence. love these guys so much - glad to see them shaven and looking sexy again.

2009-03-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Incase anyone is wondering what my problem is with hot cross buns...

Not only are they everywhere, taking over every Woolworths, Coles and bakery
But what the hell is the cross made out of. I don't mind at all when the cross is made of icing. However the hard, tastless dodgy looking crosses creep me out.

My Diary At Thirteen

2009-03-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

Well tomorrow is the last time I'll see Matthew. School finished 3 days ago. I'm just sitting here listening to one of my favorite songs by Delta. Delta Goodrem has to be my all time hero, my insperation and rolemodel. The song at the moment is called "Not Me, Not I". It's such a beautiful song. I got her CD for christmas from Lauren. From Monique I got a statue of a cat and from Karrine I just got a card, suprise suprise. Oops better change the song. I don't like this one. There. Oh joy, this song always gets me into that moppy mood.

It always reminds me I'll never see you know who again. (sigh) His, like, the last person in this universe who'd really like me. I wish I was more lucky. I must be the un-luckiest human on the planet. I know who's the luckiest. Wade's girlfriend. Like, duh, of course she'd be the only girl who can get a guy like him. OK, if I had 5 wishes they'd be:

1. Lots of money
2. Good Looks
3. Smart
4. Humor
5. Wade not having a girlfriend (of course)

Anyway, let's see if they'll come true. Being positive never hurt anyone, did it? I have to catch Matt by himself tomorrow so I can talk to him. (sigh) Today was exactly a week since we kissed. Oh well, better hit the sack.

Wish me luck for tomorrow, Danielle

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Sadly, and ever so tragically, my life's about as free of real love today as it was when I wrote this diary entry six years ago. My life isn't pathetic; I have good friends, supportive family, a little black cat on my lap and steaming coffee waiting in the pot. But something's missing ... it always is isn't it. It dosn't help that I want that - the kind of love you read about. Once again your telling yourself that Mansfield Park is just a book - sadly. There can't possibly be an Edmund Bertram or Asamoto Soshi out there for you.

Coffee is my substitute though.

2009-03-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Danielle summerised in:

1 picture
1 poem
1 song or piece of music
1 phrase or quote
1 item of clothing
1 place

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Love is a friendship set to music.

- E. Joseph Cossman

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The scratching of paper and pen reminds me of a song I wrote two years back.

I remember each and every line
like a photo glued to the lids of my eyes.

The shiver of my wheezing chest

reminds me of the way I felt two years back.

And as we lose all track of time I feel her breath like ice on the tip of my spine.

The shake before I sleep.
I wait for the bed to get warm
as my eyes adjust to the darkest light form.
And as I start to drift away
you're the shake that pulls me back to this state.
The shake before I sleep
You're the shake...

The Shake - Kisschasy
Call it cheating, but I've always seen lyrics as one of the best forms of poetry.
The music is wonderful but the lyrics in particular make this song beautiful to me.
It is a sad memory mixed with a pleasent reminiscence.
To be honest, Darren Cordeux is my favorite poet, so to speak.

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Slow Dancing In A Burning Room [Live Version] -
This particular version of the song does something for me. The album recording is beautiful. But this video in particular is everything I love in music. The final few minutes are just ... really, I can't even describe it. I am lucky enough to own 'Where The Light Is' and this track always has the same effect on me. Breathtaking...

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Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face, or what's behind it?
- Pablo Picasso

In highschool, I did a research assignment on this famous artist. I'd always been intrigued by his conceptual art so knew it would be interesting. After reading about his life and personality I have developed a slight facination with him and love this quote in particular.

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Alannah Hill
Pick any piece from this designer. This Australian designer has true taste.
One of my guilty pleasures is to wander through the showroom on Queenstreet. I never tire of it.
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Madeira, Portugal
I have never been to this beautiful place. But my mother was born there.
I have always wanted to go; not only for the incredible scenery but
also to see the house my mother was born in that still stands, deserted.
I will hopefully see it one day.

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These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

2009-03-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

Can I just say - I hate awkward moments, passionately. Why can't we all be normal and talk about life, class etc. My sister once informed me that I don't know when is the appropriate time to say "Oh well ... was nice seeing you" when I've randomly bumped into a friend. And I agree with her - I definitely do have that problem. I wonder why we feel awkward - what clicks inside our brain that makes us cringe, not always so subtly and quietly wish that we could burrow 200 feet into the ground. Its days like these I wish I could understand how the brain works. But somehow I don't think I'm going to turn into a scientific genius like some people I know - who took part in the awkward moment with me. Grrrr! Like some friends and I were saying the other day - there are some moments in life that call for us to have some tumbleweed or a recording of crickets on hand. Memory: *pulls tumbleweed out of hat and rolls across the ground* *random stage person in full black runs onto the scene and rolls tumbleweed across the horizon* Ah this is why I love my friends - they get my sense of humour so succinctly that I can suddenly find amusement in the object I hate so much. Everyone who was part of that conversation - thanks for giving me a good memory of awkwardness. Much appreciated = )

Matters of the Soul and Lizards With Feelings

2009-03-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sitting here - at uni again - feeling very poor. - __ - However...

A lecturer of mine asked a really interesting question this morning.
We were discussing the concept of self from a sociological perspective ( ^ ^ happy)
So, what happens to a person when they are brain dead? Or, does a person in a coma have sense of self? Seems easy - everyone's asked and answered this question for many moons now.

But forgetting my Christian beliefs for a minute, or actually maybe taking them into account ... if our physical body or state of mind is just a shell for life, what happens to all those memories and i hate to use the word because the overuse of it makes it sound generic, a person's essense so to speak. Or, from an anime perspective, what really happens to the Sacred Jewel shard when it is taken out of the, now empty evil human or demon or whatever it was? I'm not offering an answer because I dont have one. This is just the ramblings and ponderings of my brain this morning.

The on-campus creepy goanna I've named Lagarto (Portugese for lizard) is waddling dangerously near to my bag (shoo shoo). Can't help wondering what his thinking, if animals can think at all (another one of my ponderings, thanks to a very shameful debate in class). Is he regretful or angry that he has almost no sight? That lots of silly Asian girls scream and run from a helpless (but yes creepy and big) animal. Lizards have feelings too you know - and no lecturor can argue against that. Although my realistic side tells me that its genetically impossible for animals to 'think' or communicate like humans do, my much bigger imaganitive side shuts up my realistic side. To me - there is every possiblity in the world that an animal could think, and have a language, no matter what science or logic says. So thereeee *pokes tounge*

Anywho Im off to do lots of fun assignment work with my friends. And yes - for once - I'm serious.

L i f e o n P e n n y L a n e

A Change Of Scene

A New Year - A New Perspective & Challenge

Clean White Love And A Merry Little Christmas

Organization Is The Mother Of Cleanliness

Insecurities, Departures & The Year Ahead

Getting Behind [oh well]

Huzzah For Summer Holidays

A Spring Day That Reeks Of Summer

remind me why i'm still up again?

A Post From Quite A While Ago - But I Just Didn't Want To Delete It

random moment

odds and ends: the loves of may

であた ところ に かえりたい

This time last year...

The Little Cullens Have Finally Lost It

My Diary At Thirteen

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Matters of the Soul and Lizards With Feelings

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