Good Times

Recently celebrated a friend's birthday in the city. I didn't know that the Sydney Festival thingo was on and there was this movie screening thingo at Darling Harbour. Unfortunately, we went to Hyde Park where there was nothing on. All that walk for nothing.

Vaguely looking forward to uni, when it starts in March. It's my last year, and that in itself is something special. More groupwork though, something I'm not looking forward to. Well, you can't everything. Also looking forward to going to Adelaide for clinicals. My friends are also planning to have a quick stopover in Melbourne after clinicals as well. Might to find something to do to replenish the my depleted financial stocks at the moment.

Nothing that much to do at this moment. I'm holding off on downloading and watching Youtube in a [vain] attempt to prevent being capped early. The thing about holidays is that you look forward to doing all the things you haven't had time to do during uni and then you do all you wanted to do and still have 2 months of free time. I'm reading through some random manga to pass the time, as I think of what to do next.

I remember somewhere on the internet, there was a short story site, where anyone can post any short story as long as it was exactly 666 words. Or something close to that, I'm not sure it has to be exactly 666 words. I might try to find it, do some reading and maybe post something. With the holidays, it gives plenty of time to let your mind wander, and something I wonder whether I should commit some of it to paper. I'm pretty meh about writing stuff though, since most of my attempts at writing tend to lack decent characterisation and emotion. And I tend to ripoff from other people. But Stravinsky did say that good composers don't borrow, they steal. Probably applies in a way to writers as well.

Actually, one of the more interesting stories I've read is called "Armageddon??" written by someone called 'Stuart' [his internet alias]. Basically, demons from Hell invaded Earth, only it seems modern weaponary is quite effective against them, culminating with a human invasion into Hell taking on Satan himself. The style is rather like Tom Clancy, focusing on the interaction of human military forces and Hell's invasion force. You can read it here. It's fairly long, but after reading the first couple of chapters, you can probably tell whether if it's your cup of tea or not.

I would buy books to supplement my reading, but since I tend to read quite quickly, it usually ends up with me buying the book, then finish reading it later in the day. Some time ago I bought The Last Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko, the final book in the tetralogy in the Watches series [I heartily recommend this series] and finished in around 3 hours later. It was $40 well-spent, but it didn't last that long. If I kept buying books and reading them quickly, I'll end up bankrupt.

Well I'm running low already, maybe I should do some odd jobs to build up my balance again.

Blue Ridge Mountains

Men kick friendship around like a football and it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it falls to pieces.
- Anne Lindbergh

Just seems strangely appropriate quote to a situation I know.

Nothing much happening so far. I'm busy organising a trip with uni friends. Seems a little messy this time around, probably because there was more democracy involved. That's a lesson learnt. When organising something, the organiser should be a benovolent dictator and when necessary a tyrant.

I went out and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with friends. It was alright I guess. It reminded me of Twilight (the book). Rather bland characters and plot, but a very well done romance. The fact that one of them getting younger and another getting older and still remain totally in love was nicely handled. The fact that no medical authority picked up on the fact that this guy was ageing backwards irked me, but that's why suspension of disbelief exists.

Just so you know Fleet Foxes do some pretty decent music.

A Fleeting Dream

Happy New Year everybody! Here's hoping that 2009 will be a better year than 2008.

I actually journeyed to the city (well Balmain) to watch the fireworks with friends. There was a lot of waiting for and between fireworks. The midnight fireworks started out pretty meh, but picked up in the middle and ended pretty well. I still say that 2000 had the best fireworks and have yet to be matched.

Even though NYE has passes, some people near my house have been shooting up fireworks quite regularly. Not as fancy as the Sydney fireworks, but still pretty fun. Everytime I step out though I only get to see around 10 seconds before they stop. And then the cop sirens go up. Still quite fun.

And to bring in the new year, here a little thing that I found on the internets. Basically, it called the "Soundtrack to your Life". Set your music player to random then fill out the categories. Stick a comment about the songs if you can. And no cherry picking songs. Ok, here I go.

Opening Credits: Memories Fade by Tears for Fears.
^Oh crap, that's a sad start.

Waking Up: Take me on the Floor by the Veronicas.
^Doesn't really fit, especially considering I wake up at 6am

First Day At School: Possession [Eng Ver] by Jyongri.
^Does this mean that I was somebody's bitch? I swear I wasn't.

Falling In Love: Young at Heart by Jimmy Durante.
^Now that's a song I fully approve of. Looks like it's a good omen.

Losing Virginity: People of the North Pole by Masashi Hamauzu [Final Fantasy X Piano Collections]
^This is a really sad, emotional piece. Obviously this means that tears were involved. Probably not a good omen.

Fight Song: Just like You Imagined by Nine Inch Nails.
^Hell yeah!

Breaking Up: The Impossible Dream by Andy Williams.
^So the relationship was impossible in the first place?!?! Bugger...

Debs/Prom/whatever you call it: Can't Change Me by Chris Cornell.
^Sounds alright, guess that means I'm still me.

Life: Bubbly by Colbie Cailat.
^Not sure its entirely appropriate. I wouldn't really use this song to describe my life. Damn random shuffle.

Mental Breakdown: I Don't Do Surprises by Axel Whitehead.
^Probably something our of the blue. It fits, I don't like surprises that much, especially unpleasant ones.

Flashback: In Color by Jamey Johnson.
^Wonderful choice. I approve.

Getting Back Together: Nobody by Wonder Girls.
^Again, weirdly appropriate. I approve again.

Wedding: Kiss me by Sixpence none the Richer.
^Nice one, although I don't know if it fits a wedding.

Birth of Child: That's what You Get by Paramore.
^Errr...yeah. I guess that works

Final Battle: Phillips Roboskin Shaver Commercial by Raphael Ibanez de Garayo.
^I don't know how that works. Must be a very mellow final battle. Link is here to see the commerical and hear the music. Good music though

Death Scene: Now I Love someone by Holly Throsby.
^Final confessions? I don't really like this choice for my Death Scene. I was hoping for more awesome.

Funeral Song: You Give Me Something by James Morrison.
^Hmmm...not bad.

End Credits: Fly me to the Moon (In Other Words) -2007 Mix- by Utada Hikaru.
^Incidently the end credits to Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of my favourite anime, although it tends to cause a brain meltdown. Thumbs up!

Hey, that's not a bad soundtrack. A few meh choices balanced out by a few nice ones.

Again, Happy New Year. Stay safe out there.