Thursday, April 30, 2009

#30 I ALMOST FORGOT

Wouldn't that be great, to fail on the last day of BEDA? I would be disgusted with myself.

And here I had this whole plan of making some sort of awesome blog (although I hadn't quite worked out
how, I was just hoping it would happen. hmmm) but I have yet another SAC tomorrow which I've been studying for, so I kinda missed the whole opportunity to make this nice and pretty.

So, what happens after BEDA? Well, I think I'm definitely going to keep blogging as much as I can; it's nice to have something like this. BEDA has made me realise how much I actually like blogging, which I'd forgotten about during Term 1 on account of all the lack-of-sleep-and-no-time. But you know, it's worth putting in the effort from time to time for sure. It will just be nice to not have to do it every.day. Haha.

Still, it will be awesome being able to look over a whole month whenever I feel the need to reminisce about April 2009.

* * *


Okay I just forgot I was writing this. I went downstairs and had a late dinner with my sister and watched House Bunny before I realised I HAVE TO STUDY!

So my point is that I will not forget about this blog =] it just won't be daily!


BEDA OUT.

Thanks for reading and commenting and basically: <3

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

#29 Explanation

I was going to write a short blog post today as I'm tired and have an oral to practice, but then I remembered today is the SECOND LAST DAY OF BEDA! Wow. I'm not even sure if it's gone fast or not. Probably because I haven't exactly Blogged Every Day during any other month, so there's nothing to compare it to.

So here's an explanation to yesterdays question:

The general verdict:

Junction: 4

Chasing Us: 2

The Crossroad: 2

Focal Point: 1

The Hunt: 0

AS IF FOCAL POINT IS NOT AWESOME. Thanks Mitto =]

Hmm. Well, hmmm. I'll have to talk to Colby about this.

"But who is Colby?" you all must be wondering. (Except for Colby. He knows who he is.)

Well Colby is the co-author of a collaborative novel that will apparently be called "Junction" but I still prefer "Focal Point." Anyway, we met through this blog and became friends pretty much straight away, and have been planning this little collab-novel right from the start. We won't be posting the chapters up for you guys (sorry =] you'll just have to buy it :P) unless we decided that maybe one or two can go out for some opinions.

I might write out the plot line that we've come up with one day, but at the moment I think it best to keep it under wraps. Secrecy can be necessary (and fun!). I'm really looking forward to starting this. Obviously as a side project cause Year 12 (as you all know very well from countless complaints by moi) is HARDDDDDDDDD.

I'd better go and practice! See you guys tomorrow for the final BEDA!

<3


ah this is still rather short. Play rehearsal wasn't that painful today. Probably because we didn't have to go on the bunks. And we didn't get yelled at. yay.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

#28 A Vote

Hello! Before I get started, I have a question. Answers are most appreciated, as this is actually really important... =D


Which one:
"Junction"; "The Crossroad(s)"; "Focal Point"; "Chasing Us"; "The Hunt"


(The answer isn't anything that can be googled, and it's not some strange test, haha.)

Thank you!!!!



ON TO THE BLOG

What to talk about today? I had a couple of giggle fits at school , one in French class talking about, well, we'll see if I can even bring myself to mention it; and the other talking about Cows and how their milk should be chocolate flavoured and correspond to the Cow's coat: e.g. Brown Cow = Milk Chocolate. We also decided that if you shake the cows, and you get Chocolate Milk Shakes. If the Cows are from the Swiss Alps, they will make chocolate ice-cream. Haha. Katie, we are awesome :P (I had to write this down so that I could remember the hilarity's of this year :P <3). style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Anyway, today in French we just tried to discuss things, in French (go figure). My teacher asked me if there were any serious social issues (or something) at the moment, and because I couldn't think about anything in school per say, I just said, "er, la grippe porcine...?"
In other words: Swine Flu. Which is basically a scary thought right now, and I hope that everyone who reads this is safe/everyone you know is safe =] Just don't go near coughing people :P

That's not actually the point of my story. My point is where my French teacher lead the conversation. We began talking about eating meat; why people become vegetarian; should we cut down on how much Cow we eat to reduce carbon emissions? - then he asked us, why do we eat Cows, instead of say, Dogs?
From a philosophical point of view, and nothing to do with culture etc (he wasn't telling us we should eat dogs, he was just saying, well, if we can eat cows, why not dogs?) and then we moved on to cultures that say, worship cows, and actually eat dog. And then he brought up... Urgh. Well, who's heard of the Scientology-method of childbirth and what they eat after the baby is born? I really don't want to say it. Basically, it ended with my French teacher leaping away from his computer in horror after searching "Cooking recipes" for this particular...delicacy, and the class in hysterics.

I love days like this.

Monday, April 27, 2009

#27 My favourite Passage

Haha. Oh pun, you will never fail to amuse me. If you don't understand, then let me speed you up - I just want to talk a bit about "A Passage to India" for a little while (get it now?). It's the text we are studying for our next Lit SAC and consequentially, our exam (assuming I choose this text when we get to that point.)

Now as I've probably mentioned before, this is a difficult novel to read. Why? Well for many reasons. It would be hard to go into it without you guys knowing the text (do you? Let me know =] ). Anyway, there is this one passage that has fast become one of my favourite passages ever. It's just beautiful. It's when Forster is describing Chandrapore, and he moves on to describe the sky (which he comes back to often):

The sky too has its changes, but they are less marked than those of the vegetation and the river. Clouds map it up at times, but it is normally a dome of blending tints, and the main tint blue. By day the blue will pale down into white where it touches the white of the land, after sunset it has a new circumference - orange melting upwards into tenderest purple. But the core of blue persists, and so it is by night. Then the stars hang like lamps from the immense vault. The distance between the vault and them is as nothing to the distance behind them, and that farther distance, though beyond colour, last freed itself from blue.

One day I will write something as amazing as that. Or at least, I hope I will.


Anyway, someone asked for more French stories, so OKAY!

Here's a bizarre story that doesn't really have an interesting conclusion, it's rather one of those tales that drift off in an awkward silence. But I just found it hilarious.

The classes I had to attend in France were either Science, Maths, French or English (English was by far my easiest/best subject while I was there...). The problem with Science, Maths and French, was that, with the first two, I can't even understand them when they are in English. Let alone some old French bird standing at the front of the class, holding up a tennis ball and speaking in some rapid, incoherent (to my petite ears) language while I stared blankly back (I think it was, um, geometry?). Then I discovered that no one really cared what I did in class, so I just read, and then after our two week break, I wrote (even though by then, my listening had improved enough that I could understand what people were talking about as long as I understood the context).

So perhaps in the early second week, I was sitting in Biology, book in hand, a faint drone of French in the hazy background. I was far too immersed in The Bell Jar to notice my name being called the first time, so I had to have my shoulder tapped by the teacher herself, so as draw me out of my stupor. I looked up, slightly confused, and heard the teacher say, " 'Ow iz it that yohu sai "sex-appeal" en Anglias?"

I was slightly confused, as generally, this is not a question thata teacher would ask a student. Apparently two students were flirting and the teacher felt a need to ask the boy whether he thought the girl had sex appeal. And then, because there was an Australian in the class, they asked her what it was in English. Then, I was asked to get up and write it on the board.

For the remainder of the lesson I sat there, again reading, but occasionally looking up and staring in amazement at the words sitting rather prominently on the black board.

Stereo-typical French, anyone?

Sunday, April 26, 2009

#26 Just realised #25 was untitled :S

Today's going to be a short one folks.


I would love to bore you all about my play rehearsal today, but really, I suffered enough pain so you guys shouldn't too.

I think I have more bruises from the bunks though.


Um, Yeah, Sorry, my mind isn't really working right now. This could be because I am way too immersed listening to the Wicked soundtrack. And because my mind is telling me to get the hell to bed.


Night night.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

#25

I'm writing a blog a lot earlier than usual as I kinda need to get it out of the way. I have to write an English Oral at some point this evening, and I figure it best to do this blog when I'm not completely frustrated at myself. See, now I'm still in a good mood. And feeling a lot better, thank you. =]. Although I woke up with a sore arm, feeling rather nauseous :S it's passed. My arm is still sore.

Anyway, my football team (st. kilda) WON. HELL to the YES. By about 80 points too. Yayness.

Gah I didn't know what to type so I wrote out the whole McDonalds Menu song (had to memorise for my Drama Ensembles) which I learnt in about 20 minutes with the help of Gunther and the lyrics. Then I deleted it because I don't want to advertise Macca's on this blog.

Okay I was just reminded of a story from France! yay

Probably my best food experience of the whole trip was our four days in Paris at the beginning. This was mainly because the breakfast they served us at the hotel was AMAZING, and because we were allowed to go off by ourselves for lunch. One day we spent about thirty precious minutes (we had an hour) walking around Chatlet des Halles (a huge shopping center that has everything except food, we found out) trying to find somewhere to eat, before we emerged onto the snowy streets and found a cute little pasta cafe.

We walked into a rather large and expensive restaurant on our first day but didn't realise how expensive it was because A) we were jet-lagged and B) we just assumed it was the normal price range in Paris (I think I was charged about 20 euros for a club sandwich, about $AU40 :S But it was worth it. So worth it.)

I walked out of Paris with pretty good memory of the cuisine, so you can imagine my excitement when told by my host family we would be taking a day-trip there. We'd walked around for most of the morning when my host-father declared lunch, so I happily trotted after them, in a state of mean hunger. And where did they take me, amoung all the wonderful patisseries and boulangeries and cafes and escargot-fancy places? You've probably guessed. McDonalds.
"Eet iz an hoppourtunitee foar you to taste zhe differahnce" said my host-father, obviously thinking it was a treat for me to try McDonalds a la France. The only thing I got out of that experience was the knowledge that Australian McDonalds is better than French McDonalds. Then I felt disgusting for the rest of the day, and found it pretty hard to enjoy myself.

Sorry it's not really a happy ending :P I just wonder, WHYYY??? Urgh. Now I have the menu song stuck in my head. If anyone needs to know an item from the 1990's Maccas menu, let me know, I can tell you what it is. (not much has changed, really.)

Friday, April 24, 2009

#24 Injections Muddle and beFuddle the Brain

Hello. I'm writing this to you from a state of rather interesting hazyness. Vagueness. Tiredness. Need I continue? It's because today I had a Flu shot and my third dose of Gardasil which means:

1. I'm protected from the devil known as Influenza this year;

2. I am now completely cervical cancer repellent;

3. I will never have to get another painful needle related to preventing cervical cancer (it really hurts. I could barely feel the Flu shot in comparison);

4. I now feel woozy etc because the Flu Vaccine is a bitch, and you apparently have to go through some nice physical pain before you can be protected for a year. Awesome.


On that note, I'm going to go and read, sleep and wake up to find my football team has prevailed (hopefully...)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

#23 Pain

Wow this is so early to be writing a blog. 7:00pm, what's with that? Sorry about yesterday's brief post, I was too tired/sore to think clearly. Plus I was annoyed; this Play is driving me insane. I regret ever wanting to be a part of it. Not only is it painful to sit through rehearsals, but it is now painful to rehearse.

We have these WW2 style bunk beds, which are probably exactly the same as what the prisoners had. Why? Because they HURT to sit on. They hurt to lie on. They are painful to look at. The fact that we were wearing really thin school dresses meant that the wood panels practically sliced through and marked our legs. I have a bruise on my arm. I had a splinter (which would have served its life quite well as a toothpick) thrust into my palm when I accidentally dragged my hand along the bunk climbing down.


Besides that, I'm adapting back into the rhythm of school life, although this Term has already proved more stressful than the last, just with the prospect of work ahead.

It's always difficult to pick a favourite class with my subjects because they are all
brilliant, but I have to say, sitting in Literature makes my heart sing. I'm not sure if it's the discussion of our novels, or listening to my classmates all speak so intently about pretty much any subject we come up with (tangents are a prominent factor in Lit class) or just my quintessential teacher... who knows.

I was going to talk about the novel we are currently studying but I actually have to get back to studying.

And with the stories, I'm not sure when I'll have time to write some out. They take a lot of time up that I don't have. We'll see. My problem this weekend is that I have rehearsal for SEVEN HOURS on Sunday, so I have to complete all my homework on Saturday. Urgh.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

#22 Sigh

If the oppourtuity comes up, never, ever EVER take part in or watch Playing For Time.




This has been Liv's Tip of the Month.



Until Tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

#21 A long Day

Oh of course the internet wouldn’t be working. I’m typing this out in a Word Doc because I really don’t want to wait for the system to re-start, and then have to go into my blog and open up a new post and then begin writing. So I’m typing this here. Not that it makes a difference to you guys as it is this will be exactly the same as it appears to you every other day.

Hai =].


I forgot how tiring school is. Add the actual tiring part of my day to the fact that I only had about 5 hours sleep, and you have one tired Liv. It’s not really my fault that I couldn’t sleep, I mean, I was lying there for perhaps three hours and then suddenly I looked at the clock and it was 2AM. “Brilliant I thought,” and I then proceeded to text twitter to inform everyone I couldn’t sleep.

Anyway, I’ve decided that there is no way I can get through school and keep doing all I do on the internet, which is funnily enough taken up reading everyone’s BEDA blogs. So I think I’m just going to wait until the weekend and then go through them then. I’ve spent the last couple of hours writing a Classics essay I should have completed about a week ago when I actually had time, but ah well. At least I feel compelled to do work again, it’s just way too hard during the holidays.



Oh and I wanted to ask, now that there are only about 9 days of BEDA left, is there anything in particular you would like me to write about? Any more questions? Challenges? Suggestions? And whatever other synonyms you would like to think of. Keep in mind that I kind of have school to think about now ^_^


Love.

Monday, April 20, 2009

#20 Sigh

I have to go back to school tomorrow. While I love school, I think I've grown far too accustomed to holiday life. It feels like they've lasted forever! Which is what you want, I guess, term fast; holidays slow. I thought it was generally the other way around. Hmmm.

Today was mainly spent trying to do homework. I didn't really get much done, because I've forgotten what it feels like to work. Sure, it's a wonderful feeling, but still, it can't last. Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things by the end of the week, and then I'll be back and immersed in my work and loving school (to a degree) again. Still, I have many things to look forward to this term:

  • The conclusion of a play I hate: What we were working on all of first term, Playing For Time, has almost made me want to scream in frustration whenever I think about rehearsals. I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but if not, I won't bore you with talk of the horrible and incruciating (is that made up?) pain this play has cause me. It will be over in three weeks! ahhh
  • The beginning of a Musical that I'm positive will be wonderful: Pirates of Penzance
  • Seeing my friends every single day again for another 9 weeks
  • The prospect that this time, at the end of next holidays, I will be Eighteen
  • The prospect that this time, at the end of next holidays, Harry Potter 6 will be a couple of days from being released (haha)
  • There's a possibility that I will begin writing a collaborative novel with someone who found me through this blog, and writing in general always excites me, plus it sounds like fun =D
  • THE NERDFIGHTER GATHERING ON MAY 31ST. John Green. Ahhhhhh! I booked my place for it today!!
There are probably more reasons but I can't think of them right now. I'm actually tired - which is GOOD because I must fall asleep tonight around midnight (as opposed to 3am which is probably my average bedtime during the holidays) so that I'm not dead tomorrow.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

#19 Trains

I think trains are the leading public transportation to a good story. Honestly, I have countless moments at my fingertips to recall to you, oh faithful readers. Though today's blog comes with today's train stories. There are two, in fact. Both of which I twittered about, but I would love to go into detail because I find one of them hilarious and the other mind-blowing.

Well the first was more of an background entertainment as I sat there, calmly listening to my iPod and shivering slightly in the brisk wind - though, I had my awesome new scarf with me, and I secretly knew that without it, I would have been colder.

There was a man walking around the other platform, rather large and stumbling around as if he were either drunk or not quite there in the head. He was clutching to his chest one football as red as Santa's rosy cheeks. It didn't remain in his hands though, oh no. He proceeded to kick said football at the walls of the station, letting it roll unevenly back to him, before aiming, and kicking again. This wouldn't seem a problem to the casual reader, but I haven't arrived at the best part. His 'innocent' kicking almost hit about three people in the head, and was missed because they had the intuition to duck in time.

And the man didn't stop.

You could tell how disappointed everyone on his platform was when he just managed to save his ball from rolling off onto the train tracks.

My second story is from when I was on the train, almost to my destination (flinders street). The two people sharing the four-seat section with me got up to exit the station before mine (Southern Cross) and I was alone. At least I was alone for about the time takes to walk from the doors of the train to a seat.

I was watching a pretty and happy looking girl walk down the train towards my section, to later sit down just a few seats up, when her face changed and my attention shifted as I looked up at a creepy, rather gruesome man coming to sit down next to me (I would like to point out that there were many vacant seats on the train).

This is not from shallowness or bad judgment, my reaction. The way the man stared while he sat down, I knew that I didn't want to be there. Another man was with him, who looked normal enough, but made it impossible for me to get up and leave because I didn't want to insult either of them (I realise they probably didn't care less, but still, it's mean to just get up and leave).

There must have been something in my face as well, as the girl who I had seen enter the train said something to me. I didn't quite catch it at first, as my music had closed me off from the outside world, but when I removed one headphone I heard her say, "Hey, oh my! I haven't seen you in ages!"
I took the hint and got up to walk over to her, the relief plain on my face. "Wow!" I said, "I barely even recognised you! Where abouts are you getting off?"

The conversation that continued lasted for about five minutes as our train drove on towards my station. We ended up chatting as if we had known each other for a long time, though it was mainly about school. As I got up to leave, I hugged her and hurriedly, in a whisper, asked for her name, and gave her mine.

I think the cringe moment of this was when I got up said goodbye, and then, loudly by habit, "It was nice to meet you!"

Sigh.

Her act of kindness was just so wonderful. I mean, I meet strangers online all the time, but to just connect with someone out of the blue, who I will probably never meet again (although I hope I do because she was really interesting) was a mind-triggering moment. It gave me some faith in humanity. Not that I'd lost faith at all, it was just nice.


See you all tomorrow.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

#18 100th Post?

I have to apologise profusely for yesterday's blog. It was rather... bland, you could say. The fault is my own*, see, I meant to write a proper blog earlier than what actually eventuated, but I have this habit of writing blogs rather late at night.

If you're Australian, you probably would have noticed this by now. Unless you go to bed early and presume that I write blogs early in the morning. Except that the time I post is recorded. So you all would know the time I post.

(/tangent).


Sorry, back to the point. I ended up having to rush in order to get ready for a get-together with my lovely friends - hence part 1 of said blog. Part 2 was when I arrived home exhausted and could barely type.

So I bet you're thinking, "Well, at least she had a good night sleep."

So you would think! my fair readers**. Yet, I'm sorry to say, I was detrimentally kept awake until 3:00am (okay it didn't cause me harm but I was tired) by my best friend, whom I called in answer to a wild plea for help. Here is the ratio of advice and discussion about her problem, to friendly chit-chat: 10/90***.

It would be mendacious of me to say I did not enjoy the conversation. I did. I was just asleep for probably 20% of it.

And there concludes my lavishly detailed excuse (and a little extra story) about why yesterday, my blog sucked.

* * *

Ha. That was fun. I definitely did not plan for that to become some pompous story :P. Always a joy to exercises my new vocabulary words**** that we were given as optional homework for Lit.

I've been eating way too much chocolate cake. My sister made some yesterday while I was out. It's the best cake ever (if you've heard of Nigella Lawson then you'd understand. Google her =])

I just saw that this is my 100th post! *celebrates*

*****

*whose fault would it be? Duh Liv.
** capitalisation use intentional
*** or in other words, it was 'one big gossip/catch up session'
**** in this case, word...
***** sorry about the footnotes(?)

Friday, April 17, 2009

#17 LATE

I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TIME TO WRITE A BLOG BEFORE I LEFT BUT I DIDN'T SO THIS WILL BE ADDED TO IN LIKE 7 OR 8 HOURS KTHXBI

* * *

Hi =].

So, Firstly: I'm not drunk (so none of that tonight.)
Secondly: I'm really, really tired
Thirdly:


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


I'd like to mention Gabi , who is new to the blogging scene, and is a rather interesting read, so check her out and give her some comments =]


(I'll make up for this abysmal blog tomorrow =] )

Thursday, April 16, 2009

#16 Is this inspiration? Is this nausea?

I have the strangest feeling right now. My body is buzzing with this urge to write something but I can't express it. WHY? URGH.

It like my creativity has been bottled up inside me and for some reason it can't and won't be released. I'm filled to the brim with adrenaline, I feel helpless and tired. Sure, it'll pass. Why not, we all go through mad rushes of feelings. And there has been absolutely nothing at all to spur it on, it just happened. This evening.

*

Just got back from helping my sister duct-tape her computer back together. Hasn't changed anything.

The real problem is that I have the inspiration, but I can't be bothered to use it. Call me lazy or what-not but I actually have my reasons for not wanting to do anything right now. I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to be hypocritical and tell a story when after just saying I don't want to write one.

Wow this tone is rather condescending. Don't mean to be. Better stop.


Sorry for this crap/really bizarre mood. Back to normal tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

#15 HALF WAY

Wow, has it really been 15 days already? BEDA has gone rather fast! And I have to say, I'm really enjoying it! (I hope you guys are too). I know a lot of people who really disliked the concept after putting it to practice, but so far blogging every day hasn't been a problem for me. Though there are still another fifteen days to go, so I shouldn't speak so soon.

I thought I'd take a break from story writing today because I'm actually really tired. This is probably because I didn't sleep the 10+ hours I usually do during the holidays in order to go and meet some youtubers this morning. It was really fun! A couple of awkward pauses here and there, but that happens. We traipsed around the city for a significant part of the day, and while it probably wasn't actually that much walking, to me it felt like heaps. Which is probably why I'm now tired.

I went out for Japanese with my family this evening. The type where they cook in front of you (I know how you say it, but I'm not sure how you spell it... Tepin...something) and while it was really delicious, I was over it all by the end. See, they take about five billion hours to serve you, and then in only tiny portions. Granted, you are completely full by the end, but the wait is a bit hard. Ah well.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go and read for several hours. That should be fun. Night all.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

#14 Story: Through the howling wind

Hey Guys,

Here's the first story. Hope you enjoy! I didn't include the details like the poptarts etc because the plot line just kind of took over, I had fun writing this. Hope you all enjoy!


The prompt:
Proposed Plot Line: You are camping with friends in rugged terrain in the middle of nowhere, miles from civilization. After the first night you wake up and everyone is gone. Apart from a box of Poptarts and 3 litres of Iced Tea, all of you and your friends possessions are gone (including maps needed for leaving). Searching around the campsite you find only a few signs of struggle, some drops of blood, and also some very odd green wool unlike from any Australian animal you would recognize. You realize this is not a joke. You start to hear an unnatural screeching sound about 600 metres away. What do you do?


The story:

I wasn't quite sure what woke me up. Perhaps it was the rustling leaves, or the howling wind. Except, those are sounds that frequent the outdoors, a sweet offer of soothing change instead of banal city noises, the screech of tires and rushed rumble of trams that I so hated.

I blinked slowly at the tent roof, colourless in the night. Shivering, I reached for my jumper, lying precariously at the end of my sleeping bag. Sleep still muddled my thoughts and I had to sit still for a moment before the notion clicked into my mind: I was alone. Shell, my best friend, wasn’t lying beside me, wasn’t muttering in her sleep as usual. Nor was she there to safe guard our tent, to be my companion. She had left me.


I crawled towards the opening and searched in blindness for the zipper. I was filled with a sudden jolt of fear, like the feeling you get when you miss a step, or when you’ve forgotten something important, that urged me out of the tent with a rush of adrenaline, fumbling in the dark to stand outside. There was no noise, no quiet breathing of the boys who we’d left asleep by the campfire, tired after a day of laughter and hiking. The other tent, where Lucy and Dan had fallen asleep, was caved in, the centre pole ripped out. I took a shaky breath, frozen, my limbs tortured in immobile helplessness.

“Shell? I whispered. “Shell? Michelle!” I yelled, my shaky voice not carrying far at all. Then I was back to a soft murmur, “Where is everyone?”


This had to be some sick joke. A set up. A reality TV show. Yet I couldn’t picture any of my friends doing this to me. Not to the girl that is afraid of everything, who relies on her friends more than she can depend on herself. The girl only good in support.* I felt the tears welling up and my throat tightening as I moved around. I was a lost deer, separated from her family. Alone, confused, and scared. My chest was hurting because I was forgetting to breath. I stumbled around, checking for a sign, a note; perhaps they had gone on a midnight stroll, and had wanted to let me sleep.


My eyes adjusted to the night as I circled the campfire, allowing myself to notice the footprint mark in the ash of our smouldering fire pit, and the coal scattered around as if someone had been dragged through it, trailing ash behind them. My eyes were widening, I became frantic. Shell’s sleeping bag was half of our tent, unnoticed by my blind eyes only moments before, but now I could picture her being dragged out, clutching onto her sleeping bag as the only available material before it was pried out of her weak grip.


I walked slowly in the direction of the strewn coal, out of our small clearing. My eyes and legs seeming to be the only functioning part of my body. Was the grass flatter here, as though someone had been dragged along it, or was my mind searching desperately for bizarre scenarios, instead of just finding reasonable, simple answers for my friend’s disappearances? I’d stopped on the flattened grass, one hand up to my mouth, when my gaze fall on the trees lining out campsite. It was there, when I saw it. Green wool. From Shell’s jumper. My knees crumbled, my head was limp as I struggled with myself, fighting the urges to scream wildly and helplessly, to tremor in despair.


A horrible, goose bump inducing scream pierced the night. But it was ephemeral, and soon the darkness was devoid of any abnormal noises, it was just me, alone with the leaves rustling and the wind howling. I sat up, staring at the colourless tent walls, my breathing ragged. Shell turned to me, still safe under her sleeping bag. “Bad dream?” she asked sleepily.


*Quote from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead

Monday, April 13, 2009

#13 Excitement and Controversy

Today I found out that John Green will be coming to Australia. There will be a Nerdfighter gathering on the 31st of May in Melbourne!! This is the most exciting news ever. I'm going to meet one of my favourite authors in a clash of pure awesome and nerdfighters! ahhhhhh!!!

Something else came up today. Can't tell you all about it yet. Too many chances of it not actually happening. But it's awesome nonetheless.

That's all I really have to be excited about. I still haven't done the stories. I will. It's just that today was the commencement of wop and basically I only got some Lit work done (actually it was a lot, but didn't seem like much). And so I don't really have much to blog about.

Oh wait, yes I do. This angered me greatly:

I'm not sure if you all have heard about the Amazon.com Fail that happened today. Basically there was a 'glitch' in the system, and consequentially many books have been removed from the database. Now this would just seem like a mild nuisance. Sure, until you type 'homosexuality' into the search and come up with titles such as:

  • "A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality"
  • "You Don't Have to Be Gay: Hope and Freedom for Males Struggling With Homosexuality or for Those Who Know of Someone Who Is"
  • "For the Bible Tells Me So"
and
  • "Can Homosexuality be Healed?"
Really, Amazon?

First and foremost I would like to say that I am completely for the freedom to express any sexuality. If I were to be only in love with other women or simply prefer a mix, then I would want my choices to be accepted. Whoever says that it is inhumane is wrong, because there is no difference. We are all human, and it is natural.

I'm sorry to bring up more controversy in this blog, but it shouldn't even be an issue.

I could go on, but I won't.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

#12 Road Trip

I drove my mother to Rye today, in an attempt to gain more hours (for my eventual licence). I almost have 70. I need 120. Preferably in 3 months. Ah well. Vic roads is the devil.

Speaking of the devil, or rather, back to the whole religion debate: guys, play nice =]. While I strongly encourage interaction in the comments (and comments in general), at least keep it civil. You all make very strong points. It was great to receive so many comments for my questions post though. I may do another later on in the month.

I was asked what type of writer I want to be.

Hard question as I'm not all that sure myself. I would love to write novels for a living, but it's not something I can do by itself, for financial reasons (unless by some incredible twist of fate I actually sell many books. Then I'd only have to work a little. Unless I become the next J.K Rowling [ha.]. Then I probably wouldn't have to worry about money) so perhaps journalism (although I really, really don't want to) or something of the kind. I want to major in Creative Writing or Literature. And then I'll see where I go.

Anyways, I need to complete a significant amount of reading tonight and actually go to bed before 3am (cough, did that this morning) because tomorrow marks the first day of HOMEWORK WEEK (hereafter 'wop' (week of pain)). I've even written out a schedule and everything. I is organised. Assuming of course that I stick to what I've layed out. We'll see.


I'm going to go and eat more chocolate now.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

#11 Answers Now, Stories after Easter

Just got home from a wonderful dinner with my family. My cousin and I have decided we want to go backpacking in Europe in about 18 months or so. We're beginning our planning now, so we can save =]. Rather exciting. I wrote this before I left, but didn't post incase I got any more questions. Which I did.
~
Hey Guys! So thanks to the multiple questions from some people, I think I have enough to fill out a worthy Blog Post. I decided I'll tackle the stories after Easter, because then I'll have some more time to sit down and hopefully write something good. So if you have any more topics you can still put them in the comments until I post the blog(s).

Q:What good books have you read this year?
Wait, I'll pull out the records.
So far this year I've read about 20 books, some were read twice (e.g. School books and a couple I read while in France). I have to say that my two favourite new books this year were The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, fabulous novel, it's YA but it has to be one of the most beautifully written books, out of all that I've read. Another is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I wouldn't recommend this if you don't like depressing books, because this really gets into your head. I loved it, though.

I've mentioned this one before, I'm pretty sure, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard is indescribably entertaining and mind triggering. Plus, it relates to Hamlet majorly, and you will never look at literary character devices in the same way again.

Q: What bands do you like?

My two favourites are bands that I heard at concerts before I'd actually listened to their music. I think it's a powerful thing, to capture some one's attention for the first time during a live show.

Jack's Mannequin were a support band when I went to see Fall Out Boy (friend had a spare ticket, wasn't going to say no) in 2007. I still love them, especially after their second album came out.

Motion City Soundtrack were playing at a music festival I went to a year ago. I heard just one of their songs and decided to look them up. Best decision ever.

I also love, The Killers, Katy Perry, Sum 41, Bowling for Soup, Blink 182 etc etc.

Q: Do you have any celebrity crushes?
Yes. Hugh Dancy after watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. um. I used to have a huge crush on both Orlando Bloom (who didn't?) and Daniel Radcliff. But I'm not really into the whole 'mooning over celebrities' thing. I feel like it's a waste of time. Fictional [book] characters are probably another story =P

Q: When are you free for coffee?
Mitto, when I next see you we'll go out for coffee. And have the lolz.

Q: Hey there Delilah, what's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away...So I'm not really sure :S

Q: When can we expect the next chapter of Silver Sky* and do you have a conclusion in sight or will this be the Internet version of 'Blue Hills'?
No, I don't plan for Silver Sky to continue for years on end. =]. It's completely finished (although I did leave the ending open, so it could continue if I so wished, but I had to put an end to it. Not that you guys will get to that point anytime soon).

Regarding SS, basically, I'm having a little bit of trouble getting through my own handwriting. It makes typing it up frustrating. I had some stupid
idea to rule tiny little lines onto each page like so:...because I wanted to fit more onto each page. Little would I know that I would slowly be torturing my future self. So, it's a slow process, but I'll get there. Next time I update I'll make sure it's a large chunk of chapters so you don't only get a tiny section of the novel.

Q: Why is the word shenanigans still so underused?

Well, I have a friend that used it for a Facebook Event not so long ago, so I wouldn't call it underused

Q: Would you rather be a rich princess in medieval Europe or a normal person today?
Normal Person today. Why? Because I've spent some time studying Medieval history, and basically, it's not an era I would particularly love to live in. Even if I was a Princess. This was the period before all the wonderful discoveries such as 'The Printing Press' and 'Discovering What The Insides Of Dead People Look Like, Therefore Now We Can Start Learning How To Fix You If You're Dying!'
Among other reasons. Normal today is fine for me.

Q: Would you live in a pool for ten years for $4 million dollars? You would be able to have lilos and such to float on as to not be wrinkled all the time.
No. I'd rather spend those ten years outside of a pool, working for money and being productive rather than living on water. Besides, I bet it would get lonely.

Q: Would you row a boat for 2km along the Yarra in daylight, naked, for 25 grand?
No. I would have no respect for myself if I did that.

Q: Why is ironing shirts soooo much harder than you’d think?
It's easy, you just have to lay the shirt out so you don't crinkle it further.

Q: Why do people always yawn at the same time?
Um, there's a scientific reason for this. Something about our brains registering the notion of 'yawn' and then believing that it must yawn too. Probably wants to just be cool like all the other brains.

Q: What is the meaning of life? and What do you think the bottom line is in life? Is it love? As humans, are we simply here to reproduce to ensure the survival of the human race? Or is there something more to this?
I grouped these questions together because they are pretty much asking the same thing. Or at least, that's how I'm interpreting them.

I think we are here to live. If that's not a satisfactory answer, then I'm sorry. Sure, we're probably here to carry on the human race yada yada yada. But the way I see it is: We are here, now, on this day, and we have perhaps 80 years or so on this place, so we may as well utilise the time we have as best we possibly can. Otherwise, what's the point of it all?

(I realise I ended with the same question that was asked. And so the cycle continues)

Q: What would the world be like if dogs had eyebrows?
Filled with a lot more expression.

(Wasn't sure whether this was a question as well as a story idea [there's more to it] so I'll just do both ^_^)
Q: I had a cat who decided to run away when I moved house. Where did he go?
Actually I think I will turn this answer into a story. Just had an idea =]

The following questions have to do with Religion, so I grouped them all together. I'm assuming that there are some religious people who read this blog, so I just want to say now that whatever I say is not meant to offend anyone's belief, it's just my opinion.

Q: Do you believe that a God does exist and that there is an afterlife?
To say yes to either of these questions would be to lie to myself. I don't believe in God. This is partly because of how I've been brought up; neither of my parents believe in God, my father is in fact Buddhist (although this is only lately, since he moved to Asia.)

In many ways I do wish I had ultimate faith in something such as a God, or just religion in general. I respect those who have an unwavering loyalty to their beliefs. That's just not who I am, no matter how much I would love to unconditionally believe in something. I'm more Agnostic than Atheist, because I would like to believe that there is a larger force out there, I just need it to be proved to me. And not in some 2000 year old story that has been edited and re-written and translated so many times that who knows what it originally began as. Plus, I don't like how it treats women. However much society has improved, we still have a long way to go.

The 'afterlife' is something I'm not sure about. Again I take it in a literal sense: How can anyone know what happens after death? No one has come back to tell us. Heaven and reincarnation has been created so that death isn't as frightening, I guess almost something to look forward to, to soften the blow. As humans we fear the unknown, and death is probably the greatest uncertainty of all.
I'll take what happens, when the time comes. Now, I'll concentrate on what I already have.

Q: Do you think that the way we live our life here on Earth will ultimately determine where we end up in the afterlife?
see above answer.

Q: Do you think reincarnation is feasible?
again, see above answer. But sure, I think it's feasible. I don't discriminate, there are tons of possibilities. It's just rather hard to prove them all.

Q: Do you think that Karma is real - every action we do unto the universe will ultimately come back to us in kind, or do bad things really happen to good people for no reason?
Karma is something that I think is just the natural order of things. I think generally if you do something bad, you will probably pay for it. Perhaps it's more of a Justice thing, I don't know. Bad things happen. Sometimes to more people than others, even if they are wonderful God-fearing citizens. But if you were to spread a person's life out and sort it into the Good and the Bad, I'm sure there would be a balance. It all depends on the variables.

Q: As it is Easter, I'd like you to read Mark's gospel in the Bible and than then tell me who does Mark say Jesus is.
I don't even know if my family owns a bible :S. I don't have time to dig it up if we do. I'll google it. Okay too many options. Sorry.

*For new people, Silver Sky is a novel I began writing for National Novel Writing Month and finished (by handwriting it) in France. I'm still trying to type up the handwritten second half.

#10 late and with good reason

I know, I know,I'm after 12, not that you could really tell. The point is that I'm posting.

I'm not going to do my question/story blog yet because I've only received TWO comments. Guuuuuuuuuys. =]. Help a girl out?

I'm late because I decided to pay a visit to the 200+ contacts I have on my Fan MSN. It was awesome fun. There were a couple of weirdos, but once I worked out that they were the type of people I didn't want to talk to, I blocked 'em. Ah the powers of the Internet.

It's actually really nice to get to know the people who watch me/follow me/read this blog. Otherwise, it's so one-sided, and I don't like that. I know that there are a lot of freaky people who do watch me. That's just something I have to deal with, because there is no way I can stop them. I delete the horrible comments, and block those who persist, but that's basically the whole of it.

It was a tough feat though. About 20-30 people were talking to me at once, and as you can imagine, I couldn't talk to them all at once. So I had a bit of a system going, where I'd try and reply as worthily as I could to each person, going through in a bit of an endless cycle. (by worthily, I mean responding to each person with what I felt they deserved. For example: "Hai i rly luv ur vidz & think ur a pritty kool persan *nudge*" To which I would reply "Thanks! *close window* because that would be the end of the conversation.)

It was a slow process though, and even when it was past 12 and I decided to leave, it took me about 20 minutes to inform everyone I was leaving, and then go around again to say goodbye. Then I had the people who were persistent and wouldn't stop talking, which is flattering, but after a while I just said "okthanks,talksoonbye! *offline*" Phew. I was a little out of breath.

Still, it was great. I'll definitely go on again these holidays.


Ok, so, see you all tomorrow! Depending on whether I post before dinner or not, I may be late again. I'm going to my cousin's house for Easter dinner. But I'll probably post beforehand anyway.

One third through BEDA! yay! Although, I'm really enjoying it!! This isn't hard at all! I hope you're all enjoying it too!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

#9 You guyz get to ask me thingz

Through my browsing of other BEDAs, I've noticed a lot of Q&As implemented in many a blog. The most prominent of these is probably John Green, who has been answering questions in every single blog he has written (and will continue to do so). Which is fantastic, with him being one of my favourite authors and all.

So I figured they look like fun. except:

I'm putting my own spin into it.


Basically, what I'm asking of you guys, if you are interested in this aspect of my blog, is to give me a topic to write a short story about. It could be anything from say, a descriptive piece about a toothpick, to something deeper. If you want you could provide me with a structure or storyline. I think it would be really fun!

And, if you just have a question, you can ask me that. Or you can do both =].

So it would be really nice to get some questions/story-starters. Depending on how many I get, it may go on for more than one blog post. So, get going!! :D

~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyways, today I went and had the best milkshake of my life. If you live in Melbourne, then they can be found in Camberwell. My friend Eliza and I took them with us into 17 Again, which wasn't actually all that bad. I thought it would be a generic, mundane film in which Zac Effron flaunts his biceps (not that would be all that bad...) and "acts." I actually didn't think him capable of really acting without a backing track, but he did a pretty good job. I mean, it would be difficult, playing a 37 year old man trapped in his 17 year old (hot) self, in some bizarro situation where an old gremlin man has changed his life course (that's not really the plot. Well, kind of.). I have to say though, as I did in my tweet: I prefer Matthew Perry. Probably because I loved him in 'Friends,' which is one of my all-time favourite shows. Yeah. Anyway, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes, but is not restricted to, chick-flicks. If that makes sense. If you only like chick-flicks then you'd really love this movie.

Bye Guys! Don't forget to leave me material!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

#8 Out the Door

This will have to be a quick one, as I'm going out now and probably won't be back until after midnight. We don't want me to miss BEDA curfew now, do we?

I'm actually going to a pool party. Yes. In almost winter. Apparently it will be warmed (please let it be warm. I hate cold), which it will have to be if they want Liv in there. Cold water and I don't really get along. But anyway, I now have to go and walk my dog and then rush off to a friend's house to get ready. I love holidays.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

#7 at 11:45pm

Phew. Almost didn't make this one. As the title suggests, I am cutting it rather close tonight. It's not like I haven't been sitting in front of my laptop for the past two hours (because I have) or even that I forgot to blog (I didn't). I really just assumed it was a different time. Probably because I was on the phone to my best friend for about an hour and a half, most of it filled with a comfortable silence as we both browsed facebook and FML.com, exclaiming at certain posts etc. Rather fun, really.

I spent a lot of today with my sister, after convincing her to accompany me down the street to buy sandwiches. Then we watched a really bad movie. The name even escapes me, it was that bad. One of those Dance genre ones that have absolutely no story line and horrible acting. Good dancing, though. Ah well, the fire was on (it's getting really, really cold), so we both sat down in our Ugg boots and ate our sandwiches.

We decided to go and watch InkHeart this evening, which was really really good! I read the book so long ago, I must have been around 12. It was rather hard to remember the plot line, understandably, thought it made me want to read the book again, and the two sequels which I never had the chance to read.

You know a movie is good when it inspires you to re-read a novel. Or read it for the first time.

This wasn't really much of a thought-out blog because I wanted to post it before 12, but yes, that was my day.

I've finished reading two of my books that were on my list, thankfully, so now I think I'm just going to start a new one. I feel bad leaving two unfinished but I'm itching to start A Tale of Two Cities. Hopefully it will be worth it. I haven't read much Dickens, except for Oliver Twist when I was a lot younger. I didn't really take note of writing style etc. back then, so it will be interesting to see what all the fuss is about.

Someone asked me why I have the need re-read books - It's because I love going back. I tend to forget small details, and I love revisiting tales that I loved, noticing little details that I either skipped by or didn't realise the significance of them at the time. A classic example of this is Harry Potter. I have read the series (especially the first 4 books) countless times, and I have never tired of them. It's not quite like reading it for the first time, but once you've taken the whole journey, the best part is that you can re-live it again. And I've noticed that as I've grown older, details have meant different things to me, things I may not have understood then make sense a couple years down the track. I don't doubt that I will ever tire of re-reading my favourites.

OK 11:59 Posting NOW edit LATER

Monday, April 6, 2009

#6 Good Voice Bad Voice

My sister and I just spent about an hour taking pictures for teh dailybooth (it took so long because we couldn't agree on a picture). It was funtimes.


In other news, judging from the feedback left in the little boxes about my last post, not all of you are that keen about me posting mystical things and questioning life etc. That's fine, I'll try not to write too many of those. I was in one of those moods, you know?

Basically today and yesterday have been spent doing a lot of reading, and I've made a small dent. That's nice.

Although, wait, it's not a dent. I forgot, I bought three books over Amazon.com last night :S. It was one of those self-conflict conversations where the bad voice won:

"Liv. Look at them, all three of them. Imagine, receiving them in the mail, all new and shiny."

"DON'T LISTEN TO HER LIV. You already have a mounting pile of new, beautiful, fresh novels just waiting to be read."

"Suuuure, listen to Miss. Perfect, I bet she doesn't have any new books. I bet she sits around reading the same story over and over and..."

"Guys, I think we should look at the situation from a neutral persp-"

"Shut up YOU!!"
"Shut up YOU!!"

Screamed Good and Bad in unison, untited in the prospect of avoiding another conversation with *shudder* Neutral.

~

Yes. Anyway. Moving on.

I'd like to take this moment to say: Yes Nick, that moment was epic. The conga line especially. Haha do you remember Frankie making everyone create their own moves? That was funny. Ahh the times (that was a response to a commenter whom I know IRL. Though haven't seen in agesssssss =[ )

Alright, obviously I'm in a rather strange mood. Probably from all the Chocolate consumed today with my friend Emily.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

#5 Time Runs Away From Me (and I'm not even trying to catch it)

I realised yesterday, while I was casually browsing my own blog (I am, after all, recording my own memories here) that I've had this for just over a year. A whole year. I find that alarming.

When you create something such as a blog, you don't think about it lasting a year. It was not something that crossed my mind, to be honest. I'll tell you why: I was only thinking about the present. I thought,
I want a blog now, so I'm going to make one. I didn't question where I would be, or even who I would be, when I created this. And the truth is, I have changed.

I wonder, what exactly will I be doing this time next year? Will I be writing a blog about it? Will I be thinking, gosh, it has been a whole year since I wrote that blog wondering where I would be in a year. Look at that, I'm here.

The problem is, no matter how much thought I apply to the matter, I still won't know. I don't even need to think about the minute details of the future. The small details can't be thought out. There is absolutely no possible way to determine, say, How long will my hair be? or Will my desk still be facing this wall? or Will I even still own this desk? (It's not even an actual desk. It's our old kitchen table.)

My point is: ...I'm not even sure what my point is.

I'm as uncertain as the future.


See you all tomorrow.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

#4 Corrections

Yes. I had sex with a " red head guy with glasses who [I] had only known for 3 minutes and now [I'm] regretting it", then decided to sneakily mention it in a blog post through heavily layered clues. /sarcasm (edit: which of course means NO, i didn't do it.)

Honestly. How stereotypical can you get? If I'd done something stupid such as that then I don't think I would've had the mindset to blog about it. I obviously wasn't that drunk if i could write a blog post that made (some sort of) sense.

So please refrain from leaving suggestive comments such as that in the future, because if I don't specifically say it, then you shouldn't assume it.



Now that that's out of the way, I can say sorry for my last blog. I know that usually while intoxicated I tend to speak my mind, I didn't realise I would also write my mind.

Anyway, last night was rather fun. It was just a small gathering of about 20-30 people, mainly those who partake in High School plays/musicals. Such as myself.

Oh! I never mentioned, I got into Pirates of Penzance! Not that I actually told anyone here that I auditioned, because if I didn't get in then it would have been rather awkward telling people, or being asked about it. Anyway, as there are only 4 female Main Roles, and they are pretty much all Sopranos, I knew there was not a chance in hell of me getting a part. Getting into the show at all was a relief, as about 40 girls auditioned and only 16 got in, not including the four main girls. yay.

Back to my story. Basically, when you have a group of teens in a room with a piano, and there has been drinking, (Actually this happens even without alcohol. But it was funnier this time) you get some pretty awesome singing. The guys who had some musical talent played some songs, and we all gathered round and sang. It was brilliant. And then, the best part:

There was also an iPod connected to the speakers. A song came on. A song we all knew and loved. We congregated in this huge group circle and started completely belting along to Bohemian Rhapsody. Possibly the most epic 6 minutes of my life.

So I'm wondering, has there been a moment with you, say at a music concert or a party, when you've thought, wow, did that just happen? [this question isn't phrased particularly well. Sorry]

I have a couple of those moments. I might save them for another time.


end.