Punishment Week 2 - Day 5

Just a quick note to say i just stayed up all night to finish paper towns (which was AWESOME) and do other stuff, and I may not get time to write anything interesting later as i am expecting to crash the moment I get home. So if the expected does not occur, I will delete this and write something worth reading. 

Punishment Week 2 - Day 4

I think I had planned to write about something today, but I had a nanna-nap just before, and my brain is too tired to remember what that thing was. Today passed fairly quickly, and I didn't get very much done. I read Paper Towns for about an hour after I woke up. Then I proceeded to check everything on my computer, before getting bored and giving up. I should mention that this is the longest I have gone withut writing a diary entry since I sarted in January. I was getting quite sick of journaling and I kept putting it off, so I decided to give myself a break. I know the idea is to leave no gaps, but the entries were becoming less and less amusing and more and more drivel by the day. I needed a break so I could refresh and recharge. I'm going to start writing again tomorrow. 

My apologies for the uncharacteristically short entry, but it's time to go eat cake. 

Ta ta

O Hai!

**If you haven't yet, read the previous blogpost first, then come back to this one. KTHXBI**

It's me, back again as promised. Did you miss me?

So I spoke about the day that was in the last post, but in this one I want to discuss the mystery that is the future... and my plans for it.

So, lately I've been drifting a little bit in relation to my plans for the future. While I am still certain that quitting university was definitely the right move, I haven't been able to figure out what to do instead. I've come up with things to say when people ask my intentions, like "oh, I'm thinking about working in Jewellery" (which would be a nice occupation, but I don't see myself doing it seriously for the rest of my life) but as yet, nothing has really grabbed me. I have a lot of things I want to do and achieve, etc. but precious few of them will potentially put food on the table. I've made a list of these things. I sort of don't care that some will really not mean much in the long term. I don't think I should be restricting myself to life's boring prescription of what people expect one to do with one's life. So here it is. My List-Of-Things-I-Want-To-Do-With-My-Life*:

• Put blue streaks in my hair (not just blue tint - like full on electric blue)
• Find a place of employment that will hire me without telling me to get rid of my blue streaks
• Get out of debt
• Become famous on YouTube (my channel is here) *hinthint*
• Travel around the world to meet friends from YT
• Write a novel in November (for National Novel Writing Month a.k.a NaNoWriMo)
• Turn my novel into a Graphic Novel series
• Get both versions published
• Become accomplished at both Drawing and Watercolour
• Get my A.Mus on Violin
• Write and record songs with meaning
• Release my own solo album
• Collaborate musically with my family
• Have my own pet guinea pig or 2
• Own my own House and Car
• Deck out my whole house with furnishings from IKEA
• Put it all together myself
• Design my own pieces of jewellery
• Afford quality findings for my jewellery
• Design, make and sell 1" badges
• Get a wardrobe that actually suits me
• Read 50 books in a year... EVERY year
• Fill my passport with stamps 
• Get back into dancing and rollerblading
• Get my artwork published in Artist Palette Magazine
• See all my good video ideas become reality
• Get a macbook to make it happen
• Finish all my unfinished projects lying around
• A double bed all to myself (until I get married... THEN I'm ok with sharing)
• Marry the man God made for me
• Live in another country for a while
• Have perfect teeth again
• Write a diary entry. Every. Single. Day.
• Get my drivers license
• Learn HTML
• Build my own websites
• Declutter my room...and my life
• Touch people in ways I can't even imagine
• Find the path set out for me and follow it
• Truthfully say I know what it feels like to be in love

If you were keeping count, that's 40 things. I think that's enough to keep be busy for a while. Let me know in the comments if you have any goals for your life (you don't have to put them all if you don't want) 

*This list is not finite, nor is everything guaranteed to happen. I'm going to do my best, though. Also, I am confident that with my current skills and abilities I can make each of these things happen. I will likely gain more abilities and confidence in the future allowing me to reach higher goals. Hence this list is likely to change/grow/edit, etc. 

Ok, that's definitely enough from me for one night. I'm going to bed. 

I'll be back again tomorrow. You can count on it.

Punishment Week 2 - Day 3

I'm so tired but i have to write this. Being Thursday again, and fearing having nothing to write about again, I made a list of things to write about. I promise this week's list is a step up from last weeks list. 

Firstly, it is my sister's birthday tomorrow. She's 22. Everyone wish her a happy birthday. I have nothing to give her yet, since I'm waiting for payday to arrive, and i haven't had the time or energy to put into making something cool for her. It'll have to wait. I'm sure she won't die in the meantime.

So, here 'tis. Today in a nutshell.

I went up to work at around 12, even though I didn't start till 1, because the bus i take only comes by hourly, and the next one would be too late. So I spent this hour wandering around the shopping centre trying to find something to do. This was when I found myself wandering into Borders to check if Paper Towns had finally arrived. I checked on Saturday, and they mentioned that it was on the way, but the lady said "check back in a week". I waited 5 days... and it turns out my timing was spot on. I asked about it and the lady (different lady today) checked for me and found it!!! I was so freaking excited about it. I read the prologue before I went into work. When I got out to the tearoom, one of my co-workers said "oh, but you don't start till 4". I checked the roster, and surely enough, after months of working the 1-9 thursday shift, my hours had changed without notice. Bad, because it caught me by surprise and now also means I have less money next week on payday. Good, because it allowed me to reach chapter 8 in Paper Towns. Oh, also, I should mention that my copy is the one with the awesome Australian cover. It's not Happy Margo, nor is it Sad Margo... more like Emo Margo. In any case, I think it's completely awesome. 

But yeah. So disappointed by the unexpectedly shortened workday, but it got better with the world's most awesome book to read. Kind of balanced things out a little. 

I'd say goodbye, but i'm about to type another entry for today. Since this was just a punishment blog, it is now time for the OE3D blog. So you'll be able to read more of me in just a bit :) Yay.

Seeya soon!!

Punishment Week 2 - Day 2

Whilst trying to think of something compelling to write about, the thought of discussing the upcoming state election entered my mind. Thankfully, it exited shortly after. Politics does not belong on this blog. EVER. 

I do have one exciting piece of news to share. 

Lately, my playlist has consisted of three artists: Lily Allen, Sara Bareilles and Kate Miller-Heidke. One from London, England. One from Northern California. One from my hometown Brisbane. I absolutely adore all of their music and have pretty much been listening to their stuff non-stop. 

Then, after my sister got home from her singing lesson, she informed me that she saw a massive KM-H poster on her teacher's wall, and voiced her suspicions that Kate might possibly have learned off the same teacher (who I learned off too, by the way, for the first three years of high school). My other sister then chimed in with "Duh, she taught her for like, seven years".

At this point I flipped out. My old singing teacher taught one of my favourite artists of all time! It makes sense, now that that particular puzzle piece is in place, but I'm still really excited about it. 

If you follow me on twitter or dailybooth, you will probably know this already. 

This just in: My sister is moving back home. She'll be sleeping in my bedroom, so that may take away from privacy time... just a little. Part of me is looking forward to seeing how things will go, and part of me is wishing I didn't have to find out. Being an introverted homebody makes sharing personal space difficult, and since that description fits both of us, you can understand my mixed feelings towards the situation. 

That's all the news for now. I guarantee that I will be back tomorrow with more compelling tales from my corner of the world. 

Until we meet again...

Punishment Week 2 - Day 1

So here it is. As promised. My review of "Road to Paradise" by Paullina Simons. It was a long read. Very thick and detail-heavy. The story was intriguing. Probably because it layed out all the problems and dilemmas of the three main characters and detailed their expectations for the future, establishing a desired resolution that the reader then comes to expect. So it threw me off a bit when I reached the end because I wasn't sure if I was really ready for what eventuated. 

The prologue describes a scene which actually eventuates towards the end of the book. It doesn't reveal everything (obviously, if it did there would have been no point in reading on) just enough to keep you guessing like a madman. Paullina does this deliberately, I think, to help you draw the wrong conclusion and throw you off the scent. Which is why the end feels like a hairpin bend taken as fast as the yellow '66 shelby mustang at 137.6 m/h. I think though, that is the mark of a really good book. Immediately after finishing, I felt I had almost been cheated of the ending I was expecting, but after a few days to let it sink in, I really feel like it's up there with some of the best books I've ever read. Why? Because it has stayed with me. I had to keep thinking about it to process it, let the ending sink in. Let's face it; it's not Twilight, it's not the insanely page-turningly compulsive Da Vinci Code. It's not even the easy-to-read Harry Potter. But it is really good. Granted I had to sit myself down for a few good hours to make myself finish it, but it was worth every second. It really didn't have any happily-ever-after, but I like that it kept so much closer to reality. Every bit of it might actually have happened. It's believeable. A little out of the ordinary, but believeable. 

Being raised in a Christian home, I was familiar with the ongoing debate between Gina and Candy. I've had it myself many times with high school friends... only i'm sure Candy had a better understanding than i did... do... :)

There is only one slightly negative thing i have to say about it, and that is the style of writing that Paullina uses didn't seem to match the plot. The action parts didn't feel urgent or fast enough to really create the excitement or movement that they demand. Maybe it was just the speed at which i was reading... sometimes I read, and subconsciously skim and skip over bits that may or may not be pivotal to the storyline. So that little dilemma could be purely my fault, in which case, this book is actually the perfect book. 

Addressing the issues of growing up, finding the you that you didn't even know that you were or could be (or something... don't worry if that confused you... i'm a little confused myself) and learning to accept others the way they are and not judge by exteriors, this book is pretty much THE ultimate coming of age story. 

I rate it 4 1/2 stars. 

I may eventually read it again, just to see what else I can pick up on... but maybe not for a while, since i'm already behind on the 50 Books In A Year goal. Right now, though, time to get reading the next book. Probably Non-fiction this time. I'll let you all know.

Oh and if you're interested, Paullina Simons has a new blog, which can be found here. 

Until Tomorrow,

I bid you farewell!

Yes, yes, i know.

I have looked at the time... and i realise it is after midnight here. Meaning... time for another punishment week. And they all cheered... WOOOHOOOO... myesss. 

I do have a valid excuse for my excessively late entry. That is, I edited and uploaded my next video today. Not just any video though... my milo video. The original video file went for 19 minutes. The final cut is 4:37. Wanna watch? you can find it here. But yeah. I am utterly exhausted, because the program i use to edit it has to reload the visual data every time i make a cut, which slows down the process dramatically. There must be an easier way.

Anyway, that wasn't the subject of today. I was going to write a book review for 'Road to Paradise' which i don't know if i have the energy for now. If you were looking forward to it, i'm sorry and i PROMISE it for tomorrow's entry. I do have a full week of entries to fill, so i'm not about to suck myself dry of material in a single entry. Plus, that video already took a lot out of me. I hope you guys enjoy it by the way. I'm still an amateur btw at this whole vlogging thing. I have a grand total of 4 uploaded videos so far. I'm pretty sure i'll eventually start to improve with time. But yeah. At the moment, not really pro. You're all welcome to come watch me grow, though :). I'd like that.

Signing off.

Goodniiiiiiiight. a ding ding ding ding ding ding ding... 

Well...

I had nothing better to do so i opened blogger and clicked on New Post to keep myself occupied. Gee, that worked well.

*EDIT* - 20 minutes later...

But seriously... I've been editing a 20 minute instructional/rant video i filmed a couple of weeks ago, trying to cut out loads of crap and such. I haven't even finished the first minute worth of editing, but tomorrow, I plan to take up residence at the local library and just sit and edit. Then i will travel to the internet cafe and upload it. I have no idea how long it will take. It's just been really irritating me having a whole heap of clips and rants that i have filmed and done little else with. I will seriously spend the whole day at it if I have to. I just can't tolerate my own lazyness anymore. Also want to commence a comprehensive plan/play by play of my NaNoWriMo. Also, O.E.3.D* blogpost is tomorrow. So i'll be posting. I finished the next book on my list so it will probably be the topic of discussion. If you follow me on DailyBooth you will know which book that is already. If you have dailybooth (which you should, it's awesome AND addictive) you can follow me if you wish (go on. You totally should. You know you want to.......pwease?) 

Ok, time to stop methinks... at least, i hear that's the logical thing to do when you run out of things to talk about...

Meh, sick of this now anyway. See you all again tomorrow? (in a manner of speaking)

*Once every 3 days

So I guess it's time to blog again.

I really haven't put much effort into my blog at all since my punishment week finished up. I stopped for one day (monday) and on Tuesday I found that skipping a day had cost me the ability to just write about whatever pleases itself to enter my head. I'm still finding it hard to write now. Is this even interesting to any of you? Please tell me if it is. 

So, in an effort to battle this minor case of Bloggers Block (why yes, I did just make that up), I made a short list of things about which to blog while I was bored at work yesterday. So, today's blog comes in 5 Parts:

Part 1: Work was Boring. 

That's right. This was the first thing on my list, since it was the only thing I could think about. Thursday Nights, being the one night of the week that the shops stay open late here, usually seem quite busy. Admittedly, this is only because of concentrated levels of highschool-aged children who do little else but hang around and cause trouble for patrolling authorities. Last night saw a dramatic dip in these numbers, for no other reason than there was a massive freak storm that came out of nowhere, drenched the people who were caught out in it and kept the rest of the people who might have come out to shop at home. I know this is summer here and summer = storm season, but this one was literally unforeseen. Another point of interest about this particular storm, was it's unique quality to reveal flaws of the shopping centre food court near which I work. Translation:  the roof was leaking near McDonalds and the neighbouring italian self-serve. It was sort of like a wall of water between the two restaurants :-/ . Or so I was told. I didn't actually see it for myself, but the story was compelling enough to keep my mind off the lack of interest at work. For about 4 seconds, anyway. 

Part 2: German Sunscreen

Odd. I know. Also while at work, I was informed by a visiting tourist looking for sunscreen that in Germany, they have sunscreen at 60+. What? Since when do they actually need 60+ sunscreen in Germany, while in Australia we only have up to 30+? I actually don't get that. Seriously. Queensland is the state with the highest rate for skin cancer IN THE WORLD. Why would they invent 60+ sunscreen and keep it a secret from us? That is Humanity at its stupidest. If you invent a sunscreen with protection that high, why wouldn't you market it to the people who need it the most? Dumb, dumb, dumb. Ok, that's about all i have to say on that topic.

Part 3: I don't understand.

I hate not understanding people. Whether they insist on speaking in another language, the only english words in their vocabulary being "no" and "english"; or if they hide their fluent english behind a really strong accent, or even if they just try to talk with their mouth stuffed full of food, I hate not getting what they're getting at. I hate being forced to ask them to repeat themselves over and over again... and then when i reply to their question, they don't understand. Not knowing frustrates me to no end. [end rant]

Part 4: Jellybeans.

If you follow me on twitter (which you totally should by the way) then you'll know that I bought a packet of Jellybeans last night to enjoy on my busride home. I hate black jellybeans so I always try to find a packet with no blacks in it. This isn't always possible (as it wasn't last night) so usually I have to settle with the packet containing the least amount of blacks as possible. Last night the lowest was 1. 

...I have no idea why i thought that that would be remotely interesting, but it was on my list. There you go.

Part 5: Pictures of stuff

I have been working on and finishing up some more projects which I will post pictures of soon. If you'd like to see what is up so far, you can see it here. Enjoy :)

Ok, that's everything I had on my list. I hope you found this insight into the shite that floats through my head whilst working amusing in some way. Until next time.

BYE

I was going to do a blog post...

But I'd rather wait until I actually have something worthwhile to post about. This covers my compulsory once-every-three-days blog post... But I promise to get some sleep and actually think about what I really want to use this space I have here for. 

I suppose I'll post again soon.