shall we not

Thursday, November 24, 2005

And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept

I think i'm predisposed to falling in love with singers i see live in the Autumn. This time last year was Joanna Newsom but this year the somewhat dubious honour goes to Regina Spektor. She was utterly amazing and thoroughly lovely. I love the fact that both these gigs were randomly in a comedy club. To see what she is like use the attached link for an Xfm session (www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=38713)

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

sorry i'm such a rock and roll cliche

Well, i must have been busy to have so remiss as not post for a week. So some thoughts etc...

- I've done a first draft of what will hopefully become the first chapter of my thesis. It's 13,000 words and took me 3 and a half weeks to write but i can't tell if it's any good.
- I'm being observed teaching tommorrow which makes me a little nervous. I should probably stop messing about and prepare the lesson!
- I know i'm busy when i get the next edition of Empire and realise i've not read last months's yet. The new one has got their 25 favourite films of the year (i've seen 20) so it got me thinking anout my list which i'll put up next month. Also, i'm now very excited about Brokeback Mountain (www.empireonline.co.uk/futurefilms/film.asp?id=9981).
- Sheffield station is getting creepingly posher (they've got LED screens and an M&S!)
- Cripple Creek was fantastic as always. Really good to see the few people there that i knew but that was partly why it was great, random people choose to come!
- Liking random conversations in pubs with people, particularly the Tav which i think i can now call my local (even though it's a 20 minute walk away).
- The whole housemate thing freaks me out. Our house had a bit of a group hug last night but made me think about how i make friends i.e. i need enforced time with people. It's very rare i meet people i like instantly but when it happens i love it. Unfortunately, you seldom see those people as much as you'd like so hope to bump into them at stuff. Nice and non-pressured in a 'we don't hang out together but whenever we see each other it's cool, it'd be nice to see you more' type way.
- Lawn Dogs was on the other day (www.imdb.com/title/tt0119506/) which i really like but couldn't stay up for. I'll proabably buy it. It'd make a good Friday Night Movie and all can gawp at how youn Mischa Barton looks in it.
- My age is also freaking me out. I'm thinking of calling my party next year, "At least I'm not 25". Then next year could be called "oh crap."
- Regina Spektor tonight. Hurrahh.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

clap your hands...

Some observations:

1. New Music: I know i've mentioned it before but i love the sessions put up on KCRW so today i've been loving Laura Veirs and the Broken Social Scene who's album i'm thinking of getting (i have Laura Veirs already). I should try and burn some of the sessions but don't know if i can. BSS are kind of a collective from Toronto made up of people from different bands including Feist and their session is ace. Unfortunately the live performance might be a bit more stripped down from their album given the samples on Amazon so i'm in a dilly of a pickle. Anyway it made me think what would happen if a Sheffield version happened given the slew of musicians kicking around amongst us.

2. Regina Spektor: Live in Birmingham next Wednesday, wooo and hooo

3. T-Shirts: Threadless.com have a $10 sale going on...decisions decisions...

4. I've got my phone back and have been far less productive work wise today. Also, i was a bit disappointed that all the numbers and messages have been lost (i use it for PhD ideas and i'm having to play the guess who this message is from game) and also i wasn't deluged by the texts that people they said they'd sent and thought i was rude for not replying to. I wonder where they went then?

5. Weather: It's cold but I like the walk down into town though when it's not raining. The sky is looking amazing from afternoon to evening. We are in my favourite bit of the year weather wise.

6. Beanies: Sprouts this week! It must be Christmas.

Monday, November 14, 2005

why do i need a business card?

Well, i think goes down as one of my most stressful weeks for a while. Birmingham was frustrating, despite being there for 3 days i achieved very little. My panel (where i have to justify my existence) didn't happen because my department couldn't organise a piss up...and my supervisor would rather be elsewhere. I was not amused. It actually summed up all i can't stand about being a member of the department. Watched my students do an exam and then marked them on Saturday missing 75 minutes of the England game (at least i saw Owen's brace). They weren't great but not as bad as i initiately feared.

The week made me realise that I just don't handle stress very well (i feel like a nasty, boring person at the moment). I ended up pissing and moaning and saying stuff that'll come back and haunt me. I hold grudges way to readily. I also took that out a bit on my housemates too (but equally the stuff does annoy me like when i've been away the kitchen will be messy, my computer gets used loads and now the wireless isn't working). Felt exhausted so didn't work on Friday and on Saturday was painfully uncomfortable at a party so left.

I feel like i'm doing lots of things badly at the moment and not seeing the people i'd like to see enough but had a good Sunday. Went to Eccles in the morning which was great-trying desperately to let god in to all bits of my life and it can be quite releasing. Had Sunday lunch with some mates- good. Went and saw the Beck Retrospective at the Showroom (and remembered why i love him so) and bumped into some people i haven't seen for ages. Had a nice walk there and back soundtracked by Sleater Kinney's new album which showed up (a really dense, heavy record). Went to worship in the evening then relaxed a bit. It's amazing what a good night's sleepd does for my mood. Then this morning my wireless isn't working....damn it. I hate that stuff like that plunges me back down.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

coffee and pie, oh my

It's only 8.35 and i'm already bored. I've been up since 6.30 after a fitful nights sleep on my regular spot on the floor in Birmingham but the thing i'm here for today isn't until 4 so i'll probably be curled up asleep in the corner by then. This is made all the worse by the fact my new headphones don't allow me to listen to/watch stuff off the internet although it does mean that i'm getting quite a lot of work done. Got stuff done yesterday but left the thing i was doing early as it was useless. To use the time productively i watched the guy who does the lectures i do seminars on and ended up looking at how my lot took notes, interacted etc... so think it'll be helpful for future classes. The department is kind of nice when no-one's here, i'm noticing stuff like how noisy the printer is as i'm first in and last out.

The third step is all about submitting to God and asking him to free you from the shackles of self. It sort of ties in with what Mike was saying on Sunday about opening up all the rooms in your house to God as i've been made aware that many of them were/are shut shown by fears, insecurities about certain things and well you know, emotional stuff (sorry i don't want to get overly specific about the things that cripple me)

Right, i need something to keep me awake...

Monday, November 07, 2005

why is my sandwich crunchy?

Some random information pertaining to things that have happened, i've seen and so on:

- Of the three cinema trips i loved Good Night and Good Luck with George Clooney (i was less keen on Elizabethtown and the Brothers Grimm- poor with moments of inspiration).
- The new Sony advert (with bouncing balls) silenced our pub, i think it's great and the music is Jose Gonzalez too.
- Yesterday was one of the few days i cheered on Man U. All watching a game in the pub should be...
- In fact some of my happiest times have been in pubs recently.
- The best way to appreciate bonfire night is to go for a walk with a cd player and watch out across the city (soundtracked by Portishead).
- I managed to cry in my sleep this week (on top of the now obligatory time at church but i did love having children pray for you especially when they have to strain to put a hand on your shoulder).
- I have a passion for soup at the moment (Sunday lunch is rapidly becoming soup day).
- People who do Form can't really handle banter.
- I'm in Birmnigham for three days this week and i'll have to mark exams on the weekend. Joy (but the money'll be good).
- Step 3 of the book is about turning your life and will over to God. Easy to say, harder in reality.
- I think i'm a bit crap in conversations. I'm coming away from a lot and going, 'shit i didn't mean that' or, 'i completely forgot to ask you that' and feeling like i dominate them really rudely.
- I'm awaiting 5 cds, none have arrived, boo.
- I saw a fascinatingdocumentary about epigenetics, i really should look it up on Wikipedia....

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

what an odd sized explosion

Having been fairly house bound trying to write this paper (finished the first half of the first section- so about a third of the way through then) so here lies a list of things keeping me sane and bringing a smile to my face:

- The new My Morning Jacket album.
- The American Anologue Set album (reminding me of Tortoise and my post rock days)
- Putting odd words and phrases and references in my work, for example Rosencrantz and Guilderstern, anchorage points, common threads and seldom. However, i have used 'infer' far to frequently.
- The Brick film trailer (www.focusfeatures.com/viewer.php?f=brick&c=trailer&ext=mov&w=480&h=270).
- Adverts, in particular the Orange dancing one (good things do indeed happen when you're phone is off) and the Renault Clio Britain/France one.
- Guacomole.
- The excellently titled 'kevin is gay' by Giant Drag (www.giantdrag.com/movies/kevin_is_gay.mov).
- The next month sees at leats two films a week i want to see (Brothers Grimm and Elizabethtown this week).
- Not being overloaded with stuff to do and actually relaxing. This week seems to be quiet.
- My Chemical Romance's I'm OK, a true guilty pleasure.
- KCRW radio sessions (Ben Lee, the Like and Death Cab for Cutie are current favourites).