It’s true. I’m going to take a short break from here and sort things out in the real world. Which will be my explanation as to why there’s a gap in the blog at the moment.
I fucked up March 21, 2010
New Year January 1, 2010
Here we sit, watching the the big balloon going up in the sky. Of course, in Sydney it looks more like this:
It’s been a funny year, 2009. I did so many things I’ve not done before, I’ve done other things that I do all the time, and some things I normally do but didn’t this year. It’s all very exciting.
I got my eyebrow pierced, I went to two student conferences, I got engaged, I continued my PhD, I became a councillor with SUPRA, I became Secretary of SUPRA, I became a councillor with CAPA, I became Queer Co-officer and National Secretary, I worked as an electoral official, I came out to a number of people. I did a hundred things I wanted to, and missed many things I wanted to.
Where does that leave me?
Well, it leaves me here, on NYE/D. We’ve been watching films. And so, in interests of swelling this post, i provide an overview of the films:
The Proposal
There was only one thing worth watching this film for:
Otherwise, it was a shallow waste of celluloid reminiscent of every film from Green Card to Pretty in Pink.
The Alphabet Murders
Eliza Dushku plays the part of an investigator in Rochester, NY investigating murders for children with double-letter initials and found in places which have the same letter (Like Kristina K. Keneally). It was dark and distrubing, though has Eliza somewhat typecast in the role she played in Tru Calling. It was, however, not all that well written or directed, and I thought it was really flat.
The International
Like a lobotomy with a pencil, this film was painful and made no sense.
Christmas. The girl you got pregnant 2015 years ago who is still bitching today December 31, 2009
I figured that since everyone else was doing one (well, Yani and Sunshine, but they’re everyone) so will I.
Christmas is that time of year I’d rather not have. Shops are packed, it’s hot, my car rego is due, it’s hot, presents are expensive, not to mention that it’s hot. We also do a huge Christmas thing every year, and this year turned out to be somewhat never-ending. The weekend before Christmas set the whole thing in motion when we went to Dan’s parents’ to put up the Christmas tree. This followed on with decorating our own house (Well, Dan decorated it, I pretended to be enthusiastic).
Anyway, Christmas really kicked off with Christmas Eve at my cousin Al’s place, with Jo, Em, and Olive, Mike and Vic, Zosh and Rog, Babcia and Dziadek, Vic’s parents, Jo’s parents and siblings…. it was mega. I didn’t really enjoy it – I’m not a fan of huge parties. My brother and I sat down the end of the table, away from the oldies, and chatted, not really doing much. My enthusiasm for Christmas was matched with the enthusiasm in gifts given to me: A tin of fudge flavoured like Bailey’s, a 6 pack, and a tank of fuel. Wonderful gifts from my father’s side of the family, as always.
As usual, waking on Christmas Morning brought on my good cheer, and my parents. I was given a new weathershield for my car and a service to do the timing belt by my father, four penguin classics (I don’t remember which) and cherry liquor chocolates by my mother, and a new bracelet and two tops by my brother. One of the tops, a favourite now, says “Let’s pretend I give a shit and leave it at that”. I will wear it for teaching next year.
Christmas Day was with my mum’s mum at her place, and we had a lovely time, though it was hot and Grandma was tired. I got a lovely set of gifts from my grandmother, including a cotton blanket for Dan and myself, chocolates, wine, and a book by Alan Bennett, A Life Life Other People’s.
Boxing day continued the slog, with Dan’s parents. By now, as you, devoted reader, should be able to guess, I have been to a number of Christmas things. I do not like Christmas thanks to the years of retail and my general displeasure. Dan’s parents are trying to enforce Christmas onto me. They did so this year by buying Dan and myself tickets to go to Wicked, and the True Blood omnibus. I was also given presents by Dan’s family, Lala gave us a How To Host A Murder, Cal gave us a board game, and Dan’s aunt, who I can’t remember what Dan’s nickname for her was, gave me a voucher for Boarders.
So, there have been a few gifts in there, a few different things, but nothing I was too exciting. I hope Wicked will be good, people rave about it, but I’m not so keen on this happy ending thing. Why did they have to change the end?
Mila and The Move December 24, 2009
After a nearly flawless year living in Arundel St, Glebe, especially surviving the bitch of a landlady, Christine Marshall, I was hunting around for some new digs, when an offer I could hardly refuse presented itself. Alex, a guy I had met down in Canberra at Queer Collaborations, had got a place he was desperately trying to fill, and we were a great fit for him.
I’ll skip over the nitty gritty, and get to the story. Dan and I had accepted this new place elsewhere in Glebe where we had moved in with Alex (Evangelical Christian, first time out of home, generally clueless and naive (damn, I can’t get the umlaut to work)), Emma, and Tom.
More on Alex later.
Meanwhile, Dan began seriously missing the Midnight Cat. He became sullen and depressed, pined for her at night, etc. So, one day, upon returning from a particularly shitty family gathering, I stopped by the old place and saw the cat out on the street. I got out of my car, picked her up, put her into my car, and drove off. Yes, I quite literally catnapped.
Dan was… surprised… to say the least. Alex was petrified: “What if the landlord finds out! We’ll have forfeited all of our bond!!! The apocalypse will be upon us and the non-Christians will burn in a fiery hell”… wait, no, that last one was a different argument. He’s taking to the cat slowly now. Tom was indifferent. He usually was. Emma was indifferent and remains allergic.
A few weeks later, I called the owners. We now actually own the cat. And so, without further adieu, Mila Kowalski, our first, in what will hopefully be a predominantly fur, family member.
The wisdom of Dan June 10, 2009
I love 
Dan. Especially when high. He just got here and has tried to put his eye drops in with glasses on. He burst into tears of laughter when I described a cardboard box to him. He has said the following:
Me: Remember how you were saying I always lie on your right when we watch TV? I’m on your right side.
Dan: Does that make me gay?
Dan (to the Midnight Cat): My darling! Do you want to lie down here? Here, why don’t you like on my jacket and scarf, not this horrible plastic bag… this way you don’t need to hear yourself sleep.
Dan: You know how everyone says “Oh I learn more about you every day? Well baby you know enough about me to know I don’t like relinquishing control, especially in regards to gravity.
Proposal June 6, 2009
Today was our one year anniversary. And I asked Dan to marry me (at one day, in the future, given it’s not even legal for a registration in NSW, Australia). And he said yes.
I’m over the fucking moon! 
Run off my feet May 6, 2009
Somehow, I’ve ended up doing everyone else’s job, and not my own. Which has been why I’ve been so slack on the blogging. Sorry everyone…
Here’s a brief run-down of my life:
I'm all wrapped up, I don't know my arms from my arse
- I’m now heavily involved in the marketing committee for the Faculty I work in, which means I have been designing ways to lure unsuspecting Year 12 students in through Facebook and “information” days, both at schools at at uni. I get paid for most of this work, though, which is good!
- I’ve also become the resident expert in CMS, it seems, which, I might add, is a HORRIBLE language I NEVER want to EVER see again. URGH!! It means I spend an hour or so a day updating the website, pro bono, and usually working with my “boss” (who should be doing it, and is very slow).
- I’m kinda trying to train my parents atm, as one would a naughty child, by not rewarding them. Which means I’ve now not spoken to them for a week and a half. I feel kinda bad, but relieved at the same time. We need to talk, though, and I don’t want to cause a fight but it might just come to that.
- Things with Dan are awesome 11 months today, feeling great!
- Things with money are not awesome. I now know what it means to live from paycheque to paycheque, which usually involves having little or no money for the last few days. I am now getting a bonus from Mr Rudd, though, which is good, as it means it can go towards a proper double mattress for my bed and a new computer.
- Talking of politicians, I’ve taken to writing to MPs at will. Kevin, Julia, Robert, Malcolm, Tanya, and my state member, Verity, all get semi-regular letters from me, and Verity actually replies herself! I like her
- I’ve also ended up helping to run a whole lot of things at Uni with the Queer Collective, including going to group discussions, meetings, and generally spending time helping people. And now, also included in this, I’m running guided meditation sessions taken from a book Dr Muscly told me to get.
- Finally, amongst all of this, I’m also tutoring first years. 375 of them, spread over 6 demonstration sessions (or about 62 per class). Some of them have been great, and some of them terrible. The last class I had were fairly dead… no laughter at my (admittedly bad) jokes, no whines, no whinges, no… anything. I have one more group still to meet, I hope they’re a good group
So, that’s a very brief overview on everything. Welcome to the present
Meeting MY Family April 6, 2009
Despite the arguments with my parents, I still want Dan to meet my family, so when I was due to take something over to Grandma’s yesterday, I put on my red riding hood, packed my picnic basket, and carefully got Dan in the passenger seat.
Yes, that’s right… I introduced Dan to my Grandmother.
And it went really well
We chatted and had cake and laughed about things. My Aunt Ro and her fiance Dennis were there for a while, they seemed to get along well too. Dan nipped into the bathroom, and Grandma said the following words that touched me: “I like your friend very much“. Friend in that way that old people have of referring to boyfriends. She likes Dan. When we were leaving, I gave Grandma a kiss, and she said “Can I give Dan a kiss too?” in a lighthearted, giggly sort of way.
I’m in tears of joy just typing about it now. She likes him, she really likes him
Updates! February 25, 2009
It’s been a little while since I blogged due to EXTREME busy-ness. Before you think I’ve gone mad, no, I haven’t started doing work for my PhD… that would imply some path towards finishing, and we all know that can’t happen. No, it’s been more a case of things to be done, places to be, so here’s a quick run-down:
Valentine’s Day/The Feast of St Hallmark – less romantic than was originally envisioned, given to Dan’s cold at the time. We lay in bed watching films and stayed warm.
Fair Day rainy – but fun to see lots of people. Got a free petunia that now appears to be in dire straits, along with my quickly dying poinsettia from Christmas. Didn’t go for too long, but it was nice just wandering over when I liked and not needing to worry about parking.
Grandma goodness – I came out to my Grandma, Mum’s mum, on Thursday. It was an interesting situation, and I basically just said it when she asked if I had a girlfriend. It feels good to be out, and she took it really well. Yay! While I was over there, I helped her sort out a little problem she had with a delivery. She was expecting microfibre cloths, and, instead, received this:
Sara’s leaving 
- I’ve made a good friend in Sara over the past few months, and she’s now finished her course and is setting sail for NY. I’m really going to miss her, especially as she’s been somewhat of a “sex friend” for me. By which I mean she’s that person I seem to have no issues discussing my sex life with.
Trivia trivial, no one surprised - Acceptance held their annual trivia night on Saturday. Unsurprisingly, it was full of things no one knew, was too loud, and involved two drag queens who assumed they were funny. Nonetheless, I had a good time, especially as I drew the raffle with Miss Southern Comfort.
Tropfest dry, weather fine too - Tottered off to Tropfest Sunday night, it was quite good fun seeing so many people… we had a great spot with lots of room to lounge out in. There wasn’t a great showing of films… only one animated film, for example.
Keepin’ it real January 29, 2009
I’ve been busy these past few days, so I thought I’d do a mass update post! Yay!
The Party
I do love a good party, and usually I just go along to them and play host while the actual host sits and chats. This time, it was my turn to actually host, and now that I have a place I actually would invite people too, I decided to go all out. It was a raging success, as it eventuated. Tonnes of wonderful, lovely people came, and aside from a short tryst in my bedroom by two partygoers, and a third who barged into my flatmate’s room, waking him up, I’d have everyone back again.
iTunes Genius – Not so
I was listening to my iTunes the other day, and having lots of time to fill in, I was playing with iTunes Genius. It seemed like a fantastic invention, plucking out playlists from my 11,000-odd songs, until I looked down the list.
Some of you may know that Breathe Me by Sia is the last song in Six Feet Under, and has been known to bring me to tears. iTunes provided the following playlist of 24 songs to accompany it:
- Let Go – Frou Frou
- Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Ooh La La – Goldfrapp
- Look After You – The Fray
- Hang Me Up To Dry – Cold War Kids
- Don’t Bring Me Down – Sia
- Chicago – Sufjan Stevans
- The First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes
- Back In Your Head – Tegan & Sara
- Do You Realise – The Flaming Lips
- Precious – Depeche Mode
- Mad World – Michael Andrews
- Gold Lion – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Phantom Limb – The Shins
- Icky Thump – White Stripes
- Strict Machine – Goldfrapp
- Day Too Soon – Sia
- Electric Feel – MGMT
- Lover I Don’t Have To Love – Bright Eyes
- We Used To Be Friends – The Dandy Warhols
- Where Is My Mind? – The Pixies
- Rebellion (Lies) [Live] – The Arcade Fire
- Run – Snow Patrol
- Be Be Your Love – Rachel Yamagata
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do like some of those songs. In fact, I like all of those songs. But as a match for Breathe Me? A quick check on Last.fm suggests the following artists as being similar: Zero 7, Flunk, Emiliana Torrini, Hooverphonic… Now, I have three of those four on my iTunes as well, and yet none appeared. Sure, Run and Mad World might be complimentary as well, but Maps and Ooh La La rank higher. Have I completely missed the point of Genius or is it really just not that smart?
The Situation
My parents are causing me to be anxious, I have to draw more boundaries in my life. But I love my new place!
Message 1000
As far as things go, Dan and I seem to be going brilliantly. In fact, I noticed something the other day: I had received my 1000th sms from him since the first time he asked me back to his place. It said, quite simply, “Nah, I’m cool”, which is true. He is a cool boyfriend
Home, Sweet Home, aka: Things that go bump in the night
Last night, at about 5.30am, I was tossing and turning in a sweat when, suddenly, there was a creaking sound that drew me awake, and then a thunderous crash. The hook I had put up on the wall the night before had come unstuck, and sent the picture it was suspending crashing down into Lloyd, my poinsettia, and my stereo. It was not a pretty sight when I woke up to see dirt and leaves everywhere, but at least the picture seems to be ok… it was a Christmas Gift from Dan, hand made.
