NEW BEGINNINGS / OLD PROBLEMS  

Date: Saturday, 6 March 2010 @ 1:08PM

So I just made this new layout and I'm happy enough with it. I'll be even happier when I get the javascript for my rollovers right but for now it'll do. As much as things change, they stay the same. What do they say? "No matter where you go, there you are." It's a sardonic kind of humour that fits my mood today.

I'm currently reading Robin Hobb's latest book Dragon Haven and it's good. Not as good as previous series have been so far, but I'm still enjoying it. I wish there were more references to my other beloved characters... so far, only one or two tiny references to Althea. Ah well.

As much as I want to be 'up and doing', I feel like curling up and doing nothing. I'm going to go try. I figure it won't kill me. Sitting here complaining might though.

VALENCIA  

Date: Wednesday, 10 March 2010 @ 6:53PM

At the moment, music is all about the bands that I'm going to be seeing soon. Tom and I will be seeing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on April 1 and HOPEFULLY Regina Spektor on April 27! We also will be seeing Panzer Queen on March 19. They're an awesome post-rock band with members from our church. I think of their music as beautiful sound-landscapes. We're quite privileged to know these guys and experience their music. The gig will be at the Excelsior Hotel - a good Friday night out if you're looking for something to do. :)


I'm slowly exploring Day Trotter and Blogotheque and enjoying their free music downloads. :) I also need to catch up with my eMusic downloads. I have 12 songs to download and I have to find stuff I want to buy... New music is wonderful. I've already discovered a lovely tune by Josh Rouse. It's called Valencia.


Josh Rouse - Valencia



I normally don't like the Spanish language but this is just gorgeous! I'll share any other finds I make.

BIGGEST BUBBLES EVER!  

Date: Wednesday, 10 March 2010 @ 7:46PM

So Valentines Day was a month ago and I'm only posting this now... Mmmm, oops. I had a grand day with Tom in the city - we visited the NSW Art Gallery and went to China Town (since it was also Chinese New Year). While walking through Hyde Park there was a guy doing some sidewalk performances 'blowing' bubbles. Only these were the biggest bubbles I'd ever seen in my life!



Bubble so long I couldn't fit it in the photo. It went for another 30cm before it ended.




This is me looking through the bubble. These kinds of things must be shared. So random and wonderful.

BRIGHT PURPLE FLOWERS  

Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 @ 7:56PM

Nature is crying out that Tom and I have been dating for a year! :) It seems like wherever I go I notice bright purple flowers growing on trees. I don't know what the tree is called but I remember Tom noticing and commenting on them to me when we first started dating.

On our first proper date we went for a bush walk near my house and took photos of the beautiful and interesting things we saw. I know it's kind of lame, and I know there is no end to my gushing, but I really love that I can mark the passing of time with Tom even with the trees and the seasons as well as dates and numbers. And it seems dates and numbers don't matter to my heart much, I have felt like I've been with Tom for a year from about the start of February...




It might be nice to find out the name of the tree... if I find out, I'll blog it.

DEBUSSY AND CLAYDERMAN  

Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 @ 10:15PM

I'm having a wonderfully relaxing evening at home. I have had a full day of doing and now I can sit back and read and listen to music. I spent the morning with Tom and while I was at his place we read some Twilight (yes, I have decided to read it) and I got a bit snobby at the part where Edward is playing Clair de Lune in his car and Bella says she likes the piece too. I snorted and said how unoriginal they were. :P

Later that morning I decided to play a bit on Tom's piano. I tried reading the notes to a piece called "Concerto Pour Une Jeune Fille Nommée Je T'aime" that I never learnt. I would like to learn to play it though... it's been so so long since I played though and I stopped lessons in 2001. I doubt that I'll get to a point on my own where I can play it as well as it's supposed to be played because gosh are there some technically difficult parts but no harm in trying. Listen to it played here:

Richard Clayderman - Concerto Pour Une Jeune Fille Nommée Je T'aime




I felt bad brushing off Clair de Lune later though because Debussy reminds me of my Year 7 music teacher who I really liked. I remember fondly my first lesson with her. She played us this Debussy piece and asked the class if we knew who the composer was. I didn't. I was one of the few people in the class who even listened to classical music and couldn't tell her. I'd never even heard his name before! So I took a mental note of his name and was determined to look the piece up later. :) If I'd had her for my subsequent music classes, I would have been very happy, but she left at the end of the year because she got pregnant and didn't come back to work after she had the baby. So sad. We got a dud teacher as a replacement. I learnt nothing after she left...

Anyway, here's a beautiful little youtube video of Clair De Lune.


Debussy - Clair de Lune




So I might leave off blogging for tonight. Night folks.

SIA - SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS  

Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2010 @ 4:55PM

Today has been good. I went to see Simon in the morning, which was a really good time of refreshment and encouragement... I get lots of clarity, ideas and strategies when I go. I never would have gone to see a psychiatrist before I met Tom because it's scary and I was not so keen on admitting my problems were big enough to merit it. Now though, I'm all for it. I'm so glad Tom encouraged me. I'm becoming less afraid of saying that I'm seeing someone. It's good. I wish there was less stigma around seeing a psych. It keeps people away who would benefit from some extra help. People would think you're foolish to not see a doctor if you have something physically wrong with you but if you see someone to deal with mental/emotional hurts you are judged. It's crazy.

Anyway, this rant relates to music (well, loosely) because I've been listening to Sia's album "Some People Have Real Problems". I had previously only downloaded 3 or 4 of the tracks from this album but after having a few extra tracks left to download at eMusic I got the rest of the album so I only recently heard "You Have Been Loved". It's a beautiful little track that feels almost like a lullaby. I love its tenderness. The video is precious... she can make me laugh and cry.

Sia - You Have Been Loved




I feel very lucky to have all that I do. Blog more later.

Love,
Cat