Day 18 - Whatever tickles your fancy

Something that I tickle my fancy with almost every afternoon is the site http://www.lookbook.nu. I'm the sort of person that can pointlessly stalk through pages and pages of unrelated nonsense, so at least I can justify this in the name of being fashionable. Although that might be up for debate. Anyway, it's an ace website and I can't help but love scrolling through it for sometimes hours at a time, soaking in some 'culture'. Whatever you want to call it.

Day 17 - An art piece

Bill Henson is an amazingly skilled artist. He is an amazingly controversial artist too, and I often find myself stunned to learn people's opinions of him and his work - people who I had considered open-minded and quite liberal, who spit venom at the mention of his name.

I remember when I was about 8, a family friend took me into the city entirely for the purpose of seeing a Bill Henson exhibition. I remember hearing people express their disapproval of this, and suggesting that it was entirely inappropriate for an 8 year old to see such an exhibition.

But I was captivated. I loved the exhibition perhaps more than any other I have seen to this day. It was beautiful and intruiging and like some amazing fantasy world. I sat in front of the massive photographs for what felt for hours and soaked them in, wanting to stay forever. Until recently, I had a small postcard sized print of one of his photographs stuck to my wall.

It saddens me that people can be so close-minded and so quick to judge things like this. They are afraid of unfamiliar things and they are reluctant to accept that the wrold is changing and that the general consensus on many issues has changed and become looser and freer. They are afraid to see the beauty in Henson's photographs and focus on the nakedness and what they see as vulgarness. But I suppose it is to be said that i everyone loved them as much as I do, I probably wouldn't love them as much as I do.

Day 16 - A song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
I hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch

I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Sia - Breathe Me

Day 14 - A non-fictional book

I love dictionaries. I love flicking through the pages and finding words that not only sound beautiful, but have beautiful meanings. I love being able to use them in everyday conversation and astound people. I love the fact that you can gather so much knowledge and put it all in one place, and share that with other people. I love the way that dictionaries look, with their perfect layouts and margins and so, so many amazing words. I love dictionaries. Go buy one, and read it.

Day 13 - A fictional book

Monkey Grip by Helen Garner is one of my favourite books of all time. It's so beautifully written and everytime I read it I learn something new about myself or the world or junkies and every single time without fail I get so wrapped up and emotionally involved with it that I find myself crying and laughing similtaneously. It was the first book I ever read that had that effect on me and it still does, and I still love it, so I highly reccomend reading it.

Day 12 - Whatever tickles your fancy

This is Moni, who tickles more than my fancy. Even though we've only been friends for a few years in comparison to most best friends, we pretty much outdo every other bestfriends. I would do anything for this girl, she means the world to me. I love her with all my heart and will never forget the time, laughter and copious amounts of food we've shared. From sitting on her beanbags playing Tony Hawk to sneaking out to go to a party for her, every day we've shared has been more than awesome. I love you, my darling, I always will.

Day 11 - A photo of you taken recently

This photo was taken when I was in Adelaide last month. It was one of the best weeks I had experienced in a long time, and a welcome break from everything - schoolwork, my mum, being someone's girlfriend. Being in a place where no one knows you is a liberating thing, where you can choose what kind of impression you leave on people. I also got to spend lots of time with my amazing family, Geoff my grandfather and Grace my (18 year old) auntie, which was amazing. They are the only family I consider worth caring about, the only ones who seem to understand. Adelaide is a beautiful city, full of old churches and lush parks, and being there made my heart sing, if only for a short week.

Lost

After having a conversation today with some lovely year twelves about their HSC major works for art, I began to think about how little direction I have in my life. I don't have any long term goals, I don't have any idea what I'm going to do for my 2 (possibly 3) major works, I don't know what I'll be when I leave school, the list goes on.

I'm surrounded everyday by people who know exactly what they want and how to get there, and I stand in the middle of this rush feeling confused and left behind. I'm like the little kid who, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, says "happy". Sweet, but being happy isn't going to get me anywhere.

I often find myself asking other people what I should be when I grow up. The two most common answers are something to do with cooking, or a fashion designer/clothes maker. The problem for me is that I love these two things so much that I don't want that love ruined by having to do them everyday to support myself. I want to do something else, and then come home and make myself a lovely dress and cook risotto.

Why can't I make a living out of being a happy, creative, selfish person?

Day 10 - A photo of you taken over 10 years ago

This is me and my bestest, longest known friend Gus. We have always been and always will be the best kind of friends you could ever wish for. Sometimes I wish that all the boys in the world were like Gus... But then there would be no more virgins left! Anyway, the point is that I love Gus with everything, he's the best brother I could ever not be related to.

Star Gazin'

I love this photograph by Steven Beckly. In fact, I love all of his photographs, but this one is my favourite. His works have something special about them, something in the way of turning everyday life into beautiful, touching and inspiring art. Check it out.

http://www.stevenbeckly.com

Flesh Eaters

You have a heart and I have a key
Lie back and let me unlock you
Those heathens you hang with down by the sea
All they want to do is defrock you
I know a river, where we can dream
It will swell up, burst it's banks,
babe, and rock you
But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten
But I'm glad you've come around
here with your animals
And your heart that is bruised but unbeaten
And beating like a drum

I will sit like a bird on a fence
Sing you songs with a happy ending
Swoop down and tell you that it don't make sense
To attack the very thing you're defending
Didn't I just buy that dress for you?
That pink paper pinafore that you keep mending
Well, if you're gonna dine with the cannibals
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten
But I'm glad you've come around
here with your animals
And your heart that is banging and beating
And banging like a gong

I can see that they've hurt you, dear
Here is some moonlight to cloak us
And I will never desert you here
Unpetaled among the crocus
Allow me, my love, to allay your fear
As I swim, in and out of focus
But if you're gonna dine with the cannibals
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten
But I'm glad you've come around
here with your animals
And your heart that is bruised but bleating
And bleeding like a lamb
Banging like a gong
Beating like a drum

Nick Cave - Cannibal's Hymn.

Day 08 - A photo that makes you angry/sad

This is my Dad. We are not enjoying ourselves at all, and you can tell. There is nothing more to be said.

Day 07 - A photo that makes you happy

Allow me to introduce you to Thomas Francis Abberton. This boy is the love of my life. What we share is so special and amazing and will last forever. What we share is not puppy love, it is true love. I could and I will spend the rest of my life with this boy and, I truly cannot wait for the years to come. I love you Tom.

Day 06 - Whatever tickles your fancy

This is Cait. She tickles my fancy, rather alot. She is my abortion friend, the one who will walk through the pouring rain with me and watch terrible terrible austar with me. I love her to the end of the earth and I always will.

PS. I also quite like Elise. I haven't forgotten you, dear.

Legs

I have an obsession with kooky stockings. If they have holes in them, an unusual print or just something other than the ordinary mass produced, then I'm on it. I wear them at every chance I get, despite my mum's comment that they look tacky and my Deputy Principal's lovely and often expressed opinion that they make me look like a hooker.

I now have well beyond 20 pairs of said stockings - an array of colours, lengths and patterns. I'd like to show you mine but I am too poor for a camera, so cue pictures of other people's stockings.

Day 05 - Your favourite quote

"If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything"
- Malcom X

h

This quote doesn't even need to be explained.

I also do quite enjoy hearing "I love you" from Tom's lips - that makes me feel pretty amazing. But I'll have to stick with Malcom X for the number one spot. Just, awesome.

h

h

h

PS. I skipped a day because I already have a list of my favourite books up here.

Day 03 - Your favourite television program

Again, with the multiple favourites. I have four, but probably if I had to pick one it would be Grey's Anatomy. It's a cheesy and slightly embarrassing choice, but then, they all are. Grey's is mine and Elise's tuesday-night-absolutely-fucked-after-dancing show. We sit on her couch and fight with Will every week till he lets us change the channel, and then collapse in front of possibly the worst and best medical drama ever aired. Basically, it's love. I'm proud to admit that I don't actually have a crush on any of the male characters on this show, though. No McSteamy and McDreamy for me, thanks.

Neighbours. I love Neighbours more than is healthy, more than I care to admit. I don't know why, I don't know how, because I can plainly see that it is absolute drivel, but it just happened, and here I am. Addicted. What more is there to say?

It's really cliched, but I've go to put Skins in because, well, it's awesome. Everything about it. The reality and the fucked up kids and the heart-wrenching relationships and the epic clothes. And Cassie. I love her so much, she makes me wish I had funny teeth and long lanky legs and awful habits. But I don't, so I just watch until my heart is content.

Finally, Underbelly. In this again lies an attraction to the clothes. But also the glamour and the extravagance, and the dirty gritty Kings Cross with which I've always a love affair. I adored the first and second series of Underbelly and waited and pined for The Golden Mile to start airing on channel 7. And I have to admit, I do have a little tiny crush on George Freedman.

Day 02 - Your favourite movie

This is proving to be difficult, as I'm not really the sort of person to pick one favourite of everything. But I do have a few special movies that will always have a place in my heart:

Lords of Dogtown - this is the movie that made me fall in love with skating, and skaters and boys with bare chests and long sun-bleached hair. I remember the first time I sat in the cinemas watching it with my dad, just completely captured by the brilliance of this movie and its focus. It is, however, a complete coincidence that I ended up falling in love with a skater. I only found out he was some kind of skateboarding machine after we started seeing each other... needless to say I was quite happy.

Ferris Beuller's Day Off - what can even be said about this movie that comes close to explaining how magnificent it is? Basically, who doesn't wish they had best friends like these. Everything about this movie, from the clothes to the language, the ridiculous situations and hilarious portrayals of high school culture and stereotypes, is just so brilliant. Its just one of those movies that everyone should see, and appreciate to the full extent of one's ability.

Fight Club - no one can deny that this movie is pure genius. I'm not one prone to ridiculous attractions to movie stars, but I have to say that this movie may have resulted in me having a little crush on Brad Pitt. I actually found the movie better than the book, which is more than I can say for nearly every other movie ever produced. I will always be able to sit on the couch and watch this movie endless times in a row, picking up something new each time. It's probably one of the most quoted movies, too. Which for once, I'm okay with.

Day 01 - Your Favourite Song

The fact that I can't even do the first challenge makes me think this is not going to end well. I don't have a favoutite song of all time, because my tastes and mood are constantly changing. At the moment though, I am particularly enjoying listening to Angus & Julia Stone, Bon Iver, Lisa Mitchell, Coldplay and Regina Spektor.
When I listen to any of these artists' beautiful melodic tunes, my heart feels as though someone has poured pure joy into it. I feel like dancing and running and going for long walks at sunset. They are helping to calm me during a period in my life where I am stressed so so much of the time, about everything and nothing.
I feel like I'm not coping, and my body can tell - I am currently enjoying a lovely mix of blocked nose, sore throat, cold sores and other lady issues. I feel like my physical self can tell that my mind is going through so much stress, and therefore feels like it needs to react in many awul and additionally stressful ways.
I need to crawl into a warm cushioned hole and stay there until everything blows over and life is peachy again. Except I know that it won't work.

30 Day Challenge

Okay, so this is what I am doing. I'll start today.

•Day 01 — Your favorite song
•Day 02 — Your favorite movie
•Day 03 — Your favorite television program
•Day 04 — Your favorite book
•Day 05 — Your favorite quote
•Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
•Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
•Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
•Day 09 — A photo you took
•Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
•Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
•Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
•Day 13 — A fictional book
•Day 14 — A non-fictional book
•Day 15 — A fanfic
•Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
•Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
•Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
•Day 19 — A talent of yours
•Day 20 — A hobby of yours
•Day 21 — A recipe
•Day 22 — A website
•Day 23 — A YouTube video
•Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
•Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
•Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
•Day 27 — This month, in great detail
•Day 28 — This year, in great detail
•Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
•Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy.

Lisa, I love you.

Sometimes your love
It's so pretty I just wanna sink in
And sometimes your heart
Well, it's so pretty I just wanna live there

Well, I wish I could bottle it up
And breathe it back like Valium
And sometimes your heart it's so pretty
I just wanna live there

So when I find a scientist to help me
And if I meet the maker of all the universe
I'll ask him why we're here and what we're here for
And I'll tell them all the stories about our little world

Well, I've been waiting
Well, I've been waiting

Sometimes your love it's so quiet
I don't even need to speak
Sometimes your heart it's so loud
I can't even hear the beat

Well, I wish I could bottle it up
And breathe it back like Valium
Sometimes your heart is so quiet
I don't even need to speak

Well, I'll find a scientist to help me
And if I meet the maker of all the universe
I'll ask him why we're here and what we're here for
And I'll tell them all the stories about our little world

"Valium" Lisa Mitchell