Stop The Madness...someone should have stopped this song!!

How ironic, Ms Houston!

The Change

Right. So here it is. After much deliberating the pro's and con's of my job with CIF, I resigned today.

The job as a Life Skills Tutor was a huge challenge, and one I could no longer do effectively. I have thought to myself what a failure I was for not being able to make it work, but truth be told, it is an extremely hard job to do emotionally and mentally. Most people know me as an extremely caring and compassionate person, for which it is harder for me to digest the fact that I couldn't make this job work. It was compounded by the after effects of having to get settled in a new country and in a new life. But hey ho, we all have little lessons along the way. Mine so far, that I am not meant to be helping people out in that way. There is a little 'tidy up' work I have to do with one of my students over the next two weeks or so before he moves into his own apartment, and goodbyes and explanations to my other ones, so its not quite over yet!

For now, its back to the wonderful world of ticketing at the Chicago Symphony. I also have a wonderful recruiter looking for full time positions for me.

And a final note which is soooo Richard. As I was getting ready for my work meeting this morning which I couldn't cancel, my recruiter called needing someone to fill in today at MTV! Bummer!

Songs of the day :

Single - EBTG

Grand Canyon - Tracey Thorn

No Man's Land - Beverley Knight

Kylie Flashback

I was on my way downtown on the El to the Chicago Symphony this morning, when a track on my ipod spun me around and got completely stuck in my head, I had to listen to it three times...even pausing on Michigan Ave and not walking into the building until it ended. This track was Confide In Me by Kylie Minogue. Not just your regular run-of-the-mill Confide In Me, but the Big Brothers remix. A track totally reworked and reinvented into a bigger stomping dance anthem! 10 mins and 27 secs of aural joy...ahhh...how it took me back to many a Sydney Summer gone by! And who would have thought that Kylie would crack the Triple J market with said track! Bless you Kylie, cheers for the memories!

Tracks listened to on journey home: (besides one more listen to the above)
Stupidisco - Junior Jack
One More Time - Daft Punk
Lola's Theme - The Shapeshifters
The Ladyboy Is Mine - The Stuntmasters
Lost - Roger Sanchez
49 Percent - Royksopp
A-Z - Tracey Thorn

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Shit still surprises me. I had a desire to help make a difference in people’s lives, however I have had to face my misconceptions about what I thought I could handle. Over the last week, I have made a few modifications in my life, job wise. Stay tuned....

If you like blissed out electronica, check out The Bird & The Bee. Niiice! Head over to their website and register for a free mp3 of their track 'Because'

(Thank you Will! I love you!!)

Those Poms!

Monday's Music Mojada!

Monday tunes, with a distinctive summery aftertaste! Loving Mojada and Put Your Hands Up. Support these cool Bondi boys!!

T.V. How much reality is too much?? Really??

It's a sublime 24 deg day here in Chicago. A totally perfect Sunday. I woke up, lounged in bed for a bit, got up, ran a few errands dressed in a t-shirt, jeans and flip flops (first time this year!). Then Will & I took a long leisurely walk around the Lake front laying in the sun for a bit..just generally enjoying the beautiful weather. Then it was time to come home and whip up a late afternoon brunch of bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuits. Another couple of days like this and my batteries will be well and truly recharged. However, its back to work tomorrow, but here's hoping the weather doesn't change.

Saturday morning was a different story however. So every now and then, I get a chance to lay on the couch and do absolutely sweet F.A. except flick through our free cable channels. Today was one of those. Upon my morning channel surfing, I stumbled upon Gene Simmons Family Jewels
Ok, now I said I was addicted to 'Bad Girls Club', but I have not watched an episode since my sick day. However THIS will be one show I will be locking into my television watching schedule! The only drawback to the commencement of series 2 tonight, is that it screens the same time as the new series of Family Guy. ARRGGHH..the dilemma!

Peoples.

I feel very lucky. When you need them, family and friends are there for me, as I am for them. No matter where in the world, no matter what shit is going down. (Thank the stars for my LP, 5of9'er & The Browler. Back home my Farting Puppy Princess, MJC, Boo & Nicole, UK-Love Wifie & Cells) However thank goodness for the Aussie change to daylight savings...easier to skype back to my family all!!

Today's post is just to serve as a bit of a love fest..tell someone around you that you love them, and how stoked you are to have them as apart of your life. It makes the world a much nicer place.

Will. I love you so much. Cheers for all!

'Get Around To It', 'By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down & Wept' and 'Raise The Roof' - Tracey Thorn (always innovative, never boring! Biggest musak-love-fest there!)

'Wake Up'! Its Fav Music Tuesday

Eskimo Joe. Please enjoy 'Wake Up' off their debut album 'Girl'. This song that made me such a HUGE crazed fan. Fun, summery and typically Australian! Great, great pub band who make the transition to much larger venues and festivals with unprecedented ease. Fun lads too!

I have Bond...

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it, I'm about to loose control and I think I like it!! I own Casino Royale on DVD and I am a very happy camper!

Plus I am loving the Sunday night Fox double, new season of Family Guy followed by The Winner, by the same writers of F.G.!


And to top it all off...my new found addiction are Pickles. Straight from the jar, Vlasic Zesty Spears


I feel so naughty when I sneak one, and Will catches me devouring it over the sink. Sorry Lil Debbie, you and your Honey Buns have to take a back seat to the zesty green spears!

Songs For The Week:
Glory Days - Just Jack
"The Take Over; The Breaks Over" - Fall Out Boy
Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now? - Joss Stone feat. Common
New York - Eskimo Joe

Fainting Goats??

A Friday funny...for all those animal lovers out there!! (Cheers for this my dear Farting-Slightly-Larger-Puppy!)

..ooop...forgot Scissor Sisters recap!

Friday night, The Riv and they were as FANTASTIC as ever! Never ever do they disappoint with their live shows! Naturally I was suitably drunk and sang & boogied to my lil' hearts content! I had a blast! Here are Dop, me, Will and Kevin as we were about to run out the door to ensure we were there in time before they hit the stage!

"Doctor, is my O.C.D the reason I horde paper napkins??"

There are a number of strange traits I have, my parents, good friends and boyf will identify with each of these...

- Won't touch metal poles on public transport. (DUH...how many people have you seen sneeze, cough, scratch their arse and then grab hold of the same pole that thousands of others have touched, with the same bacteria on their hands??? YUK!! Thank GOD for Purell!!)
- I HATE public bathrooms. (Unsanitary for oh so many reasons, a number of them stated above!!)
- I check the stove top AT LEAST four times before leaving the house. (and check the front door is locked at least twice!)
- I don't like using common-pens, like in banks or anywhere that requires me to sign a credit card charge. (I always carry my own.)

- I have an intesnse fear of snakes (severe!), falling and cracking my head open, I hate and am afraid of knives, I NEVER eat anything that is even one day out of date, or that has been in the fridge longer than two days. I have a fear of Salmonella poisoning.

Thank god I can put on a good facade! I would appear to the outsider a freaking wreak!
However, my latest obsession, or at least one that has been manifesting itself over the last year, is a strong urge and compulsion to collect a hand full of napkins wherever I go! Cleaning out my work bag on Saturday morning, I noticed a HUGE wad, and I mean HUGE, of all sorts of napkins. Seattle's Best, Peets Coffee, Starbucks, generic brown and white ones...even a McDonalds one. What the hell is my problem?? Is it I am afraid of being caught with a dripping, snotty nose, that I am now obsessed by collecting napkins???

Hmmm....maybe I need more therapy.

Quote of the Day:
"Tuesday, kill Lois, Wednesday, try on all her shoes!" - Stewie Griffin, 2005

Songs Of The Day:
Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire
Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn & John (The album 'Writer's Block' IS A MUST HAVE of 2007..much like Mika and Amy Winehouse...and Cold War Kids...)

Man burns genitals in Jackass stunt

Attempts to duplicate a stunt from Jackass landed one man in hospital with burnt genitals and left another facing criminal charges.

The men were trying to do a stunt from one of the hit show’s movies, in which a character lights his genitals on fire.

Jared W. Anderson, 20, suffered serious burns to his hands and genitals and Randell D. Peterson, 43, who sprayed lighter fluid on Anderson and lit him on fire, was charged with felony battery and first-degree reckless endangerment in Eau Claire County Court.

Witnesses told police that Anderson, who was drunk, volunteered to do the stunt after watching the movie, the complaint said.

After Peterson ignited Anderson, he ran into the bathroom, jumped into the tub and put the flames out, according to the complaint.

He was taken to Luther Hospital, and eventually treated at the Regions Hospital Burns Unit in St. Paul, Minn., for second-degree burns.

Anderson told police that he did not want anyone to get in trouble because of the stunt.

Peterson was freed on a $US2,000 bond. He has a hearing scheduled on April 16.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

WHAT A FUCKING TOOL!!!!! Its no secret. I hate and have always hated Jackass! A show appealing to the lowest common denominator. (maybe its a frat boy kinda show, and thus typically appealing to America's dim wits! Don't ask me, I am still only a stranger to this country!) Seriously....If people think those knobheads on that show are people they should emulate, what the hell is this world coming too???? These people shouldn't even be offered this thing called 'celebrity'. They are about as useful as Paris Hilton, the Playboy bunnies, Dick Cheney and every other useless wannabe!

...speaking of 'tools'...here is a pic full of useless pricks to brighten up your day! PRAISE BE THE SUNSHINE!!!!!!! Happy Friday, everyone!

Manners...or lack of!

Yesterday as apart of my weekly tutoring sessions, a student of mine Patrick and I are learning how to ride the El and head downtown to Chicago from Evanston, in order to visit the Epilepsy Association of Chicago.

So our trip started slow yesterday, due to the inclement weather, and we were both laughing at how slow the day was feeling, due to the slow journey of the train! The train started to fill up around Belmont (my stop!) and this older gentlemen got on (gentleman..a term I will use very loosely). So me being an agile (yet not very coordinated) young man , I offer my seat to him, next to Patrick, to which I have barked back in my face ' NO. NO I don't WANT to sit down'. Now if said man had quietly said this to me, even with a slight smile on his face, or recognition of someone doing something polite, it would have been cool. Instead he raised his voice, made no eye contact and tried to embarrass me in front of the rest of the carriage. This prompted a response from me of 'that is fine, no problem at all, but did you really have to be THAT rude about it!?? Older people today!' (this is is retaliation to the fact that it is usually the younger population that are seriously lacking in manners, and we are quick to jump on them!) The response I got?? A huff and a view of his old back.

Mine was not the only 'random act of public transport' kindness to be thrown back in ones face. A girlfriend Sara received a similar response to an older man as she offered her seat to him on her commute on the bus! Wonder if cranky old fart gets around?? Or is there something in the air???

Some other random happenings from yesterday:

- I still have trouble with mirrored walls in department stores, walking into one as I took Patrick around Old Navy. For some reason my brain doesn't like to register that it is a mirror in front of me, and not a thoroughfare.

- I start a new part time job on Monday, back in the wonderful world of Ticketing with the Chicago Symphony. The Arts. Its like a drug...highly addictive, bad for you, but for some reason, is embedded in your psyche as apart of your life forever!

Song of The Day:
Addicted - Amy Winehouse
Just - Mark Ronson feat Alex Greenwald
Walk This Way - Girls Aloud V's Sugababes

Things (or brain farts!)

Random lists of useless information have been swirling around in my head this evening as I type and sort out domestic shit, like laundry. But as I get ready to close down the computer, finish watching the snow fall and head to bed I want to share them with ya'll, even if they are just brain farts.
This country has some great things going for it...
Will (duh!)
Entenemann's Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk
The cottage up in Indiana. Summer weekends swimming in the Lake are sublime!
Family Guy
The beauty of the hills around Forestburg
Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park, and The Taste Of Chicago Festival. (summers here, in general!)
Schuba's
Our apartment
Lake Michigan
Snow (even though I am over winter, I am a sucker and love snow! But as said yesterday, I need some more sunny days.)
Pilsbury Biscuits
Little towns on the highways made up of petrol stations, motels and take away food eateries! Amazing! In the middle of nowhere!
The price of the El (Chicago's train system for those of readers of mine who don't "comprende".)

Things I dislike enough to say hate:
Lack of universal health care. Sucks. Full stop.
Grey, sometimes wet days that carry on for a good stretch.
Drivers and their love affairs with their horns! Get the FAAAARRRK over it!!!! ('scuse me Mum!)

Things I DEFINITELY hate:
Dubya
Cheney
Rumsfeld

Things I miss:
Family and good friends
Cadbury chocolate
Vegimite (whenever, as much as you wanted to eat, not having to be rationed)
Sun. Oh, my god yes...
The beaches & surf
Sydney Harbour

Things I long for:
Full time employment
Summer
London again. I still miss England.
Visiting family et all for Christmas in Oz
Cancun, 2008! With Will's ever-so-funny best mates, Sara, Corey and Shannon!

And to end it, here is a pic of the apartment from the living room, looking into the dining room and kitchen. Still getting settled, but very comfortable.

S.A.D & 'Rehab'

I am suffering from a serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder! The first winter I have had in three years and it is a brutal Chicago one. What a shock for One Lil Aussie...
All I can say is BRING ON SPRING!!!! Thank goodness also that the next week is forcast to grace us with predominatly sunny skies, even though it will still be chilly. (the cold I can handle...lack of sun bringeth me down!)

And having such a wonderful album to listen to as Amy Winehouse's Back To Black perks me up a treat, old Mowtown sounds with such killer tracks as 'Rehab', 'You Know I'm No Good' and 'Addicted' funkify my day...I LOVE this chick! (Classy...check her out!!)

New Music - Kaiser's & Ruby

Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby...great indie pop. Full stop!

Jay Kay Quits Music. ...or does he?????

Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay has announced he is retiring from music. This is a sad sad state of affairs for one of the industry's most talented performers. Admittedly he has not always produced outstanding works, some a little patchy, but on a whole one of the most vibrant, and energetic live performers around. And a temper to match.

As reported on 1 March Undercover Music News...

"After recently parting company with Sony/BMG, the singer announced, "I don't know what to do next. He added that he was looking forward to "having kids and finding a good woman." Hopefully someone will remind him that it generally doesn't happen in that order.

"I haven't been happy there for a while," he mused. "I've had some ups and downs but in the end the downs were just too many. When we talked about me leaving, I jumped at the chance."

Yet on the same website on the 2 March, the following was reported...

Britain's 'Daily Mirror' newspaper initially reported that the singer had changed his life priorities and was looking to settle down and raise a family. "I've had some ups and downs but in the end the downs were just too many," he said. "When we talked about me leaving, I jumped at the chance."

But he has since dismissed the claims as, surprise surprise, a tabloid media beat-up.

"As usual they got it wrong for a cheap headline!" he said on the Jamiroquai website.

"All I said was that we're taking a bit of time out to get the studio refurbished and we'll be back making music in a few months time. There's no way I'm quitting the music business – now I am out of my long contract with Sony/BMG we have so many options open to us we're just going to take our time and get it right – it's just getting interesting!"

Sheesh! Talk about sensationalist reporting.

I am somewhat relieved that Jay Kay ISN'T quiting music...bloody Fleet Street Media!