Yadda Yadda Yadda

I have had the best weekend ever!!!
In case you missed the info, I won a holiday to the Gold Coast with Hamish & Andy! We got flights up there, 2 nights in a very swanky hotel and a super park pass which got us into all the major theme parks (except Dreamworld). I win a lot of stuff, but this is the biggest thing I've ever won! And by far the best! Kathryn came with me and here is how it went:

Friday we got up at 6am ready to catch our flight up north. Caught a 9:25am flight and arrived on the Gold Coast a couple of hours later. Caught a taxi to our hotel, checked into our room. Oooed and Ahhhed about the incredible room. It wasn't a room. It was a whole apartment! Here is where we stayed!

Then we caught a shuttle bus over to wet 'n' wild (which is a water park if you don't know). We had a couple of hours on water slides before the show started. Hamish & Andy do the drive time radio program on the east coast of Australia for those who don't know. We got to sit in the VIP area and enjoy the show. Great show! It was their last show for 2007. Powderfinger performed live. Well, 2 of the guys from Powderfinger did their new single 'Nobody Sees' acoustically. It was awesome! I was literally in front of the stage. I got to chat to the guys a bit which was awesome. They seemed lovely!

After the show we jumped on the water slides for another half an hour or so, then headed over the an after party at the Calypso Club. There we got to meet the other comp winners, hang with Hamish & Andy and have drinks & dinner. Lots of fun! It was cool meeting lots of new people. That went for a few hours, then we caught the shuttle bus back to our hotel. Where Kathryn proceeded to invite everyone back to our room! Which was really good! We had about 10 people come back to our place and really clicked with them. 2 from Melbourne, 4 from Sydney, and 2 from Brisbane. They left at about 1:30ish I think. It had been a very long day!

The next day we all met in the lobby at 8:30am to head off to Movieworld! But not before having breakfast at a cool cafe. Movieworld was the best! Everything was just so good and so much fun! We went on heaps of rides, did lots of fun things and generally had a good time. After Movieworld we caught a taxi back to the hotel and went swimming in the pool/spa. Lovely! Then back to our hotel rooms to get ready to go out for dinner at the casino across the road. We caught the monorail over and had a nice dinner. Then into the casino for a bit and back to one of the boys' rooms to hang out. I think I finally got to bed about 2:30am.

Check out was at 10am Sunday, so we met down in the lobby again, went out for breakfast, then caught the bus to surfers paradise. We wandered around the shops for an hour or so, then caught the bus to Seaworld! Seaworld was pretty good, but no where near as good as Movieworld. We saw the dolphin show, went on a couple of rides and just wandered around looking at all the animals. Lots of fun!

Then we had to go back to our hotel, pick up our bags and get to the airport. But when we got there both our planes were delayed! We got to the airport at about 5:30pm and the Sydney flight didn't even start boarding til 8:25pm. And our Melbourne flight didn't start boarding til 9:35pm. It was a long wait! But we did have lots of fun hanging out at the airport.

I finally arrived home at 2am and crashed! I was exhausted, but it was all totally worth it! I've had the best time hanging out with new people in an exciting place. We made some good friends and are all going to keep in touch, nerd style! ie facebook!

It was just so good. I truly enjoyed myself. The places and people were amazing. I'm so grateful to have won that comp. It all went way too fast, but was just brilliant! Now time for stacks of photos!!!


Kathryn & I at Movieworld in our Shrek 4D glasses!


Andy & I


Some of the gang at the Seaworld Dugong Aquarium


This is Kathryn, me, Jayde & Cassie on one of the rides at Seaworld. It broke down while we were on it and all the other boats ran into the back of us... fun...


This is Kathryn & I playing card on the head game in the plane on the way there. We taught this game to all the guys we hooked up with. Hilarious fun! Basically you stick a card on your forehead and you have to say if you're going to win or lose. Highest card wins. If you're right you win, if you're wrong you lose. That's about it. No real point. I suggest you teach everyone you know! Let's make it a world wide phenomenon!


Cherry & Kathryn at the airport before we left to go home.


This is Emma & Cherry, the other Melbourne girls we were hanging out with.


This is Emma, Kathryn, Cassie & Jayde on the Monorail going to the casino Saturday night


This is the group of us outside Movieworld on Sat morning, minus the Brisbane guys who came a little later.


Hamish & Andy during the show


Hamish & I at the afterparty


Kathryn & I with Hamish & Andy at the afterparty. Such lovely guys!


Kathryn & I in our hotel room just before check out. It was so sad leaving that lovely hotel!


Jason at the airport after Kathryn popped a bottle of champagne


Jayde & Cassie form Sydney


Kathryn & I at the afterparty after the show on Friday


Kathryn & I with Hamish at the afterparty


Kathryn & I in the wild wild west at Movieworld


Some of the gang in the wild wild west at Movieworld


Cherry & Jason doing some Kung Fu in the Chinatown section of the Lethal Weapon bit


Me with the bugs I won in the carnival section!


Me on the Ferris Wheel at Seaworld


Us Melbourne girls at the airport. I love this photo!


Nathan & I


Me in my nerd sweatband and glasses during the show


The crowd at the show


Bernard & Ian from Powderfinger just after they played


The view from our hotel room balcony. Isn't it stunning?!


And finally, here is the 8 of us at the airport before we said goodbye to fly home. So sad! I truly appreciated meeting all these guys and getting to spend the holiday with them. It was amazing!

All in all it was a brilliant few days! Jam packed with fun stuff and great people and wonderful sites. Can you tell I enjoyed myself?

I leave tomorrow morning to go to the gold coast with Hamish & Andy! It's going to be sooooooo much fun!

Well it's over.
Friday was the final Episode of 'Get This', the best show on radio. Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee & Richard Marsland said their final farewell and rode off into the sunset on the Vengabus at 4pm on Friday. It was a sad day for all. But we sent them off with a bang! Luke & I headed down to the Dick Whittington Tavern where there was a party for the guys and their fans.

We got there at 2pm when the show started. We had organised with the Dick to be there and had the show playing over the loud speakers. Everyone was dressed up in their favourite Get This catch phrases, which did baffle everyone who came across us. The Get This fans are a weird bunch to say the least! To give you a taste some of the slogans were:
I'm payin money!
How come?
Assault! Assault! You touched me officer, sorry.
I'm Richard!
John Howard is as welcome as a yellow belly black snake at a BBQ!
This is dizzy stuff folks!

Just to name a few. See? Weird. But hilarious!

After lots of clapping and cheering and the end of the show the boys all came down to the pub to meet us all and thank us for their support. It was really a chance for us to show them how much we love them and for the guys to come and say their goodbyes to their loyal fans.

Now it wouldn't be a blog from me without lots of photos! So here they are!


Here I am, complete with baffling slogan!











And here is Luke with his equally baffling slogan.











Luke & I having a grand old time during the show.







Lachy Hulme & I. He told me I had bedroom eyes... I think I may have a crush on him now... He was a very lovely man.







This is the bottle shop. No jokes... Someone didn't think that through...








The guys giving a thank you speech after the final show. So sad...








Me with Ed Kavalee.









Luke with Tony Martin. What a good looking couple of boys they are!







And here is me with Tony Martin!












And finally, here is me with Richard Marsland.








And to cap it all off, here is a video I took of our anthem! If you don't listen to the show it may not mean that much to you, but it was awesome!



The boys will be sorely missed. But hopefully they'll be back in force before too long.
This is dizzy stuff folks.

I JUST GOT 2 PASSES TO GO TO THE GOLD COAST WITH HAMISH & ANDY FOR THEIR END OF YEAR PARTY/FINAL SHOW!!! WHOO!!!!!!!

Is it just me or does the heat make you have weird dreams?! If you're not from Melbourne you may not know that we've had some pretty hot weather these last few days. I tend to have freaky and weird dreams (well, weirder than usual) when it's hot. Last night part of a dream was that I got my ankle pierced. Yes, as in a piercing. I got a ring on top of my ankle. And an eyebrow ring, but that's not quite as weird. And this other girl, who I think was the piercer, got 5 piercings in her forehead. And this was all at the oval 2 blocks down from my house. First Hamish & Andy were broadcasting live from there, then it turned into some triple J concert. Then there was some rich guy and we went to his business and something else I can't quite remember. There was a multi level car park somewhere in there too. And in another dream I parked my car and then couldn't find it again, no matter where I looked. And Samual Johnson was hosting some charity thing in some dodgy back room at some hippy shop. Weird.

Here is an amazing article by Brian McLaren on leadership. I know it's a bit long, but it's worth reading.



OK, I admit it. I spent most of the 80’s and early 90’s wishing I could be just like Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, or John Maxwell. They were successful. They appeared unflinchingly confident. They were powerful, knowledgeable, larger than life. I’d go to their seminars, and return home feeling wildly inspired and mildly depressed. How could I feel those two things at the same time? If you’ve attended their seminars, you probably don’t need me to explain.
But if you do need me to explain, think back to the Biblical story of David, when he tried to wear Saul’s armor. Imagine that he had actually tried to go to battle with Goliath wearing armor that was XXL when he was a regular M (or even S) guy. He would have come back looking like a partially opened (and partially eaten!) can of sardines.
I wasn’t the only one who thought that the best image of the successful pastor was the CEO, the alpha male, the armored knight, the corporate hero. Thousands of us tried on that armor, and the results – in our churches and in our personal lives – weren’t pretty. Of course, the suit fit some of us (for example, I think that Hybels, Warren, and Maxwell really are XXL’s), but most of us eventually realized that if we were going to be of any use to God, we’d better be ourselves. A novel idea!
About the time I was reaching that conclusion, I was going through my “postmodern conversion.” I was seeing the pattern or matrix of modernity giving way to a new pattern, and I was beginning to see how my whole understanding of Christianity fit snugly within the modern matrix. I wondered how ministry, theology, spirituality, and evangelism would change as the matrix changed. And I wondered how leadership would change too.
Somewhere in the middle of these musings, a strange memory returned … the scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when little Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal that the great Wizard of Oz is a rather normal guy hiding behind an imposing image. It struck me that the 1940’s world that produced the film was in many ways a world at the height of modernity, a world enamored with Superman, with the Lone Ranger, with Great Men. It struck me that by exposing the Wizard as a fraud, the film was probing an unexpressed cultural doubt, giving voice to a rising misgiving, displaying an early pang of discontent with its dominant model of larger-than-life leadership. And it made me wonder what image of leadership would replace the great Wizard.
The answer, of course, appeared in the next scene. No, it wasn’t the lion, the scarecrow, or the tin man. It was Dorothy.
At first glance, Dorothy is all wrong as a model of leadership. She is the wrong gender (female) and the wrong age (young). Rather than being a person with all the answers, who knows what’s up and where to go and what’s what, she is herself lost, a seeker, often bewildered, and vulnerable. These characteristics would disqualify her from modern leadership. But they serve as her best credentials for postmodern leadership.
In the world of Christian ministry, we could identify ten Wizardly characteristics of modern leadership. (You’ll notice the masculine pronoun used exclusively here.)
1. Bible Analyst: The modern Christian leader dissects the Bible like a scientist dissects a fetal pig, to gain knowledge through analysis, and in modernity, knowledge is power.
2. Broadcaster: Somehow, when one amplifies his voice electronically and adds a little reverb, his power quotient goes up in modernity. Being slick, being smooth, being big, being “on the air” – that’s what makes you a leader.
3. Objective Technician: The organization (church, ministry, etc.) is a machine, and the leader knows how to work the machine, how to make it run, how to tweak it and engineer (or reengineer) it. It’s the object, and he’s the subject.
4. Warrior/Salesman: Modern leadership is about conquest -- “winning” souls, launching “crusades,” “taking” this city (country, whatever) for Jesus, etc. And it’s about marketing, getting buy-in, selling (and sometimes selling out).
5. Careerist: The modern leader earns credentials, grasps the bottom rung of the ladder, and climbs, climbs, climbs – whether he is a stock-boy-who-would-be-CEO or a young preacher on the rise.
6. Problem-Solver: Come to him, and he’ll fix you.
7. Apologist: Come to him, and he’ll tell you why he’s right and your doubt or skepticism is wrong.
8. Threat: One of the most powerful and underrated weapons of the modern Christian leader has been the threat of exclusion. The sword is normally kept in its sheath, but through mocking caricatures and other forms of rhetorical demonization, a gifted orator can make you fear that if you don’t agree with/follow/submit to his leadership, you’ll be banished – like the Wizard bellowing threats from behind his curtain.
9. Knower: The modern Christian leader is (or appears) supremely confident in his opinions, perspectives, beliefs, systems, and formulations. While the rest of us question and doubt, he is the answer-man who knows.
10. Solo Act: There’s only room for one in the Wizard’s control booth, and there’s only room for one at the top of the church org chart.
When you think of Dorothy, the picture is so different. Basically, instead of sitting pretty in a control booth, she’s stuck in a predicament – still a little dizzy from the tornado, lost, far from home, needing to find the way. As she sets out on her journey, she finds other needy people (actually not people exactly, but you get the point), one in need of courage, another in need of intelligence, another in need of a heart. She believes that their varying needs can be fulfilled on a common quest, and her earnestness, her compassion, her determination, and her youthful spunk galvanize them into a foursome (five, with Toto) singing down the yellow brick road together. Dorothy doesn’t have the knowledge to help them avoid all problems and dangers; she doesn’t protect them from all threats and temptations. But she doesn’t give up, and her passion holds strong, and in the end, they all get what they need. Maybe one of the film’s many enduring delights is hidden in Dorothy’s unwizardly leadership charisma. Maybe people in the 1940’s were just beginning to yearn for a way of leadership that now is becoming ascendant – a post-wizard kind of leadership:
1. Bible Analyst → Spiritual sage: As we move beyond modernity, we lose our infatuation with analysis, knowledge, information, “facts,” and belief systems – and those who traffic in them. Instead, we are attracted to leaders who possess that elusive quality of wisdom (think of James 3:???), who practice spiritual disciplines and whose lives are characterized by depth of spiritual practice (not just by the tightness of belief system). These leaders possess a moral authority more closely linked to character than intellectual credentials; they are more sages than technicians; it’s their slow, thoughtful, considered answer that convinces, not the snap-your-fingers-I-know-that kind of answer-man know-it-all-ness. Dorothy has this “softer” authority, a reflection of her earnestness and kindness as much as her intellectual acumen.
2. Broadcaster → Listener: In the postmodern world, it’s not how loud you shout; it’s how deeply you listen that counts. Just as Dorothy engages her traveling companions by listening to their stories and evoking their needs, the postmodern leader creates a safe place that attracts a team, and then she or he empowers them by the amazing power of a listening heart.
3. Objective Technician → Spiritual friend: Think of the difference between a scientist objectively studying chimpanzees, and a crusader dedicated to saving them from extinction. In modernity, a leader loves his organization and loves his ambition, his strategic plan, his goals; but on this side of the transition, leaders love their teams, and those to whom their teams are sent. (Or, more perversely put – in modernity, I Corinthians 13 would read, “If I have all love and would lay down my life for my friends, but have not knowledge, I am a wispy wimp and a poor excuse for a leader.” Beyond modernity, we return toward Paul’s original meaning.)
4. Warrior/Salesman → Dancer: In a world plagued by ethnic hatred and telemarketers, every voice adding stridency and sales pressure to the world is one voice too many. Nobody wants to be “won to Christ” or “taken for Jesus” in one of our “crusades,” and neither do they want to be subjected to a sales pitch for heaven, that sounds for all the world like an invitation to check out a time share vacation resort. A presentation of the gospel that sounds like a military ultimatum or like a slick sales pitch will dishonor the gospel for postmodern people. Instead, think of leadership (and especially evangelism) as a dance. You hear the music that I don’t hear, and you know how to move to its rhythm. Gently, you help me begin to hear its music, feel its rhythm, and learn to move to it with grace and joy. A very different kind of leadership, don’t you agree?
5. Careerist → Amateur: The root of the word “amateur” is “amar” – to love. Most of us in Christian leadership know that seeing ministry as a career can quickly quench the motivation of love. How can we keep that higher motivation alive? How can Christian leadership be for us less like the drudgery of a “job” and more like the joy of a day golfing or fishing or playing soccer or whatever … not something we have to do, but something we get to do? The professionalization of ministry will be one of the harmful legacies of modernity, I believe … a classic case of jumping from the frying pan of clericalism into the fire of professionalism.
6. Problem-Solver → Quest Creator: The man-at-the-top of modern leadership is the guy you go to for answers and solutions. No doubt, there are times when that’s what we need now too. But postmodern leaders will be as interested in creating new problems, in setting new challenges, in launching new adventures … as in solving, finishing, or facilitating old ones. Dorothy does this: she helps her companions trade their old problems (birds landing on the scarecrow, the tin man being paralyzed by rust, the lion faking bravado) for a new quest. Of course, this is what Jesus does too. He doesn’t solve the problems of the Pharisees (How can we get these stupid crowds to know and obey the law as we do?). He creates new ones (Seek first the kingdom of God….).
7. Apologist → Apologizer: Instead of defending old answers, the new kind of leader will often apologize for how inadequate they are. In modernity, you gained credibility by always being right; in postmodernity, you gain authority by admitting when you’re wrong (think of the Pope’s visit to the Middle East in early 2000) and apologizing humbly. That kind of humility, that vulnerability, was one of Dorothy’s most winsome – and “leader-ly” -- characteristics.
8. Threat → Includer: The only threat Dorothy poses is the threat of inclusion, not exclusion. She basically threatens you with acceptance; you’re part of her journey, a member of her team, unless you refuse and walk away. That kind of leadership strikes me as gospel leadership, and it reminds me of Someone Else.
9. Knower → Seeker: Oddly, Dorothy’s appeal as a leader arises from her being lost and being passionate about seeking a way home. Does it ever strike you as odd in contemporary Christian jargon that it’s the pre-Christians who are called seekers? Where does that leave the Christians? Shouldn’t the Christian leader be the lead seeker?
10. Solo Act → Team Builder: All along her journey, Dorothy welcomed company. She was glad for a team. By the end of their journey, the lion, the scarecrow, and the tin man have joined Dorothy as peers, partners, friends. Her style of leadership was empowering, ennobling, not patronizing, paternalistic, creating dependency. So effective was her empowering of them that they were able to say a tearful goodbye and move on to their own adventures.
I know, you’re thinking, why take a silly kid’s movie so seriously? You’re right – it’s just a movie. But I find the film’s repudiation of more traditional modern leadership to be fascinating, maybe an early expression of a cultural shift that we are more fully experiencing today.
And ultimately, of course, I find in Dorothy’s way of leadership many echoes of our Lord’s. After all, you can never imagine the great and terrible Oz washing his subjects’ feet, or his voice booming out, “I no longer call you servants, but friends.”
Maybe some of us are trying hard to be something we’re not. Maybe we’re imitating styles of leadership that are becoming outdated, inappropriate. That’s not to say we don’t have a lot to learn, but maybe the best thing that could happen to us would be to have the curtain pulled back to reveal us not as XXL superheroes, but regular size-M men and women. Maybe then, with the amplifiers turned off and the imaged dropped, we’ll hear Jesus inviting us to learn new ways of leading in his cause.

I love reading. It's so involving, stimulating and satisfying. I haven't read a book for my own pleasure since about February I think. I really miss it.
Today I started reading a book. I haven't read something non-study related for a looooong time! I'm re-reading 'the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy' series. This will be my third time reading them. Some of the best books I've ever read! If you haven't read them, you simply have to! Genius!
I'm off to do some more reading now!

I'm finished work! Whoo!!! Being a bludger here I come! Only for a while before the lifeguarding kicks in though. Bring on the hot weather!

Listening to Get This. So sad it's only got 3 weeks left!

Still have photos coming from my Tassie trip. Still haven't put them on the computer. I'm so lazy.

I have a new phone and a new ipod. Did I already tell you that? I can't remember.

Assault! Assault! You touched me officer, sorry.

This is my last week of work. Yay! The job isn't all bad, don't get my wrong, but I don't really enjoy sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day. It's not really me. I'm really looking forward to having more time! It'll be a real relief to have more time again. Thursday is my last day. I'm going to get back into writing music, going to the gym, and catching up with friends. Can't wait!

I bought Angus & Julia Stone's album "A book like this" last week. I can highly recommend this album to everyone! It's cruisy, beautiful, melodic, easy to listen to, interesting and thought provoking. Great lyrics too. I haven't stopped listening to it since I got it. I particularly like the song "hollywood". It's a great song about unrealistic expectations that hollywood give people. It really sets us up to fail, because life is not a fairy tale. That's not to say that life is all doom and gloom, but that sometimes people don't always have happy endings. Here are the lyrics:



I blame you hollywood, for showing me things you never should
a young girl, in this cruel world
Coz life's not a happy ending, I'm sure there's some like johnny and june
And maybe other people too

They all would have been killed in the sound of music
La da da la da da
They would have found out that Pinocchio could never tell the truth
She wouldn't make it to shore, the little mermaid
He would have married a whore from a wealthy family
After all, he was royalty
CInderella would of scrubbed those floors til her hands grew old and tired
Nobody would look her way
It's just the way it goes today

I blame you hollywood, for showing me things you never should
a young girl, in this cruel world
Coz life's not a happy ending, I'm sure there's some like johnny and june
And maybe other people too
Like me and you

I have a new ipod! How exciting! I'm excited about my new toy! It's one of the new iPod nano video ones. Here's a pic, mine is green though.

Save "GET THIS"!
It's Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee & Richard Marsland, 2-4pm weekdays on Triple M.
Sign the petition here!

Here is an atricle about the axing:


TONY Martin's nationally networked radio show has been axed, despite being one of the top rating programs on struggling station Triple M.

The comedian's Get This program has been a successful annoyance for the Austereo network, which shifted its timeslot three times in just over 18 months.

In a pattern repeated across the country, figures jumped from about 5 per cent audience share to about 11 per cent during the two-hour program, when it aired from 11am. They fell back to near 6 per cent when the station returned to music.

Triple M programmer Shaun Gough yesterday said the show was axed to focus company attention and resources on new breakfast shows debuting across the country. In Melbourne, Peter Helliar and Myf Warhurst are replacing The Cage, the fifth most-popular breakfast show.

Money was not the main issue for the show, he added, which soaks up production and editing time.

The Age understands Martin's company, International Skylarking, employs everyone involved with the show and the programming director has no control over this.

"They have a 'no air check' policy on that show," a source said, referring to the typical post-show process where the program director critiques the show.

Martin powered the Austereo network in the late 1990s. With Mick Molloy, the Martin/Molloy drive program had millions of listeners. Martin had tussles with management over the amount of music he played.

The final show is scheduled for November 23.

Well, time for the review! I know I've been slack and should have done it a week ago, but I've become addicted to facebook... not good... such an incredible time waster!

What can I say other than WOW!!! Josh Gorban & Katie Noonan blew me away! My 2 favourite singers in the whole world at the same concert! Can it get any better?!



If you haven't seen Katie Noonan sing, you have got to hear her! It's an experience that will blow you away! She has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard! If I could have anyone's vocal chords, I'd choose hers!



Now to Josh! Wow! I cannot get enough of this man! He has great charisma, he's seriously hot and just seems like the nicest guy! And that voice... *sigh* That was one of, if not the best concert of my life! He was brilliant! He played for ages, did almost all of my favourite songs and did 2 encores! Everyone just loved him!

More to come! Including videos!

I'm going to see Josh Groban tonight!!! Words cannot express how excited I am!

However, I am quite sick. Damn flu. Talk about bad timing! This is the most exciting concert of my life and I'm sick. Great. I'm going to stuff myself full of drugs.

You can't get rid of a bad temper by losing it.

Where does all the time go? Is there a time goblin who sucks it all up and then gives it to the hippos? I want my time back!
I swear time operates exactly as it does in the 'discworld' universe...

I know it's been a week, but I haven't had the time to blog. Sorry! Here are some pictures from the snow last weekend. I headed up to Mt Bulla with Anna, Rob & Alison. Sorry, "Alison". We had a really great time! We drove up Friday evening to stay just outside of Mansfield at Rob's parent's place. They just retired up there and built a lovely new house on a 5.5 acre property. It is just stunning! They are holidaying in Europe at the moment, so we stayed in their house. Some photos:


Anna & I




After home made pizza's and the movie 'wild hogs' we got some sleep ready for the mountain!

On Saturday we headed up to Bulla. The others had all snowboarded before, but I hadn't. It was soooo hard!!! I did manage to get the hang of it and not totally suck! At one point I even made it half way down the run without falling! Yay! The run was pretty long, must have been about 700m I think. Maybe even longer. We were on 'Burnt Hut' for anyone who knows Bulla. It's this run:

We snowboarded for a while, then stopped for lunch and I took off my boots! Ahhh! The best part of the day! Those damn boots weren't that comfortable. Damn hire boots...
Then we kept snowboarding and left at about 4:30pm, that's when everything starts closing down for the day.
Here's some photos from during the day:

"Alison" looking very snowy.

















Anna also looking quite snowy.
















Rob, once again, very snowy.




















And here is the group of us after the day had finished. We were all quite tired and sore. Me more than most. It's hard work getting up everytime you fall down coz your feet are strapped into a stupid board! So hard!
However, we had so much fun! I'm really glad I went. I pulled up sore the next day, but not as sore as I thought I'd be, so that's good.


Last photo. Isn't that beautiful? We had such perfect weather. It was lovely and sunny whilst still not being too hot. So pretty!

After the mountain we had dinner at the Mansfireld pub which was amazing! Such good food! Then back home to watch "Die Hard" and drink beer. Sounds pretty blokey eh? I slept soooooo well that night! Then we slept in a bit, packed up and headed back home.

All in all we had an amazing weekend. So much fun!

I'm about to leave for the snow! Whoo! I'm heading up to Mt Bulla for the weekend with some friends. Should be so much fun! I haven't been to the snow in about 3 years. Yay!
Have a great weekend!

Time for a bit of audience participation!
I'd love to know what artists you like that seem out of character. Bands that you say you like and people say 'really? I didn't think you'd like them!'. That's happened to me a couple of times recently. Here are my artists that surprise people:

The Hilltop Hoods
Josh Groban
Michael Buble

It's review time people! I've been to see some amazing live music over the last couple of weeks. Let's start with Gotye.

Gotye is the solo music project of Melbourne's Wally De Backer. What a taltented man he is! Gotye grabs samples from all sorts of different music and puts them all together to create new tunes. He sings and plays drums, so there is a lot of his own work over the top of these samples too. He plays guitar and keys at times too.
Given the nature of his music, it's not an easy thing to translate it to the stage. However, the creativity of this man never ceases to amaze me! On stage he had 2 violins, viola, cello, percussionist, 2 sax's (who also played the clarinet and flute) and a bass player. Plus Wally himself on drums, vocals, electronic drums and keys. What a show! The music was different to the album, which is what gave it it's special something. It was still his music, but revamped for the stage with an amazing array of people and sounds.
And there was a great light and visual show going on up on the screen behind the band! Impressive stuff!
I love his music anyway, but seeing him live just made me love him more! Such creativity and raw talent.
I recommend getting along to see him if you ever get the chance!


Then on Thursday I went to see the John Butler Trio & Josh Pyke. Josh Pyke opened the show and he was brilliant! I'm such a huge fan of his music. Great interesting acoustic tunes with catchy, yet creative melodies. He's a brilliant lyricist too.
I was impressed with his live show, hadn't seen him live before. but I was disappointed with the sound. His vocals were a bit too muffled and quiet. If I didn't know what he was singing, I'm not sure I would have been able to make it out.


Then the John Butler Trio took the stage! Incidentally they just came on the radio! Love it!
I've seen these guys twice before and I'm always blown away by how good they are. Even if you don't like their music, you have to appreciate how good they are as musicians. Talk about impressive! No-one's fingers should move as fast as John's! And the drummer (Michael Barker) and bass player (Shannon Birchall) are so imcredible! Shannon plays a 5 string and an upright. So very cool. And Michael? Phenomenal!
What I love so much about their music is their obvious passion. John writes about things he is passionate about. His music is a reflection of who he is and what he believes in. I have a lot of respect for that. And he's not just all talk. He acts on what he thinks is important. I love his heart for reconcilliation, compassion and respect. His message is all about love for your fellow man and the planet. Whatever form that takes. If that means overseas aid, then good. It it means just stopping in the street to say hi to someone, then that's good too. If it means not mining our planet to death, then that's another good thing. And everything in between. I have a lot of respect for these guys, as musicians and as people.

I've seen a lot more live music over the last 2 weeks too, but more later. These are the 2 shows that stood out to me the most.

Any musicians you want to recommend?

Tell me what you think about powerlessness. Is it something that just happens to us? Or is it something we allow to happen to us?

I think, once we reach a certain age, we allow it to happen to us. People cannot have power over us unless we given them that power. We are not controlled by external forces, we have the power over how we respond to anything in life. That is not to say that we are not strongly affected by outside sources, but we are not determined by them. We choose how much power we give to others.
While we may like to think that others can control us, that is not true. We have responsibility over who we are and what we do. Perhaps blaming others for our lives is simply a defense mechanism, and we really are responsible for how our lives have turned out.
Sure, we cannot control all the forces out there, but we can control how we respond to them. We are in control of who we are in the midst of our situations.
I'm a bit admirer of Viktor Frankl, who is an Austrian Psychiatrist who survived Nazi concentration camps. He wrote an amazing book called 'Man's search for meaning' if you're interested in the topic. Amazing, insightful and powerful book.
What I got from is that we can't control others/life, but we CAN control how we respond to that. We always have power over who we are.

Feel free to offer opinions, discussions, whatever.

I bought Regina Spektor;s latest record yesterday. I am soooooooo impressed!!! The best cd I've bought in AGES! She is quirky, weird, interesting, catchy, talented and baffling all at once. Some of her songs are catchy and beautiful, some are fun and odd, some are a mixture of everything. She is a taltented woman! Beautiful voice, incredible pianist, talented song writer. I LOVE this cd!

Favourite new albums? Recommendations?

Today was a bad day.
This morning about a quarter of our company was made redundant on the spot. I still have my job, but some of my friends lost their jobs. It was weird and sad and disappointing and baffling and angering all at once. They weren't even given notice. They all lost their jobs right there and then. No handovers, nothing. They were locked out of their computers, door passes were frozen, everything stopped right there and then. It's a strange thing. They turned up to work thinking they had a secure job, and 2 hours later, they are unemployed. I feel so bad for my friends who lost their jobs. A lot of people have their identity caught up in their jobs and when that gets taken away it's devistating.
Our company was in financial trouble so they had to cut staff. It's a sad thing that people have to fall second to the almighty dollar. Sometimes I hate capitalism.

Isn't it weird when you get in contact with friends from your past? Sometimes it's lovely, sometimes it's awkward, sometimes it brings up old emotions and memories, both positive and negative. Sometimes I want to go back, sometimes I'm glad I've moved on. It's a strange thing to reconnect with past relationships.

I discovered facebook last night. I only joined to see photos from Kathryn who is in America at the moment. I'm still unsure about how it all works.

Uni starts again tomorrow. Homework does not thrill me.

Going out for my first work function in my new job tomorrow! Should be great and interesting to see people outside of an office context.

Last night I went with a few people to see an acappella group called 'The Idea Of North'. I've seen them a couple of times before and I always forget how amazing they are. These guys are some of the best singers I've ever heard! I can't get over how incredible they sound as a 4 piece, and as individuals. Their music is moving and beautiful. If you ever get a chance to see them I recommend you don't pass it up! It was their live DVD launch last night and I got one, it's stunning. But nothing beats seeing them live.

*NOTICE*
Spoilers for 'Lost' ahead!

Have you ever been too invovled in a tv show? If I watch a show too much then I tend to incorporate it into my life. Like when I was 12 hours behind in '24' last year and I watched heaps and heaps of it in a short period of time. I started to get a little paranoid and was on edge a lot. Think I did that with season 1 of Alias too in 2004. Anyway, my latest one is 'Lost'. I haven't even watched heaps of it, just the season finale. It was the finale of season 3 last night and I watched it today. I think I'm a little too invovled because my heart is breaking for Jack. And Charlie dying was just so awful and tragically sad! I'm really upset by the show, like it's real.

Tell me I'm not the only one who does this! What show/movie have you done this with?

Well I didn't win the Bloc Party Remix comp, but I did have the highest rating remix on the site for the last 2 weeks, so thank you soooooo much to those of you who rated my remix. I really, really, really appreciate it! I'm taking it down tonight to put up a new version of 'who asks the question'. It's slightly shorter and has reworked vocals. So jump on and rate it HERE!

The Zoophyte launch was incredible! I don't think I've ever heard the boys sound so good! It's obvious they put an awful lot of work into this gig. I was so impressed! I'm loving their new CD! If you get a chance to get along and see them I highly recommend it. And get a copy of their new CD! It's brilliant! You can hear them HERE.

Yiorgo (their bass player) is leaving though, which is really sad news, coz not only is he an unbelievable guitarist, but a really nice guy. And Andy has left the band now, due to work commitments, so the band is dwindling! Although the do have a new bass player, and Andy still plays as a 'special guest' sometimes.
Seriously, get along to see these guys! They're amazing!

I'm off to Zoophyte's album launch tonight with Sabine! Should be heaps of fun! They are talented boys! You can check out their tunes HERE.

I've been thinking a lot this weekend about the nature of relationships and how vulnerable we are to others. I've been doing an intensive (as part of my uni studies) with an organisation called 'Forge'. I'm a big fan of where they're coming from and have really enjoyed engaging with the material over the last 4 days.

Let me preface this with saying that I am talking about any relationship, not just romantic ones.

Something I was thinking about was the nature of relationships and being hurt by others. I can think of a time recently where I have been hurt and disappointed by someone I have been friends with for many years. I was hurt and angry to begin with and thought about ending the friendship out of frustration and hurt. But then I thought about it and realised that this is not an option if I am to live with integrity

Does this mean I was wrong to open myself to this person? No, I don't think so. It is the nature of life that we will be hurt by some people, but if that stopped us choosing to be vulnerable to others, then I think it would be a rather sad existence.

Being in relationship with anyone invovles a certain risk. There is no guarantee of 'success'. Although I would argue that our definition of success is warped anyway. But the more I think about it, the more I tend to think it is ok to be hurt. It means that you have really given something of yourself to another person. Even if you think there is a real risk that you will be hurt, ripped off, disappointed, or taken advantage of. We are only responsible for what we do, not what others do. It is the nature of humanity that we let each other down.

I want to live a life of love. And that means sacrificial, inconvenient, unconditional love. I want to care for anyone and everyone, even if that means I am hurt, inconvenienced and disappointed. I want to be able to look back on my life and know that I did all I could for people, even if it invovled pain. I would rather live a life of challenge than comfort.

Well, I've had some issues raised this week. Is it ok to publically critisice a person's character? I understand that sometimes it is appropriate to criticise a public fiure in terms of their behaviour (and therefore character) if that person is meant to be representing you/your interests (ie politicians). BUT, is it ok to criticise someone who is simply being themselves? Who does not represent you? I have often come under fire for things that I write on this site, and mostly I find if unecessarily offensive. I would never seek to criticise someone for who they are, unless they are supposed to be representing my interests. I may have opinions on them, but I would not publically state it for the world to see.

I wonder what that's about? How does that benefit anyone? Appropriate constructive criticism (in private) is one thing, but general character assassination? What purpose does that serve? I can't see how that helps anyone. It makes the person in question feel attacked and ridiculed, and it can't benefit the readers in any way, apart from entertainment (which I would argue is not healthy entertainment). So I can't understand why people feel the need to publicalyl attack my character. Or anyone's for that matter.

I heard an interview last week about the internet and its potential evils. One of the problems is that people have anonymous identities that allow them to behave without the restraint that they would normally restrict themselves with. Is it not a good thing that we hold back? Why do we feel that being brutally honest is a good thing? Can we not be honest, whilst still taking into consideration the feelings of others? Why does 'being ourselves' mean that we get to hurt others? Why is that their problem? I would argue that it is in fact our problem. I don't want to be responsible for hurting someone else out of my brutal honesty. I'm sure we can find a way that both serves the other person, and is still truthful.

Thoughts?

I hate working. I can't function in the mornings which means I'm a moron when I arrive at work, and I'm super grumpy for the first 2 hours of every day. My brain literally can't function properly and I actually hate everyone when I wake up. I'm not cut out for normal working hours. I'm such a night owl. And I don't think it's just that I haven't adjusted yet. It's been 6 and a half weeks and I still can't cope properly. Why do we work 9 - 5? Or 9 - 5:30 in my case.

I've come to the conclusion that I find no meaning in my work. I know this is a common story, but while I'm at uni I just need any job that gets me through. While my workmates are nice, I don't enjoy my job. It's repetitive and boring. I find no satisfaction and purpose in my job, therefore I have no motivation to be there.

It sounds cliche I know, but I'm struggling with my new lifestyle. Working 30 hours a week is really hard on top of study and all of the other commitments I have. It's not the kind of life I envisioned for myself. I'm grieving the loss of a lifestlye I have enjoyed and want to continue. I miss all the live music I used to go to (I've had to severely cut down on all that). I miss hanging out with people as often as I used to. I value people over a job, and now I can't put the time into them I want to. I'm finding this change hard to accept.

Got me a new CD! I bought 'The Cops' new CD calld 'drop it in their laps'! Great stuff! Anyone else heard it? I highly recommend it as a great alternative pop album!

If anyone's still reading...

I got back today from my weekend down the beach, Sorrento way. We had a great time just hanging out and having some down time. I really enjoyed it! Now I'm back! But I'm about to go away again! But not really. I'm house sitting for the next week in North Balwyn. I'll still be on the net though.

In other news I've got a new song up on Triple J's unearthed. It's a remix of Bloc Party's 'the prayer'. Triple J are running a reminx comp at the moment, so head over there and rate my remixed track! Thanks!

I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping over the last 3 or so weeks. I've been lying awake in that half asleep half awake state for most of the night. So while I'm in bed and getting some sleep, it hasn't been good quality sleep. It means that I spend all day every day feeling awful and unable to do things properly. I've been grumpy and exhausted. My poor family... But guess what? Last night I slept! I have no idea what changed, but for once I had a good, deep sleep. I feel amazing today. I still need a few good nights to catch up on all the sleep I've missed, but compared to what I've been feeling like, I feel incredible! Yay!

I'm going away tonight with my microchurch (small group). We're heading down to Blairgowrie for the weekend! Should be really nice, although it'll be kinda cold!

We need rain. It's good. But it sucks when you get caught in it, it's super windy and it blows your umbrella inside out.

Well I finally finished all my assignments! I handed my last assingment in at 3:15pm yesterday. It was a great feeling! Now I have 5 weeks of freedom! No more voice in the back of my head that says 'you should be studying!'. Yay!

Got to catch up with Amy & Troy last night. They're from Tassie. They'd been in SA visiting family and were catching the boat last night. It was great to see them again! Ezra is 10 months old now! He's so big!

Then I went to Naomi's birthday party! It was fancy dress and I went as Tinkerbell. Wings and all! I even covered myself in glitter. Lots of fun!

Tonight I'm going to another fancy dress party. I have to go as a gangsta. Guess who's going op shopping today?

I took photos last night with the iSight on my computer.

Work is still going well.
People are nice.
Struggling to fit my life in and around it though.
I think I do too much.
Quite tired.
But happy.
All uni work is due in on Friday.
Ug.
Hello!
Sorry I haven't been around others' blogs much.
Give me til Friday, until uni work is over!

And what the?!

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama.php

I just saw Pirates 3 with some friends. Great film! I won't spoil it, but go see it if you haven't already! Gotta love Johnny Depp (as always)!

I'm home now. Kate came home this evening.
New job is still going well. Getting to know the people a bit more which is good.
Was really sick from early hours of Sunday for about 24 hours. Stomach virus. Not good.
Finished off a major assignment on the weekend. Whoo! Good feeling!
Wish I could sleep more. Going to bed in a minute.
Bought Josh Groban tickets this morning! I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Some of my current favourite songs:

Everything I've got - Iain Archer
Summertime - The Sundays
Don't Stop Now - Crowded House
Head Up In The Clouds - Powderfinger
Penny On The Train Track - Ben Kweller
Four Winds - Bright Eyes
Flathead - The Fratellis
Opinions Won't Keep You Warn At Night - Kisschasey
Wrong Girl - Missy Higgins

I'm housesitting for Kate at the moment. Just home to work on an assignment. That's why I'm not really visiting anyone's blogs. Sorry! I'll be home Monday night.