Wow, I haven't updated properly in a VERY long time. The again, there would be something seriously wrong with the world if I stopped being the most inconsistent LJ poster of all time. It would upset the natural balance of things. So yes, Australia has not devoured me with Vegimite. Contrary to popular opinion.

Anyway, my birthday was super-awesome. (In the least Mean Girls way possible.) Had a great party and felt very special with all the messages and thoughts coming my way from unexpected sources... God's really blessed me with awesome friends and a family that's amazingly comforting for my first birthday away from my parents etc. It's been generally weird though. Realised that I'll be thirty in ten years. I freaked out and bought a Ferrari. Well, I bought a book... which is practically a Ferrari if you calculate it according to the "broke student":"mid-life crisis" ratio. So yeah. It's weird getting older and finally starting to feel slightly offended when people say, "Twenty? Wow, I thought you were MUCH older than that." O_o (I paused by an 'anti-ageing' eye cream shortly after.) That aside, I finally feel like an adult, even though I've moved out of the hosue. Or, in fact, the 'house' if you English puritans prefer. My friend even offered to excommunicate me because we're no longer in the same age bracket, which inspired an amazing amount of confidence I must admit.

In other news, I'm regretting studying Asian history and wish I'd taken a side course in something interesting like "Cranial Relations: A Unique Insight into the World of Head/Wall Interaction". Or something. As much as I love China, there are only so many times you can be told that Asians invented everything and that Europeans suck in general. We get it.

Other courses of mine are more interesting, however, so uni is not a completely suicidal experience. Development Studies has really inspired my need to change something about the world and has inspired the liberal protestor side of me that seemed to be missing when I most needed it in high school. I'm quite agrivated by Corporate Social Responsible and my tute was like a 50 minute rendition of "The Constant Gardener", which was amazing. (This was without Rachel Weisz, unfortunately. Much like 'The Mummy 3' which promises to be an epic fail without her. Well, it was probably going to be an epic fail anyway, which is probably why she opted out. Smart woman.)

Talking about films, I went and saw 'Mamma Mia'. Much heart. I've always had a shallow appreciation for ABBA that was never truly realised until now. It took Meryl Streep's amazingly emotional rendition of 'The Winner Takes it All' to convert me to toe-tapping and word-knowing. (That and Pierce Brosnan's fantastically awful and yet stunningly endearing version of 'SOS'. The tune isn't really THAT important... is it?) I will definitely be first in line to by tickets to any film versions of 'Chess'. Then again, that has been the case since I first heard the dulcet tones of Anatoly in the epilogue. In the words of Leah (my eloquent cousin): "Lick his face!" (As paraphrased by her in reference to 30 Rock's Tracy Jordan.) The addiction permeates to new levels. It certainly took a leap at viewing the promotional slot for Season 3... My little Jack/Liz heart nearly exploded at the sight of such closeness and face-touching. Tina Fey's probably just messing with my head and laughing at all the expressions of "Squee! OMG, she TOTALLY touched his face! That's got to be a signal in Chelsea! They must be getting together for lots of love and babies! OBVIOUSLY that's what's going to happen... I mean, she touched his face, right? Am I right?" Fangirling eats away at my brain. But I will definitely be watching the premier to discover WHAT'S GOING ON. Was also very excited that they won the Emmy again. Four wins for the night, 3 for Ms Fey, she's loving her life right now I'm sure. Her acceptance speech was a win. So was this photo.( Emmys 2008 ). Oh Alec Baldwin, you and everybody in comedy right now...

Ok, moving swiftly along. I'm house-sitting for some friends at the moment and it's really awesome to feel like I have my own house. (With someone else's very excited dog. My fantasy house will only have a cat. A normal, non-licking/jumping/gob-covered-fetch-playing cat. Which will be friendlier than Ali's.) It's really nice to have some alone time and the independence to do what my heart desires. Fun. :)

Went to the beach for the first time this Spring. It was awesome, if a little cold. Ok, REALLY cold, but it was very pretty except for the very buff guys playing cricket in the way of my sun. Tut tut. I really like that the sea is now fifteen minutes from my house rather than five hours. It's slightly more convenient.

Well, I've covered just about everything except the book I'm reading. Hmmm... I've just finished "Twilight", which was a pretty easy and relaxing read. It's prose was often pretty bad, but I actually liked it. It was Potteresque in that regard. Also, I was mostly engaged by the end and wish that that part of the story had been more developed... it would have made it a little less twee. Maybe it's just the fact that it's a teenage romance and that's a little unbelievable for me... Possibility. Anyway, if you're looking for a novel that's uncomplicated with a genuine story, I'd recommend it tentatively.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm off to bed to enjoy the fact that I don't have to get up early. :)

Lemon out. (It sounded appropriate, but I'd like to add that I don't actually believe myself to be Liz Lemon. Again, contrary to popular belief.)

Can anyone say, "China, what the hell?" The answer is probably no, but the new requirements for the olympic games are quite ridiculous. If you ask me, they should be boycotted. How's this, no competitor may wear shirts or flags that constitute a political point of view at the olympics. They're being asked to sign a contract to that effect and the results of breach of contract are considerably worrying. A violation allows the Chinese government and state police to hold the violater for 72 hours without informing the relevant embassy. *blinks* UM.

Furthermore, they can revoke exit visas! Surely an expulsion from the games and the country would be the proper response? Locking up people and refusing to tell their embassy seems oddly shady to me, not to mention the ability to prevent the offenders from leaving the country.

*images of Chinese prisons filled with flag-wearing offenders flash across page* O_o This is my concerned face.

Anyway, that aside, it's been an interesting week. My uncle, who's the headmaster of a Christian school in Adelaide called Tyndale, has made his home open to six extra youths for the next week. Heathdale is a school in Melbourne who come over every two years to compete with the Tyndalians and consequently, they need a place to say. So, on top of myself and my five cousins, we have six extras. Not to mention the visiting guests who want to be a part of the action. it's a little crowded at home and not very quiet. (There goes my politics studying. ::cough:: What a shame. ::cough::

In other news the 30 Rock finale is on tomorrow night and I'll probably only get it on Staurday, but then it'll be over and I'll go back into withdrawal. (Of course, I survived the writer's strike so I'm sure I can survive summer hiatus.) Anyway, I hope it's good and it better resolve some stuff or I'll explode. (Well, maybe not, but I'll definitely be a little miffed.)

( 30 Rock Spoilers )

Moving on...

I'm feeling pretty feeble and girly at the moment, I've put on some weight and my face seems to think that spotty is an attractive look. Arg. Damn Australian eating habits that rub off on me! :( I'll get over it though, I just need to change something to make me happy that I'm looking after myself. Otherwise I am content.

Missing everyone back home today, just wish I could sink back into an old routine for the day and then revert back. (Oh for it to be that simple. Soemone should really invent the teleport. Gosh.)

Well, I'm leaving in 8 days. Tomorrow I'm doing my Driver's test again. I'll be having my last church service on Sunday. To say the least? I'm feaking out!

I don't know where my emotions are. I'm happy, sad, scared, excited! (That sounded like a quote from Funny Girl...) What am I even talking about? Anyway, all my stuff is packed except for the things I'm taking in my suitcase and my bookshelves are empty. It's strange, but that's having the worst effect on me. Empty bookshelves means permanent departure...

I am really going to miss my family. Avril especially... it's amazing what God has done with our relationship and I've come to rely on her so much for advice and support. I guess I'll be sending TONS of e-mails. I cried for so long last night... but a strange mix of excited and sad tears. Weird. I've, of course, been having weird nightmares about losing my passport and other crazy things and have also been plagued by a series of terryfing ghost dreams. Doubly weird. On top of that, the tap in our bathroom suddenly started running at 2 a.m. On its own. Without cause. O_o Why? Ok, so I'm being weirdly paranoid here, but it freaked me out in the middle of the night ok?

That aside, the WGA strike is FINALLY over. Yes! There's a possibility of 10 more 30 rock episodes this season. My fan heart is happy... :)

I was thinking about it though, this strike has been terrible for shows that were just starting out. Some shows got cancelled because they didn't have the ratings to come back for a mini-season at the end of all this. Which is so unfair for shows that barely had time to air their Pilot episode. I would hate to be on of the people involved in those. Besides, it's possible we missed out on what could have been really great television. Which sucks. Well, if you care about television. :P

On a completely random tangent, I'm reading Mary Poppins which was given to me by the perfectly wonderful roseph, thanks so much my Ro-Boat... It's awesome of course and I love that Mary Poppins isn't a nice person, she's vain, rude and never wrong. Brilliant. Loving it along with The Hours once again, depending on what I feel like reading. I am still awed by the amazingness of Michael Cunningham and his ability to write the thoughts of three very complex women. Also, his descriptions are some of the best, with a mix of simple methapors and random observations. Will get to Atonement eventually, but it'll have to wait until I'm finished with my Woolf binge. :)

Talking of books, I've finally reached 100 Pages of mine after abandoning it for a little while and finally regaining the discipline to continue. Yay! it still sucks, but hey, it's not like I'm trying to win the Pullitzer. If I were, the word 'huskily' would not be in my novel. Which, I'm ashamed to say, it is...

Well, that's all for now folks. More on the Driver's tomorrow. Hopefully it's good news... :P

I hate that Livejournal doesn't like large images. :( I really <3 this icon that I made,



but it's too big to load under my user pics... Any ideas?