Back to school special

So I’m blogging (does anyone actually use that as a verb these days?) on the tres retro green striped lounge in our living room. Which means I’m actually just typing in a word document because our living room is too enclosed to get the internet. I’m watching the West Wing because I firmly believe that at any given time whatever’s on TV, re-watching West Wing will always be much more entertaining, informative and down right enjoyable. It’s also because I’m trying not to become one of those people who watches Big Brother. You see there’s only one week left and I am in the disturbing position of caring about some of the contestants.

So anyway today was first day back at uni. Well not really ‘day’ given that I had two lectures beginning at 4:15 back to back. The first was philosophy which was pretty cool. The lecturer is very much like one would expect him to be. Very softly spoken and meek, and says “anon” a lot. Next I had history which involved a quick power walk across campus. Which meant I was a little late and slipped in the back of the theatre (I was actually quite impressed that I knew which door to use and didn’t go in the front where everyone sees you and the lecturer glares at you). I was just in time to enjoy a lecture on the importance of actually reading the readings and turning up to tutorials. It was great. It did go on to other topics which was more interesting. I think the lecturer is pretty good if a bit stern, stern can be good.

So basically it was all ok although there was the staggering realisation that work is actually involved in the whole uni thing. Also the stress of not knowing which parts to write down and (in philosophy) having to choose between understanding the point and writing down the point. It was nice to see some uni people again. Particularly the cool gay guy from my American history tute last semester who was really nice and chatty who I thought didn’t actually like me very much. He’s in my creative writing lecture and said we should sit together. Yay!

So (and do note that all my paragraphs have begun with ‘so’ - just as well I’m doing creative writing this semester) even though I was only at uni for two hours I actually feel exhausted now. It’s a bit concerning as I have three hours tomorrow (starting at 9!) and probably work in the afternoon.

Smile like you mean it.

Was just watching Big Love earlier (quite a good show, I think) and clicking about on Facebook. I was replying to a comment from one of my (fiercely Christian) cousins, which was taking a while because I was distracted by the TV show. It was rather tempting to say "sorry if this is disjointed I'm distracted by the two guys who are about to kiss on this TV show I'm watching about polygamy". Would have been classic. Of course I wouldn't have said that though. Accidentally releasing the information that I'm an atheist is more than enough drama for me. And the truth is, I don't want them to not like me. If they really knew me, I don't think they would like me at all.

Not much else I feel like talking (typing) about. I spent a ridiculous amount of time in Borders today, without buying anything apart from a hot chocolate. While drinking this I finished reading the Postsecrets book. Which mostly made me feel incredibly, sad about the world, but occasionally made me feel really quite happy. I really, really, like bookshops. Unlike clothes stores I don't mind not buying anything. I like running my fingers down the spines of the books. I like the idea that there is a book somewhere about a young girl growing up in post revolution Iran, told in comic form.

I changed one of my subjects today, I'm now doing a creative writing subject. It all worked at well, because as I've previously said, I think I should give creative writing another go. It also means I no longer have a clash and will be able to work Tuesday afternoon. Plus, less reading! (Because Arts is such hard work, hehe).

Also: enrol to vote!

So I've been reading through postsecrets and feeling mopey. Things have been a bit crazy here recently. Nothing directly to do with me (of course) but it has affected me a bit - given the key players are/were staying at my house. Stupid relationship nonsense. Sadly, just because I've decided I want no part in such things I am still affected by them. I just feel unable to deal with the grown up stuff. Also what's with people not closing their doors? See, my room is at the front of the house so I have to walk through the hall past the second room and through the living room area to get to the bathroom. And I really, really don't want to witness peoples "personal moments" and I would assume that people aren't that keen for me to do so either. The whole thing grosses me out. Is it ok that is grosses me out? I think I'm just supposed to be cool with it. which is a ridiculous proposition. So, I'm taking the adult route and have been playing my TV loud (ish) tonight. Hehe the guy from Lano and Woodley is doing a Metlink add. Anyway. What with touristing people around the place and wanting to be out of the house I've been reacquainting myself with Melbourne, Carlton in particular. The newsagents on Lygon Street is really great because it's run by a Pakistani (or Indian?) family in the midst of a bajillion Italian restaurants. They are usually playing that Indian dance music (Bhangra, thanks Wikipedia) and burning incense. There are two guys who usually work there - one is really flirty (I'm always incredibly shocked when people flirt with me but I think that's what he does...) and the other one is really shy and meek. I find the place quietly amusing.

Ok then, going to risk venturing down the hall to the toilet!

The wrong girl.

So much to say. Not been doing much. Just working a lot. T's boyfriend is staying with us. He's really nice but it kind of changes our house dynamics in a weird way. Also obviously it makes me feel a little tragic with my lack of boyfriendness. That's the thing though - it's not that I wont a boyfriend I just don't like what it looks like (that I'm a failure at boys stuff). I know everyone always says that they're ok with being single, but I really actually am ok with it. This bothers me because I can't see my self making the effort to be with anyone. All this doesn't stop me from harbouring a little crush on one of my supervisors at work. I think it's mostly that I get bored at work, but he is kind of hot. He smokes though and the idea of me ever being seriously interested in such a guy is laughable. He does have nice hair and eyes. I don't know it's all very strange. I suppose I just don't see myself as the kind of girl who has a boyfriend. And, maybe it's just because I'm jealous and bitter, it seems that a lot of my friends who are in couples aren't really all that happy. So until I meet that guy who makes me deliriously happy just through smiling at me, I really can't be bothered with all that stuff.
Ok I'm bored now.

P.S. Facebook is ruining my life.

Tomorrow.

Hey party people. well that whole "taking attendance" idea failed spectacularly didn't it? Or perhaps I only have one reader? I actually know that's not true. Well Tommie's away for a few days with her mum so I'm a lonely lump of coldness tonight. I finished work tres early because we finished the job I was on (when I say we clearly I mean me - I am the survey queen, I challenge you to say no to my dulcet tones). Which meant I could technically have done something today. Due to a wallet displacement issue (which will be rectified soon) I have about $11.45 in my possession so exciting stuff is out. I was going to continue reading "The Portrait of a Lady" which I'm reading for a subject next semester. I'm only about 10o pages in but it seems ok so far. As with all classics of its ilk the author seems obsessed with describing the heroine in excruciating detail. The heroine is of course not conventionally attractive, not the prettiest sister (as people constantly remark) but she catches some dashing lord's fancy. So I was going to continue reading but I didn't because I'm rubbish. Instead I lay in bed fully clothed (including ugg boots) covered in doona and blanket with a scarf wrapped around my head (my nose was cold) with only my eyes and hands exposed to the cold, and watched the Colbert Report and The Daily Show. Seriously, why did I have to decide to start watching two four days a week shows? It is no good for my net quota.

I was going to talk about work but I have spent too much time there recently to think about it now. Instead I'm going to talk about dream jobs. Seriously, pretty much every time I work I realise that I really must get qualified and get a real job that I actually enjoy. Obviously teaching is still up there. In one of my lectures the lecturer showed some footage of teaching in American high schools and I had a sudden rush, kind of like what I get when someone is saying something I disagree with and I realise I know just what to say. Not that I'd know what to do in a rough American high school but, I have ideas. But aside from teaching i have two other contenders - the unrealistic type. One is writing for Rolling Stone. This is because I'd get to write about the music stuff and the world issues stuff. Which is the fantastic thing about Rolling Stone. Of course I think it's a well established fact that the magazine format is on the way out and I know nothing technical about music. It's also possible that I've just watched Almost Famous too many times. The other option is being a Speech Writer. I think I have an ok way with words, and I've always been better at non fiction stuff. I write ok essays. It would be totally cool to think that it was your words that helped get someone elected. Of course the real stumbling block is who that someone could be. I don't think there's anyone in politics these days I could get that excited about. Certainly not Rudd. Also the real real stumbling block is I have no idea how someone becomes a speech writer. There's also the concern that I just watch too much West Wing and Jed Bartletts don't really exist.

What all, of this amounts to is that I think I'm going to do some kind of writing subject next year. Because of the trip I want to go on I think I'll have room. It will probably be horrible. But I think the fact that things I want to do in life keep coming back to writing is probably telling me something. Also it will add to my HECS debt for no real reason. I can just imagine what AP's dad would say!

There's something in her face.

I'm just going to write this while waiting for the latest Chaser to finish downloading. It really did seem a good idea to set up the net so I could be online while in bed but perhaps in retrospect not such a great idea. So I went back to Tassie for four days. As an aside if you want to ask why only for four days, just don't - I am tres sick of talking about it (seriously I swear Tasmanians have some kind of questions sheet which is circulated). It was pretty nice. It was funny to be back somewhere where the surroundings remind you of things that happened years ago. I was in Channel Court which looks so different than it did in my high school days (by different I do mean horrid: what were you thinking Kingborough Council?) and went into the public toilets (the ones on the way to the pet shop) and I suddenly felt like I was in high school again. I really felt like I should have had a plastic bag full with my jodhpurs and daggy polar fleece jumper. It still doesn't have a mirror which is really annoying. I'm not entirely sure how I survived high school in retrospect. When I think of myself then I'm struck by how defenceless I was. Which is silly because I've had my defence system in place for quite some time.

This is going to be a ridiculously short post because Chaser has almost finished downloading. Next post is going to be about my work. Probably. Maybe.

Also: can I take attendance? I just want to know who (if anyone) is reading this drivel.

The Clara Report

You'd think that someone with an important exam tomorrow in a complex subject would have spent today studying. Because while apparently first year grades don't count (I swear people only tell me that after I go well in things, it's very passive aggressive) , someone might be thinking of going on exchange sometime and that requires a really good grade average. Also if someone had moved states, and is paying considerably more for their degree you’d think they'd want to go well. You'd tend to think that such a person would have re-read some of the required reading, memorised some important names and facts and maybe done a few practice essay plans. But no. I spent the day forming an unhealthy obsession with Stephen Colbert. I also rewatched some QaF I'd seen many times before. It was perhaps the most unproductive day ever. The good news is my exam isn't til two tomorrow so I have some time to study in the morning. Why do I do this to myself?

In good news my philosophy tutor is going to buy us free jugs after the exam. I plan to get very drunk. For future reference I didn't plan to a) embarrass myself or b) stand around awkwardly. If only there was more middle ground between those two options. So anyway, I'll be able to sleep and slob on Thursday (so very different to what I did today...), possibly work in the afternoon and then probably go out on Friday. Then Saturday I'm going home for 4 days. Tres exciting.