…the Silly SeasonWow, it’s been a CRAZY month!! I had been bitching and moaning that I never have a satisfactory social life, and then KAPOW! The party season bulldozes into my life *rolls eyes* I now appreciate the silence! A LOT! But I had a lot of good times, so I am not proclaiming myself to be a completely antisocial loss cause. But its nice to get back to having just one or two social engagements a week instead of having 7 nights a week booked (and that didn’t include clashes LOL) It is weeks like those that I wish all my friends belonged to the same social group – it makes things less hectic! In that time were the requisite Christmas parties – both held by friends and for work, movies, dinners, 3 devMeets and a couple of random catch-ups with friends. The hectic rush all started with Opeth’s gig in late November (total religious experience!) and has only slowed down this week. I’m glad I have time to sleep again!
The best Christmas party was a Black Christmas party held by my friend Bonnie… She decorated her house with Halloween decorations, had a black Christmas tree covered in bats, and we all wore our Goth clothes while Bonnie supplied witches hats. I also was introduced to Bernie, who I've caught up with a few times since then, and get on famously with. We have plans in the new year to go on photographic safaris around Sydney and its surrounds! For my work Christmas party we had Indian cooking lessons, and I learnt how to make cheese – very fun, very interesting and I plan to make my own… maybe for my wine and cheese party I am having for my birthday next week
The Galaxy Paranormal Romance Bookclub breakup party was terrific – We had Tracy O’Hara as a guest – she signed our books, gave us a personally printed copy of the short story prequel to Nights Cold Kiss, and then joined in on the pandemonium which happens when the two half of the bookclub gets together. I found out the Patricia and Sally both have the same problem as me when it comes not having friends to go with to metal gigs, so we swapped phone numbers and will be making plans next year to support each others taste in Metal!
After bookclub I got an exclusive invite to dinner cos I am now friends with one of the staff members at Galaxy… it was a fun way to end the night!
I saw both Avatar and Where the Wild Things Are at the movies. I thought WtWWA was cute, and well made, but it wasn’t up to my expectations. I definitely plan to get the sound track, as I love Karen O and her music. Avatar blew my mind!!! Absolutely and irrevocably! We saw it in 3D at Bondi Junction on Friday night, and it totally blew me away. Shock and awe! I was seeing it for Sam Worthington, who I have been crushing on since he was in Bootman in 2000 (with Adam Garcia (yum!) & Sophie Lee). He is just such an Aussie bloke! Yum yum yum… and his voice! Mmmm… okay, back on topic… Anyway, the movie looked like my deal, and it had Sam in it, so I had to go. I was originally going to see it on Saturday (without the 3D) but my friend had tickets she need to get rid of, so I went to the 3D showing instead. It was my first experience with 3D and it was awesomeness incarnate! The story of Avatar was involving, the special effects were absolutely breath-taking – the rainforest looked both realistic and unreal, unworldly… I found the story to be both emotionally involving and mentally stimuating, and the message of the movie is something that I can agree with. I already loved James Cameron because he gave us Dark Angel, but now I am an convert! My only real issue is there was too many parallels or influence (I'm not sure which it was) with Hayao Miyazaki’s “ Princess Mononoke”, “Laputa: Castle in the Sky” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”. Did anyone notice how the rainforest vegetation looked like it was sourced from Nausicaä’s forests? Oh well, I love it anyway! Brilliant and impressive!! I’m going to see it again in 3D in Toowoomba when I go home at the end of next week, and I plan to buy the special edition DVD and watch it until it dies an exhausted death! I just wish I could afford to see it again this week *sigh*
Before I saw Avatar, however, Sofia got me an invite to the exhibition opening night for “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” at the Australian National Maritime Museum! Its been making its way around the world, and was quite impressive! For the drinks and nibbles start to the night, they had a dragon rambling amongst the guests (was so well made! So impressed! I need to get the photos off Sofia!) and turong (aboriginal tree spirit) puppets cuddling up to people. Andy Muirhead was the guest speaker – which was lovely! He hosts Collectors on ABC and I have always had a bit of a thing for him LOL anyway, we check out the exhibit, was quite impressed, took a LOT of random photos, and ran to the train (only just caught it) so I could get to Bondi Junct to see Avatar. If you are in Sydney, its worth going to see this exhibit! Its absolutely fascinating! And they had the Feejee Mermaid there!!
…what the New Year holdsIts my birthday on Wednesday next week, I'm throwing myself a party. We were meant to be going to KingPin Bowling, but it ended up being too expensive for some of my friends. So instead I'm having a Wine and Cheese deal for my friends – I swore to never again have a dinner party because I don't get to socialise, I end up being a good hostess and cooking LOL I would prefer to be a good hostess by circulating and enjoying my friends LOL Anyway, because my friends don't really know each other, I decided to introduce the puzzles and boardgames. You may think that is lame, but have you ever played Harry Potter Cluedo when you are drunk? Hilarious! Or trying to figure out the New Moon boardgame amongst sceptics? (One of the most pathetic games ever by the way – but it was fun playing with Bons and Bernie – and not just because I won! LOL) Bring on the good times! It also gives me a chance to dust off the Victoria Frances puzzle that Bonnie bought me for my last birthday…
I was going to a wedding on New Years Eve, but I had to cancel that, because I am flying to Brisbane the next day – so I am still trying to decide what to do for New Years. I got a call last night and found out that my best friend, my brother, his new wife, the Nathans and Roey are camping out at the farm… If I had have known that I could have changed my ticket and went up for the whole three days. They are starting on my birthday and ending it on the 2nd. I get to join them for one night… Its going to be hella fun though
Apparently there was actually rain this week (Shock Horror!) and there is water in the dams and creeks! So I will get to go swimming, horse ridding, bushwalking and camping… Interspersed with that is seeing Avatar again(!), catching up with friends and hanging out with my puppy Akasha… And experimenting with my new camera!! I took it out for a test run at the devMeet on the weekend, but its been so long since I've had complete manual control over a camera… I have much to remember! I got one good macro and some good stock photos though.
In Febuary I am flying up to Brisbane for Soundwave!! It’s a music festival for metal and punk music, and I am SO FREAKING EXCITED! Alexisonfire, Isis, Trivium, Placebo, Meshuggah, Anthrax, Janes Addiction, Faith No More, and heaps of other great bands! Lillian is coming over to Briz, Sami, Colin and Tara are flying down, and I am flying up! And others like Ari and Rat may be there also. Its going to be brill!
Some time around Autumn (April/May??) my best friends, Linda and Lillian, and I may be road-tripping down to Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road – I've been hanging out for that trip for years!! I am fascinated by the 12 Apostles… *sigh*I’m planning to meet up with some friends (old and new) so if any of my Victorian friends here want to catch up, just let me know
I’m also planning a trip mid year back up to Townsville to hang with my best friend Sami! Very excited about that! I’m glad I deleted a certain someone from facebook – it would make it more complicated if he knew I would be in Town LOL It will be awkward enough if I bump into him… He got quite upset when he found out I had deleted him from FB and my phone
Sami and I may end up going to the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, Paluma or Cairns – depending on the depth of our purses
…artistic directionsThere are more things planned for next year, but that is enough to get me hyped with excitement LOL Artwise, I have a new camera which will give me more control over my photography. I still can't afford to by the Nikon SLR that I have been lusting after, so I got an in-between camera. Its better than my crappy old cheap Olympus, and I have full control over all the settings. So maybe I can actually start challenging myself when it comes to photography. I have always been able to see the photos I have wanted to take, but my old camera wasn’t up to the challenge. It takes great macro shots though *sigh* I have two weeks off work, and the first weeks is in Sydney. So in between sleeping and reading and socialising, I want to try and finish some of my paintings. I haven't had the time to set up outside, and I could never chance getting paint on the carpet in my house, so I have been neglecting it :’( One whole week to have some fun and get covered in paint!! I feel uplifted just thinking of it! I also will be taking my sketchbook out to the farm next week when I go to stay with my parents. Hopefully I will find some time to do some sketching
...featuresSome deviations in my DevWatch this week that I love!
I hope you all had a terrific year, and that 2010 is even better! Stay safe through the holdiay season! ((hugs))
Thankyou for all your favs, devwatching and comments. I love you for it, even if I can't always tell you how much!
My first dA win!! :D
called Going Blue - here was the info about it:
I want to say a massive thankyou to the guys at #SydneySyders for not only liking my print, but for organising the competion!
3 Month Sub: from `AaronBradford
Im so excited!!! Its my first win on deviantArt!! (I got a few finalist positions on my other accounts LOL) And I havent won any prizes for this print before... Normally its "Arab In Anguish" or my untitled one... I created this when I was going through my celtic mythology phase when I was 17. I found other themes to be obsessed with, but I am still facinated by printmaking and lines and texture. I think this is more incentive for my dad to make that printing press I asked him to make like 5 years ago LOL apparently it "slipped" his mind *rolls eyes* I've drawn other designs, but I havent cut a lino in a few years... I think its about time i take it up again... it always was my first love...
Joy
My Other Accounts
I really appreciate! 
