Mish-mashimuss maximus

Random thought just occurred.

You know your timetable for uni's good when you try to change classes around, but you find that there's really nothing that needs changing. Oh, and when you have two days off. And no early starts. Or late finishes. Ka-ching, and all that.

So yeah. What's new, I hear you ask.

Not much. Applying for jobs all over again, etc. Just came back from Rye, where I found out that I'd passed everything with (relative) flying colours. Relative to what I'd expected. That is, more than one fail.

Much of the good feeling from that, and the roadtrip, has since evaporated, leaving me with little else but this black, empty void of job applications and firewood moving.

Oh, and Hayley called me up for dinner with Meng and Ling. That was also good stuff.

Harry Potter was good too. Sort of. I'll talk about that another time maybe.

But yeah, it's all been pretty dreary. I've even run out of candles.

I think I'm just quite irritated at the fact that I've spent most of my holidays looking for something to do, and all of a sudden I'm running out of time to do things. Not things like, "Oh, let's go build a sandcastle on a beach in the rain because I'm that bored," actual things that need doing.

Back to Rye (metaphorically, anyway). Yeah, good stuff. As we reflected a while ago, it'd be one of the greatest things ever if we could all still be doing this when we're 30. Makes me kind of sad thinking about it, but there you go. Now you can think about it as well.

Oh, and maybe we'll pick somewhere else next time. Just to freshen things up a little.

Finally, I think I'm going to start a music blog soon*. It'll be a music blog with a bit of a twist though. Stay tuned if you like what you're reading here. Or even if you don't like what you're reading here, and just like music. Or even if you don't like music, or don't like what you're reading here (in which case, I would question why you're here at all. Maybe you just want something to read, but all your books mysteriously Disapparated).

Pottering about (oh snap)

So being the geniuses that you all undoubtedly are, I'm sure that you can tell from the title that I did, in fact, watch Harry Potter today.

Not just any Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, to be exact. Part 1, to improve on this exactness.

And no, I didn't see it by myself. I saw it with Banh and Orrin, if you must know. But those are extraneous details.

We walked into the cinema, and Banh chose the seats that were not our designated seats, and were very much not next to the girls that we were supposed to be next to (damn). Then, while we were watching the movie, I discovered that they were big fans of laughing, giggling and generally making a big fuss every time Harry took his shirt off (well played after all, Banh).

Anyway. The movie.

Probably the best one so far, even though it's not actually a completed movie. Actually, the sixth one probably just shades it, but there's still a Part 2 to come (lame). It's probably a decent movie because, like I've maintained for many years now, the seventh book was written like a movie script. A bad movie script. A pretty bad book (bad, as in I think it would be classified under bad writing if it weren't a Harry Potter book), but it always had the potential to be made into a decent movie. Acting's slightly meh, but it's always been like that. I think the thing that really does it is how well it's filmed. Very thoughtfully produced, I thought, and beautifully camera-ed (yeah, that's a word. Or, at least, it is now).

Also, ending (or according to Banh, "The Halftime Break") = lame. Don't say I didn't warn you.

It's kind of sad though. The movie, I mean. In the literal way. Harry Potter really was the phenomenon of our time. Masterfully written, appealing to all ages. It brought reading back to the masses, and, in the words of some critic or other "permeated the public consciousness" to a level seldom achieved by books. I'll probably write a bit more on it after Part 2. Actually, I'll definitely write more about it.

Here's the theme, which I love.

It suits the film very well.

Alright, that's all for now. I'm off to read the new Ranger's Apprentice book that I didn't know was out, even though it was out on the 1st. Well, I'll start reading it if and when Sarah decides she should go to bed because she has school (or something) tomorrow, and decides to give me the book.

Word of the Day: Potter

Summer project: create something as awesome as a social network

So I saw The Social Network today, and now I totally feel like Mark Zuckerberg because I'm blogging. Stupid brainwashing.

Anyway, top film. Kind of like The Godfather, in a strange way. But instead of the pursuit of power, it's the pursuit of money which leads to an unfathomable sadness and regret. It was surprisingly funny, too. In a witty and non-obtrusive way. Oh yeah, and Justin Timberlake. Go see it.

Also, looking forward to a bit of Harry Potter on Thursday. I'm still trying to figure out who to go with, what time, etcetera.

And, because it's the start of a massive chunk of holidays again, whenever I'm not doing something with somebody, I start feeling lonely again. So, I guess, the quick-fix cure is to always be doing something with somebody(s). So if you want to hang, give us a buzz, and I'll more than likely be free.

Word of the Day: Unfathomable

Doo bee doo doo, doo bee doo bee doo doo

That's the introduction to 'Singing in the Rain'. Duh.

I don't know why I decided to virtually sing that. It just sort of popped into my head.

Moving on. A whole manner of things are annoying me massively at the moment, but I'm not going to write about them, because (a) there's not a whole lot I can do about most of them, and (b) I have firm hope that things will probably change for the better sometime soon, because these things are cyclical in nature.

I should probably write something about Nigel's 21st at Loop last night, but there isn't all that much to say, apart from the fact that I had a bourbon and coke. Or something. And it was fairly disgusting. I didn't think it could get any worse, but one sip of Banh's scotch and coke reminded me of how wrong I can be about things sometimes. We (being Pramuk, Rudra, Banh and I) had massive amounts of bread, due to the fact that a massive platter of it was placed in front of us.

The massive mountain of bread that us fellas powered through.

Good party as well. I wish they had a mic for my use during the speech-making though. Would've been easier on my voice, which is feeling a bit tender after a night and full day of intensive speaking. If you're good friends, you'll remind me not to attempt to shout louder than the thumping music with my tiny voice next time. Highlight of the night: random old dude who came in and started munching our food. I also think he started making inappropriate comments to the ladies after I left, at which stage Nigel got him kicked out. I'm also not sure that I wished Nigel happy birthday last night, so here it is, just in case. Happy Birthday Nigel!

Ok, so I did have a lot to say about it. But I didn't before.

Currently, I am getting quite the lonely pangs again. It's that time again where I wish I had someone to just randomly talk to at anytime about any number of random things, but that person doesn't exist for me, and I just end up blogging instead to siphon some of it off, Pensieve-style. Don't pretend you don't get the reference. I know you're all Harry Potter nerds.

I leave you with this song. And a great song it is. Listen to it when you're feeling a bit down. It'll make you feel better. Like eating chocolate after being swarmed by Dementors. Harry Potter movie reference this time. I think I have just out-lamed myself yet again.

Actually, any song from them is a pretty good pick-me-up. Anyway, I'll really leave this time. Nothing worse than drawn-out goodbyes.

Word of the Day: Pensieve

It was not a nightmare

Wooooo. Three days of ups and downs. One could almost say it's been hektik. If I were to sketch a graph about it, it'd be almost parabolic. Almost.

Okay, so slight exaggeration. But only slightly.

It started on Monday. Duh.

Because I apparently drive a yellow Ford Falcon, and because my name is apparently Sanjay (this is all according to Meng), I drove all the way to Clayton to pick Meng up, and then back my way to pick Vincenzo up to go to Linda's Ambassador reunion bash. I drove them down to Forest Hill for some last-minute shopping, which was a party in itself.

Arriving at Linda's street, I was all like "Why is this car stalking me?" Unbeknownst to me, it was Linda stalking us, in her stalkermobile. Mega confusion about house numbers, but we got there in the end.

And a quaint little house she has. It's of the warm and cosy variety, with a massive garden. Enormous garden. Could fit a circus tent there. And chickens.

Anyway, we finally got the oven going thanks to the genius of Vince, and other people started turning up. We ended up cooking lasagne, with Seb in charge. I learnt the well-guarded secret of how to make lemon and lime bitters. A secret which has been passed down the generations of the Gao family, and they guard with their lives. Kind of makes you wonder how I know it now.

We met Linda's massive brother, Jonath...I mean, Bill. He's in Year 7, and he's about a head taller than I am. We had some Wii fun. Well, they did. The irony is I never got to face off against Bill. He's pretty cool, by the way. We also had a bonfire and Mafia madness. I think there are some people who are still confused about the logic and object of the game, but what can you do? Run a Mafia seminar?

It was at this point where I was made to feel awkward. I made a gay reference in the presence of a gay person. Like, it wasn't that bad. It's not like I was insulting gay people. Or even laughing at them. But still, I feel kind of bad for doing it now.

We then played darts. Clearly, I'm awesome at that game. More like awesome at putting holes in the wall behind the dartboard!

Driving home was a bit scary. I ran a red light right outside the house, purely by accident, because it was an obscure red light, and there were no cars. The roads were actually empty.

Very fun night in all, apart from the no alcohol business, and the tactless gay reference. Not that I drink alcohol or anything, but a white wine wouldn't have gone amiss. Actually, I should have just had one. Stupid. Regrets. However, I did not turn a night out into a nightmare, so I did my parents, and the Government, proud.

Tuesday was more Wii fun at Banh's. Again, fewer people turned up than expected, but Linda's is the only thing I've been to that had more people turn up than expected. Like, ever. So it's really not that great a surprise. And it was still very fun. Well, I thought so.

From thereon in, it started getting bad. When I got home, my father was not a happy chappy. Some issues with relatives in that place called China. Not that that directly affected me or anything, but I just find it hard to be happy when people close to me aren't. Maybe I'm like some sort of reverse Dementor.

Then, the yesterday morning, Arsenal got thumped by a very good Barcelona team. I'm actually proud of the lads though. To get into the lead against Barca, even if for a few minutes, at the Camp Nou, takes some doing. Especially with five of their best players out, including their captain and best midfielder in the world. Playing against a team with a player like Messi. Absolutely majestic. You forget that he's only 168cm tall, or something like that. That's how scary he is. He just runs into the box at will, dragging you left, right, left, right. At pace too. And on aggregate, the Gunners scored three goals against the best team in Europe. Not many teams can pull that off.

Ok, so not much of a parabola. Told you it was a bit of an exaggeration. I should probably get some work done soon.

Word of the Day: Parabola

I wish I had a lightning-shaped scar

It's really sad, but I'm actually jealous of a fictional person's love life.

That's right, who else but Harry Potter.

See, what I find amazing is that the most he has to worry about is whether Ron would be upset about him going out with Ginny. He doesn't even have to entertain the possibility of her not liking him. He realises that Ginny and Dean have broken up, and the only complexity he worries about is whether her tool of a brother approves. And then he even bypasses that by acting on his simmering, growing passion.

I dunno about you, but I reckon that the other problems can be dealt with later, so long as the person likes you. But not so for Harry Potter. He assumes that the person likes him, and deals with the other problems first. Which is much easier, and of which I am very jealous of.

Just in case this is confusing (which most of my posts seem to be), I'm not on to someone's sister. Well, not a friend's sister anyway. And I don't have anything against Harry Potter. Probably because he doesn't actually exist. I hope.

Yes, I realise that most people aren't like Harry Potter. And that he is a fictional character. And I realise that Hogwarts is too far away from my house to travel to every day...I mean, Hogwarts doesn't exist.

Word of the Day: Potter

C'est tres intéressant, non?

As the mid-sem break draws to a close, and another semester of uni looms before us, we (or just I) reflect upon this holiday gone by yet again.

It's been an interesting holiday. For instance, why am I awake at 7 after six hours of sleep?

A quick summary of holidays in chronological order, because you don't really want to read about the details, and they're not that important anyway: boredom, going out, boredom, boredom, sort of going out, boredom, making things, boredom, camp, knee, return from camp, boredom due to my disability, boredom, orientation day-chadstone-dinner-poker night (yes, all the excitement came in one clump), boredom, Harry Potter, boredom and going out tonight.

Camp was definitely the highlight in many ways. At the basest, it gave me something to do with my life. Met new people, did fun things together, had good times all around. Kinda missing it actually. No, it's not sad. Yes, I do have a life. Stop laughing at me. Please. You would be singing a different tune if you were there. Or not singing a tune at all.

I'm actually kind of looking forward to this semester. Which is massive, given that I usually don't look forward to a new semester at all. But this one should be good. But, as with all things that I expect to be good, they usually let me down. Please don't let me down, semester. Please.

I expect that I shall see my friendinhos back at uni. I better see you guys back at uni. Or there will be consequences.

By the way, I have no idea why I decided to bust out the French just then. I think, probably like most marketers, that when something sounds stupid in English, transcribe it into French and it automatically looks awesome. Or just slightly less stupid.

Word of the day: Réfléchir

Dumbledore dies...again!

Yes. Once in the book, once in the movie. That's twice.

Yesterday on the train, on the way to see Harry Potter at Melbourne Central, I discovered how annoying a train trip without an iPod is. The reason that I didn't have my iPod on me was that I didn't really expect Banh to catch the train half an hour after mine. So yeah. There were these kids that were, for some inexplicable reason, imitating baby noises for the whole train trip. There was also this woman who kept shouting down the phone in Cantonese. It was just so annoying and...annoying.

After I got to Melbourne Central and escaped the White Noise Vortex, I met up with my homie G dawgs (what you commoners call 'friends'). The simplified version was that we went upstairs to watch Half-Blood Prince.

All in all, a good effort. Much better than the last few. It was more like a real movie, in my opinion, and not just some dodgy spin-off. The acting, which was very weak in the first few, was much, much better. The whole movie was much more mature and well-shot.

After that, Nando's awaited. Funny thing was, Steven and Kishara asked me to come to this gig, and I barely got the chance to speak to them. They left when we got to Nando's. I left my scarf at Nando's, which I intend to pick up on Sunday.

Anyway. Even though I didn't get to talk to Steven and Kish much, or Orrin for that matter, Banh and I had a good chat about important life matters, such as whether a cake tin for $47 is too expensive, and how many times I've been into a cooking shop with a guy, or any person apart from my mother, and whether Flight of the Conchords Season 2 is worth downloading. Just for the record, apparently it's not, owing to the fact that it sucks.

Word of the Day: Dumbledore

Pho-am

The title is not pho-am, contrary to what any sane person would think. As in, you'd think it was pronounced [fo - am]. But no. According to Nigel, Master of Unlame Jokes, it's pronounced FOAM. Like, I was made to think it was pho, with added amness. But apparently not.

Now, how did we get into this dumb conversation about pho-am? Banh's pho party, of course. The 18th that never was. All very exciting stuff. Location: Banh's house. Time: 7 o' clock Friday. How to find it: invisible balloons tied outside the house. And car with headlights on.

So I got there, chilled with Jono and Tim(?) for a bit, watching 30 Rock. Then Nigelz rocked up in his scarf. After everyone got there (I can't be stuffed naming all of them), we rocked the party of pho. Yeah. We all got pho. Of the chicken variety. And ate. Then spring rolls. It was good. Thanks Banh's mum for the spring rolls.

Harry Potter was up next. It seems so much funnier when you have a bunch of sick-minded freaks in the same room watching it. A good laugh.

Before I knew it, Meng was calling me on Banh's phone. Dot dot dot, you might say. Well, I say that Banh's house has no reception, except on his phone. Anyway, Meng was calling me to tell me to call my mother because she was looking for me. What do you know? Anyway, it was time for me to go. So I said some tearful farewells, and promptly left the party. I was the first one out of there, but you know what they say. You should leave a party before you're the last one there. Or something like that. Thanks Banh.

In other news, nothing much else has happened. Upset a few people, futilely looked for a new pair of jeans, etc. I must work on my social life.