Brahmy

Some people drown their sorrows in alcohol. Other people...well, I don't know what else you can drown your sorrows in really. Apart from variations of alcohol.

I, on the other hand, play clarinet. This is my latest challenge:



Beautiful Brahms.

Highly recommended listening.

Not that I'm drowning my sorrows or anything. I don't exactly know why I'm doing it. I guess, having not picked up the clarinet in anger for about two years, I felt like reliving good times past when I'd create semi-pretty music.

I'm also a lot better at it than I am at guitar. I actually vibe with it. The guitar doesn't fully feel comfortable in my hands. Probably owing to the fact that I've played it for a shorter period of time, coupled with lack of teacher. I'm just not as good at it as I am clarinet.

It's also a good relaxation method. There's something soothing about the mellow tones of a clarinet, more so when they're emanating from me. Probably means I'm an egomaniac or something. Analyse me, psych students.

And, because my life is so exciting, pretty much nothing else has happened since I last blogged. Yep.

Word of the Day: Sorrows

My eyes have always, followed you, around the room

It's fascinating, and a little bit strange, that when I learn to play and/or sing a song, I seem to connect to it so much better than when I just passively listen to it.

I think it may have something to do with me actually actively feeling the lyrics and the music. It just all seems to mean so much more. I kind of start understanding the lyrics, and seeing all the little nuances and subtleties in the music.

This bout of reflection was brought about by me learning how to play 'If I Had A Gun' by Noel Gallagher earlier today.

The structure of the song, in tandem with the arrangement of the lyrics, is actually quite different and clever. Very subtle stuff going on.

I've heard the song quite a few times. I just never really actively absorbed.



On that note, some of my favourite lyricists:

• Noel Gallagher
• Chris Martin
• John Mayer
• Jay-Z

Coincidentally, they also write nice melodies (except, obviously, Jay). 

Their lyrics are very clever, subtle, and take a few listens to understand what's going on. I'd like to contrast them to, say, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Green Day, and Bruno Mars. While their songs may be ok (some more ok than others), their lyrics are somewhat plain and blunt. James Blunt. 

Back to real life. 

So yesterday, I went to see Victory play Gold Coast at the AAMI.

The stadium was quite impressive, but practical at the same time. Quite modern, but not ugly modern like Fed Square. The seats were much, much closer to the action than at the Etihad. Made for a much better viewing experience. 

The game itself was a thriller, but a bit disappointing from Victory's perspective. Any way you look at it, conceding two while being two up against the team that's propping up the bottom of the ladder is poor, even if you only have 10 men. Anyway, they got there in the end, which I guess is a positive. 

They also played a lot better than I expected they would. Very little hoofball, and they actually passed it along the ground. 

All in all, a pretty enjoyable afternoon out. 

Also, Arsenal drew with Fulham, and van Persie didn't score. Coincidence? Maybe. However, the winning streak and the scoring streak had to end sometime. I just wish it wasn't at the same time.

Word of the Day: Nuances

Procrastinating already

By the way, that crush I had a while ago, apart from being non-existent now, was foolish in the extreme.

Why, you may ask. Since when has Andrew done/thought anything dumb?

(By the way, just in case you thought I was the epitome of perfection, I do stupid stuff occasionally. Only occasionally.)

(Actually, who am I kidding? Most of the stuff I do is stupid. Full stop.)

Well, it turns out she has a fiance.

What's a 20-year-old (that's about how old she is) doing with a fiance?

To that question, I have no answer. Or, at least, no sensible answer. As in, no answer that doesn't consist of conspiracy theories involving giant alien palm trees and miniature balloon animals (in various shapes and colours). Told you so.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be smashing out these job applications. So far, I've completed KPMG, but it seems cursed to me. Firstly, the application was a struggle, because I couldn't upload my academic transcript for about 2 hours. After that's all done, they send me an email with a dodgy link to a test I'm supposed to do. I couldn't use the link, so I tried to do it the manual way - that is, through the website. The website was down for maintenance until this morning.

This afternoon, I tried to do it. I ended up doing the first test about five times, because it kept screwing up. I'm pretty sure I still haven't submitted it properly, and I can't go on to the next ones.

Oh, and I'm supposed to do it 48 hours after receiving the email. It's now been about 50 hours, by my reckoning.

Write it off as a lost cause? Probably a good idea.

So that debacle has absolutely disenchanted me with job applications for now. So, instead, I'm busy becoming a beast at guitar. Building my repertoire, so that I don't always end up playing either 'Songbird', 'The Scientist', 'Wonderwall', 'I'm Yours', 'She Will Be Loved' or 'Mine'.



Good little song, that one. I quite enjoy the video myself.

Looking at it now, that's actually not too bad a collection. But there's always room to expand. Quite what I'm going to do with these songs, I have no idea. Probably serenade someone one day. Hopefully.

Word of the Day: Debacle

Thanks

And as if just to reinforce the point, Arsenal won against Hull this morning, capping off what turned out to be quite a swell week for me.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you may recall that I predicted that good week would follow after Arsenal beat Liverpool on the weekend. Read for more information.

By swell, I mean mostly good.

Annual Kris Kringle with A Rotational Roster of People on Thursday night went quite well, except for the timing issues. I have no idea why, on that day, people had to turn up late, leave early, and just generally not fit in with the plan. Must have been a bad day to pick. But apart from that, it all clicked together fairly well. Most things that I plan generally do, I think, except when people mess them up for me.

Anyway, I got a shirt to add to my growing collection (thanks Davy), and Yvonne seemed pleased with what I gave her. I hope. Unless I'm reading the signs wrong again, as I am wont to do. I think everyone else liked the 'things' that I made them, useless and non-functional though they may be, and Linda didn't kill me for defying her direct order not to make her anything, so I guess that worked out alright. All I know is that I've been completely turned off folding stars, at least for a while, and Sicilian salmon with potatoes at Airstream is also getting a bit old. Alas, must find new thrills.

Imesha and Linda bailed halfway through our dinner, so we moseyed on down to the cinema to watch Avatar.

Personally, I didn't like the 3Dness. Apart from the fact that you had to pay an extra dollar to watch 3D (unless you're Yvonne and have five pairs of spare 3D goggles at home), I thought that it actually made most of the movie look worse. I wasn't really feeling the 3D, and when I did, it just looked like one of those dodgy lenticular things you get out of chip packets. It looked less realistic than it would have on a normal screen. Everything just sort of looked stuck on. But it was a good movie. Not that Davy would know. I found out just then that he fell asleep during the film. He's making a habit of this. First New Moon with his girl, then Avatar.

On Friday, nothing much happened, except for Victor coming over and fiddling with my computers, and FIFA 10. Thanks Victor.

Saturday, would've liked to have gone to Kylie's, but no transport/didn't want to trouble other people in giving me a lift/ditched by Victor. Sorry Kylie.

Just then was the NQT Christmas dinner. It was cool. Found out that Catherine is a pretty cool person, and that I'm a pretty terrible person to sit next to at dinner, as I pretty much go quiet. Also, 'Same Girl' is a universally recognised benchmark of an awesome song.

Here's to having more fun-laden and awesome times ahead. It's a shame really, because I have all this free time, and no-one to spend it with. Guess I'll just practice my newly-acquired guitar (thanks for the Christmas present parents) and my grandpa clarinet. Perhaps working out more. But definitely no more folding of stars.

Word of the Day: Thanks

Salvation for those that hate flowers (and their friends)

Just to clarify about last post, I'm kind of over the crush. Kind of. I have pretty much moved on. Except it's been on my mind lately, for some inexplicable reason. Probably a combination of too much Maroon 5 and coffee. And sometimes, for extra craziness, both at the same time! I live life on the edge.

Today was mad. Went to the market down in Yarra Valley and bought some stuff. Discovered an awesome gift to buy people that don't like flowers. A bit pricey, but not something I couldn't create with my craftsmanship.

What was almost highlight of the day was the busker there over-hearing my sister go "OMG, he has a guitar! I hope he plays Oasis!" and accordingly doing so. Just to keep you in the loop, he played 'Songbird' and 'Wonderwall'. Two of the nicest songs by Oasis, and executed very well by Buskerman. Definitely in the top 10. Props to Buskerman, and applause all around.

I want a guitar. I had my friend's for a while, to strum around with, but I didn't really put much effort into playing it, which I regret now. It's weird though. Even though I haven't played for about half a year, I pretty much remember what I learnt up to. Guitar and me = natural affinity. Oh em gee, I can write poetry.

Word of the Day: Buskerman