Friday 26 March 2010

Brief Update Before the Chaos Ensues...

Okay so it is Friday, THE Friday before the SingStar Extravaganza. Am I hyping this up too much?

I think I may be.

I have been warming up my vocals by singing in my car to Abba, Duffy, Lady GaGa, Florence and the Machine, The Killers, etc whilst stuck in traffic in Egham/Old Windsor of all places!? However, there was a major crash, and little car is now a very tiny car that a dwarf possibly would not fit in. I am hoping the people inside were alright. The Van on the other side seemed pretty badly damaged but still van-shaped. I think we can work out who won the Van vs Small Car competition. It made me and Lil Beryl worried and very nervous. It could have been us, that little red car crumpled.

So I was warming up vocals, passing by bits of car and bopping as I have been given to doing of late, and I was pondering life. As you do. It ain't half bad. So maybe like yesterday's post of "Happy Thursday", this is a bit of a "happy Friday!"

I am a bit of a gimp when it comes to social interaction with unknown/strange peoples but "The Crusaders" are like some of the nicest welcoming people ever on a historically based course in the world!! I haven't been to every historically based course in the world, but I still know that they would be tops! They really welcomed a stoopid, non-crusading, doing-this-for-a-lark-cum-it-interests-me as I was. Genuinely amazing to see them in Crosslands today :) Very nice bunch.
Also had a small amount of chillax time with Lucy and co. Will meet up with her over the Easter holidays for some Essay downtime and lunch procrastination- part of the university culture is to procrastinate by eating. I am down with this!

So yes, all round social thumbs up, all round vocal high five and also got thrown a couple of books by the legend that is Jonathan Phillips (Prof. btw) so I hoping these books will make my essay marvellous. One can only hope.

On a penultimate note, I am going to the pub tonight. I am driving = no drink = good for impending doom of the bank balance. I also have the wondrous sum of £9 to spend tonight on all manner of non-alcoholic beverages. That is my budget and I am sticking to it! We are trying a new pub which is called "The Vanny" by its regulars. Should be interesting. I will give full report Monday/Tuesday time. Right now, I am thinking I need to read those books and clean the upstairs bathroom before the party tomorrow.

And on a final note it is indeed SingStar Extravaganza tomorrow. I will also give you an update of how this goes with some possible photos and almost certainly no voice recordings. I shall not put you through the ear death that will be any inebriate singing at this party. Full update to come beginning part of next week!!

Signing off for the weekend...

HAVE A GOOD ONE EVERYONE!!!!

Thursday 25 March 2010

Happy Thursday

I guess I need to start coming up with better titles than the ones I use.

But then again it is kinda to the point!!

I am thinking that today has been a good day.

I have procrastinated from doing history reading/historical thinking of essayness... that is pretty much standard.

I have discovered some CDs to bust out to pre-Karaokeness at Karaoke party- sorry, sorry sorry "SingStar" party. For the uninitiated it is basically Karaoke on the Playstation. We need to get drunk before any Karaoke is partaken of. These CDs my brother made for my mam's 50th birthday party but never bothered to write what is on each CD so obviously apart from listening to some ace tuneage (and also some truly shite tuneage) and having a bit of a bop along to old skool tracks, I had to work out what was what on each CD. We weren't allowed to go too new in June 2009 for the majority of the attendees were of the same ages as the rentals but without the updated taste in music (to be fair both my Rentals love Radio 1 like me :>).The non-Radio 1-ners would stereotypically bust out phrases such as "in my day music was not this loud...." "what racket is this?!" and "this is music?!" Some of which had been directly applied to my music. Muse was contraband item for her birthday bash and Queen for my brother was also a no-no, but still he managed to sneak not so subtly two Queen tracks onto pretty much every CD. Love his work, love it! Wish I had been so bold!

Anyway back to the point, so I was procrastinating with a little bit of dusting the lounge and tidying the sun room and also a bit of the downstair's WC U-Bend cleanage too whilst trying to work out what song was playing. It was a mix between "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" Guess the Tunes round whilst trying to hear the music over the gargling of the washing machine near the toilet and a Pub Quiz- of Guess the Track Before the Lyrics Start- ever do that?? Well I was goooood.... but then it does help that me and my brother tend to toe the same line where music is concerned. Well, most of the time. He did call Muse shit for a long time, but he came around in the end when I dragged his arse to see them live. That was a great day!! Without me Bon Jovi would never have been a love, nor Muse and Aerosmith. What can I say? I think for myself as a Demagogue of Music to my Lil Bro. He would kill me for saying that.

BTW- I had to make sure I was using the word Demagogue right- here is the definition: demagogues - Charismatic leaders willing to use emotionally-manipulative appeals coupled with simplistic and subjective explanations to mobilize constituencies... (from publiceye.com) I think ti may be fairly accurate :)

But on the other hand I also would like to claim ignorance when he starts on his uber cheesey style music- I am talking love ballads with eyes closed hand held out in front of you- those kind of love ballads. Oh yes.

There is a time and a place. For me... it is rare, verging on never. But then I am a love cynic so it fits my bill that I listen to Muse where we talk of "I can't remember when it was good, moments of happiness elude... and I feel my world crumbling, feel my life crumbling, feel my soul crumbling away.. watching the fantasies decay" (Falling Away With You) and "You will suck the life out of me" (Time is Running Out).

Anywoo I had a wicked time having a bit of a bop around the toilet this afternoon...

Now I am thinking I ought to get back to the Virgin Mary as a tool in the Crusades in Medieval times.

Sometimes the simple things in life can just be to easy to enjoy, so today, or rather tonight, I am going to grasp the simple things and enjoy them, for no doubt another day when I want to moan will be fast approaching!!

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Paramore in Radio One Live Lounge

Just in contrast to Cheryl Coles' debarcle in the Radio One Live Lounge, I was pondering what else youtube.com had to offer of the joys of Live-Loungeness... apparently a lot!! And it was here I found one of my fav bands at the moment performing really casually, and in relaxed and less hyped up setting "Ignorance", one of their singles. A-MA-ZING. Totally brill. Check it out. Best four minutes of your life.

And you can so see in the boys' faces half way through that they know that they had totally nailed this track. Hayley was singing with her eyes shut, knowing the timing, pitch and rhythm of all of the song without looking to the boys for reference or reassurance. It was the exuding confidence that is so captivating. She believes in what she is doing I guess. Cheryl Cole, on the other hand, bless her, had a hand constantly pinned to her ear-piece throughout the majority of her live version of "Parachutes".

It was a nice piece to watch. Young people have got it going on!!!

Cheryl Cole Radio One Live Lounge

Now I have every single Radio One Live Lounge album, just because YES I AM that sad. However, it says something. I like people who can sing live and kinda put themselves on the line singing something out of their own lil genre. Cheryl, I think, did neither. She isn't the first, nor I doubt the last the fail to accomplish both these aims behind the concept of Radio 1's Live Lounge but there you are. As a high profile character she almost had a duty to do it well, especially since her 'singing', or rather more accurately miming, was so out of sync on the Brits. It is really her time to prove people that she is a music artist, not a WAG with marriage difficulties.

Now Cheryl... well, I do have a wee bit of a soft spot for her, but Jeez she can't sing. I know she has had bronchitis and all that jazz, but above is her cover of Owl City's "Fireflies". I think she sounds flat and a little bit out of her depth.

On a lighter note her songs "Fight for this Love" and "Parachute" I really like- to the point where I knew the words to "Parachute" without realising it was her singing it... She is a lovely lady who has done charity work and I do just like her personality. But her role on the X-Factor has gotta be called into question, surely? Judging live, raw singing talent... but then to be fair we haven't exactly heard Simon Cowell pipe out a few notes have we?

Anyway, try and enjoy the above video nicked from you del tube :)

SMILING DAYS

I am glad to inform you that I have managed to find my happy place again!!

Money worries have been replaced by applying for more days at work which has been duly noted and things are in motion to get it going, so I will be working within the next month four days a week, which my bank manager will be very happy with. University work will be taking a backseat, or rather I will just have to get my arse into gear.... or a into g (my new favourite phrase of the week) and get my Victorian Essay done over Easter and get my Crusades one done ASAP and the horrid philosophy of history one done before end of May too. The project is gonna be a bit of a further delve into my undergraduate dissertation so I hoping that this is gonna be 'easy', maybe I should say easier??

In addition, I am two pounds away from losing a stone (which was my end of March target), which is immense. It is weigh in day tomorrow- so I may blog and let you know. However, if you don't hear anything, fear the worst.

I did have a little bit of a bad week this week- there was a Donner Kebab on Friday evening but the dude who now knows me and my brother gave us uber amount of chillies which are supposed to be amazing for digestion I heard from a mate this week, so yay- I am pretty sure it balances out. Also went for garlic "dough"- friend has given up bread- yes, bread for Lent. I have heard of chocolate, sweets, crisps and even God forbid alcohol for Lent, but bread? Well, let me tell thee, it is a first. SUMMARY: I had an amazing day.

Then I went to go and see Derren Brown (all this was occurring in Soton) and he was literally fabulous!! From making a bloke lay balanced between two chairs, tambourines & chalk and all manner of crazies it was just an amazing entertainment show that makes you come out singing (of which I can't and won't tell ya the lyrics- it is a big give away) and saying "how the fuck did he...." In short it was immense and helped friends get over boyfriend/getting made redundant dramas. It was a great night that I think I may dedicate a wee bit of a post to- I wrote one the morning afterwards on the train back home on a bit of paper and I just need to find it and type it up. Also need to regale the saga of my friends' flat which is a cross between Calcutta and Hiroshima. *shudders* bless their inner studenty soul.

Then I had a visitation from my friend who "lives up north" since I was 17. We went to the hell hole (which we universally agreed on yesterday over lunch and a pint). She lives in Southport now and I haven't seen her in 3 years so it was immense to catch up. Another of our "alternative corner" friends rocked up. It was an amazing afternoon of chicken and leek pie with chips and gravy for me, mash for them. It was just a nice catch up to be honest.

Also it is the last week of being taught for my Masters. I would like to say it had been all fun and frolics, but that is a lie. I am thinking I am glad it is over, to be allowed to get more work (ie. getting paid work- 9 to 5 kind, not the illicit street walking kind either- which has been conjured up several times over the last few months by mates- it makes me chuckle because I am such a prude!!!)and get on writing the essays I wanna write whether they receive a hugely personal character assassination or not. Either way, persevere and slog through it all!!

And lastly, I had a bootiful lie-in this morning. It was lush. I rolled over, fell off the propped up pile of pillows- I do have an insane amount of pillows on my bed- what can I say I am a pillow fiend- on which I had been balanced precariously on due to a cold- I have a scabby nose, which is really the worst of it to be honest, and the pillows just aid the breathing without snoring during the night thang- so there is a genuine excuse this time to have an insane amount of pillows on my bed MWHAHAHAHAHAHA! However, I feel pretty good. So yeah, now I am going to be a cool chick and tidy my bedroom and start getting bits and pieces ready for essays and also the SingStar extravaganza happening at my house over the weekend. Karaoke for the drunk. Good times. I am thinking The Brother (who is back in the good books again- bless his lil cottons) has invited enough people for me not to sing, so I can get merry in the corner and eat pizza. Whoop whoop!!

Roll on the Smiling Days baby!!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

WOW IT IS MARCH

Okay, it has taken me to the 16th to realise it is indeed March. I think it is symbolic of my state of mind. Half "Can't Be Arsed", half let's disappear into "Lala Land", my own little world of gremlins, trees, medieval dress and Johnny Depp.

Let's get the bad stuff over with shall we?

Okay, well, here I go... I warn you now it is full of self-pitying humour but without the humour... I have warned you...

1) I have fallen out the wagon on the weight loss front. I am sure as hell not eating as much but the exercise has taken a knock. Well, okay maybe this is not that bad. It is not the first time. But I was looking forward to our family summer holiday to Spain- okay it is the uber Brit/Paddy-ville of Spain but I am not in England. I was losing weight for this, now my impetus to look good in a swimsuit has vanished. I will just wear my "slimming black collection" of clothes for yet another summer. However it is good news for my bank account to not go on holiday, thus leading me to gripe #2...

2) I am broke. My car broke down and cost me £500 to get it up and running again and now have no petrol, with the view of petrol prices going up 3p a gallon. Depressing quite frankly to have a car. I do love Beryl with all my heart but she is literally sapping money out of me at the moment. I also owe some serious money, am owed some serious money, need to flog a few things (bought to flog) to earn me some serious dough, and at some point need to wage war with the TV Licensing company who ripped uber amounts of money off me. Bastards.

3) University. Well, enough said I think. I am definitely not doing a PhD now. I would rather saw my hands off. Essaying for my Victorian culture class is going well; not so much for my Women and the Crusades class. I have no idea of where to tap sources!! Literal nightmare.

4) My family are constantly irritating me, in particular my mam and brother, The A Team. Whatever I do, it is just not enough, for the proverbial sun will always perpetually shine out of my brother rear end for my mother. He 'didn't have time' to order flowers for mum for mother's day, so dad did (OK The Brother did pay for them)and then The Brother failed to pick them up because he was still in bed, so dad went and got them, fell over the step in the garden that has been there for an age and fell on the flowers. STILL he is a flaming saint. My brother, not my dad. My dad got told off for yelling at the brother. I, however, a week in advance bought card and gifts- PLURAL- and really put some thought into it. Humph. I did get a thank you so that is something.
Also on an additional note on the brother- his laziness kills me!!! He doesn't even wash his own shirts!! I sit on the sofa knowing he has none clean for the next day at work and I have to go and wash them because I know he will probably just re-wear the less smelly one!! Also someone (a bitch I might add) at work pulled me up about his deportment!! He is untidy and slovenly. Humph. Like what am I supposed to do about it? Well, I polished his flaming shoes at half seven in the morning and he took them off me and put them on without even a thank you.

Anyway rant on that front over!!

The positives:

1) Went for a cultural extravaganza in Southall- art exhibition and genuine curry :) twas amazing all round. Friend's exhibit was really good. Definitely the best but then I am biased. I am looking forward to the fotos coming onto Facebbok so I can show you some of the stuff there! Some pretty great art stuff going on... but some were a little bizarre like the "70cm Shutter" where you had to crawl into the warehouse to enter whilst apparently being filmed. A great laugh to the creation of that monstrosity but if I ever meet that unfortunate soul, tis beats for them! LOL! Overall, it was a fab evening!! I had a real great night out breaking out from the domestic sphere hemming me in atm!

2) I actually managed to give away some tickets for work!! Woohoo two mates came round the castle and we had a bit to eat and bevvie! Just nice to have a catchup and hang out with a different bunch.

3) Tomorrow I am heading off (spending even more monies but it is so worth it) to Southampton to have lunch with a pal and then see Derren Brown wots-his-name-person-thingy-me-bob with old school mates. That will perk me up.

4) I have a clean bathroom thanks to moi. It has been getting me down. It was a game of who will break first I think. I cracked, but the plus is a shiny clean bathroom though I forgot to scrub the toilet- crucial- I poured liberal amounts of bleach down it but I forgot about it. Went in there a while ago and found it smelling overwhelmingly of bleach. "Doh!" comes to mind!! LOL

5)I am downloading music I can ill-afford but it is making me smile. Check out the following:

a)Stay Too Long by Plan B
b)The Cave by Mumford and Sons
c) Devil's Spoke by Laura Marling
d)You and I; Die Alon; Glass by Ingrid Michaelson
e) The hereafter- haven't bought this yet as it is a bit odd and I haven't made my mind up!!

I am also liking the Radio 1 Live Long version of Halo by Florence and the Machine. Oooooo additionally The Dirtee Love by Dizzee Rascal and Florence is gooooood too!
Also recently downloaded- The truth about heaven by Armor for Sleep, Earth to Bella Parts I and II by Incubus- i forget how much I like Incubus... And also Rock n Roll Queen by the Subways- makes me think of freshers week when I tried to get into live music. I wasn't sure I liked them then but they have grown on me since...

Anyhoo I think that is a long enough rant to catch you up on my moans, grins and whims. Adieu for now...