Work Hard. Play Hard. Crash Hard.

I've been reaping the benefits of living close to school this week- it's only Tuesday and I've had two classes already finish super early so I can just come home and take a much needed luxurious nap :)...actually this is pretty dangerous cause I was so knocked out I almost missed a test -rocking up 15 minutes late!(Lucky it was purely a threshold task and not graded...)

So today the class that finished early was not mine but a student with a disability that I note-take for. It's been really strange coming back to my first tertiary roots-the class is in the area of visual communication and design theory...it's so fluffy and airy fairy I hate it now just as much as I did then =)...and it was so funny hearing the terms non-linear narrative and visual schema again LOL - good thing though I've had 10 years or so to come to terms with what these things might mean so lucky for the student my notes aren't too crap...like when I did it and it all went waaaay over my head...

Anyhow we saw a video from Design Kitchen so hilarious- it just reminds me that most of the design world is completely pretentious and narcissistic...their self promoting video ended with the premise that "only beautiful people can do beautiful design" (gag)...LoL you gotta get used to it when you get into these aesthetic fields though...

The lecture reminded me though of this COOL SITE I thought I should share since if you're not in a design field you probably weren't aware of it...check it out as it has loads of inspiring talks by experts in all different areas...with something definitely to capture your interest :)!

Random Thought...Self-Confidence

Everytime I start to get a little cynical about the world(usually it's other peoples "adult" cynicism rubbing off on me)...something little will happen to trigger me back into my idealistic world of colourful rainbows and twinkly stars :)

LOL imagine if I hung out with kids all day and had no memories of the challenges of the past...I'd just be one big kid...PERMANENTLY (!)

To people who get jaded with the world, cheapest freeest most effective therapy I suggest: Go hang out with a little kid for a day!

In any case it occurred to me if I ever have kids one thing I'm gonna make sure they grow up with is self-confidence and self-belief...I've noticed how fuelled purely by that, even the average person can go really really far! And true self confidence is very self-protective...I see so many people with so much potential yet they lack self esteem, confidence and self-belief...so they just sort of linger like stagnant water and don't achieve all that they are capable of...I just hope that one day they realise that they're capable of manifesting what they want out of life...but it all starts within!

3:30am Hungry-Itis

So I was dead tired- went to bed at 9pm and hence probably why I have the munchies now so am cooking myself a nice bowl of congee which should be done by breakfast...

Yesterday was nice- spent a rare day with the jetsetter sis :)

Had a much needed bit of culture and refinement which was nice for a change. Had brunch at a place that is pretty 'en vogue' at the moment -big sister's treat^^-spanish baked eggs with chorizo and a berry frappe- was o.k but for the price, the wait time for such simple food and the fact there were egg shells in it wasn't very impressive...the chorizo was blah. In any case haven't been to that part of Sydney for a bit- I forgot how pretentious (in general) Sydneysiders are...

Now my sis has become a 'burbs' chick since getting married I also showed her a couple of the artsy design shops and we checked a couple of galleries which weren't having anything great on but she was glad for cos apparently she's totally dagged out in the burbs LOL- then I also showed her a really nice French Patisserie :) For a bit she struck me as a tourist...I guess when one works so hard and is such a jetsetting career professional they kind of never have time to discover all the hidden treasures of their own city...

I'm so over this city though- I can't wait to move to regional pastures...by the ocean :)

So anyway we then made our way to the last final of the International Piano Competition...I think the majority of the crowd there was about 80- it's a shame how appreciation for classical music is so dying...

The competitors: there was a Russian, a Japanese and an American playing Prokofiev, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky respectively using a Steinway, Kawai and Steinway respectively.

Growing up with a European piano I definitely preferred the less bright sound of the Steinways but the Japanese guy was such a cutie- he was like Winnie the Pooh with glasses :) and his performance was...pleasant, whimsical even.

The Russian came across as very austere...he played a very unusual piece- from a layperson listener's view it was hard to engage with the Prokofiev- it was very temperamental, moody and changeable- it was like Bipolar...as music!

The American rounded the competition out with Tchaikovsky- his performance was a real crowd pleaser- I'll admit he was my favourite but what do I know? In the end the Russian won, the Japanese came 4th and the American rounded out the competition...

Final thought seeing it's the first time I've been to a piano competition...these piano geniuses really ought to get out in the sun more- they all look so sickly from being closed up all day!!!

What I'm feeling happy about: Real Friends.

I'm feeling really contented since I "friend culled" :)

For too long I've been used and abused. I've always been the friend for the person in need- the one to fill the void until they find their partner to fill that void, the one that people go to when they have problems but forget about when everything's fine, the one that's true value was more in being padding to make the other party look "popular" especially once a year on their birthdays :P. At the same time at the first sign of when I've needed help or have been in trouble, these pseudo friends suddenly did an impressive disappearing act or even more blatantly started running the opposite direction!

I've had it with pseudo one sided friendships...and people who just Take Take Take, So it is with Enormous Satisfaction as I get more and more certain with each passing day about life direction and how I want my life to be I cut out the dead wood and ditch the psuedo friends...I'm so glad I am no longer investing my precious time and energies on these slackers and am able to redirect this energy into people and ventures that ARE worthwhile! :)

At the end of the day though, the bottom line is, people can only use and abuse you for as long as you allow them to...so if you have loads of slacker friends- my advice is bid them Good Riddance and you'll feel better for it, I promise :)

I Love Liberation :)

Drawn to a Higher Calling...

I've been a bit on edge this whole past week...cos I could feel something big brewing in my bones...

I'm not sure if it's IT but today I had: A lighthouse moment.

If you know how sickly I've been, how I don't fly and how weak my constitution is especially in regards to air pollution etc and what a complete germaphobe I am...you'll realise just what a big deal this 'revelation' is!

Basically...I decided...I'm Going to China!!! Probably in my final year though- either with school for 3 weeks first or...I did hear about an all expenses paid 6 month scholarship today(!!)

Basically...I realise there are two choices generally for women to put their energies into at this age...you can do the whole find a hubby, settle down and have a kid start a family thing OR you can put all your energies into your career!

I think especially because I already tried the former and now I actually have freedom and autonomy, now I'm definitely more drawn to this higher calling- I don't just want to be able to help single individuals and my own family and friends...I want to be able to effect masses! And potentially by going to China I will be able to get myself completely healed! In any case it will be an awesome learning experience...I realise here my learning is so limited, if I want to really truly be REALLY GOOD I GOTTA GO TO CHINA! Eeeek the thought is terrifying, hopefully E will be there at the same time, it will be slightly less daunting- I can't speak a word of Chinese-the only time I went to Asia I got major culture shock, homesickness and couldn't stand the dirt the grime the everything!

So don't mind me but I'm just going to knuckle down and try to make it all happen- so apologies in advance if I fall off the planet during semester!