Day 1 and/or 2

It's 1:18am.

All you need to really know is that i'm in California- a city (town?) called Diamond Bar about 45 minutes to 1 hour from downtown LA. We're staying with old family friends (mum's old college mate) and it's been good. Can't say i feel too jetlagged- although i did wake up at 7:20 this morning.

It's really sunny and hot over here. Hit up the Getty art centre and then Santa Monica beach today. It's been fascinating having a local's side to things. Life here seems similar at first but oh-so different upon closer scrutiny. Mostly in the way that LA fuctions as multiracial city. Quite eye-opening.

Even though this is only our first day, it feels like we've been here for a week, because...i don't know why. The familiarity with our lovely hosts perhaps?

In short, we're here for a week. I think we're planning either a Vegas or a San Fran trip in the middle of the week. We're not too sure yet. Which do you prefer- 4hour or 7hour drive? That's the real dilemma. haha. Keep in mind i'm not 21 yet, and it's a family vacation so Vegas just has some nice buildings and shiny lights as far as we can tell...?

I managed to watch 6 movies on the plane. EPIC! They were all of good quality except Monsters Vs Aliens, which wasn't as funny or clever as i thought it'd be. Then there was Push, American Teen, RocknRolla, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Burn After Reading. My eyes were quite red afterwards.

It is now 1:24am. As far as you can tell, all you probably care to know is that i'm in LA.

Cheerio
kevman

Yes, it's a post about Michael Jackson

This is a special post because i am writing from downstairs and not the usual office. I'm sitting in front of the TV watching Entertainment Tonight's recap of Michael Jackson's memorial service. I have a confession to make- i just watched 4 hours of Michael Jackson on tv (nearly 5) and I enjoyed every minute of it. 

It may surprise you that Michael Jackson is actually quite a significant  part of my childhood. Locked away in my subconscious are the beats, the moves and the lyrics of many a Jackson song. It was only while watching tonight's memorial service that i remembered the connection i had with him (Moonwalker was a childhood favourite, and we had a lot of music videos and concerts on VHS). I've recently admitted that despite the indie and metalcore tendencies i have today, i confusingly felt that i can be a hip hop kid at heart, and tonight I finally understood where this comes from- it traced back to Michael Jackson! 

Even if you're sick of hearing about it, you can't admit that his memorial service wasn't moving- especially when his daughter took the mic and broke down...that is something i won't be forgetting in a while. There were some great words spoken, both emphatically and softly and i was glad i got to witness it. Last night, i stayed up until 2am waiting for the live online broadcast but i gave up with an hour to go...it was too friggin' cold! But i know that if i had stayed up, i wouldn't've been dissatisfied with it.

After the memorial tonight, there was a concert on TV, which i swear we had on VHS so i watched Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest. It was one of those experiences of finding an old childhood relic that triggers all the memory and cloudiness of nostalgia. It's the little things i recognised- the glass coffin in the Thriller set, the 'super lean' in Smooth Criminal, the shouts of' 'woo' and 'ah hee hee'...things i had long since forgotten. It was nice to say the least. And with my older, wiser eyes and ears, i appreciated it a little bit more. especially the finale, when he randomly puts on a jumpsuit and helmet, gets a jetpack and flies offstage...bizarre! And the crowd loved it!

Entertainment Tonight just finished, and now the television is off. The house is quiet as my whole family is sleeping. I haven't been out much since i have been sick and only now just feeling healthy. Today i ate a lot. Tomorrow is a mystery. The day after tomorrow, we fly off to America and we won't be back until mid-august. i don't really know what to do with myself over there. My mind isn't on that straight these days. 

But it'll be good to get away from it all just for a little bit. 

I will close with the wise and inspiring words of Michael Jackson- "Shamon girl!" 

 

I got da flu

I got da flu.

America should fix that.

That's it.

PHYS452- Medical Imaging

The worst part of only having one exam that is the easiest subject i've ever done is that it is not for another 5 days and I can't shirk it off! It's like a bad dream hanging over me and I know it should be a pretty easy exam, but I can't shake off the feeling i should be studying more in the offchance that it is a difficult exam! I think it's mostly because it was such an easy subject that if i did badly the final i will just drop out of uni in shame. Or as in BM, it will be very malu...

In the meantime, Thrice are really really good. Was watching their House Of Blues dvd last night and i love the depth of their sound even though they are only a 4-piece. Their balance between light and dark, heavy and pretty music is quite exceptional. Super excited for VANS WARPED TOUR ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (July 19th, New Jersey). Bought tickets the other week and they're so cheap compared to our international line-ups...which makes sense since america is where they're from actually.

Others i'm looking forward to are:

• Alexisonfire
• Underoath
• Chiodos
• A Day To Remember
• The Devil Wears Prada
• A Skylit Drive
• Anti-Flag
• Meg and Dia (chiiiiiiicks!)
• Gallows
• Dance Gavin Dance
• Flogging Molly
• VersaEmerge etc etc (admittedly i've seen most of these before...but not on Warped!)

I'm hoping to flaunt my aussie accent and gain backstage access to the whole show. Should be fairly successful i think! "Hi i've travelled 156 hours from Wollongong to get here. Love me!"

I am currently listening to Taking Back Sunday who are not playing Warped tour, but are also very very good! gotta get the new album sooooooooon. I am also learning to love Dillinger Escape Plan. These get me through the drudgery of exam periods...

hmm...

It's cold when it's dark

It's been a while between posts. Have I been super busy recently? Yes. And it's not like there haven't been many things to write about. In fact, it's probably the opposite. There have been too many things to write about that it's like cramming a storm in a teacup- the storm being life, and the teacup being my propensity to deal with it.  

So we're past the halfway point of 2009, and it's all downhill from here. It's getting colder by the hour, and when it's dark it rains. Every day is a perfect day to spend indoors. Which kind of helps for my study habits (for which I only have one exam...*sigh*) but tends to make one a bit dreary and wistful.  

As 4th year students with annual projects, we don't really get a midyear break as we're expected to finish collecting experimental data before 2nd semester. However, as the Loos are heading to America in July-August, I have a forced holiday and so have to cram 8 weeks of thesis work into 4. 

Autumn is as good a time of year to do it in than any other.