Art Crazy

I’ve just watched Anthony Lucas’s film The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello, and I absolutely loved it. I’ve always liked that gothic aesthetic (which is probably why I love the Lemony Snicket books and the film, too), and the story is so moving as well. There were other short films on the DVD, too – I especially liked his Cannes film festival short film Holding Your Breath. I’m determined to buy the DVD, as well as one advertised on it – Princess Mononoke, which is an anime film about a tribe of humans who decide to wage war on the Nature gods of the forest. Sounds like my cup of tea, eh?

I’m also determined to immerse myself in a side of fantasy I didn’t really know existed until recently – the modern fairy tale, whether rewritten or complete original, and urban fantasy. After all, I love magical realism, I’m sure I’ll love this too, because it’s the kind of stuff I like to write… I’m especially interested in the works of one Charles de Lint – I’ve heard excellent things about him, and I have to say the books sound great, they really do. I also want to read that Johnathon Strange and Mr Norell book (I can’t remember the author’s name, sorry). It’s just time I need now Still, I’m excited…

Creative Storm

Well, I don’t know what’s happened but I seem to be caught up in a bit of a creative storm! First there was that story I wrote for Say Something, and I had another idea for that one, too, that I haven’t yet gotten around to actually writing, and then today I wrote a short story for Cabinet des Fées and/or Wild Ideas. I haven’t been able to write this much for years and years – it’s amazing! I don’t know what brought it on, but all of a sudden I’m channeling a whole lot of creative energy. I’ll let you know if/when any of them actually get published…

Actually, I just had an interesting idea – me, being the lover of metaphor that I am, was just saying to myself how it was very much like the Australian water cycle – drought for ages, then sudden rushes of rain in huge downpours. It usually goes back to drought, though – let’s hope that doesn’t happen here!

New Essay: “The Web of Life and Personal Happiness”

OMG! There’s a new essay! Hehe… it’s under “Writings”, the new heading for my, well, writings!

I wrote this essay because it was something I had been thinking about for some time now, and I always find writing “essays” helps clear up my thoughts about things and figure out what aspects I haven’t thought about much. Anyway, this is the “first draft”, I suppose you could call it. As I say at the top of it, “this essay requires some neatening up; at the moment it’s kind of just a really long post that actually follows a main point. It needs to be made a bit more formal and cohesive, however, and actually make a point, not just follow one. I’d also like to add a few quotes. Until I find the time, however, it will have to stay as it is…”.

Hopefully as I continue to reflect my observations and comments on the topic will become more mature and sophisticated, and by extension so will my essay! And when I get time I’ll find some quotes to enhance it…

Just thought you might want to read it before then, however, seeing as that may be a while away (I have to get back to uni in a couple of days – argh!). Besides, I thought my site needed a content update!

I hope it’s at least bearable for now!

Hooray for ecovillages!

I am so excited. I’ve been working for my family’s architectural firm – in an administrative capacity, of course – for years now, but now it has started work on an ecovillage – you know, those “intentional communities” that, if they wanted to, could cut themselves off from the rest of humanity (almost) and survive? – in collaboration with the developers.

I love ecovillages – they’re sustainable and tree-hugging to the ears, so how could I not? Anyway, the thing I am excited about is the fact that I get to be a major part of the work my family’s business does on it. Not only will it be really good on my resume later when I’m looking for some kind of environmentally based job (I’ve switched from Linguistics to Environmental Studies, by the way, because I really don’t like Linguistics…), but it’s something I really care about, so I’ll actually enjoy and be passionate about what we’re doing. Imagine that? How lucky I am! Well, I’m excited, you don’t have to be

The only thing more I could wish is that I actually lived there… *sigh* That’ll have to wait, I guess…

Changes

As you can see, there have been some significant changes made to my site. I don’t have time now, but I’ll explain it all soon. Besides, I’m sure you’ll acclimatise to the change soon enough and still be able to find your way around! I hope the changes end up being for the better, but only time will tell…

Well, I’ve Said Something! :)

Hello!

You know how I said I’d like to write something for the Say Something website? Well, I have! I wrote it today, and I think it fits in pretty well. It’s a short story (1500 words or thereabouts) and it’s called “I Spy”. It’s basically about two boys driving with their father through the Australian countryside playing I Spy until they decide to stop, and when they do they begin to really enjoy the scenery and become a part of the landscape. My kinda thing, eh?

I thought it was a pretty good idea, and I quite like the story itself, actually. I won’t tell you any more here, because that would ruin the point But I will send it in soon and hopefully it’ll be put up – if so, I’ll give you the link and you can check it out.

Wish me luck!

“If You See Something, Say Something”

Apparently, after the 2005 London bombings, signs began to appear bearing the slogan “If you see something, say something”. Well, today – through my subsription to the Queensland Writer’s Centre – I came across a relatively new Australian site, Say Something, created in mid-February 2006, which decided to take that slogan and turn it on its head by collecting and distributing (via. email subscription) subversive literature (fiction, “creative non-fiction” whatever that is, poetry, essays, satire) and photos of “inspiring and witty street art”. To see what they say about themselves, click here.

Anyway, I love the idea, I really do – I’ve read a couple of the stories, and they’re interesting, especially the current feature story, The Signs, which I found intriguing and unique – though I haven’t entirely unravelled its meaning as yet. I’d really love to contribute to it, but I can’t entirely work out what they want. Maybe you could help? In any case, hopefully I’ll manage to write something they find worthy to publish because, like I said, I think it’s a great idea – I personally am sick of the current paranoia and “myopic thinking”, and there is nothing I detest more than conspiracy theories or anything resembling one. Check it out, and maybe even subscribe! Maybe you’ll see something by me there eventually…

Faeries

I realised that, as I’m going to be talking about Faeries occasionally, I should probably explain what I mean by that. Needless to say, I’m not talking about glitter-sparkle-teensy-cutesy fairies – basically, the stereotypical fairies. I am, in fact, talking about Faeries in their more sober incarnation – as the embodiments of forces of Nature, mainly genii loci (ie. spirits of place), but also as other forces of Nature such as inspiration (on which Desirée Isphording has a wonderful essay, The Dark Faery Muse), death, etc. – perhaps even time. Who knows? I certainly don’t. I haven’t actually considered that as yet… Anyway, I hope you get the picture by now!

Charm-ing!

Hello, hello.

Well, I’d been wanting a charm bracelet for about a month when I actually got around to buying it last night. The chain is really pretty, and so are the charms – and they’re all chosen to represent something. I had the thought that it could kind of act like a set of rosary beads – I could progress through the charms meditating on the meaning of each one.

The charms I got were a horseshoe & clover combo (for good luck and positive thinking), an archer – well, technically Cupid, I think, but you can’t tell – because I’m Sagittarius, a fairy (Tinkerbell-style), two interlocking hearts (for love and friendship), and a cat, because they’re pretty much the only domesticated animals I like, and I love their symbolism. I wanted a moon (for intutition, femininity and magic) and a little book (because I’m a bibliophile!), but they didn’t have them. Actually, I didn’t even think they had the fairy until after I’d bought it all and she was putting the charms on (and of course I was very disappointed, because that was one thing that I had wanted from the start), but then I found it and she had to start again (hehe, oops!).

I’m happy. It’s pretty and it’ll remind me of everything that I love – what more could I ask?

*Phew*

My mid-semester exams are over – thank goodness! I can’t really relax, because I’m waaaaaaaay behind on reading, but at least I have that burden off my shoulders. I think I did pretty well, too – especially considering I only studied the morning before each of my exams, as I am wont to do! I’ve tried to be organised and prepared and not procrastinate, I really have, but it’s in my bones… *sigh*. Oh well, don’t have to worry about it again till about June! Shit, that’s only two months away…!!! Argh!!!