Writing Project Proposal

Hello readers ;)

Here is my 'rough' proposal for my final piece for my writing major. It's the proposal we have to submit. Once you read it it's kinda self explanatory.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Sal :)

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Title:
Either:
a) Gender is undistinguished to love
b) The knots in the pit of her stomach attempt to stitch up the hole in her chest.

Summary:
The aim of this piece if to combine the skills I’ve learnt within my writing major to produce a piece that will hopefully showcase my writing ability. Area’s that have influenced me the most are writing from the edge, genre, and autobiography / memoir.

Rationale:

My piece will be collections of short journal entries – in the omniscient first person. It will tell of the struggle my main protagonist has with being a teenager and also coming to terms with her sexuality.

Issues / problems this piece will address include: Gender, sex, stereotypes, bullying, violence, hatred and oppression, through too emotions such as love, sadness (Depression), self-doubt and suicide.

By writing through stream of consciousness’ inspired by Virginia Wolfs ‘Mrs Dalloway’ the protagonists main thoughts will hopefully allow the reader an insight into the world of a teenager coming to grips with being in her teens which as we all know is hell, combined with the added weight of coming to terms with their sexuality. I plan to do this through a journal entry of the thoughts of the main protagonist, along with poetry and other ‘bits’ you’d find in someone journal. The poetry will allow for a 2nd and 3rd person ‘you, she, he’ to be voiced also. Perhaps letters from the main protagonists love interest, thus allowing an insight into ‘their’ perspective of this journey, which cannot be achieved with omniscient narrative.

The influences from a writing perspective will be drawn from some of the following:

Craig Raine: ‘A Martian Sends a Postcard Home’ influenced my writing with his visually descriptive piece, especially his line ‘Everyone’s pain has a different smell.’ (Raine, 1996, line 30). That is the type of essence in which I want to achieve within my writing.

Allowing others to feel, smell and taste my main protagonist’s emotions, to laugh and cry with them, and also have a feeling of wanting to help defend them in their life battles. If I can convey this and expose the darkness that surrounds this topic (Teenage gender and sexual identity issues) through my writing, then I feel that I have accomplished something over the past four years of my degree.

Others who have influences me within my writing genre selection are

Ken Bolton: ‘Talking to you’. – Examples of a ‘natural voice’

Gabrielle Prendergast: ‘White Christmas Eve’ – shows how language can express emotions through word. ‘I’m bending backwards. Spine explodes. A coiled spring into white wing’ (Prendergast, Citied in Smith, 2005, p.15)

Ruby Langford: ‘My Names’ - Shows how to apply progression within writing - Langford’s ideas of establishment of identity.

Gregory Corso: ‘The Mad Yak’ - Subjectivity within writing allows the perspective of the subject, their feelings, opinions and beliefs to be seen, or portrayed onto the page.

Inga Clendinnen: Memoirs are a very personal account of a journey that has taken place. “I turn the Kaleidoscope, a new pattern dances in the glass. It is all refractions, shifting plays of light on the fragments of memory.” (Clendinnen, 2000, p. 140) Clendinnen’s writing style allows the reader to be a companion on that journey, and gives a privileged view of private moments of her life.

Finola Moorehead: ‘A novel in ten lines’ Short and sharp from beginning middle and end in ten lines – it can be done. I plan to incorporate this into my piece.

Finally Hazel Smith: Smith asks us to think about ‘open-minded strategies with diverse outcomes.’ (Smith, 2005, vii). I hope to achieve this.

References:

Bolton, K. ‘Talking to you’, Talking to you, Rigmarole books, Clifton Hill. (Available to view online at: http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/bolton-ken/talking-to-you-0055017)

Clendinnen, I. 2001, Tiger's eye: a memoir, Scribner, The University of Virginia.

Corso, G. 1994, ‘The Mad Yak’, in Paul Hoover (ed.) Postmodern American poetry, Norton, New York.

Langford, R. 1988, ‘My Names’ in S Gunew and J Mahyuddin (eds), Beyond the Echo: Multicultural women’s writing, UQP, St Lucia, pp 91-93.

Moorehead, F. 1982, ‘A Novel in Ten Lines’, in Anna Gibbs and Alison Tilson (eds), Frictions: An Anthology of fiction by women, Sybylla, Fitzroy, p.201.

Prendergast, G. 1991, White Christmas eve’, Unpublished, Cited in Smith, Hazel 2005, The writing experiment: Strategies for innovative creative writing, Allen & Unwin, NSW

Raine, C. 1996, ‘A Martian Sends a Postcard Home’, in Margaret Ferguson et al. (eds), Norton Anthology of Poetry, 3rd Edition, Norton, New York and London, p.1397.

Smith, H. 2005, The writing experiment: Strategies for innovative creative writing, Allen & Unwin, NSW.

Woolf, V. 2008, Mrs Dalloway, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

New idea for a Blog thingo

I had a moment of clarity last night. (Insert laughter here) Whilst trying to get to sleep on the eve of my exam (Which is in less than 2 hrs so I need to post this and haul my arse to Uni!) I've thought of a new idea for my blog. All will be revealed soon... i.e once I've got Uni for this year out of the way......


But in the mean time you can all be delighted in reading this :)

Yay!!

That's all I've got.

Deep Heat and Dog Pyjamas

I kinda injured my ankle a few weeks ago, just how I'm not sure, but it's been kinda sore for a few weeks. I 'managed' to get into the Dr's today (After waiting three weeks) He had a poke and a prod at my ankle, said something about tendons and my Achilles and suggested anti-inflammatory and deep heat, before going to the expense of an ultrasound etc.

I've not used deep heat in probably 15 years. So consequently I forgot just how 'heated' it gets. I rubbed some in (With gloves - thanks to the chemist for giving me the heads up there. I think I've mentioned before she's 'stunning'!) waited about five minutes and thought - well this is shit! So I put some more on.... It was starting to heat up while I was rubbing in the 2nd dose. So lesson learnt - do be impatience wait about 10 mins as it will get hot.

On other news. I went out last night for my Uncle's 50th birthday dinner. I was due there at 6pm, so I got into the shower at 5:40pm got out went to get dressed. JEANS didn't fit! I bought these new jeans at the beginning of February, and now it's the beginning of April and they don't fit! I know the cause of it, shitty food, and consuming my body weight in chocolate over the Easter period.

So starting Monday. I'm getting of my arse and back into the exercise routine, back onto the bike, and walking the dog twice a day, as he too is putting on the beef. He's spoilt rotten though, Re food and smacko's so I only have myself to blame. But if I'm getting exercise, then so is he. He'll be getting long walks in the morning, and shorter normal walks in the afternoon, we'll both be back to our usual self in no time - Plus he needs to loose a bit of weight so he'll fit into his winter pyjama's Yes my dog has pyjama's for winter, as he's a short haired dog, and feel the cold.

*Anyone* stating that my dog wears a dress, will receive a growl from my dog (True story there) A friend of my mum's came over to my place in winter time last year, laughed and said my dog was wearing a dress. Scoob growled at him, and I was like Ooooo shit here we go. I told him (My mum's friend) to watch it, as Scoob is sensitive about his fashion!!! (which was code for Fuck off you arsehole!)

I handed in my uni assignment today which was due today, and I've got the one due Monday 'started' but I'll be working non-stop on that over the weekend. Now however is the point where I remove myself from my computer, and find something to eat, watch a movie and call it a night.

That's all I've got.

Duck for cover readers. There's stuff flying everywhere.

Hello Readers :) :)

I've got an assignment due Friday (Worth 35%) I've got an assignment due Monday (worth 35%) I'm kinda happy where I am at the moment re my Friday assignment. I think I'll have it successfully finished by tomorrow. The one due Monday.... Well I kinda started it this morning! I know I know get your shit sorted Sal...

Truth is I'm not enjoying Uni much this semester. I've got two quite hard writing subjects (Friday's assignment is a writing one) and this Sociology unit which isn't hard, more that the lecturer is quite pedantic about the language we use in our assignments, online discussion etc. So it's a case of thinking about what you want to write, writing it, then going back and putting the correct terms in place (If that makes sense) However regardless of my enjoyment level of uni I'd rather be studying than in a job I hate. So I'll suck it up and get on with it.

My memory card is full atm and I can't find the camera cable otherwise I would have taken a photo of the mess that is my desk. I'll paint you a picture of what my desk looks for you all though.

Paper - LOTS of paper, various journals extracts, newspapers articles, reviews etc that I've got off line, and I'm currently trying to decipher what these 'experts' have had to say and then put it into terms for me to understand it!

My desk is woody brown colour, and at the moment you can't see any of the woody colour, as it's all white, green and various colours of the books I've had to de-construct for these assignments, not to mention the fucking massive text book I have for Sociology.

So it's head down arse up for me at the moment. If I manage to sort out Friday's assignment by tomorrow. I'll breathe a little easier, then I'll be getting my sociology on regarding asylum seekers over the weekend in time to have this assignment in by 5pm Monday.

I'll no doubt get bored / procrastinate between now and then, so be ready for more blog updates. Until then....

That's all I've got.

Taking a step back - Genre 003

I've decided to take a step back and plan more re my creative piece. I've got 2,000 words and I want every one of those to bloody rock! So I'm thinking I need to do a bit more planning. I've got the thoughts in my mind, I've just got to be able to remove those, place them into words, and more importantly put them into 2,000 words. That fucking word count is bullshit for a third year writing student! 5,000 minimum would have been a fraction better!

So that's where I'm at really. The other subjects I'm undertaking are doing my head in already. But I'll solider on, the worst that can happen is I'll fail the subjects I've taken this semester - which would suck, but wouldn't be the end of the world for me. I'll just re-do them. I'm not one to stress over stuff like that, it's not after all life and death! Besides 'worry' can't fix anything!

I'm off to the beach this weekend to hang with my cousin, as it's his birthday. So if the 'rain' stops it should be a nice day, if not we'll be hold up at his sisters place watching Zombieland ;P

That's all I've got.

Sh Sh Sh Shaving

It’s that time of year followers when you get out the clippers and shave you hair off for charity! Otherwise known as (booming voice) The Worlds Greatest Shave!! While I know some people are really attached to their hair. *lol* literally!! Once you’ve had a family member go through cancer treatment, you realise it’s only hair and it will grow back. So I’m shaving my hair off to raise money for The Leukaemia Foundation.

What an awesome thing you’re doing Sal, how can I help you? I can hear you asking… Well wonder no more – simply click on the link below. (Or click that big blue image there on the right of your screen!)

CLICKY CLICK TO DONATE

You’ll be transported to my sponsor page, where you can part with you cash for a very worthy cause. I’ll post photos of my head once I’ve shaved it. (Current hair is in a pic below) At this stage I doubt VERY much I’ll have to go pink, as I’m flat out making $500.00 Which is my goal. So if you’ve got some spare coin and a credit card, please sponsor me – anything over $2.00 is tax deductible.

Re Uni:

I’ve thrown some thoughts down on paper re my genre piece. So I’ll type some of that up and post it tomorrow, I’m off now to read about “Popular fictions: the logistics and practices of a literary field.” by Ken Gelder.

That’s all I’ve got.


This is my hair by the way :)

January 31st + a picture

Thirty one days into 2010 and I’m still writing 2009 on paperwork. Is there a time limit that is extended to people to allow for that mistake, or is the only a month waver to get it right? I remember when it turned from 1999 to 2000 and I was caught up a few times (Read a bloody lot!) but the forms I had to fill out back then re my job were all computerised and had the little 20__ bit on them, which helped!

Ten years later and I’m struggling to move on from the 09 to the 10 I mean the 1 is at the other end of the keyboard from the 0 so I kinda have to actively stop and think about the date before I type it, which is kinda frustrating, but anyway I digress.

It’s the 31st of JANUARY 2010 FUCK!!!!! Where did the past thirty days go? I worked out a rough mind map this afternoon of what I have done in the past thirty days.

Here goes:

I have found out what books I have to read for this semester
Purchased two of those book, have finished reading one and onto the 2nd one
I have edited PART of my novel with the help of Scoman being my proofer wingman. (I am YET to finish it, but I WILL do this soon.)
Spent time with relatives I don’t really like
Helped other relatives I like move house / Unit / apartments
Played PS3 games badly
Watched seasons 1 – 3 of Weeds
Watched the final episodes of Doctor Who containing David Tennant's last jaunt.
Twittered a lot about everything and nothing (6,000+ tweets in less than 12 months)
Spoke to my nephews a lot on skype
Written updates here (Yay)
Got more followers on my blog (Woohoo) (Thankyou loyal readers)
Watched many Zombie style movies
Read David Moody’s Hater (fucking AWESOME book!)

**Update** I was writing this and got skyped by my nephews (see below pic) who love that they can see themselves on the TV! (otherwise known as the monitor!) I’m a bias Aunt but I think both boys are just adorable and fill my heart with that lovely mushy feeling

So…….. February…….

February is the month that my almost four nephew will turn four, and he will no longer be almost four, as he will be four and we will wait six months before he starts to refer to himself as almost five. Plus it's my birthday in February also. (I will accept all forms of on-line shopping vouchers from places such http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/ or http://www.ezydvd.com.au/ or http://www.ebgames.com.au/ should you feel the urge to ‘gift me up’)

I also start back at Uni this month (On my birthday) and I’ve been asked to ‘guest blog’ for Scoman on the 21st of February. (The day before my birthday!) Do you get the feeling there is a ‘birthday’ theme here!

So February means it’s time to get my arse back into Uni mode, which means only sleeping in on a weekend, and getting up before 9am on a weekday! (I know its tough being a student!) I’m yet to get my timetable. But I’m going to have an early stab and bet there will be at least ONE tutorial on, that starts at 8am, and is the ONLY time slot available! It happens every year, though in 2nd semester of first year we (the class) managed to sweet talk the lecturer into pushing the time back to start at 9am which was a little more bearable, especially on a cold July morning!

So staring tomorrow I will be:

Getting up before 9am
Getting into Uni mode (not sure what that is yet!)
Sorting out my stuff to go for a trip away in two weeks.
Thinking about my guest entry for Scoman
Purchasing my almost four nephews birthday present
Posting aforementioned gift
Reading a shit load of stuff for uni
Generally being uni focused
Writing on here (yay)

So starting now. I will be taking offers of topics you would like me to tackle (please nothing too hard that takes up a lot time to research such as the microbic state of milk after it has been put into a microwave for five minutes!) But if you have a burning question you’d like me to ‘discuss’ then please ask away. I may not get to it right away, but I will get to it.

Tomorrow’s entry will be in response to Wendy’s (Quilfeathers) tag from her blog, which will consist of some more ‘interesting facts’ about me. I’ll have to think some up, because I was pushing maximum info load with the last lot.

Anyway. The tennis is about to start Murray V Federer. I don’t mind who wins. I like them both. Either way it should be an awesome match.

That’s all I’ve got.


I blurred my Brothers face out in the picture below, as I'm sure he wouldn't want his picture on the Internet. The boys however are innocent little things, and will not be recognised by anyone. They *love* Skype.

A sticky situation

Those who follow me on twitter will know that the other morning I managed to spill pretty much the entire contents of a mug of hot tea onto my wireless keyboard. The keys from the left hand side over to about TGB are ‘sticking’ you have to ‘punch’ them down to get them to work. I look at this scenario from a few different angles.

One: I can replace the keyboard if the ‘sticking’ problem doesn’t work itself out. As one follower on twitter commented – it was better to have the wireless keyboard go under than a laptop!

Two: The keyboard is much more sturdy to hot (Read Scalding) beverages than my lap. Whilst at the time when the hot tea was cascading from my cup onto the keyboard, followed by me shouting “Oh for fuck sake!” I had to take a moment to thank the inventor of the slide out keyboard shelf. For had that invention not been
invented, and had I not had a desk with the aforementioned slide out keyboard shelf in it, on which the position of the shelf was in the fully slid out position. Then that hot tea (read scalding!) would have ended up in my lap which would have resulted in a scald vagina and well that’s NEVER a good thing!!

Three: There are a lot of people worse off out there than me, and I really shouldn’t bitch and moan about it . But fuck if I don’t write about it here and allow follows on twitter to know, then who else would give a fuck? Except maybe my mum!

In other news

I’ve got three of my marks back for the first ‘assignment’s’ for the units I’m doing – there’s two major assignments in total for each class (Amounts to six) and then there’s other ‘stuff’ that is counted as 10 and 15 % marks throughout the course(s). Except politics in which the major assignment is worth 60% It’s a pass/fail paper and I’m kinda stressing over it just a little.

Anyway – marks so far are

Playwriting: Distinction +
Politics Journal: Distinction +
Issues and themes in contemporary writing (Read a shit load of books!): Credit +


I’m really happy with all these marks considering that I felt I was really struggling with this semester. The classes just weren’t ‘great’ and the books we had to read were well a bit shit! (out of seven books three were good!)

It’s all down hill now (Cliché #427!) and its gaining momentum (Cliché # 428!)

Ok I’ll stop the Clichés

I’ll be finished this semester and this year by the middle of the October and then I’ll concentrate on this year’s submission for NANOWRIMO. This is the first time I’ve attempted it, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge and I defiantly think 50,000 words in thirty days will test my limits.

That’s all I’ve got

Post # 100

There’s no fireworks? WTF?

This is my official post number One Hundred. I actually wrote it a few weeks ago on the evening of my Mum’s 60th Birthday celebrations (We rocked out with an OAP party!!) However life (Known as Uni!) caught up with me and I’ve not had a chance to post it. Plus, if gave me a chance to edit it down a bit.

Life is pretty full on right now, with the workload increasing for Uni, and the time in the day just slipping away without any notice. Whilst its not ‘panic’ stations just yet it will be soon if things don’t come together a little better.

One note though. I experienced my first exposure to someone cheating this past week. They worked shopped some work which they stated was theirs – however it’s not! It fucked me off that they ‘took on board the feedback’ and said ‘oh yeah thanks I’ll work on that angle’ etc etc and all the time I’m thinking – you didn’t even fucking write this!

It got the better of me in the end and I e-mailed the lecturer with proof that this work wasn’t this persons, and that I wouldn’t be offering feedback on ‘this piece’ as I couldn’t! It’s in the lectures hands now. I hope they pursue it. Plagiarism is highlighted everywhere re our assignments. So when it’s handed to them with actual proof this work isn’t this persons then surly they can’t ignore it! Anyway as I said I’ve let the lecturer know it’s in their hands now.

Back to my mum’s birthday.

My mum turned 60 this year – a big milestone for her. She clearly stated to my brother and I she didn’t want a ‘big fuss’ however would like some close friends and family over for a small lunchtime party / gathering. She pre-warned us re the 60th celebrations, as when she turned 50 my brother and I lobbed on her doorstep from Brisbane the night before to her surprise, asking what we where doing home. When we told her we were here to set up her party she didn’t believe us that was until the Saturday morning when we started setting up tables etc and blowing up balloons, and then guests started to arrive! She enjoyed it though, and she enjoyed her ‘small’ gathering of close friends and family this time around for her 60th.

Thanks to my new followers – it’s lovely to have new people on board and giving feedback. I’ve got Scoman to primarily thank for that, so thanks Scoman!

That’s all I’ve got.

Just being Me

I first started this blog as part of an assessment for a Unit I was undertaking at Uni. However I enjoyed the ‘purge’ it allowed me so I continued it. No one other than the lecturer knew who I really was, and well I bloody doubt very much that she (The lecturer) actually comes by to read my waffle anymore.

So why is it that I suddenly feel as though my anonymity has been taken from me? That I need to watch what I say, be cautious of who I mention (Or at least make a partial mention to without actually naming names!) Is it because some people who know me IRL (You know the real life friends who have actually shared personal space with you! i.e a hug or a car trip!) Know my twitter address / follow me on twitter and thus have access to this blog. Maybe it’s them who are making me more self conscious – making me cautious about what I’m saying in case I may offend one / some of them.


Then the flip side of the coin comes down….. and I realise you know what! Fuck it this is my blog, I’ll say / write what ever the hell I want to (Within reason I don’t want to be sued by some huge corporate giant!) but I’ll say what I like, and how I feel regardless of who’s reading it – Because I run with the following notion.

If you don’t like what’s written here don’t read it

Or put another way.

If you’re going to be offended by what I might write here – then fuck off!

I will not at any point ‘name names’ i.e. give full names (First name Last Name) as I for one don’t believe that its fair that someone writes about someone else who may not want to be written about, and therefore I don’t think it’s ‘cool’ to give full names. I know I wouldn’t like it if someone was using my full name when writing about me in their blog.

Some may say – lock your blog, make it private, only allow those you want to see it in. I disagree, I’m running with my previous notion, if you don’t like what’s written here, stop reading, fuck off and don’t come back.


Kinda simple really when you take five minutes out of a hectic schedule to think about it.

I’m off to write plays about domestic violence, a briefing paper on human rights – Oh and in there somewhere I’ll find some time to ‘relax’ and play the new Wolfenstien I purchased yesterday.

That’s all I’ve got.

Update Update Update

I've been busy! Seriously I have with the work for Uni piling up and life in general I've not had a chance to update my blog in a little while.

Current news in my life Uni is hard, but I'm enjoying it

My Dad's currently in hospital with a very nasty infection I hope he gets better soon

I find twitter the quickest way to update the world of all things Sal even if my spelling mistakes shine so brightly on there (Epic fail)


Actually just on Twitter - (I'll whore my site address out shortly.) Actually just click this link ---> JustSal Twitter
I got put onto Twitter through Lucy (Ahh my lovely Lucy) anyway through this social networking site. I've meet a few people with similar interests, and have managed to get my name out there as a futurist / dystopia style up and coming fantasy writer through a novelist called Brian Rathbone. He has set up a site (Link in the sidebar) that allows for fantasy writers to be noticed.

It's Saturday afternoon - I should go grocery shopping, but I can't be bothered. I'll head off and visit my Dad shortly then get something organised for dinner.

That's all I've got

Ninety Three - Greenday

So as I tap away at my laptop keyboard. This is blog number 93! This is by far the longest journal I've managed to keep going. I usually start something, forget about it, then can't remember what the url was for the blog, and it then becomes a permanent fixture out there someone in cyberspace never to be seen again!

I got my readings and unit info for Uni today. The use of the word 'busy' would be an understatement I'll have stuff literally coming out my ears at this rate. I've got to write a 20min play on a subject of my choice. I've got to write 500 words per week online on various topics for the political subject along with two 2,000 word essays, and I've got three 3,000 word essays and eight books to read for another class. So busy is without doubt an understatement!!

I just paid my car rego and insurance. I'm now so very very poor. The timing kinda sucks as I was hoping to try and get some tickets for Green Day in Brisbane in December. The pre-sale starts tomorrow, but tickets are a flat rate of $102.15 regardless of sitting or standing. I was hoping that the seated tickets might be a little cheaper, thus I'd be able to get two of those. However that isn't going to be the case.

I'll 'try' and get some tickets tomorrow, and just get slogged the extra $35 I'll be issued for going over my limit on my credit card. I'm off to try and get through another one of the eight books I have to read for school. At this rate I'll be reading 22hrs out of a 24hr day!!

That's all I've got

An update in 1,000 words or less

Since my last post a fair bit has happened.

On a sad note,.My Pop (Grandfather) passed away last week after a very long battle with Parkinsons disease. Whilst I'm saddened he's gone. He's pain free now, and reunited with my Nan - He couldn't talk or move in the end which was heart breaking, and on the first of June he just decided he'd had enough and called time on his life, he went peacefully surrounded by family which to him was important.

One a brighter note: I'm on mid semester holidays :)

I finished uni for Semester one of 2009, and found out two days into my holiday that next semesters reading list for one subject alone consists of eight books! EIGHT - I had enough trouble getting through five last semester so to be dealt the blow of eight for this coming semester. I kinda had a minor heart attack - not as much as my friend Craig did though when he seen the book list. So $230 later I have the books on order for just one subject - the other two subjects books have set me back another $300 dollars and so all up I'm down $530 on books for semester two already I'm now super bloody poor.

I'm off out to visit my brother and my nephews next week, so that will be cool. My family was home last week gone for my pop's funeral, however I'd always planned to go out to my brothers over my mid semester break to hang out and just generally catch up and spend some time with my nephews, so that's the plan.

I'll also attempt to write more in this, as it's gone onto the back burner a little which I'm disappointed about. As I enjoy this little slice of cyberspace that allows me to share my thoughts on 'stuff'

That's all I've got.. Actually it really is as the battery on this laptop is about to go, so hopefully this will get posted :)

Post # 24 Techno Purchase

I bought an Ipod Touch 8Gig today :) It was sooo shiny out of the box, now it's shiny and smudged with my fingerprints all over it :P I'll have to look at getting a little cover thing for it. But I worked out how to get the IP address of the Ipod so I could add the address to my secure wireless network, and now I can surf the net get the news etc all in the palm of my hand. My brother has an Iphone which he raves about - I can't afford a plan to get an Iphone so my old Nokia is plugging through. But I'm really happy with my purchase. I had an Ipod Nanno when they first came out back in 2005 and I had endless trouble with it, however *touch wood* this new generation will prevent any issues with it. Well I hope it will at least.

I got a lot of reading done for Uni today. I didn't turn my PC on until after 2pm, as I found that if I try to study with my PC right there I get pulled into it's gravity field of procrastination and I end up on youtube or various other websites that have nothing to do with the unit material I need to read to pass this degree. So I've decided that I'm going to spend the mornings up until lunch reading, and then the afternoons typing up the stuff I need to type up (essay's etc) then in the evenings I'm free to do whatever I want online - Youtube Twitter etc and not feel as though I'm being a pitiful student.

My drive to the next town this afternoon was an 'experience' I live in the boonies and so I need to drive about 30mins to the next town that has real stores, like the one I bought my Ipod from. However on the way I was caught up in the middle of a high-speed pursuit between a 'civilian' and a 'police' car - it was all very exciting and the police officers finally caught the speeding car. On my way home though a huge truck came around this bend and decided he needed some of the road I was driving on so at 100km/ph I slowed rather quickly and pulled off the road somewhat, so as I didn't become this trucks new hood ornament!

I'm off to watch a movie, it's Friday night - that's a free pass from Uni work in my books.

That's all I've got.

Post # 18 Novel in 10 lines

It's difficult to image that someone can write a novel in ten lines. Finola Moorehead has achieved this feat. We were asked in our writing class to write a 'story' in ten lines. This is what I came up with.

The last words out of Shane’s mouth were I love you
Cody sat in his car, crying too much to drive.
Michael sat on the riverbank waiting for something to bite his line.
Carmel smoked cigarettes in a coffee shop down town.
Adrian left a note telling everyone he was sorry.
Shane served another customer, selling them a bottle of coke with their petrol.
Carmel sipped her coffee as smoke filled her lungs, exhaling with a sigh.
Michel caught an old shoe, before chucking the entire rod in the river.
Shane, Cody, Michael and Carmel meet outside the church.
Together they bid farewell to Adrian.

I'm about to submit it to be marked so I'll let you know how I got on. It was a bit of a novelty to get something out in ten lines. Finola Moorehead did a much better job than I did (Clearly as she's a well published author and I'm not) however it was still a very interesting insight to look at the ways in which we get our stories across and with the limit of ten lines... Well you have to pick and choose just what you put in and what you leave out.

I'm feeling a bit better today, still Urgh though. But I'll get over it.

That's all I've got

** Due to the way this blog is formatted it dosen't stick to 'ten' lines. However it is ten lines when it's seen in a word processing program.

Post # 15 Colour Change

Change is as good as a holiday *Cliché number one* so they say. I'd still like a holiday though. I've gone from the deep depressive black layout for this blog to this new colour template. I'm not sure what I think of it yet, if it's not grown on me by BEDA post #20 I'll change it again.

I'm on here writing this when I should be doing readings for Uni. I am the queen of procrastination, and I'll only have myself to blame when I fall behind, or fail this semester. My heart just dosen't seem to be in it this time round :( Last year was tough, but I really enjoyed it. This year, it just seems, like a chore somehow. Though don't get me wrong - it sure beats the hell out of working 9-5 (With the exception of the money thing!) But money can't buy you happiness *Cliché number two*

It's just gone 12pm here - so I'll get this posted, wander off and see what I can find to eat for lunch, then get into this reading. Properly Which means I'll have to turn my computer off, as it's like a distraction magnet right now. I just spent half an hour checking out all the places I've lived in, in Brisbane on google maps! Talk about time wasting, it was interesting though :)

That's all I've got.

Post # 13 - Design talent, crazy dreams & contacting old friends

I was going to mention this in yesterday's blog but when I went off on a tangent about graveyards and dead relatives. I decided to keep it until today's post. Basically this is a gratuitous plug for a young man with exceptional talent. His name is James McDonald and you can check out his unique ability to make stuff look amazing by clicking this link Flocky If you get some work done by him, tell him JustSal sent ya :)

Ok - blatant advertising for extremely talented young man out of the way...


I had this crazy dream last night that had my old music teacher in it. He and I became friends away from music (Private tuition music lessons nothing to do with high-scool) when he retired. Anyway we've kept in touch over the years sending occasional letters and a Christmas card to one another every year. However it's been at least 12 months since I've spoken to him on the phone. Anyway he was a reoccurring presence in my dream last night, nothing untoward just 'there'. So this morning I woke up and gave him a call. We chatted on the phone for about an hour catching up one various things, and we've agreed to get together at the end of May. Greg also encouraged me to get back into music, as I've not played any musical instruments in about five years and I'd really like to get back into playing piano. So when we catch up at the end of may / early June he's going to give me some lessons again for free :) well I'll make him a cup of tea and a cake for his efforts :P

Anyway - this leads me to the following. Have you got a friend you've not spoken to in a while? My challenge to you is to get in contact with them and incorporate how that contact went into a blog.

It's raining and cold here. However I've finally finished this Shakespeare essay :)

That's all I've got.

Post # 11 Lappy and homophobic house guests

I’m writing this from the comfort of my bed, with my computer on my lap. (Maybe that’s how they got their name laptop computer!?!) My PC died in the arse this morning. Yes the PC I usually use for being online, writing assignments, Uni in general. Good thing I'm anal retentive in regards to backing my stuff up!

I've spent the day writing, and re-writing this essay. Confusing and re-confusing myself in relation to the body of the argument, and have finally thought fuck it, and have got on here to write my entry for today.

This blog a day isn't as tough as I first thought it would be. I'll admit four days in I was struggling to come up with stuff to write, however I've managed to fill whoever is reading this in with 'unusual and insightful information' *lol* well maybe that description is stretching the imagination and the truth just a little.

The relatives are still here *groan* The nice ones are great the evil ones are well... Evil. She won't come near me much in case she catches Gay. (I shit you not) Homophobia is strong with that one. I've not got the heart to tell her I think her daughter is gay. My brother asked me why not tell her? I told him it wasn't my place to out our cousin, if she is gay (I'm certain of it) then it's her information to divulge to her parents when she’s ready, not me. My brother understood where I was coming from. I doubt very much she'll ever come out after seeing the way her mother treats me. Bitch is an understatement.

Anyway.. I'm about to go watch a movie with the nice relatives.

That's all I've got.

Post # 10 Fishy Fishy

I picked a song to write a story about. I chose AFI prelude. But the little story I wrote is short and shit! I'm not going to post it up here for everyone's consumption.

I've written more of this essay on Shakespeare though which I'm happy about. However I think I've just waffled on with crap! It's looking more like a 'book review' than an answer to the question being asked.

It's good Friday... It's fish day for those religious people out there who don't eat meat on good Friday. What I want to know is, those people who abide by the no meat rule who are allergic to seafood do they just simply have to salad or pasta it up for the day? I mean what else is there if you can't eat meat, and you can't eat seafood. The words 'I'll just have a salad' seem to be radiating out of my ears right now.

My confidence is low at the moment. I'm having one of those 'what the fuck am I doing with my life?' days. Maybe it's the relatives who are here atm who are bringing me down. I mean how many times can you explain you're a 'writing' student before they understand the concept?

Roll on Monday, when house guests that have similarities to fish (After three days they start to stink!) leave and the quite, non threatening environment is returned to my house. I might move next year, so the relative I can't stand don't come and visit.

That's all I've got.

Post # 6 Lack of communication

I’m writing this entry off line as the technicians are out the front fixing the faults with the phone lines in my street, and thus there is no phone which means no internet.

Books I ordered online arrived. I love getting deliveries, its like a little mini Christmas or birthday gift. The surprise of not knowing what this particular parcel might contain, as you can’t remember what you ordered online four weeks ago.

I got some books I need for Uni – mostly experimental writing books.

Hazel Smith’s - The writing experiment
Jack Hodgins – A passion for narrative
Barbara Ann Kipfer’s – Flip Dictionary. It falls into the reference category.

I seen the Flip dictionary online and it had a preview of what was in it. I bought it for a number of reasons; however the clincher was the little ‘extras’ you don’t see in regular dictionaries, like the long list of ships and shipping terms (Just to name one 'extra') as you never know when you might want to write a book that contains ships, and with this reference book, I'll be able to name them correctly now :). It was on sale for $20 so I put it into the cart and it’s now sitting on my desk!

So no phone means no internet, so I have no excuses for procrastination regarding the readings and questions I have due for Uni (Not that writing this BEDA isn’t a form of procrastination… Good procrastination thought :) However, at $600 a class, I need to pull my proverbial finger out and get on top of this work. Plus I need to write this essay for Shakespeare and post-colonial theory in relation to colonial discourse…in The Tempest WTF? I can hear you say! Yeah I know I’m thinking the same!!!

It’s due on Tuesday. So I should try and at least throw 1,000 words onto the page!

*update* It phone issue is clearly fixed as I’m back online posting this :) I started to read on the couch, but fell asleep. Mrs Dalloway *is* that riveting!!

That’s all I’ve got