[O&AM] Thinking about death (while not feeling depressed)

I don't really want this to be a dreary, depressing blog post, but it's a topic that's been on my list for O&AM since the beginning, and I always knew I'd get to it someday. Basically I was 17 when I first started thinking about mortality - my own and other people's. Later a friend told me this was the start of my "quarter-life crisis". A little bit early, sure, but I don't think that's particularly unusual.

The way I was at seventeen, morbidly dwelling on my inevitable demise, makes me wonder about a lot of the YA books out there. Do the teens in those books think about their own mortality? Do they get bogged down by the depressing fact of life that we're all gonna die someday? I did read one YA in recent years that dealt with heavy themes of death and abuse and all that, even though it was a funny, loveable book. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is definitely one of my favourite books ever. I briefly mentioned it back here. And I reviewed it here.

Anyway, I've had my dark times where I've been obsessed with mortality, but for the most part I've got past the obsession - the compulsion to think about it even though I never wanted to. These days I'm enjoying my life and making a lot of it, even if I'm probably not yet quite making "the most" of it. I've done some great things - travelled around the world (twice), formed strong friendships, had and lost (not-so-)great loves, released a music CD, written 11 novels, fostered homeless cats, bought a house, etc.. I will do more great things, at least that's my intention. And while I still often think about mortality - mine and other people's - 'cause I can't help it, it generally doesn't drag me down as much as it used to.

I hope this post didn't depress anyone. I just wanted to share with you a part of me that is ever-present. That's what this little series is about, after all - giving you guys the chance to know me better!

A quick NaNo update:

I hit 40k last night. Specifically, 40,346.

I wrote over 18k this weekend (0 words on Friday).

I'm still loving my story.

I still have many "meaty" scenes to write.

I think it'll wind up being a good length.

And I lurve my characters.

p.s. This is my 500th post!!!!

Travel Series: ENGLAND

In the last installment of this series, I had just finished telling you guys about the epic trip I took across the U.S.A. in 1998. Today I'll talk about the next leg when we headed for England, the country where I was born. That's the main reason we were going to England, but there was also the fact that it's a groovy place to visit, and is a definite hub on the way to Europe!

Accidentally "art".

For the first two days in London, I didn't do much at all, just hung around relaxing (and getting a sore throat). I wrote letters home, and reading them again now it's pretty obvious I was getting worn out and a little fed up. Travelling with Dad is definitely an adventure, but it does tend to wear an ordinary mortal out.

On Day 3 I ventured out into London to visit the Tate gallery and others. This was where I got to see works of Dali and Epstein. In particular, Epstein's Rock Drill was a work I was fascinated to see, because I had studied it so much in high school for assignments. It was amazing seeing these works with my own eyes.

Real type art.

Then, on Day 4, it was time to leave the big city and end our R&R. We got a National Express bus from London Victoria Coach Station and went to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. From there we hired a car and explored some of the English countryside. During this time, I saw the building I was born in. Unfortunately we couldn't go inside, but at least I got to get my photo taken outside it:

Yep, I was born here.

Ain't that beautiful?

Sheepies! I love da sheepies!

Next we went to Edinburgh for a (very) brief foray into Scotland (so brief it really didn't count for much). Here we saw the "huge old castle - my FAVOURITE!" I have vague recollections of some moments in Edinburgh, but I remember it far better from last year's return trip. Another place we visited was the little town where my mother's father was born, Douglas Water, which I'm pretty sure we've all visited by now.

Back in Newcastle we returned the car, and got the bus back to London. From there it was on to the White Cliffs of Dover to board a ferry for France! I'll write about that next time.

So bootipoo!

A-Z '13 - Straight Lines, Stevie ... and a special feature for Chrissy Amphlett

During April, a lot of bloggers are participating in the A-to-Z blogging challenge of 2013. My theme for 2013 is an A-to-Z list of classic Aussie tunes - either classic or just plain songs I like. Today's letter is "S", and I had a huge list to whittle down. Didn't do a very good whittling job as you will see, but I'm feeling liberal today with the sad news of Chrissy Amphlett's passing (I'll get to that further down the post). For now, my main two song pics:

Straight Lines - Silverchair


Stevie - Spiderbait (or unofficial vid here)

I have followed Silverchair (defunct) since their very first single release (the EP-version of "Tomorrow", at which point they were known as "Nirvana in Pajamas" - even if 14/15-year-old Daniel was channelling Eddie Vedder more than Kurt Cobain). These boys have had an amazing career, and though I generally prefer their earlier work, "Straight Lines" from their latest release strikes me as a bit of a pinnacle of sheer musical genius. As for Spiderbait, well they're a classic Aussie punk-pop/something-or-rather (they really are hard to categorise!) band who have a rather eclectic collection of songs. In my opinion, "Stevie" is one of the cutest songs ever! The video clip is rather enjoyable, too, I think. ;) SPARKLY!


Sleeping Beauty - Divinyls



I already featured a Divinyls song this month, back during the letter "I" when I mentioned I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (and here is an unofficial version I hope you will be able to hear!). But I felt it only fitting to feature another Divinyls song today, on the day I learned of Chrissy Amphlett's passing. Such a sad bit of news, but also a cause to celebrate her amazing contribution to the Australian music scene. This woman was a huge inspiration for generations of female musicians and just women in general, and a groundbreaking artist who won't soon be forgotten. May you rest in peace, Chrissy - and thank you so much for the brilliant music. I'm glad I got to see you live in concert!

Honourable mentions (see what I mean about failing to whittle?):

• She-Riff by Magic Dirt
• Supposed To Be Here by Primary
• Saturday Night by Cold Chisel
• Scene From Below by Mary Trembles
• Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
• Smoke by Natalie Imbruglia
• So Beautiful by Pete Murray
• Suspicion Bells by Effigy
• Silver Lizard by Tumbleweed (thanks for the reminder Steve!)
• Surfers of the Mind by Def FX
• (Sic) by Henry's Anger
• Sickfest by Grinspoon
• Sidewindin' by Abbe May
• Slaves of a Nameless God by Dark Order
• Smoke & Mirrors by Snowman
• Second Solution by the Living End
• Suicide Blonde by INXS
• Sukkafish by the Grates

Book reviews - a ZAGOR re-read

I forgot to post a review last month, and I was going to cheat and post two this month, but I've decided to accept defeat in my "one book review a month" goal. This year I've learned that failure sometimes happens, and yet the world doesn't end! (Ha. See? The world didn't end.) Anyway, without further ado I bring you December's book(s) review!

I've just re-read THE ZAGOR CHRONICLES, a series of four little books I first encountered as a young teen and became utterly obsessed with. They were my first longer foray into the world of fantasy after having read THE HOBBIT as a kid, and they really did become my entire world for a while.

Each book is pretty short (i.e. Scholastic-style easily digestible stories for pre-teens/teens), so I finished my re-read pretty quickly. But there was so much to take in, so it was a rather riveting read! Back in high school, you see, I knew this series inside and out, but by the age of 32 apparently I'd forgotten basically everything except the main characters' names. My young teenaged self would have been mortified!

Some things I forgot?

• There are zombies!
• Anvar had his own magical skillz
• There was another bad dude who wasn't Zagor
• The heroes visited a different world (how the heck did I forget this?!)
• Stubble was really annoying sometimes
• Shebbeneth took a good long while to appear!

And one thing I didn't forget:

• I still love to pretend the series ended differently.

All in all, re-reading these books was a little like settling into a comfy old pair of PJ pants and a nice worn out t-shirt. (Not that I have any PJ pants left from high school days...) Despite the times I cringed at the writing style, I was generally able to let go of those moments and just enjoy the story. And I still think it's a great story!

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Right, now that that's out of the way, I'll say I'm 98% certain I won't be posting tomorrow (Christmas), but I will definitely be posting before the end of the year, to report on my progress with 2012's goals. For now I'll say MERRY EVERYTHING to you, my blogging friends, and I hope you have a great holiday!