30 Seconds to Mars live, This Is War and tour planning!
1 commentsI just realised that I haven’t blogged in FOREVER!
So much has happened.
I finally got to see 30 Seconds to Mars live! It was an amazing experience. It was a long, long day but so worth it. Got to meet a load of new friends and I’ve never been hugged by so many people I’ve never met before!
These are my Cornish Echelon mates who I love dearly, proudly displaying the T shirts I designed for us!
The bands touring bassist walked the queue at around 12.30pm which was totally unexpected. He happily had a chat and took pics with everyone, just a lovely bloke! This is me and Tim.
Usually I wouldn’t post pics of myself but I just love this picture. Me looking genuinely happy and excited. Good times!
The band were incredible live, lots of banter from Jared. I kept trying to watch Shannon drum as the guy is all *flaily* arms and is as fascinating to watch as he is to listen to. Tomo and Tim were bouncing around the stage like loons! Instead of trying to explain it I will post Karina’s videos. These was taken over my right shoulder!
Intro and A Beautiful Lie.
Lost my mind somewhere around 2mins 22!
Kings and Queens
Jared talks a lot. Music starts around 3mins 15.
*sigh*
Got to say a brief hi to the band as we went through the signing line afterwards. Nice!
I also turned 35! Great birthday, was thoroughly spoilt. Got to spend some serious quality time with my cousin as well. 3 days of awesomeness.
2 days after the gig at Koko, 30STM tickets went on sale for a UK arena tour in 2010. Woohoo! More road trip madness is ensuing as we are going to 4 of the shows! All dates are for February ‘10.
Nottingham Trent FM Arena – 19th
Manchester Evening News Arena – 20th
Cardiff International Arena – 21st
London Wembley Arena – 23rd
Glasgow SECC – 27th
We’re going to all bar Scotland! That’s a little too far to travel from the South West! So another countdown will be starting in due course and the planning has already started.
Chances are that you’ve heard Kings and Queens on the radio recently. Midweek charts suggest it be in somewhere in the 20’s. It’s the first single from the album This Is War out in the UK on Monday December 7th. I got my copy in advance which was a surprise but a great one! Have to say that I was afraid I wasn’t going to like it but I have totally fallen in love with it.
Am supposed to be out promoting today but the weather has called a temporary halt to that plan. Bloody rain!
That’s it for now. Will be posting up random interviews and stuff a little bit later! Have a feeling this will turn into a 30 Seconds To Mars blog entirely!
Kings and Queens video from 30 Seconds To Mars
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Will let this one speak for itself. If you’re not familiar with 30STM I would love to know what your reaction is so please, please, please leave a comment!
(Yeah, I begged!)
A mere 4 days before I get to see this band live! Woohoo!
From the album This Is War, released Dec 7th in the UK.
(Yeah, I begged!)
A mere 4 days before I get to see this band live! Woohoo!
From the album This Is War, released Dec 7th in the UK.
Live music and head blenders
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You ever get that whizzy mixed up feeling where your head is spinning at the speed of sound? Yep, I’m still there! The work stuff is still alarming me. Am waiting on a phone call as I’m typing. Hence, why I’m blogging, to cause distraction and use of the words ‘head blender’ in the post title!
So, 6 days til 30 Seconds To Mars! WOOHOO! We made our T-shirts on Sunday and I have to say they look really, really good! They will be included in the epic post that I think will appear somewhere around the 17/18th depending on how tired I am.
We’re planning on leaving home at around 4am , so should get to London around 11ish, depending on traffic. Keeping my fingers crossed that 8 hours of queuing in a possible low of 8 degrees will afford us a decent space where us short people can have a decent view. Avoiding hypothermia would be a bonus!
I get to spend a lot of time with my girls, Karina and Tweaks, and on top of that meet a load of people who I kind of know but have never met in person. I’m so excited, I really cannot express it! If I tried than it would just be a whole post of emoticons.
I know I go on about this gig a lot but it really is a saving grace at the moment. It’s also my birthday this week and I’m being taken to a live show of Motown music! Again, cannot wait! You absolutely cannot beat live music and I’m so looking forward to getting on my feet, dancing, singing and clapping along. Bliss!
Btw, people in the UK, can you believe what happened on the X Factor on Sunday?! Mr Cowell did a very sneaky thing in going back to the public vote. Lucie was clearly the better vocalist and Simon should have had the balls to get rid of Jedward. I suppose from a business point of view it makes sense to keep Jedward in as long as poss for the ratings and the press for the show. Which incidentally is supposed to be a talent show, in case anybody had forgotten.
Was also shocked at Louis Walsh going off on lovely Dermot O’Leary on Saturday night. How very dare he?! But then, Louis is an arse with a self inflated sense of importance. I’m not even going to preface that with ‘in my opinion’.
So there.
I picked up the new Robbie Williams and JLS albums yesterday. Haven’t properly listened to them yet but will post my opinion when I have! So far Robbie is at No.1 in the midweek charts. Yay!
Also there are a few tasty True Blood rumours around at the mo. Too many to go into but apparently Eric is going to be naked quite a bit and that makes me happy!
New Moon is out soon as well. Definitely looking forward to that. Being a Team Jacob girl, it’s ALL about the Wolves!
My absolute favourite part of this week was a phone call from my brother. He and his girlfriend had a beautiful baby girl in July and he rang me to tell me that he proposed to his lovely lady and that they are hoping to get married next year! YAY!!
So even though all this crappy work stuff is going on, there’s still loads in life to look forward to!
Bring it on!
So, 6 days til 30 Seconds To Mars! WOOHOO! We made our T-shirts on Sunday and I have to say they look really, really good! They will be included in the epic post that I think will appear somewhere around the 17/18th depending on how tired I am.
We’re planning on leaving home at around 4am , so should get to London around 11ish, depending on traffic. Keeping my fingers crossed that 8 hours of queuing in a possible low of 8 degrees will afford us a decent space where us short people can have a decent view. Avoiding hypothermia would be a bonus!
I get to spend a lot of time with my girls, Karina and Tweaks, and on top of that meet a load of people who I kind of know but have never met in person. I’m so excited, I really cannot express it! If I tried than it would just be a whole post of emoticons.
I know I go on about this gig a lot but it really is a saving grace at the moment. It’s also my birthday this week and I’m being taken to a live show of Motown music! Again, cannot wait! You absolutely cannot beat live music and I’m so looking forward to getting on my feet, dancing, singing and clapping along. Bliss!
Btw, people in the UK, can you believe what happened on the X Factor on Sunday?! Mr Cowell did a very sneaky thing in going back to the public vote. Lucie was clearly the better vocalist and Simon should have had the balls to get rid of Jedward. I suppose from a business point of view it makes sense to keep Jedward in as long as poss for the ratings and the press for the show. Which incidentally is supposed to be a talent show, in case anybody had forgotten.
Was also shocked at Louis Walsh going off on lovely Dermot O’Leary on Saturday night. How very dare he?! But then, Louis is an arse with a self inflated sense of importance. I’m not even going to preface that with ‘in my opinion’.
So there.
I picked up the new Robbie Williams and JLS albums yesterday. Haven’t properly listened to them yet but will post my opinion when I have! So far Robbie is at No.1 in the midweek charts. Yay!
Also there are a few tasty True Blood rumours around at the mo. Too many to go into but apparently Eric is going to be naked quite a bit and that makes me happy!
New Moon is out soon as well. Definitely looking forward to that. Being a Team Jacob girl, it’s ALL about the Wolves!
My absolute favourite part of this week was a phone call from my brother. He and his girlfriend had a beautiful baby girl in July and he rang me to tell me that he proposed to his lovely lady and that they are hoping to get married next year! YAY!!
So even though all this crappy work stuff is going on, there’s still loads in life to look forward to!
Bring it on!
Random musings…
2 commentsIt’s been a hell of a week.
The company I work for has announced a lot of redundancies. I feel like I’m being pressured into making huge career decisions at a time when I’m supposed to be looking after myself, not worrying myself stupid about a job I don’t care for much.
But the job market is not good. Do I take a calculated risk and enter into voluntary redundancy or just simply take a risk and wait to see if the compulsory redundancies bite me in the ass? Or do I take a really huge risk and say the hell with you bunch of idiots, see ya later?
Obviously I’m too much of a coward for the latter option. There’s so many people out of work at the moment that to have a shitty job is better than no job at all.
It’s good job I have a counsellors appointment tomorrow! Head is spinning like an uncontrollable spinny thing!
So I’ll post a lovely pic of Shannon Leto to cheer myself up.
Only 11 days and I get to see this guy do his thing in the flesh.
I’m so ready!
30 Seconds To Mars blog recommendation
1 commentsIf you’re a Mars fan then I highly recommend popping over to Mohnblumes' blog.
It’s become a regular stop off for me for the latest news and info.
I’m posting this pic just because it makes me laugh!
It’s actually really real!
0 commentsThe Mars tickets arrived. Physical proof that in 17 days time me and the girls will be there!
O……………M…………….G………….
A Quick Note
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Have just got back from seeing Michael Jackson's This Is It.
I'm feeling drained yet uplifted. Don't know if I'll write it up tomorrow or not. I think I just need some time to absorb it all.
I feel like I just said a proper goodbye to an old friend.
Gone but not forgotten.
I'm feeling drained yet uplifted. Don't know if I'll write it up tomorrow or not. I think I just need some time to absorb it all.
I feel like I just said a proper goodbye to an old friend.
Gone but not forgotten.
The Adventures of Clair and Bert!
2 commentsFollowing on from my last post, I then had a convo with my Mum. She asked me how I was doing and I explained that I wasn’t having such a good day. She wisely pointed out that I hadn’t gotten out much over the last few days and seeing as the sun was shining, why don’t I go out for a walk? Blow the cobwebs out so to speak. Score one for honesty! Go me!
I thought that it was an excellent idea so I grabbed my phone (for pics) and set out to explore.
Gorgeous day, sunny and breezy. I turned off the road and onto a dirt path that I really hadn’t noticed before.
The path was pretty steep and closed in on both sides with hedgerows. In fact the more I walked the steeper and skinnier it got!
Have to admit there was a time when I thought I might turn for fear of not getting my decidedly unskinny behind through! But I kept plodding.
Glad I did because I saw that there was sunlight at the top of the path!
Kept walking and then…. payoff!
It was a little ‘junction’ if you will, leading off to two fields and more pathway. This is the view from the opposite direction.
I hoiked myself up and into the clearing at the base of the trees.
It was then that I came across this little guy!
I decided to adopt Bert and take him on the rest of my walk with me. He didn’t object. Btw, Bert is about 20cm long. From the scale of the pic he looks like another tree!
So Bert and I continued our walk down the widening path.
I was wandering along, looking at the ground when I stopped dead in my tracks because this little beauty was taking a break on one of the stones in the path.
He then flew around me for a minute or two before coming to rest on the plants at the side.
Lovely!
We wandered down the track until we saw the beginning of civilisation again (car!) so then turned back and started heading for home.
Twas a lovely hours walk. The only thing that made me have a little grump was one of my pet hates. This is over the road from my house.
Grrr.
So now we’re home and Bert seems to be settling in nicely!
I feel so much better having gone out and stretched my legs. Stretched being the operative word as I’m going to feel all that uphill walking tomorrow!
I have a feeling that Bert is going to be a peaceful housemate, not sure how Sophie the human cat is going to take it. We shall see!
Not such a good day today.
2 commentsI’m having one of those days today. Honestly, I would just like to go back to sleep and wait until tomorrow comes.
I’m pretty lucky that these days don’t happen very often but when they hit, they’re unpleasant.
On these days life feels like a huge chore. Every little thing that I have to do today feels enormous, like if I don’t do it then the world is going to end and my friends will be disappointed in me and my cat won’t love me anymore.
The problem is that my logical head knows this is ridiculous and yet these thoughts still hover like a little black cloud.
A lot of my problem is that there is this big wall between me and those who love me. It’s a stupid wall, I know that because I constructed it myself. At the moment I’m trying to find a way to break it down.
My wall started with a little brick of a question. ‘Hi Clair! How are you?’ My mouth answered ‘I’m good thanks, and you?’ My mouth does that a lot. It thinks independently of my brain and my feelings. Maybe the truth is that today I feel old and burdened and I just want to cry. But you’re not going to say that, are you?
We all know that one person whose wellbeing you ask about only to be met with with a tirade of their troubles. We generally go out of our way to avoid that person because when we leave them we feel drained with a case of TMI.
But, we asked didn’t we? And that person responded in an honest manner and told you exactly how they were doing. Is this a symptom of social conditioning, or a desire to not burden other people with our problems because we don’t want to be a mood hoover and bring someone down?
I haven’t got a clue. So I simply say ‘I’m fine thanks’.
I did it just now. My boss phoned me and requested a meeting with him and a senior manager. I told him I was ok and yes, I would be there.
I’m not ok. My world is not ok. I don’t feel like I’m ok. At least not today.
I know it will pass. I have too many good things to look forward to. But if nothing else then at least I admitted the truth to myself here. Where no one is watching.
Is that a brick I hear falling?
T minus 21 days and counting….
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(This is the first blog written using Windows Live Writer so is somewhat of an experiment!)
3 weeks today I will have been standing in a queue for around 5 hours. In November. In the cold.
But who cares?! Fact is that when that wait is over I will get to see my most favourite band play live for the first time. Not only that but I get to go with people that I have come to love.
This was taken the first day I met the girls.
30 Seconds To Mars had challenged fans to ‘glyph’ (those are the red symbols you see behind us) our local areas and submit the photos.
It’s part of what makes this crazy fanbase so much fun to be part of! Chances to be creative and step outside the much heralded ‘comfort zone’ all in the name of music and community.
Yep, even the pets get in on the act! I love this photo. Kernow is one of the most chilled pups I have ever met. Gorgeous!
There’s a few reasons why I’m excited. First and foremost is obviously to see the band play live. By all accounts it’s frenetic and energetic and a lot of other good words!
I’m a girl who likes drums. Loud drums. This guy delivers.
Shreds like a muthaf*cka!
According to experts (Karina!) he has amazing stage presence and whips the crowd up into a mad frenzy! Great voice. He can also pull off a white outfit like I can only dream about!
Second, of course, is that I get to go with my girls! Tweaks and I were talking the other day about how it’s going to feel when these guys become actual real human beings! Until now they’ve been living in our stereos and computer screens. It’s going to be weird in the best way.
Third, I get to meet people that I’ve been talking to on the internet for quite some time. Lots of screennames are also going to become real people.
Fourth, dress up time! Homemade T-shirts (T shirt test is happening tonight ladies, will email results!), bandanas and possibly even facepaints!
Fifth, road trip! Leaving home at 4am, queue, see gig, get back in car, home at sometime! It’s going to be a loooong day!
But so worth it. This is going to be a highlight of my 2009. There haven’t been too many hugely bright spots this year, other than the birth of my youngest niece.
I get the feeling that this gig signals the era of good stuff in my life. Don’t ask me why I think that because I really can’t tell you! Hard to define a gut feeling.
I’m turning 35 3 days before the gig and I feel like a giddy teenager at the thought of it! (Is it too early for me to have a mid-life crisis?!) You can’t put a price on that.
3 weeks today I will have been standing in a queue for around 5 hours. In November. In the cold.
But who cares?! Fact is that when that wait is over I will get to see my most favourite band play live for the first time. Not only that but I get to go with people that I have come to love.
30 Seconds To Mars had challenged fans to ‘glyph’ (those are the red symbols you see behind us) our local areas and submit the photos.
It’s part of what makes this crazy fanbase so much fun to be part of! Chances to be creative and step outside the much heralded ‘comfort zone’ all in the name of music and community.
There’s a few reasons why I’m excited. First and foremost is obviously to see the band play live. By all accounts it’s frenetic and energetic and a lot of other good words!
Second, of course, is that I get to go with my girls! Tweaks and I were talking the other day about how it’s going to feel when these guys become actual real human beings! Until now they’ve been living in our stereos and computer screens. It’s going to be weird in the best way.
Third, I get to meet people that I’ve been talking to on the internet for quite some time. Lots of screennames are also going to become real people.
Fourth, dress up time! Homemade T-shirts (T shirt test is happening tonight ladies, will email results!), bandanas and possibly even facepaints!
Fifth, road trip! Leaving home at 4am, queue, see gig, get back in car, home at sometime! It’s going to be a loooong day!
But so worth it. This is going to be a highlight of my 2009. There haven’t been too many hugely bright spots this year, other than the birth of my youngest niece.
I get the feeling that this gig signals the era of good stuff in my life. Don’t ask me why I think that because I really can’t tell you! Hard to define a gut feeling.
I’m turning 35 3 days before the gig and I feel like a giddy teenager at the thought of it! (Is it too early for me to have a mid-life crisis?!) You can’t put a price on that.
I iz a Fairy God Dragon! (with a parking ticket)
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Today I made someone's dream come true.
I know this because I had a confirmation email.
The fourth member of our Mars party had to drop out so we had a spare ticket. These tickets are like gold dust. They sold out in 6 minutes and there were so many loyal Mars fans left absolutely reeling from it. Mainly because by 9.10 that morning there were at least 10 pairs of tickets on Ebay for extortionate prices. (Will save my tout ranting for another day).
So I went looking on the Mars message boards and there I saw that someone I have been talking to on there (let's call her A) was without a ticket and very down about it.
Don't you love that feeling of having a delicious little secret that you know is going to make someones day, month or year?!
I was like a kid at Christmas, bouncing around in my seat and getting soooo excited!
I had the loveliest email back from A, telling me that she loved me and wanted to have my children. How often does someone offer you their uterus, huh?!
I am about to write back and decline her offer but to accept the lifelong love and adoration. ;)
So as you can see from the past few entries, this week has been a good one. Lots of loveliness happening which I don't take for granted and am making the most of every second.
I also had a really great appointment with my counsellor and together we are putting things in place for a brighter, better future.
So obviously I came back to my car afterwards and found a parking ticket on it! Such is the delicious irony of life.
Have to admit though, I find the whole thing really funny! I shoulda just paid for the car park!
Lesson learned! Have a great weekend everybody! TFIF!!
I know this because I had a confirmation email.
The fourth member of our Mars party had to drop out so we had a spare ticket. These tickets are like gold dust. They sold out in 6 minutes and there were so many loyal Mars fans left absolutely reeling from it. Mainly because by 9.10 that morning there were at least 10 pairs of tickets on Ebay for extortionate prices. (Will save my tout ranting for another day).
So I went looking on the Mars message boards and there I saw that someone I have been talking to on there (let's call her A) was without a ticket and very down about it.
Don't you love that feeling of having a delicious little secret that you know is going to make someones day, month or year?!
I was like a kid at Christmas, bouncing around in my seat and getting soooo excited!
I had the loveliest email back from A, telling me that she loved me and wanted to have my children. How often does someone offer you their uterus, huh?!
I am about to write back and decline her offer but to accept the lifelong love and adoration. ;)
So as you can see from the past few entries, this week has been a good one. Lots of loveliness happening which I don't take for granted and am making the most of every second.
I also had a really great appointment with my counsellor and together we are putting things in place for a brighter, better future.
So obviously I came back to my car afterwards and found a parking ticket on it! Such is the delicious irony of life.
Have to admit though, I find the whole thing really funny! I shoulda just paid for the car park!
Lesson learned! Have a great weekend everybody! TFIF!!
Grace the Miracle Kitteh!
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One of my oldest and bestest friends, Sally, phoned me today with the story of Grace the wonder kitteh!
Grace had taken a stroll 3 weeks ago and had not returned.
The family had posted fliers all over their village but after a week of no sightings, Sally had resigned herself to Grace's fate. Her son was broken hearted and had said to his Mum 'No more kittens'.
Yesterday there was a knock at the door and her husband went to answer it. There was a murmured conversation and then he asked Sally to come out to the door.
There was a lady standing there and in her arms was Grace. Very much alive and kicking!
After a stunned silence and then verifying that the cat was theirs, Sally called her boy out and went he saw the cat he said 'That's my Grace!' with a huge beaming grin on his face!
Just goes to show that little miracles happen every day. :)
Grace had taken a stroll 3 weeks ago and had not returned.
The family had posted fliers all over their village but after a week of no sightings, Sally had resigned herself to Grace's fate. Her son was broken hearted and had said to his Mum 'No more kittens'.
Yesterday there was a knock at the door and her husband went to answer it. There was a murmured conversation and then he asked Sally to come out to the door.
There was a lady standing there and in her arms was Grace. Very much alive and kicking!
After a stunned silence and then verifying that the cat was theirs, Sally called her boy out and went he saw the cat he said 'That's my Grace!' with a huge beaming grin on his face!
Just goes to show that little miracles happen every day. :)
Stealth Attack of the Best Kind!
0 commentsKarina dropped off my Sookie books today. We were supposed to meet for coffee but the poor little lamb has a stinker of a cold.
We had arranged for her to drop the books in my garage because I had to go out to the supermarket. Came home and checked the garage, grabbed the bag therein and came in out of the cold for a coffee.
Coffee made, I came and sat down in my tiny home office (it's not actually an office, it's my box-like spare room which has the computer in it) and stuck my head into the bag when....BAM!!
I get hit with an AMAZING FRIEND STEALTH ATTACK!
Into my innocent looking book of bags she'd slipped a little present and a card.
There were quite a few was a lot of tears as I read the words she'd written inside. Thank you Karina. One of the best stealth attacks evah!! ;)
Actually this is the second stealth attack I have been subject to in these last couple of weeks. The other one was a long distance stealth attack!
Normal day. Postman came and I sifted through the usual bills and assorted junk mail until I came to an envelope which I knew straight away was from my cousin Sian who lives in London. I say cousin but really she's so much more than that. We were close as kids but as adults our bond has become impenetrable and so very precious.
Completely unexpected. Tears were shed by the bucketload as not only had Sian written beautiful words of love, support and encouragement but had also included another little card with yet more amazing and heartfelt words. I will share these at the end of this entry.
So back to today. Shortly after receiving Karina's card I had my daily 2pm phone call from the Tweakster. This has become a routine since I've been off work and is always welcome and looked forward to. :D Tweaks and her husband Steve have been incredibly generous and bought us a lanyard and bandana for the upcoming Mars gig. After the phonecall I received this via text.
There was some squeeeeing and a fairly big rush of excitement! OMG! Less than a month to go! Thanks Tweaks and Steve. Absolute stars.
Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better I got an unexpected call from my sister. We love each other very much but communications are sporadic. No real reason, just the way life goes.
She'd just phoned to see how I was doing and I was so happy to hear from her. Really topped my day off perfectly.
So today is about me counting my blessings and appreciating the warrior angels circling me in the shape of my friends and family. To a person they have all taken time to let me know that I am special, that I am appreciated and that I am loved.
I'll leave you for now by sharing these words and hope that if you're not having such a good time of things, then in some way, they will be of some comfort.
Everything's Going to Be Okay
Things are going to get better soon.
And because you are the special person that you are,
I don't think it's going to take very long.
I want to give you every bit of encouragement I possibly can.
Believe in yourself because you really are wonderful.
And don't forget that beyond the clouds that sometimes get in the way,
the sun is shining just for you.......
and everything is going to be okay.
Is it normal to have blog envy?!
1 comments
And I mean this in the nicest way!
I look at other blogs and go 'wow, these people are funny and succinct' and I wish I could be too!
Oh. I just googled blog envy. It's pretty common apparently.
I just answered my own question. Succinctly.
Go me!
I look at other blogs and go 'wow, these people are funny and succinct' and I wish I could be too!
Oh. I just googled blog envy. It's pretty common apparently.
I just answered my own question. Succinctly.
Go me!
Stuff I've learned recently
4 comments
This turned into a really long post. Good luck and thanks in advance if you actually get through it all! Please comment if you do. It would be much appreciated!
Having been off work for a ridiculous amount of time, I felt the need to share and to prove that I haven't wasted this time. Which is just stupid considering that I am off work for a legitimate reason which is to improve my health and get a handle on this thing called 'anxiety'.
I think the worst thing is the guilt. My parents instilled a rigorous work ethic into me which is brilliant but problematic in my current situation. I feel like I'm skiving, pulling a sickie, blah blah blah, etc. But logical head says that if I was in my workplace now then I would be in a much worse position healthwise. So the reason I am going with my doctors recommendation and not rushing back to work is that I don't ever want to be in this position again. It's just horrible.
See what I'm doing here? I'm trying to justify myself to people who may read this and therefore judge me. *facepalm*
So I am going to make a list of things I have learned or have learned about in the last 2 months. To make myself feel better. And to 'prove' that I'm not just a lazy git.
Things I have learned:
Things I have learned about:
Paint.net
This is a lovely piece of free graphic design software. I tried photoshop before but it's just too complicated for simple little me! 30 Seconds to Mars were holding a competition to design a sticker for promotional purposes. It looked like so much fun that I caved and downloaded paint.net. Despite not being able to draw or paint, I have discovered that my brain understands digital art. Just the basics but enough so that I have fun and make some cool looking stuff. If you go to my profile you will see the picture of Pegasus that I made for a friend but ended up keeping just cos I loved it so much!
Buying gig tickets on the internet.
Holy hell, this was a stressful lesson! When your favourite band announces that they are doing a warm up gig in a 1400 capacity venue to showcase their new album before the release, then you have to go, right? Of course you do..... you and 3000 other people....
Karina and I were on the internet and Tweaks was on the phone. It was like a military operation. Error screens, jammed phone lines, blood pressure rising, a moment of hope before another effing error screen.... and then, at 9 minutes past 9 came the dreaded words, SOLD OUT. I swear the ticket sellers do this just to make you feel extra bad. It's not just sold out, it's SOLD OUT!!
Oh, the misery and depression that ensued was tanglible. I could feel it down the phone line as my comrades and I tried to console each other. I'll admit that there were tears.
Fast forward to 2.30pm that same day and I woefully decided that I needed to go and fill my car up so I decided to check my online banking to see what cash I had. Numbers flashed and I registered that there seemed to be a sizeable chunk of cash missing from my account. Slow motion time. Check email. Email has magic words 'Confirmation of ticket order...'
Those error screens had lied to me! Filthy fibbing error screens! Turns out that my first order had actually gone through and we were the proud owners of 4 tickets to see 30 Seconds To Mars! Bought at 9.03am and confirmation email sent at 12.08pm.
I will be better prepared next time!
And last but most definitely not least, I learned about blogging. I love it. I love the fact that we're all opening a little window into our minds and inviting each other to sit and watch awhile.
Thank you so much for reading this. You deserve a medal. :)
Having been off work for a ridiculous amount of time, I felt the need to share and to prove that I haven't wasted this time. Which is just stupid considering that I am off work for a legitimate reason which is to improve my health and get a handle on this thing called 'anxiety'.
I think the worst thing is the guilt. My parents instilled a rigorous work ethic into me which is brilliant but problematic in my current situation. I feel like I'm skiving, pulling a sickie, blah blah blah, etc. But logical head says that if I was in my workplace now then I would be in a much worse position healthwise. So the reason I am going with my doctors recommendation and not rushing back to work is that I don't ever want to be in this position again. It's just horrible.
See what I'm doing here? I'm trying to justify myself to people who may read this and therefore judge me. *facepalm*
So I am going to make a list of things I have learned or have learned about in the last 2 months. To make myself feel better. And to 'prove' that I'm not just a lazy git.
Things I have learned:
- Don't be ashamed or embarrassed to admit when you're struggling. Life can be tough and we all need help sometimes be it professional or otherwise.
- Don't try and minimise your problems. This is something I am particularly guilty of. I tell myself that people are coping with cancer, bereavement, poverty, marriage breakdowns, etc. so why am I whining that I'm feeling like this? This kind of thinking really doesn't help. My issues affect me on a daily basis, therefore I have the right to do the best for myself in whatever way I see fit.
- Talk about it. Share what you're going through with your loved ones. You don't have to give a blow-by-blow account, that's probably not helpful but let them know. Having a loving support structure in place can only ever be a good thing.
- Take the help that's offered. I have the world's best doctor. Fact. Dr S is a jolly German man with sparkly eyes and a lovely smile. My whole situation came about after I'd gone to him because I hadn't been able to hear out of my right ear for a week. So we did the ear stuff and, bless him, he just turned round to me, smiled and said 'How's everything else, alright?'. Cue a sizable meltdown. He handed me a medicated tissue. (Amazing how you notice the small stuff, huh?!) He listened and very gently asked me why I hadn't been to see him before. He took me seriously and for that I will be eternally grateful. This is the second time that the anxiety has crept up and bitten me on the bum but last time I didn't take the proper time to really sort it out. Dr S put me on low dose meds, promptly referred to a counselling service and then told me in no uncertain terms that I was not going back to work for the time being. Dr S is my hero.
Things I have learned about:
Paint.net
This is a lovely piece of free graphic design software. I tried photoshop before but it's just too complicated for simple little me! 30 Seconds to Mars were holding a competition to design a sticker for promotional purposes. It looked like so much fun that I caved and downloaded paint.net. Despite not being able to draw or paint, I have discovered that my brain understands digital art. Just the basics but enough so that I have fun and make some cool looking stuff. If you go to my profile you will see the picture of Pegasus that I made for a friend but ended up keeping just cos I loved it so much!
Buying gig tickets on the internet.
Holy hell, this was a stressful lesson! When your favourite band announces that they are doing a warm up gig in a 1400 capacity venue to showcase their new album before the release, then you have to go, right? Of course you do..... you and 3000 other people....
Karina and I were on the internet and Tweaks was on the phone. It was like a military operation. Error screens, jammed phone lines, blood pressure rising, a moment of hope before another effing error screen.... and then, at 9 minutes past 9 came the dreaded words, SOLD OUT. I swear the ticket sellers do this just to make you feel extra bad. It's not just sold out, it's SOLD OUT!!
Oh, the misery and depression that ensued was tanglible. I could feel it down the phone line as my comrades and I tried to console each other. I'll admit that there were tears.
Fast forward to 2.30pm that same day and I woefully decided that I needed to go and fill my car up so I decided to check my online banking to see what cash I had. Numbers flashed and I registered that there seemed to be a sizeable chunk of cash missing from my account. Slow motion time. Check email. Email has magic words 'Confirmation of ticket order...'
Those error screens had lied to me! Filthy fibbing error screens! Turns out that my first order had actually gone through and we were the proud owners of 4 tickets to see 30 Seconds To Mars! Bought at 9.03am and confirmation email sent at 12.08pm.
I will be better prepared next time!
And last but most definitely not least, I learned about blogging. I love it. I love the fact that we're all opening a little window into our minds and inviting each other to sit and watch awhile.
Thank you so much for reading this. You deserve a medal. :)
X Factor. Sunday 18/10/09
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So much to talk about!
First, I thought Cheryl Cole was really good. Professional, polished and some tight dance moves. I am monumentally jealous of her boobs. And then I remember that she's at least 10 years younger than me. *sigh* Check it out.
And then came Whitney..... Have a watch before I fling my 2 pence in.
Whitney is a legend. A true diva. I have spent many a happy hour singing (painfully) along to her songs. Her voice is still beautiful. She is beautiful.
But I cannot resist the chance to laugh at a wardrobe malfunction however much it may pain me to do so. The dress seemed an odd choice from the start. It's way too long and I got distracted by her constantly hitching it up. Did she not try it on before the performance?
As for the back snapping and coming apart, someone said on the Xtra Factor "Someone's getting fired!". Which I would tend to believe.
I just loved the fact that she noticed it and then gave this kind of 'meh' reaction and carried on. A complete pro.
So, to the main business of the night. Who's going?
Poor Rachel being in the bottom two for the second week running. I really felt for her. The twins, whom the British press have apparently now dubbed 'Jedward', are through to next week and half of me groans and half of me goes yay! Another craptastic performance on Saturday night!
Rikki went after the sing off and I have to agree with Simon's choice. (Have I mentioned that I *heart* Simon?)
It's big band week next week. I always look forward to this one. The lovely Michael Buble is performing on the results show on Sunday. That man could sing the phone book and still sound sexy.
I may have to cancel any social plans for the weekends running up to Christmas.
First, I thought Cheryl Cole was really good. Professional, polished and some tight dance moves. I am monumentally jealous of her boobs. And then I remember that she's at least 10 years younger than me. *sigh* Check it out.
And then came Whitney..... Have a watch before I fling my 2 pence in.
Whitney is a legend. A true diva. I have spent many a happy hour singing (painfully) along to her songs. Her voice is still beautiful. She is beautiful.
But I cannot resist the chance to laugh at a wardrobe malfunction however much it may pain me to do so. The dress seemed an odd choice from the start. It's way too long and I got distracted by her constantly hitching it up. Did she not try it on before the performance?
As for the back snapping and coming apart, someone said on the Xtra Factor "Someone's getting fired!". Which I would tend to believe.
I just loved the fact that she noticed it and then gave this kind of 'meh' reaction and carried on. A complete pro.
So, to the main business of the night. Who's going?
Poor Rachel being in the bottom two for the second week running. I really felt for her. The twins, whom the British press have apparently now dubbed 'Jedward', are through to next week and half of me groans and half of me goes yay! Another craptastic performance on Saturday night!
Rikki went after the sing off and I have to agree with Simon's choice. (Have I mentioned that I *heart* Simon?)
It's big band week next week. I always look forward to this one. The lovely Michael Buble is performing on the results show on Sunday. That man could sing the phone book and still sound sexy.
I may have to cancel any social plans for the weekends running up to Christmas.
My True Blood Addiction
1 comments
The blame is placed firmly at the feet of Karina and Tweaky.
It started so innocently as these things often do. A friend asks a friend if they've seen this show and seriously you have to watch it and so on and so forth...
In truth I had heard about the show and had watched the first ep and really hadn't been overly impressed by it. But seeing as my mates were still talking about and have exceptionally good taste, then I gave it one more shot and watched ep 2.
Vampires you say? Living amongst humans due to the Japanese developing synthetic blood so that vampires are no longer a threat to the human race? There's a telepathic waitress? Lots of sex, blood, violence and nudity?
Oh dear. I love this show. I really, really love this show. Praise be to the people who invented streaming so you can watch TV programmes in the UK that haven't been shown here yet.
If you don't watch the show and want an overview then head here to the True Blood Wiki page. But be warned there are synopses of the first 2 seasons so if you want to give True Blood a watch then avoid reading this due to major spoilerage!
Being off work gave me the opportunity to go forth and watch the first 2 seasons within 2 weeks. Yes, it's THAT good.
I knew this show was based on a series of books so I hummed and ha-ed a bit about getting them. There are 9 in the series thus far. Next time I was in the bookshop I noticed they were having a 3 for 2 sale on the books, written by Charlaine Harris. Well, I couldn't just walk by and leave them there could I?
If I'm being honest, I needed a fix. The 3rd season hasn't even started shooting yet and won't be showing until sometime around June 2010. I was getting antsy.
I took my books and thought I'd read the first chapter or two. Two days later I'd finished all 3 books..... and bought the next three..... and finished them by the end of the week.... and then bought the next 2...
It was then that I made the seriously fatal mistake.
I lent them to Karina. Who then bought book number 9 because she found a good deal on amazon (this book is still in hardback) and sent it to my house so I could read it first. (Karina, I salute you. *wub*)
Why a fatal mistake? Because then there were two of us feeding each others addictions and talking constantly about the characters and plot. At time of writing, Tweaky is currently on page 83 of the first book.
What makes it worse is that the books are pretty much completely different from the show. You would think that that would suck. Oh no. The characters are the same just in altered situations. You would have to read and watch the show to appreciate what I mean about that but trust me when I say it's genius. Because even though I have read book 3 I pretty much have no clue what's going to happen in the third series.
What I do know is that Karina and I are in serious need of help. We are in the grip of a new disease called 'Eric Northman'. See example below.
Guuuhhhhhhh....
We know we should be in some kind of rehab but honestly, neither of us want to go. It's too much fun to speculate about what's going to happen in Book 10 and Series 3. So we'll just have to wait it out until Book 10 comes out in May next year.
Until then it's re-reading the books and re-watching series 1 which has just started in the UK on Channel 4.
And mourning the fact that Bubba the vamp is not in the TV series.
*sigh*
It started so innocently as these things often do. A friend asks a friend if they've seen this show and seriously you have to watch it and so on and so forth...
In truth I had heard about the show and had watched the first ep and really hadn't been overly impressed by it. But seeing as my mates were still talking about and have exceptionally good taste, then I gave it one more shot and watched ep 2.
Vampires you say? Living amongst humans due to the Japanese developing synthetic blood so that vampires are no longer a threat to the human race? There's a telepathic waitress? Lots of sex, blood, violence and nudity?
Oh dear. I love this show. I really, really love this show. Praise be to the people who invented streaming so you can watch TV programmes in the UK that haven't been shown here yet.
If you don't watch the show and want an overview then head here to the True Blood Wiki page. But be warned there are synopses of the first 2 seasons so if you want to give True Blood a watch then avoid reading this due to major spoilerage!
Being off work gave me the opportunity to go forth and watch the first 2 seasons within 2 weeks. Yes, it's THAT good.
I knew this show was based on a series of books so I hummed and ha-ed a bit about getting them. There are 9 in the series thus far. Next time I was in the bookshop I noticed they were having a 3 for 2 sale on the books, written by Charlaine Harris. Well, I couldn't just walk by and leave them there could I?
If I'm being honest, I needed a fix. The 3rd season hasn't even started shooting yet and won't be showing until sometime around June 2010. I was getting antsy.
I took my books and thought I'd read the first chapter or two. Two days later I'd finished all 3 books..... and bought the next three..... and finished them by the end of the week.... and then bought the next 2...
It was then that I made the seriously fatal mistake.
I lent them to Karina. Who then bought book number 9 because she found a good deal on amazon (this book is still in hardback) and sent it to my house so I could read it first. (Karina, I salute you. *wub*)
Why a fatal mistake? Because then there were two of us feeding each others addictions and talking constantly about the characters and plot. At time of writing, Tweaky is currently on page 83 of the first book.
What makes it worse is that the books are pretty much completely different from the show. You would think that that would suck. Oh no. The characters are the same just in altered situations. You would have to read and watch the show to appreciate what I mean about that but trust me when I say it's genius. Because even though I have read book 3 I pretty much have no clue what's going to happen in the third series.
What I do know is that Karina and I are in serious need of help. We are in the grip of a new disease called 'Eric Northman'. See example below.
Guuuhhhhhhh....
We know we should be in some kind of rehab but honestly, neither of us want to go. It's too much fun to speculate about what's going to happen in Book 10 and Series 3. So we'll just have to wait it out until Book 10 comes out in May next year.
Until then it's re-reading the books and re-watching series 1 which has just started in the UK on Channel 4.
And mourning the fact that Bubba the vamp is not in the TV series.
*sigh*
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