Is it a week since my last blog already? Sweet Jesus. I'm going to get this one in as soon as I can, then. I'm well aware that it's 04:00 (or later when I finish) but I thoguht I'd get this one out of the way while I have time... the next two or three days is going to be a killer.
I went out tonight to celebrate the birthday/departure of a good friend of mine from work. Steve - the man in question - got a hell of a lot of his friends up to Leeds for the bash and I found them all to be particularly fantastic. Again, it was a situation which resulted in me making a lot of friends; the guys were fantastic and despite paying £6 into a club (turned out to be worth it) and being quoted £8 to get home from Leeds city centre to my house in Woodhouse (absolute bollocks, I've done it for £4.50), it was a fantastic night.
There was one thing, though. Ever been on a night out where someone seems determined to be an arsehole to the point where you struggle to enjoy yourself - even be yourself? Yeah? Course you have. I had that tonight. I naturally dance like an idiot when I'm in a club, drinks or not. Yet while everyone was having fun, one stationary jester in particular decided that it was in his best interests to slowly sway to the music while publicly shaking his head, laughing at others and making pantomime-esque gestures in regards to other people's fun. It was actually quite stifling.
Luckily, I questioned one of his mates and the verdict was in: he tends to do it a lot. Which is weird, because the guy in question seems to have the look of someone who clearly should be enjoying himself, mingling and generally having fun with his friends.
Sadly, you have to put up with such jokers in your life. My ultimate response was to simply dance round/on him (with accomplices). While it may not of worked (though I feel it may have), it certainly made me feel better.
And despite that one person being a judgemental tool from most of the start to finish, it was a great night with several people in particular that I took a shine to. I kinda hope I see a few of them again too. We can only wish, I suppose.
Tomorrow? (well, today.) Super Bowl. Friends galore, beer frenzy, pizza heaven. It's going to be mental. I just wish I had more time to do stuff that's important instead of enjoying myself. I suppose I'll make an exception just this once.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Sunday, 31 January 2010
The Awesomeness of Strangers
I caught up with my friend Greg this weekend. It was refreshing to see another instance where I was able to pick up with someone after so long without genuine face-to-face interaction, though it also proved that people do evolve certain attributes, senses and emotions during that time. I know he'll read this at some point so I'm well aware that it may come across as something naturally sycophantic to write, though he - and his friends - showed that faith in humanity is something that everyone needs.
It sounds like such a ridiculously grandiose point to make, though I've found over the last month or so that there are a lot of people in my life who I see as superfluous or just not on the same level as me. Anyone who's reading this and thinking that it is a galling and condescending thing to say is clearly kidding themselves, however; there's only a finite number of people we can establish relationships with, otherwise we spread ourselves too thinly and with individuals who ultimately share no common bond with us.
I didn't find that this weekend, however; I met a number of Greg's friends and found them all to be remarkable intelligent, funny and passionate about their own favourite things. For example, I had remarkably deep conversations with separate people about pensions, American football, sexuality, drugs and generally applying yourself in life to other people. I was on form in terms of putting my point across, but only because I was in an environment where it was encouraged, matched and - in many cases - superseded.
The trip to York, albeit a short one (24 hours), was perfect to help me reset my head. After a solid lunch, a mosey around the city and a cup of green tea at York station, I bid Greg farewell and returned to Leeds, which has been somewhat tarnished by a lot of shite that I've had to put up with since the beginning of 2010.
It put this home city of mine in context, though. I love Leeds and I love many people who live here, and while certain factors in my life - namely my career, and in turn my source of income - need to change soon in one way or another (though I'm not leaving journalism, I mean come on, I'm a professional shoutbox), I feel a little more in control of what I'm doing with my life.
After a day generally plagued with work and sleep, I don't feel down. I'm just taking it in my stride and doing it in my own time. I sorted out cover, a music review and other things for Gamezine, though I still have three reviews for the next two days as well as a newsletter I can't physically do after finding out my target website has only had half a month's stories on their system.
It'll work out. What's more, a website redesign for this blog and my articles archive will see my website become something a little easier on the eye. I'm well aware this design is flawed, though I always hoped for a focus on the content. Nonetheless, it looks a bit shit. I'm getting help on that one though, so keep 'em peeled over the next couple of weeks.
It sounds like such a ridiculously grandiose point to make, though I've found over the last month or so that there are a lot of people in my life who I see as superfluous or just not on the same level as me. Anyone who's reading this and thinking that it is a galling and condescending thing to say is clearly kidding themselves, however; there's only a finite number of people we can establish relationships with, otherwise we spread ourselves too thinly and with individuals who ultimately share no common bond with us.
I didn't find that this weekend, however; I met a number of Greg's friends and found them all to be remarkable intelligent, funny and passionate about their own favourite things. For example, I had remarkably deep conversations with separate people about pensions, American football, sexuality, drugs and generally applying yourself in life to other people. I was on form in terms of putting my point across, but only because I was in an environment where it was encouraged, matched and - in many cases - superseded.
The trip to York, albeit a short one (24 hours), was perfect to help me reset my head. After a solid lunch, a mosey around the city and a cup of green tea at York station, I bid Greg farewell and returned to Leeds, which has been somewhat tarnished by a lot of shite that I've had to put up with since the beginning of 2010.
It put this home city of mine in context, though. I love Leeds and I love many people who live here, and while certain factors in my life - namely my career, and in turn my source of income - need to change soon in one way or another (though I'm not leaving journalism, I mean come on, I'm a professional shoutbox), I feel a little more in control of what I'm doing with my life.
After a day generally plagued with work and sleep, I don't feel down. I'm just taking it in my stride and doing it in my own time. I sorted out cover, a music review and other things for Gamezine, though I still have three reviews for the next two days as well as a newsletter I can't physically do after finding out my target website has only had half a month's stories on their system.
It'll work out. What's more, a website redesign for this blog and my articles archive will see my website become something a little easier on the eye. I'm well aware this design is flawed, though I always hoped for a focus on the content. Nonetheless, it looks a bit shit. I'm getting help on that one though, so keep 'em peeled over the next couple of weeks.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Life v2.0: Seriously, This Is Getting Tiresome
+++STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS ALERT+++
Right. This was meant to be a pretty positive blog originally, though the last couple of days have undone that. No matter; every cloud, a bird in the hand, all that bollocks.
I've just spent another night doing work, or under the impression that I'm doing something when in fact I'm half-doing work and fretting for the rest of the time over the fact I've got work to do. Basically, I've got to do the following things in the next three days:
Aaaaanyway, POSITIVE THINGS HERE. I've decided that I need two things in my life right now: a camera and a holiday in which to use said camera. There has been chatter in the house about a trip to Slovenia and destinations from there, including Budapest, though the £1,000 put me off. Then again, I could do it. I want to, in fact, though I would rather go to America as it's the place closest to my heart outside of the UK.
This new idea - a repositioning of my direction, if you will - came about in a conversation with my mate Liam, who's decided to cancel a four-month trip to the US in order to pursue his filming more, remain in the tenancy without any problems from the landlord (who's genuinely great, might I add) and do cool things with us.
I decided that if he postponed by a year, I'd join him in 2011. After all, it's the last chance I'll get to do it before maintaining Real Life. It's almost a transitional two years before becoming a fully-fledged adult.
So as a result, I need to start saving for a trip to the US later in the year to ensure I enjoy the full stay with Liam in future. He knows the traditions, I know the culture. He knows the filming, I know the writing. We'll make a bastard film of it.
It was a life-changing thought in a similar way to the successful weight loss commitment, because I really want a goal. I'm thinking of getting a new job in something vaguely journalistic (where I don't have residual worry when I'm at home every night or weekend) while maintaining the websites to build up my portfolio on my terms instead of being rinsed for enthusiasm and not wanting to write later on an evening, hence the frustration at the start of this post. I now have a job, operate this blog and articles base, run Sound Screen's music side and also attempt to take pride in the dilapidated yet promising Gamezine franchise. I just wish the job didn't make me hate all the others.
Either way, I've learned that life isn't comfortable. When it is, you have to embrace it, because the rug can be pulled out from underneath you. There's no point in being wary or treading on eggshells. If barriers are put up in front of you, you just walk around them, even if a shitload of metaphorical quicksand is around the perimeter to ensure you slow down to a near stop as you pass the screaming wall of hatred.
But f*** it. I mean, I'm getting a camera in May, going to America (or maybe Slovenia... or both) later in the year and heading out to the US for a long spell before coming back and getting a proper job again with the experience I have. I'm meeting up with friends this weekend and next to discuss life, careers and all that jazz and I'm all ears for their input; after all, they're both fantastic people, and ones I don't see often enough.
Which is why I'm now going to stop worrying, finish my wine and see my friends in the front room instead of getting a migraine sat in front of this bastard computer.
Right. This was meant to be a pretty positive blog originally, though the last couple of days have undone that. No matter; every cloud, a bird in the hand, all that bollocks.
I've just spent another night doing work, or under the impression that I'm doing something when in fact I'm half-doing work and fretting for the rest of the time over the fact I've got work to do. Basically, I've got to do the following things in the next three days:
- Eight stories of overtime for work
- Music review: I Was a King - Eponymous
- Music review: Godzilla Black - Godzilla Black
- Music review: Sienná - Essence
- Visit York and catch up with an old friend (but the subsequent photo trip is cancelled, by the look of it. Balls.)
- Sort out web hosting for Sound Screen, despite its will to work for once tonight to put me in two minds
- Organise a new look blog to Make The Stuff What I Scribble Look Nice
- Get in touch with music labels re: more CDs for Sound Screen
- Write a newsletter for a client
- Sort out Gamezine properly, getting hold of as many people I can to help me do it
Aaaaanyway, POSITIVE THINGS HERE. I've decided that I need two things in my life right now: a camera and a holiday in which to use said camera. There has been chatter in the house about a trip to Slovenia and destinations from there, including Budapest, though the £1,000 put me off. Then again, I could do it. I want to, in fact, though I would rather go to America as it's the place closest to my heart outside of the UK.
This new idea - a repositioning of my direction, if you will - came about in a conversation with my mate Liam, who's decided to cancel a four-month trip to the US in order to pursue his filming more, remain in the tenancy without any problems from the landlord (who's genuinely great, might I add) and do cool things with us.
I decided that if he postponed by a year, I'd join him in 2011. After all, it's the last chance I'll get to do it before maintaining Real Life. It's almost a transitional two years before becoming a fully-fledged adult.
So as a result, I need to start saving for a trip to the US later in the year to ensure I enjoy the full stay with Liam in future. He knows the traditions, I know the culture. He knows the filming, I know the writing. We'll make a bastard film of it.
It was a life-changing thought in a similar way to the successful weight loss commitment, because I really want a goal. I'm thinking of getting a new job in something vaguely journalistic (where I don't have residual worry when I'm at home every night or weekend) while maintaining the websites to build up my portfolio on my terms instead of being rinsed for enthusiasm and not wanting to write later on an evening, hence the frustration at the start of this post. I now have a job, operate this blog and articles base, run Sound Screen's music side and also attempt to take pride in the dilapidated yet promising Gamezine franchise. I just wish the job didn't make me hate all the others.
Either way, I've learned that life isn't comfortable. When it is, you have to embrace it, because the rug can be pulled out from underneath you. There's no point in being wary or treading on eggshells. If barriers are put up in front of you, you just walk around them, even if a shitload of metaphorical quicksand is around the perimeter to ensure you slow down to a near stop as you pass the screaming wall of hatred.
But f*** it. I mean, I'm getting a camera in May, going to America (or maybe Slovenia... or both) later in the year and heading out to the US for a long spell before coming back and getting a proper job again with the experience I have. I'm meeting up with friends this weekend and next to discuss life, careers and all that jazz and I'm all ears for their input; after all, they're both fantastic people, and ones I don't see often enough.
Which is why I'm now going to stop worrying, finish my wine and see my friends in the front room instead of getting a migraine sat in front of this bastard computer.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Holga Revisited
In April, I posted this blog about my recent acquisition of a Holga. Nine months on, I finally have the digital copies of my first set of photos taken on the scene in Leeds and the north-east. All ten of them.
It was one of many tasks I had to complete today to feel a lot better. I've had a bit of a decompression over the last few days ever since the passing-out incident; I had a great meal last night at Leeds' Spice Quarter with the guys from work as well as a few beers, before a brief session on Rock Band 2 and a mercifully early night for a Friday.
Today, I left the house with Liam bright and early at 09:00 and headed around town, where I did, among other things: buy more boxers; had a hospital appointment (went well); look for (and fail to find) a new light coat; do a bit of food shopping; take photos of Leeds (and realise soon that I wasn't that bothered); have a Starbucks; post off a CD to a top lass in Warrington (a Nick Cave fan too. We can't all be perfect, I suppose); do a lot of walking (success!); and, of course, develop the Holga film into digital shots.
The link to the overall set is here for your pretty eyes, while I've posted a selection of the best ones below.
Now, I've got a little bit more writing to do for work and then I'll be preparing to go for a night out with my housemates. Whether I like it or not (I do, for the record), I need a good night out. Well, another one. A great chance to wear my T-Qualizer again, for only the second time since I bought it(!).
Oh, and today I ordered a grande skinny vanilla latte and a perfect porridge. I think it's the most metrosexual moment of my life.
It was one of many tasks I had to complete today to feel a lot better. I've had a bit of a decompression over the last few days ever since the passing-out incident; I had a great meal last night at Leeds' Spice Quarter with the guys from work as well as a few beers, before a brief session on Rock Band 2 and a mercifully early night for a Friday.
Today, I left the house with Liam bright and early at 09:00 and headed around town, where I did, among other things: buy more boxers; had a hospital appointment (went well); look for (and fail to find) a new light coat; do a bit of food shopping; take photos of Leeds (and realise soon that I wasn't that bothered); have a Starbucks; post off a CD to a top lass in Warrington (a Nick Cave fan too. We can't all be perfect, I suppose); do a lot of walking (success!); and, of course, develop the Holga film into digital shots.
The link to the overall set is here for your pretty eyes, while I've posted a selection of the best ones below.
Now, I've got a little bit more writing to do for work and then I'll be preparing to go for a night out with my housemates. Whether I like it or not (I do, for the record), I need a good night out. Well, another one. A great chance to wear my T-Qualizer again, for only the second time since I bought it(!).
Oh, and today I ordered a grande skinny vanilla latte and a perfect porridge. I think it's the most metrosexual moment of my life.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
The Apt Collapse
Today was weird.
To be honest, the whole last few days has been weird. I've been pretty out of sorts and I think it's a compounding thing which is only getting worse because of the smallest things exacerbating bigger issues. My body's been pretty ravaged by a lack of sleep due to a restlessness I can't really explain and it's having a major knock-on effect on each following day.
So yeah, today I collapsed on the way to work. I say collapsed; I was feeling a bit light-headed as I left the house but it passed as I put my iPod on, but as I walked down the hill to the main road, my left knee completely went. It was pure Bruce Grobbelaar spaghetti legs on my left-hand side and as I went down to brace it and probably hobble to the side of the pavement, I realised I couldn't feel my right leg either. Or my arm. Or my face. I fell back on my derriere with all the grace associated with such a manoeuvre and Iwas somehow able to shift myself across the floor and against a tree.
Six minutes later, I start to hear my music again and I'm back in the room. Given the quietness of that area at 7:30, no-one saw me. I can't really remember much of what happened but I know my eyes were working as I was able to see the entire time, though I was fixated on a grate. Time disappeared and the only reason I know how long I was out was because Movin' by Brass Construction had just started on my iPod; a long song to gauge it by.
Maybe I had a funk attack? I don't really know. I got up slowly and trundled home via Spar to get some Boost drink, and from there I headed back. Somehow time flew by even more and it was 08:20. I called my boss and told her I'd work from home. I pretty much downed a litre of drink - and all 100+g of sugar inside it - and I was back. I took it slowly but made it back in the afternoon, though my general lack of sugar in my diet was probably my downfall in the morning as well as during the day - I struggle to remember anything that happened during the day between 10:00 and 12:00. I did write though; maybe I was just dazed.
Still, all I know is that I'm getting an early night. The best point of reference for my troubles at the moment is my last blog post, though just times the pressure of it all by two or three and add in a few other wildcards. Nonetheless, I don't feel particularly sorry for myself, it just kinda happened. After all, I kept working.
Regardless, I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow to get checked out. I wasn't really in the state of mind to do it today. I don't feel like I have a different personality; maybe I'm just working too much. I feel stressed but not in the sense that I can't handle it, just that I don't really get a decent break. Nevermind - it'll all work out soon enough.
Anyway, four positives to match the one negative:
1) I got some new shoes. I'm a big lover of Merrell shoes - the leather trainers with the Vibram soles. I saw a pair in TK Maxx, kinda liked them, went home, fell in love with them, went back and bought them. They don't need breaking in, they're a size 12 (as opposed to my usual size 13... it's like Merrell makes them for me) and they're a beautiful colour. I had the same pair in different colours twice before but I think these are the winners:
2) I'm no longer indecisive about baseball, and I'll tell you why; when getting those beauties in TK Maxx, I realised they also bought in a load of jerseys from the MLB. There were white home shirts for the Red Sox and Braves, the grey Black Sox jersey and... the black Pittsburgh Pirates jersey. I mean man, the Pirates suck, but this shirt was beautiful. It was only in XXL though, and I was trying L size as they actually fit.
The other three were rubbish but as I went back, I saw that one of only three things on the Tried On But I'm Not Buying Them Nor Am I Wasting My Time Hanging Them Up Back Where I Found Them Rail was indeed an XL Pirates shirt. So I tried it. A little baggy, but it'll do for £12. And so I've now standardised my embrace with Pittsburgh sports. Here's the devil:
3) We now have a server to go round the entire house via WiFi. And thanks to the wonder of my mate Sam, we have a shitload of series to get through... and I haven't even put my own collection of TV shows and the like on there. A sample includes the complete collection of Twin Peaks, The Prisoner, The Wire, Futurama, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scrubs, The Young Ones, Blackadder, Arrested Development... you get the idea. Either way, we'll be linking it to the Xbox soon enough. Happy days.
4) I'm getting control of Gamezine as of next week. I write ten stories a week on anything I like plus anything extra I want. It'll serve as a full back-up to Sound Screen if the server fully falls through, but until then I think it'll all work out and I have two side projects, alongside other commitments to The Latest, this blog, inthenews.co.uk, etc.
Anyway, I'm off to bed - could genuinely do with sleep. I know you understand.
To be honest, the whole last few days has been weird. I've been pretty out of sorts and I think it's a compounding thing which is only getting worse because of the smallest things exacerbating bigger issues. My body's been pretty ravaged by a lack of sleep due to a restlessness I can't really explain and it's having a major knock-on effect on each following day.
So yeah, today I collapsed on the way to work. I say collapsed; I was feeling a bit light-headed as I left the house but it passed as I put my iPod on, but as I walked down the hill to the main road, my left knee completely went. It was pure Bruce Grobbelaar spaghetti legs on my left-hand side and as I went down to brace it and probably hobble to the side of the pavement, I realised I couldn't feel my right leg either. Or my arm. Or my face. I fell back on my derriere with all the grace associated with such a manoeuvre and Iwas somehow able to shift myself across the floor and against a tree.
Six minutes later, I start to hear my music again and I'm back in the room. Given the quietness of that area at 7:30, no-one saw me. I can't really remember much of what happened but I know my eyes were working as I was able to see the entire time, though I was fixated on a grate. Time disappeared and the only reason I know how long I was out was because Movin' by Brass Construction had just started on my iPod; a long song to gauge it by.
Maybe I had a funk attack? I don't really know. I got up slowly and trundled home via Spar to get some Boost drink, and from there I headed back. Somehow time flew by even more and it was 08:20. I called my boss and told her I'd work from home. I pretty much downed a litre of drink - and all 100+g of sugar inside it - and I was back. I took it slowly but made it back in the afternoon, though my general lack of sugar in my diet was probably my downfall in the morning as well as during the day - I struggle to remember anything that happened during the day between 10:00 and 12:00. I did write though; maybe I was just dazed.
Still, all I know is that I'm getting an early night. The best point of reference for my troubles at the moment is my last blog post, though just times the pressure of it all by two or three and add in a few other wildcards. Nonetheless, I don't feel particularly sorry for myself, it just kinda happened. After all, I kept working.
Regardless, I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow to get checked out. I wasn't really in the state of mind to do it today. I don't feel like I have a different personality; maybe I'm just working too much. I feel stressed but not in the sense that I can't handle it, just that I don't really get a decent break. Nevermind - it'll all work out soon enough.
Anyway, four positives to match the one negative:
1) I got some new shoes. I'm a big lover of Merrell shoes - the leather trainers with the Vibram soles. I saw a pair in TK Maxx, kinda liked them, went home, fell in love with them, went back and bought them. They don't need breaking in, they're a size 12 (as opposed to my usual size 13... it's like Merrell makes them for me) and they're a beautiful colour. I had the same pair in different colours twice before but I think these are the winners:
2) I'm no longer indecisive about baseball, and I'll tell you why; when getting those beauties in TK Maxx, I realised they also bought in a load of jerseys from the MLB. There were white home shirts for the Red Sox and Braves, the grey Black Sox jersey and... the black Pittsburgh Pirates jersey. I mean man, the Pirates suck, but this shirt was beautiful. It was only in XXL though, and I was trying L size as they actually fit.The other three were rubbish but as I went back, I saw that one of only three things on the Tried On But I'm Not Buying Them Nor Am I Wasting My Time Hanging Them Up Back Where I Found Them Rail was indeed an XL Pirates shirt. So I tried it. A little baggy, but it'll do for £12. And so I've now standardised my embrace with Pittsburgh sports. Here's the devil:
3) We now have a server to go round the entire house via WiFi. And thanks to the wonder of my mate Sam, we have a shitload of series to get through... and I haven't even put my own collection of TV shows and the like on there. A sample includes the complete collection of Twin Peaks, The Prisoner, The Wire, Futurama, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scrubs, The Young Ones, Blackadder, Arrested Development... you get the idea. Either way, we'll be linking it to the Xbox soon enough. Happy days.4) I'm getting control of Gamezine as of next week. I write ten stories a week on anything I like plus anything extra I want. It'll serve as a full back-up to Sound Screen if the server fully falls through, but until then I think it'll all work out and I have two side projects, alongside other commitments to The Latest, this blog, inthenews.co.uk, etc.
Anyway, I'm off to bed - could genuinely do with sleep. I know you understand.
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