Simon - It is Heard

On Breaks

2011-07-11T15:55:00.002+02:00

I don't think I would have been able to log in if my computer didn't automatically remember the password.

It has been a while hasn't it.

But, I figured I have a bit of time on my hands, so I could pick this up again.

I am not working.

I still have things to do. I don't think I'de survive with NOTHING to do, but I did not apply for and am not going to have a job this summer.

Call it laziness, and yes I know the money is important, but I can't,

I just came out of a tough busy year at University, hopefully successfully (haven't received all the results yet) and next year is going to be more tough and more stressful, with my finals, final projects and thesis to deal with.

So this summer, I am working on my own projects, the things I will not have as much time to do next year.

I have very overdue videos to finish editing for friends of mine, and some to film for some other friends. I have a book cover to wok on which is also majorly overdue, and hopefully plan to work on music a bit.

Besides all this, I have to begin reading material for my thesis, so as you can see, while being relaxed I'm not exactly relaxed.

Hopefully I will find time to keep sharing my wonderful insights to all you ever faithful followers :)

for now

out.

Drop us in a Jungle…

2010-10-26T11:13:00.002+02:00

So, it’s raining, and it rained a lot. I’m not going to speak about the rain and the damage it caused and the traffic caused by the damage. There are hundreds of blogs and articles where you can read about that. But the heavy rain did get me thinking about something I was discussing with some friends of mine over the weekend.

You see, if this rainfall happened a few million years ago, few hundred people would have died because they weren’t strong enough to get to the high ground, climb a tree, or hold on to something while the waters poured around them. You see where this is going.

Natural selection, survival of the fittest, evolution (in a way). While harsh and definitely strict, it was natures way of getting rid of the weak individuals of a species. Since only the strong ones, the fast ones, the fit ones would survive, that means that only they would procreate, thus strengthening the species as a whole.

Right, so human beings survived till now, so it’s assumed that we are the descendants of the strongest of our species. Well yes, technically, but, and here’s my point, we have cheated natural selection.

Evolution and natural selection has first let the fit, fast and strong people to survive, the big cats and animals with the sharp teeth and claws, and then man looked at his clawless hands and teeth that couldn’t really damage anything bigger than a mouse and figured that if he wanted to live a bit more freely, he’d have to make some changes. And tools and weapons were created. And for the first time a clawless, not so strong, not so big creature took down a tiger, and ‘Natural Selection’ went “hold on a second…”

And the rest is history.

For example: We invented cars to help us travel further than we physically could. And here’s the thin, everyone could travel the same distance, in the same amount of time if your car was fast enough. So all of a sudden, its not the strength you had, but on what car you could buy, what equipment you could use. So now the weaker people can still survive.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy we manage to live with our elders longer. I’m just pointing out that today we don’t bother with keeping fit, or training to be fast, because we don’t need to. We have stretched our race to every part of the world and there have pushed aside even the strongest animal in that region with the use of our weapons and tools.

Natural Selection looked at what we’re doing and throwing it’s hands in the air gave up and concentrated on the other creatures.

Drop us in a jungle today, and although we might like to think that we might manage to survive and get through, but let’s face it, there in the land where Natural Selection is ruler, we’d be something’s meal within a period of two days max.

Just to show my point: anyone who’s watched the PIXAR film “WALL-E” has seen the overweight, lazy, unable to move human beings of the future, and if we get to the point where we don’t even need to walk anymore, don’t need to turn our heads to speak to anyone, that is how we’d all become.

Well, I say we… I mean our ancestors… We, (and I mean me) will hopefully continue living, and come to the end of our lives still strong, still fast, still agile and still looking damn sexy.

2 is not enough

2010-10-13T01:26:00.002+02:00

Walking into my 9 o’clock lecture this morning I felt something was off. The room was dark with just one other waiting student. Admittedly, in the first lesson we were only 10 students in the first lecture, and all of them, except me, where law students, and we all know we can’t trust that lot.

Eventually, the lecturer walks in. He’s a good lecturer and the lecturer, from the introduction the credit promised to be an interesting one.

I forgot to mention that the credit has two lecturers, but one of them (as much as I can tell from the 1.0833 (not an invented number) lectures we’ve had), is always late. Either way, the first lecturer walks in and sits down behind his desk waiting until ten past just in case the students were late because of the impossible parking situation on campus.

Very sweet of him and all. Like I said, a very nice lecturer with an interesting subject.

Ten minutes pass, he looks at us, says “so, I think the others dropped the credit”. He then stands up, and as he unplugs his laptop continues, “I’ll ask administration if the credit will continue with only two students and inform you by email.” And then he walks out of the class room leaving us sitting there staring at the doorway.

So wait, are this other student I never met and I not worth teaching?

I don’t know about you, but as far as I know University only has a rule stating a maximum number of students in a class. Do not quote me on this, I could easily be wrong.

But I find it highly unfair that if, in this case, two students are interested enough to come to the lecture, interested to act polite as the lecturer walks in and smile at all his jokes, if I’ve read the course description, knew it was his lecture and still chose it, don’t I have the right to be lectured? I mean it is his job after all, isn’t it?

It’s like a priest walking into a church for mass and finding only two people and saying “there’s not enough people, try join the church down the street.”

…

Reading that, I find I need to correct myself, because it’s worse than that, as in Malta, most of you know, each locality has a great number of churches or chapels, so finding a mass to listen to is not a great feat. If this credit falls trough, the hassle and beaurocracy this other student and myself will have to go through to find another credit is impossible to describe. All of you who have survived at least one year on campus know what I’m talking about. To all the freshers reading this: You’ll see.

*****

On a totally unrelated subject: I almost laughed out loud when at the end of my first ‘Basic Music Technology’ lecture notes, the further reading suggested was a link to a Wikipedia article. Like I said in an earlier blog around exam time last year, why buy books or go to lecturer? Stay home and read the internet. It’s where the lecturers are learning from anyway.

Carbonated Beverage

2010-10-05T12:47:00.000+02:00

So another scholastic year has begun, and back at our beloved University of Malta not much has changed. The parking problem is still present, the chaos of Fresher’s week is still here, timetable and venue mix ups are still common occurrence.

The canteen has changed it’s look, but the caterers are the same, so not much improvement there. Either way, I was not one to be seen in the canteen often. So no real effect on me.

The Chaplaincy has given Ellie away (the pet rabbit) and filled the void with Chap (a beautiful, playful, clumsy, black puppy).

But there is one thing that has changed and I am going to complain about.

Vending Machines have changed. What do I mean? I mean that where there used to be a coffee machine, there is now only a snack machine. But that’s not the worse of it! I’m serious, it gets worse!

Half way through a double lesson, lecturers are usually humane enough to give a short break. So as usual I head out of the classroom heading to a vending machine I know is there. And indeed there was a vending machine there. But instead of a CocaCola machine, it was a Pepsi one!

You may mock or laugh but there is a difference. So when I’d been craving specifically CocaCola, and I know that there used to be a machine which when bribed will give me CocaCola, and all of a sudden I’m forced to drink, *shudder* Pepsi! I refused, I could not, I had to cope with Seven Up, and it was not satisfying at all.

I’ve been looking around campus since this horrifying event and up till now I have not found a CocaCola vending machine. I am concerned. I actually have to go off campus to buy my carbonated beverage of choice! If I’m wrong and there is somewhere, hidden in a corner, a vending machine which does not sell Pepsi, please please please tell me.

And if on the hour, at any point in time in the next year, you see me sprinting across campus with a thirsty but determined look on my face, I warn you, I’ve trained rugby.

Please, i need your help

2010-06-06T23:16:00.001+02:00

Dear readers,

I feel bad cheating you like this:

but i need anyone born in the year of 1992 to click the link below and fill in a short survey for an assignment of mine.

Click here to take survey

thanks a lot.

i promise a proper blog soon.

out

exams and all that

2010-05-31T11:03:00.003+02:00

I feel bad not posting for so long.

I really do apologize.

I am in the middle of exams at the moment and therefore under a bit of pressure.

Old drawing of stress to follow.

out

Poetic Venting

2010-05-15T17:57:00.003+02:00

I don’t need the money,

Or fancy new cars,

Account in the millions,

Or house of the stars.

I don’t need the clothes,

Hats or the shoes,

I don’t need to travel,

Eat out, or tattoos.

I don’t need new gadgets,

Or studio headphones,

The fastest laptop,

The coolest phone.

New big shiny cameras,

With interchangeable lens,

Brand new instruments,

Talking pens.

I don’t need sunglasses,

Or a Giant T.V,

A massive bedroom all for me.

I don’t need a thing

To know who I am

You can think I’m wrong

I don’t give a damn.

I’m fraking amazing

At whatever I try,

Time and talents God gave me,

I don’t let slip by.

I’m creative and clever,

And this is no boast,

This is me just saying,

I’m no useless ghost.

out

Why should I know?

2010-05-14T12:16:00.000+02:00

I’m going to be talking about a complaint students have had since studenthood began. I’m in a lecture at the moment who just shared with us that the exam questions are set so that the lecturer will know how much we read. Now, I looked at these articles and documents in question, and Oh My God!

No, no, seriously. I mean, I’m sure law has a lot of studies, and so does medicine, but I mean those are useful and needed, you might come across a case in your future working life where the particular detail you’re reading now might be useful.

I am obviously at this time not talking to Matt, but we’ll have to call him Dr. Matt in a years time, and that alone is worth it.

Anyway, these documents are written by people who sit and think about issues which will not be solved evar! And if you have to write about it to feel fulfilled, for the sake of all that is good, keep it short and to the point. You know, something along the lines of, THIS is bad, because of THESE points, except in THESE cases. That’s all we need to know.

But some issues need to be explained in detail. That’s what you’re thinking right? I know you too well.

Besides the subject of God Himself, I am sure there is no subject in the world that needs more than a billion words to explain properly.

When you need to get onto a stepladder to see the first page of a pile of notes, you know that the writer is going to be beating about the bush for 95% of the time.

But he might be making interesting points.

Fair enough.

Make your interesting point and explore different point of views, because some people might be seriously interested in the subject at hand. As long as you write a short summary of not more than 600 words at the end of each chapter. Because you know what? That’s the length of essay I will be writing during the exam, so that’s all the information I need to know. If I’m interested, I’ll read the rest of the valid points and interesting perspectives, in my own time.

So teachers and lecturers, you might have a passion for your subject, spend all your time thinking about it, and have read every book, paper, essay and review about it, but we don’t. We have other subjects to think of, and most probably your subject is just a few credits for us. So please don’t expect us to know particular details you know. We have not spent the amount of time on the subject that you have, we have other things to think about, work at and do.

And finally, if in the future I will need to know some stupid detail that you want us to read now and learn by heart, I’ll wiki it.

study mode

2010-05-13T19:35:00.002+02:00

This studying thing is not good for me and those around me.

Both yesterday and today I have done a good number of hours studying outside Chaplaincy.

I'm working well, studying efficiently, the atmosphere could not be a more pleasant one and yet, I reach a point, where my mood sinks into a quiet dangerous sad one.

I don't know why this is.

Previously, I used to just get hyper and restless, but these exams apparently this is not going to be the case.

It could be due to the added pressure of needing to get a certain percentage to get into honors. Or the added pressure of 4given, or of the presentations and so on I have to do.

Either way, if I started studying at 10 or 11, and you meet me at Chaplaincy, in my usual place by the left column at a table with my feet in a bean-bag, approach with caution.

Altruistically, I will not study

2010-05-06T14:13:00.000+02:00

I actually managed to sit down and do some work yesterday. It’s funny, It’s like climbing a mountain. The climb is the struggle to get myself to sit down at a desk, pull out my books and start working, but once you get to the top, there is a pleasant view, clean air and a pleasant feeling all round.

Because, yes indeed! Once I actually got working at a good pace, I felt good, I felt free, even though I was inside behind a desk, with the sun shining outside. It was a good feeling seeing work being done.

Like previous years, I managed to work because thee where other people working in the room. The train of thought I think my head follows is:

well, I have friends here so I can enjoy myself. But they’re working…. So I guess I better work too, must not disturb them.

Of course, there is a problem, as while I do enjoy the company of people and love socializing, I spent quite a lot of time a lot on the interweb so, after a while in my study mode, or working mode, the temptation of youtube and facebook return. And no I can not switch off the wifi, cause I need it for preparation of presentations and so on. Plus, it only takes a click to switch it back on again.

So I’ve found a solution to this. Open the web pages you need and load them, without closing the browser, go into one of your lectures which is held in a room without wifi, and there you can work privately and content, knowing that there are others around you working, the fact that they are doing something completely different which you should be doing too is not important, you are not tempted by the internets, and you have loaded all, or most of the information you need.

So in a lecture one will manage to work.

Well,

Work, or write a blog and later doodle.

And I was one day going to try and find a way to stop myself doing both these things during lectures, but then I thought to myself, “depriving the world of both those things would be unfair and selfish”.

So here I am, 11am on Thursday, sitting in a lecture of Christian Anthropology, writing this for you.

Sex or Space

2010-05-03T10:52:00.001+02:00

As exams approach, “three weeks!” Charlene would say in that special voice of hers, it becomes more apparent that the human body, and more importantly the human brain was not meant for studying.

Well, some older people might be ok with spending their time inside with a book, but those of the younger generation, say between 16 and 25 years of age, are restless.

This is a screw up in the scholastic system. Why? Well, because exams, at least final exams come at ‘That time of year’. Spring comes around, with all the new life and rise in hormones, every guy and girl in the mentioned age bracket is thinking of nothing other than cuddling, kissing, and well… keeping the species alive, and we all have to get ourselves inside, out of the beautiful sun and gorgeous weather, to first decipher the gibberish the lecturer would have said, and we’d have scribbled down that year. And then learn it, and then study it to remember it for the exam.

It says a lot when you’re walking into the last few lectures of the year and, if you’re of a sensitive nature, have to keep turning your eyes away from the sight of mating cats all over campus.

I mean the whole studying working system is wrong in this respect. Biologically we’re all ready for the mating and family having at about 16. At this age we want to go out fight the older men for a chance at the females. But now, we’re stuck in school or at home studying for our O levels. (good luck to all those who are going through them at the moment). By the time we finished school, and all the studies and have a job and settle down, which according to today’s society we have to do before we get married, we’re hitting the middle age crisis.

Centuries ago people where getting married at 14. It was right. By 14 they would have learnt a trade from their fathers or gone off and become an apprentice to someone else. None of this learning useless stuff.

Fair enough, through this system we actually have a choice of what we’re going to do with our lives, and we’re not confined to following in the footsteps of someone.

So, the choice is: the possibility of becoming the first Maltese person to go into space, or, sex at the age of 16. Tough one.

lecture Art

2010-04-24T09:56:00.004+02:00

Dear readers,

You have made me so happy. So apparently more people read this collection of thoughts and conclusions than I expected. It feels good to know my 'time and effort' are not going to waste.

This is not a blog entry exactly, just a thank you.

But while I'm at it, I'd like your opinion on something:

A few weeks back, during some boring lecture or other I drew this:

And then during the past six hours of lecture, I got bored again, and decided to photoshop this. It's my first Anime on photoshop:

So, a simple question really:

Which do you prefer?

Or any other comment you wish to share.

Yes, Matt I know about the hair issue.

A proper blog will follow soon. No worries.

Until then

Out

Risking a Coma

2010-04-22T13:08:00.000+02:00

It amazes me, it really does.

How am I able to stare and think of nothing for hours? I’m not saying a lecture going on, and I’m in a world of my own, thinking about this, imagining that, or remembering the other. No, that’s fine, that’s normal, I am speaking about, sitting in lecture after lecture, staring at a random spot, and not thinking.

I only realize it has happened when I look at the clock and realize 20, 30, 50 minutes have gone by, and I have no idea what has happened in them.

I look around at the people around me who look just as dead.

I begin to think that maybe I had fallen asleep. So I lean over to the person sitting next to me and ask, but no, I’ve been awake, or seemed to be awake.

So either I learnt how to sleep with my eyes open, or I manage to totally blank my mind. But I do not recall the waking up suddenly feeling, so I must have been awake.

But let’s think about it.

So I empty my mind during a boring, pointless lecture and the time seems to fly by faster than I can conceive, or I try and find something to do and every minute stretches out to seem an hour long. And don’t look at me badly saying I should be paying attention. Most lecturers just repeat themselves or try to teach us something which is common sense to a 5 year old, and they give us the notes anyway. “So don’t go to the lecture and do something useful with your time,” I hear some of the more liberal thinking readers say.

Well, damn lecturers take attendance, so that’s out of the question, and the mood for doing something productive dies as soon as my foot touches the inside of a lecture room. Not to mention the feeling of walking into a thick soup of 2^nd hand air.

So the only choice I have is go through an instance of nothingness, risking going so deep into nothing that I’ll fall into a coma, or go through 60 years of mind numbing boringness and come out of that insane.

I could write more blogs in these lectures, but come on, I have barely 5 readers ( I know of) as it is, imagine if I update much more regularly. Plus, I will not be able to come up with enough interesting content. And the same drowsy feeling which stops me working effects my writing too.

So, after considering all things carefully.

And after seeing the pros and cons of all results.

I’m risking the coma.

Cardboard and flattened flowers

2010-04-19T15:34:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was the day the past weeks of rehearsals have lead up to. All the sacrifices, pains, injuries, exhaustion lead to the three minutes spent on the stage yesterday at about 4.45 ish.

But I don’t want to spend long talking about the dance itself. That went well, no one made mistakes, I was told it looked good and organized. I am happy about the result.

Also, we were live on NET during the dance, and we did it in front of approximately 14,000 people, not counting TV. I danced! From all things I danced in front of such a large crowd. But that was fine.

The day as a whole was just epic.

Firstly being in front of the VIP barrier for the first time as apposed to stuck behind it, is an awesome feeling. Being in a cut off section, having a chair, just knowing I was taking part, was such an amazing feeling. Showing the cards and passes to get into places, just really, really amazing. Just being part of it. And Congrats to everyone that took part, speakers, dancers, and bands.

Next, I want to thank all the people not involved who came to cheer and give support, Bettina, Jamie, Ursula, Martha, Martina, Esther, Erica, and so many more. I want to say a special thank you to my mum, who managed to get to the front of the crowd and stood their beginning to end. I would have given anything to give her a seat, but she stayed and saw it all. Smiles

The feeling backstage before going on.

OMG!

I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous. It was only for a few seconds, I promise, but in those few seconds, I thought I was going to throw up.

It is a real shame that nearly all the people left after the pope left. The people after where just as amazing as the people before where. The hardcore people who stayed there until the very end enjoyed the last great acts, and even got to storm the stage to the last song of Cedarhouse. That was fun.

And the chairs. Enough said on that.

It was a great day. Opinions on the organization of the event are going to be kept to myself to keep the blog a positive one. But let’s just say I would have done it differently, but then again, what do I know?

Out.

Stone hedges and one ways

2010-04-15T10:17:00.001+02:00

It hasn’t happened in a while, well at least to me. And I don’t want it to happen again any time soon. “What is he on about?” I hear you ask.

(well imagine you ask, but still)

I am talking about the horrible feeling, the annoying and angering situation of being utterly and completely lost.

Now I don’t mean being in a town and taking a wrong turn and being in the wrong place. That’s fine, it’s just a matter of finding one road leading back in the right direction that’s not a one way street. I mean finding yourself in a place and having absolutely no clue of where on the map you are. Now for you foreign people, I live in a country with a surface area of 300 square kilometers, it’s small! Drive in one direction for half an hour, and chances are you’ll hit a coastal road, and from thee you know where you are.

But last Sunday, I attended a wedding. Getting there was fine, I was following someone else from the church to the venue. I did note the way we came in, and also that there were road works in progress, but I had other things on my mind at the time, so didn’t think much about it.

It was a fantastic wedding, mass and reception, both well thought out and every detail was perfect.

Anyway, as I drove out of the parking lot, tired but very satisfied with the day, it hit me, that I had no idea where I was. Thinking I could just backtrack the way I had come I drive up a road to find my way blocked by that dreaded red circle with a white horizontal rectangle, a no entry sign. Fine, how hard could it be to get out of a small town? Right?

Fifteen minutes later, I’m still stuck in what seems to be a closed grid of roads. In frustration and desperation I called up the friend who I had followed in, assuming he knows the way out.

“Hey, how do you get out of here?”

“I don’t even know where I am, let alone how to get you out!” he yelled back mirroring my feelings.

And that’s just it! That feeling of not knowing where we are is what’s so horrible. We usually have a vague idea of the direction we need to take, but not knowing where we are, AT ALL gets to us.

It takes us back to the feeling of being lost as children. We never know where we are when we are young, because we rarely care. If we are out of the environment we know, we don’t know where we are, how we got there or how to get out, but as long as we see PEOPLE we know we’re fine; As soon as we do not, we panic, we freak out.

Last Sunday it was the same thing, except I was in a car, and I was not lost in a park, or supermarket, but in a town.

Thinking about it though, I think the feeling of being trapped made it worse. I was trapped in this town, I didn’t even know the name of, because when we eventually we got out of the grid of roads, I was still completely lost and had no idea where I was, but at least I was moving towards somewhere, knowing that eventually I would hit a main road I recognize. In that situation, the feeling, if it wasn’t plead by frustration would be interest in seeing where we would end up.

So being lost AND trapped is the frustrating situation.

Unless it’s a choice.

There are of course Mazes, where people purposefully go into a group of alleys and dead ends for entertainment. That’s fine, its safe, it’s fun.

But turn the paths into roads, the hedged into houses, the dead ends into no entry signs, and put people in vehicles, and you’ve got my friends and I in some town below the line.

Thinking about it, the alcohol might have been a contributing factor, and I didn't really ask directions, but like all famous bloggers, I’m blaming the government and their road works.

Dragon Craving

2010-04-06T02:58:00.002+02:00

Walking out of a film at the cinema, I find myself walking around and acting slightly different to my normal self, especially if it was a great film. Why? Because I’m acting a little like the characters from that film.

An example of this happened maybe two weeks ago when four of us walked out of Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. We walked up to the car speaking in the odd accent walking in a funny stride and gesticulating rather oddly and extravagantly. Basically, we were acting like Johnny Depp as the ‘Mad Hatter’.

And who, all those years ago, walked out of ‘The Matrix’ not imagining himself dodging bullets and running up walls and jumping buildings? Or tell me if anyone walked out of "Ironman" without thinking up the design of his or her own suit? It’s just the way the brain works. We see something we like, or find cool, and we try to assimilate.

Of course there’s a negative side effect to watching epic films and wanting to be alike. And that is of course when the action or thing done in the film (or animated feature film) is not possible in real life.

Walking out of “How to train your dragon” (from the creators of Shrek, yes Dreamworks are impressing me)last Friday, I was all excited and hyper and full of energy, until, while walking to the car it hit me, I will never own a dragon and definitely never fly one. It’s a very sad moment.

It’s the same feeling one gets when waking up from a fantastic dream and lying in bed remembering it, and then all of a sudden, realizing it wasn’t real, “Damn so I’m not going out with…” one would say.

But back to the dragon.

The film was amazing, the dragon was cool and cute, the actions and thoughts behind them where amazing. Something which really excited me is when Hiccup started making discoveries about dragons. I mean it was exciting! And everyone in the cinema wanted a dragon at some point during the film, I’m sure of it.

But we get used to the disappointment that our lives are not as cool and interesting as those on the big screen.

We find our own alternatives. For example: like I told Matt after the realization of the possibility of owning a dragon are zero, the next best thing is a motorbike. Think about, for those who have watched the film, you still bank to turn, you still control the ‘gears’ with your feet, you still stir with your hands, and the chances of you loosing a limb while riding it are about the same.

Sunrises and lies

2010-03-22T15:16:00.001+01:00

This weekend was spent, as you’ve most probably read in my last blog entry. I must say that despite my previous predictions regarding my sleep coming true, I did enjoy it greatly.

The whole experience was a fun one and the chance to spend some time with people I don’t usually have time to was the best part.

But I’d like to share a few things I learnt or observed on this camping trip:

First of all. We’ve been lied to. Now, I am here assuming that you are all people that live and have lived in urban areas all your life. So at school, at the age where we’re thought that cows go moo, and sheep go bah, we’re told that roosters crows as the sun rises. Bull! the first screechy cry from these infernal birds was heard at 00:30. I don’t know what time zone they’re from, but here, that’s about 5 hrs too early. And the crowing continues until about 8 in the morning, and then it stops. Children are given the impression the rooster crows maybe three times as the first rays of sun peep over the horizon and then calls it a day. Lies.

On the same point, every child KNOWS that a donkey makes a sound along the lines of “eeyor”. More lies thought by the pretty pre-school teachers. We were camping across a valley from a farm, and I was startled on the first morning to hear the sound of something being brutally beaten to death. Or so I thought. I was told it was a donkey. There was no “eeyor”, what there was, was more of a “heeeeeaaaaaaarrrrggggghhhhhh!”

So roosters do not greet the rising sun, and donkeys don’t go “eeyor”, next I’m going to find out pigs aren’t pink and don’t go oink!

The importance of water was also revealed to me this weekend. There was a bit of a panic that we would not have enough water. And it was justified. Seriously, we use water for EVERYTHING! Drinking, cooking, cleaning, washing, and by the time you’ve gone through those processes you’re thirsty again. But we survived.

Fair enough, the first thing I did upon getting home is shower a very long shower, then brushed my teeth, taking my time, I then shaved, and because I could, brushed my teeth again.

Next.

Both mornings, I’m lying in my sleeping-bag around 5.30am and my bladder decides it needs to empty. Fair enough. But if you think I’m going to go through the hassle of dressing quietly in a tent and getting myself outside in the relatively cold air to pee, and go through the hassle of undressing again. You don’t know me well enough. Once I’m up and about while camping, that’s it. Which I’ve found is nice. Waking up early is a nice thing, you can do so much and then look at your watch and see that if you had been home, you’d be just getting up.

And you’d think that having so much time and nothing to really do, one would get bored. But it’s incredible, the less you have to do, the more relaxed you are doing things and without knowing it and without being stressed or rushed, you get to the end of the day having had a full day.

Regarding this, I am surprised to say that I did not, at any point need the company of Mr. Clarkson or Mr. Crowder throughout the entire weekend.

Anyway, I got to see the sunrise from a cliff over the sea for two mornings in a row. Both special and beautiful, and I will always be amazed by sunrise. The colors, the calmness, the silence, and even though you’re sharing it with people, no one usually talks as the sun climbs quickly out of the sea.

On a camp, since one has no real thing to do, one finds he doesn’t mind doing something that’s going to take long.

What am I on about?

We walked to the cliff, and looking down we saw the beauty of the untouched and unspoiled environment at the bottom of the cliff. We figured this was because there was no way of getting to it except by boat. But it lead us to walk along cliff, across difficult terrain until, without realizing it, we reached the sea, and realized we had walked a long distance and for about two hours. The sea was freezing and worth the walk, and on the way back we found a chameleon, so pleasant surprises and results.

Snoring.

I’ve learnt that snoring does not bother me at all. But something I find entertaining is the point before sleep of some people. Their mind is wandering everywhere, and they are in no state of mind to stop their mouth sharing them. Usually resulting in a conversation like the one I had with Jonathan.

Joni: My mind wanders at night

Simon: Why what are you thinking?

Joni: To be honest, Louisa Abela

Simon: Ah, I was thinking about her this week cause her boyfriend is in a credit with me.

Joni: She must be someone’s daughter

Simon: …… Who?

Joni: J.K. Rowling

Simon: ……um?

I was perplexed. But it is interesting is it not? The right person, and you could most probably get anything out of a person in that state. Good to know.

Lastly, on the Saturday, my plan of supper was going to be a burger, maybe two. Through an amazing string of events I don’t feel like describing, me and three others ended up with a bacon cheese burger with a side of too many sausages, wine and beer.

Beautiful.

So, as I started this post, I enjoyed the weekend greatly.

But there was nothing as good and getting into bed after getting home and cleaning myself up.

The moment my head hit the pillow.

Blissful comfort.

So in conclusion: camping is a brilliant pass time, if I can bring a shower and proper bed along.

Out

PS: To piss off a farmer more, but not give him an opportunity to hurt you, ignore him. trust me, I tried.

PSS: For photos of the camping trip click here and here and here

ipod? check! let’s go camping

2010-03-19T22:40:00.002+01:00

I am, right now, Camping.

Yes indeed.

Outside, sleeping with just a thin layer of material protecting me from the outside world. Spending my day among the trees and nature.

Well.

At least that’s what I assume I’ll be doing. Cause as I write this I’m at home eating breakfast, but it will be published while I’ll be camping.

I realized, as this weekend approached that, contrary to many people’s opinion, I’m getting old. I used to love the idea of camping, and the idea, of time to climb trees, and stay up late outside with no light but the one we create, and building a fire and dancing around it naked, and I still do. But what’s been making me dread this weekend, with all my heart, soul and bones, especially bones, is the idea of not sleeping in a comfortable bed for two nights in a row. I’m going to be sleeping on an excuse of a mattress, feeling every stone and branch that always ends up under the tent.

I’m completely terrified of tomorrow morning. Honestly.

If this doesn’t mean I’m getting old, then I don’t know what does.

Another thought which occurred to me is, well, I have to be extra careful these two days, much more than in the past camping expeditions.

Why?

One slip resulting in my left hand catching my fall, and Jonathan could be practicing fixing a dislocated on me for the second time.

I will try and be careful though, meaning, I’m going to do the same dangerous stuff I would do, but if I fall, I’ll try use only my right.

The result of this attitude of course is that, I haven’t done any preparing yet. It’s actually quite funny, my mother is running around in a panic, putting a collection of food together and basically doing my packing for me. My only preparation so far was charging my ipod and mobile phone, and choosing the flavor of the cuppa’ soup packets.

All I want to know, and this is serious, is how I’m going to survive three days without youtube or twitter?

out

Protagonist?

2010-03-18T14:14:00.001+01:00

It’s happened to all of us.

“What has?” I hear you ask.

I’ll explain the situation.

I’m walking along, in a red hoodie, jeans and my yellowish shoes, a backpack on my back and my huge headphones over my ears playing one of the jumpy David Crowder songs. A bottle of Coca Cola sticking out of my bag, the sun shining, and my glasses shading.

So the thought pops into my head.

It’s like I’m in a Coca Cola Advert.

Oh come on, admit it, you’ve thought it about yourself at least once before.

An even better experience happened last semester. I might have written about it before.

Same hoodie, same soft drink, it was a cloudy day and I had just walked out of a lecture at Gateway. I pull out the bottom of Cola, and as I take a swing, the sun peeps through the clouds, my glasses shade and a happy song comes onto my ipod. I mean come on! I actually looked around for a camera crew. It was too perfect.

It doesn’t have to be an advert you ‘find yourself in’.

It could be a music video, while you’re on the bus, or walking along a dark road.

Hell, there are those who think their life would make a good film, and the least self-centered who see only certain situations as film scene worthy.

So what makes us all picture scenes from our lives on the silver screen, be it in an advert, or a film, or a music video?

My thought is that, we have been exposed to so much of these typical scenes used for typical reasons, that they have become installed in our heads. I mean think about it: how many times have we seen someone feeling hot (temperature), drinking, beer or soft drink and suddenly feeling fresh and cool? Thousands of times! It’s become a norm.

In fact, most drink adverts nowadays are just different ways of showing this concept.

It’s that, or the drink giving you some form of power or super human strength.

This irritates me sometimes. Seriously, what does Pepsi have to do with a group of footballers and a team of Sumo wrestlers playing? Fun idea and all, but drinking the soft drink has no connection.

Fanta and CocaCola adverts recently have reached for a link wit music. Again. What?!!

Fair enough, the advertisers manage to find very interesting and cool ways of showing all the above mentioned pre-set ideas.

Most of you know my excitement at seeing one particular Sprite Advert. It’s the one showing a group of youths suffering the heat around a basketball court, when one of them takes a sip of Sprite then removing his T-shirt jumps into the court which ‘magically’ turns into a pool. The implication is that the drinking of the soft drink had something to do with it, but think about it, it’s basically ‘I was hot, I drank the drink, I cooled down.’

But at least they found a really interesting and original way of showing it. I applauded it the first time I saw it alone in my living room, and I still think it is an epic advert.

No body would ever imagine that as they drink a soft drink by a basketball court, and that’s what makes it great.

CocaCola made a series of fantastic adverts quite a few months ago. The Happiness Factory Adverts, in which the idea is that there is a whole wonderful and crazy imaginative world inside the CocaCola vending machines.

Amazing, they broke away from the norm. They made us imagine, they made us think, they took a question a child would ask, (How does the Coke come out?), and answered in a way a child’s innocence and imagination would believe. It reminds us of the imagination we once had and makes us wish it where true.

Incredible.

What the advertising world really needs, I mean REALLY needs, is to give me a job.

Leaping non-cute sheep

2010-03-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

It’s incredible how many thoughts can go through your head throughout a lecture. It helps if the lecturer speaks in a continuous drone. In the past 43 minutes I have contemplated food, a presentation, blog subjects, the design for a more comfortable bench, a drawing I want to do, food again, reminding events from yesterday, my bag, the human being as an animal, who’s at Chaplaincy, what Kai is doing, my hair, the pain in my shoulder, Matt in London, sketches for people, poster designs, video ideas, Patty, St. Patrick’s day, bass and many more.

It’s astonishing.

It’s astonishing how the mind can be so restless. I mean if it picked one topic and stopped on it and delved deep into that subject, fine, I’d at least be able to write a blog about it.

But as it is, I find myself at a loss on which of these mentioned points and also the ones coming in all the time.

I mean seriously, my mind is acting like the screwed up weather we’re having lately. One minute it’s focusing on one thing, next, like a freak hail storm, with no warning, I’m thinking about something else.

It’s annoying to me on two levels.

First, with my mind in such an active mood, it’s very near impossible to even try and follow what the lecturer is saying for more than 5 minutes, let alone 2 hrs straight.

Secondly, and more importantly, me in this mood, is me in a creative mood, and I want to do something. And I can not decide what to do. Draw, write, edit? The possibilities and interests are endless.

I can’t complain though. Well, I can, and I am, what I meant to say was that there are worst times to be the owner of a restless brain.

Lying in bed trying to sleep, knowing you have an early day the following day is one of them.

We’ve all been there: lying in bed, trying to sleep, and your brain won’t stop working no matter what you try. It’s the time you try to count sheep and your mind starts asking questions like “what color are they?” and then tries to imagine sheep, and then wonders what’s so nice about one side of the fence to make so many sheep jump over. Hmmmm, could I draw a realistic sheep? And why do people draw sheep as cute? Sheep aren’t cute, lambs are, but sheep aren’t. Sheep are nasty looking creatures. I wonder if I remember how to play ‘Mary had a little Lamb’ on the piano….

And so on.

And under all that a little voice crying softly to itself “I want to sleep”.

A restless mind at Church. Enough said? I think so.

Now, the problem with the next one is that it’s not only annoying, but it could get you into trouble. I mean fine, the lecture situation might get you into trouble, but unless the lecturer is one of those asking questions type of person, you’re fine. But the situation I’m about to describe will result in a wrath so powerful descending upon you, you will never be the same.

You’re on the sofa, with the TV switched on, with your girlfriend/ fiancé/ wife cuddling with you. Fine so far. No one is talking and your brain goes off.

A few minutes later, you realize she’s been talking and you come back just in time to here the last word in an questioning tone. Shit.

It is possible to survive, but one must be brilliant at coming up with some epic bullshit.

Having gone to Stella Maris or De La Salle helps.

So, with a mind going on and on, on a random tour of thought, what can one do?

Well, one sits down, pulls out pen and paper, or rather, opens his or her laptop and writes ‘[Enter name here] in Wonderland’

out

Mountain climbing

2010-03-15T09:18:00.003+01:00

It's one of those mornings.

No, not one of those mornings where I wear a hood and grunt at people.

But it's one of those mornings where I'm skipping down the street with a smile on my face and expect bluebirds to join me in song and trees to sway to the beat.

This mood is a perfect continuation of the perfectness of this weekend. I mentioned this in yesterdays blog, but very briefly.

So, I'll start with the Lenten Talks.

So everyone knows about the first three days as everyone was still here. But on Thursday, our number reduced greatly as about 10 members of community went to London. I must admit, I was very unhappy about the situation of, not only about being left behind, but about having to keep going with the animation of the Lenten talks without the people in London. I found it unfair, unorganized, and stupid.

Well, it went well.

Not only that, it went fantastically. I enjoyed every moment of animating, planning, playing, and last but certainly not least, I loved the packing up.

Seriously, I'm not in any way being sarcastic. I loved the coordination between all of us who helped. I loved the efficiency of everyone. And to have everything packed away in the vans, and the chapel back in it's normal state in half an hour, with ten people missing, and with the rain pouring down, was amazing. I thank all who helped.

After every evening, I never went home directly. And every night was fun, great and special in it's own way.

I have to send out a special thanks to Bernice for helping me get through this weekend.

Also, a shout out to all the people still in London at the moment. I seriously hope you had a wonderful time and look forward to you, SLOWLY AND EVENTUALLY, transferring what you got from there to us.

*I looks up at the lecturer. Realize he is still saying the same thing he was saying 52 minutes ago. Shrug and continue with my blog*

So what did I get out of this weekend. Well, besides a reminder to always have faith in God and thrust Him blindly.

You ever look ahead and see a looming, dark, unclimbable mountain in your path? And it gets closer, until you right under it and you're so worried you begin to feel physically ill.

And then, without realizing it, no matter how hard a task it is, it's behind you. You look back and realize you got through it. Obviously you begin to notice the people that actually helped you get over the bigger boulders, but you made it.

So with this positive, message of hope.

And with the lecture about to end, and the sun shining outside and a mug of tea with my name on it at Chaplaincy...

out

was going to write an epic blog, but didnt

2010-03-14T12:30:00.003+01:00

i was going to write an entire blog about the epic-ness of this weekend

thursday was great, friday was better, and yesterday was fun too

the lenten talks ended brilliantly, even though half the team was abroad, but stefan did a fantastic job, and i thank him from here

big thanks go to pedro for the sound

and last night thanks for everyone who helped pack up the stuff

everything was in the vans in 30 minutes flat and the chapel was all set up back to normal

i had a long blog planned

but not in the mood to write it anymore

so with no full-stops and no capital letters and matt don't you dare comment about it

out

Can I Tell You?

2010-03-10T23:24:00.000+01:00

There are so many pointless things people say everyday. And I mean really pointless sentences. Sentences with either really obvious answers or questions with no real point at all.

I mean, I’ve been injured quite number of times and when you’re lying on the floor with blood pouring out of your nose and your head spinning, the last thing anyone needs to ask you is “Are you ok?”

I mean, seriously, those few moments and breaths of air could have been used to call a doctor or an ambulance.

I walked into Chaplaincy earlier this week soaking wet. You can most probably imagine my sarcasm to the question “It’s raining?”

Or asking someone blue in the face and shivering if it’s cold.

Obviously, knowing the person well, makes a lot of usually normal questions pointless too. For example: asking me “Would you like a cup of tea?” would be wasting your time as you know I’m going to say yes. Asking Krissie “would you like this muffin?” or asking Mike “Mc Donalds or the Salad bowl?” is just as pointless.

Only you and someone else in a room and you smell a fart, “Did you fart?” Isn’t it obvious, if it wasn’t you, then don’t embarrass the man, or woman (because yes indeed, women do fart) and pretend nothing happened.

You touch something hot, and move your hand away with a verbal expression of pain, and they ask “Is it hot?” What do you think it is?

There are so many other situations like these.

But the phrases that really irritate me, the phrases that are more useless than a blind goalkeeper, are the ones, usually said by girls between the age of 12 and 20. The infamous “Can I tell you?” or it’s alternative “Can I ask you something?”

First of all, by asking me “Can I ask you a question?” you have already, as it where asked me a question. And have you ever met any one who ever waited for an answer to it.

In today’s fast day and age, where we don’t have time to write text messages properly, and they are reduced to a few letters and numbers put together to form sentences, why do we keep insisting on wasting time on these pointless questions? Who has the time to insert extra words, let alone whole sentences.

I’ve had phone conversations of 30 seconds in which the only words I said was “Where?”….”ok”. No hello, no good-bye, there was no need. I’m going to see the person in a few minutes or hours at maximum, all ‘vital’ gossip can be shared there.

The strange thing is, that the people who usually say this chocolate kettle of a phrase, are usually people who have a real lot to say and speak really, really fast. So why? Why? Do they take the time and slow down enough to insert this pointless questions? Save time, save breath. Terry Pratchett, in one of his books says that the human body only has so much air it can process before it dies, and these girls are wasting it on saying the same question fifty times a day.

But, I guess it’s their choice.

We all have stupid habits, like mine is writing these pointless thoughts, and yours is reading them.

See, I know that if you’ve read this far, you want to listen. So without needing to ask, I know:

I can tell you.

choo choo of thought

2010-03-08T09:17:00.003+01:00

"I might tread on the snail to make Peter, a snail lover, sad," said the lecturer.

What a lovely way to wake up this morning.

So, yes, I'm actually at my 9 o'clock lecture on a Monday morning again.

This is more surprising considering the last few hours of last night where spent setting up for this weeks lenten talks.

*OMG! I just contributed to a discussion in class*

*at 9:05 on Monday!*

Anyway, back to yesterday. I mean, it was difficult, it was tiring, and I would like to truly commend Joe for his patience and dedication.

So anyway, there was a lot of work involved, so if you want to come, they're going to be held all this week starting at 7.30 at the University Chapel.

And back to the here and now:

"Is this clear?"

And I'm thinking to myself, what is clear? What is "what" referring to?

And now he's talking about getting rid of someone that's bothering him.

It's just crazy how lectures jump from one thing to another, with no form of link in between. I'll admit, I'm not exactly following all the time. But I seriously doubt anyone in this room is.

I mean, anyone who has heard me describe how I reason things out and come to conclusions will know that when it comes to choo choos of thought mine are pretty unpredictable. But they always make sense. Andrew can most probably vouch for the logic, and Matt is the one that usually can guess, without me having to explain the steps involved in a thought process.

The thing is, I think logically, that people can follow, and I make connections between one event and the other, and what one person said and the look in his eye and how two people are acting and usually I can make pretty accurate conclusions.

I think that lectures have the sanity to have a reason why they're going from one point to another, but I think they forget that the vital piece of information needed to make the connection, is not present in our head.

And the one thing that I think stops us finding out that little information detail is, we don't care enough.

out

head cold

2010-03-06T16:56:00.002+01:00

It's saturday.

We had rehearsals this morning.

And then went to move the platforms to the chapel.

I'm going to almost be touching the ceiling.

I'd give some thoughtful insight, but my face feels like it's stuffed with cotton wool, and my nose keeps dripping.

Carrot soup.

out

Idea!

2010-03-04T17:51:00.000+01:00

A group of people sitting around a table trying hard to come up with a good and/or original idea for something. Be it for a play, poster, video, song, or any other art related thing, a group of people can spend hours, frowning at the table, inspecting the ceiling and exploring the contents of various pockets and orifices with no solution. And most of them will be looking at one particular member of the group, the one they think of the Creative One. Let’s call him Simon.

Each person round the table is thinking, “Simon will come up with something soon.” So they relax, and not commit themselves. On the other hand, as creative as Simon may be, he can’t come up with brilliant ideas every time he’s asked to, plus, Simon has had a long day, is feeling a bit ill and is not interested in the subject being discussed anyway.

There a few people, then, who know that Simon is usually the one to come up with the good ideas, and wants, due to a competitive drive, beat him to it this time. And it would be Simon’s pleasure if for once he doesn’t have to think.

But this is besides my point, my point is that although a meeting is held especially to come up with an idea, no idea can be formed by the end of it. And then the next day, while Simon is in the shower thinking about showery things, like soap and water and so on, out of nowhere, an brilliant, and usually obvious idea pops into his head regarding the point of the meeting the night before.

What the hell?

There are two points I want to explore.

First, How come it is Simon to get the sudden idea?

Second, Why does the idea pop up when Simon isn’t thinking about it?

Psychologists may have some reason behind the second question, involving concepts such as the unconscious and so on, and may even be able to answer the first, but personally I like the way Terry Pratchett describes it in his Discworld series.

He says that ideas are, well, independent objects, flying around the world and universe on their own, looking for the ideal brain for them to develop and grow in. When an idea finds such a brain, it heads for it and thus an idea is had. (I’m not sure one can say ‘an idea is had’ but it makes sense in my head as one ‘has an idea’, so ‘an idea is had’. Anyway, bad grammar never bothered me.) Now some people’s brain seem to be some sort of magnet to ideas, and therefore you get the Simon’s of the world.

But, why in the shower, or at bed late at night, or on the bus?

For the answer to this question, I’m going to Sheldon Cooper from ‘The Big Bang Theory’ who mentions a study which shows that when doing jobs that require less mental thought and are made up of routine and a lot of repetition, certain parts of the brain which are used to come up with ideas and think about stuff, are free to work.

So that answers that-ish.

And now I have a poster to design. So I’m going to take a shower.

Water, water, soap, scrub, rub….

Wait….

Eureka!

Out

Catch-up?

2010-03-03T09:37:00.002+01:00

I was planning to talk about ideas, but my morning has led me to need to speak to you about something else.

I walk into a lecture for the first time at 9 o'clock after the hassle of trying to find the right room. Now, before you all begin judging me, I had not attended any of the previous lectures because there was a bit of a hassle with my credits and I only added this particular study unit last week.

Anyway, I enter the class a bit late, and ask the lecturer if it was the right credit.

He said it was but said, he wasn't sure if I was allowed to take up the credit so late.

I relied that the add/ drop period ended two days ago.

He answered that it was ok with him, but I might find it confusing to catch up as I had missed the first 4 hours in which the basics where covered. So I sat down, making the student population go up by one. We are now five students.

I'll admit I was a bit worried about being able to catch up. But as the lecturer started the lecture, I was following.

How?

Because, all lectures link and overlap. I mean seriously. Pick any group of lectures of the same topic, say, for example Philosophy, the information given during the first month of lectures are the same. Compare the notes, go on, do it, and I promise you, you can flip them and mix them and they would still make sense.

So, my point? Why not do the sensible thing? Meet the lecturers in the beginning of the year and compare syllabi and create one lecture as an introduction to the different others that build of it. I mean contrary to the thoughts of everyone above the age of 30, we students are busy people and have other things to do besides sitting for lectures we've heard a hundred times over.

I mean, how can you expect students to turn up for all lectures if they know that they're just going to be hearing repeated content. Yes, you can take attendance, but I find that treatment childish. Also, I'm sure the lecturers find it annoying lecturing the basics and would much rather skip to the 'interesting' stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that I could catch up so easily to a lecture I missed two weeks of, but if I'm going to drag my ass to an 8 o'clock lecture every Thursday, I rather it be worth the effort.

I'd like to say something. I realized that this is my third lecture related blog entry. And while each one is different, I still feel the need to explain myself. I'm a full time student, so writing about the experiences I go through will obviously include lectures and lecture related things... like farmville.

out

Shite, what did he ask?

2010-03-01T15:03:00.001+01:00

Sitting in a lecture can have the effect of some drugs on a student. Honestly, I think a “do not operate heavy machinery while attending this lecture” sign should be placed outside lecture room doors, and over the white boards as well just in case people forget.

I don’t think it’s because the lecturer’s don’t know what they’re talking about. Quite the contrary, I think a lot of the lecturers are experts in their field. They just don’t know how to teach. It’s like Sheldon teaching Penny physics. They just go on and on. I discussed this briefly two blogs ago, but my point today is another one.

So put your self in my shoes, as torn as they may be, half way through a two hour lecture, listening passively and typing out whatever the lecturer says, when all of a sudden a question is asked and immediately after it, my name!

Now, this is not one of the few lecturers that knows my name. Only one lecturer knows my name, and I’m usually paying attention in his interesting and entertaining lecture anyway, so that’s fine. This lecturer had picked up the register and picked a random name. Luckily, the brain can recall the last sentence heard even though one isn’t really listening. Most of us have experienced the typical “What did I just say?” question asked by a teacher, parent or partner. So after a brief moment to recall the question, I now had to think.

It’s like starting a car in third. But I love these moments. Especially if the answer can be reached by thought and not by memory. So, some quick thinking, assuming and making connections and I came up with a reasonable answer. And from then on I was paying attention, I was thinking and offering answers to questions and comments to statements. Learning was happening.

So kudos to the lecturer.

I have another lecturer who doesn’t bother with names, just randomly points at people when asking a question, putting you on the spot. Although with some thought and after a few experiments, the way to get out of his ‘random’ pointing came to us. I share this at the risk of other communication students reading it and using it, but to be honest, I doubt many of my peers follow my blog. In the first five to ten minutes out of the two hour lecture, remain keen: answer questions, put your hand up, ask questions and offer comments and opinions, and the lecturer will then ignore you for the rest of the lecture. What makes it more impressive, is that, when later, I felt inclined to answer another question, he told me “let’s let the others have a chance.” I didn’t complain. Please note, there is difficulty in paying attention and showing keenness in those first few minutes, especially if in this case, the lecture is at 8 in the morning.

But something surprising I must share with you, is that as a student, lectures are much more interesting and fun when I make the effort to pay attention and participate in the lecture. No, don’t laugh at me or scoff, it’s true. This of course does not mean that I will, from not on, be paying attention in all my lectures…

“That’s it for today, see you next week.”

Lecture’s over.

Out

What chord?!

2010-02-27T13:50:00.004+01:00

bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic

SHUT THAT FRAKKING METRONOME OFF!

As you can imagine, I'm sitting here at rehearsals.

It's quite an experience.

First of all, Joe's living room is littered with people slumped on practically every available flat surface, and what's not covered by human body is covered by bags wires laptops and other miscellaneous equipment.

I'm on a chair in the middle of the room, to my left there's is Mike, with his mac and youtube and the mixer, next to him the giant screen followed my Martina and Charlene falling asleep on an arm chair holding her guitar. Matt is standing tying to pass on a message about a song to the rest of us. Martha is on the next sofa leaning back and playing violin. On my right Kirsten, Kristie and Mykel take up another sofa as they 'sing' and Ian is next to them with his bass.

Behind me Joe and Vanessa are behind the Titanic and next to them, Luca and Paul on the drums. In one living room!

We've been here a while and our attention is diminishing. Tempers are not rising yet, thank God, but keep us here for another three hours and my bass will have to be confiscated by the police as a murder weapon.

It's not that anyone is annoying anyone else, it's just tiring.

Put any group of people, as close as they maybe, in a room, planning and practicing something for a number of hours and people will get on other peoples nerves.

Also, an adults attention span is, in optimum conditions, one hour, and let's face it, from the people mentioned above, I'd only classify maybe three of them as adults, the rest of us are just, well legally adults, mentally we're maybe 12.

I mean, both Joe and Matt have shouted at us. Joe more than once. We have it on camera too :) I think without the girls offering to make us tea or coffee once in a while, I'd have stormed out ages ago. Well maybe not stormed out, but argued for sure.

Oh! Glorious words! Mike just said "Ejja guys, we're not gonna bother with the metronome."

Another thing that's worrying me is that I have no idea if come lenten talks I'm going to be able to remember any of the songs we went over here. Don't get me wrong, the time spent here helped me immensely, learning different styles and methods and music dynamics is more clear to me now.

All in all I think rehearsing music with a bunch of talented people, all doing it for God is a wonderful and fun way to spend a Saturday morning and early afternoon. Having to do it under pressure makes it a bit stressful, but still a great experience. I would suggest we keep doing it, but I think Mrs. Angelique Maggi would look at me badly if I did. And then Joe might shout at me... Again!

The student of 2010

2010-02-25T12:08:00.002+01:00

ANAKEPHALAIOSIS.

I mean a lecturer writes that on the board and goes on using it as if he was saying some simple term, like butter.

Like the act of writing it down makes it suddenly understandable.

“the anak- what?.... oh the anakephalaiosis, of course, I didn’t know that’s how you pronounced it.”

Word doesn’t even think it’s a real word!

They must honestly think we have read something before the lecture, or know Latin and other dead languages. Hell, I don’t even know what the title of the study unit means.

It’s mostly our fault, I can understand that as university students we should be doing our own background reading. But The lecturer is to blame too.

Some of them must have forgotten what it was like to be a student.

It amazes me how lecturer’s can be so blind as to not realize that over half the class is not following. How they are fooled into thinking that everyone with a laptop open are shifting in their seat so much because it’s uncomfortable to hold a laptop and type, while all we’re really doing is trying to find the position where we get the best wifi.

I mean just now, this very second, I looked up and caught the lecturer’s eye and continued writing this blog entry! Seriously.

I look around.

The law student in front of me is playing solitaire, the theology student next to me is doodling aimlessly, the student behind me is not even pretending to listen, and there in front, the one student taking notes. The notes that will be shared with me come April… I hope. And of course, there’s me here, writing my blog.

Also, some lecturers can’t understand the concept of student sharing. We had a credit last semester who asked us to pick up a cd full of notes from the computer lab. Apparently only 5 students actually bought the thing and he was shocked, surprised and disappointed. A cd! You slide it into your laptop, copy the contents and pass the damn thing on down the row to the next student. And voila! 120 students all have notes from 5 cds.

Either today’s students are more intelligent on a street level, or the lecturer’s have not fully understood the technology of today.

To be fair, we grew up with the technology around us, while they are having to come to terms with it. Most of us remember sharing notes and making projects in our primary years. The whole tedious process of looking through encyclopedias and photocopying and passing on piles of papers. We were lucky enough to be able to leave that all behind with the spread of the internet and the introduction of computers in practically every home. We grew up with the technology, so we learnt how to use it as it was growing more complicated. But our lecturers, most of them at least, went through all their studies without a computer! Can you imagine typing out a thesis by typewriter!

So fair enough, they most probably don’t know what we are up to behind the fancy laptops. Our concerned faces and our fingers dancing across the keyboard make them think we’re taking notes and struggling to keep up. We are in fact, struggling to keep up with 6 conversations on msn while plowing an entire field in Farmville.

“Thank you for your attention”

*slaps forehead*

out

the blue chair

2010-02-23T00:01:00.004+01:00

Last Sunday I dislocated my left shoulder for the third time. It was only dislocated for a second or two and popped back in on its own when I tensed my muscles out of reflex, but it was still a dislocation and it felt like one after. So after an uncomfortable 'sleep', this morning i decided to go to hospital to see what can be done.

Headphones blaring, arm kept to my side and limping slightly I walked to Mater Dei Emergency room, walked up to the receptionist and gave my ID number in and told him I had a shoulder problem.

Sat down and waited for a maximum of 2 minutes and my name was called followed by the instruction to move to door 1. As i pushed open the door, two nuns came up to me and asked if they could just show the doctor some papers. I let them in, and they did indeed only show the doctor some papers and where out again.

I was asked to wait in a section of the room secluded by a curtain, but as I looked through the curtain i found an elderly man lying down with his shirt off looking a bit lost.

I decide to wait outside.

Anyway, explanation to the doctor about my shoulder and I'm asked to go back to the waiting room and wait for The Doctor to call me.

I sit down on a chair i knew would become my asses worst enemy quickly and pull out a new book.

Half an hour later, a boy and his parents sit in front of me. the boy was in his school tracksuit as he had left from school with an injury. I was curious as he seemed to be in extraordinary pain, with much moaning and wailing and gnashing of teeth, accompanied by complaints about having to wait so long. He hurt his finger. It looked a little swollen but that was it, and I'm sitting there feeling gravity pull on y shoulder and concentrating to keep it in place.

I couldn't help thinking that the boy seriously needed to grow a pair and his parents needed to stop spoiling him with so much attention for a hit to the finger. But who am I to judge? I realized that the school he went to didn't help much. It's hard to grow a pair at St. Martin's, we all know that.

As time dragged on another patient took a seat in the row opposite me. A girl, in her mid-teens, and her mother accompanying her. This girl, kept looking at me. I promise, every time I look up as I turn the page, I catch a glimpse of her looking away quickly. I was intrigued. But this interest was lost soon, why? Her mother and her where dressed exactly the same, hair style and all, besides this they sat and moved in the exact same way. It was like seeing the same person but at different points in their life. I shudder remembering the freaky-ness of it.

The girl pulls out her ipod as on the TV constantly showing TVM a children's program starts singing "the wheels on the bus". I smile broadly reach into my bag and pull out my skullcandies, and let David Crowder drown out the annoying spoilt brat and the children going "round and round, round and round". I had to leave one ear uncovered though, listening out for that glorious "Simon Callus Area 2 please"

The next person that enters my tale, is a local traffic warden. I honestly don't think he has seen his penis in years. He was huge. I don't think Warden uniforms come in any size above XXL cause this guy's clothes where full and bulging in an extremely dangerous way. If the belt gave way it would have taken off the heads of at least three people in the waiting room. This officer of the ticket givers seemed to be going through his mobile phones phonebook, calling everyone he knows and basically repeating the same FRAKKING sentence, "Hey, yeah, we're here, sitting down watching the Maltese channel waiting for them to call us".

When I'm about to let my brain drain out of my ears, a woman walks up to the receptionist shouting and demanding to be seen. She was a young woman not older than 25, but with no real figure, and yet as she leaned against the counter, she displayed her fleecy white thong pulled above her jeans half way up her back. Suddenly my brain wasn't the only thing that wanted to escape my body in a hurry.

As it grew dark outside, my dad arrived to keep me company, after 15 minutes he was asking the receptionist why it was taking so long. Patience is not one of the things I get from him. But his polite questioning did give us a piece of valuable information: there had been an explosion in a firework factory. Great!

Surprisingly enough, maybe half an hour later, I hear my name being called. After 5 hours waiting, 140 pages read, two bottles of CokaCola and more imagined murders than I can count I walked into a room with a doctor, and was done after 2 minutes.

I spent 99.3% of my time waiting.

i spent 15,000% more time waiting then I spent in front of the doctor, who basically just gave me a sling so I rest the joint for a week, and gave a piece of paper to make an appointment with the specialist to see about operating it.

The drive home took longer than the visit did, and I live down a main road from hospital!

Sigh

Just one more thing.

A special thanks goes out to Christabel who kept me company with her messages during those 18000 seconds. She kept me sane.

Thanks of course go to Jeremy Clarkson for his book, and the alreayd mentioned David Crowder for his latest album.

Out.

the pages inside

2010-02-17T00:55:00.004+01:00

he walks along the pavement under the grey sky, ignoring the light drizzle, his headphones blaring.

he walks with his his head down, his hands in his pocket, his pace quick.

a normal guy, nothing special to look at.

and thats all people see.

give the man a pen and paper, and he can sketch out pretty much anything, he draws he sketched he doodles. a natural talent, never learnt, God given.

his mind is buzzing with thoughts of drawing ideas...

photo ideas...

video ideas...

he sees places and things and gets new ideas for videos. and then his mind gets to work on how to go about making it.

a list of posters and jobs to produce... suddenly an idea hits and he can visualize one of them, and his mind gets to work on how to make that too.

he steps in a puddle and feels his socks getting wet. his torn shoes are already soaked. his torn jeans are not much better. the black jacket is still mostly dry. the jacket he wears everywhere. he looks over his shoulder as he crosses a road. he looks up and sees an old man bent leaning on a walking stick.

his mind explodes again, with the idea of man's constant war against gravity. details, facts heard ages ago and put aside resurface to the the front of this consciousness as the body of his next piece of writing forms.

the song changes on his ipod and his mind starts following the chord progression and listening to the various instruments and how each of them make up the song.

a backpack is slung on his shoulders. his face is passive and unsmiling.

stories float around in his head, as details of his surrounding are picked up and stored for further use. and "what was wrong with her yesterday? hmm she was fine until he arrived, so something there, and she didnt speak to her as much as usual, so she's involved, and his comment on facebook this morning said that which could mean this and hers was that...." and the brain makes links and assumptions to thing he wasnt picking up consciously.

a normal guy walking to university,

thats all people see.

Ha.

out

i hope to keep this going

2010-02-15T15:36:00.003+01:00

dear all,

what a weekend! the praise, the talks, the TALENT SHOW, the bed with matt, the roof, the nights of no sleep. great great great, it's always sad to go home from them though. but thats the way things are.

went to watch Valentine's day for Pau's birthday... it was a typical chick flick where Jamie and I could practically predict what was going to happen next, except for two surprises at the end which shocked me pleasantly.

i also sat on Kai during the intermission which shocked her.

back to uni now, (i write as i sit in Sociology and listen to pointless bla bla bla) i still have to start work on my oil painting, ill start that tomorrow.

there's a person i want to mention, but i won't.

a person who is going to a tough time. and i want this person to know that s/he doesn't deserve this, and that i'm praying for him/ her and i'm here if help is needed.

moving on!

i got's me skull candies.

i played a five stringer for the first time.

i made a stop motion video for the first time: see it here

and made another video that i didnt exactly finish yet, and can't exactly publish.

anyway...

(side note: Schinas just messaged to tell me to stop writing my blog and pay attention)

don't think i have much else to say,

i feel quite out of everything atm. it's not a sense of not belonging, thats not it, it's a sense of not being part of. there is a difference. in the first, i feel like the people i'm with rather not want me there. that is not the case. it's a feeling of me not feeling the same connection, the same goal, the same vision of those around me. so yeah.... i hope it passes soon.

(side note: a student just flirted in a sad, weird way with our lecturer... gah)

question to all of you:

Us human beings complicate our lives needlessly. Why?

my answer would be "cause we're human" *sigh*

well i'm out.

excitement: 0

2010-01-31T16:26:00.002+01:00

i have abandoned you a bit lately.

well.

not much going on with me,

studying and thinking about my next project, which is going to drive me crazy. if i manage to finish it in time.

but im having a problem lately

im in a real passive mood, i cant get passionate or excited about anything. and im not only talking about things i have to do like studying and so on,

but even things i love are difficult to get into lately. drawing, reading, writing, filming, nothing, music, anything i cant seem to get excited about anything.

i hope this mood passes soon, cause well, im going to be very busy soon and i need to want to do things for them to get done well and in time.

thats about it.

the 13th of January 2010

2010-01-13T16:11:00.004+01:00

hey...

The Firsts:

First Skype chat and call happy birthday: Christabel Zammit

First Facebook Happy birthday: Sarah Giusti

First SMS Happy birthday: Christabel Zammit

First MSN Happy birthday: Steve Diacono

First Twitter Happy Birthday: Edward Brooks

First face to face Happy birthday: Vanessa Callus

First mobile call Happy birthday: Maria Mifsud

First present given: Kai DeBono

First person to write 'yadhtrib yppah': Elton Grech

First happy birthday from abroad: Sharon Falzon

First person to "sing" 'Happy Birthday': Anna Callus

First birthday card: Dr. John

First birthday email: Malcolm Bonello

Other statistics:

100 facebook birthday messages received and answered.

29 birthday sms received

4 birthday songs sung

3 birthday phone calls

2 birthday letters

1 birthday card

1 birthday dry hump (Matthew, so it's allowed)

Special Mentions:

Kai: epic poster.

Christabel: she started my day of with a smile

Fr. Mike, Veve: panetone with candle

Matt: the rape and the missing lectures

Vanessa: ^^

Tine, Jes: the company that kept me smiling

Mother: her 'singing'

Joe Maggi: his singing

Steph DeBono: her story

Luca: bubbles

Joni: "i thought it was here"

Mike: Mc. D

The day:

I like my birthday, many people tend to not like the day reminding them of their birth, or find it no reason to celebrate, but I personally feel it's my day, the only day where it is in fact about me.

today was a normal Wednesday (interesting fact: i was born on the 13th of January 1988 which was a Wednesday, and today, for the first time in 22 years, the 13th of January is a Wednesday) i did not go out with friends to celebrate or have a special meal.

i spent it like i would spend any wednesday.

the only difference was the people telling me Happy birthday.

by this i include those who actually went out of their way (missed lectures even) to tell me happy birthday, and from here i want to say thank you to everyone who in some way wanted to wish me a happy day.

god gave me a present too :) besides the blessing of so many friends and people who care for and love me, i asked him for my birthday to be a rainy day, and oh my did he deliver! sorry to those of you who don't like the rain, but, well, like i said above, it IS my day.

well, moving on into my 23rd year of life.

I'm looking forward to it, and pray that God will use me more and more this year.

I'm looking forward to the many creative projects i will take on.

I'm looking forward to the people I will meet.

I'm looking forward to the challenges and obstacles I will defeat.

I'm looking forward to learning so many new things.

I'm looking forward.

last bow

2010-01-12T23:51:00.002+01:00

damn damn damn:

23:51 on january the 12th

my birthday begins in 9...8 minutes

just wanted to say a big thank you to all those who helped me grow spiritually and emotionally throughout this 21st year of my life.

i grew physically as well but can't really thank anyone for that

7 minutes

i want to mention so many people who loved me and cared for me and showed it in their own way since this time last year, but i'll end up leaving someone out so i'll refrain from specific names.

but u know who you are and i thank you and love you all.

6 minutes

a special mention to my family: parents and sister who although we have our ups and downs.. well you're the best.

5 minutes... shit shit shit

my brothers and sisters from community and y4j, the ones who know me well enough to know when im in a bad mood, why and how to deal with me, a big hug and thank you for this year too.

4 minutes

damn...

ermmmm....

everyone who helped me mature enough to study seriously and get me to second year,

here i have to mention Fr. Mike, jes, veve, Martine, brother Karl, mina and everyone at Chaplaincy... sorry if i missed anyone.... time is running out...

2 minutes

last but not least, far from it, i want to thank God for another year with which to grow, closer to Him and others,

another year in which i discovered more of myself and the talents He gave me

another year in which i hope i did His work, and I give Him all the glory.

and with a few seconds to spare

i take a last bow as a 21 year old

xmun

2009-12-31T23:59:00.002+01:00

May you all have someone special by your side as we go forth into the next year.

and with any luck and God's help,

they'll still be by our side by the end of it.

Love you all

Xmun,

Bunny,

and whatever her name is

(names for female Bunny in comments)

2009 evaluation

2009-12-31T11:05:00.003+01:00

well, hello readers,

this is the traditional end of year blog, the summary basically.

These events are not going to happen in any particular order, but more as they come to me.

my 2009 birthday, in which i turned 21. for the first time i took on the attitude of not expecting anything special for a day which i always held as special, and i was surprised. I would like to thank everyone who had remembered and made it really one of the best birthdays. Thanks. special thanks to Martine for the photoshop book...totally unexpected and a surprise.
the community weekend, more specifically the talent show video I had made called 'Faces'. was very happy with the finished result and with the reaction of all of those present in the room at its first showing. Thanks to Matt for the script, and sarah and pete for their help during filming
The beginning of a tradition: that of going for a swim (not in a pool) in the first week of February. last year it was matt, martine and i, lets hope the number grows this year.
the surprise visit of Krissie in Easter :) i was the inside man, joined to this, the late birthday pressie from Krissie, "where's my cow?" ^^
a sad note: angie and i broke up around easter time...
finished my first first year and passed to second year!
i got eve, my beautiful gorgeous mac book pro,
i got kelly my beautiful bass
i started filming weddings
i went to barcelona for a week with Angie, Bernice, Sarah and Van, lol... i survived.
i reached my 300th blog
BASICS!
obviously got to know more people and got closer to a lot of the people i knew already :) special mentions: matt, kai, bernice, charlene, ian, christabel, mike, luca ... LUCA!! mina, zoe...and many more which i forgot right now but im sure will be offended in the comments later :P
the boat party of youthful worship, thanks to ian d.
the outreach in valletta recently.... very good idea, and a fantastic new approach to outreaching in general, again thankyou Ian.
i started second year at uni!!!!! woooo!
i entered two competitions with videos, didn't win either.
won a cartoon competition of the FDAD (for diversity against discrimination)
Great youth weekend and worship team weekend...
oh oh oh how could i almost forget dislocated my shoulder for the second time and freaked Jeremy out :) but got a photo.
started a book...lol... it was part of NaNoWriMo but i failed, but i plan to continue it.
oh shit, also at about the time of the the community weekend and the first swim, i smashed my fiat uno....my poor poor sweet car....
i got my first i pod :) seth
turned into a puma
got my art on the cover of a book, shout out to Chiara who wrote it, and a big thankyou for her trust in me. through this of course got a chance to work along side with an amazing woman, her vitality and energy inspired me to really begin using my talents and trying. she will be greatly missed.

over all good year, i grew, i met more people, i got close to a lot of others, and i am ready to go into 2010 with these new companions on life's journey, and the new knowledge from past experiences to help through the new obstacles to come.

im looking forward to new challenges, new relationships, new experiments and chances to grow and chances to work for God.

so with a bow i say good bye and thank you to 2009, and thank it for all its brought along, and with open arms accept 2010, and shout "bring it on!!!"

out

now we know

2009-12-27T11:02:00.001+01:00

Surrey Puma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Surrey Puma was one or more phantom cats, supposedly black pumas, seen around south western Surrey from the 1960s onwards.

The first possible sightings were recorded in 1959, when police received a number of reports of big cats in the Farnham area, near the Surrey/Hampshire border.^[1] Two further sightings were recorded in 1962 bywater board personnel in Hampshire, while in the winter of 1962-3, a "cat-like beast" was seen at Bushylease Farm, near Crondall in Hampshire. When a police officer sighted the supposed Shooters Hill Cheetah in 1963, media interest turned to other big cat sightings.^[2]

In August 1964, a bullock at Bushylease was found, severely lacerated. Following press coverage, numerous other reports of contact with the animal, dubbed the "Surrey Puma", came in, ranging from the fanciful to some taken seriously by the police.^[3] At Godalming Police Station alone, 362 reports were received in a two year period.^[2] The station also kept a cast of a massive paw print on display, identified as that of a puma by London Zoo, although several reports noted that its size implied an extremely large specimen and that there were distinct differences between it and the prints of other pumas.^[4] The investigation was not closed until the summer of 1967.^[2]

In August 1966, a former police photographer took a grainy shot which he claimed showed the Surrey Puma in Worplesdon.^[5] In 1968, a farmer claimed to have shot a puma, but could not provide any evidence. Sightings gradually tailed off, although paw prints found in the snow in 1970 generated a flurry of further reports.^[1] In 1984, hair samples taken at Peaslake were identified as puma.^[2]

In 1983, an alien big cat featured in The Archers, and the Beast of Exmoor entered the news. Sightings of the Surrey Puma were again recorded,^[2] and have continued to the present day.^[6]^[7]

mummy power fail

2009-12-25T20:28:00.002+01:00

its ended,

and although on the last day she knew which room it was in,

and she had time alone in the house,

and she actually looked in the hiding place itself

she did not find the santa letter taped to the back of a picture frame hanging on the wall in our living room :)

sorry to all those who believed in mummy power, and high five to everyone who knew the truth.

merry christmas to all of you!

xmun

and i have an ipod :)

the 24th

2009-12-23T22:07:00.002+01:00

just a quick update:

tomorrow the 24th, last day of the search, i had told my other i would tell her which room the letter is hidden in....

so,.... it comes down to the last day,

im risking by telling her

but im pretty confident she wont manage anyway.

out

xmun

Last Lectures b4 Christmas

2009-12-17T12:13:00.003+01:00

The 17th of December, so 17 days into the letter finding challenge, and my mum is still not as efficient as Santa used to be. And i must say, she seems to be accepting the fact that she will not be able to find it before Christmas.

So for all you out there believing in the all awesome Mummy Power, HA!

That being said, there still are 8 days. She might get lucky.

Anyway... Christmas is flying at us. i mean, it's coming closer so fast. it could be because a lot is going on and therefore i have no time to just sit and think about it. Love this season!

Worship team weekend starts tomorrow. Looking forward to that too. Kelly is all ready and eager.

My lips are chafing like crazy, I mean full out splitting and bleeding here, sigh, i need a girl to kiss who puts on lip balm, cause i can't be bothered... any volunteers? ;)

anyone?

Matt?

ah shopping....

at the moment I'm sitting in a lecture, next to Mark (shout out to him) listening to this funny looking priest ramble on about... the anointing of the sick... sorry, i forgot for a second there :P

anyway,

it's my only lecture which is wifi friendly all week, so i get excited,

shout out to Nicole and Bettina who i skyped with earlier.

oh and video chatting with someone in the same lecture gives lols.

after this lecture, just one more hour of lectures before Christmas Holidays :)

:) :)

JOY TO THE WORLD!!

out.

T’is the season

2009-12-10T11:06:00.001+01:00

Yep, it’s that season, how does the song go? Makes children laugh and old people cry… something of the sorts… don’t see why old people should be crying at Christmas but *shrug*

Indeed, the lights are on in the street, the carols are playing from ‘subtly’ placed speakers, the coca cola advert is playing on television stations, and thousands of mini Santa’s are breaking into balconies all over the island.

*sigh*

I love it.

Yesterday had my fist shopping trip with Matt and Kai (dumdumdumdum da da dumdumdumdumdumdumdum dumdumdumdum da da, da da) and it’s something special seeing Matt loose all his maturity at a specific Christmas Carol (Can’t remember what it was).

Lol: check your balance Matt … fail.

I must say though, as a shopping expedition, if f-f-failed FAILED! Meaning no Christmas present was bought. I did buy Matt’s Birthday ’09 present though ^^ late, obviously, but it’s part of an agreement so, in the words of Charlene: “hush!”

An addition to my Christmas rituals, this year, is me looking up bass tabs for Christmas carols :) The repertoire so far include: Little drummer boy, jingle bells, silent night, and Auld Lang Sang. And Matt agreed to cover the Little Drummer boy, we might have to tackle Luca to stop him playing, but it should be fun.

Something I am honestly missing this year, it the frantic, insecure shopping for the present for the girlfriend. It is always a hassle, the worrying to find the right gift, and is it meaningful enough? Is it too cheesy? But it was fun in an exciting way, and a big part of the Christmas atmosphere. I miss it. Ah well. It’s ok though, I’m not letting this thing ruin my Christmas spirit.

ALSO!

The Santa Letter Hunt still goes on. For those of you who have not read my last blog, my mum said that she will still be able to find a hidden Santa letter if I had to hide one today, like she used to do when I was younger. Well, I took on the challenge, and wrote a Santa Letter, and hid it. The rules where, the letter could not be hidden among books, notes, or other papers. Fair enough. Many females, where sure that mummy power will help her find it. I on the other hand am sure she won’t.

In fact, today, 14 days from the end of the hunt, my mum came up to me and admitted that she tried to look for it and has no idea where it is. She asked for a hint. HA! Santa never got any hints!

Oh, I think I’m going to be kind and make the ending time and date for the hunt midnight on the 24^th of December. So she still has a while to look around.

I think I’m going to write another Christmas list because leaving it to my mum finding the letter is going to leave me without my preferred pressies :S

So comments: other songs I need to know for your entertainment, and if my mother will find the Santa letter on time.

Out.

Parumpumpumpum!

Santa Letter Hunt

2009-12-01T12:50:00.002+01:00

ok it on:

my mum and I where talking about how i used to write letters to Santa and hide them when I was young, and how she always managed to find them. Now i remember hiding some of those letters pretty damn well for my age.

Anyway, i told her that it's because i was young, that if I wrote Santa a letter this year and hid it, she wouldn't manage to find it.

well....

she took up the challenge.

the rules: i could not hide it in my papers of files, notes or books. fair enough.

now some people think that being a mother and all that she'll manage to find it, using her super mother powers.

some i hope have a bit more faith in me.

so:

comment comment comment comment comment comment comment comment comment

comment comment comment comment comment comment on who you think is going to win the challenge.

out

the Artist and Mechanic

2009-10-31T12:48:00.003+01:00

In sixth from for systems of knowledge I had read a book called ‘Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance’. I’m sure many of you had read it. Besides narrating the story of a journey and some psychological journey as well, it discusses the dichotomy of technology versus aesthetics. At least it does, if I remember correctly and understood well.

Basically, for those who didn’t study this yet, or couldn’t be bothered during their years of studies, it’s the problem with technology that a person can usually either understand how a machine works, or appreciate the aesthetic beauty of it. In other words, someone is either and artist (or designer) or and engineer.

That is not to say that there is nothing beautiful about a machine working perfectly, and that there is nothing at least mathematical about aesthetic design.

If I remember well, the conclusion of the author is that there are people who can both understand a machine and appreciate the external beauty of it, but will be inclined one way more than the other. So, I can see a car has nice curves and the design is sleek and elegant and so on, and I know a bit about how it works. Or I can dismantle an engine and put it back together in minutes and look at the body work as a nice way to cover it up.

I am not going to discuss how true or false this is in humans, my thoughts are on how it’s definitely not true for our Engineer (as mentioned in the last blog).

So, God is the creator of all. Yes? Yes.

Moving on from there:

Now let’s look around, what do we see?

Well, I’m seeing my kitchen, so hold on…

Up on the roof…well, fine, the roof doesn’t help as all I can see is buildings any way. Hmmm…

Let’s imagine we’re in the country side :)

What we see is beauty. The sky, the clouds, the rain, the sun the rainbow, the stars and all the stuff out there in space. Trees, grass, rocks, plants, all beautiful, and then of course we, ourselves, yes, I don’t care what inferiority complex you have, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL.

Right, so we have to say that God is an amazing artist, and knows how to make things aesthetically brilliant. I mean seriously, from the totally unbelievable pinks, oranges and purples of a sunset to the beautiful grays, blues, and indeed purples of a storm cloud. From how the light shines through clouds, to how it reflects off drops of water on leaves after a rain.

He’s an artist, a brilliant one, and please let’s not forget, he works in 3D and is changing his masterpiece constantly.

Right, and we know that He knows how things work. Please refer to my last blog. But besides what I said then, I want to mention a few other little things.

Lol…little things… you’ll get it in a bit.

Now, I know that all of you know what I’m about to talk about, but think about it in this point of view, and it’s more amazing.

Everything is made up of atoms! No, seriously, everything from the nail on your little toe to the island we’re standing on (I live in Malta for any random reader) is made up of little tiny particles, which in turn are made up of even smaller things grouped together or spinning around sharing stuff and so on… simply put. But! The point is they’re there, and they work, and they’re still spinning or vibrating or whatever, and they hold together. They’re a googolplex googolplexes of little tiny universes right next to each other forming, technically, the universe we live in.

Universes inside universes, as Stephen King explains in one of the Dark Tower books.

Lets go a bit bigger, the human body. THE HUMAN BODY! Yes, you are one of those universes. A universe made up of organs and cells moving around one another, interacting, and, most of the time, working wonderfully. And please remember, everything in you is also made up of those tiny other universes mentioned earlier.

Ignoring all the other living things on our dear little green, blue and sometimes grey planet, lets go bigger to our actual universe. Meaning all those big balls of gas, fire, rock, metal and all that spinning around in an amazing intricate dance choreographed by physics and gravity. And it works!

It’s beautiful and it works.

The moon, a piece of rock that inspired so much science fiction, poetry and myths, is undoubtedly beautiful, both when it’s a nice orange or when it’s a cold mysterious silver. But there’s a lot of physics and science keeping it from crashing into all those poets. And the Creator made it beautiful, and knows how it works.

I'm not going to try go into all the galaxies and stars and other stuff out there. but just think, it's pretty and complicated.

For all the physics students out there. We say Newton or whoever discovered the laws of motion (inexact as they may be) but who wrote them? Who actually installed all the laws we take for granted, that make everything spin and dance wonderfully? HE DID! Indeed, our Engineer, our Artist, our Mechanic, our God.

the human machine

2009-10-29T18:18:00.000+01:00

I typed this out during my lectures this morning, was fun:

The human body is a machine. Think about it. We are a wonderfully constructed, multi-purpose machine. We travel, fast or slow, we lift, we think, we do delicate work, we write, produce art, we can do practically anything. It’s amazing how many things any one can do.

Something even more amazing, is how one person can then turn the machine into a more specific one.

There are people who become faster than others, and I mean fast! There are those that can jump more than 9m in length. Do you know how long 9m is? Take a three story modern building and flip it on its side: that’s 9m. There are people that can pull another machine apart, and put it back together in a few minutes, there are people that can keep ten or more objects flying through the air in a dance against gravity. How can a brain cope with that amount of information? How can a body produce such forces?

I mean think about it, anyone can train their body to become better at anything. ANYTHING!

Besides the fact that each person, each machine, can be trained to make itself more efficient as some things, it does not loose it’s initial basic functions, keeping it a multi-purpose machine.

Fair enough, these people spend most of their time training in the chosen activity, so in a way, it’s less surprising how they manage to do this things. (Although they still are incredible, I mean 9m!). So, let’s move away from the extraordinary.

Our bodies, these machines, and more importantly, our brains, the computer running our machines, perform amazing actions everyday. Let’s ignore the functions of the body such as breathing, and blood circulation, and digestion and so on I might talk about that another time, and lets leave aside the whole wonderful process of learning.

I’m talking about the simple tasks we do everyday, and do not even think about. Writing, for example is simply amazing. We think up something in our heads, and produce is on paper for others to read. In the process, we’re holding a pen or pencil and moving that around on a piece of paper.

Let’s go bigger. Catch a ball. The amount of maths and physics going on in that simple movement would take me the best part of an hour to calculate on paper, and our brains, our computers, do it in split seconds. It tells us where to put our hand, how fast we have to do it, we usually won’t be looking at the point of contact when we actually catch the ball, think about it, and it even tells us if we have to jump. That’s all that calculation, followed by the control of practically the whole body. In less than a second! And we don’t even do it consciously!

For those of you who drive: you control a fraking vehicle, using… wait for it, all four limbs in synchronization with your eyes and ears, AT THE SAME TIME! I’m getting excited! While driving you’re seeing the road in front of you, using your hands and arms to direct the vehicle, pressing the gas and brake when needed with one foot, the clutch with the other, while at the same time changing gear. All this is being processed by your computer, which is also, processing the route where you are going, spatial awareness of the rest of the vehicle, the mental image of the other vehicles on the road and if you’re having a conversation, it’s processing the communication! ARE YOU AWARE?

Many of the examples are obviously learnt, and like I said earlier that’s another amazing thing we manage to do, but something I’ll leave alone for now.

What’s my point? Well, if we’re machines and our brains are computers, we have one amazing programmer and engineer. Do we not?

full stop

2009-10-25T20:47:00.001+01:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that just about sums up right now.

haphazard

2009-10-16T13:47:00.002+02:00

i have begun buying books and stuffs ....

and have a metronome

and a new book

and two ordered ones

i'm in 106 for a change while matt and some other people rehearse for some mass,

pretty music

a violin man!!! there's a violin!

in other news, i'm really enjoying wearing shorts and long sleeves

need to get my ass down to filming office now

and have a bloody busy weekend and next weekend.

i know

very haphazard blog

met a friend :)

lol

random and interesting meeting. and gave notes out

xmun

more trees

2009-10-12T19:27:00.002+02:00

And I think i'm into winter mode.

Well, blogging is back into my schedule :)

I hope people get it back into their system to read and comment on them.

well today i went to my first Introduction to Drawing lecture.... well.... lecture... we sat in a field drawing stuff, in my case a tree, and will be drawing that tree till January, unless it's pouring.

other than that life is pretty much fantastically pleasant.

i just got a call cause two people are 'fighting' to give me a lift to my contact hour with Joe Maggi... and what a man he is! LOVE YOU JOE.

erm....

The unseen academicals is out and i can't wait to get my hands on it.....

freaking out sometimes....

meh

gonna wait for it to come to Malta first....maybe someone surprises me with it (hardback, just in case)

tomorrow first bass lesson :)

out

Anything we should know?

2009-10-11T13:53:00.003+02:00

wow....

i still haven't gotten into my winter blogging mode...

but hopefully it's just until i get started.

well

i have started my first second year, finally, and really love it...

i have one of the most relaxed timetables i know of, and spending all the rest of my time in room 101, feels good, people coming in and having a look around. :)

next tuesday i'm going to start bass lessons :) yey... really looking forward to it :)

now...last night...

oh my last night

well, we'll begin with me praying for my life as Ang came for us late to go to mass....and it's not that I'm uncomfortable with speed, anyone who ever got in a car when i'm driving would know that, it's the lack of control she has when she's in a rush.

so praying worked and we got to mass,

the evening looked ready to go sour, when i started getting irritated at any little thing, and the anger rose and bubbled inside me.

thats when steve called and invited me to the sling shot.... those who've been to pv in the last months must have noticed the pink and yellow thing rising into the sky next to bay street...that :)

fantastic, but i must say, i was not afraid at all, and i think that takes some of the fun out of it....sigh.....but the acceleration as you rise and the being upside down and the looking at the ground as you fall.... great experience.

then off to bar native, where, the dancing began.....

now the dj, for some glorious reason, decided to go through the history of rock and roll... and i loved every minute of it... it was that atmosphere, the one where you dance like crazy and scream the words of the song as they pass by your ear.... and then the girls and drew got tired, so reluctantly we had to leave ...

out of the whole evening....i got, obviously wonderful memories but also a wierdly hurting shoulder.....

indeed... how can simon enjoy himself without getting at least a little injured.... well....

shrug..ow

the right shoulder (the one i never dislocated) is hurting like a mother - .... and i'm slightly annoyed cause it feels like a join pain and not a muscle one....

ah well....

pain is weakness leaving the body.... so :)

in other news:

my photoshop work....some of it...i left out the posters for events, and work done for peoples business classes *coughstevecough* and some other stuff like the chap bookmarks and stuff....

but the others are all there.... except some of the old ones which are on a dvd somewhere....

only my friends can see them to try and avoid f*cjers using my art for their own pleasure, and well, if i see my friends with a printing of mine on their t-shirt, without asking me ...well.....just don't.

anyway... album is here

if any one wants something done for them in any one of the styles seen....let me know....

for a small fee of course :)

shout outs:

Bernice... since Barcelona, we really are getting to know each other well and i love it

Martina... yesterday i saw you move more than i've seen u move since i've known you

steve... that ball, your screams.... lol

G... relax girl... take it with a smile....

Angie... she lets me drive :)

Kai... always there wen i'm down.... which is kind of suspicious thinking about it

Ian... missing you pupu, we would have danced the night away you and i.

drew... how sweet he wanted to stay out and walk home

charlene... stand as long as you can girl :P

matt... you're getting old man

Mike... where were u last night bubu?

sister... lol...i know u don't like me not using your name... let's play music.

if i didnt give anyone a shout out... sry. but, hard to believe, I know, i'm only mortal.

well

outs

PS: Sarah sat on a slug! Sarah sat on a slug! Sarah sat on a slug! Sarah sat on a slug!...

P.S.S: I removed the turtles to put in a meez :) i think he's cute playing his little white bass....if anyone wants the turtles back...leave a comment and let me know...

i doing this and this...

2009-09-16T11:57:00.003+02:00

it's time for a post.

well, like i predicted this week is turning out to be rather hectic.

started work on the walls, and ceiling, of room 101, and just finished the pencil of my part, matt did his and krissie's is left. hopefully today we start painting as well....

I'm rather pleased with how it's turning out... like how it evolved.... hadn't really planned anything.

well..

once this is ready, I REALLY have to start work on the i centre competition... have the idea already for that one at least... just need to get down to filming the shots and go to the office and editing it.

Eve is almost paid for too.... just the last bit to go.... sigh....

we're still in bugibba btw, and this is turning into a problem, as the bus schedule has turned back to winter times, so no late busses from paceville any more, except a few on weekends... and drew and charlene move down from bugibba end of this week...

looking forward to university starting...this is, as most of you know, the fourth year i'm attending uni, but it's my first 2nd year!!

glee.... stipend :)

bass....i'm really enjoying learning... applied for the johann strauss school of music this year, auditions on the 30th.... excited...

also... some of you might remember i entered a cartoon competition recently, the exhibition will open on the 1st of october, and the winners will be announced... the exhibition will remain open for a few days, including the night of notte bianca, so if anyone wants to pop in, feel free.

hmm i think ...thats it.

oh... i started a new story :) lol....i was bored... it might actually finish... who knows.. miracles happen everyday!

end of August

2009-08-31T10:15:00.002+02:00

well...

i just had a fantastic 48 hour...

Saturday morning and afternoon was working counting stuff, helping Ang's dad with their stock taking...not the most fun pass time in the world, but it has that mindlessness to it that gives your brain a rest. i fell off a ladder at a point and ended up hanging from my left arm (ouch) but it was fun.

Then a rush for a rest and shower, and a faster rush to Sliema to get on the Atlantis for the "Walk the Plank" boat party.

I really enjoyed it, all of it, the company was good, the band did a great job in leading us into worship out there in the middle of St. Paul's Bay.

on our way back had a great tour of the grand harbour by night....i really want to know more about this great historical area of our island.

MOVING ON!

to Sunday.

mass in the morning, followed by the usual Sunday Cappuccino and doughnut. then a very nice BBQ at my nannu's flat over looking the sea and St. Paul's islands.

then down to the bognor (i grew up in this place :) ) for a one day billiard tournament, along with a nice amount o' beer. i lost horribly, but it was fun hanging our with my dad and some friends i hadn't seen in a while.

home to change, and back down for a one day dodgeball tournament...me and the other 5 players on my team met randomly and by total coincidence to play..totally unplanned... and we got to the semi-final... :)

it's a great game, love it, want to keep playing when they organize it.

problem... during the last match took a ball to the finger, and right now, my left index finger is swelled uncomfortably, can't bend it, and can't put any force onto it... hope i'll be able to play bass soon. didn't go check it, i'm assuming it's fine and there's nothing seriously wrong with it.

then a relaxed few hours at steve's house (thanks steve and family) and home to rest my aching body.

woke up this morning with my muscles swearing at me in the own painful language.

should go edit today...and rehersals in the evening...

out

2009-08-26T08:15:00.002+02:00

don't have much time and soon gotta go...

just wanted to say:

i have turtles: feed them

and do my eyes look scary to you?

thats how i woke up this morning

...is what you get

2009-08-18T08:54:00.002+02:00

what you see...

that's it,

no large bank account,

no fancy car or cool bike,

no interesting stories or charming attitude,

just me, plain and simple,

and in a world like today's

wtf...

i'm screwed

from the land of Barca: Part 2

2009-08-11T08:44:00.004+02:00

good morning people.
wow, so much has happened, and really, as i try to think of where to begin to explain, or describe what we have seen or done, i realise that there is no way i am going to manage.
today had a nice day out...saw fishes and sharks and funny sea creatures and penguins and stuff, and walked through cittat vella without fearing someone is going to shoot me, rape me, or offer me drugs....
yesterday...oh yesterday...the inevitable happened. someone got on my nerves...lol...it's basically cause i wanted to walk to a castle a bit far away...we did eventually and i loved it....the payback? three and a half hours in a shopping mall....
sigh...all's good now...no worries...although i found a new way to deal with anger/sadness....it's very scary according to angie and sister.
well....tonight van and g should be making omelette...and tonight...depending on the time...mojito bar...or staying in.
i go now
people wanna use computer....
and he looks like he could kill me with a punch :) in a friendly way of course...everyone is friendly here....

except the germans :S

from the land of Barca part 1

2009-08-07T16:47:00.000+02:00

from the land of barca...
first of all...and to freak out my mum if she's reading this, my first time on the metro, some idiot tried to pick pocket me...they where not aware of my fast reflexes and sensitive spacial awareness...any way that failed...
moving on!
got to the hostel and at first, i'll admit, got scared, the place does not look appealing from out side, but i'm telling you, i love it. it's super relaxed, and you do what you want...table tennis, wii, scrabble, chess, play giutare, read in a hammock, anything...
anyway...out to lunch and relaxin around, and as we where considering going to bed, we met two people we had met earlier, a south african and a Californian and two other people,, Canadian, who where going out for a beer...so why not? and off we went, it's really easy to make friends here, and i'm trying my best to socialize with anyone english speaking...
the five of us are sharing a room with another girl, and a woman and her son (although the mum and son leave tomorrow)
this morning after breakfast we made our was to the centre again, really getting used to the transport system here... they make it easy, it's super efficient.
i survived!
i survived over two hours of shopping in a market! the girls got tired before i gave in!
woot
then it was off to a quick lunch at a random sandwich place and to park de la ciutadelle.... i think, its spelt like that anyway...
it was very nice...a very nice fountain monument thing....with obviously, people swimming in it

whats funny is that whenever you here someone speaking english, it's like a breath of fresh air...we've had conversations, besides with the 4 people mentioned earlier, with some one irish and some one from i dont know where,.....he's a drummer. lol

last things:
bernice to me while traveling on the tram "m'hawnx hafna toqob imma ux"...
"we're on tracks ber"

and sarah is adicted to facebook....she denies it, but we know its true...

later going to shop to cook pasta here...we have the use of a kitchen :)

see you in a bit

2009-08-06T06:22:00.002+02:00

i keep thinking i have to blog i have to blog, but i never find the time to just sit down and type,

so what better time to do it than the chaos that comes over a house just before someone goes abroad?

of course

my sister and i, along with Angie, G, and Bernice, leave for Barcelona this morning, have to be at the airport in an hour.

well the planning of this trip, was a nightmare, so many things went wrong, or where a hassle, but we got through until this wonderful day.

i'de ask you all to pray for my sister who is not in the best of health.

just before we come back, the majority of you leave for SS, and not know if i'll have internet access (eve is staying on the island) i don't know if i'll be able to tell you bon voyage at a later date, so "bon voyage" to all of you, have a great time....

speaking of great times... intercession for uni yesterday was incredible.... loved every moment of it.

erm.....

i have to go now...my dad is getting a tad hissy.

so see you in a week, or two weeks, depending on who you are.

Xmun's about to hit Barcelona.

its very simple

2009-08-01T01:24:00.001+02:00

it's been a bad day....

Murphy's law proved to be true.

ungh

happy birthday to ang, you deserve the greatest day ever....

1,2,3,4,5,6.

2009-07-29T01:28:00.002+02:00

it's sad to think that my much awaited for and highly praised 300 video, celebrating my 300th blog, was posted a mere 8 blogs ago, and yet, you all know how long ago that was. it's sad, that blogs take a bit of a rest in summer, but it's understandable. Most of us are busy working and if we're not, we all have things to do outside.

but like i said in the beginning of this season, i try my best to keep it going, even if it's at a much slower pace. hopefully, unlike in the previous years, people will blow the dust of their own blogs and re-start posting.

well

although we all are very busy, there is not much to talk about, (also, i know that long blogs will discourage readers)

but i must say:

I am now a part of Marana Tha' worship team, playing the bass, and basically a substitute for Ian when he can't. although I must admit, I suspect Joe expects me to start training my voice too :S but i'm very happy and grateful for this opportunity to 1st Praise God in a new way (new for me) and second to learn rmy instrument more.
Work is going well, enjoying teaching. well, not really, but it's a very ok job, and the pay makes it better.
Barcelona in about a week, ish. I have to say I'm looking forward to it greatly...just gimme a camera....although, i'm a bit scared of the four girls and me situation.
Matt and Mike come back soon, gonna be with them for a maximum of five days (including days working and setting up for the healing service) before there's another 2 weeks apart....:(
The Mdina healing service is this Saturday...must say, I'm looking forward to it, i really am.
alot of art work going on at home atm...really very little time for me to do what i want at all...

well, i think thats it....

a quick update and i'm sure i left many things out....

but its nearly 2 am and i have to wake up for a physio appointment tomorrow and a lot of errands in Valletta after....

God bless

i really want to start writing again....

weekend, fun-filled weekend

2009-07-20T09:49:00.002+02:00

ok,

i'll admit, the blog seems to reduce in frequency of updates when summer is here...

but like i had said, i will try my best to update.

and after a fantastic weekend like the one which has just ended ten hours ago, I must.

friday, wonderful friday!

a hard working week came to end,

after a brief but fun stop at mustard seed,

the night at bernice we did spend.

basically just a group of friends chillaxin' in bernice's garden. the theme was around the world, with ian obviously looking the most unusual. this of course didnt stop him going to buy the pizza. oh and what a pizza, the pizza for God....that thing was massive...mmmmm

thanks Ber....very very very fun relaxed night....and bob, bib, wit, and what...we owned you.

saturday, relaxed saturday,

a day at the beach you did bring,

then was a night at the G's house,

with wine and a murderous thing.

so random meeting at exiles during the day and sarah's house at night, bbq, wine, beer, and of course werewolf. now imagine, semi darkness, me using all the narrative skills i possess, and of course the control needed over the players for the game to work well, and very helpful classical music, that somehow knew all the cues, in the background. epic-ness.

thanks G for the hospitality.

thanks Godwin for the wine and your cooking services.

Sunday, glorious sunday

God's given day of rest,

bass, beer, and lunch with ian all day

and a film that our bladder control did test.

So ian came by late morning and we started on our crash course bass lesson, i mean it, we went through so much stuff, ian is a great teacher and i thank him from here. I'm happy, i really feel i improved, and ian says he say improvement from the morning till the evening. there was a pause for lunch, beer, custard, and a nice chat and the bass continued. while ian went to mass, plans were made, and it was off to the cinema with steve and luca to watch the hangover.

hilarious film...

really funny,

really enjoyed it.

special thanks to ian. love you dude

monday, dreaded monday,

people view you with distaste,

yet i smile as i wake with no work,

but must try hard, my time not to waste.

at nsts in gzira, teachers of the teen students don't work on mondays, which i think is very very brilliant, still got things to do though, a few posters and designs, and a meeting with joe at 8.30...if anyone can offer a lift.... :P

well, i go breakfast.

out

Nothing Special To Say (NSTS)

2009-07-16T17:13:00.002+02:00

this week has been blah...but i'm happy to report much less blah than i expected it to be.

i started work this week...and as most of you know, i was really not looking forward to it. but i went, i got into my relaxed attitude towards students and teaching straight away and voila...it wasn't so bad...now tomorrow morning i test most of them and another lesson and then the weekend, and my last day in Lija (for now at least) because as of next week i'm working in Gzira :)

Bussing to and fro alot, except when we have something of Community, i'm lucky enough to have drew and charlene up here in bugibba too, and people are discovering how nice it is uo here and they are visiting much more often than last year.

yesterday swam properly again...for the first time since i dislocated my shoulder....no free style yet...but swam properly underwater.

had a nice evening as well....

also yesterday...random: walking along, and on the floor a see a whole bunch of cards, someone had dropped thwm and they all landed face down, except one: the ten of spades :) waaaa!

Lanf left to see Matt and Mike in Germany (hey to both of them) and Kirissie is back to Verona to greet her mum and sister (hey to them too)

people start coming back soon...

....

sigh, i need a car, or a bike, seriously...i need to be free to move around and not depending on bus times....

sigh

but

goodness....started (outline is finished) a picture on my sister's wall, I'm very happy with how it's coming out, the shading will make it of course....

love to all

out

people still come up to me to tell me prosit for both the 300 and faces video :)

worse blog ever

2009-07-11T11:02:00.002+02:00

Updates:

Thought Photoshop to Krissie's mum

Mtv was fantastic...BEP made the show... especially when they stopped a fight from on stage.

...Lady Gaga rode on stage on a Vespa!

Mustard Seed was fun.

Missing Matt and Mike.

I really have nothing else to say.

wow...this is a pathetic excuse for a blog post.

erm...start work on Monday and I'm not looking forward to that at all...

Sunglasses at night tonight, still need to find sunglasses.

finished Wolves of the Calla yesterday and must say I really enjoyed it.

Shoulder is getting better...just uncomfortable some times and i can't do big fast movements.

out

45 at 11.30ish

2009-07-07T00:09:00.002+02:00

hey people,

just wanted to say something.

Something stupid made me happier today, just a bit happier, but happier none the less:

i went to paceville thinking im gonna wait an hour for the bus, but the was one waiting and it left 15 minutes after i sat down on the bus.

so i was home before mid night.

well.

earlier today thought two of the zendrich ladies a photoshop lesson. rather happy with how well they learnt.

another busy day tomorrow.

out.

groan

2009-07-04T12:44:00.003+02:00

(first of all, pls notice the dislocated shoulder in the pic to the right)

*groan*

well, im tpying from the filming office.

been a long morning. started early to bus it down to g'mangia, met dugi, took some stuff to Lija, to start setting up and planning where everything is going to be, and now I'm back here till 2.30 when a van comes so we load all the heavier stuff into it and off to Lija again to finish setting up, followed by maybe a quick fly to Gzira to shower, and then back up again to direct the filming of the healing service, after which we have to pack everything up, and get them down to the filming office again, while at the same time helping the sound be dismantled and then packing that away and Joe's house. And then seeing how I'm going to get up to Bugibba at God only knows what time, all this on just a bowl of cereal for breakfast.

*groan*

but thats today.

Yesterday evening was the first Friday free of the summer, and i enjoyed it...most of it.

After helping packing the van, and getting to see Maggi's flat, me and steve went to pv to meet Lanf, Ivan, Luca, Paula, Lara and Kristie, later on of course meeting other people. but starting with 100 minutes which lasted 40 and dancing at Chequers with the candy, and Hacienda...you know tiring fun, the photos will be up soon im sure...

but there came a point, like in every good night, when something happens and puts you down...bleh...hate it...and therefore took the chance for a bit of alone walking time by walking Schinas home (see she did me a favour by letting me) and walking back alone...it helped i guess...

got back and a drive up to Buggiba thanks to lanf, thanks xbin...appreciate it.

anyway...

i think my brain just went to sleep...i have an hour and a half and i have some editing to do...fun fun fun...

*groan*

The beach

2009-07-01T01:05:00.005+02:00

The stretch of beach lies silent and cold, the sand a shade of blue-gray reflecting the moonlight, the dunes casting their crescent shapes shadows. The echos of the crowds that had filled the beach a few hours ago have faded to silence leaving the sound of the waves to take over.

A figure walks barefoot across the beach. His bare feet adding to the complex pattern of dunes in the sand as he makes his way towards the shore. His face is concealed by the shadows created by the hood covering his head. As he walks with his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, his shadow dances across the sand.

He reaches the shore and stands looking out at the dark sea, the warm water touching his feet, and the sea breeze rippling his clothes.

He stands still.

And then, slowly, like the collapse of a building giving up under the weight of time, folds down and in coming into a sitting position gently, wrapping his arms around his knees.

And there, he bows his head, a symbol of resignation.

Silence.

Stillness.

The breeze picks up a bit and sends little streams of sand flowing down the small dunes, creating low whispering sounds.

He screams. The sudden harsh cry of frustration exploding from beneath that deep, dark hood echos across the bay, disturbing once again the peace that had been created by the emptiness of the place.

And as the figure lies back, raising his arms behind his head to form a pillow, and looks up the stary night sky. A sigh escaped his lips. A sound so soft, someone two meters away would not have heard it, and yet, as full of emotion and meaning as the scream which had preceded it.

And as the last faint echos of the strong outburst fade away, at the back of the mind of the figure lying in this night scene, there is the comforting thought. The knowledge that, like all the other times before this one,no matter how hard it might be, he will get through.

He had done it before, he will do it again.

He raises one arm with the index finger extended pointing at the sky.

"With your help of course," he whispered.

lighting a match

2009-06-28T01:14:00.003+02:00

things annoy you but they're little things, so you don't make a fuss and keep them inside.

things, big or small, worry you, but they're personal, and no one you tell can help you anyway, so keep them inside.

an argument with a close friend, well it was my fault, keep it inside.

something disappoints you, but you feel stupid opening up about it to anyone, there is most probably nothing to talk about anyway, so keep it inside.

something makes you angry, I'm most probably over reacting anyway.

a group argument, separation, not my fault, why should i let it effect me, but it does.

and all these things keep building and binding, forming a mass of emotions, like a ball in your system waiting for the fuse to be lit,

and finally, someone acts a little stupid or annoying, and the match is lit, and the feeling inside makes you want to punch faces in.

but i've learnt to keep most of it in, so a brief outburst and I walk away, alone, where i calmly push it back down, this explosive mass, back down where it can't hurt anyone.

i suppress it,

until one day,

I won't.

shoulder and ddr

2009-06-26T11:41:00.002+02:00

My shoulder is ok-ish i guess.

I mean its in a bit of pain when i move, and uncomfortable most of the time...

at hospital the doctor said that since at 21 my shoulder popped out twice already for stupid reasons, i might want to look into operating...so soon ill start the tests and stuff so they see what's wrong in there and then we'll see...

I am a freak, i'm kinda looking forward to it :)

but we'll see what happens....

until then, my right shoulder needs prayer too as i think it doing all the work is not too good for it :S

yesterday paula, nikki and lara came up to bugibba in the afternoon....God sent angels....and they enjoyed it...spread the word, and we played ddr (the dancing step game) i won...against three girls i won...we played air hockey...me and la are draw with a game each...and pls note...with my arm in a sling....and nikki and lara rode horses....

then crepes and up to my flat so they draw on my wall... and take photos using eve....

evening i spent inside...relaxed...

surprisingly enough got to bed at like 3 am ....i have no idea where the time went...

anyway....

Micheal Jackson died...

and thats about it

or not..

parents went to Gozo yesterday morning so I'm alone (with my sister although she's rarely home) until Monday evening...

anyone wants to visit....im here...except tomorrow....and sunday evening....but any other time i'm here.

out

The real 300

2009-06-20T10:32:00.002+02:00

well....

I'm gonna talk about last night, but before that....

if you're on a laptop, put in headphones, you must hear the bass.

so...wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

300 blogs!

I am happy to have got this far in this blog and kept it going.

lately the experience has improved as their are more bloggers so more to read and more comments.

*sigh*

i remember when i started this blog back in 2006 when Saz went to Canada....seems really long ago...

here's to the next 100 blogs

*raises pint*

now:

last night was epically fun and random...

writing down would not do it justice, as it's one of those moments of "you had to be there"

but basically

fun relaxed party (thanks Michelle :) hug) including:

Sam ruling the dance floor
Elaine sitting on gum
lots of hat exchange
Żiemel
ring theft
piano cake

beer at Time Square
weird shot invented by the barman
singing along
planning mischief
Lanf crying
Matt dying
I love Schinas
TP
piss stop (jerrie car TP risk)
swimming
toe incident (hope you ok Mike, you worried me.

basically i got to Gzira at 5 am as the sky was brightening again, slept three hours and its on the bus again to Bugibba.

fun stuff....tonight I'm most probably going to die early though

and i can't wait to get this sling off

out for now....

comment comment comment

"someone take a photo"

2009-06-19T02:00:00.004+02:00

well...

first off: i dislocated my shoulder again...it's the same one as two years ago, and it's now in a sling, so appreciate the effort of typing with one hand.

i did it diving into the sea...again...this time normally...nothing fancy.

and this time i got someone to take a photo...they're not on facebook yet...so can't show you.

i would like to thank Jeremy and Sam especially for taking me first to the policlinic and then coming with me to hospital....

well not much to say about it really, except that it hurt more than last time...and now it might pop out more frequently as i have damaged the cartilage on both the front and the back of the joint.

the doctor was a bit of an idiot though....

while i'm drugged on pain killers the questions asked went something like this:

"how did you hurt?"

"i dived and landed badly"

"you hit something?"

"no"

"in a pool?"

"no, in the sea"

"the pool was empty?"

"....i dived into the sea."

"you hit something?"

"............no"

gah...i just wanted my shoulder pulled back into place....

one more thing though: the last thing i said before diving into the sea was "what's the worse that could happen?" ....i know....shut up :P

well...

tonight, people, i'm guessing out of pity for me, came up to buggibba, we started off the evening with the most savage savoury crepe we could buy... followed by a stop to mc donalds (of course) were i had ice cream, and brookes bought some 'food', and were we ended up stopping for a chat where we calculated that the approximate amount of possible partners world wide come up to about 600....not a lot considering the worlds pop. is about 6,000,000,000...

well, then it was up to my flat for underworld 3.... which was ok i guess...although the graphics disappointed me a bit.

and now everyone left...so im going to try get myself comfortable in bed and maybe sleep all night....

oh...

thanks to Martina for the bracelet...it's still on...

and now seriously:

299

shurgs and smiles

2009-06-17T11:10:00.002+02:00

summer is brilliant.

I mean with all the business and stuff to do, and the beach and the oh so gorgeous tan, and the getting to know more people, and eve, and reading, and bass how can it not be?

and today i got a call...Fr. Mike gave me another project...woots...I'm asking Matt's help on this one for sure....:)

soon room 101 will begin...the drawing and the blog and looking forward to both of them...

I think I've decided to be myself by the way, I know what i do is in purity with no alternate motives so anyone who thinks other wise can... (Matt skip the next line)

...fuck off.

Like a good friend of mine said...they obviously don't know me well enough...

shrug

in other news...was about to install final cut pro onto eve and it told me that it should be installed only on a power mac....now...do i take this warning seriously or not?

erm...shout out to Mike, who got me home twice already this summer :) lol and miskin he was really tired yesterday. Appreciate it dude.

i now be off...

enjoy your holidays people!

out

Not 300!

2009-06-16T00:40:00.002+02:00

oh the shame:

after having a look in my blog archive i realized that a number of started blogs which i didnt publish got counted by blogger...

in my opinion these don't really count, so....i deleted them from the list...bringing my blog count to 296....this one being the 297th

so im afraid we'll have to wait until the 300 celebration...a good thing in a way, as i've been wanting to blog and couldn't as what i have been preparing for my 300th blog still isn't ready.

sorry for the false alarm...

well

just got back from st julians..were after much analyzing from certain people...i am not slightly upset that people are judging me as :

gay (from my actions with matt)
touchy, or needy (because of my like of cuddles and hug)

Now most of you who know me well, know that i usually can't give a monkeys right testicle what people thing about my actions, i do what i feel, i want to go alone for a walk, i leave, i want to hug someone, i do...as long as i know whatever i'm doing is innocent... why not? right?

well

i dunno

today something made me feel conscious about what was said. I don't like being see as needy, or as moody...so i think i'm going to revert back to being my old self...and keep everything inside...i think i'm goign to stop hugging ...

your loss after all :P

out

quite a throw... :)

2009-06-13T10:43:00.003+02:00

Well first up...got a nice surprise this morning when i opened safari...its new! kinda like google chrome but look more special...like all things mac...

now

yesterday:

What a grand day...ian passed for me at 1 and we mae our way to ghadira, being the first ones there, we just threw ourselves on the sand, and got into that fresh sea....

eventually a whole bunch of people started arriving....including sam, and jes, and Lara too...hey all

and had the first beach wrestle and ball play....

obviously the gorgeous tan continued to develop and i am not rather happy with the result...

evening got me really in a music mood...and ian wants to teach me bass...so im happy ....

i wasnt feeling too good though....i think it was the hunger though...

anyway...tonight y4j and then who knows? as always...who knows?

also...as an after tought...i'm really excited about getting my art on...wanna really get into it agian....

i'm hungry...

out

299

"what have i unleashed?!"

2009-06-12T10:10:00.002+02:00

well....

last night was interesting.

an art exhibition...i had a wrong impression of the event....i expected it to be...well....boring...just going around looking at pictures...but besides that...which was interesting...there was some very gd work, prosit to all who had there art shown....

there was food...and wine.

first up, made friends with a waiter...always a plus at any event, and then, in the words of matthew...we got a bit Haha...but of course i can't say it right :P

but seriously it was fun...

got to meet some people, who i enjoyed speaking to...

and estelle saw us in a mood for the first time....sorry if we scared you...

also after that, krissie and lanf want to put up an exhibition, and i'm allowed to join, and being completely different from there style, it's got me rather excited.... I really need to take my art seriously and produce some actual works, as i dont think it would be a gd university career mood if i sell off my notes....click here and here to see what i mean....

and then we entertained the younger two zendrich sisters to ourselves...again...hope we didnt scare you....

at night...woke up at 2 and couldn't sleep...damn it

but this morning woke up ok :) and ghadira in 2 hours...bring on the sun....

out

Red is Back

2009-06-10T19:36:00.002+02:00

Really enjoying this part of summer...

relaxin...swimming....not home alot.....reading ......

and basically want to thank everyone who's making it happen....

Special thanks goes to Jes....she knows why

and Pierre, btw....the werewolf game is spreading :) it's a hit.

tomorrow i'll be at chaplaincy working on some design stuff for my esteemed clients :)

also...louie wants a bunny tshirt :) anyone else wants ill be happy to help...as long as you help me if u know what i mean :P

out

frowning smile

2009-06-08T23:40:00.006+02:00

On a branch at the very top of the tree, isolated from the everyday busy-ness found practically everywhere else, sat a bird. His feathers ruffled, he sat sulking. He wanted to peck at everyone for a full hour, but didn't want to make any enemies, so he turned it to sadness and flew up to this isolated part of the tree to be alone and look, stare out at nothing.

and just when he was about to fly off and hit something in full flight, another bird landed next to him.

this one was female.

"a pretty female" he thought to himself, "might be worth staying a while"

she leaned forward to get a better look at his face, he just kept on staring straight.

then, she gently placed a wing around him and softly asked him what's wrong.

he said he doesn't know.

then why let it effect you?

it's just there, it's a mood.

and so on and so forth until, without him realizing, he was chirping happily to her, and her to him with a bright smile on his face, and as the sun went down, and it was time to head on back to their respective nests, they hugged and both leapt off into the air.

and as he glided down, wind flowing around him and through his feathers, he thought " i have to write a blog to thank her tomorrow."

thanks for your ability to make me smile yesterday.

xmun

ps:

up in buggibba and got my first sun burn today...summer is now here

singing in the sun...well, not in the sun you know....

2009-06-08T13:20:00.002+02:00

Well

First off...thanks...thanks a real lot to Mina for having us over yesterday and to her mum for that pasta......ahhhh that pasta.....

and elaine...seriously, i think evolution screwed u over when it gave you that laugh.... you risk dying everytime you find something even slightly hilarious....

and that film...guys....ok...some of the pieces are classics....but some others....high much?

also...

yanica pointed out that me and matt fill the two guys and a girl profile almost scarily well....

i dropped out of architecture and he's gonna be a doctor....

also...matt and i got our hair shaved again....i went lower than ever before...and matt looks gorgeous in shaved hair...

erm...

c'est tout

i'm at chaplaincy waiting for things to happen while photoshopping ....

out

A frowning Pigeon, and a hyper one

2009-06-07T01:52:00.004+02:00

hey people...

so i can understand the boat party thing...and I'm fine about it...this does not garantee fine-ness to continue while I'm viewing the facebook photos after the event...but until then, shrug.

tonight

y4j, followed by a drive to st. julians....it was like a tour, we where a massive group near the 'love' monument. the decision was made to go to pizza hut ( blah!)

on arriving i sat down on a wall, and Martine (hey tine) joined me.

there was no room, so most people left for mc donalds, 8 ppl stayed at pizza hut, and me and tine stayed put in the middle...

I won a bet :) and was owned a beer,

and we went to get pizza from the guy infront of baystreet (quoting Mike: the ones that give you stomach cancer)

on the way in met ang and sarah who where going to meet emily, who said they'd tell us where they'll be.

pizza was bought and consumed, and since i was still owned a beer, made our way to keg...didnt go in...moved on to Black bull, where drinks where bought and a bit of chatting occurred.

following that, the idea was to go karaoke - ing, but the place was packed, so after a brief stop walked off to meet the others.

it was fun, not cause of anything we did, but cause i did what i want without following the others....so from now on...if i just bugger off on a saturday night out....its not cause i'm being a loner, it's cause i dont wanna do what the others are doing...anyone is welcome to join.

out

sorry this blog was supposed to be up last night, but the internet at home died.

-> Right (as opposed to left)

2009-06-06T00:25:00.002+02:00

I'm at home while everyone is either in Senglea or in Mdina...

there's a sudden fascination with these old localities...why? I have no idea...

I'll admit I once in a while enjoy going there if I'm in the right mood to just walk/ run/ bounce around and take interesting photos and stuff... but tonight it wasn't in me...

I learnt that at a meeting last 13th of May, something I said was completely ignored, and this put me in the worse of moods...

basically something is being organized that I'd really like, but, ignoring my request and forewarning, it's being organized during the week I'm going to be out of the country.

I know, I'm going to be on holiday, it's probably better than anything happening here, but the point is I shouldn't have to choose.....*sigh*

anyway

...

so I'm home, and just installed creative suite on eve, so now I can get to work on some stuff I had in my to do list...

dunno if I'm going swimming tomorrow...

depends on what mood I wake up in....veve would say it's my time of the month...

but on a positive note:

Youthful Worship was good today...enjoyed it...

out

oh btw, dunno if i mentioned it on a blog, or on twitter:

got my first result from these exams back.

I KNOW RIGHT?!! university is going crazy...rather, more crazy...usually they spend ages to publish official results, and I get one back 5 days after I sit for this three hour exam in which I wrote 10 pages...

possible explanations:

the lecturer doesn't really read all the essays
the lecturer is a very fast reader, and wants to start his holidays asap
the papers got lost and the results where given randomly
time is fucked and a month happened in a week

Selfish Cupid

2009-06-05T18:07:00.002+02:00

oh the beauty of freedom...

I woke up surprisingly early today. I had nothing to do all morning, so i woke up, switched on eve, did the internet rounds, played a bit of bass, and then, while on the phone, threw myself back onto my bed.

After the call ended, i was lying there, thinking, i really feel like sleeping some more, and then it hit me, like a gorgeous soft feathered pillow, "I can!"

so i rolled onto my side, and feel into the most gorgeous sleep I have had in ages. Waking up at 13:00 (malcolm would be proud) calmly got ready to go to chaplaincy to greet Krissie who's back in Malta for ten days.

And today, another memorable event...a game of werewolf where there where no survivors...no one won!

basically....it ended up with 3 people at the end...one was the werewolf, one was the hunter and one was the cupid....

and the cupid (me) having chosen himself to be in the couple, and the werewolf (sam) obviously didn't kill themselves, voting to kill the hunter (veve) who killed sam, and through couple love, Sam died too....so no one won...

ayway

youthful worship in Paola tonight...

voting and swimming tomorrow...

...

....

hello to paula who visited during a game and wasn't spoken to much :) *waves*

...

out

"a short quick summary kind of-"

2009-06-04T21:37:00.002+02:00

Hey people

I am a real nerd,

As most of you know, I finished exams yesterday, and today, the first day of summer for me and i spent it at chaplaincy spending all day on my mac... made two songs, and started work on a video...discovering how to use i movie, and krissie...on my version you can change speed...didnt really try it, but found it somewhere, and not sure ill be able to get back to it, but still...

it's really fun being able to do what i want and please whenever i want and please, while...and this is the important bit, people around me are still stuck studying :) love you all guys...

had a mini photoshoot with eve...(my mac) thanks to malcolm...i want those photos dude...

oh...her name is eve, cause i was looking at her and thinking...she's sexy but the black keys show a hint of naughty-ness...plus the bitten apple...and reference to applegeeks and wall-e...it's perfect...

so people...eve...eve...the people who read my blog

'at's it for today

gbu

I think I sunburnt my head

2009-06-04T00:18:00.003+02:00

Not gonna spend a lot of time on this blog,

cause it's late and I wanna go to bed and relax and wake up whatever time I want because:

I'M FREEEEE!!!

yes indeed I have finished my exams.

After three years of trying, and two failed attempts, I have reached the end of my University first year.

And what better day to finally, get something I have been wanting for way too long...after much suffering and hoping and praying, I am now the owner of a brand new 15" aluminum MacBookPro ...yeah baby!!!

it's just .....ahhhhhh.....sexy....

finally before i go to sleep

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO my MOTHER!!!

she's the bestest mummy in the whole wide world and i loves her....

right

gd luck to any of, practically all, who still have exams coming up....

may you be relaxed and remember all you studied.

gbu

xmun

The ace has wings

2009-06-01T22:58:00.002+02:00

dear all,

i apppologize for my lack of blogging this past week, but as you all know, exam time. I know I am, most probably the most relaxed student on campus, but this year i actually did study a lot. I'm spending all my day, everyday at chaplaincy. We imagined getting caught there in a storm, and what fun it would be, but in all honesty, we're always there anyway.

Pierre managed to get us hooked on something new again. The game of warewolf. A game of friendship, lies, suspicion, and love, and of course achies thirst for blood and Luca's skill at dying in the first two or three nights...always....even when he is not killed directly by anyone....

anyway...

KAI...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...actually went up to see her today, with the tripyest card anyone's ever recieved

sorries as well go to all those people (two) i should be emailing right now...ill try and get down to it either wednesday or thurdsay...most probably thursday....two busy days coming up.

erm...

my mac arrives in two days...excited :)

which is good as my laptop is suffering...it doesnt charge unless its switched off :S

oh yes

exams till now have been good, i think:

Introduction to Islam: I should have done well

theology of salvation was exactly what i expected and wrote all i knew.

English: I wrote a full 10 pages in 3hrs, and i'm rather pleased

Methods of Inquiry: practically learnt how to work out statistics as I was doing the exam.

psychology today...multiple choice, so i have no idea....left 105 minutes early though.

Krissie arrives on Friday.....:) woot!

and finally, if anyone wants to pop by and see me tomorrow between 9am and 5 pm, i'm gonna be standing infront of the law courts being one of those people i try and usually avoid.

gbu all

Xmun

sat and sunday of maggi

2009-05-24T10:02:00.002+02:00

S'up?

Last night i actually got myself out away from my books,

Y4J and then a chilaxin time at Surfside,

guitars, bongos, beer and singing....fun stuff,

we actually gathered a crowd at street level looking down at us, and a bunch of french students coming down and gathering round Matt, that good looking rugged musician man.

lol

and today wedding....wedding....wedding....

Blessings to Maggi and Angelique.

i go get ready

Birds tweeting

2009-05-23T13:21:00.003+02:00

this morning was horrible, i woke up in no mood to sit down and study. I wanted to relax, sit by the sea or a pool, swim, be with friends, that kind of thing. The hot and sticky climate we have at home wasnt helping.

A scenario i can imagine being replicated in homes all over the island.

I got up, showered, and stepped out of the house. I am now at Chaplaincy, just out side the chapel door. and I promise you all, sitting in the shade, with a bit of a breeze, looking at the glorious day, other people around also studying, really helped...finished another chapter since i got here....

so, those finding it difficult, get outside, keep in the shade, the sun is too hot, and try study seeing God's awesome nature around you.

c'est tout.

Bloody Mosquitos

2009-05-22T01:08:00.004+02:00

Hey people,

just a quick blog, cause I should be studying.

I am at the moment sitting on bean bags, resting against the door of the university Chapel, surrounded by 6 other studying students, at ten past one in the morning.

We are gonna be here till 2 am and then the plan is to go to Mc Cafe in Luqa...why? I don't know, and go back home, for a few hours sleep and a shower.

Tomorrow morning Matt is passing for me at 8.15 ish to come back here and continue studying.

Those of you who know me find this very studious behavious wierd and almost frightening. Lol, drew is most probably expecting the world to end any day now. I can tell you it's got my mum and sister freaked out. Guys don't worry, I just think I've found where I can study best, in company of other people trying to study and not at home, where i manage to find any excuse not to.

Lol

Mina (hi Min) and I decided that the Chaplaincy logo needs an addition, and should be "All day, Everyday, 'cause we're hard core" lol, and it's true, I've spent more ime here in the past three days than i did in my own kitchen.

Sorries go out to my family, who are missing me, and krissie and Mig who are expecting emails from me...I'll get down to them eventually. During my short breaks I'm usually in need to waste a bit of energy, so thanks to Pierre, I have discovered Diabolo...I'm getting better :)

thats it for now...

back to studying...

gbu

Xmun

studying on campus

2009-05-20T12:08:00.002+02:00

Well,

blogging from room 101. It's where I'm spending most of my time this week, I actually study here, I mean, not just try to study, but some studying actually gets done. Plus, IF I end up being in an anti study mood, at least I'll be in fun company, and not acting an idiot alone at home.

SHOUT OUT TO KRISSIE

I appologize publicly for the late email...but really, I'm studying :)

room 101 is becoming the regular meeting place on campus, lol, it's funny, can't wait to start painting it. I'm gonna go crazy in here.

Also started working on something, those who know, be quiet.

Had a presentation of english today, went rather well, rather happy with how the lecturer commented after we finished. :)

sigh

today forthnight, i will be free :)

i go continue

xmun

singing Lanfi

2009-05-18T10:25:00.003+02:00

I swear waking up and watching 2 videos of 'Lanfi studying' has got to be one of the best ways to start the day...I couldn't breathe....check it out. He should so start a nerd vlog

Anyway, gonna try my best to get a lot of work done today...prayers are appreciated.

And I'm still not sure if I'm going down to uni to study or not...I seem to find distractions anywhere I go, I have a curse.

ohhh, yes, woke up this morning (4am) with an idea in my head, It sounded great at that point in time, it kinda still does now...Matt, I gotta speak to you.

Oh shit, I just realised I have to go to uni to buy some notes :S I know about time, but still.

Anyone notice how people are blogging more often. It's funny, everytime exams get close, people seem to go blog crazy, new blogs popping up all over the place, updates practically everyday...I mean I'm not complaining, it's fun, I'm not alone any more :) Hopefully they'll all continue them throughout the summer, as that's when most blogs are left alone and eventually forgotten. So when we're all busy our brain wants to do other useless things as well, and when we're free, it doesn't...f*cked up....

Ah summer...CAN'T WAIT

I know this blog post has nothing really particularly special about it, but *shrug* when has that ever stopped me.

Dental floss and bottle caps

2009-05-17T10:23:00.003+02:00

Hello, good morning, and welcome!

I'm in a good mood this morning, and why not?

"Studies"

Yes, ok, besides, that.

"Lack of Flusies"

Yeah alright.

"The pain in your back."

Rarely complain about it.

"studies"

you said that already

"it deserves another mention"

Anyway, besides, and throughout all that, Life is still awesome.

Yesterday is a perfect example.

Filming in the morning. It wasn't filming of a discussion, but of plays of some sort, fun stuff, ESPECIALLY when, at a point we're filming in the road, and Jonathan and myself had to stand in the middle of the road to get the actress walkin on the pavement, and a car stops behind Joni, and at the last second, hoots the horn. I swear I never heard Jonathan shout with so much passion at this poor little old woman.

*waves at Loz*

MOVING ON!

In the evening, went to Y4J which was different to the normal style, as all it was was Sam on guitar, and Pete on percussion, lol Percussion Pete...sorry...

But like Sam said, the point was to have the worship and Praise focused on Jesus not on the music. I'll admit, sometimes a catch myself listening to how good the drummer is, or what a funky bass line Ivan is playing and so on...so not being distracted by all that, gave everyone in the whole room a chance to be more focused, to trully praise seeking His face.

It was nice, I missed the whole crazy, jumpy, I don't care if people think I'm a freak, at the end, which you can't achieve with a drum set, but it was a very VERY VERY nice experience.

it finished.

got in the car.

vroom.

brake.

car door closing.

we're at Lara's.

We were the first, it was quiet and relaxed, then 40 other people arrived, I have no idea how we fit, but it was great fun, with someone freaking out and on the verge of tears, others taking the piss, not giving a hoot. And Chiara my dear, the neck thing, the wink, the throw of the shaul, fantastic show...pity it was the eurovision, where the song means nothing at all.

And then we had to order Pizza Hut...

Ivan, u kill me, "Laham taz-ziemel ghandu? jew Pony? Gibli Fenek mela!"

(for Lozie's sake: "does he have horse meat? Or Pony? Then get me Rabbit!")

thinking back on it, I wouldn't blame Pizza hut for taking it as a prank call, cause, most of you know, the food arrived over an hour and a half later, after a very amusing call from Lanfi, "I'm a share holder you know!" lol and after all that, Matt still paid the man the full price...gah.

Isomma, also had an interesting conversation with Paula Azzopardi, who's name I learnt last night lol, and then left the Giudice residence at around 1.30 ish.

Soon alive on Sunday, then home to study I guess....

still it's a glorious day, I'm in a wonderful mood, the sun is shining, and I have great friends, I have wonderful talents and MY GOD LOVES ME for me.

with that...

I'm off...

dude..that's a long blog...

*shrug*

congrats to you if you read it all.

out

Welcome new bloggers

2009-05-16T08:23:00.002+02:00

Welcoming Mike Lanfranco, or Lanfy, to the blogging community.

His blog was creating during the stressful months of exams.

His link is in the List of Blogs.

I know it's a bit late, but Loz has a blog too :P

It's in the list as well.

filming this morning and eurovision tonight.

out

grins and turns the radio up

2009-05-14T13:20:00.003+02:00

Well,

I just want to say how much I'm enjoying life at the moment, everything is just great. Ok I have studies and work and stuff, but they come they go, no biggy.

On the whole I'm happy. There are a few instances when I'm irritated or down, but they're never over anything serious, it's just little things which annoy me, that I choose to not overlook.

I mean, yesterday Matt and I ended up walking around campus in shorts tshirt and flipflops enjoying the relaxedness, when Chris was there we were singing to either Beetles or 'Lemon Tree'.

Being Visit Wednesday, we were visited (hmm) by some people from JC...more relaxedness...

And in the evening we had the youthful worship meeting, Matt took me home, and I stayed up finishing my assignment for tomorrow.

A simple day, and yet I look back on it as a fantastic one.

*grin*

I also, thanks to Yanica, *waves* got into a real mood for writting. Was going through some old stuff and really got the urge to continue some of them. Maybe after exams.

Another urge to get better at bass quickly to start jamming with Matt.

This summer is goign to be busy comign to think of it. Teaching English, painting room 101, music, writting, photoshop lessons, and any drawing commition that comes my way.

I like it.

....

*waves to Achie*

*waves to Kai*

*waves to Zoe*

*waves to Paws*

*waves to Luca*

*waves to G*

*waves to Lara*

Also, my bookshelves are running out of room, which makes me happy. It feels good seeing them all placed neatly in order. :)

well,

back to studying.

last three weeks or so....

then summer.

can't wait to go swimming again.

oh oh oh one last thing...

Vanessa, I love you and you're the best :)

MWA

out

Lemmings Theory

2009-05-10T19:35:00.007+02:00

It's one of those evenings. Where after a full morning out filming in the sun, a shower and a nice lunch (HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!) and a two hour nap, you don't feel like doing any work.
I just want to meet some friends in a relaxed environment and hangout.
*so if anyone is up for it and it's still Sunday evening give me a call*
but I know most of my friends are studying and stuff.

So I decided to explain to the blogging world, Matt's and my lemming theory. I don't think I had explained it and I had meant to.
Some of you know this already.
I'm going to take Matt as an example.

Picture this: a large room of brilliant white. There is no visible light source and yet there are no shadows. There is one strong looking door and two massive windows, looking out at the world, opposite the door. From the ceiling hangs a cable, and attached to the end, a microphone.
And in the room. Covering the floor, are a hundred little Matthews.
This is Matt's head.
The little Matthews, we will call lemmings. They form the thought process, but mainly, collectively they form the emotions.
Like lets say Matt is doing something wrong ;) well, he'll have maybe 10 or 20 of the lemmings saying...mumbling..."this is wrong you know..." while the rest of them would be saying "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" and pushing to try and get a good view at the windows, which if you haven't realised by now, are the eyes)

Now, most of you know that sometimes Matt says things which he'd immediately regret, or think to himself "what?!" that is when one of the lemmings would have got hold of the mic, said something and then got hit upside the head by one of the rare more serious lemmings. Now as one can imagine, the average lemming is very random, as it takes the full one hundred to formulate a thought or opinion, so what is said is obviously rarely coherent.

I think that pretty much explains it all, or most of it, I left out some other little details which we had discussed but the general picture is there.

On a side note: I did in fact go out half way through this blog :) Me and Laura convinced Matt he's not gonna study anyway. I just got home from Laura's flat, where Matt and me spent a nice relaxed evening with her. We watched the Matrix Revolution (chosen from the most interesting DVD collection I've ever seen) and now will never watch the final fight seen without a smile on our face...

I mean...just picture all the Smiths singing in unison...and after the film finished, I'm sure, no where, no when did anyone have that reaction to the end of the Matrix...lol...the Smiths choir

Also...I want to start playing music with other people.

Matt also told me, and I quote, "I need your body this week."

Don't get ahead of me people...he needs to examine me for Medicine practice.

well

night night

Happy XXI to Matthew

2009-05-09T13:37:00.002+02:00

Happy brithday Matthew

....

*frown*

Happy Birthday Matthew

that's better :)

well this blog is all a shout out to Matt, as today is his birthday and he turns 21...he is getting old like me....

well...

Matt...

erm...

*clears throat*

21 years ago, the world, this island and more importantly I, was given a gift, a gift we did not know and most probably wouldn't have appreciated at the time, but because of that wonderful day in May over two decades ago, alot of people have someone they feel close to, someone they can confide in, someone they share special moments with. Because of that wonderful Monday, Matt, we have you...

*wipes tear away*

*bursts out laughing*

Well Happy Birthday dude

*sings*

Happy Birthday to you

Happy birthday to Matt-youuuuuuuu

Happy Birthday to you.

Spark of death

2009-05-08T10:55:00.004+02:00

the transformer to charge my laptop just went fizz and then went pop..and sparked...so once my battery runs out... I'm afraid I will die, until I go and look for a replacement that is...although I doubt I'll find one as this laptop had come all the way from Canada and they never imported them here...

Assignment to do...I guess I'm going to have to do it on my dad's computer...cringe...

erm....

because I forgot to blog....a bought a bass...third hand i think, but she's sexy and I like her, practising is keeping away from studies a bit but today I actually plan to seriously get some work done.

Filming Team also have their new tshirts and I'm rather happy with the results...not as much as Jonathan, but I designed them so I obviously keep a bit calm about my own work

I can't wait to start painting room101 (common room, or beanbag room) at Chaplaincy, got a few ideas and sketches for the place...Krissie I hope you will be here to work with me a bit.

My sister's room needs to be done this summer too...

btw: In this blog I forgot to mention that my sister fell while going down a hill at great speed...miskina...and her name is Vanessa.

Healing service tonight at Naxxar...behind the tradefair...

until the next time i see you...

*pulls up achie's hand with "*waves*" written on it

Awesome Life

2009-05-07T23:36:00.002+02:00

Matt said something last Sunday.
He turned to me and said "you know, our lives are awesome."

and it is.
I sat and thought, hard, during a lecture, that although we (and by 'we' I mean me and practically everyone I know, at least those of my age) may go through some down times, with stress levels rising, and obligations and worries growing, and responsibilities thrown upon us, there are ups with having a great time somewhere and, I don't know, buying a long waited for instrument, game or gadget. But these are the exceptional times, in general, you know, normally, our life is awesome.
I mean we go to the various learning establishments, meet very good friends practically everywhere we go, we somehow always find time to do the things we enjoy doing (with exams coming up,achie is reading, Matt bought a few new books and plays guitar, I still draw)and that's the thing really, there are things we enjoy doing, we're young and have hobbies and hopes and dreams and what makes it even more awesome, is that in our today, more than a few years ago, our generation, we can reach these dreams easily.

I was walking from one lecture to another one today and I thought to myself...I'm a communication student at University...so from here, my career choices are: design (including advertising, graphic design, product design, illustrations...), film production (directing, editing photography...), music (ie sound production, editing...) I mean...wow...

I always looked at all these as dream jobs, something I'de like to do but most probably will end up doing something...normal...like not those...

and even Matt, who's in third year Medicine is realising, he still can choose what we wants to do...we are still free.

Life is awesome, and I think the trick to living a completely awesome life, until the very last day is keeping this mode of thinking going....always realise that your life, on the whole is brilliant.

out

and Matt...no one actually says "re"

kick ass ad

2009-04-27T23:38:00.002+02:00

sorry i'm blogging again so soon...

and I dont wanna take anything away from the last post...so those who haven't seen it...see it...

but i saw this advert and fell in love...

i was just going crazy when i saw it..

jumping up and down going "oohh nice, very nice, ohhhh!"

I'm thinking of how it was done...you never know :)

out

News!

2009-04-27T11:56:00.005+02:00

Hey People

I'm kinda busy at the moment, drawings to draw, studies to cary out, meetings to organize, and features to film...

but

i was on the news with Chiara Leone Ganado, most of you where busy elsewhere...but i found the link,

the news of the day can be seen HERE

It's the news on the 25th (Ahbarijiet)

we're on at about 25 minutes....

i sound funny in Maltese :S

out

computer crazy

2009-04-24T18:46:00.002+02:00

i just wanted to talk about the book promotions Chiara is doing in schools....they are really fun.

I'm really enjoying it...

it's like being a celebrity

the presentations are well thought out by chiara and when i get a chance to speak i love it too....

favourit question concerning me till now is "where did oyu find him?"

i laughed

well

after there is a book signing for people who decided to buy it..

which is crazy

im telling you...they swarm the table....

i feel good about myself

get your copy.....

soon available in leading book stores

four years in between

2009-04-21T07:45:00.002+02:00

Good morning Good morning,

Well, last night I was sitting quietly on my laptop writing a letter to my future self, when Matt started playing this on his computer next to me:

Oh my, this was filmed in June 2005, which is almost four years ago now...I spent half the video covering my face in shame and thinking..."what was I thinking?" thats hair! "what was I thinking?" well....after I ("what was I thinking?") made matt put it on youtube, for laughs, we decided to give an update:

Like I said in the video, I hope we have improved over the past four years....but again....we most probably didn't.

My hair looks less gay at least.

have a nice day

out

twilight and bass

2009-04-20T10:37:00.003+02:00

Hey people, it has been a while...
Well, I've been living with Matt a full week now...although I must say, living is not what I'd define it, O think the only full day I spent there is on Saturday, the whole of last week I was working in the morning...some very nice fun students, and then i usually had something or other to do.
this week, well, until Thursday at least, i have uni in the morning as dopes he, so....
tomorrow there is the official release of 'Computer Crazy' a book written by Chiara Leone Ganado, and artwork by me :)

yesterday, Matt, Karla, Achie and I actually went to watch Twilight...now, no one can bug us anymore...we watched it and we weren't disappointed, as in, it was everything we expected... oestrogen and hair gel...
and the facial expressions of whatever his name is are just hilarious...he looks like he got a boner the first time he saw her ... and was constipated for the rest of the film...

what else?

KRISSSSSIIIIIEEEEEEE....
sry for not mentioning all the fuin stuff that happened while you where here...but i was busy doing fun stuff...
cant wait to skype you.

I sat down and played bass last saturday...
i actually tried to learn and follow matt and mike while they had band practise...and now im excited. cant wait to get my hands on one i can call my own and practise :)
erm.....
.....
...
..
.
.
.
i think that's it...

so
out

eventually me and matt have to explain something about lemmings

I'm in a mood,

2009-04-12T12:51:00.002+02:00

In a dangerous mood,

I'm in the mood to climb,

to the top of buildings,

the higher the better,

climb

stand, unsupported, at the edge,

looking down,

feeling the muscles in my legs tense and relax

keeping me upright as the wind pushes and pulls

acting on reflex,

mind numb.

I'm in the mood to drive,

to take corners as fast as I can,

to drive at the edge of physics,

and feel physics pull on me,
to be part of the car,

feel my body maneuver the car,

automatically,

with no conscious thought,

acting on reflex,

mind numb.

I'm in the mood to fight,

clench my fists and punch,

and get punched back,

it doesn't matter which happens most,

punch, dodge, deflect,

bruises,

pain,

acting on reflex,

mind numb.

I'm in the mood to jump,

run to ledges and throw myself into space,

hurling my body around,

while trying to remain in the air

as much as possible,

landing on my feet without realising,

sometimes falling,

my hands going out to catch my fall,

acting on reflex,

mind numb.

I'm in the mood to tackle,

stop someone running

and drag him to the ground,

mindlessly ignoring the pain

I might experience,

acting on reflex,

mind numb.

Things to do.

I'm forces to think,

the problem,

one can not always control

what one thinks about,

problems resurface

I'm in a mood.