Pride (In The Name Of Love)
I actually have about 3 things I want to write about, but instead, tonight, I am not going to write about any of them. I am going to write about my best friend instead.
I love her, she knows that, I love her enough to even go to Frankfurt and be holed up in a hotel room for 48 hours poorly and enjoy it! That's not what I'm writing about though. It struck me when sat in a very long, very cold, very boring line of frost bitten cars on the way to work this morning how totally proud of her I am. She's had a very busy and rather tough past twelve months in many ways and she's come out of it unscathed and as headstrong and positive as ever!
I was thinking about this because she's just taken on her bosses job at work - which is enough on it's own, but this she is doing this alongside planning her wedding which is in just 16 weeks and 4 days! On top of this, she finished her masters in November, as well as worrying about and supporting family through issues. Lesser people would have fallen way before now.
One of the most surprising things about her though is that she has no idea how strong she really is. She has more than one rather screwey friends (I am including me in that number!) who she is a constant life line and support too which is unwavering and immense. It takes a strong person to handle one such friend like me, but to support several takes a special person.
So given the stresses and pressures she's dealt with over the last twelve months from her friendship, masters, family, health, wedding and work - as well as the pressures she puts on herself anyway - I think I'm justified in saying I'm proud of her.
I love her, she knows that, I love her enough to even go to Frankfurt and be holed up in a hotel room for 48 hours poorly and enjoy it! That's not what I'm writing about though. It struck me when sat in a very long, very cold, very boring line of frost bitten cars on the way to work this morning how totally proud of her I am. She's had a very busy and rather tough past twelve months in many ways and she's come out of it unscathed and as headstrong and positive as ever!
I was thinking about this because she's just taken on her bosses job at work - which is enough on it's own, but this she is doing this alongside planning her wedding which is in just 16 weeks and 4 days! On top of this, she finished her masters in November, as well as worrying about and supporting family through issues. Lesser people would have fallen way before now.
One of the most surprising things about her though is that she has no idea how strong she really is. She has more than one rather screwey friends (I am including me in that number!) who she is a constant life line and support too which is unwavering and immense. It takes a strong person to handle one such friend like me, but to support several takes a special person.
So given the stresses and pressures she's dealt with over the last twelve months from her friendship, masters, family, health, wedding and work - as well as the pressures she puts on herself anyway - I think I'm justified in saying I'm proud of her.
This Is The Dawning Of The Age Of Aquarius
Aquarius
20 Jan-19 Feb
In ancient Rome the Aquarius was responsible for civic plumbing, for rich and poor alike - a role that fused practical and social engineering. Modern astrology likewise sees the Water Bearer as a dispenser of social and technological innovation - Aquarius is tied to the advent of human rights, television and the internet.
In 2009, Aquarians have the chance to exhibit their humanitarian qualities, their inventiveness and creativity (we'll pass over their stubborn refusal to listen to advice). The passage of Jupiter through one's skies is a 'lucky' omen - this is the planet of nobility and abundance - but its meeting with Neptune promises you inspiration on a grand scale. Moreover, this once in a lifetime event means you're tied into the collective zeitgeist of 2009.
1997 and 1985, your previous Jupiter years, may provide clues to your outlook in 2009, while anyone born in 1962 (a mega Aquarian year) looks in luck.
Barack Obama's phrase 'The audacity of hope' neatly sums up the meaning of Jupiter (boldness) and Neptune (idealism); indeed, the conjunction ties helpfully into Obama's own horoscope (a Leo with Aquarius prominent) and that of Sarah Palin (born 11 Feb 64), who shows that the glamorous touch of Neptune often comes tainted by scandal and bluff. Palin also illustrates that there's a thin line between Aquarius's readiness to march out of step and being what one aide termed 'a whack job'.
Whatever your agenda, the four months following the new Moon of 26 January are the time for boldness and vision. Travel, education and publishing (Jupiter's traditional associations) are all favoured, as are digital and internet ventures. As the image you project to the world tends to stick, scheme accordingly.
The tiny planetoid Chiron, also in residence in your skies, lends you a healing touch - good for the salving of old emotional wounds. The midsummer solstice signals a few months of consolidation for business and career affairs. The mechanics of work - office, studio - may need fine tuning, while the omens are strong for the flush of summer romance and croquet on velvet lawns.
With September set to be unobliging (and with a financial twist), you may like to postpone your push for world domination until October. Thereafter your energies find a ready response and long-term traction, a following wind that blows you through to the steadier climes of 2010.
From The Observer (thanks Jenn!)
20 Jan-19 Feb
In ancient Rome the Aquarius was responsible for civic plumbing, for rich and poor alike - a role that fused practical and social engineering. Modern astrology likewise sees the Water Bearer as a dispenser of social and technological innovation - Aquarius is tied to the advent of human rights, television and the internet.
In 2009, Aquarians have the chance to exhibit their humanitarian qualities, their inventiveness and creativity (we'll pass over their stubborn refusal to listen to advice). The passage of Jupiter through one's skies is a 'lucky' omen - this is the planet of nobility and abundance - but its meeting with Neptune promises you inspiration on a grand scale. Moreover, this once in a lifetime event means you're tied into the collective zeitgeist of 2009.
1997 and 1985, your previous Jupiter years, may provide clues to your outlook in 2009, while anyone born in 1962 (a mega Aquarian year) looks in luck.
Barack Obama's phrase 'The audacity of hope' neatly sums up the meaning of Jupiter (boldness) and Neptune (idealism); indeed, the conjunction ties helpfully into Obama's own horoscope (a Leo with Aquarius prominent) and that of Sarah Palin (born 11 Feb 64), who shows that the glamorous touch of Neptune often comes tainted by scandal and bluff. Palin also illustrates that there's a thin line between Aquarius's readiness to march out of step and being what one aide termed 'a whack job'.
Whatever your agenda, the four months following the new Moon of 26 January are the time for boldness and vision. Travel, education and publishing (Jupiter's traditional associations) are all favoured, as are digital and internet ventures. As the image you project to the world tends to stick, scheme accordingly.
The tiny planetoid Chiron, also in residence in your skies, lends you a healing touch - good for the salving of old emotional wounds. The midsummer solstice signals a few months of consolidation for business and career affairs. The mechanics of work - office, studio - may need fine tuning, while the omens are strong for the flush of summer romance and croquet on velvet lawns.
With September set to be unobliging (and with a financial twist), you may like to postpone your push for world domination until October. Thereafter your energies find a ready response and long-term traction, a following wind that blows you through to the steadier climes of 2010.
From The Observer (thanks Jenn!)
It's All Over But The Crying
This week has been pretty shit. That's it. That's all I have to say: it's been a shitty week.
For the sake though that this would make another very short blog if I didn't write anything more, I will expand on it. On Wednesday I found out that one of the young people who makes use of the youth advice drop in centre I work at has died. I wasn't particularly close to him although I had know him for a few years. It was such a shock though. You don't expect someone who is only 21 to die. Of all the young people I have feared for over the years, he was not one of them - I've worked with several young people who I have often left on a Wednesday evening not knowing if they would survive the week such is the fragility of their mental state. That brings me to another thing about this young lad passing away, I was glad it wasn't someone else - my first thought went to this other person and when I found out it was not him I was relieved. Then the guilt kicked in, how could I feel relieved that this poor lad had died? He certainly did not deserve to have his life cut so tragically short, especially when he wanted to live, he wanted a full life.
Then yesterday I found out that a man I've known pretty much all my life has died. He worked with my Dad, and when he retired he used to pack bags at Sainsbury's, so I used to bump into him a lot. He was a very cheery, genial man who always seemed to genuinely care about the answer to the question 'how are you?'. I will miss him.
This then brings me onto my Gran. Bless her (said through rather gritted teeth to be honest - I'm so angry with her). She's poorly, again. Over Christmas, again. She could have helped herself with his, again. I don't really know what exactly is going on with her, so I won't waffle on pointlessly. What I do know is that my aunt and uncle were very concerned about her last weekend, and her doctor is very worried about her too. He wants her to go to hospital and have an ECG with a view to the notion that she may well need a pacemaker fitted. I could see her living it up on an 18-30s holiday sooner than I can see her agreeing to going to hospital and having a pacemaker. She's so bloody stubborn though that she has only just begrudgingly agreed to letting the nurse visit and do some blood tests. Plus, she misconstrued Mums comment on the phone the other day and thinks we are fed up with her and don't want her to spend Christmas with her.
So that's why, in a nutshell, this week has been pretty shitty.
On the plus side, Carl is home from uni today, this is a very good thing!
For the sake though that this would make another very short blog if I didn't write anything more, I will expand on it. On Wednesday I found out that one of the young people who makes use of the youth advice drop in centre I work at has died. I wasn't particularly close to him although I had know him for a few years. It was such a shock though. You don't expect someone who is only 21 to die. Of all the young people I have feared for over the years, he was not one of them - I've worked with several young people who I have often left on a Wednesday evening not knowing if they would survive the week such is the fragility of their mental state. That brings me to another thing about this young lad passing away, I was glad it wasn't someone else - my first thought went to this other person and when I found out it was not him I was relieved. Then the guilt kicked in, how could I feel relieved that this poor lad had died? He certainly did not deserve to have his life cut so tragically short, especially when he wanted to live, he wanted a full life.
Then yesterday I found out that a man I've known pretty much all my life has died. He worked with my Dad, and when he retired he used to pack bags at Sainsbury's, so I used to bump into him a lot. He was a very cheery, genial man who always seemed to genuinely care about the answer to the question 'how are you?'. I will miss him.
This then brings me onto my Gran. Bless her (said through rather gritted teeth to be honest - I'm so angry with her). She's poorly, again. Over Christmas, again. She could have helped herself with his, again. I don't really know what exactly is going on with her, so I won't waffle on pointlessly. What I do know is that my aunt and uncle were very concerned about her last weekend, and her doctor is very worried about her too. He wants her to go to hospital and have an ECG with a view to the notion that she may well need a pacemaker fitted. I could see her living it up on an 18-30s holiday sooner than I can see her agreeing to going to hospital and having a pacemaker. She's so bloody stubborn though that she has only just begrudgingly agreed to letting the nurse visit and do some blood tests. Plus, she misconstrued Mums comment on the phone the other day and thinks we are fed up with her and don't want her to spend Christmas with her.
So that's why, in a nutshell, this week has been pretty shitty.
On the plus side, Carl is home from uni today, this is a very good thing!
I Only Love You For Your Saville Row Boxer Shorts
For some reason I really love this:
http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=303
http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=303
And you snatch your rattling last breaths, With deep-sea-diver sounds, And the flowers bloom, Like madness in the spring
I feel shitty tonight. Admittedly I have such a bad headache that I'm struggling to focus properly and feel sick, but that's not why I'm low. It's been over a year since I last cut. I've not gone that long since before I started down this path. Sometimes I can't believe I'm the same person, other times I don't think I'm any different at all.
I'm dreading Christmas, I'm trying to be up beat about it to chivvy my family along and to convince them that it will all be fine. Truth is, I wish I could pick up a bottle of vodka and drink myself through from now to January. That's getting me down. I don't know. I'm rambling and I'm grumpy. All I know for sure is that I've not felt an urge like I've felt today for some time. And that's scared me.
I'm dreading Christmas, I'm trying to be up beat about it to chivvy my family along and to convince them that it will all be fine. Truth is, I wish I could pick up a bottle of vodka and drink myself through from now to January. That's getting me down. I don't know. I'm rambling and I'm grumpy. All I know for sure is that I've not felt an urge like I've felt today for some time. And that's scared me.
Jet Heeled Striker - again!
So I think someone must have read my last blog about Jet Heeled Striker as my one complaint I made was that I couldn't buy their CD and take their songs home with me. Since then I've had to make do with logging onto myspace pretty much every time my laptop is switched on so I could listen to them. Now I don't have to, as I have my very own shiny copy of their first CD. Thank you guys! (I like to think it was done purely to keep me happy... please don't burst my bubble!)
I was looking forward to tonight, if a little apprehensive, were they going to be as good as I remembered them being last time? Had I talked them up a bit in my own head? Would my friend enjoy them as much as I told him he would? I'm very happy to report that the answers to these questions are yes, no and yes!
Adam's voice was struggling a bit in places as he was fighting off a cold, but the other guys stepped in and supported him when needed. It didn't do anything to dampen the gig though. If anything it showed how cohesive they are as a band that they could do this without looking like they were carrying him, or losing something of the quality of their sound in the process.
The venue was packed, and although people were there to not just watch Jet Heeled Striker, as I was looking around the audience were paying attention, were dancing, smiling, and looking like they were enjoying what they were hearing. In my opinion, that's what really counts. Friends of the band will always be there, and are loyal to the end, but it's the strangers that really matter. They've got no loyalty to the band, they could have disappeared to the bar or out for a fag break. But they didn't, and that talks volumes.
For me, my favourite song is still Generation X, and the very wierd thing was that I found myself singing along in my head. It felt very odd, usually when I'm at a gig and can sing along, it's a famous band - not a little known group from Southampton that my friend sings in. Odd, but wicked!
So now I'm home, and I've had a chance to listen to the CD I can report that yes, they do transfer very well from stage to CD. I figure you can make pretty much any shit song sound good when sung live. It's in the cold light of day (or dim light in my lounge at one in the morning) that is when you can hear it without the trimmings of atmosphere - you get to really hear it properly. I loved it. I love their music live, and I love their music on my CD player. And I promise, given the title of my blog, I am telling the truth.
I was looking forward to tonight, if a little apprehensive, were they going to be as good as I remembered them being last time? Had I talked them up a bit in my own head? Would my friend enjoy them as much as I told him he would? I'm very happy to report that the answers to these questions are yes, no and yes!
Adam's voice was struggling a bit in places as he was fighting off a cold, but the other guys stepped in and supported him when needed. It didn't do anything to dampen the gig though. If anything it showed how cohesive they are as a band that they could do this without looking like they were carrying him, or losing something of the quality of their sound in the process.
The venue was packed, and although people were there to not just watch Jet Heeled Striker, as I was looking around the audience were paying attention, were dancing, smiling, and looking like they were enjoying what they were hearing. In my opinion, that's what really counts. Friends of the band will always be there, and are loyal to the end, but it's the strangers that really matter. They've got no loyalty to the band, they could have disappeared to the bar or out for a fag break. But they didn't, and that talks volumes.
For me, my favourite song is still Generation X, and the very wierd thing was that I found myself singing along in my head. It felt very odd, usually when I'm at a gig and can sing along, it's a famous band - not a little known group from Southampton that my friend sings in. Odd, but wicked!
So now I'm home, and I've had a chance to listen to the CD I can report that yes, they do transfer very well from stage to CD. I figure you can make pretty much any shit song sound good when sung live. It's in the cold light of day (or dim light in my lounge at one in the morning) that is when you can hear it without the trimmings of atmosphere - you get to really hear it properly. I loved it. I love their music live, and I love their music on my CD player. And I promise, given the title of my blog, I am telling the truth.
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