100th post... My sister's artwork

But who's counting? I sure can ramble on...

Oh, well. Enjoy these creations by my wonderfully talented sis.


















--The Sleepy Fang, Kim Ritchie 2009



















--It's not called anything it's not even called untitled just call it what I just said, Kim Ritchie 2009


We got back from Bible study and listened to some Don McLean. It was a long day. You have no idea.

































I'm sorry to all those for whom I haven't had time. I'm sorry for all those who feel forgotten. I have so much work. I have so little time. I still care.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. Yes, the second artwork is inspired by yours truly.

Fun gifts

Although not quite as good as the balaclava with a beard, I found something nearly as good. Yes, it's a beanie-scarf made in Nepal.



It's very warm and the scarf is a good length. Thanks, Mum and Dad for that gift.

Another lovely gift was a surprise set of teas! This included my favourite, Lapsang Souchong, as well as... well, you can see below.



Thank you, Beautiful One! I'm enjoying a Darjeeling as I type.

Such amusement! Now to have some pita bread and natural peanut butter! It's been a very good day indeed.



TheSovietChairman

Mothers Day weekend

Faithful till death said our loving Master
A few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing
As we sweep thru the beautiful gate

--Father Along

Back to work, I guess.

***

Thanks for a fantastic weekend, my love.

A lunch at the market. An afternoon studying. A dinner for mother dearest. An evening holding you in front of a movie. A breakfast together. A brunch with the meds.

Wonderful Girl, I know we see so much of the same beauty. Let's share that and rejoice in it.

TheSovietChairman

Think about it first, then think if it's really what you want to say

Come on now, now
Come on now, now
Enjoy the humour of the situation
Come on now, now
Come on now, now
Enjoy the humour of the situation

As I walked out, I thought about all I had left behind me
I felt a chill because I was still
Wearing the emperor's new clothes
My mind was racing with each chance that I had missed
While your next door neighbour soaked me with the hose
I've never felt so small, I've never been so dissed
As I shiver, dripping, while the chorus goes:

Come on now, now
Come on now, now

--The Humour of the Situation, Barenaked Ladies

It's painful when a joke takes us over. Sometimes a persona we create runs away and out of control. I thought I was talented because I could fashion a new psyche. My first thoughts were from the perspective of my creation before I returned to my own head. That makes me a good character actor, yes? Getting inside the head of the character?

Where's my head, then?

I thought I'd have the last laugh. I'd tell the joke people were afraid of. I can get away with it, right? It's me, after all.

It's not fun to wake up, shivering. The heater's on, but I'm recalling words I've said. It's time to own my sins.

Now I can smile. Now I can really laugh.

TheSovietChairman

Photo blog

Much to my girlfriend and her slow internet's dismay, today I will be posting a photo blog. This, in all honesty, is because my day would seem boring without pictorial evidence of my delightful activities.

To start off, I realised it was Autumn. A lovely season, to be sure.


After two lectures, I trekked back to my room, along the streets filled with trees, all shedding their leaves. Such beautiful hues, I barely need to photo-manip them at all.

On my return journey, I noticed the exposed circuitry of a set of traffic lights.


My inner electrical engineer must have been on holiday, as all I felt like doing was taking photographic proof of the occurrence. Ah, well. Let's hope he resurfaces come exam time...

I got back to the dining hall in time for some sandwich building mayhem!

You'd better believe it! Felafel, turkey, sprouts, beetroot, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayonnaise, cucumber, and more!

I know, right? I'm a genius. I particularly like the DOUBLE LAYER OF TURKEY. I've never (in recent memory - the last two days) used all caps on this blog. That's how exciting it was. Oh, yeah. The bread was a pair of cheese-and-bacon rolls. Uh-huh.


Then, after much study (not pictured anywhere on this blog) I decided to try using some of my nail polish to create some pixel art.

Here's my collection.


I decided to add to the metcard pixel art, by putting a cute pic of my love in the love heart.


Actually, I don't know if I like it... Hmmm... I guess it's pretty cool.

Yeah, I like it.

I love her.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. You know what? Even with the pictures, it was still boring.

River ride

I just returned from an excellent ride with a best mate of mine. A spontaneous decision to shed the stress of the daily grind (and hopefully some fat) lead to a lovely outing.

I didn't take long. Just an hour, or so. We talked about school, work, video games and had such a good time, I shall ensure we do it again very soon.

Here's a snapshot of the river bend.


Here's the route we took. You'll need to enlarge it to see, I'm sure.

Here's to good times and bike rides!

*hugs*

TheSovietChairman

Soup, soup a-tasty, soup, soup a-spicy...

Yesterday's visit to the grandparents went exceedingly well. It was lovely to see them again, and in such excellent spirits. I walked away with some lovely Winter Tea, a web cam and some new shoes. Yay!

Granddad had made us a special soup of his own creation. He was immensely proud. We all had a laugh about how pleased he was with the outcome.

It was a pumpkin soup, but not your average one. Oh, no.



It had more that just pumpkin, potato and onions. It had lots of black pepper, curry powder and hot English mustard. It has a pleasing bite to it, that didn't mask the pumpkin flavour.

Very tasty indeed.

I hope he's not upset now that the recipe's been leaked onto the Internet.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. I think symmetry might be the go for a while...


What do you think?

P.P.S. Yes, I did take the photo with the camera in my mouth. Strangely, it was quite difficult...

Usually my tongue is excellent at pushing buttons...

If I was earning money, I'd buy these essentials

But as it is, I'm not...

Firstly, any of the products by Vik Prjónsdóttir, starting of course with the purchase of a beard cap. The weather has been soooooo cold of late... It just looks so stylish!



Maybe I could make one... Doesn't that twosome blanket look so nice?

Now, secondly, I would invest in a few art books. These (1, 2) are truly inspirational creations, by some of the best minds around. Sadly, the second one cannot be bought. Ever. It was only created to be given to certain people. I am not one of them.

There are many more besides these that I'd love to get my hands on...

Of course, I am a proud owner of the Mother 3 Handbook. Mmm...

*drools*

Now, once I have cool things, surely I need somewhere to put them. Yes, that's right. Tetris shelves! Dooo do do dooo do do dooo do do dooo do do doo d-d-doo duh doo doo doo. You'll be humming the tetris theme all around the house with these!

Of course other essentials like towels, and the like could be found, I'm sure.

I'd better finish this post before my girlfriend runs in horror.

She's fairly nerdy/geeky in her own way.

Just not in the same way.

It's nice to be a little different.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. Luckily I'm already equiped with some emergency underwear. A thoughtful gift is underwear packaged like playing cards.

Happier day...

Oh, sweet darling girl
I'm so glad you found me.
Oh, sweet darling girl
Your power surrounds me.

Remember me, don't forget me,
I have something true.
My path is dark, my steps uncertain,
unless I walk With you.

-- Believer, Ben Kweller

My day is a lot happier today. I raised myself out of bed. I was greeted by my dear friend in the dining hall. I ate well. I showered. I surrounded myself with music.

Even my Mr. Saturn grass man looks happier today. There's definitely hope in those eyes. Although his whiskers do need a trim.



Me and my sister have planned a visit to our grandparents. That should be good. My Grandfather is unwell. We'll do our best to cheer him up. It'll be nice to see them again and have some non-college food for lunch.

I'm looking forward to heading up for the music festival with my girl, later this month.

My Dearest, no matter how far, or how often I travel, you always make it worth it. You care for me, feed me and look after my physical and mental health. You make sure my studies are on track and my head is in the right place.

I'm sorry for my hypocrisy and stupidity and I thank you for the open arms that always wait for me. Thanks for seeing past my silly comments and seeing how much I care.



Metcards make nice wall-pixel-art, yes?

The tree outside is loosing more and more leaves, but it looks to me like it's shedding the weight that was holding it back, so it can better reach the sky.



Not a biologically accurate analogy, but a pleasing one for a boy greeted with an increasingly skeletal tree out his window.

Enjoy the sunlight.

I will.

TheSovietChairman

Big Rock Candy Mountain

One evening as the sun went down and the jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hiking and he said boys I'm not turning
I'm headin' for a land that's far away beside the crystal fountains
So come with me we'll go and see the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains there's a land that's fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes and you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars are all empty and the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees
Where the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains all the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth and the hens lay soft boiled eggs
The farmer's trees are full of fruit and the barns are full of hay
Oh, I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains you never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol come a-trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats and the railroad bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew and of whiskey too
You can paddle all around 'em in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains the jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again as soon as you are in
There ain't no short handled shovels, no axes saws or picks
I'm a goin' to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

I'll see you all this coming fall in the Big Rock Candy Mountains

Version: Harry McClintock

I love these lyrics. They may embody an approach to life that's unhelpful and idealises so much of what we put to shame; a lack of work ethic, alcohol, theft, etc. They may also make light of the plight of the homeless. Still, they resonate with me today, when the light here's fading...

Just look out my window!



It doesn't look so bad, does it?

Well, let's have a better look, shall we? I spent the morning checking over a group member's essay. Each sentence needed revising. The English was poor, the message was unclear, the references were irrelevant.

I the started reviewing a lecture. After studying and copying and paraphrasing, my ring finger became swollen. I figured my head and my heart needed a break. I left for the record store.

After picking up a copy of There Will Be a Light by Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama and also the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, I figured if anything was gonna sooth my turbulent soul, it would be these fine recordings.

I returned to lunch. It was unavoidably... unhealthy. My spirit and my body felt tarnished.

I proceeded to check my emails. A spark from my beloved sent be spiralling. She objected to a pet name I use for her. It wasn't much. It even contained a clause saying that she was in a bad mood. Still, it set me on a dark path, one I've already traversed for the past few days.

There are nearly three hundred people around me. Many care for my well being, many smile and ask after my latest news.

Yet, I feel like humanity isn't making contact at the moment. I feel like there's some place I should be, a beautiful set of procedures that result in a situation that holds my shape better. Some algorithm would make sure I was there. The place wouldn't be easier to live in. It might be a lot harder. I just wouldn't leave a small trail of rubble everywhere I walked.

That was where my mind was...

Now, look where I was... Or where I am...




The sunlight was trying to penetrate my space, but all I could see was the synthetic light. It was unsatisfying. It still is. There's darkness at the edges, which are too hard to look beyond.

Thinking of yesterday makes me smile. I made a visit to a gallery with my sister. It was fantastic. It had strange creations made of cut-outs from National Geographic and all sorts of strange things inhabited the art space.

Also, I did enjoy the outstretched arms of this parking guide painted on the road.



Rapidly, I'm thawing. Mostly thanks to Vampire Weekend.

I hope someone comes to see me, soon. Just a short visit. I have too much work to do.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. I'm feeling better. I'll be fine, I reckon.

P.P.S. Blogging is so horrendously egotistical. Why would anyone want to read this? I don't know.

Wallpaper battles

While trying to decide on a wallpaper for The Adventures of Hori, Carl and Ann, I chose to approach the problem from several angles.

Firstly, I would try and create a pattern. I decided to take a small peice from a photograph, I took, and then make it so it would repeat forever.

------->>

This worked surprisingly well, when taken out of any context, whatsoever, so foolishly... I plodded on...

I then decided to add some "regular irregularities" to the image. The colour wash served quite nicely. It almost looked like jewels of some description.



Seriously, test out that baby as a desktop wallpaper (on repeat, obviously)! Gives you a headache, doesn't it...

So, in the end, it was easy. What are these stories about? Not much, really. They're unexciting and (dare I say?) quaint.

I just needed a wallpaper that matched that description.

All I did was search "cream floral wallpaper" and it turned up my design of choice in the first few pages. Yay!



I hope you enjoyed that particularly uninteresting tale.

TheSovietChairman

P.S. The moral of the story is: Don't try. Just Google it!