The play and the play thing

Well, I've had a lot of fun over the last few hours. Last night I saw my mother's production (she was musical director) of The Sound of Music, with the Lighthouse Theatre Company. Fantastic show. A real showcase of the talent we have on the peninsula.

Yesterday I also received the parcel that had been waiting for me, waiting to greet me and tell me how it loves me and show me its wonders. You guessed it! The Mother 3 Handbook! I was particularly impressed with the clay models, entertaining writing and fan references.

Truly a work of dedicated fanaticism. People, don't spend your passion on war or heartache, but on intricate works on fan art.

The handbook, if ordered early enough, came with a "courage badge" keychain. I don't have any keys, and I like wearing necklaces, so I did what any Mother 3 fan would do... I made a courage badge necklace! Yipee! The people at several jewellery stores were very helpful. It cost next-to-nothing and none of the work cost anything.

Here it is below.


The cross below is necklace I normally wear. It was a Valentine's gift from my beautiful girl and is dearer to my heart (at least the two loves it symbolises are) than any piece of fan art could ever be. It's much nicer and I'll continue wearing it every day, however... my courage badge, if worn in the right nerd circles, one day, will score me a knowing look or an appreciative glance and it'll all be worth it. Oh, yeah. It also deflects lightning attacks.

Procrastination Nation

"I don't even know the location of the bike sheds"
--School Uniforms, The Wombats

All it took was some progress on an assignment to get me comfortable with the idea of taking a break, then some clever lyrics, and now look at me (figuratively). I'm posting about nothing in particular.

Actually, what has taken my fancy at this moment is the clever soundtrack to 2D BOY's, World of Goo, by Kyle Gabler. So many clever musical moments; from the witty Red Carpet Extend-o-matic to the epic finale of World of Goo Ending. Definitely worth a look-see. And it's distributed free. Couldn't really ask for more, 'ey?

Speaking of free soundtracks (or not), one that is worth paying for is the Mother 3+ album. You'll find fantastic renditions of D.C.M.C.'s hits by the Crazy Ken Band and a vocal version of Theme of Love by Taeko Onuki. The Mother 3i album may have more of the main songs and themes, but the + album is worth it for those who really fell for the D.C.M.C. troop. I especially like track 5, Mr. Great's Theme/A Great Person's Theme/Big shot's Theme (too many translations!). It's a hilarious parody of the auspicious theme of the Pig Mask Army/Porky himself.

Tonda Gossa!

Well, I finally designed my own button for the link to the Mother 3 translation page (the black one in the side bar). It's almost identical to the old one, but with the official heading graphic and nicer anti-aliasing on the text. It's also lacking the official motto: "Strange. Funny. Heartrending." It's a fantastically appropriate motto, but it just wouldn't fit.

My sister just called. She's about to help me with my essay.

Much love,

TheSovietChairman

Multimedia nausea, bushfires and family

Wow... It is seriously easy to occupy one's time in the vast expanses of cyberspace. In an attempt to complete an assignment, I was proud of myself for only wasting an hour online before I sat down in earnest to complete the task at hand. An hour is still an hour.

Ducks don't need satellites. Truer words have never been spoken. Thanks for that, Kate.

Music, along with so many other forms of multimedia permeate our existence to such a degree that I often feel nauseous. Not in an elitist, judgmental way. I'm sitting here doing my homework, listening to Kate Miller-Heidke. Oh, now it's Antony and the Johnsons. Fistful of Love. It really is beautiful. Oops, sidetracked. Another side affect. I meant to say that in a very literal sense, I feel ill in the stomach. I go to bed after checking my email on my mobile phone and perhaps chatting for a while on an instant messaging service. I wonder why my eyes are sore and my stomach turns. I think to myself, what could have caused this? I've only been listening to music on my phone, playing games on my laptop, doing online worksheets for uni on my laptop on the train on the way to my amazing girlfriend's house, (oooh, now it's Gimme Some Lovin', The Blues Brothers) relaying my thoughts to the world (yes, all seven people in the world) via this blog while watching DVD episodes of Life on Mars (the UK version, obviously - nobody should bother with the US one) and eating a tasty chickpea salad with french toast. Hmmm... Could it be the french toast? My head feels ill with all the screens that hold my ever-shortening attention span.

Ah, well. Problem acknowledged. As reward I might play a little Diablo II.

(The Real Man, Yoko Kanno)

It's time to get back to my maths sheet. The first few answers came a little too easily, so I rewarded myself (I do love to reward myself) with a chance to post. All this while, my beautiful girlfriend is slaving away at the hospital, fifty metres down the road. She's an intern. Way to make me feel inadequate (Cardiac Arrest, Madness - perfect song to come on right now - I have always appreciated the importance of slowing it down and not stressing). She hosted a top dinner party last night (an excellent chance to meet up with her hospital pals). she put on a professional spread. All I could supply was a professional smile. It was thoroughly enjoyable. I'm pleased to leave her in the company of the troupe I met last night when I trek back to the beach.

Although I did feel like a bit of an idiot for forgetting one of her close friend's names after meeting her for the third time (Saltwater, The Cat Empire).

I'd like to end on a less trivial note. Victoria has been devastated by the worst bushfires in history over the last few days. Many lives, homes and workplaces have been lost as the fires burn entire communities to the ground. All the while more destruction occurs up north with the torrential flooding. The cyclical irony strikes again. My prayers go out to the farmers up north and the Victorian families who have lost everything, from family members and friends, to the roof above their heads. I pray for the fire fighters and I thank God for the swift offer of help from the military by the Prime Minister and the aid packages on offer from the government. I also thank God for the charity in the hearts of everyone offering spare rooms, houses, shelter, etc. in response to this tragedy. Thank you for watching over me in my travels to visit my girlfriend, whose house is mere kilometers from where one of the fires raged. Give strength to the communities as they rebuild, and pull them together in faith.

It's been good to spend time with my family, despite tho odd sessions of tension, and my love goes out to all my family, those on the peninsula, those in Melbourne and the girl next to the hospital in regional Victoria.

Hope you're all safe (Lucky, Radiohead),

TheSovietChairman

P.S. (Fantasie Sign, Carla Vallet)

P.P.S. (Where Have All The Good Times Gone, The Kinks)

P.P.P.S. Ok, the music is turned off now. I'm going for a walk.

P.P.P.P.S. I know it's ridiculous, but just wondering... Who's the Sydney-sider among my readers?

Showing off

It took me ages, so I'll claim bragging rights. My CD collection has finally been ripped to my new computer. Rejoice, all!

TheSovietChairman

Hiccough or hiccup? I think I prefer hiccough...

I've been having too much fun with everything recently; from the restaurants to the clubbing last night to the sunny walks to the juice bar this afternoon. Hopefully this means I'll be in the right frame of mind when it comes to my job interview tomorrow. I had a little hiccough in the fun this afternoon, but hopefully things will smooth out in time. Mostly it's been fantastic!

We had a proper conversation (as we've been calling it) today. It was fantastic. We talked about upbringings and general philosophies. It seems better every day.

There's something strange I've noticed. Whenever I have doubts, she's sure of our relationship and how right it is. Whenever she has doubts, I know that we're fantastic together. It's probably just coincidence, as we haven't really had time to doubt. Overall, I'm sure that we'll look out for each other and that our amazing honesty has really helped us get to know each other and will help through further hurdles. She seems stronger and more relaxed and I'm getting better study and eating habits. Don't get me wrong, I eat healthy -- just in extremely large quantities.

Hmmm... After reading that, I've decided something. No more relationship blogging for at least the next five blogs. Hopefully that'll make it more readable.

Now, I'm going off to sing something by the Barenaked Ladies while nobody's in the apartment. Oh, and check the bus timetables to get back home from the station...

Ta ta!

TheSovietChairman