No Apologies For Fangirling...

Hey everyone!!

So I'm super excited about a new album- nothing new, I guess? But seriously, I've been waiting patiently for probably more than a month for this one to come out...

Who's heard of Heroes For Hire? If not, I highly suggest you get on it right now. After the very recent news of drummer Lee McGarrity moving on to become a fulltime dad, the band consists of three Sydney pop-punk dudes Brad Smith (lead vocals), Duane Hazell (guitar/vocals) and Chris "Potter" Moretti (bass). As you've probably guessed by now, Sydney trios are kinda my scene. 

One of the things I adore about this band, besides their edgy, upbeat and genuinely amazing style, is the fact that they're genuinely nice guys. Despite their partying ways- but come on, what band of twenty-something year old guys wouldn't?!- they actually take time out to come visit and play for their fans in areas like around here- not something that can be said for a lot of bands, to be honest! I went to a local show on their Just Shoe It! tour back in July, and had the pleasure of having a really nice, down-to-earth conversation with lead singer Brad. It's nice to be reassured that not all bands are strictly around for the fame these days!

Of course, if you're in a band, you're bound to be judged on your musical talent, and these guys definitely do not disappoint! If you're a die-hard Stackette or into the grungy kind of punk-pop that Sydney is worshipped for (or maybe that's just me), mix just a little bit of Ke$ha in and you get Heroes For Hire. Pure genius. Known best for their previous two albums Life of the Party (definitely not so far from the truth!) and Take One For The Team which contain the sexy sounds of 'Bright Lights In Paradise' and 'Secrets, Lies and Sins' and even a cover of 'Kiss and Tell' which instantly transforms Ke$ha's lyrics into anthem material. Also check out the Short Stack documentary for the hilarity and genius of Duane reading off his hand- my personal highlight of the entire film.

On top of that, the guys have a pretty impressive track record (pun not intended). They've braved the crowds to play Soundwave 2012, become regulars along the east coast, and even supported well-known US legends Yellowcard just this month; all the while writing and recording their much anticipated third album, No Apologies. It's been in the works for what seems like the better part of this year, and has got to be the next best thing since sliced bread, I swear. From the tracklist to the guest vocals (Roger Lima of Less Than Jake on 'Face Without A Name' as well as Jeff Todd of I Call Fives on 'Lords of Blacktown'), this album has got to be their best yet. 

Plus, if former prime minister K-Rudd's opinion is anything to go by, it's got to be worth a listen! 

For those of you who've lived a shameful past six years and never heard of them- click away on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The album comes out TOMORROW- September 28. If you can't possibly wait that long, you can stream it online now by clicking here. Happy listening!

Also, just a note from Duane himself that I couldn't bear to leave out- Duane's signature is the best. Just thought it was a necessity of life that you know that. 

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My New Love

Hello internet!

Recently I've discovered something awesome that both PJ and I have come to adore- the wonderful world of K-Pop. If you've never heard of it, grab some popcorn or a bag of chips, maybe a can or two of softdrink and listen in because I'm going to explain the sheer awesomeness of it all.

Basically, K-Pop is the Korean pop music, hence the name. It consists of synth and boy bands much like western pop music, but in my opinion, is way cooler. Think bright colours and eccentric costumes. Or two words: Gangnam Style.

Maybe you already know what I'm talking about given the number of memes like this one:

Or the parodies like this one:

There's no exaggeration when you say that this video has gone viral. PSY (the artist) has even released a second version featuring Hyuna (his girlfriend in the original clip):

I would probably describe the song as the brighter, crazier Korean Pitbull. There's just some little parallels between them!

And how did this love of mine only just come to be? Well, it's a pretty basic story. 

PJ and I were at her place one afternoon, bored out of our minds. We were flicking through the TV guide and discovered that on SBS (don't judge, okay?!) was a half hour show called Pop Asia. We watched in amazement as we saw a whole variety of Korean music videos. Here's a list of some of our favourites (other than Gangnam Style, of course!):

Love Style - Boyfriend

I Love You - 2NE1

Pandora - Kara

Solo - C-Clown

Ring Ding Dong - SHINee

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Part Of The Reason I Am Considered Weird

There are many ways in which I differ greatly from my peers, most of which have labelled me "weird." I don't watch TV, I don't go out on the weekends (walking two doors down the road doesn't really cut it as a social life at high school when you're competing with your partying cohort), I listen to "fake" bands and I actually enjoy the subject of English.

First term of English, our assignment was to write a descriptive prose. I was very excited to get that assignment because I knew I'd end up with a good mark for something I do anyway. A lot of people aren't overly keen on writing, and barely anyone- around here, anyway- would actually do it voluntarily. I guess it was similar to English last year as well, when we were told we were going to be studying Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

There was a collective groan from all the lethargic, bored fourteen year olds who would much rather be kicking around a football or discussing the colours of hair dye in an exclusive cluster in a carefully chosen stairwell as opposed to reading some love story written way back when by some ancient, bald guy. 

I, on the other hand, broke into a grin. Though I never read a Shakespearean play, I was well up for the challenge. Although I personally don't find Romeo and Juliet all that romantic at all, the tragedy of the story intrigued me somehow. I may be a hopeless romantic, but the same "happily ever after" ending time after time doesn't really wash well with me. But it wasn't only that, it was the language! "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou, her maid, art far more fair than she." Language like that is not used every day- most people I know don't exactly appreciate me using vocabulary exceeding eight letters in length! To read language creating imagery so vivid and beautiful is remarkably refreshing...to me, anyway.

And so, with this term's assessment in which we had to choose one novel to read from a list of twenty-something, I chose Jane Eyre. That book, to put it simply, is absolutely beautiful. Even Charlotte Bronte's commentary on the lives of women in the Victorian era, and the way she gave a voice to the oppressed sex of the times through the narration of the headstrong Jane is incredible. Back in the 1800s, it was radical to speak out this way due to the given role of a woman as a loyal and dutiful wife. To all of a sudden have Jane- plain and simple, orphaned and brutally honest- as a protagonist, speaking out against social norms and refusing to conform to the demands of a class based society is incredible.

And again, it's the language. The way in which sentences are constructed- it's not just the same words over and over. And the quotes I can draw from it! One which I relate to is this:

“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.” 

--Mr. Rochester to Jane, Chapter 19

Either way, this is quickly becoming an analysis essay, and if that were to be so, it may ruin the book for anyone who may read it, which I definitely recommend, if you are a reader like me. And so, dear reader, I shall leave you to believe what you will.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Watty Awards 2012

Hey guys!

Usually I'm not into posting to make other people do your bidding, but today I'm going to be a hypocrite. So, without further ado, just a quick little note to ask a huge favour!

As some of you may know- well, I'm guessing everyone as it's rather obvious- I'm a writer, and I really like writing stories. This year, I've decided to try something new and enter a writing competition. 

There's a site called Wattpad where writers can post their work and receive feedback from a whole bunch of different people and gain a bit of an underground following, if you will. You also have the chance to submit one or two stories into their annual "Watty Awards." Basically, you can post a story of any genre on their site, list it under the Watty Awards category and try and get as many votes as you can, and you can win stuff!

What I would love you guys to do is go onto Wattpad and vote for my story! It's called The Last Beautiful Thing and I'm pretty proud of it...I'd like to think it's some of my best work! So if you can PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE WITH CHERRIES AND SUGAR AND ICE CREAM read my short story- it's not long!- and click the vote button in the top left hand corner, I will absolutely love you forever and I will bake you cookies. 

It would be absolutely awesome if you guys could help me out!

Also, if you're awesome at editing and such, please note that I am not so handy and I'd love a hand with the book cover...if you think you're up for it, please help me out if you can!!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Somewhere I Want To Visit Or Move To

Hello world!

This is actually a cool topic that I actually forgot about for some reason...but no matter.

Travel is a really big interest of mine. I love languages and culture and being somewhere different. There's not anything wrong with Australia really, aside from the fact that we have six of the top ten deadliest snakes in the world here. But y'know, that's life.

Still, there's something thrilling about the prospect of going somewhere new and exciting; of seeing something other than your little corner of the world- for me, that's here in a pretty quiet little area where a party popper in a bin- thought, at the time, to be a bomb- was the most exciting thing to happen in pretty much forever.

After the exchange last year, I've got an itch to just get out of here and see more of the big blue ball we live on. There's so much to see- five other completely mysterious continents I've never even been to.

The world is a big place and I've barely seen my own country. I've been to all the Eastern Australian capital cities, and as far south in Tassie as you can possibly go without a lab coat, but there's still two states and a territory that I've never been to. Either way, I would love to go everywhere. I want to see the way other people live; learn other languages; immerse myself in another culture.

New Zealand was a great place to start- for a fourteen year old girl who'd never been away from home for more than a week on school camp, it was the best possible chance I could have to see something new. I loved it immediately- if you've never been, you should go. The scenery is just...well, wow. Three months was barely enough time for me to truly get a handle on just how breathtakingly beautiful that country really is. I also met some amazing people there, and for those reasons, I would want to go and move there for a bit- maybe work over there on a gap year after year twelve.

And then of course- of course- I want to go to Indonesia. Six years I've spent in a classroom learning about their culture and their language and just life on the islands in general- seeing photos of their traditional long houses (lamin) and hearing an abbreviated version of the Ramayana (it's an ancient Hindu epic which, in its full form, consists of 24000 verses in 7 books- so yes, I heard a very abridged version!) has made me long to be there and experience it for myself.

I suppose that much is obvious though, given that it is a big part of what I actually want to do with my life. I want to get involved in international law, particularly relations with Indonesia. I've seen so many media horror stories about all the drug smuggling cases- Schapelle Corby is pretty much a household name now- and the feature on the news about a 14 year old Indonesian boy being kept in a maximum security prison intended, clearly, for grown men. Add to that the fact that he was by no means given a fair trial- he spoke no English and the trial went ahead without a translator....ugh, they call this the justice system...

Well, that was a tangent and a half. I also really want to go to Italy- it may not be anything like the movies but to me it sounds like the most romantic place on earth. Plus lasagna is from there- and who doesn't love lasagna?!

Also on my list is China- I started reading a the Dark Heavens Trilogy by Kylie Chan last year and it got me really interested in the mythology. It's not made up- the author did her research and made up a fictional story based on the real Taoist beliefs- plus I researched it myself after. Yes I am that big a nerd. Don't judge me.

Japan- I still remember bits and pieces from the days of sitting in Kindergarten. All the kids would sit and moan about how much they hated Japanese, while I took to it with a fascination that no one else really understood. Well, it can't really be blamed given that we were between the ages of four and six back then. But I still remember little bits...I can still sing a little song we learnt in I think grade three. Plus, that's where the ninjas are from- you couldn't forget that, now could you?!

And Spain- the flamenco guitar sound is incredible; and the tiny bit of language I learned and forgot in New Zealand made me want to learn properly.

And of course Czech Republic- I would very much like to go there. I met and became friends with a girl from there while I was in New Zealand as she was on exchange at the school as well. She was lovely and even taught me how to say hello in their language- "ahoy!" I wondered what it was like their so I Googled- the pictures were just beautiful.

Anyhow, I'm just prattling on. Basically put, I want to travel the world.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Five Words/Phrases That Make Me Laugh

Considering that today hasn't been all that grand, this is not a bad post to write today...and just a note, they're probably all going to be from movies. Predominantly chick flicks.

1. "Live every day like you're Glen Coco."
If you've ever seen Mean Girls, you'll understand. The kid that gets four candy canes in class? Yeah, him. That's Glen Coco. No face, but is just generally associated with being awesome. Basically, the quote is the world's best way of saying just be an all-round knockout, awesome, amazing, bad-ass human every day. Its meaning, obviously, is kinda sappy and all, but the way it's put is brilliant and definitely entertaining.

2. "That's so fetch!!" - Gretchen Weiners, Mean Girls.
Again, another Mean Girls reference. One which is quoted to the extreme by me and PJ, particularly on the bus on the way home from school, or walking home from the bus stop. Either way, it's overused, which makes it perfect.

3. "What are you doing today, Napoleon?" "Whatever I wanna do, gosh!!"
It's not exactly a chick flick, but God I love this movie; I really do. I watched it with PJ and ever since I have loved it. Napoleon says a lot of stupid, strange and wonderful things, which are fantastically quotable.

4. "I'm not as random as you think I salad."
I don't actually know where it is that I heard and/or read this one, but it entertained me nevertheless. It describes me and my excitable personality pretty much in a nutshell.

5. "You will use the quadratic formula in later life."
This quote is just so ridiculous that I cannot help but laugh whenever I hear it. How many people who aren't maths teachers or some kind of big-shot, super-fancy engineer person will actually ever use that horrible memory drain in their daily lives aside from senior Maths B?

Anyhow, that was brief, stupid, and long overdue. Sorry guys!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Something I Miss

I miss a fair few things right about now. I miss the warmth and possibility of summer; I miss New Zealand in its entirety; I miss the Home Ice Cream truck as it drives down the streets of New South Wales. I miss the salty smell of the beach; the endlessness of a blank page and the fresh leather seats of a brand new car. While I could talk for hours on end about each of these, it is something else entirely that I'm going to discuss.

Don't you love the rush you get when you buy the brand new album that your favourite band has just released? You egg on the download bar on iTunes (because pirating is bad); you open the CD case with trembling fingers for the first time, careful not to break the fragile plastic case, bend the booklet or leave fingerprints on the disc. Okay, maybe the digital download is more common these days, but I still like to buy CDs every so often- the commonality of that is another thing I miss.

But I digress. However you purchase it, it's exciting to finally have this brand spankin' new album in your possession. That's how I felt about every single Short Stack CD I ever purchased. You groan, but please bear with me.

The Stack boys have come to "call it a day", and while it is a saddening reality for Stackettes everywhere, it is also an exciting prospect to see where the break up will lead us next. With Shaun, we've seen just today what exactly is in the works.

Shaun Diviney- or Diviney, to use the name of the new solo project currently underway- has released a brand new track, You're So Cool, which was aired at 7.30pm on Australia's Hot30 Countdown with Matty and Mel earlier tonight, and the video posted on YouTube, reaching 302 views within 3 hours, as can be seen here:

You're So Cool- Diviney

Right from the announcement of You're So Cool's release, Diviney was subject to high expectations. Short Stack's critics would surely be listening for any tiny flaw in the music and be poised and ready for a smooth takedown; former Stackettes struggling to come to terms with the break up looking to point fingers would sit by and/or boycott the music entirely; and of course the true fans, willing to support the boys, hoping not to be let down by some techno-top 40 track.

Personally, I like the new sound; however it is incredibly different to the sound of the Short Stack of former years. Obviously, this is the idea- of growing up and changing styles; maturing as a musician and a writer- but it's what Stackettes are used to and we (including me, but perhaps not you), have loved for the eight years the band was around. As a positive, it reinforces Shaun's capability to create a danceable and interesting track in a vast amount of musical styles; which has been evident since the early days of Short Stack. While still solidly in the pop-rock/punk-pop genres, no two songs sounded the same and each album remains wildly different from the rest.

In addition to the Stack albums is, of course, Diviney's first solo release, You're So Cool. The track is catchy and easy to dance and sing along to, however it sounds very different to the upbeat, fun hooks of the debut Stack Is The New Black (released 2009); the much more mature, darker and edgier, This Is Bat Country (released 2010); and, judging by the two tracks which were released and featured on Short Stack: The Story So Far, the third and unreleased Art Vandelay.

While Short Stack fans used to the dance-your-heart-out nature of Princess, more mature and long term fans may find solace in Diviney's You're So Cool, discovering that the differences in style and sound, realising that these diversities are still true to the tastes of the musician and do nothing detrimental to the prospect of a musical future. I look forward to hearing more works in the near and distant future, and I believe that many long term fans will stand by Shaun on his journey.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Academics

I guess this one is sort of the same as day nine, but hey, why not go for it anyway?

I am a perfectionist, to say the least. My report card has always read well, and my grades are consistently high. For the most part, I like school (not so much the social aspect, however); and I try hard; therefore it shows in my results. 

I'm going to take the calculated risk of admitting that I'm intelligent. I know that sounds really stuck up, but I know for a fact that I am nowhere near dumb. I'm near or top of the class in music theory, legal studies, English, Study of Religion (commonly referred to here as SOR), which means I am near the top in almost all of my classes. Maths, however, has copped a beating over the past couple of years, due to my pure lack of motivation. I do want to do well, but I just don't take an interest in it the same way I do with my other subjects. 

I am, generally speaking, an A grade student, and the occasional B, while acceptable, to a degree, is extremely disappointing. The only times I've had anything less really is back when I was doing PE. Oh, I do not miss those days at all. My lack of co-ordination and general understanding of how a game is suppose to work usually had me at a C, however I usually managed to scrape a solid B with my theory. 

In addition to school, I've been participating in my early uni course. The results came back and I received a distinction for my efforts. Although I would've obviously preferred a high distinction, I was extremely impressed with the mark I got because it involved two speaking tasks- an area in which I sometimes encounter trouble. 

Oral presentations aren't really my thing. I can always pass, usually at about a high B, and always come between the minimum and maximum times, but I really do not like them at all. To me, standing alone in the classroom on show for your many peers and a video camera, is not fun. It's embarrassing, because if I even try to answer a question in class, I go bright red, often stumbling on my words. I'd much rather stay unnoticed at my desk in the corner of the room, working away quietly without speaking a word to anyone. Call me anti-social, but that's the way I am.

Writing is my best ability. I love writing. Any subject that requires me to write, I enjoy. SOR is a lot of essays and academic stuff- plenty of research, and a structured essay with in-text referencing got me an A+ last term. My creative writing piece for English was an A - and I definitely slogged it out on that one, let me tell you!- and Legal Studies required an unseen essay- another A. Writing is my strength and I enjoy it, unlike most people.

Basically put, I'm a nerd and I'm proud of it. I like to put in hard work and get the results as proof. 

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Hopes For My Future

Oh, fantastic; another one of these deep-and-meaningful ones that not many people really, truly care about...

Hopes for my future. Well, this should be interesting, seeing as I have high goals.

I hope to graduate next year with a good OP, preferably a 1, but a 2 is acceptable. For those of you who don't know what that is (most of you, I should imagine); OP is what gets you into a uni course. Given that I want to do law, I need a high OP. And so, I need to work hard to get the results I want, to do what I want to do. Which is fine by me, I don't mind slogging my guts out on homework that much...well, maybe I do. But it's always worth it in the end.

I want to spend a year after I graduate somewhere else. I want to work for a while; see what's out there. I want to be in New Zealand for longer- I really do love it there. I could find somewhere to stay over there and work; get a taste of the real world beyond my little corner of the universe, in the here and now. It's amazing to be somewhere else, to have the chance to start over and be whoever you want to be in a place where you don't know anybody and you can create a whole new persona. There's a chance to be more outgoing; a chance to let yourself fall in love. Anything is possible.

I want to go to university in the city, which will take about five years in conjunction with studying Indonesian. I would love to be fluent in Indonesian; to travel over there and meet people; see firsthand how they live; experience the culture, the language, the lifestyle...and become an international lawyer. I want to help and make a difference to people. I've heard a number of times in the media about unfair international trials...I want to defend people when they cannot defend themselves- I want to do something.

And when I've achieved all of that to some degree, I want to just be. Live my life as it happens. And I'm sure that, as does with most people, my goals will change. But as long as I achieve something, I will be happy.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My Fears

I wish I could say I am completely fearless. However, like everyone, I am afraid of a few things.

I am afraid of getting hurt. Over the past couple of years, I've had my heart broken more than once by several different people; not all of them boys. I don't like to be around people so much because if I get close to them, they'll likely hurt me in the end. So I suppose that's also the fear of fully trusting someone...I don't know. That's my logic, anyhow. 


Losing things that are expensive or somehow important. I tend to get nervous pretty easily, and one of the things that sets it off is losing things that I need. For example, if I cannot find my glasses, or my phone, or my iPod, but especially my glasses. And it's inconvenient, having to stumble around blindly until my stupid eyes can see them. Then there's my phone...I know it sounds immensely weird, but I regularly open my bag, stick my hand in and freak out until I can find it. I've always done it, because I know my parents would kill me if I did lose it. Then I did lose it in January, and ever since, it's gotten worse. Judge me.


Public speaking. Enough said.


Losing people. It kinda goes from the first, but there are a few people in my life who I really couldn't bear to lose because they are just so darn important to me. My closest friends; my family. I know I can be fairly unbearable at times, just because I'm me, and I worry that one day they'll just give up like some people have in the past. I don't blame anyone for that, I know that it was me pushing them away, but maybe one day they'll come back.

That was short, but I am afraid of letting people get too close. Again, that works with the first and last one. The less someone knows about you, the less they have to use against you- that's my logic. I know it's probably not the right way to think, but either way, that's just how it is for me.

Also, sorry I haven't posted this for ages...just trying to figure out what to say.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Five Items I Want

Having a job, I basically have the items that I want which is very amazing. However, being human, there is always something else, something better, that I want. Here's the top five:

1. iPhone

I had one up until early this year, when it was tragically lost on the very day I went to see The Hunger Games at the movies with a friend. I believe that when I got out of the car (dad drove up and I just jumped out of the car before he continued on his way; the usual way of dropping me off anywhere), I knocked it out of the car without realising. Being the dodgy bit of the plaza we were in, we imagine that someone walked over, saw the "score, free iPhone!" and ran off with it. Ever since, I've harboured awful feelings about it- it was tragic, and I had to tell my mum!- and I think (after months of grieving and getting fed up with the downgrade to a keypad) that it may be time to move on and get a new one. Not brand new, but something fairly new off eBay. That works for me.

2. Shaun and Bradie Merch Pack

For ages and ages, I have wanted Short Stack merch. Given that the guys have broken up, it is a given that they will not create any more merch. And coming to this revelation, I have realised, that I need to get a wriggle on should I wish to make my dreams come true. So I trawled through their merch site and found what my very heart desires- this:

3. Nail Art Pens

Being the girly girl that I am, I like doing my nails. I currently have an endless supply of nail polish in every colour imaginable. Pinks, reds, blues, silver and gold; metallic, block colour, glitter and neon. Even glow in the dark! However, the one thing that I don't have is nail art supplies. It's basically more nail polish but it has a thinner brush, perfect for minute detail. You can even get ones that are in an actual pen with the little brush which have a constant flow of nail polish- like my favourite eyeliner! You can do things like stripes, dots, and fiddly little patterns. I have managed to master a French manicure, therefore I feel I am ready for the itty bitty pictures, like Rubix cubes and popcorn.

4. Thomas Sabo Bracelet

When I went on a holiday with the family, I walked past a shop, walked back several steps and resisted the temptation to press my face against the glass of the window. I'd seen something beautiful. It was a pearl bracelet with a red love heart charm and a silver heart charm with the words "kiss me" engraved on it. Pearls hadn't really been my thing before then, and I would never have dreamed of the combination. But it was beautiful, and I loved it immediately. 

5. A Car

I'm not really concerned about makes and models- not at all. I couldn't care less whether it's a Hyundai or a Mazda- I just want a car that runs. However, as much as I want one to learn on, I know that I need to be able to run it- pay for petrol, rego, insurance and, of course, the car itself. So long as it isn't so unsafe that will concertina if it hits something, won't break down in the middle of the road and isn't overly expensive, it works for me.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

A Problem I've Had

I've had some pretty big problems over the past few years. Not necessarily with other people. Though there were other people concerned in a variety of ways, the majority of the problems were with myself. I'm not going to actually go into detail here, because it's over now, but I'm going to be as honest as I will allow myself to be. So here goes:

I've had some confidence issues since...I don't even know when it started actually. I was always a bubbly, happy kid- I was the only one in the class that actually enjoyed show and tell- and I had a pretty big circle of friends. Then we moved  and I guess things changed. 

Nothing was too bad until I started high school. As you're starting in an entirely new place with people from a whole bunch of different places, old friendships die away and other new friends take their places. People drift apart. It's pretty common knowledge and, as I presume most of you are at high school, you may have experienced it. But it happened a little differently for me. 

I kept all my old friends and met a few new people, but not everyone took a liking to me. 

I, being as confident as I was, had no problem being the insane band fangirl I'd always been, however not the way most people deemed "socially acceptable" I suppose. While I obsessed (only in the way of a typical teenage girl, of course) over Short Stack, Simple Plan, Heroes For Hire and so on; 90% of my grade was well into Justin Bieber. Given that I had no trouble voicing my opinions on anything, including him, and that it was a very intense case of Belieber syndrome, we automatically had a rivalry going. Team that with the fact that I was more concerned with books and brains than beauty and boys; I didn't shop at Supre; and that I wasn't their idea of billboard beautiful (think me with braces, bad skin and greasy hair as well as glasses which didn't exactly suit me)...let's just say that there were problems for a good few years. 

Things got bad, and while I won't tell you exactly what happened, I ended up a very unhappy person. I'll leave it there, but perhaps that will explain the strong stance I have on bullying and self esteem issues. At the same time all this was happening, I discovered I had a kind of anxiety disorder. Whenever I was confronted by someone, my hands would shake very noticeably, and when they would call me on it, it would get worse. Not exactly helping the "freak" image, I gotta say...

I guess the problem I had was the self esteem issue. I wasn't happy with myself and the way I came across to other people. Then when I was in New Zealand, I realised that who I was wasn't my problem. I was never rude to anybody, because I knew that would only make my troubles worse, and although I would openly share my opinions with people, I didn't do it in a forcing manner; I kept it lighthearted. 

Something I Am Proud Of

I am, and I think I always will be, extremely proud of covering my entire bedroom wall in posters. It's a trivial kind of proud, but I really am quite proud.

I have the largest room in my house, aside from the master bedroom. I have a six walls in my room, and all are occupied by something. One has my door and my desk; one with my pinboard; one with my wardrobe, one with my window, one with my bookshelf; and another with my chest of drawers. This last one is covered in posters. It also has some guitar picks- three of which are Heroes For Hire (two of the three are Potter's; the last a general Heroes For Hire one) and the fourth is Dylan Nash's of The Never Ever.

The poster wall is my longest wall. To date, it currently boasts 58 posters. I think. I lost count. It's also got my Short Stack autographs on it, my Simple Plan ticket, my On The Pulse ticket, and my ticket to Short Stack: The Story So Far, as well as my picks. I am thinking of putting my drumstick up there...yes, I caught a drumstick at a concert. It was Heroes For Hire and there were all of thirty people there. Lee threw it to me and, me being me, I missed it, but I picked it up off the ground before someone else did. And I brought it home and the rest is history.

The majority of my posters are of My Chemical Romance (there are I think fourteen from a Kerrang! poster book I bought once; and a close second is Short Stack with twelve, which I've just accumulated over the years. For the majority of my posters as a whole, I have no more than two of each. This is essentially what I have:

And on my wall, it looks like this*:

So, those posters are basically my pride and joy. 

I'm tired. 

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

* This photo is not the most recent. I have since updated. And cleaned my room.

Something I Think "What If" About

Ever since it happened, I always wonder, "what would've happened if Short Stack hadn't broken up?"

I know, I know. I sound like an obsessed fan girl, but I legitimately ask this question pretty regularly. What if they'd gone on to release their third album? What if they went and toured? What if they did a bunch of rural shows again? What if they were still together and supported Simple Plan again when they were here? Or Heroes For Hire? What if, what if, what if?

I was actually really looking forward to hearing Art Vandelay in its entirety. Having heard only a meagre three tracks, I knew I'd love it. Bang Bang Sexy was easy to sing along with after only a few listens- light, fun and catchy. New York City Ballet, heard on Short Stack: The Story So Far and played at their Penrith show was a really different sound and made me crave hearing the rest of the album. S.O.U.L., Short Stack's final release was chilling, if only for the fact that the lyrics seemed to sort of reflect the bands break up: "But I've got no soul", "all you did was hold me down." I don't know whether my interpretation is correct or not, but that's how I think of it. 

It cut me that I'd seen the track listing and heard them talk about the album on the documentary with pride in what they'd written, these being:

She's No Angel

Saturday Night

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

S.O.U.L.

Rain On Her Parade

Suburbia

Goodbye

Bang Bang Sexy

Silver Screen

Rich Girls

New York City Ballet

Fight For You

Anyone who hasn't either been around since the beginning or has been a die-hard fan over the years may not know that Goodbye was the first song Short Stack ever wrote. It was recorded and featured on their first self-released album One Size Fits All. I was looking forward to hearing a polished version of that track, as well as a full version of Rain On Her Parade. A majority of the songs on One Size Fits All were incorporated somehow into their first studio album, Stack Is The New Black, and the beautiful, acoustic Darling, I'll Be Your Werewolf" came back as "Werewolves" with strings and piano on This Is Bat Country.

It would have been a dream come true to hear these songs I waited so long to hear- as well as the old tracks I've come to know and love inside-out- live on a stage. I've come to understand the mysteries of gigs which I never did when I was thirteen and desperate to go to their Stack Is The New Black tour, and missed out on when I missed their This Is Bat Country tour.

Although their posters remain proudly displayed on my bedroom wall and their albums have earned their rightful place on my iPod, Short Stack is no more and have moved on to bigger and better things- Shaun to his solo career, Bradie to DJ-ing and Andy to who knows what? Despite me always asking "what if", they have always been destined for more than being a little three-piece band from Budgewoi. They may have done amazing things as Short Stack, but will do even greater things on their own.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My Zodiac Sign

My zodiac sign is Libra. The scales. I have never really been fazed by horoscopes and all, but why not?!

Apparently, Librans are romantic, charming, sociable and easy going, however are also indecisive and easily influenced. We are perfectionists, we can be bossy, we plan ahead. We like beauty, debates and attention; intellectual conversations and mingling. We don't like mess, dirt, criticism, confusion or noise. We are extroverted, graceful, artistic and caring; and our goal in life is to find true love.

I think to some extent that's me. I'm creative, I like intelligent conversation, and I'm a perfectionist, especially when it comes to school. I like straight A's, and anything less than a B+ is hugely disappointing. Put simply, I don't like being just run-of-the-mill. I basically want a flawless report card- although I utterly loathe and detest sports carnivals, the school decided that they would print non-attendances on report cards. Despite desperately wanting cross country day off so I could hide under my bed and pretend that no such laborious day existed, I went, not wanting it to haunt me for the rest of my life. 

I write stories and all, so that's pretty creative, I would assume- creating something from nothing in my mind, and stupid people irritate me. I like to talk about things analytically- I like to explain things, and I like to understand. If someone just cannot or will not understand me, talking with them is annoying. I guess it's part of my perfectionist trait. 

I do like to plan ahead- I have the rest of high school figured out. What subjects I'm going to study, where I'm working, what I'm going to do with my spare time. Well, a rough plan of that. I'll keep blogging, keep writing, keep playing music. Not that that was so hard to figure out, but I know that much. 

I can be indecisive- trying to buy storage space for my room was a chore. I didn't know what to buy, and I spent ages milling around the store, looking at everything but that...procrastination. I like things to go my way- my perfectionist nature shining through- meaning I can be kind of bossy at times. Also, I am very much a hopeless romantic- I have dreamed of finding true love for as long as I can remember- I've always loved fairytales with a happy ending where the prince and princess marry and live happily ever after. Even though now that I've had some kind of experience and I know that's not how all love stories pan out, I know that happy endings do exist in some way or another. Perhaps I've even found one...

However, not all these Libra traits are like me. For example, I'm a very messy person generally- I just have a lot of stuff and no place for it. I don't like being the centre of attention all the time- actually, I don't like it at all. I've given up all hope of fitting in, seeing as I'm loud and crazy, but I don't like being up the front of a class and presenting something. I don't like playing piano for people as a general rule- I compare myself to other people a lot, because I'm never as perfect as I wish to be. 

I'm not exactly the most social of people- usually, I tend to be extremely awkward meeting new people. There are times when it's required of me and I can do it, but I get very nervy working up to it. Even first days back at school after the holidays give me the jitters. Similarly, I'm not really a fan of mingling with a lot of people- I really only need a few friends around me, but even then, I tend to focus on one friend at a time. I don't mind criticism, as long as it's constructive, and I am in no way graceful. I don't move with any kind of grace at all- ask anyone who knows me, it's no secret!

Anyway, I'm going to go and read. 

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

What I Wore Today

Because this is the most entertaining piece of writing in the world... my apologies. This challenge is actually not as interesting and entertaining as I'd originally thought...

Okay, so today I wore an outfit I actually really like. I had a plain, hot pink tank top from Cocolatte with a crochet top from JoJo Designs and a pair of blue denim jeans from Target. When I went out, I wore a black blazer from Jay Jays over the top. Man I love that thing. Hats and jackets are typical of me. I currently have two blazers and a pretty blue frill jacket that I adore. And of course, my favourite boots.

Jewellery-wise, I have a bow tie necklace from Dotti, a pair of white flower earrings from Colette and my staples- my watch, my signet ring and my Pandora. Today while I was out, a cute little Down syndrome girl came over to me and said hello and that she liked my necklace- really sweet!

Wow, how exciting this post actually was. Once again, I am extremely sorry for the extreme boredom this post would've likely caused. For anyone who cares, or for someone who actually wants to dress like me- I strongly advise against it. Either way, it looked like this:

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My Opinion On My Body

I don't think I'm wildly different to every other teenage girl living on Earth. I have my doubts and insecurities. There are days when I just want to roll over and go back to sleep because, in my humble opinion, I look just that bad, and days where I feel like I have to wear a few layers of make up in order for someone else to find me pretty. There are body parts I wish would be smaller and others I wish didn't exist at all. Some days my hair has a mind of its own and other times my eyeliner is just not quite right. 

It's very easy for that to eat away at every little thing. It would be easy to just go back to bed and pretend I never woke up looking like this:

But I know there are things that aren't so bad. I know that my teeth are straight (one and a half years with two plates and then two years of braces was worth it in the end!), glasses don't make someone ugly and not being a stick figure isn't so bad. In the end, I don't mind the way I look that much. I'm not usually so ugly, even though sometimes I feel it.

Honestly, I don't see the point in counting calories or starving yourself. Starving is not healthy. Neither is shoving copious amounts of saturated fat down your throat, obviously, but if you exercise, you can fix that. As long as you're healthy, it ultimately doesn't matter whether you're a size 8 or size 12. No one is going to sneak up behind you and cut the labels off your clothes just to see what size you are. And if they do, that's creepy and you should say something to make them go away.

As I said before, nerd glasses are in, therefore needing glasses isn't really that bad. I was once told that I looked good without them, to which I replied honestly that I just like to be able to see. I mean, why would you actually condemn yourself to stumbling around with flailing arms and crashing into things when there's a quick fix. All it takes is to put on a pair of glasses. Or contacts, if you're that way inclined.

Anyhow, this is me, in all my nerdy glory...

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My Family

My family is pretty average. Mum, Dad, me and two sisters; cat and dog. Mum and dad work; my sisters are both younger than me. I'm the eldest of the three. We live on the east coast, and my extended family all live south in the mountains.

What else is there to say really?

We're all insane. There. A basic trait of our family appears to be that we are all sarcastic and have the same sense of humour. Also, none of us have any qualms about making some witty comeback when someone else does something stupid. Not in a mean way, but let's put it this way: if you can't laugh at yourself, you will never survive in my family. 

For example, the exchange. My family is all Australian, born and bred. Then, we meet our kiwi import. Her accent was very noticeable compared with ours and, in the spirit of the good natured rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, we gave her stick for it. It involved mum buying a box of Smarties and everytime she would say something with an Australian accent, mum would feed her one. Much like dog training, I suppose. If that made no sense, consider "fush and chups" (Kiwi) and "fish and chips" (Aussie). If she would say "fish and chips" like an Aussie (or just 'properly', as dad put it), she earned one Smartie. This carried on for the entire three months. 

I, however, picked up their accent slightly while I was there and came home sounding like some bizarre half breed. I didn't earn any Smarties from my parents, but I did get plenty of imitations of my strange sounding voice!

It's not just in our family though. We also make fun of the TV while we have dinner. Many people that have been on the news over the years have been subject of discussion, as are plenty of acts on Australia's Got Talent. Or, in general, this new TV show, "Being Lara Bingle" which we find utterly ridiculous and a waste of time. I mean, really, who would waste their time watching that?! No offence if that person is you, but it's just not my thing at all. Then again, neither is TV anyway.

Although it may not actually sound like it given that description, my family are actually really nice people and our jokes are just light hearted fun. Mum and my sister are really good cooks- there's always something baked and waiting to be eaten; my youngest sister is one of the funniest people around and is a born entertainer. Dad is a walking musical encyclopedia. 

Anyhow, that's about it because I just really want a Milo.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Song Shuffle

Ah, this should be interesting. Basically, I have to put my iPod on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play. This is what I got:

Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus

The Great Escape- Boys Like Girls

No Truck- Kate Miller-Heidke

For A Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic- Paramore

It's Too Late (Ride On)- Evermore

Capital M-E- Taking Back Sunday

Dinosaur- Kisschasy

It's All Your Fault- P!nk

Heads I Win, Tails You Kiss Me- The Monster Goes Rawrr!

Don't You Dare- For Our Hero

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

How Important I Think Education Is (A Nerd's Perspective)

If you ask me this question, I am likely to respond with the word "very". I know school isn't everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, and some people just do better working than they ever would at school. Which is fine; when you're working, you're still learning. You're learning a specific set of skills that apply to what you're doing as opposed to the general academic stuff that you may not use, depending on what you actually want to do with your life.

Being the nerd that I am and taking on an extra workload through the university and another school, it's pretty obvious that I like school. For the most part. I think that a lot of what you learn at school is important- you may not use quadratic equations or the PEEL structure in your every day life, but when you get to senior, education becomes really important- while the way of teaching something is not necessarily relevant for the rest of your life, I think there is a skill that they are actually teaching you.

That made no sense, so I will clarify.

I, for one, am sick of learning the PEEL structure. If you don't know that yet, it's the formula for writing the body paragraphs of an essay: Point, Evidence, Explain, Link. Maybe your school has a different acronym, or maybe that just got you an A. Who knows. Anyhow, that's been pretty much done to death over the past few weeks for me. In English and Legal Studies it's been drummed into us, and I know I'm not the only one who's sick of it. I also know that there are a whole bunch of people who sit there doing their homework like this:

I think that while PEEL itself is not relevant in any way, shape or form beyond school, however with it is a skill that is. Communication. You need communication skills all the time- how else are you supposed to write a resume?!

The same goes for other subjects. Maths teaches you problem solving. Even though understanding linear functions won't necessarily affect the rest of your life depending on what you actually choose to do, it's problem solving skills. Ever had a look at the worded questions- the big, scary ones- in your text book? Something about comparing this salary to this one and seeing which pays better? Or which admission price is cheaper? That kind of thing is handy.

Anyway, I've had enough of talking about school and education as my brain is now on holidays. And so, I am about to go and eat something and watch some kind of movie.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

What I Ate Today

This is going to be very very insanely boring; feel free to disregard it all as waffle.

For breakfast, I had scrambled eggs and a cup of tea. My favourite.

On my lunch break, I had hot chips from KFC and a bottle of Sunkist. Yum.

For dinner I ate corn chowder, I think. Afterwards, I had a piece of cookies n cream cheesecake. It was left over from my sister's birthday; it was her birthday cake.

Yes, that was boring, but that is literally all I have to say. I really do not care about food at all.

The end.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Five Pet Peeves

There are a number of things that irritate me about humanity in general. However, I have so discerningly selected the five utmost terrible ones for your own enjoyment.

1. People telling me what to do. As a number of my friends have discovered, I am very much my own person and do not, as a general rule, succumb to peer pressure. I do not mind sitting alone in a public space and writing my little heart out, as I am doing now, or choosing not to get wasted at such-and-such's party on the weekend. Because I most likely wasn't invited in the first place, not that I could care less. If someone tries to force me to do something I do not wish to do on my own terms, there is bound to be a problem. Like a time with a dear friend of mine. I was curious about someone, and this dear girl tried to make me get a phone number. And I don't mean the friendly encouragement- that's fine, if it helps you to be a better person. For example if someone's telling you that you should stop being such a horrible person to those close to you. I mean, it was the loud, if-you-don't-do-it-then-I-will-for-you-like-it-or-not. And so I yelled, and she realised the hard way that I did not wish to make any kind of move before I was good and ready, perhaps never. So, if you want to make me very angry, do that.

2. People who cannot spell to save their lives. There is a time and place for text slang. Well, in my opinion, there is none at all. I do not use it, nor can I understand it when other people use it. I am well aware that this is just one of my oddities; one of the things that makes me somewhat of an outcast among 90% of my peers. The other 10% are those who understand the basic conventions of the English language and do not tYpe LyK DI$ all the dang time. Honestly people, if you live in Australia, generally, you would speak English fluently. You should understand that a dollar sign does not substitute for an 'S' in a spelling test, and that your teachers would downgrade your work if you were to randomly place capital letters throughout a sentence. It's all over Wattpad too. Accidentally entering a piece of fan fiction and reading on in horror through the trainwreck story- a plot line which ends after two chapters, afterward ending in waffle. Incorrect spelling and don't even get me started on the grammar. Simple sentence structure is in no way rocket science. CONTINUE LEARNING ENGLISH IF IT IS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO INTERPRET YOUR WORTHLESS DRIVEL.

3. The charming quality of not knowing when to just shut up. I am aware that I have possessed this serious, life-threatening condition at certain points during the past fifteen years of my life- often more recently than I would like to admit- and I would like to take this moment to formally, publicly and genuinely apologise for my inconsiderate ramblings that you really just did not care about. I have dealt with this lately and OHMYGOD if it were perfectly legal, right and just to kill people, there would be a lot less people in the world. If you cannot take a hint that someone is becoming severely angered, hurt, upset and/or just generally has a murderous glint in their eyes while you are saying something that is highly unnecessary- you are showing symptoms of first degree stupidity which could be potentially life threatening. Therefore, it is best for you to just shut up and never speak again unless you can learn this delicate art of reading basic body language. Unless you wish to be smacked in the face by a shovel or stabbed by a fork. In that case, go ahead.

4. People who do not pull their weight in a team. Admit it, as soon as you read that, you thought of a certain person who you wish to endure the same pain and torture you went through in carrying their lazy selves through a laborious task, such as a school assignment. This is the very reason why I utterly loathe and detest sport- most of that is in a team- and why I moan and groan and barely resist the urge to cry when I hear a teacher say the dreaded words: "you will be working in pairs/groups for this assignment." I am aware that to a certain degree this is merely my loner-by-nature attitude shining through. I know that most people, when they hear that sentence, cheer and pair up with their best buddy. I, however, as I am sure many other people also have, have encountered many lazy individuals who either do not understand or just could not be bothered doing any work. Because in being forced to engage in a group activity- which is difficult for me anyway, as I feel very out of place when groups are being chosen and I am usually the last selected- I often end up having to carry the work load as the other person/people's pack mule. No. No no no. This is wrong on so many levels. Just because I am a "nerd" as labelled by many people I have had the displeasure of encountering in my life, does not simply give you the ability to take advantage of my academic determination and coast through on marks I have earned. And so it is for this reason that whenever my marks suffer do to the efforts (or lack thereof, I will correctly say) of a such a person, I have no problem complaining to a teacher about them in order to save myself. Perhaps this is another reason that I am not so desirable as a group member.

5. People who think they are superior to every other human being on the planet. I do realise that the entirety of this post was dedicated to whinging about the lack of brain activity in some people I know, however I will be the first to admit that I am flawed also. I am messy and judgmental and tend to speak before I think, often hurting someone else's ego in the process. Or break their hearts. So yes, I am flawed. I may whinge and whine about people a hell of a lot, but I know that at the end of the day, they're still people just like me. Well, no one's quite like me; that would probably be an insult to a number of people; but we're the same species. No one is so entirely beneath you that they're not worthy of a chance to prove themselves. Just because someone's unique and happy with who they are does not mean that they're damaged, stupid or that they will never find love. You may be thinking that that's ridiculous and common sense, but I've had those exact terms directed at me many times in my short life thus far, and I know that no one deserves outright disrespect from anyone. I'm not saying you have to all hold hands and join in a great big circle of love with everyone you see. I'm not even saying you have to like everyone. Feel free to hate someone if you so wish. But don't set out to intentionally hurt anyone or ruin their lives. Because that makes you a hell of a lot worse than you think they are.

I'm gone. Goodbye!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

My Views On Mainstream Music

Two heaped tablespoons of boy bands, a sprinkle of remix and just a dash of rap. Mix to your desired taste. 

Isn't that all mainstream music is these days?

I know that any tweenie reading this will want my head on a stick for saying I do not like One Direction, nor will I ever, but I'm going to say it anyway. They're a group of young guys who can, apparently, sing. So what? Haven't we seen that same thing with *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys? Do Westlife and Hanson ring bells for anyone?

You'd forgotten about them, hadn't you? 

Boy bands like that are everywhere, from the Jackson 5 to now Big Time Rush and One Direction. They're all over the internet- Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook- everywhere- TV and magazines. One after the other. With every season of talent shows, there's always a boy band set out to be the "next big thing." After their ten minutes of fame, they're gone- washed up like their predecessors. I mean, does anyone even listen to Justin Bieber anymore?

Don't get me wrong- some of them are okay. I don't mind Big Time Rush every so often, and I can say that I know the lyrics to a few Allstar Weekend songs. However, my point is that they're no different from the others before and after them. There is nothing that sets them apart from every other boy band that every tweenage girl has ever wished to marry. There aren't any I can think of off the top of my head that actually play their own instruments or write their own songs. Feel free to add a comment if you can think of any.

And then there's the rest of mainstream music. The section that isn't boy bands seems to be an individual artist with a song loaded to the brim with fake instruments and drum machines; synthesizers and auto tune. And of course, the rapper. Rihanna featuring Eminem. Justin Bieber featuring Usher. Everyone featuring Pitbull. I've heard enough of this kind of music to have the opinion that pop music of late is all one and the same. There's a set formula in place that seems to be the recipe for success. 

And then, when the style of the moment changes, these bands are stuck in their patterns, and most times, if they try to change their style in a desperate attempt to style popular, fans wail that it's not the same, and they're forgotten about. On occasion, there's one or two out of the lot that manage to make a comeback. However the majority wind up on Where-Are-They-Now shows. 

Maybe it's just me. Maybe these bands actually have some talent and are diverse. Maybe there's a reason people so desperately want to be like them. Perhaps I'm just the minority that believes music is about originality and creativity; about expressing and doing what you love not for popularity, but because it's something you love. Sure, the songs are catchy and easy to find yourself singing along to, but are they really all they're cracked up to be?

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Things I Want To Say To An Ex

Dear Ex-Boyfriends,

Where do I begin?

-I laughed at your jokes when they weren't funny; I pretended you were smart, and I spent way too much time with you. But really, you're boring, you have no sense of ambition and don't have much to say about anything. Back then, I didn't mind, but now, I have no idea what I was thinking. You stabbed me in the back, and now you won't leave me alone. We cannot be friends anymore. I hope you understand...Please. Go. Away.

-I knew you were lying, but I pretended I believed you so I didn't get hurt. At least you had some kind of personality, even if it wasn't all that great. It hurt less when you lied to my face than when you went and lied about me to my friend. Did you really think I wouldn't find out? We don't talk anymore, and I'm glad...let's keep it that way.

Essentially, you both suck, and you're not all that good looking so stop being so stuck up.

Actually, I don't know how that post was even worth my time.

That is all.

Goodbye and good riddance.

(And I know it's not in the post, but I'm going to do it anyway to bleach my brain from remembering):

Dear Boyfriend,

These are the reasons I love you:

-You're everything they're not. You have the same sense of humour I do, and you know the ways to my heart without even having to read it.

-You tease me in a nice way that makes me laugh, or hang up on you to get you back.

-You can tell exactly how I'm feeling from the word hello, and you'll help me no matter what.

-You act crazy, and it's impossible not to smile every time I think of you.

-You have the most amazing voice/laugh I have ever heard.

-You're a very good looking human.

-We connect in some way that I can't even explain.

-You're really clever and smart.

-You're good at computery stuff and you help me when I have no idea what I'm doing. And you're the world's best designer as I see it.

-You play piano!

-You don't like sport. Thank god.

-I don't feel like a complete shorty next to you. But you're still a bit taller. Maybe.

-You're honest with me. I couldn't appreciate that more.

-You're perfectEST. Pretty sure I now win.

-You still talk to me, even when I'm grumpy.

"Always I wanna be with you and make believe with you and live in harmony, harmony, oh love.."

We might be far away, but we're getting through it. We're strong enough for this to work because we are us. We are meant to be together, and we will be. I just know it.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Bullet Your Entire Day

Sunday was the most exciting day of my generally boring life, plus I started this post then, so that's when I'm going to bullet this. Enjoy.


7.00am- rudely awakened by my alarm clock. Realised I'd meant to set it for work not school. Change time and go back to sleep.

9.00am- wake up at the right time, get dressed for work and the concert- Simple Plan's Get Your Heart On tour with We The Kings and The Never Ever.

9.30am- Mum made me breakfast because she's one of the top mothers in the state- it was very very tasty.

10.00am- leave for work; get caught in traffic on the way because it was rainy.

10.30am- start working.

1.00pm- have lunch, which consisted of a Vegemite sandwich and a jam drop.

1.30pm- back to work.

2.00pm- begin to fangirl to myself about the fact that the gig is in four hours.

3.30pm- sweep the floor, still fangirling.

4.00pm- mad dash to the car, keen for the concert in TWO HOURS!

4.30pm- eat a hotdog which my top mother in the state made for me.

5.00pm- ensure I look like a human so I don't have "My Alien" dedicated to the girl up the back.

5.30pm- go over to PJ's, drop my phone, run back to pick it up, continue on my way and drive to the venue.

6.00pm- get into line- luckily we were at the front!

6.30pm- manage to get tomato sauce on my shirt *slow applause*

7.00pm- finally in!

I do not know any times after this, because I was too busy having fun to check my watch. First up were The Never Ever who were so amazingly amazing...their set list was as follows:

• At Sixes and Sevens
• Love's Got Me Tipsy
• Breathe
• Drop Dead Guilty
• Hey Kt

I am very, very proud to say that I could sing along to every word. Here's Hey Kt for those of you that couldn't make it:

Although it ended too soon in my humble opinion, next up were We The Kings. Despite PJ's fear that Travis Clark had cut off his mane of red hair, when they came onstage, it was all still there. They dove straight into the music, talking throughout it and OHMYGOD if you think Travis sounds amazing recorded- it's just as good live, trust me, as well as a sense of humour and a ton of charm. Their set list?

• She Takes Me High
• Skyway Avenue
• What You Do To Me
• Secret Valentine
• We'll Be A Dream
• Say You Like Me
• Every Single Dollar
• Check Yes, Juliet

And of course, afterwards, on came the band I have adored since they were in New York Minute when I was eight (Yes I watched that. I have it on DVD. Don't judge me!)- Simple Plan. The lights dimmed; a bunch of screaming humans. Including me. Lights flashing; glaring out into the crowd when they walked onstage..OHMYGOD.

The set list? Here:

• Shut Up!
• Can't Keep My Hands Off You
• Jump
• When I'm Gone
• You Suck At Love
• Addicted
• Jet Lag (which they sang with Christina Perri)
• Astronaut
• This Song Saved My Life (my favourite song)
• Summer Paradise (in which there were a bazillion beach balls bouncing around the room, and the band was joined onstage by a shirtless Travis Clark...not hard to imagine the reaction of the girls in the room)
• I'd Do Anything
• The Worst Day Ever
• When I'm With You
• My Alien
• You Don't Mean Anything
• God Must Hate Me
• Loser Of The Year
• Welcome To My Life
• Crazy
• Perfect
• I'm Just A Kid

11.00pm- get back in the car and drive to Macca's; get fries and a raspberry slushy- those things are the best!

11.30pm- arrive back at PJ's; get ready for bed

12.00am- climb into bed and fall asleep.

THE END.

The night was absolutely amazing and beautiful and perfect and I cannot seem to comprehend the fact that it's now been and gone.. how can it be?!

Anyhow; I'm off...

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo