Diversity is the root of growth, and my interests are many, although it's nigh on impossible physically and financially to get around to exploring everything, especially when something new drops in your lap.
I don't have an addictive personality, so I don't pursue interests per se with a driving passion. I'm open to new ideas and experiances as they provide a constant source of personal growth. I'm back into dance classes - ballroom, latin etc, but not Dancesport. I hack out the occassional piece of prose, but I'm far from being able to call myself a Poet.
I've tried my hand unsuccessfully to write short stories over the years, but over the past few years I've found works of prose popping into my head, that seem to make sense when read. Most are influenced by my emotional state, being one that leads from the heart. Lately though I have been able to grab a thread of inspiration and weave it into a work without it feeling as if it had just downloaded from somewhere. I've had good feed back from friends and colleagues, but of course a broader recognition would be nice, and give me a real sense of accomplishment. I've done an Open Mike which I found the thought daunting until I actually started to read, and then I fired up and had a ball especially as my work appeared well received.
AFL and other Blood Sports Free Zone.
The one thing that does burn within me is a desire to travel again, and possibly stay awhile, finances allowing. Travelling with a partner would make it so much more enjoyable.
Most of what's on Triple J except majority of Hip-Hop/cRap,and this new fangled incoherent screaming/noise that passes as modern Heavy Metal(which I found has been around since the early 80's). Otherwise E.G:
- Arcade Fire - Ash Grunwald - Bloc Party - Camille
- Dirty Lucy - Evanescence - Franz Ferdinand - Feist
- Grinspoon - Howling Bells - John Butler Trio - Killers - Kavisha Mazzella (Not on the j, but fantastic songstress, and a great voice)
- Metric - My Chemical Romance - Nickelback - PJ Harvey
- Pendulam - Queens of the Stone Age - R.E.M. - Scissor Sisters - Tegan & Sara - (The) Verve - Wolfmother
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Can't forget Bowie & Queen of course the Divinyls.
When not listening to the J, I go on-line to Canadian station CFNYFM 102.1 The Edge, out of Toronto.
Also have a small Classical collection; couple of Enya, some Folk Rock and I can't ignore the vinyl dating back top the 70's & 80's. Like above, I'm open to new music and artists.
Gigs so far just to show the spread of my interests:
The Waifs - Palaise, St Kilda 2004
Kavisha Mazzella - 2005
Eagles of Death Metal - Palace, St Kilda 2007
Mossvale Park Music Festival 2007 [posted a few pics]
Maldon Folk Festival 2007
Movies
Sci-Fi and Action mostly. There is enough angst driven drama in real life.
-Local Hero
-Scent of a Woman (great Tango scene)
-Lord of the Rings (good enough reason to check out NZ)
-Star Wars
-Star Trek
-2001: A Space Odyssey
-Blade Runner
-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
-I 'fess up to liking the Bruce Lee movies, but I was training in Tae Kwon Do before he hit our screens, not after.
OK, I'll sit through a Kleenex Rated movie and Arthouse with the right companion (who would not in turn be required to sit through a Hollywood plastic fantastic - aint I nice). These days I mostly get to the movies with work as part of the social club at the local Village Gold Class.
Not into Slash n Shock horror; juvenile type comedy flicks such as American Pie.
Television
That lil box in the corner of the room? Now and again I'll actually fire it up and watch something that catches my eye. Not Soaps - definately not Soaps, and not sport. I keep missing Dr Who and Gardening Australia.
Books
Mostly fiction, a few cook books (OK: 30) and a couple of How To's.
Heroes
None. Is that sad? No one to look up to. No one to set as a role model. An older brother/mentor would have been nice, but I was first born so that shot that one down.
I steer clear of 'Stars' as hero's as they tend to be less than the hype around them - that is ordinary people (which in itself is admirable), and some believe the hype about themselves a lil too much.
About me: Heads up Browsers: I may be a normal red-blooded hetero male, but I will NOT be accepting any Friends requests from 20 something babes (or guys) unless I know you, or are referred by private email from an existing Friend. I want real friends here, not spammers/webcam girls etc etc.
Get it: Got it: Good! Or I'll come 'round your 'ouse and rip yer bloody arms orf. An' I will too!
Back to the boring, but required reading bit if you want to know a lil more about me:
I'm just an ordinary guy trying to get by in an extraordinary world, but finding that soap operas aren't restricted to the small screen or the gossip pages of womens magazines.
However: They say "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Baggage is history that rules your life, and possibly makes you bitter, or at least unable to have the future you should have. If you can survive the angst and turmoil, you'll find a new you rising from the ashes - unless your a complete and utter Troll/Trollette who deserved what he/she got. In that case learn from the mistakes or suffer to repeat them.
We travel the road of life, and on occasion we come to a divergence. Some people decide to carry on. Some decide to travel on the new road and in a completely different direction than before. We may not like it, but such is life.
I don't claim a great intellect, but I do get by rather well in a job most would find a little daunting -town planning compliance. It can be fun, and I get to meet some great and not so great people. With the latter, justice is not something poetic, but actual.
I have two adult sons (neither at home), and a cat that adopted us a few years ago.
I'm one of those types that can take a little while to warm up (except when getting out of bed - once both feet hit the floor I'm awake). But if someone gives me something to bounce off, then at times it's like lighting the blue touch paper on a firework rocket: Stand well back.
How to make a Khul
Ingredients:
3 parts nut
5 parts courage
5 parts love
Method: Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Top it off with a sprinkle of sadness and enjoy!
Who I'd like to meet: Gig buddies ~ Anyone out there in the Melbourne area? See 'Music:' for a guide. I've been solo to a couple of events, but it takes at least two to party. Big events or small gatherings, loud, quiet or in-between. It's all about the music and socialising.
The man with the big lottery win cheque in his hand with my name on it would be rather nice too. Money is not the be all and end all, but rather a handy tool to have around.
I'd like to meet a couple of chat pals from overseas, and I have a lottery ticket arrangement with one long time chat buddy in Canada as well as a promise of coffee the next time I get up there.
