Music: What Inspires You?

On September 29, 2009, in Headcase, Music, by ness

I don’t think that I’ve ever met someone who didn’t like music at all.

Everyone, or so it would seem, likes at least *some* kind of music.

Whenever people ask me, “What kind of music do you like?” I’m at a bit of a loss as to explain my taste in music.

If you had to ask me, what do I listen to most? Then I’d have to say ‘Original Scores’.  Huh?

Yeah exactly. If I had said, “Soundtracks” then it would probably have elicited more understanding, but it would have been too misleading.  Soundtracks are usually just compilations of whatever is popular right now – which as we all know – can be either extremely cool, or very, very annoying. Yet, some of my favourites are in fact from soundtracks.

SO! What I listen to mostly, are things like instrumental scores from ‘epic’ movies.I find it both relaxing, and uplifting, and positively meditatory (it’s a word, because I said so) in most cases.  People like Hans Zimmer, James Horner and John Williams, are truly the Mozarts and Beethovens of our time.

Then there’s the contemporary stuff I like to listen to either because it inspires me to exercise (it’s a short list, but it will get you moving!), or then there’s my career inspirational stuff that I listen to when I need to get into work mode, or build up my confidence etc etc.  Then there are of course the big hair, bite your lip 80′s songs that I just can’t let go of…

So I’m going to share my play-lists with you. Just ’cause.

(These link to Amazon, where you can sometimes listen to a sample for free or buy the MP3 very cheaply)

The Meditating/Imagination Flexing/Brain Expanding List

The Exercise Inspiration!

  • Jump (For My Love) (by the Pointer Sisters) – immortalised by Hugh Grant in ‘Love Actually’ – dancing as the Prime Minister
  • Thunderstruck – ACDC – I think everyone who ever had one foot in the 80′s knows this one.
  • Kiss (by Tom Jones) – because I secretly love the extreme Vegas-ey cheesiness of Tom Jones…
  • Venus – (Romy & Michelles High School Reunion) – by Bananarama (ha ha, yes I know, exercise GOLD)
  • Relax – by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Choose Life – (from Trainspotting)  by Underworld (featuring Ewan McGregor)
  • The Animal Song – by Savage Garden
  • Canned Heat – (from Centre Stage) – by Jamiroquai

The Career Inspiration

The ‘Stuff in the Past’ Stuff That Moves Me Everytime I Listen to It – for Various Reasons which I shall NOT disclose

  • Chasing Cars – (heard in Greys Anatomy) by Snow Patrol…no comment…
  • Beauty On The Fire – by Natalie Imbruglia…still no comment…
  • Hungry Eyes – (from Dirty Dancing) by Eric Carmen…I think we *all* have memories attached to *this* one right?
  • Pour Que Tu M’Aimes Encore – by Celine Dion (she also sang this in English, but it’s the French version that has the memories attached to it)…
  • Missing – by Everything but the Girl
  • Higher – by Creed
  • Love Is In The Air – (from Strictly Ballroom) by John Paul Young
  • Love In An Elevator – by Aerosmith (there was an elevator, in San Francisco, there was me, there was the hot Aussie I was travelling with, nuff said) okay, so I disclosed…

The 80′s Stuff I Love because I used to Perm my Hair and Wear Legwarmers over my jeans…

Actually the 80′s list would go on forever if I let it – but I figure you’ve had enough of me this morning already.

Cool how Amazon gives you a sneak peek (listen) – or lets you download the Mp3 for just $0.99 right? Awesome!

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Dream Holidays…

On September 28, 2009, in Activities, Australia, Fun, Hubby, Law of Attractio, USA, dreams, family, by ness

As if this morning were the time to be dreaming about this, given the crazy amount of work that I have to do – at least the work is totally fun and awesome and I love doing it, which really makes it worthwhile anyways.

My hubby is home on leave at the moment, and right now he’s busy watching one of the Planet Earth episodes, which happens to be covering the Grand Canyon and other amazing things, and it just reminded me of a plan that we had a long time ago, before we were married, and long before the kids were even twinkles in our eyes :) Long before we knew we wanted to emigrate, and were putting every spare cent towards that dream.

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Way back *then*.

To put it all in perspective, when the hubby and I got romantically involved (gosh that sounds very old fashioned doesn’t it), I had just returned from traveling across America, Canada and Australia for the previous  7 months.

I didn’t see nearly as much as I wanted to see, and in fact the Grand Canyon was one of those things that I didn’t get to see. I saw Niagara Falls, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, WY, and pretty much everything from NYC to LA and in-between including being chased by a grizzly in Montana but somehow the Grand Canyon just got away from me, and suddenly it was time to fly out to Australia and carry on traveling.

So I always wanted to go back. The hubby has only seen Seattle and New Orleans thanks to a business trip during our first year together. So we, agreed that one of the things we would do ‘one day’ was to take at least 6 weeks criss-crossing the States to fill in all the gaps.

We agreed that we wanted to do it all driving of course, because you got to see SO much more of the country that way. We would hire a Winabago (complete with the mandatory motorhome insurance of course) with two motorbikes hitched at the back for the more inaccessible off road opportunities.

We would enjoy the great outdoors and wide open spaces and have the time of our lives.

Of course plans change, and marriage and career arrive, and then kids arrive, and then you decide you want to move your family across the globe anyway, and those dreams seem to fade into the background. I say, ‘Fade’ as opposed to ‘disappear’ because neither of us have given up on it, we just know that it will  have to take another format.

We’ll take the kids with us! (A 6 week car trip…hmmm)

I’m not sure when we’ll finally make it there, it may even be a ‘when we retire’ kind of thing now. We’ll see.

But still, we dream the same dream (isn’t there a song that goes like that?) and that is what is important to me, shared vision.

It’s our glue.

Now go and be my comment glue, or you’ll harsh my buzz.

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Busy, Happy Times

On September 27, 2009, in Activities, Big Dreams, Web Stuff, by ness

We were due to visit friends this arvo, but they called this morning to warn us that they’d all become an incubus of viral plague, and that unless we wanted to do the same, it was probably best that we stayed home.

Since both my kids have just recovered from seasonal coughs requiring anti-biotics, we too figured it prudent to rather stay home.

Though these are good friends of ours and I was really looking forward to seeing them, part of me rejoiced at being able to stay home, and more, in particular, in my PJAMAS for just that little bit longer.

After my ludicrously upbeat post the other day, our weather has yet again turned cold, so this added to my desire to spend the day in hibernation. Of course that also means that I got to spend the day playing with my new blackberry phone, and getting the bits and pieces of my online magazine up and ready for launch.

If you’re interested in taking a look at it, so far I’ve added five pieces to it, a book review, a recipe for a yummy potato bake, news about the Harry Potter theme park, a bit about skin care product and review of my swish new Blackberry Curve 8520.

Does this mean that *this* blog is going anywhere? Hell no!

Where else can the anonymous me come and vent?

The online magazine is merely and outlet for me to express thoughts on a professional level, and really it’s a very different niche altogether.

I’m particularly proud of the homepage of the magazine, because of its swish cool interface, with sliding thumbnails and what not, and I’ve even designed the favicon for the site. (A Favicon is the tiny icon you see in your browser next to the address bar – the http bit).

So here’s the thing…would you all be so kind as to go and take a look at the front page at least of the new site, and let me know what you think (either there or here), and if you like it, please by all means subscribe with those RSS readers – it’s all free and open and whatnot.

I’m going to be looking for contributors too – so if you’ve ever wanted to write something for a magazine (whether online or real) here’s your chance and I’d love to hear from you. I’m covering the following topics – so there is something for everyone out there!

Creative: Photography, Graphic Design, Crafts (i.e Scrapbooking, Etsy, Cardmaking, Knitting, Soapmaking etc)

Lifestyle: Home, Decor, Food, Parenting, Organisation, Education

Tech: Blogging, Computers, Mobile Phones, Internet Service Providers, The Web in general.

Entertainment: TV Shows, Movies, Books, Celebrities

Travel: Foreign and Domestic, so from a weekend away locally to grand overseas adventures, to emigration information.

Health: Weight loss, Exercise, Beauty Products etc

Money: Earning, Investing, Saving etc.

Current Affairs: Political Commentary, Eco-Issues, Global Issues and News

Working: With particular emphasis on WAHMs (work at home moms) this is going to be a showcase of individuals, and their talents and how they’re putting them to good use from home. So whether you sell Avon or run any kind of business or freelancing venture from home, I want to hear from you in order to do advertorials.

My big dream is to grow the site to the extent where I can actually launch a real magazine. There really seems little point in dreaming small dreams, when bigger ones are so much better right??

Come fly with me, or you’ll harsh my buzz.

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I Can Feel It Coming In The Air..This Morning

On September 23, 2009, in Activities, Birds, Flickr, Fun, Hubby, Spring, Summer, by ness

This morning, I got up, after a solid nights sleep (oh yes, 8 straight hours) came through to the lounge to open the window to let basement cat out, and a gentle breeze caressed my sleep worn face.  I sat down by the window and took the deepest breath.

Then another.

There was no denying it.

Something in the air.

The smell of fresh earth.

The sweet, constant chirping of baby birds.

The overpowering scent of Jasmine from the bush by our front door which is absolutely foaming with blossom right now…

Could it be?

It must be.

It IS.

Summer.

Just peeping over the horizon…beckoning with her tempting finger. Just when we’d given up all hope of ever soaking up the sun, and boosting our Vitamin D stores, she is here.

Talk to me again in 3 months, when I’m complaining about the heat, and retreating indoors for some respite from the oppressive heat, and pouting about being too hot all the time.

For now, I’m positively delirious with delight at the thought of dipping my toes in the the crystal blue waters of..of….oh…oh…OH CRAP!

“BAAAAABE!!!” I yell from the lounge down the long house passage making several birds fly out of the bush by the lounge window in fright… “YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THE POOL THIS WEEKEND!!!”

———-

After composing this post this morning, I decided for once, that since I was alone in the house, and it was a freaking GORGEOUS Spring day, that it was time to get OFF MY ARSE and go and take some photos in the garden.

Everybody posts flower pictures right? So I tend not to post mine (rebellios trend-bucker that I am…), but this morning, as a nod to Mother Earth, and Gaia, and in praise of this little Blue Bubble bobbing about in Space and Time that we all call home, I give you some snippets of my little patch of Earth.

Feel free to leave comments along the lines of ABSOLUTELY FUCKING GLORIOUS!!

(Best Viewed whilst listening to Jamiroquai’s Canned Heat – because that is what is blasting in my ears right now – causing me to want to DANCE!! Nothing left for me to do, but DANCE!!! You know this boogie is for real got so much canned heat in my heels, gonna dance, gonna dance my blues away tonight….)

———-

Please forgive all the different watermarks, I really need to work on my branding, this goes back to primary school, when the teacher complained that my handwriting was inconsistent (not untidy mind – inconsistent!), and I haven’t settled down since, or, as it were…’ever’.

The Jasmine by the Front Door

The Strelitzia, or as you overseas folks like to call it, the “Bird of Paradise” I think I’m going to flog the hell out of this one on  my Redbubble portfolio, because looking at it makes me SO happy. The colours really ARE that ridiculously garish.

I love how my Canon F1.8 50mm can blur the hell out of the background, so that only the stamen (is there a botanist in the house? That’s a stamen right?) is in focus.

I love this photo. I should have left off the watermark so you could see it without it. I’d just swopped my f1.8 50mm lens for my 17-55mm f4-5.6 wide angle lens, and was coming outside when I saw this flower, getting ready to start enjoying the day just as much as me. I love how the leaves are dappled with light, and how they frame the photograph.

I’m not sure if it’s the 8 hours sleep I got last night, the 2 cups of coffee, or the fact that iTunes is reading my mood and playing all my favourite songs (my whole library is on random) but gosh darnit, I am feeling the happeh right now! I suppose it also helps that I just secured a sponsorship of sorts for one of my other blogs, been offered a mountain of paid reviews and, I’ve begun gathering content for the online magazine that I will be launching soon, and yes, it’s officially SPRING BREAK!!!

This last flower looks a bit like the bastard love child of two totally separate flower genuses (genii?). It’s probably some sort of Tyger lily, but I’m botanically impaired, so lets go with ‘bastard love child’ in stead okay?

Hope your day is (‘was’ if you’re in Australia/NZ ‘will be’ if you’re in the Americas) just as freakishly awesome as mine.

*MWAH*

Now go comment, or you’ll harsh my buzz.

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My Big Fat Greek Dad

On September 22, 2009, in Activities, Fun, Humour, Music, TV Shows, UK, by ness

I posted this video to my facebook profile this week, but for those of you who don’t know me IRL, here it is for you too.

If you love (or hate) Lord of the Dance, you will just about die laughing at this. Nice to see such a great relationship between father and soon too. I can’t embed it – because that has been disabled by request – but here’s the link.

Stavros Flatley

Enjoy peeps – both kids are asleep and it’s time for me to get back to work!

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