(no subject)
Gah. Failure haunts me at every turn. Well, maybe not on the final I had today. I was referring more to my failure to get a ride to Christchurch. I've been trying to get out of Dunedin for weeks, and this is my last chance before I get out for good. Anyway, the current plan is to leave tomorrow morning on the bus, take a beautiful train ride to Greymouth on Monday, spend the rest of Monday and Tuesday hitchhiking in the general direction of Queenstown and possibly seeing sights, and get back on Wednesday via bus, in time to study some more for the final on Friday. This would be a lot simpler if I had gotten to Christchurch tonight, but oh well.
I can't say that I'll be too heartbroken to be heading home in 12 days, mostly because I'll finally be in a house where I can't see my breath. It is really ridiculously cold in this house. Think Seattle in January, but with really poor insulation and without the concept of central heating. It hasn't been that bad until recently, when the sun stopped showing up and it always seems to be on the verge of snowing. There have still been good times here, though. A couple of great concerts, and the experience of dancing to music that I actually like, as opposed to overplayed power ballads, techno remixes of "Country Roads," and that fucking "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" song.
Recent reading:
Vladimir Nabokov - Pale Fire
Y'know, he's a brilliant writer and all, but his habit of hiding important plot points in barely noticeable places early in his books gets kind of irritating. Anyway, now I know why there was that alien named Lord Kinbote in that X-Files episode. Speaking of which, Charles Nelson Reilly died. Sad.
Tove Jansson - A Winter Book It's very good and I'm still in love with her even though she's dead and liked girls anyway, but they totally didn't pick the best stories from Sculptor's Daughter. A bit haphazard, but redeemed by the amazing collection of messages that she received: "We look forward to your valued reply soonest concerning Moomin motifs on toilet paper in pastel shades." "Last night they came in again. They're everywhere. Please come, I implore you." "You are a really sinful person on top of everything else, but don't think you're safe, you're being watched every moment because we're there and we're waiting"
Amos Tutuola - The Palm-Wine Drinkard
Utterly disorienting book written in the 50's in English by a West African. Immediately induces a "holy shit this is awesome" reaction from me in a way that very few books do. You should read this.
Recent watching:
A bunch of old Dr Who episodes on youtube. Apparently after everyone stopped watching in the mid-80's, the writers decided to make the show interesting again, and to start getting really high. "Ghost Light" is fucked up.
The UGK/Outkast "International Players Anthem" video. This is ridiculous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0JOGyFItDE
I can't say that I'll be too heartbroken to be heading home in 12 days, mostly because I'll finally be in a house where I can't see my breath. It is really ridiculously cold in this house. Think Seattle in January, but with really poor insulation and without the concept of central heating. It hasn't been that bad until recently, when the sun stopped showing up and it always seems to be on the verge of snowing. There have still been good times here, though. A couple of great concerts, and the experience of dancing to music that I actually like, as opposed to overplayed power ballads, techno remixes of "Country Roads," and that fucking "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" song.
Recent reading:
Vladimir Nabokov - Pale Fire
Y'know, he's a brilliant writer and all, but his habit of hiding important plot points in barely noticeable places early in his books gets kind of irritating. Anyway, now I know why there was that alien named Lord Kinbote in that X-Files episode. Speaking of which, Charles Nelson Reilly died. Sad.
Tove Jansson - A Winter Book It's very good and I'm still in love with her even though she's dead and liked girls anyway, but they totally didn't pick the best stories from Sculptor's Daughter. A bit haphazard, but redeemed by the amazing collection of messages that she received: "We look forward to your valued reply soonest concerning Moomin motifs on toilet paper in pastel shades." "Last night they came in again. They're everywhere. Please come, I implore you." "You are a really sinful person on top of everything else, but don't think you're safe, you're being watched every moment because we're there and we're waiting"
Amos Tutuola - The Palm-Wine Drinkard
Utterly disorienting book written in the 50's in English by a West African. Immediately induces a "holy shit this is awesome" reaction from me in a way that very few books do. You should read this.
Recent watching:
A bunch of old Dr Who episodes on youtube. Apparently after everyone stopped watching in the mid-80's, the writers decided to make the show interesting again, and to start getting really high. "Ghost Light" is fucked up.
The UGK/Outkast "International Players Anthem" video. This is ridiculous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0JOGyFItDE