What I really wanted to write…

was something about my philosophy in life. About my world view.

One of my friends once told me that if she viewed the world the way I do, then she would probably want to commit suicide. I told her that the fact that she would say something like that means that she doesn’t view the world the way I do.

But it’s difficult writing about a philosophy. Most philosophical texts are dense and cumbersome. I don’t want that. And what are the chances that I could be understandable, consistent and convincing, all in the space of a blog entry? And to be honest, I'm not even sure that I can be bothered.

So I thought about another approach. By using some sort of analogy. A story to illustrate what’s going through my head. But here, there’s a problem of either (a) being too preachy, or the flipside (b) being too vague. And neither one is something I’d really want.

So instead I just watched some late night TV and I thought about this during the commercials when they were bad or when it was that beer one where the guy’s tongue goes off looking for a beer. And then I snacked on Twisties and drank some water and thought about the night before when I was talking to my mum and sister about religion. And then after that I went to bed. There was some new show on Channel 9 about justices and the supreme court and so forth but I didn’t wanna watch that.

So now I’m writing this while I’m at work. During my lunch break. And I realise that what I really wanted was to write about my philosophy in life. And instead I wrote about writing about (or not writing about) my philosophy in life. But I suppose that’s OK too.

Just got the call from the agents, and so...

Along with my dear sister, I am now officially a home owner.

That also means I am officially broke.

And officially distracted from work.

But I am officially happy.

And officially, or unofficially, that must count for something.

xtn, etc. the soundtrack

UPDATED

It seems I gots blogging fever again. I actually feel like posting all sorts of crap now. Yay for me!

xtn, etc. now has an official soundtrack to accompany this blog. It’s basically a collection of all my favourite downloads from this year that may or may not have had something to do with inspiring me to write the stuff I've been writing about. Listen to it while you read this blog. Or other people’s blogs. Or your own blog. Or just while you work. I know I do!

So order your copy now and you too can have the complete xtn, etc. experience!

Or conversely, you can just look up each individual song on the net yourself. They’re all there. After all, where do you think I pilfered (they were all legal actually!) them from?!

Here’s the songlist.

Abra Moore – Someone else’s mess
Jack Johnson – Posters (live)
Tegan and Sara – Come on kids
Jason Mraz – Curbside prophet (live)
Ben Kweller – I don’t why
Maroon 5 – Harder to breathe
Remy Zero – Out/in
Norah Jones – Bessie Smith (live)
Stephen Speaks – Out of my league
Josh Joplin Group – Camera one (acoustic)
Oskar Saville – Don't cry for me
Abra Moore – Trip on love
Badloves – Caroline (live)
Pete Murray – Bail me out
Jason Mraz – On love in sadness (live)
Rilo Kiley – Paint’s peeling
Norah Jones – Feeling the same way (live)
Jack Johnson – Inaudible melodies (live)
Stephen Speaks – Passenger seat
Vienna Teng – Lullabye for a stormy night
Tegan and Sara – Your love (live)

Now I'm off to design a cover!

2 minute hate

Even though I mostly live my life through very cynical eyes, there are times when something or someone comes along and I think that this time it’ll be different. Somehow it’ll end up well with this one. That’s what I thought about you but I was wrong. Or maybe it’s just that given enough time, everything converges to a finite point. Certain death if you like. But either way, it’s your fault. And now I’m resentful. Mostly because it’s not like things just fizzled over time with us. You left. I’ve been discarded and I know that somehow you’ll make it like it was just a time thing. That we grew apart. Or worse — that it was my fault. But it’s not. It was all your doing. And I am a resentful, petty little man and so I feel like saying these things.

But yeah. That’s all I have to say.

__________

I saw Jason Mraz on Sunday. Other people have written about the concert so I won’t. He was good. I liked it.

__________

This whole thing about me looking like Chow Yun Fat is kinda getting out of hand. Really. I mean, it’s a flattering comparison and all. And I am quite a fan of his work. But last week, these people just came up and asked to take a picture with me. It used to be mostly Honkies (or I suppose other ethnic Chinese races) who would see a resemblance and yet be too shy to mention anything until a more appropriate time. And then people would have a nice little laugh at it and we’d all move right along. Now it’s strangers. Even non-Asians. I don’t really know that I’m complaining here. But it’s just beginning to feel a little creepy.

Three posts in under a week. Wow! This one was inspired by my lunch this afternoon. You know the tune. Just sing along.


Killing me slowly (with chicken)

I heard he cooked a good chook, I heard it has a style
And so I came to see him and ate there for a while
And there it was this chicken, 11 herbs and spices

I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken

Feeling all flushed with fever, a Pepsi cooled me down
I had the Hot and Spicy, it tasted good I found
With potatoes drowned in gravy, a Picnic bar as well

I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken

This chicken made me smile in all my dark despair
But when I ate the last one, there was nothing left there
Except a greasy sore throat, and another year off my life

I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken

Yeah it tasted good
But it was killing my life

Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken

Hi. I just wanna quickly recommend some things. And then I’ll go. I’m just afraid they might slip by unnoticed if nobody says anything about them. A film and two CDs.

Secretary
A film, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Directed by Steven Shainberg
I guess this isn’t a film for everyone. And I couldn’t imagine how anyone could make a film about S&M be both ‘nice’ and even ‘cute’. But this movie, in my mind, achieved that. It’s about a lawyer and his secretary and the interesting relationship that develops between the two of them. There’s nothing hardcore about this. There aren’t even any whips and chains. Just good old-fashioned spanking and crawling around on all fours. It’s essentially a romantic comedy. Just with a bit of kink to it. It doesn’t try to preach, promote or educate. It’s not serious enough to be pretentious, yet it never lowers itself to the level of parody. It strikes a nice balance. Probably my favourite movie of the year so far. Go see it if you feel like something off-beat.

__________

Songs about Jane
Album by Maroon 5
I discovered this band on Amazon.com. It was one of their recommendations based on other CDs that I enquired about. They’re a pop band that might appeal to the same kind of fanbase as John Mayer and Jason Mraz, although they sound more like Jamiroquai or The Brand New Heavies — just with a harder rock edge to them. I know the CD’s available in Australia somewhere. I just haven’t been able to locate a copy as yet.
Favourite tracks: Harder to breathe, This love, Sunday morning.

If it was you
Album by Tegan and Sara
This is actually the second album by these two Canadian sisters although I’d never heard of them until now. And they’ve come at the right time with the current explosion of the whole ‘chicks with guitars’ thing. They’re a little hard to explain. Kinda somewhere between punk, folk rock, and Josie and the Pussycats. Make no mistake. They’re a pop outfit. But they’re raw and energetic and actually sound like they’re having fun. I imagine this is how Avril Lavigne wishes she could sound like.
Favourite tracks: Time running, City girl, I hear noises.