More Magic stuff

Back with a new chapter!

Woohoo!

Here you go!

Cheers!

The basketball bit (if you don't care, then skim through or skip entirely)
Tonight we lost yet another basketball game and I think it's all beginnng to be a blur. I know that we've never played together and some of our players are new to the game etc. But I don't even think we're playing the best with what we have. And I certainly haven't played my best. Thing is, for me to play my best, I need to be practicing more, training more, get fitter, lose some weight. But you know what, I don't think I can be arsed. I have this idea of me on the court. The kind of player I am. The idea is based on my memories of how I used to play. A whole lifetime and about 15 kilos ago. I used to have so much energy, so much hops. And the game was much more enjoyable. Starting out playing with taller people, I've always envisioned myself playing outside, as a facillitator and defender mainly. I would score in a pinch too. Good for about 10 a game. Now, I try to score more but am more often than not unsuccessful. The one part of my game that remains (more or less) intact is my pride and joy driving game. I still feel that I can drive against just about any defense. Only thing is, I can no longer finish. My hands just don't move like they used to. My mind don't either. Thing is, I'm starting to question whether I was really ever as good as I thought or if I was just playing against really crap competition. That seems unlikely though. I know I was more motivated before. Now I'm kinda on cruise control. Anyway, I'm bored talking about this. I should think of more ways how we can win.

The writing bit (and life and stuff)
I started writing again last night. Wrote a page of my Magic story but then I had to stop. I'm in the worng mood to write. I haven't written any more tonight. That's why I haven't blogged either. I have so little to say these days. That's also why I've put on hold my next big personal writing project. I need to feel excited again. The only things that I feel excited about these days are work possibilities and guitar playing. Two things that are right now not that great but the forecast is bluer skies ahead. Well, at least I'm not unhappy. My friend (the O in H&O) sounds miserable. Miserable and melodramatic. He said one night he snapped and decided to take all his stories off H&O. So now I'm one again. I'm not going to do that. I've left too many things unfinished. The new Christian will follow though. He might bitch and moan about it. And it might take ages. But he'll follow though. Magic for Beginners will have an ending.

Answering Bell

There's this song called Answering Bell that once upon a time was called Just Saying Hi in its demo version. So that's why I've called it that. Because that's what I'm doing. Just saying hi.

And because I'm being a bit of a wanker.

I haven't written for so long so I suppose it's too much to ask to have people still checking. Even my South African friends have stopped checking my story site.

I guess this is a comeback of sorts. I'll write more. But not right now because my finger hurts after it was dislocated yesterday playing basketball. It's all fat and blue now. Kinda like what I am right now.

Because I just finished watching Lost in Translation, which I bought in a pack along with Being John Malkovich and Secretary, and it's gotten me depressed.

It's not a bad movie. But it's a depressing movie with depressing characters. And it has a depressing ending. And the worst part of it is that these depressed people probably shouldn't be depressed so that just makes it even more depressing.

Otherwise, my life is pretty cool.

But now i feel depressed and I have this finger which just throbs with this numbing pain. So i think I'll just go to sleep.

Bye.

I need a mint that refreshes my breath and tastes great

I think I’m in love with the girl in the Tic Tac commercials. And I’ve had no luck finding out who she is. Can anyone help?

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Movie Recommendation

My actor of the moment is Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Batman Begins). Today I saw an Irish movie where he stars with Colin Farrell and Colm Meany. It’s fantastic. You should all see it! It's called InterMission

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Idol Power Rankings Week 5

Finally, the people got it right with Milly and Roxanne in the bottom two. Although I would have picked Milly to leave instead of Roxy.

Overall, I didn’t think any of them were that good. It’s been a disappointing week.

1 (1). Dan – Losing ground, I reckon. But still slimly on top. Another boring performance. I’m with Mark. I know he can do much much better. (4)

2 (2). Emily – Gaining ground fast. She’s consistent but too many vocal acrobatics and other slacker reasons why I don’t like her. (3)

3 (4). Lee – The girls seem to love him. He can only sing one type of song but he does do it well. This week I agree with Mark in terms of knowing and believing what you sing. But that’s more for later when/if he has an actual career. For now, it’s just a singing competition so it doesn’t really matter. Though he did come across quite foolish, I reckon. (2)

4 (3). Anne – Solid. She’ll make top 4 or 3 but I don’t see her winning at this point. Her performance last night was good but lacked bite. (5)

5 (7). Kate – Had a great week. For me, she was the standout of last night. Though that doesn’t say much so she moves no higher than this. (1)

6 (9). James – He needs to get his teeth fixed but otherwise I think he’s pretty good. No chance of winning though. (7)

7 (5). OK, maybe I was wrong. Maybe they don’t really like him. His boring rendition of a classic ballad did help his cause. (6)

8 (8). One more week, Milly… (8)

Idol Power Rankings Week 4

It’s like self-administered torture, really.

I watch these shows and every week I complain about something or other. Tonight, I’ll probably get pissed off about Dawn Fraser staying on Dancing with the Stars. At least on that show, the judges are pretty fair and accurate.

Last night, Laura left Idol and I’m going to say similar things as what I said last year when Amali and Dan left the show.

Laura was the only attractive female left in the lineup and now she’s gone. Anne, I suppose, is alright-looking too and she will stay hopefully. Kate would be if she wasn’t fat and… well, I think that’s it.

The guys this year are far more compelling and yet they’re struggling too. How the hell did James and Daniel end up in the bottom 3?!

I know, Laura wasn’t the best singer. But she was no worse than Milly or Roxanne. Surely she has more entertainment value than those two!

Anyway, for the rest of the competition, I’m starting a weekly Idols Power Rankings, in the direction of how I think the public are moving (somewhat swayed by the judges’ opinions). Following that will be my own opinions and in brackets will be my own rankings for their week’s performance.

Week 4

1. Dan – seems to be untouchable at the moment. While I agree that he does have the best voice in the competition, his ‘We will rock you’ was pretty ho hum. (5)

2. Emily – jumped up a notch this week. Personally, I thought she sucked. She made Queen like Queen Latifa. Personally I think she’s just another stock standard R&B singer who cries every week for votes. Like Amelia last year, she’s constantly pulling the single mum card. I appreciate that being a single mum isn’t easy but there are plenty of single mums out there who don’t break into tears every week to get votes. (7)

3. Anne – another R&B voice. I like her though. (2)

4. Lee – likeable guy and adds spice and value to the show. (1)

5. Daniel – I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that his bottom three status was an aberration. I’d place him in the Top 3 if I was deciding. Probably looks too much like a cross between last year’s Dan and Shannon Noll for his own good. Marcia was spot on. He sounds just like Ian Moss. (3)

6. Roxanne – GET HER OUT! She sucks. She sounds like a chipmunk. How did she even make the Top 13! Oh, yeah, she got a lifeline from the judges. (9)

7. Kate – sings alright, looks sorta butch. She can’t last more than two more weeks, surely. (6)

8. Milly – sucks also. And looks like Celine Dion. Why the hell is she still in. Urgh. (8)

9. James – likeable, if a little camp, guy with relatively good looks, good voice and good moves. I don’t get why no one votes for him. (4)

New H&O UPDATES

The next part to my witch story (Or Magic for Beginners, as I've so stupidly named it) is now available. Just click HERE

Or Here


or even HERE!

And there many other wonderful updates, including the History of H&O!

I caught up with an old friend. Who's also a friend's ex. But by now, calling her that is unfair. It was a good catch up. She's mellower now. Still a bundle of energy but much more self aware now. She's a great girl. We had coffee at the same place where we caught up the last time. It's the same place I used to go with my own ex, as well as a few other people, who I suppose are someone's ex's. There was a time when I thought this place would close. It was a rumour I heard from another friend (who incidently is now back with her ex) that turned out to be bogus. It's still there. I still go there. And I'd hate the day when I say 'there's this place I used to go to...' I suppose I sound like I'm lamenting lost things. People. Places Whatever. I know. Things come and go and then you move along. etc. But I love old things. I love the look back. Ten ayears ago. Five years ago. Five minutes ago. Whenever. It's not that the rear view mirror is 20-20. It isn't. It's poetry. It's your head's concoction of reality. And for someone who loves to write, it's gold. So I'm not lamenting. I'm just telling myself stories. Reading myself poetry. And sure I used to go to that place with people that I no longer go anywhere with. But there's always more to be had. Good and bad. More poetry to listen to. So I'm still there. And it's still there. And thank God they still make good chai.

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I've been listening to a lot of very mellow music lately (mostly Ryan Adams, of course) but things are shifting and I'm beginning to listen to the Killers and the Darkness and even some Aerosmith so before I forget, I thought I'd list some of what I think are the all-time greatest mellow songs. You won't find any chill-out music or Coldplay on this list!

1. Come pick me up - Ryan Adams
2. Everybody here wants you - Jeff Buckley
3. A long December - Counting Crows
4. ... ahhh, I'll do this list later

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This sucks. Chris was good. Now he's gone. Let's hope Dan stays a long time. Now I'm talking Idol, people. Please keep up.

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I watched Dancing with the Stars tonight with my mum. It's one of my favourite activities of the week. I look forward to it. She feeds me. Tonight was pizza. Then we talk about ballroom dancing and B-grade stars. It's fun.

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New Updates from H&O