Hey misfits!
I have a new online home: http://lissaorelse.wordpress.com
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1 week ago
September 27, 2010
September 26, 2010
Being Optimistic
My new criteria for choosing non fiction books is that reading it will make me feel good.
Right now I am reading: 'Leap! Ditch Your Job, Start Your Business and Set Yourself Free' by Ian Sanders and 'All Time Essentials for Entrepreneurs' by Jonathan Yates.
Both inspiring and awesome.
Thursday, after being fortified this morning with McDonalds of Doom for breakfast and a surreal detour in to Warhammer HQ with Cam, I finalised the Pennyroyal logo and bought a bunch of beautiful paper sheets from Gordon Harris to play with.
There is so much to do and so many exciting things going on. Having to take it easy because of my health is frustrating sometimes, but I'm trying (and mostly suceeding!) to keep it positive.
♠ I made twelve rings this week
♠ Since leaving Tech, being able to chill when my body needs it, I have needed to put my feet up less often
♠ Pennyroyal has a logo! Yuss!
♠ I am mulling over a bunch of ideas for packaging and labelling, and excitedly sourcing wares for another batch of goodies
♠ I have a bunch of amazing, supportive people in my life ♥
In the past I would have been really bummed out and mopey about having to leave work early due to being sore on Saturday, and not being able to go out to the No Love Lost vs. RockRavenNinja show that night for the same reason. Feeling sad&sorry for myself about not being able to graduate from Tech.
Not anymore though!
Let me tell you, it is so much easier on your sense of self, aiming to be accepting of whatever is going on in the present, and just doing what can with what you have got right now in order to move forward and upwards, onwards. Beyond.
Optimism is woefully underrated. That, and making lists.
♥,
September 23, 2010
Business Time
I've been able to complete a bunch of missions today - yuss! It has been an amazing week full of beautiful things.
♠ Working on branding for Pennyroyal
♠ Wearing a couple of PR rings out and about and joyously thwacking them against random hard surfaces to test durability
♠ I feel really positive about the decision I made to leave Tech - my body is thanking me in small ways already
♠ The specialist appointment I had on Wednesday was a total success; I am booked in for investigative keyhole surgery in mid-October. Having my own private room with an ensuite will be wonderful, though I am still thankful that it will only be an overnight stay!
♠ Baking more cupcakes! Ever since the SPCA fundraiser I have become obsessed
♠ Communal Outrageous Fortune viewing on Tuesday night, complete with mind-blowing (seriously, so delicious) fruit cheese and a whole lot of dark chocolate
Pennyroyal is kicking in to gear; I have sold my first piece already! I am starting this business with calm focus, positive intent and a whole lotta love.
♥,
Thursday Newsbites
Sun, sea and grit - 'Israeli and West Bank women risk jail for day at the beach' Awesome, brave women.
Naomi Klein: How we can build a movement so radical, so militant, so powerful that it becomes irresistible
Pope faces huge protests
Thai red-shirts stage defiant protest
Baby snow leopard filmed in mountains of Bhutan - Cats rule!
September 22, 2010
To The Stars
Every now and then I wander around the HubbleSite gallery and reinvigorate myself via the beauty and strength of this crazy vast space we occupy.
Truly awesome.
♥,
September 20, 2010
October 15 Book Launch / Musings on Media
Book launch to commemorate State Terror Raids - "All supporters, friends, fellow travellers and freedom fighters are welcome!" according to Valerie Morse, who edited the collection.
The launch will be on the 15th of October at 6pm, at Thistle Hall on Cuba Street.
"On Monday, October 15th 2007, more than 300 police carried out dawn raids on dozens of houses all over Aotearoa / New Zealand. Police claim the raids were in response to 'concrete terrorist threats' from indigenous activists. 20 people are facing charges under the Arms Act, in a trial that could take several years. On this site you can find out how to get involved in local support groups, dates and locations of solidarity events are happening and how to make a donation." - October 15th Solidarity
Reading first-hand accounts of what happened during the raids is important. They will go some way towards debunking the tediously predictable, fearmongering perspectives that get thrown around by big media.
The lies and inaccuracies that powerful people, through the media, would have us believe about ourselves, about our world, about each other, are truly ridiculous. Media literacy is so goddamn essential. Now more than ever. Recognition of the agenda at play is key to living a sweet life, I think.
Being media-aware has helped my happiness so much. It's waaay more difficult for those motherfuckers to dent my self-esteem these days and the key is recognition. Once I began to recognize propaganda it was like an avalanche of awareness: I started noticing the subtle framing of things, the small omissions, the cynical ploys.
The all-encompassing Western media-corporate-political web does not want you to be happy. It does not want you to believe that change is possible. It does not want you realise the knowledge your bones feel, the age-old quantum science that everything is interconnected.
For time immemorial, it has been this way: Powerful people trying to accumulate more power at the expense of everyone and everything else. This is the game being played.
I am refusing to play the game anymore by bolding loving and having immense faith in myself and the universe.
♥,
September 17, 2010
Making Things is Awesome
It has been an amazing week. The most gorgeous selection of cameos and vintage cabochons are one their way to Pennyroyal HQ. I can really sink my teeth into producing the range when they arrive. Exciting beyond belief!
Hell yes...
♠ Seasonal vegetable curry from Khana Kharzana (sp?). Vegan; cheap; delicious
♠ Being accepting of change
♠ Craving chocolate, then remembering about an uneaten Aero. Victory!
♠ The Wire. If you haven't seen it yet, obtain a copy somehow...
♠ Milo. Back with a vengence
♠ Going out for Japanese food with Cam, Paul and Maia; Hede is rad when it's not super-busy. Inari, teriyaki fish, inappropriate Rosé. Good times ♥
♠ Being able to walk to the library on a sunny, warm, glittering Sunday
♠ Having a bunch of new books to read: The Tao of Now (Josh Baran), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (Kurt Vonnegut), Sixteen Shades of Crazy (Rachel Trezise) and The Unit (Ninni Holmqvist). Awesome! I'm also reading, after having had it sitting on my bookshelf for years, Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Excellent
♠ Making a double batch of cupcakes (orange and blueberry; blue orange-flavoured icing and sprinkles ♥) and eating until I had them coming out of my ears
See also:
Through which I found the truly genius:
Every single item in her shop brings a smile to my face :-D
♥,
Friday Newsbites
Yusss:
Child mortality falls by third - Awesome!
MP David Garrett resigns
Khmer Rouge leaders indicted
Lawsuit challenges sexism at Goldman Sachs
No more state of emergency in Christchurch
Nooo:
Gordon Campbell on the draconian Christchurch earthquake legislation - If Phil Goff wasn't such a Nothing, Labour could have torn National to shreds with this. Though mostly I am just appalled at the Greens for supporting it.
The airport is determined to have its Wellywood sign - This is obviously a terrible idea.
September 15, 2010
No More Fashion Tech / Kristen Ferrell
On Friday afternoon I downloaded Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, TLC, Divinyls, Lady Gaga, The Runaways, Veruca Salt, Roxette, Salt 'n Pepa. It was a ladyfest at work on Saturday!
Cool things that happened last week...
♠ One of the girls at Tech asked if she could do a tarot reading for me; I'd never had one done before, it was a really rewarding experience. I felt super-positive afterwards ♥
♠ Penny-the-kitten being fitted with a suave leopard print collar and becoming hilariously unhappy about it
♠ Assessment day at Tech went so well; Friday was also speech day (!), mine was about goth fashion, muahaha. I walked out of the building after class with a light heart and lucid head. So sweet
♠ A bunch of confirmation emails waiting in my inbox relating to various purchases of ring findings for my range. Exiting times!
Onwards...
For the last five weeks or so, I've been having post-surgery troubles. I've had to take a bunch of days off of class; too many days, as it turns out. Boo! The class schedule is too tight, from now until the end of course, for me to make up what I've missed so far (let alone the odd day that I'd likely have to miss during the next little while).
On one hand it is disappointing and frustrating as all hell. I busted my ass sooo hard to get into Pattern Design and now the same problem that held me back in Garment Tech has ruined my hope of graduating from this course. Yesterday I came home from Tech and had a big cry and moped around a little.
On the other hand, after having thought about things and gained perspective, ever since Cam came back from Sydney, asking if I want to move over there with him next year, my path moved away from Fashion Tech and towards SIT.
Unlike Tech, SIT's Applied Fashion Diploma starts patternmaking from scratch, so everything I have learned and would have learned is bonus knowledge (which I was stoked about, but it isn't essential).
It is tempting to keep going to class despite not being able to graduate. I am not going to.
Three things:
♠ Charm my way into full time work (+ Saturdays at Cosmic, keepin' it real) in order to start save save saving $$$ for relocating to Sydney
♠ Release my range of rings successfully
♠ Obtain patternmaking tools and do what I can with what I've learned so far
By full time work I actually mean '30 hours, 4 days a week'. That'd be IDEAL.
Hah, good luck lady.
After scouring a few websites I've rounded up a whole bunch of jobs to apply for and tomorrow aim to prepare an irresistable CV to wave in front of prospective employers. I'd love to get another job that inspires and delights me as much as working at Cosmic Corner does, but am not holding my breath. Cosmic's right up there when it comes to sweet places to work.
I have one of Kristen's t-shirts, a severed-finger print, it is morbidly wonderful. She is one cool cat, and one of the people whose work and kick-ass attitude inspired me to grab hold of my dreams. Buy her cupcakes!
"Every day the choice is presented to us, to live up to the spirit that is in us, or deny it."
Henry Miller
The plan is to take it as easy as I have to until my abdomen is back up and running, hopefully only a week or two, then land a job that will help me fast-track to Sydney.
Everything happens for a reason!
♥,
August 30, 2010
Cupcake Day
Cosmic on Cuba St had a cupcake fundraiser for the SPCA this past weekend. Technically, Cupcake Day is supposed to be today, but Ish decided to do it during a busier time so we could entice more people with sweet treats!
Ish and I held down the fort during the day on Saturday, it was lots of fun. We made an awesome, irresistable display. There were SO MANY CUPCAKES, the smell of sugary-sweet baked goods was making us salivate allll day.
I was late for work due to running a last minute icing-and-sprinkles gauntlet :-p As far as lateness for work goes, though, icing cakes for the animals must be up there in the top 5 best excuses. Photos to come!
Fundraising-baking has given me a little cupcake fever. Yesterday afternoon I made a double batch of chocolate (with chocolate icing squiggles, chocolate sprinkles and a peppermint Poppit on top) and orange (with orange icing and candy sprinkles, half with blueberries as well); we've been reaping the delicious rewards ever since. There are three left, soon to be two... YUM ♥
Up, up...
♠ Using the time I have to spend away from class due to post-surgery pain productively and steadily working on the range of rings
♠ Knowing that everything will work out in the end
♠ Eating lots of cupcakes
♠ Leggings; pants-free ftw
♠ The weather getting warmer; Wellington is such a tease sometimes
♠ Discovering that the company Tech gets it's patternmaking equipment from has an online store - best find in ages!
♠ Ordering a whole bunch of ring shanks - exciting times ♥
Facebook Should Stop Censoring Marijuana Legalization Campaign Ads - They sure should. | "Twenty years ago today, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 became law. " 28/08/10 at No Right Turn. | Don’t pine for our clean green brand, stop GE! - This "brand NZ" crap is nonsense, the Greens should stay right away from it. But I love them for having an anti-GE stance. History is slowly proving the hippies right, after all.| From Adding Noughts in Vain: How Hard Would Dramatic Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Really Be? "...the sooner big business stops paying lobbyists to derail change and starts paying engineers to work out how to solve the problem, the better."
♥,
August 28, 2010
Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment Bill
There is some tediously ignorant, draconian stuff in the Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment Bill.
From NORML via Scoop: Cannabis Pipes Must Not Be Outlawed.
"A proposed Bill that would see smoking devices like pipes, bongs, and vapourisers outlawed will increase the harm to the community from drugs, as banning such items would only encourage young Kiwis to use cannabis in more damaging ways."
This is absolutely true. Why must the opinions of politicians always lag 40 years behind everyone else?
Heaps of New Zealanders smoke weed, people from all walks of life and all ages. This is a good thing. It could be a really positive part of our culture, and in fact for the most part already is. The negative aspects are caused by it's criminalisation and will be heavily reduced upon bringing the industry above ground. This has been proven. Repeatedly. Prosecuting the cannabis community is a complete waste of governmental resources and causes far, far more harm than good. This has been proven. Repeatedly.
AHHHHHH.
Do we really have to wait until California & Co. have convinced the US to decriminalise* weed before the NZ government finally feels comfortable doing what's logical? Probably. Goddamn them.
Politicians... they're just a bit dim...
Us proles can add our futile $0.02 by making an online submission to the Select Committee here. The closing date for submissions is 29th September 2010.
♥,
* California is going one step better - in November they'll be voting on legalisation!
August 27, 2010
Back to Bed
It's been a while! The last X amount of time has been wonderful; lots of ideas and action. Zero motivation to blog, however. I have jotted down a couple of things along the way:
"The weekend was awesome. Work; long lunch with Cam and Shell; Matty P's birthday gig at his place, dancing to new No Love Lost songs and Kyuss covers, talking smack and smiling a lot; Sunday in bed with Big Bang Theory, kittens and amazing company."
"An incredible time of late!"
The prospect of moving to Sydney next year has required a COMPLETE overhaul of near-future plans, which rather than being frightening has left me feeling exhilerated and so psyched about the possibilities! All of a sudden I could be doing the rest of my fashion upskilling and business start-up somewhere BIG. One step at a time and before you know it...
Happinesses:
♠ Planning for my range of rings! I'm so excited about this project :-D
♠ Stayin' positive despite the soreness
♠ Moving to Sydney next year with Cam ♥
♠ Getting more work done on my sleeve (yay home studio)
♠ Sexy new lingerie from Bendon. The changing rooms in the Lambton Quay store make it even more of a pleasure to be in there
♠ Having super-blonde hair again; just need to lift a little more of the yellow-tone near the roots!
♠ Zazzy sour candy stripes; 60 cents, let the good times roll
♠ Moving out of our flat and into somewhere awesome (if we can find someone to take over the lease - fingers crossed!)
♠ The Wire. Cam and I are total converts; we're 2/3 way through season four right now and it is just so good
♠ Having an industrial sewing machine at home. Yuss!!! I'm still getting used to its idiosyncracies, but with a little more practice time I'll be able to sew up a storm at home. As soon as I am physically able to operate the machine again :-p
♠ Cheese pizza. KEEN AS
♠ Cupcake Day tomorrow (Saturday 28th) at Cosmic Corner! We are raising money for the SPCA - come buy some treats!
♠ Tramadol. Currently preventing me from being completely useless
Afghan elections: Record number of women stand for parliament - "Despite everyday prejudice and Taliban death threats a record number of female candidates are standing in September polls." - Amazing, brave women. Good luck to them in their struggle. | Columbia and Venezuela make peace | WikiLeaks preparing to release more Afghan files - "He gave no specific timeframe for their release, but he said that his organisation was about halfway through 15,000 or so secret files previously held back from publication. " Wikileaks is doing excellent work, long may it continue!| Sow crates could be in our past if Green Bill gets support
Lots of good things happen and are happening, but you wouldn't think so by reading almost any given news source. It's not all bad out there! People and communities are doing amazing, life-giving things every day.
♥,
Surgery Postscript / Fuck You Roald Dahl
I've updated the Projects & Contact page to reflect evolving plans :-)
My right ovary has started giving me shit again. Damn you, ovary! I wish my ladyparts could just be happy, it's so frustrating not being able to sew, and having to miss class because I can't stand up for extended periods (it is an unfortunate truth that you can't sit down while drafting patterns). Thankfully, a trip to my doctor* procured a box full of strong painkillers and, after some minor bungling and ineptitude, an appointment for free pelvic and abdominal scans two days later.
Off I went to my scans, to once again be prodded uncomfortably for what seems like an unnecessary amount of time (ah, vag-cam ... I did not miss thee), and emerged so sore that I had to take the bus home rather than going back to course. Lame! At least the woman who did the scan was lovely. Though she did tell me a thoroughly unpleasant fact when she saw my foot tattoos - Roald Dahl beat his wife.
Goddamnit.
It's always really disappointing when you've appreciated a person's work for a long time only to find out that they've been an abusive piece of shit. I have much less respect for Roald Dahl now. Cam is going to cover up my Willie Wonka (whom he has started referring to as "Willie Wifebeater") tatt with a black rose and "some swirly bits". Sweet.
I'm keeping Matilda because I chose to get a tattoo of her due to my history with and long love for the story. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an amazing story, but in my girlhood I didn't grab hold of Charlie in quite the same way as I did Matilda. Getting the Willie tattoo was more about my appreciation of the author. Shoulda researched that one first, eh?
Oh well, win some lose some. I'm just glad Cam can change it!
Anyway, the doctor should be able to tell me about the scan early next week. Fingers crossed it's a "we can do something about this" situation rather than the "it'll go away eventually, have this inadequate supply of painkillers in the meantime" situation I fear.
♥,
* who will not be my doctor for very much longer as he reminds me too much of Ricky Gervais
July 21, 2010
Damn You, MoreFM
Yusss:
♠ Having my face licked right off by the friendliest of kittens
♠ My amazing mum ran a half-marathon last Sunday. Isn't that just so damn cool? I am extremely proud of her
♠ A kete full of mandarins, apples, oranges and kiwifruit; winter cold begone!
♠ Goverment confirms mining backdown. YES!!!
♠ Henry Rollins and William Shatner
♠ Happy, productive days despite extreme tiredness
♠ Making a draft, block and pattern for a skirt this week ♥
♠ Feeling centred and more focussed than ever
♠ Kitchen-time. When I'm in the mood for it, making food is one of my favourite things (and when I'm not in the mood for it, you just watch me laze on down the road to get fish n chips three nights a week). Tonight involved vege stir fried rice and bluberry-orange muffins. YUM. So satisfying
Gutted that I'm not at all keen on 85% of M.I.A's new album! Arular and Kala are solidly awesome A thru Z, so I had high hopes. The only two tracks on Maya that grab hold for me are 'Born Free' and 'Meds and Feds' (which is amazing).
Trawling mp3boo is definitely worthwhile. Along with a whole bunch of sweet albums, there is many a bonus laugh to be had. This amuses me on many levels: A Bullet for Pretty Boy; as does this: Leaves' Eyes; and this: Blood on the Dance Floor (!).
Unable to sleep due to excitement about a certain someone arriving home to
♥,
July 18, 2010
Little Victories
Yum:
♠ Patternmaking being AMAZING. Our first project is making a quilt; it is going to be my nana-blanket :-D
♠ A productive Sunday afternoon filtering and photoshopping my way to a few logo designs for the soon-to-be Etsy store - I love how they've come together!
♠ Beginning to make a list of rad things to do next time I'm in Melbourne
♠ 7 Days (TV3, Friday night. Do it!). Taking the piss out of politicians, the media, celebrities, each other and everyone else. ♥ Dai Henwood
♠ Outrageous Fortune being back! Mulled wine, bread&cheese, sweet company and one of the best shows ever makes for an awesome Tuesday night
♠ Lauryn Hill (Fugees - Some Seek Stardom). Lady, I love you
♠ Making film-festival-going plans
♠ Making heaps of pasta for dinner; leftovers for lunch tomorrow, yussss
♠ Night-time candy missions
♠ Cam coming home this Thursday :-D So excited!!!
♠ The cup of tea I'm gonna make after I hit "Publish"
Yoga! I almost flaked, by way of "if, when I check my phone, it's 4.56pm, I'll go." I checked my phone. Upon looking at the screen, the time flicked over from 4.55 to 4.56.
So off I went.
It was brutal, but worthy. Bikram has been an incredible lesson in being in the moment. It's time to find somewhere else to yoga, though. That was my lesson on Wednesday. I want to take the focus I've learned and pour it into a practice that is more energy-focussed. 4.55 to 4.56. I'm looking at checking out Myoga or Yoga Sangha next week. Yoga Sangha has koha entry, which is awesome.
Sweet poster, ay? Finally saw the Outsiders! They rule. Lungs were rad as well. I hung out with the illustrious Kelvin, drank snakebite and Tui, and danced around a whole lot. It was lots of fun and being out&about made me think that I need to have more weekend gig adventures. Happy next Saturday - that's the plan!
White Hot Truth: The Manifesto of Encouragement. This is awesome - go read! ♥ | Greenpeace's 10 Simple Ways to Use Less Oil | Show Studio's Object Fetish hones in on a jaw-dropping pair of Alexander McQueen shoes (via Haute Macabre, one of my favourite blogs in the world) | Buried archeological treasure found at ground zero - "It's probably one of the last things excavators were planning on unearthing at Ground Zero: an 18th century ship." | Sex Pistols, 'posh boys' Cameron and Clegg, and those butter ads - "Ahead of PiL's UK tour, frontman John Lydon scratches his nuts and surveys the pop-cultural landscape..."
♥,
Roses and Teacups
Rose Hoop earrings and an Old Country Roses sterling silver bracelet from Roses and Teacups who, among other things, make beautiful jewellery out of broken china. The earrings are especially rad; I would remove the dangly little Swarovski crystals and replace them with some charms of my own!
They're also selling a range of Mad Hatters top hats, which look amazing:
See the rest here (scroll right down).
♥,
July 10, 2010
Exercise!
An amazing photo from Ivan Monge. Look at that hair! And everything!
This rain right now is lovely.
I am looking forward to getting back in to yoga next week. My muscles and bones are yearning for it. After considering all other options, I have decided to take the plunge and go right back to Bikram, taking it super-easy at first while my body readjusts to the heat and the postures, some of which are likely to be beyond me for a while yet! Bikram is really challenging but it makes me feel so fucking amazing that I don't even want to try anything else.
It will be an intense week, for sure! Patternmaking starts Monday, which is so damn exciting. Yoga will definitely help keep my energy levels up. You know what would also help? Halting my current takeaways-and-junk-food obsession. I'm going to try be smart, but goddamn I love candy. And curry. Brooklyn is dangerous. I'm budgeting for a week's worth of healthy low-key bought lunches to take the pressure off of sorting my shit out in the kitchen.
Next nine on the playlist:
♠ Overwhelmed, Beneath Me - Black Tape for a Blue Girl
♠ Blood Section - Swans
♠ Dress - PJ Harvey
♠ Hey Pretty - Poe
♠ Love Theme from Twin Peaks - Angelo Badalamenti
♠ The Turn - M.I.A
♠ For Tammy Rae - Bikini Kill
♠ Dirty Business - Dresden Dolls
♠ Cowboys - Portishead
Via Sarah Wilson: Lily Allen searches for meaning... and the doubters hate on her -
"A lot of my life is very vacuous. It doesn’t have a lot of substance and I guess I feel it’s a bit pointless. And, yes, coming here makes me feel I can put my fame to good use. I’m not pretending to know everything and I don’t understand this as well as I should, but I’m here to get my head around it."
Lily is just awesome. I would love to take her for coffee.
Work today was rad; a new epic playlist which made the world seem fresh, casual happy conversations with Cuba St locals, smooth energy, super-hot vege Roti Chanai from Satay Palace for lunch ($6.80 ♥), laughing with Ish, wearing my old clothes refashioned into cool new things, being grateful.
People have been smiling all over the place today!
Right now I am going to snuggle into bed and fall asleep thinking about Cam cuddling me and missing him and wishing him happy adventures.
It has been a good day. Motivation is a can of worms.
♥,
July 9, 2010
Accept, Let Go
Mmm:
♠ Sleepy early-early-morning coffee with Cam before he flew off to Sydney yesterday morning; kisses & iloveyous ♥ ♥ ♥
♠ Beginning book six of the Wheel of Time. I don't usually read fiction and almost never read fantasy so wasn't expecting to get sucked in! Robert Jordan is a wonderful writer
♠ Lush all over
♠ Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Eau de Parfum. Delicious. Mmm.
♠ Making giant to-do lists and beginning to cross things off
♠ The new season of Outrageous Fortune beginning next Tuesday night. Everyone has been waiting for sooo long. Mulled wine and uber-cheeses at ours once again :-D
♠ A warm little kitten sleeping on my lap as I type; Penny is so cool
♠ DRESSES. Specifically, Louise Black's 'marionette-inspired' black silk party dress that she has listed on Etsy. Jaw-droppingly gorgeous; eye-wateringly $995
♠ Opening the emotionbody to what the mindheart knows, maaan
♠ Vivienne Westwood: An Unfashionable Life
♠ Last month's copy of Juxtapoz for free. Sweeet.
Joyously stumbled upon John Waters' 10 Best Pieces of Advice for Functional Freaks. Excellent!
"I’m a fascist about my work habits and I expect you to be, too. Never have a spontaneous moment in your life again. If you’re going to have a hangover, it should be scheduled on your calendar months in advance. Rigid enjoyment of planning can get you high. Militant time-management will enable you to ignore how maladjusted you would be if you had the time to notice it in the first place. Discipline is not anal compulsion; it’s a lifestyle that breeds power."
There is truth in there amongst all the irreverence!
One of the many good things to come out of my experiences so far in 2010 has been the realisation that organisation is key. In order to get the most out of your time, you need to plan plan plan the fuck out of it! Apparently this can actually be fun if you go about it in the right way and the vaguely obsessive-compulsive nerd in me suspects such to be true. Stay tuned to find out, haha.
At the beginning of the year, if you had shown me the above quote from Mr. Waters, I'd have thought it unhelpful and a bit silly.
So much has changed and grown since January! Many new things I feel deeply, the utmost perhaps being that you've got to just trust life and embrace it in your own way; and stay focused, which can be tricky, but is never impossible given conscious choice.
The last six months of working so incredibly hard to land a place in Pattern Design, and all of the heavy-duty planning, developing, laying of foundations for and changing/rearranging of goals lifewise that accompanied alongside, required a ton of emotional, mental and physical labour. It was exhausting&frustrating&awful at times but I got through it, stronger than ever.
Just like always, right?
Yes! But at times, against all previous evidence, I forgot that I would get through! Learning not to shift into a negative perspective when challenging periods arise is one of the keys to being a healthy and happy person but it is a difficult trick to master.
Everything, in fact, happens for a reason. No coincidences. Some would say this line of thinking is a cop-out, is wishy-washy, isn't dealing with any real issue - not so! The lessons reveal themselves.
Is it not a fact that out of many of your dark moments have come threads of light weaving themselves in unexpected, necessary ways? Is it not also a fact that those threads have moved your life forward in a wonderful, useful way? Not immediately, of course, sometimes days or weeks or months or years or decades later, but it has happened. "If x thing didn't happen, then all of these amazing yz things big and small wouldn't have." You know it!
"There are no coincidences" is not a crazed new-age statement at all; it is advice requiring action. While we have little control over the actions that affect us, we absolutely always have control over our reactions. Focusing on goals, dreaming big and trusting the cosmos. Conscious, positive practice. Everyday. One step forward and things start falling in to place.
Coming right back around to John Waters again, I also really like this quote on fashion:
“You don’t need fashion designers when you are young. Have faith in your own bad taste. Buy the cheapest thing in your local thrift shop — the clothes that are freshly out of style with even the hippest people a few years older than you. Get on the fashion nerves of your peers, not your parents — that is the key to fashion leadership. Ill-fitting is always stylish. But be more creative — wear your clothes inside out, backward, upside down. Throw bleach in a load of colored laundry. Follow the exact opposite of the dry cleaning instructions inside the clothes that cost the most in your thrift shop. Don’t wear jewelry — stick Band-Aids on your wrists or make a necklace out of them. Wear Scotch tape on the side of your face like a bad face-life attempt. Mismatch your shoes. Best yet, do as Mink Stole used to do: go to the thrift store the day after Halloween, when the children’s trick-or-treat costumes are on sale, buy one, and wear it as your uniform of defiance."
YUSS!
John Waters, people. An eloquent, interesting man.
The only movie of his I've ever seen is Serial Mom, heh!
♥,
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