Hallowe'en

So, Hallowe'en is nearly amongst us. Again.

This year, we had planned on filming episode one of our Clark Spaggeerg TV thing which we've been writing ON Halloween, to save time/resources/having to throw two parties... but it seems people actually DO things on normal Halloween, that ISN'T being in our movie thing.

Anyway, we're filming in just under  month, so I'm in full organising guru mode. Part of which is this poster, which I bade share with you now...

Really looking forward to filming. It's a big party scene, so hopefully people are keen and actually come. Good times rolling ahead.

Sculptorial Update

I've found out in the past couple months that I'm a slow sculptor. Basically, this means that while I keep coming up with ideas, I'm not quick enough to make them all. So my brains faster than my hands. My sculptures jump from one thing to the next to the next. I guess I'm still trying out ideas.

Anyway. Here's kind of a taste of what I've been up to.

Gil

Big Al

Severus

Sebastian

Amy

Olwen

Olwen in action...

Finlay

Finlay is my absolute favourite (that's why he has the best name). He's made of polystyrene offcuts and wool and a stick. Here's a video of him in action...

He's more impressive in person.

Callum, Paige and the Trust Experiment

I finally convinced Paige to let me cut her hair. I was totally confident, spurred on by that Regina Spektor song, and also by Terry Devlin, my grandpa.

"Do you know what the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is?"

"No."

"Three weeks! (laughs)"

Paige prepares.

AND...

(she was actually way happier when she saw it)

(babe)

    

After trying to make the sides even and ending up cutting it WAY shorter then intended, I decided to go for asymmetry. WAY easier. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but it was a bit touch and go for a minute there.

Anyway, anyone who wants me to cut their hair, step right up. I've got a lot of karma to make up on from the amount of times Steven's cut mine.

I Moved/I Movied

Fred's Dilemma

As promised (for once) here follows the illustrations I did for my grandpa Terry's book. IN SUPER LARGE!!

Chapter One (and front cover) - The mysterious island where it all takes place. Note: scary cliffs, huts on beach, cliche distant flying birds, super dramatic lighting.


The Scary Cliffs: A BODY?!! Oh heavens no! What a terrible accident. Definately an accident... Or was it?? We may never know. Unless a selfless hero becomes a detective to try and solve this dilemma.

Giorgio: What a bully... what a coward... What a fiend! (if you read the book you'd understand my hatred for him. Jerk). The island has it's own laws now, and you will face cage-related consequences if you disobey!


The End: Lot's more stuff happens on the island, but I won't ruin it (or let you know if they get to freedom or descend into savagery). This is a perfect circle-wipe ending, showing the now idylic island. Cue bright sky and a calm mist.


I'll happily illustrate your book if you wrote one. Not that I'm advertising or anything. I'm just super happy with these drawings. I hope you like them and they make you want to buy my grandpa's book. I'll let you know how when I figure it out myself.

tick tick tick tick

Today I "officially" finished work on both my art folios. Yup. Both of them. I had a mammoth couple of weeks getting them finished, but ultimately I am extremely happy with how both of them turned out. It kind of makes me realise what it would be like to be a parent; creating and raising these two beautiful creatures to fully developed independent entities. And now, after a brief period of fond appreciation, I must part with them, and they from me, wishing them luck upon their journeys to Wellington (absurd parallels to my own parents current experience: noted).

I would complain about how little sleep I've gotten this past month, and how hard it all was, and the stress and all, but, honestly, I'd be exaggerating. It wasn't really that bad. Sure, I didn't sleep, and I was pretty exhausted for a while, and I almost completely disregarded all of my friends, but I made it. And looking back from this end, I don't know why I was whinging so much. I was totally capable of this thing. It was a challenge, sure. It pretty much dominated my thoughts all year, yeah, granted. But now it's over, I'll be stoked to be able to do it again. This year has made me want to go to art school. Not just to see how it goes, or because it's the next logical step. But because I REALLY WANT TO GO. It's also made me way more confident in this next year; because I have a plan to come out of it. Something to look forward to.

If, next year, I end up finding a life, changing my path, becoming a person or whatever this idealistic unformed human expects from non high school life, then that's awesome. I will continue that path. But if I go and completely fall of the rails, like, wipe out, shit hitting fan, end up miserable, lonely and without direction... then I get to pack up and go to art school. Bam. Solved. I think taking a year to play the 'come what may" card is not a bad plan. Because, ultimately, I'm not drifting. I'm doing.

I got to tick two big red ticks through my to-do list today. It's amazing how quickly the feeling of accomplishment turns to fear, of shit yet to do. I better get working. I still have to Schol Art submissions to finish.

Speaking of finishing; I finished reading Mayor of Casterbridge. And I have two more days of high school. Ever. Yeah.

Theatresports party tomorrow!

I'll be sure to put up photos of my babies soon.

Time for a celebration sandwich.

Bar Gig Bar - A Review

Dear The Press, heres a review for your reviews section in the paper on Fridays just before the movie photos and adverts and things. I think it will do just the tricket...

On Thursday (yes Thursday) the 13th of May 2010 I was really nervous sitting in my bedroom with Paige and Oli and Alex waiting for it to be late enough for us to go in the car to get to the bar in time for our gig. We waited for AGES. It was nine thirty by the time penisey texted me saying that they were on the way. So I ate a muffin and got in the car. Dad drove us there. In the car we listened to Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs to sike ourselves up. It worked. Alex and Paige walked us into Poplar Lane as I'd never been there before and would get lost if I tried to find it on my own or even with Oli. We just walked straight in! No bouncer or anything. I was relieved. Then we went into the band area room and met the sound guy named Mathew/Ben/Something I can't recall and he was real nice saying that I looked like freddy kruegar and started setting up mics. No one else was there but then Penisey was there and told me he got kicked out of home (SAD :(....) and Thom who was wearing SHOES!! which is a novelty for Thom. And others were there too but I dont know everyones names Im new. Then a surf band called Piha Rescue (geddit?) went up and set up on the stage and I got worried cause Jack said he was tired. He arrived and was all gc about it. His brother and my brother and their friends and my dad and jacks dad were all there to see us. We told them we were on next cause we were. Me and Thom danced to Piha and it was awesome. We did the Twist and had a "Play Fight" and bumped into this guy. They were all wearing sunglasses except for Ben Dodd. WHO is awesome as it happens and Penisey is started a band with him (GOSSIP!). Then they finished and we got to go up and play our songs (AWESOME!) We set up and got water and tuned our guitars and there were quite a few people at the bar including some friendly faces. We played pretty well. Olis guitar string broke two seconds into the first song! LOL! And the vocal mics were condensor mics which was pretty cool I guess. We played Fuck You Courtney, Safety Cheque, LPG Doesn't Grow On Trees Bro, Jessica, I Said To My Girl (She Looked Nice), Evergreen, and then we decided to finish, but Ben Dodd stuck his fluffy head in the window and said "play that Jazzy one" which we took to mean Cake, and so we did. It was well sick and everyone danced really well and clapped very loudly. It was very good fun and I was pretty tired as it was twenty to twelve. Paige seemed happy too which was awesome as Paige is wicked. Alex took photos (see below) for us which was nice of her. They came out topps. We didn't get to stay for Lonely Harris Club. But they were my favourites anyway. I was well gutted cause I heard they did a Strange Boys cover and I love them. I gave John a hug as we left though, and said thanks. He replied "Oh no worries. I really hope we go allright...Sorry for not dancing to your set. I'm not sure if I can play my guitar at the moment." But he did. I give the gig a wild 7 stars!! * * * * * * *

Disposables

Heres some of the photos taken off my disposable camera. It follows the days after my birthday and up until the eep a gig. Theres a real nice one of my parents. Thanks Alex for an awesome birthday present!





And yes. My birthday was as fun as it looks.

Birthday Party

I just realised I never told you about my birthday. It was ages ago (February 16th), but I recently got back my photos from the photo guy man thing developer place so I thought now is as good a time as any to fill you in on the greatest birthday ever.

This year, our birthday fell on a Tuesday. Amazingly, it coincided with our Bitch, Please practices for the 'Eeep a Gig' gig. It was Tuesday, and beautiful and sunny. I got off school an hour early than everyone else (which I tend to do on Tuesdays) and walked all the way to dog log park. Not that long, really, but Im trying to make a story out of this. When I arrived, toting guitar in hand, Georgia and Steven were sitting waiting, along with Paige and Alex! Awesome! AND they had a wiked pile of presents!! Apparently they had made a day out of doing birthday prep stuff for Oli and I. It was so exciting. I was giggling with glee the whole afternoon. I wasn't allowed the presents until Oli arrived, but I did get given my card from Paige. It was, and still is, the greatest present I have ever ever been given. It was hand made with copious amounts of cellotape and had dinosaurs and tape and stars and felts... Im giggling describing it. It sits now, pride of place, on my bookshelf next to my Lyttleton Idol hat!! Most auspicious (?). We then spent time writing homework for Alex because she's still in school and everything (much like me, but she complains more (although has reason to. Im just angsty)).

When Oli arrived we got to dig into our awesome pile of presents. Mine included: more cards! a choooodie!!!! (which was actually a card, not a present) a disposable camera (photos to follow) !!!! DINOSAURSS!!! LOS CAMPESINOS!!! WATERCOLOURS!!! HUMOUROUS COMICS!!! And other things... i think. They were all really wrapped very nicely (which I love) and had my name on all of them. Oli got nice presents too... But I cant remember what they were... it was over two months ago.

And then we sung songs in the park and jumped around and put on each others clothes and took humourous photos of one another and experienced general merriment really. Best birthday ever.

That night we went to Winnie Bagos for tea. I brought Paige and that was when she got to meet more of my enormous family. She did very well not to get overwhelmed and die from all the attention. Luckily, it was my birthday, so I generously helped her with some of it. We split a pizza... Half smoked chicken cranberry and brie, half ROAST DINNER. Yes. Complete with roasted veggies like pumpkin and potatoes and kumura and gravy.... OH YES. So delicious I wept. I got some really nice presents as well, from my family. It was a very nice occasion. I even got a beer. I got some really nice presents from my family. Sam gave me and Oli an Arj Barker Twin Pack (lolz) which was awesome, so we went back to our place with ma and pa and paige and grandpa and watched disk one, drank tea, ate carrot cake (YUM! Thanks mum!) and soaked in general merriment. I think it was a pretty great way to turn 17.

Il post the photos up next. They're film, so Il have to scan them. I hope that works. If it doesn't... uh... Il draw shitty representatives on Microsoft Paint.

bubbles

I like that last one. Sorry for cropping you out of the header barkeep. Its sort of ironic if you think about it hard enough.

Food Part Two

You know whats going on, so heres some photos and suchlike.

CHURROS!%!%!

P for PAIGE

Sooo much hot chocolate.... nummers.

We got bored and we had a load of hot hot oil left so we deep fried a banana. Yup. Deskinned and then BAM. Right in. Uber super delicious and yummy and melted and hot. Sprinkled with the cinnamon sugar.... IOFH'EJRJGNVoojf-87YypYPY8P9a*(Y............. try it.

Englourious Food Day

Oli found the Eye of Sauron in an apricot.

I've been getting into a really awesome food making mood of late. Probably one of the best possible moods you can be in, so we decided to make a day of it and cook recipes from my awesome Jamie Oliver cookbook I got for christmas. Yesterday we had an awesome food day with Paige and Georgia. We had high hopes and dreams and much hunger. Afterwards we left with warm-everything-belly. We consumed so much. It made me soo happy.

We made Jamie Olivers Mexican Breakfast for, uh, late brunch. Basically its this awesome tomato and chilli stew that you crack eggs into and poach them in the juices. Then you wrap it all up in a tortilla with cheese on top.

We used SOO many eggs.




Ahhh.......... man. That is some good looking tomato stew.

We ate it outside in the sun wearing gross looking hats and sunglasses. It was SOOO good. It was gooey and spicy and eggy and so warm and comforting and just... AHOFH"PHR#W. You have to try it.

Then we went on various excursions including shopping for ops and eating delicious spicy rice shit which name I cant remember. I do remember it being delicious. We also bought a bag of green chilies for the next recipe we had to try out. Which was also jamies HOT! CHOCOLATE AND CHURROS! (nb. the exclamation mark after HOT means chilli. And Churros are like mini round donut balls. Inescapably delicious (when cooked all the way through) and perfect for the dunking.

to be continued....

Ready? Okay.

I'm standing on a bench in front of a fire surrounded by people I don't really know. It's very dark wearing my sunglasses at this time of night, and the people I was with before don't seem to be in visual distance of me. But at that exact moment I don't really care at all. I jump up and down ectatically. The euphoric glee that pulses through me is let out in my scream; "I'm on a fucking bench!!! I'm on a fucking bench!!" I scream, over and over. Eli would later tell me that he heard me, and recognised my lameness. Everyone around the fire starts screaming Bob Marley for a second time. They are all much older then me, and I don't know any of the words, so I get bored and jump down from the bench. I remember there was supposed to be a nude swim on the beach. I spin round far too fast, my head taking a moment to catch up with me, and head in the general direction of the sound of waves and singing. My senses are bursting. I am utterly excited and petrified by the visuals that I thought I must be sending through my outfit at the time. My hood is up, my glasses on. A cardboard HAPPY NEW YEAR! tiari perches on my head. In my right hand I furiously wave a red glowstick. In my left is my torch, slowly running out of battery. I use it to lead down the sandy path and away from the deadly dangerous tents. In between my teeth I bite on a bent new years hooter, slightly broken from over blowing. It screams painfully as I run up and down the beach. My aim is to frighten and to entertain all that I come across. I flail and blow, stumbling in the sand. The beach is completely lit by the full Blue Moon. I can see the water quite clearly, and the forlorn overlooking adults wearing tivas and headlamps. They pity me, or my absent parents. I hoot at them angrily, then laugh. With no nude swimmers in sight, I head for the water. Bare footed I run straight in. The water is warmer than then the cold dark sand, and frothy with salt. I splash through it, giggling. A calm wades through me. This moment is a new moment. A happy one. And now, it can never be replaced by pain or melancholy or sad indifference.

I miss my friends, so I run back into the trees to find them hooting into the air with much celebration.

Apologies

Im sorry for not posting in like 6 days or something. I know all of you guys (being in the near hundreds) are so worried. But I've just been having too much fun doing far too many fun things to tell you all about. Which is a shame really. But to be honest I'd rather keep doing fun things than spend hours typing about them to you. This may prove an horrendous oversite, when in years to come I forget everything, I have to come back and read this blog to remember, theres all these gaps. That would suck. Through this fact I have decreed that blogs are much more interesting if written by depressed people with occasional spasms of fun than by people that have far too much fun and no time. The End.

In other news, Paige and I are now officially a thing (facebook never lies, children). I know, cool huh? She's kind of real awesome. We have wicked times too often, and shes probably to blame for my lack of posts. But more on that later...

In other other news, we almost got mugged. By a small ginga child. Now, when I say small, he claimed to be 16, but his height suggested 9. He was most fearsome though. And his friend new muay thai (forgive the spelling) apparently, although Adrejas (??) later doubted this call due to the fact that its all elbows and knees, and he was waving fists at me... (FISTS??). So here's what happened... (continued in my next post).

Yesterday, I introduced Paige to my family (bar Sam who is indeed moved out). We cooked random hash and pork stuff as well as steamed broccoli and it was awesome (even though it brunt onto the bottom of the pan). Plus, because it didn't really count as food, we could cover it in sauce and mayo and shit. Mum had us eat at the table which was odd, probably to impress Paige. Having your mum wanting to impress your girlfriend through domestic normality is always a good sign.

Heres some photo portraits...

1. me by paige

2. paige by me (easily the best photo)

3. oli by mum

4. mum by oli