THE

Must:
similar taste in music
wanna go out, eat/drink/smoke then maybe i wont be so fucking tempted
in control
productive and progressive, life

No No's:
signs of weakness, mental
lack of confience
too nice


kind of like me, says Phuong

Vietnamese Coffee Machine

So we decide to try out a new Vietnamese resto in st. albans. We ask for a hot vietnamese coffee. This is laid in front of us. How do we.. I msg Phuong for help.

Technical

October 2012

Productive Day

Woke up at 12pm
Left the house at 1pm

St. Albans
Posted ebay shit
Return overdue library book
IGA grocery shopping
Bought a shit pork roll
Managed to park and not be bothered by shit drivers
N.B. Do not wear stripey see through top in St. Albans
RAPE FREE DAY

Home
Ate shit pork roll

Hairdressers
Get hair bleached for the second time
Made some friends and engaged in interesting conversation (topic included shoes)
Made another appointment for the 26th of June, 1pm

Mums
Ate pancit molo
Picked up some luggage bags
Told papa I'm going to get a dog when I come back
Get excited at his approval and look on the internet for British Bulldog pups
At first disappointed at the prices
Then find a seller in Porter St, Prahran who is selling for $300!!

Phuongs
Surprise her with the birthday present that took 6 hours of Ace/Me manual labour
Talk to phuong about G.O.T. and visual merchandising

Home
Cut nails
In bed
Time for my G.O.T.


Ahhh

Live Fast Die Young Bad Girls Do It Well

My company, on behalf of the Melbourne Central management team, awards me with another voucher for my hard work during the month of March. It was signed by the CEO himself. I have a total of two vouchers that I haven't used since November and its a little annoying. There is nothing I like and I'm not the type to just spend for the sake of wasting money/voucher. It looks like I am collecting these vouchers. Im not! I wish I could spend it as soon as I got it!

I worked at D today and man I COULD NOT BE FUCKED. Within the last minutes of arriving at work, I was skipping furiously through the hip hop songs on my ipod. I needed something to inspire me today so I can feel better about going to work. I needed something to think about, I needed meaning to my life and then it came.

'Why do bad things happen? It's because life is a constant battle between good and bad'

I dont want to elaborate on how lazy I was today in case I'll get in trouble. There is so much I want to say about my work places that I cannot say here for their privacy reasons. I think I need to create a journal just dedicated to it. But damn, wouldn't you like to know?

I always have fun at D. I love the people I work with and the occasional shit customer. Ugh. They are so rude to you at the beginning and its soooooo good when they come up to you, eyes begging for your assistance. Beg bitch because I ain't helping you otherwise. In fact, I'm totally gonna ignore you I dont care you fucking cunt. It's the sales assistant vs. customers and although the customers almost always get their way (e.g. taking complaints up to higher management) it is initially a fight between 1 (customer) to 15 (team members) and we go into the reserves where you cant hear us and bitch the brown shit out of you. Its kinda intimidating when most sale assistants ignore you for what you've done.

I met a friends boyfriend today. He didnt understand the concept of shoe collecting. 'Is it something like, stamp collecting?'

Yes, friend.

Thursday I worked at Southwharf and bagged me up two pairs of shoes. Southwharf's a fucking bitch to get to via public transport. Takes me about 1 hour. Dont do it. I been spending so much lately that I feel its pointless to stop myself. Why? I've already gone this far, why not another step? It's like, murdering someone. You may hide the body, why not? You're already in trouble. And then you take a further step and think, why not cut the body up? It will making hiding the body easier. Then you think...

Okay. Enough about that.

I arrived home about 7:30pm that night after sleeping on the train home and waking up only to stop myself from drooling and to get off at the right train stop. I took a shower and went straight to sleep with very wet hair. That was just before 8pm.

I heard sleeping with wet hair gives you head aches and bad dreams. I had a bad dream. I was alone in the ghetto streets of Old Manila, Philippines. I was wearing a short skirt and singlet, waaay to exposed for a foreigner like me. I'd get raped. I needed to get home except I didnt find the streets familiar. Everyone was looking and talking quietly about me as I walked. I came to a public transport station and lined up at a train ride for kids. The guy spoke to me in tagalog, do you want to ride this? I shook my head, afraid to comfirm that I was a foreigner by speaking english, and pointed to the taxi's. She wants to pay, a stranger lady said. I believe she was helping me out. The man said, if you want to pay for a taxi, go over there to the taxi driver. I looked from the man to the lady to the taxi driver. At that point I wanted to cry because I didnt know who to trust, which path to take that would not get me raped. I woke up suddenly with my heart beating so fast. I couldnt get back to sleep til about 45 minutes after that. I rarely have ad dreams, even more rarely wake up to them. What is my subconscious trying to tell me? Tell me!!

I woke up on Friday morning at 11am only because Phuong called me. That was an epic 15 hours of sleep. I woke up refreshed as fuck, not tired or groggy at all! I think I needed that. I was to have fish and chips and cider for breakfast in Kealba. I wasn't really feeling the cider that early in the morning after that much sleep. My petrol light is flashing because I am almost at the empty mark. Commooon just a little bit further!!

Home Alone. Nuggets for dinner

Asos gear: Orange jogger pants and navy crop top

Ishka snake necklace

I go to St. Albans for a Vietnamese coffee. Then home. My Asos delivery arrived four days early. Sumpai. Clean the house a little. Watch TV and then rushtogetready because I need to take this train in 20minutes with phuong. I was going to meet up with James/MJ to check out this new place. I ring James 'MJ says to get your cute nose here right now' I'm cominggg!!!

I get checked for I.D. as usual. As usual they dont believe the person in the photo is me. I change too much. I show my bank card to prove the bank card, and every other card in my wallet matched the name on my drivers license.

Ferdydurke is by the same management team that do Section 8. It was their opening night and I fucking loved the place. So much potential and I'm happy I got to see it before, in a few weeks time, I'll be disappointed for not being allowed in. It's a tiny tiny space and even on the opening night when it wasnt even full house, there was lines outside. They didnt even send out the advertising. James said the bar wasnt furnished completely.

I can imagine the existing building presented a lot of architectural restrictions. I saw this with the oddly shaped and placed windows and new brick work connected to the old brick work. Timber walls and window sills, yellow lighting, collaged street wall art, real plants, candle light and a glass staircase landing so the bottom floor people can see up at girl's skirts. Dirty Joe. This place is going to be massive.

I met Ren the manager, served by real friendly and smiling-for-no-reason staff and got to see the Jwowers again. I thank the long blonde haired bartender who looked like Joel for making my drink pretty. I meet quiet a few randoms and friends of friends. People were saying they liked my style and one girl, Chantelle, said 'you're rockin' it guurrrrl' as we danced on the floor. I got so many compliments that night I was sincerely embarrassed and dumbfounded for words.

I'm getting used to paying for alcohol since I have no bartender connections anymore. I must make new ones. I'm happy to make Ferdy the new jwow. I drank a total of 8 standard drinks and I felt tipsy for a few moments the most. I didnt get to the level I wanted even though I was mixing heavily. Damn you liver. Why do you work so well.

We went to Noodle Kingdom, Swanston, which has recently taken the space of the old club x joint (yuck) for dumplings. I had about three and felt like vomiting. I washed it with beer. There was a lot of beer swapping and beer pouring into other people's bottles and I felt like vomiting even more. They didnt bring out two of our dishes, which worked out for us because we didnt want it anyway. I checked that they didnt charge us on the bill which they didnt, but they did charge us for chinese tea that no one ordered. DODGEY.

We went back to Ferdy which I left prematurely to Red Hummingbird to meet up with my sister. We smiled at each other, hugged each other and took photos with each other to the extent that made Dave say 'you guys live together but its like you're never gonna see each other again'. Just take the photo! >=[


Blue Diamond, 
123 Queens Street, Melbourne

This joint is 15 levels up from ground and the views were pleasant. The guy at the door tried to jib us by trying to get us to pay entry fee. We didnt need to because entry before 8pm was free. We took the lift up. The place was everythng I wanted jwow to be. Red carpet, red yellow lighting, art deco cocktail framed images on the wall.. there was a live band and the bartenders wore white shirts, vests and suspenders. In saying that, I wouldnt come to this place again. It was full of 30 year old - 60 year old people. If I was dressed casually Id feel insecure. The young guy at the door was wearing an old mans hat and wore a really cool suit (grey with orange pipe lining) something that only Maliek could pull off.
This is the kinda place where the bitchy old lady/customer from today would go and sip wine by herself and wait for a rich mafia boss to sweep her off her feet.

There were a young group of top shit girls next to me. They asked the bartender if they served ABC shots. Really?? You think a place like this would do shots? And you think they would do ABC shots??? ABC shots are for people who wanna get fucked up fast and cheap. I turned my head to see what kind of people asked for them. Yep. I could have guessed.


Lions Hotel,
Melbourne Central, Melbourne

This place has NOT changed. Even the security guards and owners are the same as five years ago when I first started coming here. I cant believe how this place has stayed the same. Its a young uni crowd, tshirts jeans, sneakers, kids getting thrown out of the place, bartenders in shorts so short you can make our the bum cheek, older men with greasy hair perving on the young girls.. It was packed as fuck and I felt like suffocating inside trying to look for my friends. Vman hated this place. He's always hated it. He wanted to leave asap because the place and people had pissed him off. A dramatic change of atmosphere from Blue Diamond.

Happy Intensified Weekend

I love my weekends. I would argue that I have some of the best weekends amongst my friends. It's so important for me to have a banging weekend and I know my weekends will never fail me. I make them what I want and I make them fun and adventurous. You just need a the right mix of open minded people (possibly connected ones), shoes you can walk in and just a little bit of money to start off with. If you're creative, you can do a lot with the little you have so essentially, do you need anything to have the fun you want?


Thursday


I have this thing where my weekends start on Thursday. I've blogged it about it previously but it was Phuong's surprise birthday party. About 25 of us greeted a disbelieving and shaking phuong. 'I'm shaking, I'm shaking!' is all she said when she hugged us. Later she would tell me she thought she was going to faint. She was teary, its two years in a row now that phuong has cried tears of joy at her birthday and its something Id like to keep going. It was such a good thing to see her happy. I was almost teary myself being so overcome with elated emotion.

I shared her feelings like they were mine. That moment brought me back to a time in year 8 religion when she was chosen to pray for something. Phuong started off but couldnt finish because she burst into tears. We both left the classroom so she could calm down. I hugged her tightly and felt her body vibrate as she shook with deep inhalation. It was terrible. I couldn't take seeing her like this. I had to cry too. Our teacher came out and asked me why I was crying. I said 'I dont want to see her like this' and Phuong's tears softened and she hugged me. The teacher was confused. She didnt want to send any one else out to comfort us beacuse she thought that person would end up crying.

The dinner was so yum. We had three rounds of Japanese BBQ and couldnt even finish the king prawns, salmon and abalone. :S I hate wasting things when I know people out there are suffering. I think of the kids in the Bacolod Orphanage.

It was green tea ice cream for desert. We were only allowed to choose one of the 4 flavours but phuong asked for the three exotic ones. we were at a fancy restuarant. The waiter said that phuong could only have one because one is enough. hahaha. Eventually there were ice cream left over and phuong had all three exotic flavours, green tea, red bean and black seasame. Black seasame is the SHIT so good.

I saw my 2nd ever comedy show and my first up close and personal one. We were running late so we had to be snuck in and only stayed for the last 20 minutes of the show. It was held at the Victoria Hotel which I'm sure has to be a heritage listed building just by looking at it. I'm not surprised if it was haunted either. We saw Mike Wilmot which I didnt find that funny because it was crude humour about saggy vagina's and old men sucking on nipples. I did not hate it. I did a few grunts of approval, you know that thing you do before you laugh but its not quite a laugh. I did like his Canadian accent though and, throughout his gig, was what life would be like growing old with a comedian and his crude jokes.



Friday


I had day off. I was happy about because I was pissed off at work on Thursday and  I wanted to leave all the unfinished work for the ungrateful people at work to finish off. Huh! Take that while I have a day off. It was sunny and such a beautiful day. I was still very happy from last night, so happy in fact that it actually felt like it was MY birthday. I posted on facebook that I had one happy intensified weekend when the weekend has not technically begun and only one day gone from 'my' definition of a weekend. I jump into things too fast.

We were off to the Carlton Club for drinks for Phuongs birthday, the one SHE planned and up til now it was very difficult to not give the surprise away. I thought I was doing a good job of it but Phuong picked up a couple hints in my msgs last night e.g. 'I'll see you tonight' which I had to stop myself from writing about 3 times. I guess one slipped by.

As always I was in a rush to get ready. I had about 20 minutes because I was napping at mums house in my comfy and over heating bed. 5 more minutes, 10 more minutes, 5 more minutes and BAM im late.

I never been to the carlton club before but its a beautiful classy venue and I love the rooftop bars. The carpet is patterened and lavish red. There were stuffed ostriches and giraffe heads in the main room I really hope they arent real :S It was really annoying because Josh was having trouble getting into because he looked too casual in his jeans and tshirt when Joe could not get in at all because he was 'too formal'. He needed jeans to get in, not those business trousers. That is fucking bullshit. What cunts.

Joe

I was sipping on Chardonnay all night because i missed wine and it was probably cheaper than vodka. Because I didnt mix drinks I only buzzed. Oh wait, I was doing tequilla shots. I bought Phuong her first drink. Her third drink was a jug of Sangria. She was sipping out of it from several straws and cheers-ing us with the massive jug. Haha! I said, use a cup! I didnt know if security will allow that sort of behaviour. There was dilemma's that night and phuong wasnt happy. And I wasnt happy that phuong cried tears other than tears of happiness. I fucking hate controlling and jealous people. Just sit back and relax mate you can rule this world and the actions of others.

Last night was also the first time I felt comfortable with a male stranger coming up to me in a bar and talking to me. He was actually really smooth and genuinely nice. He wasn't even drunk/tipsy because he had given up alcohol ages ago and he was on water all night. He's mates watched from a couple steps away but even that didnt make me feel awkward. He came up to me and Stacy after our Don Julio White shots (no chaser needed it was that nice) and he said he liked my style. He said I was beautiful. Stacy motioned to leave but before she did she had a concerned look on her face that said 'do you want me to rescue you?' I gave her a nod of assurance that said 'Thanks, I'm fine'. I don't remember what we spoke about but it was a pleasant conversation because interesting topics just flowed and he wasn't a creep. He had to go because he's friends we're waiting downstairs and he asked for my number.  I told him a had a boyfriend. 'Where's the lucky guy?'

Our friends slowly left and it was time for Phuong's birthday speech. I made the guys gather around and she made her speech right then and there. She appreciated us, everything we had done for her. She had the bestest of friends. She was so lucky. Again, tears of happiness. :)

We had KFC which was bland as fuck. The inaudible hobbo kept coming up to us and offering some of his Pie Face and some of hes drugs. Ugh. Get away.

I was on my way home when a friend mentioned he was outside. I didnt think he would actually come and we were literally walking to a car home. I told him I had to go, I must leave him on his own. I left. Felt like a rat. Then went back in to the Carlton. I drank some more Chardonnay, kicked back on the balcony and got home at 3:30am after a $51 cab by myself. I hate cab fairs.


Saturday

I didn't wake up with a hang over but I was a little groggy. I wanted a pork roll but James suggested a big breakfast. I warned him I had no money whatsoever. this week I am literally struggling for cash since I had to pay for holiday accomodation, rent, and bills. The accomodation alone was more than I earned in one week.

James took me to Chez Dre a french cafe in a alley way of South Melbourne. Adventurous me got a Breakfast Platter which I was a little disappointed with beacuse i thought it would not fill me up. And there were no instructions to eat it. A french breakfast patter included:

• A boiled egg (on a egg cup i havent seen one of these in years!!)
• plates of home made raspberry and strawberry jam with dried apricots
• two shavings of ham
• a block of cheese
• crunchy sweet wheetbix covered in natural yoghurt
• a toasted bagette and a
• glassed croissant

Where do I start??? Oh but I started, and I finished. I finished everything!!! And we got a take away bagette and some macaroons for the road. It was 3pm. Now it was off to Joel's apartment in the city :)

James and the French Breakfast

Carrying around a bagette I felt so French!

James put on season 1 of Games of Thrones and I am so addicted. I am in love with Khal Drogo, Son of Bharbo. He's every bit of man. I wish so much that he was real so I could follow him around. Now here are photos of Khal Drogo, Son of Bharbo.

Drogo. The more I look at him the more I become obsessed. Ugh. So. HOT.

I braided Joel's hair to prepare him for Tough Mudder. Gods speed. James and I decided to head to Section 8.

I go over to Joel's house so we can braid each other's hair

Section 8 I had one glass of house wine. Then we were to Kokoro Restuarant to visit Cheese and bitched about Jwow. I skulled 1.5 glasses of sake a munched on free Japanese fried chicken that and fried gyoza's which was better than anything ive ever tasted. MJ met us up and we headed off to the Billboards with a $100 drink card. We met Mackie the manager at the front of the venue so we could skip the line. Mackie said if the drink card isnt enough, we should see him. I've never been to Billboards before. Apparently its a venue that is not known for either RnB or Trance or a genre of music, it is known as an events venue. Musicians come and play here. There is a moshpot section and an elevated stage like the HiFi bar. The floor to ceiling of the stage is entirely LED disco lighting. Dj's play on stage and look down at the clubbers. The bars and audio visual technitians are elevated and I think its a really convenient set up.

Mackie took us to the VIP lounge which over looked everything, even the LED lighting board. The VIP room had white leather couches and their own bar. Floor to ceiling blacked out windows. It was pretty fucking amazing. I wonder what shit goes down up here.

Cant see shit here but this is the VIP room at Billboards

We were doing shots of this, chasing it down with that. I lost count but I learnt long time ago that counting doesnt matter. We were off to the Croft where by this time my memory is weary. They were gonna charge us $10 each at the door but MJ said he was M-Phases manager. I remember innocent faced door girls and guys and eventually I got a cool stamp on my wrist. We had to climb so many stairs. People were making room for me, stepping aside, because I climbed like a gorilla. I was tired.

I was tripping out because their was actual glass on the bartop. I couldnt stop playing with it, combing it with my fingers but trying not to tear it away. I met DJ Flagrant. M-Phases was DJing. I was dancing on stage. I remember spilling a drink because the fkn grass bartop was not stable. Most of it went on me. I'm lucky to get a second pour.

We went to the Carlton Club after which by then I felt I was dreaming. I dont remember being there. James said we had KFC. We did? I dont remember the walk to the car, paying for the park or even the drive home. I was drunk texting too and asking people to keep me awake to that tomorrow I wont wake up with a hang over. 

Amin sent me a photo of his weird thumb.

I sent him a photo of a normal thumb

Markings of a good night. Pretty cool trademark for the

Croft Institute

Sunday

I feel asleep with my light on and my orange juice bottle empty. I needed a pork roll but I remember I am really really strapped for cash. Last night at the ATM I got rejected because I didnt have enough funds to withdraw $40. When I checked my balance I had only $16 and I cant even withdraw that! I needed cash but i only had silver. I had to use on car coinage. I picked up Afro Dave, my new found highschool ex bf's right hand man who lives down the road from me and we get pork rolls. I had just enough money for a can of solo.

Go home. Go to vman's house to watch eposides and eposides of Games of Throne. I watch too much of it and now I'm late to meet up with dave. I'm pissed off because Drogo is drying. UGH. PISSED OFF. While we wait for Grace I am tempted to withdraw my $16 on my card and gamble so I can make more money. Ha. Gambling's a lopsided bitch. You win a bit, but you will eventually lose it all. We go to crown to watch 21 Jump street. I was thinking of Drogo and if he will make it through the night. 

Did You Think I Was Gone Forever?

I went and lived somewhere else for a bit but now I'm back. I've been thinking, although I'd rather distance myself with these shit people, I do wanna continue what I do and keep the same residency for all my viewers.

Love and respect for people who love and respect me.

____________________


This week was full of ups and downs.

I found out on Tuesday that my best friend since high school is pregnant and due in August. Me and phuong will be aunties! I was so shocked when I heard the news, I hear most of my news from Whatsapp. At first i thought she was joking, but she has been in the U.S for ~6months with her boyfriend.

________________


Marc's last day at Jwow was on Friday. One of the Ubings is leaving, the jwow is dying and work is getting less fun. So we were drinking as usual. 3 out of 4 people who I asked to visit me pulled through. Ate, Jack and their friends came in. I got to make them surprise drinks. Luckily for them they werent so educated in the cocktail scene so I was blowing their minds and tastebuds with classic cocktails. Thanks Jen! This is yum! What's this? Can you be my bartender at my next party? Sure! Pay me $50, no $100!

They went up to Match Bar for more drinks and I went with. They were all tripping out because they thought I was working. I am, this is what I do when I work. Stand around, make drinks, drink them, go to Match and do free shots. Ahhhh what a job.

Im so happy that my favourite bartender is back in action, except now he's managing Match! I admire the talent of a bartender who can mix together any drink instantaneously. Hey Kris, gimme something really sour. Kris, gimme something coconut. Kris is always nice enough to hook me up with free drinks even when I bring my friends in. Ate and her friends notice this and thought I was the coolest guy out.

Fav cousin came in who we persuaded to wait for us to close so he could drive me home. But before that, we went to a Secret Society of Koreans where after a certain time, the venue can no longer legally sell alcohol but continue to do so. The only way you can get in is through a dark rape alley line with mysterious dark solid doors. It is the unmanned door at the very end of the alley with steel jail bars. You will have to be Korean or have the secret phone number to the place so someone will open the door for you. It's amazing.

Inside there are ping pong tables, a golf scene, pool tables, a band set up (piano), karoke and a gramaphone. They sell Korean and western alcohol as well as Korean food. Dave and friend were giggling like children while me, helen and yao kept our cool like we've been here a hundred times.

I got home at about 5am and pretty much fell straight to sleep. I woke up at 1:30pm today which meant I had 8.5hrs sleep. Since I'm used to 6 max a week, I felt so sluggish and tired like I had overslept. I had 1.5 bbq pork rolls for breakfast at Chilli Deli, St. Albans which shits all over Tan Tan bakery. Then went to Fantastic Furniture and picked up my car at Keilor Plains station that I had left over night. It was a 37 degree day and I was dreading getting into my car. I opened the door. Standing a couple steps back from the car I could already feel the surge of hot air against my skin. Ugh.

I drove home and napped again. Woke up to my sister who prepared me a steak sanga. Then left to meet up with Phuong and Ace who were drinking up at a Cairnlea park. Ahh high school days when we didnt have a house or a room to drink at because our parents would get angry...  the stars where visible and the weather at 12am was nice and cool. we left when they couldnt drink any more cider.


___________________________


I went with Bard to get a shisha hit and actually got to know the guy. He's completely turned around my first impressions of him being a superficial, cool guy tech-head. He was telling me about his travels and unexpected adventures with random locals and it makes me want to go to America. We did a kebab run where I paid $10 for a Hawaiian kebab (complete with pineapple, chicken, mushroom, capsicum and garlic sauce). It weighed 1 kg and I didnt finish it.


___________________________


So my work place is most likely going to offer me a full time position. Id rather say casual and earn more money. People talk about full time benefits such as guaranteed work hours, sick and annual leave and superannuation. But I'm rarely sick, rarely away on holiday and superannuation gets paid to me even on a casual rate. Casual rates are heaps more and for the guaranteed hours, if they are prepared to offer me full time then that means the full time hours are there. I like the flexibility and unpredictability of a casual job. I liked working more than one job and switching shit around so every week was different.

I worked at another store on friday. I did 10-1:30pm at Melbourne central and spent my 30 minute lunch break making my way to spencer street and doing 2-5pm there. Technically, I worked all day with no break, food or even water. My stupid water bottle spilt everywhere on the train journey to work and i couldnt fill up at work because there's sand in that water.

I felt good working at Spencer street. The manager there was very grateful and she wanted me to come back because she thought I was a strong worker. All I did was unpacked stock and was dealing with customers minimally, but she still saw the good in me. It's difficult to find good workers, even weeding them out through the interview process. You won't know a person's shit until they're actually employed and working for two weeks.

I saw my godsister that day who is 3 years younger and has always been innocent. She grew up with strict filo parents who sadly divorced. Natalie is now manager of YD and is all tattooed up with long bleached hair and tight clothing wearing. She's totally different. She makes me think, fuck if she dont give a fuck about being precious with her body and holding back on tattoos then what am I waiting for???

____________________________


I'm using my design knowledge for evil because I do NOT want to pay full fare for public transport. that shit is a rip! I just hope i dont get caught out.

Anything But My Shoes

I know I said I wouldn't buy anything this week to punish myself for buying so many new things last week but temptation presents itself in way where it is a crime to ignore it. When the opportunity comes you should grab it, don't let it go and never look back. Believe in your intuition! When you're heart urges you to wait to for assistance to have a closer look at the silver cross necklace in the display cabinet, well.. you gotta do what you gotta do.

I havent been op shopping in weeks, months simply because I have no time and these op shops aren't exactly in my way. I have a theory of: if you like it and you cant stop thinking about it, just buy it because chances are you'll still want it tomorrow and you may loose this opportunity. This theory particularly applies to op shopping and shopping overseas because of the low prices and these items tend to be difficult to find again. I'd rather deal with financial loss than material regret.

I'm particularly happy with the black pants I bought which dont look like much in the picture but in real life and worn they are gorgeous. They look and fit like American Apparel Riding Pants. They are made of some swimsuit material and even stitched that way which is strange but the fabric works well especially that they are ultra tight fitting. They are high waisted (what I need) and so very comfortable. I love em. They were $30 which is quite expensive for op shops and I'm not sure how they justified the price. The brand is Nag Wear and they are made in Australia.

My second favourite item is the silver cross necklace. It's simplistic and primitive in style. Phuong says it suits me. The silver is weighty, chunky and not perfectly finished which I like. It sits right at the colour bone, framing the neck and face. It features a toggle closure. the brand stamp says 'Anne Klein' which is strange because I thought Anne Klein is delicate and girly. If this stamp is legitimate, I'm thinking its sterling silver.

I initially thought the gold broche was a random squiggle that represented a thunderbolt. Cool. But when I took it home and flipped it around it resembled a christmas tree. Damnit, I accidentally bought a piece of christmas jewellery. Embarrasssssiinnnnggg. Not really, I'll just flip it over and make it a thunderbolt.

I bought two books: Angela's Ashes and Pride and Prejudice. The later book will teach me how to speak and be a proper lady. I've heard how much of a drainner the book is to read but if its a classic english novel I will power through it.

I got a heavy wooden/mother of pearl hanging decorative plate featuring intricate Islamic pattern work. I resisted the urge to buy more glass wear. I tend to pick up the ones made in England. I love all things that are warm, tribal, primitive, historic, natural... I collect so many house things I cant wait til i get a house and put all these things together!

This week is a new week and I've gotta get serious with my budgeting. I'm gonna write down all my expenses for the day, everything from petrol, bills, food, transportation.. then tally it for the week, minus what I earn. I'll note where I spend too much. I'll divide it by 7 to find out my average daily spend, then aim to reduce it by 25%. I think I spend too much on food because I dont wake up in time to prepare myself properly for the day.

Air Max's Red or Blue?

I was late coming back from break because today I found these babies. It's the first time in over one year since I felt a strong connection with a sneaker. The last 'non-girly- shoe I bought where my Timberlands in London this time last year but you wouldnt describe them as a sneaker. I saw the red from the display window, then wondered inside to find the blue. I was tossing over the red or blue but decided on the blue because the blue is fooking gangsta my blar. I like the subtle differences between the dark blues and the use of the black and white. It's difficult to make navy and black work together as both colours are so similar but this is a successful example of where it does work. Phuong and I agreed that this subtle colour way is 'very Melbourne', team it with a tight black outfit and BAM! respect points given. I'm so lucky I can fit into kids shoes because these babies are $99.

I was so delighted that my sneaker fascination has been ignited once again. I WILL get these I dont care about my budget. hahah. A shame that I wont be wearing these at work coz I'll be pushing my employment at tony bianco. While waiting for my train home at Melbourne Central station I wondered why I am so obsessed with shoes. Why do I love them so much? I began my love letter dedicated to shoes in general...

Why I can't get enough of buying and owning shoes.

I need to collect them. I have deep routed issues relating to collecting things. I need to have them all to be satisfied. It's also the way I organise and categories my collection. Seeing them in my cupboard placed systematically or on my feet looking good makes me happy. And since I've discovered my interest in 'girly' shoes, I need to buy for both collections.

I love it when strangers come up to me and comment on my shoes, even if they are not nice ones, I like that they attract attention. The shoes definitely make the outfit. If you disagree, you obviously don't know where to buy shoes from. Shoes can mean so much more to me than the dress, buy the shoes to match the dress?? Hell no. So many variations, shapes, textures, fitting, heights, the perfect combination of these to match the particular occasion. Some people buy shoes to simply protect their feet, I buy shoes to make my food look good.

I like how shoes tell a story, I love to wear my new shoes in ASAP because new shoes are just bland. I want the creases, the drink spills, the heel scuff, holes, colour fades and the bits falling off. Shoes are meant to be dirty, they are shoes! My shoes grow with me and the marks tell others and remind me of where I've been, what happened.. pretty much how what where when. I remember which shoes I've taken to

• my most recent trip to Philippines and first trip the to the snow (Adidas Missy Elliot's),
• climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Nike Court Forces),
• London/Paris/Dubai and first night at alternative club 'Bang' (Reebok Freestyles and Timberlands),
• African Night at Nyala/Black Pearl Part 2 (Reebok Ventilaters),
• Jwow shoes (Creative Recreation), Year 8 - Year 10 at CRC (Converse Chuck Taylors)

When I don't know what shoes go with an outfit, I wear choose a pair off my 'versatile' list:

• Nike pink/blue/white velcro ones
• Reebok White Freestyles
• Creative Recreations
• Timberlands

It's 12:23am and I have spoken about shoes for too long. Wow. I have a problem.

I love my problem.

Joel froths over my Timberlands whenever I wear em. He finally got himself a pair from America. Size 11. I can fit my feet x3 in the space he has there.

Train station calligraphy.

The bottom one looks chinese?

The results of mine and Phuong's St. Albans dumpling shopping.

I draw on Vman's arm a penis disguised as a smiley face.

Day 3: New Nails, Wound, Stain, Transport

It's only 8:32am (yes I have woken unnaturally early) and already the event of the new and different have occurred.

1. Blue nail polish. This is actually a massive change seeing as I refuse to have anything but white or light silver on my nails. It just looks cleaner and sophisticated. Opening the bathroom cupboard, I instinctively reached for the white nail polish, then stopped when I saw the blue. Okay fuck it. I had a little shock this morning when I woke up. In the dark with this dark colour on, it didnt look like i had any nails!
2. My unnatural awake up time of 7:14am. I got out of bed at 7:52am. Its a glorious 21 degrees today. The sun is out. The sky is blue and in a few hours the clouds will clear. Surely it isnt winter. Bring on a warm spring and an even warmer summer when clothes wont be necessary.

I've got plans today to head into the city. I'm not driving to the station bcoz I'll be drinking. Post office. Bourbon training at Papa Goose, Flinders Lane. Drop off these Nikes to an Ebayer on Franklin Street. Meet up with Phuong, eat at Cafe Vu, Little Collins Street. Cycle around the city and Alexander Gardens with Melbourne City rental bikes. Excite!

My birthday is tomorrow. It's going to be 22 degrees. Let's runamuck

_____________________

It's almost 1 am and I just got home. I have a 2 job interviews tmrw, a 12:30pm with sketchers and a 3pm with Witchery in Crown Casino. I think I will attend the latter. Just like I was decked out in Zara for the Zara interview, I will be decked out in all Witchery. Except perhaps the shoes and of course underwear.

I went on a massive journey today.

Bourbon training and tasting at Papa Goose, Flinders Lane

I ended up getting tipsy half way through the 2 hour training. After it finished, James announced that we were going to a wine tasting at Fed Square. Okay!

Zinc, Federation Square

So here I was in my acid washed jeans, oversized knitted jumper and backpack mingling amongst these wine heads in suits and ties. Again I am out of place. I swish around my wine glass, smell (the way I was taught to at bourbon training - it came in handy), then taste in tiny sips. Pause, and deliver a verdict with adjectives such as 'floral', 'light', 'sweet', 'sharp', 'strong', 'dry'. The portfolio booklet in my hand helped hide my alcohol-blushed face. James said I pulled it off well.

Don Don's

Shit! I spent too much time drinking and giggling i forgot I needed to be somewhere at 5pm! An ebay buyer wants to buy these shoes so I call him up to say I will be late. Oops. I dont know what this guy looks like, all i know is his name, phone number and that he is probably a fobby asian. I stand at Don Don's, he's even later than me!! How will i know its him?? I looked out for lost asians standing around Don Don's and looking at me with questioning faces. I asked one of these randoms:

Me: 'Are you here for shoes??'

Random: 'Sorry?'

Me: 'Are you here for shoooooes??'

Random: 'Ahhh no..'

Ugly ass shoes

Okay so no. Eventually my phone rings, I see a guy infront of me with the phone to his ear. Yep. Him. He had a cute little puppy on his leash that I bent down and pat, so fluffy! This asian fob tried to get away with a $5 discount because I didnt have change for him. Why would you NOT bring the right amount with you?? I told him to follow me to my work and I got change for him.

Fed Square - a 'new' means of transport around Melbourne

Phuong and I utilised our free Melbourne Bike Share Passes courtesy of the State of Design Festival. Riding a bike proved to be challenging as I have not rode a bike in years, literally. I was too scared to ride on the roads, I didnt want to by run over by a truck or screamed at by angry drivers. I rode on the pathway, I would pay a $45 fine! We rode to Alexander Gardens, the NGV International and to the ACCA. I wanted to make a wish in the NGV fountains but I feed most of my coins to the Myki machine. I did have 5c though, I threw it in. That should do it.

The weather was cool but pleasant and the night lights on the trees, buildings and streets were so beautiful. It was really a good feeling to be riding your bike around melbourne. Phuong and I stopped to take photographs here are there. It was our scenic tour of Melbourne on a warm winter's night, and we could go wherever we wanted!

We stopped at a playground, Phuong's newly named 'Bark Park'. We spun each other around the spinning things till we felt we were going to throw up. Phuong fell on the floor and all the bark stuck to her wooly jumper and literally covered her lower back.

'Do I have any bark on me??'

We rode along the South Bank and it was so pretty and peaceful.

Then we got tired and set our minds on some $9 steak with mushroom and chive sauce, chips and salad at Lions Hotel, Melbourne Central. We rode our bikes up Swanston Street and I felt like a celebrity. At the end of the ride, I discovered a cut on my hand, my ring had broken and my calves, thighs, and abs were hurting. Why didnt I stretch?? I also had a new red lipstick stain on my new white jumper, Phuong's kiss mark.

So sad. My ring broke.

Note to self: bike riding is NOT as cruisy as you think it is, its fucking hard work.

Ethnic Thursdays

I helped out Phuong and her teacher set up for the opening night of an exhibition as part of the State of Design Festival. The exhibit was the 'Housing Project' at Lamington Drive, just off Smith Street, Collingwood. The artspace is quite nice, airy, natural, minimal, natural light. The pleasant waft of timber lingered in the air.

'Made of cardboard for nice people'

Now I don't know much about interior design, but from what I learn from Phuong it's a whole lot conceptual. Miniature ceramic houses, apartment buildings and trees were hand made by senior citizens, primary and university students and adults/children from Art Play. these objects can be picked up and placed onto the white screen/machine to create a community. Each of these objects have a unique barcode underneath, which the machine reads and plays the soundscape relating to the object. Every object has a different soundscape.

The intention of this project is to allow the participant to interactively create a community, physically and audibly. To link people through sound. The technology took 2 years to develop.

'Housing Project'

We didnt do anything glamourous. I was there for about 2.5 hours. We had to set up a bar, cut up boxes and the put them together again -.- Then put together a 20 page publication x 303271093. I gave up at 3:30pm. I was getting a headache. It reminded me of my days show bag packing. I wanted to go home to my bentot.

Pretty high ballers with

'A long time in the making'

beautifully written in American Typewriter

Phuong actually stole me one :)

That's true love

That night we visited Lebanon. Sheisha like no other sheesha I had before. Blew my mind. Literally. I need some of that shit for the 13th. Stay tuned for next week's adventure in Spain. Robin Thicke - Lost Without You