countdown.

so the days are speeding by, and there are 2 events which are round the corner. first is the laser worlds. while i prepared for kieler woche by visiting the gym multiple times a week, cycling hard on saturdays and heading to sydney for not one but two week-long training stints, this time preparation consisted of army half marathon training multiple times a week, standing still for long hard hours on saturdays and heading to the hr branch not once, but twice, to instill some sense of urgency into our friendly staff. i wonder what the average speed of the paperwork was as it made it's way to our camp - let's say it did, what 40km? in about 4 weeks, which is 28 days +/-, hmm... 40/672 works out to be about 0.06km/h. you'd think i'd have a reason to be worried and upset; surely the tirade wasn't necessary, ma'am, cuz it's not you that i'm pestering. but that's just you. thanks for your time.

but gratefully it looks like it'll be settled soon, so i can start thinking about halifax with much more seriousness.

the other event is my approaching ord date on 9th november. sure, it'll be a relief, but i guess i'll have mixed feelings. ns has taught me things, some good, some bad, some downright wrong i think. i've grown (in more ways than one) and changed somewhat, i think i've made 3 lasting friendships, especially in the last month or so. somehow i behave very differently around them, not like how i am with anybody else.

above all i believe i'll be looking back on 08-09 as my most carefree years ever. sure, for most part it was pretty darn boring, but it was bearable.

coming up! 2 album reviews! and a closer look into the things i'm doing in preparation for the biggest race i've ever sailed yet.

Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats

photo of the week

"Okay, okay, you can stay. But only if you promise to move just a little quicker in the roll tacks..."
(Photo: Glennon Stratton)

also, currently enjoying the adventures of post-humorous boy, screwed up boy, unremarkable boy and lifeless creature. episodes every saturday! last episode was mostly about watermelon, but i shouldn't reveal too much before you go and catch it for yourself.

big bird in a small cage

thoughts, extrapolated from my frustration at being in a no.3 uniform shirt that's so tight i can't put my elbows within 10cm of each other, various items tugging at my belt which constricts around my waist, sore feet trapped and blistered by leather, chinstrap and earpiece grabbing at my head, lack of ventilation where i'm standing, 1m away from the air-conditioned lounge.

but, being the person i am, i don't voice my frustration, i try to enjoy myself and the company around me, have a good laugh, come home and have a good sleep, go sailing the next day, and then i come back and blog about something entirely different.

well, not entirely.

There was a house halfway 'round the world
And I was invited in for a small taste of gin
There was a hallway a thousand birds long
But the biggest one of all was in a
Cage too small

I asked the caretaker 'cause he owns an acre
Looked at me and laughed took another sip from his glass and said
Open up your ears and heart

You put a big bird in a small cage it'll you a song
That we all love to sing along
To the sound of the bird that longs

-Patrick Watson

freedom of movement. freedom of speech, eye contact, fidgeting, nuances, standing positions when in a group, feelings, happiness, stream of consciousness.

the future, the elastic quality of time as experienced by people, words and how shops/brands/multinational corporations pick their names, taglines. humour, James May's humour, scrabble. Niall O'Sullivan's essays for the Wimbledon website.

ridiculousness, especially. rain, and water, for that matter. that moment when a band first steps onto the stage (i've withheld this long to mention something music related).

cobbled streets, autumn leaves, winds in your face, open lawns, winding roads, undiscovered eateries. long walks and adventures and generally making a fool of yourself.

what fascinates you?