Am so busy, Journalism subjects are not my forte! And I'm stuck writing boring-arse stories.
So as a distraction... Photos of the concert.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Very Busy!
Hey Guys!
Am so busy, Journalism subjects are not my forte! And I'm stuck writing boring-arse stories.
So as a distraction... Photos of the concert.
Am so busy, Journalism subjects are not my forte! And I'm stuck writing boring-arse stories.
So as a distraction... Photos of the concert.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Rampant applause
On Saturday the 17th of April at 8pm the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus performed to a sold out house at Gasworks Arts Park! It was pretty amazing! And I left the whole experience... FUCKING EXHAUSTED!
Seriously I deserve a medal, not only for the craploads of work the committee and I put in to getting the concert going, but also for dealing with a select few naggers who just wouldn't leave me alone, (this includes the member of the chorus who knows nothing about sound tech and wanted to sit the Technician down and discuss how he was going to be setting us up on the night! Not kidding!)
I did have one break-down on the day, more in anger than stress. But after our insisting pleas to the main MGLC to buy their tickets ASAP as we were almost sold out, I was presented with the dilemma that most of the main chorus had not purchased their tickets!
It's great to know we have sold out a show sans a good chunk of people we were relying on to fill the audience but I think my outburst of, "What do you mean you all haven't got fucking tickets? Do you think the emails saying there are ten tickets left had fine print saying - don't worry though, I'll get you in on the day *wink*."
Needless to say, I may have insulted a few people...
So with my amazing charm and a little guile, I was able to procure another 20 seats (despite OH&S concerns).
I say guile, because I set up the extra seats and then showed the operation manager they were far enough from the stage, and I think she conceded to avoid the Wrath-of-a-Raging-Queen...
So my day started at 9am, and I worked (and sang) right through until 11pm... I didn't feel like going to the after-party and to my absolute joy was able to have one drink and then blame my boy saying he was too tired (he took one for team Damo) - GTFO of there and go to bed!
Seriously I deserve a medal, not only for the craploads of work the committee and I put in to getting the concert going, but also for dealing with a select few naggers who just wouldn't leave me alone, (this includes the member of the chorus who knows nothing about sound tech and wanted to sit the Technician down and discuss how he was going to be setting us up on the night! Not kidding!)
I did have one break-down on the day, more in anger than stress. But after our insisting pleas to the main MGLC to buy their tickets ASAP as we were almost sold out, I was presented with the dilemma that most of the main chorus had not purchased their tickets!
It's great to know we have sold out a show sans a good chunk of people we were relying on to fill the audience but I think my outburst of, "What do you mean you all haven't got fucking tickets? Do you think the emails saying there are ten tickets left had fine print saying - don't worry though, I'll get you in on the day *wink*."
Needless to say, I may have insulted a few people...
So with my amazing charm and a little guile, I was able to procure another 20 seats (despite OH&S concerns).
I say guile, because I set up the extra seats and then showed the operation manager they were far enough from the stage, and I think she conceded to avoid the Wrath-of-a-Raging-Queen...
So my day started at 9am, and I worked (and sang) right through until 11pm... I didn't feel like going to the after-party and to my absolute joy was able to have one drink and then blame my boy saying he was too tired (he took one for team Damo) - GTFO of there and go to bed!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
2 days to go
The Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus will be performing on Saturday night!
I can't believe it's so close! Of course at the rehearsal last night everyone was excited, and spluttering through the pre-concert head cold that we get the week before every concert, like clock-work... It doesn't matter because we'll still be awesome (and most of us are so used to it, we took precautions and are almost better).
There is always that new member who insists they never get sick :P
While most of us are spouting on about our water intake, and little secret remedies...
- Personally I do something really disgusting, I boil two cups of water with two whole cloves of garlic (squashed with the edge of a knife), a grated knob of ginger and the rind of a lemon and orange... I then strain that into a cup, add the juice of the fruits and a tablespoon of honey.
It clears your head! But you don't get to kiss any boys for about six months!
It kinda smells like honey chicken, and gives you a wicked craving for chinese food.
But I digress... So this one or sometimes two new member(s) spout their ever flourishing health, and we get to watch the slow descent as they deny the oncoming illness until it beats them into the ground.
This is mean I know, but we spend the whole time offering honey infused tea and echinacea supplements which are refused because they "are not sick".
So we reach one week out from the concert and they concede.
With a flurry of excuses between gulps of lemsip.
"I'm just so run down..."
*Gulp*
Of course we are prepared (because we want to sound good).
Fishermans friends? ... Those cough lozenges that burn the lining off your throat.
A handful before you walk on stage!
Beautiful clear singing voice until interval.
Another dose.
And hold yourself together in hope that the laxative-effect-warning is just for legal reasons.
I can't believe it's so close! Of course at the rehearsal last night everyone was excited, and spluttering through the pre-concert head cold that we get the week before every concert, like clock-work... It doesn't matter because we'll still be awesome (and most of us are so used to it, we took precautions and are almost better).
There is always that new member who insists they never get sick :P
While most of us are spouting on about our water intake, and little secret remedies...
- Personally I do something really disgusting, I boil two cups of water with two whole cloves of garlic (squashed with the edge of a knife), a grated knob of ginger and the rind of a lemon and orange... I then strain that into a cup, add the juice of the fruits and a tablespoon of honey.
It clears your head! But you don't get to kiss any boys for about six months!
It kinda smells like honey chicken, and gives you a wicked craving for chinese food.
But I digress... So this one or sometimes two new member(s) spout their ever flourishing health, and we get to watch the slow descent as they deny the oncoming illness until it beats them into the ground.
This is mean I know, but we spend the whole time offering honey infused tea and echinacea supplements which are refused because they "are not sick".
So we reach one week out from the concert and they concede.
With a flurry of excuses between gulps of lemsip.
"I'm just so run down..."
*Gulp*
Of course we are prepared (because we want to sound good).
Fishermans friends? ... Those cough lozenges that burn the lining off your throat.
A handful before you walk on stage!
Beautiful clear singing voice until interval.
Another dose.
And hold yourself together in hope that the laxative-effect-warning is just for legal reasons.
Monday, April 12, 2010
A bit of shameless self promotion
My choir performs this coming Saturday at the Gasworks Arts Park in Albert Park (Melbourne)!
Tickets www.gasworks.org.au
Above is a video of the amazing Brooke singing Imagine with us backing her up!
I am the guy farthest to the left.
Nothing else to report.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sunday Afternoon and I gotta pee
When did late nights with one drink give you a hangover?
Well to counter my sore head yesterday, I managed to head off to the movies... We saw Date Night :D Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, everyone had high hopes.
And we weren't disappointed!
Of course there was that awkward moment, after not actually going to the movies for a few months (I exclude the "Art House" cinema near my house), I forgot how insanely huge the servings were :| There were four of us so I was thinking large popcorn, right?
Well we had the joy of receiving an 8 litre bucket of popcorn :D It was fun, we didn't finish it (not even close) and were waiting for some mother in the cinema to lecture us about all the starving children in the world!
Anyway this brings me to the title of my blog.
You know that judgement call in the cinema, when all the action is happening, guns are firing, people screaming and you are about to reach the climax of the movie...
You think:
"I gotta pee..."
Shift in your seat a little
... "Well they're in a car chase it must nearly be over... I'll hold it."
After that you have convinced yourself you can make it another 10 minutes until the movie ends.
20 minutes later (Said in the style of the french narrator from Spongebob).
My legs are crossed so tightly that anything that was sticking out has regressed into my body, I should have gone when they were in the car chase... Now the film is really hitting a climax and I look like I'm really feeling the tension.
Needless to say... I made it out fine, had the most relieving Whiz I have ever had and lived to tell the story :P
But I have come to a new resolution!
Always go during the car chase...
On a similar note, Batman - The dark knight was a real mind fuck :| That film ends about 20 times, my bladder almost developed a split personality!
Well to counter my sore head yesterday, I managed to head off to the movies... We saw Date Night :D Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, everyone had high hopes.
And we weren't disappointed!
Of course there was that awkward moment, after not actually going to the movies for a few months (I exclude the "Art House" cinema near my house), I forgot how insanely huge the servings were :| There were four of us so I was thinking large popcorn, right?
Well we had the joy of receiving an 8 litre bucket of popcorn :D It was fun, we didn't finish it (not even close) and were waiting for some mother in the cinema to lecture us about all the starving children in the world!
Anyway this brings me to the title of my blog.
You know that judgement call in the cinema, when all the action is happening, guns are firing, people screaming and you are about to reach the climax of the movie...
You think:
"I gotta pee..."
Shift in your seat a little
... "Well they're in a car chase it must nearly be over... I'll hold it."
After that you have convinced yourself you can make it another 10 minutes until the movie ends.
20 minutes later (Said in the style of the french narrator from Spongebob).
My legs are crossed so tightly that anything that was sticking out has regressed into my body, I should have gone when they were in the car chase... Now the film is really hitting a climax and I look like I'm really feeling the tension.
Needless to say... I made it out fine, had the most relieving Whiz I have ever had and lived to tell the story :P
But I have come to a new resolution!
Always go during the car chase...
On a similar note, Batman - The dark knight was a real mind fuck :| That film ends about 20 times, my bladder almost developed a split personality!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I added a counter... I want a Cat (or TWO)
So this is the beginning of the saddest day of my life...
I added a flag counter, I figure it will tell me if anyone ever stumbles accross my blog... So I guess you'll find me in the foetal position lamenting my efforts to get anyone to listen to me after a week of blogging. (I feel like I should cheat and get my friends to sign in, but I kinda don't want them involved).
On a lighter note! I want a kitten...
Well I say Kitten, I'd prefer a full grown Cat! Already toilet trained, not soo cute and playful that you don't notice some kind of secret sadistic nature :| And I like a Cat with a fully formed personality.
I have a friend who's cat is on anitdepressents! Her [cat's] name is Tammy, and when she was a kitten she felt neglected (according to the vet) and now has deep seeded issues relating to her kitten-hood woes. The last thing I need is a manic-depressed cat skulking around the house looking for draino to guzzle and end it all!
Then again, I always care most about the pet that is sick or dying. I had a beautiful big Tabby named Tigger, when I left home Mum and Dad kept him (along with their other Cats) and moved out to a farm, after a fight with a stray we discovered he had Cat AIDs, the other cat's were immunised and life went on as normal. But everytime I came home I'd secretly let Tig's into the main house to sleep on my bed, because of the AIDs and all and he became my favourite...
Anyway, I want to save two Cats and need to either convince my housemates or move somewhere cat friendly! Apparently I'm cruel, but they would be named 'The Hitman' and 'The Chemist', as it is a long standing tradition amongst friends and family of mine to give the cat a position as a name, just for fun here's a list.
- The proffessor
- Mr Punchy
- The Rocket Man
- The Chef
- The Jackson 5
- The Samurai (He is saimese)
- And finally 'Resty Dev', Who's name was derived from the hit cult television show - 'Arrested Development.
Mum and Dad aren't so fun, we have Meg, Millie and Bella, three IDENTICAL black cats that I cannot tell apart! Mum did adopt a fox that she named Randall!
That's right folks - Randy Fox.
And he was allowed in the back room, slept on a big cat bed with the three Cat's (Tigger had passed away by this point)and was fed canned Tuna every morning.
Randy stopped showing up one day - We can only assumed he was killed, or realised he was a Fox... One of the two.
Now mum feeds about 10 possums :|
When dad dies, she will officially be the crazy cat lady from the simpsons, except with possums.
I added a flag counter, I figure it will tell me if anyone ever stumbles accross my blog... So I guess you'll find me in the foetal position lamenting my efforts to get anyone to listen to me after a week of blogging. (I feel like I should cheat and get my friends to sign in, but I kinda don't want them involved).
On a lighter note! I want a kitten...
Well I say Kitten, I'd prefer a full grown Cat! Already toilet trained, not soo cute and playful that you don't notice some kind of secret sadistic nature :| And I like a Cat with a fully formed personality.
I have a friend who's cat is on anitdepressents! Her [cat's] name is Tammy, and when she was a kitten she felt neglected (according to the vet) and now has deep seeded issues relating to her kitten-hood woes. The last thing I need is a manic-depressed cat skulking around the house looking for draino to guzzle and end it all!
Then again, I always care most about the pet that is sick or dying. I had a beautiful big Tabby named Tigger, when I left home Mum and Dad kept him (along with their other Cats) and moved out to a farm, after a fight with a stray we discovered he had Cat AIDs, the other cat's were immunised and life went on as normal. But everytime I came home I'd secretly let Tig's into the main house to sleep on my bed, because of the AIDs and all and he became my favourite...
Anyway, I want to save two Cats and need to either convince my housemates or move somewhere cat friendly! Apparently I'm cruel, but they would be named 'The Hitman' and 'The Chemist', as it is a long standing tradition amongst friends and family of mine to give the cat a position as a name, just for fun here's a list.
- The proffessor
- Mr Punchy
- The Rocket Man
- The Chef
- The Jackson 5
- The Samurai (He is saimese)
- And finally 'Resty Dev', Who's name was derived from the hit cult television show - 'Arrested Development.
Mum and Dad aren't so fun, we have Meg, Millie and Bella, three IDENTICAL black cats that I cannot tell apart! Mum did adopt a fox that she named Randall!
That's right folks - Randy Fox.
And he was allowed in the back room, slept on a big cat bed with the three Cat's (Tigger had passed away by this point)and was fed canned Tuna every morning.
Randy stopped showing up one day - We can only assumed he was killed, or realised he was a Fox... One of the two.
Now mum feeds about 10 possums :|
When dad dies, she will officially be the crazy cat lady from the simpsons, except with possums.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Religion... and Ginger Fever
My second post in a day, but thought I'd let it out while fresh in my mind!
Two understandably exclusive subjects... I just came across both of them today.
I'll start with the latter...
Ginger Fever - For those of you who don't know is an unprecedented attraction to red-heads... And I have for some reason found myself gazing at gingers all week. Needless to say, I was served by a dashing Rusty this morning, and find myself wondering; What it is about Gingers that I find so fascinating?
I have no answer to my query, but if anyone has ever looked into the biology of attraction, feel free to comment.
Religion... Well, I have been perusing the blog-waves trying to get involved reading up about everyone else, and really enjoying what I see. BUT... I have found it hugely dominated by people who are blogging for god.
I feel rude, it's not my place to judge people for their beliefs, just as I expect them to respect mine.
But I grew up in a strict Catholic household where I just happened to be lucky enough to have parents whose love for me outweighed their religious beliefs, many have not been so lucky.
I guess I found my exploration a little shocking to see how many people say things like:
"This blog is about my life and the gifts god has given me."
"To learn about my church you can go to..."
"My favorite book it the Bible."
Isn't it ironic that a gay man who is exposed to so much, is shocked by conservative religion...
I guess my equivalent would be "-this blog is about my life and the shit-storm of effort I put into being as good as I am at my job, study and singing."
But it sounds more humble when you thank god for your abilities and not 5 hours of rehearsal every Wednesday, the Weekends spent studying at home and the Masses of Overtime... Not to mention the extra weekend rehearsals, hours in front of a piano and all night-ers in front of a laptop trying to analyse a rediculous newspaper article.
Am I being just as elitist as my religious counterpart? Who knows...
Sorry if anyone takes offence to this, I'm just sounding my mind.
Two understandably exclusive subjects... I just came across both of them today.
I'll start with the latter...
Ginger Fever - For those of you who don't know is an unprecedented attraction to red-heads... And I have for some reason found myself gazing at gingers all week. Needless to say, I was served by a dashing Rusty this morning, and find myself wondering; What it is about Gingers that I find so fascinating?
I have no answer to my query, but if anyone has ever looked into the biology of attraction, feel free to comment.
Religion... Well, I have been perusing the blog-waves trying to get involved reading up about everyone else, and really enjoying what I see. BUT... I have found it hugely dominated by people who are blogging for god.
I feel rude, it's not my place to judge people for their beliefs, just as I expect them to respect mine.
But I grew up in a strict Catholic household where I just happened to be lucky enough to have parents whose love for me outweighed their religious beliefs, many have not been so lucky.
I guess I found my exploration a little shocking to see how many people say things like:
"This blog is about my life and the gifts god has given me."
"To learn about my church you can go to..."
"My favorite book it the Bible."
Isn't it ironic that a gay man who is exposed to so much, is shocked by conservative religion...
I guess my equivalent would be "-this blog is about my life and the shit-storm of effort I put into being as good as I am at my job, study and singing."
But it sounds more humble when you thank god for your abilities and not 5 hours of rehearsal every Wednesday, the Weekends spent studying at home and the Masses of Overtime... Not to mention the extra weekend rehearsals, hours in front of a piano and all night-ers in front of a laptop trying to analyse a rediculous newspaper article.
Am I being just as elitist as my religious counterpart? Who knows...
Sorry if anyone takes offence to this, I'm just sounding my mind.
New Job?
What a morning!
I'm exhausted after a massive rehearsal with the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus last night. We have a concert on April 17 and the final sprint is a stressful and terrifying time.
NB: Feel free to purchase tickets at www.gasworks.org.au the concert is called "The Sound of Youth" and at the risk of sounding cocky, we sound pretty awesome... Not for the lack of extremely hard work! I have sung myself into the ground for this, as have the other members of the chorus.
So I have been on a small team event managing this, along with my crazy job which helps manage a short courses program of an education institution in Melbourne. Today I found out that my position (I am a temp) is being advertised, and I am encouraged to apply, however my employer is unwilling to pay the severence fee to take me from my temp agency.
Needless to say the Job Search begins.
I'm wondering what I should look for... It has to be part time, so I can keep working on my degree, I want to be around writers (which I am now) and I don't want it to take over my life.
I'm thinking my ideal would be a PA for someone/something creative, I want to shy away from the excessively corporate world and more towards the lifestyle management sector. Probably not going to happen, but one can hope. Anyway this is all a task for after April 17, until then my life focus is the choir.
This is a picture of a few chorus members having a sing at a festival.
I'm exhausted after a massive rehearsal with the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus last night. We have a concert on April 17 and the final sprint is a stressful and terrifying time.
NB: Feel free to purchase tickets at www.gasworks.org.au the concert is called "The Sound of Youth" and at the risk of sounding cocky, we sound pretty awesome... Not for the lack of extremely hard work! I have sung myself into the ground for this, as have the other members of the chorus.
So I have been on a small team event managing this, along with my crazy job which helps manage a short courses program of an education institution in Melbourne. Today I found out that my position (I am a temp) is being advertised, and I am encouraged to apply, however my employer is unwilling to pay the severence fee to take me from my temp agency.
Needless to say the Job Search begins.
I'm wondering what I should look for... It has to be part time, so I can keep working on my degree, I want to be around writers (which I am now) and I don't want it to take over my life.
I'm thinking my ideal would be a PA for someone/something creative, I want to shy away from the excessively corporate world and more towards the lifestyle management sector. Probably not going to happen, but one can hope. Anyway this is all a task for after April 17, until then my life focus is the choir.
This is a picture of a few chorus members having a sing at a festival.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Procrastinating at work - Looking for inspiration
I'm liking this blog format, I feel I need to report my progress...
So last night I breached the beginnings of Chapter 2, not that I have concluded chapter 1 or my prelude, but feeling my inspiration feigning I decided to get my characters to where there will be some action, and hope that the blanks will fill themselves in as I progress.
Currently, I am looking at an evergreen forest, mineral rich emerald water and disused forest floors covered in bright glowing moss. (I am trying for colour themes throughout the book).
So last night I breached the beginnings of Chapter 2, not that I have concluded chapter 1 or my prelude, but feeling my inspiration feigning I decided to get my characters to where there will be some action, and hope that the blanks will fill themselves in as I progress.
A little background on my story (without giving anything away), my characters are set a few thousand years in the future, life has become somewhat medieval, although technology is still present, only it is the fosilised remains of almost working wrecks from current western culture.
Currently, I am looking at an evergreen forest, mineral rich emerald water and disused forest floors covered in bright glowing moss. (I am trying for colour themes throughout the book).
I am trying to create an image of the water, as green and luminous, yet completely translucent.
This image I believe is from Central Europe in the summer, which is funny because it was when I was in Switzerland last year that I discovered this mineral rich water existed. It is one of the most amazing things a
nd I find it looks exotic and magical, despite the fact it is probably more reminiscent of our beginnings before the world became so polluted.
nd I find it looks exotic and magical, despite the fact it is probably more reminiscent of our beginnings before the world became so polluted.I like the idea of making this part of my imaginary world green, lush and a little bit daunting, I plan to have a lot of danger lurking behind the facade of beauty.
Well this has already been useful, I feel in case someone is out there paying attention (not likely) I have an obligation to update them on how I am going.
Day 1 - Struggles at work
After finishing an amazing long weekend over the Easter Break I came away feeling alive and happy with my life.
Over the course of the weekend, I indulged in Melbourne's comedy festival, cooked, studied and entertained a group of my friends who all couldn't or wouldn't go home for Easter.
There was an awkward moment where I ran into someone in my hallway while the lights were off and their forehead nearly broke my nose! After nursing a bloody nose and quelling the vast apologies of my attacker (by which I mean the person I'm seeing). I enjoyed the fun of cooking for friends and we broadcast our dinner on Chatroulette, which was enlightening...
Here's an idea for a drinking game, go on chatroulette and take a sip every time you see a penis, let me know how many minutes before your passed out.
Anyway, the point of my posts is after such an amazing weekend I went to work and discovered just how much I am hating my job.
This blog is going to be my sanity while I try to study (by correspondence), work (like a soldier ant) and write my first draft of my novel! This will provide me with a forum to air my ideas and hopefully let me make some progress.
Well that is my first post... I'll try to make a few every week and discuss what I'm up to...
Damo
Over the course of the weekend, I indulged in Melbourne's comedy festival, cooked, studied and entertained a group of my friends who all couldn't or wouldn't go home for Easter.
There was an awkward moment where I ran into someone in my hallway while the lights were off and their forehead nearly broke my nose! After nursing a bloody nose and quelling the vast apologies of my attacker (by which I mean the person I'm seeing). I enjoyed the fun of cooking for friends and we broadcast our dinner on Chatroulette, which was enlightening...
Here's an idea for a drinking game, go on chatroulette and take a sip every time you see a penis, let me know how many minutes before your passed out.
Anyway, the point of my posts is after such an amazing weekend I went to work and discovered just how much I am hating my job.
This blog is going to be my sanity while I try to study (by correspondence), work (like a soldier ant) and write my first draft of my novel! This will provide me with a forum to air my ideas and hopefully let me make some progress.
Well that is my first post... I'll try to make a few every week and discuss what I'm up to...
Damo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)