Is it just me or is the new header taking an unusually long time to load? Sorry if thats the case. (especially for those of you who have horrible connections. Like me.)
Anyway, original artwork is by Geco Hirasawa (check out her deviantart gallery!). The full work can be seen here:

I'm not sure if the bright/orangey effect in most of her art is because of the colours she uses, or whether she super saturates the images after she's done with them. Either way, they're all hectic (in a good way!)
I got back from Melbourne a few days ago and it was nice. Diti was right though, the weather was weird - one day it was 40 degrees, the next it was pouring buckets and the last day we were there it was freezing! Other strange things I found out while I was there:
1. The road laws were horribly confusing and we found ourselves often in situations where we nearly hit/were hit by other cars (or trams HAH). I actually think we did hit someone when my mum reversed to park - a taxi was behind us which didn't give way or something and kept moving forward. The details are hazy because I didn't actually see it happen. No visible damage to either car though, thank goodness.
2. Again, about the road laws - yeh, people don't really follow them. (or at least not the ones that are usually applicable to Sydney) We had people U-turning in the middle of the city (busy streets+ U-turning = ....). At one point I even saw a police car (no flashing siren to excuse them this time) doing it. After this, Mum assumed it was ok to do it as well, so we were pretty much U-turning left and right no matter where we were. I was afraid. Very afraid.
3.The sun sets there really late. I think we arrived in Melbourne at about 8.30 pm, nearly 9 - and it was still sort of light! The sun was just setting at this point.
Aside from that, Melbourne was interesting (architecturally, it was beautiful) and had great shopping opportunities. Found this great store in South Yarra on Chapel St called Inspirasia which pretty much stocked all the local designer goods. I picked up a bag and a wallet here. Wish I could take photos and upload them to show you, but Mum took them away from me when we got back to Sydney and wrapped it up in Xmas wrapping...........yeh, I know. (What's the point? haha)
About my interview, I'm not sure how that went to be honest. At least the interviewers were nice. I ran into Dan there who had the same time session as me. He arrived with his dad who looked even more nervous about the interview than Dan was haha! So I met Dan there and he met... Marcia Hines! At the airport security check apparently. I asked him whether he got her autograph and he said he did, but I always wondered where exactly she signed it when they both had to empty their pockets. Hmmmm... x)
On a more random note, recently I have found a magazine called Frankie.This magazine is for girls. Although boys are equally as welcome to it as the fairer sex ;).
This article from it was a very much needed laugh post HSC results:
"WAYS TO INFLATE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM WHEN YOUR LIFE IS SEEMINGLY SUB-PAR. words by Mia Timpano.
1. I understand dogs are regularly shot at pounds. Save one from its imminent bullet by taking legal ownership of its life. Perhaps then you will feel significant? I have never owned a beast, so I cannot imagine the unbridled self-glorification that such a relationship must spawn. Although I was once gifted a fish - however, that is perhaps an unfortunate example, as he was an abject douchebag and ate all his plastic decor. His slope to morbid obesity was rapid, which frankly disgusted me, since he was evidently eating more plastic leprechauns than he was burning calories via swimming; evidently, the fish WANTED to gain weight, which I naturally interpreted as a "fuck you" gesture to me personally.
2. Mingle amongst the elderly, flaunt your mobility.
3. So often vulnerable persons seek casual fluid exchange in order to mend their confidence, yet later regard the experience with physical revulsion, or are treated with the contempt one usually reserves for whitened dog stools, or discover they are infected with a social disease or degenerative terminal illness. Those summer nights! I counsel a differing approach, which is spitting in the face of all you see. This is my own personal version of "cruel to be kind". I call it "cruel to be cruel". Evil? Not entirely. Firstly, the approach is a basic safeguard against people with warts. Secondly, it raises you to the class of 'unattainable', effectively increasing your allure via a uniform, raging hatred for all human life.
4. Matt Preston achieves a kind of self-appointed aristocracy via the astute combination of neckerchief and weight. Perhaps you can do likewise with the acquisition of a cane or cosmetic bayonet? Although I would caution against this aesthetic somewhat, as I once acquired a cigarette holder as a child. I imagined this would evoke the air of a malevolent turn-of-the-century bee keeper, but on the sole instance of using it became the subject of ridicule. In retrospect, I realise my emotional constitution was too delicate to withstand the animosity of a generation baited by collectable Tazos.
5. Indulge in a self-congratulatory tattoo, such as "Me Forever".
6. I notice a common behavioural reaction to personal woe is the mass consumption of tub-based cream. I do not pretend to understand this act of private competitive eating lends itself to emotional uplift, but it evidently does, since statistics characterise Australia as a national "fat bomb", a title that elevates the act of eating cake to the rank of international terrorism, so who am I to say anything other than, "Chow, you crazy sons of bitches"? The answer: someone not obese. But then, I am not hurtling through the sky on an emotional Falcor am I? Side note: I long maintained the belief that during the ultimate showdown in The Neverending Story, wherein Falcor chases Bastian's school-yard tormentors into a garbage bin, Bastian cries out: "Let's see how you like it, dickheads!" Although today I concede that "chickens" is in fact the word said, I maintain my dialogue better matches the spirit of the film, vengeance above all.
7. Surround yourself with those who love you genuinely, such as those whose limbs you are alleged to have sprung from, or those related to you legally. These people will certainly indulge your need for flattery and genuinely enjoy the fact that you are not dead. In fact, whatever the basis for your interminable misery - your hideous appearance, your failure to achieve anything of note, warts - they will not only forgive you, but remind you why life is only ever seemingly sub-par. Because everything that exists outside the realm of your loved ones is ultimately incidental. Also, you will eventually own their real estate!"
Cynical? Yes. Sarcastic? Yes. But, oh- so,so,so funny. :) Remember that this article is not to be taken completely seriously and was written humorously and light-heartedly!
What other gems have I discovered from Frankie? A LOT, including- Flight of the Conchords. ALL OF YOU: do yourselves a favor and check out their songs/acts on Youtube (if you haven't done so already). Here's one to start you off:
Hope everyone's happy, healthy and enjoying themselves! Stay safe-
♥Andi