This time next year will be forevermore...

With New Year often comes a bunch of half assed 'resolutions' I tend to try and make. No, these poor excuses for changing are no longer only reserved for ageing, weight-ballooning-impending divorcees.

You can laugh at these if you like. I won't mind. Mainly because I won't know. But that's the beauty of this, right?

• FINISH the Lord of the Rings. I am a super big LOTR nerd. I have all the movies and books. I just never got around to reading the Return of the King. This is what is known as an 'achievable goal'
• Learn how to write and speak Mandarin. This is harder than it sounds. I guess this is for a fairly selfish reason. I can eavesdrop on anyone speaking Cantonese or a dialect that isn't Mandarin which is very handy. Especially when they are talking about you.
• Surviving on my own for the first time in my entire life. Aka a 'difficult goal'. The fact that I can't clean or cook has been addressed by my placement into a college but I really don't know what 2009 is going to be like. At all. I really should learn how to make edible food.
• Try to dress even more oddly than usual in order to 'stand out' in a place where everyone stands out. This is just a silly little superficial one. May be disregarded.
• Put my camera to use. Currently waiting quietly at the bottom of my wardrobe. Even though I was specifically told that I wasn't to get dust in the lenses.
• Try my hand at a spot of graffiti. I've always wanted to spray-paint clothing onto scantily clad Ralph advertisements. Not because I am a prude but because I hate magazines which reduce women to the point that they are just airbrushed pieces of tan-coloured meat.
  
  

Like this, but on huge billboards and walls and stuff.

Miss Karen found a super cute little 'What kind of a Mod are you?' quiz which I decided to do and I ended up being Cutesy Mod -
You wear babydoll dresses or sear sucker, love clothes and the mod asthetic. So don't listen if they try to call you a poser.

This kind of quiz definitely beats 'Which Victoria's Secret Model Are You?' and others of the same ilk. You can find the Mod quizzerino here.

Image from LA Times Blog

My sister watched the Victoria's Secret show the other night, so I decided to watch too. This is going to sound majorly conceited according to my sister (because apparently anyone who doesn't want to be them is just jealous of them) but as I was watching I was thinking, they're pretty but I don't feel the need to be them. That's my big secret I think. I look at make-up advertisements and clothing ads where they use shiny young models, with long legs and big assets (no not in the brains department) with my friends and I don't want to be them. I'd rather be me. Not because I'm better them but because it would take TOO much effort to change myself to be them, so in effect I'm not affected by advertising merely because I am too lazy. Which must suck for big companies. So I encourage more people to be like me. And besides don't people like Karoline up there, just terrify you with their legginess and whatnot?

Now I'm not the hugest fan of Pink but I thought what she said about John Mayer was pretty funny.

'I got into an argument with him [John Mayer]. He said something along the lines of, "I only shag really stupid women." And I said, "I guess they would have to be." ' PINK

I used to really like John Mayer. I guess he was one of the first artists I got into by myself, i.e. I wasn't told by a bunch of people to listen to him and I thought his guitar playing was pretty righteous (Jimi Hendrix is like one of his biggest influences). But then he went out with Jessica Simpson (?!!) and I know that is totally superficial of me and if I was a huge big muscian I would probably date celebrities but something changed and I'm not such a huge fan anymore. I also got into other artists and for me John Mayer is now a bunch of CD's and DVD's gathering dust in a corner of my room. He changed man.

Okay so this is a little unorthodox but here are some pictures of the dashingly brilliant gentleman also known as Adrien Brody (NOT to be confused with that smart mouthed upstart from the OC Adam Brody)

He is really good actor. I know you are all probably rolling your eyes but he seriously is. He always manages to get into whatever role he plays oh, and did I mention that he was handsome and dashing?

Images from Adrien Brody's Photobucket and IMDB

Here is a drawing I entitle 'Twiglets' for obvious reasons. The title is from Friendly Fires' 'Paris' which is an absolutely smashing song.

My rather boring outfit. I adore this shirt though, I found it an a shop and it's like almost brand new. I have to do SOMETHING about those damned ugly shoulder pads though lol. How great is the print?

Finally, as this will probably be the last post for 08 I would like to make a huge thank you to anyone who reads/ randomly stumbles upon/ visits this blog. I suppose I 'properly' started this blog this year and so many of you inspire me for different reasons. And before I get all touchy-feely and sentimental, I just want to say I really appreciate your kind words and advice and your blogs always make my day. So thanks

Patty xxx

If it means nothing to you, why'd you sing with me at all?

Rule #1: The customer is always right
Rule #2: If the customer is wrong, refer to Rule #1.

This is what I have learnt by working as a checkout chick, in a clothing store and in a restaurant.. Some kinds of people never fail to get on my nerves. My outfit. What I would look like if I was a waitress in a failing Italian restaurant (according to Alice).

Last night was one of the busier shifts. When you get over $20 in tips, shared out between the waitresses, that's a busy shift.

Anyway, the tables were as follows:

• An older gentleman and his chiselled Adonis-like, much younger lover who happened to look like a much younger David Boreanz.
• Guys and girls in their twenties out on dates (approx three or four sets)
• A table of hunky British backpackers
• A cute French couple and their adorable daughter

There were many more tables but I had to manage these ones.

When I work I can stand almost anything. But what I abhor is when customers tell me that the meal they've ordered which has been prepared the same way for at least 20 years isn't what they've ordered I get pissed. If it's under/overcooked/too salty/not salty enough, I don't have a problem. I mean you go to restaurant and pay them for food, so you want it to be just right, that's fine.

But don't just sit there like you have something blocking your rear end, pouting about something there clearly isn't a problem with. I don't think I'm suited to working as a waitress at any rate. I like arguing too much, a trait which isn't exactly a highly rated quality in the industry.

There is something about music in films or TV that always happens to get me. Whenever I hear something I'm fanatic about tracking it down.

I used to adore Lucille Ball when I was little, her facial expressions were epic and I still don't mind 'I Love Lucy' re-runs.

And Humphrey Bogart! It doesn't matter that he played the one character on numerous occasions. Very dazzling.

How very floaty and dreamy are these 1920's fashions? The first is Irene Castle
Image from Gatochy and Flickr album

I really admire Meg Rosoff who is a UK author. I've read 'How I Live Now' which was one of the most brilliant things ever and I recently read 'The Declaration' and 'The Resistance'. Her ideas are just so original, and while the latter are probably YA fiction, it is nonetheless a superb job.

For the first time ever the other day, I heard a program on slam poetry. While I had heard of the basics before, it was jaw dropping to listen to the real thing. Slam is essentially a form of performance, where how/what/ why it is said are equally important concepts. I'm still not too flash on posting videos but just YouTube 'slam poetry' and prepare to be amazed.

One of my friend's introduces me to most of the films I watch and being the strange person that I am, I can never rent anything I really like. I have to buy it. Anyway I was re watching (read: watching for the millionth and tenth time) Donnie Darko the other day when I realised just how many films Jena Malone is in, making it impossible to typecast her. After the requisite googling that ensued, I also realised that I may be a bit in love with her. Or at least her style.

She was on the cover of DirrtyGlam a while back this year. I actually acquired a pair of those glasses for Christmas. I guess my mum noticed the obsession with wearing glasses when you don't actually need them but I still can't seem to relinquish my original pair. Jena Malone doesn't fit the teen mould, but I think that's why everyone likes her.

Here is a random drawing I did of some Japanese Lolita's. As you can see, girl 1 and girl 2 don't seem to like girl 3's outfit.

And finally I leave you with some stills from my favourite anime film EVER. Howl's Moving Castle. Regardless of the number of times I watch it, I seem to fall in love every time. This film has such a beautiful movement to it and it is accompanied by a hauntingly good score (the best song is called The Merry Go Round of Life. Youtube away but prepare to get it stuck in your head). High praise but Hayao Miyazaki is a genius!
Takashi murkami actually did the graduation album cover. I mixed them up lol Thank you anon

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

And once again kids, Christmas is upon us again! The cheesy American snow-filled films, the Christmas only special deals and fairy lights adorning neighbouring houses. It's pretty hard to escape. Whatever you do, I hope you have a lovely time doing it and that you have a wonderful Christmas.

I found this image from a really old magazine.

"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines They left the house as half past nine...The smallest one was Madeline"

No mini girl cartoon character will ever surpass the feisty little red head known as Madeline. Oh what I would have given to get into the scrapes she got into with Pepito.

I adored this story. Patrick Moberg's blog is a winner too!

I've been quite frazzled by copright laws lately and have decided to link images I find, beside the obvious. This Mystery Jets pic is from a series done by Jonny Walton. I love the Mystery Jets!! They are so new eighties! And would you believe the lead singer is called Blane!?

These lads are the Appleseed Cast. They have the most ethereal work. Their songs have this amazing quality where they slowly build up and you just don't see the end result coming when it finally hits you.

I think anything off the ABC is just brilliant, which is why I love these two old series. Seven Period with Mr Gormsby being the first and The Librarians being the second one.

"Now, I know they'll probably punish you for trying to blow up a staff member's vehicle but I must say boy, it was damn well executed! Right down to the homemade molotov! I can see you pay attention in my classes" -Mr Gormsby

"A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. Don't you think you've had enough moments, Dawn?" Frances O'Brien, Head Librarian.

And presenting... Cholas! I didn't even know this type of fashion had a name. This style kept cropping up everywhere I looked and I think it's kind of cool, hey? Unachieveable for me probably but cool nonetheless. I would say is 50% look and 50% attitude.

Modern chola

70's Chola

Images from Trashionista.net

Proper post material and rants coming soon. Have a lovely holiday season!

p.s. the ever lovely s-c of Girl Meets NYC made this very sweet card! i hope everyone is having a great holiday! :)

But in every war waged, only kings emerged unscathed.

Now this post will be somewhat odd but I'll try to keep it as interesting as possible. I was thinking about how difficult it is to name a child. A name means a lot. It will determined whether the child will get picked on at school, which by the way, is affected by the number of insults which happen to rhyme with the name. You could practically change a person's whole life, in that one seemingly inconsequential decision.

I don't award this 'Parent: Fail' lightly, because to accuse someone of bad parenting when I'm not even a parent myself, is to be arrogant and assuming. Disclaimer out of the way, Adolf Hitler Campbell's parents take fail of the century. Sure, they might clothe, feed and shelter the kid. But I also think that love is a fairly important factor when it comes to raising a child and if you love your child, you don't name them after a FUCKING MASS MURDERER. It seems none of their poor offspring escaped their CLEARLY messed up parents' psycho naming spree, with Adolf Hitler Campbell's sisters being named Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie and JoyceLynn Aryan Nation. No I kid you not, 'Aryan' fucking 'Nation'. Oh excuse my french, poor excuses for human beings tend to bring out this barbed tongued side of me. The wretches being the idiotic parents, not the children who don't know any better. Being the deluded douche bag that guy is (oh, how goodit feels to call ssomeone a douche again finally), he doesn't expect the names to cause problems when the children start school. Keep dreaming, DOUCHE.

I cannot stop listening to this Propagandhi song 'Name And Address Withheld', which is about the Iraq War. It's such a good song and each line is loaded with meaning.

Christmas shopping the other day, certainly didn't go as smoothly as I had initially planned. My sister, Miss Organisation, made a huge pile of lists so as usual, I trailed behind, occasionally providing useful advice but mostly annoying the hell out of her with my 'getting lost' down interesting aisles.

Christmas Shopping Tip No#1: Giant crayons in the shops, NOT in boxes will collapse to the ground if you accidently bump into a pile of them.

Christmas Shopping Tip No#2: People who look like they smell, usually do. Don't find this out the hard way by getting caught unexpectedly behind a fat, hairy, damp patches under the sleeves kind of guy. He will smell.

Christmas Shopping Tip No#3: Don't flirt with cute boys with emo friends, you will get death stares and most probably evil telekinetic thoughts from said emo.

(p.s. i didn't make this picture, before you stab me, but it's funny all the same)

These tips, as I'm sure you have realised have more to do with my recent shopping expedition than Christmas, nonetheless they remain somewhat useful.

Yes I drew this rather random picture which comes from a men's clothing advertisement. Short of wanting a male model as a present, these black glasses would also be rather nice.

The Girl in the Cafe. My friend told me to watch this ages ago but I never got around to it. It happened to be on ABC on Sunday and it was the most gorgeous film. It's about this rather old civil servant named Lawrence who has to attend a G8 summit in Iceland for discussions about the Millennium Project, which aims to rid the world of poverty. He meets a girl in a cafe, named Gina, played by Kelly MacDonald who has THE most stunning accent ever and she changes him in the strangest way. There is a rather unconventional love story in the film but the main issues are not swept aside. The film doesn't lessen one's guilt nor does it see Gina radically change the world, but it is harsh, touching and real all at the same time. It's soundtrack includes Damien Rice's 'Cold Water' and 'Starálfur' by Sigur Ros.

This film, or namely Gina's tattoo of a swallow on her neck sparked my interest in this iconic kind of image, with maritime roots. You can also check out this blog.

Zelery65 is clearly an artist of sorts. She was given the before photo to turn into a 16th birthday party invitation. I only included this to show you how fake the world has become. Our created self identities. What, when and how we want others to see ourselves.

I have to let you know, I got my results back today and I am pretty happy. It's off to uni for me next year! Also this shirt reminds me of a frog, I don't know why. I picked up a couple of great shirts at Lifeline the other day. Great patterns. More outfit posts soon.