Grace Notes @ Snarkattack

Last three weeks – ace. Even though I’m sleeping like rubbish.

A few noteworthy things.

A poet I know was down from Wollongong and we had dinner. We dined locally to me, and I had the most divine three cheese gnocchi. He seemed to like the work I presented and I’m going to submit a folio of twenty poems for some competition. I probably don’t have a chance in hell, but it’ll be good to just try, eh?

A few weeks ago, I got insulted in the city by a drug addict. He took offence to me offering to buy him food instead of just giving him money. Well, I do declare. I didn’t realise beggars could be so hoity-toity. He told me he didn’t like my attitude. Wow, I got burnt by a hobo. That’s talent.

Last night, whilst waiting outside cheap-but-nasty Camy’s Dumpling House in Chinatown, two whities and Asians got into some fisticuffs. One Asian dude was really lucky not to get glassed by a bottle, by the bogan chick. In her defence, Asian dude attacked her first, very violently. It was actually fucking scary. They apparently had been waiting an hour for food that never arrived. The fellow that left was polite, but then when bogan woman got attacked, bogan boyfriend came to the rescue and it was quite the melee.

We headed off to nearby Shanghai Noodle House which is much quieter and the service is way better. Oh my, the drunken chicken is delish.

Meeting new cats. With pantaloons.

Been meaning to do some reviews of some restaurants I went to, but exif data means the photos of said cuisine will not show the photos in the correct orientation. It is extremely frustrating.

Filched from thehomicidehoe at LJ. I filled it in on Tuesday evening – this will make sense for some of the questions.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
Midday. Yes, not morning.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
I love pearls.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Samson and Delilah

4. What is your favourite TV show?
I don’t really have a favourite TV show, but I loved The X-Files when I did.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Those manky liquid breakfast drinks, a cup of tea and my meds.

6. What is your middle name?
My mother’s first name. (A friend of mine tells me this is unfortunate)

7. What food do you dislike?
Boiled eggs, offal.

8. What is your favourite CD at the moment?
Erm, probably the Holy Fuck album.

9. What kind of car do you drive?
Mazda tiny whatsit. Hmm, I ought to find out the model eh?

10. Favourite sandwich?
Cheese, tomato and ham.

11. What characteristic do you despise?
Lying! Gah.

12. Favourite item of clothing?
Fake leather jacket.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Canada!

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
Don’t have one at the moment. If I could afford it, I’d buy Nicola Finetti though. Yum.

15. Where would you retire to?
Probably somewhere in Europe.

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
20th or 25th

17. Favourite sport to watch?
Football NOT handegg. (giggles for Luke)

18. When is your birthday?
March 18th

19. Are you a morning person or a night person?
NIGHT

20. What is your shoe size?
6 aus / 4 uk

21. Pets?
A tabby cat.

22. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?
My mentor is coming to visit me next week!

23. How are you feeling today?
Earlier, nauseous. Now – excited and nervous

24. What are your favourite sweets?
I like so many – too difficult a question.

25. What is your favourite flower?
Orchids, christmas lilies.

26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
I’ve nothing specific to look forward to at present, but nothing to dread either.

27. What is your full name?
Ask me in person.

28. What are you listening to right now?
Coil’s ‘Love’s Secret Domain’ album

29. What was the last thing you ate?
chickpeas

30. Do you wish on stars?
no

31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Lemon yellow

32. How is the weather right now?
Cold but crisp

33. The last person you spoke to on the phone yesterday?

@tristankenney whereas today my doctor’s secretary.

34. Favourite soft drink?
Creamy soda.

35. Favourite restaurant?
Momotaro Rahmen, Richmond (in Melbourne, Australia).

36. Hair Colour?
Natural very dark brown.

37. What was your favourite toy as a child?
Mooy. I don’t want to talk about it. Too painful.

38. Summer or winter?
Winter, undoubtedly.

39. Hugs or kisses?
Well, I only like either from people I’m really close to.

40. Chocolate or Vanilla?
chocolate

41. Coffee or tea?
tea

42. When was the last time you cried?
Well, my eyes watered when I threw up this morning. But I can’t really remember the last time I cried. I suspect it would have been about my ex though.

43. What is under your bed?
Nothing – nothing fits under it

44. What did you do last night?
Chatted online to a friend.

45. What are you afraid of?
Oh god so much.

46. Salty or sweet?
I can’t choose.

47. How many keys on your key ring?
7 or so?

48. How many years at your current job?
Almost 2 years

49. Favourite day of the week?
Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

50. How many towns have you lived in?
UK: Balham, Abbeywood, Croydon.
Philippines: Cardona.
Australia: Mill Park, Brunswick West, North Melbourne

I can’t even remember how it was that I came to think that I’d like The Grey Daturas – maybe it was the drone/noise thing, whatever. It’s not really important.

The short review of their gig at the Arthouse, Melbourne is they produce sounds that made me want to take off my panties and press my privates to the bare wooden floor.

The long review is as follows.

Distortion on the guitar – lots of it. Just the two guitars, gently building note upon note, harmonic upon harmonic. Some of the sounds spike up towards the higher registers (I didn’t like these so much) but most were very low and vibrated constantly.

I begin to understand why noise gigs are so amazing: it’s as much a physiological experience as it is an emotional one. I felt many of the long, droning, low frequencies vibrate up as far as my throat, and move down to my hips. Given that everyone has a different resonant frequency (our lungs are cavities, after all), I imagine that it’s going to feel different for everyone.

So the guitars are building this gorgeous lush wall of noise and vibration, and everything gets louder and more intense. Eventually, the drums come in.

What I loved was they really control how they lead their audience up to their climax, and let them down with as much care. I am not kidding when I say this gig was as moving (and heartbreaking, in a way) as some of the best classical music concerts I’ve ever been to.

My only complaint is they didn’t play for long enough – just the one track (which, to be fair, went for at least half an hour).

Afterwards, Flipper played for a good two hours. They were great, but The Grey Daturas had already carried my heart away. Awesome rowdy punk. I went alone (again!) but very, very pleased with myself for having made the effort on what was a very cold winter night in Melbourne. Cheers to @lukeii for having dinner with me beforehand.

Pinched from Dee – been a while since I did one of these. I’m too lazy to correct the American spelling, sorry.

50 Random Questions

1. What color is your toothbrush?
Purple, my favourite colour
2. Name one person who made you smile today
The lollipop man on Miller St, Nth Fitzroy!.
3. What were you doing at 8am this morning?
Irritating my workmate.
4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Driving.
5. What is your favorite candy bar?
Ooh toss-up between Bounty and Twix.
6. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No, but I have seen two strippers perform.
7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Thanks.
8. What is your favorite ice cream?
A good rich chocolate.
9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Peppermint tea.
10. Do you like your wallet?
I love it – it has a pullable cat tail on it!
11. What was the last thing you ate?
Gnocchi quatro formaggi!
12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No.
13. The last sporting event you watched?
Probably a UEFA cup game on TV.
14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Buttered.
15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
My workmate Stu.
16. Ever go camping?
Yes, but it’s been a really long time..
17. Do you take vitamins daily?
No.
18. Do you go to church every Sunday?
No, thank god.
19. Do you have a tan?
Well, I’m naturally brown. I don’t mind occasional sun but I actually burn in the sun so I’ve got to be careful.
20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Ooh, depends on how good or bad they are.
21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
Not really. Sometimes out of a glass but rarely.
22. What did your last text message say?
I’ll be there in 20
23. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working and probably destroying my liver.
25. Look to your left, what do you see?
Ironing board.
26. What color is your watch?
I don’t wear one as they make me anxious.
27. What do you think of when you hear Australia?
Far.
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Drive-through, unless I’m drunk and have to sit there to eat. No, I didn’t drive there drunk.
30. What is your favorite number?
I don’t really have one.
31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
Stu.
33. How many states have you lived in?
One in Australia.
34. Biggest annoyance right now?
Painful stomach and can’t figure out why.
35. Last song listened to?
One of the tracks off the Holy Fuck album
36.Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Not without intense concentration, I’d wager.
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
No, but am thinking of paying for one for a week for my mother for her birthday.
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My favourite shoes are not ones I wear all the time. Ones I wear all the time are my slip-on faux sneakers. Fave ones are my bright red high-top ones.
39. Are you jealous of anyone?
I get pangs of it, but I find it really hard to sustain being jealous.
40. Is anyone jealous of you?
I highly doubt it.
41. Do you love anyone?
Romantically? Possibly still my ex. In a filial manner, many people.
42. Do any of your friends have children?
A few.
43. What do you usually do during the day?
When at work, answer calls. When not, I read and spend a lot of time listening to music or on the internet.
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
No. I’m scared of some people, but I don’t hate anyone.
45. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily?
Not really. Probably ‘hi’ or ‘hullo’.
46. What color is your car?
Silver
47. Do you like cats?
No, I LOVE them!
48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Yes, my father – wondering if he’s feeling better from his bronchitis.
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Um, dunno what that is.
50. How did you get your worst scar?
My awesome Russia-shaped one from childhood on my left knee that has sadly faded – from falling out of a guava tree in the Philippines. My current worst ‘zipper’ – from a craft knife.