It's not a cry you can hear at night, it's not somebody who's seen the light...

Finally closed my Australian bank account. I have been meaning to do this for months, back when there was like $20 in it. Now there is 4, which is pointless to transfer so I asked them to donate it to a charity. It was one of the options they gave me, though I feel ridiculous donating $4. But you know. It's better than nothing...

I have been tossing up writing up childhood stories. The (mostly) good ones, not the messed up ones. I grew up in a small town in the mountains and when I watch movies set in the 50s where kids are growing up it always makes me giggle because it was like that. Running all over town without worrying about safety really. Playing outside and not sitting in front of computers all the time. It would be an interesting writing exercise and I think we got up to some incredibly amusing and interesting things. And my memory is awesome, so I should write this shiz down while that is still true. Not that I am all "woe is me, I'm 30 and it's all downhill from here" because it's not. This isn't an age thing at all. It's just a desire to write it out.

Also I have quesadillas in the fridge. And tomorrow is fajitas and margaritas day (and also chocolate mousse if I can find the recipe). Life is good :D

My beautiful friend Elva (Ashes of Eve) is working on a solo project. So here be pimping.

http://www.elvamusic.com/

If you join the mailing list you receive a link for a free download of the newly re-recorded When I'm Sleeping.

If you want to hear some of her gorgeous music, head on over to http://www.reverbnation.com/elvamusic and you can listen to When I'm Sleeping and Moment (which I currently have on repeat because it's so amazingly gorgeous). Every play helps her out, so have a listen!

And a Facebook link too, just because http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Elva/158295504223274

I was looking up Tim Minchin photos on Google because, you know, I do that all the time now. And I found one of him in the RMIT theatre I believe he booked for the 2005 Melbourne Comedy Festival gig where the lady from Edinburgh saw him which jumpstarted his career. And I was looking at the photo and there's a sign in it that says 'Swanston Street' and it made me so homesick for Melbourne.

Damn you, Tim Minchin! ...I take it back, I love you forever.

That theatre was where we went to go see Chris' movie premiere and that is the street the beautiful bathhouses are on and Melbourne Central where the movies live. And that stupid fountain right in front of this theatre that looks like a post box and with the water shortages it can't run anyway most of the time. Which is fine. It's ass ugly. (EDIT: AHAHHA I found a photo which makes it look all fancy. It's nice. And even in the photo it's still just a square with water coming out. Usually there's garbage floating in it. Lovely.)

It's such a weird feeling being homesick for a place. I have never really been homesick for the US, despite missing the people. This time, it's kind of the other way around (PLEASE DO NOT TAKE OFFENCE TO THIS, seriously, I miss the people, but you are not my family) and I miss the place a lot. I do not miss water restrictions and overcrowded trains and rampant dinnertime racism and I am like...200% happier here. I love Christchurch. I love New Zealand. I still miss Melbourne.

( So here. Have a little bit of Lara's Melbourne! )

Day Two: Nine things about yourself.

Alrighty then. Things people DON'T know and won't be horrified to read. Hmmm.

( Nine Things )

I was feeling down today (LONG story) so I decided to do something constructive to take the feeling away (social work training, oy) so I wanted to make a post of all the photos of people and places and things that mean something to me. And when I started to plan it, I realised just how long it would be if I put everyone into it. And that made me feel so amazing, you have no idea...

I did it anyway deciding I would only use photos I have taken myself (or by my family since I wasn't at the reunion to take those and I didn't take the ones of me as a kid, but you get the point!) to cut down on spamming random Hugh Jackman pictures ;). Not everyone that should be here is including my friends in Australia. Woot, Peter, Laura and Ness, I have no (not blurry) photos of you!! And there are other friends who aren't on here, but be that as it may, here it is. Some of my happy things.

( To me you are perfect )

Token ghost books I buy every time I come to the US acquired! Why they don't sell books like this in NZ and Australia is beyond me. Except in The Haunted Bookshop in Melbourne. Oh Haunted Bookshop, I miss you even though your owner is an insufferable twat. For some weird reason, the guy LOVED me though I thought he would hate me because I look like SUCH a square. But when I asked for something and obviously knew what I wanted I think that helped. Actually, he probably loved me because I practically bought out his entire 'hauntings' section over the course of a year. He said it was harder and harder to find books on hauntings because of the internet, but there are plenty to be found here at Hastings and I found lots in the UK as well. Whatever, Drew is a weird guy. And he runs the Melbourne ghost tour. Which I would TOTALLY recommend if you are in Melbourne and interested in ghosts! It's awesome! Lalala Linky!

ANYWAY, I bought a huge book of tales of haunted places, because those are my favourite. Obviously as I have about 30 of the things. And then I bought Idiots Guide to the Paranormal because it not only talks about ghosts but it has stuff about angels and demons in there too. Which is interesting research for FG. I read about Belial in the car! And there's a section on the exorcism of Annaliese Somethingorother which was what The Exorcism of Emily Rose was based on.

I love these books. There was only one book by Holzer though. No good paranormal section is complete without several Hans Holzers, please. He wrote over a hundred of the things. Holzer died in 2009 and I totally cried because I am a loser. But he inspired my Father Peter father_peter because I wanted a character who knew about the supernatural (and is the reason Peter was in Austria originally, because Holzer is from Vienna) and his ideas of mediumship are still what I use when I write my mediums in Darker London.

Also? Also? I kind of bought The Idiot's Guide because it has a section called Father Peter's last Exorcism which made me laugh because like...MY Peter's last exorcism was Svetlana except it didn't work and Thomas totally died and I laughed out loud IN the store while I was reading what has nothing to do with my characters and is about a Roman Catholic exorcist. So there I am in the New Age aisle, holding a book about the paranormal and cackling. A lady who was walking by gave me a VERY strange look.

It was awesome :D

I just looked at my friend Daniel's photos of London and I totally sobbed into my Pepsi Max (I'm sure that's the non-drinker's version of sobbing into a light beer ;)) and I WANT TO GO BACK, DANGIT! NOW!

I'm sure I'll sob over Clare's Vienna photos too ;) SO JEALOUS, ALL OF YOU! I live in one of the awesomest places on the planet (thanks very much) but the damn grass is always greener, isn't it? Specifically since YOU ALL CAN WATER YOURS ;)

:P~~~~~~~~

PS, I just sneezed so loud I think the neighbors are wondering who died. I'm really quite impressive.

PPS AND if anyone wanted to know what the title is about... HERE. DYLAN'S GENIUS! About alcohol, which I do not drink!



That little DANCE he does *squeals* "Have MY bed!" No...really...

Riding through a rainy, morning Melbourne while listening to Phantom of the Opera at maximum volume?

Awesome.

And if I hadn't been on a tram I'da been doin' my awesome Sarah Brightman impression. I didn't, however, think the other morningites needed to hear it, even if I do rock a Brightman impression ;)

"LET THE DREAM BEGIN, LET YOUR DARKER SIDE GIVE IN TO THE POWER OF THE MUSIC THAT I WRITEEEEEEEE! THE POWER OF THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT MORN!"

Yeah, you sing it Phanty. ILY. SRSLY ♥

"YOU ALONE CAN MAKE MY SONG TAKE FLIGHT! HELP ME MAKE THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT MORN!"

Aaaand I'm done :D