guess who's online...

Buahahahahaha... al, this photo is revenge for all the make-up boy comments - for those who are wondering "who the heck is make-up boy", stay tuned for my eventual post regarding the w/end :S

But until then, this lovely photo should keep you all vaguely interested (if you click on it, you can get the big version, so we can all put it on our desktop backgrounds!!)... oh, and al's finally gotten a blog :P

Please welcome al to the online journalling community @ Al's Blog

Note: I'll put him up on the right as well, but I'm thinking after ange's encouraging comment, he might be changing locations soon... who knows :S

how to say...

I've been delaying this post for a day or so, because of so much happening, and I wanted to formulate my thoughts before committing them to the 'net wall... or maybe I was just chicken :P And here goes, in short for now, in no particular order:


1. Shared my story

As a social gypsy, I'd been used to being @ the fringes of things, never having to commit much to be able to be a part - and I hated that. I've sought deeper, real and meaningful relationships with people for the longest time.

But there's a group of friends I think I've found, comprised of the most unlikely people, under the most gayest banner (yes, it's really gay Ange! We may as well just out and call ourselves the Village People! But I digress...), almost a place to call home.

So, last night @ coffee (which I forgot to shout you guys!! Next round! I swear it! When Deb's regaling us about her story! :P) I just laid it all down... no vague references or crypticness, I told my story.

Hahaha, and just like in a relationship, when you put yourself out there, I'm half expecting the group to come back and say "sorry, I'm just not attracted to you" :P

In Ange and Mikey, I have my lame banterers - when the three of us combine, we are the official epitome of lame, and I love it :D Deb has somehow realised that the typical good-friend greeting for nate is to beat his left arm senseless (est-style), and Al is our "good-looking and intelligent" add-on!

But even after all the laughs, I loved being able to open up, finally, with a group of people once again, and share my story - and to hear about Mikey's, and to actually really get to know these people.


2. Things to do before turning 30: Get kicked out of home

Well, that's it :) I'm out! Wednesday night when I got home after violating my curfew, there was a note on the table from my dad to start looking for another place to stay.

And so, I did... packed most of my useful belongings in the car, and thanks to Leanne (I bought a wrx; she was infinitely wiser & bought a house), the next day I moved out of home :)

It's neither as wonderful or terrible as it is, one day I'll post about the dysfunctionality of my family, and I'll post more about my out-of-house experiences as I take it day-by-day.


But for now, there - it's all, for the most, finally out of my head and in words :)

"Contention: Your best fashion accessory is..."

You're about to head out, and you're deciding what to wear. The details are just as important as the centre pieces nowadays, which therefore highlight accessories as something that could make or break your night. So what is it??? What is that one thing, that will make your picture complete?

Handbag, wrist bands, necklaces, bracelets, man bags, watches... nope, nope, nope.

See, I reckon, the best accessory one can bring to any occasion, is a friend.

Not just an acquaintance, someone you know of, or even say hello to on Sundays, but a real, person who you hunt down to spend time with, because everything becomes fun with them. And they do and feel the exact same, about you.

I have heaps of acquaintances... being a pastor's son, past church leader etc, is good for that, but significantly fewer friends.

There is nothing that will bring out the true you better, than a true friend, and therefore there is nothing that will make you look ever better.

You'd be smiling genuinely, because wherever you are, you'd really, really be enjoying yourself.

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I was going to add, maybe also significant other, but after much consideration (about 10secs worth), I decided no - I think more laughs were probably had when before people were significant others... which is a bit odd, huh...

But when I say friend, I DO mean girl AND guy, i.e. for me. I have some awesome friends that are girls, and have an absolute blast with whatever we do!

:D

Surviving only on 2.5hrs of sleep in the last 48hrs, coupled with the drive to and back Phillip Island today, will make this post a short one :P

Just wanted to jump on and say what a blast today was :D

Bunch of us (Darius, Adeline, Mikey and Kaiwin) from ACF went to visit Ange and Deb @ the Gravitate (COC) camp today for a day trip, and it was pretty awesome - the weather sucked, but definitely did not dampen our spirits :P

Old friend Ps Tim Goh (from Life Expedition) took the morning session of teaching, whilst Corey Turner took the night one - was great to catch up with Tim, even if it was for an all too brief moment...

One of the two main points that made my day, was being so readily adopted and accepted by the COC people... they made me feel like I was part of the family, like I'd been there forever, and it was so fun to be a part of something this significant, even if for only a day.

The second point, would be coming away with a sense of unbelievable friendships, that have seemingly come out of nowhere. Managing to get in some awesome time with each of the ACF people I came up with left me, and then coming home @ the end of the day, has left me realising how blessed I am in the number of friends I have, where they are, and the richness they add to my life.

In hindsight I really wish I had taken the digicam up :(

nate

Hugest apologies to the blog squad...

... which, by the by, can we change the name of the 'blog squad'... it just seems so... uncool :P Like it's a meeting of be-spectacled geeks talking about the things they do online... ok, fine, so that's a definition that MIGHT fit ME, but Ange's way too cool for that label...

... and with that huge suck up... I'm sorry I piked!! Deb, Ange, Mikey and "good-looking" Al, my bad, the next round of coffee is on me!

And yes Ange, I lied, it was a girl-related thing ;)

welcoming the d-man to the fold...

... let's all welcome darius to the blogging community! Now linked on the right, let's see how this young padawan fares!!



"welcome to the site of darius k, porno incorporated..."

quickie

take that topic header however you will, either way, hopefully you come away grinning for whatever reason :P

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Question: Does one only ever truly get over an ex when they find a new significant other?

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NB: This is question is only applicable AFTER a healthy 'recovery' period (i.e. it does not refer to 'rebounding')

monday night... just before midnight... still alive.

in the hands of GOD :o
well, I actually put in a productive Monday @ work, and given the fact I was going on 4.5hrs sleep, I'm quite pipped @ my effort :D Hehehe, can you tell by the cheesy grin on my face? These are the couches randomly strewn around the new bits of melb central :P

had work, got kb'd by ange (oh, the inhumanity), and here I've been since... still @ the RMIT masters of animation labs...

the w/end in closing...

probably one of the earliest nights I've been home on a w/end night for a month or so now... figure I should make an appearance so as to avoid an 'your-life-is-out-of-control' label from my dad...

but what to say about it?! Brief, brief recap I guess... combined cell (great job est!!), raced to the city to visit ami+friends, talked on msn till 6am, woke up, went into the city @ 4 to watch ami-nation shoot an animation, stopped by Adder's 21st (great job ange on the speech! Love the t-shirt, where do I order mine?! :P), dropped des home and back to RMIT - got back home @ 4:30am... woke up, bought some clothes, picked des up (hmm... the des-chauffeur I am), trundled down to ECC for twilight (night service), had dinner with the crew, extended version (i.e. the regulars, mike and kaiwin, al and des and me PLUS the directors cut with darius and wesloc), sent des home (I'm telling you!!), and here I am...

Not a bad way to end the week...

Finished a flash tutorial (main thing I was working on this week) and conducted a presentation on another project I did - both went relatively well, giving me a cool sense of closure to start my w/end!!

Been meaning to post something about my midnight rendevouz's over the last couple of nights, and given the golden nature I'm closing the working week on, I figure now's a good a time as any :P

Wednesday night I got to catch up with a long lost friend, Tian, and we played tennis to catch up with long lost friends, fitness and co-ordination :P Was good to get out on the court, run around and get into the 'swing' (get it, 'swing'?! That's comedy gold right there...) of things again, and to spend some decent time with a good friend.

After which, in a really round about way, ended up hanging with Ange, Mikey and deb (ange and deb are from coc)!! I didn't notice it until Darren (ange's 'other' husband, who came down later) remarked that it was an unlikely bunch of people to gather...

Which didn't occur to me at all, because the way in which we were interacting was just so... well it just seemed so normal :S Like I'd known these people for years, such was the clickiness of interactivity... and it was really fun! I dunno... maybe it was just a moment that I should file away as a good one and not ponder any deeper about it, but it's been on my mind for the last few days.

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Lotsa things to look forward to on the w/end though - city shopping in the city with mikey, adeline's 21st and another mission, this time to ecc!! Keep in touch peoples...

FIINNNNNEEEE...

YESSS... I'll admit it Ange, I'm a SUCKER for sunny days AND night skies, but I won't admit to sunsets!! Or sunrises!!

With that admission out of the way, I can now freely revel in my awesome, awesome day... sunny, warm, and a lunch spent with the best company :P No, company as in person, not as in the place of work 8-)

Some random pics from this morning's 'net travels...

Just some things that I had to post about!! How cute is that pink duck?! And the weirdo guy in a cape?! The new iPod nano!! I want one!! And the other pic... hmm... well, simply put, I just thought she was hot :)

How do I like my days? Sunny side up!

It's a strangely odd feeling actually being on top of all the work I'm supposed to be doing :S I'm sure it's a false sense of security that will come to an abrupt halt sometime soon (i.e. when my supervisor comes back), but until then...

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Question: so what's more interesting to read?

• transcripts about the days events?


• or random thoughts?

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Ma good buddy Tian McRice just called, looks like an atypical day for nate - overfilled with people bookings :P Tennis with Mr T. after work, coffee with Al after 8 @ glenny (mikey, anyone else, feel free to bump into us, just call me to find out where we are)...

I kinda like a variety of weather... like when I was up @ Perisher, we had blue skies the first day on the slopes, and then h/core no visibility and cold on the last day... and I enjoyed both extremes - dunno, when you're at the snow, you kinda want to feel a bit cold, you know?

But there's something about a sunny spring day that will just get to me... no matter what kinda mood I'm in, I always have to smile when I look out the window, and all I see is blue. There's something about those days that ALWAYS reassures me that things are going to be ok...

when you look in the mirror, what do you see?

i HAVE to brag about this one - i woke up @ 6:45am!! that's definitely an achievement, as 8:30am is considered the earliest considerable time normally for me :D

This was cuz I had to return the loan car to subaru (STI @ docklands) by 8am... had dropped my car off for fixing... and in short, they fixed it, and for cheap!! Go STI!! Dragged every light from there to work... AND they cleaned the car.

I finally decided to name her as well... Michelle! My blue rexy, for however much longer I'll have her, will be hence forth known as Michelle... partially in honour of all the Michelle Branch music I'm stuck on @ the moment, and also because it seems to suit 'her' personality - a real, not particularly/outwardly sexy person, but she's mine :)

What's with the topic title??? Just became really aware of the quality of the guys that I've been hanging around with lately... and some of them are ridiculously good looking, and some of them mega talented. As much as I joke about myself, I've usually maintained a fairly neutral idea of who I was... happy being who I am, and not thinking that I was neither better or worse than everyone.

But tonight, after looking through some photos, I couldn't help but feel a little ordinary - like how could I even compare to these guys?! No, I'm not suicidal over this, just heading to bed a little melancholic... maybe it's the 6:45am start this morning affecting me... I'm telling you, waking up early is simply not healthy...

2nd Chances :)

Have been listening to the Michelle Branch song, "2nd Chances", and whilst the song isn't really about it... I love the connotation of the name... kinda another way of saying 'grace', huh? :D

There's something about the earthy and vibrant tones of an acoustic guitar that will simply get me time and time over... for some reason, when I think of God, that's the instrument that's playing most of the time... if that makes sense @ all :)

Feel a bit lost @ the moment... but not panicky. I can still see where it is I'm aiming for, still see it so clearly, and am still walking towards it, but I guess I feel like I'm in a bit of a wilderness period at the moment.

I'm not panicky, depressed or roller coastering with my emotions, cuz... I guess I almost need a bit of empty time :P

A bit of time out in the desert with nothing, but the elements, my guitar, and my God.

and how could I forget

anthem!! x-factor on Fri night blew me away, there are heaps of talented kids out there - aw, what the heck, they're all mega talented!!

like a blank canvas...

... I've been staring at this blogger screen, blinking cursor seemingly mocking me :) "Come on, I dare you, post an entry", and each time since the last, I'd find myself not being able to commit...

How was my weekend? Ridiculously busy as usual :S I even had to cancel things (dinner with Wes & Gidz, sorry guys!!) on Saturday, it was simply that congested... you think I'm kidding? :P Here goes... wake up @ 11, get to Chaddy @ 12 to see Willy Wonka with Pat, finish @ 3, race back down to wantirna to pick up yen pan for badminton (which ACTUALLY started @ 3), play bads until 5:15, go for dinner with bads crew until 8:15, go home, shower and race into the city (with all this racing, yeah, it IS kinda good to have a car that's not slow...) for Tian's 21st, then come back to Glenny and meet all the ACF Youth Alive people @ Rock Kung!! And then after all that, get home @ 2am, go to sleep @ 3, and get up on Sunday @ 8 for P&W practice?! No wonder I'm still exhausted :S And that's just Saturday...

Tonight?! The w/end?! Is this the end for our dashing hero?!

Tonight! It's the X night!! Anthem X-Factor!! Dunno what to expect (although I do hear that a ridiculously good-looking guy is going to be judging), but it should be a blast :)

Tomorrow!! Meeting up with Patti for Charl's and his choco factory @ chaddy, and then rushing to baddies (dunno, blame Vee for getting that term stuck in my head) @ 3-5 and then back home to get changed and head off to Tian's (aka T. McRice :P) 21st!!

And then somehow get up at the crack of dawn for Sunday's Father's Day service... eep, I shouldn't be wasting this time @ work then! I should be accumulating precious sleep, cuz it doesn't look like I'll be getting my fair share in the next couple of days :S

it's Friday... already!?

Feels like it was only a few days ago when I was last posting before a w/end :S My grip on time is slowly slipping away from me... this is ridiculous though - how is it that we slip into extremes, from having too much time, to having no time @ all... there's a nice in between some where in there, isn't there? :S

Wednesday
Coffee with Al and Mikey was a blast as usual, rapier wits clashing and exchanging blows with lightning quick touches and parries - the conversational scrimmage being simply poetry to observe, if I do say so myself :P

But! We were not alone! We were joined in battle by some random Clayton Church people's, namely Wes and Ange Lim! No, not related they are (maybe they're married?!), but good company nonetheless :P

I do say we rocked the house @ G.Jeans (glenny) that night :D

Thursday
Basically music practice... was fun, cuz we had our once a month meetings, where we discussed most things not musical (i.e. why Victor wants to go to Egypt (something about pyramids, "Moses was here" type inspiration, and why I want to go to Korea (HOT, HOT chicks - I don't care if it's not true, don't spoil my fantasy!)))

and the menu for tonight...

... after getting kb'ed by K Lee (for an excursion SHE initially organised), it's coffee with Al and Mikey @ Glenny!! Should be good from some porous conversation :P