 |
Journal | Friends | Calendar | User Info | Memories |
'My Corduroyed Life' - Mark A's Journal
Bah!
I get the bus every day to work (or at least I have done for the last four or five months). I always find it amusing to worry and upset other bus users when I'm carrying my shinai for Ninja after work - some of the looks of horror are priceless and I feel badass.
Today was a shinai day, and I was feeling badass, and then suddenly as I got on the bus I cracked my head on the wing mirror. Complete badass image destruction! And what makes it worse is that for the first time in recent memory there was actually someone I knew on the bus: a fit guy that I vaguely know via work who I really fancy. Arse biscuits...
Have fun,
M
Current mood:
annoyed.Current music: Burn, Burn by The Lost Prophets.
As I write these things on a monthly basis, it becomes increasingly alarming how quickly time passes you by!
So we had our meeting about the future of Graduate Gateway at work. It's over, I'm in my three month redeployment phase, and if I'm not found a suitable job in that period, I'll be made redundant. I won't lie: I'm pretty gutted. As much as I malign my job, I feel like I've made a real difference to people working for Graduate Gateway, and that we really did do a fantastic job. The fact that the University won't support us in any way has sickened me considering that we help nearly 1% of their graduates per year get a job. It's a bitter, bitter pill to swallow considering some of the rag tag and bobtail, lame duck, piss poor attempts for projects that they do fund in this University. Bastards. Subsequently, my work load has plummeted, and I'm finding myself being extremely bored. It's getting to the point where I have literally nothing to do all day.
Job hunting has actually been better this month! I've got four applications out for different jobs including a promotion in house, and some exciting prospects outside of Salford Uni. Work have been generous inasmuch as they're allowing us a significant chunk of our working day to apply for other jobs. I also have a number (okay, three) of other applications half-done, which will be done some time soon. Realistically, I'm hoping to get another (better) job in the next couple of months, and not have be redeployed or made redundant.
My finances are a mess thanks to a delightful fuck up by work who haven't paid me my overtime. I *really* needed that this month, and my utter inability to economise means I've made a mess. Only two weeks after payday, and I'm using credit cards in cash machines. Not a good thing.
Love life, as is the way with me, is either feast or famine. Seems like one week you can have three on the go, and the following, they've all faded away. Never a steady flow, and never more than a couple of dates until either they or I become disinterested. As is, I've had some sex, but would say that none were keepers, until the last Sat of the month, and now I'm not so sure! I'm not in love, but I'm certainly interested in a guy who seems to reciprocate...
After a full-day course that I buzzed off early on this month, Ninja became a little slow. A change in class time has done little for my motivation, as I don't have an adequate amount of chill time between work and classes any more. I am also faced with the prospect of a grading that I don't feel prepared enough for on Saturday as I don't feel like I've worked hard enough at home recently. I am hoping that the 'more intimate', and subsequently motivational, feel that we had over the last summer classes will return next month once I've got used to the new class times that I don't like.
With no home t'internet, I've read more this month. It does help that I've had interesting, and cool books to read, admittedly, but even so, I have actually read stuff this month! Stupid White Men by Michael Moore is as good as the hype, and something I've intended to read for, like, ever. It's somewhat vicious and cutting in its politics, and I loved that! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is another book that have been hyped a lot, and once again I found myself compelled and engrossed. It's a testament to the writer that you can be amused and mortified at the same time, and the narrator is just so unbelievably loveable in his pathos. I've also read a book on Health & Nutrition which has helped me with my diet a little bit (and that has got to be a good thing!). As well as this I've read Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi which is the Mr Myagi style book I was talking about in my post Ninja - 24/7, and despite its quaintness it actually appears that it may be useful for Ninja. I have just started Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser which I was inspired to buy after I enjoyed Stupid White Men so much.
I actually bought an album this month! Shocker of shockers! Legion of Boom by The Crystal Method was a must buy as I have their previous two albums which rate as probably two of my favourites of all time. I'm happy to report that they didn't disappoint and have produced another trance rock crossover masterpiece. Other albums I've got my grubby paws on are the latest from Him, Rammstein and The Lost Prophets. Him and Lost Prophets are excellent albums, but Rammstein proved a disappointment.
As for films, I've have used Screenselect loads this month, but have been very naughty and put all the Sex and the City series on it, as well as Firefly, wrestling, and (I am so bad) porn. I've been going to the cinema with loads of people too, and seen loads of films, both mainstream and otherwise. At the cinema I've seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Passion of the Christ, Van Helsing, The Twilight Samurai, Shattered Glass, and Bad Education. From Screenselect/ on DVD, (not including the telly series I've had) I've seen: Police Story, Dragon From Russia, Mr. Vampire, Tai Chi Boxer, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars, Once Upon A Time In China and Amores Perros. As an extra thing/ gimmick, I've decided to add a star rating to each mini-review too.
Ratings:
* = Shocking
** = Passable
*** = Worth Seeing
**** = Superb
***** = Unbelievable!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - **: A fantastic concept and an interesting philosophy, but just that bit too much mush and I just couldn't take Jim Carrey seriously.
The Passion of the Christ - ***: An excellent depiction of the story, and a truly worthy film... And it really is as bloody as its hype.
Van Helsing - ***: A fun, if rather flawed film with lots of cool action and glaringly obvious problems with plot. It could have been magnificent, and as it's not, it was something of a disappointment.
The Twilight Samurai - ****: Low key and beautiful depiction of domestic life for the Samurai. Tragic, clever, thought provoking... wonderful.
Shattered Glass - ****: Surprise hit of the month! Only went to see it because it looked okay and had Hayden 'How Fit Am I?!' Christiansen in it. It ended up being a tense, clever and extremely enjoyable real life drama.
Bad Education - ****: I was told I'd love Almovador's films, and I was right! A superb film with impressive and clever twists that I found myself completely gripped by.
Police Story - ***: A fun romp with Jackie Chan at his most ludicrously dangerous stunt best. The car chase through a shanty town has to be seen to be believed.
Dragon From Russia - **: Based on the excellent Crying Freeman manga comics, I expected this to be fabulous (like the anime). It wasn't.
Mr. Vampire - ****: A delightfully camp, comic and flamboyant take on the vampire thing. A gem!
Tai Chi Boxer - ***: A decidedly average martial arts film that was salvaged by amusing usage of the main character's queue (ponytail) in combat.
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars - ***: A silly, silly film with Sammo Hung at his comedy martial arts best. Not quite as good as My Lucky Stars, to which it is a follow up.
Once Upon A Time In China - ****: I've meant to see this for ages, and was expecting something special. I wasn't disappointed. How cool is Jet Li?!
Amores Perros - ****: Dark, tragic, stylish, thought provoking and a truly, truly excellent film.
I guess I've blogged a little more this month than last, and am relatively happy with the majority of them. I want to shy away from just ranting, and have noticed that the majority of blog inspiration these days appears to be just exactly that. Perhaps next month, I can write about happy things? On t'internet, I have found the infamous rude Rainbow episode that everyone has heard of, but few have seen. Also worth seeing is the fantastically surreal Viking Kittens singing 'Gay Bar' by Electric 6.
As usual, I'll do the blog courtesy thing...
mcphee
Bowch
Pixie
Fluff
Prince Gaz
Mojo
Jadash
Other interesting stuff includes a visit to Hull which involved a night out at Hull's gay hotspot(!) Fuel, and a big ROCK night with silly cocktails at Spiders (one of the best Rock clubs I've ever had the pleasure of attending). The joy that is Eurovision happened this month, and a very successful Eurovision party involving scorecharts, too much Lambrini and much fun was hosted by the lovely Paul and Sara in Rawtenstall.
To cover the whole month in a few words: not *that* hectic, but bloody hell - where did it go?
Have fun,
M
Current mood:
okay.Current music: Sweet Pandemonium by Him.