A Hectic Month

So the last month has been a bit hectic. 

As far as my social life is concerned, it’s definitely a roller-coaster. Sometimes you think you know someone, and they change; spin on a dime. You think you’re at the start of something great, and they drop a bomb that can’t be taken back. We’ll leave it at this: making real friends… is hard. 

Five weeks ago I came home to a pretty quiet house. After I put my purse down in my room and started to unwind, Di came to my door and said “I’ve got to tell you something.” Immediately my mind started racing: is someone ill? Have I done something wrong? And a dozen other things raced all in a matter of seconds. “Trav has been offered a full-time job in Melbourne, which means we’ll be moving there. We have to be out by the end of April.” 

And the race was on. I had to find a place and move into it in four weeks. I didn’t want to go through that stress again, but alas, some things are out of your control. However, I do have to say, I was happy for them. I’m not bitter about a great opportunity for them. 

Luckily my persistence and stress-head-mind comes in handy sometimes – I found a place within two weeks, and last week I moved in. I’m now living with a mother and her 19-year-old son, as well as her boyfriend (who is supposedly “temporary” ;) They are seriously wonderful people, and the son actually quite reminds me of my own brother! The house is a bit out of the way from Uni and everything else, but I’m working out shortcuts and bus schedules to make it easier. 

As far as Uni is concerned, it’s sped up a lot. As every semester, they’ve put assignments all in the last six weeks. Booking studio time has been an absolute paaiinnn. People like to book rooms and studios and then not show up. All of the reasonable hours are taken up so for the last three nights I’ve been there until at least 1am, if not 3am. Tonight’s my first night “off” and I am going to sleep SO good. (I hope!) 

Searching for a job isn't any easier than it wasn't last year. Applied about a dozen places but the only news I've heard is "no" from an HR assistant position. Still looking though! I'll have a few dollars coming in eventually though! Playing my first gig next month!! I've formed a trio with a new friend from Uni (a first year), and she knows a great guitarist who is going to back us while we do originals for a 40 minute set. We're both fairly nervous about performing, so we're getting over our nerves together. I'm pretty excited.. 

The days are still hot, but the nights are getting chilly. I know, I know, it’s not Canada cold, but it’s not warm either! 

Missing home a lot lately so I’ve been searching for cheap flights home in the summertime – trying to keep a logical head about it. 

I hope you’re all well and the weather’s warming up nicely for you :)

Cheers!

Drum Session

Last week we recorded drums and I thought I'd give you a taste of what that looks like, some shots didn't turn out but here's a peek of Studio A (thanks to Michael for the access!)

 Me, just being artsy, here's what the patching really looks like: (and considering, a fairly simple setup)

The analogue desk in A :) Can't wait for this baby:

My producer hard at work. 

Drummer, also, very hard at work. 

From drumboy's perspective: "Room 1"

After a long night, we feast! Cooked by yours truly. 

I've also decided to start posting videos on Youtube of simple recordings, so be on the lookout for that :)

Cheers!

To Cricket, or Not to Crick It

Well it's almost been a month since I arrived back under the sun. (Feels like forever!) Speaking of which, damn is it hot. The last few days haven't been as bad because we've had some wind and rain, but the humidity is killer! Anyway.

Michael recently had a gig at the Gabba in Brisbane - where they play cricket - so I decided to tag along. I have one word of advice for you: Don't. Cricket is soooo boring. It's an easy enough day with an air conditioned room and fabric seats, but if you were to buy a ticket and go sit in the sun all day in hard plastic seats? It's just not worth it. So the stadium is crap, but the game is just a lazy man's baseball. But it lasts for 8 hours.

Regardless, I took some pictures.

Afraid of a little rain! 

 More rain. Still afraid.

 But man can they throw...

 The crowd was way more entertained by this ball than any play in the game. But really, who could 

blame 'em!!?

Anywho, the semester has started and I know there's going to be lots of work involved for these classes. Also currently looking for a job - I've applied at a few places already, just hoping to hear back from my favorites sooner than the not-as-favorites.

cheers!

Round 2!

And I'm back.

I guess I've been back for a couple weeks, but it's been pretty uneventful.

I'm now living in a house with 3 other people so far: a couple that owns the place rents out three rooms to me, a guy Adrian, and one empty right now. They're really nice people, but I'm not used to living this way! For years I've been living in 3 or less rooms. In Toronto I had my bedroom, bathroom and kitchen to wander about in. Last year, just one big room and a bathroom. Now I've got a dining room, living room, kitchen, tv area, my room and the bathroom. Whoa.

You might not think it, but this different living situation means I have to learn new social skills. I've had roommates before, good and bad, strangers and friends, but given the living situation, usually we kept to ourselves, but the bedroom door open meant you're welcome to keep me company! Not so much the case here. So, I'm learning slowly. Funny how such a little thing can be a hidden learning experience.

I won't show the house, but here's my very own new room!

It's a pretty good location - 10 minutes to shops and bus stop, I could walk to uni buuuuut, the sun may prove to be a bit too hot for a 30 minute walk.

Speaking of which, classes start next week. I've only got 2 days again this semester, both start at 9am, one finishes at 3, the other at 6. Not too shabby! I'm not really excited for classes, but I am excited to get doing stuff again. I've got big plans for this year (as I believe I mentioned in the previous post), and it'll all be starting soon.

Also. I went to Dreamworld for the first time yesterday. So fun. My stomach is still getting used to being thrown around but eventually i will do every ride. Annd they've got a Tiger world part, which really inspired me (as I have been a million times) to volunteer in Africa. But that's not for awhile, so lets stick to down unda!

Okay, as I said, nothing exciting has happened yet. But in case you missed my face, I messed around with my webcam this afternoon. :)

Haha, cheers.

Yikes.

So I became a little political; making promises I didn't keep. My bad, and my sincere apologies.

It's been a good couple of months back home, but I'm not quite ready to go back yet. I can't wait to do stuff again, as this was my first real (longg) break since the summer after I graduated high school, but I'll always hate leaving here.

I left the coast thinking that I would have a place to live with friends I knew, buut that has sort of fizzled out. I was left stranded to figure out a place to live while I'm not even in the country - this, is very, very hard. I know what area I want to be in but corresponding and trying to rent a room from strangers has proven to be quite difficult.

Thankfully Michael has told me I can stay with him until I find a place, but I'm a stresser. I want to have a place to put my boxes as soon as I go back!

I've already got my Uni schedule and it's pretty much like first semester - 3 days a week and kind of intense, but it'll be fun I think (I hope). I've decided to work extra hard this year. I did fine last year but I came out the end still feeling behind everyone else, so I hope I can learn to just throw myself in the deep end.

Part of this goal is going to be have a nice EP out for next break. I want to be able to come back with CD's and shove them in radio faces. And also iTunes. A lot of students don't do EP's until third year, which makes complete sense, but my situation is a bit different from theirs - I'm leaving the country after! Once I've finished the program my plan is to move back to Toronto and see what I can make of myself there. I can't rely on classmates or the local resources there, so I've really gotta take independence by the horns.

Please don't hold your breath for this ep. It is a goal of mine, but one way or another I'll still be keeping the soundcloud account alive :P

So I've rambled and talked about nothing long enough. 11 days 'til I'm up in the air again.

Cheers!

Part 1 of 3

So this journey is about to take a whole new direction. Part of leaving home is the eventual going back, and it's an experience in itself. I had a taste of this when I moved to Toronto, and was constantly going back and forth between the two places I call 'home'. However, I've never been this far away, and I've never been away this long.

It was a huge hit on my emotions when I dropped my bags in this room, and to be honest, I can't wait to pick them back up again. I know it'll be another emotional journey once I fly back to Canada and see my friends and family again, and then another new chapter begins by saying farewell again in February.

I leave in 25 days, and I'm pumped. But that will come when it comes. I imagine there's not going to be much for me to blog about in the next 3 weeks that's too exciting, but if something comes up, I'll for sure post it! I'll be doing a large overview of my time here (so far) before I take off again, so be on the lookout for that if you're at all interested! (I don't expect you to be, but I like to write! So it will be there either way.)

I have two more assignments to be done, and in 10 days I will be officially a 2nd year! That excitement will have to wait a few months though :) Soon ends the first part of my 3-part adventure. I'll see you all soon!

- Babz

The Formula

If you haven't noticed it already, here's the final song for this semester. Wrote this when I was feeling particularly homesick. After the "storm had passed" I realized the troubles I felt were temporary, and all I had to do was hold on to what made me strong. So, here it is. I hope you enjoy; it's my personal favorite of the three.

http://soundcloud.com/abbygardner/formula