Six. Gold at Knox.

First time in Gold Class at Knox City. Captain America! Chris Evans did not disappoint!

It was also Kim and Tyson's engagement party! She's the first of any of my friends to be engaged and soon to wed :D

Five. Design Debate

The Housing Project.

Four. My Design Book!

Also. Happy Birthday Jennifer Antoinette Tan Sato, I love you.

Today's schedule was supposed to be something along the lines of this ...
Class from 9:30 till 12:30, open tutorials with Ross, discussing ideas in regards to our site analysis and probably presentation ideas for our first interim presentation next Thursday. Site work and meet Ace for Lunch. INDEX meeting at 2pm and resume class from 2:30 till 5:30. And then attend the make-up class for Curating Design by attending The Housing Project's Design Debate at the Lamington Drive.

INSTEAD.

I slept in, exhausted from last night's biking adventures and over a weeks worth of lack of sleep and difficulty to sleep from restlessness and bad dreams. I slowly made my way out of bed and managed to get myself to the city by noon. With no motivation, or source of inspiration I did not feel like class. School. Speaking and discussing my non-existent design ideas and current project. I decided to use my Metropolis voucher the girls got me for my birthday.I knew which book I wanted, but I still had credit remaining so i browsed the shelves for a good half hour, eventually leaving with Jennifer Hudson's 'Interior Architecture: From Brief  to Build.' I was told by the book keeper, the same author will be releasing another book next week, so I'll come back next week for it.

I am now in possession of my very first Interior/Architecture Book. It's new and it is downright fucking sexy sitting on my pile of cheap zines & publications.

Just as I left Metrpolis, Ace arrived in the city. We made our way to Yurikya, the japanese restaurant where my favourite Katsudon dish currently resides. I was so excited to eat it again. Ace tried something new today as well. Before we ordered our lunch, he told me he didn't like eating raw fish from past, traumatic experiences, BUT he decided to brave it and order a sashimi dish. Woohoo, go Ace! My Katsudon was so goddamn delicious and satisfying, as per usual. Afterwards, we roamed the city from one side to another, back and forth to all my favourite design stores. I felt like a tour guide and Ace was the foreigner. He marveled at lane ways with the European atmosphere. My love my Melbourne was at it's peak this afternoon.

By this time, class was well and truly over. Ace dropped me off at 1000 Pound Bend and left for work. Vy swooped in to keep me company and fill time before my 6pm class. We indulged in some sweet milky bevs and salad before Cat & I went to 'class.' (TBC) After a very long, exhausting class, we dropped by Golden Monkey for a birthday drink with Jen. AND THEN, went home. I got home at 11:15pm.

Three. Our Bike Night Out. (featuring some hot passion)

I would like to think that my out-of-the-ordinary checking of my student email last night is a sign of a growing motivation for uni.Good thing I did though, because I, with great joy discovered my morning class was cancelled and moved to tomorrow night. So Thursday will be one long ass day, but at least I was able to sleep in this morning. Sort of.

Tomorrow will be Jen's 22nd birthday, so I booked her out tonight because I will have uni the entire day and I assumed she would have plans anyway. We planned to use our free bike rental passes and have dinner at a french restaurant. I've never had an authentic french dish, so I was very much looking forward to this experience. I also decided that would be my new thing for the day.

Arriving in the city with Josh, I decided, in honour of the coming french dining experience to finally purchase a new bold colour lipstick. Hot Passion, it's called. The striking red was greatly contrasts against my skin, I loved it. Of course I've wanted to buy one for ages, which again prompts the question, why did I have to wait till this very moment, why create an official opportunity instead of just doing it. And again, who knows, who cares at the moment. After seperating with Josh, I met Jen in front of Don Don's where we strolled over to JWOW, had a drink and before setting out for our biking adventure.

We were originally told that any 7Eleven stocked the helmets for the rental bikes. To our dismay, we were misinformed and it wasn't until the 4th, or was it the 5th 7Eleven that we finally managed to get biking helmets. Jen had't ridden a bike in years, and wasn't confident biking on the road. We winged it on the path, I hoping, that no police were around to fine us, Jen, not caring if we did! HMPH! We cruised like the cool kids we are, down towards Alexander Gardens, to the NGV, then to wide open spaces surrounding ACCA, eventually coming across a cute little park besides an apartment residence. We played on the spinny thing till we were dizzy drunk, and lay in the pod-swing watching stars like lovers do. When I began to get goosebumps, and after being thrown off the spinny thing, getting bark all over me, and getting my feet black as soot from the bark, we left.

No longer was food on our mind. Not yet anyway. We biked along the city roads, like nomads. Until we found our way to Southbank, and biked alongside the Yarra River. We felt like dumplings then, french food no more, but then I remembered that it was $9 steak night at the Lions Hotel. Calling Josh ahead to order our dishes, we then raced back to the CBD. When we arrived at the pub, our dishes were ready!

SO, there was no french dining experience tonight. It was our biking experience that defined tonight, and defined our 3rd day of the challenge. Bike riding in the city, on a warm winter's night. It was thrilling, free and adventurous. Amen to Melbourne City Council for inventing such a cool system!

Two. My CD.

I don't recall burning my last CD. Back in highschool, I burnt a new CD mix weekly, if  not every few days. The past 2 years I've basically been listening to those old CDs, music Lynh has generously burnt and dropped off in my mailbox and the old faithful, but predictable and reptetive radio. So here, I've burnt a new CD. No track on this CD comes without value. Each are there for it's own reason, each with a role.

1. Cold War Kids/ Paris Wells Cover. Feat Jamie Robbie Reyne - Audience of One
2. Modest Mouse - Float On
3. Florence and the Machines - You've got the Love
4. Band of Horses - St. Augustine
5. Josh Pyke - The Summer
6. George/ Feat. Katie Noonan - Breathe in Now
7. Glee Cast - Valerie
8. Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane
9. The xx/ Cover by The Gorillaz - Crystallized
10. Little Red - Chelsworth
11. The Jezabels - Mace Spray
12. Years Around the Sun - Miles Away
13. Local Natives - Airplanes
14. One Republic - Marching On
15. One Republic - Secrets
16. The Getaway Plan - Strings
17. Naked and Famous - Girls Like You
18. Naked and Famous - Young Blood
19. Florence and the Machines - Dog Days are Over.

One. My Wall.

I was so excited as today approached and then I became a little anxious thinking about what I might be able to accomplish as a part of the 31 day challenge. I was up bright and early to head off to work, and was exhausted the entire day. I had planned to venture out during my lunch break to see if anything might 'just happen.' .. I just ended up eating my pork sandwich on the couch outside my work.

After work, I had plans with Stacey to catch up and have dinner. Little did she know I secretly persuaded Lynn to come to dinner too. We all hadn't seen each other and properly caught up in a long time. Well overdue. It was a warm reunion. Stacey had a craving for Japanese cuisine, so I found a place on the corner of Lonsdale & Russel, and ate at Izakaya Chuji. Opportunity? Indeed! I have always ordered Katsudons, because I love it, and also because I have a goal to try the dish as many places as I can and judge which place is the best. It used to be ITO on Bourke, but under new management, I found the quality had fallen a little. So far, Yurikya in China Town takes the cake. So I ended ordering pan fried soba noodles, with vegetables and chicken - Yakisoba (chicken). It was my first time, and I must say it wasn't such a foreign taste. What was exciting was Lynn's entre order of Ox's tongue! Never had I had such an organ from any animal. Lynn loves it. I was so hesitant to put an animal's tongue to my own, and felt squirmish when it did make contact. Recalling the experience now, the thing that stood out the most was how chewy it was. I'm still squirmish ...

Home, finally, just past 9pm. I get into my room where mountains of clothes lie, piles of publications, baskets of stationary ... the never-ending chaotic clutterring .. Which I don't mind because I just remind myself of Einstein's quote,
"If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?"
Apart from my mess. My wall is something that defines me, my personality, my space. I've made a tradition out of changing the wall every year, before the summer begins, or when it's over. It's well past winter's half and the wall remained untouched. Bam. Decision made. I took down my wall. I think compared to other people's walls, I've made a sentimental association with mine. The past year, from about this time, everything seems to be shifting, changing, and I've been unsure, indecisive, and worst of all, been feeling so fragile. I hate feeling fragile. Taking down my year and half old wall, marks a decision. Accept and embrace change and carry the fuck on.

As for what will go up on the wall, that will slowly unravel.

Month of Change (Difference)

Originating from an article in Frankie Magazine, Jen and I will take up the challenge of "31 Days of Change, Difference & Newness." Some additional people have jumped on the bandwagon and each of us have our own focus in mind. The tricky part is spontaneously producing these results, not planning ahead. Which I'm already finding difficult, because I'm listing so many things in my head at the moment. This prompts a question though, how come I haven't already accomplished this list? Why is it that I needed to set an official challenge for myself? At this point, who know, who cares. I do know that I want to have effective changes in my life, even if they don't last beyond the 31 days. Bring it.

Weak

Farran Adria, Genius.

Rated best restaurant in the world more than once. Elbulli, located in Spain.

Flawed.

I do not like hypocrasy.
I do not like hypocrites.
I am a hypocrite.
I do not like myself.

F is for Farewell.

You were the first teacher I met at Sydenham. You made me look forward to coming to Sydenham.
I wish I could remember more than just your laugh. I do remember your glasses falling a part while teaching methods and the whole class could not stop laughing for the rest of the class because we just could not take you seriously. I remember you loved the Beatles. What is to become of the book and cd I got you. I hope they let you take them with you. You were a legend.


Bye Bruce.

Sky Mirrors

Anish Kapoor is majorly cool.

I'm About To Lose My Mind

I wish I had the passion Eminem had when he raps. Nothing would hold me back.

Why.

Rest in peace Bruce.

X-MEN: First Class

Best Marvel movie yet. I've always been a fan of James McAvoy - but say hello to Michael Fassbender, preooow :)

Battle: Los Angeles

Finally watched it with Josh. I held my breath watching this movie. Beats Independance Day, and that's my favourite Alien-raids-earth movie.

From Where You'd Rather Be.

Precedents

 Dan Graham

Amish Kapoor

Richard Wilson

Slow Recovery

Beneath my fortress, recovering from feeling under the weather the ENTIRE weekend. And some junk food from Josh to assist in the recovery :)

First Meal, 6:30pm

Worked on my assignemnt all day and went through hell to sumbit it. I finally had my first meal for the day at Hanaichi, cheap yet satisfying .. Picked up some goodies from Breadtop afterwards - just couldn't help myself.Two subjects down. Thesis for the next few weeks. 

My Favourite Muffin is ..

Blueberry! Goodies from Josh after work. Such a long weekend. Over exhaustion from being run off my feet and from being sick as a dog. Way over my head!

Delicious ..

Suck it up.

and
JUST DO IT

How I heart Adele.

Can't climb this wall.

MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.
MUST BE PRODUCTIVE.

Goodies at Thousand Pound Bend

Lynn's hot chocolate at Thousand Pound Bend. I should have ordered it! Boring juice!