Last night was fabulous. The Lads played WCCC, and were just as much fun as they ever were. West City did a pretty decent job of putting a show together, and everyone really got into it. Its so fun to see people who are normally so composed and proper just dancing like idiots and singing along at the top of their lungs.

And then, we went to Piha, and had a swim. Freezing cold, but brilliant fun. We ran along the beach, frolicked in the water and sang Feliz Navidad as our substitute for Christmas in the Park last week. I really enjoyed the whole night. It felt like old times and I believe it bodes well for the rest of summer. Summer!

I took David and my mum out to see Kingston tonight. Quite a nice night. Its been a while since I've been to a show and I'd sort of started to forget how much of a buzz it is.

A few of us went to Rush on Saturday night after the wedding, but by that stage we were a bit wasted. We arrived just as mumsdollar were starting and had quite a good night but just couldn't quite get into it. I managed to dance to the last wee bit of 11.57, so the night ended on a good note, but I was starting to feel slightly old. I don't want to feel old!

I've been working heaps. That's good because it makes me actually do something somewhat constructive with my time, but its not so good because it means I'm getting paid heaps. I don't want to have heaps of money, because I don't want to get focused on that. I offered to start paying board and got the most adorable sponsor child, but I also bought a whole lot of dvds and felt like a bit of a waste.

Anyway, Lads are playing WCCC this weekend. I'm unsure as to how good they're going to be without Chris and Bennett, but I'm reserving judgement until Friday night. If they're rubbish I've got Geneva and dDub Saturday night. Then WBC next weekend. It feels good to be getting back into music. Shows are good for my soul.

Christmas!...Ho ho ho?

I don't know how to be Christ in this world. I don't even know what that means. It has to be more than converting people. This is something, for all the teaching I have recieved over the years, I've never heard addressed. Although to be fair, I probably wasn't listening.

I can give, and that helps in a way, and I can attempt to treat people fairly, but there must be more than that. I hate that I don't do anything and that even in my own small world I am so focussed on the nothing that is everything.

This isn't working. I don't know how to talk anymore.

Yeah. The exam I stressed about for weeks. I studied harder than I've studied for any other exam (in that, I actually did study) then the day of, I turn up at the wrong time. Excruciating.

So all my plans were crushed for a bit. I think its back on track now though. My boss had already offered to put me on salary, full time. Full time in this job is only 25 hours a week, so sweet. And the pay is good so I'm happy. Since I have to wait until second semester to pick up that paper I've decided to not entirely waste the year and do a few more papers to make a double major. Of course my second major will be sociology so it completely is a waste of time. Really interesting papers though. The first semester I'm doing Sociology of Media, and the Welfare State, which ties in with some stuff I've been reading lately. Then second semester that Linguistics paper, plus sociology of emotions.

So even though Korea probably isn't going to happen next year, I'm not entirely gutted about it. I don't think I am really ready to be alone in a foreign country, where I don't speak the language, just yet. Hopefully I will still be on track for my plans for 2008, including Cornerstone, Edinburgh and England.

In other news...

John Safran is king.

So um, I missed my exam.

It is entirely possible that I could fail an exam next week. Not likely, but possible. I'm scared by this just the right amount so that I whinge about it, but not quite enough so that I actually spend time studying rather than livejournal..ing.

I had two exams earlier this week. They went well I think. In a bizarre way, I think I'm going to miss taking exams. I really enjoy the whole experience. If it wasn't for the fact that exam results tend to have a bearing on life in the future I could almost get into them.

Its all about the nervousness beforehand. Invariably my exams are in a lecture theatre that I've never heard of and I have to scour the campus to find it, which is always an anxious time. Then, I refuse to talk to anyone beforehand. There is nothing worse than overhearing people talk about something that you totally forgot to study for. So I normally lurk away from the rest of the class until I see them stir to go in. More than once I've joined the group at this time to discover that, actually, not my class at all. What I read as OGH (Old Government House) was in fact OCH (Old Choral Hall), and I'm off in a frenzy.

Then, the utterly pointless 10 minutes reading time. I love the 10 minutes reading time. I have never been in an exam where reading the paper and deciding on which questions to answer has taken longer than four minutes. But everyone has to sit there for ten. I love watching people during this time. They only ever look bored. It doesn't matter if they've suddenly realised they don't know any of the answers, or if they are feeling supremely confident. The only expression you can read is boredom. 'Lets get this thing started already!'

Finally, leaving an exam room, feels fabulous. The elation at being free from the stress is a wonderful feeling. Even if I'm not confident of a result, I still love to leave the room. Then I'll stride down Symonds St with some happy pop music blaring in my ears and give every passerby a goofy, and most likely, entirely unwelcome smile.

Bring it Linguist201. Ain't nothing gonna bring me down!

(Stay tuned for my post next Thursday, written from a place of deepest despair)

Seriously. One day - peachy. Next day - nothing. Until right at the end. Gah. Worth it though...probably worth it....worth it.

I feel sad again. Wellington got canceled. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Hurt too. Mostly hurt.

On a more positive note, I really enjoyed staying in town this week. The apartment is great and I love being able to wander over to uni and just mooch. It's been too long since I've had a good ol' fashioned mooch. I hope they never ever let it, and that I get to stay there for the rest of my life! Except not really. A few months would be nice.

Oh man! I was lucky. I thought I had all my papers (finally!) worked out, but I just went and did one last check. Good thing. Turns out I was 9 points short of my minor requirements. Which means next semester I'm doing another paper worth 17.4. Brilliant. But at least it will mean I actually get to graduate next year.
Next semester is possibly the driest most painful bunch of papers I've ever had to take. Linguist 201 - Phonology & Morphology, Linguist 300 - Advanced Syntactic Theory, and Sociol 201 - Social Research: An Introduction. Strangely enough though, I'm totally looking forward to it. That's probably because this semester I finally started talking to people in my classes (!) and now I have friends at uni!! Friends at uni!! It really does make all the difference. Except when its incredibly, ridiculously frustrating. Like it was this week. But even the confusing is better than the boring. Even the bad days are good.

Yay. Heh. I just made myself giggle. No one knows why.

Hey, Garrick - Sorry that I don't explain my stories well. I'm not sure if using this medium obligates me to. Because I know that there is a chance that people might read, but really the stuff I post is just for my own cathartic enjoyment. Still, I'll try to make an effort (qualify it harder Helen). But really, I won't. See you at your party. Woot.

I knew I'd regret that.

Well Parachute was mean. Mumsdollar played one set at the Debut stage dressed in full body superhero costumes. I was right at the front in shorts and a singlet and I thought I was going to die it was so hot, but they played the whole set like that. The drummer was dressed as Superman, and his mask had no nose or mouth holes. I don't know how he did it. Mumsdollar are awesome.

The whole thing was just a great time. We camped near the Debut which meant I got to see, or at least hear heaps of little bands I'd never heard before. I voted for one, Lieutenant Funk, and they got to play on Mainstage. Great band, great show. I was there with a fairly lax crowd too. We were all pretty chilled out, and there weren't any tidy girls around to complain about our swamp. Which was a bonus.

No late night action this year. I went looking for it a couple of times but it didn't seem to be happening. On the last night a few of the boys went to try and steal the f from the life fm sign. They got up there and made a good go of it, but couldn't do it without making noise and got busted. We knew they would but it was still a good time.

The most embarrassing moment happened Sunday night. I left Planet Shakers to go see Eight Orange Orchard, a little ska band I discovered last year, and once I was there I found out it was their last gig ever as a band. That made me sad, so I decided to go hard even though I was there by myself. It was a real good set, and then at the end they played Veale Rd, which is my favourite. I started to skank like I hadn't all night, until I felt a pop. The clasp on my shorts broke. Just snapped as I was dancing. So then I was stuck there, right at the front, holding onto my pants, trying desperately to keep going hard to the song. It just wasn't happening, so I stepped back, watched everyone else going crazy, cheered for the band, then waddled my way back to my tent. All the way, pretending that nothing had happened. Good fun.

I don't usually listen to the speakers at Parachute but this year, I discovered Phil Baker. He is the in person speaking equivalent of Joe Bennett. The best speaker I've heard in year, I went to see him three times over the weekend. So funny, so real and so challenging. He's up there with James McPherson as speakers I would listen to all day long.

So it was a great weekend. Highlights would have to be Mumsdollar (even though I see them every week), Phil Baker, all the ska and Timmy. Ah Timmy. How I stalk thee.

I really have.

We're going to Hillsong conference. Hooray! Except I'm an idiot and I booked my flight wrong. Everyone else comes back on the 16th, while I come back on the 13th. To change it would cost me approximately $237. So nope. Meh, whatever. It's still 10 days, and it's still going to be great! Dad made the funniest call about it though.

"Hey Helen, are you any good at maths?"
"No, not really why?"
"Well, whats the difference between 13 and 16?"
"Yeah, very funny."
"About $237! Ha ha!!"

Speaking of calls made against me, Brendan made one that I think.........may have ended our friendship for ever. Possibly not, but I really didn't appreciate it. We were having this ridiculous argument about what band played with Mumsdollar and Nevertheless that one time at the Dog Bollix. We were really just arguing for the sake of it, but he was losing. I was actually backing my points up with evidence while he was just saying "No Helen, you're wrong." But then, THEN, he pulled out what I'm sure he thinks is the greatest way to end an argument. He said......"Helen, know your place."

Know my place?

Am I your wife? And even if I was, Know my place? You don't seriously say that to someone! I was just a bit stung and of course, had no comeback whatsoever. Just sat there in shock. Know my place?

Anyway, it turned out that we were both right. It was Fourth Member and All Left Out. But the rest of the night was pretty awkward after that.

Luckily my hilarious dodgy dancing friend was there to entertain me. I love you hilarious dodgy dancing friend!

Parachute this weekend! Oh yeah!

() Smoked a cigar
() Made out with a member of the same sex
() Crashed a friend's car
() Stolen a car
(x) Skipped school
() Slept with a co-worker
() Slept with more than 15 people
(x) Been called a slut
() Had a one night stand
() Slept with someone whose name you didn't even know
() Seen someone die
(x) Shoplifted
() Snuck out of your parent's house - and snuck back in
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
() Been arrested
() Gone on a blind date
(x) Had a crush on a teacher
() Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
() Thrown up in a bar (in the bathroom)
() Purposely set a part of yourself on fire
(x) Eaten Sushi
() Been snowboarding
(x) Been moshing at a concert
(x) Taken painkillers
() Love someone or miss someone right now
(x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) Questioned your heart
() Been obsessed with post-it notes?
(x) Squished barefoot through the mud
(x) Been lost
(x) Been to the opposite side of the country
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
() Recently coloured with crayons/coloured pencils/markers
(X) Sung karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
() Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
() Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
() Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under a mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach
() Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller skating
(x) Had a wish come true
() Humped a monkey
() Worn pearls
(x) Jumped off a bridge
() Screamed penis in class
(x) Ate dog/cat food
() Told a complete stranger you loved them
() Kissed a mirror -
(x) Sang in the shower
() Have a little black dress
(x) Had a dream that you married someone
() Glued your hand to something
() Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole -
() Kissed a fish
(x) Worn the opposite sex's clothes
() Been a cheerleader
(X) Sat on a roof top
(x) Screamed at the top of your lungs
(X) Done a one-handed cartwheel
(X) Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
(x) Stayed up all night
() Didn't take a shower for a week
(X) Picked and ate an apple
(x) Climbed a tree
(x) Had a tree house
() Are scared to watch scary movies alone
() Believe in ghosts
() Have more then 30 pairs of shoes
(x) Worn a really ugly outfit to school just to see what others say
() Gone streaking
() Played ding-dong-ditch
(X) Pushed into a pool with all your clothes on
() Been told you're hot by a complete stranger
() Broken a bone
(x) Been easily amused
() Caught a fish then ate it!!
() Caught a butterfly
(x) Laughed so hard you cried
(x) Cried so hard you laughed
(x) Mooned/flashed someone
(x) Had someone moon/flash you
(x) Cheated on a test
() Have a Britney Spears CD
(x) Forgotten someone's name
() Slept naked
() French braided someone's hair
(x) Gone skinny dipping

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

A - Age of your first kiss: 16
B - Band you are listening to right now: Reel Big Fish
C - Crush: first time since I was 11! No one
D - Dad's name: Glynn
E - Easiest person to talk to: Mummy
F - Favorite ice cream: Hokey Pokey
G - Gummy worms or Gummy bears? bears
H - Hometown: Auckland
I - Instruments: Minimal - piano, sax, guitar...recorder?
J - Junior High: Waimauku Primary
K - Kids: nope
L - Longest car ride: I want to say Wellington?
M - Mom's name: Elaine
N – Nicknames: Carter, Lenny, Meredith, Smelly
O - One wish: Best friend I can talk to about everything
P - Phobia: crickets
Q - Quote: "Consider the zip."
R - Reasons to smile: Music, escapist reading material, clicking with another person
S - Scent: Tommy Girl
T - Time you woke up today: 9:00
U - Unknown fact about me: I don't like any of you
V - Vacation: Hong Kong baby
W - Worst luck with: work
X - X-rays you've had: Teeth, knee, arm
Y - Years since you've been to church: 0.02
Z - Zodiac sign: Pisces

I've made a huge mistake.

According to the SelectSmart.com Belief System Selector, my #1 belief match is Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants. </br> What do you believe?</b></a> Visit SelectSmart.com/RELIGION

Oh no, I think I may soon have a livejournal consisting of nothing other than crappy quizzes. Actually, so far, I do.

Your Birthdate: March 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

So this is totally rubbish obviously, but I'm far too lazy to write anything real today. And it does actually sound like me...