My Current Mood in a Picture

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Thursday, February 28, 2008

On Posting Diary Entries

You may have noticed the blog posts of late have been actually interesting to read. Or maybe not.

But my life is actually getting interesting. You may have read the last post. You may not have. Aside from women clamouring for my assistance, a lot of other weird stuff has happened too.

First of all, my brother finally admits that he doesn't like the "pub crawlers" as he calls them, trying to drag him off to the pub all the time. This can only mean one thing: he's growing up and realising that campus life gives as little privacy as living at home with me and my parents. He even went so far as saying he might miss me.

My garden is greener than it's ever been from the heavy rain. It actually looks like it's worth visiting and having a pot of tea among the shrubbery for a relax.

My homework is actually starting to sort itself out. Because I'm actually doing it by myself. Who knew? Sometimes the creative art of novel redrafting must take a backseat to study. And I have to say the studying's a lot easier with a soundproofed room in Study Hall where I can have a tutor for study assistance such as note organisation and study structure.

That is all for now.

- Jacob Martin
AKA Jake of All Trades

I'm just a Gift to the Women of this world...

But not in the same way Lou Reed thinks he is.

Something very odd is happening to me. Women of all ages are happy to listen to my advice, which never used to happen. I feel a disturbance in the natural order, but the best one that's ever happened to me.

These said women aren't necessarily romantically interested in me. But it's not like they're ignoring me either. Suddenly, they think my gift ideas for their musician boyfriends and tips to find the best musical gifts is sound advice, they actually want to talk to me instead of ignore me, and middle aged to elderly women think I'm a charming young man who's more than happy to inform them about which bus to catch in order to get to Ryde Shops.

I think it started when I rebuked a young man who was making sexist remarks to some girls I knew, with the cutting insult "a chauvinist pig like you deserves to be gutted and displayed in a butcher's window". It was quite effective in keeping the chap quiet. And now girls have realised that the reason why I'm not hitting on them is not because I'm shy but because I actually respect them, no matter how blonde their hair is.

It started to really get weird when I was admiring a young Indian/Persian student's fine female form, not ogling, when she didn't slap me for it, but gave me a knowing look of acknowledgment, and smiled gently at me. There was something about her that struck my heart with a flutter. It was her attitude. Without saying a word, she let me know that she was beautiful, was comfortable with her body, and didn't at all mind admiration of it in a civilised manner. Then I realised that what I admired in a woman was not so much a person to comfort me all the time when I'm sad, but to share in the joy of an independent confidence.

This is all very confusing. I go from no female attention to having a horde of them listening to my words of wisdom. We'll have to see if it continues.

- Jacob Martin
AKA Jake of All Trades

Monday, February 25, 2008

Did you miss me?

I'm back, and I know I've been neglecting you loyal readers who have bothered to continue reading this blog.

Allow me to explain why my blog has felt so neglected and forgot: that old chestnut of school study has failed to be cracked as well as I had hoped, though it has been penetrated slightly. Now the chestnut has a hole in it, but not enough to remove the goods inside, unless I crack it more.

My brother has gone to University at Griffith University in Queensland. Allegedly there is a "Toga Party" tomorrow night for the new students: my knowledge of Toga Parties mainly comes from coming of age college comedies puts me in wonder whether I should be delighted or concerned for him.

What I understand a Toga Party is, is a party where young men dress in togas and drink and debauch like the Roman Emperors of old. I think my brother will be encountering a milder version of that, keep in mind the event is endorsed by the facility of the University.

Also, it appears I have finally understood my father after all these years, and he seems to be understanding me. A man who is decidedly patriarchal would not normally allow his son to get tickets to see Germaine Greer speak in a conference. Only a true father would make a sacrifice like that.

I didn't get into ArtExpress 2007 (now showing at the Art Gallery of NSW) with my Visual Arts Body of Work, but it seems that the artworks that did get in aren't half bad. Though the other half is dreadful. Very strong on Video Art this year, but the "HSC Angst Art" category, as always, never fails to disappoint in its delivery of disappointment.

For those who don't know, ArtExpress is an exhibition of student art from the HSC that got into the top band of marks and fit the criteria of the curator's "theme" for that year. This year it appears to be Technology. Go see it while you still can, if you're in Sydney at all this coming month.

Someone on LibraryThing.com pointed out this fabulous website of old paperback cover art. Here is the link:

http://www.bookscans.com/Database.htm

This is one of my favorite images from the site:

Photobucket

That's right. Love In Dishevelment, the "Short, Neat Chronicle of an Untidy Romance". Somehow this reminded me of my brother's now empty, messy bedroom, and it made me smile. It's like I'm finding bits of my brother to fill his absence.

- Jacob Martin
AKA "Jake of All Trades"