Moonrise

So last week, I ended up having a bit too much fun (and doing a bit too much work) to post here at all. My sincerest apologies, and from now on, posting will be as 'normal' as I can undertake. Trust me. Until then, a trailer for a movie that I can't wait to see, in honour of the gigantic orb hanging over the city this week.*

Also, some things to look forward to:

..a monochrome post..

..some recipes..

..a little home inspiration..

..some ideas if you're going to be in Brisbane..

..and, of course, lists aplenty.

...

 *This week I started a quest to run 500kms

by 2013. So far, I've run 9km, and tonight

the moon was especially spectacular as we

trotted across the Story Bridge. 

Organ Of Fire

After an epic 12-hour sleep, it seemed rather worthwhile to stay inside today, rather than deal with a bleak-looking sky. Returning to The English Patient, after some time apart, was the most productive thing I undertook. Although it's another one of those movies that offers something unexpected each time you watch it, it's an achievement in many significant ways. It had been so long since I'd seen it that I couldn't remember much of the final scenes, which is strange considering it's an ending that I both hate and adore*. Finding new things to love in something you thought you knew everything about is so satisfying. What's more, with the forgetfulness I've had recently, it was like being whisked away for the first time again. With it's overall tragic appeal deadly for anyone who is sadomasochistic enough to enjoy weeping in a movie**, I was further struck by the more subtle quirks that contribute to the protagonists' authenticity. Particularly the part where the lovers are speaking and he says, "What do you love?" and before she can give a specific answer he says, "Say everything." It's a question I can't resist.

Today I also love.. 

The quote above (screenshot from The English Patient):

" 'Dec. 22nd [1938] — Betrayals during war are childlike compared with our betrayals during peace. New lovers are nervous and tender, but smash everything. For the heart is an organ of fire.' For the heart is an organ of fire— I love that. I believe that." [Reading Almásy's note on the Christmas firecracker]

A breakfast bagel with a sweet half and a savoury half: peanut butter + coconut oil + honey and avocado + vegemite 

Clean sheets and a hot Milo made with chocolate soy milk

A free day and no alarms

Good morning, pre-work kisses

Celestial prints and inspiration from outer space

Jumping around inside on the first cold night, trying to stay warm

Lipstick marks on any sort of cup

That bagpipe busker in the CBD on a Friday

All the people who keep sending me pictures of puggles in the last few weeks

...

Quotes via

Screenshot by me
* I'm not very good with a 'suggestive' finish
**I had a good movie trailer cry session on Sunday evening -- no judgement 

Sixties

It's been an uneventful couple of weeks. In between a lot of cooking, and not a lot of creating, I've been relishing the moments that truly make me happy and bring direction. This Fuck Yeah 60's Fashion tumblr was such a incomparable discovery earlier this week. After many hours spent on there, if it's the closest that I ever get to a time machine then I will be somewhat sated in that department. Without question or competition, the 1960s has been my favourite decade for as long as I can remember. Fostering a sense of the period with adjectives such as swinging, psychedelic and groovy, doesn't remotely get close to the multitude of characteristics, moments, and moods that encapsulated such a short time span. It's impossible to be so succinct. What's more, it's hard to believe that ten years could result in significant and swift change in every dimension of the world. It seems that every time I return to research everything '60s the surface has barely been scratched. This infinite density, is more than an enduring resource of inspiration (and favouritism) for me. The lack of boundaries somehow cause it to eclipse my daily obsessions of music and fashion, and it has simply become part of how I think about myself, and who I am. Every facet explored reveals yet another nugget of information that inevitably becomes another goldmine treasure trove in itself.  While it is reliable for anything sartorial and visual, it is the more obtuse categories that continue to revitalise and reinvigorate my imagination. When I apply this to my everyday life, it's obvious how my love has grown even more intensely in the last couple of years. From the pastels dominating our bathroom, to the winged cat eye I'm constantly striving to perfect, to the amount of Bob Dylan we've been playing, and then to the long discussions about creativity since the radical way that politics and society escalated in this time, I know this love affair isn't going to fade. I could go on, but until next time, these are just some of the images that I've been cataloguing in my digital scrapbook of jpg files. At the moment, I'm particularly enamoured with films made in the '60s, and contemporary cinematic and television incarnations.*  


Ps, That tumblr definitely accommodates the nostalgic appetite -- for a little while at least.
*Oh, Mad Men. Only two episodes left.

 ...

Images via

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
3 is an original screenshot via

You Are Home

"Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together". As a lyric for both music and life, I feel like Simon and Garfunkel couldn't have captured the potency of youth, love, or adventure in a more passionate or emphatic way. Cameron Crowe's use of it in Almost Famous embedded the song in my own history, and ever since it's appeared time and again, reinventing the meaning into adulthood. Starting with the movie, its ideas and artistry wove through my teenage years and it remains a foundational reminder of the things I truly love (though not exclusively) today. Music is both a theme and character of the movie, interacting with the protagonist, charging his actions, and characterising relationships. Off-screen, the soundtrack has a similar effect, to the extent that I know the words to each track and have memories that are attached to those years. Each time I watch it, single notes of music seemingly add to the dialogue, even where there is none and these interactions are of powerful significance. On a personal level the film seems to tell my parents' story too. The early seventies is when they met, with my mother hitchhiking with a friend in the Irish country, only to be picked up by two young Australians in their tiny rental car. Their romance took them to Glasgow, where they lived together, and Mum describes their weekends visiting different parts of Scotland, with Simon and Garfunkel one of their albums of choice. Every time I hear 'America', I imagine them driving, my mum sitting with her toes against the dashboard and the window down. Decades on, in our era of air-conditioning, 'America' carries on the journey of young lovers again. When I think of how I met my man in a similarly random series of events to my parents, the song is still a core reference. Even as things have been creatively lacklustre the music and the movie have returned again. Simon had never heard the soundtrack so last month we began listening to it each night. Now there's another layer of memories furnishing the home we make within ourselves, decorated with music, and with us for life. And here, in our physical home.

...

Images

1 and 2
and post title via Almost Famous 

On The Road

At last we're getting closer to the release date. There are so many wonderful stories making it to the big screen this year, it's so inspiring and wonderful. While I was excited about the cast from word go of the project, this snippet solidifies that anticipation. The added bonus will be the American landscape and the 1950s setting. The way it charts the motions that were part of the 1960s revolutions have captured me for so long. How I love going to the movies for pictures like this! 

Extra-Curricular

For the first time in a long time, I have an utterly free Friday night. It's also our 'number' day today, plus my birthday tomorrow, so today is a good day. We've been trying to figure out what to do with ourselves to celebrate, and I've managed to narrow it down to two options.

Option One, Midnight In Paris at the Moonlight Cinema.

It's been raining all day, so I don't think this is going to happen. But, I have a post devoted to it coming soon, so that's ok to postpone. I could talk about that gem of a film all day.

Option Two, Sam Amidon at Matisse Up Late at GOMA.

I saw Sam when he supported Beth Orton at the Old Museum a couple of weeks ago. Not only is he a gifted musician and storyteller, but his banter between songs was witty and I relished each moment of his set. If you have the time, the video above is of the song I loved most from his set. As it's virtually the same, I can assure you that we also had the pleasure of the sing-along at the show I saw. I've had the lyrics running through my head ever since so I definitely wouldn't mind seeing him again. I've also found that back to back gigs before a festival can be a good way to warm up before a full day of music. Laneway! Tomorrow!

Plus, I'm dying to see the Matisse exhibition at GOMA. I could insert another Midnight In Paris quote here, but I'll hold back..

What are you doing tonight? Indulging in yummy food? I'm also considering making and/or going out for a curry or pie. Or a curry pie. Any of those options would be rad.

Have an incredible weekend!

...

Plus, post title inspired by the greatest weekend

song ever, The Darkness' Friday Night 

1, 2, 3, 4

Two of my absolute favourite artists, shot by the gifted Mary Rozzi. I was so thrilled the other night when I found this intimate series on Miss Moss (love her rad space too). I have visited them repeatedly before finally sharing them here*.

I've mentioned my adoration of the lovely Feist before (here and here), so it was such bliss to see her with my beloved Cillian. He's starred in a couple of my favourite movies, one of which you can indulge in with the video here. Not only that, he's from my Mum's home county, and that makes him all the more amazing in my opinion.

...

*In honour of this Saturday (Laneway and Birthday!),

I thought I might start stealth posting about such magical

acts that I am far too excited about seeing. Expect to see

some posts that aren't too subtle, but enjoyable all the same! 

Cough, Feist!!.

You.

You can never replace anyone 
because everyone 

is made of such 
beautiful, specific details.

...

Just watching Before Sunset

Such perfection.

Image via

Like Crazy

We saw this spectacular film last night. It was as incredible as I thought it would be, but even better than my imagination.

Moments of heartbreak, humour, and life told in a true, achingly beautiful way. 

It was such a pleasure to be bathed in the blue glow of Like Crazy, and just escape for a couple of hours. Now, I just want to watch it again and again.

Please go forth and enjoy it with someone you love.

What To Rent

Tonight we decided that even though we kind of wanted to go out, we'd prefer to stay in and watch a movie (with delicious food!). We were both being moody and picky about the flick, then I remembered What To Rent - the site that will help you decide on a movie based on your cinematic tastes.

There's a weird part of me that quite enjoys filling out questionnaires, so it seemed the perfect way to decide on a movie. The only problem was that in between eating a wondrous amount of Blue Castello and finding a favourable one, it took so long that Simon face-planted asleep on the couch before we could "acquire" our compromise, Pi:

I've since spent the night playing with the suggestion feed, and this thing is scarily accurate and hilarious. Based on the mix of arthouse and Kubrick films that "I might like", if you don't mind gore, you're therefore a Full Metal Jacket or Clockwork Orange kind of girl. Hahaha!

So how do you usually pick a movie? Do you use Youtube or IMDB?
Ooh, and have you seen Pi? I think we're going to watch it tomorrow..