Traternity

Is that a word?

I bought "The Diary of Anne Frank" on DVD, the BBC version yesterday. Depressing, yes. Interesting, yes. For some reason that era simply fascinates me. Because it isnt too long ago and it was people in unimaginable situations where, based on who they were as a human, their life was threatened. Then I went, hm hang on, that happens in many countries in the world today, the news just doesn't talk about it. OK too deep for the first paragraph.

I was walking through Woolworths the other day (its a grocery store) and I noticed they were playing Susan Boyle over the music system. Though it started getting odd when they were playing the entire album, as I was there for about twenty minutes. I strolled back to the car and could still hear it. This is when I discovered, its my iPhone playing on loudspeaker. Serves me right for having Susan Boyle on my iPhone. Can I say the word iPhone again?

Yesterday I moved in. And geesh, its pretty cool. To have some of your best friends in the same house but also with enough breathing space to have time to yourself. Lets see how it goes, but it will change things instantly for me. Two amusing things so far. I broke the showerhead off the shower last night, so water rushed out of the hose and all over the place, for some reason this made me have a fit of laughs for ages. It was fantastic, I think because it was just simply rediculous and it was my first shower in a new place and there is so much pressure for it to be a good shower, otherwise you have to deal with a crap shower for an entire year at least. Oh the complaints and vents of privileged society... THEN went downstairs and my flatmate Chem was getting milk out of the fridge and went to pour the milk, and no, no milk came out, it was frozen. Gotta love a donated fridge!

New photos will be along soon.

Friends and New Places

So on Friday we were offered BOTH properties we had applied for. And surrounding me I know people struggling to find a place. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. We accepted the second one we looked at. It is in a better location and has more vintage shops and weirdos to look at and hopefully have socially odd interactions with at inconvenient times. We also have a small and broken down park nearby where deep and meaningful conversation can occur when we get back drunk from a night out. We, being Chem, Karina and myself. We have joked around for ages that we would live together one day, and now we are. So the stories begin. Our lives combine make for interesting social commentary, well for us anyways. So lookout. I may have to get permission though hey.. It wont be "Dawson's Creek" but "Lloyd's Billabong". Not "Friends" but "Mates".

So the move will involve obtaining house hold items we do not own. IE. all 21st century appliances other than a TV. But hey post out a cry out on facebook and you shall receive yeah? Who has a fridge, microwave, washing machine, air conditioner, micromachine-max race track?

Birthday is less than a month to go... 26. Simply going to go down the coast with my siblings and visit Mum and go to my cousin's 21st. It will be an amusing weekend for sure. It will involve a visit to the inlet and also a bubblo-bill.

OK time for me to get off this and go do something with my life. Til tomorrow.

Think you are gonna die

I spent two nights ago, thinking, surely I am gonna die.

Nope, I didnt, and it was just a 24 hour stomach bug, but hey, I still thought, what people should I call to say goodbye to? Delirious state I say. But it is the worst.. and you even admit you want your mum and somehow that would be ok.

Clocks turned back, so its now dark at work for an hour, and that is dull. Makes you feel you work back late every night and you have a sad life. Or really the clocks just went back and everyone else in the building works back late too and you arent really that special.

Waiting to hear back from a few properties, Luke, Karina and myself have applied for. We are all going to move in together. It is between two terrace houses, both pretty cool in their own way. Have been offered one but we like the other better and yet to hear, find out tomorrow! Looking forward to making more of a home. Love my place now but I spend most of the time by myself and in my room. Anyone else relate? Yeah I know, totally.

Aladdin has to be one of the best all time Disney films, it had culture, class, good songs and a genie. What else do you need. And then you were a smart ass kid that would say, genie I wish for never-ending wishes. That was totally not breaking the rules either. Dumb genie.

Today at work, I answered a lot of emails. One involved a guy asking us to totally fund his new idea as well as mentor him in how to achieve success. He also mentioned he almost died on the weekend. Im not going to comment.

We dared a friend of ours from work, to come to one of Sydney's most expensive and classy restaurants with us, in her pyjamas. There is too much swank in a city where we do not need to be swanky. The best thing is, management didnt care and she walked in and greeted us at the table in her qantas pyjamas. She was slightly embarrassed though cause she forgot to wear a bra. But life is short, why not?

Milk Bottles

I always get informed it's almost my birthday or Christmas when you check the use by date of the milk. Oh it expires on my birthday, should really organise my own birthday party again. Oh it expires on Christmas eve, I should really purchase something for someone or make a cake.

Off to 'The Morning Show' this morning, yeah pun intended, though is it a pun or a stating of the obvious? We have been on it before and it is simply so housewives have eye candy for a few minutes in their living rooms across Australia. Five models, ten pairs of underwear to work out what goes where and a green room.

The funny thing is at Polly's having that dance with one of the choreographer's of So You Think You Can Dance, turns out one of his best friends is host of The Morning Show. Life is small and big at the same time.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Allen St,Leichhardt,Australia

Not old enough..

I woke Tuesday to a sore back... once again. Yep its a whinge moment, but come on, I am 25 and now have bad back problems which involve trips, and successful trips to the Chiro. But at least I havent had an issue for about 6 months! I also have my twisted ankle that wont heal. So great combo for when I am enthusiastic about continually getting fit! Stubborn me continues to go, hey gym will be fine, these ailments wont hinder me. Yeah they do when I realise I stand in the gym for 20 minutes flicking through songs on random play on my MP3 Player, no, no, no, no, ye... no, no. Notice how I said MP3 player, so I can remain mysterious as to what cultural branded device I do or do not cave to.

This blog is 1 in 200 000 000 blogs out there. Just read that. 200 million people managing what they say and do in their life. What does that say about people in general. A general fear we wont be remembered when we die, or a general feeling of what we do is important enough to document?

I ended up going to the Chiro (yes I saved this blog and continued on post chiropractor, did not travel in time). Loved the fact I was lying on my stomach and the assistant was massaging my back with this large crazy vibrator thing when the doorbell rang, she went to answer it and some woman came in demanding to know what the name of the plants were in the window. She had no idea, so woman left pissed off.

My car key no longer automatically opens the doors. I thought it was that the battery had died. It wasnt. I replaced the battery. Well at least its novel and I feel like I am back in 1990 when it was cool to open your car door with a key.

Wanna wake up early at dawn so I can speak to the sky.

Went to Polly's last night. Was amazing. Simply a beautiful atmosphere with friendly people everywhere just having fun. And I was with such good people I am so happy to have in my life. I ended up having a dance off, didnt realise they were an actual dancing champion, but when you are slightly drunk, your dancing rocks and I totally beat him.

Embarrassing Situations..

So I had someone call be just before saying "Ah so we have never discussed the time you walked into the bathroom when I was going to the toilet".

"No we havent discussed this, do you wish to?"

"Yeah, was wondering if things had become awkward since then"

"Nah.. had forgotten about it until now"

"Well, was telling people here of awkward situations and I said I had one, and then realised I hadnt spoken to you about it"

"Ah ok, well now we have. Not awkward. I also now know that some people DO read magazines on the toilet"

"Yep, whole articles"


Lady GaGa was pretty cool, seeing her again live. Newcastle is another story. Never walk through the backstreets of Newcastle (Newcastle in Australia, well probably even Newcastle UK as well) as it is just dodgey. Its like you have stepped into a time machine and you are back in 1990. Weatherboard houses, distant smell of bbq from a few hours ago, old Holdens, overgrown grass and rundown wooden fences. I hid my iPod in case it caused a rift in time.

This weekend, is Polly's again. The style of event where its like, as my friend says, a church dance ran by gay uncles. A whole group of friends are coming this time and my mum is going with her friends too. Always a good night.

I saw Imogen Heap last night, I was a bit of a concert man this weekend. She was simply amazing. Her personality came through in her music and I dont think I have seen anyone more funny than her, I want to be her friend. She records things from bells to the birds in her park and burning wood and then mixes it into the song. She even used the crowd for a few songs. And the song "Hide and Seek" she is so famous for, was simply tops. To see and hear that song live, when for me it has such a personal story to it and back in the day, made my weekend.

Newie

So am heading to Newcastle soon. Got a Lady GaGa concert. I dont really know the guy I am going with, but he doesnt have anyone to go with anymore because of unfortunate circumstances, and I am always up for random situations and experiences, so why not go on a road trip to Newcastle and see the odd people adoring Lady GaGa. My car, me, an iPod and this fella called Jeremy.

I spoke to Hadleigh on the weekend. The last thing I did in Melbourne. Asked him what on earth happened back in the day. Hadleigh was the opera singer who.. is really the only person I ever gave my whole heart to. Moved from London to Auckland to see him for the first time, and the innocent and naive love I had for him drove that move. He had such a all consuming career and that drove him. So back in the day (four years ago) the whole thing fell flat on its face, simply because there was no room for that hope. Seeing him in Melbourne, it was like seeing him four years ago, didnt realise how stupid it would feel to feel like no time had passed and how I felt would still be there. For him, he cares about me like noone else but, also for him, he doesnt feel that way about me anymore and cant explain why. I dont expect him to be able to explain but hey.

Knowing all that now, really helps. I can now move forward with the knowledge I hadnt accepted before that.. I hadnt really let anyone else in since then cause of that fear and also slight hope something would happen with him again. When Neal came along, he was slightly ripped off cause I coudnt give 100% cause of the past. I know this is quite familiar to most and can relate, but now I know and can happily continue on now. Advice: never fall for someone who is in love with music. You will always be second.

Went to a Men's Health Magazine function on Tuesday night. aussieBum sponsored the Men's Health Challenge which resulted in 6 guys competing to be the April 2010 cover man. Not much competition at all... There were plenty of women who thought they must have been part of the competition, falling over in their heels and sipping chardy way too much but hey, why not? Supposed hot men were going to be there. They all had their gf's clinging to them. And the view was amazing, sunset over the harbour. Mariana came with me and she made me drink wine, to the point we had to get a cab home, and also have a fight with complimentary hair gel we received in the gift bags. I won, Brazil lost.

Would it be best if we all had egg timers for our heart? Ohhhh deep.

The Yarra

The Yarra River is literally two metres next to me and I can hear the whip cracking of a cliché street entertainer above me on the bridge. I am at a café on a bridge pilon and its quite cool. Melbourne. What is worse, the street entertainer or the people who actually stop to watch them?

I flew to Melbourne for the weekend spontaneously by myself, just to get away and feel more interesting. That’s what you do no? This city is full of nooks and crannies and a lot of things to do. It is quite beautiful and totally different to Sydney, and there is no point comparing the two.

Jumped in a cab last night and the guy said “hello, do you mind if I turn this song up really loud, I LOVE it” And then cranked this song that was in hindi and sounded so so bollywood. I had just left a really upsetting situation and instantly I was trying not to laugh at how bizarre the situation was. He then kept looking into the mirror saying he had something in his eye, while tapping the steeting wheel and humming the words. After about two mins, he turned the music down and then asked me if I minded that he pull over at a petrol station to wash his eye. “Um sure”. While I stared straight ahead and wondered if this got any weirder. He pulled over and stopped the taxi metre and then got out, sat on the car bonnet and had a bottle of water and poured it over his head and into his eye. He got back into the cab and smiled, totally wet, “Its gone!” The rest of the trip he changed the station to an English one and he chatted about aussieBum and wondered what it meant. I explaned it was underwear, and he said, “Ahh Aussie BUMS!, HA HA HA”. A minute later I exited the cab and gave him a tip. Weird, but he entertained me and cheered me up.

Why was I upset? Well long story short, a piece of the past came back to haunt me for the night and didn’t expect it to. Sometimes do you wonder if you are back at square one, and its kind of refreshing to accept it but also depressing at the same time? Cause it makes so much sense why you feel or act the way you do and you realise you aren’t insane but actually coherent. When I am not in control of a situation, naturally its hard.

I have done 3 radio interviews about Banana underwear now. And another tomorrow morning. My favourite one has been the Toronto radio station, who loved the way I said “Banana”. Very fun and easy to chat to. But weird that I am doing it, as I am a kid who had always struggled to express what was in my head.

I have discovered I cant handle sitting next to mirrors in a restaurant. Cause there is this self conscious want to keep seeing whats to your left or right but hey, its just you. Oh and its you again, oh and yes, its still you.

Quoted

Google "Lloyd Jones banana" and you will discover I have now been quoted in random online news articles all around the world this weekend. Little did I know that a phone call at work from a small known company called "Reuters" would quote me when they called and include it in a release. Also the fact that its all about a new underwear range that we released called "Banana" cause it is made from the banana plant. The concept of being quoted and your words placed in news articles has really thrown me. It freaked me out and made me panic, whether what I said was right or.. the simple fact my name is out there and mentioned in a public way. Though then having a blog, doesnt freak me out? Hmm odd.

Last night... MG party. In once sentence, the lead up to the party and the bars Mariana and I went to beforehand, was more fun than the party itself. I dressed looking slightly police looking with a fake bullet proof vest and shorts, and Mariana in a corset and black short skirt. Suitable. Had drinks at a bar and laughed a lot and shared a lot, which I think was the highlight of the night. We then made our way to another bar which is totally non pretentious and danced for an hour or so. We made friends with a Columbian guy, and Mariana is Brazilian and since thats pretty much the same thing, (right?) they got along well. But lost him 4 mins later. Finally got to the party and as usual, was packed, struggled to find friends and just got draining... Saw George Michael perform for about twenty seconds and then he left. Dropped my wallet and lost it, but amazingly got texted a little while later that someone had found it and handed it into security.. so after chasing security guards around for 30 mins and Mariana ripping her dress we found my wallet and it had all the money still in it. That doesnt happen these days, was very chuffed.

About 2am we went home, it just was that time. Had a ball but just not as planned.

Had lunch with my brother and sister in law today and niece. It really is the small things in life that are the best. Watching my niece trying to feed herself yoghurt with three spoons at once and having it all over her face, just made me smile so much. Human development and where we started... just fascinate me. That to her, she was totally cool... yoghurt is MEANT to be all over your face when consuming it, and it can be removed by spoons or your fingers, or possibly the TV remote control.