Celebrity of the Week: Whitney Houston

Not suddenly claiming to be a long-time fan of the late Whitney Houston but there is certainly no one more fitting then her to be chosen as the celebrity of the week. I've never really known much about her other than her legendary voice, tumultuous marriage and drug problems but I have know that her greatest song, "I Will Always Love You", written and originally sung by Dolly Parton, will forever be a timeless classic and uphold her legacy.

While her death is a terrible shame in terms of her as a person, and as a celebrity, but artistically I don't really think she had her original spark and talent that originally thrust her into the spotlight. Not that she was really "thrust", she had the talent and she was recognized for it. I know she was at the forefront of gaining racial equality for black women in music and she paved the way for numerous, similarly successful artists (like Janet Jackson I believe) and was probably an inspiration for Beyoncé (including Destiny's Child).

It's a shame her reputation will possibly forever be stained by her drug addiction, which undeniably ruined her private life and tarnished her career. I saw on an E! special that in concerts even in like 2004 (I think - could be / probably am wrong) she was getting booed off stage for not singing the songs that she's well known for because she no longer had the vocal range/talent to do so. Unfortunate that this is highly likely due to the drugs and complications as a result of them.

R.I.P. Whitney Houston. Along with leaving behind a legacy and numerous iconic songs, she also goes on as yet another unfortunate lesson into the reality of drug-taking.

For The Sake Of Writing

As I frequently start my blogs saying something like "I have nothing to write about, but I'll write anyway" I thought I'd just admit straight up - this blog is about nothing, and is a ramble, and you should reflect upon your life and consider why you don't go fill out an online survey online, earn like $5 and then donate your earnings to a worthwhile charity. Alternatively you're still reading this and are prepared to read an extensive collection of what I've been up to the past few days. Actually, it's unlikely to be extensive. I'm thirsty.

I worked Friday and Saturday for what could slightly possibly be the last time I work for the company I've been working for, part-time and casually, for the last three years. I do doubt it though - there's seems to be quite a likely chance I could score some work in a Wellington store of the same branch, which would be quite fortunate really - but it's quite funny how I've managed to stretch out a job I got when I was 16 to buy fake tan and The Body Shop body butters into a ridiculously fortunate way to make and save money to pay for my spoiled lifestyle. Not that I'm a rich kid, or get given any money (alright well I get given some) but at the end of the day I'd kind of, sort of like to think I'd be able to support myself, miserably, but all the same and manage on my own if I had to. Not that I'm offering.

I went out last night having finished my last day of work in Nelson and possibly for a wee-while in Wellington, if the job I'm hoping for doesn't pan out as I'd hope. Wound up spending like $130 yesterday just casually on breakfast, a pair of shorts and quite a lot of drinks. I think I blogged earlier about the mojito I was craving to have - well at long last I got one, well three in-fact, and they were ridiculously good and I also had a beer, and two ciders, and a tequila shot and then some vodka at home so... even though that sounds like a lot it wasn't really, well in terms of getting me drunk, but I was comfortable in a town mood (which is unusual in Nelson for me these days) and that was alright, well not really, but it was good to go and remind myself why I didn't enjoy it.

And yeah, so here I am on Sunday at 4pm in my pyjamas which I think is acceptable only because I've been pretty organised and active these holidays and am deserving of an ultimate lazy day. Off to go read the last book of the 'Tomorrow Series' now, which I've read 2 times before over the last like... IDK 10 years? They never get old, and it's been about 3 years since I last read them so am a bit foggy on what happens - so it's still a pretty good read. Not sure if I'd be able to read them again as can't imagine there'd be many more surprises that I'd forgotten about. (though I have only read 'The Ellie Chronicles', the sequel series, once so they could make for a good read in Wellington I'm thinking for those times when I feel like neglecting my studies which I am paying so much for)

The Last Grains of Sand

Was looking for a poetic title to describe how I had little time before I ventured back to Wellington to resume a worthwhile life, and that was a good as I came up with. Plus it allows me to include a cute throwback image to a certain worldwide-childhood obsession that if you do not recognise you are a phaylure at life 

My dad has arranged a bed for me in Wellington which was the biggest concern for me - but otherwise I think I'm going to cope, thank god. Just need a desk, chair and something to store my clothes or something in. All really cute things. Now all I really need to think about is packing and getting ready for my flight - which reminds me I need to print out my ticket. More adorable things could surely happen than me forgetting my ticket - but I guess airlines have your name anyway so life would go on.

I actually don't even have anything to write about - so not sure why I'm trying. I had to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday which probably isn't the most ideal series of shifts but as a struggling student frequently spending beyond my means - one can't complain. I use hyphen's inappropriately so often, no idea. I'm getting into a habit when I want to write a hyphen every time I should use a comma and I have no idea where I began doing this. 

I bought Lana Del Rey's album 'Born To Die' a few days ago and have been enjoying it considerably thoroughly - I usually prefer upbeat/dance music, but once in a while I listen to the more soulful sounds of long-time favourites Jade Valerie and her old Sweetbox music, along with the new Jamie Pineda sung Sweetbox whose album 'Diamond Veil' has been quite appropriate for a lovey-dovey Valentines Day. Speaking of - I have a Valentine (not so shockingly) BUT have no access to be with them. A sad life indeed I live.

Oh I know what's exciting!! I have Lady Gaga tickets to 'The Born This Way Ball'! How god damn exciting is that? Maybz you're not an eternal fan lingering onto every droplet of information released regarding the angelic woman, but I am and to be able to see her live having worshipped her for three years now... it's pretty unreal. Have the beginnings of a costume worked out already - a certain 2010 masquerade ball mask made by the lovely Michaela may rise from the ashes, but that could be subject to change. We shall see.  

Interactive Dog

How cool is this little interactive dog I found on aBowman, a website I found the fishies (on my right-hand sidebar) quite a while ago. I wish I could make these clever interactive Flash things.

The Ultimate Catch-Up Post

Since I'm officially a week behind on everything I'm going to combine two "Celebrity's of the Week" and two "Song of the Week"s into one post for last week and this week to officially get me up to speed. Song of the week first so you can play it and carry on reading because you're a devoted reader obsessed and lingering onto every word I write, naturally.

Song(s) of the Week:

Firstly Katy Perry's new single, the re-mastered version of the eternally-lingering-on-Youtube demo "Part Of Me". It's a pretty good, cute little song that Kittycats have been rooting for since it surfaced. It's not amazing, but it's recent and I love it. It's the lead single for Katy's re-release of her album 'Teenage Dream' which'll be named 'Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection' which'll probs only have 3 actual new songs so... F that. Don't get me started on the album artwork.

My Ke$ha obsession is no secret - there are days where I contemplate if I like her more than Lady Gaga, who everyone should know is my #1. How mainstream of me, I know. Anyway I love this unreleased/demo of Miss Sebert's and I think it's exemplifies everything Ke$ha is about but at the end of the day is kind of an uplifting song. If you wanted to get deep, you could talk about the song as a metaphor for making the most out of a bad situation through how she decides to down shots upon the eve of the earth's apocalypse.

Celebrity(/ies) of the Week:

Killing two birds with this stone - Rihanna and Katy Perry are my Celebrities of the Week(s) and this charming photo of the duo was taken at todays Grammy Awards which seriously shaded Gaga which I wasn't overly impressed with. Adele is however gracious and lovely and I'm glad she won and not either of the two I'm writing this post about. I mean, I really do like Rihanna and Katy but they're not as sincere or I find Gaga to be - but to their own, obviously. I love the connection between these two - both competing against each-other throughout the entirety of their careers but somehow they seem like the greatest of friends. Numerous times they've been snapped together and I remember when Katy performed in Wellington (where I saw and loved her) and Rihanna tweeted her something like "When will our ships pass?" and it made me feel like they were these friends that were being like torn apart by their competing careers - but alas here they are all smiles! I love 'em. And that concludes this mighty blog.

Song of the Week: Joseph Arthur - Honey & the Moon

So maybe I don't really have a clue who Joseph Arthur is but I have loved this song since first hearing it on 'The O.C.' and it was always a sweet, summery song and I just love it. From what little I know of Joseph I know he's a pretty talented musician and he does funky things like make all of his live concerts available for download instantly after finishing his performances as they are recorded live throughout, and he's painted/designed the cover for all of his single/album art so he's obviously pretty hands on.

Anyway not gonna lie - I was going to do a song by Ayumi Hamasaki, but after having trouble tracking down a video on Youtube to post alongside with my blog post I gave up. Her stupid label (Avex I think) is ridiculously annoying banning her music from Youtube, the bastards. Guess I could always use Vimeo, but not sure if it's easy to embed or not. Anyway - sit back, relax and enjoy this song.

Celebrity of the Week: Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey has obviously been the source of much controversy lately having recently released what may have been one of the more highly-anticipated debut albums in quite a while. What with her critically-butchered SNL performance of her songs 'Video Games' and 'Blue Jeans' and negatively reviewed album, somehow Lana's still become an extremely popular and successful artist and I've grown to be really fond of her music, and she's far from my usual style. While not that far, but her voice is far from the auto-tuned Ke$ha sex noises I usually listen to.

I have yet to buy her album but I have every intention of purchasing a physical copy, as I like what I've heard from her so far and as a debut artist I think she's definitely worthy of support and from what I've read on fan websites and Twitter fan reaction is pretty positive and the only complaint is that the songs sound fairly similar - which I guess is a good and bad thing but regardless, I'mma give her a go.

~this counts as last week's celebrity of the week since I forgot, ahhh~

~le tumbleweed~

My promises of active blogging didn't exactly ring true last week as we can all see - but living a life of doing the same thing for months on end never brings in much inspiration. The problem is when I will be doing something, aka. heading back to Wellington on the 22nd Feb, it'll be madness and the last thing I'll feel like doing is sitting and typing out some little never-to-be-read sermon about my repetitive life. I've been working lately and just generally being cute. Went to Marahau for a night last week as my parents spent a week there, which was pretty cute. Shame the weather was gloomy - but I powered through a novel, have picked up where I was reading in John Marsden's 'The Tomorrow Series' - my fave series ever, which has been nice. Funnily enough it was last summer that I was reading the previous book, but fortunately due to having read the series before it wasn't too tricky to remember what I'd forgotten. 

Currently listening to Lana Del Rey, my latest music obsession. I kept seeing her name and face on Tumblr (and rarely on Twitter) and kept thinking "Ugh another basic bitch, but with a cute retro look" but then I FINALLY decided to check out her music after The Prophet Blog (which I die for) reviewed her music positively, so figured giving her a listen was great. Am only an entry-level fan currently, her songs "Video Games", "Blue Jeans" and the album title song "Born to Die" are pretty flawless. Her voice is pretty alty, and different from the ultra perfected vocals so popular in pop music today and criticism towards her is usually revolved around this, but I don't care and I love her and her look and I intend to legally purchase her album as I'd love her to do well and release more music in the future.

New manager at work today was cute - an older woman but she was sweet and beat out the over-80 applicants who tried for the job, pretty crazy really, and even though it's a full-time job I'm pretty sure the job is on wages, not a salary so... it really can't be paying that much. Maybe like $16? Possibly even less? But it just painted a sad tale of the rough times - easy to forget that people are really struggling to find work. Though at the same time it's a pretty cute little store I've been working in lately, and a nice environment and not too much fuss so fair enough it was popular. But 80+ applicants! Sheesh. Count my lucky stars that I can afford university, to live away from home and to live in a (very overpriced, FFFFUUUU Wellington CBD prices) $170-a-week apartment. God it's gonna be tiny.

Dying to get back to Wellington but also a bit nervous because I need to job hunt and you know what the most shameful thing ever is? Well, one of them? JOB HUNTING. Waltzing into stores with your flimsy CV drifting over to some doe-eyed bimbo who miraculously landed a job at the very place you'd like to work asking "Can I speak to the manager?" and then having to wait awkwardly while some gum-chewing, intimidating senior staff member  saunters in your direction with a smug "Yes?" look on their face. It really is just a little bit too much. Unfortunately these are the lengths one most go to, and in the city of Wellington the competition's tough and I'd assume few jobs would already exist. Fortunately I do have three flawless years of service to three stores under one company and a manager who I hope would spare some charming thoughts about my work ethic so I might be in with a chance! So wish me luck - having some experience under my belt sure will help. Yay for 16-year-old-me sacrificing my Saturdays purely to have enough money to buy wax strips and fake tan (literally what I bought with my first pay check, $83 I think it was. I thought I was rich! Sure beat my $25 a fortnight from my parents).

Time to head back to the lounge and read my book, 'Milkweed' by Jerry Spinelli, which I'm reading since I don't have the next book in 'The Tomorrow Series' (which everyone needs to read, 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight' can suck it). Must say the book I dandily picked off the book shelf at the public library (which again reminded me of how lucky I was - middle of a week day and HOARDES of dopey teens lolling around on the computers and reading magazines, apparently jobs aren't a happening thing in this small town). ANYWAY - the book has wound up being a depressing story about a young gypsy orphan in Warsaw during the holocaust in WWII. So miserable! But so addictive. It'd be selfish of me to not fully understand the suffering of those who endured those times and to not learn a lesson from them. The thing I love about those raw tales is that, even for a short while, you snap out of your vain, self-obsessed life and can just take in the picture of what life is about. If I had a poetic bone in my body I'd write something touching right now, but sadly, unlike this rambling rant, it's something I can only think about - my writing skills have a long way to go before they're anywhere near resembling something that could be called "refined". What a long-winded way to say that. Time to peace out I'm thinking. Bye babez. x0x0

Song of the Week: Ke$ha - Crazy Beautiful Life

I know Ke$ha isn't for everyone and she does usually just get thrown in the "talentless pop trash" category, which is fair enough considering her hit singles aren't exactly acoustic or lyrical genius (eg. "TiK ToK" or "Blow") but she does have some considerably impressive writing credits to her name and while her voice is not the shining beacon of the 21st century voices, it is unique and can sound pretty good - though perhaps not "conventionally" good, but for her style. Which now sounds like I'm defending that she has a bad voice. Whatever, she does have a good voice and just go check out her Bob Dylan cover if you want proof. It's quite impressive I thought.

Anyway here I am late Sunday night (with work in the morning) remembering that I'd forgotten to blog all week and hadn't even stuck out one week in my blogging commitment. Well this week's 'Song of the Week' is Ke$ha's "Crazy Beautiful Life", what I would consider an uplifting, positive song about making the most out of your life and to be grateful for what you have. I like the lyrics "Every single night we fight, to get a little high on life. To get a little something right, something real, at least we try." Call me scraping at the bottom of the barrel for a positive lyric - as she does a bit of bragging in the song about her own success, but I guess the moral of that is that you can go from (practically) nothing and come out with something, but be happy either way.

It's what I've been doing lately, and considerably successfully too I must say. I've tried to stop fretting so much about appearance, money, jobs and university etc. Getting this year up and running what with uni, Studylink, renting and flatmates has been a bit tricky but this summer's work situation has wound out rather nicely - turns out being a long-term employee pays out when managers can rely on you to work in other stores and I've been enjoying work at a different store in the company lately, it's been great. So here's to being thankful and enjoying what I have, not everything I want (but don't need!).

Celebrity of the Week: Heidi Klum

Through sad news this week Heidi has been bought to the centre of attention having announced, and confirmed, her split with singer Seal after 7 years of marriage 4 kids. (those numbers are from memory - correct me if I'm wrong!) They, like Katy and Russel, seemed like a sweet, cute kooky couple that would defy the odds and stick it out - but I guess the average Joe can't really comprehend the pressures of maintaining their individual businesses, brands, jobs and of course their bloody kids - they must be ridiculously frantic, and all while looking flawless - I can't manage a single one of those things listed above.

Heidi's obviously completely flawless, hence why she's a Victoria's Secret model and recognised worldwide as a verified supermodel, I mean look at her. I always thought 'Project Runway' was one of the better, more inventive reality shows that showed more than just trashy talentless people and instead gave those with an utter passion and true talent in their field a shot at making it big. Not that Heidi brainstormed and came up with the whole show, but she was a great host for it and was good at being a cold bitch eliminating people. Loved it.