goodbye you crazy week.

I have waited 3/4 of my life to see The Shins. It happened, tonight, at Terminal 5 at roughly 9pm. They didn't disappoint. The perfect mix of old/new; pop/acoustic; story-telling;jamming. Berloody great. This reaffirms my long-standing desire to know James Mercer and one day, one day, this shizzle'll be true. For the moment though, I immensely appreciate his lyrics, like ever. And, capping off a big, fat, 'arena spectacular on ice' week like no other.

I'm back in Stony Brook after spending a week in Australia. My grandfather died and I decided to head over for the whirlwind that was. The key things that stood out about home:

- the AIR! crisp, full of eucalypt and autumn rain and sunshine and grass. It fills you right up.
- Cows. Weird, but I haven't seen animals bigger than squirrels for like 4 months now. Just so crazy to see these huge creatures everywhere
- Stars. Boy, we do good stars in the country.
- the view. Woke up to a window-full of gently sloping dewy paddock, with blue gum trees dotted around. The sun was shining through the autumn burn-off smoke, sending 'God's fingers' (or 'aaaahhhs' as we call them in the family- like a perfect chord shining on the promised land-) across the farm.
- space. So few people. Mostly family.
- coffee. I have missed thee. 

Food was abundant, as always. Baths, many pots of tea, sleeping. I spent a lot of time raking through old photo albums compining a photo montage of grandpa's life. Struggled with a dust allergy, aggravated by the sorting of my clothes which i hastily shoved into bags back in December. Chats, wine, wine, wine. Back to the wicked McGowan sense of humour, bluntness, and love of a good story (and anti-communist child singalong).
After 30 hours of transit (Albury>Sydney (running through Sydney airport, seeing my 'final call' announcement for my flight, after my Albury leg was delayed due to ''''''''fog''''''''') > LA > JFK > Jamaica to catch the LIRR > Stony Brook. Long bloody time. I slept almost the whole trip, and then slept another 12 hours last night.

And now begins the final week of class. I have 11 pieces of assessment due before the week is over. Yoiks. Lots of library time, coffee and yoga. As you can tell from my writing I am still scattered, and in need of bed. Until later, mis amigos. xo

OOF

Oof it's 2.45pm already. Sunday afternoon, after sleeping in till 12.30pm. Last night walking to Penn station it was so balmy. I was in a new summer dress, no cardigan needed. Today it's overcast, but doors and windows are open, letting the warm air wander inside this cold old house. I put some pasta on the stove and heard my neighbours playing some BADASS rock and roll in their garage. I'm not sure which house, I'm not sure which neighbours, but this music just summed up this carefree spirit which is hitting this area big time right now. Not very good, considering exams are around the corner. You know that first touch of spring and everyone just goes crazy.

This week I have four assessments due. I'm home all day though, so I think maybe Judith and I will go for a drive when she wakes up. Down to the beach maybe. Plans have been starting to shape up for the summer, probably going to Belize, Honduras, Guatemala at this stage. I might buy a Spanish workbook to practice, before I go. I was speaking with an Argentine last night and I realise that I'm still so far away from where I want to be. It's doable though.

Lots of love to everyone, hope it's not too cold! xo

come and meet me in the middle of the air

Not doing yoga has funny effects on me. I've been feeling sensitive for a few days now. It might be due to the cold, the impending break, having lots of work to do. Things are moving quickly and I've been feeling a bit stuck. Spring break will a be a welcome relief.

This afternoon I'm heading into the City, seeing First Aid Kit tonight...I want to wander around in the sun and meditate and eat salad. Just get rid of this euuuugh.

I've put some traxx up. Geddonit.

soundcloud.com/gavinsaysyes

only five hours to iceland

Sunday afternoon!

I'm sitting out on the front porch, covered in brilliant spring sun. I have my pasty pins out for the first time. Behind me I can hear the rumble of 25A, one of Long Island's main arterial routes, cranked with traffic. People dropping their kids off to sports, going shopping, driving to the beach, to church, to visit family. I'm nestled at the end of our road, surrounded by trees, isolated but close. I haven't seen anyone today.

Although it hasn't even been a winter- I arrived here mid-Jan, and I've only seen snow fall hard enough to cover the ground once- I feel like it's time for the Spring. Colours are appearing, people are appearing. The place is waking up and the geese are no longer alone. In a month's time I'll nearly be done with school (what the heck), and then will be free for 2 months.

Yesterday was St Patricks Day, I went to the city with some kids. All of Fifth Ave was blocked as we saw High School Marching Band after High School Marching Band, riddled inbetween with some old people wearing chunky woollen sweaters and holding the banner 'England Out of Ireland'. The city was full of tipsy people, there was soft warm light, lots of crowds but no one on edge. I hit a wall at about 11pm after being there all day, and left my friends on the Upper East Side to catch the LIRR home. I'll upload some photos of the day that was.

It's funny being here on the porch, I need a shotgun, a cat, a banjo and a rocking chair and I'd be set for the perfect Americana situation. And I'd need to be a grandma. We're so tucked away that it feels almost intrusive when someone makes their way on down here. We're having a party next Friday which'll be ballsin. Clear night, bonfire, music, good people, good food is what I'm envisaging.

All is good, never youse mind.

Next week: Couchsurfing in the city, seeing Marcus Foster (a British singer-songwriter, who I don't know but my friend is keen), going to the Frick Collection, seeing the Black Keys, House Party, going to the Montauk St Patricks Day parade (Suffolk County's craziest day of the year, from what I hear), seeing Gotye. And class in between.

Love.Love.Love. x

Bright Blue Winter Morning

HULLO.
Yes indeedy I've been a bitta the old slack tart on this front, so now I shall make it up. I could also be spending this time doing my readings for my class in 1.5 hours, BUT.....compared to home I can get by on doing verrrry little work and continue to get pretty great marks (diz shiii be ezzz).

How are we? Tell ya what, as of last time I wrote, things have been berloody great. March is looking like being a hella grouse month as well---MANY concerts planned, trips to city, SPRING BREAK (woooooo!!) as well as the beginning of fall. I've yet to step outside this morning, but the sky is deep blue and there is sun everywhhherrree. Daffodils are beginning to bud their little flowers, and if you sit in the sun long enough you can feel a hint of warmth. You cannot understand how exciting that is.

I've just got back from Boston- was there for the weekend with some of the international kids. I divided up my time hanging out with rellies, wandering around in a big group, and wandering around by myself which was actually perfect. All of my previous travels alert me to the fact that being in a big group can make me a tetchy grump - not the kind of person I like to be- so I had to spread my wings at times.
Boston unfortunately didn't offer us the best weather, actually, supposedly it was the worst all year. When we arrived on Friday night it was snowing like crazy...big soft snowflakes that would break up all over your jacket when they hit you. We also had a bit of difficulty getting into bars because none of us brought our passports and supposedly Massachusetts (sp?) is pretty el stricto with that kind of thing. We know for next time. Went to a Mexican place for dinner which totally took me back to the place. Heck, even the cleaning product that was drying on our table when we sat down smelt like Mexico. There were lucha libre posters everywhere, and dia de los muertos skeletons. We ate tacos and drank margaritas.

The next two days consisted of walking around, visitng the JFK museum (whereupon I bought a token JFK t-shirt, naturally), eating, dancing to funk/soul long Mass Ave, meeting some very handsome people, and enjoying being out of the university routine. We got back to Stony Brook circa 1.30am, then I had to ride home through the cold. My housemate was up when I got home so we ended up chatting til like 4am...I had to sleep in this morning to make up for my whacko system.

Last night some post-university plans progressed substantially. Dad's probably coming mid-May to come hiking the appalacians with me; BONNAROO; Obtaining my open-water diving license for hella cheap somwhere in the Carribean; maybe some travels/wwoofing with my cuz; Spring Break plans for carving up Montreal, etc etc. I'm getting little bursts of happiness on a pretty regular basis, and (still) am consistently amazed when I remember that I'm in America, in New York, and have this much freedom and this much time. Everyone is very friendly, there is so much happening, and it's getting warmer, and I'm making some sikkkkas friends. There is not much to complain about at this point in time.

Last week I invited some peeps around for dinner and then a jam session (dinner- stir fry with wine, naturally. Tim Tam slams for dessert), and BY JOES it felt so good to be playing music with people again. It wasn't a nervous experience, it was just very exciting and a lot of fun. It's been ages, but my voice is coming along nicely. Just need to work on the old guitar a bit more. Maybe I'll take it travelling around the country with me in the summertime? Creo que si.

Love and peace to all. I'm checking my mailbox everyday on my way home from school so don't be afraid to let me know what the shit's going on in everyone's lives. If you know me you know that I love receiving and sending hand-written letters. I do also like chocolate quite a lot.

Take care, xoxox!
Yours, bubbling with the anticipation of spring,
G

The First Cold

Monday morning. I've decided THIS is the week that I'm gonna sort my shit out. Usually, the beginning of the year involves officeworks and fresh text books and getting a wall planner and highlighters and planning and colour-coding and being on top of things. Not so, 2012.

I'm in Struggletown trying to figure out the holy heck i'm in NY quick let's do everything/ holy heck everything is SO interesting let's be a nerd balance. One thing I know is that sitting somewhere in the middle- having a crazy, balls-to-the-wall weekend, leaves me behind in school work for the new week. How do I do both?!!!! Really, I just need to pass these subjects. But I wouldn't be happy with just that..especially when the teaching here is pretty remarkable.

Everyone is SO into everything. There are talks, protests, radio shows, interviews, ...everything is so connected, I feel right in the hub. Last week I had a teleconference (hooley dooley, look out technology) with Bill McKibben, a leading climate activist. Just. Like. That. Friday there's a talk in the City about shutting down Long Island's nuclear reactor (although it never began running), with a Fukushima expert talking. Yes please. I'm not sure whether it's just the novelty of being in a university outside of Australia, but I can't get enough of it. I could be learning about anything and there's world experts within 2 hours sharing their knowledge. How bout that eh?

And people WANT to learn. Often at home it's about getting by on doing the minimum amount of work- but that is neither an acceptable, nor sought-after, way of operation over here.

But I'm getting a cold. I'll suck it up for class today then probably head home, have a bath, read, study a little, have a quiet one. 'Quiet ones' seem to be a wasted opportunity- i've gotten pretty good at doing something every night- but I don't want this illness to spread.

Carn Giants!

xoG

wensdi, thursdi, fridi

Hola amigos...........
and bienvenidos to my first week of class! The State University of New York Stony Brook Campus is welcoming me into its tender grasp until the end of May, and so far it's involved getting lost, walking past a group of sorority girls about to have their hazing experience, having those little American individual desks, classes with BLACKBOARDS- sorry, what?-, falling in love with the folksy NY accent, and of course the painstaking process of enrolling and figuring subjects out.

My subjects here are all counting towards my Environmental Studies major- I'm doing sustainable urban design, history of cities, an anthropology subject on the agricultural revolution, an environmental writing course, etc etc. My classes are small and there's familiar faces in all of them, so I think we're gonna be friends. The Friendship Jacket worked a treat on Monday, got chatting with a few fun-looking people, so I'll have to try it again tomorrow.

I'm in the library and feeling the beginnings of a cold coming on, which is not great. This afternoon I'm heading to the mall to fix myself up with a proper coat, some bedding, food, and clothes. I have an insatiable appetite to shop, so hopefully that goes ahead without TOO much loss in the funds department. Tonight I meet my landlord and pay my four months' of rent. Also tonight a group of kids are heading into the city- to an Australian pub- to listen to the triple j countdown. It's absolutely, horrifyingly cringe-worthy, but I guess every Australia Day is like that. Cummon Aussie Cummon.

I HOPE that on Thursday I secure myself tickets to go see Antony and the Johnsons. I think I'll go by myself--obviously it's going to be a spiritual experience (the performance is in collaboration with a MoMA lighting designer- holy heck)...so I don't mind taking the trip on the train and doing some thinking. I get the feeling it's gonna be huge. I just have to book the tickets. Any minute now.

Love love love. It's been warm and sunny the last few days (warm, as in like, I dunno, 4 degrees). It rained a bit yesterday and all the snow has melted again. Until later,

G