Ana, meet Johari
So after over a year, here she is. Back on the blogosphere with…? Well, with a year’s worth of bellyaches to spill out….Just kidding. No one wants to read about old rants…and the whole point of a rant is it helps to vent out while there’s still an issue, right?
Now that I’m back on the rock, and have made an attempt at “settling in”, whatever that implies, I am hoping to have more time to dedicate to painting and writing. Having signed a contract for an apartment last week, and having almost completed the write-up for my PhD, I am nearly at a point in my life when I can finally follow my heart and spend more time doing what makes me happy. New start, new blog, same old me!
So what is it that I’m going to spend my time doing? Here’s where the title of this post starts to make some sense…..I will take time to find what years of close friendship with Ana and Mia (anorexia and bulimia, for the uninitiated) have taken away. Friends, family, jobs, arts….all this was taken away, or put on the backburner, because of one unrelenting obsession. But now it’s time to start over and reclaim what’s mine. About time too, one may think. Well, I have always believed that if I’m going to do something, I have to do it well, or drop it altogether. So far I haven’t had the energy, or courage for that matter, to face my fears. But things have been changing. All these major events going on in my life spurred me into actively wanting to close overdue chapters before starting afresh.
So here it is. My Johari window, as seen by my Ana-less and Mia-less self, and (if anyone is still out there to contribute) as seen by the blogreaders.
http://kevan.org/johari?name=Moondustana
…oh, and this time I promise, it won’t take me another year to post!
XXX
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Tags: Johari, Malta, psychology
Brain colour….
This is hilarious!!! I didn’t know brains had a colour….but, as I’m writing my thesis and any excuse for procrastination is welcome, I took the test and *drum roll* my brain is apparently purple…. Wow. My life has new meaning…..
| Your Brain is Purple |
 Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places – or a very different life for yourself. |
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Tags: brain, psychology
Happy Birthday, George…
It was 64 years ago, in Wavertree, Liverpool, that George Harrison, notably remembered as “the quiet Beatle” was born to Harold and Louise. He joined the Beatles, then known as The Quarry Men, in 1957, intially as a fill-in when one of the regular members couldn’t make it. Eventually, he became a full-fledged member of the band….and the rest is history….
Beatles songs bearing the Harrison signature include favourites such as While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something (which Frank Sinatra described as being the best love song ever written), and (my personal favourite) Here Comes the Sun. After the Beatles break up in 1970, George was the first Beatle with a successful solo career with his triple album All Things Must Pass topping the charts. Unfortunately, he was then sued by Lonnie Mack for plagiarism. “My Sweet Lord” was thought to be too similar to Mack’s “He’s So Fine”. Mack won the case, and George was convicted for unintentional plagiarism. He made a great come-back with “This Song”, which basically was a mockery of the trial.
It’s hard to find an absolute favourite George Harrison song….as a solo artist (as well as with the Travelling Wilburys) he had many great hits. However, if I had to choose just one, it would have to be “I Live For You”, from All Things Must Pass, Disc 1. It’s not a very well-known song…but I just love it.
Anyways…this wasn’t meant to be yet another Harrison biography page…merely a tribute to one of the world’s best singers/songwriters of all time…a spiritual, warm man who’s undoubtedly watching us from above.
Happy Birthday, George!
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Tags: Beatles, birthday, George Harrison
And once again….viva l-Beatles.
Why did I not take Literature at Uni???
Literature students read the books we read for pleasure as part of their course….and they dont have to bother about crappy chemistry. AND they’re not thought insane for analysing books and finding their different levels….
I chose the wrong subjects…and I should have done something about it ages ago…when I first realised. I want to study something I am actually excited about; something I actually care about and enjoy….Do I care about chemistry? If someone were to call me tomorrow and say that science stopped existing as from yesterday not only would I not be sad….I’d actually be relieved. Relieved that I wouldn’t have to play the part of the geeky chemist anymore. Happy to be finally rescued from my self-inflicted confines…..It’s like I enjoy making decisions that are bound to have masochistic consequences.
Nevermind. Only the last few months of science then I dont need to speak to it ever again. Unfortunately Mrs Friggieri was right….and even more unfortunate is the fact that I didn’t take any notice of what she told me. Too late. I’ll finish this chapter in my book of days and then it will be closed forever. Don’t worry. I’m not quitting uni. Not now. Doesnt mean I enjoy science…I never did…but Malta is Malta. Unless you’re a science geek, doctor or nurse, engineer, architect or lawyer (or you’re blonde) you’re an under-achiever or, even worse, a housewife. Or….(worst case scenario)…a blonde housewife whose only goal in life shifts from being that of grabbing yourself a potential husband, to actually making yourself his wife, to the ultimate glorious task of turning into a baby-machine. Oh the joy.
So I guess I just have to secretly frown while everyone else thinks I care about molecules….or I could stay abroad, work in a bookshop and get by, and not give a rat’s ass what people think…
Sorry….had to get it all out. Makes me want to not come home…I don’t like crying over things like this. I don’t like crying, in general. But I’ve been lying all this time. I only chose Science at O’Level because a teacher once told me I paid attention during Science lessons in Form 1. That was it. That was the only reason. One comment, from one teacher. And I’ve regretted it ever since. I never enjoyed it and, let’s face it, was never any good at it. Maths I can do, because it makes sense to me. But I can’t stand Biology, I absolutely hate Chemistry, and Physics makes me want to throw up. I could have taken the advice of the other teachers who said I should write books….or those who later on in life said I should switch to languages…..and who then also said (during my Pharmacy finals) that it’s never too late to unleash one’s true path….But what’s my path? One thing just led to another…and here I am….
HELP!
Filed under: jobs, Journal, Life, Literature, love | 1 Comment
Tags: job, Literature, love
All We Need is Love?
After a long break…here I am again. I’ve been to Malta for Christmas and New Year, met up with friends, family and cat….and did the usual “girl studying abroad visiting people” thing.
Back in Birmingham I’m basically trying to work as hard as I can to finish off this PhD as soon as possible. I officially have 8 months of lab work left… and usually people take between 3-12 months after that to write up….*sigh*
As the title may suggest, it does get a bit lonely here…what with gale force winds and all….but it also refers to the Beatles’ new album…entitled “Love”. 
)
Mixed feelings really. It’s a cool mix of songs and it’s one of those albums that you just have to sit down and listen to from beginning to end. It strikes me as the kind of mix that they would have released after a day of pissing about in the studio…which is a good thing I guess because it’s an interesting take on some of the world’s most influential tunes. I am still a traditionalist who loves “original” versions of songs, etc…but this is an interesting melange of unedited dialogue and songs merging into one another. Approved. I admit…I have to be in the mood for it, to enjoy it fully…but it’s a good album.
The picture I put up today is a painting of mine. I copied a postcard of John Lennon in his “Give Peace a Chance” saga. Reason why I chose to copy this particular one? I don’t really know…I suspect it’s because he kind of resembles Jesus in this picture…so I thought it’d be funny. )
Take care, if there’s anyone still out there!!!
Li
xXx
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Tags: art, Beatles, john lennon, love
A week ago today I went to see Morrissey live at the NIA in Birmingham. The show he gave was truly fantastic. Including the part where he took his bright pink shirt off and threw it out to us. Trust me…for a man nearing 50 he is not bad!!! The Italian fresh air and Mediterranean cuisine seem to be having a positive effect on him! He sang quite an unusual selection of songs, including some Smiths ones like Panic, Girlfriend in a Coma and How Soon is Now?…but he also sang newer ones…his own, like Irish Blood English Heart and Let Me Kiss You. It was great. Not many people were there, which was a shame, but from a selfish point of view that meant that we could see him better. It was the first time I saw him in a live concert…but Sam has seen him loads and she said that this was by far his best gig ever. I’m glad we got standing tickets and not seats!!!! Good music, sarcy comments, and loads of head-bobbing!!
One hell of an experience. One hell of a show. One hell of a Morrissey.
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Tags: concert, morrissey, music
November blues…
Hi everyone!!!
OK so the title suggest bad stuff…but that’s all gone now and I apologise for delays in posting. Everything is shiny and happy now…and I’ve just found a new pet….
How cool is this????
Mixu was our first cat…and still considered a member of our family, even ten years after his death. He was the Emperor of cats in our neighbourhood…..a sort of Old Deuteronomy of the Jellicle tribe in San Gwann….
Anyways…
Good night!!!
xXx
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Tags: cat
The History of Halloween…..
Jack O' Lantern
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays, with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we now know as Halloween has had many inluences from different cultures over the centuries, from the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Romans’ Pomona, to the Christian celebrations of All Saints and All Souls days. Many many years ago, in Northern France, Ireland and Great Britain, lived the Celts. They worshipped nature and had many gods, but the sun was the greatest god of all. The sun was responsible for their crops, the earth’s beauty, their work and rest – if the sun was happy, they got good crops; if he was sad, then they would suffer. So the Celts celebrated New Year with a festival on November 1st, which marked the end of the “season of the sun” and the beginning of the season of “cold and darkness”.
On October 31st, after the crops were harvested and stored for the long winter ahead, the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Celtic priests (called Druids) would meet on hill tops to light fires out of oak trees (which were considered sacred), and offer sacrifices of animals and crops on behalf of the villagers. They danced around the fires as the season of the sun passed and made way for the season of darkness. Come morning, the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family, who would then use them to start new cooking fires. Apart from keeping the homes warm, these fires also warded off evil spirits.
This festival was called Samhain (“sow-en”) and it would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals….and this festival would turn out to be the first Halloween.
Happy Halloween everyone!!!!!
xXx
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Tags: halloween
Busy busy bee….
My apologies for the previous post. I was very very disappointed after a discussion with a person and that post was my way of venting out the anger.
So…this week will be quite hectic! I have to prepare a talk (which I have to give on Thursday), write the Experimental chapter of my thesis, and finish off one of the crystals. I also have to book flights/trains for Glasgow (I’m going there on the 15th November), London (14th December) and Erice (next year). My supervisor will be in China so I’ll be with the new student most of the time too. That’s the work-related stuff.
At home, I have to do the laundry, prepare for Tuesday’s dinner (Jim’s sister is coming over), go shopping for groceries and clean my room. Oh and see what else I need to buy before my mum comes to visit….she’s coming to stay for a week on the 31st October. I’m looking forward to that!!!
PLUS…gym gym gym gym gym!!
I’m sure I’m forgetting something……
xXx
Filed under: Journal, Life | 2 Comments
Tags: crystallography, thesis, travel
Bloggata f’nofs ta’ lejl…
…..nazjon ta’ ostricc b’rashom tant imdefsa f’sormhom li lanqas biss ixommhu l-hara taghhom stess…..
Cup of tea?
Filed under: Journal, Life | 4 Comments
Tags: rant
