Wednesday 14 August 2013

14.08.13- Endorphins, Getting Inked & "Modern Art"

My mood, fortunately, has continued to improve massively with the help of having such lovely friends, long phonecalls, plenty of writing and a pile of books. Energy levels are back up, running shoes are back on and I no longer view fit men with as much passion as viewing an egg-and-cress sandwich. I haven't even felt angry at anything the past two days.
"Phwoar, check out that BLT baguette."
Except the fact I wanted one courgette in Asda and they only came in packs of three, but that's understandable.
The past few days have been spent organising everything ready for Freshers' Fayre in September and meeting with the committee to plan plenty of events which have excited me a lot. I like events. They look exciting in my phone planner and I get to put really exciting little symbols next to them to give the impression that I am a very busy and important person, even though most things in my planner are along the lines of "haircut- Weds 10am", "get drunk- Sat 9pm" and "remember to put in prescription-Mon 2pm". 
"Yay, endorphins."
Yesterday was the first 6-mile run I have done in a long while. Yes, it's a long way from my usual 10-12 milers, but just getting in after 55 minutes, sprawling across the floor and lying out flat in the manner of a squashed swiss roll and heavy-breathing into the carpet like a sweaty pervert was beautiful. Not to look at, obviously-- I looked "hangin'" for lack of a better word-- but the endorphins were amazing after lazing about without energy for so long.
I absolutely can't wait to go for my morning run tomorrow. I guess running is my way of clearing my head. Laze about too long and I just get angry and explode like the unpierced contents of a microwave meal at 850 watts.
Anger: a microwaveable metaphor
Yesterday I also booked my next tattoo at Swansea Tattoo Co. Yes, it will be expensive. Yes, I will probably have to fund the next month through selling the entire contents of my bedroom and possibly my own family on eBay. But I know I want something to mark not only how much poetry has helped me with so much over the last few years, but with a line from one of my favourite poems from one of my favourite writers from my own hometown. It will inspire me to always keep going with following my literary ambitions and I suppose it's something to read on the bus, innit?
It's going to be a line from 'Do Not Go Gentle' by Dylan Thomas. I like that line. It makes me feel like I can be fierce and assertive, even when my idea of asserting authority is shouting "bullshit" at the TV if something crap gets valued at £10000000000000 on Flog It.
"I don't bloody belieeeeve it."
It wouldn't be right if I had a blog post that was without at least one little bit of ranting however. Doesn't everyone find pleasure in complaining? Isn't it a British thing? Or is this why my mother refers to me as "Victor bloody Meldrew"?
Earlier myself and two of my best friends were at the pub discussing the ridiculousness of some things that will pass as "modern art". Don't get me wrong, I love art. I bloody adore art. 
But seriously.
How do some things pass as "art"? Apparently one of my friends had viewed a tipped flowerpot that was worth thousands. Are you telling me I can go out into my back garden, boot my Nan's begonias (...why does that sound so dirty?) and suddenly I'm an award-winning artist if I give you some bullshit explanation on how it represents the fragility of life or the state of the tormented soul?
It's a flowerpot that fell over.
I remember once going to an art gallery in primary school whilst the guide was raving about some "amazing" painting. It was not amazing. It was a blue circle next to a bigger blue circle which had a dent in it. 
Blobs. Deep.
But I'll leave you with my all-time favourite piece of "modern art". Ladies and gentlemen, cats and kittens, I give you Tracy Emin's "My Bed". It is covered in underwear and condoms. It is a messy bed. It attracted over 2,000 visitors a day:
It's a bed.
This is why I can't always tolerate humanity.

Monday 12 August 2013

12.08.13- Rage, Rage, Rage, Countdown to Uni and Cat Abduction

Hi again. I am alive.
You wouldn't be if you'd got on the wrong side of me recently though.

"HI I'M NATALIE, PISSED OFF TO MEET YOU.".
Today has seen me the most positive I've been in quite a while. I have been so boiling with rage the last few weeks I've hardly known what to do with myself. I can't handle conflict, and some people have really screwed me over lately. I hate the feeling that I'm despised by someone, somewhere. I know it's not realistic for everybody to be your mate, but getting a new enemy or two feels like a great big kick in the metaphorical testicles. It has me rolling around crying on the metaphorical football field. As for optimism, I've made Eeyore look like Motivational Speaker of the Year.
I THINK I NEED TO GET BACK TO UNIVERSITY.
As a result, everything makes me mad. Everything.

Here is my recent list of Mad:

  • Trying to dig into my psychology-- don't. If I am in a mood, just leave me be in a mood. You are not a psychologist. I do not need your therapy. I have not had any recent deep psychological trauma. I just need a fucking coffee.
  • Smushy-slobbery Facebook PDA-- your profile picture should show yourself, not what the side of your face looks like when it's mashed up against another person's mouth. And please reel in your tongues. And stop publicly calling each other 'snugglebum', I have a very sensitive stomach.
    No.
  •  Children who gawp. Constantly-- go away, your eye contact is not cute, you are small and horrible.
  • Running out of teabags-- just no.
  • Failed Prince Charmings-- "Oh, your mate Nat...she's alright-looking isn't she? She's not so bad?" Thank you very much Brad fucking Pitt, yeah I suppose I'm passable if you just squint a bit.
  • Insomnia-- there really are only so many cryptic crosswords you can attempt at 1am, 3am and 5am.
  • "Pills-will-make-it-better" panic attack solution-- No, doctor, they won't. Unless sleepless nights, worsened panic attacks, major paranoia and losing any sense of libido puts a big smile on your face.Four days in and Michael Fassbender could have strutted in naked and waving his penis and I would have told him to move so I could see the TV. 
  • "How's your love life?"-- it's just as uncomfortable to answer as being asked "so how are your bowel habits?"
Things are now improving. I have a trip to London to look forward to with one of my best friends in the world, I have lots to sort out for the English Society and the student blog, I have seen Monsters University (twice), have more productivity in terms of writing than ever, and very very slowly am s
When selecting a tattoo, it's important
to choose something meaningful
tarting to get to the gym and running again (though 4 miles is pretty pitiful when you consider that I used to average about 10 miles a time, easily). I am also treating myself to a literary tattoo I've been wanting for ages (no, it will not be "Nat 4 Macbeth" or "SPANK ME MR GREY" inked across my arse).
I'm looking forward to getting enough confidence back to start reading again at poetry nights too. And catching up with all the people I haven't seen in a while. 
And drinking vodka and panicking over deadlines and writing lots and lots and lots and meeting new people and pushing Freshers over in corridors and losing library books and attending socials and working with published writers and befriending local cats and being mean to boys and sipping JC's tea whilst trying to look studious but actually just looking at nice arses in jeans.
TIME TO THINK POSITIVE. (Do I hear an excuse to go clothes-shopping? ...online, though. I hate both people and changing-rooms).
There has been one thing which has made me laugh uncontrollable lately though. No matter how furious I am, next door's cat will always put a grin on my face. It is long-haired, always has a messy little mouth and looks like it's been smacked hard in the face with a pan.
It is brilliant.
It's the face. It's that flat face.
Flat face cat. Brill.
My little brother being something of an evil minion/sidekick, I have now drummed it into him what he must do when he sees Gizzy prowling the lawns.

Me: "What do we do if we see Gizzy?"
Callum: "Put him in a box and bring him to Nat."
Me: "Good boy."

He is a fast learner.
Operation Cat-Nap has begun.
Now that's something to grin about.

Love, rainbows and smiles (I promise) :)

xx