FRANCO-FIED

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James Franco is taking over the world. Yes, this quite a large claim, but it is certainly backed up with some solid evidence. Since graduating from Columbia University's MFA writing program and enrolling in a PhD  English program at Yale University - while, simultaneously, balancing an acting career and the production of his first book, Palo Alto - Franco has been named as host, accompanied by Anne Hathaway, of the 2011 Oscars to be held on the 27th of  February. Prestigious? Indeed.

However, Franco is still scoring brownie points by just having recently directed and starred in The Broken Tower: The Life of Hart Crane, based on the biography of a homosexual American poet of the 1920's, written by Paul Mariani - with a release date to be announced.

Sexified (yes, this is a legitimate word; ask Ke$ha and Urban Dictionary. Did I really just call on Ke$ha to bail me out of a textual dilemma?),  mystified, jaw-droppingly mesmorised, I have a feeling I may just be FRANCO-fied.

22

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During 2010, I was fortunate enough to spend my 21st birthday in Hollywood with my darling friend Kate, score some very important internships that will hopefully further my career, travel to Europe and China with my Dad, as well as decipher a problem that has been plaguing me for seven years - that's another blog post entry. Now it's 2011 - resolutions are out of the bag and so begins the struggle that is being strapped into the harness that may protect you from things like smoking or swearing too much, yet giving up these so-called luxuries can certainly prove to be difficult!

With the rolling-on of another year, along comes another birthday. Despite feeling a little down that I am adding an extra year onto my age (eeeep!), I am really looking forward to celebrating my birthday with my friends and seeing what 2011 has to offer - while attempting to kick old habits to the curb.

Shaking up stress

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Grumble, grumble, grumble. This is the sound of frustration. Agitation, for me, comes in stages, with each stage characterised by some sort of distorted noise. For example, the beginning of irritation could sound something like a low rumbling, cussing underneath my breath - Mutley style. Depending on the severity of the matter, you could possibly hear a loud GRRR, or perhaps even a string of nonsensical profanities spilling from my mouth. Hey, nobody's perfect, right?

Now, I have tried a few different things to alleviate stress and aggravation, with my most recent discovery being children's movies. Coraline, Where The Wild Things Are, The Secret of NIMH, Beauty and The Beast, and Toy Story 3 have all silenced my incessant complaining, played a part in preventing me from flipping out at screaming toddler on a nine-hour flight from Hong Kong to Sydney (GRRR!!), and boosted my mood from Ground Zero to sky-high - all within an hour and a half of each viewing.

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So, if you're feeling grumpy or a little wired, take the time out to watch a family favourite. If only all the world's problems could be cured with a dose of Disney.

Home is where the heat is

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Yes, I deserve a slap on the wrist for leaving my blog untouched for so long. Since my last post, I became acquainted with Wuthering Heights and the infamous fog swallowing up the moors of Worscester in England, scoped out the military attire, coupled with trenchcoats, on the streets of London (as well as catching up with my darling friend, Erin!), stayed in a castle in Florence, Italy, got completely saturated trudging the busy streets of Rome, as well as eating five-star Yum Cha in China and Hong Kong (so delicious!!).

After experiencing the bone-chilling bitterness of the fast-approaching European winter, coming home to the sweltering heat and humidity has definitely warranted the abuse of airconditioning in my house. Oh and not to mention trips to the beach and agonising whether to toughen up and dive into the icy water or not. It is so lovely to be home, sweet home.

EUROPE

It has been a very busy few weeks, hence the lack of blog posting. After travelling for 36 hours (with six hours spent admiring the refined leather attire of Italians in Rome airport) I finally made it to Interlaken, Switzerland - my first stop in Europe. From the Swiss Alps, to the Red Light District in Amsterdam, followed by visiting family in Germany, I am now sitting in a hotel room in Paris.

Sacré Coeur - this picture certainly does not do this religious landmark any justice. Image sourced from www.weheartit.com.

The busy streets of Paris are not only lined with intricate architecture, but also many beautiful people, decked head to toe in fur, walking their dogs - both big and small - while smoking cigarettes. So far, I have climbed part of the Eiffel Tower, lit a candle in Notre Dame for Kathrina's aunt, Ulla and palmed off a touchy busker at the Sacré Coeur. This trip has also been quite a culinary experience, as I have tasted the most delicious red wine and last night I ate escargot - I think this will make my Mum jealous; she loves French food! There is still so much to see, but today is going to be dedicated to the Opera Theatre, the Galleries Lafayette and the Louvre (!!!).

The Notre Dame Church. During the French Revolution, revolutionaries cut off the heads of the concrete priests, believing that they were kings. The heads were eventually glued back on once these people realised that the so-called concrete kings were, in fact, members of the Catholic church. Image sourced from www.weheartit.com.

However, even though I feel very fortunate to be in Europe, I miss the Australian sun and a handful of people who I wish could see all of this with me.

Typography

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List-o-mania

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I’m feeling terribly uninspired today. It could have something to do with the shifting kaleidoscope that has parked itself behind my eyes; it is constantly diverting my mind to something different – a feature article that needs finishing, a suitcase that needs packing, then compressing or an over-analytical brain that needs to be squeezed out like an orange.

My answer to escaping the labyrinth inside my head: writing lists. I love lists. From dictionaries and thesauruses, to positives versus negatives, there’s nothing more clarifying than a sense of reason offered by a list.

In homage to listing and the charity it has bestowed upon me for, well, I’d say almost seven years, I am posting my most recent inventory of trivialities; I’m hoping this will spark a list-making session within you.

Likes
1. Semicolons and em dashes. Yes, I’m a sucker for syntax and it has sort of gone beyond obsessive

2. Only having one week until I jump on a plane to explore Europe, the UK, and China

3. Letters, emails and text messages; I’m all about the written word – in any form

4. Cupcakes and an extra-hot cup of English Breakfast

5. Having a key to Chonni and DD’s house!

6. Sydney

7. The smell of swiftly flipping through the pages of a brand-new magazine. Weird, right?

8. Dropping abbreviated words in face-to-face conversations, but refraining from using them when punching characters into my phone

9. The Extraordinary Ernie and Marvellous Maud series

10. 2009


Dislikes
1. The Big Bang Theory; I just don’t get why people like that show!

2. People who don’t use an indicator when turning

3. Shaken water – don’t ask

4. The aftermath of an all-nighter

5. Hearing Powderfinger and Green Day on the radio 24/7

6. Olives and fetta – I’m a freak, I know!

7. People who don’t like dogs

8. Deadlines

9. Food without a generous helping of salt

10. 2010

I can not think of a better way of venting. Seriously.