Concerning One October Night

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You only live once.

Coldplay are a phenomenal band. Their music tends towards the epic in a way that can only be fully appreciated once listened to live in concert with 100,000 others. It's funny how I listen to music alone, wishing I was enjoying it in a crowd, but only feel truly satisfied by live music when it makes me feel - among throngs of people - that I am completely alone.

As lines of the new album hit me, I remember the optimistic swells of that October night. I want to thrive. I want to jump. I want to fall. I want to be a comma, living without wanting, without waiting. Not stuck or unsure or ambiguous, but leaping.

Life's already here, man!

Concerning Something I Ordered

I ordered a book off the internet yesterday (from netbooks.co.za - a website designed to burn the eyes of anyone who's ever designed a website) and just received the cutest confirmation e-mail. It reads as follows:

"Thank you for ordering from Netbooks!
Your goods have been carefully removed from the shelf with white gloves and slowly unwrapped from their silk cover so that the shock of bright light does not stun them. Thereafter they have been gently wrapped in plastic and lightly heated, before being blessed on their journey by our resident Swami. Thereafter they were securely wrapped in the finest recycled cardboard to prevent any damage, and decorated with your Name. A specially padded truck has taken your parcel to the local Post Office, where the staff will stomp on it and play soccer with it. However, since it is so well packed, this will not matter."

I'll probably post about the book when it arrives. I love mail!

Concerning Post

POST is an amazing little coffee shop that falls under the creative jurisdiction that is 70Juta. Cnr Juta & De Beer in Braamfontein, this quaint, light bistro offers not only amazing delicasies, but is only a 5 minute walk from Wits (score!). If only they delivered! (sad).

Here's me and Jase enjoying our homemade lemonade and latte. Go to post! And ask Alan for his wi-fi password (he's kinda awesome like that - this post is brought to you by POST_Alan (password currently unknown - investigation pending)).

We love POST!

Concerning Bathi

I just got back from my Human Rights Community Workshop - we travelled to the NW Province and, as part of our assignment, visited a group of underprivileged kids in a disadvantaged community near Rustenburg.

This is Bathi, and she is 6 years old. Other than those two facts, I know only that she enjoys writing on people's faces with facepaint pens, and gives great hugs.

It's a beautiful thing, the love of a child. It's a beautiful thing to be unashamedly hugged by a kid who knows nothing about you - not even your name. So beautiful!

Concerning Brothers

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I have been so blessed to have so many brothers. Adam and Warren are the scary and protective ones. Matt and Devin the teasing, HP obsessed ones. And Daniel is the one I call when I'm upset and need a hug. They're all so awesome! Love 'em to bits! Plus they'd all make insanely good Amazing Race partners!

Concerning The Stage

The interning job I have at St Martin's School includes staging and coaching drama students. It's. The. Best. Job. Ever.

Man, I love doing this. Drama was such a cool part of my own high school career - it's such a great way to experience emotions and stories and life and other people. It's so great to be there when kids get a glimpse of the awesomeness too.

I'm so grateful to be here, and to be experiencing life in the cool way that I am. And I'm pretty stoked I keep getting reminded of that point with the words of inspiring writers from the mouths of inspiring kids :)

Concerning The Future

Once upon a time, in a city not unlike this one, there were two teenagers who, despite their competitive nature and completely different ideas about chocolate, became the best of friends. Drawn together by a love of electro-indie music and their closely matched skills in the art of craning, the two grew together as they journeyed through high school, college, and eventually a world tour that took them across 4 continents in nothing but a Toyota Hilux and a boat that the more crafty of the pair built with his own hands. They each eventually settled down, and continue to be besties to this very day.

Kids, this is the story of how I met your Uncle Daniel. I love him very much, and now you'll get to find out why :)