One Word: Uplifting

Thirst Merc's self-titled album

Today's landscape of popular rock music is filled with punk/emo bands who have an affinity of drinking sleeping pills and slashing their wrists.  While tales of teen angst connect to pop music's biggest consumers (teenagers), it's nice to see a good old Aussie band come out with a self titled record like Thirsty Merc.

The album does two things.  First of all it pokes fun at the egotistical, self-absorbed notion of teen angst, and by doing so, it promotes the concept of optimism.

Lead singer and songwriter, Rai, delivers his "crisp as beer" vocals with subtle humour.  In  some songs, such as the first single, 'Emancipate Myself' and the ever so cheeky 'I wish somebody would build a bridge', Rai sarcastically takes on the role of narcissist as he describes the blemishes of life as a true blue Aussie would.

With piano ballads such as 'Hope' and 'Undivided Love', the band displays their serious side as Rai sings about never giving up and looking on the bright side of life.  Add a few hard, rock riff songs such as 'In the Summertime' and 'Katie Q' and you have yourself a completely perfect record.

This album is truly uplifting.  If you're feeling down and thinking of dropping you're hairdryer while you lie in your hot tub, listen to this album and you'll feel as bright as a daisy in the sun.  Thirsty Merc's album is the must have Aussie rock album of the 21st century.

"Aussie music is alive and kicking" - Rai

__________________________________

Track Listing:
1. My Completeness
2. Emancipate Myself
3. Undivided Love
4. I Wish Somebody Would Build A Bridge (So I Can Get Over Myself)
5. In The Summertime
6. Someday, Someday
7. Hope
8. Katie Q
9. Baby Tell Me I'm The Only One
10. Wasting Time
11. Everything But You
12. Claude Monet
13. Like Snow
 

How's your groin?

My Workmate, Jen, and I planned an ice skating day at Maq Center.  We invited 2 other workmates, Erica and Alex, along for the ride.  I was excited being the first time to have ever hung out with workmates and the day lived up to expectations.  It was pretty damn funny on Alex's and Ryan Reynold's part.  Let me explain...

Our plans were to meet up in the city for Alex to show us a manga book shop, and then I'd proceed to drive us all to the home of my university... MAQ!  Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.  Rush hour should be renamed to "rush hours"; notice the plural.  It was passed 9am yet I still had a feeling I was better off riding to the city on tortoise-back.

After a mix up of where to pick  them up, my mates and I skipped the manga book store and sped across the Warringah Freeway to MAQ.

We made our 11.30 ice skating session and hit the ice.  Actually, Alex literally hit the ice face first.  I lost count of how many times, but I was surprised he could still walk.  His butt must've been hurting as much as it would have if Weil - our French/Chinese workmate - got to him.  Weil has some fetish with spanking male butts; if he didn't have a girlfriend I'd be very worried.  Actually I already am haha.

The highlight of ice skating was when Alex stacked over Jen and she accidentally (or maybe on purpose) hit him in the groin.  OUCH! "How's your groin?"

After ice skating we ate lunch and headed of to Maq Uni so I could teach Alex and Jen how to play pool.  Although Jen seriously sucks, I have to say she's better at pool than Alex is at ice skating.  DON"T WORRY Jen, I'll teach you to kick Alex's butt next time you play.  I knew he was hussling ya!

After pool we headed off to the cinemas to watch "Just Friends".  Ryan Reynolds is haaaalarious though watching Alex skate is still the best comedy act since Pablo Francisco (download his videos on limewire to see this comedian, he's a crack).

BACK ON TOPIC:  I've always loved the song "I Swear" by All-4-One, but the movie "Just Friends" probably turned it into my favourite song of all time hahaha.  Watch it and you'll love it too.

Anyway, I'm off.  I ought to buy a tortoise saddle.

Take care and peace out...

Preparations...

After working hard out for 2 months at about 5 or 6 days a week, I finally get some time to relax;  a little too much time in fact.  The cash isn't rolling in as good as it once was and I've found myself sitting at home every day gaining back all the weight I've lost over this past year and a half.  So any excuse to get out of the house is great.

My mate Cindee, from uni, is holding a barbeque at her house.  There's a catch; it's a costume party and the theme is teletubbies.  No just kidding, the theme is cartoon and games characters.  So my excuse to leave the fortress of laziness, that is my house, is to go looking for costumes.

My first choice was Gambit from X-Men.  He is my favourite Marvel Comic character after Spiderman.  You see, good ol' Spidey has the blue and red tights, and I definitely wasn't game for that.  So it's only logical to choose the next favourite on the list. 

Gambit looks real cool and I thought finding a trench coat would be a breeze, or lack there of.  It turns out that Summer and trench coats don't mix together.  So basically it would take less time to dig my way to the other side of the world.  Sorry Maria for wasting your time looking for a damn trench coat at Parramatta Westfield.

Scrap Gambit and onto everyone's favourite plumber; MARIO!  On Tuesday I went shopping for blue overalls in Burwood.  I found the perfect ones, so I got them and got some hot looking thongs, the ones you wear on your feet of course.

Today I went back to Burwood to look for that little baggy red hat that Mario wears; no luck at all.  I found a blue one and a baby pink one, eeerrrr how about gay Mario?  I decided to go to the Yagoona costume shop.  I had no idea where it was so I called up Cindee; *ring ring*  no answer.  Then I called Kimchi; voice mail.  Then Kim calls back.

If  there's one thing I should remember, it's to never follow Kim's directions, she's aweful.  And Cindee, I don't want to hear I peep out of you about the Harbour Bridge (sorry personal joke).

Alls well that ends well, I found the place.  Nope they didn't have the Mario hat I was looking for but they did have fake moustaches so I bought one.

A constructive day out.  Sure I was all alone and nigelated but it beats lazing around at home.

Take care and peace out...

So many words in so little space

It's felt like sixteen centuries since my last blog entry <-- the overstatement of a lifetime.  It's actually been sixteen days and much has happened.  How can I fit so many words into a tiny, little space?  Well here we go!

Bing Lee...

...is my new employer.  I got the job about 3 weeks ago and been working like a slave's toe nail.  I've been tired, drained and I've felt like cold, uneaten pizza; but when I look at my bank account I suddenly feel like king of the big, bad universe!!!  WOOHOO!!!

Christmas...

...was spent with the family.  Christmas eve was with my mum and the aunties and uncles.  Christmas day was with my dad n my step family, ie. step brother, cousins and more aunties and uncles.  It's nice seeing my step cousins who I hadn't seen in yonks.

New Years Eve...

...was with a couple of friends.  Clay and I met up with Cindeeeeeeeeeeee, Kim and Linda at Maloney's and had dinner.  Then met up with Dorris and others and checked out the 9 o'clock fireworks from Dorris' dazzling apartment.

 Clay left to go to Milson's Point and the rest of us commuted to Bankstown for a piss up in a hotel room in the good ol' Bankstown Sports Club.  For all you Diaz Foundation people, you know the great memories that place holds.  Anyways, back on topic... drank, played poker and guitar.  Nice night.  HAPPY NEW YEAR... 2006!!!

Oh and hi to the many people I've met over the past 2 or 3 weeks.  Welcome to the black hole that is IN THE KNOW...

Take care and peace out...

A turn in the right direction

Mario's 'Turning Point'

At fifteen years of age, Mario debuted with the hit 'Just a Friend 2002'.  That year, his self-titled album was released.  Unluckily for the teenager, it didn't rocket off into the huge R&B success he would've liked.

Well, who cares?  He was young, inexperienced and as a green as a tree frog.  Now at eighteen, Mario has learnt much and has come out with the solid, R&B record: 'Turning Point'.

The album includes  a diverse range of fast, dance-able beats and sentimental, love songs.  'Let Me Love You' - Mario's first single off the album - has become an instant classic.  Every girl wishes it would be sung to them, and every guy relates to the song like it were their very own life story.

Other additional treats include 'How Could You', 'Like Me Real Hard' and the club anthem 'Boom' produced by Lil Jon.

Some tracks are great, but the album fails to consistently deliver quality hits, track after track, after track.

But don't worry, it's an album still worth buying and definitely a turn in the right direction.  I wouldn't be surprised if Mario's next album is the R&B record that boosts him into the title of 'Supreme male R&B dude'.  Usher better watch his back! 

Note to Self: Walls are Evil

It was Danny Aguilar's birthday on Sunday: we had dinner and plated laser tag.  For those who don't know, laser tag is much like skirmish (paintball) but without the pain.  Unluckily for me, I still experienced a lot of pain.

I paid $25 for 3 games but only played 1 and a half.  You see, on the second game I was executing my great dodging skills.  As a friend of mine tried to shoot me I turned around and quickly bolted behind a wall.  Little did I know, that wall was right in front of my face.

SMACK!  In the blink of an eye I chuckled to myself as I imagined how funny the sight must've been.  My head started hurting so, naturally, I pressed my hands against it.  I felt some sort of liquid sliding onto my hands.  I looked down at my hands and saw a dark purple-ish liquid.  It was dark as night and I knew straight away that if there were more light, the liquid would have been red.

I was bleeding like a fountain.  I applied pressure to the cut and ran outside.  The people who worked there helped me out and told me I'd probably need stitches.

Later that night I was at Auburn hospital with Kharen and Jerome.  The birthday boy, Danny, swung by later and told me how bad he felt about me getting hurt on his birthday.

Damn, the public hospital system is slower than a dehydrated slug.  I was bleeding and I had to wait 2 hours because there were patients that required "urgent" attention. 

COME ON!!! I was bleeding for heaven's sake.  The people who got served before me were running around like Dorothy in the land of Oz.  They might as well have skipped around with a pink rope.

At least I'm fine.  I thought I'd faint from the loss of blood but I was fine.  Now I'm going to have an impressive scar to show off once this thing heals.

Take care and peace out...

WOW! Sixteen in a Row!!!

I had the pleasure of watching the Sydney Kings thump the Perth Wildcats, 122 to 95.  Better yet, I watched it for free.

2 days earlier, my dad visited and told me about the two free Kings tickets that his workmate was giving him; there was no chance in the world I was passing this baby up.

At the city, my dad and I had a beer at Maloney's and ate some mouth watering Fujian rice at Superbowl, Chinatown.

When our bellies were full we made our way to the Sydney Entertainment Centre.  As usual, with a poorly marketed league such as the NBL, there was lots of space at the centre.  Our seats sucked so we just moved to some seats that were worth dying for had it been the grand finals.

Anyways, Sydney thrashed the Wildcats and to my surprise I had learnt that it was the King's sixteenth win in a row.  I personally think that the 02-03 Kings were a much better team.  With Team vets Matty Nielson and Shane Heal, not to mention the MVP Chris Williams, it was hard to top that.

Maybe it was my lack of knowledge of the current NBL, but this years Kings seemed to be a bunch of no-namers with the exception of Jason Smith and C.J. Bruton.  Nonetheless, this team has a whopping 17-2 record to show us how good they really are.

In other news: Ania's birthday is this Monday.  I'll greet you then; don't be so impatient hehe, just kidding.  We're partying in the city tomorrow night.  Updates are already on their way.  I'm psychic you know; or is it psycho? haha!

Take care and peace out...

Final '05: The chronicles of one guy, his mates, and an end of uni club party

NOTE: You can check out the photos HERE. Just click on the "Final '05" link underneath photo galleries once you've entered my space.

Final '05 was the end of uni clubbing extravaganza.  Here's how the night went down from my perspective...

There was so much to talk about that I had to segment the entry into Chapters.

Chapter 1: Our Journey begins (Maloney's)

I was very pleased at finding a parking spot around china town in less than 2 minutes of arriving in the city.  Kudos to Leo, William and Margaret for hitching a ride.

We met up with the other uni people at Maloney's and I had a big juicy steak.  I met many people I heard so much about such as Kim (Leo's freshie on his MSN nick) and Mykey (the "play my song bitch" girl).  Just to name a few other people that were at Maloney's that I knew or didn't know already: Cindeeee (who organised the get together), Clay, Anthea, Anna, Lionel, James, Tony, Heidi, Garry, Garry's gf .  Hey I wasn't too bad with the names considering I met like 3 quarters of them that night.  I'm sure I left some people out.  Just pretend I mentioned you guys okay? SOOORRY!

Chapter 2: The long road to Home Night Club

We left Maloney's and saw Byron, Angelica and Ed.  They were going to Bar Ace and  I found myself following them like a lost, little puppy dog.  In Bar Ace I saw Chelle and Steve aka. Dilly.  Then I remembered that the other guys had my Final '05 ticket.  So I ran out of Bar Ace and looked for them.

There was no one to be found until I saw Anthea, Kim, Mykey, Anna and big tall blackguy walking around (sorry forgot his name.. cool guy though).

I had to follow them aaaaallllllllllll the way to Market City.  Then we Split up.  Anthea, Anna and tall black guy went to Central while Kim, Mykey and I went to Final '05.  Mykey felt "nature's calling" so we stopped by the restrooms at Market city and then aimlessly wondered to what we hoped was the direction of Home nightclub.

Chapter 3: Final '05 at last

After arriving, we met up with the other uni people again and got in.  It was a great night.  Byron's a bad boy!  Every time I saw him he was grinding with some attractive lady.

I still don't believe that Clay couldn't get that girl's number.  She was hanging for it ALL night!  At the end of the night (or Morning) Leo had to go run after her and get her number for him. CLAY YOU PUSSY!!!  Though I shouldn't talk, at least he had got someone's number.

Sucked in to Leo for getting bagged out by the boys on the way to Home. I wish I was there to add to the striking blows!!!

And Mykey, I hope you're feeling better now.  You looked pretty sick towards the end of the night.  Felt sorry for you.

Margaret and William, sorry for taking so long in the club since I was your ride home.  Blame Clay for taking so long to get that girl's number hehe.

Final '05 was awesome.  I was disappointed in the trance room.  My freaking garage was bigger.  Though the R&B room was HUUUGE but still packed out.

Chapter 4: The Journey Ends but another one begins

I was speeding to William's house because Margaret had to get home before her mum woke up.  Who the hell wakes up at 4 in the morning anyway?

After taking the love birds home, Leo, Clay and I had the best Kebabs in the world in Ashfield. Afterwards we went back to my house for a sleep over.

Chapter 5: Lights out, so is the sun

I already had a spare bed in my room, but Leo who was designated to the spare room wanted to sleep in my room with me and Clay.  How Gay!!!  So we squeezed in another mattress.

So much for the sleep over.  Leo kept Clay and I awake.  Well I didn't mind because I felt more awake than an owl on speed, but Clay was was dying.  He kept dozing off and Leo would just wake him up again haha.  Clay must've been pissed off.  If he wasn't so tired he would've thrown some punches.

We were still giving him crap about Leo having to get that girl's number for him.  If Leo didn't do it, I would've.

When we finally turned the lights off, the sun was coming up.  Clay was suffocating himself with a pillow just to block the light from hitting his eyes.  Leo and I kept chatting away until I eventually felt drowsy myself.

Leo had to leave at 9am to watch Harry Potter so once he left, Clay and I slept like babies.

Chapter 6: The reawakening

Clay and I woke up at 3pm.  We couldn't believe how late it was.  I offered to take him home so we went off to eat subway at Auburn.

On the way to Blacktown my step brother called and said he was at my house.  So I just dropped clay at Granville Station and went back home.

Take care & peace out....