| slammin'!! |
[29 Sep 2007|10:08am] |
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g-glamorous |
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Such a fantastic time last night! It was the poetry slam that I have been looking forward to for months - I competed against nineteen other poets in the third WA heat for the National Poetry Slam.
Basically all the poets' names are put in a hat, and then when their name is drawn out, they have just 2 minutes to impress the judges with their poetic talent. Randomly, halfway thru the night, Shayne began quietly intoning my name while the MC was rummaging around in the hat, and sure enough my name was the next one called out! Clearly Shayne has unearthly, mystic powers.
Anyway, so I performed "Listen To Me", which was inspired by a past relationship I had, and I think it went well. I didn't really hear the applause or the scores after I finished, because I was watching my hand shake and thinking 'I hope that stops soon'. Apparently i did well, coz I ended up tying for 2nd place with another lady. She was great - she did poems about her nyoongar heritage and black pride. So I pretty much knew I had no chance! But I got to perform another poem for the tie-breaker, and I did "Ms Abernethy". That was so much fun - it was great to feel the way an audience reacts to the poem. It's a really melodramatic poem so I wish i'd had it memorised, but I just read it off the paper. I've been rewriting it constantly for the last month or two, so I was nervous about it. Blah blah blah, I read it, I think it went well. The applause at the end was a bit subdued, but I'm telling myself that's because they were trying to figure out the ending, haha. So the other girl beat me by a fraction and got 2nd place. Felt a bit disappointed, but not too bad because there were some awesome poets there last night and I'm proud to have been rated among them.
The winner was one of my favourite performances of the night, the Bush Poet with his poem "The Bush". He did a brilliant parody of bush poets - he was wearing a waistcoat and a fake beard and everything. His poem consisted of three words repeated constantly: "The bush, the bush, the bush bush bush bush bush... RHYME!" I laughed soooo hard, especially when he broke into a John Howard impersonation. It was excellent. I approached him afterwards to congratulate him, and he said the funniest thing. He told me "I was a bit embarrassed to win, because you're such a great writer, and I'm just a smart-arse!" He was hilarious.
After the Slam was over, a couple of nice people approached me and said they "liked my content". That was really sweet. I was also really happy to have my support groupies there: my family and a bunch of my lovely friends. It really made my night to have people there cheering me on. And one of my favourite moments of the night was after I'd read "Listen To Me", when my dad came up to me and said he was glad he'd never met that ex-boyfriend, because he would have decked him. He said "I wouldn't do it myself, because I don't want to go to jail, but I know a Papua New Guinean warrior who would kill a white man for free." Ha...! (The funniest thing is that he was telling the truth.) I think that comment made some of my friends slightly nervous, but I loved it. What are dads for.
I just remembered - after that poem, a women sitting near my group turned around, stared accusingly at Shayne, and said "That was about him, wasn't it? He's not a very good boyfriend, is he??" I just put my arm around him and told the lady "No he's not, but mostly because he likes boys too." Lol.
Well I'm now crashing a little bit after the adrenalin high of last night. This must be how addicts feel - I can't wait for the next poetry slam, I need another hit. Slams are so much fun, I hope we start seeing more and more of them around town.
PS. Next time I perform, I'm going to do a spoken word version of Fergie's "Glamorous".
G. L. A. M.
O. R.
O U S.
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| in a state of harry-induced bliss ... |
[22 Jul 2007|09:36pm] |
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Ruby :: Kaiser Chiefs |
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I am halfway through the seventh Harry Potter (!!!) and taking a break from several hours' uninterrupted reading.
I just feel like I need written evidence of this moment: I am happy.
I am really, really happy.
No, not just because of Harry. I've been really happy for the last month at least, and before that I was happy too. I haven't felt down in months, and I think that's worth an LJ post.
I have great, amazing friends, and a fantastic family, and I love my job AND my study. Now I have 270 more pages of Potter goodness, a blissful week free of 8-hour work shifts, and a fresh start of the semester.
Hurrah, i say.
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| Melbourne baby! |
[03 May 2007|10:30pm] |
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cities :: the cat empire project |
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I'm doing a wrap-up of my trip, Grapes-style.
Angry Skybus driver. Federation Square at night. Comedy fest ferris wheel. Drunken navy guys trying to pick fights with army guys. Army guys patiently leading the navy guys away. Crown Casino food court. Catching up on camp goss with Sarah. Southbank. Fairy lights in trees. Greenhouse Backpackers. Dinner at funky cafe in a side alley. The Korean girl in my dorm: (me) "Are you North Korean or South Korean?" (her) "Duh. North Koreans aren't allowed to travel!!!" The Taiwanese girl: "Why would anyone go to Korea?" The English girl: "Oh my god, Stingray DIES??" Neighbours tour. Requesting Madge's death scene on the bus. Waving at Ned Parker. Meeting Janelle. "i'm your american fanbase". Getting lost in the city. Shopping for 8 consecutive hours. On foot. Intimidating trams. Weird buskers. The wonders of DFO. Dangerfield. Smirnoffs with Grapes! Tim Minchin. "Hi Tim!" (Tim stares at me silently). So fucking rock. Fitzroy. Bourke St mall. Australia on Collins. Dizzy from so much shopping. Southern Cross train station. Starbucks soy hot chocolate. Grapes and Jojo. Wagamamas. O-C-T! *clap clap* O-P-U! *clap clap* S! Octopus! Octopus to the right, Octopus to the left, Octopus all around all around and again! People everywhere in Melb all the time. Hotel le Picking. M*A*S*H 24/7. Waking up to Alan Alda's voice. Party decorations. No need for ladders when Jojo's around. Surreptitiously eating chocolate freckles. Mel and Een. "What are you talking about, I'm not affectionate" "Ian, get off me". Party started. All skanked up. Two glasses of champers. Chasing the waiter for pasties. Blame it on the boogie. Lovelight. Representing the CLC contingent. Unsettling Rovers cult chant. New shoes lost a sparkly thing - crisis! Ride home in the mini. Piking hours before everyone else. Bacon and toast breakie. Facebook. Monty Python. "He's a very naughty boy". Getting smacked with cushions for no reason. "What's that over there?" SMACK! It's on. Sunday morning rain is falling. Lazy lazy day. Late night reminiscing. "We had sex to go get." Determined to get some culture. Australian Impressionism exhibit. Tom Roberts rocks my world. Down on his luck. More shopping. Arty happy snaps on the Southbank. Wandering in and out of buildings. People asking me for directions on Flinders St. "I must look knowledgeable." Peanut butter Trampoline ice cream. Chalk drawings. Glenhuntly train station. No one talks on Melbourne trains. Tullamarine Airport. Sitting in the very very back of the plane. No windows. Cool old war veteran guy in the next seat. Perth at last. Home home home home home home!
I <3 Melbourne!
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| the final countdown |
[21 Apr 2007|01:41pm] |
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the final countdown |
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only four - count it, FOUR - days until I fly to Melbourne!
I am a wee bit excited.
I know I'm only going for five days, but still... I'm gonna see Grapes! yeah lake! and hopefully gonna catch up with other Melb peeps too! woot!
and also, the shopping! the comedy gigs! the excitement of inflight radio! the overuse of exclamation points!
Tim Minchin and Jason Byrne, hurrah!
On the subject, I would like to relate a conversation that happened between myself and Rob "Millsy" Mills (of Australian Idol fame *shameless name-dropping*):
MILLSY: Hi, I'm Rob.
ME: Nice to meet you. (Being all cool and professional, pretending i never had a crush on him when i was 16). By the way, I'm going to Melbourne soon (Because I've gotten to that stage where I'm telling everyone whether they care or not).
MILLSY: Really? I'm from Melbourne! When are you going?
ME: Anzac Day.
MILLSY: Oh. Oh, i'll be here in Perth then. Aw.
ME: (Thinking "Why? Would we have caught up or something if you WERE in Melb?" ...Mind races.)
MILLSY: (Goes on about Xboxs and 'man-ginas'.)
ME: (Thinking "I used to have a crush on you???")
...I swear that next time I name-drop, i will make sure it's the name of someone more famous.
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| bloody uni! |
[09 Apr 2007|05:40pm] |
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hand on your heart :: jose gonzalez |
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AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
kill assignments!
no more essays!
ignorance is strength!
(thanks orwell)
my brain is melting.
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| aaahhhrrrrhhhgghhhhuuuuh |
[03 Apr 2007|11:31pm] |
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Used to get high :: JBT |
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i have had an incredibly LONG, busy, stressful week ... and it's only tuesday!
Assignments, meetings (slash dinner with friends), assignments, articles for Pelican, work, the whole boring she-bang.
I can't remember the last time I was so busy. But it's great, I don't have so much time to think.
John Butler Trio's new album + barefeet on the shore of Matilda Bay = best way to chill out.
My brother's Year 12 Ball is tomorrow night. When did he grow up??? He's got the best suit (picked out with the aid of his uber-cool older sister, thank you very much). It's classic with just a hint of Neo/Matrix-ness. I hope he has a good time. Apparently he's going to the after ball party, which will officially make him cooler than me.
Ahhh god i'm tired.
I miss Babar. That was a bloody good show.
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| Melbourne!!! |
[03 Mar 2007|09:46pm] |
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What You Wanted :: Angus & Julia Stone |
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Woop! Woop! I have booked my airline tickets, it is official... I'M GOING TO MELBOURNE BABY!
April 25th: i will be there! ...only for a week, coz then my money runs out, but still. I haven't been out of Perth in over a year (Busselton doesn't count). I can't wait to taste the sweet East-Coast air! And party all night with Grapes... WOOT! yeah camp! yeah camp staff '05!
...hee hee. i'm so excited.
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| sudden urge to wear clogs... |
[03 Mar 2007|07:12pm] |
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tv in background |
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| Your Inner European is Dutch! | 
Open minded and tolerant.
You're up for just about anything. |
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| long time no post! |
[27 Feb 2007|06:30pm] |
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Ella Fitzgerald |
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alright i've been nudged by Grapes so I am posting an update...
started at UWA this week. It is mad-crazy there. I went to O-Day thinking "Okay i'll just listen to the welcome speech and look at some stalls and be home within an hour". Instead I ended up staying all day, and dancing in the middle of the sidewalk with a guy in a bearsuit. (All the cool kids dance in the Dance Square!) I also joined about a squillion clubs & societies (practically all the ones that weren't christian or sports-related). As a result of O-Day, I am now the member of Rotoract, the Debating Society, the Pantomime Society, the Italian club (NB. i don't speak italian at all), the Student Rights-or-something Society, and (weirdly) the Rowing Club. I'm going to be busy this semester...
now i am going to have dinner at the Mullaloo (or the "Woollamaloo" as Coop calls it), because it is the amazingly effervescent Neil's 22nd birthday today! He is now old. Ha ha.
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| 2007 = Year of the Kaitlyn |
[01 Jan 2007|09:18pm] |
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blackwater child :: fionn regan |
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My new year's eve was ... long! that's the best way to describe it. we decided to stay up all night and watch the sunrise from King's Park, which meant 24 hours without sleep. i don't recommend it. But it was an awesome night anyway. We did the countdown at a party in Carramar (Judes the Barracudes was there, my rock n roll nephew, a constant source of entertainment). I discovered that i am a trivia-ninja! i kicked ass at the Temptation boardgame. Then we traipsed down to south perth to hang out with the langford crew. we could find their house by following the trance music (shuunnnn-a!) Then the great migration to Kings Park. i was in a haze of exhaustion and hunger, which caused me to run around the whispering wall like a kid on red cordial. then something moved in the bushes and i thought it was coming to kill me so i hid under jess's doona. By 4am we were huddled together on the Wall, discussing the meaning of life and how long does the bloody sun take to come up already. it was worth it when it finally did rise; it was simply beautiful. it was amazing and life-affirming and as soon as it was officially day we jumped in the car and went for breakfast. foooooood!
next year im taking power naps and muesli bars.
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| sweets, and joy, and joyness !! |
[26 Nov 2006|10:32pm] |
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Fur Elise :: Beethoven |
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i think this wonderful occasion merits a post:
JOHN MAYAWER ... oh god i'm so excited i can't even type properly ... JOHN MAYER IS COMING TO PERTH NEXT YEAR!!!!
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
clearly all is forgiven. the stalking incident of '04 is water under the bridge. he will be here for the Blues N Roots Fest, and i will be front and centre, screaming and probably making an idolatrous fool of myself.
when i went to the last blues n roots, i ran into jamie cullum (constantly) wandering around the venue. perhaps this would happen with john also..? oh, a girl can dream.....
While i'm blogging, i might as well write some other stuff.
yesterday was excellent. I had a girly day with my girly friends: we all got frocked up and went to 'Escape to the Park' concert in Kings Park. it was beautiful. we spread out our picnic blanket and nibbled crackers and cheese and sipped non-alcoholic sparkling wine (high on life, people. high on life). other than an incident where a marauding duck tried to eat my toes, it was a splendid day. we ran around barefoot and giggled and barely paid attention to the bands (the Panda band, josh pyke, Sarah blasko, and others). kings park really is gorgeous. i should try to hang out there more often.
other news: my piano has been tuned for the first time in years. it sounds so much better, i could have hugged that piano tuner man. I figured a good-sounding piano deserves good-sounding music, so i am learning some Beethoven. i have nearly learnt 'Fur Elise' by heart on the piano, in less than a fortnight. i want to be able to say that i can play at least One classical song. And it is a beautiful song. I'm currently trying to jazz it up by doing a swing version of it. hehe.
and now i must away to bed.
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| a-HA! |
[23 Nov 2006|10:50pm] |
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Daniel :: Lior |
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Yu-Gi-Oh cards!
I've no idea what they do, but I've discovered a use for them.
Yu-Gi-Oh cards are the key to wielding power over the three boys I nanny. Every time I need to keep them in line, all I have to say is the magic words: "If you're good, you'll get a Yu-Gi-Oh card." Bingo! See how fast they move.
First thing tomorrow I'm running out to buy more of these wonderful cards.
Other good news: Last of exams finished today. I have officially finished an entire year of University. Hurrah! I was so elated, I danced in my car all the way home. I'm amazed I didn't cause an accident. I'm just so relieved that I haven't packed it in yet - I'm resolved to stick with this thing. And I love Uni, so it's not difficult. I love all the big words and the writing and the reading and the hanging out with intelligent people and discussing religion and politics and having a drink at the tav even though i only had a lemon lime and bitters but it WAS eleven o'clock in the morning after all and making new friends and learning new things like did you know that in medieval England it used to be illegal for wives to refuse sex to their husbands? and hanging out at the library and being a book nerd and sitting in the cafe and watching all the arty musos from WAAPA do their crazy thing and riding the train and the bus and talking to randoms about what would happen if you genetically crossed a human with an ape, and cherry trees in blossom and jacaranda trees and green green grass.
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[17 Nov 2006|11:46am] |
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quietly happy |
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Making A Fire :: Holly Throsby |
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It's been an interesting few days, what with concerts and gay bars and projectile vomiting.
...I wasn't the one vomiting, luckily for me. it was one of the kids I nanny in the mornings. We were all sitting around the arts table, happy as anything, until suddenly BLERGH, little Kane threw up. Poor thing. His two older brothers leapt up and starting running around the house, screaming about germs and yelling to each other "Put a clothes-peg on your nose! That'll stop the germs getting in!" Then I was trying to be a calming presence, whilst panicking in the privacy of my mind and trying to remember all the first aid I knew. In the end I got everyone sorted out, and Kane was fine, but while I was mopping up the spew and yelling at the two older ones to stop hitting each other, I couldn't help thinking, "I definitely don't do this job for the glory." Those three boys are testing my patience. But i'm not giving in.
The concert was slightly more fun. Dad bailed on his ticket, so I went with Mum in his place, and although it really wasn't my kind of concert, it was worth seeing the Whitlams. Tim Freedman was great entertainment - he rocked that keyboard. we also saw the Black Sorrows and Diesel (borrrrring) and Toby, who was pretty good.
Wednesday night, though, the real fun happened. Hung out at the Scotto with a bunch of awesome people, drank some awesome wine, and spent an extortionate amount of money on chips. I tried to pike it early, since I had to get up and work the next morning, but they persuaded me to come out to a gay bar with them. Being in a group with three lesbians, a transsexual, and my bisexual friend, I felt like the boring straight person. But they were very nice about it, and accepted me for my boringness, hehe. I went to the gay bar briefly, but it was dead and no one was dancing, so we went to the Mustang instead. They were playing "Switch" and "Gold Digger" so i was happy. All the men were openly staring in awe at Ash, who is sex-on-legs, and we had a laugh at the thought of how those men would react if they found out she has a penis. Lol. Eventually my lack of sleep caught up with me and i finally piked it. I got a msg later from one of the girls, saying that I'd missed the "scary lesbian mud wrestling". That's one experience I can save for later.
'Twas a fun night.
Other good news: I bought my Southbound ticket (YAY), so I will be camping in Busselton and seeing Modest Mouse and the eskies and Wolfmother! I am so amped up for it.
Well, back to studying now. Only one exam left. Then I'm free, FREE I TELL YOU! bwahahahaha
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| No more waitressing! |
[27 Oct 2006|09:58pm] |
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John Mayer |
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I just quit my job at the restaurant today. Woot!
I'm relieved, but also kind of sad. They're a really great bunch of ppl at Porto's - it was definitely the best restaurant i've ever worked at. When I went in today, I saw a couple of the chefs and told them i'd just quit. the guys had the kindness to look surprised and sad. i told them i'd still come in all the time to eat, but Ash shook his head and said "it won't be the same". bless them. then they suggested a going-away party. interesting idea...
so hopefully that's the end of my waitressing career. honestly, after 3 years in hospitality i'm well over it.
No more clearing dirty dishes!
No more spilling coffees!
No more yelling to a table of 30 giggling women on a hen's night: "WHO HAD THE TBONE??"
No more watching the happy couples go out on Saturday night while I run around in my smudgy apron.
No more serving embarrassing drinks like "Sex on the beach". ("WHO WANTED THE SEX ON THE BEACH?")
...Aw but it wasn't all bad. I had some really good customers, like the English tourists who got smashed on Sambuca and nicknamed me "Willow". And the psychic lady who spontaneously read my future and told me i would move to Bel Air.
I've learned a lot, and if I have gained nothing else from this experience at least i will always be polite to waitstaff in the future. I've even taken to tipping.
I'm going to miss Porto's.
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| oh frabjous day! |
[07 Oct 2006|12:22am] |
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Boogaloo :: the Cat Empire Project |
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calooh callay!
i work at a bookstore!
i got the job today! apparently they were impressed by how much i love books. Finally, being a book nerd pays off!
oh, i can smell the sweet scent of paper and ink already ...
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| dreaming with a broken toe... |
[28 Sep 2006|05:28pm] |
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John Mayer :: Continuum |
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i just heard a John Mayer interview on the radio, and was relieved to hear that he wasn't strutting around bragging about Jessica Simpson. urrrgh i don't even want to think about those two hooking up. But my respect for him plummets again, since it looks like he won't be including Perth in his Australia tour! Biatch! i knew it, i scared him away when i accosted him at the airport at 4am last time he was here. It's his own fault for making such damn beautiful music. Bah.
Last night was Elise's 21st, and it was an oh-so-good night. i didn't let my fractured little toe hold me back - i limped and hobbled and rocked out. i also got to break in my new digital camera (i almost literally broke it - i dropped it at the Leedy. but Cameron is a trooper - he survives to photograph another day). so i have dozens of photos of me and shayne making our faces as unattractive as possible. two glasses of wine was all it took...
Went to a CCUSA meeting the night before, and got all amped up about camp again. *woot* CAMP 2007 *woot* To go on camp and travel afterwards, I only need to save up about seven grand... ha ha... Ha ... oh crap. I'm so broke. But i'll do it, i'm just obsessed enough to make the impossible happen. next year i plan to work on camp in England - i figure Pommy kids can't be worse than American kids... i hope...
*yeah camp*
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| who's next? |
[09 Sep 2006|02:15pm] |
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 sad |
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Belief :: John Mayer |
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We've lost two good people in one week ... First Steve Irwin and now Brocky.
it's a terrible loss for this country. Now i feel guilty for when i used to join in the making fun of stevo. he was a funny guy but in the end we all knew he was trueblue, and he did more than his part for the environment.
A little bit of passion has gone out of Australia with Steve's passing.
A weird pattern is emerging ... Richard Carlton died while reporting, Steve Irwin died while shooting a documentary, Peter Brock died in a race.
With so many Aussie icons dying on the job ... who's next?
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