Currently...The Almost 30 Edition

Three more sleeps until I am thirty!!  What better time to do a currently post so one day when I am old and grey I can look back at what I was thinking/doing at the end of my twenties.  Or not.  I am feeling a bit over-dramatic this evening.  Anyway, here's what I am reading, watching and thinking about, plus some photos from the past year...

Reading:  Fables, Fables and more Fables.  I have mentioned before how much I love the Fables series and my awesome friend Clare hooked me up with a huge big pile to catch up on.  I never could've expected a series filled with story book characters to be so compelling and human.  This series has had me in tears, in suspense and laughing out loud.  I've also just read two South African novels for varsity: And They Didn't Die which is set right here in KZN and A Man Who Is Not A Man.  Both are such good reads and if you don't mind slightly uncomfortable subject matter then they are highly recommended!

Listening to:  The National.  A lot.  The other day I sat down and made a playlist of all my favourite songs and I have had it one repeat since then.  So often this band fits my mood perfectly.  Sometimes it even seems to fit the weather perfectly.  Most of my playlist is made up of songs from High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me which is weird because I very ambivalent towards Trouble not too long ago...

Thinking about:  Where I am right now and how lucky I am.  Sometimes I am tempted to compare where I am in my life with where other people are.  Especially people who are the same age as me and drive a better car, go on fancy holidays or just generally appear to be living it up.  Appearances can be deceiving though and I am making a real effort to stop that whole thing.  I am really lucky to be where I am right now.  I have a good job, an amazing husband, friends and family who love and support me and hobbies that make me happy.  What more could I ask for?  Except for a pug of course;)

Enjoying:  Roller Derby!!  I think this has been my staple answer for this part of the Currently posts for the last few months.  It still amazes me that I am finding so much joy in a contact, team sport!!  I even bought a mouth guard the other day...who would've thought?!? One unexpected bonus of roller derby has been meeting so many awesome new people.  Honestly, the girls that I train with are so much fun, so friendly and so welcoming.  Durban's first bout is taking place on the 16th of November and I am so super proud to announce to you guys that I will be skating!!!  Eeek!!  More details as they become available...

Watching:  The Walking Dead/Deadliest Catch.  Honestly, between derby, studying and French lessons I am not watching too much TV.  That said, I ALWAYS have time for these two shows.  Every time I think that The Walking Dead can't upset me more, it does.  So often when the credit's roll I have tears brimming or my jaw is dropped.  The season 4 premier is on Monday in this part of the world and I cannot wait.  Deadliest Catch is so ridiculously good this season...so much drama on so many of the boats and from the previews, so much more to come!!

Loving:  Orange flavoured Aeros, the fact that tomorrow is technically my Friday, birthday present anticipation (I am like a small child about birthday presents), quirky new jewelry, Ghostbusters, the Stinker's cage antics, warmer days and just generally feeling a little more comfortable with myself.

This post is inspired by the ones over at Sometimes Sweet.  You can check out the latest one here.

Currently...

New Dragon Ball Z shirt/Stinker/Shiny New Skates

I have returned!  Granted it's a few days later than I planned but still, I have returned!  I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have my exam out of the way.  I am one of those people that completely inflate situations in my head and I’d worked myself into such a panic on exam day, only to find that I had nothing to worry about in the slightest!  Go figure!!  Anyway, I thought a Currently post would be a nice way to catch up so here we go:

Reading: Right now I am in between three different things.  First of all, I am halfway through Moby Dick which I am finding so, so tough.  I am just way too tired at night right now to make much more progress which is why I am also reading The Buddha of Suburbia.  This was one of the first books I read for last semester’s course and I read it so quickly I hardly got a chance to absorb it.  It’s a funny and easy read which makes it a perfect alternate to Moby Dick.  Lastly, I've been catching up on the happenings of the Marvel universe.  Fun times:)

Listening to: Today I am trying the new Editors album The Weight of Love on for size.  It’s got quite an eighties feel to it but so far I am enjoying it.  I will keep you posted.  I've also been listening to A LOT of The National and I've finally found a favourite song on the new album:

 

Thinking about:  How unpredictable life is - in the best possible and worst possible way.  I'm not really going to expand on that but, as cheesy as it sounds, make sure the people you love know it.  That is all.

Watching:  I am still kind of obsessed with The Walking Dead.  Seriously, I can’t get enough of this show.  I am on to season 2 now and every single episode just leaves me dying for more!   We’ve also started watching Happy Endings which is quite fun.

Looking forward to:  Trying out my new skates!  Yesterday I bought myself a shiny new pair of roller skates.  I am almost done with my six weeks of Fresh Meat training for roller derby and decided it was time to get my own pair.  They are pink and white and remind me of marshmallows (see above)!  I am hoping that having my own skates will help me get more steady on my feet.  It also makes it easier for me to practice.  I still need padding and a helmet though...

Loving: Raisin tumbles, my new Dragon Ball Z t-shirt, not having to study until the end of July, getting into a warm bed at night, fresh bread and playing my favourite songs over and over and over and....

This post is inspired by the ones over at Sometimes Sweet.  You can check out the latest one here.

The Hurry and The Harm....New Music #5

I can't get over how much good new music there is lately.  Here's is whats new on my horizons:

Alkaline Trio - My Shame is True

My Shame is True is Alkaline Trio's eight studio album and was released in April already.  I was very slow to get a copy of it though because, well, life and stuff.  Anyway, Alkaline Trio are one of those bands I just keep going back to.  Even when I think I might have outgrown them.  I was lucky enough to see them in Durban in 2011 and got a signed shirt for my troubles...yay me!  Anyhoo, I'm a big fan of the single from this album I Wanna Be A Warhol but the song I really like is I, Pessimist.  It features Tim McIlrath from Rise Against so it's basically AWESOME. Take a listen:

The National - Trouble Will Find Me

I think that the two things I like the most about The National are the lyrics (they are strange) and Matt Berninger's vocals.  Trouble Will Find Me is not my favourite album but I do think that I need to listen to it a few more times before I make a final pronunciations.  So far the jury is still out on which song is my favourite but in the meantime, here is the single, Demons:

City and Colour - The Hurry and The Harm

Oh Dallas Green, how do you do it??  The Hurry and The Harm (I LOVE this name) is Dallas Green's new album from his solo venture City and Colour.  I suppose that since Alexisonfire is no more, calling City and Colour his solo venture may be a bit misleading because it's his only venture?  I don't know.  Anyway, while City and Colour is wildly different from Alexisonfire, it is still the same amazing voice just with a much more mellow, stripped down kind of sound.  My favourite track on the album is undoubtly The Hurry and The Harm both for the music and the sentiment



Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Words cannot describe how cool the album is!!  ...Like Clockwork is Queens of the Stone Age's sixth studio album and my favourite since Songs for the Deaf.  The imagery surrounding this album is very cool...almost post-apocalyptic and there is a rumour that the animation might be turned into a full-length movie.  My favourite track on the album is If I Had A Tail.  I also like Fairweather Friend which features Elton John who apparently volunteered as an "actual queen."  Fabulous!!  Anyway, the clip below is basically a taster of the whole album and includes the above-mentioned animations:



If you listen to or have listened to any of the albums let me know what you think:)

A Ton of Love

Have you guys heard the new Editors single yet?  It sounds a bit old school but I rather like it:

Jason thinks it sounds like The Cult:

I can definitely hear the similarity but I don't particularly think thats a bad thing.  The new album is called The Weight of Your Love and is available on the 1st of July.  I'm really happy that so many of the bands I love are releasing albums this year - The National this month, City and Colour in June and now the Editors in July.  It's shaping up to be a good Winter musically.  What releases are you looking forward to?