When did it become this hilarious thing to make fun of redheads? It kind of sucks. I guess it's supposed to be a joke, but it's hard to laugh when the joke is that you're a horrifying abomination. Fuck you, I have soul and it's hurt.
There are a million things that people say about redheads that become universally appalling when other groups are substituted in. Jews don't have souls. Friends don't let friends date blacks. See? You would never, ever say any of those things. I realize that it's not quite a fair comparison - the historical treatment of redheads is hardly as horrifying as that of the aforementioned groups. Regardless, the singling out and stigmatization of a particular group based on a genetic trait is never okay.
So I'm taking a stand. I'm not going to pretend I don't care because that the cool thing to do, or whatever. I do. It sucks to be made fun of, okay? Stop it, people. Move on! Find something to laugh at that doesn't involve anyone's feelings.
My style of travelling is panic. A quote from my journal, written when I was backpacking Europe by myself a few years ago: "Travelling stresses me out to an almost hilarious extent. I'd laugh at myself if I wasn't so sweaty with panic." I happen to know I wrote that panicked line while sitting in a peaceful train station in small-town Italy over-looking the sunrise over the ocean. I was even eating amazing left-over artichoke pizza from the night before! What on earth was wrong?
panicking in budapest
As much as I like to pretend I'm spontaneous, I do actually like to have every detail hammered out before I leave, especially heading to somewhere as unfamiliar to me as South-East Asia. I just spent an hour researching and highlighting the visa entry requirements for a bunch of countries I'm not going to be in for another three months. The health section of my travel guide is my best friend. I'm going to the pharmacy tonight to stock up on every medication I can think of.
I need to chill the fuck out. Parenthetically, I also need to clean up this blog's act, swearing-wise. What's up, family friends tuning in for the duration of my trip! Anyways, I'm going to spend the next four months trying really, really hard to try less hard. Relax and let come what may. Try not to hypochrondiac myself into having not only malaria, but also polio and probably typhoid and what's that rash? Yes, preparation is good. It's nice to know what to expect at border crossings and airports. It's also nice to be able to actually enjoy yourself instead of just freaking out about border crossings and airports. DON'T GET CROSS ABOUT THE CROSSING, LADY. Hmmm, puns.
this is basically what I looked like as a child
So I'll keep you guys updated on my relative state of panic throughout the trip. Hopefully I'll be the carefree child above, but less lumpy. Cross your fingers for me!
HAHA neverthreemuch just posted a photobooth retrospective. Going through your old photobooth pictures is actually awesome. Mine are all of me making funny faces, documenting my hair, or trying to get the cat to take a proper picture with me. The following four photos basically sum up my home life in Victoria.
Here are a few faves that I look really stupid in.
I call this: I just went on a boring date so I got kinda drunk and went home and took photos of myself.
nothing like a little face mask and glasses to brighten up your day.
elliot hates photos.
I call this: I didn't own a full length mirror and so was forced to take photobooths of myself. Don't judge.
So yep. All my time was spent making faces, drinking whiskey waters, hanging out with my cat, and improving my face with lush products. What's up! I live a mad life.
1. I have a debilitating fear of spiders.
2. I'm going to Australia for an extended period of time.
Obviously those two things don't go together very well. Screaming and quaking at the site of what is essentially just a bug is stupid. It's not even about the possibility of being bitten or whether or not the spider is dangerous. Nope, my arachnophobia is totally irrational and totally useless.
I'm trying really hard to get over my fear, mostly by using a technique my psych-minor-in-1978 mother calls flooding. Flooding is forcing yourself to face your fear in the hopes of getting over it, from what I understand. I started with pictures, mostly of huntsmans, a "disturbingly large" but harmless spider that's very common in Australia. Huntsman spiders are called just that because of their speed. Translated to human size, they could run the hundred-metre dash in just four seconds. They also like to hide out in homes and are often found in cars, shoes, and anything else that you would never ever like to see a palm-sized spider in. What the fuck, right?
After pictures, I moved on to videos. I've watched the video embedded below about six times now and it doesn't make me scream any more. I have a bruise on my knee from bashing it against the table the first time I watched this. If you're afraid of spiders, it'll be good for you. It's just a TV host playing with and explaining the huntsman spider. Plus, who doesn't like a little fear with their coffee?
So wish me luck, everyone, in getting over it! I'm genuinely trying.
Here's a fact: I write better, and more productively, when I'm sad. Boo! You guys don't really see any actual writing from me anyways (sorry!) but my journal turns from kind of thoughtful poetic shit when I'm down to exclamation marks and commentary on fashion and the weather when I'm happy. Apparently this is bad news for my (non-existent, non-desired) career in pseudo-psycho-psoetics. Anyways, please put up with me during my happy days. I am currently a big believer in the power of emoticons and hairbows, which says a lot about my emotional state.
Also, I've been kind of busy lately, hence the lack of the posts. Again, my apologies!
Thirdly, please remember to check back for travel updates over the next four months! You'll hear only the best stories about Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Expect well-planned shenanigans, poorly-taken photos, and lots of hideous teeth-baring grins. And safety. There will be so much safety. If I'm lucky you'll hear about Vietnam and Laos too. I promise not to bore you.
tincanheart+neverthreemuch go to australia starring jesi
tincanheart+neverthreemuch go to australia starring jili
Again, safety will feature prominently throughout our trip. Catch you on the flip side, babies!
I hope y'all had a really super new year's eve. Mine involved pre-party card games with my family, a number of whiskey sodas, a future optometrist, best friends/best bitches, a ton of (secretly kind of delicious) drama, and finished with a wallop of a hangover.
Want to know my resolutions?! Obviously you do. Here they are! I left a few out.
1. Stop saying like so much.
2. Chill out and stop being so anxious about everything.
3. Spend less money on coffee. I can live without that paper cup, can't I?! How am I supposed to make my hands look tiny if not by carrying around a venti americano! Seriously though, it adds up like crazy.
4. Be friendlier.
5. 497. (If you don't know what that means, you don't need to.)
6. "The past perpetuates itself." Let that shit go and live in the moment, lady.
7. Learn more.
In the words of the always wise Beck, "put your hands upon the wheel, let the golden age begin." Let's rock this year out, okay?
