So, I didn't get the job. I am disappointed, obviously. I did come home from travelling to apply for it, but strangely, I am not as disappointed as I thought I would be. Maybe there is something else special out there for me, I don't know, or maybe its just the wrong time and the wrong job, but it doesn't feel like the end of the world, not even close. For now, I am just concentrating on a couple of important projects I have going on, and I am getting a new car next week.
Cold wind on my cheeks
Dark sky descending
Busy city streets
People rushing past us
All I see is you
All I notice is your hand in mine
The litheness of your body
The hunch of your shoulders
Carrying your load
The shadow of where you shaved earlier
The way you steal your body against the wind.
The bus is crowded
A crazy lady clutches her candy on her way to the back
"After all the sucking, the fucking, the rape
You want me to draw?
OK, I'll draw
With who knows what's still on me"
She talks to no one in particular.
On the seat next to me
You angle your body towards mine
Looking at me, not straight ahead
You take my hand
In between our thighs
But you always forget about my sore finger
I say ouch, smile at you and move a little closer
I rest my head near yours
I like the way your hair smells
With its blue and burgundy patches
You like it tidy, ordered, slicked
I like it first thing in the morning
When your alarm goes off, you get up
Beautiful body, naked and warm
Hair messy, standing up, sticking out
You kiss me, and tell me to go back to sleep
I smile
It's late in the day
Your hair is messy, but I don't tell you
The bus lurches along
Rattling in the dark towards your place
I'll curl up on the couch, watch TV
While you work for hours
I'll wait for you, so we can go to bed together
I'll curl up behind you, arms around your chest
Face near your hair, talking to you quietly.
I went to see Pearl Jam in concert last night. It was very good, I do love them, and have seen them every time they have been to Australia. I also met Eddie Vedder once, he is an adorable man.
It was strange though, for liability reasons, they have very tight security, and no mosh pit anymore. It somehow seems so very wrong. The concert was good, the first of their world tour. They made some mistakes, but, as Eddie said, "by the time we get to Sydney, it'll be polished, it'll be perfect, it'll be boring", and he's right. He talked more this time than ever before, it was wonderful to have the crowd interaction. The energy of the crowd was incredible, with Eddie stopping singing at several points in the show just to hear the crowd sing - incredible.
My favourite part of the show though, was the political commentary on the war. The band sang, "War, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin' ", and had the crowd join him.
London was just as I remembered it – cold (in its heart), grey, and expensive! There is no love lost between London and I, but people I love, for who knows what reason, live there. So, to London I went. I stayed with the charming, and whip-wielding, Mistress LadyJayne. I had an evening reunion with some of my burning man campmates to drink wine and watch slides from the playa. It was a wistful and joyful experience all at once, seeing the photos of Raj’s, and how well they captured the moments, the days, the nights. Also there were Jon and Fai who I spent Christmas with in Northhampton, and I can’t wait to see them all again, so much so, that I have only been home three weeks, and I already have my Burningman ticket and flights for late this August!
One of the main reasons I went to London was to spend some time with my friend Sarah from Melbourne. Sarah moved to London to do the travel/work thing two years ago this month, and I have not seen her since. Sarah and I first met when she moved in across the stairwell from me when I first moved to Melbourne 7 years ago. The doors to our apartments were rarely locked from the time we became friends. Many a day was wasted playing Canasta, drinking Diet Coke, and smoking cigarettes (this is before I gave up!). It’s strange how easily one slides back into habits and routines with friends, back into that comfort zone. So of course, we had to get together for dinner, drinks and gossip. But, we also spent a week together in Prague, playing Canasta, seeing sights, and drinking at least a bit of diet coke!
Prague is an incredible place. I was last there 10 years ago, and much has changed, but the soul still seems to be the same, despite the tourists. It’s still gorgeous and cheap with lots of little interesting hidden places to find if you take the time to get lost and look. Prague fared better than most former communist states in their transition beyond. It was quite mild most of the time we were there, but the last couple of days hit –25. The day we travelled out to Cesky Krumlov, the bus had ice on the inside of the window! Cesky Krumlov is 3 hours outside of Prague by slow, old bus. It is one of the original Rose Towns, and largely untouched architecturally – its just stunning, especially with the dusting of light fluffy snow that drifted down while we were there.
I really enjoyed my time in Thailand. The warmth was a nice change, and the pace was lazy and relaxing – just what I needed right before re-entering the world. I felt like I was there such a short time, and wished I had stayed longer. I mostly stayed in Bangkok exploring the wats (temples), markets, and just walking around. I loved it, spending my days wandering, and the heat didn’t bother me at all. Seeing the monks, in their orange robes, the young boys with their heads shaved, everywhere was somehow strangely reassuring. Knowing I had to leave soon was hard, but I came home to apply for a job, one that’s important to me.
I stayed in the backpacker’s slum/ghetto area around Khao San Road – its really quite surreal, completely dominated by, and crowded with Western tourists. I am sure that some of them arrive in Bangkok and never venture much outside of the area – everything is there that they could need – accommodation, food, beer, cheap CDs, clothing, anything you could really want!
Being home is strange, but that’s another story.