December Girl

QLD flooding

2011-01-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

As most of you probably know by now (I've heard it's huge news overseas), quite a bit of Queensland (and NSW and Victoria), Australia has been affected by flooding. First of all, I just wanted to say that I am fine, but it has been pretty crazy. The last I've heard, the death toll has been 16.
Well, I just wanted to share my flood story...
It started flooding in Brisbane this week. I was going to iSEE, a Christian conference for youth. It was amazing and really eye-opening... We had some fantastic speakers like Reggie Dabbs (who was staying in the city and had to be evacuated) and Jeremy Johnson... It was awesome

This was where I was during the floods.

On the first night, we stayed at a house in the western suburbs. As we left the next day, we realised that we probably weren't going to get back that night. Luckily, some people were able to move all our stuff to someone else's house, and we stayed there that night. That was when it started getting chaotic as people discovered that their toiletries, towels and bedding had been left at the other house. Luckily, despite my bag only being half packed, all my stuff was there. As we drove to the conference the next day (we didn't want to take any chances so we took all our bags with us), there were heaps of road closures because they had been flooded, and yet again, we weren't going to make it back. We stayed at a house closer to the venue that night that was definitely never going to flood, and that was pretty much the only time we stayed in one place for more than one night. It was weird though, because where we were staying, it had only just rained a little, and there was no flooding. If it weren't for the news, we would hardly know what was going on.
On the third night, we had a flood appeal that everyone was invited to. The Planetshakers band was there, and it was an awesome night. We ended up raising $18000 towards the clean up and restoration after the floods.
As we drove back, we stopped at a suburb that had been heavily affected by the flood, just to see what had happened. I got some photos...

This is Brisbane on the 13th of January

Flooding at a bowls club in one of the more heavily hit suburbs - 14th Jan.

If you look in the background there's a car that was completely under in the floods. The police have shut this area off...

In the end, the flood peaked at around 4.46 metres (under 1974's 5.5m peak). Although it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, it was still devastating.
So yeah. My house was fine, but others aren't so lucky. If you can give anything possible, be it money, time or prayers than that would be just amazing. And if you're reading this from Queensland and your house wasn't affected, then please do whatever you can to help clean up your neighbours and other's houses that were.
xoxo

I'm so happy!!!

2011-01-06T16:17:00.000-08:00

My story was on the wattpad homepage!!

Read it on wattpad here. I kinda thought it was cool because this is the first time I've ever been this popular. Thanks to all my fans and everyone who commented and voted :)

xoxo

Top Ten Songs: January Edition

2011-01-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
I know it's only the beginning of the month, but I've found so many epic new songs since my last post that I had so much trouble not posting them all on the first of January... which would be pointless considering that none of the songs would be from this year... anyways... here you go :)

10. Pourquoi Pas Moi - Stella
This song is just random, but I love it

9. Kaleidoscope Heart - Sara Bareilles
This is such a beautiful, a capella introduction into her latest album of the same title:

8. I Am Strong - Tiesto feat. Priscilla Ahn
This song is beautiful and uplifting and also great for raving :)

7. Silverscreen - Jesca Hoop
I love Jesca Hoop's quirky but awesome style... sorry the sound quality fails, but this was the only one on youtube that I could find...

6. Songbird - Katie Costello
I love this song... sounds slightly like Regina Spektor. If anyone could tell me what the beginning reminds them of (I'm thinking a song from Rocky Horror at the moment but I could be wrong...) it would be much appreciated :)

5. 7 Heures Du Matin - Jacqueline Taieb

This song is so random, and the majority of the time I have no idea what she's talking about lol, but it's still a really good song.

4. It Was You - The Pierces
I am so obsessed with the Pierces at the moment. I love their beautiful, but slightly dark and always refreshing sound :)

3. What I Wouldn't Do - A Fine Frenzy
I've loved A Fine Frenzy for years now... This is one of the songs of her most recent album :)

2. Siren Song - Bat For Lashes
I am running out of interesting things to say that still sound literate so I'm just gonna say that I love this song :)

1. To The Grave - The Pierces
Yes, the Pierces. Again... Did I mention how much I love them? This song is off the "Love You More" EP, which only came out the other day (don't think it's out for America yet cos of some glitch)... It is just too addictive :)

Well... that's it from me now...
xoxo

Hmm...

2010-12-29T04:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back. Again.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are ready for the New Year. Did you get any good presents? Have you made your new year's resolution yet?
Anyways, this is just a quick post to apologise for being slack and not posting again and to introduce you to my epic new banner! *inserts many exclamation marks*

Well yeah... Oh and for Christmas I got a camera!!!!!! Here are some of my favourite photos:

Friends!!

This is actually quite a cool photo... Well, I like it, anyway...

I might be just a little obsessed with sepia. It's quite sad, actually.

xoxo

Top Ten Songs: December Edition

2010-12-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

Hellooo Peoples!
Yes. I know I haven't posted in ages. This is because I am slack. I am such an epicly huge slacker. All this week I've been like, darn, I forgot to post something, then, meh, I'll do it tomorrow. It's not like anyone reads it anyway (a handy little device called "stats" pointed this out for me) but anyways. I haven't even posted a Christmas carol... So here you go :)

Yes, more glee :)anyway, on to my actual post:
TOP 10 SONGS: DECEMBER EDITION
10. Juju's Theme - Undersea PoemIt's such a beautiful, relaxing song... Reminds me of Sebastien Schuller9. To Build A Home - Cinematic OrchestraThis song is incredibly sad, and it really brings back memories because it was my favourite song last December... Wow, it's funny how much my taste has stayed the same. Which brings me to:8. Butterfly - Katie HerzigAnother one I loved last year as well. I think it was one of the first songs I ever bought off itunes. It's such a refreshing, inspiring song. Katie Herzig is sort of becoming popular now, especially in the TV industry (Grey's Anatomy, various ads) and this is one of her best songs.7. Birds Fly Away - Theresa AnderssonThis is such a cool song. I spent ages trying to find the right word to describe it... I don't think cool works either. It, for some reason reminds me of Private Practice (well, the beginning, anyway). This song is epic.6. Let's Dance - David BowieOkay, lol. But it is a great song... 5. Alive - GoldfrappSo eighties, yet not... It makes me wanna rave (lol)

4. In the Morning - Fran HealyOkay, don't let the album artwork deter you. This is an epic song. Sort of like Greg Laswell or Gavin Rossdale. It's so beautiful!

3. Parachute - Ingrid MichaelsonThis is Ingrid's newest single and it is amazing!!!

2. Ships on the Shoreline - Unkle Bob

1. 1440 - Olafur Arnalds

This song is so beautiful, sad and relaxing and just incredibly amazing. I desperately want to learn this on piano so if anyone has sheet music that would be awesome...

Well... xoxo

The Daughter

2010-12-10T01:28:00.001-08:00

I finally started my story!!!
Here's the first chapter:

Camilla Gainsbourg threw the letter to the ground, with its freshly inked writing that could have only been her mother’s hand. It had been delivered by courier just a minute ago to her friend, Allyce’s house where she was staying. Completely vexed, Camilla turned to her friends.

“They’ve left. They’re going to Aii’Ha without me.” She whined. It wasn’t fair. Just because her father had big “important” duties to undertake didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy a holiday. Allyce chortled.

“Maybe they just couldn’t afford to take you.”

Camilla knew this wasn’t true. “Don’t be silly, Allyce. You do know who my father is.”

“Yes, we know. The first president to restore peace to the entire land of Amar-Eurys, et cetera, et cetera.”

Allyce rolled her eyes. Camilla sunk back in her chair, desperately wondering what she was going to do. If everyone found out that she wasn’t going on an expensive trip with her parents, they’d all be making up stories within a millisecond. Even worse, what if the journalists found out?

Noticing her dejected look, the previously-silent Lucretia gently grabbed Camilla’s hand. “It’ll be alright, Milla. You know Aii’Ha has been violent lately. Maybe they’re just trying to protect you. And think of all the fun stuff you’ll be able to do with us.”

Camilla pulled her hand away, then remembering that a proper lady is never rude, politely said “Thanks, Lu,” she bent down and picked up the letter from where it fell on the lavishly carpeted floor of Allyce’s house. “But I don’t think that really helped.” She glanced at the letter, and snorted.

“As we do not want you to become a burden on the Grainger household,” for this was Allyce’s family, “you will be returning home at the usual time when your sleepover has finished. I am assuming you have your mech-card as I cannot find it anywhere. Roberta will be waiting at home to look after you. We expect you to behave while we are gone.”

Camilla stifled tears. “Gosh,” she said. “It sounds so formal. Are they forgetting I’m their child, and not some stupid colleague or something?” Lucretia went to comfort her again, before Camilla brushed her away. “Well, it’s almost two o’clock. I’d best be going.” Camilla grabbed her bag, and pulled her mech-card out of her purse. She promptly hugged both of her friends, and descended the Graingers’ large marble staircase, opened the door, and walked across the street to the nearest transport bay.

Camilla waited. And waited. For hours on end, she sat at the transport bay, glumly awaiting the arrival of a mechcab, watching lives go on while she waited. Finally, a grubby man with a less than desirable air about him drove up to the curb. “Mech-card, please.”

Camilla pulled it out of her purse and handed it to him. He took one look and said, “Nah, this one’s expired. Ye don’t p’rhaps gots another one, do ye, lass?”

Camilla moaned. “This day royally sucks.”

“Sorry, lass. No card, no ride.”

“I hope you realise who you’re messing with! My father is the president.” This had to work. Knowing that she was the president’s daughter, he would surely give Camilla a free ride.

“A likely story.” The man drove off.

“This is preposterous,” Camilla yelled after him, then sat back down, gloomily. She’d better get some rest, she thought, because she, the daughter of the richest man in the world, was going to have to walk.

read it on wattpad here. I would love if you could also rate and comment on it :)

xoxo

Christmas Carol 7/12/10

2010-12-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

I love musicals and TV, so naturally I love Glee. Here's a little carol to wish you a very gleeful Christmas :)

This Is Why I Don't Use Tumblr

2010-12-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

Tumblr makes me laugh. So much.
Firstly: the massive crash that they just had. And all the hipster kids that died because of it. Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy indie things, but I still also enjoy paying out on idiotic hipsters.

Secondly: 4chumblr (taken from www.knowyourmeme.com)

On November 14th, 2010, 4chan (more specifically /b/) launched its planned campaign, Operation Overlord, against the blogging website, Tumblr. Anonymous began spamming shock images to the site and continually fired their Low-orbit Ion Cannons (a type of denial of service program) and managed to temporarily bring down the home page of Tumblr, although individual blogs continued to function.
In retaliation, the “hipsters” from Tumblr posted multiple images of cats to /b/ as part of Operation Overkitten.

That's right. Cats. Oh, you're so hipster. Seriously, when I think of cats, I think of cheezburgers and Katherine Heigl movies, not Arcade Fire-listening, triangle-loving people. This is kind of old news (almost a month since it happened) but I still find it funny.

Thirdly: Just tumblr itself. Everyone at school is going through an indie phase and it cracks me up every time one of them says "I don't ... because it's so mainstream"/"Oooh you so indie". Half of them have tumblr and I think that seriously, tumblr is for people who can't be bothered to write more than a paragraph and figure out formatting stuff for themselves. Basically, tumblr is blogging, for noobs.

Okay, lol. I just randomly wanted to post this cos of all the stuff going on with tumblr at the moment. If you do have tumblr, I don't hate you, but seriously: hipsters, you're not fooling anyone.

xoxo

It's Really Hard To Come Up With Exciting Titles

2010-12-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Blah. Uneventful day = boring blog post.
Anyway, check out these random things I found since I last posted.

The only reason this is so hilarious is because it is true... Gotta love weheartit

Lol, poor kid. More of these at www.damnyouautocorrect.com

Other awesome time wasters I have found these holidays include dearblankpleaseblank and good old stumbleupon. It's amazing what you can find :)
Since I'm pretty sure no one has viewed my blog since I first posted, I'm gonna keep on asking questions. What do you guys want for Christmas? What's the best present you're giving someone this year? The best present you ever received? Comment me :)
I know this is a pretty sucky post but I sorta felt the need to write something (so. bored.)
xoxo,
Amelia
P.S. just had the random idea of posting an xmas carol every day until Christmas (gaahh, that means I need to find 19!) Anyway, here you go:

Silver Bells - Meaghan Smith

Happy Sunday

2010-12-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Helloooo!
Well... today was interesting. I volunteered for lifeline gift wrapping and spent three hours in the shopping centre, wrapping people's presents. Someone had bought the massivest nerf gun ever and it took about two metres of wrapping paper (lol) to cover the whole thing. I would have to say the funnest one to wrap would have been a cone of ferrero rocher chocolates. That's right. A cone. It took three people to wrap. Regardless to say, it was awesome... anyways.
I just found this awesome song today (well, not found, cos it's been on my iPod since Tuesday and I just haven't listened to it yet) called "Movie Loves A Screen" by April Smith and the Great Picture Show. You can listen to it
here. It's really jazzy and catchy and really makes me want to just stand up and randomly dance somewhere. I won't, cos that's just odd. Also, since we're getting into the holiday season, hows about a Christmas carol to get you into the cheer? This is one of my favourite Christmas carols - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. I love the way Sixpence None the Richer does it. It's so beautiful and it nearly makes me want to cry (kind of weird since it's a Christmas carol, lol) :)

Sooo... I thought I'd kill not two, but three birds with one stone (gaahh I hate cliches) and introduce my story to you. I haven't actually started it yet but it's about a girl, haven't decided whether she's gonna be 14 or 15, named Penelope Gainsbourg. Don't, whatever you do, call her Penny. It's set in the future in sort of a steampunkish environment. There are two parties (groupy thingies, whatever you want to call them), the Colony and the Resistance. You get the picture. Penelope's dad is the President of the Colony and her mum is a well known actress. Therefore she is quite stuck up. Then she meets a guy from the Resistance and all her ideas are changed. It sounds pretty terrible, I know. Anyways, do you guys write anything? Have you had any amazing ideas but just never bothered to do anything about them? Do you write stories and then give up after a chapter? Comments, people :)

Post more tomorrow... or whenever,

xoxo

Hello

2010-12-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

Hi guys,
my name is Amelia, and my summer holidays just started.
I don't know about you, but I generally don't have much to do around this time so I'm making a blog, cos apparently, blogging makes you happier. Okay, random, I know (thanks "Girlfriend Magazine")
Yes, I am Australian, and I don't get a white Christmas which sucks, and considering it's like constantly 30 degrees Celsius (think 86 degrees fahrenheit) around here, I won't be spending much time outside. Besides, tans are ugly and who wants to get skin cancer, anyway?
Okay, well... about me:
I love music, especially indie, or at least music that no one's heard of. Pop music these days is just so, for want of a better word, immoral. No one really wants to hear about naked models and how much money you have while blurting out a couple of expletives every sentence. Anyways, enough with my indie rant. (I didn't use the word mainstream for fear of being murdered by hipster haters, lol) Aside from music, I love reading, writing and anything to do with computers. I would love to do something with musical theatre, but that's really unpredictable and you need to dance, which I am terrible at, so I guess I'm just going to try my luck at medicine.
So, this blog is just about my holidays, what I do, awesome music I discover, the random story I'm trying to write (it's probably not going to go anywhere), and just whatever else I think of. I don't really know how long I'm going to do this for, or how often I'm gonna post, but we'll see, cos I pretty much fail at keeping with blogs. Seriously, I usually get to about 3 posts and then quit. But that's generally cos I don't have a big fan base. So if you're out there, and you're reading this, give it a comment or something. You guys are awesome :)