Thursday June 15, 2006

Eating cake

So. Still proud of myself for finishing that Difficult Song. Feels like a big achievement that one. Christine likes it - another achievement. She said she was glad I'd taken out the line 'It's a different kind of giving.' I got defensive and said I reserved the right to put it back in.

Oooooo. Touchy.

I *so* slept in this morning. Chris says I must have needed it - but I can't imagine why. I'm up and about now, with four and a half hours before I have to leave for home via an internet cafe. Quicktime Movie Ahoy.

Before all of that, I have to open my package. It's especially exciting because Day 6, unlike the other days' parcels, is a box tied up with tangled red strings.

Day 6 Care Package:

The box is full of shredded paper. I almost missed the white paper shape just inside - which is two pieces of white card hinged together with a gold clip. Together they make the shape of a crazy horse. Under the horse is a bizarre collection of trophy figurines - girls, gold-painted plastic, in athletic poses. There are three bowling girls and one tennis player in a Jesus posture, like she's giving us a blessing with her racquet. They remind me of school sports days - aaaah. School Sports Days. The most incredible feelings of inadequacy I think I've ever experienced. Nothing like it.

Underneath these trophy girls are a number of old-fashioned wooden clothes pegs. They look brand new - not used yet. They're so beautiful - such simple, plain shapes. They remind me of children standing in rows.

A rich booty, indeed. Where *does* Sian get her ideas from? Ha! isn't that a classic question? It reminds me of the stanza from Kate Camp's poem 'Millenium Funding Application':

I once heard a man ask Allen Curnow
where he gets his words from
and I will be sourcing mine
from there

Heh heh.

Just heard on the radio Bic Runga playing a Paul Kelly song. A simple, country style. I've already got some lyrics I might try and work up. So stop interrupting me.

x

I've finished another song. It's called 'I can run'. It's an alt.country feel. The children standing in rows are in there. So are the sporting figurines. And the title puts me in mind of that photo I took on Day 1 with the Cerebos Salt container in the background.

There's even some Julie Andrews hills in there. Not sure how she snuck in. Must be when I wrote 'tied up with string' before - it reminded me of that line she sings about brown paper packages tied up with string...

People! The gorgeous enigma that is the creative mind.

*clutches heart*

If I had to say who was musically similar to each song style so far, it would be:

1. 'Island' - Gillian Welch

2. 'He niho to te moni' - Cornerstone Roots

3. 'Harm' - Sheryl Crowe / Rickie Lee Jones

4. 'I can run' - Cake / Jolie Holland

I love Cake's song, I think it's called 'Sad Songs And Waltzes (Aren't Selling This Year)'. I think mine's got a similar lyrical feel, too.

Well. That was quick.

x

Just been for a huge walk along the beach. There were kite-surfers (is that what they're called?) and sand-surfers (is that what they're called?) and the island is so much larger and closer from up here. I am Starving Hungry. So I'm gonna pack up and head home, via the Internet Cafe and possibly even a cafe that serves actual food.

Not sure when I'll be back up to start Day 7. I'm going to spend some time getting my Dayjob under control. Plus I'm getting a bit sick of eating Fruit Loaf. But I'm aiming for Monday 19th. In the meantime I'll do a bit of blogging as I record the songs I've written. And I'm hoping the photos from Days 2-6 will be up tomorrow.

Tune in.

x

H