#INSTAGRAM

Instragram is a form of online social media enabling its users to take pictures and videos with their mobile device, and share them on various social networking services like Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. You have your own profile, and people that follow you are able to see what you share & vice versa.

Today I wake to two new followers on Instagram. Ooh yippee!! Seriously a big yay – my followers to following ratio will impress not only myself but outsiders also. Because everybody knows if you are following more people than they are you, you seem somewhat of the creepy origin. If you are one of the lucky ones with more followers than you are following – it displays a sense of nonchalance on your behalf. People dig that. People want to friend people like that.
 I will now spend five minutes looking at each of the two people’s profiles. This will determine whether I find these people worthy of reciprocal behavior due to the images they posted on their own profiles. Judging them solely visually. I will then locate them on Facebook, and judge them to a more thorough extent.

For example:

·      Our mutual friends

·      The way their grammar is used (highly important)

·      Their humour and whether it is consistent

·      Their interests – because you guessed it, that’s all on there too

If by the unlucky chance that their profile is set on private – then we have a real issue on our hands. We may have to communicate in person without doing so prior behind a keyboard. Which we all know is when it’s time to shine. Time to use that confidence we don’t possess in real life. If their profile is not set on private, however – BAM! Within 8 minutes respectfully I’ve worked a complete stranger out (to an extent), without having to introduce myself awkwardly in person at a local cafe. Had I drove to that local café and met them previously in person, it would suggest warrant for their following of me. This - my friends, is because it displays a form of respect and appreciation if our encounter was a pleasant one. If the case, we will exchange likes and friendly comments on each other’s instagram images now and for all eternity. Because we are now BFFLS. And this is how social media operates.

Our new virtual Instagram relationship may also be determined by gender. If a female is following me – there are two possible reasons why:

1. We are friends & met in person previously (at that local café perhaps)
2. She is intrigued/perhaps slightly jealous of my life.
(Please note: you are also able to follow others profiles if they aren’t on private, thus being a perfect opportunity if you dislike the person. It is ideal, as you would prefer they didn’t know you did this, resulting in the classic ‘stalk’ session.
If male – we are also friends, but he secretly wants sexual relations with yours truly.

The bizarre thing is, you know these friendships are fake (Well, majority of them). You won’t see half of your followers for coffee. This may be due to the fact you are able to follow celebrities from A grade to D grade. So with that in mind, you feel numb. You don’t particularly feel anything. There’s no excitement. It’s just a habit. Perhaps a little ego boost if the opposite sex is behind the action of following you. But there will be no real communication from either party, apart from the add of the odd emoji suggesting they appreciate the image of you at a friends house holding a glass of wine in a face full of makeup ready for a night out with the girls in mayfair filter. 

Exhibit A:

bitchezz, baes nyt out yeww! <3 <3

That caption in English: “I am really excited to go out tonight with my girlfriends.”

Dictionary:

Emoji: small images representing meaning. Eg. J

BFFLS: Best friends for life
Bitchezz: girlfriends
Baes: girlfriends

Mayfair filter: Effect on image
Stalk Session: 3 hours of scrolling through one’s instagram images and staring at them pointlessly/repeatedly

When all else fails, write me a song.

I'm gon do it, I'm gon get all sentimental in this post. Here we go.

As some of you may be aware,  I play a little music with my youngest and maybe favourite brother, Mitch. (I write this in the hope that my other brother does not read my blog. I'm 50% sure he won't.)

If by the 50% chance that you are reading this Corey, well - I'm sorry...??

Anyway, the song I am putting up for you to have a look at - if you feel so inclined, was written by Mitch a couple of years ago.

He wrote it about me, when I was going through a bit of a difficult time figuring out where I wanted to be in life, career and love wise, and in general. And when I couldn't find the motivation or confidence to actually go and pursue anything.

The fact that this beautiful soul at the age of 18 wrote such powerful & positive lyrics purely just to help out his hopelessly dramatic and insecure sister at the time, (four years older than himself mind you) was enough for her to put things in perspective.

Now here I am, three years on - residing in a new town where I am studying a course I'm falling in love with. I have met new and interesting people of many ages, and I finally feel as though I am travelling down the correct road to one day love my future career. Maybe in writing, who knows. But I do know that I'm finally starting to love myself. For many reasons. And that was my sole intention when I started this blog. Win!

Anyway, at this point in time, it is now Mitch that needs me.
It is now Mitch who is going through quite a challenging time.
It is now Mitch who faces a harsh reality every morning when he wakes.

And although I'm unsure If I'm capable of writing such beautiful words to put into a song and sing to him, I'm going to do everything I can to make him feel like he made me feel.

Hopeful. Driven. Worthy. Loved. Appreciated. Special. Lucky.

This song and having Mitch there for me are big reasons why I feel all of the words listed above about myself almost every day.

I know I give you plenty of love in person Mitch, but here's a blog shout out, just because!
Thanks for putting up with me when I didn't do so myself, and thank you for inspiring me to go and chase those stars. Those stars I shine brighter than - according to you anyway, my beautiful bro.

Hope I can do the same for you. X

www.facebook.com/greeracoustic

Note: Having so much trouble uploading video, so video is on our band's FB page (above link) and it is our most recent upload named: "Follow my Sound". While you're browsing, feel free to like our page also! Cheeky plug. Hope you enjoy!

Paul, you are perfect.

I don't have anything amazing to write tonight on here. (I understand this is a writing blog, yes.)

I only have this video to show you.

All you need are your ears.

Enjoy.

SHORT & SWEET.

My best friend told me last night of a little story that made me fall asleep on my pillow with a big, cheesy smile on my face.

Her girlfriend Kendra works in retail and majority of the time it can be a very enjoyable working environment. Kendra, however, had one of those days. For those who work or previously have in retail - we've all had them. In fact, any one who has had to deal with a portion of the human population in some form has had those days. So let's go with everyone! Every bloody body reading this blog can relate. Special mention to hospitality workers - almost every time some one tells me they are beginning work as a waitress/bar staff at a restaurant or related, I can't help but laugh inside about the ghastly time they'll have, followed closely by an overwhelming sense of pity towards them. And then lastly I am aware of my content, morbidly happy I am not them at that point in time. I then go back to laughing again, in their face this time. None of this is deliberate either, it is literally an automatic bodily response. Every. Single. Time. (note: hospitality workers that actually enjoy their line of work - that's great!)

For my story's purpose however we'll relate to those painful, infuriating, soul crushing days with a retail example. Your day goes somewhat like this...

• Every customer is horribly rude
• They try on everything in the store but leave their wallets in their bags
• Every customer that is horribly rude is also horribly ugly (sorry but it's true)
• You stub your toe on one of the cardboard boxes in storage
• You only have a shitty salad for lunch & everyone else you work with has leftover lasagne and/or your favourite meal of all time (don't get me wrong, I love a good salad but I'm talkin' shitty - iceberg lettuce, icy cucumber and some leftover ham. That's it.)
• For some reason that same day your boss decides to despise you - just for the day
• You're asked those questions you have no idea how to answer, nor do you have the authority to
• You're asked why you don't know the answer to those questions
• You stub your toe again, on the same cardboard box as before 
• You get out of work later than usual, and by that stage you're already imagining the large McDonalds meal you're going to devour out of pure rage and self pity
• You eat the large McDonalds meal
• You hate yourself

NO ONE LIKES THESE DAYS, BUT THEY HAPPEN. AND I'M HERE FOR YOU.

Anyway, for Kendra - her day was beginning to look a lot like that one. DOOOOMMM.

I don't know exactly what the customer did to her, or how he treated her - but I'm certain it was something from the above examples.

He left her feeling terribly hurt, and in belief that her day was headed for the drive through.

In the late afternoon, this particular customer re-entered the store for the second time, carrying a jar of lollies.

He apologised for being abrupt with her earlier and said he 'didn't want to be the reason for her enduring a bad day'. BLESS!

Yes, yes he started the day off negatively, and I do not condone hurting someone's feelings just so you can be a big hero and shower them with gifts later. But - this little story shows a glimmer of hope in today's society. And I don't know about you, but it definitely brightened up my mood!

The lollies mentioned in this story. Gah - stop it!

THE KOOKS KOMEBACK.

The very loved british indi rock band The Kooks have let us all in on a new track - and dare I say it, a new sound.
The song 'Down' is set to be released on their upcoming EP 'Down' on April 18th of this year.
I believe this track will have a lot of mixed reviews, and mixed emotions.
For those who have been there from the start (myself included), this is a very different sound to what they first produced in 'Inside In/Inside Out' in 2006. Perhaps because they have appointed a new co-producer alongside lead singer/song writer, Luke Pritchard to work with on the album - hip-hop artist, Inflo.
Although this is no 'Seaside' or 'Gap' (Konk 2008), I can't help but want to dance as soon as I hear it.
It's a funky & feel-good track, and it grabs you right from the start of Pritchard's distinct howl.
I think if it wasn't for his recognisable voice, you would almost be unaware that this was actually a song by The Kooks. Cue in: Inflo. I believe that factor might upset a few fans.
I am still undecided on how I feel also, I know I like the hip-hop influenced sound though; regardless of the artist.
But then a little voice in my head, (and the one in my heart/ears) keeps telling me that it is SOOOO not the Kooks I know and love.
So do I embrace the change? Appreciate the genius behind it and look forward to the EP release?
OR...Do I cross my arms, shove them into my ribs, drop the bottom lip and refuse to listen to it - and try and understand why the lyrics aren't as meaningful as they are in many of their other songs?
Bear in mind folks that I DID say I'd try and be more positive this year, and I really do love a good track when I hear one. So for that, I'm going to stand by the boys and put this song on repeat.

Hey you, give The Kooks a break. I dig em, I dig em down down diggity down. Even if those lyrics are shit.

Jess

#UNILYF

This is a photograph of my desk for Uni purposes.
Am still wondering if it is only here for good looks, or if I will actually sit here and do work.
Either way, I like it! 

ADAPTING TO MY NEW LIFE ON CAMPUS.

Is it hot in here?
Is anyone else's palms sweaty and hairline a little damp?
Have you suddenly turned mute when someone (mostly a lecturer) asks you a simple question to answer in front of a handful of people?

If you answered yes to the above questions - then I'm not as crazy as I thought I was. You, in fact - are crazy also. Or possibly normal and completely overwhelmed by the first couple of weeks of Uni and with understanding how it all operates. We'll go with the latter option. Seems legit.

I do, however, feel a particular drive in myself that I had not yet felt for quite some time. And as for my course - so far so good! I'm loving our lecturers, and the new friends & our intellects combined.

I'm beginning to find my way around campus, though at the start felt like I'd never find the SU twice, and would imagine myself often re-enacting the scene from Grease where Sandy attends a new school and is late to her first class. Everyone stares at her and she feels like a complete idiot. Horrible reference, I know. Unlucky for me, I look nothing like Sandy. Luckily for me, however, I'm punctual with my time and I'm nice and early, securing a spot in the front row to capture the lecturers attention. And to maintain my own, because if I sit up the back I'll spend two fifths of the class scoping out the talent and picturing them as a potential partner, envisioning the activities we'll engage in together. 'Easily distracted' I believe my teachers wrote on my reports.

The LMS page I'm still wrapping my head around, and I haven't even looked at the 'Harvard' referencing tool as yet. Although Mr John Benson (not intimidating at all) re-assured us it was easy.

The cafeteria has pleasantly surprised me too, with an array of fresh options for the health conscious (me) and an array of hot, fatty food for the not so health conscious (me).

To say the least, I am beginning to really enjoy my time here at Bendigo La Trobe, and am finding a sense of relief that I am finally heading in the right direction to where I'd like to be career wise.

Hope you are all adapting to semester one as positively as I am, It has been nice meeting you all and I look forward to getting to know you as well.

Jess