This isn’t really a review, it’s more of an acknowledgement that The Melting Season was a great read and that I recommend it. It’s the book that has made me excited about reading fiction again. And writing it, too–though that won’t be for a few years yet. (The book that put me in the reading slump was The Poisonwood Bible-ugh, the mere thought of it makes me sleepy.)

Visit Jami’s official site to read more about the plot from The Melting Season.

I loved how TMS flowed, and its easy pace. With the secondary characters, I loved the hints at their complexities, and how I didn’t have to be bogged down with their details. (Maybe some want the full details, and I have read other reviews of The Melting Season where it was said that the lack of details has been the author’s downfall, but I disagree.)

I want to say that the book is perfect. Purely because I love Jami (and have loved her since I discovered Whatever-Whenever back in 2002) (holy crap, was it really 8 years ago???) but I need to be honest, too. The truth is that I was continually wanting more from the book. That is, until I reached the climax.

When everything unraveled, I forgot that I had wanted more. I even had the tears to prove it.

On the point of wanting more, I have asked myself why. Was it because of a writing flaw? Or because it was Jami and I had expectations? Or was it because I was digging too deep into the character? I’m actually not sure. Maybe a bit of all three.

After my failed connection with The Poisonwood Bible, I really thought that my lifestyle had taken over my headspace and that it would be some time before I was able to process fiction and enjoy it. (Can you believe giving up on a book would make me feel that way?)

However, I breezed through The Melting Season; I felt the wind behind my ears and everything.

I’m so proud of Jami. I say that like I know her well, but I’m just a proud fan from the other side of the world, happy to have seen her come this far with her writing career. She has made me feel like I know her.

The Melting Season is not perfect, but it will take you on a journey. A great one. You might be like me and want more from it, but is that such a bad thing?

(Buy it from The Book Depository here)

I need to start with the song – Il Ragazzo Della Via Gluck – which is an absolute masterpiece.

On New Year’s Eve, my cousin played a DVD of Italian music clips. Il Ragazzo Della Via Gluck (IRDVG for short!) starts sounding on the TV (the version where Adriano does a duet with Eros Ramazotti) and I started to recall the melody from my childhood.

The next day, I You Tubed it, and I’ve been obsessed with both the song and artist – Adriano Celantano (AC) – ever since.

Now, I remember AC from when I was much younger, but the memories are more of his movies, rather than his music. There were many family occasions where we watched his films in our lounge rooms. Lots of laughter. He’s iconic. Takes me right back to the days when my grandfather was still alive. My (Italian) family loved him just as much as the rest of Italy…

I was too young to understand just how brilliant this guy is. Now that I am more mature (and I have my own ideas of what brilliant is), I reckon this guy is it. The more I listen to him and read about him, the more fascinated I am. I love watching clips of him. I think he is so talented, funny and rather attractive actually! That smile… he has a great smile. And his charisma just knocks me out.

Many thoughts have followed since rediscovering IRDVG and playing the crap out of it. (Neighbours have copped a serious earful, but they can’t complain – they’ve gotten a free trip to Italy out of it. Hehe.)

Immediately, I had to know what the song was about. I was very impressed to learn that mr AC wrote the song himself. (I think it was at that moment that I became seriously hooked on him.) The song tells the story of a boy from Gluck Street (the same street that AC was born in) and how he had to leave his house in the country for a life in the city. When the boy finally returns to his hometown after eight years, a city has been built where his house once was.

I know, I know. Sad, soulful. Something about the way AC sings non lasciano l’erba… chissa, come si fara… chissa… bless him! And to think that I laughed when my auntie told me that the English version was called Tar And Cement… I thought it was a silly title, but then again I had no idea about the story behind it.

It was Verdelle Smith who recorded the snappy English version in the ’60s. Reading the English interpretation (which is not a direct translation of the song) still managed to make me all choked up. And then Francois Hardy did a French version which is just delightful. Neither come close to the awesome original though. Naturally.

While becoming obsessed with this song, I have started to learn the lyrics. I know most of it… mio caro amico disse qui sono nato, in questa strada ora lascio mio cuore, ma come fai, a non capire, e` una fortuna per voi che restate, a piedi nudi a giocare nei prati… (hey, this is my blog, so let me show off!) (and no, I am proud to say that I did not copy and paste that). Reciting the lyrics aloud has been helping my pronounciation in general, and I have realised that I can probably learn more Italian by listening to Italian music regularly! (Meanwhile, the neighbours buy ear plugs…)

So what does this all mean? I am missing Italy tremendously… it’s revving me up big time, and I want to go back again SOON.

And then came the epiphany. Which is amusing, really. It seems that when we are younger, we want to get away from where we’ve come from, and when we get older, we want to return and rediscover our roots. That’s me right now.

Ironically, a few days after the IRDVG rediscovery, I came across a song that was doing the rounds on the net; this song is not in Italian or in English, but in gibberish, and sounds like what English would sound like to an English-speaking person! (Did that come out right?) I found it amusing to see people blogging about “some Italian singer” as though Adriano Celentano was some kinda one hit wonder. (Look at me becoming defensive already over him!) The song is Prisencolinensinainciusol. Warning: this song is incredibly addictive, catchy and downright brilliant. If you can’t admire the guy after hearing/watching that song, then there’s something wrong with you. ;-)

I’ve always thought Italian music was incredibly corny (the modern music more so), actually, I still think it is, but with AC on the scene I can’t get enough.

Other tracks of his that I’ve put on repeat are ‘Pay, Pay, Pay’, ‘Azzuro’, ‘La Storia Di Serafino’, ‘Ti Avro and ‘Soli’. Tonight I discovered ‘Un albero di trenta piani’. I’m loving it ALL… I’m just in love with the way he sings.

It took me 32 years to get here. It’s times like these when I can’t imagine my life without music. I don’t have to be a musician to feel this way.

But back to IRDVG – here are some links to support what on earth I have been talking about! (Note how the song builds up, the violins at second verse, and then the bass coming in later. Masterpiece.)

Here’s the original track of IRDVG

Great live version, with snippets of what he looked like when he was performing about 15 years ago.

Here’s the version that I heard on NYE. (Absolutely hate the way Eros starts it off but I do enjoy the little soccer championship spin they put on it at the end.)

Cute and young

A version with an oldschool music video to go with it.

And my favourite version online.

I told you I was obsessed.

I’m glad I was prepared for the challenge before I accepted it. I’ve been shooting every day anyway (I don’t leave home without my slr now) but today I almost forgot to take a shot.

I may be 1-2 days behind with the uploads on the photoblog, but at least the photos are being taken daily.

So, here we go… I…

• Threw my first, 1st birthday bash for my son
• Sold the TIW forums and gave up ownership
• Saw Simon & Garfunkel in concert for the first time
• Bought a house closer to the city and moved after 6 years in our old one
• Started renovating our new house
• Upgraded the Borderline Hippy website with new shopping cart software
• Went to the Royal Show for the first time in years
• Photographed a wedding at Adelaide Zoo
• Experienced a gecko in my trousers
• Engaged a builder for our upcoming home extension
• Started the Nifty Things blog
• Saw Pearl Jam in concert for the sixth time
• Bought a Sigma 17-70mm lens
• Did my first pregnancy shoot
• Held our housewarming party
• Started shooting in Manual mode only
• Closed down the Borderline Hippy forums
• Started a photo blog
• Started eating Indian food
• Watched my baby grow into a little boy

As far as major-ish is concerned, gecko included, I think that about sums it up…

Just like the rest of the world (well, most of us), I am excited about 2010, particularly with my professional stuff, our house and my darling boy, and I can’t wait to get stuck into everything. I only wish that the year doesn’t travel as fast as 2009 did. Wishful thinking mayhaps.

Thanks for reading my updates throughout 2009.

I must have been about 7 or 8 years old. On Mum’s recommendation, I put out a plate of Jubilee fruit cake, a glass of milk and a carrot stick (for the reindeer of course) by the Christmas tree. I remember thinking that my mum was having me on about Santa dropping by in the middle of the night, he was a busy guy after all, and I was thinking he didn’t have time to come and eat our food. So the next morning, when I saw crumbs on the plate and all the milk gone, I was gobsmacked. Amazed. As it turned out, Santa really did have time for us… I thought it was pure magic. For the rest of the day, I imagined how he and the reindeers entered the house, and what they thought of our house, was the cake yummy, did he like mum’s cake as much as I did, and I imagined it all for many days after that.

I would love for my son to have a gorgeous memory like that. Thanks to the girls at TIW for making me remember.

I thought I’d better get in now with my season’s greetings… I’d hate to get caught up in the next few days and not have a chance to post a Merry Christmas. It’s becoming crazy around here, borderlining catastrophic, but hubby says I need to be more positive so… get that list out Jen and work through it!

Here we go: I wish everyone a safe, happy, healthy and loving Christmas.

I leave you all with an image of my son trying to eat a star on the Christmas tree, a photo outtake from the session that gave birth to the obligatory Christmas card for the family…

It’s certainly a different dynamic in this neighbourhood, a whole new set of vibes, as I hardly ever spoke to the neighbours in our old street.

The feeling of belonging to a little community gives me the warm fuzzies, and tells me that it’s yet another reason why we have picked the right house. In the past, I had thought that it was better for me and my family to keep to ourselves, don’t know why, just did, but I no longer believe that… I find that if I am open with them, then the feeling is reciprocated. The guard goes down. I really appreciate the fact that my neighbours know me.

The craziest thing is that most of the time I am the one that stops and introduces myself. In my younger years, I never would have done that. So, that tells me I am growing as a person–I’m just that little bit more comfortable meeting new people. (My photography work helps in that regard, too.)

Another positive to the neighbourly chats is that I get a little bit of adult interaction in my day, as I spend all my time at home with my little boy.

And all of this has been helped by the construction work that is occurring next door to our place, spanning two blocks. The daily building progress has been a good excuse for all of us to get talking to each other (I met two of my neighbours that way.)

So, here’s to spontaneous chats, random smiles, happy waves and six degrees of separation. I love all of that, and I love the availability we all have for each other. Cue lame Truman Show music score, or something.

I’ve deleted my Flickr account and will not be using the ol’ Asphalt Eyeball photo journal either, so please bear with me while I tidy up the broken links throughout this site that still refer to the missing images.

Cheers.

There, out of my system. (Hubby is ok with it.)

Yes, it was another Pearl Jam concert for me last night. Sixth time, and the time of my life again. What can I say… (do I use caps to emphasise?)… the only way to do the night justice in words is to take you there physically.

Can’t really talk about highlights, I was on a high the second I walked onto the oval and didn’t come down until I realised there wasn’t going to be a third encore… hehe.

I will say though that last night was the most I have heard Eddie talk (like, ever)!

Musically, his voice has gotten so powerful now–not that this is news to me, but his capability was evident when he sang indifference…

Here’s last night’s set list:

Release, Why Go, Gonna See My Friend, Brain Of J, In My Tree, Severed Hand, Faithfull, Got Some, Even Flow, Johnny Guitar, Amongst The Waves, I Got ID, Small Town, No Way, Unthought Known, Lukin, Blood

1st encore: Just Breathe, Red Mosquito w/ Ben Harper, Indifference w/ Ben Harper, State Of Love And Trust, The Real Me, The Fixer, Rearviewmirror

2nd encore: Smile, Life Wasted, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter

I can’t not say anything about ‘Smile’. It was the first time I’ve heard it live and it was magic. The big screens were another first (in my PJ concert history) and oh boy, that was sooooooooooooo needed.

I’m just so in love with his poetry and perspective. It gets deeper as he gets older.

When I listen to The End (latest album), he sounds so raw and real and soulful and vulnerable and delicate and passionate and transparent all at once. How is that even possible?

Gotta say this, but I am thrilled to be alive in his time. Bah, I have no one to ramble on about this to.

One more thing. I have little lyrical Vedder moments (as I’m sure all PJ fans do). Yesterday it was “Better loud than too late”, which stopped me in my tracks, today it’s “Dream the dreams of other men, you’ll be no-one’s rival…”

I just want to relive last night again and again and again…

Very hard to keep a child amused when it is disgustingly hot, but I am doing my best. I took this picture today and it made me smile cause it screams summer to me — well, from my son’s perspective anyway.

As usual, I’ve got too much on my plate right now, especially with our housewarming next weekend. I’m supposed to be redesigning my online photography folio too but it’s taking a lot longer than expected. I won’t even go into whatever else I am supposed to be doing! The heat doesn’t help with motivation, that’s for sure!

So, aside from the washing being able to dry outside in a microsecond, and an excuse to eat a gazillion frosty fruits, what else are heatwaves good for? Meh.

Not that you’ll ever catch me bagging Eddie, but I think it’s the best album they’ve done in a while.

Excuse me while I go find a rooftop.