Bought The T-Shirt

Day 30 - Self Portrait

2011-06-30T20:46:00.001+10:00

I'm shiny.

The End.

Day 29 - Black and White

2011-06-30T20:43:00.001+10:00

It's charcoal bamboo on white stones. Sounds fancy but all it does it get rid of pooey smells.

Day 28 - Flowers

2011-06-28T22:19:00.001+10:00

Day 27 - From A Distance

2011-06-28T22:16:00.001+10:00

Jonquils, jonquils over there

Day 26 - Close Up

2011-06-26T20:09:00.002+10:00

Jonquils, jonquils everywhere. Then my camera battery died and I had a choice of 2 out of focus photos. I chose this one:

Day 25 - Something Pink

2011-06-25T22:14:00.002+10:00

My pink and green alarm clock. I've had it since I was about 10. It's not trustworthy, it slowly speeds up or slows down and changing the volume will cause static. But I would never get rid of it. Cos it's awesome.

Day 24 - Animal

2011-06-24T20:00:00.000+10:00

Animal in animal print

Day 23 - Sunflare

2011-06-23T19:07:00.001+10:00

Sunrise over the Alexandria industrial district

Day 22 - Hands

2011-06-22T20:19:00.000+10:00

Just me and Leila.

Day 21 - Faceless Self Portrait

2011-06-22T20:16:00.001+10:00

Day 20 - Bokeh

2011-06-20T20:39:00.002+10:00

bokeh Pronunciation:/ˈbəʊkeɪ/ [mass noun] Photography
the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.

cy·cla·men (skl-mn, skl-) Any of various plants of the genus Cyclamen, especially a Mediterranean species (C. persicum) widely cultivated as a houseplant, having decorative leaves and showy, variously colored flowers with reflexed petals.

Day 19 - Something Orange

2011-06-19T20:08:00.001+10:00

My mixing bowls. They look retro but they are authentic. I think they were actually wedding presents to my mum and dad in the 70's.

Day 18 - Shoes

2011-06-18T20:11:00.002+10:00

These are my favourite shoes. I've had them since I was about 15 when I thought they were awesome. At schoolies I left them in a friend's car and then didn't speak to her for 3 years. When I finally saw her again the first thing she said was 'I think I have a pair of your shoes in my car' and so they were returned. The inside is falling apart and the sole has been glued back to the shoe a bunch of times but I don't care. These are my favourite shoes.

Day 17 - Technology

2011-06-17T20:17:00.001+10:00

I label my cables. It makes it easier. A friend (Myong for those who know him) made fun of me and added the label 'Grandma' to this cable.

Day 16 - Long Exposure

2011-06-16T21:58:00.002+10:00

Two things I learnt with today's post: 1. what long exposure is and 2. how to use the manual setting on my camera.

Day 15 - Silhouette

2011-06-15T22:50:00.001+10:00

I have a sheep on my head.

Day 14 - Eyes

2011-06-14T21:59:00.001+10:00

Mine.

Day 13 - Yourself with 13 things

2011-06-13T22:49:00.002+10:00

I went to the shops today and I bought:
a pot plant
wrapping paper
a garlic press
a seive
ribbon
tupperware
scissors
Grey's Anatomy season 4 DVD
a powerboard
a handheld juicer
scrubbing brush
cleaning brush
surface protectors

Day 12 - Sunset

2011-06-12T18:51:00.002+10:00

So I didn't get the sunset, it was raining all day so we didn't really see the sun go. So I made a sunset. Here's my thinking: the orange light and the animals walking off to bed. You follow?

By the way have you seen Wonki's and Tango's blogs?
http://iamwonks.blogspot.com/
http://nitblogz.blogspot.com/

Day 11 - Something Blue

2011-06-12T18:49:00.000+10:00

Some many things blue!

Day 10 - Childhood Memory

2011-06-10T20:06:00.002+10:00

When I was a kid my nanna had 2 tapes we could watch: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Wizard of Oz. I watched that Wizard of Oz tape so many times I can still remember when the ad breaks were. I was Dorothy for a while at that age. I had a basket and a toy dog named Toto. It's still my favourite movie and this DVD is well worn.

Day 9 - Someone You Love

2011-06-09T21:15:00.001+10:00

Well it is a good song...

Day 8 - A Bad Habit

2011-06-08T21:31:00.001+10:00

Well I have none but Polly chews everything...including camera straps

Day 7 - Fruit

2011-06-08T21:19:00.002+10:00

Shamefully there is no fruit in my house. Plenty of vegetables though...

Day 6 - From a low angle

2011-06-06T21:07:00.003+10:00

There's a big ol hole. Goes right through the sole, of this old shoe. And the water on the ground ain't got no place else it's bound to just creep on in.

Day 5 - From A High Angle

2011-06-05T22:29:00.001+10:00

I call them gymboots cos I'm old skool yo.....

Day 4 - Something Green

2011-06-05T00:01:00.003+10:00

http://nitblogz.blogspot.com/
http://iamwonks.blogspot.com/
^^^ check them out too!

Day 3 - Clouds

2011-06-03T23:52:00.004+10:00

On a beautiful winter's day in Sydney, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky until after the sun went to bed. Then it farted up a single cloud into the night sky.

Day 2 - What You Wore Today

2011-06-02T21:23:00.002+10:00

Everything I wore today (except underwear) all in one photo taken with the blinds closed!!

I'm so winning this challenge...

DAY 1 - Self Portrait

2011-06-01T20:43:00.004+10:00

Day 1, took a photo, actually took a few. Couldn't find one I liked, yeah. Oh and my car battery died, had to call roadside assistance and drop $187 to get a new one. Yeah.

Anyway, check out day 1's effort below. I reckon the cracks on wall behind me make me look like a mad scientist:

Well, hello there

2011-06-01T20:34:00.002+10:00

Hmm....well....I...um...yep yep yep. Let’s just move on shall we?

Check out my awesome new challenge!! And I not alone this time, check out Wonki’s blog: http://iamwonks.blogspot.com/ or http://iamwonks.wordpress.com/ then compare us and tell me mine is better.

Did Anyone See My July? I Think I Lost It...

2010-08-01T15:50:00.001+10:00

Dear Valued Reader,

Apologies for the lack of communication recently. We at Bought The T-Shirt have been experiencing a particularly busy period in the last 2 months. However as you are aware, this busy period has not happened in the areas of Things I Enjoy Doing, however we have been busy in our Things That I Have To Do In Order To Get Money To Pay Bills areas. Subsequently, our other areas have been overlooked and we sincerely apologise for this. Please understand that we are working on amending this by growing our Being Able To Say 'No' To Our Boss areas as well as downsizing our Must Watch Glee team since the season finale aired.

As time constraints have led to an inability to plan for the month of August, we will be running a series of catch up blogs, to enable us all to remain up to date with our Bought The T-Shirt knowledge. We will be covering topics from past months including, June and May as well as other months. We will endeavour to blog regularly and to include features such as photos and videos which have not been seen before. We are looking for forward to reconnecting with you would appreciate any feedback or suggestions you wish to leave.

Again, we apologise for our unusual lack of blogs of late, we appreciate your understanding during our busy period. We value your support and look forward to helping you grow and LOL in the future.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries.

Kind regards,

Kate

Bought The T-Shirt | Host and Creator | boughttheshirt@live.com.au

Mississippi Goddam

2010-06-15T22:06:00.001+10:00

After noticing a lot of covers on all the Nina Simone albums I've come across I decided to search out which were originals. I came across one song that I hadn't taken enough notice of. Clearly, not enough notice of because it damn near broke my heart when I listened to lyrics. Nina Simone was a passionate activist of Civil Rights and this passion was easily thrown into her music. In fact, at one concert, Nina Simone refused to play as her parents were not allowed to sit in the front, the front being for white people only. She refused to play until they were moved to the front. (I LOVE THAT STORY) Songs like To Be Young, Gifted and Black an inspiring song emphasising the beauty of the young, gifted and black people. And Why The King Of Love Is Dead written in memory of Dr Martin Luther King, and was first performed 3 days after he died.

However, Mississippi Goddam, is a little different to other civil rights songs. For starters, it is easy to overlook (or overhear?) because the music itself is a happier tune than the lyrics let on. You find yourself tapping your toe and joining in with 'go slow!' but when hear Simone's cry 'goddam!' you can hear the pain and exasperation behind the word. Even the line 'everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam' is so true, we all know it, the inequality and degradation we all know about it. And yet, these opinions still exist because inequality and degradation still exists. And don't think I'm just throwing stones at the USA because there is plenty in Australia too. In fact, just this week, an assistant coach from one of a major state football teams was fired over racist remarks, the incident has forced a player to resign from one of the year's biggest games and the press have been all over it.

Anyway, I've gone off on a tangent, sorry. But honestly, have a read through the lyrics below, they are well worth the read. They are so heavy and so heart breaking when you actually put yourself into the situation of being forced to feel it.

Mississippi Goddam (Nina Simone):

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Can't you see it

Can't you feel it

It's all in the air

I can't stand the pressure much longer

Somebody say a prayer

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

This is a show tune

But the show hasn't been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail

School children sitting in jail

Black cat cross my path

I think every day's gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine

We all gonna get it in due time

I don't belong here

I don't belong there

I've even stopped believing in prayer

Don't tell me

I tell you

Me and my people just about due

I've been there so I know

They keep on saying "Go slow!"

But that's just the trouble

"do it slow"

Washing the windows

"do it slow"

Picking the cotton

"do it slow"

You're just plain rotten

"do it slow"

You're too damn lazy

"do it slow"

The thinking's crazy

"do it slow"

Where am I going

What am I doing

I don't know

Just try to do your very best

Stand up be counted with all the rest

For everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

I made you thought I was kiddin' didn't we

Picket lines

School boy cots

They try to say it's a communist plot

All I want is equality

for my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years

You told me to wash and clean my ears

And talk real fine just like a lady

And you'd stop calling me Sister Sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies

You're all gonna die and die like flies

I don't trust you any more

You keep on saying "Go slow!"

"Go slow!"

But that's just the trouble

"do it slow"

Desegregation

"do it slow"

Mass participation

"do it slow"

Reunification

"do it slow"

Do things gradually

"do it slow"

But bring more tragedy

"do it slow"

Why don't you see it

Why don't you feel it

I don't know

You don't have to live next to me

Just give me my equality

Everybody knows about Mississippi

Everybody knows about Alabama

Everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Oh Nina...

2010-06-06T15:10:00.003+10:00

The one thing that is standing out more than anything else at the moment. Is the fact that Nina Simone was an amazing pianist. Seriously, amazing. She is more well-known for the voice and song writing and the activist side of her career. But seriously, so good.

The Facts On Nina Simone

2010-05-31T20:37:00.001+10:00

Born: 21^st of February 1933

Name: Eunice Kathleen Waymon

Birthplace: Tryon, North Carolina

Died: 21^st of April 2003 (aged 70)

Last Public Performance: Poland, July 2002

Children: Simone Kelly (and 3 grandchildren)

First Album: 'Little Girl Blue' 1958 on Bethlehem Records included 'I Loves You Porgy'

Releases: released over 37 albums between 1958 and 1993

Instruments: Piano, vocal

Little known: she suffered from bipolar disorder, also diagnosed with multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia

Degrees: Two honorary degrees in music and humanities from the University of Massachusetts and Malcolm X College. Honorary degree by the Curtis Institute.

Come On, Don't be Scared to Vote!

2010-05-29T15:25:00.003+10:00

If you feel fear at the mention of an online vote, face your fears and vote here and now. We will support you, and we don't judge. There is no wrong answer here.

Don't be scared to vote, just scroll up, look right, and vote. We believe in you! You can do it! Vote!

Some Wacky Facties

2010-05-29T15:21:00.005+10:00

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.
The majority of women count snakes as their biggest fear. For men, it's being buried alive.
Only 11% of people who admit to having a phobia have actually sort professional help.
In a laboratory study, rats whose amygdalas had been damaged showed no fear when in the presence of a cat.
The term for someone experiencing a heart attack brought on by intense fear IE: getting scared to death is 'The Baskerville Effect.'
According to Robert Leahy, president of the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy, the average child today, has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950s.
US teenagers were surveyed about their fears and the top ten in order were: terrorist attacks, spiders, death, being a failure, war, heights, criminal or gang violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war.
According to Qigong Energy Healing, fear is stored in the kidneys.

Have You Voted Yet?

2010-05-29T15:21:00.004+10:00

No, you haven't? Well get to it! Look right and up. Your vote is only 2 clicks away!

Small Apology

2010-05-22T23:10:00.001+10:00

Just a quick note to apologise for how little time I have spent on May's challenge. May's personal challenge has included a lot of hours at work and being slightly overwhelmed with, well everything. But we still learnt a few things. Like what an amygdala is. And where an amygdala is.

So June's challenge is going to be something I can tie in a little better. Yeah, yeah I promise and I promise and what do I deliver? Not a whole lot! But I promise this one'll be different! June's challenge is going back to my first love. Back to the one and only that holds my heart and interest like nothing else can. Music. I need to discover a new artist and you will decide who.

#1 Led Zeppelin

#2 Bob Dylan

#3 Queen

#4 Eric Clapton

#5 Eminem

#6 Elvis Presley

#7 Nina Simone

#8 AC/DC

#9 Nirvana

#10 Radiohead

These are all bands/artists that I am familiar with but would like to know more on. Be prepared for reviews, bios, best covers, discographies and anything other tid bit I can find. So if there is one on that list you want to know more about, or if there is one on that list that you are shocked I don't know enough about, vote for it!

Fear On The Brain

2010-05-22T22:59:00.001+10:00

The timeline of fear is mapped in the brain as such: the thalamus collects information from your senses. When you see or hear etc a possible threat the thalamus sends the information to the sensory cortex and the amygdala. The amygdala reacts to the information by triggering the physiological response that we experience and call fear. The amygdala communicates with necessary regions of the brain to release hormones and change respiratory and motor functions. This is when the heart races, the hands shake, the body sweats etc. At the same time the information is being assessed by the cortex in greater detail. If it needs a response from the body, the amygdala has already prepared the body for action. However if the cortex perceives the information to be non-threatening and therefore no action is required, we feel a sense of relief as our body returns to normal.

The Who, What, Where and Why

2010-05-08T11:06:00.001+10:00

Who? – Everyone experiences fear! From around the age of 7 months we show signs of feeling fear. Poor little things not only experience fear, they tend to fear more than grownups and experience these fears to a greater degree. Don't downgrade the extent of the boogie man's scare power. Apparently, the middle child, too busy thinking 'Marcia, Marcia, Marcia', experience less fear than their siblings do. But yes, we all experience fear, some of us even like it, some of us make a lot of money from it, think of the extreme sports industry and roller coasters!

What? – Fear is experienced on two levels, biochemical and emotional. The biochemical reaction is the one we don't control, it controls us. It's the sweating, increased heart rate, increased adrenaline levels, increased breathing rate that we feel in the first seconds of experiencing fear. This physical response is better known as 'fight or flight'; it is the body getting ready to fight for itself or to run for its life. It is what keeps us alive in sticky situations. Whether you need to fight or flee, your body will need all of its resources so it prepares by releasing hormones to cause changes to heart rate, digestive system, the nervous system and more. I must admit this part intrigues me and I will have more on this part later. The emotional side is personalised and differs from person to person. Think back to the adrenaline junkies who do crazy things just to feel fear. Then are those you will do anything to avoid it, and develop debilitating and prolonged phobias in response to experiencing fear. Again, there will be more on this later.

Where? – Your brain! Like almost everything else, it starts at the top. Your nervous system will release hormones that change your heart rate, that's why you feel it in your chest. Blood is diverted from where it is not needed to where it is (i.e.: your middle) which is why your hands go cold, the blood rushes from your face and you may even faint.

Why? – We have already touched on the why and why not? The why is tied into the what. When you are in situation that may cause you harm, your body reacts. It wakes itself up, dusts itself off and says 'right what's going on here?' Then it gets ready to survive. Whether that is to fight or to run, it will still result in a large effort and to put that effort in, the body does the previously mentioned hormone business. Keep in mind that fear is different to anxiety. Fear is the specific and sudden response to danger. Anxiety is often out of proportion to the threat perceived. And a phobia is the lasting effects of fear, not fear itself.

Well, that's all the basics done, I think. Class, any questions?

The May Challenge Begins!

2010-05-01T21:43:00.004+10:00

It is the merry month of May and we going to learn about a not so merry topic of 'The emotion fear' thanks to Camilla for challenging this month. Camilla: challenge accepted! Big thank you to everyone who voted! Check out the first vlog for this challenge here:

30th of April

2010-05-01T20:41:00.003+10:00

30th of April: Beautiful Sydney, how could I not photograph this view? Birchgrove, Sydney, NSW.

29th of April

2010-05-01T20:39:00.004+10:00

29th of April: It's always Happy Hour somewhere and it's always bin night somewhere. Concord West, NSW.

28th of April

2010-05-01T20:38:00.003+10:00

28th of April: Just outside the train station, yeah I'm all about trains now. Concord West, Sydney, NSW.

27th of April

2010-05-01T20:36:00.002+10:00

27th of April: Sitting on the train, and the train was moving so it's a little blurry, sorry. Going past MacDonaldtown station, Sydney, NSW.

26th of April

2010-04-27T19:37:00.002+10:00

26th of April: Looking back at the sky doing pretty things, Rhodes, Sydney, NSW.

The May Challenge – Vote Now!

2010-04-26T13:11:00.001+10:00

In May I am going to learn and then teach it to you! That is the theme, so what is the topic? Well thanks to the lovely people who laid down a challenge, we are now ready to vote!

#1 – Mahatma Ghandi (Thanks Camilla!)

#2 – Knitting (Thanks Liz!)

#3 – Greek mythology (Thanks Cori!)

#4 – The emotion fear (Thanks again Camilla!)

Okay, get voting so I can learning!

25th of April

2010-04-26T12:56:00.003+10:00

25th of April: ANZAC Day is celebrated on this day every year to remember Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought for their country. There are remembrance services, parades and gambling game that is only legal on this day each year. There is also a lot army, navy and RAAF people wandering around and lots of beer. It is a good day to be Australian! This photo is taken at the Kokoda War Memorial at Rhodes, NSW.

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.asp

24th of April

2010-04-26T12:54:00.003+10:00

24th of April: One of my favourite Saturday things to do is visit Glebe Markets. I took this photo from the park down the road from markets. Yes that is a goose in the background. Broadway, Sydney, NSW.

The May Challenge

2010-04-24T09:59:00.002+10:00

Voting will go up tomorrow for May's challenge. We are going to learn something new! What, you ask? I don't know, you get to pick the topic! Get your last minute suggestions in here, right now and get ready to vote from tomorrow onwards!

23rd of April

2010-04-24T09:57:00.002+10:00

23rd of April: My favourite time of day, not the sunset, I am leaving work for the day! Rosebery, Sydney, NSW.

22nd of April

2010-04-24T09:56:00.004+10:00

22nd of April: Sitting on the train as it pulled into Central Station, Sydney, NSW.

21st of April

2010-04-24T09:53:00.003+10:00

21st of April: The odd statue thing outside the train station at Green Square, Sydney, NSW.

20th of April

2010-04-20T20:21:00.003+10:00

20th of April: Looking in on the doorway of a local church. St Ambrose, Concord West, Sydney, NSW.

19th of April

2010-04-20T20:17:00.002+10:00

19th of April: Did you notice? Did you see what I did? After a battery change I reset the date. To the WRONG DATE! There are two 19s! Aaah!! My anal retentiveness is falling down around my ears. I feel so dirty. Anyway, this 19 which is actually the 19th, was taken on a train heading into Central station, Sydney, NSW.

The May Challenge!

2010-04-18T21:26:00.002+10:00

What's going to happen in May?! You get to challenge, this time there is a theme and that theme is learning, so challenge me a topic or subject that you want me to learn and then share my knowledge back with you! It's time for some thinking caps people!

18th of April

2010-04-18T20:54:00.004+10:00

18th of April: Did my usual walk again today which takes me past some horse agistment paddocks. When I took this photo I didn't realise I had left the flash on which freaked out the poor horse. I felt terrible, she's about 106 years old and I think I took about 8 years off her life! Lots of pats and hand feeding some fresh green grass and she was happy again. Concord West, Sydney, NSW.

17th of April

2010-04-17T18:51:00.002+10:00

17th of April: This looks like it was taken from the depths of Australian bush, with the mangroves and grass and all the rest, but actually it's about 15 mins walk from my house in the suburbs of Sydney and just out of shot on the other side of the water is a bunch of housing developments! Concord West, Sydney, NSW.

16th of April

2010-04-17T13:40:00.004+10:00

16th of April: Outside the biggest Ikea in the southern Hemisphere! Not that you can see the sign like I wanted because it was night, this whole job business makes taking a daily photo of an object a little tricky! But that makes this photo particularly arty. By the way, it's not rain that's just how dirty my windshield is, didn't realise until I took the photo though. Rhodes, Sydney, NSW.

15th of April

2010-04-15T22:01:00.003+10:00

15th of April: The carpark of my local library, at night so it was closed but you get the idea! Concord, Sydney, NSW.

14th of April

2010-04-15T21:59:00.003+10:00

14th of April: Inside the train station at Green Square, Sydney, NSW. I took this photo a little too quickly because I was embarrassed. There were a lot of people looking at me funny. See what you make me do for you!

13th of April

2010-04-13T21:47:00.003+10:00

13th of April: My lunch spot. Beaconsfield, Sydney, NSWPS: sorry to have clogged your blogger dashboard but I am anal retentive and wanted all the entries to look the same!

12th of April

2010-04-13T21:46:00.003+10:00

12th of April: 1st day of my new job! I now spend lots of time on trains and train stations like this one! Concord West, Sydney, NSW

11th of April

2010-04-13T21:44:00.001+10:00

11th of April: Bondi Beach! Australia's most famous beach, on a sunny day, packed with people. Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW.

10th of April

2010-04-13T21:43:00.002+10:00

10th of April: The wall of a shop near my house, Concord West Sydney NSW

9th of April

2010-04-13T21:41:00.002+10:00

9th of April: A park on one of the streets of Haberfield. It was the dark and the street lights weren't doing a very good job, Haberfield, Sydney, NSW.

8th of April

2010-04-13T21:39:00.002+10:00

8th of April: Ron Routley Oval playground behind the Concord RSL, Concord West Sydney, NSW

7th of April

2010-04-13T21:37:00.002+10:00

7th of April: The 'Baywalk' as it is known around the inner west of Sydney. A park near a 7km walk, Five Dock, Sydney, NSW.

6th of April

2010-04-13T21:35:00.003+10:00

6th of April: Inside my car on the way from Byron Bay to Sydney. Um...it was somewhere before Newcastle, I think...

5th of April

2010-04-13T21:34:00.001+10:00

5th of April: Balloon take off/lift off behind a row of tents at Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW

Map: see 1st of April

4th of April

2010-04-13T21:33:00.003+10:00

4th of April: Sitting on a bench overlooking the beach at Byron Bay, NSW.

3rd of April

2010-04-13T21:30:00.003+10:00

3rd of April: Looking at the Caba Caba Ray tent at Bluesfest 2010. Byron Bay NSW

2nd of April

2010-04-13T21:28:00.001+10:00

2nd of April: Inside my tent, watching the grass make shadow puppets. Bryon Bay, NSW

Map: see above

1st of April

2010-04-13T21:24:00.002+10:00

1st of April: Inside my tent at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Northern NSW

Hello April!

2010-04-09T15:31:00.013+10:00

Hello and Happy Easter! I know it's late but I am back now with the 1st 6 photos from April's challenge. The first part of the challenge was to find an object to photograph each day this month. I staying in a tent next door to a music festival in beautiful Byron Bay on the 1st of April so my object is an empty water bottle, found on the floor of my tent, filled with stones and grass from directly outside my tent. I have photographed this bottle everyday since then in a setting that reflects what I did that day, when possible, sometimes I just took it anywhere! Maps are on their way, they are little bit trickier but so far here are some photos:

1/4: Looking out through the window of my tent.

2/4: Looking at shadows of grass from inside my tent.

3/4: Looking at the Caba Caba Ray Tent (the stripey one) at Bluesfest 2010.

4/4: Sitting on a bench overlooking Byron Bay Beach.

5/4: Randomly saw a balloon taking off (lifting off? what to you say for a balloon?)

6/4: Driving the 9 hours back to Sydney. This is somewhere before Newcastle (so I was about 3 hours away from home still)

That's all I have to upload today, I will do another catch up tomorrow, then start putting maps and photos each day!

The March Challenge Completed

2010-03-31T00:06:00.003+11:00

Okay, so here it is. You are about to see a month's work from me. And let me start by saying it didn't come out the way I planned. Yeah, it's not great, sorry. It's been a long build up and the plans were awesome but the execution, not so awesome. It seems to be a theme for me. Anyway, I still have a little goal for the video to get 1000 views which seems crazy but I have had other videos (not on this channel don't check and think I'm lying) get that many unexpectedly. So, once you've watched it...watch it again! Then make someone else watch it. Sorry it's not better. I am out of the blogworld until after Easter so I am hoping to have a few views by the time I get back and hopefully not a whole bunch of "unsubscribe" and "no longer following." Or am I being over dramatic now? Nope, just stalling.

Well wait no longer here it is:

What did you think?

And the April Challenge Is...

2010-03-30T23:53:00.002+11:00

Find an object and take a photo each day of it in a different location!! Thanks Luís Campião for challenging me, sir I accept! So I am to find an object and take a photo of this object in a different location each day as well as provide maps of these locations by tracing over street maps onto transparent paper. That last part will be a little tricky, but that is the point of a challenge am I right? So tomorrow I leave for a holiday which means that the first day of my April challenge and therefore the day that I must find the object of which I am to photograph for a month is going to be found in festival campsite in Byron Bay. Gosh, I am such a hippie. Anyway, I will not be checking into the blog until after Easter so have happy one if you are celebrating it otherwise have a great weekend!

The April Vote

2010-03-25T13:42:00.002+11:00

It's that time again! Time to vote! Here are you're options:

#1 Go vegetarian for a month

#2 Find an object and take a photo of it in different locations

#3 Plant something everyday

#4 Master a new hobby

#5 Start a collection

Thanks to Camilla (#1), Luís Campião (#2), Liz (#3), Cori (#4) and thylaylii (#5) for challenging me and thanks to the others that set a challenge too!

More voting will take place for #4 and #5 and more detail will go into #2 but right now all you have to do is vote!

And We’re Almost There!

2010-03-20T17:40:00.002+11:00

Preproduction: tick, production: tick, post production: just starting. Every photo I need has been taken! In my usual fashion I have managed to take things a little too seriously, I have spent the best part of a week sourcing props, sewing costumes and pulling apart dolls. I've wound wool around wire to ensure realistic hair movement. I've drawn leaves in different positions so they move in the breeze. I spent the entire night taking photos to ensure a stable lighting environment. Yep, I've lost my mind to the stop motion animation world. And I love it. Nothing better than being taken over by a new obsession that started as a hobby. Being completely committed and inspired to create is awesome, I just wish someone would pay me to do it! Plus the accountability (that's you) is also very helpful.

Well, although I am around halfway through, I am not all the way through so I will go back to composition and editing. Stay tuned, you will get to view the whole thing before the end of March.

Interactive Tuesday

2010-03-16T17:09:00.002+11:00

Challenge me!! Go on, you know you want to, make it about anything, seriously anything, get it off your chest and into the comment section below. New updates about the stop motion animation coming up soon!

Aaaahhhh!

2010-03-11T10:46:00.001+11:00

Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. It's not that bad, it's just not where I wanted it to be (story of my life!) I had made a little schedule for getting my stop motion animation from my head to your screen by the end of the month that was basically as follows:

By the 10^th – all pre-production to be completed, plans, props etc.
By the 20^th – all production to be completed, all photos and footage to be taken.
By the 31^st – all the post production to be completed and video posted, including music and a little making of video

But today is the 11^th and I am not close to finishing the pre-production because I can't find the props I need! I am trying today to find the little dolls for the last time and if I don't find them, well...back to square one.

I recently lamented to someone that everything that I try, fails. Every time that I give something a go, even if it kind of works out it's still not what I wanted. I figured the problem was me. This someone told me that when we are used to looking for a pattern, we see it easily. Like when you buy a new car and you suddenly notice that that model of car is everywhere. However, if you are not used to looking for something, such as small amounts of success, it is harder to find. Sucks to be pessimistic. So although this problem may not seem as bad as all that, or that it is a problem to revaluate yourself over, the situation is this: When you have one problem, you get over it and move on right? But when it's the 20^th in a row that has gone wrong, well then it makes you stop and think, no matter how small it is. But the only person who thinks that it is the 20^th in a row is you. Someone else may look and find 20 wins in between all your losses but you are programmed to not see the wins. A little too self-help guru for this early in the morning I know, but it helped me a little and figured it may just help someone else too!

So I will go out today in search of my missing props and even if I don't find them, I will find something else to use. You are all so polite and supportive, I'm sure you'll still like it! Hope you are having a lovely March; it's starting to get cold here in Sydney which is a nice change after a very hot summer. I will update you on my progress soon!

February Wrap Up

2010-03-04T17:18:00.003+11:00

February is long gone so I am here to wrap up the month that was. After finding an interesting book in the gift section of a bookstore I decided to buy it. This book was called This Is Not A Book created by Keri Smith and inside it was full of odd things to do such as “Hold the book over your head for as long as possible and write your time here...” Now, blogging and vlogging was something I had thought about up until this time with no ideas about how and where to start. In this book that is not a book, I saw both. So with a challenge set by myself to myself of completing every page’s activity by the end of the month which equated to about 7 pages a day I embarked on my blogging and vlogging premier. Seeing as I am going on 6 months unemployed, free time is something I have plenty of. Now I will be honest and admit that even with all my free time, the end of February I got a little burnt out from other things and didn’t really finish EVERY page until the 3rd of March. I know, I lied a little and I’m sorry!

Thankfully, my idea of using up a bit of time has succeeded, I am busy both finalising challenges as well as delving into the world of blogs. It has been nice after having no routine for so long, to now be accountable and active every day. Love having something to do! What I also love is when someone reaches out to me through the blog or vlog world. I like seeing a new subscriber or follower added, so I can see their blog or channel page. I love that something that I have filmed or written has entertained someone enough that they want to come back to the page to see more. And the suggestions! When someone takes the time to comment a webpage that I may like it really makes my day. Actually, every comment makes my day, you are all very sweet to be so supportive and I hope that you continue while I continue doing silly things.

Okay, enough of that, (sorry but had to say thanks because you have all been awesome) this is the wrap up of February and also the end of This Is Not A Book as I have finished every page and also put together a video for a bit of February closure. Just a few housekeeping items, I am well into the planning stages of March’s challenge (thanks for voting!) which will be epic so I will keep you up to date but in secret as I don’t want the story to be revealed until you can view the whole thing as a whole. Sorry, no peaking! And also keep those challenges coming in, before you know it it’ll be April and I’ll need something to do again so just throw them in the comment section and I make a note of them for voting comes around.

Hope you are all doing well, please don’t hesitate to comment anything you reckon I should know, and please keeping watching and reading during March!

INTERACTIVE TUESDAY – A Little Guidance Please!

2010-03-02T13:49:00.002+11:00

So the challenge for March is to film a stop motion animation. I've spent well, let's just say, too much time on YouTube looking through everyone else's efforts and I am a little overwhelmed! Your task today is to let me know what makes a good Stop Motion Animation film. I have compiled a few of my favourites and I have worked out that I like two things when it comes to stop motion clip. One is cute music and the other is when people are lying down but carrying out things they normally do standing up. So check out these clips: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AA3B7B5D41C7E7E3 and let me know what you want me take on board for mine. Thanks!

The March Challenge is...

2010-03-01T09:18:00.002+11:00

Film a stop motion animation!!

The vote ended as follows:

Stop motion animation 52%
Meet a stranger a day 25%
Read War and Peace 11%
Create a travel show 8%
Go busking 2%

Thanks for voting, stay tuned for the beginnings of my stop motion animation!

Time to Vote!!

2010-02-24T09:12:00.001+11:00

It’s almost the end of February so it is your turn to decide my challenge for March!

There are five options for you to choose from:
1. Go busking (thanks to k13probot and Anairam)
2. Film a stop motion animation (thanks to stereodan)
3. Meet a new stranger everyday (thanks to Mary Mo)
4. Create a travel show about how Sydney rocks (thanks to Diane)
5. Read War and Peace (thanks to Chris)

So vote for whichever you would like to see me challenged by all of March! Vote closes on the 28th of February and the winning challenge announced 1st of March! Thanks to everybody for putting up a challenge, keep on challenging me, there is always April!

This Is A Plot To Rule The World

2010-02-21T21:56:00.001+11:00

Page 141 asked me to create some changes if I could rule the world. Yes, Pinky, we are talking about taking over the world. I must admit as much fault as I can see in the world this task was a little tricky. Who am I to change people? Who am I to say what has been working for civilisation so far is not up to my standard? Well, not all that important a person but it is just a little book (This Is Not A Book but you know what I mean.) So, my changes were only three. And I know that if I were in charge of the world I would make more changes and add to my three originals but so far I have three.

Change the food regulations in regards to pesticides and chemicals being used on, around or in food sources.
Criminalise animal testing for cosmetics.
Enforce fair trade working conditions for EVERYBODY.

Yeah, they are my three changes. They may not be crazy or funny or even practical but they are three things that are important to me. What would you change if you could rule the world?

Just a little side note that voting for March's challenge will start on Wednesday which will give you four days to decide my fate for March! It also gives you two more days to set me a fresh challenge before I settle on the final five for voting. Don't worry if your challenge isn't in the final five, I am keeping a list of every challenge I receive and can always pull it out for April's challenge or May's challenge...

Vlog 8 - Virtual Reality

2010-02-19T18:21:00.005+11:00

I was to create a superhero based on my personality traits. I became After Party Clean Up Lady.

Once I had finished I realised two things: 1. that I hadn't put on my mask and 2. that I was too lazy to film it all again wearing the mask.

PS: you've probably noticed at the end of my videos I ask that you rate, comment and/or subscribe, that is for YouTube watchers. If you are on YouTube, click on the video so you can rate, comment or subscribe! If you are happy where you are here on blogger, clap your hands and comment or follow! Thanks for watching and reading!

Vlog 7 - Challenge Me!

2010-02-18T16:04:00.003+11:00

I've had some great challenges coming through, thank you very much if you have laid down a challenge so far! Challenge me again or for the first time in the comments, you will be able to vote from next week!

INTERACTIVE TUESDAY – No Good

2010-02-16T12:48:00.001+11:00

Yeah so my big plan to create a Treasure Hunt for you to follow did not work! Seriously tried for a long while to set it up but it just didn't get going and now I have run out of time! Sorry no interactive Tuesday today, I'll make it up next week! By the way if you see a weird comment here and there from myself, yep that is the destroyed remains of my treasure hunt. Never mind, I'll be more prepared next week, I promise. New video will be up in a day or so! Hope you are having a lovely day!

Somebody Found It!

2010-02-15T11:14:00.002+11:00

Remember when I put out my Limited Edition Art Pieces? Well Maja found it! Maja is a photographer who does some beautiful work and picked up my Limited Edition Art Piece at the cinemas in Newtown. She then sent me through a photo inspired by the art piece she picked up and I have to say it is a beautiful photo, I just love it! It’s my new screen saver so I can see it everyday, check out Maja’s other work while you’re here.
If you have a photo or something you want to send me the email is boughtthetshirt(at)live.com.au and feel free to write anything in the comment section, I love reading everything that gets left there. Hope your Valentine’s Day was lovely, the day before was more exciting for me, I woke up to find a duck in the backyard. A duck! I tried to feed it bread but it didn’t want it then two kookaburras saw I had bread so they came down to eat it but they didn’t like it either. What’s wrong with my bread?

INTERACTIVE TUESDAY – Scavenger Hunt

2010-02-09T10:13:00.002+11:00

It's INTERACTIVE TUESDAY are you excited? You should be because you need to go on a scavenger hunt! Look online however you normally search for things to find the following 10 things:

An item on Keri Smith's list of 100 ideas
The name of soap from the brand Lush
A song lyric written by Newton Faulkner
Somebody you've met
The answer to a riddle
A website that is green
A fact about Australia
Something recycled
A book title with the word "letter" in it
Bold text

Once you've found everything on the list in whatever way you think fits the description put it in the comment section! Pass it on too, no harm done by scavenging in pairs or competing against a friend or co-worker!

Vlog 5 - This week

2010-02-05T22:12:00.001+11:00

Nothing

2010-02-03T11:25:00.002+11:00

Had a photo sent to me by Ms U as a fine example of nothing. See the vlog 3 for why I asked for examples of nothing!

Thanks for playing Ms U!!

Blog 3 – This Is A Limited Edition Art Piece

2010-02-02T11:48:00.002+11:00

So while planning out my limited edition art piece I had a very cool idea. Rather than draw little pictures, making art in the basic sense I could write some things in the square and put them around in public places for people to find and read. So that's what I did, and if you are reading this because you found one of these limited edition art pieces, send me a message on my YouTube account http://www.youtube.com/boughtthetshirt so we can organise a picture of you with your art piece and I can organise a prize for you!

So that was my idea but then I felt bad for the people not living in Sydney who can't play this game! If you are reading this and you aren't in Sydney then your mission is to read one of the 10 quotes and actions below and pick one to carry out. Let me know how it all goes for you, more games are on the way!

Your art is A GIFT: "Business affected him profoundly almost as profoundly, one might say, as the birth of Christ affected the shopkeeper" –R.Dahl
- Go and make someone a gift. Bake, draw, create and give with a hug.
Your art is SPECIAL: "To get a woman's attention, you have to pay attention to her" – F. Abagnale.
- Someone special in your life? Tell them.
Your art is BRAVE: "The dark is unsafe only to the extent that we fear it." –M. Scott
- Go try something you are afraid of.
Your art is A CONVERSATION STARTER: "Talking about yourself can be selfish or generous." –J. Marsden
- Start a conversation.
Your art is OBVIOUS: "You don't always need a smoke alarm to know your house is on fire." – J.Marsden
- Something in your way? An elephant in the room? Talk about it, identify it, it may get up and leave on its own.
Your art is SOULFUL: "Unknown by years of thinking is deeply felt and understood the minute that it's sinking." –M. Leunig
- Sit still and rest and think for a minute. Give yourself and your soul time to settle.
Your art is TICKING OVER: "Only he who has lived in darkness truly knows and values the light." –S. Lawhead
- If your times are tough breathe in deep and know that this too shall pass.
Your art is THANKFUL: "Why honour the creature when the Creator is present?" –S. Lawhead
- Who is making your dinner tonight? Marvel at them not at your plate. Making your own dinner? Aren't you marvellous.
Your art is LOCAL: "Who we are depends on where we are" –M. Scott
- Find your happy place, sit there and get back to being your true self.
Your art is MADNESS: "Madness is the inability to communicate your ideas. We've all felt that. And all of us, one way or another are mad." –P. Coelho
- Don't belittle simply because you don't understand. Let the argument go.

Vlog 4 - INTERACTIVE TUESDAY

2010-02-02T11:47:00.001+11:00

Vlog 3

2010-02-01T10:19:00.001+11:00

Putting My Crayons to Good Use

2010-02-01T10:08:00.006+11:00

Here's what the page looked like originally:

Here's what I did to it:

2010-01-30T15:42:00.003+11:00

Photos from Day One's Challenges:

Taking THIS IS NOT A BOOK everywhere with me, here I am on the computer. We have also visited the kitchen, the living room and the shops!

Making a disguise for THIS IS NOT A BOOK I tried a pot holder:

But lastly settled on a foolproof sign to throw anyone off the scent:

Blog 2 – So Far...

2010-01-30T10:48:00.001+11:00

Ok so I know it's only been a little while since learning my first day's challenges but I have already begun carrying them out so I thought I report back. I have successfully created a disguise for THIS IS NOT A BOOK. After trying with a pot holder and a lunch bag I settled for a sign on the front, throwing anyone of the scent. I also carried out the test of endurance and held the book above my head for over 11 minutes, which I think is pretty good (side note I found a website that is a stop watch, they have everything on the internet these days!) I am still carrying out the inconvenience of keeping the book with me at all times, that's a week long one so I've still got a little while to go. Plus I will put up the recording device page once I finished recording today's day.

I've just read my 7 pages for today, it will involve glue, paper, scissors and colouring in pencils. Yay!!

Oh the coolest thing ever happened after I googled the author of THIS IS NOT A BOOK, Keri Smith, I emailed her the details of this little blog and she watched it and emailed back!! So awesome! It's like Julie & Julia but with glue, paper, scissors and colouring in pencils. For more details about Keri Smith and the book which is not a book check out http://www.kerismith.com/ and also check out the how to be a guerrilla artist section because it is such an awesome idea.