Model Behaviour

Much to my extreme delight – Cycle 12 of America’s Next Top Model will premier on Wednesday week with the usual two hour first episode! My Thursdays will now be complete once again.

I’ve been a huge fan of the programme since it’s first cycle – and although I’m not too fond of Tyra’s attempts at humour (the pretend teleportation in the last cycle was enough to make me gag once or twice), I do totally enjoy her Bono-like play act. This season looks set to be no different with Miss Banks donning a toga and referring to herself as “The Goddess of Fierce”.

As far as the new faces go, I see some definite potentiality and one or two divas in the bunch (which always makes for some great TV!). I’m already fond of Fo, a 19 year old student from New Mexico In the previews she looks like the most fresh faced of the bunch and I’m betting she can handle editorial and commercial.

I”m not placing any bets yet (Maeve and I tried to do that last cycle and I’m pretty sure we were both wrong in the end!) – but watch this space.

*ignore the 25th of February promo – the CW has pushed back the first episode one week!

Ladies and Gentleman.. to your procrastination stations!

I’ve been in some form of education for nineteen years now. Nineteen of my (almost) twenty-three years on the planet have been spent in a classroom from  September to May/June learning, socialising and completing assignments. In my very last year of education (I’m doing a Masters – this is it folks, no more after May!) I’ve realised that my habits as a student just haven’t changed.

Each year I feel the exact same way: I think of my super organised classmates who, four days before a deadline are finishing up and I feel complete jealousy! If only I could be SO on top of things! Guaranteed, four days before a deadline I’m panicking slightly, dedicating every moment of my time to the project and am chained to my laptop.

I’m also finding ways to procrastinate – like blogging. Just to live life on the wild side!

I also have a really weird theory that if I was THAT organised, I wouldn’t be under so much pressure and the adrenaline wouldn’t be pumping – so my work wouldn’t be as good as it usually is. Think of it as more of an excuse than a theory.

…only four days to go.

The Great Recession

Love this.

Shut up and…

I don’t think there’s anything in the world I want more right now. Buses just aren’t doin it for me anymore…Esp when I’m out filming interviews for a documentary! Try lugging a camera and tripod around Dublin’s South Side in the rain without a car. Or even better – getting on a Dart between 8 and 9 o clock with the gear. It is not a comfortable experience.

I’d be particularly happy  cruising around in one of these:

I hereby pledge that by 201o, I will possess a full driver’s license. Now, whether I’ll have a car is another story. But a girl can dream can’t she?

Will you be my Valentine?

Ah, Valentine’s Day. One of the most pointless holidays ever created. It exists purely to sell fluffy teddies, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, red roses and of course greeting cards. It warrants the question: if you love me, why do you need to show it on this one particular day in February?

And yet…the hopeless romantic inside me is dying for a bit of wining and dining this weekend in addition to an excuse to be with “my person”. Not that we need an excuse.

Valentine’s gone by have been fairly anti-climactic. I have great memories of last Valentine’s Day – spent with Johanna and Lyndsay on the couch watching girlie films. Johanna and I went to Tesco to pick up “night-in supplies” and were in hysterics noting that everyone else in the queue around us was male and had some form of the above, chocolate-teddy-roses combo in hand! Spot the single chicks! haha

I also have fairly blurry memories of previous Valentine’s Days that included staying in with a boyfriend and a pizza only to be interrupted by a persistent neighbour, receiving a light bulb as a present (mmm practical) and watching “So I Married an Axe Murderer” while arguing. All with different boyfriends obviously.

There was one Valentine’s Day that surprised me. I was single, in fifth or sixth year and asleep in my bed at home. My mum came in and said “Susan, there’s been a delivery for you” and I responded “Feck off, stop messing with me while I’m trying to sleep”. She brought in a dozen red roses from a very good friend of mine. It was such a lovely gesture!

Also, each year, whether I’m single, attached or confused, I am sure to get a card or email from my sister, Carolyn!

So you see, although my skeptical, independent, feminist side says: “down with Valentines’ Day, its commercial bullcrap!” My girlie romantic side sings, “I love you baby, and if its quite alright, I need you babyyyyy to warm the lonely night I love ….” (you get the picture….also its really hard to sing something in blog form!)

Even if it is a holiday that preys on the emotions of people everywhere – enjoy it for what it is: an excuse to be with the person you love..whether its a boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend!

Happy Early Valentine’s

Photos from: here, here and here!

Reuniting faces everywhere

A few days ago – a friend on facebook uploaded an old photo of my fifth grade class. Class 5-510 was a normal class full of ten year olds (and our teacher, Ms. Schroeder) but the key thing about this photo is that for the most part, none of us have spoken in thirteen years.

Through tagging – there is now a lively conversation going on between my classmates and we’re all sharing memories and trying to tag the missing kids in the photo! We’re also all getting to see what our grown-up selves look like.  It’s fantastic fun!

Here’s the infamous pic:

Please try not to laugh at chubby little ten year old me – 2nd row from the top, 4th from the left!

Also, the photo made me realise that my friend Melissa (2nd row from the top – third from the right) has been a close friend for sixteen years. Sigh, nostalgia!

Thanks Rocco for uploading this brilliant photograph!

New acquisitions

Meet my new “uniform” for Spring/Summer ’09! It is even better in person!

I also got a similar jacket to this (also from KM) – but my one is WAY nicer! Couldn’t find a photo of it anywhere!

(anyone who saw my skirt at graduation – its the matching jacket of that!)

Super Ads

Although I have absolutely no interest in American football – I love the Superbowl. This is for one reason and one reason only. The ads! I’ve picked a few of the best, here they are!

Arabian Nights or Hammer Time?

Last weekend I had a quick flick through this month’s UK Vogue. Granted I’m a little slow to check out all the spring/summer ’09 goodies…but I got there eventually!

One style that seems to be belly-dancing its way down the catwalks is the “harem pant”. After a pretty heated discussion in the Karen Millen lunchtime canteen, I’ve decided I absolutely abhor them. They are everything I’d hate in a trouser..bar comfort, they look quite comfy. But they seem to hug all the wrong places and hang in the wrong way. And the sad thing is – I’m saying this looking at a 6 foot 1,  size 2 model! Eek.

Karen Millen is also jumping on the bandwagon with some harem pants coming out some time in March. At least I’ll get to examine them for myself at that point.

I’m beginning to wonder, who inspired this look? Ali Babba or MC Hammer?