The Graduate

I have just returned from my trip to Adelaide, where I graduated from the University of South Australia with my Graduate Diploma. My parents and I spent the weekend there, and it was so lovely. I haven't yet stolen Dad's pictures yet, so instagram images will have to suffice for now.

L - the interior of Alpha Box and Dice Winery

R - the view from our 1900s terrace apartment

L - the lovely old bank in Victor Harbor

R - something to celebrate - the first public toilet!

L - my (very squeaky) four poster bed

R - a beautiful radio I spotted in an antique shop

L - I couldn't believe that a single Clydesdale pulls this tram

R - one of the wines we bought in McLaren Vale

L - double mango cheesecake - need I say more?

R - the Victor Harbor - Goolwa steam train

L - Play me, I'm yours - public pianos in Adelaide, a very cool concept

R - My Adelaide shopping spoils

L - my furry little friend

R - my academic robe - the colours reminded me of Gryffindor

L - wasting time while Dad takes photos of me

R - picture speaks for itself really

L - the massive pipe organ at the Adelaide Festival Centre

R - my shiny piece of paper!

L - wearing my new Friends of Couture 'Rosie the Riveter' dress

R - the epic unpack that I had to do when I got home! Note to self - never do grocery shopping on the way home from the airport.

A week in instagram

L - a pretty radio I spotted at How Bazaar - a MCM radio is on my wishlist, but they are all so expensive

R - bright Asian print shopping bags at How Bazaar too - I wanted one but they are $40

L - my budding pumpkin plant! I really hope it isn't too late to yield a decent crop from this plant - after all, it did sprout from the compost bin

R - Peggy, our friends' new dog. She was adopted (read: saved) from a bogan family who left her with three breaks in her leg :( She's the most adorable ball of energy - Kelpie X Choc Lab if you were wondering.

L - Brando takes a nibble

R - Sheepsies in the fog

L - The cover of an old cookbook that came into work

R - And an ad from that cookbook! Definitely couldn't get away with this now.

I'm sparing you

... from listening to my green babble any longer! I really want to talk about sustainability, you see, but I know how it really doesn't fit inside the scope of Fifties Fever, so I have created a new blog.

It's called A Sustainable Journey, and it's basically going to document my journey as I try and greenify every part of my life. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in reading (or throwing your two cents into as well), you can view it at http://sustainable-journey.blogspot.com/.

In other news, I am off to Adelaide on Friday night for my second University graduation ceremony - this time for my Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Science. My parents and I are spending the weekend around Adelaide and Victor Harbour before the Monday ceremony, then flying back on Tuesday.

Because I'm just a glutton for punishment, I'm back to juggling full time work and part time study again. Right now I am writing a little program in VB for an assignment due Friday. I seem to be working longer hours now, and somehow still putting in lots of hours of study, so my life is oh so boring right now.  Once I've finished this Grad. Dip, I really need to stop and smell the roses. But not my roses, because the sheep ate them. Well, in three years they should have grown back!

Chrysler Day 2011

I have always managed to miss Chrysler Day as I usually have something else on. And it's only thanks to some last-minute plan changing that I was able to attend it this year. I'm so glad I did, because the quality of the cars was outstanding - some people travel from Tasmania and Adelaide just to show their cars here.

The Chrysler banner might sound a little specific, but it actually covers Chryslers, Dodges, Plymouths, Valiants, Chargers, DeSotos and Pacers. J actually used to own a Charger, much like the orange one in the third picture, so the day was actually a little torturous. His was an absolute monster though, and the engine was pretty stuffed, so we're glad he sold it when he did. One day down the track we'll get one again.

Soundwave 2011

It was amazing! I ended up not taking many photos at all, because my little point and shoot camera is literally a piece of shite. Case in point:

Bullet for my Valentine

 

Slayer

Rob Zombie <3

What I wore, and the view from our apartment.

I saw Anberlin, Bullet for my Valentine, Less Than Jake, 30 Seconds to Mars, Slash, Slayer, Rob Zombie, The Melvins and Millencolin. I missed a few bands that I wanted to see, but what can you do? Maybe next year if the lineup is great I will go to the Melbourne and Adelaide shows, just so I can see everyone. I think I can also safely say that for 10 hours last Friday, the Melbourne Showgrounds was the tattoo, black t-shirt and piercing capital of the world.

We got back to Geelong so early on Saturday morning, as the council was doing roadworks outside our apartment, and as a result the entrance to the car park was being closed for the entire day. Instead of just moving the car to another carpark (we'd already paid $50 to park in this one!), we left Melbourne at 6:30am. As such, I accomplished so much that weekend - a mini-post to follow will show you exactly what.

The other side of me

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but I can't be sure. Before I loved vintage, I loved metal. I remember the day that I first fell in love with metal quite clearly.

I was in Year 7 at high school (that'd be 1997). My mum was driving me home from French Horn practice (oh yes, the sexiest of instruments to play) and we were driving up the Batesford hill on the way home as I flicked the radio over to Triple J and heard Marilyn Manson's 'The Beautiful People' for the first time. And it was love at first sight, or hearing... whatever. Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe album came out the following year, and I was hooked.

I have waited (somewhat patiently) since 1998 to see Rob Zombie live in concert. And I thought my chances were dashed seeing as the little bugger rarely tours outside of the US. But what luck, my friends told me about Soundwave Festival late last year and guess who was included in the lineup! Mr Zombie himself. I bought tickets on the spot for the festival, as well as tickets to his sideshow. Now my wait is over - I'm seeing Rob Zombie tomorrow night, and Soundwave Festival the following day.... eeeeeeeee. My excitement is palpable.

I went hunting to find a picture of me in my metal youth, but I don't think I have any stored online - so you will have to suffice with this one. It was taken on top of 香山 (Xiang Shan - Fragrant Hills) in Beijing in mid-2007, while I was still in the grips of metal fever. Oh, and don't worry - metal fever still consumes me, I just dress prettier now!

I'm taking my dodgy little point-and-shoot camera to the gig and the festival, so I will have some photos to share with you! And the battery is charged this time, I triple checked. In all reality though, it will probably be a whole lot of gratuitous Myspace-style photos of my friends and I, plus some images of teeny tiny people away on a distant stage. But it's better than nothing. Next time I write, I will have seen Rob Zombie live not once, but twice! It's a life-changing experience, I bet.

Have a great weekend everyone!

xxx Ruby