TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

  

VIEWING ALL POSTS FOR: NOVEMBER 2004

Friday, November 26, 2004

11:34 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Macintyre Bridge, over the Barwon River, Geelong.

I do love that full moon shining on into my window.
Being a Luna-chick and all, I feel the atmospheric energy level rising.
Just did a guerilla poster run with lisa for our garage sale in the morning.
Rang everyone I've run into in the past 6 months and haven't seen again, invited them to come along and pick up a bargain. It's funny, people are really into garage sales - there was genuine excitement in those voices!
Even Freddy, very keen to check out the 60's coloured cocktail glasses, and Garry will be here for the vinyl, plenty of books from trashy to high philosophy, Esther promised to drop in before her champagne breakfast at centennial park followed by moving house, Devi was glad of the excuse to leave the grey abc corridors for a while and get some sunlight. We'll see who turns up - it'll be fun anyway. Maybe we can start with champagne breakfast too - just found a bottle tucked away during my move up from Melbourne, left over from the george paton gallery exhibition opening.
It's been chilling for a special occasion. Which clearing out so much stuff definitely is - both my rooms feel very zen. and if you'd seen them before, you'd know that's close to miraculous. It's all part of the new jodi. less baggage..... all round. Although I am keeping the two classic 80's records I found '1983 the hot ones' and 1982 up in lights'. They'll be a welcome dance break from eastern european experimental electronica at the drinks party in a few weeks. Dance Activists will be present! There's a program in Melbourne apparently where people are trained to seed public dancing at random events. where do I sign up?!?!?

Yes, it's time to celebrate actually having finished the ABC residency, which goes to air on Sat 11th Dec. And then 13th - 17th 10.30 every night. and then the archipelago piece from ISEA on the night air sunday 19th Dec. When too much Jodi on the airwaves is barely enough :)
Solipsistic?
Me?
Never!

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

9:53 PM
Posted by jodi rose

You can buy legs in a can. I kid you not. Spray on airbrushing. I used to dream of waking up every day and being airbrushed. Have finally come to terms with the fact that it's not going to happen, I don't coiff and the messy - bohemian - style is here t

It's a strange affectation the confessional blog.
no matter how transparent and 'in the moment' you try to be, there are never really enough words, or the right ones to adequately convey a sense of all the complexity and subtleties of a human being, and their life.
someone asked today - how are you really?
Well. Veering between unshakeable confidence and complete despair, would be one answer. This life coach thing is strange, it's making me think through all the unconscious assumptions and belief systems that I'm working from, and that's a little unsettling. It's much easier to forget about all that stuff, especially one's own complicity in creating and sustaining a world view, and then living with it.

Watched the final episode of the o.c. tonight (just let me have the one trashy indulgence, ok - even thorpey thinks it's gold!) and it all ended sadly. Ryan the mixed up kid from Cino goes back there with his ex-girlfriend who he may or may not have got pregnant - but couldn't let her go through it on her own. So ends his dream of living with the fabulously wealthy people, in that glamorous poolhouse, and making a different life for himself. and over the final scene with Seth sailing off to Hawaii, and everyone's life falling apart, that Jeff Buckley version of Hallelujah which is so incredibly haunting and melancholy - then had to listen to the album, and now have moved on to Nick Drake. So you get the mood.

Anyway, there are moments when I am so convinced that I can really pull this whole thing off, and others when I just think, who are you kidding? what kind of deluded world are you living in...

Mostly I just want to feel like I'm engaged with life, contributing something to the world, and connected to the people I belong with. there is just so much stuff to do, it all gets muddled up and not in a good lime caprioska way.

Oh well, enough maudlin ranting, there are more productive things to do with my time. like actual writing. yes, apologies to all my email correspondents - I only just realised that I've been taking out my frustrated writer impulse on you all, sending those long rambling emails when I feel like chatting.

It's a little bit like what Bjork was talking about on this doco I saw last night about her latest album - totally out there, all based on the human voice, sounds lush and unique, I completely dig where she's at and how she creates. Anyway, so Bjork said she just has this 'primal urge' to sing. doesn't matter about the lyrics - they were all happening subconsciously for 2 years. Yeah, I get that with writing. Not making sound or music so much, but words just flow out and woe betide anyone who gets in the way. Jeanette Winterson had this orange demon character in one of her early novels, a trickster who would show up and niggle the narrator - that's how I imagine it. A writing demon.

Please please let me get what I want this time. I think that's from a song.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

12:52 PM
Posted by jodi rose

diving into.... well this is the pacific, but they're all connected so it would reach the baltic eventually!

today feels like monday, a bit fuzzy and distracted.
at 4pm I'm going into the tardis on level 3, to be interviewed for the deep end. bridge number 2 goes to air tonight at 9pm on abc radio national.

strange how far away the last program feels already. diving back into the baltic sea today, with the ship creating music, and jk's gorgeous recordings of ice and the aurora. stay tuned.

Monday, November 22, 2004

8:43 AM
Posted by jodi rose

CLASSIFIEDS

**********

LAPTOP WANTED

Anyone have a spare recent model ibook?
won in a competition, upgraded, just lying around....
Support cultural development in your own backyard

***********

International sound artstar seeks philanthropists
Donate money now! and hear those bridges sing!!

******

Monday, November 22, 2004

8:10 AM
Posted by jodi rose

mmmmmmm mangoes yummmmm.
however jaded I am by Sydney, there are certain things that make it all worthwhile and 5 mangoes for $4 at paddys market is one of them. or 5!
getting to work on production for pw over ichat with sophea in helsinki is also good - although that could happen anywhere. now I have a table to complete - very strange, but I really love filling in forms and entering information. something about the sense of order. and it has to be for a project I'm interested in - not just pure data entry. but even that can be soothing in it's own way. as any activity becomes when you pay attention and get into it. really enjoying my new zen studio, why do I only get it together 3 weeks before moving out? ah well. onto brighter and different things. it's been a winding path with many detours to get here, but am finally really on the way. to where you ask? all will be revealed. someday.
For now, congratulations to Casey! YAY - 16 year old Aboriginal girl with an amazing voice and totally unique style voted Australian Idol - we were so proud last night. Thank god all the pretty boys and bland blonde girls who couldn't really sing got voted off - this country has come a long way. It's a strange cultural phenomenon, and yes, everybody really is famous for 15 minutes. But that's about all you need these days.
So, there you have it, my secret trash heart - oh and the O.C. which finishes this week. Time to start getting out and enjoying the warm summer evenings. Thanks to the person who wrote and told me what that video clip was with the girl in ny walking around carrying this enormous heart - I can't remember again, but it's somewhere in my email and now I've learnt to use the search button there, life is a lot easier.
Time to go and edit Archie now (Archie Pellagio aka archipelago) dive back into the floating entertainment vessel for 700 media artists cruising through the Baltic. Then lunch and meeting with the wonderful Ben and Sole. Talking through CD production issues with Ben. It's all coming together now, you'll be glad to hear :)

Friday, November 19, 2004

10:04 PM
Posted by jodi rose

it's a steamy rainy evening in sydney, perfect for drinking mango and strawberry daiquiris with lisa. we needed something in the face of incipient homelessness - mine is more by choice, just slightly ahead of time, but she's a bit stressed by it all. Things change very quickly sometimes, it takes a while to catch up. Picked up a book of quotes by some yogi at Sole and Ben's yesterday - after immersing ourselves in the ocean, so invigorating and gorgeous - anyway, the wise one said something like: uncertainty is the only certainty , and if you look for anything else you will be disappointed. Sometimes you're better able to deal with it than others.
I've stumbled into a strange pool of tranquility, and am completely energised by sorting through old piles of papers in my study and tonight just threw half my wardrobe in a heap for the garage sale. It's amazing how many clothes you can accumulate and never wear. Really going to do my best to not collect more stuff.
Yes, you've heard that before. But this time, the bridge nomad goes seriously minimal.
Hello! to all my new friends listening to public radio in north america - thanks for the emails of support and encouragement.

Thinking about a new title for this work: bridges are nice.

hmmm, maybe not. then it morphed into 'brides on ice'.

Onto serious art matters - the remix CD is sounding fantastic! It's a deliciously wild trip from raver dance beats, through industrial grunge noise, to glitchy bleeps and minimal electronica. finishing with the transcendent sounds of my very favourite co-inspirator.

Remember, there is always fabulating potential! :)

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

9:48 PM
Posted by jodi rose

I woke up happy this morning.
Slept so deeply, and must have had nice dreams.
It's been a long time. Maybe the nurofen plus before bed helped.
mmm codeine is my friend.
The end of a very intense day.
Multiple project costings,
up to my ears in quotes and very practical decisions.
The world is too crazy right now, all I can do is work on keeping my dreams alive. That last bit was a quote from some soap opera ad on tv.
You can find poetry anywhere, really, if you listen.
It's all ok today. Everything feels much lighter, and if not easy, then definitely possible. Tell me stories. What's happening in your life?

Sunday, November 7, 2004

2:45 PM
Posted by jodi rose

slightly dazed fuzzy sunday feeling.
gathered together the girls from my house this morning and hauled two couches over the balcony for sally, who was giving them away to whoever could achieve the aforementioned haulage. with 7 of us, it was a breeze, pip and I acted at ballast, and lisa plus 2 others on the street guided them down gently. very comfy sink-into feather cushions, cream emobssed pattern - waiting to go pick it up in the van now, but will go very well in my study. need a place to lounge and dream in between bursts of work. really that's enough activity for the day, maybe going to check out spanish fiesta in the city with julaine later. sole is there dancing on stilts with fruit on her head, we need to visit her!
things are slowly swinging into place with various projects, CD fog has lifted from my head, the ISEA piece - Archipelago is coming along, and gearing up for a burst of fantastical writing.
just need to expand time now and then for those vital deadline moments.

Wednesday, November 3, 2004

10:44 AM
Posted by jodi rose

fragments of beauty in the world
the iridescent vermilion bougainvillea on golden grove is fading, the petals are old pale pink, leaves almost crackly and dry.
jacaranda trees in full bloom, their violet flowers a welcoming pool on the black asphalt.
listening to a radio program on Sufi mysticism, talking about mystical traditions, 'things beyond words, the way love breaks down barriers 'a universal solvent, not only between people, cultures, and god... you melt and your heat melts'. gorgeous.
'resonating with different vibrations of the divine.
you must choose a path, and continue along that path to go deeply into knowledge and understanding.'
It's funny, in my correspondence with a very dear friend and colleague recently, I needed to read his CV and felt completely intimidated by the range and variety of activities - then had an email saying he thought the way I 'really explore one thing fully is just so beautiful.. maybe I am doing too many things at a time'... then decided we were probably doing the right thing for each of us, right now.
And for me that is still bridges. My enthusiasm ebbs and flows, but once I get involved with editing the sounds, or planning new elements of the project, and talking with people about it, the excitement and passion washes back over me.
Listening to Arundhati Roy talking with Phillip Adams on latenightlive last night, was completely inspiring, she is such an extraordinary human.
She talked about global corporatisation with such clarity that is all seemed so obvious: talking about US policy allowing foreign companies full ownership of infrastructure in Iraq, and to expatriate ALL the profits. On the US election: "Democracy is a spurious choice, it's almost like choosing a detergent - both are owned by Proctor and Gamble."
And on being called the voice for the voiceless, she said "there is no such thing as the voiceless. There are only the deliberately silenced and the preferably unheard." and that "becoming the spokesperson for a group is a very dangerous place for a writer to be. You must always have the freedom to say: I disagree, or I've changed my mind. It is a terrible thing if you lose that part of yourself which can embrace the uncertain and the ambiguous."