I got a bass guitar a couple of days ago and have been having heaps of fun with it. I’m using a groovy book called “Rock Bass: Beginner To Pro in 40 Days”. Well, we’ll see about that, but certainly it is coming quite easily to me so far and I am even developing calluses already! Now, what other mature absolute beginners want to sign up for my “Old People’s Mediocre Cover Band” (working title)?
My Viral Video
February 3rd, 2010 by emily No comments »Just discovered that this YouTube clip of mine has had 32,000 hits thanks to Jan commenting on the ram, “They’re very horny, aren’t they?”.
Weirdness!
Harry: The Bathroom Sessions
January 27th, 2010 by emily No comments »Recorded these performances from Harry a few weeks ago while doing the morning bathroom routine. Watch and be amazed!
Chinese Song
In Australia, kids learn a second language from the first year of school. We got a choice of three and Harry picked Chinese (the other two choices were Vietnamese and Arabic, pretty cool huh?). Here’s Harry doing a Chinese song. I have no idea if a) this actually is Chinese and b) what on earth he is saying, but I like it!
Dinosaur Song (Crash, Boom, Thump)
After the success of the Chinese song, Harry followed up with another song that he learned at school. A very spirited rendition with scary actions!
Hoedown Throwdown
For his final number, Harry chose a cover of a popular track by Miley Cyrus. Archie has been obsessed with this song and for a couple of MONTHS we had to have it every morning in the car on the way to school. (We’ve moved on to “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift now – yes, Archie is a TWEEN!).
Traumatising Children With Sarah Haskins
January 23rd, 2010 by emily No comments »Harry has been greatly affected by the accidental viewing (on his mother’s iPhone) of a Sarah Haskins podcast. For those not familiar with Sarah, she does a weekly biting satire of US commercials aimed at women on various topics, “Target: Women”.
Here’s the podcast in question:
Lessons Harry has learned from this video:
- “My boobs are jealous of my butt” is the most hilarious phrase ever uttered and should be repeated at 5 minute intervals throughout the day. Or “Stupid butt!” is an acceptable alternative.
- Calling someone a “super hot sex babe” is also very funny
- Husbands are idiots
- The “digestive system” is something to be feared, especially when lying in your bed late at night, as it may crawl in and attack you at any moment with lightning bolts
Yet another reason you shouldn’t let your 6 year old near your iPhone.
Goodbye Kate McG
January 20th, 2010 by emily 4 comments »Very sad today to hear of the death of Kate McGarrigle. I have been a fan of the McGarrigles since the late 80’s when I discovered them while working at Radio Active. Truly great musicians and of course Kate’s wonderful genes also gave us Rufus and Martha Wainwright.
Here’s a clip of Kate, Rufus & Martha all performing together 6 weeks ago in London. I cried most of the way through it for some reason!
RIP Kate.
New Phoenix Foundation EP For Christmas!
December 11th, 2009 by emily 1 comment »The Phoenix Foundation, one of NZ’s most popular bands and featuring my very own little bro Samuel, have just released a new ep “Merry Kriskmass” available for download and as usual it is effing awesome!
Here’s what the band had to say:
‘’I feel no pain, feel no fear, for the Krisk is a white reindeer” …. yes, a small stuffed white man and a reindeer have somehow managed to inspire our brand new little EP called Merry Kriskmass.
This fun, slightly odd 6-track EP managed to enter our lives during the time we were supposed to be recording our new album, providing much needed distraction from the often-gruelling album recording process. So much so, that we decided to share it with you in the hope that perhaps it brings some extra Christmas cheer.
We hope you enjoy. New album coming next year, and MEEEEERRY KRISKMASS.
Nerd Venn Diagram
December 8th, 2009 by emily No comments »I’m not sure whose diagram this is, but it is SO perfect I had to put it up here.

I think I swing between Nerd and Geek depending on how shy I’m feeling that day.
PS Spotted this at the excellent feminist science blog, Vagina Dentata. Check it out.
Two Blogs Are Better Than One?
December 7th, 2009 by emily No comments »I’m proud to announce the birth of a new blog I’ve started called Lesbian Of The Day. The basic aim is to feature one famous lesbian a day in order to increase positive visibility of successful, interesting and happy lesbians out there. I know when I was a young dykeling, positive images of lesbians were few and far between and I would have loved a site like this (well, any site really since the internets weren’t around then). Don’t expect any fantastic writing or analysis, I’m just gonna put up a big picture and say a few words.
Here’s the lucky lesbians of the days so far:
Of Mice And More Mice
December 3rd, 2009 by emily No comments »- Freddo Black, a bit of a bully
- Harry and his mice before the tragedy
- Freddo & Red Eye before the tragedy
- The new mouse, Nibbler
- Vanilla Ice & Freddo cuddled up in the tube
- The giant mouse apartment in Harry’s room
We got Harry two mice for his birthday on November 1st. He christened them Freddo Black and Red Eye and the whole family including me & Jan fell in love with mouse ownership. So cute! So little! Such a nice wee cage! We had been keeping the door of Harry’s room shut so the cats didn’t torment them, but didn’t seriously think the cats could get into the cage. However we were proved wrong when Bootsy got in around 11pm one night and somehow knocked the cage off the dresser. The bottom fell off the cage and Red Eye made a run for it. He was quickly despatched by the experienced paw of the mouser extraordinaire. Me & Jan were there seconds later but Red Eye was breathing his last on the floor.
Tragedy! Harry was pretty upset but I think Jan was the most upset of all. Luckily Freddo Black was still cowering in the corner of the cage. He seemed pretty traumatised and lonely without his buddy. So we went to the pet shop to get a replacement mouse for company. Harry picked a cute little brown and white mouse and named him Nibbler. Unfortunately Freddo took an instant dislike to Nibbler and started chasing him around the the cage biting his tail. Nibbler now just cowers in the corner.
We’ve ended up buying another cage to join on and give them more space (didn’t work), dabbing vanilla all over the cage and both mice (didn’t work), and buying a third mouse to try and break the tension (welcome, Vanilla Ice). After a few battles Freddo now accepts Vanilla Ice as an equal, but poor Nibbler is still cowering in the corner! What to do!
Here’s a video of Red Eye in his prime as we like to remember him:

























