NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

This is what I get for ignoring The Shallow Bay for so long. Just found out that Kevin Palmer, awesome singer, reasonably talented songwriter and all-around kickass frontman for TRUSTcompany has left the band due to personal problems. I feel really sorry for him, and as a HUGE TRUSTcompany fan, I sincerely wish him the best of luck with all of the problems he's going through. Am officially BUMMED.

Kevin Palmer was the main reason I fell in love with this band. His raspy and impassioned delivery made Downfall, Falling Apart and Hover the classics they are, and drove their first album The Lonely Position of Neutral deep into my brain for weeks and months on end. True Parallels was a slightly less enjoyable follow-up album, but still pretty kickass nonetheless. With Kevin gone, I hope the band can find a new singer and continue busting my eardrums. Still, it just doesn't seem right to listen to TRUSTcompany without hearing Kevin's voice screaming into my psyche. Dang.

Here's hoping Kevin finds his way back into the music scene, somehow, some way. Here's hoping TRUSTcompany continues to whoop ass. And here's hoping I never get this bummed about another band breakup (or near-breakup) ever again. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

P.S. For old times' sake...

No one can see anything on the other side of me
I'll walk, I'll crawl
Losing everything and waiting for the downfall
No one can see everything on the other side of me
I'll walk, I'll crawl
Losing everything on the D O W N F A L L ! !

- TRUSTcompany - Downfall

[ t h e l o n e l y p o s i t i o n o f n e u t r a l ]

END COMMUNICATION.

Maybe the best he can get is still out of his reach...

^^^ Yellowcard - A.W.O.L. ^^^

After getting all my results back for my trials, I can sympathise with whoever Ryan Key was singing about. I didn't crash and burn as expected, but I didn't blitz the whole thing either. There's always been room for improvement, but [***CRAPPY ANALOGY WARNING***] in the case of my trials, there's a whole house, not just a room. Definitely need to improve for English, but that was pretty much a given. I hung my head in shame after getting my Religion marks back. Tsk tsk tsk. I circled my mark and scribbled 'Come back with a vengeance' next to it, which is what I hope to do. It doesn't get any easier from here on in. Gulp. The crappy marks for English and Religion kinda brought me back to reality after Economics and Maths, which was just what I needed; post-trials laziness mode is a bitch to snap out of. As for Business and Physics, I was satisfied with what I got, but not necessarily content (does that make any sense? ). I mean, I got good marks, but I could've done better (stupid silly mistakes! RAAAAHHH!!). Overall, I'd give myself a B- for my trials; pretty good marks, but the overall result was marred by carelessness and lackluster effort in a couple of the exams.

Anywho, all hail Staff Development Days HURRAH! The original idea was to go to RD's and chillax, but that went out the window when we figured out we had no way to get there. So instead, it was off to Parra to find Karen's present. We came up with the highly original idea of an oversized stuffed toy from Happy Girls. Hey, you'd think after doing that twice within the least year or so, we'd come up with a more original idea. Sadly, as a group, we generally suck with presents. Let this serve as a warning in advance to anyone who might be reading; if you ever receive a present from us as a group, you know what to expect, and we apologise in advance. Hope you LOVE your oversized stuffed toy, though.

The forecast for tomorrow looks to be exhausting, physically and mentally. With Sydney Uni having an open day, I'm not-looking forward to plenty of walking and too much thinking. But, I have to stay positive; maybe I'll end up album shopping, or better yet, KICKS shopping on the way there or back.

Shit! Just realised that I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in about nine months or so! Okay, what the hell? (muahahahahaha...excellent. Almighty dagger! Time to keeeel!) Don't mind me...

I made some progress on the whole University thing. Pretty much anything's better than 'I have no idea,' so choosing to focus on Psychology was a step in the right direction. I think Medical Science (then moving on to Psychiatry) is out of the question, seeing as Chemistry's assumed knowledge. My knowledge of Chem goes about as far as 'It starts with the letter C, and involves science.' But my cousin's assuring me that there are bridging courses and such, so there might still be some chance. Also, in the unlikely event I kill 3unit Maths..............................sorry, had to hold my sides there for a second. But, if by some stroke of God, my 3unit marks are great, I might be able to get into Actuarial Studies. Then again, a lot will probably happen before I get into Actuary, such as hell freezing over, animals gaining the ability to speak, the Earth opening up and swallowing all humanity whole, etc. In any case, it's always nice to know there are still a couple of options open. Good luck to everyone dealing with University stuff right now, by the way.

Guess it's back to work for me. Crap! Religion! Crap! Economics! Anyways, later days!

- marty..

END COMMUNICATION.

I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat...

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

The Atlantic was born today and I'll tell you how
The clouds above opened up and let it out
I was standing on a surface of a perforated sphere
when the water filled every hole
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean making islands
where no islands should go (oh no)
Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat
The rhythms of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your door
have been silenced forevermore
And the distance is quite simply much too far for me to row:
it seems farther than ever before
I need you so much closer

As short as that song looks on monitor, it actually goes for seven minutes. Don't really know why, but I'm getting into this song at the moment. Maybe it's 'cause it's such a shift from what I've been listening to lately (i.e. Karma and Effect, the three Staind albums, etc.), but yeah, this song's pretty cool.

Just realised I've been pulling poser moves when it comes to Staind. As cool as they are, I realised I don't like them as much as I thought I did. They're still pwnage, but only when I'm in the mood for them to be. Ergh, I'm just rambling. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

END COMMUNICATION.

Mom! The meatloaf! F*CK!

^^^ Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers ^^^

I was supposed to post this yesterday, but my modem was stuffed (as usual), so this is my day late entry. Anywho...

"Now THAT was a funny-ass movie. Anything involving Will Ferrell is likely to have me and Karl cracking up in the aisles, waiting to repeat everything the second we get out of the cinema. We kept saying that line for like, 4-5 hours. I'd just forgotten about it until then, when I needed a title for this entry.

Today was pretty cool. I was bored shitless over the long weekend (except when I was playing Jade Empire, because Jade Empire = L337), so I decided to round up a bunch of people for a movie. TJ dropped out really early because he felt tired after work, and Christian dropped out this morning because he felt sick. I thought Kate was sick today, 'cause she was asleep on the train ride and such. Come to think of it, Michael was sick as well, and that bastard sneezed on my hand when I was getting out of his car! (Fuck it, I got him back. Safe! ) Anywho, a bunch of people are getting sick, and here's hoping whoever's sick gets better, soon.

Still a pretty cool day though. RD came around 9 when he was supposed to come over at 8:30, which was bad because he was supposed to wake me up at 8:30 so we could catch the 9:36 bus with Karl (whoa...okay, no more numbers for a while). Anywho, waking up at 9, I still managed to talk to people on the phone, entertain RD, take a shower, get dressed, get hassled by the parents to make sure the house was securely and safely locked up AND make it to the bus stop in time, which is cause for a ticker-tape parade in my book.

Anywho, the three of us met up with Kate at Parra. We could've watched the movie earlier, but Mattitude was late (actually, I stuffed up with the times, but whatever, details aren't important). Anyway, Matt was late. Caution: never trust Karl with peas, and water bottles. Caution: never trust Karl, RD, Matt or Kate with stickers and labels from CDs and magazines.

John Beckwith: You look beat. Soft mattress?

Jeremy Grey: Soft mattress? Yeah, it could have been the soft mattress. Or the midnight rape. Or the nude gay art show that took place in my room last night. One of those three probably contributed to the lack of sleep.

The movie itself was pretty cool. I was a tad skeptical coming into the movie, then I remembered that anything with Vince Vaughn and either of the Wilson brothers has got to be at least some half-funny shit. I was right. Having Will Ferrell near the end was a pleasant surprise and pretty much sealed the deal. That meatloaf line's gonna stick with me for a while.

After the movie was bumming at Karl's. Watched Pablo Francisco, the funny Latino bastard. Caution: never trust Karl with chewing gum. Caution: never try standing and balancing on a medicine ball. Then I went with Karlo to watch their game at KB, which is something I haven't done in a coupla years, so that was cool. They won, by the way.

After KB was Ian and Pat's house. Caution: never trust Pat and Ian in general, because they are both stupid DARSHES! Pretty funny; it was one-on-one, Michael vs Ian, Dark vs Darsh, with the role of loudmouth trash talking bastard on the sideline being played by me. Doesn't matter who won, because PAT IS A DARSH!

Tad: What's your name hot shot?

Stan: Stan. Marsh.

Tad: Stan Marsh? [laughs] Stan DARSH is more like it.

Skier: Haaaaa, Darsh!

Anywho, after all that, I should be dead tired, fast asleep in the comfort of my own bed. Actually, I was, between 9:30 and 11PM. I have no idea why, but I was woken up, probably because of Sex in the City. Bright idea to leave the TV running while I slept; cue coincidental backfire deriving me of sleep. That's a common theme these days: Marty is not allowed to get a decent amount of sleep. Case in point: I tried to get some sleep before the guys got here in the morning. Last night, just as I'm falling asleep, TJ messages me to tell me he can't go, which was cool and all. I just wish he messaged me earlier so I could get some sleep! Kidding, badger boy. Then, this morning (well, to be pedantic, yesterday morning), instead of waking up to music from my iPod sometime around 8:15 (which was the original plan), I woke up to my brother's bathroom music instead. I don't mind him listening to music when he's getting ready for work; just sucks when you share a wall with the bathroom. Then, just as I'm falling back asleep, Christian rings me up around 7:30 to cancel. Bastards. Not for cancelling, but for disturbing my sleep.

Anywho, Operation Try Not To Be Tired As Shit For School commences now. Anyways, later days!"

That was yesterday. The Operation was bombing out for the first part of the day; I was bloody exhausted 'cause I couldn't fall asleep until around 3AM. Tonight looks to be more of the same, sleep-wise. I woke up at 10PM this time and remembered to correct my 3unit Maths paper.

Speaking of, I went better than I expected for 3unit. I would've been happy with ANYTHING over 50%, so I was happy with what I ended up with. BUT, I was spewin' when we got the answer sheets, 'cause I saw I made a shipload of silly mistakes and such. All in all though, still happy with it.

Also, spewin': came 2nd in Economics by ONE FRIGGIN' MARK. SONOFABITCH!!!!!!!!! Happy with my result, just saying...

Maths made up for it though. I'm REEEAAAAAALLLLLYYYYY happy with 2unit at the moment. Thanks to the 4unit guys; if you guys stayed, I wouldn't be where I am now.

But that's enough about school. I needs me some sleeps, but I don't think I'm gonna get it for a while. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

[ b l u e s2 y e l l o w ]

END COMMUNICATION.

...aaaaaaaaaaaaand DONE.

Somehow, some way, I made it through the trials. I don't know how, but hey, who cares?!! Four day weekend, part two, unofficially begins now! Whoooooo!!!!!!!!

First and foremost, I NEED FOOD. I'm starvin' like Marvin', damnit! Secondly, I NEED SLEEP. I don't expect to be awake anytime within the next 12 hours or so, but knowing my body clock, I'll most likely end up awake sometime around 4AM this morning. For now though, it's sleeping time. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

P.S. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

END COMMUNICATION.

The finish line is almost here...

^^^ Yellowcard - Finish Line ^^^

Well, I never thought I'd see the day, but the trials are thisclose to being history. Jigga was right: difficult did take a day (well, a day each) and impossible did take a week (or eight days, close enough). In any case, one exam left. Aptly enough, I finish with Physics, the best class (not subject...Astrophysics sucks donkey balls) I've got. Actually, I might have to re-think that, because 3unit's getting really fun now. We always get worked up around exam time, 'cause we all know we're gonna get axed, one way or another. Also, new 3unit motto: "BENEATH State Average!" Sweeeeeet.

Anywho, the pages. They're what's gotten me through Year 12, so far. Some people call them my 'disturbed' pages, and some even go as far as calling me 'suicidal.' Disturbed and suicidal? No, and no. Had a song stuck in my head, bored and procrastinating? Yes, yes, and hell yeah. Mark jokingly asked me if they were what my therapist recommended. Funnily enough, they do have some therapeutic value; sometimes if things were getting to me, I'd scribble.

I started them back in November, just when school started getting hectic. I usually wrote in them in between Religion naps, or Business naps, or Physics fights. When I was at home and procrastinating, I'd write in them as well. I usually stick to red, black and blue, my school pens. Also, I try to avoid having one area of the page being dominated too much by one colour, so I try and alternate randomly, if that makes any sense. The first page is really loose compared to the rest; all the ones after it got a lot tighter, with the words getting smaller and the quotes getting longer. Special mention: my favorite page has to be my 90% Breaking Benjamin page from the start of this year, which had quotes from all the BB songs I knew at the time. I say 90%, 'cause Di added some non-BB stuff to it. I didn't really mind.

Each of the pages took me about two weeks to a month to finish. Each started with one line, which turned into a phrase, then into a quote from a different song, and then another, and then another, until eventually I'd realise that I pretty much killed an hour writing random quotes. Then, I'd stop, until I got bored again. In which case, lather, rinse, repeat.

And so, nine months of random quotes, from random songs, splashed in red, black and blue ink across five A4 pages. Thanks to Di for adding some stuff to a couple of my pages, and to Goldy for adding a bunch of quotes on my last page. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

P.S. To TJ: BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER, MUSHROOM MUSHROOM! SNAKE! SNAKE! IT'S A SNAKE!

END COMMUNICATION.

Procrastination - 1; Me - 0

I just got pwned by my own procrastination. I think I did fairly well in trying to achieve those goals I set for myself for yesterday. I DID get through Astrophysics, and amazingly, my syllabus is still in good condition. I actually resisted the urge to burn it. I'm saving that for after the HSC. I'm gonna light each and every one of my syllabi on fire, and take pleasure in doing it, as well. Take that, education! Anywho, I pretty much blew the Business revision goal though. I had ample time for revision, I just didn't use it wisely enough. I was supposed to get the report out of the way right after studying for Astro, so I could spend the rest of the night actually revising. Oh well, nuts to that now. I just finished the report now. And here I was, thinking I actually had a chance at sticking to a study schedule. Tsk tsk tsk. So naïve. Anywho, I can at least cross out the third goal, which is sleep! I needs me some sleeps, so I can get in some early study tomorrow morning. If I can get Business out of the way by lunchtime tomorrow, that leaves me with a day and a half to study for Maths.

CRAP. All the topics are rushing to my head now. Locus. Permutations and combinations. Simple harmonic motion. Must...prepare...for...ginormous....ass...womping. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

END COMMUNICATION.

Middle of nowhere

Well, examinations are halfway over, leaving me in the middle of nowhere. Four down, four left to die in. So far, though, they haven't been THAT bad. I expected a whole lot worse. [***CRAPPY ANALOGY WARNING***] Instead of a full-body cast, I've so far only come out with some internal bleeding, (read: it could be a whole lot worse). But yeah, I don't think the human hand (well, not mine anyway) was made to write five extended responses in one day, and eight in two days .

Anywho, am currently officially in day two of the first of my two four-day weekends (whoa, too many numbers in words), which may sound pretty cool on monitor, but considering I only started studying for Physics yesterday afternoon, and I haven't touched a Maths revision paper in about two or three weeks, this four-day weekend pretty much turns into a four day study/suckfest (they're one and the same, right?).

Speaking of Physics, three topics in six hours does not a prepared student make. Six hours is a little (read: a crapload) more than I usually study for ANYTHING; bad thing was, things seemed to go [***CRAPPY ANALOGY WARNING***] in one eye...and out the...ass? Point is, shit didn't sink in.

Things I learnt whilst studying for Physics:

• ANY proper study routine involves at least one can of Coke. Half-proper study routines combine Coke with Skittles. Taste the caffeine-loaded rainbow, folks. Try not to injure anything when you hit the ground too hard coming down from a MAJOR sugar high.
• Trying to study while lying down results in two things - falling asleep, and the other thing I can't remember, because I fell asleep.
• Motors and Generators suck donkey balls. Boggled by eddy currents and electromagnetic induction, I decided to solve things the only way I knew how: playing with toys, or as I call them, action figures.
• Thank you, Macquarie Revision Guides. Your slightly-less boggling information helped a bunch.
• Thank you to whoever came up with the idea of Macquarie Revision Guides.
• Best form of study break yet: spending 20-30 minutes dribbling a basketball in front of a mirror, with Jay-Z's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life playing eardrum-piercingly loud. Hey, I can't really study with my Mum vaccuuming, now can I?
• Speaking of Jigga, favourite quote at the moment: "Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week..."
• Study environment essentials: Coke; Skittles; a ton of notes; Macquarie Revision Guides; any and all remotes (specifically TV, DVD and iPod speaker remotes) kept within arm's reach; 'action figures' kept close by; silence; and most importantly, study breaks to make you completely forget whatever it was in the last hour or so that you didn't really get in the first place .
• No matter how much study's involved, four-day weekends are still pretty much pwnage.
• There was a lack of color ...

With my modem coming up with new and inventive ways to test my patience, I think it's time for some sleep, though I don't really feel like sleeping yet. Goals for today: try and make it through Astrophysics without feeling the need to take a lighter to my Physics syllabus; complete some revision for Business; sleep properly. Anyways, later days!

- marty..

P.S. You suck. Here's REALLY hoping to see you soon, somehow or other...

EDIT: Crap. 4:15AM. These aren't eyebags, they're suitcases.

END COMMUNICATION.