Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

Seven days since last post... have been wrapped up in all things summery and tying up my birthday celebrations, for which I got some beautiful gifts from friends and family. There have been walks in the park, DART rides to Bray, ice cold Bulmers, alfresco dining, flipflops, sunglasses, icecream... the weather is glorious and I'm taking advantage as much as I can, when I'm not slaving in the depths of the dark cinema. I'm working from 3pm til 10.30pm tonight so I'm missing out on all the nice weather. My hope is that nobody will come to the cinema when the weather is this blissful, and I'll get to go home... I hope! After today's shift I've two days off in a row and then a trainride to Waterford on Wednesday to go to a Buddhist healer and accupuncturist... really looking forward to it. Will post about it next week.

I went shopping the day before yesterday to pick up some pieces for my family holiday to Spain in the middle of June. I got various vests and cami tops, underwear, a vintage lace tea dress, a gorgeous men's gold watch, some necklaces, underwear, swimwear and suncream. I really enjoy holiday shopping, it makes me excited. Can't wait to jet off for a week's R&R and get a tan (well, my version of a tan, which resembles a mild case of jaundice).

What are you all doing to embrace the summery weather?

Sick and tired

I had another exam today, this time it was Health Psychology. Went so-so, it's rather difficult to gage. I got an A in the only other form of assessment in the module though, so hopefully things will go well.

I've one exam left, the 3pm paper on Saturday... forty two and a half hours until freedom, and I really cannot wait. Unfortunately, but predictably, my being run down means I've got a nasty dose of bronchitis, a temperature and dodgy tummy. All at once. At least my lack of appetite means I might lose a pound or two before my birthday night out on Saturday. Nipped into town on my way home from the RDS to pick up the last few accessories to go with my dress. Got a woven basket type clutch, some big gold tribal bangles, two facemasks (a skin purifying one for tonight and a blackhead ripper-outer for tomorrow), underwear to go with the dress (I'm not a silly person who usually coordinates my smalls with my outfit, but the sides of my bra can be seen from the very large armholes in the dress), some lipstick, false eyelashes and nail varnish.

Off to bed now to try and nurse myself back to health in time for Saturday. Dosed up on honey, cough medicine and paracetemol. It better work! I'll leave you with a great little song I've liked for the last year or two by Adele. I'm unfortunately still retarded in the world off blogging and don't know how to embed a video so I'll have to just do with the link!

Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL49yZNE4yk

Modernkunst ist fertig

Sat my resit Modernism exam today and surprisingly it went seemingly well. That's three exams done and dusted, two left to slog for. I think I'll take this evening off and watch some trivial garbage film online... alone... because I'm very introverted and pensive and cool. Morelike my friends are busy studying, going for dinner etc. and my boyfriend is a secret nerd i.e. he does nothing explicitly except study during exams. He's finished tomorrow evening, as I mentioned in my last post, I've to wait five more days. Saturday can't come quick enough.

In light of this being an artsy day, with the modernism exam and all, I thought I'd do a post about one of my favourite paintings. I've always loved art, since I was a wee girl. I used to spend hours sitting in my playroom full of toys that every child would have dreamed of having and draw. Dolls, books, bears, various battery operated creatures and cars sat untouched on the shelves and I would always be found at my little vintage schooldesk with lift-up bench and inkwell that my parents bought in a jumble sale from my primary school, amidst a flurry of paper, colouring pencils, chalks, crayons and an abundance of imagination. I was an only child until the age of eight and lived in an area with no children around, so my drawings were my friends. I gave my princesses, witches, ice skaters, models, dogs and horses names and drew them doing various things such as eating ice-cream, swimming and going to the library (another one of my favourite things to do as a child) while I sang to myself. Always songs from Disney films or the songs my mother sang to me before bed at night- "Little Boxes", "Scarlet Ribbons", "Where is Love?".

"The Taking of Christ" by the Rennaisance painter Caravaggio (1571-1610) is one of my loved pieces. I first saw it in the Caravaggio Room in the NGI when I was at leaving cert age, so about seventeen, and I loved it immediately. Caravaggio was such a genius when it came to realism- I love how he paints facial expressions in such detail with the most fantastic light and shade. They're so magnificent, you really feel as though one of the figures in the painting is going to turn around and wink at you before moving back to their original positions. "The Taking of Christ" jumped at me because of the armour on the soldier who is grabbing Jesus by the shoulder. It looks so realistic that you could reach out and touch it, and that you wouldn't feel paint on canvas but a cold, shiny, curved piece of metal. I also marvel at the weakness portrayed in Jesus' face... uncommon in paintings unless they are crucifixion scenes. There's so much going on in this painting but it's simplified with the solid black bacground that blends into the foreground, really emphasising the central scene. Just magic.

For my birthday last year, the Boyfriend surprised me with an oil-on-canvas 1/3 scale replica of the painting. I cried. What a bloody thoughtful present. It's the best gift I've ever gotten and it hangs over my bed. Funny that I happen to like that particular painting, because I'm not in the slightest bit religious.

I got my first birthday present today. My aunt has given me an appointment with an Australian Buddhist healer and accupuncturist in Waterford who I've heard wonderful things about over the past few months and expressed an interest in going to see him. Of course I would have never thought of making an appointment myself, what with the expense, travel, etc... I'm really looking forward to it and am hoping to make an appointment when my exams are over and I'm in the right mind-frame with no unusual stresses or anything. I'll do a post about the meeting after, well, I get to meet him!

Have a lovely Monday,

Robyn

Procrastination

It's a quarter past four in the afternoon (don't believe what that silly little clock tells you about the time I put up new posts, its awfully American), I've an exam at midday tomorrow on Modernist Art and I have yet to start revising.

I think if there were an award that was to go to the best procrastinator in Dublin, I'd win it, if the other Class A procrastinating organisational team ever got around to actually making the award come about. I'm very good at procrastinating. Here are my top five favourite ways to procrastinate.

1). The internet. An obvious one. Facebook, Postsecret, Sleeveface, discussion, dire escape-the-room games I can never finish... I can spend a ridiculous amount of timing looking at God only know's what on the web. Makes time pass rather quickly though, if you're into that shock factor. *Wakes up... "I'll just check Facebook and the list of other websites I check daily... OH GOD, IT'S FOUR O' CLOCK!"

2). Skin analysis. This is a nice way of saying I extract things from my pores. Vile, I know, but highly addictive. Apparently it's one of the most common addictions in women and they often prey on their mate for juicy ones.

3). Power naps. With the intention of dosing for twenty minutes, which then becomes an hour and a half. Snooze buttons are very very dangerous.

4). Eating. Venturing into the kitchen and eating the strangest combinations of food. Skips. Cereal bars. Yoghurts. Dry crackers. Two sausages. Some cheese. Nibbly things that require no preparation. In fact, when I've finished this post, I'm going to make a toasted cheese and brown sauce sandwich, if I can stomach it. Feeling fierce nauseous and generally in poor state today.

5). Watching videos on Youtube. Karaoke ones, and belting out loud like I'm a superstar. Sections of old X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent shows that are supposed to make you cry. And boy, do I cry. I've a very ugly cry. I'm one of those people whose face contorts, lip curls, nostrils flare, chin quivers and eyes close. Very snotty. I'd love to be one of those women who when she cries, her big eyes stay wide up and a single tear escapes from the middle of her lower water line. Mine pour out the corners because they're closed so tightly they can't get out anywhere else.

My last exam is on Saturday at three in the afternoon, and lasts two hours. Irish Painting. Shan't be fun but I don't expect it to be too unbearable. When I stroll out the doors of the exam hall at five p.m., I WILL BE FREE FOR FOUR GLORIOUS MONTHS AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I BLOODY WELL LIKE. Haven't got many plans so far. Holiday in the middle of June with parents and younger sister, another holiday at some point with Boyfriend, Oxegen if I can blag a cheap ticket/the weekend off work... lots of barbecques, beer gardens, days at the beach... realistically, very little of the latter few will be happening thanks to the divine (ahem) Irish climate and my work hours. Shift work, starting anywhere from nine a.m. to half six in the evening and working as late at half past midnight. Note to self- be more aggressive and consistent in job seeking for a position with regular hours that leaves me with evenings and weekends like a normal person.

Anyway... tangent. Exam finishes at five p.m., and I'll rush home on the DART and start getting ready for my 21st birthday celebrations, which are in a suburban nightclub. I've hired a room for the night and shall be suitably inebriated. I've not drank since the Trinity Ball in the middle of April (apart from one of my best friend's 21st party two weeks ago and I only had about five), so I'm having withdrawal symptoms and am worried my tolerance will have depleted. Before I stopped in mid April, I had only very recently developed an ability to put away a large amount of alcohol (well, normal amount by anyone else's standards) and was very proud of my newfound achievement. If I return to my one-sip-wonder ways I will be devastated. Better off financially, but shamefully devastated.

Right, for that sammidge.

Robyn

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Hello there, my name is...

...Robyn, and this is my lovely, brand-spanking new blog to write write about whatever I like. Click the follow button, I promise some witty posts and the odd aesthetically pleasing picture or two.

I'll be 21 next week and I study history of art and psychology in University College Dublin. When I'm not studying (which is more often than I should be, considering my lecturers love to give lengthy presentations with minimal slides) I enjoy reading a myriad of fashion blogs and general fashiony things, some of which I'll introduce you to in my next post.

I love musical theatre and am always getting involved in various amateur and semi professional productions. I like to draw as well, but unfortunately my priorities are rather mixed up, so I never have time for that and the last time I drew something that wasn't a doodle could have been over a year ago.

I like music- all different kinds. Music my parents played in the house when I small, music I discover myself and think I'm ridiculously cool for finding something underground, then I do further research and realise many people have found them and felt the same way as me... so many, in fact, that it's not really underground at all. Queen is a firm favourite though, and I'm partial to the odd bit of Kate Bush, Earth Wind and Fire, Kasabian... the list grows and changes everyday. I'm currently loving F.E.A.R. by Ian Browne, former Stone Roses frontman.

I have a boyfriend. He's two and a little bit years older than me and he's very very tall and athletic and clever and handsome in a rogueish way. He often looks cross but that's just the way his face falls. He's been my boyfriend since January 2009, we met on Camden Street in early December 2008 at night, outside a chip van. Highly romantic. That's a story for another post. I think we look funny together- little and large; I'm a diminutive five foot two and he towers over me by sixteen inches. Nice height for head-on-chest-resting, though.

I love love love art. Some art related posts are promised. Reminders welcome if necessary. I take regular trips to museums and galleries around Dublin, normally on my own, and for a combination of reasons- to think in peace and quiet with attractive visuals, for leisure, learning support, and just for something to do.

I work part time in a cinema. We won't talk about that. Pays the hypothetical bills but I'd rather be unemployed and have all the money I needed to buy Burberry Prosrum platform sandals. I don't think any student loves their part time job, though.

It's Sunday now- enjoy the roast.