Monthly Archives: October 2009

Blog: Tolerating ugliness

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Wetlook_tights

Life throws you all kinds of challenges. The ones that are most difficult usually have to do with people. I can deal with different opinions and can even enjoy hearing them presented or argued if it is in an entertaining way.

I discovered pop in the Amy Grant era then moved on to Tiffany, Kylie Minogue and New Kids on the Block. I got a little more sophisticated as the years went on and became dismissive and even scornful of musicians that had ‘sold out’ and were ‘too commercial’. These days I reckon I still have good musical taste, but take more of a broad spectrum approach. That said (and I’ve said it before)… it really hurts when you find out a good friend likes Nickelback. It makes you ask yourself all kinds of things – do I really know you? Should I trust your taste in anything?

There are a few things in life that I love to hate. Boat shoes are an old enemy. The recent equivalent for me is wet look tights. In my opinion they are to the eyes what Nickelback is to ears – a bit nasty. As well as the Nickelback loving friend, I have another friend who loves her wet-look tights. I am reminding myself (as she told me as I blanched) that we don’t all have to like the same things. I’m pretty sure tomorrow I’ll discover someone who I’ve always admired in the fashion game wearing boat shoes. It’s like my life is turning on its head. The question is this… how far do people have to go before your responsibility to love people through their mistakes is over?

It’s just seven days before my least favourite nu-rockers hit Auckland. I truly believe that we have a responsibility to the scraggly haired and sadly misguided ‘music fans’. We need to show them that there is a better way. I’m thinking placards with clever slogans like ‘What does Nickelback mean anyway?’ and ‘Make love not Nickelback’ would really help them. There is a clear opportunity for a record label to give away samples of music to this untapped market who have clearly never been exposed to good music before.

I’m going to the Naked Samoans’ fundraising show for the Tsunami that night, so I won’t be able to lead the protest (too busy being a do-gooder) but I really reckon you should do it. 

A final semi-related word of caution: Leggings are not pants. If you insist on wearing them with short tops, do perform the necessary checks to ensure that they’re not wearing thin. There are things the public on the street do not need to see and that includes your knickers. I’m just trying to help you, promise.

Blog: I’m a believer

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Jesus

I know there are many people who are wary of ‘organised religion’. That includes a lot of people involved in it. I believe in God and go to church. It’s no secret and I’m happy to have a conversation about it with people who are interested. I’m not one who enjoys arguing about religion, or politics for that matter – but that’s because I don’t like arguing, not that I don’t have convictions. (See previous blog about my dislike of loud voices).

Today, I thought I’d lay out a couple of thoughts about what I think church is for and why it’s good for me.

Community is a big and important thing for me. I don’t have a big family and none of my immediate family live in the same city as I do. I’m not great at doing life on my own – I lose perspective easily. I have found for a long time that church helps me keep life reasonably balanced. The people help, the music helps, praying helps.

While I socialise with people from all kinds of walks of life, in a crisis it is great to have people who believe the same basic stuff as I do and who will pray for me when crap happens. Thoughts and hugs and talks with other friends are great too, but I find huge comfort in the fact that when I run out of prayers, there are people who will pray on my behalf. That may seem weird to you – that’s okay. This my blog.

Leadership in church, in business, in teams, wherever – is a massive burden. Jesus wasn’t about being a superstar, he was about serving the people around him. Even if you just believe in him as a historical character, you probably know his reputation was about love and kindness. 

In life, people screw up. We all want to be important – whether we want to be important to somebody, or to everybody. There is also something that happens when people really really believe in what they do. I’ve probably been that person when I worked for a charity – I still think the work they do is brilliant, but I have a few more strings to my conversation bow now. Often enthusiasms are harmless. Sometimes they turn into obsessions – even when it’s a good thing, that’s not healthy. This is why that community thing I talked about is important. You need to have people you will listen to who will tell you when you’re getting out of line, too self important, too whatever.

I’ve never been comfortable with slagging off other churches. I like the one I belong to. Someone asked me what kind I went to last week and I tried to explain that it was a bit rock n roll in style and believes in Jesus and the Bible. I think we’re generally pretty genuine and nice people.

I think lots of churches have different styles but mostly believe the same thing. Where I start getting uncomfortable is when people talk more about other things than Jesus and what he taught. I’m not okay with that.

There is a lot of talk today about a particular church scenario. From what I’ve read I’m not cool about that either. It doesn’t sound right to me. We’ll all believe what we choose to believe about that situation. I just want to say – without saying ‘I’m so much better that that’ – the God I believe in is about love. The Christians I spend my time with are not about their own importance. They’re not perfect, none of us are. They do believe in the same God I believe in and they’re doing their best to live well. You may not agree and I’m sorry about that. But even if you have issues with religion or church or whatever, amongst all your friends, there is probably a Christian and they’re probably wondering what the hell is going on as much as you are.

You may not agree with religion in general, but please don’t let the actions of an extreme case make it impossible for you to relate to some genuine and nice people.

Blog: Making friends

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Makingfriends

 

I know a lot of people. I’d my lifestyle is conducive to meeting plenty of people with at least some shared interests. This makes my life interesting and creates many bookface connections.

Acquaintanceship is one thing, friendship is another. I like both. Sometimes I suddenly fall into friendship with people but more often a friendship that lasts takes time to build. This is especially true when it comes to sharing personal information. You see, while I’m happy to be open about some things to practically anyone, other topics are a no go zone with everyone but my closest friends.

I’m a bit the same about feedback. I trust that the people who love me will put me right if I’m being an idiot with my life in some way. Encouragement or compliments mean more from the people who know me best, although of course it’s lovely when people in general are kind (except when they are overly effusive, that makes me uncomfortable/suspicious. Am I the only one like this?) 

Over the years I’ve got a lot better at assuming people want to be friends, rather than wondering and hoping they do – it’s a pretty common problem that seems to get better with age. I’ve also come to terms with the fact that it’s better to be me, quirks and all, than to try to aim for mediocrity. That too was a problem of my youth.

I think one of the best compliments is calling someone a quality person. That person may be a long term friend, someone you appreciate from a distance or just an acquaintance. For me, quality people are those who combine humour and kindness, can be trusted, are patient when I’m being nervous or silly (it happens) and understand that friendship takes time. Everything else from interests to tastes comes second. Although a taste for puns and cups of tea helps.

 

Blog: Quiet please

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I went on a 50s themed camp this weekend but totally cheated. When the opportunity came up to avoid staying on a top bunk in a room of eight and stay up the road at a friend’s house instead I was packed and ready to go in seconds.

You’ve got to understand this – Labour Weekend is my favourite weekend every year. It’s all about community, silliness, relaxing and not enough sleep. I’m so into 75% of those things, but I’ve never been good operating on limited sleep. There are people who are at their best when they’ve been up for 72 hours straight – I’m not one of those people. I prefer not to be around them after the 28 hour mark… for both our sakes. As I write this I’m scaring myself about what an introverted nana I’m sounding. I love people, just not all of you all at once and especially if I’m tired.

My home away from camp away from home was awesome. There was juice in the morning, a great DVD collection (the type that made me proud to be their friends) and a friendly cat. Vince and Kylie are lucky they don’t live in my neighbourhood or they might find me on their doorstep every Saturday morning. 

Arriving home was magic too – a quiet house, a nap in my own room, a forgotten packed of treats on my desk and just enough aloneness and silence to prepare me for human contact again.

Weekend rating: 11/10. Nice one, Edge Kingsland goes to the Beach. With outfits like this we could have our own themed reality TV show. A cross between one of those historic survivor type shows and a famous five adventure.

Blog: Vintage style weekend

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Egg--spoon

I’m leaving the city for a few days for a purposely retro style holiday camp getaway. We’re talking 50s theming. I’m excited because I get to wear my vintage Christian Dior polka dot dress that I got at This is not a Love Shop about ten years ago. 

Vintage clothing is amazing for many reasons – the quality of the fabric and stitching for example. If an item of clothing has lasted long enough to be vintage then it’s usually well made and of lovely fabric. I think that my white with green dots dress is vintage is so retro that it won’t suddenly go out of fashion and I’ve been able to bring it out at appropriate occasions for years. I’m a little sad that my hair isn’t long enough for a beehive.

I’m not even sure what the rest of the weekend will hold – possibly an egg and spoon race, definitely hours sitting in the cafe with various friends. Catching up with people I don’t spend quality time with enough, cuddles with my favourite little people, board game challenges, not enough sleep and maybe, if I’m really lucky – egg and spoon races.

I think this weekend will be like a time machine for the soul. Less technology and more togetherness. See you in a few days.

Blog: I has art collection

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I don't have many pieces of art – two of my Dad’s paintings, one he dedicated and left behind for me and one I bought off the interweb. I have a delicate piece of work (in the nicest sense) called Falling Rewarewa by an artist called Tabitha Forbes. Today I fell in love with a piece of digital art at an exhibition and became the proud owner of Forest. It’s fun being the first buyer at an exhibition.

The artist is Winchey Zheng and his exhibition is My Heart. He’s the one on the right in the photo. I’m the one with the fabulous nail polish and a glass of rose. We are standing in front of my fabulous new thing.

I’ve attached the poster for the exhibition – it closes this Sunday. If you’re in the city this weekend do go to the exhibition and talk to Winchey about his work and what inspired him, he’s great to chat to. What I loved about the works in this exhibition is that they were more intriguing the more you look at them.

In the meantime – have a look at this gorgeous artwork that I adore. If you don’t – well beauty is in the eye of the beholder… but my eye loves my new purchase. Can’t wait to frame and hang it.

Winchey Zheng’s My Heart Exhibition

24-25 October

We Love Inc. Studio

Basement, 203 K’Road (you can walk through St Kevin’s Arcade and turn left to find it, or go down the little street off Pitt Street to the right).

 Go, be arty – it’ll give you something to talk about at work next week. 

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Exhibition_poster

See the full gallery on Posterous

Blog: Cajun prawn

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Manicure

 

 

 

 

Today I thought it was time to get a manicure, mainly because red nail polish is really annoying to get off, so I thought that I would leave it to the professionals. I took along Kelly, the friend pictured. Her nails are now hot pink. Mine are about the colour of the drink in her glass – it’s called (the colour not the cocktail) cajun prawn.

 

One day when I have finished writing Christmas cracker jokes and have a full range of greeting card messages for all occasions I think I’ll start inventing colour names. Nail polish names are even more fun than paint names. I think it’s that you know you’re allowed to be a little OTT.

 

I realise this is the second blog in a week about nail polish. This could be a mistake. Yesterday’s blog when I made big calls and told people to stop telling me grisly birth stories seemed to strike a chord with people.

 

I’ve said before that getting my nails done, as I do approximately every six months, is a very good way to treat yourself. Getting pampered, even for half an hour is really good to do. After lunch I felt great. Now I just feel tired and a bit over it, but at least I get to glance occasionally at my nails while I type and think how delicious they look and how at least in one small way I’m working it Jackie O style. I refer of course to Jackie Onassis, previously Kennedy, nee Bouvier not the Australian presenter. I do have some standards.

Blog: Brutal honesty

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Get_a_life

It’s funny how you find out who is reading blogs. Some people comment (I love you if you do), some refer to a topic in passing days or weeks later and some say NOM NOM to you as they walk past you in the open plan workspace. If you are confused, see yesterday's post.

 

I try not to crave feedback, but I do enjoy a bit of light-hearted sparring over important topics like Nickelback(http://josiecampbell.posterous.com/blog-just-dont-say-it) or boat shoes (http://josiecampbell.posterous.com/blog-not-all-shoes-are-created-equal). By the way, I read that Karen Walker article in Metro weeks ago, but that is not going to change my mind. They belong on boats!
 

The same colleague said that I need to be meaner in my blogs. It seems that not everyone may have ‘got’ that I think NOMMING is overdone and under-attractive and that I could have just said ‘stop it its lame!’ I take up the challenge. Here is some truths to help you with your life.

 

1.       If the only people that encourage you to audition for a reality TV show are:

o   Related to you

o   Don’t have any experience in the area of skill required for the show

Don’t enter. There’s a high chance you aren’t good enough.

 

2.       Baby talk is permissible to babies (although I think it probably stunts their mental development). It is not for dinner parties to your partner. Try not to do it to your pets in front of others too. It’s one of those things in life that irritates others and simultaneously makes them wonder if you’re not very intelligent.

 

3.       I love hearing about your kids if I’m related to them. I don’t actually mind hearing about them if we are friends, especially if I’ve actually met them. I understand people’s wish to celebrate special moments and cutenesses. But for the love of Elvis, please don’t tell me every detail about their lives, especially the birth.

 

4.       Don’t tell me that you want your brother/son to marry me. Do you really think I’d want to be part of YOUR family?

 

5.       Yes, I am petite. What do you want to achieve by bringing this up? Especially strangers. It’s interesting that people know that its rude to mention things like warts, weight gain or moustaches on ladies, but think that people of smaller builds enjoy discussing their size and don’t feel awkward when near strangers bring it up. Especially when it’s impossible to answer with “no you are!”

 

6.       Yes, I do have a great job. Lucky? Yes. Good at it and hard working? Reasonably. Challenging? Just the right amount. Tired of some people thinking all I do is go for coffee or parties? Oh if only it was true!

 

Life is nicer for everyone when we realise we aren’t all interested in/good at the same things. I try not to rub it in to boring people that I get to go out, they should try not to rub it in that they have hefty mortgages.  Win+win=win!
 

Image from: http://www.splitreason.com/product/543

 

Blog: The truth about nomming

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Turtle_potato

 

When I was young, we used to say that food was yummy. A childish version of tasty and probably just a smidge below delicious.

 

I’ve noticed that there is a proliferation of the phrase nom nom nom which seems to cover the whole gamut from ‘ooh that sounds great why didn’t you invite me you mean person’ to ‘I’ve just baked, it looks ugly but tastes pretty good’.

 

It’s not that I’m against new words and phrases, in fact I look forward to the day when one of my made up words enters the Oxford Dictionary. But I was perplexed. Why was it all noms and no yums? Is it because tasty and yummy now refers to eye candy rather than actual candy? Are we all descending into new levels of baby talk? WHY?

 

Like all sensible people I went to Google to find out more. Check out the full answers in the Urban Dictionary: http://bit.ly/4xgzH. In brief it is:

 

1.       The sound made when people are eating and enjoying something

2.       The sound Cookie Monster says when eating cookies

3.       A way to agree that it’s time to eat (or an icebreaker)

 

If I may be frank with you, I don’t think points 1 and 2 sound particularly visually attractive. The third is just a little weird. I’m thinking that this is yet another example of something that is better typed than said, especially if you have a mouth full of cookies.

 

Turtle nomming on mashed potato from http://freakymartin.com I really love mashed potato. It is beyond delicious.

Blog: I heart the islands

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Firstly, well done New Zealand. It’s wonderful to see musicians donate their time and talent, sing the songs they’re probably completely over singing and entertain the crowd for a good cause. Amazing to see all kinds of corporates, including competing radio stations, get behind an event and cause. I was proud and relieved that Aucklanders, notorious for not showing up to support their own (think of our sports stadiums) came out in force for an evening rich with entertainment and heartfelt love for the people of Samoa and the Samoan people here in our city.

For me the overwhelming feeling was relief that I could do something, event though that was just spending $25 to see some of New Zealand’s most gifted musicians perform some of our most famous and loved songs. There was an absence of ego and gratitude from the stage that the whole thing had come off. The $250k raised tonight will go a long way. They’re doing it again a few more times around New Zealand. You really must go if you if you can.

In true Island tradition the night started with a prayer, which was absolutely appropriate – a solemn moment reminding us why we were there. A few words, images of the destruction of the Tsunami including a place I’d had breakfast at just over a year ago. Then the music, oh the music. 

With a line up rich in NZ musical history its probable that everyone have a different favourite. For me it’s hard to beat Don McGlashan singing Anchor Me accompanied by Neil Finn and Bic Runga. That was magical. I love hearing the songs you’ve grown up singing around campfires  performed by ‘the real people’ so Dave Dobbyn and the Finn Brothers are always a complete treat to see. Scribe, Che Fu, Hollie Smith – all wonderful.

I’ll leave the gig review to others. For me, music fan that I am, this was about so much more than the show. Many of the performers had lost family – this was personal for them. We all know people who are affected and we grieve with them even though most of us are a step or two removed. The tragedy does seem close though. Like the wise Dave Dobbyn said, we are all Pacific Islanders. May we not forget this until every village is back on track and joy has returned to Samoa. Then we can all go on holiday to help their economy… it’s seriously one of the best things we can do.