Generic Individual #2868

Standard Pubeless Teenager: DC shoes, baggy jeans, hoodie and a bag full of warhammer paraphernalia comes into view and I have the overwhelming urge to laugh at him for being such a ‘Rock Kid’™ until I realise that I was the exact same about 7 years ago. Totally uncool, with my Papa Roach and Linkin Park CD’s thinking I was an individual, only to realise that I was just one member of the bulging angsty pseudo-goth army.

Even now, many years later, when you categorise people by their values, clothes, attitudes, accents, jobs or their hobbies everyone still falls into a pretty small number of pigeonholes. Sounds cruel but I can say that I’ve never met someone who is truly unique - the fact I can’t remember anyone special enough proves it. Even friends (including your best ones – when looked at objectively) can still be tagged under mass-labels.

Maybe it’s a feature of capitalism, because most brands of clothes / glasses / aftershave have certain basic ideas attached to them, people pretend that these things say something about them. Maybe it’s a nature thing and how we all copy each other if we think it’s cool, for personal gain. Maybe it’s all about being part of a crowd, changing to fit in with a larger group of people.

Maybe I've just lost all rationality after spending several hours wrestling among those 3,000 pensioners in my triumphant mission to complete Christmas shopping. Now for the wrapping and hiding bit... Joy.

The Phone Won't Stop Ringing, But Nobody Calls.

Finally finished all the coursework and assignments for this semester’s courses in what has been one of the most brutal fortnights In recent memory. Other than the arse end of this term, the rest has been amazing, with so many parties (from the ‘house’ to ‘hippy’ varieties), so many ace nights in town and managed to befriend so many cool people. Only problem now is that the exams start in under a month. Yowch.

Got the gratuitous Terror Christmas gig out of the way, and it was probably one of the most enjoyable gigs we’ve done. Just had a laugh and the crowd seemed to too. Note to self: Shakin’ Stevens songs always go down easy (like yer ma/sister/grunny min). Sainsbury’s staff night out started on a low, because of a skanky barmaid, but ended on a high on the exodus dancefloor throwing the coolest shapes in town and looking very gay with Scott.

Only the other day did I realise how much I absolutely detest the wind. All other aspects of the weather I can deal with but wind – and especially winter wind – is the single worst thing god has cast upon earth. Spend ages trying to look respectable then WHAM, wind ruins everything. Walking home at night and WHAM, wind in your face all the way. Poop.

Another of this week’s epiphanies was that it’s been far too long since I had a ‘proper’ girlfriend, leaving me wondering if it’s possible that having extra fun and partying twice as hard when you’re out and about compensates for the fact that there’s no real stability in your life. Crazy theory to test but I know that it’s not bullet proof because there’s just some things you can’t talk about or do with your friends.

This weeks quest is to write a power ballad or epic rock / love song because there haven’t been any good ones since Aerosmith wrote ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’. There’s plenty cheesy music in the world, but just not enough of it is at the Seriously Strong or Extra Matured level. Didn’t manage to find out about toaster timers because I’ve been too busy. With two quests this week, I think I’ll wait until it’s got potential for a trilogy.