Sad, homesick and whingey

I think the title says it all. Rather than me bore you with a description of same how about you lot cheer me up? Links to amusing sites, comics, whatever. Suggest fun reading, viewing, listening. Share an amusing anecdote. Make me think about something other than my not being in Sydney.

Yours in whingerland,

Justine

Posted by Justine at 11:42, 23 May 2008 under Sydney/Australia, Whingeing | 33 Comments »

Comments

maureen johnson Says:

May 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 AM
LJ Says:

aww poor justine!

May 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 AM
sable_starr Says:

- watch Korean and Japanese dramas
- read Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and Ouran High School Host Club
- watch Office Space
- start watching How I Met Your Mother
- eat ice cream
- listen to PJ Harvey/Franz Ferdinand/Spoon/Cibo Matto
- go on gofugyourself.com
- try to figure out why Rob Thomas is part of the new 90210 or why Joss just won’t let Buffy live in peace with the recent talks of the Buffy on Broadway
- predictions about Joss Whedon’s new show, Dollhouse and when FOX will axe it
- read Couch Baron’s awesome recap of Buffy’s Season 3 Christmas episode or any of his other recaps on TWOP

Okay, that’s all I’ve got.

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Shveta Says:

I thought this was pretty cool.

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Hillary! Says:

You should watch them Japanese competition shows like Unbeatable Banzuke and Ninja Warrior, they always make me giggle no matter how down in the dumps I am.

I get to go to BEA on May 30th. Well, only if Juliene answers my e-mail I will, and if I do, I get to see Neil Gaiman! ISN’T THAT AWESOME NEWS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I won a High School Achievement Award in Library Science and was given the latest novel of a very popular vampire novelist that’s not a vampire novel, but kind of about beings invading other beings bodies. It totally through threw me for a loop because I really wanted this book but hadn’t said anything about it to my teacher.

My cousin is getting married on June 8th.

That’s all that I can think of. I hope you fell a little less sad.

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 PM
cathy Says:

I find reading a Pratchett novel or a book by Christopher Moore or Jonathan Moore (esp. Heroics for Beginners) generally makes me laugh, so they’re good for when I need to be cheered up.

If I’m looking for a comfort book – Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land or possibly Ant & Bee and the Rainbow.

Here’s a joke I’ve always liked:

Q: Why did the sweater cross the road?
A: Because it was stapled to the chicken.

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Rachel Brown Says:

Watch Peking Opera Blues and Bride With White Hair.

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Eric Luper Says:

How about these wicked cool dollhouses:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/5613

Seriously, worth a look…

May 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Megan Crewe Says:

You have probably already seen this, but I was just showing this to some writer friends the other day, and it made for much amusement:

The Skinhead Hamlet

Also, when I’m down I often turn to my fave smile-inducing books: THE PRINCESS BRIDE or THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY.

May 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Brent Says:

A visit to lolcats is always worth a few wasted minutes to cheer yourself up. http://icanhascheezburger.com/

May 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Dave Hogg Says:

Look on the bright side – being on this side of the world means you can follow the Australia-West Indies Tests without having to stay up all night.

Just think, you get all the excitement of test cricket without the stress of thinking your country might possibly lose.

And it is certainly better than watching England and New Zealand play the “Bad Light Test Series, sponsored by The Dark and by Rain”.

May 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Steve Buchheit Says:

Go out and see your neighbors molting into summer this weekend as they shed the heavy outer coats, shake off the excess liquid, and unfold their wings of gingham in the warm air.

Or, find or draw a map of Australia, put it on a cork board. Locate 50-100 live webcams that show some part of Australia and put a pin in the map for where they’re located. From the shadows, try and figure out which direction they’re pointed (although they’d all be dark right at the moment).

So, a Frenchman walks into a bar with a parrot on his beret (which is how you can tell it’s a Frenchman). He walks up the to the bar and the bartender points and says, “Hey, that’s kind of unique. Where did you get him?”

And the parrot says, “I got him in France. They’ve got millions of them there.”

May 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Laini Taylor Says:

How about Isabella Rossellini’s short films about insect sex, wherein she plays all the insects? SO WEIRD. And wonderful. And you’ll learn how spiders, praying mantises, snails, etc have sex!

http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno

May 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Amber Says:

Well I don’t know if this is your bag, but it always makes me larf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSed1K-QNMc

Q: What’s the similarity between Nellie the Elephant and Winnie the Pooh?

A: the the.

May 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Emily Says:

Bubble wrap!

http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/popnow-insane.shtml

Spoons!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2hADCEIDMp4

Any of Meg Cabot’s videos!

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=MegginCabot&p=r

Hope this cheers you up.

May 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Jaye Says:

For cheering up purposes, I offer you baby pandas on a slide:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j4dMnAPZu70

Also Terry Bisson’s short story, “They’re Made Out of Meat”:
http://baetzler.de/humor/meat_beings.html

May 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 PM
capt. cockatiel Says:

This always makes me happy:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dxYNUu_2egM
(I mean, it’s nearly ten minutes of awesome.)

As for my anecdote (which is not so much amusing as… anecdote-y): I’m going to Oregon on Monday to see my favorite band from England.

May 23rd, 2008 at 4:36 PM
serafina zane Says:

well…i doubt the fact that i’ve got off school is bringing anyone except me much joy, but it is making me happy.
but then again, how can one be sad when they are the owner of a BRAND NEW ARCTIC WHITE STRATOCASTER as of today in a total surprise?

hmmm…
well, there’s this song. been listening to it over and over for weeks.
http://www.fuse.tv/music/free-music.html?artist_id=20
especially when you consider the fact that, like all songs (really. all.) it’s about the zombie apocalypse. plus, it’s free.

and in other news about cheerful things related to songs about supernaturalness…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnWLVIQuctk
i mean, it’s about werewolves! and anyone who denys that is lying, even if they’re a member of the band. perhaps not the best sound quality ever, but the song completely owns.
hey, that just reminded me that i’m GOING TO SEE THIS BAND IN A WEEK! wow, i’m just full of joy today, eh?

a cool (if morbid) website?
http://skulladay.blogspot.com/

and that’s all i got.

May 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Katerate Says:

Great blogs:

http://www.eatskeet.com

http://postsecret.blogspot.com

May 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Beth Says:

I FINALLY found a copy of Magic or Madness, here in Oz. Through an inter-library loan, sent up from the central coast. Pretty cool, eh?

And it is really COLD here at the moment. Remember how good warmness is.

May 23rd, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Patrick Says:

Maybe this will help.

May 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Haddy Says:

xkcd.com

is the best most smart comic ever it rocks

May 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 PM
emily beth Says:

*HUG!!!!* I’m sorry your homesick. I know! This might work:

1. Put on your new, adorable summer dress.

2. Take some really great friends. *
3. Drag them with you to Central Park! Go to the Shakespeare Garden, the Great Lawn, Strawberry Fields, the carrousel, and lots of other places. I was there with my friends today, and it was soooo fun!

And remember, no more winter!!!!! Summer clothes! Summer weather! Niceness!

* I suggest Maureen Johnson. She seems like she would be great to have with you in the park.

May 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 PM
robin Says:

read aloud from flowers in the attic and glory in the awesomeness.

May 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 PM
KT Horning Says:

The Evolution of Dance video on YouTube always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I watch it.

May 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 PM
26. Justine Says:

Thanks everyone. Fabulous! I think I will be laughing about Skinhead Hamlet for months!

May 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Meghann Says:

Here are a few of may favourite mood lifters:

Star Trek does Camelot

Legos do Camelot

Ursula Martinez Stripper magic act. This woman is my new personal hero (has nudity).

David Armand – Karaoke for the deaf He’s fabulous!

May 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Lunamoth Says:

Have you read Savage Chickens?

http://www.savagechickens.com/

One-panel chicken cartoons drawn on sticky notes.

May 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Katerate Says:

Also wonderful:

http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com/

May 24th, 2008 at 2:39 AM
rebecca Says:

i am homesick too.

family guy always cheers me up. cartoon network at 1:30 in the morning! and robot chicken right after. hurray for seth green.

also, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4

May 24th, 2008 at 4:37 AM
Jedi Ninja Says:

http://www.xkcd.org/

May 24th, 2008 at 1:29 PM
caitlin Says:

A few months ago I was enduring yet another bad month in my suddenly windowless studio — construction next door blocked my windows and the building is so close I can touch it. Then, I was handed a manuscript by one of my favorite writers — I devourved the brilliant and very funny How To Ditch Your Fairy the next day. Thank You! I wished for a good apt. fairy — I move next week.

May 25th, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Eric Luper Says:

In competition with the quokka for the cutest animal, the BABY SLOTH!!!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1817251

May 27th, 2008 at 7:25 AM