On Being an Adult

Things.

I’ve done a lot of adult things in the last few weeks. I’ve bought a car, I’ve moved in with my long-term partner, we’ve moved to Dalby, I’ve driven back in order to finish working at my full time career job. We bought all the adult things (see picture for evidence) and set up our house like adults. Somehow, somewhere along the line I became a grown up and can do all the things I used to think were the sole domain of grown ups like pay bills and talk to strangers on the phone and work 5 days a week and remember to brush my teeth.

And yet, this morning I spent a CONSIDERABLE amount of time looking at pictures and videos on the internet of a certain Mister Benedict Cumberbatch. I watched movie trailers of the Hobbit persuasion, I trawled tumblr for all the Sherlock pictures. I didn’t get out of bed until after midday.

Tonight I’m going to go see the Muppets. I can quote Toy Story, The Emperor’s New Groove and large sections of Finding Nemo exceedingly accurately. I could talk to you for HOURS on the merits of each Hogwarts house (yes, even the Hufflepuffs, though I maintain that many of them are there because they fulfill the requisite “puff” requirements).

What makes an adult then? Can an adult seriously maintain a blog about this kind of stuff? Do most people suddenly stop enjoying the things they enjoyed when they were younger and start only enjoying wine and talking about politics and making children? (well the making part’s alright, it’s the other part I don’t understand, the bit with the snot and the crying).

I am genuinely, seriously, considering getting a tattoo.  A Harry Potter tattoo. And a little part of my brain (and probably yours, too) keeps thinking, tattoos are for life, are you sure you want that? And then the rest of my brain thinks, honestly and genuinely, I’m never going to stop loving Harry Potter. It’s never going to stop meaning all the things it means to me. The smell of those books is never going to stop making me feel 11 again. If 80-year-old Lizzy doesn’t want a Harry Potter tattoo then she should probably go read the books again, it’s probably been more than 12 months. Maybe her eyes are going, hey! 80-year-old Lizzy! Get the audio books with Stephen Fry doing all the voices, then you’ll remember.

Can an adult have a Harry Potter tattoo? Can an adult get stupidly excited about the Hobbit films? Can an adult buy cornettos and put them in the work freezer to have as afternoon treats? You’re damn right they can! In fact that last one is genius if I do say so myself. An adult can still say the phrase ‘grown up’ like it’s a foreign concept, and maintain healthy adult relationships and a job and stuff, if they want.

And if you think otherwise, you’re not a grown up… you’re boring. 

P.S This adult has started making videos now too. Check, check, czech em out http://www.youtube.com/user/lizzyish8/videos 

Nerdtopia

Hey there,

So I'm currently SWAMPED by preparation for the 2high festival so I haven't had any time for challenges, and nor will I until after it I suspect. So I thought I would entertain you this week with a blog post I did for the 2high tumblr. The marketing team asked each of the coordinators to write about what inspired us. Most of the other coordinators are really arty and linked amazing images or talked about art that inspires them (except Sam, who wrote an amazing story about a turtle for some reason). I thought long and hard about what to write and ended up with something that kind of represents my philosophy on life. Like, if I ever get famous, I want people to quote me on this. I feel like I will use these words for the rest of my life. I'm serious. I kind of want to edit it a bit and print it out and make posters. That's how happy I am with this philosophy. 

Hi there!

I’m Lizzy, one of the production coordinators on this year’s festival – shiny, no?

I’m currently at a different arts festival, This is Not Art in Newcastle, NSW. I’m having the best time, and it’s making me really excited for our own 2high festival at the end of this month! That’s right, the festival is so soon, which means we here at production central are working hardcore to get all the scheduling, tech requirements, backline etc etc etc ready in time for our artists so that everything looks and sounds and runs like an attractive, noisy clock.

I’m a massive nerd, so in times of stress like this, I like to take strength from my favourite fictional characters. When I need to be courageous, I wear my Gryffindor* shirt and I think, “what would Neville do?” When I need to be strong, I think of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, because that chick is hardcore, and has dragons.

I love being a nerd; life is so much more interesting when you embrace your inner nerd. Being a nerd is just like being a normal person, except you’re really into stuff. You can be a nerd about anything, about movies or music or dancing or chocolate or tea. You can be a nerd about theatre and socks, if you want, or Star Trek and gumballs. You just have to really love something, and not be ashamed of it. What is the point of being embarrassed about loving something? This is probably the best thing about being a grown up. At school, someone might have punched you, or shouted at you for having a lunchbox with Doctor Who on it, but now that you’re a grown up you’ll probably just find someone with a Dalek keyring and become best friends.

I am a nerd about stories, mostly. I love good stories – books, movies, TV shows, plays, stand-up comedy, memoirs… I’m inspired by people who write and create these stories, and one day I’d like to try it myself. To me it doesn’t really matter if it’s the most expensive episode of Doctor Who or a student play put on for $50 and a box of wine, if it’s a great story, I love it, and if it’s funny, I probably want to marry it. I keep shoeboxes with souvenirs of good stories that I have experienced, some of them from my real life, but most of them from stage or screen. I have kept one box every year since I was 11… which means there are 13 boxes in my room. Every now and again, usually when I should be doing something else, I go through these and think about all the excellent stories in there (and some of the terrible ones… from my teenage diaries, shudder). I am looking forward to adding the souvenirs from TiNA and later, from 2high – I hope I have encouraged you to become nerdy about something, and maybe start your own collection. Maybe you can become nerdy about something you discover at the 2high festival?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for a Big Top Ball… I have a sparkly sequined hat and socks for my arms. Winning. Tiger blood, etc.

Lizzy

*Did you know that Microsoft Word recognises Gryffindor as an actual word? I would chalk this up as a win to nerdkind

So much nerdiness! So little time!