On Annie's Boobs and Neighbours

“I love tunnels. They 're the symbol of hope: sometime it will be bright again. 
If by chance it is not night.” 
Paul Mercier, Night Train To Lisbon

Hey guys,

I was in a foul mood today due to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling stating corporations' religious rights are apparently more important than women's health, but fortunately, the news we might get our #sixseasonsandamovie after all (apologies Elise, I know you hate hash-tags) somewhat brightened my day. It's odd how a simple TV show can actually cheer me up, but then again, my imagination has pulled me through difficult situations more than once. Case in point--Once Upon A Time's season three-finale, which I just finished watching (and it was pretty brilliant). I also just made it through Paul Mercier's Night Train To Lisbon, and if you like the works of Carlos Ruiz Zafon, i'd recommend it. I don't have much time for reading these days, but I'm glad I'm able to make some.

Speaking of television, my flatmate (and next-door neighbour, I have seven flatmates in total) started watching Friday Night Lights and he's become obsessed with it, literally watching 10 episodes/day (he's a student, so he has a lot of time on his hands right now). He wants to talk about it constantly, which is kind of annoying, but at the same time, it means I'm working with Explosions in the Sky in the background, so that's pretty nice.

As a sports fan (and journo) I have to reflect on the NBA and NHL draft for a second (I'll make it brief). I'm a Celtics and Sabres fan, and as they both s*ck bigtime, it translated to high draft picks and potentially franchise-altering talent. I like Marcus Smart and I liked him at six, but with Noah Vonleh on the board and the Celtics already fielding a guard who can't shoot and in need of an athletic big who can score, I was kind of upset they didn't go that way. I do love the James Young pickup, however, and even though Rodney Hood probably would have qualified as more of an impact player, I think Young has better long-term potential. At 17, that's good value.

We all knew Buffalo was getting Sam Reinhart. He's smart, has great vision and a high hockey IQ. Safe pick, and the franchise is in need of offensive talent anyway. So yeah, liked that selection.

I'm working 4-12 shifts almost every day right now (July is a lot less busy), so apart from having a fairly nocturnal lifestyle, I usually start prepping for work right about when my neighbours' kids come home. They're great, but as my neighbour is currently in rehab, her sister is having a rough time dealing with the both of them and her everyday life simultaneously. They also eat Fruit Loops for breakfast, so they're crazy active for about two hours before they crash back down to Earth.

Anyway, I've been spending quite some time with those two little brats the past week, when they get back from school. My building is very Caribbean and so are my neighbours, and while they speak perfect English, they revert back to Creole as soon as they get home. Thankfully I picked up a word or two during my time in Tobago, and I'm a fast learner. It's just really rewarding to help out any way I can, and really, Suzy and Laura are pretty awesome. I come from a big family (which underwent a LOT of changes, as strange as that may sound) and because of it, I really never had a chance to watch my younger syblings grow up. There was just always something to be done around the house and I wanted nothing more than to find my corner of privacy amongst all the shouting.

As soon as I finished high school, I made a dash for France and a lifestyle as a surf coach. Six year down the road, the relationships with my siblings have changed. I love all of them dearly, but I often feel like I let them down in a way. Particularly my little brother, who looked up to me as if I was some kind of hero, an example to live up to. He's 16 now, getting ever closer to becoming a man. I love him, and I'm proud of him :) I hope he knows this, but I think he does. And if he doesn't, I'll make sure I change that.

Of course, I also have one younger sister I haven't spoken to in years. It's a sad story, really (and one I will not share in this entry), but for various reasons, she broke with our side of the family. The decision wasn't hers at first (she was too young)), but after years of waiting for a sign of life, you start to wonder whether she's even aware she has siblings, and a mother who cares for her deeply. I like to believe nothing is permanent, and people will find each other again. But after such a long time, you start to think maybe you're just living a fantasy, clinging onto memories that are no more than just that--memories.

Boy, this is getting dreary. 

I miss the ocean. Like, a ton. I can't believe it's been 10 months since I've last entered the water, and it's killing me. During my work breaks I find myself fleeing to Marinelayerproductions and the likes, and I've actually re-watched Dane Reynolds' First Chapter and Sterling Spencer's Surf Madness in the past few days. Surf porn is awesome (Fergal Smith's Growing series brightens my day everytime I flick it on (his quiver-episode is the best)), but it's poison when you're land-locked. 

It's just really frustrating to know so many of my friends are currently in France or Spain, living the life I left behind. London isn't all that great, and you start to wonder whether perhaps you belong down there, with those guys. Last season was a disaster, and things got pretty dark, but really, my surfing friends did everything possible to make me feel better, and for all of the bad times, there were a ton of laughs and great evenings as well. Most of all, there were a lot of great sessions shared with great friends. And yeah, I do miss that. Waking up at first light after a long night of partying for a morning session, diving into the surf 30 minutes before sunset to steal a few last waves with like-minded individuals--so many people will never understand how beautiful it can be. In many ways, I grew up on the beach. The summer seasons made me who I am, for better or worse. And as much as I blame surfing for some of the absolute worst things that have happened to me (because we all need a scapegoat), I formed some of my best memories on the coasts of the Basque Country. 

Elise is currently in Belgium with Conrad, her boyfriend, and reading his status-updates is absolutely hilarious. It's odd to think a country like Belgium can surprise an Englishman in many ways, but apparently it can (though, tbf, I had no idea you could in fact get fresh strawberries from a vending machine in Nieuwenrode). Conrad, if you read this--I hope you truly enjoy your time there, and I sincerely hope you're not too shocked at some of the customs (most notably the man-on-man kissing, though Elise's family is more Dutch than Belgian, so I reckon you're good).

Okay, that'll have to do for now. Like I said, my work schedule is getting a bit lighter so I'll (hopefully) have more to write about in the next few entries. Glancing over my notes I should have a good one coming up (the U.S. Supreme Court and Community decides otherwise today), but I don't like making promises I might not be able to keep.

Let's all hope Belgium kicks some American ass tomorrow (today, actually, it's nearly 3 a.m. BST).

Take care everyone.


Song of the Day: This one of for one of my favourite surfing buddies.
The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCIx6HUpVs0

Added Bonus: Some Japandroids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3KtKAySDBs