So today I learnt that a close friend of mine is sick again. I'm not very good at dealing with people being sad or talking about important things like death or illness, so I was at a loss as to what to say. Sad faces on msn can only convey so much.

When he first got sick two years ago I was too shocked to be afraid or upset. I even remember asking him if he was scared and he said that his particular illness had a high success rate so he didn't feel there was much to be scared about. I took his word for it and we never really spoke about it again unless he was talking about his return to school or when he was healthy again. This time though, I was kind of scared. Maybe it's just a combination of things leading to me already feeling somewhat melancholy and pensive that made me more afraid and upset but whatever it was, it hit me pretty hard. We'd been vaguely intending to meet up some time in a couple of weeks, but with this, he says it isn't likely. I feel absolutely horrible thinking about this though since there have been so many opportunities for us to meet in the past month or so but I've avoided them for fear of awkwardness and now it won't happen for quite some time.

As I said before, I'm not very good at talking about things like death and illness and this is because I've never experienced it first hand. When it comes to things like that I've been insanely lucky and sheltered. I live in a world where bad things happen to other people and I don't know how to deal with things when they come my way. I'm so naive and want to live in a world where only good things happen that I avoid keeping up with current affairs like the plague. I'm still a child who wants to believe that everyone is nice and world leaders aren't corrupt and people aren't dying everyday from famine and wars.

They say ignorance is bliss and I believe that whole-heartedly when it comes to ignorance about the flaws of humanity.

-moi

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows."   -Pope Paul VI

Don't you think there's something weird about a Pope who believes in heaven encouraging us to not waste our time on Earth?

I wish I was 18 and I wish I had more cash.

What is your favourite comfort food?

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How much are you affected by what people say about you?

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What is something that you have been putting off for a long time?

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What TV shows have you been watching lately?

Just a random question that I thought could make a change from my previously angsty one.

I've been watching: Top Gear, Death Note, Good Game, Good News Week, House, Life, Psych, Heroes, Avatar, Futurama, Battlestar Galactica, Rove, Packed to the Rafters, Ready Steady Cook... but also a lot of programs have been ending and a whole lot are about to start up. For example, coming up this week i intend to watch: How I Met Your Mother, Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl.

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What would you do if you knew you would not fail?

Everything. Anything. Something about being famous and rich and successful and happy. Not asking much, am I?

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What are your five favourite movies of all time?

Love Actually, Gone With the Wind, Catch Me If You Can, Billy Elliot, Mean Girls.

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-moi

"It has been my experience that when people ultimately change, it can take place so gradually that denial is the only logical course of action in their eyes. I'm saying that change, especially of oneself, is quite possibly the most difficult obstacle to overcome."   -RurouniHime

I feel pensive.

Get Smart is an awesome movie and 'elegant' is a cool word.

If you could only be remembered with one word, what word would it be?

God, this is hard. One word... I guess it kind of depends on who I want to be remembered by and what I want to be remembered for. For example: do I want to be remembered by my friends and family as 'happy' or something equally cliched, or do I want to be remembered by the world as 'great' or 'brilliant'?

I think if it came down to it, I would rather live my life happily and have my name lost, than never have a family or be lost in my work and be remembered forever. So maybe something along the lines of 'content'. Yes, 'content' would do just fine.  

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Where were you one year ago today?

Just looked at my calendar from this time last year, and yay, I was somewhere interesting. And yes, I am fully aware that this is going to lead to some standard North Shore related comments. Why? 'Cause this time last year I was in sailing in the Greek islands.

To be exact, on this day, one year ago (ignoring time zones and the like), I was on the Greek island, Naxos. According to my dad, we spent the morning exploring the alleyways of the town which is built around a Venetian fortress on a small hill. After lunch we went swimming/snorkeling in a calm cove below the Portara. Yes, I know what you are all thinking, 'Emma? Swimming? OMG!' and yes, it is true, I did go swimming. Anyway, that is where I was one year ago today.

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If you had to be stuck in an elevator for 2 days with someone, who would it be and why?

If we are thinking realistically, then I would say Rez or Tanvi. With both of them, we have a lot to talk about and I don't think we'd run out of things to say. Also, I don't mind looking gross in front of them and feel comfortable around them.

If we're thinking along the lines of absolutely anyone then it'd be J. K. Rowling. Simply so she could tell me everything she missed out on in the books : D

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What would you do if a zombie outbreak occurred?

I love this question; It is so completely random. Normally I wouldn't answer it but since I'm on a featured questions overload, I might as well.

If a zombie outbreak occurred, I probably wouldn't notice since I'd be too busy in my room being antisocial and reading/playing computer games/sleeping.

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Do you think you are (or you would be) a better parent than your own parents? Why or why not?

I think it's hard to answer this question in the sense that I don't know how much money I will have and therefore how I will be able to provide for my future children financially. However, in terms of emotional support, I think my parents did a pretty good job over all. In other words, I will aspire to be a greater parent then my parents but I don't know if I can actually be better than them. I think I'd be perfectly happy being equally good as them.

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How large of a role does patriotism play in your life?

I guess this question is probably more aimed at Americans, but I'm going to go ahead and answer it anyway.

I think patriotism and the pride that comes from being Australian really only comes up in everyday situations when American shows have American actors attempting to portray Australians and failing miserably. Otherwise I don't think it really comes up that often. Although, the idea of the Australian accent being quite difficult to mimic does make me proud to be Australian, especially when watching numerous YouTube videos of Americans, for example, attempting an Australian accent.

While we're on the topic of Australian accents and accents in general, I would like to point your attention to the following YouTube video of a woman providing examples of 21 different accents. She does a pretty damn good Australian accent and the rest are quite accurate, too.

EDIT: Amy Walker (the woman in the above video) is from America, just so you know and here's another video I found which adds a few new ones and has a slightly different take on some of the old ones. Also, she's Australian so her Aussie accent should be spot on.

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-moi

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward."   -Vernon Law (In Forever Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares)

I like that series and I think this quote is very real.