Mind is a razorblade

+ Known as: Laura
+ Born: 21/12/1988
+ Hair colour: dark brown
+ eye: dark brown

SECTION 2 - HAVE YOU EVER
+ Fallen off the bed?: yes, still got trauma’s
+ Broken someone else's heart?: yes
+ Had your heart broken?: yes
+ Had a dream come true?: yes

SECTION 3 - CURRENTLY...
+ Wearing: black skinny jeans, yellow-black blocked shirt
+ Listening to: Bat For Lashes
+ Located: in front of my dad’s computer, mine’s broken :(
+ Chatting with: nobody, not really the msn kind of person
+ Should REALLY be: working on my master paper topic

SECTION 4 - DO YOU...
+ Have any piercings: no, not even earrings
+ Drive: no
+ Drink: yes (no comments, Bart/Filip!!)
+ Have a cell phone: yes

SECTION 5 - LAST PERSON YOU...
+ Hugged: my sister Iris
+ IMed: ??
+ Talked with on the phone: dad
+ Text: Wing-Ling

SECTION 6 - PERSONAL...
+ What do you want to be when you grow up? Music journalist :)
+ What comes first in your life? Music, friends, family.
+ What do you usually think about before you go to bed? The previous and the next day.

SECTION 7- FAVORITES
+ Show: Six Feet Under, Flight of the Conchordes
+ Store: any decent cd store, Mango, Zara
+ Food: Chinese and Italian
+ Color: blue, black, red

SECTION 8 - DO YOU...
+ Like to give hugs: yes
+ Like to walk in the rain: yes
+ Prefer black or blue: blue just as a colour, black for clothing
+ Sleep on your side: yes
+ Have stuffed animals: yes

SECTION 9- THIS OR THAT...(pick)
+ Pierced nose or tongue: nose
+ MTV or BET: MTV
+ 7th Heaven or Dawson’s Creek: Dawson’s Creek (but not a fan of either)
+ Chocolate or flowers: chocolate
+ Colour or black-and-white photos: colour
+ Stay up late or sleep in: stay up late
+ Hot or cold: cold
+ Sun or moon: moon
+ Left or Right: left
+ 10 Acquaintances or one best friend: one best friend
+ Spring or Fall: spring
+ Happy or sad: happy
+ Wonder or amazement: amazement

SECTION 10: FIRSTS.
First Screen Name: can’t remember
First self purchased CD: Spice Girls
First pet: fish called Sarah
First piercing/tattoo: none

SECTION 11: LASTS.
Last GOOD cry: a while ago probably, cause I can’t remember
Last phone call: dad
Last time showered: yesterday evening

SECTION 12: CURRENT.
Current mood: relaxed
Current food: just had a Kinder Bueno
Current hair: like usual
Current annoyance(s): my broken computer :(

SECTION 13: WHO LAST...
1. Made you smile: Daniel (his postcard, to be exact)
2. Saw you cry? parents and sister

SECTION 14: WOULD YOU RATHER..
1. Be serious or be funny? Depends on the situation
2. Drink whole or skim milk? skim
3. Spend time with your parents or enemies? parents

SECTION 15: DO YOU PREFER...
1. Do you prefer gray or black? black
2. Lust or love? Love (no problems with lust, though)
3. Sunrise or sunset? sunset
4. M&M's or skittles? M&M’s

SECTION 16: ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
1. Do you like anyone? yes
2. Do you believe in love at first sight? yes
3. Do you fall for the wrong guy or girl? Most of the time/always

And under our blue skies, marble movie skies

Brit Gal' in the USA got tagged and filled in a survey. She didn't tag other people herself, but asked anyone who enjoys this kind of thing to join in. So here I go.

What are your current obsessions?
- my bachelor paper on last year's American presidential debates // deadline is next week and I'm working on it all the time
- ice cream // more of an all-time rather than current obsession, but ah well
- the new Röyksopp album // it's awesome

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
My black skinny jeans, couldn't live without. My (fake) leather jacket as a close second.

What's for dinner?
Depends on my mom's plans. :) I'm secretely hoping for tortellini.

Last thing you bought?
New headphones and a new top from Mango. Oh, and a leather jacket from Sanna (Vagabond Set) who is selling all of her clothing.

What are you listening to?
(I'm so busted..) The latest Pet Shop Boys album. And I love it.

If you could be anyone who would you be and why?
John Malkovich, just to have that voice!

Favourite holiday spots?
London, Rome, Lisbon.

Reading right now?
I'm too busy for actual reading at the moment, but I've spent quite a lot of time with 'The Travel Book' lately.

4 words to describe yourself.
Friendly, forgiving, competitive, energetic.

Guilty pleasure?
As mentioned above, Pet Shop Boys. :) And loads of tv-shows I should probably not be wasting my time on.

Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?
Monty Python, situation humour, Andre from America's Most Smartest Model ("I'm feeling Soviet!").

First spring thing?
Cocktails and summer dresses.

Best thing you ate or drank lately?
The tarte tatin I ate last weekend in restaurant Hof ten As. Yum!

Favourite ever film?
'Requiem for a dream'.

Care to share some wisdom?
To quote The Libertines: 'if you've lost your faith in love and music, oh the end won't be long'.

What may surprise us about you?
My best friend is for some reason I don't know not talking to me and whereas I'm pretending to don't mind at all, it's killing me.

I'm not going to tag anyone either, so if you feel like filling in this little form, feel free to do so!

I tremble - they're gonna eat me alive

What is your current obsession?
Facebook (still), Metric, chocolate easter eggs.

What do you see outside your window?
My neighbour's chicken.

Do you nap a lot?
Absolutely not.

Who was the last person you hugged?
I think that must've been Michaël last week. I love hugging. I need more hugs.

What’s for dinner?
No idea, mom's going to suprise me.

What was the last thing you bought?
Weeds season 1 on dvd.

What are you listening to right now?
Metric. (again. that latest album is simply brilliant.)

What is your favourite weather?
Sunny yet not too hot.

What’s on your beside table?
A postcard of London, my watch, my cell phone.

What's in your bag right now?
My agenda, my wallet, sunglasses.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?
London or Norway.

Where are you typing from right now?
The computer in my bedroom.

What book are you currently reading?
A book about the latest American presidential elections.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
Someone special. (how cheesy is that?)

What would you like to get rid of?
Insomnia. Stiffness in my calfs.

What did you want to become as a child?
Everything, going from fancy carreers as a lawyer, over artistic things like a singer or a writer, to...garbage woman. :p I was very ambitious.

What posters/pictures do you have on your bedroom wall?
The Libertines, Tori Amos, Infadels, Paul Weller.

What is your plan for tomorrow?
Have lunch with friends. Watch the cycling (Ronde Van Vlaanderen). Work on my bachelor paper.

What should everyone have?
Someone to watch over you in some way.

What do you find to be an important quality in a person?
Loyalty. And the will to fight for a friendship you think is valuable.

I pictured a rainbow you held in your hands

I Am: ambitious, but realistic
I Want: to go on a holiday (really, I need to get out)
I Have: a comfortable life
I Wish: I could play an instrument
I Fear: that someday I’ll be completely forgotten
I Hear: Bloc Party
I Search: for more
I Wonder: if I’ll have the guts to fulfil all of my dreams
I Regret: hurting people
I Love: my friends and family, music, discovering the world, anything spontaneous
I Always: listen to music
I Usually: love stages
I Am Not: perfect
I Dance: to rock ‘n roll
I Sing: always and anywhere
I Never: give up
I Rarely: walk away from my principles
I Cry: when nobody is around
I Am Not Always: focused
I’m Confused: by myself
I Need: more patience
I Should: study

I'm curious about your results, so don't hesitate to fill this form yourself if you have the time. ;)

You're just so pretty when you're putting the damage on

2008 - the final interview

1. did you do anything you've never done before?

I started writing for two online music magazines, did my first interviews (the very first one was with Swedish singer Robyn), first visits to Paris/Lisbon/Amsterdam, discovered the Make Up Club (which is now my favourite place to go out), had my first serious relationship, first time I dated a non-Belgian guy.

2. did you keep any of your new years resolutions?

I didn't make any last year. Was a pretty good idea, although I decided to go for it again this year. (you can find them in one of the posts below)

3. did any of your friends become parents 2008?

Yes, Steven became father of his second beautiful daughter Hannelien.

4. did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately not.

5. what countries did you visit?

England, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Germany.

6. is there anything you missed in 2008 that you want in 2009?

Not really, I've got all I need.

7. what dates from 2008 will you always remember?

I remember moments, not dates.

8. what's your biggest achievement in 2008?

My first steps in music journalism. :D And finishing my second bachelor year.

9. biggest mistake?

Trusting someone completely whom I should not have given so much trust in the first place. Starting things of which I know they won't work out anyway.

10. have you been ill?

Yes, but nothing terrible.

11. best buy?

My laquée shoes and my leather jacket, love them to bits.

12. what did you spend most money on?

Drinks, parties, music, trains, travels.

13. did anything make you genuinely happy?

The Sigur Rós gig at Pukkelpop, I was crying from happiness. And of course my time in London.

14. what songs will always remind you of 2008?

Goldfrapp - A&E

MGMT - Kids

Manic Street Preachers - A design for life

The Sneakypeeks - A little bit red

Oasis - Don't look back in anger (good times in Ghent)

Kings of Leon - Sex on fire

Red Light Company - With lights out

15. have you been happier or unhappier this year compared to previous years?

Both. But I'm prepared to live through all the unhappy times to experience those happier-than-ever moments.

16. what do you wish that you did more of?

Travelling. Making the right decisions.

17. what do you wish you did less of?

Making stupid decisions.

18. how did you spend christmas?

With my family, really cosy.

19. did you fell in love?

Oh yes I did.

20. how many one night stands?

Not really my thing. It's not like I never kiss random guys, but that's it then.

21. favourite TV show?

Six Feet Under, Monty Python, Top Chef, Skins.

22. do you hate someone now that you didn't hate in the end of 2007?

Hating is a strong word that I don't like to use, but I seriously dislike someone that I didn't at the end of 2007 (because I didn't know him yet). He hurt my best friend like hell and fuck him for that.

23. best book you read in 2008?

Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh.

24. the best new band you discovered?

Glasvegas.

25. something you wanted and got?

I saw a lot of artists perform that I'd been wanting to see live for a long long time (Babyshambles, Manic Street Preachers, Paul Weller...). And of course writing for the music websites.

26. something you wanted and didn't get?

Student rooms.

27. the best film you watched?

Funny Games US, Elegy, Atonement.

28. what did you do on your birthday?

I went to a Chinese restaurant with my family.

29. is there anything that could have made your year any better?

Sure, but it's silly to nag about such thing.

30. how would you describe your style this year?

Lots of black, skinny jeans, leather jacket.

31. what made you feel good about yourself?

Writing for the music websites. Getting over my ex.

32. what celebrity did you fancy the most?

Carl Barât. Always. Also: Peter Sarsgaard, Ralph Fiennes, Cillian Murphy. As for the girlies, Kate Moss and Katy Perry.

33. who did you miss?

My friends in Leuven, I don't get to see them often enough.

34. the best people you met?

Jonathan, Peter, Ann-Sofi, the girls from Neon Enlightenment (I'm not sure whether I got to know them before or during 2008 but I love them anyway so they deserve to be mentioned!), Chris, Sylvie, Bart and many many more. Love you all!

Honestly

1. Honestly, what color is your underwear?
Black.

2. Honestly, whats on your mind right now?
The Policy Analysis assignment I'm working on.

3. Honestly, what are you doing right now?
Filling in this form while I actually should be completely focused on that assignment. In the meantime, I'm listening to the radio.

4. Honestly, what did you do today?
Have breakfast, be useless on Facebook, work on my assignment, write a review for Indiestyle on Vanishing Point (Friday's party in the Make-Up Club), write this blog post.

5. Honestly, do you think you are attractive?
Some days, but mostly I think I'm just okay and on bad days I think I'm fugly.

6. Honestly, have you done something bad today?
Nah.

7. Honestly, do you watch disney channel?
I don't even have it.

8. Honestly, are you jealous of someone right now?
A little bit.

9. Honestly, what makes you happy most of the time?
Music, friends, travelling.

10. Honestly, do you bite your nails?
No, they're too nice.

11. Honestly, what is your mood right now?
Pretty neutral.

12.Honestly, have you had an eating disorder?
No.

13. Honestly, do you want to see someone this very minute?
Yes, practically anyone is more interesting than my assignment.

14. Honestly, do you have a deep dark secret?
I have my secrets (not many though, secrets are boring if no one knows about them), but I wouldn't call them deep dark.

16. Honestly, do you hate someone right now?
No.

17. Honestly, who/what do you want to hug right now?
All of my dear friends.

18. Honestly, are you loyal?
Very.

19. Honestly, are you in denial?
I mostly am.

20. Honestly, wouldn't you rather be having sex right now?
Yeh, why not?

21. Honestly, who is your best friend?
Elke.

22. Honestly, have you ever consumed alcohol?
Haha, stupid question. That means yes, by the way.

23. Honestly, do you like someone?
Always.

24. Honestly, does anyone like you?
Yes.

25. Honestly, is it going anywhere with them?
I doubt it.

26. Honestly, did you answer all these questions honestly?
Yes, the questions weren't bad enough to lie about.

I'm so clever, but not very wise

Five Things In My Bag:

- Canon digital camera

- black iPod nano

- Moleskine notebook

- red Rimmel nailpolish

- black wallet


Five Favorite Things In My Room:

- music collection

- Libertines posters

- pictures

- glitter dress

- cuddly animals


Five Things I’m Currently Into:

- post-its

- Snow Patrol (sorry Gerlin, but I'm really into that last album)

- Six Feet Under

- Songbird (the media player)

- black eyeliner and mascara


Five Things I’ve Always Wanted to Do:

- become a cultfigure

- become a music journalist (as a real job, not just like I'm doing now)

- move to London

- celebrate Midsummer night in Bergen, Norway

- be in a band


Five Places I Won't Ever Forget:

- London - anyplace, anytime

- Botanique on a hot summer night

- Fontana di Trevi area in Rome, remembers me of the good times I had there when we travelled to Rome in our last year of high school

- Air Liquide, where I've done my student job the last two summers - might be a strange choice, but I loved being there

- Bellevaux, where my grandparents used to have a chalet - loads of good memories

You always had what you finally found

Rules
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense.
NO CHEATING!


The Questions:
1. How are you feeling today? I'm cold - The Cure (haha, couldn't be more right)
2. Will you get far in life? Love will tear us apart - Joy Division (promising)
3. How do your friends see you? Your love alone is not enough - Manic Street Preachers (let's hope it is)
4. Will you get married? And I remember every kiss - Jens Lekman (yeey)
5. What is your life’s theme song? Smokers outside the hospital doors - Editors
6. What is the story of your life? Flux - Bloc Party
7. What was high school like? Lazy sunday - The Libertines cover version (bang on)
8. How can you get ahead in life? I feel it all - Feist
9. What is tomorrow going to be like? What goes on - The Beatles
10. What is the best thing about your friends? Waste it on - Silversun Pickups
11. What is in store for the next weekend? Narrow minded social club - The Rifles
12. What song best describes you? (I don't know what's going) on - The Cure (well, yes)
13. How is your life going? Friday night at the drive-in bingo - Jens Lekman
14. What song will play at your funeral? If I could cry (it would feel like this) - Jens Lekman (okay, my shuffle system seems to love Jens Lekman; funny answer though)
15. How does the world see you? Mystic energy - The Young Knives (I kind of like this one)
16. Will you have a happy life? Latchmere - The Maccabees
17. What do your friends really think of you? Ready for drowning - Manic Street Preachers (that does make me feel really good, ahum)
18. What song describes the person you’re attracted to? I'll be waiting - The Pigeon Detectives
19. What message would you like to tell the next generation? Raging Red - Dear Leader
20. Do you have a deep dark secret? Black Balloon - The Kills
21. Do people secretly lust after you? Gang of gin - Babyshambles
22. How can I make myself happy? Hate to say I told you so - The Hives
23. Will I ever have children? Rochester's farewell - Michael Nyman
24. What’s some good advice for me? I might be wrong - Thom Yorke live (hahaha)
25. How will I be remembered? Hurt - Johnny Cash cover version (that's a bit sad)
26. What is my signature dance song? So Sweet - Maria Mena & Thomas Dybdahl

knicked off myspace

as a brief introduction

THE BASICS
Name: Laura
Age: 19
Birthday: December 21
School/Grade: starting my 3rd Bachelor in Communications in two months
Job: student + amateur music journalist (writing gig/album reviews and doing interviews for a Flemish music website called Digg*)
Hometown: Grimbergen, tiny place in Belgium (Flanders, more specifically)
Parents Still Together: yes
Siblings: 1 younger sister, Iris
Smoker: no
Drinker: yes
Drugs: no

APPEARANCE
Hair Color: dark brown
Is it Dyed?: no
Eye color: dark brown
Height: 1m63 / 5'4" (I know, tiny)
Style: rock chic, too much black some dare to say
Glasses/Contacts/None?: none
Freckles: unfortunately, yes
Body Type: slim
Shoe Size: 38 in European sizes
Piercings: no
Tatoos?: no
Braces?: no
Overall Best Feature?: hair
Overall Worst Feature?: feet (I know almost everybody hates their feet, but mine are a complete disaster)
Do you get most of your traits from mom or dad?: dad

LIKES
Favorite Color: black, blue
Favorite Food: Chinese, Italian
Favorite Junk Food: crisps, icecream, Bounty
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: coconut, pistache
Favorite Alcoholic Drink: vodka, pinacolada
Favorite NON Alcoholic Drink: Canada Dry
Favorite Genre of Music: indie rock
Favorite Band/Artist: The Libertines
Favorite Song: 'The man who would be king' by The Libertines, 'Disorder' by Joy Division, 'Silent all these years' by Tori Amos, 'Samskeyti' by Sigur Rós, 'Rebellion (lies) by Arcade Fire, 'How to disappear completely' by Radiohead...
Favorite Book: 'The picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde, 'On the road' by Jack Kerouac, 'A home at the end of the world' by Michael Cunningham, 'Norwegian wood' by Haruki Murakami...
Favorite Movie: Requiem for a dream, American beauty, The Edukators, Garden state, Pulp fiction, The science of sleep
Favorite Season of the Year: spring
Best Friend: Elke, Liesbeth, Sam
Favorite Sport : badminton (to play), tennis (to watch)

LOVE LIFE
Are You Single?: no
If not, who is your bf/gf?: Jim, a 26-year-old Englishman who lives in Brussels
How Long Have You Been Together?: 4 days (and a while ago we already dated for two weeks)
First Kiss: Sam when I was 13. It was for truth or dare, but I loved him so much, so I make it count as my real first kiss
Ever Kiss in the Rain?: yes, I like the drama of it
In a Movie Theater?: no, too cliché
Underwater?: no, good idea though
First Love: Sam
Have you ever Cheated on Anyone?: no
Used Someone? : no
Lied to your bf/gf?: yes
Ever Made out With Just a Friend?: yes
Ever Had Sex With Just a Friend?: no
Are You a Tease?: yes
Do you Flirt a Lot?: yes
Longest Relationship: 5 months and a half with Piet (not very impressive, I know)
Shortest: 1 day (with Sam), but the complete story around it is a whole lot longer
Do you Like Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day?: nah
Do you Believe in Love at First Sight?: I didn't, but once I think I've experienced it
Do you Fall in Love Fast?: yes if you mean superficially falling in love, no if you mean really loving someone
Would you ever Hook Up With Someone of the Same sex?: I don't think so right now, but never say never
Have You ever Kissed 2 People in One Day?: yes
Kissed 2 People At One Time?: no
Had Sex with 2 People in One day?:no
Ever cried over someone of the opposite sex?: oh yes
Ever Been Dumped?: yes
Ever dumped someone?: yes
Ever been rejected?: yes
Do you have a lot of ex's?: nah, 3 or 4 depending on what you'd really call an ex
Ever dated someone more than once?: yes, I'm dating my boyfriend for the second time, and I had already been dating my previous boyfriend briefly before we got together for a longer period
Do you ever make the first move?: not really, unless you include very obvious hints
Do you want to get married?: yes, but not for the church

OTHER
Can you drive?: no
Do you have a cell phone?: duh
Are you online a lot?: yes
Do you like gay/bi people?: some of them yes, some of them no (just like it's the case with straight people)
Can you speak another language? dutch, french, english, german, some italian
Do you do well in school?: pretty well
Have an obsession?: yes, music, Carl Barât and Roger Federer
Do you hate yourself?: sometimes (but I guess everybody does so sometimes, it's not that I'm emo or something)
Ever smile for no reason?: yeh
Talk to yourself?: yes
Do you have any regrets?: lots, unfortunately
Do you support gay marriage?: yes
Sex before marriage?: yes
Do you trust people easily?: too easily
Forgive easily?: always
Do you have a secret no one knows?: everybody has them
Do you get along with your parents?: mostly
How do you vent your anger?: loud music, cursing
Do you like George Bush?: no
Goal Before you die?: destroy hypocrisy and become a cult figure
Biggest Fear: becoming a caricature of myself someday
Biggest Weakness: I'm a very bad loser, playing games against me is not too much fun most of the time
Do you play an instrument?: no, but I should