#andyslife

[catchyalaterandy]

The clubbing pastor & the dreadlocked crusader

It was my first day in my new job.

Well new part-time job...

Well technically second new part-time job.

Long story short, andy was going to be an extra, coming to a television screen near you. I might appear on local television shows, ridiculous commercials, and even hollywood blockbuster and international cable shows if I'm lucky. For all we know, "pedestrian #3" or "Slave boy #25" could be my breakout role...Or i can just do this...

(...which i did)

But for that day, I played the role of "bar patron with the metrosexual hipster scarf". And I nailed that role perfectly. Primarily because i'm the said owner of such scarf, I also met some interesting people among the crews. This is their story.

The Clubbing Pastor

The Dreadlocked Crusader

[catchyalaterandy]

Dawn. (Rivers til I reach you)

A quick spasm pierced through my left calf. What the fuck.

It was 7.23 on a saturday morning. The sun wasn't quite ready to come out, but apparently that's all it took for me to get up. Skittles was getting up too, from his own equally uncomfortable couch.

Her door was open. She was lying down but she was awake. So I knocked anyway.

"Hey Dawn, we might get going now," I said, "No trains, probably gonna take me an hour plus just to get home…"

All she did was open her arms and i knew instantly what she needed.

I sat down by her side, then i laid down for a hug. I could still detect hints of alcohol from her breath. 

"I think we drank way too much yesterday," I said while hugging. By we i meant all of us, me, Skittles, Dawn and her flatmates. We did all pass out on the couches around 10. It might be the earliest I've gone to sleep in the past few years.

She whispered something in my ear, while still holding tight. And i whispered back, "I know, me too. But you're going to be fine."

"In fact, you're going to be fantastic," i carried on, "But please come down, when I move out next month, stay at mine, Facebook me, txt me, you have my number, so call me…" then i got myself detached and got up.

It is a big deal for me to tell people to call me. I hate phone calls, period. They are quite possibly the worst and most awkward thing created, thanks a lot Bell and Watson.

"…maybe." She said back, smiling, referencing that annoying pop song that had been stuck in our heads for quite some time.

As i looked up at the sky while walking out the front door with Skittles, i doubt everything is going to be the same without my best friend around. But I think I am going to be alright.

Catch ya later,

Andy =)

[catchyalaterandy]

Sticky.

Off the top of my head, i started reading Sticky around 2 years ago.

I had recently joined tumblr, struggling to find my way around. I did not know about the functions of most the buttons. My page was bare and I had no friends who knew about tumblr. Tumblr was both a sanctuary for my anonymity and a prison of my inner desire for fame. I wanted to get noticed, yet I did not want people to know who I was. I was comfortable to share every explicit details of my life with complete strangers, yet I don't want people I know to read about these. The never ending turmoil has lead me to Sticky.

To be honest, i do not remember what I was doing at the time, nor do I recall how I stumble upon her page. But I loved her since that first sentence. It was so raw and powerful. Reminds me so much of Bukowski and Palahniuk. So much truth and emotions. The intimate and excruciating details she shared influenced my writing. As a teenager I had a blog, but this is better, in every way. This is almost a drug, I wanted more and i know i want to write like that one day. 

The irony being that if i want to be so intensely truthful, at some point I have to withdraw myself and hide behind the screen, much like she has done. But then that I realized something: I am perfectly fine with being anonymous online. I do not need the fame that I initially desired, I just want to write a good story that I am proud of…And so far, I am proud of most stuff I have published.

Something tells me i won't meet her for that cocktail in LA anytime soon, but her influence stayed on: "To be honest and writing the truth is ever so important". I think it's the least i can do for you Sticky.

Catch ya later, 

Andy =)

[catchyalaterandy]

The perfect world.

If this is the perfect world, i would not be writing this. I would be blissful and ignorant.

If this is the perfect world, my best friend would not be leaving Auckland and heading back to the middle of nowhere just so she can have a job even though she worked harder than anyone i know.

If this is the perfect world, Karen would still be with Hank, and Hank would not have lost faith and lost sight of his war. Hank would still be that hopeless romantic 3 years ago.

If this is the perfect world, my family would not be separated in different corners of the world, resulting me in growing up in such a hostile environment where media and writing became my forms of escape. And i would never have been interested in family counseling.

If this is the perfect world, I would be doing the minimum work while receiving the maximum reward. I would be an entrepreneur where every single one of my brilliance would change the world. I would be the greatest writer of all time where every prose I write would be significantly better than fucking Shakespeare.

If this is the perfect world, Andy would not have given a damn about child poverty, child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, the economy, human rights, social injustice, racial issues, gender issues, gay rights, war, diseases, global famine, and climate change.

But this is the perfect world. Not because of the lack of reasons I listed above, but because of everything that is shit that has happened. It made me who I am now. Maybe now you see why I want to be involved with politics. Or not. It may not have been the perfect world for you.

Catch ya later,

Andy

[catchyalaterandy]

Got inspiration to write something. New "He&She" coming up tomorrow =)

[catchyalaterandy]

Day off.

It's nice to get a day off work and not get up at 5am just to endure a 2 hours commute half awake. Never knew why i hated sleeping as a child, seeing how much i miss it these days.

Here's a random thought. Is there such thing as minimalist latte art? Because I've been working on those at work this week...While my boss insists on practicing her more elaborate designs. Good on her i suppose.

Until next time,

Andy =)

[andyhartley]

Check this out!

For those 3 of you who reads this, I'm starting a new project on the side.

Come and check it out. 

http://catchyalaterandy.tumblr.com/

As usual, feedback will be appreciated via comment box, ask box, or other alternative methods you can think of.

Hope you like it. And show me you care by clicking the like and follow button above *point at your right hand corner* =)

Catch ya later, 

Andy.