Lachlan Jordan: The Imposter

That's right, I am an imposter!

Well . . . Not really. I have not stolen anyone's identity or anything along those lines. I'm no Jason Bourne. But I am not an Australian. At least not the Australian that most Australian men are. Now I do my best not to stereotype people, but it's so difficult when a lot of people seem to fit stereotype's.

The reason I say I'm an imposter is because I don't feel I fit into the Australian stereotype that most men are. I felt like this at my old job, and at my current one. Actually, I feel this way around a lot of Australian men. You see, Aussies love their sport. Football, Cricket and Tennis among many others, we are a nation of sport's lover's. Women too. I have met women who are far more manlier then me. Not in appearance, but in their likes and dislikes. Well, mostly sport. And beer. Australia: lovers of sport and beer!

Now I have nothing against these things, they just aren't for me. I would much rather play a sport then watch it, however I have always felt funny playing sport. Ever since high school, (which had quite a few sporting types and I'm pretty sure have produced some well known sports stars, names of which I can't recall) I have felt strange playing sport. I'm not exactly the best Athlete (especially in high school), and there is always that one person who takes it all so seriously. Yes its nice to win, and yes I too would like a shinny trophy or something, but relax already will you, its just a game. I'd much rather go for a run or a bike ride. Maybe a Swim. Or play some kind of backyard sport.

Mostly though for the purposes of my thought's in this blog is more the watching of sport, and I guess the knowledge of sports stars and sport in general. I rarely watch sport on the TV, nor do I know the names of many sports stars. I might watch the Tennis (if its on at the time, but I don't really follow it religiously). And I might watch the State of Origin (Go QLD!). That's about it. Oh, and the reason I say go QLD is because I was born there. This makes it much easier for when people ask me "NSW or QLD?"
And that's it, right there really, people ask me did I watch it or what team I'm backing and stuff like that. Or they just start talking about it, or certain sports people with the assumption I know what they are talking about. But that's how it is, people assume that because I'm a fellow Aussie and a male that therefore I watch sport and that on boxing day the cricket must be on, or that I cant wait for the footy season and am going to put my tips in. And when it comes time to the truth where they find out that I have no clue or opinion on such things then there's usually a lull in conversation or an awkward moment when no one knows what to say. This is why I feel to be an imposter.

Now while I'm fully aware that I am stereotyping and that not every Aussie out there enjoys a TV sports program and that there are probably others out there like myself, but there just seems to be a vast majority of Aussie's who love their sport. Where I currently work is a good example. There are a number of TV screens at work, most of which displaying some kind of sport. It's mostly been Cricket lately. I see patrons looking at the screen's, maybe the occasional cheer or an excited "YES!" They are loving it. They know the game, they know the players, and they know who they want to win. Something I will never know, nor fully understand. I've never understood people who watch these events from home screaming at the TV at the player who has the ball (I'm talking football right now), yelling at them to "Go, Go!". (Well, actually that part I can understand). But when people bag out the players and gather around with their mates telling them how it 'should of been done'. All I can think about is well, I don't see you doing it. You sit there with your beer gut, snacking and bagging out players who 'can't play for shit', but I don't see you doing it. I don't see you out there. Why don't YOU show us how it 'should be done'. These are the conversations that would happen at my old workplace and I would have to just sit quietly, un-opinionated. Or just leave the room, which I often did.

All this sport watching (especially where I currently work in a pub) usually is associated with a cold beverage. Mostly, Beer. Beer is a mans drink. Quite possibly the manliest drink around (except light beer, light beer drinkers seem to get bagged out in my experience). This is most unfortunate for me as I don't drink beer. Apart from the fact that I can't stand the taste and I prefer my beverage's to be something I enjoy, Beer also doesn't agree with me. I've tried to love Beer. I've attempted many different types over the years but me and Beer it seems just aren't meant to be. Which sucks because it's considerably cheaper then Rum, my usual drink of choice.
Apart from the fact I don't like its taste, Beer makes me feel sick. And I'm not talking after many Beer's. I have never actually finished a full Beer in my life. It's like instant headache for me, and makes me feel sick in the stomach. It also surprises people when they discover that I don't drink beer. I usually get some kind of a "Oh really" kind of reaction. Like when people discover I haven't been following the Cricket or something, it seems to puzzle them. I guess it's hard to break free from a stereotype. I mean I am an Aussie after all, and like I said, the majority of Australian's love these things.

So this is me, Lachlan the imposter. An Australian who really doesn't care that much about (watching) sport or drinking Beer. And while I am by all right's Australian with having been born here and lived here my whole life, there are time's where I don't feel like I'm a real 'Aussie'. I mean there are people here from foreign countries who are probably more 'Aussie' then me. But that's ok, the good thing about Australia is that we are pretty laid back and generally don't give a shit what you like and don't like. As long as you are respectful to people and our country, like to have a good laugh (even at your own expense), and will have a drink with us (doesn't have to be beer), then we are pretty accepting.
So whilst I may be an imposter, and not a 'true' Aussie I can still feel at home

New Design

Change is as good as a holiday they say, and while I would much rather go away on a holiday (preferably all expenses paid), one of the changes I have made in life recently is the look of my blog here. I'm not sure if ill keep it this way, and I may experiment with other idea's, but this will do for now.

The inspiration for this look comes from a few area's, mostly images I have seen of apartments through various media, TV shows, an article in a GQ magazine. Needless to say I do enjoy the look they produce and if I had an apartment (and the cash), I too would deck it out to look modern, yet unique and artistic. I do like the idea of making your living space (or any space you have) your own in some way or another. It's those personal touches we add that truly make something (like a house, apartment or room) our own.

Anyway the look I have been inspired by is the integration of things such as floorboards, old brickwork and dark wooden furniture mixed with bright colours such as reds or even whites. Old school rustic mixed with the slick and modern. A collaboration of dark and bright with various textures and items that you might not think would work together, but if done correctly can look amazing. I do like the idea that you can turn a room into an artwork and give it a personality, or a little bit of your personality. Lighting also plays an important role within these designs (however I don't really have that ability here).

Here are a few images to help explain the look I'm thinking of;




I'd like to find more images, but sometimes its hard to find on Google what it is you are trying to find, especially with something that's a little vague

Although I don't know how long I will hold onto this particular look ( I think this may be the 6th design change my blog has undergone since its creation), I might play around more with idea's and looks for this particular theme. Blogger does limit me some what as to how my page will look, but I'll keep playing around I guess. I have been in a very designer kind of mood lately and it's been far too long since I have opened up photoshop. The little skill's I did have need to be refreshed, and I need to learn some new one's. In the mean time I guess this look will do. I hope you like the changes

2012: The Year My Life Begins

They say 2012 is the year the world ends. But I think 2012 is the year my life begins. I say this because I truly have a big year ahead of me. I have goals, things I wish to achieve and this year, I'm doing something about it!

You see I myself am my worst enemy. I generally don't have enough confidence in myself to do the things that I probably should of done some time ago. And the stupid thing about that is I know I'm doing it, yet still couldn't help myself. This year is my first year at Uni, something that I probably should of been saying 4 years ago after I finished TAFE. But that word, 'Uni', it frightened me. It represented something that to me sounded so scary and difficult. What if I failed? This is not a good attitude to have, and I'm ashamed in myself for having it, but I still couldn't get passed that fear. I never considered myself a Uni student. Only smart people go to Uni don't they?

So I never went. I never even tried actually. Once I finished TAFE I got my diploma and just kept working at Woolworths. Which is fine, but I was just cruising along, happy in my safe little world. I then moved to Newcastle and got another job, a full time job as a Storeman for an electrical wholesaler. And I cruised along there too. Thoughts of Uni did linger in my mind, but I was still afraid and so I would dismissed these thoughts and keep cruising along.

3 - 4 years pass since I finished TAFE in 2007. It's now 2011, how quickly time flies. I'm still working as a Storeman for L&H and I'm hating it. Ive never hated something so much and I've never been so stressed and overworked in my life. And it was in this year, in 2011 that I started looking at myself. I thought about my passed, about where I was in life at the moment, and where I wanted to be. Who I wanted to be. I thought about all the things that I wanted to achieve and realized that I wasn't going anywhere, that I was stuck. But this time rather then mope around, complaining; 'woe is me', I decided I had to do something. That if I wanted a change, I had to make it happen, me. I realized that I had to believe in myself and take a few risks. And so that's what I did.

About halfway through November in 2011 after another terrible day at work I went home, got on the internet and applied to The University of Newcastle. There was a course I liked the sound of; Bachelor of Visual Communication Design. It would be another 2 months before I knew weather or not I was to be accepted in the course, but I already begun planning leaving my current job and what I was going to do when I was accepted.

January 2012 was a big month for me. A lot happened in just a couple of weeks. I new I would need a casual job/s whilst I was studying as well, so I set out and handed out as many resume's to as many places as I could think of around Newcastle looking for casual work. I had written a short cover letter explaining my situation, about how I was to be attending Uni and would give anything a go. In one day (I was on my holidays from work), I handed out 23 resume's to various bar's and clubs. I got lucky, and within a week I had 3 job interviews to attend.

January 19, 2012 I received a text message from the University of Newcastle, I had been accepted! It was all starting to happen. I accepted my offer, I was now a University student. All I had to do next was get at least one of these jobs that I was being interviewed for. However this wasn't the only thing on my mind. I had some other big plan's that were happening over the weekend. Other plan's that would also be life changing.

January 21st 2012, I asked the love of my life Naomi Anderson to marry me, to which I'm glad she said yes. And while it might still be a year or so before we 'tie the knot' or be able to afford our own place together I didn't let those things stop me from what I wanted to do. I love her and wanted her to know how I truly felt. Why wait for the 'perfect moment'? Or to be financially secure. Love isn't rational. I know I want to be with her forever, so I took the steps to show her and everybody else that. Like I said earlier, I know what I want, and this year I'm doing something about it.

January 23rd the day of the Job interviews. The first at The Warners Bay Hotel turned into a 4 hour trial, after which he offered me the job. The second was at Sunglass hut at Charlestown. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful here. Last interview was at the Honeysuckle Hotel, where they also offered me a job. I took the one at Honeysuckle Hotel, I liked it there better. The next day I walked into L&H and I quit.

So there you have it, the beginning's of a massive year ahead, the first steps into what certainly feels like the beginning of my life. I have direction again and am starting to believe in myself. I officially finish up at L&H on Friday the 10th of Feb. (And I can't fucken wait to get out of that hell hole!!). Ive already started my new job at the Honeysuckle Hotel and am loving it so far. And on Feb 27th . . . I start my first day at Uni. Bring it on