Second Journal Entry (01/14/02)
I wrote this diary entry before Christmas.thought you might want to read..
So I'm leaving New York City.
On a plane. Back to L.A listening to music again. The new No Doubt Record is in my walkman. It's Hella Good. I love re-invention. I'd decided I'm also obsessed with female singer songwriters. Right now I'm into the new 'solo' album from Nina Persson (Cardigans). It's so simple and sincere. Flying through the air. Clouds and Sun and Pay It Forward is playing on the inflight TV screen on the world's oldest airplane. Would you like the chicken or the beef?
London was so great. Got to spend a few days off to do the Christmas thing. See my friend Claire and the ever increasingly international Kristel. We had an international-off. I won. Got to see a movie. Normal stuff.
Waiting in the airport lounge, eating stale breakfast pastries and watching CNN I was struck by the spectator sport mentality the media have adopted in relation to the war. It reminds me of the Gulf War.. When we watched the whole thing live on television. What was it Bono used to say, in character on stage during the ZooTV tour? "When something serious comes on.. you can just change the channel". I hope we do more than just channel surf through this one. I want to see an end to wars. How idealistic is that?
Home for Christmas. That's where I'm going. I want to hold people I love and take a moment to appreciate how lucky we all are to be alive. The children behind me are kicking my chair. Constantly. The only words the two year old can say are 'ME, ME MEEEE!!' which I find both familiar and rather amusing. Bump! Three more hours to touch down. Back to Gwen Stefani. Rock Steady!
I wrote this diary entry a few days after presenting at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.
I'm sitting in bed with a friend of a friend's dog next to me. His name is Rugby and my friend is baby-sitting him while the owner is out of town. Rugby likes to run around. A LOT. But right now he's scratching flees right next to me in bed and the sun is slowly going away for another day outside.
I've had my whole family from Australia with me for Christmas and it's been really wonderful. My brother and sister have the most adorable children so it's been great just being an uncle and doing stupid child-like things. We all went to Disneyland the other day and had a blast. I had to put them on a plane back to Oz today and it was a bit sad.
It's funny because even though my brother and sister are parents and I'm supposed to be a pop star. I still miss the old days when it was just the 3 of us against the world. I swear every time I say goodbye to them it gets harder. Living in another country probably makes it seem worse. but goodbyes are goodbyes still.
Work wise..I'm all rested up (ate too much good holiday food) and we're totally ready to start kickin' some serious you know what. The machine is just about to kick into gear I guess. The single Insatiable has been released to radio around the world and people are playing it. That feels good. I'll keep you posted.
