Sundance Kid

Should be getting ready to leave the flat but instead I’m dancing around to The Strokes and trying on all of my heels. 

I am a scorpio, and whether I believe in astrology or not, I do identify with most aspects of the sign. They’re said to be the most misunderstood sign of the zodiac, now I don’t feel like a sad 14 year old who thinks “no one UNDERSTANDS me!” I think I’m a little too old for that stage. However, people tend to misread my intentions, attitude and general character all the time. I’m pretty laid back, I never shut up, and I am very loyal to my friends. Probably more than they would ever know. However my nature is often misinterpreted. I try very hard to avoid conflict with people because I know that if provoked, that impression of the nice girl would be wholly destroyed. Scorpios are said to be intense, fiery and passionate under the surface. I think that’s definitely me. One of my friends at school who had some serious anger issues, over the years had gone off on everyone around her - except me. In our last year at school I asked why only I had never faced that wrath. She simply replied ” Cause you’re the only one who’d give me as much as I gave”. She’d seen me in action and apparently it was quite terrifying. I don’t tend to blow up. It comes out pretty cool and cutting as I’ve most likely thought my argument out well in my head. Another one of my friend’s ex-boyfriends later admitted to me that he found me incredibly intimidating - hard to believe for anyone who knows me, but he was famed for delivering a witty retort in seconds flat but was assured that if he took me on I would “verbally tear him apart”. True. People always seem surprised by the aspect of my personality, and most of my friends never see it. I would never behave that way to a friend. NEVER. I have a lot of control over my emotions, I rarely cry nor do I get annoyed often. 

…Scorpios are also supposedly ruled by their sexual impulses, are the mysterious silent type and love sexy leather. HA. 

Radio’s been on for half an hour and I’ve already heard Paul Simon, Love, Devo and Belle and Sebastian. Good shout. 

Debatable whether I’m interesting or completely insane….

1. My last name is Cassie, however it really should be something else. It was changed after the murder of my 19 year old great grandmother, whose body was found in a lake after allegedly being shot by her husband. Thus the family decided that my grandfather shouldn’t keep the bastards name. I like Cassie better anyway. 

2. I woke up to Otis Redding on the radio this morning, this made me feel incredibly content. 

3. There is a plastic cow sitting on my desk, a peculiar Christmas gift from my significant other, which I’ve decided is now my good luck charm. The Scottish history examiner was tickled pink. 

4. I have a slight obsession with loose mint tea. mmmm.

5. When I was around four years old, I discovered my Dad’s copy of Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA’ and from then on had my parents and any other poor soul who came round to my house endure the entire album while I danced/ran around the living room. - Funny that I really dislike the title track now.

5. This was also the age where I was more or less convinced I was a flying horse named Calum.

6….Calum lived at pony pride rock.

7. It has become my curse in life to meet an abundance of Calum/Callums, and to my father’s delight each and every one at some point hears this story.

8. Surprisingly this was not the aspect of my character that worried nursery nurses at St. Ninian’s. Oh no, they brought my parents in due to concerns about my behaviour. Concerned that in the game of ‘Mums and Dads’ I refused to play anything other than the dog. REJECTING TRADITIONAL FAMILY ROLES. Some kids had a political imagination, jeez.

9. I have attended both state and private school. It really irritates me when people say things like ” Oh, I never would have guessed you went to private school.” Well no - obviously not. It isn’t emblazoned on my forehead. I don’t believe in any of the stereotypes.

10. I wore a kilt to school. Fit.

11. I tend to prefer radio to television. 

12. I once texted in to my favourite deep voiced radio host to request he read out my favourite word: Suave. Like this ‘suuuuaaaaaaaaaave’. He did. I was inundated with texts. Wow people know me that well hahaha. 

13. I am ridiculously sleazy.

14. Last night I stuck pictures of Drew Barrymore and Marina Diamandis, not because I’m an enormous fan but because I admire their attitudes to business. Marina refused to sign any record deals until she had the business savvy to manage herself. Drew runs her own production company - and neither of them take any shit. I like that a lot. 

15. I have hair like Marc Bolan. The curls are currently making a big comeback. 

16. Last year I ran into Paolo Nutini on Ashton Lane with my flatmate Ruth. She was so excited she managed to spill some of her tea on his leather jacket. Smooth

17. I saw him in Glasgow again, on my birthday! I feel it was a sign. HE KNEW.

18. I bought a bag of easy peeler oranges last night. I’ve already eaten 5….no self control. 

19. I never went through the emo/goth/any other kind of phase as an awkward teenager. Nope, I was out there completely on my own wishing I was a surfer. My friend Megan and I spent the majority of our school years wearing flowers in our hair, cut off denims, beads and going surfing in cornwall.

20. I love to snowboard, but I haven’t been on my board for around a year now. Highly distressing.

21. When I was boarding in Pila, Italy, I flipped right over while flying down a notorious red run, however the momentum meant that I went right over and landed back on my feet and kept going. I’M SO GLAD THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE TO SEE THIS. It was the weirdest feeling.

22. I like life drawing too. I’ve found a class at the Flying Duck in Glasgow recently where there’s a bar and a DJ too. It really clears my head.

23. I always find myself playing the harmonica when I’m in the flat by myself. 

24. I inherited a beautiful handmade 12 string guitar from my grandad (Papa) last year. It sounds incredible, it needs a lot of work though.

25. I’m studying History at the University of Glasgow, but I detest the dark ages, the middle ages, the renaissance period, the industrial revolution….I love the modern era and American history. It seems such a waste to have an extensive library of Asian, Mediterranean and African history which as undergraduates we never get the opportunity to explore. 

26. I love Bruce Parry. He’s the best thing on BBC.

27. I have an irrational fear of barnacles. I’ve never liked them, they make me feel a little queasy. I imagine them attached to me and freak out. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 brought my worst fear to life. BARNACLE PEOPLE. You bastards.

28. I broke my arm in just about every horrific way possible when I was younger, it took surgery, pins, long years of physiotherapy and a lot of Bio Oil to make it look human and functional again. The scars kind of look like a shark bite though, so I like them. 

29. I tend to go see my favourite bands multiple times. This is the main reason I am living in Glasgow. My favourite piece of music is an instrumental by John Butler. I managed to get tickets to see him at the 02 Academy in April and nearly cried when he started playing Ocean. A tad embarrassing, but I wasn’t the only one!

30. I’ve been feeling really on edge recently. I’ve been trying so hard to do the right thing for those around me, and please people that I was starting to crumble under the pressure. That’s not healthy. I hate the thought that anyone could think that I don’t care.