music monday: tiny dancer

Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies. I love the music from that generation and I also love the director. I think Cameron Crowe is just so brilliant. The last movie he made was Elizabethtown. And guess what, the soundtrack is also cool.

Elton John originally sang Tiny Dancer but the video here is from the movie. Which I think you will all enjoy. By the way, Almost Famous received two Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical) and Best Supporting Actress for Kate Hudson, and Cameron received his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can't hear me
When I say softly, slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are strictly for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

conversations...conversations...

kite runner

I just finished reading Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and this was the first time I heard of Hazara people. I got curious and tried to look them up in the internet. They are believed to be descendants of Changez Khan ( Genghis Khan), the great Mongol warrior of 13^th Century. In modern history, they reside in the central region of Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. They have faced persecution from the Afghans, particularly the Pashtuns. Being different, they are still being despised and persecuted by majority groups up to this day. But look how beautiful these children are...





And this is how I picture Hassan, one of the main characters of the book, would look as a kid

By the way, read the book. I found myself crying halfway through it.


photos: som sol'n förlät

music monday: red balloon by tim hardin

Did you ever wonder what music you were listening to during your teenage years? Me, I was a rocker through and through. I’ve endeavored to get as much of the music of those days as I could and put them in my personal song list. Those songs have influenced me and I will share them with you in the coming days. One by one. And these were not songs listened to by normal people. And maybe, because of these songs I am what I am now. I listened to mostly rock (hard rock, southern rock, progressive rock, metal). It was a lifestyle for me. But mind you, I didn't look like one back in those days. I didn't wear a kilo of silver bling, black cut-off shirts or big pointy leather boots! Anyway, this was the time MTV first landed in the Philippines with programs like Headbanger’s Ball hosted by VJs like Danny McGill who were really rockers. This was before the time of the internet.

But for now, I wanna share this song with you. The version I love was sung by Tim Hardin but I couldn't find a video of him singing this song in youtube. But this will do for now. I swear you'll love it.





RED BALLOON by Tim Hardin

Bought myself a red balloon

Got a blue surprise

Hidden in the red balloon

The pinnin' of my eyes

Took a love light from my eyes

Blue, blue surprise.

We met as friends

You were so easy to get to know

Will we see one other again …

Oh, my … I hope so.

Bought myself a red balloon

Got a blue surprise

Hidden in the red balloon

The pinnin' of my eyes.

Playin’ ‘round with children’s toys

As a child I got

Haven't time for children’s toys

Though I have a lot.

Bought myself a red balloon

Got a blue surprise

Hidden in the red balloon

The pinnin' of my eyes.

Come join us in Music Monday and share your songs with us. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and we will all go and visit you. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are strictly for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

the pink sisterhood

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and today is the last day to spread the word. Well, not really. We could extend this awareness for as long as we can.

Anyway, I was tagged by Ane who is fast becoming a seasoned blogger. Thanks, Ane!


~~Start Here~~

1. Put the logo in your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who shared it with you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add your link to the list of participants below
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

PINK Sisterhood
1.Fara 2. Massy 3. N.O.Y 4. Mariuca 5. A Great Pleasure 6. Benchiegrace 7. Grace 8. Jhelea 9. Richelle 10. Demcy 11. Cecile 12. Cookie 13. Ane and 14. cherry 15. you next!

~~End Here~~

Now I'm tagging these beautiful women: shabem, lotus flower, and cielo.

a necessary ingredient

I miss my mother. What I remember most vividly about my mother was her dedication and competence. She always cooked each meal from scratch--marketing, preparation, the actual cooking and even the cleaning up. She never served take-out food unlike the author of this blog whose speed dial consists of all takeout and fastfood deliveries. My mother knew how to sew popped buttons on polo shirts and dresses and torn hem. She knew how to iron properly. She was a mother through and through.

My mother is not dead. She's just far away. A day away in an airplane. I would like to be that kind of mother who can serve her children with the best. But I'm far too lazy and far too 'proud' to learn anything about housekeeping and the removal of choco stains and substitution of ingredients. Actually, my mother tried to teach me how to cook, and God knows what kind of student I was. I was busy with other things. My attention was focused on boys and 'kakikayan'. I wish I paid more attention.

As it turned out, by the time I had a family of my own, my mother was already in the States. But luckily, I was never asked to wash clothes or iron a man's shirt. But it would be nice and probably, I would be better off if I had a few of my mother's skills. Right now, women are not so concerned about housework. Women have jobs now. Balancing work and home is an everyday thing. How many magazines are there targeting the working mom. Our society does not question working mothers about their love for their children nor their decision to have a job. As long as the mother packs her daughter's lunch, makes sure there is dinner at 7pm and there are clean clothes in the closet, everything is ok. But I guess it would be much better if a mom is present at the dinner table. In my case, I wish my mom is present now because I can't seem to get my Mechado right. I think I'm missing an ingredient.

i'm driving myself crazy

My son just enrolled in a driving school this morning. My dad accompanied him and paid for it. I don't know if it should make me proud because any skill, even driving, is an advantage or it should make me nervous because I don't how many driving maniacs are out on the road.

That thought has haunted me ever since my son expressed his wish to learn to drive last year. It's the danger. It makes me want to take a blowtorch and put all driving schools on fire. But that would not have prevented him from learning, anyway. So I just told him that he would have to wait another year. And that time came this year.

But don't think for one second that his wish wasn't met with some resistance. I did all I could. Of course, there was the argument of what he would do if the car breaks down. Does he even know the first thing about car repair? And the gas allowance. I told him that he has to pay for his own gas and I won't give an extra just for that. I know, I'm being paranoid and HARD. But you know how kids are and how they can be so impatient and careless.