Time, Love and Tenderness
Michael Bolton started last night's concert with "Soul Provider", clad in an all black outfit, his close cropped hair neat, his raspy voice booming and echoing through out the Araneta Coliseum.
Sadly, he performed to a lukewarm audience reaction amidst empty seats of the vast arena, but I loved every single minute of it.
His repertoire included 17 songs (yes, I counted them) from most of his albums. A varied mix of tunes like "To love Somebody" (Bee Gees), "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding), "Georgia on my Mind" (Ray Charles). Hits from his Vintage Album like "You Don't Know Me", "Summertime". A few songs from his soon to be released album (May 2006) Bolton sings Sinatra Big Band such as "Fly Me to the Moon", "New York, New York" and "For Once in My Life". He also sang a popular aria "Nessum Dorma" hitting the high notes with an ease only a seasoned tenor can carry well.
The best part for me though is when he re-appeared in the audience after a short break. This time, he was dressed in a refreshing white long sleeves shirt and tight jeans and crooned "When a Man Loves a Woman", his soulful rendition always gives me the chills.
The audience clamored for an encore which he promptly indulged by playing a bright blue electric guitar while singing "Rock me Baby" and ended the night with an acapella rendition of "How am I supposed to live without you?"
Definitely an intimate and cosy night to remember!
I will now take comfort in the words of my favorite song of his: Time, Love and Tenderness.
When love puts you through the fire
When love puts you through the test
Nothing cures a broken heart
Like time, love and tenderness
When you think your world is over
Baby just remember this
Nothing heals a broken heart
Like time, love and tenderness
Time, love and tenderness

I understand how you're feeling now
And what you've been through
But your world's gonna turn around
So baby don't you be blue
All it takes is a little time
To make it better
The hurt won't last forever

Oh, all the tears are gonna dry you know
'Cause someday you'll laugh at the heartache
Someday you'll laugh at the pain
You may be down on your luck
But baby that old luck's gonna change

Retail Therapy
There is nothing like splurging my hard earned cash to make me snap out of my pathetic state of wallowing in self pity.
Yesterday, armed with my 'neglected' credit card, I went out and spent on 3 things I'm most passionate about - Books, Movies and Travel.

First stop was at the Powerbooks Warehouse Sale. I bought Naguib Mahfouz's "The Day the Leader was Killed". Anahita Firouz's "In the Walled Gardens". A favorite author of mine, Mario Puzo's "The Family" and "The Fortunate Pilgrim".

Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita".
As well as books I've read but seem to have misplaced somewhere, somehow such as Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being", Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun also Rises" and Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist"

The second stop was at Astroplus at the Podium where I bought 3 films to add to my collection - "Crime and Punishment", "Catch 22" and "Dirty Pretty Things".

Lastly I went shopping for relevant items I need for my trip such as t-shirts, shorts and flip flops. Plus, of course I paid for my airfare as well as for our accommodations for 5 days and 4 nights at a still to be disclosed destination. For some strange reason, I am keeping it a mystery and I've only told one other person where I'm vacationing but ironically ... Oh well never mind.

I'm pretty sure my credit card is now maxed out. So yes I'm definitely moving onwards and I got my credit card bill as evidence.
Later, Michael Bolton is going to croon away to my achy breaky heart's content. So I shouldn't can't complain too much, my life is still good. I figure that waking up each morning with an acute heart ache proves I am only human!

Sentimental Fool
This past weekend I was shrouded with sentimentality. During a lengthy exchange of emails volleying back and forth between me and a certain someone, we delved on the subject of 'disconnect'.

I've experienced a lot of 'disconnection' in my life. It stems from the fact that for almost 30 years I spent my life in a state of dislocation. I was constantly adjusting, trying to fit in, make new friends then eventually losing touch with most of them. It is certainly not a conscious effort on my part but I guess "Out of sight, out of mind" best describes this behavior.

In that regard, I've always maintained a certain detachment from people. I don't allow myself to get too attached because I knew sooner or later, it was time to move again. The pattern is that once people ventured on a new journey in life like getting married or having kids, the disconnection begins subtly (in other cases, almost immediately) until you barely heard a ping from them.

Mais c'est la vie.
People come and go, things happen, people move on. I move on yet I still remain the same ME. Somehow in my detachment, I've been dreading a certain reality that has so far been silently brewing. I've always been a totally honest person. Sometimes, to a fault. I said a few harsh words in my email which I wish I didn't. I needed to confess certain truths which bothered me for some time now. I did feel a lot better getting it off my chest.
But the silent treatment I am getting now from him is deafening. Yet deep inside I always knew in this particular case, I had to take the initiative to 'disconnect'. For the past few months now, I've stopped chatting with him. A rather painful decision so I did it subtly. Yet the emails were still forth coming. I've been harping on it (the need to stop all forms of communication) for too long, it isn't healthy for me, anymore.

One of my favorites lines from the movie "Before Sunset" was uttered by Celine.

"I guess when you're young, you just believe there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times!"

I was lucky enough to connect with someone these past few years and I will certainly cherish it forever. But now much to my chagrin, it is time I *totally* disconnected. It won't be easy. I don't think I will ever find someone who doesn't find it odd when I rambled about existential topics like hedonism, neo liberal terrorism as well as share my deep passion for the art of cinema.

I miss him.

I will miss him for the rest of my life.

Bonne chance.

Adieu, mon Ame!

Travelocity
Plans are brewing for a short out-of-town-but-within-the-country trip, the first week of April.
The English writer, Gilbert K. Chesterton aptly said:

"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."

It is time I discover more about my own country after I've gallivanted all over the globe. So my sister and I plan to take off for a few days before Holy Week.
I can't really divulge much because we are still dealing with the 3 S of traveling:
1. Coordinating our Schedules.
2. Scouting for affordable accommodations.
3. Sorting out our flight details.

I don't want to jinx it either.
Suffice it to say, there has been a sudden mood change in yours truly. From fretting about my dull existence, now I'm simply giddy with excitement.
Naturally, I have to shed a few pounds to look good in my pictorial pictures.
Ok, let "Operation Starvation" commence tomorrow, right now! Bring it on! =)

Well what do you know?
I received my Mastercard bill statement, today.
It turns out I have credits instead of charges.
The statement says:
The bank owes you P75.52!
I'll be damned!
Imagine that!
This is the first time in my credit card history that I don't have to pay anything.
I wonder if I went to Citibank and asked for the measly amount due, would they hand it to me?
They might get rattled and won't know the proper procedure for such a case.
Anyways, I figure it won't stay that way for long.
Especially since there is a warehouse sale at Powerbooks till March 31, adjacent to my residence.
I haven't purchased any movies (VCDs), this month.
It's time for my hair treatment, soon.
Plus the Michael Bolton concert tickets.
So in the meantime, I will cherish my debt free status with glee. =)

People are people
So they make promises and don't stick to them, right?
It is like making New Year's Resolutions then breaking them a few weeks later. In my case, I subconsciously made Lenten sacrifices then in a moment of weakness, I succumbed and gave in to temptation.
Not once but twice. Now I believe I'm hooked.
I'm a bit upset for not resisting and controlling myself.
Oh well. I guess I need to go to Mass today.
Hopefully try to redeem myself. Or maybe not.
I just might be beyond redemption.
Mercy mercy Me!

Soul Provider
So barring any natural disasters, a coup d'etat or the end of the world itself, in two weeks time to this day, my sister and I will be at the Araneta Coliseum being serenaded by Mr Soul Provider himself, Michael Bolton.
Yes I have always been a big fan of his and way back in college or was it high school (I forget), I bought all of his CDs and listened to them endlessly. So I'm pretty much excited about his concert and can't wait for it to be March 29! Nothing much going on really in my boring life nowadays so I'm just glad I have something to look forward to this month. =)

Sisterly advice
You have a 9 am appointment tomorrow but you are color coded ... what do you do?

You listen to your brilliant sister (in this case that would be ME)

Fill up the car with gas.
Drive to the parents' house up in the hills.
Borrow their car.
Leave your car in their garage.
While you're there, have lunch.
Ransack their pantry for items you forgot to buy.
Get back to condo.

There you go ... problem solved.

Lamb Chops
While grocery shopping yesterday, my sister asked me what I felt like having for our meals this entire week. I blurt out lamb chops! I haven't eaten them for about 4 1/2 years now. When we lived in Dubai, I didn't eat much pork. Aside from the fact that it was haram (forbidden), I have never been a pork person. So I would eat a lot of poultry, fish and lamb chops. Yes, this is just a post to say that I will grill some lamb chops later for dinner.
Yay! Yummy! =)

Spring Cleaning
After slacking off for several weeks, I felt it was time I motivate myself to do some a lot of cleaning.
Now if you live in a place where 2 women work from home then you will have an idea of how much clutter my sister and I accumulate.
Tons and tons of 'junk'. I'm sure you get the idea.
After we had our lunch delivered from Tapa King, it was time to don our 'cleaning' clothes, put our hair up, get the broom, the dust pan, rags and cleaning detergents.
Pledge, Mr Muscle, Greenex, Zim glass cleaner.
I also cranked up my media player real loud.
On shuffle mode we cleaned while listening to:

Feist "Inside and Out"

Steve Tyler "Just feel better"

Keane "Everybody's Changing"

Lifehouuse "Blind"

The Speaks "High"

James Blunt "You're Beautiful"

Aqualung "Brighter than Sunshine"

4 hours later of sorting out documents, brochures, decluttering the closets, arranging shoes, dusting off appliances, throwing away expired goods in the pantry, polishing the stove, tying up old newspapers and cleaning the bathroom - we now have 1 ... 2 ... 3 .... Ok make that 5 piles of garbage bags.
Now it's time for a quick shower before I park myself in front of the telly to watch "American Idol". =)

And the Oscar goes to
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote"
*I'm planning to watch him tomorrow at Greenbelt 3*


Performance by an actor in a supporting role
George Clooney in "Syriana"
*I believed that Paul Giamatti was way better than him in "Cinderella Man"*


Performance by an actress in a leading role
Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line"
*I didn't bother watching her as June Carter Cash because somehow I keep seeing her as Elle in "Legally Blonde" Ewwww*


Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Rachel Weisz in "The Constant Gardener"
*I loved the book, the movie and she is a very talented actress*


Achievement in directing
Ang Lee for "Brokeback Mountain"
*If he can pull off Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" then surely his direction of a film about forbidden love between 2 cowboys merits the highest accolade.*


Upset # 1
Best foreign language film of the year
"Tsotsi" (South Africa) instead of "Paradise Now" (Palestine)

Upset # 2
Best motion picture of the year
"Crash" instead of "Brokeback Mountain"
*I figure Hollywood isn't ready to glorify movies about suicide bombers and gay cowboys huh?*


RED CARPET COUTURE
Amidst all those designer gowns in shades of cream, gold, black and various shades of green there were hideous gowns on the likes of Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams and Helena Bonham Carter. Yucky!
My favorites are those that keep it simple yet still exude muy elegance:







I lurve Jake Gyllenhaal. Just look at those sparkling eyes and gorgeous smile. Phew he's a hottie. ;)

Vendredi, Friday, Biernes
Today is couch potato day as well.
Survivor: Exile Island's at 2 P.M. (Studio 23)
American Idol results at 6 P.M. (Star World)
NYPD Blue at 10 P.M. (Star World)


My sister is off to another fam trip.
Just a short one, this weekend.
This time to Boracay.
I could have gone with her.
But.
I'm not a beach bum.
More of the beached whale variety.


Lent is upon us.
I am giving up (sacrificing) something.
Don't ask, what.
I'm not a regular church goer.
But I do strictly observe the 'meatless' Fridays tradition.
Time to get 'fishy'.


I did feel the slight earthquake, the other day.
I was cooking dinner.
My CD rack beside the TV started swaying.
Times like this I don't appreciate living on the 12th floor.
I called my parents they didn't feel it at all.

Eeeps!

Wednesday: Couch Potato Day
10 A.M => Amazing Race begins on Studio 23, today.

6 P.M => American Idol on Star World.

10 P.M => CSI on AXN.

The gap between the Amazing Race and American Idol gives me ample time to run my errands, watch a movie or simply indulge in sweet nothings.

Yay! =)