Wake me up when October ends.

My resolve to write more often was just that---a resolve. I never get really around to it. Its funny how my brain process these myriad of thoughts but when I try to write them down, nothing happens.

I love fall.

At this time of the year, from where I'm at, is beautiful. The leaves in various shades of color is pretty, not to mention the "crunch" sound they made. I think fall is my favorite season, doesn't matter if its cold and rainy. So, before October disappears into the pile of months gone by, I decided to make a rundown of what I've been up to. And if you do visit my blog, then you'll know about it too. :-)

I ran more often, which works fine for me and more so because I had races to prepare for. I ran in the Victoria Marathon for the first time, which was held during the Thanksgiving weekend. It was the best run I ever did by far. Then two weeks after that, I did the Shawnigan-Kinsol Half Marathon. Needless to say, I've been told I'm crazy. But really, I think there's only one person who knows why I run.

Collection. 

At the moment, I'm reading "A Feast for Crows", book four of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga. I have to say this, after I read "The Game of Thrones" , something just clicked and I'm hooked. Though sometimes, after a few pages while at it, I dozed off--- must be the too fine print.

I get to watch a live concert for the first time at Rogers Arena. It was PiNK's The Truth About Love Tour. I've always like her, since she first started. Never thought I'd get to see her perform live in person, albeit at a distance. Her voice wasn't really at par due to medical issues but she did sang live. She put a really good show and did awesome acrobatic moves, which was really cool.

Anyway, November is here and I know what that means. :-)

I watched The Voice Season 4 ( and I liked it ! ) because of Michelle Chamuel...

Michelle Chamuel

Its unlike of me to be invested in a reality TV show. I am more drawn to shows like Criminal Minds and Bones, to name a few. But a reality TV show? No way, well, except, for "The Amazing Race". But things changed when I first saw and heard Michelle Chamuel belt out her rendition of Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl". I was like, she is cool.

From then on, I wait in anticipation every week. I enjoyed every performance she did and all the songs she picked were all familiar to me, except for "Call Your Girlfriend", which I haven't heard before. But after I listened Michelle sing it, I liked it right there and then.

Image from michellechamuel.com

There's a reason I dislike reality TV shows. I don't think it is "reality" per se. People tend put an act when they're in front of the camera and know that an audience is watching them. And of course, there's the issue about TV ratings.

To me, Michelle epitomizes "cool" and "brains". And she obviously know what she's doing. I like how she remains true to herself in spite of what other people tell her to do or expect from her. She's focused on what she is passionate about in life. I like her commitment and conviction to be just herself, even if it means being different.

Singing "Somewhere Only We Know".

Michelle sings each song as if the lyrics just go right into her entire being and manifests it through the emotions she exudes while performing and evokes in the audience, as shown in their enthusiastic response. She sing it like it is, without  airs. I think her renditions are far better and she never disappoint.

The Voice came to an end and Michelle Chamuel was a runner-up. At the back of my mind, I know she won't win ( not because she's not good ). People, in general, always shy away from something or someone that is different and don't fit in their view of what a thing or someone should be. When the winner was announced, I was disappointed. Although, I would have wanted her to win, still, the fact that she has a great voice and shared it with us, makes her a winner in the end.

I like what she said in one of her interviews, about having fun and being present in the moment. I think, that sum it all how extraordinary she is, as a person and as an artist. Not to mention cool and smart.

I'm a fan!! ( or should I say, a "fran"!! )

If my life is a mistake, I mean, a mixed tape :-)

Only Time ( Enya )

Music has always been a part of my life. Well, ever since I got hook to it. I even have this thought that it's cool to have music on, while driving ( anyway, it's just a thought since I don't drive, yet )

Welcome To My Life ( Simple Plan )

It has been a constant presence in my every waking hour, so much so, that I broke more than a couple of headsets, way back in college. I used to have a collection of cassette tapes ( too bad, I don't know where I have stash them) I had music on while I studied for exams. Some said it was a distraction. In some ways, it was. I put music on when I come close to exploding with anger, to calm me down. When AJ was still a baby, I used to carry her and "danced" to a favorite tune, before I head to work.

Anything But Ordinary ( Avril Lavigne )

November Rain ( Guns N' Roses )

Sometimes, music brings me to tears. Other times, it brings back good memories shared with friends and family. Now, it helps me either to run faster or just cruise along.

Smells Like Teen Spirit ( Nirvana )

Ana's Song ( Open fire ) - Silverchair

The songs I have here are in no particular order. I chose them for the simple reason that I like them at certain points in my life. And I just come up with a few, otherwise, it will go on forever.

Don't Look Back In Anger ( Oasis )

"All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it."

Jean Cocteau

...first time...

Since I can't be without a book for long period of time, I make it a point to have one handy. I have put my library card to good use. The library is now one of my "favorite place on earth" aside from the bookstore of course.

Last week's visit to the library resulted in three books. From Anne Rice, Nora Ephron and Clive Cussler. I've read three books of Cussler before so I thought I could read another one. I've heard about Anne Rice, especially from the "Interview with the Vampire" fame but never actually read her books. I figured I could start now and read her works so I picked "Of Love and Evil". Nora Ephron is another story. I saw her on The View and I never realized that she's a writer. And someone told me that she writes well too. Actually, I borrowed "I Feel Bad About My Neck..." for a friend and after she finished it, I got into it too. And enjoyed it.

 Anyway, I never expect to encounter the mention of God in Anne Rice's Of Love and Evil. No that there's something wrong with it. I like it though.
" Remember this. Talk to God. No matter how you're feeling, no matter what you're facing, no matter what happens to hurt you, or disappoint you or confuse you. Talk to God. And never stop talking to Him. Realize that because things go bad in this world, because they go well, because they come easy or they come with difficulty, well it doesn't mean that He is not here. Talk to Him. No matter how many years pass, no matter what happens, always talk to Him."

With "I Feel Bad About My Neck..." comes another phrase that somehow sum up what I feel about reading. Nora Ephron put into words what I can't do for myself and I thank her for that.
" Reading is one of the main things I do. Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape and the opposite of itself; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone's else imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss."

Reading is bliss indeed. :-)

...watch, shoot and eat...

can't help but listen to them

Joy's pose
the excited crowd
the boys finally arrived
getting ready to sign posters and CDs, then pose for pictures

Last Tuesday, Joy and I went to SM, to catch the group, LIBERA. We waited for almost an hour before they finally arrived. The scream of fans, mostly young people, was deafening. The boys were cute, no doubt. And I believe, it was mainly the reason that a lot of teenage girls were there in droves. Anyone who bought the group's CD or DVD at that time, was entitled to have it signed by the boys and took pictures of the group.

Joy and I took turns in taking photos of them, but it turned out, they were all blurred. The ones I posted here survived the unsteady hands of amateur photographers ( that's us). After almost an hour of standing, my legs were starting to hurt. We left and look for a place to eat. We went to Flavors of China. Finally, I was able to sit down. We ordered food then settled in our seats. I felt very tired. We could still hear the scream of fans in the background. I asked Joy, why we even bothered to come.

In the first place, I was the one, urging her that we should go and watch them. I was thinking that they may sing, even one song, but I was wrong. They were just there to sign whatever their fans handed to them and smile at the camera.

soup with quail eggs

fish and tofu

LIBERA's version of ENYA's Orinoco Flow

...poignant rendition...

One of the songs played during the funeral mass of former President Corazon Aquino, which I can say is one of the most fitting tribute to a an extraordinary leader. And I'm not just saying this just because I'm a fan of Lea Salonga. Anyone can see it for themselves...

..kiss me, oh kiss me...

I'm all for all sorts of music--as long as it appeals to me and it is for my listening pleasure, now that is the most significant part. I was browsing over YouTube when a music video of a certain TV show caught my attention. I liked the song at once and I did not waste time to search for the artist and here it goes. The song has certain beat to it which I like and the artist's voice is praiseworthy.



So when the fight is over,
And the storm is through,
Now will you pick another?
What will you get into?