PERSONALITY MOOD : EASY RIDER

You're a bit of a romantic and have a taste for the exotic. You love feeling the sea breeze in your hair, sun on your skin... slip those shoes off... You like to kick back. As for music, it's the soundtrack to your world. You like to unwind and switch off : it gives you a break from reality. Your choice of treat shows that you like to be able to switch off, so you like to switch on... You're glued to the box.

MY VISUAL DNA

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MUSIC AND LYRICS

I just finished watching the movie Music and Lyrics and yeah! I'm way too late to watch it in cinemas so thanked goodness for DVDs.

As expected, it's a feel good movie. A good one if you just want to relax and want to feel again being in love even for just a short while.

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore have chemistry and they look good together onscreen. The soundtrack is very catchy too particularly the song "Pop! Goes my heart". Hugh Grant's dance steps were superb! ha! ha! ha! especially when he did the move ala " starting a motorcycle" while shaking his hips to the tempo of the song... just imagine!

But what I love the most is the song " Way back into Love". I'm such a sucker for love songs grrrr!!!!!! Though at times I wish I am not.

Hmmmm... I think the storyline of the movie is somewhat similar to the musical play "They're playing our song". Well, it's just my opinion but I know I'm correct with this. To start with, in both the film and musical play , the main characters were artists - pianists & lyricists, both had a hit song in the end and both ended up together eventually.

And I LOVE BOTH!

I love the song and can't wait to play it again and again and again here!

Ooops! Here's a list of trivia first ( source : Wikipedia )

• The film has an anachronism in the very first scene, which is the music video for "Pop! Goes My Heart." It dates the hit at 1984. However, the video features footage of Hugh Grant standing behind a Roland D-50 synthesizer, which was actually not released until 1987.
• Martin Fry, lead singer of ABC, worked as Hugh Grant's vocal coach during production.
• The film's title was officially changed to "Music and Lyrics" from "Music and Lyrics By..."
• Adam Schlesinger, who composed the title track for That Thing You Do!, composed many of the songs in the film.
• The film's director/producer/writer Marc Lawrence offered "Dance With Me Tonight" to Hugh Grant while he was trying to find the right song to sing during one scene. What he didn't tell him was that Marc's 13-year-old son, Clyde, wrote it. On the soundtrack, Clyde actually plays the piano.
• Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant are actually singing in the film.
• During the premiere in Amsterdam, a woman pretended to interview Hugh Grant but ended up handcuffing herself to him, and walking the red carpet with him.
• A UK band called Pop! used the same name as Hugh Grant's fictional entourage, complete with the punctuating exclamation mark. They released three top 40 hits before disbanding.

" WAY BACK INTO LOVE "

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night

I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

DIA DEL LIBRO

I attended the event at Instituto Cervantes this afternoon. It started at 10 am this morning and according to the Programa Cultural that I got from the Institute the first time I went there last week, it will end at 11pm.

I arrived at the Institute after lunch around 2:15pm and when I got there, you can feel the festive mood. I was so happy when I saw books lining up from one table to another. And of course, I scourge the area for a good book to buy and as usual I opted first for Paolo Cuelho's creation. I already bought and read the following novels of his The Alchemist ( actually, it's a gift from Zona - selamat :pD ), By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept and lastly (so far) The Pilgrimage. So there! and to add to my Paolo Cuelho selection is my new prized possession .. The Zahir.

I'm not yet done reading the book "Why Men Marry Bitches" and I brought the book with me at the Institute so I can continue reading it there while waiting for the cinema or the tour- very clever decision of mine to bring it since I went there alone so Sherry's book will keep me company - good thinking wonder dog! he! he! he!

So when I was done buying the Paolo Cuelho book, I went to the Library and stayed there for a couple of hours. Going there was a bright decision since it's VERY HOT outside and the library is the best place to stay cool. I continued reading the book there and waited 'til 4pm since the next tour sked will be during that time.

I registered for the tour when I went down 5 mins before 4 and then I just roamed around the ground floor to keep myself busy - there were a lot of things to see anyways.

I really enjoy attending affairs like this. Not only I can learn about the culture of other countries, I get to mingle with the real MCoys too!

During the tour, I learned the history of the Institute, their purpose and the location of every department they have. The one who gave us the tour was the Librarian, Senor Manolo Perez. He's very accomodating and humorous. During the last leg of the tour, inside the salon de actos ( literally activity room, it's actually a conference/avr room), we had a little Q & A. And to close the tour, he gave us roller ball band with the Instituto Cervantes' name and logo on it, Program Cultural, and a bookmark with a quote written on it from Jorge Luis Borges, one of Spain's notable writers. Here goes " Que otros se jacten de las paginas que han escrito; a mi me enorgullecen las que he leido."

I asked Senor Perez to translate it when he handed over the bookmark to us. And he said at first that he will try to translate it in English in the best of his abilities since I guess he's not as confident as most Filipinos are in speaking the language. Anyways, in a gist he said that it means Mr. Borges do not boast of the pages he wrote but he takes pride on those he read.Manolo added that the writer is a wide reader that's why he answered that way.

True enough, you are what you read, same as you are what you eat.

Moving on, after the tour I waited for the cinema scheduled at 6pm.The movie was entitled "El Metodo" (The Method), the story of which I will discuss in another time. Then after the cine, I headed to the party area to watch the latin band do their stuff. A number of people were dancing and having fun and I just watched happily at the scene that I was witnessing. Spaniards are really social and fun loving people, it's very evident in the people that I saw there.

I went home happy and glad that I attended. I also inquired by the way at the administration department as to their Spanish classes unfortunately, the May sked is already fully booked so I have to wait for their June Saturday classes. Well, I'll just drop by next Saturday to enrol in advance so I get a slot asap.

Dia Del Libro was truly a remarkable Spanish experience. I went home with a rose ( from buying the book, patterned from the tradition that they have in Spain during this event ), Salchichon De Vic (Serrano Salami), Chorizo Salamanca ( I forgot to mention I also bought these cold cuts to have a taste of Spain so to speak), and most importantly an experience money can't buy.

At least as early as now I'm practicing myself so by the time I get there I am already knowledgeable of the country and the culture.

I REALLY can't wait to go and be there!

I AM A BITCH

I am sugar and spice and everything nice.. yeah!

A friend of mine from the office showed me the book "Why Men Marry Bitches" and I got so interested with it when I read some parts. So this evening after work I headed straight to Powerbooks to check if they have a stock unfortunately - none!

So I went to the next bookstore and there laid out at the best seller section a whole bunch of stocks and expectedly I bought one, he! he! he!

I didn't waste time to read it when I got home. It's very informative and most of all entertaining! It validates some of the things I did are correct and in accordance with how men think.

It's indeed a good buy and a good read!

Below are excerpts from the reviews I saw on the net.

I truly enjoy reading the book and I hope women get a lesson or two from the book. The principles really make wonders so to speak he! he! he! ( a bitch's grin )

VIVA LA MUJER!

WHY MEN MARRY BITCHES

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
As in her previous book, Why Men Love Bitches, Argov does not use the word "bitch" in a pejorative way, but rather "to describe a strong woman who has her own identity and is secure with who she is." And while encouraging women to be strong, independent and inscrutable is sound advice, the motivation behind this advice-to keep his interest-makes for a headache-inspiring contradiction. Fortunately, Argov takes readers step-by-step through her process, including numerous "Relationship Principles" that keeps her concepts clear ("Relationship Principle 35: Men are intrigued by anything they do not completely control."). Though the generalizations Argov uses to describe her pre-bitch audience can at times be condescending, and her goals are more about acting-rather than believing-that you don't need a man to feel complete, the behavior she encourages is healthy and useful, even outside the realm of husband-hunting. Taken more as a Bitch's Guide to Life-the word "relationship," after all, doesn't necessarily imply romance-this is a solid self-help."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SOMEONE'S WAITING FOR YOU

(s. fain/connors-robbins)

Be brave little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up though no one is near
Someones waiting for you

Dont cry little one
Therell be a smile where a frown used to be
Youll be part of a love that you see
Someones waiting for you

Refrain:
Always keep a little prayer in your pocket
And youre sure to see the light
Soon, therell be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someones waiting to love you

Always keep a little prayer in your pocket
And youre sure to see the light
Soon, therell be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someones waiting to love you

HABLA ESPANOL?

Finally I was able to visit the Institute after unintentionally delaying the plan for such a long time. I really want to learn another language since it will be advantageous for me especially I have plans of working abroad and Spanish is the second widely spoken language in the world as per the newspaper that I read few months back. Besides I know it's not a hard language to master since a number of Tagalog words have the same meaning and pronunciation as the Spanish language since my country was once conquered and ruled by Spain for more than 400 hundred years ago. Wow! Now I'm talking about history here! Also, learning a second (or third- after English or fourth if I'm going to consider the Chinese course I took) language is nothing new to me since I started studying Chinese since kindergarten 'til high school although the difference of then and now is that before it was mandated by my parents, my Father particularly since he knew it'll be beneficial for us to learn the language 'coz it's being used in businesses also so that we will be able to continue learning the culture of our Chinese grandfather(deceased) and learn his language.We basically grew up in a Chinese community, to start with we live in a compound owned by a distant Chinese relative and since they're the traditional ones, I got exposed to the culture even more - praying with incense sticks, offering food to the dead loved ones especially on their birthdays, burning paper money at the cemetery during all soul's day and even during the deceased loved ones' birthdays so they have something to spend on in the after-life. I remember there's no Sunday during my growing up years that we don't watch Jackie Chan or a Chinese martial arts movie in Beta max (wow! that will show how old I am he he he - I don't care anyways! ) or in a movie house with my beloved Lola Siote(deceased). Well, moving on.....

So, this afternoon I went to Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Centre , to inquire about the schedule of their Spanish classes. I arrived at the Institute 15 minutes before closing time - whew! (at least I was able to make it) and I got brochures and leaflets and found out that there's a free cinema showing at 6 that same day and so I waited. But I went up to the library first to check their books and see the place.. I just love the library and the feeling of being surrounded by books... it feels very intellectual ( ha! ha! ha!) not to mention comfortable, cool and cozy too.
I was looking for the cd of Silvio Rodriguez, but can't find it...I'll just ask the librarian next time.

The library closes at 5pm so I went down already few minutes before they close and just waited for the movie theatre to open. I stayed at the reception area and sat in the sofa there with the rest of the people who are also waiting for the movie just like me. Then this guy next to me tried to make small talk and I was not really in the mood to mingle, besides he's not my type (he! he! he! bad girl!). Also what turned me off is that he's trying to be cool when in fact he's not! I just answered him with a yes or a no coz I dont want to be rude. Worst is he sat next to me when we were inside the cinema, but then again he asked politely if it's ok., I said yes coz I just want to be polite, I know he's just being friendly anyways... it's just me who didn't like to be nice that day.

I wasn't able to enjoy the movie that much because the quality of the film was not good.The Spanish personnel from the Institute who gave a small introduction forewarned us that since it's an old film (1984), the copy that they have is not as good as a new one but he still hoped we would enjoy watching it and true enough it's not visually appetizing and appealing. I can still follow the story because of the subtitles but then again most of the time, I didn't look at the screen coz it hurt my eyes, it was that bad at times. I was planning to leave the theatre but then again, I decided to finish the movie.It was an experience anyways!

The movie was entitled "ULTIMAS TARDES CON TERESA"(Last Afternoons with Teresa).It's about two people with different social status who's worlds met thru the maid of Teresa, a rich university student who got interested and seduced by the revolutionary cause. The other character is a guy named Manolo, a motorcycle thief who wants to get away from his hard knock life.For me, it's like a typical pinoy movie but the difference is the two don't end up together unlike most pinoy love stories who always have a happy ending.

I'm so looking forward to watch more Spanish films every Saturday. As a matter of fact, I'm going to make it a habit to go to the Institute every Saturday and stay for hours in their library and study the language on my own while waiting for my sked. Also I am looking forward to attend their event next Saturday.It's a whole day Open House and they will be celebrating the International Book Day... "hmmmm books" (ala Homer Simpsons he! he! he!)