Blast from the Past

Everyday by Buddy Holly

Everyday, it's a gettin' closer,
Goin' faster than a roller coaster,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)

Everyday, it's a gettin' faster,
Everyone says go ahead and ask her,
Love like yours will surely come my way, (hey, hey, hey)

Everyday seems a little longer,
Every way, love's a little stronger,
Come what may, do you ever long for
True love from me?

Crunch Time

Now's the time of the year [for us students that is] when finals come around and all of us are going around freakin' out. Not only for finals but also because this is when a lot of performances are happening as well.

But that's not what's on my mind.

The question I'm asking myself is, "Do I do anything about this girl that I like?"

Hmmm.

Maybe I should be studying instead of thinking about that question?

Post PCN-Partem

This now makes my fourth year of helping lead the choir portion of SF State's PCN. And I'm damn proud of it too. This year I pulled in some ringers -- peeps I know who can sing and would for sure be able to hold down the sections of the choir. And it worked. I had a big choir and a smaller, more elite choir.

We also got live music for every dance.

This is a big thing. For SF State, that is. Since I've been there, at least one or two of the dances has been accompanied by taped music. But not this year. One of the guys in SF Chamber Singers is also one of the head of the Likha Rondalla, and he graciously volunteered not only his bandurria skills but also his singing skills to the choir. He helped two others to learn Binoyugan and Pandanggo sa ilaw/oasioas. Plus, I paid Master Kalanduyan for a private lesson so I could learn Pangalay to accompany the Vinta dance [the Mindanao dance where the couple dances on poles]. And then we busted out the gangsa for Idaw.

This year's big choral piece was a merging of the Philippines national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, and what some would call the unofficial national anthem, Bayan Ko in the same song [complete with fanfare ending!] Then the small choir [aka Power Choir] did a mixed voice performance of Pinay's Dahil Sa Yo [thank you Angelica].

In all, this production was the best since I've started helping out. The bar has been raised.

The only thing that sucks is that we may never be able to hold it on our own campus anymore.

I still have a few more things left this semester, but the bulk is out of the way. Of course I'll keep you posted.

~ No Tations ~

I was telling a friend about this romance business.

It's so fun being 'in like'. I feel alive. I hear song lyrics. The text of the songs in my voice lessons is making more senese. The birds are singing, the sky is blue.

*sigh*

Drowning the Sorrow

My friend KrisDraw and I went to visit our fellow Chamber Singer NoBeHere at Max's Opera Cafe in Burlingame where she works as a hostess. I know we embarassed her when we gave her a standing ovation after she sang "When I Fall In Love", made popular by Nat King Cole.

It turns out me and KrisDraw are in similar romantical situations. Both of us like girls who are either dating or are quasi-taken. That sucks.

But on a cool note, it looks like Max's might be hiring. So you all should come and visit me if I end up working there.

~ No Tations ~

P.S. Here's a picture from the Cathedral in Prague [it's the sun's reflection through the stained glass]

Mindless ramblings at 314 am

So not only am I awake right now but there's a girl that I just can't get out of my mind. She's nice, smart and...has a boyfriend.

Why can't I have a thing for single girls?

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

And I'm Spent

After a total of 13 hours flying [plus 2 hours waiting] the SFSU Chamber Singers returned home from their 13 day spring tour of Germany and Prague.

I was hoping to have easier access of computer and internet but that wasn't so much the case. But anyway, I would just like to give you a little taste of what I was able to be a part of for the last three days of my trip.

Charles Bridge, Prague

This is one of the main stopping points for all visitors to Prague. This bridge, which served at one point in the city's history as the only bridge in and out of the city, connects new and old town Prague. It's easy to tell new town by looking at the Hapsburg Castle on the upper right of the picture. At night, the castle dominates the horizon as it is the only thing lit on that side.

We walked over the bridge Monday morning as part of a guided tour. Monday was our first free day of the tour. We went all over and had substantial amounts of free time. After the afternoon tour I sat back in the main market square of old town for two hours and just watched from a side cafe/restaurant. There's a national Czech law which says that beer must be made affordable to all levels of people, which of course is great news to my ears. I had three big glasses as I sat waiting for the sun to go down.

As dusk approached, I made the 8 minute walk back to the bridge and slowly waited as the sky turned dark. Being so tired I crashed in my hotel room at 930 that evening. But I woke up at 530 am fully refreshed. With the sky still dark I decided that I would be back at the Bridge to see daybreak. What a thrill! There were virtually no people at the bridge. The sun is not visible because it's behind the buildings but it is still cool to be there as the sky slowly lights back up. It's like someone turned the chandelier on in the dining room.

My last night in Prague was spend walking around and then getting a free massage lesson from one of my choir members. We met the bus at 6 and boarded at 715 and sadly were on our way back home. But on the Bridge I rubbed the statue of St. Jan, which means that I am making my promist to return there. Plus I seconded that by yelling into the night air "I SHALL RETURN SOMEDAY!" much to the embarassment of my friends.

My voice is gone, I've spent money and had no more clean clothes. It was time to go home but again if I had missed the plane I wouldn't have minded either.

Makin' and Made Mine Music in Europe

~ No Tations ~

P.S. Here's a night shot of the same bridge.