Protected: Say The Word…
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Making Plans
With a little bit over two months left before my sabbatical in Vienna, I am starting to consider some of my “extra-curricular” activities while I’m there. One of the things I found today while checking the website for one my musical obsessions is that they will be playing at Club Szene Wien in Vienna on June 22nd. This will be the first time I see Songs: Ohia in concert. I am so psyched now! 
And that’s all I have to say for today. Work was uneventful (we have some secondary audit going on now, but I don’t care enough to stress over anything now). School was rather boring, even though we were discussing a very interesting book (my mind just wasn’t into it). Now I am very tired and don’t think I will be able to read the five chapters due for tomorrow’s seminar. I am a mess.
Can’t Live Without My Radio
I have added a link to my radio.blog at the top the sidebar. I’m rather impressed with the quality of this little Internet gadget (pretty good sound for files playing at 32 or 64 kb). While I love all musical styles, this time I have chosen some of my favourite downtempo, chill-out, and trip-hop. There are 32 of them available for your listening pleasure (since this site doesn’t get as many visitors anymore I am not too concerned with bandwidth issues). Below is the list of all the tracks that I have included.
- A Girl Called Eddy – Tears All Over Town
- Abraham – Magpie
- Caia – The Rose Room
- Carla Werner – Heaven Is A Word
- Cibelle – Deixa
- Engine Room – A Perfect Lie (Gabriel & Dresden Mix)
- Gaelle – Love You More
- Gare Du Nord – Pablo’s Blues
- Goldfrapp – Utopia
- Kelli Ali – Wings In Motion
- Lamb – Wonder
- Llorca – The End (Hepop Original)
- Malia – I Miss You
- McKay – Bluesin’ It
- Morcheeba – Fear and Love
- Nightmares On Wax – Thinking of Omara
- Parov Stelar Feat. Anita Riegler – Sometimes
- Puracane – 100 of Me
- Rosalia De Souza – Fica Mal Com Deus (Stateless Rework)
- Saint Etienne – Suburban Autumn Lieutenant
- Santessa – Sometimes
- Seawind – Loving You
- Shea Seger – I Love You Too Much
- Slowpho – Porno
- Songs: Ohia – Soul
- Swing Out Sister – Sugar Free
- Telepopmuzik – Breathe
- Thievery Corporation Feat. Perry Farrell – Revolution Solution
- Tiefschwarz – Never
- Vanessa Daou – Make You Love
- Wax Poetic Feat. Norah Jones – Tell Me
- Zero 7 – In The Waiting Line
Please make sure to take a minute to check the ones by Songs: Ohia (I know only a few songs that sound as sad as this one), Saint Etienne (one of their least known recordings), and Vanessa Daou (one of the most beautiful love songs I can think of).
Enjoy. Please give me some feedback on these selections; I would love to hear from others.
New and Untried
–Listening: In my CD changer…
Natalie Merchant – Tigerlily | Heather Small – Proud | Songs: Ohia – Ghost Tropic | Waldeck – The Night Garden | Alison Kraus – Forget About It
–Reading: Part 2 of the works of Larsen and Fauset
–On The Box: Nothing for now…
I have decided to give WordPress a try. After a gazillion years of posting through Blogger it is always nice to give something else a shot. The only bad thing is that I couldn’t import all comments. At any rate, I didn’t have a whole lot of them in recent days and the old ones are probably not too important anyways. I sort of like the ability to group things under categories. I’m sure that there are other nifty things that I will eventually discover.
In unrelated news, I received confirmation today of my much planned summer project. The location is Vienna, and I will be there from the 1st of June through the 27th of August. I had intentions of leaving earlier (my goal was May 6th) but due to academic restrictions I will need to wait a couple of weeks. Three months is more than enough at any rate; I just need to get my mind away from many things and people.
I really have nothing else to write about today. I haven’t done much; this day was needed to relax from the hectic week that just ended, and to prepare for the one that awaits me: returning to school from Spring break, a second minor audit at work, and my triumphant return to the world of fitness (I cannot go back to Europe looking like the poster child for obesity). I am however excited and looking forward to all that is coming. Maybe life will start presenting me with new and happier events; maybe the dark clouds that have accompanied me for the last couple of months years will finally dissipate.
Friday Five
–Listening: Back to Mine – Death In Vegas
–Reading: Part 2 of the works of Larsen and Fauset
–On The Box: last week’s episode of Boston Legal
For Lack of inspiration and anything better to say, here is the rather cliche Friday five:
1. What are your five favorite all time TV shows?
The X-Files, Ally McBeal, CSI (only the one in Las Vegas), Dynasty, Oz, Sex and the City.
2. What five things you want to do before the year is out?
Move into my own apartment, complete my masters, be rid of all debt (including student loans), reach 160 pounds, find “that” special someone (yeah, right…).
3. Who are five people (alive, dead, or otherwise) you would want to have dinner with?
A certain someone from work (and no, it is not “you know who”), Tori Amos, my three best friends from high school (we live in different countries).
4. Where are five places (cities, states, countries, etc.) you would like to visit?
Japan, China, India, Peru, Ghana.
5. What are your five favorite desserts?
Tiramisu, cheesecake, flan, and anything sweet from Spain.
Not very interesting or original. But I needed to fill some space. Now I’m going to download and try Netscape 8. Let’s see what it has to offer.
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Fragments of Me
Listening: Bananarama – Greatest Hits. Tacky 80’s music rules!
Reading: A dissertation on the dynamics of passing as seen in the works of Larsen and Fauset
On The Box: Tyra and the Ladies
This is starting to get old…
My mother saw the cream coloured envelop on top of the kitchen counter, right next to my keys and the utility bills. I didn’t realise that I had left it there. As she stirred some mushrooms and chicken for dinner she looked at me and made an attempt to ask something. She decided not to say what was on her mind. I sat on the stool by the kitchen’s breakfast area and awaited. I knew that something was on her mind.
As I reached for the remote control (I wasn’t too sure if there’d be an episode of CSI tonight) she finally spoke.
Mum: So what is the story behind that?
Yours Truly: Behind what, mother?
She points at the envelope, the invitation sticking out slightly. It is now that I understand where she’s heading.
Mum: Are you going to go? I think that it would be… (I interrupt before she gives me her opinion on the matter)
Yours Truly: No, I won’t go. Why is the world so interested as to whether I am attending this event or not? My boss asked me the same question earlier today.
Mum: Whatever you choose will be fine. It is just kind of mean and hurtful to be invited to the wedding of the one who broke your heart.
Yours Truly: Mum! Nobody broke my heart. I broke my own heart.
She stares in disbelief. She removes the frying pan from the stove, opens the cabinets, and starts serving dinner. Again she looks at the item in question and then she looks at me. My sister enters the room at this moment.
Mum: It is safe to assume then that you are not going?
Sista’ Vee: No, he’s not. I know what the two of you are talking about, and he is right in not attending. It would only empower _______ (insert TOOMA’s name, whom my sister has never been very fond of).
Yours Truly: She’s right. I never intended to show up.
Mum: Good. Maybe soon I will see you picking up the pieces of the heart that, as you claim, you broke. I need to see you smiling again.
Yours Truly: Worry not. I will be fine. Can I have a little more mustard on my chicken?
Sista’ Vee: That’s more carbs than what you need. Come on, let’s watch Tyra and the other bitches, before TiVo deletes it.
My sister manages to bring the conversation to an end in a rather elegant fashion. I look at the cream coloured envelop and decide to put it away. It goes into a drawer where we keep old Christmas cards and letters. It should have been placed there from the beginning.
I sit on my favourite chair and start eating. My mum and sister discuss the outfit on one of the models. I eat some mushrooms and realise that I am actually happy with my decision. Slowly but eventually I will pick up the pieces.
And, hopefully, this will be the last time I ever write about this situation and/or this person.
Days of Wine and No Roses
Listening: Alana Davis – Surrender Dorothy
Reading: Nothing… I’m going to fall behind on schoolwork
On The Box: Lost
Part of the stress is over. I have been certified on my review. So has all of my team. There are just a few details to go over tomorrow and then we’re free. TOOMA showed up in my office with a bottle of wine and some chocolate as a “token” of appreciation for all my “assistance and guidance.” it “could have not been done without” me. Bollocks. I wish I had been given nothing.
While there was a certain kindness and sincerity about this present, I would be better off not getting it. I want to want nothing from this person. I guess I have become ungrateful. Maybe I am just tired. Not of them and the foolish games, ’cause I am the one who has allowed them to continue. I am tired of me feeling so stupidly about someone; of me being unable to just move on; of me acting psychotic when I should show a certain level of poise, class, and professionalism. I am tired of that and of many more things about me at this moment. Only I can change that. I know I can.
Why is it then that I still check my cell phone to see if there are any missed calls? Why do I wish to apologise for my angry words and the slamming of the door? What a damned shame this situation has become.
Feeling Fat
No, I did not mean to write phat (to begin with, I don’t think I use that word at all). F-A-T… That is right. I have become the living, tumbling image of the man that I always said I’d never be. I have been stressed with work (and its trillion audits), school (with its billion projects and fears of not getting the funding that I need for 2006), and my rather non-existent social life (maybe I am just sexually frustrated these days?). I have gained _____ pounds and I am embarrassed (notice how I left a blank for the numeric figure). I have become fat, bro!!!
I used to run four or five miles everyday; I have not stepped into a gym or running track, or upon a treadmill since the last week of December, 2004. It has been nearly three months of stress, over-eating (I become an omnivorous boar whenever I am anxious), and zero physical activity (sitting my fat ass in front of a computer, or in a seminar room, etc, etc…), and my body is now showing it. I feel fat, man!! I feel like I can’t fit into any of my favourite jeans. I am limited to the same three outfits ’cause I don’t wanna look like some stuffed burrito by attempting to wear any of my usual clothes. I am fat, man!! And whenever I gain weight, even a couple of pounds, I become an ugly mofo.
It is my fault. It is my doing. I can blame the fact that I ruined a nearly perfect body by eating too many Snickers ice cream bars, and many late night stops at Taco Bell. Now I need to find a way to fit the gym back into my busy schedule. Maybe I need to start getting up around 5:30 and run on my treadmill for an hour before I go to the office. I just need to do something. I feel so damned fat, dude! I am frustrated and I am disgusted… Ugggggghhhhhh!!!
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Go Ahead and Listen
In the last few month several new services have become available for people to either stream their playlists or share their music tastes with the world. My personal favourite so far is last.fm, which allows you to build a nice little library, have your own personal station, and then explore other artists and styles by checking your “neighbours” playlists and charts. I signed up a couple of days ago and I love it. The service is free but it is always nice to donate a buck or two so that the nice folks who manage it can keep up with its costs (people get some extra features after a donation is made).
I have my sociology seminar tomorrow and need to read like 150 pages for a presentation. Given that my sense of procrastination did not disappear during my hiatus (I used to blame the Net for my neglect towards schoolwork), I still haven’t read more than ten sheets and it is near midnight. I found myself more interested in the beautiful ladies fighting for Tyra’s favor and acceptance, and the kids hoping to become the next pop idol for the American market. I totally love Bo Bice. He rocks more than anyone who has participated in the show so far. Yeah, I have become addicted to reality TV… again.
I can see myself staying up till three or four in the morning… and I need to be at work by eight. It’s all good though…
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