Videoke

My videoke experience takes me as far back as late 1990's, when multiplex was becoming obsolete and cds are the "in" thing. The first time I heard of Magic Sing microphone was when my ex-boyfriend used to do demos and they'd do the rounds in exhibits and trade fairs. I kid you not.

Next thing I knew, videoke microphones,token machines and videoke bars took hold of Pinoys everywhere. It's fun. It fulfills your diva ambitions. It annoys your neighbors. FUN!

I already have a repertoire when it comes to these long, long hours of serious singing. From fast to slow, OPM..love it. And then you see your reward at the end: 100, You Are Great Singer!

Of War

The first ever memory I had of war was when I was 9 years old. I remember distinctly it was on channel 7 and the made for tv movie was called "Escape from Sobibor". It was about a few Jews who escaped in a Poland death camp. After that, I kept reading about Nazis, Hitler, Holocaust and we even had a Time war photography book. I dunno but I was hooked. Anne Frank made me cry a lot. I used to think all Germans were evil. I hated their language and I feared them. I watched "Schindler's List" and the "Pianist" with a heavy heart. I didn't understand "Life is Beautiful" when I first saw it until I had my own child. How I wanted to shield him from the horrors of the world and so forth.

Now, there's the war in Lebanon. In the homefront, NPAs and terrorists abound. It's scary. In an instant, your whole life will change. Survival or death - not much choice but it's reality. Will I be a hero or a coward?

Vodka Dry

There was a year when I was drunk for like twice a week. I'm not sure if it's 2002 or 2003. Anyway. I didn't know why I felt compelled to drink. I wasn't depressed or anything (or was I? Tsk tsk, I don't really remember). I'd also have drinking sessions at home with my brothers. I just went to gimiks and it was more fun to have Smirnoff Mule or Bailey's or San Mig Light than Cali Shandy. It was also the year I think I went bar hopping the most. Now I think of how much I spent that time and winced. Going home at 5am from Malate, Thelma if you're reading this - those were the days..

My alcohol history is under scrutiny today since we recently had our videoke night with office pips. And I only had grape juice. Ya, how boring but it was a really huge glass (hehe). Anyway. I realized alcohol doesn't appeal to me anymore unlike before. Although I can still have Absolut vodka on certain occasions. Or gin tonic.

Or..never mind..

Musicals

The past week was cartoons, this weekend was all about musicals. And guess who was my tv buddy? Rye of course! I got copies of "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat". And then we both got lost in the fascinating worlds of music, song and dance. We gasped. We danced. We slept really late.

In college, I was able to learn about musicals when I studied the works of Vincente Minnelli - An American in Paris, Meet Me in St. Louis, Brigadoon..So now I'm gonna start my own collection. Oh and soundtracks too.

My nephews got hooked on "High School Musical" at Disney Channel. Now I'm into it as well. And the female lead is Pinay. Yey!

Cartoons

I know this is such a LATE review on "Chicken Little" but I can't help but write about it nonetheless. Yesterday, when the rains were pounding outside, Rye and I were laughing (at least I was laughing and he was seriously watching - eyes big and mouth open). I wasn't able to see it when it was the "in" movie. It was fun. I mean I only watch cartoons when I'm with kids and watching it with my son had a special feel to it. Like it's a start of stuffs we would do together..now we wrestle each other, I'd relentlessly pursue to kiss him and he'd wiggle away and then I'll corner him and he'll give out an ear-shattering shriek. Tomorrow, we might be travelling together. Or in the future, we'd watch basketball etc etc.

Sights, Sounds and Smells of Childhood

Growing up, these are the distinct Sss I'll always remember:

TV show sights:

1. Batibot - When I saw Kuya Bodjie in person I got star struck kahit ang tanda ko na!

2. Tagalog Classics - those black and white films on channel 9, that's why nag Comm Arts ako, I wanted to do films and know what it's like backstage..Favorite ko si Gloria Romero and Rogelio dela Rosa..

3. Knight Rider - David Hasselhof before Baywatch and Kit, great car

4. McGyver - every Saturday night, the whole family would watch Richard Dean Anderson fight the bad guys using the swiss knife lang

5. Doogie Howser M.D. - eto yung nagpamulat sa akin sa PC and keeping a journal, love the soundtrack and his friendship with Vinnie

6. Twilight Zone - it's creepy Friday lagi

7. Beverly Hills 90210 - Brandon Walsh..wahh..Thelma and I loved the show so much!

8. Sa Linggo NA PO Sila - Love the APO and first saw Agot and Rico Yan was just starting sa noon time show na to

9. Anna Liza - naabutan ko pa si Julie Vega. Favorite ng Mama ko yun, she even went to her burial

10. Homefront - palabas to sa channel 2 pero super late na, setting after the war in US

Sounds:
1. My Mom and Dad's conversations every morning - nagigising ako sa mga boses nila, just talking and having breakfast

2. Smokey Mountain - i was so into Jeffery Hidalgo but thelma said he's gay now so..boohoo. it was the 1st concert that i went to..

3. Ogie Alcasid - Kuya Bong has his albums, favorite nya tlga kaya nung pinanood nya yung concert sa Maxi, he was so thrilled!

4. audio cassettes - dati we give ate elma audio tapes of our singing and messages..hahaha..those were the days

5. choir practice - we'd stay at Tahanan village where the Mercados live and just practice and sing the whole day, minsan buong weekend pa..saya

6. Lea Salonga - nagasgas na ung copy ko ng "A Miss Called Lea", na memorize ko na lahat ng repertoire nya. I still know I'm gonna be in a musical soon (libre mangarap di ba)

7. 60's music at RJ 100 - dati sa Cavite, every Sunday tune in sila Mama sa RJ.. Matt Monroe, Frank Sinatra all the classics alam ko

8. Jessica Zafra's "Twisted on a Sunday" - thelma and i listened to it faithfully every week, and laugh and rant with her

9. Mama singing - she used to sing "You Needed Me" everytime sa videoke kaya ayun ang theme song nya. Whenever I hear it, I know nagpaparamdam sya sa akin, either Im good or in trouble..hehe

10. Ate Elma singing - oh no! she had a recording of Sharon's HIgh School Life and it was so horrible, tawa kami ng tawa..

Smells:
1. garlic frying / sautee - Mama's yummy cooking, yung kitchen namin ang bango bango, I still can't eat lumpiang shanghai and all her other famous dishes without remembering her

2. Barbie doll - the smell of my new toy fresh out of the box

3. Coppertone sunblock / chlorine - during my summer swimming class at Rizal stadium

4. saltwater - Manila Bay when it was cleaner

5. My mom's perfume - sweet, not overpowering

6. Air freshener - those tiny, multi-colored oblong shaped ones you put in pencil cases

7. eraser and stationery - in school

8. chowking - it was just below our unit

9. pets - had a number of dogs and they all smell bad..hehe

10. melon - my favorite summer fruit

Now that I'm older, it's Rye's feet and head that I'm addicted to. Asim!

Grey's Anatomy

I love Meredith Grey. She's my new alter-ego. She embodies my childhood wish of being a doctor. I love her. and I love Dr. McDreamy. Believe me I know how she feels.