Lullaby for a Stormy Night

Lullaby For A Stormy Night from http://yupkigirl.vox.com/

The nice thing about a new job is that it sometimes affords you some breathing room, just enough time to say "hi" to old friends. It's with that breathing room that I got the chance to talk to my friend, Marie. And in the course of our conversation, she passed on the link to this song to me. (love you for that Marie!)

The song's by Vienna Teng, a Taiwanese American singer and pianist. This is my first time to hear of her, or her works, but I am definitely looking her up already.

I've spent the last few hours at the office listening to the song on repeat.

Lullaby for a Stormy Night

little child, be not afraid
though rain pounds harshly against the glass
like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger
I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid
though thunder explodes and lightning flash
illuminates your tear-stained face
I am here tonight

and someday you'll know
that nature is so
the same rain that draws you near me
falls on rivers and land
on forests and sand
makes the beautiful world that you'll see
in the morning

little child, be not afraid
though storm clouds mask your beloved moon
and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid
though wind makes creatures of our trees
and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand
and I am here tonight

for you know, once even I was a
little child, and I was afraid
but a gentle someone always came
to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears
and to give a kiss goodnight

well now I am grown
and these years have shown
that rain's a part of how life goes
but it's dark and it's late
so I'll hold you and wait
'til your frightened eyes do close

and I hope that you'll know...

everything's fine in the morning
the rain'll be gone in the morning
but I'll still be here in the morning

Somehow, the melody and the lyrics give that warm, comforting feeling of being under a blankie, or of being held tight. (Better yet, of both.)

and I am here tonight

I sing it for the little ones, and the little-big ones, with a prayer that I take care of them well. And with a little kindess, I sing it to myself.

everything's fine in the morning
the rain'll be gone in the morning
but I'll still be here in the morning

Mini Me!

I haven't been around Glorietta for the longest time, so this stall caught my attention as something new.

Mini-Me comes up with interesting hand-made caricature dolls, using clay and resin. You only have to provide pictures of your subject, and they can have it ready for you in 10 days!

Price ranges from Php 2,000 - Php 3,000 depending on the size of the doll and how much customization you prefer. It's a little pricey, but the doll makes for a pretty unique gift, I think.

-----

Mini-Me
Glorietta 3, near Activity Center
minime_isthatu@yahoo.com
www.minimeisthatyou.com

Camera Club of the Philippines

I was killing time at Waltermart that Monday, waiting for a friend before dinner, when I chanced upon a poster on a Travel Photography class sponsored by the Camera Club of the Philippines. That poster led me to the CCP Center, at the 5th floor.

Founded in 1928, the Camera Club of the Philippines is one of the oldest photography clubs in Asia. And the fairly new Center, serves as their showcase gallery, seminar venue, and studio-for-rent.

At the time of my visit, Emil Davocol and Rudy de Leon's Black and White Rainbows exhibit was being featured. (I still haven't found the best words to blog about the exhibit itself. All I remember was how much I stared in awe and smiled while I walked around. I would love to take pictures like that - photographs which in themselves say much.)

I didn't get around to inquiring about the membership, but I did ask about the classes. The seminars are pretty affordable, starting at around 1,000 - 1,500 for the basic sessions, running for about 3 or 4 hours. [ I'm actually eyeing one of the Composition classes. :) ] There's about 1 class at least running each week.


Camera Club of the Philippines
5th level Walter Mart Mall, Don Chino Roces Ave., cor. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City 894-2987 / 09279065990 ccpcenter.multiply.com / www.cameraclub.ph

Pepsi Max Interview Commercial

This is a really fun commercial by Pepsi Max.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJHkwHZCCM

Laughter's just too good not to share. :)

I think we'd all be very lucky to have friends like that. Guys who just have our backs covered, anytime.

Drive on..

a reflection i had made a couple of months back.. i just kept on forgetting to post..

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some random musings i had while driving earlier...

have you ever found yourself driving in the rain and a few minutes later reaching a completely dry area, where it wasn't raining? this happened to me again this morning. the feeling you get is something like crossing a border, or reaching an invisible finish line of sorts.

i figured, it's probably a lot like how life is. you get into a rough patch, and you may not know when it's going to end. but if you just keep going, if you just drive on, before you know it, things ease up. you've finally reached the sunny side. :)

was just thinking...

Shower the People...

I heard this old James Taylor song over the radio, on my way to work this morning.

Shower the People

You can play the game and you can act out the part
Though you know it wasn't written for you
But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart
Ashamed of playing the fool
One thing can lead to another; it doesn't take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother,and sister and brother
if it feels nice, don't think twice (yes)

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be just fine if you only will(do as i say, yeah)
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will

You can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
And what you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you're all by yourself alone
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it's true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Always getting the grease.

Better to shower the people you love with love
(Yes and) show them the way that you feel
(I know) Things are gonna be just fine if you only will
(what i'd like to do to you)
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel

They say in every life
They say the rain must fall
Just like the pouring rain
Make it rain
Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine oh
Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine yeah

I've always liked this song, but I found myself thinking that if more people paid attention to the lines, a lot more would love it.

There's a Kris Kringle category we're having this year which goes, "Ano sa tingin mo ang soundtrack ng buhay ng baby mo?"

I figure, I would have lived a really good life, if at my funeral, somebody would say that I had this for my life's soundtrack.

Shower the people you love with love...

What's In Your Dash?

I first heard this poem by Linda Ellis quoted on a CD..

The Dash Poem
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis

http://www.thedashmovie.com/

This is a good read, albeit "scary". Scares me to think that my dash, with all that I still have left undone & unspoken, could be a short one. But borrowed time is all we really ever have, isn't it? No negotiations, no bargaining for more.

Used in conversation, the word "between" has this connotation of "limbo" or "transit". In between jobs. In between relationships. In between here and there. Funny how we pay most attention to "start" and "end", to "here" and "there", when in fact, just as the poem says, what's most important is what's between birth and death.

Life is what happens in between.

So, what's in your dash?

:)