96 Degrees F

Yup, we reached a highest temperature of 96 degree F today at 6 PM here on the easide of Seattle! It's been somewhere in the mid-80's all day today. WOOOHOOO!!! There's nothing like a good doze of sunshine to brighten up my and everybody else's day. It's such a pleasant feeling to see everyone around me in such high spirits!

The forecast throughout the weekend is the same even in Arizona, so...

GRAND CANYON, here I come!!!

Wacky Weekend Weather

It's the last week of May and it's also supposed to be the last week of spring but the weather seems to have forgotten that. This Saturday, we experienced snow and hail on the mountains and on eastside Seattle (where I live). On Sunday, the sun and the rain alternated demonstrating their might as they took turns over the sky, even sharing the glory several times.

Weirdness!

And because I was out on the streets on both days, my body fell victim to the weather's wrath leaving me beaten down and out on Sunday night and throughout Monday. Even after sleeping for 12 hours straight and gulping down two tablets of paracetamol, I feel like my body will take a bit longer to repair itself.

Unfortunately for me, I don't have the luxury. I'm scheduled to fly to Arizona this Friday for a weekend getaway to the Grand Canyon and while technically this is supposed to be a vacation, I don't think it will be a restfull one. I am still looking forward to the trip! I think going away for 4 days will actually be good for me. And after the queer and icy Seattle weather, Arizona's (steadily) warmer weather sounds just about perfect right now!

I feel so blessed...an ode (sorta) to my best friends

I feel so extremely blessed to have such great friends!

John and Laurence, twas nice goofing around with you guys on the 6DTF tag board. I sooo miss your silly jokes and crazy antics (well, medyo! HAHA).

Laurence, nice to finally have you on Friendster! And nice pic with baby Derick there. I just realized I haven't seen him yet. I don't remember meeting him when I went home last Christmas. And by gosh, Cheska's grown so big! She was just a baby when I last saw her. Keep in touch, MONSTER#1. *HUGS* and regards to Mallow and the kids.

John, I think I might have been drunk when I wrote that testimonial for 6DTF. Notice how the "é" didn't show up on the word "cliché"? That's a sign of not being in the right mind! hehe... Kidding aside, I did mean every word! *HIK* :p Talk to you laters, MONSTER#2. *HUGS* and regards to my cousin out there.

SAM!!! What a chat we had today. You YM'ed me just to say hi, how are you, now I gotta go to sleep coz I didn't get any sleep at all the other night! HAHAHA!!! Oh well, I always appreciate every conversations we have, even the ones that don't make sense. HAHA! And anyway you're timing wasn't all to perfect since I had a dinner party to rush to (it was 8 PM and I was way late!). Looking forward to our next chat, Monster#3. *HUGS* and I would say regards to Au and the kids if they were with you but...:D

Novie, hope you had a good beauty rest, hun! Miss you! Love you! MWAAAAH!!!

Leah, talking with you is like taking an overdoze of laughing pills, if there's such a thing. I miss you girl! Hey, easy on the shopping thing. Daph might get charged for overweight baggages when she comes over.

Daph! I MISS YOU girl!!!! Come over soon!

Haven't heard from Cristy or Jeannette this week but maybe next week. Wonder what Cherry's up to? Hmn...

This is going to be a very hectic weekend; what with Moira (a friend from Manila) visiting and all. We're taking her to Mt. Rainier tomorrow and then on Friday to North Bend Outlets for shopping and to see the Snoqualmie Falls. But first things first, I have to go to that "Welcome to Seattle" dinner we're throwing for Moira.

Music Makes Me Happy

CDs I've been listening to these past few weeks...

Redemption Songs by Jars of Clay is my favorite CD right now. I even bought 2 copies--one to play at home and one to play in the car. This album is a collection of traditional Gospel hymns that the band altered (a little) for this record. It's great! I love it and I can't stop listening to it. On many days, this is the only album I listen to. It's spiritually refreshing. Dan Haseltine's voice has matured and changed so much since those first two albums (Jars of Clay self titled, and Much Afraid). Jars is one of my most collected bands of all time. Aside form all of their albums, I also managed to collect most of the collection CDs that featured them for the last 11 years. I hope they never stop making Gospel music. My personal thanks to the band for including "O Come and Mourn with Me a While" and "Thou Lovely Source of True Delight" on the album. I think I cried when I heard these two songs for the first time on this record! All in good faith, though so thanks!

Beautiful by Velcro is now playing on all major radio stations all over the Philippines ---esp in Manila. The album Sobrang Lakas ng Dikoryenteng Kombo is independently released and is now available in most record stores all over Metro Manila. Please do get a copy before they get all sold out. I guarantee it's a great album. The band's bassist, Bolichie Suzara, gave me a master copy of this album with only 6 tracks when I went home last year. At that time the album hasn't been completed or released yet.

You'll Be Safe Here by Rivermaya specifically written by the band for a telenovela, this song has become so popular that the band released it as a CD Single. This line, "Close your eyes, dry your tears, when nothing seems clear, you'll be safe here..." is a very comforting line! This EP also includes 2 versions of Liwanag Sa Dilim and a previously unreleased track, Imbecellisque from Rivermaya's Free album.

Live at Largo by Glen Phillips He's the voice and the music behind the Toad The Wet Sprocket. This album is so full of wonderfully written songs that touches one's heart and soul not to mention a good source of laughter (bonus track). When I heard that the first time, I played it over and over and over! I just couldn't stop laughing and how I soooooooo long to see him play live. Hope he comes back to Seattle soon.

Winter Pays for Summer by Glen Phillips His latest release, this album features 3 collaborations with Semisonic frontman, Dan Wilson and one of those songs, True is my favorite track in the entire album along with Thankful. Glen Phillips' new (solo) songs are so different from Toad music and I think it's a very refreshing change.

Albums I'm looking forward to:

Stand Up by Dave Matthews Band It's been released and I've ordered it and I'm just anxiously waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

Gin Blossoms' new album which still doesn't have a title but was announced to be in the works. Anyway the band is scheduled to perform at the Marymoore Park on June 24th. I'm buying tickets for me and 3 of my friends tomorrow so that's something to look forward to. Hopefully the album comes out before that concert.

Go by Vertical Horizon --the redux, re-release which will feature some addional songs. The album was dropped by their former label so it didn't get any promotion at all. But it has been recently picked up by new label, Hybrid Records. I'm waiting for the album's re-release (although I have the original release). "Forever" is now playing on radios as the new single off the album.

6 Days To Friday is a Philippine-based jazz band that's putting together an album of all original compositions. The first 3 songs they've completed, Beautiful, Erin's Song, and Still Standing are exceptional and extraordinary! These guys don't just have talents, they have big hearts too and their music reflects it. I'm very excited to hear the rest of the songs that they're working on.

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After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. - Aldous Huxley

This post's title is inspired by my "Music Makes Me Happy" Dave Matthews Band shirt.

Of Old Bets and Dinners and Pigging Out and Dieting and Old Jeans Not Fitting Anymore...*phew*

It's been almost 2 years since we moved to Seattle and admittedly, most of us have gained weight and for some it's been pretty obvious. I don't know if it's obvious with me but I admit even I can feel the difference (somehow). WOOPS!

Over a year ago, in one of our dinner gatherings where Joey was here visiting, he bet that within a year, the jeans we brought from PI will no longer fit for most of us.

But we all like wearing new stuff so over the past 12 months, I've only worn jeans I bought here in the US. Jeans I brought in from Manila were gathering dust in the closet. All my new (US-bought) jeans are made with stretch materials so I really don't have to worry about gaining weigh because whether or not I do, the new jeans fit anyway.

I was packing this weekend preparing to move to a new apartment soon and I unearthed these jeans I brought from the Philippines. All of them are size 24 (as in 24 inches in the waist line) and these jeans are not made of stretch materials. I was suddenly reminded of what Joey had said. I know I have gained some weight since we moved here because ---yeah I can feel it too. I was a little afraid to try on those old jeans so I just tossed them aside and left them scattered on the chair next to the bed and decided I'd pack them later.

This morning as I was getting ready to go to work, I picked up one of those old jeans by mistake and put it on. Guess what, it fit! I only noticed I was wearing one of those old jeans when I was putting on my shoes and noticed that the color and fabric were different.

I should have taken Joey up on that bet! :D HAHA!

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I hadn't been diet conscious at all. My friends out here can attest to my "katakawan!"