Goodbye, So Long, Farewell My Friend...
I have been on "vacation" for the past week, which explains my persistent presence on the blog squad's home page. In about five point five hours I will be boarding a train and beginning my journey from New Haven back down to the ATL. Soon as I exit the plane, it will be back on the grind. My life will resume its mundane routine of shower, work, eat, work, rinse, sleep (maybe), repeat.
My birthday is quite soon. Much sooner than I expected. I know that sounds silly, but it is the truth. I went to work with my sister today and all her co-workers seriously thought that I was fourteen. Are you kidding me? No, really. People always faultily assume that I am not even old enough to legally operate a vehicle or have a job. I wish my bills were as blind to reality.
I nearly forgot what I came here to blog about. Some people take pictures to create tangible memories. I am not really that kind of person. Music shapes my life experiences. Every time I come back up to Connecticut to visit my sister, I get all nostalgic when I think about what songs I was blasting from the 1994 red Dodge van I used to cruise the streets in. And so, (surprise) I created a playlist of the songs that got me through the day today. Songs in passing. Songs I put on repeat. Songs my sister refused to stop singing. Songs that will remind me of the last "vacation" I will be able to take for awhile.
Posted at 02:08AM May 31, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[0]
Does anyone here remember this song?
I know it may be a little out of season, but I spent this Memorial Day weekend with my family. And a gathering with my family would be incomplete without myself and my siblings being exploited for our musical abilities. My aunt threatened to post the video of this year's selections on youtube. Let's hope she does not follow through.
Anyway, one Christmas when I was but a young lass, my parents decided it would be fun to have a little holiday performance. They chose the James Brown tune above for us to embarass ourselves to. My sister and I spent a few weeks preparing our back-up singer/dancer moves while my brother learned the lyrics to lipsync to. On the big day, they dressed me and my sister up in matching purple, velvet dresses and my brother in a little tux with a red bow tie.
After Christmas Eve dinner at my cousin's house had been consumed, slightly digested and followed up by a couple rounds of my uncle's special egg nog (which I did not get to taste until I was sixteen), there was a call for silence. We took our spots on the landing of the staircase and waited for our cue. My dad announced us, pressed play on the cassette player and the rest is somewhere on videotape, bound to resurface when I bring a significant other home for Christmas dinner.
Below, please find our encore tune.
Posted at 02:05PM May 28, 2008 by lfareira in Flashback | Comments[1]
"Linguistic butchery while texting is one thing. In school assignments, it is quite another," writes Mary Kolesnikova in this past Monday's AJC1 (Atlanta Journal Constitution). It is a shame that those who she is referring to will most likely not see a problem with their laxsidasical "writing style". Apparently, according to a study recently released by the Pew Research Center, 38 percent of middle and high school aged younguns polled admitted to allowing text and online messaging abbreviations appear in class assignments.
Yeah. WTF? is right. BTW, that's not even the real OMG! Kolesnikova offered an example of what could have been taken from 25 percent of the Pew study participants' history papers. *ahem*
When President Abe Lincoln was gatted, the whole country was : (, even though some in the South must have been : ).
Go ahead. Don't be afraid to let out another WTF? This time, be sure it's bolded, underlined, and italicized since our future seems to think it's LOL to incorporate emoticons into their homework.
Honestly, I am not surprised. Why do you need a cell phone when you are only eleven years old? I mean, yeah, if you want to keep tabs on little Susie Ann by buying her a cell phone in case of an emergency, then that's one thing. But the truth is, most kids that age with cell phones are just gossiping with their tweeny-bop friends about whether or not Johnny really LMAOed when he told Boomquisha he would BRB ASAP but never TTYLed.
Personally, I am not a fan of using abbreviations in text messgaes. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Maybe that makes me a nerd, but I enjoy sending and receiving grammactically correct text messages. I think people who lack a decent grasp of the King's English should be banned from using such abbreviated froms of "written" communication.
J/K...but not really. : D
1I wasn't able to find the article on ajc.com, which is why the link brings you to the LA Times page. It's the exact same article though.
Posted at 11:28PM May 24, 2008 by lfareira in WTF? | Comments[1]
Fun With Pop Music: SenoritAwesome Style
So, today during my weekly game of catch-up-on-reading-iggli-blogs, I found myself laughing hysterically at this and this. Considering the fact that I have been seriously slackin' on my blog pimpin', I decided to add my voice to Ed's pop musical chorus.
With both parents in the military while growing up, we took many treks across the southeast and up and down the east coast. I am the eldest of three. My sister is exactly seventeen months younger than me (my mom says there was not much to do where I was born) and my brother and I are three years and twenty days apart. Imagine the sibling rivalries. Everything's cool now though. I truly miss my both my siblings and my adorable nephew.
Anyway, let me stop rambling on and on and get to the moral of this story. My family and I used to play a game where somebody would give a word or short phrase. Then, we would take turns going around the car and singing the lyrics to songs that contained the word or phrase. The person who sang the last song was declared the winner.
I have created my own one player version of the game. When I am riding on good ol' Marta, I listen for random bits of conversation and try to think of as many song lyrics as I can. Lame? Quite possibly. Entertaining? Most definitely. Sure beats twidling my thumbs to pass the time away.
Posted at 02:09PM May 19, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[0]
Selling Your Soul to Pay the Bills
I sold my Fender Strat today. I didn't really want to. It has so much sentimental value. I used to regularly play guitar for weekend mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. No, I am not catholic, but the chair of Spelman's music department doubles as the church's minister of music. He offered me a job teaching guitar lessons to some of the youth during my freshman year at Spelman, which turned into a weekend gig for the next four years. Although it's no longer a weekly thing, I still play for various masses the Atlanta Archdiocese holds whenever the Doc feels like spicing it up a bit.
Anyway, while I was working there, a member of the church named Troy, who is an AMAZING jazz guitarist, occasionally played with the choir as well. During Christmas Eve mass in 2005, Doc wanted Troy and I both to play electric. This was problematic for me because at the time, I only owned the guitar my mom picked out for me. Troy, being the great man that he is, let me borrow one of his electrics. After mass was over, he asked me if I wanted to hang onto the Fender for awhile since I didn't have an electric of my own and he was about to start giving me jazz guitar lessons. Of course I jumped on the opportunity and promised to take especially good care of his guitar.
A couple months later, Troy and his family were getting ready to move out of the state. On our last day playing guitar in church together, I brought the guitar with me so I could return it to him. He refused to accept it back. I nearly cried with excitement. It was the first time anybody had just given me something like that before. He even let me keep the case that was littered with all types of random bumper stickers and such.
So, this year for Cinco de Mayo, I will be tipping a forty of Corona and throwing back a couple shots of Patron (or maybe some Cuervo) in memory of the good times I shared with my Fender Strat. She's in good hands now, but boy oh boy will I miss her.
p.s.- The music softly playing in the background of the Corona, Patron, and Cuervo sites really cracked me up.
Posted at 09:49PM May 05, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[1]
I Would Like to Thank the Little People
Life's thrown me a curve ball. I'll spare the major details, but I spent last Thursday night in the emergency room, where they told me this, this, and this. All my mental energy has been devoted to stressing myself by thinking too hard about the fact that I'm having a biopsy in a week. And all my time has been spent working at my new job. Needless to say (but I will say it), my blogging has kind of been at a stand still.
I don't know about you other wonderful members of the blog squad, but I enjoy reading and commenting on everyone else's blog posts. And so I decided today, my first real day off in awhile, to devote an entry to you all. I don't recall ever mentioning the new music that I have fallen in love with as a result of someone blogging about it. Like the way this entry inadvertently introduced me to my new favorite group [see first youtube video].
I haven't had the time I usually do to read and research, in fact, it's been an entire week since I have. In lieu of just playing any old music while perusing the 30+ blog entries that I have been missing out on, I skimmed through the week (beginning with the last blog I posted) looking for any mention of a song or artist, searched on the greatest music website ever, and created this playlist.
I am most excited about Santogold and Carla Bruni thanks to Etta Strange and Frankay, respectively. If I didn't have so much catching up to do, this would be a golden opportunity to commend the powers that be of iggli on capturing such an incredibly diverse group of twenty-somethings who can seek out good music across all genres. But no one wants to hear all that after school special mumbo-jumbo anyway.
Listen. Enjoy. Repeat.
Posted at 02:36PM May 01, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[2]
One of my many jobs (and quite possibly one of my favorite, second only to teaching guitar) is working as a show manager for Big Time Entertainment. I run showcases of up and coming local bands and artists at Apache Cafe, Vinyl, and Red Light Cafe. After working for Big Time nearly nine months, I have been able to birth some pretty good relationships with the venue owners, bartenders and sound guys.
This...
is Bill, owner of Red Light Cafe. This past Friday night, I managed a show at his venue which, FYI, featured the following seven bands: Sleepy Jack, Exhibit X, Fortress, Heat, Girls Come With Hair, Verse Under Current, and Night's Watch. The show was pretty awesome. All the bands displayed incredible musicianship and proved to be really good performers.
About a month or so ago, my Honda died. May she rest in peace on Dekalb Ave. So, now I have to depend on my friends or good ol' MARTA to get to and fro. Since I mostly work at night, if a show ends late, then I have to have somone pick me up because Atlanta's trusty public transit stops running after a certain hour. The last band finished playing their last note circa quarter after midnight, which is a bit later than I usually end shows. Long story short, I was unable to secure a ride home this particular night.
Bill, the owner offered to take me home.
That's a really, really, really big deal to me. I live about fifteen minutes south of Red Light. Bill lives twenty minutes north. When I thanked Bill for offering to take me home and told him that I really appreciated it, he smiled and replied, "I know you do, that's why I'm doing it." It's nice to be forced into humility and have someone notice your graititude.
See why I wanted you to meet him?
Posted at 10:28PM Apr 24, 2008 by lfareira in Live Events | Comments[0]
At first, I tried to deny it. Just played it cool when her name came up and I was in the company of others. I tried to ignore their comments. "Oh my God, I hate these stupid tweeny artists." I tried to act nonchalant. I tried to pretend that I hated her too. But, I am tired of living a lie. I don't know what it is....but I absolutely LOVE Miley Cyrus. There. I said it. I watched Hannah Montana one time (I was babysitting, dozed off to the Disney channel, and that's what was on the television when I woke up) and I was thoroughly impressed with her singing voice. My pride would not allow me to watch another episode, but then I heard this song on the radio...
...and I jumped right into my Miley Cyrus aspect. If there was a camera up in my car, I best not see vids of myself belting out this song on YooooouTube, youuuutube.
Anyway. Enough about that. I want to know why people don't write songs like this anymore, with fun guitar riffs and sweet, simple harmonies...
Aaaaaand, this song really treated me last night on the radio. It's actually the reason why I fuck with that bitch Delilah.
Posted at 01:22PM Apr 17, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[0]
I've been gone. Yeah, I know you've missed me. But it's Spring Time (for Hitler). While everyone else is skipping in the sunshine beneath cloudless skies, I am under blankets, doped up on Claritin and waiting for my archnemisis to end it's tyrannical rule of the outdoor air. I hate pollen. Although a necessary component of every form of plant life, pollen sucks. Simple as that. Without fail, the beginning of every spring season means itchy eyes, runny nose, swollen throat and a brick of phelgm nestled in the bottom of each of my lungs. Usually, I am prepared for this battle. This year, it snuck up on me. I mean, yeah, it is April, but I am positive that every ATLian was equally as confused as I. What, with eighty degree weather one day, four inches of snow the next, a tornado following that day and freezing rain forecasted for the remainder of the week.
Gosh. I wish people would get a clue and stop fucking with the planet.
Posted at 09:05PM Apr 10, 2008 by lfareira in WTF? | Comments[1]
Rhythm and Kaos reminded me of something today. Here's the story: about a year ago my younger sister was telling me about an exercise they did in one of her English courses. Each person in the class had to write down a 'secret' on a slip of paper and put into a bowl. Then, everyone drew a slip of paper and wrote a poem about the secret pulled. Surprisingly enough, not a single person in the class wrote out a real secret. My sister said all the secrets were tame. I told her that I would have written something asisine like "I pick my boogers" or "I bask in the scent of my own flatulence". And so, ladies and gents, I decided that I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to write a poem about picking one's nose....
Presenting: Bad Habit
*ahem*
Which describes my poor, disgusting habit as 'digging for gold'
But, gold, alas is not the treasure I am seeking after
The true source of my joy is the cause of much laughter
Each person who hears this tries to stifle their snicker
For I am a professional, obsessive nose picker
I find myself digging in the most public of places
Disregarding the disguted looks on everyone's faces
I can't help but search while driving in my car
For a delicious, green, gooey piece of my body's caviar
When I can't sleep at night or lose focus in school
My finger transforms into a marvelous tool
To help calm my nerves or dissolve undue stress
I pick and I snack, careful to not make a mess
I know it's unGodly to glorify this sin
But after my first time, I couldn't help but give in
I've tried biting my nails and gum-chewing's jaw action
But they just don't offer the same sweet satisfaction
As the pride that I feel, that swells deep in my chest
When I free another booger from its mucuous-filled nest
I know this sounds crazy, and it just might be
But I look forward to flu season, no flu shot for me!
I live through the headaches and fevers 'til they're over
The discomfort is well worth the 'gold' I discover
So the next you're bored, with nothing else to do
Take some time to unleash the suppressed 'gold digger' in you
Posted at 09:49PM Mar 25, 2008 by lfareira in WTF? | Comments[1]
"But I thought all the primary voting was over in Georgia?" you ask, puzzled.
No, no, no, silly. I am not talking about the primaries. I am talking about Queen Sheba. I am talking about www.famecast.com. I am talking about one of the exciting ways the internet is showcasing local artists and giving them national, even global exposure. Did I mention that I am talking about Queen Sheba?
"Wait...who the hell is Queen Sheba and what in the world is Famecast?" you respond, still puzzled.
Ok, so I can excuse that you may not have heard about Famecast, but what do you mean you have no idea who Queen Sheba is? Perhaps you have never called her phone number and listened to her voicemail greeting...
"Thank you for calling the main voicemail box for Spoken-Soul-Hip Rock-Singer-Songwriter-National Poetry Slam Champion-Oprah's life Coach-Sexier than your best fantasy -couldn't beat her shoe game if you tried-Haters want to rob her wardrobe-your favorite rapper's rapper-your favorite hustler's hustler-Got more swagger than Katrina meets Titanic-Fresher than 1988 with a fuzzy Kangol and a fat Gold Chain (which she happens to have by the way)-Co-Founder of more trail blazing 'ish for poetry than you thought you might have had a good idea for-Lover-Mother-Hair grows faster than spam on MySpace-Lil' Wayne's Ghostwriter-All around bad ass genius with intelligence as her super power-and Tuesday night Jello Wrestling champion 6 months running to boot...Leave a message, and when the mother of motivation-Queen of juggling more life long plans than you have reason to get up in the morning becomes free, we might give her the message...Stalkers, keep it brief... Remember: while you're slackin' someone else is planning. Cheers."
Maybe you have never seen her perform.
God forbid that you have never listened to her spoken word, rock, hip-hop CD...
"Oh, wow!" you excitedly exclaim, "I cannot believe that I have never heard of her before!"
Although you should be ashamed to admit that 'Queen Sheba' has not been a part of your daily vernacular up until this point, there is a way you can redeem yourself.
"Really? How?"
"Well, Famecast is in the midst of its fourth season of searching for talented artists. Basically, the artists upload their videos and people like me and you vote EVERY SINGLE DAY for our favorites. The winners? They are offered a host of amazing prizes, which vary from stage to stage. Right now, they have narrowed the search to the Top 10.
Yep, you guessed it, the illustrious Queen Sheba is not only in the top 10 for the Spoken Word division...she is the only woman! During this round (voting closes April 4th at noon EST), you will be voting to select the Top 5. Once the finalists have been selected the voting re-opens and whomever has the most votes at the end of three weeks is dubbed the winner.
"Sweet! How do I get registered to vote?"
That's easy. Simply log onto www.famecast.com, provide the same basics you have given all the other internet services you use, and check your e-mail for the confirmation. You may not have had the chance to vote during your state's primary, but do not let your cursor's click go unheard.
I voted for Queen Sheba today, have you?
Posted at 12:18AM Mar 22, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[4]
On Sunday afternoon, I walked into Javaology (neighborhood coffee shop for you non-ATLians) to meet one of my guitar students and her mom for a lesson. After standing and waiting for a minute or two, something began to feel strange. I quickly scanned the shop and nothing appeared to be rearranged or out of place. Then, a man knocked gently on the bathroom door with his cane. The cashier lightly closed the register drawer. The lady leaning against the counter dropped her keys on the floor while digging around in her purse. A guy sporting a black hoodie tapped on his table with a pen to the beat of whatever sounds were traveling through his headphones. That's when it hit me, Javaology was not playing any music. The absence of music in public establishments is kinda lame. I guess you never know a good thing 'til it's gone. Anyway, yesterday afternoon I decided to keep track of all the songs I heard while running my various errands, including those heard in the car between destinations.
I would definitely load this to my ipod...if I owned one.
Posted at 10:44PM Mar 18, 2008 by lfareira in Music | Comments[0]
Please Type the Letters in the Box Below
I am slowly realizing that I am not as big a fan of technology as I thought I was. (I would rather write my math out on some paper than use a calculator) I mean, yeah, it is pretty great. What, with light bulbs and computers and internet pornography. Sometimes it just gets on my nerves though. The more and more we advance technologically, the more and more annoying the 'security' hoops we have to jump through become. Like those stupid little boxes where they have random letters, numbers and words all jumbled on some optical illusion nightmare of a background that will send you into epileptic shock if you shift your eyes too quickly across the screen. They are so irritating. The sixes always look like lowercase g's. The ones look like lowercase l's. And the capitol B's look like figure eights (as double four).
Maybe I just need to get an eye exam.
Posted at 04:33AM Mar 17, 2008 by lfareira in Technology | Comments[1]
I write this as the sun rises. Cascading its joyous rays across the quiet stillness of morning. Two more hours means I am awake for twenty-four. Browsing my Livejournal entries provides more juice than caffeine. Growth is so beautiful. So necessary. So difficult to trace while still a seedling. When did I wake up the person I am today? It's funny, how cyclical, how seasonal, how repetitive life so naturally is. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. 365 then repeat. The same stars of our ancestors smile down. The same sun lights the moon's path across time. Will I ever wake up the person I am going to be forever? I can still draw inspiration from the incomplete thoughts of my past. I can still create masterful works by remolding clay that has yet to cement. Because music is more than my pulse. Because words are more than my thoughts. Because life is more than death. Online journaling helped to save me from myself. I feel privileged to have the ability to backtrack to the present that has come and gone. That came and went. That comes and goes until eternity ends.
I write this as the sun begins its journey west. Subtly brushing warmth to heat the cool dark of night. Only eighty-two minutes away from finding a permanent home on Insomnia's stoop. Reminiscence, echoes of truths so inherently clear in my current experience of future. A world all my own. My cursor clicks. My eyes scan. My mind processes. My heart remembers. My silence screams. How often do we overlook the wisdom dwelling within each of us? These internet pages (though I would much rather tangible paper) have captured the voices of an entire generation. Things are different, yet oh so bittersweetly familiar. Remember? There were caves they used to carve. Remember? There were stories they used to tell. Remember? There were songs they used to sing. Remember? There were poems they used to write. Remember? There were books they used to stain with words. I remember the Livejournals they used to keep.
Posted at 09:10AM Mar 14, 2008 by lfareira in Flashback | Comments[0]