Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Friday Find
I have a half day at work today...we're actually closing in about an hour. And I'm finding it incredibly hard to focus, before the nice long Memorial Day weekend begins. So, I'm bopping around neighboring blogs, and found a fun little game over at a piece of my mind .
Basically, you plug in your name, followed by the word "Needs" and hit "Google Search", and what comes up is a series of funny stuff...
Here's a few, with added commentary, because well...I never can do anything without commentary, now can I?
1. Karina Needs...a friend: Well, okay then. I can always use more friends, so sure, why not?
2. Karina needs...to come out and play: This was a funny one, because it was actually "Angry Karina needs to come out and play, AND it is actually from one of my previous entries in this very blog...funny huh?
3. Karina needs...visitors because she is lonely: um...do we see a theme forming here people?
4. Karina needs...folks who are very nurturing and skilled: yep, definite pattern forming here.
5. Karina needs...to rely less on sex in her dancing: Whoa...okay...
6. Karina needs...to quickly change out of her striptease costume: um...
7. Karina needs no more of an introduction: How nice!
8. Karina needs to keep to the rules: Does this apply to the less sex in the dancing thing?
So, it turns out that there's a dancer named Karina on Dancing with the Stars, which leads to some funny finds...and I guess google things I'm lonely...but hey, at least I need no introduction!
What do you need?
Basically, you plug in your name, followed by the word "Needs" and hit "Google Search", and what comes up is a series of funny stuff...
Here's a few, with added commentary, because well...I never can do anything without commentary, now can I?
1. Karina Needs...a friend: Well, okay then. I can always use more friends, so sure, why not?
2. Karina needs...to come out and play: This was a funny one, because it was actually "Angry Karina needs to come out and play, AND it is actually from one of my previous entries in this very blog...funny huh?
3. Karina needs...visitors because she is lonely: um...do we see a theme forming here people?
4. Karina needs...folks who are very nurturing and skilled: yep, definite pattern forming here.
5. Karina needs...to rely less on sex in her dancing: Whoa...okay...
6. Karina needs...to quickly change out of her striptease costume: um...
7. Karina needs no more of an introduction: How nice!
8. Karina needs to keep to the rules: Does this apply to the less sex in the dancing thing?
So, it turns out that there's a dancer named Karina on Dancing with the Stars, which leads to some funny finds...and I guess google things I'm lonely...but hey, at least I need no introduction!
What do you need?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
 |
Watching Bette Middler attempt to sing "Wing Beneath My Wings" on American Idol last night...(I'm sorry, I LOVE HER, but she sounded pretty bad last night), brought back all these memories associated with that song...and it got me thinking...music has a way of marking times in our lives, at least it does for me..so, without further ado, thirteen songs that bring back specific memories for me: 1. "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Middler: This song reminds me of 8th grade graduation, and my friendship with my then best friend Beth, as this was "our friendship song". It also reminds me of the two boxes of tissues I went through while watching the movie "Beaches". AS an aside, mom told me last night that this song reminds her of my Sweet 16th B-day party, because it was the song I danced to with my dad...how cute! 2. "One Sweet Day" - Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men; this song still makes me cry every single time I hear it. It was on constant replay on the radio right around the time my friend Leo was killed by a drunk driver...I pulled off the road more than once to cry hysterically when this song came on. 3. "Friends" - Michael W. Smith. Not that this song is EVER played on the radio, but not only does it have a strong relation to my memories of my above mentioned friend Leo, while he was still alive, but along with a list of quite a few other songs, it reminds me of my years of involvement with a youth group, which were some of the most important in terms of shaping who I am today. 4. I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders. Again, another song related to the above mentioned years, and again, another song I cannot listen to without crying. 5. "Insensitive" - Jan Arden and 6. "Don't Speak" - No Doubt. BOth of these songs remind me of the end one particularly turbulent relationship. Both of them fit our issues to a T, and I now smile when I hear them, but remember turning up the volume really high every time they'd come on, trying to convince myself it was time to let the relationship go. 7. "Shoop" - Salt N Pepa. Ah...my cousins would know why this song brings back memories...Oooh, bobby bobby...you had to be there...we were young, we had a crush on an older guy, and we were vacationing in the White Mountains in NH... 8. "Please Don't Go Girl" New Kids on the Block - Followed by every other song they ever recorded. Memories of a time when it was all about posters on the wall, pen pals from other countries and watching a concert from the nosebleed section, and still thinking "Donnie waved at me"...HA! 9. "Electric Youth" - Debbie Gibson. Coupled with a few more Debbie Gibson songs, memories of choreographing "dances" in my grandmother's basement with my two cousins. 10. "Hotel California" - Eagles. Shooting pool at Billiards, even though we didn't know how to play, always choosing this song from the jukebox, cheating ridiculously,making up our own rules. 11. "We are the World" - various artists. I had just arrived in this country when this song was popular, and my grandmother had printed out the lyrics from somewhere, and as little english as I knew, I remember memorizing them, and singing them over and over again. 12. "No, No, No - You don't love me" -Dawn Penn. I love this song, and at a college dance I won a gift certificate to a restaurant because I identified it within the first 2 beats of the song. Nobody else even knew what it was. I was so proud! Please don't let this keep you from checking back, things should slow down next week and then I can be my witty self and blog again. 13. "Material Girl" Madonna and also "I saw him Standing there" Tiffany...both of these remind me, again, my two cousins and I playing around with dad's video camera, making music videos. I wonder where those tapes are now? This is just a small sampling of memories attached to songs...there are so many more. And I probably even missed some major ones here...What songs hold strong memories for you? |
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Monday, May 21, 2007
Things we forget
I used to fancy myself quite the poet. I've written entries in here before about how naturally writing poetry used to come to me, and how now, it's a much more difficult process. I used to write without really thinking about it. I'd have pen and paper, and just start writing, and seconds later, I'd have a poem, that now, years later, I look at and think "wow, I wrote that? that's pretty deep"...or something along those lines.
Nowadays, whenever I attempt to be poetic, everything seems to feel contrived, and it just doesn't work anymore. Can someone STOP being a poet? Or am I just going through a dry spell? Who knows...
But back to my history as a "poet". It was during that time of poetic abundance that I entered one of those "poetry.com" contests...although, I'm pretty sure back then it wasn't through the internet, most likely it was something I mailed in (this was 1998, when the internet was available, but not all consuming, as it is today). Anyway, I never "won" the contest, but had the opportunity to have my poem published in a "book" which was then sent to me...a book which I PAID HIGHLY for, but I was young, and although I knew it was a scam, I allowed my parents to talk me into buying it anyway, because it would be cool to see my poem published in a book along with other poets' work. I had forgotten all about my involvement in this until Saturday, when my cousin e-mailed me a link to their website, so that I could enter their latest contest, because among my family, her and I are known as the creative ones. It was then that I remembered, and searched my name on their website...sure enough, there was my poem...how weird. I'd forgotten about the poem itself. And the memories those few lines brought up in me...how fascinating.
I still think the whole poetry.com thing is a scam. They probably make tens of thousands of dollars off poor suckers (like me) who just want to see their words in print somewhere. And yet, I had a moment of pride, and nostalgia, and...accomplishment, at seeing MY WORDS on the internet, somewhere other than a blog...how great is that?
Anyway, this is the poem that I'm talking about:
"Wrudu"
He speaks of miracles
that have yet to unfold
he speaks fondly
of stories long ago told
he speaks a thousand words all at once
of the way things will be
he speaks of futures to become
the very breath of me
secrets kept, he speaks of
as if each his own
tears wept, he speaks of
look how fast we've grown
then, he speaks slowly
of the reasons he lives
picking up speed with each word
and each thought he gives
he speaks of loving and dying
two faiths in which we all fall
he speaks of giving up trying
and then . . . says nothing at all.
Copyright ©2007 Sonia K. Ruas
Nowadays, whenever I attempt to be poetic, everything seems to feel contrived, and it just doesn't work anymore. Can someone STOP being a poet? Or am I just going through a dry spell? Who knows...
But back to my history as a "poet". It was during that time of poetic abundance that I entered one of those "poetry.com" contests...although, I'm pretty sure back then it wasn't through the internet, most likely it was something I mailed in (this was 1998, when the internet was available, but not all consuming, as it is today). Anyway, I never "won" the contest, but had the opportunity to have my poem published in a "book" which was then sent to me...a book which I PAID HIGHLY for, but I was young, and although I knew it was a scam, I allowed my parents to talk me into buying it anyway, because it would be cool to see my poem published in a book along with other poets' work. I had forgotten all about my involvement in this until Saturday, when my cousin e-mailed me a link to their website, so that I could enter their latest contest, because among my family, her and I are known as the creative ones. It was then that I remembered, and searched my name on their website...sure enough, there was my poem...how weird. I'd forgotten about the poem itself. And the memories those few lines brought up in me...how fascinating.
I still think the whole poetry.com thing is a scam. They probably make tens of thousands of dollars off poor suckers (like me) who just want to see their words in print somewhere. And yet, I had a moment of pride, and nostalgia, and...accomplishment, at seeing MY WORDS on the internet, somewhere other than a blog...how great is that?
Anyway, this is the poem that I'm talking about:
"Wrudu"
He speaks of miracles
that have yet to unfold
he speaks fondly
of stories long ago told
he speaks a thousand words all at once
of the way things will be
he speaks of futures to become
the very breath of me
secrets kept, he speaks of
as if each his own
tears wept, he speaks of
look how fast we've grown
then, he speaks slowly
of the reasons he lives
picking up speed with each word
and each thought he gives
he speaks of loving and dying
two faiths in which we all fall
he speaks of giving up trying
and then . . . says nothing at all.
Copyright ©2007 Sonia K. Ruas
Friday, May 18, 2007
I'm just sayin' - double standards
There is an article in Yahoo Music today titled: "Is Sexiness a Must for Today's Female Singers?"
Well, I don't really need to read the article to answer a quick "YES, of course it is!" A quick perusal through that article tells me what I was thinking, which is that this article probably came about due to Melinda Doolittle's ridiculously unjust eviction off American Idol on Wednesday night. Anyone who watched this season of AI, in comparison with any other season of AI knows that Melinda was without question the most talented, consistent, and vocally adept of any other constestant in the history of the show. Don't get me wrong, I know there have been amazing singers on this show before, but Melinda could do no wrong. Go back and watch all 15 of her performances and you will see, the girl nailed each and every one of them. She was my favorite from the beginning, and yet, I was not at all surprised when she got the boot this week. To be honest, I'm actually surprised she made it as far as she did. Because we all know AI is not (contrary to what Simon would like to believe) a singing competetion. It is a popularity contest, which happens to be about music. And Melinda, sweet, humble and talented as she may be, is NOT America's image of an Idol. She's not tall enough, not skinny enough, not sexy enough, not young enough, simply put, not enough. (and for the record, I think Melinda is a pretty girl, and I am not calling her fat or ugly or any of these things, she's just does not have "the look"...you know exactly what I'm talking about).
So we are left with the beat-boxing white guy (who, is indeed very talented), who gathers the vote of all the teenage girls, and the 17 year old pretty girl (with a great voice in her own right), who can still be molded into what America thinks she should be. Honestly, I wish them both luck, and think either one of them is a fine pick for this year's AI...hey, as long as it's not Sanjaya, I'm cool.
But Melinda? Well, I believe she'll do JUST FINE after this, and I for one will be buying her albums. And I say albums, plural, because I think if handled correctly, this is an artist who could have the staying power of a Whitney Houston (pre-bobby), a Mariah (pre-break-down), or even a Celine (and I don't even like her)...she's got the chops, she can make great music.
But she will never be a popstar. She will never have the fame and following of a Beyonce, a Gwen Stefani, a Christina Aguilera, because she doesn't have the sex appeal. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it? I'm sure she will be plenty happy to be known for her talent, not her sex appeal.
But here's what kills me...if Melinda were a guy, she would have won AI. PERIOD. I mean, Ruben Studdard? Clay Aiken (I know he didn't win, but he might as well have), Taylor Hicks? SERIOUSLY??
Like I said, were Melinda a guy, she would have won, hands down, no questions asked. I'm just sayin'...
Well, I don't really need to read the article to answer a quick "YES, of course it is!" A quick perusal through that article tells me what I was thinking, which is that this article probably came about due to Melinda Doolittle's ridiculously unjust eviction off American Idol on Wednesday night. Anyone who watched this season of AI, in comparison with any other season of AI knows that Melinda was without question the most talented, consistent, and vocally adept of any other constestant in the history of the show. Don't get me wrong, I know there have been amazing singers on this show before, but Melinda could do no wrong. Go back and watch all 15 of her performances and you will see, the girl nailed each and every one of them. She was my favorite from the beginning, and yet, I was not at all surprised when she got the boot this week. To be honest, I'm actually surprised she made it as far as she did. Because we all know AI is not (contrary to what Simon would like to believe) a singing competetion. It is a popularity contest, which happens to be about music. And Melinda, sweet, humble and talented as she may be, is NOT America's image of an Idol. She's not tall enough, not skinny enough, not sexy enough, not young enough, simply put, not enough. (and for the record, I think Melinda is a pretty girl, and I am not calling her fat or ugly or any of these things, she's just does not have "the look"...you know exactly what I'm talking about).
So we are left with the beat-boxing white guy (who, is indeed very talented), who gathers the vote of all the teenage girls, and the 17 year old pretty girl (with a great voice in her own right), who can still be molded into what America thinks she should be. Honestly, I wish them both luck, and think either one of them is a fine pick for this year's AI...hey, as long as it's not Sanjaya, I'm cool.
But Melinda? Well, I believe she'll do JUST FINE after this, and I for one will be buying her albums. And I say albums, plural, because I think if handled correctly, this is an artist who could have the staying power of a Whitney Houston (pre-bobby), a Mariah (pre-break-down), or even a Celine (and I don't even like her)...she's got the chops, she can make great music.
But she will never be a popstar. She will never have the fame and following of a Beyonce, a Gwen Stefani, a Christina Aguilera, because she doesn't have the sex appeal. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it? I'm sure she will be plenty happy to be known for her talent, not her sex appeal.
But here's what kills me...if Melinda were a guy, she would have won AI. PERIOD. I mean, Ruben Studdard? Clay Aiken (I know he didn't win, but he might as well have), Taylor Hicks? SERIOUSLY??
Like I said, were Melinda a guy, she would have won, hands down, no questions asked. I'm just sayin'...
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