Rock of (my sort of) Ages

I am truly a child of the 80s. At a tender age of 5, I was already collecting cassette tapes of my own preference. 
That's partly the advantage of being the youngest in the family, with siblings who could already afford to buy me those musical masterpieces. Even then, I knew what I wanted to listen to. I also collected music magazines with lyrics to songs and artist information. Somehow when I look back, I am truly amazed that I actually am destined to be where I am right now.


From top 40 to classic rock to dance tunes to local flava, I was a staunch supporter of music. From popular to the obscure, if it sounds good, it rawks!!!


About a couple of years back, a musical was born featuring music from the 80s, but not just any kind of music that would capture the era, specifically it featured Rock- from Classic to pop to glam. Yup! And I'm pretty much familiar with all of them. 


During 5th grade,on top of my other pop fare, I remember being so enamored with the music of Bon Jovi and Guns 'N Roses and even Warrant. From the album Slippery when wet, to Welcome to the Jungle and Cherry Pie- I loved all of them! Now imagine hearing all of these and more in one musical?  Now imagine, coming out with a movie version of said musical? How awesome is this?!


Zapping back to the 80s, Rock of Ages is an awesome story of how music, particularly rock, affects one's life and changes it forever. There's this rock star, a bar owner, a country lass drawn to the big city, a rock-star wannabe, a prick of a church woman, a gay assistant bar manager, a magazine writer...their lives intertwined by music...rock at that!!!

I loved the movie what can I say...from the costumes, to the lines, to the choreography...and of course the singing...who knew that Alec Baldwin can be made to sing? and more so, Tom Cruise--a rock star? Nothing is impossible in movies. It's quite an amazing cast. I never could think of any other actors and actresses playing the roles that each one did. So happy to note that they really were able to transport you to the time and place-- and it's about 3 decades ago, my goodness!!!


I heard good reviews about the musical itself but the movie was already awesome for me. I'd still want to see the musical too...I know I'll enjoy it. And I heard that if you watch it, you will definitely be part of the live audience, so it will be like a live rock concert...a reality musical? How cool is that?


As I write this, there's an ongoing local production of the musical which I really want to catch. Thing is, the tickets are almost sold on the days that I am free. Hmmmm...Will see how I can rock it all to find time for this. In the meantime, I am happily backtracking and belting out to some Foreigner, Journey and REO Speedwagon songs, thanks to Rock of (my) Ages...

And so they said they do...

My friend Cheryl asked me to be the mistress of ceremonies at her wedding reception. Funny though but about a few weeks prior to her asking, I just declined an invitation for a paid gig by another friend. I didn't really like hosting to begin with, add to the fact that I have two jobs to file a leave for. Anyway, I couldn't say no to Cheryl's request so I agreed but only if I had a co-host. There's something about hosting by myself and just being given all the responsibility to keep the ball rolling in a get together like that. 


It's been awhile since I hosted a wedding. But thankfully, everything flowed smoothly and it helped that my co-host was somebody I knew and was also a colleague. But I would say the most fun part had something to do with the dress. My mom made my gown.  It was such a task to choose from a lot of possible designs. And oh boy, my mom can definitely do anything is another. Sky's the limit for her. So the burden of coming up with one final design took a little while. The gown came out really nice and elegant. To think that it was a last minute finish. Yup. If people only knew what was goin on the backside of the belt.LOL. But my mom as usual did such an excellent job on the dress as it really fit me well from the color to the cut to the length to the littlest detail. Wonder how it would be like if I was the bride...might take me months to figure out just what to pick out. But yeah, I think I need to find a boyfriend first.LOL.


The couple, Cheryl and Hans, really prepared for their big day. From an opening number to a whole bunch of pictures and some fun games...and oh, some heavenly food!!! I loved the place. It was at the Loft in Rockwell, but it's just such a hassle to be walking in your gown from the mall to the venue as I was advised to park at the Powerplant mall. I had no choice but to cross the street in my teal floor-length dress. Good thing, manong traffic enforcer was kind enough to escort me from end to end of the street...long gown competition was underway and I just had to wear my Rayban just to mask some of my embarrassment. LOL. 

Don't you just love weddings? I actually do. Something about it that makes you happy, giddy, and hopeful. I have friends who cry at weddings, I know someone who dreams of how her wedding would be since she was a kid. I also know someone who just wants to skip all the trouble and just get it over and done with. Hahaha. Me? I just realized I could actually love hosting weddings.


There was a time in my life when I didn't see myself getting married. An old fling whom I got reconnected with late last year reminded me that. He asked why I'm still not in a relationship, and I started explaining to him and he just said, yeah, he remembered me telling him that I didn't want to be in a committed relationship all because I don't have any plans of settling down anyway. Funny how that reminded me just how much people can change...I have changed. I now look forward to the day when I could finally say that I can be committed to one person. Too bad though that there isn't anyone worthy enough for that commitment at the moment. But who knows...I never could have predicted that I would actually be writing something about it back then. LOL.


One day, I'll be able to say I do...but for now, I could only say, maybe...hahaha. 

Another One Bites the Apple...

This year saw two different takes on the big screen of the classic Grimm Brothers tale of a princess whose skin is as white as snow. Still there were a couple of other features on this classic Disney fare on the boob tube particularly on Grimm and Once Upon A Time. 

First to be released on the silver screen was Mirror, Mirror starring Julia Roberts as the evil Queen stepmother. This was actually a very comic version. And there was even a "bollywood" ending since the director was actually Indian. I particularly loved that they depicted Snow White not just as a damsel in distress but also a strong empowered woman who rose to the occasion. Lily Collins who was tasked to portray the Snow, was really pretty however, petty as it may sound, I got a bit bothered by her really thick eyebrows. But just the same, she was really gorgeous. I'm also happy to note that Asians were properly represented among the seven dwarfs. Armie Hammer as Prince Charming was truly a charmer. 

Meanwhile, the other release on this classic apple-biting story is Snow White and the Huntsman featuring the favorite pale actress Kristen Stewart and the drop-dead-gorgeous-hunk-of-a-man-er-Thor Chris Hemsworth, who I won't mind calling mine instead, thank you very much!!!  Here's another twist to the tale that followed this beautiful princess who was thrown out of her own kingdom by her evil,not to mention really vain, stepmother Queen. A much darker tale, the evil Queen played by Charlize Theron hires a huntsman to bring her estranged step daughter Snow White so she could rip her heart out and give her immortal youth. But Thor, er Chris 'my man', er the huntsman had a change of heart and ends up being her protector, and whut? true love? Yep, you read that right. SPOILER ALERT!!! It was not a prince charming's kiss that would awaken the princess from her poisoned slumber. It was and why not, the huntsman's. I wouldn't blame her, I am actually envious. LOL. Goodness, he is so frakkin' hot even when he's all soiled and sweaty. He reminds me so much of Brad Pitt and Colin Farrel rolled in to one. Oozing with so much sexiness, ohmygewdness. But going back to the story, I loved the fact that once again, Snow was not a damsel in distress. I remember a friend not allowing her child to watch Disney Princess movies unless it's Mulan who didn't need a Prince Charming to save her. Snow in this movie, woke up to become a Joan-of-Arc'esque woman who would lead an army to reclaim her kingdom from the ageing but still beautiful and evil Queen. Of course, the move that would save Snow was the move that the huntsman taught her while they were struggling in the woods. So much leather going on this movie but I was just kinna thrown off with her gown at the end scene of the movie. Sorry, another petty observation,but it was so Sto.Nino'ish. But you know other than that, I loved the movie. Especially the part when you see Snow being crowned Queen was kind of restless and reluctant until she finally saw the huntsman who was just walking in through the crowd. You can smell some love going on. And I love it...wish they played on that even more. Definitely, this movie deserves four and a half apples.Bite it now!!!

The Skinny on Things...

Running through old blogs, I come across a pic that was taken exactly a year ago. This was the first time I cut my hair after consistently sporting it long and yeah, unmanageable. I thought I'd like the much needed change. Fast forward a year later, hair length wasn't the only thing that would change...




It took a hereditary condition to finally convince me to be healthy.  It was late August last year when I was diagnosed with glaucoma. Apart from that, I also have astigmatism, hence, the glasses. Everything happened so fast. Literally,in a blink of an eye- I was to undergo laser iridectomy. 


It was quite a ride I tell you. Emotionally, mentally, physically. But I know what I'm supposed to do. I need to get better. And getting better is my great mantra in life now. 


With the help of my family and friends and new found friends, I am making headway in this journey. A new gym, a lifestyle change, new motivations...a worthy inspiration! 


The goal is not to be skinny but rather to be strong and healthy.   My main push is for me to be able to achieve my ideal weight by year end and be able to do a head stand or a handstand at least. Nobody said it's going to be easy and I know this only too well.
Many times I'd ask myself why I'm doing all these difficult, sometimes painful exercises.  The answer is always just sitting right in front of you...right across what you see in the mirror. You do it for yourself. You just go back to that person in front of you. Because you want to get better...because I WANT TO GET BETTER...because there are so many things out there to explore. Many more great adventures are to be had. Many more journeys to take...many more people to experience life with. 


When you're no longer happy to see the person in the mirror, then it's time to change...not just the hairstyle but also what you don't want in the person. Figure it out and be resolute. You can do it... the only person that would stop you from doing so is you...you are your greatest fear, your stumbling block. Not the people around you. It is you...so go ahead and do what needs to be done...not tomorrow, but today. There's no better day to begin than to begin today.

An

Commencement Piece

For the nth time, I am starting a new blog. I have been looking at my previous blogs and I figured it would be much wiser to start from scratch than pick up from where I left off. So many things have taken place since then. So many revelations and new people and things in my life. Twists of events and such. Here's hoping I get to capture my sentiments into writing yet again. Let the adventure begin!!!