Preparing for a Musical Show in July

I was watching LIFE on Discovery Channel about insects and plants earlier, marvelous! It was very interesting but I have a project to make for a musical show I'm directing in July so back to the recording studio now...Come, join me.

All That Jazz...

April is Jazz Appreciation Month! Keep the party goin'!

EARTH DAY TODAY

HAPPY EARTH DAY, EVERYONE!

Let's do our share of protecting and saving the planet, make it a beautiful place to live and call it HOME.

Thanks.

Lil' Stories

The other day, while waiting for the bus going downtown, I saw a couple, maybe in their 70s, also waiting for the bus going the opposite direction. They were holding hands while sitting close to each other. And what a wonderful thing to see - people at their age still in love or loving each other! You know from their looks that they didn't just meet nor were newly excited about each other. You know from their body language that they've been together for a long long time, yet they still looked at each other with love and respect. Neither one was taken for granted, each one simply appreciating the other. They didn't talk much. They just loved each other! That's all they needed. It was enough.

BEAUTIFUL!

DID I HEAR.............??????????

I swear I heard my neighbor's dog barked, "Donald Duck!" today, I mean, yesterday afternoon, God, it's past 1am! Yup, I heard my neighbor's dog barked, "Donald Duck!", not once, but twice!! The third time, he stammered, somewhat, he barked, "Donald DDDDuck!"

Don't laugh now. I have very keen ears. I'm a musician, you know. You don't believe me??? I tell you, I heard it!! Hey...

All Right, Now!

I ain't accomplishin' anythin' ...TIME TO DO SOMETHIN'!

Passing Thoughts

Prayer is everything.

Life is what you make it.

(Actually, I saw them somewhere and they got me thinking so I wrote them down. Just thinking at the moment. Maybe, I'll say something more next time, I don't know. Or maybe I don't need to. Every word speaks for itself. It says it all.)

Downtown Happenin'...

Today, I attended the TRUMP University seminar on real estate. Not that I was really interested in real estate. It's just that I love Donald Trump, his presence, his attitude! Such a positive man! And I thought I could learn some words of wisdom I can apply in my life, my music, etc. Well, I did. He wasn't there but he had the best speakers/teachers (he, sure, sends his best!) to talk about the business and I was blown away by what real estate is all about! I had no inkling as to what wealth, abundance, prosperity this can provide, what great investment it can be, and so forth and so on! I know it's a big one, very big, but it's beyond big, beyond very big, it's TRUMPhnomenal!

I went more as an excuse to go downtown and do about my music business, otherwise, I'd be stayin'-home-doin'-nothin'-accomplishin'-nothin'-again! Boy, am I glad I went! Let's just say the "seed" of real estate has been planted in me, okay. That's a good start.

Meanwhile, I met with people in the industry and went around to check the music scene. Not much happenin', it was early part of the day, plus the economy has really put down arts & music. Sad, but I hope it recovers soon.

I went to Cocola for my hot chocolate and a croissant. I had to! It's one of my favorite hang-outs, you know, whenever I'm downtown.

Good day, I accomplished a lot, music-wise, and then some!

Purple and Yellow

Yesterday, I had a gig and for some reason, I wore the suit that I dreamt about the night before - purple suit with yellow top. It's my dad's and brother's colors that, somehow, they've used to connect with me from the other side. (They both passed on.) It was very easy to find them, too, considering I was rushing to get to work. Just a bright combination of colors! I was happy!

Congratulations and Thank You!!

To everyone, Mon David, Ner de Leon, Kristine Linares, Melissa Flavia, Sunil Sharma, William Reed, congratulations on a great gig! A great performance from each one! I was actually the least satisfied with my performance because the piano was not miked up. Nevertheless, I'm proud of everybody. Jo, the celebrant, and a dear friend of mine, is still getting compliments about the show! Thanks to all!

A beautiful unique concept of presenting the celebrant's life, Jo Sharma, not with the traditional video, but through a musical show about her life.  Her life story was made into a narrative, beautifully created and scripted by her 2 beautiful daughters. 

Part I presented their mom's life with music memorable to her relating to particular milestones in her life like, e.g., the song she danced to with her husband on their 10th Wedding Anniversary, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, performed by world class jazz singer, Mon David, and her High School Graduation song, YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE, sang by fabulous Broadway singer, Kristine Linares, LA VIE EN ROSE, about one of her memorable trips to Europe, sang in French by beautiful, soulful Melissa Flavia - Beautiful touching story and wonderful storytelling!

Part II presented all the artists/performers doing their acts, either solo or with others, in honor of the celebrant who loves music! The finale song, WE ARE THE WORLD, was appropriate as the show was a fund-raising event!

Proud to be the musical director! But more than that, I'm honored to have celebrated a birthday, shared a milestone of  a dear friend - a beautiful woman, a beautiful human being with a big generous heart, a beautiful soul, Jo! From the bottom of my heart, Jo, thanks for having me do your life story through music.

Life And the City

Have you ever seen a big dog bark at a small dog? Yesterday in our neighborhood, a big one did just that - to a poodle! It's usually small dogs that bark at big dogs, and the big ones ignore them, but this was the exact opposite. The tiny poodle calmly went behind its owner, seemingly not entertained, with an expression like, "Oy, vey, let's go," - dog must be Jewish!

Someone asked the big dog's owner, "What kind of a dog is that?"

"A pain in the ass!"

Everyday people, everyday living... FUNNY! Though not quite for these 2 dogs! Norman said, "Maybe the big dog thought the small one was cute and playful so he barked at him hoping to play with him."

Not for the small one.

At night, there was a documentary on National Geographics about an unlikely yet beautiful bonding of different animals like a dog and an orangutan, a lion and a deer, a cat and a bird, and an elephant with a dog. And the famous lion, Christian, reunited with his former owners who took care of him since he was a cub until fully grown, then set free in the wilderness. What a touching reunion!

You know about that - 2 young English guys in 1970's bought a cub crumped up at the famous Harrod's in London and raised him until he was grown and big, then set him free in the wilderness in Africa. About a year later, they decided to visit him. But story has it that the lion and his pride had left their home territory about 9 months ago, so the chances of the lion coming back were slim, according to the mountain guide. Undaunted, the 2 friends stayed on for a few more days. Suddenly, a lion appeared from a distance. They saw him, recognized him, called his name and slowly, Christian walked towards them, probably, wondering at first who they were, where he had known them from, (I wonder what was going on in his mind then), and, man, as he was nearing them, he ran to them and just jumped up and hugged them!! He remembered them! How could he forget?! Somehow, the lion must have sensed intuitively that he had to go back to his old territory after 9 months, not knowing why. Must be some cosmic connection between him and his old owners. What a beautiful story, so touching! (You should see that video. I'll look for it and share it here.)

MARVELOUS!!

P.S. 
Found it -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc

Post Script

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is the greatest gift I gave myself, the best health insurance I have.  I've been doing TM for 25 years and I'm so lucky to have learned it.  It's the best gift I can share with you all. And my music, of course.

Sharing TM

Transcendental Meditation Blog — Meditation, Health, Yoga, Business, Students, Sustainability and Mo

www.tm.org

Relax and Restore...

Today I went to a Relax and Restorative Yoga with Crystal Bowl at the gym again. It's only offered every 2nd Thursday of the month and this is just the 2nd time I've gone to one in my years of going to the gym. Again, it's just what my body needed! A harp player instead of the usual crystal bowl, a most welcome change. The music was just divine, so soothing, so conducive to deep rest.

Aah..........

Buddha on PBS

Last night, I watched the documentary, Buddha on PBS, whose ad I saw on my own blog, that's great! I've always loved Buddha and Buddhism, everything about him, so it was a naturally simple yet profound way of spending a quiet night and just being conscious of the moment while learning and re-learning about his life and teachings. Dai Lama also talked about him so that made it even more special.

Teaching Is Learning

Learned a lot from teaching today...teaching is always a learning process between teacher/student.

Talk About... Yoshi's!

Yoshi's! I went to a concert once at Yoshi's and told Norman, "You know what, I'm gonna apply here as an usherette so I can have access to all the shows here. That way, I can hear more jazz, learn more jazz, meet the artists and connect and so on..."

My husband looks at me and says," Boy, for someone who dreams big, that's all you wanna do?? Why don't you dream of performing at Yoshi's?"

I looked at him, shocked!! And I said, "You're right, I forgot!!"

I only thought of working there as an usherette because I have a friend who is an usher there so I thought it's gonna be easy for him to let me in.

Boy, oh, boy! Of course, I wanna perform at Yoshi's! I'm a jazz artist!

I will. I WILL.

MILESTONE

Today, Easter Sunday, is also our Wedding Anniversary.

Proud of us, Mahal. Luv ya!

Happy Easter!!

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!

WHOA!

I'm on a roll with one-liners here! Still jet-lagged, I was awake the whole night! My mind was just...Whoa! Thank God, at least, I had pure thoughts...then.

Know Thyself

I AM THAT, THOU ART THAT, AND ALL THIS IS THAT! - translation from the Vedas.

BLISS

IS

Word of the Day

JOY

• joy (noun) puts a smile on your face... and a face on your smile.

'Fulfillment' Defined

I went to a dear friend's daughter's wedding - exquisite, with a string quartet at the church! And the reception -  simply elegant, in one of the top hotels at the Peninsula. Towards the end of the reception, I asked my friend, Zita, the mother of the bride, "How does it feel?"

One word said it all, "Fulfilled."

Be Still...

To be still is to BE.

Stillness is BEING.

Holy Week, Rituals, etc.

From Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday to Easter Sunday...

Went to church today and I didn't know there was a service going on. Just got back from MNL so I didn't know the schedule of services for the Holy Week here.

But I love rituals, ceremonies - the Holy Mass, Stations of the Cross, Holy Communion, and not just the Catholic ceremonies, but Jewish rituals, Buddhism, Hinduism, Moslem, etc., and not just religious, but anything! A dance is a ritual! Music is a ritual! Writing poetry, an essay, a story, etc., is a ritual. Walking, talking, sleeping, waking up, having a nap, making love, oh, what a beautiful ritual! Bathing, cleaning, cooking, eating, gardening, and on and on and on...an afternoon tea is a ritual, a beautiful ceremony. Everything we do is a ritual. Every breath is a ritual. Life is a ritual. It is sacred, it is beautiful. And living life well is a beautiful ritual. Let's honor it. Let's enjoy it - Enjoy Life!

Stillness

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46: 10

April Fools' Day

It's April Fools' Day

Don't be fooled

April Fools' Day

Don't be tooled

April Fools

Be cool.