Discovering Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends

As you have probably have gathered I am a bit obsessed with music. This morning I woke up so happy. First I was able to get a full night of sleep for the first time in over a week and second Viva la Vida, the new Coldplay album, was out today. So this morning, I got to work a little late and went and got the album.

When I played the first song, a feeling of calmness came over me. Sort as if I was fulfilled for the moment being. Coldplay is a very sentimental band for me because it has been around in some of the most meaningful moments of my life in the past few years. It has been sort of the soundtrack to my past.

All 10 songs of Viva la Vida are great, but up to now (it has been nonstop listening for the past 4 hrs) my favorites are Cemeteries of London, Yes, and Violet Hill. In the past hour Lost! has been growing on me. Overall, it is a very melodic album, continuing with the trend of past albums, but there are more instrumentals and new rhythms being explored. The undoubtedly well renown Brian Eno was the producer. Asides from his successful career as a solo artist he has also produced albums for such acts as the Talking Heads and U2. So far I love it. Somehow I feel transported to Napoleonic times.

Now as far as the name of the album itself it could mean a lot to the band, but to me personally the message hits home. To live life. Maybe to the fullest or maybe to whatever you can live up to. Maybe to a quick rhythm or to a slow jazzy melody. Just to live. Live it. Lately, I have felt that I have been living my life in a less passionate manner. I have conformed a little bit more. I feel like in a holding pattern. It makes me anxious. But hopefully, the soundtrack to my life will lead me to next chapter. How sweet it is to have a song to live by…

 

Discovering Today…9 Years Ago…

Today, nine years ago was probably one of the worse days of my life. I will never forget it. It was the day I was going to Marco Island, FL for the first time. See my friends insisted in taking me since I was the only Miamian that had never been to Marco Island ever. But I didn’t want to go. I didn’t. Something in me was telling me not to go. It was strange. So around 2pm, I still had not asked my parents for permission, but I figured, hmmm…maybe I should go with the earlier car. Because I knew mom and dad will not be too thrilled if I left to Marco at night. So I called my friend who was driving the first car, but for some odd reason we couldn’t communicate. I rushed to my boyfriend’s (at the time) house and when I got there, I had missed them by a few seconds. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! How frustrating. If I had ran that yellow light I would have made it. Geez!!!!

Oh wellz, I’ll just go with the boyfriend and the other friend to Marco at night. In the meantime, I’ll go to work. I was a babysitter at the time. Still at the boyfriend’s house, the boyfriend met up with me. It was strange he kept on opening the door. But there was no one there. Yet this strong gush of wind will blow through the entryway. It was sort of odd. I went to pick up my munchkin at her recital practice. I had a beeper at the time, and I get two 911 beeps from another friend. Hmmm…I got immediately pissed off because I thought they were unnecessary. So, I got the little one in the car. And went to a public phone and called. Amidst the tears and the screaming, I was able to make it out the following words—accident, two friends, my best friend, and no hospital. I suddenly felt a nervous tingly sensation all over my body. An uncontrollable force came over me and I just started weeping. I got in the car and told the munchkin to tell me jokes. She did. The whole way. I dropped her off at her mom’s work and rushed to my friend’s house (the one that had told me the news) only to find out that it was true. My best friends had just died in a horrific car accident. Nineteen years of age. Perfect girl, perfect student, perfect friend and daughter. Perfect being. I felt as if life was taken out of me. If it had fled me. My time clock had stopped. I saw people moving around me but I couldn’t move along with them. I could hardly breathe. I was numbed. Distraught. I couldn’t eat, drink, think, anything. I just felt all feeling and desire to feel had escaped me. How could the person that I was the closest to disappear? From one day to the next? I just didn’t get it. I don’t know.

Today, I still miss her as much as that day 9 years ago. I wish she was here. Next to me. But I think of her everyday. I know she will always be with me. In my heart. What this has taught me? To truly treasure my friends and family. We are on borrowed time here, and we should never take our loved ones for granted. For you don’t know if that is the last moment you will share together…

 

Discovering Spin..ning

Phew…Breathe in…and out…don’t forget to breathe. Get off and on the saddle…sweat running down my cheeks, forehead, eyelids, come on Per, you can do it. Wait. My insides hurt. My stomach is turning. I think I am going to vomit. Oh, come on Per, don’t be a weakling. Just do it. Just go faster. Put the resistance a bit higher. Come on. Do it. Think about the calories. About those clam cakes you ate. Come on…work…out…work…out…oh, I am tired. Oh that is right….oxygen…breathe…I need to keep breathing…just do it…harder…come on…no pain no gain…push, pull, push, pull…keep your heels down. Keep on pedaling…ahhh…breathe…don’t forget to breathe…oh…it’s over…yes…I did it…700 calories burnt!!!

I discovered Spinning through a dear friend of mine. And it has changed my life. I love it. When I started I hate it, but now I am addicted to it. To the pain, and the sweat and my screaming instructor. It’s great. I love all of it. And what I love the most. The results!!!

 

Discovering Thoughtfulness…

I have been absent. Physically. Not mentally. I have had a million ideas run through my mind, but somehow between the thinking and the actual writing it doesn’t happen. I guess I am at a new crossroad. I have thinking and maybe Discoveries will come to an end soon. Not yet. But soon. I need to move to the next chapter of my life and that was has kept me busy. What will that chapter be?

My major decision lies not only in which place I want to reside but also about really, and I mean really, what is important to me? Career, family, love??? What path do I want to take? And I mean I!!! This one is about me and only me and for once I could be as selfish as possible. See I have the luxury of not having to depend on anyone so I could really think of what I want independently of anyone else. But whatever I decide I need to be happy with that decision. So far I have concluded that no decision is perfect. All options have pros and cons. But as I keep on analyzing, I am finding a bit of myself day by day. And that it is truly a discovery all on its own…

PS. I bought today “Narrow Stairs” by Death Cab for Cutie. Song #2 “I will possess your heart” was what made me buy this CD. That and the fact there is nothing good playing in the radio right now. Anywho, the video is interesting. It is about this girl who is traveling alone all over the world. They show her either walking, or transporting herself somehow or someway from place to place whether via on foot, train, air, boat or whatever…she reminds me of me a bit. Always wanting more, always searching for more, but when do you stop?

 

10 Things I love about London and 5 that I Hate

London is my favorite city in the whole wide world…and I just finished getting back from a small trip. Like every city there are great things but there are some that are not that wonderful. So here is a quick recap of my loves and hates of my fav city…

What I love…

1. Truly international. The one city where you really find people from EVERYWHERE…more so than New York or any other place. Take any random sample of 10 people…and you get several nationalities…I love that…
2. So much to do!!! Theater, musical concerts of every genre, clubs, pubs, restaurants, art shows, events, events, events…you never get bored!!!
3. The history and traditions. There is just a nice sense of tradition that I really like about London. People are proud of their heritage.
4. People are more educated. For the most part. It is nice to be able to converse with people that are educated. And I don’t mean just college or university. I mean they tend to be more well rounded. They know about arts, music, authors, geography, current events around the world, culture in general. More interesting conversations take place!!!
5. Random hidden little places. London is a city of discoveries as well. If you are a discoverer and stray from the popular sites and dare to take on the adventure, there is a different world out there. Full of pubs and random caves under the River Thames that are so intriguing.
6. Museums are free!!!!…I love going to museums…and in the UK they are free
7. A clean tube…I go to NYC a lot and other cities with subway systems. By far the cleanest subway system that I have ever been in was in Stockholm but London’s is pretty clean. I like that. I don’t feel like I am going to catch a disease or be killed by someone in the tube.
8. Universities have pubs…need I say more???
9. Futbol…I am not a big fan of Arsenal or Chelsea but the fact that there is Futbol…its great…
10. And the thing that I love the most about London…is that is the one place I feel really comfortable…It fits…and that is a great feeling

What I hate…

1. Is there a serious lack of napkins in the U.K. or what? I mean can you freaking serve me a napkin…I hate cleaning my hands on my clothes or my face with my hands…grrr…
2. I know there are hooligans in England…but do they really have to tackle people at a tube stop???? Come on…I’m only 120 lbs!!!!
3. Bathroom faucets??? There is one for the hot water and one for the cold water. What am I supposed to do with that??? The point is to get temperate water!!!!
4. Why are the bath tubs so high??? I need a latter just to get in and out of them…discrimination against the shortys…
5. And I really couldn’t come up with a fifth thing…

Overall, London is a great city. I highly recommend to everyone. As far as for me, I will sure go back. Many times over…

 

Lon..don…

Off to good ol’London…to go see Portis…be back on Monday…probably extremely jet lagged…I’ll try to write soon…Peace!!!

 

Discovering Lupe…Fiasco…

I discovered Lupe Fiasco about two years ago, when he originally launched his first album “Food and Liquor”. Instantaneously when I heard “Kick Push” I stopped and just listened. He was not an ordinary rapper. No. He was different. He wasn’t rapping about parties, girls or hustling. He had something new and fresh to say and rap. Plus, the beat..the beat was fresh. Captivating.

“The Cool” was released on December 18, 2007 and I purchased the album that same day. Since then I have not stopped listening to it. I mean non-stop listening to the album almost 24/7. I am in love with this man. And all he has to say. It is rare now a days to have an album that has a common theme. Not only does this album have a theme it talks about many issues which our current society has to deal with. But I waited to write about him because I wanted to see him live. I wanted to see how this talent translated in to “up front and personal”. I got the chance this past Friday. It was Brown University’s spring fling weekend and one of the main headliners was Mr. Fiasco himself.

An eclectic crowd gathered at the Hockey Stadium. But once Lupe came on, I blocked out pretty much everybody that was present with the exception of my roomie. The acoustics at the Hockey Stadium are not the best. There is an echo and well this sport complex is not made for concerts. But even with all of that, he sounded flawless. Lupe came off as a confident young 25-year old. He knew what he was doing. He knew really well. His voice was strong and you could understand everything. There was no muffle. The rhymes were flawless. He first presented songs from his first album such as “Kick Push” and then proceeded to “the Cool”. He rapped “the Coolest” a capella. Just him. No one else. He introduced some new beats and mixed all the songs a bit. He obviously played “Superstar” and he concluded with “Daydreaming”. I highly recommend everyone to check him out. As for me, Lupe will be my superstar for some more time…maybe until his next album comes out…

 

Discovering Caipirinhas…

This week the New York Times published an article adequately titled “Allure of Cachaça Spreads to U.S. From Brazil”. If you can read the article…is pretty good. I just think is funny that now is when the U.S. is supposedly catching on. I personally have been obsessed with caipirinhas since 2002. They are my favorite drink!!! But definitely like them more how they make them in Brazil. Because here in the states is all about tasting the alcohol, which is not the point of the drink. Is about tasting a chilling, smooth drink that will cool you off and make you happy. It is not about getting drunk…but about enjoyment…maybe that is the difference between the cultures…

PS. As a disclaimer…do not have more than 5 caipirinhas at a time…you will feel it the next day…

 

Discovering the power of advertising

Just do it! That phrase is phenomenal. Just do it! Whoever thought of that was truly a master of advertising. He/she just got it. Got that you just need to get into a person’s mind in 3 words or less and make them do something or purchase something even if it is just an idea.

Advertising is the ability to convince the world that they need to be or need to purchase something in order to be able subsist in this world. Some of the best ads in my fair opinion are from Nike.

The latest Nike commercial did just that for me. My gosh I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I have the song and the imagery stuck on my head. Constantly.

The commercial is genius. The theme is to “be a better athlete”. You hear “List of Demands” by Saul Williams starting and just the drums, guitar riffs, and base going and it makes you want to be in the commercial. Just high intensity interval running. Ready , set, go…give it power…come on…just do it!!!

Well, for the past two days, I have been doing just that. Some interval running, with some power hills, major ab work and some other routines. I am sitting here so soar. Everything hurts. Everything. It hurts to just turn, move, breathe. But oh it feel s so good. My list of demands is to demand myself to be better…a better athlete, a better person, a better everything…can I do it???? Per, just do it!!!

 

Discovering Karma

Last night around 11:30pm I was going to sleep. When all of a sudden my annoying door bell (imagine extremely loud buzzing noise) started ringing uncontrollably. “Who the hell was ringing the doorbell at that time and why?” “Could it be a crazy person in the street?” My roommate was in planet dreamland and she didn’t hear the doorbell, so I went downstairs and got the door. It was my next door neighbor letting us know that the red Pontiac sunfire parked in the back of the house was on fire!!!!!

Oh shiat!!! That is my neighbor’s car. The red head from the third floor. I screamed fire. Roomie finally woke up. I ran up to the third floor banged on the door until finally they opened and broke the news. Flames were coming out of the car, soon after the firefighters came and all was okay.

The thing is that about a month ago, the same girl backed into my PARKED car (without me being in it) and then left. In essence it was a hit and run. She never fessed up to it and I had to go upstairs and call her out on it. Thankfully I saw the whole thing as it happened. But geez…why not tell me…shit happens, it is understandable, but own up to it. Her roommate appropriately said last night, while we were standing on the street as it was raining, “karma is a bitch”. And I looked at him and then I looked down.

I never wanted this to happen to the girl. I truly feel bad for her. But in essence there is a lesson to be learned here. You have to be responsible for your actions. You could debate Karma, or the laws of physics or whatever…the truth is that in most cases…everything you do to others will somehow return to you…So be honest people… cause there is nothing worse than flames consuming your soul…