Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Wedding Singer
Last minute, I get an e-mail from my best friend/sister, Mari's husband, Kaoru, who says that he still wants me to sing for their wedding ceremony this Saturday. I had originally wanted to sing for their wedding but I wanted to sing this song "Love and Honesty" which was a duet. Unfortunately, it fell thru because their guest list was already full, and they couldn't accommodate my duet partner, Minh. When this was decided, I pulled out as well.
But when Kaoru asked me again to sing for their wedding, I had to put a lot of thought into it and realized that this would be one of the only moments that I could share my gift with Mari and her husband, in front of a bunch of other talented musicians. The thought of this could be anxiety driven but when I thought of the true purpose and real reason for doing it, how could I say "no". So I agreed, and the song above is what I will be singing for them, this Saturday, at their wedding.
It is an honor to be sharing the stage with a bunch of other talented musicians. I mean, this is the line-up for the evening:
1) Ayako+Haruka Watanabe (harp and violin)
2) Dale+Kaelyn (trombone, french horn)
3) Cheryl Samson (voice)
4) Shoji (taiko-throat singing)
5) Isabella Mori, Haruka and Ayako Watanabe (Mongolian song)
6) June Kuramoto (koto)
7) Charlene Hwang (violin)
video presentation
8) George Abe (shakuhachi)
9) Alicia Hall Moran and Ayako Watanabe (voice and harp)
10) Hideki Watanabe (poi/fire spinning)
11) Tamango (tap dance)
12) Kaoru and Mari (flutes, video, etc?)
13) Kenny Endo (taiko)
14) Johnny Mori (taiko)
15) taiko, rhythm session?!
Kaoru's parents play for an orchestra, and well, Kaoru, Mari's husband, is a professional taiko flute player who trained with this taiko group (see below):
So you could now imagine what this reception will be like. I'm honored to be a part of it. Now, back to practice...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
RIP Guru
Lost another one in hip hop music history. RIP Guru...give my love to JB, MJ and JD. Mourning your lyrics, your music & your contribution to hip hop.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dad's 70th bday and mom's love
April has been the busiest month for me ever! Just last week alone, there were 4 bdays going on and this week I am preparing for my best friend/sister, Mari Nakano's wedding. My aunt, Tita Bie, turned 75 on Monday, my dad turned 70 on Wednesday, Akiko turned 30 on Thursday, and Emiko turned 30 on Friday! Oh, what a week of family and good girlfriends!
This past Saturday, I spent the day with my dad. I had to get my car fixed and ready to pass my smog check so I can re-register it for the year, so my dad picked me up from the mechanic and drove with me to my "vocal dojo" class. Everyone LOVED my dad and it was so cute to watch him lipsync the vocal exercises with the rest of the class. Being a singer himself, you could see how into it he was and how much he enjoyed to observe my class.
Afterwards, I took him to have some Ethiopian food for the first time at Merkato in Little Ethiopian. He enjoyed the food as we ate traditionally with our hands (both Filipino and Ethiopian style) and we got to enjoy our afternoon intake of alcohol. Mine with my glass of honey wine and dad, with his Ethiopian beer. Returned back to my place and we both took a power nap before picking up my car and dropping off the fried trout for my mom thought I bought her from Merkato. It was a well day spent with my dad for his bday.
I spent the evening with my mom and over dinner she asked me if I loved her. I was taken a back by this question and she said that she felt that I didn't like her as a mom. I reassured her that I did love her, of course, followed by the different reasons I loved her. I brought up the many times I noticed how she prepared food for us everyday of our lives and I was able to bring a good lunch to school everyday. Because of this example, I have to cook a good lunch for myself everyday, as co-workers are amazed at what I'm eating. I tell them it's because my mom did the same for me. I told her how I don't have a sweet tooth and eat healthy because of her. I reminded her of how many of her clothes I wear with pride and told her that I have written poetry about her. I reminded her that I was filming/documenting her life story. These were enough examples, I think, to show her how much I loved her. She began to see and understand as tears filled her eyes. I gave her a long, reassuring hug afterwards and told her "of course, I love you mom!"
It's days like these that are SO significant in my life. My mom is turning 73 this year, and my dad, now 70. I told them both on Saturday that I would miss them when they die and that makes every second spent with them even more valuable and special.
This past Saturday, I spent the day with my dad. I had to get my car fixed and ready to pass my smog check so I can re-register it for the year, so my dad picked me up from the mechanic and drove with me to my "vocal dojo" class. Everyone LOVED my dad and it was so cute to watch him lipsync the vocal exercises with the rest of the class. Being a singer himself, you could see how into it he was and how much he enjoyed to observe my class.
Afterwards, I took him to have some Ethiopian food for the first time at Merkato in Little Ethiopian. He enjoyed the food as we ate traditionally with our hands (both Filipino and Ethiopian style) and we got to enjoy our afternoon intake of alcohol. Mine with my glass of honey wine and dad, with his Ethiopian beer. Returned back to my place and we both took a power nap before picking up my car and dropping off the fried trout for my mom thought I bought her from Merkato. It was a well day spent with my dad for his bday.
I spent the evening with my mom and over dinner she asked me if I loved her. I was taken a back by this question and she said that she felt that I didn't like her as a mom. I reassured her that I did love her, of course, followed by the different reasons I loved her. I brought up the many times I noticed how she prepared food for us everyday of our lives and I was able to bring a good lunch to school everyday. Because of this example, I have to cook a good lunch for myself everyday, as co-workers are amazed at what I'm eating. I tell them it's because my mom did the same for me. I told her how I don't have a sweet tooth and eat healthy because of her. I reminded her of how many of her clothes I wear with pride and told her that I have written poetry about her. I reminded her that I was filming/documenting her life story. These were enough examples, I think, to show her how much I loved her. She began to see and understand as tears filled her eyes. I gave her a long, reassuring hug afterwards and told her "of course, I love you mom!"
It's days like these that are SO significant in my life. My mom is turning 73 this year, and my dad, now 70. I told them both on Saturday that I would miss them when they die and that makes every second spent with them even more valuable and special.
Exit Through the Gift Shop: Banksy's new film
Just saw Banksy's new film: Exit Through the Gift Shop last night. For those of you who know me, you know how I LOVE Banksy! Had to see it after seeing the movie poster one day during my weekly afternoon walks thru Elysian Park. The poster was posted outside the gas station down the street from my place. I was curious, looked it up, and found out that this weekend was the opening weekend for his new movie playing at The Arclight.
I HIGHLY recommend all of you who are interested/like "street art" to go see it. I am definitely adding this one to my "movies to own" list. It's a funny movie and just like Banksy, artistic, well-thought out and put together.
Enjoy it at an independent theater near you!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A photographic Journey thru Washington DC: Day 1, March 27, 2010 - Our Nation's Capital
On capitol hill...
What are they protesting about now?
Man, these people protest about everything! LoL!
where the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. are held
Inside the capital...
The women of the suffrage movement
Lady Liberty
What are they protesting about now?
Man, these people protest about everything! LoL!
where the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. are held
Inside the capital...
The women of the suffrage movement
Lady Liberty
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
A photographic Journey thru Washington DC: Day 1, March 27, 2010 - Monuments, Memorials & More...
(Thomas) Jefferson Memorial
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
Hmm, what do we have going on here?
I had to come in & take a closer look...
Acro-yoga is what my friend, Melvin, called it.
The C/Korean War Memorial
The (Abraham) Lincoln Memorial
The Washington Memorial
The WWII Memorial
gotta represent!
Entering the Vietnam War Memorial...(going to all these memorials in one day just gave me an eerie feeling. It reminded me of how often this country has gone to war and is STILL actively in two wars and probably more that we don't know about. How many more memorials will fill DC? How many more wars does this country have to be involved in and fight in?)
I guess I shouldn't refer to this as The White House because the people living in it are no longer "white". The only thing that's white about the White House now is probably the paint job.
The US treasury
DC metro
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
Hmm, what do we have going on here?
I had to come in & take a closer look...
Acro-yoga is what my friend, Melvin, called it.
The C/Korean War Memorial
The (Abraham) Lincoln Memorial
The Washington Memorial
The WWII Memorial
gotta represent!
Entering the Vietnam War Memorial...(going to all these memorials in one day just gave me an eerie feeling. It reminded me of how often this country has gone to war and is STILL actively in two wars and probably more that we don't know about. How many more memorials will fill DC? How many more wars does this country have to be involved in and fight in?)
I guess I shouldn't refer to this as The White House because the people living in it are no longer "white". The only thing that's white about the White House now is probably the paint job.
The US treasury
DC metro
A new look for my couch
The remodeling process in my apartment is continual, gradual but necessary. Finally, I feel like in a long time, my place is starting to be more of a reflection of me and the way I see color. Not only that, I have a good friend, Edward Varias, who specializes in Interior Design and has helped celebrities and rich people, like Jackie Chan, design the inside of their house. He did the Feng Shui for my apartment and we worked together to come up with this!
Don't be sleepin' on IKEA! =)
More changes in store to share. Coming soon to a computer screen near you ;)
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