Happy Blog Award

I've been presented a Happy Blog Award from palindrome over at Musings of a Palindrome.

THANKS!!!!

I really don't know what I did to deserve this as I haven't written anything since 1.14 but I'll take the award for sure! ;-) I'm glad to know that I have at least one follower. I always hope to have/find more, but then I do realize that I'm not consistent enough of a blogger to have more. anyways - on with the show. I guess at this point I'm supposed to list 10 things that make me happy, and then pass this award to 10 other blogs. To be honest, I don't know many other bloggers that I could send it to - so I'll be a big selfish and just list 10 happy things. Of course, these are 10 things that make me happy today - tomorrow it could be different.

1. Maxwell - even though it has been over seven years...he and this song make me happy.


2. kate bush - again, I don't really care what she is singing...I could listen to her any time, any where and I'll be happy. This would be my all time favorite songs of hers. And I have to love a performer who dances, and choreographs her own videos.


3. Friends...
I like hanging out with them, the crazy conversations that take place, and of course the opposite as well - the deep conversations that I look forward to - the delving into what makes us tick, etc. Which i guess this blog is apart of - a delving in to myself showing what makes me tick. And if you know anything about me, you'll know that it is music that makes me tick.

4. Patrick Gale - Patrick Gale is an author from England. The first book of his I read was "Rough Music." There was something very charming and moving about it. Since then I have gotten and read every single one of his novels and I'm involved, and moved by them. He is an author I will continue to read and support - even if I have to order his books from the UK. I also think that he should be better known here in the US.

5. Pop-up Books
I always enjoyed Pop-up and moving books as a kid. Yeah, i was that kid who could be handed a book at any point growing up and I would sit quietly and read. Recently there is one pop-up artist who I'm continually amazed by - Robert Sabuda. I think that he is amazing! Sure, there are other pop-up books that may have bigger pop-ups, but I don't think any of them are as intricate as Sabuda's. The only one who may be as intricate would be Matthew Reinhart, his partner.

6. Japanese food - it could be noodles from Tanpopo, or a dinner at Sakura, or Osaka. Or even home made katsudon. I love it and could eat it daily.

7. Almodovar - Pedro Almodovar is an amazing film director from Spain. I've been a fan of his every since I first saw 'Atame!' (Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down). I thought it was a funny movie, yet moving - all that plus Antonio Banderas, what could go wrong? I've kept watching and buying his films as they have been coming out on DVD. Sadly I don't always take the time to see them in the theatre (though I know I should) but I find him fascinating, and a great director. He knows what to do with color, and music, and story... The first example here is from "Habla con ella" (Talk to her). A strange, incredibly moving film about two women in comas and the two men who love them. There is a guest appearance by Caetano Veloso in this movie - and this song/film makes me happy...


As does this clip from Volver. The song Volver is "sung" by Penelope Cruz's character. She thinks that her mother is dead, yet while singing this song she catches a glimpse of her mother sitting in her sisters car. I love the song, and the flamenco sound of the vocals. (Edit: that original video was removed, but here is Estrella morente singing the song live)


8. Home.

Home means a lot of things to me. It means my family, my cat, my neice and nephews. This is home to me. Along with that, home is also Japan. I grew up there and there is a part of me that will always know of Japan as being home. There is a word in Japanese "furusato" or ふるさと。In my mind, furusato is everything that Japan and my youth represent. This song pretty much says it all. The singer is Koji Tamaki (one of my all time favs), and he was raised in Hokkaido (the northern most Island in Japan). Hokkaido is just a bit further north than Morioka, and the camp i used to go to in Northern Japan. Because of those connections - I think he really hits a point.



9. Theatre - live theatre makes me happy. Even if it isn't the best show, or the best audience around me - I am continually moved by Theatre. In my book though - this also means any sort of theatre - be it Opera, Musicals, Opera or Musicals on film, live theatre on film...etc.

10. love - enough said.

any questions?

ciao,
krl