Idol chatter

I'm a huge American Idol fan. Yes, I know, it's cheesy; it's probably rigged; it's a big camp fest. It's my guilty pleasure. Nothing like a little old-fashioned cheese combined with dreams of stardom to make me happy.
I'm rooting for David Archuleta, David Cook (he's grown on me), and my man Jason Castro.
So I'm watching right now - results night with special performances from Elliot Yamin and Mariah Carey. (Side note, I love that a man named Elliot who lost on this show can make it the way he has. He's a good one.)
They had this segment on NPR this morning or yesterday (the days are blurring together...) about why Americans love Idol and they were saying that it has helped restore our faith in democracy. I thought that was interesting.

On a less serious note, my students were doing some groupwork today. I was circulating through the room and checking in on them when I heard this little tidbit which I thought was hilarious:
M: "Oh, Dominicans!"
S: "Oh YES!"
M: "Why aren't there more Dominicans here? I need to be somewhere where there are some DOMINICANS! The only Dominican I knew here moved to New York to be near more -
M and S: "DOMINICANS!"
S: "Yeah, they are sexy. I need to find a black Hispanic man."
M: "Oh, I KNOW! I love when I see a black guy and he opens his mouth and starts speaking Spanish!" *melts into her chair, throwing her head back*

I had to laugh to myself as I listened. I feel ya, girls, I feel ya.... Haha.

PS - the show's ended, but I won't give away the results for all the TiVoers out there. I'll just say there were no surprises.

flip

I straightened my hair today. This is a rare occurrence that causes my students to say things like, "Ooh, Ms. S!", "You look like a student!", and "You look so pretty! Do you have a date?". It also prompts me to feel like a white girl, flipping my hair incessantly and touching it every two minutes. Not, of course, that I have particularly coarse hair, or a lot of it, just that everyone with curly hair knows that you can't touch curls. They'll frizz up and lose their shape. You have to be gentle with it. Not so when it's straight. You can play with it and shake it out and watch it move. It's amazing. Haha.

Here I am with straight hair:


And here I am in what I like to call my telenovela shot:

That's totally what they'd show as the theme song played and the cast of characters paraded around the set striking poses that sum up their characters (attitude, people!). I'm pretty sure I'd be playing the poor little protagonista whom all the boys love, but loves the one unavailable man. I mean, the eyes! I'm pathetic.... Haha.

I did a little boxing yesterday with Sugar Ray Leonard (love that man) and Laila Ali. She's such a striking woman, but what a manly voice! Anyway, I go through the DVD and foolishly think that I'm totally ready for the ring. I'm deluded, I know.

An Addendum

6. "Say" by John Mayer


I'll let it remain on the cryptic side for now.

Sound check

A few songs to sum up the current state of my life:

1. "Love Song" Sara Bareilles

Chosen for lines like this: "You mean well, but you make this hard on me. I'm not gonna write you a love song 'cause you asked for it...."

2. "Frontin'" Pharrell and Jay Z

Inside joke....

3. "Desilusióname" by Olga Tañón

Sample lyrics: "Desilusióname te pido no tengas compasión conmigo/ Hazme cruzar la línea del amor al odio para conseguir tu olvido./ Desilusióname te pido hazme caer al fin vencida/ Enséñame al final que no eres tan perfecto que esto de adorarte no tiene sentido."

4. "¿Qué hago yo?" Ha-Ash

"Sé muy bien qué harás en sus brazos pero dime, ¿qué hago yo?"

5. "Speed" Montgomery Gentry

The need to get out of here is getting stronger everyday.....

iPod fun

iTunes on shuffle quiz:
1. What does the next year have in store for me?
"Mi tumbao" by Michael Stuart ft. Tres Coronas Haha...
"El que espera termina perdiendo la guerra".... Apparently the streets will be my school. ;)


2. What does your love life look like?
"Amarte es mi pecado" by Ricardo Montaner
It means "loving you is my sin". Sample lyrics: "Al final el que más dio es el perdedor" (The one who gave the most is the loser). Fantastic.

3. What do I say when life gets hard?
"Hey there, Delilah" by Plain White Tees
Hmmm.... I don't know about that.

4. What do I think of when I get up in the morning?
"Sonda-me, Usa-me" by Aline Barros
Apparently I tell God to use me in the mornings. Appropriate enough.

5. What song will I dance to at my wedding?
"Water Runs Dry" by Boyz II Men. That does NOT bode well for that relationship. Haha. I'd really hoped it'd be "Is This Love" by Bob Marley. Oh well...

6. What do you want to do with your life?
"Preciosa" the Marc Anthony version
Awww, I DO want to love PR forever!

7. Your favorite saying?
"Como lo siento" by Chambao
People do tell me that I apologize too much.... Strangely appropriate.

8. Favorite place?
"Ese hombre" by La India
Either it means that I like to be away from stupid men, or it means I like places where they play good salsa. I'll take either.

9. What do you think of your parents?
"Stars" by Switchfoot
Hmmm.... So far, it fits.

10. Where would you go on a date?
"Mi pueblo natal" by Grupo Niche
My hometown. As an Army brat, I'm now confused....

11. Describe yourself:
"Baba Says Cool for Thought" by Lupe Fiasco
Yeah, I'm about that political. That's a good one.

12. What's the thing you love doing most?
"Que me alcance la vida" by Sin Bandera
Apparently, I love singing cheesy love songs - either that or being in love. Hmmm...

13. State of mind at the moment:
"Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin
Well, it IS Friday.

14. What song will be played at your funeral?
"Bitte frag' mich nicht" by Xavier Naidoo
Please don't ask me what's wrong with me.... Fair enough.

15. The song you'll put as the subject:
"Nimbooda Nimbooda" by Karan Sargathia & Kavita Krishnamurthy
I won't actually do that, of course.

16. Song that describes my friendships:
"Champion" by Kanye West
They are champions. ;)

17. Song that describes my future marriage:
"I Melt" by Rascall Flatts
First, how appropriate are country songs for this question?! Seriously!
And second, Yes, sir. I'll take it.

18. Song that describes future children:
"We Danced Anyway" by Deanna Carter
Aww, they'll be dancers like me! Haha.

19. What will this fall be like?
"California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and the Papas
"All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray....I'd be safe and warm if I was in LA" Yeah, sounds about right.

20. What do people think of me?
"Falling in Love With You" by Tyrese
What can I say? I'm irresistible. ;)

21. How will I do in school?
"Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel
Hmmm...

22. Song that describes how nice of a career I'll have:
"Hold Me Now" by Wayne Wonder
Still trying to figure this one out....

23. Song to describe my personality:
"Me enamora" by Juanes
Again with the irresistability. ;)


So what does this reveal?
First, that there are many embarrasing songs on my iTunes list.
Second, that you can't count on an iPod on shuffle to determine anything about your life.
Third, that I seriously have eclectic musical tastes.

Girly moment.

I was stuck in traffic on my way home from work today. It was warm and lovely out, so I had the window rolled all the way down, and was crankin' Juanes.
So there I am, at a red light, surrounded by cars, but feeling good, because it's Friday, I'm finally heading home, and it's gorgeous out. I've got this great song on, and this shower of dogwood blossoms just floats down over the cars and in through the window.
Unbelievable. It's rare that so many lovely things intersect like that.

Musical vacation

Lately I've been hooked on music I can't understand. Go figure. Haha. I mean, the German I can make out alright, and likewise with the Portuguese and the Italian. It's not 100%, but I get some of it. There's so much good music in the world. Here's a sample of what's on my playlist:

Bate Lata.

Fun and upbeat and Brazilian. Doesn't get much better. :)

Anything by Kazzabe

So TECHNICALLY they're from Honduras and sing some stuff in Spanish, however, most of what they're singing is in Garífuna, which is a language I don't understand. I LOOOVe me some punta. If I had to introduce the world to a little known genre, it'd be punta. Fun for dancing, fun for listening to. Can't deny that African influence in Latin America with this beat....

Chaiyya Chaiyya

Can't understand a word, but it's so HOT! If it doesn't make you want to move your hips, I don't know what will....

É Isso Aí

Their voices are pure heaven. I also love that this was one of the first Portuguese songs that I figured out; I was so proud that day. "I don't know how to stop looking at you, I can't stop looking at you, I don't get tired of looking at you, I won't stop looking at you." It sounds less stalkerish in Portuguese.... Haha.

Anything by Tiziano Ferro

Because he's hot and because he sings in both Italian and Spanish. Good stuff. Check out "Ed ero contentissimo", "Alucinado" and "Ti scatterò una foto". Actually, I love it all. He does some faster stuff and a lot of pure pop. Love it all.

"Wenn du schläfst" by Söhne Mannheims

Make that anything by Söhne Mannheims. I chose this video because I think it's pretty brill. "No one needs as much protection as you in the darkness of the world..." I think the video sums it up nicely.

Anything by Xavier Naidoo

It's almost cheating because he's also a part of Söhne Mannheims, but that man's VOICE! Hot, hot, hot! Who knew German could sound so good?

Nimbooda Nimbooda

Makes me wanna dance....

Anything by Olodum

Hot beats. Love it.

Axé Axé by Daniela Mercury

You can't listen to it without moving.

"Habibi de mis amores" Ishtar

Again, partially in Spanish, but it makes the cut.

"Pontes Indestrutíveis" by Charlie Brown, Jr.

I just LIKE it.

"She's Royal"

I have the soca remix which I couldn't find online, but this version is also good. Yeah, it's in English, but it's the style that I love.... Makes me feel like I'm in Bocas del Toro, Panamá.... Mmmmmm...