Count it, baby!

Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com

Mic check - takin' it back

1. "I Can Still Feel You" by Collin Raye

Loved it when I first heard it, back in the late 90s and it's been in my head for the last few weeks. "I can still feel you just as close as skin/ Every now and then/ All by myself, in a crowded room, or my empty bed..../I thought I'd forget you/ But I guess I forgot to."

2. "Dreaming of You" by Selena

Brings back so many memories. Weren't all of us Latinos in the US Selena fans when this came out? So sad....

3. "I Could Fall in Love" by Selena

Yeah, that's two by Selena. But seriously, I love this one: "I could lose my heart tonight if you don't turn and walk away...."

4. "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ella Fitzgerald

You know, or anything else by her. Because she's amazing. No one sings like this these days.

5. "El breve espacio en que no estás" by Silvio Rodríguez

I'm a bit of a Silvio junkie - something I inherited from my (conservative, apolitical) father (go figure). It took me forever to narrow down my Silvio picks, but this has always been one of my favorites: "No es perfecta, mas se acerca a lo que yo simplemente soñé."

6. "Con diez años de menos" by Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés

He really is that brilliant: "Esta mujer me propone que salte y me estrelle, sólo para verle, sólo para amarle, sólo para serle, solo y no olvidarle." My dad and I were always fascinated by those lines. What poets, those two!


7. "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey
The video is important because everyone told me that I looked like the girl in it when it came out. Mariah was so GOOD back then! I'll also admit that I'm a huge fan of the David Cook version, so I'll include that video here. But, seriously, check out the original, because that totally could've been a twelve year old me. ;)


8. "Tal vez es amor" by Chayanne

I remember being in the car with Titi Myrna when this one came on. I must've been about twelve, the cheesiness together with Chayanne's sexiness made it an instant favorite. "No sé decir lo que me gusta de ti, algo me mata pero me hace vivir: tal vez es amor."

9. "Moscas en la casa" by Shakira

This one, or anything else from the "¿Dónde están los ladrones?" album. This was probably the first Shakira song that I fell in love with, though, so I chose it, though I was seriously debating "Ciega Sordomuda" and "Ojos Así".... This was the album that shot her to international stardom, before the crazy curls and the blonde hair. She's so beautiful and young here....

10. "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs

My sister and I had this one on repeat. It still makes me want to dance.

11. "Always" by Bon Jovi

Stinkin' copyrights.... Check out the original video. I couldn't get enough of it: so much hotness!

12. "Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze

Even back then I could recognize a hot beat. ;)

13. "More than Words" by Extreme

My favorite of the one-hit wonders. I always remember my cousins singing along to this and saying something like: "zen ju gwouldn't have to say that ju love me, because I'd alreary know..." The "alreary" was my favorite. Aww, but the four of us girls would sit in Liliana's room and play this tape OUT!

14. "Súbete a mi moto" by Menudo

Waaaaaay back. You can't be Puerto Rican and born in the seventies or eighties and not remember Menudo. I had pencils, t-shirts, and all the records (yes, records) which I played non-stop on my Big Bird record player (it was yellow). There's video of me dancing to this classic. Someone should've fired their choreographer, though....

15. "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul

My favorite Paula Abdul song EVER - this one and "Blowing Kisses in the Wind". Ha, ha. We were huge fans. The reason this video won is for the young Keanu Reeves (those EYES!) and the "Rebel Without a Cause" theme. Major points for any James Dean reference.

Bonus Pick:
"I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me" by Expose

I used to cry listening to this one. How I identified with it at ten, I'll never know, but I loved it....

late

It's amazing, but after blogging yesterday, I felt the tightness in my chest dissipate, my mind cleared, and I was okay.

I just got home from Spring Concert and cleaning of the apartment. *sigh* Concert was good, from what I saw. I was so proud of A., R., V., S., and D. Three of them had solos, and I made it a point to run from the band rooms that were serving as a holding tank to the auditorium to catch their performances. One girl got sick, so Ms. W. and I had to take turns watching out for her. It was pretty busy back there....

Other than that, it's the same old, same old - for better or worse.

J. reminded me of this gem today, and it seems to fit with everything right now.

Mother to Son


Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

--Langston Hughes

I do love me some Langston Hughes....

Más es3

Yesterday N. commented on my appearance at Friday's Senior/Faculty game: "Oooh, Ms. S! I saw you there with a friiiieeeend." I'd gone with B. Apparently, people noticed. Haha.

Today, A. invited me to her graduation party on the 14th. BK will probably be in town, but I feel compelled to stop by. I do love that kid....

In other news, I'm stressed beyond belief. Seriously.

I'm making a list and giving it up. It's not mine to deal with anymore. Deep breath, FJ, and let. it. go.

1. Exams.
2. Two-hour blocks.
3. Grading.
4. My app.
5. Summer job situation.
6. Money.
7. Ticket to LA.
8. C.'s wedding.
9. C.'s wedding conflicting with the summer job situation.
10. No, really, money.
11. My stupid heart.
12. My kid's knowledge of the subjunctive.
13. Post exam evals.
14. Graduation.
15. Cleaning out my classroom.
16. Not having my classroom during planning to clean it out.
17. Lack of workouts.
18. Overwhelming desire for more chocolate.
19. Messed up phone.
20. Placement exams.
21. Professional leave and sub plans.
22. My birthday.
23. Family.
24. Lack of privacy.

Okay. Another deep breath - I'm letting it go.

Feeling better already....

Another one and a list

I'll blame it on the hormones. Hormones and stress.... Anyway, this:

Mountains Out of Molehills

Catch a bit of this and that;
Add two of mine
to two of your own.
Draw your assumptions.
Those words:
"I KNOW".
Really?
Really, really?
From whose lips, because you don't
"KNOW"
it from these.
Feed the rumor mill,
play the games,
spread that talk.
I tighten my lips
clench my jaw.
Believe what you will.
I know -
first hand -
and that's enough.

A look at my to-do list below.

End of the school year:
Senior exams begin FRIDAY.
Graduation next weekend.
Exams.
Somewhere in there, I should grade placement exams from the middle schools.
Spring Concert - I promised I'd help....
Clean classroom.
My birthday.
Cristina's wedding.
Job search.
Scream.
Breathe.

Yes, I am

A little crazy.
Letting go.
Slacking.
Smiling.
Breathing deeply.
Taking it in.
Brushin' my shoulders off.
Moving forward.
Closing my eyes.
Listening.
Enjoying.
Waiting.
Living...
my way, and right now.

Content.

home

Confession: I don't always love weekends.

I feel the need to leave more and more lately. There are two things I miss about living alone: freedom and privacy. I feel like I have neither lately. How long till August? *sigh* My parents are good people, really, they are. It's just that sometimes there's a bit too much drama from one end and the only way to appease her is for him to play along. And then no one is happy.

I have to report my whereabouts, I get calls when it's late, I get the 'You're going out with HIM?!' followed by a speech about said person's lack of husbandly qualities. Talk about jumping to conclusions! I've come to the point where I preface things with "Just to let you know," so that they're aware that I'm not asking for permission.

I just want a little breathing room sometimes. I hate having to justify where I'll be and what I'm doing. I mean, I'll be working out and it's: "You know, you should do some laundry." Right now? Really? This is when you have to bring it up?

Last night I went out to dinner and the G-F faculty vs. seniors basketball game with B. It was a fun time followed by a little wandering at Target. After that, I drove home and just wanted to collapse into bed with a movie and some quiet.

There was a student on my porch. Seriously. The house full of people eating everywhere, talking. I was up forever. Not to mention the weirdness of having X and his mom at my house seeing me in a completely different element: English, my space, my interests, no language lessons.

Today I've got a lot to do. I'm going to try to convince E. he wants to spend Monday with me, registering voters in Alexandria.... I really do want to find a more tangible way to support the Democratic campaign in general and Barack Obama in particular. Registering voters would be a cool thing, I think....