Writings on the Wall

That Was It

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:14:32 PST

Michael Jackson's "This Is It" was supposed to be his last swan song of a concert, but it turned out to be too ominous of his own demise. Kenny Ortega, the creative force behind this would-be spectacular concert, had the brilliant foresight of recording every phase of the rehearsals, which later became this docu-movie commemorating the "King of Pop."

True to his larger-than-life popstar persona, Michael Jackson's concert would have boasted over-the-edge technological and audiovisual tricks never before attempted in on-stage entertainment. They've updated the thrill capacity of the "Thriller" zombies and added a 3D twist. "Smooth Criminal" became even more silky smooth. It was like Broadway with an MTV vibe and lots of Michael Jackson magic dust.

As every familiar Michael Jackson hit was rehearsed, one can't help but lament over his loss all over again. One can't also help but notice how frighteningly frail he looked, how skinny his body seemed under his loose, shiny jackets. How did he end up that way? I don't imagine him going online to purposefully search for a Medifast coupon code.

He was surrounded by talented back-up dancers who were greatly inspired by him. When they expressed their grief at the beginning of the movie, you feel their deep sense of sorrow, not just the sadness of knowing their big paycheck would be cut short. This was the man who gave them a reason to be the best they could be. Unfortunately, "This Is It" for Michael.

Swine Flew!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:06:56 PST

Chicago's Millennium Park isn't just about the Cloud Gate sculpture. When I strolled around here last September, I saw some cool art installations that were quirky and got me quizzical. Take this mutant red car with frog-like tongue suspending what looks like a gold swine and two naked people. Now that's what I call "Swine Flew!" He looks a bit tongue-tied, doesn't he?

Seeing this fun-tastic piece of art reminded me of gold bullion and gold coins--the chocolate kind, at least. Although a real gold coin wouldn't hurt either. The only coin collection I have involves the pressed souvenir pennies. The only pressed pennies I have from Chicago are from Sears Tower (which, by the way, is now called "Willis Tower!") and Navy Pier. As for the bullion, I'll buy me a billion when I hit the lotto.

Yankees Run This Town!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:53:37 PST

Just by that title alone, you already know why I have this New York (the "Empire State") map postcard for you. The Yankees just bagged their 27th World Series Championship, beating the Phillies in Game 6 with a score of 7-3. Who's their hero? Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui...MVP!

Yankees pride can't be prouder than the decorated doors of this sporting goods store in my town selling official Yankees gear:

Even Darth Vader is a Yankees fan!

The ultimate souvenir shirt:

Have you heard the remixed version of Jay-Z's song "Run This Town?" It was recently reworked to rejoice the Yankees' victory with every player's name in the lyrics! Listen to it here.

The Empire State Strikes Back!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:08:56 PST

What did I say before? Victory is sweeter with home court advantage...and how sweet it is indeed to win in the brand spankin' new Yankee Stadium! The Battle in the Bronx ended favorably for the New York Yankees tonight, yanking the World Series title (their 27th) out of the defending champions, the Phillies.

I knew Game 6 was going to be spectacular! And perhaps the Sports Illustrated magazine I saw at the doctor's office earlier was a premonition of sorts: It had pitcher Mariano Rivera on the cover (Oct. 5th issue).

Hideki (Matsui) is heaven-sent! He deserves the MVP award! And Pettitte's pitching efforts were anything but petty, fueled only by short rest.

The Empire State Building was lit in bright blue Yankees colors tonight. And people are going to be wanting to go to Mo's (Modell's) to get their official World Series shirt. This ALCS Champions shirt sure went old fast!

Gotta hook up a Bluetooth headset to start spreading the news to my uncle who's vacationing in Mexico right now. He's a big Yankees fan...a long time before I became one! Oh wait, it's midnight in Cancun right now, so I'll just send a text message.

There will be a parade in their honor this Friday in the Big Apple at 11am. Weather forecast says it's going to be a chilly 40 degrees for this big day, but the Yankees fans wouldn't mind bundling up to celebrate their baseball heroes! Mayor Bloomberg will also award the Yankees with the keys to the city--what a great honor!

Let's hear it for New Yoooooooork!

Eat, Pray, Love For All Souls

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:45:29 PST

We paid respects to a family friend buried in a nearby cemetery yesterday. We plucked mums from our backyard to decorate her tombstone. Remembering the dead here in the States isn't as hectic as it is in the Philippines. The cemeteries look the same as in any other ordinary day. People are forbidden to light candles on the graves for fire safety issues.

A tradition my family observes is cooking home-made specialties as an offering to departed family members. Usually it's pancit paired with some Filipino pastry. We then take a small portion of the dishes made, put in on a plate, then arrange a table setting and make-shift altar for the souls, with lit candles and flowers. The belief is that they would come visit our home on All Soul's Day and would "partake" of the food, or at least, its "essence."

I had made (Filipino-style) spaghetti for my Nana, because it was her specialty that I had grown up loving, and my mom had made puto, or rice cake. My Nana has never known about whole grain pasta, but that's what I used for the noodles, as well as regular semolina pasta--cooked separately, of course.

Last year, just after my Nana had passed away, I slept in the basement by myself, only two doors away from the garage floor. I left the lamp light at this computer on as my night light, then tried to sleep in the couch. Not long thereafter, the lamp light turned off by itself. The basement went dark. My heart skipped a beat. I stood up to inspect the lamp and saw that it was still very much plugged in. The only reason it could have turned off was that someone switched it off. I reached for the switch to turn it back on....then decided to sleep somewhere else that night, so I switched it off.

This month would mark the first year death anniversary of my Nana. In some of my deeds, I try to be her, therefore part of her still lives on.

Vampire Costume Defined

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:37:26 PDT

[comic strip image from foxtrot.com]

We didn't get a vampire trick-or-treater tonight. The very first kid was Godzilla, then there was Indiana Jones whose crusade was for candy, then a boy in a Transformers costume whose head I accidentally hit with our front door. I gave him extra candy for my clumsiness.

It was rainy, it was windy, so we didn't get a lot of kids tonight compared to last year. It's not just the weather affecting this low Halloween candy-harasser turnout, but there's also Game 3 of the World Series tonight airing from Philadelphia. Parents will be wanting to be glued to their tv stands as early as possible rather than drive their kids around houses.

I honestly thought the game would be postponed altogether, but it just had a delayed start. My Halloween movie queue will have to wait.

Ghouls, Goblins, Ghosts on Parade

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:33:00 PDT

I watched my little cousin's Halloween parade at her school. This year, she's Lady Gaga. Her mom went "gaga" mad looking for a wig. Okay, so it's a tad too long, but they didn't want to cut the wig short. She's wearing black lipstick, too, keeping her black-and-white motif intact. Her wig's position isn't so intact, though, from walking too fast.

It's amazing how she's grown...my first Halloween photo of her was as a tiny Tinkerbell back in 2004.

Here's a videoclip from their school parade. She's not in it, though. My favorite is Rapunzel at the end, who not only wears long braided hair, but also a tower! Props to her props! Check it out!

My candy provisions for tonight for the kids: Twix (what's left of it anyway, since I've been eating from the bag since last week), Nestle Crunch, and Gummy Tongues. Halloween has already started wet this morning, but I hope it doesn't pour gremlins and goblins tonight.

Eastern State Penitentiary

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:05 PDT

Here's my souvenir postcard from when I visited "America's Most Historic Prison" in Philadelphia back in August. This aerial view of the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) seems harmless, but this facility has housed thousands of hardened criminals since the 1800's that people say it's also haunted.

ESP is tucked away just minutes from downtown Philadelphia. It's been closed since 1971, but its dungeon-like cell blocks remain open for tourists to see. Daring ones can even visit it just after twilight, but only during the summer.

Check out some of my photos from our tour:

And my personal favorite...A view from Cell Block 7. Ghosts must be dancing the "Cell Block Tango" here on Halloween night.

Boo!

"Let's Hear It For New York!"

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:08:49 PDT

So the Phillies bombed the Yankees last night in Game 1 of the World Series (6-1). Maybe the Yankees still have ALCS victory hangover from Sunday night. But man, the Phillies' Cliff Lee was a fierce pitcher! This is going to be bloodbath in the baseball field.

These major league players must be paid so much they don't have to fret about things like getting life insurance from Wholesale Insurance.

Meanwhile, the anthem that's been playing in the Yankee Stadium was "Empire State of Mind" (a song that's stuck in my head) sung by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys...and they're about to perform that song tonight in Game 2! The Yankees better be in that state of mind if they want to win.

If you're wondering about the Liberty statue photo above, I found that inside Toys R'Us Times Square last year which was just one of many other such painted Liberty statues around New York City. The Giants is actually NY's football team, but notice the baseball logo on her. Plus, if you look behind her, those are NY Yankees merchandise for sale.

And since I'm a sport, here's something from Philly: the Liberty Bell. This was from our first trip to Philadelphia back in 2006. I remember owning a sharpener as an elementary student shaped like this bell, with the crack and all.

So which Liberty will emerge triumphant in the World Series?

Litratong Pinoy #70: Amoy (Smell)

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:00 PDT

"Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?"

I know what wrestler-turned-Hollywood-star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson smells like: wax! I'm referring to his likeness at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, that is!

If The Rock went to New York's Chinatown, he might have smelled what WE were intending to cook: fish! This is the fish market we go to whenever we visit Chinatown. We bring an ice chest in our car to load the fish on.

Sinong di nakakaalam sa catch phrase na pinasikat ni The Rock nung WWF wrestler pa siya? Amoy na amoy na niya ang tagumpay sa kanyang career!

Yung pangalawang picture naman, yan ang suki naming tindahan ng isda sa Chinatown. Nanay ko yung nasa kaliwa, chinichika yung tindero sabay tawad.

"New York, I Love You"

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:43:01 PDT

I'm a bit surprised they didn't call this collaborative film project "I ♥ NY." Probably trademark issues? Hehe. I saw a movie poster for this recently after watching "Where The Wild Things Are." I'd so love to see this movie which, like its French counterpart--"Paris, Je T'Aime!," boasts of a powerhouse cast including Natalie Portman who was in that Parisian film. HK actress Shu Qi is in it, too!

"New York, I Love You" is already showing in select movie theaters. I'm looking forward to it in my town. "Paris JTA" was about profiteroles, mimes, Elijah Woods' big Frodo eyes and vampiric fetish; Oscar Wilde and all other things French, especially l'amour!

With "New York, ILY," it's about things I also love about New York: Times Square, Grand Central Station, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and the subways, just to name a few. It's also about falling in love "in a New York minute." I ♥ NY, even if sometimes it doesn't love me back!

You know what else I love about New York? The Yankees playing tomorrow in the World Series against the Phillies! Game 1 will be at Yankee Stadium. They're nicknaming it the "Turnpike Series." I say, the Phillies should just exit gracefully!

Alternatively, it's also the "Liberty Series," because NY has the Statue of Liberty, while Philadelphia has the Liberty Bell. I think the statue is "for whom the bell tolls!"

Soy Joy

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:29:01 PDT

When I visited family in the quiet, countryside town of Homer Glen, Illinois last month, I had to stop and gaze at this yellow soy field right at the entrance of their little subdivision. The golden hues just had "autumn" written all over it. This scenery really made me understand why Illinois is known as the "Prairie State."

There's a big banquet hall just across the road from here. I was told that it's a favorite backdrop for wedding photos. I have to agree on that.

And to add to my yellow streak that day, a yellow school bus passed me by where I stood next to the soy field. This one's for you, Ging!

And speaking of soy, I just started drinking soy milk...because they say it's a healthier alternative to regular milk. I am loving chocolate-flavored soy milk! ♥

If You're Going To San Francisco...

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:21:03 PDT

Can you take me with you? Can you walk with me along the Golden Gate Bridge? See the sea lions with me in Pier 31? Can you sail with me to Alcatraz? Are you willing to go in and out with me at In-N-Out Burger? Can you drive me to nearby Daly City so I can have a jolly good time at Jollibee?

Can you ride with me in a cable car from one end of the line to another? Can you get dizzy with me going through the “world’s most crookedest street,” Lombard Street? Can you give me a reason to leave my heart in San Francisco? Will you keep it for me?

I haven’t met you yet. If I never will, I’m afraid I’m going to have to do all these things by myself. Cruise on a trusty Honda Accord, pray for perfect weather and that if my car drives me crazy instead of drive me around, San Francisco auto repair would be there. Heaven knows I don’t know what a timing belt is for. I only know that in life, timing is everything.

"Forever Young," Forever Yankees!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:20:03 PDT

Okay, so I've been hooked with the ALCS Games between the NY Yankees and the Angels. I'm rooting for the blue pin-striped Yankees, of course!

I was never that interested in major league baseball before. Last year, this blood drive I went to gave out a pair of baseball game tickets to New York's Shea Stadium to every donor. I never got to go. Not only was the scheduled game a bad time for me, I also misplaced the tickets. Plus, I didn't have anyone to go with me.

I was crossing my fingers for the Yankees to take home the trophy in Game 5 last Thursday since they lead the series 3-1...only one win away from ending the series, but divine intervention made the Angels score a 7-6 win against them, forcing a Game 6 in New York today. It was a great Game 5, though. Almost went mad watching it.

Victory will be sweeter with home court advantage...so let's go, Yankees!

I love this official MLB Pepsi commercial featuring the song "Forever Young" sung by The Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am (original version by Bob Dylan). It shows the Yankees Stadium, then and now; and at the end: Babe Ruth (who played for the Yankees) side-by-side with Yankees' Derek Jeter. I hope it's a premonition of them emerging as the 2009 ALCS champions!

But most of all, I love the uplifting message of the song: "May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift. And may you have a strong foundation, when the winds of changes shift. And may your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung...May you stay forever young." And then it's Bob Dylan finishing the song.

And here's another version of the commercial which shows more of Bob Dylan singing the song. I love how they patch together vintage scenes with modern ones, showing that some things stay the same in every generation.

Silver Indian and Two Totem Poles

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:11:06 PDT

Putting together some random photos from three different places. First is this shiny Indian in the middle of Times Square, photographed last August. Or is he supposed to be some Mayan or Aztec warrior? What I love about Times Square is that you never know who or what you'll see there. Someone always seems to be in some Halloween garb (or close to nothing at all) in there for no reason.

Surely, he's not there to talk about insurance quotes, is he? But then again, stranger characters have been used for insurance advertising purposes--such as a certain gecko with a British accent.

From last June was this totem pole in Ottawa's Byward Market:

Check out the tats on said totem pole! Miss Iggy posed there, too.

And on the eve of my birthday last month, my cousin and her boyfriend took me around downtown Chicago. One of the spots we stopped by at was this totem pole along Lake Shore Drive.

Cool coincidence, huh?

Dracula's Castle in Romania

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:14:34 PDT

Halloween is next week, so I'm featuring a postcard with bloody ties to Dracula, the most famous vampire there is: Romania (Doesn't the red font say it all?). This multi-view postcard from Postcrossing features Bran Castle or "Dracula's Castle" in the top middle photo. Don't you find it ironic, though, that it's right next to the Rasnov Citadel with the big crucifix?

Why are vampires so popular? There's the wildly popular Twilight sequel "New Moon" shining next month, then tomorrow there's "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant." (Cirque du Soleil gone to Hell?) Can you put that on a resume, though? I just saw another Jane Austen spin-off book which turned Mr. Darcy into a "most disagreeable one"...with fangs! ("Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange.)

Vampires embody that mortal longing to live forever. They don't have to worry about wrinkles or life-threatening diseases like mesothelioma. They're also very lusty creatures. They make sucking blood an erotic experience, in stark contrast to zombies who just eat people's brains without even feigning romance. But then again, they don't look sexy.

"Wild Things," You Make My Heart Sing!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:55:13 PDT

Actually, "Where The Wild Things Are" made me cry at the end. I do hate goodbyes. It's a little surreal how I can relate to the conflict between the monsters Carol and KW. Who thought life can be just as complicated in their world? A misunderstanding of wants. Carol just wants them all to be together, KW just likes to hang out with her two owl friends.

Sometimes, all we need is a "wild rumpus" time. But even that can't solve everything.

So even if I've never read the book by Maurice Sendak, I understand now that Max is wearing a wolf costume. However, I noticed in the movie that Emil referred to him as "just a boy pretending to be a fox pretending to be a king."

Here's my doodle of Max in purple ink. Looks like he needs a "wild rumpus" time right about now!

Litratong Pinoy # 69:Masinop (Frugal)

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:02:00 PDT

Ask me what the weather is like when I'm in the Philippines and I'll tell you it's "cloudy with a chance of FISHBALLS." It's my favorite streetfood whenever I'm there. It's not only cheap, it's delicious! This is my "merienda" or afternoon snack not only when I'm trying to be frugal, but also when I'm simply craving for it!

Sinisikap kong maging masinop hindi lang sa mga bilihin kundi pati na rin sa pagkain! Mabuhay ang fishballs!

"Give A Day, Get A Disney Day!"

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:29:06 PDT

Ever volunteered in your life? Doesn't it feel good to help out someone or an entire community in need?

But what if you give a day of service, and earn a free day pass to a Disney theme park of your choice in return? It's a win-win situation! Disney is making that possible for a million volunteers in 2010 with their "Give A Day, Get A Disney Day" program!

Starting January 1, 2010, people can sign up for designated volunteer opportunities around the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Once your day of service is verified, you get a voucher for a free day at either Disneyland in California or DisneyWorld in Florida!

If I get a chance to join this, I'd like my free ticket to be in Disneyland...since I've already been to DisneyWorld this year. If that happens, I'll be "one in a million" who volunteered!

Isn't this fantabulous? Even Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppets think so, too!

Winter Holidays Stamps Are Here

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:42:47 PDT

Thursday's freaky snowfall had us walking in a winter wonderland so early in October. USPS is right on cue with their "Winter Holidays" stamp series, released just a week prior to that snowy incident. I can't wait to stick these on our holiday greeting cards! I think I love the gingerbread man stamp the most.

[Image from USPS.com]

Silver Bean, Silver Bean

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:35:12 PDT

The number one thing on my "to-see" list in my recent trip to Chicago was the "Cloud Gate" sculpture at Millennium Park. Locals like to call it the "Bean" because it's shaped like one, but shiny and silvery. It's created by British artist Anish Kapoor--his very first public outdoor art installation in the United States.

I finally got my travel wish granted...on my birthday!

The "Bean" weighs 110 tons, measures 66 feet long and 33 feet high, and is made up of polished stainless steel plates forged together to become this fluid-looking metallic masterpiece. If you melted this sculpture, can you imagine how many silver spoons or stainless steel drums can be made out of it?

If this were a magic bean and sprouted a beanstalk, it will probably reach the moon.

Wet N' Wild

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:18:02 PDT

I was so underdressed for Thursday's wet snow shocker. We met our German friends for a Japanese Seafood buffet lunch, and then it just started snowing...all day! The chunky kind of snowflakes that melt on the ground. It was so cold that my bare legs yearned for boots. I was wearing ballet flats. The snow left icy layers on cars.

Snow in mid-October. Oktobersnowfest. Mother Nature is exhibiting some scary symptoms, and humankind is suffering from it.

This Lio comic calendar I have from yesterday seems to be right on point. What's even more uncanny about it is that the movie "Where The Wild Things Are" started showing on the same date.

Pirates of the Hudson River?!

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:08:33 PDT

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this pirate ship sailing through the Hudson River on Columbus Day! Was it a privately-owned ship or was it a new sight-seeing boat ride I wasn't aware of? Or maybe it was just a fancy-looking schooner that looked like a pirate ship. I mean, there were no skull-and-crossbones. I wonder if Jack Sparrow was in it?

Anyway, here's the closest postcard I have to a pirate ship--something I got from "The Original Benjamin's Calabash" Seafood Buffet restaurant from my trip to Myrtle Beach. This model ship is the first thing you'll see upon entering this mansion of seafood madness:

Original Mayflower Ship from the Academy Award Winning Movie "Plymouth Adventure" starring Lloyd Bridges and Spencer Tracy. (1952)

A piece of Hollywood...right on Myrtle Beach!

Litratong Pinoy# 68: Maagap (Punctual)

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:04:00 PDT

Traveling by plane requires you to be punctual, otherwise your plane will leave without you. It is recommended that for domestic flights, passengers should arrive at the airport at least two hours before the scheduled departure time, whereas it's three hours for international flights. A few weeks ago, I boarded a 6AM flight to Chicago. Didn't sleep a wink the night before because of a party and packing tasks.

Watching the salmon-tinged clouds of daybreak from my window was worth staying awake for, though.

And I was happy with my Delta Sky magazine. Eye candy that's more filling than a pack of lightly salted peanuts!

Kailangan maging maagap para hindi maiwan ng eroplano...sa awa ng Diyos ay hindi pa naman ako nakakaranas nito!

Stopping By "Twilight Woods" On A Snowy Evening

conniechiwa@gmail.com (fortuitous faery) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:39:00 PDT

Ever heard that poem by Robert Frost? Of course, it didn't really include the word "twilight." I remember my Literature professor asking us to draw something inspired by that wintry poem back in college. When she saw my drawing, she thought someone else did it for me.

I couldn't resist buying a sample size of Bath and Body Works' newest fragrance lotion, "Twilight Woods." Hey, it was just a dollar for a 2-fl. oz bottle! Plus, I was impressed by the marketing strategy employed here...an indirect movie tie-in with the newest "Twilight" sequel. "Twilight" is a buzzword recognized by Stephenie Meyer fans worldwide. And isn't the woods where Edward revealed himself to Bella? I mean, come on, can't you imagine Edward and Bella on that lotion's label? Haha.

Check out the dreamy description, too:

"Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods."

Sorry, sparkly vampire not included.

[Image from bathandbodyworks.com]