Today is our last day in San Jose before we fly out to J's parents' house in Pennsylvania. Right now, I'm in his office and we're the only ones here...I guess everybody left for the holidays already. He's busy working on some last-minute stuff, while I'm acting like an idiot stealing glances and checking him out when I'm supposed to be writing for money.
Thinking about my relationship with J is always a butterflies-in-my-stomach moment, and I'm just hella glad that I am where I am now. I'm very happy. Very grateful. Very lucky.
Note: I was actually at this concert back in 2009 at the Pearl in Las Vegas.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Song of the moment: I'll Do Anything
I pretty much have 100% free time to do whatever I want to do. When I want to work, I have a couple of people I can contact for some writing gigs. If I want to do some art, I've got paper, I've got Sharpies, I've got my laptop and Photoshop. If I wanted to Sleep All Day (hehe), I could. If I wanted to brave the cold weather and go for a walk outside, it's always an option.
I would if I could. I'd do anything spontaneously. You know I would, if I could. I'll do anything spontaneously.
This song reminds me of just that...and the truth that there's more to life than just staying indoors and watching shows on your computer. So yes, I'mma get off my arse and do something productive. Life's may be short, but it can be anything I want. :)
I would if I could. I'd do anything spontaneously. You know I would, if I could. I'll do anything spontaneously.
This song reminds me of just that...and the truth that there's more to life than just staying indoors and watching shows on your computer. So yes, I'mma get off my arse and do something productive. Life's may be short, but it can be anything I want. :)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Song of the moment: Live High
Ever since I first heard of the phrase, I've always believed in Carpe diem-ing the crap out of my time in this world (Note: If you haven't seen Dead Poet's Society, find time.). To me, nothing is more effective as an energy booster in the morning as a kiss or hug from a loved one, a good cup of iced coffee, and a self-motivating mantra that propels your insides to make something of yourself today, whatever that something may be.
Live High is by far one of my most favorite Mraz songs from We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. In fact, I even made a poster of it and put it on my inspiration wall back home in Manila:
How I would have loved to have been there when they taped this. ♥
Live High is by far one of my most favorite Mraz songs from We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. In fact, I even made a poster of it and put it on my inspiration wall back home in Manila:
I love how those three sentences serve as an effective reminder. There are things that happen in life that may cause you to feel negative, but if you are able to will yourself to see the bright side in all situations, then you will know in your heart that everything happens for a reason (yes, even the bad things), and the simplest would be to teach you some sort of lesson that will arm you with better understanding for things to come.
Actually, the underlying message can be further summarized into one, simple word: Live. :)
How I would have loved to have been there when they taped this. ♥
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Song of the moment: No Doubling Back
I find it funny that when I woke up this morning, this song was playing in my head. It's been a while since I've heard it, and I didn't even really think of the lyrics immediately. I have a habit of letting the beat and the rhythm roll around in my head for a while first before I try to remember the words. And it usually comes back to me slowly.
I know this ain't the way I planned it / I guess I ain't the great romantic / And I'm not doubling back now
If you listen to the entire song, you can pretty much conclude that it's about wanting to break up and trying to muster up the courage to let the other person know.
To me, today, it means something else. It just so happens that I've been giving myself mini-pep talks to try and reclaim the creative fire that is within me which I think is slightly low on gas. So hearing this song in my head is like telling myself to just...suck it up and do something about it.
Or maybe I am breaking up...with my self-doubt.
I know this ain't the way I planned it / I guess I ain't the great romantic / And I'm not doubling back now
If you listen to the entire song, you can pretty much conclude that it's about wanting to break up and trying to muster up the courage to let the other person know.
To me, today, it means something else. It just so happens that I've been giving myself mini-pep talks to try and reclaim the creative fire that is within me which I think is slightly low on gas. So hearing this song in my head is like telling myself to just...suck it up and do something about it.
Or maybe I am breaking up...with my self-doubt.
Monday, December 19, 2011
History of MrazGal, Part 2
Ever since I found out that Jason Mraz was an avid blogger, I made it a point to always read what he had to say. I used to religiously follow his now defunct blog, Freshness Factor Five Thousand, an online portal he maintained for years before calling it quits. I also follow him on Twitter and watch his Facebook fan page. Add to that my community of MrazWomen, I’d say I pretty much covered a lot as a fan, don’t you think? :)
Anyway, back when he still updated his FF5000 blog, he used to have regular weeks of accepting questions from fans on Twitter and he would answer them on his blog. I was lucky enough to be chosen (out of probably thousands and thousands of hopeful fans) for the day August 17, 2009. I posted a lot of question tweets for that day, and because another twitter user re-tweeted another question I originally came up with, I got two questions answered! I was so grateful I wrote him a lengthy blog comment (which I hope he reads).
A full year later, Spin Magazine launched a similar Twitter campaign. They were going to interview Jason Mraz for their website and they were taking questions in from fans. I was again chosen:
To end this part of my history as MrazGal, I provide you a screenshot of back when Jason didn't have full control over his Twitter yet...my tweet, marked Favorite! (August 4, 2009)
History of MrazGal
Hi. My name is Jam and I am the girl behind the MrazWomen community, which started from a blog idea I had back in 2009 that would eventually forge strong friendships between like-minded female Mraz fans.
I don’t think I’ve written about how I first came to know about Jason Mraz and his music. It’s all pretty hazy to me now, since it’s been 10 years since I first heard of his genius, but I believe I first heard Sleep All Day on my college classmate’s iPod (or was it cell phone? mp3 player? Not really sure!) on a shared 2-hour bus ride home back in 2001. I was so enchanted by the tone of his voice and how he played around with his notes that I asked to hear more. That’s when I heard The Remedy.
And like the cliché goes, the rest is history.
At that time I had a girlfriend who was stationed at New Zealand, and we would often exchange lengthy emails to keep in touch. She was happy to know that I knew of Mraz and she began to send me more of his songs. She would send me mp3s and we would discuss each one at length and gush about how dreamy all his songs were/are. I loved them all. I especially grew fond of After An Afternoon, which to this day I refer to as one of my most favorite Jason Mraz songs ever.
Fast forward to February 21, 2004. Jason Mraz’s first time ever performing in Manila, Philippines, and I was lucky enough to score a ticket to his show at Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex. The whole experience was very surreal and very memorable—I even wrote a poem about it. I saw the show with my brother and his girlfriend, my cousin and his girlfriend. We got Row Q tickets (if I remember correctly), but as soon as we had the opportunity, we jumped the fence dividing the sections and got as near as Row E. He sang hits like Sleep All Day, The Remedy (note: these two songs were his most popular tracks constantly played on the radio), and Curbside Prophet. I even remember him wearing roller skates at one point. It was awesome. I distinctly remember strategically timing a fan shout-out that will surely get his attention, and I did—just when everybody else on my row sat down, I stood up, shouted his name and pointed at him….AND HE POINTED RIGHT BACK. I remember this because I jokingly told my friends, “He pointed at me….I think I’m pregnant.”
After that concert, I vowed to catch a show every time he went to the Philippines. I saw him again when he came back for his Mr. A-Z tour in January 21 (yes, also 21! Weird.), 2006. This time I had a more intimate encounter…I actually went to a meet and greet and was able to meet him!
I had just read a blog entry he wrote about meeting his fans and he remarked that he appreciated fans who took the time and conversed with him more than those who only wanted an autograph or a photo. While I was in line to meet him at Music One in Greenbelt, I was planning my 20-30 seconds with him, what I would say, what I would ask, should I tell him a joke or what. By the time it was my moment to meet him, I was so stupefied that all I said was, “Sign my leg!” He repeated it back to me, just to make sure he had it right, and I said it again the exact same way and just…brazenly put my foot on his chair and my leg in front of him.
I have the CD cover and faded ticket framed at home, and the pair of pants he signed is somewhere stashed in cabinet at my parent's’ house.
As a culminating project for my time as a student of Multimedia Arts in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, I wrote, directed, and produced a mockumentary film about fan behavior, using my own Jason Mraz fandom as a peg and inspiration. I included a clip of my leg signing in the story line:
So anyway, these are the first two times I was able to see him in person. I saw him again this year, but let me save that story for another entry. I still have a lot more history to remember and re-tell. :)
I don’t think I’ve written about how I first came to know about Jason Mraz and his music. It’s all pretty hazy to me now, since it’s been 10 years since I first heard of his genius, but I believe I first heard Sleep All Day on my college classmate’s iPod (or was it cell phone? mp3 player? Not really sure!) on a shared 2-hour bus ride home back in 2001. I was so enchanted by the tone of his voice and how he played around with his notes that I asked to hear more. That’s when I heard The Remedy.
And like the cliché goes, the rest is history.
At that time I had a girlfriend who was stationed at New Zealand, and we would often exchange lengthy emails to keep in touch. She was happy to know that I knew of Mraz and she began to send me more of his songs. She would send me mp3s and we would discuss each one at length and gush about how dreamy all his songs were/are. I loved them all. I especially grew fond of After An Afternoon, which to this day I refer to as one of my most favorite Jason Mraz songs ever.
Fast forward to February 21, 2004. Jason Mraz’s first time ever performing in Manila, Philippines, and I was lucky enough to score a ticket to his show at Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex. The whole experience was very surreal and very memorable—I even wrote a poem about it. I saw the show with my brother and his girlfriend, my cousin and his girlfriend. We got Row Q tickets (if I remember correctly), but as soon as we had the opportunity, we jumped the fence dividing the sections and got as near as Row E. He sang hits like Sleep All Day, The Remedy (note: these two songs were his most popular tracks constantly played on the radio), and Curbside Prophet. I even remember him wearing roller skates at one point. It was awesome. I distinctly remember strategically timing a fan shout-out that will surely get his attention, and I did—just when everybody else on my row sat down, I stood up, shouted his name and pointed at him….AND HE POINTED RIGHT BACK. I remember this because I jokingly told my friends, “He pointed at me….I think I’m pregnant.”
After that concert, I vowed to catch a show every time he went to the Philippines. I saw him again when he came back for his Mr. A-Z tour in January 21 (yes, also 21! Weird.), 2006. This time I had a more intimate encounter…I actually went to a meet and greet and was able to meet him!
I had just read a blog entry he wrote about meeting his fans and he remarked that he appreciated fans who took the time and conversed with him more than those who only wanted an autograph or a photo. While I was in line to meet him at Music One in Greenbelt, I was planning my 20-30 seconds with him, what I would say, what I would ask, should I tell him a joke or what. By the time it was my moment to meet him, I was so stupefied that all I said was, “Sign my leg!” He repeated it back to me, just to make sure he had it right, and I said it again the exact same way and just…brazenly put my foot on his chair and my leg in front of him.
I have the CD cover and faded ticket framed at home, and the pair of pants he signed is somewhere stashed in cabinet at my parent's’ house.
As a culminating project for my time as a student of Multimedia Arts in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, I wrote, directed, and produced a mockumentary film about fan behavior, using my own Jason Mraz fandom as a peg and inspiration. I included a clip of my leg signing in the story line:
Launching Words of the Carbon-Atom Girl
As part of my initiative to honor my daily goals and to share my love for Jason Mraz, I am formally launching yet another blog.
This is where I plan to chronicle my thoughts on his music, on news about him, and other things I find relevant to Jason Mraz.
Here are other ways of connecting with me:
@MrazGal on Twitter
@MrazWomen on Twitter
http://mrazwomen.blogspot.com
Be radical love, everyone!
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