My mission for today: I had to take a two-hour trip to another city to meet up with with an old friend. We talked about life, work, friends and inevitably, love (or lack thereof). We initially planned a sit-and-go – that is to meet up for an hour and head back to our lives. If he didn’t leave in an hour he’d miss the bus to a barge that would take him home and I would miss a free ride back to my next “pitstop”. An hour just wouldn’t cut it for me so…I made an executive decision: I convinced him myself to spend the night in the city.
To which he agreed, before realizing the consequence. He later realized that we had roughly about 12 hours to kill.
“So where are we going?” I asked him.
“I don’t know…” he said, as panic crept up in his expression.
“But you’re supposed to know this city better than I do!”
He looked dumbfounded.
I got up and went to the counter of the coffee shop. Shortly after I asked a few questions, I went back to our table and started packing up.
“Uh…where are we going?” he asked me.
“Trust me.”
“Do you know where we’re going?”
“I think so.”
In the jeep, my friend looked uncomfortable.
“Looks like I’m taking you out of your comfort zone.” I said to him.
He nods.
We finally reached our destination. It is a quaint place in the other side of town called, “The Strip”. Literally. There’s a sign that says so.
We found a place where we could have a warm cheap-ass meal and we decided to have a few drinks.
Over drinks the man could barely hold his alcohol. And then he said, “This is so new to me and yet you do this all the time…these spontaneous trips. My life, on the other hand, is summarized like this: work and home…” After a few more drinks and some issues sorted, he drawls, “You know, I haven’t talked like this with anyone in eight months!”
I just smiled. Mission accomplished.
We capped the night in a corner store with a videoke coin-slot machine. He dedicated the songs, “Puff the magic dragon” and “Leaving on a Jet plane” to me. I understood why he picked the latter song…but PUFF THE MAGIC FRIGGIN DRAGON?! The former on the hand, if taken literally, is a fucked up song about this dragon who eventually lost his friend which prompted him to become a recluse. Gee.
Never too old for videoke.
We exited when the table next to us started singing Aegis. On our way out he said to me, “Let’s meet here five years later. Same place.”
I’m writing this down to remember and also because he snores like an ox. Damn it. I guess I’m going to have to sleep it off in the bus.
Note to self: Tomorrow is my last pitstop before I head back to homebase. I think it’s just about the right time.
For tonight’s playlist, I thought I’d pepper it with a bit of nostalgia. As I always say, things are a lot more memorable when you experience them in a new place. If you happen to have a listen, try doing so somewhere new, somewhere outside your comfort zone. Take your laptop outdoors or load the song in your player and listen to it while you drive your way to work or school. Hopefully…hopefully, you’ll remember this post even after five years.
Eva Cassidy – Fields Of Gold [ Download ]
Adele – Hometown Glory (Hotel Cafe Live) [ Download ]
Peter, Paul & Mary – Puff The Magic Dragon [ Download ]
Paul Simon – Love And Hard Times [ Download ]
Sean Lennon – Tomorrow [ Download ]
Home
Airplane mode
I won’t be surprised if people grow skeptical about my departure for the US. When are you REALLY leaving? In fact, I already have my first customer. My friend Miko drawled out the other day, “LEAVE ALREADY!” Fine. Even my mother and brother complained. They think I have no interest in leaving anymore. Sure. I have no interest in making use of an immigrant visa which cost an arm and a leg, caused me brief psychological distress and waited for nearly three years for. I am just that kind of girl, eh?
Window seats are the best! (Source: Click-through)
So I admit: I have been
stallinglingering but I’m slowly being coaxed to the thought of being on a plane to a lalaland. The best part of my mental picture of this trip is the actual plane ride. I love riding planes despite the crappy airplane food in some trips I’ve been on and the even crappier music they have on-flight. But for now, let me emphasize on the latter. SERIOUSLY. If you are a point person from any particular airline – especially a certain flag carrier I’m quite familiar with – please, please, PLEASE consult someone on the music you play on board. Including but not limited to the choice of channels for your in-flight music “radio”, I’m not sure what you call it. What is up with all the eighties jazz music? I don’t mean to be an elitist, but honestly, have y’all not heard of music from at least the likes of Buddha Bar? Come on. Or even more tasteful post-rock alternative music NOT adult radio for the young and hip like moi. Consider that in-flight you are not allowed to use your ipod or any electronic device which carries one’s music of choice. That could be 13 hours on the plane in my case. Acceptable. But please, please, PLEASE care to accommodate different demographics when it comes to music and films.Okay, so now I’m done with my rant.
What kind of music would I want to hear on a plane anyway? Naturally the kind of music that convinces me I’m going to live through the flight!
Anyway, this playlist is in no way my recommendation on what constitutes I’m-gonna-live-after-this-flight music. But I sure would be pleasantly surprised if I hear this music on the plane.
MGMT – Time to pretend [ Download ]
La Roux – In for the kill [ Download ]
Hooverphonic – Mad about you [ Download ]
Jonsi – Tornado [ Download ]
Hey Ocean – California [ Download ]