Looking Back: The Original Thursday Group

Music: Futures by Jimmy Eat World

More than a year after I made this little Christmas gift for the Thursday Group, I come to realize how we have changed over the months, and how fitting these songs are for each of us, even up to now.

1 - Simple Life (Sherwood)

For everyone in my little group (because, after all, I think they are the ones I’ve been searching for all my life...well, at least part of what I've been searching for)

~ I can't believe I said that. Insert cheesy emoticon here, please.

2 - Not Sure Yet (Andy Lange)

For Gel (because he's never given up on the idea of a happy ending)

~ And with the way things are going now, I have a good feeling he'll get just what he needs, and that no matter what happens, he will be fine. It will all be fine.

3 - Chase This Light (Jimmy Eat World)

For Ice (because, after all the chasing and falling and hurting, she's finally getting the happily ever after she deserves)

~ When I chose this song for Ice, I didn't know that it was supposed to be a "proposal/marriage" song. I'm glad it is, and that she is now happily chasing the light with her hubby Chris, confetti rainfall and all.

4 - Brand New Day (Joshua Radin)

For Ivan (because he finally found Miss Right, after a series of Misses Wrong)

~ What more can I say? :)

5 - Hammers and Strings – A Lullaby (Jack’s Mannequin)

For Ayen (because sometimes, all she really needs is someone to sing to her in her sleep)

~ And I'm still praying for that someone to hurry up and show himself, damn it, because Ayen is still waiting. Or, if she's not, her friends sure as heck are.

6 - How To Save a Life (The Fray)

For Gia (because sometimes, despite all efforts, friendships end, but it doesn’t mean that they end forever)

~ Well, she's an attorney now, so I guess she'll save lives in a different way? (I seriously cannot remember the context of this song anymore, doh.)

7 - Goodnight and Go (Imogen Heap)

For Lorraine (because of reasons that will not be mentioned here, since, you know, I fear for my life)

~ I still fear for my life, by the way :))

8 - Giving It Away (MAE)

For myself (because I need to learn to start trusting again)

~ I think I'm ready :)

And wouldn't you know it, our little group just got all the bigger. So I guess this means I need to collect more songs for next Christmas :)

Cheers to friendship! XD

sorry for the inconvenience (another playlist)

Music: All Deliberate Speed by MAE

After making a playlist for my barkada (and enjoying the experience), I decided to make one for my best friend too. At first I had around twenty titles in my longlist, but after I shortlisted them, I ended up with only seven.

I'd like to think they're a fabulous seven though. Or maybe I should have made it five? Like, fabulous five?

Anyway.

Like my first playlist, I'm willing to share this to anyone who'll be interested. Just drop me a message somewhere on or before December 31, because, you know, that's when the FTP link expires.

List of songs are as follows:

1 - When you feel tired and what is left of your self-esteem is slowly slipping out of your grasp:

"Nothing in this room but empty space--no me, no world, no mind, no face."

Believe (K's Choice 3:31)

2 - When you feel useless:

"Well, you and me, we could change the world."

All Deliberate Speed (MAE 5:10)

3 - When you just want to give up because you're oh so tired:

"As you fall, wish for a place where you want to be."

As You Fall (Bent 3:35)

4 - When you feel like everything is going wrong and nothing is going right:

"Little holes in parachutes won't leave you falling, if they do, it's because you want to land."

Little (Something Corporate 4:51)

5 - When you're heartbroken:

"This cycle never ends; you gotta fall in order to mend."

Brand New Day (Joshua Radin 3:33)

6 - When you feel all alone and unloved:

"If your face is salty wet and you're drowning in regret, just don't forget...love heals."

Love Heals (Rent OST 4:36)

7 - Bonus track:

(When you just want to dance)

Two Birds (MAE 2:57)

the thursday group

Music: The Simple Life by Sherwood

Because I hate Christmas shopping, I generally don't give gifts on Christmas. But since I love my barkada (and I'm in my things-I've-never-done-before phase), I decided to make a playlist for them this yuletide season.

My playlist includes the following songs (and dedications):

1 - Simple Life (Sherwood) - For everyone in my little group (because, after all, I think they are the ones I’ve been searching for all my life...well, at least part of what I've been searching for)

2 - Not Sure Yet (Andy Lange) - For Gel (because he's never given up on the idea of a happy ending)

3- Chase This Light (Jimmy Eat World) - For Ice (because, after all the chasing and falling and hurting, she's finally getting the happily ever after she deserves)

4 - Brand New Day (Joshua Radin) - For Ivan (because he finally found Miss Right, after a series of Miss Wrong)

5 - Hammers and Strings – A Lullaby (Jack’s Mannequin) - For Ayen (because sometimes, all she really needs is someone to sing to her in her sleep)

6 - How To Save a Life (The Fray) - For Gia (because sometimes, despite all efforts, friendships end, but it doesn’t mean that they end forever)

7 - Goodnight and Go (Imogen Heap) - For Lorraine (because of reasons that will not be mentioned here, since, you know, I fear for my life)

8 - Giving It Away (MAE) - For myself (because I need to learn to start trusting again)

I have an FTP link to all eight songs (plus lyrics) that will expire on December 30 (yes, 2010), so if anyone wants a copy of the playlist, drop a shout-out or PM or text me or something so I can send it to you too. Because, well, it's the season to be generous, so I'm willing to share it with other people (until before the link expires, of course).

In the meantime, here are the lyrics of The Simple Life by Sherwood, the first song in the playlist:

Simple Life

This is the easy life

This is the simple life baby

And you maybe just what I

Have always been searching for

A light through an open door darling

But you're guarding it all night

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

And I carry an open box

Of rusted and broken locks, slowly

Can you show me where to lie?

Cause I'm tired as I can be

My legs aren't a part of me darling

Let us go then, you and I, through the night

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

Just remember I wrote it for you

(And here's a random YouTube link, to give non-Sherwood fans an idea of how it sounds like: The Simple Life)

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope your 2010 was more bearable than mine was, and even if it wasn't, I hope you learned important lessons along the way, just as I did.

Here's hoping to a, ehem, fantabulous 2011?

'tis the season to be generous...so gimme some books!

Music: Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

Because I wasn't able to do this for my birthday, I'm doing this for Christmas instead. Although I am not under the delusion that people are going to give me gifts for the holidays, I'll still make this list in the event that people might actually remember me come Christmas day.

Here's a list of books I'd love to receive for Christmas. They are not in any particular order (I think):

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events Books 7-12 by Lemony Snicket (hardbound edition, if possible, since they're more of a collector's items now, because I've already read the e-books)

2. The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein (actually, any Shel Silverstein book will be much appreciated, but this title is my favorite)

3. 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson

4. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeffrey Lindsay (the entire series would be ideal, but I'd settle for the second book for now) - removed from list (see entry #11 for replacement)

5. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

6. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

7. Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire

8. A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire

9. The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

10. In Odd We Trust by Dean Koontz (this is a graphic novel, but I'm cheating, because I really want a copy of this)

11. A Wolf at the Door (and other retold fairy tales) by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

I've been trying to search for titles by Filipino authors to add to the list, but I think a "disadvantage" of working for the local publishing industry is that I get a sort of VIP access to books that are not off the press yet. I will certainly not mind getting copies of the books I've actually worked on, although they're not really a priority. I do want some new speculative fiction books though. Or horror books. Or crime and mystery, like Smaller and Smaller Circles. Any recommendations?

Aaaaaand I think it's a given that books given after the holidays will still be accepted. Cue in signal bells to all of my friends. Coughs included if less subtlety is permissible.

EDIT: About an hour after I posted this, my best friend sent me this text message:

please remove #4 from the list ... for obvious (bday) reasons :))

And because that will benefit me more than anyone else, I'll be more than happy to oblige. *runs off to scratch #4 from the list and change it with a new one*