Season Greetings

Credits to Me ;)

A Story... lol

Imagine that you wake up convinced that you heard your alarm clock and, if you are as I am, you will not even let it ring twice and try to get out of bed as fast as possible. But in the meantime you think:
"Damn! It´s getting harder and harder to get out of bed these days!"


Finally, you get out of bed, go to the bathroom to take care of yourself, brush your teeth, wash your face and take a shower. Then, you get dress, make your bed and all that stuff.

Next is time for breakfast. You get into your kitchen and notice that it still is really dark outside, thinking: 

"The days are really getting shorter!" 

But you continue doing what your doing. When you are about to sit on the table to eat your toast you think: 
"It's really quite. I'm going to turn on the radio." 

You go to the living room, and before you turn on your stereo you look at its clock and notice the time: 4.50a.m. You remember that you did not corrected it for winter time (making it actually 3.50 a.m.), but what you think actually is: 

"Wow, this clock must be broken." 

But, just to make sure, you look at your wristwatch and it actually it is 3.50 a.m.!! Then, you run to your room pick your alarm clock, that in reality is you cellphone, to see what the hell did you do to wake up at that time in the morning. You see that actually the alarm clock did not ring, that you just dreamt it!!

You decide to eat your breakfast and to go back to bed. Pissed off because you just washed your head that morning, so your head is completly wet, and that after all this what you are ready for is to get out of the house and not to go back to bed...

In the end you give yourself an extra 15 minutes because you will not need to shower again in the morning...

P.S. - This happened to me last week... I need a vacation...

First Insomnia in Months...

Some wounds run deeper than what you think. Even though on the surface they seem to be more or less healed, some insignificant thing might bring back the hurt...

I really need to sleep!!! Tomorrow is a holiday here, but I have to work and wake up at 7 o'clock in the morning... It is going to be a tough day...

My first music buy in more than 9 months

I decided to share today my first music buy in a lot of months (lol).

Last weekend I went to the shop that I consider my ultimate doom. Why? Because I can spend hours there and find at least three things to buy everytime that I go there. Fortunately, I am more or less controlled and do not spend as much as I sometimes feel like.

So, in one of my last ventures there I decided to buy a CD, especially because I felt like I needed new music, and that was 30 Seconds to Mars' (2005) A Beautiful Lie album. Not quite what you consider NEW, but new in my collection and I did not know most of the tracks in it. One of the musics that I discovered was Hunter (one of the hidden tracks), that was written by Björk. And it was a really good buy, both quality and price wise. :)

For you entertainment here it is:

30 Seconds To Mars - Hunter (live at Coliseu de Lisboa, Portugal in 2008)

(credits to ShArK85pt @ YouTube)

30 Seconds to Mars: Official Website, Myspace

P.S. -  Just discovered they are about to lunch a new album... (go to their site or myspace page to listen to more of their musics).

After 3 months of absence I came back

Uau, until yesterday I had not realized that 3 months have already passed since my last post. I knew that I had not updated in a very long time, but not that long... I am sorry for such a long absence, no good explanation is available. The only things that I can say honestly is that I have been lazy, lacked inspiration and, after September, time.

Like I said a few posts back my new life adventure started in September, since then I moved to a new town and started having a 2h commute every day (the choice was mine, but still it is tiring). I have also started going for swimming classes a few days of the week. Most of times I get to the end of the day and feel like not going, but in the end it feels really good to go and not think about work and work related stuff for 1h30m.

What else? I met a bunch of people and am still in the process of getting to really know them. I just spend to much time with them everyday. It gets really tiresome for someone who is used to be by herself and likes to be by herself. That is also one of the reasons I go swimming, I only see these persons twice a week and they have nothing to do with work. Its refreshing!

As you might have notice the blog has new look (the previous one lasted for more than a year) and I took out the photo section, since it does not make sense anymore. 

I want say here that yesterday I read most of my posts from last year and it made me miss San Francisco. It is hard to believe that I have been back for 9 months already (exactly yesterday). That is more than the time that I spent there... In some sense that time seems both longer and shorter. Those were 7 months and half filled with events and memories.

And the award for best concert of the year goes to...

 

DEPECHE MODE @ Pavilhão Atlântico, Lisboa - 14th November 2009

This has been a year full of concerts (well, I only went to 3, but that is much more than usual), namely from Metallica, Lamb and now Depeche Mode. All 3 of them were amazing in their own right, but Depeche was a bit more. Probably, because it was a concert from their tour and not a festival concert. Meaning that every single person that was there went just for them, making the ambience great. Everyone sang, clapped, waved, in all really enthused to see them.

The concert started with songs from their most recent album, some people knew the lyrics some people did not. I knew the songs (thanks to my personal dealer) but not the lyrics, just some of the chorus. Despite the not so complete participation (in terms of singing) everyone clapped and showed their support. However, as soon as they played they first classic (Walking in my Shoes) everyone sang, and it was breathtaking...

It was an awesome experience, and I am really happy that I decided to go despite having gone by myself. To be honest there are only three persons that I really wanted to be there with, and each of them got a phone call (I hope I called at the most fitting songs for you guys).

What else can I say?

I got a really good spot, with the excepcion of the tall and wide guy that got in front of me. I was 10 people from the front row and 3 from the walk through(I do not remember how this is called).
I was naive and did not take my digital camera... And what was prohibited were professional cameras... Well, next time I know better. I took two videos with my cellphone, but I forgot the cables at home so I cannot pass them to the computer...
I hate when people do not respect the rules and the others. It is prohibited to smoke inside the Pavillion, but people kept on doing it, some right next to my nose and some just through their cigarretes without stepping on the and not looking if there was someone behind them.

Highlight for me: It's No Good (live in Lisbon, not mine)(well, the whole concert was amazing, but I remember falling in love with this song when it first came out and I really freaked out when the song started).

Other than that: Home (live in Lisbon, not mine); Enjoy the Silence (live in Lisbon, not mine); Stripped* (live in Lisbon, not mine); Personal Jesus (live in Lisbon, not mine); Walking in My Shoes (live in Lisbon, not mine), Precious (live in Lisbon, not mine) and many others.

Note: David Gahan is one sexy man!!!

* I could not find anything but live videos. And this one looks awesome. :)
PS - It was more difficult than what I was expecting to find the originals...

Alice Nine. - 葬園-名も無き君へ- (Graveyard to the Nameless You)

This is my Alice Nine. favourite song, so I decided to share it. This music is from their 2005 album ALICE IN WONDEЯLAND.

Here´s the video and the link for the lyrics (romanization and translation).

Alice Nine. - 葬園-名も無き君へ- (Souen -Na mo Muki Kimi e-)

(EmyTsuki @ YouTube)

In case you liked what you heard you can go here for more information:
Official Site
Official Myspace (for their most recent works)
Wikipedia

A random thought (but not mine)

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Metallica - One

I decided to share one of the not so good videos that I made on the 9th of July at the Metallica concert. It was my first time seeing Metallica playing live and actually being present at the concert, I have seen several of theirs live concerts on TV. I really enjoyed it, and they played most of the songs that I like. One of them is One from the ...And Justice For All album, released in 1988.

Metallica - One

Because of my video's the lack of quality I decided to also share the original video (which I think is awesome) and the lyrics.

Today I was supposed to be here:

In Porto, for the Depeche Mode concert at the Super Rock Super Bock Festival. Unfortunately, David Gahan hurt himself in his calf muscle and two concerts had to be cancelled, including this one for my misfortune... I'm sad!!! I really wanted to see them live, with my sister... :(

Tomorrow I'll be here:

To see Metallica LIVE for the first time ever!!! :D

Pray for me!! I am not a big fan of Slipknot and some other bands that are going to play, but I really want to see Metallica. :)

Smile (music by Charlie Chaplin)

(Credits to ChaplinsViolin @ YouTube)

Smile
Music by Charlie Chaplin
Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile with your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

that's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

I have to be honest I remembered this song today because of Michael Jackson's memorial. However ,this is definitely a great song, that even though it carries a message of hope it as a very sad feeling to it (at least in my opinion). Please enjoy. :)

This time a year ago: Independence Day @ San Francisco

It's hard to believe but a year as already passed since I first arrived in San Francisco.

Even though I did not write anything on the 30th of June, the actual day that I left Portugal, I spent most of the week thinking that it's been a year. I remember that at the time I was really happy to be able to be in the US for the 4th of July, because I know that it is an important date for the Americans. Unfortunately, due to heavy fog (what a surprise fog in San Francisco...) at the end of the day we were not able to see the fireworks. However, during the day we went visiting the outskirts of San Francisco and went to Muir Woods National Park to see some Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).

Here are some of the photos that I took at the time:

Crossing the Golden Gate Birdge for the first time. (You can actually see how heavy the fog was that morning...)

First time stepping on a beach at the Pacific Ocean.

Just something I found curious.

Some of the great views surrounding San Francisco.

A fallen redwood, showing the actual age of the tree, it was born in ~989A.D. and fell in 1930.
Several important dates are marked.

Actually, the July 4th is also a holiday in my hometown. :)

'Gayby boom': Children of gay couples speak out (in CNN.com)

I just read this article and found it really interesting.

It talks about some preconceptions most people have about children raised by gay/lesbian couples, one of them being the influence on the sexuality of these children. They say that studies that have been carried out showed that the number of children that define themselves as homosexual is roughly the same found for children raised by heterosexual couples, something that I always thought.

Please read and come to your own conclusions:
'Gayby boom': Children of gay couples speak out (in CNN.com)

Side Note: This is the first time in a very long while that I have posted an news article.

Shocked!!

Today, was a day filled with tragic news from the entertainment world... The one that is the most shocking for me is Michael Jackson's death.

Like most kids from my generation, I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. My first ever live concert was Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour in 1992 at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, I was only 11.

I loved dancing to Thriller, Beat it, Bad, Smooth Criminal, Black and White... and the list goes on. Despite all the controversy that surrounded him throughout his career, I still respect him as an artist.

Michael Jackson - Thriller (full length)
I wanted to embed the video, but all the videos said Embedding disabled by request.

R.I.P.

Michael Jackson
(1958 - 2009)

P.S. - I know that this not the most updated image of Michael Jackson (actually it is a 27 year old image), but this is one of my favourite images of him.

Golden Gate Bridge by Night

Golden Gate Bridge
(08 11 08)

An update on my life...

I'm alive!!

Wow, I haven't written for two months... that's a really long time. I'm sorry!

My life has been very boring and somewhat uneventful for the past months. Being at home trying to find a job can be really depressing... So, my inspiration to write has been close to none. HOWEVER, last week my luck changed and I will be starting my new big life adventure this September. :)

In the mean time, this blog has celebrated it's 2nd anniversary and I completed 28 years of existence (even though I don't really feel like I am that close to 30...). The proximity of my birthday made think about a lot of things and I spent of May thinking about what as happen in the past 10 years, and got amazed by how much time as passed since I entered university, I graduated, went to Porto and left from Porto. I really cannot say that the last 10 years have been uneventful. Of course there were times when everything seemed to not go my way, but life is like that, and fortunately after sometime you develop a tendency to mostly remember the good times.

Continuing with the topic of my age, this weekend my youngest cousin (he's 13 y.o.) was here and while talking with him, he said that wasn't that old. This made me ask him in what year did he think I was born in (few minutes previously I had, jokingly, said that it was good to be 18...), he thought for awhile and said: You were born in 1990. Then, he stopped to think and said: Hey, you cannot be only 5 years older than me!! So, I asked: So, how old do you think I am? Him: 22? Me: No. I am 28. He: I take back what I said, your getting old... Ouch!!! :)

What is funny in all of this is that when I was his age I thought the same thing, more I thought people almost in their 30s where really adults, much more adults than what I feel. But time has showed me that age is something that is not always what it seems to be.

Since my mood has improved significantly over the past week ,and I think it will continue like this for some time, I hope to make a better job in keeping this blog updated.

One of the most "easy" things to do is...

... to try and forget about oneself. Until it comes a day when you can no longer do that...

Updating... (something that got lost until June..)

In the beginning of this week I got a warning from my own personal blog police: "Don't you think it's time to update your blog, ...?"

The fact is that I have had some ideas about what to write but none of them was good enough to last more than a few seconds... So inow I decided to make a review of the month that just come to a close two days ago.

First, and very important, my younger sister completed her 25th birthday. Isn't that awesome?! Who can believe it?! To be honest it was quite a shock for me... I finally started to feel my own age. How could you do that to me?! :P

I'm being honest, even though recentely I have started to become more conscious age-wise, it was when it dawn on me that she was going to be 25 this year that I realized that I am not has young as I feel most of the times... I loved celebrating my 25th birthday, I hope that she also liked it. Specially considering that she came to Portugal just to celebrate it with her family. Well done, Sis!!

A random update :)

Yesterday, for the first time I do not know in how many years I went to the Circus.

To be honest I was never a big fan of the Circus, but yesterday I decided to go with my Grandparents, my older sister and my nephew. It wasn't as bad I expected, the animals were well fed and treated, and every one did a very good job.

One of the most interesting things was the soundtrack. And that is the reason for this update, because during one of the presentations the song that was playing was Burn by The Cure, from The Crow soundtrack. I hadn't heard that song for I do not know how many years and I can't seem to stop to want to listen to it (fortunately my younger sister bought the CD a few years ago).

This movie belongs to another life... in another place...
Sometimes it is hard to believe that certain things did happen, that even though you do not notice it we do change a very small bit every day that goes by. That is what I call personal evolution. Is that what mos people call growing old, becoming an adult?!

I decided to share it here:

The Cure - Burn (The Crow Soundtrack, 1994)
(WARNING: The video might be a bit violent because of the nature of the movie.)

(credit to thedeviantTUBE @ YouTube)

Questions...

One of the questions that comes to me from time to time is:

When you look at me what do you see?

Shouldn't it be:

When I look at me what do I see?

Why is it that it is so hard to look into oneself?

Just because...

Sunset @ San Francisco Pacific Ocean Beach 07 02 09

A random thought or photo... or maybe not so random...

After being back for a week, I finally did what I had said I would once I got back home (actually I did it last friday, but I got to lazy to post at the time), I straighten out my hair to see how long it got after almost 9 months without being cut.

And what is the importance of this?, you may ask.
It's not importante at all, I'm just letting my girly instincts surface for a bit. :)

I also said that I would take a picture to show to everyone, hence this post. :)
This picture has another reason, I have never had my hair this long, and I'm going to cut it to a surprising length next friday...

PS - It seems that I may be in a good path to fulfill my new year's resolution of more posts, even if it is about something has uninteresting as my hair.

I'm back home

After two flights, one to cross the States and another to cross The Pond (a.k.a. the Atlantic Ocean), I'm back home. I´ve been for few hour already, but I had to keep myself busy so would not fall a sleep before the right time.

Other than tired I'm fine!

The last 24h...

Right know it's 7h58 in the morning... So I have 24h and a few minutes remaining in San Francisco. :)

What to do with the remaining time?!
Finish packing, go for brunch, go around town and most of all enjoy the day.

There were few times that I thought that time was not going by, but, like always, in the end it has gone by quite fast.

Well, I do not have much more to write. See you when I'm back home.

Time goes by fast...

...which is no news for anyone. :)

At this moment I'm still in San Francisco, but the countdown as turned into less than a week. Exactly one week from know I will be approaching Portugal, flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Uau... It's thrilling and scaring at the same time. It's still too early to make sense of everything that has happen for the past 7 months, I need distance to gain perspective, I need time to look into myself without any bias, to take a deep breath and relax. But I can say right now that it was an awesome adventure, with it's usual ups and downs, however I'm completely sure that the final impression will be positive.

My internship is complete. Friday was my last day, such a strange feeling... the time spent there was pleasurable, the people that I met are great and I loved working with my supervisor (the best one that I had by all means!!).

Right now I'm tired beyond measure, I fall asleep everywhere either in the Muni coming home or at a friend's house after dinner. It's really embarrassing!! I cannot really fight it... aiaiaiai

This week will be dedicated to go around town saying goodbye and enjoying the last days in this city. As for the to do list that I talked a few days back it was finally completed today.

• SFMOMA - check
• Asian Art Museum - check
• de Young Museum (not included in the initial list) - check
• California Academy of Sciences - check
• Japanese Tea Garden - check
• San Francisco Pacific Ocean Beach - check
• Glide Memorial Church (also not in the initial list) - check
  
• Alcatraz - check

All these things in 1 month... I had 7 to do all these, but, as the good Portuguese that I am, I left it for the last moment. There where a few times that I thought that was not going to be able to do everything that I wanted... it's seems like I proved myself wrong.

Once I'm back in Portugal and settled, I will post the photos and videos that I made during these visits.

I had so many ideas of what to write in this post, but, as usual, I forgot most of them and got sidetracked...

To my gals...

I cannot believe that time as passed so fast... it's been almost 10 years since we met at the Caloirodromo... :P

The other day I heard this music for the first time in awhile and I could not stop from remembering some of the time that we spent together. :)

So just for you girls:

Tribalistas - Velha Infância

(credits to RobinIchirou @ YouTube)

Just to let you know that...

... in exactly one month I'll be in the middle of my journey back home.

The real countdown has begun. It's that time when you start feeling that you really have to start making the most of the time that you still have, going back to the places that you like and visiting the ones that you sill have not gone to.

I started visiting these "I really wanna go to" places last week, with a visit to SFMOMA (San Francisco Modern Art Museum). It was a very interesting visit, got to see paints by Dali, Frieda Kahlo, Matisse, Duchamp and others. I have a strange relation with modern art, sometimes I really like others I just do not understand it... but I think that happens most of the times.

There still a few other places that I want to go to: Alcatraz, the Museum of the California Science Academy and the Asian Art Museum. Let's see if I can make them all...

Every now and then we are faced with rude wake-up calls

Something happens that puts you in perspective and remembers you that nothing in life can be taken for granted...

But on the other hand, you cannot live your life always in fear that something might happen... We can only do our best.

If you could please help: http://findafonsotiago.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Even though I'm late:

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! :D

I hope that all you entered in this new year in the best way possible! And that we can all have a eventful year, with plenty of good surprises and challenges. :)

And I, sincerely, hope that I am able to post more often then last year... it seems that did not start that well for this particular resolution...

Do not forget to: HAVE FUN THIS YEAR! :)