I luv this… swingin’ hard! Check the trumpet player, Nathan and Pat! Nice feel…

I was recently entranced by a foreign film called, “Caramel”… the story of four lebanese women working in a beauty salon in Beirut, though a story that’s been done before, it seems to feel new and refreshing because of the culture and setting.

Lebanon is one of those countries I’m not too familiar with. I once performed at a Lebanese wedding reception and the people were wonderful. They wanted some Lebanese music which we never played before, but I am familiar with basic Middle Eastern percussion patterns. We started something akin to a “jam session” and the crowd loved it and just told us to keep playing while everyone on the dance floor gyrated like there was no tomorrow… and I think we played this one thing for the next 45 minutes or so. It was pretty incredible.

Anyway, “Caramel” refers to the caramel mixture that is used for waxing, or removing hair, in Lebanese culture. It is symbolic of the bittersweetness of life, and love… the caramel is sweet but used as a waxing product is painful, thus the bittersweetness of the lives of the four Lebanese women, as they struggle between the modern world and their culture and traditions.

The Movie Trailer on YouTube

This is a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it. It’s the first movie I’ve seen coming from Lebanon, and it was recognized at the Cannes Film Festival, but was sadly ignored at the Oscars. Nadine Labaki, the film’s main actor, director and co-writer is wonderful in this movie.

An Interview with actor/director/writer Nadine Labaki

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. —Dr. Seuss

Yes, it’s funny how a lot of things might be happening in one’s life, but for some reason one can not write about them. It’s strange how writer’s block happens.

I feel…

Like, I have chronic fatigue syndrome or something similar. It seems to take a lot of energy and motivation to write here… and, to wake up in the mornings, and to get myself to just do stuff.

Although, yesterday I practiced piano for 8 hours! So, I woke up utterly exhausted this morning. I think non-musicians might not be able to understand that fully. Well, maybe they just might. Practicing for 4 hours is quite a lot, but practicing for 8 hours… now that’s a marathon!

But, like that Dr. Seuss quote above… I need not feel bad because something is over. I should feel good for having experienced it….

Well… the title of this post says it all.

Just haven’t had the inspiration to write here. Maybe I’m going through a burnout phase. But mainly, I just haven’t felt like writing… perhaps it’s writer’s block? I guess it happens to everyone, once-in-a-while.

This is my contribution to the Rice Bowl Journals August 2008 Collaboration. The topic to write about? Your personal highlights for the Summer of 2008.

Well, if you’ve been reading my blog pretty consistently, you are more than aware that 2008 hasn’t been the best of years for me. But life goes on and I still try to keep a positive attitude and go with the flow…

So, the main highlight was obviously my family’s trip to the Philippines for roughly 3 weeks in June. We basically had to go there to do the funeral arrangements for my father-in-law who passed away on June 3rd, had him cremated per his request, and his ashes were placed in the family mausoleum in Lubao, Pampanga. Read more

A special thank you to Rachel for creating these cool graphic buttons for the Rice Bowl Journals community. Sorry I was late in posting these. They’re very cool indeed!