Convenience

Got home about 12:30 a.m. after socializing with the 'Fugee. We watched Departures and The 'Fugee wanted to know where I'd heard about such an strange movie. Thanks for the recommendation Gingerzingi.

Departures was kind of strange but I like strange movies particularly French but I'm also starting to like Japanese movies and that's probably why Fear and Trembling, a French/Japanese flick, is a favorite.

Departures is two hours and 11 minutes long but it kept our attention and we found it moving...

About 1:00 a.m. my TV and everything else went off. I'd seen the electric company's van in an alley but didn't think anymore about it.

I was surprised and grateful that the Wi-Fi still worked even though the router was off because I was still wired and not ready to sleep. I was also grateful that the storms had brought cooler weather.

Still didn't have any electricity when I woke up so headed out to a coffee shop to get beverages. Also took my iPod and USB car charger along. When I returned, the lights were back on.

It's so convenient being able to reach into one's refrigerator or to, in general, have your breakfast et al. at your fingertips.

Very Good Italian Roast

Current Artwork @ Coffeeshop

Artwork Last Time Electricity Went Out

Overheard At The Gym, II

If you turn that equation (photosynthesis) around, it's combustion. Chris (one of my climbing partners)

Stuck Climber: I don't know what to do.

Belayer: Keep going up.

Less blood in the feet, more blood in the hands. A climber that I was sitting next to; we sighed after taking our rock climbing shoes off.

I have a lot of vacation time but not a lot of money. (new, gray-eyed) Mike's assessment on the beauty and cheapness of climbing outdoors.

After I got caught blatantly reading the back of someone's t-shirt with tea etiquette quotes.

My friends and I went camping and someone brought The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde. We took turns reading in a British accent; it was so much fun.

Belayer: What are you doing?

Climber (on a 5.10 route): I don't know.

Climber: Oh, sh@t. Take!

Lead Climber: I hate falling.

Belayer: Then don't fall; keep on climbing.

Voilà.... F#%@.... Voilà.... Nice... (Two climbers who talk, primarily, in French but like to drop bombs in English.)

The Arabic Music Phase

I had this whole Arabic music phase. When I heard Aicha by Cheb Khaled, I immediately fell in love with the song.

Really, you should hear me singing in French and my apologies to all of the French speakers out there. And what does French have to do with Arabic anyway?

Here are the lyrics, in part, to Aicha:

AICHA
écrite par J.J Goldman

Comme si je n'existais pas,
elle est passée à côté de moi
Sans un regard, reine de "Saba",
j'ai dit Aïcha prends tout est pour toi

Voici les perles les bijoux,
aussi l'or autour de ton cou
Les fruits, biens mûrs au goût de miel,
ma vie, Aïcha si tu m'aimes...

I’ll have to find the actual translation but Aicha walks past the gentleman without regard and he’s going to bring her jewelry, the sun...yadda yadda yadda. Listen to me, he pleads. I’ll erase your tears, your sorrow...yadda yadda yadda.

When I told my friend Lori the lyrics she said, he’s lying. Wow, Lori, have a little faith.



My fascination with Aicha led me to Raï music which led me to Magic System.

If you look at my workout play list, I have this song Un Gaou Oran by 113& Magic System. I love this video. I think it’s so funky, cute and no one is scantily clad. So, here's something funky for Friday. Sit back and enjoy 113 & Magic System.

What's the story behind one of your favorite workout songs?

Cheers! It's Friday.