I Am Woman, See Me Blog!

Re-interpreted songs sometimes get my goat. (No, DaddyP, I don't really have a goat. But if I did, I could make some nice goat stew from it. With potatoes, carrots, pepper, and tomato sauce.)

However, there are several cover songs that I do like, in a goosebumpy, rockin' way.

Julia Fordham's version of Minnie Riperton's Loving You. This one never fails to stop me in my tracks. Quite a few of her songs are on my playlist. Her voice enchants me. It's smooth and full like dark and rich chocolate.


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Sonic Youth's haunting version of The Carpenters' Superstar. Found this via the movie "Juno." Me likey. A lot. (Both the movie and the song.) The drummer kinda looks like Bill Gates, which made me laugh.

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Filipino artist Sitti Navarro's cover of D'Sound's Tattooed on My Mind. Sweet, sweet song in a sweet, sweet voice.



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Prince's version of Kiss. This makes me dance, and I DON'T dance as a rule. 1980's nostalgia for those who came of age during that decade (like me!).

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So these are four of my favorite covers...at this time, at least. I like them not only for how they sound but for the meaning they hold for me.


Yeah. These songs touch me deep inside. I'm shallow that way, deriving a bit of self-identity and gratification from songs sometimes. They don't really make me cry...but then, wasn't it Wordsworth who said that the something something lies too deep for tears? And no, DaddyP, I am NOT lusting after Prince.

What are your favorite cover songs these days? Let me know. Some musical artists (new and old) I've come to like I never would've heard of if not for terrific friends who wanted to share.

So blogged Lizza at 2:08 AM | 11 who reacted Links to this post    

My mom is a funny creature.

There are times I would catch her humming the Cranberries song Zombie while she's watering her plants. She loves her residential flora, almost as much as she loves her kids and grandkids. I know that it isn't unusual for plant-lovers to talk to their plants, but is lovingly humming songs like Zombie to them normal?

When I screw up, she has this way of talking to me that makes me shrink; it's like I'm a wayward kid all over again. She hardly ever yells, but the tone she uses, soft as it is, is no less stentorian. In those moments she makes me cringe with anger and shame.

But there are other things I remember.

Like how comforting her hand felt smoothing my hair away from my sweaty brow as I, writhing and moaning in pain from gallstones, was being driven to the hospital. How calming and reassuring her whispers were. Better than Lamaze.

Like how she would spend hours with each newborn child just so that I could catch a few zzzzz's after a sleepless night.

Like how she'd be there to offer her very tangible support during very lean times, even without my asking.

Like how she would wake me up just to tell me that something I liked was showing on TV. And even though I'd seen that show already, I'd watch it again out of appreciation of the fact that she knew I liked it. To this day, I can't figure out how she knew I liked that particular show. I didn't let anyone know I liked it; it was that cheesy.

Like how she loves, accepts, and supports me and my siblings unconditionally. She may question, oh boy, does she ever. But when all is said and done, whatever the issue - from the breakup of my marriage to the exploits of other relatives to whether it's okay to hum Zombie to the plants - the love, acceptance, support, and understanding are there...in-your-face or behind-the-scenes, they're always there. Along with her crazy-ass sense of humor and the exasperating radio dramas she listens to. I'm immensely thankful I was born to this terrific woman, she who is my despair, my inspiration, my goddess, my bulwark.

My mom's a funny creature, and I love her so much.

A blessed and meaningful Mother's Day to all mothers and mothers-to-be, young and old.

So blogged Lizza at 3:57 AM | 12 who reacted Links to this post    
Labels: My Philippine Life, special days

It's the height of summer here in the Philippines, which translates a lot of times to mind-numbing, libido-killing (for a nanosecond), energy-sapping heat. Sure, we have a few scattered thunderstorms, but most times so far they've lasted only a few minutes, after which it's hotter and more humid than ever. It leaves me boneless, spineless, tendon-less. A limp noodle, that's what I feel like most days because of the mugginess and heat. Air-conditioning is all well and good, but when I go out the heat is even more palpable; it's like a physical assault.

Of course, there are sights and sounds of summer that I enjoy. The following are some of them, chez Lizza:

See that legion of little critters congregating in the light of the streetlamp? You'll have to click on the image to see a bigger picture. Those insects are called gamu-gamo. They're like flying ants, except they don't bite. What's weird is that tonight (my son took this photo a few hours ago) they were congregating at the streetlight in front of our house; those lights a few feet away they left untouched. Folklore has it that hordes of them appear to herald the coming of the rain. We've been getting some rain the past few days, but does their appearance foretell the outpouring of an abnormally large amount of rain in the lives of this household's members?

I can't speak for the others, but I sure hope it rains hard - and soon! Complete with thunder and lightning, though I'm normally afraid of lightning. This time, I want it. I don't care whether it rains water or cats or dogs or men, hallelujah. Lovely and bright as the sun is, I'm tired of the glare and heat. Just so tired...of so many things. I need a change.

So blogged Lizza at 3:58 AM | 19 who reacted Links to this post    
Labels: My Philippine Life

Fresh air, breathtaking lakes, forests, vistas, and small-town life. What could be more appealing? These and more are the qualities that a certain charming Austrian village possesses, and life in it would be ideal, except for the damn tourists who keep stealing town signs to take home as souvenirs. Well, all I can say is Fucking sure sounds refreshing in winter or in any other season. What's more, seems like the people there (or those working for the Austrian Tourist Board) are very accommodating and have a great sense of humor too. They're good sports, at least.

A town that used to be called Sexmoan here in the Philippines would do well to have such great PR!

For other takes on this week's theme word, fresh, visit Morgen at It's a Blog Eat Blog World.

So blogged Lizza at 4:57 AM | 16 who reacted Links to this post    
Labels: Manic Monday

Betcha thought Blogworld Saturday was over and done with. You thought wrong, but I'm not blaming you. The year is almost half over - jeez, time does fly - and here's my first Blogworld Saturday post for 2008. It's early Sunday morning already where I am, but when did I ever let something like time stop me from doing what I want to do?

Here are some of the posts I've enjoyed reading the past few weeks.

East Coast Dweller. Wise and gentle he may be, but he doesn't put up with ignoramuses. God knows there are so many of them. Here he stands up yet again in defense of womanhood.

Kadi. I've been lurking on her blog, which I like veddy much. This magnificent lady has seven young kids, and lovely as they are, I can imagine the maelstrom they can cause in her household. This post is an example of one such stormy day. No wonder she says "Shitballs!" regularly. Also, this post, The Talk, just made me laugh.

Glamour Puss. She's sexy, but more importantly, her excellent and heartfelt writing reaches out to me and to many others. I most certainly can relate to her post on her darkness and her light. Well, most of it. Not the erotic asphyxiation part, though.

Aileen. Does the way other people refer to you bother you? It does me, sometimes. Aileen talks about what gets her goat other than being addressed as "Ma'am."

Mimi Lenox. On June 4, 2008, Peace Globes will once again float, soar, and dash through the Internet. Participating is simple; just download the Peace Globe picture you like, scrawl your signature across it (and add an image if you desire) and blog about what "peace" means to you. Some people have banners that say something like "Make Poverty History" or "I Need to Get Laid" on their blogs." Achieving either one would certainly bring a measure of peace to one person or many people. Mimi's Blog Blast for Peace would, too, I believe. Positive energy and goodwill through pictures and personal thoughts and stories are something I'm look forward to.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. See you all again in a few days. Stay naughty!

So blogged Lizza at 2:40 AM | 5 who reacted Links to this post    
Labels: Bloggers, Blogworld Saturday