Palakol

24-hour internet access means you can google anyone whenever you want. And with too much spare time in your hands, you can either become a blogger or a stalker. I was looking at my facebook profile when it suddenly dawned on me that I haven't heard from my favorite musical artists for some time now. Some of them just vanished at the turn of the century while others are on "hiatus" and are focused on raising their families ( hey, at least they're pretty well-balanced people and not career-obsessed freaks who'll die alone and be eaten by their cats).

Now I've always wondered whatever happened to Paula Cole. Yeah, yeah, she's the artist who's responsible for the massive hit "I Don't Want To Wait" no thanks to that sappy TV melancholia-fest called Dawson's Creek (nope, not a fan). Way back in 1997, I decided that I liked her music so I got myself her record called "This Fire". From what I remember, the liner notes said and I quote "listen to this record in full volume...i hope it takes you on a journey". And listen in full volume I did (full volume of my walkman...yes, it's called a walkman back then). True enough, I was enamored by this amazing artist who not only has great talent but sang with such raw emotion that listening to her gave me the chills. I only call an artist a "favorite" if I can listen to his entire record without losing my patience and if I can listen to him over and over again, with each time an altogether different experience. This Fire, in my opinion, was a dark, foreboding work with themes ranging from anger, death, despair and cynicism, themes that spoke to me personally during that phase of my life. A particular favorite of mine is an obscure song called "Nietschze's Eyes" whose meaning escapes me to this day (I'm not into philosophy so I haven't read up on Friedrich Nietschze. When I do, I'd probably get the meaning of this song). I love it because of the clear, strong vocals and the haunting piano interludes. My parents didn't like this song, though, and found the last part a bit disturbing (yup, I share my music with my old folks!)

So I googled up Paula Cole and found out what she had been up to. She apparently released a new record in 2007 (I don't think this was distributed in the Philippines) so if anyone's going to the States, I'd ask you to grab one for me. To read more about her, check out this link: http://www.paulacole.com/ and to listen to Nietschze's Eyes, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa0WTcg3Xbk

Go ahead. Listen. I hope she'll take you on a journey too.

Booster Shots

There's nothing like a brief bout with depression that makes me want to rewind my life and bring myself back to happier times (Tanslation: those times when my biggest worries were about flunking chapter exams). Here's what suddenly zonked me back to the late 90s.

While clearing my head in SM earlier tonight, I checked out the perfume selection at Scents Per Cent (hmmm...tacky) when I got the best news of the week. Lacoste Booster is back on the market! Yeah! I used this cologne when I was a freshman in college and there's nothing like it for everyday wear.

Now I might be wrong about this but two years ago, some saleslady told me that IT had been phased out and replaced by Lacoste Green (seriously, it does not come close but I bought one anyway). Anyway, the blend of menthol, lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint with a touch of nutmeg (I can be talking about tea here) was perfect when I wanted to play pa-cute in A/S years ago, though at 2,600 a bottle, it was quite pricey considering I was living off my allowance.

Now this brings me back to the present. At least now, despite the pain of work, deadlines, bosses, taxes and all that good stuff, I don't have to save for weeks just to get myself a bottle of cologne!