Cool.

I am a hybrid of:
Indie Girl
Girl Next Door

Click on the pictures below to read more:

Take the ‘What Kind of Girl Are You?’ quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Today.

Today could be chalked up as one of the more exhausting days I've had. Thank God for coffee… kept me running all day. Although, I think I hit the wall sometime around 3pm, that's when I got off work. Uncle GG, Auntie Lanie and my mom came and picked me up and we made our way to Palmdale to join a Bible study that our church, Olive Christian, had started a couple of months ago. I managed to get a quick shut-eye on the way, as it took about an hour and 20 minutes to get to where the Bible study was supposed to be held at. We arrived at the hosts' house pretty quickly, and after Babie and Christine got there a few minutes later, we all headed over to the house across the street to lead the Bible study for their high school group. It got off to a shaky start (well, at least to me it did) but it eventually turned into a really good forum. The kids that we met with were really cool, really responsive and had a lot of things to share. It was a real blessing to actually meet with them and sort of get them started with their Bible study over there. They liked having BS so much that when we were called back to the other house for snacks, they didn't want to go! They didn't want our sharing time to end! That really encouraged me - to hear that these young people, whose ages ranged from 12-16 by the way, wanted to keep going with our sharing time. One kid, his name is Jason, even commented that having it (Bible study) is so much better than playing basketball or throwing a football around outside while waiting for the adults to be done with their Bible study. We encouraged them to bring their friends next time and they said that they will. Awesome! Praise God! I totally forgot about feeling tired after meeting with them. Please keep these kids in your prayers, and pray for us as we help them get their Bible study started.

Listening to: m-pact's "Live at the Triple Door" disc 2
Thinking: I should get some sleep
Wearing: my usual sleepwear - sweats, and my Winnie the Pooh sleeping socks (it's freezing in here!)

Good night!

Is it in you?

On the way home from Palmdale tonight, I asked my aunt to pop in my Rockapella "More Than Ever" CD. While we were listening to it, I casually mentioned that it's an a cappella group, no instruments. My aunt looked at me like I was off my rocker, but my mom chimed in and confirmed what I had just told her. My aunt was totally blown away! Couldn't believe that there were no drums and it was some guy, who's a freak of nature, doing the percussion and drums in the songs. She kept laughing everytime she heard the drums because she couldn't believe it was all produced by a person's mouth (Jeff's in particular - hehe). Looks like I turned another family member into a fan. haha Go me!

Anyway, I used "Is It In You?" as the title of this post because I was just thinking about the song on the way home as I was listening to it. I remember my cousin April and I requesting this song at their Virgin Megastore show back in May of 2000, but they said that they didn't have it ready for live performance yet, although, Jeff did mention that they would probably have it ready next time. Fast forward to 2005 - I'm still waiting! LOL


Is it In You?
Words by Scott Leonard
Performed by Rockapella

Girl it's so easy on nights like this
to become intoxicated on temporary bliss
Wooed by the twilit luxury
of the evening air, the words we share

But I'm thinkin way beyond tonight,
way beyond this view
I can feel forever laughin in you;
girl my life's on the line, are you in?

What are the odds that you could possibly feel
this kind of once-in-my-life,
this kind of change in your life's direction
The odds a smiling angel like you
could ever open her heart,
could ever show me the love I feel

Are your eyes the truth--the windows,
or just mirrors of my own?
Is It In You, Is It In You,
Is It In You to let me know?

Throughout the pages of history,
lie the tales of perfect romance turned to misery
Under the weight of a strained cliché,
with its candlelight, star-filled nights,

But I'm lookin way beyond tonight,
past this purple sky
Anyone can wish it, we can make it real
Are you ready or not, let me know

What are the odds that you could possibly feel
this kind of once-in-my-life,
this kind of change in your life's direction
The odds a smiling angel like you
could ever open her heart,
could ever show me the love I feel

Are your eyes the truth--the windows,
or just mirrors of my own?
Is It In You, Is It In You,
Is It In You to let me know?

What's stoppin you from dancin;
even if it's someone else?
Don't get too many chances;
we've only so many sunsets

What are the odds that you could possibly feel
this kind of once-in-my-life,
this kind of change in your life's direction
The odds an angel like you
could ever open her heart,
could ever show me the love I feel

Are your eyes the truth--the windows,
or just mirrors of my own?
Is It In You, Is It In You,
Is It In You to let me know?

Birthday ideas anyone?

Wanting: a glass of water
Watching: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Gutted: that my DVD player's busted
Needing: sleep

I still don't know what to do for my birthday. If you have any ideas, I'm more than willing to hear it.

Random pictures.

With Jen, (Lemboy’s wife) before she went back to VA.

Mi amigas - workmates from Yamaha.

Hehe. I love this pic. Jer with his “mini-me” - TJ.

Babie posing with her new digital camera… Hey, it looks like mine! LOL

Where’s the sun?

Feeling: Blah.
Hoping: The sun will make an appearance today.
It's raining again… *sigh*

Conscious incompetence.

I feel like I just can never get it right. I like to lead Bible study, I really do. It just feels like I’m not cut out for it, like I don’t have the gift to teach, you know? I don’t know. It’s a little frustrating sometimes. Perhaps I don’t prepare for it as much as I should, or I just get really nervous, that I develop performance-anxiety when I actually have to lead Bible study. *sigh* I guess I haven’t really tapped into that as much as I should, and I’m just actually starting to get the hang of it. It’s still a little bit nerve-wracking because I’m not the most eloquent person out there, I still falter a bit about what to say. I fumble for words, but I really want to get the message across. I guess I’ll just have to keep at it. Like they say, whoever “they” are, “practice makes perfect”. I’ll do my best for Him and I just hope that He blesses my efforts. I am excited about our new book study though. “Life as a Vapor”… It seems like everyone’s reading that book for their Bible study these days. Jeremy just told us that his cell group is going to be using that book as well. I pray that these coming weeks will be faith-stretching, and through this book and our constant reading of the Word, we’ll be able to understand living life to the utmost for Christ every single day. Live life to magnify Christ!

Ant, the “blessing” that I posted about on my previous entry had to do with my finances. It’s not what I think you’re thinking…LOL

——

This entry is the result of my dinner conversation with Audrey…LOL

Things to do this year:
(DISCLAIMER: These aren’t life-altering, but they’re just something that I would like to do, if time and budget permit.)

• Go on a road trip
• Go to New York (for my birthday perhaps?)
• Get a massage/go to a spa
• Work on my songs
• Take a class
• Finish reading one of the books that I’d actually started last year
• Do something “outdoorsy”
• Learn a different language (i.e. French)
• Take up crocheting (again!)
• Visit some place I’ve never been to before

If I get to do any of these things this year, cool. If not, oh well, it’s not a matter of “life-or-death”… LOL

Fish Fest is in April this year…Weird… OK, that was random.

Good night!

Cravings.

Feenin' for: boiled edamame soy beans, miso soup and tempura california rolls

Good news!

Felt a little frazzled at work today. Getting ready to send out flyers to all the elementary schools in the district to promote our school and this summer musical that we're putting together. We would like to get the children in the community involved in it. So, this year will be a little extra crazy at work. Everything's happening all at the same time. In a month, we will be starting new classes, so enrollment is underway, phone calls are coming in every 5 minutes, it seems. But I just need to take a deep breath and try to relax and not get myself all riled up. I need to think about how I'm going to glorify God through this "ordeal"…LOL OK, pray for me guys!

I received some good news today that definitely made my entire month! God truly takes care of His children. He certainly is Jehovah Jireh! Awesome! Man, I was stressin' for a few weeks. I should've known better though! But, sometimes we just kind of lose focus for a bit and get caught up with our worries. We shouldn't worry. He provides! Thank you Lord!!! Well, I should get some sleep soon, I'm getting the sleepies and I need to get up at the crack-o'-dawn! Nite!

Stumbled upon this.

Saw this picture while surfing the internet. A more recent picture of The Blenders. I've only seen them twice live, the last time was in 2000 (?), but they have not returned to Cali since. They were supposed to come to Thousand Oaks, CA last year during their first Christmas tour (after they "officially" disbanded), but that show got canceled. These guys are incredible performers and their harmonies are flawless. They've got wonderful stage presence and great personalities - funny cats, I tell yah! Awww... I miss them. I was going to marry Ryan Lance too (that's him on the left). *sniff* haha just kidding! :D He was my "Twinkle Toes" because he was a ballet and tap dancer. LOL Yup, the man dances, AND well, I might add. ;) It was a toss-up between him and Jeff Thacher back in those days and I chose Jeff (Darn it! What was I thinking?! hehe, again, I'M KIDDING! :P ). Hmmm...I'm in the mood to watch their video now. Good night!

(Group picture from the Minnesota Star Tribune / Ryan photo from CNN.com)

Blend-pact? Where was I?

I saw this on r-mac while browsing around. This was in response to a question - whether or not m-pact had sung "A Change In My Life" again after Carl Connor-Kelly left the group.

ah, but they have. they did it with sean altman on lead vocals at big sing usa, in st. joseph, minnesota in june 1998. this is the a cappella festival for which rockapella missed their flight, resulting in the blenders and m-pact putting on an impromptu jam set as "blend-pact." very frickin' cool. :)

--- posted by Tom Anderson


Uh...The Blenders and m-pact doing an impromptu jam session? And Sean Altman joining m-pact on "A Change in My Life"?! Where the heck was I?! That must've been surreal. I would've given my left arm just to see that!

Going back to your first love.

First Love (Listen HERE)
by Avalon

I used to be the one who would long to hear Your voice
A child who sought to win his Father’s heart
But as I carried on, life’s got a hold on me
Now here I am a son so far from home

CHORUS:

Tell me when did I lose my first love?
Where did the fire and passion go?
Give me back Your holy fire bring me back my lost desire
And restore in me the love I felt for You

Can I remember how it felt ?
When they looked into my face
And they saw the love of Jesus in my life
When I looked back on my life
And questioned where I’ve been
Can I really say I’ve done my best for you?

Revelations 2:1-7… God commended the church in Ephesus for their labour and dedication in doing His work. They did not complain, waver nor grow weary. They were patient and endured hardships for His name’s sake. But God had something against them, they had abandoned their first love. They seemed to have forgotten why they were doing these things in the first place and who they were doing it for. He called them to repent and remember how they had come to where they were at that moment, saved by grace.

Do you ever find yourself getting caught up so much in the ministries that you’re involved in, that they have become routine? Do they start to feel like work? I’ve found myself in that situation quite a few times, without realizing why I’m doing these things in the first place. Remember your first love, Jesus Christ. Remember the reason why you’re doing what you’re doing, why you’re in the ministry that you’re in, why you’re serving the way you do. It’s because we love Him and we are grateful for what He did for us on the Cross.

Cool.

While I was looking through my Biola Chorale box-o’-mem’ries,I stumbled upon this flyer for our concert at Gordon College and I realized that I have actually sung on the same stage as Rockapella. After having pondered on how cool that was, it also dawned on me that I had sung on the same stage as m-pact as well. Last week, m-pact performed at Bovard Auditorium at USC as special guests at the ICCA Regionals, which was the same place that my cousins and I (In Harmony) sang at for this college Christian rally 3 years ago. So, I can actually claim that I’ve sung on the same stage as both Rockapella and m-pact. Pretty cool. LOL

ICCA So Cal Regionals last night.

What an incredible night of a cappella we had last night, courtesy of the collegiate groups that competed at the ICCA at USC, and of m-pact, of course, who definitely won a lot of new fans last night! First off, congratulations are in order to Mt. San Antonio College’s
Fermata Nowhere! The guys entertained and sang their patooties off! And congratulations to Garrette Hall, he won Best Solo. I didn’t realize until halfway through their performance that Garrette is the same Garrette who sings and plays the keys in my friends’ band, Projekt Soul! That guy can saanngg…Anyway, FN did a fantastic job with their "Food obsession" medley! They incorporated the latest, hottest hip-hop joints of today like Snoop’s “Drop It Like Itz Hott” (my jam!), complete with the seawalk, and Usher’s “Confessions”, among others. Great choreography, and the soloists have confidence on stage. They didn’t look awkward or nervous at all, very different from a lot of the soloists in most collegiate a cappella groups. Some are just too timid, shy or awkward, and some just try too hard. You either have stage presence or you don’t, simple as that. Anyway, I digress. They were (Fermata Nowhere), hands down, the best group there last night. There’s no doubt about it. One thing that disappointed me last night though was the sound system. The handhelds weren’t working too well. The soloists kept getting drowned out by the background vocals. Even with m-pact, the mics were getting temperamental at times. One of my pet peeves - bad sound system and/or bad sound techs.

m-pact was just phenomenal last night. A few glitches here and there, but there’s always something like that going on with live performances. Britt Quentin showed off his incredibly high range. All the guys were in top form and the new addition, Jeff Smith (formerly of measureXmeasure), is definitely becoming more and more at home in his role with the group. I had no idea that he’s a very good vocal percussionist! Jake did it again though. He tore it up with “What If We Was Cool”. That guy is immensely talented, with looks and personality to boot! And an awfully nice guy. Well, they all are!

Well, a great night was definitely had by all. All the best to Fermata Nowhere at the Western semi-finals!

Pictures from the ICCA So Cal Regionals - January 16, 2005

Here are some pictures we took with 5/6ths of m-pact (we couldn't find Marco anywhere!).
With Rudy Cardenas (tenor)

That's Trist Curless (bass) on the left, and Jeff Smith (tenor/vp)
.
With Jake Moulton, their VP and baritone (soulful baritone, btw). Such a cutie and a sweetie! :)

Britt Quentin is da man! This guy can go supersonic with his high notes! He's the power alto of the group.

ICCA So Cal Regionals - January 16, 2005

What an incredible night of a cappella we had last night, courtesy of the collegiate groups that competed at the ICCA at USC, and of m-pact, of course, who definitely won a lot of new fans last night! First off, congratulations are in order to Mt. San Antonio College’s
Fermata Nowhere! The guys entertained and sang their patooties off! And congratulations to Garrette Hall, he won Best Solo. I didn’t realize until halfway through their performance that Garrette is the same Garrette who sings and plays the keys in my friends’ band, Projekt Soul! That guy can saanngg…Anyway, FN did a fantastic job with their "Food obsession" medley! They incorporated the latest, hottest hip-hop joints of today like Snoop’s “Drop It Like Itz Hott” (my jam!), complete with the seawalk, and Usher’s “Confessions”, among others. Great choreography, and the soloists have confidence on stage. They didn’t look awkward or nervous at all, very different from a lot of the soloists in most collegiate a cappella groups. Some are just too timid, shy or awkward, and some just try too hard. You either have stage presence or you don’t, simple as that. Anyway, I digress. They were (Fermata Nowhere), hands down, the best group there last night. There’s no doubt about it. One thing that disappointed me last night though was the sound system. The handhelds weren’t working too well. The soloists kept getting drowned out by the background vocals. Even with m-pact, the mics were getting temperamental at times. One of my pet peeves - bad sound system and/or bad sound techs. m-pact was just phenomenal last night. A few glitches here and there, but there’s always something like that going on with live performances. Britt Quentin showed off his incredibly high range. All the guys were in top form and the new addition, Jeff Smith (formerly of measureXmeasure), is definitely becoming more and more at home in his role with the group. I had no idea that he’s a very good vocal percussionist! Jake did it again though. He tore it up with “What If We Was Cool”. That guy is immensely talented, with looks and personality to boot! And an awfully nice guy. Well, they all are! Well, a great night was definitely had by all. All the best to Fermata Nowhere at the Western semi-finals!

Pictures with m-pact from last night (ICCA).

Here are some pictures we took with 5/6ths of m-pact (we couldn't find Marco anywhere!).


With Rudy Cardenas (tenor)


That's Trist Curless (bass) on the left, and Jeff Smith (tenor/vp).


With Jake Moulton, their VP and baritone (soulful baritone, btw). Such a cutie and a sweetie! :)


Britt Quentin is da man! This guy can go supersonic with his high notes! He's the power alto of the group.

ICCA So Cal Regionals tonight!!!

Well, I'm off to the ICCAs tonight. Hopefully, I'll have time to post about it tonight. Later! m-pact - YAY! :)

A Cappella Fest!

I stayed up late last night, until way into the wee hours of the morning, in search for the site that had pictures and information from the World A Cappellafest LA that was held back in October of 1998. It featured the most popular a cappella groups of the day, such as Rockapella, m-pact, The Blenders, spiralmouth (man, when are they ever going to come out with a proper CD again? They’ve been MIA for too long!) and The Alley Cats, just to name a few, and was held at the John Anson Ford Ampitheatre in Hollywood, CA. It must have been quite a show, I wish I had known about it back then, but I rediscovered Rockapella a year too late *sigh*. Hmmm…I wonder if anyone would have the vision (and the finances) to hold another one? That’s something that I definitely wouldn’t want to miss. Can you imagine having all of the best professional a cappella groups in the country doing one concert? I'd be simply ecstatic! :) Ah well, one can hope, can't they? ;)

Rockapella drought.

I just checked the Tour page of the official site and it doesn't seem like a Rockapella concert is in the horizon for me (what's going on with the "supposed" Spring show at the Wilshire Theatre boys?). So, no new shows to report about by yours-truly. However, the FGH concert in NYC happened this weekend, and I hope that "someone" (i.e. my new Pella friend Jugglernaut! LOL) would enlighten us with an account of her Rocka-experience this past weekend - a double-whammy of Rockapella and Sean Altman! :)

I am, however, looking forward to the ICCAs this weekend at USC. Will be rooting for Mt. San Antonio College's 2 groups (Fermata Nowhere - which my friend had a hand in getting off the ground and making them sound decent, now they're phenomenal!,and Nothing But Treble - I have no idea how they sound, but will find out this weekend.). And to top it off, m-pact are the special guest performers at the competition! How cool is that? I hope they sing "U Need 2 No", Suddenly You" and "What if We Was Cool?". That's all I ask!

I still have to edit and post some concert-tale archives that I had up on my old version of got Rockapella? onto this sleeker, spiffier version of gR?. Stay tuned! ;)

Hmm...I talk about a lot of other groups besides Rockapella in this blog, I ought to change the title to got A cappella? because one will notice that this blog will eventually be all about contemporary a cappella groups in general. LOL I don't know if this title-change will come to fruition, but we'll play it by ear as I post more and more.