Pope John Paul II - 1920- April 2, 2005

Just sharing thoughts on my one hero. 

 

In the world where you get so turned off reading the newspapers filled with violence, killing, stealing, more killing...I remember every time I saw news about Pope JPII in the newspaper, it would be good news for me, a ray of hope for mankind.  (Except for his funeral of course  I mourned him as millions of people around the world.)

 

He was an athlete (soccer), a nature-lover, a writer, a poet...loved the arts & theater.  He loved the media and took advantage of it to broadcast peace and love. I remember news about the Berlin wall being brought down, reuniting East & West Germany, and later read about the significant roll he played in it.  I remember the news when he was shot, and I remember the news when he seeked his shooter and forgave him.

 

Pope John Paul II was my favorite Pope and my hero. His legend lives on for me.

I'm glad I got a chance to be in Rome, and to shake his hand (!). 

 

Mother Theresa is my other hero!

 

The attached pps slide is in French... but pictures paint a thousand words.

 

Have a wonderful day!

Attachment: Lolek001.pps

Isabelle Boulay - Mieux qu'ici bas live

Mieux Qu'ici Bas haunted me the very first time I listened to it, many years ago, when I first listened to Isabelle Boulay, a beautiful Canadian singer.

Just found some of her clips on youtube. :)

She has that...voice, I can't explain it. It can go country (like Jamais Assez Loin) or like Edith Piaf.



http://www.isabelleboulay.com/ - under Discographie Mieux Qu'ici-Bas CD is my fav. :) You can listen to the whole thing here.

Take a listen to:
- Jamais Assez Loin (simple guitar playing, Roy Orbison-ish)
- Mieux Qu'ici-Bas (better than the live or video version)
- Nos Rivie`res (love piano & accordion), beautiful lyrics too! ("live often, the day to live is now...")

Aquarius - 5th Dimension

I get to listen to an original a friend just wrote
http://tuangs.multiply.com/music/item/44 and it reminded me of the hippy time.

Then yesterday after working out, one of the parents, he must be close to 60, came out and talked to me. We shared the same feelings about broken bones while working out. :) I told him I have to be real careful now w/ my hands, I already broke both my wrists, and I really can't afford since I want to play the piano. He asked what type of music I play, and we talked a little...

Then he took over the conversation. His eyes gleamed and his face beamed with such happiness... he said he used to play in a rock band. A bass player. He dropped out of college to be a serious rocker. :) He and his friends competed in Washington D.C.'s Battle Of The Bands, out of 120 bands, and his band won first place!! After that they toured up and down the East Coast... He said the song they played to win was Aquarius by 5th Dimension. It was a difficult piece to play from beginning to end.

I have forgotten how much I LOVE Aquarius. The song is so energetic and brings out the hippy, free, live and let live feel. I did go see the play "Hair" w/ my sister (and the actors and actresses were all naked in the one scene! lol!) but the best performers for Aquarius, I think, is still the original, 5th Dimension.

I think this man must have a great time playing bass on this one. Check it out, take a listen...1/2 way through... :)

2/12/08
(Words by James Rado and Gerome Ragni: Music by Galt MacDermot)

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

[Instrumental and tempo shift]

Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in

[Continue to end with concurrent scat]

Oh, let it shine, c'mon
Now everybody just sing along
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it shine on in
When you are lonely, let it shine on
Got to open up your heart and let it shine on in
And when you feel like you've been mistreated
And your friends turn away
Just open your heart, and shine it on in

Ca' Kho To^. for dinner (Caramel Fish)

Have to eat in order to play more music!

My first attempt of making this dish. The other dish is bitter melon (muo*'p dda('ng) and eggs. :)

I saw dew's recipe http://dewdrops12.multiply.com/photos/album/135 and tried it out.

First I had to go to Bie^n Hoa` market to get a clay pot, as Ca' Kho To^. doesn't "look" good in a Caphalon skillet.

It was meant to be: They only had one clay pot left and it was waiting to come home with me. I felt like Aladin, rubbing my claypot as if it was the magic lantern.

I dashed over to Nha Trang market to get sweet soya, and made another stop to get fish at Grand Mart. They had a lot of fresh fish.

All that for this little thing. hehe

I should have used fish with skin because it holds the fish together I think.

I don't know my fish very well, this fish rhymes with "Tapioca", all lean, but all fell apart to smaller pieces. Unlike dew's pics.

It's yummy though. That's all that matters, right?

Jan 10/08

New Year 2007 at QH's

Musician friends got together, ate, drank, played music. :)

Quán Văn Nova Open Mike, Cafe' Montmartre, Reston, Virginia

Start:	Jan 6, '08 2:00p
End:	Jan 6, '08 7:00p

Cafe Montmartre, Lake Anne Village Center
1625 Washington Plaza N, Reston, Va. 20190



If you're in Virginia, or if the winter wind blows and carries you to Virginia ;o) and you like to sing/play music, please come by and hang out & play w/ us.

quanvanva.multiply.com - main web site
quanvanva.multiply.com/journal/item/96 - sign up list

Playing music for VDS Gala Dinner 11/30/2007

From rehearsing to performance and for a great cause: FUN!
(well, Vietnam Dream For Success is a great cause too! ;o))