Red Hot Heart and Ice-Cold Feet

August 12, 2007

Dear Pards,

Unforgettable you! I do remember. Guess what, Sting fever is still running in my system after watching his concert and see what I found... Three years ago this wouldn't have meant anything to me. Strangely though, he perfectly articulated all the things that I've done:

What possible difference would throwing a handful of soil onto a coffin make to [him] or me? Part of me still believes this to be true, [but] part of me knows I was simply afraid. I escaped the ritual...for the simple fact that I didn't want to, because escape and the need to keep moving had by now become endemic in me....But there was a psychological price. I couldn't mourn properly so I carried the grief with me. I couldn't cry or reveal my feelings even to myself, fearful I would be overwhelmed, my carefully constructed self-image destroyed to reveal absolutely nothing beneath. {Sting, 2003 in Broken Music}

Of course, I still got no excuse. But intuitively, why do I feel that you share the veiled sarcasm and understand the irony here?

I do hope you are well...I miss you big time.

Love always,
Katrina

Yelp#1

Currently listening to Macy Gray's [On How Life Is, 1999]
On a self-imposed break

Fast Facts:
1. Barnes & Noble membership has expired.
2. Can't find the Borders membership card. Can't even remember the username and password. Coupons expiring.
3. No Strand around tsk, tsk...
4. Relatively successful in trying my hardest not to spend on paperbacks and cds, among others
5. Blue, my laptop, has become a host only to my music library and nothing else.

Recourse: I checked the library in my new neighborhood. And applied for a membership card.
Ambiance: actually not a place I want to linger at.
Demographics: no big deal
Service: granny's ok, very efficient but really slow, understandably; a wifi spot; bestsellers available for rent @25c a day (in case you don't want to wait I was told)
Selection: didn't check on the prints yet. But finding Sting's memoir, Broken Music, is definitely a good start. [Praytell, how can I stop loving him?]

So I was there for audio and dvds. But Houston we have a problem! I've seen almost all of the movies they have on DVD. Save of course for this self-help and exercise regimen stuff (nah thanks). I don't fancy horror flicks but they do have about 20 of those. Not much of indie films. But they got some foreign films I wanna check out. Oh and dig this, I borrowed Goodbye my Concubine and to my amusement, I had to pay a dollar? Apparently that's the policy. DVD = $1.00. I was like, might as well reactivate my Netflix account! Thank God CDs are free, but that doesn't make any difference cause I don't fancy their collection.

Ahhh....I miss the NYPL. Ok, I guess miss NYC more than I care to admit.

I was actually planning on going to the village/union square area last Sunday, eat at this Thai rest. I love, go back to Strand, the Virgin Music store and all that, but my slacker self gets the better of me. And.....frankly, it somehow throws me that I am becoming a number in the consumerist tab. Have I drifted too far out to go back? pffff!!!

Checklist/Wishlist

While still in concert spirit...

Among my all-time favorites, managed to see:
1. U2
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. Sting and the Police.

It wasn't bad catching:
1. Lenny Kravitz (hotness!)
2. John MAyer

Even watched the oldies (hehe):

1. Earth, Wind and Fire

2. Chicago

3. Eagles

I wish Cobain, Mercury, Hendrix, & Marley didn't die so early. But with all-seriousness: I want to see RADIOHEAD !!! I'll be full by then, promise.

Okai, for some bonus attraction, it wouldn't hurt to see REM [what are the chances that they'd hook up again?]; Pearl Jam [they're not up to much recently, disbanded?]; Aerosmith [yup, that dude rocks albeit old age lol. We couldn't get tickets last year]; Morrisey [he recently performed at MSG daw but i freaking missed it. where was i? damn!]; Smashing Pumpkins [whatever happened to them? are they back on again or what?]; Audioslave [they released an album last year but didn't go on tour. what gives?]; Metallica [I haven't the faintest idea what they're up to nowadays]. And...Our Lady of Peace and Live [wala na rin ba sila?], The Strokes, The Bravery, The Killers, Deftones, DMB, Chapman, Norah Jones... ok i'll stop now.

Oh well, wishlist....And time is running out....I can't complain though. I am in fact thankful dahil dati, part din lang sila ng wishlist ko pero I got to see them yey!

Stung!

Saw The Police's Reunion Concert last Sunday at the Giants' Stadium. One of those last minute things...Thank God we made it =) yey!

Admittedly, I was there for Sting. But I was awed by Copeland. Thus far, I'd say he's the best drummer I've ever seen perform. No joke. I am not a musician but man alive! This guy is something....I dunno how they were on their other concerts. All I know is we got our money's worth that night in Jersey. The Police still rocks. Sting, Copeland and Summers still make good music and lively performance together after all these years. They all seemed to enjoy playing and I think they pretty much connected with the huge and cooperative crowd. Wonderful =)

I checked some reviews and it looks like the set list is consistent:

1. Message in a Bottle
2. Synchronicity II
3. Don’t Stand So Close to Me
4. Voices Inside My Head/When the World is Running Down
5. Spirits in the Invisible World
6. Driven to Tears
7. Walking on the Moon
8. Truth Hits Everybody
9. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
10. Wrapped Around Your Finger (my fave of all)
11. The Bed’s Too Big Without You
12. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
13. Invisible Sun
14. Walking in Your Footsteps
15. Can’t Stand Losing You (hey, you with me????)
16. Roxanne

ENCORE 1
17. King of Pain (ahhhh...at this point I was just there breathless...)
18. So Lonely (could I love this song any more?)

ENCORE 2
19. Every Breath You Take
20. Next to You

The selection could have been better, but no more grand complaints. Oh yeah, no cams allowed. I could have slipped it, the girl just smiled at me and let me through. But how can I tell right? And he was right, the parking lot is way too far from the stadium's entrance. Too much of a hassle to take it back if I get searched. (I do obey rules sometimes hehe).

At the risk of sounding emo, I confess: the concert was wayyyyy tooooo personal for me. It's bloody bittersweet as I listen to Sting belt out those songs. With real poetic, meaningful and ironic lyrics. Been a huge fan. Remember humming the Dododo-dadada as a kid. And in college, knowing he was a teacher made me proud I was a BA English Major once (lol). Of course, he also started my fascination with englishmen =)

Was really struck. Seeing him perform live. Another one of few times that I genuinely appreciate being here. More so after realizing that last night was their last stint here in the US. We're stuck in the parking lot looking at the t-shirt he bought, with all the tour dates haha. And we were laughing like children for having made it. Yeah, it doesn't really take much to make me happy.

Ahhh... I'm stung all over again.