IMODO.COM -   the soaring chorus

I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE
Edwin McCain

Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see
The smile upon your face

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are
Is everything to me

These are the moments I know heaven must exist
These are the moments I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than the love you give me
'Cause it's all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more.

RE: THE PREVIOUS POST


Some of you might be surprised by the harsh tone of the post before this one given the downright Saccharine content of the most recent postings. Rest assured that I am still blissfully happy and you can expect more syrup-laden sweetness in the days *crosses fingers and toes* to come. I am most definitely NOT angry.

So why the post? Well, basically it's BECAUSE I'm happy that I wrote what I wrote. Because the joy I am currently blessed with is something that I NEVER would have had if I followed the dictates of certain people. The happiness that I feel, would have been disallowed and frowned upon by those who would have me unhappy so they could reach their own goals.

As happy as I am, in a way it has revitalized my indignation. And it has only strengthened my resolve to NEVER sit idly by and do nothing if I see something is wrong.

Any person who tries to deny the happiness of another deserves to have his stripped away completely.

NOT A LOVE POST THIS TIME, I PROMISE

       "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel

Once upon a time, I was with people who I thought were friends. For a year, I worked with them, played with them, gave them my absolute all and more, never asking anything in return, for the joy of singing was enough.

The one day, they demanded something that no person EVER has the right to ask of another. Yet they did. Faced with that, there was only really one response: I walked away. The betrayal by those I thought my friends was bad enough, but what was equally painful was the stance of neutrality taken by the ones there; who didn't "care either way". They may not have directly supported the decision to demand what they did, but the fact that they stood there and did nothing, makes them now and forever all equally guilty in my eyes and in my heart.

I never really fully understood the above quote until what happened to me. Sometimes, doing nothing in the face of an injustice being done, is the same as being directly guilty of the crime itself. Sometimes, being neutral, isn't.

And sometimes, Silence can be downright evil.

HEAD OVER FEET
Alanis Morissette

I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it

You treat me like I’m a princess
I’m not used to liking that
You ask how my day was

You’ve already won me over in spite of me
Don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don’t be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn’t help it
It’s all your fault

Your love is think and it swallowed me whole
You’re so much braver than I gave you credit for
That’s not lip service

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

You’re the best listener that I’ve ever met
You’re my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long

I’ve never felt this healthy before
I’ve never wanted something rational
I am aware now

I am aware now.

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
Rascal Flatts

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God bless the broken road
That led me straight to you.

I think about the years I spent
Just passing through
Tryin' to find the time I lost
And give it back to you
And you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan
That is coming true.

And God bless the broken road that led me straight to you.

LA LUNE

Stars in your eyes
Moon in your smile
I’m paralyzed
Can you stay for a while?

Taking my chances
I ask to go dancing with you
Don‘t know what to say or do
Losing all sense of time
Forever in a moment I’m fine
With your hand in mine

[CHORUS]
All the moons and stars in the sky
Can’t compare to the light in your eyes
Can’t believe this is happening
How you changed my whole life
There’s no place I would rather be
Than in your arms tonight

Stars in your eyes
Moon in your smile
I’m in paradise
May I stay for a while?

Future looks promising
Songs for you I will sing here
I promise I will have no fear
Love in the days of Yore
Yearn for the taste of your kiss
Can we stay just like this?

[CHORUS]
All the moons and stars in the sky
Can’t compare to the light in your eyes
Can’t believe this is happening
And you changed my whole life
There’s no place I would rather be than right here
In your arms tonight

Stars in your eyes
Moon in your smile
Can I stay by your side
For the rest of my life?

[CHORUS]
I have waited for so long to be here tonight
For this moment to finally arrive
All my armour now falls away
All that I’ve ever known
By your love you put an end to all of my pain
And I’m no longer alone
No longer alone

I’m not alone.

*********************************

I wonder how this sounds like translated in Japanese.

AN OPEN LETTER TO NESTLE PHILIPPINES


Dear Sirs,

Recently you have begun an advertising campaign for your ice cream line featuring a drag queen in a neon blue wig, singing the song "Happiness (is)" from the Musical "You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown" with altered lyrics, all tied together with the tagline "Bring Home the Yummyness".

Now, the banality of the entire campaign aside -- "bring home the yummyness?" what did you guys throw out? -- I have to take issue with your spelling "YUMMYNESS" with a Y instead of an I.

The reasons behind this move escapes me, whether it's by human error, or if it's to promote some sort of recall on your part precisely because it's wrong (much like the Alanis Morrissette song "Ironic" using examples that were most definitely NOT ironic) this sort of thing is inexcusable. I must take issue with the fact that you are promoting poor spelling among children, who are the target market of your ad campaign.

The fact that this VERY BASIC spelling rule has apparently gone through all your copywriters -- who MAKE THIS SHIT UP FOR A LIVING -- disgusts and offends me as someone who appreciates the English language. This is just poor usage, plain and simple.

Take a cue from the fucking song you ripped off: it's not HAPPYNESS, its HAPPINESS. God. If, as a result of your actions, children in our schools start spelling 'YUMMINESS' incorrectly, and it spreads to similar words like the aforementioned Happiness, and if their teacher would try to correct them, the children would merely point to the television to bolster their claim, you only have YOURSELVES to blame, as everyone knows kids listen to the TV far more than they do adults.

So now, not only are you guilty of spreading substandard ice cream to kids, you are actually making them DUMBER.

In a nutshell, Nestle, you suck. Shame on you.

sincerely,
Ian Carandang

PS. Sebastian's Ice Cream rules.

HOLY. CRAP.

The ball is in my court. And it's looking GOOD. From the outset anyway.

Holy. Crap. Holy holy HOLY crap.

I wasn't expecting this. It's not that I was being pessimistic; just realistic. A healthy dose of cynicism to cushion oneself from disappointment if you don't get the answer you're looking for.

And since it's been SO long since I've gotten the answer I was looking for, I think I've forgotten what to do when that happens, actually. Like buying a lotto ticket every week for twenty years like clockwork, never winning a centavo, then one day you're like "I WON?!?!"

The ironic thing is that about 2 hours before I got the news, I was having trouble sleeping, so I had myself a beer (something I almost never do) and watched some aimless television just to get myself drowsy. But when I got the news? HOO BOY, it's like I guzzled a triple espresso!!!

That's okay, I didn't need to sleep the rest of the night anyway.

Ball is in my court. Time to start swinging.

TO CARVE MY NAME ACROSS THE WORLD

Just surfing aimlessly through the net, I tried googling my name (like you guys haven't done it either ;p ) Aside from my own blog popping up, plus some mentions about ice cream and my old (oooooold) video game mailing list entries, I was surprised to see my name pop up in someone's blog, detailing her watching a school gig which featured my former band. She wrote:

"i wonder where ian carandang of (band) was..."

I'm leagues over the whole thing and am happy where I am now, but that little moment made me smile. The fact that I was able to make someone out there care enough to remember my name and take note of my absence, Outweighs ALL of the shit I had to deal with. All of it.

I feel good tonight.

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The voice of Elmo

Color me surprised.