Firesky

The sky is burning, or so it seemed.
Taken on the way back from Rouxville just outside Smithfield on the 21 March 2005 @ 19:10:50 and 19:08:22

It was amazing and the scene changed from second to second as the sun set, we felt so priveliged to have been in the right place at the right time to witness this lightshow. The only song that even fits in remotely is this;
Sky Falls Down by Oceanlab

You know when you feel it
You know when it hits you
There's no mistaking when you fall
You don't anticipate it
And you can't calculate it
It just comes crashing through your walls

I'll love you 'til the sky falls down
I'll love you 'til I can't feel anything,
Not anything at all
And even when you're not around
I'll love you 'til the sky falls down
I'm flying 'til I hit the ground
And lying there and I don't feel anything
Not anything at all
And even when you're not around
I'll love you til the sky falls down

You lose all sense of reason
You have no sense of danger
It's like you're living in a dream.
It lets you float through crowds and
Makes you smile at strangers
It's just the greatest state of being, Oohh...

I'll love you 'til the sky falls down
I'll love you 'til I can't feel anything,
Not anything at all
And even when you're not around
I'll love you 'til the sky falls down
I'm flying 'til I hit the ground
And lying there and I don't feel anything
Not anything at all
And even when you're not around
I'll love you til the sky falls down.
"Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid." Jules Feiffer (1929 - )

March Madness or Asche zu Asche

Seeing as March is the month of madness I thought I would put together a mad compilation... ashes to ashes, dust to dust and all in between. All in all it turned out to be quite listenable as well...
Asche zu Asche
45 tracks in playlist,
average track length: 4:11
Playlist length: 3 hours 8 minutes 43 seconds
Playlist files:
1. Rammstein - Asche zu Asche (3:57)
2. Nightwish - Devil & the deep dark ocean (4:46)
3. Wess Lee - What the hell did we do? (5:22)
4. Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire (2:41)
5. Peter Gabriel - Black paintings (4:36)
6. MLTR - Stuck in the heat (3:51)
7. Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire (4:49)
8. Ash - Burn Baby Burn (3:28)
9. Train - She's On Fire (3:51)
10. Vanessa Carlton - Paint it black (3:30)
11. Drop Dead Gorgeous - Pain (4:12)
12. Doors - Light my fire (7:06)
13. The Rasmus - In the shadows (4:06)
14. The Awakening - The dark romantics (4:45)
15. Simon Walsh - Eat The Ashes (3:16)
16. Staind - Warm safe place (4:36)
17. Hoobastank - Crawling in the dark (2:54)
18. Sandra - In The Heat Of The Night (4:57)
19. Jimmy Eat World - Pain (3:07)
20. Paul Simon - Flame (2:20)
21. John Parr - St Elmo's fire (4:08)
22. Strata - When It's All Burning (4:44)
23. HIM - Close to the flame (3:46)
24. Santana - Feels like fire (4:40)
25. Bangles - Eternal flame (3:55)
26. Savage Garden - Crash and burn (4:42)
27. The Rasmus - Time to burn (4:32)
28. Ana Johnsson - Don't Cry For Pain (3:48)
29. The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black (3:50)
30. Silwerchair - Ana's song(open fire) (3:42)
31. Novaspace - Beds are burning (4:35)
32. MLTR - Eternal flame (4:39)
33. The Troggs - Hot days (2:58)
34. Gregorian - Ave satani (the omen) (3:27)
35. Frank Mills - Chariots of Fire (3:34)
36. Vanessa-Mae - Warm Air (3:38)
37. The Awakening - Dreams in fire (4:47)
38. Gregorian - In the shadows (4:29)
39. The Offspring - Burn it up (2:42)
40. Santana - Black magic woman (5:19)
41. Rammstein - Wollt ihr das bett in flammen sehen? (5:20)
42. Meatloaf - Bat out of hell (9:43)
43. Sum 41 - Pain form piecsure (1:44)
44. Kelvin Declined - Girls in black (2:45)
45. Damageplan ft Jerry Cantrell - Ashes to ashes (5:06)
Some songs did not seem to fit in intially but with some re-arranging things slotted in quite well, as to a favourite well it must be Vanessa Carlton and her version of the Stones hit Paint It Black followed by Billy Joel and We Did'nt Start The Fire... I have always liked the song as it has a sort of snapshot of my experience of history in my lifetime. The theme of fire, ashes, pain and heat is continued in the lyrics from Santana and Dido and Feels Like Fire;
Feels like fire - Santana & Dido
I'm telling you it's over
Now there's an angel
Holding me
My way's easy
Even if you're fallen
Oh you're struggling
There's still beauty
In what we do

So que sera
Let's go sailing on
There's a wise man
In every fool

Chorus:
I say come back
Come in from the cold
Into the warm
I feel like fire
Guiding you back home
As darkness falls

So everyone stands in line
Cos they wanna stay alive
To wait alone
No dog no bone
And then you find it's over
Still it tears your heart
To slip away
From the crowd

But if you have
What it takes
To return to where
All the world
Knows your name

Then que sera
Lets go sailing on
There's a wise man
In every fool

Chorus

I say come home
Leave it all behind
And settle down
I feel my love
Can give me what I want
For all time

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." Jack London (1876 - 1916), Jack London's Tales of Adventure

Almost... not blogging anymore

Seems like I am only managing a weekly blog lately... so here goes, put together a short playlist for this week and the theme is a melancholy one. Sort of looking back and counting costs and getting things in focus. It has been an eventful week, got a new boss and changed departments... still the same job though... Ces't la vie... or as we say in Afrikaans "Selle ossewa, selle osse, net die sweep is nuut" losely translated... nothing has changed except the whip!
Today's Playlist is called Almost.
10 tracks in playlist,
average track length: 3:36
Playlist length: 36 minutes 5 seconds
Playlist files:
1. Delta Goordem - Almost here (3:49)
2. Sarah Brightman - So many things (2:58)
3. Dido - My lover's gone (4:26)
4. Gene Pitney - I'm gonna be strong (2:14)
5. Gabrielle - Out of reach (3:19)
6. Cranberries - Just my imagination (3:13)
7. The Verve - Bittersweet symphony (4:35)
8. Shania Twain - It only hurts when I'm breathing (3:32)
9. HIM - Wicked game (4:06)
10. Cher - Love is a lonely place without you (3:53)
Some comments regarding the playlist; HIM do a very good version of the Chris Isaak hit Wicked Game as well as a stunning version of the Neil Diamond hit Solitary Man, Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden have an amazing duet hit on their hands with today's featured song. All in all a really blue selection with my favourite from Dido Armstrong being My Lover's Gone.
Almost Here - Delta Goodrem
Did I hear you right
'cause I thought you said
Let's think it over
You have been my life
And I never planned
Growing old without you

Shadows bleeding through the light
Where the love once shined so bright
Came without a reason
Don't let go on us tonight
Love's not always black and white
Haven't I always loved you?

But when I need you
You're almost here
And I know that's not enough
And when I'm with you
I'm close to tears
'cause your only almost here

I would change the world
If I had a chance
Oh won't you let me
Treat me like a child
Throw your arms around me
Oh please protect me

Bruised and battered by your words
Dazed and shattered how it hurts
Haven't I always loved you

But when I need you
You're almost here
And I know that's not enough
And when I'm with you
I'm close to tears
'cause your only almost here

Bruised and battered by your words
Dazed and shattered now it hurts
Haven't I always loved you

But when I need you
You're almost here
Well I never knew how far behind I'd left you
And when I hold you your almost here
Well I'm sorry that I took our love for granted
And now I'm with you
I'm close to tears
'cause I know I'm almost here
Only almost here
Sjoe! as we say in Afrikaans... this is a song with so much meaning, reflecting on my life it seems to be a mirror...
"It is almost impossible to smile on the outside without feeling better on the inside." Author Unknown

Anaconda... Aikona!

My daughter twisted my arm to go and watch the movie Anaconda's The Blood Orchid today, oh well it is just a movie... Entertainment value 7... factual information value -7. Not my cuppa but not all bad... the baddie gets his just dessert... or is it Orchid?
The low factual score is the fact that the scriptwriter/s puts the action in Borneo with Anaconda's, I mean did they even look up where this species of serpent actually come from? South America you ingnorant clod! End of rant!
This is something that unfortunately switches me off immediately when facts get twisted to suit the plot... by the way... Mr Micheal Moore... did you hear me... that is why I never went to see his corruption of the truth either. (Ranting again.)
Talking about truth reminds me of this song... our lyrics for the day.
Welcome To My Truth by Anastacia
Sentimental days
In a misty clouded haze
Of a memory that now feels untrue
I used to feel disguised
Now I leave the mask behind
Painting pictures that aren't so blue
The pages I've turned are the lessons I've learned

[Chorus:]
Somebody bring up the lights I want you to see
(Don't You Feel Sorry For Me)
My life turned around
But I'm still living my dreams
(Yes it's true I've been)
I've been through it all
Hit about a million walls
Welcome to my truth..
I still love
Welcome to my truth..
I still love

Tangled in a web
With a pain hard to forget
That was a time that I've now put to rest
Oh, the pages I've turned are the lessons I've learned

[Chorus]

Sentimental days
In a mist of clouded haze
Of a memory that now feels untrue

[Chorus]
"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it." Dudley Moore (1935 - 2002)

Unspeakable

This has been theeeee most hectic month I have ever had! To celebrate my return to blogging is a playlist with the title Unspeakable; Why? Because this has been an unspeakable month yet one that has had some amazing things happen to me... Life is not boring at all... and the songs are all fitting in as lovesongs for the Valentine month. Pesky li'l blighter, I'm going to singe his wings!
30 tracks in playlist, average track length: 4:14
Playlist length: 2 hours 7 minutes 4 seconds
Playlist files:
1. Ace of Base - Unspeakable (3:14)
2. Roxette - It must have been love (4:18)
3. Lara Fabian - I will love again (3:48)
4. Roxette - Everyone who ever... (4:32)
5. Lene Marlin - Unforgivable sinner (4:00)
6. Fragma - You Are Alive (3:31)
7. Blank and Jones - Perfect silence (6:14)
8. Paul Muriat - Love is blue (2:40)
9. DJ Tiesto - A Tear In The Open (9:22)
10. Bee Gees - How deep is your love (4:01)
11. Kim Wilde - You'll never be so wrong (4:10)
12. Ketty Lester - Love letters (2:41)
13. Bryan Adams - Everything I do (I do it for you) (6:31)
14. Tanya Donelly - The Night You Saved My Life (3:59)
15. Billy J Kramar and the Dakotas - Do you wanna know a secret (2:07)
16. Bellamy Brothers - For all the wrong reasons (3:42)
17. Modern Talking - Your'e my heart your'e my soul (5:36)
18. Marc Almond and Gene Pitney - Something's gotten hold of my heart (4:40)
19. AnalogX - Life's Too Short (4:04)
20. Cliff Richard - All my love (2:47)
21. Savage Garden - Tears of pearls (3:48)
22. Jennifer Rush - The power of love (4:21)
23. Belinda Carlisle - Do you feel like I feel (5:09)
24. Gregorian Masters of Chant - Heaven is a place on earth (3:59)
25. Blur - Tender (4:34)
26. Gabrielle - Out of reach (3:19)
27. Celine Dion - Falling Into You (4:18)
28. Nightwish - The phantom of the opera (4:10)
29. Placebo - Every you every me (3:33)
30. Nick Cave & Kylie Minouge - Where the wild roses grow (3:56)
I have to do a final shuffle to make them flow together better but as it stands not a bad compilation to listen to... my favourite is Phantom of the Opera... because Nightwish have done an amazing version of this Andrew Loyd Webber hit. The lyrics of the day are from another song however... You are alive by Fragma... very fitting for the past few weeks of my life.
You are alive
You Are Alive
You're doing fine
Most of the time
You sit and wonder
What tomorrow brings
All kinds of things

You sit and wait
You hesitate
Just like you've never
Been in love before
There's so much more

Chorus:
On your own
And though you feel alone
You are alive
Don't you know
It's just another day

All alone
Into this world we're thrown
You are alive
Don't you know
It's just another day

On your own
And though you feel alone
You are alive
Don't you know
It's just another day

You turn around
You're lost and found
Looking for someone
Who will understand
Or hold your hand

You count the days
A hopeless case
But for the first time
You will wait for me
Patiently

Chorus:
So there... I am alive! but only just...
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855)

Cosmic blast among brightest recorded - Feb 18, 2005

CNN.com - NASA: Cosmic blast among brightest recorded - Feb 18, 2005
Had this happened within 10 light-years of us, it would have severely damaged our atmosphere and possibly have triggered a mass extinction.
-- Bryan Gaensler of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Spot on!

As you can see, me and quizzes... You scored as Classic Rock.. Classic Rock. Classic Rock. 79% Indie Rock 75% Emo & More 75% Indie 63% Mainstream 58% Punk and Pop Punk. 58% Britpop 54% Hardcore 54% Country 50% Ska 50% Industrial 50% Hip Hop and Rap 33% Music Recommendation created with QuizFarm.com

"In the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, it's often useful to have a nice, solid piece of wood in your hands." Ian Faith, manager of Spinal Tap

Your love is...

Your love is... by ChibiMarronchan
Your name is...
Your kiss is...	delicious
Your hugs are...	to die for
Your eyes...	burn into my heart
Your touch is...	the only thing I desire
Your smell is...	exotic
Your smile is...	hypnotising
Your love is...	eternal
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Yeah right... so why am I single?

What? The people wanted to vote?

What a turn up for all the negative reporters and naysayers all over the world, I salute the Iraqi people, they have proved themselves and the USA right and the world wrong.
V for victory!
Talking about positive things, today went off smoothly at the saltmine, no ques no tantrums, seems like calm has returned to Hecticville, I may even get some work done!
No recipe today as the kids and I went out for lunch on Sunday, Primi Piatti Bloemfontein Waterfront, thanks for brilliant service and a stunning meal, I think of all the "Italian" restaurants in Bloem they are the best for Italian fare. Oh by the way, they grow their own Basil and the Pesto is devine, beware the chilli though, take teeny helpings if you do not want a meltdown...
I think these lyrics from The Tremeloes are most fitting today.
Even the bad times are good - Tremeloes
La la la la la la la la la ....

There are times in this life of
mine
I think that the sun forgot how to shine
But as long as you're
always there
It don't bother me 'cos why should I care
When all I've
gotta do is run to you

Even the bad times are good
Soon as I get
to you baby you just gotta hold me
And even the bad times are
good
Even the bad times are good
Soon as I get to you baby you just
gotta kiss me
And even the bad times are good
La la la la la la la
la la ....

When the day seems to drag along
And all that I do is
workin' out wrong
Still I find that I never cry
As long as I know
that you're standing by
Then all I've gotta do is run to
you

Even the bad times are good ...
"Hope doesn't come from calculating whether the good news is winning out over the bad. It's simply a choice to take action." Anna Lappe.** O Magazine, June 2003

Resident Evil Apocalypse - escape from reality

I had to admit, I was sceptic when the kids said they wanted to see Resident Evil-Apocalypse... I really enjoyed the movie, a typical escapist plot, mayem, monsters, zombies, virii, guns blazing and an A Bomb finale! and the girls were the main heroes, my kinda movie! Milla Jovovich (5th Element, Dummy) is back with a vengeance and kicks some serious butt. Seriously, not for the pre-teens but then the Terminator series was not either! It did have a goodish ending (some of the good guys survive, the baddie buys the farm) with a slight twist leaving open the door for a sequel... Milla also sings and writes her own lyrics, her site has some demo's and after listenig I am quite impressed! So we go out with her song:
Breathing In Your Sleep - Milla Jovovich
timing ain't holding up
but my world is blowin up
you make me feel so fine
now you're surprised that i ain't ordinary

i feel me breathing in your sleep
can you feel it?-
grazing your lips with my fingertips
we wake up a few times
to speak of dreams that make it hard to sleep

are you dying in your dreams
i know sometimes i can feel it
turn into to stone by the light of morning
disappear without meaning
are you taking up time
that thoughts pressing thru my mind
oh baby, i'm fine
can you believe it?
can you believe it?
Strange how one discovers something new every day...
"Marx, Darwin and Freud are the three most crashing bores of the Western World. Simplistic popularization of their ideas has thrust our world into a mental straitjacket from which we can only escape by the most anarchic violence." William Golding