My Blog

al jarreau’s voice has always fascinated me.  when i was  younger, i often fantasized having a voice like his. i don’t hear much of his records now.  i even doubt if people my age know about him.  last time i saw him, he sang a duet with paris–not the camera-hungry hilton, but the american idol finalist.  during their performance, al, although visibly older, showed the same intensity that has endeared him to jazz enthusiasts. 

since that performance, i had actually wanted to listen to my old records again, but i only got to do it last night.  and boy was i glad i did!  there were so many outstanding tracks in his record, but what struck me the most was his rendition of "happiness" –a song horrifyingly butchered by a TV commercial now.  perhaps, i like the simplicity of the song.  or maybe, it’s one song that i really, really need right now– given the emotional state i am in.

anyway, the song inspired me to come up with a list of things that give me "happiness" these days.  are my ideas profound?  i doubt it.  in fact, a lot of puritans may disagree with my views on happiness.  but do i care?  HELL, NO!

well, happiness for me is

• buying a bag of cadbury chocolate with almonds and letting every piece of chocolate melt in my mouth.  there’s only one description for it–orgasmic (and promise, i don’t even completely understand what the word means).
• listening to nina simone late at night.  people say that music is soul food, and bless nina’s heart, she has made me "soulfully" obese.
• having a foot spa.  i swear, it’s very uplifting when you have your calluses removed.  some may consider it whimsical, but come to think of it:  you’re on your toes almost all the time.  you stand to go to places, you dance to flirt with other people, you kick people when you’re angry and if you’re the non-violent type, restraining yourself from kicking is a double effort on your feet’s part.  i guess, of all the body parts that need pampering, it is the feet that deserve it the most.
• eating pizza at pizza hut.  never mind that their service charge and other charges can be someone else’s meal budget; an occasional trip to the pizzaria wouldn’t leave you bankrupt.  well, if it does, you can always pass by the store, look at their newly painted walls, smile, and say, "i’ve contributed to that."  my friend once said that it’s pointless to eat in expensive places because at  the end of the day, you know where what you paid for would go.  i beg to differ.
• talking to friends.  the joy of eating out is not the food, but the company you’re with.  okay, okay.  the food counts too, but i don’t think you’d enjoy eating, even with the best food on the table, if you’re with somebody you loathe.  it’s just an invitation for indigestion