Japi's Blog

San Antonio Zoo ROCKS!!

I recently visited San Antonio and had a couple of hours to spend at their zoo.... I love visiting zoos!

Since my previous employer, Schipul - The Web Marketing Company, created the Houston Zoo Web site and I've had the opportunity to visit it several times, I always compare it to the other ones I've visited.

So far, I've visited zoos in Chicago, National Zoo in Washington D.C., New Orleans, Caracas (Venezuela), San Antonio and Houston.

Well, out of the zoos I've visited I really like the Houston, D.C. ... but my favorite zoo is now in San Antonio.  I have yet to visit the San Diego Zoo, which I hear is mecca!  But the San Antonio Zoo could teach the Houston Zoo quite a lot.

In most cases, I was just a few feet away from the animals.  The animals were all very active (not sure what they do, but it's true).  The habitats were unbelievably beautiful and fitting for each type of animal.  I really enjoyed visiting it even though I was unable to see it all.

I've been visiting the Houston Zoo for over 20 years and have seen amazing improvements... but after seeing their counterpart just 3 hours to the west, I was amazed by the difference.  I actually shouldn't have been surprised because San Antonio has always had a strong focus on tourism - starting with the creation of the river walk in the 1940's - THAT'S VISION!  Who was thinking about tourism in Texas in the 1940's???

If you are ever in the Alamo city, you should definitely visit the San Antonio Zoo, I highly recommend it.  Now if I could just get them to become a Schipul client.... hmmm :)

If you want to see some of the photos I took at the San Antonio Zoo, go to my Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/japi14

And Now For Something Completely Different - a laughing baby

To temporarily interrupt my political blogposts... I decided to go with Laughing Baby!!

It's awesome because I have the exact same reaction to ripping paper... LOL!

Heart's Dog & Butterfly - lovely memories

When I was in high school, the band Heart was very popular.  songs like Barracuda, Crazy on You and Magic Man made them very famous.  I enjoyed those songs... but one song just touched my heart (and still does).

Dog and Butterfly is a ethereal composition that I used to love to listen to as I roller skated or just laid in the grass listening to my walkman.  The version I placed in this blogpost is acoustic which will have you floating as you listen.

Purchase the CD with the original version of this song.

Here are the lyrics:

There I was with the old man
Stranded again so off I'd ran
A young world crashing around me
No possibilities of getting what I need
He looked at me and smiled
Said no, no, no, no, oh child.

See the dog and butterfly
Up in the air he liked to fly."
The dog and butterfly
Below she had to try
She roll back down to the warm soft ground, laughing
She don't know why, she don't know why
Dog and butterfly

Well I stumbled upon your secret place
Safe in the trees you had tears on your face
Wrestling with your desires frozen strangers
Stealing your fires, the message hit my mind
Only words that I could find

See the dog and butterfly
Up in the air he liked to fly
The dog and butterfly below she has to try
But she roll back down to the warm soft ground
Laughing to the sky, up to the sky
Dog and butterfly

We're getting older and the world's getting colder
For the life of me I don't know the reason why
Maybe it's livin' making us give in
Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide
We're balanced together ocean upon the sky

Another night in this strange town
Moonlight holding me light as down
Voice of confusion inside of me
No begging to go back where I'm free
Feels like I'm through
Then the old man's words are true

See the dog and butterfly
Up in the air he liked to fly
The dog and butterfly, below she has to try
When she'd roll back down to the warm soft ground
With a little tear in her eye
She had to try, she had to try
Dog and butterfly

Jimmy Kimmel's Revenge

This is one of the FUNNIEST videos EVER!  It's several minutes long... but worth watching every second of it. 

Jimmy Kimmel has a tradition at the end of his show to say... "wow, we won't have time to talk to Matt Damon" or something along those lines.  Well, Jimmy's girlfriend, Sarah Silverman, got together with Matt Damon and made a humorous video... well, Jimmy got together with Ben Affleck and created a HYSTERICALLY funny video.

A Flor De Piel by Yordano

Another phenomenal Venezuelan singer/songwriter is Yordano (linked to Manantial De Corazon on YouTube).  He has some of the best lyrics I've heard.

A Flor De Piel is one of my favorite songs by Yordano*.  It was interesting because he didn't originally make it famous.  Yordano started as a composer for several Venezuelan artists and "A Flor De Piel" was picked up by Luz Marina - a Venezuelan singer with a beautiful and sensual voice.

Then about a year later, I saw Yordano singing the same song on TV.  His voice was not as nice, but you could tell he was the song's composer - his interpretation didn't have much to it, but definitely had a lot of feeling.  Here are the lyrics and the translation.

*NOTE: Yordano has so many great songs, though... it's very difficult to have a favorite.  I will discuss other Yordano songs in future blog posts.  I hope you enjoy this one. 

Purchase the album with this song.

Original

English

Salgo del cuarto a descansar de una cama vacía y sin arreglar de tu perfume. Por fín en la calle de pronto me pierdo entre la gente que sale de un cine y tu apareces como una sombra en cada calle que cruzo, en cada rostro sin nombre, en cada esquina te escondes, en cada noche que cae, en cada día que rompe, siempre te llevo a flor de piel, a flor de piel, con tus labios todavía a flor de piel. Ya no soporto más el recuerdo de aquella noche de luna llena, perdido en tus brazos. Entro en un bar, me quiero aturdir alguien me habla y no puedo evitar que tu aparescas como una sombra en cada frase que oigo, cada mentira que digo, cada palabra te nombra, en cada noche que cae. en cada día que rompe, siempre te llevo a flor de piel, a flor de piel con tus labios todavía a flor de piel, en mi alma todavía en tu piel

I leave the bedroom To rest From an unkempt And empty bed Still with your perfume Finally on the street I'm suddenly lost Among the crowd Coming out of a theater And you show up Like a shadow In every street I cross In every nameless face In every corner you hide In every night that falls In every daybreak I always carry you On the surface of my skin On the surface of my skin With your lips still On the surface of my skin I can no longer stand The memory Of that night With a full moon I was lost in your arms I enter a bar I want to get lost Someone speaks to me And I can't avoid For you to appear Like a shadow In every phrase I hear Each lie I tell Each word says your name In every night that falls In every daybreak I always carry you On the surface of my skin On the surface of my skin With your lips still On the surface of my skin In my soul still On the surface of your skin

I'm Not Giving You Up by Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan has a beautiful song that wasn't extremely popular... but it's wonderfully written and the music is amazing too.

The name of the song is "I'm Not Giving You Up" from the album titled Destiny. 

Below you can read the lyrics:

To be completely honest
It scares me to imagine
What life would be without you

And for this very reason
I ask you to forgive me
For what I'm putting us through

Although there are so many things
Against us, I've decided
That I'm not giving you up, no...

Thinking back, I see what we have
Is something different
I think we've known all along
So how fair would it be
To divide this love's existence
Between what's right and what's wrong

And you, always wondering if we'll make it
Time will tell you
That I'm not giving you up, no, no...

We'll find a way to be together
However long it takes, wherever
If it means having you for only a moment
A moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no
No I'm not giving you up, no

Screaming in the silence the promises we've spoken
Come back to haunt me, false and broken
Quiet desperation to see we're lost forever
Searching for water in the desert

No, I refuse to have to do
Without your kisses
I'm not giving you up, no, no

We'll find a way to be together
However long it takes, wherever
If it means having you for only a moment
A moment just might be enough
I'm not giving you up, no

No I'm not giving you up, no
No I'm not giving you up

Un Querer Como El Tuyo - by Ilan Chester

Un Querer Como El Tuyo is a beautifully romantic song composed and performed by Ilan Chester.

Ilan is a phenomenal musician born in Israel and raised in Venezuela.  He is a prolific singer/songwriter.  His vocal range is amazingly wide - this particular song doesn't really show his range... but it's one of my favorites.

Purchase the CD with this song.

Original

English

Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, Las horas no cuentan, el tiempo es amigo Mi vida, contigo, no concibo algo mejor. Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, Las sombras se alejan y queda el rocío En ti yo confío el quehacer del corazón… Será sincero si lo propio es lo común Amor del bueno cada vez que te recuerdo soy feliz, Y estando a tu lado me encuentro feliz, Me basta y me sobra tu amor, Al norte y al sur, al este y oeste, Declaro mi amor por ti, Y estando a tu lado me encuentro feliz Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, No hay dudas ni quejas, se llena el vacío, No hay tuyo ni mío, somos uno entre los dos… Será sincero si lo propio es lo común Amor del bueno cada vez que te recuerdo soy feliz, Y estando a tu lado me encuentro feliz, Me basta y me sobra tu amor, Al norte y al sur, al este y oeste, Declaro mi amor por ti, Y estando a tu lado me encuentro feliz Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo, Cuando se tiene un querer como el tuyo.

To have a love as yours The hours don't count, time is a friend My life, with you, I can imagine nothing better To have a love like yours Shadows dissappear and only the dew is left I entrust my heart to you Honestly.... True love, your memory makes me happy And being next to you, I am happy Your love is filling and overflowing To the north, south, east and west I declare my love for you And being next to you, I am happy To have a love as yours To have a love as yours No doubt nor complaint will fill this void There's no yours or mine, we're one Honestly.... True love, your memory makes me happy And being next to you, I am happy Your love is filling and overflowing To the north, south, east and west I declare my love for you And being next to you, I am happy To have a love as yours To have a love as yours To have a love as yours

Alfonsina y El Mar - very sad, but wonderful metaphors

Alfonsina y El Mar, composed by Ariel Ramirez is based on the tragic death of an Argentine Poet named Alfonsina Storni, who threw herself into the sea at Mar de Plata.

This particular version is interpreted by Mercedes Sosa.  I remember watching Ms. Sosa sing this sad, yet compelling song when I was very young. 

My older sister, Elena, learned to play it in the guitar and I used to love to listen to her sing it.  The memories of Elena playing the guitar and singing this song will forever be ingrained in my mind.  She was a wonderful musician, I wish she would pick the instrument back up.

Purchase the CD with this song.

I hope you enjoy the song's sad, yet beautifully descriptive lyrics... here's a translation:

Original

English

Por la blanda arena Que lame el mar Su pequeña huella No vuelve más Un sendero solo De pena y silencio llegó Hasta el agua profunda Un sendero solo De penas mudas llegó Hasta la espuma. Sabe Dios qué angustia Te acompañó Qué dolores viejos Calló tu voz Para recostarte Arrullada en el canto De las caracolas marinas La canción que canta En el fondo oscuro del mar La caracola. Te vas Alfonsina Con tu soledad ¿Qué poemas nuevos Fuíste a buscar? Una voz antigua De viento y de sal Te requiebra el alma Y la está llevando Y te vas hacia allá Como en sueños Dormida, Alfonsina Vestida de mar. Cinco sirenitas Te llevarán Por caminos de algas Y de coral Y fosforescentes Caballos marinos harán Una ronda a tu lado Y los habitantes Del agua van a jugar Pronto a tu lado. Bájame la lámpara Un poco más Déjame que duerma Nodriza, en paz Y si llama él No le digas que estoy Dile que Alfonsina no vuelve Y si llama él No le digas nunca que estoy Di que me he ido. Te vas Alfonsina Con tu soledad ¿Qué poemas nuevos Fueste a buscar? Una voz antigua De viento y de sal Te requiebra el alma Y la está llevando Y te vas hacia allá Como en sueños Dormida, Alfonsina Vestida de mar

On the soft sand That is licked by the sea Her small footprint Will never return A solitary path Of sorrow and silence arrived At the depths of the ocean A solitary path Of muted sorrows rose To the sea foam God knows the angst Which accompanied you The ancient pain Which quieted your voice To let you rest With the song Of the sea shell The song played At the dark depths of the sea The Sea Shell You are leaving Alfonsina With your loneliness Which new poems Did you go find? An ancient voice Made of wind and salt Breaks your soul And takes it away And you float away As in dreams Asleep, Alfonsina Dressed by the sea Five mermaids Will take you Through paths covered in seaweed And coral And fluorescent Sea horses will make A ring around you And the inhabitants Of the sea will soon play By your side Lower the lamp A little more Let me sleep In peace, nurse And if he calls Don't tell him I am here Tell him Alfonsina has left And if he ever calls Don't ever tell him I'm here Tell him I've left You are leaving Alfonsina With your loneliness Which new poems Did you go find? An ancient voice Made of wind and salt Breaks your soul And takes it away And you float away As in dreams Asleep, Alfonsina Dressed by the sea

Amor de Conuco Lyrics, absolutely beautiful!

This is one of the most beautiful songs written by Juan Luis Guerra.  He is from the Dominican Republic - his band (Juan Luis Guerra y Los 4.40) is responsible for evolving some of their caribbean rhythms into amazingly classy and gorgeous songs. 

Their vocal harmonies voices inspire many young vocalists to carry the torch and continue to improve merengue, bachata and salsa.

I've uploaded the song, Amor de Conuco, for your enjoyment.  Below is a translation of the lyrics, as it is a exchange between a man and his wife.  I hope you like it as much as I have for many years.

Juan Luis Guerra is an amazing poet and composer.

Purchase the CD with this song.

Male voice
Dime si me va a querer soy hombre de poco hablar, Consuelo no tengo na' que ofrecer un conuco, un gallo y un lucero y la luz de la mañana que entra por mi ventana, cielo y los rios y la montaña y el viento que peina tu pelo yo quisiera ofrecerte el mundo y no puedo.	Tell me if you will love me I am a man of little words, Consuelo I don't have much to offer a shack, a rooster and starlight and the morning light which comes in through the window, my darling the rivers and the mountain and the wind which combs your hair I would like to offer you the world, but I can't
Female voice:
Na me tienes que ofrecer tu mirada es lo unico que quiero dormiremos cuando el dia se acueste encima del potrero y los grillos haran su canto y entre hierba y pasto soñaremos y de tanto amor tu cuerpo hara de mi vientre lo que espero, un retrato de tu cariño, te quiero.	You don't need to offer me anything your gaze is all I want we can sleep when the day lays down on the stables the crickets will play their song on the weeds and grass we will dream and from so much love, your body will make of my what I so hope a portrait of your love for me, I adore you

The Front Fell Off - Spoof Interview

My son showed me this video last night and I nearly died laughing... OMG!  For a while I was thinking that it was a real interview.  I did some searches and found that it's from an Australian TV show called A Current Affair. 

The video discusses an oil spill which occured on July 21, 1991 off the coast of Western Australia when a tanker called the Kirki lost it's bow. The performers are John Clarke (Senator Bob Collins) and Bryan Dawe (interviewer). Clarke & Dawe had a weekly segment on A Current Affair, where they'd do a topical spoof interview.

It's pretty hilarious!