Category: Songs to listen to

Things that made me happy lately, March 8, 2023
Gratitude · Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

Things that made me happy lately, March 8, 2023

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: BP so high I was a stroke risk, daily hives, migraine immediately at hour 13 of no caffeine. However! Gave up coca cola and baked desserts for Lent. Wish me luck.

Because of the ~fragility~ of life and me feeling every single one of my 36 years on earth lately, I will be putting more emphasis on the little things that make me happy. Because life is too fucking short not to.

Happy things since I last documented:

1. Isabel’s Meal plans. Planning food for one is tough. I make things for a minimum of 5 people. Groceries are expensive as hell right now. I have zero prep time because of everything else that needs fixing. I have done meal deliveries in different shapes and forms, and my favorites so far are Isabel’s, and also The Six Pack Chef. I am not dieting per se. I am rewiring my tendency to go for the fastest, greasiest thing (I love Jin Ramen’s mild with egg, sesame oil, and some milk in it) to something more nutritious on a regular basis. I actually think it’s working because I need muc less salt in things, and look for the leaf crunch a lot. It’s not cheap, but it’s cheaper than lipo (joking. For now.)

2. Mango season. The Philippine mango, in all bias, is amazing. I would eat it everyday if it wasn’t so expensive. While it grows the whole year, it’s in season the first quarter, which means more consistent sweetness, cheaper. It’s also Indian mango season and our tree produces the sweetest ones I’ve had. I literally can make it into shakes if I wanted to.

3. Getting things done. It’s been rough trying to get all these adult requirements (government registrations, payments and the like) the past few weeks, but it’s slowly getting done. Can it be easier? F yes. Will it? We’ll see. But for now, the dopamine hit of checking something off the list will have to do. Slow and steady. One thing at a frigging time.

Songs that defined this time:

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours by Stevie Wonder

Found a Reason by Smle

This is How I Learn How to Say No by Emeline

What made you happy lately? -J

Life is short, week 26 of 52
Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

Life is short, week 26 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status update: Migraines and insomnia. Advil close to running out, and Tylenol has stopped working for headaches. Is the insomnia causing the migraines or are the migraines causing the insomnia?

Life is short moments of the week:

1. Chipped teeth getting fixed. Teeth are expensive, and now even more so. I broke two front teeth and was semi-hillbilly like for a day. It was nice seeing the dentist I’ve seen since I was in the single digits. Couple decades later and we’ve seen her get married, have two kids, and now have one graduate college.

2. Routine checkups turning into health scares. Mom is great about regular checkups, dad not so much. She took him with her on a routine checkup that turned very scary for a couple days. Thankfully it was handled (not by me, but people who are actually awake and around when doctors are on), but here’s crossing all fingers and toes that it resolves soon. I haven’t seen my doctors since the pandemic started, but I hope it’s not terrible. (i know i know. I’ll figure it out)

3. Seeing family. Family time is amazing and is a great way to reset. We had to go home for Ninang’s 40 days, and to finally clean out Nanay’s things. As a grandkid that didn’t grow up with her and having limited shared memories, I was very thankful to have an opportunity to reminisce. Also to take some of her things home. I’m literally going to be rocking some grandma style soon and I can’t wait.

Song of the week: Hold my Hand by Jess Glynne

-J

Life is short, week 6 of 52
Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

Life is short, week 6 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: 6 bad migraine days out of 7, but successfully refilled with – full box of of ibuprofen. If only I was wrecking my liver with more fun things.

1. Dad’s birthday. Excessive amounts of food and snark, even if I had to sleep early for work. I love birthdays and making a big deal out of them. My dad is no such person for it — secretly he likes the celebrations though.

2. Losing a colleague. I hate that this is the second in 4 months. I hate that it was so sudden. I hate that he had so much potential and that the team had so much plans for him. I hate that his family is suffering. I hate losing people and seeing people suffer. No more deaths at work. Please.

What a week. Hug your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Life is short.

Song of the week: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

-J

What I’m grateful for, week 48 of 52
Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 48 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. The beginning of independence. Sounds ridiculous for someone who’s 35 years old, but also in a very traditional, conservative country and family. I am being vague on purpose, but independence means a lot to me — especially what it took to get there.

2. Great support. I have leaned on a lot of people, and continue to lean on still. It still takes a village to survive this (gestures at everything), and I’m glad my tribe is solid.

3. The healing power of music. I’ve tossed, turned, had incredibly vivid sad dreams this week, and when I get up — the only people awake are across the world and are hard to hug. Solution? Music. I’ve listened to bass drops and classical symphonies, and Disney to get my headspace a little out of funk, and it’s helped a ton.

Song of the week: Eleanor Rigby, rearranged by Cody Fry with an 80 piece orchestra and 400 person choir. I have been a puddle on the floor, especially with these lyrics:

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

I’ve found my new funeral song.

What are you grateful for?

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Florence and the Machine’s Rabbit Heart today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Anyone who’s met me knows I am a crazy rabbit lady (my friend Marian Jo has mocked up collages even) but this is a whole different thing. I have been working by myself a lot, and when you work nights, the times are even quieter, and even though I use a friend’s music around 60% of the time while working, when I need to fill the quiet, I listen to songs I can sing to.

I have been listening to Florence and the Machine’s Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up) lately. The lyrics are apt for a lot of things I’ve been thinking about:

Here I am, a rabbit hearted girl
Frozen in the headlights
It seems I’ve made the final sacrifice

We raise it up, this offering
We raise it up

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?

Life is so different since March that who knows what things really mean anymore. I just know that I will keep listening to songs, I will keep singing at the top of my lungs, and I will fill my days with melodies that help my soul along. (Instead of the past few of food and drinking, but suffice to say I’m still going to use those some days).

You can listen to the song here

So are you the lamb or the knife?

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to · Work

I think you should listen to Kanye West’s Runaway tonight

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

I’ve always had a soft spot for vintage Kanye. More than I care to admit now that he’s gone full batshit crazy. Or I guess that’s the brand now? And this song just feels right for a Saturday night after a long week of having to deal with too much.

His lyrics sometimes really hit you in the heart, and before, the first few verses were the favorite. Sharing toasts for the jerkoffs and the scumbags just feel right for a night out. But maybe tonight these just feel a little bit more apt:

Never was much of a romantic,

I could never take the intimacy.

And I know I did damage,

‘Cause the look in your eyes is killing me,

I guess you knew in an advantage

‘Cause you could blame me for everything.

I mean, in as much as I write all this stuff, I have a tendency to stay away from intimacy. It’s just easier to walk away from now, and I can blame all my baggage, but really, now it’s mostly me.

(Hey that rhymed, poetry after skeezy drinks? Maybe I should quit while I’m ahead.)

Listen to Kanye here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3DK6m7It6Pw857FcQftMds?si=gm4YtVU9SNqXsMtWjXM3tg

What are listening to tonight?

Cheese · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Ezra Furman’s “Every Feeling” today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Maybe I’ve just been watching too much Sex Education on Netflix (where this song is from), or maybe I just need a break from the same 50 songs I’ve been listening to for the past six weeks, but this song really hit me.

I’m gonna feel every feeling in the book tonight
Fuck the hurt, fuck the pain
Fuck the panic, fuck the hate

I wanna feel every feeling in the book tonight
And only love, only love and happiness will remain

And I’m not trying to sound different with all the cuss words that I don’t really use on this thing, but I think these lyrics are quite apt. I haven’t had time to process anything for the past few weeks, I’ve been too busy, too full of people in my life that aren’t usually around to really make room for what it is for normal.

It feels a little like a cop out to use being busy as an excuse to not deal with things, but what I’ve learned as an adult is that it’s such a delicate balance of things before one thing shakes the whole thing down.

So maybe today I will feel every feeling in the book tonight and leave with only love and happiness.

At least I hope so?

Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Lany’s ILYSB (Stripped) today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Simply because it’s damn sexy. And I don’t say that about a lot of new songs since I am an oldie that likes songs that even my parents were too young to like.

But this song is just breathy and simple and I can’t get enough of it.

Here are a few lines from the song:

Ain’t never felt this way
Can’t get enough so stay with me
It’s not like we got big plans
Let’s drive around town holding hands

Mad warm when you get close…to me
Slow dance these summer nights
Our disco ball’s my kitchen light

And even if it sounds sexy the lyrics are pretty innocent. Holding hands in the car, slow dancing in a quiet kitchen. To me it not only speaks of desire for closeness but real intimacy.

And what’s sexier than that?

What songs are you listening to today? Have you slow danced in your kitchen with your significant other this year yet?

May this Friday treat you as well as the couple in this song, who only have eyes for each other, and if not, there’s always Saturday to make it up to you.

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Imagine Dragons’ “Bad Liar” today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

The thing about hanging out with a big group in one room is that you get introduced to new music. I am admittedly in a music rut since I don’t listen to the radio and I get very particular with making my own playlists.

But I digress (again).

I had listened to Bad Liar by Imagine Dragons about 4 times a day for 4 days and just liking the melody. I got the chance to really listen to the lyrics and once I did I enjoyed it so much more.

Here are a few lines to the song:

So look me in the eyes, tell me what you see
Perfect paradise, tearin’ at the seams
I wish I could escape, I don’t wanna fake it
Wish I could erase it, make your heart believe
But I’m a bad liar, bad liar
Now you know, now you know
That I’m a bad liar, bad liar
Now you know, you’re free to go

I may be misunderstanding this, but from what I get from the song is that this person has their personal demons and has a tendency to self sabotage, but is trying their best to get through and is done faking their way through life.

I completely relate. There is a lot about me that are defense mechanisms, the inappropriate humor and the biting sarcasm. I’m trying to be better at showing people the real me, but I know this isn’t an instant change. It’s a process. I am still a work in progress, but I am done lying.

Or maybe I just like the way he says darlin’, who knows.

Listen to the song here and let me know what you think.

Jodythinks · Songs to listen to

I think you should listen to Bastille’s and Marshmello’s Happier today

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

One of my biggest regrets in life was when I wiped my 7 year old ipod nano (which still works now) of the songs I curated since 2007. Until now I can’t find some of the songs I had on there that meant a lot. Reason being was that I wanted to start over and make new memories with new songs, turns out, I no longer have the time, patience or resources to curate something to that effect (around 639 songs at the time of wiping).

I like very old songs, and those who probably have people sick of them by now. My excuse is that I don’t really listen to the radio now, and depend on people’s recommendations of new songs. So I hardly have any new artists on my playlists. So I appreciate all recommendations of all genres.

Our friend Carla showed me the video to Happier, by Bastille and Marshmello, which is heartbreaking for anyone who’s ever owned a dog. Its lyrics are quite spot on too:

When the evening falls
And I’m left there with my thoughts
And the image of you being with someone else
Well, it’s eating me up inside
But we ran our course, we pretended we’re okay
Now if we jump together at least we can swim
Far away from the wreck we made

So before you swim away, listen to this song today. And try not to cry at the video.