ThinkSong

Alexa Weber Morales sings I Will Survive, Salsa-Style

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Con Andy y Su Orquesta Callao last night @ Roccapulco in San Francisco.

Este arreglo del exito de Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" proviene del percusionista/productor Ivan Lino Montes. Se grabo en los 2000 temprano con su Orquesta Kache y ahora se ha vuelto a prominencia con Andy y Su Orquesta Callao.

Top 10 Tough Acts to Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:51:00 +0000

10. Strippers

9. Graffiti artists high on fumes

8. Performance artists using bodily fluids to make statements about corporatization of all life forms

7. Sing-songy poets

6. Long-winded rappers wrapped in flags from little-known countries

5. Veterinarians giving talks about estrus in breeding bitches

4. Drunken priests eulogizing the wrong person

3. DJs with advanced hearing loss

2. Fakirs

1. Soulful 19-year-old girl in a micro-mini who sings one song a cappella and nails every note, then whips out a guitar and plays a blisteringly perfect jazz solo

What was the worst act you had to follow? Do share!

A Sauna Tale

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:40:00 +0000

I am sitting in the sauna, eyes closed, sweat running down my body. In the dark I can make out the figure of a small, round woman basking in the heat. After a few minutes, she speaks: "The sauna is so nice, isn't it?" "Oh yes," I reply. "This is my last remaining luxury." We both get up to go out and she continues chatting with me.

"We don't belong to this gym. I snuck in here while my son plays basketball with his team. We belong to the one on the other side of town. They have a pool." She has a Phillipino accent.

"Ah, yeah, if I need to swim I go to the school near my house."

We begin talking about working out and what sports we like. I mention triathlon training. "Did you do that with Team in Training?" she asks, noticing my TNT hat.

"Yes," I say. "It's a great charity, and they also do the best job preparing you athletically."

"The charity is for what?" she asks.

"It's the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," I reply. "Blood cancer."

"Oh, yeah, they are a good charity. It's a terrible disease. I lost my daughter to that."

"Oh my God, how sad. I'm sorry to hear that... Did the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society give you any support?"

She hesitates: "No... We didn't find out until too late. She, ah, she checked in to the hospital and died the next day."

"That's terrible," I say. A few beats of silence pass while we both dress.

"When did this happen?" I ask.

"Yesterday," she replies simply.

"Ah." More silence, and we are finished dressing. In my head I am wondering why she has made this story up for me. It's almost like a form of improv.

"Leukemia mostly gets young people, doesn't it?" the woman asks.

"Well, yes, compared to other cancers. No one knows what causes it. My grandmother died of it," I answer.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was she young?"

"In her forties," I answer. We are walking out.

"Where are you going now?" she asks brightly, as I head for the kids' area. "I'm going to get my kids, and you?"

"Oh, I guess I'm going now." She looks like she wished she could tag along with me, but instead walks out the door into the sunshine, leaving her imaginary son behind on the basketball court.

Oakland Running Festival Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

I am so excited about Oakland's upcoming marathon -- so excited, I ran 18 miles through the streets of Oakland on Sunday! Here's an email I got today with news about the event:

The big day is getting near and the excitement is mounting as we approach race day. Registrations are coming in at a furious clip, surpassing our every expectation. The community of Oakland is starting to buzz as everyone looks forward to the end of March.

New sponsors have joined our quest of making the Inaugural Oakland Running Festival an event to remember: Alameda County Medical Center will provide medical support at several spots on the course as well as at the finish line. They will be supported by American Medical Response who will provide medical transport services. See Jane Run has been named the Official Women's Running Store and Greenlayer, the Official Merchandise Provider. MGD 64 will be the presenting sponsor of the Celebration Village at the finish line, GEICO will sponsor the Pace Groups and KTCU & KICU will serve as our television media partners. Further, Kaiser Permanente, with a large office in downtown Oakland, has just signed up as a supporting sponsor. Our expo is just about sold out with chiropractors, charity groups, running stores, events and much more!

We are still recruiting runners so if you know of someone looking for a Spring event, let them know that Oakland is where they will want to be! This Inaugural Event will feature top-notch premium items, cool medals, great on-course support and a fun and fan friendly finish line party for everyone to enjoy. Runners can register on our website today.

Those who are unable to run on race day are encouraged to sign up to volunteer, come to the finish line celebrate with the runners or cheer from their neighborhoods along the race route.

Keep the Pace,

Gene Brtalik
Race Director

WE PROMISE, THEY WON'T TACKLE YOU DURING THE RACE
Oakland Raiders Team Up with Running Festival

The Oakland Raiders, The Team of the Decades, has teamed up with the City of Oakland for the inaugural Oakland Running Festival.

The Raiders will sponsor the first mile of the 26.2 marathon course and the Raiderettes, Football's Fabulous Females, will also be in attendance to cheer on runners as they cross the finish line. As an added bonus, all runners will have the opportunity to purchase a specially priced ticket package that includes the added value of being honored on the field in a pre-game ceremony prior to a 2010 Raiders home game. [...MORE]

ON COURSE NUTRITION SET FOR OAKLAND
GU Energy, Powerade and Clif Bar Sign on to Support Runners

The Oakland Running Festival has partnered with three great companies to provide nourishment for the runners on the course and at the finish line.

As you continue your training you will want to note that the following products will be served on race day:

GU Energy Gel: Simple to take, fast to digest, GU Energy Gel provides simply what you need for premium exercise fuel and none of the extras that slow you down. GU takes you where you want to go, fast. We will be offering the following flavors: Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Outrage, Strawberry Banana (no caffeine) and Jet Blackberry (double caffeine).

Powerade Electrolyte System Sports Drink: When you sweat you lose key minerals- Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium- which can be crucial to your body and hydration. As you loose hydration you can lose your ability to perform. Now you can get it all back with Powerade. Fruit Punch flavor will be served on course and at the finish line.

ClifBar: Whole, all-natural, organic ingredients. Good nutrition and great taste. It's the energy bar for everyone with 23 vitamins and minerals. We will offer a variety of flavors on the course and at the finishline.

MEDAL DESIGNS RELEASED
A Worthy Symbol of Your Achievement

Samples of the medal designs for the Inaugural Oakland Running Festival have arrived and they look amazing! They are large in size and heavy in weight and should serve as a worthy symbol of your accomplishment on March 28.

All finishers of the full marathon, half-marathon and team relay will receive one of these fabulous medals after finishing the race. Then they can wear them with pride as they celebrate with the other runners, friends and relatives at the MGD 64 post race Celebration Village, complete with live music, cold beverages, vendors, interactive games and fun for the whole family.

NOT UP FOR 26.2 OR 13.1 -- TRY THE RELAY
Great Option for Friends, Families or Co-Workers

If you are interested in participating in the Oakland Running Festival festivities on Sunday but 26.2 or even 13.1 miles seem daunting, consider joining with a group of friends and running the 4-Person Team Relay.

The Team Relay splits the marathon course into four sections. Participants receive the same benefits as the full marathoners (with only 1/4 of the training and post-race pain). We provide transportation to and from your leg (if needed). The exchange points for the four-person team relay are listed below:

Leg 1. Start to Lake Temescal Park (~ 6 miles)
Leg 2. Lake Temescal Park to 580 Underpass on Champion (~5 miles)
Leg 3. 580 Underpass on Champion to West Oakland BART station (~7.5 miles)
Leg 4. West Oakland BART station to Finish (~7.5 miles)

Legs 1 and 2 are the more difficult legs as they go through the hills and hence the reason for why they are shorter. Legs 3 and 4 are more downhill and flat, which is what makes them the longer legs.

We hope you and your running posse consider running the relay or one of our other races. To learn more, VISIT THIS LINK...

33 Reasons To Feel Shitty

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:52:00 +0000

I am feeling crappy today. I wonder why? Of course, I could slowly back away from the computer, sit down at the piano and practice or climb the roof and take the Xmas lights down or clean the dishes or read a book that I have been reading at an excruciatingly slow pace or clean my office or do work on a good-paying writing project that is at a standstill or go be a good mom or... but no, I will sit here in self-contemplative mode and think about myself and my emotions and my hair and my itchy neck and who likes me and who I like and where am I going and what have I done, etc.

Here are possible reasons for the ebb of my emotional tide today, an ebb that is so awesomely all-important in the scheme of the world. Yep, I am a writer and that sentence sucked. Onward:

1. Talked to my mom on Sunday. That seems to bring me down for a few days pretty reliably. (99% sure she won't read this.)

2. Ran 18 miles on Sunday, then hiked 6 miles (slowly) with dog and family on Monday. Still tired. My dog can't even move now. I checked an hour ago and he's still alive though. He didn't run the 18 miles, by the way.

3. I had a really good show Saturday night (actually two gigs that day) and maybe this is the low that follows the performance high?

4. Don't have any gigs at all in February as of right now.

5. I'm waiting to get paid by three people, so that I can make February's house payment, now due.

6. Last night when I crawled into bed wearing three layers of clothes I thought, "What if this is all there is?" That's a great launching point for your mind just before it drifts into the abyss.

7. I hope no bookers who might possibly book me read this. Because I am doing great sigh that took too much effort.

8. I tried to sleep some more but I couldn't.

9. I bought something online but it didn't work.

10. I feel gross.

11. Men fill me with despair. But I am raising two little men so I have to teach them to be gentlemen. Conundrum.

12. Depressing lists make me more depressed.

13. I know I'll snap out of it in a bit.

14. I forgive too easily.

15. I don't like fake people, in real life or on facebook.

16. I'm not trying for sympathy or anything, I truly thought this might be an entertaining post but now I think it probably sucks.

17. I don't like complainers and that includes myself.

18. I hate the IRS.

19. My dentist discriminated against me.

20. I wish I could finish more of what I started.

21. Why do mean people seek positions of power?

22. What is the evolutionary purpose of a virus? Just to replicate? But then it kills its host. Are there any good viruses?

23. Why do people pull at the thread of something irksome that you in a moment of trusting weakness revealed to them so that they continually bring it up in what seems to be a shared dark humor but in truth is a way for them to satisfy their morbid desire to see you fail? How can you spot these people and avoid them?

24. Why does love require you to nakedly connect without knowing if your sacrifice will be acknowledged or just taken like a $4 toll and you don't even care if it's a pacer or a porsche that drives through.

25. Why is your attention span so short? Can't you see how amazing it is to enjoy something fully? I don't mean forever, but I do mean for more than four minutes.

26. How do you build something truly great?

27. Officer, why did you give me a $100 ticket for parking with my right wheels slightly up on my sidewalk in front of my house (we do that so people won't hit the car coming around the corner)? Where did you pull that handwritten $100 figure out of, your ass?

28. My head feels heavy.

29. Why can't you take care of yourself? I feel bad that I can't fix everything for you.

30. I don't like it when people aren't professional. Then someone has the gall to say I wasn't professional one time? Give me a break.

31. How come you were nice to me, then mean to me, then nice to me again? I try to be nice. But I don't want to play this game. I know, it's not always about me. It's about you, motherfucker.

32. I am sure tomorrow I will feel grateful again. Even though this list is pissy I'm actually not as low as I can go. And that's low. So this is good.

33. You know what, I think I feel better.

Fundraiser this Saturday for the San Jose Jazz Society

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:38:00 +0000

Step out in style while supporting San Jose Jazz's year round music and education programs

Hollywood Comes to Silicon Valley, a fundraiser for San Jose Jazz, is very special evening of music and Hollywood glamour featuring award winning jazz composer/arranger/saxophonist John Altman.

Saturday, January 30, 2010, at 6:30pm
San Jose Athletic Club, 196 N. 3rd St., San Jose

The party will feature:
>>Music by noted Hollywood composer and performer John Altman, with the San Jose Jazz Orchestra
>> Fashion Show
>> Rare Live and Silent Auctions, including a poster signed by Miles Davis, a cruise aboard a Macondo sailboat, a week in Maui, and many more
>> Abundant Hors d'Oeuvres and Somptuous Desserts
>> Attire: Hollywood chic and glamour

About John Altman:
John Altman's name might not be instantly recognizable as one of the world's greatest composers, arrangers, or musicians, but his music is known to millions around the world. He is the man behind "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and an array of other well known classics. During his career, John has worked with some of the greatest names in the music industry, including Bob Marley, Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Sting, Diana Ross, Simple Minds, and Björk.

A highly acclaimed player of the saxophone, flute, and clarinet, Altman is lauded by respected critic Don Heckman in the Los Angeles Times as "one of the few film composers with authentic jazz skills." He has composed or arranged the music for numerous films (Titanic, Shall We Dance?) and television shows (Monty Python, Peak Practice) and won several awards, including an EMMY.

This very special evening of music and Hollywood glamor is the perfect opportunity to step out in style while supporting San Jose Jazz's year round music and education programs.

About San Jose Jazz:

Each year, since 1986, San Jose Jazz has made a difference in our lives by bringing jazz to Silicon Valley schools, venues, and festivals. San Jose Jazz nurtures the cultural identity of Silicon Valley. In this economy, each dollar for the arts is a considerable investment in the future of our community. We need the arts... the arts need you.

Purchase tickets and RSVP to Madelyn Crawford at 408-288-7557 ext. 2335 or email membership@sanjosejazz.org

It's a Tough Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:25:00 +0000

I was forced to pose in this degrading man sandwich backstage. That was rough! Could be some kind of phobia? I may need to repeat the exposure to desensitize myself.

That'll Leave a Mark

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:10:00 +0000

Last night after Seaon Stylist's salsa tribute to Michael Jackson at the Cowell Theater, in which I sang backup with the band led by Rebeca Mauleon (more about that later), I headed over to Cafe Cocomo for the after party. It was packed to the gills. I had some nice dances with excellent partners, and then snuck into the green room to say hi to the band, Mazacote. One of the players said, "Hey, I remember you -- you gave me some ear plugs one time, right?" "Uh, yeah, that's true!" I replied. See how memorable I am?

This morning as I lay in bed trying unsuccessfully to sleep in I started riffing on that comment in my head. Having gigged around I've made quite an artistic impression on many bands. Here are assorted compliments:

"Hey, I remember you -- you gave me a paperclip!"

"Hey girl! You're the one who had some Advil when I needed it."

"That show we did together was great. You really have a pleasant disposition."

"You know what I like about you is you always have scotch tape in your bag."

"Oh I remember you, you really sweat a lot on stage don't you?!"

"Alexa, Alexa... let's see, when did we work together -- oh now I remember, we arm wrestled at the gig! Yeah! My arm hurt for weeks after that."

Yep. As a singer I have made an indelible mark -- with a permanent pen? -- on the music scene.

You're welcome, Bay Area.

Don't Just Peep in the Window! Tonight, Proyecto Lando @ La Pena!

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Last night we were rehearsing again for tonight's gig at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley. It's a show of adventurous and original proportions, mixing tunes by Peruvian percussionist/songwriter Pedro Rosales of Rompe y Raja with Afro-Cuban and even R&B elements (that's where I come in, singing Fallin' by Alicia Keys over a lilting landó lament). I also recorded my version of the tune for the new CD, available in limited quantities tonight.

As we rehearsed in a copy story on Solano Avenue in Albany, passers-by pressed their noses to the glass and tried to peer over posters taped on the closed doors. On the one hand it was lovely to know we drew attention, this cast of well over a dozen musicians rehearsing complex music with driving cajon- and cajita-based percussion.

On the other hand, a peevish voice in my head said, sure, they stop and listen now, but come time to fill a concert hall as an artist you practically have to donate a kidney to get an enthusiastic audience in the seats. Now, there are probably many factors at work here -- I'm just being honest about the feeling it brought up. I definitely don't advise browbeating people to get them to come to concerts -- though some might argue that it doesn't matter HOW you get them in the door so long as they're pleased once they get there. One reason we might have attracted so much attention last night, too, was the peep-show element: Hide something (even in plain sight), and people want to know what it is. Another might be simply the street music factor: There are lots of folks walking up and down Solano Ave, and they might have been pleasantly surprised by the sight of musicians shedding inside a copy shop. Finally, it didn't cost a thing for them to look through the window, whereas it will cost a few dollars to come see the live show tonight.

With that said, hope to see a good crowd there! Time to get ready for soundcheck!

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 8:00 PM
Pedro Rosales CD Release
La Pena Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-849-2568
Tickets: $15
http://www.lapena.org

Act now! Save Pianist Fred Harris's Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:05:00 +0000

In the past 2 weeks, $9,500 has been raised by jazz lovers, musicians and good Samaritans to keep pianist Frederick Harris from losing the San Francisco home that has been in his family for 39 years, in a neighborhood that thanks to gentrification now only houses three black families. Can you kick in some cash to help Fred?

From his bio:

Frederick Harris has been an active professional musician in San Francisco for many years. He graduated with a Master's Degree from the SF Conservatory and is an unusually gifted classical pianist. He's also been music director for numerous local theatre productions and has risen to great heights in the jazz world, where his credits include Dizzy Gillespie, Regina Carter, Billy Higgins, Chico Freeman, Barbara Morrison, Kurt Elling and many others. He is on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop and is the Music Director of St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church. He teaches through Stanford and at his home studio.

Here is Fred's situation, in his own words:

"On December 11, '09, this home will be lost to foreclosure. Though I've resumed payents, Wells Fargo has returned them, and I need to raise $12,000.00 to stop the pending auction, set for 12/11. 12k is less than trifling to lose one's home by, and yet it's beyond my grasp, so I need your help. This will settle the arrears on the property, and keep me in my home, a home that's been 'in the family' virtually my entire life. Those of you who know me know that I'm not one to ask for help, generally, but an angel reminded me that there's nothing to lose in asking, nothing's gained in not (asking), and that one must try. It is in this spirit that I ask you to please securely donate whatever you can by simply clicking on the button below, or by mailing to Frederick Harris, P.O. Box 16642, S.F. CA 94116."

http://www.fhperformances.org/

I'm Your Man -- Original Song by Alexa Weber Morales

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:06:00 +0000

Just wrote this one today!

I’m Your Man
By Alexa Weber Morales © 2009

I’m your man
I’ve got everything covered
I can pay my own way
I can be your casual lover

I like to step out and have a good time
I know how to drink and fight
Sometimes I go too far or meet someone or lose my car
I stay out all night

I’m your man and life has shown me
Ain’t no one else who can help me stand
I’m your man and I know what to do
I learned long ago I can’t count on you

When someone says it can’t be done
I’m your man and I say Yes it can
I’m your man and I act real strong
I can fix anything and I’m never wrong

I’m your man and you don’t have to call me
I’ll magically appear when I’m needed
I’m your man and you don’t have to worry
I know when to beat it

Other men might be afraid of me
But I’ve got no choice this is who I’ve got to be
Sometimes I remember what it was like to be a girl
She’s got no place in this heartless world

I’m your man and I look so hard
Got mouths to feed, can’t let down my guard
I’m your man, this act is getting old
Deep inside there’s a woman’s soul

Don’t want to be your mother
Don’t want to be your wife
Don’t want to be your man
I want to share this life
It’s been so long, this act is getting old
Could you ever care for a woman’s soul

I’m your man
I’m your man
I’m your man
I’m your man

Quisiera Retroceder El Tiempo -- Cancion Original por Alexa Weber Morales

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Quisiera Retroceder El Tiempo

Derechos de autor (c) 2009 por Alexandra L. Weber Morales

Quisiera retroceder el tiempo
Al hermoso descubrimiento
Que eras tierno y eras un tigre
Aún el encanto nos envuelve y vive

Te digo que tu me matas
Gozando el calor de tu piel
Apretando mi cintura me contestas
Tu me matas tambien

Desaparece el mundo
Al aferrarme a tus brazos
Trazas caricias con la punta de tu nariz
Que ricura tus labios

Quisiera retroceder el tiempo
Al hermoso descubrimiento
Que eras tierno y eras un tigre
Aún el encanto nos envuelve y vive

Crees conocerme
Esta noche soy tuya
Profundamente me miras
Lentamente nos amamos

Lo nuestro sigue en sueños
Un viento de la posibilidad
Lo vivo cuando cierro mis ojos
Este recuerdo no descansa, es mi realidad

Quisiera retroceder el tiempo
Al hermoso descubrimiento
Que eras tierno y eras un tigre
Aún el encanto nos envuelve y vive

Classic Clip: Don Music Rewrites Mary Had a Little Lamb

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +0000

This is from the early 1970s. I love how Don Music bangs his head on the piano whenever he hits a songwriting speedbump. "Oh, I'll never get it, never, Oh!!! [BANG]!" And the interaction with a reasonable Kermit and the easily frustrated Don Music is one that I think many a composer could relate to.

Going Postal

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I'm standing in line at my local post office. I know all the clerks and managers, even though I rarely come in here. A portly white guy in shorts and sandals with socks is speaking, very agitatedly, with one of the clerks. His loud voice is the only one heard in the small space.

"I am trying to find out what has happened to this package. I used to work for the post office. According to YOUR TRACKING CODE, this package NEVER LEFT THIS BUILDING. It was supposed to go to Anchorage, Alaska. But my friend in Alaska went TODAY to her post office box to retrieve this package and THIS IS THE INFORMATION SHE RECEIVED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE HAS DONE WITH THIS PACKAGE."

The clerk responds, quietly, examining the sheet of paper the man has been waving.

"I WANT YOU TO CHECK YOUR WAREHOUSE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER." He's nearly apoplectic.

Finally, the manager comes over. She's a woman with a mellifluous voice who always wishes customers "a blessed day." The clerk tries explaining: "She says the package did not leave but we show the package went to Alaska."

"I AM NOT A SHE. I AM A HE. I AM SO SICK OF DEALING WITH U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO CANNOT EVEN SPEAK THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE."

"Sir, can you step over to this window while I go look for your package?" asks the manager. He does so and she disappears through a passageway.

He pulls out his cellphone, dials and pauses until it connects.

"Hey. Yeah, I'm here at the post office," he says, at the same volume he'd been using before. "Yeah, it's so frustrating. I can't believe how INCOMPETENT these people are. Yes, I told them I used to work for the U.S. postal service." He pauses, looks through the window, and sighs loudly. "I know, I know. All I am trying to do is figure out WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FUCKING CHEESECAKE."

The Man of the Future

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:55:00 +0000

I pulled into the Emeryville marina at 9 AM this morning after a late night spent gigging and visiting Denny's locations. Last year I trained with an informal, free running team led by a fleet-footed woman named Claire, and I was thrilled when this year's training email came around. We're working toward the Kaiser half-marathon in February, followed by the new Oakland marathon in March! I really didn't want to miss the first group run, and it turns out my brain wouldn't let me -- I couldn't oversleep, even though I tried.

I took the run at a very easy 9:30 to 10-minute-per-mile pace, and aimed for a modest five miles even though I could have done my usual overkill and gone for the max distance, which was eight. On the way out I had an enjoyable talk with a woman who was training along with Claire's husband for a marathon, doing her last 22-mile run. I had poked fun at all the water and nutrition Matt was carrying for a five-mile run before I realized that they were actually planning on running for three-plus hours.

With marine air and clear skies on our left, and freeway noise on our right, we rolled along, happily chatting. Somehow the conversation turned to me sharing observations from a personality test that I recently took. "I just took a personality test too!" the woman chirped. We seemed to have a similar predilection for setting goals but then letting the path to those goals unfold intuitively. I said that works out well, if slowly, but the downside is I often get stressed out when a little more planning/discipline and less intuition could facilitate those goals.

I reached my turnaround and started running with a guy I had met last year who is quite fast -- a seven-minute-miler. But he seemed happy to go my pace, and in fact said he'd suffered an injury at the amazing Angel Island 10-mile trail run in January, (which I blogged about), and that that injury had plagued him ever since. So his goal now is simply to take it easy.

He began to tell me about his wife, a radiant woman who has left her previous job as a cartographer and made a new career choice to become a physical therapist, a profession I'd say is ideal for her disposition. I thought it was wonderful to hear about a successful life transition like that and he shared interesting details about her physical therapy studies, such as the fact that certain of their necessary stress tests can actually be harmful to the joints in question.

I observed that she seemed well suited to be a PT. He said that motivating patients to do the painful work of restoring their bodies' mechanics, especially with diminishing healthcare dollars and a widespread pill-popping mentality, makes the PT's job harder than the drug-dispensing nurse's when dealing with, say, a hip-replacement patient. He said she was also interested in geriatric care, and we began talking about youth and age.

That reminded me of a recent public TV special I saw, a talk by a gerontologist named Ken Dychtwald. In it, he told a story about meeting an older man who had just begun working with a personal trainer. The trainer urged him to talk to his inspiring client. "Why did you start training?" Dychtwald asked the man, who looked about 75. "I was getting stiff, and not feeling as energetic as I used to," the man said. They discussed his training and positive results. "When did you start working out?" Dychtwald asked. "Two years ago," the man said, "when I turned 100."

"I felt like I was looking at the man of the future," the author said in his TV special.

My running partner agreed it was a compelling story. Dychtwald's whole premise is that as human longevity increases, the way we have lived our lives in sharply defined phases, ending with retirement, no longer makes sense. We think of the young as being in their prime, "but actually we're young for such a short period of our lives," my companion wisely said -- and he's much younger than I am.

As we loped into the parking lot and reunited with our motley teammates and perky coach, I realized how effortless the five miles had been, despite the lack of sleep. I hopped in my truck and drove happily through the bright fall sunlight back home.

I always feel so good after running. I wanted to write this because a powerful sensation enveloped me later today, a sensation that, step by step, footfall by footfall, we are becoming more like that man of the future. If I am lucky I will be that spunky centenarian.

I keep making mistakes, tripping, falling, yelling, cursing, sinning, and wasting my precious time. But after last night's gig and this morning's run, I want to remember that the road is long. I know that I can take a step every day that turns me into the person I want to be. And whenever I screw up, I need to go for a run.

Late-Night Adventures of Fast-Food Musicians

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:57:00 +0000

I gigged last night with the salsa band, enjoying the sensation of being part of a well-oiled machine, thanks to recent vocal rehearsals and gigs. I floated along on a rollercoaster of emotions, doing my job as best I could while dealing with the sundry band and fan dramas that unfolded around me. The sound, unfortunately for the struggling singers, was capriciously run by a corpulent curmudgeon (when we asked for more in the monitors he grumbled and wondered why we couldn't sing louder, then actually turned us down). My best ass-kissing diplomacy had little effect. "It really sounded great the way you had it," I desperately lied. "Could you put it back to how you had it?" "Stop complaining -- you're making it worse!" someone hissed at me -- someone who'd asked me to smile at and talk to the sound man. Afterwards I thanked the man for the great sound, of course.

Dancing was fun, especially with two partners for a few songs (they would switch off partnering with me back and forth, like double-dutch jump rope -- what a blast!). After the show I had planned to jump in the car and race home to get as much sleep as possible before this morning's first run with my Oakland marathon training group. However, the timbalero, a sweet guy who is blind, asked me to give him a ride to Denny's, so that plan went out the window.

On the way, I picked his brain about how he learns tunes by ear. He shared some very interesting insights. You can easily burn yourself out listening to tunes over and over to learn them, he said, and then you stop hearing them. He said he learns a tune in about four listens.

First, he just lets it play, making no effort or commentary. The second time, he listens carefully to ALL the parts, the lyrics, the melody and the form, making mental notes. At this point (or maybe after one more listen -- I can't remember), he leaves it to get a coffee, run errands, whatever. When he comes back to it later or the next day, he focuses on sections of the form, maybe just playing the parts of the song he feels he doesn't know yet. He said he can learn a new tune in 24 hours, and can learn a band's entire book in a week.

Further, many salsa tunes are very similar, so once you know the form, he said, you're most of the way there -- the breaks may be different, among other things. This is similar advice to that in an Aebersold book I once bought on learning tunes, which classified jazz standards according to many criteria into a mental database of related songs. Great stuff that I will put to use!

We pulled into Emeryville Denny's only to discover that it was closed. "Where is a 24-hour restaurant in Oakland?" I asked the security guard. "I have to leave my friend to wait for someone, and I can't just leave him in the cold!" He directed me to the Denny's near the Oakland airport, off Hegenberger. Traffic on 880 was slow due to construction. At 3 am we finally pulled into Hegenberger Denny's. "Damn, these people are scary," I said, pulling into the only available parking space, which faced a gang of white, black and brown guys with low-hanging pants and aggressive body language. Their heads were mostly obscured by the cloud of smoke they were sharing. If you were casting a prison movie, these guys would have been a windfall.

"Don't worry, I have a blade," my resourceful percussionist said. Hmmm. In the pros column, we had the fact that my friend is a big guy, he's Puerto Rican, and he's got a switchblade. In the cons, he's blind. Worse than that, he's a musician, a breed not generally known for its fighting capabilities. "Well, there's no where else to park. Guess we'll make a run for it," I joked, wondering how I would make it back to my car alone.

We went inside just as a gargantuan woman blasted through the doors, having a tantrum about her cell phone. At this point I was hungry -- and not too proud to hit up my companion for a $3.99 meal. We waited for his friend to arrive. I looked around, then said in Spanish, "This is about the worst-looking crowd I've ever seen inside a Denny's." I don't know if it was because I was blurry-eyed and wondering how I was going to wake up in a couple of hours for a long run, but glancing around the restaurant revealed patrons who looked like they were from that famous Star Wars alien bar scene. Yep. Pretty much The People of Walmart (hey, I shop there too).

His friend arrived from his own far-off gig. We wolfed down the usual fare -- burgers, pancakes, fried eggs, french fries, bacon (though I asked for sausage) and had fun chatting in Spanglish about gigs, love and exercise. I checked my watch. We were homing in on 4 AM, so I excused myself. "Can you walk her out to her car?" the timbalero asked. The gentlemanly behavior touched me. It wasn't in vain. Exiting the doors, we nearly collided with a hometown version of Marlon Wayans in Scary Movie 2. He managed to take up the entire walk way while standing, immobile, again in a cloud of his own smoke. "Hablando del diablo," I laughed, as we parted around him like water around a boulder. My car faced more smoke-filled, angry-looking-men-with-scary-hair-filled cars. "Did you want a ride back to the door?" I joked.

I managed to be in bed by 4 AM. I woke at 8, and met my friends for a gorgeous run from the Emeryville Marina at 9. To be continued...

Yummy Cinnamon Roll Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:03:00 +0000

I made these cinnamon rolls last weekend for breakfast. The recipe was in the Oakland Tribune, adapted from a Sherwood Forest Bread and Breakfast recipe found in the new cookbook, "Cinnamon Mornings and Savory Nights: Romantic Recipes from America's Inns" by Pamela Lanier. They turned out great! I should have snapped a picture 10 minutes later, when this plate was empty.

Hit Songs I Have Neglected to Write

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Going through my files of unfinished songs and ideas, I came across some titles that, simply put, would be platinum hits if only I would complete them. Wanna whiff of my genius? Here you go:

Cerveza, Meado del Diablo (this could be a major hit in Mexico)
What You Call Beer I Call the Devil's Piss (crossover hit for U.S. market)
You're a Dipshit, Joe Lieberman
I Had a Very Shitty Christmas This Year (don't worry, it's from a while ago)
Lover's Logorrhea (over an Ivan Lins-style melody)
Mi Venganza Telefonica/My Telephonic Revenge (just has a ring to it, no?)
Mommy's Not a Happy Camper
Rejected, Dejected and Infected (R&B)
Something Is Pounding In My Head (techno)
What's In Your Diaper? (actually, I finished that one, and it was a hit on YouTube. My brother said he sings it when he changes his son's diaper.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOISZzCwMIs

Our 2009 Halloween Costumes: Elvis and Lobito

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Here are my boys' costumes! I am so proud of them. Though I must say this year Halloween was a big deal everywhere. Throngs of kids came to my door, and they were all dressed up well! My boy's school mates were really creative, and there were lots of homemade costumes. A lot of Michael Jacksons, too. My three-year-old really enjoyed the whole thing, although it was a struggle explaining every night of October why it wasn't Halloween yet! I hope next year my older son and I can make it out to the haunted house in Fremont -- we were going to go, then unexpectedly found ourselves without any coin!

Elvis turned out not so hard. I took a white tuxedo jacket that my sister-in-law bought for him at her wedding. I ironed on a few bejeweled transfers, and sewed on silver mardi gras beads. I hot glued mardi gras beads to an old pair of my sunglasses, and sewed more of them to the sides of his pants. We sprayed his hair black and I painted on a forehead curl and mutton chop sideburns. Done!

The werewolf costume was a lot easier. I made that a few years ago for my older son, so it was just a matter of finding it in the basement and painting his face. I looked online for some werewolf makeup inspiration, and think it turned out well. Of course, by the time his older brother's school parade came around he was hot and tired of the costume, so that was short lived.

My own costume was the casualty in all of this. Next year I'll try to think of something in advance. There are actually some lucrative costume competitions out there. One parent at my son's school won $400 for his incredible replica of a Manhattan bathroom (it consists of a tiled box that he wears, and it has all the amenities). However, I was called last-minute to support a friend on a gig by singing a few songs for her, so I had to abandon my plan of going as a victim of bad plastic surgery -- puffy lips, mismatched boobs and all!

Twenty Things I Miss About Corporate America

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:17:00 +0000

I am sitting in a conference keynote for a freelance writing assignment, and had to take a bio break. That got me thinking about the contrasts between this world and that of night clubs and salsa gigs. So, instead of listening to this panel discussion about how social networking and Enterprise 2.0 are affecting companies today, I wrote this list.

Twenty Things I Miss About Corporate America

Sparklingly clean restrooms
Free coffee and donuts
Limitless supply of pens
Butt photocopying
Expense accounts
Fancy restaurants and no haggling over the bill
New computers
Expensive shoes
Nice hotels with comfy beds
Frequent flyer miles
Health care
Button-down shirts
Infrequent swearing; no shouting
Infrequent drunkenness
Blazers
Cubicle banter
People with large vocabularies
T1 Internet connections
Paychecks on the 15th and the 30th
Being middle class

Original Song: Long Enough to Hear the Song that God Made

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:10:00 +0000

I wrote this awhile ago. Just recorded it today. Frankly I can't remember the last chord--I had a really beautiful one and now I can't figure out what it was. I don't know how I feel about this song, but want to post it just in the interest of keeping the pipeline flowing.

Here are the lyrics, copyright (c) Alexandra Weber Morales 2009

All I want is to be loved
To float on a tropic wave
For you to stop yelling at me
Long enough to let me hear the song that God made

And when the song pours through me
Will you finally love me
My insatiable need to be free
Please don't be angry
What do you gain when you disdain me

My heart beats wild, my back is weary
Where on earth are we going
There is no map, there is no fucking plan
Bivouacking for years on end
Contemplating the weakness of man

All I want is to be true
To sleep under open sky
For you to stop blocking my view
Long enough to let me see the light of God's eye

I gave myself away like a fool
Danger drew me to you
Imprisoned by your hazy traditions
Your phony signs and your hieroglyphics
Who have you smuggled inside you?

We found an ancient vessel
Breathed new life into the clay
Suckling, scrubbing, never sleeping
Your spears scarring, carving me deeply
Now all that's left are shards and figurines

All I want is to be loved
To float on a tropic wave
For you to stop yelling at me
Long enough to let me swim the sea that God made
Long enough to let me see the light in God's eye
Long enough to let me hear the song that God wrote
For me

Alexa's Homemade Halloween Decoration Ideas, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:06:00 +0000

In part 2 of homemade Halloween decorations, we cover homemade gravestones, accidentally-grown pumpkins and a head and a hand in a jar.

If you like the video please rate and comment with your favorite homemade Halloween tips!

Alexa's Homemade Halloween Decoration Ideas, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:11:00 +0000

This year we are not spending a cent on Halloween -- well, maybe buying candy, though I wish we could hand out cookies instead. To my amazement I realized we had come up with a lot of homemade projects, including Mr. Bottlebones (which I found on another website). If you like the video please rate and comment with your favorite homemade Halloween tips!

In Search of Halloween Inspiration, We Remember the Ventriloquist Mummy Costume

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Digging into our Halloween archives for inspiration, we revisited this gem. The best costume yet. Today my son (who is now 9) said, "How about Elvis, Mommy?" I started getting excited about the possibilities of both of my boys as Elvis, and went on for about 5 minutes until my son interrupted me: "Who is Elvis, anyway?"

Tema Original de Salsa: Catastrofe de Amor

noreply@blogger.com (Alexa Weber Morales) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:52:00 +0000

This is a song I've been writing and re-writing over the past few weeks. It's not completely done or arranged of course but I'd love your opinion and ratings! Agradezco sus comentarios!

Catastrofe de Amor
Letra y musica por Alexa Weber Morales
http://www.alexajazz.com
Derecho de autor (c) 2009 por Alexa Weber Morales
Todos derechos de autor reservados mundialmente

Trato de huir, pongo velocidad pero la noche no me ayuda
Quemando llanta doy la media vuelta
Soñando toco tu puerta
Los fantasmas me abren camino
Sin querer pizo corazones
Luego tus labios descubren cincuenta mil razones
Por las cuales estoy compartiendo mis pasiones

Es imposible que este amor oscuro triunfe
No sé porque te he dejado tratarme así
Sembramos vientos, recogemos tempestades
Porque somos dos desastres precipitándose a la catástrofe

Ámame pues, no aguanto mi soledad siempre me entrego aunque no debo
Si eres tan terrible porque tus latidos
me llaman desde tu pecho
O será que escucho los mios
me enciego a tus pecados
Grítame más, mi ternura calma tu despecho
Sollozos transformados en dos cuerpos entrelazados

Es imposible que este amor oscuro triunfe
No sé porque te he dejado tratarme así
Sembramos vientos, recogemos tempestades
Porque somos dos desastres precipitándose a la catástrofe