• Las Mananitas

    Posted on January 31st, 2009 Alan No comments

    We went to a Mexican Restaurant that just opened up near us for Jane’s birthday. The waiter offered to sing Happy Birthday in spanish!  Great, I thought. That would be impressive.  I was wrong.  What we got was “Feliz cumpleanos, a ti, Feliz compleanos a ti…”  how cheesy!  What I was expecting and looking forward to was a rendition of the song Las mananitas.  My Mom and sisters would sometimes call me on the phone on my Birthday and sing it to me.  It’s a beautiful Mexican song whose lyrics read like love poems.  Here is more about the song which I found at About.com:

    Las Mañanitas is a traditional Mexican song that is sung on birthdays and other important holidays. It is often sung as an early morning serenade to wake up a loved one. At birthday parties it is sung before the cake is cut. 

    As a traditional song with a long history, there are variations of Las Mañanitas, with many different verses. At most Mexican parties only the first two verses are sung, but I have included some additional verses that are occasionally sung, particularly when it’s sung by mariachis or in a formal setting.

    Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
    Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
    Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
    Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

    Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
    Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
    Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
    Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

    Translation:

    This is the morning song that King David sang
    Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
    Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
    The birds are already singing and the moon has set

    How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
    We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
    The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
    Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn

    Additional verses:

    El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores
    En la pila del bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores

    The day you were born all the flowers were born
    On the baptismal font the nightingales sang

    Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana
    y darte los buenos días acostadita en tu cama

    I would like to be the sunshine to enter through your window
    to wish you good morning while you’re lying in your bed

    Quisiera ser un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro
    Para venirte a cantar con la música del cielo

    I would like to be a Saint John I would like to be a Saint Peter
    To sing to you with the music of heaven

    De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos
    una para saludarte y otra para decirte adiós

    Of the stars in the sky I have to lower two for you
    One with which to greet you and the other to wish you goodbye

     

     

    Las Mananitas

     

    Go here to read more about what I used to embed the song above.

  • Puzzle Games

    Posted on January 24th, 2009 Alan No comments

    Here are some fantastic puzzle games for kids (probably 8 and above) or adults.  Highly recommended.  They are in order of my favorites.

    light-Bot (Online, free)
    World of Goo
    (PC or Mac, great demo available)
    Fantastic Contraptions (Online, free)
    Blox Forever (Online, demo)
    Line Rider (Online, free)
    Bloxorz (Online, free)

  • Page Hunt

    Posted on January 24th, 2009 Alan No comments

    Page Hunt is an interesting Microsoft site that tests your knowledge of how search engines work.  Random pages are displayed and you guess what keywords will result in showing you that page.  Requires Silverlight. Thanks Alfred.

  • Advice Columns

    Posted on January 15th, 2009 Alan No comments

    Who is your favorite advice columnist?

    I like Carolyn Hax who appears in the Austin American Statement. She is quick witted, no nonsense and thought provoking.  I feel her columns tend to be long winded however, as if she is trying to fill space.

    Easily, my favorite who stands head and shoulders above all others is Slate's Dear Prudence.  The author hasn't always been the same but the questions have always been interesting and the answers funny and right on target.  I have it delivered to my inbox.