Simply Belle

Last time we traveled to Phoenix, we saw 4 hawks on separate occasions perching on a Saguaro cactus. Such beautiful sights to behold! There must be something that they were hunting for this time of year. But, we didn’t come prepared as we left the camera at home. So on the way over to Phoenix next time to pick up Stephanie’s CDs, we made sure we brought along the camera with us to capture this beautiful elusive creature.

Sure enough, we saw a couple and one of them was located close enough to get decent pictures using the zoom lens. I started taking pictures from the side of the freeway, but it wasn’t good enough for me. I wanted a close up one. I inched my way up the hill so as not to alarm him because hawks are very alert of their surroundings. He remained unperturbed while I was taking pictures. So, I approached further toward him by hiding behind a tree. I knew that when he saw me up close, he would fly away, and that was my purpose so I could take a picture of him in flight but the slope of the bank was too steep for me. I missed the take off, once again! Besides, I wasn’t familiar with my camera enough to get a quick focus. Darn it!

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Updates: Stephanie’s “At The Edge,” is still at the top of the list, while “Trust” moved up to #4.

You are probably tired of hearing me brag about my daughter but these type of things only come once in a great while and I thought I would document it here in my blog for retrospection.

Anyway, to make the story short, Stephanie Mae has jumped from the bottom and leaped over 9 independent artists and landed on the top of KRIM-FM 96.3, our number 1 listened to FM station in town. Here’s the list:

KRIM 96.3 FM

Kit’s Korner Indie Top 10 list for the week

Based on air play frequency

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Finally, the long-awaited CD has arrived. Sorry, it took longer than expected due to the learning curve. Next time, if ever there is a next time (we hope there will be), it will be much faster.

For those who already placed an order within the USA, please go to Stephanie Mae’s site to purchase a CD. Or you can send a check made out to Stephanie Mae for $10.99, (shipping & handling included) and mail it out to:

Stephanie Mae PO Box 1354 Payson, AZ. 85547

For those of you who placed an order from outside the USA, we are still in the process of figuring out the shipping and handling. Those from the Philippines, you may have to wait until we can provide more information on how to market the CD there. Or one option is to wait until I come home.

Thanks for your support!

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Stephanie Mae’s songs are now playing on KRIM-FM 96.3, the number 1 listened to radio station in town. Thanks to Kit Mcguire, a talented radio personality in town, for believing in her. Actually Kit has promoted several artists, and one of the them is Feist, the famous Canadian singer, who picks up four Grammy nominations: best new artist, best female pop vocal performance, best short form music video (for 1-2-3-4), and best pop vocal album (The Reminder). Feist’s popularity escalated in the recent weeks when she was featured in the ipod nano commercial. I am rooting for her!

Anyway, I have been listening to KRIM-FM 96.3 but I haven’t had the chance to hear Stephanie’s songs over the airwaves. Though my husband, Stephanie, and Lexi, on their way over for a meeting with Kit at the station last Saturday to record one-liners, happened to turn in to the radio and lo and behold, Stephanie came blasting to their ear. What a nice gesture of welcome! What other station would do that for an unknown singer? Only KRIM-FM 96.3, and I wish them all the best for giving the independent artists a chance to be heard.

Here is, by the way, the final cover for Stephanie’s CD. She said, she looks more like a young girl rather than a young adult in the previous design, thus, she reverted to the original design.

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In keeping with our CNA Christmas tradition, Rus, our hardworking secretary, traveled to Catanduanes on December 22nd to take charge of the annual Christmas party for our combined CESP (elementary and high school) and CSP (college) 34 scholars. To each child, she handed out a php400 gift certificate from Century Mall in Virac. Also, we served simple food consisting of spaghetti, fried chicken, cup cakes, and juice. To spice up the festivities, we gave each of the scholars a chance to showcase their hidden talents, that is, for those who came prepared. Indeed, some of the scholars (from Pandan town, to be specific) came geared up displaying their talents to a crowd of about of 60 people. Way to go Pandan!

In a nutshell, the Christmas party was a success due to the efforts and diligence of our secretary who orchestrated the whole proceedings to make all these possible with help and support, of course, from our volunteers and one of them was prof Gerry who, by the way, took the pictures below. Thanks sir Gerry!

Rus handing out allowance to the scholar.

Our college scholars all in their sophomore years.

Our elementary and high school scholars at the dinner table.

Some of these girls left their homes in the wee hours of the morning and traveled several hours to attend this party.They came from the northern part of Catanduanes, a place I have never set foot in.

A scholar from Pandan showcasing her talent – declamation. Wow!

Pandadanon scholars in their coordinated outfit , once again, entertaining the crowd with their dancing prowess.Clap! Clap!

Misc: My husband kept asking me if the girl he is sponsoring made it to the party. I was told by my cousin that my husband’s little girl was the only one who didn’t make it due to a mix up of the venue. You see, we had a last minute change of venue, and I suppose she was the only one who didn’t receive the updates (no cell phone, I presume) or who didn’t seek the right person in Virac. Now, I don’t have the heart to tell my husband about this unless he goes to my blog, but he rarely ever does.

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