Saturday, February 26, 2011

Extraordinary surprise 2009-2011

Back in 2009, I started to write the “Extraordinary surprise 2009.  Amazing that it was almost 2 years ago, so much has changed. However, with Mary leaving tonight and CY having left yesterday, I think my “Extraordinary surprise” has at last come to an end. Truthfully, I haven’t re-watched a single episode of Op since the end of “Someday”. It has been an amazing experience and I am richer for this chapter in my life.  Thank you! 

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Adios, amigo! 

Ps:  Isn’t it horrible that I wanted to add RIP after the dates on the title?!   

May 7th… letting go

 

Musical background – instruments. Shot in studio.

I’ve walked away for 8 years now… should I relive the craziness for one weekend?  I am hesitant to even open my instrument case just in case all those memories come rushing back.  Sounds like Pandora’s box doesn’t it?  Maybe it is but then maybe it’s not.  I don’t know… things and feelings have changed so much in the last seven years.  My last participation in a performance was in 2004 at the Hawaii Theater for Chinese New Year.  Then in June, I walked away from it all.  I always wondered whether I was still clinging to those years when I’ve always turned down the offers to buy my saxophones.   I can’t believe they still want me to play… am I crazy or is it them? 

Monday, February 7, 2011

Oh… what a night to remember!!

It’s been three days since gorgeous Muse arrived into Las Vegas and I haven’t heard even a whisper from her… since I am a huge believer in personal space, I did not go to the airport to greet her even when she posted her flight info on WP on Wednesday afternoon.  I did thought about sending over a fruit basket or flowers to the front desk but… I didn’t do it.  Okay, call me lazy or just call me mindless.  The fact that I had family issues at this time did play a part and also that a cold had caught up with me during the beginning of the week.  Seeing her with a running nose and a “sick” look wasn’t my idea of nice.  Plus she had a show to do… I can’t give her any germs, right?  So… here I was counting the days when she would be leaving LV when Saturday morning I got a text message from Kit… “Call me when you have a chance.”  Wow!  Cool!  It would be good to see Kit (she mentioned that she was coming in for a visit this weekend earlier.)  I met her in HK last year when she and I were both visiting, she is really nice and friendly. 
“Hello, are you in town now?” “Came in last night.  I spoke with Teresa and she said that she wants to see you and Mary.  Her show will be from 8-11 tonight, it will be a sit down dinner show but she couldn’t get us seats so we’ll be standing around and pretend that we are part of the crew.”  “Of course we would love to see her, if she sure it’s okay.”  “Great!  When I get the passes, I’ll text you again to let you know where we can meet up.”  “Ok, thanks!”  I called Mary and said “Kit called and said Muse got us passes for the show tonight as part of the crew.  We would be the proverbial fly on the wall but we’ll get to see her.  I’ll come and pick you folks up for lunch and we’ll talk”  “Great!”    Now, I am thinking… I really should get her flowers.  But (dang!), I don’t know any good florist here.  After lunch, Mary and I went florist hunting and I finally remember seeing one close to my home.  I had previously brought a little license plate that says “Welcome.. Teresa… Las Vegas” so brought a dozen red roses (struggled with the arrangement with the florist girl) and a cute teddy bear… DSCN0431
My next message from Kit came… “Teresa wants to see us backstage before the show.  Could you and Mary make it a little earlier?”  I called her back and said “Yes, for sure!”  Man, this is perfect!  You gals know how much I prefer being low-key.  Backstage would be just the perfect setting!  I can give the bouquet to her, see her up close, say hi and maybe even squeeze in a hug.  (Plus I don’t have to hold on to the bouquet throughout the night waiting for the right moment to present it to her.) 
Mary and I met up with Kit and her husband and another couple and Kit asked me… “You will be staying for the whole show, right?”  I looked at her and said… "Yeah..."  “Good!  Because Teresa was able to get us seats and we’ll be having dinner too!”  “Wow!”  “She also wants to meet up after the show and grab a late night dinner… because she won’t have a chance to eat.”  Talk about being floored right there and then!  I am still amazed that this international star could be so… kind, considerate, thoughtful, sincere, etc… all that inner beauty just makes her even more DSCN0426stunning, precious and beautiful. 
When we walked into the ballroom, it was HUGE!  There were over 200 tables and we were seated at table #9! When we found our table, My god, it was practically right next to the stage!   Here's a picture of the humongous centerpiece at the table… kind of gets in the way of the sumptuous food, if you know what I mean.  The food was delicious and we had wine and champagne and more wine and more champagne and more wine and a bottle of Dom Perignon to top it all off.  Needless to say, I was really enjoying myself. 


When Muse walked on the stage!  WOW!  I think a picture is worth a thousand words… so here she is!DSCN0424DSCN0435DSCN0437DSCN0436
After the show, we were treated to another “meal”.  I was so stuffed already from the dinner!  I mean, I looked at the Rib eye, pizza, pasta, buffalo wings, calamari… and thought… “Oh my…”  (Plus there was more wine…)  The whole atmosphere was surreal.  I mean. here I was sitting at a table with Muse and her family, her very good friends and Mary.  Her little darlings and hubby also didn’t have dinner yet because they went to see “Phantom..”  Gawd, Jill is soooo cute!  She’s like a tiny Muse!  Jan is a bit quieter but she is sweet.  I think it's because she's  older and at that age... kind of shy.  I gave Jill, the future chef in the making, a recipe magazine.  I told her that I would be very happy if she made anything for her Mom and Dad from the recipes and if and when she did, to have her Mom post it in Weibo.  Muse laughed and said that she believe Jill will be going to culinary school in the future!  I see her flipping thru the magazine with her sister and Daddy and pointing out the pictures.  To wrap up the night… more “personal” pictures, of course!  Here is one that I took of Muse. 
Testing the flash of my”idiot” camera, I must admit… it came out perfect!    
This one has been cropped!  Guess who’s shoulder Muse has her hand on?  The other arm?  Hee hee! Hahaha!  I got TWO real hugs from Muse! Wakakaka!

What an awesome night!  (What a way to start the Chinese New Year!)
Thank you, Muse!  Thank you, Kit!  Thank you, Mary!
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Just one more pic… courtesy of Muse.  She's so cute... and I never thought she would remembered my real name!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Cardiac arrest?!?!

{{{{Ring}}}} Hello?

Hello, I am calling from Torrey Pines Rehab… your father had an allergic reaction to the ointment that we just put on him and he had trouble breathing and went into cardiac arrest.  The ambulance is coming to take him to the emergency room and we will call you back in 10 minutes to let you know what hospital he will taken to. 

Wait a minute!  What do you mean he had a cardiac arrest? 

We will call you right back.  (Dead line)

{{{{Ring}}}} Hello!

Yes, this is Torrey Pines….

How is he? 

He is on his way the Spring Valley Hospital…

HOW IS HE?!?!

He is stable and lucid.  We are taking him to emergency for precautions.

Thank you.

Mom and I rushed to the hospital and here is my father with an oxygen mask and lying in bed…. actually grinning at us when he saw us! 

爸,咩事呀? 你點呀?

唔知呢。今朝個護士諗住同我搽藥膏,除咗件衫,我就好凍喇。好似發冷咁,係咁震。搞到我透唔到氣....就車咗我嚟呢度。我係咪可以返屋企喇?

噢! 啲護士冇同你搽藥膏?

冇呀!

爸,你未出得院呀。醫生話Ok先得呀。

我冇事喎! 點解唔出得?

等我睇睇咩事先啦,好唔好?

哦!

Dad is fine but he is staying in the hospital tonight for observations.