Went to get a haircut today. And as the lady was trimming my sideburns... she surreptitiously and slyly trims my ear-hair.
I've noticed hair growing from my ear recently... but I really don't know how to trim it. It's not like nose hair or eyebrows, where it's in front of you!!
She did it very quickly... almost like... "No one has to know. This is between you and me. And hey... I don't even have to know."
No...she didn't get more tip.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Thursday, June 21, 2018
怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Comeback
(Shucks... took a 3 week hiatus to write this one. The memory is fading fast)
When the world seems to have fallen apart... heroes will rise. And rarely, do heroes stand alone.
The team really banded together. Everyone wanted to be sure what happened in week 1 didn't happen again.
I got requests for week 1's video. Cuz word got out that it was an epic musical (I didn't think so)
I got emails / calls telling me to get with Dung to ensure A/V is ready.
I was told that we'll have professional video recording. (Honestly... I really DON'T want recording)
I was asked if we can rehearse... as opposed to if we needed to rehearse.
The whole world wanted us to succeed. They were begging for a successful part 2.
On Friday night... we didn't just rehearse, we squeezed every drop of our creative juice to make our mark.
On Saturday morning... we were suppose to rehearse in the Sanctuary. But was inadvertently double-booked. But the team made the best of the situation and made lemonade out of lemons. Part of the team went overtime... and wanted to further rehearse on their own, just to ensure they had things pat.
The A/V and Lighting team was so enthralled in getting every last detail correct. It was maddening.
On Saturday night... close to midnight... the script was still evolving. And it dawned on me that we need to end the skit on a high note. So last minute... I added a TWIST that had everyone applauding on Whatsapp.
And dear Sam (of course it's the Tsangs) ends the night by saying, "Bless everyone a good night sleep and Holy Spirit filled tomorrow!"
That's how it should start...and that's how it should end - with God. We were ready....
When the world seems to have fallen apart... heroes will rise. And rarely, do heroes stand alone.
The team really banded together. Everyone wanted to be sure what happened in week 1 didn't happen again.
I got requests for week 1's video. Cuz word got out that it was an epic musical (I didn't think so)
I got emails / calls telling me to get with Dung to ensure A/V is ready.
I was told that we'll have professional video recording. (Honestly... I really DON'T want recording)
I was asked if we can rehearse... as opposed to if we needed to rehearse.
The whole world wanted us to succeed. They were begging for a successful part 2.
On Friday night... we didn't just rehearse, we squeezed every drop of our creative juice to make our mark.
On Saturday morning... we were suppose to rehearse in the Sanctuary. But was inadvertently double-booked. But the team made the best of the situation and made lemonade out of lemons. Part of the team went overtime... and wanted to further rehearse on their own, just to ensure they had things pat.
The A/V and Lighting team was so enthralled in getting every last detail correct. It was maddening.
On Saturday night... close to midnight... the script was still evolving. And it dawned on me that we need to end the skit on a high note. So last minute... I added a TWIST that had everyone applauding on Whatsapp.
And dear Sam (of course it's the Tsangs) ends the night by saying, "Bless everyone a good night sleep and Holy Spirit filled tomorrow!"
That's how it should start...and that's how it should end - with God. We were ready....
"つづく"
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Costco surprises me again
Costco never ceases to amaze me.
Today... Nui-nui picked up a box of 6 double chocolate muffins. I was initially reluctant to buy it.. but it's summer, and I'm sure I can eat 1 or 2 for breakfast.
Upon getting to the register, the cashier said "This is 2 for the price of 1. Do you want a second one?"
I think about it for a sec.... hmm.... same price, 12 muffins. What a deal!!!! But I can't eat all that. It's unhealthy! "Nah... I don't want to waste food. I'll just take one box."
She rings me up.... and she gives the box of muffins to her colleague to re-stock.
"Wait...wait... wait.... I can't buy one?!?"
"Sorry sir.... You need to buy two."
"But what if I pay for two, but I only want one."
"I can't let you walk out with one box. Sorry sir."
I couldn't help but laugh. This is senseless and mindless. Only in America.
Today... Nui-nui picked up a box of 6 double chocolate muffins. I was initially reluctant to buy it.. but it's summer, and I'm sure I can eat 1 or 2 for breakfast.
Upon getting to the register, the cashier said "This is 2 for the price of 1. Do you want a second one?"
I think about it for a sec.... hmm.... same price, 12 muffins. What a deal!!!! But I can't eat all that. It's unhealthy! "Nah... I don't want to waste food. I'll just take one box."
She rings me up.... and she gives the box of muffins to her colleague to re-stock.
"Wait...wait... wait.... I can't buy one?!?"
"Sorry sir.... You need to buy two."
"But what if I pay for two, but I only want one."
"I can't let you walk out with one box. Sorry sir."
I couldn't help but laugh. This is senseless and mindless. Only in America.
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Family Time
In San Diego this week for a short vacation. And we end up staying with the Tat's in their San Diego home. It's always a little anxious staying overnight with someone. Will they get in your way? Will you get in their way? What if you end up being "that family" that the host wants to get rid of? So many things to think about and worry about.
Back to back nights.. I ended up sitting in the living room to watching TVB with them. Mindless chit-chat for about an hour. Such precious family time.
I asked Hody if they that's what they do at home. She said... "Yes, and No." Yes... they watch the news together and have an hour of mindless chit-chat. No...instead of a 70" TV....the entire family is hovered in front of an iPad.
Wow.... so eye opening to see other families interact this way.
Back to back nights.. I ended up sitting in the living room to watching TVB with them. Mindless chit-chat for about an hour. Such precious family time.
I asked Hody if they that's what they do at home. She said... "Yes, and No." Yes... they watch the news together and have an hour of mindless chit-chat. No...instead of a 70" TV....the entire family is hovered in front of an iPad.
Wow.... so eye opening to see other families interact this way.
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Irrational Boldness
Received a Short Term Mission support letter today. In it... "I want to preach the gospel to others because I feel like I can do it, so I will do it.... Another reason I am going is because I feel like God is telling me to go."
That's from a 10 year old. Dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng. You will never see that from an adult. Love the boldness from this kid. What happened to our faith???? I want to be like this little guy!!!
That's from a 10 year old. Dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng. You will never see that from an adult. Love the boldness from this kid. What happened to our faith???? I want to be like this little guy!!!
Saturday, June 09, 2018
One of the happiest days of my life
Today was one of the happiest days of my life. I went fishing with my son. We didn't catch anything. But man... it was rough... I don't fish so I was struggling while trying to keep a kid entertained. I can't wait to do it again.....
Sunday, June 03, 2018
Wally Pipp'ed
Wally Pipp'ed.... a verb coined for the famous Yankees player Wally Pipp who, accordingly to legend, had a headache one day and was replaced by Lou Gehrig at Shortstop. Lou Gehrigh went on to playing that same position for the next 17 seasons.... (2130 games).
Today... I think I got Wally Pipp'ed. And all for the better.
The past 3 years... I've been at the core of almost all the big CS events. Carnivals...CNY... Gospel Sundays, etc.... it was time to give someone else a chance. And this team took the torch and set it ablazin'!!!! So proud of this team.....
Sometimes.... people just need a chance, a gig, a start. Like when Larry gave me my opportunity several years ago. And here I am today. So prayerfully... we have a new era of leaders, managers, organizers to take CS and SJCAC to a new level!!!!
By the way....God doesn't need us. He can do anything he wants with anyone.
Today... I think I got Wally Pipp'ed. And all for the better.
The past 3 years... I've been at the core of almost all the big CS events. Carnivals...CNY... Gospel Sundays, etc.... it was time to give someone else a chance. And this team took the torch and set it ablazin'!!!! So proud of this team.....
Sometimes.... people just need a chance, a gig, a start. Like when Larry gave me my opportunity several years ago. And here I am today. So prayerfully... we have a new era of leaders, managers, organizers to take CS and SJCAC to a new level!!!!
By the way....God doesn't need us. He can do anything he wants with anyone.
Friday, June 01, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
失而復得
Oh.... the past couple of months have been agonizing. My smartphone charger was starting to go bonkers. There were only 1-2 power cords that would charge it... and when it charged, I had to hold onto it in a certain angle or bump it against something hard. When all hope was nearly lost... and I was willing to either upgrade my phone... or have the phone opened up and charger replaced... I did a little youtube DIY snooping. And lo and behold here was the fix.
Take a friggin sharp tip, like a paper clip or thumbtack. And dig all the lint out of the hole. That's it.
I dug and dug... at first, only a few threads came out and I thought it was hopeless. Then after some more digging, I realized that the 1-2 cords that use to minimally work, didn't even fit anymore!
Then some more digging and digging...and eventually.... WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The biggest lint ball outside of a cat spitting up everything it's shedded the past week!
It felt.... cathartic. A release. A cleansing. Kinda like... (so I've heard) when you check your belly button and start seeing things in there. Then you start cleaning it...and cleaning it... and before long... Oh man.... you should've gotten fined by the Environmental Protection Agency.
After the ball comes out... I slip the charger in. AHhhhhhhh.... fits like a glove.
Take a friggin sharp tip, like a paper clip or thumbtack. And dig all the lint out of the hole. That's it.
I dug and dug... at first, only a few threads came out and I thought it was hopeless. Then after some more digging, I realized that the 1-2 cords that use to minimally work, didn't even fit anymore!
Then some more digging and digging...and eventually.... WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The biggest lint ball outside of a cat spitting up everything it's shedded the past week!
It felt.... cathartic. A release. A cleansing. Kinda like... (so I've heard) when you check your belly button and start seeing things in there. Then you start cleaning it...and cleaning it... and before long... Oh man.... you should've gotten fined by the Environmental Protection Agency.
After the ball comes out... I slip the charger in. AHhhhhhhh.... fits like a glove.
Monday, May 28, 2018
怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Nightmare
A lot of people say I'm a perfectionist, that I demand high quality. To a point, where people have told Joyce, "It's so hard being your husband's wife." I have no idea what they're talking about. I demand so little!! I just expect you to do what you feel most comfortable with. Hopefully, it's at a level of excellence that's equal to mine. (hehehe) But if it's not, I then you've got a lot of catching up to do...
Week 1 went horribly (in my eyes). The sound system and microphone completely blew the entire mood. We didn't rehearse enough. Our mics that didn't work. We had misplaced mics so we couldn't get lines out. Music files were wrong. Lines were forgotten. So many bad things happened... and after the end of Act 1.... to which ended up in thunderous applause, I simply needed to hide. I was pissed. No.... I was "effin" pissed!!! How the heck can it go so scandalously wrong?!?!? At that moment, the only place I felt comfortable in being was the crying room. We locked up the crying room, so we can force people to sit in the sanctuary. And as luck would have it... it was Anderson translating. During those 20-25 minutes of fuming and calming down... the only person I really needed to be with, was good ol' Anderson. He needn't say anything... I just needed him to be there.
And although afterwards, all I heard were accolades, the only thing I had in mind was, "This is NOT going to happen next week."
Week 1 went horribly (in my eyes). The sound system and microphone completely blew the entire mood. We didn't rehearse enough. Our mics that didn't work. We had misplaced mics so we couldn't get lines out. Music files were wrong. Lines were forgotten. So many bad things happened... and after the end of Act 1.... to which ended up in thunderous applause, I simply needed to hide. I was pissed. No.... I was "effin" pissed!!! How the heck can it go so scandalously wrong?!?!? At that moment, the only place I felt comfortable in being was the crying room. We locked up the crying room, so we can force people to sit in the sanctuary. And as luck would have it... it was Anderson translating. During those 20-25 minutes of fuming and calming down... the only person I really needed to be with, was good ol' Anderson. He needn't say anything... I just needed him to be there.
And although afterwards, all I heard were accolades, the only thing I had in mind was, "This is NOT going to happen next week."
"つづく"
Sunday, May 27, 2018
怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Lyrics
(Better hurry up and finish my recollection...otherwise I'll forget all the details. HA!)
Often I get asked... "How is your Chinese so good?!" I'll be first to admit... my Chinese is 本桶水. All my Chinese comes from years and years of watching TVB... listening to Cantopop... reading 港漫... and oh... those 9 years of Chinese School at St. Mary's. And don't even get me started on Mandarin Chinese. If I'm at elementary school level for Cantonese Chinese, my Mandarin is probably at K or Pre-K.
Throughout these years... I've figured out patterns and shortcuts. I've been able to borrow or even, plagiarize here or there. But regardless of how much you can leverage off other people's work... there comes a time when it truly is inspiration.
Filling in the lyrics for these songs was like the recent stock market. At times... I can sit and crank out verses up on verses. Other times... I'm stuck. I research other lyrics from similar genre - sometimes I get 1-2 phrases. Most of the time, it's fruitless. My method of finding words that rhyme is very archaic. I literally, go through the letters of the English alphabet, one at a time, sounding out words to see if a word exists. "SCORE!!!" if it exists... "NEXT....." if it doesn't. If it exists.... I quickly jot it down like I've uncovered some hidden treasure on my safari.
Then with Cantonese... there are 9 tones. So even if a word "rhymes", the word won't fit unless it's the right "tone." And if it's the right "tone", I'm stuck trying to find a phrase that fits it's meaning. Over and over.... day and night... traffic and no traffic... Sitting on the stall or sitting at my desk. I've scribbled on so many pieces of paper that I've lost track of the number of iterations I've gone through.
And to top it off.... I hold myself to a certain high standard that these lyrics have got to have some depth and meaning. Unlike the CNY musical I pulled off...this time, it was serious.
Some songs... I got right away. Some songs... it took a greater part of 3 weeks. And even then... I simply gave up and said, "Good enough. No one will notice." Astoundingly.... I got soooooooooooooo many accolades from people who were amazed that the lyrics.
One day... I really would like to watch a youtube video or sit with a legitimate lyricist on the art of penning a song. And now... before the dream comes true... must come the nightmare.....
Often I get asked... "How is your Chinese so good?!" I'll be first to admit... my Chinese is 本桶水. All my Chinese comes from years and years of watching TVB... listening to Cantopop... reading 港漫... and oh... those 9 years of Chinese School at St. Mary's. And don't even get me started on Mandarin Chinese. If I'm at elementary school level for Cantonese Chinese, my Mandarin is probably at K or Pre-K.
Throughout these years... I've figured out patterns and shortcuts. I've been able to borrow or even, plagiarize here or there. But regardless of how much you can leverage off other people's work... there comes a time when it truly is inspiration.
Filling in the lyrics for these songs was like the recent stock market. At times... I can sit and crank out verses up on verses. Other times... I'm stuck. I research other lyrics from similar genre - sometimes I get 1-2 phrases. Most of the time, it's fruitless. My method of finding words that rhyme is very archaic. I literally, go through the letters of the English alphabet, one at a time, sounding out words to see if a word exists. "SCORE!!!" if it exists... "NEXT....." if it doesn't. If it exists.... I quickly jot it down like I've uncovered some hidden treasure on my safari.
Then with Cantonese... there are 9 tones. So even if a word "rhymes", the word won't fit unless it's the right "tone." And if it's the right "tone", I'm stuck trying to find a phrase that fits it's meaning. Over and over.... day and night... traffic and no traffic... Sitting on the stall or sitting at my desk. I've scribbled on so many pieces of paper that I've lost track of the number of iterations I've gone through.
And to top it off.... I hold myself to a certain high standard that these lyrics have got to have some depth and meaning. Unlike the CNY musical I pulled off...this time, it was serious.
Some songs... I got right away. Some songs... it took a greater part of 3 weeks. And even then... I simply gave up and said, "Good enough. No one will notice." Astoundingly.... I got soooooooooooooo many accolades from people who were amazed that the lyrics.
One day... I really would like to watch a youtube video or sit with a legitimate lyricist on the art of penning a song. And now... before the dream comes true... must come the nightmare.....
"つづく"
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