Duel of Fates

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 121

After almost 20 years... NN finally watches Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. She had to break it up into 2 nights. And the first night... she could'n't finish it cuz of the cringy lines and the unpalatable Jar Jar.  Tonight... she "finished" it.  Finished in quotes because.... “We cringed at the cringy part. Laughed at the funny part. And skipped all the bad parts”

She also added...

“I’m upset Qui Gon died”

and lastly...

“Anakin and Padme. That’s just wrong. I’m sorry.”

Ironically... it's Joyce that's watching Star Wars with her right now.  I guess that means I get to watch it with SW when his turn rolls around. 

4 Months

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 120

It's been 120 days since that fateful day we got an email that school will be shutting down - Friday the 13th.  

The following Monday - Santa Clara County issues the Shelter in Place order starting at 7PM the night of March 16th.  That afternoon, Joyce texted me to run out and get some groceries.  

I ran over to Lunardi's that day... and fought through a sea of people to grab what was left at the butcher store, including this whole chicken - which tonight, we took out of the freezer to defrost, so we can bake it tomorrow.  

Green with envy

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 119

One at a time... all my peers from long ago are making Director.  Don't get me wrong... I'm truly happy for them and it's much deserved.  They put out a lot and have given up a lot.  It's just...  when will it be my turn???  天時地利人和.  So many factors... so many chances... so many missed opportunities.  

I claim to be a Christian.  I claim to be a child of God and know He is my provider.  I make these empty declarations because when the rubber is hitting the road.... I feel like this.  

Didn't even want to work tonight after I found out.  Just curl up in my fetal position and sulk. Sulk sulk sulk..... 

PG-13

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 116

What makes a film PG vs PG-13?  Well... for one (or two), PG-13 can show boobies.  Case in point, Titanic and Kate Winslet.  And another, as I found out through Alexander Hamilton and tonight, via Instant Family, you are allowed one F-word.  

You can push the limits of profanity with "Sh!t" and "B!tch" and "D@mn" and "H3ll" all you want... but you're allowed to say one and only one "Fuck." And tonight... my kids had their ears tainted with their first "Fuck."  

Joyce and I both cringed and gave each other a look.  The kids... didn't even blink.  Either that word is as foreign to them as is the word "masturbate" which was also in the movie.  Or it's already part of their vocabulary where it doesn't faze them. 

婷婷玉立

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 114

She's on the phone...er... Google Meet for hours.  She hates taking showers, but when she does, she's in there for 45 minutes.  She is wearing adult undergarments.  And today... my 囡囡豬 revealed her first pimple.  And of course, it's gotta be on the nose.  

She ain't a little girl anymore.  And yet... she'll always be daddy's little girl. 

Oceans rise. Empires Faalllllllll.......

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 113

And a Happy belated Hamilton Day to you!!  Almost a week since July 3rd when the musical that took the country by storm finally landed on Disney+.  Still remember the first time I came across it... when Geoff told me that I can listen to it on Hoopla for free.  I didn't even know it was a phenomenon back then.  On and off... I'll listen to the songs, but they were never catchy.  Unlike your typical musicals.

A few years back, Hamilton finally premiered at SF Best of Broadway... and boy was it hard to get tickets.  When the pre-sale went live (what the heck is a pre-sale anyways?!?! everyone has equal access!!!), the queue was in the THOUSANDS....for HOURS!!!  And when I finally got to my spot... nothing except for nosebleeds or way off to the side for hundreds if not thousands of bucks.  Ouch!!!

Feeling defeated, I gave up.  I didn't get caught up in the hoopla (heh...see what I did there?).  Then I found out that ppl signed up to be a BoB Member, just so they can get Hamilton tickets.  So when news got out that Hamilton was coming back for a 2nd tour... I jumped on the bandwagon, almost.  The lineup wasn't all that.... and a buddy told me... you can pay aftermarket for that one show... and you won't waste money on the other shows you won't even have time to go watch.  Such wisdom.

Time goes on... and before you know it.... Hamilton is back.  I didn't even realize it until someone won lotto tickets to it [again]!!!!  Then I started searching for tix....for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Joyce's Bday, Anniversary....  Man..... there were soooooooooooooooooooo many available seats.  And with most supply and demand curves... once there is plenty of supply... I lose interest.  

Flash forward to July 3rd.  It's late.  Kids are asleep after a long, tiring day of chillaxing.  I pop open a cold one (or two) and immerse myself into this cultural revolution (pun intended).  Was it worth 2 hrs and 40 minutes of my time? I love history.  I love art.  I love it when I see a genius at work.  A virtuoso painting his masterpiece.  Yo yo Ma carving his cello.  Federer carving down Nadal.  Lin Manuel Miranda..... carving down American culture as we know it.  

Did I like the musical? How do I rate it?  To measure the success of this musical in the Leung household... I guess you can look at what happened the days after.  The next day... I redownloaded it on hoopla.  Kept on playing it.  Kept on singing (trying to) the songs. Was explaining what the lyrics meant in context and that night...............  Joyce and NN kicked me and SW out and watched it on their own.  It's PG-13 and SW showed zero interest.   So is that good or bad.... when during dinner, I'm playing "My Shot" and the whole fam is bobbing their heads to the beat.  Heh....

And I swear.... by the moon and the stars in the skies.... if I ever get an opportunity to write another musical.... it'll be in the style of Hamilton.  There....that's how I rate it.  #BOOM 

“Even when the dark comes crashing through....”

滴滴仔 , 滴滴女

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 111

Tonight as we were going to bed... we did our usual round of  今日有咩開心, NN unsurprisingly said... "我今日好開心， 因為終於贏咗小華。"  For whatever reason... NN is simply unable to beat SW in ping pong.  SW has an unconventional way of playing... but it works.  And it kills NN that she can't beat her little brother.

Well.... tonight, something finally clicked.  Her serves are better.  Her returns are sharper.  Her attitude... still the same ol' competitive sore loser.  

I do admit...that whenever they play... deep down... I want her to beat SW.  Favoritism?? Perhaps.  Or maybe it's cuz I know SW can take a loss in stride while NN really wears it on her sleeves.  Plus... this will now make SW want to improve his game and try to beat 家姐.  Momma is already the 4th best player in our family... and isn't even close.  The odd thing is... I'm starting to have a hard time beating them.  Need to up my game too!!  

"Hello!" "Hello!"

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 110    

Enduring hardships together.  Sharing a credit card or bank account.  Obviously being parents. But something that's overlooked when talking about a strong relationship is to be able to share a heavy dose of laughter.  Such was the case today... when I was once again VSA-ing for something to watch.  And on Hulu... I found one of my childhood faves - Perfect Strangers.

I started with the infamous episode where Larry has temporary amnesia and he has to meet Jennifer's mom for the first time.  And the scene where Anderson and I would repeat over and over again.  Strangely enough, Joyce never watched it while growing up in America.  And today... she finally got a dose of what got me through life for a good 4-5 years (6-7 years if you include syndication).  I was actually surprised that she was laughing so hard.... to a point where she's singing the theme song and now repeating those very sacred lines.  We ended up binging on the first season - with 7 more seasons to go.  Even the kids are into this mindless, family oriented comedy.  

"Hello!"

"Hello!"

"My name is Cousin Larry Appleton!"

"Hello! My name is Cousin Larry Appleton."

"How are you?"

"Fine." 

A dilemma

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 109

NN just turned 11.... and God bless me, she still lets me lie down next to her and tuck her in while putting her down [to sleep].  In the past.. I'll tell her one of my epic stories and she'll zonk out after a long day at school.  And then I'll use the next 30 minutes or so news-ing.  But since SIP, she's been staying up later and later.  To a point, where she'll talk to me.  

A few weeks ago... I realized that every time she starts to talk, I'll give her a one word answer and say, "Good night."  After a few tries, I'll get a little stern and say, "Time to sleep."  When will a daughter ever want to talk to her dad again...???  

Since that realization... I've had to force myself to to put the phone down and listen, and respond.  I'm tried.  I'm not up for small talk.  And half the time, I'm not even listening.  We'll talk for 2-3 minutes... and I'll want her to stop.  Cuz it IS getting late and she should sleep.  But do I want it to stop??  A few minutes of silence and I get to news again... and she'll turn around and ask me more questions and start small talk.  Ashamed to say it... I'll get annoyed.  But I've been pushing through it.  How I want to tell her to "Go to sleep" and be done with.  I know I'll regret it if I do that... even just one more time.  Cuz that one more time... could be the one last time.  

Favoritism

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 108

I don't blame mom for showing favoritism to CT.  She's spent more time with him in his 4 years than SW and NN in their combined 20. But seriously... she made the instant noodles for SW.  Come time to spoon some soup into their bowls... SW, who was waiting for his lunch, gets second billing.  CT was still working on his chicken... his bowl was farther away... and he wasn't even showing signs of hunger.  Pissed me off to a point I had to say something, "Mom, you have two grandsons."  

Can't blame the recipient.  Not their fault.  Can't blame the giver, not their fault.

I never cared if Grandma or Dad liked big bro more.  That's just the way it is.

I never cared if mom liked me more (past tense).  That's just the way it was.

NN is spot on when she accuses Joyce of being partial to SW.  She doesn't help her case either.

I don't blame big bro... or CT... That's just the way it is.

I personally claim to be impartial to SW and NN.... but I also claim it's not totally impartiality, they're just different.  They get different types of affection.  Ok... fine... I'm partial to NN.  Happy???? 

Favoritism is just a way of life.  Just wanna say... Keep it up. You reap what you sow.    

Live by Example

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 106

It gets really annoying when NN and SW won't eat their food cuz of onions and garlic. They would either pick it out... or just not eat that dish. Don't know why they're so picky....

Until....

I take a bite of the soondubu jjigae that Joyce made... and immediately spat it out.  BLEAH!!!! What's that taste.  I look down.... oh crap.  菇.  I start picking it out and it occurs to me... "Oh. That's where they get it from."  Heh.....