Lightbulbs

It's getting out of hand... it started with one.  Then two.  Then three.  One more and I won't have lights in my room.  But the high ceilings makes it's easy to procrastinate. I finally buy that extender.. removed the lightbulbs and proceeded to Home Depot for replacements... only... they no longer sell incandescents. Same with Lowe's... only LED's. Geez.... no wonder those Light bulb stores are still around. 

Hank Talk

After several rounds of rejections.. I said, "Screw it... I'm gonna do my own thing." And I held our first annual Bay Area Prod Ops Quality Symposium.  It came together last minute... but it was soooo well received. 

Tony/Anson did their job in going over Lessons Learned.

Winston/Tim knocked a homerun with their Quality Pong and Quality Jeopardy / Family Feud.

Then came time for me to give my talk about "Personal Branding."  I first came across this around 2018... and I took it and modified it for Eden Fellowship.  I then took the Eden Fellowship version and re-modified it for a professional environment.

Man... was I not prepared.  But in the end... it was so well received.  I ripped myself opened and shared my vulnerabilities.  I even forgot (by God's grace) to take out a biblical reference.  And when I saw it.. I went with the flow. Got so many accolades for my "Ted Talk." One person said, "Your Ted Talk spoke directly to my soul."  Another person who is rather soft spoken sent me a 6 paragraph email about what he's going through. 

What originally was a means to share some Lessons Learned became an agent of bonding and reflection.  I am proud to say... that today... I was the salt and light at work. 

Pick up the phone!!!

Wanted to order Panda Express for my department's end of the year party... but on the website, they say the earliest pickup time is 12:05PM.  That won't work... lunch is at 11:30AM.

So I tried calling.  No answer.  I call back... no answer.  Ok... I'll try again later.

Later... I call again.  No answer.  I try another Panda. No answer!!  I call 2 other Pandas.... and not one place answered the phone.  Oh my geez.. until finally..  I called a Panda that did answer.  It was bit a farther out.  But they were able to accommodate my 10:30AM pickup time. 

What is it with businesses....? 

City Slickers

I've blogged on City Slickers twice since 2005. My favorite movie... a suburban western about 3 friends going through a mid-life crisis.  I've rewatched this countless times throughout the years.  

In the beginning... it was my favorite movie because of the adventure.

Then it was the friendships.

Then it was turning 39. 

So many reasons to love this movie.

I rewatched it with the kids today... and I like reading the bible over and over again... you gain new perspective.

The moment where they share "best day" and "worst day."  The writers may have done this surreptiously... or it may have been on purpose...

But Billy Crystal talks about seeing Yankee Stadium live.. in person... for the first time... with this dad.

Daniel Stern.. talks about his wedding day... and he gets a *wink* from his dad.

Bruno Kirby.. shares how he stood up and chased away the cheater.. his dad.

Then... the dentist who volunteers to take Cookie to town... and the son protesting.  The dad says, "Ride with me son.  It'll still be fun."

This isn't just a movie about friendship... about finding the meaning of life... about driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado.  It's about the unbounding relationship between a son and a dad.

SCREEEEEECH!!!!

There a few things in life that can cause you to slam the brakes, screeeech, and come to a complete stop or collision.  

Coincidentally... both happened in the same calendar year.

The first time was was MC texted us and said, "Hey!! We have something to show you before we tell more people."

The second time was tonight... when I received a text, "Ahem, btw we have an announcement to make."

Oh my.................. what is going on here?????  

Thanksgiving 2022

Another Holiday event bites the dust... once again.. the stress works itself out.

Mom and Dad's divorce has created a chasm that gets trickier and trickier every year.  And yet... we somehow figure it out every season.

This Thanksgiving... for whatever reason.. I was hosting Thanksgiving with mom and the in-laws.  As the planets aligned... I was able to share a Thanksgiving lunch with one of my best friends in SF Chinatown.  After lunch.. Jeff and I seized the opportunity to stroll the streets where I grew up.  This isn't the Chinatown I grew up in.  The stores were different.  So many new shops popping up.  The people are different.  I saw a HK Style Cafe written with simplified Chinese. The infrastructure is different... including an underground Muni going directly to Chinatown. All the memories start rushing back. Those days when I would wander the music stores... the comic stores... and even... the touristy shops.

"It wasn't as awkward as I thought." Was NN's comment as the evening closed. Mom and the In-Laws don't hang out. They're not in the same group.  Dad would jive.  Dad jives with everyone. I don't know how he does it. We made it work with a mah jong table.  And during dinner... I was able to squeeze a "Thanksgiving" out of everyone.

Grace: To move into my new house.

SW: To making it into King's

NN: The casting call

Joyce: Escaping Hawaii without getting COVID

MIL: Able to have a proper funeral and burial for grandma

FIL: A negative scan of his liver - he's cancer free!!

Mom: Health in spite of losing 40 lbs from her 120 lb original weight

Me: Able to coach NN and SW's basketball Team

NN (part two): Being demoted from Team A to Team B... (in tears)... and triumphantly becoming the best player on Team B.  

I was able to cook Thanksgiving dinner. I love to cook. Was planning this dinner for days.  Disappointingly... it didn't come out as I had hoped, but it was a dinner nonetheless.

But the most memorable moment of it all... was when mom grabbed SW's book, "Soul Surfer", and started reading outloud in the first page of Acknowledgements. She didn't miss a beat.  Pronounced all the words correctly.  Struggled through the long words and phonics'ed her way through the SAT words.  Mom... supposedly a 70+ year old, senile, old lady... has once again impressed and amazed me.  All those years of Adult School and ESL... she is finally finding her language.  The language of her nation and citizenship. I watched with my jaw on the floor.  So proud... so so proud of her.

5 kernels??? I dunno... I don't think I can make 5 kernels after that moment in time. 

Team Bonding

Credit to Mama Bell for showing me there's life beyond the court... we had our very own Jr. High Basketball Team Bonding event.  We originally thought of going to a Stanford Hoops game, but as luck, would have it...the timing didn't work.  Ended up having pizza, Capri Sun, chips, popsicles... and a TKA Varsity Game.

There's such a diversion between the two teams. Team A was totally into the game.  They were studying and learning.  Team B goof'ed around.  One of the players cheered for the opposing team just cuz he could. 

But amazingly... the happiest people of the night were the parents.  Sixth grade parents truly want their kids to hang out with healthy friend groups.  I got so many accolades from the parents it was embarrassing.  

Coach Noah did his job as a pastor.  He told a story... preached a sermon... on following Christ.  I followed it on being a teammate... and the importance of team work and chemistry.  Picking up a fallen brother. We limped to the finish line. And at the end of the night... we had 3 leftover pizzas that the kids didn't finish, but found a ride home.  

SW had a great time.  It was amazing seeing him in his element.  I played my part of being the cool, fun parent.  I let them goof around to a point where a parent tried to step in - fruitless.  Then I gave them a quick stare and 3 words - they stopped.  

A coach... is such a life changing role in a young man's life.  I'm so grateful to be playing this role.  May these boys grow up to be men above boys and be leaders in their own rights. Go Knights!!

What's next...?

As I hang up my badge as CS MA... I start thinking and exploring What's Next in my ministry path.  One of which is to join the CS Worship Team as a drummer.  Me... with zero music background.  With some rhythm guitar experience. And years and years of listening to rock music.

Saturday... I joined Joyce and the worship team in their practice.  I sat next to 大佬 Keno as he slayed every fill... every frill... and I was... without a doubt, thrilled... to be in their presence. 

I interrupted their practice and 客串'ed for a bit.  But I wasn't ready. I hadn't touched the drums for months.  My skills were no where near their level. And the percussion... as weird as it sounds.. is the foundation of the whole worship set.  The drums set the rhythm.  As I'm trying to follow the piano's beat... the pianist is following my beat...or my off beat! I desperately needed the vocalists to lead me... and the vocals followed the piano who followed the drums. 

I was a fish out of the water.  At the end of practice... everyone stayed late to rehearse with me.  I knew nothing and can do nothing.  But there were no corrections or admonishments.  Only encouragement.  I'm now so encouraged... I needa practice at least 30 minutes each day to keep up!! I will do that!! That's what's next....!

Tale as old as time

Beauty and the Beast... easily my favorite Disney animated feature ever.  

As a kid.. I only saw bits and pieces of the original Disney classics - such as Fantasia, Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan, etc...  Disney was different back then. They sold VHS tapes for a limited time.  Unless your family bought them (which we didn't) or you watch it on channel 7 on Sunday evenings, you'd only know the lore, which made it even more magical.

I did catch the Disney Animated Renaissance... which started with Aladdin, which made way for Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Hercules, Tarzan.  This was during my high school and college years when I had money to go out.  I caught every one of these movies.  To cap off the Renaissance was when B&B was famously nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.  

In the early 2000's... Jeff, Nita, Pam and I went to watch the Broadway show for Pam's bday... after having dinner at Market Grill.  I didn't know much about theater back then... only that it was a rich man's world.  And I was completely mesmerized.  First of all... I loved the song.  Secondly.. the costume and choreography was astounding. If there was ever a "first musical", it would have to be Disney. 

Nearly 20 years later... we get to watch another Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical.  This time... life has made a number of changes.  I'm not married with children.  I'm older, wiser and much more cynical.  I see life through different lenses.  

B&B now... to me... is a story about a heroine, a book addict, an engineer.  Just like NN... just like Joyce.  The "princess" isn't your damsel in distress like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.  She's independent and a fighter.  Someone that's different, stands out, and isn't afraid of it.

B&B... is a father/daughter story.  Of how a father connects with her daughter.  A daughter understands her father.  And the two of the fighting and clinging to survive.  

B&B... is a story about second chances (or there lack of). The enchantress was extremely unforgiving after The Prince turned her away.  The last rose petal fell... as a matter of fact... before someone loved the beast.

B&B... is a story of loyalty.  Regardless of how mean and angry the beast was... the servants stuck by him.  Why?? He was a spoiled prince.  I guess... that's how the story was written.

B&B... is a fairy tale where the protagonist and heroes are always "handsome and good-looking," I actually scoffed last night when The Beast turned into a handsome, young man as opposed to the actual actor unmasking himself.  Here... I think Shrek did a much finer job at explaining acceptance and true beauty. 

B&B.... it's a story of unbelonging.  It's a story of standing out.  It's a story of hiding.  It's a story of going after what you want.  It's a story of finding companionship in a world of loneliness.  B&B... is a story... that's as old as time. 

2.5 years of catching up

The cold and flu bug that bit the Leung family is hitting us hard... almost like... 2.5 years of disease free catching up and cashing out on us.

SW... though he only had a cold... he missed one day of class.  Last week, he missed one game.  The game he returned, he was barely functional.  Today... he was gassed after a few minutes.  Last night and tonight... he zonked out before his head hit the pillow.

NN... struggled with the flu.  Lost her voice. Broke down 20,000 times cuz she feared she'd be replaced by a non-existing understudy.  She tried to work up her homework... but in the end... fell far behind.  Today... after she came home... she literally passed out on her bed.  Turns out... her appetite's been in shambles and she didn't eat anything but junk food all day. At night.. all she had were some pork bones from soup.  

From the coughing and sniffles... it doesn't look like they'll be recovering any time soon. 

Joyce was also stricken by the bug... but she plowed through it.  Had to take some naps here or there.  Just like me.  I think both our immune systems are at full throttle... fighting anything and everything off.

Thanksgiving break can't come too soon.

All in the Family

Like the famous 80's soap opera... today was... "All in the Family."

Months ahead... I planned for mom and dad to come in for NN's musical.  I laid the path for both of them to come in... watch the show... have dinner... so I can drive them out to SF simultaneously.  Save me a trip or two.

But it gets better.... 

Mom... who for some reason... can't stand being in the same zip code as dad... suggests we invite 姑媽。  Ok... a little awkward, but I can do that.  For someone I admire and look up to... I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to spend time with her.  I was shocked when dad said she'd come.  She's 76.  Doesn't look a day over 56.  Still one of my heroes.

Dad... who is much more laid back than mom... didn't really care about the arrangement.  He loved to come in with his sister.  Loved to hang out with the grandkids.  Loved to take a chance to pay for dinner.  He had a great time of 走眼看花。 

姑媽 - silently... one of the greatest heroes in my life.  She is the definition of grit.  Life did not deal her a good hand of cards, but she met all confrontation fearlessly and with a smile.  She is Muhammad Ali... Lawrence Taylor... Mike Tyson... Serena Williams rolled up into one.  A great attitude. Never shy to compliment.  Knows how to read a room.  Says the right things at the right time.  Knows when to shut up.  She deserves better.

Mom... for all the meticulous planning and careful execution. She failed.  She did not come in an hour early... like dad.  For whatever reason... she waited till the last minute to catch the 1 California... which was late!!! She nearly gave up.... and was gonna be late.  Until... she surprised me by texting me that he hailed a taxi to get to Cal Train!!!  She who doesn't speak a word of English... for the sake of her grand daughter... would break through all taboo and culture divides... to hail an SF Taxi.  

It was awkard... it was weird.  These old people don't know the first thing about whispering.  About etiquette.  About respecting the thought of not recording during a performance.  Too many times did I have to admonish them.  But all of that... meant nothing.... it all fell to the wayside.

When it come time for my Nui nui ju to sing her first solo. All week, she's been battling a flu and a closed throat.  She couldn't sing.  She couldn't hit her notes.  She was miserable and wanted to quit.  "It's not fair, daddy!"  (No, it's not.) But you can't say that. There she was... curtains closed.  Spot light on her.  And she slayed it.  Just like we prayed every night for the past two months.  She slayed it.

Yes... the vocal director changed her track.  But other than purists and parents of the cast members... no one would know.  She slayed it.  And just like how we've been praying the past few months... it's not about how we do.  It's not about our performance.  "All honor and glory... to Jesus."

Thank you Jesus!! I love you!!