Bond, James Bond

 COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 49

Held our first Church Reopening Task Force meeting tonight.  It amazes me how disorganized we are.  Everything is in one person's head.  He knows everything.  He does everything.  But this isn't about what he knows... it's about what is Public Facing.  So I ended up staying up late and draft our Reopening Protocol and Guidelines.  

Hate to overstep into someone else's swimlane... but dude... seriously... c'mon!!!

Oh.... and I love Sam's English accent. Just keep talking... I'm listening. BOOM!!! 

Listless

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 48

During today's Sunday Sermon... Rev. David Chan commented on the word "Selah." Where in biblical times, Selah was used in Psalms as a pause or a break during a song or hymn. And COVID happens to be the Selah of our Lives.  A pause.  A rest.  Looking back at September - with #ExpressYourself, Mom's travel adventures, Nui-nui's tweenge woes, the kids restarting school, MAF... it's been non-stop.... and I could've used a rest.

Well this past week... I've been more tired than I've ever been.  Dragging every day.  And dozing off in lazy afternoon... while I'm supposedly pausing and resting.  Some people need to rest... some people don't. 

I got a boost of energy cuz I'll get to take part in the church reopening Task Force and I get to give a session on the upcoming election.  Finally!! Some things to keep busy again!! I can finally "rest."  

Slippers Galore

 COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 45

I now have a total of 4 pairs of slippers.  Been swapping between 3 different pairs cuz it turns out I have sweaty feet.  And if I wear one pair for too long... it starts getting damp or wet in a few hours. With my recent escapade of Tiger Balm.. I've had to introduce a special pair to wear any time I apply this topical ointment.  Heh... 

Schooled

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 42

SW comes up to me with some 5th grade math problem.... Farmer Joe bought 5 chickens and 3 ducks for $81.  A chicken costs $5 than a duck.  What was the cost of each duck? each chicken?  There are several of them like this.   This is the easier one!!!

I come up with this elaborate algebraic equation.  Two equation.  Two unknowns. Yaddie yaddie yaddah.  Bam.... 5 minutes later... the poor kid has no idea what I'm doing.  

Mommy sits down... looks at my math... shakes her head.... and proceeds to demonstrate how SW has been learning it.  She asks two simple questions.  SW draws 2 simple diagrams.  Does some basic multiplication and division. BAM... he got the answer.

I was schooled by my son.  Not so much my son... but Singapore math schools American math.  

Back on the DL

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 41

NN is taking a dance class this semester... and she was showing me the Charleston (no, not the Carlton, the Charleston). And boy was she butchering it. So I started to show her how it SHOULD be done.  Ohhhhh to dance again.  I was Michael Jackson... mixed with Fred Astaire... coupled with Aaron Kwok.  I was stylin'....and profilin'......

Now I'm paying for it.  Didn't realize the extent of injury on my poor toe and not only have I reinjured it... I've made it worse.  Tiger Balm - twice a day now.  Ohhhhhhhhhh...... I really am starting to smell like the old man that I am. 

中秋團圓夜

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 40

This year's 中秋團圓夜又告一段落.  

In place of the annual CNY... we were able to pull off an MAF.  So many things went right... went well.  Dad joined.  Big bro joined (for a bit). Mom, while quarantining in Hong Kong, tried to join. And one of the quotes from the evening coming from a new friend... 

It was “amazing non stop 2 hours fun”

We couldn't have pulled this off without the relentless pursuit of excellence from the planning committee.  A special shoutout to C奶二人組, 兩位金牌司議 who went back to church to host the event, the four Team Captains, our 幕後工作人員.  

But out of everything that happened leading up to the event and the event itself....the one scene that stands out among everything else.... was seeing Miranda sitting next to Anna.  

Anna sadly lost her husband earlier this year.  Who knows what she's been going through and what her thoughts are.  When the whole world has moved on and forgotten about the days of recent past... 大家姐 had the wherewithal to spend the evening with her friend... her sister. 

I am a 完美主意者.  So many things went wrong tonight.  So many things we could've done better.  But to cap off the evening... above all else... was how 穌太 ended the evening... giving all glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you Abba Father, for everything!!! 

 

家家有本難念的經

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 39

舅父瘦得好犀利好犀利。瘦到變晒樣。他説：他好有福，五個孩子都在。連我這親妹，都回來！講到這裏。舅父忍不住流淚，哭了。數拾年內，笫二次見到他😭哭！第一次因為婆媳關係，母親和妹妹要搬出！

Mom safely arrived in HK and this was one of her first text.... literally brought tears to my eyes. There's just so much baggage in our family.  So many buried memories.  So many years of hurt... damage... scars. 

大舅父 was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  And we decided it was time for mom to go back to Hong Kong. You can never time these things.  And thus....the whirlwind began.  Plane tickets.  Hotel. Quarantine  72 hour COVID tests!!!!  

Big bro did all the heavy lifting.  I only made a couple of phone calls and did some internet research.  After all was said and done... mom finally arrived in Hong Kong..... only to be trapped at the airport for 10 hours.... and she's now quarantining for 14 days. 

Big bro coined it best, "This HK trip is last year's bed bug episode."  And in the end... it's all worth it. 

妹

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 38

Got a text from Cherie today and I melted.    "哥哥"     😭  我太鍾意喇!!!!!!

You're not on mute!!!

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 37

Zoom Class was about to start. SW waved hi to his teacher and said good morning. Then his classmate... uh... Miss K walks by. She waves at the SW via Zoom. And I said... "SW... say Hi to Miss K!"  Cuz y'know.. it's manners.  He darts a soul piercing stare at me and mutters... "Bah B... you're not on mute!!!" 

Did that just happen???  Did I embarrass my son in front of a girl?? Does Siu Wah............. have a crush?!?!??!?!?!  😍😍😍

Big Head Shrimp

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 36

Nearly burned the house down last night. Was making porridge... and I turned it down to a simmer. Then I forgot about it and went to sleep. At around 3AM, NN comes in and says she smells smoke... thankfully she woke up. 

What is happening??!! Too much on my mind these days... 

I've met my match...

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 35

I'm known to be a perfectionist... wanting to drive for excellency... to a point where people get annoyed and try (but don't) say "Let it go."

I've been learning to lower my expectations throughout the years.  People are busy.  They have things to do.  It's good enough.  B+ is the new A.  Get over it.

And then... 中秋團圓夜 happens... and I've met my match.  These people strive for a higher standard and will walk the extra mile (or two) to deliver a quality product.  I'm blown away at their industrious spirt or in Christian jargon, their servant hearts.

"Can we meet again?"

"Whatever you say... we'll be there."

"你叫到點敢唔到."

And the loads and loads of positive criticism and over the top ideas.  This is so refreshing.  Unlike the usual teeth-pulling, lone-ranging, beg-borrow-stealing that I'm use to.  No wonder our church family is so strong after all these years.  These Hidden Figures that keep our church running with no fanfare, no recognition and frankly... no desire to be known... except they have a passion to serve our Lord Jesus in our full capacity.  

I salute and I'm proud to march beside y'all.