Greetings -- Malaysian Style

Eric and I arrived in Penang from Kansas City on June 6, 2005, after 36 hours of flying and waiting at four airports in three countries. The journey was rather smooth (except a few screaming kids in the plane, which I'm cursed to be stuck with them whenever I fly), and the stay is very nice except it's hard getting use to the hot tropical weather. Even though I was born and raised here for over twenty years, it is always hard for me to adjust to the hot and humid climate whenever I come home to visit. So far, we've been greeted by family and friends with a very typical Malaysia tradition -- food, food and more food. We've been here for only three days, but I feel like we've eaten more than 30 meals! Now I know why one of the few things I missed living in the US is food from home. It is such a big part of our daily life here. It is very common to extend a meal from one restaurant to the other, a progressive meal, all impromptu. I wonder if our seats are wide enough for us when it's time for us to fly back to the US.

Stealing Beauty

I stole my neighbors beautiful peonies yesterday while I was outside working on my yard. I figured since I have to look at her ugly house and her yard that has never been taken care of all the time, I deserve something beautiful to look at. Moreover, a big storm was heading this way, and I know the flowers would be damaged by the heavy rain anyway. I'm now enjoying the arrangement on my night stand and the subtle sweet fragrant fills the room. I guess I'm not as upset with my neighbor anymore for of her unsightly yard. I just wish she has a weekly supply of fresh flowers in her yard for me to steal.

My South Park Portrait

Thanks to my dear friend Suba who pointed me to this fun yet absolutely senseless site where you could generate a character a la South Park from various preset elements literally from head to toe, I am pretty happy with the outcome. I think my trademark man-bag totally nailed it. Have fun making your own South Park portrait at the South Park Studio.

Prom Horror Stories

Today, a string of e-mail among my friends regarding dinner plans for this weekend has somehow evolved into a prom horror story exchange. Having not growing up here in the US, the idea of going to the prom is fascinating, yet intimidating. I certainly don't have any of my own story to share but here are some of my friends' from today's e-mail: "...except there won't be a jug of cheap wine in the trunk that we can drink later on at some park so that we can go "all the way". That was the horror of my senior prom. Susie Schultz (fat blond) and I were up for prom king and queen. She had a peach dress on with white roses. I had a white tux with peach boutonniere. She had a jug of wine and had plans for us after the prom. I had to do some pretty quick side-stepping and fast-talking to get out of that one!!! Whew! barely made it out alive. Never did bang her, thank God!" "...Well at least your date didn't leave the prom with her ex-boyfriend because she (at least) knew he was good for some back seat sex. So I had to drive around in my powder blue tux until midnight pretending like I hadn't been dumped. By next school day, it had gotten out and I was the butt of jokes for a week. Gee, thanks Will for dragging up my favorite high school memories!!" "...Well, since we're talking about Prom memories, my date had the nerve to wear a red polyester number with blatantly cheap white shoes from JCPenney after she told me she was wearing a stunning black and white ensemble. My corsage and boutonniere were specially dyed to be black and white and she threw off my color palette for the entire evening. I think my expression said it all when she descended the stairs. I was so embarrassed that I actually didn't want to have my picture taken for posterity because of the fashion faux pas. After all, the evening was all about me- she was just along for the ride. The nerve of that girl."

Reunion

I am happy that last night, one side of my CK sock finally reunited with the other after several months of separation. I guess most of us often under estimate how much the littlest things bring joy to our lives.

High-tech Rooster

Yesterday was Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the Rooster. Over here in the US was just like any other day. Well, it fell on Ash Wednesday, actually. The traditional New Year greetings was done the high-tech way over the Internet across 14 time-zones. My mom and I "cammed" for a little while and then we all got into this 4-way conferencing using Skype among my brother, my sister, my parents and I, from four separate addresses in two different continents. It was the first year we greeted each other online instead of over a long distance phone call. If only we could receive "ang pow" (red envelope filled with cash given to children and singles) as an attachment from e-mail, it would have been even cooler. The best part was: my tech-savvy brother taped the whole conferencing as his Podcast show, so the rest of the world will have the opportunity to subscribe to it. Who would have thought that today, we are living in a sci-fi world, having audio-visual communication across the oceans in real time, which costs us almost next to nothing compared to just 15 years ago, when air mail took two weeks to arrive, and making international phone call was a luxury. We are living in an amazing era.

In My Mother's Eyes

This is a beautiful and moving song from the Heartland Men's Chorus Spring concert. I just want to have it on my blog and share it with everyone. Tenderly she held me as a child upon her knee. She would rock away the nightmares that startled me from sleep. She would wipe the tears of my fears away, and whisper, "there's no need to cry." And I knew what she said was true, for truth shined in her eyes. Tenderly she held me still as I became a man. Never was her lap too small or comfortless her hand. And through the years there has been no doubt of the value of my life... And I heard every loving word, for I was worthy in her eyes. In my mother's eyes, laughter danced like starlight. In my mother's eyes, courage never faltered. In her eyes, oh how I could find such peace of mind. In her eyes, I realized all I could be. In my mother's eyes, the gift of love was granted. In my mother's eyes, my dignity was planted. In her eyes, all of my dreaming seemed possible. In her eyes, I realized all I could be. Tenderly I hold her now, old and frail become. Never was a mother's love as her love for this son. And when the time has finally come that we must say goodbye... I pray she sees the love in me that I found in my mother's eyes. Music by Robert Seeley Words by Robert Espindola

Time Warp

I went to bed on January 15th and I woke up this morning and it's February 4th! What happened? Was I in a coma, or was I being abducted by the Martians? Or is Bobby Ewing still in the shower?! Actually, there's no creative way to write about a come back after a blog hiatus. There were certainly many bloggable subjects occurred, but I was simply too lazy to write it down in words. And then I started planning on what to write about not writing and I just kept procrastinating because I simply couldn't figure out something interesting to talk about. So, there you go. I was lazy. Or perhaps I was having a blogger's block? But I'm back. Let's hope that this time it will last longer than the 5th season of Sex and the City.

Cell Phone Withdrawal

I went to work yesterday without my cell phone. Of course, I thought I had it in my bag the whole time until when I was about to leave my office that I realized it was no where to be found. I thought it was in my car and even went back to my office again to look for it again after I left. My mind began to track back where I had been the whole day, and I wasn't sure if I had left it at the Taj Mahal where I had lunch. I had already planned on meeting Will and Naeem for dinner and a movie later, so I didn't have time to go home to look for my phone. The whole time I felt really uneasy because I was worried that plans might have been changed, and I was not informed. I was worried that Eric might call to let me know he's going to join us and couldn't get ahold of me. My mind was just wandering in all directions that things might have changed and I was the last one to know about it. I was the same guy, whom a few years ago thought I really don't have the use of a mobile phone. The reason that I got it is that it just looked cool to have a cell phone as an accessory for your ensemble. Who would know that I would become addicted to my phone, that I have lost all trusts in my friends, that any appointments that we made verbally or through e-mail can be easily vetoed by just a phone call. My phone may very well not ring at all, but by just having it on me makes me feel like I'm secured and I have the right to be running a few minutes late, or change my mind on a restaurant or movie time... I was glad to see my phone sitting there at home when I first walked in after the movie. There was five unanswered calls: one from Eric telling me about his evening plan; one from Will asking if the restaurant was the right one because he was the only one on time; one from Jeff asking me last minute if I would like to join their trip to St Louis for the weekend; and two other calls from me tracking down my phone. Well, I guess I am not the only one who depend on my cell phone to make last minute plans or changes. I did get a few calls while my phone is sitting in my house. Almost all my friends has cell phones nowadays, and I bet almost all of them feel the same way if they leave home without their phones.

Queer Eye Gone Queerer

I frowned when I first saw the promo for "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl," but I thought I'll hold my judgment until at least after I watch an episode. True enough, this supposedly sister show hosted by the "Gal Pals" was just too hard for me to swallow. The whole concept of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guys" is to allow gay men who are (generally speaking) more in tuned with their feminine side to teach straight men a few tips to achieve the balance of their yin and yang. Women in general find gay men attractive because of their sensitivity to their feminine side. Metrosexual is IN and that's why the show is popular. Men want to learn a few tips to win women's hearts and women want to believe that their men can be buffed and polished into the Metro they've been dreaming of. As for "Girl", what is the point of the show? If it's just a make-over show, why bother making it into a Queer Eye spin-off. Isn't all male stylists and pros of every make-over show queer anyway? No offense, but isn't it totally queer to ask a lesbian about tips on how to be a lady?! Well, believe me. Her title is " Honey, the Lady"! Apparently her full name is Honey Labrador. What's with that? A pet name? I don't care if she modeled before in her past life or conditions her hair every time she shampoos. She was all giddy as soon as she put on a tool belt and had a power tool in her hands in the first episode. Maybe the other Gal Pals should seek advise from her on how to be a butch construction worker. So, what's the appeal of this show? Will straight men want to see any show that has less than two lesbians in it? Will straight girls be excited over learning the exfoliating tips from a lesbian, who's know as "The Lady"? Will gay men want to see a Cinderella story without the bitchy stepmother? And most of all, will the lesbians want to see a show that obviously added a token lesbian just so Bravo can broaden its viewership? Or, perhaps they're trying to be inclusive. I wonder what's next.

My Time Capsule

This was my first car.
My parents got me a used 1969 Fiat 850 as soon as I got my driver's license when I turned 18. I had it painted a bright school bus yellow just to make a loud statement since it was almost as old as I am. My school mates all nicknamed it -- "Porsche".
I had many memorable times, not so much on the performance of the car but the experience of riding with many friends in the short few years that I owned it. The stories and gossips that we exchanged, the fights between friends, and the crazy "big squeeze" of 11 guys to avoid walking in the rain between school buildings, the rides of my teacher because he's too afraid to drive, ran out of gas on the road that cut across a cemetery, broke down halfway in the middle of rush hour traffic, smoke came out from the engine due to over heating while climbing up a steep hill, my sister got stuck somewhere because she could not figure out how to put the gear into reverse... the stories go on and on. In a way, even though it is a funny looking old car, it is a time capsule that instantly transports me back to my wonderful teenage years. I miss my first car.

My Big Fat Blog

I've created another blog called "My Big Fat Blog" so I can keep track of the progress of my resolution for this year, to lose weight and look fabulous by this summer in time for my trip home to Malaysia. The blog is mainly for my own record so I can refer back to my goal if I ever go off course. Perhaps this will boost my motivation if I feel like I'm being "watched", even though I really don't think anyone is going to see the blog.

Welcome 2005

It has been a rather somber holiday week between Christmas and New Year. Having growing up in South East Asia, it is very hard for me to see such a disastrous event that swept away so many lives and left behind the unspeakable griefs for the survivors. It is hard to even greet people Happy New Year when there are millions of people who are homeless and have lost their love ones taken by the tsunami. I lit a candle for world peace as I welcome the new year. I wished that those who survived will have the strength to move on. This morning when I walked into my kitchen, I noticed that the first bud of my white orchid has bloomed. I took it as a sign of hope, a sign of new life, and that life goes on.

A Picture Perfect Afternoon

Since there will be quite a few friends traveling during the holiday season, we've decided to celebrate it earlier this year. Naeem, Will, John Sims, Suba, Eric and I went to the recently opened restaurant on the Plaza -- Brio -- to have lunch. After the wonderful meal, we all went to Will's place to exchange gifts and for some hot cocoa and dessert. The cake was scrumptious and the gifts were fabulous. The best part of this gathering was the time being together, and the thoughts we had for each other especially during the holiday season. It just warmed my heart to be in the same room with my close friends. Will has a gorgeous apartment. It is so nicely decorated that it seems like an instant set for a photo shoot. There were an art director, a graphic designer and a photo stylist in the group, so needless to say, the afternoon had turned into a photo session. However, the pictures above were taken spontaneously, without any art direction or extra styling. Somehow, without trying, the palette and the visual elements just turned into a Burberryesque picture. So, I just had fun with it!

O Tanenbaum, O Tanenbaum

To all the readers of my blog, Happy Holidays to all of you.

As the Yuletide season is fast approaching, I was debating whether or not to have a tree this year. I had a terrible experience once with a fresh tree and that had shied me away from the idea for years. Somehow, I revisited it again this year, perhaps just to entertain myself since my brother will be spending the holidays with my family in Malaysia; my best friend, Suba, will be in Montreal to celebrate her nephew's first birthday; and my boyfriend is perhaps going to visit his relatives in Colorado. That leaves me alone, all by myself. So, I've made up my mind to bring back the tree this year. A small and much manageble one. Here's the outcome of a fun filled crafty afternoon. I had been shopping for the ornaments for the past few evenings but had no luck finding the right size tree. After much running around town and calling a few places, I finally got the right one from a florist. This tree is a 4 foot Cedar Top, sparsely decorated with only 25 one-inch frosted globe lights, different sizes and shapes of glass ornaments, many shimmering icicles, and lime green & cream ribbons. The whole tree stands in a silver ice bucket with reindeer handles. I love the fact that it is unconventional, yet it has a touch of retro -- simple, monochromatic yet elegant. But most of all, I love it because it will be here with me this Christmas.

Bravo, HMC!

Heartland Men's Chorus has done it again! Last night's holiday concert, With Bells On, was simply outstanding! Being part of the chorus, I was extremely proud of how high the level of their performance was. After GALA 2004 in Montreal, Canada, I decided to take a much needed break. I was glad that it allowed me to sit back and enjoy the full effects of the performance from the audience point of view. From the set design to the choralography, everything came together in perfect harmony. (No pun intended.) The balance of the religious and secular holiday songs, the juxtaposition of the serious and funny selections, and the contrast between the traditional and non-traditional pieces were meticulously crafted. I am not a music critic by any means but I know how to appreciate a stunning concert. Last nights performance was a total audio and visual treat for the audience and an emotional ride that pushed all the viewers' right buttons at the right moment. It was so hard for me to even pick a favorite piece because the performance came together so well as a complete concert. All the songs complimented each other and made every individual one unique. However, if I have to pick one, the Silent Night, Holy Night selection was by far the most powerful of all, something I've never seen or heard before. Just when you thought how many Silent NIghts can a chorus sing after 19 years of Holiday concerts, they totally surprised the audience by singing it in sign language. After the first verse, the chorus repeated the same verse. This time, in total silence. They continue signing, but no music nor singing. They sang in "silence". The audience just held their breath, awed by the haunting simulated "new" experience of being deaf and how we often take all our senses for granted. Some of us were moved to tears. Congratulations to the Chorus for all the hard-work and such a superb performance. Bravo! I can't wait to go back and sing with you guy for the next concert.

Wreath Sold

I'm glad that the wreath was sold before the end of the auction. It went for $100. The turn out was good so the store was packed. I wonder if the sale would have been better if they didn't look so blend-in with everything else at the Restoration Hardware. There was a little mix up in the beginning on the identity of my wreath. I had seperately brought in the wreath and the card which had the sponsor's name and a little dedication message. I told the person who took the card from me to attach it to the wreath that's made out of candy. She did, but to a different wreath that had fake candy ornaments over an evergreen wreath. Luckily, as I was browsing around, I stumbled upon it and saw that the card was on the wrong wreath! So I took it and stuck it on mine. A client of mine and his wife were there when I pulled the card off and he said, "I was thinking, I don't think Michael's work is this traditional."

Hope Sweet Hope

Thursday, December 2nd is Holidays By Design, organized by DIFFA/KC (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). There will be a silent auction of about a hundred one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths designed and sponsored by various firms in the design industry, at the Restoration Hardware on the Plaza from 5:30pm - 9pm. Here's the wreath I created, sponsored by TakeTwo. It is made out of almost 5 pounds of candies, and hung over a frosted mirror. Entitled "Hope Sweet Hope", it is dedicated to all the 2.2 million children with AIDS in the world this holiday season. To whoever won the bid on this wreath, THANK YOU!
Let's not forget that December 1st is World AIDS Day. Let us ask ourselves, have I done anything to help fight this disease?

Stylish Buddha

This one came from Suba this morning. She took this picture of the statue in her garden. Looks like mink is back this season. This time with a full ensemble of high collar coat and furry hat. It is simply divine!