Wife's Birthday

Birthdays are always special. It is probably THE day that no one forgets. We all celebrate our birthdays differently. What is important is that it is YOUR day, and you can do anything you want.

Today was just that kind of day. It was my wife's birthday. In fact, it's not just a birthday, but a birth month!!! She's is so sociable and has tons of friends, so occasions like this can be tricky. If she decides to throw a party, she's got to invite everyone. Otherwise, she'll hear it from those that'll not be on the list. For now, she has not decided. Anyway, she still has the rest of the month to decide.

My wife started her day with a visit to her hairdresser for her regular do make-over. While she was at it, I volunteered at my radio club's ham test session. I am a certified VE (volunteer examiner), which means that I can administer a ham license exam, along with at least 2 other VEs. This morning, I was a second grader. This meant I was one of three VEs who corrected and graded each test. We had 17 testers applying for the 3 different amateur license class, and everyone passed. As a matter of fact, 2 testers took all 3 test classes and passed all of them. Way to go!!!

We had a late lunch at our favorite Korean restaurant. We haven't had it for a while so decided to go there. Then, we headed south to Valley Fair in San Jose for a little shopping. She got a couple of things, but I'll spare you the details. I knew she enjoyed it. I also got myself a cologne.

Being her birthday, we decided to hear mass before heading off to dinner. It was also an anticipated mass for Sunday. First, I plotted the closest church from where we were. As we drove up, it didn't look like it was a church. If it was, it certainly didn't look like they were having a mass. So, I searched again. She wanted to try the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose, but it was more than 10 miles away. Besides, the mass had already started. The next other church I found was St. Justin, along Homestead in Santa Clara.

St. Justin was a quaint church. It looked small from the outside, but it was quite big inside. The presiding priest was Filipino, and he had a certain way of talking. It was soooooo modulated, and spoke with a certain twang. He sounded like he was a radio announcer at one of the AM stations in the Philippines. I can't help but cringe and giggle. During Holy Communion, he recognized us as Filipinos as well, and spoke in Tagalog as he offered the host. I found that quite interesting. What if we weren't Filipinos? What if were Indonesians or Malaysians, who look like Filipinos. That would have been embarrassing.

Dinner was at Pizza Antica. We were there for my birthday, too, and we all enjoyed their food. The place was packed, as always. We had to wait for 40-45 minutes, I would guess. We pretty much knew what we wanted, so it wasn't really difficult. Since I waited a long time to be seated, I made sure I took my time enjoying the food. No one was rushing me.

For 3, I thought  we ordered quite a lot, partly because we wanted to try new stuff. With all that starch from the pizzas, pastas, and bread pudding, including the truffle fries (yes, french fries in a pizza place), we were stuffed. I'll save the details of what we ate for a later post. All I know is it was good, and filling, to say the least.

Midweek Check

It's Wednesday. Middle of the work week. The hump, as people call it.

The past weekend was just full of activity, with the presentation of Mulan Jr. So things are sort of slowing down a bit, but it wasn't and won't be a quiet week either. Last Monday was volleyball practice. I didn't have 2 on my players and my assistant coach was out, too. He had to attend his daughter's high school orientation. Today, we're having another practice, and I don't know who I will be missing.

Before the end of the work week, I have to book my flight to Pasadena for a union meeting in 2 weeks, and prepare some material I will be needing for that very meeting. If there is anything I hate the most are these same day trips because the day is just so long.

On Friday, I have to leave work early for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon, for my regular check up. In the evening, I have my monthly radio club meeting to attend.

Saturday is a big day. It's my wife's birthday. I have no idea what she wants to do or where to go. Well, not just yet. I know she wants to hold a little party at the house for friends, but nothing final. And definitely not on Saturday. But before I go to bed, I need to make sure I move my clock an hour ahead. It's Daylight Saving Time....on Sunday, that is.

And on Sunday, it's the volleyball jamboree at All Saints. This sort of "opens" the CYO boys volleyball season. Unfortunately, I have not received any confirmation nor game schedule yet. So this could be interesting.

As you can see, it seems like a never-ending set of activities, rolling over from one to the other. When will I get a break???

Day 2: Mulan Jr

Day 2 of Mulan Jr. Third and final show. Sunday, 1:00pm.

My son slept in, like he normally does on a weekend, and he had a pretty decent breakfast. Next thing I knew, he was getting ready. He was getting picked up by a co-cast member for the 11:30am call time at Moreau. Suddenly, I got a call from his would-be pick up and was running late. Knowing my son, he didn't want to be late. So, I grabbed the car keys and we took off. In 20 minutes, we are at Moreau.

I dropped him off, then headed back off to pick up the wife (again). By then, we didn't have time to eat, like I planned to, before the show started, so we went directly to Moreau. With about half an hour to spare, I went to the concession stand just outside the main gym and got a couple of hotdogs and nachos for a quick bite. From the "Mushu" concession stand (for Mulan Jr guests), I bought 2 diet sodas. Wife and I sat at a picnic table outside Mushu's and dined al fresco. We also had a good view of all the guests that came to watch the last performance.

It was 1:00pm. Show time.

From what I saw, I thought we had pretty much the same number of guests as in the second show. Same as last night, I sat 3 rows from the very back row. I had the best seat in the house because I saw everything. No tall person obstructing my view and I didn't have to crane my neck. And like the second show, I felt the cast members were even more comfortable on this last show. Practically no inhibitions. They gave it their all, and everyone seemed to have a grand time. even the crowd was rowdier. There were times, though, that the kids wanted to get the show over and done with they began fumbling their lines.

At the end of the performance, the lead director thanked everyone (she could remember) who helped make the shows successful. A representative from the school and another from the parents each thanked the 4 directors for their work, and presented each one with a note (or maybe a card) and some flowers. As in the previous 2 shows, raffle prizes were given away as well. After all the thank-yous have been said, the cast members went out to the lobby for a final mingle with their guests, before they were called back in to clean up.

After the show, some of the cast and crew and their families proceeded to a Chinese buffet (in keeping with the theme of the show) for an early dinner.

Well done.

Bravo (again)!

Mulan Jr: It's Showtime!

Today was the day everyone was waiting for. After five months of rehearsals, it was time to present, MULAN, JR.

My son was excited. If he was nervous, it didn't show. Their last rehearsal was Thursday, and yesterday, they presented at the school, minus make-up and props. He seemed confident. He was singing in the shower. Everything looked normal. And that's good. I have faith in my son.

Days before, he had been bugging me to have his hair cut. He wanted it in a certain style. And the only available time was today. I also wanted to make sure he had a heavy, filling breakfast because he might not have a chance to eat before the show, either because they didn't have time to do so, or he's nervous and anxious. Their call time was 12:45pm.

He had breakfast of "tocilog" (cured sweet pork with eggs and garlic fried rice) at our regular Filipino place, then off our 10am appointment with our favorite hairdresser, Wendy, in Milpitas. Since I was there, I had my hair done, too. In a little over half an hour, we were done and on our way home.

His classmate, Devin, rode with us to Moreau so he was dropped off at noon, make-up on. James had his, too. By 12:15pm, we were out the door. We made it to Moreau with a couple of minutes to spare. There were volleyball games being played at the main gym so the parking lot was full. I pulled over to one side close to the theater, dropped off the boys and the 3 packs of diet soda I brought for the concession stand at the show tonight.

I drove back home and picked up the wife. On the way to Moreau, we grabbed a quick bite before the 3pm first show. When we got there, a line was already formed. There were no seat assignments, so it was first come, first serve. The theater was huge, with a capacity of over 500. I didn't think we would fill it. We had Preferred tickets, which meant we would be seated in the first 10 rows of the middle section. Once it, everyone was scrambling to be close to the state. Then, they realized that the best seats were those farther from the stage so you didn't have to look up and strain your neck.

At exactly 3pm, the show started.

At the opening number, when all the cast members performed, I was already choked up. It was just amazing to see all these kids perform so well. Being a musical, I was really impressed with the singing. Obviously, not everyone was born with a microphone in their hand, but I was just fascinated at how well they did. And when my son came out, I was even prouder. I wanted to get up and shout, "THAT'S MY SON !!!" He's a sociable boy, but not really the artsy type. So acting and singing in front of a large audience was a big revelation. He did well. Really well. And so did everyone else.

The show ran for almost 2 hours, with about 20-30 minutes of intermission. During the break, the audience had a chance to claim their tam tams (a little paddle-like instrument with 2 small balls at the end of strings that were attached to the paddle), to buy some snacks and refreshments, or simple to stretch their legs. The tam tams were later used in the play to make "noise" during a brief audience participation in one of the scenes.

Tam tam

The production ended with a standing ovation from a very appreciative crowd of family members and friends. At the lobby just outside the theater entrance, the cast milled around to greet their guests. Photographs were taken, autographs were signed, and flowers were offered -- typical of a performance on Broadway and Las Vegas. What a sight !!!

There was a second performance last night, at 7pm. In between, the cast and crew had a bite to eat. For the parent volunteers, it was also time to rest and to eat as well. And for us parents who bought tickets to all three shows, we did the same. As the time for the second performance drew near, it was the same atmosphere all over again.

During the second show, I noticed that the kids were more comfortable and more relaxed. Their deliveries were more crisp, and their singing was livelier. There were more people who watched the evening show, and a little rowdier. But it was all good. Being the "primetime" performance, I thought it was the better show.

The evening was capped with a dinner and a few drinks with some 8th grade families, at probably the only restaurant open after 9pm, La Pinata, in Fremont. Great show. Great kids. Great food. Great drinks. Everyone had a wonderful time. And tomorrow is the final show.

Bravo !!!