Celine Dion

Celine Dion initially scheduled her Indianapolis concert on November 9th. Back then, I couldn't make it since I wanted to watch this with Pei Ying, and she was still in Ann Arbor. However, due to a "timely" throat infection, Celine Dion was forced to reschedule the concert. It was postponed to December 21st, an excellent time because firstly, Pei Ying would be at Indy at that time and secondly, the fact that the concert fell on the 21st made it a conveniently perfect anniversary gift :)

It was a super cold day (temperature was around -25 degree celcius after wind chill). The concert was supposed to start at 8, but some joker (literally, stand-up comedian) took the stage instead of the real main character. He did a great job entertaining the audience, and did very good impersonations of celebrities like Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Michael Jackson, George Bush and more. Too bad I don't remember (to be exact, didn't catch) his name.

Celine Dion probably figured that the Indianapolis fans didn't mind waiting for another hour after having waited for a month for this concert. She showed up at 9pm, but promptly made all the waiting worthwhile. Clad in a mini-dress, she brought out the first song of the night, I Drove All Night. She would go on and performed classic hits like Taking Chances, The Power of Love, Because You Loved Me, To Love You More, It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, All By Myself, The Prayer, and Fade Away. Of course, how would a Celine Dion concert be complete without My Heart Will Go On? We had to wait until the second encore performance for that song.

Overall, the concert was great. The stage-work was fantastic, with lots of moving parts and lights displays (erm I guess I don't know how else to describe it) Most importantly, her voice was just superb. It is usual in the Asian world that singers, especially those Taiwanese ones (ok being opinionated and based on my limited observance), perform notably worse from their recordings, and sometimes have to resort to "caused-by-being-overwhelmed-crying" to cover up their bad-karaoke-like singing. If they sing exactly like the recording, it is only because they are lip-syncing. But Celine Dion's performance was just professional. Her command of voice was perfect, and her performance moving. I was thrilled to have seen this best selling female artist of all time live.

I have been You-Tubing her All By Myself since, and it is my new favorite song now.

A few pictures:

:)

The comedian taking the stage

 

Drum roll...

Finally!!

Standing on the piano..

That's the best my 6X optical zoom can do...

Celine Dion and violinist (To Love You More, Py's favorite)

Wonder Woman cape??

My Heart Will Go On (flutist playing Titanic theme)

Just realized I've posted a tonne of pictures...well forgive me for being excited about my first concert :)

NBA - Pacers VS Warriors (Dec 17)

This was my 3rd NBA game, and I finally got to be much closer to all the action since I got courtside tickets for a good deal (company's discount). Basically nothing much to be excited anymore, except that this was my first NBA game with Pei Ying. Pacers won in the end, which makes 3 wins (home team) out of the 3 NBA games I watched.

Got to see the hawd cheerleaders up close!! Oops better behave myself...

Pacers...couldn't find a better picture to post actually. Been realizing that recently I have been taking shittily blurry pictures...why??

Final score >> 127 :: 120

Thanksgiving 2008

Wanted to name this post "Mackinaw trip", but decided against it since technically we (Siew Gee, Jason, Pei Ying and I) didn't even set foot on the island. Throughout the holidays, we stayed in Mackinaw city but didn't get the chance to visit the island due to suspended ferry service during Thanksgiving.

So where did we go? We went to Sleeping Bear Dunes (my second time) and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Upper Peninsula. It really wasn't the best time to visit those places, since it was snowing quite heavily.

I was actually excited of re-visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes because I wanted to re-create the timeless photo taken by Chooi KK. It is my favorite photo and I have been using it for the profile picture of my facebook account. Some of my friends actually thought it was a cartoon poster rather than a real photo of me (note: no photoshop invovled):

Sadly, this time around I couldn't manage to have a profile-picture-worthy photo taken:

Ok enough of me...let's look at some other photos:

Kids running down the slope...

Lake Michigan

Of course, what's Thanksgiving without turkey?? That night, Pei Ying and I ordered Thanksgiving special for dinner, while Siew Gee and Jason each had some "fishy" stuff:

 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore reminded us of Yosemite, since we went to both places during winter times. I think the lack of blue sky ruined the views once again.

Doesn't it look like a castle?

"Castle" up close

 

Waterfalls...

Initially we decided to go Mackinaw Island on Saturday, but unfortunately there was no ferry service. So we just hang around and take a few photos:

Mackinaw bridge

And that concludes our short trip....

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes

About two weeks ago (11.22.2008, which strangely feels like ages away, possibly due to my deteriorating memory), I got the chance to watch the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes, thanks to Pei Ying's aunty B-Lee.

I started out the day by playing some badminton with Wei Ping, Billy and Jason in CCRB. Right after that, we (plus Pei Ying and few more people) drove to Novi to get Ajishin for lunch. The noodles was again heavenly, especially after the long wait in line. We split ways after lunch, with just Nabil, Pei Ying and I heading to Detroit to catch the show.

The Rockettes is a precision dance group which performs in Radio City New York. Every year they have this Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall and also some other American cities including Detroit. The venue of the Detroit performance was Joe Louis Arena, the home for the Detroit's ice hockey team.

The Rockettes' famous routine includes the eye-high leg kick, not unlike those kicks in the french Can Can (got this feeling although I am not familiar with that). Also, I enjoyed the toy soldiers performance a lot. Overall, it was a great show and a great way to kick off the holiday mood for the season.

Some photos (courtesy of Nabil):

The stage

Opening scene

The Rockettes!!

Amazing Toy Soldiers Performance

The bus actually moves, and the background was actually a screen that shows the New York streets

Santas. One comment: I hate it when Christmas shows have to somehow squeeze in the "I Believe" cheesy theme...

After the show we went back to AA and had dinner with Seng Khai and friends. Had another badminton session in NCRB before calling it a day. It was a tiring but satisfying day I'd say...

Pacers-Hawks game

Got a free ticket from my colleague, who in turn got it from his boss. Well since I had nothing better to do, I decided to go for my second NBA game.

Building right beside Monument Circle

Name of Pacers' arena: Conseco Fieldhouse (Conseco bought the naming rights)

"Monkey" show during half time

Our boys in action...

Final score -we won!!

Men's Glee Club

I attended Men's Glee Club's concert twice during my years in U of M, partly because I was coerced into doing so by my senior who happened to be a member of the club. Last weekend, I ended up in Hill Auditorium again for my 3rd Men's Glee Club concert. Sounds gay? Nope, because firstly their performances were quite good indeed, and secondly, I went there with yy :P

This year, the Friars weren't as funny as before, probably because I couldn't quite hear what they were singing from the balcony. However, I should say that the pianist did a great job again, and I was delighted that their first performance actually used a pipe organ as the accompaniment. The effect reminded me a lot of "Phantom of the Opera".

Hill Auditorium

Up close shot. If you are sleepy enough, your mind play tricks and those singers actually turn to penguins...

:)

Car Accident

Last week when I drove to Ann Arbor, I finally reached my second 88888. It was nothing special except that I took a picture of 88888 for my first car last time, so I wanted to do the same for this car as well:

(Yup engine light is on...had it checked and it was no big deal...)

Speaking of which, I have already put more than 5k miles on this car in less than half a year. Coupled with the miles I gained from my old car (>13k miles I think...in a mere 3 months!!), my total mileage (excluding those that I earned on other cars) would have let me complete about 70% of the journey circling the earth if I were to travel in one straight line.

That being said, having experience does not mean that you are less prone to accidents...conversely, as the Chinese saying goes: 上得山多终遇虎!

The accident occurred when I was driving Pei Ying, Huey Shann and Szu Ling to Meijer on Carpentar Road. It was raining, and I was driving on the outer lane of the southbound road. A cab cut into my lane from the right, and I was rather annoyed because he turned in rather abruptly. I did not slow down, and to be honest did not intend to due to my annoyance. Then it happened; the traffic in front of the cab stopped suddenly, and the cab tried to turn left in order to avoid ramming into the cars in front of him, but later decided against it and drove back to my lane. I hit my brakes hard, but due to the slippery road the car skidded forward instead of coming to a halt. My car finally dedicated its first kiss to the sweet ass of that cab.

I stepped out to check the damage, and thank god it was nothing serious. The cab's rear suffer a slight dent, and my left signal lights were shattered. The cab driver asked if I could follow him to Showcase Cinema, since there's where he's dropping of his customers. We went there, and had the police officer come and write a report. I could blame no one but myself for this totally avoidable accident, and I would like to apologize to my fellow passengers. Bright side: no one was hurt in this incident.

So yeah no doubt that ruined my day.

Epilogue: Firestone managed to find out a series of problems with my car when I sent it to them for the signal bulb fix and oil change. Fresh off from an accident, I decided to get most of the critical stuff repaired. Together with the citation (because ass-kissers are always at fault), I had to shell out a total of 1500 USD...yup right now I am still getting sporadic coughs of blood.

Blind Date - Olde English Sketch Comedy

Saw this ages ago...LOL. Great comedy for nerds/geeks!!!

Chicago II

The next day we headed out to pick Steve up before going to Chinatown for a DimSum lunch. The wait was insane; we decided to go downstairs for some bubble tea before resuming our wait. I'd say that the food there wasn't that exceptional, on par or possibly worse than Great Lakes'.

After lunch we decided to walk around in downtown. I wanted to see the Buckingham Fountain and the famous Crown Fountain, since I missed it 3 years ago. To my dismay, both fountains were shut down presumably because of the cold weather. I got the chance to revisit my favorite in Chicago though, the Cloud Gate sculpture or more famously known as "the Bean".

Group photo in front of Jay Pritzker Pavillion (don't have the one with Vivian in it...dang)

The Bean!!!

What are you waiting for? Spit out some water dude!!!

Chicago river

Our next destinations included the Magnificent Mile, Ghirardelli Chocolate and the Grand Lux (dinner). The hot chocolate that I ordered in Ghirardelli (not the regular one) was just...too chocolaty. It was like drinking melted chocolate, and I suspect one could possibly suffocate to death if he or she takes a big gulp of it. The dinner at Grand Lux was great, but again I don't think it is worth the one hour+ waiting time (of course we did not wait there the whole time). I guess this is how things work in big cities...

Want to kill some brain cells?

 

Shrimp Scampi

The weekend was a short one, but it was sure fun to meet up with old friends!!

Chicago I

Eric visited me about three weeks ago during his fall break. Since I was stingy on my leave days and Eric himself did not have much time anyway, we decided to go to Chicago and pay Vivian a visit. The timing was great I should say; Vivian's birthday fell on that weekend, and that means more reasons for us to be in the Windy City.

Eric reached IND at about 10.15 pm. Since I noticed that there was an accident that caused a massive traffic jam on my opposite way while driving to the airport, I decided to take a detour passing by Indianapolis downtown to get back home. We stopped by the Monument Circle and took some photos.

The very next day after work (a Friday), we headed to Chicago after a stroll in the park nearby my house. I was planning to show off the fall colors of the beautiful lake which I took photos of earlier, but was greatly disappointed by the view. Well, one word could sum it up - hideous!

Apartment new look (I still prefer brick color facade)

We reached Chicago probably about 9-ish, and Vivian and Felix recommended this Korean BBQ place for dinner/supper. The atmosphere of that restaurant was "great". It was authentically Asian, as smoke filled the place and people crammed themselves together, enjoying the sizzling meat and steaming soup. I pictured that it should be great if a bunch of guys hang out in this place, each having a bottle of beer and talking loudly about obscene stuff while gobbling down chunks of burnt meat (ok too much of tvb...)

We ordered too much and in the end Vivian had to request for a box. We headed back home after, and I managed to try out some wii Mario go-kart before calling it a day.

More about Chicago in next post!!

About time to revive my blog...

So what have I been doing in the past few weeks? None other than study, study and study...the outcome? I seriously don't know :(

Anyhow, life feels good right now. I am loving the fact that I don't have to study...for now.

Well, will update on my Chicago trip when I get the chance (reads when I am not in my lazy mode).

Restless...

Title says it all...AARRGGHHH..

RIP Grandma

Hope you are in a better place now. Although we didn't know each other well, you were the only grandparent I've had, and I want to thank you for what you have done to raise your family. RIP.

New camera!

My faithful Canon A85 finally succumbed to old age (~4 years), and I was actually amazed by how it managed to last this long. 3 years ago it suffered a dramatic fall from the top of a full size fridge (in some Mr Jones' house back when I was in North Carolina), and it went hay-wired for a while before working normally again as if nothing had happened. Lately though, noticeable bands started to appear in the photos it captured, and that's when I decided I need a new camera.

I should thank my dear girlfriend for giving me this wonderful present. It's Canon PowerShot A2000 IS, a model came out as recently as September (yup this month). Let's look at a self portrait:

 

Wanting to do some testing, I took it out to a park across from my apartment and a small lake nearby to take some pictures. I didn't really try out the features, just taking random shots instead. I wonder when I will actually get the chance to use the various functions packed in it, to name a few the fireworks mode and the aquarium mode.

Here are some of the pictures I took:

Meadowland Park not far from my apartment

Small bridge that connects the park and path to lake

Looks like a resort huh?

The lake I mentioned...it beats Yosemite's mirror lake (haha at least in this picture compared to what we saw in winter)

Another view..

Trying out the micro function.

Yesterday also we had a potluck (8 people in total), and I prepared my favorite Malaysian food - Bat Kut Teh!!

The main ingredients

 

End product

Also, when I was done with jogging at Monon Trail today, my neighbor (an Indonesian, but his wife's a Chinese) invited me to his apartment and we chatted for quite a while. Then his wife suggested that we have dinner together, which I did not reject :P. I found out that he has the same surname as me (I do not have a common one), and also discovered that the very first guy I met in the chinese church for badminton is actually his uncle!!! What a small world it is!