Neutral faces...
I've got a ton of stuff to do, but of course, the most useless things come first... =p
Finally, we went to the much anticipated Aviv String Quartet, which graced the audience with some lovely pieces:
Beethoven - String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6 [early Beethoven: opened lightly, then contrasting pathos against a scherzo dance]
Prokofiev - String Quartet No. 2 in F Major [*very* Prokofiev; very contemporary Russian -- and always pleasing]
Sir Ernest MacMillan - Two sketches for string quartet [based on two Canadian folksongs, the style kind of reminded me of a contemporary Stravinsky-type.. despite being Canadian, I really enjoyed this one. =p]
Tchaikovsky - String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat minor, Op. 30 [rich Romantic flavour -- a great finale]
I was extremely tonight this because this was my first Music Toronto concert; I have missed three of them because of (blasted) business trips! Oh well, it was great tonight...
...*except* that I find it slightly upsetting to enjoy live music when the performers look SOO BORED! If I had a comment card, I would have definitely told the cellist to "Smile more!!" [I don't think that would have caused trouble... ;)] Yes, I understand that people may naturally have the "neutral face", but you're still a performer, for goodness sake! The MacMillan and the Tchaikovsky weren't too bad, but as for the Beethoven, I could not feel the pathos!
Haha, all in all though, not a bad performance... definitely great value!
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Finally, a continuation from my Christmas Eve post...
Let me clarify, the rest of my extended family did go to Shenzhen; only my siblings, my mom and I did not. Those crazy "chois", crossing the border at 1am... and then going directly to the foot massage parlour until 3am. Hahahaha... my aunt and uncle own a flat in Shenzhen, away from the border so the area is not as bad as one usually thinks...
Anyway, it was a good call to stay in Hong Kong because we had a real treat in store for us on Christmas Day. This day was a "Yam" day.
In the morning, we all attended Christmas service with my aunt (with whom we're staying). Unfortunately, the service was in Chinese, which was definitely not helpful for my siblings... a couple of my cousins and their kids [my aunt is about 20 years older than my parents..., and my cousins are actually "Yans"] also went too. The service was pretty good. I find Chinese speakers quite engaging; I think it's from their seminary background because many Chinese pastors have a similar way of preaching. It's slightly more forceful, but I find it effective -- like our senior Chinese pastor in Toronto. ;) The church actually has a huge sanctuary, even more so for Hong Kong. The kids sang a song, which was really cute [recommend download the video first, if you really want to see it..]:
kids...
After a nice buffet lunch, we had a real treat.
First, some brief background about my family... my grandfather opened a printing company in Hong Kong. This company was passed down to the eldest son (i.e., my uncle). *His* songs (i.e., my cousins) run the company now. Since my dad is the youngest son out of all of his siblings, the age gap is quite significant (i.e., 20 years!), and he is more around the age of my cousins, whereas my siblings and I are around the age of my cousins' kids; there is this juxtaposition in generations, if you will.
Anyway, running a pretty successful company is quite lucrative, so my cousins (4 guys), like any guys who have money will buy toys. And bigger toys. So beyond the nice cars, they've taken up flying, and the eldest of the brothers is now the president of the Hong Kong Aviation Club. [At least 3 of the brothers fly, and teach or spend time with the Hong Kong Air Cadets. The president is the only one who teaches helicopter piloting.]
So it turned out that it was a good choice not to go to Shenzhen, because we got helicopter tours around Hong Kong, piloted by my cousin [not the president, but that's just details...]. Since this was my siblings' first time to Hong Kong, a necessary tourist spot is the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. Well we didn't have enough time to go to Lantau Island... but they did get to see the aerial view. It was great.
Helicopter takeoff [also recommend downloading it!]
In the evening, we had a nice sit-down dinner at the Aviation Club... it's nice to have a nice steak once in a while, even though the Chinese food that we have everyday was so good. =)
To finish off a not-that-brief explanation of my family... my aunt (my cousin the pilot's mother) is an amazing woman. She is obviously not an original Yam (or Yan..), but she is the whole reason the entire Yam clan sticks together. No one really knows what happened to my uncle (he is the eldest son of my grandfather -- in fact, I think their marriage broke down.) But my aunt has stuck by the family and has gained respect by everyone. At the same time, at the age of 74, she still goes to many Publishing Association functions and is active at church, knowing that all the blessings that she has experienced in her lifetime are from God.
Since all her sons have their own families, they bought their dear mother a flat, which is where we stayed in Hong Kong. Of course, it is a nice flat... I was so fortunate as to sleep in my own bedroom (in Hong Kong!) for a few days before my siblings arrived. [We were also fortunate to have been chauffeured directly from the airport... heehee.] It has been my blessing to have her impart bits of wisdom to me throughout various encounters.
And I know that this is not really a typical experience for Hong Kong... it just came with the name. ;) Until next time,.... Yam.
Let me clarify, the rest of my extended family did go to Shenzhen; only my siblings, my mom and I did not. Those crazy "chois", crossing the border at 1am... and then going directly to the foot massage parlour until 3am. Hahahaha... my aunt and uncle own a flat in Shenzhen, away from the border so the area is not as bad as one usually thinks...
Anyway, it was a good call to stay in Hong Kong because we had a real treat in store for us on Christmas Day. This day was a "Yam" day.
In the morning, we all attended Christmas service with my aunt (with whom we're staying). Unfortunately, the service was in Chinese, which was definitely not helpful for my siblings... a couple of my cousins and their kids [my aunt is about 20 years older than my parents..., and my cousins are actually "Yans"] also went too. The service was pretty good. I find Chinese speakers quite engaging; I think it's from their seminary background because many Chinese pastors have a similar way of preaching. It's slightly more forceful, but I find it effective -- like our senior Chinese pastor in Toronto. ;) The church actually has a huge sanctuary, even more so for Hong Kong. The kids sang a song, which was really cute [recommend download the video first, if you really want to see it..]:
kids...
After a nice buffet lunch, we had a real treat.
First, some brief background about my family... my grandfather opened a printing company in Hong Kong. This company was passed down to the eldest son (i.e., my uncle). *His* songs (i.e., my cousins) run the company now. Since my dad is the youngest son out of all of his siblings, the age gap is quite significant (i.e., 20 years!), and he is more around the age of my cousins, whereas my siblings and I are around the age of my cousins' kids; there is this juxtaposition in generations, if you will.
Anyway, running a pretty successful company is quite lucrative, so my cousins (4 guys), like any guys who have money will buy toys. And bigger toys. So beyond the nice cars, they've taken up flying, and the eldest of the brothers is now the president of the Hong Kong Aviation Club. [At least 3 of the brothers fly, and teach or spend time with the Hong Kong Air Cadets. The president is the only one who teaches helicopter piloting.]
So it turned out that it was a good choice not to go to Shenzhen, because we got helicopter tours around Hong Kong, piloted by my cousin [not the president, but that's just details...]. Since this was my siblings' first time to Hong Kong, a necessary tourist spot is the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. Well we didn't have enough time to go to Lantau Island... but they did get to see the aerial view. It was great.
Helicopter takeoff [also recommend downloading it!]
In the evening, we had a nice sit-down dinner at the Aviation Club... it's nice to have a nice steak once in a while, even though the Chinese food that we have everyday was so good. =)
To finish off a not-that-brief explanation of my family... my aunt (my cousin the pilot's mother) is an amazing woman. She is obviously not an original Yam (or Yan..), but she is the whole reason the entire Yam clan sticks together. No one really knows what happened to my uncle (he is the eldest son of my grandfather -- in fact, I think their marriage broke down.) But my aunt has stuck by the family and has gained respect by everyone. At the same time, at the age of 74, she still goes to many Publishing Association functions and is active at church, knowing that all the blessings that she has experienced in her lifetime are from God.
Since all her sons have their own families, they bought their dear mother a flat, which is where we stayed in Hong Kong. Of course, it is a nice flat... I was so fortunate as to sleep in my own bedroom (in Hong Kong!) for a few days before my siblings arrived. [We were also fortunate to have been chauffeured directly from the airport... heehee.] It has been my blessing to have her impart bits of wisdom to me throughout various encounters.
And I know that this is not really a typical experience for Hong Kong... it just came with the name. ;) Until next time,.... Yam.
OK, *in case* anyone thought I was an anti-relationships, bitter girl -- I'm not! Far from it, actually! I just think that song is *hilarious* -- you really have to listen to it! Haha...
On another note, it's been really nice to be in Toronto. Finally, I showed my face to my Ultimate frisbee team; I need to get back in shape! Great to be at home again.. to drive my car again ;) and to be in the office again!
It's very sad, I know, but I enjoy the office very much! A sense of security, I suppose. In any case, I'm not *completely* career-oriented as many may think... I qualify for the CA soon, so the opportunity is now, that I can figure out what I *want* in the future, to figure out what is the *best* choice to make. Not that I want to leave EY just yet; I do enjoy it there very much. I don't know!
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.
On another note, it's been really nice to be in Toronto. Finally, I showed my face to my Ultimate frisbee team; I need to get back in shape! Great to be at home again.. to drive my car again ;) and to be in the office again!
It's very sad, I know, but I enjoy the office very much! A sense of security, I suppose. In any case, I'm not *completely* career-oriented as many may think... I qualify for the CA soon, so the opportunity is now, that I can figure out what I *want* in the future, to figure out what is the *best* choice to make. Not that I want to leave EY just yet; I do enjoy it there very much. I don't know!
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.
Monday, February 14, 2005
This song is for my "Valentine's Day... woo...hoo..." friends. ;) The song is another fun Michael Buble song... especially funny because it's so upbeat despite the lyrics. Haha..
real | windows media
Down with love - Michael Buble (featuring Holly Palmer)
Down with love
The flowers and rice and shoe
Down with love
The root of all midnight blues
Down with things that give you that well known pain
Take that moon, wrap it in cellophane
Down with love
Let's liquidate all its friends
The moon, the June, the roses and rainbow's ends
Down with songs that moan about night and day
Down with love
Yes, take it away, away
Take it away
Take it away
Give it back to the birds and the bees and the Viennese
Down with eyes, romantic and stupid
Down with sighs and down with Cupid
Brother let's stuff that dove
Down with love
Ah, let's go!
Down with things that give you that well known pain
Take that moon and wrap it in cellophane
Down with songs that moan about night and day
Down with love
Take it away, away
Take it away
Take it away
Give it back to the birds and the bees and the Viennese
Down with eyes, romantic and stupid
Down with sighs and down with Cupid
Brother let's stuff that dove
Brother let's stuff that dove
Brother let's stuff that dove
Down with love
Down with love
Down with love
Down with love
real | windows media
Down with love - Michael Buble (featuring Holly Palmer)
Down with love
The flowers and rice and shoe
Down with love
The root of all midnight blues
Down with things that give you that well known pain
Take that moon, wrap it in cellophane
Down with love
Let's liquidate all its friends
The moon, the June, the roses and rainbow's ends
Down with songs that moan about night and day
Down with love
Yes, take it away, away
Take it away
Take it away
Give it back to the birds and the bees and the Viennese
Down with eyes, romantic and stupid
Down with sighs and down with Cupid
Brother let's stuff that dove
Down with love
Ah, let's go!
Down with things that give you that well known pain
Take that moon and wrap it in cellophane
Down with songs that moan about night and day
Down with love
Take it away, away
Take it away
Take it away
Give it back to the birds and the bees and the Viennese
Down with eyes, romantic and stupid
Down with sighs and down with Cupid
Brother let's stuff that dove
Brother let's stuff that dove
Brother let's stuff that dove
Down with love
Down with love
Down with love
Down with love
Sunday, February 06, 2005
There's no place like home... There's no place like home...
I am SO sick of travelling. Of course, travelling for leisure is completely different, but I am really looking forward to no more business trips in the near future! At least, nothing longer than a week...
It doesn't help that there is absolutely nothing in Bridgewater, New Jersey...
I was kind of upset for having to work last weekend in the States, at the same time missing a whole bunch of plans that I had that weekend. So to make the stay worthwhile I was able to visit Ina and relax in New York. It was a nice and relaxing Sunday... service at Trinity Baptist Church, brunch by the Rockefeller Center, Museum of Modern Art, and high tea... Guess it was what I needed before a really long work week.
Sigh... need to find time to sleep!!
But anyway, just really glad to be home. If I'm like this now, could I ever go away?? I don't know...
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.
I am SO sick of travelling. Of course, travelling for leisure is completely different, but I am really looking forward to no more business trips in the near future! At least, nothing longer than a week...
It doesn't help that there is absolutely nothing in Bridgewater, New Jersey...
I was kind of upset for having to work last weekend in the States, at the same time missing a whole bunch of plans that I had that weekend. So to make the stay worthwhile I was able to visit Ina and relax in New York. It was a nice and relaxing Sunday... service at Trinity Baptist Church, brunch by the Rockefeller Center, Museum of Modern Art, and high tea... Guess it was what I needed before a really long work week.
Sigh... need to find time to sleep!!
But anyway, just really glad to be home. If I'm like this now, could I ever go away?? I don't know...
Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.
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