Rearview But in the Clearview of NKOTBSB

The super efficient production side of the concert

The front corner rearview seat appealed to me because I love to watch what I can from the production/backstage side of the concert.  The set-up crew did such a clean job that some of them were able to get down to Jordin Sparks' "I Am Woman"(she was amazing, performed several songs after hometown band Neverest wowed the early bird audience) and it was hilarious to watch.

I sat here to kind of see what they can see...

Before the curtain dropped, they were stretching, giving each other props, etc.

The earliest screams came from my side of the audience since we got first visuals on NKOTBSB!  I enjoyed seeing them give each other great vibes before their big show. 

Posing and hearing the shrieking fans before their show starts

They'll still be in the middle of their tour by the time I post this so I will not get into details of the concert.  But yes, I sang along to all the songs and so did 18,000+ fans.  It was phenomenal. :o)  This post looks like a photo blog but I'm sure NKOTBSB fans won't mind.

NKOTBSB revealed!

During a song where NKOTB was facing the back with their arms crossed(choreography), I realized Donnie Wahlberg was looking in my direction.  I had to make sure so I blew him a kiss and eventhough he can't move from his pose, he puckered up and blew ME a kiss too! 
I melted.

Packed Air Canada Centre

Howie, Danny, and AJ all waved to me from backstage when they heard me scream their names.  I had help from a few fans from my row.

Howie waiting his turn to go onstage

NKOTB singing "The Right Stuff". :oD

At one point in the concert, Brian Littrell of BSB faced our side and looked at me.  Of course I blew him a kiss.  He blew one back and I melted.  Again. 

Backstreet Boys at a mobile stage at the end of the catwalk

During one of the songs, Brian went back to the same spot(facing us) and pointed at me.  I pointed at myself and he nodded.  Then he pointed at himself, pointed at me, then did the "rocking a baby" motion with his hands.  In my books, that meant "I want your baby". 

I was so stunned, I nodded. :oD

After the same song, he went to that spot again and formed a heart with his hands.  I did the same and he flashed a big smile.

One super happy fan. 

NKOTBSB made me feel like I had the best seat in the house. 

Back in the early 90's, my mom asked me,"Why do you keep buying their cassette tapes?  They don't even know you exist."  

A few days ago, my mom and I had lunch together.  When I told her what happened at the concert and reminded her of what she said back then, she said, "See, it's good I said that.  Now you're able to throw it back at my face over sushi.  It's so much fun!"  Oh mom. LOL. 

Mayhem Last May

Ah, the May that was solemn and sullen.  I'm pretty sure of not being the first mom blogger with mixed feelings for the flowery month.  If only it was whisk - deep as, "I love December for all the gatherings.  I hate it for sanding down my credit card".  May had me celebrating phenomenal moms, lost moms, and "I can't believe she's a mom" moms.  I can't say with full confidence that I toasted to my own motherhood the best way I could as May also marked the first death anniversary of a fellow mom, a dear friend of mine whose bipolar disease sent her to heaven way too early(Well, that's how it felt).  I wanted to use this blog entry for Mother's Day but I was struggling with grief.  Like I told you, not whisk - deep; more of Triton stirring the ocean - deep.  But before this entry goes on, a little revelation if I may.  Notice what my friend wrote on the scrapbook page she made during my baby shower:

"If there's one word to describe this picture, it would be DEEP". - Redge

Our connection remained even beyond her mortality.  In my sleep she showed me some of her own memories that I would otherwise not know of, and finally an image of pearls in the ocean arranged to profile her face glistening in the moonlight.  I celebrated her and yet I felt sad and bitter.  Was it grief?  It was only yesterday that I decided to call it missing and remembering.  Grief only held me back.  Missing and remembering did not lead to understanding but they helped me go on.  It was never the Resurrection that I doubted.  It was whether the ones she left behind can live their lives celebrating what they learned from hers.   If I get reunited with her and the angels boast of her brilliance, I would only be too itching to say, "Please.  I've already seen that when she was still on earth".

Not Lugging Luggage

The maximum combined weight for check-in baggage* is now 44 pounds.  Didn't it used to be 2 pieces maximum at 50 pounds each?!?  We haven't landed in Mexico or Manila, and I'm already fanning myself to calm down this mild panic attack.  Still in shock, we scrambled to redeem our Air Miles for some snazzy luggage.  I've been a Heys fan for 5 years now and find their luggage conveniently lightweight, easy to maneuver, and durable.  The older models I own only have scruff marks from wear and tear.  Hopefully, we won't luck out and have an ACME anvil drop - sharp edge down on these frameless beauties.

Lightweight aluminum handles, 360 swivel wheels, and a piggy back feature

My pick: The Heys Eco Orbis is made from 100% recycled ABS plastic

Bunky picks out his luggage since he's traveling with me(L to R: 30"-11 lbs., 26"- 9.2 lbs., 21.5"-7lbs.)

I'm freaking out about the baggage weight allowance because parents haul serious turtle shells when going anywhere with a toddler.  It's hilarious how the hubs and I are currently calculating how much formula and diapers we can bring for our upcoming trips. 

The hubs will roll with Heys Hummer Spinner Set

Lightweight luggage can carry more shoes, bags, and makeup.  There. Now I can breathe.

*(in our case)Cathay Pacific International Flight for Adult/Child, Economy Class, no restriction in number of pieces

Easter Basket Heavy

The home cooked meal your father whips up is beyond-words-phenomenal.  Out the window you see a colony of ants take apart some mangled remains of something they decide will be their dinner.  You call out to them to come over for better food, but ants cannot understand human talk.  Your father turns you into an ant so you can tell the others about that heavenly smorgasbord.  But the ants don't appreciate you questioning their system of where to get their meals, no matter how good you were getting at using antspeak.  You've formed a little ant line but also pissed off enough ant elders and you get all your six legs crucified, just because your way to better food was not sweet enough for the ants that called the shots.  

I giggled as my favorite professor (Sir Ray Aguas) ended this story by drawing a crucifix-turned-asterisk on the chalkboard.  This simplistic, yet powerful version of the Passion of Christ has been in my heart for the past fourteen years.  Holy weeks of years prior were spent in Candelaria, Quezon, witnessing the bawling Pabasa chanters, and joining processions marked with ivory faced, tear laced statues of holy people and men whipping themselves.  To understand the drama, here's Christ's physical suffering in a nutshell, as I learned from Lee Strobel's The Case for Easter: Hematidrosis(sweating blood from extreme levels of stress), respiratory acidosis(increased respiration leading to increased carbon dioxide in the blood and diaphragm malfunction, among others), excruciating pain(so painful, "pain from the crucifix" gave birth to the term excruciating), pericardial and pleural effusion(chest trauma resulting in inflamed sac pushing against the heart, and excess fluid in the lungs that impair breathing - the reason behind His chest shooting out water when the Roman soldier stabbed Him).   

Dreadful as it was, His existence meant to teach us about love, forgiveness, and what smells so good up there.  His life is (since He was resurrected) teleological and because of us, has extrinsic finality.  His message is love, and not religion.  At the wedding in Cana, He turned water into wine and used jars that were supposed to store holy water for cleansing hands.  The extremely religious thought this act was plain rude.  Jesus wanted to say, "Marriage is a celebration of love.  Let's party!"(something I learned from Bruxy Cavey's The End of Religion)

It's disappointing when I don't love and forgive enough.  It's heart wrenching to see anyone miss the point(especially the religious doing REALLY BAD things).  Easter makes me reflect.  Easter makes me celebrate.  Easter makes me love all the more.   The little one gets to hunt Easter eggs.  I can't wait to teach him what Easter is all about.

What each egg represents: A new life, a new understanding of love

What Bunky knows for now: toys inside eggs and he gets EGGStra kisses for growing new teeth!

It's Easter Skittles Mani, three coats after!

L to R: Essie's Beach Party, Blueberry Crumb, St.Martin Mint, Barbuda Banana, Castaway

Silver Shatter by O.P.I. :o)))

It's like transfiguration for this Easter mani

Love all year round, Bumparoos.  It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it.

Evil, Caveat!

A girlfriend and I thought of each other when we saw the trailer of the movie Insidious, we had to see it together.  We both stayed away from horror flicks for a while(she got a new house, I had a baby) and we were curious if we're ready to get back on the freaked - out bandwagon.  I guess the anticipation of getting spooked psyched me out because before heading out, I realized I dressed myself as my favorite tv villain.

An evil character can laugh off a scary flick...right?

(KRMA Jade jacket, Lavajewelry Lapis Lazuli pendant, La Mer wrap watch, FCUK skinny jeans, Bebe bracelet, Hunter Jimmy Choo rainboots)

The Vampire Diaries' Katherine Pierce(played by fellow Torontonian Nina Dobrev)

Image courtesy of CW

The movie was carnival - scary fun, with the cheat of blaring background music/sound effects.  If it was anything like The Shining, I would have been mortified.  Whew!

Proud that I wasn't jumpy at the theater and wasn't freaked out the next morning, I celebrated by painting my nails in a kick - ass fashion.

OPI Not Like The Movies (Katy Perry Collection)

Topped with China Glaze Black Mesh Crackle Glaze

It's like Disco peeking through Black Forest.

Mmmm...Black Forest cake...Sorry.

And that's what's "crackle"- lackin, Kraken.

A Small Happy Breather Day

I have been stubbornly braving the pain of an ingrown toenail for several weeks until my mom dragged me out for an emergency pedi at a nearby aesthetician's basement salon.  The lady recognized me from a show I used to do on tv and her sister was more than willing to feed Bunky some homemade soup.  While my mom, Bunky, and the lady's sis hung out in the kitchen, I submitted my feet for some old school pedi care.  We shared small talk as she played cello with her scrubber on my foot and I got pleasantly dazed listening to her hallelujahs playing on cassette.  My ingrown nail did not stand a chance against the pedicure skills of this lady and with a final bloody sting, we parted ways.  I picked out a polish in honor of my mom who survived breast cancer and I went home with relieved pink toes. 

Revlon Nail Polish Enamel Power Walk Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

(Image courtesy of Amazon.com)

I continued onto the evening getting tickled pink on a movie date with my husband.  We munched on our favorites, Maltesers(his) and peanut M&Ms(mine) and I savored listening to his laughter all throughout "Just Go With It".  That's it.  I'm collecting Adam Sandler movies.  Happy Madison always delivers.

 Looking back: another fave M&M moment with the hubster in New York

Pink toes and sugary giggles.  I'm so ready for Spring. :o)

Ricky Coon and Poopie Fish II

Birthday loot bags excite me.  Each bag takes a stab at the question, "What can entertain a kid enough to let parents squeeze in a tiny break after they've gone home from our party?"  Did I say break?  I meant chore.  Bunky was finally old enough to look into his loot bag and his delight quickly overshadowed mine.   He shook the tiny tambourine long enough for me to grab the candy and hide it.  He pulled out the raccoon beanie baby and gave it a kiss.  This is the first time he showed affection for a stuffed toy.  I was beyond thrilled. It was such a cute moment, I gave the toy a surname.  

Bumparoos, meet Ricky Coon.

I'm guessing Bunky used this "Awww" moment and my enthusiasm to figure out that affection makes me happy and might work in his favor.  Ever since this meet and sweet greet with Ricky Coon, he's been kissing me in exchange for snacks, playtime, and that arduous climb down the stairs that I've been watching him master.  

Letting him perfect his skills will always be bittersweet.  But I'm not anxious to potty train just yet.  I found giving him toys while I change his diaper prevents him from checking out what's going on down there.  But I have a separate set of toys for that.  First was Poopie Bunny with her soft texture, then Poopie Fish with her lights and sounds.  My mom recently brought home this third installment in the Poopie Toy series.  He's bright, rubbery, and slow-looking.  Thank goodness, because his spikes might make you run.  At least you'll get a head start.

May I present, Poopie Fish II

(Bumparoos' version is the bathroom reading material)

There you have it, Bumparoos.  A soon to be classic little tale of love and distraction.