Wicked

As my Christmas gift this year, Dan got me tickets to Wicked, playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Two words: Eden Espinosa. She played the green witch, also known as Elphaba (the ugliest name ever) and that girl can sing! You know when people are literally screaming at the tops of their lungs but it actually sounds good? It's rare, but Espinosa definitely has it. I wonder if Elphaba on Broadway sings as well as she does. **Update - I heard that this IS the cast from Broadway! Duh.

The story line behind the musical was very cleverly "fit" around "The Wizard of Oz," and was quite funny. The title should have been "Elphaba, Misunderstood." (Hope I didn't give too much away right there.)

I couldn't help but think that Glinda the good witch was way too similar to Karen on television series "Will and Grace." She had the same high-pitched squeeky voice with a spunky flair, oozing narcissism.

Something I noticed today while at the theatre: why is it that teenagers come to these things dressed like they're going to the fricken prom? They look uncomfortable and make me wonder, did they get dropped off by their parents? Then I also noticed that older folks wear jeans and barely manage to comb their hair. What's that all about?

Coffee Bean

Don't hate, but I prefer Starbucks to almost any other coffee place. I truly loathed it when I was in New York, but started to like it when I was in Korea for a year and didn't have a Starbucks on every corner; suddenly I desired Starbucks all the time. When I do have to go to a Coffee Bean, however, I can't help but to think it is such a rip off for a small ice-coffee! They fill up the entire cup with the tiny balls of ice and fill up the cup about 1/4 of the way and fill the rest with water! WTF? $2.30 or something ridiculous like that for a shot glass worth of coffee. Just something to think about.

Grey's Anatomy

Please don't judge me... I guess I have way too much time on my hands, but isn't that what blogging is for?

I am a big Grey's Anatomy fan. This show is a recent discovery for me, although I always said I would watch it, but never got around to it. I started watching it from season 1 on Netflix. I am now on Season 3 disk 2. To update you, Denny Duquette just died (I cried my eyes out!!) and Izzy just started at the hospital again.

I know the show is really good and all, but after watching disk after disk after disk, here is what I am slowly but steadily growing tired of (keep in mind I like the concept of realistic):

1. The show is really turning out to be a soap opera with it's unbelievable story lines, character connections, and love triangles. I mean, come on, everyone has slept with everyone. And isn't it just so convenient how the stories of patients seem to somehow parallel the personal lives of the doctors?
2. The ridiculous stories of the patients that come in to the hospital. Yes, these things can really happen, but how often do they? A woman with two uteruses? AND pregnant with two babies conceived at different times by two different baby daddies?
3. Doctor Shephard has completely died on me. He used to be so mysterious and cute, now he's just a whiny little bitch who can't forgive his best friend for sleeping with his wife even though they're divorced and he's in love with Meredith. Which brings me to number 4...
4. Meredith and Derek's relationship is SO getting old. Just get together already! It's no longer a cliff hanger, nor is it juicy anymore! We've seen them get naked, a lot! Snore... moving on...
5. Doctor Burke's character - did the show mean for him to be such a robot? His relationship with Cristina is weird with zero passion.
6. Doctor Torres ... you're too big for George and you look like a man.

OK, before you judge me and think I'm too negative, here are the things I LIKE about the show:

1. Cristina Yang's character! I love the fact that she isn't all sappy and girlie. She's competitive and funny and despite what people say about her physical looks, I think she's a cute Korean girl.
2. I love the fact that they put so many people of color on the show! I've never seen so many Asians who can speak perfect English on TV before! Hurray for that!
3. Never been to Seattle, but I'm so glad the show doesn't take place in LA or NY.
4. Denny Duquette and Izzy's relationship... wow... talk about chemistry! I cried and cried!
5. Miranda Bailey's character. Okay, maybe she is the token sassy black woman, but it works. The fact that she had a baby and softened up adds to her depth of character.
6. Doctor Mark Sloan, need I say more?

New Year's Resolution

2007 is coming to a close. I've been thinking long and hard about one realistic resolution to make in the new year and since I've already quit smoking, my 2008 resolution is going to be to be more assertive and speak up. It's definitely easier said than done. But! I got an early start! Yesterday I had a one-on-one meeting with my ever-intimidating German boss (he used to train for MMA fighting!) and told him I wanted a raise and everything that was bothering me about work and co-workers! Of course I interjected phrases like, "... we need to work as a team... important for everyone to get along (to a certain extent) ... so-and-so brings down the positive energy at work... "

At first I was really nervous, but the ball started rolling and it was cake. I've come to realize that people appreciate and like it when you are assertive and say what needs to be said. After our meeting my boss praised me for coming to see him and said his door was always open if I needed to talk. I felt so amazing afterwards. It was like stepping out into fresh air.

Christmas 2007

Christmas was spent this year at my cousin Jeannie's house in Carson. The food was yummy and the guys scared my grandmother half to death every time they screamed at the TV ... they were watching the Laker game.




Afterwards, I went to my friend Sandy's house. This is her son Aidan. He's 3.

Death by tiger

News related thought of the day... what an awful way to die. For both the man and the tiger, but mostly the man.

Check out what this article from the NY times. Now some New Yorkers are starting to worry about tigers from the Bronx Zoo getting loose. Come on people.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/nyregion/27bigcats.html

I Am Legend

Don't worry, if you haven't seen this, I won't spoil it for you. The one thing I will say is that it's total video material. (It was only an hour and a half long) Watched it tonight with the hubby and I gotta tell you, it wasn't really what I expected. It was so...quiet. I thought it was going to be heart stopping, edge of your seat, scream out loud, ear popping action from a skinnish-buff-ass Will, but I guess not. It was very dramatic with (at times) the jiggly reality show-like camera shots. I liked the cinematography of it, and it was neat to see Manhattan looking so deserted. Plus that's just about the cutest darn German Shepard I've ever seen. I give it three out of five stars.

My Christmas

Sorry it's crooked, just turn your head to the left.
As you can see, I've created this blog on this boring Christmas morning. Check out my tree! It's slowly dying.

Kensington the Ugly cute bulldog...

I like peanut butter.

Bridal Shower in San Juan Capistrano

Last weekend I went to a spot all the way out in San Juan Capistrano (think swallows, the birds) to a place called the Tea House. (www.theteahouseonlosrios.com) Only a woman could love this place because it's just so cute! It's located on the oldest residential street in California (or was it Southern Cali?) and the owner lives right behind the Tea House in a home that looks straight out of Forrest Gump. The food and tea were absolutely amazing and the veranda outside was a bit squishy, but quaint and cozy.

Northwest Sucks!

I recently wrote to Northwest because enough is enough! This is the letter that I wrote. (Scroll down below to see NWA's response.)

I have recently flown on NWA internationally and was painfully reminded of how ugly and horrible the service is. I usually fly NWA because the tickets are the cheapest, but why does that mean having to sacrifice good service for it?

I have flown Asiana, Thai, and Korean Air many times and the service on all three airlines are excellent. The flight attendants actually give the customers their full attention, they are polite, smile, and constantly walk up and down the aisles to see if anyone needs anything. NWA flight attendants are rude, tired, old, and scream "only a few more years of this crap and then... retirement!"

I was utterly appalled when a male flight attendant (on this flight from Narita to LAX) condescendingly demanded to a Japanese woman (who spoke little English) what she wanted to eat. He said, "you didn't look at the menu?" He asked her that same question very loudly and rudely several times. The woman looked uncomfortable, and in my opinion, probably felt like a child. I was so enraged when I saw this!
This is just ONE example of many times I had seen the attendants ROLL their eyes, speak with a tone of attitude in their voices, never say "you're welcome," and completely disappear once the plane was in the air. It's like pulling teeth just to have them smile!

I always leave NWA with a bad taste in my mouth! Which is an awful way to begin and end a vacation, by the way. I believe if you are in the service industry, then SMILE! Act like you like PEOPLE! Be courteous! Have fun while you're at it! If you can't, look for a desk job! I have worked in the service industry myself, so I know how hard it can be sometimes, but I also know how easy it is to just grin and bear it.

A perfect example. I was on Jetblue once when a woman went berzerk because she wasn't sitting on the exit row. This woman also happened to be a washed up television soap actress. The flight attendant walked over to her, and politely apologized and informed her that there was nothing she could do at the moment, but if there was anything that she could do later on, she would let her know. She then smiled and went on to explain precisely why the error had happened and asked what she could do to make her flight more pleasant. She warmly and pleasantly said this, all the while with a huge smile on her face. It wasn't so much what she said, but HOW she said it. Wow! I was blown away. I wanted to give that Jetblue flight attendant money because her customer service skills were THAT good. The actress calmed down, and all was good for take off and everyone was happy.

I write this email in hopes that someone high up there will read this and really truly take heed. I do not exaggerate and I do not usually write letters of complaint, but this time I HAD to because it was more than I could bear. I think the flight staff needs a refresher course on customer service. Especially the international flights within Japan, Korea, and the US.

Just a note, I am not a first-time customer to NWA and it's rancid service. I am a World Perks member and have flown numerous times and have bit my lip and turned the other way when I saw, heard, and felt this negative attitude and energy towards us! The paying customers for goodness sake!
__________________________________________________
Here is NWA's response...

Dear Miss. Tak,

Thank you for contacting Northwest Airlines; your feedback is greatly
appreciated.

After reading your comments on the horrible service you received while
traveling with us, I certainly understand why you wanted to bring this
matter to our attention. We expect our flight attendants to be helpful
and professional at all times. I am sorry that in this instance you did
not receive the service you expected and should have received. Feedback like yours will help us to improve our inflight process and customer experience. I will be sharing your comments with our Inflight leadership team for internal follow up.

As a gesture of apology, I have added 7500 WorldPerks bonus miles into your WorldPerks account Please allow three business days for the miles to appear in your account.

I want to thank you, again, for writing. We appreciate your interest in
Northwest and wish you a very happy holiday season.

My American Girl Experience

As a former Cabbage Patch parent, I think this place is genius. Why didn't I think of it myself? American Girl has it all: outfits, fake baby food, a movie theater, even a cafe that provides highchairs and caters to the dolls so that they're one stop short of being a real human. Bravo, nicely done.

I have a few concerns regarding the dolls; the first of which - they are creepy! They have those button eyes that close when you put them down and open when they are standing up. They remind me of those horror movies where there is a peculiar collection of porcelain dolls that come alive when the clock strikes twelve.

In the upstairs Bitty Baby Collection, I looked through the selection of babies and noticed that they had strategically coordinated the dolls according to their skin color. Almost like a foundation make-up counter, except with dolls. The black baby was way on the left because it had the darkest skin tone, and the white baby was on the right. What was in between was a mystery. So I had to ask the worker, "Which one is the Asian one?" He pointed to the doll one over to the right from the black baby. Honestly, I thought that was a lighter skinned black baby. But then I noticed the hairline. "OOOh," I said, "The Asian one has stick straight hair, while the black baby's hairline is curly." The worker smiled and walked away.

One more thing about these dolls... why does the Asian doll always have to be wearing the Chinese outfit while all the other babies have cute Gap-style clothing on? Seriously, the folks over at American Girl have come so far with their creativity, but some things still haven't changed.