Stop and Listen

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the
violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about
45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated
that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way
to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician
playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried
up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw
the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but
the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late
for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged
him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally
the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all
the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the
parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for
a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one
noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best
musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever
written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a
theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station
was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about
perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a
commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do
we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected
context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians
in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are
we missing?

The year is over

Anteaters and all of us who love them!

Went to see my good friends perform again lastnight at Tijuana Flats. Superb show!!!

At the Movies

I went to see THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL this evening. I am a fan of the original. I was skeptical of what this remake would be like. I have learned to go into a film as of late with no expectations what-so-ever. I am glad that was the case today. I am not going to say that the film was HORRIBLE or BORING or whatnot. It was simply... bleh. Dissatisfying might be a better way to describe it. It did not live up to the original. It felt as though the makers of this version were trying to make it "unique" or "different" from the Original. That is like trying to slice bread "a new way". I felt as though they tried to rely too much on the "star factor": Keanu, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith (who needs some lessons from his daddio) and Jennifer Connelly who seems to have pigeon-holed herself into the "I can talk to the weirdo cause I have awesome eyes and we have a connection" role. It's a rental for a rainy day when you have either (a) not seen the original and want a good "bleh" movie or (b) have seen the original and want to watch side by side for comparisons and critiques.

After sitting through TDTEST I wanted to enjoy a movie for my $10 ticket. So I went into BOLT 3D. This was perhaps one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time! I am talking- Nemo/Toy Story era. The theatre was empty with the exception of my mother, myself and 3 couples will over the 25 year old mark. We were all laughing hysterically. The culprit: Rhino:

My sister recommended the film and she never leads me wrong. I highly recommend this film!

Just Got in From the Windy City...

The Windy City is miiigghhhttyyy Pretty!! :D

I absolutely loved Chicago, IL. It was a cleaner NYC although.... NYC has been pretty clean lately. I had never been to the mid-west before so it was odd not having water to my immediate east. But let me tell you, that Michigan River is GINORMOUS!! It's an ocean!! The city itself was just spectacular. Add to that the snow that fell the night we arrived and the rest of the week was just short of heavenly :)

The first night was... an experience. We arrived close to 4:30PM which meant that the sun was setting in approximately 20 minutes. We got to the Hotel (Westin River North... amazing) and freshened up. We decided to walk to find some place to eat. Mind you, we had no idea where we were going and it was now colder and wet outside. It seemed as though nature couldn't decide whether to rain or snow. So she did both. We ended up going to Hard Rock Cafe. Once we finished our meal, we were greeted by Nature's decision- WET SNOW and WIND just in case we weren't satisfied. I, ill prepared for the decision, was not wearing the proper foot attire. I wore my floridian, no shoe lace chuck taylors.
Chuck Taylors + Wet Puddles + 15 degree weather + 3 miles to walk= Me Running!
By the time I got to the hotel elevator, I had removed my canoes that were once shoes, dish-clothes that were my socks and if I could have, my Popsicle toes.
So, no, the first night did not go "well" but it was an interesting WELCOME TO CHICAGO!! SUCK IT UP!!!
The rest of the week was marvelous. It dipped into the 20s but didn't snow. It was sunny in the afternoons and windy in the evenings but not unbearable. Not until Friday night that is, but we were perhaps pushing our luck with that one :)
I could go on and on about it all but I say- Go For Yourself!! and try out CHICAGO OVEN GRINDER PIZZA at 2121 N. Clarke Street. Don't ask anyone where it is, they won't know. Just tell the cab the address, pay the $12 and go. BTW- Cash only!

Back.... Again

This has been the most action packed winter I've had in a long time. Went to Maryland in October, North Carolina in November, just got back from Key West, now going to Chicago next week. They got 2 feet of snow already :D I'm not going to pretend that I am not terrified of being bone shakenly cold but I'm looking forward to some snow. It's been 10 years since I've seen REAL snow. It's been pretty chilly here at home. Even in the keys were in the 60s everyday while I was there. It was nice walking around Duval street wearing jeans and a lite sweater. Now to go to 10 degree weather.... YAY! haha

Key West was great. Being a resident of South Florida, I have to admit that I do not take advantage of my immediacy to some great beaches. Sanibel is not an hour and a half north west of me. Key West was only a three hour drive. I have to make plans to go back often!

If you're ever in the South Florida area, make your way to Card Sound Road (Just before bridge to Key Largo) and stop off at Alabama Jack's. BEST CONCH SALAD and FRITTERS you will ever ever have!!!

The Wong Family

The Wongs


Su Wong marries Lee Wong.
The next year,the Wongs have a new baby.
The nurse brings out a lovely, healthy, bouncy,but definitely a Caucasian, WHITE baby boy. 'Congratulations,' says the nurse to the new parents.'Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs. Wong name the baby?'
The puzzled father looks at his new baby boy and says,'Well, two Wong's don't make a white,so I think we will name him...












Are you ready for this?

Sum Ting Wong

On and Off Again

I just can't seem to unpack :D