MD wannabe

This entry will not make a lot of sense to somebody who does not know what a Speech and Language Pathologist is. They are sometimes also called a Speech Therapist. They work with patients who have speech and language issue.

There is one Speech and Language Therapist at work who dresses in OR (operating room) scrubs, long white lab coat and carries a Cardio stetoscope around. The other Speech Therapist does not carry a stetoscope around and dresses in street clothes. I am not even sure how often a Speech therapist would need a stetoscope in their practice or if they even need it at all.

My only impression of this guy is he wants to look like a Medical Doctor. Or he wants to be mistaken as a medical doctor. For goodness sake, go to medical school and be a doctor rather than just pretending to be one. I can't stand that kind of pretension.

insufferable know it all

I have encountered two people online that I would considered as a "know it all" guy. At least I can only recall two at the moment.

One guy that I was chatting with once questioned me with convicted disbelief when I told him it is kind of hard being a gay asian guy here in Chicago to date. At least from my experience. He argued that with Chicago's population and ethnic diversity, it should be easy for an ethnic guy like me to date other guys even outside of my ethnicity. When I explained that the odds might make it seem plausible, in reality things can be different. He just simply won't accept it to be the case. So I asked if he has lived or visited Chicago. And he has neither lived here or let alone visited Chicago ever. And yet he argued with conviction that he knows how it is for a gay asian guy to date in Chicago. Insufferable know it all indeed. Yeah his logic may be sound but if someone who has lived it tells you otherwise, be at least open minded enough to question what you think you know.

Another guy once told me that he would rather drown than take a gay cruise. He added than he much prefer a regular cruise. When I asked him why so, he proceed to outline that gay cruises as nothing more but a big orgy with drag queens prancing around in mass number. So I asked what gay cruise he has been to and he said none. So I asked how did he know that gay cruises are all just orgies and drag queens all over? He said he got it from stories his friends told him. I have been to one gay cruise and it is true that you will see drag queens but hardly the majority. In fact it was only the performers who were dressed in drag. There were no drag queen guests prancing around the boat that I could remember. And it was true that sex may happen more in places you would not normally see it happen but it is not the majority who does it. I explained to him that the sex and drag queens are not what gay cruises are all about. You also get superb entertainers like Charo, Marty Thomas and Deborah Cox. You get fun bingo, piano bar acts, comedy acts and tupperware parties. There are more to a gay cruise than sex and drag queens. It took a lot of arguing before he finally conceded that he could be wrong. I do not know if he meant what he said. He was a know it all too but at least he was open minded enough to admit that he could be wrong.

My philosophy is simply. Unless one has experience something himself, one should be open minded to question what we know to be the case. Because there is nothing more concise about something than experiencing it oneself. I am not advocating that one should experience everything, including the bad ones, to have an opinion about it. All I am saying is that thing you know to be the truth may possibly be wrong unless you have lived to say it to be the truth.

Snow White and the drag queen who stole xmas

Mid Tangent Production came up with a sequel to "Snow White and the 7 drag queens" that was shown this past summer. And since the Holidays is upon us, the sequel is aptly titled "Snow White and the drag queens who stole xmas". Almost all of the cast reprised their roles except for one. And instead of playing Millificent, Madame X played the twin sister Madame Grinch. Emily Rogers returned to play Snow White. And as before, she did another fine tap number and good vocal rendition of the songs with parodied lyrics. Tony Lewis wrote and directed this production. Most of the parodied holiday tunes and pop hits were hilarious. The vocals of the cast was mediocre at best, except for Madame Grinch and Snow White. I was not sure if it was the sound system that is not excellent or their voices. But I must say, all the songs were sang live this time instead of some lip synched as it was before. The story revolves around what happened to Snow White and the 7 drag queens after Millificent ceased to be their enemy. Now that Millificent is in the Bahamas for Xmas, her evil twin sister Madame Grinch came to cause grief to the lives of the gurls, Snow White and Harry Prince. As a pay back for not being invited to the Xmas party of the drag queens, Madame Grinch kidnapped Snow White with the intent to cook her. But of course Harry Prince and the drag queens came to rescue Snow White after following the trail of sequins Snow White left behind. And the story ends happily when Madame Grinch was finally invited by the drag queens to their xmas party.

After the show we talked with Madame X and learned that she made her own costumes. Bravo! Looks like her talent extend beyond female impersonation, singing, acting and dancing to Project Runway. This show has two more nights (tomorrow and sunday) at Hydrate 9 pm. Go see it if you can and have a lighthearted fun evening.

Blogging and me - Blogging conflict

I started blogging by joining my friend's blog on theatre. As time goes on, I developed a style of writing and different point of view that did not always see eye to eye with the two primary developers of the said theatre blog. There has been several instances that my blog was edited or I was asked to edit them. So I ended up blogging less and less with them to avoid conflict of opinions with my two friends.

Recently we went to see The Addams Family and I blogged about the show and my experience that evening doing the stage door. One of my entry mentioned that one actress (Jackie Hoffman) was a snob since she did not sign playbills and mingled with the fans waiting outside the stage door as other actors did. She simply walked pass us in a hurry. One of my friend who administers our group theatre blog thought my comment on this actress as being a snob was bitchy and rude. As I explained to her, actors and public figures are constantly judged by the public based on their behavior as perceived by the public. And that night, Jackie's behavior was snobbish as I perceived it so I reported it as such. But since the theatre blog is primarily their blog and I am merely a contributor, I edited my blog and went along with her point of view, although I did not agree with her. That was the most recent disagreement I had with my friends about my blog entries to their blog.

In life we will not always agree with our coworkers, boss, family and/or friends. And we all have a choice about these matters. And I have a choice too on the conflict of point of view I have with my friends about my blog entries. Either I sometimes compromise my opinion about my blog entry and continue to contribute to their blog or I stick to my guns and just simply enter all my blogs, with my point of views, to my very own blog. At this point, I am inclined to just enter all my blogs to my own blog to avoid future conflict. Besides, I feel my thought is already edited enough at work that I don't have to put up with avoidable editing on my social life. But since they are still my friends despite the disagreement, I might someday contribute again on their blog. Well perhaps until I get edited again...

Best Season Finale ever!

I just finished watching the season finale of Glee. It was so good and gratifying. The kids won the sectional despite Sue Sylvester leaking their set list to the competitors. Sue Sylvester was exposed for her wickedness and was suspended by the principal. Finn finally discovered that Puck is the father of Quinn's unborn child and proceed to leave her. Mr. Shuester finally left his crazy lying wife and hook up with Emma Pillsbury. And looks like Finn will hook up with Rachel too. All the major conflicts were resolved to my satisfaction. I like that at lot.

The only thing I wished happened was Mr. Shuester physically beating Sue Sylvester. I fucking do not care that she is a woman because she was using her being a woman to aggressively attack Mr. Shuester verbally and physically. She was smug with the notion that her sex will protect her. Anybody, man or woman, who initiates violence deserve violence back. Grrr...

Can't wait for the new season.

Creatures from the Pink Lagoon.

"In a small town in 1967, plucky young sissy Phillip is about to celebrate his birthday at the beach cottage owned by his best friend Stan. All of Phillip's friends are gathered for the festivities, including Stan's hunky-but-impulsive boyfriend Billy, Billy's shy, nerdy cousin Joseph, Randall, the chain-smoking, bitter queen and Randall's boytoy of the day. Meanwhile, a horde of libidinous gay men - turned into ravenous flesh-eating zombies by toxic mosquitoes at a cruisy highway rest stop - are making their way towards our oblivious celebrants, eating every man in their path. One by one they are killed by the gay zombies in their attempt to get help, including the sexy cop, until only Phillip, Joseph and Stan are left. Joseph turned out to be the heroic type by protecting and helping Phillip escape. Just as they both are about to be eaten by the gay zombies, Stan comes out with Judy Garland blarring in the radio. The gay zombies, including the cheating gigolo boyfriend of Phillip, are restored back to their human form upon hearing this. In the end, Phillip brakes up with his boyfriend to be with Joseph. All is well in the end... Or is it?"

The story line alone is ridiculously outrageous and the acting over the top. The notion of gay zombies being repelled by a foul smelling men cologne and restored back to human form by Judy Garland song is just too campy. Add the scene where Stan used the dildos (Phillip's birthday gifts) to ward off the zombie is just too gay. The movies is in black and white and the production was obviously low budget but still it brought good laughs from me. A simple diverting way to spend an evening. 3 stars out of 5 I say.

Cool special effect video

Our talented soldiers abroad made this video with cool special effects. I suppost it is less cool if I am savvy at making this kind of video. Since I am not, this is cool to me. And it definitely helps that the guys are cute.

The Addams Family

We saw The Addams Family the other night at the Oriental Theatre here in Chicago. Big names like Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were playing the lead roles of Gomez and Morticia, respectively. Other theatre known names that were in big roles include Terrence Mann, Carolee Carmello, Kevin Chamberlin, Jackie Hoffman, Zachary James, Wesley Taylor and Krysta Rodriguez. Frankly I did not know any of them except for Jackie Hoffman whom I saw in Xanadu. As usual Jackie delivered some funny witty lines with current pop culture references. In fact the song lyrics and lines of the actors were cleverly written in general and diverting. Bebe delivered a wonderful portrayal of Morticia while Nathan simply reminded me of him in Birdcage. Don't get me wrong, he was funny too but I just could not erase that Birdcage imagery of him. Among the lead roles, I thought Terrence had the most impressive voice. Act one opening number was rousing but the later songs and story lines got dull. Act two was better with more engaging songs like "Crazier than you" duet of Wesley and Krysta. The set design, costumes, dance and choreography were all exemplary. I felt the swing cast was really not necessary for the show. They were only there to give vocal support to the singing of the main cast.

After the show we waited for the actors outside the stage door. It was a cold night but we endured and were rewarded by the very gracious Bebe and Wesley. Wesley was short but well compensated by being super cute and super nice. I even got a picture with him that I will treasure. Jackie was a snob when she did not stopped at all to sign playbills and obliged her adoring fans. I guess I was lucky when she came out to mingle with the fans after the show I saw in NYC. And Nathan was simply a no show. Is he too big of a star for it? I dunno...

Over all I grade the evening with 3 1/2 stars out of 5. yon lang...

Merry Christmas from a Marine

This video has been out for more than a year now. And I waited one whole year to post it during the Christmas season. And since Thanksgiving is over and we are presently on the Christmas season, I give you this adorable marine cheering everybody a Merry Christmas.

A whole new world

I like this song "A whole new world" from Disney's Alladin. I like it more since Filipino Leah Salonga sang the part of Princess Jasmine. She was big in the Philippines when I was in school cause she landed the role of Kim in Miss Saigon. My opinion of her lately is guarded because a Filipino friend told me that she was once not friendly and gracious to other Filipino who asked for autograph and/or picture but she was very amiable and chatty to the white people seeking the same thing. Despite this information, I still like her and this song. More so when I discovered that Brad Kane who sang the part of Alladin is such a cutie. :-)





I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me