One Amazing Person

It's been 20... wait a minute, I've worked at Alaska Airlines 25 years in October.  I know it was right after I started so it was closer to 25 years ago that I first met her.  We were assigned to be on the same project.  Our assignment was to write a Standards manual for computer programming at Alaska.  I know it sounds boring.  And that was my first introduction to Janie Soong.  She often fell asleep in our boring meetings.

Who can't fall in love with someone who falls asleep in meetings at work?  We soon  became very good friends.

Janie would "plan" these trips.  I put "plan" in double quotes because as I look back on them, there was very little planning involved in these.  I remember several very stressful "planned" trips.
One of these,  Janie thought it would be a good idea to go to the North Pole Alaska to mail our Christmas cards.
As a new employee, which means I was young and dumb,  I agreed to go with her.

We go to SEATAC and because of fog we sat on the airplane for several hours before we we took off. We got to Anchorage  hours late and missed our flight to Fairbanks.  We had to wait for the next flight.  We finally made it to Fairbanks and rented a car to drive to the North Pole.

We get to the North Pole, park, and jump out,  We run (and I swear we are running in slow motion and in the background I hear the music of Chariots of Fire).  We get to the door of the North Pole and it says:  CLOSED.   It is like 3am local time by now.  Imagine Chevy Chase's Vacation and Wally World.

Another "planned" trip,-  Janie thinks it would be a good idea to spend New Years Eve in Disneyland.  I'm still stupid.  Great idea!!!  We work New Year's eve so we catch a 7pm flight to Orange County.  This means we get there about 10:30.  We rent a mini van and drive to the "Happiest Place On Earth".  You know what?  It seems that everyone in Southern California (maybe 10 million people), think that Disneyland is the place to be on New Years.

The lines for the rides (usually about 60 minutes) are now about 2 hours.  Because this is such a special day the park stays open later.  So we watch the fireworks at midnight... Happy New Year!!! but we don't need to leave for 3 more hours.  Our flight to Seattle doesn't leave until 7am.  So we decide we will go to Denney's.  Have you ever been in line for pancakes with 10 million other folks?

After a couple years of these "planned' adventures, Janie decides that it's time for her close friends to meet her mother.  This means going on trips with Janie's mom.
Janie's mom is about 4'9" and weighs about 90 pounds.  But she is the most stubborn and independent woman I've ever met.

Janie celebrated her 50th birthday in San Francisco.  She invited about 10 of her closest friends to come along.  We went to a concert.  We did most of the touristy things you are supposed to do.  And Janie's mom was right with us.  Whenever we went out to eat.  Janie's mom would order for all of us.... Regardless of what we actually wanted to eat.  She was definitely in charge.
After dinner one night we are walking back to the hotel.
Everyone in the group crossed the street and walked straight ahead, but Janie's mom took a sharp left.  I'm in the rear and I think I better follow the old lady.

She goes into a store in Chinatown .  When I get there, I see her ordering $5 of ginkgo root.  The young Chinese man takes a handful of root and puts it on the scale.  It's obviously too much so he starts taking some off.  Janie's mom slaps his hand and says something in Chinese.  They start arguing.  I swear she hits him 2 more times.  He finally leaves all the root on the scale and only charges her $5.  She takes her root and leaves the store.  I tell the clerk,  thank you.

I experienced many trips with Janie and Janie's mom.  We went to San Francisco. Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii,  and Mazatlan. Some of my best experiences happened with Janie and Janie's mom.

We've remained friends ever since.  Janie retired a few years ago and our contact and trips have dwindled.  Janie now follows a band " Tommy Castro"  and he is very good.  Janie really enjoys this and she has found her niche.  We should all be so lucky to find such happiness in our retirement years.

Last week, Janie emailed me and told me that she had come home from one of the concerts and found her mom sitting in her chair and just hitting the buttons on the remote control.  There was blood everywhere.  It seems her mom had fallen and hit her head.  She called 911 and Janie's mom was admitted to HarborView.

When I got there, she was in the ICU the 3rd shower curtain to the left.  Yes it was a big room with lots of patients.  The guy right across from her was there with 2 special guests.  He had a police escort.  He was a prisoner and was handcuffed to his bed.

A couple days later they found Janie's mom a room.  In the hospital bed, my old friend Janie's mom looked smaller than I remembered.  I've tried to be there every day.  If not for Janie's mom at least for Janie.  She hasn't left her mom's bedside.  She is so tired.

A couple days later Janie text me and said the "news".  The doctors say that her mom will never recover from the injuries and it's time for Janie to gather her family, because there are decisions to make.  Janie invited me to be part of the family.

The options are:
1. Stop giving nutrients, this means death in 2 to 3 weeks.
2. Surgically put a tube in her intestines to give her nutrients.
The doctor says that she is going to dye within a year from her injuries.  She also said she is not in pain.

Janie decided to put the tube in and give her nutrients.  This means next week Janie's mom will have surgery and then go to a nursing home.  Janie has selected a Chinese nursing home in the International District.

I'm crying as I write this.  I just hope that no one has to ever make this decision.

I think about a child 90 years ago born in China.  Her hopes and dreams.  I really don't know the entire story, but I know she was a dentist and married a GP doctor.  I know at some time she moved to Rhode Island.  I know that her and her husband had one remarkable daughter.  My friend Janie Soong.
I know that her husband died of a heart attack.

I know that at some point both mom and daughter moved to Seattle.
I know she loved watching the Stock Market on cable TV.
And the the one thing I'm sure of, she loved her daughter Janie Soong.  And she would be very proud of her.
Janie's mom and Janie Soong  are both very remarkable women, and I'm a better person because I know them.

It took me years to find out that Janie's mom's name is Lyn Soong.  I always called her Janie's mom.
Janie's mom  - Lyn Soong you are an amazing person.  Thankyou for letting me part of your life

Wise - OUT

I Love Cocoa

When I was a small kid, we were poor. So many stories start out saying "we were poor, but we didn't know we were poor". I guess I don't have much literary vision , because I knew we were poor.

I remember taking trips downtown to an old building where we would get free government cheese (a 5 lb brick), butter and powdered milk.

One winter morning, we were all sitting around the electric oven with the door open. We had run out of heating oil and had no money. So the only heat was the oven. Our breakfast was toast and hot chocolate, made of course with powdered milk. You mix that baking Hershey's unsweetened chocolate, sugar and powdered milk. At that moment, I decided that when I grow up, I will drink hot chocolate made with real milk.

Fast forward more years than I can count.

On one of my trips to San Francisco, I visited the Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory. I know I paid more than I should have, but I bought a 16oz box of Ghiradelli Premium Hot Cocoa. I still love hot chocolate and I thought it would be great to have a cup at work. So I took the cocoa to work. I assumed it was the kind where you simply add water. But no, it's the kind that the directions tell you to heat milk and mix. I'm not going to have fresh milk at work.

I wondered, do they still make powdered milk? I went to the store and YES they do.

Imagine my surprise when I scanned the powdered milk and it cost $5.89! For almost $6 you only get 3 quarts of milk! For that much I can buy 2 gallons of real milk.

After all these years, it comes full circle. I now can afford powdered milk. I am a success!

Songs at the Movies

The whole country was surprised that one of the best contestants ever on American Idol, Pia was voted off last week. Q has never seen American Idol before. After last week he vowed he would never watch again. Us veterans have probably said this very thing at least once. The first 4 contestants this week, could just leave now and save us all a whole bunch of time. The best part of Paul's "Old Time Rock and Roll" was the hot saxophone player. I'm actually getting bored with Lauren. And her doing Miley Cyrus, double boring. Steffano singing "End of the Road". Well the song says it all. These three are going no where and we will never hear from them again. Scotty is good at what he does. I don't like it, but there's plenty of folks out there willing to pay up to $20 to hear a country singer sing the same song 15 times on a CD. He has a bright future, I just don't want to watch it. The show finally got interesting with Casey. It wasn't very commercial. But OMG, this was so great. Anytime anyone sings Nat King Cole, he gets my vote. There are only 2 girls left on the show and too bad for us, one of them is Haley. This was just awful. But like Steven said, I loved her dress. Let's hope she goes home tomorrow. With Pia gone, there really is only one talent big enough to win it all. And that is Jacob. His "Bridge Over Trouble Water" shows why he has to be the favorite. James pleaded with America to Give Metal A Chance. Well tonight I think it will get a chance to stay another week. But like Paul, the highlight of his performance was Zach Wilde on the guitar. Pia leaving downgraded the overall quality of the show a lot. But it is what it is and we are stuck with these 8. So vote if you feel strongly about someone. If you don't just read my blog and complain a lot. Until Next Week - Wise OUT

All Hat No Cattle?

I am supposed to be packing for our trip to the Olympics now. Instead I'm writing this blog.

Tonight on Idol it was a tribute to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It was also the night when the contestants had the opportunity to do something they weren't supposed to be doing. So who was successful in the transformation? Jacob did not feel comfortable singing "Let's Get It On", so instead he did "Man in the Mirror". As usual he was great, but it would have been interesting to watch him do something different.

Grade A for performance Grade D for originality. Haley sang Janice Joplin like everyone has been comparing her to. The voice was there, but it looked like the little girl next door, not very believable. Bottom 3 tonight. Grade C for performance Grade C for originality. Casey, sang "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" Steven said he should put wheels on the bass and ride it around town. Grade A for performance Grade A for originality When you think about the song "Natural Woman", Lauren doesn't pop into your brain. Again bottom 3. Grade C for performance Grade B for originality James gambled. He usually is jumping around and screaming. Tonight he sang "Guitar Gently Weeping", and had everyone weeping with him. Another good job. Grade A for performance Grade A for originality Scotty sounded a lot like Elvis with "That's All Right Momma". Not sure it was that much of a stretch for him from the country song he sings every week. Grade B for performance Grade C for originality Pia also showed us how versatile she really is. I would love to be her rag doll. She gambled and it paid off. Grade A for performance Grade A for originality Stefano had his best performance with "When a Man Loves a Woman". Grade B for performance Grade B for originality Paul ended the show with Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison". He didn't sound so Rod Stewart tonight, but I think he will be in the bottom 3. Grade B for performance Grade B for originality. This year is amazing. Every week I am thoroughly entertained. This year's crop of finalist is the strongest yet. Now I better go help Q pack, or I will be in trouble. Grade F for performance Grade F for originality Until Next Week -

Electric Boobs

Tonight was Elton John night. And the first Top 10 American Idol with the new judges. I do have to say the chemistry between them is way better than last year. And the quality of the show is better. However, I do miss the criticisms of Simon. So I will try to fill the void. This year the top 10 consist of 11. That means that 2 will go home tomorrow. There are a few very unique individuals that will probably be around for awhile. Scotty, the country singer. He has a very deep voice and sings the same song every week. And everyone loves him. Naima, the African American singer, who insists on reminding you every week of her ancestry. I loved the drums and dancing last week. This week she sang a raggae version of "I'm Still Standing". It's better to listen to raggae when you are stoned. Not sure how many Stoners actually vote. James is the resident rocker. He was full of energy and the audience loved him. This is the difference between country and rock. Boredom and Excitement! Jacob is the power singer. Everything he sings is amazing. Pia is probably the best ballad singer ever on the show. That leaves the rest of them. Nothing really unique about them. This group will be gone before the above start leaving. Listening to Paul sing "Rocket Man" was like Rod Stewart singing Elton John, but every week Paul sounds like Rod Stewart. If Rod still has a lot of fans, Paul may be around for a while. DiStefano, is the homeboy favorite. He is by far the cutest contestant. Not sure if tonight's performance is going to keep him on very much longer. Lauren's "Candle In The Wind" was OK. A little too country for me, but the judges liked her. Steven told her if she get's rich she can buy the rest of the dress. Let's hope she does, we really don't need to see more of her body. "Daniel" was simply the best Elton John song ever. Thia did OK, but there's nothing special about her. Watch for her in the bottom 3. Casey was saved last week. That's why we have 11 in the top 10. He's probably my favorite. There's a lyric in "Your Song" - How Wonderful life is while you're in the world. I think how wonderful Idol is while Casey's on the show. But I have a feeling he won't be for long. Hailey performing "Benny and the Jets" might have been her best performance this year. I was a kid (OK not a kid) when this song came out. Can you imagine my disappointment when I discovered the words were actually She's got electric boots? All 11 of the top 10 are very talented. Unlike past years when there was a clear worst, this year they are all close.

And That's The Way It Was

Tonight was a historic night on American Idol. Either Crystal or Lee will become the next Idol. I honestly think the show went one year too many. Remember when people at work used to talk about the show on Wednesday mornings? The conversation even went into Thursday after the results show.

Not sure when or how it happened. Was it adding the 4th judge? Was it Paula leaving? I do like Ellen, but the chemistry wasn't there anymore. American Idol will probably last one more year and two if FOX has no money to invest in another more entertaining show. But this is my last. I'm tired. The talent doesn't seem as good. Or maybe it is better but we expect more.

I do have to thank the show however, because I have written comments about this show in various media for the past 8 years. I have found that I like to write and some of you think I have some talent. I'm not ready to quit my day job (yet), but I do write another monthly blog about my (interesting if bizarre) life and have started on my book. If I do get published I will have to dedicate it to Simon, Randy, Paula and Ryan.

OK, onto the reason you are really reading this blog. Tonight's show:

Round 1
Lee Dewyze singing "The Boxer", this was a good choice for him. This song turned things around for him. When he first sang this everyone knew he would go far. I was inspired the first time he sang it and I was tonight.

Crystal Bowersox countered by recreating her great rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee". She had a lot more energy than Lee and I have to give Round 1 to Crystal.

Round 2
Lee's version of "Everybody Hurts", had more energy than his first song but he still seems to be holding back. But I do love this song.

Crystal wowed everyone with "Black Velvet". Her stage presence is amazing. WOW Round 2 goes to Crystal.

Round 3
Lee and U2's "Beautiful Day" should have been enough to win the night for him. But the violin players had more passion and excitment than Lee showed.

Cyrstal's last song and the last of the season was "Up to the Mountain". Not my favorite, but the judges loved it. And I love Crystal. I think Round 3 was a tie.

I think I have only chose 2 winners in the past 5 years. So don't trust anything I say. Tonight was probably the most entertaining night of the whole season. But my vote for American Idol 2010 is: Crystal Bowersox.

I want to thank the more than 200 of you who have read this blog. You were my first and my best fans.

Until Next Time - Wise OUT

Hallelujah Only 1 more week

I guess the theme tonight was contestants pick the first song and the judges pick the second one. Also we had to endure those awful sappy videos of the finalists going home. Why do we need to see the mayor of these towns that no one ever visits give the key to the city to our Idols?

Round 1

1. Lee Dwyze is much more than a "Simple Man". When he smiles he makes the connection with the audience. This was probably his best performance. When we are down to 3, this is when you want to peak.

2. Crystal Bowersox sang "Come To My Window". I loved the harmonica at the beginning. I just have to say, I'd definitely be coming home if Crystal will be there.

3. Casey James was just all right singing "Okay, All Right With Me". I'm glad he let his hair down , he looks a lot better. And you know me, looks are important and he is the hottest looking contestant left. Enough to win? probably not.

Round 2 Usually the judges do a better job of choosing a song.

1. Lee sang "Hallelujah". This was the best performance of anyone this year. The choir, the arrangement, the whole moment brought goose bumps and tears. This probably won the whole contest for him.

2. Crystal showed a lot of soul with "Maybe I'm Amazed". She has been the only consistent contestant all year. It would be a shame if she didn't make it to the finals.

3. Casey singing "Daughters" was very sweet. Is sweet enough to win? NO. He is going home. Goodbye Casey.

Next week is the final blog and my final one forever.
Until Next Week - Wise OUT