So as a uber last minute surprise, I was invited to the reunion concert of NKOTB on Sunday night at TDBanknorth. For my sis, it was her first time back at the "new" former Boston Garden. The seats rocked and we were loge. The person who bought the tickets had to let them go due to doctor's orders.

My sis fave is Jonathan and she was psyched when he came to our end of the stage alot of times. I tried to take a bunch of pics for her. The videos I took all had too much screaming that you could not hear their singing at all. Yes, they busted out in their old boy band moves-ie Step By Step, Right Stuff, Hangin Tough, Favorite Girl, etc. Even Jordan and Joey sang their hit songs that were top 10 when they were solo a few years ago. One time filler was Danny going around filming the audience to find a good dancer.

The definite spokesperson of the group was Donnie. He had a full wardrobe of Boston Red Sox caps and it was cool at the end of the night they wore specially made Celtics Jerseys with their last names.At one point, they were on the other end of the arena for two songs. Danny did make a rare speech for fans to buy the tank tops. Proceeds of the sale went to the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. (Danny's beloved mother passed due to her battle with breast cancer.) It was fun to see Danny bust into some old school break dancing moves.

Per my sis, everyone is a dad and married save for Jonathan. My friend who invited me likes him the best because he went straight into real estate after doing NKOTB. I thought that funny, plus his wife adores Marky Mark (he was not a New Kid) but she observed rewatching the old videos-he does make an appearance in one of the NKOTB videos.

 (my photos)

Summer Time their Summer of 2008 hit

Other

Wiki entry of NKOTB here

This weekend has been a blur, then again when are they not one?

Friday was rainy (ok the theme of this weekend has been rain anyways) and after work did check out Taiwanese food at Mulan in Cambridge (good stuff) and got to practice my Mandarin. Then hit the Kendall Theater to watch "The Duchess".

Saturday, got up early to get to NYC (bumped into someone I knew) and got into the city by 11:20am. Grabbed lunch in Chinatow at a new Vietnamese place Pho So Mot (many places use that name I have noticed) and got my fave dish-pork cake, pork chop, rice and pork skin and there was a special promo of 10% off too! I managed to have some time to get more tickets to other shows (in the weeks ahead) and grabbed some Red Mango frozen yogurt. (Seems like yesterday the first time I had it in Seoul thanks to Yonjae.

Stood in the long line to get into Equus and saw the play for almost 3 hours! Rush back to grab a bite and return to Boston. I got some Taiwanese pork chop rice and a frothy green tea drink. About 10 minutes to spare I snag a ride on a full bus. I manage to study and finish another novel (in 3 days). Right before heading back to Boston, I chat with my neighbor across from me. She was reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Before we parted, we exchanged emails. (Only the second time I have done this from meeting someone on my rides to NYC.)

I got back and catch up with my sis and watch a classic anime and one of the early Tokyo Pop mangas per my sis' knowledge called Paradise Kiss パラダイス・キス or the shortened Parakiss. I caught the first 4 episodes very quickly.

Sunday-this morning I got up to go to work. BOO HOO. Unfortunately the buses and trains do not run often on Sunday. I get in and did my HW and need to organize as we are an important appointment tomorrow. I want to make sure everything is in order. Plus with no internet access at home, it is the best place to do everything I need to do. I sure do miss being only 7 minute walk away. C'est la vie.

I did get an interesting invitation, I might be attending a reunion concert and go backstage. But it is all in the works and not definite! (I called my sis and she was even tearing up! Plus the best present ever!!!!) We even wanted to go to this concert but could not get any tickets at all. Fingers crossed that tonight I am there!WOOO HOOO!

Peony in Love is the latest book by author Lisa See (pictured above).  She is one-eighth Chinese and she was also named woman of the year by OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans). Her latest novel, Peony in Love is about a  young girl of privilege Peony who is betrothed. Peony is fascinated by the play "Peony Pavilion" 牡丹亭and as a result because there is too much "qing" her life mirrors the heroine in the play. During a rare opportunity she sees the play "Peony Pavilion" she encounters a handsome  young man. They fall in love in three days. Living in her cloistered existence, she holds onto these three nights as precious to her heart. Later she learns too late, the mystery man is going to be her husband she passes on. The novel then continues interestingly enough about her spirit and what she does. (Reminds me a bit of "Lovely Bones"  with the narrator talking from the spirit world.)

This novel creates insight in the lives of Chinese women during the Qing Dynasty and the reader gets a well written glimpse of a women's status in Chinese society touching upon the expectations, their education, culture, standards of beauty and idealogy. 

OTHER

Lisa on writing Peony in Love here