Caught BART from Pleasant Hill to Berkeley. Took less than an hour. Got there around 6pm (two hours early). What to do? I was hungry so I walked down Shattuck looking for dinner. Didn't see anything I liked so I walked up to Telegraph to go to Blondie's. Didn't remember that it was that far. Finally got there and got a slice of pepperoni and cup of ice water. Then I headed back to Shattuck. Stopped to get gelato on my way to the theater. Yummy.

Got to the theater and there was a line. I was probably around the 200th person in line. Behind me was a woman with her three kids and her mother. The kids were cute and excited about the concert. Around me were many other women who showed up with friends or husbands/boyfriends.

We were finally let in around 7:15. I went straight to my seat and noticed people were holding programs. So I went in search of souveniers. I wanted to get a program and and autographed Come Fly with Me CD/DVD. But there was a lot of people at the counter. So I went back to my seat. After 10 minutes I went back out and there was still a lot of people and went back to my seat. Another 10 minutes later I went back and decided to stick it out. By the time I got up front they sold out of the Come Fly with Me CD/DVD. So I ended up getting a program, a stuffed animal (to add to my Ben Grieve beanie baby and SF Giants stuffed animal), and an autographed It's Time CD. Ended up spending $60.

The show finally started around 8:15. The opening act was a comedian from Toronto. He was so funny. Made jokes about telling a friend that ducks hibernate during winter, stealing Michael's underwear and selling it on eBay, and how Canadians say washroom and Americans say restroom (they also say "ay" and we say "huh?").

Finally Michael comes on. His show was similar to the Caught in the Act DVD except there wasn't a strings section. It was also great watching him sing the songs differently.
* He begins with Feeling Good. Then he says in a sad voice that he just found out that his friend....is a dick. That he didn't know that he was lying about ducks hibernating and how he used to talk to women about it. Then he alludes to something about his missing underwear. Everyone cracks up.
* Then he sings Sway, one of my favorite songs.
* He starts to talk to the men in the audience saying that he feels sorry for them and that if he were them he wouldn't want to be there either. Says that he's a manly man he grabs a guitar and starts singing "Ring of Fire" like Johnny Cash. Then he dedicates a song to the men..."Try a Little Tenderness".
* Fever which included his little dance.
* Come Fly with Me
* Moondance
* In introducing the next song, You Don't Know Me, he mentions Ray Charles. A few people clap. So he says that he can't believe that only a few people clapped. So everyone starts to clap and he says no it's too late. Then he mentions Jamie Foxx.
* That's All - Women were giving him flowers as he was singing. After the song he mentions that he feels like he's at his funeral.=(
* For Once in My Life (another favorite song)
* You'll Never Find Another Love
* I've Got You Under My Skin
* Then he introduces Alan Chang and mentions that he was fortunate to meet Alan's parents. Someone in the audience screams San Jose. Then he says yeah Alan's from San Jose. (Cool). Alan starts playing the intro to Home and Michaels stars singing "You're Beautiful" ala James Blunt. Everyone starts laughing. Then he sang Home.
* The More I See You
* The band starts to play Save the Last Dance (another of my favorite songs) but stops the band. And tells the audience that they can come up to the front of the stage if they want to. I wish I can but I didn't want to bring my purse and souvenirs.
* Then he ends with How Sweet It Is.
* But because of the standing ovation, he sang Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Song for You.

At some point in his set (I can't remember exactly when) the following happen:
- He mentions how great it is to be in Berkeley and asks the band who's from Berkeley. No one answers. Then he thinks the person from Berkeley either quit or was let go. But a few minutes later someone in the band mentions that it was a different Berklee. I figure that it's probably Berklee School of Music. Then he mentions Boston. Yeah! It's Berklee School of Music because I remember how James wanted to go there. Then he confesses that he doesn't know all about music.
- He mentions that he'd like to try pop and starts singing Billy Jean and does the moonwalk (I think right before I've Got You Under My Skin) and grabs his crotch like Michael Jackson. Everyone laughs and claps. Then he says that he can't believe that a Michael Jackson crotch grab got more of a response than mentioning Ray Charles.
- He talks to the audience about taking a picture singling out one woman in the front. Does the "Blue Steel" routine. Then he and one of the saxophone players (I believe it was Robert Wilkerson) do a models walking down the runway act. Then they a play an original song written by the saxophone player while he hangs out listening to them on the steps. It must have been after Fever (because I vaguely remember that it's after Craig's solo). The song was great. Had lots of solos. The band rocks!!! Reminds me of my days as a high school/junior college jazz band groupie (because of Scott, Kevin, James).
- He notices that there was a child in the audience (up by the orchestra pitt). He says he sorry (because of all the swearing). He asks the child how old he/she is. He/she says that he/she is 13 and it's his/her birthday. He asks her/him who brought him/her there. And I believe the child points at his/her mother. Then he apologizes again. Then he notices that there's another child. He asks her/him how old he/she is. He/She says 9. He apologizes again and dedicates tha next song for them...Smile. He also mentions that it's written by Charlie Chaplin.
- Some members play solos during one of the songs (I think it was Moondance). They're so awesome. Especially Rob Perkins he was so great. I had to stand up and kept clappping.

During the concert, I would take pictures and video which I'll have to transfer to my computer. After the concert, I head back to the merchandise table to see if they restocked the Come Fly With Me CD/DVD. But they didn't. I decide to buy a coffee mug but they're sold out. So I buy a "Live in Concert/Sold Out" poster.
I was still anxious on the BART ride home. A man at the PH station notices my souvenirs and asks if I watched the concert in Berkeley. I said yes. Then he asks how was it. I say it's fun and ask if he's seen him in concert. He says yes.
Got home around 11:30. What a night!! I'm definitely going to get tickets when he comes back.
Kudos to the following people for a memorable night:
Michael Buble - He's awesome, funny, wonderful voice, and handsome
Alan Chang (Music Director/Piano)
Robert Perkins (Drums)
Randy Napoleon (Guitar)
Craig Polasko (Bass)
Mark Small (Saxophone)
Robert Wilkerson (Saxophone)
Frank Basile (Saxophone)
Jumaane Smith (Saxophone)
Bryan Lipps (Saxophone)
Justin Ray (Saxophone)
Nick Vagenas (Saxophone)
Joshua Brown (Saxophone)

I just got back from his concert in Berkeley about 30 minutes ago. He was awesome. The band was awesome. I had a great time. Danced and sang. Took lots of pictures and videos. Bought some souvenirs.

A detailed description of this evening--including my BART trip to Berkeley, my trek to get dinner, the lines, the wait at the tour merchandise table, the playlist and his funny segues (hope I remember all of it) more waiting at the tour merchandise table, and my BART ride back home in tomorrow's blog. I'm tired.

I was going to wait until the end of the week but this week is turning out to be better than last so I couldn't wait. The best news at the end.

Monday:
I saw Eric this morning but he was the barista and I only ordered coffee (not espresso). We've been having freaky weather lately. I've been fortunate enough to have missed the hail. But the two times I ventured out of the office on Monday (to get lunch and on my way to the BART station), it hailed.
I got my anniversay flowers...six years at DP when I didn't think I'd last this long. For the first few years I wished Cohn & Wells was still around otherwise I would still be there (had lots of friends, clients were better, co-workers were more experienced, and had a lot more fun there). But the last couple of years at DP have been better (working on PS is fun and I get along fine with the "boys" and I work more with SF people. After work I went to the gym and worked out--22 minutes on the stairmaster, 210 crunches, no laps because the pool was still unavailable.
Got home and watched Gauntlet2. The veterans lost. So Timmy volunteered to go to the Gauntlet against Derrick even though it was David who sucked. In a few confessionals, Timmy says that Derrick deserves to stay. But the episode ends in "To Be Continued". I'm pretty sure that Timmy will lose on purpose. Tim Beggy rocks!! I also noticed that he was wearing a t-shirt that says "Jeepney". Maybe he likes Filipino girls. I wish...

Tuesday
Saw Eric again in the morning. He was the barista again. Work was okay not as stressful as last week. On my way home, got dinner at KFC. Then I did laundry.


Wednesday
It wasn't too busy at work because JR and BB with client in Napa. I chatted with PS about NCAA Basketball and how I was thinking that the pool is rigged because NO is in first place, PS is in 2nd and Brynn's not far behind.Talked to LL, DKa and SJ about projects. Mocked up a report, did signoffs, reviewed audits for an extract. Then I took a long lunch (at least a longer one than usual...1 hr and 30 minutes long). I went to bank, bought a high-value $64 BART ticket, got lunch at BK, and bought used CDs at Rasputin's (Lifehouse Stanley Climbfall, Keane, and Alice vol. 2 to replace the ones I lost a couple of years ago on AirBART coming back from DPLA Holiday Party and Hoobastank) where I ended up spending over $35. Oh well! At least I got some of my favorite CDs back. Then I chatted with WM about TO and the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Parcells, 49ers, Raiders. We were both looking for PS. Left work at 6:20. Saw Eric through the window on the way to the BART station. Went to gym--22 minutes on the stairmaster, 210 crunches, no swimming because pool is still out of order. Talked to Bev who said that she and Manny (and Siah) were going to drive to OAK instead of taking BART. Talked to Auntie Irma trying to figure out how she, Sam, and EJ will get to the airport. I couldn't work from home because I needed to give my bosses and co-workers more notice. They'll just take BART and I pick up their car.

Thursday
Not as slow at work as Wednesday but still not as busy. Had to worry about the new printer/copier. Worked with LL, SJ, DKao. Surveys, extracts, reports, scheduling. Found Buble tickets on craigslist.com for $60. Lisa said I should get it. After debating whether to give in to dealing with one of the people who caused me not to be able to buy tickets in the first place I decided to call. Fortunately it was not too far from the BART station. I was able to leave work at a reasonable time (5:30pm). Before leaving both NCAA games were at halftime. LSU leading Duke by 2 points, Memphis leading Bradley also by 2 points. I need Duke to win because I have them as champions. I was pulling for Bradley to win because I had picked Kansas to be in the Final Four. I was also hoping that Gonzaga beats UCLA because I picked G to be in the Final Four. Then I was off. I found the guy's house off of Geary and got tickets. I ended up buying the ticket for $90 and he gave me a CD (cool, it has Save the Last Dance and Quando, Quando, Quando). Then I went to practice. Waited outside for awhile in the car and read my book. Could have done some work but didn't feel like it. Then John and Therese showed up. They practiced a little. Then Arleen showed up so we began singing a little. Then Fatima showed up. Then Rob showed up. I think he's a great addition to the group. He gives good suggestions. And he's funny when singing Amazing Grace he suggested a way so it swings and isn't "white". I'm so glad I didn't quit (was seriously contemplating about it several months ago because they kept messing up and because they're not singing it right...forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago they sang Eagle's Wings wrong...I know it's wrong because we used to always sing it at SBS and AOLG). He's talented (musically), smart, cute, and he's Catholic. But he probably likes that other girl...luka.... Plus, whenever I like a guy he usually doesn't like me back (James was the biggest exception).
After practice, I went to Fuddruckers to get dinner (a kids meal w/hamburger and small onion rings). I was able to catch the last seconds of the UCLA/Gonzaga game. Gonzaga was ahead by one point. Then UCLA steals the ball and scores. So sad. Adam Morrison was crying. I admire him after reading the article about him and other athletes with diabetes on SFgate. While eating dinner, I found out that Duke lost to LSU. That's it. I'm out. But I'm not too upset because a lot of other people also picked Duke include WM. Plus, I'm going to see Michael Buble on Saturday. I'll be all by myself but I'm really excited. YEA!!!!
After dinner, called Liz to help me pick up Auntie Irma's van from BART. Waited a few minutes so listened to MB. Told Liz & Annette about MB tickets. Drove the van to Auntie Irma's house but I accidentally popped up the hood. Took me awhile to shut it. Didn't get home until 10:50. So I logged on and saw BPhim online. Gotta give it up. Now it's 12:37 and I'm still blogging. Letterman's done and Craig Ferguson's on. Gotta call it a night.

Monday - Wasn't feeling too good because of the burn. I was so embarrassed I didn't even go to Starbucks to see if Eric was there. Yeah, I found out his name is Eric and not Alex.

Tuesday - The burn was worse. Lisa suggested vaseline. Lucy suggested sesame oil. During lunch I got Neosporin. Realized that I need to get a passport as I saw the long line of people waiting to get a visa at the French Consulate. On the way to the BART station, I looked through the Starbucks window and saw Eric.

Wednesday - Neosporin must have worked. I was able to rub off the scab. So I went to Starbucks to get my afternoon coffee and saw Eric. Ended up working late. Two new projects had to get out. While doing my to-do list Scott IMs me what's new. Told him about going to Guam. About Joey calling. About Whim. About BPhim. About WPLJ's him. Said he got a new job. Cool...Stayed up until 12:30 filling up my NCAA Basketbball bracket. This is my first time to take part in filling up a bracket. I don't pay attention to NCAA basketball games because of NFL, NHL and some NBA. Plus, I knew I'd get hooked. Stayed up researching, reading up on methods, doing head-to-head comparisons, looking at records and stats, and comparing to expert picks.

Thursday - NCAA March Madness!! I ended up losing the first two games (picked Seton Hall and Oklahoma). I was so nervous about the UOP-BC game. I had picked BC to go to the final four. Game ended up going into double OT.Cool. Got one right. Chatted with WM all day...not just work, a lot abot the games. Stayed at work until the some of the games ended. Then I went to the gym. Stairmaster for 22 minutes. 150 crunches. 5 laps (wanted to swim longer but there were too many people at the pool and wanted to watch basketball). Logged on. Noticed that BPhim was online. But I give up on him. Went to bed thinking why I don't have a family--no kids, no husband, no boyfriend. Why is it that I like the wrong guys? Why do I attract the wrong guys? If only things had worked out with James. Cried myself to sleep.

Friday - More worrying about the games. A lot of work. Ended up working late because IK made changes so LL and DKao couldn't finish before 5pm. Found out about two more projects. Had to write specs. Had to do timesheets. Had to check CS emails. Had to water plants. Had to do to-do list. Still file wasn't ready. At around 7pm told them that I had to leave (Liz's poker night) but I'll check files when I got home. Damn! Got to Liz's. Met Greg. Met Sean (kinda cute). Met Jeannie & Mike. Checked files. Not done!! Ugghhh. Found out later that they're wrong. Met Sean's fiancee. Stayed there until midnight. Got home. Watched tv. Logged on. Went to bed. Cried myself to sleep again thinking about personal life and about James.

Saturday - Gardening. Couldn't do laundry. Got passport pictures at Costco. Kinders for ribeye sandwich. Coffee at WC Starbucks. Vacuumed car. Watched NCAA basketball. Met Bev, Hazel, Siah at mall. EJ went to Vacaville so couldn't go to Oakland. Hung out at Auntie Irma's. Siah sleeping. Went home did laundry. Went shopping at Target and Kmart. Cried myself to sleep again, same reason.

Sunday - Got up at 8am. Showered. Got coffee. Cleaned car windows. Finished getting ready. Went to mass. Bev, Siah, and EJ there. Siah playing. I love my Godson. Saw my other future Godson--John Paul. Went to Zheng Long for lunch with everyone. Got javachip frappuccino at WC Starbucks. Went to St Vincent de Paul's to drop off Marie's donation. Went to Navalet PH and got eggplant plant. Went home. Got another plant (SF Fog tomatoes) at Navalet Concord. Gardening. Cut flowers (freesias and narcissus) for my mini floral arrangement. I love freesias. They smell beautiful. I also love the smell of gardenias and jasmine. Jasmine are my favorites and gardenias and freesias are tied for second. Crazy. I never really liked flowers but I love growing them (probably because I don't have children) and I'm allergic to the pollen. Thank God for Claritin D and allergy pills. Drove Marie to work and worked out at the gym. Stairmaster for 22 minutes. 205 crunches. Pool was closed. Damn! Cooked. Watched Cold Case. Desperate Housewives is a re-runn so I'm surfing the Internet. Going to clean kitchen and my room as soon as I log off. Then when I go to bed I'll probably cry myself to sleep again.

It's been a busy week...not as busy as it usually is at work but personally.

Wednesday
I left early to get my taxes done. Not too early (4:45). Good thing it wasn't too busy. Got taxes done and went home. Finally made flight reservations for Guam (leaving SFO 5/4 on NWA after an overnight layover in Japan arrive in Guam on 5/6 1am, leave Guam 5/15 on Continental flight so I don't have to stay overnight again and arrive at SFO on 5/15). Haven't been back in a little over 5 years...since my dad's 1st year anniversary. Looking forward to it. I was kind of hesitant about going because I thought that I might start a relationship. But I've given up. I don't think he's interested in me. So I need a change of scenery. None of the guys I liked liked me back, PK, CH, Whim, BPhim...

Thursday
Had Brad sign my Out of Office Notification form. Get a call from Joey. Thought that maybe he found out that I'm going to Guam by looking at flight reservations but turns out that it was just a coincidence. He talked about how he's having problems with women. Lisa was surprised that I still talk to my ex-boyfriend. I told her that I usually stay friends with my ex-boyfriends except for James. I explained to her how our relationship ended badly. How we met at Fenton's. How we lived together for a few months. How he moved to Long Beach. How we had a long distance relationship. How he joined the Air Force. How we broke up mutually. How he was jealous. How we got back together. How he proposed but I said no. How I sometimes regret it. How I compare other guys to him. At times, I felt like crying. Then, she told me about her last boyfriend before Kirby.

I left earlier than usual...5:30 (wanted to leave earlier but the survey wasn't done and IK messed up). I was hoping to get dinner before Baptism Class which started at 7pm. But I got to PH BART around 6:20. Didn't know what to eat and ended up going to Target to get breadsticks. Got to the church with a couple minutes to spare. Father Mike's class was cool. Even though I had taken a class a couple of years ago for Siah's baptism, I learned a lot of things. Father Mike is so animated. He talked about how Catholicism is a Sacramental and Trinitium religion--belief in seven sacraments (he confirmed that it's possible for men to go through all sacraments if wife died or got an annulment and how some married men can become Catholic priests). He talked about the meaning of baptism (which I had already known from the first class with Father Joseph). He talked about why we dip our hand in holy water and do the sign of the cross when going into a church. He talked about the bible, old testament, original sin, new testament, mass, Jesus birth/death/rising & and how baptism ceremony and mass has all parts. He also went through parts of the ceremony. Talked about the oils. Talked about the significance of making the sign of the cross by the throat (Adam's apple). Smelled the Oil of chrism with myrhh. Talked about the gifts that the three wise men and what myrhh is. Who can do baptisms.

Friday
Had to leave early to sign tax papers. I was hoping to leave before 4pm but didn't leave until around 4:15. Got to Martinez around 5:40. Felt bad that George had to wait for me. Went to the gym but parking lot was full so went to Bev's. Hung out then went with them to the mall. Then went to the gym--only 12 minutes on stair master, 120 crunches and 6 laps in the pool.

Saturday
Laundry and pulled weeds. Went to Vacaville with Liz, Bev, EJ, Siah and Raquel.

Was kind of sad before going to church. Made up my mind not to like BPhim because he obviously doesn't like me (he didn't go to practice on Thursday probably because he's out of town and he didn't go to John's party). So I've decided it's not worth it getting all worked up over someone who doesn't know I exist. I walked into Church with R and M around 10:30 and he was there. I tried to avoid looking at him because if I did my infatuation would start again. It worked. The whole mass I didn't even look at him.

Without the distraction of thinking about BPhim, I listened intently to Father Michael's homily. He talked about temptation. He asked how many people have doubted God. And I just started to think. Yep that's me. The one situation that I remembered so vividly was when daddy was dying. I remembered thinking how could God fail me. How could he take my father away. The other times are when I think about my personal life (how I don't have a family--no kids, no husband, no boyfriend). I think about how all they guys I like don't like me back or about the lost opportunities or about how I lost James' love. Oh how I felt like crying. But then I started to think that because these thing that has happened my relationship with God has just strengthened.

Went to 7:30pm mass at Walnut Creek on Ash Wednesday. Was thinking of going to Old St Mary's by work so I'd only be gone about 30 minutes but changed my mind when I remembered that last year I missed Siah getting ashes. Massed took almost 1-1/2 hours because of the long line.

I remembered not to eat meat on Ash Wednesday. It will be hard not to eat meat on Fridays but I'll make up for it on Saturday when I get a ribeye sandwich at Kinder's.

Decided that I'll give up Starbuck's pastries, Starbucks frappuccinos, french fries, and candy. Would like to give up rice but if there's a party I won't be able to avoid it. I'll give up ice cream during weekdays because I can't take the chance that the family might want to get ice cream during the weekends. Would like to give up cookies but I wanna get some Girl Scout cookies. Can't give up sex because haven't had any in years and I don't think I would be given the opportunity the next several weeks. But enough for what ifs. That's what I'm giving up this year.