so who's on the spotlite® today?

 
since i've been a little hermit, socializing with the same kinds of people who've probably already taken their place of fame in the erics* spotlite, i've decided to put my spotlite on hold for the summer. 'cause even when i do note that woman who gave me that umbrella when it rained, or the young lad who graciously held the door for me, or the elderly man who spared me that extra penny ---> it doesn't matter cause they probably won't read this blog anyway.
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 4:50 PM

 
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spotlite shun by erics* ~ 5:14 PM

 
| spotlite special |

due to my absence from keeping the spotlite on, i've decided to do a run through of names i'd like to highlight and describe what i associate them with.

(in no particular order) when i see...
love, i think of my dear beloved parents
compassion, i think of my older brother ivan.
a loyal heart, i think of cora cheung.
God-driven goals, i think of julia linser.
laughter and smiles, i think of my ooi goh, nathan tsui.
commitment, i think of the ever-so heroic garway wong.
god-given talent, bernard lo.
creativity, i think of lydia cheung.
inspirational leaders, i think of tim ng.
achievements, i think of my wonderful grandmother, helen.
spiritual dependancy, i think of my super sister in christ, amanda wong.
hard-working students, i think of barry ip.
humbleness, i think of sofia vi.
obediant servants for the Lord, i think of kary kwok.
dedication, i think of amy lim.
music passion, i think of justis kao.
optimism, i think of evelyn fu.
generousity, i think of my eldest cousin, grace 'bui-tseh' chang.
spiritual intellect, i think of yu-ling lee.
good dinner conversation, i think of geoff low.
great team players, i think of barry ip.
multi-spiritually blessed people, i think of joyce chau.
uncontrollable laughter, i think of the softball cheering crew.


someone i'd likely...
take a back-packing trip - andy yu.
call when having a nervous breakdown - my mum.
tell all my secrets - chung.
ask for good advice - anita kwan.
musically worship with till someone passes out - herman mo.
check up on from old school days - christine lee.
give a reading from my diary - sharon man.
want to hire as my masseuse - josephine cheung.
admit to having a juvenile crush on - jeremy wat.
offer half my lottery winnings - pastor tim wei.
never understand or uncover - mike mak.
want to get to know better - ronald ng.
like to trade lives with - ana kim.
want as a roomate - sofia vi.
have an agreeable disagreement - edward tsang.
invite to sing at my wedding - keisha williams.
do missions with - amanda wong.
give a second chance - andy chow.
love to see suceed in their career path - osgood cheung.
envy - jean pierre oulette.
pray for most - tammy ko.
ask to document my life - phil pang.
prefer having a friendship online than in person - silas ng.
care for though the person doesn't know it - clement koo.
smile at cause their smile's contagious - michael tang.
still think about - g iles tomkins.
have a reunion with - lindsay todres.
want to get to know better - jesse wong.
have model for me - guy: matt mark girl: katie emmerich animal: boom boom (mike's dog)
travel the distance just to visit - nathan tsui.
want to see grow in Christ - alex lam.
laugh at due to ingenious comical expressions - andy shin.
pull the 20 questions on - emily jones.
disect their brain - alex chow.
give a copy of my house keys - andy chung.
look up to - nick brackett.
like to see at my funeral - jean bartle.
have say my eulogy - mary uno.
play a prank on - joe chan.
throw the greatest surprise party for - garway wong.
want to follow around at school (ie. "a day in the life of") - tiffany khoo
have in the spotlight at my concert - 8W.
forgive and forget - chris lee.
wish i was closer to - john doyle.
take out for dinner - clinton fu.
have babysit my kids - mandy urbach.
ask out for coffee - aaron huskins
appreciate for their sincere conversations - justin lau.


...still more to come!
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 11:39 PM

 
| today's special: my daddio |


now that i'm home, i've learned to appreciate my parents more and more. it's the small things you notice that mean a lot.
recently, i've overcome that stage of thinking my parents are just 'parents'. i'm starting to see the reality of it and how they're people just like you and me, taking off that parential crown they've worn for the past 20 years, and looking at them on a deeper level. not just a daddy who pays for my bills or a mother who pushes me to the best. but people who were once children, once adolescents.

my dad - though a big man with minimal words is a great man. i believe i am the one of the very few people who actually know him. looking beyond his core, i see past the grumpy face and introverted personna and see a jolly, hardworking man who's loving and humourous. there are many things my father has done that he should have been awarded for, but humbly he says not a word and takes no acknowledgement. that is something i respect him for, and find myself trying to follow in his footsteps.
my dad is the hardest working man i know. every morning he wakes at 4:30 to be at work for 5:00 so that he can open the company door and stays in his office until all paper work is completed. even on days off, he still wakes up a 5 to go to work. that always boggles my mind. weekends are not called for working and yet he still goes to his office. it's almost like he doesn't KNOW how to relax and not do anything affiliated with work. haha. silly daddio.

anyway, my favourite thing that he does which makes me smile are his emails. here is a small example of what i mean:
after telling him about my decision to auditon for the germany trip:

Hi Erica;
WOW! ASTOUNDING! FANTASTIC! BRILLIANT! UNREAL! GO FOR IT!
Dad

and when i asked him to print something off at the office cause our printer broke down:

Hi Erica;
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo problem.
Dad

haha, the last one's my all time favourite. i find it ironic and rather comical that my quiet father would respond in such a fashion. only those who know of him would understand why i'm chuckling right now. anyway, i just want to show my appreciation for my daddy and let everyone know i have the greatest dad in the world. love you much pops.
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 5:16 PM

 
| today's special: andy yu aka. e-cheung |


my uncle has got to be one of most brilliant and kind uncles i know - and that's including the *uncles* you call *uncle* but really aren't according to the family tree. my uncle andy, is the husband of my mother's older sister maria. of all the 7 brothers and sisters on my mother's side, we visit the Yu family the most. at every festive and celebration, we go to their home to indulge in great home cooked dishes and stuff ourselves with uncle andy's infamous desserts. hmmm....christmas pudding.

anyhow, my family (minus ivan since he's in AUS) was invited for dinner on easter weekend. i have not seen the yu family since christmas, when uncle andy was going through a difficult period in his time. he had retina surgury. his sight has never been at its absolute best. i think e-cheung's trademark was his -1000 prescription plastic black glasses. little did i know, he was struggling with his eyesight as it has deteriorated drastically. the eye specialist told him he needed cataract surgery to improve the vision.

during the dinner, uncle andy read an open letter to his wife which was written with such eloquence and flare. i was riveted by his words, almost leading to tears. through this difficult time and struggle, he has gained a love for his family like no other and was reminded of how deep the love runs in the family and how much we supported and prayed for him during the crucial procedure. so his letter was an open, generous thank you to everyone seated at the table. i thought it was touching, and coming from a man who hardly shows emotion, was very courageous of him.

i am proud to have an uncle like e-cheung.
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 11:29 PM

 
| today's special: sofia vi |

sofia sofia sofia. oh where do i start? some people's initial reaction to sofia when they first meet her: crazy. outgoing. LOUD. friendly. spunky. cute. petite. hilarious. owns the greatest laugh. spiritual. caring. easy-going. approachable. indeed she is all of those things. but i'd probably add in potential opera singer. ha! with that laugh? vibratto and staccatoed notes come easy. *grin* when i first met sofia, i knew we'd click. i remember our first conversation being a clamor of giggles and contagious laughing. we really do know how to feed off each other's humour. it is because of our similar traits, being extroverted, well humoured and amusable that we get along so extraordinarily well. it's great having a sister like her. i enjoy her company. when we talk, sofia usually does the listening, which is a huge sacrifice for someone so talkative and open-minded like her. and i believe her to be a great listener. a lot of energy and thought-provoking ideas flow when i personally converse with sofia. one thing i highly admire about sofia is her faith and trust in God. from what i know, she has never fallen short from prayer - always praying. always believing. in the darkess and most strenous of times, she can still find peace for she puts her burdens in the hands of the Lord. God shines through her all the time and I just love watching her.

*sofia*
you are one of a kind and it has been a great blessing having you in my life. this term has been difficult with your absence but i look forward to fall term together when many more memories and fond moments can be shared. thank you sister for loving me and for being so understanding. God made a beautiful person in you. *muah*
*love ya*
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 1:28 PM

 
| today's special: melinda forhan |

it has been such a blessing having mel on my floor. my first day on B2 was pretty quiet and uncomfortable since i didn't know any of the girls nor was i certain if i would form lasting friendships with any of the other girls. melinda was the first to approach me, showing interest by asking about my field of study. it was awesome chilling with her during the first couple of days in orientation week and getting to know her better. twas a shame i chose ccf events over frosh and floor events which made things difficult for me to bridge that bond of friendship with B2 but regardless of barriers mel consistantly showed me her generousity and care throughout the year. had i relived my frosh year all over again, i would have definitely made an effort to spend more time with mel.

some highlights and little sentimental things i'll never forget:
- the first time i samg my french aria songs for melinda in my room.
- her talent for hair styling. i always counted on mel to do my hair. and she's the only one who could dress it up nice! my volumnous hair is such a hassle to deal with.
- when she bought me cold coffee to help me pull an all nighter.
- how much she loves chinese food! and how she's the first to dig in the mikey's eatery i bring home every wednesday night.
- jamming tunes on my guitar and singing while mel beautifully harmonizes.
- the cornrow QUEEN.
- how nice it is to watch her and her sweetie pie danny.
- the way she says "AB-SO-LuT-ELY" when she's tipsy.

thanks for making my first year in rez on B2 so much more enjoyable melinda! you will be missed.
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 10:33 PM

 
| today's special: benjamin covey |

who is benji?
- my favourite singer in the martens' studio
- my favourite baritone in the laurier voice faculty
- a kind, caring man who never sells short of anyone
- big, humble and bubbly guy
- an animated and very humourous dude
- always the first to compliment me in masterclass
- the baritone soloist for Carmina Burana
- someone who will be getting married next year! = D
(wish i could post a picture to show you how sweet ben is but ftp isn't working)

it is always a delight to watch ben sing. he has always been supportive and encouraging. my first day of school, i was ask to sing first in masterclass. i was in a room full of students i had not met nor seen before, all eyes are on me - so i choose to sing a 8 minute piece. after the fourth minute, i lost most of the crowd but only two sets of eyes were focused on me 24/7. victor martens and benjamin covey. i'll admit, i don't usually like to look at people when i sang. i tend to close my eyes or look at the back wall so i can focus but having ben there, i couldn't help but sing to him and acknowledge his attentive eyes. he later commented on my performance and it has practically been like that at every masterclass i perform.

oh, if only i could videotape ben singing and show you how entertaining it is to watch him sing. his eyes jump out and his eyebrows do a little dance. his lips purse the cutest little "O" and he does an ale-drinking sway when the songs he performs are upbeat. *laughing* ah....it's too good. i praise God for people like ben in my studio and i'm glad his studies at laurier aren't over yet. i still have one more year with him! yay!

not only is ben a fine musician and a great inspiration but he's such a humble man. you never hear him speak highly of himself. he carries this, "people come before me" attitude that puts me in awe of him. i remember that one time a bunch of us were walking home from a concert dress rehearsal and one girl was expressing her relationship troubles to us. my heart went to her, and i was almost home so i didnt' talk much to her about it. i left with her and ben talking outside. so i went home. changed. came back to grab some late night grub and they were still there talking. ben was comforting her with words and a warm embrace. it was really nice watching them and knowing that ben had such a heart of gold to help that girl with her problems.
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 10:41 AM

 
| today's special: andy chung |

before i introduce you to this character, let me explain my choice of pictures. (chung, i hope you don't mind me sharing this) but the image on the left: he looks at it on a daily basis. hah and you wonder why, eh? just thought i'd share with the world this (once) manly, broad-shouldered, buff chung. so that would likely be chung's choice had i asked him to pick a favourite. on the right: just a personal favourite. (softball season were good times. i miss it.) ok, so back to chung. gosh, he and i have been through so much, i don't even know where to start. allow me to be blunt when i say i would have never imagined us as the friends we are today after meeting him and knowing him in the first year he arrived to mcbc (our church). shall i give you a the down-low on the chung i once knew? well, i don't remember the exact day i met him, but i recall him phoning my home in the wee hours of the morning very frequently. "eh, eh....eriCAH, wat yu doin? kay, i'm comin ova to yor house now. i swear...i'll be right outside yor house in like, 2 secs." and this is coming from a guy i hardly knew. we barely spoke to each other at church, yet he had the guts to be forward with me and invite himself over past 2am. but i am no different than the other girls. chung was mistah *mack* as in daddY mack! haha, i can't help but laugh at the past. =d

so after a year later, things changed. God surely worked in that boy a great deal. our mission trip to nashville in the summer of 2002 changed everything for us, in our friendship and most importantly him as a person. We grew closer and had a mutual understanding of brotherhood in christ. i can be so honest with chung, i love it. initially our conclusion to the well-being of our relationship was due to our pessimism. one of the main reasons why we got along so well was because we could rant and rage about issues when we were together. sad but true. and our conversations would be nothing far from jokes and non-stop laughter. but it upset us how paganized of a relationship that was. what good is it to dwell on each other's anger and hate? after experiencing the awesome things God granted in nashville, we were able to touch base on a deeper level, a more spiritual level. it was awesome. i still remember that one night chung was suppose to drive me home after fellowship, and i barely made it to my front door. we talked for hours in his car, and it eventually lead to the plaza, where chung and i screamed prayers and questions to God in the middle of an abandoned parkinglot. the entire night was spent outside - almost showered at the park sprinkler across from mickey D's. haha. that was a rather spontaneous night.

i love that i don't have to worry about my relationship with chung cause it will always remain as it is. nothing more, nothing less. and it's always a plus when you know your parents like him and can trust him when i have him over. chung is one of the very few people that i genuinely trust and can never hate. i've told him this numberous times, but it's true. even if chung stabbed my back, (figuratively or literally) i would still love him. i could never hate the guy. i guess after experiencing the ultimate highs and lows with this particular individual you learn to just love him for who he is. i thought i would never be able to learn this lesson in people but praise god for chung because now i've understood what it means to genuinely love your brother.

*ah-chung-chung*
regardless of distance, time or situation, you'll always be a brother to me.
keep it real in ottawa and continue to make God proud.
*love you much*
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 1:31 PM

 
| today's special: cora cheung |

my definitions of cora
1. an incredible woman of God.
2. a business major in at western university.
3. my awesome sistah in Christ.
4. a hardworker.
5. someone i've witness growing in Christ's love.
6. my spiritual supporter.
7. a sensitive and caring individual.
8. quirky humoured and sometimes slow (and you can't help but love that about her).
9. a great younger and older sister to two boys.
10. miss HK style - but i think western has been changing that. haha. GAP FAD.
----> a beautiful person made by God that i admire. <----

*cora*
when times are good, when times are bad, you are my constant drive to look to the cross and i love you for that sistah. i still remember the first time i met you; timid, quiet, perhaps uncertained of your faith in God, but you showed interest in whatever i had to say. in a short period of time, you blossomed into this enthusiatic, and sometimes crazy girl who had such a burning desire to follow Jesus Christ. thanks for all the laughs, whether they were with me or at me, i still look back at the good ole mcbc days and giggle. i want to express my most sincere gratitude for your prayers and support. it's difficult to hold onto the string of friendship, mcbc grads once held so tightly but now that we have strayed our ways to further educate our minds in different areas i feel some strings have been cut. but not with you. words do not need to be exchanged on a daily basis in order for our strings to coalesce. i know we will remain friends for many years to come and i hope we continue our efforts to keep this spiritual relationship going. you are an exquisite individual and i am just as pleased as honoured to call you my friend.
*lylas*
spotlite shun by erics* ~ 1:51 PM