Month: February 2012

Just Another Night in Southern China

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

It is 10:39 pm on February 17, 2012, what are you doing?

Let me tell you what I am doing.  I am sitting on my bed, watching season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance.

Now I know you are are probably thinking, what are you doing in Southern China. Well, this is were I work.

Why are you sitting on your bed watching TV.  I happen to live in a hotel and don’t have any other other furniture to sit on.

But, why do you live in a hotel? Because I live at a golf resort.

But the most important question you are asking yourself is why is she watching season 8 of SYTYCD.  Well, because it is my favorite show.

But no, why season 8. Because I already say season 7.  Duh! But, season 8. It aired over 6 months ago.  Why are you watching season 8.  Well, I live in China remember.

I have lived here for 4 1/2 years.  So, I don’t know what happen on season 8, yet.  I know you are probably asking yourself now, what doesn’t she just look up the winner online.  She obviously has internet access and she is pretty internet literate.  I mean, she writes this wonderful blog for God sakes.  Look up the winner already.

Well, don’t take my joy away from me.  I am going to stay up until midnight every Friday and enjoy the very few pleasures I am still able to enjoy while still living in this amazingly strange foreign place.

Living in China really isn’t all that hard.  I live in a very westernized place. Westernized with a very thick Chinese accent.  The food is edible, not good mind you, but edible.  The people are nice. Frustrating to deal with a lot of the times, but nice.  My employees do some very strange things at times and I am talking about the American’s as well as the Chinese.  But, business is going well.  And, my job, well . . .  did I mention the people are nice.

But, when things get frustrating and I miss home, what keeps me sane is these little nuggets of normalcy and for me that’s watching my favorite show every week, no matter how late I have to wake up.

I have several stories on this blog about my adventures in China.  I really would not have made it this long with out being able to share them with you. So, check them out under the China Category.  Some of the stories are good, some of them are bad.  All are amazing in the following sense:

1. This stuff would never happen in America and 2.  I am pretty creative, but no way could I have made this stuff up.

Enjoy them and if you care about my sanity even a little bit for the love of God, please don’t tell me who won Season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance!

Congrats to Chef Voltaggio and ink. -Named #1 Best New Restaurant in America by GQ Magazine.

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

Michael Voltaggio’s, living up to the hype, new restaurant, ink. has garnered another great honor.  Even for the too cool for school Voltaggio, this one is pretty awesome.  Click the link to read about the LA restaurants newest award.

Whitney Houston Dead – Saturday, February 11, 2012

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

Whitney Houston Dead - Saturday, February 11, 2012

I was debating whether to write anything about her on my blog because honestly in the last few years, she has been as wheels off as they come.  Every body and their grandma are posting and blogging about her on FB and Twitter.  It just seems a little hypocritical that now EVERYONE has something great to say about her.  When she was talking about “crack is whack” no one was talking about what a great influence she was on them then.   And, due to the fact that she died the night before the Grammy’s, if an artist wins, are they obligated to say something about her.   Just because she died yesterday, now she has to be a part of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.  Forced much!

But, then I though that I do have some favorable Whitney moments that I would like to share because no matter what has happen in her life, doesn’t change these moments for me.
“I Have Nothing” from the Bodyguard Soundtrack is my all time favorite Whitney song. I love to sing that song and am humbled by her ability to hit all the different notes in that song.
“I’m Every Women” her remake of the Chaka Khan hit was my New Orleans Anthem. It was the soundtrack to my life in NOLA and always makes me smile.

One thing I loved about that show, “Being Bobby Brown” was how they would always randomly break out into song. It is how I imagine someone who is addicted to the physical act of of sing would do. I do it too. It is that oral fixation thing working. The difference between her and I is that she could actually sing.
So, RIP Whitney. I will remember you for your great moments.