Sigh what a weekend of glutton! You know how people have alcohol binges on weekends? I have food binges on weekend. I just came back from eating ho & sour soup, claypot chicken rice, and a wonderful cone of chocolate ice cream.

THIS JUST IN! wookieewoman got to be on stage with David Copperfield! I will be waiting for your review!

Anyhow, I went to see David Copperfield on the weekend! You have no idea. David Copperfield was some kind of childhood hero between my brother, myself, and my father. And my mother too a little bit. I remember us having this video cassette of David's performances. I wonder if it was taped from a TV show, or whether it was a commercially-available video, but we watched it often. Possibly everyday. My brother & I never got tired of it, because it was magic! Plus David Copperfield was so handsome.

My brother of course went into magic as a side hobby throughout his university years, and I wonder if he uses them on his patients while doing his dentistry. I could certainly do with learning a few card tricks to gain a little appreciation from crying toddlers. My one day in the paediatric emergency department last year was terrible. None of the toys available were of any use to get the damn little kids to listen to me.

Anyhow, so David Copperfield ... 20 years after getting to know him via TV, he's in town! My brother got tickets, very good tickets too, and off we went to Rod Laver Arena to see the great illusionist. It was a big stadium where I imagine many performance artists hold their gigs. My brother, his girlfriend and I sat right down the front of the stadium, in the middle rows, in front of the stage.

I had brought along my glasses so was able to see David Copperfield properly.

The show started with some video montages of David Copperfield references in popular culture. In TV shows, in music, in sitcoms, etc. Some were pretty funny, some were a bit too short, as all they wanted to do I think was show how widely-known David Copperfield was. Not that we don't already know.

Then he appeared in a big empty white box with a motorcycle! Maybe it was Harley Davidson, I don't know, it certainly wasn't a scooter. And the first thing I thought was ... oh! He looks ... like every other fat-bellied, aging person on the street. I would never have turned around to have a second look if I saw him on the streets. Mostly because my image of David Copperfield was that of 20 years ago. That young, suave, mysterious magician who walked through the Great Wall of China. Except now he's balding, chubbier, and more of a funny man than a mystery man.

He did a few routines, but since the videos I watched of him as a kid were mostly high-brow action-packed escape routines, a lot of his routines that night were new to me. The only one I recognised, and was so overjoyed that he did, was the one with the necktie. Does anyone know it? Set to the song that goes "Angelina, Angelina! Please bring down your concertina" - anyway I was so happy to see it. And I looked to my brother at the end of that and said "DO YOU REMEMBER THAT?!" and of course he did.

The most amazing part was when he narrated about his grandfather, and that car. He was saying how his father got into magic, but his grandfather told him off and said he was to get a real job. David and his grandpa grew up close, and that was when he talked about his grandpa's love for this car called Lincoln or something. Anyway long story short, the car appeared on the stage! Just like that! Oh it is so much better seen than described.

He also did the duck routine - easily found on Youtube. He did the floating paper rose routine, also on Youtube. He transported people from the audience away - a guy sitting 2 chairs away from me was part of the chosen! We were hoping he'd come back so we could ask him, but they ended the show at that. I bet they were taken away to be debriefed and to sign some confidentiality agreement.

There were lots of simple routines mostly. Like, nothing that really involved him huffing and puffing away. Well I guess he's in his 50s now. But still amazing for someone like me, and even for my brother too. The show felt a bit short, but it was just under 1.5 hours. When I told my parents that we were going to see David Copperfield, my mum exclaimed "At last someone in the family is going to see him!" as he was supposed to go to Malaysia, but the show was cancelled. And when they were in LA, some stupid LA tour guide told them that it wasn't worth going to, because his show was mostly based on video presentations. Well, he did have videos, but that's not to say you don't get to see David Copperfield doing magic!

At the end of the show, my brother had the opportunity to meet David Copperfield in the Hyatt hotel as his friend knew the producer of the show. Sadly David didn't actually show up, as I found out today that apparently he went to watch a movie in the cinema instead! I was so excited though, and made sure my brother had a camera, a pen, and my ticket so David could sign it. My brother even had a pack of playing cards that he gets magicians to sign.

David Copperfield won't know this, but he made a distant childhood memory come back for me. And it reminded me of the good times I had growing up with my brother. I miss those times. Oh, I am getting soppy now. Even if it wasn't an explosive show, and even if David Copperfield is no longer that tall suave man he once was, I got to see him perform, got to see him up close, and that is enough.

I wouldn't mind meeting Bob Saget.

Dr. 'Mo: You can go on day leave today. No sense staying in hospital all day.
Patient: Yeah, cool. But I have to be back by a certain time?
Dr. 'Mo: Otherwise you turn into a pumpkin.

I received an international parcel today. It was from Tom. It contained a lot of random (like seriously random) stuff, but there were two things of note. Wally, the walrus (because I complain that I feel bloated like a walrus). I wasn't expecting to receive Wally. So that left me squealing. And a drawing of Totoro. Bless. Thanks Tom. :)

What a long day at work. Does anyone read LJs anymore? I still do. I need an LJ layout change.

Mum was surprised to read in a magazine about Melbourne's graffitied laneways. She hadn't noticed them before. I caught some people in action some time last year in Hosier Lane.

Me: How was your weekend?
Chris: Sigh, Michael Jackson died.
Me: Oh yeah .. if I had white stockings today I would wear white stockings (to go with my black shoes).
Chris: Or wear one glove.
Me: Ha ha ha.
Chris: Wear one glove during scopes.
Ben: Yes, all colonoscopies today will be done with only one glove.

1. I'm on the hunt for a green pair of earrings. The perfect pair costs $298. I've been searching for something cheaper, because there has GOT to be a cheaper pair, but I've had no luck so far.

2. Work is killing me but I'm learning so much more than when I did nights.

3. Soup is my favourite food when it's cold. I'm craving some Japanese soupy udon. Except I know I'll regret it because it's a big bowl and I'll feel bloated.

4. My parents are visiting in just over a week. Perks include home cooked meals and family company. Lows include cramming too many people in too little space.

5. Throat is a bit throaty, head is a bit headachey, and I could NOT get warm that night. My colleague thinks I'm menopausal.

6. Sugardough Panificio and Pattisserie will probably be considered my "local" bakery.

7. This is the most awesome psychedelic thing in my life.

Oops, forgot these. It was our last dinner at home in Sydney and I had to participate in their traditional Vietnamese spring rolls thing, although they were Korean. It was so healthy, I wish I did this regularly, except I don't, and cannot be bothered to. I also gave Anne and Jenny presents to say thank you for letting me stay with them in Sydney.



( Bye Sydney! )

Pictures from my mobile phone. Swanky bar called Silk Road right on Collins Street. Very un-Melbourne, too big, too impersonal, mostly a place for picking up, and possibly run by Hong Kong mafia.



( No denim unless you're a celebrity! )

Sunday brunch. Lovely thing it is. Even better when you go somewhere a bit unexpected, a bit out of your way, but very very good. Overlooking some green and some sport. In a train stop. Kind of makes you wonder if they're there waiting for a tram, or waiting for coffee. I didn't hear any zoom past whilst I was there, so perhaps this was a makeshift train stop? Ah but no, it is a very real train stop, and a very real breakfast house! This is Mart 130 in Middle Park.



( No, seriously, it's a train stop AND a breakfast house. )