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<3

Because the photos I wanted to post didn't,
I've set up a gallery on the 'ole LJ.

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TAGS : http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/tags/Bao-Bao/

Greetings my friends,

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to write to all of you, who have supported me throughout the years.

We have been through many things together in the past 15 years.
You have supported me musically, creatively and personally through so much.

Including:
The day my father had his massive hemorrhagic stroke on July 29, 1998.
To when mother passed away almost three years ago on May 29, 2009.

And because I feel a connection to everyone who has, I wanted to share some
exciting news. My husband Eric and I are expecting our first baby this summer,
on July 29th. We are very thrilled and couldn't be happier.

As you may notice it will be a birth and a re-birth as the day we are due
happens to fall on the 14th anniversary of my father's stroke. But it was also exciting
because we must have conceived around my mother's birthday.

We are busy preparing ourselves and home to welcome our precious baby.
And we are recording our thoughts and experiences in an upcoming book.

We have a website up with our registries.
So family and friends who would like to celebrate our future baby's arrival with us may do so. ♥♥♥
You can view it here:
http://www.about.me/emfm

I hope you are as excited about the sharing of our news of the next adventure of our life
as we are.

With Love,
~ Frances, Eric and Dad

If you ever seen Criss Angel's 'Mindfreak'
you might have seen the episode where he does an
effect with a chain around the neck.

I believe it's in the first season.
Not sure what episode though.

So one day, I was watching this particular episode
with my father when he said... I brought that effect
to Dr. Harlan Tarbell and he wrote about it in his
Tarbell series.

What's ironic, is that my mother and I never knew
my father was in the Tarbell Course series. To be exact
Volume 6. Every magician owns the Tarbell series.
Well, almost every good magician does. However, my
father never did until the 1980's when my mom thought
he should have it in his collection. So she bought
a set from Uncle Jay (Marshall - the previous Dean
of American Magicians).

I had happen to come across a posting in the Genii
forum about this topic and I was soo excited I told
my mom and ran to Volume 6 in the magic room library.
I said, dad did you know you were in it. And he told me
the story. The weird part is you probably would never
realize it was my father because Harlan spelled his name
wrong. Instead of DeYip it DeNip.

My father was serving in Korea during WWII for the US
Army (drafted as a Chinese Citizen, another saga of it's own).
Where he saw someone do this effect. When he came back home
after being discharged he figured out how it was done.

It was when he became best friends with Uncle Jay and
Aunt Frances and was encouraged to join the Chicago Roundtable.
Where he became an original member. In the Salla poster he's
#68. This is where he met Harlan. He told him about this
effect and Harlan was intrigued by it. He asked my father
to describe the effect and at the same time drew him for
the course.

Almost 50 years later the effect has been resurrected by
not just Criss but also the Masked Magician. We also saw
him reveal the secret and dad put it to my attention as well.
But never knew the connection at the time.

Maybe the younger Criss Angel generation does not know
that my father is responsible for this effect but in many way's
Criss, the Masked Magician and a bunch of the kids who do
this on youtube are paying homage to the #1 Chinese Magician,
DeYip Loo...aka my father.

So let's just enjoy the video of Criss Angel performing this effect
and the original illustration as found in Harlan's Magic Course of dad.





link: http://pics.livejournal.com/mai_ling/pic/000bxf97

---

This will be part of a series of writing exercises for
my massive two volume book project on my father :
MADE IN CHINA : The Magic & Life of DeYip Loo
#1 Chinese Magician

There's nothing like magic and variety. Seeing people entertain
the masses with laughter and amazement. As my father alway's
reminds me what Dante told him. "If the audience doesn't laugh
then you're not entertaining them." Something I remind myself
as an entertainer. With the momentum of seeing Jason Bishop
perform my father's creation in his illusion show just 3 weeks prior.
We were looking forward to seeing another magic event.

 

Nothing Up My Sleeve is the conception of Nino Cruz & Glenn Chelius.
In 2002, they put together their first show, in which I waw fortunate
enough to be part of. It was a great idea to help the Raue Center
for the Arts, a beautiful theater situated in downtown Crystal Lake, Il.
That brings magic and variety to the northern suburbs to many people.

 

April 14th marked the 10th year of the show. We were invited by
Nino Cruz to come out and enjoy an evening of magic. We first met
Nino when he was performing close-up magic at the now long forgotten
restaurant Choo-Choo's. He's always respected my father for being
a magician who paved his own path from being an assistant of
Harry Blackstone, Sr. and Dante. Of course, his huge contribution
to the art and history of magic.

 

We arrived at the theater and were greeted by long time family friend
H. Rick Bamman. He's an amazing photographer in his own right, and has
been doing this since he was 13. His step-mother, as I always called
Aunt Marge was a very close friend of our family. As soon as we got
seated he started taking photos of dad.

 

The scrim showed highlights of posters, photos and adverts of past
NUMS show. I was surprised to see the spread from the Northwest Herald
with me on the top of cards. What a joy.

 

Then show began...

 

Opening the evening was Mark Presley Hawksins, aka Nerdgician.
A mute like magician, sorta in the way Okito would do his act, but
only because he was partially deaf.

 

He opened with a comedy bit with a magic elevator. It reminded
of the days when we worked with the Gitchy Brothers, a comdey duo.
Another highlight of his act was the "Butterfly in the Box." A very
elegant effect. Definitely takes the place of the dancing cane. He
closed with a cardboard box version of 'Modern Art.' I will say,
that he definitely promoted Home Depot for this illusion, I hope
he gets these boxes for free when he needs to replace them. I envy
the idea of using cardboard boxes when it comes to illusions, they
are easier on your back. The only other magician I have ever seen
do an illusion out of a cardboard box was Hans Moretti. However,
it was a very dangerous illusion.

 

We were then greeted by the hosts of the show Glen & Nino who then
introduced Paul Lee. Paul does a classic magic act. I know my father
appreciates seeing that, because that's the era he worked with. Paul
opened with the dove production and his routine went on to include
effects as torn and restore newspaper; audience participation with
children; the production of a beautiful Swedish Duck before the vanish
and the appearance of his cute dog Thurston. He closed with the classic
Houdini illusion metamorphosis, assisted by Karen Burris. His act
is always a joy to see.

 

Nino & Glenn came out again to do a card trick. It was a cute bit.
Where the gentleman came up to choose a card. Ironically, the theme
was "Card Shark." When neither of them came up with his card, the theme
music of Jaws was heard and a big helium shark started floating from
the balcony. As it started to get closer to the stage I was actually
bumped in the head by it's fin. Obviously, the shark had the correct
card.

 

They then introduced Geoff Akins Hannah, the Bubble Juggler. He does
a inspirational routine that is focus on bubbles. He has a very calm
demeanor that really brings the children to focus. He does several
different effects with bubbles that I've never thought of or seen
before. Like a bubble within a bubble, a trail of bubbles, the creation
of a square bubble. His act is accompanied by the song 'Anything is Possible'
that is written by his wife Jen Hannah.

 

Nino & Glenn came back on stage and Nino performed a hypnosis routine.
Six adults volunteered to be hypnotized. It was a classic well done
routine with the adults who were put under. From the lady who doesn't
remember the #7 and the other lady who spoke Alien. It was well done.
Luckily no one started barking like a dog.

 

After the routine we had a 15 minute intermission.
Where I know to run upstairs to the ladies room so I don't have to stand
in line. When I came back, Marshall Brodien was talking to dad and Eric.
Rick was taking several photos of them together.
It's always a joy to see Marshall and his wife Mary. My father and
Marshall go way way back. He's always been good to dad, and they are
as close as brothers. He credits my father for giving him a really
good start in the business, and even sold him his first tuxedo for
$15. What a deal. They worked together several times. Since my father
was the first magician to perform on Chicago's Bozo Circus, it really
helped kicked the doorway for Marshall which led him to creating the
character of Wizzo. I always remembered when I was in 6th grade, my
mom's cousin got us tickets for the show because he was a producer of a
WGN radio show. We didn't have to do the 10 year wait. Obviously
with my parents ties to the show, it didn't even matter, we could
go whenever. Anyway, we sat in the front, my p's sat in the corner
top back row. Al Hall, always gave seats to them. I never knew until later
why we were blocked from commercials and how come I never got on the
grand prize game...connections. Either way, I was luckier than many
kids. After the taping, we had lunch with everyone and it was a wonderful
day. I had a photo taken with Cookie the Clown selling him Girl Scout
Cookies. I later realized by my friend Tom that it was a rare photo
because Cookie isn't wearing his tie nor his gloves.
Later in the evening we were shocked to hear the news that Frazier Thomas
passed from a eschemic heart stroke attack. It was sad.

 

 

Marshall, Dad and Eric

 

Intermission came to a close and we were greeted by Nino & Glenn,
where they introduced the highlight of the show that traveled
all over the world and came from Berwyn, Illinois... The Son of Wizzo.
Which was actually performed by the son of wizzo... marshall, jr.
He did a really nice job with his routine. A lot of comedy that made
everyone laugh. He did a cute bit with the Nerdgician where he ended up
with a cream pie in the face. A classic effect. The Son of Wizzo also
invited Noah Simmons, a young ventriloquist up on stage with his dummy
Charlie McCarthy. My father recognized Charlie straight away for good
reason. He knew Edgar from the days of the Chicago Roundtable. If you
look on the Salla poster, you see my father (who is #68) and above is
Edgar Bergen & Charlie. And those who do not realize who Edgar Bergen
is...he is the father of actress Candance Bergen. Noah did a great job
and I'm sure we'll see more of him in the future and we'll see
Marshall's routine as the Son Wizzo. It will bring memories of his
father's creation and new memories for a new generation.

 

Nino & Glenn came out and did another routine. This time shining
on Glenn's talent as a vent with his Harry the Hare who wanted to
be called Haredini. Who did a handcuff routine where Haredini
escaped from. It was very clever.

 

They then introduced Mark Faje, the world's most dangerous comic.
This was my second time seeing Mark perform. He left a very good
impression on me after seeing him at the MCA weekend banquet show
in 2008. I loved the danger and the comedy associated. A true
professional and gentleman on stage. He started with the lighting
of a cigarette with a match that he juggled behind his back caught
in his mouth. He also tossed a ball behind his back and caught it
with the temple of head. He also went on to do this with a bocci ball.
Juggled ping pong balls from his mouth. I was hoping he do at least 4 balls,
oh well. Mark wanted to show how easy it was juggle and needed an assistant.
Eric and I were in the front row and he was eyeing Eric, and came up
directly to him. Eric declined only because he's too shaky to juggle.
So the guy next to me went up. Luckily Eric declined because he would
be juggling a machete. He then juggled two clubs and a buzz saw.
Mark closed with a dangerous feat. As before with the previous except
throwing a bowling ball from is foot to land on his the temple of his
head, with a lighted flame, two steak knives, and a scorpion in his pants.
Yes kids, don't try this at home. Unfortunately, there was a kid who really
freaked out and his mother left the audience. But I know these dare devils,
they wouldn't do unless they knew they can, and of course Mark did.

 

A great finish to a great evening.

 

We waited until everyone emptied the theater and I spoke with Rick
for a bit, and some more to Marshall and Mary as we left the theater.
We stayed for a while before heading home.

 

It was a very enjoyable evening. It brings back memories back from the
day of the Mather High School Shows. We need more variety shows like this
in the area. I did produce a few for a while but not since 2006. The
III Sheeters are no longer which did yearly events. As of lately, there's
not many, and there should be. So many wonderful performers to showcase
and a public who hungers for this type of entertainment.

On Sunday, went for a shop because we needed milk and some bread at Walmart.
We found that Walmart has the best deal for a gallon of milk.
Eric can not live without milk, and right now I've been eating
cereal at least 2-3x a week at the moment.

Got some good deals and freebies.
One thing I learned with couponing that Walmart will stack your
manufacturer coupons when it comes to a certain amount off and a B1G1Free coupon.
Where as Meijer won't.

The list will explain itself.

April 1st Super Walmart

1 gallon of milk $1.78
2lb of boxed mashed potatoes $2.78
Idahoan Potato Bits $1.13 (-.55 coupon)
2 Stuffings $2.00
48oz Smuckers Grape Jam $1.23 (-.75 coupon)
Manwich $1.00
Barilla Thin Spaghetti $0.28 (-1.00 coupon)
3 Ramen Noodles $0.60
2 Glade Aerosol Refreshers FREE (-2.00 coupon)
2 water refills $0.74
2 Crave cat treats $0.83 (-.55 coupon + Buy 1 Get 1 Free)

Total $18.28

---

April 3rd Super Target
I learned about a really yummy ice cream that is sugar free and lactose free.
And when I say sugar free, no artificial sweetner (YAY)!It's called Clemmy's.
I got Chocolate and it's so yummy, dark and creamy. Like Ben & Jerry's. I got
it at a good deal on clearance too.

I did two transaction because I had double coupons I wanted to use.
Plus I had a $20 gift card so in the end I only ended play $1.92


Transaction #1
1 Glade Aerosol Spray $0.12 (-$1.00 coupon)
1 MP Fish Sticks $2.69 (-$1.00 coupon)
3 Clemmy's 16oz Chocolate Ice Cream $3.18 (normally $3.99 each)
3 MP Tomato Soup $1.01 (-$1.00 coupon)
2 Totino's $5.00 (-$1.00 coupon)
1 MP Chicken Burrito FREE (-$1.00 coupon)

Total : $12.68
paid with a gift card

Transaction #2
1 Glad Aerosol Spray $0.12 (-$1.00 coupon)
2 Green Giant Frozen boxed vegetables $1.00 (-$0.50 coupon)
1 Reach Floss $0.02 (-$1.00 coupon)
3 MP Tomato soup $1.01 (-$1.00 coupon)
4 Pillsbury Toaster Strudels $6.87 (-$1.40 coupon plus Buy 3 Get 1 Free)
1 MP Chicken Burrito FREE (-$1.00 coupon)

Total : $7.32
paid all with gift card but $1.98

---

April 3rd Meijer Shop

I was quite disappointed with my shopping experience tonight at Miejer.
I thought like Walmart you could use a coupon plus a B1G1F coupon but I
couldn't and the lady who checked me out was a pain in the ass. In the
end I did pay for the items but because it bothered me so much I went back
after going to Walmert to return them. I ended up received a $12.39 refund.
She also wouldn't let me use the FREE Milk coupon with the extra cereal with
the white bread. Well, it's Meijer's loss. I ended up going to Walmart afterward
with no issues. You'll see why.

11 head lettuce $2.75
2 Loaves of White Bread $1.56
5.16 lbs of Green/Red Grapes $6.09
2 Dozen Eggs for $1.21 (-$0.55 coupon)
1 Country Crock for $0.50 (-$1.00 coupon)
4 Kellogg Cereals for $2.00 (Buy 4 get $2 off instantly plus -$4.00/4 Kellogg Cereal Coupon)

Total $14.11

---

April 3rd Super Walmart

So after what happened at Meijer we drove to Walmart.
I wanted to use my FREE Milk coupon, and although milk is reasonable
$1.78 is a $1.78. Anyway, I found 3 breakfast items for $3.

We bought some clothes on clearance so my shopping trip evened out when
I returned the items to Meijer.

5 pieces of baby clothes $11.00
3 vegetable seed packets $1.50
2 pouches of Quacker Oats Quick Oats $2.00
1 Aunt Jemima Maple Syrup 4pk Oatmeal $1.00
1 gallon of milk FREE (buy 3 breakfast items get 1 gallon of milk free)

Total $16.46


So it was a good shop day.

go us!

Finally got to Angelo's after almost 2 weeks.
Not bad considering we hadn't need any deli items
or produce.

Got some good deals on fruit so here's how it rounded out:

2 Head Lettuce for $0.88
1 lb of Mushrooms for $0.99
2 lbs of Cream Cheese Bricks for $1.78
1/2 gallon of Orange Juice for $1.29
3 pkgs (16 at 7.5 lbs) of pears for $1.37
3 pkgs (12 med-lrg at 6.25 lbs) of tomatoes for $2.41
1 lb of Virginia Ham at $2.98
1.12 lb of Domestic Swiss at $4.47
1.2 lb of Genoa Salami at $3.63
1 lb of Mozzarella at $3.23
1 lb of Oil & Vinegar Coleslaw for $1.95
1 lb of Farefella Pasta at $0.50

Total $25.11 with tax

Not bad...

Eric & I went shopping after he was done with working and
there were some stuff we wanted to get that were a good
deal and we had coupons for.

Everything we bought had a coupon or coupon stack for
except for one item.

The total bill ended up being $60 before the coupons
and with the coupons it was $30. So we saved 50%
of our savings.

3 MP Tomato soups for $.86 ($1 Target coupon)
3 pkgs of Totino's (48 ct for ea pkg) for $7.25 ($1 Target/ $0.75 manf coupon)
1 Glad Expression Starter Kit for $0.49 ($2.00 Target / $1.00 manf coupon)
1 Palmolive 20 oz Aloe Dish Soad for $0.97 ($1.50 Target / $0.50 manf coupon)
2 Kraft Dressings for $3.27 (on clearance w/ $1.00 Target coupon)
1 Hidden Valley Dressing for $1.54 ($1.00 manf coupon)
2 Revlon Beauty Tools : Nail Clipper & Cleaner Trimmer for $1.00 ($5.00 Target coupon)
1 Up & Up Vitamin Pills for $6.34 ($1.00 Target coupon)
2 Beneful Baked Dog Treats for $3.14 ($0.75 Target coupon / B1G1Free manf coupon)
1 Silk Soy Milk & 1 Post Raisin Bran cereal for $1.75 ($2.00 Target coupon / $1.00 Silk
manf coupon / $1.00 Post Post Raisin Bran manf coupon)
1 Land O' Lakes Butter with Canola Oil for $1.51 ($0.40 manf coupon
plus a rebate for a free coupon for a LOL Cinnamon Sugar Butter)
1 Chicken Burrito for FREE ($1.00 Target coupon)
1 Market Pantry Garlic Mashed Potatoes for $2.55


Not bad...

Go Us!

\m/

I stopped at Walgreen's and Dominick's to pick up a few items
because they were a good deal.

Walgreen's has 6 pk of Scott Natural Paper towels for $5.00
with the Walgreen's $1.00 off coupon it's $4.00.
I had gotten a coupon from Walgreen's catalina machine,
a Manf. Coupon from Scott for $2.00 off any item in
store over $2.00. So I decided to pick up another pack
of towels and got them for $2.02 with tax after coupons.
Then I stopped by Dominck's to pick up some of Ken's Salad
Dressing and Nancy Martin Bread.

Dominick's had a coupon for Ken's Dressing for $1.19 each.
I had two of them. Plus two manf. coupons for $1.00/2 or
$1.00/1. Plus they had Nancy Martin Bread for $.59 with the
Just For You rewards.

So I did two transactions.
One with 2 Ken's Dressing and one Nancy Martin Wheat Bread
which came out to $2.08

And one with 1 Ken's Dressing and one Nancy Martin wheat
bread which came out to being $0.82 cents.

Overall not bad.

Go me!

Monday's are the day I shop at Super Target because
Eric works at the Mundelien & Vernon Hills.

So I gathered all my coupons with my list and we
headed over to the M & VH so after he was done at
VH I can shop.

Grocery Shopping at Super Target was fun today with
the exception that the lady wouldn't let me use the
Target coupon for $1 off any market pantry frozen
chicken item...which I was planning to use (and
others did) on a .89 cent Chicken Burrito = to being FREE.
I'll try next wee with a cashier that knows Eric.

Anyway... Two Transaction that only costed me a total of $8.55

2 : Planters Peanut Butter (<1lb size medium) $3.00-$1.00 coupon = $4.00 for the two
3 cans of MP tomato soup @ .62 cents each - $1.00 coupon = .29 cents each = .
86 for the three
2 each MP pasta and pasta sauces $2.00 - $1.00 Target coupon = $1.00 each = $2.00 total for the 2 pasta and 2 pasta sauces
1 : MP peanut butter fudge ice cream $3.29 - $1 Target coupon = $3.29
1 : up&up multivitiman gummies $7.34 - $1 Target coupon = $6.34
1 : 3pk of Dentyne Gum $2.00 - $1 manf coupon - $1 Target coupon = FREE


Then we shopped at Angelo's:

Where I spent $25.00 on fruits, veggies, deli cheese, meat and salad

7.34 lbs of Bananas @ .44 cents a pount with a .15 off a lb coupon = $3.36
1lb Mozzarella Cheese @ $3.05 - $1 manf coupon = $2.05
1lb Baverian Smoked Ham @ $2.89
1lb Provolone Chese @ $3.53
1/2 lb Potato Egg Salad @ $1.70
1/2 lb Potato Develed Egg salad @ $1.91
2 pkgs of grapefruit @ .55 & .59 cents
3 pkgs of tomatoes @ .57 & .57 & .52
2 pkgs of lemons @ .59 each
4 pkg of Spinach @ .49 cents each
2 pkgs of grapefruit @ $.57 each


****

I think I did OK.
Only wish there were coupons for gasoline.
:/