The cousin's concert was a big success. Well, as far as people showing up and saying nice things part. The music apparently was chock full of mistakes. But who's paying attention to that? But back to the beginning. So we (me and Dad) get to their house early, and I go tutor a kid for a while (gotta earn the bread). Next thing you know, we're all piling into the minivan and heading off to Paramus, NJ of all places. And while there's the usual minivan hijinks, there's also old school dumplings, which I hate despite my starving stomach. The church was a bit more homely then I expected, but then for what was paid for, I suppose I shouldn't have expected much. Setting up was fairly easy, mostly because other people did it. Not that I didn't help set up the downstairs reception area (pics to come soon), but it didn't involve the heavy lifting that the upstairs entailed. And then there was just relaxing and rehearsing. Sound setup went quick (again, mostly because I didn't do it). And then people started arriving early. Half an hour early. So I had to do my best Korean bow and greet. Which of course wasn't very good. But it made due. And it went well with the direction of cars to the rear parking lot. I'm also supposed to be MC'ing part of this event, which I had all planned out, except I forgot to inform the cousin of this. Doh. So of course she came out early, I made a really half assed announcement, and then the fun began. For her. I had to rush back outside and direct parking and greet the latecomers. Which I don't mind. Somebody has to do it. So park, greet, catch some of the show. It was all good, except for my squeaky shoes. There was leaky-flower woman. There was breat-up-wagon friend. There was old-woman-who-can't-decide. And somehow I got most of them seated. Sadly, the room was unairconditioned, and so the doors had to be full open to stay reasonably cool. Intermission was announced (by yours truely) in yet another lame fashion. But after calming some nerves (mine), and rattling others (telling photographer to take plenty of backstage pictures of cousin), openning announcement went much better, and back to outside duties while cousins took up music. Which was good, because I was able to catch the extension chord to the videorecorder when a little kid kicked it out. And then it was over, and I turned into taskmaster. Picture, next friend, picture, next friend, etc. Lots of firm moving of people along. For an hour. ... continued when I have some time.