Olivia: What a year 08 has been!

Dear Diary,

As excited as I am for 2009, I've had a pretty good 2008! A year of realizations, a year of scary grown up thoughts, and a year of VERY happy memories...

I'm so thankful for the people around me that pushes me to do things I would have never done, and I hope I've had an effect on my friends and family as well! The other day, I was filling out an application to be a substitute teacher (that's what I've decided to do with my time in Arlington before the big LA move), and 1 of the questions asked
"If you had 1 goal in your class, what would it be?"

I PROUDLY answered "To inspire people", and went on to elaborate that I don't just want to teach people math or skill for the real world. I want to set an example, and be at least a fraction of the person the child wants to be!
I think that became my biggest realization this year: I want to do something that could inspire people. Whether it is being involved in a movie that makes a little boy want to make his own short films; or writing a song that helps a couple fall back into love; or even just sitting at a desk job, making enough money so I can spend some time volunteering, in the hopes that I've not only helped somebody, but also showed somebody that it's not as hard to take some time for others... I want to INSPIRE!

So, in hopes of being people's muse 1 day, here's to hoping 2009 will be a year where I can get on the road to achieving what I want to achieve, and maybe, just maybe... inspiring somebody to do the same!

Happy 2009 all!

PS: I have a new song!! But Steven told me not to post it until I'm completely done with it and it's recorded... so... stay tuned!!

Steven, Olivia, Marianne & Jason (Steven's brother and sister-in-law)

Merry Christmas everybody! We're having SO much fun here in SoCal, but we're missing everyone we're not with!!

Hope everybody is having fun with family and friends!

Chat more soon
xoxo,
Steven & Olivia

Smiling's my favorite!

How's it going?  So since there are 8 days until Christmas left I figured this would be the best time to write a blog.  Last night me and Olivia got in the Christmas spirit by going to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's The Stories of Christmas.  I surprised her with it; she had no idea.  It was really good!  They did about the best retelling of the Night Before Christmas I've ever heard.  And there was even a sing along!  Which Olivia enjoyed cause she got to sing loud for all to hear.  Anyways, off Christmas for a sec.  I've been slightly bored at work so in the last week I read both the Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye.  Both really good books actually.  I was supposed to read them in high school or what not but whenever someone tells you read something it doesn't make it so good.  And I never really read them in highschool anyways, so this was my first time.  I really like the Jay Gatsby character, but I liked Catcher in the Rye as a book better.  And after reading these two I came up with a book of my own that will combine these stories in a way.  I'm excited about it and really want to start working on it, but Olivia says I can't start on a second book until I get my first one published.  So it might be awhile till I start writing this new one.  In the meantime though, I sent a short story off to the New Yorker and another one off to Playboy.  Well, I haven't sent the one off to Playboy yet but I'm hoping to do it today.  And I know what you're thinking: Playboy?  It must be a sexy story.  Well it's not.  If you actually read the articles in Playboy, you'll see that each issue has a short story in it that doesn't have to do with girls being naked.  I've never actually read any of the short stories, but that's what I hear.  Well enough about that subject.  Can you tell me who has the best record in the NFL?  Yep, that's right, the Titans.  Now, can you tell me which team two websites rank as the best in the NFL?  Obviously it's the... Steelers.  Wait.  What now?  Does that confuse anyone else?  They play each other this weekend, so we'll see who really is the better team.  I got my money on the boys from Tennessee.  Oh and Liverpool play Arsenal on Sunday!  I don't even have to say who's going to win that game.  Well, I'm kinda blogged out I guess.  There's probably more stuff going on in my life than that, at least I hope so.  But I'll write again soon.  So just keep on trucking till then.

Olivia: itunes- Pop vs Rock

So I've been on an itunes shopping spree today... bought a few records, Katy Perry, Gavin DeGraw... But I DO have 1 question for the kids at itunes...

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POP and ROCK? besides the fact that Pop is sang by a girl, and Rock a boy...

So I notice that they put Gavin (whom I LOVE by the way. A REAL artist.. recorded his own lead vocals, back up vocals, Guitar, AND piano... LOVE HIM) according to itunes, he is in the ROCK category. Then I thought of a woman that's just as rock as Gavin... what about... PINK? She's pretty rock right? No. itunes deemed her POP... KT Tunstall (ALSO amazing, 1 of those hot girls that actually write her own stuff and play her own music), nope... not rock enough... she is ALSO Pop... WHY IS THAT??

I'm just having a hard time understanding what they base the "rock" and "pop" genre on. So I did more research... found that Yoko Ono is Rock! Only because she did stuff with John Lennon though... kept looking for a woman that's considered Rock... Kept looking... found ONE good 1. 4 Non Blondes (Linda Perry is probably 1 of the most talented women in the music industry), they're Rock. That's good. But apperently, itunes feel that there needs to be 4 women for it to be rock... so I kept researching and when I went onto the itunes "ROCK" homepage... all boys... even Trans-Siberian Orchestra is considered Rock... but nope... top 50: no women...

I guess Pop isn't a bad thing... There are plenty of talented Pop artists... but I don't understand why there isn't any women in the rock genre... I think that KT Tunstall should be concidered a rocker... more then Gavin DeGraw, don't you think? But when I think of Pop, it just makes me think of terrible out-there-to-make-money-music... the Ashlee Simpsons and Britney Spears out there that doesn't really need any musical talent... just the Kim from Real housewives of the world that thinks they can sing... I guess they are the people that gave "POP" a bad name...

Anyway... the point of my rant... Girls can be "ROCK"!!

Olivia: Sharing

Hello Diary!

Sorry I haven't written in a while... I've been busy, and from the looks of my calendar, December is gonna be a BUSY, but VERY VERY EXCITING month! We're getting ready for Steven's office Christmas "Holiday" party right now, this morning I had tons of fun meeting some Dallas local musician for my new job/project... all very exciting stuff! But the most exciting is.... *Drum roll*

WE'RE GOING TO LA FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

Some of you might be thinking... "What? Why are you going to that DUMP (yes Kirby, I'm talking to you) for Christmas???" well.... I've never ever been there, and having a film degree and all, and for the sake of Steven's future as an AMAZING FILMMAKER, I feel that it's appropriate that I consider the possibility of moving there, and it is MORE appropriate that I should visit before I consider a move... and what would be better then Christmas with your favorite Disney princess?? (Belle... and Jasmine)

ANYWAY... this blog is not about that... I wanted to share something... I'm very musically inspired today after meeting these amazing artists, and would like to take the next step for MY own music... so I've decided to share an aspect of my music that I'm MOST self conscious about because I think I'm terrible at it... my LYRICS... excited? hope so... here's 2 piece that's been written for a while... it was actually in this movie Steven made for class, Starring Mr. Jordan Bolch and me... "Without You" it's a cute little musical... you should watch it sometime... Anyway, these 2 songs are probably some of my most original lyric... with some help from Steven of course, he is a writer after all... but I'd like to ask you what you think about them! And even if nobody read em, I feel like I've made a step towards getting out there... sooo here they go =) enjoy!

3 Days, Orignal Music by Olivia N. Yiu, Lyrics by Steven Kittinger and Olivia N. Yiu
V1:
It's been 3 days since i met you,
And something's really strange.
We talked on-the-phone all night
Till we saw the morning light.

I wish you were here with me
When I’ m alone at night
I want to see you again
But I must be patient then

And I know,
Yes I know,
I'm in love with you.

V2:
(it's only been) 3 days since I've seen you,
And nothing's really changed.
It hasn't gotten any colder,
and I don't think it has rained.

But when I'm not around you,
Something's not the same.
My smile hasn't been used,
And a few tears down my face.

And I know,
Yes I know,
I'm in love with you.

Bridge:
I need you back tonight,
to hold me close and tight,
You make me feel all safe and warm,
when you squeeze me just right.

we see each other again we will know it's true.
we love one another like the stars and the moon...

V3:
It’s been 3 days since I've loved you,
And everything has changed.
My fears and my doubts,
Have suddenly flown away.

When I go to sleep tonight
I’ll close my eyes up tight
Dreaming of that magical place
Where I can see your face

Stage Fright: Orignal Music by Olivia N. Yiu, Lyrics by Steven Kittinger and Olivia N. Yiu
Am7 G Am7
The Music started in my head
Dm Am7
I can feel it in my voice
G F
I can hear it in my ears
G Am7
It sounds nothing like my choice


G Am7
While the music started playing
Dm Am7
And my lips started trembling
G F
Feels like nothing’s going right
G C
And everything is going wrong

can’t sing with those eyes upon me (X3)

Looking out to all those eyes
Staring blankly in my mind
I’m no longer playing a part
Singing a song I made with heart

Background music way too softly
On the stage I feel lonely
Close my eyes, I still shiver
As the audience listen…

can’t sing with those eyes upon me (X3)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

... Now I'm nervous...

Introducing Baby Girl Yiu

That's what Steven and I have been calling her before she was born... But this afternoon I got a voicemail from my Uncle Ron, telling me I have a Niece/Cousin/Whatever!

Miss Isabell (not sure how they're spelling it yet) Yiu was born less then 8 hours ago (11-25-08, 7am), and she is SO CUTE! Sleeps with her mouth open, and only made a tiny bit of noice when Steven & I were there (and how sweet of Steven to waste his lunch break to go see little Isabell with me!!)

Anyway, Congratulations Ron & Olivia! (Ah Lai & Mun Mun)