Cheers to the Weekend

I was looking forward to the past weekend because: (1) BTS is having another online concert and (2) it is another opportunity to bond with my friends albeit only through videocalls and endless messages as we cannot really meet and hangout together because of the pandemic situation.

Anyway it should not stop us from having our kind of fun, right?

But first let us do a quick rundown of the things that happened prior to that lovely weekend.

VIVI FINALLY GAVE BIRTH

My cat’s been pregnant for too long. But to be honest since we didn’t get to go to the vet, I have no idea how far along she is. I do know that she’s almost due to give birth because her tummy is so huge and I just can sense that it is going to happen soon.

Soon enough, she became restless around Friday afternoon. She’s been everywhere in the house trying to locate a specific area in which she’s suppose to give birth. I made at least three forts on different locations for her to rest into.

And then it’s time. And the kittens were being birthed into the universe one by one.

There is one. (A calico cat like Vivi)

Two. (A white cutie)

Three. (Another while little creature)

And… FOUR. (A tabby cat like Jingle. So that answered who the dad really was. lol)

What a brave little baby momma giving birth to four healthy offsprings. I couldn’t be any prouder.

I wish she won’t get pregnat anytime sooner, though. If the plan would push through, I’ll bring her to the spay and neuter vet because it’ll be hard to keep a lot of cats in the house (also because they won’t really allow me to have more that what I already have now. I have three.) The four kittens are all going for adoption when they can already fend for themselves at least. But for npw Vivi is being a truly responsible momma tending to her kittens.

On an unfortunate note, my grandmother’s been sickly in the past few days so we are keeping an eye on her and constantly tending to her needs. She’s already 79 so it is expected for her to not be as lively and healthy as before as old age really drains the energy in all of us. Her blood pressure and sugar count are our major concerns at the moment. We cannot bring her vitality back to its fullness but with proper supplements and medication she is getting better and we are grateful for that.

One a brighter note: here comes D-DAY: the day that we’ve been waiting for —the Permission to Dance On Stage online concert.

D-DAY (CONCERT)

We purchased the tier with the multi-view and soundcheck and I can say that it is worth it, even if it meant staying up all night for our friends in the West (the soundcheck is scheduled at 3:00 PM KST while the concert proper is 6:30 PM KST).

Since I had extra time, I even prepared a simple snack set from my stash of Korean noodles that I am yet to consume because I was not allowed to eat spicy foods back when I have been diagnosed with lower right lobe pneumonia.

Concert snack: rabokki (ramyeon noodles + cheesy tteokbokki) with egg, an orange, milk and vanilla coffee.

The soundcheck has lasted for 15 minutes and the group sang a total of three songs: Life Goes On, Telepathy and Dis-ease. It is a quick overview of what is to come. To be honest, no one’s really sure about the set list prior to the concert night but we are not worrying about it much because BTS’ discography is too diverse that they can put up anything and it will still fit someone’s taste in music, be it hiphop, rap, rock, pop alternative and so on.

The downtime while waiting for the concert gave me and my friends time to catch up with each other and take our “concert” selfies through our video calls. It’s been like this for the past six online event that BTS had and while it seems like the new normal, here’s to hoping that we’ll finally get to see them perform on stage together when the situation allows.

To some, it is actually coming soon as they will embark to an offline concert series in the US towards the end of November and early December. The world is healing. Let’s keep going until we can see each other again, we keep on saying like a mantra.

And so the night has started. As expected, the group gave it their all. It is personally the most satisfying setlist that they’ve had with a mix of their latest releases and a medley of their old ones.

Taehyung (my bias) unfortunately had an injury and had to sit through the performances with extreme movements. He kept on reassuring the fans that it is nothing serious and that they are only doing it for preventive measures. I do hope that he’ll be in his 100% come the in-person concert dates because being the passionate performer that he is, he is just as eager to perform as much as we are excited to see him on-stage. But it did not stop him to exude such stage power that only he can pull off. Even while sitting he delivered (even though later he felt like he lacked, through a social media post, but to be honest he also gave his all and we all felt that).

Anyway, here are some of my favourite moments:

— When Jimin danced in lieu of Taehyung (V) in the latter’s part in DNA

Of course, his soulmate will come to his aide, even though it is just a casual moment, it is still heartwarming to see. Jimin also came to check on him and go to him whenever he can and I think that what they have is truly one of a kind. (Sheesh, I want a soulmate, too)

— The impressive wardrobes/outfits

You’d think they have shown their all only to be surprised with what they can still come up with. The staff and stylists really did impressive takes on the concepts on this particular event, much to everyone’s amazement.

— The dancebreak and song transitions/arrangements

They always give their 613% in their every performances so one would think it’s nothing new to seeing them giving it their all everytime but the most exhilarating part of their live shows are the song arrangements and new choreography that they show. Sometimes I wish they would release some of it on the streaming platforms too so we can listen to it whenever we wanted to.

— THE SETLIST

Like what I previously said, this is probably one of their most satisfying setlists to date because they threw everything in the mix.

01. ON

02. FIRE

03. DOPE

04. DNA

VCR

05. BLUE & GREY

06. BLACK SWAN

07. BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS

08. FAKE LOVE

09. LIFE GOES ON

10. BOY WITH LUV

11. DYNAMITE

12. BUTTER

VCR

13. AIRPLANE PT 2

14. SILVER SPOON (BAEPSAE)

15. DIS-EASE

16. TELEPATHY

17. STAY

18. SO WHAT

19. I NEED U

20. SAVE ME

21. IDOL

ENCORE:

22. EPILOGUE: YOUNG FOREVER

23. SPRING DAY

24. PERMISSION TO DANCE

The ending feels so nostalgic. I just miss the feeling of getting to watch these music events in the flesh. Online can be fun but the euphoria of getting to experience everything as it is happening right before your very eye is truly something.

Someday soon.

***

Thank you to the sponsors who are always there to support me. I hope you all are doing well. Here’s to enjoying the things that brings happiness to your heart without feeling too guilty about it.

Live well and enjoy life! And be reminded that you don’t need permission…. to dance (with the rhythm of life)

See you around. x

A

All photos are taken by me unless credited otherwise.