The man I respect most would be my grandfather. He was a great man, gentle in his mannerisms, strong in his character and persistance, kind, loving, and highly disciplined. He was a great husband to my grandmother, a good providing father, and an encouraging and loving grandfather. Before I was born, my grandfather had always wished for a grandson from his eldest son, my father, who would inherit the family business and continue carrying on the family name. However, I was born, a baby girl with a head of soft curly hair. The moment grandfather carried me home from the hospital, he feel head over heels in love with this little baby girl. Grandfather who was a traditional Chinese man who went from rags to riches did want a grandson however with each passing moment in time, he grew more and more in love with his little baby granddaughter amazingly. After that, grandfather started to see girls in a different light, I was provided with everything I could ever need, education, material goods, ...etc...nothing would be denied of me. Grandfather always told me..you can do anyting my girl if you would like to futher your education you can do it and I will be behind you a 100 percent financially and emotionally. When you graduate, I would buy you a small house for starters.
when I was 13, Ah Gong which is what I called my grandfather passed away from brain tumor, after sitting thru his numerous chemotherapy sessions in Singapore, he was tired and sick. He must have been in much pain. I love Ah Gong. He's the only man to truly love me for what I am and who I am. I miss him everyday. Even when I was a little child about 5 or so, I always wanted to take Ah gong for a trip back to his homeland China. After Ah Gong, left China 60 years ago he never returned, initially he could not afford to but as the years went by, the government made it hard for Ah Gong to return to his homeland. But I always noticed every month, he would stuff some cash into a white envellope with some chinese characters and mail it off without letting my grnadmother know and he told me dear I give you 2 dollars to keep quiet. I miss those days when we both shared many little secrets!
I wish I had a scanned pic of gradnfather, he was also a very Handsome man, with a Head of Curly Hair and Pale White Skin. I wonder if that is why I always had been attracted to men with pale white asian skin and curly hair.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Growing Tomatoes in a 1 Bedroom Apartment...Yes it actually bore fruit
Good old days..I miss the good old days in sunny california. Great dry weather, beautiful hiking paths, camping trips, the best Mexican food north of Mexico, the beaches the ocean..jogging before work along the Pacific Ocean watching the waves roll by as the surfers were swept in and out by the waves...
Friday, November 17, 2006
Confucius Says
Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
Respect yourself and others will respect you.
Crime and Punishment in Canada
Should Canadian Laws be Reformed? The Criminal has more rights than the Victim in this Land of Great Lakes.
A Sad Event
About a month ago, I started to attend a new computer course. It was a small class consisting of 7 individuals, age ranging from early 30s to mid 40s. Surprisingly, there were quite a high ratio of women in a technical class which was a welcoming sign. Three of those women were congregating outside of the class before class started, seems like they are co workers from a tech company. One of the women seemed particularly familiar, her name and her voice and her face. I kept wondering where I had seen her before.
The first class commenced, as I sat attentively attempting to absorb the maximum amount of knowledge from the teacher as I needed to achieve top marks in order to get my course fee reimbursed by my workplace. But the familiar face was sitting in front of me and I was still trying to recall where had I seen that face. Then, I remembered, that's the girl from yoga class who the teacher always calls upon. The girl with the long slender frame with long streched arms and legs. So, I tapped her shoulder and asked if she remembers me from our yoga class, she nods happily and asks if I been going to yoga class relgiously which I haven't. She says with a grin that "Wow everyone looks so different with actual street clothes on". We exchanged a few conversations and realized what a coincidence she also works one street away from me. What a coincidence I thought, small world! I was glad to meet another acquaintance that I had known for a while but have not really had a chance to speak to.
The second class comes along, I chatted a little more with the other classmates as well as this yoga friend. Class ends and we all go our separate ways! Several weeks pass,yesterday I was in yoga class wondering Hmm..where did that girl go?
Two days ago in the early morning, there was a hit and run shown on the local news and a woman was badly injured later losing her life. She was crossing the cross walk when she was struck by a speeding vehicle. The news was very sad and was much talked about by the local community. My brother was relating the news to me as well, I was shocked but also curious about who this person is. He described the victim and immediately felt something was wrong but couldn't tell why. Today as I was reading the news, they published the name of the victim and that happens to be the same first name as my yoga friend, at this point, I was quite disturbed. So I went along to check the last name of the victim and sadly enough, I believe it is the same person.
She was young, beautiful, intelligent, full of laughter and life just not long ago and now she leaves a grieving husband. I am not sure what I should do, I feel like placing some flowers where the event happened or should I inquire about the incident from a mutual acquaintance. Although I did not know her that well but I did know her in passing. I was shocked today, realized life is very short indeed and who knows what to expect about tomorrow. Just like the hymm my mother always hums to on the Piano, " I don't know about Tomorrow". How could the driver who struck her just leave her to die on the sidewalk, how can a fellow human be so cruel, all these thoughts arise. I pray that she is safe in heaven and guarded by the angels. I hope in time her husband will be consoled.
The first class commenced, as I sat attentively attempting to absorb the maximum amount of knowledge from the teacher as I needed to achieve top marks in order to get my course fee reimbursed by my workplace. But the familiar face was sitting in front of me and I was still trying to recall where had I seen that face. Then, I remembered, that's the girl from yoga class who the teacher always calls upon. The girl with the long slender frame with long streched arms and legs. So, I tapped her shoulder and asked if she remembers me from our yoga class, she nods happily and asks if I been going to yoga class relgiously which I haven't. She says with a grin that "Wow everyone looks so different with actual street clothes on". We exchanged a few conversations and realized what a coincidence she also works one street away from me. What a coincidence I thought, small world! I was glad to meet another acquaintance that I had known for a while but have not really had a chance to speak to.
The second class comes along, I chatted a little more with the other classmates as well as this yoga friend. Class ends and we all go our separate ways! Several weeks pass,yesterday I was in yoga class wondering Hmm..where did that girl go?
Two days ago in the early morning, there was a hit and run shown on the local news and a woman was badly injured later losing her life. She was crossing the cross walk when she was struck by a speeding vehicle. The news was very sad and was much talked about by the local community. My brother was relating the news to me as well, I was shocked but also curious about who this person is. He described the victim and immediately felt something was wrong but couldn't tell why. Today as I was reading the news, they published the name of the victim and that happens to be the same first name as my yoga friend, at this point, I was quite disturbed. So I went along to check the last name of the victim and sadly enough, I believe it is the same person.
She was young, beautiful, intelligent, full of laughter and life just not long ago and now she leaves a grieving husband. I am not sure what I should do, I feel like placing some flowers where the event happened or should I inquire about the incident from a mutual acquaintance. Although I did not know her that well but I did know her in passing. I was shocked today, realized life is very short indeed and who knows what to expect about tomorrow. Just like the hymm my mother always hums to on the Piano, " I don't know about Tomorrow". How could the driver who struck her just leave her to die on the sidewalk, how can a fellow human be so cruel, all these thoughts arise. I pray that she is safe in heaven and guarded by the angels. I hope in time her husband will be consoled.
PST Joke
True Story:
Warning: Story will only tickle the laugh buds of Canadians!
One time, my friends took their uncle who was visiting Canada from Singapore to a department store. The tourist uncle then proceeded to go shopping happily selecting some items. He brought the items to the counter to pay for them. After paying, he looked down on his receipt and scanned it. He noticed there was a Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was fine with him since there was a similar tax in Singapore. Then, he scanned down the next line item and notice an item named "PST" $3.50. He was outraged for being overcharged esp with a "PST" which he had no idea what it was. So, my friends who were obviously Canadian and knew what the PST was, just stood beside him as he started to question the saleslady as to why she was overcharging him, He kept asking over and over "What's this PISS, why are you charging me for PISS", he got louder and louder as everyone stood around bursting in laughter nobody bothering ot tell him why.
Warning: Story will only tickle the laugh buds of Canadians!
One time, my friends took their uncle who was visiting Canada from Singapore to a department store. The tourist uncle then proceeded to go shopping happily selecting some items. He brought the items to the counter to pay for them. After paying, he looked down on his receipt and scanned it. He noticed there was a Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was fine with him since there was a similar tax in Singapore. Then, he scanned down the next line item and notice an item named "PST" $3.50. He was outraged for being overcharged esp with a "PST" which he had no idea what it was. So, my friends who were obviously Canadian and knew what the PST was, just stood beside him as he started to question the saleslady as to why she was overcharging him, He kept asking over and over "What's this PISS, why are you charging me for PISS", he got louder and louder as everyone stood around bursting in laughter nobody bothering ot tell him why.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Ancient Chinese Proverbs
Chinese Proverb
The soldier who retreated 50 paces jeered at the one who retreated 100 paces.
Chinese Proverb
Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk (occur) alone.
Chinese Proverb
Fight poison with poison.
Chinese Proverb
Tiger father begets tiger son.
Chinese Proverb
Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven.
Chinese Proverb
If you have money you can make the ghosts and devils turn your grind stone.
Chinese Proverb
You want your horse to look good but you also want it not to have to eat grass.
Chinese Proverb
There is no wave without wind.
Chinese Proverb
You cannot push a cow's head down unless it is drinking water by it's own will.
Chinese Proverb
The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure.
Chinese Proverb
Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.
Chinese Proverb
If you are in a hurry you will never get there.
Chinese Proverb
The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair.
Chinese Proverb
Use attack as the tactic of defense.
Chinese Proverb
Set yourself as the standard.
Chinese Proverb
When you have musk, you will automatically have fragrance.
Chinese Proverb
You cannot fight a fire with water from far away.
Chinese Proverb
Paper cannot wrap up a fire.
Chinese Proverb
Men should worry about fame just as pigs about being fat.
Chinese Proverb
Even the most resourceful housewife cannot create miracles from a rice less pantry.
The soldier who retreated 50 paces jeered at the one who retreated 100 paces.
Chinese Proverb
Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk (occur) alone.
Chinese Proverb
Fight poison with poison.
Chinese Proverb
Tiger father begets tiger son.
Chinese Proverb
Man's schemes are inferior to those made by heaven.
Chinese Proverb
If you have money you can make the ghosts and devils turn your grind stone.
Chinese Proverb
You want your horse to look good but you also want it not to have to eat grass.
Chinese Proverb
There is no wave without wind.
Chinese Proverb
You cannot push a cow's head down unless it is drinking water by it's own will.
Chinese Proverb
The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure.
Chinese Proverb
Tens of thousands of bones will become ashes when one general achieves his fame.
Chinese Proverb
If you are in a hurry you will never get there.
Chinese Proverb
The crafty rabbit has three different entrances to its lair.
Chinese Proverb
Use attack as the tactic of defense.
Chinese Proverb
Set yourself as the standard.
Chinese Proverb
When you have musk, you will automatically have fragrance.
Chinese Proverb
You cannot fight a fire with water from far away.
Chinese Proverb
Paper cannot wrap up a fire.
Chinese Proverb
Men should worry about fame just as pigs about being fat.
Chinese Proverb
Even the most resourceful housewife cannot create miracles from a rice less pantry.
Everything but a Tank of Gas!
2 Years ago, sometime in December, being bored in the cold rainy streets of Vancouver, I decided to meet up with some friends in LA. Was going to be one short trip just a weekend away, away from the rain. Vancouverites often mention how great the city of vancouver is and how they will never need to venture out of the city. I agree Vancouver is a great city, however, there are a lot of great cities out there. It's not about being the best city but more about the differences of each city and how unique they are. It's about the experience of being in somewhere new. I have only taken baby steps to travelling. I will admit going to LA is not much of a remote exotic location but the experience is memorable mostly because of the company I kept on my travels.
When I got there, met up with a friend, a lovely nurse lady from Baltimore who was in LA for a nursing conference for her Phd at the LA Airport. She was as usual bubbly and fun. We drove over to Alhambra to meet our teacher friend who lived in LA. Met at a French restaurant there, funnily enough operated by an Asian owner, nhad some good salads there and our Seattle friend dropped by to see us. Being the only man there, he was awkward at first, but eventually started to follow suit and chat with us the girls.
Was nice and dry weather. Wonderful weather for hiking which is where we went. Not sure where we ended up but on some mountain hiking overlooking LA.
Later during the nite, our other music teacher friend met up.
Ended up in Korea town in LA, at some lounge eating spicy squid and noodles where everyone was dressed to their nines in club outfits and checking each other out. I was the odd one out being the only Chinese there, my friends nicely translated and ordered for us.
Many drinks later, as I was about to pass out...we went home, being driven by another drunk driver..yes yes that was wrong and very dangerous but I was probably too drunk to resist.
Stayed at my friend's aunt place, nice church lady, we sneaked into the room, slept like a baby to be awakened by this nice Korean aunt who spoke not much english preparing us fried fish, soup, rice and her lovely kimchi and banchans. If I could I would have asked her to adopt me..she had 2 fridges 1 entirely dedicated to kimchi preservation and kalbi marinated. Her house was like a Asian supermarket haha! When we left she even peeled some asian pears for our trip.
We took the car and left for Las Vegas after tha big meal. My dear friend was driving so i assumed we had enough gas...she says yes of course. We got lots of snacks and water for the trip, everything we need right. Guess what we forgot!
3 hours later, guess what the gas meter goes "Ding Ding Ding" and we were still about 1.5 hours away from Vegas. Yes there would be gas stations along the way why not, this is America, the land of gas guzzling vehicles. We passed 1 gas station drove into it, and the sign says "non operational". Well, must be gas at the next station, sure enough we see another gas station but it looks deserted as if the entire town had vacated from that location. This happens for every gas station we passed by some saying Running out of Gas Today...how how odd.
Our gas is running lower and lower..at this point we can't even stop, might use more gas if we stopped and try to reignite and drive the car again. What do we do..we start praying, please let us see the Vegas sign..my friend kept faith, and I was afraid, it was quite a hot day and i was sure that we could get the car towed even if we were in the middle of nowhere in the dessert but i could not really take another day off work just because I forgot to gas the car.
1.5 hour later, we see the sign..just as we ran out of gas. That's how life works..I believe. At times, we run out of gas and we need to refuel but the gas stations that fuel our life energy ran out, and as we keep going and going and preservering and keeping faith that it will be ok soon, or possibly in denial, in the end we do see the light.
When I got there, met up with a friend, a lovely nurse lady from Baltimore who was in LA for a nursing conference for her Phd at the LA Airport. She was as usual bubbly and fun. We drove over to Alhambra to meet our teacher friend who lived in LA. Met at a French restaurant there, funnily enough operated by an Asian owner, nhad some good salads there and our Seattle friend dropped by to see us. Being the only man there, he was awkward at first, but eventually started to follow suit and chat with us the girls.
Was nice and dry weather. Wonderful weather for hiking which is where we went. Not sure where we ended up but on some mountain hiking overlooking LA.
Later during the nite, our other music teacher friend met up.
Ended up in Korea town in LA, at some lounge eating spicy squid and noodles where everyone was dressed to their nines in club outfits and checking each other out. I was the odd one out being the only Chinese there, my friends nicely translated and ordered for us.
Many drinks later, as I was about to pass out...we went home, being driven by another drunk driver..yes yes that was wrong and very dangerous but I was probably too drunk to resist.
Stayed at my friend's aunt place, nice church lady, we sneaked into the room, slept like a baby to be awakened by this nice Korean aunt who spoke not much english preparing us fried fish, soup, rice and her lovely kimchi and banchans. If I could I would have asked her to adopt me..she had 2 fridges 1 entirely dedicated to kimchi preservation and kalbi marinated. Her house was like a Asian supermarket haha! When we left she even peeled some asian pears for our trip.
We took the car and left for Las Vegas after tha big meal. My dear friend was driving so i assumed we had enough gas...she says yes of course. We got lots of snacks and water for the trip, everything we need right. Guess what we forgot!
3 hours later, guess what the gas meter goes "Ding Ding Ding" and we were still about 1.5 hours away from Vegas. Yes there would be gas stations along the way why not, this is America, the land of gas guzzling vehicles. We passed 1 gas station drove into it, and the sign says "non operational". Well, must be gas at the next station, sure enough we see another gas station but it looks deserted as if the entire town had vacated from that location. This happens for every gas station we passed by some saying Running out of Gas Today...how how odd.
Our gas is running lower and lower..at this point we can't even stop, might use more gas if we stopped and try to reignite and drive the car again. What do we do..we start praying, please let us see the Vegas sign..my friend kept faith, and I was afraid, it was quite a hot day and i was sure that we could get the car towed even if we were in the middle of nowhere in the dessert but i could not really take another day off work just because I forgot to gas the car.
1.5 hour later, we see the sign..just as we ran out of gas. That's how life works..I believe. At times, we run out of gas and we need to refuel but the gas stations that fuel our life energy ran out, and as we keep going and going and preservering and keeping faith that it will be ok soon, or possibly in denial, in the end we do see the light.
Sailing Adventure
My very first sailing experience, being a virgin to sailing was a much anticipated event for me. What should I wear, what should I bring, will i drown, will the winds blow me off the boat, how large is the cockpit of the boat, will I be able to help with the sailing process..so on and so forth.
Could hardly sleep the night before. Morning comes and drove over to Granville island armed with home made sandwiches, some pepperoni sticks, chips, coffee and hot chocolate I hurried to park my car and lugged all my so called gooodies over to meet my friend who was going to take me sailing.
Fast forward several hours later, I was actually learning and helping to sail the boat. My friend was a good and patient teacher even though I was nervous and making mistakes at times. The skies were smiling at us that day, clear blue skies, sunshine beaming, could see the water reflecting the beautiful sunshine. Waves lappping gently against the boat. The water was like a bale of cloth being unrolled slowly moving back and forth with a gleaming large band of liquid sunshine on the water.
What an experience, I am indeed lucky to experience this!
Could hardly sleep the night before. Morning comes and drove over to Granville island armed with home made sandwiches, some pepperoni sticks, chips, coffee and hot chocolate I hurried to park my car and lugged all my so called gooodies over to meet my friend who was going to take me sailing.
Fast forward several hours later, I was actually learning and helping to sail the boat. My friend was a good and patient teacher even though I was nervous and making mistakes at times. The skies were smiling at us that day, clear blue skies, sunshine beaming, could see the water reflecting the beautiful sunshine. Waves lappping gently against the boat. The water was like a bale of cloth being unrolled slowly moving back and forth with a gleaming large band of liquid sunshine on the water.
What an experience, I am indeed lucky to experience this!
Stillness of the Night
Staying up past 2 am allows me to enjoy the stilllness of the night. Night has a soft calming peaceful quiet over me. I must have been born a night owl. Even when I was a small child, I would prefer to stay up late, no curfew ever worked for me. My mom eventually gave up and I would set my own sleeping hours. Have to give credit to my dear mom for letting me stay up all night. The clocks reads 4:10 now soon it will be daybreak. Just finished a conversation with a sleepless friend. The nightfall gives me perspective of life. Nowdays, daytime seems so hectic busy, pressing on forward, no time to ponder, stop to smell the roses and take a deep breath and listen to our own hearts. Constantly we are all busy chasing our dreams, whatever they may be or just getting through the day without breaking down.
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