聖誕

It was sort of a "quiet" Christmas this year. I hate to say that I go thru the motions of the holiday season, physically and mentally but I believe deep down that this is the most honest comment I can make. The hustle and bustle just wears me down. The glittering lights and decorations are downright depressing at times. Christmas to me is really for the young. Remembering that wonderful feeing that school will be out for 2 weeks and there were presents galore. Shopping was fun...

Ah.... Ba humbug!

Tis’ the season to be jolly…. fala..lala..la..lala.. lala…

 

My favorite time of the year… but y’know what?  The older one gets, unfortunately, the less the holidays have any meaning… 

Okay, okay… my cynical side is taking over.  “Shake, shake, shake it away…”

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!  BE SAFE AND MERRY!

New meaning to… Purple heart!

I didn’t realize that I have not mention here that Dad has been home from the hospital for over 2 weeks.  He is fine and have a decent appetite.  Thank you all for asking.  By the way, thank goodness, he doesn’t have “Sundowning”.  It was the side effects of the drug that the hospital gave him. 

Things are back to normal and with the holiday season coming up, I really have to settle down and start making out my New Year’s resolutions again… or maybe write a letter to Santa….

Bones: Memories of a shallow grave

The premier was more than I had hoped for.  The dynamics of the relationship between B&B shifted with Brennan being pregnant but their interaction was just as fun.  This just might be the one show that could continue to be successful after the leads came together in a personal relationship.  Those shows who have failed previously… Remington Steele, Moonlighting… just to name a couple.  It is said that they lose all sexual tension and the show goes blah.  True… but I think the script writers of Bones switch one tension to another… how to bring up a child with such vast difference in “philosophy”.  Religion vs. Science… this should be quite interesting.  One step beyond… hurray again to writers and creators who are willing to continue to test the “formula” of success.

One more week…. Season Premieres

Love this promo!  It took them 6 seasons to be together.  This season should be quite interesting.  Can’t wait till next Thursday!

Sundowning… dementia

I learned something again today at the hospital.  Dad most likely have Sundown syndrome brought on by either the steroids he’s taking for the infection in his lungs. The nurse explained to me that he was a model patient today but however, last night he was in a “combative” mood.  Imagine that 45% of patients with Alzheimer has this syndrome.  2nd only to “wandering” and sometimes both. 

I am beginning to understand a bit more regarding Alzheimer too… the part about them not remembering.  It’s like a memory card… the patient starts “erasing” his foremost memory until he/she regresses back to his childhood.  Therefore, if my Dad erases his memory to the point where I wasn’t even born yet, he won’t remember me because his brain has deleted anything that happened up to that point.  When he reaches the point before he met my Mom then he won’t remember her.  As a medical fact, it is quite fascinating.  How prepared am I regarding when that comes, I can’t answer.  They say that it is very hard on the family members when it gets to this stage and I can imagine why.  The only bright side of this (if there is one), the patient doesn’t know, therefore, he doesn’t feel the hurt.  I guess this is the point when we have to remind ourselves that the “pain” is actually what we feel and not what the patient feels.

Note:  Connecting this knowledge, then what happened in “Home for Dinner” with PuiYi’s Mom is a medical miracle.  Either that or the doctors did a wrong diagnosis… she only had temporary amnesia!  The other thing about Alzheimer patients is when there is something else that goes wrong with the other bodily organs, the patient deteriorates at a phenomenal rate. 

Bones–Season 7

After what seem like an endless torturous wait, the light is finally at the end of the tunnel.  Only another 3 weeks to go before the season begins for Bones.   I am so excited!!! Just finished reading the two “advance reviews” of the lucky journalists that got to see the first 2 episodes of the season.  The show seems to exceed all expectations and didn’t screw it up with their new “direction” in the relationship between B&B, it looks that the writers did a fantastic job.  What was really interesting was a few of the points that the reviews had to say.  I can’t help but draw a comparison to OP, I know I am probably hopeless regarding this.  Anyways, one of the comments was that Bones did not fit into a “box”.  It wasn’t really a procedural drama nor was it a screwball comedy and the critics at the time didn’t know what to make of it.  (Here’s to all those know it all that complained that OP wasn’t a sitcom).  The show broke the mold, gave the audience something a different but still end up being very successful. 

Here’s one of the reviews…

The Everything in the Eventually by Heather D of The Voice of TV

Once upon a time there was a little show on Fox. From the beginning it broke the mold, as it was neither straight procedural drama, nor a screwball comedy. Critics of the time weren’t sure what to make of it, but enough viewers gave it a shot that it was not only picked up, but renewed for a second season. From there a core group of some 2-3 million fans latched on to it, following it from night to night and time-slot to time-slot, never sure if the network would make good on its promise to shift it to the Friday night death slot.

They never did.

Little by little, however, word spread: Bones was a smart show and one worth tuning in into week after week. It had good stories, and even better characters. It took the Kirk-Spock dynamic and made Spock a girl, then threw in a dash of Moonlighting, Remington Steele, and The Thin Man for good measure. The result was that as the seasons rolled by the show picked up steam and viewers. And not just viewers, but fans; loyal fans whom series creator Hart Hanson once likened to a noisy tiger and whose cries and cheers could be heard as the show bobbed and weaved its way along.

The noise reached a crescendo last season when – instead of bringing the lead characters together after a seven month separation – Booth (David Boreanaz) was given a new girlfriend just as Brennan (Emily Deschanel) was waking up to how she truly felt about her partner. Bones was still refusing to color in the lines, but for as much noise as the fans made they still tuned in week after week, sometimes in record numbers. Then with six little words uttered in the last seconds of the final episode, Bones redefined themselves yet again. And yet again Hart Hanson achieved his goal to give fans exactly what they wanted in the most unexpected way possible.

Now we stand, poised on the precipice of a new season, waiting to see what will unfold next in the lives of these characters who have been coming into our living rooms for the last six years. Some still have a bitter taste in their mouths from last season and I’m sure more than a few will view the new Booth/Brennan dynamic and say, “See! We should’ve had this last year already!”

But I wonder: Would Booth’s evident joy at this new state of affairs carry as much weight if we hadn’t been forced to see him slog through the depths of despair? Would Brennan’s picture-taking antics be as hilarious were they not contrasted by the stark picture of her sobbing in an SUV because her timing in discovering how she felt about him was so horridly, cosmically, wrong? Yes, the viewing pleasure would’ve been there, but would it be as rich and sustaining?

Fine jewelers know that the best way to showcase all of the facets of their gems is to place them on a deep, black background. Artists know that to highlight the sun, you must use the shadows. Mountain climbers know that you cannot enjoy the vista if you don’t endure the brutality of the rock face on the way up. Perhaps that is what season six will prove to be to season seven.

So enjoy the view from the mountain-top, Bones fans! Soak it in as all of the things you’ve always dreamed could happen between this dynamic couple do happen. Oh, Booth will still be Booth, Brennan will still be Brennan, and the Squints will keep on squinting, but recognize that if the past teaches us anything it is that Bones will never be a show that conforms to our expectations; it will always push, always prod, never be static, never deliver things quite the way we expect them to be delivered. And we, the noisy fans, will be all the better for it.

Thank you, Bones; I’ve enjoyed the story you are crafting thus far and can’t wait for this newest chapter and congrats, Hart, on being awarded for the word artist you are!

Thank goodness for creators that think outside the box and not conform to the ordinary! 

Walk on by..

At this point in time, I would like to dedicate this song to PuiYi of Be Home for Dinner. 

Loving both her and Rose’s character more and more as the series draws to a close.

I am prejudice!

After watching the first episode of the 法證III, I am so disappointed!  I could barely stay awake or focus.  Giving the show the benefit of the doubt, I watched the second episode, and unfortunately still same feelings.  The flow of the show was jerky at best and (SHEESH!), have they watched too many CSIs or is it they haven’t watched enough?  Unfortunately, I felt the whole show to be totally pretentious.  The cast was robotic (which doesn’t make them cool!), the fancy equipment or techniques were superficial and it just didn’t come across as “awesome”.  There was no real surprise as to who the killer was. Oh, and that stupid door handle part?  Heck, I haven’t noticed in any hotels or restaurants that I have been in, where each and every door handle is different.  How the hell does she know it is “that” handle on that particular door?  Sadly, no one particularly stood out so far with maybe the exception of 張可頤.  Her scenes are okay funny.
Interesting… I see a lot of actors from the OP cast.  But is it the quality of the script or filming or directing that I feel no pull towards this show.  Oh well… back to Rizzoli and Isles, Criminal Minds and (yes!), Bones!  Sayonara TVB!!! 
Ps:  Hmmm… this is before the almost 90% of scriptwriters leaving TVB… how much worst can it get?  Just a thought! 

10th Anniversary…

It’s been 10 years since that devastating morning.  So much has changed but this picture helped unite us.  The ethnic diversity of the individuals that stood together grieving and bewildered at vigils held all over the country.  This one little girl personified the hope of the nation.  God Bless America! 

I am proud to be an American…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news.  I remember vividly my emotions even if I am foggy on my actions on that fateful day.  I cannot erase memory… I will never forget.

Still tear up every time I hear Bette’s performance.  I have posted this video last year but I think I will post this next year and every year thereafter.  A timeless dedication to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

BONES–Fall Preview 2011

  Two more months of waiting…. at least the preview of the first episode of Season 7 seems hilarious!  Bubble wrap!  Squatting in the fields!  “I’m never going to survive this pregnancy”.  Loved Hodgins smile! 

褪色的夢中情緣…

Photo by:  Joe Joe Huang

「褪色的夢中情緣」- Alice Lin
煙霧迷濛雙人行，色彩褪去難留影；
前程舊事恍如夢，莫嘆奈何是該醒。

- 李國湘
山霧迷濛遮湖光.
獨餘木橋落長影.
兩人相偕執傘行.
是友是侶誰分明?

I “borrowed” this photo from a friend on FB.  All the above contents are from his wall.  Needless to say, it fitted my mood. 

Coping…

As we go on daily with our routine, just how much do we take in stride?  The things we push from our active minds to make life just a little bit easier and a little bit less exhausting.  Some may say that I have denial issues and they are probably right.  I don’t enjoy dwelling too deeply because once there, the black hole has enormous powers of goofing with my mind.  Isn’t getting through the day tough enough already?  Now, where is this leading?  Well.. it’s death again actually. 

I just heard last week that another friend had passed away after a long fight with cancer.  Last year at this time, we all thought she had this evil beat but… it came back more deadly than ever.  After eight months, she finally succumb to its poison.  Linda, may you rest in peace.  I will always remember your laughter and generosity of heart.  Your love for life, family and friends are the beautiful memories you have brought to this world. 

Now, I must be getting on with my years because the “numbers” of friends passing keep going up very year.  I, vividly remember my first attendance of a funeral.  I was eight years old and my brother took me along to a funeral (cremation) of his college friend.  The news was huge at that time because he was a brilliant foreign student from Hong Kong and was found drowned in the University’s swimming pool.  I recall standing in the cemetery and all of a sudden, a very distinct odor permeated the air.  Someone told me that it was the cremation process.  Till this day, that smell is what I associate with death.  I had gotten so sick afterwards… For the longest time, I could not walk into a funeral or even go into a hospital without getting the jitters.  Actually… I can’t walk into a temple or a church without feeling uneasy.  So, unless I absolutely have to… I don’t.  It’s not that I don’t want to pay my last respects but the uneasiness will stay with me so long that I can hardly function.  I need (very egotistical of me, I know) to remember the person as they were when they were healthy.  That image has to supersede all else.  I cannot deal with that last impression of death especially if illness or accident has taken the life out and completely changed the appearance of the individual.  It’s just my coping mechanism… please forgive me. 

Needed something a bit inspirational...

The George Benson version was my high school class song.  It has stuck with me thru all these years and gotten me through some pretty rough spots but for tonight,  a change of pace, I wanted to hear a woman belt it out.  May you all find the Greatest Love of All.

Bless you!

Nineteen…

May you RIP, Tin.

I heard the heart breaking news yesterday regarding a young woman, who is no longer with us.  Nineteen… such an awfully young age.  In most lives, it’s the beginning of a new chapter… adulthood.  Even though I do not know her personally, but thru her passion for OP in creating those MVs, there is a thread of connection.   

Though the road may look lonely… go forward and one will eventually find their rainbow.

“O God, when I l lose hope because my plans have come to nothing…
Then help me to remember that,
Your Love is always greater than my disappointments,
& Your Plans for my life are always better than my dreams..”

Scattered thoughts (no continuity at all…)

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve peeked into my own blog, let alone socializing elsewhere.  The days seem to run into each other at work and sometimes I even forget what day of the week I am in.  Yes, some of you know that I’ve been busy building my city and café on FB but I think I’ve finally gotten over the “entrepreneur” in me.  It was really a challenge in the beginning but… as most things the excitement has faded.  Have to find something new again…

Been offered a career change recently, the terms are really good but where I am working now, it’s more of a family/friend feel.  The only reason that I am tempted is I don’t know the future of my boss’ marriage.  I look at them now and they seem to be heading toward some rocky times ahead.  I have to put some more thought into this but today they left on a family vacation. Hope things work out well for them this next 10 days. 

Promised a friend that I would dig out a picture from the past to show her but for the life of me, I can’t seem to find it.  I can’t believe my classmate used a picture I posted on FB as his profile pic.  It was taken at our high school graduation.  Even I can barely recognize myself!    The two pictures that I posted, one I can’t recall one of the girls name and the other one, I can’t remember what the occasion was and where we were.  Guess it has been too long ago…

I thought about mortality recently… guess if I died tomorrow, the only thing that I would worry about is my parents.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to die and it’s kind of morbid when my BD is just around the corner but heck, when I was a teenager, I didn’t think I would make it past 40!  As of right now, do I have any regrets?  Hmm… surprisingly, the answer is actually no.  Pretty much had dashes of all the spices in life.

Was reading some of the Leo (astrological sign) posting regarding characteristics… yep, most of it is true as far as I’m concern.  So, people… I am truly a Leo. Hahaha!

Work is still as crazy as usual (oh, we’re back to work now) and I am at most times left with a feeling of a puppy chasing its own tail by the end of the day.  I have to go and socialize tomorrow… an invitation that I cannot ignore since the boss is out of town.  Geez, I hate putting on a “smile” because I have to.  Dang it, I want to smile when I feel like it!  Grrr…

Actually, my latest binge is ice cream… isn’t that awful?  I think it has something to do with trying to quit smoking.  Ahh… this reminds me of the time in Feb when I saw Muse and Kit asked me a question.  I was dumbfounded and just kind of looked at her blankly.  She asked (with Muse within earshot) “If Momo told you to quit smoking, would you do it?”  I just stared at her then glanced at Muse… and answered… “Uh… “ while thinking “Are you serious?  How old do you think I am?”   I really like Muse but I don’t think I “idolize” her, if you know what I mean.  Since having met her, I sincerely feels that she is one of the most sweetest person I know.  Prior to meeting her, I thought she is an outstanding actress, now, I just believe her to be wonderful human being. 

Oh well, I guess I am finished unloading some fly-by thoughts for tonight.  Tomorrow is another day.

One year ago…

A little over a year ago, we saw each other up in San Francisco to celebrate your birthday.  A few months later I got the news that you had passed.  A few days ago, 瓊魚仔 came back from her trip and gave these to me from 師母.  These two beautiful compositions and your music were your special gifts to this world.  I regret that I have never heard these played live at your concerts but the CD is amazing.  Poignantly that both pieces are about the sky.  黃師傅，我諗你在天都同緊啲老友玩音樂，過得高興同開心。 好啦，咁我就在地上"曙光""觀天玄幻"來記念你 and celebrate your life.   Let me say one more time, “THANK YOU for enriching my life and showing me Chinese music is a culture that should be preserved for the future generations and yet progress into the modern era.”  I like to borrow a quote from Victor Hugo to sum up.   “Music expresses that which can not be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

Love,

Pea

November 3?!?!?!

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!?!?!  Awww… that’s like almost 5 months away!  What ever happened to the regular “Premier” week in late August and early September?  Geeziz… I am going to be able to memorize every one of the darn lines from Season 1-6 by then!  Sheesh!  This is gonna kill me…

Late August vacation?

Just looking at the photo, I am relaxed already.  I think I will make getting here a short term goal for this summer.  Need to have some cool ocean breeze because I think I am WILTING in this smothering 100+ degree temperature…

Rainbow in the Clouds

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  Only lasted approximately 10 minutes in the sky above Washington State.  Heard it was more breathtaking in person. 

Quotes… a bit sardonic and dark…

But I think a lot of people would secretly nod their heads.    When I had read them, I chuckled… okay, I admit it, I totally agree with them! 

“We say we love flowers, yet we pluck them. We say we love trees, yet we cut them down. And people still wonder why some are afraid when told they are loved.”

“Have you ever been in love?  Horrible, isn’t it?  It makes you so vulnerable.  It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.  You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person wanders into your stupid life… You give them a piece of you.  They didn’t ask for it.  They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn’t your own anymore.  Love takes hostages.  It gets inside you.  It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like ‘maybe we should be just friends’ turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart.  It hurts.  Not just in the imagination.  Not just in the mind.  It’s a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-and-rips-you-apart pain.  I hate love.” by Neil Gaiman.

Let’s see if I can find a music video to match… The title actually is “Rhythm of the Falling Rain”.  I actually found a couple of Chinese versions… they were nice but this is still my favorite.

Okay, it wasn’t a soul wrenching music… don’t think I can handle that much negative vibes for one night.  I thought about using “It’s sad to belong..” by England Dan and J. F. Coley but still decided on this “pitter patter…oh oh oh…”

Classic oldie

Just felt like wanting to hear this song again…

Quote of the day

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” by Tom Bodett.

Read this… love it but I’m wondering if I get any more test in the future, can they be at least multiple choice exams?  But I am so sick and tired of tests… maybe a yes and no test would be better… less “inny minny miney mo” choices and at least I have a 50% chance of guessing right. 

Aunt Mary

Today's episode was actually quite... depressing.  To me, Mary's desire to be loved and appreciated is the main point of the show.  (Well, actually on almost all the episodes, the surrounding theme is one individual or another needs to be "loved" and appreciated in their own way.)  But this episode showed me how Mary is quite selfish, even though through her eyes, she is almost a most giving person.  How does someone who has lived to her age be so unaware?  Does she realize it is sometimes her attitude and her actions make others around her upset?  Does she really care?  I mean in any relationship there has to be a two way street, right? 
Interesting...  

Two statues…

  Both these statues have one of their arms raised and the other holding a book…

but that’s about the only thing they have in common.

What do they symbolize for their respective people of the nation?  Unfortunately, I can only answer for myself regarding the lady on the left.  Growing up in the United States, the words from the Declaration of Independence are indelibly engraved into mind and soul…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

I am not saying the US is a perfect nation because I do realize that there are numerous dark stains in our short history.  It took President Lincoln and the Civil War to free the slaves.  It took another 144 years, 14 years after Susan B. Anthony’s death to get the 19th Amendment of the Constitution, women’s right to vote.  Iran-Contra, Watergate, the assassination of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Korean & Vietnam war, September 11… I could go on and on but I am not here to give a history lesson.  I really like the reply from Anthony when she was asked if all women in the United states would ever be given the vote.  She stated, "it will come, but I shall not see it...It is inevitable. We can no more deny forever the right of self-government to one-half our people than we could keep the Negro forever in bondage. It will not be wrought by the same disrupting forces that freed the slave, but come it will, and I believe within a generation. Failure is impossible" were the words she left with her "girls" to encourage them on in the long discouraging struggle ahead.  Will I, in my lifetime, see a glimmer of freedom of light for all the people of China?  

June 3, 1989

It seems a lifetime or two ago.  Twenty two years have past and the exact details of what went on that night has faded somewhat but I still remember the feeling of dread and impending disaster.  I recall how it all began…a warm early summer evening, we had just finished dinner and all of a sudden the phone rang.  It was Tina in Beijing to my godfather, “He gave out orders to send in the People’s Army to Tiananmen Square!  His kids are on their knees begging Deng to rescind the order and he is refusing to do so.”  That phone call is when our vigil started and we were glued to the front of that television for hours to come. The phone didn’t stop ringing from that moment… HK, Beijing, Shanghai… updates poured in.  Trying to assimilate and digest all these reports had my head spinning.  I remember looking at my godfather and said “How’s this possible?”  He replied “It’s possible and the aftermath is even going to be even worse.  Any head that isn’t agreeing to this will have to watch out for their life.  Believe me, they will be silenced sooner or later.  The country is not ready for this kind of challenge and they will crush any who threaten their very existence.  The students that head this demonstration are not stupid but the people who follow them will suffer or die in the cross fire.”  Needless to say, on both counts, he was right. 
Twenty two years later, unfortunately I still don’t think that the country has moved towards democracy or acknowledging human rights.  Just seeing first hand some of the “high government officials” that come to Vegas, and just how they act or how full of themselves they seem, I am still disgusted.  They sneak in money to gamble, they eat, drink and whore like there is no tomorrow because the government is paying for it.  Isn’t there any accountability?  When President Obama comes, he at least don’t have these ridiculous request for a specific type of Mercedes limo, which doesn’t exist in the US.  Once recently, I couldn’t help myself but snicker and clap my hands, because a group had to cancel their trip because there was a brief corruption crackdown in China and they “chickened” out. 

五十集後...

幾日唔得閒睇劇，一口氣睇咗五集... 覺得最好玩係第四十八同四十九集。

玫瑰:  睇完第四十八集... 一個字！ 暈！ 真係撞鬼！ 佢肉麻到呢... 我甘拜下風！ 哈哈！ Well... 佢最好野同最聰明就係冇放棄個森林！  真係如果我對住玫瑰我唔知好嬲定好笑!  Brings a long forgotten term to mind… “boy crazy”.  Actually, she reminds me of a college friend of mine… her most memorable line to me was… “Hey, virginity is like a disease, I am going to find a cure for it this weekend!”  I remember telling her that she’s crazy but I couldn’t stop laughing.

貝兒:  一個對"親人"同朋友心軟的酷酷外型的女人... 我開始喜歡佢!  I love it that she is at least now showing she is not all that tough when it comes to outrages request from her “mom” and when she was busted and confronted by 國棟, heck, she did a good comeback!  Quick thinking!  I am wondering… she doesn’t seem to have any friends so far in the show other than 玫瑰, I wonder why.  Is it because she is so cool?  However, in my eyes, 玫瑰 and 貝兒 are like the female “Odd Couple”.  Great contrast in personalities and styles but great chemistry.  (Note:  Please don’t think in terms of homosexuality because that is not what I am trying to say.) 

Have you ever had or have a very close friend and everybody that knows both of you say… “我都唔明點解你哋兩個咁好？ 兩個嘅性格都咁極端!”  Let you in on a secret… sometimes you need someone who has a totally different perspective than yourself to stay grounded.  Most times… you don’t need someone to agree with you all the time because then you become too full of yourself.  Hahaha!  Nor do you need to agree with someone all the time because then you will just get totally down on yourself after a while because you have “lost” you and you will question your own decisions.  Plus, I actually enjoy variety of personalities but sometimes the old saying is true… 話不投機本句多.  It just depends on my mood and state of mind, I guess.  Tell you another secret… I really, really do hate “fake” people.  They irritate the hell out of me and I can’t and won’t bother with them.  Guess that is one of the advantages of being “old”.  Kakaka! 

Yikes… what has this post become?  Sigh…  I must be bored out of my mind.

Undercover…

When my two favorite characters go undercover…

…..what is it with the HAIR?!?! Kakaka!  See?  They do have something in common!!

RIP… Colin, Jeffery, and Jeff

There has been a lot deaths lately that has given me a pause.  I found out a classmate of mine from high school had just past and a colleague from another company past away this morning and now I heard that Jeff Conway died while in a coma for the last couple of weeks at the young age of 60.  The first two were very normal people who was fighting for their lives only to finally succumbing to their illness.  However, Conway practically threw away his life… When I heard that he actually had a serious drug problem for a long time and that his comatose was related somehow to an overdose of drugs, I was… let’s just say, quite disturbed.
I close my eyes and I can still remember seeing Grease at the theater with a bunch of my friends and having a blast.  Conway was a better actor than Travolta was at that time and I actually thought he was better looking too!  Then he had that stint on “Taxi”.  Damn!  What a waste!  Does fame really do that to most people?  Screw with their heads so much that they need to crush the pain by taking drugs?  Well, I guess he is at peace now or is his afterlife just as tormented?  My personal view about taking drugs is that the person can’t face the reality or the situation that he finds himself in and is looking for any possible way to escape.  So, my question is… if there is a spirit or afterlife, can he face that reality that he is dead?  Will he become a desolate ghost and a lost soul?  I wish him well and that he will or has finally found peace.
To Colin & Jeffery ~~ May both of you, RIP.  You will be missed so very, very much.

Power…. legs?

This is such a cool picture that I couldn’t help but post it.  Sigh… once upon a time… I could actually run down the street of New York in these heels.   Geez… what was I thinking? 

Summer is here!

The temperature has crept up to the low 90s.  So, I decided to have my hair cut, BUT I didn’t imagine that I would end up with more hair on the salon floor than on my head!  I must admit that the weight of my hair has decreased tremendously because it is so darn SHORT!  I hope no one would do the tap on the shoulder “Excuse me, sir…” line to me.  Haha!  Well, it will grow back, I guess.  It sure beats putting it up on a pony-tail and because that sometimes gives me a headache.   The real bummer is now I have to go color my hair because… it’s all very glaringly visible.  Hmmm…. the last time I had my hair this short was almost 20 years ago.  Gee, how time flies.  

Unfocused contacts…

It’s been 40 episodes of 誰家 and it’s not that this 20+ minute show is not amusing or fun to watch sometimes but… I don’t feel really connected to it.  I read comments that some were laughing really hard at some of the last shows and when I watched it, I was just… amused or should I say bemused?  It is definitely an above the average show but I think the HK lifestyle, trends, characters, and actions portrayed in the show or maybe even their sense of humor is not what I am used to.  I am goofy enough to admit that I really like Rose’s character the most but to make a “clown” out of her in such a blatant and vulgar way is… a little more than I can take.  It’s probably my age acting up, I enjoy the older actors performances so much more than these “young beauties”.  The last few episodes were almost painful to watch.

I guess my brain and emotions are finally returning to the reality of my “American” life.  Wait a minute… what life?  I don’t have a life, right?  That is beside the point, anyway, I reflected on some of the TV shows that I do enjoy watching over the years and lo and behold, they’re not teeny bopper shows anymore!  None of the main leads are younger than 30.  They all have a past and some history behind them.  As for HK shows, I guess that’s why I liked 同事，Click 入黃金屋，法證... and why I really loved 畢打.  Darn!  It always comes back to OP, doesn’t it?  Shoots, I guess that’s why I thought it transcended the “cultural” barrier.  I hate to measure all other shows against it because it’s not fair but there has to be standard, isn’t there?  The standard of excellence… (minus the finale… hahaha!)

Mediocre finale at best

This was the finale?!?!?  Yes, it was great that Angela and Hodgins baby was okay.  Yes, it was funny that B&B went undercover as Buck and Wanda.  Yes, the last two lines from the show were bomb shells.  But… but… that’s it?!?!  Booth just gave her that slow smile!  No hugs, and not even a single kiss?!?!  Arrgh!!!  Now, I have to wait till September to find out what really happened.  This is insane… the previous two episodes were so great and this one seems to tie up almost all the loose ends of the season but to leave us fans hanging like this is just not COOL!!  If Hanson was in front of me, I think I would hit him!  So much for me trying to be calm and collected about this.  Haha!  Out of 23 episodes this season, I can only pick out maybe… at the most five that I really loved and this finale didn’t make the list.  Damn it!  I had such high hopes since the previous two episodes were awesome. 

Next 3 and a half months without Bones… have to find something else to pass my relaxing time. 

Season Finale…

This Thursday will be the 6th season finale for Bones.  The question I, as a fan, have been asking was not will they or won’t they, but for God's sake, WHEN?!?!?  It so funny that after last week’s show, the buzz is… Did they do it?  I was even asked by a co-worker!  "Well?  Do you think..."  My immediate response was... "Nah!  Do you think they did it?"  Haha!  Got to love these writers and actors.  My guess is that they did exactly what Brennan told Angela… "I got into bed with Booth...  (which we saw by the way… just Booth holding Brennan as she cried her eyes out then the scene faded out).  I mean, you know how literal Brennan is… if she hooked up with Booth… she would say it.  Hmm… but then… Angela did ask her… “What happened AFTER you crawled into bed with Booth?” but before she could answer, poor Hodgins walked in and literally got yelled at by Angela to go away!  It was hilarious!  But I've got to love that big smile Brennan gave Angela before she dropped the bombshell and those grins between Angela and Brennan for the rest of the show… Whoohoo!  Had a grin to my face too!  I am so happy for Brennan that she... gee, I don't know exactly why I am happy for her, oh, I know!  I am happy for her because she seems very "content".  Guess that word is the best one that I could come up with, seems a bit more demure than "satisfied".  Kakaka!  Heck, even if they were just teasing us with the misconception that they finally hooked up, I must say I loved the episode!  Granted that one of their own was killed which was heartbreaking but this episode had everything!  I teared up when Vincent was dying, I had to grab some tissue when Brennan was talking to Booth about why would Vincent think she wanted him to leave, I laughed at Angela’s dropped jaw look and I totally cracked up on Hodgins bewildered, confused and agitated performance at being told, very loudly “Honey… I love you but GO… AWAY!   GO AWAY NOW!!!” after he walked in right at the time when Angela was "interrogating" Brennan.  What a wonderful cast of characters.  Can't wait till Thursday's finale!  Damn, it's going to be long summer!


PS:  This whole issue about if they got together. it would kill the “tension” and the chemistry between Booth and Brennan, then the show would die.  Maybe they’re right… hate to say this but now I kind of understand what $1 means when he mentioned that what would you write about if they (OP’s leads) are together already?  (I can't remember his word for word but I think I got the gist of it)  I guess this “will they or won’t they”. kept Bones going for six years and they have been renewed for the seventh season but after 133 shows, I think lots of fans are getting really antsy.  Me?  Nah… Been too disciplined by OP to have too much hope.  I just want to watch an entertaining show with a great cast of characters.  They can do whatever they want, as long as the script is good.  I am always afraid in the back of my mind that if they finally get together then that means the show will have written its last chapter.  But I really do hope that they will try to break through this "barrier" because if I think Brennan is quirky now, I can't wait to see her try to be girlfriend.  I think she would then really drive Booth crazy.  Haha!

Welcome back, Bones!

After a very mediocre season 6 so far, last night’s episode “Signs of Silence” was such a welcome reprieve!  The essence that made this show, a show that I have grown to love was all there.  The forensics, the “chemistry” between B & B (thank the stars that they got rid of Hannah!) and the supporting cast really rocked!  It took them almost the whole season this year to put a very memorable episode on.  Brennan was back in her old form, revealing her awkwardness at human interaction but coming to terms with it or at least speaking out that she is not as cold as everyone thinks and that she wishes she could convey her feelings because it would make other people more comfortable.  Anyway, I am not here to rehash the whole story but just so happy that they didn’t totally waste season six and that Fox did pick up the show for next season.  Hmmm… the sniper will be back next week, and someone in the cast will be “eliminated”.  I hate to see any of the regulars get killed… crossing my fingers very hard that it is just a tease…

At lunch today…

Today at lunch, my co-workers and a couple we ran into at the restaurant had a snippet of conversation that lasted for maybe… 6 minutes.  One of the gals said that recently she was told a true story and she wanted to see what we think… I blurted my reaction with such a cynical tone that I actually kind of shocked myself.  The story…
A guy friend was to stay at a couples’ home for a couple of days and a few hours before the friend was about to arrive, the wife had this “conversation” with her husband.  “I think we should have an open marriage.”  “What?!”  Needless to say, she went into the “friends” room for the night…
My instant reaction was… “Oh, you got to be kidding!  Dang!  I don’t know what is worst, 偷食 or this?!”  Now that I think about it… I still don’t what is worst but I definitely don’t think they should continue to be married.  I guess I am just an old fashion girl!  Kakaka!

Lolita!!

Don’t we all have a little “Lolita” in ourselves?!  Loved this episode.  Self esteem… what a loaded subject!

On the last episode, however, I take my hat off to Ms. Ma!  I mean… she always get these “nasty” clown characters!  Seriously, talk about type casting!  Whew!  As far back as I can remember seeing her on TV, she has portrayed multitudes roles of… the girl one loves to hate or… the “cringe” factor for the guys or just plain 八婆.  It’s kind of a bummer that on this show, her boss actually says… 想嘔 about her.  C’mon!  That is just… so not kosher!  其實係咪我有問題呢？ 為咗呢句，我心目中鐘國棟嘅人格跌到好低。Everything that was charming about him went “swoosh” right down the drain. 

Oh, one more thing… they should get that girl to stop talking like that… she is definitely not “CUTE”!  If you know which one I am talking about, then I guess she probably irritates the hell out of you too!  Kakaka! 

開心？

今天老闆突然話送比我... i Pad 2. 
我對它真係冇咩興趣，發現我真係越來越怪...
係咪做到傻咗，定係疲勞過度，自己嗰腦hang緊機？ 對任何事情或人都...冇哂反應。

諗諗吓，都係明天帶回公司比番佢。 我寧願佢放我幾日假，我可能會開心啲。

Booth & Brennan = Bones!

Nice song.  I must say it made me warm and fuzzy…

I really do love “Bones”!

Mom is FINALLY Home~~~

Wow!  I feel like a lot of weight have been lifted off my shoulders.  After over a month of anxiety and running around like a chicken without a head, Mom is finally home.  I can’t even begin to tell you how happy and relieved I am.  She’s even perky enough to grumble and complain about Dad…   I am actually quite positive that in a non-hospital environment that she will improve by leaps and bounds.  Ah… life is good again…  now maybe I can do something that I have been wanting to do for quite sometime.

Teriyaki garlic chicken wings…

First time I tried this recipe… just a little bit sweet.  Should have put a wee bit more shoyu. 

 

Slow cooked to almost perfection, if I say so myself. 

Noticed that I picked all wings?!  Hahaha!  Left the drummets for Dad…

Home cooked steaks

It’s been almost a month with Mom in rehab, Dad & I have been eating out so much lately that we decided to run into the supermarket tonight to grab ourselves some Ribeyes steaks, organic baby spinach, and Hawaiian sweetbread dinner rolls!  Dinner done in half an hour and now we’re both very stuffed!  Haha!

誰家…

After watching 3 episodes, I have to say I liked it so far.  It’s light comedy with an interesting mix of characters.  Easy on the eyes and ears with sprinkles of laughter here and there.  Some the lines are punchy and yes, I admit that in a couple of scenes, I actually chuckled.  The great thing is that It’s not ridiculously rowdy with cartoonish characters and the best thing about it so far seems that many of the actors are not over acting and are not forcing their roles.  These first shows were like an introduction of who’s who and the establishment of their personalities. 
I am quite surprise at 岳華.. being a veteran actor with years of dramatic acting under his belt, I think this might be a very different venue for him, comedy.  I am looking forward to see him pull it off.  He's still quite “stiff” and my goodness, when he did that “creeping” away walk at the restaurant… I cracked up!  It was so unlike the image he normally presents onscreen of what I have seen. 
You know, it’s kind of weird that I can’t figure out who is the leading actress.  Maybe because the last two sitcoms, OP & Someday, Muses’ characters were so prevalent as the center of show.  It seems this show revolves around 鐘思翰 and his relationship with his family, friends and teacher.  I must say I think he is cute but can he really hold up as the lead?  Well, I do have total confidence that $2’s team have surrounded him with a very good veteran cast and excellent scripts. 
It is a pleasure to be able to enjoy twenty and some odd minutes of a good show.  I am happily looking forward to the next six months.

Conspiracy behind Nuclear Plant?

今天收到這封電郵...  再加埋昨日聽聞一些好荒謬的說話。真是人心難測....

主题:

想想上海世博的亂, 能不慚愧 ! 中國先富起來, 可惜富而不 '  貴 ' 啊 !
看過這篇文章, 你可能不再可憐日本了( 多謝好友 Elaine 提供分享 )
日本核電廠背後的秘密
日本人對於核電廠的消息並不透明. 一開始美國主動說要給泠卻劑, 日本卻拒絕了.....
這麼嚴重的事情, 為甚麼爭分奪秒, 不派大量人力去救核電廠,只有幾十個工作人員及其他的自衛隊, 為甚麼不一開始用硼酸, 要用海水...... 許多人都猜核電廠有不想別人知道的秘密..
為甚麼美國的航母要調頭？他們的直升機在約一百公里外接觸到的放射物包含了甚麼? 如電影般的情節，背後隱藏了...
最要命的是，日本人採取了燃料，不是大家通用的鈾，而是鈾和?混合體。這樣做，經濟上非常不划算，安全上也不好。唯一的用處，就是燃燒過後的廢料，就是提純的?，可以用來製造原子彈。
其實這也是日本一直秘而不宣的“和平核能”政策，就是通過所謂和平的利用核能，日本名正言順地生產和儲存了可以製造幾千顆原子彈的?，再加上日本的技術，可以快速地安裝原子彈，用來制衡它認為有威脅的國家。
日本37萬平方公里，卻變態地修建了57個核電站，發出的電不到全國需求的30%，一個核電站有4-6個反應堆，即全國有三百多個反應堆。37萬*30%=11萬平方公里，即三百多個反應堆為11萬平方公里供電 110000/300=367平方公里
也就是說，日本的一個核反應爐只為367平方公里提供電力。相當於每個縣級城市就要配一個核反應爐。這TMD正常嗎？
事實上，作為一個島國，日本有著豐富的潮汐和風力發電資源，同時太陽能也非常先進，但該國對這些視若無物，多年來，全力發展核電。
如果這僅僅是電力需要也就罷了，但是，有多少人知道？在核電技術已經突飛猛進的今天，日本的核電設施卻一律死抱著第一二代技術不放。
福島核電站採用的是鈾?混合氧化物這種比鈾氧原料貴2-3倍，而且危險性高的原料，反應堆用的也是安全性差的快增殖反應堆，而且沸水堆只有一回路，直通渦輪。日本人玩這種手段只要有點腦子的都看得出來他們想要幹什麼：不就是為了儲備製造核彈的那點?嘛。
>   現在據報導爆掉的一號堆已經在用硼酸了。一開始不肯用是因為一旦用了硼酸，?面的核燃料就全部報廢了。福島電站用的可是MOX燃料(MOX燃料是混合燃料的??，目前用得最多的是UO2和PUO2构成的氧化鈾?燃料)，那可是極重要的戰略資源，你們懂的。
現在國際上最新一代的核反應爐是號稱出事故緊急停堆後36小時無人看護照樣安全的。但日本人就是不用。簡單地講，它們只造最原始最落後的核電站，絕不採用新技術，哪怕是新技術再成熟，再免費。
因為原始的一二代技術最有利於大量提煉核原料。最浪費，最低能，最高消耗，最大成本，最不安全，只為換得核原料。
這場核災難到底會發展到多大，至少還有三個問題沒公開，離了這三個問題，誰也無法預測。
第一個問題：它們造出來的四千枚核彈的原料存放在哪里？是否安全？！
第二個問題：在這些核電站?，到底還有什麼秘密，這些以製造核彈原料為目的的核電站?，都有哪些高危和不可告人的東西？！
第三個問題：日本這些年積攢的核廢料都放在哪里？在陸地上？還是在海?？還是偷運到哪里去了？會不會產生危害？
這些問題都是潛在的核彈級風險。是對全人類的安全威脅！
可以看出曰本的野心，他的堆居然是鈾?堆，而不是普通的二氧化鈾堆，看來造核彈就在他們掌握中。他們這盤棋很大啊。鈾?堆是什麼呢？簡單地說，?也可以做核彈，往長崎廣島投的彈就是?彈。他們不用二氧化鈾做燃料芯塊，而是用鈾?合金，這就很說明問題。
一切似乎冥冥中注定著，如果日本繼續製造核武器，他們將會用這些武器做些甚麼呢？沒有一個島國如日本般，不主力發展潮汐與太陽能，卻不斷地發展核電，用那些核廢料生產出能夠製造出原子彈的?。如果不是日本的核爆事件，日本將30%的全國用核能用電比例，再繼續擴大，再建多些核電廠，中國以及其他國家又再繼續建核電廠，朝鮮、伊朗繼續用他們那不成熟的技術去製造核武..... 世界未來將會怎樣?
一場海嘯，猶如潘朵拉的盒子，將日本的核武器計劃掀了開來，某方面也算救了日本人，還有我們。大部分日本人仍是善良的，他們也是無辜及不知情的，問題在於政治被日本右翼所掌握住。甚麼都敢講的石原慎太郎，也是在遭遇到切身之痛後，才明白到他們究竟做了些甚麼。將靈魂賣給了魔鬼，卻被那隻魔鬼反噬。
無論怎樣，希望世界和平，這個世界少些天災與人禍。

If the above is true… it is still not the “people” of Japan.  It is the government!  Conspiracy theories or actual cover ups happens in every country.  Those we have in our own government have been doing this throughout history.  As for USA, there was “Watergate”, “Bombing of Pearl Harbor”, the assassination of President Kennedy, Iran-contra, etc.  I can go on and on as I am not familiar with the Chinese government but I am sure they have tons of things that they’re hiding too.  But people, the bottom line is that it has nothing to do with those who lost their lives and those who lost love ones or desperately seeking them out in face of this natural disaster.  To lose empathy for our fellow man that is hurting in the depth of their souls is… just so cold.  I can’t even begin to comprehend…
As for yesterday, a few of us were chatting about the embarrassment of HK’s hoarding of salt to prevent radiation.  This is what came out of relatively “normal” peoples mouths…

Co-worker A:    我前日打電話比我媽咪，問佢...”喂，師奶！你買咗幾多包鹽呀?” 我呀媽答我，"癡線咩！ 我更係冇買啦"
Me:  哈哈！咁都好。
Aunty:  我呀妹都冇買！不過佢話..."更係日本人做得陰質事多，先會受到天災！"
Me:  吓？！(咁都得？)
Aunty:  係呀！ 第二次世界大戰時，日本仔剎咗幾多人呀! 南京..
Me (Interrupting):  我啱啱先睇完歷史上世界十大地震兼死亡人數，似乎中國佔咗三個。最死得人多那次係八十幾萬人-排第一喎。 如你呀妹咁講，中國的陰質史咪仲犀利？
Aunty:  唔知！佢係咁講…
Me:  唉，WWII都過咗六十年啦。到今時今日先來報應？ (咁德國嘅genocide又點呢？) 我都明明地嘅，當時對我爺爺兼我呀爸嗰代都曾經走過日本仔。但拉埋這次的天災來講，又真係好離譜...  其實我呢代都已經好幸福，就算有戰爭，係冇直接影響我。越戰，Dessert Storm，Afganistan, Iraq... 都離我好遠。 自己冇身歷其境。

After this brief conversation, I walked back to my desk and tried to shake the melancholy feeling that there are actually people out there that can even think this way.  I’d be totally honest with you about my feelings… things happen.  It was a natural disaster.  What can I do, other than give my blessings to those who need it most?    I have already donated and are in the process of putting a proposal to give a percentage of the companies’ gross sales toward the relief fund.  Life must go on… taking it one step at a time.  Start by picking up the pieces and start towards rebuilding, whether they are emotional or physical rubbles.
Ps:  I hate conspiracy theories… it makes my head hurt.  I much rather just deal with my wonderful parents and my challenging work.  This is my life and even with the ups and downs… trying to love every minute of it!  Right now, the sun still rises from the East every morning… till the day it doesn’t for me then… I will start to worry or panic!  (Hmmm… well, maybe not…it’s just not my style.)

Preview #3…

This was just too funny!!    Can’t wait till Thursday! 

“… traditionally it’s the other way around” ROFLMAO

Reminder…

During this horrific week of the natural and man-made disaster that is capturing the attention of the world, the resounding helplessness of mankind against Mother Nature is once again glaringly apparently to me.  In one of the most sophisticated society in the modern history, in one afternoon, their world came to a stand still.  For the past few years, I have had an opportunity to work very closely with Japanese tourist companies and their resilience during this national crisis leaves me in awed. 
I am for a few minutes here, not going to delve into their psyche or mine.  Because I suddenly have the urge to remind myself the flip side of Mother Nature.  To embrace once again the magnificent, the beautiful, the breath-taking side of her.  Rummaging thru a number of photos, I came up with these… and also some pictures that celebrate what it means to be “alive” and taking of life's simple pleasures.

Clear blue waters off the coast of Tahiti.  Even though this is of the ocean, it still calms me.

The majestic Bryce Canyon with its terra-cotta like warriors carved by the skill hands of nature.

An older couple…  sitting in companionable silence.

Her bright shiny eyes says it all! 

Hope these pictures brought a smile to your face, if so… I did my good girl scout duty for the day!  Embrace life because the sun will still come up the next day and as always because life must go on but hopefully with just the right touch of light heartiness.