Sunday, October 29, 2006

weekend

Good friends from Indianapolis came visit yesterday. We went to see a locally produced musical in town--- Beauty and the Beast. The musical was good, actually surprisingly well done for limited budget and talents. My coworker was in the cast too... she's Babbette... the duster lady. She did really well.... very "fung show" indeed. The lady who did Belle was a really really good singer... very professional.

Today... we all went up to Chicago to do some shopping. Dinner at China town... we had Szecheun food. Haven't had Szecheun stuff in a while. It was good... but I can't imagine eating that stuff every single day.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Fight

Mom and Dad had a fight tonight. Well actually this fight has lasted for more than a week already. I spent my whole evening talking to them. They are still fighting as I am writing this. Sigh.... One of these days, the inevitable might just happen. I truly feel sorry for Dad when he said... I deserve to be happy for my last few years of life.... I'd use all my money to do things that I like to do... go places that I like to go.

Sigh....

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

life

life is short. really short.

talking to a friend on the phone today... she worried about his dad's health... about the inevitability of death.
got another friend's email tonight... her dad just passed away over the weekend.

was it a coincidence?

my dad looks older as each day flies by. he is sleepy all the time. i am worried.

life is too short.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Tonight... tonight...

In the middle of my barbershop chorus rehearsal tonight, my director suddenly said to me in his usual stammering way, "I... I have a personal matter that I need to talk... talk to you." (Not trying to make fun of him, but he does stutter every now and then.) I was kinda worried coz I was the only tenor tonight and thought that he might have something to say about my singing. (Oh, yeah... due to the lack of younger/higher voices in the chorus, I am officially a tenor now. I guess it's a good fit for me. My voice is not loud enough to be a lead anyway. And surprisingly, I like singing tenor.) Anyway... getting back to my story....

He then pulled me aside after rehearsal and with a bashful smile, he asked "You are still single, are you?"

?!?!?!

I was stunned for a moment. Then I realized that he was trying to be a matchmaker. He said he wanted to set me up with the organist at his church. Oh boy....

On a side note, my mom declared the other day. "You cannot have a foreigner wife!"

On another side note and on the subject of being 阿Q, I have given up trying to look for my other half or more accurately speaking--dreaming about it. Facing with the reality of my family situation (mainly with my mom) makes me realize that the chance of finding a woman who can tolerate me and my mom is literally slimmer than winning the lottery. No more 阿Q. I just have to give up trying.

:`|

Fall Pictures

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Starved Rock State Park

The colors were disappointing. I knew it's too early. Only 25% of the foliage has put on its autumn colors. The guy at the visitor center said this year's color won't be as good as usual anyway because of the cold weather. It was worth the trip though. It's good that my parents get some exercise.

Starved Rock is a pretty place. There are many canyons with sand stone bluffs. The canyons are very deep... more spectacular than those at Turkey Run. I will go there again in the Spring to see the waterfalls.

The town Utica is just to the north of the state park. A little midwest town. I checked out a pottery store. The guy was really nice. He's been in business for 30 years. I wish some day I could set up a workshop at home. I really miss doing pottery. Next year... some time next year.

Had lunch in town at a small restaurant called Nodding Onion. The building, I guess, was converted from an old home, very nicely decorated. The food was surprisingly good. I had the wasabi tuna wrap. They only serve breakfast and lunch. Highly recommended!

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. Only took a few shoots.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

阿Q

現實是不可能長久逃避, 但是當阿Q也算是不錯的短暫麻醉.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Snow in October

Snow, snow, snow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok... it were just flurries. But still, it's only October 12. This is gonna to be a long, cold, snowy winter. White Halloween, anyone?

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Selective Memory

Talked to my best friend couple nights ago. We both have the problem of losing our memory. More accurately speaking, selectively losing our memory. It's not a matter of choice sometimes. When we forget, we just forget with no reason. I guess using the word "selective" implies active control. Hmm... maybe something or someone else is in control here, definitely not me consciously by choice.

The most distant memory I have... has to be my sister's birth. No, I didn't see her birth exactly. I remember standing on the sidewalk, holding my grandpa's hand and pointing at the ambulance that was transferring my mom to another more well-equipped hospital. I was three years old then. I am not quite sure if it was a real memory, but to this day, that image is still stuck in my head. Was I crying at the time? I must have been.

I tend to forget everyday mundane things. So keeping this blog is a good way to help me remember. I was going through my year-old posts the other day. I was surprised how many things have since escaped from my memory already. I think I am getting old. Ha ha.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Jambalaya

Made jambalaya today for dinner. Mom is on strike so Dad and I have to take turn cooking. First time ever making jambalaya... I am a big fan of Creole/Cajun cooking, but I never really did make any Cajun food before. Well... the jambalaya turned out ok. Haven't had any Cajun food lately.. and kinda forgot how jambalaya should taste like. At least edible... ha ha.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Picasa Web

Have been so busy at work. Got a really really tricky flood study from the engineering company next door (my other boss). The next two weeks I'll be working on it. Gotta redo the hydrologic model and more. Time is of essence for that project. My boss winced when he heard that I'll be occupied by my other boss for 2 weeks. Oops too bad. Hope we can hire a helper for me some time next year. Oh well... small company... have to stay lean and mean.

Finally got around to upload some of the pictures from the yellowstone trip. Picasa is amazing. Now that it has a web album thing... uploading pictures is a breeze. 250 MB of storage. not bad for free.