Wednesday, January 31, 2007

"Your Beloved"

Sang this song at a small group study the other day, really liked it. Lyrics below:

Your Beloved - By the Tree

Lord it was You who
Created the heavens
Lord it was Your hand
That put the stars in their place

Lord it was Your voice
That commands the morning
Even oceans and their waves
Bow at your feet

Bridge
Lord who am I
compared to your glory ( Oh Lord)
Lord Who am I
compared to your majesty

Chorus
I am your beloved
Your creation
And You love me as I am
You've called me choosen
for Your kingdom
Unashamed to call me Your own
I'm Your beloved

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Generations

I read an article asking " r u a gen y?", can someone tell me faqs about gen x?

1. born between 1977-2002, Gen Y is as many as 70 million strong ( more than 3 times the size of Generation X).

2. Have a "speak-your-mind" philosophy and place a high value on self-fulfillment.

3. 37% expect to start saving for retirement before 25 (With 40% of those currently working already saving).

4. Expect their jobs to accomodate their personal lives.

5. Multi-taskers: can juggle email on a BlackBerry while talking on a cell phone and chatting with 3 friends online.

6. 1 out of 3 is a minority.

7. Communication medium of choice: email.

8. 1 in 9 high school students has a credit card co-signed by a parent.

9. Turn away from department stores such as JC Penny or Dillard's, and favor high-end brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Coach and Express for their clothing needs.

10. Will switch jobs over the course of their careers more than any generation before them, holding as many as 20 jobs or more before they retire.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

成语003:光明磊落 -- 做人与处世

I have been thinking about some conversations I had with my parents lately, during which they kept on emphasizing the term: 做人. This got me thinking about the complication of being in this human society. I have a hard time verbalizing the thoughts I had so I thought I'd look up some Chinese idioms that describe some of the situations very well. No wonder my parents always say that 做人与处世 is a life long learning process.. (My apologies to the non-Chinese speakers).

Basically, there is a school of thought that would emphasize on a person live an honest life, be true to their belief, stand up for their principle, and always live within the guidelines of their value system. my mom always says 做人要光明磊落 On the other hand, the second term tells us that some times it's better to not be too perceptive, too sharp, and too firm (unwilling to bend a little).. 水至清则无鱼

some other terms I have heard of before or saw while surfing Baidu:
做人要厚道, 做人要有灵性, 做人要低调,
做人要清白、做人要宽厚、做人要坦然、做人要有人性和良心,真正问心无愧。

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this... before you go, they say a "Picture is worth a thousand words", here is a funny site on 如何做人with cute animal pictures.



光明磊落
词 目 光明磊落

发 音 guāng míng lěi luò

释 义 磊落:心地光明坦白。胸怀坦白,正大光明。

出 处 清·蒲松龄《聊斋志异·聂小倩》:“公子光明磊落,为天人所钦瞩。”

示 例 他为人~,在群众当中威信很高。

用 法 联合式;作谓语、定语、状语;含褒义

示 例 他为人~,在群众当中威信很高。

同 义 襟怀坦白

反 义 居心叵测

歇后语 水晶石盖房子-- 光明磊落

灯 谜 陨石雨--光明磊落

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水至清则无鱼

成语 水至清则无鱼

发音 shuǐ zhì qīng wú yú

解释 水太清,鱼就存不住身,对人要求太苛刻,就没有人能当他的伙伴。比喻过分计较人的小缺点,就不能团结人。

出处 《汉书·东方朔传》:“水至清则无鱼,人至察则无徒。”

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Saturday, January 27, 2007

成语002: 执子之手,与子偕老

“生死契阔,与子成说。执子之手,与子偕老。”   

是一种古老而坚定的承诺,是浪漫而美丽的传说。执手千山万水骤然缩短,执手恩怨情仇 悠然消散,执手泪眼不忍相看,执手相思,相思难眠。执手之时,冷暖两心知;执手之时,悲喜两忘。无奈的是执手后的悲哀,无奈的是分手时的凄绝。执手因为爱。爱的越真,心越清纯;爱的越深,情越质朴。执手时,绝不疯狂,绝不偏私。

执子之手,与子偕老? 执子之手,生死两忘!   
曾经以为所有的爱情故事都一定要惊天地、泣鬼神才算完美,曾经以为只有留有残缺的爱情才是最美的,曾经以为每个人的爱情都一定要轰轰烈烈才能称得上爱 情,曾经以为所有的爱情都有花前月下、海誓山盟……然而这些爱情都只是在小说里才会出现,我们的生活中没有那么多轰轰烈烈,没有那么多一见钟情,没有那么 多催人泪下的梁祝式爱情故事。于是我们开始从虚幻的世界走向现实的世界,我们开始不再向往那么多的山盟海誓,我们只是渴望能有这样一份爱情——执子之手, 与子偕老。
曾经无限向往九千九百九十九朵玫瑰的浪漫,曾经无限向往同生共死的壮烈,也曾经无限向往在天愿做比翼鸟,在地愿为连理枝的忠贞,但自从与那人携手走过 黑夜里的漫漫长路,在瑟瑟寒风中任他为我披上外套之后,就死心塌地地认同了执子之手,与子偕老的爱情——不为什么,尽管轰轰烈烈使人感动,但平平淡淡同样 震撼人心。也许我们的生命里并没有如画的风景,但至少我们拥有美丽的野花,在湿润的土壤里同样可以散发香气。   

或者平平淡淡正是人生的真谛吧,我们虽然不能一同浪迹天涯,红尘作伴,但我们至少可以享有每个美丽的清晨和黄昏,我们可以执子之手地走过所有漫长的道 路,哪怕路途中有着无数艰难险阻。   

执子之手,看似是句平淡无奇的话语,其间却包含着那么大的勇气。不为什么,只为你,漫漫长夜里执子之手,走完那一段又一段坎坷的的长路,度过一次又一 次的雄关难关,在所有的道路上与你携手走过,让整个世界都变得渺小。执子之手,在雨中共撑一顶小小的伞,在风中共披一件温暖的外套,让所有的山盟海誓都在 此刻黯然失色,让执子之手的伟大爱情感动这个世界。在下雨的时候,你在车站孤伶伶地望着纷飞的雨线,你的心情是无可奈何的沉郁。这时从旁边伸过一把伞来, 为你遮住了纷飞的雨丝和阴暗的天空;你不用回 头,便知到是如山如海如蓝天的我正站在你的旁边了,便有一种极温暖极踏实的感觉涌上心头:雨丝就让它纷飞吧,天空就让它阴霾吧,此时你已有了一把伞,而你 的心情也因此而阳光灿烂。   ——也许只是什么话也不说,只是在这漫长的道路上,携手走过每一个路口,把你我的真心放在彼此手中,携手走过一生一世的灿烂。

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Friday, January 26, 2007

成语001:相濡以沫

I have always wondered about the true meaning and story behind the Chinese idiom 相濡以沫. After seeing it being a description word used in "Chinese style Divorce" (Drama), I looked it up on on Baidu. The explanation makes a lot of sense, but to those that can read Chinese, note the opinion section. The interpretation is accurate, but the extrapolation is so sad.


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相濡以沫

拼音 xiāng rú yǐ mò

解释 濡:沾湿;沫:唾沫。泉水干了,鱼吐沫互相润湿。比喻一同在困难的处境里,用微薄的力量互相帮助。

出处 《庄子·大宗师》:“泉涸,鱼相与处于陆,相呴以湿,不如相忘于江湖。”

近义词 同甘共苦、生死与共

反义词 自私自利

用法 偏正式;作谓语、定语、宾语、状语;含褒义

非桀也,不如两忘而化其道 。 ”
两条鱼被困在车辙里面,为了生存,两条小鱼彼此用嘴里的湿气来喂对方。 这样的情景也许令人感动,但是,这样的生存环境并不是正常的,甚至是无奈的。对于鱼儿而言,最理想的情况是,海水终于漫上来,两条鱼也终于要回到属于它们自己的天地,最后,他们,相忘于江湖。在自己最适宜的地方,快乐的生活,忘记对方,也忘记那段相濡以沫的生活。
能够忘记的鱼,或许是最快乐的。而如果有其中一条鱼不能忘记呢?
对于人,对于感情或许也是如此吧。
相濡以沫,有时是为了生存的必要或是无奈。
“相濡以沫”,或许令人感动;而“相忘于江湖”则是一种境界,或许更需要坦荡、淡泊的心境吧。
能够忘记,能够放弃,也是一种幸福

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相濡以沫的爱情

相濡以沫的爱情 ?? -- 中国式离婚
My mom watched this Chinese drama set, she really liked it, and asked me to look into more information about the story. I did some search on baidu.com and found a really good interview with the author, article pasted below: ( similar site here)

《中国式离婚》是一次对中国人婚姻状态的深度探访,讲述的是每一个人都必须面对的婚姻问题。本书深刻剖析了三对夫妻的情感和他们各自在婚姻生活中所面临的问题,揭示了在婚姻契约下的夫妻之间的三种背叛:心的背叛、身的背叛、身心的背叛。通过一个普通家庭走向离婚的发展轨迹,放大了婚姻生活的不和谐、不宽容、不理性所带来的伤害与疼痛,从而引发人们对婚姻的容忍、信任与责任的思考.


女人聪明 == 婚姻失败? -----------王海鸰访谈(中国式离婚作者)

人民网北京3月4日讯

“又是一年三月三,风筝飞满天”,在三月三这个温馨的日子里,阳光明媚,春风醉人,知名作家王海鸰女士做客人民网,接受了读书论坛的访谈。一个半小时的网上交流,她与网友在爱情、婚姻、生活、以及她的小说创作等方面进行了积极的讨论,王海鸰的大方、率直、机敏、细腻尽入网友眼中。(文松辉)

嘉宾:作家王海鸰
主持人:斑竹松蓝
参与者:读书论坛网友

主持人:大家好,“写不尽天下夫妻情”主题访谈正式开始。

王海鸰:大家好,非常高兴来到人民网,有这个和大家交流的机会。

主持人:你怕不怕论坛上网友的狂轰砸乱砸!

王海鸰:不怕,反正谁也不知道谁是谁。

聪明=婚姻失败?

网友:看起来,你很年青。你的外套很漂亮。

王海鸰:为了今天的见面,我特地买的外套,花了2000多元,但是我却看不到你们,真不公平啊!

网友:你当过多少年兵?军营生涯对你有何影响,对你的创作有影响吗?军人的爱情婚姻和普通人的爱情婚姻会有什么不同?

王海鸰:我当了30多年兵,目前还是兵。军营生活对我的影响应该说是刻骨铭心的。我的小说《大校的女儿》写的就是军人的情感生活,本质上军人的情感生活和老百姓是一样的,但是由于职业的原因,其表现形式必然有所不同。我感觉更悲壮一些,或者说更忧美一些。

网友:你的小孩多大了,男孩女孩,你对他(她)有什么期望?希望他成为怎样的人?

王海鸰:我的儿子今年15岁,正面临中考。我跟他一块遭受磨难。希望他成功,能够活得主动。

网友:能说一下你关注什么样的男人吗?

王海鸰:我可以告诉你,我不喜欢什么样的男人:吹牛说大话的、肉欲(包括烟酒色等等)无度的、毫无毅力的、不自律的。反之就是我喜欢的,当然,要事业有成。

网友:爱情、婚姻在你眼中的意义是什么?

王海鸰:目前而言,是我工作创作的主要研究方向。

网友:你是很勤奋的作家,是不是事业上执着影响了你的家庭生活。谢谢你的坦诚,很想知道这里有什么必然的联系吗?

王海鸰:不是。恰恰相反,我曾经非常希望夫贵妻荣,我想这是绝大数女人的愿望,我是在没有达到这个目标之后,才转向你所谓的事业。

网友:婚姻对于您的创作有无影响?那段短暂的婚姻给您的创作带来了什么?如果您的婚姻非常美满,会不会改变你的写作风格?

王海鸰:我同你的看法相同。那段短暂的婚姻当时给我带来的是沉重,现在是财富。能否将苦难转化为财富全在于个人的努力。如果我的婚姻美满,肯定会影响到我的写作风格。物质第一,精神第二——是一个放之四海而皆准的真理。

网友:聪明=婚姻失败?您说是您的聪明导致了婚姻的失败,可我认为女人的聪明就是在外精明,在家略显愚笨。而您的聪明是不分里外的,所以我想从某种意义上来讲,你并不是聪明者。

王海鸰:就我而言,是这样的。但是,根子还在于我不够聪明。什么叫大智若愚,真正具有大智慧的女人,会把她的婚姻经营的非常成功。

网友:想知道对于感情大彻大悟的您来说,爱情、婚姻意味着什么?您的思想对您的生活有什么影响?

王海鸰:首先你表扬了我,我想说大彻大悟对感情和婚姻不是一件好事,常言道朦胧才是美,我的思想对我的感情生活(男女爱情方面的感情生活)可以说是一个致命的伤害,但是人除了男女情爱还有别的,在别的方面,我对自己比较满意。

网友:人的性格决定命运,你如何看待这句话?在你的作品中,主人公的命运有没有你的影子?

王海鸰:我相信性格即命运,相信一个人成功与否非智力因素要超过智力因素的作用。作品中总有作者的影子,但是不一定在哪一个人物的身上体现,也许会集中体现,也许会打散了分在许多人身上体现。

网友:你小说中哪位人物最有你的影子?

王海鸰:《大校的女儿》的女主人公韩琳。

网友:很喜欢您的《牵手》,听说蒋雯莉在拍您的下一步作品,能透露一下吗?

王海鸰:蒋雯丽刚刚拍完了我的一部《中国式离婚》,与陈道明演夫妻,现在戏正做后期,她的表现相当出色,因此我准备请她出演我下一部戏——《大校的女儿》。

网友:您的《牵手》据说是拍完电视剧以后才写的小说,是这样的吗?

王海鸰:是的。

网友:听说你马上要出一本新书,能在这里向大家先透露一下吗?

王海鸰:谢谢你的关心。新书叫《中国式离婚》,由长江文艺出版社出版。如果顺利,还有四天就能完成。

网友:能不能简单介绍一下故事的概况,主题?

王海鸰:写了三对半人,老、中、青三对,还有一个离婚了的单身女人。没有一点离奇的故事。全是生活中我们所常见的人和状态。

网友:我可以提一个意见吗?早在80年代,一位从英国回来的专家,就把他在国外关于残疾人生活的资料打印分送给大家,其中讲的是一个四肢截瘫的患者和他的护理师的美妙的爱情故事,而你写的故事仍然停留在久病床前无孝子的阶段。你说是吗?我困坐轮椅近20年,但遇到很多和你写的残疾人的故事不一样的事情,但你的故事见诸社会,就成了导向,一个陈旧而消极的导向。

王海鸰:不是我的故事停留在久病床前无孝子的阶段,而是生活本身的这种状态使我选择了这个写作角度。我当然知道有美好的,但是,我还是想从一个比较严酷的角度来把这个问题揭示出来。

网友:我似乎觉得,现代社会不幸的婚姻多于幸福的婚姻。你为何不写一写悲剧式的婚姻及其对世人的警示呢?

王海鸰:不是现代多于过去,而是现代婚姻的不幸比之过去要外化了许多。不知你是否注意到我的作品一直在正面面对这个现实,本质上它是悲剧的,但是我又希望它能给人希望。

网友:怎样的作家是好作家?在现在这个喧闹的时代,如何才能做一个好作家? 王海鸰:我认为我喜欢的作家就是好作家。在现今要想做一个好作家,我认为,首先是要尊重生活。


感情是流动的,只在每一个瞬间永恒


网友:很多人说80年代这代人没有真爱,是不是和你作品中体现“爱情不是至高无上的”观点相同?

王海鸰:真爱还是有的,只在每一个瞬间永恒,但是这与“爱情不是至高无上”的观点不属于一个范畴。喜新厌旧是人的本性,从某种意义上说,它是推动历史前进的真正动力,但是在感情上人们把它作为一个贬意词来用,可是在实际生活中,并不因为你贬斥它,它就不存在,所以我要说,感情是流动的,它只在每一个瞬间永恒。如果你能够在婚姻生活中做到不断提升自己,始终保持自己的魅力,那么我觉着是可以做到恋爱对象不变,而又内容无穷的。

网友:王老师,你认为成年男女之间有纯洁的友谊吗?你对所谓“红颜知己”一说有何看法?

王海鸰:这个问题很好。我觉得成年男女的友谊保持纯洁很难。

网友:你对爱情有何看法?没有性的爱情是完美的爱情吗?

王海鸰:性不是爱情的滋润剂,而是爱情的组成部分,没有性的爱情不能称之为爱情。

网友:人们希望保持爱情的热度,有什么方法可以保持爱情的温度呢?

王海鸰:我觉着得因人而异,他(她)喜欢吃辣你给他(她)上辣,他(她)喜欢吃酸你给他(她)上酸,但是,还不能过分地迎合对方,过分迎合的结果只能导致他(她)轻视你,不珍惜你。还是我的那句话,掌握好一个“度”。

婚姻是一种艺术,嫁好还要干好


网友:男怕入错行,女怕嫁错郎。现在的女大学都很现实,认为嫁个好男人,少奋斗十年?你对这种思潮有何看法?

王海鸰:千万不要抱这种幻想!我是在文艺单位工作的,我们大院里美女如云,但是,真正靠色取得终身保障的几乎还没有听说过。就是说,不要把你的生活希望寄托在“嫁”上。正所谓《不嫁则已》,嫁好还要干好。

网友:您在《不嫁则已》里不是说“不嫁则已,嫁就嫁好”吗?那我们怎么能不关心“嫁”?

王海鸰:嫁就嫁好,是很重要;嫁好才是万里长征的第一步。

网友:《不嫁则已》写得很好,但我看没有一个是嫁的好的,您为什么这样设计呢?

王海鸰:怎么没有呢?苏典典嫁得就很好嘛,谭小雨也嫁得很好,还有陶然嫁得也好。难道不是吗?

网友:你认为夫妻之间的感情大致有哪几种?在你的作品中写过那些感情?你认为能够写尽天下夫妻情吗?

王海鸰:我认为哪几种一时还难以概况,但是总而言之,如果想相濡以沫、白头到老的话,似乎应当是,夫妻的感情由爱情上升为亲情。爱情是热烈的,热烈的东西容易短寿。亲情相对爱情来讲,要温和一些。中庸温和的东西容易持久。目前我的作品中写过的夫妻大部分应该说是比较曲折的,因为生活本身就是如此。 比如我的《大校的女儿》中的感情就是那种类似于《廊桥遗梦》中的感情——相爱不一定能够在起。婚姻不是爱情的唯一外在形式,爱情也不是婚姻的唯一内容。我认为我写不尽天下夫妻,因为这是一个上至最高阶层,下至平民百姓共通的一个领域。它的浩大和宽泛不是一个人的一生所能够观察、体验到的。但是,我会尽力而为。

网友:有一句话:没有爱情的婚姻是不道德的,您觉得这怎么解释?

王海鸰:这句话固然是领袖说的,但是我认为人们对它的运用已经到了概念的程度。从本质上讲,一夫一妻制是现行男女关系中相对完美的一种,所谓“相对”,它不尽完美,那么如果没有爱情的婚姻就解体,在现在的情况下导致的势必是滥爱。

网友:有人说“我能想到最浪漫的事,就是和你一起慢慢变老。”,夫妻间“平平淡淡才是真”,您怎么看?

王海鸰:这两句话,我的看法是,人们在对爱情的短暂和脆弱之后的一种自我安慰。

网友:请问嘉宾,维系夫妻感情的基础是什么?钱,性,爱情,还是别的?

王海鸰:这个问题首先是一个选择的标准问题。我想,还是有一个相对共认的标准的,那就是古往今来所说的“男才女貌”。男人追求事业,女人追求事业成功的男人,这一点上从古至今变化微乎其微。就是说,人们在选择的时候是在这个大前提下做一个与自己条件相匹配的选择。这是一个外在的选择,由外而内,那么就是每一个个体的选择。你更在乎他(她)什么?这一点首先自己要明确。我觉着,在选择的时候,人们容易更注意外在,但是在维系的时候,内在的东西起决定性作用。钱、性、爱情都很重要,哪个更重要,完全没有统一标准,仿佛是萝卜青菜各有所爱。在这里,我很想以一个过来人的身份,也是失败者的身份跟年青的朋友们说一句,要为自己结婚,不要为别人结婚,换句话说,虚荣的东西要要,但是不能让它成为你选择的唯一标准。

网友:维持夫妻长久和谐的关系的秘诀是什么?

王海鸰:我说过我是一个失败者,所以没有成功的经验,现在正在探索。但是我想,婚姻是一种艺术,有一种难以言传的“度”,把握住这个度是一个关键:松,紧,好,适当的发脾气等等等等,总之还是那句话,可意会不可言传。

网友:我周围的同事朋友离婚的颇多,常常有一个规律:男人有钱或事业有成容易离婚,家境艰难时年青的妻子容易闹离婚,四十岁以后的男人也容易离婚。原因何在?

王海鸰:原因是双方面的,绝不能单纯指责男人是陈世美。如果女人具有足够的吸引力,他是不会离开你的。

网友:在中国离婚其实还是很难的,很多家庭出于经济、住房等等原因,根本不可能去离婚,您认为离婚是解决夫妻矛盾的好办法吗?

王海鸰:离婚不是解决夫妻矛盾的办法,是终结夫妻关系的办法。没有了夫妻关系,矛盾不就没了吗?我同意离婚很难,不仅仅是经济住房等原因,还有孩子,还有难以割舍的共同岁月。

网友:实际情况是,在一般情况下,中年以后的离婚,常常是女性受到的伤害更多。你不这么认为吗?

王海鸰:我是这样认为。造物主就是这样安排的,所谓的“中年男人一枝花,中年女人豆腐渣”之类。男人越成熟越有魅力,女人似乎与男人相反,但是如果你能够掌握你自己的生活主动权,不把希望寄托在任何别人的身上,你就会感到受到的伤害少得多。

主持人:问天下情为何物,只教人生死相许!感情、婚姻这个话题,说也说不完,由于时间的关系,这次访谈到此结束。谢谢网友的提问,谢谢王老师的精彩回答!

王海鸰:今天同大家聊得非常愉快,对我也是一个启发和提升。遣憾的是,我不知道以后怎么样才能找到你们。谢谢!

主持人:可以把mail留给大家。

王海鸰:我的电子邮箱:wwhhll@126.com.


王海鸰简介:
王海鸰,总政话剧团编剧。原在济南部队某海岛当兵,做过通信兵、卫生兵、业余文艺宣传队队员,调离海岛前为医院宣传干事,1984年至1986年解放军艺术学院文学系读书。毕业后回总政话剧团到至今。
主 要 作 品
话 剧:《洗礼》、《我想跟你说句话》、《送你一支玫瑰花》
小说:
中短篇小说集:《她们的路》、《星期天的寻觅》
长篇小说:《爱你没商量》(与王朔合作)、《牵手》、《大校的女儿》、《不嫁则已》. 《中国式离婚》

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Thursday, January 25, 2007

2007 resolutions

Happy New Year EoR!

I hope you got your two birthday presents and is a happy jolly donkey now..

I also got a really awesome gift at Disneyland over New Year's, it will put a big smile on your face when I upload the picture in a few days... anyone would be entertained by this one.. =)

Interestingly, Pooh had piglet, EoR, and now Tigger is my company... ==> Ultimately, everyone's looking for the Christopher Robin in their life, someone who will take care of Pooh, play with Pooh, read stories to Pooh, and most importantly, LUV the "silly old bear" very Beary much!

with that, I will post the picture in a few days..

Monday, January 22, 2007

Disney "Motor Mania"

sadly, I had to attend level II Traffic school (yeah, did you know that they had level III too?!)

anyway, the most entertaining thing I got out of the 12 hour (2 day) class is this Disney cartoon from the 1950s. enjoy! =)

What Gender is your brain?

a silly questionaire that I saw on my friend ihtc's blogsite:
http://www.blogthings.com/whatgenderisyourbrainquiz/




Your Brain is 60% Female, 40% Male



Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female

You are both sensitive and savvy

Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed

But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve



Oh, and here is a free tool from snufericious on FREE text word search game:
http://freewordsearch.teacherly.com/

Disneyland in 15 years

Went to Disneyland on Dec. 29, 2006 (Friday) and have a great time!
my favourite? still It's a Small World, with a Christmas theme at this time of the year though.. =)


a friend of mine was apparently there the day before, he wrote up a long blog entry about his experience on his blogsite, posted here for your enjoyment.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Five Principles for Happiness in 2007

found this article this week, for your enjoyment.

Principle 1: Give Yourself a Break
Principle 2: Get Connected with Your Truth
Principle 3: Stop Judging Yourself
Principle 4: Stop Judging Others
Principle 5 : Pursue Fun with a Vengeance

anyone has any thoughts after reading that article you'd like to share? email me.

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Friday, January 19, 2007

journal

One of my resolutions is to be more consistent with writing in my journal.

I have this beautiful new journal at home, and it's waiting to be filled up in multi-colored pens and pictures. (yes, I do paste stuff in my book some times =) Remember count Amalfi's journal in the "English Patient"?) A friend said that she preferred to type in her thoughts on computer, maybe in the form of a blog? but I think there's something special about hand written materials, it's just so much more personal.

today's mood forecast ==> Sunny!!!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

random Chinese blog site

I was surfing around, and stumbled upon a random Chinese blog site, I like some of the writings posted on this blogsite. Especially enjoyed the Zen-ish article pasted below:


山頂立和海底行 ZT

從某種終極意義上說,人生具有本然的修煉意味,只是有的人意識到了,有的人沒有意識到。但不管意識到的還 是沒有意識到的,人生總不外乎呈現為向上和向下這兩種生命狀態。向上為火,向下為水;因為火不管什么時候總是向上燃燒的,而水不管在什么情形下總是向下流 淌的,水往低處流。向上具有陽剛的力度,向下則有陰柔之美。中國古代的禪師把禪歸結為“高高山頂立,深深海底行”。前半句指的就是火的狀態,後半句說的乃 是水的形象。生命有時是不斷地向上,向上,力圖站到山頂上去;有時卻是向下,向下,順流而下,聽其自然,或者隨遇而安。而什么時候應該向上,什么時候應該 向下,則完全取決於每一個人自身的修為。

火和水雖然是兩種不同的生命狀態,但在我看來,人在年輕的時候總是選擇火的力度,到了暮年時分,才進入水的柔美。當然,有的人一生都在向上,有的人一生都 在向下,人生的方式沒有公式可言。比如李白,他一生都在夢想“身登青雲梯”,然而又不得。李白是個功名心很重的詩人,當皇帝把他叫進宮裏去時,他得意之 極,大呼“我輩豈是蓬蒿人?”李白一旦跨到皇宮的門檻上,就羞於與“蓬蒿人”為伍了。須知“蓬蒿人”中有的是藏龍臥虎的高人。後來,李白在皇宮裏受排擠從 而被逐,於是他開始牢騷滿腹,說“安能摧眉折腰事權貴,使我不得開心顏”。儘管李白有時也向往過“散發弄扁舟”的瀟灑,但他一生更多的卻是“蜀道難,難於 上青天”的感嘆。所謂“蜀道難”,其難者,仕途也。相比之下,蘇東坡比李白更上了一層樓。蘇東坡越過了身登青雲梯的階段,開始感嘆“高處不勝寒”。李白終 其一生都沒有到過“高處”,所以他只是向往登高,而渾然不知高處究竟怎么樣。至於蘇東坡,他是到了高處的詩人,他知道了高處的寒冷。由此可見,高高山頂立 並不完全意味著成功,也同樣意味著孤獨和寂寞。當一個人能感受到高處的寒冷時,李白式的功名心便開始消退了。生命由此不知不覺地轉向了另一種狀態,不再是 一味地向上,而是走向順流而下的“海底行”。

海底行有許多不同的方式,比如陶淵明的採菊東籬下是一種,李叔同的皈依佛門是一種,比起山頂立那樣的迎風展翅,海底行是低調的,默默無語的,甚至得有地藏 菩薩那樣的氣度:“我不下地獄誰下地獄。”當然,不管海底行有多少方式,其基本的人生姿態是一樣的,需要一顆平常心。平常與平庸不同。平庸往往是一種茍 活,而平常卻是一種修為。有一部叫著《英雄》的美國電影,就描寫過一個具有平常心的小人物,如何在一架墜毀的飛機裏奮不顧身地搶救落難乘客,完了又悄然離 去。仿佛是為了強調一個英雄人物的平常心,導演還特意設計了這么一個有趣的細節,當這個英雄從濃煙裏扶起一個女乘客時,順手牽羊地撿走了對方的錢包。因為 英雄也是人,是人就難免有人性的弱點。導演為了降低英雄的高度,不惜讓他展示人的卑微和低下。且不說這種方法是否可取,但人們至少可以從中明白一個簡單的 道理,就人的本性而言,都是一樣的,一半是天使,一半是野獸。你究竟向哪個方向發展,取決於你自身的修煉。海底行的海,有許多層象徵意味。它既象徵著蕓蕓 眾生,茫茫人世,又象徵著生命的本性,內修的境界。正如山頂立有一種高昂的氣勢,海底行需要非凡的定力。所謂戒定慧三者,戒是自律,定是底氣,慧者通靈。 海底行修的是定力,而定力修成,慧門也就自然打開了。古人說仁者樂山,智者喜水。水是與智慧相關聯的。爬山需要勇氣,入水則得有慧根。海是博大的,在這個 意義上,海又象徵著一種胸懷,一種無邊無際的慈悲。京郊香河有個老太太,一生普普通通,走時卻留下一個真身,如同禪宗六祖那樣。這個老太太修的就是海底行 的法門。山有山的標高,海有海的博大。就此而言,人生對每個人來說,都是一次機會,看你能否抓住它。至於你抓住的是高山,還是大海,那是你的選擇,你的命 運,你的造化。反正你不要隨便錯過。 (李吉力)

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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

inexpensive ?= good

wow, I just went to a real golf game for the first time in my life yesterday. We went to Cinnabar Hills down in SJ for a long day of 18 holes, it was fun! My highlight of the day? driving the electrical golf cart! (why would anyone spend time waiting in line for Autopia @ Disneyland, or even bumper cars for that matter?)...

Afterwards, 3 of us went on a Vietnamese food hunt. I discovered that there are a plethora of great Vietnamese bakeries, sandwich places, and noodle shops hidden in that area. All of them taste great too!! How can you beat $2 yummy Vietnamese sandwiches, and at a buy-2-get-1-free price? At $4/3 sandwiches, all of us loaded up for lunch and dinner portions for the rest of the week!

Then there are the bakery items, those things wrapped in foreign writing and I never figured out what they were, until my friend explained to us what they were and how to eat them... I had quite an advanture last night... and it was fun + fulfilling in a physical sense too!

Who said that cheap eats cannot be that good?! inexpensive == good is definitely a possibility!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Are you in love? - "你戀愛了嗎?"

So I was surfing around my friend's blog site when I came across this thought provoking entry of hers: (some parts pasted below) Note her analysis on "Lovers in Paris" writing (blue), what's even more interesting is one of her reader's comment below(purple). any comments?



====================== "你戀愛了嗎?" -- Are you in love?
"什麼樣才叫戀愛? 一起吃飯, 送她回家. 對方不顧意也想盡辦法幫助她. 怕對她造成傷害. 小心異異的呵護她. 這叫戀愛的話, 那我戀愛了."

When his ex-wife asks if he is seeing someone, Han Ki-joo responds, "What do you call dating? Eating meals together, escorting her home. When the other party isn't willing, you still think extensively of way to help her. Afraid to hurt her. Carefully protect her in peculiar ways. If this is called dating, then I am seeing someone."
...
Shouldn't love and affection get easier as we get older and wiser? ....

If you and someone of the opposite gender have dinner alone, is it a date? Usually, I'd consider it a friendly outing or get together unless there are romantic interests. ...

======================
1 Comment - Anonymous said...

"If you and someone of the opposite gender have dinner alone, is it a date?" -- Usually I'd agree with you about it's not a date unless romantic interests are mutual. However, let's consider this interesting situation then:

If a guy (C) repeatedly ask a single girl (B) out to dine and do stuff together, while intentionally hiding the fact that he is in a committed bf/gf relationship with girl (A). C also hides the fact that he's doing all these "Friendship" activities from gf A, to the point that he would cancel his dinner date with A so he can go watch a concert with B. And C does all he can to prevent/hide both A & B from meeting/knowing about each other....

would you call this dating then? between whom and whom? In my dictionary, that's called CHEATING!!!

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

how true, another FWD ...

yet another poignant post I dug up from my friend's blog site, as well as an interesting counter-point argument (all copied below):

=================

Five Rules For Men To Follow To Be Happy

1. It's important to have a woman who helps at home, who cooks from time to time, cleans up and has a job.
2. It's important to have a woman who can make you laugh.
3. It's important to have a woman who you can trust and who doesn't lie to you.
4. It's important to have a woman who is good in bed and who likes to be with you.
5. It's very, very important that these four women don't know each other.

If you're really lucky, you either have all 4 women in your harem or combined in 1 superwoman dream gal.

================
1 Comment -- Anonymous said...

Even if the guy finds this one girl, what does he have to do to keep her happy? I assume the 5 rules operate true in reverse direction as well? should change title to (Wo)Men.

Has it ever occurred to you that some guy might actually find that dream girl he's been pursuing the whole time but not realizing it? Finding that someone is one thing, to cherish is an even bigger follow up question... Because to have found but then LOST that *someone* is unbearable PAIN!!!

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Fwd: 恋人和朋友的区别

在你心中有这样的一个人吗?

你们可能相爱过,你们也可能喜欢着彼此,
但是,为了什么原因你们没能在一起?
也许他为了朋友之间的义气,不能追你。
也许为了顾及家人的意见 ,你们没有在一起。

也许为了出国深造,他没有要你等他。
也许你们相遇太早,还不懂得珍惜对方。
也许你们相遇太晚,你们身边已经有了另一个人。
也许你回头太迟,对方已不再等待。
也许你们彼此在捉摸对方的心,而迟迟无法跨出界线。

不过即使你们没在一起,你们还是保持了朋友的关系。但是你们心底清楚,对这个人,你比朋友还多了一份关心。即使不能跟他名正言顺的牵着手逛街,你们还是可以做无所不谈的朋友。他有喜欢的人,你口头上会帮他追,心里却不是很清楚你是不是真的希望他追到。

他遇到困难时,你会尽你所能的帮他,不会计较谁又欠了谁。男女朋友吃醋了,你会安抚他们说你和他只是朋友,但你心中会有那么一丝的不确定。每个人这辈子,心中都有过这么一个特别的朋友,很矛盾的行为。一开始你不甘心只做朋友的,但久了,突然发现这样最好。

你宁愿这样关心他, 总好过你们在一起而有天会分手。
你宁愿做他的朋友,彼此不会吃醋,才可以真的无所不谈。
特别是这样,你还是知道,他永远会关心你的。做不成男女朋友,当他那个特别的朋友,有什么不好呢?你心中的这个特别的朋友...? 是谁呢?

很多的感情,都因为一厢情愿,最后连朋友都当不成了,常常觉得惋惜,可惜一些本来很好的友情,最后却因为对方的一句喜欢你,如果你没有反应,这一段友情似乎也难以维持下去,这也难怪有些人会因此不肯踏出这一步。

因为这就像是一场赌注,表白了之后不是成了男女朋友,要不就连朋友都当不成了。有些事不是你能预料的,或许对方不在意,你们还可以是朋友,但却已经不如从前的好。也是可惜,也是遗憾!但还有没有可能是另一种情况,你可能永远都不甘心只是朋友. . . . .

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Monday, January 08, 2007

Fwd: 做人要用心去做

学会做人,其实是一件很开心很自然的事情。于生活,于人生,便会少却种种的纷扰和纠缠,随之得到就是种种的轻松和愉快。
学会做人,事情也就不在复杂。少了扰心的杂念和私欲,也就没有了桩桩顾虑和种种考虑,没有了尔虞我诈和勾心斗角。卸载掉思想的负担,人就会如释重负,心灵便会长出翅膀,飞翔也就变的自由自在和无牵无挂。
如同一个孩子,面对一次赞扬,一个玩具,一次游戏,一块石子,一只蚂蚁……就会让他开心一天一月甚至一年。这一切,就缘于做人的简单。相对而言,如果人做的复杂了,其他的一切也就变的复杂。复杂的人,凡事总会去求个结果,求个利益,总要去殚精竭虑地去思前想后和平衡得失。这样一来,精神没有一刻放松,思想难得一时清净。长此以往,就会陷入沉重,陷入无助,陷入痛苦……,以至于不能自拔。快乐,也就成为了天方夜潭。
学会做人,说来容易,做来难。其中的深刻和艰难,需要的是思想的精深和灵魂的感悟,需要的是摒弃一切奢求、贪欲和妄想,卸掉一切外衣、面具和伪装。好比一棵树,不去掉无用的枝条,参天的追求永远是空想。
崇尚返朴归真,让心灵变的纯朴、自然、厚道,才是简单做人的本真。用一个简单的微笑,一声暖人的问候,一朵传情的玫瑰,一次深情的拥抱,一次默契的配合……,来表达情怀,沟通心灵,诉说衷肠,表述相知,才是人生的自然。
学会做人,才能用心做事。简单是一种美,一种境界。置身其中,便会忘却工作的疲惫,生活的烦恼,人生的忧愁。做人,只要根植于简单这块土壤,绽放出的人生之花,必定是芬芳而持久。

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Brain puzzles

from a friend's blogsite :

There were 360 pumpkins in a pumpkin patch, but it was difficult for Farmer Joe to find the perfect pumpkin.

Every third pumpkin was too small.
Every fourth pumpkin was too green.
Every fifth pumpkin had a broken stem.
Every sixth pumpkin had the wrong shape.

How many perfect pumpkins did Farmer Joe find in the pumpkin patch?

==== another post by the same friend:
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." --Henry David Thoreau
not that i want to go live out in the woods, but sometimes i feel that i have not lived life deliberately. i don't have proof, especially since i've stopped journaling, but i don't want to, as in the quote above, discover that i had not lived.
==> Dido!!!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

red and white roses

text taken from 张爱玲 --红玫瑰与白玫瑰 (English translation in the reader comment section below)

也 许每一个男子全都有过这样的两个女人,至少两个。娶了红玫瑰,久而久之,红的变了墙上的一抹蚊子血,白的还是床前明月光。娶了白玫瑰,白的便是衣服上的一 粒饭粘子,红的却是心口上的一颗朱砂痣。

comment 1 from the internet:

不得不佩服张爱玲短短几句就表明了男人的劣根性,亲爱的JOANNE你说的太好了,不是只有男人可以选择红玫瑰和 白玫瑰,我们是自己的,不是别人的红玫瑰和白玫瑰。可笑的是在选择别人成为红玫瑰和白玫瑰的时候自己也站在了被选择的角色中,男人女人啊,在你认定那个你 心目中的朱砂痔时说不定你已经成为对方的饭粘子了!

comment 2 from the internet:

Saw a classic movie Casablanca yesterday. Have to say, I am not a big fan. However, every time when Rick calls IIsa "kid", it deeply touches my heart. The kid, yeah, the kid..I can remember one quote from the movie "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine".

I still believe all people have two great loves. Ingrid Bergman has two in the movie. I think every one including myself has/will have two great loves --- a simple one, and a complicated one; a dreaming one, and a real one; the one you can get, and the one you can't never reach. But the question is where has mine gone? Have I found any?

One name came to my mind, Eileen Chang (Zhang ai ling,張愛玲), a famous Chinese writer. Her works frequently deal with the tensions between men and women in love. One of my favorite her works is The Red Rose and the White Rose(紅玫瑰與白玫瑰). At the beginning of the book, she wrote:

In Zheng-bao's life, there are two women. He calls one his White Rose, one his Red Rose. One is a pristine wife. One is a passionate lover. Most people tend to separate "pristine" and "passionate" into two categories.

Perhaps there are two women like these in every man's life, at least two. Marry the Red Rose, as time goes by, the redness becomes a mosquito's blood smeared on the wall, the whiteness remains the bright moonbeam that shines in front of your bed. Marry the White Rose, the whiteness is a kernel of rice carelessly stuck to your shirt, but the redness becomes a scarlet birthmark burnt on your heart.


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Friday, January 05, 2007

Did you like the cake?

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

2007 New Year's Resolutions

I am still in the process of making a NYR for 2007, contemplating on my life's progress and direction, debating what's an achievable yet not too aggressive goal...

I must admit that achieving goals are harder when you get older, just because our lives have become so much more complicated and dependent on the people and situations around us. It was so much easier to say "get straight A's" or "cook meals and write letters to mom"...

well, hopefully I will be able to achieve this year's resolutions/goals! =)

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy 2007!

Am so happy counting down the hours, from LaLaLand.
^_^
Happy New Year to all my friends and family!