garden-ing / mansion-ing

I was whining to my friend overseas how friendless I am because, in a surprising change of atmosphere, I am in need of a companion to do something, anything over the weekend... and I couldn't find one. Out of the blue, this person buzzed and was asking if I wanted to do the New Year Taipei 101 fireworks gig. Aha! I found a friend.. another friendless friend.

The Taipei 101 gig wasn't going to push through, but, we discussed about where to go over the weekend, and well well, she came up with the Lin Family Mansion and Garden -- a private-garden-turned-historical-treasure reflecting the lifestyle of the wealthy in the olden days. This private garden has seen its days, but luckily was restored by the government, and is now the most complete private garden left in Taiwan.

And so the friendless friend and I agreed to meet for an afternoon walk around the garden. You could choose to pay the 100$ entrance fee, or just surrender any of your receipts for that month... which we did. So that makes my entrance fee only 25$ (a bottle of Nestea from 7-11).

It was a good way to spend the last weekend of this year, and so.. here we go...

it's the little things

A dirty pair of bathroom slippers.

There's nothing wrong with it... except how it got to be that way.

DO NOT STEP ON THE BATHROOM SLIPPERS WITH YOUR OWN SLIPPERS!!! -- or at the very least, wash them after you're done.

Bathroom slippers are meant to be worn by themselves inside the bathroom. DUH. No one wears anyone's slippers and slips on the bathroom slippers just because no one wants to get the feet wet. Okay, maybe not necessarily everyone. If everyone is at the luxury of everyone's house, no one really cares. Anyone who ever lives with someone should consider everyone's space. That's basic etiquette.

Someone who uses the kitchen should know of the splatters and food droppings that someone makes.. or the water that drips after washing the dishes... or even when there's still something left on whatever kitchen stuff someone has just finished washing! No one should be cleaning up after anyone when everyone should actually be cleaning up after one's self. Someone's patience will eventually wear out, and there might be hell afterwards.

So, everyone. Throw out the recyclables where they should be -- don't mix them with the biodegradables. It's not like no one knows about it. And when there's someone else with anyone, be mindful of everyone's time in the shower.

And if anyone is going to come home late, or going to spend the night elsewhere... TELL SOMEONE!

Everyone's a grown up now... so grow up!

This is purely not using someone's noggin to think... it has nothing to do with being dense, or being very private.

(to be continued)

coming a long way....

At the start of 2009, I resolved to take the stairs at the office whenever I can ... except in the mornings. Hey! I'm on the 15th floor. I haven't reached fully awake yet by the time I arrive at the office.

For the most part of the year, I've been able to keep this resolution. Deep down it all, the main reason for this was the yearly year-end stair climbing activity at the office.

The activity: walk up from the 2nd floor all the way to the 25th floor. A total of 23 floors. Yugadabikidinmi!

I did not even consider this in the last 2 year-ends... but...

Dec. 11, 2009 -- this is the first time I'm doing it.

It doesn't sound that bad. Except that I despise stairs. Because I have no stamina. Because I am anemic. I start huffing and puffing long before I want to.

On day 1, I start huffing on the 3rd floor, and make it up to the 5th before I could no longer lift a leg... and just needed to take a break. I eventually make it to the 15th, stopping at every two or three floors thereafter. It wasn't looking very rosy.

I was making a very teeny slight improvement when I had to take a long-ish brief period of rest for the whole of May and June. Needless to say I went pretty much back to zero.

No! I'm determined. I have to be able to go up to the 15th in one go.. and I did! (though I don't really remember when... and how...)

EUREKA! I did! huff! huff! whooshhhh~~

I did the straight 15 for about a week, until I went back to taking short breathers in between.

But I was a little bit pressured with the year-end stair climb.. if only because I didn't want to be caught stopping in the middle as I get my bearings back. Hey, it's still eight more floors than the highest I've ever gone straight.

The day has finally come... and gone. It was pretty uneventful. I was making good time, even though I started lagging a bit behind among my department mates by the 20th. However, this day will be recorded in the history of my life! 23 floors in one go! Seriously. I wasn't even huffing as hard as I normally do....

And so... coming from a really pathetic start, and achieving this first in my life (23 floors! I'm still in shock)... I've come a long way.

Perspective...

Then, at a new job opening, he saw possibilities.
Now, there's a new job opening... he sees limitations.

Then, a new job meant a new environment, new challenges, and new people. He saw possibilities.
Now, a new job means a new environment, new challenges, and new people. He sees limitations.

Then, a social gathering included meeting skilled, talented people... lotsa possibilities.
Now, a social gathering includes meeting skilled, talented people. He sees limitations.

Then, birthday greetings of "another year older, another year wiser" meant new possibilities.
Now, birthdays mean another year older... but not always another year wiser. He sees limitations.

Then, in a new country, he has a new beginning, a new chapter in life, the choice to adapt or blaze a trail. He sees possibilities.
Now, in another country, he has a new beginning, a new chapter in life, the need to adapt to survive. He sees limitations.

Then, in a new school, he sees new faces, new teachers, new lessons to learn. He sees possibilities.
Now back in school, he sees new faces, teachers, lessons to learn... and lessons to unlearn from a life of learning and experiencing the possibilities. He sees limitations.

Perspective.

randomiming...

I luv my pictures. No, not the ones I'm in, but the ones I take. Call it bias, narcissism... I'm sure other people love their pictures, and I love other people's pictures too... but I luv my pictures.

My pictures are...
1. good and I like them...
2. not the clearest, sharpest, rightly angled, and I still like them...
3. good, but I don't necessarily like them, and
4. they're not good, and I don't like them.

With only a standard DSLR with the standard lens that came with it when I got it, I think that ranks me pretty much at the bottom of the list amongst my friends who are really into photography. One friend has at least two lenses and a crumpler backpack, and heaven knows whatever else he has for accessories. Another friend has four lenses (ack!) and two bags (one small and one big), and heaven knows whatever else he has for accessories.

NEWS FLASH: I just learned that a friend got the latest canon entry-level DSLR, and another friend's thinking of getting one too... urk! I'm going to be left even more behind amongst my peers!!!

I will most likely never win any photography contests (never mind that I don't submit any pictures)... not even a special mention for a special category, but... I still luv my pictures.

My friends take these ooh-some and wow-some pictures that I go ooh!!! and wow!!! to, along with the masses, and pictures that I always wish I can think of to begin with, and actually come up with, but... I still luv my pictures.

I'd like to think I take nice pictures. They're not the sharpest, nor the ooh-some-est nor wow-some-est ones when put together with the pictures of my more-creatively-gifted-or-trained friends, but... I still luv my pictures.

Again, as I said, call it narcissism, or self-patronization. I'm not bragging, nor being arrogant, but... I luv luv my pictures... (that's a hug for me).

And before I laid hands (literally) on my digital cameras ...