種樹人

我家院子怎麼看都覺得少了些樹﹐還好有個打雜壯丁幫忙種樹。 院子綠化了些。 可憐壯丁終日與電腦為伍﹐鮮少用鋤。一雙嫩手馬上變水泡手。樹倒是挺給面子地﹐逐日茁壯中。

  

9 hours at New York City, What?

Grand Central Station

Rockefeller Rose Garden

Goldman Stone Mill

x

New York Botanical Garden Mertz Library and Ross Hall

We decided to go to NYC couple hours before we just purchased the chinese bus ticket for $10 one way for each person.  We were not sure if the ticket is really 10 dollars one way from Richmond.  So when we went to the bus stop bought the ticket around 9.30pm went home and realized that we were going to NYC at midnight.  I guess that makes the trip more advantuous and since I have a week off why not do something a bit off mind.  Come on, life is short!  It's a little get away for my vacation any way.

Well, just to warn anybody who are not used to long-hour bus ride with loud (people talking, cell phone ringing, kid crying) and poor strangers, this may not be your cup of tea.  We sweared that we will never do this again ever.  Reason one: we are too old to do this (midnight get or run away).  Reason two: you can't pay me to ride any bus without A/C (J was so pissed when we got off the bus; I think they did have the A/C on just very low).  Despite the cheap but rough bus ride, we did manage to go to the NY Botanical Garden since we both never been there. J almost passed out on the garden bench due to not slept whole night.  We also went to Kinokuniya book store and walked around the China town.  New York seems not as pretty as I used to see.

Black Dog at The Cafe Door

Where is my treat!!

Last week we stopped by Cary Town Capital Cafe and saw this lovely dog waiting for his master buying a all natural dog biscuit for him (or her).  A cafe sells dog treat, pretty cool idea.

週日海灘行

上週剛好連休四天和JJ決定周日駕車到維吉尼亞海灘 (Virginia Beach) 散散心﹐順便晒晒太陽。JJ 假日一向晚起﹐所以我們大概近中午十一點才出發。為了避開高速公路 (I-64) 車潮﹐我們選擇產業道路﹐一路上風景倒是宜人﹐一整片綠油油的﹐還讓我意外發現原來我們走的竟是維州的花生農郡。原來那一片綠油油的全是花生田 (Peanut Patch) 呢﹐回家上網查了一下維吉尼亞州的花生產量還全國排名第五﹐而且以產超大花生聞名。沿路數了大概有5,6個大花生場及無數的花生專賣小店。只可惜沒下車逛。

開了約3個小時的車﹐終於來到了海灘。租了海灘椅和包廂篷 (Cabana), 開始我們的海灘晒晒樂 (熱)。  我的媽﹐還真不是普通的熱。JJ 忘了上防晒油﹐想說有篷子。當天回家脫衣一看﹐活跳跳像一隻紅龍蝦。第二天整個人像蛇一樣脫皮。我說白人的皮膚還真脆弱。我則晒的剛好﹐到是不能再黑了。  海灘人並不多﹐海風吹的人心蕩漾。 忽然看到有遊客騎馬漫步海灘﹐挺不錯的主意。 下次來得試試。夏天真是去海邊的好季節﹐要不是得開2﹐3小時的車﹐我大概會每天到海邊晃。

蔥爆菇﹐烤牛小排晚餐

某日的晚餐。

Chesterfield Berry Farm 採草莓

 

昨天﹐男友弟弟一家從南開一個半小時的車來玩。終於和三姐妹(8,3及2歲)見了第一次面。 三個女孩都挺乖的﹐一點也不驕縱又活潑。尤其大姐﹐會隨時照顧妹妹們。有一點最令我佩服的是﹐只要爸爸一吹口哨暗示﹐她馬上靜靜地到他身邊受訓。

下午三點﹐我們出發到雀斯特非爾草莓農場(chesterfield strawberry farm) 採草莓﹐農場還附設一些遊樂設施及可愛動物區。倆個小時下來﹐採了草莓﹐玩了一些遊樂﹐摸了一些可愛動物。大伙又熱又餓﹐便到流行百貨商場的噴水廣場去消暑解饞。挺有趣的一天。

Mrs. Meyer's 之我撿到便宜

大約三個禮拜前﹐居處附近的連鎖超市因換經營者﹐所有的店面在關門整頓前部份商品給了破天荒的大折扣。原本只是去買個菜﹐逛到環保清潔用品區時看到主婦們紛紛像是碼頭工人般上貨到自己的推車。剛開始我以為是員工在點貨 (其實是家庭主婦們)﹐看了看標價﹐我的媽簡直是免費贈品囉﹗統統一到三美元﹐大一點的三元﹐小的一元。不趕快拿簡直太對不起自己了。以上是我的成績 (買回來後還興奮了大概兩﹐三天﹐男友還以為我瘋了)。因為是Meyer's﹐所以我真的是蠻激動的。因為原價單位不便宜﹐像洗衣精64oz是15美元﹐我只花了3美元﹔蠟燭原本9美元﹐特價2元。

目前為止﹐我用了洗衣精(baby bloosm fragant)﹐蠟燭(geraniums fragant)﹐去污劑 (stain remover-baby bloosm fragant)﹐馬桶清潔劑 (lemon verbena fragant)﹐液態洗手乳及乳液(baby bloosm fragant)﹐效果都還蠻滿意的。要特別推薦的是天竺葵精油蠟燭 (Geraniums)﹐味道清香﹐有平撫焦慮﹐調節女性荷爾蒙功用。才點一下下便滿室薰香。改天再來用用羅勒洗碗精(basil fragant)﹐薰衣草浴室清潔劑和羅勒玻璃清潔劑。

一個鳥巢三百美金

我恨鳥。
大概三個禮拜前﹐每天早上大概五﹐六點我睡覺的床頭正上方﹐牆裡總是傳來幼雛的啾啾聲。吵的我和JJ快精神崩潰﹐最後我大概都知道鳥家的作息了。鳥媽媽什麼時間餵食﹐幼鳥幾點就寢大概就是那固定的時間了。我倒是還可以呼呼大睡﹐JJ就不行了。堅持要找除害專家(Pest Control) 來解決問題。一來也是必須解決﹐因為鳥巢位於壁爐的正上方。如不解決惟恐影響壁爐的正常運作而造成火災。專家一來就花了我三百兩銀 (欲哭無淚)。原來是外牆面破了個小洞﹐鳥媽媽便在洞裡築巢。唯一的幼雛當專家開牆後也振翅飛遠。所剩的鳥蛋應是未受精的鳥蛋。這一課真是所費不資。平日的維護真是馬虎不得呢。

我家燉牛肉附湯晚餐

自JJ結束在德州的案子後﹐我又開始例行吃的健康理念儘量每天自己烹調三餐。我常很慶幸JJ對中式料理的喜愛﹐我煮什麼他都吃的津津有味。說真的在美國自己煮飯確實是經濟又實惠。倆個人如果吃館子(懶人病發時)通常一餐下來至少三﹐四十美金跑不掉。自己煮又可掌握營養素及卡路里的需要。唯一惱人的是每天想菜單蠻折騰的。通常下班後我祇想躺在沙發看電視發呆讓思緒飄向無底的黑洞。不過從小受媽媽影響﹐我跟大弟都挺愛烹飪的。今天收括了冰箱剩下的食材就來個燉牛肉附蘿蔔湯唄。順道一提﹐JJ 相當抵制Wal-Mart的生鮮。他總是說Wal-Mart的雞大概都是三隻腳﹐倆個頭﹐不然這麼價錢這麼會壓這麼低。不過我偶爾看到新鮮的還是會在那買滴。但是大部份會在Fresh Market 或Trader Joe 消費。

首先﹐我把牛肉﹐胡蘿蔔﹐白蘿蔔﹐花菇和洋蔥切﹐切﹐切放炒鍋和大蒜﹐紅酒和一和然後加醬油﹐水﹐月桂葉﹐迷迭香換到燉鍋放烤箱350度燉(半途加入豆腐一起燉)約四十分。蘿蔔湯也是先把肉﹐花菇和白蘿蔔炒炒加水﹐玉米一起中小火熬約三﹐四十分。燉的時間可以做其他的事。倒杯紅酒﹐點個燭光﹐倆人晚餐揭幕。

おとうと の 葵元和食

我和大弟因為只差一歲﹐所以從小感情特別的好。有好吃的﹐我先吃﹐因為我是大姐。有好喝的﹐我先喝﹐因為我是大姐。有好玩的﹐我先玩﹐因為我是大姐。有好用的﹐我先用﹐因為我是大姐。兩人吵架﹐打架﹐最後趴倒被踩壓在地的總是我那老實﹐憨厚而無辜的大弟。兩人下課無聊在客廳玩科學小飛俠﹐飛來飛去﹐踢來踢去終於把酣夢午睡中的母親大人吵得飛出房間把我跟大弟用雞毛撢子伺候一頓加罰跪。因為我是家中唯一的女孩﹐我的個性被爸媽寵壞了活似個女霸王。記得大弟大概七﹐八歲時動了盲腸手術﹐晚上做惡夢大哭驚呼“姐姐啪哇﹐哇巴斗就疼”(台語)。於是我似乎頓悟反省我到底是什麼樣的姐姐啊。後來我上了護專﹐大學﹐接著又出國唸書跟家人見面的次數用五根手指算都還嫌多呢。漸漸地﹐我開始珍惜並想念家人。
大弟大概國中後就一直對料理﹐由其日本料理有興趣。高職電機科畢業後﹐還是走向最愛的日本料理之途﹐朝著自己的夢想邁進。 大弟從最基層的學徒開始﹐洗碗﹐打雜﹐殺魚﹐煮飯﹐洗菜﹐到切魚﹐刨白蘿蔔絲﹐握壽司﹐捲壽司﹐站壽司台﹐步步走來不容易。也在不同的料理店﹐飯店工作累積了相當程度的經驗。同時﹐自己也不斷地進修看日文書﹐學刀工﹐手法﹐考執照以及習作日式甜點。還請了日文老師補習日文。自己終於在2008年有了“葵元和食”。我和男友去年回台﹐對葵元和食讚賞有加。
大弟每天早上六﹐七點就得去魚市挑買當日的食材。這點他是堅決一定要給客人最新鮮的。每天想配菜。總是忙到晚上九﹐十點才拖著疲乏的身體回家。我在國外煞是為他擔心。我只希望大弟多多保重身體。更為他的努力感到驕傲﹗

水晶手機裝飾第一課-眼睛脫窗

一直以來﹐我都有看日文雜誌的愛好。礙於人不再台灣﹐看日文雜誌似乎便成遙不可及的奢望。家中唯一的日雜是大概兩年前在紐約買的。水晶手機裝飾似乎是由美國的富家女Paris Hilton紅到日本的少女族群。閃亮閃亮的水晶似乎也讓我的腦子閃亮不清了。日文雜誌中有很多超美﹐超閃亮的水晶裝飾。看得我目不轉睛。在日本還有水晶裝飾專門課 (http://gakubun.jp/ 講師﹕藤井愛弓)。我無緣去參與豪華正統課﹐只能自己在家學神雕俠侶的楊過土法練功哩。

昨天去Wal-Mart﹐終於讓我找到便宜又大碗 (打對折﹐哦耶﹗) 的水晶和仿水晶(壓克力)裝飾。統統掃回家。飛車到家後﹐馬上迫不及待地開始我的眼睛脫窗課。以下是我花了大概一個半小時的成品。

由於是第一個實驗品﹐能然有待加強﹗

終於要開始逼自己打中文部落格

序曲

   我神手一算自2001年來美國後﹐竟也匆匆過了九個冬天。真是歲月催人老。由最初半年剛到美國時西維吉尼亞的摩根城 (Morgantown, West Virginia), 然後四年在德州的“那個都去死”(Nacogdoches, Texas) 到至今即屆滿五年維吉尼亞的瑞奇蒙 (Richmond, Virginia)﹐由上課﹐打工﹐寫論文的窮人學生身份到找工作﹐正式上班﹐存錢買房子的有產階級。步步走來真是一部蕩氣的血淚史。不過也因此為我的美國生活添了許多美好﹐浪漫和瘋狂的扉頁。總之就是酸甜苦辣一切盡在不落格中。

  這些年來除了零散的照片和片段的記憶外﹐好像沒有為生活記錄的習慣。覺得有點暢然。很多生活上的人事物其實都是快樂生活的題材。我想好好地悠閑地為自己整理一個像書的部落格。一本有趣的生活寫作書。

                                                                                                  (照片大概就是將來大部份寫格的小窩)

Ski trip and conference

It has been five months since my last post. I wonder myself " what and where have I been doing?". We got back from Vail and Chicago almost two weeks ago and my thumbs are still sored from snowboarding. Do I used my thumbs snowboarding? No. I was the Queen of Falling and Resting on the snow. I tended to push myself up so many times with my hands especially thumbs (why??? I guess it is instinct.) The snow was not very good condition compare to two years ago about same time of the year at Brekenridge. But we really enjoyed snowboarding, it is really a lot of fun just "surfing on the snow" (that's how I feel). The hotel ,Vail Montain Lounge and Spa was very nice in terms of service and environment. Not to mention that everything is expensive since it is a "resort". A bag of potato chip costs about 5 dollars (large one).

After Vail, there was a conference in Chicago. It was very convenient the conference was held in the Haytt Hotel which is very close to everything such as good dinning restaurant, Navy Pier, movie theater, river tour and subway to everywhere. The bar in the hotel was pretty good I like the open environment. Deep dish pizza was a bit disappointed. May be we picked a wrong place.

Navy Pier was nice for just taking a stroll or relaxing. Vacation is always too short. I can't believe it's already two weeks after!

2009 Trip to England

Having a trip to England was just because I did not have to spend time and money on applying a visa. Although it was not the first on our list going for a vacation, we enjoyed it anyway. It is a vacation after all. This time we stayed in guest house instead of hotel. The only thing is that before you go make sure the quality of the guest. But how can you make sure the quality of a guesthouse? The easiest way is check the reviews on Internet. Usually it is pretty ture.

We stayed at 3 guesthouse over the 9 days vacation only one of the three satisfied us. My Oversea Experience is an australian-managed guesthous. It was the best among the three. It is about 10 minutes away from London by tube and it is at a very convenient location (a Tesco behind the house, tube is about 3 minutes walking distance, restaurants and coffee shops are around the coner).

We stayed pretty much in London. Since it was my second time visiting England, it's really Joe's trip to England. Me, I just wanted to get away from work, school and the US. We enjoyed London Eye very much because we went there around 8pm (they close at 9pm) no waiting line. You don't see that too often... We strongly recommend riding London Eye at night. It was fabulous. Weather was super nice while we were there.

I have never seem so many pubs in my life. Ediburgh has probably one pub every coner. I got to get into the Castle this time (6 years ago, I was a poor student and did not want to pay to go in). PS. I was standing outside of the Castle " listening to the Military Tatoo". It was nice to visit England again. However, beach resort would definatly on top of our list next time considering a "real" vacation. You know sea breeze, blue ocean, wave, coconut tree, and cheaper everything.

Taiwanese Family Gang

It has been 5 years. Living in the US for almost a decade, the number of times going back home makes popole think if I am a political refugee who is not allowed to go back home. I blam it all to the US immigration. This is what I pay for the American Dream. It was such a wonderful short 10 days trip going back to see what I have missed all this 5 years in Taiwan.

Food is still awesome. Of course the best restaurant goes to my brother, Ken's japanese lounge. Yes, I call it lounge. One after another surprising creative plates have really indulging my taste bud like in heaven. Even Big J was so crazy about Ken's dedicated to Japanese cuisine. His insist of using best quality ingredients all so fresh and nutritish. He gets up 6am every day to the market to handpick all his fish and vegetables. You sit in the sushi bar like a child waiting what he is going to surprise with next dish. I am so proud of him.

I have to say ten days was really really short. So many to eat and so many people to catch up with. Dad, his girlfriend, brothers,nephew, sister in law and friends, its all good. This time I was also Big J's personal tour guide and translator despite I have not been in Taiwan for so many years. I am glad that he enjoyed my lovely hometown very much. Not to mention the scooter ride between busy Taipei streets. Too bad that he did not have a change to try a scorpion in Taipei. I am still not sure where I can find it in night markets in Taiwan. Well at least stinky tofu really "amzed" his sense of taste and smell......

Finally, another place that I would like to mention is the small fish vallage, Yei-Lui. A geological park was developed not sure what years ago. All my memory of this place is when I was like 8-10 years old I recalled. It is so different now. We were so attractive to those seafood restaurant's fish tanks. In fact, you pick your own fish from the tank for the restaurant woner to cook. We definately picked the one looked delicious. After a nice sea shore walk, eating fresh seafood seemed such a 'luxury' thing to do. Riding home the bus with the smilly face and happy stomach it was a nice day of fishing village.

January 1st, 2009

Friends came from Texas and have been on the road for almost 2 weeks now. With their footprints left from Tennassee, Kenturky, Ohio, New York, New Jersy, Pennsilvania, until here at my little stop in Virginia, we have a lot to catch up for the last 3 years. It is hard to believe that 3 years has passed since I left Texas. I.K. still teaches in the University and J.N. is a wonderful mom and friend for everybody. Their two boys grew so tall now that I could not even recognized them.

Knowing that they would be arriving around 6pm, I pluged in the rice cooker, prepared some shrimp, vegetables, traditional taiwanese dishes and waited for them. Finally, they were here after a "long drive" (we all know how wonderful the traffic is in Washington DC) from Maryland. We could not wait and talk so much while setting up the table for dinner. They had so many interesting stories to share with me about their road trip. It seemed that I have been to bufflo city, New York with them seeing the bright night sky, 5 feet deepth snow, rapid white raft niagara fall, to West Point Academy attending the student meeting in the beautiful stained glassed trinity church hall and lots of nice senaries along their trip blueprint.

After dinner we talked more and I was preparing to go to work at 11pm which means that I got to take a little cat nap. Working the last night of year 2008 was not really cool espeical when you have guests at your house. On the other hand I thought they would probably sleep better without me in the house (laugh). J.N. got me this juicer for gift and this juicer exper could not wait to show me how to make the powerful, healthy and delicious green juice. She emphesized that banana peel is really good for your body and can not be wasted...... Yes juice that banana peel!! Apple, banana, broccoli, sweet pepper, strawberry, tomato, carrot and last but not least the "peel" all in one glass, drink it up! Well, it tasted really good and I feel heathier.

At work, it is the last day of 2008. The thought of did I miss something for 2008 and what I can improve for 2009 sticking in my mind. Not sure why I felt so uncertain at that moment. I should be just fine. It is just another regular day of my life and I shall make the best of everyday isn't it! When I got home in the morning, everybody was still sleeping. It is kind of nice that I felt I have family in my house. Happy moment is always too short. Less than 24 hours' staying, the Hung family was heading off for home to Texas. Before they get home, they have some more States to explore! Their next stop would be in South Carolina. Just like the movie "It is a wonderful life"-- there is no hopeless man who has friends.

X'mas and New Year 2008

Another year has passed by. People came and went. Things changed. I am still the same old girl from Taiwan living in the States. The biggest thing that I was hoping this year did not happen. My immigration stuff still in labor and it seems a difficult one to me. So many things have happened to me this year especially the last season of the year.

Finally I am some sort of "owner". I have officially become a homeowner last November. A nest that is just belonging to me to induging myself. The two story town house has three rooms and one and a half bath. I am loving it despite not being able to sleep well in the morning.

J and I have been doing great. For the sake he has been so wonderful, I have no complain. We went to Mary's X'mas party. I got chances to see and talk with some friends that I have not seen for a while. This is the 3rd year I have been to Mary's for X'mas. It is always fun.

Cary Town's ball rising New Year's Eve event was relative new for people in Richmond. This kind of thing I think once in life should be enough. Next year I gotta be somewhere else. School starts in two weeks, I don't seem to have the motivation to go back...

Book and Movie: P.S. I LOVE YOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PLtVJ_VJM

It has been a while that I have not seen a good movie when I came across to this book and movie preview (will come out in December), it wows me. There are a lot of writers in the world but there are not a lot of books that will move you in heart. Just watching the preview, I have sensed that I definately need tussie while watching this movie.

little girl and the wave

Last weeken after a breaskfast feast at Ukrop with A, we just made a prompt decision to go to Yorktown. We flew homes packing, making sandwichs, put on sunglasses and sandles, and hit the road. A insisted that she was going to drive considering my turtle speed driving and less sense of direction, she still got us lost for about 30 minutes. After all it has been good after seeing a nice blue sky and ocean scene.

We brought books and lawn chair reading under the tree shade above the yellow sand. Then A came to the point that she wanted to have sexy pictures taken. I was really not into it to be honesty. But somebody had to do it. So I took pics of her with a professional photographer's attitute and they came out surprisingly good. I was telling her how to put her legs, suck her stomach in, splash her long hair all those silly poses you can think of in the annual swimming suit calendar. Then it started to getting me excited so I join the smug shot as a bay watcher photo mob. Our professional attitute probably caught some tourists' interest (Yorktome is a popular civil war battle field, they have a historial park near by). A family, father mother about 6-70years old, daughter and son-in-law strolling toward us and ask if he (the father) could take a picture of A and me. (to add: we both wear two pieces bikini). I guess either we are hot sexy chics or endangerous species to them.

Then there came along this little asian girl with her father. Blue jeans, blue shirt with somewhat blue mood beyond blue ocean and sky, I like the feeling of this photo.

A farewell party

The first time here in Richmond I went to a party with people who all have something common of Taiwan or the same area. I always love group pictures. I think it is probably I am so far away from home. A group picture makes me feel like belonging to some sort of family setting.