Autumn Awareness

People say there is no "autumn" around Terre Haute. When the temperature starts to drop (from 30 ℃ to 20 ℃) drastically during day time, the winter will not be far away. Well, I am a guy who is more used to hot weather than cold one (since I come from a tropical country). So I always pay attention to the changes of daily weather in case I maget cold, especially in the very early morning.

The drop of the temperature reminds people of the coming winter that also makes me think of the limited days I can stay in the US. Ever since I got my Master's degree, everything here has been keeping changing, including friends, campus, the view of the city, and the little cute car with beautiful painting on it. Every car is painted by specific artist who is sponsored by certain organizations/companies.

Quite a lovely scene on the street, isn't it?

I wonder if the art-painting work can also be done on the street of Taiwan. Or would it take "great" efforts to keep the art work clean and beautiful if Taiwanese people had little decent public morality?

In view of the coming cold weather, I finally made up my mind having my timing belt changed. Around the Toyota logo stayed the butterfly…Connie and I decided not to disturb her. I think Connie enjoyed her company, gently resting on Connie's face. Isn't this peaceful!?

The sunshine still spared no strength trying to warm up the earth, trees, and our mind though it's time winter gradually regained its power. Connie and I sat quietly on the sidewalk, appreciating the beauty of this endless competition. Actually, we seemed to care no more.

。。。。。。

Just let the view help us rest our tiring heart.

暖秋

親愛なる君へ :

今年的秋天特別暖，十月都快要過半了，氣溫還是可以升到攝氏30度！本來可以冬藏的短袖上衣，看來還是得多等個幾天！假日午後，小憩在家後的院子裡，一顆顆結實纍纍、可愛小巧的蕃茄，硬是把我誘出涼爽的屋簷下！

不是前天才摘過嗎！？今天又熟了好多！反正不摘也是便宜了附近的「鼠輩」，那幹嘛不孝敬一下自己勒！嘿嘿嘿嘿～～～

（嗯嗯～你沒聽錯，是鼠輩！我已經在我家抓到過兩隻老鼠了！。。。。然後，還能怎麼著，當然是『就地正法』囉！）

「所謂林沖擅闖白虎堂：百口莫辯！

鼠輩擅闖張家廚房：立斬不赦！」

～我手上躺著的，是血紅色的蕃茄，還是滴落的心～

無可言語的溫柔

親愛なる君へ :

夏末～秋初 2010

往芝加哥路上，朝陽初昇的天空，Connie 非要我停下來看看！還是她的眼光好，佇足凝神往遠方望去，有希望時間停止的感動 ！

問我在美國這些年，能有天留在心裡絕對不會忘記的是什麼？ 我想恐怕就是釣魚了！有一個教授送我一幅月曆，還記得上面寫著：「很多垂釣者終其一生都可能沒有發覺，其實另他們追尋/著迷的，從來都不是魚（譯文）」！

有多少時刻、多少寒暑、多少閒逸的湖邊垂釣，與湖對話、與釣竿相伴、與樹林和動物們對望！這是一幅畫 ～～ 如果真能如魔戒裡的幻化，真希望我可以變成精靈，永遠與山林為伴！

（呵呵！當然啦，最好有女精靈陪我更好！！呵呵呵呵！）

感謝Racoon的專業攝影，他抓到這片大地撫在我心底

～「無可言語的溫柔」～

Nautica 是不是該考慮請我去當個模特兒啊！嗯～～XXX～～不行啦，Nautica好像是走遊艇運動風ㄝ！哈哈哈！

我還是側面看起來比較有型 ^^

Turkey Run State Park & Shawnee National Forest

After mid-August, 2010, I move to a new place and start a new leaf of my life in Terre Haute. It is a house of three bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and a big beautiful back yard. I shared the rent and living cost with two "housemates" who are both ten years young than me. Sometimes, I jokingly call myself as their uncle, taking care of their life like a butler. Well, indeed, I am a little more experienced in daily-life chores than they are. And yet, catching missing bats and jumping crickets in the basement is totally new mission for me in the US. I really hope there will not be anything else coming out from this 100-year-old house.

Settling down in the new housing, I went on trips of hiking with my friends to Turkey Run State Park and Shawnee National Forest. Again, I was stunned by the spectacular scenery, fresh air, and abundant varieties of animals in those natural environment in the US. Friendship and laughter seemed to make the trips "vigorous," fun, and unforgettable.

Racoon, Penny, Karen, Queena, and me.

Thanks to Racoon and Penny's pork chop sandwiches. We all had a good time.

(free from starving)

I was not actually a nature-goer before I came to the US. Taiwanese outdoors was always full of people that the crowd of people usually drove me crazy. However, the stone formations in Shawnee National Forest were really magnificent and breath-taking! When I stood on the giant rock and tried to see as far as I could, the trees, the sky, and flying eagles took my mind away. Had I a pair of wings on my back, I would fly with the eagles to the end of the world.

On the way back, we played funny faces in the car. Hahahahaha….these were normal ones.

Then……well ～～～SHOW TIME～～～

Karen……you should join the circus ～～～！！！

快樂不知時日過

親愛なる君へ :

古人說：「好事多磨」。對我而言，似乎要變成：「好事來得太晚」！在印第安那最後的春天，『快樂』讓我不知時日慢慢地從指縫間溜走，我一步步地往回台灣的那一刻走近！

星期二由樹生日，我和安昌邀他下午一起去釣魚、然後一起去大吃一頓！地點選在 Buffalo Wild Wings. 妳可以看到一堆的雞翅和小雞腿，還有一大杯的啤酒！是的，這就是男人的宵夜！（想養肚子的，儘管這麼吃！叔叔我在美國五年來，包括這一次，只去過四次！） 當然啦，如果你和由樹一樣是那種『爆吃不胖』的體質….嘿嘿！

不過這家店的雞翅那真是過癮！那晚我們一共吃了50支，點了五種不同的醬料……….我個人覺得spicy garlic （辣蒜味）和 blazin' （譯語：燃燒）最是有勁！尤其是blazin'，那真是後勁十足，辣到我跟安昌猛灌啤酒！

傍晚的湖邊很是愜意，雖然大雨過後有些泥濘，春天的綠葉像是被洗了一次，格外青翠！（那天沒有陽光，但雨後的空氣很是清入脾肺）

這是我光榮的傷兵：Lake Fork Magic Live Shad

其實還還勉強能用，但我硬是讓它卸甲歸「藏」！因為它身上的咬痕已經證明它在鱸魚的利口下，身經百戰、不折不撓的貢獻！

蒲公英の相伴

親愛なる君へ :

今年春天暖得比較早，儘管預報鱸魚產卵期還未到，附近湖區似乎已經接近理想水溫！依照前幾週捕獲的鱸魚來看，水溫提早暖化應該已經促使產卵期也提早開始！上星期我跟朋友去試了幾竿，岸邊的鱸魚清晰可見，可就是不咬口！任憑我們試盡各式各樣的餌，他們最多也只是盯著看，迴游附近，不願就口！這星期天氣大好，雖然週末頻頻出現短暫雷雨，但帶來涼爽的陣風也把魚兒們的胃口引將出來～！

學校附近的草地上，蒲公英是隨處可見！有時一陣風吹過，就看到無數種子飄啊飄的！

（也許風也把花粉吹得到處飄，害我每天都得吞過敏藥才敢出門）

好肥的bluegill，它的嘴超級小，但還是用力地把餌咬下去～～於是乎，就成了我拍照的主角！

這隻魚的色澤光鮮亮麗，好像這就是母的bluegill!嘿嘿！反正我也分不太清楚，還是趕快放回水中！

這天，我釣到10幾尾鱸魚，有時餌一下水，就被拖著跑了！看看它的嘴，吞下一隻bluegill 那是沒啥問題的！

這隻bluegill花色很特別，陽光下看起來像是虎斑色(TORA)的魚！

腳邊的蒲公英開在石板的草堆下！給它一張特寫，感謝它陪我釣魚，沐浴春天的夕陽下！

Missouri Corn Cob Pipe

I've quit smoking for almost two years…(Well, I don't remember if it really lasts this long!) Anyway, I do not smoke normal cigarettes any more. Last week, however, I smoked again because I found an interesting something: Missouri Corn Cob Pipe.

Take a look at this little cute pipe. It's probably not a big deal for Americans, but it sure interests foreigners like me. ^_^

(Just like some Americans may think it cool to tattoo Chinese characters on the arms.)

At the bottom of the bowl, there's a sticker indicating its origin and manufacturer. I've never seen this when I started to smoke pipe in Taiwan. Well, I'll definitely buy a brand new one, bring it back to Taiwan, and make it as one of my pipe collections. It may not be as subtle and delicate as briar pipes, but it surely represents the old American pipe smoking tradition.

I was smoking this corn cob pipe in Hawthorn Park while fishing with Anchang. The tobacco was Prince Albert's Cherry Vanilla. To be honest, I may not criticize its flavor & taste since $3.29 USD a pouch is already cheap enough. But I could not help but keep missing Mac Baren Vanilla cream and Stanwell vanilla tobacco.

(By the way, Anchang and I got "COUNTLESS" fish that day. ^_^)

Spring Time Fun

Spring time in Terre Haute (Indiana) is quite charming. I may not be able to recognize each flower's name, but their beautiful "figures" really cheer me up while walking in the campus.

This one looks very cute and pretty but smells not so pleasant!

Spring time, fishing time! This fat-belly female bass was caught in Ji Case (Hawthorn Park). I put it back right afte the picture. Hope she gives birth to lots of baby bass this year.

I think it's tulip. "COLORFUL" (Family Housing Unit 4)

I bet this goose is the guardian or the father of little geese arond the lake. Whenever I got closer to them, he started to make loud noise so that little geese would swim away.

Anchang and I were fascinated by these two ducks. They were always together no matter what! Cute duck copule!!! ^_^

The squirrel didn't like me and my camera. In a blink of an eye, it ran away.

Finishing the gym workout, Yoshiki and I could not help but keep taking pictures of those pretty flowers in the tree!

I am gonna miss this gym...it's said that one running machine in this new gym costs more than $2000 USD...wow...that is expensive!

Yeah! It's me climbing on the tree and taking pcitures! Yoshiki said I'm "distinguished" in his blog! hahahahahahaha.....^_^

When the summer "hot wave" comes, these pretty flowers will look very "dead."

The only thing don't like about these flowers is the pollen. It causes red eyes, itchy noses, and watering eyes. Horrible.......!

Don't you think it looks like cotton candy with honey in the center!? ^_^

星巴克: 法布奇諾冰淇淋

親愛なる君へ :

這幾天在Kroger發現一樣新東西：星巴克出品的法布奇諾冰淇淋

（其實就是咖啡冰淇淋加上黑巧克力片）

我一向不喜歡去星巴克買咖啡！說實在的，喝起來就像是花大錢買一杯昂貴地牛奶（咖啡味少得可憐）！也不知道台灣的星巴克在貴什麼，美國這裡一杯貴也不過 3-4 元美金，咱們算 5元好了，折合台幣就是 150-180 元。那是這裡物價貴ㄝ，人民的薪資高ㄝ！憑什麼星巴克搬到台灣也賣同樣的價錢？台灣人民的所得有高於美國人民嗎！？ 嘿嘿，這不是大張旗鼓地到台灣搶錢嗎！？

唉！算了，離題了！咱們今天不是要談「星咖啡」，而是嚐嚐這家的冰淇淋！我花了美金 2.88 元買這罐冰淇淋，換句話說，也就是台幣一百元有找！

（麻煩那位有心人在台灣如果有看到同樣的商品，給俺報個價！）

若不是衝著它所謂的 Java chip （根據罐上的描述，也就是黑巧克力啦！），我壓根兒不會想要下手！好吧，我不再說廢話了，就來嚐嚐吧！

嗯嗯…...跟我想的一樣，就真的是『甜度』百分百的咖啡冰淇淋（老美拿來養肚子用的）！我大概吃了三口，就想喝水把嘴裡的甜味散去！！！我想，我吃甜食的年紀已經過了，反倒是「非甜不歡」的由樹應該會很中意！

優點嘛…...咖啡味倒是真的會在嘴裡散開，伴隨黑巧克力的微苦，還算相得益彰！減脂好幾個月了，這大概可以說是給我自己一點獎賞吧

（最近腰圍瘦得不像話，該吃一點甜的補一補）！

給咱們亞洲人長長面子

親愛的爸媽：

您倆在台灣一切都好嗎！？兒子今天有件喜事，想和您倆分享！

就在今天下午，我得到了學校年度甄選傑出學生助理的獎狀！也許，這乍看之下，並不十分了不起！我一開始也覺得這只不過是學校裡的一種活動，鼓勵學生罷了！但是一到場才知道，我在電腦教室的直屬上司，連同系主任、助教，一併提名我為年度最優異學生助理！全校數千學生助理當中，只有約二十名入選；而這二十名當中又只有六名被列為最優異學生助理！

當我坐立不安地想趕快領完獎走人時，我和其他五名被留到最後面，一一由校長介紹，上台領獎，並由直屬上司發表感言（求學幾十年，第一次有老師上台為我發表感言！）

在當下，我環顧一下四周，我是全校唯一的亞洲人得到此項殊榮！

（兒子有給您倆爭點面子吧！）

典禮完後，我和我的直屬上司拍照。他一直跟我說謝謝我的付出，我除了感動和回敬他的用心外，腦子裡也不停地想著，真想讓爸媽您倆也能親眼看到！

我的論文雖然一直停滯不前，我雖然無法在這裡賺取豐厚的薪資，但今天這張獎狀以及教授的肯定，卻不是用錢可以買來的！還記得我的教授跟我說過：「你在這裡得到什麼對你日後其實影響都不大，真正讓你受益的，是你從經驗裡學習到的東西。」這句話以前並不十分讓我有什麼深刻的印象！但今天我才知道，教授想跟我說的是：他看重的不僅僅是「會做什麼」，而更重要的，是「默默地做沒人要你做的事」！

典禮完後，我的日本朋友跟我說，這張獎狀在美國找工作，抵得上一個大公司總裁的推薦信！我不知道他是否是誇大其詞地挑好聽的說，但我想，他日能夠因為這張獎狀找到工作，也許，是我得到的最佳獎賞！

很感謝爸媽給我這個機會，讓我可以在美國留學，得到人生中難得的經歷！我會再繼續加把勁，早點回台灣，承歡膝下！

願爸媽

平安喜樂

Distinguished Student Assistant

I know this award probably meant nothing to someone, but it was a GREAT honor to me. First of all, I was the only Asian nominee who beat "out even such stellar competitors" (quoted from email by Dr. Nelson, 2010) and won the "Distinguished Student Assistant." Our president also said … we should be proud to show this award to interviewers while applying for a job in the future.

(Let's see how it will work in Taiwan! ^_^)

Second of all, I was surprised to know this nomination possibility was actually brought about by our LLL Department Administrative Assistant, Deborah Wheat. Then, it was approved by Dr. Ronald Dunbar (Department Chair), Dr. Cecil Nelson (Professor of Linguistics), and Dr. Keri Yousif (Assistant Professor of French). According to Dr. Nelson, Dr. Yousif even insisted on adding "strong statement" to the nomination (quoted from email by Dr. Nelson, 2010).

Well, who am I to accept such efforts from so many teachers!!!

Finally, thanks to Dr. Nelson's 『constant encouragement』, I presented myself in the reception. Dr. Nelson even made a speech for me!

Wow…I've never had this honor for my whole life!

PS: Also, thanks to Yoshiki to be my driver and photographer that day!