小諾咖啡館

想起在秘密花園…..
『小諾，一杯藍山、兩杯曼巴！--大哥的朋友要的喔！』
曾經，我煮出來的咖啡是店長指定「老闆御用飲品」！
Syphon 在我手上時，那杯咖啡就是可以掛保證的啦!!!
我的師傅們，徒兒沒給你們丟臉！

現在義式咖啡當道，再好的Syphon手藝也慢慢被取代了！
喝純咖啡的人也越來越少了！
不過話說回來，Espresso在速度和品質上，的確方便許多！
很久了！很久沒有再讓咖啡粉滑過我的指尖！
輕握一小撮，湊到鼻尖，好久不見，哥倫比亞的香醇及恰到好處的濃密！

最近買了一台 DeLonghi espresso maker，價錢恰到好處！氣壓也很穩定！
雖然奶泡管有點短，但我的技術還是可以彌補這個小缺點的！
我給她取名叫 Monica！！！
整體說來，她的確是一台物超所值的義式咖啡機！至少，在美國的價錢會比台灣低的多！
現在，每天早上咖啡香都會飄散在我的書桌前！外面儘管是滿天風雪，我手裡卻有咖啡杯的微溫，肆溢嘴裡的咖啡香，當然...還有腦中轉來轉去的期刊論文！

【從一粒細微的沙子可以想見天地的寬廣，從一朵野花可以觀看出整個世界的奧妙，只要用心去觀察體會，便會發現我們的雙手掌握了無限的可能，而生活的每一瞬間的充滿了新奇與驚喜，只要能握住的當下的每分每秒，創造出的價值便形同永恆。】 ~威廉布萊克~

有一天，我也會有自己的花園！花園中刷白的石牆反射煦煦陽光…
藍色咖啡台望出去，是圍繞的長春藤蔓、是偶爾開在牆角的牽牛花！
我會煮著一杯杯的咖啡，然後一面想著，剛買的CD，要放那片來聽...
也許，這就是我心中的永恆！

One Fine Day

It was a little warm today. 'Warmness,' according to the current location, is about zero Celsius. Well, if my family heard me saying this, they would be probably saying: oh, then it is freaking cold there in Terre Haute.

I've never been to any northern states in the U.S. Maybe I should really go there and experience what's called "DMAN COLD."
Hahaha...!

Looking out the window of College of Education, I was composing the concept map of my future dissertation. The flow of thoughts ran like a crazy cat in my brain. I kept searching the ideas I got from the bibliography assignment. It seemed to me that the conceptual frame was being constructed piece by piece. After presenting my ideas to Dr. Powers, She actually gave me a positive feedback that I just keep going on the right track. "It's complicated though," said Yoshiki. I know…it may be a little bit!!! But I guess that's the way it is. All that I need to do is go on and get it done…

I was kind of surprised that I did not fall asleep because of the tiring exercise before the class. The sunshine was quite comfortable. Smell the air and take a deep breath! I know…I can feel it...this land is waking up. Spring is not far away.

The picture! Yoshiki was very good at taking my pictures from the angle that I look pretty "fat." Good job, pal! Now I will really keep working out in the Le Club, trying to lose several pounds of fat…!!! Is this how you keep me from being lazy working out with you? You really know how to get me do it, don't you? Hahahaha…

Well, well, well...please take a look at this, my BROTHER---My Dinner! Butter chicken spaghetti with vegetables in parmesan & Mozzarella sauce. I made it by myself. That's right…very cheesy and buttery. Oh, by the way, I found some beer left in my refrigerator. What a great combo! For sure, this is why I can not get rid of the fat around my waist. What the heck...Gan-bai…!!!!!

Life should be wasted in anything that makes you happy …^_^ …

Reading by the Riverside

"To see a world in a grain of sandAnd a heaven in a wild flower,Hold infinity in the palm of your handAnd eternity in an hour." ~ William Blake ~

Have you ever dreamed of sipping a cup of cappuccino while reading a favorite novel in your back yard beside a river? It could be considered a luxurious lifestyle in this modern world…well, depending on where the house is located actually.

The riverside idea is not really fascinating to me as long as the house is surrounded by bunches of mosquitoes. Sounds pretty nasty, doesn't it? However, I do like the tranquility as presented in this picture. If I can live in a house like that, I must have a dog. Shibainu is definitely my first choice. Then, what else? What kinds of cars do I need? ...Probably an SUV. What about Acura MDX 2008 or Lexus RX350!? ----------HaHaHaHa…either one is perfect. Of course, I shall have a mini-bar beside my living room. Imagine there is a comfortable couch with a reading light by the side. I can make a cup of coffee, go back to my reading, and pat my dog sometimes.

What's the eternity in an hour? For years, I have been praying for the tranquil moments in my mind…An hour is enough…if only I can really hold those moments in the palm of my hands sometimes.

髮梢裡的記憶

今天陽光挺大的，地上的積雪頑強地抵抗著！
我伸手摸了摸教室窗台上的玻璃，打了個冷顫，外頭還是零下的低溫！
那女孩不像是美國人！那種細緻的氣質是裝不出來的！…..至少，在粗魯的美國女人中式看不到的！
我聽得出她的口音，她肯定是會說兩種以上的母語！
細白的皮膚卻沒有多少雀斑，棕色的髮絲看得出她用心打扮過！ …..很明顯，她是有男友的！
這一小時裡我格外多看了她幾眼，不是覺得她美，而她也沒有特別『魔鬼』的身材！
捉住我的，是那陽光灑在她髮梢上...淡淡光影扶疏間的...眼神！！！

不陌生！從側面看，一下子就喚起我的記憶。
這個眼神，曾經望著我的眼神，在夢裡思念過千百回的眼神！

見不到妳，聽不到妳，都不是最痛的！
凌遲在心裡的，是好像處處都留下妳的記憶，妳的蹤跡，妳的一言一行！
一分一秒、一草一木，妳好似在我身旁…
伸出手來，卻觸不到妳的溫柔，握不住妳的髮梢！

妳好嗎？親愛的天使：
記得那家咖啡館嗎？ 妳還喝同一種咖啡嗎？
今天下午的陽光是否也溫暖妳的臉？
髮梢裡的浮光掠影是否也曾令妳想起我…..？

Lousy Bank, Poor Service (Not research-based, but authentic)

I have never felt so disappointed at a bank…Chinatrust Commercial Bank!
The story started with the problem of the annual fee. I was being charged $NT600 because I have not used my credit card "enough" for the past year. Well, I currently live in the U.S. so that I may not be able to use that credit card so often. Feeling that I should not pay that annual fee, I called and asked for the cancellation of the annual fee. Then, guess what! The bank clerk on the phone dared to say: Since you have not used your credit card, you have to pay the annual fee…or you can cancel the fee as well as the credit card.

Wow! What kind of bank is this? What a service!!!!!

First of all, why should I pay the annual fee since I did not frequently use the card? Maybe this was just because of the poor service from Chinatrust bank.
Second of all, I did not say that I will not use the card any more. I did explain that I will use the card soon after I go back to Taiwan. Just because I do not use it right now does not mean that I will not use it in the future. How dare you tell me to cancel that card just because of the damn $ NT 600.
Finally, this was how Chinatrust bank treated a customer who have kept business with it for more than ten years. For Citi Bank, just a phone call solved everything. (Oh, by the way, it seems that credit card users do not have to pay annual fee in the U.S. SO why banks in Taiwan are so special?????)

To sum up, I strongly suggest people in Taiwan stop business and service with Chinatrust bank. In this modern world, you want to make money…..you got to have good service!!!

Scotch Reviews: Glenfiddich 12 yrs

"Quality that can be appreciated in the glass - through its purity, elegant taste and long lingering finish" (Jim Murray, Whisky Magazine).

To be honest, this is a review with a very neutral tone for me though I wouldn't be much sure about the "long lingering finish." Or maybe it was the Glenlivet 12yrs that has already spoiled my tongue. Well, what the heck! They both went directly into my stomach though. Ha! Ha!

On the other hand, I did felt her mellow and fruity taste with a gentle touch of the sweetness of pear and the hint of oak. Without much difficulty, I did get along with her very easily. She's like a companionship of many years. We seem to have known each other for such a long time that even just a blink can tell everything. No words…not at all! I felt myself talking to a teenaged kid, just like my sister.

And by the way, I really enjoyed the time I spent reading Jinyong's kung fu novels with her…imagining that I was wandering around the eaves in the Forbidden City, Beijing, sipping the Scotch, and maybe seeing some kung fu fighting.

Scotch Reviews: Glenlivet 12 yrs

I got this bottle of Glenlivet single malt Scotch from Sherry as my Christmas gift in 2007. I got to tell you, Sherry: this is the best reward for me cause I have already quitted smoking.

Well, well, well! Take a look at this bottle. Does it look like a teenaged girl who lives in your near neighborhood? Oh! Yeah!..... Exactly. The floral and fruity aromas really bathed me in an exquisite delicacy of summer-like fragrances. It's so vigorous, so sunshiny, and yet so violent…Remember what's the opposite side of the extreme? …A drastic storm, maybe.

She's too young. I may say the enticing vanilla notes and nutty hints are hardly being sensed owing to her intense emotional changes…..SPICY. I was once hurt in the very beginning…a tender bite without a touch of bitterness. It was deep and painful, but couldn't stop me from feeling the thrill again and again.

How can I ever forget about her?! I still seem to feel her kiss in the breeze of mid-summer night. ….. Even though snow flakes were falling on my window.

感動

記得上一次的『感動』嗎？
你/妳時時刻刻想他/她！他/她也分分秒秒地你/妳！
離下班還有5分鐘，卻迫不及待地要飛奔到他/她面前！
總要聽他說晚安才能安眠！聞妳髮稍的香味，想把妳抱在懷裡疼一輩子！
兩人只吃一晚陽春麵、共喝一杯咖啡看日出！就是餓到發昏，能聽到一聲『我愛你』也能感動半天！
可以為了挑他/她的生日禮物，凌晨五度低溫下，在新光三越排隊！
…..只要感受對方的手心的溫暖，熱血就為他/她而沸騰 、心跳加速！！！

已經有多久了，你/妳不再『感動』？
覺得他的『政治論』很孩子氣！感到她的『購物經』了無生趣！
妳要多點擁抱，他的擁抱就是做愛的前戲！
他要多點撒嬌，妳的殷勤就是要多買件當季的外套，也許還得加上額外的鞋子和包包來搭配！！！
不再慶祝彼此的生日，因為要存孩子的教育基金;
但多添套汽車音響或是Gucci的包包，竟是毫不手軟！
.....『食之無味去之可惜』的關係，就這麼持續下去！
也許，沒有勇氣說分手，也許，是在等待分手的理由！
也許，勇氣和理由要等到第三者的出現才能浮上檯面！！！

你/妳的心像你吶喊『感動』的渴望嗎？
聽聽心底的聲音！
試著回憶.....
一個眼神可悸動你/妳的心
一個擁抱可奪走你/妳的呼吸！
一句[我愛你]，便可讓你/妳歡喜地徹夜不眠！！！

說...妳願意

婚禮，總是很浪漫的！執子之手，與子偕老。多美的誓言，多美的謊言！
很多人夢想中構築出婚姻的殿堂，充滿美麗的幻想！
儘管王子與公主的故事，在現實中發生的比例不多，
卻也難以阻擋夢裡擁抱愛的佳偶們！

說到底，什麼使得我們願意用一生為賭注，換來擁有愛的夢想？

陪伴…

為什麼相守大半輩子的老夫老妻會在另一半過世後，也 很快地撒手人寰？
為什麼豪門宅第的少婦會甘冒風險，也要和小他10歲的吉他老師，相約賓館私會？
老先生會不久人世，是因為少了一個聽他說話的老伴！
貴婦人會偷情出軌，是因為他的老公沒時間跟她說說話，耳鬢廝磨的時刻，他卻還在想明天股票該下不下單！

如果陪伴是我們選擇伴侶的最基本需求，那麼，婚姻就是一種合法地互相佔有。
但是當我們沒有婚姻把彼此繫在一起，妳的陪伴就是種...奢侈的愛！
我們不敢證實的感覺，不敢開口的言語，少了把手往前伸的勇氣，
在每次見面時，越顯強烈...因為，不知道那天不再有藉口跟妳見面、用眼神...和妳牽手！
也只有在夢裡，我能誠實面對自己的感覺，大膽跟你說：我願意…

也許，有天我會習慣。儘管妳不在我身邊，我會習慣妳會在我心裡！
或是在夢裡，我每次問妳，妳都會說：妳願意...

Educate Our Future

~If you pray for patience, you think God will just give you the patience or grant you the opportunity to be patient. If you pray for courage, will God just make you courageous or give you the opportunity to develop courage? Now, I pray for the closeness among my family. God, I am sure you will give me the opportunity to learn to love. ~


房裡的觀音菩薩像一直都擺在窗台上，早晨第一道陽光如往常照在粉翠、寧靜的玉像！
來美國很久了，我很少去拜祂。總是記得媽說的：心誠則靈，有求必應。所以，我也就好像理所當然地覺得，有麻煩在找祢吧！...慚愧中

拜拜，我想跟祈禱差不了多少吧！我們跟菩薩求平安、跟上帝要幸福，其實都在對自己的心靈喊話！媽常說，願有多大，力就有多大。這「願」啊，其實就是個機會，讓我們去學習，去磨練，去經歷種種苦楚，來得到我們的希望。而「力」，也就是堅持下去的恆心、
毅力！

我以前夢想到美國，拿到學位，體會這片希望的土地。
我做到了！
再過兩年，博士光環閃閃發亮的時候，我將返抵國門，繼續、或是開始我另一階段的生活。我很期待，也多少有點徬徨！但我卻沒有害怕！

夢想國度裡的月光

一年一度的中秋節，踏在異鄉的土地上，感覺不到團圓的氣氛，倒是曬了不少月光！沒有烤肉，沒有月餅，一縷縷塵封已久的記憶卻悄悄爬上心頭！

我們一起看過多少次的月亮？不多！妳話也不多，但是妳會聽我長篇大論！我常想跟你說笑話，我常想聽妳說心裡話，我更想對妳說出 …我不敢證實的話！

愛一個人需要勇氣嗎？也許吧！究竟是什麼時候，妳走進我的心底？走到現在，儘管在心裡吶喊千百次，我卻不能勇敢地說出「愛妳」這兩個字…

今晚，月光是否捎來妳的消息？我在夢想的國度，祈求妳要跟我訴說的隻字片語…我只能仰望、我只能想像，妳還跟我看同一月亮，妳還在我身旁，妳還等我帶妳旅行，你會靜靜聽…我難以言語的愛！

思念妳，已經成為我存在的證明！