Please Love the Earth

Once again, I am fascinated with the scenery and squirrels on my way to the language lab. Spring sunshine is so warm, and yet sometimes comes with little breeze…(of blossoms). I know I am getting late for work, but can not help taking pictures of the cute tiny flowers in the tree. They look like "HOPE," growing from an old man's withering finger.

This reminds me of a blog entry composed by a Taiwanese journalist: 揭開中國繁榮的真相。It's about the environmental truth behind the prosperous China. The blog owner and I don't know each other, but her blog almost burst me into tears.

If Chinese people keep destroying the environment like that, prosperity will not mean anything. I've heard that Chinese government has spare no efforts saving pandas in recent years. The milk powder they use for panda babies has to be imported from foreign countries. Well, since pandas are under such a "luxurious" protection, what about human beings? A 15-year-old boy has to work in a mine all day to make RMB $16 (USD $2.34), but a panda baby can drink imported milk every day!!! What an ironic living condition!!!

I have to say that…I would feel strongly ashamed of being a citizen if my nationality were PRC.

(If my comments cause any inconvenience or offend the blog owner, please inform me and accept my apology.)

It's now spring time here in Terre Haute: beautiful days…gorgeous weather…and most important of all, unpolluted natural environment. The bass I got is safe to eat, but I still released it. (I've been fishing in Indiana for two years, and I only ate two trout.) Bass fishing has been becoming more and more popular in China recently. I bet it's owing to the widespread of American sports!

Let's cross our fingers that Chinese people can learn from the spirit of catch-and-release and raise their awareness of environmental protection.

別再玷污這份單純的快樂

親愛なる君へ :

這是一部多年前的電影，那時我記得是在台灣看的：「往日柔情」！片名譯得很浪漫，片中也的確有段溫柔俏皮的愛情故事，但讓我感動的卻不是男女間的情愛，而是片中主角對於棒球的熱愛！前幾天我在網路上又再從看了一次，直接聽英文發音、不看字幕；短短一個多小小時的老電影，勾起我小時候的憧憬、長大後對於美國大地的嚮往！

別以為我真的是「城市孩子」，小時候，我還真的有一段時間拿著竹竿當球棒、一顆五元台幣的棒球、幾塊石頭當壘牌，和同學一起在巷子裡打棒球！一到台灣或是日本有棒球賽事，就會跟表哥擠在房間看比賽！我第一頂棒球帽，就是政憲表哥送我的日本西武隊的（藍色帽子＋白色的獅子隊徽）！ 跟同學們打球時，我很明顯不是當投手的球員，也不是強棒！但是我跑得快，往往只要打得到球，我都一定能跑上壘！我那時就很羨慕當投手，控制全場比賽的節奏，也通常都是隊長；談判是他，有時，跟他隊開扁，也是他帶頭（威風吧）！

雖然，「投手」夢在我開始戴眼鏡、升學壓力、和身高限制之下漸漸破滅，但那份對於棒球的喜愛還是有的：誰能忘掉小時候的夢想！？

第一次看這部片子，讓我感到羨慕的是美國的棒球環境、以及人民對於棒球的熱愛！我並不是說美國就什麼都好，說實在，來到美國這麼多年，我沒花錢去看過任何一場球賽，就是王建民投球我都沒看過（是真的連電視上的都懶得看）！最主要的原因是：我覺得美國職業運動現場只適合中高收入的人民；窮人，在家看電視就不錯了！當然，這都是什麼因素下的結果，大家都心知肚明！

今日再看一次，我感觸更多！台灣沒有人家那麼好的體育環境，剛剛起步沒多久的職棒又再度爆出打假球的醜聞！我一想到有這樣的同胞，心就一陣痛、一陣強烈而又無地自容的羞愧、憤怒！新聞上老在談什麼「台灣之光」，台灣要是真有光也被這些無恥之徒給抹去了！那些收賄、打假球的球員還要出來道歉！！省省吧，你們應該都要被判刑，然後永遠退出職棒，終身不得參與有關職棒的任何活動！

去年回台灣一趟，我要是一提到美國那裡好，就有一股「視力」飆過來，好像就是在告訴我：「喔！念幾年書，美國的月亮比較圓是不是！？」 我其實很冤，我其實愛這塊土地，我也希望在這片福爾摩沙終老！就是因為愛、關心，所以我會痛心，會生氣，會想要改變啊！

我很希望不要再聽到任何台灣職棒的壞消息，也希望台灣人不要再濫情地任由那些犯錯的球員再踏入球場（我之前說過，所謂無恥，就是知道是錯的還去做！他們要為自己的行徑受罰，想贖罪，下輩子再說吧！）

踏入球場你就該承受一切壓力之外，還要盡『全力』打好一場球，否則就不是職業球員！你的責任是要讓觀眾都覺得，花錢來看你打球，是一種享受、是值得的！

那天，台灣職業球賽有這種球員，那怕門票一張三萬元台幣，我都會搶著排隊去買！

Pecan Bear Apple

Alright……I know this looks very sweet and must contains lots of sugar.

But you know -- life may never be perfect: delicious food is usually not healthy; and healthy food usually tastes like wood!!!

Well, sometimes…...we should give ourselves a treat.

To be honest, I am always fascinated by the apple covered with caramel and pecan. This cute fancy apple cost me USD $5.88 (about $194 NT) from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Tanger Outlet Center, Tuscola, IL. (If I remember correctly, there is another one in Edinburgh Premier Outlet.) Well, what an apple!!! This equals to 5 Fuji apples from Walmart.

Slice it, and you can see that it's actually a green apple inside. Green apples usually taste more sour than red ones. Maybe that's the key to match the sourness with the sweetness from chocolate and caramel.

Taste: The first bite comes from a little sour apple juice with the white icing which soon melts in your mouth. Once you start to chew, the caramel and the apple seem to "DANCE" in your mouth while the chocolate and pecan are "SINGING" ……smoothing like an orchestra playing Mozart.

Suggestion: A little water will be fine if needed, not tea! Tea will prevent you from absorbing the iron in the apple.

Red Wing 1907 Classic Lifestyle

Finally, I've made up my mind to get a pair of Red Wing boots before I go back Taiwan. Here it is…RW Classic Lifestyle 1907. It goes EXTREMELY well with jeans and is still priced at $200~250 USD ($6000~8500 NT) in Taiwan. Well, I did not pay this much in the U.S., of course. The owner of the retail store gave me a very nice price without shipping cost. Last week, while I presented myself with cash in Muncie, the owner did not stock any 1907 there. Therefore, he had to directly order from the factory and mail the boots to me. I was surprised that he did not even charge me the shipping cost. I indeed got a very nice bargain.

One week later, while I was having the product in my hand, the quality and its style of American heritage gave me another "shiver." The leather was still soft and tender, feeling like the boots were just made and put into the box!

I couldn't wait to put the boots on and see how they go with my jeans. Oh….yeah! Looking cool, aren't they?

If I have my own coffee shop one day, I'll like to wear Red Wing boots & jeans while I'm making coffee.

The leather looked darker because it just absorbed the mink oil overnight.

After wearing the boots for the first day, I decided to apply some mink oil on them. Well, I was not intended to over-protect the boots like I'd be afraid to get some mud on them. It's just the raining season is coming soon in Terre Haute and I do not want to take the chance ruining the leather. I guess I've learned my lesson from my Dr. Martens Original 1460 (May them rest in peace in my home, Tainan).

如果一片楓葉不死

親愛なる君へ :

印第安那州立大學以SYCAMORE為學校代表的象徵，聽起來、看起來都蠻浪漫的！所謂SYCAMORE，字典上面翻成一種美國的梧桐樹！但我們喜歡把這種在校園裡春綠秋黃的樹葉，叫做『印第安那楓葉』！也許就是衝著秋天那兩個禮拜，校園裡鋪天蓋地、紅紅火火，活像一幅打翻顏料的水彩畫！

我來到這個不起眼的中西部小鎮，一待就是將近五年。隨著季節看楓葉綠了又紅、敗了又綠，彷彿每片葉子記下生命中的點滴，悄悄帶走在這北美校園裡的回憶!

那天，經過圖書館，注意到牆上這片大葉子：作者將它命名為「昨天、今天、明天」，葉面聚滿無數張照片，好似娓娓道來印第安那州立大學的校史…...曾幾何時，多少老師刻畫學子；多少學子肆意青春!!!

我畢竟是這裡一屆過客，如果每年都有紀錄屬於我的一片楓葉，那今年將是第五片了吧！那已死去的四片葉子，現下該是找不回來了！也許靜靜躺在某處，靜靜地「歸檔」在印第安那州立大學的土地裡！

第五片葉子會送我回台灣，臨行前，還給我留句話：「這裡記下你的足跡、回憶，但你還得往前走，找到你下一片葉子，繼續寫下屬於你的故事！」

Salad Delight: Farmers of Tainan

Welcome to Café Frank's

Ladies and gentlemen, today I proudly present you my new salad invention in Café Frank's: Farmers of Tainan.

This name comes from two key ingredients in this salad-ham & sweet potato. Sixty years ago, sweet potato was considered cheapest food for local farmers in southern Taiwan. Only rich people could afford to eat white rice for daily meals.

(Well, sweet potato is proved to contain more fiber than white rice. Which is healthier? Sounds ironic, isn't it? Most poor farmers at that time went on a very healthy diet at a very cheap cost. God really has a sense of humor!)

What about the other ingredient, ham!? It was regarded as the "luxurious" source of protein among farmers and people from lower social class in Taiwan during 1950s. According to my father, only when there was a wedding ceremony, religious celebration, or Chinese New year's family gathering could poor people have pork.

Ingredients: olive oil (bacon oil is good too), sweet potato, ham, chopped onion, 3 eggs, mixed vegetables (carrot, green bean, corn...)

This salad goes well with two pieces of whole-grain toast. Along with a glass of orange juice, it's a very nutritious meal of breakfast.

(I also added some mayo and pork fu to increase flavors. )

[無恥]...有解藥嗎？

幾年前,每每讀台灣的新聞,過度報導和政治炒作充斥版面!

(當然啦,也不只是台灣才這樣!)

這幾個禮拜以來,怎麼覺得我們國人越來越無恥、越來越無知啊!?

以往帝國時代, 教育不十分普及, 在位者並不希望人民教育程度太高!

能思考的腦子,對統治地位是一種不定時的威脅

現代教育普及,幾乎人人都能唸大學了! 但是人民的腦子, 怎麼還是不太好使啊!!!??

(難道生活富足了, 花點時間動腦子也懶嗎?!)

自己家人貪污受惠, 被發現後, 可以說自己完全不知道! 藝人吸毒後,只要裝的很憔悴,出來道個歉,就可以完全沒事再繼續成為螢幕焦點! 公眾人物未婚懷孕後,還是可以大擺筵席,昭告天下! 連一句向青少年道歉的話都沒說, 社會教育的功能完全喪失殆盡! 職業運動可以牽扯上複雜的金錢買賣, 人民花錢去看的不是運動家精神-不是運動競賽的刺激,而是預先安排好的『戲碼』!

所謂:「無心為惡,雖惡不罰」! 這些鎂光燈焦點上的人,難道會不知道貪污是錯? 難道不知道吸毒是錯的? 難道不知道未婚懷孕是違反社會道德? 難道不知道接受性招待打假球是欺騙球迷?

那明明知道是錯的還去做,不是無恥是什麼??!!

(恕我再說一句,他們應該遭受更重的刑罰或是社會的譴責!依照台灣現在這種過度強調人權的盲目,只會為虎作倀! 他日將使台灣成為腐敗的天堂!)

更讓人心寒而顫抖的是,明明錯的事情! 只要老子有錢走出法院,便任誰也奈何我不得! 「藝人」的工作是娛樂觀眾，不是告訴人民：『錢是藝人賺得多，有錢，我想幹啥都可以！』

…...還有，不要這時又有人跳出來說：藝人難道就不辛苦嗎！？不然換你來表演看看！…...

（廢話，你們戲演得好、歌唱得好是應該的！沒有人拿著槍逼你們去當藝人吧！）

前幾天又看到一則新聞：有個受賄的職棒球員被群眾圍毆！也許有些人會覺得很痛快吧，但我看了新聞很痛心！令我感到無奈的不是那個職棒球員，而是那些圍毆的人：如果我們的人民繼續「白目」而又濫情地寬恕那些受賄的職棒球員，那你們就是把他們打一頓又能如何！？ 為什麼不聯合抵制那些犯法者，使其10年內不得參與任何有關職棒的任何活動！

(那些吸毒的藝人也是一樣；應予以 10年內不得參與任何演藝事業及公開活動！)那我就不相信還有人敢為所欲為！

滑雪の初體驗：Perfect North Slopes, Indiana

親愛なる君へ :

本來預報下的「暖冬」，似乎被一陣陣揮之不去的大雪，深深地埋在透不過氣來的土壤底層！已經接近二月底了，北美大雪依然不斷！東至紐約、附近的聖路易、甚至連南方的德州，也頻傳雪報！

咱家妹子還擔心地給我捎信，要我提防嚴冬和大雪！（儘管，她心裡很期待來到這一片白茫茫的美洲大地玩雪！）呵呵！要是來這裡住個幾年，那種看到雪興奮的心情，也會隨著種種外出不便的困擾，最後煙消雲散！

當然啦，我有一天也還是會懷念這裡…..跳躍在雪堆中的松鼠、野兔，和陽光下的皓皓白雪！

這種冰柱，也只有在溫度仍低，陽光強烈的時候才會形成！吸收陽光熱度的水滴，還沒流到地面，便再度被酷寒一層層地封住！

待會下班得去把Connie身上的雪給掃下來！嘿嘿！不然等一下陽光一照，外面看起來還是雪，裡面卻融化成水，但又馬上被冷空氣給封住！結果就是，把外面的雪掃下來，裡面嚴嚴實實地在板金和玻璃上結上一層冰塊！

來到美國四年有餘，我從來沒去滑過雪！這個二月也許是我待在美國最後一個冬天了！約好安昌和由樹，我們開了三個小時的車，到位於印第安那州東邊的Lawrenceburg城，滑雪場名叫Perfect North Slopes (印第安那州就兩個滑雪場，這個是比較有名，而且規模也是比較大的！)

來之前就聽說滑雪是項「高貴」的運動！入場搭乘的纜車：一次繳八小時 45元＋滑雪器具 23元 ＝68元美金 （折合台幣約 2244元）…...果然不便宜！

說實話，前面一小時都是在雪地上摔到、爬起來、摔倒、再爬起來！光是衣服裡的汗水就乾了兩次！嘿嘿，想減肥的人，可以來試試！那天，氣溫回暖，可把我們害慘啦！溫度升高，地上的雪層自然變得薄又實！別說滑雪板的方向需要用更大的腿力來控制，就是摔到雪地上也是格外疼痛！

中午休息個幾十分鐘後，第二階段的挑戰，我倒是漸漸抓到訣竅，可以滑得遠、煞車、轉彎！但是說實在，還是無法把速度放開！常常煞車的結果就是膝蓋很累、很酸！最後一趟，我選了一個進階級的坡道！呵呵，那真是摔得我七葷八素！

PS: 隔天，全身酸痛是免不了的！但是，我發現肚子有瘦一圈呦…...嘿嘿嘿嘿

Thanksgiving Fun- Bass 60 up -

Before Thanksgiving (November 25, 2009), I broke my record of large mouth bass in Chinook Fish & Wildlife Area. Well, to be honest, I was not preparing to fish that afternoon. I was supposed to pay the bill (cable & internet), go home, and enjoy a cup of coffee. However, I did not go home after paying the bill. I went to Chinook under 6°C with cold wind (25 km/h).

Well, I am pretty sure that's the new sign cause I did not see it during spring this year!

Okay! So what's next!? Of course, I threw my bait into the water! In this weather condition, what did I expect to find the schools of fish!? That's right, they might be staying near the bottom of the lake! So I used Texas rig with Strike King Space Monkey (Black/Blue) and tried to hop the lure near the bottom. 20 minutes passed, and I did not get a bite! Well, it was getting colder and the wind was killing me (I forgot to wear my hat). Therefore, I slowly reeled the line back and thought of leaving!

But……..Magic things happened!

As the space monkey swam back to me about one meter, a fish came out, grabbed the lure, and broke the line (Trust me, I did not even have a chance to fight with the fish. The line broke like it was only 1 lb test!)

Holy Crap! That's an expensive lure!

What did this tell me? -- There's still some active fish chasing baits!

You probably think I would give up and leave, don't you!? Hahahahaha…I stayed and changed the lure into Lake Fork Magic Shad. (I used Yum Attractant which dyed the shad a little green.) Then I still threw the lure far and slowly swam it back. On my second cast and around the same spot, a fish bit the lure and again broke the line. What the heck……..!!!!!! Was there a shark there or something!?

Well, would it be the same fish as the first one? As I was stunned and a little pissed, I put my spinning rod back to the trunk, started my car, and rushed back to my apartment to take my bait-casting rod (with 15 lb 100% fluorocarbon line).

When I went back to the same place in Chinook, it was over 3:00 that afternoon. Immediately, I cast the Magic Shad into the water and slowly reeled the line back! On my third cast, BAM……I felt a very heavy pulling coming from the lure! Yeah…..got you! This time the fish did not have a chance to break my line!

I measured the bass right away. This beauty was 60.9 centimeter.

I measure it again on the flat road. Yes, it was almost 61.

But the wind seemed to blow the scale over.

Oh! She's really fat and heavy! What a beauty!

I took a picture with the bass by putting my camera on the trunk.

Take a look at her mouth, she's a healthy and giant bass!

I got to let her go quickly. In such a cold day, I bet she could not survive if she stayed out of the water for over 20 minutes.

Goodbye, beautiful bass! You are better than Thanksgiving Turkey feast.

(I mean as a gift, not food! Hahahahahahaha…….)

好味道…..大啖野生彩虹鱒

親愛なる君へ :

自從學釣路亞以來，我第一次釣到可以吃的魚….

（應該說我敢吃的吧！哈哈哈！）

今天下午和安昌去試試手氣，我首先中了一隻小鱸！可是接下來，不管我用什麼餌，就是沒能讓鱸魚開咬！

但是很奇怪，就是一直看到有魚突然衝到水面來啄咬！那好，既然上次安昌有釣到彩虹鱒魚！我索性就來玩玩之前買的鱒魚餌！

前導線全用Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon Vanish line,用來增加線在水中的隱形作用（聽說野生鱒魚的警覺性也頗高）！

嘿嘿！果然連續中了兩尾彩虹鱒魚！安昌後來也中了一尾！

地點：Minnehaha Fish & Wildlife Area

(US 41 South 大概30分鐘的路程，屬於岩岸、深水、水質相當清澈的湖區)

釣組：Spilt-Shot

釣餌：Berkley Gulp-Trout Bait (rainbow color)

拿魚拍照是很帥啦！讚！

（但我心裡嘀咕著：本少爺生平沒殺過魚ㄝ！待會該怎麼下刀啊！！！）

幸好安昌有給我及時惡補一下！

總算沒把魚弄爛！

嘿嘿嘿嘿…...看起來很美味吧！

材料：大蒜、薑絲、清酒、醬油 （可惜沒有青蔥）

嚐嚐我的清蒸彩虹鱒吧！

（真不是蓋的！沒有一點腥味、肉質細嫩、入口即化）

Birthday Gift from God

Around 5:20~7:20 pm, September, 28, 2009

That was a very windy day in the afternoon. Anchang and I went to that unknown lake for testing his new bait-casting reel: Abu Garcia Revo Premier. It is a very nice reel actually. Hearing the sound while Anchang cast his lure out, I know it’s very smooth and quiet.

Well, I tried my bait-casting reel several times with 3-joint swim-bait and 6-inch senko, but I could not get many bites. So I just changed my strategy to spinning rod and drop-shot (with 4 inch curly-tail worm: motor oil with red flakes). Soon I got one small bass about 20 centimeters. I thought bass might still wander around but tend to stay in deeper areas because of the strong wind. Therefore, I cast a little farther, let the bait sink there, and I started to twitch it slightly. Just after about 10-second twitching, I sensed a subtle bite so that I raised the rod tip. Wow…Wow…Wow…immediately, my rod bended down almost 90 degrees and I felt there must be something out there. Seeing the splash of water, Anchang and I both screamed out: oh, this must be a huge baby!!!

See…..How big her mouth is!!!!!!!!!

Yes…Yes…Yes….it’s a 59-centimeter bass.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh……….

It’s a dog…..hahahhahahaha!!!!!

Rig: Drop shot (3/16 bell weight with GAMAKATSU #1 drop shot hook

Lure: 4" Motor oil/ red flakes, curly-tail worm

Hahahahaha....she's so heavy...!!!!!

This is the best birthday gift ever..... ^_^
God.....Thank you very much!