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!

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. )