Friday, August 19, 2011

價值

親愛なる君へ :


要填飽肚子一般來說30分鐘足矣~!可要花多少錢勒?

那得看看在哪兒吃囉!

自己做的一餐: 水燙青花菜、生的小紅蘿蔔、義式千島沙拉醬、兩片雞柳條(要價大約3元美金吧~約台幣90~免油錢)~健康/少油少鹽少糖

Taiwan Tea House的一餐: Deep Fried Pork with Rice 就是台灣的炸豬排飯 (要價7元美金~約台幣210~開車一小時三十分鐘~來回約30元美金的油錢)

Mug N Buns 的特製豬排堡加上自製的沙士: 要價約 7元美金~約台幣210~開車約一小時~來回約20元美金的油錢

Volvo C30 T5 北美價 $26350 USD

(約台幣87~但這款Turbo版卻不在台灣上市~台灣版的要價已經過台幣百萬)

因緣際會,朋友租車,我也幸運地能夠開到!瑞典 富豪汽車果然加速及穩定方面很出色~我在美國的高速公路上開得很過癮

(還好沒遇到警察~嘿嘿嘿嘿)

但是說實話,有錢我也不會買這部車!!! 車內空間不大、座椅不是很舒服!這倒不是說我不喜歡這車的內裝~它的極簡風格有種俐落的高雅!

只是相比較起來~我還是比較喜歡日式的貼心~~!

我真的不年輕了~~ ><

路很寬敞~車子的油門踩得很爽~日落的景色很美

這裡是美國印第安那州70號公路

Thursday, August 11, 2011

咖啡味の 夢想

親愛なる君へ :


曾幾何時,白色襯衫、牛仔褲、深海軍藍的圍裙;陽光、Bossa Nova 音樂、手中的Syphon,陣陣咖啡香! 我還曾幻想自己是店老闆,煮出來的咖啡一杯杯都要親自喝過,就算站了一整天的吧檯,就算連午餐都沒時間吃,只要客人滿足地說:「小諾,咖啡、還是喝你煮的最讚。」呵呵,那是連作夢都會笑的場景!


這麼些年了,我始終不會忘記花園裡學過的東西,所有輕食的作法及要領,就好似如數家珍地、不時地浮現在眼前! 在美國這麼多年,吃過那麼多西餐,但在心裡,咖啡和三明治仍然是最佳拍擋!

今天中午的午餐是用Honey Wheat Bagel 做的雞柳三明治!沒有啥訣竅,Romaine 菜加上紫洋蔥,雞柳切平用薄油煎熟後灑上一點黑胡椒鹽,然後再放一點蛋黃醬和Bagel夾起來就行了! 健康輕食主義:少鹽少油又少糖! 咖啡的話,也是餐後一小時搭配幾片燕麥餅乾一起喝的!不會影響到正餐的消化!


夢想有味道的話,那會是啥?

我的夢想嘛~~咖啡味!!!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

It's not fish I am after

What is my hobby? For lots of Taiwanese students, in fact, a hobby is sort of luxurious thought. In my memory, there was no such a thing as a hobby for me from elementary school to college; Oh, yeah, not even when I was in the master's program in the U.S. I've never collected stamps which was considered a "good" hobby when I was in the elementary school. I did play some sports, including baseball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and basketball. But none of them developed into the category of "my favorite hobby." Obviously, I am not tall and strong enough. On the other hand, sports in Taiwan are seldom developed into profitable career unless they are associated with gangs or illegal gambling.


Well, somehow I still feel myself lucky because I find something that will be my lifelong interest: bass fishing. Fishing was not really my thing when I grew up in Taiwan. I've never thought that sitting there and waiting fish to bite the bait is so much fun. However, bass fishing in the U.S. consists of various rigs, skills, lures, and knowledge. Just talking about rigs and tips, we may easily find tons of information about them on Google Search. Some may regard bass fishing as a leisure activity while others may take it as a professional career. For me, I'd like to view bass fishing as competitions between human and nature. There is no winning or losing but endless mind game in this sport. Let me quote a saying from a fishing calendar (which was a gift from my favorite professor, Dr. Nelson): many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

My rod, reel, and rig: Shimano Voltaeus 6.6' Medium casting rod, Shimano Curado 200E7, and 3/8 oz jig with Strike King Rage Tail craw (Okeechobee).

The rod on the right is Daiwa 6' Medium Light Spinning rod and Neko rig with Zoom Swamp crawler (June bug).


Seldom do I say: I am a big fan of … I mean I like Kevin VanDam. Talking about bass fishing in the world, he is definitely #1 in my mind. But to be honest, I like Hata Takuma better. Sometimes he is more like a comedian to me. He is funny even when he is fishing. Maybe it's his spirit that make me feel that fishing is an enjoyable sport: enjoying the process of fishing, learning from each fishing experience, and letting the results go by the God's will.


Monday, July 25, 2011

「回憶」

親愛なる君へ :

好久不見

「回憶」是一種很奇妙的禮物;能使人開懷大笑,也能使人痛哭流涕。我一直以為時間拉長了,心情會慢慢平復,淡淡地,就不再那麼痛了! 也許那天一忙起來,也就記不清楚了。但事實上,根本就不是這樣!

景物依舊;但人事全非! 回到美國,就是開車去買菜都不免傷感起來-原來一棵樹、一個路上的招牌、甚至超市裡最平凡無奇的蔬果,都會使我想起很多!就像不會間斷的紀錄片一樣,轉身,我還覺得她就在我身旁,我還在說:「今天的高麗菜很便宜又新鮮,買大顆一點,可以吃好機天。」這種感覺很難過,三不五時地在心上割一刀,傷口永遠都難復元!最糟的是,每天都會在我眼前上演,只是場景不同。

Connie常常被我停在樹蔭下,一兩天都不去動她! 因為我好怕出門,好怕在那裡又有甚麼東西又讓我想起她! 每次一想起她,我就會想喝酒,而且一喝就很容易醉!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Dream Lamb-chop

My sister asked me: what do you want to eat the most when you are back in Taiwan this time? The first dish came to my mind is the lamb-chop made by a cool beard-guy in Tainan. Its Chinese name is "東北十三香烤羊肉." In translation, I infer that the lamb-chop has been seasoned with thirteen different kinds of spices and that may be originated from the Northeast of Mainland China. (Well, I've heard that the owner's wife comes from the northeastern part of China.) Anyway, the lamb-chop was a little crispy outside and juicy inside. Combined with various seasoning, it was surely a perfect match with a glass of red wine, or maybe beer.

Further information about the restaurant: 食草堂羊肉舖子

Riding a bike to Anping and all the way back to my home took me around forty to fifty minutes. It was nice exercise when I had no access to any workout center in Tainan. As a matter of fact, I stopped by a fitness center called "Workout Factory" near my home. The price for one-year membership would cost me six hundred US dollars which was six times of the price in ISU. Wow~~~again, I was spoiled by the gym in ISU.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, I bought a giant hot dog which cost me 50 Taiwan dollars (almost 2 USD). Well, it was just a piece of hot dog wrapped with bunch of fries. Believe me, I was sweating like hell while eating that hot dog. I should have just bought a cup of bubble tea. ^^

Monday, November 1, 2010

浪漫的本錢

親愛なる君へ :


如果你在台北街頭淋雨,會不會想著地中海的陽光 ; 如果你在賽那河畔喝著咖啡,會不會擔心著少上一天班就少賺了一天的退休金!拿著鈔票談風月,任誰都可以瀟灑地「天子呼來不上船」!!!


白天紐約黑夜巴黎


世事無是非,其心使然!或者,也許也可以說:「人,永遠都不會滿足!」

15年前我在陽明山上讀彼得梅爾的「山居歲月」和「戀戀山城」,在露天咖啡館學如何過法國鄉村的咖啡館生活!!!心裡的浪漫與閒適,是永遠都忘不掉的!

但是,15年後的今天,我34歲,在異鄉漂泊五年,心裡越來越明白:我也許得花上20年的努力,才能讓我人生最後十年,還有機會再去瞧瞧異鄉的風景、音樂聲、咖啡香中,靜靜讀書!

三年了,Connie 陪著我,不離不棄 我去釣魚,她陪我一起餵蚊子; 我去買東西,她靜靜地等我 ; 我心情低落時,她陪我一起聽歌!

19句話"分享

<轉貼自電子郵件,出處及作者未明>


1.如果發簡訊給一個人,他一直不回,不要再發了。沒有這麼卑微的等待。


2.如果沒有人陪,學著一個人聽音樂看書寫點心情日記。這是個好習慣。


3.如果一個人很難過,找個角落或者在被子裏哭一下,不需要別人同情可憐,哭過之後一樣開心生活。


4.如果有人開始怠慢你,請你離開他。不懂珍惜你的人不要為之不捨,更不必繼續付出你的友情或愛情,到頭來受傷的是自己他人不會為之難過。


5.如果可以不抽煙,別抽。如果可以不喝酒,少喝。這是不愛惜自己身體的表現,如果只因一些人,那麼我們別傻了,愛你的人不會讓你難過的。


6.傷心的時候找個信任的朋友訴說一下,不要一個人默默承受,這只會會更添寂寞感與憂傷。


7.不開心的時候白天看看藍天晚上看看夜色,廣闊的天空自有屬於我們愛的,寧可高傲的發黴不要低調的戀愛。跟自己說我是最好的。保持一份自信。


8.寧缺毋濫。不要因為寂寞隨手抓一個戀人,這對兩人都不公平,而且太缺乏責任感。找個知己不要是戀人。


9.記住你喜歡的人的生日,包括你的家人,當然,還有自己。生日沒有人送禮物也無所謂,你可以買精美的禮物,送給媽媽和爸爸。


10.閑下來的時候,放一段柔情音樂,翻閱幾頁好書,然後睡個懶覺,快哉。心情不好的時候,也可以睡一覺。


11.從現在開始,聰明一點,不要問別人想不想你?愛不愛你?若是要想你或者愛你自然會對你說,但是從你的嘴裏說出來,別人會很驕傲和不在乎你。


12.不要太在意一些人太在乎一些事,順其自然以最佳心態面對,因為這世界就是這麼不公平往往在最在乎的事物面前我們最沒有價值。


13.不要為了任何人任何事折磨自己。比如不吃飯、哭泣、自閉、抑鬱,這些都是傻瓜才做的事。當然,偶爾傻一下有必要,人生不必時時聰明。


14.任何情況下,背後不說他人是非。如果一定要你說,說好話。多個朋友是好事,即使不是很要好的,總比因為自己說話不慎重不思考而多一個敵人好得多


15.允許偶爾看肥皂劇,但不可成為依賴。允許偶爾披頭散髮,但要注重場合。允許偶爾罵髒話,但只限在老友面前或者獨自一人時,記得說過後要忘掉那些讓你難過的事。


16.一定要有幾個異性朋友,沒有非分之想.就是關鍵時候,幫你出出主意的好友。


17.學會承受痛苦自己調整心態。有些話,適合爛在心裏,有些痛苦,適合無聲無息的忘記。當經歷過,你成長了,自己知道就好。很多改變,不需要你自己說,別人會看得到。


18.能不和人爭吵儘量避免。一個發怒的人是很恐怖的,會因控制不了情緒變成瘋子。忍耐然後思索問題的根源最後平靜心態解決它。


19.不管和誰有了矛盾和彆扭,解決的時間不要超過24小時。否則麻煩會更多。在可以接受的範圍內,先道歉。讓自己做做壞人不是件真的壞事。

Friday, October 15, 2010

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.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

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~

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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 ^^

Monday, September 20, 2010

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 ~~~!!!

Monday, May 3, 2010

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!

Morning Breakfast in Mid-Autumn Festival

I haven’t been able to watch TV on a regular basis for a long time/or since I was in the U.S. This has formed my habit of not watching cabl...