Is it just me, or has there been a lot of weird stuff going on lately? It just seems like everyone I talk to these days has had some type of saga in recent months. It's uncanny. Does anyone have some good news to share? This cycle needs to be broken!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Butterfly season
The end of May saw Sharon and I on the bus back to up Yangming Shan for a day of hiking. This is now the second year in row we've done this - could it be becoming an annual event? Anyway, it proved to be a day of great luck for many reasons. First, despite researching our prospective route in depth the night before, Sharon was still unclear as to just how to get there. Luckily, a couple on the bus was going to the same place and helped us transfer to the bus we needed to get there and then to point us in the right direction on the path. The path was butterfly way, which is particularly popular at this time of year, considering that's it's apparently butterfly season up on the mountain. So, along we went, but no butterflies did we see. Seemed like our luck was quickly running out. But, we were greeted by some wonderfully mysterious and foggy ways, which offered Sharon the opportunity to teach me how to say "fog" in Chinese - wuuuuuuuuuuuu. 
Next, once we were on the way to the top of a peak she wanted to take me too, we could hear thunder rumbling incessantly over the mountains. It kept threatening rain, but from where we were, the sky remained blue and clear. The path we were on was also surprisingly free of other hikers. When we did finally meet someone on the path, we were worried that they were actually aliens disguised as humans. We also hypothesized that the constant rumbling was not from thunder but from an elusive mountain monster that duly gobbled up unwitting hikers as they came around the bend. Well, we made our way around the bend only to be greeted, not by the monster, but by butterflies! Wonderfully colorful butterflies that flitted playfully between us and the trees.
Our feet refreshed from having stopped to admire the butterflies for a while, we renewed our climb up the seemingly endless stairs up the mountain that stared mercilessly back at us. But, each step higher afforded a wider view of the surrounding mountains and the bike path we had taken just a month before up to Danshui.
After catching our breath at the peak - which we were surprised to learn is supposedly the highest peak at Yangming Shan, we headed to the road to make our way back down. We were greeted with the grand finale of luck as the road was lined with a curious white flower and butterflies galore! And this time the butterflies rested long enough to let us get some decent shots of them.
After enjoying so much luck in one day, I'm a tad worried I've maxed out my luck account for the year, but even so, I'm looking forward to a hopefully 3rd annual Yangming Shan hike with Sharon next butterfly season!
Next, once we were on the way to the top of a peak she wanted to take me too, we could hear thunder rumbling incessantly over the mountains. It kept threatening rain, but from where we were, the sky remained blue and clear. The path we were on was also surprisingly free of other hikers. When we did finally meet someone on the path, we were worried that they were actually aliens disguised as humans. We also hypothesized that the constant rumbling was not from thunder but from an elusive mountain monster that duly gobbled up unwitting hikers as they came around the bend. Well, we made our way around the bend only to be greeted, not by the monster, but by butterflies! Wonderfully colorful butterflies that flitted playfully between us and the trees.
Our feet refreshed from having stopped to admire the butterflies for a while, we renewed our climb up the seemingly endless stairs up the mountain that stared mercilessly back at us. But, each step higher afforded a wider view of the surrounding mountains and the bike path we had taken just a month before up to Danshui.
After catching our breath at the peak - which we were surprised to learn is supposedly the highest peak at Yangming Shan, we headed to the road to make our way back down. We were greeted with the grand finale of luck as the road was lined with a curious white flower and butterflies galore! And this time the butterflies rested long enough to let us get some decent shots of them.
After enjoying so much luck in one day, I'm a tad worried I've maxed out my luck account for the year, but even so, I'm looking forward to a hopefully 3rd annual Yangming Shan hike with Sharon next butterfly season!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My birthday :-)
Despite all my best efforts at stopping the clocks (note to self - wine may help me forget time, even erase time, but it does NOT actually stop time), this day has come around again. While leading up to today I anticipated it with disdain, denial and at times even despair, I find now that only a few precious hours remain of my actual birthday, I have turned to embrace it.
One reason for this is that since I have hit my thirties, this one (which shall remain numberless for those of you who don't already know for yourselves) has been one of the better ones. My student-turned-friend Sharon organized a lovely dinner party to celebrate in advance over the weekend, gathering old friends, other students-turned-friends, and new friends alike at one of my favorite eateries in town, Sababa. She even went so far as to provide a yummy cake (which I barely managed to keep off my nose) and a party game involving post-it notes (how did she know I love post-it notes??)
That night of uproarious laughter has been followed up by a calmer, though just as meaningful birthday eve day yesterday when I was surprised the attentiveness of more students through cards, gifts and even a decadent chocolate birthday cake.
The pleasantries have continued into today with more emails, cards and phone calls from family, old friends and new friends. In short, it's been many birthdays since I felt the warmth of everyone around me as I have on this one.
Of course birthdays are always a natural time for reflection, though even if it had slipped my mind to pause and reflect on this particular birthday, those around me have provided ample prompts and reminders to jump start me into that reflective mode. And, the upshot of all these reflections is simply this - I am in a good place right now. Of course it's natural to begrudge the passing years, especially as I see the lines get deeper and sags sag lower. But I also find that feeling content with life and feeling that I'm in the right place and doing the right thing goes a long way to counteract anything a little wrinkle or droop or 20-30 gray hairs might do. So, with that said, tonight I enthusiastically celebrate life with some wine and Swiss Cheese flavored potato chips and look forward to seeing how everything (and perhaps everyone?) will play out over the course of the year.
However, despite my instantaneous newfound wisdom that came in the mail with all those birthday greetings, I do find that there is one question I still am as of yet unable to answer.
Would someone please just tell me - WHY??????????
One reason for this is that since I have hit my thirties, this one (which shall remain numberless for those of you who don't already know for yourselves) has been one of the better ones. My student-turned-friend Sharon organized a lovely dinner party to celebrate in advance over the weekend, gathering old friends, other students-turned-friends, and new friends alike at one of my favorite eateries in town, Sababa. She even went so far as to provide a yummy cake (which I barely managed to keep off my nose) and a party game involving post-it notes (how did she know I love post-it notes??)
That night of uproarious laughter has been followed up by a calmer, though just as meaningful birthday eve day yesterday when I was surprised the attentiveness of more students through cards, gifts and even a decadent chocolate birthday cake.
The pleasantries have continued into today with more emails, cards and phone calls from family, old friends and new friends. In short, it's been many birthdays since I felt the warmth of everyone around me as I have on this one.
Of course birthdays are always a natural time for reflection, though even if it had slipped my mind to pause and reflect on this particular birthday, those around me have provided ample prompts and reminders to jump start me into that reflective mode. And, the upshot of all these reflections is simply this - I am in a good place right now. Of course it's natural to begrudge the passing years, especially as I see the lines get deeper and sags sag lower. But I also find that feeling content with life and feeling that I'm in the right place and doing the right thing goes a long way to counteract anything a little wrinkle or droop or 20-30 gray hairs might do. So, with that said, tonight I enthusiastically celebrate life with some wine and Swiss Cheese flavored potato chips and look forward to seeing how everything (and perhaps everyone?) will play out over the course of the year.
However, despite my instantaneous newfound wisdom that came in the mail with all those birthday greetings, I do find that there is one question I still am as of yet unable to answer.
Would someone please just tell me - WHY??????????
Sunday, December 30, 2007
bff!
Considering that we've been good friends for about 5 years now, you'd think Andrew and I would have a slew of good pictures together. But, we don't. It wasn't until recently they we FINALLY got a decent shot of us together.
Hee-hee.
Seriously, though, it has been just recently that we got a normal shot of us...
Naw, that one is TOO normal.
That's more like it!
Hee-hee.
Seriously, though, it has been just recently that we got a normal shot of us...
Naw, that one is TOO normal.
That's more like it!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
fur frenzy!
You know I've got to be really busy if it's taken me so long to give a single mention of my furry friends - Guinness and Eyebrow. 
They made the long trek from New York to Taipei back in mid-September - and luckily arrived scared as heck but all in one piece. They spent 3 weeks in a quarantine facility, which also rather fortuitously, is located right across the street from where I work, so it was easy to visit them 2-3 times a week. Also luckily, all the staff members at the quarantine facility were very friendly and competent, so I had full confidence that my girls were in good hands.
I brought them home in early October, where they quickly took to their new surroundings. They've also been enjoying the company of some occasional visitors - mainly Andrew.
Guinness even learned how to play mahjong from my student, Becca! (Though I'm afraid she didn't bring her any luck - in fact, both Becca and I ended up being big losers that night!)
And she proved instrumental in teaching Sharon how not to strangle Santa while hanging Christmas decorations,
as well as providing artistic inspiration to Jose in making snowflakes.
Brow-brow, meanwhile, has been cozying up with her new toy and has taken up a new habit of barking.
They made the long trek from New York to Taipei back in mid-September - and luckily arrived scared as heck but all in one piece. They spent 3 weeks in a quarantine facility, which also rather fortuitously, is located right across the street from where I work, so it was easy to visit them 2-3 times a week. Also luckily, all the staff members at the quarantine facility were very friendly and competent, so I had full confidence that my girls were in good hands.I brought them home in early October, where they quickly took to their new surroundings. They've also been enjoying the company of some occasional visitors - mainly Andrew.
Guinness even learned how to play mahjong from my student, Becca! (Though I'm afraid she didn't bring her any luck - in fact, both Becca and I ended up being big losers that night!)
And she proved instrumental in teaching Sharon how not to strangle Santa while hanging Christmas decorations,
as well as providing artistic inspiration to Jose in making snowflakes.
Brow-brow, meanwhile, has been cozying up with her new toy and has taken up a new habit of barking.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
What I do appreciate about this town
Okay, so my last post kind of ragged on Taipei for being excessively humid and having uninteresting - or at least, uninspiring - architecture. However, as many of you well know, I can be a moody gal. One day I love something, the next I'm indifferent about it, the next I'm griping about it with characteristic over-vehemence.
But, one thing I keep coming back to about Taipei is the life in the lanes - it seems to be where Taipei really lives, breathes, sleeps, and eats (and poops). So, here are a few glimpses of what Taipei lanes have to offer...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
i missed my frizzy hair...
Ah, life back in Taipei - replete with 90% humidity levels causing my hair to expand just like those funky little sponge toys you drop into a bowl of water to watch them grow. Instant fun!
But seriously, it was a little tough coming back this time. Not sure quite what that was about - perhaps it was because I didn't have quite enough break time (how spoiled am I? Would any normal human being complain about 6 weeks of vacation not being enough break time?) and so wasn't ready to come back and jump right back into work. I do think that's part of it, but I think a stronger part of it was my time back in the States made me realize how much I miss being around good people who just so happen to also be good friends. It further made me appreciate the unique character that each city in the States has to offer. I really enjoyed being in San Francisco, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Chicago where walking around the streets provides its own simple joy - just by looking around and admiring the houses and buildings around you. Here in Taipei, there's not much to look at other than grimy tiled or concrete crap. I found myself strolling around the streets, unable to stop myself from imagining all the ways that the city could be improved. It kind of brought me down, and so, I found myself trudging off to school to start the new fall semester in a bit of a slump.
Luckily, on my way to school, I cut through the Tai Da campus (Taiwan's version of Harvard or Yale) where every day, twice a day, I have the pleasure of passing my favorite tree. Granted, this may qualify me as being a crazy tree lady, but I do have to say, there is something about this tree that lifts my spirits every time I pass by. So, secretly, I like to wave and say hi. After all, it's a nice tree.
But seriously, it was a little tough coming back this time. Not sure quite what that was about - perhaps it was because I didn't have quite enough break time (how spoiled am I? Would any normal human being complain about 6 weeks of vacation not being enough break time?) and so wasn't ready to come back and jump right back into work. I do think that's part of it, but I think a stronger part of it was my time back in the States made me realize how much I miss being around good people who just so happen to also be good friends. It further made me appreciate the unique character that each city in the States has to offer. I really enjoyed being in San Francisco, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Chicago where walking around the streets provides its own simple joy - just by looking around and admiring the houses and buildings around you. Here in Taipei, there's not much to look at other than grimy tiled or concrete crap. I found myself strolling around the streets, unable to stop myself from imagining all the ways that the city could be improved. It kind of brought me down, and so, I found myself trudging off to school to start the new fall semester in a bit of a slump.
Luckily, on my way to school, I cut through the Tai Da campus (Taiwan's version of Harvard or Yale) where every day, twice a day, I have the pleasure of passing my favorite tree. Granted, this may qualify me as being a crazy tree lady, but I do have to say, there is something about this tree that lifts my spirits every time I pass by. So, secretly, I like to wave and say hi. After all, it's a nice tree.
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