1. 適合送給搖擺不定的雙魚座的朋友的音樂: 伍佰的 "風颱心情" - 歌詞說明了一切:
是你的風颱心情,好歹沒定,話講顛倒反。
講你欲來離開我,結果是欲愛我隨你行。
是你的風颱心情,好歹不定,我擱沒耐心...
2. 適合送給喜歡動物園的朋友聽的音樂: My Little Airport的 "在動物園散步才是正經事" - 歌名說明了一切。
3. 適合女生週期性不舒爽時聽的音樂: 草莓救星的 "自在"。這世上怎麼會有這麼貼心的歌! 男人們,為了你身邊的女人,這首歌也適合你們聽! 事實上自從Ann介紹我草莓救星之後,這張"太陽系"一直是我的all-time-favorite，誠心推薦; 整張專輯都很棒,完整性之高是台灣樂團少見的。
4. 適合在美國高速公路開日產小汽車時聽的音樂: 五月天的 "軋車"。輸人不輸陣，雖然是開1500cc小車，也要拿出五月天小綿羊機車也能軋的精神，跟人家歐美大車一起飆到85mph以上 (僅適用不塞車時)!
作陣來軋車,作陣來軋車,管伊警察底抓,管伊父母底罵；
只要我引擎催落,無人可當甲我軋,在這我尚緊，尚ㄆㄚ,尚大...。
5. 適合星期天早上睡到自然醒起來後聽的音樂: Kahimi Karie的 "KKKKK" 整張專輯。雖然我從來沒搞清楚Kahimi到底唱的是什麼語言,但是她甜美的聲音，像法國香頌般性感浪漫, 又不會軟綿綿; 星期天早晨，一邊煮咖啡，一邊煎法國吐司,Kahimi輕快的節奏和陽光一起從窗邊灑下,週末, 就是要這樣輕鬆度過！
6. 適合頭髪被燙壞時聽的音樂: 自然捲的 "自然捲"。聽聽人家自然捲的煩惱，就知道自己的頭只是一時被捲壞,值得慶幸了。
７. 適合看山崎莎菈佈落格時聽的音樂: Madeleine Peyroux的 "Dance me to the End of Love",應該不用解釋了吧。
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
麻油雞的滋味
星期一傍晚在大華買菜,正猶豫晚餐不知要吃啥,恰好看到麻油雞面線的泡麵。ㄟ,已經想不起來上次吃麻油雞是什麼時候，天氣又濕又冷,正適合煮個熱騰騰的雞湯來喝。大華的雞肉一向不好吃,於是我放下本來要買的豬排,衝到日本超市買"地雞",家裡有台灣來的黑麻油,正好來煮一鍋麻油雞。
煮這道麻油雞的時候,總讓我想到二姑婆。隻身剛到美國來時,二姑婆一家人也住在南加。我週末常開車50哩路到她家打牙祭,閒話家常。二姑婆年屆80,一頭銀髪,雖有耳背,高血壓等小毛病,但整體來說身體狀況良好,精神爍爍。平日嗜好是打麻將,烹飪,還有跟老公小孩(都已50歲以上)伴嘴吵架。二姑婆的廚藝在家族中是有名的，一些台式小吃,例如油飯,米粉湯,酸菜炒大腸...二姑婆煮的是路邊攤職業級水準。我也跟她學了幾道簡單的，但是少了60年的經驗,煮出來的東西就是差了一大截。
二姑婆愛吃雞肉,一日不可不食雞，因此她的雞肉料理也特別好吃。我最愛她的燒酒雞,她通常叫她女兒特別到越南人的店買土雞,麻油也有講究，並且二姑婆整鍋雞湯不加一滴水,全由正宗台灣米酒燒成。煮出的燒酒雞又香又濃,雞肉Q的恰到好處,有麻油的香,卻沒有麻油的膩。老媽,雖然你的三杯雞也是很好吃,但是不好意思,二姑婆的麻油燒酒雞才是王道啊。
當時敏姨一家人也常到二姑婆家,我們總能在飯桌上坐一整天，聊親族之間的八卦,罵台灣的政治人物,再聽老人們回顧愛恨情仇的家族史。午餐可能吃個姑婆跟姑丈公合作的的獅子頭,下午點心吃敏姨自己作的蘿蔔糕,晚餐再吃燒酒雞,宵夜吃米粉湯,一天一下就過去了。如果當天晚上我住她們家,隔天早上還得吃肉燥飯當早餐。以我那時淒苦的生活來看，到二姑婆家過一個週末好像去度一個豪華的假。
兩年前好友阿玲到美國生產，住在作月子中心,每天也吃麻油雞,麻油腰花等等。我去探訪時也吃了一些---結論是外面麻油雞真難吃。後來阿玲的媽媽從台灣扛了米酒,北港黑麻油來,親自下廚幫阿玲作月子。她們回去的時候,那剩下的珍貴黑麻油自然就留給我,於是拖阿玲女兒小艾瑪的福,我也能煮出香噴噴的麻油雞了。
這幾年來我失去了一些至親長輩,但生活中也出現了幾個新的小生命。上次回台灣時看到小艾瑪已經滿地趴趴走,回想之前看到她時她才剛滿月,還只會躺在床上哭,現在皮到抓都抓不住。老人淍零,小孩自顧自的長大。生命的巨輪不管在哪裡,都兀自轉動，不曾為誰停下。
二姑婆已不能再下廚,要吃麻油雞只好自己來。於是我回家燒熱鍋子,倒下黑麻油,油熱了之後煸香薑片,再下雞腿肉。我也放了一整瓶公賣局台灣米酒，等酒精燒光了,就是一鍋香濃醇厚的麻油雞。外面下著滂沱大雨,氣溫大約華氏4７，我獨自在家啜飲著雞湯,米酒跟麻油的味道在我嘴中化開來,那裡面有著地雞肉的香味,還有人生的滋味。
This was originally posted in my MSN space on 3/22/2007.
煮這道麻油雞的時候,總讓我想到二姑婆。隻身剛到美國來時,二姑婆一家人也住在南加。我週末常開車50哩路到她家打牙祭,閒話家常。二姑婆年屆80,一頭銀髪,雖有耳背,高血壓等小毛病,但整體來說身體狀況良好,精神爍爍。平日嗜好是打麻將,烹飪,還有跟老公小孩(都已50歲以上)伴嘴吵架。二姑婆的廚藝在家族中是有名的，一些台式小吃,例如油飯,米粉湯,酸菜炒大腸...二姑婆煮的是路邊攤職業級水準。我也跟她學了幾道簡單的，但是少了60年的經驗,煮出來的東西就是差了一大截。
二姑婆愛吃雞肉,一日不可不食雞，因此她的雞肉料理也特別好吃。我最愛她的燒酒雞,她通常叫她女兒特別到越南人的店買土雞,麻油也有講究，並且二姑婆整鍋雞湯不加一滴水,全由正宗台灣米酒燒成。煮出的燒酒雞又香又濃,雞肉Q的恰到好處,有麻油的香,卻沒有麻油的膩。老媽,雖然你的三杯雞也是很好吃,但是不好意思,二姑婆的麻油燒酒雞才是王道啊。
當時敏姨一家人也常到二姑婆家,我們總能在飯桌上坐一整天，聊親族之間的八卦,罵台灣的政治人物,再聽老人們回顧愛恨情仇的家族史。午餐可能吃個姑婆跟姑丈公合作的的獅子頭,下午點心吃敏姨自己作的蘿蔔糕,晚餐再吃燒酒雞,宵夜吃米粉湯,一天一下就過去了。如果當天晚上我住她們家,隔天早上還得吃肉燥飯當早餐。以我那時淒苦的生活來看，到二姑婆家過一個週末好像去度一個豪華的假。
兩年前好友阿玲到美國生產，住在作月子中心,每天也吃麻油雞,麻油腰花等等。我去探訪時也吃了一些---結論是外面麻油雞真難吃。後來阿玲的媽媽從台灣扛了米酒,北港黑麻油來,親自下廚幫阿玲作月子。她們回去的時候,那剩下的珍貴黑麻油自然就留給我,於是拖阿玲女兒小艾瑪的福,我也能煮出香噴噴的麻油雞了。
這幾年來我失去了一些至親長輩,但生活中也出現了幾個新的小生命。上次回台灣時看到小艾瑪已經滿地趴趴走,回想之前看到她時她才剛滿月,還只會躺在床上哭,現在皮到抓都抓不住。老人淍零,小孩自顧自的長大。生命的巨輪不管在哪裡,都兀自轉動，不曾為誰停下。
二姑婆已不能再下廚,要吃麻油雞只好自己來。於是我回家燒熱鍋子,倒下黑麻油,油熱了之後煸香薑片,再下雞腿肉。我也放了一整瓶公賣局台灣米酒，等酒精燒光了,就是一鍋香濃醇厚的麻油雞。外面下著滂沱大雨,氣溫大約華氏4７，我獨自在家啜飲著雞湯,米酒跟麻油的味道在我嘴中化開來,那裡面有著地雞肉的香味,還有人生的滋味。
This was originally posted in my MSN space on 3/22/2007.
帶印度人跟韓國人去吃燕窩
美娜跟明信是我讀書時系上的好朋友。美娜是印度人,明信是韓國人。
通常敝國人民跟這兩個民族好像有點不和,不過大概是因為年紀相仿又都單身,我們三人在學校時常混在一起吃吃喝喝,要不然就是一起搞亞洲版的"Girl's night out",作一些瘋狂又好笑的事。
明信會帶我們去韓國城吃韓國冷麵,豆腐鍋,逛韓國超市買香瓜冰淇淋,唱韓國KTV,在裡面一邊唱唱跳跳一邊用鈴鼓伴奏。我會帶他們去蒙特利公園吃小肥羊火鍋,飲茶,逼他們吃雞腳(鳳爪),到天仁喝珍珠奶茶。至於美娜自從帶我們去吃過一次印度buffet之後,就沒人再要求她帶我們去任何地方了....因為印度菜實在是沒人愛吃....
畢業之後美娜跟我進了同公司,搬到灣區來,明信則留在LA的一個小公司,美娜也結婚了,我們三人就難有機會廝混了。
這星期明信到舊金山開會，我們相約一起吃晚飯。既然小韓跟小印都是嗜辣的民族，我只好捨命陪君子帶他們到辣妹子。一進門就聞到一股又香又濃的臭豆腐味。心想糟糕,我忘了這家店以麻辣臭豆腐鍋聞名。這兩個老外連鳳爪都不敢吃,不知受不受的了臭豆腐特有的香味。一問之下她們同意只要我們不點臭豆腐,他們不介意別桌傳來的"香"味。看了菜單我問她們敢不敢吃麻辣腰花,他們都說不敢。真搞不懂韓國人跟印度人在想什麼, 他們的民族一個奉羊腦為高級料理,一個吃狗肉,然後跟我說他們不敢吃豬的腎?本來要點我最愛的基隆廟口炒花枝,但是有人對花枝過敏,只好放棄。最後我們點了回鍋肉,蒼蠅頭,避風塘魚片跟辣妹炒飯,外加三瓶青島啤酒。避風塘魚片跟辣妹炒飯得到大家一致的好評,蒼蠅頭來了之後她們還嫌不夠辣，又拜託廚房拿回去加辣 (不過實在不如台北的Kiki)。酒足飯飽之後,這兩個老外說想吃點甜頭,又說不要再喝酒，只好帶這兩個土包子去許留香開開眼界，讓他們知道什麼是中華"高級"甜點。
到了許留香. 看了菜單問題來了, 美娜說:'這家店怎麼都賣bird nest(燕窩), 這不會是真的鳥巢吧？"。
我說"這當然是真的鳥巢啊"。美娜說"少跟我們開玩笑了,鳥巢都是樹枝樹葉,哪能吃啊？"
我說"哦,它們其實是燕子的唾液,你知道鳥是用口水把樹枝黏在一起"。
明信說"什麼?鳥的口水長什麼樣子,他們怎麼拿的鳥的口水？"
我說"就是白白的,很難拿到,非常珍貴,所以很貴"。
講了半天他們半信半疑,不相信鳥的口水可以變甜點。
接下來看菜單上的另一樣:"雪蛤",英文是cristal snow。慘了,這連我也一向搞不清是什麼,我又不是廣東人。只好叫店員小妹來解釋。店員告訴我們,雪蛤是雪蛙的脂肪(frog fat), 聽了明信直搖頭,我看她是不敢吃了。美娜倒是聽到雪蛤養顏美容之後很有興趣，她叫我點來分她吃吃看。
菜單再看下去,最後一項:龜苓膏,英文是turtle shell。麻煩又來了，
美娜說:"這不會是真的鳥龜殼吧?"。
店員說"這是真的龜殼啊。"
明信說:"鳥龜怎麼能被脫殼?脫殼之後還能光著身子趴趴走嗎?"
美娜說"對啊,他們遇到有殼的同伴會被笑吧！"
#@*&@,這時店員臉上出現三條線,我突然覺得帶這兩個人來有點丟臉。早知道帶他們去SF Asia看人妖秀就好了，幹嘛自找麻煩來這裡吃什麼廣東甜品。
最後我點了椰奶燕窩燉雪蛤,兩位外國朋友保守的點了芒果西米露跟芒果小湯圓。燕窩燉雪蛤上了之後,美娜吃了幾口覺得很好吃,強迫明信也要吃,明信吃了一口椰奶之後也承認不錯,最後美娜把整盅椰奶燕窩燉雪蛤都吃掉了,那麼貴的燕窩我只吃到一片!不過還滿有成就感的-沒事就是要帶外國人出來開開眼界,讓他們知道中華料理的博大精深。
吃完飯後我們開車送明信回市中心的飯店, 他們公司竟出資讓他們住高級的Ritz-Carlton. 我們公司出差只能住到Hilton....哎...天理何在啊?
明信很快就要回LA了,下次三人再聚首不知何時。我的朋友,我期待不管以後我們變多老,換了幾個工作,搬了幾次家,生了幾個小孩,也許到漢城,也許到新得里,也許在台北,我們都能再一起吃大家都沒吃過的民族菜，在這個世界的某個街頭上,盡情歡笑,大聲喧鬧。
This originally posted in my MSN space on 3/16/2007.
通常敝國人民跟這兩個民族好像有點不和,不過大概是因為年紀相仿又都單身,我們三人在學校時常混在一起吃吃喝喝,要不然就是一起搞亞洲版的"Girl's night out",作一些瘋狂又好笑的事。
明信會帶我們去韓國城吃韓國冷麵,豆腐鍋,逛韓國超市買香瓜冰淇淋,唱韓國KTV,在裡面一邊唱唱跳跳一邊用鈴鼓伴奏。我會帶他們去蒙特利公園吃小肥羊火鍋,飲茶,逼他們吃雞腳(鳳爪),到天仁喝珍珠奶茶。至於美娜自從帶我們去吃過一次印度buffet之後,就沒人再要求她帶我們去任何地方了....因為印度菜實在是沒人愛吃....
畢業之後美娜跟我進了同公司,搬到灣區來,明信則留在LA的一個小公司,美娜也結婚了,我們三人就難有機會廝混了。
這星期明信到舊金山開會，我們相約一起吃晚飯。既然小韓跟小印都是嗜辣的民族，我只好捨命陪君子帶他們到辣妹子。一進門就聞到一股又香又濃的臭豆腐味。心想糟糕,我忘了這家店以麻辣臭豆腐鍋聞名。這兩個老外連鳳爪都不敢吃,不知受不受的了臭豆腐特有的香味。一問之下她們同意只要我們不點臭豆腐,他們不介意別桌傳來的"香"味。看了菜單我問她們敢不敢吃麻辣腰花,他們都說不敢。真搞不懂韓國人跟印度人在想什麼, 他們的民族一個奉羊腦為高級料理,一個吃狗肉,然後跟我說他們不敢吃豬的腎?本來要點我最愛的基隆廟口炒花枝,但是有人對花枝過敏,只好放棄。最後我們點了回鍋肉,蒼蠅頭,避風塘魚片跟辣妹炒飯,外加三瓶青島啤酒。避風塘魚片跟辣妹炒飯得到大家一致的好評,蒼蠅頭來了之後她們還嫌不夠辣，又拜託廚房拿回去加辣 (不過實在不如台北的Kiki)。酒足飯飽之後,這兩個老外說想吃點甜頭,又說不要再喝酒，只好帶這兩個土包子去許留香開開眼界，讓他們知道什麼是中華"高級"甜點。
到了許留香. 看了菜單問題來了, 美娜說:'這家店怎麼都賣bird nest(燕窩), 這不會是真的鳥巢吧？"。
我說"這當然是真的鳥巢啊"。美娜說"少跟我們開玩笑了,鳥巢都是樹枝樹葉,哪能吃啊？"
我說"哦,它們其實是燕子的唾液,你知道鳥是用口水把樹枝黏在一起"。
明信說"什麼?鳥的口水長什麼樣子,他們怎麼拿的鳥的口水？"
我說"就是白白的,很難拿到,非常珍貴,所以很貴"。
講了半天他們半信半疑,不相信鳥的口水可以變甜點。
接下來看菜單上的另一樣:"雪蛤",英文是cristal snow。慘了,這連我也一向搞不清是什麼,我又不是廣東人。只好叫店員小妹來解釋。店員告訴我們,雪蛤是雪蛙的脂肪(frog fat), 聽了明信直搖頭,我看她是不敢吃了。美娜倒是聽到雪蛤養顏美容之後很有興趣，她叫我點來分她吃吃看。
菜單再看下去,最後一項:龜苓膏,英文是turtle shell。麻煩又來了，
美娜說:"這不會是真的鳥龜殼吧?"。
店員說"這是真的龜殼啊。"
明信說:"鳥龜怎麼能被脫殼?脫殼之後還能光著身子趴趴走嗎?"
美娜說"對啊,他們遇到有殼的同伴會被笑吧！"
#@*&@,這時店員臉上出現三條線,我突然覺得帶這兩個人來有點丟臉。早知道帶他們去SF Asia看人妖秀就好了，幹嘛自找麻煩來這裡吃什麼廣東甜品。
最後我點了椰奶燕窩燉雪蛤,兩位外國朋友保守的點了芒果西米露跟芒果小湯圓。燕窩燉雪蛤上了之後,美娜吃了幾口覺得很好吃,強迫明信也要吃,明信吃了一口椰奶之後也承認不錯,最後美娜把整盅椰奶燕窩燉雪蛤都吃掉了,那麼貴的燕窩我只吃到一片!不過還滿有成就感的-沒事就是要帶外國人出來開開眼界,讓他們知道中華料理的博大精深。
吃完飯後我們開車送明信回市中心的飯店, 他們公司竟出資讓他們住高級的Ritz-Carlton. 我們公司出差只能住到Hilton....哎...天理何在啊?
明信很快就要回LA了,下次三人再聚首不知何時。我的朋友,我期待不管以後我們變多老,換了幾個工作,搬了幾次家,生了幾個小孩,也許到漢城,也許到新得里,也許在台北,我們都能再一起吃大家都沒吃過的民族菜，在這個世界的某個街頭上,盡情歡笑,大聲喧鬧。
This originally posted in my MSN space on 3/16/2007.
A heart on a roller coaster
My heart has been riding on a roller coaster in the past month, no, actually, in the past few months since I witnessed Giants win Dodgers after a row of losses.
I've been having nights of insomnia because of excitements alternating with nights of insomnia because of disappointments. Confusion, delusion, expectation and suspicion one came after another to my hectic life. Being flattered, feeling hurt, abusing others and being abused all happened at the same time. After a while, I'm acting like one of those melancholy characters in Wong Kar-wai's movies.
I recently gave a talk on SLE about its up and down symptoms. I don't have SLE, why do I also have ups and downs drastically? Is it God's curse to all scientists who try to crack on Pandora's box? Or is it because I've been drinking too much coffee and tea to wash down my feverish heart?
No, no, my dear, it's not your fault; it's not Dr. W's fault. And I won't blame the Indian prophet nor Teacher Pan the Taiwanese fortune teller. It's just my vulnerable feelings, and this sensitive woman heart.
One of my favorite quote from a book is "Every road leads to Rome, it's just not the road you anticipated in the first place". I don't care if I can get to Rome, i only pray I can still walk after I get off the roller coaster.
This was posted in my MSN space on 2/20/2007.
I've been having nights of insomnia because of excitements alternating with nights of insomnia because of disappointments. Confusion, delusion, expectation and suspicion one came after another to my hectic life. Being flattered, feeling hurt, abusing others and being abused all happened at the same time. After a while, I'm acting like one of those melancholy characters in Wong Kar-wai's movies.
I recently gave a talk on SLE about its up and down symptoms. I don't have SLE, why do I also have ups and downs drastically? Is it God's curse to all scientists who try to crack on Pandora's box? Or is it because I've been drinking too much coffee and tea to wash down my feverish heart?
No, no, my dear, it's not your fault; it's not Dr. W's fault. And I won't blame the Indian prophet nor Teacher Pan the Taiwanese fortune teller. It's just my vulnerable feelings, and this sensitive woman heart.
One of my favorite quote from a book is "Every road leads to Rome, it's just not the road you anticipated in the first place". I don't care if I can get to Rome, i only pray I can still walk after I get off the roller coaster.
This was posted in my MSN space on 2/20/2007.
What am I?
Recently a second generation Chinese American asked me "What is your favorite foreign country?" I said "United States, that's why I'm here". The person looked at me with a surprising face: "You have been living here so long and you haven't considered this country as home?". I'm also surprised that I've never tought about America as home, although I've considered Los Angeles as my second hometown. But anyways, how can I call this country home when I have to leave it within a month if I ever lose a job?
However, this is my 6th year in the US. It's not long enough to turn me into an American, but it's long enough to turn me into something that is not a pure Taiwanese. I seldom watched Asian TV shows nor Chinese newspapers ever since I got to the US. My favorite TV show now is "Will and Grace". This kind of lifestyle made me a person who has forgotten some traditional Asian roles. Some of the US culture has been creeping into my head unconsiously. I found it rediculous when I heard my friend in Taiwan have to leave the elevator asap when his boss comes into the same elevator. I found it dull to see all Asian faces in Taipei subway. I found it natual to see "queers" kissing each other on the streets. I found it comfotable to step into an elevator with all kinds of skin colors.
When did I change myself? I don't remember. However, I can't forget the moment when I saw the movie "Lost in Translations". It just dramatically reminded me the culture shock I had when I first arrived in the US. Now I have culture shocks when I go back to Taiwan.
Yet the 6 years in US hasn't fit me into its culture. I have no clues and no sense of participation about what the politicians in the country are doing. I have hard time speaking good English especially business English. And I still find it odd and unnatural to attend a cocktail party where people greet each other so pretentially with a "How are you? honey".
I've seen bad examples of people not adapting themselves in their immigrant countries nor picking up their original culture when they go back to their home countries. Some people ended up with social problems in either side of the two worlds. I'm so afraid that I'm gonna become some peron who is nothing, not a American, not a Taiwanese nor a Chinese. Maybe after couple years if I can still call myself a Californian, which is a mix of everything, then that might be good enough.
This post was originally finished in November, 2006.
However, this is my 6th year in the US. It's not long enough to turn me into an American, but it's long enough to turn me into something that is not a pure Taiwanese. I seldom watched Asian TV shows nor Chinese newspapers ever since I got to the US. My favorite TV show now is "Will and Grace". This kind of lifestyle made me a person who has forgotten some traditional Asian roles. Some of the US culture has been creeping into my head unconsiously. I found it rediculous when I heard my friend in Taiwan have to leave the elevator asap when his boss comes into the same elevator. I found it dull to see all Asian faces in Taipei subway. I found it natual to see "queers" kissing each other on the streets. I found it comfotable to step into an elevator with all kinds of skin colors.
When did I change myself? I don't remember. However, I can't forget the moment when I saw the movie "Lost in Translations". It just dramatically reminded me the culture shock I had when I first arrived in the US. Now I have culture shocks when I go back to Taiwan.
Yet the 6 years in US hasn't fit me into its culture. I have no clues and no sense of participation about what the politicians in the country are doing. I have hard time speaking good English especially business English. And I still find it odd and unnatural to attend a cocktail party where people greet each other so pretentially with a "How are you? honey".
I've seen bad examples of people not adapting themselves in their immigrant countries nor picking up their original culture when they go back to their home countries. Some people ended up with social problems in either side of the two worlds. I'm so afraid that I'm gonna become some peron who is nothing, not a American, not a Taiwanese nor a Chinese. Maybe after couple years if I can still call myself a Californian, which is a mix of everything, then that might be good enough.
This post was originally finished in November, 2006.
上班路上
每天一早從時尚小島(Fashion Island Blvd)爬上HWY101,馬上面臨101最塞路段之一:第三街出口。
這時候當然可以選擇塞在車陣中慢慢前進,但是大家都知道小妹一向是快遲到才出門上班,哪有那個美國時間在101上面跟大家慢慢耗, 所以這時我通常把車上音樂換成搖滾樂,讓熱情的節奏激勵我拿出台北人傲人的交通精神: 鑽,擠,一路衝向最前方!
101 這條高速公路優秀的地方是早上塞車時還是可以有15mph到40mph的行車速度,所以要想前進就是要讓自己切進有35mph以上的車道,並且維持這個車速．這時首先要眼觀八方看哪一道比較快,想辦法切進該道.當然大家都是一台車挨著一台,你不讓我我不讓你,這時候一定要眼明手快,方向燈打下去,旁邊有人稍有鬆懈,或有好心人要讓(通常沒有),就要趕快切入. 換好道之後還是要隨時注意兩邊車道有沒有更快的,有的話就要趕快再換, 如果兩邊的車道都沒你快,就維持在這一道,這時候還是要提高警覺,留神不要讓別人搶進你前面, 這對我這個喜歡開快車但是都保有安全行車距離的人來說有點痛苦-- 只要跟前面車落多一點距離,別人就立刻擠進來.
過了第三街這段瓶頸,快到機場的時候,101從4線道變成5線道,一堆車不見,路上不再擁塞,大家都會加快速度,SUV和大卡車從旁呼嘯而過. 開慢一點就會有人超車,所以又要聚精會神,大家快你也要跟著快,最怕就是有些白目的傢伙不打方向燈冷不防就換道.所以一定要保持眼明手快. 就這樣,101上20分鐘是我一整天注意力最集中,鬥志最高昂的時候,到公司的時候保証精神百倍,睡意全消。
下了101後又是另一番景象,我通常在蠔尖大道(Oyster Point Blvd)下高速公路,這條路會彎上一個小山坡,車流量不多,不起霧時可以從丘陵上眺望到前方蔚藍的大海.跟101比起來氣氛輕鬆許多.蠔尖大道附近有個UPS的倉庫，如果我8點50左右轉進海鷗小徑(Gull Drive),就會看到UPS車一台接一台出來準備出去送貨。說真的我一直很好奇到底是設計UPS那咖啡色的車子,醜的真是令人印象深刻，第一次看到10幾20台UPS車隊感覺滿新鮮的，好像一隊咖啡色的烏龜駝著殼一起爬上山坡。跟他們正面交會的時候偶而會看到幾個很帥的UPS guy,戴著亮晶晶的墨鏡穿著短褲. BTW,有人知道為什麼UPS車駕駛座沒有門呢?
從海鷗小徑轉進名字氣派實則只有兩線道的富比士大道(Forbes Ave)後氣氛又更攸閒了,這條路兩邊是各大大小小的生技公司,快到敝公司時一邊傍灣. 我曾經在富比士上面看到一隻水鴨媽媽帶著一隊小水鴨悠哉的過馬路, 旁邊就是麟光閃閃的大海,海天一色,藍的令人心懭神怡,真不敢相信殺氣騰騰的101就在不到1哩外。
然後轉個彎爬個坡,小妹辦公室就到了,在停車塔裡找個好位子停車,然後提著公事包走進辦公室,又是一天的開始。
This was originally posted in my MSN space in August, 2006.
這時候當然可以選擇塞在車陣中慢慢前進,但是大家都知道小妹一向是快遲到才出門上班,哪有那個美國時間在101上面跟大家慢慢耗, 所以這時我通常把車上音樂換成搖滾樂,讓熱情的節奏激勵我拿出台北人傲人的交通精神: 鑽,擠,一路衝向最前方!
101 這條高速公路優秀的地方是早上塞車時還是可以有15mph到40mph的行車速度,所以要想前進就是要讓自己切進有35mph以上的車道,並且維持這個車速．這時首先要眼觀八方看哪一道比較快,想辦法切進該道.當然大家都是一台車挨著一台,你不讓我我不讓你,這時候一定要眼明手快,方向燈打下去,旁邊有人稍有鬆懈,或有好心人要讓(通常沒有),就要趕快切入. 換好道之後還是要隨時注意兩邊車道有沒有更快的,有的話就要趕快再換, 如果兩邊的車道都沒你快,就維持在這一道,這時候還是要提高警覺,留神不要讓別人搶進你前面, 這對我這個喜歡開快車但是都保有安全行車距離的人來說有點痛苦-- 只要跟前面車落多一點距離,別人就立刻擠進來.
過了第三街這段瓶頸,快到機場的時候,101從4線道變成5線道,一堆車不見,路上不再擁塞,大家都會加快速度,SUV和大卡車從旁呼嘯而過. 開慢一點就會有人超車,所以又要聚精會神,大家快你也要跟著快,最怕就是有些白目的傢伙不打方向燈冷不防就換道.所以一定要保持眼明手快. 就這樣,101上20分鐘是我一整天注意力最集中,鬥志最高昂的時候,到公司的時候保証精神百倍,睡意全消。
下了101後又是另一番景象,我通常在蠔尖大道(Oyster Point Blvd)下高速公路,這條路會彎上一個小山坡,車流量不多,不起霧時可以從丘陵上眺望到前方蔚藍的大海.跟101比起來氣氛輕鬆許多.蠔尖大道附近有個UPS的倉庫，如果我8點50左右轉進海鷗小徑(Gull Drive),就會看到UPS車一台接一台出來準備出去送貨。說真的我一直很好奇到底是設計UPS那咖啡色的車子,醜的真是令人印象深刻，第一次看到10幾20台UPS車隊感覺滿新鮮的，好像一隊咖啡色的烏龜駝著殼一起爬上山坡。跟他們正面交會的時候偶而會看到幾個很帥的UPS guy,戴著亮晶晶的墨鏡穿著短褲. BTW,有人知道為什麼UPS車駕駛座沒有門呢?
從海鷗小徑轉進名字氣派實則只有兩線道的富比士大道(Forbes Ave)後氣氛又更攸閒了,這條路兩邊是各大大小小的生技公司,快到敝公司時一邊傍灣. 我曾經在富比士上面看到一隻水鴨媽媽帶著一隊小水鴨悠哉的過馬路, 旁邊就是麟光閃閃的大海,海天一色,藍的令人心懭神怡,真不敢相信殺氣騰騰的101就在不到1哩外。
然後轉個彎爬個坡,小妹辦公室就到了,在停車塔裡找個好位子停車,然後提著公事包走進辦公室,又是一天的開始。
This was originally posted in my MSN space in August, 2006.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Tired of flying
Because of relocation and beginning of a new job, I've been flying a lot this year. I think I've been making visits to the UA terminal at SFO at least once every month, starting from February 2006. I've tried almost every restaurant in that terminal-- of course none of them is good.
I have mixed feelings of all these visits at the UA terminal. The first time was my interview trip. The flight was delayed for 2 hrs, I remembered I practiced my interview talk in the airport over and over again until I felt a cold sore maturing by my mouth. That's probably the most nervous trip I've ever had. At the second time to SFO UA terminal, I've already got the offer and was on a home-finding trip. My mom was with me and we were so excited to start my new life. The third time I flew I was depressed in my personal life that I couldn't wait to get out of the city. Then I made a wonderful vacation trip and got myself back again. After that, the rest of the trips were just business trips that are all boring.
Although I'm a person who love traveling, flying so frequently starts to make me sick. Considering that you have to go to the airport so much ahead of the time of your flight departure time, the line you need to wait in for security check, the uncontrolled flight status, and the terrible food in the airport and in flight, flying is really not fun at all.
Yesterday I flew back from Seattle, because of this "Orange" security level in the airport, we went to the airport 3 hrs before the departure time. Not to mention that everyone had to check in their luggage because you couldn't even have a toothpaste in your carry-on, the waiting line to the security check was super super long that wound up to the parking lot. We waited in the line for 2.5 hrs. The FAA staff even distrubuted bottled water to everyone to keep people from dehydrating. Who has ever seen the airport security guy so nice to give you water? It's just unbelievable. My friend said if they have started to give us food then we would have been big trouble. We were lucky to get to the aiport early enough to finally (barely) make it to our flight. People who missed their flights because of stucking in the security line had to stand-by for the next (or next next) flights. So the stand-by line was also long. When I got home, I was so tired. The total amount of time I spent the whole day for the flight was 7 hrs, while the flying time was actually as short as 2 hrs.
I think I'm gonna stop flying for a little bit. Espeically not during this "orange security level". I'm sick of SFO and the smell in a airplane. The next vacation, I'm gonna drive!
PS:
The flight to Seattle was delayed for a reason that I've never heard- the first officer was missing...they had to bring someone else to replace him...
This was originally posted in my MSN space in August, 2006.
I have mixed feelings of all these visits at the UA terminal. The first time was my interview trip. The flight was delayed for 2 hrs, I remembered I practiced my interview talk in the airport over and over again until I felt a cold sore maturing by my mouth. That's probably the most nervous trip I've ever had. At the second time to SFO UA terminal, I've already got the offer and was on a home-finding trip. My mom was with me and we were so excited to start my new life. The third time I flew I was depressed in my personal life that I couldn't wait to get out of the city. Then I made a wonderful vacation trip and got myself back again. After that, the rest of the trips were just business trips that are all boring.
Although I'm a person who love traveling, flying so frequently starts to make me sick. Considering that you have to go to the airport so much ahead of the time of your flight departure time, the line you need to wait in for security check, the uncontrolled flight status, and the terrible food in the airport and in flight, flying is really not fun at all.
Yesterday I flew back from Seattle, because of this "Orange" security level in the airport, we went to the airport 3 hrs before the departure time. Not to mention that everyone had to check in their luggage because you couldn't even have a toothpaste in your carry-on, the waiting line to the security check was super super long that wound up to the parking lot. We waited in the line for 2.5 hrs. The FAA staff even distrubuted bottled water to everyone to keep people from dehydrating. Who has ever seen the airport security guy so nice to give you water? It's just unbelievable. My friend said if they have started to give us food then we would have been big trouble. We were lucky to get to the aiport early enough to finally (barely) make it to our flight. People who missed their flights because of stucking in the security line had to stand-by for the next (or next next) flights. So the stand-by line was also long. When I got home, I was so tired. The total amount of time I spent the whole day for the flight was 7 hrs, while the flying time was actually as short as 2 hrs.
I think I'm gonna stop flying for a little bit. Espeically not during this "orange security level". I'm sick of SFO and the smell in a airplane. The next vacation, I'm gonna drive!
PS:
The flight to Seattle was delayed for a reason that I've never heard- the first officer was missing...they had to bring someone else to replace him...
This was originally posted in my MSN space in August, 2006.
有緣千里來相會
星期天深夜,收到一個令人驚喜的電子郵件
一個失聯多年的老朋友寄來一封信,
說她在整理通訊錄的時候發現我的電子信箱,
決定寄個信來看看我這個信箱還通不通。
巧的是本週末我剛好就要到她居住的都市:一個我已８年沒有造訪，800哩外的都市。
於是我們相約見面，然而要彌補這8年的空白,有太多的話要跟對方說，有太多的心事要分享。
我們太激動,等不及週末,兩人在24小時內通了8封信,外加一個中英文夾雜的電話。
這幾年來,朋友對我來說越來越重要。
我曾經喜歡到沒有人認識我的地方生活，
我曾經以為就算全世界只剩我一個人,我也活的下去。
然而顯然我老了,現在我不再有自信,我不再喜歡到人生地不熟的地方。
這兩個月,搬到一個整個城裡認識不到5人的都市,感觸尤深。
人家說有緣千里來相會, 無緣相逢不相識。
但是朋友關係,還是需要經營。
知交難尋，我不想再跟一些"麻吉"失聯。
不想等"有空"時才跟朋友聯絡,或是"有事"的時候才找朋友。
我決定積極的跟朋友hook up,
我要讓我的朋友知道,
你們溫暖了我的心靈,豐富了我的生活。
讓我在這個世界,不唱獨腳戲。
而我希望我們的關係，可以永遠繼續下去。
芋頭糕,希望你看的到這封信。
This was originally posted in my MSN space in May, 2006.
一個失聯多年的老朋友寄來一封信,
說她在整理通訊錄的時候發現我的電子信箱,
決定寄個信來看看我這個信箱還通不通。
巧的是本週末我剛好就要到她居住的都市:一個我已８年沒有造訪，800哩外的都市。
於是我們相約見面，然而要彌補這8年的空白,有太多的話要跟對方說，有太多的心事要分享。
我們太激動,等不及週末,兩人在24小時內通了8封信,外加一個中英文夾雜的電話。
這幾年來,朋友對我來說越來越重要。
我曾經喜歡到沒有人認識我的地方生活，
我曾經以為就算全世界只剩我一個人,我也活的下去。
然而顯然我老了,現在我不再有自信,我不再喜歡到人生地不熟的地方。
這兩個月,搬到一個整個城裡認識不到5人的都市,感觸尤深。
人家說有緣千里來相會, 無緣相逢不相識。
但是朋友關係,還是需要經營。
知交難尋，我不想再跟一些"麻吉"失聯。
不想等"有空"時才跟朋友聯絡,或是"有事"的時候才找朋友。
我決定積極的跟朋友hook up,
我要讓我的朋友知道,
你們溫暖了我的心靈,豐富了我的生活。
讓我在這個世界,不唱獨腳戲。
而我希望我們的關係，可以永遠繼續下去。
芋頭糕,希望你看的到這封信。
This was originally posted in my MSN space in May, 2006.
就是想寫-開格公告
很早以前就跟朋友在聊要寫佈落格，但是動機不明，又沒有同儕壓力，一直都沒有行動。
最近看了幾個朋友的佈落格,我心中不知怎麼的,就有一股想寫的衝動。開車的時候想寫, 買菜的時候想寫, 上班的時候想寫。我寫了一些放在我的MSN共享空間,但是發現MSN實在不好用,所以乾脆在這另闢天地。
最前面幾篇文章是之前放在我的MSN共享空間的舊文,以後新的文章都會寫在這裡。
最近看了幾個朋友的佈落格,我心中不知怎麼的,就有一股想寫的衝動。開車的時候想寫, 買菜的時候想寫, 上班的時候想寫。我寫了一些放在我的MSN共享空間,但是發現MSN實在不好用,所以乾脆在這另闢天地。
最前面幾篇文章是之前放在我的MSN共享空間的舊文,以後新的文章都會寫在這裡。
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