2009 reflection...

Have you ever question about your decisions? ever thought that did I make the right choice back then? It's the end of 2009, and I have to say...this was a peaceful year for me...nothing majorly changed, I am still a hardworking student in school, and vet school is my life...

But lately, I guess because it is the end of year, and everyone got to reflect on themselves...or I just got too much free time to myself and that gets me thinking...I thought what if the Dean's office never made to waitlist #12 two years ago, and I never get into vet school on the first try...would I still persist and apply the 2nd time?

Life would be completely different now if I never made to vet school...Would I be happier now? would I be on my way to earning an MBA and aiming to become a world best CEO's assistant? Would I have a totally different life? Would I be satisfied? There are so many "Would I" questions that could make a difference.

I never talked about my dreams in life on here. I am not afraid people would laugh at it, I don't remember since how old, I want to be a personal assistant, or secretary of some sort. Not the ones who just answer phones, but the ones who can actually making executive decisions...I was never able to find the correct word for it, either in Chinese or English...I have tried to tell people that I want to become a "secretary", most people say that I don't even need a college degree to fulfill that. My dad would laugh at me and keep mentioning "Secretary of State" is also a secretary...I was never interested in political world, he should know better, or he might just not want to face that fact that he spent thousands of dollars on me, getting me to a different country, pays for my education, and all I want to return to him is to become a little secretary. By all means, I respect all the secretaries out there working hard for their bosses...but what I dream about is not only simply taking phone calls and arrange schedules (though I would be very confident to say that I am pretty good at that :D). I think at the moment, an "assistant" would be more appropriately describe what I want to become.

Friends laugh at me, asking why would I ever want to work for someone else for the rest of my life. I don't know...I feel much more comfortable that way. I mean I do want to take responsible for my own action, but with some backup. I know since I was little that I am better fitted working behind the scenes...If I am an entertainment agent, I would be super happy to see my movie star standing on the stage getting an award, because deeply I know, I contribute to that, I made that happen. I don't want the whole world to recognize my work, may be only the people I care know, that's good enough for me. I would let other people to take the glory, as long as someone important knows that I was a vital part of that glory, I would be happy.

During vet school interview, they asked me if I don't make to vet school, if I have other plans...I told them I would like to try a wedding planner. I mean, their works are so joyful~ seeing couples get together...planning for their best day ever, stressful but rewarding. I have been part of a wedding twice now, and I fully enjoy the wedding day (as long as I am not the bride I think)...I thought if I am young enough, I would really like the job. Reminds me of the movie "27 dresses"...27 of course is not my goal, because in China, rumor said being part of the wedding is like going through a wedding yourself, and there's a 3 strike rule...attending 3 weddings as bridesmaid, you will find yourself not getting married...superstition...we will see...because I guarantee I am going to be part of a friend's wedding in the future (if she get married soon)...then I will fulfill my quota...but I don't care~ it's a fun experience to plan a wedding (as long as it's not mine). :D

Enough of rubbish, right now the plan is still stick with the original one. I like what I am learning right now, and "giving up" is not in my dictionary ;p

I am alive!

yes, I am alive and well! After a semester of battling with pharmacology, parasitolgy, pathology and nutrition, I think I deserve a well rested Chirstmas break.

I thought that I was gonna die before the finals started a week ago. And it turns out...I am still alive and breathing the fresh air coming through the window. Sometimes it's easy to say the word "die", and I have been saying it so many times since I started vet school, so I start to forget that I used to fear death, when I was 13. The thought of not knowing what is going to happen after wards, not knowing what new movies are coming out...not knowing what kind of fun my friends are gonna have...the fear of unknowns...

During our finals, one of our classmate's Fiancé passed away unexpectedly. So unexpect that I have to call my other classmate to confirm that it wasn't a practical joke, or a mistake of some kind...I am still in the shock stage of receiving the news, because this person actually sat next to me every other day (because he is a grad student, and taking one same class with us)...Now think hard, he is no longer with us, just like ... "poof"...disappeared...Life is strange, one minute you are talking to them and the next thing you heard is that he is no longer in your world...I think because we are so young, we never thought the "true death" is
this close. Beside the pass away of my grandparents, this is the 2nd time that someone I really know has gone. The other one is my boss from undergrad. She moved to another state and later on was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer metastisized to Brain, or vice versa...I found her news through a blog that put up by her beloved husband...

Sigh...I am not good at express myself, which is why I started this blog. But I can't really say anything on this matter any more. I am going to his funeral tomorrow, and I hope the best for his finance-my classmate. She is one tough woman. she decide to come back to school after the break, which, lots of people applause for that...I personally don't have a extensive relationship with another men, so I don't understand the toughness to overcome a death of the love ones...But I hope the best for her, and I firmly believe that my whole class and faculty and staff will stand behind her to support her morally.

I hate to end today's entry with such a depressing mood, but I think Daniel deserve a good ending, R.I.P.-Daniel Resnick

BTHO t.u.! 10 years anniversary of Bonfire collapsed..

It's 9:22p right now on 11/26/2009, 10 years after the bonfire collapsed, and the Aggie vs. t.u. game is currently been broadcast on ESPN (at this moment). I am at work (unfortunately), but could listen to the game live on the radio, and they kept mentioning about a new production by the 12th man foundation called "the burning desire"-talking about the bonfire tragedy 10 years ago and also including part of the University of Texas Band perfomance. The Aggies really appreciate the other team's tribute during half time, and I think it was exactly 10 years ago (11/26/1999). Wow...it has been ten years now...I never personally experience the real bonfire on campus, but I clearly remembered that this news actually made on to Chinese Newspaper, and I paid particular attention to it because it is a Texas School. Back then, I never thought I would end up in this school, be part of the tradition, and continue my professional school here... It has been 10 years? WOW...

But I never regret my decision, and I think though we laugh at the T-sippers, but there's no-body like them that we can rely on in the big Texas. Thank you, Texas! (it's hard not to call you t.u. :p)

Never felt sleeping can be such a sweet thing...

This past two weeks has been pretty tough on me, I think I am hitting the mid-semester depression. After going through another semester without a break kind of put you into that situation. It looks like everyone around me is going through the same thing though. I know I should not compare myself to other people because that always put me in a bad mood, I am never as good as my classmates/friends/other people! But you just can't help to do it...every time when I feel so defeated by the exam, I would hear other people comments such as "that wasn't too bad", or when I accidentally hear them checking their answers, and find out that I missed the "easy questions", would you feel defeated? This Wed I had a pathology test, and I have been doing fine in that class-the only class that I could possibly end up with an A. But I think I might just lose it this week. But there's no-body to be blamed on, because I put off the study until couple days before the test. I can't help to be a procrastinator because I just can’t find the motivation to sit down and study…so very hard to focus, and this has been a problem since I started vet school…I am jealous at those hard core people who can sit and study for 10 hours without moving and be productive. Again, I am comparing myself to a separate identity, very stupid move.

Anyway, so because there’re so much information covered on this Path exam, I end up taking little naps on Wed morning, and my last nap was after 6a til 7a… I kept snoozing because…just because :p (you know when you are so sleep deprived you miss everything)…every time I go back to sleep I never felt so happy! Even just for 5 min, I felt so satisfy and fortunate that I can sleep 5 more min! It’s a sense of gratitude, and I bet my GABA (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy) is probably releasing from the neuro junction like no-body’s business :D…but I actually was smiling after each snooze. Such a strange feeling.

Needless to say, I could do better on this exam because I really enjoy the class (some portion could have taught better though). But life is tough, and I have been complaining too much lately, I don’t feel like myself again. Think back to the hard corps days, I was proud to be a tough women…now I feel like I kept riding the “whinbulance” . Too weak.

At the end of the day, I was able to take a 2 hour nap after school. Again, never felt so satisfied at the end of the sleep. Now, I am re-adjusting my sleeping schedule (it has been pretty messy since last week, intermittent naps at 2am…), but that sense of happiness seems to gone to its happy place.

This is TOTALLY MY FAV right now, so true!


Totally a reality...depicts my mental battle between sleeping vs. eating

An appreciative day, an emotional day, all these good things happen at same time

Sitting in the computer lab before class right now, and I feel that the reason I can sit here is because so many people have helped me alone the way. I am not a christian, but I like some of the concepts that I read from the Bible (mainly doing the right thing, and helping people), so my friends call me a "buddistian". Today, I feel that it's an amazing journey thus far, and I want to thank you whoever is up there put me at this place with these many amazing people around me.

I want to thank Nikki, with all your support alone the way, every time I ask, you always provide your honest opnion, and take on the task just as one of your own. I truly feel that you are a friend for life. You are always there supporting me, no matter how bizzard my opinion was :p It is a sad news that you are leaving soon (well, not for another 10 mon), but I am still trying to digest the fact that you won't be at the end of the road when I call. I guess party always has to end, but I better make the next 10 mon. as memoriable as it can be and spend tons of time with you!

Then I want to thanks Dr. Posey, everytime I talk to this man, he makes me want to cry: he always encourage me, no matter what kind of peculiar goal I have. He is a confident booster! I thought I would never find any professor here in Texas vet school who would understand me. He is a sensitive man, and appreciate my background and my hardness to go through school, appreciate my hardworking ethic, and ... just being purily supportive. Even though he probably will say the same thing to many students who came across his office, I feel that every time he says it to me, he means it. So...kudos for Dr. Posey~

One last person I want to thank today (because I am running out of time here) is Dr. Ashley. He is the reason that I think there must be someone up there watching me, and protect me. There's always an reason why you end up where you at, and I think the best thing ever happen to me is to meet Dr. Ashley here at vet school. His passion for China and veterinary medicine guide me through my tough times first year, and for the first time, I didn't think becoming a horse vet in China is a ridiculous idea. But I am still a buddistian :p

this is the first time, 5 of my buddies have sent out update at approximately the same time. Couple of them are first senders! I have had a hard time to ask them sending out updates since last we met (June 2008)...I think it is going to the right direction, and I would love to stay in touch with these buddies who went through the hardship of the Corps with me for 4 years. Friendship is priceless.

5 minutes ago, I received the news that I just got another scholarship from the Houston Aggie Mom's club! It's kinda of surprised that they still sending out award this late into the semester. But hey, I am not complaining.

all these good things happen at same time, I am kind of afraid it is not real, and too many good things happen at the same time, which means next week's exams are going to kill me...because all the good things already happened this week.

Stay healthy...ya'll

Sorry that I wasn't able to update my blog lately...got quiet busy with school work...you know how it goes: school starts, exams starts, endless studying, and too stressed to do anything fun. But just want to remind everyone flu season is RIGHT NOW...and even for healthy person like me caught a little cold from my lovely classmates...got a running fever of 101 for couple days, and slept quiet a lot last weekend. Picture is not me...though is one of my fav taiwan drama star - D.T. one of many :p

Everything is all good now, but next week got 3 mid-term exams coming up...just by thinking about it stresses me out~~~ I just physically don't have enough time to read everything for each class...AAAaaAAAHHHHHHH~~~

Make friends with your hand sanitizer. Wish me luck on the exams (Pathology, Nutrition-which is actually gonna be hard cuz I didn't pay much attention throughout the whole semester...and Parasitology...hmmm worms...)

Favorite Youtube videos

Let the collection begin~~~~

Canine Freestyle, got to love the intellengence of border collies...

Maybe K-nut can learn some of the tricks...hmmmm :D





I have seen this twice now in my class, vet professors love the border collies and LED lights ;p

Extreme Sheep Herding...I kid your not, they are too bored...

I LUV Cooking-Tomato Soup

I love this summer because I got a lots of time for myself to search for cooking recipes, and try them out at home~! I found these websites are usually someone’s personal blogs, and they have posted the step by step pic on their website, this way I know it works. It’s much better to go with someone’s recipe than the cooking book ones. In a way, I am not that talented to follow the cook book, it never turns out to be the one I imagined. But this way, I know someone out there already tried out and it actually works! I am also smart on picking the simple recipes, French cooking are too complicated, I will save it for those who are out there dedicated…
I LUV FOOD!
Tomato Soup

Borrow the recipe from my co-worker, a 20 year old poor college student. She got it from a book called “healthy cook book”, you can actually find it on Amazon for $1.35, plus S&H, you can get a very good healthy cook book published in 1998 for 5 bucks total! It’s a bargain~ I actually flipped through the book, and if they got pic I would definitely buy the book. Too bad that I am a visual learner.
Ingredient List
1 TBSP Olive Oil
1/3 C finely diced onions
¼ C finely diced celery
¼ C finely diced carrots
1 clove garlic, minced
3 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced (see note)
1 bay leaf
2 TBSP minced fresh parsley or 1 TBSP dried
2 tsp minced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
1 tsp minced fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried
1 tsp minced fresh marjoram or ½ tsp dried or 1/3 tsp oregano dried
3 cups defatted chicken broth or reduced-sodium tomato juice
¼ tsp ground black pepper

1) In a large sauce pan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, or until onions are soft.
2) Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, parsley, basil, thyme and marjoram (Oregano).
3) Cover and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture is soft
4) Gradually stir in the broth or tomato juice and bring to a boil. (My 1 can of chicken broth only covers 2 cups, so I used the tomato sauce that was in my pantry forever ago to cover the 3rd cup, turns out just fine)

5) Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the pepper.
6) Remove and discard the bay leaf

NOTE: To peel tomatoes easily, dip them in boiling water for 30 seconds, or until the skins begin to crack. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. When cool enough to handle, slip off and discard the skins.
NOTE 2: For all the vegetables, to cheat, just throw all of them into a blender, if you don’t like chunky soup, I like mine liquidy. Also, you can substitute tomatoes from store bought canned diced tomatoes, but I find them too chunky, then I blend them anyway.

Book said this will yield 4 servings, each serving is about 79 calories, 3.8g fat, 4.7 g protein, 7.9g carbohydrates, 1.8g dietary fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 271mg sodium.

HAPPY SOUP DAY!

Rainbow at work

I love working at the front desk, let me interact with real people, deal with emergency situation, and practice my people skills. Oh, and best part, I can see the blue sky when I first come to work (unlike in the hospital, there's no window back in the treatment rooms).

One day in July, a huge thunderstorm stopped by College Station, and afterwards I saw the rainbow right across the street. It's hard not to capture it, so I pulled out my camera.

Be a wonderful discover. :D

Fall In Love With a Gangster

Public Enemies (4.5 stars)

Starring:
Johnny Depp!!! (there should have nothing more to say about this charming actor),

Chrstian Bale (Bat-man~)

and Marion Cotillard (French, Academy award winner)


Director: Michael Mann (Directed The Insider, Ali, Miami Vice, and produced the Aviator, the Kingdom, and Hancock)

Before I watched the movie, I barely have any idea who John Dillinger was. I went to see the movie because I trust Johnny Depp. I would never doubt his choice of movie, same goes to Robert Downey Jr. , Al Pacino, and Brad Pitt. They got sense.

Walking out from the movie, I am in a stage of paradox. Not about the movie, but questioning my own ethic. The movie is about a criminal, a sly gangstar who rubs banks during the great depression era. But I look at Dillinger from the movie as a hero, and I thought he is actually a very charming and a very charismatic man. Where's my morale? For this, I blame on Johnny Depp. He portraited this character in such a way that viewers like me start feeling bad for the villain. I am not good at critic movies, but just want to share my thought. I can't critic on camera angle, or acting, but I like the story line. I think Depp successfully re-create another historical figure. Depp's Dillinger was a gentlemen, and somewhat like the Robinhood back in the old ages. He rub banks, but he won't take a person's money out of his pocket ("We are here for the bank's money, not yours, put it away"). He was kind of the man who take the secretary of the banker as hostage, but would still leave his trench coat with her to protect her from the coldness of the winter. He is not a murderer, he doesn't kill people because it is fun. He challenged the authorities by exploring the Chicaco police office Dillinger's Squad in the broad daylight. He was a charming man in the America's media's eye and to the general public. When he was captured (again) and drove down the street, the street people treat him like a celebrity. He was also the reason federal government moved on to establish the FBI (well, somewhat contributed to that). In this movie, I felt that he was a hero (don't shoot me because I usually despise the bad guys).Oh, and at the beginning, I couldn't stop to think him as the pirate in the movie, and his facial expression just reminded me so much of him in his successful movie triology. But his magic touch does not stop here, and he successfully (again) build another character of his in this movie. All I can say it's....It's Johnny Depp, what else can you expect?

Christian Bale's character was more like a villain to me than Depp's. I think at the end, he is out of his mind. His department reminds me of mafia instead of police force. I was surprised to see that he soon left the Beureau after Dillnger's death, and end his life by himselves. Sad character...completely gone psycho after chasing the American Number One Public Enemy. Lost his mind, poor guy.

Billie Frechette, Dillinger's women. I am just amazed how tough she was. In order to be an American's Number One Public Enemy's women, she must be tough. It was a sweet thing to see Dillinger really falls for a girl like her, and he was actually very dedicated to this one single women. He would risk his life for hers. I am glad that she is not just part of the ordinary love line, but she is actually a character. Her characters were well built up by Marion Cotillard.

At the end, Dillinger end his life in a quick and fast way. Of course he should be executed...because he was a bank rubber. It's a sad thing to watch it in the movie though, but I am sure during the real old days, people were happy.

"There were indeed a number of instances of subtle humor that few others than Johnny Depp can truly offer in addition to Director Michael Mann’s successful attempt in capturing the early-30s era in all aspects of the film. " (http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/10628)

Afterall, I just wanna say, Johnny Depp, you are amazing!~

~The End~

This World...

I just watched a youtube video about an Iranian girl (Neda) who was shot and killed in front of a camera, in less than 60 seconds. the video was shot in the past week, during the Iranian election fallout. I think pictures from the same incident made to many other medias...I debated a lot with myself whether I should post the video on the blog, at last I decided not to. To me, it is more shocking than anything else. But I think for most people, it is too bloody to watch. Neda means “voice” in farsi, and it became the symbol for the protest movement. The young teenage girl died in the arms of her howling father.

At least something good is happening on the other side of the world. I became a fan of a man called “waterman” from the Taiwanese Yahoo blog. Long story short, back in April of last year, this “Waterman” became a huge HIT in Taiwan. He wears a mask, looks like Ultraman from Japan. You might think he is nuts (in fact I thought that he is crazy when I first reading his blog). But he calls himself “Waterman”, and his motto is “drink more water, and help more people”. Last April, he started this project to help one group of people (or do one projectfor the community) per day, and do it for 15 days straight. Everyone can submit request to him, and he will do anything, I really mean ANYTHING... When he first started, no one was really paying attention, and he was doing it by himself. At the end of 15th day, his blog has over 10,000 daily viewers, and “he” is acting as a group, recruited many people to help, everywhere. It is an amazing act, and this year, he is still the same man. And released his album (yes, I mean, singing album, CD!!!) – I AM Waterman. Every single penny sold on the album will be donated to charity organization. People had asked him “who is waterman”, his answer was “look into the mirror yourself, that is waterman”. I admire his action, and applause to his thought. I like the fact that he is doing something out of his kind heart, and all he wants is to help people (and be eco-friendly as well). Nobody really knows who the real “waterman” is, I think he represent a concept, an idea, to help people, and make this world a better world.

If I ran out of thought to say, I think I might come back to talk more about him…

WATERMAN


Ultraman from Japan


Waterman is helping shelter pets to find a new home



Waterman helping a shy student to ask a girl out...yeah, that's right!

Dogs on the Surfing board!!

I mean, I am going to be a vet, how can't I not posting pic of animals??

Dog surf contest at Imperial Beach, CA, June 20, 2009. I think it's called "Hangin' 20"...

When bubble are busted...

The moment when the finger touches the bubble






Original post from :http://www.6park.com/news/messages/31918.html



Bubble Busted...

from British photographer Richard Heeks

The Michael Jackson Phenomenon

hmmm...honestly, I thought I don’t know his music that well...until today. I didn't realize that how much he has "infiltrated" my life. Every single song played on radio today, I have heard of it in my life, or somewhat was familiar with. Thrill, Beat it, Billie Jane…Looking back, he has really been a significant singer in the history of modern music. He has impact many generations, even the teens today. His music is universal, people from all over the world to pay a tribute to him today. I know for fact that at least the Chinese and American radio station are dedicating some time today to play his old tunes, and I bet there are other international stations out there in the world played his music today. His influence is un-matchable.

It is very complicated, because later in his years, he does have a really bad reputation in the public. But his work in the music world is un-deniable. There are still many many people in Asia right now try to role play him on the television. He is truly a legend.

I have seen many comments on facebook about his death, most of them are “RIP, MJ”, or somewhere alone the line. Of course, there are individuals who also comment that he deserves what he got…NO BODY has the right to determine a person’s life, or determine what’s right for other people. I was very offended by their comment, and I think no matter what Michael Jackson did in the past, he should not receive comment such like that.


Talking to my co-worker, she was born in the 1990, and oddly, she can also recognize the lyrics and could sing alone when they were played on the radio. I mean she wasn’t even born in that era! Michael Jackson’s music truly has influence many generations and different races. I think there is no one who can surpass that. Today, I respect Michael and his contribution to the music industry; he is truly the King of Pop.

My Lunch Box

Breakfast cereal (320 Kcal)


Lunch Sushi Roll (it's not really japanese style any more...more like I want to stuff in whatever I feel like roll...)


CLOSE UP!


Dinner with Gumbo soup


Lunch with baked tilapia fillet (too salty...next time I will watch how much seasoning to sprinkle on it...but I still <3 fish!!)


I kid your not, this was my dinner, all fruits! So proud of myself...


Mango Papaya Salsa...can be better taste...it's a very tropical dish


Today's LUNCH! Tomato and fried egg + Stir fried Broccoli & bacon slices + Peanut tofu!!!

Letter from a Father

Dear son...
我的孩子…..

The day that you see me old and I am already not, have patience and try to understand me …
哪天当你看到我日渐老去,身体也渐渐不行,请耐着性子试着了解我……

If I get dirty when eating… if I can not dress… have patience.
Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you.
如果我吃的脏兮兮 甚至已不会穿衣服
耐心一点儿 你记得我曾经花了多少时间 教你这些事吗

If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times…
Do not interrupt me… listen to me
当我一再重复 说着同样的事情
请你不要打断我，听我说

When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you fall asleep soundly…
你小时候 我必须一遍又一遍地 读着同样的故事，
直到你静静睡着

When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me nor scold me…
当我不想洗澡 不要羞辱我 也不要责骂我

Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I invented, in order that you wanted to bath…
你记得小时候 我曾经编出多少理由 只为了哄你洗澡

When you see my ignorance on new technologies… give me the necessary time and not look at me with your mocking smile…
当你看到我对新科技一无所知 给我一点时间 不要嘲笑我

I taught you how to do so many things… to eat good, to dress well… to confront life…
我曾经教会了你多少事情啊
如何好好地吃 好好的穿，如何面对你的生命

When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation…
Let me have the necessary time to remember… and if I cannot do it,
Do not become nervous… as the most important thing is not my conversation but surely to be with you and to have you listening to me…
如果交谈中 我忽然失忆 不知道该说什么了
给我一些时间想想
如果我还是无能为力
不要紧张 对我而言 重要的不是对话
而是能跟你 在一起

When my tired legs do not allow me walk...
… give me your hand… the same way I did when you gave your first steps.
当我的腿不听使唤 扶我一把
就像我当初扶着你 踏出你人生的第一步

And when someday I say to you that I do not want to live any more… that I want to die… Do not get angry… some day you will understand…
当哪天我告诉你 我不想再活下去了
请不要生气 总有一天 你会了解

Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived.
了解我 已风烛残年 来日可数

Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the best thing for you
And that I tried to prepare the way for you.
有一天你会发现 即使我有许多过错
我总是尽我所能 给你最好的

You must not feel sad, angry or impotent for seeing me near you.
当我靠近你时 不要觉得感伤 生气 或埋怨


You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you started living.
你要紧挨着我 如同当初我帮着你展开人生一样的

Help me to walk… help me to end my way with love and patience. I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
了解我 帮我 扶我一把 用爱和耐心 帮我走完人生
我将用微笑 和我始终不变的爱 来回报你

I love you son…
我爱你，孩子

Your father
你的父亲

Best of luck, my friends.

One of my dearest buddies from the Corps-Reid, and his beloved wife, Brooke are leaving the States today for their peace corps assignment to Swaziland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland) . Technically, they are not out of the states until the 22nd, but they are heading over to DC to start their initial training and then head over to Africa tomorrow. I called him this morning just want to wish him a safe journey, and I could tell from their tone of voices that they are very anxious about this trip. I completely understand their feelings, going to a completely different country, don't know what's really waiting for them. At least they have each other for support. I had my parents with me when I first came to the States, but I still vividly remember that on the plane from L.A. to Houston, I think I had what you called today a "nervous breakdown". back then I didn't know better, and I was just scared what's coming into my way, thinking about going into a completely new environment with no English knowledge, worrying how will I do in classes...Dad comforted me back then. Now, I am a grow-up adult (that's still a scary word...), I will have to face the challenges myself.

Anyway, today's topic is Reid and Brooke. They are a very important part of my life now. I have known Reid since my fish year, and for the past 6 years (5 years undergrad and 1 year in Vet school), he has always been there for support. We hardly had any arguments, but that's because we are always brutal on each other...comment wise, so we take it out right there, in front of us. and he is always a manipulator (not in a bad way, but he is very manipulative, and can always find ways to get out of the guilt), a crowd clown, what I called "eye-ball attractor"...or what my buddies called "attention wh**e". He can come up with some crazy wild ideas and it's amazing over the years, I developed immunity towards him and all I can answer is a head shake and let him have his way around He had the same major as I did, BIMS, and so we went to class together our junior and senior year a lot. I used to remember that we would always run in our senior boots to try to catch the 7:10a bus from main campus to west campus...and I vividly remembered that Reid would always out run me (dah...) and turn around and comment about his move and that's how it stuck into my head...

Brooke was also in my unit, she is a year younger than me. I would say Brooke is the perfect fit for Reid. Reid is like a big kid who never grow up, he would have all these bizzar random thought and will put them into actions (ie: go into the tunnels on campus and try to find the secrete path; swimming in all the ponds/pools on campus; start a Nuke run tradition with the corps runners, go to bed at 4am when he has a marathon at 7am, and was late for the starting for 10 min, go on a diet with just Honey and peanut butter, and later on finds out it's scientifically prove to be healthy...the list goes on). Brooke are more rational, and Reid would only listen to Brooke. Brooke is also more mature and I like to talk to her because she is always encouraging, and positive, and will always be on my side no matter what. She has the " magic touch " that will calm me down, Reid does NOT have that ability on me.

Today, they are leaving from Dallas to D.C. and receive their official peace corps introduction workshop over night, then head over to a complete new world, helping citizens over there and educate the public about AIDS. I have been telling them (and of course they both already understand) that this is for a great cause, it's something that a great person will do, and the impact they leave behind is un-imaginable. I truly admire their action, and so very proud to be their friend. Next time I see them I will still be in school (bomber...), but I will be almost ready to get out in the real world. By then, they will be back from Africa, tanned, and stay in shape :D

Best of luck, my friends! I wish you both a very safe and rewarding journey!

PS: for those of you who are curious of their trip, log on to their blog : http://reidandbrooke.blogspot.com/

Sensational performance

I don't usually get moved by drassage horses...quite honestly, most of the time I think it's a bizzar thing that you make them move the way that they aren't build for...but this one...is a sensational performance, even to an outisder like me...unbelievable control of the horse. Two thumbs up!

New found

So...my diet is still going on, but I kinda quit it this past few days because I discovered some new methods. I used to think people who are in desperate about losing weight are crazy because they will try everything that they hear/find/discover just because they are desparate. I still think that's stupid...after receiving a nutrition degree from undergrad, I would be laughed at if I follow those people's steps. My goal is to "healthyly" lose some weight, and not hurting my body. After carefully evaluating some posts from various internet resources (ie: other people's blogs), I am going to try to incorporate these couple methods into my daily diet. I translated from the blogs/websites, pardon my English...


1) Lemon in the water
Adding half of a lemon into 1L of water, the lemon needs to be sliced, set the (lemon) water in the fridge. The cool temperature helps to bring out the lemon flavor. Every day at least drink 3 L of such water, no special diet or restriction on food is required, but sufficient intake of water is a must. Minimum 15 minutes exercise, and they don't even have to be continuous (I don't really know about this part...). But then they explain the purpose of this kind of exercise is to sweat, and sweating will help to excrete toxins.

Need to watch: don't drink lemon water on a empty stomach, those are acidic to your tummy, and drink with a empty stomach will increase acidic production and hurt your stomach.

Reason to believe: because the acidity of lemon, in Chinese medicine, we believe that it will help to produce saliva and good for your pancreases. Lemon is also helps circulating blood and help absorption of Calcium, not mentioning plenty of Vitamin C. It can lower cholesterol, reduce chance of cancer, help to stay young, and beneficial in treating many other diseases.
Other benefits: drinking this water during long hours of flight suppose to help your circulation as well.

2) Menstrual period diet :
Apparently it is a very popular methods in Asia, and lots of people had swear to it.

Method: It is divide into 4 time period. Counting from the first day of your menstrual period

Period 1 (day 1-7): you are in a mood swing, easily tired. Recommend to exercise 3-5 hours/week. You are not going to see a whole lot "weight losing", so focuses of shape your body, do some yoga, Pilates, or increase flexibility of your body. Restrict your diet is not going to help, and may be cause dehydration. Exercise in a low intensity rate. Stay away from exercise that needs quick reflex...it's going to make you mad...

Period 2 (day 8-14): Climax of your exercise plan. Your estrogen level is probably at its highest point during this period (then once ovulation occur, progesterone is going to kick in, and that's next period). with high level of estrogen in your body, it helps to absorb and excrete carbohydrates, fat and proteins. So this is the best time to do aerobic exercises. And you are probably at your best mood during this time. Try to maintain exercise at least 7 hours/week, every day try to keep it up to 2 hours (OMG!!!) or every other day for 2 hours. This is a period that can gain weight really quick, because if you don't use them, they are going to be absorbed! So watch out those high caloric and high fat food. Instead, eat more fibers and they will help you to reduce your intake and help moving food alone the intestinal track. Recommendation is to do a 7 day diet plan ahead of time, 7 days is really not that long and easy to stick to.
Reason to believe: Because the hormone level are alternated during different period of the month, when you are in a good mood, you definitely have a better chance to carry out your diet plan. And with the help from Hormone, your exercise can be more productive.

Period 3 (day 15-21): You are getting close to the next menstrual period. It is not quiet effective as the previous week, but keep up the hard work and exercise 6 hours a week. At this time, aerobic exercise are good,just don't over work yourself. And if you don't have a gym to go, jumping ropes are the best solution. Make sure you jump at least 200 or more in the morning and evenings.

Period 4 (day 22-28): from Day 20-24, you can still exercise like normal, but as days pass by, from day 24-28, your exercise time, load, and rate should graduately decrease. Recommend time is 3 hours / week, can do some strength training. Your mood is getting ready to swing again, so stay away from those competitive games. At this time, you might find that your appetite is increase, as long as you don't eat snacks, or fried food, and no food before bed time, you should be okay.


She is not my goal, that would be too scary...but she lost from 138 lb to 84 lb!!! in a matter of 2 years...She is only 5'2". But this is for me to remind me that people can do this, and it is doable~ I just want this to be up to remind me when I am losing my focus.
(PS: pictures are cut and paste from her blog: http://www.wretch.cc/blog/golttin23/8599790 I don't want to be sued...)