Category Archives: Witness to my life

Steeplechase Race

Posted on November 18, 2015 by sinyaw

James Madison, president #4 for the US, lived at Montpelier, VA. It was a fine estate — rolling meadow, probably over a hundred acres. And there is an annual horse racing early November: Montpelier Hunt Races. Fall, on the US … Continue reading →

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(Pretend to) Learn Cooking

Posted on November 6, 2015 by sinyaw

Among corporate team building themes, cooking is a popular one: everyone must eat (and drink) anyway, the skills involved are manageable, everyone can contribute and must collaborate, and it is not really work related. There are also many professionally trained … Continue reading →

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Playing Bridge

Posted on October 18, 2015 by sinyaw

In Bridge world, I am a “junior master.” While that sounds impressive, it is really just slightly less than mediocre. I always enjoyed the game regardless of my lack of talent playing it. Oh, if you did not know, Bridge … Continue reading →

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The Birth of a Crane

Posted on September 4, 2015 by sinyaw

They blocked the road around mid-night and dropped off all the parts. The crew arrived around 4am and started working, with the aid of a little crane that is about 4 stories tall. By 8am, you realized if it is … Continue reading →

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Hair Cut

Posted on August 8, 2015 by sinyaw

I like my hair when it was cut a month ago. Your deduction on my hair cutting frequency will be wrong, if based only on that statement. I would procrastinate then drag myself to a barber’s shop and ask to … Continue reading →

Posted in Peek into my mind, Witness to my life | 1 Comment

$28 Bowl of Beef Noodles

Posted on July 31, 2015 by sinyaw

Beef Noodles are must-eat when you visit Taipei. In those poor old days, these were special treats for occasions. As the society got more affluent, chefs started to innovate. Since everyone love beef noodles, at the level of burgers in … Continue reading →

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又讀射鵰

Posted on July 1, 2015 by sinyaw

當然是全三部: 射鵰,神鵰俠侶,倚天屠龍記. 上次讀金庸,有數十年了. 當年,好得武俠是在報紙上連載的.作家的習慣是一次寫一周. 其他武俠,也都是論字記酬. 因此寫越長稿費越多. 當年看得過癮.今天讀來, 自然感覺故事的拖延. 當年看的是武功. 現在人物和情節反而是重點了. 金庸能在當年寫人物,今天尤感清新,個個性格鮮明,躍躍欲生,活在腦裏. 以前遇到歷史詩詞都跳過,現在心靜了點,能欣賞多些了. 當年讀小龍女,日思夜想,恨不得飛到書裏見她一面. 今天反覺得郭襄寫的最好. 從小說的角度,人物的重點是他們的缺陷. 情節的重點是不落成套. 射鵰的郭靖黃蓉,神鵰的楊過小龍女,都有他們的性格缺陷,讀者能有共鳴. 倚天的張無忌,唯一的問題就是對”好看女人”抵擋不住. 殷素素死前說的,其實就是重點. 這個”共鳴點”不夠深. 趙敏,及其她女角,也描畫粗淺. 好在倚天情節寫得最好,全書還是好看. 我極少重讀書,下次看射鵰,大概不會了.

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Sea of iPads

Posted on June 3, 2015 by sinyaw

I was expecting the standard and boring rows-of-seats at the gate for my flight. Instead, this Minneapolis-St. Paul gate area is a news stand, bar, fast-food, and a Internet café all rolled into one. Seriously, there are hundreds of iPads … Continue reading →

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Olympic Penisula

Posted on May 10, 2015 by sinyaw

Few people realized that Seattle is probably more than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean. On her west is the magnificent Olympic Mountain that, on clear days, I can see from my balcony. The snow capped shines brightly in the … Continue reading →

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Caramelized Onion

Posted on April 14, 2015 by sinyaw

First time, I sautéed and “blonded” them. Second time, it worked and they are delicious. I like onion, whichever way to eat them. I eat them raw, mixed in with salad, onion soup, or whatever. Last time I had a … Continue reading →

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