思松

孔明灯

2012-02-01T09:31:00.003-06:00

仰望夜空
明月稀星无声
默默期待
远处飘来的孔明灯
友人告知
里头寄放了思念
等啊等啊
就是不见一盏微灯

十一月的“虞美人”花

2011-11-14T22:01:00.018-06:00

花文化

中华文化与花的情结历史源远流长。古人赏花，不仅欣赏花之颜色、姿容，更是喜爱花中所蕴含着的符号，人格寓意、精神力量。从陶渊明的“采菊东篱下”，到周敦颐之“出污泥而不染”，各种花有它的人性和代表性。花，除了是精神和灵魂的代表，古代诗词更是喜欢引用花来代表一个季节或月份。有诗为证：

正月梅花香又香，二月兰花盆里装，三月桃花连十里，四月蔷薇靠短墙，
五月石榴红似火，六月荷花满池塘，七月栀子头上戴，八月丹桂满枝黄，
九月菊花初开放，十月芙蓉正上妆，十一月水仙供上案，十二月腊梅雪里藏。

各个月份和代表性的花如下：
正月 -- 梅花
二月 -- 兰花
三月 -- 桃花
四月 -- 蔷薇
五月 -- 石榴
六月 -- 荷花
七月 -- 栀子
八月 -- 丹桂
九月 -- 菊花
十月 -- 芙蓉
十一月 -- 水仙
十二月 -- 腊梅

11月11日

今年（既2011年）11月11日可是非常特别，因为西历的写法为11.11.11，也就是六条一，有“一级棒”“一心一意”“意义深远”的意思吧！许多人当天不是注册订婚，就是大摆酒席，可是热闹十分。更有人称当日为“世纪光棍节”，好不热闹！

但少为人知的是，11月11日是第一世界大战的停战纪念日。在1918年的这一天，德国和美国签署了停战协议，结束了四年多的战争。

11月的花

如果有收看英国新闻，关注英国球赛，或是参与跟英国有关的活动时，大家可能会注意到许多公众人物，都会不约而同地在胸前佩带一朵小红花。这小红花的名字叫“虞美人”，又名丽春花、赛牡丹、满园春、仙女蒿、虞美人草。每逢十一月，大概是1日到11日，英国人都会戴上红色的“虞美人”，目的是纪念世界大战中为国捐躯的战士们。英国退伍军人协会(Royal British Legion)，都会在纪念日前夕，发动募捐，出售人造“虞美人”，也就是所谓的Poppy Appeal。

那为什么是“虞美人”花，而不是水仙花呢？原来这里也有其典故：

在第一世界大战当儿，当任外科医生兼军人的Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae, 在他的出名的战争诗"In Flanders Fields"里头，描写了比利时战场上盛开的“虞美人”，影射当时战事之死伤惨烈。原文如下：

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead, short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands, we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields!

这首诗，在美国得到了非常大的响应。
美国Georgia州的一位女士Moira Michael更是买了一些“虞美人”，自己佩带了一朵，将其他的出售，为退役军人筹款。这方法也被YMCA, 英国退伍军人协会及奥地利返国军人联盟采用，流传至今。

虞美人，学名为Papaver rhoeas，经常被称为corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, red weed, coquelicot等名。此植物属于罂粟科罂粟属草本植物，花色有红、白、紫、蓝等颜色，浓艳华美。这原产于欧洲，北美洲的温带地区的花，秋播春开，在3－4月会放纵绽放，展示美艳。薄如蝉翼的花瓣，在纤细的花茎上，释放着血一般压目的色彩。在徐风中翩翩摇摆，像夜色中翩舞的女郎，婀娜生姿，挑逗心弦。有人曾讹传“虞美人”是会跳舞、说话、唱歌的花草。这美丽的花朵下，全草有毒，而以果实毒性较大。若是误食果实液汁，会导致昏睡，心跳加速等症状。

此花之所以得到中国秦朝末年的虞姬名字，据说是虞姬(又称虞美人)自殺後，地上長上血紅色的花，就此命名为“虞美人”。相传投降宋朝的南唐后主李煜因《虞美人》词中“故国不堪回首月明中”的一句话引起了宋太宗的戒心后，宋太宗在宴会上将李煜毒死的药，便是虞美人草所製的。怎么这么巧？！！

雕阑玉砌应犹在，只是朱颜改。

当今要是11月份里头，看到谁戴上这纸做的“虞美人”时，也可会心一笑了。十一月的花--“虞美人”花。

Antibiotics

2011-10-02T23:07:00.003-05:00

Somehow in the past 2 weeks, cough and cold is on the rise. Some blame it on the very unpredictable fluctuation of temperature on daily basis, while others blame it on the haze that hit us several weeks ago.

A young English lady came in for fever and sore throat last week, while I was having my clinic downtown. She had typical symptoms of strep throat, fulfilling centor criteria of tonsillar exudates, cervical lymphadenopathy, and absence of cough.

She would make a lovely candidate to be started on amoxicillin, if she hadn't been allergic to penicillin. Being the typical private practitioner, I did a throat swab on her and gave her Azithromycin instead.

This morning, I came into my office from my trip from Singapore, and found the lab report sitting on my desk. The result showed that the throat culture was Strep alright, but unfortunately, the sensitivity test showed that the strep was resistant to nothing but Azithromycin!!

I quickly contacted the lady, explained the lab result and requested her to come back to get a different antibiotic treatment.. She was happy that I called, but told me that the antibiotics worked like magic for her. Her sore throat went away despite taking the supposingly-no-good-antibiotics that I gave her.

These kind of disparities between the lab results and clinical outcome of the patient is not new to me. Should I have not done the throat swab, I'd probably think that the Zithromax worked. However, the lab result also set me thinking of: Whether the throat swab was necessary? Could the lab results different from what really happen in the host? Should I have not given her any antibiotics, could she have gotten well on her own anyways?

Sometimes patients come in requesting for antibiotics even if they don't need it. Most of the time, even family members and friends around me, would think that their symptoms improved and went away immediately after a dose of antibiotics, even though the symptoms suggested viral etiology. Getting better could be due to the placebo effect, or maybe somehow along the line, antibiotics did something else that made a difference in the disease progression.

Nevertheless, patient education in antibiotic use is very important in promary care settings. We all know if antibiotics were given out without proper selection, we are digging our graves by creating superbugs that will not response to any antiobitics in years to come. Hopefully in the years to come, people will start questioning why the need antibiotics in the first place.

Registered as a voter yet?

2011-07-20T02:35:00.002-05:00

今天在网上看见了一个网址：
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/NEWDAFTARJ/
便马上去看看一年前选民登记的成果。很高兴自己终于成为选民了。
十多年在国外，竟然没有投票过，实在惭愧。
今年要是大选的话，我无论如何，都会去投票。这不是权利的问题，这是作为一个国民的义务。
当我把图片放在Facebook的时候，有个朋友PM我，说他找不到自己的登记资料。我问他几时登记的，他回说：“国民不是自动登记为选民的吗？”

我的下巴如脱臼般掉了下来。

原来还有人不知道我国没有“选民自动登记”这会儿事！

我在网上找到了这么一个选民登记常见问题的资料，Copy&Paste在这里和大家分享：

1. 在哪里可以登记成为选民？

- 全国每一间邮政局，进去排队，轮到你时，就说 nak daftar pengundi，然后拿出身份证，她填好之后会给你签名，过程非常快。

- 各个政党服务中心和夜市选民登记柜台，年轻人通常都是去民联的柜台登记，嘿嘿。过程也是一样，只是邮政局会比较快，因为他们直接输入系统，政党的还要收集表格后才一次过呈交。

2. 我的IC地址在太平，可是现在已经搬来KL住了，那地址填哪里？

- 你必须根据你IC的地址填写，如果你要更换投票的地址，就要先更换IC的地址，千万不要IC在太平，登记选民时填KL，这会无效的。

3. 我今天登记，几时可以投票？

- 由于我们选委会“超有效率”，你今天登记的话，需要至少三个月时间生效，如果大选在9月，不能投票，所以大家行动要快，因为很多人猜测大选可能在11月，这是关系着我们未来的世纪之战！多一张票，就是多一个希望！

4. 哪里可以检查的选民资格是否生效了？

- 到 http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/NEWDAFTARJ/ ，打下自己的IC号码就可以了。

5. 为什么去年我登记了，还是没有名字的？？

- 很多时候选委会以各种技术理由，比如说地址的Jalan 写成 Jln来否决你登记的资格，所以这个时候赶快去登记多一次，这就是为什么检查选民资格非常重要。

6. 我一个人登记，最多不是多一张票，不能改变什么的。

- 每个人这样想，那民主進程就受阻了，现在全国有370万青年还没有登记啊，如果有50%登记了，這個國家的命運可能就有變。这个国家的未来是属于我们的，所以大家还等什么，去登记吧！

欢迎大家forward这个FAQ，让更多人去登记成為合格选民!

如你已是合格选民，請你花一分鐘去 http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/NEWDAFTARJ/ 查看你的資料是否正確，記得打印備份哦！

Blogbooster

2011-07-19T20:40:00.001-05:00

每每写部落格的时候，都会进入全备状态。所谓的全备状态，就是：孤独一人，没人干扰，思路畅通，感情丰富，一架电脑，一杯咖啡，悦心音乐，这种种必备条件下，才会开始写部落格。
然而，自从回到马来西亚后，要能有这全备的状态，往往是难上加难。一来，在外的时间较多，二来，和双亲一块儿住，私人时间可是少之又少。更不用说找什么灵感了。忙了一整天，回到家，便倒头就睡。
前些时候，答应了朋友写篇文章，就是好几天进入不了状态，最后，还是转转脑筋儿，在iphone上写部落格，反而没那么费力。
今天，终于在Apps里头找到了这叫Blogbooster的东西，试了一下，感觉上还蛮不错的，便与大家分享。

佛跳虾

2011-07-06T05:46:00.000-05:00

花莲市，位于台湾东部，是花莲县的行政、经济、文化中心。花莲枕山面海，西临高耸险峻的中央山脉，东滨惊涛拍岸的太平洋。基于它奇特的地形，逃过了城市化的洗劫，这地方仍保留着许多壮观奇景，让人惊叹不已。

某某机缘，让我来到了花莲。入住了市中心一间温馨舒适，又优雅精致的酒店式民宿。民宿的吴老板十分好客，对我们这班大马来的华侨，更是疼爱有加。临走当天，本来打算在乘搭火车之前来一个逍遥自由活动。怎知吴老板殷勤十分，还专车免费载我们去游花莲。

我们一路从慈济的发源地，跑到了日治时期留下的吉安庆修院，还走了鲤鱼潭，原住民的住所，60年之久的丰春冰果店，国立东华大学，光化作用有机农场等等等，在短短的几个小时里，经历了非一般的旅游。对吴老板的热情招待，我们感激十分。

路上有一个小插曲，在这里和大家分享。吴老板在鲤鱼潭的时候，突然问我一句：
“你吃过＂佛跳下＂吗？”
“是佛跳墙吗？没吃过。”
“不是，是佛跳虾。吃生虾你们敢吃吧？反正来了就应该试试看！”
“嗯。”
说了老半天，才知道我们要吃的是“活跳虾”。

活跳虾乃鲤鱼潭的名产。这料理将活生生的小虾泡在酒、醋、姜、蒜调成的酱料中，上桌后焖个3~5分钟，待虾子晕眩后便捞起往嘴里丢，原味十足。生鱼片吃了那么多年的我，刚开始吃的时候，还是感觉怪怪的。吃了两三口之后，也就习惯了。

下午时分，道别了花莲。下一站：高雄！

It's Whore-able...

2011-04-24T21:31:00.002-05:00

When I was back in the States, a friend of mine taught me a new word: "Slore", which is cross between words "slut" and "whore". It's basically a way to say, "She's like Wallmart, with her legs open 24 hours a day" in a nice and simple word.
I was sharing my new-found vocabulary with another friend, who also came back from the States, the other day, and he thinks that the word made no sense.

"Whores and sluts are totally different species. Whore does it for the money, and slut just likes sleeping around."

"What if this person, hypothetically, likes sleeping around and gain something, not necessary money, out of it?"

"Why, that's horrible..."

"No, it's whore-able. :P"

My friend grinned and nodded.

那是当年没说完的话

2011-04-21T03:20:00.000-05:00

今天心血来潮，开始打理已经被遗忘多时的部落格。从2009年尾开始，便没有那么活跃了。其实也不是完全没有写，只是常常写一半，就不了了之。今后，灵感来的时候，才把它们完成吧！

眼低手低

2011-04-20T21:46:00.003-05:00

昨日和朋友闲聊，被问起部落格的事儿。
说来惭愧得很，自从回到马来西亚后，住得好，吃得好，无忧无虑，写部落格也没有以前那么热忱了。
得空便到外面去流荡，成天不是面子书，就是沉迷于iPhone等种种玩意儿里头。
看书 -- 已经是被遗忘的娱乐。
写作 -- 已经是被放弃的嗜好。
以前，我曾经只看书，不写作；写起文章来怪怪的。我妈说我“眼高手低”。
后来，我到了外国，没什么中文书可以阅读，只顾乱写，可谓“眼低手高”。
现在呢，回来了，书也不看，字也不写，那就“眼低手低”了。
应该是反省的时候了吧！

-- 《自我反省，自我勉励》篇

我回来了！

2010-03-09T01:33:00.001-06:00

我回来了
回到了这熟悉的大地
我回来了
回到了炎热的马来西亚天气
我回来了
久违的部落格 -- 我没把你遗弃！
我回来了
回到了老爸老妈的怀抱，也回到了他们的唠叨
我回来了
新年终于有得拿红包，十五的晚上还去闹元宵
我回来了
天天可以跟好友们出来跑，喝茶谈心骂那官僚们的糟
我回来了
煮饭做菜洗衣有人搞，幸福滋味不得了
我回来了
看到双亲容颜已苍老，才发觉自己年纪已不小

我回来了
友人都问我是不是来歇脚
何时又会人去了

Halloween Costumes

2009-10-16T16:06:00.008-05:00

"Don't you think it will be fun if I put on my scrubs, white coat and stethoscope, and pretend that I'm a doctor?"
"Nope, that will be cheating... "
"What if I go shirtless with the white coat and the stethoscope?"
"What are you trying to show?"
"I'un know... Halloween? :)"
"(Eye rolling)You really want to do this?"
"Nope. :)"
"What if I just go with my normal clothes, and pretend that I am an alien in a human disguise?"
"Lame... plus, who will know you are an alien?"
"(Whisper)Shhh... They weren't supposed to know..."
"Why don't you just dress up like a vampire or some'n...?"
"Did that last year."
"Superheroes?"
"Nah..."
"Movie characters?"
"Geez... I kinda like the Star Trek Uniform... but nope..."
"Mascots?"
"U kidd'n me?"
"Gangsta?"
"hmmm..."
"Nurse?"
"yeah, right..."
"Zombies? Monsters? Godzilla? Ultraman? He he he..."
"U know what will be cool? Borrowing some uniforms from the cops and then go to the party to check on people's ID.. hahaha..."
"Do you know any cops here?"
"Err... not really. Plus I don't think I can fit into theirs. Ha ha."
"How about firefighters?"
"Oh, cool. Always wanted to be one..."
"Let's go shop for costumes then, you might find something interesting there..."
"I guess so. Cool, shopping at the mall then?"
"Deal..."

突然怀念的一首诗

2009-10-14T21:28:00.009-05:00

将近凌晨时分，从十八楼上的窗口眺望，克利夫兰市内竟然那么平静安宁。喝了最后一口红酒，突然想起李白的《将进酒》里头的：“人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月；天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来...烹羊宰牛且为乐,会须一饮三百杯."
人生得意须尽欢-这句最合我意。玩个够吧！因为天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来！喝够了，开始在部落格上胡言乱语了，还是去睡觉吧！

白纸

2009-10-14T17:41:00.006-05:00

桌上有张白纸
突然很想给它写个字
思考了好久好久
还是无法写下去

绞尽脑汁
没有半点墨水
原来脑袋
也不过是张白纸

偷懒的脑袋
不知何时开始
已经渐渐枯竭
那桌上的白纸
依然没有半个黑字

囚不禁的鸟儿飞呀飞！

2009-10-12T12:23:00.004-05:00

好久好久没上网更新部落格了。忙了好几个月，像只无头苍蝇四处扑，忙的还只是一般琐碎的工作，生活无比单调。克利夫兰的夏天已经成了过去，秋天的凉风尽然那么刺骨，仿佛在提醒我那将到来的黑色冬天。

克利夫兰的冬天，我叫他黑色冬天，原因在他那长期的阴暗和寒冷，“黑色”非常。困在这里的市民，好比住在囚牢一般，不见天日。再加上这本来就非常枯寂的死城，到了冬天后更完全失去了生命力，惟有繁盛期建下来的水泥骷髅，残留于此，街上不见半点人影。黑色冬天，实在令人忧郁和颓丧。记得去年冬天，正是阳历新年的时候，住在同一楼，同一间医院工作的外科医生，忧郁过度，坠楼自杀，成了头条新闻。当时我人在多伦多，是朋友们纷纷拨电通知，我才知道这件事的。

即将到来的黑色冬天，我也不向往。很想变成一只候鸟，往温暖的南部拼命的飞去。

鸟儿飞啊飞！

Friends

2009-07-13T19:30:00.002-05:00

Friends are always a blessing in life. Especially when you are far away from home. Friends are those who will fight with you and disgree with you, but will stand by you, when you have made up your mind. Friends are those who will miss you, once a while, when they don't hear from you. Friends are awesome. I love my friends.

Chicago, chicago!

2009-05-09T15:44:00.006-05:00

又是一个星期的忙碌。

上个周末应了赵善明（中学校友）之邀到芝加哥去。我这一个过客，还算是挺幸福的，每到一个地方，不但能结识许多当地的朋友，还能找回旧交，见一见十多年没见的“老朋友”。

上回来芝加哥，是颜迪文（同班的死党）在偶然之下，发现我来美又没有去探望他，臭骂了我一顿之后，再次访美的时候顺路到芝加哥去探访这10年没见的朋友的。如今迪文搬了家，我以为我芝加哥的联系也没了。怎么知道托了Facebook的福，在网上和以往中学的老旧交们联系上来时，才发现原来芝加哥还有两位校友。

善明乃公教中学的高材生之一。虽然高我一年级，以往学会活动和各种校内外的比赛之类的，都常有见面。这次他的邀请甚为热情，反正没事儿做，便买了机票到芝加哥去。

芝加哥是美国第二大城市，有纽约的繁忙，却带着美国中西部的潇洒态度，没那么紧张，地方也较为干净。和Cleveland一样在大湖边，常刮风。

见了十多年未见的校友，当然大部分的话题都在于“想当年”，谈的总离不开十多年前的校友们，老师们，共同的相熟等的。当然，同在异乡为异客，种种见识，不满，展望和未来观，也有蛮相近的地方。善明还透露了以往不曾人知的许多事情。原来我老爸的学生还在他家住过呢！这世界还真是小！

在芝加哥的最后一个晚上，和学长Leong Seng出来喝咖啡。谈到校友时，才发现原来这城市里住的三个校友，从来都没碰过面。还多亏我这过客，来了芝加哥两次，就见了他们3个校友，不禁有一点自豪。（暗喜）

我旅行二十多个国家，走遍四个大陆。路上陆陆续续见到了许多的幼年的，小学的，中学的和大学的朋友。有些变了样，有些还是老样子，有些忘了以前是什么样子的。但是隔了这么多年再相见时，那友情好像还要深了一层。

我交朋友不少，却又不断的流浪，没法和每一位朋友保持联系。路程中遇到的旧友，有很多已经和以往断了关系。我这过客，感觉上好像个提醒，把大家渐渐遗忘的过去，重新粉刷--让这些记忆更加长久地保留下去。

朋友，是一辈子的事。希望我的人生旅途中，还能和许许多多的旧交重逢。

我期待着再过十年半载和旧同学相逢的惊喜。

久违了！

2009-04-26T21:09:00.008-05:00

我回来啦！
一个星期没写部落格，朋友都问我失踪到哪儿去了。
我不是玩MIA。只是最近忙着工作，逛街，晒太阳，没机会上网写Blog。

Cleveland从上周六的大晴天，到周日的乌云密布，星期三又下了一场雪之后，又转回炎热的夏日天气。一冷一热的，人不生病才假呢！

上个周末，天气特别晴朗。心野野的，考虑到纽约，多伦多，芝加哥，还是Pittsburgh去，踌躇了一会儿，还是决定了到Pittsburgh去拜访日本的先辈们。

我家前面的Greyhound便利十分。走到车站，还不到5分钟路程。早上8时的巴士，我7：30出门，时间绰绰有余。习惯背一个小背包去旅行的我，没有重大旅行包的累赘，行动非常方便。

到了Pittsburgh，先辈专车来接我到遥远的自然公园去参加一个当地日本人的聚会。参加者可不少过百人，来到了美国后，还是头一次看到这么多亚洲人（日本人），亲切感百分百。玩了一会儿，大家打打球，然后就和先辈到餐厅去用餐。

和几个久违的先辈电话中谈谈近况，互相勉励；当晚和两个先辈到河边用餐。大家话家常，谈旧事儿，不亦乐乎。先辈们都个个事业有成，都得到名门医院聘请，或是到那儿深造。我为他们感到骄傲。

夜深时，和先辈到有名的South Side去Clubbing。玩得尽兴而归。本来想不睡觉，乘搭凌晨的巴士回家的，大家累得很，躺了一下，小睡变成大睡--睡过了钟，我只好搭8AM的巴士，中午才回到来。

回家还不到半个小时，墨西哥的朋友邀去吃饭，顺便逛逛街。回来后，Chen来电说去Starbucks啃书。我也有功课得温习，刚好有个伴正合我意。才睡区区3个小时的我，喝了3杯咖啡后，还是敌不过周公的殷勤邀请，便在Starbucks里打了瞌睡，见他老人家去了。

晚上在附近的Pizza店用餐，然后Chen来我家做客。Chen特别爱看我录下的How I Met Your Mother Last Summer。戏中细节突然引发了Chen的感触，结果谈起了心事来。

发觉最近周围的朋友都为感情的事感到特别的无奈。我却感觉不到我的感情包裹，这是福，还是祸？

I Love You Man

2009-04-19T14:33:00.012-05:00

昨日朋友因感情上受挫折，便好心给他作个伴儿，给他精神上的支持。我本身对感情问题都是敬而远之，原则上不插手，不给劝告，只是借个耳朵听而已，偶尔给一些安慰。为了改变气氛，两人突然心血来潮，打算下Columbus玩。

Columbus是Ohio的首都，离Cleveland须两个小时车程。我从来没去过，本来就很想去看一看。大概都是Ohio的关系，感觉上和Cleveland相去不远。因为处于南部，加上当天天气晴朗，觉得当地气候会比Cleveland温暖很多。我们在城市里头步行，游玩了一会儿，从朋友那儿打听说Easton Mall值得去逛，便打算去见识一下。

在Easton Mall用了晚餐，逛了一会儿，累了，便打算去看戏。想看的戏都较晚才开始，剩下的就只有“I Love You Man”。曾经听朋友说蛮搞笑的，反正没事儿做，便买了票进去看。

故事中的男主角是个泡妞高手，却没有要好的男性朋友。结婚之前，才猛然间发现没有“兄弟”的人选。情急之下，千方百计去“找男人”，“交男友”。

这出戏，主要是讲述这寻找“男性朋友”的过程，其中弄出的许多笑话，十分之搞笑。

若是空闲没事做，不妨去看一看。

村上先生の手紙

2009-04-16T15:16:00.008-05:00

离开日本也将近一年多了。对这樱花岛上的恩师，东洋爸妈，姐妹，朋友，都十分之挂念。

我人较为懒散。工作忙起来时，总是没好好跟大伙儿联系。有时过了好几个月，才记得没有回信。

前几个星期，村上先生来信，通知我上回写的论文已投稿。还问我现在的住址。

村上先生是我前个医院里头的名医--是心脏内科的“神医”。他知识丰富，脑筋一流，又特别照顾后辈。我刚开始工作时，他在许多方面都非常照顾，很栽培我。我在他那儿也学了好多好多。

一年前，有幸能遇到某个特别的病例。在村上先生的鼓励下，写下了一篇论文。没想到，竟然投稿了。

今天，家里来了一封信。是村上先生的手紙。里边放了一叠印刷本，是投了稿的论文。

高兴之下，用iPhone拍了下来，在此炫耀。 --- 不好意思，见笑了！

重读朱自清先生的《背影》

2009-04-14T18:15:00.030-05:00

今天心血来潮，重读朱自清先生的《背影》，温故知新。
头一次读这篇文章，应该是中学的华语教课本上。这么多年，文章还是依然感人。尤其是出国读书后，更是深深体会到作者的那种心情。父爱，看起来淡如水，却是那般伟大。

原谅我在这里做个文抄公，把原文拷贝下来，和大家分享：

朱自清《背影》

我与父亲不相见已二年余了，我最不能忘记的是他的背影。

那年冬天，祖母死了，父亲的差使也交卸了，正是祸不单行的日子。我从北京到徐州，打算跟着父亲奔丧回家。到徐州见着父亲，看见满院狼籍的东西，又想起祖母，不禁簌簌地流下眼泪。父亲说：“事已如此，不必难过，好在天无绝人之路！” 父亲回家变卖典质，还了亏空，又借钱办了丧事。这些日子，家中光景很是惨淡，一半为了丧事，一半为了父亲的赋闲。

丧事完毕，父亲要到南京谋事，我也要回北京念书，我们便同行。到南京时，有朋友约去游逛，勾留了一日；第二日上午便须渡江到浦口，下午上车北去。父亲因为事忙，本已说定不送我，叫旅馆里一个熟识的茶房陪我同去。他再三嘱咐茶房，甚是仔细。但他还是(终于)不放心，怕茶房不妥帖，颇踌躇了一会。

其实我那年已二十岁，北京已来往过两三次，是没有什么要紧的了。他踌躇了一会，终于决定，还是自己送我去。我两三回劝他不必去，他只说：“不要紧，他们去不好！ ”

我们过了江，进了车站，我买票，他忙着照顾(看)行李。行李太多了，得向脚夫行些小费，才可过去。他便又忙着和他们讲价钱，我那时真是聪明过分，总觉他说话不大漂亮，非自己插嘴不可。但他终于讲定了价钱，就送我上车。他给我拣定了靠车门的一张椅子；我将他给我做的紫毛大衣铺好座位。他嘱我路上小心，夜里要警醒些，不要受凉。又嘱托茶房好好照应我。我心里暗笑他的迂；他们只认得钱,托他们直(真)是白托！而且我这样大年纪的人，难道还不能料理自己么？唉，我现在想想，那时真是太聪明了！
我说道：“爸爸，你走吧。”他望车外看了看，说：“我买几个桔子去。你就在此地，不要走动。”我看那边月台的栅栏外有几个卖东西的等着顾客。走到那边月台，须穿过铁道，须跳下去又爬上去。父亲是一个胖子,走过去自然要费事些。我本来要去的，他不肯，只好让他去。我看见他戴着黑布小帽，穿着黑布大马褂，深青布棉袍，蹒跚地走到铁道边，慢慢探身下去，尚不太（大）难。可是他穿过铁道，要爬上那边月台，就不容易了。他用两手攀着上面，两脚再向上缩；他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子。这时我看见他的背影，我的泪很快地流下来了。

我赶紧拭干了泪，怕他看见，也怕别人看见。我再向外看时，他已抱了朱红的桔子望回走了。过铁道时，他先将桔子散放在地上，自己慢慢爬下，再抱起桔子走。到这边时，我赶紧去搀他。他和我走到车上，将桔子一股脑儿放在我的皮大衣上。于是扑扑衣上的泥土，心里很轻松似的。过一会儿说：“我走了，到那边来信！”我望着他走出去。他走了几步，回过头看见我，说：“进去吧，里边没人。”等他的背影混入来来往往的人里，再找不着了，我便进来坐下，我的眼泪又来了。　　

近几年来，父亲和我都是东奔西走，家中光景是一日不如一日。他少年出外谋生，独自支持，做了许多大事。哪知老境却如此颓唐！他触目伤怀，自然情不能自已。情郁于中,自然要发之于外；家庭琐屑便往往触他之怒。他待我渐渐不同往日。但最近两年的不见，他终于忘却我的不好，只是惦记着我，惦记着我的儿子。

我北来后，他写了一信给我，信中说道：“我身体平安，惟膀子疼痛厉害，举箸提笔，诸多不便，大约大去之期不远矣。”我读到此处，在晶莹的泪光中，又看见那肥胖的、青布棉袍、黑布马褂的背影。唉！我不知何时再能与他相见！

讲故事

2009-04-14T15:46:00.011-05:00

小时候，老爸爱给我们睡觉前讲故事。

老爸讲的故事，大部分是民间的一些传说和中国古典名著。

老爸的民间故事，其实很多是婆婆那儿听来的。老爸常说婆婆是个一流“说书”家，讲故事特别的精彩。可惜我小的时候父亲工作上的关系，很难得才能回家乡见婆婆一次，加上语言沟通上的问题，和她老人家并不是很熟。朦朦胧胧的记忆中，总是觉得婆婆人很慈祥，很疼她每个孙儿孙女。瘦瘦小小的身子，并没有老年人的瞒跚，行动特别敏捷，常常带些玩意儿给我，然后一转身，又不知道跑到哪儿去了。开始懂事的当儿，婆婆就去世了。没机会听她老人家讲故事，可是我今生的遗憾。老爸得了她老人家的真传，讲起“盲，聋，瞎三客”，“尸罗盆”，“狐狸精”等故事的时候，滔滔不绝，让人听出耳油。

老爸爱讲的中国民间和古典名著，包括了“孔融让梨”，《水浒传》里头的“九纹龙史进”，“武松打虎”，林冲等一百零八个好汉的故事，《三国演义》里头的“孔明借箭”，“火烧赤壁”等经典，《西游记》里头的孙悟空和猪八戒，《岳飞》，《封神演义》，《白蛇传》，《杨家将》等故事。同样的故事，说了又说，讲了又再讲，我等姐弟三人，就是百听不厌。虽然当时还读着幼稚园和小学的我们，对故事里头的细节，不是十分的了解，但是这些《古典名著》中的人物，却是耳熟能详。

老爸有时又喜欢说一些古代名人的故事。有时还教了我们一些打油诗。

这两个礼拜，我见了蛮多自闭症和ADHD的小孩。这些小孩，EQ特别的低。今天外来的时候，见了一个很会说话的小孩，就是口无遮拦，什么都讲。

我突然想起了老爸喜爱讲的一个“诗颠”的故事：

话说古代有个秀才，特爱吟诗，却没口德，凡事都拿来作诗，得罪多人。人人叫他“诗颠”。
某日，他看见了一位美丽姑娘迎面而来，却有个大脚板，诗兴大发，便吟：
“远看一姑娘, 近看一娇娘，金莲三寸长 ... 横量！”
姑娘本来听了很高兴，没想到他最后一句竟然是在嘲笑她的脚，十分生气，便把他告到县衙去。

判案的县官名叫胡西波，听了姑娘的投诉后，问诗颠有何话说。怎知诗颠又诗兴大发，吟到：
“古有苏东波，今有胡西波，若将两波比，差多。”

县官庞然大怒，一气之下，把他充军到黑龙江去。秀才没有很多朋友，唯一亲人的舅舅很可怜他，特地来为他送行。两人抱头痛哭。独眼龙的舅舅，流泪只流了一行。他见了又诗兴大发，吟到：
“充军黑龙江，见舅如见娘，两人双流泪，三行。”

他舅舅这一听可给气坏了，从此不再和他见面了。

这故事已经有二十余年没有再听过了，却记忆犹新。今天工作之余，突然想起了这个故事，特地在这儿跟大家分享。

杂记

2009-04-13T21:42:00.004-05:00

今天在诊疗所呆到了7PM，Arthur约我去健身。
可是回到家后，已将近8PM。没法和Arthur的时间配合。
独自到Apartment里头的健身室去。人也蛮多的。想用的仪器给人霸占了，好久好久。
今天有些累，也不打算久留。
回家后，吃炸鸡，喝红酒；赶完成报税手续。
嘿！真麻烦！

Take me out to the ball game...

2009-04-11T17:10:00.018-05:00

今天应了同事之邀，到附近的棒球体育馆去看比赛。
美国人不太爱运动，却特别喜欢“看”运动。棒球，美式橄榄球，和NBA篮球是大家的最爱。当然Cleveland也不例外。市中心，三个体育馆相隔不远。从我家去徒步不过十分钟，非常便利。
棒球季节从昨天开始，今天天气不错，有太阳晒，虽然还是有点儿冷，但是穿一件外套还过得去。我等在Kirstin家集合，然后成群结队到体育馆去。
体育馆规模不小，来看球的人群也不少。从未满一岁的婴孩到银丝满头的老年人，都赶来凑热闹。我心里在想，若是在大马的话，全部人都跑到购物中心去，这里可要拍苍蝇咯！其实，我虽然在日本有看一些儿棒球，对这运动不是特别喜爱。加上比赛过程稍微缓慢，少有紧张时刻，与其在当场看球赛，我还是比较喜欢看电视直播。
今天比赛差强人意，我看了差点儿吐血，就买了一大堆食物来解闷。因为下午有约会，比赛还没完，我就拍拍屁股溜走了。

春天不是读书天

2009-04-11T10:05:00.013-05:00

春天不是读书天,
夏日炎炎正好眠,
秋有蚊虫冬有雪,
要想读书待来年!!

春天到了。爱玩的人们也开始出来活动了。
爱尔兰籍的美国朋友Mikey突然来电，邀我去他家吃他拿手的特制烤汉堡。反正这个月工作比较轻松了一点儿，便答应到他那儿去喝酒和吃汉堡。
约好的时间到了车站去。Mikey专程到车站来接我，然后我们便和他女友Jessica一同到超市去买东西。

晚上，我和Mikey，Jess和他们的室友Steve四人在屋前起了烤炉，然后在烤炉前大吃大喝。我煎了个Yakisoba请他们吃。吃惯西餐的他们，觉得Yakisoba特别好吃。Mikey没事前告诉我当天是Jessica生日。我也没有买生日礼物送给她。还好过来途中经过Au Bon Pain,买了几个蛋糕甜品，就当作Jessica的生日蛋糕，跟她庆祝生日。

Mikey的烤汉堡，里头有爱尔兰酒。是Mikey前些时候，喝醉后特制之品（好像东波肉的故事叻！）。蛮好吃的。但是汉堡特大型。我吃了两块，加上无数的啤酒，Yakisoba，蛋糕，甜品等，食物塞到了喉咙来，已经嚥不下去了。春天的空气，暖中带点儿微冷，站在热烘烘的烤炉前却是十分的舒服。

今天吃得尽兴，喝得尽兴，玩得尽兴。

The Bro Code

2009-04-08T19:40:00.006-05:00

So, what is a bro code?
A bro code is a list of do's and don'ts for all bros.
(Quote from "How I met your mother last summer" Episode 20: Barney's Bro Code)

So, the Bro Code provides men with all the rules they need to know to become a "bro" and behave properly among bros.

Article #1: Bros before Hoes.

One of the famous quotes from the Bro Code is "No sex with your bro's Ex."

I have seen friends dating with their bro's Ex. I have seen a bro married another bro's ex. So, how do we justify this Bro Code? Is a friend's ex off limits?

What do u think?

Trivia Question

2009-04-07T21:36:00.007-05:00

Cleveland的Healthline巴士司机很搞笑，爱在车上给Trivia问题，增添一些乐趣。

今天我也想给大家出个问题，考一考大家。

Cleveland的花名很多。

著名的有：The Cleve，Sixth City，C-Town，Metropolis of the Western Reserve，America's North Coast，The Forest City，The mistake by the lake, 和　DNA level C。

问题：为什么Cleveland又叫DNA level C呢？

Ｔｒｉｖｉａ　Ｑｕｅｓｔｉｏｎ：
Why is Cleveland also known as DNA level C?

四月雪 II

2009-04-07T19:49:00.008-05:00

四月了，怎么还在下雪？老天真爱开玩笑。
还以为下了一天一夜的雪，该见好就收，怎知竟然还下两天两夜的雪？？！！ MC$%H#￥·%！！！

我今天只穿了一个薄外套上班，又得搭公车到Satelite Campus去。
偏偏老天不作美，还夸大风，下大雪。

一个人在风雪中漫步，雪满天山路。哀哉！春天去了哪儿？

踏着白色地毯般的山路，看着草上树上雪与霜，让我想起了岑参的〈白雪歌送武判官归京〉：

北风卷地白草折，胡天八月即飞雪。
忽如一夜春风来，千树万树梨花开。

“胡天”八月有飞雪，我这里“湖天”四月还下雪。（注：Cleveland在Lake Erie正南部，又叫Mistake by the lake，天气变幻无穷，全托伊利湖之福/祸。）

算了吧！难得有梨花看，就阿Ｑ一下吧！

四月雪

2009-04-06T21:41:00.016-05:00

春季已经到来了，太阳映照着大地，把冬天的灰暗，蒸发得无影无踪。路边树枝上，开满了深红色嫩叶。那原来不是嫩叶，是久违的樱花，在热情地向路边的过客挥手。

破晓时分，久违的鸟啼声，正在迎接着美丽的早晨。它那么动听，那么迷人；和那闹钟刺耳的尖叫声相比 -- 有如天地之别。

Cleveland的冬天，是全美国最阴沉，最忧郁的季节。春天的到来，形成强烈的对照。我现在才真正体会到，原来大地回春，是那么值得高兴的！

正当我们为春天的到来和冬天的离去而高兴欢呼，手舞足蹈的同时，今早老天又刮起大风，大地又回到那差点儿被遗忘的阴晦中。没多久，鹅毛大雪如冥钱儿般撒落，嘲笑着高兴得太早的人们。他X的，冬天回来了！

四月的雪，本来可以变得漂亮；但是这场大雪带来的阴郁，带来的可怕记忆，让人提心吊胆。

你走吧，昏暗的冬天！还我期待已久的春天啦！！

晩御飯

2009-04-06T21:19:00.005-05:00

今天的晚餐：　阴阳煎蛋（仔细看是阴阳图案也！），乌东面（Ｕｄｏｎｇ）和可口可乐。今天难得一个人吃饭。啊！我的红酒去了哪儿？

给周老师交早卷

2009-04-04T08:22:00.018-05:00

今天又来这里交周记。周老师指的是星期一，可是还是早一天交功课...

星期五 - 家里搞火锅派对。大马的Chen，Kee Thai，Nick，还有巴西的Maoro，都来帮忙。港籍的Joanna也蛮早来的。家中厨房不大，却挤满了来帮忙的人。切菜的，煮水的，搞点心的，切肉的... 火锅本来就是一大伙儿搞的活动，其中的乐趣便是从准备食物时开始的。红酒开了，啤酒到了，邀请到的顾客也陆陆续续的到来了。成都出身的Kevin果然是地道的“火锅王”，他来了之后我们的麻辣火锅，都由他去掌握大局，我等便开始玩游戏，吃点心... 韩国籍的Joyce兴致勃勃地搞游戏，怎知游戏难度太高，我等白痴没法消化，还是决定玩别的游戏。
吃火锅，应该是亚洲人的东西吧！大家热热闹闹，讲故事，玩游戏，还在屋里唱K。玩到凌晨1AM才正式结束。

星期六 - 早上5AM起床。6AM开工。玩得太晚的关系，早上起床真辛苦。本来还以为病人不多，可以轻轻松松的上班的。怎知到了医院后，才知道病人增加了3倍。害得我在十分有限的时间内得巡房认识这些病人，还得写报告，忙得不可开交。医院的繁忙，让我忘了累，也忘了原来今天是我生日。好几个日本，美国和大马的朋友频频来电。工作的关系，不方便接电话，真抱歉！电话的留言十分感人，我得到了鼓励，得到了力量，整天就这么样撑了下去。晚上11时，突然外边来了个电话。竟然有个男人冒充女护士的声音给我打电话说有新入院患者。我一听便知道是KT和Chen在搞着鬼，但是很高兴接到他们的祝福电话。他们还特地拿蛋糕来医院来拜访。实在是义气非常！我感到安慰，原来Cleveland也有好多温暖！晚上又是一个接一个的入院患者，忙碌让我忘了时间，不知不觉中，已经是凌晨3:30AM，我才发现已经不能再撑下去了，就跑到值班房去倒头大睡。

星期天 - 5:30AM我又得起床，开始整理文件，作报告，巡病房，写报告，12PM才放工。本来想早些回家休息的，怎知朋友都很热情，电话后，还有朋友来访。晚上煮了一些味曾汤和饭，请邻居吃饭。晚上楼上的Arthur在洗衣的同时跑来我这儿聊天。我晚上12时才入睡。算算我3天里，原来睡了才睡了6个小时。。。

星期一 - 如一般6AM上班。病人不太多的关系，还蛮轻松的。下班后和Arthur约好吃饭。也谈到很晚才结束。

星期二 - 朋友都纷纷说要和我搞生日的。4PM IR的Dr. Hui来电邀我吃饭。我其实当天double booking, 已经答应了Chen, KT等出来。反正工作不忙，我就先和Ferdinand到巴西餐厅用餐，然后就和Chen， KT和Kevin会合，搞Second round。Ferdinand被召回医院干事儿，没法和大伙儿一起喝酒畅谈。我们从Coventry的Winking Lizard, 跑到East 4th餐厅街的House of Blues，然后再转移基地到Hyatt Regency at the Arcade的1890 Lounge去搞第三场。玩到了12时才回家。

星期三 - 工作回来后特别的累。在健身房时还打瞌睡。今天倒算好好睡觉，看了录下的连续剧后，在写部落格的同时睡着了...

星期四 - 工作忙的关系，回家后，看一下书便累得很。跟Ritu约好去Gym的，怎知那女人比我还要累，回家后便睡着了。我就跟朋友到外边去吃饭。回来后，便倒头就睡。

星期五 - 同时答应了3个约会。同事们聚餐。朋友的生日派对。还有和Chen的周末计划。哈哈。周末本来是休息天，但是节目却是多得很... 结果，我坐在电视前等着电话的同时却睡着了。晚上醒来，给几个朋友臭骂了一顿。哈哈，没法子，我想我的睡眠追上了。

星期六 - 律师朋友Otta今早约我出来吃早点。然后又和KT，Chen还有老前辈Doc吃点心。吃完点心后到附近的Wallmart买TurboTax。我一向来都是医院帮我办这些缴税手续的，今年办缴税文件的还是头一次。到了我家后，Chen生病的关系，在我家里躺了一会儿，Doc和KT玩我家电脑和电视。今天是Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 的Induction day。入场免费。我等当然不放过此机会，也和大家去凑热闹。
晚上，Kivin的生日派对（怎么最近这么多人生日的呀？），Johnny专车来载我过去，因为第二天得工作的关系，也不敢玩得太晚。呆了一会儿后，便和Johnny等回家去。
回家后，觉得身体有些热，喉咙也开始痛起来了。他X的。生病了！

忙与盲 II

2009-03-25T20:04:00.014-05:00

前阵子写“忙与盲”的时候，竟然是躺在床上，睁着沉重的双眼，在半睡半醒的状态下写出来的。

当时意识迷迷糊糊，写得马马虎虎，想必大家看得一头雾水，不知所谓。

今天又来这里迷迷糊糊写部落格了。其实上(上？）个礼拜的日子是这么样过的：

星期一 4:30 起床。6AM上班。6PM工作完了后匆匆忙忙地赶回家。Nobu从仙台来访。不好意思让他久等。7PM Sadao在我到家的同时抵达。Nobu，Sadao和我便到河边的西餐店去用餐。还尝试了本地的啤酒。10PM回到家，和久违的Nobu述陈年旧事。好久没用日语了，却是十分的高兴。子曰：“有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？”-- 当然啦！1AM就寝。

星期二 4:30起床。今天虽然是St. Patricks Day，我还是得如平日一样去上班。忙了一整天，5PM竟然有Admission。害我7PM才能回到家。Nobu兴奋地告诉了我今天的所见所闻。原来St. Patrick’s Day市中心有“游行”，还经过我家门前呢！可惜我得工作，没有眼福。Chen和Kee Thai来电问我今天干什么。我本来计划做晚餐请Nobu吃，也干脆请他们过来大家一起用餐。9PM在附近一个叫Harp的爱尔兰酒吧庆祝St Patricks。酒吧里搞大派对，人山人海，还有Live Band。没想到以玩就玩到凌晨。1AM才入眠。

星期三一样4:30起床。又上班忙了一天。Nobu白天大购物，晚上大家都有点儿倦，就在家里吃饭，然后一边喝酒一边畅聊。Nobu还真有心，特地买了一盒礼品送给我作生日礼物。还为不能跟我庆祝生日而耿耿于怀。拼命向我道歉。当晚12AM就寝。

星期四 4AM起床。Nobu回日本的班机是7AM。还好我住的地方也是个酒店，有的士服务。起早八早便为Nobu送机，然后赶去上班。回来后，爱尔兰籍朋友Mikey邀出来喝酒谈天。到Winking Lizard喝世界啤酒。又呆到12AM才睡觉。

星期五 4：30起床。30小时的工作。今天不回家... 呜... 整晚没有什么睡到。。。

星期六 12：30pm 下班。Khee Thai 和 Chen两位马来西亚朋友来接我去吃Brunch。大导演Johnny Wu今日有首映节目，便和Khee Thai去凑热闹。Chen有约会没跟我们去。路上接了哥伦比亚的Gina一起去。看完了首映后，和熟悉的演员朋友和Johnny谈了一会儿后，便和Khee Thai等到Tower City去出席International Film Festival。然后又在Tower City逛街。Gina还在那里接受路边修眉毛服务。玩了一会儿后，我们到我家坐了一会儿，然后又朝Ferdinand家去出席他的“亚洲派对”。玩到12AM才回家。Chen在我们离开之前来电，说约会进行顺利。原来他在我家下面等着我，我们便约好到我家去聊。Khee Thai， Chen与我便这样谈到了凌晨4AM。

星期日本来跟朋友约好11AM吃点心。KT， Chen和我都睡到10.30AM才起床。所以迟了。搭了住在楼下的Nicholas的顺风车，到Li Wah去吃点心。然后又到Koko Bakery和珍珠奶茶。又这样大家都呆到4，5点才回家。晚上又约好到Starbucks去。11PM回家睡觉。

忙与盲

2009-03-22T21:39:00.003-05:00

最近忙得很。工作。工作。工作。应酬朋友，接待到访的日本朋友，工作。
周末又有30小时的当班，又得出席好几个“派对”，跟着又是应酬，工作，应酬。
难得的睡眠，只好又再牺牲--- 每天大概只睡3-5个小时。跟着便是天天拖着疲惫的身子，坚持下去。
甘地说，要活得像没有明天那一样。我想，我做到了。我活足了今天，却又看到明天的到来。虽然仍然活着，却只能用“失魂落魄”来形容。
今天发现，还有一个星期便是自己的生日。生日当天，还得做30个小时的轮班呢！
天啊--！！！放过我吧！

Spring Awakening

2009-03-15T15:02:00.009-05:00

星期五晚上，和几个朋友约好到我家附近的PlayHouse Theater去看Musical。从我家到PlayHouse Theater，徒步只需3分钟。听一位朋友说Spring Awakening蛮不错的，所以决定去看一看。其实，去看这Broadway Musical之前，我没做功课--根本不知道这是怎么样的一个演出。当买票入场后，才发觉是说有关性爱的表演时，有点后悔。几个男人来这里看色情片，实在是有点儿...

可是看了这个演出后，觉得表演，音乐，内容都很不错，我一定会介绍朋友去看。

Spring Awakening，中文名《春情荡漾》，改编自德国作家Frank Wedekind的同名小说。这个摇滚歌舞剧，讲的是青春期少男少女对性的懵懂与好奇。故事的背景是在一个保守的德国社会里，当时当地，“性爱”是个不可言的“脏事儿”。在这种思想的社会下长大的男女主角，搞了性关系才知道原来baby是这么样来的。看了这出演出后，我觉得Cleveland的社会里有蛮相近的地方--“意外的生产”是非常普遍的现象。这歌舞剧打破第四墙的观念，直接向观众表达角色的愤怒、沮丧、动机与渴望，在2007年的Tony Award中得到了11项提名，赢得了8项奖项，其中包括了best musical, best direction, best book, best score 和 best featured actor。

若是有机会的话，大家也不妨去看一看！

满月谭（Part 1）：中国人的明月

2009-03-14T03:22:00.028-05:00

千江有水千江月，明月是中国人最偏爱最痴迷的天体。不像西方文化把月亮和外星人骑脚车飞上天，或是人狼变形扯上关系；中国人的月亮代表着含蓄的美，代表着“阴”，代表女人，代表着感情的寄托。别离，思念，感慨，失意，孤独，惆怅，怀乡之时，看一看天空的明月，思绪得以整理，感情得以付托。

中国文学上，吟月题材的诗词可谓汗牛充栋。

耳熟能详的有苏轼的《水调歌头》:“明月几时有？把酒问清天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年...”。最后几句更是家喻户晓的名句：“人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。”, 充分地表达出了我们对明月的情感。

和明月共饮共舞的，有李白的《月下独酌》：“花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。举杯邀明月，对影成三人...”

怀乡，思念，别离的诗词更是多如牛毛。

有张九龄的《望月怀远》：“海上生明月，天涯共此时。情人怨遥夜，竟夕起相思！”，杜甫的《月夜忆舍弟》：“戍鼓断人行，秋边一雁声。露从今夜白，月是故乡明...”，孟浩然《秋宵月下有怀》：“秋空明月悬，光彩露沾湿...”，辛弃疾的《满江红・中秋寄远》“谁做冰壶浮世界，最怜玉斧修时节。问嫦娥、孤冷有愁无，应华发... 若得长圆如此夜，人情未必看承别。把从前、离恨总成欢，归时说。” 张若虚的《春江花月夜》:“...不知乘月几人归？落月摇情满江树。”等等等，不胜枚举。

月亮除了代表某些人的心之外（你是否也是爱唱“月亮代表我的心”的人之一呢？），也和美女伊人息息相关。《诗经・陈风・月出》里头有“月出皎兮，佼人僚兮。舒窈纠兮。劳心悄兮。 ”借月起兴，表现了人们对窈窕淑女之企慕。苏轼，齐已，更是把“婵娟”和月亮划上等号。月亮就是美女，美女就是月亮。民间也有“嫦娥＝美女＝月亮”的一般理解。

提到给月亮取花名的，谁都比不上诗仙李白来得“凶”。李白给月亮的花名包括了“金魄、圆光、圆影、顾兔、大明、阴精、金波、天镜、飞镜、明镜、破镜、玉钩、琼钩、瑶台镜、白玉盘...”etc。这太白金星，好像中了月亮的毒。。。他现存的千首诗里头，和月亮有关系的共有382 首（总数的38 %）。

李白不但可以乘月(“耐可乘明月,看花上酒楼。”《秋浦歌》其十二) 、揽月(“俱怀逸兴壮思飞,欲上青天揽明月。”《谢月兆楼饯别校叔云》) 、寄月(“我寄愁心与明月,随君直到夜郎西。”《闻王昌龄左迁龙标遥有此寄》) 、宿月(“寄影宿沙月,沿芳戏春洲。”《古风》其四十二) 、邀月(“举杯邀明月,对影成三人。”《月下独酌》) ，甚至还可以赊月(“且就洞庭赊月色,将船买酒白云边。”《陪族叔刑部侍郎晔及中书贾舍人至游洞庭》) 。

李白把月亮当成了交通工具，装饰品，还把她当作可以心灵沟通的信使、旅伴、亲友、酒友。我想，这就是我们华夏子孙心中的明月吧！

小时候，我妈给我背得第一首诗，便是诗仙的《静夜思》：“床前明月光，疑是地上霜。举头望明月，低头思故乡。”那时虽然还不了解思乡是怎么样的感觉，从小开始诗仙38%里头的作品却已经影响了我的一生！今日我看的月亮，和老外朋友们看的月亮有很大的不一样。这得全归功于诗仙李太白吧！

满月谭（Prologue）

2009-03-13T23:07:00.010-05:00

满月，英文翻译为“full moon”，乃月亮在天球上运行到太阳的正对面，日、月相距180°；地球位于太阳和月亮之间，从地球上看去，月亮的整个光亮面对着地球，又称为“圆月”，“望月”。

古今中外，满月给人们带来各种不同的思考与遐想。中国人谈起“满月”，联想的是团圆，怀乡，思念，中秋等的。西方人却是把“满月”和奇能量，怪事，人狼，疯狂相提并论。

又快了一小时啦！

2009-03-09T13:43:00.010-05:00

星期六吃了点心和喝了珍珠奶茶后，Kee Thai, Chen, Nick & Mitsuru到我家来玩牌。晚上，我们这五人再加上两个日本的朋友约好到韩国餐厅用餐。吃韩国烤肉。韩国餐厅里有个Private room,还可以在里边唱K。那里的老板和韩国妹都知道我是常客，虽然没有提前预约了房间，他们还是很通融地让我们用那“个室”一晚。
香喷喷的烤肉，五花八门的韩国小菜，加上那久违的Karaoke，当晚真地玩得很开心。
Nick在尽兴之余，突然有感而发：Day time saving又开始了。（也就是说，美国的时间又加快了一个小时，星期天早上生效。）
原来，春天真的到来了！

思松，源自何处？

2009-03-09T08:03:00.017-05:00

最近有朋友问我，何谓“思松”？为什么我给这部落格取这样的名呢？

这部落格如此命名，其实也纯粹是巧合，并没有什么深长的意义。

我当初开始这部落格时候，tingsong.blogspot.com 之名已经给人拿了。我本人爱思考，又无法用自己的名字为部落格命名，就干脆把ting改为Think。所以部落格的Thinksong之名便诞生了。（注：tingsong来自我中文名--“挺松”，意思是“挺拔的松树”）

好友素心却是妙的很，把Thinksong直接翻译为“思松”，所以我也顺水推舟，把这部落格命名为思松。
回到第一道问题：何谓“思松”？

我想“思松”可以如以下的几种方式解释吧！
1. 思考着的挺松。我思故我在。
2. 思念挺松。让思念我的家人和朋友，通过我部落格了解我的状况。
3. 思维放轻松。让“思”维得以轻“松”一下。（哈哈，好像有点牵强。。。）
4. 以上的结合或读者们的自由发挥。

我的部落格“思松”并没有一定的解释，还是让读者们各自去“解读”。如果有更好的建议，还请多多指教！

Cleveland Dim Sum Brunch Club

2009-03-07T21:25:00.024-06:00

So, there are these bunch of us who hang out to have brunch at Li Wah Restaurant (one of the big Chinese Restaurant in Cleveland) during the weekends. We call ourselves the "Dim Sum Brunch Club". We went there so often that the waitresses know us very well and would talk to us as if we were old friends. Sometimes, we sort of get complimentary stuffs from them.
After the dim sum, we will stop at Koko Bakery for bubble tea and buy some buns for the following morning.

The following are photos taken in the past for our dim sum brunches:

The same people appearing almost the same time at the same place almost every weekend. 2nd pic:The 5 musketeers (only remaining surviving Malaysians in Cleveland...) from left: Sharmeel, Nick, Khee Thai, Chen, me.

So, it started of with just me, Khee Thai, and Chen going for dimsum during the weekends. I met Nick in the elevator in my building one day when a girl was trying to know me. Eventually, I got to know Nick instead of her (long story... not relevant here). So, Nick joined the club later, followed by Sharmeel. I met Sharmeel when we did a rotation together.

1st pic:Nick was sipping his tea thinking about last meeting's poker game. He is planning some new strategies for the 2nd round of "Cleveland DSBC Dai-di Tournament" in my house...
2nd: The friendly waitress that has a crush on one of our fellow members.

Food was good. Waitress talking... Someone listening... Mitsu-ru, a friend's brother joined us for Dimsum. He speaks english, portugese, spanish, french, and japanese, but unfortunately, not Madarin or Cantonese... or else, he could have joined the conversation with the waitress too.

Koko Bakery: The nice lady at the counter always gives us cakes and stuffs when we go to buy bubble tea...

Member's Profile:
Chen Hoe a.k.a. Chen: Currently a Congestive Heart Failure fellow at University Hospital. Finished Residency in Internal Medicine at CCF. Originally from KL. Speaks cantonese. Into party scenes. Likes Canton Dishes.
Kee Thai: Finished residency in General Pediatrics in Rainbow Babies. Originally from Kuantan. Currently doing an Infectious Disease and Neonatal Intensive care fellowship there.

Nichalos a.k.a. Nick/NC: Originally from KL. Studied Robotics in UK. Currently working in a company in Cleveland. Stays in the same apartment. The only sane member that did not go into medicine. Gamble King.

Sharmeel: Originally from Johor but moved to KL. Studied medicine in India, came to US to do residency in pediatrics at Metrohealth Hospital.

A nice weather in cleveland... is it spring already?

2009-03-06T19:33:00.012-06:00

Today was exceptional warm and sunny for a city like Cleveland. If had not my friends warned me about the weather in Cleveland, I could be easily deceived to think that spring is on its way. Yeah, it is on its way alright, like 2 MONTHS FROM NOW... !!! :(
Since the weather was so nice today, I decided to take a stroll around my neighbourhood after work, and hang out at Starbucks at Playhouse square...
Below is some photos taken to give you an idea how my neighbourhood looks like.
Also down below is my starbucks card that I use for my coffee. :)
Bumped into Takero in SB. Decided to go Karaoke tomorrow.

Please click on the photos to see enlarged version →

模特儿

2009-03-06T03:00:00.003-06:00

网上有人突然来信，问我是否有兴趣当男模特儿。说是美国公司在欧洲办新杂志，叫JURGITA MAGAZINE的，即将出版。

我一时好奇和贪玩，回信对方询问详情，问清楚需要搞什么的，不会是拍裸照哪种的吧？

他很快地回我信说，这“新杂志”旨在于拍摄与记载有关居住在美国的各种不同的人和他们的生活方式+等等(Life style and so on...)。他说我网上profile很不错（大概是Facebook吧！），要我寄给他我相片，全名，地址，电话, 还说会寄五百美金的支票到我住址来给我，作Cost of authorization.

也不知道什么是Cost of Authorization（是不是卖身钱？），但是无端端可以得五百元美金，未免有些诡怪。更何况，and so on 听来有点不舒服，搞不好是个骗局。

最近裸照绯闻多多，娱乐界，政坛上比比皆是。我虽然没有被陷害和勒赎的价值，但是还是决定乖乖安守本分，不让节外生枝，所以没有给他再回信了。

虽然心底下还是有少许动心，但是为了自己的将来和家人的声誉，还是奉行“安全第一”。

吃的迷信

2009-03-05T03:00:00.000-06:00

前阵子和朋友吃饭聊天，谈到吃的文化，也扯到了吃的“迷信”。

东方人很爱吃，也很爱篇故事，所以吃的故事特别多。

日本人在考试或是比赛前，爱吃“勝丼”(Katsu Don)，相信它会带来“胜利”（Katsu）和成功。

我朋友说他考试前，他妈是不给他吃鸡蛋的。因为吃了会考“零鸡蛋”。

我笑说他妈错了，蛋不应该只吃一个，得吃两个才行。吃了不但能考一百分，还能以形补形！

今晚我又煎了一个一百分的蛋，却不是来补形的。

独身男の朝食

2009-03-04T10:50:00.025-06:00

今早起床，发现我的Kaya吃完了。面包也没了。

泡了一杯咖啡，往收库里头找吃的。因为工作忙的关系，很少有在家里煮东西吃。平时早餐都是外面吃的较多。之所以，家中煮饭，炒菜等材料十分的少，干粮却特别的多。

日本的多年经验，让我了解Instant食品的重要性。就是饥饿的那一刻，还能马上决绝“危饥”。我的收库里装满了Instant Ramen, Instant Misosiru, Instant麦片，还有Instant Curry。

北海道除了出名新鲜海鲜，寿司，拉面，巧克力和啤酒之外，还出名Ｓｏｕｐ　ｃｕｒｒｙ。（我不是开玩笑的）。前些时候，从北海道来这儿玩的朋友特别有心，带了两包当地出名的Ｓｏｕｐ　Ｃｕｒｒｙ来送给我。今天难得在家煮东西吃，就打算把它煮来吃。

And a little dessert...

长不大的孩子，做Uncle。。。？？

2009-03-03T16:32:00.021-06:00

阿姐又生啦！！！还生了一对龙凤胎。虽然人在地球的另一个角落，还是特别的兴奋和高兴。

阿姐的大女儿已经有5岁了，可爱非常。一个独生女，爸妈的掌上明珠。家中大大小小，上上下下都把她宠坏了。还真怕阿姐不再生的话，这妞儿也将成为名副其实“小皇帝”。那后来的日子也不好搞了。

很可惜在姐姐生产之期不能挺身相助，也没机会亲眼见那两个刚出生的侄儿侄女。有些遗憾。（谁叫我人在地球的另一半？）

说到生孩子，最近老同学们也正在加油，陆陆续续地“传宗接代”。每次海外回来时总是有新小朋友玩。还好我的小孩缘挺不错的，有时跟小孩玩还比跟他老爸老妈谈天还要开心。大概是“思想年纪”（IQ？）较为接近的关系吧！呵呵呵！（傻笑）。不认老的我，有个禁忌－－就是怕被人叫“Uncle”。朋友很兴奋地叫孩子们称呼 “Uncle”　的时候，我总会半开玩笑地给大家开个条件：要么就直叫我名字，要么呢就叫我　“KoKo” （闽南语：哥哥)　好啦。这把年纪还要人叫“哥哥”，听起来虽然有些恶心，但总是比被叫“Uncle”来的好听一些。朋友们总是笑着说：认老吧！

我那５岁的小侄女，虽然不常见面，却特别喜欢找我玩。每当我回家时，她是迫不及待想到外婆家来“绑架”我。（*注：所谓“绑架”--就是她来到我家后，我被困在家里，没法出门了。）我老妈和她老妈（我姐）更巴不得我们俩呆在家玩我们的，给那两个女人有空闲谈她们的天。小侄女天真活泼，想象力丰富，玩起来却是蛮颠的。也不知为什么，她是用名字称呼我，我也乐得免被叫“舅舅”（叫我弟弟时却是有一个“XX舅舅”的）。我爸我妈都会急着纠正她，说不能叫长辈的名字；我这舅舅却唱反调，纵容她去那么叫。

也许是贪新鲜吧！小时候在波士顿读书时，同班同学邀请我到他家玩。他爸好酷，孩子都是以直称叫爸爸名字的。小小年纪的我，感觉非常新鲜。要是在马来西亚这么叫的话，会犯下“没大没小”的罪名，身败名裂的也！也许是这缘故吧，我那时下了决心，希望年纪大了后，做个酷“爸/Uncle”，宁可被叫名字，也不要被叫 “Uncle”。之所以，到了今天还是拒绝长大，拒绝被叫“ｕｎｃｌｅ”。

不知道下次见面时，小侄们会是怎么样称呼呢？

Reformasi

2009-03-02T18:57:00.004-06:00

Ternampak laman web Shin yang berubah rupa, tergoyang hatiku nak kemaskinikan design lampiranku yang lama tak terkendali. Shin yang kini sibuk dengan rancangan honey-moon-nya, seolah mempunyai terlampau banyak masa lapang, berupaya membuat pelbagai contengan baru untuk lamannya. Memang itu dia wanita upaya yang pernah jadi setiausaha teruggul in sekolah.

Entah kenapa hatiku semakin pilu membaca berita dalam negeri di seberang laut. Gelora politik negara kita seupama drama komedi membongkar kelemahan pimpinan yang kurang beriman, bermain api dengan salahgunaan kuasa dan wang negara. Ke mana sudah wawasan negara untuk bergerak ke arah kemajuan sebagai negara perindustrian? Ke mananya "bersih, cekap dan amanah"?

Adalah pada ketika yang sama aku berada di Jepun, dapat kusaksi Perdana Mentri Koizumi menjadi PM ke56. Beliau pernah menjadi harapan sanubari setiap warga Jepun pada masa itu, sebagi pembaharu ekonomi yang berusaha memperbaiki hutang kerajaan, mengemaskini sistem bank serta penswastaan perkhidmatan pos negara.

Kini, Presiden Obama muncul sebagai bintang politik di dalam dan di luar negara Amerika, mempersonakan kita dengan pelbagai polisi untuk membawa negaranya mengatasi krisis ekonomi dunia.

Harap-harap satu hari nanti, negara kita dapat bangun menyedari kelemahan kita, menolak ideologi yang mementingkan warna kulit dan keturunan, dan menyaksikan kelahiran seorang "bintang politik" yang berupaya membawa negara kita kegemilangan and kamajuan. Pada hari itulah, dapat kita berasa bangga dipanggil "anak Malaysia"...

“看”医生

2009-02-26T12:42:00.013-06:00

这个月，被派到急救中心当班，专看门诊时间外需要医疗协助的小朋友们。

说是小朋友，年纪小的包括了未满一个星期的婴儿，年级大一点儿的还包括了18岁的少年们。

夜间突然到访的，大多数是发烧，感冒，咳嗽，肚疼，呕吐，拉肚子，内耳炎，哮喘一般“小儿科”。还有一些头痛，外伤，尿出血，虫咬，皮肤病，误吞，中毒等较为有趣的病例。我蛮喜欢夜间的急救当班。一来，可以直接和家长孩子们沟通；二来，可以接触各种不一样的病情和家庭。年纪较小的朋友们来时都是哭哭啼啼的，回家时却是蹦蹦跳跳的，虽然有时连药单都不必开，满足感却是十足。

当然，其中也有一些令人头疼的顾客。

我当班最怕看到的是16岁~18岁的少女们。十个人里头有五个是莫名愁诉，头痛，头晕，心痛，肚痛，脚痛，非常难搞。有时痛的程度也蛮惊人，吓得老爸子老妈子们心慌失措。医者父母心，当然很担心这是什么急病，以最快的速度去止痛和找出原因。往往进行了百般检查，花了老半天，证明了没有致命的疾患，却找不出理想的病因。追问下去，症状背后常常隐藏了许多复杂的家庭纠纷，感情问题，登校恐惧感等“心病”。谈了心事，痛也没了，病人就好像没事儿的回家去。仿佛“看了”医生，病就好了。

我在北海道工作时，有一位老太太，年过八十，虽然全身都是老毛病，看起来还挺健康的。老太太最大的毛病就是爱三更半夜到急救中心来“看医生”。这老太太几乎每隔一两晚都会出现，护士们也挺38的,说老太太又来“看”医生了。主诉有时是伤风感冒，有时是胸疼，有时是头疼，有时是失眠。伤风感冒失眠还有药给，胸疼，头疼还真怕是来真的--心脏病，脑溢血的。心电图，脑扫描做了好几遍，都没事儿。虽然好几次尝试劝老太太尽量利用白天的专科服务，劝了无数次，老太太还是比较喜欢晚上登门拜访，“看了医生”后，心满意足的回家睡觉。

老太太家中无人，丈夫过了世，儿子离乡背井，不在身边。老太太又没亲朋戚友，也难怪她每晚会寂寞难堪，“打的”到医院来。做个医者，医病的同时，也不能忘了医“心”。要是“看”了医生，病自然能好的话，何乐而不为呢？

离开北海道都差不多有一年了，没想到最怀念的还是这位老太太。
--- 北海道的老太太，你是否安好？

写歌

2009-02-18T09:10:00.004-06:00

前几天，无意中哼出一首歌来。
就这样一边洗澡，一边哼呀哼的，词曲都作出来了。
因为赶着去上班，没有把它记下来。
下班后，竟然把刚做的歌给忘得一干二净。
他#%￥！！
算了吧，歌是唱来让自己开心的。
希望有一天能够再次自然地哼起它来。

Speak Chinese

2009-01-14T20:23:00.012-06:00

亚洲人讲一口流利的英文，很多时候我们都不把它当作一回儿事。理所当然，没什么大不了的。

听外国人讲汉语，可真叫人“大跌眼镜”！

我还记得有一次乘搭新航飞往日本的时候，旁边坐了一个西装笔挺的阿拉伯籍中年人：皮肤黝黑，眼窝深陷，鼻梁高挺，怎么看就是一个老外。这老外看我一时跟空姐说日语，一时阅读着中文报“南洋商报”，很好奇地跟我聊了起来。当我说我是马来西亚的华侨的同时，他突然以流利的汉语跟我谈天。我被他那标准的“普通话”可弄得傻呆呆的，久久不能还神。美酒加上会说汉语的老外，我们足足谈上好几个小时。

当今，随着中国的崛起，世界上掀起了“学汉语热”。中国的迅速经济发展和对外交往的日益频繁，使中文在国际上，日益重要。近年来，会说汉语的外国人不断增加。以前还可以在老外前用汉语讲他们的闲话。可是如今非比当日，要用汉语讲老外的闲话之前，还得三思而后行啊！！

种种巧合之下，认识了几个会说汉语的外国朋友。和他们聊起来挺开心的。我特地邀了这些朋友在这儿跟大家聊聊天。好让大家见识这些“中国通”们的本事儿。

注：麦修(Matthew)出生于美国Cleveland，也是当今我暂时歇脚之地。种种机缘，让我在日本认识了他，跟他保持了联络。麦修在香港中文大学修过10个月的汉语，在短短几个月内，掌握了汉语的基本会话，实在不得了。他还精于英语（理所当然），法语，还会说日本语和毛里求斯语，是个外语通。当今麦修居于加拿大多伦多，为加拿大政府公干，专搞英法翻译等事儿。

注：Tim也是Cleveland土生土长的美国人。2002年在中国云南省昆明市呆过一年，教英语。他本人没有受过正统的汉语教育，汉语都是从身边的朋友学回来的！！实在难得。

Video message: 新年祝词

2009-01-12T13:33:00.007-06:00

为你写诗

2009-01-11T23:07:00.008-06:00

今天某Ｓ突然很好奇地问我：你为谁写诗？
我说我没有啊！但是最近喜欢了一首叫“为你写诗”的歌。
至于为什么突然在ＭＳＮ上那么写呢，个人理由，别再多问。（笑）调你胃口。

我想很多人谈恋爱的时候，会写情诗，写情信的。ＳＭＳ发来发去，没完没了。“为你写诗”这首歌，我觉得它ＭＶ蛮可爱的，就让我跟天下谈着恋爱的情侣们，或是成了家眷的夫妇们分享吧！

故曲重温，多情应笑我

2009-01-09T21:22:00.016-06:00

2009也都到来了，再过一年，也就是2010年了。当年的2000年的new year's party，还好像是昨天的事儿。我发觉:年级越大，时间也过得越快。记得小时候，天天等着放假，等过年，等得颈也长了。现在呢，还来不及喘过气，又是一年过去了。真可怕！

今天吃晚餐的时候，iPod播着最近下载的中文歌。有一首是这么唱的：不是因为寂寞才想你，只是因为想你才寂寞。。。真有意思，令人深思。突然想起朋友的同时，寂寞--是因还是果？是寂寞才想起朋友，还是想起朋友才寂寞呢？我想--是个恶性循环吧！寂寞——想人——寂寞——想人——寂寞——想人——寂寞——想人。。。。
当然，爱一个人的时候，就是没完没了的“想人——寂寞——想人——寂寞——想人——寂寞——想人。。。”

晚上闲着无聊（其实有很多事情得干...在偷懒），就找些中文MV来看。蛮喜欢一首叫“请留住你的脚步”的歌，不知歌手是谁，听起来蛮动听的。YouTube里头一查，哎呀，原来是王力宏唱马兆骏的歌...MV里头提起了刘文正。

我小时候是在大学宿舍里头长大的，参的朋友不是“小真洋鬼子”，就是一帮“小假洋鬼子”。我常呆在死党的家，听他老爸播许多当时流行的英文歌。我家老爸却不是个听歌的人，所以小时候对中文歌的接触可真是少之又少。

理所当然，也很可惜的，谁是刘文正，我真的是丈二和尚摸不着头脑。虽然对他人不熟，但是他的歌：童年，秋蝉，乡间的小路，兰花草等等都是上小学和中学之后，听到与学到的歌曲。只是没想到这都是他唱的，想必这都是当年的流行歌曲吧！

我记得第一次接触到的中文流行歌曲，是小学旅行时，朋友给我听得一首歌‘大约在冬季’。那时开始，我才渐渐地爱上了中文流行歌曲。这么多年来，这许多“流行歌曲”，从“红遍天下”都渐渐都成了“陈年旧曲”。2009的今天，播着什么样的中文歌，我也还不是很清楚。没想到第一次听到的中文流行歌，已经是20年前的歌了！！

今天心血来潮，在YouTube里头把当年喜欢的歌一个个找出来听：群星的明天会更好，罗大佑的恋曲1990，Beyond的喜欢你，张洪量的你知道我在等你吗，童安格的其实你不懂我的心，小虎队的蝴蝶飞啊，红蜻蜓，李克勤的红日，鲁冰花，我悄悄地蒙上你的眼睛，男和女，真心英雄等等等。。。

大家也不妨把自己最喜欢的旧歌记下来，做个旧曲排行榜吧！

郎才女貌

2009-01-08T06:41:00.001-06:00

古时候，选对象，讲究郎才女貌。男的，要有才华，能出人头地，便是好丈夫的料子。女的呢，要长得清秀美丽，才是理想的结婚对象。市场经济的发展，把“郎才女貌”的趋势转为了“郎财女貌”。选个有才华的穷光蛋，还不如选个将继承百万家产的“阿斗”。也有人开玩笑说是--这是个“狼财女貌”的时代。
而今天的社会可不是那么单纯了。随着时代的变迁，女人的社会经济地位已经大大的提高，重男轻女的概念也随之崩溃。更何况，人们追求的，也并非三餐温饱，宝马雕车那么简单了。
今天的社会，除了才华和足够的经济能力之外，作男的也得有个“貌”。女的，要是有西施之美，却长了一个呆脑子，男人们也都会敬退三尺。当然品德方面更不能忽视的了。
我说呢，当今男人不得不卖相。有个貌，事业也较为顺利。不是吗？

注：原文写于去年此时，就是久久没Ｐｕｂｌｉｓｈ。今天终于把它拿出来分享。

圣诞节快乐

2008-12-28T12:00:00.005-06:00

西方的节日里头，我最喜欢的就是圣诞节了。
说是西方的，其实在国际化的今天来讲，已经是全球的节日了。
大马的好友们都放假的同时，身在美国里的我还得工作。真是的！

西方的圣诞节很家庭式的。就好像过节吃团圆饭一般。从圣诞节前夕开始，大家都关门大吉，不做生意。赶着回家过圣诞。街上，道路上都是冷清清的。好像是全城的人都死光了，有些可怕。

东方的圣诞节很不同，就好像大节日一般，大家出去吃饭呀，购物啊，开圣诞派对啊，挺热闹的。情侣们也借这日子，搞第二个214情人节--拍拖，吃西餐。在日本，一提起圣诞节，就是吃圣诞蛋糕的日子了。
我喜欢东方圣诞节，因为到处都张灯结彩，很漂亮，却同时给人很幽静，很舒服的感觉。

今年又买了一棵圣诞树。但是没时间给它化妆。哈哈。图如下：

吴生人挺好，明知道我工作忙，特地把圣诞节派对改到星期天来，让我能和他的几个亲友过圣诞。匆匆忙忙买了几个圣诞礼物，待会儿煮个肉骨茶带过去。

今年的圣诞，忙着工作的我，还是要祝福各位，圣诞节快乐。也同时祝各位新年快乐！

想家

2008-12-20T12:05:00.005-06:00

小时候　有个梦想
就是在翅膀成形之时　远走高飞
体验独立生活　寻找属于自己的方向

就这样　
种种机缘　让我能张开那还来不及坚硬的翅膀　
离开了家　
离开了熟悉的保护网
到了人地生疏的土地上　　　
如愿以偿　

没了家里的吵吵闹闹　
没了亲朋戚友的应酬和炫耀
少了１２点钟的门限和家条
生活的确是十分清幽　逍遥

十多年　世界已变了不少模样
坚硬的翅膀　
却无法补偿　那心灵的渴望
－希望不久的将来　可以终于回家吃团圆饭。

写垃圾

2008-12-15T20:50:00.002-06:00

今天终于下定决心 -- 写垃圾。

要写垃圾，也得考功力：要够无聊，心情要够乱。

也不知道是不是最近阳光不够，还是营养不足，最近就是杂念多多。

很想到海边去，早上在海滩上看书，晚上捕鱼温饱肚子。哈哈，发觉自己越来越天真了！

笑。

Day light saving...

2008-11-02T20:55:00.009-06:00

So, this is something I find interesting during my first year in the US...

I woke up early at 5am today (even though it is a Sunday morning...) to get ready for work. I am on call for the weekend, and will be doing my 30-hours shift. I normally do not pay attention to the clocks around me. But today, while I was making my Colombian coffee with my coffee maker, I realized that the clock on my microwave and oven both showed 6:10AM. I started freaking out thinking I was late for my bus. However, I was pretty sure my alarm clock was 5:00AM a moment earlier. So, I took out my iPhone, and it showed 5:10AM. I checked on my analog clock, it was 6:10AM. My electronic alarm clock was 5:10AM. I thought I was going out of my mind, so i decided to go back to sleep, hoping that my hallucinations will go away...
Apparently, that did not happen.

Then I vaguely remembered something I heard like ages ago but never really experienced it before... DST!!!

So, what is DST?

DST, or Daylight saving time, is the convention of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less during spring/summer. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in the United States on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time.

Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it. Indiana adopted its use beginning in 2006. In 2006, daylight time begins on April 2 and ends on October 29. In 2007, daylight time begins on March 11 and ends on November 4 (New law went into effect). In 2008, daylight time begins on March 9 and ends on November 2. In 2009, daylight time begins on March 8 and ends on November 1.

Well, the practice of DST is pretty controversial. Adding daylight to afternoons benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours, but causes problems for farming, entertainment and other occupations tied to the sun. Traffic fatalities are reduced when there is extra afternoon daylight; its effect on health and crime is less clear. Although an early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity, modern heating and cooling usage patterns greatly differ and research about how DST currently affects energy use is limited and contradictory.

Modern DST was first proposed in 1907 by the English builder William Willett. Many countries have used it since then; details vary by location and change occasionally. Some countries have actually used it and then repealed it. I came across this interesting map which shows places(countries) currently using it(blue), places that have used it(orange), and places that never even started it(red). Thought it might be cool to share it with you guys:

Apparently, some of my newer devices have automatic DST adjusting functions. My cellphones and alarm clocks adjusted the clock to standard time when I was sleeping, while my analog clock, microwave and oven clock did not come with such capabilities. Well, what the heck, I am glad I did get an hour extra of sleep last night then... :) Sweeet!!!

Getting a car...

2008-11-02T11:01:00.004-06:00

For years, I have been able to get myself around places with bicycles, trains, buses and planes. Sometimes, my friends will drive me around and to places I need to go to. Public transports, has never been a problem.... until now.
The United States is a F#%$k'n HUGE country, and here, public transport is not as good, and everybody has a car. Without a car, I am pretty much stuck with my sad little life with restricted access to places beyond the reach of public transportations. Though life has been good with couple of "volunteer drivers" that basically gave me rides to places I need to go, I started to be convinced that I need a car to survive in this city called Cleveland, especially when the weather is getting cold.
I have been browsing around for a good "wife" to spend my time with for the next 3-5 years, and have been to Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Mustang, BMW dealers to get a perfect car for myself. It has been tough to find the right car with the right sense. Mitsubishi eclipse has a fancy "butt" and great in performance, but was not as exciting as Mazda RX-8. Honda and Toyotas are great cars with good gas mileages and great interiors but was not totally the car I would wanna drive right now. A dealer was trying to get me to buy his modified brand new mustang, with 7k rebate, but I am still considering if I could trust an American car. BMW has the sleek look, and of course its brand name, but not as sporty as others.
I realised I am more of a superficial, sports-car-kind-person, with no interest on luxury cars or SUV. Funny enough, I don't really care about the performance either. I told a girlfriend of mine, that as long as the car looks good, I am getting it. She gave me this funny look, with a simple remark: "You men are so superficial..." Ha ha. I apologize to those guys out there who aren't as superficial as I am, but hell ya, I am getting my car just base on the look.
Well, let me take that back. It is not TOTALLY about the look. I am not going for a 2 seater this time, so most of the roadsters are out from my lists. SLK 350, Lotus seems like fun car to get hold of, but very impractical. I am also looking into a cars that has the "basic" entertainment equipments like a port for my iPhone and iPod and a surround audio system. A moon-roof will be a plus. Guess I am not asking too much for such basic requirements.
For the time being, I am still swinging between getting a RX-8 or a BMW 328i sedan. Also thinking of eclipse or perhaps giving mustang a try. What do u think?

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Mazda RX-8

BMW 328i Sedan

Euclid Corridor - Healthline

2008-10-25T18:49:00.004-05:00

Started my new rotation in the newborn nursery since a week ago. It has never been more rewarding than taking care of normal, healthy newborn babies and sharing the happiness and excitements of first time parenting. Not that I know much about being a parent and taking care of newborns myself, but due to my work requirement, I am going through a crash course of how to take care of newborn babies and being a responsible parent without having a baby of my own.

My work is mainly carried out in Hillcrest Hospital, which is pretty far from our main campus. Without a car, I am basically taking a horrible 1.5hrs ride to work everyday, except when Ian, my senior, is around and able to drive me there. Though work doesn't start until 7-8 ish, I need to wake up at 5am to catch my bus to work. It is a pain in the ass when I can actually sleep more during this lovely rotation, if only I have a car.

Though there is a bus that goes straight from my apartment to Hillcrest Hospital, the bus only runs full course during certain time of the day. Early in the morning, they only start somewhere near University Circle. I was to take another bus from my apartment and transit at University Circle. For this reason, I was able to use the Euclid Corridor or Healthline buses early in the Morning.

The Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA)'s HealthLine, commonly known as the Euclid Corridor, begins service from Public Square to the Stokes/Windermere station in East Cleveland, down a tree-lined boulevard dotted with sleek stations and public art. It connects Tower City (2 blocks from where I live) to University Circle -- two of the region's largest employment centers in 20 minutes. This line is supposed to connect Cleveland's cultural, educational, medical and business centers.

This project promotes environmental "Green"-ness, from the 1,500 trees planted on Euclid Avenue to the bike lanes and the hybrid-electric vehicles powered by clean diesel engines and electric transmissions. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority renamed the Euclid Corridor the HealthLine after the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals agreed to pay $6.25 million over 25 years for naming rights. That led RTA to claim the line would "pump new life" into Cleveland's economy and be the "rebirth of Euclid Avenue."

Below are some photos on the health-line:-

Back to life, back to reality

2008-10-24T22:19:00.015-05:00

光阴似箭，转眼间又是过了好几个月。
记得才几个月前，我结束了日本近十年的生活，在大马呆了一个月半，独自跑到这人地生疏的Cleveland来“打工”。刚来的前几个月，还真的吃了不少的苦头。总算本人“命大”--挨过了一时期的“无家可归”的日子。此时此日，我可以说是终于安定了下来。
上个月，应了老友的结婚大日子之邀，特地借此机会回老家走一趟。当然这不菲的旅费还是得自掏腰包的。哀哉！飞回家一趟的旅费可是几乎我一个月的薪水。付了钱还得挨超过30多个小时的旅程（单程），这可真的是叫花钱自虐！还好坐的还是Business Class，要不然还有的受呢！

待续。。。

后记:老友阿鲁鲁的结婚仪式办的很成功。我为这新婚夫妇感到高兴。阿鲁鲁结婚晚宴Slide Show播放的歌，竟然是我最喜爱的I'm yours。真是太好了！

My apartment photos

2008-08-19T20:44:00.008-05:00

Cleveland Clinic... at last!

2008-06-23T15:10:00.002-05:00

Having to move to a new city all by yourself, knowing nobody, and starting from scratch is pretty much challenging. It is not always fun. All these years of moving from one place to the other has sort of given me an idea of how to adapt and survive, but as you start to have too much of it, it kinda got ugly. Moving to the states was nothing like coming here for vacation. Well, with all my networks in the east coast and west coast, it could have been better.

Cleveland is not so much of a happening place to be when you are stuck with public transports. You could move around with buses, but probably not the time you want it to be. I checked-in at the Intercontinental at Cleveland Clinic the first 2 days in town. Things was pretty good when you have a 5-star hotel, and the working place is just a minute walk away. The Clinic is like a huge city by itself, and with the new fountains and constructions being done, it shall be pretty awesome.

Well, things turned ugly when I realised that I couldn't find myself a nice apartment and I started to live a life of a nomad. I was lucky enough to got myself connected to 2 Malaysian residents and was crashing at their living room for 5 days. Things went pretty well, and I got myself a temporary place not too far from the Clinic. The apartments downtown looked promising and I decided to move there when it is vacant in August.

My fellow Malaysians brought me around town. We had great fun checking out restaurants and gelato shops. There was a parade at the University Square, not too far from the Clinic during the weekend, and it was a blast. My orientation starts on Monday, where we had this gathering with the residents and the new interns. It was the first time I got to know my fellow colleagues. There were 15 in my pediatric residency alone, and I was the only one doing the 5 year child neurology program here at the clinic. I was happy to know they are such friendly lots. Well, it is always safe when you are in pediatrics. You hardly get the nasty people there.

Tuesday was the Epicare training, where we were briefed about the electronic charts. It was a pretty long day, but I had fun getting to know my fellow colleagues better. Wednesday came with a long day of getting our documents settled, and a long lists of speeches from various departments. There were like probably hundreds of new interns and fellows in the room. It was hard to know who is who by then. We had a small party in the evening, and the crazy trainings started the day after.

Thursday was the BLS training, and we got some pediatrics procedures training in the afternoon. Friday was our ACLS training. After my ACLS, I was being toured around by a Japanese lady I met at the clinic, and then met up with another Brazilian friend I met during the parade. We decided to explore the night scenes in downtown. There was a party going on in downtown that Friday, and I guess everybody was out, because the whole street was packed with young people, drinking and shouting.

All the clubs and bars were packed. My friend Gustavo and I managed to squeeze into one of the bars call sushi rock, which is famous for their sushi. We decided to get a tequila shot, a kirin-ichiban, and couple of cocktails. The crowd was pretty crazy there, and Lisa the bartender was kind enough to entertain us while complaining how crazy the place was. There were like 4 bartenders on the job, but still overwhelmed by the crowd. We were glad that Lisa was very attentive to our needs.

Couple of booze got us pretty much all set for the party. We hopped to the other club, and started going from one floor to the other until we reached the rooftop. And again it was packed with youngsters coming out to party. It was awesome. That actually got me feel a bit more at ease, and was happier than before. Well, at least there are still parties here in Cleveland. We ended up pretty drunk that night.

Saturday was a nice day to start of with. No work. No ACLS training. I went to downtown to check on my apartments, and later visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later in the afternoon, my Brazilian buddy called me and invited me to a Brazilian party in one of the apartments downtown. I ended up drinking and eating non-stop again. The party was nice, I get to know a whole bunch of brazilians in town and a few other foreigners. At least my circles of friends are expanding everyday.

Sunday was pretty much a lay-back day for me. I went downtown to use the internet, and later meet up with a friend to attend an independent film screening kinda thing. It was fun meeting up with producers and actors in the area, and get to know about the films being produced here. I got a few remarks from some people that I look like Jet Li. Well, this is not the first time I heard of such, but I haven't quite figured out where they find the resemblance from... :P

我不是归人，是个过客

2008-06-03T01:31:00.003-05:00

光阴似箭，转眼间又是一个月过去了。看着乘机之日一天一天的接近，心头真是万分的感慨。好不容易拿了一个月的假期，和久违的家人，亲朋戚友才见了面，有得向大家挥挥手说再见了。这里毕竟是我的家，也是我扎根之地。但是自从20代开始，这个家也只成为一个歇脚之地。老爸常打趣地引用了郑愁予的《错误》，说我只是个过客：

我打江南走过
那等在季节里的容颜如莲花的开落
东风不来，三月的柳絮不飞
你的心如小小的寂寞的城
恰若青石的街道向晚
跫音不响，三月的窗扉紧掩
我达达的马蹄是美丽的错误
我不是归人，是个过客……

的确，这也许是个美丽的错误；我不是归人，是个过客......

漫游曼谷慢慢儿走

2008-05-30T00:46:00.007-05:00

曼谷 -- 一向来都对这个城市怀有偏见。小时候，家乡的堂哥们说起泰国来，就是满口都是“叫鸡叫鸭”的；当时的概念就是一到泰国，身价大跌。所谓的叫鸡叫鸭呢，就是“红灯区”“性生意”般--当时年纪还小的我，更是意义朦胧模糊，是不可去的禁区。

五年前曾经回家途中转机时路过此地，被他破陋的机场，复杂又肮脏的市中心给吓坏了。当时有个日本留学时认识的好友带路，除了走遍当地的佛庙和旅游胜地之外，还到了地地道道的红灯区去大开眼界。那地方更是花市灯如昼，街边站满了拉客的小姐和先生，还能说口流利的日语。好色的老外和日本人比比皆是，看来真是个性旅行的圣地。当时曼谷更是经济大风暴之后不久，当地经济萧条，人民生活水平比大马逊色蛮多的。所以当时的我对曼谷的印象并没那么好。

近几年来，很多国里国外的好友到曼谷去游玩回来后，大赞当地好玩。曼谷也变成很多人的购物天堂。我也不时给这帮朋友洗了脑。干吗每个人都说那么好玩，我心里在想，难道当时我没去到特好玩的地方去吗？在开始工作的同时，我也不时听到曼谷的国际医院的新闻和报道。对当地搞国际医院的决心很有兴趣。渐渐地，漫游曼谷也成为一个愿望了。

本来这次回国，也没有特别计划到外国游玩。刚好天时地利人和之故，让我又能重游曼谷。

五年不见的曼谷，可谓日新月异：新机场，新高楼，新购物广场，新市内捷运。但是当年的佛庙仍然风光依旧，在高楼林立之中，竟然是那么的显眼。捷运更是四通八达，这攀天捷运道之下，还有个广阔的路上行人道，也不必过马路，可以从一个建筑物跑到另一个建筑物去，还真方便的。大马也有捷运，可是并不是太方便，更没有四通八达的行人道。我想这方面大马可要向他们学习的了。

当然这突飞猛进的变化中，人民的生活是否有了改善，这可是见仁见智的了。当年的小贩们依然作着原本的生意，街边还摆着小小的摊子，红灯区更是花与灯依旧，路边叫卖的，除了日语，英文之外，还会中文和韩文。可见他们也跟着时代的步伐，也随之改变。

我也不忘了本行，还特地打的到曼谷的国际医院去。曼谷有两个蛮出名的国际医院：一个是 Bumrungrad Hospoital （之前Frienster的Blog中曾经提过）；另一个是 Bangkok Hospital也就是本来的Bangkok General Hospital。医院里的设计果然名不虚传－－是五星级酒店般的漂亮，有各种五星级的服务。大门里门外有服务特别好的服务员，帮忙那些需要帮忙的来客。医院里头还有为日本，中国，东南亚，英美欧，和中东国家人民提供的服务台，十分周到。医院的一个角落，还帮忙病人提供签证服务的服务台。哇塞！我想这两个医院可称国际型医院（World Class Hospitals）有过之而无不及。

也因此，我想曼谷的开放和进步其实还有我们大马学习的地方。同时，我也会鼓励大家，要是有余裕的时间和金钱，也不妨到曼谷来走走。也许你也可以得到些启发和新的见识。

“相亲”相爱？— お見合い？？！！

2008-05-06T23:19:00.006-05:00

Turning 30 and being single is not a crime. It is a disaster.

This trip back home comes with lots of expectations from my old folks: marriage, having a family and breeding. Like many Chinese parents, my parents are 'obligated' to secure a great family and make sure I give birth to dozens of piglets, after having a good career.

It was a friday morning when I was trying to get some good sleep after a whole night out clubbing, my mom was chasing me out of bed because we were supposed to attend a lunch invitation from her old friend. From the very beginning I smell something fishy about the whole idea. First, she normally would rather I get more sleep. Secondly, she acted weirdly when I said I would skip the lunch thingy. So, decided not to disappoint her, I gave in and followed her to the lunch date at one of the business building owned by her friend.

Attending the lunch with us was my little brother, who happens to work for this big company. We were invited to the penthouse on the top floor of the building. Came along with her friend was her children, a son who is also working in that company, and a daughter who happens to work nearby. A very friendly lots. Though my mom insisted that she plays no part of setting up the meeting, I can tell she knew it all along. OK, setting me up with girls, man, are you still in the 50s??!! I thought to myself.

But I was glad to be there. As I spent most of my life with my own circles of friends, it is great to know some from my parents. I did not know my mom used to have such close friends and hearing stories from them actually gave me a chance to know my mom better. The kids are really sweet people. Though coming from a rich family, they were not the snobby nor pretentious type. Had a great time eating Tiewchew porriage. I went to meet a friend to catch up, and then meet up with mom and dad for a dinner with my dad's friends. Then I was off to clubs, as it was a Friday night...

I used to laugh at people going for set-up dates, or Omi-ai in Japanese. Never thought I would one day try such myself. It was a great experience, but I would rather D.I.Y. Well, it doesn't hurt to try new stuffs. Just hope my mom isn't encouraged to do more of these. LOL.

Don't be too CNN

2008-04-24T08:00:00.016-05:00

On my way back from sapporo to KL... I have been trying to follow the news on the Beijing Olympic Torch relay wherever I go. Never thought I turned out to be such a big Olympic fan!! Well, I don't really have a choice -- it is like the next big news after the United States' presidential primaries!

As I travel to different parts of the world, I realised how media coverages are so very different in different parts of the world. Take the Iraq war for instance, CNN, FOX, BBC, NHK, Al-Jazeera and HK Phoenix had different news coverage, having CNN & FOX being so polarized towards one end and Al-Jazeera at the other. BBC is slightly better than both CNN and FOX. The same incident could be interpreted into two different situations. NHK would basically be doing similiar coverage as the United States as they share the same sources eventually. I do like HK phoenix alot as it has broader coverage, and a more objective view on international issues. I was impressed that they have their own crews on the ground doing the news coverage.

The torch relay received so much attention due to the vast coverage on the protests by the Tibet exile group that tries to sabotage it. It is amazing that everything seemed to be falling into place, first the riot then the protests, as if all these are masterminded. The news actually came out not showing the torch relay itself but the protests. I guess people are still more interested in the protests than the torch. Who cares about Olympic Games anyways.

I was in my Japanese host family house when the news about the protests was on TV every 2 hours. My host mother was pretty upset about the Chinese Government for the Tibet issues and the destroying of the residential areas to make way for the Olympic games. China to her, has a very, very negative image, to my surprise. And even the most educated person in Japan could easily share the same view. I, myself, being able to access good and bad news from all Chinese, Hongkong, Taiwan, Japanese and Western media, was worried that how badly she is influenced by the media. It seems that she only got the bad portion of the pie and never really got the other part of the story. Man, how media can actually mold ones mind in the 21st century!!

News are for you to judge and not to believe.

Sometimes, it is very hard for one to know the truth as media these days aren't so reliable. I came across this web the other day: http://www.anti-cnn.com/ and it was a site made by some Chinese netizens revealing some renowned international media actually distorting news by using old or fake photos. That actually disgusts me very much: media, being a voice of the people, has actually became so corrupted.

As the media sees a weaning in the coverage of anti-Chinese protests, there was an increase in the news of the french-boycott and pro-China rallies in the media. Not to my surprise, it only gets attention in Asian media, only very few done in BBC and none in CNN.

I also came across this really funny song done by an amateur singer, called "Don't be to CNN". It is part of the ant-CNN campaign which is gaining support from Chinese around the globe. Recently "Don't be too CNN" became a common sentence in China, especially among millions of young people.

Well, my advice would be, never trust the media. At least, don't trust just one. I think the only way to seek truth is to go through different sources, so we are never blinded by just one. :)

Okay, enough of my serious talk. Any one wants party this weekend??! :)

Back... it's great to be back again...

2008-04-24T06:23:00.011-05:00

Wow... its been almost a month that I was on the road... traveling with my only belongings. Well, almost all :) Haven't been doing such long crazy travel, not since I started work.

I started my journey from sapporo, stop over at Sendai, and then ended up in Tokyo, venturing through places I have once called home. It was awesome meeting with mates I haven't seen for a while. The old faces brought old memories, lots to laugh about, and lots to be proud of. Of course it could be very taxing, with parties, parties and parties, and of course more parties to go to.

Tokyo changed a lot compare to when I was last here. Lots of nicer unique buildings, and lots of nicer condominiums. If it was like 10 years ago, I would never want to stay at any of the condominiums there. But now, it is a totally different story. :)
Managed to catch sakura during my way back. Did not get a lot of hanami done, but was glad that the timing was just right.

Took business class flight on United Airlines to Singapore, and had lotsa champagne on the way back. I might sound like an alcoholic, but trust me, I am not. Just happened that every time I try to clear my glass, the flight attendant just would not stop refilling. It was bad enough that I had couple of wine in the business lounge before getting on the plane. Save me from the liquors.. anyone?!! LOL

Singapore was my first stop in South East Asia. Everything smells, sounds, looks, and feels so familiar. Even the hot dirty air there just felt so good. LOL. A feel of being home, though not quite yet. Darren was kind enough to offer his apartment for my stay. I inhabited his newly renovated apartment, and nearly turned the place upside down. Had a really great time and of course, why miss the party when you are already there??!!! Went for another weekend spin, hopping from one club to the other.

Since I had a big luggage (that I haven't used for 9 years) of my only possessions, I decided to take a train instead of plane/bus back to K.L.
The train of course was late (Malaysian time - 時差無いのに?), and took me like 10 hours to get home. It just amazed me how slow a train can run. Man, never thought KTM could be so cacat. I would definitely take a plane next time. Let it be Air Asia and I won't mind.

Besides having to fill up my applications for my residency in the states, I was finally down with fever. Must be the endless parties and sleep deprivation. But I guess my body could tell, it is the best place to be sick -- home.

2年ぶりの仙台へ

2008-03-28T04:28:00.003-05:00

光陰流水、二年間の臨床初期研修生活は「あっ」というまに終わっちゃいました。北海道での生活はほぼ“病院→家→病院→家→すすきの→家→病院→家”のように過ごして、単純な生活でした。残念ながら、北海道の観光はほとんどできず、スキーは一回もしなかったまま、この雪国から去っていっちゃいます。振り返ってみると、この二年間で、様々なすばらしい人たちと出会え、そして仲良くなり、確かに恵まれた環境でしたね。すすきののクラブは行きまくってしまって、クラブの職人まで知り合いになりました。（注：クラブ＝Dance Club;　キャバクラではNOT! )これからこの暖かくしてくれた職場から離れ、未知の世界に飛び、ちょっと不安でもあります・・・（汗）。
この二年間支えてくれた同期たち、そして甘くしてくれた先輩たちに、本当にありがとうと思います。

4月2日に札幌を離れ、苫小牧からフェーリーに乗って、二年ぶりの仙台に戻る予定です。
4月3日に母校（東北大学）の後輩たちに北米の卒後臨床研修の説明会みたいなイベントあり、ちょっとどきどきします。いや、いつの間にか仕事増えたな～！（笑）

2年ぶりの仙台、6年間一緒に過ごした仲間たちと会うのを楽しみにしています！！

San Francisco revisited

2008-03-05T03:32:00.012-06:00

Finally the my exams are over.
I felt the sense of relief, but at the same time, was not very happy with my performance. Well, I can blame no one for that, I was hardly even prepared for it. February has been busy than ever. Besides having visits from family and friends, I was doing a neurosurgical rotation, with much of time spent in the OR. There were lots of farewell parties, meeting-ups, and events that packed my schedule for the whole month. I wasn't able to even study for the exam; writing a blog was totally out of the question.
The last week of the rotation was spent in Hokkaido University Hospital, an affliated hospital of an Imperial University nearby. Though there were lots of red tape in such instutites, I was welcomed with opened-arms. It was a great experience getting to know the various other surgeries done there, and the interesting people working there. I had a great time.
Though my career was sort of decided by now, I still get lots of friendly invitations to join the neurosurgical team from various famous surgeons, and it has been hard to resists.
My step 3 exam was taken place in San Francisco, a city in the west coast of the U.S.A. It was my second visit; the first visit was 2 years ago, when Daisuke was doing his one year study vacation over there and I decided to stop over after my visit to UPMC and Boston.
It was great going to a city that felt familiar from the start. The weather was awesome during my visit, pretty unusual for a place famous for its rainny and foggy winter. Though my exams were complicated by the computer break-down, lost of my registration form, and the terrible jet-lag, I am glad to have a much enjoying experience outside the long hours of computer-based exams.
Chinatown, Coit tower, Fisherman's Warf, Ghirardelli Square, Golden gate park etc. were awesome, and I was glad to be back again. The openess of the city could be seen in how people from all skin colors actually integrated into the society, with hispanics and asians working from top executives to blue collars. I heard that the Police Chief is a Chinese woman. This is sort of different from the east coast, since the society is more segregated and you don't get alot of great different mixture of ethnics in one place the same time.
San Francisco - though this visit was brief, I came to love the place, and perhaps, it shall be another city worth more revisiting.

过一个好年

2008-02-09T21:14:00.001-06:00

正月初一头一天，家家户户过新年...
农历新年又到来了！
自从来到了日本后，农历新年也不过是普通的一天。没有新年假，没有新年歌，没年糕吃，没红包拿。搞不好更是大考之时，哪儿来的庆祝呢？来日之后，过农历新年，已经变成了一种难得的奢侈。
说来也挺凄惨的，日本自从明治维新，脱亚入欧后，明治政府决定从阴历变阳历，最后也干脆把新年也改为阳历一月一日。农历新年，就只有受中国文化影响深刻的冲绳岛老百姓坚持保留了下来。也因为没有农历新年的观念，阳历2月除了2月14日的情人节之外，便是大学年终考试的时期。6年的日本大学生活中，几乎每一次年初一都刚好有考试，除夕晚和几个马来西亚的朋友随便搞一搞“爬地”，然后冲冲忙忙地赶回家“抱佛脚”。书读不完时，也干脆不庆祝，在家里吭书。呜呼，哀哉！
去年虽然没大考，却得工作，今年也一样没有年假。但是，今年可不同了 —— 家中老爸老妈心血来潮，特地从老远的马来西亚来到这冰天雪地的北海道来过年。真高兴！华人新年讲究团圆。年除夕吃团圆饭，意义深远。像我这长年在外地生活的单身汉，最是体会到团圆饭的温馨和快乐。虽然当天手术搞到很迟才结束（本来还以为更本回不了家的...），回到家时大家都吃饱了，但是还是很高兴能够跟家人便吃边谈，热热闹闹。
光阴似箭，转眼间一个星期过去了。阿弟，老爸，老妈，还有爸妈的两个朋友在北海道受够了寒风雪舞，吃过了山珍海味，成吉思汉烤羊肉，寿司等，看过了冰雕，还过了年。还算这趟没白走。
前天手术晚上10点多才结束。昨天临晨4时左右大家都准备好行李，到机场去。
看着身材高大却又任性的阿弟，和年纪渐老，步行蹒跚的爸妈走入了安全检查站，心中有些依依不舍。
爸妈，阿弟，希望你们一路顺风，多多保重！
新年的同时，也不忘记向大家拜个年：新年快乐，万事如意！

Cleveland Clinic ―　the next global brand?

2008-01-30T07:48:00.000-06:00

As the world is getting more globalized, what we see is the creation of global brands: When we talk about burgers, we think of McDs, Burger Kings; cars - GM, BMW, Toyota; computers - IBM (Lenovo), Apple; shoes - Nike, Reebok, Addidas, Manolo Blahnik; iPod, Nokia, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Rolex, Cartier, Bulgari, Hermes et al, from everyday food to accessories, games software to high end fashions, we go for brands.
The same tendency is developing among services like higher education and healthcare. We talk about well-known schools like Harvard, Oxford or Qinghua... and worship them. Nowadays, healthcare is getting globalized as well. Harvard Medical International is aggressively expanding their brand outside the United States. John Hopkins has a center in Singapore (Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre), and recently had some affiliation with a Japanese Clinic. Cleveland Clinic has centers in Florida, Toronto, Canada, and will be opening the Abu Dhabi center in 2010. The current CEO and President of the Clinic, Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D., recently indicated plans to expand into other markets abroad including Austria and Singapore (wikipedia). I came across this article, stating that Cleveland Clinic is considering building a center in Shanghai. (read the links 1 2 3 )
If that became true, it would be awesome.
In the very near future, I believe that there will be international brands of hospitals that will lead the healthcare service of the world, providing standardized, high quality medical services to the people. By then, you will start hearing people bragging about going to high end 'branded' hospitals. Hopefully, that will bring a new landscape to our world's healthcare system...

To become a Clevelander...

2008-01-28T09:14:00.000-06:00

Another emergency surgery today.
There was this patient with this gigantic ovarian tumor. It was HUGE.
There was enough hair in the tumor (a teratoma) to make a wig. The creamy yellowish liquid that came out from the tumor, splated all over the place, looked totally like the french chou a la creme (cream puff). I guess I am not eating シュークリム for another few weeks.
I went to the gym, did 30 minutes of chest, and got home around 12am.
I was very excited when I received an offering letter from Cleveland Clinic, and I guess my future is sorta set for a new course.
Well, 3 more months to go, then sayonara land of sakura. Crazy-land... here I come!

海商の昼

2008-01-26T21:35:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was incredibly crazy.
I slept for only 3 hours, went to work in the middle of a snow storm, ended up on a bus that was 30 minutes late, soaked wet.
Wasn't a good day to start with.
The snow was as high as my knees when I was crawling through my front door. It is my second year here in Sapporo, and never had I seen so much snow before.

I was the only doctor in the ward when I got there, and luckily not alot of time-consuming cases on the ward. Did some gauze changing, stitches-taking, wound-dressing, and my day was almost over. The weather was pretty bad outside, you could see right outside the window, where the snow just piled up like a thick whip-cream on top of the cars parked below. Nevertheless, it was a good day, for I have finally got my match result.

For my last 3 months in TKH, spending time with the residents are somehow high in my to-do-lists. Ikechan came out with his big black car, and Seki, Oilin, Mu-chan and I decided to go for a drive　――　a quest for a nice meal in the middle of the snow storm. Oilin is a 'local' local, and she knows every trees and every plants in this area. And immediately she was our best guide to consult. We decided to go for Gyouza(餃子) but eventually settled on a place call Umi-syou（海商）. Seki came here twice and was pretty impressed by the 'tension' (atmosphere) of this Seafood restaurant.

It was a nice sea-food buffet restaurant, with somewhat like Malaysian 'food-court' style kinda setting. Well, a bit more posh than that. Anyways, my day was not meant to be easy. My 10000 yen notes went into this ticket vending machine, where you pay for the meal in advance, and the whole machine broke down.

$#%"&$"&!'!!

And the whole restaurant staffs were running about, panicking. They came back with the change, and was consistently apologising for the corrupted machine. I think I am gonna miss this kinda scene after I leave Japan. We got to our table, and the buffet officially started. The sushi served there was marvellous; there were also all sorts of aquatic-beings, waiting to be grilled. I couldn't help serving myself with yakitori too. The desserts were superb as well.

It was like a 90minutes binge thingy. Stuffing seafood into your stomach was not too fun. I would say we only need an hour to be filled, but we still went on for desserts. I guess it was pretty cheap for a seafood buffet, and the food was not crappy at all. I would definitely bring my family and friends here for buffet the next time. The only downside of coming to this restaurant is that the smell of seafood + BBQ just stays with you the whole day...

By the time we reach home, it was already late in the evening. Shortly after that, I was starting my night shift at the emergency room outpatient clinic. I did not get to finish until after midnight.

What a day.

I had a great time hanging out, though it was a long day for just a meal. It was a long day after 3 hours of sleep, and by the time I got back home, I was near unconscious.

Matched...??!!!

2008-01-25T15:00:00.000-06:00

It was hell of a lie if I say I wasn't anxious about where I will be matched for my residency in the States. Yeah, hell that was a lie when I acted cool during the rounds and scrubbing in for operations, as if I did not give a shit about the match result. Hell yeah, I was bloody lying whe I tell you over lunch that I wasn't even worried...
I have been sneaking into my cubicle every now and then to check if I got any email or notification about my match...
from ANYBODY...
PLEASSSE....
It was Jan 25th 2008.
The match result should be out by Jan 24th, US PST.
But my email was only filled with junk mails, and some mailing list that I was subscribed to... No email about the match. Not even a single reply from anybody. Not even a word of condolences. Damn it. It was a very long day... More Cesaran sections, more laparoscopic surgeries, more vaginal deliveries... the day went on...
Still no mails from SF match... I was getting neurotic.
I was up until 2 AM in the morning... trying to find an airbed for Dad's friends who will be coming with my family for Chinese New Year.
Still... the mailbox looked empty.
I fell asleep eventually.
5:15 AM. Jan 26th Tokyo time.
I couldn't act cool no more.
So I decide to make a phone call to SF match and....
I was told that I matched with Cleveland Clinic!!

Yahoo......!!!!!

okay, now what???
oh... my NRMP... haven't done that ranking list yet...
okay, what next....??

.......

Still need to get my airbed. But damn, I am so sleep-deprived.
Need more sleep.

7:30 AM.
Yikes! Look at the time!! Too late for sleep now...
Needa clean up and go to work...!!!

今天不回家

2008-01-22T05:43:00.000-06:00

今天（又）不回家。。。
没想到今天又是手术天。傍晚的回诊拖到晚上9点才结束，但是还是回不了家。急救外来有个紧急手术，过不久又得上手术室去，今天大概也是搞到三更半夜的吧！以前听人说妇产科的医生生活挺惨的，果然此话不虚。阿姐，阿姐！真佩服您！糟了，晚餐还没吃，还是早些到手术室去！

Tak Kasi Pulang...

2008-01-21T08:40:00.001-06:00

It was almost 10 PM when I left my desk, ready to go home. The day was okay as I need not scrub in for all four surgeries. Evening round was disastrous: one of the post-surgical patient went into panic attack, and was hyperventilating. Her parents were not doing too well either. The mother was frantically hugging her, while the father was fanning everybody with a magazine, trying to cool things down. It was Grey's Anatomy came to life.
I decided to take a taxi home tonight, as it was pretty cold outside, and the snow was another layer thicker than before. As the taxi took a turn from the hospital, my phone started to rang. "There is an ovarian torsion (case) in the ER, and we need you in the OR right away..."(Shot...) Just when I was ready to go home... I was glad I wasn't too far from the hospital when they called. Eventually the taxi made another turn, and I am back to where I left a minute ago. So much of an easy day!
Since I haven't really scrub in for an ovarian torsion before, I am actually looking forward to the surgery. The phone rang. It is time to scrub in...

谈“情”说“爱”

2008-01-20T07:38:00.000-06:00

问世间情为何物，直教生死相许？—— 大概多数人看到这诗句，马上想到的是金庸《神雕侠侣》。我是读小6时开始爱上金庸的小说的,对这诗句印象可是特别深刻。其实少有人知，原文就出自元好问的《摸鱼儿-雁邱词》。我觉得里边的诗句写的蛮可爱的，用的字眼也很轻松，易懂，特别有意思：

问世间情是何物，直教生死相许。
天南地北双飞客，老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣，离别苦，就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语，渺万里层云，千山暮雪，只影向谁去。
横汾路，寂寞当年箫鼓，荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及，山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒，未信与，莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古，为留待骚人，狂歌痛饮，来访雁邱处。

元好问先生问得好，情到底为何物呢？

我有个奇想：情，不仅是上帝为人类设有的“传宗接代机能”，还是人类的“娱乐”中一个非常重要的元素。我虽然写Blog的时间不长，但是有个发现，就是凡是写一般有“情”有“爱”的文章时，得到的注目和回响是非凡的。可见人们的兴趣，总是和“情”有关。今天的娱乐新闻，不是阿狗和阿猫的亲密关系的，就是张三李四闹分手的，还真是离不开一个“情”字。又不见娱乐新闻谈些环保，科学类的东西。这些新闻只能在科技版里头读到；理由很简单，因为他们不够“娱乐”。要是能和元好问先生见个面，我应该会这么回答他。情是何物？—— 娱乐！！

当然，老子也说过，“有无相生，难易相成...”。有乐就有悲。有爱就有恨。“情”可以让一个人得到无限比的幸福，也可带来无限比的悲哀。当然旁观者只有无限比的娱乐。乐极生悲，爱极生恨，那都是“情”所带来的副产物。

天也妒，未信与，莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古，为留待骚人，狂歌痛饮，来访雁邱处。

到头来，还是得问一句：问世间情是何物？值得生死相许？

美丽的误会

2008-01-17T03:37:00.000-06:00

今天从早到晚都呆在手术室内。4个手术，9个小时，身心疲倦。
突然来的电话，拨来的是没登录的号码。心想大概是病栋的护士吧！
“知道您忙，不好意思，我有东西交给你。我可以不可以过来找你？”—— 我捏了把冷汗。昨天也是接到同一个电话。大概电话另一头是同样的一个人。昨天的电话是叫我到某某病栋去，说是有重要的事要和我商量。我当时也没有理由拒绝，就答应有时间就过去。可是忙了一整天，早把这件事给忘了。
通常护士找医生谈私事，可不是什么好东西的。我以前也领教过了。不是找你出去吃饭，看戏，便是一些私下的约会。搞不好还有情书，告白的。
我也不是摆架子，更不是吊高来卖。
我对医院里这种事总是特别小心，尽量客气的拒绝她们的好意。一来，免得惹来不必要的麻烦。二来，没什么时间，也没什么兴趣。去年就是跟女同事出去吃饭，看戏了后，没想到对方却误解了我的好意，搞得赔了“男友”又折兵的收场，最终是又爱又恨的尴尬场面。好人难做，好男人更难做啊！
话说回来，接了这电话，我心想：糟了，麻烦又来了。我说我忙，可是如果是有东西给我的话，我在某某病栋里。对方说马上就来。果然没过多时，两个护士走了过来，说有封信要交给我。（冷汗）原来她们是来传话的。我也莫明其妙的把信收下了。
放工后，我打开信一看，里头写着：

林先生，
突然而来的信，失礼了。听说您将离开本院，某某病栋的护士们想为您搞个送别会（饮酒会），希望您的参与。

没想到一间大医院，消息还是传得蛮快的。也不知是谁把我将离开日本的这件是给传了出去。
但是看了这封信，确是万分感慨。真的谢谢大家的热心，也不好意思误会了这打电话来的小姐的好意。
想不到又是离别的时刻，正是“人分千里外，兴在一杯中”的季节。

多情自古伤离别，更那堪，冷落清秋节。
今宵酒醒何处？
杨柳岸，晓风残月。
此去经年，应是良辰好景虚设。

《古离别》云：“离恨如旨酒，古今饮皆醉。”

看来酒会是免不了的吧！

Tues., January 15, 2008 - Match Deadline

2008-01-15T03:36:00.000-06:00

Gee... after months of sending applications, gathering documents, and flying half the globe to attend interviews, finally, the day when everything comes to an end. Today is the SF Match deadline!! It is always hard to make a decision that would actually change your future infinitely. Been getting lotsa helpful advice and suggestions, and eventually, like many have suggested, I shut down my brain and followed my heart. I finally made up my mind and sent in my list. Now it is up to fate to decide. (finger crossed).
I could not have come so far, if it wasn't for the friends and mentors around me, helping me and guiding me in many ways. I am glad to be surrounded by these folks, and really appreciate the every little thing that they have done for me. No matter what the outcome would be, the adventure and the experience that they have given me, worth so much more.
For this, I could not be more grateful.

Back to Sapporo...

2008-01-14T09:17:00.000-06:00

Been traveling a lot lately. Guess that is what I do best -- Travel.
I went for an interview, and then made a brief visit to another hospital near by. Everything went pretty well. Met up with some old friends and it was great to be back in Boston.
Travelling was something I never thought I will be tired of. This time, it was kinda exhausting. I guess I am tired of rushing from place to place, trying to keep up with schedules. Love those days when there aren't responsibilities and tight schedules, when u just go places u like without the care in the world.
For some reason, I decided to check into a hostel instead of a hotel. It was great being able to meet travellers from around the globe, and listening to all the adventures these folks have been through. Every individual is like a story book with stories that could take your breath away. I do miss that a lot.
3 more months to go and I will be coming to another cross-road in life. I guess it is time for me to do some rethinking about life and my future goals. It is always nice to take a step back, reorganize yourself, before wandering off to a new journey.
But for the time being, I need some good rest for tomorrow's surgeries.

2008-01-06T09:18:00.001-06:00

这一两年内，接到的结婚请柬还真的多得怕人！
国内国外的朋友，家乡的死党，一个两个纷纷成家立业，私定终生。
我这王老五可苦了，不但要把身边的兄弟，朋友，干妹妹们一个个送走，还对单生生活依依不舍的我，还得忍受社会，家人和朋友的压力。
我爸妈也没正面催我结婚，但是不时会给我一些暗示，我也装疯卖傻，当作不知道。
人，总是被社会影响和支配。
我，还能耐多久呢？...

I will follow you into the dark...

2008-01-04T09:03:00.000-06:00

I wasn't too eager to go back to work after 3 days of new year holidays. All the wild parties and feast had turned me both brainless and lazy. Sometimes I wonder if that is why they tend not to give us vacation here in Japan. It does make you less wanting to go to work.

Today turned out better than I thought. The day was sunny and bright, a pleasant weather to cycle across snow-covered town to work. Since I only left with one patient in the ward, my pre-round was brief and simple. We got to watch my long-waited 'epilepsy syndrome' video during the noon conference. It was awesome, but for the time being, I am still skeptic about the idea of spending 30,000yen on the DVD.

Our hospital had a new year party during the evening. As underpaid residents, it is only natural for us to turn up at any hospital events tagged with 'free food'. The dining hall, not to my surprise, was already infested with hungry residents. Seki and I made an early exit, and we decided to head for the gym.

While I am more of a work-out person, Seki -- my colleague who only comes to the gym once in a blue moon, was eager to try out new stuff. He talked me into joining the gym class, and without a single clue what I am getting myself into, we signed up for the Body-Combat class. There were lots of jumping, kicking, boxing, and martial art moves. The 60 minutes class was crazier than I expected. For someone who have been reluctant to join gym classes, I actually enjoyed it very much.

My friend sent me a YouTube video today. It was a song called "I will follow you into the dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. I immediately love the song. It is about sharing your life with someone you love, and being together for eternity. On top of that, the drawings are damn cute!! The brown bunny was very sad when the white bunny died, and waited for death to come so they could meet again. Pretty touching. So, wouldn't you hope for a white bunny whom you can follow into the dark...?

3贺日の初詣

2008-01-03T03:15:00.000-06:00

从元旦到1月3日的“3贺日”，日本人都会到神社去参拜。因为是年初头一回的参拜，所以就称为“初詣”。这三天里，神社周边都是人山人海，车水马龙。人挤人，挤死人。我家在手稻区(Teine-ku)内，这里有个手稻神社。听说明治时代中，这手稻区还不是札幌市(Sapporo)的一部分，是个村。当时要到札幌神社参拜实在是太麻烦的关系，人们就在当地建了一个神社。当时建神社也不是要建就可建的，还得通过什么神社组织，政府官员什么的。（注：我的日本史和当地史都是热心“的士佬”(Taxi driver)教的，作不作准我也不晓得）——这神社就是现在的手稻神社。这几天，我都是夜间生活，一天的开始竟是晚上的“爬地”，也没机会到神社去走走。今天回医院去取单车，刚好路过手稻神社，就顺便进去凑热闹。

手稻神社建在一个小山上，周围都被建筑物给包围着，与世隔绝。要是不留意，可不知道这里也有个神社的存在。神社虽然规模不大，却清幽美丽。不过一分钟的路程，黄土小徑变成了石階步道。石階步道两边都是一尊尊刻有名字的石碑。半山上是一个“鸟居门”，门旁有一个祈愿绘马挂，挂着一片片写有心愿的薄木片。

祈愿绘马的来源我也不是那么清楚。据说原先的日本人是牵一匹马到神社祈福的，后来马牵来的越来越多神社里放不下，就改在木板上绘制一匹马图像，作个象征，就成为了祈愿绘马。再后来，人们不只在木牌上绘制马匹，还可以画各种图案，然后写上具体的祈愿文字，挂在外边的挂板上。

过了“鸟居门”，就可以看到手稲神社的“奥宮”。这便是大家合掌祈拜的地方了。“奥宮”前是一条长龙。日本果然名副其实的礼邦之国，拜神也得排队。神社里还设有许多卖神符的档口。还有悬挂着无数雪白的小纸条的木架。这小纸条就是所谓的“占神符”。拿到吉签的，一般都把它带回家。拿到凶签的，都把它牢牢地绑在木架的绳子上，好让这些凶兆留在神社里头，不带回家。

我拿着手机到处拍了一拍，肚子也饿了，就拿了我的单车，准备回家。那神社里除雪的老头子，看我采上单车，呵呵一笑，说我冰天雪地还能采单车，真行啊！我笑说这是脚车滑雪运动，最近开始流行的。(胡扯)

2008-01-01T22:18:00.001-06:00

“与你分享的快乐，胜过独自拥有，至今我仍深深感动，好友如同一扇窗，能让视野不同。。。”

1月2日早上。iTunes里播放着伍思凯的《分享》。

窗外下这鹅毛般的大雪，纷纷扬扬。看起来蛮漂亮的，但是外边的冷，可想而知。今天要是能一整天呆在温暖的棉被里不用出门的话，可有多好！从除夕晚直到今早，节目是接一连三的，好像还没有真正休息过。今天难得不用上班，能躲在棉被里赖床。真过瘾！

昨晚虽然刮着大风，下着大雪，医院里的同事还是带了日本酒和各种吃的到我家来陪我过元旦。独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。在外边呆了近十年的我，可以说深深体会到了这种感受。这班同事也蛮有心的，知道我没回家过年，都纷纷建议元旦晚搞“爬地”。有个同事是个日本米酒“通”。当晚更不惜把家中“美酒”带来和我们分享。

太多感受，绝非三言两语能形容。

昨晚谈到临晨4点多，越谈越起劲。其中有一个同事今早还得上班。真替他可怜。我想今年离开日本时，是会很怀念这帮朋友。还有三个月时间，得好好珍惜这难得的友谊。

今天又是“爬地”天。今晚和另一班朋友有了约会。坐在电脑前的我，还有点儿疲困。唉～!看来今晚也多数是通宵——还是躲回被窝里头，过我的1月2日。

倒数派对

2007-12-30T21:59:00.000-06:00

说到年末，我总是期待着一年一次的“倒数派对”（Countdown Party）。做个华裔子弟，我想“热闹”已经成为生活上不可缺少的环节。新年更不能少了热闹。当然，要“热”要“闹”，就得到外边儿“爬地——Party”。我妈常给我开玩笑，今天又是“不爬山——去爬地”。也难怪我妈发牢骚，我生来就是个“爬地王”。今天当然也不例外，迟些放工了后，会跟好友到一帮外国朋友开的新年派对去。

日本人不庆祝农历新年。阳历1月1日就是他们所谓的新年。日本人过新年也蛮奇怪的。他们所谓的团圆饭也不过是一家人堆在暖炉桌子前面吃“年越蕎麥”和“お節料理”。年除夕一整晚呆在电视机前面看娱乐节目。更是不可思议的是，正月初一头一件事：一早爬起来看马拉松的“俗习”。3个小时就呆在那儿看比赛选手慢慢儿的跑，一直看到他跑到终点为止。家家户户都是这般过新年。天啊！那差点儿把我闷死了。这样的新年可太没意思了。说我爱玩也好，不甘寂寞也好，新年可就少不了倒数派对。

大多数日本人呆在家看电视的关系，日本的倒数派对并不热闹。去年的今天，虽然除夕，新年当天还得上班，我还是照旧和一帮英国朋友去酒吧喝酒，然后到“大通路”去倒数。还好市政府也蛮贴心的，当日的“終電”（最終電車的意思）是早上3时。我玩到了“終電”时刻，才依依不舍的回医院去睡觉。跌一次跤，学一次乖。今年老早跟医院要求正月初一“放人”。连续工作了十多天，真的期待今晚的“爬地”。

希望电脑的另一头的你也一样，有个快乐的新年！别忘了到外边去“爬地”！！

祝大家
身体健康，万事如意。

凑热闹

2007-12-30T02:29:00.000-06:00

最近真是“苦孤” —— 不甘寂寞。
看到张三李四都忙着写布洛克，感觉自己好像落了伍。
今天心血来潮，给我这布洛克开张，作为2008年新年的一个新开始，也和大伙儿凑凑热闹。
小生文笔拙劣，刚刚出道，若是有不对的地方，还请各位多多包涵，指教。（笑）

思松

孔明灯