Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall …….

My dearest friends have been planning and organizing for our reunion when I’ll be back to HK very, very soon.  Buffet lunch? High tea? Dessert? Dinner? Sleepover party? Stanley? Cheung Chau? Shopping? So sweet are they!!!!!

I want to go shopping but I don't know what I am going to buy.  Can you imagine an ex-shopaholic like me, did not buy any single piece of clothes in Vancouver in the past 8 months? Oh my god, not even one!!! (Maybe I already have too many clothes)  Even I have shipped over twenty pairs of high-heel shoes to Vancouver, but I just couldn't find any chance to wear once.  For the past 43 years, I couldn’t stop myself pacing around all reflective surfaces to validate my look, but now I have suddenly noticed that I have quitted this habit naturally within 8 months.    Mirror, Mirror, on the wall and everywhere ….. I know the mirror is going to repent and tell the truth after so many years, so I must quit it.

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, I know who are my lovely friends in my life.

I’ll be back!

Amazing Uses for Salt

To all desperate souls :  It’s an urban legend that salt can counter radiation.  It is completely false and unfounded.  Do not waste your money on huge amounts of salt!  You’ll regret it.

Crazy

Here are some surprising but practical uses for salt :

-         Pick up a dropped egg. If an egg breaks on the kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You'll be able to wipe it right up.

-         Soothe a bee sting. Wet the sting right away, then cover it with salt.

-         Eliminate a grease fire. Pour salt on top to smother it. (Never use water on a grease fire.)

-         Clean up oven spills. If food boils over onto the oven floor, sprinkle salt on top to stop smoke and odor from forming. When the oven is cool, it'll be easy to brush away the spot.

-         Set color. If a dye may run, soak the garment for an hour in 1/2 gallon of water to which you've added 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup salt. If rinse water shows color, repeat. This is good for a single-colored fabric or madras. If the item is multicolored, dry-clean it. (American-made fabrics are unlikely to run, but fabrics from abroad are sometimes risky.)

-         Kill poison ivy. Add three pounds of salt to a gallon of soapy water. Spray it onto leaves and stems.

-         Make cream whip more easily and egg whites whip faster and higher. Add a pinch of salt.

-         Test for rotten eggs. Put an egg in a cup of water to which you've added two teaspoons of salt. A fresh egg will sink, but one that's iffy will float.

-         Clean the brown spots (from starch) off a nonstick soleplate (the bottom of your iron). Sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper, slide the iron across it, then rub lightly with silver polish.

-         Repel fleas. Wash the doghouse with it.

-         Kill grass growing in cracks in the cement or between patio stones. Sprinkle salt on the grass and pour very hot water over it. Or sprinkle coarse salt on the grass, let stand all day or overnight, then pour hot tap water over it.

-         Clean a glass coffee pot. Fill it with 1/4 cup of table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour, fill it with cold water and rinse.

-         Halt the mountain of suds from an overflowing washing machine. Sprinkle salt on the top.

-         Clean artificial flowers. Put them in a bag of salt and shake the bag. Take a look at the color of the salt and you'll see what you've accomplished.

-         Keep windows frost-free. Dip a sponge into salt water and rub it on windows, and they won't frost up even when the mercury dips below 32 degrees; for the same effect on your car's windshield, put salt in a little bag made of cheesecloth, moisten it slightly and rub it on.

-         Clean tarnished copper. Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with hot white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt. Spray it onto the copper, let it sit briefly, then rub clean. (Don't do this to lacquered copper.)

-         Keep radishes safe in the garden. Salt worms (cutworms) will be repelled if you sprinkle seeds with table salt, then cover with dirt.

-         Clean coffee and tea stains from china cups. Rub them with salt.

-         Keep potatoes and apples from turning brown once they're sliced. Put them in salted cold water.

-         Clean a cutting board. Cover it with bleach and salt, scrub it with a stiff brush, then rinse with very hot water and wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat with each use.

but can't find the one about counter radiation.....

An Earthquake in British Columbia

Seismic experts say we can expect a major destructive earthquake in British Columbia. We don’t know when this will happen. But we do live in a region where some of the largest earthquakes in the world occur.  So ???? Don't panic, life must go on.

恥感文化和島國根性

很多朋友佩服日本人在今次地震災難後表現異常的鎮靜、有秩序；認為是有質素的表現。鎮靜、有秩序，說得一點都不假。君不見我國群眾人流一多，無論是世博盛事，或黑雨颱風，盡皆出現仿災難性慌亂現象，秩序全無，排隊欠奉，自我檢點，整潔清場更屬夢話。

 在世界中心呼喚你主題曲

但日本人這種素質是有原因的。歷史學家黃仁宇認為，地理條件和歷史的發展極有關係。日本是一個四面環海的島國，早於二十世紀初便有學者，以「島國根性」來形容日本人。所謂「島國根性」，主要是指他們固步自封，服從集團和安於天命的民族性。其中安於天命是因為日本四面環海，每逢遇上地震、海嘯、颱風或火山爆發等災難時，沒有逃生出路所致。諷刺的是，日本又同時處於地震帶、地震災害經常發生。這些地理因素，令日本人培養出一種敬畏自然、順應天命的性格。日本人從小學習如何應付地震，以什麼樣的心態來面對天災人禍，如何培養憂患意識等等。

美國人類學者Ruth Benedict在 The Chrysanthemum and the Sword中認為日本人具有「恥感文化」。「恥感文化」是指以外在個別狀況為參照基準，强調自我調整、自我控制的一種文化。這種心態基於日本人重視別人看自己的眼光，加上日本的島國屬性是强調日本人的自尊心極强，一旦發現自己沒有身邊的人出色，就會倍感恥辱。因為日本人是“為別人的看法”而活，他們不允許自己的民族被看扁，自己被別人看扁。所以就算危難關頭，都要「為別人的看法而做好自己」，絕不能給人作抨擊的笑柄。

無論是「恥感文化」或「島國根性」，這些日本的民族性和文化特質；難說上好與壞，對與錯。

Let’s pray for Japan

がんばれ Japan

May God bless the Japanese and empower them the strength to get through this terrible tragedy.

張根碩與小甜甜

小甜甜

Oh my goodness! 啊﹗姐妹們快來看﹗韓流花美男背後大銀幕上，有我們小時最喜歡的小甜甜呀﹗其實有無人可以話我知，87年出生的張根碩跟70年代的小甜甜，為甚麼扯上了關係？

這個太太不太懶

最愛胡思亂想、胡言亂語。患有遠期公主病、染有創傷性話嘮病、末期腦殘、手殘、口殘、樣殘。「我有我心底故事，緃有創傷不退避」，我仍要「親手寫上每段得失樂與悲與夢兒。」不是八十後及九十後，但懷念八十年代及九十年代。

這個太太真的不太懶， 
因為我要做飯，
因為我要打掃，
因為我要接送，
因為我要買餸，
因為我要做臉，
因為我要刨書，
因為我要煲劇，
因為我要臉書，
因為我要活著。

Carpe diem

Cataclysms of the Modern Age

The Great White Hurricane

The Johnstown Flood

The Galveston Hurricane

Mount Pelee Erupts

The San Francisco Earthquake

The Tri-State Tornado

The Dust Bowl

The New England Hurricane

The China Floods

London’s Deadly Fog

The North Sea Flood

The Good Friday Earthquake

Florence Drowns

The Bhola Cyclone

Iceland’s Endless Volcano

Ethiopia’s Drought

The Tornado Super Outbreak

The Tangshan Earthquake

The Blizzard of ‘78

Mount St. Helens Erupts

The Mexico City Earthquake

Mount Pinatubo Erupts

Europe’s Heat Wave

The Indian Ocean Tsunami

Hurricane Katrina ……………………………..

…………………………………………………

If tomorrow was the end of the world, what would you do?  

Would you rush home to hug your loved ones, and tell them how much you love them?  Would you repent, kneel and pray to God to forgive your sins?  Would you dress up as pretty as you can so that you can end your life gracefully?  Would you eat, drink and buy all those luxurious things with your credit cards that you never imagined you could taste and own?  Would you seize the day, eat, drink and be merry?  Would you treat it as a normal day and do the usual things as usual?  

I think I would spend a peaceful day with all my beloved ones and let them feel my affection.  I think I would cook and eat as usual, then read books, play board-games or listen to a good piece of music together around the fireplace, simple but sweet.  

If you can always keep your chin up, not to procrastinate and treat every minute as the last minute; even if tomorrow was the end of the world, whether it’s 2012 or eschatology - you would be proud to tell yourself that every moment is your precious moment.

My dearest friends, Carpe diem !

You blog, I blog

Mum, you are not celebrity, why do you have to blog?

Son, I blog as if I talk.

Son, I blog as if it’s a log.

Son, I blog when I want to think out loud.

Son, I blog when someone talks a lot.

Son, I blog when my passions meet a rock.

Son, I blog when I choke.

Son, I blog before I sweep or mop.

Son, I blog when blood weeps from my heart.

Son, I blog when I bless with love.

Son, I blog when I walk along my life.

Son, I blog after I drop you off.

Son, I blog whether I weep or laugh.

Son, I blog when I want to throw myself on the ground.

Son, I blog so I can pull off my mask.

Son, I blog with grief, and with a sigh.

Son, I blog from my heart.

Son, I blog more than I shop.

Son, I blog as I shed my tears

Son, I blog after you tweet.

Son, I blog when I sing a pop.

Son, I blog when I like a book.

Son, I blog as a treat.

Son, I blog even though it isn’t read.

Son, I blog when I’m touched.

Son, I blog with the bliss of love.

Son, I blog even though my posts are cheap and banal.

Son, I blog so I can be a fellow reader of my life, at any time.

365 blogs in a year - a deranged assignment for my well-being.

MI + ON

感動之餘，從 Sammi 平實帶甜的「復合宣言」中，我看到一些有意思的關鍵字。

經營：無論是童話故事，或平凡的情感，都需要踏實的經營，這才可能有完美的結果。唔使經營就成就到咁著數的愛情，不是神話故事是甚麼？

相處：無論是處於那個階段：新開始，重新開始，早已開始；都需要有質素、有質量的相處。請注意，相處不同於見下面，是要有交流有互動那種。談不上相處，又何來溝通與互補呢？

空間：注意，SAMMI這裏所講的空間，不是MI與ON各自的空間，而是屬於MI+ON的空間。屬於2人的空間，不是空談就會坐享，一定要爭取甚至挖空心思。在人人都喊著要有私人空間的年代，情侣夫妻口口聲聲要爭取自己的私人空間，真係我有我嘅生活，你繼續你嘅忙碌，可能每日見到面會點吓頭，都唔知會講句咩好？

契合：SAMMI說得無錯，二人一起是需要個性、思維、行為、價值觀的契合，生活都會協調一些。但請注意，人的個性、思維、行為及價值觀都不是永恆不變的。環境、世情、人生經歷在在改變著人的個性、思維、行為及價值觀。無論契合與不契合，都需要參與者刻苦契合再契合，才可更契合。

互補：其實在互補不足之前，是不是SKIPPED了互相欣賞這個步驟呢？有道：二人個性、思維、行為要相近才「夾」，才有幸福，我並不完全苟同。性相近，未必一定是「夾」，可能反而會互相憎恨、互相仇視、「唔順超」大家。完全性相遠，通常都好難啱KEY。但如果真係咁有緣走在一起，一定是有些優點或特質令你欣賞，或者曾經欣賞。兩個人一起，要懂得互相欣賞對方的不同，才可「升呢」去體會到互補不足的道理。

溝通：其實人與人之間，無論是那種關係，我相信都要通過溝通，才會有磨合，斷不會未溝已通。我更深信如果你有心，越溝才會越通，就算最終無法走在一起，但起碼嘗試過真心的溝通，真切體會到為何不能走在一起。最討厭就是，以為通了就不再溝，光放著感情不作保鮮，好彩就苟且存活，不好彩就發霉發臭，還敢情說愛情已昇華至感情、親情、甚至無情﹗

嘮嘮叼叼，患嚴重話嘮病的我，相信Sammi撇下「臭四」的惡相，已變得人見人愛，加上走過「情緒病」的絶望關口，更加曉得愛與被愛。MI+ON失而復得的感情，一定會得到天父及所有歌迷的祝福。唱得好，相信愛可統領天下，又可修補傷疤。It’s so high, high, high!

這首歌陪伴我渡過不少加班的日子，It's so high, high, high! 聽到那叫聲，將我從審閱整合ISO文件中的迷暈陣中喚醒。

BEYOND those good old days

今天開車途中，跟隨著家駒的聲音，大聲唱著：

Let's feel Beyond's aura !

 今天我　寒夜裡看雪飄過

　懷著冷卻了的心窩飄遠方

　風雨裡追趕　霧裡分不清影蹤

　天空海闊你與我　可會變 (誰沒在變)



 原諒我這一生不覊放縱愛自由 Oh~ Yeah~

 也會怕有一天會跌到 Oh~ Ho~

 背棄了理想　誰人都可以 Oh~

 那會怕有一天只你共我



Oh Yeah, Oh Ho, Oh, ……….Oh No! 到達紅燈停下來時，卻發現後座車窗大開。原來嚇親並行的司機路人，真的不好意思﹗

我不算Beyond的歌迷，從沒親眼見證過他們地下的年代，地上的年代又不見得特別追捧，但最吊詭的；竟然是每次聽到他們的歌，都會理所當然地跟著來唱，而歌詞又竟然能唱對。對於從來不記歌詞的我來說，真的是不可思議。

細細聲話你知，真正認真反覆地細聽起他們的歌，要算是1993年6月24日家駒意外發生那天開始。誠然，家駒的英年早逝一定會令人遺憾、難過，但這樣卻將他的生命永恆定格在光輝歲月，將經典套上傷感的光環。


一直覺得BEYOND的歌詞好宏觀、有社會性、很寫實、勵志，再加上家駒豪邁的歌聲，永遠地有感染力。對的，BEYOND的歌有動聽的旋律，但其他的流行曲亦有。是的，BEYOND的部份歌詞是有點粗糙欠順暢。無錯，那些台上著裝，無論地下或主流都不入流。但又有甚麼所謂呢？所有聽過BEYOND的歌而又受到這些歌感動的人，都會感受到這些歌是要呼喊出一些看法，渲洩出一些理想，或訴說出一些故事。這些看法、理想及故事，可能是關於國情、關於母愛、關於和平大愛、關於情愛、有樂的亦有怒的。無論是那種情緒感情，家駒的歌聲都會爆發得很精彩。我覺得每個歌者都有自己要講的故事，講故事的方法有千百萬種，而家駒聲沙沙那種，硬要配上工整亮麗的中文歌詞，可能會變得好矯情、好「娘」。





那一首是你的心水：《抗戰二十年了》、《長空》、《無盡空虛》、《逝去日子》、《灰色軌跡》、《歲月無聲》、《曾是擁有》、《昔日舞曲》、《原諒我今天》、《是錯也不再分》、《Paradise》、《永遠等待》、《Rock n'Roll》、《不再猶豫》、《午夜迷牆》、《無悔這一生》、《無聲的告別》、《海闊天空》、《光輝歲月》、《祝你愉快》………？我呢？我最愛《喜歡你》。



歌聲再次響起，大家一起來懷念家駒吧。


Beyond songs - Plain, Organic and Enveloping

派錢、派糖

今日的你，推翻昨日的你。昨日才信誓旦旦，說擔心派錢會刺激通脹，今日就可順應民意，忘卻擔憂，派糖了事？今日的我應該很開心，但亦很擔心。除了壞男人、壞女人不可信外，政府高官更不可靠﹗

Relics of those good old days – Ally McBeal

A recent reminiscence of Gilbert O'Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)” not only reminded me of the alluring melody and heartbreaking lyrics, but also recalled the awesome rendition that Vonda Shepard made in “Ally McBeal”.

 

“Ally McBeal” was my favorite TV series in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.  Even now, I can still remember some of its hilarious, eccentric, vivid, touching, dramatic episodes – those about Ally, Fish and Cage, those between Ally and Billy, those between Ally and Larry, those about the dancing baby, those about the Snow Man inside the fridge, those about the death of Billy, those about the Barry White Dance and those that happened inside the unisex toilet … 

If you had seen this series, you would never forget all those covers of familiar songs played throughout the scenes - “That is the Way You Left Me…”, “Alone Again (Naturally)”, “Every Breath You Take”, “ You Belong to Me”, “Chances Are”, “When the Heartache is Over”………

Vonda’s rendition of “Alone Again (Naturally)” sounds great blended with the scene of “Ally McBeal”; however Gilbert O'Sullivan’s version will always be the best.

2045與天地同壽

看罷Time於2月21日那期的Cover Article「2045 The Year Man Becomes Immmortal」，言之鑿鑿，令人極度不安。

生命不在乎長短

一直以為「不死」只是個傳說，怎知「人類可得永生」真的貌似可以實現。但賜我等罪人「永生」的不是天主，而是一個叫Raymond Kurzweil的technologist和另一個叫Aubrey de Grey 的biologist。對高科技的認識等於零的我，悶悶不樂之餘，不禁想問句：「Why, Why, Tell me why?」

Q1 為甚麼人類要不死？

Q2 肉身不死，但靈魂與軀體卻已疲破不堪，不死真的要來獻世？

Q3 莫非人人都是「天山童峔」不成？

Q4「壽與天齊」是否一定可以「仙福永享」呢？

Q5「與天地同壽」就真的可以「與日月同光」嗎？

Q6 最可怕的是，「可持續發展」或「再生」的資源，到了2045年，是否可應付「永生」的人類呢？

Q7 家庭資源及社會資源，真的足夠應付十代同堂的「千年老妖」？

Q8 這個有違自然定律的科研，是否希臘神話中Zeus對 Prometheus的另類翻版詛咒？

Q9 如人真有不死的一天，腹黑的我思疑，「自殘」或「自殺」成風的情況，亦大有可能發生。

To be, or not to be, that is the question. (From Halmet)