Saturday, February 24, 2007

Feb 2007 Hsin-Chu Trip

2007 February 新竹之旅

Prior to getting on this trip back to Taiwan, I got hook up with my college numero uno friend DC. It has been over 20 years since the last time I saw him. I could not exactly recall on what occasion we last met. I was reminded, though, that I visited DC while he was in his post graduate study at 中原 (our alma mater). Deducing from the timeline, it had to be in the early 80s that we saw each other. 25 years flew by just like that!

DC came to pick Li-Fen and I up at Candy’s place on 林森北路in the afternoon of February 12th. After all these years, DC has not changed much. Well, on a second thought, he is maybe a little bit more mature than he was in his college years. On the way to Hsin-Chu, we caught up somewhat with those missing years. Upon arriving Hsin-Chu, we checked into 工研院招待所that DC booked and paid for our overnight stay.

We met with DC’s family at 工研院tennis courts in the early evening. DC and I played for a set. We played again the next morning. I got beat pretty bad in both occasions. Coming up excuses for loses is part of fun in participating in sporting events. However, I am not going to do that this time around. It is time for me to cultivate characters. The “next time” will come soon enough. DC’s son has very good tennis fundamentals. He is a very good tennis player as well as his dad.

Later in the evening, DC and his family took us out for a superb dinner. Li-Fen and I were treated like royalties. I probably did not do thoroughly bad things to DC in our college days.

DC has a wonderful family, great career and an enviable lifestyle. I am truly happy for him and his family.

Li-Fen and I at Hsin-Chu High Speed Rail Station





There is no justice! DC was better looking eon back. It appears he looks better now too.














This is where we stayed for the night.

















工研院宿舍with cherry blossom in the backdrop

















Breakfast is served at Starbuck in Hsin-Chu THSR Station, DC’s compliment.































Inside of THSR Hsin-Chu Station
































An odd and pronounced structure near THSR Hsin-Chu Station


Thursday, February 22, 2007

Home sweet home

After 20+ hours in the air and in the terminals waiting, I finally made it home this afternoon. Not able to get a shut eye during traveling, needless to say that I was extremely tired arriving home. The mere act of entering the house does provide immediate comfort and relief.

During Osaka to Detroit long flight, I played a lot of bubble breaker on my Dopod PDA to kill time. I knew the PDA battery is low and wanted to charge it upon arriving home. My PDA was nowhere to be found. Subsequent to some soul searching, the PDA was thought to be left on NW0070 seat 55H. This episode is very upsetting. I am the only one to blame. A missing article report was file with NW Dane County counter. Hope I will hear from NW on my dear PDA soon.

Came home and found myself tipped the scale at a whopping 156 lbs, body fat reading at 16.6% and total body water percentage at 58.3%. Over the last two weeks, I eat everything in sight. Weigh gain was expected. However, an increase of 5 lbs seems to be on the high side. Body water percentage is higher than the usual. Perhaps I have excessive water in the body right now. At any rate, I will need to restart my weigh watching again: more cardiovascular exercise and monitor my intact.


Got to go to work tomorrow, Friday. It is going to be tough to stay awake. I cannot wait to meet the weekend.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Snowy Sunday

It is a snowy Sunday: a very good time for reading....Um...no, have not read a book for quite some time now. Time to watch a lot of TV.

Watched re-tun Australia open match between Roddick and Ancic. It was a 5 setter. Roddick prevailed 6 to 4 in the 5th. It was a close match. Roddick's big serve helped a lot.

Women's World Cup was on Golf channel this afternoon. The tournament was held in Sun City, South Africa. The team from Taiwan was in the 9th place at the time I was watching. Taiwan team's efforts were good enough for them to be on the first page of the leader board. It pleased me that they showed ROC flag and the name displayed on TV was Taiwan. Chinese Taipei is for Oxymorons.

We watched Notting Hill again this afternoon. I love this Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant movie. It is a heart warming love story. I am pretty sure I would watch it again if I come across this movie in the future.

Today is also NFL league play off day. For the national league, it was Chicago Bears against New Orleans Saints. The game was close until very near the end. Chicago broke the game open and won. The finalists for the AFL are NE Patriots and Colts. Patriots are leading by a very big margin.

Enough for being a couch potato. Here are a few pictures I took today from my sun room this afternoon.

Keeping the fireplace going did warm up the hearts

My backyard


My deck and the lonely, snow capped grill

Our good neighbour Don & Barb's
Don & Barb's evergreen trees

Our Middleton neighbours


Our Middleton and Madison neighbour to our right

Our garden lies beneath the snow