Transition to A New Page of Life

Surreal as it could be, the transition unavoidably forces the life into a to-do list, while the daily rhythm is sadly decided upon how fast each item can be checked-off from the list.

Certainly, half of tasks are required to make the arrangements of the new life, finding a realtor to help look for a new apartment, getting reconnected with my old friends and classmates, figuring out the new routines …., Excited? Certainly not! But, I have always been this type-a woman, who can handle things and get things done, so I am handling it, except I feel like I am simply going through the motions to make sure things gets done and all the necessary tasks are not forgotten.

Unfortunately, some tasks on the to-do list demands cutting ties with the current life and saying good-byes to Santiago (my tailor), to Cindy (the nice woman who does my nails), to my running partners, to co-workers, and the worse of all, to all my dear friends.

There are times, I have to take a deep breath and pray to God that the friendship would never change in spite of the change, the distance between China and here.

Below is my friends from growth group.

Hiking the Yellow Mountain with Mom

Oh, well, even from the title of this post, you would guess this trip is a bit of modest adventure mixed with many comedy moments between the mom and the daughter. Huangshan was formed approximately 100 million years ago, and is famouns for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks and clouds. 本章节叫作 - 王老太婆同马二妞黄山历险记。光看这名字，你就知道这属于搞笑片这类。

回中国的时候，南京安徽一带连降大雪，开车极度不安全。在我舅舅的劝阻下，我基本上非常失望的打消了去黄山的念头。垂头丧气之余，同我表弟和他太太去吃了一顿饭。饭后，我表弟媳无意间提到去黄山可以坐火车。而且下一班火车是凌晨12:30(3小时内)出发。我二话不说，马上电话通知我家王老太婆收拾东西，准备出发。

别看我家王老太婆60好几，还非常的象个小孩 - 不信邪！叫她不要同我爬高上低，她还偏不听。非常难得搞定。有其母必有其女吧。看她的样子，神气吧！

前往光明顶。虽然坐缆车可以基本上到山顶，但真正要爬到几个著名的顶峰，还需要比较艰辛的过程。

到达“飞来石”。有几个大胆的站到悬崖边上留影。我看到那无底的深渊就已经头晕腿怵了。还是站在一边吹吹山风吧。

到了山顶，喝一杯高价“香飘飘”。

唉，一想起同我家王老太婆一起旅游的好玩劲，就开始想她了。常常听别人讲，做母亲的对子女是无私的。 我没有这个体检，但我能够感觉到这个世界上如果有一个人能够为我在任何条件，任何时间下，做任何事的人只有我家王老太婆。 更想她了，赶紧给她打个电话吧。

Loud, Volcanic, Bombastic Rock Band?!

Never thought I could be a fan of a rock band.

I mean, come on, there is enough headache in a day as is, why the hell one would desire for more from those loud, obnoxious and nerve-wracking rock bands? And, mashing up the guitar, shouting at the audiences plus the long-hair with tight jeans are never my style anyway. :)

However, to my great surprise, I love this band - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and their interpretation of classical music mixed with beautiful Broadway-style vocals. Fascinating music for those who love classical orchestra and symphonies with some modern rock-n-roll touch.

I started with "Beethovan's Last Night", volcanic, bombastic but widely varied. Stunning vocal indeed!

Then bought another one, "Night Castle", haunting and hallowing. I cannot help feel my heart pounding by listening to "Moonlight and Madness", Beethovan's Moonlight Sonata movement III with rock-n-roll touch.

Kuan-Zhai Alley in ChengDu

The famous Kuan-Zhai Alley in Chengdu, which literally means the wide and narrow lanes, is a well-preserved old architectural structures that have been implanted with modern decoration, trendy restaurants, eat-outs in a bustling Chengdu city.

Back at where I live, there is nothing but a culture-deprived desert in the busy, sleepless and yet lonely, boring silicon valley. Well, there is only so much hype that can be generated by the next coolest software and iPad 2. :)

Back home, I find myself tolerate well with the quiet and yet busy life style as is. Well, if you are given lemons, might as well make them into lemonade. All that depressed desire only makes me much easily surrender with the rich culture and the mysteries of old China, lifestyle or its architecture.

Every so often, my friends and I find temporary escape to the very limited number of trendy bars and nice restaurants around here. But, things get old very fast unfortunately. All that disappointment and unsatisfied desire for a more colorful life only make the remedy found in my trips back to China ever more effective and fascinating.

Street performance! Cute!

Vacationing at Home

Exhausted...Felt a bit better after a long run in the morning followed by a nap on the couch.

Drinking beer, organizing all those pictures taken back in China, blogging my goofy thoughts, with Transberian Orchastra playing at the background...

Last week, I lost an expensive ear ring in my bedroom. Rohit, Dara and I teared down the entire room but found nothing except a book I thought I have lost long time ago - Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom.

Well, with my usual attitude of "making the best out of the situation", I picked up the book from where I left off 3 or 4 months ago. I liked it, quite thought-provoking and it even made me teared-up in the end.

A couple of quotes from the book -
"God and the decision he renders is correct,
God doesn't punish anyone out of the blue,
God knows what he is doing..."

"The secret of happiness - Be satisfied, be grateful, for what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you. "

What Am I thinking?!

I was waiting to meet one of my friends for drinks afterwork today. Browsing through facebook postings, I noticed that one of my friends did some silly "brain test". The test is supposed to decode what one is thinking at that very moment.

Without anything better to do, I took the test. I seriously could not believe the result. Twice in a row, I got the same answer asbelow. And....they are kind of.....ACCURATE!!! :)

To translate the picture in English -

The vain little girl looking full-of-herself in the picture was thinking -
1) Forever young (big time!!!)
2) This year I look 18 again. (Of course...always....)
3) Be skinny, great body
4) Have a twin with a boy and a girl each (Not sure about this one.... :) )

Grocery Shopping with Grandpa and Mom

周日早上同外公和王老太婆去买点好吃的。马上要回美国了，准备趁最后的机会再大补一下贵州家乡的风味。 看我家王老太婆，整个一大姐大的德行。

贵州特色 - 小米轧。甜甜糯糯的，我家外婆的最爱。

夹沙肉和各色的辣椒。

人家说美国的月亮园吧。那也不见得。中国的红萝卜新鲜多了。

外公买到我想要吃的白菜苔。好开心。

看我家王老太婆同人家讨价还价。

外公就不像我家王老婆那样张牙舞爪的。

Is It a Failure or Success

Should one ever trust a high-schooler for fashion consultation?

Probably not, which would be my first reaction. But, again all my reasonings and common-sense, I was so out of my mind and let the kid, my cousin, recommend a new hair style and color for me.

Thank God, it did not turn out to be a total disaster!

While he was dying my hair in my kitchen, I kept threatening him that if the color turned out funcky, I am going to call his dad first thing when it's done. :)

He did a great job!

2011 Tax Day

What one should do when facing a daunting, boring, mind-bogging task, like filing income tax?

Find something to indulge and help relive the pain, such as sipping a delicious bottle of wine, enjoying delicious cheese and snacks along the way, listening to some great music at the background....

Guess since I have to deal with it, might as well make the process more enjoyable. :)

Two weeks ago, I rationalized my pantry in the kitchen. While doing so, I uncovered this great bottle of wine - Monticello Gran Reserva of 1998 from Spain. A house-warming gift from an old friend. Today is a perfect day or has a perfect excuse to enjoy it.

Hm mm...the color of burgundy, dark cherry, nice on the nose, smooth and slightly sweet on the tongue... Simply delightful and equisite!

I know if Rohit is here, he would say that I am breaking his bs-meter again. :)

Hanging Out with Family in Nanking

在南京的城墙上。舅舅给我照的照片。

Auntie, mom and me in NanKing.

ChengDu Street Eats

一提到成都小吃，没有人不流口水的。象这个又香又麻的辣椒花生， 今年在国内卖的特别火。

Chengdu is famed for the “ssteet eats". It's like a heaven for me to try out all the food.

让我和我老妈流连忘返啊！

I wish I could take one bite of each...

就算是每一样吃一口，也吃不完啊。