A bit cynical, but not too much, I hope.

This is the last day of 2007. On my way to the class, I heard many people discuss where they wanna be in the countdown party. I never even consider crowding into Taipei101 my plan, for I think it’s somewhat stupid to do a thing simply because businessmen create such an idea. Don’t get me wrong, I said if you think it’s interesting, that will be fine; but if you go there just because your peers do, then you really are a born sucker.

Still, I am faced with a dilemma: I personally think it’s best to start a new year with families, but as the finals are getting closer, I do not want to waste all the good work so far by missing out the chance to study. After a long struggle, I decide to stay at school and focused on my works.

Prison Break

My parents seem to really get into Prison Break lately. It all started when my dad borrow the first DVD from his colleagues, and then after gobbled down all the episodes in the first season, they started to consumed the second season yesterday.

Prison break is an American TV series originally broadcasted on Fox channel. The story revolves around a man who was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and his brother's elaborate plan to help him escape his death sentence. The story line is somewhat complicated and it often depicts the life of the marginalizers. I haven’t watched this film yet, but I think the storyline is sort of genius.

The endnote of 2007

2007 is finally come to an end.

All the madness, pride and prejudice had been washed away. At least I am coming clean inside. But from the realistic point of view, the hardship continues and more tears and toils are going to spread on the years to come. I know, I know, it’s a heavy way to start a new posting, and it’s a heavy way to start a new year, but simply 2008 isn’t aspirin, being there doesn’t solve the problem automatically.

But after saying all these dismal staff, at least I am still there in a new year. I’ve told myself endless times: I still have to muster up all the courage and roll the dice of destiny in my life. I will be persistent to the end, if there is an end.

Miles to go before I sleep

Endlessly every time I think: Finally I am the master of my life. There are always some unpredictable reasons then I make a slip, then the life I want seems so far away again. Don’t get me wrong: I am a person with strong faith. Most of the time I can bear the life just fine and I’ve been through more downfall than average people in this age. But this time I just hope things is going to be a bit more promising than it is. The road is winding and the mist is deep. I just want some guidance from above.
This poem utterly grasp how I feel.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Destination Australia

This winter vacation I’m gonna fly down under to unwind. My friend Nick promises the rest is all on him once I pay the plane ticket. This is a great opportunity to jump out of the emotional downhill I am experiencing now.

We might spent the majority of my stay exploring the labyrinths of Sydney and window-shopping in Victoria department store. Then in the evening we might enjoy playing Diablo together. What a luxurious life! But firstly I’ve got to prepare some gift for him and his family. That’s a bit nerve-racking.

Holy night, library night!

Last night I am extremely busy. Accordingly, I don't seem to have the spirit to party up. Due to the fact that the semester is driving to its end, I have to gear myself up for the last testimony. Don't blame me if i choose to "larvish" holy night on piles of books. In merely 3 weeks the final exam is gonna sculpture the final shape of my grades. This thought simply is scary enough. So after studying what I supposed to study last night, I feel a strange satisfaction rising above inside me. At least I am still the artificer of my life in the holy night.

HERO

Yesterday I watched HERO episode1. It somehow strengthens my determination to become an executioner in the future. Although I am in the wrong department now, probably I can fix it in just a few months.

Now back to the drama, hero is a great hit back in 2000. The leading character was played by Kimura, who was so young back then. I considered it’s a great chance to know more about executioner and its working environs. Of course it’s more dramatic in a drama than real life and we must discern the difference, but it still made my pulse quicken when I think of such a interesting profession.

I will change the course I’m running now. Cross my heart and hope to die！

Definitely the Coldest winter

My parents went to see me yesterday. Deep in my mind, there are great many things I want to say, but strangely I oppressed the feeling of shouting out all those secrets in front of them. I understand that after this semester things are going to be clearer to me---whether I had the luck to fix up what I blow up during this summer vacation.

I hate to add pressure on my parents, but I find it hard to take it all on my own. Don’t get me wrong! They’ve already known what I am thinking inside. What they don’t know is that it pushes me so hard that sometimes I think the Armageddon probably has arrived. No matter what I said here, the only thing I can do is keep carrying the burdens now. I will be patient, In the end, God will bless me.

Where the heck is the track?

Today I grab the first chance to use the treadmill in these two weeks. I’ve been hiding in Library studying the approaching exam for a couple of days, when I tread back to the dorms I always find the treadmills occupied by others.

When facing with a situation like this, I often choose to jog around the campus for 20 minutes. To be frank, I found jogging in school campus rather painful, for the ground is too hard for my knees. Shamefully, Sanshia campus has been established for some time, but the track still is no where to be seen. That’s far from thoughtful to the students and the community .

Gourmet and more

I am a big fan of Japanese cuisine. When I was little, I consumed endless cuisine mengas and gourmet TV programs. There is no more luxurious way of exploring a culture than beginning with a gourmet hunt. I began my journey with sushi.

For me, sushi is a sound start, for it is a great opportunity to learn the characteristics of different seafood at the same time. After a year or two sorely in love with sushi, I move on to la mian (hand-pulled noodles).

For me, tasting la mian is a complete different story. When tasting a bowl of la mian, I often ask myself what is the component of the stock, and later on, why is the noodle in this stand chewier than other stands. Asking these questions somehow improve my knowledge of prepackaged or even packaged food, and more importantly, it’s more fun eating when you consider yourself an expert.

Water matters in Au election

Finally, I steal some time reading a bit of magazine today, what interested me is a section about water shortages influencing the outcome of Australian election. Labors keep focusing on economic issues, after all, with a record like John Howard, economy is the nuclear weapon that help him survive his tenure.

Liberal choose to stay ’ green’ in order to compete with John Howard. Candidate of Liberals (Now the president of Au) keep on trumpet signing Kyoto Treaty, but privately, he is still full of rhetoric. What tickled Australia if is to sign Kyoto Treaty is that Countries like China and India are going to gain the edges in the coal industry. What the politicians are saying is true, but sadly, the world has grown too competitive to my liking.

Stuck in the middle......

I feel a bit tired lately, not just because I have not even started to enjoy college life since the end of summer time---it’s more than that. I understand it’s quite important to make myself happy everyday, but it’s the crunch time for me to decide what I really want to do in the future, so simply I feel confused and out of place most of the time.

No one can help me jump out of this predicament now, I am sure. The only thing I can do is be patient, and let time go by. Although the time to make choice is driving near, it’s maddening to sit here and remain, simply, helpless.

Some cliche on reading

I love reading. I think most of us make this announcement before, but strangely the statement above does not apply to every stage in our life. Probably because of the stress of studying for school subjects, outside reading sometimes seems so distant to students in high school. Sadly, adolescence is the most crucial time for character-forming and soul-exploring, and most of us simply lack the chance to open the door to self-understanding. That’s probably one of the reasons the many college students now do not have the motivation to make self study a life-long habit, which may prove to be more valuable than most of the knowledge we acquire in school education. That 's probably a cliche, but it's true.

Any one of us(stupid mistake)

I've been letting you down, down
Girl I know I've been such a fool
Giving in to temptation
I should have played it cool
The situation got out of hand
I hope you understand
It can happen to anyone of us
Anyone you think of
Anyone can fall
Anyone can hurt someone they love
Hearts will break
'Cos I made a stupid mistake
It can happen to anyone of us
Say you will forgive me
Anyone can fail
Say you will believe meI can't take, my heart will break
'Cos I made a stupid mistake A stupid mistake

This is one of Gareth Gates's hits. It echoes how I feel inside.

There was a time that I now realise I was so pointless in my life. I do not have an clear goal I can pursue endlessly, and I just keep on blaming why things don’t work out for me. Thus formed the vicious cycle that plagued me for at least half a year.

Since I was away from home, I often explore the depths of my soul and think of some heavy stuff I seldom considered before, and admittedly, I can’t express how regretful I am to those rebellious days. Sarcastically, there is always the silver lining. Those soul-exploring has made me a better person I could hardly realize half year ago. Even though I am confident that I am more mature and considerate to others now, I dare not forget the mistakes I made in the first place. If I don’t understand myself in the past, there is always the obligation to fix it right now, and probably, there are rainbows lie in the future. I will always pray to god, but realizing here on earth god’s work must be our own.

Farewell to thou

My friend Nick had just taken China Airline home today. A month had passed. So soon.

When we were saying farewell to each other, it struck me that the wheel of time turns in a way that’s both merciful and merciless to all mankind. A month ago Nick had just paid a visit to my home and we were just rekindling our friendship, and now it’s time for us to be back to where we should be.

To think of our life positively, through tears and toils we can fight trough the toughest time in our life with the pass of time; on the contrary, time and tide wait for no man, so no matter how well we use our time there is always an end to everything. There is neither eternity nor fixed point in this world. But there is no turning back, we can only stride forward. And there are miles to go before I sleep. Miles.

Seeing Red!

Forgive me if I am being cynical here. It really struck me dead when I ‘comprehend’ the fact that I only got 72 on Economics. I have invested more on Economics than any other subjects except Accounting; frankly, I am seeing red when realizing what I put into had just burned to ashes. Why do I care so much about merely a school subject? Good question.

In my previous posting I had mentioned probably dept of accounting doesn’t suit me that well, and it is best if I get myself ready when there are some other opportunity to make some amends. Secondly, a less practical yet often ignored idea: I think attitude is very important in leading a meaningful life. If I do well on the common things now, there is greater chance of completing bigger tasks in my life time.

I do hope there are some mistakes occurred when the instructor is filling in my grades, but I know the chance is rather dim. Now, the burden is heavier, for I can’t afford to fail next time.

Exam fever---again!

Oh, gosh! This Thursday is gonna be such a horrible test day. In just 1.5 weeks the instructor has barreled over 3 chapters, and is ready to give us a test on what she just taught!

I had been working like a dog trying to catch up on the lesson last week, and stunningly, this week I found myself lagging behind the lessons again. Actually, I pride myself on solving many lengthy accounting problems last Friday; for I thought I had just finished previewing the new chapter. What I did not know is actually I just finished reviewing the lesson.

I realize probably it’s best to set up a study schedule which I used in high school. Although I am not steadfast enough to keep on writing a diary, I dare to say I am realistic enough to jot down a very useful goal which may prove valuable in the future.

Burning candles at both ends

These day it seems that I just don’t have enough time to juggle the tasks of getting my report done and brushing up on piles of school subjects. This worries me sometimes, for I understand the preparing final exams are going to be a lot more time-consuming than the previous ones. Upon my calculation, it would be best if I can finish my Buddhist Art report within 2 weeks, then I still have another 3 weeks to concentrate my energy on final exam. But in actuality, I realize that accomplishing the report within 2 weeks would be a Hercules task, for during this period I have to prepare my Accounting and Calculus exams as well.
Fine, if things got to be done, it shall be done accordingly. I will do my best.

A new ace in Post-Matsuzaka era

It is the week of Asian Baseball Championship, so I want to write about a new prospect in NPB(Probably not a prospect, cause he is too famous to be a prospect now).

Darvish, a Iranian-Japanese baseball starting pitcher, is listed as 196cm and 85 kg, which give him great advantages over other pitchers in NPB. Last year, I still think Darvish only use his inborn advantages to scare off some hitters in NPB, for he used and control breaking balls poorly. With a fastball hanging in the early 90s and a poorly controlled breaking ball, he is just a ‘potential’ ace for Hokkaido Nippon Ham fighters.

But after one season, this year I found Darvish really is able to improve himself in such a short time. With a more versatile pitching, he is 15W5L with a 1.82 ERA in 2006 to 2007 season.

After the leaving of Matsuzaka and the ongoing injuries of Saito, Darvish certainly is the one that carries the honor of the ace of Japan now.