James Rose Center

Last Saturday, met with Wendy in East Orange Station, then we went to Montclair for a short visit. I show around the place I want to live if I can find a cheaper place. After that, we drove to Ridgewood NJ, to meet with Robin and other students from ESF in James Rose Center.
Landscape Architect James Rose use to live in there since 1953 until he die. It is a very peaceful garden next to a busy street in a very typical suburb neighborhood. It is a lovely place, small but rich with spirits.

For me, he is not only a landscape architect, but a space designer. The space he create indoor and outdoor is very interesting and inspire me a lot in terms of design ideas. Now I wish I can learn more about his design and life philosophy. I am going back there again for fall and spring clean up, if they need an extra hand.

Fall in Lancaster County

While I visited Lancaster County. I find a different fall landscape in that place. The field is stripped in 2 color, yellow and green.

Never see this kind of agricultural landscape in a real place, usually it shows in a photo. I like the way when you drive on the road and company with this beautiful landscape.




Besides that, the Amish tobacco field is pretty interesting too. Again, this is my 1st time see the pipe tobacco field. I like Amish county a lot, it is very paceful and beautiful. I think I will go back there next spring to see they start working in the field.

Finding Pumpkins

After Chinese Mid-Autumn festival, the weather is really fells like fall. Which means pumpkins are ready, winter squash season is coming, and further more, super market and stores start to decorate for Halloween.

For that reason, when I went to Exton, PA visit Erin on Oct 1. We went to visit Laura's (Erin's neighbor) hometown in Amish county (because I want to see Amish harvest). So two of then on the mission for finding pumpkins and I just need to be a totally tourist :P.

Originally Laura forgot where to find a pumpkin patch can pick your own, so we went to a dairy store to buy milk (their milk is so good!!!, very creamy and smells good), then ask them directions to find a pumpkin patch. When we got there, they don't let people pick up pumpkins anymore, all of their pumpkins sale to Walmart. But one worker there still let us to find pumpkins from there. Both Erin and Laura bought 1 big 1 medium and 1 small for $3 each. I got a small one for FREE ^^.
So we all happy and on our way back to Laura's parents house, then, suddenly, there is a pumpkin patch in front of us, so body watch it, but no sign. So I went there and took some photos, then close to Laura's parents house, there is a sign on the road said "pick your own pumpkins, 1 for $1"....well....Next year!!

September Up Date

Yes, I finally can find time to update this blog again. It has been a pretty busy summer so far. Couple weeks ago (maybe last month), I went to Williamsburg to visit Wendy (a classmate and a friend back to SUNY-ESF in Syracuse). There was a giglio festival going on that week. When we walk around, we found a pretty funny ride called "BERRY go Round" (Like Mary go Round). It is a very creative name.
After that, I went to Jay's (Erin's boyfriend, we all from SUNY-ESF) surprise birthday party, and they surprised us, too. They got engaged, congratulation!!!
In the end of July, went back to Syracuse, attend osseous Harborfest to see kick ass fireworks, it is awesome!!
Nothing exciting happened in August though, only one weekend went to see Broadway show. Most of the time is WORK WORK WORK....I am glad Summer is finally end, although it is my favorite season.

Early September, I finally have a chance to see US OPEN, and lucky me, I saw the best game of the entire series. Yes, Andre Agassi vs. James Blake, it was September 7, Wednesday night. The game end around 1:15am, and Agassi win the last of tiebreak 8:6 defeat Blake (3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)).

A major reason that I didn't update this English blog due to busy working and busy enjoying summer. I finally able to catch up my Chinese blog, finish most of the overdue journal. Now summer end, I will have more spare time to work on this site. And hope my friends will come back to visit more often.

I hate SpyWare

Spyware is pain in the nack.
I actually got it several times in past 3 years, but nothing as bad as this time.
I did every thing I possibly think of, and look up online for help. After 2 weeks battle, there are still couple in the computer can't get rid off.....I GIVE UP
SPYWARE...do you hear me....I GIVE UP!!
I am going to refromate my computer when I have time.

Chinese food coma

Well, my boss usually order Chinese food on Friday. And we usually order form one restaurant not far from where I live. I don't know why, since last month, after eating their food, I feel so tired and fall to sleep easily.

Today, I didn't really order the lunch special, so I didn't fell it. But all of the co-workers felt the same way=> too salty and tired. Especially one of my co-worker is in "Chinese Food Coma", which means he want to sleep and can't really work on project. But I think that is just his excuse. The funny thing is my boss want me to ask the restaurant, co'z we all speak Chinese. Problem is they all ordered the food w. brown sauce. I guess they must put something in that sauce to make people feel tired and sleepy. Maybe the MSG, although they said "NO MSG" on the menu.

ps. I will try to keep up this diary, but you have to let me know you are reading it....that will keep my motivation! THANK YOU ^_^ who ever you are.

Where was I in May?

Today is the 1st day of June...and I didn't update my blog for a while. Well, I didn't go anywhere, and I did updated my Chinese Blog. I know there are several told me that I should update the English one, too. Just can't find time to do it.

To make the story short for those missing diary. I went to Boston visit friends for Mothers' Day weekend. The was cold and rained all weekend. Then I spend one Saturday to help friends shoot their weeding photos. This Memorial Day weekend, I went to watch Star Wars III one Saturday and visited NYC with friend on Saturday.

(This Image is from: Star Wars Movie offical Website)

I am happy Star Wars III is good and connected all the story lines, no more waiting! It is the best episode of all 6 movies. Not only the computer simulation part, but also the story. This episode solved some puzzle which confused me since the 1st episode. So far, this is the best one!! If you didn't watch it yet, GO TO SEE IT!

Allergy Season

This is my 5th Spring in the United States, and because of that, there are enough allergy stuff build up in my body system. I start feeling uncomfortable last Spring, and this year, it just hit the high note.

Although I have allergy since I was in Taiwan, put it is from difference sources. Now, I am start allergic to POLLEN. This is really terrible! Not only me, my co-worker and the computer guy also got it this year...I an not alone, ha!! But I think I am the worst one, because I am also allergic to artificial fragrance, dust, humid air.......sooooo many!!

How do I finally figure out my allergy recently is from pollen? Because I went to Boston last weekend, and I felt much better there. The weather up North still cold, and raining, so not have many pollen out yet. I don't what kind of pollen I am allergic to, but I am afraid to see the doctor. I am afraid that she will find out I am allergic to MORE stuff...:P Today, I found a good allergy medicent, it works for me, and hope I can survive this allergy season.

40F's distance

11:35pm, here in New Jersey, is 50F degree.

11:00AM, there in Taiwan, is 90F degree.

12 Hours and 40 F distance.

Chien-Ming Wang

Chien-Ming Wang (#40) is Yankees' New Pitcher,
and he did GREAT on his MLB dabut!

If you are my classmates from ESF, you know I am not Yankees fan. But this year, Yankees trade in Randy Johnson. I start to follow some Yankees game. Then on April 29, Yankees vs. BlueJays is also the date they to bring Chien-Ming Wang from AAA to major league. Which also means that I am going to follow more Yankees game, EVER. But I am still not a Yankees fan, haha!

Why do I support Chien-Ming Wang? Because he is from Taiwan, I like baseball, and I support players from my country. Although Wang is the 3rd player from Taiwan able play in the MLB, Yankees is one of the most popular and famous team in the world. Through Wang, we maybe able to let more people know things about Taiwan. And if you want to know how he did, you can google search news about him...can't wait for his 2nd game on May 5.

I was so moved when I watch the game. Not only Wang did a good job, but also heard the cheer up in Chinese through the broadcast (YES network)! According to friends who when to the stadium, people also bring our flag to the game!

GOGO TAIWANESE!

What is GAKI?

GAKI is the nickname of National Taiwanese Chung-Hsing University Chorus. According to older gakis (member of our chorus all called GAKI), it is a Japanese expression for the "hungry ghosts". Besides singing, we also love to eat, and we always try to come up some special events just for us able to get together and EAT! I was a member, now is a alumni. We have total 53 generation at this moment, and this summer, they we will have a East Cost reunion in New York City. We like a big extended family. When I move down to New Jersey, Gloria (she graduated 20+ years ago, tool care of me - BIG TIME).

Today, I went to another alumni's house for a meeting and practice for the coming event. It is really fun to sing, although we didn't really "practice" a lot of songs...more like get together and EAT!! It feels good to sing with people, and I can't wait to see my old friends come visit from Taiwan (don't know how many people will be here).

GAKI also means "BRAT" in Japanese. Yes! I am a brat! Co'z my grandpa used call me "gaki "and call my youngest sister "otoko" (in Japanese means BOY). Why my grandpa knows Japanese? Because Taiwan was a colony of Japan for a while. Grandpa die in my 1st year in college, and after that, my e-mail accounts, screen name and BBS nickname is "GAKI".

Duck outside the White House

What a duck ... Just because she lay her eggs (9 total) outside the White House, she is on the DC area news and have special protection around her. Almost everybody pass that day (April 10, 2005) will stop and see what is going on. There are also kids around the fence don't want to leave. Why? Because they want to see the ducks hatch.

I don't know if this duck nest in other place will treat the same way?

Small World

I met my friend's sister in DC.

Okay....this is a funny story... I went down to Washington DC to visit my friend, Julia, from ESF. I was car pool down with my new friends (Winnie and Denny) I met from my cousin's website. To make the story short...Winnie and Denny to visit their friend Ella, so I hang out separately. Then we met again on Sunday morning for a pancake brunch in Original Pancake. There are other Ella's friends join us. There is one girl, Cindy. When I saw her, she just looked at me in a weird way. Then we introduce to each other in English name. She kept looking at me on our way to the table. When we set down, she talked to her fiance, then they all staring at me....really impolite. Then we were talking something about gardening...co'z Cindy and her fiance bought a house. Then Cindy thought I might be her yonger sister's classmate in junior high school. She asked my Chinese name, then it is 100% sure who I am....

YES! she is my classmate's sister back in Junior high..but she is also the daughtor of my math teacher (an after school care for elememtary school students). I know her back to my elementary school...and we didn't see each other for 15years.

It is a really small world...again...weired....and funny!!

Cherry Blossom in Washington DC

Friday, went down w. Winni and Denny to DC and come back Sunday. I lived in VA in Julia's house. Visit JASW's Sakura Matsuri--Japanese Street Festival, then walked around the National Mall to the American Indina's museum, ate Indian's food for late lunch. Then back to the Memorial area to see cherry blossom. There are so many people there, super crowded. It is hard for me to organize all of the photos at this moment. I will try to organize most of them, and start telling story in this week or next.

Please visit my yahoo album to see some photos I upload today. For other more, I will try to put it up ASAP.

I hate Engineer

I don't know what kind of engineer or survey they are...just don't like their snob attitude at all....Why? Because I didn't have any good experience talking to engineers these weeks...
Especially Today..I just want to request a new drawing..called them 3 times...never call back to me...4th time, I finally find the guy I suppose to talk to. But the attitude wasn't good at all.
Maybe the way I asked question wasn't in a proper way..but I am already "VERY POLITE"...but he still think I am accusing him didn't do the survey correctly...and then told me "I don't understand your question"..repeat more then one time. Then finally said.."I will tell somebody to send you the file..."
This is ENOUGH..I am so pissed.. is all of the engineer think their time is more valueable then the rest of people? Although there are also good engineers I've been talking to, don't have good luck recently...

Illinois...Lost..sigh

The game was good...
Illinois still try to hit 3p but not as luck as past 2 games...
don't know what to say.....UNC block their offense
all of the Illinois players are good..but most of them are seniors..
don't know when will be the next time I see them in NCAA final...
hope won't be long

Congratulation! Fighting Illini

Congratulation...Fighting Illini (another orange team ^_^) goes into NCAA Man's basketball Championship game!! It is a great game last week (vs. Arizona) and tonight (vs. Louisville)...awesome 3p shoot, great defense!!
Although the next opponent UNC is pretty tough, and they play great games, too. I still believe this is Illinois' year. Especially when coach Weber's mother will help them out from heaven!

I suppose to working on grading plan (due Monday) in office (today is Saturday, if I finished it today..I don't have to go tomorrow => Sunday)..but...anyway...I already home, finished the game...writing this journal now :P

And HAPPY Birthday..HsiaoChen

4/3 is HsiaoChen's Birthday....this is the chocolate cake I made for her last year...We were classmates during graduate school, and she is happy married. Wish her have another great year!

Go Illini...Fighting Illini

Tomorrow is the NCAA Basketball final 4...Since Syracuse is kicked out by Vermont in the 1st round...so I cheer up for UIUC (my 1st school in the States). But today (Friday), after boss came back from meeting, he told me that I have to finish the grading by Monday. The final drawing (not 100% final) came into our e-mail around 4:00pm => means there is no way I can get it down today....of course not, or I won't be here typing this journal.

Tomorrow morning, need to go to office, finish the grading plan before 5:30. Therefore, I will have enough time to come home and watch Illinois vs Louisville. => this becomes my motivation to work SUPER HARD to finish it on time.

ps. Today is the April 1 (fool's day) The only person I know got fooled is my co-worker. He read a news about 2006 Fifa World Cup is changing the host country from Germany to USA, so he was super happy...(I don't think it is possible...so check up internet, nothing happend on the FIFA site)

Bloomfield, not a bad place

Because the weather getting warmer, the day getting longer, so I have better mood. Today, I got home around 5:30, and outside still bright, feel so good. I took the chance to walk around the park in front of my apartment. That park is one reason I choose to live here, (also close to the train station, close the my work place, close to shopping place, close to parkway...)


But I don't really like this place when I just move in...because it is not as pretty as Syracuse, the apartment is old, and it is WINTER....

After couple moth of exploring, I actually find several nice place in this palce. (Can't say all of them in walking distance, but not too far away.) I start liking this place, but still want to move a little bit north part of Bloomfield, if I can find a place with reasonable price, in the future.

<click 2nd photo to see more image

East Orange, NJ..is really not a safe place

Why I say that? Because before I start working, several people already told me the location of my work place is not safe. When I went to interview, it is in the morning..and seems okay...across the street (Central Ave) is a hospital, Wendy, and CVS. But after I start working, my co-workers all told me that don't walk more then 1 block....okay...so I drive to McDonald (2 blocks away).

Normally, we will hear sirens from police car or ambulance couple times a day. This is also because we are across the street from a hospital. Not big deal...I hear sirens almost everyday in Syracuse and New York City, too.

Today, on my way home, about 6:30pm,just turn left onto Central Ave toward to Garden State Parkway. Tones of police cars (about 5) and ambulances (about 2) drove toward to the street next to my office. When I think I can keep drive..I drove for about another 30sec..More police car came. I didn't count this time...just scared...because I was on the left lane..try to do a left turn, cars of another direction stopped for red light and I can't move to the outside lane...so...I saw about 5 police car drive toward to my car..then...pass my right hand side...Finally, I turned, and on my way..still saw couple police cars run really fast on Parkway toward that direction.

Don't know what happen...I will try to see if anything come up in the nightly news.

4 Actually, 2 years ago, in Syracuse, I was on my way home from school toward S. Salina street (around afternoon, still bright outside). There are 2 cars (plainclothes..I guess) stopped in front of me from different direction...They drove super fast and stopped super fast...between them is another car. Then they run our, grab 2 people from the car they stopped and handcuff them (just like what we saw on TV).

Spring is coming

Finally, spring is coming...although this winter for me is a warm winter in 5 years...The first sign which indicate Spring for me is...my allergy...then the weather warm upand and start RAINING...not snowing!

I do like winter, also like all other seasons. I don't mind having a long spring or fall, summer is okay, too. Just because I will get so lazy (0 motivation) to do anything in cold winter, especially walking outside in windchill....


2 weeks ago, visit New York City again...the weather is nice and sunny. On my way walk from East 47st (for my passport) to Time Square (West 42st), passed by Bryant Park (behind the New York City Library). There were people sitting around the lawn either resting or reading. I set down, opened the book I brought with me, and enjoy the moment. What a nice feeling. After lunch, passed by farmers' market, I saw apple twigs, flowers, and the joy on pehole's face => Spring is Coming!

Once Start...Can't Stop

This is really weired...I don't even know where do I find the motivation to personalize this Blog....but I stay up late (3am) and make it happend....
Hey Erin Brat..I put stuff about TAIWAN...so you can start your research before you go to visit

Originally just want to add some additional features ie..clock and message bord. Then I start realizing those code looks familiar...and want to try to play around...I can't even believe that I still know how to use HTML code...especially I didn't use it for almost 4 years...it is really amazing...haha...I am so dame smart!!

This is the reason why I like about this Blog..still use HTML...My chinese blog is using CCS..and it will be my next goal to find time and personalize it ^_^

The weather getting warmer, and my brain is start activating again...I love this kind of feeling!!

1st ever crochet animal

"Miffy?" Size: 3" tall (I guess)...I gave to Shuang's son as a gift with the photo album under it.

This rabbit is my 1st try of making crochet animal (so called Amigurumi in Japanese). This rabbit suppose to look like "Miffy". But because the instruction I found online is not clear enough to follow and also is my 1st try...so...look not like Miffy at all. Anyway..I made it, and it is really easy.

And I think I did it in February...but upload the photo in March..so..anyway...
I will try to make Miffy some other day..Hope this time will look like it.

Crochet-Bear

Why I start crocheting is a long story. I met a friend, Phoebe, in 2004, she loves quilt, and I have no desire doing it at that time, because of busy graduate school schedule. Last summer, between the period of graduation and looking for a new job, Phoebe start crocheting "Doily". As lazy as me, I don't like to work on stuff require big equitment, time consuming, and expensive material. Then, I find chrchet is actually not time consuming, bcause I can watch TV and crochet at the same time. Also the material is not expensive, and I only need a hoot and a yarn. This is how I start.

At begining, I just did couple 6" doily. (I also said that I will never be able making the "big" stuff.) But for me it is not hard to finish the small one, and I have a great feeling of accomplishment....so...each doily just getting bigger and bigger. The last one I finished is 20".

And the story about makeing the crochet animal is because I was BORED! I will never know that working in a foriegn county in a strange city will be such BORED. My company is small, and people live far away from each other. Since I just started, don't have too may friends here either. Although where I live is not far from New York City, and my cousin lives there, the winter weather made me don't want to go anywhere. New Jersey's winter is actually better then Syracuse, but still cold. Too cold to do anything (at least for me).

One day, I rememberd my conversation with Phoebe long time ago about the Japanese Crochet Animal, and we did try to find some instruction to start, but wasn't have time to do it. So I made my 1st crochet rabbit. (Gave to Shuang's son Albert as a gift..maybe show it later) This bear is my 2nd try (after making several fish...because fish is easier..and will show it later), and I like the way it turns out.

Give it a try!

Who will ever think that I am actually writing my diary in English and put it on the web?
Actually, I don't believe I will ever do this...but I did anyway.
There are more then one reason shows this is a stupid idea, because:

1. English is not my 1st language. (Of course there will be tones of spelling mistakes :P..and I know you guys will help out ^_^)
2. I hate keep writing journal. I'd rather use photo instead.
3. Now I have to keep my journal in both English and Chinese..who knows how long I will keep it...

There are also reasons that I should do it.

1. Keep in touch with my friends and families who don't know Chinese.
2. Practice my writing.
3. Make more friends since I am bored.

Well..here I am...3/24/2005...A day before GOOD FRIDAY..(I am not Christian)..I wrote my 1st internet diary.........