Not the same

Music from your iPod and live concert are not the same. Looking at photos of art works and visiting museum to experience the real things are different too. There're a few impressionist's works, which I always want to see, but never have the chance till the recent visit to the Art institute of Chicago.

The end of the 8 months journey

Remember last summer on Vancouver Island, 14 potters got together to begin their 8 months creative journey. We all shared our visions and the paths that might take us there. Thanks for modern technology, we also have a wikispaces site to keep track of our progress and more importantly, our laughs and cries along the path. Unfortunately, one member left us and the earth involuntarily. Three couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't walk to the end for various reasons.

Next week, 10 will gather and have a show in Sandwich near Chicago. And Yes, only crazy Floridan will go to Chicago in the middle of march. However, considering how often you will have a chance with a group of same minded people committed to walk along with you. Anyway, big pots are double boxed and shipped, studio is cleaned, luggage are packed and I'm ready to begin a journey to end one.

New roof

After long time permitting, many hours of hammering (both literally and figuratively) and many inspections, finally, our new extended roof from the workshop is done. Over 600 sq. ft., which is bigger than the apartment I grew up in.

Jazz in the sanctuary

Imagine that; Jazz band performed inside a church, sax player and singer under the Cross for Valentine's Day, with tornado warning in the area.

窗外

不知不覺地, 這個季節又到了, 似乎是太早了些, 但是意識到, 杜鵑或許有自己的覺悟, 不能克制, 也不能勉強多一天。

Apocalypto

Talk about extreme violence ,brutality and emotional impact. Mel Gibson top my list. One the other hand, he also never fail to show us that, humanity hasn't change for thousands or hundreds of year (depends on you're watching "The Passion of the Christ" , "Braveheart" or "Apocalypto"). Here's a line from Apocalypto:
Old Story Teller: A Man sat alone, drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said, "We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it." The Man said, "I want to have good sight." The vulture replied, "You shall have mine." The Man said, "I want to be strong." The jaguar said, "You shall be strong like me." Then the Man said, "I long to know the secrets of the earth." The serpent replied, "I will show them to you." And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals, "Now the Man knows much, he'll be able to do many things. Suddenly I am afraid." The deer said, "The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop." But the owl replied, "No. I saw a dark hole in the Man, deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day mother earth will say, 'I am no more and I have nothing left to give.'

漂亮的揮春

How excited to receive 漂亮的揮春 from Walter, my new found friend and calligraphy teacher. He even sent me some blank red paper to try on. Then, I'm going to send my works to all of my CBC nephews, who don't know any Chinese. I hope/guess their parents are not going to tell them the fact that, aunt May really doesn't know how to hold a brush.
I am looking forward to the next visit back home.

For people who don't read Chinese and want to know what's it all about. Here's my total inaccurate interpretation:
Calligraphy on Red paper on the wall, with wishful saying is a way to celebrate new year.
Outside front door: Celebrate good life with nice music, fragrant tea and fine wine, year after year.
Inside front door: L- Spirt like dragon and horse, C- Fortune , R- Done as your will (so, be careful what you wish for ;->)
Side door: Safe and peace going in and out.

Butterflies in motion

Learned something about video production. A 2 hours production to 3 mins final cut ratio, not including driving down to the beach twice and shooting time. But, I'm very proud of the result. Worth a few minutes of downloading time, get the small one if you're in a hurry. See "Butterflies in motion".

Butterflies on the beach

It's a beautiful morning.
Wake up! Butterflies....
Let's fly!
Bye...

Usefulness from what is not there

The postman found me in the front yard pulling weeds. He said " You got a package from Hong Kong!" So, I leave the weeds, came in to open the package. Made some tea to go with the cookie just arrived. Very delicious. Couldn't stop with just one.
Checked on the beautiful new calendar, new year is only weeks away, and it's going to be year of rat! We just watch "Ratatouille" last night. Inspiring! BTW, in the back of your card, " The poem - Usefulness from what is not there - Lao Tsu" is very inspiring too. Thank you, Sam.

The Secrets of Fire King

Finally, I finished "The Memory Keeper's Daugher". a very beautiful but heart wrenching story. Be forewarned, in my opinion, anyone who plan to have kids, or already have kids should think twice before start reading.

The story reminded me the following:
"Our actions and all our thoughts, flow like water, their springs buried deep in the mysteries of the past. Everything we do and every consequence is the force of old actions. Once you turn down these dark corridors, you don't know what you will find because you do not know where you've been."

However, Kim Edwards has another book, "The Secrets of Fire King", not a bestseller, but a collection of well crafted short stories. I'm amazed by her ability to deeply understand people and their deepest thought from totally different culture, background and era. From trapeze artist, cleaning lady of Marie Curie's, Korean new immigrant after the war , Malaysian rubber tapper to new age marine biologists...... and more. Her tales read like the work of a wise traveler who returns home with exotic souvenirs from other lands.

Orange Bowl

Spent four days in Miami judging for Orange Bowl Regatta before the new year. One of the biggest I've ever been. Over 500 boats from 19 countries. I sailed in OBR over a decade ago, never dream that one day I will have the chance judging for it. It seems almost impossible, even now. The days begin with a brief meeting. Major task is assign power boats and race courses among 8 judges. Then we spent most of the day going around the course, observing the race and giving yellow flag for sailor who broke rule 42, which is "Propulsion, like pumping, rocking, ooching and sculling." Then we hear protests among sailors on shore after the races. Then I hear judges argue the case again at the bar and dinner. My power boat engine broke down in the middle of Biscayne bay one day, lucky to have an observer boat to tow back to the yacht club.

True or False

Back then, I liked True or False, black or white. Loved math, couldn't handle history.

Recently, I re-certified as a US sailing judge. Part of the process is a true or false test. I found the test is a lot harder and easier, as I understand the rules better now, than years ago. It's harder for me to honestly tick "True" when I know better it's not always really true. It's easier since I begin to understand what the system expects the right answer to be.

So, try the following test I made up for fun, T or F, no explanation, no it depends, no body is going to listen. But, at some point in life, you might need to stand up to give your answer.

1. Killing is wrong.
2. If you love him/her enough then you would be with him/her forever.
3. Time, distance, speed of light can be measured.
4. Fate decides destiny.
5. God exists.

Loxahatchee river

There is a commonality about being on a desert, an ocean, a snowy mountain, a rain forest or a swampy river. They are ancient. They are the same as thousands of years ago. You look up and down and around, thinking it's what my great great great ........ (100 times) grandmom saw, when she was on this earth. Click here for a 15MB Quicktime movie.

Kite Park

It took the county a few years to finish up the final touch of this lovely park. It's ideal for kite flying, because of the wind from the water and no tree in the way.