Sunday, November 4, 2012

Behind the Beautiful Forevers


Just purchased "Behind the Beautiful Forevers", a book by Katherine Boo about life, death and hope in Mumbai.  I'm looking forward to reading it.

http:/www.behindthebeautifulforevers.com/

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Chinese practice 2012-11-03


Chinese practice - 2012/11/03

这周东海岸的天气非常不好.
这周东海岸的天气糟糕.
飓风袭击纽约市和东海岸的许多 其他 市。
很多人丧生了。
许多建筑物被摧毁或损坏。
数百万人无电可用.
现在很多人因为飓风无家可归.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Dinner out tonight

Because of our busy schedules, Shari and I often eat out for lunch, but it's a rare occasion when we go out for dinner. Tonight we seized the opportunity and dined at Greg's Grill at the Old Mill District. I love that place. The atmosphere is romantic, the staff is friendly, and the service is great.

It's rare for us to drink alcoholic drinks. We just don't care for them that much. Shari had a bloody mary without the alcohol. We both agree it tastes better without the vodka. It's cheaper, too.

I, on the other hand, wanted to try a drink called “Houston, we have a problem.” Why that title? I haven't got a clue. It contained vodka, blueberries, pineapple, and orgeat. It tasted great, but it was very potent. One drink was more than enough for me. (Now I've got to find a dictionary and learn what “orgeat” is.)

Shari and I don't eat very much, so we split a New York Steak dinner. This was one of the best dinners we've had. The steak, the baked potatoes, and the asparagus were all very tasty and very delicious.

As I said before, we love this place. We'll probably go back next week.   

Sunday, January 29, 2012

A friend recommended this poem

I recommend another poem which is from 苏轼(宋朝).
This is a beautiful and sorrowful poem to remember his wife.
江 城 子
十年生死两茫茫,不思量,自难忘。
千里孤坟,无处话凄凉。
纵使相逢应不识,尘满面,发如霜。
夜来幽梦忽还乡。小轩窗,正梳妆。
相顾无言,惟有泪千行。
料得年年肠断处:明月夜,短松冈。


Ten years, dead and living dim and draw apart.
I don't try to remember,
But forgetting is hard.
Lonely grave a thousand miles off,
Cold thoughts, where can I talk them out?
Even if we met, you wouldn't know me,
Dust on my face,
Hair like frost.
In a dream last night suddenly I was home.
By the window of the little room,
You were combing your hair and making up.
You turned and looked, not speaking,
Only lines of tears coursing down.
Year after year will it break my heart?
The moonlit grave,
The stubby pines.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Notes from my Chinese Lesson 2011-01-11

Notes from Chinese lesson – 2012-01-11

shuǐ cǎi bǐ = 水彩笔 = water color pen

墨汁【mòzhī prepared Chinese ink.
guà (huà) = 挂画 = hang (a picture on the wall)

wǒ zài qiáng shàng guà yī fú
我在墙上挂衣服
I hang clothes on the wall.

yī fú huà
a large picture

yī zhēng huà
一铮画 一张照片
a small picture

一般【yībān general; ordinary

yī bān lái shuō
一般来说
generally speaking

zuǒ piě zǐ
左撇子
left-handed writer

比较【bǐjiào compare; contrast; <adv.> fairly; comparatively;

聪明【cōngmíng intelligent; bright; clever.

左撇子比较聪明.
zuǒ piě zǐ bǐ jiào cōng míng
Generally speaking left-handers are more intelligent.

宣纸【xuānzhǐ Xuan paper, a high quality paper made in Xuancheng, Anhui province esp. good for traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.

专门【zhuānmén special;

书法家【shūfǎjiā calligrapher; calligraphist; calligraphy specialist

科学家【kēxuéjiā scientist.

wén xué jiā
文学家
literature specialist

哲学家【zhéxuéjiā philosopher.

shū fǎ jiā zhuān mén xiě shū fǎ
书法家专门写书法
A calligrapher writes calligraphy

厨房【chúfáng kitchen.

厨师【chúshī cook; chef.

lǎo shī zhuān mén jiào shū
老师专门教书

yī shēng zhuān mén kàn bìng
医生专门看病

想象【xiǎngxiàng imagine; fancy; visualize; <psychology> imagination.

欣赏【xīnshǎng appreciate

享受【xiǎngshòu enjoy

国画【guóhuà traditional Chinese painting.

油画【yóuhuàcanvas

真实【zhēnshí true; real; authentic.

事实【shìshítruth

画展【huàzhǎn exhibition of paintings.

参观【cānguān view; look around.

拜访【bàifǎng pay a visit; call on.

Homework assignment:
  1. Make sentences with new words.
  2. Preview dialogue
  3. Practice writing on 8” squares.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Darkest Hour

Saw the movie “The Darkest Hour” tonight. This is a “Grade B” science fiction movie, the kind you used to see in movie theaters on Saturday mornings.  However, I enjoyed this movie.  This is one of the few movies where the 3D looked real.  I also liked the fact that it was filmed in Moscow.  The movie gave me a good impression of that city.  This is a better movie than, say, “Battle for L.A”.  I give it 3 stars out of 5.