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/

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.

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.   

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.

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

一幅画

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【yóuhuà】canvas

真实【zhēnshí】 true; real; authentic.

事实【shìshí】truth

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 春 on 8” squares.

Images from my walk 2012-01-14

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.

Review of "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol"

Saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on IMAX today. I loved the movie, thought it was the best “Mission Impossible” yet. Good cast, good script, and non-stop action. I'm told Tom Cruise did his own stunts. I don't know, but if he did, that guy has got balls of steel.

This is one of the first movies I've seen on IMAX. My impression of IMAX is the same as my impression of HDTV. The picture is indeed clearer, but the biggest surprise is the sound. The sound volume, range, and clarity far exceeds conventional movies. (If you don't like loud movies, you probably would not like IMAX.)

The cost of admission is twice the admission of a conventional movie. Is IMAX worth the additional cost? For 3D movies, I would say no. I try to avoid 3D. IMAX, though, is different. The enhanced audio and video experience is substantially better. I enjoyed watching MI4 on IMAX. I might be a minority, but I would pay extra to see a good movie on IMAX.

Preparing Chinese Ink from an ink stone

Chinese language practice 2011-12-26

Homework assignment due 2011-12-21

Sentences from new words on page 86

问题【wèntí】 question; problem

Have questions?  No questions!

nǐ yǒu wèn tí ma  wǒ méi yǒu wèn tí  

你有问题吗? 我没有问题。

请教【qǐngjiào】 ask for advice; consult.

You ought to consult an attorney.

nǐ yīng gāi qǐng jiào lǜ shī 

你应该请教律师

终结【zhōngjié】 end; final stage.

Tomorrow I will terminate our lease.

wǒ míng tiān huì jié shù wǒ men de zū lìn 

我明天会结束我们的租赁

送终【sòngzhōng】 attend upon a dying parent or other senior member of one's family

When my mother died, I was unable to attend.

wǒ mā mā qù shì de shí hòu  wǒ bù néng qù sòng zhōng  

我妈妈去世的时候，我不能去送终。

散开【sànkai】 spread out or apart; disperse; scatter.

When the dog entered the house, the cats all scattered.

gǒu jìn wū de shí hòu  māo dōu sǎn kāi le  

狗进屋的时候，猫都散开了。

禁忌【jìnjì】 taboo

Smoking cigarettes in school is a taboo.

chōu yān zài xué xiào shì yī zhǒng  jìn jì 

抽烟在学校是一种禁忌

海边【hǎibiān】 seaside.

We often go to the seaside and stay at a hotel.

cóng jīn yǐ hòu wǒ bù hē pú táo jiǔ le  

从今以后我不喝葡萄酒了。

翻【fān】turn upside down 

Spill the tea.

dǎ fān le chá 

打翻了茶

怕【pà】 fear; dread; be afraid of; I'm afraid; I suppose; 

I fear lightning.

wǒ pà shǎn diàn 

我怕闪电

看来【kànlai】 it seems (or appears); it looks as if.

It seems that my friend will not visit us.

kàn lái wǒ de péng yǒu jiāng bù néng tàn shì wǒ men

看来我的朋友将不能探视我们

以后【yǐhòu】 after; later; afterwards; following; later on; in the future.

From now on, I stop drinking wine.

cóng jīn yǐ hòu wǒ bù hē pú táo jiǔ le  

从今以后我不喝葡萄酒了。

注意【zhùyì】 pay attention to; take note (or notice) of.

Be careful of the words you say.

qǐng zhù yì nǐ shuō de huà  

请注意你说的话。

Memorable Books Which I read in 2011

My most memorable books in 2011 were

Finding Nouf (Katya Hijazi) by Zoe Ferraris,

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes,

The Help by Kathryn Stockett,

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson,

Garden of Beasts by Jeffery Deaver,

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See,

Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

I've read more books than that, but this list is of those books that impressed me most during 2011.

I'm still reading Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks.  The title is somewhat misleading. Still it's a good description of the life and culture around Harvard University in the year 1630.  

Allen