January 31, 2014

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year!

Today marks the start of the Chinese Lunar Year, the Year of the Horse (my favorite animal!). One of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, the horse signifies kindness, strength, and gregariousness. In the larger Chinese astrological cycle, this year is also associated with the element of wood, which makes 2014 the Year of the Wooden Horse. The combination is supposed to signify twelve months of patience and cooperation ahead. People around the world usher in the new year with firework displays, family get-togethers, temple visits, and street festivals. 

My whole family went to celebrate the new year with my uncle last night, since both sets of my grandparents are either in Canada or in Taiwan this year. And yes, I saw my new cousin! He's so adorable, and his face is so pretty--literally! I mean, most babies have scrunched-out faces, but not this one! His skin is so soft, and everything is all miniature--kawaii!  <3


But anyways, we had an awesome dinner of home-made hot pot. My uncle, who has good taste in food quality (and, I might add, a bit picky with his food sometimes), specially bought a pack of "premium" meat, which we rapidly consumed--despite the fact that we've already finished two other packs of "regular" lamb and beef. xD

Unfortunately, I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a headache...not the best way on how to wake up in the morning of a new year, but eh, it's all right. ^^

To conclude this rough draft of an entry, here are some links to The Chinese Zodiac Story, Lunar Calendar, A Chinese New Year Story, and the ever-important Traditions.


Happy Chinese New Year! *lights fireworks*



January 30, 2014

Cranky Old Man


When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in magazines for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.




Cranky Old Man


What do you see, nurses? .................. What do you see?
What are you thinking ....... when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man ..................................... not very wise,
Uncertain of habit ............................ with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .................... and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice ....... "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice ............ the things that you do.
And forever is losing .............................. a sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not .................. lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding ................ the long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? ........ Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .... you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am ........................ as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding .................... as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten .......... with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .................... who love one another
A young boy of sixteen ................ with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now .................... a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at twenty ................ my heart gives a leap.
Remembering the vows ............ that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five, now .................. I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide ........... and a secure happy home.
A man of thirty ....................... my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other ................ with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons .......... have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me ........... to see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more ............... babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children ............... my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me .................. my wife is now dead.
I look at the future ....................... I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing ............ young of their own.
And I think of the years ..... and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man .......................... and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age .......................... look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles ............. grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone ............... where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass ....... a young man still dwells,
And now and again .................. my battered heart swells
I remember the joys ...................... I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living ........................ life over again.
I think of the years, all too few .................. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact ............... that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people ......................... open and see.
Not a cranky old man ................................... look closer.
See ........................................................................... ME!!



Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Please share and pass this on if you've been touched, just like how I have.


January 29, 2014

Miracles - True or Not?

Don't believe in miracles? Well, let's see what the famous people have to say about it!



  •     "There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein
  •     "Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see." ~ C.S. Lewis
  •     "Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you." ~ Jon Bon Jovi
  •     "A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles." ~ William Hazlitt
  •     "God continues to work miracles in my life." ~ Willie Aames
  •     "How quickly we forget God's great deliverances in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles He performed in our past." ~ David Wilkerson
  •     "When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller
  •     "To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." ~ Walt Whitman


So, what do you think? Are they scientific or not? Are they fantasy, or could they be explained? 


Again, civility is appreciated, but rudeness is not. ^^



January 25, 2014

Life is a Miracle


On this Saturday morning, I was rudely woken up by the phone. I groaned. My brother had just changed the ring tone the day before, and it was not a pleasant sound to wake up to. Stumbling out my warm, comfy bed, I ambled down the stairs, just in time to pick up the phone before the ringing stopped.

I glanced at the caller ID. Oh, it's Dad. I knew that my dad was going to drive my mom over to her weekend writing retreat early in the morning, and was calling to make sure I was awake. "Hello, Dad?" I rubbed my eyes, still groggy.

"You up yet, hon?"

"Just did." I yawned.

"How about the boys?"

"No. I'm the only one awake right now." I looked at the clock and groaned. 8:45.

"Well, I'm around twenty minutes away from home."

"Okay."

"Oh, and Auntie S. gave birth today."

Now I was wide awake. "Really?! That's great!" I peppered him with questions. "Is it a boy or girl? When was the birth? How much did it weight? Is Auntie S. all right?"

He laughed at my excitement. "Yes, she's all right! It's a boy, and from what Mom said, he weights around 5 pounds, 12 ounces. I don't know any other details."

"So Uncle M. and Auntie S. hasn't chosen a name for him yet?"

"Not that I know of. I'll be home soon, and Isaac and Titus might be coming over, so make sure the house is ready." [Isaac and Titus are our young cousins, Uncle M. and Auntie S.'s sons.]

"Okay, Dad. Drive safely!"

So that was basically how the conversation went, to the best of my memory. I trotted upstairs to jot the big news down while it was still fresh in my mind.

It was later on, when my uncle dropped Isaac and Titus off at noon, did I get all the details I wanted. Apparently, they were planning to name the baby boy Calvin; which, otherwise, if it had been a girl, would've been an Eleanor. 

So here I am, sitting next to my sleeping toddler cousin and writing this little story.
As Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." And I agree with George Bernard Shaw when he said: "Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles."

Once again, I am struck by just how great our God is. Truly, He is the sole Giver of life, and nothing else can do what He does: ex nihilo. [Latin: from nothing] 

Soli Deo gloria! [Latin: to God alone be the glory!]

January 24, 2014

How This Came To Be - poem

One more poem written around September 5, 2012.  And yes, I'm on a rampage on posting all my beloved poems of old... <3

This was a real experience by me; it all truly happened just a couple nights ago (when I first wrote it). Don't you think the whole thing is somewhat ironic? xD

Can you "see" the picture/scene I'm trying to portray here through the usage of few words? I've always known that little words, when used correctly and fittingly, is powerful, but now have I only known just how powerful. Hence my trying my hand at it. How well it came out, I don't know.

Please comment on what you think about this free verse, and how I can improve on my writing! (I promise I won't bite!)




How This Came To Be

End of day
Morales low
Tensions high
Tired
Stressed
Stomachache
Pain
Inquiries
Scolded
Rebuked
Guilty
Misty eyes
Blurred vision
Breaks down
Eyes up
Quiet weeping
Pauses
Runs upstairs
Collapses on bed
Sobbing
Wailing
Brokenness
Not comforted
None understands
Forgotten bedtime hug
Sorrowful
Depressed
Self-pity
Trickling wetness
Damp pillow
Once more
Awake
Thinking
Midnight
Slow motions
Bed creaking
Flipped switch
Blinding light
Still
Blinking
Adjusting
Rummaging
Paper
Pen
Starts
Writing

THIS





Again, criticism is appreciated, but rudeness is not. ^^


Two More Short Poems

Again, more poetry for y'all from yours truly! These two were written when I was waiting for BSF to start, back in September 13, 2012--and tonight is Tuesday night, BSF night (again), haha! :D


Wish It's Forever

Twilight
Summer midnight
Gently falling blossoms
Whispers flitting through the endless
Time hushed



Heartbreaker

Wretched peer
Anxious longing
Clenching, unclenching grip
Oh, what are you trying to find
In me?





Ciao! ;)


Last Saturday - poem

Here's a poem that I wrote back in October 3, 2012. ^^


Washing the morning dishes,
Just minding my own business,
(A bit grudging, I must add),
When down it rained, beauty-clad.

Strains of pleasing melody,
Triads in sweet harmony,
I cast eyes outward, wonder!
The music did not flounder.

Down it wafted from above,
Gently, gently, like a dove;
Master fingers undisclosed,
As they played the highs and lows.

I hurried with the washing,
No sign of tuneless humming.
Finally done, I grabbed the leash
As excuse of remedy.

With my dog, hasted to sidewalk
And slowed my pace to a walk.
Ears alert, eyes akin,
For the music now grew dim.

Now my gaze is on high grounds,
Still the rapturous effects sounds.
With a sudden jolt, I knew,
Keys I used to play so true.

Oh, joy! One of my Bach piece!
Now the skillful play has cease.
Fleeting time, I'm back at home;
The piano's where I roam.



This all really happened, although the part about "my Bach piece" wasn't. Inspired by the incident, I decided to write it down. This is probably my best in-one-sitting poem I've ever written. ^^


Critiques and comments welcomed!


January 22, 2014

New Beginnings!

Wow...this is a first for me, since I have never before tried blogging on a regular basis--but with the year 2014, this will be my challenge! I shall see what God is planning to bring me through this wonderful new year. ^^

To be honest with you, my dear readers, I've "wasted" a couple weeks pondering about whether I should put myself to the commitment of managing the blog. It was until today that I've had the impression that God was nudging me on with a "just go out and try it" smile. Well, I hope I will not let Him down, nor you wonderful watchers. ;)



Until next time, Godspeed! <3