Hey Doc

The first sign of the Summer holiday is over was standing room only on the bus on my way to work. Students, students... My quiet morning commute turned into packed sardines can. I will have to leave early to beat the crowd now. I can still remember how I spent my Summer holiday when I was young. Other then the stack of the home work we had to finish, summer holiday seems like never ending in the beginning but faster like hell when it gets closer to the end. Various summer camps were always fun to go. I used to spent weeks in our family maid's home in the country side. Their house sat in the middle of fish ponds and vegetable fields. We used to get up at the crack of dawn to start working in the fields. Food on the table was all pick fresh from the field or the chicken was just running around in the front yards a minute ago. A whole pig can feed everyone for weeks. Life was simple !! We kids had no toys, made up stuff as we go while playing in the stream. That cool, clean water was perfect for the hot summer days.
I have not gone back to visit since I left for US. I wonder what has became to the fields and streams. I won't even need to guess.



I have uploaded few new photos, check it out

It was 9:00 PM when I dragged my tired butt out of the office. All because of a last minute software change that I have to test it tonight before the programmer goes on a business trip. At least that was the story my boss told me.
As I was waiting at the bus station, an ambulance buzzing by with siren and flashing lights. I can see through the window of the vehicle that the paramedic was performing the CPR on a patient. An older lady sat next to the patient with a blank look on her face. Statistic shows only 10% of the CPR performed were successful. That lady must be wondering if her friend or family member whether is going to make it or not.
Will Hasting, a good friend of my whom I knew for a long time suffered a critical injury in a car accident not too long ago. The chance of his recovery was almost none. He and his wife had previously agreed on a health directive, stated that in case of this ever happened, they will choose not been kept alive on a live support system. Will got his last wish. More sad to this was his 14 year old daughter also die in the accident. There is only a very thin line between life and death.
We had enjoyed a very mild and pleasant weather the past few days but tomorrow is heating up again. Lucky I work in an air conditioned office. Just thinking of those who has to work outdoors, I can not complain too much about working overtime.

Update: something is wrong with my Firefox browser, It was unable to "publish" this entry. I almost lost this entire post.

At first I thought I may have to quit my job to go back to the States but now I have checked with company policy, I should be OK. You see, I am on my 10th month with the company, I don't get any vacations until a full year so I have to schedule my trip on personal leave without pay. The maximum allowed is 14 days. We have a holiday coming up from 10/6 to 10/10. I can incorporate that with my 14 days time-off and that makes my trip happen. SO I will be back to the States on 9/18. This time I will have some time to visit friends I have missed on my last trip. I had only one week the last time.
I am excited for the coming trip at the same time I dreaded for the thoughts of going through the airport security. Especially with the increased security because of the recent terrorist activities. I think all this is a waste of time. Would you still carry the same explosive materials now everyone is looking for liquid, gel and iPod if you are a terrorist ? Here is someone with an opinion which I happened to agree.

I wonder what makes a store a "flagship store". Is it the largest of the chain or the oldest? Eslite Books is a conglomerates of book, boutique and food chain store. They recently opened their flagship store in the Xin Yi district of Taipei city, few blocks away from Taipei 101. (Sorry about the links which they are in Chinese). The main attraction of this store is the three stories, 99,900 sq.ft of floor space of books. Its a great place to spend a whole day browsing for the books.



I have been to National University Hospital many times and passing this piece of "art" on the wall of a stair well each time. I have never paid attentions to the contains until last Saturday. Notice the two babies on the left. This piece obviously is celebrating the cares given by the medical staffs but what is the meaning of that conjoined babies? Its very out of the place.

Weather report - we are looking at three, yes three typhoons heading our way. One is closer to the north, in direct path to Japan and the other two are on their way to Taiwan. The weather bureau has issued storm warning for the eastern ocean area.

Well, if you never had a red bean popsicle before, you will not be able to picture this. I am not talking about food here. We are talking about legs, which resemble the Red Bean Popsicle. When I was still young, we get bitten by mosquito and bugs on our legs a lot. The bites cause itch and you scratch until your skin broke and bled like crazy. In those days, proper medical treatment was a luxury. Typically we just left the wound heal itself. We ended up getting a red spot on the skin. As time goes, the number of the red spots grew on you leg. Now, for a guy, its no big deal but not for girls., especially pretty girls. They got teased often about their RBP legs. Guess why I brought this up ? Yes, I saw a very good looking female on the bus today. As I scan her from head to toes, guess what I saw ?? !! RBP legs.
BTW, on the way home today, the bus was so full that I stood from beginning to end. Can't get a seat. Very unusual.
Are you tired of the heat? We had clear sky for the pass week. Not a cloud in the sky. The sun was baking this concrete city called Taipei in full strength. Added to the sun was all the cars on the street and all the AC unit in the building sending more heat to the mix.