Back to school and get busy again

Today is the second day of this new semester. Yeah I didn’t have enough energy for blogging last night. *chuckles* Now then you know a teacher is also good at finding excuses huh. :P So I am still the homeroom teacher; the only difference is my students are in the 8th grade—too bad they don’t look much taller, and maybe that’s because I am very tall comparing to most Taiwanese. That’s all right…I’ll keep on encouraging them to eat well and exercise more. Well, the only thing that makes me sad is I cannot make as much money as last semester. L Since we teachers get fixed pay, but if we teach extra hours, we can get some extra pay. School doesn’t give me extra hours to teach, and I will lose around 3000 NT a month from now on. *sobbing…*

Anyway, life goes on. But not my favorite series on TV—the Peak of the Forbidden City had its last play last Sunday. The girl Shadow, who couldn’t forget about the guy Scorpio although she misunderstood him, finally left Sunny, the guy who always had a liking for Shadow since long ago, and went for Scorpio. The most touching scene was when Shadow was looking at Scorpio’s picture and missing him badly, Sunny came and consoled her that everything would be fine with his always warm smile. Shadow then cheered up after Sunny told her he’d take her to find Scorpio the next day. Then…Sunny turned and walked away, his facial expression looked so lonely…so sad, for he was the one left out. I am not to sound sentimental, you know. My motto is ‘never give up’, but it’s not to be applied for the romantic field! Just let go, and move on. :D Always something fun and surprising along the way—but I don’t want the ‘pay cut off’ surprise at all!!! :O

Spring Rolls :D~

Time to say goodbye to my summer vacation in 2004. I did have a lot of fun these 2 months, hanging out with good old friends, making new friends--some are nice and others are creepy. Like having adventures, I went out to meet them, and then acknowledge that I do keep high standards and high morals. LOL~ ( you know it's difficult to kick a habit which has been formed long ago. :P )

Last night I got the real estate agent's message with 2 symbols. He would know what I am thinking about ( the relationship stuff ) and how come he cannot call me recently. Well...one thing I can't understand. If he's that good as what he has bragged to me, that he can make big money for he's able to understand what his customers really need, why can't he figure it out that I am sick of 'words- speak- louder- than- actions' guys? I chatted with my mom this afternoon and asked her so. My mom lied on the sofa comfortably and listened to my blah blah...about this boring guy's behavior. Finally she said, it's normal...he is judging and he pretty much doesn't want to invest in 'you'. Ah...to the point, isn't it. As for the 2 symbols, the 1st is 2 big diamond rings--one for you and the other for me, to tie us up. The 2nd is a dozen of chocolate. Very well...how come I never saw such presents while we were meeting? :P LOL~ I wish I could have some nice chocolate, like Godiva--the very famous and expensive ones. So I know, and you know also, that my mom is right. He'd better give the idea up as soon as possible, move on, and find another woman who's desperate enough to be his girl friend. :D Good luck to you, although I don't think you are a nice friend of mine, Martin.

Oh the picture above is our lunch today--spring rolls! My mom is an excellent cook, and the spring rolls ( I got vegetarian ones ) are very tasty! Too bad--the daughter is too dumb to cook well though. :P ( bu hao yi si ah...)

Me and my dear Justy :D

Today is Saturday, and of course we don’t have school on the weekend. So it’s relaxing…I went out for a walk with my family, and I saw my cute baby Justy—the red car my dad gave me when he bought another car. I didn’t buy or rent a parking space near my place, and you know it’s not always easy to find a place to park your car in Taipei. So it’s necessary every time for me to pray like this when I drive home: oh dear Lord…please let me find a good place to park my Justy! :D It costs around 25000 NT to rent a parking place for a year—no cover above, mind you. And no guard to watch the place. That’s why I don’t wanna make my dear Justy look too shining or got some beautification. But I often wash my car to keep it clean and Justy should be happy for that… :P

Mooncake :D~

hey don't look at me but the stuff in my hands! On the right it's a small tea-flavoured mooncake! And the other is a feng4 li2 su1 ( pineapple tart? sorry not sure about the English term for it ). I got them in the vegetarian bakery, where I used to buy buns and cookies. They have many other flavours, and I think it's pretty cool especially as I make some nice hot Chinese tea while eating them. :D~ welcome back to Taiwan! *chuckles*

The cute statue

This is the cute statue I bought only yesterday! :D You see His ears! Very big and they mean ' a lot of good luck'. :D ah...no wonder, I finally understand why I don't like skinny guys now. all my exs were skinny and they didn't bring me any good luck! so yeah...the suitors around me had better figure it out themselves they must try hard to look like a lucky guy first. otherwise I'll just keep a safe distance from them. LOL~

Antique lover?

Well…I went out to meet friends in the early afternoon, and then I decided to pay my SX a visit. He called me earlier and said he’s going to run his own business—to sell tea leaves and teapots and cups. In fact the first day of his business is on Sep. 1st. But I won’t have spare time to visit him there since I have to stay at school and work VERY HARD. :D

So I took MRT again to his place, which is near Taipei Main Station. His place is not big—since it’s in the central area of Taipei City. I saw a lot of cute teapots and cups!!! I love them… *sob sob* You know I would like to buy some if I had a lot of money…too bad, right? SX and I chatted happily while eating the vegetarian Guo Tie ( no idea what the English term for it -_-“ ) I bought. He made some tea but it tasted awful because of the water, which is the side effect of Typhoon Aere. We talked about the things that happened these days in our lives—his colleagues, my suitors, and so on. LOL~ I told him about the latest ones, the architecture and the real estate agent, who are weird and way too desperate. He advised me that I’d better not get involved in a few years, since they are only ‘lousy tao hua’ for me. I nodded. SX also knows that my ‘yuan feng’ is not coming yet. Hehehe~ Finally, I couldn’t resist his charm…I decided to take him home—a very lovely 彌勒佛, which is made of the earth Zi Sha.
The price is 3600 NT. Ahh…. I know, I know. :P

Typhoon Day II

All government offices and schools in Taipei remain closed today because of the typhoon Aere. Banks and financial markets are shut as well. Lucky the place where I live has nothing destructive like flash-floods, landslides, or mud and rock slides. Thanks goodness, and my parents. They did choose a house with good Feng Shui. :D As usual I got up very early, thinking if I should go out to get the newspapers while watching the strong wind and heavy rain outside. Yes, you’re right. I decided to go. Well…maybe ‘sneak out’ is the term. :P For my other family were still sleeping sound because of the cool weather. So I put on my black mini skirt, took my strong umbrella, and walked into the typhoon. I admit that I did feel a bit scared when I saw the gusting winds and torrential rains! My skirt became all wet soon—you know the typhoon rain is not like the normal rain falling down straight. I wandered if I was just too brave walking on the street… I would say I deserve it if I was injured by falling debris. LOL~ Somehow too much courage might not be an advantage I guess… By the way I did regret that I forgot to take my cute BenQ 2300 with me to take some video. Maybe next time. :P ( aiyowei! Daring enough? )

Luckily I came home safely…got to change my clothes fast though. And we didn’t suffer from power outages like some other households in Taiwan. The only bad thing that happened to me today was…I was so careless while cooking lunch that my pinky on the right touched the edge of a very hot wok. -_-“ Very painful…I even got a boil on my pinky! ~~>_<~~ I deserved it too, since I know I am not good in cooking at all. But it’s not convenient to eat out in a typhoon day. That didn’t ruin my good mood for the rest of today, especially when I looked into the mirror and saw my skin’s so smooth and delicate for plenty of time to sleep these days. *chuckles* I don’t think I can sleep that much after school starts! Therefore, it’s a must to take as much R&R as I can, right? Being trapped at home for 2 days, I will go out to have some fun tomorrow! :D

Favorite toys of mine

Yes they are my favorite toys...antique teapots and tea cups, which came from the Jing De Town in China--the most famous place for making teapots and cups. The earth is the key: different earth for different tea leaves. The ones I am using are made of Zi Sha ( 紫砂 ), which are good for making the so-called "old tea", like Pu Er (普洱 ). *chuckles* The temperature of water is important too. If I make Pu Er tea, I'll keep the water in the kettle boiling. Well, the tea tastes real good! Especially after a nice, hearty dinner... It's sort of like a wonderful ending for the night. :D

Typhoon Day

A typhoon’s ( Aere #0417 ) is landing on the north of Taiwan. When I got up in the early morning, I heard the wind and rain, a bit stronger than the rain ( or showers ) we usually have in summer. So… yeah I know it’s better to stay home. *chuckles* But it’s not my style. :P Putting on a short skirt ( a smart choice in rainy days since wet pants always make my legs uncomfortable ) and taking a bigger umbrella ( not the light ones I use to block the burning sun ), I ‘bravely’ walked into the wind and rain. Wow… the streets looked so lonely today! Living in Taipei, everyone knows it’s more like a habit you have to look around and watch out, because of the busy traffic and a lot of pedestrians everywhere. Well…this time I felt relaxed, walking slowly, enjoying the loneliness in my favorite city. I looked up a bit, smiled to the sky, and felt the rain was cool…on my bare arms and feet ( I wore slippers, which are for outdoors ). I didn’t sing, in case I ruined the perfect silence around me…so content I got…

I think of a good friend, who lives in Ilan, the east of Taiwan, and also teaches at a public middle school. We were once colleagues for a few years. The reason we got to know each other better was both of us are vegetarians, and he often gave me a hand as I had some questions about computer stuff. However…what he influenced me most was not about computers, but his attitude toward life. He told me he had a painful childhood, not being loved and suffering from poverty. That’s why he figured out very early that one’s best friend is him/herself, and he seldom wasted money. *chuckles* He always teaches me how to save up money. He does that so well that he has bought a house near his school, and I kept him company when he came up to see the furniture exhibition at Taipei Trade Exhibition Hall. Being single, good-looking, rich…you know he has no gf so far. LOL~ He had an admirer, in fact…a teacher too, not at the same school. I asked him why he turned the lady down, and his reply was ‘urm…I didn’t think it’d better to live with her. It’s so tiring to look after another person. By the way I am studying for my masters…’ His point is living by himself is totally enjoyable, and he doesn’t think a woman would do him any good right now…same here. *chuckles* Neither do I. That’s why we joked around while talking on the phone, that we might get married a few years later since both are so picky, vegetarian, and we don’t want kids.( DINK is my cup of tea! ) We just need to work diligently and then larked around when we are on winter or summer vacation. Perfect match…NOT. Too bad he’s younger than me, and…shorter. *sighs…* :P Nothing is perfect, just like what I used to say.

So I got my favorite traditional Chinese breakfast, and bought newspaper on my way home. It’s nice to spend my day like this… nothing important to do. Eat, drink ( herb tea ), nap, watch some stuff, chat with friends, and so on. Previously my sis and I planned to go shopping today, but cancelled for this typhoon. As for the cell phone which ran out of battery and didn’t get charged, I think I am just too smart… LOL~ I have 3 cell phones, which means I have 3 numbers to use. The first # ( degree 1 ) is only for my family when I go traveling overseas. The second # ( degree 2 ) is for all my acquaintances IRL, including students and their parents. I take this celly with me most of the time and seldom switch if off. ( too troublesome, and I don’t get naughty calls often. I did get some, and I am good at dealing with such things… *winks* ) The third # ( degree 3 ) is only for friends I get to know from the Net. It’s a prepaid card, which can be thrown away anytime if I don’t think it’s necessary for me. So that’s why the 1st and 3rd are off. I am not to leave for another country, and I am sick of getting the 2 guys’ phone calls already. :P Let me live a lonely life for a while first… and I’ll take another new adventure! :D

Trying to get my photo done

My boy students who graduated last summer. we had a gathering at a shabu shabu restaurant. they become more mature! ( I am playing with Hello; see if I can post a photo onto my blog :P )

Chinese Valentine's Day

Here again…not diligent enough to blog last night. LOL~ Yesterday was the Chinese Lovers’ Day, 七夕 ( qi1 xi4 ) in Mandarin. For a woman like me, who got some suitors around IRL, it’s just too difficult to decide which one to go out with. It turned out to be that…urm…I switched off my cell phone and spent a wonderful Sunday with my family! OK I was just kidding… in fact I didn’t switch off my celly, but it ran out of battery and I didn’t charge it, that’s all. :P

I went out in the afternoon for a ‘black mass’, which means a funeral for us catholic. A friend’s father passed away. We practiced in the same choir for a period of time, so I thought I had to go and pray for him and his family. I didn’t feel like crying at such an occasion even as we went forward to spread some petals on the body in the coffin, but I did have the impulse to cry when I saw my friend and his family gave the last look at their family member before they were going to cover it… *sighs* Well I know nothing is permanent. Sorrow and pain are unavoidable sometimes. After saying goodbye to my other friends who were also present at the black mass, I went back home. You know there are some traditions for us in such a situation: someone who just attended a funeral cannot go home directly. A friend told me his knowledge about that was ‘to pick some leaves and throw them away.’ Mine is ‘hang around somewhere else for a while and then go home.’ I even know about another custom: use incense to ‘purify’ the person in front of the gate—let the smoke be around his/her body a while. I guess my western friends would feel :O if I told them so.

Talking about my favorite TV program on Sun. evening, Top of the Forbidden City, I am sorry I spelt it wrong on my last blog. The Chinese title is correct, but not the English translation. I took a careful look last night and found I was wrong. *chuckles* doesn’t matter—this is my blog. In this play there are some romantic scenes too, just like most of the series, no matter what language is used. The main characters, Scorpio, Sunny, and Shadow, are in a so called ‘triangle’ relationship, which is not surprising even in our real life. Sunny is Shadow’s good friend, always caring for her and, of course, having strong feelings toward her. They’ve known each other for long. But later on, Scorpio appeared, and Shadow had an immediate crush on him, even if Scorpio seemed cold to her from time to time… She still couldn’t forget about him. The lucky thing is Scorpio does have a liking to Shadow —he acted cold because of his attempt to accomplish something first. Somehow it’s not so lucky like in the play right? Once I found myself fond of a guy, after we had been good friends for quite a while. Too bad I was not the One he wanted. It was very painful to see him leave for another woman, who he immediately had a strong crush on just like the girl Shadow. Certainly I felt very bad…I trembled while he told me he’s to leave....But I didn’t shed a tear even that's the Fin. ( Sunny didn’t either. *chuckles* He even would like to help…how come so kind-hearted as me huh :P )

So yeah…my point to record this history about my failure in love ( LOL~ ) is we don’t need to feel shameful or whatsoever. It’s not anyone’s fault, but just not something that can be worked out, a relationship which is never meant to be. I feel lucky that I didn’t initiate any action there. Sure I sorrowed over my fate ( awww~ how come I couldn’t get him! ) for a moment, but things would just turn up right since time is the greatest healer. A beautiful young girl, who’s the daughter of 2 celebrities in Taiwan, ended her life by jumping down from a building, for her bf fell in love with other girls. Her bf’s photo was also in the newspaper…hmm…a gorgeous guy. So what? Necessary to kill herself and make her parents feel like hell? ( My mom had some comments like that, you know. :P ) Too bad or very lucky? I never feel it’s the end of the world if a man I like doesn’t like me. I think it’s his loss—doesn’t get a tall, pretty, good-figured, bright-thinking all the time, blah-blah…good woman. LOL~ ok ok being narcissistic again I know. But this is my monologue!!! So…I wish myself, and my good friends who don’t have lovers by now, all the best and good luck. Let us all live our days fully and happily every day! ^_^

Busy on the weekend

I got no energy to blog last night. *chuckles* already 8 p.m. when I came back home. After a shower I read some news and went watch my favorite TV program about ghosts at 11 p.m. Well…I am such a 100% Capricorn, I think…always follow the fixed pattern in my life. Urm…if not always, most of the time, I guess. Like today, Sun. and I will go watch the Taiwanese series: 紫禁之巔 The Peak of the Forbidden Mountains ) at 9:30 p.m. The story is ok, talking about some dancers who would like to win the first prize in the world No.1 dancing contest. Of course they are some nice guys, and bad guys, and they surely fight violently from time to time. They also have romantic scenes… The main character, Scorpio, didn’t really catch my eye at the first beginning, since he’s not gorgeous enough. Hahahaha~ But later on I found his performance is surprisingly good, especially his eyes can reveal exactly what the play asks him to be— lonely, passionate side, yet to show his feelings directly. He looks cool when he’s not smiling or laughing. The other character, Sunny, who acts to be his opponent both in the dancing contest and in the romantic field, looks so cute especially while he has a big smile. So, I am lucky enough to have some eye candy on Sun. evening, you know. :P Either Scorpio or Sunny can make my day, or night? LOL~

We had a farewell party yesterday afternoon. About 2 or 3 hundred people were there. Moreover, there were some shows running…and I was in one of them—to sing 3 songs with the choir. Sure I enjoy standing on the stage, although I did feel a bit nervous seeing a large audience sitting and watching us. The 3 songs are: Let Us Serve Him, 普天下去傳福音, and Hail Holy Queen. The harmony of the music is real enjoyable for sure…( otherwise I wouldn’t waste my time practicing in a choir every Thursday evening. ) Anyway I think our performance was a big success according to the very loud applauding and their happy, excited facial expressions. Too bad I didn’t stay for the dinner after our show because they didn’t prepare vegetarian dishes there. Nowadays we can easily find something vegetarian to get in a restaurant in Taiwan, you know. Like the restaurant we went have lunch yesterday, my friends told me they got veggie set on their menu, and I was curious… so spent around 250 NT to get my lunch. ( a bit expensive though ) I think the set is ok, some vegetables and rice with black sesames on above. Fruit and a soup. The decoration is nice—even got some dried roses and many petals on the middle of our table! Light is not too bright. Transparent curtains. Clean restrooms. Nice cool water. The best, in summer of course…is the air-con!!! So I sat there comfortably, eating my meal, and talked happily with my friends in the choir. The choir leader said he’d like to treat me in a very high class vegetarian restaurant in Taipei City—ain’t I lucky? :P ( But I turned him down nicely already for I don’t think I will have enough free time at the beginning of a new semester, you know. )

What am I eager to do next? *wink*

Today I met the second new student in my office, a boy who has exactly the same name as another student in my class. No idea if school arranged so on purpose…’ Let’s give Flo this kid and see what will happen if she calls the name.’ hehehe that’s why I looked at the boy and my first question was, ‘What’s your English name?’ He said, ‘Eric’, surprisedly. ( Most teachers would ask where a new student came from and why s/he wanna change schools, you know. ) And the first new student is a girl, who looks cute and studied in China before she came here. I met her mom yesterday on my way to a class of year 9, occasionally. Her mom saw me and asked me where she could find her daughter’s new homeroom teacher. After I asked her which one she’d meet, I then said, ‘Urm…it’s me.’ The little girl who seems to be the gal student’s younger sister looked at me and said, ‘wah! Hao piao liang!’ ( I am just too shy to translate it in English. LOL~ ) The mom didn’t know her little daughter did a very nice job of PR. :P I told my class today that they were lucky to have 2 cute new students, and my boy students all went ‘woo~’ ( like ‘colour wolves’ you know. ) *chuckles* And I am very happy also…got 2 more lovely kids to torture…ehh no no, to educate, I mean. :P

Let me bs about another guy, who might have some interest in me. He’s a few years older than me, works as an architect in another city. ( about 3 hours if take a bus ) Well…he’s a vegetarian too. But he used to say something urm…kind of boring or weird, or which made me wonder what’s going on in his mind, although he should be more mature than me. What did he say? *chuckles* Let me translate into English: Oh this picture looks nice. Was it taken recently? ( so far so good right? ) It’s wonderful to be a teacher…you even get paid during summer vacation! ( Sure, it’s the law. If you were not an architect but a teacher in a public school too, you would get the same pay as well. ) The government will support you for the rest of your life. ( what…where got? -_-“ Mr. President didn’t promise me this!!! ) Now you’ve got a stable job. What do you eagerly want to do next? What if your husband is not Mr. Right? ( … ) *falls laughing hard*

Now then I know how come I can always keep so optimistic although I am not a rich person. As soon as I saw such guys around me, those who could make big money, yet to keep an open mind or an interesting attitude toward life, I felt…ah I am definitely very lucky. They don’t know the ‘give and take’ thingy. And worse, their lack of good sense of humour marks their poorness and that does affect my willingness to be their good friends. ( For me, ‘a friend’ and ‘a good friend’ are pretty different by definition. ) Anyway it’s my monologue here…so they can’t defend themselves. LOL~ unfair? Certainly. Nothing is perfect, right? *wink*

Put a stop to it

The students hope I can go on teaching them in the coming semester after I said ‘well it’s the last session I am here with you during summer vacation. Even if we might not be able to get together again, I still want you all to study hard and get better grades on English.’ I teach 2 classes of year 9, and tomorrow I will say the same to the other class. :P ( fun to see some students to be moved by my sentimental statement, you know… awww :D )

The business person came take me to have lunch at noon. I was sort of…err… not that interested when he said he would eat some cheap vegetarian dishes with me on the phone last night. No idea what he’s thinking about, you know. Is that a nice attitude for a guy who’s to woo someone he likes? Anyway I seldom cancel my appointments with friends, so I still agreed to go out with him for a meal. He drove to Bitan, which is a famous scenic spot near my school, and said there’s a nice restaurant where people eat and enjoy watching the beautiful river and mountains ( rather hills ) meanwhile. Too bad he didn’t check in advance—the restaurant is closed today. In fact all stalls there are closed today, unfortunately. So I told him a place to eat our lunch around 10 minutes away from Bitan. That’s a vegetarian restaurant, and 199 NT for each to have buffet. Of course we talked and he would like to make the topic about the ‘relationship’ thingy more or less. And again, he bragged a few times that he has made a lot of money.

Truly…unbearable. 1 movie and 3 meals, around 1000 NT, and he’s thinking of getting me as his girl friend. By the way, he didn't even bother to spend time understanding my life, my habits, interests, and so on. Hahahaha~ I told my sister what happened and she said it’s so disgusting—he sounds like a millionaire yet acts the very stingy way. Worse, he’s trying his best to take advantage—I am not to describe such behavior in details on my blog, in case my eyes would feel uncomfortable later when I come on and read this blog in the future. He told me he understood my points of view and he would not push me hard, since he still wants me to be his friend. And he enjoys the feeling of competition. @_@ What can I say…I think it’s so hard to find such a guy in my other male friends who is as dumb as him… *chuckles* However, I asked him to drive me to school at 2 p.m. after lunch. Previously he asked me to keep him company till 4 p.m. But I told myself if so I would be bored to death really. So I got off his car, happily said goodbye to him, and then drove home to enjoy myself. Shall I switch off this cell phone? *evil grins* However, school is to start soon, and I won’t have so much free time like now. Maybe I can’t keep my blog going on either…who knows? :P

Something boo--Part II

This morning I was the last one who used the toilet, and I thought everything’s all right. Then I went to school and came back home in the afternoon. My parents were not around. Hearing some noise from the toilet, I went check what’s wrong…it’s flushing, though not strongly. Oh my… @@ guess I have to read some more Scriptures or meditate longer???

My bro-in-law was kind enough to treat me lunch after I made a phone call to his wife, my sister. I had 2 sessions at school and did some work in the office, feeling so bored. Previously I would ask my sis if she could go shopping or just take a walk, look around on the street with me. Then my bro-in-law heard us and suggested I went have lunch with them. I didn’t wanna be a fifth tire, but the lovely couple said they really hope I could go. *chuckles* That’s a very high class restaurant, and we had buffet, which costs around 1000 NT per person. Most dishes there are not vegetarian, but I could still found some to enjoy, lucky. And a chef there made me some fried rice, vegetables, and a soup. ( I felt so special…) When I went get ice cream, I found it’s not easy to scoop ( the coffee flavored one ). Then the guy in a suit standing behind me said ‘may I help…’ I took a glance at him and err… not gorgeous enough. I turned him down nicely and tried my best to get 2 scoops of it. :P I am even picky on such stuff… my goodness!

Something boo?

It’s raining cats and dogs. Last night, in fact, this very early morning, I woke up all of a sudden. I was dreaming as usual, but that’s not the point this time. I found it weird since the light in my bedroom was on. But I was sure that I did turn off the light before hitting my pillow…. Confused, I got up, turned it off again, and then went back to bed. I slept till 5:30 a.m.—my time to get up during week days. Then I practiced meditation in the living room for a while ( also my habit in the morning ). Well, I felt a bit too warm, so I went turn on the air-con. It’s so cool and comfortable then….After my meditation I did the laundry in our back balcony. Everything’s fine, except…as I went back to the living room. I found the fan was working. Hey…I didn’t turn on the fan. For me it’s a waste of electricity because I had turned on the air-con. The other family members were sleeping and I was the only one awake. *blinking* I enjoy watching some stuff on TV, not in real life… -_-“

I had 4 sessions to teach this morning. In the afternoon I went to see the dentist, and guess no need to visit him until I have a toothache again. My Shi Jie paid me a visit in the early evening and she had tea ( I made some herb tea, no caffeine ) and listened to my stories which happened these days. She frowned and looked at me worriedly after she knew about the details. Of course she gave me some advice that I think is wise. And it’s what I planned to do also—watch out! *chuckles* My SJ was also a business person before. Thus, I would like to ask her for instructions if I have some problems. So far so good….

Ghost Gate Opened

Talking about the term ‘Tao Hua’, I don’t know if it’s real good for me. Making new friends, especially who work in different fields, is interesting, because I have had more than enough friends from Education. The problem is the other party doesn’t think the same as I do. *chuckles* Well I do know everybody thinks differently. That’s why I always tell those who I go out with for a meeting or a meal, or a movie, that I am glad to make friends with them. But it’s no good to be exclusive, you know…too soon and too tense right? It seems the businessman, who I newly knew from online and went out with twice, doesn’t learn the lesson. :P And I am not to teach him how to make it. Too bad? Sure. By the way it’s not my office time. He made a fatal mistake on our second meeting ( not ‘date’ hehehe ). We talked about our jobs and then bonus…he bragged he did a nice job and got his bonus, around 1 million NT dollars this year. I didn’t even go wow or have any special facial expression. So what? He can make big money. =\= He would spend a lot on his woman. By the way I am able to get everything I would like in Taiwan, or in other countries where I go traveling. Money is something, but not everything. You want me to be smitten only by your money? *chuckles* That’s a great idea. :P I can’t blame him since he’s a business person, whose job is sell houses. After 1 movie and 2 meals he asked me to be his girl friend, I can only say he’s used to being so efficient. LOL~ He shouldn’t have chosen me as his object… But he has, I think I will let him know his way of doing business can’t really work in the romantic field. He will thank me as he meets his next ‘the One’ then. See, I work extra time again…me too kind-hearted. :P

Summer vacation is going to end in 2 weeks. I have slept more and feel my skin getting nicer. Sleep does work much better than any lotion or cream! Oh yeah you know today is the first day of Ghost Gate Open Month. According to Chinese lunar calendar, it’s from lunar July 1st to 30th. Do you guys ‘bai bai’ and get alert? Sometimes parents would tell us not to get near to the rivers or streams, and not to get home too late at night, in case some beings are eager to find their substituents… In class I also told students to be careful, not to act very ‘iron teeth’, you know. It’s better to have some respect and watch the mouth, especially right in the 30 days.

A trip to Danshui

A net friend from IRC invited me to visit Danshui, where he lives and works. We’d like to meet each other and said we should find some time from the beginning of this summer vacation. But sometimes it’s because I am busy, and sometimes he is busy. Finally we met in person today, the very first time. He’s a nice guy, who wouldn’t say anything mushy to me. I really don’t think it’s a good idea to say, ‘Can you be my girl friend?’ or ‘Suddenly I got a thought of getting married…’ you know, only on first ‘dates’. Well, my friend insisted that we should call it ‘date’ since only 2 persons are involved. In fact I prefer to use the term ‘gathering’ because I always think ‘date’ should be more like…someone I wanna get intimate with. But I am not a native speaker of English. My friend said ‘gathering’ is for 3 or more than 3 persons. However, my Danshui friend treated me latte at Starbucks and then dinner at a vegetarian stall, and we chatted happily, mostly about our IRC experiences. I came online chatting only since 2000, and have observed many interesting events that happened in this cyber world. *chuckles* He agreed with me and his even got a girl friend before from IRC. Too bad tho…their relationship didn’t work out, and he’s still single. I wish him good luck. :D

On my way home, I was standing on MRT. There were too many people, so crowded, and first time I couldn’t stand the smell in the carriage. But even in such a unpleasant situation, I still had something funny to report. 1. Three obasans were talking too happily to notice they should get off at Grand Hotel MRT station. When they suddenly realized it’s time to go, only 1 could make it. The other two stayed in the carriage looking outside at the successful obasan, jealously, since the door was already closed. They laughed…me too, but inside my heart. 2. Some teenagers managed to enter the carriage at the last few seconds before the doors were to close, and, hehehe, got zapped. But anyway they made it. They laughed…me too, again. 3. A big-butt obasan standing beside me decided to take some exercise to keep fit all of a sudden. And she kicked my right ankle twice without saying ‘sorry’. My good figure’s fault or what. LOL~ ok I don’t blame her then.

Shopping with my sis

Last night I went to bed late since it was Friday, and had a dream… I dreamed of this friend a few times before. He’s not living in Taipei. In my dream this time his looks changed a bit. ( I mean… not the same as what he looks now, but I still know that guy was him. ) My family visited him and his family, and we chatted happily, went to some places together, to have fun or attend some party there; of course I don’t know where the places are…they looked all strange to me. We even visited a shop where crystals were sold…hmm…can’t remember if I bought anything in there. And in one scene, my friend and I were taking a bus. We sat together. I felt sleepy and leaned on him, put my head on his upper arm. He was wearing a long sleeves white shirt…my cheek touched the white material, and I felt good… a nice dream, isn’t it.

My sis and I had lunch together at Ponderosa Restaurant near NTNU MRT station. My treat today. I cannot get any steak, so I only ate some fruit, salad ( raw vegetables without any dressings ), bread with peanut butter, tea jelly, coke, coffee, and green tea. The mint chocolate ice cream there was awful enough. Pop corn was ok. Oh they got baked potatoes with a piece of butter inside…that’s really something ( for me ). *chuckles* I think I would rather have a meal in a vegetarian restaurant. After lunch we went shopping at Gong Guang, and you know there are many stalls which sell different kinds of interesting stuff. I bought 3 cotton T shirts, which cost 500 NT total. Not bad right? :D Even my mom said it’s a bargain. Lucky we teachers don’t need to wear formally at school. I mean, we are not asked to wear formal suits to work. I can dress casually…maybe they know we sometimes have to chase naughty students? *grins*

Anyway…suddenly it rained heavily in Taipei. We came back home and mom cooked dinner. I will go watch my favourite TV program later. Ah...my eyes are tired now, but I won’t go to bed early. :P

He needs some good luck

We finished watching the 2nd VCD of ‘Paycheck’. Pretty nice the movie is. What if I could foresee the future, which might be somehow tragic or disastrous? I guess I would do the same as Ben, who foresaw the very terrible outcome after the machine started working and he took some actions to prevent what would happen. And, of course, the best is the lotto part right? *chuckles* Being an optimist, I always believe everything is fated, but I still should do my best for my own sake, or for others’ benefits. ( I sound like a saint? Hey you don’t know my idol is Confucius? :P )

This is the forth week for summer school, and we have 5 weeks…so, only a week to go. To be specific, only 5 days left. I have a very busy summer vacation this year, although I don’t go traveling abroad. The guy I met twice kept calling and messaging me. Well…not that I don’t want a boy friend, but I do think ‘haste makes waste.’ A relationship can be terrific only when it’s built up step by step steadily. If I am only a physical object for him, I really won’t know where this relationship can go in the future… He asked me if I could be his girl friend last time, right on the second gathering. I was… :O speechless at first. Then I asked him, ‘Don’t you think it’s way too soon?’ His reply was no, since he told me I am the one he’s looking for. Tall, good looking, qi4 zhi4 ( hard to find an appropriate English term for 氣質 ) excellent, independent, oh, and, a teacher, which is truly a nice career here, you know. I forgot to tell him I can play the piano and the guitar…I can dance too. :P No good to brag too much right? In case I make him fall too deeply to get off the hook safely? *evil grins*

His message said he wouldn’t be in a good mood until he could meet me again. On the phone he asked me when I can go out with him. *chuckles* I told him recently work is just being hectic, and I will see if I have some free time. He told me to call him to let him know. And you know I won’t call. ( No need to call if I don’t have anything that requires a prompt answer to ask. ) So yeah…I think this guy is a bit unfortunate to know me, a woman who is a bit older than him and is neither desperate nor needy in any way. Well I do suggest him to find other girls who are younger than him to meet or date. He has a wide range…so many to choose. Anyway, I guess that’s not my business. :P