Sunday, July 25, 2010

I earned the title, but not the money.

This is akin to “fame or money” dilemma. The circulation and intersection between prestige and money are of cyclical nature with iterative or recursive characteristics and description has to start somewhere which may possibly give a wrong impression of any assumed starting point of a cycle. In my case, it is both philosophical issue and of great practical consequence.

Having recently attained the Associate Lecturer position, kind of being promoted from the tutor position that I have been working for the past 2.5 years, I thought my living is moving to the stage where, I will have the extravagance to design my life, as I would have the fixed income from the new position coupled with the charge-by-hour basis tutorial class.

Ironically, my weekly income now can barely cover my weekly studio rental. I am living on a negative income basis, on the fact that I cannot have these two jobs concurrently. I guess the enormity of the current financial mayhem is to be paid for by ostensible effort in my research which will be amounted to a dissertation at the end of such limbo. Unfortunately, it is half a year more to go…

Prior to this, I used to have the luxury to design my life as a full-time PhD student with my part-time but full-time equivalent paid job. Term deposits, then shares, IPO new releases, I invested my money in whatever way I could. Then family trips, weekend outing, banquet meal, fortnightly shopping. It was the past two and a half year where my life was bloomed with sumptuous goods, lavish style and splendid experiences. I was pampered to exploit this lucrative pays.

How I wish this financial crisis is purely psychological and I could snap out of it and further be motivated to strike hard. It simply matters much to me at this stage.

Perhaps, things start with a title. Then Mr. M (money) comes after.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

自拟藏头诗


情牵五月风萧瑟,
系怀长夜稀客随,
汤汤之旋触情欲,
梁端音弦绕三秋。

惜念贰君苦不逢,
董道余将不豫兮,
海角天涯遍始休,
昌世一聚泪泉涌。

思慕宿宾故事萌,
霜容悠悠吾不寐,
是古非今景不在,
痛哀未尽思慕瘁。

梦中不知君是客,
见画一色叹其美,
曹分两地形单影,
慧眼一睁不胜悲。

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Port Stephens Whale Cruise

It was one of the best day trips ever. I would love to put it so, but as palpable as the excitement was, it was more like self-indulgence between me and my mom, while my brothers suffered from nausea.



Months earlier, I was in touch with Lung about this excursion and we expected it to be an outstanding experience for everyone. I secured space on the luxurious vessel purposely built for ocean cruises, Moonshadow V.

The morning started out well enough with a hearty breakfast of scramble eggs with bacons and raison toast prepared by me. I would say, it was simple yet fabulous culinary experience. It was not about the food I prepared, but the family I prepared for!



Aboard ship, we immediately grabbed our seats on the observation deck. I was having this perpetual anticipation of the magnificent giants that will appear anytime.

Unfortunately, very soon, two of my brothers were haunted with seasick. Ship was bouncing up and down in the waves. I could hear the sound of the slapping water hitting all around the ship. Apparently they were match made in motion-sickness heaven. Nausea hit them like a ton of bricks and they puked over the side of the ship. I am regret I didn’t snap a photo of them at that point of time to commemorate such repugnant scene in the middle of Tasman Sea.

After puking yet again, they just couldn’t take this rocking vessel and zonk out on the floor.



It was then the humpback whale appeared. Me and my mom were the witnesses to the greatest mammals on earth. We were lucky enough to find a juvenile humpback flipper slapping and breaching. It was indeed breathtaking to witness the constant appearance of the whales spyhop out of the sea.





Cruises are truly superb at bringing together a whole group of travellers, especially family members even though I have two being paralysed in the entire trip. If you have the opportunity to plan a family vacation, make sure that you strongly consider a cruise, so that you too can have The Best Day Trip Ever!

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

流淌过音乐的爱

情牵五月风萧瑟,
系怀长夜稀客随,
汤汤之旋触情欲,
梁端音弦绕三秋。



夜深人静的时刻,过去的往事和雕刻在年轮里的记忆总是与我的思绪纠结。

我总会播上点点相思弦,句句挽情歌来安抚自我。

在没有一刻停歇的时候,这一些零星的片段会烟消云散,犹如晨曦里的露珠,经太阳照射了消失无踪。

直到五月,人间最温馨浪漫的季节,我遇上了你,意外捕捉到一尊歌神。那时候,我们刚认识,你一展迷人歌喉,让我驻足仰慕。

这个冬季,我见证了歌唱比赛中脱颖而出的你。你的歌声渗透入我的灵魂, 一直紧紧地敲击我的心。

第一次见到在舞台上的你,昂藏逼人,笑容灿烂得足已照亮我心中阴暗的角落。我的目光紧紧追随舞台上你的身影。

第一首歌,你唱了真实, 真是这么的确确实实,应时应景。你诠释了我们真实的样子。会想问,难道我们的相遇还不完美?

第二首快歌环节,你唱了吻别。

第三首歌,你唱了领悟。你那充满沧桑感的诠释 ,解读了过往的情结,让在这个冬天染霜的灵魂感到暖意。副歌澎湃的那一幕,你的深情一督融化了我的坚硬。你的一字一句触动着我的灵魂,燃烧我的心胸。我只是怔怔望着你的脚步,这一句你若唱成 当我看到我深爱着的男人 会更好。

在未唱第四首关键歌曲的时候,你把我们的故事搬上你熟悉的舞台,在这场惊心动魄的歌唱比赛,你发表了对我爱的宣言。
“在我还未唱这首歌时,我要感谢一个人,没有他的鼓励和支持我不会站在这个舞台上,Clarence,谢谢你。”

你的宣言轻轻地唤醒,让我感受到我在你心里的显著位置。宣言的余音穿越了落日余晖的天空,缓缓地流淌着,抚弄我的心海。你唱歌的风韵已变成我的幻影,你浑然天成的音容挤进了我的心扉。

在这一次比赛中,我为你投得最佳人气王所设的刷票器把我们的爱情给刷新。

记忆中流淌过音乐的爱,将温暖与感动了我接下来的日子。