What can a barn spider & a runty pig teach us?
The beauty of friendship, living with one another harmoniously, a promise kept, the cycle of life that ends sadly but results in a new beginning for those left behind. Thus is the literary genius of E.B. White.
I love the songs "Ordinary Miracle" featured in Charlotte's Web (White's book published in 1952) and "Make A Wish" inspired by the movie.
The original...
The inspiration...
Warning: These songs will stick in your head for a couple of days. Plus, you might look at spiders differently after watching the movie. But, not all spiders are a "Charlotte A. Cavatica" ;) Though it may be a children's book/movie, we adults can "re-learn" a few things from it.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
More than just a concrete jungle
New York City may have earned its reputation as a concrete jungle but if you look harder, there's always a few pleasant surprises here and there. Two of the most picturesque places I've been around the NY area are Wave Hill over-looking the Hudson River & Snug Harbor at Staten Island.
Wave Hill is a public and cultural garden with many stunning vistas, a large green house, an Alpine House and different types of gardens. An excellent place for a family picnic. No pets allowed, unfortunately.
Snug Harbor in Staten Island, NY is more than 170 years old. When it opened in 1833, it was the first retirement home for former seamen in the United States. Inside this historic 83 acre landmark, lies the New York Chinese Scholar Garden. There's a quote by an ancient Chinese gardener, Ji Ching which reads:
Can't come for a visit? Just click here for a virtual tour of the Garden. Of course, nothing beats the experience of being there in person. It is truly like Ji Ching's description - heaven on earth. Absorbing the garden's good chi must be good isn't it? We all can do with a bit of quiet beauty and serenity every now and then.
New York City may have earned its reputation as a concrete jungle but if you look harder, there's always a few pleasant surprises here and there. Two of the most picturesque places I've been around the NY area are Wave Hill over-looking the Hudson River & Snug Harbor at Staten Island.
Wave Hill is a public and cultural garden with many stunning vistas, a large green house, an Alpine House and different types of gardens. An excellent place for a family picnic. No pets allowed, unfortunately.
Snug Harbor in Staten Island, NY is more than 170 years old. When it opened in 1833, it was the first retirement home for former seamen in the United States. Inside this historic 83 acre landmark, lies the New York Chinese Scholar Garden. There's a quote by an ancient Chinese gardener, Ji Ching which reads:
"The garden is created by the human hand,
but should appear as if created by heaven."
but should appear as if created by heaven."
Can't come for a visit? Just click here for a virtual tour of the Garden. Of course, nothing beats the experience of being there in person. It is truly like Ji Ching's description - heaven on earth. Absorbing the garden's good chi must be good isn't it? We all can do with a bit of quiet beauty and serenity every now and then.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
"Match.Com" Malaysian Style...Janji Baik Hati
My friend, Elizabeth found this photo so amusing that she forwarded it to our e-mail network recently. I'll have to do the translation in a bit.
The Malay male clearly has his own ways when it comes to finding a potential lady friend. He is definitely frugal (honestly, a cheap-ass! but bless his heart as he might just be a poor farmer). Free advertising such this one could be his only chance of finding love. Simply write your name, contact number, etc. on a piece of paper and stick it on a pillar in town. Ingenious or desperate??? You decide.
Translation for non-Malay speakers:
Looks like Mohd. is looking for inner-beauty. Good luck finding your love match, Mohd.!
My friend, Elizabeth found this photo so amusing that she forwarded it to our e-mail network recently. I'll have to do the translation in a bit.
The Malay male clearly has his own ways when it comes to finding a potential lady friend. He is definitely frugal (honestly, a cheap-ass! but bless his heart as he might just be a poor farmer). Free advertising such this one could be his only chance of finding love. Simply write your name, contact number, etc. on a piece of paper and stick it on a pillar in town. Ingenious or desperate??? You decide.
Translation for non-Malay speakers:
---------------------------------------------
Name: Mohammad Yunus from Jubai Village, Kedah. Age: 39 years old. I wish to find a divorced partner in her 30s. Divorcee with no children, ok. Divorcee with 1 child, ok. Interested persons please call 019-560 2192. Doesn't matter if you're not pretty. Must promise to be kind hearted.---------------------------------------------
Looks like Mohd. is looking for inner-beauty. Good luck finding your love match, Mohd.!
Going to the Ballet
The Russians are coming! In a good way. The Russian National Ballet is giving a performance at Bergen PAC on Tuesday, April 17 & I've got tickets to see one of the world's best dance companies perform "Cinderella". I'm looking forward to seeing their choreographic expressiveness and unique interpretation of this timeless fairy tale. A favorite of many!
The Russians are coming! In a good way. The Russian National Ballet is giving a performance at Bergen PAC on Tuesday, April 17 & I've got tickets to see one of the world's best dance companies perform "Cinderella". I'm looking forward to seeing their choreographic expressiveness and unique interpretation of this timeless fairy tale. A favorite of many!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Yesterday once more
A friend of mine is doing a book project. She sent an e-mail requiring each one of us to respond to this one liner..."Things I would like to tell my 16 year old self".
I've been putting it off because it's hard to remember the details.
If you're in the Malaysian school system, 16 is a beautiful age to live in. That's because you would have just finished your first public exam i.e. the Lower Certification of Education (LCE) or Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP). It's the transition year from junior to senior high. Kids like to call it the "honeymoon" year. At least you get a mini break from Mom's constant nagging to study hard or risk failing and end up in life like a garbage man. If I had known that I would end up working for a filthy-rich German garbage man anyway, I would have said, "So be it!" But that would result in more ear-bashing.
Anyway, being 16 for me is much ado about nothing. Life at 16 is a blah. Nothing significant happened to me. In fact, my birthday is 5 days before X'mas so turning sixteen with 11 days left in the calendar year is kind of an anti-climax. What sweet sixteen??? My supposedly memorable birthday was over-shadowed by another person's birthday with the initials J.C. Furthermore, He works miracles and I only know how to work a miracle with the oven.
So what would I tell my 16 year old self? Just continue on with
your studies & extra-curricular activities in school, choose your friends wisely, relish your hobbies, peer pressure is meaningless when you have strong principles and enjoy being a teenager responsibly. I would also tell my 16 year old self not to be a grown-up too soon because life does not get easy with age. Your teenage issues may be serious but the issues you face and responsibility you bear later on as an adult are much more arduous. That's what I know now that I didn't 17 years ago. Seems like a long time isn't it? I think I will email this to my friend. It's long overdue. I hope she's hasn't started publishing!
Anyone remember Sixteen Candles?
A friend of mine is doing a book project. She sent an e-mail requiring each one of us to respond to this one liner..."Things I would like to tell my 16 year old self".
I've been putting it off because it's hard to remember the details.
If you're in the Malaysian school system, 16 is a beautiful age to live in. That's because you would have just finished your first public exam i.e. the Lower Certification of Education (LCE) or Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP). It's the transition year from junior to senior high. Kids like to call it the "honeymoon" year. At least you get a mini break from Mom's constant nagging to study hard or risk failing and end up in life like a garbage man. If I had known that I would end up working for a filthy-rich German garbage man anyway, I would have said, "So be it!" But that would result in more ear-bashing.
Anyway, being 16 for me is much ado about nothing. Life at 16 is a blah. Nothing significant happened to me. In fact, my birthday is 5 days before X'mas so turning sixteen with 11 days left in the calendar year is kind of an anti-climax. What sweet sixteen??? My supposedly memorable birthday was over-shadowed by another person's birthday with the initials J.C. Furthermore, He works miracles and I only know how to work a miracle with the oven.
So what would I tell my 16 year old self? Just continue on with
your studies & extra-curricular activities in school, choose your friends wisely, relish your hobbies, peer pressure is meaningless when you have strong principles and enjoy being a teenager responsibly. I would also tell my 16 year old self not to be a grown-up too soon because life does not get easy with age. Your teenage issues may be serious but the issues you face and responsibility you bear later on as an adult are much more arduous. That's what I know now that I didn't 17 years ago. Seems like a long time isn't it? I think I will email this to my friend. It's long overdue. I hope she's hasn't started publishing!Anyone remember Sixteen Candles?
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Here comes Thomas & Friends!
Alex turns 1 today. No, this isn't an Aprils Fool joke. How time flies! The theme is Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas balloons, paper plates, napkins and a special Thomas & Friends birthday cake. Yummilicious!
Around the house with Alex's toys and a cute bike from his Godfather. How cute! It comes complete with trainer wheels and an adjustable seat. Aww...!
As usual lots and lots of food - skewered meats, pot-stickers, mini quiches, cassava cake, apple tart, pansit, fried lo mein, meatballs, chicken & fruit salad, etc...!
Alex needs help with the candle. What am I supposed to do? Blow??? What's that??? Maybe Daddy will show me. Help me Daddy!
"This is complicated stuff," says Alex. Grown-ups do peculiar things isn't it? You'll understand some day ;) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY! Lots of hugs and kisses from God-Mom & Uncle Adrian.
Alex turns 1 today. No, this isn't an Aprils Fool joke. How time flies! The theme is Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas balloons, paper plates, napkins and a special Thomas & Friends birthday cake. Yummilicious!
Around the house with Alex's toys and a cute bike from his Godfather. How cute! It comes complete with trainer wheels and an adjustable seat. Aww...!
As usual lots and lots of food - skewered meats, pot-stickers, mini quiches, cassava cake, apple tart, pansit, fried lo mein, meatballs, chicken & fruit salad, etc...!
Alex needs help with the candle. What am I supposed to do? Blow??? What's that??? Maybe Daddy will show me. Help me Daddy!
"This is complicated stuff," says Alex. Grown-ups do peculiar things isn't it? You'll understand some day ;) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY! Lots of hugs and kisses from God-Mom & Uncle Adrian.
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