My husband's best friend from Uni days happened to have come from within five Km of my parents in law's home. Ever since he married his beloved who hailed from a northern island, he has changed jobs and then moved to his wife's territory.
One time we went to his city and looked him and his family up. When his wife took the children to the rest room, my husband asked if he returned often to our home town. He made a face and said,"It is very difficult to have parents who are successful in their respective careers!" On reflection, I realized his father climbed rather high in the civil service ladder and then retired early to start a business. His mother did rather well in a Bank and later retired to help in her husband's business. For people who have had no set backs in their lives, it is easy for them to expect their children to do better. But times have moved on. What their children face now is not what they faced twenty years ago.
His parents probably were not gracious in their reaction and words to their only son and daughter-in-law. The worst part is that it seemed every company he joined seemed not to last five years, it was not true to assume he wanted to change jobs. Yet it would be futile to expect him to want to join his know-it-all parents in their business. It was bad enough to hear discouraging things on a weekly basis. Life would become unbearable if he were to work for them.
I could well imagine how his mother would react to his wife who chose to take care of her children herself and home make. The older lady would take it as a lack of ambition or straight laziness. The truth could be she wanted to give her best years to her children and bond with them. A close knit family is more important than financial security to some people.
As his parents badgered him and his family, he just drew closer to her side who were encouraging and supportive. It is very natural and unavoidable.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
(96) Skin color
My cousin's daughter brought her boy friend to meet her family. He is a "Chindian" (what locals call a child between a Chinese and an Indian).
I was listening to my great aunt, she was reacting to the whole thing rather well. Apart from the fact that the prospective member of the family is not as tall as she expected, she has no other negative comment. In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that the future children could be as dark skin as an Indian or as fair as a fair-skin Chinese. True to form, my great aunt said that she may not live long enough to see which end of the scale the skin color of the next generation goes.
That reminded me of a program I just watched call Exciting Europe. An ethnic African European brought the viewers to see how African immigrants or the second generation fare in Europe. Of course I expect a certain amount of racism. But I did not expect to see the photos of hundreds of Africans that were murdered in hate crimes. What I like about the program are the bi-racial marriages. Quite a few couples of African men and white women were interviewed. Most of them admitted that they have had many differences to overcome initially. However, many of them said that love means sharing work, African men have to abandon the notion that their spouses would do all the work while they sat around twiddling their thumbs.
While no one can really claim that he or she has no prejudices, it helps to remember that skin color is only skin deep. Inside us, we are all human and no higher or lower than one another.
I was listening to my great aunt, she was reacting to the whole thing rather well. Apart from the fact that the prospective member of the family is not as tall as she expected, she has no other negative comment. In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that the future children could be as dark skin as an Indian or as fair as a fair-skin Chinese. True to form, my great aunt said that she may not live long enough to see which end of the scale the skin color of the next generation goes.
That reminded me of a program I just watched call Exciting Europe. An ethnic African European brought the viewers to see how African immigrants or the second generation fare in Europe. Of course I expect a certain amount of racism. But I did not expect to see the photos of hundreds of Africans that were murdered in hate crimes. What I like about the program are the bi-racial marriages. Quite a few couples of African men and white women were interviewed. Most of them admitted that they have had many differences to overcome initially. However, many of them said that love means sharing work, African men have to abandon the notion that their spouses would do all the work while they sat around twiddling their thumbs.
While no one can really claim that he or she has no prejudices, it helps to remember that skin color is only skin deep. Inside us, we are all human and no higher or lower than one another.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
(94) Best of Me by Nicholas Spark
Spark wrote well. But I was a little taken aback with his plot. Suppose if Cole did not die, his beloved would leave her husband of twenty over years and break the family up. I know things like that happen everyday in every part of the world where women have the legal right to sue for divorces. Yet somehow it would not fit in with my view of Spark's style of writing romantic novels.
Of course it ended well, there is closure. I know Cole died instantly from a head shot. He managed to save the Doctor's adult son from a certain death by Cole's kin. A life for a life! Even if Cole killed the Doctor in a car accident, he had been feeling the guilt all his adult life even after serving a maximum prison sentence. On top of all these, Cole's heart gave a second lease of life to his beloved's first born son. The story could not end any better. Just after the widow told him that there was no longer need to send her any money, he spent the last few minutes of his life saving her only son's life.
For those of us who are not wired like Cole or his mentor to love deeply, passionately only once in life, it is still quite an experience to read about a similar tale to the mute swan, who mates for life and would stay alone always if the partner for some reason died before its time.
Of course it ended well, there is closure. I know Cole died instantly from a head shot. He managed to save the Doctor's adult son from a certain death by Cole's kin. A life for a life! Even if Cole killed the Doctor in a car accident, he had been feeling the guilt all his adult life even after serving a maximum prison sentence. On top of all these, Cole's heart gave a second lease of life to his beloved's first born son. The story could not end any better. Just after the widow told him that there was no longer need to send her any money, he spent the last few minutes of his life saving her only son's life.
For those of us who are not wired like Cole or his mentor to love deeply, passionately only once in life, it is still quite an experience to read about a similar tale to the mute swan, who mates for life and would stay alone always if the partner for some reason died before its time.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
(93) The Hungarian Professor by Jeffrey Archer
In this short story, Archer chronicled a young man's experience in meeting a Hungarian professor of English who distinguished himself in translating Hamlet. While the old man loved the English language, he had never been to visit the UK. When he was young, he could not afford to go. Then when he had saved up enough, his government was not about to grant him permission to go.
My mother's youngest brother went to China for studies in his teenage years, way before the communist take over. He chose to stay on after others left for Hong Kong or Taiwan. A few years after that, his fiancee swam to Hong Kong and entered as a refugee. He regretted but then it was really too late, his every step was watched for years. Easily for twenty years he did not meet with his siblings. Only my grandma, who was above 65, could apply for a visit using letters of invitation.
It took bilateral trade relations to break the ice, finally even my parents in their mid-fifties could visit communist China. Then the tide of mainland tourists begun to flow our way. My uncle and auntie came to visit my country and met up with everyone in the family. It goes to show that no matter how repressive a regime is, one day it would fall. Even with the dead body of Chairman Mao preserved, the country is taking its rightful place in the world. The tyranny of one man could only keep that country backward for just so many years.
My mother's youngest brother went to China for studies in his teenage years, way before the communist take over. He chose to stay on after others left for Hong Kong or Taiwan. A few years after that, his fiancee swam to Hong Kong and entered as a refugee. He regretted but then it was really too late, his every step was watched for years. Easily for twenty years he did not meet with his siblings. Only my grandma, who was above 65, could apply for a visit using letters of invitation.
It took bilateral trade relations to break the ice, finally even my parents in their mid-fifties could visit communist China. Then the tide of mainland tourists begun to flow our way. My uncle and auntie came to visit my country and met up with everyone in the family. It goes to show that no matter how repressive a regime is, one day it would fall. Even with the dead body of Chairman Mao preserved, the country is taking its rightful place in the world. The tyranny of one man could only keep that country backward for just so many years.
Friday, October 26, 2012
(92) Body language in speaking English
I was trying to help a missionary kid who has been away from my country for eight years. We worked at grammar some. I tried some word games. While I was telling my son and a friend from church about her, both of those English majors told me that English is more than comprehension, grammar, composition, pronunciation, vocabulary, tenses, ... They brought in accent, body language, local usage, the differing level of let's say between reading and speaking ...
Since I have access to this teenager for a few months, at most I can see her only once a week; therefore I realize the best job I can do is to instill in her a desire to excel. This week I have been away a few days. There was hardly any time to prepare any serious lesson. We talked about body language and how it differs from country to country.
The first example I gave her: what my room mate pointed out the first week of my first semester in USA. My room mate was a very out-spoken young lady. She touched on many topics that were taboos in my country. While I was rather serious even when I was college age, I found myself giggling when I became embarrass. She was very upset with that, as she claimed that those were not funny topics and she was not trying to be amusing. There after, I have to consciously keep a straight face and to tell her in words that she was venturing into my taboo topics and that I have no response to such topics until I can become comfortable with her.
My informal student's assignment for the week is to watch any video program and find me three differences between the body language of any two countries.
Since I have access to this teenager for a few months, at most I can see her only once a week; therefore I realize the best job I can do is to instill in her a desire to excel. This week I have been away a few days. There was hardly any time to prepare any serious lesson. We talked about body language and how it differs from country to country.
The first example I gave her: what my room mate pointed out the first week of my first semester in USA. My room mate was a very out-spoken young lady. She touched on many topics that were taboos in my country. While I was rather serious even when I was college age, I found myself giggling when I became embarrass. She was very upset with that, as she claimed that those were not funny topics and she was not trying to be amusing. There after, I have to consciously keep a straight face and to tell her in words that she was venturing into my taboo topics and that I have no response to such topics until I can become comfortable with her.
My informal student's assignment for the week is to watch any video program and find me three differences between the body language of any two countries.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
(91) Shoeshine Boy by Jeffrey Archer
At the end of reading this story, I think of the British dry sense of humour and the stiff upper lip.
To think, once the British Empire was extensive enough that at any time, the sun would be shining on one or another of the many British colonies. If any politicians were to be offered the honour of becoming a Governor of one of the colonies, people would not normally refuse the appointment.
However, it was one thing to be called Your Excellency, it was quite another to be living in a decaying humongous mansion and driving an old car and have a staff of two. Ted and Hazel must have been one hardy couple who could adjust to adverse conditions in their twilight years like any adventurous colonial officials. While I was reading this tale, I could just picture in my mind the funny scenes of acquiring a full complement of house hold servants, lots of crockery and putting up a charade worthy of entertaining a royal, ex-commander in chief and ex-Admiral all rolled into one.
I suppose things of this kind can only happen in Britain, being able to keep up appearances of having colonies when it no longer make any financial sense: hence there was no budget for keeping the Governor or figure head in style.
To think, once the British Empire was extensive enough that at any time, the sun would be shining on one or another of the many British colonies. If any politicians were to be offered the honour of becoming a Governor of one of the colonies, people would not normally refuse the appointment.
However, it was one thing to be called Your Excellency, it was quite another to be living in a decaying humongous mansion and driving an old car and have a staff of two. Ted and Hazel must have been one hardy couple who could adjust to adverse conditions in their twilight years like any adventurous colonial officials. While I was reading this tale, I could just picture in my mind the funny scenes of acquiring a full complement of house hold servants, lots of crockery and putting up a charade worthy of entertaining a royal, ex-commander in chief and ex-Admiral all rolled into one.
I suppose things of this kind can only happen in Britain, being able to keep up appearances of having colonies when it no longer make any financial sense: hence there was no budget for keeping the Governor or figure head in style.
(90) The Black Circle by Patrick Carman
-Book Five of the 39 Clues-
Amy and Dan Cahill flew to Russia. There, the plot thickened. Their grandma knew the mother of NRR (the person who sent them a telegram and furnished them with forged travel documents, disguises and a credit card).
At the site where the last Russian Royal family was killed, they found a file where their parents' passports showed that they went to many parts of the world in search of the 39 clues.
This round, they formed a temporary alliance with the Holt family. Working together, they beat the clock and found the fifth clue. It is amazing that four individual Cahills a few centuries ago produced hundreds of thousands descendants who lived in many parts of the world.
Amy and Dan Cahill flew to Russia. There, the plot thickened. Their grandma knew the mother of NRR (the person who sent them a telegram and furnished them with forged travel documents, disguises and a credit card).
At the site where the last Russian Royal family was killed, they found a file where their parents' passports showed that they went to many parts of the world in search of the 39 clues.
This round, they formed a temporary alliance with the Holt family. Working together, they beat the clock and found the fifth clue. It is amazing that four individual Cahills a few centuries ago produced hundreds of thousands descendants who lived in many parts of the world.
(89) Never Stop on the Motorway by Jeffrey Archer
This is a typical Archer short story with a twist at the end. I suppose it was stupid of Diana to stop on the motorway to check on a road kill. But no one deserve to undergo a hair raising chase. She was dead scared of the driver who tail-gated her and was warning her to stop.
But in actual fact, the poor guy was a good Samaritan. Without him, Diana could have become the next statistic of rape and murder. This story reminded me of my friend who lived in a small flat as a young mother in Australia. During the year that her husband was undergoing training in the nearby hospital, she was looking after her first son at home.
Once her husband was away, she continued to go to her life group meeting. That night, another couple sent her home as her husband drove to a medical conference with their only car. The other couple took the trouble to go into the flat with her, look into every room, under each bed and into any big closet. You see, those were the years that windows in Melbourne were without locks and doors without iron grill. It was possible for any man with the right tool to easily break into any such a flat.
Lately, there have been many cases of men forcing themselves into single lady's car in shopping centers in my hometown. Some women were lucky, they jumped out and escaped with some injuries. Some were gang raped and lost cars too. One or two even died after being raped and were abandoned on the road side. It is really tragic that even the most independent woman who could succeed in the exam halls, board rooms, any business enterprise become quite defenseless in such a situation.
But in actual fact, the poor guy was a good Samaritan. Without him, Diana could have become the next statistic of rape and murder. This story reminded me of my friend who lived in a small flat as a young mother in Australia. During the year that her husband was undergoing training in the nearby hospital, she was looking after her first son at home.
Once her husband was away, she continued to go to her life group meeting. That night, another couple sent her home as her husband drove to a medical conference with their only car. The other couple took the trouble to go into the flat with her, look into every room, under each bed and into any big closet. You see, those were the years that windows in Melbourne were without locks and doors without iron grill. It was possible for any man with the right tool to easily break into any such a flat.
Lately, there have been many cases of men forcing themselves into single lady's car in shopping centers in my hometown. Some women were lucky, they jumped out and escaped with some injuries. Some were gang raped and lost cars too. One or two even died after being raped and were abandoned on the road side. It is really tragic that even the most independent woman who could succeed in the exam halls, board rooms, any business enterprise become quite defenseless in such a situation.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
(88) Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson
-Book Four of the 39 Books-
This book is set in Egypt. Ten years ago, I heard that middle class Singaporeans rushed like bees to the land of the pyramids. Lately, some of my more well-to-do friends are visiting the Nile valley.
Amy and Dan Cahill flew to Egypt . There they met an old friend of their grandmother, Hillary. Hillary and her nephew helped them in many ways. Interestingly, both of them helpers conspired to steal a priceless statue from the Cahills. Hillary was resentful that her deceased good friend did not remember her in the will. The nephew was aghast that they carried such a priceless item around with them simply because of a sentimental reason.
What their lawyer said is true: trust no one while on the hunt for the 39 clues!
This book is set in Egypt. Ten years ago, I heard that middle class Singaporeans rushed like bees to the land of the pyramids. Lately, some of my more well-to-do friends are visiting the Nile valley.
Amy and Dan Cahill flew to Egypt . There they met an old friend of their grandmother, Hillary. Hillary and her nephew helped them in many ways. Interestingly, both of them helpers conspired to steal a priceless statue from the Cahills. Hillary was resentful that her deceased good friend did not remember her in the will. The nephew was aghast that they carried such a priceless item around with them simply because of a sentimental reason.
What their lawyer said is true: trust no one while on the hunt for the 39 clues!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
(87) The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
-Book Three of the 39 Clues-
Here we find Amy and Dan Cahill in Japan. Finally their au pair could not help them in translating. The Cahills hooked up with Alistair Oh, their Korean uncle.
Sabotaged by Ian and Natalie Kabra, Amy and Dan were separated from their au pair temporarily. Hunting around the topic of Japanese swords, they met Yakuzas and were the targets of shuriken (ninja throwing stars).
From Japan, they traveled to Korea to seek for the final battle ground of a Japanese warrior with Cahill blood. In looking at the various old books collected by Alistair Oh, Amy Cahill placed one torn page over a parchment they found. The two fitted together into a map that Alistair could recognize.
As soon as a clue was unearthed, the Kabras double-crossed the rest of the group and left them to rot in the hidden cave. By wit and speed, the Cahills managed to escape once more.
Here we find Amy and Dan Cahill in Japan. Finally their au pair could not help them in translating. The Cahills hooked up with Alistair Oh, their Korean uncle.
Sabotaged by Ian and Natalie Kabra, Amy and Dan were separated from their au pair temporarily. Hunting around the topic of Japanese swords, they met Yakuzas and were the targets of shuriken (ninja throwing stars).
From Japan, they traveled to Korea to seek for the final battle ground of a Japanese warrior with Cahill blood. In looking at the various old books collected by Alistair Oh, Amy Cahill placed one torn page over a parchment they found. The two fitted together into a map that Alistair could recognize.
As soon as a clue was unearthed, the Kabras double-crossed the rest of the group and left them to rot in the hidden cave. By wit and speed, the Cahills managed to escape once more.
Friday, October 19, 2012
(86) Krippendorf's Tribe
This is a comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss and Jenna Elfman.
It is a rather silly but entertaining show! With the help of a lady colleague and his three children, Professor Krippendorf run rings around the academic machinery. It goes to show that push comes to shaft, people are very creative in staying a few steps out of prison.
The meek and mild Krippendorf seemed to attract high dynamic and brilliant woman. I suppose it is natural that opposites attract. The first Mrs K was obviously quite a brain made quite a name for herself and her husband. It does look like the next partner is quite talented in attracting recognition and money. It is just as well that the show ended at the success pulled off by some grand standing acting in Papua New Guinea as a favor requested by Krippendorf's eldest daughter.
It is a rather silly but entertaining show! With the help of a lady colleague and his three children, Professor Krippendorf run rings around the academic machinery. It goes to show that push comes to shaft, people are very creative in staying a few steps out of prison.
The meek and mild Krippendorf seemed to attract high dynamic and brilliant woman. I suppose it is natural that opposites attract. The first Mrs K was obviously quite a brain made quite a name for herself and her husband. It does look like the next partner is quite talented in attracting recognition and money. It is just as well that the show ended at the success pulled off by some grand standing acting in Papua New Guinea as a favor requested by Krippendorf's eldest daughter.
(85) Return by Karen Kingsbury
I came across my first Karen Kingsbury book when Elizabeth borrowed two from her friend after their visit to Doulos, the library ship a few years ago.
Unlike Elizabeth, I grew up in a pre-Christian home. I did not read any Christian book until my late twenties. Sure, Christian novels keep to biblical values. But, I must be honest to say that not all Christian stories are up to the market place standard. I say that with shame, as I am doing nothing to help the situation. Much as I like to write, I don't think I am cut out to become a novel writer.
Perhaps one should not compare a secular novel with a Christian novel, as they are from two completely different genres. If there are die hard Christians among my readers, you may feel like throwing rotten eggs at me. I would not spend even five dollars buying most Christian novels (second hand). I did buy one of the "A Cape Light Novel" : A New Leaf by Thomas Kinkade & Katherine Spencer because Elizabeth and I wanted to complete the series. Elizabeth received two books of the series as a birthday present. I can't remember buying another book that belongs to this grouping.
Perhaps what was foremost in any Christian writer's mind is to preach God's truth. That could be the underlying reason why many such Christian novels seemed so contrived, stiff and unreal.
Unlike Elizabeth, I grew up in a pre-Christian home. I did not read any Christian book until my late twenties. Sure, Christian novels keep to biblical values. But, I must be honest to say that not all Christian stories are up to the market place standard. I say that with shame, as I am doing nothing to help the situation. Much as I like to write, I don't think I am cut out to become a novel writer.
Perhaps one should not compare a secular novel with a Christian novel, as they are from two completely different genres. If there are die hard Christians among my readers, you may feel like throwing rotten eggs at me. I would not spend even five dollars buying most Christian novels (second hand). I did buy one of the "A Cape Light Novel" : A New Leaf by Thomas Kinkade & Katherine Spencer because Elizabeth and I wanted to complete the series. Elizabeth received two books of the series as a birthday present. I can't remember buying another book that belongs to this grouping.
Perhaps what was foremost in any Christian writer's mind is to preach God's truth. That could be the underlying reason why many such Christian novels seemed so contrived, stiff and unreal.
(84) The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively
Right at the beginning, I must state that this is not meant to be Christian propaganda. It is the record of my personal belief.
When a bag of books was given to the proposed library in a college town, this was one of them. I took one look at the title and realize that it would not fit the Christian library setting. It went to the reject pile. A week later I sorted through the reject pile and noted the ghost book was published by Heinemann New Windmills. Now I must admit that throughout my teaching days and reading years, every book Heinemann books I have come across has been of a certain high standard.
Accordingly, this book went into the to-be-read box. Last night I finally read it. While I would hesitate to give it to a young child, I guess most teenager would be able to handle such issues as the Poltergeist and exorcism. Reading about such topics reminded me of two actual cases that I came across in Silver City.
Personally I think that upon death, human souls would go to heaven or hell. What was left behind that could masquerade as the deceased are familiar spirits. Just like our guardian angels, familiar spirits are fallen angels that would follow us everyday of our lives. I was present at my father's death bed. As I prayed to God about my father's destination after life, I have a dream within weeks of his death that comforted me greatly. Therefore I am convinced that as soon as I enter heaven, I will look for him in the heavenly library or any gathering places for scholars.
While I was in Silver City, a church friend accompanied her unbelieving sister to read tarot cards. When the said friend returned home, there was manifestation in her house. Vases would fall and lighter stuff would fly like there was a Category one storm happening in the family home. The church prayer team came, they have a praise session with bible reading, prayers and my friend confessed that she sinned by ignorance and repented. The leader anointed every door and window with olive oil and everything returned to normal.
The second case was a little more frightening, my husband's colleague was a demanding mother. Her first born son was depressed over struggling to meet the exacting standards of expectation in all things academic. He started seeing the School Psychologist but sad to say he had a failed suicide attempt. It seemed a church group went to exorcise some demons that brought a death wish to the youth. Thank God it was successful, today the son just graduated from some college. My husband who met the family by chance recently, he said that the eldest son put on some weight and looked rather relax.
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a work of fiction written to entertain youth. While I do not agree with the methods of exorcism that sounded much like Harry Porter, it is not a bad book if the parents care enough to explain things right in the beginning before letting the children read such books. I really disagree with the view that Christian children are only allowed to read Christian books: I think that is an unnecessarily narrow way of upbringing.
When a bag of books was given to the proposed library in a college town, this was one of them. I took one look at the title and realize that it would not fit the Christian library setting. It went to the reject pile. A week later I sorted through the reject pile and noted the ghost book was published by Heinemann New Windmills. Now I must admit that throughout my teaching days and reading years, every book Heinemann books I have come across has been of a certain high standard.
Accordingly, this book went into the to-be-read box. Last night I finally read it. While I would hesitate to give it to a young child, I guess most teenager would be able to handle such issues as the Poltergeist and exorcism. Reading about such topics reminded me of two actual cases that I came across in Silver City.
Personally I think that upon death, human souls would go to heaven or hell. What was left behind that could masquerade as the deceased are familiar spirits. Just like our guardian angels, familiar spirits are fallen angels that would follow us everyday of our lives. I was present at my father's death bed. As I prayed to God about my father's destination after life, I have a dream within weeks of his death that comforted me greatly. Therefore I am convinced that as soon as I enter heaven, I will look for him in the heavenly library or any gathering places for scholars.
While I was in Silver City, a church friend accompanied her unbelieving sister to read tarot cards. When the said friend returned home, there was manifestation in her house. Vases would fall and lighter stuff would fly like there was a Category one storm happening in the family home. The church prayer team came, they have a praise session with bible reading, prayers and my friend confessed that she sinned by ignorance and repented. The leader anointed every door and window with olive oil and everything returned to normal.
The second case was a little more frightening, my husband's colleague was a demanding mother. Her first born son was depressed over struggling to meet the exacting standards of expectation in all things academic. He started seeing the School Psychologist but sad to say he had a failed suicide attempt. It seemed a church group went to exorcise some demons that brought a death wish to the youth. Thank God it was successful, today the son just graduated from some college. My husband who met the family by chance recently, he said that the eldest son put on some weight and looked rather relax.
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a work of fiction written to entertain youth. While I do not agree with the methods of exorcism that sounded much like Harry Porter, it is not a bad book if the parents care enough to explain things right in the beginning before letting the children read such books. I really disagree with the view that Christian children are only allowed to read Christian books: I think that is an unnecessarily narrow way of upbringing.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
(83) One False Note by Gordon Korman
-book two of the 39 Clues-
Dan and Amy Cahill went on their merry way with their au pair. It is difficult to believe that two children could criss-cross Europe that easily. But of course their grandmother was a very wealthy woman. Even her personal jewelry sold at a heavy discount would enable them to travel to many cities.
In the first book, they were following the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin. Here they were researching Mozart and his sister. In following a competitive team, they entered the Janus strong hold. In the tradition of adventure stories, they lived to bring out important historical documents.
From one chapter to the next, Amy and her brother jumped in and out of action. More often than that, they had to run for their lives. Amy remembered much of what her grandmother carefully told her. Dan has a perfect recall of whatever(picture, diagram, words, foreign language, signs, or visual material) he paid attention to. They made a team to be reckoned with!
Dan and Amy Cahill went on their merry way with their au pair. It is difficult to believe that two children could criss-cross Europe that easily. But of course their grandmother was a very wealthy woman. Even her personal jewelry sold at a heavy discount would enable them to travel to many cities.
In the first book, they were following the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin. Here they were researching Mozart and his sister. In following a competitive team, they entered the Janus strong hold. In the tradition of adventure stories, they lived to bring out important historical documents.
From one chapter to the next, Amy and her brother jumped in and out of action. More often than that, they had to run for their lives. Amy remembered much of what her grandmother carefully told her. Dan has a perfect recall of whatever(picture, diagram, words, foreign language, signs, or visual material) he paid attention to. They made a team to be reckoned with!
(82) Getting mum to wash hair
My cousin has a mum with early Alzeimer's. She complained that she could not persuade her mum to wash hair. It has been a month and the hair stinks.
I heard during a seminar that one patient's daughter lured her mum into the bath room, locked the door and splashed water everywhere until both women were wet. Then the resourceful daughter brought out a bubble blowing toy. The old lady sat on her bath chair happily blowing bubbles while her daughter shampooed the patient's hair. By the time the latter's hair was clean and was bathed, the daughter passed the patient to her maid to dry and dress. Then the daughter took her own bath before going back to work.
Such is life for those who love their parents who live longer lives than their brains' useful span.
I heard during a seminar that one patient's daughter lured her mum into the bath room, locked the door and splashed water everywhere until both women were wet. Then the resourceful daughter brought out a bubble blowing toy. The old lady sat on her bath chair happily blowing bubbles while her daughter shampooed the patient's hair. By the time the latter's hair was clean and was bathed, the daughter passed the patient to her maid to dry and dress. Then the daughter took her own bath before going back to work.
Such is life for those who love their parents who live longer lives than their brains' useful span.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
(80) How to Lose a Guy in 10 days
Believe it or not, I have watched this movie twice. The first time my husband was watching it and I was attracted to the clothes those women employees were wearing in the magazine office. A few months later, I could not even remember how the show ended.
One day I could think of nothing to blog, and my husband suggested this movie. The second time round, I noticed more things in the movie. Here I confess that I am late bloomer in AV communication. I suppose not many people my age grew up in homes with no television. My eldest brother used his year end bonus to buy us a tiny TV--our very first idiot box. I was 19 when I finally could watch my first TV show in the comfort of my own sitting room.
Most of the time I would prefer a book than a movie. Interestingly, watching this romantic comedy second time round, I actually enjoyed it more than the first time. It is not that fantastic a movie, certainly not any block buster. It is funny that I thought of quite a few of my dorm mates whom I have not thought about for at least twenty five years. My husband said it is the nostalgic factor. Lately I hardly met anyone American, at least not any frivolous and fluffy ones or the sharp and bitchy type. I have to ask my husband what exactly happened at the end, he explained the bit about calling her bluff. She was trying to run away from her own mistake, not exactly because of the interview in Washington. You see, I have worked for decades on vocab, grammar, comprehension,writing and even public speaking, my listening ability is still below average. By the time my movie buff son was 9 years old, he was the one who could tell me what was just said on screen when I froze the screen. That comes from learning English as the 5th language/dialect at the age of 9(that is me). I still prefer to watch any English movie in a public cinema because of the availability of subtitle in the national language.
One day I could think of nothing to blog, and my husband suggested this movie. The second time round, I noticed more things in the movie. Here I confess that I am late bloomer in AV communication. I suppose not many people my age grew up in homes with no television. My eldest brother used his year end bonus to buy us a tiny TV--our very first idiot box. I was 19 when I finally could watch my first TV show in the comfort of my own sitting room.
Most of the time I would prefer a book than a movie. Interestingly, watching this romantic comedy second time round, I actually enjoyed it more than the first time. It is not that fantastic a movie, certainly not any block buster. It is funny that I thought of quite a few of my dorm mates whom I have not thought about for at least twenty five years. My husband said it is the nostalgic factor. Lately I hardly met anyone American, at least not any frivolous and fluffy ones or the sharp and bitchy type. I have to ask my husband what exactly happened at the end, he explained the bit about calling her bluff. She was trying to run away from her own mistake, not exactly because of the interview in Washington. You see, I have worked for decades on vocab, grammar, comprehension,writing and even public speaking, my listening ability is still below average. By the time my movie buff son was 9 years old, he was the one who could tell me what was just said on screen when I froze the screen. That comes from learning English as the 5th language/dialect at the age of 9(that is me). I still prefer to watch any English movie in a public cinema because of the availability of subtitle in the national language.
(79) Absent in the Spring by Agatha Christie/Mary Westmacott
If I remember correctly, it was said that Christie's Absent in the Spring was a book that is almost biographical.
If I remember correctly, it was said that Absent in the Spring was the closest autobiographical fiction Christie wrote.
I read it with great interest, I have been looking for it for more than 10 years. Yet strangely, it did not ring true for her relationship with her daughter(whatever little I did pick up from her other books). The next possibility could be that she was the daughter and it was her mother that she portrayed in this non-detective novel.
I wonder what was the age she married her first husband? Did she pick that first guy who proposed to her in order to live away from her mother? From my pathetically little pile of facts, I cannot say yes or no to any of these questions with conviction! Being able to read this book added more questions than answers. It was not exactly helpful! Now I understand why my daughter, Elizabeth, said that Virginia Woolf was famous not just for all her books but her many volumes of journals were a treasure trove to students who wanted to find out more about her in order to understand her literary work.
Whenever I wonder why I need to continue to write about my responses to hundreds of book on this blog, I reminded myself that should I live 10 years more, I may chalk up 5000 blogs. Should God bless me with grand children some day, one of them may look to this record as a means to finding out the Grandma that he or she has never met.
If I remember correctly, it was said that Absent in the Spring was the closest autobiographical fiction Christie wrote.
I read it with great interest, I have been looking for it for more than 10 years. Yet strangely, it did not ring true for her relationship with her daughter(whatever little I did pick up from her other books). The next possibility could be that she was the daughter and it was her mother that she portrayed in this non-detective novel.
I wonder what was the age she married her first husband? Did she pick that first guy who proposed to her in order to live away from her mother? From my pathetically little pile of facts, I cannot say yes or no to any of these questions with conviction! Being able to read this book added more questions than answers. It was not exactly helpful! Now I understand why my daughter, Elizabeth, said that Virginia Woolf was famous not just for all her books but her many volumes of journals were a treasure trove to students who wanted to find out more about her in order to understand her literary work.
Whenever I wonder why I need to continue to write about my responses to hundreds of book on this blog, I reminded myself that should I live 10 years more, I may chalk up 5000 blogs. Should God bless me with grand children some day, one of them may look to this record as a means to finding out the Grandma that he or she has never met.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
(78) The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer
This is a sequel to Kane and Abel. In fact a fair bit of the book is a mirror image of the earlier book, written from the angle of Abel's daughter.
Compared to the TV show of the first American woman President, this lady portrayed in the book gave me a more human and softer feel. I guess it is a matter of time before even the US will have its first female CEO. And why shouldn't the lucky lady be a Roman Catholic of Polish descent?
Even though most of us would have to admit to some latent prejudice hidden deep within, yet universally we admire great leaders in spite of their race and nationality. Since it is possible for US to democratically elect a black man as the President, there is yet hope for this world.
Yet I can't say exactly what is lacking in this book, it is the first Jeffrey book which fell below my expectation. Before this, I found that every single one of his books blogged in this site delightful to read. I still managed to finish this book, but it took discipline and effort.
Compared to the TV show of the first American woman President, this lady portrayed in the book gave me a more human and softer feel. I guess it is a matter of time before even the US will have its first female CEO. And why shouldn't the lucky lady be a Roman Catholic of Polish descent?
Even though most of us would have to admit to some latent prejudice hidden deep within, yet universally we admire great leaders in spite of their race and nationality. Since it is possible for US to democratically elect a black man as the President, there is yet hope for this world.
Yet I can't say exactly what is lacking in this book, it is the first Jeffrey book which fell below my expectation. Before this, I found that every single one of his books blogged in this site delightful to read. I still managed to finish this book, but it took discipline and effort.
(77) As the Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer
This is about the best novel I have read in the last three months. As my hair becomes more grey, I seldom lose sleep over reading. This is one book that I did not put down. As I well know there is not much point in trying to fall asleep in vain over wondering about the story line. I read the last page at about five in the morning. I certainly remember doing that with Grisham's The Testament.
There are a lot of good books in the libraries. But sad to say, not many of them are wrote to be believable. Novels are a great way to escape. Yet I am partial to a story that seems real. Becky in the story reminds me of one of my classmates who was well endowed weight wise in my teenage years. Whether my friend was partial to cream buns like Becky, I don't really know. But both the character and the girl are only children, so I presume both must have been at least a little spoiled. Like Becky, my friend lost a fair amount of weight in her early twenties. I heard that the lawyers in the firm she chambered voted her as the prettiest student.
While young men went about sowing their wild oats, I suppose they did not give a thought to the children they left behind. Some would be aborted to protect the good name of the would be mom. Those who were born faced a mine field of half sisters or brothers. What if one married such a "lost sibling", would that mean that one's children would be deaf and blind?
One of my distant cousins married a girl against his mother's wishes. They have a daughter that is normal. After many years, they tried in vain to give the little girl a sibling. At last they decided not to wait but went to a fertility doctor. The second child they have is far from normal, one could see from the number of fingers and toes of the new born. This child is the one in a few millions who inherited the same rare warp gene from both parents. When the boy requires a compatible bone marrow donor, all the aunts and uncles by blood went for tissue typing. As they compared notes, they realized three of the siblings are of blood types that are not probable from the same set of parents. In other words, at least these three siblings are born from fathers that are not their legal father. At the end of this debacle, all is swept under the carpet. I was there when my cousin's mother objected vehemently against the new girl friend but she could not give a single valid reason. Finally I understood her agony, old sins cast long shadows. She must have dreaded seeing the future grand children from day one of meeting the would be daughter-in-law.
There are a lot of good books in the libraries. But sad to say, not many of them are wrote to be believable. Novels are a great way to escape. Yet I am partial to a story that seems real. Becky in the story reminds me of one of my classmates who was well endowed weight wise in my teenage years. Whether my friend was partial to cream buns like Becky, I don't really know. But both the character and the girl are only children, so I presume both must have been at least a little spoiled. Like Becky, my friend lost a fair amount of weight in her early twenties. I heard that the lawyers in the firm she chambered voted her as the prettiest student.
While young men went about sowing their wild oats, I suppose they did not give a thought to the children they left behind. Some would be aborted to protect the good name of the would be mom. Those who were born faced a mine field of half sisters or brothers. What if one married such a "lost sibling", would that mean that one's children would be deaf and blind?
One of my distant cousins married a girl against his mother's wishes. They have a daughter that is normal. After many years, they tried in vain to give the little girl a sibling. At last they decided not to wait but went to a fertility doctor. The second child they have is far from normal, one could see from the number of fingers and toes of the new born. This child is the one in a few millions who inherited the same rare warp gene from both parents. When the boy requires a compatible bone marrow donor, all the aunts and uncles by blood went for tissue typing. As they compared notes, they realized three of the siblings are of blood types that are not probable from the same set of parents. In other words, at least these three siblings are born from fathers that are not their legal father. At the end of this debacle, all is swept under the carpet. I was there when my cousin's mother objected vehemently against the new girl friend but she could not give a single valid reason. Finally I understood her agony, old sins cast long shadows. She must have dreaded seeing the future grand children from day one of meeting the would be daughter-in-law.
(76) The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
-Book One of The 39 Clues-
As an answer to my prayer for children's books, a bag of 30 over books (including this one) came. Now that the library to be set up accepts only Christian books, I will have to find someone who would appreciate this after I am done with it.
The cover of this book depicts swirling skulls and thigh bones. When I first saw it I thought it could be satanic. It turned out to be a well thought and well written book that I would not hesitate to hand to any seven year old who could understand the words used.
Given the choice of walking away with two cool million US Dollars or being given the first clue to a round-the-world treasure hunt, Amy and Dan Cahill chose to risk their lives.
Within days, they almost were lost in the Parisian Catacomb. Dan was almost run over by an underground train. The hunt was on!
As an answer to my prayer for children's books, a bag of 30 over books (including this one) came. Now that the library to be set up accepts only Christian books, I will have to find someone who would appreciate this after I am done with it.
The cover of this book depicts swirling skulls and thigh bones. When I first saw it I thought it could be satanic. It turned out to be a well thought and well written book that I would not hesitate to hand to any seven year old who could understand the words used.
Given the choice of walking away with two cool million US Dollars or being given the first clue to a round-the-world treasure hunt, Amy and Dan Cahill chose to risk their lives.
Within days, they almost were lost in the Parisian Catacomb. Dan was almost run over by an underground train. The hunt was on!
Monday, October 15, 2012
(75) In Search of Excellence
The other day a group of us were talking about immigration. One couple was ready to fly to Canada to start their new life with three young children. Another outspoken man was saying that he would not go to a western country and be a second class citizen. The rest of us looked at each other, none of us felt much like first class citizens in our beloved country! Well, perhaps there is less glass ceilings in terms of making money here compared to living in Canada, that is about all most of we can agree with.
In terms of equality and justice, I guess majority people all over the world usually have much to grouse about. I could complain too, but I chose not to. During my time, I was accepted by Estate Management in Singapore (NUS) with a S$3000 bursary. With special favor from God whom I was actively searching for but had not met yet, I was offered a 97% scholarship from a US liberal arts college. I accepted that with much gratitude and went with little money but much hope that somehow everything would work out. (Things did work out miraculously.) Looking back, it was blind faith because I wanted very much to leave my birth country that did not offer me any place in any of the 5 government universities. During that period of time, it was the norm. Five of my talented class mates who did better in the public examination was forced to register as article clerks and today they are all successful chartered accountants.
When I was in college second year, a faculty member asked me why every single student from my country throughout college history turned out to be exceptionally outstanding. After I was surprised with this question, I went to look at the list of award winners and found that this faculty member was being perceptive: it is true that every single compatriot from my country won at least one form of honor or award upon graduation. A few months later, I explained to her that my country women of Chinese and Indian origin have to work extra-ordinarily hard to overcome the quota system which favor the majority group. My parents had to save for many years to be able to afford a private college education for one of my siblings. The rest of us slaved throughout our academic career to win foreign scholarships. While I could concentrate on the unfair system, it is smarter to see that adversity breeds character. To overcome this in built bias, the only way out is to make sure one is excellent! It is the same with my children, apart from one who did not choose to attend college but went into elder care as a career, the rest excelled and overcome every obstacle to enter colleges locally.
In terms of equality and justice, I guess majority people all over the world usually have much to grouse about. I could complain too, but I chose not to. During my time, I was accepted by Estate Management in Singapore (NUS) with a S$3000 bursary. With special favor from God whom I was actively searching for but had not met yet, I was offered a 97% scholarship from a US liberal arts college. I accepted that with much gratitude and went with little money but much hope that somehow everything would work out. (Things did work out miraculously.) Looking back, it was blind faith because I wanted very much to leave my birth country that did not offer me any place in any of the 5 government universities. During that period of time, it was the norm. Five of my talented class mates who did better in the public examination was forced to register as article clerks and today they are all successful chartered accountants.
When I was in college second year, a faculty member asked me why every single student from my country throughout college history turned out to be exceptionally outstanding. After I was surprised with this question, I went to look at the list of award winners and found that this faculty member was being perceptive: it is true that every single compatriot from my country won at least one form of honor or award upon graduation. A few months later, I explained to her that my country women of Chinese and Indian origin have to work extra-ordinarily hard to overcome the quota system which favor the majority group. My parents had to save for many years to be able to afford a private college education for one of my siblings. The rest of us slaved throughout our academic career to win foreign scholarships. While I could concentrate on the unfair system, it is smarter to see that adversity breeds character. To overcome this in built bias, the only way out is to make sure one is excellent! It is the same with my children, apart from one who did not choose to attend college but went into elder care as a career, the rest excelled and overcome every obstacle to enter colleges locally.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
(74) The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
-The twelfth book of A Series of Unfortunate Events-
Missing books 4-11, I suddenly find Sunny Baudelaire grown. The three orphans are intelligent, resourceful, adaptable and unusually matured at their different ages in this book. Who is to say if their parents were around, they would not have developed so far and so fast.
I am happy to say that the name of the book indicated that this is the second last book of unfortunate events. Perhaps we can look forward to the last book bringing glad tidings of them either finding a loving home or the eldest girl attaining the legal age of being able to control her fortune.
It is good that none of us can really look into the future. We can at least hope for a better tomorrow.
Missing books 4-11, I suddenly find Sunny Baudelaire grown. The three orphans are intelligent, resourceful, adaptable and unusually matured at their different ages in this book. Who is to say if their parents were around, they would not have developed so far and so fast.
I am happy to say that the name of the book indicated that this is the second last book of unfortunate events. Perhaps we can look forward to the last book bringing glad tidings of them either finding a loving home or the eldest girl attaining the legal age of being able to control her fortune.
It is good that none of us can really look into the future. We can at least hope for a better tomorrow.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
(73) Cracker by Cynthia Kadohata
When we travel, it is often that we see working dogs sniffing the luggage and eyeing the passengers walking past in airports. I admit that I was ignorant that dogs served in most recent wars USA was involved in. Cracker was supposed to be the only dog being selected to be returned to the US with the handler, Rick Hanski, after the Vietnam war ended.
Like Rick Hanski, I did not know for a long time what I was going to do after leaving school. Starting from I was nine years old, one teacher after another told me I could earn a living as a reporter. I guess I was so used to that kind of praise that I looked elsewhere. Starting from age 12 I was very impressed with science and dreamed about becoming a scientist.
After my government examination, I was picked to be interviewed in a Mandarin Radio program. The first interview was done in an empty classroom. A few weeks later, it seemed everyone heard the interview being broadcast except me. Then the same radioman called me for another program and we spent three hours recording a 15 minute segment. He showed me how he transferred the 15 minutes' recording from the master tape to the program tape. After a third invitation, he offered me an assistant's part time post. Pending my father's permission, I would have to sign a one year contract after I attended a three month pronunciation course. Since I was 16, my father objected. And that ended the opportunity to broadcasting.
While in college, I was trained in scientific programming. Even though I was given a scholarship for a Master's program, I was instructed to return to my home country. By now, I can see that if I had delayed returning, I would never return. Either marriage or a good career would have kept me somewhere in the USA. Ever since I started school, I have spent a lot of time observing how different teachers taught. Since I was bright and needed little teaching the first ten years, I spent a great deal of time helping slower students. When I returned to my home country, jobs were hard to come by and I went into college teaching. Good times or bad times, parents still pump in their life savings into their children's education.
My formal teaching life ended at age 31. After that it was training and special education. Around that time I received a prophesy from God that I will do four things for Him. It was only three years ago that I started doing two: writing and publishing (in the internet). The time for the third task has come. I am to record what He told me to, offer the recordings to a to-be set up social enterprise. Should these people refuse to take it, I am to learn to pod cast it. Either you too believe that each of us is here on earth for a specific purpose or you must think that I am raving mad!
Like Rick Hanski, I did not know for a long time what I was going to do after leaving school. Starting from I was nine years old, one teacher after another told me I could earn a living as a reporter. I guess I was so used to that kind of praise that I looked elsewhere. Starting from age 12 I was very impressed with science and dreamed about becoming a scientist.
After my government examination, I was picked to be interviewed in a Mandarin Radio program. The first interview was done in an empty classroom. A few weeks later, it seemed everyone heard the interview being broadcast except me. Then the same radioman called me for another program and we spent three hours recording a 15 minute segment. He showed me how he transferred the 15 minutes' recording from the master tape to the program tape. After a third invitation, he offered me an assistant's part time post. Pending my father's permission, I would have to sign a one year contract after I attended a three month pronunciation course. Since I was 16, my father objected. And that ended the opportunity to broadcasting.
While in college, I was trained in scientific programming. Even though I was given a scholarship for a Master's program, I was instructed to return to my home country. By now, I can see that if I had delayed returning, I would never return. Either marriage or a good career would have kept me somewhere in the USA. Ever since I started school, I have spent a lot of time observing how different teachers taught. Since I was bright and needed little teaching the first ten years, I spent a great deal of time helping slower students. When I returned to my home country, jobs were hard to come by and I went into college teaching. Good times or bad times, parents still pump in their life savings into their children's education.
My formal teaching life ended at age 31. After that it was training and special education. Around that time I received a prophesy from God that I will do four things for Him. It was only three years ago that I started doing two: writing and publishing (in the internet). The time for the third task has come. I am to record what He told me to, offer the recordings to a to-be set up social enterprise. Should these people refuse to take it, I am to learn to pod cast it. Either you too believe that each of us is here on earth for a specific purpose or you must think that I am raving mad!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
(72) Being attacked by a "best friend"
I have a friend who trusts me enough to tell me her difficulties: over her divorce, her learning disabilities even as a middle-age adult and her problems with her old friends.
We will call her Barbara here. She has an old friend from her child hood days who has stuck to her through thick and thin. Lately Barbara has been taking lifts regularly from that old friend, let us call this second lady Dorothy. Dorothy has two girls, one of them is definitely having some learning problems or other. Now, as a former tutor for such children, the first question I would ask is from which parent came the learning problems? It seems that even though Dorothy is a full time home-maker, one could not normally find a seat empty and ready in her sitting room. Each seat is either covered by newspaper, magazines or dried clothing that came back from the lines outdoor. I mean one may find such a state of disorganization in anyone's house once in a long while. But it seemed that it is the normal state in Dorothy's home. Looking at that, my bet is on for Dorothy to be the transmitter of those genes that her special daughter has received.
Interestingly, Dorothy began to attack Barbara for all her weaknesses: being not very co-ordinated in driving, poor directional recognition, inability to remember a sequence of steps that number more than three ... Since they have been best friends since childhood and stayed close, I doubt the attacks are personal in nature. I think Dorothy is in denial about her own shortcomings that she has more or less overcame. While her husband's millions added to what others expected of her, she resolutely refused to have a live-in maid. It does not help for others to pressure her to force her special daughter to shape up - some people thought that money could improve anyone. She herself foolishly chose to get involve in a church base charity teaching poor children with special needs. Well, actually she should have concentrated on helping her own child and achieve a certain measure of success before dabbling in other children's affair.
On top of all this, Dorothy chose to be with another mother whose young son has all the same symptoms as Dorothy's daughter at the same age. Dorothy's daughter is about five years older than this third woman's son. It is possible all these circumstances added up and pressurized Dorothy to a near breaking point. Barbara's proximity and her ineptness really irritated Dorothy and that could have been the last straw on the camel's back.
There are seven million people in our part of town. Barbara would be wise to meet Dorothy less under such circumstances. We vote with our feet where we want to go, whom we want to spend time with and what we want to do. For Barbara who has just attained a certain amount of peace and may be experiencing God's healing balm, she should not even allow a "best friend" to attack her just because the "best friend" happens to be having a raw deal. Temporary withdrawal seems to be the best policy at the moment.
We will call her Barbara here. She has an old friend from her child hood days who has stuck to her through thick and thin. Lately Barbara has been taking lifts regularly from that old friend, let us call this second lady Dorothy. Dorothy has two girls, one of them is definitely having some learning problems or other. Now, as a former tutor for such children, the first question I would ask is from which parent came the learning problems? It seems that even though Dorothy is a full time home-maker, one could not normally find a seat empty and ready in her sitting room. Each seat is either covered by newspaper, magazines or dried clothing that came back from the lines outdoor. I mean one may find such a state of disorganization in anyone's house once in a long while. But it seemed that it is the normal state in Dorothy's home. Looking at that, my bet is on for Dorothy to be the transmitter of those genes that her special daughter has received.
Interestingly, Dorothy began to attack Barbara for all her weaknesses: being not very co-ordinated in driving, poor directional recognition, inability to remember a sequence of steps that number more than three ... Since they have been best friends since childhood and stayed close, I doubt the attacks are personal in nature. I think Dorothy is in denial about her own shortcomings that she has more or less overcame. While her husband's millions added to what others expected of her, she resolutely refused to have a live-in maid. It does not help for others to pressure her to force her special daughter to shape up - some people thought that money could improve anyone. She herself foolishly chose to get involve in a church base charity teaching poor children with special needs. Well, actually she should have concentrated on helping her own child and achieve a certain measure of success before dabbling in other children's affair.
On top of all this, Dorothy chose to be with another mother whose young son has all the same symptoms as Dorothy's daughter at the same age. Dorothy's daughter is about five years older than this third woman's son. It is possible all these circumstances added up and pressurized Dorothy to a near breaking point. Barbara's proximity and her ineptness really irritated Dorothy and that could have been the last straw on the camel's back.
There are seven million people in our part of town. Barbara would be wise to meet Dorothy less under such circumstances. We vote with our feet where we want to go, whom we want to spend time with and what we want to do. For Barbara who has just attained a certain amount of peace and may be experiencing God's healing balm, she should not even allow a "best friend" to attack her just because the "best friend" happens to be having a raw deal. Temporary withdrawal seems to be the best policy at the moment.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
(71) The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
-The third book of A Series of Unfortunate Events-
After the disaster with Uncle Monty, the three orphans were taken to Aunty Josephine who lived by Lake Lachrymose. Due to the Aunt's fear of fire, they hardly have any good thing to eat.
Count Olaf did not give up. He turned up as another character and frightened Aunt Jo into fleeing and hiding in the caves. After the stint of being given too many grammar lessons, the orphans had to leave as Aunt Jo proved to be negligent and irresponsible carer.
By this book, we can see that the orphans were forced by circumstances into becoming resourceful survivors. It is indeed true that adversity builds character.
After the disaster with Uncle Monty, the three orphans were taken to Aunty Josephine who lived by Lake Lachrymose. Due to the Aunt's fear of fire, they hardly have any good thing to eat.
Count Olaf did not give up. He turned up as another character and frightened Aunt Jo into fleeing and hiding in the caves. After the stint of being given too many grammar lessons, the orphans had to leave as Aunt Jo proved to be negligent and irresponsible carer.
By this book, we can see that the orphans were forced by circumstances into becoming resourceful survivors. It is indeed true that adversity builds character.
Monday, October 8, 2012
(70) The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
- the second book of A Series of Unfortunate Events -
After the fortune-hunting evil guardian, Count Olaf, Uncle Monty was a rather desirable guardian even though he loved snakes. At least he fed the children well and took them to the cinema and other exciting places.
But things could not remain well as Count Olaf turned up like a bad penny. I wonder why the orphans did not kick up a fuss and had Stefano (Count Olaf) fired! They were just too well brought up and were no match for the crooked Count Olaf. It is one thing being polite, it is quite another at being able to insist on something as important as their own future. But of course if they were brats, there would be no more unfortunate events: as then Count Olaf would have been gotten rid of, there would be no one else to make any more trouble.
After the fortune-hunting evil guardian, Count Olaf, Uncle Monty was a rather desirable guardian even though he loved snakes. At least he fed the children well and took them to the cinema and other exciting places.
But things could not remain well as Count Olaf turned up like a bad penny. I wonder why the orphans did not kick up a fuss and had Stefano (Count Olaf) fired! They were just too well brought up and were no match for the crooked Count Olaf. It is one thing being polite, it is quite another at being able to insist on something as important as their own future. But of course if they were brats, there would be no more unfortunate events: as then Count Olaf would have been gotten rid of, there would be no one else to make any more trouble.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
(69) The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
This is the first book of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
For those children who are too lazy to check dictionary, these books are wonderful as every difficult word is explained on the same line.
My children have watched the cinema interpretation of the series. None of them would recommend others to view it. In fact Elizabeth asked me why would anyone in their right mind choose to read such a sad tales. Well! Why not? For one, I often count my blessings when I open books of this kind. Compared to these three young orphans in the book, I have a mother who is alive and active today. I lost my dad at the ripe old age of eighty seven. Just this thought kept me grateful for months.
For those children who are too lazy to check dictionary, these books are wonderful as every difficult word is explained on the same line.
My children have watched the cinema interpretation of the series. None of them would recommend others to view it. In fact Elizabeth asked me why would anyone in their right mind choose to read such a sad tales. Well! Why not? For one, I often count my blessings when I open books of this kind. Compared to these three young orphans in the book, I have a mother who is alive and active today. I lost my dad at the ripe old age of eighty seven. Just this thought kept me grateful for months.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
(68) A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer
This is not one of Archer's best sellers. From what the publisher wrote, Kane and Abel sold better.
In a sense, everyone of us is a prisoner of our birth. My mother was a rubber tapper in her youth. My father was relatively well educated by private tutor hired by a few village families. Sadly, Chinese classical education was never in great demand in a British colony. He started working for a soft drink company as a lowly salesman who sat beside the lorry driver. When he married my mother in 1956, he earned one hundred and twenty dollars monthly.
I am very fortunate that I was born after independence. Education was free for 11 years. As a result, girls were educated. After years of struggle, I improved my English enough to win a scholarship from a small college in USA. The education abroad freed me from the prison of my birth from an insignificant beginning. My former childhood neighborhood friends are accounts clerks and administrative assistants (not that I see those jobs as unworthy). Without my strong will to excel, I would probably have ended up somewhere with similar jobs as that was what my background indicated me to be.
Danny grew up in the poorer part of London. His accents would forever mark him as a lowly person from the lower, hardly literate back ground. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, fate threw him into jail as a murderer even though he was innocent. But it was in jail that he learned to read and passed his GCSE O-Levels. Later he escaped from a high security prison as Sir Nicholas Moncrieff. After that he inherited the huge Moncrieff estate as Sir M willed it to him before his death. It is interesting that four years in prison changed his life totally.
In a sense, everyone of us is a prisoner of our birth. My mother was a rubber tapper in her youth. My father was relatively well educated by private tutor hired by a few village families. Sadly, Chinese classical education was never in great demand in a British colony. He started working for a soft drink company as a lowly salesman who sat beside the lorry driver. When he married my mother in 1956, he earned one hundred and twenty dollars monthly.
I am very fortunate that I was born after independence. Education was free for 11 years. As a result, girls were educated. After years of struggle, I improved my English enough to win a scholarship from a small college in USA. The education abroad freed me from the prison of my birth from an insignificant beginning. My former childhood neighborhood friends are accounts clerks and administrative assistants (not that I see those jobs as unworthy). Without my strong will to excel, I would probably have ended up somewhere with similar jobs as that was what my background indicated me to be.
Danny grew up in the poorer part of London. His accents would forever mark him as a lowly person from the lower, hardly literate back ground. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, fate threw him into jail as a murderer even though he was innocent. But it was in jail that he learned to read and passed his GCSE O-Levels. Later he escaped from a high security prison as Sir Nicholas Moncrieff. After that he inherited the huge Moncrieff estate as Sir M willed it to him before his death. It is interesting that four years in prison changed his life totally.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
(67) Gift certificates
When I was a student, I used to be very happy to receive book certificates as prizes at the end of the year. With a book cert in hand I was able to hunt high and low in the designated book shop for a book I like.
As the years passed by, I see MPH gift certificates, Popular Book Vouchers, Jusco Vouchers ... Lately, the super market chain Carrefour launched their own gift voucher. Near where I live, a local Carrefour built two spacious glass partitioned private rooms, installed two beautiful young girls with individual latest model computer in those rooms. As I sat there on the cushioned bench provided in the white space in between the rooms after a strenuous walk about grocery shopping, I did not see even one customer making any inquiry for the 40 minutes I sat there waiting for my family who ventured to a nearby shopping center.
While one beauty killed time by filing her scarlet nails, the other was probably playing tic-tac-toe on the high tech computer. And I was left wondering whose bright idea it was to spend that kind of outlay to pay two workers to twiddle their thumbs day after day? In Jusco the customer service officer would serve in gift wrapping, gift redemption, card inquiry, card renewal as well as selling gift certificates.
As the years passed by, I see MPH gift certificates, Popular Book Vouchers, Jusco Vouchers ... Lately, the super market chain Carrefour launched their own gift voucher. Near where I live, a local Carrefour built two spacious glass partitioned private rooms, installed two beautiful young girls with individual latest model computer in those rooms. As I sat there on the cushioned bench provided in the white space in between the rooms after a strenuous walk about grocery shopping, I did not see even one customer making any inquiry for the 40 minutes I sat there waiting for my family who ventured to a nearby shopping center.
While one beauty killed time by filing her scarlet nails, the other was probably playing tic-tac-toe on the high tech computer. And I was left wondering whose bright idea it was to spend that kind of outlay to pay two workers to twiddle their thumbs day after day? In Jusco the customer service officer would serve in gift wrapping, gift redemption, card inquiry, card renewal as well as selling gift certificates.
Monday, October 1, 2012
(66) Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
This is a rather familiar story. Kane came from a blue blooded family with old wealth. Abel was an immigrant from Eastern Europe who clawed his way into the American dream.
While the two fathers had a misunderstanding that developed into a family feud, Kane's son and Abel's only daughter fell in love and eloped. Of course as epic stories went, Kane's son was handsome and intelligent. Abel's daughter was beautiful and had a flair for making millions(like her father) too.
The part of Abel's childhood, being an illegitimate baby brought up by a trapper's family who were on subsistence survival on estate land. I found that part of the feudal life eye opening. While the Baron owned land, buildings, gold and other forms of wealth, all other families living on the estate were equally poor as the hill tribe folks I saw in northern Thailand. That kind of poverty meant basic shelter, clean water miles away down hill, hardly enough to eat to keep body and soul together, probably one or two sets of basic clothing per person to cover nudity and family members having to share blankets if there was any in the family home.
The villages of aborigines in my country which I have visited are much more affluent in comparison. I suppose at every age there are hundreds of poor people found compared to one rich individual. Will civilization progresses further until more countries are like the northern European countries where the difference between the richest and the poorest is not so abysmal ?
While the two fathers had a misunderstanding that developed into a family feud, Kane's son and Abel's only daughter fell in love and eloped. Of course as epic stories went, Kane's son was handsome and intelligent. Abel's daughter was beautiful and had a flair for making millions(like her father) too.
The part of Abel's childhood, being an illegitimate baby brought up by a trapper's family who were on subsistence survival on estate land. I found that part of the feudal life eye opening. While the Baron owned land, buildings, gold and other forms of wealth, all other families living on the estate were equally poor as the hill tribe folks I saw in northern Thailand. That kind of poverty meant basic shelter, clean water miles away down hill, hardly enough to eat to keep body and soul together, probably one or two sets of basic clothing per person to cover nudity and family members having to share blankets if there was any in the family home.
The villages of aborigines in my country which I have visited are much more affluent in comparison. I suppose at every age there are hundreds of poor people found compared to one rich individual. Will civilization progresses further until more countries are like the northern European countries where the difference between the richest and the poorest is not so abysmal ?
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