我很喜歡到森林裡走走。
仰頭望著茂密高聳的樹，順著蜿蜒的步道，盼望著下個驚喜。
飛花，蟲鳴，鳥叫，大自然美麗的樂章無比生動地進行。
咦？那是什麼聲音？
路人甲小小的播放器大聲地吆喝著她喜愛聽的歌，
路人乙的藍芽音響也慷慨激昂。
淹沒了美好的天籟！
我，失落，無語。
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Baltimore Sam and "Caravanserai" - the story behind the song
 |
| "Baltimore Sam" in Sirince, Turkey, 3/21/2014 |
(See the video here: http://youtu.be/ECgXuSTzc2g)
In March of 2014, we visited Sirince, a beautiful little town on a hillside in Turkey. Somewhere on those cobblestone streets, Ping found a great place that served Turkish coffee. Mark and a guy who called himself "Baltimore Sam" struck up a conversation outside while Ping went inside. She beckoned to Mark a few minutes later: she'd ordered Turkish coffee for us. Sam came in, too. The music playing in the background was distinctively Turkish, as well, and we asked Sam about it. He walked over to his laptop on the counter. "Do you have a memory card?" he asked. "I'll copy it for you."Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Happy Thanksgiving 2014!
 |
| Here goes Ping in search of turkey. |
 |
| Mmm! DOUGHNUTS! Stay on task, Mark. Stay on task. |
 |
| Turkey...turkey...wait, that's chicken! |
 |
| Duck? Chicken? Whatever. Fowl enough. |
 |
| Gotta have corn on the cob! |
 |
| Oh, yeah! Candied yams! Hot & ready! |
 |
| Are chestnuts too "Christmas-y" for Thanksgiving? |
 |
| Pumpkin? No pumpkins? Is squash the same Genus? |
 |
| Finally! Dessert! I'll take six of each, please. |
 |
| It's the morning of "Black Friday Eve!" Let the shopping begin! |
 |
| Ping scores an early Black Friday deal...wait, they don't do "Black Friday" here! It's a deal, nonetheless: two pretty scarves for NT$100 (about $3.24 USD)! |
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Lost Gloves
Most likely, I was removing layers. I was a little too hot and had to pull off my waterproof shell, take off my fleece inner jacket, roll it up, cinch the stuff sack and stow it in the backpack, and then put the shell back on before I got cold again. I think I got that right. I just missed one detail.Oxygen scarcity is deceptive. We think we're managing just fine. But sometimes, in the altitude, little things get missed.
Somewhere out there, I lost a well-worn, well-loved pair of gloves. They weren't even gloves, really, just glove liners--black, lightweight, just warm enough to ward off the chill. It's hard to explain how much they meant to me. They smelled of deep woods, rock and snow, and I was happy every time I wore them.
I'd had this particular pair for over 15 years. That's a lot of miles, a lot of elevation, a lot of effort, and a lot of exploring: the Cascades, the Wallowas, the Sawtooths, the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada...
So if I had to lose these gloves, it was only fitting that they end up beside a rocky trail, at about 15,000' in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Back when I bought them, I had only dreamed of such places.
I'll be back--if not to this trail, then to another one. As usual, I'll bring a spare pair of gloves. That old pair is probably buried under heavy snow by now.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
還債還是造福
在台灣，常常聽到“前世欠的，此世還債”的說法。
我總覺得這樣的想法有點忽略了重點，而且沒完沒了，令人心情沉重。
就我有限的了解，目前的小小看法是 -
我們生生世世不斷地角色互換，為的是靈的充實與擴展。每一個人生沒有別人幫忙，自己一個人也沒戲唱。有趣的是宇宙的運行十分奧秘。幾個簡單的自然法則奇妙地維繫所有的平衡，無論是有形的或是無形的，保證公平，完全不需要我們來論定。所以說出現在我們生命的人不但是我們的合作夥伴，還是患難之交。多一點感恩的心，誰也不欠誰。
人生唯一的保證是無常，我們只能帶著好奇心一步接著一步走。至於這條路好不好走，好不好玩，往往是一念之差。生氣怨嘆是自己的選擇。能多原諒，嘗試多元性的想法，往往會意想不到地化凶為吉。多多把握讓自己開心，他人開懷的機會，幸福隨時相隨。
我是這麼想的。你呢？
希望有緣人都能體驗一個無怨無悔，豐富精彩的人生！
Friday, October 3, 2014
Mark's "10 Books That Have Stuck With Me" (plus a Bonus Book)
There's a challenge going around on Facebook: "name 10 books that have stuck with you." Once I made my own list, I really wanted to say why these books have had such an impact. Here goes, in no particular order:
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
This was my first introduction to fantasy. I was four years old. My favorite memory of my grandfather is the sound of his gravelly voice as he read this book out loud to us kids. My imagination ran wild, and it's never stopped running.
2. Use Case Driven Object Modeling With UML - A Practical Approach (Rosenberg & Scott)
This book arrived right when I needed it. The inimitable Meilir Paige-Jones had just taught me how--and why--to do use case and data modeling using the Universal Modeling Language (UML). Suddenly, relationships, processes and even the meanings of words could be diagrammed! This very practical book kept those ideas handy, while warning me (over and over!) that analysis was neither an end in itself nor a reasonable excuse for delaying the project.
3. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
I'd heard the praises of Tolkien extolled for years before I finally read his books. This one still stands out as having the greatest influence on my writing. When I started my own fantasy novel, it was a LONG time before I could finally stop imitating the true "Lord of the Rings" and find my own voice. This opening book in the trilogy is still the standard by which I measure fantasy writing.
4. The State of the Presidency (Cronin)
I don't remember who gave me a copy of this relatively small book, but it completely changed my understanding of government. Cronin's assessment of how different U.S. presidents viewed and handled the demands of the Oval Office gave me food for thought. It was sort of my transition to political "solid food," stuff I had to chew on awhile before digesting it. After reading this book, I started thinking more for myself, and asking a lot more questions.
5. Beyond Backpacking (Ray Jardeen)
Appalachian Trail and PCT through-hiker Jardeen rattled my preconceptions of what it takes to get from Point A to Point B on foot. I discovered I'd made a lot of assumptions based on impression, rather than hard experience. Opinionated and colorful, Jardeen helped me rethink my approach to gear, food and, especially, footwear.
6. Roadside Geology of Washington/Oregon/California (3 books) (Alt & Hyndman)
The earth moves! Tectonic plates slip over and under each other, sub-continents slam into continents, granite melts its way into basalt and continues to rise long after cooling, and massive glacial ice dams crack and give way, sending a 300-foot high wall of water dashing across the Northwest, scraping away at everything in its path until it barrels down the Columbia Gorge and gushes out into the Pacific! Volcanoes! Andesite! Gneiss! Schist! Alt and Hyndman map out and explain in plain language some of the awesome geology which is observable from the road in all three Pacific states.
7. Cradle to Cradle (McDonough & Braungart)
Tom Lambert's recommendation of this book sent me on a journey that will never stop. An architect and a chemist, talk about how there is no "away" when we throw things away. We say "cradle to grave," but we need to think "cradle to cradle." They distinguish true "recycling" from our usual "downcycling." They posit that we don't have a production problem: we have a design problem. What if all of our systems, living spaces and products were designed to parallel the characteristics and functions of a tree? In short: "Take the toxins out of the system; waste is food; then produce, produce, produce!"
8. Norman Rockwell, Illustrator (Guptill, et al.)
Of all the books in my parents' house when I grew up, this was the one I looked at the most, I think. Rockwell's visual storytelling ability, his meticulous draftsmanship, and his love of character greatly influenced my art. While he was the consummate portrait artist, his ability to include accurate environmental details was astounding. My subject matter is different, but I still strive to incorporate such craftsmanship.
9. Let Your Life Speak (Palmer)
Parker J. Palmer quietly talks about what it really means to be authentic. In a world that values status, acquisitions and achievements, Palmer ruminates on what it means to follow an original path. I love his story about stewing over whether or not he should take a position as president of a college. His Quaker group listened to his dilemma until he was done speaking. After a time of quiet, someone asked why he wanted the job. Palmer realized that what he really wanted was to see the word "President" under his picture. After some more quiet, the person asked, "Is there an easier way to do that?"
10. Complete Poems and Plays (T.S. Eliot)
This was my very first college textbook. The class was taught by the wonderful Dr. McCreery, an elegant woman, articulate and erudite, who spoke and acted with the grace of another era, and yet somehow managed to be unpretentious. Who better to introduce me to the poet who would shape my understanding of the power of words? I wrote reams of thoughtful-yet-blathering, free-form verse, much of it morose, most of it hardly readable even at the time, but the experience was great practice. By exploring T.S. Eliot, Dr. McCreery showed me how good poetry could be appreciated on the first reading, and yet only reveal its innermost secrets to those who follow the poet through the same literary landscape that informed the writing. My metaphors may never be as deep, but I thank Mr. Eliot for giving me so many valuable examples, just out of reach.
Bonus book:
11. The Pale Green Pants and Other Stories (Dr. Seuss)
Our family had a recording of someone reading this book back when I was in Junior High. I wish I knew who it was--he was outstanding! I used to play the tape on the stereo while I lip-synced and mimed the stories. I'll still perform "The Pale Green Pants" from memory now, sometimes despite entreaties to desist. Second only to T.S. Eliot, Dr. T.S. Geisel has also had a profound influence on my poetry. He never failed to be both creative and strictly true to form. To me, that's important, and Dr. Seuss showed it was possible--even if words had to be made up. You see, I firmly believe that...
Rhyming and meter can always be done well,
Provided the poem is truly begun well;
And endings, you know, should be given a twist--
A remarkable sleight-of-hand flick of the wrist!--
And leave you, dear reader, in breathless delight.
(Well, that's what I hope for when starting to write.)
Yet, often I find that the poet is lazy.
He won't pay attention; his meaning is hazy.
The rhyming, the timing, the rhythm is wrong.
You wouldn't--you COULDN'T--put that in a song,
For no one would sing it! I mean, who would want to
When so many words are stacked over and onto
Each other--Oh, brother! I've done it again.
I guess I'll stop writing and put down my pen.
(MIC - September, 2014)
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
This was my first introduction to fantasy. I was four years old. My favorite memory of my grandfather is the sound of his gravelly voice as he read this book out loud to us kids. My imagination ran wild, and it's never stopped running.
2. Use Case Driven Object Modeling With UML - A Practical Approach (Rosenberg & Scott)
This book arrived right when I needed it. The inimitable Meilir Paige-Jones had just taught me how--and why--to do use case and data modeling using the Universal Modeling Language (UML). Suddenly, relationships, processes and even the meanings of words could be diagrammed! This very practical book kept those ideas handy, while warning me (over and over!) that analysis was neither an end in itself nor a reasonable excuse for delaying the project.
3. The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
I'd heard the praises of Tolkien extolled for years before I finally read his books. This one still stands out as having the greatest influence on my writing. When I started my own fantasy novel, it was a LONG time before I could finally stop imitating the true "Lord of the Rings" and find my own voice. This opening book in the trilogy is still the standard by which I measure fantasy writing.
4. The State of the Presidency (Cronin)
I don't remember who gave me a copy of this relatively small book, but it completely changed my understanding of government. Cronin's assessment of how different U.S. presidents viewed and handled the demands of the Oval Office gave me food for thought. It was sort of my transition to political "solid food," stuff I had to chew on awhile before digesting it. After reading this book, I started thinking more for myself, and asking a lot more questions.
5. Beyond Backpacking (Ray Jardeen)
Appalachian Trail and PCT through-hiker Jardeen rattled my preconceptions of what it takes to get from Point A to Point B on foot. I discovered I'd made a lot of assumptions based on impression, rather than hard experience. Opinionated and colorful, Jardeen helped me rethink my approach to gear, food and, especially, footwear.
6. Roadside Geology of Washington/Oregon/California (3 books) (Alt & Hyndman)
The earth moves! Tectonic plates slip over and under each other, sub-continents slam into continents, granite melts its way into basalt and continues to rise long after cooling, and massive glacial ice dams crack and give way, sending a 300-foot high wall of water dashing across the Northwest, scraping away at everything in its path until it barrels down the Columbia Gorge and gushes out into the Pacific! Volcanoes! Andesite! Gneiss! Schist! Alt and Hyndman map out and explain in plain language some of the awesome geology which is observable from the road in all three Pacific states.
7. Cradle to Cradle (McDonough & Braungart)
Tom Lambert's recommendation of this book sent me on a journey that will never stop. An architect and a chemist, talk about how there is no "away" when we throw things away. We say "cradle to grave," but we need to think "cradle to cradle." They distinguish true "recycling" from our usual "downcycling." They posit that we don't have a production problem: we have a design problem. What if all of our systems, living spaces and products were designed to parallel the characteristics and functions of a tree? In short: "Take the toxins out of the system; waste is food; then produce, produce, produce!"
8. Norman Rockwell, Illustrator (Guptill, et al.)
Of all the books in my parents' house when I grew up, this was the one I looked at the most, I think. Rockwell's visual storytelling ability, his meticulous draftsmanship, and his love of character greatly influenced my art. While he was the consummate portrait artist, his ability to include accurate environmental details was astounding. My subject matter is different, but I still strive to incorporate such craftsmanship.
9. Let Your Life Speak (Palmer)
Parker J. Palmer quietly talks about what it really means to be authentic. In a world that values status, acquisitions and achievements, Palmer ruminates on what it means to follow an original path. I love his story about stewing over whether or not he should take a position as president of a college. His Quaker group listened to his dilemma until he was done speaking. After a time of quiet, someone asked why he wanted the job. Palmer realized that what he really wanted was to see the word "President" under his picture. After some more quiet, the person asked, "Is there an easier way to do that?"
10. Complete Poems and Plays (T.S. Eliot)
This was my very first college textbook. The class was taught by the wonderful Dr. McCreery, an elegant woman, articulate and erudite, who spoke and acted with the grace of another era, and yet somehow managed to be unpretentious. Who better to introduce me to the poet who would shape my understanding of the power of words? I wrote reams of thoughtful-yet-blathering, free-form verse, much of it morose, most of it hardly readable even at the time, but the experience was great practice. By exploring T.S. Eliot, Dr. McCreery showed me how good poetry could be appreciated on the first reading, and yet only reveal its innermost secrets to those who follow the poet through the same literary landscape that informed the writing. My metaphors may never be as deep, but I thank Mr. Eliot for giving me so many valuable examples, just out of reach.
Bonus book:
11. The Pale Green Pants and Other Stories (Dr. Seuss)
Our family had a recording of someone reading this book back when I was in Junior High. I wish I knew who it was--he was outstanding! I used to play the tape on the stereo while I lip-synced and mimed the stories. I'll still perform "The Pale Green Pants" from memory now, sometimes despite entreaties to desist. Second only to T.S. Eliot, Dr. T.S. Geisel has also had a profound influence on my poetry. He never failed to be both creative and strictly true to form. To me, that's important, and Dr. Seuss showed it was possible--even if words had to be made up. You see, I firmly believe that...
Rhyming and meter can always be done well,
Provided the poem is truly begun well;
And endings, you know, should be given a twist--
A remarkable sleight-of-hand flick of the wrist!--
And leave you, dear reader, in breathless delight.
(Well, that's what I hope for when starting to write.)
Yet, often I find that the poet is lazy.
He won't pay attention; his meaning is hazy.
The rhyming, the timing, the rhythm is wrong.
You wouldn't--you COULDN'T--put that in a song,
For no one would sing it! I mean, who would want to
When so many words are stacked over and onto
Each other--Oh, brother! I've done it again.
I guess I'll stop writing and put down my pen.
(MIC - September, 2014)
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Grandmas On Our Street
I felt stuck, lost, and frustrated that I don't seem to contribute in any visible way. Then I remembered our neighborhood grandmas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)