Had very tough two weeks of suspecting serious sickness, going through medial exams, having serious conflicts about future plans, and knowing the not good news about the house that needs to be sold, the weather was warming up and spring feel was in the air. It was too fast for me, which is so strange. Snow was all melting away. Spring and flowers and birds chirping were all supposed to be wonderful signs of brave new start, and I always embraced them in previous years, but this time I was not ready for that because of the waiting to get publications and applications done. Amidst the surroundings that seasonal transformation seemed to be upon us quickly, it snowed all afternoon today. The tree branches are piled with snow, and quiet snow is still falling. How strange that I look at the snow as new hope, hope that things still have time to work out before real spring time. It is gloomy dark with light snow continuing to fall, and I just feel thankful, thankful.
目前分類：Journal (27)
- Feb 21 Mon 2011 07:09
Winter snow
- Feb 04 Fri 2011 05:40
Being sick this week
Got a cold from hubby, who got it from his colleague, who has been coughing for 2-3 weeks since he returned from the Bay Area for the New Year. On Monday it was very uncomfortable, and I had a hard time sleeping because of sinus headache. On Tuesday I thought it was getting better, but then on Wed. it was lot of cough, and hubby had a low fever. Today my whole front rib cage hurts because of all the cough.
Thanks to our nice neighbor family, we still had a nice dinner (they make 3 dishes and we do too) for Chinese New Year's Eve -- they made ribs, buns (mutton, red bean, and black bean fillings), and northern Chinese cabbage; we made Chinese red pepper chicken on tofu sheets and cucumber, pearl balls (vege meatballs wrapped in glutinous rice), and pan fried red bell pepper with corn.
Today I've been coughing and rib cage hurting that I could not do much. I wear a cotton mask that covers my nose and mouth so I don't cough on people, which is what my hubby believes his colleague should have done, asked him to but this guy didn't. The preschooler's teacher really appreciated that I did it.
On the plus side of this, the kids came home and had to make their own afternoon snacks with a cup of water; firstgrader made a jam sandwich and had a banana with it, and the preschooler got plates for some vege chips with a clementine. Usually I had to get all these things upon their request, but because today I'm a germ bearer they have to do it themselves, and they did really well!
I've been drinking warm water with citron honey, squeezed lemon juice, raspberry juice and honey. Who can tell me when this cough will end at all??
- Feb 02 Wed 2011 02:12
Biggest Snow Storm in * Years
This winter southeast Michigan has not seen much snow -- compared to the normal, or to the East Coast, I mean. I saw an AP weather headline: "Snow, shovel, repeat: East Coast digs out again." I know it's hard work, but when i saw the beginning of the report, I couldn't help but laughed. It said: "Enough already." I understand it because we had that two winters ago, when snow accumulation started around Thanksgiving.
Last Friday there was a severe weather warning, telling everyone to go home before storm arrived at 9pm. The kids had Mandarin classes, so we were talking about getting them home right after the classes. It turned out that the storm stretched through north of here, so we didn't get any real snow accumulation.
Right after this false alarm, though, is this big winter snow storm that everybody started talking about over the weekend -- a storm that would freeze one third of the U.S. It was difficult to take it seriously after not having snow problem (we do have snow, mind you, just not enough to get in the way of daily routine) this winter, esp. in light of seeing how much the East Coast has got so far. When hubby went to the grocery, someone asked him if he was stocking up for this storm. Many people talk about it, and the weather men is predicting difficult traffic on Wed. But over the weekend and on Monday there was sunshine shining on the white snow in the back, bright and beautiful. Everything feels so quiet. There are pretty icicles hanging under the roof, shining in the sunlight. It puzzles me a bit why snow melts when it's in the 10s or 20s, but maybe the roof is warmer for the heat we use underneath.
Come Tuesday today, there was a little snow accumulation -- unlike the prediction of slippery roads, it was clear when I drove out after 8:30am. Everything still feels very quiet, and even bright even without sun. But the blizzard warning has been issued --
The Public School system has decided to close tomorrow for sure now. 5:30pm Tuesday evening, everything is very quiet. Usually we pull up the windshield swipers before the snow so they are not in the way when we clear the snow on the windshield. But today I didn't do it because the blizzard is predicted to bring strong wind gust which might break the swipers, I wonder.
The preschooler woke up early this morning, and the teacher said he didn't nap. He just took an one-hour nap, and now laying on my knees watching "Cat in the Hat."
Feb. 3, 0:28am
Turned out nothing really serious happened here. The most intense clouds past us in the south, and instead of the predicted 10-15 inch snow accumulation, it was only 5.9, which is not such a serious problem here. Of course I respect the plow crew.
Friends in El Paso, TX today has lower temperature than us in MI today -- this kind of day probably happens once every other year. The university is closing for 2 days for the snow and windchill.
Last Friday there was a severe weather warning, telling everyone to go home before storm arrived at 9pm. The kids had Mandarin classes, so we were talking about getting them home right after the classes. It turned out that the storm stretched through north of here, so we didn't get any real snow accumulation.
Right after this false alarm, though, is this big winter snow storm that everybody started talking about over the weekend -- a storm that would freeze one third of the U.S. It was difficult to take it seriously after not having snow problem (we do have snow, mind you, just not enough to get in the way of daily routine) this winter, esp. in light of seeing how much the East Coast has got so far. When hubby went to the grocery, someone asked him if he was stocking up for this storm. Many people talk about it, and the weather men is predicting difficult traffic on Wed. But over the weekend and on Monday there was sunshine shining on the white snow in the back, bright and beautiful. Everything feels so quiet. There are pretty icicles hanging under the roof, shining in the sunlight. It puzzles me a bit why snow melts when it's in the 10s or 20s, but maybe the roof is warmer for the heat we use underneath.
Come Tuesday today, there was a little snow accumulation -- unlike the prediction of slippery roads, it was clear when I drove out after 8:30am. Everything still feels very quiet, and even bright even without sun. But the blizzard warning has been issued --
BLIZZARD WARNING: 7PM TONIGHT THRU 7 PM WEDNESDAY.
This afternoon: cloudy, cold with a chance of light snow - Highs: upper teens
Blizzard Warning goes into effect at 7:00 p.m.
Tonight after 8pm-Wednesday before 10am: heavy snow likely, blowing & drifting, thunder possible - Temps: 15 to 20
Curious to see how it goes. I was curious how bad it could be so I checked out what happened yesterday in the Plains, and a reporter showed snow being blown across town.
(Last night I thought about all the snow we had two winters ago when we first moved here, and wished that I had stated recording these things back then. So will update the storm situation here when it arrives.)
Curious to see how it goes. I was curious how bad it could be so I checked out what happened yesterday in the Plains, and a reporter showed snow being blown across town.
(Last night I thought about all the snow we had two winters ago when we first moved here, and wished that I had stated recording these things back then. So will update the storm situation here when it arrives.)
The Public School system has decided to close tomorrow for sure now. 5:30pm Tuesday evening, everything is very quiet. Usually we pull up the windshield swipers before the snow so they are not in the way when we clear the snow on the windshield. But today I didn't do it because the blizzard is predicted to bring strong wind gust which might break the swipers, I wonder.
The preschooler woke up early this morning, and the teacher said he didn't nap. He just took an one-hour nap, and now laying on my knees watching "Cat in the Hat."
Feb. 3, 0:28am
Turned out nothing really serious happened here. The most intense clouds past us in the south, and instead of the predicted 10-15 inch snow accumulation, it was only 5.9, which is not such a serious problem here. Of course I respect the plow crew.
Friends in El Paso, TX today has lower temperature than us in MI today -- this kind of day probably happens once every other year. The university is closing for 2 days for the snow and windchill.
- Nov 09 Tue 2010 08:01
First day of 3-inch snow in 2010
Firstgrader's class asks everyone to predict when the first day for 3-inch snow accumulation here in southeast Michigan this year.
First grader: December 1
Preschooler: January 1
Mom: November 24
Dad: November 26
This week is going to be 60s in the highs, so it feels a bit strange to be talking about snow accumulation. But the adults remember the very cold and snowy winter two years ago. After a warm golden October weekend, the winter was colder than normal and snow accumulation started with Thanksgiving break.
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts a winter colder than normal. This is the almanac's prediction about the days that adults in our family are predicting 3-inch snow accumulation:
Nov 20-24: Rain and snow, then flurries, cold
First grader: December 1
Preschooler: January 1
Mom: November 24
Dad: November 26
This week is going to be 60s in the highs, so it feels a bit strange to be talking about snow accumulation. But the adults remember the very cold and snowy winter two years ago. After a warm golden October weekend, the winter was colder than normal and snow accumulation started with Thanksgiving break.
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts a winter colder than normal. This is the almanac's prediction about the days that adults in our family are predicting 3-inch snow accumulation:
Nov 20-24: Rain and snow, then flurries, cold
Curious to see whose guess will be the closest!
UPDATE:
The first day of more than 3-inch snow accumulation this winter was December 12, 2010, which resulted in a snow day (one school day off) on December 13, Monday. So the firstgrader's guess was the closest.
UPDATE:
The first day of more than 3-inch snow accumulation this winter was December 12, 2010, which resulted in a snow day (one school day off) on December 13, Monday. So the firstgrader's guess was the closest.
- Nov 05 Fri 2010 09:38
5 blessings in each family member's life
First-grader:
1. I have a lot of food.
2. I'm glad I have a nice family.
3. Parents pay for my school and lessons.
4. Parents tell me what's safe to do and what's not safe to do.
5. Parents love me and make sure I'm safe.
6. (5 not enough) I like it when parents do things for me that I cannot do, like making supper.
Preschool:
1. I love my family, my animals, pillows
2. I like having my dinner
3. I like reading books and saw deer
4. I like my family hug, play and work with me
5. I like my friends: Abby, Drake, Josh, grandma,
(5 is not enough for the preschooler)
6. I like sitting with mom on the couch and read books with mom and i like Pokemon
7. dad feeds me
8. thankful for toys, Pokemon, gummy vitamins and calcium and fish (oil), cartoons
9. can play a lot and no homework
10. our neighborhood
Mom:
1. Family are safe, sweet with love
2. We can feed ourselves
3. We have a warm and cozy home during cold winter
4. We get to see the beautiful autumn in Michigan
5. my macbook
Dad:
1. have a job to work on
2. When I get home I see my wife and kids
3. health of family
4. warm house
5. had a walk in nice day with wife to the car after meeting an old friend
1. I have a lot of food.
2. I'm glad I have a nice family.
3. Parents pay for my school and lessons.
4. Parents tell me what's safe to do and what's not safe to do.
5. Parents love me and make sure I'm safe.
6. (5 not enough) I like it when parents do things for me that I cannot do, like making supper.
Preschool:
1. I love my family, my animals, pillows
2. I like having my dinner
3. I like reading books and saw deer
4. I like my family hug, play and work with me
5. I like my friends: Abby, Drake, Josh, grandma,
(5 is not enough for the preschooler)
6. I like sitting with mom on the couch and read books with mom and i like Pokemon
7. dad feeds me
8. thankful for toys, Pokemon, gummy vitamins and calcium and fish (oil), cartoons
9. can play a lot and no homework
10. our neighborhood
Mom:
1. Family are safe, sweet with love
2. We can feed ourselves
3. We have a warm and cozy home during cold winter
4. We get to see the beautiful autumn in Michigan
5. my macbook
Dad:
1. have a job to work on
2. When I get home I see my wife and kids
3. health of family
4. warm house
5. had a walk in nice day with wife to the car after meeting an old friend
- Oct 30 Sat 2010 08:04
Writing struggles
There are so many narratives, some conflicting, and others corresponding. How do I make it flow as one narrative, one story to tell?
- Oct 28 Thu 2010 04:32
Autumn in the Midwest
Today: extremely windy at times. 60s. sunny. autumn leaves swept away or in circles by the wind.
This is probably our last autumn in the Midwest -- a great season in a beautiful locale during this time of the year. Two summers ago when we first came here from the southern state, the temperature of 40s in November was so difficult to get used to. But after that first very snowy and cold winter, 40s in the spring felt so warm and welcoming.
In autumn, we've enjoyed lots of activities -- apple picking, corn maze, botanic garden with its last petals and leaves and fresh lavender, riverside driving, pumpkin carving and treat-or-treating in a large community, and meeting international families...
I always wanted to grasp the beauty of autumn before, but this season, when reading poems and facing all the uncertainties of life, I thought of the ancient zen master's poem, which is roughly translated as:
Spring has variety of flowers and Autumn moon,
Summer has cool breezes and Winter snow,
If there's no worries in mind,
Every moment is a good one in this world.
And one of my favorite songs goes -- 人隨風過 自在花開花又落 不管世間滄桑如何: let the wind pass, feel comfortable with letting flowers blossom and fall again, regardless of the vicissitudes of the world.
It feels right to know that I've done my best to appreciate and enjoy the autumn beauty at the moment and feel comfortable about the passing of seasonal beauties. Buddhism has it that all these outside changes are like dreams, fantasies, dew, electricity, fleeting and ever-changing. The desire to grasp beauty and the sadness about its going is one form of personal obsession and a limited view.
Tomorrow will be 20 degrees lower than today, and the preschooler has a field trip to the corn maze. The teacher suggested warm clothes. We came home and started brainstorming, and he took out his snow suit to wear tomorrow, but his first-grader sister thought that's too warm for tomorrow. He really wants to wear it though, and is now trying it on. We'll see.
This is probably our last autumn in the Midwest -- a great season in a beautiful locale during this time of the year. Two summers ago when we first came here from the southern state, the temperature of 40s in November was so difficult to get used to. But after that first very snowy and cold winter, 40s in the spring felt so warm and welcoming.
In autumn, we've enjoyed lots of activities -- apple picking, corn maze, botanic garden with its last petals and leaves and fresh lavender, riverside driving, pumpkin carving and treat-or-treating in a large community, and meeting international families...
I always wanted to grasp the beauty of autumn before, but this season, when reading poems and facing all the uncertainties of life, I thought of the ancient zen master's poem, which is roughly translated as:
Spring has variety of flowers and Autumn moon,
Summer has cool breezes and Winter snow,
If there's no worries in mind,
Every moment is a good one in this world.
And one of my favorite songs goes -- 人隨風過 自在花開花又落 不管世間滄桑如何: let the wind pass, feel comfortable with letting flowers blossom and fall again, regardless of the vicissitudes of the world.
It feels right to know that I've done my best to appreciate and enjoy the autumn beauty at the moment and feel comfortable about the passing of seasonal beauties. Buddhism has it that all these outside changes are like dreams, fantasies, dew, electricity, fleeting and ever-changing. The desire to grasp beauty and the sadness about its going is one form of personal obsession and a limited view.
Tomorrow will be 20 degrees lower than today, and the preschooler has a field trip to the corn maze. The teacher suggested warm clothes. We came home and started brainstorming, and he took out his snow suit to wear tomorrow, but his first-grader sister thought that's too warm for tomorrow. He really wants to wear it though, and is now trying it on. We'll see.
