「我晚上想要吃清淡一點的~」
MSS一邊在紙袋裡尋找下一粒雞蛋仔，一邊說
我差點被還塞在口中的半個雞蛋仔嗆到，趁她不注意的時候偷偷捏一下自己日漸增大的肚子。她不是在說我吧?
但她接下來宣布她想要減肥，我鬆了口氣，女人說減肥，好像男人說要整理房間是一樣的，只是說說而已，通常說了之後，就會覺得離目標更進了。
說真的，我認識絕大部分和我年紀相同的男人，都發福了不少。據某個男仕西裝店的調查，男人過二十五以後，平均每兩年腰圍就會長一吋。但嚷著要減肥的男人還真不多。
回到為什麼人老會變胖，我想大概是因為年紀大時，活動的時間都減少了，從跑到走，從走到開車，從站到坐，從坐到躺，另一說是，食用快餐的次數增多了，當然麥當勞叔叔沒想過現在的小孩會吃他們家的薯條，每個都吃到過胖。說來說去，好像還是懶。懶得運動，懶得吃一餐健康的。
所以減肥最好的方法，就是戒懶…
後來呢，我和MSS去了茶餐廳吃咖哩，不怎麼清淡…
4/30/2007
4/20/2007
Canucks fans vs. investors
I can't say that I am a real Canucks fan, but I have been listening to games on radio quite frequently in the past few years. Coming out from a few crappy years, I have to say Canucks had become quite successful with a new goalie and new system, but also quite boring, since it has become a "defensive" team.
Of course, when the playoff comes, everyone in Vancouver becomes a Canucks fan, even though they were the person would say that David Nolas (GM) and coach are the idiots, and Sedins (leading assist and scorer of nucks) should be traded. Fans are forgetful, and easily excited. Just like most investors.
For many investors, investment decisions are made irrationally, they get excited and want to jump on the bandwagon when markets are up. "I am willing to take any risk, just get me Nortel!", unfortunately, they are also the ones who would say, "I am risk averse, I cannot take any losses!", when the markets are down. So, they tend to always try to get in when the markets are near the top, and get out when the markets are near the bottom, exact opposite of "buy low and sell high".
We can blame the rationale as "lack of education" or "lack of experience", but at the end of the day, we should make financial decisions based on what is logical and what is rationale.
To our Canucks fans, it is not the end of world when we lose a game, please don't tell me we will never get to the Finals because we lose just one game. (It takes at least 2 more) And don't tell me "we will definitely get stanley cup this year" because we win the next one. (It takes at least 12 more)
To our investors, please consider how much ups and downs you can handle before picking the "hottest investment", just like spicy sauces, I can tell you where the hottest markets are, but I am sure 90% of you cannot handle the heat.
Of course, when the playoff comes, everyone in Vancouver becomes a Canucks fan, even though they were the person would say that David Nolas (GM) and coach are the idiots, and Sedins (leading assist and scorer of nucks) should be traded. Fans are forgetful, and easily excited. Just like most investors.
For many investors, investment decisions are made irrationally, they get excited and want to jump on the bandwagon when markets are up. "I am willing to take any risk, just get me Nortel!", unfortunately, they are also the ones who would say, "I am risk averse, I cannot take any losses!", when the markets are down. So, they tend to always try to get in when the markets are near the top, and get out when the markets are near the bottom, exact opposite of "buy low and sell high".
We can blame the rationale as "lack of education" or "lack of experience", but at the end of the day, we should make financial decisions based on what is logical and what is rationale.
To our Canucks fans, it is not the end of world when we lose a game, please don't tell me we will never get to the Finals because we lose just one game. (It takes at least 2 more) And don't tell me "we will definitely get stanley cup this year" because we win the next one. (It takes at least 12 more)
To our investors, please consider how much ups and downs you can handle before picking the "hottest investment", just like spicy sauces, I can tell you where the hottest markets are, but I am sure 90% of you cannot handle the heat.
4/16/2007
Car and Driver
When I was in high school, my best friend told me, a man is usually remembered by what kind of car he drives, for example, when one asks another, "who is tony?", the other might answer, "the tony who drives a beemer". The same friend also told me that I should get a NSX that is half destroyed and rebuilt after accident, although not really safe and sound, as long as it looks superficially fine, I should get it. Why? Because other men will respect you, and women will like you...
Although I didn't agree with what he was thinking, I have to say I was intrigued by the way he thinks.
Girls have their bling bling jeweleries and boys have their bling bling cars.
My dream cars have always been modest at most, my high school dream car was a 1993 Honda Civic Si hatchback, preferably blue. I could never imagine myself driving a bmw, I didn't know why, maybe my dream was a little smaller back then.
My first car was a family bought red Suzuki Sidekick Sport, a SUV, back in 1996, Toyota had just released RAV4, and Honda was no where close to releasing CRV. It was cool for a while, until a bunch of its electrical problems started to show, and then, a few months after its warranty had expired, one of its piston collapsed, it meant a $8000 repair bill when another engine installed. "Driving is believing", like Suzuki's slogan at the time, "...believing how much it sucked!"
When I got my first real job, I traded in the Suzuki for a yellow Mazda Protege 5, yes, it was yellow, I couldn't shake the commercial with the kid and "zoom zoom". But it was my baby. And the key, in many ways, symbolized freedom and responsibility. It was the "real thing" that I owned.
Although financed, I drove it for 4 years before handing it to my brother, who treasures it as much as i did.
As an investment advisor, there are some expectations on what kind of cars attach to us. Look at my co-workers, 3 bmws, 1 benz, 1 nissan and 1 toyota, even the assistants are driving german cars.
That was when I decided to lease a bmw, something I never really imagined as a reality in the last millennium, and early years of this millennium. Bmw is fun to drive, responsive, and fast. Even though it costs over a thousand dollars a month to drive. (lease payment plus insurance plus gas) Not very environmentally friendly either.
Now it comes another time I have to make a change, my Anna, the BMW, will cease to be mine when its lease ends next month.
Considering I am still in the early stage of my career and how much I wanted to purchase my own place in 5 years, maybe, it is not a bad time to consider something a little more modest.
However, on the other hand, I wonder, I wonder if others will see that imagine as unfitting to a successful investment advisor, what would others think? Then, I wonder, maybe I am not strong believer in myself that I will be successful enough to afford bigger payments on a car.
Or, maybe, I just think, cars are depreciating assets which are not good for our environment.
The fine balance I need to look for, somewhere between image and personal goal, both are inter-related somehow.
Maybe, you can help me ease my headache. Here will be my final list:
2007 Nissan Altima
2007 Subaru Impreza
2007 Jeep Compass
2007 Mazda 3 Sport
For now, the headache persists...
Although I didn't agree with what he was thinking, I have to say I was intrigued by the way he thinks.
Girls have their bling bling jeweleries and boys have their bling bling cars.
My dream cars have always been modest at most, my high school dream car was a 1993 Honda Civic Si hatchback, preferably blue. I could never imagine myself driving a bmw, I didn't know why, maybe my dream was a little smaller back then.
My first car was a family bought red Suzuki Sidekick Sport, a SUV, back in 1996, Toyota had just released RAV4, and Honda was no where close to releasing CRV. It was cool for a while, until a bunch of its electrical problems started to show, and then, a few months after its warranty had expired, one of its piston collapsed, it meant a $8000 repair bill when another engine installed. "Driving is believing", like Suzuki's slogan at the time, "...believing how much it sucked!"
When I got my first real job, I traded in the Suzuki for a yellow Mazda Protege 5, yes, it was yellow, I couldn't shake the commercial with the kid and "zoom zoom". But it was my baby. And the key, in many ways, symbolized freedom and responsibility. It was the "real thing" that I owned.
Although financed, I drove it for 4 years before handing it to my brother, who treasures it as much as i did.
As an investment advisor, there are some expectations on what kind of cars attach to us. Look at my co-workers, 3 bmws, 1 benz, 1 nissan and 1 toyota, even the assistants are driving german cars.
That was when I decided to lease a bmw, something I never really imagined as a reality in the last millennium, and early years of this millennium. Bmw is fun to drive, responsive, and fast. Even though it costs over a thousand dollars a month to drive. (lease payment plus insurance plus gas) Not very environmentally friendly either.
Now it comes another time I have to make a change, my Anna, the BMW, will cease to be mine when its lease ends next month.
Considering I am still in the early stage of my career and how much I wanted to purchase my own place in 5 years, maybe, it is not a bad time to consider something a little more modest.
However, on the other hand, I wonder, I wonder if others will see that imagine as unfitting to a successful investment advisor, what would others think? Then, I wonder, maybe I am not strong believer in myself that I will be successful enough to afford bigger payments on a car.
Or, maybe, I just think, cars are depreciating assets which are not good for our environment.
The fine balance I need to look for, somewhere between image and personal goal, both are inter-related somehow.
Maybe, you can help me ease my headache. Here will be my final list:
2007 Nissan Altima
2007 Subaru Impreza
2007 Jeep Compass
2007 Mazda 3 Sport
For now, the headache persists...
4/12/2007
今晚我覺得很臺
前幾天和MSS去看第一屆台灣電影節的“一年之初”﹐其實很多部都很有興趣﹐但MSS一看到某個明星的名字就決定這部了。
電影院在UBC裡面﹐我大概有四五年沒踏進UBC了﹐上次來還是晚上﹐記得以前高中時還會和三五好友開車到SUB打電動。記得還有一次﹐不知道怎麼把機器上的“insert token here”黏到石門水庫上﹐還被朋友們笑了很多年。
當然學生社團用的設備不會太好﹐但電影院還是很臺灣味的﹐那種長條形的戲院電影。放映之後﹐隔壁的那對就開始講話了﹐“剛剛那個男的是誰﹖”﹐“他剛剛講什麼﹖”﹐“他為什麼那個表情﹖”﹐“他是不是喜歡那個女生﹖”...好像十萬個為什麼﹐偏偏她的男人又很愛回答﹐他們就這樣一問一答。突然一陣鈴聲從女人的包包裡傳出﹐先是小聲﹐然後慢慢大聲﹐女人翻出了電話﹐我想她該閉上嘴了吧﹐結果她居然開始講電話﹐不過這次大概覺得在看電影講電話不好﹐聲音小到聽不到。
我開始專心看電影﹐電影已經抽象的看不懂了﹐只見前排的另一對男女﹐男生已經頭歪一邊不省人事﹐女生在旁撫著他的背﹐“再撐一下﹐快完了”。
我開始懷疑這些觀眾是不是主辦單位﹐為製造氣氛而請來的演員﹐就像第一次在加拿大看到果蠅﹐是在某間臺灣人開的豆腐店吃臭豆腐﹐一樣的感動﹐店家真有心﹐連果蠅都進口...
電影結束後﹐又去喝珍奶﹐很臺的電影﹐很臺的觀眾﹐很臺的飲料...
今晚﹐我覺得很臺...
電影院在UBC裡面﹐我大概有四五年沒踏進UBC了﹐上次來還是晚上﹐記得以前高中時還會和三五好友開車到SUB打電動。記得還有一次﹐不知道怎麼把機器上的“insert token here”黏到石門水庫上﹐還被朋友們笑了很多年。
當然學生社團用的設備不會太好﹐但電影院還是很臺灣味的﹐那種長條形的戲院電影。放映之後﹐隔壁的那對就開始講話了﹐“剛剛那個男的是誰﹖”﹐“他剛剛講什麼﹖”﹐“他為什麼那個表情﹖”﹐“他是不是喜歡那個女生﹖”...好像十萬個為什麼﹐偏偏她的男人又很愛回答﹐他們就這樣一問一答。突然一陣鈴聲從女人的包包裡傳出﹐先是小聲﹐然後慢慢大聲﹐女人翻出了電話﹐我想她該閉上嘴了吧﹐結果她居然開始講電話﹐不過這次大概覺得在看電影講電話不好﹐聲音小到聽不到。
我開始專心看電影﹐電影已經抽象的看不懂了﹐只見前排的另一對男女﹐男生已經頭歪一邊不省人事﹐女生在旁撫著他的背﹐“再撐一下﹐快完了”。
我開始懷疑這些觀眾是不是主辦單位﹐為製造氣氛而請來的演員﹐就像第一次在加拿大看到果蠅﹐是在某間臺灣人開的豆腐店吃臭豆腐﹐一樣的感動﹐店家真有心﹐連果蠅都進口...
電影結束後﹐又去喝珍奶﹐很臺的電影﹐很臺的觀眾﹐很臺的飲料...
今晚﹐我覺得很臺...
4/09/2007
天天夜夜
LeAnn Rimes：How do I live without you
Faye：I want to know
LeAnn Rimes：How do I breathe without you
Faye：If you ever go
LeAnn Rimes：How do I ever
合：Ever survive How do I How do I How do I live
阿沁：當你的淚在微笑中滑落 回憶的風 吹著我走 我卻情願停留
Faye：等一顆心到時間的盡頭 呼吸也會痛
合：可是我記得 你給我的夢
Faye：每一天在你的懷裡等待
阿沁：每一夜我感覺你的存在 走過傷害
Faye：我回頭看
合：是永遠都燦爛的愛
Faye：這一次我決定勇敢去愛
阿沁：這一次我陪你看到未來
Faye：So, how do I live
阿沁：How do I live
合：How do I live without you
Faye：How do I live～～ oh～～～
阿沁：當世界都遺忘我的時候 你的一切對我來說 緊握才能擁有
Faye：我明白一份真愛的背後 藏著苦和憂
合：心痛的時候 更深刻 感受
Faye：每一天在你的懷裡等待
阿沁：每一夜我感覺你的存在 走過傷害
Faye：我回頭看
合：是永遠都燦爛的愛
Faye：這一次我決定勇敢去愛
阿沁：這一次我陪你看到未來
Faye：So, how do I live
阿沁：How do I live
合：How do I live without you
Interesting twist to LeAnn's song, but it works for me.
Faye：I want to know
LeAnn Rimes：How do I breathe without you
Faye：If you ever go
LeAnn Rimes：How do I ever
合：Ever survive How do I How do I How do I live
阿沁：當你的淚在微笑中滑落 回憶的風 吹著我走 我卻情願停留
Faye：等一顆心到時間的盡頭 呼吸也會痛
合：可是我記得 你給我的夢
Faye：每一天在你的懷裡等待
阿沁：每一夜我感覺你的存在 走過傷害
Faye：我回頭看
合：是永遠都燦爛的愛
Faye：這一次我決定勇敢去愛
阿沁：這一次我陪你看到未來
Faye：So, how do I live
阿沁：How do I live
合：How do I live without you
Faye：How do I live～～ oh～～～
阿沁：當世界都遺忘我的時候 你的一切對我來說 緊握才能擁有
Faye：我明白一份真愛的背後 藏著苦和憂
合：心痛的時候 更深刻 感受
Faye：每一天在你的懷裡等待
阿沁：每一夜我感覺你的存在 走過傷害
Faye：我回頭看
合：是永遠都燦爛的愛
Faye：這一次我決定勇敢去愛
阿沁：這一次我陪你看到未來
Faye：So, how do I live
阿沁：How do I live
合：How do I live without you
Interesting twist to LeAnn's song, but it works for me.
4/05/2007
天淨沙
天淨沙 秋思
馬致遠
枯藤老樹昏鴉
小橋流水人家
古道西風瘦馬
夕陽西下，斷腸人在天涯
在臺灣的教育很有逼人老的感覺﹐小時候背了三字經﹐唐詩﹐宋詞﹐祭文...學了一肚子偉人國破家亡的悲傷﹐時不與我的感慨﹐回想起來那個十幾歲的小孩在意﹖回家打電動的意願大多了。
那些詩詞會不會讓我們更會做人﹖會不會讓我們更有氣質﹖大概不會﹐翻翻每個學生的課本就知道了﹐那句會考﹐那個詞的解釋要知道﹐遠比內容和作者的心情重要﹐除非考題是“請選擇作者馬致遠當時的心情1)很開心2)很不開心3)還好4)很冷”
記得以前的國中課本﹐每段的左方都有註解﹐告訴學生一些句子的意思﹐那還要老師幹嗎﹖老師要告訴學生那些會考。
華人的教育是單方向的多﹐學生都習慣“告訴我重點,給我答案”﹐不要叫我體會﹐除非聯考會考﹐那就把我該有的體會也跟我講吧﹗
結果就是出現一堆社會新鮮人﹐對人際很生疏﹐對自己的感覺很不清楚。可能教育部的是希望某一天﹐這些人會突然想起偉人的話﹐心中國旗冉冉昇起﹐從此全民遵從國父遺訓﹐本著三民主義給人類帶來世界和平...
馬致遠
枯藤老樹昏鴉
小橋流水人家
古道西風瘦馬
夕陽西下，斷腸人在天涯
在臺灣的教育很有逼人老的感覺﹐小時候背了三字經﹐唐詩﹐宋詞﹐祭文...學了一肚子偉人國破家亡的悲傷﹐時不與我的感慨﹐回想起來那個十幾歲的小孩在意﹖回家打電動的意願大多了。
那些詩詞會不會讓我們更會做人﹖會不會讓我們更有氣質﹖大概不會﹐翻翻每個學生的課本就知道了﹐那句會考﹐那個詞的解釋要知道﹐遠比內容和作者的心情重要﹐除非考題是“請選擇作者馬致遠當時的心情1)很開心2)很不開心3)還好4)很冷”
記得以前的國中課本﹐每段的左方都有註解﹐告訴學生一些句子的意思﹐那還要老師幹嗎﹖老師要告訴學生那些會考。
華人的教育是單方向的多﹐學生都習慣“告訴我重點,給我答案”﹐不要叫我體會﹐除非聯考會考﹐那就把我該有的體會也跟我講吧﹗
結果就是出現一堆社會新鮮人﹐對人際很生疏﹐對自己的感覺很不清楚。可能教育部的是希望某一天﹐這些人會突然想起偉人的話﹐心中國旗冉冉昇起﹐從此全民遵從國父遺訓﹐本著三民主義給人類帶來世界和平...
4/02/2007
City of Roses
Within 10 hours of landing in YVR, MSS and I went on another trip to the US west coast, this time, Portland. Why portland? It was the only city we can think of where it is close enough without flying, but far enough with driving.
Last time I was there, I thought roses grow in the winter, that is why you always see them in fridge inside florists. Actually, roses grow in summer, the fridge is there to inhibit their grow... so... I saw lots of rose stems... not a pretty scene.
First the ride was fun, MSS did not fall asleep 15 min after the road trip, she was actually awake for 6 long driving hours. The hotel on the other hand was not that impressive, it is small and pretty modest, Junipter Hotel, it feels more like a motel than a hotel, the parking lot smells like alcohol, but at least the room was clean and the front desk was very helpful. The lesson? Pictures can be very deceiving, we managed to take a few pictures from the same angle and they turn out to be very nice as well, but if you take the pictures from another side of the room, it sucked.
Still, the room has a comfortable bed, and that is what is important.
Spontaneous as we were, we ran into the gondola that is been built between the mountain that oversees portland and its port. The gondola took us to the medical campus of portland university. It had artistic interior with paintings and designer furniture's and stunning view of the city.
oh, almost forgot to mention, we had a great lunch inside the hospital's cafe, charming attendants, great experience.
Overall the city of portland is a charming, hip town, with some small city feel. It is not as busy, (pubs close at 11pm!!), as Seattle. Plus it has no sales taxes, which makes it a great place to visit in the summer.
Why summer? We saw a sea of flowerless rose stems this time around, still no flowers...
Last time I was there, I thought roses grow in the winter, that is why you always see them in fridge inside florists. Actually, roses grow in summer, the fridge is there to inhibit their grow... so... I saw lots of rose stems... not a pretty scene.
First the ride was fun, MSS did not fall asleep 15 min after the road trip, she was actually awake for 6 long driving hours. The hotel on the other hand was not that impressive, it is small and pretty modest, Junipter Hotel, it feels more like a motel than a hotel, the parking lot smells like alcohol, but at least the room was clean and the front desk was very helpful. The lesson? Pictures can be very deceiving, we managed to take a few pictures from the same angle and they turn out to be very nice as well, but if you take the pictures from another side of the room, it sucked.
Still, the room has a comfortable bed, and that is what is important.
Spontaneous as we were, we ran into the gondola that is been built between the mountain that oversees portland and its port. The gondola took us to the medical campus of portland university. It had artistic interior with paintings and designer furniture's and stunning view of the city.
oh, almost forgot to mention, we had a great lunch inside the hospital's cafe, charming attendants, great experience.
Overall the city of portland is a charming, hip town, with some small city feel. It is not as busy, (pubs close at 11pm!!), as Seattle. Plus it has no sales taxes, which makes it a great place to visit in the summer.
Why summer? We saw a sea of flowerless rose stems this time around, still no flowers...
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