Wavin' Flag - K'naan

An awesome song by K'naan, it makes me wonder... aren't I old enough?

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

你們不要走...

新的一年代表又是一年的好事, 各個朋友結婚的消息像潮水撲了過來, 現在才一月, 應邀的婚禮就有五個, 還不包括已經訂婚, 尚未決定時間的人. 說也起怪, 好像朋友結婚都專選我單身的時候...

幾天前, 和準新郎以及其他的朋友在吃飯的時候, 默默的發現, 這桌的朋友又都是以結婚, 或是將結婚的, 感覺好像這些高中, 大學就認識的朋友們都已經進行到人生的下一階段了. 從 A 到 B 到 C 到 D, 一個個尋獲自己的幸福...

雖然, 自己好不容易工作有點成績, 但新的一年又代表全新的開始, 頭一個月的成績又沒有什麼, 兩頭加起來, 壓力還真不小.

有人說我玩得不夠, 有人說我太挑, 有人說時間未到, 無論如何, 你們不要走太快, 我的朋友們... 我快看不見你們了...

btw, 婚禮參與者現開始接受報名, 有需要我參與的婚禮, 請及早報名, 以免相偶.

Productivity = singleness?

2009 was a very productive year for my blog, averaging 10 posts a month. Does that mean I use more brain power when single?

村上你個春樹

這次在台灣每沒買什麼, 但書買了三本, 一本是侯文詠的靈魂擁抱, 一本是這樣照相曝光才漂亮(沒錯, 韓國翻譯本就是這奇怪的名字), 本不想再帶書了, 但好友一直推薦, 就買了本春上村樹的世界末日與冷酷異境...

說起台灣有個很好的地方, 就是到哪裡都有書店, 到哪裡都有人在看書, 雖然書有百百種, 但有在看書不會是壞事.

說起這春上村樹, 是我好朋友的最愛作者, 從以前就聽過他的大名, 但我知道我好朋友與我的興趣大不相同, 從來沒想過要拜讀他的大作. 感謝感冒加時差, 還是看了他的書. 其實有些後悔, 他的書很像碎碎唸, 不是在唸看過的英文的電影名字, 就是英文的酒名, 要不就一直提到性交, 性器官... 開始的沒頭沒腦, 結束的也沒頭沒腦, 看了以後頭更痛了.

興趣差這麼多, 我跟好朋友還能是好朋友, 真了不起...

2009 was big, how about 2010?

2009 went by very quickly, i did the count down at a hotel at Zhiben in Taidong with a few friends, we counted down with the tv, then we went to bed, we are getting old...

2009 was a good year for me, I have finally picked up a few things as interests, guitar and photography. Although I am not making big headway with guitar, I am seeing some results with my photographic skills, that is probably from years and years of taking pictures of food.

2009 was also a cool year on concerts, the only concert I have been to was maybe a 2006 concert in Taipei, although I saw a few stars, it wasn't really a concert experience for me. In 2009, I have seen Il Divo (yes Il Divo), Jason Mraz, and the best, Bryan Adams. Come to think of it... I have been to a Mayday concert at Taiwanese Cultural Festival, but it felt more like work...

On the career side, it was a good year for me too, finally seeing some results, it is not going to get any easier, but I am going to do alright.

Relationship wasn't something one can really ask for, 2009 wasn't a year for me, a few misses, but maybe after the praying at two most popular temples in Taipei, things will change. Papa Lo thought, maybe I am enjoying my single time too much, maybe I haven't done playing. I don't really think so, because I haven't really done any playing yet. I did watch too much tw variety show on my spare time though. ( you can check with friends in tw, i know more about current events in variety shows then they do)

So, what is in 2010? I don't know, but I am excited to find out!

回家回加

我去年回台灣的時候有, 提到好像每次回台灣都不像去度假, 每次總要找一些理由, 每次回去之前就要做很多的心理準備, 其實, 為什麼要這樣? 應該是回家不是嗎? 還是因為近鄉情怯?

最主要, 是回去看生病的奶奶, 她老人家年紀大了, 身體也不好, 但我其實很怕見到她,變得那麼的瘦小, 變得那麼的脆弱, 好像, 一轉眼, 她就會縮小不見了. 老人家這次見到我, 不只提醒我要存錢, 唸書, 開始提醒我要考慮結婚了. 還好, 他們給的壓力並不大, 因為我自己給的壓力比較大.

這次回去見到的親戚是近年來最多的, 也聽了許多有關家裡的故事, 很開心, 但最大的感覺是親戚都年長了, 已經沒有小時記憶中的樣子.

上次回去沒演到海角七號, 這次陳董還是找了我跟喬治兩人, 陪他和愛美麗去南台灣走一趟, 雖然去年才和他們出遊新竹桃園, 南台灣玩的又不一樣, 那兩個男人還是一樣超會點菜, 每一餐都是吃到想吐. 這幾個高中時的玩伴也長大了, 都有自己的世界, 也不知道什麼時候我們還會再像這樣亂吃亂喝?

已經有家庭的羅董把我當年假在用, 泡溫泉, 走北台灣,樣樣來, 感謝他和renee關心我的愛情生活, 一個招待我去月老廟, 一個招待我去做造型, 看他們的小孩長這麼快, 只能感嘆歲月不饒人.

台灣對我, 是一個熟悉的陌生人, 我可以做一個十足十的遊客, 認識新/舊朋友, 最酷的, 初戀女友的弟弟的亁姐把我認出來, 我們臭氣相投, 只可惜相見恨晚. 不小心闖進別人的生日趴, 那壽星是我剛認識朋友的高中同學以前的同事...認識一屋子的人, 其實台灣還有很多人可以認識.

東西沒什麼買, 倒是替朋友帶了不少, 載著是滿滿的回憶, 滿滿的記憶卡, 會不會想台灣, 當然, 尤其是想那裡的人. 就這樣, 台灣東南西北跑一趟, 月老廟拜兩次, 計程車做幾回, 我又回加了, 這邊的朋友也想知道台灣玩的開不開心, 有人在乎, 有人陪, 真好!

先生哪裡人?

我是台北出生﹐所以我是台北人,我父母都是嘉義人,小時候又在嘉義住過一陣所以我是嘉義人,我在加拿大長大,住的時間又比在台灣久,所以我是加拿大人。最近去了嘉義人文館,才發現我母親也是客家人﹐加上我父親,我也是百分百客家人。

有時分得不是很清楚,有加拿大的人問起,我說我是台灣人,有加國的台灣人問起,就說我是台北人﹐台灣的新朋友問,就說我是加拿大回來的,有朋友問,我也可以說我是客家人...

但我不會加國官方語之一的法語,不會客家話,不大會說台語﹐對嘉義的印象也不深,對各個的認知也不全﹐當伯父搖頭晃腦的說加拿大是美國一部分,我會不爽(雖然也不曉得這麼回應),就像如果有人把我認成內地人一樣(雖然從來沒去過中國)對有些人對客家人的刻板印象,我也會不開心,雖然不是特別喜歡客家菜但它們對我有那些意義,我也說不上來...

我是有情人!

台北陌生人

回台第三天﹐台北出奇的冷, 當然沒有溫哥華的冬天冷, 但至少不會穿外套就一直冒汗。

走到公館﹐細細的走在曾是熟悉的街道。台北外貌變了很多﹐比以前乾淨多了, 人也比以前禮貌多了, 但也相對的有距離多了, 每個人都專注自己的世界。小時愛吃的東西好像味道不大一樣, 街上的店面也不一樣了, 連母校也都不認得了。

現在的台北好像長得比我還快, 像我童年的玩伴﹐雖然曾經一起經歷童年, 一起哭一起笑, 長大後很少聯絡, 雖然幾乎每年都會見面﹐還是好朋友, 但兩個人的世少有交集

又像小時的初戀情人, 再碰面時, 她已亭亭玉立, 雖然出了社會, 但骨子裡還是那個曾喜歡過的那個人, 但有可能在敘緣嗎? 不大可能﹐兩人想法都不一樣

到底是台北變陌生了還是我變陌生了?

姐姐妹妹站起來...

這個星期因為回台灣﹐好像有很多事要準備﹐失眠了好多天。昨天和朋友討論回去可以吃的東西時﹐才開始有放假的心情,有個好朋友也說要回去,有多一個伴,更是開心

上星期,公司同事一起唱歌﹐,50多歲的老闆﹐居然選了一首陶子的歌,﹐各位姐姐妹妹站起來,在月老廟前排隊等我吧!

那就等著淪陷吧　如果愛情真偉大
我有什麼好掙扎　難道我比別人差
誰要週末待在家　對著電視爆米花
想起你說的情話　哭得眼淚嘩啦啦
　10個男人　7個傻　8個呆　9個壞
　還有一個人人愛　姐妹們跳出來
　就算甜言蜜語　把他騙過來
　好好愛 不再讓他離開
找個人來戀愛吧　才能把你忘了呀
像枯萎的玫瑰花　心裡的雨拚命下
從今以後別害怕　外面太陽那麼大
如果相愛要代價　那就勇敢接受它

我們結婚吧...

這是伊莎貝爾十二星座的求婚方式, 還蠻有意思的...

我們結婚吧...

考慮結婚的朋友請不要有壓力, 還沒結婚的朋友請不要有幻想, 點下方的十二星座的求婚決招...

The coward

Before going to sleep last night, I thought about childhood friend all of sudden. He is a year older than me, and he lives right next door.

We used to play together along with my brother and his sister. Many stuff kids would do.

However, it changed when I was 10 maybe 12, my brother and I ran into him one afternoon at a local bookstore. Of course, at that age, we only go to book store to read comic books and gawk at toys they carry. He was putting books in his bag... I knew he was stealing, but I didn't stop him, I wasn't sure what to do, so I pretended not seeing that.

Then, he got caught by the store owner, I found an excuse and quickly left the store, letting him deal with the situation.

We stopped hanging out together after that, I felt ashamed every time I saw him, I felt that I let him down. Until years later, we got swamped by school.

I heard he is married with kids now, still living next door.

I thought about this last night and started to wonder, maybe this is how I handle situations I do not know how to handle. I just pretend it didn't happen and stop all communication. I pretend that annoying client doesn't exist, so I don't call him, I wouldn't call my gf after a huge fight 'cause i don't know how to handle the situation, I don't call my sick grandma, 'cause I don't know what to say to her...

I always thought I will not give up easily, but I guess if this is how I handle things, I am still running away from things. That still makes me a coward...

then... the insomnia came...

More than words

Still climbing that steep hill learning guitar, it is indeed hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but at least I am learning. one chord at a time. Still can't play this song fully, only the first 6 chords...

More than words - extreme

Saying I love you
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It's not that I want you
Not to say, but if you only knew
How easy it would be to show me how you feel
More than words is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
Cos I'd already know
What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn't make things new
Just by saying I love you
More than words
Now I've tried to talk to you and make you understand
All you have to do is close your eyes
And just reach out your hands and touch me
Hold me close don't ever let me go
More than words is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
Cos I'd already know
What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn't make things new
Just by saying I love you
More than words

------------------------------------------
Seriously, girls always want the words and more than words...

如果自由與孤單不是好朋友

其實不大確定是去年的哪一天, 但距離上次分手有一年的時間 (當然, 有些人認為是十個月, 那又是另一個故事), 這還是我自懂得談戀愛開始最長的一個”假期”,當然, 很自由也很孤單…

上週, 與一位同是Alist的友人下午茶, 我們叫她單身半年女, 她說她現在才開始享受單身的好處, 就像跟我出來喝咖啡, 不喜歡就不喝, 不需要假裝喝一下, 現在買菜也是非常快, 買自己喜歡的就好, 也不用煩惱另一個人喜歡吃什麼…

身為單身一年男的我就說, 其實已經過了那段高興每到週末不用找樂子搏美人歡心的日子, 或者不用上網找新餐館的煩惱, 現在的情形反而是開心與不開心都沒有人可以分享, 或是, 找不到人分享.

單身半年女這時有點疑惑, 單身一年男說, 試想, 妳那麼愛喝莫卡, 今天要是喝到一杯TMD有夠好喝的莫卡, 如果身邊沒有一個伴, 妳要找誰分享這感覺, 誰會替妳開心?

如果自由與孤單不是好朋友, 那該多好?

The self-made billionare and his wife

There is the guy, you must know him too, his name is Tiger Woods, he is the highest paid athlete in history, he makes more money than Michael Schumacher and Michael Jordan, and he is only 33! He marries a supermodel and lives in a luxury mansion 99.9% of us won't ever see the inside...

You know what he did? He has affairs... Not even with pretty ones, it is almost like the Hugh Grant situation, I don't get it. Have you seen Liz Hurley? She is smoking hot!

Here is another thing that was interesting, the whole thing came out because Tiger got into a "car accident" a few metres from the front of his mansion at 245am in the morning. We later found out he was trying to get away from a raging wife who was swinging golf club at him.

Most people found that ironic and funny. Think about it, Tiger driving away in his sponsored suv to escape from his wife, swinging his sponsored golf clubs. However, it wouldn't be funny if it was Tiger who did the swinging.

Also, why did this man's personal affair become an international news? He gets paid to play golf, and he is pretty good at it, why do we want to know who he sleeps with?

I guess society is still twisted in many ways...

五塊錢的幸福

幾天前, 和朋友吃飯的時侯, 聊到所謂的幸福, 好像定義不一樣, 尤其是對物質上的要求. 記得小時候, 零用錢並不多, 所以有時候拿到一個五塊錢, 就開心的不得了, 想的可能是雜貨店的乖乖, 王子麵, 冬瓜茶, 還是學校的福利社買蘋果麵包, 買包子, 還是跑去電動間打一次電動, 還是去漫畫店租本漫畫... 無限的可能.

往往手上的五塊錢, 握得滾燙, 都還是不能決定要做什麼, 但是對未來非常的期待.

現在年長一些了, 會自己賺錢了, 對物質的要求就增加許多, 要吃就要好吃的, 要玩就要最好的, 但我們對未來並沒有小時候那麼期待, 反而, 變得比較貪婪, 要最求更多的物質, 但好像變得更空虛, 感覺上, 還不如小時那五塊錢來的幸福...