Snapshots

a string to connect pieces of my life

Sunday, March 26, 2006

to a friend

You probably won't read my blog if I don't ask you to.

Don't worry. I won't be able to remember your age, because I have chosen to lose track of mine own age years ago. This is probably the only thing I can do in your birthday wish-list.

Happy Birthday, dear girl!

Saturday, March 18, 2006

we don't live here anymore

This is a little depressing movie with two of my favorite movie stars in it. Two couples, twisted emotions. None of them was really happy. If any of you ever liked the movie "closer" or "unfaithful", I highly recommend this movie.

There are no big turns, or dramatic incidents in this story. You can even predict what would happen next, which makes you sad. It's just life. Worn-out passion between couples. Hopeless relationship under the name of love. Thanks to the brilliant acting, this became one of the most haunting movies I have ever seen.

How do you know if you are making the right decision? People often say "follow your heart", as if it's very romantic. I fell for it, but now it sounds tricky to me. What exactly does it mean? Do whatever you want? What do you want then? It's like a dead cycle. One friend told me that it is the right decision if it makes peace in your heart. I found it very useful.

Whatever step we are taking, we can't go back. Here I wanna share some sentences I really like.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Gook luck, everyone.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

for anyone who is struggling for their PhD degree

Here is something that might comfort you in some way:

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/comics.php

Monday, March 13, 2006

fear & death

Is it true that it's better to be dead so that we won't be afraid of anything?

How would you give an answer to a 6-year old girl if it's not based on any religion?

Monday, March 06, 2006

If I won...

(Before all these, I owe special thanks to Brian for being my regular blog reader and the only one who left comments this month.)

Oscar(leading actress): I never dreamed this could really happen. (certainly it won't) Thank the Academy for giving me this honor (they must be blind). I am thrilled to be in this category with so many talented actress. And I wanna thank Ang Lee for giving me this role and having faith in me (Ang Lee, if you are reading my blog, please call me. My number is 123-456-7890). Thank you all.

Nobel Prize(physics): I am very glad that I solve the Navier Stokes equations for all types of flows. No more students have to suffer from fluid dynamics. Thank you for giving me this prize so that I can finally set my defense date. My committee probably will never let me graduate if I didn't win. Mom and dad, now you can tell your friends that I will definitely graduate this year.

Grammy(record of the year): If it's not for the person who created CoolEdit software, I won't be able to stand here. I must thank my advisor for providing the recording facility (the computer). And my colleagues, for not coming to the office during the weekend so that I can record the whole album without any interruption. Also, I'd like to thank those websites where I can still download songs for free. Sorry that I can't specify their address now.

Pulitzer(autobiography): I don't know what to say. I thought it might be worthwhile to write down how I won the Oscar, the Nobel Prize and the Grammy during my PhD career. I didn't expect anything else besides "weekly best-selling book". Well, thank you for giving me this honor. I am truly blessed.

In reality: I'd like to thank Rackham for giving me this fellowship. I wanna thank my advisor Prof. Ceccio for his support and patience with me. (I couldn't find Steve at that moment. It turned out he was on the phone outside the room) Well, he was here a moment ago. Maybe he doesn't want to be recognised as my advisor. Thank you all for being here.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Congradulations, Ang Lee!

We are all proud of you.

It seems that everybody knew that BBM wouldn't win best picture.

Good enough.

Bravo, Wallace and Gromit!

They just won another Oscar. This is the fourth Oscar for Nick Park.

Though the first Gromit & Wallace film didn't win the Academy Awards, I forgot to mention in my last post that Nick Park was also the director for the winner of the best animation film "Creature comforts" that year (1989).

Saturday, March 04, 2006

"Cheese, Gromit"

It took Nick Park six years to finish the first "Wallace & Gromit" film --- "a grand day out". Although it didn't get him a doctoral degree, it got nominated for Academy Awards. (And the following two W&G films won the Awards.)

Hey, why do I always think of "hard work"? How is this film to do with my life? Ok, probably because it took him six years...

Anyway, I don't know about the new "Wallace & Gromit" movie, but the first three are simply great. Incredible imagination, and great humor. And its direct effect on me is that I bought some crackers and cheese today. Yeah, what's wrong with that?

Friday, March 03, 2006

miss you when you are around

"I don't wanna miss a thing" is one of my favorite songs. It is exactly what I felt when I loved someone this much.

"I could stay awake just to hear you breathing, Watch you smile while you are sleeping......
I don't wanna close my eyes, I don't wanna fall asleep'Cause I'd miss you, babe, And I don't wanna miss a thing."

When I left China, my niece was about 1 year and 4 months old. She just learned to say simple words. When she opened her little arms and said "hug~", my heart melt down like the icecream in the hot hot weather. When she was sleeping, I could watch her for hours. She was the most beautiful, cutest baby I have ever seen. One of my regrets is that I couldn't spend more time with her.

Dear girl, I am so sorry that I went to visit my friend even when I knew you didn't want me to go. And I am sorry that I let you fall onto the ground when you trusted that I would protect you. I know you are a smart girl and you could probably accomplish a lot of things that your parents and I failed to do, but I just want you to be healthy and happy.

I missed you when you were around, and I miss you now.