I'm just playing around with this picture.  I took this over the Labour Day weekend.  It's 2 of the planes from the Snowbirds who were here for the Canadian International Airshow.   The photo has been cropped.  I darkened the sky a bit.  It does look a bit grainy.  

All 9 planes.  These are really old planes (CT 114 Tutor).  I wish their budget would allow them to upgrade their planes.

 

Life is mostly just a blur to me nowadays.  It's hard to see clearly.

Why doesn't life give us clear directions?

 

I watched parts of the Democratic convention the past couple of nights.  I skipped most of the preliminary speakers.  I did watch Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.  They were just amazing.  I was especially impressed with Bill Clinton's speech.  It was lengthy (over 40 minutes) but I was glued to my seat.  No wonder people pay him tons of money for his speeches.  I did try to watch a bit of the Republican convention a week earlier.  I didn't stick around too long.  It just felt too slick.  I did catch a bit of the bizarre Clint Eastwood performance.  I felt bad for Clint as I really enjoy his movies.

My cousin and his wife came up to visit my family a few weeks ago.  I found out a couple of years ago that they like the Republican party.  One year he started talking about how Barrack Obama had set up death panels.  I looked at him and then at my dad.  I didn't know who was becoming more senile.  I was stunned how a well educated man, one who was also well traveled could believe stuff like that.  When he came up this year, I avoided talking about politics.  Until another relative asked him about the upcoming US election.  I rolled my eyes.  This time, I saw a sudden transformation from a happy, laughing man who was enjoying his dinner to a rabid, angry man who spewed hatred.  He saw me staring at him.  He changed his tone a bit - "Well, I'm sure he is a nice man.  I just disagree with his policies.  They will destroy our country."  Luckily the conversation moved back to food and he quickly became the friendly, genial cousin that I know.  

When my brother travels to the US on business, the one topic he avoids is politics.  It's too divisive.  Conversations ground to a halt.  People become tense.  It wasn't a good way to start a business meeting.

What worries me is that I'm seeing the same thing in Canada.  Disagreement on policies & politics turn into deep hatred and bitterness.  I guess anger, hatred and divisiveness  can win elections. 

J and I went to Taiwanfest atToronto's Harbourfront over the weekend.  It was hot and sticky weekend.  The breeze coming in from the lake helped a bit.  But I was still sweaty and sticky at the end of the night.  There was food (I gorged on most of it before I even had my camera out).

I think this was sausage w/ sticky rice.

This was another sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf that has been steamed.  The inside had pork, peanuts, chestnuts and other goodies.

There was stuff for kids to do. 

This toy was not operated by battery.   Ok ok... it's a spin top.  It was trickier than it looks.  While I was watching, there was one middle aged woman who seemed to be very good at it.  A lot of folks weren't able to master it. 

Members from the Wild  Harvest Music of Taiwan (aboriginal music)

Tap dancing from Dance Works from Taiwan.  Despite the heat, they were quite energetic. 

I did some digging and found out they do some pretty neat stuff.

Thank goodness we were able to escape the heat by catching a documentary called Baseball Boys.  It's about a boys baseball team from a small school in Taiwan.  The movie does have subtitles although the trailer below doesn't.

We also saw a couple of musicians on Friday and Saturday night.  I have never heard of any of them before although J knows the Mandopop stuff a lot more than I do.  They had a competent house band performing with them.  I don't understand the language (a few songs were in English) but that didn't really matter.  I had almost forgotten I enjoyed watching live music.  It's been awhile.

Yen J - interesting jazz pop musician. 

The next night we saw Victor Wong Pin Kuan.  He is more well known and a bigger draw than Yen J.  His deep and smooth voice charmed everyone.  He also knew how to work the crowd and kept a steady banter all night.  

At one point, he took out his smart phone and filmed the audience.

Some of the band members.

I learned a few tough lessons on photography.  I was playing around with my aperture setting during the 2nd day and forgot to reset it for concert.  I didn't pay any attention to it until about halfway through the show.  I changed it back to where I wanted.  But sometime during the show, I messed it up again while fumbling around.  I had my flash with me but the pictures that worked best were without the flash.  The lighting for the 2nd show seemed a bit dimmer than the first.  I'm not sure why.  As a result, a lot of pictures of Pin Kuan were blurry. Also at one point during the show, I figured I better get my spare memory card ready in case I need it.  I knew it was securely stored in one of the many pockets in the bag.  I never did find it. 

Growl... I was a bit red from being angry with myself.

 

Dad asked me to renew his National Geographic magazine.  He held out the renewal card and told me, "I think a 1 year subscription will do.  I don't think I'll be around that long anymore."  I nodded and took it from him.  I still can't bring myself to check the box and send it in.   I wish I could just add more years to his life by checking a box.  But his body is gradually slowing down. 

 

 

I wish I could sing in tune.  I was driving with the windows down, radio blaring and I'm singing my lungs out to a Coldplay song.  When I turn the volume down a bit, I'm aware how bad I really sound.  I mean, I could make a living by threatening to sing to someone.  "Pay me $20 now or else I'll sing to you."  Pigs squealing and long wet farts sound better than my singing.  There's no way I could serenade anyone.  Well - maybe a drunk moose might pay attention to me. 

I wish I could play the guitar or the piano.  It would automatically enhance my image of being artsy, romantic and cultured.  I can play do re mi with one finger on a piano.  Unfortunately I usually get a one finger response for my efforts.  But I really think guys that tickle the keyboards or play the guitar are just so cool. 

I wish I could dance instead of madly flailing around like someone in a satanic cult ritual.  When I hear a song I like I would start to "dance".   I am sure if I went on stage to do a sexy dance, I would have to pump my audience full of viagra first.  I wouldn't know what to do with the female members of my audience.  Maybe I could dance and read 50 Shades of Grey at the same time. 

I wish I could blog daily and include videos.  I'm thinking of Chris specifically whose videos are well edited, written and filmed.  I'm sure it takes a lot of effort just to pull together a few minutes of video.  Bravo Chris... take a bow.

I wish I could fight.  I can do a mean scowl when I'm walking around at night.  But I'm like this small annoying dog that barks very loud but has no bite.  Maybe if I'm attacked I'll do a dance, sing to them and bite them. 

 

 

 

 

 

I really enjoyed the Batman movie yesterday.  The whole day was pretty good actually. J drove down, we had dinner at a fancy place.  We didn't plan on having dinner there.  I was really scruffy (didn't shave for about 4 or 5 days).  We passed by the restaurant and I mentioned the food was pretty good when I ate there with my colleagues.  So we went in.  I told J I wished I had brought my camera.  But he gets so embarrassed when I bring it out to take food pictures.  We hung out at a book store prior to watching the movie.  I couldn't resist buying a couple of books. 

The Dark Knight Rising is probably the best Batman movie.  As a kid, I used to tie a blanket around my neck and pretend I was Batman.  Mom could never figure out why the edges of the blanket would get frayed and dirty.  Until she caught me...  

Anne Hathaway was brilliant as the Catwoman.  She added a lot of depth and complexity to the character - a far cry from the previous, one dimension Catwomans.  It's like drinking a really good wine which has a lot of flavours and notes.  I would love to see her again.  Both Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine were wonderful in their supporting roles.  Tom Hardy - wow, he played the villainous Bane to the hilt without making him seem cartoonish.  If only Heath Ledger were alive to reprise his Joker role.  It would be wonderful to see the two of them together against Batman.  Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman / Bruce Wayne is like eating a very well executed meal.  The strength and vulnerability of Batman laid out for all to see.  If I didn't know any better, he almost made Batman into a Jesus like character.  Christopher Nolan deserves major kudos for rescuing Batman from those previous campy, wimpy Batman movies.  I hope there's more.  It was well worth the 2 1/2 hours of my time.  

As J and I shared a goodnight kiss, I resisted the urge to seduce him with my deep, raspy Batman voice.  I suppose I should get to the gym first before I unveil Matman. 

 

I saw this in a store window (excuse the reflections on the window).  I have no idea what this poster is about.  But it's a bit of what I go through when I can't sleep.  There is this frenzy of thoughts that materialize causing my brain to go into overdrive.   Every single worry, to do, ideas, stray thoughts, what ifs, regrets, fantasies all take their turn in this freeway of uncontrolled brain activity.  Some nights, I'm still awake at 3 AM.  I think I'm going insane.

As I'm writing this, I just realize those "speech balloons" look like bloated sperm.  I wonder what I'll dream about tonight. 

We had dinner with my cousin and his family tonight.  On the way to the restaurant, my dad asked "How is C (my cousin) related to us?"  I told my dad that C is his nephew, the son of his youngest brother B.  "How is B doing now?  Is he still in Edmonton?"  I had to tell him again that his brother had passed away last year.  He paused as he grappled to understand.  He knew he forgotten.  He asked "What illness did he have?"  After I told him that it was cancer, he stopped asking questions and remained quiet for the rest of the trip.  My sister and I eventually made some small talk in the car.  It's not the first time he has forgotten family members (including me) and events.  He remembers some things but will forget others.  It used to be he would remember the old days.  But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. 

As we were having dinner, he smiled and waved at my cousin's baby girl.  He was genuinely delighted to see my cousin's 2 young daughters.  He greeted the kids as if he was the proud grandparent.  He would occasionally wave at them, make faces and make them smile.  I wonder if he did that to me when I was a baby.  I watched as my cousin carefully pluck the lobster meat out for his daughter.  She giggled and smiled as she ate it.  I filled my dad's bowl with food as he couldn't reach the lazy susan.  My cousin and I were almost mirroring each others moves.  Except I watched him with a mixture of happiness and envy. 

I have to remind myself there is happiness and joy at all phases in the cycle of life.  It's easy and apparent at the beginning when you have a baby.  It's a lot deeper and perhaps  meaningful near the end with an elderly parent.

When I have time, I prefer to make a nice home cooked meal.  Now you may think I eat like this every night but I don't.  Sometimes it's just peanut butter and jam or a quick meal of cereal. 

I can't remember if this is salmon or trout.  But I simply put some pesto on it, threw it into the oven and served it on some veggies.  The veggies are zucchini and carrots stir fried with garlic, salt & pepper with a dash of soy sauce.  It's simple and fast.

Roasted chicken thigh with asparagus and onions and carrots.  I placed the chicken on the onions and carrots.  The chicken simply had salt, pepper and some garlic underneath the skin. 

This is zucchini, carrots and shrimp stir fried.  I added a sauce that J had used for another dish (fried tofu) when I was over at his place for dinner.  I took home the extra sauce.  I used the sauce in this dish and it worked very nicely.  It was like a sweet soy sauce with shallots and other secret spices. 

This is the only thing I know how to bake.  It's whole wheat banana walnut muffins.  I added a bit of sugar at the top.  It was still a bit dry.  I'm trying to find the optimum level between a moist muffin and a healthy muffing.  I don't want to dump a lot of butter into it.

This was a lamb chop that I got from the farmer's market a couple of weekends ago.  I simply marinated it in olive oil, garlic, onions and pepper overnight and panfried it.  I boiled the potatoes first until they were soft, crushed them a bit to open it up and roasted it with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and the onion that I used for marinating the lamb.  I added some tomatoes (same size as cherry tomatoes but I think they call these heritage).  It was big enough for two meals.  But I was hungry and ate it in one seating.  I went into a food comatose afterwards.

No more food porn... the well is dry.  I have to reload.