Suesjoy

Calling an angel...

2011-12-23T21:43:00.021+08:00

I had the pleasure of living in Montreal for one year, way back in 1996. Ok, well, to be honest, my husband and I couldn't endure the bitter cold days of a Montreal winter, so we REALLY only lasted 10 months.

Whenever I think back to those days, I am filled with a mixture of loneliness, but also a longing to live there again. I enjoyed the French influence, and the Bohemian feel of the city. I felt like I was living in Europe - I would shop at the markets every day (positively Euro,indeed), and I got to know some of the shop keepers. I was a regular at a Middle Eastern market, and the owner, this sweet old man with a cute wrinkled face, had these brilliant baby blue eyes that used to light up at the sight of me! "Ah!" He would sigh, and smile. "So beautiful, you are. So beautiful!" Ok, I am a sucker for ANY man who adores me, but, he really used to make my day. He was forever telling me that he had a delivery service, and could he please deliver my groceries? Please? Ah,no. Sorry. You can idolize me in your store, but it stops THERE!

I used to spend hours perusing through old books, cds and albums at the many used book shops on St. Catherine Street, near our house. I made a good friend in one owner. We both agreed that all we really needed in life were cds and books (oh, and a few loved ones), but, as far as material needs...little else mattered. He was sad to see me go, and I still remember saying goodbye to him. My best find in his store was an original book of poetry by Leondard Cohen's favorite poet,Garcia Lorca. I still read it, in both Spanish and English. It was a truly special find. I especially love:

Somnambule Ballad

Green, how much I want you green.
Green wind. Green branches.
The ship upon the sea
and the horse in the mountain.
With the shadow of her waist
she dreams on her balcony,
green flesh, hair of green,
and eyes of cold silver.
Green, how much I want you green.
Beneath the gypsy moon,
all things look at her
but she cannot see them.

I dubbed 1996 in Montreal my "Leonard Cohen Year." My husband and I were exposed to hours on end of Cohen's music for a year in Dallas, where we lived prior to moving to the great northern tundra.
I was enraptured by Cohen's music. Some find him depressing, but I find his music mesmerizing.

Leonard was born in Montreal in 1934. I know this, because I picked up a wonderful Cohen biography shortly after moving to this fair city. I actually lived on the edge of Westmount, the upper class ritzy neighborhood where Mr. Cohen grew up.

Since I could not work in Montreal, I volunteered for two organizations. One was called Compeer Montreal, where I befriended an older woman who suffered from bi-polar depression. The other organization was Meals on Wheels, where I would prep food for meals for shut-in elderly people once a week. The synagogue where I volunteered once a week (in Westmount) was actually built by Leonard Cohen's grandfather. I used to walk by the large park which he described in detail in his book, The Favorite Game. In the book, he mentioned that he lived next to the park, so I was always curious about exactly which house was his.

One day, a driver for Meals on Wheels popped into the kitchen and asked if someone could please help her deliver meals, as her partner was sick. So, I volunteered, and a woman named Margo took me up the mountain to Outremont, and as we were driving, she popped Leonard Cohen's Greatest Hits cassette into the car's player!

"I LOVE LEONARD COHEN!!" I gushed. "Oh, you do, do you?" was her response. "Well, I will have you know that I used to go out with his best friend, Morty Rosengarten (who was portrayed in Cohen's The Favorite Game, as his best friend)". I must have squealed. "WHOA! That is just too cool." So, of course, I pumped her for every single "Leonard" story she could share, not that she seemed to mind. The bottom line, Leonard Cohen can be summed up into one word: "beautiful." Yes, I can still hear Margo saying that he truly is "a beautiful man." Margo's best friend ran Leonard's Buddhist Center in Montreal, and whenever Margo saw him, he always had some "pretty, young thing" on his arm! It's refreshing to know that he really is a ladies' man!

The volunteers at Meals On Wheels all had their Leonard Cohen stories, too. "Oh, Lenny???? My cousin used to go out with him in high school! Such a sweet man, he was." I heard nothing but positive things about "Lenny!"

So, that was fun....saturating myself in Leonardness....

The year we spent there, I listened to nothing but Tori Amos and Leonard Cohen. I was on a HUGE Tori kick.

Being in such an art-infused city, I started to write a bit, and wrote a song, which was a "calling" of sorts. I was really intrigued by Cohen's comments on one of his better known compositions, "Suzanne." He said that he wrote that about a friend's wife- she was very eccentric, but lots of fun. She was not, a lover, however.
Several years later, he DID meet the love of his life, the mother of his two children, and HER name was ALSO, Suzanne. So, he described the song he wrote as a "calling" for his soulmate.

My husband and I had been trying to have a child, but, thanks to our partying lifestyle, it was no surprise that we were not having any luck in that department.

When we moved to Montreal, I started to take better care of myself and I worked out at the YMCA and walked for MILES and MILES every day in this beautiful city, a city meant for walking.

Whilst walking one day, a song came to me. A calling...I had a gut feeling that I would one day have a girl, and she would be quite musical.
I STILL haven't finished the song (I do have a melody)...so, I guess it's a work in progress.

(no title, yet!)

Hey little one with the angels in your eyes (heaven is in your eyes)

Hey little one, well, how 'bout a nice surprise?

'cuz I've been living here on this lonely earthly plane

and I've been missing Nirvana- have you seen Kurt Cobain?

(it needs another verse here)

Chorus:

So come on in
The water's fine
Come on in
The water's mine
You can bring your Gibson, and your Fender in to play
"Let me entertain you," she said
"Just show me the way.
Show me the way."

Well, I have to say that my "gut" was pretty much spot on target.
On March 8, 1998, I gave birth to a gorgeous baby, a little rocker we named Anjoli Simone Guha.

Home, Home Again

2010-09-17T16:42:00.004+08:00

"I like to be here when I can!"

Sorry I was unable to post/blog much on the road. The internet connection wasn't so hot in Taitung...and I was too tired in Kenting.

We had an incredibly wonderful trip. I promise to post a detailed blog about it very soon.

I actually have to WORK tonight for 2 hours! Sheesh.

I am burned silly from spending 5 days in a convertible in the Taiwanese sun.

I got a cool tatoo...of course it's not real, but I like it so much, I think I am going to get a REAL one with the same design. It's small, and very cool. It may be aboriginal..

Here is a pic taken shortly after I got it touched up! (I smudged it a bit shopping for a t-shirt).

The non-smudgy version:

I keep hearing The Who's Tatoo in my head over and over. PT is SUCH a clever man...

Tattoo

Me and my brother were talking to each other
'Bout what makes a man a man
Was it brain or brawn, or the month you were born,
We just couldn't understand

Our old man didn't like our appearance
He said that only women wear long hair

So me and my brother borrowed money from Mother
We knew what we had to do
We went downstairs, past the barber and gymnasium
And got our arms tattooed

Welcome to my life, tattoo
I'm a man now, thanks to you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo

My dad beat me 'cause mine said "Mother"
But my mother naturally liked it and beat my brother
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
And my mother thought that was extremely rude

Welcome to my life, tattoo
We've a long time together, me and you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo

Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
My wife is tattooed too
A rooty-toot-toot, A rooty-tooty-toot-toot
Rooty-toot-toot tattoo too
To you

Hugs not drugs,

Suexxxxxxxxxxx

We're Having a Lovely Time!

2010-09-14T22:54:00.013+08:00

Wish you were here!!

Sujoy and I are in the southernmost tip of Taiwan- a beautiful area called Kenting.

I will write a more detailed account of our trip when I get home...I am exhausted at the moment!

I will post a few pictures for y'all to enjoy!

XXXXXXXXXX

This is actually an area near Alishan...it's a long story,but we weren't able to make it to our cabin, so we had to bag this part of the trip and continue onto Kenting.

Matching Shoes! sick sick sick!

Our room in Kenting. If you are jealous, you should be!! hee hee

There are two rooms, plus the bathroom (duh).

Hmmm...

2010-02-25T12:49:00.001+08:00

I have been thinking of ways to spice up my life lately.

I ADORE the kids I teach, and they fill my heart with so much love...it's a great feeling...but I am really in need of a challenge.

Yes, I take Mandarin lessons with a wonderful private tutor, and it's not easy, so I DO enjoy the challenge (although I am lazy about studying it!).

I REALLY want to go back to school, but I have been hesitant because I am not sure I want to pursue a teaching degree.

My first love always has been alternative medicine...well, I would rather call it Complementary Medicine. I have been thinking that it would be wonderful to combine a naturopathic "degree" with a Master's degree in Public Health.

Maybe this is a far fetched dream- but I would love to help integrate traditional and "natural" medicine in hospitals and clinics.

I KNOW the two can be combined. I am living proof that this combination works.

By the time I finish my training, we'll be ready to move back to the US (or not?).

I just want to study something I am passionate about.

Wish me luck!

xxx

The Real Me

2010-02-03T22:25:00.017+08:00

I think I haven't been blogging, because I feel that I must present someone interesting and different to the world.

I just feel so boring lately...it's funny...even though you move somewhere exotic, after awhile life is just the same old same old.

I DO love the new house we now living in though. It's nestled in the foothills of Yangmingshan Mountain. The blaring roar of scooters has been replaced with the soothing sound of birds...ok and the screech/thumping of cats fighting on our roof!We had fun redecorating - we wallpapered all of the white walls (except for the pantry) and did the kitchen over a bit: we put black glass over butt ugly tile, added a faux wooden ceiling , and added a small bar, and I had drapes custom made in the fabric district. My neighbor brought me to Dun Hua Street- the oldest section of Taipei. Such a wonderful place- I was in awe of the beautiful fabric selections...I could spend an entire day there looking at fabric!! (I told you I was boring now!!!)

I took pictures recently after cleaning it furiously...here they are!

(I will post pics of the garden and deck as soon as I can find them!)

Our Sunroom

(I need to post some daytime pics!)

The Livingroom

The Dining Area and Kitchen

Anjoli's Crazy Bedroom!

Fireplace (obviously!)

Master Bedroom (I detest the wallpaper...but the solid red textured pattern we wanted wasn't available and Sujoy chose this without asking me first...so that is that. We'll see how long I can bear it!).

Our teeny tiny Guestroom

The bathrooms are not very exciting...

Lame Girl

2010-01-18T08:56:00.003+08:00

I have really neglected my blog...so sorry.

So much has been going on, but now things are quieting down a bit.

I promise to write a real post soon with an update of the happenings in Suesjoy's world...
but the big news is that I am a MOM again!

:)

Is she a doll or what?

Roger on Ellen!

2009-10-07T21:28:00.002+08:00

Are they not a match made in heaven???

So I deactivated my Facebook account...

2009-10-03T18:26:00.009+08:00

Man.

What a time suck Facebook is! I am not trashing it, because I DO enjoy it, but I found myself spending WAY too much time there!

I need to focus on OTHER things in my life.

I joined an International Woman's Choir and I LOVE it. I am going to start taking voice lessons as well.

My Mandarin has vastly improved, but I didn't practice at ALL this week- I need to be more diligent and practice it when I am out and about. I speak it with my daughter, but she says:
"MOM....you need to work on your pronunciation!" And she's right, of course!

We are MOVING to a wonderful house - it's in the foothills of Yangmingshan Mountain here in Tien Mou.

It was the ONLY house we looked at with a wonderful Realtor who I was referred to by a very sweet friend/Touch Rugby teammate (Nicky). I can't believe how incredibly blessed I am. I KNOW someone was looking out for me from above.

I have to figure out how to post pics here from an email that my Realtor sent me.

It has a small YARD and it is BEAUTIFULLY landscaped. We have a HUGE BRAND NEW deck,
a fireplace and a lovely sunroom. We are having it renovated before we move in: we're going to paint the sunroom and wall paper the dining room, living room and the bedrooms.
We are also going to do some work on the bathrooms....oh and we are building a bar in the kitchen and adding a row of hanging lights over the bar.

We have a new addition to the family. A black kitten, which Anjoli named Artemis.

HOW CUTE IS SHE?????

My work schedule has changed a bit. I teach 3 mornings and 2 afternoons a week.
I started to bring my guitar for my weekly singing and dancing class. The kids love "playing" it- they strum it while I play different chords. I have been playing "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" for them- the kids are my back up singers. It's fun.
I need to learn more songs...and practice MORE. I have a mind block about memorizing chords...but I am sure if I practice harder I will naturally memorize the songs.

In the afternoon I teach older kids - 2 different classes on each day. I used to enjoy teaching the little ones more, but now I also enjoy the older kids too. I teach them grammar (using an Oxford Grammar book) and reading. We are reading White Fang in one class...it's a very slow book, but kind of cool. The kids are bored with it, but it's an interesting story of survival. I do art with them also - my boss has some cool ideas. These kids are amazing artists...I wish I had artistic talent! Sadly, I don't. We also watch Dr. Who- the latest BBC series. It's a fun show...very campy. I like it. The kids LOVE it, even though a few who find it scary.

I have been working out a lot lately...my goal is to work out one hour a day...until I die of heart failure! We are going to India for Sujoy's cousin's wedding in November, so there is my motivation! Ugh. It's tough getting back in shape, but I must.

I am ONLY wearing saris this time around! It's hard to pee in a sari though...especially in INDIA!! :)

Off to the gym now.

Toodles.

Hope you are all well.

Peace and love,
Suexoxox

Burn Baby Burn

2009-08-23T14:52:00.005+08:00

Well, I had a really nice birthday party at Soo WHO (a few days before my birthday).

I wore my new red dress.

From left to right: Beth (she's a teacher, from London), Me, Sujoy, Thomas (our friend and business partner), Anjoli is in front.

Unfortunately, I spaced while making fish sticks for Anjoli the next night- I filled a cast iron skillet with oil, cracked the gas then walked away to do something...then forgot about the oil until I smelled it. The rest is history. I don't even want to rehash it because I am only now over the trauma! (The curtains went up in flames...it was nasty). I put it out with an oven mitt!

I got a third degree burn on my right arm - along with other 2nd degree burns. The third degree burn got infected, so I had to go on 2 types of antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
The local doc I went to isn't so great, so I am going to a better one tomorrow!

A very sweet friend here in Taiwan is helping me find a healthy puppy. Sujoy caved and said he'd buy me one for my birthday! I am hoping for a Teacup Toy Poodle.
They are the cutest dogs on earth.
I would love a Golden Retriever, but we just don't have the space for one here...plus I would feel so badly for the pooch in THIS kind of heat/humidity. That's cruelty to animals, fer sure.

Anjoli is loving middle school at TAS. I hardly ever see her. She's at the movies now with some friends. Miss Independent...that's Anju.

I am going stir crazy...but I really don't want to go out until my burn has healed. It may be another week! Let's see what the doc says.

Hope you are all well.

Lots of love,
Suexxx

Much love and many thanks...

2009-07-27T03:01:00.003+08:00

...to you all for your kind words and prayers.

I truly appreciate it- it gives me strength.

I am very much at peace these days...the darkness has lifted and I am filled with Light and Love. (sorry to be so granola/new agey!).

I am in Bonita/San Diego now...loving being with family and dear friends. I love my friends so much...didn't realize JUST how much I missed them!

I am with my friend Chelice now...she and I are very much on the same wavelength in ALL ways...she has the SWEETEST dog - Leo - he is so cute. He loves to lick my ears! I will refrain from further comment...ahem.

Going to walk Leo now...then do a BIT of shopping- not TOO much!

I am getting red highlights Wed at my fave salon in the whole wide world - Gila Rut.
My friend Sokoun's cousin ( I am also staying with Sokoun here) works there now! Small world. So she has the honour of colouring my hair!
I will post a picture of MOI with my new highlights in a new VERY hot dress I bought SOON.

Stay tuned...

xxxxxxxxxxx

PS MARY! I love you and will call you TONIGHT!!!! Poor babe. So sorry to neglect thee.
I haven't forgotten you.xoxo

Dark Days

2009-07-05T21:16:00.003+08:00

Well, I haven't posted in months...just been EXTREMELY busy working.

Most of you know that I am a partner in a bar here in Taipei. It's a bar with a "Who" theme- as in the best rock band on planet earth, The WHO! It's a really beautiful, but tiny bar called, Soo WHO BBQ and Bar.

The bar is going really well, but I tell ya, it's bringing out an UGLY side of me. I am too upset with myself to talk about it, but let's just say I am very happy being, for the most part, a "silent partner."
What I love the most about having the bar is meeting new people. There are some really cool, interesting people here in Taipei- both locals and ex-pats.
The tough thing is not being able to speak Mandarin (well). I AM studying it, but it takes years to really master it, I think. Plus I just don't have the time and energy to study it like I should. (Ok, that's a lie- I spend WAY too much time Facebooking....but I am even getting a bit tired of Facebook now).
The communication problem makes it hard for me to be more involved. We have a wonderful bartender/manager, and he TRULY knows what he is doing, but I have had a bit of a hard time with him, because he is doing everything on his terms, and won't listen to my ideas. However, after SUJOY talked to him, he will. Sux being a woman sometimes, it really does.

I am VERY excited about having LIVE music sessions at the bar! I want to have all ages "shows" on Sunday afternoon where no liquor will be sold. There are so many talented teens out there, and I want to give them a nice, clean, neato place to play. Let's see what happens this fall.

I have had a bit of a traumatic time since early June. I won't go into it, but all I can say is that I REALLY believe in karma, because certain people have treated me like utter shit...and I can't say I have been an angel these past few years.
What goes around certainly comes around. Amen.

I have met some VERY cool people here in Taipei though...and I will be happy to get to know them and hang out with them more.

We are going to the states for a few weeks, so that is something to look forward to...but on a VERY dark note, no one has heard a peep from my dad for 10 days and we fear the worst. God I hope he's ok. We have a very volatile relationship - I just can't and won't get into it here, but, well, it sucks.

Sorry to be such a downer, but that's where I am now.

Hope you are all in a happier place.

When I am in a better mood I will post pics of the bar, I promise.

xxx

Three Tickets to Paradise!!

2009-04-09T15:48:00.006+08:00

Last week Sujoy, Anjoli and I flew to Boracay- a tiny island in the Philippines for a few relaxing days of r&r.

We snorkled, sailed and went HELMET DIVING- which was a cool alternative to scuba diving. I also went parasailing for the first time which was really fun...not scary at all! I felt kind of silly but oh well. When in Rome... I will post pictures of the helmet diving soon.

Anjoli is going to post a VERY detailed report of our trip on HER blog...so I will post a link to her blog as soon as she finishes.

I have to run to Touch Rugby now...but I have to post yet another before and after pic. This "after" pic was taken on our guide's boat in Boracay. His name is Romel and he was the perfect guide. We had alot of fun at his family's restaurant on Puka Beach after playing on the island.

I couldn't save the old pic to my hard drive...I lost so many pictures recently so this is the only copy I have.
You have to look for me (and Sujoy) on the SEESAW HERE!

Here is the "after" pic!

Romel was pointing out a "Bat Cave," and I could have sworn I saw Batman and Robin skinny dipping. I always wondered about those two...

Healing Facial Palsy with Chinese Medicine

2009-03-27T11:25:00.024+08:00

I wrote this post for my Chinese Doctor's Blog. He had it translated into Mandarin. His blog can be found HERE.

A case of facial palsy caused by brain tumor surgery

On July 31, 2007, I underwent 12 hours of brain surgery to have a 4.5 cm brain tumor removed. It’s known in layman’s terms as an “acoustic neuroma.” An acoustic neuroma (also known as a vestibular schwannoma ) is a rare, but benign, usually slow-growing tumor on the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain.
2007年7月31日，我經歷了12小時的腦部手術，摘除腦部4.5厘米腫瘤。簡單的說是一個“聽神經瘤”。聽神經瘤（也稱為前庭神經鞘瘤）是在第八對腦神經的前庭部分的一個罕見，但是良性，通常生長緩慢的腫瘤，由內耳連接到腦子。
Just to backtrack, let me list the symptoms that led up to my diagnosis. Prior to the surgery, I had been suffering with tinnitus (ringing in my ears) for 8 years – starting in 1999. A few years after the tinnitus started, my tongue started to feel numb. In 2006, while living in Taipei for 6 months, I started seeing “lightning bolts.” I went to an eye doctor , because I feared I had a detached retina. He said that my retina was fine, and attributed my vision of these lightning bolts as a symptom of “old age.” I was 43 years old!
話說回來，讓我列出我的診斷症狀，手術前，我就受到耳鳴困擾（鈴聲在我的耳朵） 8年前-從1999年開始發生的，幾年後，耳鳴開始，我的舌頭開始感到麻木，2006年，雖然生活在台北6個月，我開始看到“閃電。於是我去看眼科醫生，因為我擔心我的視網膜脫落。
他說，我的視網膜沒問題，並說這”閃電”可能是由於“年老”。 ”我才43歲！
My symptoms began to get worse in the spring of 2007. I started to get sharp headaches, and I NEVER got headaches except as a young child before getting glasses. Even scarier than the headaches were episodes of dizziness that were so bad I couldn’t walk – I would just wait several minutes for the dizziness to subside. I told my doctor about the dizziness, visions of “lightning bolts,” and severe headaches, but she brushed these symptoms off and told me I had “ocular migraine headaches.” She gave me pamphlets to read and basically said there is little help available for migraines.
2007年春天我的症狀開始變得更糟了。我開始感受劇烈頭痛，事實上我從來沒有頭痛過，除了兒童時期，我戴了眼鏡時有這樣的經驗之外。更可怕的不只是頭痛、頭暈發作，而是我不能走-我只想等待幾分鐘讓頭暈緩解。我告訴醫生頭暈症狀像“閃電”般的劇烈頭痛，但她並不重視這些症狀，並告訴我有“視覺偏頭痛”。她給我一本小冊子閱讀，並說對我的偏頭痛有幫助。

I had brain surgery en route to relocating from San Diego to Taipei. After leaving San Diego my husband, Sujoy and my daughter, Anjoli and I flew to the east coast of the United States for a 2-week visit with my family in Massachusetts. While sightseeing one day with my family, the dizziness was just awful – so bad that my cousin, who I was visiting at the time, told me that I was not to set foot on the plane without seeing a doctor in Massachusetts first. So, I ended up visiting the emergency room at a hospital in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and within 20 minutes of having a CT scan, I was correctly diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma! I was relieved; because I had a feeling I had a brain tumor.

在離開聖地亞哥之後，我和丈夫Sujoy及女兒Anjoli，飛往美國東海岸2週，拜訪我在麻薩諸塞州的家人。有一天與我的家人出遊時，我的頭暈症狀又發生了，我的表哥告訴我說，在我還沒回去之前他可以介紹我一個在麻薩諸塞州的名醫。我最後到了麻薩諸塞州 Plymouth一家醫院的急診室，做了20分鐘的CT掃描，我被正確的診斷為前庭神經鞘瘤！我很欣慰，因為我終於得知結果了”我有腦腫瘤”。

I was sent by ambulance an hour north to Massachusetts General Hospital. My brain tumor, though benign, was life threatening. It was very large and had been pressing against my brain stem.
我被送上救護車，並開了一個小時到北麻省總醫院。我的腦腫瘤，雖是良性的，但會危及我的生命。這是非常危險的並已對我的腦幹造成壓迫。
A few days after arriving in Boston, a team of the top surgeons and Ear Nose and Throat doctors operated on me. As I mentioned, the surgery was quite lengthy – 12 hours! An excellent team of doctors removed the entire tumor. My neurosurgeon was Dr. Fred Barker and my ear doctor, from Mass. Eye and Ear was Dr. Michael McKenna.
幾天後我抵達到了波士頓，耳神經外科以及喉科醫生組成了醫師團隊為我執行了手術，如我所提及的12個小時的手術是非常冗長的，醫師團隊成功的為我移除了腫瘤，我感謝替我動手術的醫生—佛瑞德貝克和麥可邁可納。
I was not afraid AT ALL going into the surgery, for I knew I was in good hands, in one of the best hospitals in the world. I placed my life in God’s hands, and knew that, through the doctors, He would take care of me.
整個手術過程當中我一點也不害怕。我相信為我操刀的醫生。我把我的生命交給耶穌。我相信祂會保佑我的。
Following the surgery, I experienced somewhat severe facial paralysis, also known as “Bell’s Palsy.” This was deeply upsetting to me, and I became very depressed. I also had terrible pain in my neck and at the “wound” area of the surgery. Also, since the tumor grew around my nerve for hearing, I lost 100% of my hearing in my left ear.
I couldn’t close my left eye, and had a gold weight inserted on my left eyelid so I could close it. Also, after leaving the hospital I experienced terrible insomnia. This was quite disturbing to me, since I knew that my recovery was contingent upon adequate rest.
手術之後發生了後遺症，我的顏面神經癱瘓了，也就是所謂的貝爾氏麻痹(Bell’s Palsy)這使得我變得非常沮喪，同時間我頸部開刀的傷口處也產生劇烈的疼痛，也由於腫瘤長在我聽神經的附近，開刀後我喪失了左耳全部的聽力，我也無法闔上輕易的闔上左眼，離開醫院後，我嚴重的失眠，這使我相當的困擾，因為我知道適當的休息可以讓我的健康恢復。
My husband and daughter flew to Taipei a few weeks after my surgery, as my daughter had to start 4th grade at the Taipei American School. I missed them terribly. It was awful to have to recover from major surgery without them. I asked for special permission to fly to Taipei after recovering for just 4 weeks.
手術之後我丈夫和女兒從台北飛來美國看我，我非常的想念他們，之後我向醫院申請出院許可跟他們一起飛到台北，
About a week after landing in Taipei, I visited general practitioner Dr. Gao in Tienmou to see if he could refer me to a good neurosurgeon for follow up appointments, but mainly to obtain a prescription for antidepressants.
一個禮拜後我抵達到台北，我拜訪了位在天母的醫院-高醫生，請他介紹神經醫生給我，讓我能繼續治療，主要也希望能得到抗憂鬱的治療藥方。

Dr. Gao was so kind to me. I broke down and cried while telling him of my surgery and he could clearly see how severe my facial palsy was. He held my hands and said, “of course you are UPSET! You are experiencing post-traumatic stress syndrome!”
I asked him if he could also recommend a good Chinese Medicine doctor, as my neurosurgeon recommended that I try acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. (My neurosurgeon told me that he knew nothing about Chinese Medicine, but that it “couldn’t hurt to try!”).
高醫生對我非常的親切，當他檢視我左臉的面癱時，我再也止不住我的淚水，並且跟高醫生敘述我開刀的經過. 高醫生握緊我的手並感同身受的告訴我，他知道我很沮喪，同時他也告訴我正經歷著創傷後壓力症候群，我問高醫生能否介紹我一位好的中醫師，因為我在美國的主治醫師告訴我能試試中醫療法。

Dr. Gao told me that he once had an episode of hearing loss in one of his ears, so he visited Dr. Chang. To Dr. Gao’s delight, Dr. Chang restored Dr. Gao’s hearing. Dr. Gao spoke highly of Dr. Chang, and explained that he was a well-respected and highly reputable doctor – one of the best in the field of Chinese Medicine in Taiwan.
高醫師告訴我，他曾經患有聽力受損，並尋求張醫師醫治。高醫師開心的說，張醫師治愈了他的聽力，並且對張醫師有高度評價，還說張醫師是一個值得尊重和高度信賴的醫生-可以說是最棒的台灣中醫師之一。

So, in October of 2007 I visited Dr. Chang. He told me that he had success in treating facial palsy. I was so happy. He gave me powdered Chinese medicine and a special herbal tea (a “secret” blend of his). He told me that it would most likely be a very slow recovery since the tumor that was removed was so large. I felt better just visiting him; he is so caring, calm and positive.
2007年10月，我見了張醫師，他告訴我他有成功治療面神經麻痺的經驗，我聽了真是非常開心，他開了粉狀中藥和特殊藥茶給我（自製秘方）。他告訴我：由於之前腫瘤太大，所以需要一段緩慢而長的時間才有可能復原。我很開心我見到他，他讓我感受到溫暖並且給我正面想法和態度去面對我的病症。

So, I went to Dr. Chang who had me come three times per week for acupuncture and moxibustion treatments. I had read that for facial palsy, it was necessary to receive both moxibustion and acupuncture. Moxibustion is the application of heat resulting from the burning of a small bundle of tightly bound mugwort leaves to targeted acupoints.
我四個月前開始到張醫師診所進行針灸治療，我曾經讀過關於面癱的中醫治療是需要針灸同治的，至於灸法乃是燃燒一小束艾葉並施於穴位之上的一種療法。

Within 2-3 weeks of visiting Dr. Chang, I no longer had insomnia! THAT was a HUGE miracle, in my eyes. About a month after starting treatment with Dr. Chang I ran in the Terry Fox Run for Cancer – a 5k run!
經過2~3週張醫師的治療之後，我再也不失眠了，此外對我已經受損的雙眼來說，這真是很大的奇蹟，經過張醫師治療一個月之後，我就可以參加5公里的慈善長跑。
As I mentioned, I had (and still have) a platinum weight inserted in my left eyelid to help it close. Even with this weight, I could not close my left eye when I laid down on Dr. Chang’s table for my treatments. I had to close it with my index finger. Within about a month of taking Dr. Chang’s herbs and receiving acupuncture treatments, I was able to close my left eye without using my index finger.
如同我說的，我左眼皮還是閉合不全，當我躺在張醫師的治療床時，我只能用食指來閉上我的左眼皮，經過張醫師中醫治療一個月之後，我已經不再需要使用手指來閉上我的眼皮了。
My husband and I watched carefully for signs of healing from the Bell’s Palsy. Prior to getting acupuncture, the left side of my face was quite slack, and my eyebrows were quite uneven – as you can see in the “before” picture. Gradually, we noticed that my eyebrows became even and I started to develop a nasolabial fold on the left side of my face. I did not have a nasolabial fold after the surgery. (Nasolabial folds are the deep folds that run from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth). My mouth, which sloped down on my left side slowly started to straighten over time.
我丈夫和我仔細看了的我的面癱有恢復跡象。針灸之前，我左邊的臉是很鬆弛的，我的眉毛很歪斜不正-正如你所看到的“之前”圖片，逐漸的，我們注意到我的眉毛還有鼻唇溝開始與右邊的臉變得對稱了（鼻唇溝是側面鼻子的嘴角的交合處）。我的嘴巴，這對我的斜面左側慢慢開始整頓隨著時間的推移。
By January of 2008, many people were commenting on how much by face had improved.My eyebrows were even and my mouth was nearly straight. I was much happier and the anti-depressants helped take care of my depression. I continued to exercise regularly which helped a great deal. (I still exercise regularly, of course!).
2008年1月，許多人都說我的臉有了很大的改善。我的眉毛還有我的嘴幾乎回復成直線了，我也很開心抗抑鬱藥也幫助我的抑鬱症有所改善，因為我還是繼續保持運動習慣，這是一個不錯的紓壓方式。（我還經常運動，當然！）。

By December of 2008, ALL of my pain – in my neck and in my head (at the wound site) disappeared. This was a great relief to me. I think the recovery from the surgery is just very lengthy, but I have no doubt that Dr. Chang’s medicines helped aid my recovery.
2008年12月之後，我的肩頸及頭痛都消失了，這對我而言是一個解脫，我想從手術到復原的過程是一段很長的路，但是無庸置疑張醫師的醫術幫助我恢復健康。

Even though my face was improving and the pain had subsided, I complained to Dr. Chang that I was ALWAYS tired. I was SO tired of feeling tired! Dr. Chang explained that I need to tonify my “chi.” Chi is the body’s life energy. So, in November of 2008, Dr. Chang prescribed his “cooked medicine” to me. Every day, I cook a wonderful mixture of all kinds of herbs – flowers, pieces of what look like bark and twigs, and small muslin bags of herbs in 1400 ml of water in a ceramic pot for one and a half hours. I am THRILLED to say that, within a week of taking Dr. Chang’s “cooked medicine,” I finally had energy! I can honestly say that I have never felt so good as I have been since taking this medicine. I drink one cup in the morning and one cup in the afternoon. I have energy, I feel strong and I no longer have “brain fog.” I have recently become addicted to crossword puzzles – and my mind has never been sharper! I complete them very quickly!
雖然我的臉及疼痛已經改善，但是我還是跟張醫師抱怨我總是感到非常疲勞，張醫師說我需要補氣，氣可以說是能量，所以2008年11月張醫師開了處方煎煮藥給我，這些處方有花類、樹根、樹枝等藥草都用紗袋包裝，用1400cc的水煎煮，我很激動地說，服用張醫師的處方不到一週，我的體力開始回復了，誠實的說，自從服藥以來我從沒感覺這麼好過，每天早上及下午各服用一杯中藥，我體力回來了，頭腦也不再混沌了，我最近迷上填字遊戲，也可以很快速的完成遊戲。

At present (February, 2009) my Bell’s Palsy continues to improve. My smile on my left side is slowly turning upward, although my mouth still is uneven with an open mouthed smile. I now keep my mouth closed when I smile for pictures, but I will never stop smiling/laughing when I am NOT posing, of course!
2009年2月我面癱的情況持續有好轉，微笑時左臉的肌肉也可以運作稍微正常，雖然我的嘴巴在我開口笑時還不是很對稱，但是我還是會保持微笑。
I am so grateful for the wonderful medical care I have received during such a tumultuous health crisis. Drs. Barker and McKenna did a wonderful job debulking my tumor - and since they were able to remove tumor in its entirety, the chances of it regrowing are slim. I had an MRI about one year after my surgery and the MRI showed NO signs of tumor regrowth! Phew!
再經過這樣健康危機後，我很慶幸我得到這樣的妥善的治療，Drs. Barker and McKenna成功的幫我開了腦部手術，而且再復發的機會也不高。我之後也照了MRI，報告也顯示出沒有腫瘤的跡象。
I know that the Lord was watching out for me when he led me to ALL of these doctors, especially Dr. Chang. I still receive acupuncture twice a week. I look forward to my acupuncture visits. I always feel peaceful after seeing him and his kind, dedicated staff. Dr. Chang gave me hope when I needed it most. He is an answer to my prayers.
我知道上帝一直眷顧著我，並引領我接觸這些幫助過我的醫生—特別是張醫生，我現在仍然接受一個禮拜2次的中醫醫治，並期待保持長期的治療。見到張醫生和他的工作團隊我總是心裡感到平和，張醫生的治療帶給我希望。

Note: In addition to acupuncture and Chinese herbs, I regularly take the following supplements: a "women's" multivitamin (multivitamin plus various herbs - they can be found in all health food stores), B vitamin complex, Omega-3 purified fish oil - which contains both DHA and EPA, and Co-Q 10. For one year I took a mushroom extract which was a blend of 7 mushrooms. It's called Stamet's 7 and can be ordered HERE.
This formula is a blend of Himematsutake, Cordyceps, Reishi, Maitake, Lion's Mane, Zhu Ling and Yun Zhi mushrooms.

Me, September 2007. This photo was taken about a week before I started to treatment with Dr. Chang.

These pictures were taken on February 4, 2009. Apologies for the quality. I took them using a mirror. (It was a "good face day!"). I believe the weight on my left eye is not needed now...it's weighing down my eye too much, so I am going to have it removed soon.

This is a recent photo, taken in January, 2011. Three and a half years post-surgery.

Here is a picture of the herbs I take before cooking them:

This is my "magic cauldron" that I cook them in!

This is the magic potion I drink every day! YUM!

Dance Me to the End of Love - Wordle

2009-03-04T22:49:00.002+08:00

I just discovered Wordle!

Check it out at WORDLE

This is my first "creation."

title="Wordle: Dance Me to the End of Love"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/610720/Dance_Me_to_the_End_of_Love"
alt="Wordle: Dance Me to the End of Love"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

This is scary!

2009-03-01T17:48:00.003+08:00

I was just googling "easy fruit salads," just to get some hints...I have to bring dessert to a PTA Board meeting tomorrow. I was going to buy a cheesecake and make a fruit salad.

No wonder we (Americans!) are so fat. Look at THIS:

EASY FRUIT SALAD

1 can Wilderness cherry or raspberry pie mix
1 can Borden's sweetened condensed milk
1 lg. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (16 oz.) Cool Whip

Mix together and chill.

:(

--------------------------
I just spent a small fortune on fruit at the outdoor market. All good stuff...and I found a nice dressing recipe: just sugar, lemon juice and mint.

No Cool Whip,pie mix or sweetened condensed milk in MY fruit salad!

Are you lonesome tonight?

2009-02-27T22:47:00.009+08:00

Well, Elvis, since you asked...
YES I AM!!!!!!!!!

Sujoy is in the states, Anjoli is at a sleepover...it's just me and the cockroaches.

:)

(I've tried getting rid of them, but they like us. They really, really do).

I went to an amazing concert this evening at the American School. I cannot explain just how phenomenal these teenagers are! The performances included voice, piano, cello, violin and trombone. They ran out of programs, but they performed pieces by Bach, Bartok, Schumann, and Chopin - those were the only names I remember. I knew one piece (which received a standing ovation) but I don't know who the composer was. It's sad, but I remember it from a Gilligan's Island episode!! Oh Sue. :)
Many of the kids memorized their pieces...I just can't get over that. I was COMPLETELY blown away tonight.

It's very sad, but there were very few people in the audience. I think it's a shame that so few parents and students were there to appreciate and support these kids - and it was FREE.

Ok, the cockroaches and I are going to watch You Kill Me. (Sujoy if you are reading this, I bet you just fainted!).

Bye bye!

You think I'm joking? (cockroach is on the right)

Extreme close-up of my "date" for the evening:

DHL Tai Tais

2009-02-27T16:45:00.003+08:00

Well I finally got up the nerve to play "social touch rugby" at the American School last night!
The team is called the DHL Tai Tais (tai tai means "wife" in Mandarin. hmmm).
I absolutely loved it and I am SO proud because I wasn't worn out in the least. We have a really awesome Aussie coach - he had us do drills from 5-5:30,then we scrimmaged from 5:30 - 6:30.
I made some great catches, but I still need to figure out the plays. It's weird...you don't throw the ball like a football, you toss it (with a spin)and you must keep behind the team mate who tosses you the ball.
We played women vs women and for a bit with the "blokes" (husbands mostly).
I can't wait for Sujoy (hubby) to play - I hope he does!

Most of the women are FANTASTIC players - much better than the men! Yeah!
When I was leaving a few of the ladies told me I played really well. I shocked myself, to be honest!

:)

Just a Quick One...

2009-02-23T00:46:00.004+08:00

Because it's LATE!

Thanks so much for your encouraging words. It really helps!

Well, I had a training session with my personal trainer at the gym today. She told me that the contest won't actually start until March 1st! Oh well. That's ok.

I've lost 2.o kilograms so far...but some of it is water and lean body mass! Only 1 kilogram was fat...but that's ok. As long as I LOST something- I am happy!
My fat percentage is now 32%, and ideally a woman should have 23% or less body fat...so, my goal is to lose 10% body fat by June 1st!

I have a few cute little snippets to share. About a week before I entered this contest one of the 3 year olds I teach kept smacking my butt saying:"fatty! fatty!" Yeah yeah yeah. Shut it!!! Little brat. Hee hee. Nah- he is RIGHT!
THEN the SAME morning - an older boy - who loves me unabashedly - put his arms around my waist - looked up at me and smiled - then patted my stomach and said:
"baby? baby???" ha ha ha. NOT QUITE! He is such a cutie. I give the kids "high fives"(no one does that here and they love it. Very American. Yes, I know). Whenever I give him a high five he grabs my hand and kisses the back of it (a ladies' man in the making, fer sure) then he mouths to me: " I LOVE YOU!" aw........I'm tellin' ya...the kids I teach - they make me very happy. And I agree with the teasing!!! Doesn't bother me in the least. Kids don't lie. It's refreshing, actually!
:)

I Feel Good!

2009-02-16T23:14:00.005+08:00

Just got back from an hour of cardio on the *&^%ing treadmill...actually it was a really good workout. I jogged for a half hour and ran for a half hour.
I listened to great music...mostly Nina Simone, Gnarls Barkley and Bruce Springsteen.
I am addicted to these artists at the moment! I MUST add that I am also loving my friend James Casey's band's new songs. James is my friend in London who was kind enough to put me up in December when I impulsively went to see The Who! His band is called Ether City (I actually posted YouTube videos here in August). Check out Ether City's songs on their groovy new website HERE!!! (October 13,2008).

I am getting up the NOIVE to sing at an open mic night at a club that Sujoy and I went to over the weekend (to celebrate Valentine's Day) called,Sappho de Base. With Anjoli's help I will record myself singing something by Nina and maybe even Gnrarls Barkley and figure out which songs could be tolerated by strangers! :)

Sappho de Base is the COOLEST club - it's a lounge -very cozy.We chatted with the owner for a long time - we were there from 11 - 3am! (It's a late night club). The owner is a Taiwanese woman (who wore a very cool Stevie Ray Vaughnish looking hat!). She lived in San Francisco for many years. We went to see a local "Chicago Blues" band - they were fun...but even more fun was an impromptu set by 3 other musicians who were friends of the owner's. I told the owner I'd be back - she gave me her card and asked us to call her sometime and hang out! I love that the club is ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. She wanted it to be a "non-profit" club - but a non-profit club can't serve alcohol! Anywho...here is their website: Sappho de Base.

I am happy to report that I have steadily been losing poundage! Ya hoo!! Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to see how much lower my fat percentage is- I have my weekly training session with my sweetie of a personal trainer, Debbie. It's cool - because I am NOT starving myself whatsoever...just making healthier choices. I did drink over the weekend,but just didn't eat much! Like last year though, I plan on giving up alcohol for Lent. Heck, maybe I will even go to Church this year. Stranger things have happened.

I am nearly done writing up my recovery story from brain surgery for my Chinese Medicine doctor's blog. He has been bugging me for ages to write it up.I just have to tweak it a bit. Sujoy reminded me of some of the finer points I missed! My wonderful doctor, Dr.Chang, is going to have it translated,and also add which acupuncture points he used. I will share this article with brain tumor (support) organizations,and with my surgeons in Boston who will be SO pleased(and they can share my post with their patients as well). The before and after pictures are really remarkable! My main complaints, and I KNOW I shouldn't whine, BUT they are: 1.I do not feel that I need the platinum weight on my left eye anymore - it's TOO BIG and heavy, and NOT necessary, I think. 2. I can't smile all the way on my left side - the left side of my mouth doesn't open...so no more big smiles from Sue! :( It doesn't STOP me from smiling, of course, but I have learned how to smile for pics (I keep my mouth closed).
3. SOMETIMES I get annoyed not being able to hear in my left ear. If I am in a group, or if there is background noise,I have a hard time following conversations.
I AM REALLY TIRED of saying, "Excuse me? Sorry? Pardon?" Maybe I should learn how to read lips.

Ok that's the last of my bitching...for NOW.

After tonight's workout...I REALIZE that exercise has such a profound effect on my mood. It's just not something I need to do to lose weight...it is THE best cure for the blues!

Oh and the OTHER cure for the blues is...DANCING to the BLUES! OOh baby - Sujoy and I danced the night away on Valentine's Day. Just like old times. It was a blast. Thank you, Lord/Greek Gods(!) for MUSIC!!!!!!!

FYI, Sujoy and I fell in love at a blues bar called, Harper's Ferry in Allston/Brighton, Mass....aw!!!!!!
xxxx

Recipe for Life

2009-02-11T12:56:00.004+08:00

My friend Anna in San Diego sent me this email.
I get tired of forwarding cool stuff, so I thought I would just share this via my blog.

I have been so down lately (but I am down EVERY February, no matter where I live).
I think there are some great ideas here:

Good Recipe for Life

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. While you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Talk to God about what is going on in your life.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for_____________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water.
Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. [YES YES YES AND YEEEEES!]

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. (I have been saying this to myself lately!).

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others.
You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. [Yup]

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends and family will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You'll be smiling before you know it.

I'm Entering a "Biggest Loser" Contest!

2009-02-03T20:05:00.008+08:00

ha ha ha!

I belong to a gym here in Taipei called California Fitness.
My trainer told me about a cool contest today. Whoever loses the highest percentage of fat in 3 months splits NT$100,000 with their trainer! $1USD=$32 NT (roughly)...so that's about $1500USD!

I need this incentive as I have consistently gained weight (fat!) since moving to Taipei!
eeks. I HAVE gained muscle weight TOO though...but still...gaining fat is very discouraging...especially since I DO work out (but not enough!).

My trainer said that the last person who won this contest lost 7kg in the 3 month time frame...so that's a good goal to shoot for.

They have a machine that calculates your body fat and lean muscle and how it's distributed. Oddly enough my upper body is stronger than my lower body!

It's good that they are calculating body fat only...I don't want to starve myself and lose lean body mass (which I did over the summer when I did HerbalLife for a spell).

I am psyched to have a GOAL now...but it's gonna be ROUGH.

I'll post BEFORE and AFTER pics at the END of the three months. NOT NOW!

I'm so hungry...hmmm...here we GO!!!

:)

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-01T18:36:00.002+08:00

We are having a blast with our family and wonderful friends.
We took a short 2 day trip to Taroko Gorge...which is honestly the most awe inducing park I have ever seen. This was our second trip to Taroko and we plan on returning this summer.

I promise to post a slew of pics of the park and our holidays SOON!

Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year...and GOOD LUCK to our new Prez, Barack Obama. :) Things will get better...I can feel it.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

2008-12-25T22:49:00.013+08:00

Oh I can't believe how long it's been since I have blogged.
I promise to catch up soon...and yes, Laura...my New Year's Resolution (besides to stop stuffing my face) is to BLOG once a WEEK (at least).

Last night our good friends Chris and Sokoun and Sokoun's mom came all the way from San Diego.

I am so happy to be surrounded by family and such wonderful friends.
I am truly blessed.
Missing family and friends back in the US too...especially Jen and Roe.

Yesterday was our 17th Wedding Anniversary...my mother-in-law bought us a beautiful bouquet of roses and made us a delicious Shrimp curry and other Indian delights...oh my belly is SO big now. I am fat and happy, wot can I say?

Today we celebrated first with the munchkins I teach at Lily Kids school. Johnson, the director, is SUCH a sweet man. He made an incredibly delicious turkey dinner. I couldn't believe how good it was - and it was made in (what I call) an Easy Bake Oven! It's like a giant toaster oven.

Tonight we had a buffet dinner at the Grand Hotel. It's a beautiful place...I ate mostly seafood...and dessert!

Here are some pics from last night and today - taken at our apartment, Lily Kids School and at the Grand Hotel.

Peace and love always,
Suexxxxx

I was COMPLETELY exhausted last night!!! (in a shopper's/wrapper's coma).

This was the best pic taken tonight...but the flash didn't go off. Oh well!

Please Vote for Gary Stockton!!!

2008-10-23T18:46:00.000+08:00

Gary is an amazing guitarist who deserves to win this contest called ,
"You Sing the Who."

The Prize is 4 tickets to see The Who in Washington,DC.

The deadline is October 23rd.
He is SOOOO close to winning!

It only takes a second to vote, so please do so by voting:

HERE!

GARY IS AHEAD BY ONE VOTE!!!!!!!!!
GO VOTE NOW!!!!!!!!!!

xxxxx

But wait, there's more!

2008-10-19T09:24:00.008+08:00

I forgot to add that I found a Mandarin tutor who comes to my apartment and tutors me one hour a week. He's a great teacher, and is very encouraging! It's fun speaking Mandarin (I studied it briefly last time I was here), but extremely difficult - which goes without saying. The most difficult part is learning the 4 tones. A word can have an entirely different meaning with a different tone! For example, the Mandarin word for "four" can also mean "death" depending on the tone!

I have a new Taiwanese friend/language partner too! Her name is April- she's the daughter of my acupuncturist. April is so sweet - she has studied in the US (in Missouri of all places...no offense if you're from Missouri!). She also studied acupuncture and Chinese medicine in China for five years. She wants to set up a practice in the US, but her dad doesn't want her to leave Taiwan! Aw...he is very old-fashioned and protective. The cool thing about April is that her favorite meal is a burger and a beer! Mine too! ;)

I also have stepped up my visits to the gym. I have a trainer and for THIS month I am working out twice a week with her (doing strength training) and then I do cardio on the boring machines 3-4 times a week. I can RUN now...not just JOG! I sometimes run along a riverwalk near my apartment,just to get away from the boring machines.

I've been doing this "10 Day Detox in a Box" that I picked up in London in Kew at Oliver's Health Food Store and I feel AMAZING! It's a mixture of herbs - the main ones are Blessed Thistle and Cleavers. I know about Blessed Thistle which cleanses the liver, but I've never taken Cleavers before. Cleavers is a "weed" which cleans the lymphatic system. So by working out, detoxing and going to the sauna 3 times a week...WOW. I am a new woman, I swear. My depression is completely gone. It was really bad for awhile, which is why I wasn't blogging, to be honest.

Our friends Chris and Sokoun will be visiting us in December - can't wait! We plan on going to an island/islands in the Philippines.
I found THIS wonderful spot - called Dolphin Island. Sounds heavenly!
So this trip is my workout incentive. Gotta have a goal/something to look forward to!
Now if I could only give up beer I could lose my belly....

Here is a pic of a restaurant on Dolphin Island (the island is completely submerged under water).

What I've Been Up To

2008-10-18T23:07:00.006+08:00

Ok for the remaining three readers of my blog.......what have I been up to?

Well,for starters, I got a NEW job teaching just 3 mornings a week (for now) at a kindergarten. It's more like a pre-school but it's called Lily Kids Kindergarten. It's a school and a day care and it's a WONDERFUL school. The building is fairly new and the staff are awesome. It's a bilingual school though- so most of the teachers only really speak Mandarin. The owners are a sweet couple - the wife is Taiwanese and the husband is from England.

I am teaching English, math, art and singing and dancing to kids aged 2-5. I don't really "teach" art though - I just help out because all 32 kids are in that class. All 32 are in the singing and dancing class too. I am having a blast teaching them new songs and fingerplays, etc.

I am SORT OF managing the PTA bookstore at the American School. I am getting ready to take over the position from the former manager. I had a bit of a nervous breakdown (ok exaggerating) in September because I realized I had taken on too much- working as an assistant director at one school and managing the bookstore. I was VERY depressed, so I quit my (paying job) and felt better for a bit...but then got depressed AGAIN. I am someone who REALLY needs structure or I will never get out of bed. That's just how I am.
I was shopping at an ex-pat grocery store called Wellman's here and I saw an ad posted for a part-time position for a FUN kindergarten teacher. I went to the interview and was hired on the spot! The hours are perfect (and yeah there aren't many of them, but that's ok because my in-laws are visiting here for two months- which I will get to!). I work Tuesday - Thursday from 9 to 11:30. My boss (Johnson) is SUCH a sweetheart. He let me pick my hours...and he is SO laid back and let's me do whatever I want with the music class...and I shadowed him for a few weeks and learned his teaching methods for English and maths. (Yes, the English say, "maths!").

Oh and YES my in-laws are here visiting from India for two months and I have a MISSION- to help them out with their health problems. I won't bore you with the details, but I am taking them to 2 different Chinese Medicine doctors...and already they both have had positive results, so I am THRILLED. It feels good to help OTHERS for a change! My friends and family took care of me when I needed it...so now I can be on the giving end. I like that!

Hope you are all well.

I've missed blogging!!!

Oh I should add that I have become a Facebook junkie! It is SO addictive - but lots of fun. Drives Sujoy crazy though...

I recently reconnected with a former co-worker - his name is Van. I think he found me on Facebook. We worked together at Boston University...many,many moons ago. We have had some wonderful "chats." He's such a wonderful guy (and so is his wife, Shemetra).

Check out his WONDERFUL blog,ok?

Van's Blog!!!

London in a Flash

2008-10-13T18:49:00.008+08:00

Well, most of you already know that I went to London for a few days in August (I also spent a day and a night in Amsterdam).

I went to see a workshop of a musical called, "Ash." Rachel Fuller composed the music and the story is based on her job as an organist in a crematorium where she worked as a teenager.

It was quite an exhausting trip, but it was wonderful to see Rachel AND meet some of my very favorite bloggers for the first time.

I was so pleased to be the "guest of honour" at a "guerilla gig" at my blogger pal James Casey's home in Shephard's Bush - which all Who freaks KNOW is old Who territory. I met his sweet girlfriend, Vicky,as well as his brother, Andrew (who also performed for us) and 2 of James' bandmates, both named Chris (but the drummer Chris is called "Captain"). I had SUCH a wonderful time - I will post a few YouTube videos I took of the gig at the end of this post for your viewing pleasure.

I am such a lazy Susan so I am cheating here and cutting and pasting a bit!
Here are a few of my posts from Rachel Fuller's "Kew" forum.

I wrote this the day after seeing Ash:

Oh I am recovering from jet lag...but I slept most of today...
I am afraid I am NOT good at reviewing...anything basically...so I will give y'all a blow- by - blow of the night!

I was a bit late leaving my hotel room to meet Delbut and his wife Sarah - but, thankfully, I only had one stop on the tube!
When I got there, they hadn't yet arrived...phew!

SO! When the 3 of us were together....our mission was...to FIND the Arcola!
This proved a most daunting task!
Sarah and Del tried asking bus drivers if they stopped near the Arcola- the funniest response from one driver being: "I dunno - I just drive STRAIGHT!"
Classic!

THEN we found a taxi, but when we asked him to take us to the Arcola he said,"Oh no, I thought you were going somewhere LOCAL! I've got to pick up me wife now."

Ok hon, don't let us get in the way of doing your ERRANDS!

FINALLY, Del had the VERY GOOD sense to pop into a convenience store, get a taxi service's card - which was near us- so he booked a car and all was well.
(We ended up getting a call from MarkT who told us he found a nice pub right across from the Arcola. Perfect!).

So we all sat down outside the pub and had a few pints- when WHO should walk by- but PETE and his son....so we all said hi...Delbut sai,"hello Mr. Townshend!" but apparently Pete didn't recognize his beloved fan....and he kept walking.

After some time we headed to the theatre, and had somed delish Turkish Lager (bear in mind Sue had NADA in her stomach! I thought we'd have dinner beforehand - but it was a liquid dinner for Sue! uh oh!).
We saw Rachel making the rounds- then she came over to ME!!! And we hugged and she seemed a bit in a panic. She was worried about the audio and said, "she'd run out of adrenaline!" I rubbed her back and told her "it will be FINE!" Once a mom,always a MOM!

Soon it was time for the show. Delbut saved me a seat in the very front row (I was slow getting in). I spoke to James at his seat on the way in...when I saw Pete walk down from his seat in the back and walk down to the front row and SHAKE DELBUT'S HAND!!! (He told Del that he was sorry that he didn't recognize him earlier).
On Pete's way back to his seat, I was still in the aisle next to James and I said, "hi Pete!" and I stuck out my hand and he smiled and said, "HI!"and shook my hand. That was my only encounter with Pete for the night! It's ok- I was there for Rach anyway!

I thoroughly enjoyed the show- BUT I am deaf in one ear, so the audio probs in the first half really effected by ability to get the gist of the plot.

At intermission I met Rob Lee (oh I met him earlier - before the show - we immediately recognized each other!). He told me that he chatted with Bob Pridden about the sound problems - and they were rectified by the second half.

The show was VERY powerful. The acting was SUPERB!
I LOVED the music.Rachel used a few old songs -
"Nothing Worthwhile," "Pleasure Seeker" and oh man I forget the other one!
I was smack dab in front of the band - which was amazing - and I LOVED the cello!!! Beautiful.

I thought Pleasure Seeker worked - but Del is right - it needed something more- because I didn't realize that there was an accident.

The play went by VERY fast!!! TOO fast.I would like it if Rachel and Jack flushed it out more.
I didn't want it to end.

Afterward...we had more drinks- Rachel signed my program- she wrote: " To Sue: So much love to you, Rachel xoxo"

I was SO jet lagged I FORGOT my pressie for her, so she wrote Eel Pie's addy on the back of the program.

We all hung around for a bit - Pete talked for a LONG time to Mark T. I just didn't have the nerve to approach him...it was fine though! It was so cool being there anyway.

I said goodbye to Rachel - gave her a hug and told her that I loved her - and she said,"I Love You TOO!"
Aw........

It was nice to meet DublinJames - albeit briefly!

Eventually we all went home - Del and Sarah were so lovely and accompanied me back to my hotel - but we grabbed a bite to eat first! I was SOOOO hungry!

Just a heavenly night!

I am truly blessed........

My camera was on the fritz...GRRR.
It wanted to stay on video mode...BUT I was able to get one beautiful group shot:
TA DA!

From left to right: DublinJames,MarkT,ME!,James Casey, Sarah Evans (Delbut's wife), Delbut.

One more post....

Well, I DID end up going on a LOVELY walking tour of Kew (couldn't find a Magic Bus to rent, sadly).

I had some fish and chips at a shop right near the tube station....then I set off IN THE WRONG DIRECTION looking for all the QUAINT lil' places Rachel showed us over at the weekinkew site!Sue is the dorkiest dork of all dorks. A saddo Americano...truly.

I walked and walked and walked and I even walked in a graveyard! (Thought Rachel would appreciate that).
I loved the Celtic crosses and Angel statues. I even wrote down a few of the verses I read on some of the head stones.
(Ok is this taking my fandom a bit too far?).

It was getting a bit late...so I thought I'd try to find Kew Gardens...so I walked for miles and miles BACK to the tube station and followed the signs - walked across a bridge and THERE I found the little village where Rach lives!
I found the restaurant where she and Pete ate, but...I was in a bit of a hurry, and not in the mood to eat BY MYSELF, so...
I bought an apple, some power bars,some MUD from the Dead Sea (a beauty treatment, of course), a 10 Day Detox kit and a book for a friend at the Organic Health Food Store....I went to this holistic health center to see if I could get this special facial massage- but they didn't have any openings, sadly.
THEN! I went to STARBUCKS - got some CALM tea (I refuse to drink their burnt coffee) and wrote a card to Rachel!
AND! LOL by the time I left the place was JAMMED with moms and their prams! I saw THE most adorable Indian baby there (I think she was half Indian).I even got her to smile for me. aw.....

After tea I followed the signs to Kew Gardens. OMG. It was more beautiful than I ever imagined! I wish I hadn't wasted so much time walking in the wrong direction! I only got to spend about 45 minutes there...oh man you could EASILY spend a day there! Loved the indoor gardens - but the grounds- Oh wow. I felt like a character in a Jane Austen book roaming the grounds...It is a MUST SEE for anyone visiting London.

I rushed back to my hotel and got a taxi to take me to a Tube station so I could catch my flight to Amsterdam. I was a bit late checking in....and, oddly enough, my luggage was tagged as being "priority!" They are so darned accommodating in Blighty!!

I am kicking myself that I didn't get to Kew sooner...but I was QUITE knackered following a fun gin infused evening with James and co!

And,as promised here are some short snippets of the Amazing James Casey (and 2 of his mates from his band, Ether City - Chris Mayes on guitar and Chris (the Captain) on drums.

Ether City - "Supervillian"

Ether City - "Right Now"

James Casey performing a wonderful Rufus Wainwright inspired song called, "Josephine."

Even more James Casey: "Here We Are"

But wait, even MORE James Casey!! This last one is called: "Shoulder to Shoulder."

I Made Roger Daltrey Laugh!

2008-09-29T01:57:00.005+08:00

Yup.
I did.
I submitted a question for a recent interview with Rog on thewho.com... and, well, see for yourself what he said!

A question from Suesjoy, “Have you ever considered running for a political office? The UK needs someone like you.”

ROGER: [Laughs,then proceeds to undress]

OH ROG! PUT YOUR SHIRT BACK ON! OK A DRESS WILL DO...

JUST FOCUS ON THE INTERVIEW HON!

ROB: And if you do … then there’s something you’ve got then, a website like this, thewho.com is a platform. You know, it is a way to …

ROGER: Well, I mean it is, one of the ways, the only way you can get things changed but look at the pratts you have to work with. Oh my god, oh my god. You know …

ROB: Well now that was interesting because I remember very briefly when we …

ROGER: No, I mean I do, I do … because of TCT, try and get it, you know there are things that go on that sadly politicians have control of, which we need their help to get what we do done. So I’ve had to mix with them and talk with them. Indeed I’m going to be taking, I think I’m going to be taking David Camden around a unit in the next two months. But you know you have to do that kind of networking. He’s … I think he’s going to be our next prime minister. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that now. And I want him to be aware of what we do, and I’d like him to support it. I think, you know … if anyone can inspire him … with things working and that National Health, by looking at what we do in TCT, I think he’s the kind of guy that might just be radical enough to kind of see other ways around improving people’s lives other than just throwing money at a wall and drugs at people to cure things, because it’s not all about just that.

ROB: But the power that you have, and I’ve seen it firsthand, you met that lovely fan, Alyce, when you were in the states, who wasn’t well. And she actually has a message saying, “Thank you, Roger.”

ROGER: I know I got a letter from her the other week. Oh, give her my love, and … No, I see people like Alyce and I imagine myself in that body, and I’ve had such a life of privilege, my life’s been a dream. You can’t give enough back. You can’t do, and it’s like that thing on stage, you can never give an audience enough.

ROB: Yeah, but you have a gift, I mean I said to you after the thing, you should do the United Nations, and you said oh I wouldn’t do that, I don’t approve of that …

ROGER: I don’t approve of the United Nations. No, I think the United Nations is a corrupt, overburdened, bureaucratic … it needs, basically needs tearing down and restructuring with some teeth. When you look, really look into the United Nations, it’s incredible corruption going on there.

ROB: So you’re focused very much on the charity thing though the TCT, that’s in a sense become a voice for you to link, you know, your skills as a communicator between the people who are suffering, you are so good at talking to them and so easy with them, and these kind of rather boring politicians. You know, you’re a kind of catalyst …

ROGER: The trouble is the politicians they don’t think … the biggest problem we’ve got with all the politicians in the world today, it’s a huge problem, and it’s a problem magnified because of the way our media is, is that they don’t, they just can not think long term. They think long term and come up with long term policies, they won’t get elected and that’s a tragedy for all of us. That’s why we keep digging holes for ourselves. But all you can do, that’s why I think the artist shouldn’t be politically affiliated to any, you know part of the problem is party politics. And it’s always been important for artists to, you know, every party will have one or two good ideas, but that’s all and all the rest of it’s crap. But there’s, just pick six good ideas from all of them and make the country work, you know.

ROB: So the trick is to support the fundament values rather than the …

ROGER: Yeah.

ROB: Yeah?

ROGER: And you’ve got to be pragmatic. Well I think party politics is an absolute disaster. I mean, you know, support the party at all costs even though the shits got a hole in the bottom.

ROB: Feels like it’s all breaking down then, isn’t it?

ROGER: well it does because this system is a disaster. You know, and when you see things like this, you can say well… you know, maybe a good dictatorship isn’t such a bad thing [Laughs] . When I’m emperor! [Laughs] No, but I mean, because it is breaking down. You need people with vision, and sadly, I don’t see anyone … Obama talks great vision.

ROB: Great speech writers.

ROGER: Great speech writers if it’s him that’s writing them. I’d be astonished if the Republicans get back in after the past 8—its not my business, American politics, but it really, really, for me personally, it really upsets me how America’s standing in the world has been so damaged in the last 8 years.

ROB: Yeah.

ROGER: And indeed, it is the work of a genius.

ROB: It’s extraordinary, actually.

ROGER: It’s extraordinary, that 7 years ago the whole world was on their side. And, you know now, and it’s not that they’re against Americans—people aren’t against Americans—but they’re very, very nervous about what America really, really stands for. And that is, I think, criminal, and I don’t know whether or not Americans within their borders quite understand the way the rest of the world see them now. Not them personally, but their country. And that, it would be astonishing to me if Republicans got in again. I know we think it would be a very, I would think it would be such an astonishing thing for the rest of the world to watch as well. They might draw conclusions from it, which would put America back 60 years.

ROB: And that might …

ROGER: They might see it as Obama didn’t get in as he’s black. And that would be such a tragedy as America.

ROB: And as China is rising, and India and the other economies, maybe its all change.
ROGER: It would be such a tragedy for America, because America is a great country. It’s a brilliant, brilliant country, with brilliant people. It’s like, our country is a great country. Sadly, at times we are lead by mediocre leaders who make wrong decisions.

Rog is really a very intelligent man...it's a shame he has been in Pete's shadow for so long...I really think he SHOULD run for a political office!

So...

2008-08-29T17:53:00.002+08:00

Obviously I have let my blog go!
I think it's because I have so much to write, I don't know where to begin.

I nearly hung out a "Farewell my fellow bloggers" sign, but no, that would be lame.

I promise to return later this weekend...when I have time.

Going to the gym now.
Can't be fat and 46...nope. Pretty darn fit for an old lady....

In case you don't know...some of the OLD Rachel gang (and newbies) are trying to gather at the Kew Live Chatroom on Saturday, August 30th at:

11 pm in London, 6 pm in New York, 3 pm in LA. 6 amish-Sunday a.m. for some of those left of California...ok for ME in Taipei......

Go to KEW!

See YEW (there).

xxxxxxxxx

suesjoy

2008-07-22T02:09:00.001+08:00

I Love My Friends...Even MORE Than BEER!

2008-07-20T17:27:00.004+08:00

Ok so I Skypeed (is this a verb now?) my hubby, daughter and friends yesterday at our friend Sokoun and Chris' house.
Chris showed me a glass of that DELISH Karl Strauss Amber Lager...of course I was drooling.
He told me that Sokoun thought it was the favorite part of my trip!

Well, to be honest, it WAS a highlight...but NOT THE FAVORITE PART OF MY TRIP!!!

Aw...

SOKOUN AND CHRIS

OF COURSE the best part of the trip was seeing my beloved friends!
The reason why it took me so long to blog about my trip is that when I came back I slowly fell into a slump (which is normal actually - the post-vacation blues). I missed my friends and daughter terribly! I wish I could have stayed longer, but c'est la vie...that's the life of a working stiff comme MOI!

So....where did I end part one...oh yeah...the BEER ON TAP at Chris and Sokoun's - LOL.

I forgot to mention that they now have a new addition to the family...a 5 1/2 ounce Chihuahua named Lola...as in L-O-L-A Lola! la la la la Lola. I couldn't stop serenading her while I was there. No wonder she kept trying to bite me. She is ADORABLE but NOT the friendliest pup in the world! But once she got to know me, she stopped biting/attacking me and licked me instead. Sadly, I could NOT train her to lick my ear...but she IS a female - and not a lesbian either. Oh well.

It was wonderful hanging out with Sokoun and her awesome family. I mentioned that we went to her niece's graduation (where I got to work on my tan- bonus). After the graduation we went for a yummy all-you-can-eat (oh no) Japanese buffet. I never had so much sushi at one sitting in my life. It was delish. THEN to help digest our food we went SHOPPING and Sokoun picked out 2 lovely tops for me - and I get compliments whenever I wear them. One is a halter and I NEVER EVER would have dreamed of buying a halter top (I last wore one when they were in style in the mid 70s) but she eyed it and thought it would look good on me - and it really does! (ok I am not modest - y'all know that already!).

I can't divulge anything about another little shopping spree I had with Sokolun and Chris (after mucho sake and wine). Sorry. Use your imagination!

On Thursday I conned my friend Chelice into driving me to the train station to catch a train to LA. I have my ways...I invited her for a manicure and pedicure - and while she was having flowers painted on her fingers and toes I said, "um...can I ask a favor of you? Could you please take me to the train station? My train leaves in 20 minutes, by the way!"
I kid you not. Chelice is from Detroit and she's got the Motor City chops to prove it! We FLEW to the station - downtown - about a 10 mile drive...I bought my ticket, ran to the train and had a couple minutes to spare before the train departed.
This is what it's like to be a friend of Sue's! It's not pretty....I know I know. (Right Mary????).

I had a LOVELY trip up to LA. Oh it is just a gorgeous ride - along the coast. I chilled out and got PSYCHED about seeing my Ru friend Laura (we met at a Rufus Wainwright appearance in LA many moons ago), AND the one and only Martha Wainwright.

Laura picked me up and we drove to her apartment and she served a delish spaghetti dinner with this homemade mushroom tomato sauce. Laura is a vegetarian...I like hanging out with her because I always eat healthy food. We had a few glasses of wine and caught up...then headed for the Troubadour - which is just about a 10 minute drive from her house - it's near Beverly Hills. (Oh BOY!).

We got there just as doors were opening and OF COURSE headed straight for the center of the stage. We watched Martha and her band head up to the VIP lounge which was upstairs to the left of the stage...there are big windows and I was psyched to spot her dad - Loudon Wainwright. I was hoping he would perform with her (he did).

The opening singer was FANTASTIC - her name is Jesca Hoop. CHECK HER OUT. Laura was already a fan, but I had never heard of her. Supposedly she was a nanny for Tom Waits' kids - and he describes her music as: "taking a swim in a lake at night." Perfect. Just check her out, you won't be disappointed. It was just her on acoustic guitar (I could hear a strong Celtic influence), and she was accompanied for many songs by 2 other female singers. They looked and sounded like 3 angels (corny I know, but that's the best I can do!).

FINALLY Martha came out - and the place was PACKED. I think it was a sold-out show. I was SO happy for her. The last time I saw her - about 3 years ago now - she played in San Diego to a crowd of maybe 10 people? I was feeling for her, but that's San Diego for you! NOT A HIP PLACE AT ALL. But even when I saw her in LA a few months before the San Diego show, where she opened for Stephen Malkmus at the El Rey - people were NOT receptive, or attentive...that is until she played "Bloody MF A***hole." THAT perked up their ears!
I met her after that El Rey show (for the second time) and she was really down...I could see it. Then when I saw her in San Diego she said, "Oh I remember YOU!" In San Diego told her all about Rachel Fuller's webcast show In the Attic and many moons later I was able to connect her to Rachel and she DID make an appearance on her show - and she met Pete Townshend there and they all became friends...and he recorded on her latest cd. (Sorry but the backstory is needed for the next installment!)

Anyway- things change - and thank goodness she has hung in there...she's "matured" (I hate that term, but you know what I mean) and seems MUCH more confident now.
She's married to her bass player/producer Brad, and seems quite content.
The highlight really was when Loudon came out - he was BEAMING - you could see how proud he was of his daughter. His opinion means alot to her (as a father's opinion would to any daughter). They sang: "You Never Phone," and it was BRILLIANT. There are 2 snippets on YouTube. I will look for the link and post it here later.

Martha's latest cd- BUY IT!!! :)

END OF PART 2!!!

"Ooh life is juicy..." Part uno

2008-07-07T05:03:00.010+08:00

"...juicy and you'll see..."

Ok that's all I remember from that song (from Funny GIrl)! LOL.

Growing up, I was um...subjected to WAY TOO MUCH Barbara Streisand. I'm sure it has had serious long term effects!
(Could be why I love gay men so much, I dunno).

Well I cannot believe I haven't blogged for a month. VERY BAD BLOGGER SUE!!

I had a FAB time in San Diego and LA!!!

Anjoli and I spent the first few days with my dear friend Chelice. She has a really cute house in Bonita with a beautiful view.

Here it is!

Her dog Leo LOVES me. I really think we were lovers in a past life. I am SERIOUS! :) He has a thing for me, and oddly enough, I have one for him. He licks my ears and I find myself in the throes of ecstasy! Yup.
I was on Taiwan time, so the second night there, I took Leo for a "moonlight stroll" at 3 am! Chelice gave me this goofy spelunker's light to wear. It IS convenient, so I wore it knowing not too many people would see me.
We walked for an hour and a half...and got caught up.
::sigh::
OK I'LL STOP!
I was lonely, ya know? ;)

OMG it is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL to walk in Bonita in the middle of the night though. Oh, it's such a pretty area. I do miss it.

Chelice was so kind and lent me her Miata (which she bought from Sujoy before we moved to Taipei) and her truck for when I had Anju and Kristin.
She's doing really well and dating up a storm! Weeeee! You GO girl!

Anjoli went to her old school for a few days and gave a PowerPoint presentation on Taiwan for 3 classes (including her teacher from last year). The teachers all raved about it. Anju forgot her index cards though so she had to wing it. She wouldn't let me watch her though - she said it would have made her too nervous. So I have yet to see it.

It was fun visiting Anju's school and seeing old friends. Only problem was I was SO out of it due to jet lag! Just a total zombie for the first week actually! oi.

I went to TWO "graduations" - one for Anju's best friend, Kristen who will enter middle school next year and the other was for our friend Sokoun's niece - who will enter high school next year. They both made me cry. It makes me kind of melancholy to see kids with hope and promise...maybe it made me realize how I was feeling the same way at their age...but then took a few wrong turns and got sort of lost for awhile. But I am happy now so it's all GOOD!

The first weekend I spent with Chris (he's married to our friend Sokoun). Sokoun had to go up north for the weekend for a family celebration/memorial. Oh don't worry we behaved.
:)
Got to cruise around San Diego in Chris' new Porsche Carrera. OMG. I've never gone so fast in a car before. It's BEAUTIFUL. (Never been in a "real" Porsche before either - only a 914- my mom had one).
We had a nice weekend, even though I was quite boring and in bed by 9!
I watched GOLF for the first time in my life and I was shocked that I actually enjoyed it.
But Tiger - well, what's not to enjoy about him? And the other guy was cool - Median(?) with his peace belt buckle. Awright!
It was really exciting - it was the US Open, live from Torrey Pines, which is just a few miles south of where I was staying...so that made it extra special.
Also - Chris designed something called a "Launch Monitor" for Nike and Tiger uses it. It's a golf analyzer - it analyzes your swing and speed of the ball, etc. Chris actually met Tiger and showed him how to use it! Tiger said to him, "I ALWAYS know where I'm going to hit the ball." Ok, Tiger, we believe you!
Chris has satellite tv so during commercials he made me watch porn. KIDDING! We watched maybe 2 minutes total. It's so boring anyway. (Oh I hope my grandmother isn't reading this. Sorry Nana. But it WAS boring- honest!).

Chris and I hung out in Coronado for a bit - had a yummy salad after walking around the bay. On Sunday we walked along Pacific Beach and watched the coolest thing - it's called "kite surfing" (I think that's what it's called). Oh to be young again - I would LOVE to learn how to do it, but it's too scary to even think about trying! Afterwards he took me to a really cool bar that has AWESOME food.
I had the best salad ever there.
I ate lots of salads on my trip so I could drink beer without the guilt!

Chris and Sokoun have a never ending keg of Karl Strauss Amber beer on their porch with a tap like you see in a bar...so every night before bed I had one in a chilled glass. Yum. Oh how I love beer.
It helped me sleep. (Even though I was jet lagged, I was over tired).

I think Chris was happy to see Sokoun come home since I wasn't very much fun in my comatose state! Sorry Chris.

-End of Part One-

Working Stiff

2008-06-05T09:43:00.002+08:00

C'est moi!

I am officially now the assistant director of a preschool here in Taiwan. (I better not say anymore than that!).

I love my job, but my body has been protesting. Yesterday I had a total physical breakdown.
My neck REALLY hurts at times due to the surgery...still! I had my brain surgery nearly one year ago and I am STILL recovering! It's very annoying, but I really can't complain since the operation was SUCH a success.

Anyway, I have been waking up every night around 3 or 4 a.m. writhing in pain. I take this wonderful over-the-counter Japanese painkiller called EVE-A. My friend Alice supplies me with it...and ANOTHER Japanese friend that I met through The Who's website just sent me 4 boxes. It's the best thing since sliced bread! I don't like taking too many pills though, I worry about that. The bottles always say they can cause liver damage if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day (which I usually don't!). So with that kind of warning...well, I worry.

Work is going SO well, I really truly am blessed. The real challenge is managing the staff - we are QUITE the motley crew! Again, I can't say much...I don't want to incriminate myself or cause an uproar. Let's just say I am happy to be a peacekeeper sort. I can't believe how centered I am lately. I guess having been there and back set me up well for this job. Most people (including my husband) think I'm insane to work at this school. I am so up for the challenge and the kids give bring me so much happiness (which makes up for the bickering amongst the staff!).

I am supposed to plan an Open House to attract more students (we need them badly) but I am going to plan a FAIR so we can raise money AND attract students. I am hoping to get my hubby's company to help sponsor it (as well as local businesses). I will get restaurants and stores to donate prizes for a raffle, get a henna artist (the ladies dig Indian tatoos!), have my daughter and her friends run the games and do face painting, etc. It sounds like FUN, yeah???? I mentioned it to one of the teachers and she said, "ah, good luck!"
Not very supportive. Ah well. I told you I have my work cut out for me!!

Heading to San Diego next week! I will be staying for only 2 weeks, but Anjoli will stay with her best friend for about 6 weeks and fly back by herself! It's a non-stop flight from LA to Taipei, and she'll be taken care of by the airline staff. I had to BUY her an adult ticket - we weren't allowed to use frequent flier miles for an unaccompanied minor ticket.

Can't wait to see everyone!!! My "tenants" are planning a welcome home bbq for us! How WONDERFUL is that? I think the silliest/ strangest thing will be having to ring the doorbell to MY house! hee hee. My brain works in odd ways, I know I know.

I'm going to LA for a few days to hang with my dear Ru buddy Laura. We're going to see MARTHA WAINWRIGHT at the Troubadour!!! WOO HOO!!! I can't WAIT to see her. It's been about oh, 3 years nearly since I've seen her. And yes, everyone is tired of my story, but I will finally get to tell her that I am the fairy godmother who introduced her to Pete Townshend and Rachel Fuller. THAT will be a doozy to drop on her.

I will be sure to take tons of pics of my trip home!

Hope all is well.

I promise to visit everyone's blogs soon!!!

Lots of love,
Suexxxx

Anjoli's Piano Recital

2008-05-13T12:35:00.003+08:00

Anju performed last Saturday at the Taipei American School Spring Music Recital. She played "The Dance of the Irish." I thought she sounded great! She didn't look too happy though...hmm.

Wonderful Wu Lai

2008-04-29T12:15:00.028+08:00

Last weekend we traveled about 30 miles south to a town in the mountains called Wulai.
Many years ago it was inhabited by an aboriginal tribe (the Tai Ya), but now it's a hot springs resort area. It's also famous for a beautiful waterfall:

It looks a bit thin - it hadn't rained (much) prior to our visit- but TODAY and yesterday too it poured - so it would be nice to go back SOON and see if it's a bit more full...

I spent a HEAVENLY three hours total in the ladies section of the hot spring baths at the hotel. There was a very large hot spring bath and other smaller tubs - one tub was filled with cold lemon scented water (there were actual lemons in a muslin bag) so the idea is to go back and forth between the hot and cold springs. I also hung out in the steam room (where I was told to rub my skin with salt - which is a great exfoliater!) and I also experienced for the first time this incredibly intense power jet shower - the woman who worked there encouraged me to do all sorts of stretching. Everything is all open - you walk around naked! woo hoo! I brought a bathing suit and the attendant LAUGHED! No no no.
No bathing suits required. Alright! I assumed (incorrectly) that things would be more modest here - but...no! Fine with me!
(I didn't take any pictures of the baths though, sorry guys!) ;)

On Sunday we took a cable car up to the top of a mountain to Nei-Dong Forest. It's a bit touristy -it's a "Theme Park" actually. We avoided the amusement park - but had a blast doing an obstacle course that included walking across small suspension bridges and swinging across the creek like a (whimpy) Tarzan - you'll see the very safe swing.

Here are pictures of how we spent our Sunday. (Sorry for the overexposures - it is usually always overcast...I need to learn how to shoot it correctly - maybe change the film speed? Anyone have any ideas about how to compensate for the bright light?).

I Love you! (I know) I LOVE YOU!!! ( I KNOW!!!!)

2008-04-14T18:45:00.022+08:00

Those are actual lyrics by some CRAZY new wave 80s band - the name of the band escapes me though. Maybe Paul remembers!

My student Samuel now has his own before class ritual. Yup, as soon as he sees me, he runs to get a piece of construction paper and makes me an "I Love You" poster! I included last week's poster in this shot - you couldn't see the star he drew (that I won't go on about) so I shamelessly re-traced it for your viewing pleasure! (Be sure to click on it for the full effect, heh heh).

I want to share more pictures from our second trip to Taichung a few weeks back. We went to a town called Linnei to watch what was "billed"as being a phenomenal butterfly migration. Supposedly you can see 12,000 butterflies per MINUTE! Last year the government shut down a major highway during the migration period to save the butterflies! Aw...
Well, we only saw 500 butterflies per minute.It was a bit of a letdown but, still kinda cool nevertheless. There were volunteers catching and numbering them to track their voyage from southern to northern Taiwan.
The lifespan of a butterfly is only one month, so there are actually three generations of butterflies who migrate at this time every year. After they mark them they let the kids set them free, as you can see!

After we went to see the flutterbys, we went to a BEAUTIFUL (subtropical I guess you could say) forest called Chi-Tou Forest which is located in central Taiwan. Pictures (especially mine!) just can't do justice but here is a glimpse of this very special place.

Our friends Thomas and Alice and their daughter Joanne.

I look kinda like a Dr. Seuss character here! ( with a fern tree growing out of my head!)

"Finish yer lotus juice!"

2008-04-07T22:49:00.007+08:00

Now THAT'S not something you hear everyday!

We went to central Taiwan over the weekend and visited this AMAZING forest (I promise to post pics soon...my battery died so I had to use our friends' camera and Sujoy forgot to bring home the pics today). Anyway, while exiting the forest we picked up some honey sweetened lotus juice extract (you just mix it with water). It's GOOOOOD! I am sure it's good for you too! Well, I hope it is.

So sorry to have let my blog go but....I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!!!!

Seriously, I have been feeling SO blue/blah/blech for awhile now. Not sure why - it's a combination of many things. My face is healing, but it's not where I thought it would be.
I know it sounds shallow, but I miss my old face! Will she ever return? I dunno. I just want a normal smile and a non-droopy eye.

I don't know where Grateful Sue has gone. I hope she comes back soon. Whiny Sue who revels in pity parties IS NO FUN!

Other bummer inducing news is that Anjoli missed a TON of school due to TWO bad injuries, and now she keeps getting headaches due to allergies...so she missed school AGAIN today. We took her to an excellent doctor far from us and he told us about a clinic he has at National Taiwan University Hospital. She will get a blood test this Saturday there and they will be able to determine just what she is allergic to. We have to wait a month for the results though. We have Taiwanese NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE now though - so the FANTASTIC thing about that is that the test is FREE! Yipee! Oh but the treatment will suck though - she will probably have to get all kinds of allergy shots. Not fun, but it will be better than having massive headaches.

On a positive note, teaching is going really well. Only problem is we are down to only one "paying" student (I borrow kids from the day classes when I can!). One student had to drop out because he lives too far away. It's a long boring story.

Anyway, my one and ONLY REAL student is doing really well. He is one handful though, I gotta say. EXTREMELY HYPER. It's not his fault though - you see the Taiwanese don't really believe in very much free/recess time...so by the time he reaches MY class (one of three schools he attends on days when I teach him) he is just one mighty live wire. So, to channel his energy, I bought jump ropes and we take a break half way through and he jumps to jump rope rhymes and chants.

I found an excellent e book on-line - written by a British woman who teaches English in France. It's filled with hundreds of GAMES used to teach English. So I incorporate fun games into the class and he really enjoys them! He thinks we're PLAYING - and we are - but he is also learning English as well.

A few weeks back he drew this poster for me! (I bought him a funny book about dinosaurs and he was THRILLED - hence the poster). I sing a song every class about "getting to know someone" - it teaches kids how to start conversations. He knows I enjoy music so that's why he drew the musical notes.

Unfortunately, I had to correct his English though! (well I HAD to!). Then the following week he made me yet another poster but that time he wrote " I LOVE YOU!" with smiley stars that he said were pictures of me. Sujoy thought they were naked pictures of me and I had to point out that NO those aren't my boobs on the stars they're EYES! jeesh. Men.

One more CUTE thing - I am trying to teach him adjectives using flash cards - so I held up a picture of a mouse with glasses reading a book. I asked him to describe the mouse (maybe she's a teacher?) and he said: "Important!" then came up with this brilliant sentence:

"Miss Sue is IMPORTANT!"

Ah...from the mouths of babes...

We went to see the VERY FIRST CONCERT EVER in Taiwan by the fantastic London Symphony Orchestra a few weeks ago. Honestly, it was a bit LONG, but we really did enjoy it. The conductor was a young incredibly handsome Russian man...and the solo violinist was also Russian.

This was the program: Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77/Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, "Pathetique"/Turnage: Lullaby for Hans/Henze: Seconda Sonata per achi (1995).

Turnage and Henze are both modern composers. I enjoyed the modern selections very much.

Here are a few pics of us at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Lots of love and a big hug,

Suexoxoxoxo

P.S. I seriously was thinking of pulling the plug on my blog-o but...NAH!

Raising Sand

2008-02-29T21:37:00.002+08:00

Do yourself a favor.
Run, don't walk to um...your computer and buy the cd Raising Sand by Allison Krauss and Robert Plant.

Since I suck at reviewing cds, let me quote the review on Real One's Rhapsody:

"The unexpected and unpredictable collaboration between this Led Zeppelin frontman and a modern bluegrass diva may raise a few eyebrows. But once you put aside your reservations and listen to this truly amazing album, the marriage of Plant and Krauss' voices make more sense than chocolate and peanut butter. As they cover songs by Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, Mel Tillis, Tom Waits and the Everly Brothers, don't be surprised to find yourself moved or your breath taken away. If Raising Sand doesn't sweep the Grammys, let there be riots in Hollywood."

Unfortunately, the album wasn't released in time to be eligible for this year's Grammys, however a single was released in time and it actually DID win a Grammy. ("Gone, Gone, Gone for best Bluegrass performance). I don't put much stock in the Grammys, but I'm not surprised that it won. It will be interesting to see whether it DOES sweep the Grammys in 2009. I hope it does.

I CANNOT stop listening to a Plant/Page tune called "Please Read the Letter." (Mary! :) I know you love that one too). I love singing along with them.

I haven't been this excited about a cd in a long time.

Check it out!!!

xxxxxxxx

More pics from Taichung

2008-02-17T20:49:00.020+08:00

When we got to the Aboriginal theme park, we had to wait a bit while Joanne's aunt (Joanne is our friend Thomas and Alice's 17 month old daughter) rented a stroller for her.

While we were waiting, this adorable little boy in festive dress came right over to Joanne and wanted to hug her! I was not surprised at all - kids are so perceptive and she is TRULY one of the coolest, most loving kids I've ever met. Honestly, she was a little taken aback by the sudden outpouring of affection from little lover boy, and was looking to us for reassurance, as you can see.

(Please click on them!)

Gimme some sugar baby!

Oh c'mon...please?

Help me Sue! Tell her how cute I am!

Ooh pink fur...I LIKE it. So soft..

AHA! THAT worked. Now she can't take her eyes off me...

Ooh you are so SQUEEZABLE!

MUAH!!! Sucess!!!!!!! :)

A pretty little hut

Cold Men Without Shirts!

Bunnies Abound!

Anjoli with the scary hair

The Ever Evolving Sue!

2008-02-13T23:12:00.025+08:00

Oh boy. So much has happened in the past few weeks...where to start? (That's the problem with being a slack blogger, Sue!).

The BIG news is that I was hired to teach at a nearby pre-school called Child's World.
You can check out their website HERE, if you'd like.

Thanks to my very sweet friend and present TAS PTA bookstore manager, Hilary, I called the director,Jackie, who is a friend of Hilary's (and the visiting author coordinator) and arranged myself an interview! Well, by the time I made it to the interview, I think Jackie's mind had already been made up that she was going to hire me! She didn't even look at my resume.
So I was hired as a substitute, and next week will teach a Reading and Writing class two days a week. I will ALSO train with her in the office, and I will eventually run the school one day a week, then this summer I will take her place while she goes home to Colorado. When she returns in September, I will again go back to teaching p/t, subbing and working in the office...then in January '09 I will take over as the director/principal! Please don't be impressed - I was hired for a few reasons - the most important being that I am an American who will be living in Taiwan for the next nine years (until Anjoli graduates from the Taipei American School). I do have a lot of experience with kids from pre-school through 6th grade - but not a heck of a lot! Oh and I haven't worked in an office since 1999! HELP!
Honestly, I prefer teaching to being an administrator, but I will give it a whirl, why not?

I have been subbing for a kindergarten class at the school this week - tomorrow is my last day of this assignment. I am enjoying it SO much! It's a total blast. I love singing, as most of you know, and I taught them this "Name Game" song - which is a great ice breaker for new subs and a great way to learn kid's names. Well, the brightest kid in the class (a 5 year old boy) came in this morning and handed me a rolled up piece of paper. He had written, in perfect handwriting, the words to the song! I was really impressed and touched by that.
It's so sweet - I end the day with storytime and by that time they are all clamoring to sit on my lap!
I can't believe how smart these children are. There are only 7 in the class - one American autistic boy who is just a gem of a kid (and he has a one-on-one aide), a red headed Italian boy (adorable),a super smart Indian girl (who has become my shadow), 2 Taiwanese girls, and 2 Taiwanese boys.
They were a bit out of control today (day 3 of my assignment) because they have figured out that I am a softie. My biggest flaw is that I do not rule with an iron fist...I guess I need to learn to be a bit tougher...but that just isn't ME. I did give the brightest boy (who is my favorite - even though he is the most mischevious) a TIME OUT today - oh boy! I was amazed that he actually sat in the chair for me! I plunked him down in front of a chart of numbers from 1-100 and pointed to them and said "HERE- READ THESE NUMBERS FROM 1-100!" Lo and behold, he did!

Yesterday, the same boy had all the teachers in stitches. We made Valentines and I told them that they could write a poem if they'd like. Here is what he wrote (spelling was nearly spot on):

Oh Carol , I Am But a Fool
Darling I Love You Though You Treat Me Cruel
You Hurt Me And You Make Me Cry
But If You Leave Me I Will Surely Die

It's a Neil Sedaka song! The teachers were saying that he must have been doing Karaoke over Chinese New Year break. Too cute.

Other happenings: Last week Anjoli was off for Chinese New Year (It's the Year of the Rat). Sujoy was also off from last Wednesday until February 11th. We all went down south to a city called Taichung for 3 days with our friends Thomas ( he's Sujoy's business partner), his wife Alice, their daughter Joanne and other family members. I enjoyed the city - the architecture is WAY nicer than Taipei - the buildings are newer. There are some very hip, cute areas...we went to a great little cafe for breakfast one day (where we were served the BEST coffee and "scrumbled" eggs!). The shopping is fantastic - Alice's brother took us to a really cool arty area - I bought a cool shirt, a very English looking angora hat and a Peruvian scarf. (It was FREEEEEEEEZING!!! It still IS!).

Here are a few pics from Cafe Uno (I am such a sucker for nice cafes, and breakfast is my favorite meal):

We went to a beautiful area close to Sun Moon Lake to a theme park which was like an "aboriginal Disney Land." Surprisingly, it really wasn't very tacky! I found it heartening that the Taiwanese are so proud of the 9 indigenous tribes on the island and that they have paid tribute to them and are celebrating their culture. Anjoli still has a bum ankle so we had to cart her around in a wheel chair. The crowds were slightly unbearable, so we didn't bother standing in line to go on the rides. We'll have to go back though because there were some fun ones. Here are some pictures from the park:

BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID!!!!

This is better (but I accidentally cut off the top of the guy- ouch!)

My skull will be featured here one day, I'm sure...

A cute little Aboriginal house

The Interior - These are not real aboriginals...hee hee...they are wax figures of a Shaman and a sick young man.

The "kitchen"

Cute little chairs

I really love their pottery, sculpture and art

From a pottery workshop - you can try your hand at a pottery wheel - I've always wanted to learn how to do that. It's extremely difficult though and I am not the patient sort.

Thomas and one of the cutest, sweetest kids on the planet, his daughter, Joanne

I will post more about our trip to Taichung tomorrow (I promise!!). Time for bed - it's VERY late!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love to all,
Suexxxxx

Amazing "Coincidences"

2008-01-22T17:30:00.000+08:00

I subscribe to a holistic health newsletter written by a doctor named Joseph Mercola. He actually published (without permission, I might add!) a few articles I had written for the Gerson Institute. I was flattered, truthfully!

I just had to share this little article I found in today's newsletter.
(and I didn't ask for permission EITHER! So there). HERE is a link to his website.

Unbelievable -- What Are the Odds of This Happening?

* In 1975, a man riding a moped in Bermuda was accidentally struck and killed by a taxi. One year later, the man’s brother, riding the very same moped, was killed in the very same way by the very same taxi driven by the very same driver -- and carrying the very same passenger.

* Twin brothers Jim Lewis and Jim Springer were separated at birth and adopted by different families. Unknown to each other, both were named James, both owned a dog named Toy, both married women named Linda, both had a son they names James Alan, and both eventually divorced and got remarried to a woman named Betty.

* Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and John Adams helped to edit and hone it. The Continental Congress approved the document on July 4, 1776. Both Jefferson and Adams died on July 4, 1826 -- exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

* A German mother who photographed her infant son in 1914 left the film to be developed at a store in Strasbourg, but was unable to collect the film picture when World War I broke out. Two years later she bought a film plate in Frankfurt, over 100 miles away, and took a picture of her newborn daughter -- only to find, when developed, the picture of her daughter superimposed on the earlier picture of her son. The original film, never developed, had been mistakenly labeled as unused and resold.

* In 1858, Robert Fallon was shot dead by fellow poker players who accused him of cheating to win a $600 pot. None of the other players were willing to take the now unlucky $600, so they found a new player to take Fallon’s place, who turned the $600 into $2,200 in winnings. At that point, the police arrived and demanded that the original $600 be given to Fallon’s next of kin -- only to discover that the new player was Fallon’s son, who had not seen his father in seven years.

* In the 19th century, the famous horror writer Egdar Allan Poe wrote a book called ‘The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.’ It was about four survivors of a shipwreck who were in an open boat for many days before they decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name was Richard Parker. Some years later, in 1884, the yawl, Mignonette, foundered, with only four survivors, who were in an open boat for many days. Eventually the three senior members of the crew killed and ate the cabin boy. The name of the cabin boy was Richard Parker.

* In 1930s Detroit, a man named Joseph Figlock was to become an amazing figure in a young (and, apparently, incredibly careless) mother’s life. As Figlock was walking down the street, the mother’s baby fell from a high window onto Figlock. The baby’s fall was broken and Figlock and the baby were unharmed. A year later, the same baby fell from the same window, again falling onto Mr. Figlock as he was passing beneath. Once again, both of them survived the event.

* In 1973, actor Anthony Hopkins agreed to appear in “The Girl From Petrovka”, based on a novel by George Feifer. Unable to find a copy of the book anywhere in London, Hopkins was surprised to discover one lying on a bench in a train station. It turned out to be George Feifer’s own annotated (personal) copy, which Feifer had lent to a friend, and which had been stolen from his friend’s car.

* In Monza, Italy, King Umberto I went to a small restaurant for dinner, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, General Emilio Ponzia-Vaglia. When the owner took King Umberto’s order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were virtual doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the striking resemblance between each other and found many more similarities.

1. Both men were born on the same day, of the same year (March 14, 1844).
2. Both men had been born in the same town.
3. Both men married a woman with same name, Margherita.
4. The restaurateur opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto was crowned King of Italy.
5. On the 29th July 1900, King Umberto was informed that the restaurateur had died that day in a mysterious shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, an anarchist in the crowd then assassinated him.

* While American novelist Anne Parrish was browsing bookstores in Paris in the 1920s, she came upon a book that was one of her childhood favorites -- Jack Frost and Other Stories. She picked up the old book and showed it to her husband, telling him of the book she fondly remembered as a child. Her husband took the book, opened it, and on the flyleaf found the inscription: “Anne Parrish, 209 N. Weber Street, Colorado Springs.” It was Anne’s very own book.

Are these instances merely coincidence, or are they something more? It all depends on how you look at it.

As the famous words of Albert Einstein sum up quite nicely: “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Still so darn happy!

2008-01-16T21:50:00.000+08:00

Ok I have been a very lazy blogger... mea culpa all over the place! :)

I have been very leisurely lately (still).
Last week I was especially lazy and did as minimal as possible (except for working out).
I blew off volunteering at the Center (bad Sue) and skipped my first yoga class! VERY BAD SUE. I have to say my biggest flaw is my laziness. I am a Lazy Leo. 'tis true.
But, I DID volunteer at Anju's school - 3 days last week...and tomorrow I WILL volunteer at the Center. I will be a responsible adult for a change!

I am VERY VERY VERY excited because my (new) dear, sweet, wonderful friend Hilary has given me all kinds of juicy job leads. I really want to teach pre-school kids (mostly for the hours, but I realize know that I just adore 2-5 year olds). GREAT NEWS is: I have an interview on Monday (that I actually arranged just by calling one of Hilary's friends). The director told me that she has an immediate opening - "would you be interested? It's only a few hours a week - teaching reading to elementary school kids." YES of course I am interested. Also, she said there will be pre-school teacher openings for the summer, and she is also looking for 3 teachers to start in the fall! Excellent!! I can ease my way in with the reading positiion (HOPEFULLY!). I feel really good about it. I LOVE doing music with kids and I have a music therapy kit and cd - I can print out visuals from a cd that I have. (Even though it's really for special needs kids - I can use it for low level English learners).

I have a few others, but I won't bore you with the details unless they pan out!
Anyway, I am loving that I am finally being a networking mama! It's FUN and as I said in my last post, I am meeting some REALLY sweet ladies. 'sall GOOD!

Ok the BAD news is, my darling daughter has injured herself again...she sprained her ankle really badly. It STINKS because she can't dance or play soccer for a month (we took her to an orthopedic doctor and these are his orders). I have been pushing her around in a freaking wheel chair. URGH. I feel badly but this is the second injury (same leg) within 2 months. I DO feel responsible because I suggested that she do some running long jumps on this dirt pathway in the middle of this track at a nearby park. DUH you are supposed to land in SAND! Hello Sue! So she fell (while I was jogging around the track) and could barely walk the next day. I am a stupido sometimes. Truly. :(

More good news: my face took a HUGE turn for the better. It looks nearly normal (except when I smile -still) It's weird because I didn't get any acupuncture for almost 2 weeks - and the dramatic improvement occurred after my first treatment after that hiatus. I have to talk to my doc about that.

I will post my "walk to the doc's" next. I still have to get a picture of my doctor. I am shy about asking him! He's always busy too. I am such a dorky blogger. :)

Take care everyone!

Love,
Suexxxxx

Oh!
I meant to ADD that I am ESPECIALLY bummed about Anjoli's ankle because I am DYING to go hiking in this beautiful town called Wulai. There are waterfalls, hot springs and MONKEYS jumping around the trees there! It's not that far from us, we could even take the MRT and a bus (but we most likely will drive). We'll just have to wait a month or so to go.

Here is an excellent little article from the China Post on Wulai:

A return to bliss in Wulai

Thursday, December 13, 2007
by Greg McCann Special to The China Post

"I really want to see wild monkeys before I leave Taiwan," my friend Frank said as we ventured onto Wulai's Red River Gorge Trail. "They're called macaques, right? I've got to see them. It's a must."

That was back in October, just two days after he and three other first-time visitors arrived from the United States. Despite the rain back on that day, the water in the swimming hole still felt great for swimming. The precipitation had the unexpected bonus of make the tree-choked valley look even more atmospheric than it usually does. "Like something straight out of 'Apocalypse Now,'" fellow hiker Baxley remarked.

This past Sunday looked like it might be one of the best days of the year for a hike, and the five us made plans to return to Wulai﹝烏來﹞. We waited around for over an hour for Frank to show up at the MRT station and finally left without him.

There is no question that Sunday, Dec. 2 was one of the best days of 2007 for hiking. We hiked to our swimming hole, and I cannon-balled into the crystal blue first. I nearly went into shock from a temperature that must have been below freezing. Cold pools in Taipei saunas were mild compared to this mountain river. I actually had a hard time breathing and quickly scrambled out of the water.

After swimming around for a while, we basked in the sun on several large boulders that crown the pool. We must have spent close to an hour relaxing on the warm stones when the tree branches on the other side of the river began shaking. Baxley stood up and stared into the tree and, sure enough, about 50 meters up in the jungle mountainside, a troupe of Taiwan Rock Monkeys were making their way down to lower elevation.

We stood in awe for about 20 minutes as we watched them playing on the tree branches, dropping down from branch to branch and nearly plunge to their deaths on several occasions.

There are only two places in Taiwan that I know of where one can almost always see wild monkeys: Kaohsiung's Chai Mountain and Taitung's Chihpen Forest Park. I have to say that while I suspected for a long time that macaques roamed Wulai's mountains, I never really expected to see them here.

Once the monkeys disappeared, we decided to try hiking up one of the tributary streams for a bit, but, the water being so incredibly cold, we didn't make it far. Just as we were about to turn around, a flock of eight to 10 Formosan Blue Magpies made a dash from one side of the valley to the other.

Much prettier than their Chinese cousins, the sight of those regal Formosan magpies shooting straight across the valley like arrows was spellbinding. What with the frog, the monkeys and the birds (we also espied a couple of Steere's liocichla) I began to wonder if we hadn't somehow slipped into another dimension and went on a hike through Borneo.

We were then spotted by a couple having a barbecue in the underbrush. We would have never seen them on our own. They invited us to cross the stream and share some river shrimp and beers with them, but we didn't want to get wet again. One of them urged us to go on tracing the stream further into the mountains, claiming that near the source of the creek lived an "un-contacted aborigine tribe" that we would want to photograph. We passed up the questionable photo-op and decided to hike up a trail that meets a higher, clearer path and trekked along, with incredible views of the mountains all around. Several lone men passed us in this section, each carrying machetes and rucksacks of cut plants.

Finally, we hiked back out and had a wonderful dinner of golden needle mushroom soup, fresh vegetable fried rice and Taiwan beer at the Shan-Ye restaurant across from the Cheng-kung bus stop on the main road to Wulai.

Oh the Cuckoo...

2008-01-07T16:20:00.000+08:00

...she's a pretty bird
She warbles as she flies
But I never give her water
Till the fourth day of July.

There's a cuckoo that sings to me every day.
S/he lives behind our apartments.
I hear her (I'll just call it a "she") whenever I do laundry.
(We have a Malibu Barbie washer and dryer on our back porch. I say that because they are plastic and small - but they do the trick! I am used to everything in the States being so BIG and STURDY - you know STEEL appliances!).

I am just so gosh darned HAPPY lately.
I am not going to overanalyze this new Sue (I honestly am a bit manic - have been for many, many years). I will just enjoy the ride!

Today Anjoli went back to school. I passed a new friend, Hilary, who hails from Toronto in the hall. I worked with her at the Book Fair last month. Awesome woman - so friendly and smart. She went to McGill in Montreal and knew the exact street where we lived (for a year -not even - 10 months actually! too c-c-c-c-old!).She got her degree in library science. Anyway, she's the PTA bookstore manager - when I met her last month we got to chatting and she let me know that she was looking for someone to replace her next year....so...ding ding ding...c'est MOI! I am SO EXCITED.
So, this morning she bought me coffee and I spent 3 hours with her in the bookstore. I helped her take down the Christmas decorations, etc and re-shelve books that weren't sold at the Book Fair. She started showing me the ropes - it's a REALLY big job - just like running your own bookstore! There are books from kindergarten through adult levels.
The profits go toward getting two authors to come to the school to lecture and sign their books.
We left the school together - I walked with her to her car. I told her I was deaf in one ear from "the surgery." She just stopped and said: "What surgery?" I am so surprised (and proud!) that I hadn't even told her - for awhile it was one of the first things I would tell people I had just met - just to explain what was going on with my crooked face.
I told her the story and her mouth dropped to the ground...then she gave me a big hug and said, "who CARES about your face! You're here! You're alive! I am SO glad we are working together - you are such a lovely person....and we have to get together outside of school - our daughters have to meet!" She has a daughter who, since KINDERGARTEN has attended a Chinese school (she's NOT even Asian - but she was born here and insisted on going to a Chinese school - I am SO impressed!!). Her daughter is the same age as Anjoli. I've met lots of other cool, FRIENDLY moms in the past month or so volunteering at the school. I'm so glad...I knew I WOULD.
Things just take time.

Over the weekend I went to get acupuncture after missing a week and a half of treatments and the doctor looked at me and said "Looks BETTER!" He's right - the paralysis IS improving. I have been taking this secret herbal tea (a mixture of herbs - he won't tell me what's in it!). It's supposed to help the neurons grow. I wonder if it is the tea that is helping? I drink it twice a day.

I will post pics of my route to my Chinese doctor's office. It's a really nice walk. Last time I went I ran out of batteries JUST as I got my doc to pose! He's so sweet. So I will take a pic of him tomorrow and post pics tomorrow night.

Have a great week everyone!

Love,
Suexx

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T00:19:00.000+08:00

I think most would agree that we often have the best times when we are spontaneous. Yesterday we were pretty much grief stricken, not exactly in a festive mood. But, around 11:30 p.m. Anjoli, Sujoy and I ventured outdoors, lured by a fireworks display that we viewed from our balcony.

We just followed our nose and took a new route to downtown Tien Mu and ended up at one of Sujoy's favorite haunts, The Green Bar.(He really hasn't been there for months though - he hung out there every night when he lived here by himself for 6 weeks last spring). We stumbled upon a HUGE fireworks show outside the Green Bar. It was INCREDIBLE!
The Green Bar is owned by a very sweet American guy from LA named Rich. He's been here for 25 years - and he came at the age of 21! Ironically, he is Mormon and doesn't even drink. He is married to a beautiful Taiwanese woman - you can see her to the left in the picture below. (Rich is the guy with his back to the camera in the striped shirt).

I had been to the Green Bar a few months ago and was thrilled to find a TON of Who music on the "digital jukebox" - they let the customers choose whatever music they want. So I went over to the computer and was happy to see this!

Then Sujoy managed to help me find THIS (click on it for a better view):

The last time Sujoy and I were there, we had the place to ourselves and danced like crazy to Pete Townshend and the Who (I couldn't dance for TOO long though! It still hurts my head to bounce up and down!)

Rich is going to tape the NFL playoffs for us - he gave me his card and said I could call him and he'll tape whatever I want off the satellite. What a guy. I really miss watching football. WEIRD, huh??? Gotta see the...Pats win the SuperBowl, of course! Traitor Sue I know I know. I'm from New England so I gotta go with my ROOTS, right?

We had a really nice Christmas. My sister, Jen came to visit from San Francisco (Palo Alto actually). She arrived on the 23rd and stayed only 6 days - just long enough to get her inner clock all messed up, poor babe. Jen gave me an iPod shuffle - woo hoo! I worked out with it the other day - you should see my OLD mp3 player - it weighs about 3 pounds I swear. Santa brought Anjoli a Wii! She was VERY surprised. Sujoy loved his music box.

We had fun while she was here - you can read HER blog if you'd like her version!
Jen's Bloggie

We went to a tiny, beautiful island for 3 days (Green Island - off the southeastern coast of Taiwan). The weather was better than expected - it only rained one day. We went on a guided snorkeling trip- it was FANTASTIC. We had an excellent time there - so relaxing and the food was really yummy. Our host, the hotel owner, Jack was so sweet.

Jen is much better with computers so she gave me permission to post HER slide show...but I wasn't able to post it here...so, if you want to see it, please go visit her blog HERE!

Goodbye Jo

2007-12-31T16:11:00.000+08:00

I just got word that our dear friend Jo passed away today due to a heart attack. I can't believe it. She was only 60.

Jo was my daughter's best friend's grandmother. She was from Kent, England. I loved her dearly.
When my mom passed away (on 12/22/04) Jo became a surrogate grandmother to Anjoli.

Jo was a community activist and worked for 10 years with a group that tried to prevent a freeway from being built that would have destroyed the rural areas of our small community. Sadly, the freeway was built...
Jo LOVED music - especially the Who and Pink Floyd, and was a MAJOR Dylan fan. She had a beautiful garden and loved all animals - always caring for stray cats and dogs. She had a wonderful way with children and was a nanny and worked in a day care center for many years.
Jo certainly celebrated life - she never missed a party at our house! (We had some crazy parties, didn't we Jo?!).

I will miss you sweetie.
Love you.
Rest in peace.

Merry Merry Happy Happy!!

2007-12-20T14:48:00.000+08:00

(Click to see my FABULOUS earrings! I made them MYSELF!!) :)

I hope all of you enjoy your holidays. May you all have a spectacular 2008.

Many many thanks for all your good wishes, prayers and support both before and after my surgery. Words could never convey how much your messages helped me. I continue to heal and get stronger day by day. I am very lucky and truly blessed.

Love this video!

Anjoli's Music Box

2007-12-13T19:04:00.000+08:00

I just had to share this lovely gift that my daughter made in clay class for her Dad for Christmas. I was REALLY impressed. She did it all on her own.

I have more pictures to post but I have to rush to acupuncture now. I have been sick since last Friday, but I have managed to do a little volunteering at the American School this week at their Book Fair and at the PTA Gift shop. (I did lots of Christmas shopping at the Gift Shop!). I'm volunteering at their "Winterwonderland Fair" this Saturday. I'll be helping kids decorate cookies in the morning and helping run the games booth in the afternoon. Should be fun! I loved spending time with the kids at the book fair. I felt horrible if they didn't have enough money...I nearly bought some of them books (but that's kind of frowned upon) so I "saved them" for later when they could drag their parents back and pay for them! :)

My sister is coming for Christmas for a week (Dec. 22-29). We're very excited! We are going for 3 days to a beautiful tiny island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan called Green Island. We're going to snorkel and enjoy the saltwater hot springs. Can't wait! (Yeah like I NEED A VACATION! Yeah yeah I know...).

More pics of my 'hood!

2007-12-04T15:29:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I wandered through some back alleys on my way back from grocery shopping at a store that is like a mini - Harrod's (with matching sky high prices). I discovered a few shops and cafes that I had never seen before. My absolute favorite is the Tom Waits Cafe. They have the BEST coffee on the planet. I haven't been back since returning to Taipei because of my (propensity for) insomnia...but I really am hankering for their coffee. The owner is a very interesting man- he was a label chief for Polydor here in Taiwan(he decided which albums to import and how many), but had to quit his job after a bad car accident. I guess it hurt him to sit for too long. He still puts together really cool compilations and writes the liner notes for them. What impressed me MOST was - he knew who Rufus Wainwright was! (AS WELL AS Ru's mom and aunt- the McGarrigle Sisters, and Ru's dad, Loudon). I will go visit soon and take pics of the interior (they were closed yesterday) and I'll ask if I can take a picture of the owner too. There are SO many cafes in my neighborhood, I need to visit them all...it's very tempting!

.

You'll have to click of this cafe pic below. It looked very cute and cozy!

The exterior shot of Mais Cafe didn't come out so hot, but it looks like a pleasant spot.

This shop sells tea and BEAUTIFUL tea pots.

Whenever a shop has a grand opening, they have these beautiful flower displays outside the store.The arrangements remind me of funeral arrangements though- the way they are displayed on pillars! (Usually all of the flowers are displayed on pillars). I loved these orchids. I think this is a bedding store. I will have to check it out one day.

Looks a bit like San Diego!

This is a Chinese medicine shop around the corner from our apartment. I guess this customer had lice or something! :)

Here is a close up shot of my latest flower arrangement taken by Anjoli. (I posted a full pic on the previous post).

Busy being Leisurely

2007-12-02T22:58:00.000+08:00

Yup. That's my life in nutshell.
Ok nice talking to ya.
Bye.

:)

I had a great week. I wish all my weeks were so HECTIC. hee hee.

I enjoyed the tour of Chiang Kai-shek's mountain retreat home even though it was in semi-typhoon conditions! Oh and someone stole my umbrella, but the tour guide gave me one to take home (from a stash of forgotten umbrellas). Anyway, the residence itself was "eh" pretty simple, but the tour guide was fantastic. She was 75 but looked/acted much younger. She was very FUNNY and she was a wonderful story teller. I learned a lot about Madame Chiang - she was a fascinating woman. She was a Wellesley grad, like my sister (the brainiac! I mean that in a good way, Jen). She was tight with Eleanor Roosevelt and was an amazing artist. Chiang Kai-Shek was a very shrewd man (to say the least) and also very interesting . He was a major bully though (well, he WAS a dictator) - he stole the land for this retreat from the Boy Scouts! (It was a Boy Scout camp). I WISH I had pics for you, but I didn't want to ruin my new camera. We went on a HEAVENLY walk through the woods - oh man it was SO cool...even in the wind and rain.

My chaperoning of the botany field trip was postponed last Wednesday because of the bad weather. We're going the day after tomorrow. I hope it doesn't rain.

Wednesday night I went with Anjoli and three of the "ladies who lunch" to the Cloud Gate performance. It was the first time Anjoli and I have been to a full -length modern dance performance. We loved it. The sets - the costumes and of course the dances were gorgeous. One honoring "the fallen" - those who died at the hands of the Japanese - was pretty intense. The dancers wore baskets on their heads - just like the victims who were executed by the Japanese. They also honored the students who were killed during the Tianamen Square incident. I hope to see them every year - they were that good. They tour around the world, so if they ever visit a city near you, GO!

I volunteered at the gift shop at Anjoli's school for a few hours (I'll do it every week). It was fun and the ladies were so nice. There were four of us altogether. They were very happy to have me there and I was introduced as being a "new friend." Aw. None of them were American, btw! ;)

On Friday I took a cooking class on Greens and Tofu, but I was a bit disappointed, because the class was called "Greens Galore and Tasty Tofu" but it should have been called, " Very Tasty Meat, Meat, Meat, Deep Fried Eggplant and a little bit of Tofu mixed into Pork Meat Balls." I was mega bummed, really, because there are a BILLION different types of greens and I was really looking forward to learning about how to cook them. I love the teacher though- I've taken classes with her before when we lived here last year. I think I will just pay for a few private lessons. She's so funny though - she says that she tries to make things low-fat for us porky Americans (my words, not hers!) but "eets just not very TASTY!" I don't get how the women are so tiny here, including the teacher. She makes all this fattening food, but I don't think she eats it!

I had to leave the cooking class before she finished (she started about 20 minutes late) and go to my flower arranging class. I am happy to report I probably made about 50% of it! I wish you could have seen me, because I was RACING her at one point (when I was placing the evergreens into the oasis). She insisted on putting in all my pink flowers and she rearranged my berries. I just had to laugh. Once the pink flowers die I will add white ones and I will also look for RED candles.

TA DA!!!!!!!!

It's not terribly Christmasy, but it sure is purdy!

Yesterday Anjoli had a soccer game. Sadly they lost - the other team scored when there was like one minute left. LAST week Anjoli scored the winning goal in her first game, and her team won the second game too. (They had a double header).
Anjoli is kind of afraid of the ball. I think she's just playing to appease her dad, who is a soccer freak! (She's a real GIRL and prefers dance classesto sports).
Her coach is EXCELLENT! He's funny, but a bit tough, and he really motivates them. Unfortunately he's just filling in for the real coach who is stuck in Turkey.

Here are some shots from yesterday's game:

It was SO beautiful today...so Sujoy thought it would be a good idea to go the park and give Anjoli a few soccer pointers. I ran 6 laps on the track (3K/1.8 miles). I was hoping to do 4K but I got bored! Yeah yeah...no, really!

I bought a new COMPUTER table and it's so pretty, I just had to take a picture of it!

And here is the view! (If you can see through the screen!).I know you all must be bored with my mountain pics by now. I promise to take more interesting shots soon.

My week ahead is not that exciting, sorry to say. Next week I've signed up to work at the book fair at the American School for five days! (Two and a half hours per day). I am also working at a games booth at their Winter Wonderland Fair on December 15th.
I am keeping myself VERY busy!

Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Suexoxoxox

Flabbergasted...

2007-11-30T23:47:00.000+08:00

The Original Teddy Bear

Ok WHAT is the deal here?

I am simply beside myself over the fate of the poor teacher from the UK, Gillian Gibbons who was JAILED in Sudan for allowing her class to name a Teddy Bear Muhammad. Even more horrifying is the fact that thousands took the streets in Kharthoum to demand her EXECUTION.

Teddy Bears are a symbol of a cuddly kind of LOVE. HELLO!! I think this is scarier than 9/11, I really do! This poor woman. I can't imagine what she must be going through.

There is so much contempt towards the West following the Iraq war, these fundamentalists are looking for the tiniest offense against Islam to strike back in anger. That's what's really at the bottom of these ludicrous charges, of course.

It just makes me sick to my stomach, how the innocent suffer needlessly. I hate it. I just hate it.

Please pray for Gillian, or send her positive vibes, you choose.

On a LIGHTER note, I found this very interesting article on the origin of the Teddy Bear:

Rose and Morris Michtom
and the Invention of the Teddy Bear

Teddy bears are a symbol of cuddly gentleness and security the world over. It is well known that the teddy bear is named for President Theodore Roosevelt. Less well known are the inventors of the teddy bear, Rose and Morris Michtom, two Russian Jewish immigrants who lived in Brooklyn.

The American bear as a symbol of gentleness is filled with ironies. For generations, bears prompted fear, not affection. The teddy bear’s namesake, Theodore Roosevelt, was a ferocious warrior and big game hunter – a man who killed for sport. However, an unlikely alliance between the rugged, native-born American Protestant president and the inventive, immigrant Jewish couple from Brooklyn created one of the most lovable and enduring American icons.

The story begins in 1902. The states of Mississippi and Louisiana disagreed over the location of their common boundary, which bisected some of the least well-developed land in the United States. The governors of both states invited President Roosevelt to arbitrate the dispute. Roosevelt decided to combine his tour of the disputed territory with a five-day black bear hunt.

The president’s foray attracted a large contingent of journalists, who reported on Roosevelt’s every move. Even more compelling to the reporters than the boundary dispute was the president’s pursuit of a trophy bear. For four days, the press reported little about Roosevelt’s arbitration of the boundary dispute and harped on the ability of the area’s bears to elude his crosshairs. On the fifth and last day of the junket, apparently to redeem the president’s reputation, one of his hunting companions caught and tied a bear cub to a tree so that the president could shoot it. When he came upon the cub, Roosevelt refused to kill it, saying that he only took prey that had a sporting chance to defend itself.

Roosevelt’s demurrer took the nation by storm. The leading American cartoonist, Clifford Berryman, published a cartoon showing Roosevelt turning his back on the young bear, tied by its neck, and public response to the president’s self-restraint was overwhelmingly favorable. The next day, the Washington Post published a second cartoon, depicting the bear as a more placid beast, cementing the docile image of the young bear even more firmly in the public imagination.

Enter the Michtoms. Morris had arrived penniless in New York in 1887, when only in his teens, a refugee from pogroms. He married Rose and opened a small store that sold notions, candy and other penny items. In the evening, to help make ends meet, Rose sewed toys that they sold in the shop. Like millions of other Americans, the Michtoms avidly followed press accounts of Roosevelt’s journey into the Louisiana backcountry. Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot the defenseless bear touched the Michtoms. Morris suggested to Rose that she sew a replica of the bear represented in Berryman’s cartoons.

That night, Rose cut and stuffed a piece of plush velvet into the shape of a bear, sewed on shoe button eyes and handed it to Morris to display in the shop window. He labeled it, "Teddy’s bear." To his surprise, not only did someone enter the store asking to buy the bear, but twelve other potential customers also asked to purchase it. Aware that he might offend the president by using his name without permission, the Michtoms mailed the original bear to the White House, offering it as a gift to the president’s children and asking Roosevelt for the use of his name. He told the Michtoms he doubted his name would help its sales but they were free to use it if they wanted.

The rest is an amazing – yet characteristic – American Jewish immigrant success story. The Michtoms sewed teddy bears and placed them in the window of their shop, but demand was so great they couldn’t keep up. The couple concluded that there was more profit in teddy bears than in penny candy and dedicated full time to producing them. Because of the doll’s popularity, Roosevelt and the Republican Party adopted it as their symbol in the election of 1904, and Michtom bears were placed on display at every public White House function.

The Michtoms’ labor grew into the Ideal Toy Company, which remained in family hands until the 1970s. Ideal Toys sold millions of teddies throughout the world; yet, their good fortune did not spoil the Michtoms. Ever mindful of their humble origins, supported the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the Jewish National Fund, the National Labor Campaign for Palestine and numerous other Jewish causes. While Ideal Toys could not secure a patent on the teddy bear and many imitators entered the market, the Michtoms created an American — and worldwide — icon. Their original teddy bear, treasured and saved by Teddy Roosevelt’s grandchildren, is now displayed at the Smithsonian.

Source: American Jewish Historical Society

It's not easy...

2007-11-25T14:24:00.000+08:00

being mentally challenged!

I just read a headline on the BBC news website that said "Elephants strike" and under that another line - "festive note"
but the first line caught my eye and I immediately thought: "those Europeans...even the ELEPHANTS go on strike!" You see, I've been reading about the transit strike in France for the past week!

(In case you were wondering,it turns out the BBC posted a video about 3 elephants in JAPAN who have been trained to play "Jingle Bells" while holding bells in their trunks. I think I need to head on over to Japan and pull a Cesar Chavez...get 'em organized! Maybe teach them how to ring out a few bars of "We Shall Overcome." Ooh she's feisty today!).

Yeah it's always a party being me! (har har har).

I was WALKING in Boston one day and it was very foggy and rainy, so I thought, "oh I better put on my headlights!"

The good news is, I can blame the ol' golf ball sized tumour that was taking up residence in my brain for MANY years!

Ok, that excuse no longer works.

I am SO glad Thanksgiving is over, because I was quite sad and terribly homesick. I hope everyone back home had a good one though!

I have an incredibly busy week coming up, and I am really looking forward to it!
Here's what it looks like:

1. Chinese Health Secrets Class
2. Yangmingshuwu in the Yangmingshan Mountains- a former guest house of Chiang Kai-Shek.
3. Chaperoning Anjoi's class on a park field trip for a botany project.
4. Cloudgate Performance (A Taiwanese modern dance company that are supposed to be incredibly fantastic) at the National Theatre.
5. Greens Galore and Tasty Tofu Cooking Class
6. Volunteering at the PTA school gift shop for 2 hours
7. Flower Arranging Class - my teacher will make a lovely Christmas arrangement for me! hee hee. I will ask nicely if I could PLEASE do it by myself for a change!! (Seeing how it IS the last class).

My camera arrived - it's at Sujoy's office, I have to pick it up tomorrow because I am going to Yangmingshan on Tuesday. I may not be able to post pictures for awhile though (probably). Sujoy is in Korea. I know, I shouldn't be so technically dependent. I know I know...

Hope everyone has a great week!

Lots of love,
Suexxx

World Cup...BASEBALL!

2007-11-20T00:44:00.000+08:00

Who knew there was such a beast...but yesterday, me, Sujoy, Anjoli and Sujoy's partner, Thomas, his wife, Alice and their 1 year old daughter, Joanne, all headed to Tien Mu baseball stadium (1/4 mile from our apartment here in Taipei) to watch the World Cup Baseball final game between the US and Cuba.

This is the second baseball game we have attended here in Taipei. We only lasted 4 innings as it was kind of cool and RAINY. Here, games are never rained out. I will share pictures from both yesterday's game and the one we attended last year.

Oh, in case you were curious, the US team won, 6-3. I don't know anything about the players, but I am guessing they are all minor league dudes.

I still don't have a camera, but I had to take this shot of the Dunkin' Donuts ad with Sujoy's cell phone. (Last week,while waking by the Dunkin' Donuts outdoor patio here in Tien Mu, I heard the Who's "I Can't Explain." You have no idea how elated I was to smell the aroma of DD coffee AND hear the Who at the same moment in time. It was then I KNEW...YES, there is a God. I sampled a strange something that was being handed out... just to hear the Who. I forget what samples were being offered, but it was pretty strange, I remember that!).

The stadium is so beautiful, as are the surroundings. Here are some pics from when we last lived here (last year).

This adorable little munchkin is Joanne- she loves Anjoli.

Not too much to report on...I do have a picture of my latest creation from my flower arranging class. It's a Chinese/Japanese arrangement. I would like to say that it's something I created...but my teacher is a control freak. So...LOOK WHAT MY TEACHER MADE FOR ME! And YES, SHE made the origami horses...OF COURSE. They're in love! :)

Terry Fox 5 K Run

2007-11-11T21:18:00.000+08:00

Terry Fox was the original boy wonder. For those of you who may not have heard of him, Terry was a Canadian university student who lost his leg to cancer in 1977. Before that he had been very active in basketball and running activities. After witnessing the pain and suffering of others (especially children) in the hospital where he was receiving cancer treatment, Terry decided, in 1980, to run across Canada and he called this mission "The Marathon of Hope." His goal was to raise money for cancer research and to make people aware of the suffering caused by this heartbreaking disease.

Terry ran over 5400 km with his artificial leg to show people that even with one leg, he could reach his goal. Sadly, in 1981,Terry lost his battle with cancer, but every year people around the world keep his dream alive by participating in local Marathon of Hope Runs.

Today I ran in the Annual 5k Terry Fox Run. I thought I was going to walk and run, but I ran (ok jogged) the whole thing! It was a blast. I did it in about 30 minutes. It was hard at the end, but I kept pushing myself and I thought of Terry the whole time. He is truly an inspiration.

I kept thinking how lucky I am - that my brain tumor was benign. I truly am very, very lucky.

Here is a beautiful video of Terry (the audio of his voice isn't very good in some parts though).

Good Times!

2007-11-10T16:50:00.000+08:00

Ladies Who Lunch
(Music and Lyrics by Steven Sodheim)

Here's to the ladies who lunch--
Everybody laugh.
Lounging in their caftans
And planning a brunch
On their own behalf.
Off to the gym,
Then to a fitting,
Claiming they're fat.
And looking grim,
'Cause they've been sitting
Choosing a hat.
Does anyone still wear a hat?
I'll drink to that.

And here's to the girls who play smart--
Aren't they a gas?
Rushing to their classes
In optical art,
Wishing it would pass.
Another long exhausting day,
Another thousand dollars,
A matinee, a Pinter play,
Perhaps a piece of Mahler's.
I'll drink to that.
And one for Mahler!

And here's to the girls who play wife--
Aren't they too much?
Keeping house but clutching
A copy of LIFE,
Just to keep in touch.
The ones who follow the rules,
And meet themselves at the schools,
Too busy to know that they're fools.
Aren't they a gem?
I'll drink to them!
Let's all drink to them!

And here's to the girls who just watch--
Aren't they the best?
When they get depressed,
It's a bottle of Scotch,
Plus a little jest.
Another chance to disapprove,
Another brilliant zinger,
Another reason not to move,
Another vodka stinger.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
I'll drink to that.

So here's to the girls on the go--
Everybody tries.
Look into their eyes,
And you'll see what they know:
Everybody dies.
A toast to that invincible bunch,
The dinosaurs surviving the crunch.
Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch--
Everybody rise!
Rise!
Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise!
Rise!

I like this song which, I must admit I know from Barbara Streisand's Broadway album (ok I had it on cassette!). It's from two plays - Sweeney Todd (which I loved) and Company (never saw that one).

Oh no! I am now officially a "lady who lunches." :) Please shoot me if I become like one of the ladies in the song!

I have been on a mailing list for over a year for this group of expats who meet for lunch at a different restaurant once a week, and last Wednesday I finally got up the nerve to go. Turns out I knew 2 women from the Center. We met at a very quaint French restaurant which, turned out to be quite close by. The food was great and the conversation was lively and very interesting. Three of us were American (and, oddly enough, we still ARE!), there were 2 German ladies and one sweet older woman from England. She arranges the lunches every week. Her husband is a professor of genetics at a university here in Taipei. I asked her if he ever met or knew Watson or Crick and it turns out he met Watson while studying at Cambridge! I thought that was pretty cool.

Jane, one of the Americans who I knew from the Center (she also volunteers) mentioned that she was getting tickets for this amazing Taiwanese Dance Company called Cloud Gate. She encouraged me to buy tickets pronto because they sell out fast. So I am taking Anjoli and meeting her and Petra (who is from Germany) on the MRT and we are all going to go to the National Theater together! I am so excited. Here is a description of the dance company taken from the Cloud Gate website:

"Cloud Gate's rich repertoire has its roots in Asian myths, folklore, and aesthetics, but it brings to these age-old beliefs and stories a contemporary and universal perspective. The company is made up of two-dozen dancers whose training includes Tai Chi Tao Yin (an ancient form of Chi Kung), meditation, martial arts, Chinese Opera movement, modern dance, ballet, and calligraphy."

From the reviews that I read they sound phenomenal. People have been moved to tears, they're that good.

Jane ALSO invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at the American Club! She is so sweet, but, sadly, she is moving to Shanghai in January. Still, it will be nice to hang out with her for a few months.

I took my first flower arranging class on Friday. Here is what I made...ta da!

Ok the teacher helped me ALOT. I cut some of the inner flowers TOO SHORT. (She said to cut them shorter than the outer ones). I joked and told her it figures I messed up but she said, "Oh no! It's CUTE! There are no mistakes in flower arranging!" You know when people say that, you screwed up royally. I started out doing fine though! Oh well. I'll practice on my own. (And probably take the class again next semester!). I need to enroll in a remedial flower arranging class!

Tomorrow is the Terry Fox 5 K Run. We are all going to attempt to run as much of it as possible (Anjoli, Sujoy and I). I am just a girl on the go!

Anjoli isn't feeling well now though. She has a slight fever and a bit of a sore throat/cold and refuses to eat. Oh no! We had to pass on the Diwali celebration, which is really sad.
I didn't want to go alone (Sujoy just returned from an 11 day trip to China and Korea so we haven't all been together for awhile).

I hope she's better by tomorrow! :(

The Good, the Bad and the UGLY

2007-11-06T16:07:00.000+08:00

Oh I am lame with my titles. How unoriginal…

Good news is…I am feeling more positive and happier than I have been.
Last week (ok and yesterday), all I wanted to do was sleep. I would drop Anju off at school, then come back home and sleep until…noon sometimes. This pattern threw my sleeping schedule off, so I started to get insomnia again – well I have been waking up at 4 or so.

Anyway, starting , ah this morning actually, I DIDN’T go back to sleep because I volunteered at the Center and chatted with lots of sweet FOREIGNERS! You know, AMERICANS. I am always happier on days when I volunteer. I couldn’t for the last 2 weeks and have been missing it something awful. I bought a GORGEOUS photograph (it will be framed by the photographer) of a goddess’ hands in prayer that was taken in Thailand. I always get myself in trouble buying books or handicrafts/artwork at the Center!

Yesterday, my cleaning lady (she helps out twice a month only – I am not THAT spoiled, ok?) showed how kind and thoughtful Taiwanese people are. She wouldn’t let me leave the house until I wore a jacket, and she MADE SURE that I zipped it. She only speaks Chinese, and I caught one word, “bing” which means “cold.” She mimed shivering and sneezing to drive her point home. Well taken, and very much appreciated, Mrs. H. She’s probably younger than me, but I will always need mothering. Anyway it’s “unseasonably” cool now. It must be oh, I don’t know 60 degrees? Let me check Underground Weather. Hang on. It’s 71 degrees/22 celsius today! It may have been 66/19 celsius yesterday! People are wearing scarves, fur lined hoods… crazy! We haven’t seen the sun for weeks… wah!

More good: we had custom made curtains made in the fabric district which is located in the oldest part of Taipei. I promise to take pictures of this quaint little area. Cobblestone streets, nice (OLD) brick buildings – Chinese markets selling all sorts of odd Chinese medicines. It’s a cool area. Anyway, the curtains look LOVELY. Really perked me up after putting them up…but I hurt my neck doing it – I didn’t get Anjoli’s up because it hurt too much. I am a bit bummed about that. It’s feeling better today though, so maybe tonight I will give it a go.

The bad is: I don’t understand why I can’t connect with Taipei American School moms. I (already whined about this w/lyricgirl/Sue) but…I have had one of Anjoli’s friends from her class over twice. I even took her and Anjoli to a children’s museum, and took them to lunch, then dropped the child off at her home via taxi. Whenever I see the mom at school she ignores me. I helped out at a Halloween party, and the mom completely blew me off- well, she smiled at me once. I made a point to chit chat to her, but she is just really frosty. She even told her daughter that she wanted to meet me after hearing about Anjoli incessantly in September. She WAS friendly when I first met her back in September, but now won’t give me the time of day. Anjoli’s friend insists that she will have Anju over for a playdate, but that hasn’t happened. Oh well. Another mom that I met (who has younger kids) also is elusive, but she talks to me more, at least. Still, she doesn’t seem very interested in having lunch or anything (her husband invited us over though! Well, he said, “you should come over, since we’re neighbors”).

BUT! There is one glimmer of hope- Anjoli and I were invited to a mom’s apartment yesterday for a class on Hinduism for kids. I enjoyed it more than Anjoli (she said it was “Ok”). I don’t view myself as Hindu (yet!) and poor Anju doesn’t know what she is either – but I want her to learn about Hinduism since she is half Indian. I really enjoyed chanting, but Anjoli was very shy about it. Anjoli wished the kids were nicer – one is in Anjoli’s grade but she is really quiet and reserved. Anyway, Betty – the teacher – invited us to her house this Saturday to celebrate the Indian Festival – Diwali – which is the Festival of Lights. We’ll pray and eat delicious food and then light firecrackers, etc. I am very happy to finally socialize. Betty has lived here for 19 years – she moved here from Bombay right after graduating from college. It feels good to have met a rooted expat. She’s very very sweet and kind.

Anjoli is having a hard time this week – missing home and her dad (he’s gone on an 11 day business trip). I hate that after she does her homework she can’t just run out and play with her friends. That’s the hardest thing about living here. She starts soccer this Wednesday though. Can’t WAIT!! We ran a few nights last week at a local running track just to get outdoors. We are jogging/walking in a 5k run for cancer research with her school in downtown Taipei this Sunday (The Terry Fox Run). Should be fun – but it’s at SEVEN A.M. YOWZA!!!

The UGLY is my poor husband who is doing business in Korea (he was in China last week) ran into a bad situation – his laptop was COMPLETELY taken over by a horrible virus. For some reason his anti-virus software stopped working. What a nightmare. He got it working a bit though last night (after getting the blue screen of death). He has had a successful trip though – he found people to distribute his cameras in Korea. (He designs “smart cameras” for inspection of manufacturing materials such as the film used in LCD screens).

Ok I just realized that NOTHING is ALL good, bad or ugly...
Except MAYBE this video!
My friend Chelice sent it to me the other day. We both agree it is highly sensationalized,but it exposes the ugly truth.

Hope you are all well.

Lots of love,
Suexxxxxx

Why are we happy? Why aren’t we happy?

2007-11-02T01:31:00.000+08:00

I stumbled upon an excellent video and website today. Check out TED.com. I encourage you all to watch it. It’s a bit long, but it’s VERY interesting. You may have to watch it a few times. ( I did).

Happiness Video- Dan Gilbert

I think this is yet another lesson in synchronicity for me. Last week, I was feeling SO happy. I mean, I found myself BEAMING while washing dishes. A month ago I threw a hissy fit because we don’t have a freaking dishwasher here. What gives?

I was enjoying this change of pace, but, being analytical Sue, I kept trying to figure out WHY I was so happy. I think, deep down, I am beginning to realize that happiness is not conditional, it’s not EXTERNAL. It comes from within. I am also learning to accept the things I cannot change (ok yeah.. it is part of the Serenity Prayer). The lecturer in this video (Dan Gilbert - a Harvard psychologist) talks about this.

I think I have learned a lot about surrender, acceptance, and being grateful. Sujoy helps me in this regard. “Look around you – READ THE NEWS!” he says. I skim it, because it makes me sad. Anyway, I do pray for peace and an end to all suffering. I know what it’s like to suffer, but what I have experienced is infinitesimal compared to oh, those in Darfur, Burma or Iraq, for instance.

Anyway, the WEIRD thing was…as I started questioning my happiness…it started to slip away. After watching this video though, I understand that I was definitely on the right track.

Happiness is a state of mind that we can all synthesize. Cool!

Most of you know this quote – which someone on Ted.com used in a comment on the video (no it wasn’t an original Sheryl Crowe lyric!):

“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

What do YOU think is the secret to happiness?

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T14:57:00.001+08:00

Anjoli was a witch today. I dressed up as a gypsy and helped out at her classroom party. The kids made monster cupcakes and I played "Hot Pumpkin" (instead of Hot Potato) with them. It was fun! The kids had their pictures taken and they made cute frames for them. Ingrid, the class mom (an American from Orange County) is very creative and organized...I was impressed. She wants to have a Thanksgiving party...sounds like a lotta work though! The teacher just smiled at THAT suggestion.

Hope y'all have fun trick or treating!

Lots of love,
Suexxxxxxx

Pictures!

2007-10-28T21:33:00.001+08:00

Here are a few pics for ya...taken with Sujoy's cell phone.
I just ordered a camera from Amazon...we'll get it mid- November. I can't wait!
I promise to write a proper post soon but I am really knackered at the mo. :)

Oh I spoke to one of my San Diego friends today (Anna). She and her family and friends are all FINE. I was really worried because she got a reverse 911 call to evacuate, and her area got hit really badly during the last big firestorm.

Here is a pretty pagoda in a nearby park (sorry about the glare):

Still kids at heart! I was actually smiling but you can't tell...boo hoo.

Anjoli and her friends Betty and Jessica- they're sisters. They slept over at our apartment last weekend.

This is the view from our balcony. We are finally getting sunny weather - so I made sure to take a pic today. Ithad been raining for weeks on end since I arrived in early September. October and November are the sunniest and coolest months. Anyway- as I said before, the architecture isn't very pretty, but when I sit in our big overstuffed chair looking toward the mountains the wall of my balcony blocks out most of the apartment buildings. It's a gorgeous view!

Not a bad pic. I look WORSE today for some reason...This was taken on October 13,2007. It will be 3 months since my surgery on...Halloween. I won't need a mask to scare small children! hee hee. My eyebrows are very scary as you can see. I CANNOT find ANYONE who waxes/shapes eyebrows here. It's bizarre...and frustrating. Guess I will just have to make a special trip home soon to the states! Yeah...I wish. :(

My tenants evacuated our house

2007-10-23T17:02:00.001+08:00

This is San Miguel Mountain- you can see it from up the street from my house!

I'm glad to be here in Taipei, yes, but I fear for my friends and all the wildlife and horses...I think my neighbors had enough time to evacuate their horses. I hope and pray.
I've been praying all day.

I copied this comment from a San Diego Fire Blog:

"I drove to see the St. Miguel fire a few minutes ago and the entire mountain is ablaze. It seems the fire line is 5 miles long. It has crested the ridge and the winds appear to be shifting SE. There appeared to be many homes in the area and very little police activity as recently as 1AM. I hope the residents are made aware soon. It seems this fire is not going to go away as there is nobody fighting it. Apparently some radio towers for PBS, KUSI, and NBC are on top of the mountain and burning from what I hear on the radio."

I just read that the fire is heading away from our community (at the moment). Thank GOD!

She ran calling WILD FIRE!!!!

2007-10-22T22:26:00.000+08:00

Ok that was a one of the worst songs ever written. Remember???

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FINE FOLKS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!
The fires are out of control in parts of Orange and San Diego County - including Rancho Bernardo where my baby was born. They have hit the exact area where we lived when we first moved to San Diego. One of my friend's dad lost his home a few years ago - and NOW the fires have hit the same area AGAIN (in Ramona- he lives in Cuyamaca - very close by).

20,000 people have lost power (last I read).

Ok I will take a typhoon over these fires ANY DAY! I promise not to whine about a little flooding. Really.

Scary stuff.

GO SOX!!

2007-10-22T10:19:00.001+08:00

I am watching the Red Sox game...Dunkin' Donuts coffee in hand!
I am sure my friends and family in Boston are drinking something more potent now, but we ARE12 hours behind them.
They're going to go all the way and win the World Series for me, I just feel it.
:)

The metal plate in my head is itching...

2007-10-21T21:26:00.000+08:00

so THAT'S a good sign! I think...

Not TOO much to report from here. I started volunteering at the Community Center last Tuesday. I answered the phone and registered a few ladies for classes. The director was very sweet and bought me lunch. I only had 4 boiled leek dumplings. I didn't want to look like a little pig. She kept saying, "that's not very much!" I am weird, what can I say. Anyway, she is such a cool woman. She's American (I am not sure where she is from, I need to ask her). She told me she was so happy that I am helping them out. She said, if she were in my shoes (recovering from the brain surgery and relocating to Asia all in one breath) she'd be home sucking her thumb! I told her, well, despite outward appearances, I am still shell shocked, but it gets a bit easier day by day. As long as I get out the door, I am fine. Sometimes I just want to stay in bed under the covers. It's dangerous being able to sleep now...I am making up for lost sleep, that's all. (That's what I keep telling myself).

I received the best present this week from one of Rachel's bloggers (she's not on BLOGGER though, sadly). Many of you may know who she is - her screen name on Rachel's is: IBeME. She had a (mint green) prayer shawl knitted for me at an Abbey in Pennsylvania. I just love it. I pray with it every day (the woman who knitted it prayed for me while making it, which is very cool). This woman is related to someone with the same last name as me (DeSimone- not a very common name!). I like to snuggle with it- it is very comforting. It came with a few beautiful prayers also - one by the writer/monk Thomas Merton. I know I sound like a broken record, but I truly believe that my tumour was a blessing in disguise. It was a VERY LARGE nudge from God to teach me that we are ALL CONNECTED. There are no strangers among us - we are all part of one family - it IS an illusion that we are separate from eachother, and from God (ok I haven't gotten THAT far on my spiritual path, but I believe it). SO....VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO TRISH! xxxx

While volunteering at the Center last week, one of the ladies who works there convinced me to go on a tour up Yangmingshan Mountain to a palatial government building called Chung Shan Hall. I am sounding like a broken record again, but I WISH I HAD A FREAKING CAMERA. Oh my goodness it was so beautiful and the location was STUNNING!! I promise to go back and take pictures. It was built in 1965 in just 13 months (during the Chinese Cultural Revolution) by Chiang Kai - Shek and was only recently opened to the public. It is the only structure in the world to be built on a sulphuric volcanic crater (and the architect was a woman - who was only 40 years old when she designed it). It was really fascinating - she had to come up with a special metal foundation that would not corrode. I asked the docent WHY it had to be built THERE and she said...for feng shui reasons...then when I pressed for more information she said, "you'll see!" So later...when we went to the front balcony - she showed us mountains on either side that looked like the arms of an emperor's chair - with one mountain in back forming the back of the chair. So the bottom line was, whatever Chiang Kai-shek wished for, he would receive! It was where the (now defunct) National Assembly would meet (we got to sit in the front row chairs!) and where the President would entertain dignitaries. The art work was especially beautiful - porcelain paintings - I've never seen them before. The watercolors were gorgeous too - one of the artists taught Jackie Onassis.

On Friday we went to the American School to watch an awesome production of the musical, "Once Upon a Mattress." It was really well done - performed by the high school students. Anjoli can't wait to act - she is especially interested in musicals. She sat in the second row with one of her classmates.

That's all for now folks!
Hope everyone is well.
Take care.
Lots of love,
Suexxxxxxx

Our 'hood

2007-10-16T18:06:00.001+08:00

I am feeling badly about not being able to post pictures. I am missing our camera something fierce. This is a picture of the Taipei American School, which is about a 10 minute walk from our apartment. Anjoli is in 4th grade and is quite lucky to be attending this fabulous school. She is beaming by the time she reaches school. I have NEVER in my life seen so many happy children in a school setting.

Wait until you see the view of the mountains from my balcony. It's breathtaking. Only problem is the ugly apartment buildings in the foreground. Most of the architecture here is, ah, not very pretty.

Healing and Struggling

2007-10-13T17:50:00.000+08:00

I had a trying week. After my happy days (daze?) the giddiness wore off and I suddenly found myself in a black hole. Anjoli has an autumn mini-break (she's been off since Wednesday) and the change in our daily routine really kills me!

Feeling much better now though - I just got back from an acupuncture session. He put needles in different points today and kept me there longer. His nurse also burned mugwort on the needles on my arm today - that was different. She really burned my belly today - weird - it usually doesn't hurt.

I also took a 90 minute yoga class called "Flow" this morning and it REALLY brought me peace. I am THRILLED because I was able to do all but one pose (a headstand...I don't think my neck is quite up to THAT pose just yet). I felt so relaxed and completely centered afterward. I want to buy a package and save money but I don't have the credit cards they accept, so I can't "join" until we get our Alien Resident Card and then we'll get a China Trust credit card. I can't afford to pay for the package in cash up front. I hope we get the card soon! Then I will also have national health insurance - so medical fees (including acupuncture, of course) will be next to nothing! I only pay $20 per session now but I go three times per week.

The line next to my nose is getting deeper and my mouth is straighter. I can close my left eye much faster now and... the GREAT news is that I NO LONGER HAVE INSOMNNIA!!! I sleep like a baby now! woo hoo!! I'm tellin' ya - acupuncture is the BOMB!!!! I was sold even before I had it but, now, I am living proof that it WORKS.

I figured out that it's only a 20 minute walk to my acupuncturist's office. I discovered a beautiful park today. I HAVE to get a camera soon. I keep seeing all these interesting things to shoot. I saw one great shot today of these old ladies in a beauty parlor - they looked so cute under these old fashioned hair dryers. I hope we find a good camera at a decent price soon.

Gotta scoot.

Take care everyone and thanks for your love and support!

xxxxxxxxxxx

Happy!

2007-10-09T21:50:00.000+08:00

Yup. I am finally feeling like myself lately. Not that I am always happy...but I am getting comfortable with my surroundings, and I have been keeping BUSY.

I met my new friend, Mohini, FINALLY, yesterday at Starbucks. I had Evian. I don't do caffeine anymore...being the insomniac that I am. She's WONDERFUL. It helps that she's moved here from Oregon, a state where I have never visited, but I KNOW I belong there. Every Oregonian I meet nods their head when they meet me. Yes, it's MY kinda place (especially Ashland, OR).
We just met for about an hour, but then we see eachother at the Taipei American School. She helped Anjoli with her tendonitis. Anjoli walked for the first time in a week tonight! woo hoo!

Today I volunteered at the Community Center. I won't divulge the mind numbing task I was given...but they were so happy with me that they've asked me to volunteer every Tuesday. Hurrah! Oh I need this so badly. It was heaven - hearing English spoken (by Americans mostly). I know, how NATIONALISTIC of me. Yeah yeah. I miss my homeland!
But I am enjoying Taipei now. I appreciate how it is SO DIFFERENT from home.

Today I ALSO saw my new acupuncturist for the second time. He is such a sweet man, but he has a bad short term memory. The first visit he asked me 4 times about when I had my surgery (when did the Palsy start?). Today, while walking to the acupuncture room, he asked me how I was sleeping. Then, about a half hour later, while removing the needles, he asked me again how I was sleeping. He said after 5 visits or so, he'd give me herbs to help me sleep if I needed them. I am psyched! I love seeing all the herbs, mushrooms...weeds (whatever they are). I can't wait to see what he prescribes. I am Hecate incarnate - a witch (according to one of my profs of Greek mythology from BU).
In addition to acupuncture, I am getting a treatment known as "moxibustion." The nurse burns a stick of cotton and the herb mugwort and she runs it in weird patterns on my belly. It has to do with warming my "chi" (energy) which is too cold. It works in conjunction w/the acupuncture. I have read on the internet that studies have proven that this combination has cured Bell's Palsy. I HAVE seen results already. The line next to my nose is deeper and I am feeling lots more sensation under my eyes and still next to my nose. I am sleeping a little better also. So it's ALL GOOD.

I even took the bus ON MY OWN to the doc today! Mohini sent me a site with an English translation. I could never figure out the busses last time I lived here. Now I am psyched. I do enjoy walking - I still have a good walk from the stop to his office though. I love walking in the city (I am not afraid of getting run over by scooters anymore. Although I nearly got hit by a car this evening! oops).

Another mixed blessing is that my clothes don't fit me (most of them). They are TOO BIG!! I'm now a medium (size 10) in the US. But I am still a blimp by Taiwanese standards! I may have to shop at this plus size shop - no lie. The name of the store is 5X. I so don't want to set foot in a store by that name. I think I'll just have my clothes altered instead. I know, quelle probs, ay?

Hope you are all well.

Much love,
Suexxxxxxxxxx

Typhoon Season is here!

2007-10-06T17:30:00.000+08:00

Yikes! Taiwan is getting slammed by Typhoon Krosa (Cambodian for "crane").

I've never seen such fierce winds - it's pretty scary. Our bedroom got a bit flooded due to a big gap in our wall where we had an air conditioner installed. What a pain! We are having a TIME soaking up the rain, but thank goodness Sujoy remembered that I had brought home duct tape on my flight from Boston (don't ask me why!). So it's much better now.

I am thankful that I am safe and sound with my little family, and I am praying for everyone else's safety too.

I seem to be running into many (nature induced) obstacles lately. Anjoli hurt herself, so I couldn't meet my "new friend" for lunch last week and I missed both my yoga AND Buddhist meditation classes today due to the typhoon. Mother Nature is very humbling, and I am learning to just roll with things, no point in getting frustrated. I am sure that will be a big part of my meditation classes...learning to be at peace with the way things are. I am becoming more and more patient every day. It's not easy, that's for sure.

Hope you are all well.

I miss San Diego and my friends so much.

Lots of love,
Suexxxxxx

Oh no!

2007-10-03T22:07:00.000+08:00

Took Anjoli (my 9 year old ) to the doctor today. Turns out she has Acute (Achilles) Tendonitis. Poor babe. She's in a lot of pain. The doc told me to borrow crutches from her school, so we did. She may need them for two weeks! (I hope not). Bummer because she wants to sign up for a girl's soccer team - it starts next week. I will be a "soccer mom" of course and ask nicely if she can maybe attend practice but watch from the sidelines until she's good and ready to play. I am SO tired of her being indoors so much. It's hard - it's so hot, but more than that - there's nothing to DO here in our neighborhood. She really needs to be part of some athletic team. Fingers crossed it will work out.

So I didn't get to have my lunch with my new friend today... I've haven't met her yet (she's a friend of a friend). See- I'm an optimist (most of the time). So we are meeting for coffee Monday morning. She's a physical therapist and she sweetly offered her services (stretching/massaging) to help Anjoli. That was very kind of her.

I am getting used to Taipei (again! We lived here for 6 months last year as many of you know). The scooters really annoy me, as they did last year. The "scooterists" somehow feel they are above traffic laws. I have stopped caring about whether I am going to get hit by one while crossing the street though. My attitude is, "you want to hit me, go ahead." So they just swerve around me. I would love to see an aerial view of traffic here. Cars (especially TAXIS- cabbies are truly insane), pedestrians, scooters - they all just snake around each other. I have spent a lot of time traveling in India where you honestly see your life flash by every 30 seconds if you are traveling by car, so I guess my ticker is used to it. People (for the most part) do obey traffic lights on main drags here though. This is a very un PC thing to say, but one of our friends said he's going to print up a bumper sticker that says: "Fuck you, I'm Chinese!" I know that sounds unlike me to write, but it's SO true! Ok you should never call a Taiwanese person Chinese, but you get my drift.

Speaking of the "F" word. People here are very into wearing t-shirts with silly sayings that often make no sense. Last night at the gym I saw this very demure looking woman - she was maybe 30- with a t-shirt which had Dunkin' Donuts colors and lettering - it had a picture of a glass (maybe it's supposed to be a styrofoam cup) with liquid spilling out of it - and it said "Go fuckin' nuts."
I wanted SO badly to ask her: "Um, do you know what your shirt says?" Of course I DIDN'T, but I am 99% sure she had no idea what it said. I could be wrong! [Anjoli thinks she most likely doesn't know what it says].

One OTHER thing that bugs me is, well, the sidewalks here are very narrow, and sometimes you're forced to walk in the street. I have noticed that in general, people DO NOT scoot aside for you. I am ALWAYS the one to make way! I don't care, but I wonder why that is? Tonight I stepped aside for a woman and her two kids (well, no problem there) and I smiled at her little boy who was probably 4. He looked up at me and kept looking behind, smiling at me, as if to say, "hey thanks!"

The other WEIRD thing (it doesn't bug me) is that, whenever a cop is driving his cop car, he MUST keep his flashing lights on, and that goes for the cops on scooters too. (I saw a cop on a scooter for the first time today). I can't remember if he obeyed the traffic light or not. I'm guessing NOT. :)

Celebrating the Moon Festival and a pic of my face

2007-10-01T16:40:00.000+08:00

Someone stole our camera from our luggage...so I apologize for the lack of photos. I need to buy a new camera.

Sujoy took this pic last week with his cell phone. You can see my new 'do.

Sujoy took this pic last night. I didn't smile because it's very crooked! It's the best I have looked so far. You can see it's going to take time for my facial nerve to heal. I hope and pray it does....I know I know be POSTIVE.

Gettin in the cultcha!!!

2007-09-28T14:42:00.000+08:00

Ok...so, in my search to keep busy, I went to the Center the other day. It's a wonderful non-profit community center where they hold classes, offer sightseeing tours....they basically help "foreigners" orient themselves to Taipei.
Last year when we were here I took Survival Chinese there - but didn't try very hard! I really just wanted to meet other ex-pats...and I did. I learned A FEW words...I plan on taking private lessons at the Taipei Language Institute. I need to be held accountable (i.e given homework/tests!!).

Well, it looks like I have to wait until November for the real fun to start, but this is what I signed up for:

1. Shungye Museum of Formosan Aborigines - a guided tour. I am fascinated by aboriginal culture. Should be really interesting.

2. Yangmingshuwu- guided tour of Chiang Kai-Shek's guest house located in a "tranquil forest surrounded by lush vegetation and singing birds". Sounds lovely!

3.Chinese Health Secrets- A lecture which is supposed to tell you "early warning signs using simple methods" (like checking your tongue and pulse). I am intrigued by Chinese medicine so I can't wait for this lecture.

4. Flower Arranging - 3 1 and 1/2 hour classes. This will be SO cool, and relaxing too - I look forward to learning this skill and vow to always have fresh flowers in our home.

5.Green Galore (I think she means "Greens") and Tasty Tofu - a one session cooking class. I have been craving greens lately. Tofu is tofu is tofu. (maybe not???? yeah dream on).

6. Thai-riffic - Thai and Indian food are my faves and I have never really tried to make Thai food. It's also a one session cooking class where we we learn how to prepare 3 dishes. No Laura, they're not vegetarian. Maybe I will take a few private lessons with the instructor.
Cooking is GREAT therapy.

Speaking of which - last weekend, Sujoy and I bought a bamboo steamer and steamed a HUGE red snapper...it was AWESOME. Just melted in your mouth. Sujoy cut himself on one of the (teeth? some part of the fish) and his finger swelled. That was weird. Anyway, it was our first experience w/a bamboo steamer and it was a success! Hurrah!

I am also going to volunteer in the Center's office. They are having an fund raising auction and will need help in early October. Thank goodness they need help because I am truly going nutters with so much time on my hands. I am also going to volunteer at a few school events - but they're not for awhile.

Anjoli has had a stomach flu for the last two days, so I have barely been out since Wednesday. I miss my workouts and couldn't get my face massage from Sean. Oh well, at least Sujoy massages my face EVERY night before bedtime. Good man. :) He is an awesome masseuse!

Oh good news: I have a weird, tingling slightly painful sensation near my nose on the left side where it's paralyzed and a line is starting to form!!! I believe this is good news - it wasn't there before, and neither was the feeling. I am taking this extract of 7 mushrooms that I brought with me from the U.S. It's supposed to be good for the nervous system and immune system. Maybe it is helping. It helps cancer patients.

I know my posts are long now...but like I said, I am going stir crazy! Oh I have a "lunch date" with a friend of a friend I met in my Chinese class last year this Wednesday. Finally I will have a social life. Phew!

Hope you are all well.

Lots of love,
Suexxxxxxxxx

Good Times (for a change)

2007-09-25T20:25:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was a great day for me.

(I realize most of this is boring and LONG - the last two paragraphs are about the fun I had!).

In the morning, I went for a first visit to a local (family) physician. I had a laundry list for myself, but the main reason for going was to see if I could get a medical excuse for my daughter to not have the MMR vaccine.

[Background story: I waited until last year to pick and choose which vaccines to give Anjoli. A year before she was born I researched and wrote a lenghty article on the cons of vaccination. I was always worried when we travelled to India, but I breast fed her for YEARS and gave her homeopathy and herbs, etc. Thank goodness, she never got that ill in India. Her pediatrician was adamant about her getting polio, DaPT and Hepatitis A before travelling to Taiwan last year (when we came the first time). So I did.

A few weeks ago, I received a letter from her school (the Taipei American School) stating the records show she is missing the MMR and must get one. I went to the nurse and explained that I was not planning on giving her this. About 6 years ago, Sujoy's cousin, who lives in Liverpool, gave her infant son an MMR and he became autistic shortly after receiving it. His doctor even warned her about the controversy surrounding the MMR and Hepatitis B shot. Both are preserved with mercury, and there is mounting evidence of a link between children who are "sensitive" to mercury and the onset of early childhood autism].

The doctor was WONDERFUL. So warm and friendly - he spoke perfect English. He was extremely compassionate - couldn't believe my brain surgery story. Oddly enough, while he was in graduate school at NYU, his wife (who was his fiance at the time) had a similar brain tumour. Her host family's "dad" happened to be a neurosurgeon and diagnosed her shortly after her stay with the family. We talked about how everything is in the hands of the Divine - and how it was NO ACCIDENT that I was diagnosed in Boston - where I had access to possibly the best medical doctors in the world.

I told him how upset I have been - how I was diagnosed when I was "homeless" en route to relocating to Taiwan. I started to cry a bit - he held my hands and said "OF COURSE YOU ARE UPSET! YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME!" Wow. A doctor who actually CARES and listens. I told him I needed a refill and higher dose for my anti-depressant - he checked on -line to see if he had the same type (the doctors here have their own pharmacies). He did - so he gave me a month's supply.

He asked me if I was comfortable with acupuncture - so I told him THAT story. Then he gave me the name of a local, top notch acupuncturist who cured him of temporary hearing loss. He explained that he was a professor of Chinese medicine and was once the head of the Dept. of Chinese Medicine for Taiwan's Dept. of Health. Cool! So now I can see someone locally (but I love my Buddhist Hospital - I still want those face massages). I am really looking forward to seeing this doctor (I hope he speaks English though- I forgot to ask).

Then, I nervously showed him the letter from Anjoli's school - and he explained that he was out of the vaccine at the moment. I told him that I didn't want her to have the vaccine and he said, "oh, I understand your concern." Then he pointed above my head to a certificate on the wall that said something like, Specialist in Heavy Metals and Toxicology.
"This is my specialty. I am going to a seminar in Singapore in November - and he showed me the brochure - and the main reason for going was to hear a doctor speak about the link between autism and mercury!
My mouth dropped. I couldn't believe it. It felt SO GOOD to be validated - because most people think I am nuts. He explained that in his 14 years of practice, he has seen a significant, steady increase in autism in children. We blabbed and blabbed about vaccines, bureaucracy,and chelation (removing heavy metals from the body). He has cured kids of mercury induced autism using chelation. I told him about our cousin's son, and he gave me his CELL NUMBER and email so Sujoy's cousin could speak to him about (possibly) curing her son. He explained that there are doctors in the UK who could help her son.
I finally said, "I better go- there are other patients waiting!" I could have chatted for hours with the man. We had so much in common. He was excited to hear I was from San Diego, as he attended a conference on autism there and - oddly enough, his wife's name is Susan too.

Then I came home and rested a bit before getting Anjoli. Around 5 o 'clock Sujoy and is friends Thomas and Alice (Thomas is his business partner too) came to pick us up to go shopping for BBQ food. Thomas and Alice invited us over to their condo to celebrate the Moon Festival (which is actually today). There is a legend behind the moon festival, which I was going to include but this post is already a mini novel, so I will just say that the moon festival is very much like our July 4th. Families and friends get together and BBQ (you MUST BBQ), light fireworks and eat very rich, sweet Mooncakes.

We had a great time barbaquing - Thomas and Alice have an adorable one year old girl, so that was a treat- playing with her. They have a "penthouse" - so we all hung out outside on the balcony which has a great view of the city. They live alongside a river - and loads of people were out partying along the banks. We watched a beautiful display of fire works - right outside the building - I've never been so close to them before. It was fun - the highlight was when I opened a bottle of champagne and let the cork fly over the balcony (I didn't hear them say "aim for the wall, Sue!" well, I am deaf in one ear). Thomas was worried about me damaging cars. Immediately after popping it I though to myself that was really stupid - I could have hurt someone. No cars or people were injured though! phew.!! We toasted the moon and went home. My first bit of fun in a LONG time!!

Not so good news

2007-09-21T19:09:00.000+08:00

Well, after doing research tonight I found that electro therapies are not recommended for facial paralysis and may actually DAMAGE the nerve.
Oh well.
I will keep eating healthy, exercising and massaging my face though!
From what I have read it can take YEARS to recover though.

Whole lotta healing going on...

2007-09-20T13:54:00.001+08:00

Today I had a lovely facial massage from a sweet young Taiwanese man...yeah yeah some girls have all the luck. (He's my physical therapist- today was my first appointment with him - I will see him twice a week for however long I need to go). My only (minor) beef was he used Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil. He was going to use the lotion which I REALLY can't stand (I am kind of allergic to perfume). A female PT suggested I bring my own oil next visit. On the way home I found a health food store that carried organic oils...so NEXT time my boi can grace my face with some sweet smelling Jojoba Oil. Ah...

I'm supposed to massage my face 3 times a day. "Sean" taught me the technique...first you stroke, then you knead, then you scrunch up your face and pretend you're playing the piano all over your face! Cute eh?

Before the massage I had electro muscle stimulation on my face for 15 minutes. Sean explained that it won't heal the paralysis but it will help improve my muscle tone.

He told me that in order to heal I must think positive and pray. I told him I sometimes get down about my face. "No no no," he said , "You MUST be positive...and pray, pray to God." Then he said "God bless you," when I left. I'm so glad HE'S my PT. Such a sweet soul.

I also had my electro- acupuncture. I love all this pampering! This hospital (it's called the Tzu Chi Buddhist Hospital) is SUCH a find. I LOVE IT!! It's so calming, I can't tell you how good I feel there. It's a 180 degree turn from the frenetic pace of western hospitals (not that I don't APPRECIATE American hospitals - well the staff anyway, I do). It takes an hour and a half to get there, but it is SO worth it.

After acupuncture I went to the food court for the first time and found a fantastic vegetarian buffet at the "Minder Cafe." The food was FANTASTIC. The BEST vegetarian meal I've ever had.

I left the hospital feeling SO good!!!

I came home and had a "coffee break," ok that's code for a coffee enema. It works (as a detoxifier) I am NOT joking. I juiced 5 huge carrots and ginger...yum. Yes I drank it, I didn't shove it up my bum, ok? I was feeling really really pumped (you DO get a caffeine buzz, but it's NOT the same as drinking a quart of coffee!! Yes I do take in a quart and hold it for 15 minutes! Yikes. I know I know too much info....).

Loving life at this point, I headed for the gym where I worked out HARD for one hour. I jogged and did the mountain climber machine (that's what I call it - the slidy thing - not the elliptical trainer). Anywho, I burned 400 calories! Yahoorama.

I have been praying like crazy lately. I can tell that others (you?) are praying for me. I can feel it- truly. It has changed my life - having so much faith, and having the WORLD pray for me (it feels that way). One prayer that I say more and more is simply, "thank you, thank you God." I have an attitude of gratitude. (I heard a voice inside tell me: "you need an attitude of gratitude, girl." So I listened).

Tonight - I started to feel little twitches and tiny bits of pain in my face. It's the first time I have felt this sensation. I am SO EXCITED!!!

Today is the BEST I have felt since my surgery - which was only seven weeks ago. It's all coming together now: the praying (yes,that includes YOUR PRAYERS as I mentioned), my diet/detoxifying, the acupuncture and now PT - physical therapy that is, but yeah, the other PT, along with his beautiful soulmate, Rachel, have healed my life... Of course, being at HOME with Sujoy and Anjoli has made ALL the difference in the world.

I feel good. I KNEW that I would...eventually.

This post has nothing to do with ME and my face!

2007-09-17T16:45:00.000+08:00

Hurrah!

I MUST say...kudos to the EU for taking on the Bill Gates.
Darn right Microsoft is monopolizing the market. I wonder what the effect of the suit will be?

Ok that's as deep as I get.
I have been carrying around the cutest list in my purse for months now. It's getting all tattered so I better hurry up and share it. I came across it on a teacher's desk one day while subbing for a First Grade class in San Diego so the kids were 6-7 years old. (Yes I am a nosey, but it wasn't like she was hiding it or anything...). The school was located in a low-income area. The last one is my favorite. Poor babe must have privacy issues...

What would you buy with $100?

1. A big house
2. A picture of me and my mom
3. A bike
4. A car
5. Toys for me, flowers for my mom
6. A car, I think
7. Clothes
8. 100 Apples :)
9. A house to live in
10. Matches in case my stove doesn't work
11. New clothes that I always liked
12. A bike
13. A house
14. A car
15. Candy
16. A bathroom, extra bathrooms, some baby bathrooms for my baby sisters with little doors. :)

Adventures in Chinese Medicine

2007-09-14T07:05:00.000+08:00

So yesterday Anjoli had a day off from school. (She has today off also).
My goal since arriving is to start mega treatments of acupuncture to speed along the healing of my facial paralysis (it looks like Bell's Palsy). Our friend and Sujoy's partner's mom recommended I visit a Buddhist run hospital - it's VERY FAR from our apartment.

Getting there was a bit of an tricky, but fun! I told Anjoli it's like finding buried treasure via the subway! I love the challenge of going somewhere new. First we took a cab to the MRT (subway) station. Of course he took the long way but whatever. Five NT more big deal.

Anjoli and I checked out the route - I thought I figured it out but it was a bit confusing. While looking at a map while on the train, I asked someone if I needed to get off the train at the next stop to change lines. She said yes, (then I remembered that even when people don't really understand you, they often just nod and say yes to save face- even though I am the dope that should know Mandarin).

When we got off the train, it still didn't seem right, so I asked ANOTHER woman if she knew the route to Dapinglin station. "What? She said, "you want to eat dumplings? You hungry?" NO! I need acupuncture! Hospital! No dumplings!!! I didn't say that, of course, I just led her to the subway map and pointed to our destination. "Oh!" she said, "you needed to stay on the train!"

So we waitied for the next (correct) train, got off at our stop, then had trouble exiting. Turns out I didn't pay enough for the fare, so we went to a worker there and I had to pay $10NT each more for our tokens. It's so cool - they have these plastic tokens that you scan and it reads the fare. Weird.

So we went up to the street and looked for a shuttle for the hospital. Um...I neglected to find out exactly WHERE to take the shuttle, so we just took another cab. I pointed to the address on their brochure/schedule and we got there in less than 5 minutes.

The hospital was HUGE and BEAUTIFUL. As we entered there were lots of plants, a huge mural of the Buddha smiling over ill folks and lovely, serene flute music playing in the background. I have never felt so good to be in a hospital. No sign of concrete anywhere - just wood (looked like bamboo) and gorgeous Asian art and Chinese calligraphy. (Made me realize I would LOVE to learn Chinese brush painting which looks deceptively easy but it is so beautiful and soothing to the eye).
The registration forms were in English, but a volunteer led me right to the front of the line and a woman behind the counter walked me through the form. Immediately a patient in line chimed in to help as her English wasn't so great. At one point, I thought they asked me: "white?" So I said, "yes, I'm white!" as in Caucasian. "No no! they said, "Do you drink wine?" OH!!! "Nope," I proudly answered, "no more!" no no no. It's not even a thought at this stage in my life. No smoking either. Angelic Sue, c'est moi.

So we made our way to the Chinese/Integrated medicine floor (the hospital is mainly a Western Medicine/Conventional hospital). We had to wait over 2 and a half hours to see the doctor. Poor Anjoli! Good thing I fed her a big grilled cheese sandwich before coming....and she had a snack.

The doctor (a woman) was excellent. Very kind and efficent. I showed her my surgical report. She was kind of taken aback, I could tell. I told her the doctors said it "may" take 6-8 months for my face to come back (the left side). That was unacceptable to her. She told me she wanted me to come see her 3 times a week, but to ALSO go for Rehabilitation Therapy (Physical Therapy) on the same days and they would do muscle stimulation on my face (which is exactly what I had done in Massachusetts, but I only made one appointment).

I had one half hour of acupuncture - she used electrodes on the needles on my face as well, so it was a weird sensation. The good news was I felt an itch coming on on my left side of my face! I took that as an excellent sign. She also inserted a needle in my left hand between my thumb and index finger - I believe that is to help with my insomnia. She told me she can help me with my insomnia- phew! I did sleep REALLY well too, but I still took my Ativan, which I will wean myself off of very very soon, now that I will be busy and on a good sleep schedule. I am asleep by 10:30 now and up every day at 6:30. Perfect.

We didn't get home until 7:00 - we left at 12:45! Oh well. Next time it will be quicker. I have a yellow card which I show to the nurse and I just will immediately go for acupuncture (with an appointment of course).

I am HUGELY relieved that I will get a combination of eastern and western medicine. It's a huge trek but that's fine by me. I have all the time in the world to heal! I have been eating a "caveman's diet," lots of organic grains, almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, coconut water, veggies (not enough probably), fruit,plain yogurt, fish. Barely any meat but I did have chicken and a bit of shaved meat in my hot pot dinner the other night. Eggs, salmon. ALL good stuff. I also started, yes, I know people think it's freaky, but I am taking coffee enemas. They helped me get pregnant I swear (I also cleaned up my diet).
It's an adventure in healing.

I'm drinking organic apple cider vinegar in water - two caps full in a cup of water. It's supposed to give you energy. I feel a little more awake, but I sure would love a cup of coffee! I am too paranoid to drink it now for fear that I won't be able to sleep at night. I just want to cut out all caffeine.

Oh another thing, I have been BUGGING out because my left eye is SO dry since it doesn't blink that often due to the palsy. The weight helps a bit. This morning, I am happy to report that it is pretty teary (it still feels odd with the weight in my eyelid- I hope to have it removed ASAP).

Oh and of course, I pray like crazy. I am still confused about religion and going to/finding a church. I have DEEP faith on my own, but I do recognize that it is important to give thanks and praise to God and show respect by making the effort of going to church. Plus it is nice to be a part of a community. Being surrounded by Buddhist nuns and volunteers, I felt so much at home. I am very eastern minded, spiritually. I want to explore Buddhism, but still hold onto my love for Christ. While waiting for the doctor, I realized I can of course do both. Buddhism is more of a philosophy, a way of life. People do not pray to Buddha (I don't think) he wasn't God. But they DO believe in God, they just do not believe in an afterlife - they believe in reincarnation. That's the rub for me, because so do I! Yikes.
That would really set off a die hard Christian. Oh well. This is Sue. I never do things the easy way.

This is long, I know. I don't expect anyone to read it all! If you do, bless your heart.
Lots of love to you all,
Suexxxxxxxxxx

Sue the insomniac

2007-09-09T04:32:00.000+08:00

Ok it's 4:30 a.m. here in Taipei. I have been up all night because I took a 4 hour nap yesterday. Ah well. It will take time to adjust. I am now 12 hours ahead of eastern time.

I am finally in a good place after feeling suicidal and ending up in a psych ward! I thought it would be a place where I could get HELP or SOMETHING. Well I did get something, but let me tell you, the mental health care in the U.S. in abysmal. I don't think things have changed much since One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest . I need to read the book now. Truly it was similar to the movie, EXCEPT, I must say there were NO Nurse Cratchetts - the counselors were fantastic - one was even coaching me on how to get out. Even the nurse who checked me in thought I'd be out in no time (she knew I didn't "belong" there). Well, I was sent 75 miles from my cousin's house on a Saturday, after spending all day Friday in the ER. Things do not start moving until Monday. They do not let the patients out for supervised walks (unless you ask for "level one" as I learned and had to wait forever to ask the psychiatrist for it). Only 3 of us were given permission out of um, maybe 20 people?

The patients do NOTHING all day. They MAYBE have one half hour "group" session per day but they were pretty lame. The place was FREEZING - I didn't have any warm clothes and had to beg for a jacket (they have a room of donated clothing - mostly men's) from my roommate who hoarded all the warm clothes. She was elderly and very ill - not able to keep weight on, but don't worry she had a thick sweatshirt and wasn't using the jacket.
Our room was an ICEBERG so I slept (when I slept) with three blankets. My roomie was an absolute angel - and I am praying for her. She has dementia (a bit) and is an alcoholic.
She doesn't really remember how she got there (she did call 911). She told me she arrived without pants and that someone took her clogs. I don't think she was wearing them when she arrived, but I just listened to her. Poor lady was diabetic and incontinent.
She told me: "You have to tell me how you pull the toilet paper so evenly." So Sue, being a bit of a brat said, "Oh yeah - it's a real art!" OK that wasn't nice. I did in fact SHOW her my techinque though! Ok I know this is weird! Funny though.

I briefly saw the psychiatrist on Sunday. He said, "I read your note." WHAT NOTE???? (Later I figured out that the crisis counselor in Plymouth "fibbed" a bit to get insurance coverage because you have to be legitamately suicidal to get coverage! Which, when you think of it, makes sense). He told me, "ok, no more talk about THAT," since he probably realized that I hadn't written a note. He gave me the feeling that I would be dischargesd soon and that he would work on it "100%."

On Monday, my social worker told me that the plan was to discharge me on Wednesday.
I was told I would meet with the shrink (it's easier to spell that!) later that day. I was a BIT anxious to say the LEAST. I kept hounding the poor man and all the counselors that morning and afternoon. I was bugging out - even though friends told me to be cool and I would be released quicker. When the shrink finally saw me, he told me I was being irrational and that he would consider my case on a "day to day basis." !!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man. I was just beside myself at that point. I didn't think God was listening to me, even though I prayed like a maniac.
BUT! Prayers were answered when my wonderful friends Prakash and Asha came to visit.
Prakash went to university with my husband in India. We haven't really been in touch for a long time though, but Sujoy had been in contact w/him when he learned I was in trouble.
Sujoy has the BEST friends (and they are mine now also, thank goodness). They are always there for us.
I was SO tired that night from not sleeping at all the night before, so I actually called Prakash and told him that I was going to sleep. So, I was in bed when a nurse told me that a beautiful Indian couple were there to visit - and asked if I wanted to see them. I jumped out of bed of course!
They were my only visitors during the whole stay (but I got a million phone calls).
I was ELATED and can't go into details, but I had been feeling EXTREMELY anxious/ guilt ridden for a "good" reason.
They stayed for an hour talking to me about Jesus. As a Catholic, I never really understood Jesus. They really enlightened me, and we prayed and I knew I would be forgiven. I finally had peace and faith that I WOULD get out of that place on Wednesday. Even though I told Prakash not to bother coming, he did, because "something" told him to come anyway. Yes, their visit really was an answer to my prayers.

After they left Sujoy (hubby) called and calmed me down. I went back to my room and wrote a 2 page "plan" which I showed to the shrink the next day. "Good," he said in his Russian accent, "I see you have a plan - I like that." He agreed to discharge me on Wednesday.

I was free to go on by 10:30 on Wednesday, but I had to wait until 8:00 pm for Prakash to pick me up on his way back from a business trip in Maine. That was the LONGEST day of my life!

I tried to play "matchmaker" while I was there. There was a severly depressed older man there who only talked to my sweet roommate. I always ate with my roommate but one day I asked if he would like to eat with her. (She was so weak that she couldn't carry her tray from the shelves where the food was delivered, so I always got her tray for her). He was so happy and smiled when I brought her tray over to his table. He told her that she was the only one who wasn't "role playing" which was probably true. I hope she's ok.

I learned so much from my stay - I am SOOOO grateful that I AM sane and my brain is now functioning fully. I pray for those poor patients every day. It was SO depressing seeing people in that state (I could relate to some of them though). I was anxious/irrational at my cousin's for a number of reasons- a huge one being coming off of presrcibed drugs such as steroids, painkillers and 12 hours worth of anesthesia. Imagine the toxins floating around my body. The OTHER reason is my own - I was so restless. I don't have lovely crafty hobbies - I don't have any hobbies really! I love to read, but was too depressed and anxious to read. I don't watch tv
(except for a few choice shows). I cannot be a couch potato because...I can't! I used to be a long time ago though! I could only walk so much...it was hard being in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do...but I am DO appreciate that my cousin TRIED to take care of me. She did her best and she's a great cook, but I needed more emotional support. I really needed my husband, but he couldn't stay any longer (he wouldn't get paid!) and Anjoli needed to start school.

Hubby and Anjoli had to leave for Taiwan on my birthday, on August 17th. We said goodbye, I put on my brave face....then his flight to NY got cancelled and they couldn't leave until August 19th. Talk about torture - having to say goodbye twice!

Anyway, this is very long I know and probably boring. I had such a nice, peaceful stay with Prakash and Asha. I ate YUMMY (mostly vegetarian) Indian food. Asha is a total health freak so she coached me with lots of remedies for depression and fatigue. We prayed every night - even their 11 year old son prayed for me every night. I left feeling spiritually, physically and mentally refreshed and renewed.

I had three good visits with my old friends who live in the same area as Prakash and Asha. Ursula was a doll and took me to a Renaissance fair in Carver, Mass. Her husband Frank is an actor in it every year. I was so out of it though and had NO energy. It's a wonderful fair. The HUGE favor she did was help me collect all my stuff from my cousin's house which was nearby (and very far from where I was staying with my friends).
My friend Miriam met me in Boston and took me back to her house in Newton so I got to see her husband, Frank who is a hoot. He is a (jazz and blues) music critic/writer and always has fun stories to tell. He gave me a cd of a famous folk singer (her writing was on the cd even) which hasn't been released yet. I better not say who it is - I don't want to get Frank in trouble! I like this singer alot, even though I only have one of her cds. Now I have two! I also spent a day with my friends Ashwin and Sonia and had a blast playing with their adorable 5 year old daughter. I tried to play this game with her. She is so smart - it was too logical for me (recommended age was 7-adult). I just couldn't get it at all- so I told her that I just had brain surgery - and she said "Oh I know," and she quietly put the game away. Very sensitive and sweet of her. She drew me a beautiful flower and made a "Happy Snail" tracing her thumb and part of her hand. Kids are great therapy.

[EDIT: Oh man oh man how could I forget my dear, sweet wonderful friend Laura who gave up a day of her life, risking life and limb driving around the circle of death at LAX. She was there when I got off my Delta flight at 10:30 am, and stayed with me until I boarded my China Airlines flight at 3:30 pm. What a gal, quelle pal. We had a delish lunch, of course Laura had to one up me with her "cheeseburger" sans the burger! Cute, ay? I wish her luck in her job search- I know she will land a fab job in the film biz soon. She has a cool media (music and film) blog now, check it out: LMS].

So here I am in Taipei -very happy to be here. In New England I was having mixed feelings about leaving the US. But home is where the heart is, and my heart is with my wonderful little family.

thank you!

2007-08-12T04:46:00.000+08:00

so sorry- i can't keep up w/blogging and responding to comments.
it helps more than you will ever know.
i am strong physically. i could walk forever, but it is very tiring for my brain.
i have to learn patience and slow down in order to heal.
i hate lying down, but i must.
i love all of you- family, friends, blog buds.
thank you sooooo much.
i miss you guys....
i am going to be just fine, i know it.
suexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps thank you Janice for the story you sent awhile back. it helped me so much.

Brain Salad Surgery!

2007-07-30T10:36:00.000+08:00

Yum.

Time is inching towards TUESDAY - the big day.
I will have surgery at Mass General Hospital in Boston to have my golf ball sized brain tumor removed.
A team of doctors will toil 12 hours to get rid of this puppy.
I just can't wait until it's OVER!!

I am being very Zen about it, honestly. All shall be well. I have alot of faith for a heathen. hee hee

My husband, Sujoy (Sue's Joy) will be posting comments and updates on my progress, so please check back here, ok? He promises to keep you well informed and will be speedy about it.

I cannot thank all of you enough for your love and support. It means the world to me.

I leave you with a picture of me in my favorite new outfit that I bought in Provincetown the other night!

Peace and love,
Suexxxxxxxxxx

Tag from Bex!

2007-07-19T02:16:00.000+08:00

Ok Delbut inspired me. What can I say?

Never in my life have I: eaten rabbit.

High school was : Not a heck of alot of fun. I went to a Catholic High School. I was voted "easiest to get along with." yes it was shortened to "easiest." That came later...ha ha. Joking. I studied WAY too hard, how idiotic was that? I was #1 in my class Freshman year, then dropped to 31 by Senior year thanks to boys and marahootchie.

When I'm nervous : I sweat like crazy, get knots in my stomach. whine.
My hair : Is very medusa looking in the morning, but I clean up alright.

When I was 5 : I had an imaginary friend named "Benny," but one day my grandmother stepped on him. That was the end of Benny.

When I turn my head left : I can't hear because I have tinnitus in my left ear...so please remember NOT to whisper sweet nothings in that ear...because...well, I will hear nothing. Ok nevermind.

I should be : dancing...yeah!

By this time next year : I will be at my Formosa Fest. Please join me!

My favorite aunt is : My Auntie Chris who saved my life pretty much. (I put the BAD in "bad girl" in my younger daze).

I have a hard time understanding : why most people don't think the way I do.

You know I like you if : I ask you 5 billion questions about yourself.

My ideal breakfast is : An omelet with avocado, cheese, tomatoes and chipotle salsa, home fries, coffee (but I gave it up), and a Mimosa. With Brad Pitt on the side. Angelina too.

If you visit my home town : You will wonder how I turned out to be so incredibly warm, friendly and loving. (And modest).

If you spend the night at my house : I may snuggle with you.

My favorite blonde is : OWEN FREAKING WILSON

My favorite brunette is : Frida Khalo. She's dead though, so I am not quite sure what color her hair is now.

The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : An elephant. Dumbo. (my husband's nickname for me).

I shouldn't have been : born a woman. :) nah um...so mean to my daughter last week in the car. I was so stressed. Sorry baby.

Last night I: slept in my daughter's bed because my husband snores so effing loud.

A better name for me would be : Misty Simone. (Long story).

I've been told I look like: the woman with the curly hair on Three's Company.

If I could have any car, it would be : An "Austin Powers" mini Cooper, or a VW Microbus.

Gandhi Garden Gone WILD!!!!!!

2007-07-13T11:18:00.000+08:00

Oh my goodness. Take a look at this crazy garden the kids planted! (For a back story, please click HERE).

My daughter and her friends planted all kinds of seeds - watermelon, pumpkin (I think), radish, corn, sunflower, basil, green beans and wildflowers (that's all that I can recall!). They planted the seeds willy nilly...and didn't bother labeling them either. There's alot of merging of plants going on too, but, oh well...it's still pretty.

A neighbor just stopped by to compliment them on it, so I figured I better take some pics before we move overseas.

Pretty cool, ay?

THIS IS EITHER A PUMPKIN OR A WATERMELON...HMM...I THINK IT'S A PUMPKIN

GREEN BEANS!

CORN!

But I have so much to look forward to!

2007-07-04T06:11:00.000+08:00

Most of you know I am moving to Taipei at the end of the month.

Ok, the packing is going ever so slowly...because, OF COURSE I have to read/go through all the crap I save.
I came across this brochure promoting a night market in Keelung called Miaokow...it describes all the stalls in the market.
THIS ONE caught my eye:

PORK LARGE INTESTINE/SALTED VEGETABLE AND PIG'S BLOOD
(followed by Chinese script then this translation)
"Stuff the pig's large intestines with steamed greasy onion and glutinous rice and then steam it again til the whole body is filled with rice flavor. You can find thick and and thin large intestines here. After making your own choice, the owner will cut it up and pour it with sauce. DON'T FORGET to go with a bowl of pig's blood soup, which is braised with pig's bones. What a nice duo!"

And this is a brochure used to promote tourism!!!

I love the people in Taiwan, but seriously...um...?

Packing and Procrastinating

2007-07-04T05:07:00.000+08:00

This is my life at the moment!
I have a permanent migraine- because, as we all know, there is NO bigger headache than packing.
On the bright side, I found some gift certificates today (that have probably expired) for Borders and my favorite health food store. Yipeeeeee!

I found photos of Anjoli and her best friend looking blissed out (as usual), playing with a garden hose, from the year they first met and I just broke down. You would not believe the chemistry those two girls have - it blows my mind. It hurts beyond belief to separate them.

There must be light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't see it just yet...

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Summer! I'll be back...eventually.

2007-06-10T14:23:00.000+08:00

And so...
the time has come...
to pack up
and leave the comfort of my home
for more
"adventurous"
things.

wish
me
well!

i
wish
y'all
well,
as
well!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

I leave you with a good reason to stay away from crack!

A Memorial Day to Remember...

2007-05-30T09:20:00.000+08:00

This is a story about a bush.

See the happy children playing in the said bush?

See the sad faces of the children, who mourn for their lost sanctuary.

Their oasis of wonder and enchantment now reduced to this:

For some ungodly reason, there were neighbors in my condo community who disapproved of my daughter and friends playing in "the bush" as the kids called it.

So, those of the "children- should- be- seen- and- not- heard" ilk slyly ordered that the lush, 30 year old bush be removed.
A neighbor whose house borders the communal property (the "grassy area") complained to my daughter's friend's mother (named Kristin) that "she had very sick people living with her." As if the sound of laughter would bother someone who is ill.

Rumors circulated that some neighbors worried that they would "break the bush," or "hurt themselves." If the anti-bush neighbors were so concerned, well, they never addressed their concerns to me or to Kristin. The neighbor caring for sick people even went so far as to show pictures she had taken of Kristin's son PLAYING [gasp] BALL! He was catching a baseball with his friend in the STREET! NO! Imagine...the nerve of them!!!

My daughter was quite upset by this sudden loss, to say the least, and so was I (and still am).

She wrote this letter and taped it on everyone's front door in our complex:

May 21,2007

Dear People of this Block,
I’m guessing many of you have noticed a big bush has been cut down. I’m also guessing some of you have noticed kids were always playing in that bush. I was one of those kids.
If you were a person who agreed that the bush should be cut down, you should have looked at it from my point of view. I went in the bush almost every day for five years. When it got torn down those five years of my life got torn out. So much happened in the bush. My friends and I found a nest. We saw the eggs hatch. Now the nest is gone and so is the bush, but we’ll always remember them.

From,
Anjoli (your neighbor who played in the bush).

One kind neighbor named Marian came by the next morning to voice her concern. She let me know that she was horrified that the bush had been removed. She complimented Anjoli on her letter.

For about a week we stewed in our anger. I was so upset, and I started to get very depressed.
I don't remember who had the idea, but one thing led to another and the kids and I decided that we would buy a small bush and build a Memorial Garden for The Bush.
Et voila:

In shiny pebbles, they spelled: "RIP BUSH" under a heart shaped garden.

"If we are to teach real peace in this world...we shall have to begin with children; and if they grow up in their own innocence, we won't have to struggle; we won't have to pass fruitless, idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of world are covered in peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the world is hungering."~Mahatma Gandhi

In rememberance...

2007-05-27T09:10:00.000+08:00

of fallen soldiers and veterans
who sacrificied their lives for freedom.

No one likes/wants war.
I wish it wasn't a necessary evil.

A Suesjoy original riddle for ya!

2007-05-21T14:13:00.000+08:00

What did the alien say when it landed in Germany?

Take me to your lederhosen!

Ok, in the US we mispronounce lederhosen...so it only works for ignorant Americans (comme moi). ;)

Here is Rufus channeling the spirit of Judy Garland.He is performing "Release the Stars" on Letterman.

Release the Stars

Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?
You have locked all of your assets up in life-long contracts to you
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?

Oh, can't you see all the good that celebrity can do for those in the dark?
Yes of course, I am speaking in metaphors for something more in your heart
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?

So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars

The more that you fight, then the more they will scrutinize and realize just your size
And believe me, you are no match for the public that has seen the whites of your eyes
Didn't you know that old Hollywood is over?

Old Hollywood is over
So why not just release the gates and let them all come out?
Remember that without them there would be no Paramount
No paramount need to hold on to what isn't yours
Release the stars

Release the stars, release your love, release the stars
Release your love, 'cause Hollywood is over
Why do you keep all your stars in from your studio on Melrose Avenue?

My Fellow Americans: Let's See Action!!!

2007-05-17T07:19:00.000+08:00

Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
Let's see who cares
~Pete Townshend

Today the senate took an important step in bringing our troops back from Iraq.
They voted on the Feingold-Reid amendment to end the war. This bill would require re-deployment of troops within 120 days, with full re-deployment ending on March 21,2008.

Unfortunately, the bill did not pass.

I genuinely believe that this war/administration is the greatest catastrophe in American history.

"US President George W Bush has vetoed a [previous] bill that would have set a deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The bill was approved by BOTH the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Congressional opponents of the war believe the veto signals that now it is the President alone who must take responsibility for continuing America's involvement, and the casualties. " [taken from a BBC on-line article which you may read HERE].

How in world do we think can we "export democracy" with a neo-Nazi in power?
Bush simply DOES NOT REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!
It boggles the mind, what this demonic duo (Bush-Cheney) have gotten away with...in a word MURDER. Yup. Lie to the Americans, play dumb (very easy for Bush) then have your way.
The result?
To date, there have been Over 3400 American casualties. 30,000 injured!!!!!!!!!! 30,000!!!!!!!
There have been between 64-70,000 Iraqi civilian casualties.

We are putting our troops in harms way FOR NO REASON. We are not dealing with ONE civil war in Iraq... presently there are MANY regional civil wars and the unspoken edict among all Iraqis: KILL AMERICANS. Over 70% of Iraqis want the US OUT OF IRAQ!!!

I, for one, cannnot stand for this BULLSHIT. I am so tired of it.
Are YOU?
Below is a list of how the senators voted.
PLEASE, if you see one (or both) of your senators on the list, I URGE you to call them and ask them to give us what the majority of Americans want to see: THE END OF THIS HORRIFIC, POINTLESS WAR!!!!!!
Thank you.
Peace and love to all...and GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!! AMEN.
xoxoxoxoxo

Voted In Support of Feingold-Reid:

Akaka (D-HI)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Voted Against Feingold-Reid:

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)

Did Not Vote:

Brown (D-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)

Do I Disappoint You?

2007-05-13T06:36:00.000+08:00

Well, while my hubby is away, Suzie gets to play!
With his car that is.
He recently bought a used Mazda Miata.
It's his mid-life crisis car. Mine now!
He told me to drive it as much as possible since we are selling my car soon and we don't want Sue to smash it or anything.
(He's gone for about 6 weeks).

Yes it is very California to drive a convertible, but I feel really strange when I drive it.
People tend to always look at you when you are cruising with the top down.
I wish they wouldn't.
I fear I am just a huge let down for many.
They are expecting some young hot size zero blonde babe in something low cut and slinky.
What they will find in this green Miata is a middle aged mama (is 44 middle aged?) with an afro ("wind blown" mop headed curls translates into an afro) who lives in jeans and clogs and hardly ever wears makeup.

I always look around when entering or exiting this vehicle.
It is VERY difficult to look graceful as you slide your way into the seat.
I usually slide in and plop down. Even though I have lost weight this year, I am far from svelte, and getting into the Miata, well...oh nevermind. It's too depressing!

Getting in is hard, but getting out is even trickier.
If no one is looking, I will open the door and push my self out of the damn car.
Today I pretended that the eyes of the world were upon me and I swung both legs to the side and bent from the thighs. No pushing needed. Aha! Got it.

Today drove the eency car to the mall to have my eyebrows waxed (and buy a birthday present).
It's so funny how often when we communicate, we very rarely say what we REALLY mean. When I asked to have my eyebrows waxed, what I really wanted to say was, "could you wax my face, please?"
I followed the beautician to a small room and she asks me, "eyebrow wax?" and I say, well, I also need my "uppper lip" [which is actually code for "moustache"] and chin done.

I swear, by the time she had finished, she nearly HAD waxed my entire face! I mean she outlined what could have been a goatee with the wax. If I didn't get these waxings, I would probably be touring with some circus as a bearded lady with a unibrow or something. Nah, I'm kidding. The woman went a LITTLE overboard, I think.

God definately must be a heterosexual male. Why He must make us suffer the world's worst pain during childbirth (and facial waxings!), give us cramps and bloating for a week every month, let us sprout beards as we crawl toward menopause, where we will be greeted with hot flashes and violent mood swings among God knows what other bodily dysfunctions is beyond me.

Imagine a world of opposites: as we age, our metabolism increases! Your friends will say, "girl, you better watch yourself, you are just wasting away!"
I'll shrug and say, "I know...old age. Not a damn thing I can do about it."

Life's A BEACH!

2007-05-10T01:17:00.000+08:00

Here are my daughter and her friends at Coronado Beach. They had fun burying themselves in the sand.
You can see the Hotel del Coronado in the background. (Click on the photo to see it better). We live about a 15 minute drive from there. I am already getting homesick! (We are moving to Taiwan in July).

Oh man...last Sunday was the PERFECT beach day - a little early, but, hey, it IS San Diego. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

There were tons of people sailing... I guess (according to Pete Townshend) it's one of the best places in the world to sail. I've never sailed on the ocean here. I started to take sailing lessons on the bay though...but I am just really bad at sailing...well, I can sail but I suck at rigging. That's what scared me away! I DO love to sail though. I even surived a three month Outward Bound course in the Florida Keys - we sailed and hiked through the Keys, the Everglades and Southern Florida. I just wanted a tan and boot camp. I got that and much, much more. I hated it most of the time...it was torture. An ex-boyfriend tricked me into going...he was going to go too, then bailed at the last minute (he never intended on going the bastard!). Oh well, he got me a scholarship. He just wanted my position as assitant General Manager at a college radio station where we both worked. He got it too. Loser.

Below you can see all the sailboats and the Coronado Islands (off the coast of Mexico). Sorry, it's a bit crooked.

For Sale: 1 Husband

2007-05-09T11:01:00.000+08:00

He cooks, he cleans (sometimes...but he is very quick and efficient). He could use a little help in the fashion department.

I put him up on eBay.
Don't worry, he comes with a new set of pjs.

This pic was taken the day after a going away (pyjama) party last weekend...

Nirvana at the Belly Up on Saturday

2007-05-01T02:15:00.000+08:00

Aha!
That got your attention.
No I didn't see a dead rock star sing! I never did see Kurt, sadly.

Still walking on air after seeing Rufus Wainwright on Saturday.

My fellow Rufian Laura took the train down from LA Saturday afternoon.
We had a long, leisurely late lunch - I made Indian vegetarian food (dal, aloo gobi and mattar panir and rice, followed by burfee which is like Indian fudge only not so sweet).

Laura, my husband Sujoy and I arrived at the club at 6:15 and met a few fellow groupies - there is a small circle of diehards here in soCal...so that was fun chattting with them.

We went in and got right up to the front of the stage and waited for Teddy Thompson. (I am gaga over his last cd, Separate Ways, so I was excited about seeing him again).
Laura and I pre-ordered Rufus' new cd, and in turn we were given a VIP badge which we annoyingly flashed at eachother a la Wayne's World! This badge allowed us to go meet Ru and have him sign our cd after the show.

Teddy played a beautiful set, mostly solo. He only performed a few songs from his last cd, concentrating on new material from a cd that will be released in July. I enjoyed his set very much - it was mellow, but good. Love his voice and, yeah shallow Sue didn't mind looking at him either!

Rufus came on shortly and gave THE best performance I have ever seen.
He wore a crazy outfit: striped shirt, striped pants, a white ribbon around his neck in lieu of a real tie, and brooches on his shirt AND pants! (His fans know he loves brooches so they always bestow him with brooches!). If that wasn't enough, his entire 6 piece band was also dressed in stripes, and they all wore brooches!!! The man is too funny.

This is the best shot I got, taken with my cell phone, because I was afraid to bring my camera.

Rufus performed 23 songs - I think it was about a 2 1/2 hour show. I have never seen him more relaxed or happy. He kept smiling - he looked like a handsome Lepruchan, minus the red hair, beard and green suit! LOL He has the cutest appley red cheeks.
Ok stop Sue!

Highlights: there were SO many, but a stand outs were "Beautiful Child" w/the fab horn section...I Don't Know What It Is, 2 songs from the Judy Garland tribute (he sounded better than at Carnegie Hall), a new one and I am not sure of the title, but it was very apocolyptic/Radioheadish... INTENSE, MAGNIFICENT...AWE INDUCING. Another new one, "Leaving for Paris" made Laura cry, it was that gorgeous (she studied there last year).

Rufus is a natural comedian/ham...near the end of the show, he said, "my band tells me the women are HOT here in San Diego. I wouldn't know...but they assure me that they are...so I'll start auctioning them off for brooches!" Cute cute cute.

After the show, we waited in line to get our cd signed. I knew they were hurrying everyone along...so this is what I said:

"HI RUFUS!!!!" grinning profusely. I touched his hand and asked how his mother was doing. (I am not sure, but I believe she has a serious illness...I know she was ill from his board). He said she is fine, then I leaned into him and said, "give Martha a hug for me...I introduced her to Pete Townshend and Rachel Fuller...Lala helped me" (Lala was his techie).
Most people know the story, I won't bore anyone now w/the details! I did it via email and MySpace after having met Martha in October 2005. I have met her many times, she remembers me!
So Rufus smiled and nodded and said, "I will tell Martha you said hi."
Then the security guard gave me a hard time so I walked away, as Rufus said "BYYYYYE," and he didn't sign Laura's cd until he saw that I looked back and he smiled and said BYE again!

Ta da.
That was my night in a nutshell.

::sigh::