Tribute To China!

Guys from Hong Kong, like our family, are spoiled by the various multi-millions dollars spectacular firework shows throughout the year, Chinese New Year, 1st of July and 1st of October, etc. As Victoria Harbor, the water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, is surrounded by high rises buildings and anywhere you stand along both sides of the water, you would not be more than 5km away from the firework, and therefore, the fireworks can easily cover the whole universe above your head, and you can not only see, but hear so clearly and smell them as well. Please do forgive me if I am in anyway undermining the fireworks shows in Vancouver during the summer July time. In order to spread the event into 4 days, the fireworks become even smaller, and for a layman like me, there are very little difference, between one country and another that we can tell, be it the technology involved or the design of it. I tried reading through the official website and various newspapers in order to appreciate the hard works done by the people involved, you may also want to try doing same, very little I discover.

After said all above, together with Esther, and thank you for my Michael's courtesy of leaving behind his beloved wife at home (with dinner cooked), we headed off to Point Grey, instead of English Bay, to try out our photography skill in fireworks. When we were driving there by 8:00pm, it was raining, and at one point it was rather heavy. We arrived there and started setting up our cameras, etc., the rain stopped. We set there and chitchatted for about an hour, and people and families start gathering around (actually behind) us, the show started sharply at 10:00pm. Below are a few photos for your enjoyment.

Vancouver: The night is still young!

Typical fireworks ... keep in mind we are quite far away and I needed to zoom-in in order to take above picture.

I somehow like this one as it seems to me Ladies in pink are dancing in the sky ... ...!

You Will be Missed!

Tomorrow is the Father's Day! To make this year's Father's Day special is because of my diagnosis of cancer and the proclamation my life expectancy of 6 to 8 months (counting from end February, 2010). It's kind of hard and harsh to predict what would happen in 12 months' time, especially when the possibility of the odds are there and being defined. For a guy (like me) who is used to organizing and planning, it's a surprise that he is unable to stand firm for things of a year's time-line. Though, what I learned, and now start to enjoy, is to "live the moment" and to "live the day". To feel the now, to enjoy the now, the today, the present! I am sadden when I start to think about if I am around the same time next year. My eyes water when people told me "You will be missed!" (*And lately, as you can imagine, I have been hearing this phrase many times, in some case, many times within an hour!) Then, I need to learn, it's an accurate expression of the feeling, and I should feel gifted that "I will be missed!" I then also learned how to reply, with half joking tone, I said "Don't just miss me then, try to take good care of me now!" (Hahahah!)

Yes, I mean it. I don't mind to be missed by you anytime in the future, and you know well that I cannot be too certain if I would know I am missed or you are missing me, etc. However, I am surely aware and actually feel it if you miss me now and you care about me now. All the gifts of the positive energy and the love & care that you are exercising on me!

5 ex-colleagues of mine formed a delegation. They arrived in Vancouver last Saturday (12/June) and leaving today (19/June). We know each other for 20-25 years and the relationship between us go further. It's very solid and nice feeling when we hug each other, when we can share some memories and when conversation are filled with laughter. It's always hard to say goodbye, especially when the next meeting date/time is not well defined. I still have to thank you for coming all the way just to meet me (and hug me) and the physical love & care that I experienced with first hands. "You also take good care of yourselves and have a safe and smooth trip back home!"

(The above photo was taken this morning in front of the Radisson Hotel in Richmond.)

Another Ordinary Day!

Life is beautiful and an ordinary day is filled with joy and happiness and little things that enrich our life.

We dined out last evening in celebration of Dragon Boat Festival. It's a full meal 8 courses Chinese dinner, crab, abalone, shark fin soup, crispy duck pancake, deep fried grouper, and my favorite dessert. I must confess that it is not right to detour from my daily diet and ate a few things that I am not supposed to. Though, I am sure you would forgive me to take a break here and then. Keep in mind that the quantity that I took barely allowed me to taste sufficiently, except that I cannot escape from the temptation of dissecting a whole abalone with folk and knife all by myself. Like they say, some Chinese food you can really "die for" it! (And smile please!)

My ex-colleagues formed a delegation of five, who arrived in Vancouver last Saturday. Since then, we have been having breakfast every morning. This also means that I need to get up earlier than my routine. Yesterday, they left for tour to inner B.C. Therefore, this morning, after having my medication at 6:30am, I went back to sleep and got up by 10:00am. It's the kind of "dead sleep" as it would be phrased, totally unconscious and it's like you closed your eyes and then opened your eyes again, and in between was the sleep. Then, it's the big breakfast prepared by Esther. Then, I would attend reply to a few emails, working a few phone calls, and then reading a few things. Meantime, Esther would do me some fruit juice (as part of my routine diet). Then, lunch at home. In the afternoon, we decided to have a leisure walk in Minoru Park. The sunshine slowly came out but it was not strong, and underneath the trees inside the park, the temperature was perfect for a leisure walk. Hands in hands, Esther and I would also talk about different issues while enjoying the walk. To give you a feel of it, below is two photos taken this afternoon.

We then went to the supermarket to buy some food for dinner and also tomorrow. I actually enjoy walking around in the supermarket, to see if anything new to try, or if I can create some new dishes with the ordinary ingredients. It's a consultation process, as whatever I can dream up would need the final approval of Esther, as she is the final person who will implement it (to make it become true)!

We then enjoyed the dinner together and watched the news and TV programs.

It's an ordinary day. It's an ordinary day which is very enjoyable!

That's It! Blackhawks 5, Canucks 1.

Last evening, it was Game 6 of Second Play-Off between Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. The first 20 minutes were going fine, but then starting the second period, like they said, the game was unbearable to watch! I even felt Luongo's heart aching when Versteeg scored only 36 seconds after Brouwer's first score of the evening. History seems to repeat itself, as vividly remembered in last year, Canucks exactly lost to Blackhawks also in the Play-Off. There must be something that we can learn and there must be something we can improve. This season is now done for Canucks, if the management of Canucks is serious about making improvement in the team's performance, they really need to think critically how to assign their resources. They have some of the highest paid players in NHL but yet everyone (including the CEO of Canucks) has difficulty in finding values in them, while there are quite a few younger players which were not provided of opportunity to grow and mature. At the end, the name of the game is about allocation of limited resources and maximization of efficiency and effectiveness!

Just like the weeds in your garden. They are very clever plants. They grow well on the surface of the soil. They grow very fast and usually can reproduce themselves within a very short span of time. They grow in any space that they can find and they can rely on very limited water and sunshine. On the other hand, the traditional plants were not as efficient as they are and rely heavily on you, the gardener, to help protect them, as it is clear that the weeds compete consuming the same nutrients as your plants, the plants that you would like to see them grow and prosper.

The weeds in my garden grow so well and strong, the stems are 2-3cm in diameter (no kidding as you can see from the photo) and about 2 to 2.5 feet tall. After the walk this morning, without a second thought, I decided to take out those big and strong weeds (and there are a lot of smaller weeds still in existence).

We need to seek improvement everyday and we shall not hesitate in making changes, as well decision shall come naturally and promptly. Risks (and costs) are always there attached to a decision, but some of the decisions are so obvious that you will never regret making them! Like taking out the weeds from your life ... just take them out and you will be fine! Hahahah!