Thursday, August 28, 2008
Foreboding
Change is hard but change is inevitable. Usually I embrace change, thrive on change, actually become more successful because of change. But the change I sense coming has a particularly dark side that has given me a deep sense of foreboding. The results may have a more profound impact than previous waves have left behind.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
UCB
My baby has gone off to college. For the first time in a long time, we were a complete family this week. So we set off last night to take family photos on the eve of her sent off. And the pics were wonderful. I love them. My foursome. And this morning after rendevous with Jeni and her parents at the town library, off we set for UC Berkeley to help my girl check into her dorm. It was a bit of hassle finding out where to park so we could unload the boxes of her stuff and where to queue to get her room key and get a trolley but it was not too bad. It was pretty organized once you understand the process and we did not queue for long at any of the different lines. The weather helped - sunny yet cool.
The room was small but comfy for a double. Of course with 10 people crammed into it, it was almost standing room only. It was noon and time for lunch after making the bed. But we were told to go to a parents briefing session and by the time we had everyone together after the talks, it was 5 past 2:00 pm and we missed the free lunch for families. The unimpressive Thai lunch blew an unreasonably big hole in my wallet for the amount we were served. Ouch!
Berkeley. Behomian, jealously protective of its diversity and totally irreverent of "norms" of the larger society. That's where my baby will spend the next four years. I know she will know how to take care of herself, yet the parental strings tug at the heart and you want to hold her near so she will always be safe. You would think after 2 college kids, one would get jaded.
She could not wait to get back to unpack all the boxes. But we held back. Sharing some precious teasing moments at the dining hall, taking advantage of the free bbq dinner for families. But the kids were all nibblers. The girl will be hungry tonite in the dorm. Hopefully the four bananas we took from the dining hall will make up for the lack of bulk in the single bowl of soup she had.
So we are back in the house watching the Olympics men's marathon and I am here blogging about my baby packing off to college.
The room was small but comfy for a double. Of course with 10 people crammed into it, it was almost standing room only. It was noon and time for lunch after making the bed. But we were told to go to a parents briefing session and by the time we had everyone together after the talks, it was 5 past 2:00 pm and we missed the free lunch for families. The unimpressive Thai lunch blew an unreasonably big hole in my wallet for the amount we were served. Ouch!
Berkeley. Behomian, jealously protective of its diversity and totally irreverent of "norms" of the larger society. That's where my baby will spend the next four years. I know she will know how to take care of herself, yet the parental strings tug at the heart and you want to hold her near so she will always be safe. You would think after 2 college kids, one would get jaded.
She could not wait to get back to unpack all the boxes. But we held back. Sharing some precious teasing moments at the dining hall, taking advantage of the free bbq dinner for families. But the kids were all nibblers. The girl will be hungry tonite in the dorm. Hopefully the four bananas we took from the dining hall will make up for the lack of bulk in the single bowl of soup she had.
So we are back in the house watching the Olympics men's marathon and I am here blogging about my baby packing off to college.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Beautiful Blue
Yes, we are home. From Crater Lake, Oregon where we had a lot of fun, both from the company and from 3 days of trekking up a very steep trail overlooking the bluest of blue crater lake, fast boating down the Rogue River, white water rafting, and wine and fruits while cheering on the US teams in the Olympics. Altogether a most satisfying holiday. Just before the end of summer for the one going to college next week and for the other preparing to register for school. The kids, all 7 of them, had a really good time and so did the adults.
The drive up was perfectly synchronized with the three cars moving convoy style. It was hot in Medford. Well into the 3 digit F range. Almost too hot to walk.
Day 1 was spent admiring the almost picture perfect pacific Crater Lake. Beautiful, in the deepest blue with the mountains reflecting off its sides and nothing but nothing ruffling its calm water until the one and only boat allowed to traverse its vastness for the admiring throng. Even then, the boat looked so tiny and its long wake was so frail against the smooth face of the water. Only then does one realize just how immense the lake is. And there were butterflies everywhere.
Disappointingly, the one restaurant at the one lodge did not have room for us. To my greatest surprise and delight, the half man had the most awesome stamina, leading the pack up the very steep trail. While the rest of us huffed and puffed up some 2 miles up the narrow ledge, he actually ran up sections and recce'ed the next level to tell us what lied ahead so we were motivated to continue. In the summer heat. I could see the sweat off his forehead and neck but his energy and cheerfulness was most uncharacteristic, most unusual. My boy is growing up fast, almost too fast. The climb was tough but the views of the lake from each level was well worth the climb. More to come...
The drive up was perfectly synchronized with the three cars moving convoy style. It was hot in Medford. Well into the 3 digit F range. Almost too hot to walk.
Day 1 was spent admiring the almost picture perfect pacific Crater Lake. Beautiful, in the deepest blue with the mountains reflecting off its sides and nothing but nothing ruffling its calm water until the one and only boat allowed to traverse its vastness for the admiring throng. Even then, the boat looked so tiny and its long wake was so frail against the smooth face of the water. Only then does one realize just how immense the lake is. And there were butterflies everywhere.
Disappointingly, the one restaurant at the one lodge did not have room for us. To my greatest surprise and delight, the half man had the most awesome stamina, leading the pack up the very steep trail. While the rest of us huffed and puffed up some 2 miles up the narrow ledge, he actually ran up sections and recce'ed the next level to tell us what lied ahead so we were motivated to continue. In the summer heat. I could see the sweat off his forehead and neck but his energy and cheerfulness was most uncharacteristic, most unusual. My boy is growing up fast, almost too fast. The climb was tough but the views of the lake from each level was well worth the climb. More to come...
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Simmering Summer
Lately, high teas seem to be the fashion. But not high tea as we do it in the little red dot with multi-tier munchies on lacy table tops and expensive price tags. Rather home made goodies reminiscent of our far away hometown with ladies under a gazebo-styled garden canopy with nettings alll round to keep out the winged visitors. Ladies savoring bite sized finger food exchanging gossips and openly reveling in each other's company till the late hours of night. Such is the passing of long lazy days of summer. Nice.
Back from Calgary where the weather was perfect and the city unbelievably clean and civil. Not quite what I had expected of a city benefitting greatly from the oil boom. Learnt about the extraction of bitumin from the vast tar sands that can theoretically last for over a hundred years but has obvious environmental impact. Flew to see the Albian tar sands. An unbelievable sight. From the air. And on the ground. Gigantic scoopers on tires more than twice the height of my tall American and Canadian friends. Viewed the crew from 30 feet high standing on the deck of the driver's cabin. Tires that cost upwards or $66,000 a piece and more than twice that on the spot market in a crunch. Vast holes in the earth that dwarfed these huge trucks that dwarfed the people who drive them. Held and felt the tar sands. Griefed over the scarring of the beautiful lands but heard promises of replanting and reclaiming to original conditions. Man's progress and its irretractable dependency on energy. Been reading much on energy and the sources and uses of energy as we know it today and the alternatives to energy as we know it today. Immense. In many aspects. How we address these issues will determine what our children and their children and their children's children will inherit.
Will be off to Central Park in less than an hour to listen to summer concert. Today - Beatles songs. Ahhh... the long lazy days of summer.
Back from Calgary where the weather was perfect and the city unbelievably clean and civil. Not quite what I had expected of a city benefitting greatly from the oil boom. Learnt about the extraction of bitumin from the vast tar sands that can theoretically last for over a hundred years but has obvious environmental impact. Flew to see the Albian tar sands. An unbelievable sight. From the air. And on the ground. Gigantic scoopers on tires more than twice the height of my tall American and Canadian friends. Viewed the crew from 30 feet high standing on the deck of the driver's cabin. Tires that cost upwards or $66,000 a piece and more than twice that on the spot market in a crunch. Vast holes in the earth that dwarfed these huge trucks that dwarfed the people who drive them. Held and felt the tar sands. Griefed over the scarring of the beautiful lands but heard promises of replanting and reclaiming to original conditions. Man's progress and its irretractable dependency on energy. Been reading much on energy and the sources and uses of energy as we know it today and the alternatives to energy as we know it today. Immense. In many aspects. How we address these issues will determine what our children and their children and their children's children will inherit.
Will be off to Central Park in less than an hour to listen to summer concert. Today - Beatles songs. Ahhh... the long lazy days of summer.
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