:D
My bellie's coming home! My bellie's coming home!! But it is almost weird b/c I've gotten so used to a life without her, however I'm sure there's no adjustment period needed... we'll get right back into the old rhythm. Then she'll leave again so soon... dunno is this how it feels to be the one who gets left behind?? I'm so used to being the one who leaves, I have to say it is still better being the one who leaves than the one who gets left behind. One of these days I must go visit her, I must also see a broadway show and I must go to Hawaii at least once. If possible I need to try horse back riding again before I turn too old, before my bones loose the calcium and crumble to pieces... if possible I'd like to try everything at least once... everything that's not too strange or nasty.

everyone seems to be going home for thanksgiving, it's like the New Year's in Taiwan, everyone packs up and go home. I haven't celebrated the Chinese New Year with my family for over 13 years now... I miss it. Add that to my life long to-do list... spend one Chinese New Year with family in Taiwan, the old school way. Oh and one more thing to be added to the list (more like my WISH list)-- marry an architect who will propose with a fully drawn out blue print of our future home, and of course if he can afford a ring at the same time that'd be nice. A guest lecturer I had this week designed his own "Green Home", environmental friendly and efficient home composed mainly of concrete instead of like these cookie cutter houses we live in that's built out of wood... dunno its strange b/c I wasn't impressed with the idea itself per se, but I'm impressed by how he was able to utilize such ordinary material in such a way (its application I mean, b/c it is rare if you think of residential projects, etc)-- it doesn't look cheap or unfinished as one would assume and it contributes to the overall heating/cooling system of the house. A lot of them isn't built in mechanically but it is just rather based on Ancient Egyptian's method that allows proper vantillation through out the whole house, while the whole building is built extremely environmental friendly and functional, it is also very aesthetically pleasing. You don't feel the coldness, the emptiness that one would typically feel in a building made out of concrete and steel (fully exposed, no additional decorative items), but from the pictures he showed one can sense how the whole house is actually rather comfortable and has this very "homey" feel to it. You feel the warmth instead, something that you typically don't feel in this kind of extremely contemporary buildings.

I personally am very interested in the contemporary art, the modern designs and those somewhat controversial architectures. but for houses and residential areas I feel "feeling like home" is an important criteria, if a house doesn't feel like a home then it fails as a house. sometimes' its not the ppl who lives in it, it's not completely up to them, however it is the architect, the designer's responsibility to create a building with structure that will allow for maximum utilization and maximum potential for it to become greater than just a container of ppl and things. It should have life and energy in itself and becomes even more interesting as its occupants move in and bring a part of them into the space to create a unified feel, of the house. Then the house becomes a home, and the home takes on a greater meaning than it ever did before. So the fundation is important, the basic structure is important, the materials used, the location, the direction, the composition... everything matters. And I think that's how ppl should view everything in the world, since our world is made up of bits and pieces, ppl, things, etc... what we choose to include in our lives and how we place these items, these ppl matter... we are responsible for our own lives-- whether it is great or shitty, only we have the power to change it.

So I digress, hehe...

found out today my bro passed his test for the state orchestra (of some sort...) with flying color! He's the number one candidate who got accepted into the program, heh what can I say, I'm glad his hard work paid off. Or I'm glad my parents hardwork paid off... all these years for pushing him for motivating him, their investment has finally paid off.. or it is beginning to at least. How sad, then come to think of it their investment in me hasn't paid off, it's been 24 years and yet we see nothing... hmmmmmm I'm a late bloomer, that's all I can say. But I'm extremely happy for him, I am sure this way he would feel even more confident and hopefully this opportunity will allow him to shine, or will provide him a chance to think about his future, what he wants and what's right or not for himm. If he chooses to pursue music then great, if not at least he has had a chance to play a bigger part in the whole scheme of things.

Next I'm sure my sis will be the IT artist... I can see her having her first public exhibit that's well publicized (somehow I see myself playing a part in that...), she will be praised and recognized and that will motivate her to do better and greater things... I cannot wait. Hopefully I'll become the successful well known designer myself, I always say "it's not if it's when"... now my question is "how" and "how soon" or "how much effort"... I am determined to succeed in this industry.

For now I'll just dream on, be it dreams or day dreaming... it's my right and a priviledge. :D