~New blog~

New blog @ http://meteorsky83.wordpress.com (they have better format and layout that I couldn't resist)

    Maybe it's in my gene, but I've never been good in small talks, especially socializing amongst strangers.  And the one time when I was out in a recent gathering, trying to be outgoing for a change, I ended up mistaking my waitress for a party guest and introduced myself to her.  The waitress gave me this puzzled look, like she's never seen any customer as friendly as me (yay! guess i made her day).  On that same note, I later mistaken the party guest for a waiter.  Such is life. :(  I sometimes feel like God is playing a prank on me.

   I've been watching old episodes of Ally McBeal (thanks to Netflix).  I used to watch that show when I was in High school, and to this day I still find humor and connection in the characters.  For better and for worse, I found myself relating to Ally on so many issues that were brought up in the show that it unnerved me a bit.  I love her wit, her intellect, her spirit (and even some of her men).  I think John Cage described Ally the best when he said "She understands loneliness, she’s afraid, she’s not afraid to be afraid. She’s just… magic.”  This leads me to the question of how does David Kelly understand the depth of women psyche so well to have written a show like this?  How does he know what being a modern woman feels like?  I guess sensitive guys do exist after all.

"We're not only wired to want what we can't have, but we're also wired to want what we really don't want"----Ally

Slow discovery of the Mile High

Yes, I've slowly began to discover my new home town for the past year.  And so far I'm not disappointed by what I found here,

1. Denver Museum of Art (DAM): I visited the place twice, and I will never get sick of the art galleries in display. Then again, I'm not very picky with art museums.  Although I wish they offer more hands on classes about art.

2. Denver Museum of Natural History & Science: I checked out the place last week with friends, and was very impressed by the size and interactive activities in the show rooms.  It has 3 spacious floors hosting different exhibitions (i.e., MRI pictures of rich woman's mummy vs. poor woman's mummy. I know).  The Pirate exhibit sponsored by National Geographic was very informative and interesting.

3. Trattoria Stella: Good Italian food, and good pinot grigio.  You get the idea.

4. Denver zoo: It's BIG.  We spent the whole Sunday afternoon roaming thru the zoo.  My favorite was the tigers, esp the baby tigers.  However, I later realized that we missed the bears.

5. Flatiron:  I went hiking there during my brief stay in Westminster at Marlana's place.  It was a very green, scenic trail. I only wish there're more trails like that around Greater Denver.   Hope to return to Flatiron this summer. In fact, I think going to Flatiron/Boulder should be a regular summer activity.

“To be a young American today is to experience both excitement and uncertainty,"---Dr. Arnett

This NYT article caught my attention.  It focuses on the work done by a well-known developmental psychologist, and it raises the question of whether or not the 20s can be viewed as its own developmental stage (similar to childhood, adolescent, etc).  Mostly because of the ubiquitous trend of 20-somethings unwilling to commit to things (jobs, relationship, etc), and the general lack of financial stability even into the late 20s.  While some readers made the comments that those who meander through their 20s are simply slackers, I thought it was too superficial to jump to conclusion like that.  Some people don't have a start on career because they are not able to immediately land a job they want right out of college, so plan B is to do a low-paid internship.  And to define adulthood as having a career, settling down getting married (and babies), and having a house, seems to over-simplify many things in today's society.  fMRI images have already shown that the human brain is not fully matured until the mid-20s. That in part explains why so many 20 somethings meander thru jobs, different cities, etc., in the quest for self discovery.  But only if you are in a situation where you can afford to do so.  The concept of "Emerging Adulthood" defined by Arnett is by no means universal.  In alot of developing countries, people have no options but to go from teenager to adult, not emerging adult.
  
The entire time when I was reading this article, I kept asking myself what if I could've afforded to do study abroad, or take some kind of internship in another city.  How different would my life be?  Or how different would my personality be? Starting from high school, I've always been consistent in knowing what I want to do, and how I want to live my life.  I wonder if "meander" my 20s away is really going to change my core values and goals.  I know I shouldn't adopt the what-if mentality, but reading article really piqued my curiosity.  Perhaps I should just content myself with the idea that "everything happens for a reason".

"Youth is wasted on the young"---George Bernard Shaw

Nostalgia

Nostalgia is, when I realized my all-time favorite animator, Hiyao Miyazaki, was the creator of Kiki's Delivery. I fell in love with the book when I first read it in China. But due to the fact that I was reading it in the local bookstore (yes, a bad habit of mine going back to childhood), I didn't ever finish the whole story. At the time, I didn't know Miyazaki was the author. But at least I can now rent the DVD.


Other works by Miyazaki that I love



And the latest work by H.M.(although this one sounds like a rendition of The Little Mermaid")


Aside from the cool animation scheme, I love how Miyazaki's main characters have always been strong, independent girls. :)

taking a break from the move...

Happy Mother's Day

"No one gets to choose their moms. For good or bad, we are stuck with them. And you know what, they don't get to choose who we are either. And God knows we are not perfect."---Tracy Jordan