Fine creation by Yehree of Spaghetti Seafood Salad. Very delicious.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
St Paul's Science Museum of Minnesota
I visited the Science Museum along with my friends Yerhee and Kumin. The museum happens to host the "Body Worlds" exhibit. Body worlds
The exhibit was interesting and eye opening. For I have learned quite a lot throughout the exhibit. Learned the technique behind the plastination (using polymer/plastic) - my friend Kumin is a polymer expert and hold a PhD in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is currently working for Boston Scientific working on new materials for the LEAD (a wire) inside pacemakers. While at the science center, there was another Medtronic exhibit of arteries which he explained to me the workings of a healthy heart and when they is a need for pacemakers.
So I went inside the exhibit... (the exhibit happens to be sponsored by Medtronic (medical device maker aka pacemakers - Medtronic has large R&D and manufacturing centers all over Minneapolis & St Paul area)). As I entered the exhibit... the effect was chilling at first. I had goosebumps running throughout my spine... I didn't know what to expect. I have heard of the exhibit. It came to Toronto once. Am I going to be seeing "art"? dead people? My mind was spinning trying to be open and tolerant and just learn. I had closed encounter with dead bodies before... of relatives, family, friends who have passed away either tragically or through illness... yet they were embalmed and in a more "respectful" way in a coffin... and interred in due course. Needless to say that what I saw was mind boggling. It's really a personal experience. I understand for myself why I didn't study to become a medical doctor... how much they had to go through anatomy classes and dissecting through donated bodies in order to learn the inner workings of the human body. In high school biology classes, I recalled dissecting frogs, piglets and mice. It was really nothing.
Yet for this exhibit, these are real bodies - flesh and blood... I could see and feel the eyes of the "cadavers" staring at you as if they were alive. To me it was a pain they had to go through their lives. I wonder how they could have donated their sacred body to this "art" form or display. They must have been so liberated in order to donate it to the "Body Worlds" team. And be able to travel to so many different parts of the world. For one, I saw many bodies' lung so dark... (cases of heavy smokers)... others still have tattoos on skins....
All in all - I still view life as precious, the body as precious. These ought to be buried properly instead of testing time. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE. As we are baptized in Christ, our body is a temple to Jesus. A clean temple honors Jesus. Thus live a healthy life... a balance life i.e. spiritually, physically and mentally.
The exhibit was interesting and eye opening. For I have learned quite a lot throughout the exhibit. Learned the technique behind the plastination (using polymer/plastic) - my friend Kumin is a polymer expert and hold a PhD in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is currently working for Boston Scientific working on new materials for the LEAD (a wire) inside pacemakers. While at the science center, there was another Medtronic exhibit of arteries which he explained to me the workings of a healthy heart and when they is a need for pacemakers.
So I went inside the exhibit... (the exhibit happens to be sponsored by Medtronic (medical device maker aka pacemakers - Medtronic has large R&D and manufacturing centers all over Minneapolis & St Paul area)). As I entered the exhibit... the effect was chilling at first. I had goosebumps running throughout my spine... I didn't know what to expect. I have heard of the exhibit. It came to Toronto once. Am I going to be seeing "art"? dead people? My mind was spinning trying to be open and tolerant and just learn. I had closed encounter with dead bodies before... of relatives, family, friends who have passed away either tragically or through illness... yet they were embalmed and in a more "respectful" way in a coffin... and interred in due course. Needless to say that what I saw was mind boggling. It's really a personal experience. I understand for myself why I didn't study to become a medical doctor... how much they had to go through anatomy classes and dissecting through donated bodies in order to learn the inner workings of the human body. In high school biology classes, I recalled dissecting frogs, piglets and mice. It was really nothing.
Yet for this exhibit, these are real bodies - flesh and blood... I could see and feel the eyes of the "cadavers" staring at you as if they were alive. To me it was a pain they had to go through their lives. I wonder how they could have donated their sacred body to this "art" form or display. They must have been so liberated in order to donate it to the "Body Worlds" team. And be able to travel to so many different parts of the world. For one, I saw many bodies' lung so dark... (cases of heavy smokers)... others still have tattoos on skins....
All in all - I still view life as precious, the body as precious. These ought to be buried properly instead of testing time. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE. As we are baptized in Christ, our body is a temple to Jesus. A clean temple honors Jesus. Thus live a healthy life... a balance life i.e. spiritually, physically and mentally.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Wings over Wisconsin!
Flying over Lake Superior... on northernmost Wisconsin. Above 32000 Feet... and 45 minutes from landing @ Minneapolis St Paul International Airport. Total trip only took about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Where art St. Paul, Minnesota?
I'm heading to
St. Paul, Minnesota for the next few days visiting my friends Kumin and his wife Yerhee. Kumin was my roommate while we studied @ RPI. He has just finished his PhD in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is currently working for Boston Scientific's Guidant subsidiary. Guidant was recently bought out by Boston Scientific. They are in the pacemaker, stent (biomedical devices industry).
St. Paul, Minnesota for the next few days visiting my friends Kumin and his wife Yerhee. Kumin was my roommate while we studied @ RPI. He has just finished his PhD in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is currently working for Boston Scientific's Guidant subsidiary. Guidant was recently bought out by Boston Scientific. They are in the pacemaker, stent (biomedical devices industry).
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Countdown to Christmas 2006
We are only 60 days away to Christmas 2006 Celebration... Time flies eh?
North York Mandarin Alliance plans to celebrate Christmas Eve this year at the McKee Elementary School on Dec. 24, 2006 - it was revealed to me about 2 weeks ago during the English congregation's helpers' monthly meeting. We have yet to plan what program the English congregation plan to showcase.
Christmas is a time of joy -- for a little boy named Jesus was born. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah announced, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (9:6). Isaiah also gave a mysterious prophecy that was only partially fulfilled in his lifetime. It began, "The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (7:14). Immanuel means "God with us."
Let's us pray for NYMAC, for the English congregation brothers and sisters to prepare program to witness God's wonderful Son, Immanuel.
North York Mandarin Alliance plans to celebrate Christmas Eve this year at the McKee Elementary School on Dec. 24, 2006 - it was revealed to me about 2 weeks ago during the English congregation's helpers' monthly meeting. We have yet to plan what program the English congregation plan to showcase.
Christmas is a time of joy -- for a little boy named Jesus was born. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah announced, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (9:6). Isaiah also gave a mysterious prophecy that was only partially fulfilled in his lifetime. It began, "The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (7:14). Immanuel means "God with us."
Let's us pray for NYMAC, for the English congregation brothers and sisters to prepare program to witness God's wonderful Son, Immanuel.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Congrats York University Graduates!
Graduation is a day of joy! A happy moment! A time to remember! And a time to celebrate! And a time to take pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph fellowship's leader - sister Kelly graduated from York University on Oct. 21, 2006.
Congrats to Kelly for a job well done! Congrats to Sister Amanda as well. She also graduated! Job well done!!!!
Remind me of my graduations past... ah what a long time ago. I was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's class of 1995 and 1997... obtaining both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master in Business Administration in Management and Technology. Wow such a long time ago now I realize it. Yeah, I remember... staying up all night burning the mid night oil and sweating taking those mid-terms and finals.
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years" Abraham Lincoln once said.
Thanks God for the good and precious memories! Thanks my parents for funding my university studies!
Joseph fellowship's leader - sister Kelly graduated from York University on Oct. 21, 2006.
Congrats to Kelly for a job well done! Congrats to Sister Amanda as well. She also graduated! Job well done!!!!
Remind me of my graduations past... ah what a long time ago. I was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's class of 1995 and 1997... obtaining both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master in Business Administration in Management and Technology. Wow such a long time ago now I realize it. Yeah, I remember... staying up all night burning the mid night oil and sweating taking those mid-terms and finals.
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years" Abraham Lincoln once said.
Thanks God for the good and precious memories! Thanks my parents for funding my university studies!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Golfing @ Century Pines!
The weather called for sunny breaks with cloud covers and occasional shower. Yet what I found out today was snow, hail and freezing rain! What a day out to play golf in the middle of fall season. Come on! A freak snow storm on October 12 in nearby Buffalo, New York and Ft Erie , Ontario cut the job of many people in that part of the world. I had planned this golf trip with 2 of my colleagues @ Hewitt Associates. Yet at the last minute, one chicken out. Call me nuts... but driving for 2 hours from Toronto to Flamborough to start tee time @ 10.53 AM @ 0 degree celcius and gusty wind chill in the middle of October was plain crazy. Anyway this clubhouse is near Flamborough, Ontario and offers an 18 holes course over 6500 yards.
Location Map -
Course Map -
Indeed, this was a difficult course for me due to the many water hazards I had to face. Today, I found myself hitting alot of double par... losing balls and picking up errands ones. Kinda expensive to lose Titleist balls... My colleague and I teamed up with 2 other players on the course and we finished playing around 4pm. To my horror, the next morning when I woke up... I had muscles acking all over my body. You see, I haven't played 18 holes golf for a very long time since 1996... yet I do find the occasional time off to go swing on the driving range. However heck with it what it mattered was I had really good time exercising and had fun playing on the course. Especially remembering 1 hit that my ball rippled through the water hazard on landed at the edge of the pond on the 14th hole. Sweet it was. Hehehe! You see it is all in your head. Psychologically... you can do it... and you will do it. Sometimes it takes a great deal of faith (and prayers) to leap / move forward in times of crisis / difficulties. The disciple Peter walked on water... not by himself... He needed faith to walked toward Jesus!!!
Look @ my swing on the range.
Location Map -
Course Map -
Indeed, this was a difficult course for me due to the many water hazards I had to face. Today, I found myself hitting alot of double par... losing balls and picking up errands ones. Kinda expensive to lose Titleist balls... My colleague and I teamed up with 2 other players on the course and we finished playing around 4pm. To my horror, the next morning when I woke up... I had muscles acking all over my body. You see, I haven't played 18 holes golf for a very long time since 1996... yet I do find the occasional time off to go swing on the driving range. However heck with it what it mattered was I had really good time exercising and had fun playing on the course. Especially remembering 1 hit that my ball rippled through the water hazard on landed at the edge of the pond on the 14th hole. Sweet it was. Hehehe! You see it is all in your head. Psychologically... you can do it... and you will do it. Sometimes it takes a great deal of faith (and prayers) to leap / move forward in times of crisis / difficulties. The disciple Peter walked on water... not by himself... He needed faith to walked toward Jesus!!!
Look @ my swing on the range.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Snow in October!!???
It snowed on October 12, 2006! When I got back from work around 6:30pm. I was out driving to the Galleria supermarket when I realized there is a snow squall. Tiny flurries falling to the windshield of my car as I drove from Yonge / Finch area to the Steeles Ave / Yonge Street intersection. After I came back home and I checked the news and to my horror, Buffalo and part of southern Ontario near Fort Erie were blanketted by 2 feet of snow. Power lines were down. Homes were without electricity. I keep wondering if this is the effects of global warming... and will we having more snow this winter? I love snow. I love the winter but skipping the fall season when the trees have not even shed some of their green leaves is mind boggling. I dont like a long winter with so many cold and dark nights. I want sunshine. God is the light of the world!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Yonge Street Mission
Had a great time serving at Thanksgiving time at the local Yonge Street Mission. It was like a soup kitchen - since it is thanksgiving in Canada, Yonge Street Mission had a special Thanksgiving Sunday to reach out to the local people and to serve meals to them. 12 people from NYMAC's English Congregation served today. Yonge street mission held a worship service before the diner. We setup up the tables, prepared and served the food, cleaned up after the meal. Another group also joined to baby seat the children and some of them learned how to make the turkey origami. Moreover, some of us witnessed a Rwandan Evangelical Christian Church service that was held in one of the room. African church services from my experience living and attending church services in the Ivory Coast tend to be very charismatic. They love to sing high notes, praise God out loud but most importantly... they love God the Almighty. Alleluia! Amen!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
South Simcoe Steam Train
On a beautiful and sunny October 7,2006... I took the opportunity to go back in time. "Back to the future". We all boarded onto The South Simcoe Steam Train for a ride to Nowhere! Where is Nowhere? It must be Somewhere? So how do we get there... Just board onto the Tottenham express!
This train the #1057 was a restored 19th century steam locomotive... the local steam train club in Tottenham turn it into a tourist attraction. It is such a wonderful restoration. The train ride takes you to nowhere... then reaches Beeton then back to nowhere and Tottenham... like a merry go round ride. :)
October also brings the fall season and fall foliage have started to change colors or some trees have already shed all their fall colors. Fall is such a beautiful time in North America. In some places the colors are so beautiful with a mix of red, yellow, orange, green leaves.
A sunny composition... sun shines above the leaves which brightened up the leaves colors. Think of it, God brighten our lives with 4 seasons in many parts of the world... others places it is only 2. Thank God Toronto is blessed with 4 seasons. So we are less than 90 days away from 2007. What to thank for on Thanksgiving?
This train the #1057 was a restored 19th century steam locomotive... the local steam train club in Tottenham turn it into a tourist attraction. It is such a wonderful restoration. The train ride takes you to nowhere... then reaches Beeton then back to nowhere and Tottenham... like a merry go round ride. :)
October also brings the fall season and fall foliage have started to change colors or some trees have already shed all their fall colors. Fall is such a beautiful time in North America. In some places the colors are so beautiful with a mix of red, yellow, orange, green leaves.
A sunny composition... sun shines above the leaves which brightened up the leaves colors. Think of it, God brighten our lives with 4 seasons in many parts of the world... others places it is only 2. Thank God Toronto is blessed with 4 seasons. So we are less than 90 days away from 2007. What to thank for on Thanksgiving?
Friday, October 06, 2006
Mid-Autumn Festival - 中秋節快樂
It was a very good mid-autumn festival. The moon was very bright and the evening was very nice. I went out to check out the bright moon... this is the brightest moon in recent memory.
I called my family and relatives back in Taiwan and they were all enjoying a night out BBQ under the moonlight. Ah 'tis the good life in the village.
I called my family and relatives back in Taiwan and they were all enjoying a night out BBQ under the moonlight. Ah 'tis the good life in the village.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Apple of my eye!
You are indeed the apple of my eyes... I took this picture because it was striking rich RED!!! It rained last night and the apple orchard has dew and rain drops everywhere on the apple... RED is a color for Amore! Ya Amour!!!
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