Sunday Nov 4th, 2012, the sunshine poking through thick clouds on deep grey morning sky made a typical autumn day in Manhattan so peaceful. The crispy, cool and calm weather accompanied with a little of NW wind seemed perfect for attending any event that was big or small in the city where over 8 million of dwellers call hometown. For past 40 year, on a Sunday in autumn like Nov. 4th this year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers as well as thousands of athletes from oversee are supposed to get together to carry on a cherished tradition - run NYC marathon. Yet this year, first time in the NYC history, such well-cherished ritual was aborted at the last minute because of devastation left by the wrath of Hurricane Sandy.
To me, the cancellation of marathon was a big letdown. After months and months of training and sweating, not mention the high expectation to break my own PR. But when the day finally arrived, it was brutally snatched away by the jaws of furious Sandy.
People may think me as a snobbish and heartless guy who puts self-interest above the victims of Sandy, but the very truth was just opposite. My heart and thoughts went to the people who suffered in the storm and the aftermath. As the matter of fact, I went to Staten Island on Nov. 4th to participate relief efforts with my fellow Road Runner Club members while actively raising fund for the Sandy’s victims immediately after the super storm passed.
The agonizing reality for many runners including me was that we felt torn between two forces in the spectrum. On one side, we believed that the cancellation was an absolutely right thing to do morally in order to preserve the sacred resources to help tens of thousands of victims get back on their feet. Yet on the other side, we lamented that months of trainings and sacrifices were being practically short changed. Take me for an example, after putting on over 3,200 miles on my legs and wearing off two pair of running shoes, I felt very disappointed .
Nevertheless, I learned an important lesson from the marathon cancellation: A catastrophic occurrence gives no concerns to the day that is circled in ink and being looking forward to living through by any person on the planet. In fact, disasters don’t even care about meticulous plans,cherished moments, decorated homes, precious belongings even invaluable human lives.
Although Hurricane Sandy ruined this year's marathon, as people often say “Every cloud has a silver lining.” I see myself to become motivated and determined than ever before, ready to run when every chance is given.
Note: From the lens, it seemed that on the color palette, NYC has the deepest blue hue on the sky, SZ places the second and SH ranks the least. :( A Su and others please don't "accuse" me to play favoritism here, okay ? The mater of the fact is that I simply tell the truth, and I like all of three cities since they affect me each and every day.
Thanks for your perpetual cheering, much appreciated.
I think, I believe you'd agree, that one of the most difficulty things in our lives to accomplish is to be simple and elegant at the same time. Oftentimes I felt so inadequate to render such two obvious parts in one outcome when looking and reading other peoples' works. :(
Came to say hi, the music is cheering and player frenetically ------拽 ：）
Stay cool!
I hate to admit but it's true, each time I returned from my mainland trip, I grew some pessimism about my hometown. What I saw and heard back there became more and more unfamiliar, in terms of the crowds, the landscape and of course, the new modern architecture developments of SZ. By the way, that bank building does remind me of the Chrysler tower, a typical 山寨 version? :)) Ok, enough sarcasm. Last summer, when I saw several bold-designed and eye-popping architecture towers in Cheng Du Sichuan, I certainly did not feel that much awkwardness.
As for traditional calligraphy, I don't think I could teach him a whole lot of it, but I know if I begin DIY at home, it will bring some fringe benefits to him even just let him watch what I do. You are right, it should be a doable job for me :D 恩，要从自己做起.
As a firm believer of culture preservation, I think you should assist your prince to acquire the appreciation of Chinese language as well as Chinese handwriting by helping him develop a taste for Chinese traditional calligraphy as well as to cherish the tool-set of ink brushes,ink,inkstones and paper. It should be a doable job for you, and he will be very glad someday that you gave him a precious gift of heritage.
Although China's booming architectonic scenes in big or medium sized cities have been very productive, pioneering and even iconic in certain aspects, somehow I felt, as you pointed out, that the side of physical planning of city development is still lack of oversight in terms of how to stop accelerated erosion of old neighborhoods, which often leave more than just some unsavory taste from artistic point of view when newer, bigger and taller modern skyscrapers erect and dominate in those century old districts. Maybe it is the growing pain for a awaken giant temporarily. Hopefully, as China becomes more sophisticated and environmental conscientious, it will learn from other developed countries to preserve and protect its own architectural treasures without sacrificing unique neighborhoods' characteristics and leaving compunction for years to bear.
No,the blue sky of the early morning in SZ on the pic was real, and there's no post production involved since I don't see why photos should be psed in the first place, and the same rational applied to women's breasts; should they be "beefed" up for the so called perfect-pair ? :)
太搞笑了！ 你居然还看到在织的＂小秋裤＂。 不管元芳怎么看，我真的很想听听贝老贝聿铭怎么看d。
天空是PS的么？难以置信的蓝。 君不见，环境的人为打造下了大功夫，完全都可忽略天然去雕饰的蕴意。 如今的新苏州人，究竟以这座城的什么为骄傲呢，谁能告诉我？ 谢谢贴图。
我以为现在很少有人用手书写文字， 看来我是孤陋寡闻哈，谢谢善意纠正。
同你想法趋近，我也认为用短信的方式和恋人分手，的确有点太过分，太缺乏人性的基本要素。在这个世界上，恋爱可以把一个人的最好的素质挥发出来，同时也可能暴露一个人心灵里最暗的部分。 我们所能做到的是： 不要随流，迷失。你说呢？
I bet, your friends will be grateful to you with double delights when they receive your handwritten greeting cards this year, not only the heartfelt holiday wishes but also your beautiful handwriting.(we knew that already.)
七年级学生的家庭作业，绝大多数是手书，用铅笔，只有Book Report，Special Project or Presentation etc. 才打字印刷出来。 他平常几乎不上脸书，短信也是局限在最要好的两三个朋友之间。
我以为被dumped的女孩其实比较幸运，跟一个只顾及自身感受的人共处，将来要受的委屈恐怕还会更大哦~~~
喜欢就好啦。：） 你的观察好像是蛮对的。 不过，我们也木有太多选择，你懂的。绝大多数男人都注意漂亮，性感，貌似又温柔可人又魅力四射的美眉。 我也做不到漠视和免俗，肿木拌。：（
“Earth is just like a child, sets its own mood and demonstrates its own feelings, alternately joyful and somber, forceful and laid back, playful and contemplative, fierce and angry. What can you do? You get the answer when you have one of your own。” Since when you became a philosopher and environmental advocate. ：） However, the parallel drown by you between environments and kids is pretty factual, valid and colorful. :)
Yes, you are right, handwritten greeting cards, letters or anything in that category are "artifacts" now. We are inadvertently wiping them out in this digitized age. Worse, if you'd notice, we don't even call friends as much as that we did years ago. It seems that everything, nowadays,would be able to be done through fast and convenient text messaging. The other day, my friend broke up with his GF by sending her a short text msg, I asked him how could he do such thing, he answer, "Dude, do I miss something here ? we are in a fast pace world, texting is perfect for this sort of thing cos it reduces awkwardness and pain. It's much clean and comfortable than it'd have done in face to face style." So here is a thing, I don't know how much technology will lead us to a point when you prince is mature enough to join the dating sports; but there is one thing which will be sure, it will be quite different from now. You may have to fasten your seat blet, it could bring you to an unchartered territory. :))
Looking at these colorful paper cards, I surly miss those old days when warm feelings, deep sentiments and all sorts of tender moments flow on a piece of paper...I’ve kept all those paper cards received in the past twenty something years, they were and they still are a part of my life, forever cherished.
Sure, I am gonna get a box or two greeting cards, soon~~
这张图片真漂亮。
It's in C.P. This year' fall foliage in the NYC was incredibly color challenged due to the warmar weather conditions in Oct, then it came Sandy's devastation and park closing... I felt we were cheated by nature in 2012.
你眼睛好犀利，一下子就看出痼中症结。 道理是这样的: 生气的美眉可伤不起哈。：（
你把九寨沟搬到NYC来啦？ 还是别的什么地方？ 好图！
看来还是拍风景有把握，拍美女时手在发抖耶，有木有啊？ 咳咳
新周愉快。
"纵然法语了得，俺一句也听不懂." 嗨,你比我强多啦。不瞒你说，不要说一句，俺可是一个字都听不懂。：）
Overroasted turkey, no problem, load it up on my plate, I am not a picky eater。 Thanks for your confident vote, I hope I can live up to your expectation.
纵然法语了得，俺一句也听不懂：）））
好听的歌，很清爽的感觉。
感恩晚餐很丰盛，火鸡是一定有的，只可惜被我overheated了，今年第一次烤没经验啊，以前都是买现成的。要是纵然去了我家，那火鸡一定会恰到好处的，因为有你带来的运气在：）
Yes, you are right, there are times, long distance male runners indeed do show some of bloody stains on their chests. However, such bruises are easily preventable by wearing proper cloth and deploying some proactive measures. Even in the worst scenario, two pieces of band-aid would be able to take care of that. That being said, I'll keep your advise in mind although it has not happened to me yet. :))
What is your special dish for this year's Thanksgiving feast ?
Either the enjoyable vacation or the beginning of new holiday season may attribute to your cheerful sentiments, you sounded somehow encouraging and revitalizing. Alright, I will try do my best to keep running and ,at the same time, handling my athletic assets with more care.
Okay, if time permits, I'd update my blog, sharing my thoughts and some interesting music with your guys. However, no promise. :)
May you have a great Thanksgiving holiday!
保持实力，向下一届前进。桐说得对，要注意保护，避免拉伤。
hehe，纵然可回家看了看。
我今天跟同事说起马拉松，他说他有几次（a few times)跑都出现了nipple bleeding，胸前衣服都挂彩了。。。结果我就去google一看，他说的一点不夸张。所以，你也要注意这个保护，hehe。
谢谢祝福，你也感恩节快乐！
tern2,
谢谢鼓励和鞭策。
With your nod/green-light and altruistic recognition, I'd keep running marathons till the time I'm no longer to be able to do any more. :)
Sure, I'll follow your instruction and keep my knees well-protested for a long run.
May you and your family have a joyful and festive Thanksgiving Holiday!
加油，好青年。注意保护膝盖。
Hmmm, sounds like you are telling a success story, then keep up the good work.
With your encouragement, I am now very close to my ideal number, let's say: it's within striking distance. :)
Still, I need to shed several ounces weight, how about you~~
Forget to ask you, how's your daily workout regiments ? did you reach your ideal number in terms of weight ?
How about "I'll Run every marathon before I get married". :) That may sound more realistic. :))
Yes, I am back in the saddle again.
Thank you for your encouragement and a sense of humor, will definitely add more oil, you can count on it.
回来了？:-) :-)
一枚好青年啊^_^
加油纵然！