This is Christmas Eve. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday. I found a few Christmas songs to share.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

12月17号前几天的晚上，先生就告知我17号晚上有重要活动，不能安排其他的事而且要dress up。 问他是什么重要活动，他只说：“Surprise。 You will know by then”.

 

于是我展开了大范围的猜想。最后锁定要么是over the rhine乐队在San Francisco的演出，要么是Sarah Brightman08世界巡演在San Jose的演出。两个我都会非常高兴。不过心底里更希望是后者。虽然对Sarah Brightman的音乐已经非常的熟悉，不过到底只是在CD上来欣赏。她真正的现场演出从未体验过。我大约在一个月前在电视上看到Sarah Brightman 08 Symphony 世界巡演将在San Jose演出的广告，当时兴奋地跟先生谈起。不过知道先生不是她的粉丝，所以也不想强求他跟我同去，心想以后有DVD之类的也许可以看看。这之后一个多月也没见先生谈起，想来他一定没放在心上。不过也没有什么可抱怨的，嫁给他的时候就知道他不会喜欢跟我去看歌剧或者芭蕾舞或者像Sarah Brightman这样的演出。鱼和熊掌不可得兼，既然爱他，就算是对生活的小小让步吧。

 

17号转眼就到了。早早地梳洗打扮，San Jose虽然不是很冷，但到底也是冬天了，早晚温度还是很低的。又要温度又要风度真不容易，折腾了半天，选了一件法式黑色金丝绒手绣连身裙，浅色的抱腿靴，外加一件裙装风衣。终是露着一截小腿。犹豫了半天，决定为重要活动牺牲温度。然后叮嘱先生说，一定要就近泊车，让我免受严寒之苦。先生好脾气地笑着说，没问题。

那时我已经猜到是Sarah Brightman的演出了。我在网上查了一下在San Jose的演出日期，正是12月17号。地点是San Jose的HP Pavilion. 现在看汽车行驶的正是前往HP Pavilion的方向。于是问先生：“Are we going to see Sarah Brightman?”“Maybe”。我乐了:"Really？oh, I am so excited. When did you get the tickets? I thought you fogot it... " 先生一边开车，一边听着我兴奋地喋喋不休。末了，我总结性地说：“Honey，thank you so much for doing this.I know you are not a big fan of hers.This means so much to me. I hope you will enjoy this show too”

很快就到了HP Pavilion，看到很多人在往演出大厅的方向走，泊车一定不容易，要不他们怎么泊车泊的这么远。担心地问先生，“Are we going to park that far too?”先生说“No, we are going to park in HP Pavilion's parking lot”,果然前方不远看到大牌子上写着“泊车$２０，请备零钱”真够黑的。

 

不过，you get what you paid for。从这个停车场到演出大厅真是太方便了，过了街就是。我们很快地取了票，排队进入HP Pavilion。一进门，就看到销售演出programme的。$３０一本。先生问我“Do you want it?”“Yes, I do”我想也没想地答。Programme印刷的那么精美，我捧在手上，激动得像个小女孩，心里满是对演出的期待。

 

 

 

找到座位坐下，演出还有几分钟就要开始，赶紧给演出大厅拍了照片，此时的舞台看起来还很简单，Sarah的乐队已经在舞台的两侧就绪。
 
演出开始了。开场是Sarah Brightman在Symphony专辑中的第一首歌曲 Gothica。Sarah以很怪异的黑色服饰出场，音乐扬起，黑裙褪去，露出火焰般的红色长裙轻舞飞扬。舞台此时开始制造出令人惊叹的效果。新科技是如此的不可思议，不需要任何的布景，只是光和影，就可以给我们提供如此眩目超乎想象充满动感的视觉享受。美的让人窒息。

 

   

一首接一首，每一首的舞台幻化都别出心裁。时而如繁星满缀的夜空，时而是波光粼粼的水面，时而是阴森清冷的森林，时而是华美壮丽的古堡。Sarah时而如美人鱼一般在水中游弋，时而在黑色的森林中踏车前行。时而是古堡中的公主，时而是秋千上美丽的姑娘。她出场的每一身服饰都别具匠心。而Sarah的歌声更是所有美丽中之最美丽的。这美丽让我深深地沉醉。

 

   

 

美好的东西总是转瞬即逝。时间飞一般匆匆，Sarah唱出了那首经典的Time to say Goodbye.演出结束，观众报以热烈的掌声，久久不息。于是她又出场为我们表演了几首圣诞歌曲。其中的一首，开场以Sarah和十个舞者躺在舞台上造型再通过光影效果使整个场景看起来像一个飘雪的snowglobe, 而Sarah和十个舞者则成为snowglobe中的仙女。圣诞气息呼之欲出，美不胜收。

 

   

 

一场视觉与听觉的唯美盛宴落下帷幕。美好的情绪久久萦绕。先生问我喜不喜欢这场演出，我告诉他：“It worths every penny of it and I enjoyed every second of it. I love this show.”

 

2008年圣诞节前的一个星期，先生带给我这场难忘的演出。这让我由衷感激。

 

 

  

 

 

前一段时间看了电影The Bucket List。主角是我们都很熟悉的永远个性鲜明的Jack Nicholson和总是能带给人温情和感动的Morgan Freeman。

 

电影的情节很简单。两位老人，一位是非洲裔蓝领汽车机械师Carter，一位是亿万富翁Edward。两人因同样身患绝症，住进Edward拥有的一家医院的同一间病房而相识。两人共同经历痛苦的化疗，在病床上，Carter开始思考并试着列他自己的The Bucket List（a list of things he wish he could accomplish in his life before he kicked the bucket)。

 

化疗结果出来并不理想，两人同样时日无多。Carter把他的bucket list团成纸团扔在病房的地上，被edward捡到。 Edward对这个list充满兴致，希望用他的万贯家财来实现这个bucket list。同时他又把自己的一些心愿加进去。

 

于是两个人开始了这场实现the bucket list 的旅行...跳伞，飙车，在罗马进晚餐，去埃及看金字塔，在泰姬陵漫步，在长城上骑摩托，再到香港，喜玛拉雅，一步一步把Carter曾经的梦想变成现实，再存入记忆。旅程中，两人越来越多地了解彼此，两人甚而谈到人生。

 

 

在埃及金字塔前Carter（Freeman)讲了这样一个故事---

 

The ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death.  When their souls got to the entrance to heaven, the guards asked two questions.  Their answers determined whether they were able to enter or not. 

 

 

被问到这两个问题，任何人都会沉默下来，回想自己的生活。

 

你的答案是什么？

 

Carter的Bucket list：

----Witness something truly majestic，

----Help a complete stranger for the good

----Laugh until I cry

----Drive a Shelby Mustang

----Visit Stonehenge
----Spend a week at Louvre
----See Rome
----See the pyramids
----Get back in touch (previously "Hunt the big cat")

Nicholson adds:

 

----Skydiving

----Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world

----Get a tattoo

----One man survives to speak at the other's funeral.

 

在这个世界上，大概很多人都有一个大概的bucket list. 有多少人有幸去实现它。电影中提到曾经有一个调查，1000个人被问及如果可以提前预知自己死亡的确切日期，是否愿意知道，96%的回答是NO. 我想我属于极少的4%。我喜欢自己的人生有所准备，有所安排。

 

我的bucket list是什么？ 这个……得好好想想。

 

不管我们的list有多么的不同，不管我们有没有可能实现我们的list. 至少有一点我们可以分享并且为之努力--find joy in our lives and bring joy to others.

 

热爱我们的生活，像马克吐温所说的---

 

 

*********************************************************

 

电影里有很多非常精彩的对白，一并记录在此：

 

Carter Chambers：You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you

[from trailer]
Edward Cole: We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round.

---

[from trailer]
Edward Cole: Do you hate me?
Carter Chambers: Not yet.

---

Carter Chambers: What are you so afraid of?
Edward Cole: Just because I told you my story, does not invite you to be a part of it!
Carter Chambers: Oh, like the lady in the bar?
Edward Cole: That's different.
Carter Chambers: Tell me how it's different.
Edward Cole: I build a billion dollar business up from NOTHING! Presidents have asked my advice, I have dined with royalty, and i'm supposed to make out like what? This trip was supposed to MEAN something to me? Like it was gonna change ME? How did you see it playing out Carter, I knock on the door, she answers, she's surprised and angry, but I tell her how much I love her and miss her, and OH, by the way, I'm gonna be dead soon so I'm reaching out to you because I don't wanna die alone?
Carter Chambers: Everyone's afraid to die alone.
Edward Cole: I'm not everyone! This was supposed to be fun. That's all it ever was.

---

Thomas: I'm proud of you.
Edward Cole: Nobody cares what you think.

---

Edward Cole: I want my own room.
Thomas: You run hospitals, not health spas. Two beds to a room, no exceptions.

---

Thomas: What are you doing here?
Carter Chambers: Fighting for my life. You?

---

Edward Cole: The sequel was like that. She never backed me up on anything.
Carter Chambers: The sequel?
Edward Cole: The second Mrs Edward Cole.
[Carter rolls his eyes]
Edward Cole: Hell, that woman hated me.
Kyle the parachutist: Maybe because you called her the sequel.

---

Dr. Hollins: How are you doing?
Edward Cole: Dumb question.

---

[from trailer]
Carter Chambers: I hate your rotten guts!

---

Edward Cole: Here's something to remember when you're older Thomas - never pass up a bathroom, never waste a hard-on, and never trust a fart.
Thomas: I'll remember that when I start "decrepitating" sir.

---

Carter Chambers: Forty-five years goes by pretty fast.
Edward Cole: Like smoke through a keyhole.

---

Carter Chambers: Even now I cannot understand the measure of a life, but I can tell you this. I know that when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open. And I'm pretty sure he was happy with his final resting place, because he was buried on the mountain. And that was against the law.

---

Edward Cole: The simplest thing is... I loved him. And I miss him. Carter and I saw the world together. Which is amazing... When you think that only three months ago, we were complete strangers! I hope that it doesn't sound selfish of me but... the last months of his life were the best months of mine. He saved my life... And he knew it before I did.

---

Edward Cole: You're shitting me.
Carter Chambers: No, the cats beat me to it!

---

[Carter hands Edward an article about Kopi Luwak, Edward's favorite coffee.]
Carter Chambers: Read it.
Edward Cole: [reading] Kopi Luwak is the world's most expensive coffee. Though for some, it falls under the category of "too good to be true." In the Sumatran village, where the beans are grown, lives a breed of wild tree cat. These cats eat the beans, digest them and then... defecate.
[pauses]
Edward Cole: The villagers then collect and process the stools. It is the combination of the beans and the gastric juices of the tree cat that give Kopi Luwac...
[Carter starts laughing]
Edward Cole: ... its unique flavor... and aroma. You're shitting me!
Carter Chambers: [laughing] Cats beat me to it!
[Carter and Edward both laugh hysterically.]

---

Edward Cole: You want some too? I'll have Thomas fix you a plate.
Carter Chambers: No thanks.
Edward Cole: You sure? Best in L.A.
[later, throwing up]
Carter Chambers: It ain't the best in L.A. no more.

---

Edward Cole: I envy people who have faith, I just can't get my head around it.
Carter Chambers: Maybe because your head's in the way.

---

Edward Cole: [Carter's obsessing over a car] You gonna drive it or buy it a dress?
Carter Chambers: Just getting to know each other.

---

Edward Cole: [Spoiler]
[about his daughter and her husband]
Edward Cole: The first time he hit her, she came to me. Wouldn't let me take care of it, said it was her fault, he'd had a rough day and too much to drink. The next time he hit her, she didn't come to me. The ex told me about it. So I wanted to be a good father, so I took care of it. I called a guy who called a guy who called his friends, they didn't kill him, what they did, I don't know, but he never bothered her again, and then she said I was dead to her.
[/Spoiler]

---

Edward Cole: Somewhere, some lucky guy's having a heart attack.

---

Carter Chambers: Is it Tommy or Thomas?
Thomas: It's Matthew, actually. He thought that was too biblical...

---

Edward Cole: What does a snail have to do to reincarnate? Leave the perfect trail of slime?

---

Carter Chambers: Edward, I've had baths that were deeper than you.

---

Carter Chambers: [in his letter to Edward] Dear Edward, I've gone back and forth the last few days trying to decide whether or not I should even write this. In the end, I realized I would regret it if I didn't, so here it goes. I know the last time we saw each other, we weren't exactly hitting the sweetest notes-certain wasn't the way I wanted the trip to end. I suppose I'm responsible and for that, I'm sorry. But in all honestly, if I had the chance, I'd do it again. Virginia said I left a stranger and came back a husband; I owe that to you. There's no way I can repay you for all you've done for me, so rather than try, I'm just going to ask you to do something else for me-find the joy in your life. You once said you're not everyone. Well, that's true-you're certainly not everyone, but everyone is everyone. My pastor always says our lives are streams flowing into the same river towards whatever heaven lies in the mist beyond the falls. Find the joy in your life, Edward. My dear friend, close your eyes and let the waters take you home.

---

Edward Cole: Good afternoon. My name is Edward Cole. I don't know what most people say at these occasions because in all honesty, I've tried to avoid them. The simplest thing is I loved him and I miss him. Carter and I saw the world together, which is amazing when you think that only three months ago we were complete strangers. I hope that it doesn't sound selfish of me, but the last months of his life were the best months of mine. He saved my life, and he knew it before I did. I'm deeply proud that this man found it worth his while to know me. In the end, I think it's safe to say that we brought some joy to one another's lives, so one day, when I go to some final resting place, if I happen to wake up next to a certain wall with a gate, I hope that Carter's there to vouch for me and show me the ropes on the other side.

---

Carter Chambers: Edward Perryman Cole died in May. It was a Sunday in the afternoon and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. He was 81 years old. Even now, I can't claim to understand the measure of a life, but I can tell you this: I know that when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open, and I'm pretty sure he was happy with his final resting place because he was buried on the mountain, and that was against the law.

---

Edward Cole: Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world.
Carter Chambers: How are you going to do that?
Edward Cole: Volume!

 

感恩节去先生的姐姐家，尝到好汤一道。讨了recipe，回家试了一回，又请朋友来家品尝，皆云“好汤”。味道看来是没得说，不过这汤的原料中有太多butter,cream 之类，不是很健康。趁年轻可以多用几回。

 

Shrimp-artichoke Bisque

 

3/4 onion                    1pt half&half

2 cloves garlic            1 can cream mushroom soup

1 stick butter              1 can drained artichoke,artichoke quartered

1 lb raw shrimp          1 tbsp parsley

Dash tabasco sauce

 

Put butter garlic and onion in the pot, saute and add shrimp, cook until pink on both sides. Then add rest of the ingredients. Cook until warm. Do not boil.

 

Quite easy to make. It is tasty.

 

 

We arrived at Salt Lake City the Second day.

 

The next morning, we went to visit my mother-in-law. She is at a rehab center since she recently broke her bone. She has Alzheimer's, therefore, the recovery becomes really hard for her. The doctor told her always get a nurse to help her when she wanted to get up. She could not remember. She always try to get up and that could be very risky.

 

We haven't seen her since last year. We always heard about how she was doing from the phone. We know her Alzheimer's is progressing, her health is not as good as before. However, what we exactly should be expecting, we don't know.

 

The rehab center is not too far from my sister-in-law's house. About twenty minutes drive. We got there in early morning. It was a nice building. There were all kinds of people in the hall way, many aged people on their wheel chairs. We went to her room, she wasn't there. We could not find her until a nurse offered to help.

 

There, from the other end of the hallway, we saw her, in her coral color PJ's, sitting in her wheel chair, with her back facing us. Her hair now is snowwhite. She didn't know we were coming. We walked towards her. Tim called her mom when we got closer. She turned around and saw us.  And immediately, her whole face just lightened up. This was a moment that really hit me and I would never forget. She must be lonely and she is so happy when her families are around. I wish we could be closer and could visit her more often.

 

We found a nice visiting room and sit down in a circle. We tried to start a conversation with her. She got confused very often. Then we would explain to her patiently and tried to help her catch up the conversation. That really needs a lot of patience. But we don't know how can we not have the patience. She is sick. That is all we should keep in mind. You can tell that she was nervous when she was talking. She was not sure what she talked is right or wrong. She was trying to figure out what we were expecting her to say.

That was just heartbroken. She used to be a sharp woman and she had a great sense of humor. We tried to ignore the false stuff that she made up in the conversation and tell her all kinds of funny things. We tried to make her laugh and then relaxed.

 

Everyday, we would do the same thing. We went there to talk with her, made her laugh. On Thanksgiving, we took her out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner. It was really sad that she didn't know what to order since she could not remember the names of the food. She really needs help in every aspect of life.

 

I can not help feeling sad and desperately helpless. Aging, illness...you know that they are taking our beloved ones away from us, however, we could do nothing but watch it hapens.

 

I kept thinking about my mother-in-law when we came back. She is going to use the wheel chair or a walker for the rest of her life. She could not travel any more. She could not go out any more. She doesn't need much things, maybe only a few set of PJ's...all the material things right now is meanlingless to her. The only thing that makes her happy is having families around.

 

It doesn't matter how much money you have or how many things you pocess, what matters is the people you've got, the love you've earned and the life you have lived.

 

We went to the Temple Square the night before we left. It was the second day after Thanksgiving. The whole square were fully decorated for Christmas already. It was gorgeous and cheerful. They even set up the scene to tell the whole story of how Christmas come from. It was very sacred and beautiful. I didn't take pictures considering that would not be respectful.

 

 

 

 

This Thanksgiving, we decided to go to Salt lake City to see Tim's mom and his sister's family. Since I always hate to fly, we chose to drive up there. On the Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving,  we took off.

 

We knew it would be a long drive so we got ourselves fully prepared, enough drinks and snacks, both ipod and a lot of CD's to garentee enough music for the road. I kept my camera handy to capture anything interesting or any scene thrilling. Of course also enough clothes to keep ourselves warm since we were travelling to a city that actually has winter.

 

It took us a few hours to get to Reno, the so called "The biggest little city in the world". I have no clue why it is called that. Reno is famous for casinos, so Tim and I decided to stop and have a little fun. It was not too boring driving up to Reno because the scene on the road is not bad at all, and what amazed me is the sunset that I witnessed sitting in the car. All the colors, the dramatic changes of the light, the shadow of the trees...everything is just amazing.

 

We arrived at Reno around 6pm. We checked in at Silver Legacy and then settled in the hotel room. It was small but very nice and cozy. We quickly changed our outfit and went downstairs to get some dinner. Both of us were really hungry at that moment, so buffet became our first choice. It was a good meal--good tasty food and good variety. What else could we ask for?

 

After the dinner, we decided to have a little bit of walk. From the buffet restaurant to the hotel gate, it was a huge area. There were casinos everywhere. You definately could feel the Christmas spirit warmly around us since the hotel has already been nicely decorated with Christmas decor. I took quite some pictures along the walk. let's see...

 

 

 

 

This is the beautiful "The Eldorado's Fountain of Fortune" . It was designed by world famous Tournament of Roses Parade Designer Raul Rodriguez and renowned New Orleans Sculptor Joe Barth. Created from marble, bronze and gold leaf,the 20-piece fountain includes mythical tritons, dolphins, fish, chorubs and sea horses. The fountain's cascading waters flow to the "God of Fortune" standing 17 feet tall.

 

On both sides of the fountain, there are stands with the information about this fountain. It also says" Make a wish. Your money benefits charities and those who are less fortunate. Thank you." I looked down into the water, there were tons of coins. I reached my pocket, searching for every penny I could find and then sunk them into the fountain. This is thanksgiving, I am very grateful for whatever I have and I hope my few bucks can help someone who is less fortunate.

 

Then we came across this gorgeous stainglass ceiling. It was hard to capture the whole ceiling and also the beauty of it. I tried hard and this is what I got. It looks so much nicer in person.

 

 

 We went into the street. Right out of the hotel is that famous Neon " Reno The biggest little city in the world". Lighting in this city is beautiful. You can feel a little bit of Las vegas...oh well, just a little bit.