|| Personal Shopper at Salvation Army

Is this the last post of 2009 and of a passing decade? Have to leave it a few days before I can say so, but first of all, I had the opportunity to do the Salvation Army volunteer day yesterday on the 23rd. There is a new site this year, 30min drive from Innsbrooke thru 288 at the Chesterfield town center. Most of the time I was walking around the mall being a personal shopper for the needed people.

The shopping routine was coat, toy, shoes, clothing, family and finally holiday stuff. The rule by the captain was pretty much 2 pieces per kid. So I was excited to see my first customer, and her name is Melissa with three girl kids. Pretty soon I realized that my explanations on the rules had no effect whatsoever on Melissa, and she just grabbed everything if she deemed fit for any of the girls. A full cart of things ended up going out for checkout, and as I was struggling strapping up the bag for everything she picked up, she took it over from my two hands, and pulled the bag on her shoulder and off she went out of the door with a Merry Christmas behind her. Later I saw that most of the people are like her, no rules no boundaries, they got whatever they needed, extras, extras and more extras. This shouldn't be new discovery, that there are no poor people in the US, they are taken care of if they'd like to be. I'm sure that they are richer than I am who is not exactly poor. The kids have toys for one year's Christmas than those for my entire life. All I can do is to remind them that they should pick up some books for the girls, and they always agreed.

I wrote 33 e-greetings this year (yesterday afternoon), bigger than the last. However, there was hardly any excitement, actually I was much better off reading people's replies, full of accomplishments, made me feel blue? Meditation, that's what I'm doing now.

I read books this year, went to new places, ate better, and experienced the not so ultimate highs and the not so ultimate lows. It's not a year that has the significance, merely following the threads from other years before. If using one word to summarize, it would've been flat, and by the way, I hate being flat. What do I think of the decade, it's fast, but it's slow. The holidays from ten years ago were long time ago, and was so dark and painful, I could still feel the chill, which set the tone for this passing decade. But for sure I had forgotten it already, yet I made other mistakes, lethal in one way or another, those which I'm living with everyday today, and will probably live up to its consequence for the next decade. I've done all to correct the course, to rejuvenate, but I wish there could be new orientations, but there is none so far.

Moving on, I saw three snow falls this year, all of them memorable. One in March (early spring surprises), June (in the awesome Yellowstone) and December (last weekend). This December snow was the heaviest, so thick and so dense. I couldn't deal with snow at all, but managed to still drive around. Like what the snow brought out of me, I felt I was doing many things to the best of my abilities, but I knew there should be more. I normally do not make a list of these things, but here's a change for the new decade, in no particular order -

#1 money matters (read professional books, make investments, be smart)
#2 life matters (buy buy buy, enjoy life and live happy)
#3 people matter (keep up with everyone in a positive way, be warm)
#4 career matters (what I want to do, do it, be bold and be ready)
#5 health matters (eat more healthy, but how?!, and exercise and exercise, be well)
#6 emotion matters (toughen up, and be strong)

So at least, the beginning of the next decade is so much more peaceful, so I'm moving and moving on .... may new and good things come to me, may all loved ones always be with me~~

|| Damaged

My Dell laptop finally broke down, though I had anticipated this day for almost two years, I was caught up like a damaged person because I did not have a full backup and recovery is virtually impossible since I didn't have the Windows startup CD. I had lots and lots and years and years of pictures, and I thought I should pay for the mistake, so decided to use the very expensive paid service calls from Dell solution center.

The other day I was held up on highways for something like two hours for the sake of getting deals on a couple sweaters and other miscellaneous stuff, silly me. I thought of turning back, but just couldn't and persuaded myself that for one day in the entire year just let me be that silly person. The night was rainy and cold and windy, but I was able to find a few things that I like, for the season.

Other whereabouts, obviously the summer season is long gone and I was like grounded in this treacherous place. But I was busy, not for the good kind, literally running non-stop between work and hospital, checking on blood, thyroid, different kinds of vaccine .... I actually feel very normal, but admit that the recent and new damaging facts are stressful, and I don't like that.

Outside of me, two people seem to be determined to disappear from my social network, and I am fine with them and with their decisions. I don't think of them too much anyway, that is, I wouldn't want them too much anyway.

Finally, this is my favorite song from the New Moon OST, called Rosyln by Bon Iver & St. Vincent:

Up with your turret
Aren't we just terrified?
Shale, screen your worry from what you won't ever find

Don't let it fool you
Don't let it fool you...down
Down's sitting round, folds in the gown

Sea and the rock below
Cocked to the undertow
Bones blood and teeth erode, with every crashing node

Wings wouldn't help you
Wings wouldn't help you...down
Down fills the ground, gravity's proud

You barely are blinking
Wagging your face around
When'd this just become a mortal home?

Won't, won't, won't, won't

Won't let you talk me
Won't let you talk me…down
Will pull it taut, nothing let out

|| 24 Hrs in Virginia Beach

Summer's final craziness is here in Virginia at the beach, 2 hrs drive from Richmond from 9:30am Thursday morning. Obviously it's a weekday, and we were right off the morning peak hours. After Williamsburg, I-64 became slow and busy all the way to the very end. I had no problem changing to I-264, but decided that I would call Rudee to see if any of the tours were opening 'cause the sky was dark and cloudy and gloomy as if a storm was about to hit town. My instinct was not too wrong when the girl told me on the phone that all tours were cancelled that day. I had no choice but to call the hotel (Newcastle Motel) if they could open up an empty room for me because I would be early. And nicely, when I got to my destination hotel, a room was already ready. We went to the room, and took an instant liking of the balcony view, ocean front, and fifth floor (505) is facing a big empty grassy land right in front of the 3-mile broadway walk. There were people walking around, very many of them on this weekday, surprisingly.


Since there were no tours, we had to drive around to the lighthouse. It was supposed to be ... it was very painful getting into the military zone because I wasn't expecting it at all. Securities were strip searching the car, opening the hood (personally), the truck, throwing the keys on the dashboard, opening the compartment in front of the passenger seat ... well, we got through and climbed up the old lighthouse. It's a traditionally built with solid bricks with black whirled staircase to get to the top. At times the steps were narrow and the air was somewhat thin, but the top was fascinating. It overlooks the cape corner and offers the panaramic view of the sea, sand, military buildings and a few historical sites. This was very windy day, kinda gloomy, but cleared a little bit compared to the dark hanging cloudiness we saw earlier.




Outside the lighthouse, there were two bridgewalks out to the sandy beach. We decided to extend our lighthouse tour to the outer bank. It was more than pretty view, if the hotel district is nothing but organized crime, this is the real random but natural act. Hardly anyone, any time should be noted to interrupt the quite enjoyment.




We were already at the northern end of the Atlantic Ave., then we went west to the Shore drive, impulsive, all I had was a few crappy maps printed off the tourism sites. However, we happened to find a beautiful and unique place, the First Landing State Park. It was very secluded, we only saw 4-5 people around, 3 cars. Determined, we decided to try the easiest and closest trail, the Bald Cypress trail (red). At first, I didn't quite understand that bald cypress and spanish moss, but after walking through several of the overlooks, I finally was able to appreciate the plantations here, and what a wonderful it had been given, the bald cypress. The buds popped up the water like a dry and boring balding head of the humans. The moss was all over the trees, bottom to head, water to land. These were some of the most exciting pictures I had taken for the trip. Since I am having quite a fantasy to the Phantom and Twilight, I was immediately drafting out a plan, obviously there could be no staging director for the Phantom scene, everything was natually born and set, the meandering waterways, the order-less trees and plants were ready to be commanded for their chief actor.





That was quite a spin in one afternoon, we retired comfortably, took a walk to the south end of the broadwalk of course. The second day, we took a gamble for the Rudee Rocket tour. Thank goodness, the weather was supporting, and we had 15 people, enough to sail the boat out to the sea. The Rocket tour is the 2000 watt high speed touring boat, but obviously when I developed my thoughts of this boat, I didn't think of the ups and downs on the sea and the impacts to how my heart would feel. But even if I had known the risks and discomfort, I would still go. It was the speed boat I had dreamed of, fast, high and flamboyant. The crew played loud and I did mean loud music, old time party favorites (both the youngsters and the older couple were singing and dancing their steps together) while blasting the water leaving a huge trail of water marks. Life is on the fast lane here ...




These last two pictuers were taken at the twilight in the morning, and they were refreshingly pretty and cute.


Lastly, the final hours, we were looking for the Bill Forest seafood market. Had been there once about six years ago, still wanted to stop by for fresh crabs. The roads were difficult, but memories came back a little bit after seeing the trinity church building, what a relief, getting lost was not a good idea.

Bill Forrest Seafood

287 Messick Rd, Poquoson, Virginia. 23262
Tel : (+1)757-868-9322

|| Lake Anna

It's a natural legacy of outdoor activities and water programs that the state of Virginia offers its residents and visitors in all these state parks. Today's visit is Lake Anna, located 3miles off of HW208 between W64-N95. We passed N522, and I'm declaring that it's the most beautiful drive this summer. The roads are very clean and bright, most of them are covered in the woods and there are two places where the trees completely covered the sky and become secluded from the outside. I drove very fast however the roads meander a lot, but what's the fun of driving some plain interstate highways anyway~~ I reminded my mother that the scenes from the movies and such about beautiful cars driving in wooded single lane roads are just like what we were doing. I hope she understands.

Lake Anna is beautiful, and huge. The water has been very well protected. The build-out around the visitor area wants to promote a strong conservation ethic. We walked the Rail Road Fork trail, and often times went off track to the water front. The blue sky and clouds of a day like this are enhancing the beauty of the site. Boat owners and riders were busy docking or undocking their boats with heavy Ford trucks, mostly middle-aged couple with several young kids.

On the way back, we stopped by one of the marinas. There were some people hovering around their boats, restocking and refueling. It must be a joy ride.

The summer is coming to an end. I am participating in this leadership workshop and one of the prep question is to describe a recent moment that I feel good for myself. I thought for a bit, decided that I have been committed to going outdoors and discovering new things all summer long, quite a change for the past several years. I should be proud.

|| From Lincoln Memorial to Library of Congress

I'm writing this in blur. Too many places were going on yesterday and I felt sick, not sick sick, but lost appetite and felt so thirsty at end of day, and it was a long day.

I had not been to the DC museum district for a long long time, so brought my mom there on Sep 5th, the Labor Day weekend. We parked the car at Dunn Loring Merrifield metro station by Gallows, took the orange train and dropped ourselves at the Smithsonian station, the heart of the national treasure sites. Coming up from the metro underground, I immediately saw the amazing Washington memorial. It was so upright and sharp and clean looking, as if imprinted to the beautiful skyline by computer aids. But it was not. We decided we wanted to see it and the Lincoln memorial behind it. It was miles, but I had already anticipated it, so it wasn't excruiating pain, however, the heat finally took me unnoticed.


It is 8 years since the last time I came this far to the west end of the national mall. The land is gorgeous, obviously, couldn't tell if anything has changed after all. Spacious, green, peaceful, cultural, everything you'd wish a nation's capital should have, it's right here. I also like the long and panaramic view with the unstopped building blocks of European stlyle houses, full of details, almost too extravegent and miniscure. Some of them have red roof tops, and they were elegently situated.

The Lincoln memorial is artfully built. Big pieces of marble and the thrine was sacred and informadible. There is not much to be seen, but simplicity is more than a thousand words here. We then started to walk back, first stop is the National History museum. It amuses me to see many familiar faces (or shall I call skins) of the animals we saw in our two trips to the west. I like them and I thought I never liked to see animals in the cage. Had a quick lunch bite at the cafe of the National History muesum there. I had chicken tender and fries and bottled pomograde white tea, mom had a veggie pizza. We ate the whole things as we were hungry and needed the energy and water to walk to the Library.

(See that little plane on the top? It departed from Reagan, you wonder why they hadn't shut down the airport if they were really worry about national security?)

We accidentally saw people lining up to get into the National Archievs building. I had not been there one, so decided to get in. Security was tight, seems like they opened up the ground floor and had some sort of a gallery with old pictures. The real treasure lies in the middle of the rotunda. The declaration of independence and Bill of Rights were displayed there. Lighting was very week to protect the paper and the ink. I saw several of the states on the east coast had representatives signing the treaty at the very end. There was this film National Treasure which had scenes of stealing the declaration of independence for hidden messages at the back. This place was exactly the same as what was filmed. I'm glad that I came here. The next step was the familar National Art Gallery, however by then the heat really got into me, I felt nausea, short of breaths and nizzy, but kept on walking.

Glad that I set my eye on the Library of Congress. I thought of it being a modest little building of dark wood frames and sheepish looking nerds sitting all around. It turned out to be a luxurious and aristocratic mansion, everything was done to the extreme with many many details. They were not your community library. There was only one place where visitors can look down to see where it really is for the book part. Again, the National Treasure movie had it very original, like how it is said there.


This very end of day was spent in a Korean restaurant.
http://yechonrestaurant.com/
Address: 4121 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003 Phone: 703 914-4646

These are supposed to be really good, but I had to order a soup for the fatigue and discomfort that was grown on me. The hot tea (free) was very relieving, having a small of the freshly grown, picked and brewed smell. I almost drank two glasses. The waitresses were also wearing colorful cultural costumes, it was refreshing and I like the place.

BBQ - Daiji Bul Gogi
Korean traditional dinner - Hae Mul Dolsot Bibim Bap (rice with sea food on hot stone bowl)
Noodles - Hwe Naeng Myun (cold noodles)
Side dishes - Hae Mul Pa Jun (pancake)

These are supposed to be good, so I need to try them out.

The place under renovation is called "Annangol Restaurant", famous for its BBQ.
Address: 4215 Annandale Center Dr, Annandale, VA 22003, USA
Phone: (703) 914-4600

Another place for soup is called "Lighthouse Tofu Korean Restaurant"
Address: 4121 Chatelain Road, Suite 100, Annandale, VA Phone: 703 333-3436

|| A summer day at Lake of the Woods

I put up my two hands for returning to this beautiful place for this quarter's team event. Cathy agreed to lend us her parents' beach house, such hospitality and generosity. So on this very fine and pleasant early September Thursday, we came back to the Lake of the Woods.

Same was the house, the dock, the boats .... water was shiny and wavy, gorgeous weather accompanied us, several of us took the plunge into the water, tubing. I did canoeing and peddling boat, for some time, we just let the boat float and sat there talking. Can't ask for more than what we could have for the day, only that the thoughts haven't changed, neither the circumstances. Time passed and passed one year, and there was not a single advancement but I always thought I was fortunate to have it and have it again.

Listening to Debussy's Clare de lune, I thought the music flows as if it takes me back to a lake in the woods, peaceful and melancholy.

|| Hot day on the Flood Wall walk

In reverse order, this was the second stop on the James River trips. Flood wall is on the opposite side of Bell Isle, so south of the River. First, I was awed by how much history the downtown has showed me, was never a fan of it because the downtown that I have lived up to is built is modern, urban, crowded and dysfunction. The Richmond downtown was obviously built from a much earlier era, evidenced by the heavy industrial and manufacture reminiscent. It is very clean by all means, but old and lacking human scents. So after wandering the streets figuring out parking places, I found the designated lot on Hull St.


The weather was extremely hot. I felt sweating from head to toe, but had to keep on walking. The scene of the James River was much of the same from the week before on Bell Isle, rapids, water (not abundant because of no rain). However I could see the new downtown on the north more clearly as if I stood to watch Manhattan from the other side of the Hudson River. When I saw it, I was tranquil and peaceful, the nature looks like everything is in good place and in right order, that includes me as well. I was fortunate enough to see it.



The roads led me to some unknown rock walls. They were not easy to understand, how it came about and how it is now maintained. Only when I climbed my way along the hills through the paved and planned trail did I see that it was actually the stone bridge support for the James, but now it is abandoned for sure. There was a sign that marks the year and the people that made it, more than a hundred years ago. I stood on the overlook and watched it, grateful that I was able to share the experience with so many others before me and surely after me.


The summer is coming to an end. It has been a busy season, and slowly it's gone.

|| Twilight at the York River

Dan Honsberger is a colleague of mine. He provided me a list of summer and local travels along the James River, and without his permission, here it is that I've kept up so far for three weeks in a row.

In Richmond:

• Belle Isle

- Park in designated lot on Tredegar St (near corner of S 5th St and Tredegar St) or on street nearby
- Walk West along Tredegar St and take the pedestrian footbridge across the river to Belle Isle
- This is a must do
- http://www.discoverrichmond.com/dis/sports/recreation/james_river/article/belle_isle/1455/

• Flood Wall walk

- Park in designated lot just south of the river at the corner of E 2nd St and Hull St (JL: the parking place itself is on Hull St)
- Look carefully for trail markings - can be confusing about where to go
- You will have to walk West along a driveway shared by a factory (for a short while) before getting on the trail (goes up on top of concrete flood wall)

- http://www.discoverrichmond.com/dis/sports/recreation/james_river/article/flood_wall_park/1457/

Outside of Richmond:

• York River State Park - beautiful mix of scenery: multiple types of forest, marsh, York River. Not very popular for walking, so it is quiet. $3 entrance fee.
• Chippokes State Park - haven't been there yet, but I've heard this is a good place to swim.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/chi.shtml

Today's I made the drive to the York River. It's fairly simple eastward along I-64, hidden inside the huge acres of ranches and plantation farms. The park takes its name along the York River border which is formed fromt he joining of the Pamunkey and Mattaponi rivers at West Point, 10 miles up river from the park. The place is surprisingly well maintained with many newly built wooden passages, fishing poles, benches etc.

The River was the first thing that I saw. This is a very cloudy day, damp air swept on the face and skin with moist and coolness. The clouds were very low and very dark, occasionally rain came down, and there was nowhere to hide. We walked on the sandy beaches along the river, breathing oxygen as if we never had it in the city. The River scene was perfect for my taste of things, it's calm, peaceful, gloomy, quiet and clean, could be the habitat of a variety of wildlife, but I saw none. And I didn't need them, for this nature of the living suffice the need of my thought for the moment.


We then met a group of people finding fossils on the beach. Kids, siblings, parents, rangers. Rain kept pouring down, so had to leave them quickly and went on with our journey. There was marsh, ponds, and brushes dwelling along, and I walked them by. Soon I found myself in the middle of a land that looks like being stonewashed with water paints such as the blues, the greens, and grays. These were remnants of the wooden "corduroy" roads or of the background set of the Twilight saga stories, they were just like that. You think that I'm depressed, but I'm not. Of all the things, I recognize myself with a thirst for feeling the blue, because I feel comfortable being there. And then I will like the vibrant greens even better, so fresh, so outstanding. I found myself walking on these loose stony service roads with no clear directions, pine forests, leafy trees, colorful mushrooms, and no one else. Only reminded me of how much I liked it and wanted it.



There were two cultural shocks this summer. Phantom and Twilight. Twilight is the very recent love crush, was only until I saw the cast and now I only wanted to have the book of it instantly so that I read it all. The movie is so much better and amazing than my own original imagination. The film was processed with a color that's almost addictive. Everything, everybody, every expression was unnatural but beautiful, and it's not entirely in dreams. I guess I look hard enough, I should find the woods (like here), I should have expressions, and I should see the people, only hope that they do not drink blood, not the real blood, not the blood of the soul either.