Journals
One of my friends lend me the book "Narcissus and Goldmund". It was a crucial book that led him to his spiritual path and ultimately converted him into an Orthodox Jew.
For those who are unfamiliar with this work by Hermann Hesse, it's a story about two monks who befriended each other, and the author took us into an introspective journey into their lives.
Each of them represent a philosophy in life. Narcissus represents the cerebral, control, and introspection. Goldmund represents the freedom, sensual, and emotional elements in life.
After reading the book, I realized that I went through several stages in my life already. For the first part, as an adolescent, I related most closely to Narcissus. I was a studious student and devoted all of my effort in discipline and study. The second part of my life, which started around my college years, I gave myself to indulgence. This phase did not fully realize itself until I was training to become a doctor in residency. I played games with things and people, and I didn't feel fully alive until then.
Finally, I became an artist. This is when I can most closely relate to Goldmund. I feel the fervor of creation, and it often boiled my blood during one of the creative frenzies that I engage in when I design a level for games.
Now I feel that I embody both elements--Narcissus and Goldmund. It's the only way to fully live life. I am finally at ease about my identity when I am able to embrace both aspects of life.
For those who are unfamiliar with this work by Hermann Hesse, it's a story about two monks who befriended each other, and the author took us into an introspective journey into their lives.
Each of them represent a philosophy in life. Narcissus represents the cerebral, control, and introspection. Goldmund represents the freedom, sensual, and emotional elements in life.
After reading the book, I realized that I went through several stages in my life already. For the first part, as an adolescent, I related most closely to Narcissus. I was a studious student and devoted all of my effort in discipline and study. The second part of my life, which started around my college years, I gave myself to indulgence. This phase did not fully realize itself until I was training to become a doctor in residency. I played games with things and people, and I didn't feel fully alive until then.
Finally, I became an artist. This is when I can most closely relate to Goldmund. I feel the fervor of creation, and it often boiled my blood during one of the creative frenzies that I engage in when I design a level for games.
Now I feel that I embody both elements--Narcissus and Goldmund. It's the only way to fully live life. I am finally at ease about my identity when I am able to embrace both aspects of life.
My son has a new pet.
I translated my grandmother's biography from Chinese to English last night:
A Brief Biography of Chang Yu-Ming Yuan
Mrs. Chang Yu-Ming Yuan was born on July 24th, 1919 in the district of Yong Nan, in the city of Wu Hu, in the province of An Hui. She was the third child in the family. Both of her older brothers died from measles, so her mother went back to her hometown and the entire family focused their attention on her during the birth and postnatal period. Being the center of attention of her doting family, she thrived and grew up to be a healthy child. She had three younger brother and two younger sisters.
Her maternal grandfather was a high-ranking official in the court, and her grandmother was the matriarch of a large and prominent family. Influenced by the compassion and fairness of her grandmother's attitude, the family became a role model household.
As she grew older, she returned to her parents, who owned the Heng Tai Sheng bakery with seven satellite stores in town. She learned respect for the elders in this large family.
She demonstrated her quick wit and physical fitness early in her academic career. She was the girl scout leader in high school. She was the foundation of the human pyramid during the scout convention, and she also carried the heavy camping equipment for her troop. Such tough training during the school years allowed her to tolerate the difficulties of the war-torn China.
When the Japanese invaded, she left her hometown with her cousins and became refugees. As she parted with her grief-stricken mother, she comforted her mother by saying "I will study hard, and I will return to take care of you." Her mother told her "Wherever you go, you must treat everyone with respect. When people praise your character, I would feel comforted."
Unexpectedly, this farewell was forever. She never saw her mother again. Her mother's parting words became her mantra. She excelled academically and later received her degree in education.
As the war continued, General Sun Li Ren recruited her to become the teacher for the troop's family. It was there where she met her future husband, Mr. Yuan Zi Lin, who was the general's personal secretary. They were married on March 10th, 1941 in the city of Dou Yun. The general himself officiated the wedding.
Beside teaching, she handled all the house chores. As the battle front swept through the city of Kung Ming, Cheng Dou, Chang Chun, and Song Hua Jian, she migrated with her family cross country, until the family moved to Taiwan in the winter of 1947.
To better focus on parenting her four children, she quit her job as a teacher. A few years later, she gave birth to two more daughters. The hectic family life was made harder by the harsh living condition of early Taiwan. Life without refrigeration and natural gas for cooking meant waking up before dawn to prepare the day's meals for the entire family. While taking care of the infants, dropping off older children at school, and shopping for groceries, she never complained and she raised her children into successful adults.
In 1985, she immigrated to the United States to be with her children, most of whom already reside in Southern California. Her favorite job was taking care of her grandchildren. Her greatest reward was seeing her grandchildren becoming adults and starting their own families.
Even in her senior years, her drive for self-improvement continued to motivate her. Despite her advanced age, her memory remained sharp. In 2004, when she was already 85 years old, she passed the citizenship exam and became an American citizen.
In her golden years, she continued to have a busy social life at her senior apartment complex. She attended Christian fellowship twice a week, and she helped countless new immigrants to ease their transition into their new country.
She returned to God's embrace on May 10th, 2009, Mother's Day. She awaits another family reunion and enjoys eternal bliss.
A Brief Biography of Chang Yu-Ming Yuan
Mrs. Chang Yu-Ming Yuan was born on July 24th, 1919 in the district of Yong Nan, in the city of Wu Hu, in the province of An Hui. She was the third child in the family. Both of her older brothers died from measles, so her mother went back to her hometown and the entire family focused their attention on her during the birth and postnatal period. Being the center of attention of her doting family, she thrived and grew up to be a healthy child. She had three younger brother and two younger sisters.
Her maternal grandfather was a high-ranking official in the court, and her grandmother was the matriarch of a large and prominent family. Influenced by the compassion and fairness of her grandmother's attitude, the family became a role model household.
As she grew older, she returned to her parents, who owned the Heng Tai Sheng bakery with seven satellite stores in town. She learned respect for the elders in this large family.
She demonstrated her quick wit and physical fitness early in her academic career. She was the girl scout leader in high school. She was the foundation of the human pyramid during the scout convention, and she also carried the heavy camping equipment for her troop. Such tough training during the school years allowed her to tolerate the difficulties of the war-torn China.
When the Japanese invaded, she left her hometown with her cousins and became refugees. As she parted with her grief-stricken mother, she comforted her mother by saying "I will study hard, and I will return to take care of you." Her mother told her "Wherever you go, you must treat everyone with respect. When people praise your character, I would feel comforted."
Unexpectedly, this farewell was forever. She never saw her mother again. Her mother's parting words became her mantra. She excelled academically and later received her degree in education.
As the war continued, General Sun Li Ren recruited her to become the teacher for the troop's family. It was there where she met her future husband, Mr. Yuan Zi Lin, who was the general's personal secretary. They were married on March 10th, 1941 in the city of Dou Yun. The general himself officiated the wedding.
Beside teaching, she handled all the house chores. As the battle front swept through the city of Kung Ming, Cheng Dou, Chang Chun, and Song Hua Jian, she migrated with her family cross country, until the family moved to Taiwan in the winter of 1947.
To better focus on parenting her four children, she quit her job as a teacher. A few years later, she gave birth to two more daughters. The hectic family life was made harder by the harsh living condition of early Taiwan. Life without refrigeration and natural gas for cooking meant waking up before dawn to prepare the day's meals for the entire family. While taking care of the infants, dropping off older children at school, and shopping for groceries, she never complained and she raised her children into successful adults.
In 1985, she immigrated to the United States to be with her children, most of whom already reside in Southern California. Her favorite job was taking care of her grandchildren. Her greatest reward was seeing her grandchildren becoming adults and starting their own families.
Even in her senior years, her drive for self-improvement continued to motivate her. Despite her advanced age, her memory remained sharp. In 2004, when she was already 85 years old, she passed the citizenship exam and became an American citizen.
In her golden years, she continued to have a busy social life at her senior apartment complex. She attended Christian fellowship twice a week, and she helped countless new immigrants to ease their transition into their new country.
She returned to God's embrace on May 10th, 2009, Mother's Day. She awaits another family reunion and enjoys eternal bliss.
My son was accepted by the University daycare.
His first school teachers will be professors in child education and development.
The goal is that he'll be reading before age three.
His first school teachers will be professors in child education and development.
The goal is that he'll be reading before age three.
Topical treatment with fluoroquinolone drops (eg, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin) has been found to be as effective as systemic therapy for perforated otitis media.
My son already recognizes all the main characters in Half-Life 2.
He was playing with my game boxes the other day, and when he found the Half-Life 2 one, he pointed to it and said "Alyx".
He was playing with my game boxes the other day, and when he found the Half-Life 2 one, he pointed to it and said "Alyx".
My son pwns a headcrab.
I set up my old computer for my son this afternoon. I was teaching him how to type.
Eventually, it'll be his computer exclusively, and he'll learn how to play simple games on the computer and learn how to use the mouse and write his first novel.
I wrote my first book on that computer.
Eventually, it'll be his computer exclusively, and he'll learn how to play simple games on the computer and learn how to use the mouse and write his first novel.
I wrote my first book on that computer.
My cousin is visiting from New York.
He's a lawyer, and his work is busy, so I see him about once every ten years.
He's staying with us, and I found out last night that he plays Half-Life 2 also. I watched him play my single-player maps for the first time.
It was one of those things I've been waiting for all my life--to watch someone who had already played Half-Life 2 to play my map for the first time. I get to see his reaction as he tried to avoid my traps.
I've been waiting all my life for this moment, and it happened so unexpectedly. I had no idea that he is a gamer before.
The best things in life are unexpected.
He's a lawyer, and his work is busy, so I see him about once every ten years.
He's staying with us, and I found out last night that he plays Half-Life 2 also. I watched him play my single-player maps for the first time.
It was one of those things I've been waiting for all my life--to watch someone who had already played Half-Life 2 to play my map for the first time. I get to see his reaction as he tried to avoid my traps.
I've been waiting all my life for this moment, and it happened so unexpectedly. I had no idea that he is a gamer before.
The best things in life are unexpected.
We went to several open houses for daycare centers this morning.
There's this one that's very tough to get in. The application process is almost like getting into an university. My wife and I dressed up in our best business attire to the interview.
There's this one that's very tough to get in. The application process is almost like getting into an university. My wife and I dressed up in our best business attire to the interview.
My son is learning how to read.
Had a really busy on-call night last night.
I worked for 30 hours straight, and I am pretty damn tired now.
I even missed breakfast this morning because I was rounding on the patients.
Just have to wait for lunch then.
I worked for 30 hours straight, and I am pretty damn tired now.
I even missed breakfast this morning because I was rounding on the patients.
Just have to wait for lunch then.
My son's first typed document:
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A mother brings in her 4-year-old boy because she is concerned about his increasing clumsiness. He has been previously healthy and achieved developmental milestones on time. His growth parameters are normal. On physical examination, his mental status is normal, as are results of cranial nerve and sensory examinations and reflexes. However, he cannot rise from the floor without using his hands, and his running looks clumsy.
Of the following, the MOST appropriate next test to assess the cause of this child's symptoms is
electromyography
lumbar puncture
measurement of serum creatine kinase
muscle biopsy
spine magnetic resonance imaging
Of the following, the MOST appropriate next test to assess the cause of this child's symptoms is
electromyography
lumbar puncture
measurement of serum creatine kinase
muscle biopsy
spine magnetic resonance imaging