Half Way Done

I woke up at 6:00, but didn't get up until 7:10, I still coughed a lot last night, but I am feeling much better.

The dental appointment was at 9:15.  

Exercise

I didn't get up until 7:45 this morning. I still had a sore throat and coughed a lot last night. As soon as I got up, I had a bag of antitussive syrup I brought back from Seoul Korea last December. My Korean gave me a box of 20 strawberry flavored syup bags as a gift. Just about I wonder when I'm going to use them, I had a cough at the right time. I shall take a bag twice a day until I get well, and give away the rest of them to my Korean language teacher.

From 8:15 till 9:00 this morning, a Japanese conversation class was held. Everyone took turns reading useful sentence patterns. The homework would be uploading the recording of self made sentences.

From 10:30 till 11:00, the topic of 623 online English conversation class for today is about the Exercise. There are many aspects of exercise, both physical and mental. Sound mind, sound body, and vice versa. Going to the fitness center regularly not only builds muscle strength, but also stimulates the cardiovascular blood circulation, provides energy to the brain. Exercise is something we can't do without to live a healthy life.

Health is a journey. This journey is fluid and everchanging. Health changes, morphs, and adjusts, but it does not end. It is to live our life to the greatest and fullest way possible. Keep in mind to always move toward to improve the quality of life.

From 1:30 till 3:30 in the afternoon, we had fun playing many games at the Wheatland Care Center, including hand marking the individual Vision Board, the guessing of Ah expressions, Karaoke, and aerobic dancing.

I took a long nap from 4:30 till 6:30, because I felt tired, maybe due to my cough. But my body temperature remained the same.

After dinner, I watched Standford Executive Briefings No. 7 Skills, Techniques and Strategies for Effective Negotiations. It is very challenging to be a mediator.

I printed out the authorization letter from relatives in China. Brother Jimmy and I will go to the XinDian Court to get the power of attorney.

Kelly's Partea Room

I got up at 6:30 this morning in a fantastic mood, I didn't wake up throughout the night. I moved away a shoe storage rack yesterday afternoon, to make more room for my bed at night in the living room. 

To my surprise I found many missing clothes, shoes, bottles, little items, such as earphones, in the hidden junks beneath the shoe rack. Things I could have worn out iron shoes, to search high and low with no success, appeared right in front of my eyes. I don't have to go to the flea market, my home is like one to enjoy the fun treasure hunting game.

I left home at 10:30 for a lunch appointment at an English tea house--Kelly's Partea Room near MRT Qilian Station. I arrived 30 minutes in advance, walked in the lush neighborhood. There were benches in a small hilly park right in front of the tea house. As the tea house didn't open till 12 noon, I enjoyed sitting on the bench reading books under big tall Madagascar Almond trees waiting for my friends.

The hostess is an authentic English tea specialist. She used to study with the tea house owner how to make English tea traditionally and professionally. We started lunch with vegetables and fruits salad and spicy Chinese dumplings, followed by various afternoon tea, Darjeeling spring tea, flower tea, and Masala milk tea. In the quite and beautiful tea house reserved for three of us only, we learned the art of English, how to hold the tea cup, how to eat the English scoons with jam and cream. We talked for four hours till 4:30 in the afternoon.

From 9:15 till 10 o'clock in the evening, we had an online Toastmaster magazine reading about how to pick up a speech topic. https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2023/apr/back-to-the-basics-speech-topics

I highly recommend the video made for the Toastmasters International by Ramona J. Smith 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking made, How to Pick a Captivating Speech Topic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw2TZv56qO4&t=10s

Podcast on YouTube

I got up at 6:30 this morning feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. I only woke up once to use the toilet last night, thinking of making more room in the living room by moving some junks to the roof floor. Danshari is a Japanese way to optimize the things at home,  Dan (refuse), sha (dispose) and ri (separate) to minimise the belongings. 

People can danshari everything, but exercise and sleep. Adequate exercise and quality sleep are so important that we can't do without. Exercise improves brain function and plasticity. Sleep is an effective way to rest. During deep sleep stages, glucose metabolism increases supporting both short term and long term memory. Human growth hormones are secreted leading to growth and development of the whole body. Energy is restored and mood is boosted. Blood supply to nerves increases. Cell regeneration takes place, so does repair of heart, blood vessels, tissues, muscles and bones. Immune system gets strengthened. Blood sugar gets controlled.

I browsed the entire "The Diary of a CEO" as fast as I could till 9:30. I agreed all 33 laws the author mentioned, and the last but the least 33th law, learning never ends. After reading the book, I wish I could apply some laws in life to become a better CEO of myself. 

I rode my bike to meet up with Brother Jimmy at the XinDian Sports Center at 10 o'clock. We exercised for one and a half hours. Brother Jimmy went back to Xindian to rest at home by bus. Brother Jimmy told me that he was happy with a walking cane in hand, people gave away seat on the bus immediately to an old man with gray hair and a walking cane.

On my way back home, I encountered the downpour all of a sudden. I took the opportunity to walk in Rock Pizza for lunch for the first time. After lunch, I went to JingXin Library to return books and DVDs. I read a few newly arrived fashion magazines before I rode my bike home in the rain.

In the afternoon, I watched a TED talk by Catherine Price about happiness. The secret to happiness is just to have more everyday momens of fun. Feeling fun makes us healthier. Having fun fills life with playfulness, connections, and flow of energy.

At 5 o'clock, I took off the teeth alignment to record the NHK news to share with Monday NHK Japanese news reading group. In the begining, I recorded the news with the alignment on, but it was hard to articulate. When I took off the teeth alignment, I felt more at ease reading the news.  The more I read the news, the better result I achieved in terms of pronunciation and intonation. Maybe I could have a new career as a YouTube podcaster? From a CED to a SEO? Just joking! 

In the late afternoon, I didn't take a nap as usual, as I didn't sleep tight last night, I decided not to take a late afternoon nap, in order to sleep through the entire night.

After dinner, I watched Japanese and Korean language podcasts for two hours. Learning, speaking, and thinking in foreign languages made my day of happiness. 

I felt a little sore throat in the evening, maybe I caught cold in the rain in the afternoon. But I didn't drink too much water, because I didn't want to wake up to go to the toilet. 

From Age 60

I got up at 7:30 this morning, woke up twice at night, and went to the toilet once. I got up late, because I slept on my comfortable queen size bed. I think sleeping in the living room is a better option for me, to sleep the entire night, and to get up early. 

It was sunny and bright outside. According to the weather broadcast, it rains throughout the whole week. It is not bad if it rains in the afternoons, to cool down the temperature in the evenings.

From 8:30 till 9:30, the online Japanese reading group takes turns reading the news about the importance of team forming with family and friends to avoid being ripped off the saving and property by scammers and fraudsters. It is easy for senior citizens to become victims of money cheating. The Japanese government has recently published a pamphlet to guide people above age 60 how to form a team before their cognitive abilities deteriorate. A team with family and friends is necessary and urgent to protect personal belongings and properties. 

https://rcfg.keio.ac.jp/pahahul/2025/03/Building_a_team_from_age_60.pdf

Three Korean language group members met for lunch at a restaurant near WanFeng Hospital at 11:30. I had fried pork chop and three side dishes for NT$105 dollars. I didn't order the most popular tomato fried rice with fried pork chop, because I didn't want to have too much rice. After lunch, we walked to WenShan Sports Center and I had a big glass of ice latte at Ikari Cafe'. We studied the Korean language for one and a half hours from 12:30 noon till 2 o'clock. Then I went up to the fitness center on the 2nd floor to exercise for one and a half hours.

Comparing with DaAn, I became more fond of WenShan Sports Center for several reasons. Firstly, the female rest area at WenShan is much bigger and brighter. There are tables, chairs, hair dryers. and free WiFi. I felt more at ease taking a break during exercise routines. Secondly, Ikari Cafe' is on the first floor where I can read and write, and mingle with friends. Thirdly, on my way back to XinDian by Bus Green 2, I stopped by the Kingstone Bookstore to read a few new books on the shelves with light background music in the air. There are many empty tables and chairs and not many people in late weekday afternoons. It's a perfect retreat for me.

After dinner, I read "The Diary of a CEO--the 33 laws of Business and Life" by Steven Bartlett on my huge CEO desk.

Law 1: Fill Your Five Buckets in the Right Order, Knowledge, Skills, Network, Resources, Reputation

Law 2: To Master It, You Must Create An Obligation to Teach It

Law 3: You Must Never Disagree

Glamair Korean Restaurant

I didn't get up till 7:45, obviously I slept better on my queen size bed in my bed room. I don't mind sleeping in the living room during the weekdays to feel the freedom. On weekends, no BBC broadcasing is available on the radio. I can use my bedroom without being disturbed by the news.

Talking about the news, I just couldn't help googling the controversial news about US military parade President Trump has long wanted on his 79th birthday. He saw his command of the military as a sign of his strength. He no doubt is the most powerful person in the world. But he can't solve the ongoing and upcoming wars at places on earth. Who knows what the future holds for him and the mankind?

At 12 noon, I had lunch with Jane, a NTNU Mandarin speaking Toastmaster member, at Korean Restaurant Glamair near MRT DaPinLing station. Jane told me her wedding news, and we shared ideas about her coming wedding events both in Vietnam in March and in Taiwan in April. 

At Glamair, the side dishes are free and all you can eat. The minimum charge is NT$350 per person. We spent a total of NT$900 for spicy doboki, japchae noodles, and steamed egg with mentaiko cheese. After lunch, we walked across the street to Starbucks. 

I ordered white chocolate macadamia cream cold brew plus flavoured pearls, Jane ordered raspberry-flavoured boba pearls. The Starbucks summer boba refresher drinks 2025 were good. My sweet and nutty cold brew was good till the last drop. To my surprise, the cafe' was packed with people, singles, friends, families.

We took Bus 909 to DaAn Sports Center to exercise for one hour. It was the first time Jane used the fitness center. Today I only collected 8 tomatos on the treadmill because Jane felt too warm in the fitness center. We went to HoPing Senior High School bus station together.  She took Bus 275 home. And I took Bus 909 back to XinDian. I took a nap immediately after I arrived home.

In the evening, I tried steaming cabbage and sliced pork belly for dinner for the first time. I think steamed dishes are healthy. 

Ten Tomatos A Day

I got up at 6:45 this morning, a little late than yesterday, because I didn't fall asleep immediately after I took the shower. I laid in bed thinking how much coffee I'd drunken at the afternoon party yesterday. Then I fell asleep without waking up till this morning.

I took Bus 909 to DaAn Sports Center to exercise after breakfast. On weekends, I prefer the sports center in the morning, because the only free time slot for seniors is in the morning, the bus is not packed, and the traffic is not bad. 

While waiting at DaFeng Bus Station, I saw a small swallow hatching the eggs . I wonder if it is the same swallow which gave birth to 4 chicks last month. I am expecting to see another few chicks in two weeks. Swallows often produce two clutches per year, with a clutch size of 3-5 eggs.

Statistics show that the hatching success of baron swallows is 90% and the fledging survival rate is 70~90%. Average mortality is 70~80% in the first year and 40~70% for the adult. Although the record age is more than 11 years, most survive less than four years.

Arriving at DaAn Sports Center at 8:20, I walked into the fitness center full of people, young and old, men and women. As most equipments were occupied, I picked up two dumb bells of 2 Kgs to do the weight training. In no time, I found my favorite equipment was empty, I grabbed it and exercised for a couple of minutes.

When I spotted an empty treadmill, I jumped on it. I practiced Pomodoro method on treadmill for the first time. I set the slope at 6 and speed at 4.3, I did slow jogging for 25 calories and fast walking for 5 calories, I increase the speed to 4.5 after 3 tomatos, and 5.0 after 6 tomotos. I finished 9 tomatos for 3.2 Kilometers for 40 minutes. My goal is 10 tomatos a day, losing 300 calories on each run.

From 11:00 till 12:00, I watched Stanford Executive Briefings No. 2 “How Great Companies Achieve extraordinary Results with Ordinary People" by Charles O'Reilly III. While listening to the one-hour lecture, I thought of the management of the residents in Wugu. Is there a chance to motivate Brother Jimmy and mental ill residents to build a team, to make WuGu a better place to live, to learn, and to share.  

After lunch, I took a nap for 30 minutes, rode my bike to the Eslite Bookstore on the 4th floor of Yes Life Shopping Mall. It was my lucky day, the founder's corner was not occupied. And I stayed there for two and a half hours reading, writing, and thinking. While I was reading, I received a line message from a female resident at WuGu informing me that Brother Jimmy went back to XinDian. I lined Brother Jimmy instantly if he would have dinner with me. It is beneficial to make friends with a few residents at WuGu, I could be updated about Brother Jimmy around the clock.

At four o'clock, I went to Carrefour to spend my credit card points. Carrefour was packed with shoppers on weekend. There were stalls for customers to sampl the products, from beer to kimchi, just to name a couple. At first, I only tasted the alcoholic drinks because I wore my teeth alighments. Walking down the aisle, I couldn't help trying everything available. I was almost half full when I left the Carrefour.

In the evening, I watched the Snowpiercer (설국열차), a 2013 post-apocalyptic action thriller film based on the French climate fiction graphic novel Le Transperceneige. The film was directed by Bong Joon Ho, marks Bong's English-language debut, almost 85% of the film's dialogue is in English. The SnowPiercer train carries the last remnants of humanity after a failed attempt at climate engineering to stop global warming has created a new Snowball Earth. The lower-class tail-section passengers rebel against the elite of the front of the train.

The DVD stopped in the middle of the movie, so did I stop watching it, because it's too violent. Hopefully I won't have a nightmare!

Golden Ladies Reunion

I got up at 6:30 this morning. Sunny and bright outside. I had a sound 8 hours sleep in the living room last night, from 10:30 in the evening till 6:30 in the morning without waking up inbetween. After taking a hot shower late yesterday evening, I couldn't wait to hit the sack. I fell asleep instantly, in less than 3 minutes. I couldn't have expected more than a good night sleep to end the fruitful day and to start the following day full of excitements.  

I live in a three bed rooms apartment, the living room is bigger than the main bedroom. I love my living room, its about the same size of my penthouse in downtown Taipei. With a handy backup room, I am like a crafty rabbit with three burrows.

I took Bus 918 and Bus 99 to XinChuang Sports Center to meet up with Brother Jimmy and fellow residents from WuGu. We used the fitness center from 10:00 till 10:45, and the swimming pool from 10:45 till 11:30. After lunch, Brother Jimmy went to New Taipei Hospital for rehabilitation, and I came home and took a nap until 2 o'clock.

I arrived at the Golden Ladies Reunion held at Lydia's mansion before 3 o'clock. Lydia reserved the downstair basement lounge and prepared a full table of fruits (lychees and grapes), desserts (cookies and macaroons), Japanese rice wine, freshly brewed coffee and steamed milk. Seven of us enjoyed a sumptuous afternoon chitchat full of laughter for two hours. I talked mainly about my teeth alignment, and I am so looking forward to my perfect teeth alignment at the end of year 2025. And I can smile heartily as I wish.

Five stayed behind for dinner at a Hakka restaurant in the neighborhood for another two hours about health, food, and exercise. I took the bus back to XinDian, on my way home, I stopped by the JingXin Library to pick up books and DVDs I requested a few days ago.

In the evening, I watched Stanford Executive Briefings No.1 “The Power of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini”, explaining the principals, 

1. Reciprocity:People are more likely to give back when they’ve received something first.

2. Scarcity:People fear loss and desire what’s limited.

3. Authority:People respect experts and those in authority.

4. Commitment and consistency:People like to stay consistent with their commitments, even small ones.

5. Consensus: the power of the crowd

6. Liking:People prefer to say yes to those they like.

All principals are important to all cultures, but the ranking of the importance of principals varies from culture to culture, from contry to country.

There are 8 DVDs of Stanford Executive Briefings, each one lasts for one hour. It looks like I shall be busy watching the DVDs till the end of June. The informative Stanford Executive Briefings were old, but the information is still as valuable.

A Room of One's Own

I got up at 6:30 this morning. It was the second night I slept in the living room. I felt like a college student full of spirit and freedom. The living room is the main place I spend my day. Like Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own", I want to make my living room a cozy and comfortable place for me to think, to write, to rest, and to connect with the world.

Besides cooking in the kitchen, eating in the dining room, I sit on my huge CEO desk in the living room most of the time, reading, writing, teaching, learning, watching DVDs. I need to get rid of most of the junks in the living room, mainly volumes of old dusty books.

From 8:15 till 9:00, we read the NHK easy Japanese news online about the Dogo Onsen in Eime Prefecture. In early June, Matasu Yama City officials decorated the Dogo Onsen with Sudare woven from reed with simple strings. Sudare are traditional Japanese screens or blinds, can be either rolled or folded up out of the way. Sudare are used in many Japanese homes to shield the verandah and other openings of the building from sunlight, rain, and insects. They are normally put up in spring and taken down again in autumn. The light structure allows breezes to pass through, a benefit in the hot Japanese summers. 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/ne2025060312172/ne2025060312172.html

I like hot spings. I usually go to Wulai onsen on cold rainy winter days. When in Japan, I usually take the opportunity to visit onsen area. I have been to a many famous onsens all over Japan. 

https://goconnect.jp/2024/08/30/nihonsanmeisen-the-most-prestigious-hot-springs-in-japan/

At 10:15, I received a line call from WuGu Director that Jimmy behaved a little strange, and stayed in bed the whole morning. He seemed to have something on his mind. I told the Director that maybe Jimmy felt depressed because he talked too much of the family matters with me yesterday. I am sure he would be okay soon. Like most people with schizophrenia, Brother Jimmy has drastic ups and downs. When he has hard time controlling his emotions, he tends to hide himself in his fantacy world. Brother Jimmy has low self esteem, and becomes sensitive and denfensive when he is compared with others. 

Brother Jimmy told me that he contacted the young relative in a huge debt in Beijing before the online visual meeting last Saturday afternoon. He received a very condescending message from the young relative graduated from the Department of Computer Science, Beijing University. And Brother Jimmy was so upset that he refused to sign the power of attorney.

From 10:30 till 11:00, the Taipei Medical University 623 classmates had an online English conversation on Health. We shared about how to stay healthy by leading a good life.

After lunch, I took a nap from 12:30 till 13:00. In the rain, I rode my bicycle with my raincoat on to the Wheatland Center at 1:30. I tried the Pomodoro method to divide the two hours class into 4 tomato sessions, including free talk session, hands on art work, karaoke, slow jogging. It was quite successful.

At 4:30, I received an instant photo of Brother Jimmy riding the indoors bicycle. The photo was taken by WuGu Director. It was very nice of her to update me of Brother Jimmy. It would be wonderful if Brother Jimmy could lead an exercise team at WuGu to help himself by helping others.

    

One Fine Morning

I got up at 6:30 this morning, I slept on the floor in the living room last night. My living room was packed with books, clothes, shoes, bags, plus a lot of junks. I need to throw away many "garbages" to make room for a better and simpler life.

Brother Jimmy and I met at the XinDian Sports Center at 8:20 We went to the swimming pool jam packed with senior citizens till 9:30. We chatted at the Family Mart on the 3rd floor for an hour. Brother Jimmy told me a lot of sad family stories. He complained a lot about family members fighting over the real estate property. I think most people in China are just too poor to be decent.

There is a saying, people would die in pursuit of wealth, just like birds would die in pursuit for food. When I was young, I was lucky to be able to study and work hard so that I can enjoy the financial freedom now. I am so happy that I don't have kids to worry about. It is a pity that many young people can't make ends meet and rely on their parents. In the end, they miss the precious opportunity to become independent.

From 10:45 till 11:45, Brother Jimmy and I used the fitness center for an hour. It reminded me of our good old morning routines at XinDian Sports Center last year. After lunch, Brother Jimmy took Bus 918 to New Taipei Hospital for rehabilitation, I rode my bike back home and took a nap for 30 minutes. I reported the fine morning activities with Brother Jimmy to WuGu Director. 

Brother Jimmy didn't use the cane today, he said that it's too troublesome. I think the good practice of riding the indoors bicyble twice a day at WuGu helps him boost his physical strength. So long as Brother Jimmy builds a good habit of doing exercise, controlling the diet, and taking medication, he should be able to live a quality life for at least another five years.

I watched a few English and Korean podcasts on YouTube till 4:30. It has been more than 3 hours (12 tomatoes) since I sat before my desktop. I took a walk in the neighborhood for an hour and met a  Hakka neighbot on the street. She told me that she would visit ShanDong China next week for 9 days at a cost of NT$39,999.

After dinner, I read a book "Happier at Home" by Gretchen Rubin. I agree two things are important in life, health and happiness. I do exercise to keep me healthy and I follow my heart to help people around me, which in return makes me happy.

In the evening, from 9:15 till 10:00, four members read online "How to Persuade People--Use these techniques to gain business and add club members" from Toastmaster Magazine June 2025. 

Robert Cialdini, in his 1984 book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, identifies seven key principles:

• Liking:

  People prefer to say yes to those they like.

• Social proof:

  People are influenced by others’ opinions.

• Authority:

  People respect experts and those in authority.

• Reciprocity:

  People are more likely to give back when they’ve received something first.

• Scarcity:

  People fear loss and desire what’s limited.

• Commitment and consistency:

  People like to stay consistent with their commitments, even small ones.

• Unity:

  People are motivated by shared identities and values.

https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2025/june/how-to-persuade-people

I borrowed the book by Robert Cialdini from JingXin Library, and read it with interest. Eeading is good to expand the horizon in life.

Twelfth Invisalign Set

I got up at 7:30 this morning. The weather was bright and sunny. I felt refreshed and happy, because I had a sound sleep last night. 

I put on the 12th Invisalign set at 9:30 yesterday evening. After dinner, I brushed my teeth, but I didn't put on my teeth alignments immediately. Upon the request of one student of Monday Japanese class, I recorded NHK Japanese news reading without teeth alighments on from 8:00 till 9:30. I couldn't notice the recording differences with or without teeth alignments on. As I am used to speaking and talking with my teeth alignment on. 

I am happy that I am half way done with my teeth alighment. There are a total of  25 Invisaligh sets. I should be able to complete the teeth alignment before the end of 2025. It's a big achievement to be have teeth aligned within one year! I am proud of myself!

I didn't do much this morning. I bought some vegetables from a vendor on JiangGuo Road. I watched a few Japanese podcast episodes on YouTube. From one episode, I learned the Pomodoro Technique, a popular time management method (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato. 🍅) 

The Pomodoro Technique helps people focus on work during 25-minute intervals and take a five-minute break. The method improves focus, minimizes distractions, prevents burnout, promotes accountability, boosts motivation. It’s easier to commit to 25 minutes of work at a time than a whole afternoon of non-stop work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1BvrkPF2LE

After lunch, I took a nap for 20 minutes, and took Bus 909 to DaAn Sports Center. While waiting at the DaFeng bus station, I noticed that the swallow is hatching again for the second time. I google the information on swallows reproduction, and knew that they reproduce twice a year, from May through June, and from June through July.

As soon as I arrived at DaAn fitness center, I jumped on a vacant treadmill immediately. I tried the pomodoro method today. In stead of running non-stop on the treadmill for 40 minutes. I divided the running process into two intervals of 25 minutes as well as the weight lifting process. I exercised more than one and a half hours today. 

I took Bus 650 to JingXin Library to request a few books online. Then I took Green 13 to DaFeng Road. I went to the Carrefour, and used my credit card points to buy a bottle of sesame dressing. I arrived home at 5:30. No sooner than later, I took a nap for 30 minutes.

At night, I watched "One Fine Morning (French: Un beau Matin)" a 2022 romantic film about a former philosophy teacher who has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease called Benson's syndrome, which affects the cognitive abilities and sight. He was placed in a nursing home for the full-time care. His apartment is packed with books. A note was found about his declining health, along with other notebooks identified as a rough manuscript of an autobiography with a title written in German: "An einem schönen Morgen" (lit. on a fine morning).

While I saw the movie, I can't help but thinking of ailing Brother Jimmy, I don't know how long I can keep his company. But everyday begins with one fine morning.