Spring Wine Party 2012

Grand Toastmasters Club President Gina Cheng hosted a Spring Wine Party for club members and friends at her sweet home today. I brought along the star fruit wine I made in Po-tzu last year! Despite the heated Makiyo's news about her drunken assault of a taxi driver, we had a great drinking gathering, singing Drinking Song of the Student Prince. In total, we drank four bottles of wine, one bottle of homemade star fruit wine (2011), two bottles of El Lagar De Isilla (2010) contributed by Jimmy Chang, one bottle of Dornfelder (2009) contributed by Erin Ke.

Like always, Gina prepared a full table of delicious dishes. She knew the best way to retain her members by seizing their stomachs. Victor brought his small guitar and we sang along with him. The happy drinking and singing Spring Wine Party didn't end till 3PM.

Drink, Drink, Drink(Drinking Song) Mario Lanza

Eins zwei drei vier Nip your stein and drink your beer
Eins zwei drei vier Nip your stein and drink your beer

Drink! Drink! Drink!
To eyes that are bright as stars when they're shining on me!
Drink! Drink! Drink!
To lips that are red and sweet as the fruit on the tree!

Here's a hope that those bright eyes will shine
Lovingly, longingly soon into mine!
May those lips that are red and sweet,
Tonight with joy my own lips meet!

On my way to Gina's home, my scotter was out of order. I had to stop by a motorcycle shop to have it fixed. The rubber band circulating the engine was hardened and broken. Fortunately, I could borrow another scotter to get to Gina's place in time. After the party, my scotter was ready to take me home. What a lucky me today!

Today is the National Hakka Day, the 20th day of the first month of year of dragon, lunar calendar. It's called the Mend the Heaven Day (天穿日) by Hakka people.

After God Panggu created Heaven and Earth, Goddess Nuuwa undertook the affairs on earth to make it prosperous. On the first day, she created chickens; on the second day, dogs; the third day, goats; on the fourth day, pigs; on the fifth day, oxen; and on the sixth day, she created horses. On the seventh day, using yellow dirt and water, Nuuwa made clay figures in her own image. She made many living beings that we now call humans.

But the good life did not last for long. One day, God Water and God Fire had a fight. God Water lost and hit Mt. Bu-chou, the pillar to support Heaven. Heaven suddenly collapsed and the Earth cracked open. Nuuwa was so pained by the suffering of the human beings that she ment the broken heavens in seven days and seven nights. Heaven and Earth were good again, and life for human beings returned to peace and harmony.