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.

Sunny Monday

What a sunny day it was this morning! I cleaned the bedroom after I got up. Just about I was ready to throw the blankets in the washing machine, my husband suggested we do the laudry after the plum rain season.

The online Japanese reading group started from 8:30 till 9:30. We read the recent news about the introduction of remote interpretation serice for foreigners by the Japanese police station. In a globalized world now, foreigners can be found in any country.

We learned a popular Japanese song of "A Foreigner" by Kubota Saki in 1979, the year I left Taiwan for the graduate school of Louisina State University Medical Center in New Orleans. A Foreigner is full of exotic scenes and melodies. 

I wired NT$20,000 to my tenant for the interior renovation. I don't mind spending NT$185,500 dollars in total for fixing the roof and curtains, I am in a way grateful that someone can take care of my penthouse downtown Taipei.

Before noon, I rode my bike to my Korean teacher's place. We had cold noodles and red wine for lunch. We had cheese cake and coffee after lunch, sang a few Korean songs, conversed in Korean for 30 minutes. I rode the bike to WenShan Sports Center to exercise for one hour and a half. In the downpour, I rode my bike back to XinDian with my raincoat on.

After dinner, I spent two hours recording the Japanese news and drama script.

I have been busy communicating with relatives in Beijing about the inheritance of the old court house recently. More than 30 years ago, I stayed overnight with my cousin at the old court house in the winter.

A Relative with a Huge Debt in China

I received an email from one of the young relatives in Beijing this morning. He listed his huge debt with a dozen banks in China, and a huge amount of money he borrowed from his friends. Now he cannot pay off his financial obligations. He wanted to liquidate the real estate of the family old court house in Beijing and got his share to pay the debt.

Brother Jimmy didn't go back to WuGu last night. After the online family gathering on WeChat at 7 o'clock, he told me he would head back for WuGu. But he was too exhilarated, lingered in the neighborhood, returned home, and stayed overnight without notifying me. 

I had no idea he was sleeping at home, when I went to his place to collect the leftover from the refrigerator this morning. I had no one to blame but myself for being too optimistic about Brother Jimmy's mental condition. Brother Jimmy couldn't copy with any dramatic shock which might in return cause his mental breakdown.

I made an agreement with WuGu accordinly today. Brother Jimmy can only stay at home overnight with my permission. And I will stay with him at home to make sure he takes the medication timely. I don't mind taking the responsibilities, because it is the least I can do for a dear brother with unspecified Schizophrenia.  

Head Start Public Speaking Contest

Recently I have waken up at night, maybe it's related to the feeling of stress. My night sleep is divided into three parts. I fall asleep immediately when I hit the sack. I wake up at midnight, at 2 or 3 o'clock, and stay awake for a while. Then I fall asleep again till I get up in the morning. When I wake up at night, I keep staying in bed, and thinking of many things in life, oftentimes about Brother Jimmy. When I get up in the morning I always feel refreshed and uplifted.

When I was young, I usually slept the entire night without waking up. As I get older, my sleep interval becomes shorter at night. During the day, I usually take a 30 minutes nap after lunch, followed by another late afternoon 30 minutes nap at around 6 o'clock. In the evening, I usually have good energy to read, to study, or to watch youtube after dinner till I go to bed before 11 o'clock. I don't know what most seniors do in their daytime. Do they experience the sleep intervals at night?

This morning, my huband got up earlier to prepare the fresh soybean milk for me. I leaf home at 7:30 to participate in the Head Start Public Speaking Contest as a judge at Taiwan Library in Zhonghe. It takes about 20 minutes to get there by MRT. The contest started from 9:00 sharp. Prior to the start of the contest, a brief orientation was given by the Education Specialist for the Jump Start & Head Start Schools. 

It was a very challenging job to be the judge for 48 speech contestants in the grade school. All of them were eloquent and impressive. At the end of 3 hours speech contest, I felt exhausted and doubted about my ability to judge objectively. I received a stipend of NT$2,100 dollars. It has been a long while since I last got a paid check for an event.

Brother Jimmy and I met up with relatives in Beijing online via WeChat to discuss about the inheritance of the old house in Beijing from 4 till 5 o'clock for one hour. It was the first time we gathered online to discuss about the family matters. I wrote them emails separately and collectively afterwards. 

Brother Jimmy was happy to get involved in the family matter. He showed me six big volumes of family letters collected by my father. I felt so grateful to my father for ducumenting the family story chronologically that I could start to get to know a little bit more about the family history from now. 

It was a long day today, I didn't take any rest, but I felt happy and achieved to be able to do something for the family.

Double Six, Lucky Day

I had an appointment with Brother Jimmy at XinChuang Sports Center at 10 o'clock this morning. I got on Bus 918 before 9 o'clock and transferred to Bus 99 at XinPu Bus Station. I didn't know where XinChuang Sports Center is, so I googled on the internet beforehand, and was advised to get off at the KaiYuan Plaza station. It took me more than 20 minutes to walk to the sports center, as I had no sense of directions. 

Brother Jimmy invited more than a dozen WuGu residents to join the sports event. We enjoyed the jacuzzi and swimming pool till 11:30. There are two swimming pools at the sports center. The standard 50 by 25 meters pool is restricted for qualified swimmers only. The qualification is non-stop swimming for 200 meters. I'm thinking about taking a qualification test in the future.

The jacuzzi at XinChuang has a splendid view over a big floor to ceiling window. It felt great looking at the green trees against the blue sky outside while laying on the jacuzzi bed. It is like having a luxurious vacation at a five star hotel on a tropical island.

At 12 noon, we took the bus back to WuGu. While Brother Jimmy rode the indoor bicycle, I joined the online Zumba and Taichi classes for 30 minutes. It was raining when I got off Bus 918 at CiJi Hospital. I rode my bicycle home and laid flat on my bed till 4:30.

This morning, I took the opportunity to make acquaintance with a few residents. I listened to their stories, happy and sad. An expert swimmer resident told me he used to be a team member of XinChuang Swimming Squad. After a head injury due to the traffic accident, he stayed at WuGu. I also taught two residents how to hold their breath while immersing their heads in the swimmingpool.

I told the Director of WuGu that I could accompany Brother Jimmy and residents to XinChuang Sports Center every Friday. It fun to make friends with people around Brother Jimmy. There is no time like the present. I plan to use both the fitness center and the swimming pool for two hours. As I know where XinChuang Sports Center is now, and I shall get off the bus at Material Testing Center station. It takes less than less than 5 minutes to walk to the center.

Grain in Ear

It's another rainy day, another busy day, the first Thursday of June. According to the Farmers' calendar, today is "Grain in Ear", the ninth of the 24 solar terms, a good day to sow, to take action, and to pray for the good fortune.

Thursdays are usually full of activities. The online basic Japanese with 623 classmates of Taipei Medical University began from 8:15 till 9:00. We practiced singing a famous enka "Like the waters flow in a River" by Misora Hibari. I could memorize the entire lyrics by heart. I watched the video this morning, I felt touched again by the profond meaning of this popular song among Japanese people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuM3xdX3W1Y

I watched an intermediate Japanese podcast, talking about a recent phenomenon. People are less interested in the news. Likewise, I don't like to watch or listen to the news. In the past, my husband and I used to listen to the BBC news before we went to bed. Now I prefer to lay in bed quietly before I fall asleep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5Xz408ix0

From 10:30 till 11:00, another English conversation class with 623 classmates took place online. We talked about hobbies. Rai likes hiking. Her husband likes gardening. Cindy likes traveling. Cindy saw two polar bears walking on the ice searching for food. She also saw an arctic fox family of five when she was in the Arctic. Polar bears are endangered because the number of walrus reduced rapidly due to the climate change. I also enjoy hiking and traveling. I like reading manga and watching anime, too.

After lunch, I took a nap for 30 minutes.  It was raining when I left home with my raincoat on to the Wheatland Center from 1:30 till 3:30. We learned "Go Right Away", a new song by the Energy Group, a debut song at the closing ceremony of the World Masters Game 2025. Then we sang karaoke and practice slow jogging. It was still raining when I left the center. 

Courtyard House in Beijing

I got up before 7 o'clock, the weather was cloudy. I left home at a quarter to 8, to the DaAn Sports Center. While waiting for Bus 909, I enjoyed observing young swallows flying back and forth under storefront overhangs near the bus stop. They are eager to hone their flying skills and grow their wings before they embark upon their journey to the south to spend the winter.

I arrived at DaAn Sports Center at 8:40, the bus was crowded with people, young and old, the traffic was jam packed on the street. I usually go to the DaAn Sports Center in the afternoon, it takes less than 20 minutes from my place to the sports center. But it took around 45 minutes this morning. While running on the treadmill, I saw the broadcasting of the Roland-Garros 2025. I looked at the tennis players with admiration. Their arms are full of muscles. I only ran for 30 minutes, not as long as 40 minutes, because the guy running next to me had the armpit odor, I could barely stand. While using the weight lifting facilities, I saw a muscular woman training her legs to lift the barbell. I wish someday I can do the same.

The reason why I went to the sports center this monring, it's because Brother Jimmy and I had an appointment at noon with a relative's friend from Beijing, about the inheritance of our grandparents' courtyard house in Beijing.

At noon, I had lunch with my farm house friend and my Korean teacher till 2 o'clock. We listened to the presentation of Riway's Purtier, an expensive product of deer placenta for an hour before lunch. I'm not interested in direct marketing business. I only joined the lunch gathering to pay the traveling fees of NT$8,880 for five days shopping tour to support my farm house friend who is in the direct marketing business.

I didn't take a nap today. I watched No. 6 DVD of Demon Slayer. I ran into an interesting podcast for intermediate Japanese learners. I also recommend it to the Monday online Japanese classmates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2HUZqG-LQ

From 9:15 till 10 o'clock, we had online Toastmaster Magazine reading in English. As I was in charge of tonight's reading, I selected the feature article about visualizing your goal by creating a vision board. Four of us shared our ideas and thoughts. https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2025/june/visualize-your-goals

Four Kittens

Three plus one of us went to the farm house in GuanXing this morning. We got on the free New Taipei City Bus at QiZhang station at 10:30. All of a sudden, it was pouring down on our way. I didn't worry a bit, because I wore my raincoat to ride the bike to the station, as the sky looked cloudy today.

After arriving my friend's farm house at 11:10, I saw four kittens just born two weeks ago, two black ones and two black and white ones. The mother is a black cat, the father is a tiger cat. Don't ask me how come they have black and white kids!

We enjoyed a heartwarming lunch, a full table of many delicious dishes,  Alkaline Zongzi. After lunch, we had oriental melons and coffee. We sang karaoke for one and a half hours. My firend gave each of us a bundle of 6 alkaline zongzi and a bag of sweet potato leaves to take home.We got on the free New Taipei City Bus in front of the farm house.

After I got home, I took a nap for 30 minutes. I got up at 4 o'clock and watched a few TED Talks on my desktop computer mainly on the language acquision. I learned from Marc Green's "Beyond Fluency--How to Talk like a Native Speaker", firstly the pronunciation, secondly the colloquial speaking style, thirdly the culture context. Marc can speak more than five languages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_gFEe1XNY&t=12s

In the evening, I caught on No. 4 and No. 5 DVDs of Demon Slayer. I watched two of them in Japanese, not fully understand, because there were no Japanese subtitles. Tomorrow I shall go to the library to pick up another 6 DVDs arrived today. I shall watch them all. It will be the first time I watch the complete series of Anime dramas.

Exercise Team Leader

After getting up, I attended the online NHK Japanese news reading group from 8:30 till 9:30. We took turns reading the standard news after we read the easy one first. I am sure it would be helpful for us to get used to watching the TV news broadcasting in Japanese. I myself need to read the news several times to become a fluent announcer. I recorded the news and posted it on the Line group as a group leader. 

The news was about the popular street kart in Tokyo. Foreign tourists can put on the clothes of famous anime and manga characters to ride in the cart to various scenic spots in Shibuya. I like the business idea to promote the fancy world of Japan. If I had a chance, I'd like to ride the kart in a costume of Demon Slayer!

At 11:00, the Korean language group met for lunch at Saizeriya restaurant near DaPinLing MRT Station. Three of us enjoyed a wonderful afternoon, chatting in Korean till 2:30. 

I invited my Korean teacher to join me to see Brother Jimmy at Taipei Hospital. We took Bus 918 to the hospital and saw Jimmy at the lobby of the psychiatic clinic at 3 o'clock. We waited for 30 minutes before Brother Jimmy and I discussed with the doctor about the dose reduction of Cymbalta from 60mg to 30mg a day for two weeks.

At 4 o'clock we went to the rehabilitation center on the first floor. While we were talking, Borther Jimmy used a hot pad on his back to soothe his back pain. Brother Jimmy told me that he would skip dinner from now on to reduce the body weight to 75 Kgs. And he would exercise regularly to stay fit and reduce the medication. 

I am glad that Brother Jimmy is more conscious of his physical health now. He has quitted smoking successfully. He is working on cutting down the intake of carbohydrate now. When he is engaged in getting well, he would feel happy for himself. And I promise to join his exercise team at WuGu regularly. 

There is no need to reinterate the importance of the health for people our age. When Brother Jimmy can help the residents at WuGu by being an exercise team leader, he will be helping himself by helping others, a shared joy is a double joy.

The Demon Slayer

It's June the first, Sunday. I got up early, arrived at DaAn Sports Center at a quarter past 8. While waiting for Bus 909 at the DaFeng Road bus stop, I saw young swallows flying back and forth under storefront overhangs. In May, I saw the life cycle of swallows, from the nestlings to the full-fledged swallows.

Last Monday afternoon, four chicks were stretching the wings near the nest. Last Wednesday all baby swallows were gone. This morning I saw them taking turn flying back to their nest and stayed there for a while, maybe they keep practicing the flying skills, myabe they just want to remember where their home is before they migrate to the south. It is uplifting to watch young swallows flying in the air full of energy and vitality.  

After exercising at DaAn Fitness Center for one and a half hour, I walked to Cafe Louisa on DunHua Road near the Mall. President Taylor showed up at 10:10, we shared some thoughts about how to promote NTNU Mandarin Toastmasters Club till 12 noon. Taylor will leave Taiwan in October, she has five months to run the club. I wish her all the luck.

On my way back to XinDian, I stopped by the JingXin Library to borrow all 11 DVDs of Demon Slayer. I know it will take me a lot of time, but the more I read the manga and watch the anime, the more I am fond of the story. By August, I shall know all the main characters of Demon Slayer before I walk into the Vieshow Cinema at the YesLife Shopping Mall. 

Dragon Boat Festival 2025

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I got up early and went to DaAn Sports Center to exercise for one and a half hours. On my way back to HsinDian, I stopped by the street vendor on JiangGuo Road, and  bought three chayotes, one for NT$ 5 dollars. I feel good living in XingDian because of the reasonable price of vegetables and fruits.

At noon, we had zongzi for lunch. I didn't wrap any zongzi, and I don't know how. I had four zongzi as gifts, three from my farmer friend, one from Wheatland Care Center.

For Taiwanese, there is a ongoing battle between “North vs. South zongzi”. As I was brought up in the south, I am used to the southern zongzi wrapped with green bamboo leaves. The rice is raw before the zongzi is boiled in water. It’s stickier and keeps the natural flavors of the fillings. The Northern zongzi uses yellow bamboo shoot shells. The rice is fried first before the zongzi is steamed. It’s more seasoned and chewy.

Both Northern and Southern Taiwanese zongzi are delicious, but I like Chinese HuZhou zongzi better, because my mother used to wrap many of them on the Dragon Boat Festival, salty ones with meat and sweet ones with redbean paste. I also like Vietnamese zongzi wrapped with banana leaves.

After lunch, I took a nap for 45 minutes, then I rode my bike to the Yes Life shopping mall, walked across the street to the Carrefour to buy three bottles of caffè latte for NT$72 dollar, I didn't spend money, because I had more than a thousand points in my carrefour card. I need to use up all the points before it is expired in August.

I returned to the Yes Life shopping mall, took the escalator to the Eslite Bookstore on the 4th floor, and found nobody at my favorite cozy corner. I read a few books on the sheft and studied Korean till four o'clock. I enjoyed the atmosphere at Yes Life where I visit once a week. I usually don't buy anything, as I grow older, I become less materialistic and I believe less is more. 

On my way home, I bought a bag of dried shrimps for NT$100 dollars to cook with three chayotes I bought this morning. That's how my mother used to cook the chayotes. I shall try to make chilled chayote salad and chayote pancake in the future. I once had delicious chayote salad at the famous Ren He Yuan Yunnan Restaurant on ZhongShan North Road in Taipei.

11th Pair of Teeth Invisalignment

I put on the 11th pair of teeth invisalignment after I took a shower last night. It has been almost four months since I had my teeth aligned. I am pleased with the progress of my teeth alignment, so is my dentist. I followed his order to wear the teeth alignment 24-7, except the time to clean the teeth and the alignment after each meal.

Since I clean my teeth and alignment thoroughly after each meal, my oral hygience is well kept. When I heard of the link between oral health & cardiovascular disease, I am happy that I decided to have my teeth alighed four months ago. My teeth are well cleaned and I have fewer chance to have heart failure or stroke caused by the bacteria infection in the gum.

The weather of the dragon boat festival long weekend is sunny, according to the weather broadcast. I visited Brother Jimmy at WuGu this morning. I helped Jimmy clean his room and we had lunch together. I had a ZhongZi wrapped by the mother of a resident. I enjoyed the friendly family atmosphere at Wugu.

After lunch, Brother Jimmy and I rode the indoor bikes for 30 minutes. Then we went to Hi Life convenience store in the neighborhood for coffee with other four residents from 1:30 till 4:00. Six of us had nice chitchatting while drinking coffee. Everyone had something to say and to share.

I thought I have spent too much time reading the Japanese Manga. The more I read the Demon Slayer, the more I enjoy reading it. Actually with a manga in my hands, I don't mind waiting for the bus for a long time at the bus station. I don't mind riding the bus to WuGu, because reading Manga story is fun. And I learn many valuable lessons from reading the story of Demon Slayer, the family, the friendship, and the power of will.

A Surprise Phone Call

I got up early, because I had an online Japanese class from 8:15 till 9:00. Today we practiced basic conversation in Japanese. The members took turns reading simple dialogues in the textbook. All I had to do is listen to the right pronunication.

In the rain, I put on the raincoat to buy some fruits and vegetables from the streetside ventor on JiangGuo Road near my place. I bought winter melon for NT $6 dollars a catty, tiny Irwin mango for NT $40 a catty, pumpkin for NT $10 a catty.

The online English class with Taipei Medical University classmates started from 10:30 till 11:00 this morning. Only one classmate showed up. I didn't expect his participation. Two of us enjoyed talking about our past weekend excursion to southern Taiwan. He was most impressed with the Octagon Pavilion in YanShui. 

The Octagon Pavilion is a wooden building built by craftsmen brought in from China by the Ye family who had made their wealth in the sugar industry. The pivilion was completed in 1841. At the time, Yanshui’s Yuejin Harbor was busy with cargo ships and merchants filled the streets. The building materials were mainly Chinese Fir and bricks transported from China. During Japanese occupation period, Prince Fushimi Sadanaru took over the building as his residence and command post. The Octagon Building was returned to the Ye family after the war.

While making the winter melon pork soup for lunch, I received a long distance call from Beijin, informing me of the ongoing legal procedures of the inheritance of the old property in downtown Beijing. After I received the email in the afternoon, I replied that we gave up our share of the inheritance immediately.

In the afternoon, I went to WheatLand Center to organize activities for the elderlies from 1:30 till 3:30. We played blackjack for 30 minutes, theater acting for 30 minutes, singing for 30 minutes, video presentation of weekend excursion in Tainan for 15 minutes, slow jogging for 15 minutes. We had only a few participants due to the heavy rain today. I received a zongzi as a gift when I left the center.

A Weekly Visit to WuGu

I took Bus 918 to visit Brother Jimmy at WuGu this morning. As soon as I got off Bus 899, I heard Jimmy call my nickname at the bus station. He was chatting with several WuGu residents there. What a coincidence! We took a group photo together!

Returning to WuGu Center, Jimmy and I padled the indoor cycling bikes together for 30 minutes. It reminded me of our daily appointment at XinDian Sports Center last year. Jimmy agreed to pedal the indoor bike twice a day, each time for 30 minutes, in the morning and in the afternoon. I think he realized how important exercise is for his physical strength.

I told the Director that I don't mind visiting Jimmy once a week and exercise with him. The Director invited me to join WuGu Dragon Boat Festival Party Sunday noon. How lucky I am to be able to go to a luncheon party with Jimmy and twenty some residents.

On my way back to XinDian, I saw a young boy accompanied by his parents. He looked tired and unhappy because he just had his teeth alighed. Me, on the contrary, am pleased with my teeth alignment. It is all about the ownership of life. The boy didn't make the decision for himself, he was forced by his parents. He looked painful. I am happy with the progress of my teeth alignment, because I made the decision for myself.

After lunch, I took Bus 909 to DaAn Sports Center. At DaFeng Road Bus Station, I saw the empty nest of swallows. I saw them practicing flying Monday afternoon, four baby swallows. Today they were all gone.

In front of DaAn Sports Center, I saw many foreign well-built athletes. Being a curious cat, I took the opportunity to see the basketball tournament of World Masters Games 2025 on the third floor. I only stayed for a few minutes, because it was not very interesting to see two weak teams playing.

I found an empty treadmill when I walked in the fitness center. I used it for 25 minutes, then I used a couple of weigh lifting facilities. To my surprise I experienced the power failure at the DaAn Fitness Center for the first time. I continued doing weight lifting for a while till all were required to leave the center. I took the stairs down from the 3rd floor to the 1st.

I got on Bus 650 to JingXin Library to fetch the requested books and borrowed a new arrival book. I took a nap for 30 minutes after I got home. Then I watch the 3rd DVD of 3 episodes of Demon Slayer. Since my curiosity about the famous Manga of Demon Slayer has been satisfied, I guess I won't finish watching 12 DVDs. It is very time consuming. I'd better spend more time studying the Korean language.

In the evening, I attended the online Toastmaster Magazine reading from 9:15 till 10:00. Tonight's topic was about "Craft a Winning Social Media Strategy, Grow your club—and your skills—by boosting your internet presence". Six participants showed up, including two having a vacation in Viet-nam. https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2025/april/craft-a-winning-social-media-strategy