Photoshop Layers ...


This took about twenty minutes to make ... getting used to layers ... I miss India!

我第一篇中文的網誌 ...

很久以前就想要寫中文的網誌了。雖然家人看不懂沒關係,只要我看得懂就好了!應該是很好的練習。

這個月很可惜沒辦法去外面拍照,所以就在家裡拍我兩隻貓。因為我跟它們不能一起玩,它們兩隻都好像很難過。那麼可愛!


本來周末是我最喜歡的時間,現在卻沒意義了。都在家裡,沒辦法做事。我沒有電視。覺得看電視是很無聊的。也不太喜歡看電影。吃止通樂跟看書讓我睡覺。沒關係,睡覺是康複最快的方法。

已經過了三個禮拜,還有很多禮拜要過。上個禮拜三看了醫生。他說差不多三個月以後才會好。那麼久!這次受傷讓我沒辦法獨立。真討厭!

耐性。現在多一點耐性很重要,有時不太容易。我覺得一般人都沒有發現,有一雙健全的腳是多麼的有用!不要想當然爾。

就這樣!我第一遍中文的網誌。

Thursday May 20th, 2010


It's hard to believe we are most of the way through May. I guess that's what happens when one spends 2+ weeks of it in bed.

It's also hard to believe that with all the foreigners living in Taiwan, one of the top three hospitals can't seem to have correct English translations.

I am getting better and better at accomplishing things with crutches although each passing day brings a strong desire of climbing the highest mountain and chucking them over the side.

They aren't mine to do as I wish, however ... lucky for them.

The pin ...


This will be with me for the next year or two of my life at which time I'll need to schedule another surgery to have it removed. Fun, fun!

I must admit, the technology fascinates me ...

勢 ...

In looking up the above character in the Yahoo 字典, it came up with the following:

shi
ㄕˋ

1. power; strength
2. influence
3. momentum
4. testicles

Hmmmm. I'll have to make a note to ask about this word during my class on Friday. Should make for some good conversation!

I will be taking a taxi to my student's house on Thursday evening and this character is in the street address. I was looking it up to get the tone ... little did I know that it would bring a chuckle. Love that!

I started back to school today, agreeing to work one of my two classes. After having a lousy weekend, staying at home for another full week was NOT an option. I am not used to being so inactive. A 1.5 hour Chinese class and teaching two hours of English was about all I could handle. My whole body was shaking after class and I kind of felt sick from exhaustion ... but a two hour nap brought me to writing this post, leaving me feeling as good as (almost) new.

I think going back was the right decision. It was inevitable that I was going to be tired whether it be this week or next. The good news is that I have feeling back on certain parts of my leg and my foot. It's amazing how quickly the body heals and I am looking for a quick recovery.

After all, I have photos to take, walls to climb and mountains to hike. Life is too short for broken bones.

休病假很無聊 ...


腿扭斷 ... 沒辦法做事 ... 可以用 Photoshop 做藝術作品跟練習中文 ...

On the road to recovery ...

Today has been interesting. I made my way out of the house for the first time since arriving home from the hospital. I had an appointment to see the doctor. The good news is that there wasn't much pain during the journey there and back. I was tired upon returning but things look promising for me to get back into some work next week. There are no sick leave benefits at my job so I am quite eager to start things up.

Left ankle ... two small incisions, three staples per incision ... gone. If you look at the top of my shin, you can see part of the incision that contained seven stitches ... note the past tense! My ankle is still quite bruised and swollen. It was hard to get a good shot ... this is as good as it gets ...


Left knee ... one small incision, four staples ... gone. There is a longer incision over the top of my kneecap which you can't quite make out ... eight staples ... gone! They've replaced the staples and stitches with tape that will be changed next week ... they say it will make the scars 'more beautiful'. Ha! I bet!

My body has been used and abused well during this lifetime. Something tells me this isn't the last of it either. Work hard, play hard ... a great motto to live by!

While at the hospital, the doctor showed me the x-ray of the pin in my leg. Talk about unreal. The night it broke, everything happened so quick, it was a bit of a blur. I couldn't really understand why nothing else was bruised on my body if I had landed so hard on the ground. In fact, there was no jumping involved, only a severe twist, according to my friends.

It was indeed a twist which the doctor confirmed today. The tibia twisted, making a clean break which caused it to bump the fibula hence the fracture up close to my knee. The pin is still unbelievable to me. I will take my camera to the hospital next Wednesday as I am due to go back for some x-rays. I will ask the doctor if I can photograph the x-ray with the pin ... fingers crossed to him agreeing.

Four more days of being housebound ... I will be happy to get back into studies and work and life, even if it's only part time. Although something tells me by mid next week I'll be wishing I was back to being housebound! Isn't that always the way ...

Everything happens for a reason ...

These words have had a funny way of sneaking into conversation over the past couple of months. They aren't being spoken by me but to me, by others, as if to reiterate importance.

Is there truth in these words?

Perhaps ...

The more I think about my broken leg and the events leading up to it ... it makes sense. My current situation has helped to solve some things in which I wasn't quite sure how to go about handling. I'm not sure I needed something SOOO extreme. I am, however, trying to see the humor in all of this.

Frustration and feelings of depression started to kick in on Friday upon the realization that I would be unable to resume back to somewhat regular activities after the weekend. I slept two days away, which was actually needed, before forcing myself not to fall into a trap.

Yes, a broken leg renders one useless. Being useless is something I strive not to be.

Yes, a broken leg takes away one's independence. I've been independent from the time I understood what it meant to be independent.

And yes, a broken leg definitely tests one's patience. Taking a moment to breathe has helped to get things done.

But all that being said, a broken leg allows one time. I recall asking for time more often than not since the start of this year. Ask and you shall receive. I'm not sure this is quite what I had in mind, but I will take it as it is.

I can read a book cover to cover in one day if I want. I can watch two movies back to back. I can spend quality time with my cats as I hear time spent with cats is never wasted. I can enjoy the company of friends who drop by for visits. Some even bring cookies!

So, as I hobble around my apartment, I remain focused on the positive and remind myself to appreciate this as the temporary situation it is.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

For my mom ...


A mother is someone who dreams great dreams for you but then she lets you chase the dreams you have for yourself and loves you just the same.

Have a great day, mom. I miss you! 母親節快樂!

The break ...

A group of us decided that a game of dodge ball on concrete would be a good idea …

Imagine eight players, four per team …

Eight balls, one for each player …

Ready …

Go …

After throwing my ball, I headed off to retrieve two that had been thrown my way …

With one ball in each arm ready for retaliation, I hear someone shout that I am the only team member left …

A ball is coming in my direction …

Hanging on to my ammo, I twist and jump to avoid being hit …

Imagine it all slow-motion like …

The ball skims by me …

But with no free arms to stop my fall, I land on the ground with a CRACK …

A ball rolls over and taps my body as I hear an opponent say you're out …

And I was out …

Game over ...

A turn of events …

Life can be real funny sometimes. My focus over the past year has been about living in the moment. Understanding that what’s happened in the past cannot change in the present. Knowing that things said in current moments will not make any difference to what’s already behind us. The future remains a mystery and making plans seems unnecessary as we can’t control the unknowns of tomorrow.

2010 has brought challenge. It has been testing my strengths and allowing me to see my weaknesses. It’s guiding me to reevaluate the things I do and the decisions I make. This is the second time since the start of the year that I feel my life has been turned upside down. Just as I was starting to feel right side up, I find myself typing this from my hospital bed.

I broke my leg late Friday night during a hot game of dodge ball. It led to surgery early Saturday morning. Needless to say, things are going to be a little inconvenient over the next while.

Breaking my leg has been quite an experience so far. I’ve spent the past month studying illness, accident and hospital type vocabulary. It’s quite fitting that life has decided to throw this in my direction. I knew it was time to slow things down but this might be a little TOO slow for my liking.

I’ve been able to handle my own here at the hospital which has been rewarding. I keep reminding myself that with lows there are highs. It’s been four days of constant Chinese lessons. I remain positive by seeing how far I’ve come in the ever so slow process of tackling one of the harder languages that exists in this world.

My friends have been fantastic. I’ve had guests here more than I’ve been alone. It has allowed me to take my mind off the pain and has kept a smile on my face. I am so thankful for the people I have in my life.

Times like this make it real tough to be far from family. But then I am reminded that I have a nest of family here from all walks of life. I am touched with the amount of concern and love I’ve been shown over the past few days. And right now, despite the broken leg, I feel very lucky!

Five incisions, eighteen staples and seven stitches. X-rays and gross photos to follow soon …