Day 353 - Red Light

Thought of the day: It had been cold and raining today. It even snowed a little bit at some point. Of course, with such a warm ground temperature, the snow melted as soon as it reached the ground. We mostly stayed inside the house, played games and enjoyed the last few days of company of our house guests. It was a relaxing day and the kids loved having so many adults around to play with.

Photo of the day: 

Dinner at Carelli's.  The restaurant always has a nice ambiance. With its warm interior lighting and large fire places, it feels especially cozy and welcoming in a cold day like today.

Day 345 - Chicago River

Thought of the day: I think I am in love with this city. The people, interesting; The street scenes, entertaining; The architecture, fascinating; The evening lights, dazzling. It’s a heaven for photographers of all kinds - portrait, architecture, street, night, and even wedding photographers can all find something to point their lenses at. After getting used to a place as quiet as Boulder, the vibrant night scenes of Chicago are particularly striking to me. The neon sign of Chicago Theater, the live broadcast of 7 News that can be viewed from outside of the tall glass walls, the watery reflections of skyscrapers on Chicago River, the magnificent night view of the entire city from the top of Skydeck of Willis (formerly known as Sears) Tower - all of these created an indelible memory not only on my camera, but also in my mind. I think one of the many benefits of living in a town like Boulder is that I can be completely in awe of a big city like Chicago whenever I have a chance to visit. Boulder provides a solid home base for me to explore and appreciate the magnificence of the rest of the world - it’s as indispensable as the rice in a Chinese meal or the bread in a western fare. At this moment I’m enjoying Chicago, thoroughly and without reservation, as I know that I will be happy when I get home too.

Photo of the day:

Night reflections on Chicago River.

Day 335 - Symmetry

Thought of the day: This morning I watched a slide show from New York Times about MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), an environmental disease that has been plaguing an increasingly larger group of people, including the photographer who shot the mesmerizing and poignant photos in the slide show. MCS is typically caused by exposures to synthetic, toxic chemicals which are getting more and more prevalent in the modern world. This condition can be debilitating. The affected people live at the margin of the modern civilization as they need to stay clear of environmental toxins routinely used in pesticides, building materials, cleaning products, cosmetics, etc. They have to navigate the modern world like a soldier navigating a mine field - if they are not careful, they can easily step onto something that will have serious consequences on their health. I know that this condition is very real as a good friend of mine is suffering from it every day. It's painful to watch her go through ordeals unimaginable by an unaffected person. These people are paying a heavy price for our unhealthy dependence on toxic chemicals and our disrespect for the environment and even for our own bodies. Many more of our children and grandchildren will suffer if we don't not pay attention to the root cause of this and other environmental diseases and change the way we live.

Photo of the day:

A lamp in a restaurant where I had lunch.  The shape was intricate, harmonious and beautiful. Perhaps one day we will be able to develop an intricate, harmonious and beautiful relationship with the environment around us. That's our only hope for the future.

Day 331 - Restaurant

Thought of the day: Sadly, we haven’t camped for a single time this summer. With the weather getting colder, the chance of going camping this season is getting slimmer as the light is getting softer every day. Camping trips in the summer are like ski vacations in the winter - missing them is like missing some of the essence of summer. Sure, we have done a lot of other interesting activities, but I wish we had given a higher priority to camping.

Photo of the day:

One thing we have done a lot during the summer is eating out.  There are a lot of good restaurants in Boulder to choose from, including this Mexican restaurant where we spent the evening at.  It had a great ambiance and good food.

Day 325 - Les Misérables

Thought of the day: We went to the famed musical Les Misérables in Denver today. Since we don't come to the city very often, the night scenes of Denver left quite a dazzling impression on me. So many cars, so many lights, so many people - I felt like a country bumpkin enjoying a rare night out in the city. Of course, Boulder is not exactly the countryside, but it's infinitely calmer and quieter. It would not surprise me if the clocks ticked slightly slower in Boulder than in the city. The show was amazing and had an overpowering effect especially towards the end. I don't believe there was a single pair of dry eyes leaving the theater.  All in all, it was an interesting evening and was definitely worth the 45 minute drive each way.

Photo of the day:

At the end of the show, the main actor came out to receive a round of wild applause and standing ovation.

Day 291 - Forest

Thought of the day: We took a hike in the Big Basin Redwood Park today.  Hiking in a redwood forest can be refreshing and invigorating. The unfathomably tall trees, the light coming down through the branches, the smell of the forest, the sound of the birds, the stillness of the thousand year old trees, the soft steps on the trail...a forest like this is somehow able to activate a primitive part of our brain and give us a sense of peace that can't be experienced anywhere else. I tried to capture the images of the forest that speak to me, but it was proven difficult. The best images I took home today were those in my memory and they will be there for a long time to come.

Photo of the day:

Image of a redwood tree in the forest.

Day 283 - Window to the Soul

Thought of the day: We are getting ready for a train ride from Denver to Emeryville tomorrow.  It's going to be a 33 hour trip in a family room. We haven't ridden an Amtrak train before so we are all excited and looking forward to the upcoming adventure.

Photo of the day:

One of my favorite paintings in the house - Window to the Soul - glows with warmth at night.  I took a photo of it tonight so I could bring a part of the "home" along with me on the trip.

Day 274 - Girls and Hay

Thought of the day: In the past few days, I visited a couple of farms and ranches in the countryside. I felt quite at home there watching chickens, pigs, goats, cows, horses and other animals roaming freely about. And the best part of it all was the light.  Inside the stables, on the people, on the buildings, in the sky, there's interesting light to be found pretty much anywhere and I really enjoyed taking pictures with it.

Photo of the day:

Two girls helping out in the ranch.  The light on their hair and the hay made this an irresistible picture for me to take.

Day 260 - Cafe Sole

Thought of the day: When I was biking home with Lila today, a summer thunderstorm hit.  A sunny, happy experience was instantly transformed into a wet and somewhat scary one as I was scampering for shelter from the thunderous lightnings that sounded too close for comfort.  We did find shelter in a neighbor's garage before the downpour turned into hail.  We had some friendly conversations and headed home after the storm relented a bit. It was an unexpected but interesting experience.

Photo of the day:

Inside Cafe Sole, not long before the storm hit.

Day 259 - Candles

Thought of the day: Today Lila had a gymnastics class in Louisville.  It's her first gymnastics class that she did on her own, without me around to help, and she was clearly ready for it.  It's another one of those firsts.  It's exciting to see her become more independent every day.  In the meantime, it's also sad to see her become more independent every day.

Photo of the day:

We celebrated David's birthday today.  Our birthdays seem to be coming faster every year as the kids are growing older!

Day 247 - Village Sunset

Thought of the day: From the viewpoint of a casual observer, there couldn't be more differences between Niederweningen and my village in southern part of China where I grew up. However, I feel quite at home here because many aspects of the life here remind me of my village. My village home had a humongous backyard - in a child's eyes, that is - covered with flowers and banana trees, a plot of land where sugar canes and different kinds of vegetables were grown, and a courtyard where chickens and ducks roamed about freely. It was indeed a child's paradise. Every summer, my brother, sister and I spent our vacation there. We picked the fruits, fed the animals and swam in the river. Lila and Jasmine are doing some similar things here in Niederweningen, albeit with some small modifications. They pick berries from wild bushes, feed animals that are not ours and swim in the village pools. These pools are modern structures equipped with necessities like the espresso machines and freezers for ice creams. They are outdoor pools situated in a peaceful forest setting. For lack of a swimmable river, these pools provide a good alternative for the girls to have fun and cool down in a summer heat that can sometimes descend in the valley. Growing up with summers that were carefree and precious, I always feel that I owe it to the girls to provide them with the same kind of memories. We're lucky that both sets of grandparents have homes that would make this possible.

Photo of the day:

Sunset behind a farmhouse in Niederweningen.

Day 237 - Moonlight

Thought of the day: Today we took a tour of the caldera on a catamaran.  We swam in the hot springs and a few beaches, took in the view of cliffs of various colors, and set sail on the ocean for a while with a silent motor. It was interesting to spend some time on a boat, as the experience on the water was completely different from the experience on the land. When the boat was sailing smoothly and the wind was blowing on my face, it felt as if I had wings and all other thoughts drained out of the mind.  I can see why some people love, or are even addicted to, sailing. I was happy on the boat for a couple of hours but I was even happier when I got back on the land. Perhaps I need the solid ground under my feet more than the exhilaration and unpredictability of flying.

Photo of the day:

If the day time in Oia seems unreal already, the night time is simply out of this world.  With the cooler summer air at night, people come into the street for dinner only after it's dark - often after 9pm. Tonight is our last night in Greece. The lights are already on everywhere. From our veranda, we can see a full moon casting an elongated strip of silky, golden light on the ocean and touching the boats docked in the harbor ever so lightly. The image is unforgettable and we're going to miss it. In fact, I already am.

Day 223 - Bottles

Thought of the day: Today was a rest day.  Lila fully cooperated by sleeping way past lunch time.  The weather cooperated too as it was wet and rainy pretty much all day.  Looking out of the windows, I caught glimpses of what I'd like to photograph in the next few days: people under colorful umbrellas, preschool kids walking home on their own, green hills dotted with cute little houses, windows adorned with geraniums...the list is already long.  And of course, the trains, the ubiquitous trains that are so important in many people's lives and that will also be indispensable during our travels as well.  In fact, the first thing we bought after we landed in Zurich was a Swiss Pass for the duration of our trip.  And we intend to make good use of it!

Photo of the day:

Bottles at the window against an incoming train.

Day 203 - Wet

Thought of the day: I caught something over the weekend and it was getting worse, so today I took a day of bed rest.  I seem to be more prone to illness lately which made me wonder if the lack of sleep can make the immune system less effective.  So I probed around a bit and, unsurprisingly, every article that turned up linked sleep to the immune system.  So it's not just an old wife's tale, it's proven by research that good night sleeps promote immune response and when you're ill, the immune system makes you feel sleepier than usual so you will rest.  Our body works amazingly well when you give it the respect that it deserves.  It's really something, isn't it?  OK, time for bed!

Photo of the day:

It was wet and cold - a perfect day for resting.

Day 197 - Sunrise

Thought of the day: Today I did an early morning run with a few neighbors and friends.  It's certainly unusual for me to get up this early so I took this precious opportunity to snap a few photos.  Boulder faces a wide open eastern plain so we can count on a glorious sunrise pretty much every morning as rainy or overcast days are few and far between in Boulder.  It's great for early risers but, unfortunately, doesn't do much good for night owls like me.  I've considered and even attempted, at least for a few times since I moved here, to change my sleep routine so I can catch the first lights of the dawn and do something meditative before everybody wakes up.  Regrettable, my biological clock wasn't ready to cooperate yet so I inevitably gave up after trying for a few days.  Getting up early to run, on the other hand, is something different.  The outdoor air and movement wake me up and get me an extra bounce for the rest of the day.  Things that I have done and don't regret afterward are usually good things for me.  Running at the crack of dawn is one of those things - it's good for me, and I will keep doing it as long as my body can keep up.

Photo of the day:

View of sunrise from inside the house.

Day 187 - Lamp

Thought of the day: It was a fun day for play dates and spending time on the Pearl St.  Lila played "baby and mommy" games with me using some branches and small stones on a path.  Of course, I was the baby and Lila was the mommy.  Otherwise it would not have been nearly as much fun!

Photo of the day:

Glass lamps near Pearl st.  There surely are some fascinating objects in downtown and I seem to discover something new every time.  I was probably as excited finding these lamps as Lila discovering the "baby and mommy" game.

Day 179 - Peking Acrobats

Thought of the day: This afternoon we attended the Peking Acrobats show.  Jasmine had just participated in a circus show in her school and was very excited to see the stunts performed by the acrobats.  Lila was so thrilled with all the music and actions on stage that she could hardly stay on her seat.  How did these acrobats manage to reach this level of skills and artistry?  Talent, for sure, and lots and lots and lots of practice.  When I watch a show like this or listen to a performance by an orchestra, I am always amazed by the depth of the human possibility and inspired by the people who have mastered the unthinkable.  With all the ugliness and darkness in this world, we are nevertheless a very unique and soulful specie that can do beautiful things and create immortal art and we can all be proud of that.

Photo of the day:

A Peking Acrobat stacking up more and more chairs in a breathtaking performance.

Day 172 - Hair Dressing

Thought of the day: My todo list is getting longer, books are piling up...  I need more time in a day than a day gives.  On one hand, I am already looking forward to my birthday so I will be done with my project and get on with life.  On the other hand, I know I will look back at this period of life and be glad that I have done it.  Throughout my life, I have had a few intense stretches of time, some short, some long, when I focused on one special thing.  Those were the days when I felt a sense of purpose, a sense of achievement and personal growth.  Those were unforgettable days.  I hope it will be the same for this year.  At the end, it will all be worth it.

Photo of the day:

Jasmine dressing up Lila's hair.  Today she dressed Lila up in the same clothes, same hairpin, and now the same ponytails as herself.  Lila is her fun "project", at least for a day!

Day 168 - Lights

Thought of the day: The annual Conference on World Affairs is taking place at CU this week.  CWA started in 1948 and had attracted a wide variety of experts in different fields to talk freely about pretty much anything under the sun.  This morning I attended a discussion called "Artists and Scientists in Pursuit of Light" with two artist friends.  The panel included Danielle Feinberg who is a director of photography at Pixar and did the light-up of Wall-E.  She talked about the lighting for a few Pixar movies which made me want to watch them all over again as her talk gave me a new perspective in animations and a new appreciation for the making of them.  Another panelist was Jeff Lieberman who is the host of Time Warp on Discovery Channel.  His talk began with the origin of the universe and ended with the future of human consciousness.  So as you can imagine, his talk jumped all over the place from science to human emotions to mythology.  It was unusual and yet he made it all seem coherent.  I could tell that the audience was quite captivated by him and his topics as most of the followup questions were directed to him.  The third panelist was a physicist and science writer. He made some interesting observations on how science eventually brought many sci-fi dreams into reality.  And the fourth panelist was a storyteller.  Her sense of humor and keen observations of human nature added a nice touch to an otherwise quite serious discussion.  All in all, I found the whole session to be scintillating and mind-opening.  To say the least, any discussion that would make me go online afterwards and research for a dozen of new books to read is definitely not a waste of time.

Photo of the day:

Lights on Pearl St.  Danielle said that one of the joys of photography is to make the most mundane objects look special.  How true! Similarly, I think one of the joys of life is to make the most routine days feel special.  To make an object special, the key is in the light.  And to make a day special, the key is in the mind.  Stimulating thoughts can enlighten a day just like dancing lights can bring an object to life.

Day 164 - Wild Hair

Thought of the day: Today I took pictures inside a school building for a show.  Many of the pictures didn't come out well.  I always find it challenging to take pictures of a group of moving people inside a building.  Either the colors aren't quite right - which is no longer a big issue as I take raw photos, or the photos aren't quite sharp as I have to expose for too long to let in enough light.  There are things that can be done in such situations, but not without compromises.  Perhaps a better camera, lens and flash will also help, but that will force me to carry more weight which I am not looking forward to.  If I were a professional doing this for a living, I would probably put up with the extra burdens.  But right now, I am trying to keep the weight on my back as light as possible.  The consequence of my simple setup is that now I have a lot more confidence taking outdoor pictures, where there's an abundance of light to play with, than taking poorly-lit indoor pictures.

Photo of the day:

The wind made Lila's hair dance - yes, it was going to be another wild hair day!  This photo was taken outdoors where the light was abundant.