奈良-Japan Trip Day 3 (Feb 18th, 2008)

宠辱不惊，看庭前花开花落；
去留无意，望天空云卷云舒。

我们一早先去阿倍野邮局拿了一个快递信封给Biajee申请回美签证用，之后就上了奈良方向的火车。在到达奈良之前有一站叫法隆寺。“这是世界文化遗产，我们得去。”Biajee大叫。于是我们下了火车，步行一公里到达法隆寺。门票也涨价了，好像是1000日元一个人。彼时已经到了午饭时间，我们饥肠辘辘地游完法隆寺。偏偏这个寺面积很大，我们的票是三个景点的。既然交了钱，也只好勉强走马看花一把了。

出来之后在一个叫食堂的地方吃了午饭。这里所有的菜都是自己拿，拿齐后付钱，省去了讲日语的麻烦。日语已经忘了不少，主要是词汇都不记得了，毕竟已经有十年没有去日本了。　等我们拖拖拉拉终于在奈良站下了车，已经下午两点多了。带孩子出门旅游可不是一件轻松的事。

由于时间有限，我们在奈良只去了东大寺。东大寺也是世界文化遗产。日本的世界文化遗产真不少，满街都是。为什么中国有那么多文物，却没有几个世界文化遗产呢？

东大寺里里外外都是鹿，人称鹿先生。他们不光愿意和人亲近，还会鞠躬呢。想不到日本的鹿都会鞠躬了，真是礼仪之邦呀。寺外是很多卖鹿食的小摊。 我们什么也没有买。 Biajee抱着孩子背着包，我拿着相机。手不够用了。有一位鹿先生冲我们鞠了十几个躬，也没讨到吃的，我们也有点过意不去，就让阿诺和他亲热了一下。

东大寺的主寺建筑上有两个金角，看上去很像牛魔王变身的，有点妖气。听说东大寺的佛很灵，我们就请了一个“交通安全”的铜铃回家，现在就放在大车里。今年我们家的保险费降了一半，是好兆头。

大佛殿门口有一个木佛，能医百病，据说你身体的什么地方有病，就触摸一下木佛身体的对应部位，包治。由于木佛太大太高了，我只摸了他的脚，希望可以不得脚气了。还可以把心愿写在纸条上卷起来系在栏杆上，求佛祖帮忙实现。 这个我们就没有做了。佛祖很忙，不应该为脚气以外的事骚扰他老人家。大佛很壮观，他坐的莲花瓣可以给我当床了。Biajee 给我照了莲花瓣的相，以资纪念。东大寺很好玩，值得一去。

参拜完大佛之后我们就去爬二月堂。二月堂前有许多捐款者立的碑，香火很旺。阿诺坚持要自己爬上去，以示虔诚。Biajee因为负重太多，已经快要走不动了。正好阿诺又要玩圣水了，他一边喝一边往自己身上浇，快乐的象个小天使。在二月份的刺骨寒风中往身上泼冷水可不是什么好事。我让Biajee赶紧把阿诺抱走，就准备回大阪了。

庸庸碌碌的一天就这样过完了。

Arriving at Hotel - Japan Trip Day 2 (Feb 17th, 2008)

We lost one day flying to Asia. Our plane landed in Osaka on Sunday evening. We claimed our bags and went to exchange our JR pass. We found out that you could buy JR pass at the station with your passport and short stay visa. Who told us it could only be purchased from outside the country? We paid an extra $15 for FEDEX 2nd day delivery! I suggest everyone buy JR pass after you enter the country.

The fast train to Tennoji was gorgeous. All the seats were turned around facing the right direction while attendants were cleaning the train for our boarding. Biajee and I thought that was the most amazing thing. We hadn't seen a single train in this world with turnable seats before.

Our room in Hotel Chuo was nice and spacious. We went to the local sushi bar after checking in. Nobody spoke any English, but they could say "Thank You" in Chinese. We pointed to the fish and shrimps we'd like to order. Everything was delicious. We've explored all kinds of fish for dinner. In US, we were only tricked into Salmon and Tuna. How sad is that!

王渤-Japan Trip Day 1 (Feb 16th, 2008)

如之三藩，请发簪鲜花；如之三藩，将遇君温雅。
(If you are going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you are going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentleman there)
-- From "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie

我们行程的第一站是旧金山，在这里转机去大阪。在丹佛机场，Biajee, 阿诺和我分别去洗手间，准备登机。蓦然间，我看到一个熟悉的身影，却不敢确认。 那是不是王渤？我有种预感：他也许会和我们同乘一架飞机。

我们拖着阿诺走到登机口，果然又看到那个背影。我不由分说，大喝一声，“王渤！”

王渤急回头看到我们，又惊又喜。他去北京出差。王渤是我在波德市认识的朋友，在国际商用机器公司做咨询工作已快十年了。自从ＩＢＭ和联想合并之后，他就开始了这个倒霉的项目，主要是帮助两家公司顺利完成内部工作交接。去年他共飞了１４次北京，每次两星期，人都显得憔悴了。咨询真是个可怕的工作。

由于公干，王渤自然而然地坐公务舱，我们一家三口在经济舱挣扎了一路，终于抵达三藩市。转机时，我们一起走到国际登机口，发现安检的入口处排了许多人，简直和火车站差不多。王渤拽着我们从头等舱及机组入口处闯过去，避免了３０分钟的排队和拥挤。

王渤说美国的机场建造时是按照火车站的标准，所以现在令人觉得难以接受。我们站在去北京的登机门处，大聊美国的经济，预测王渤的这个鬼项目至少要做两年，留下妻子儿女在波德市过日子，实在太不人道。自从他去年受命于此任务之后，我们家的高朋满座中再也没有他和家人的身影。谋生不易呀。

很快，王渤就要上飞机了。道别之后，我们去吃日本料理。由于遇见了故人，使本来乏味的行程增色不少。每次莅临三藩，我都会有意想不到的惊喜，不是他乡遇故知，便是吃到了以前从未想象过的美味。虽然此次只是在机场小停，却也回味无穷。

MacBook Air

We looked at MacBook Air in the Apple Store on Monday. It's the coolest laptop I've ever seen because it finally matches what I have in dream - thin. Laptop should be thin and light in my mind. This new MacBook Air matches everything I expect about a laptop. However, we still won't purchase it.

We've had too many problems with Macintosh products. Both iPods have battery problems. The iMac was broken. Nobody knows what's wrong with it. After Biajee installed the new power unit, it still wouldn't work. Biajee is thinking of taking it apart and selling the parts on eBay to recover some cost.

I found that I had to wear bigger size of sports bras last night. We bought a sports bra for me when I was still pregnant, thinking that I would need to wear it after labor. -- All these crazy ideas come from different books and classes. Biajee and I were very good students. We took notes and went shopping for all the suggested items. Then it happened that I had to wear nursing bras for over a year. My suggestions to nursing moms are: don't waste money on sports bras before and when you're nursing.

Cash

Biajee claimed over $100's cash from Costco today. It's the rebate money for year 2007. He is quite excited about that. Last night he got a $5 cash in a mail from a survey institute asking him to finish a survey. I had to admit he's the real money maker.

My hair dresser has moved to a new salon and of course she brought me along with her. I scheduled an appointment in March, hopefully it's going to be cheaper or the same price as what I'm paying now.

I just realized that my company has banned Victoria's Secret's website because it may offend some people. I spotted a tank top there the other day. I had always wanted to buy it since I started nursing. Well, I couldn't wear it for at least a year when I was nursing. Now it's the perfect time to get it.

I used to subscribe to the Victoria's Secret monthly catalog and have it delivered to my company. It used to be delivered to my previous boss' mailbox. The admin assistant used to scream at him, "My Gosh, I didn't know you have a dark side as well!"

"No. It's Pei's, not mine." He tried to explain.

水井坊

星期六晚上喝了水井坊的白酒，清香无比，听说在中国要卖到800元人民币一瓶呢。我们喝白酒都是一口闷的，谁让大家感情好呢。我喜欢会喝酒的朋友，“酒逢知己千杯少”嘛。而且我只喝好酒，我们出去吃饭的红酒和白酒至少40美刀一瓶。前两年因为怀孕和生孩子，给家里省了不少买酒的钱。

喝完一瓶水井坊之后，我们又干掉一瓶五粮液。凭我的道行，还真喝不出太大区别来。但是如果是劣质酒，我闻闻味儿就能分出来。特别是葡萄酒，以前上过培训班的，专门练习品酒。

中间Biajee打牌的时候，我在陪阿诺玩，以致错过了上好的鹿血酒。等我们发现的时候，只剩下一个空瓶了，不禁扼腕叹息。和这群酒友一起过年，一定要动作快，否则会错过很多佳酿的。

当然，凡事都得有节制。小饮可以怡情，大饮竟能丧命。《三国》里的典韦，淳于琼和张飞可都是因酒丧命的，不能不引以为戒。

我们还买了很多有机食品。这星期轮到阿诺给同学们带零食，总不能让阿诺提供质量差的食品。Biajee说阿诺的的女朋友好像生病了，早上去学校的时候还吃退烧药。别的小朋友也在咳嗽。千万别传染给阿诺才好。我们星期六就要出国旅行了，没有精力再和病魔作斗争。

我有点担心最近的毒饺子事件会使我们在日本象老鼠过街，人人喊打。

Promise

I've promised to watch the twins for a coworker for an hour this weekend. Her husband was sent to Iraq. I studied the map today and found that it's an hour's drive from my house to her house. Why haven't I looked before I committed? Well, I think I made the promise before she moved to Highlands Ranch.

We have a Chinese New Year Party tomorrow night. Then we'll continue to fix friend's computer on Sunday.

We have been worn out for the whole week. Biajee kept complaining how people found out that he could repair computers. It is the dirtiest job in this world, but someone has to do it.

"Why don't they ask me to fix computers?" I said. "I could do an equally nice job."

"Most people think women are not capable of such things." Biajee replied. "You won't find a woman to repair the car if there is a problem. And you seldom look for a male nurse when you need medical help."

退货

昨天中午去西尔斯百货商店取了杠铃。我看着包装不住咂舌。老天爷，怎么这么长！

Biajee 说这是奥林匹克比赛用的型号，有七尺长。奥林匹克的杠铃比我还高，不会吧。我愁眉苦脸地对Biajee说，“要不现在就退了吧，我可没打算在家练这玩意儿，随便抡几下没准儿房子就塌了。”

“先别退呀”，Biajee说。“总得回家拆开之后再决定。”

一路上我喋喋不休地说这根杠太长了，从车尾一直伸到第二排座位。BIAJEE 终于说，“那好吧，明天退。”

“真讨厌，我刚才说要退吧，明天还得再跑一趟。”我气哼哼地说。“网上的描述有奥林匹克的字样，但我还以为那是一种型号呢。”

“我以为那是说这东西质量和奥林匹克的用品一样好。”BIAJEE也来凑趣。

“结果是和奥林匹克的用品一样长。”我们俩不禁哈哈大笑起来。

今天午饭时间终于把这套设备退了。看来买东西有时不能光看网上的照片。

Chinese New Year's Eve

Today is Chinese New Year's Eve. The good thing is that I don't get a lot of email or work from Asia. Everyone is celebrating the Year of Rat over there.

We're going to our friend's house for dinner tonight. Of course, we'll fix her computer in the mean time. It got infected by a lot of viruses. I think the best thing to do it so reinstall the operating system. Biajee won't agree with that. He always tries to kill the virus first just because he doesn't want to spend the time reinstalling everything.

We don't like Windows Vista. It's always dead when I try to open Internet Explorer. We start to use Mozzilla when we're home. I really don't care which software or OS I use. I want something that works. We're beyond the stage of flirting with the computer system. It's just a tool to get the job done.

I still don't understand why other people get viruses. I seldom get anything. What websites are they all visiting? The only time I got a serious infection was by WORM when I lived in Florida. I had to format the hard drive and rewrite my resume, which almost broke my heart.

头孢拉定胶囊

昨天才知道，原来Biajee吃的药叫做头孢拉定胶囊。 Biajee说其别名叫做“先锋六号”，对治疗淋病亦有一定作用。我随便看了一下包装盒，才发现此药在2006年1月1日已经过期。Biajee 已经连吃了3天过期两年的药了，怪不得他的病总也不好。

Biajee仍然很得意，津津有味地吃着头孢拉定胶囊， 还说自己的病好了多亏了过期药。大概男人都是这样子吧。

晚上在Sears的网站订了全套110磅的举重设备。最便宜的一种杠是分成两三段的，我很不喜欢。这种东西大概一辈子就买一次，当然不能太差，否则天天用着多窝心。最漂亮的一种是由各种颜色的铁饼组成，总重300磅。我很喜欢，但是里面大多数的铁饼我不但拿不动，而且永远也不会用，于是只好选了一套总重小而又是一整块铸铁的杠铃。反正我只用5磅和2.5磅的，其他的可以当镇纸。

华尔街今天又有谣言，说我们公司要被订书器公司收购了。我们公司的股票一度狂飙百分之四十，直到荷兰总部出来辟谣才稳住。我们公司开始在每星期五发放免费的星巴克咖啡了，条件是一定要自带非一次性的杯子。这是个鼓励大家热爱环境的活动。如果布什少做些孽，环境也许会好很多。在吃空了国库之后，他终于准备衣锦还乡了。

NY Giants

NY Giants won the Super Bowl game against New England Patriots last night by 17 vs 14. It was a great game. Biajee cheered for the Giants because he didn't want New England to win both baseball and football this year.

I cooked and watched Arnold most of the time, but was still able to catch the touchdowns. Giants played really well. We like Manning a lot. They deserve the championship. Tom Brady is too arrogant. Patriots is destined to fail.

Biajee has been sick all weekend. He is taking some weird antibiotics brought from China without any doctor's prescriptions. He had fevers and headaches yesterday. Hopefully he won't give it to Arnold.

We went skiing on Saturday, but Biajee couldn't ski because he wasn't feeling well. We left home before 7 am but still got to the mountains around 10 am. We should have left around 6 am to beat the traffic. I-70 is a ridiculous road during ski season.