UP UP UP (by an unknown author)

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language.

Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that's probably true of many languages.) There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v]. It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election andwhy is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. And this UP is confusing:A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP ! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sizeddictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now ........my time is UP , so time to shut UP!

Oh...one more thing:What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night ?

U P

Don't mess UP. Now I'll shut UP...

You're my Knight in Shiny Armor

During my month long stay in San Francisco I’ve met up with many great friends in San Francisco. Among those married ones kids seem to be the most talked about topic. Everest and Donna just had their second child, baby girl Brooke; Eri had her second kid a year ago and yes! It’s a boy again. Melody had a 21 month old boy named Aiden. Tony & Trish finally had their first child a year ago and they are very happy with Emily. Rochelle is now 8 years old and Blake is so fortunate to have her. She’s gotta be the smartest 8 year old!

Two years ago when I turned 34 I vowed to meet my Mr. Right before the age of 35. And it turns out that I’ve knew him all along.

We met five years ago at Rouge. It was a night I was supposed to hang out with college pals. He’s not an alumni but he’s friends with quite a few of them. He came along for a few drinks. Without any formal introduction he approached me. The music was so loud that I could barely hear him. It was like a shouting match back and forth and half of the time I had no idea what he said.

“Time’s up…take your booty call outside…the bar is closed…” the bouncer shouted at the crowd. It’s 10 till 2 am and he realized that he’s running out of time. In the midst of looking for my friends and moving toward the exit, he asked me out, “Would you like to go on a date with me?” Do you like sushi? I’ll take you out for excellent sushi!” Me? Of course, I love raw fish! Dude, you’re on!

Before our official first date he called me a lot. Once he called on while I was trying on dresses at bebe. He must enjoy talking to me ‘cuz I was literally half naked in the dressing room and talking on my cell for 20 minutes if not longer.

He lived in the East Bay and I was by Potrero Hills. Our first date was slated for 7 on a Saturday. He called at 6:45 and said that he would be 30 minutes late. Those 30 minutes turned into one hour and one hour became 90 minutes. I got all dressed up and nowhere to go! My roommate felt so bad for me that he was ready to take me to Blow Fish, a popular sushi restaurant within walking distance from our house.

He finally showed up and it was almost 9 pm! I thought we both lived in the Bay Area, not LA area. I’ll be the first one to admit that a date that requires two hours of a drive is not worth going.

The original plan must be off. He took me to Basil, a Thai restaurant in SoMa. I love Thai food but all day long I was immersed in the thought of raw fish. Instead I was fed Tom Yum soup, papaya salad and green curry chicken. I didn’t want to make a scene by giving him hell for being two hours late. We had good conversations and he asked a lot of questions, ranging from “what do your parents do for a living” to “do you like kids”; and yet he didn’t pose the standard question, “do you have a boyfriend?”

After dinner he took me straight home. He parked in front of our garage and then he said, “I had a great time tonight. I would like to see you again. Next time we’ll have sushi!”

“If there’s a next time, can you at least be on time and be here as you promise? Why should I wait for two hours when I can drive myself there, have dinner and be back home already…..” I just had to get it off my chest.

“Hush, kiss me already!” he started kissing me and this make-out session soon became the highlight of the evening! If I could do him right there it would be one night to remember! But I could sense that my roommate was watching us from the window ledge right above the garage. Damn it!

Once he invited me to spend a weekend together at Monterey. I love weekend getaway and boy was I glad that I said yes. It was the most romantic weekend ever. We arrived in a sunny Friday afternoon. After checking in we wasted no time and jumped into bed right away. It was a true testimony proving that mind blowing sex does exist. A few times I was almost out of breath but I would be very happy to die in the midst of climax. It was bright and sunny outside when we went into our room. We didn’t make it to dinner ‘till much later that night. I don’t recall what we had for dinner but I do remember walking around the touristy downtown area, hand in hand like two madly in love newly wed.

For the entire weekend we did act like two lovers on their honeymoon. We were inseparable. Even when we waited in line for brunch he would hold me in his arms. It was lovey-dovey to the extreme!

Before we checked out my Tiffany necklace accidentally fell into the faucet and we tried to get it out but failed. So he called housekeeping and the janitor came to our rescue. On our way back he proposed to stop by Gilroy to see his dad. I was not ready to meet the parent. It wasn’t part of the plan as far as I was concerned. But he said that it was his father’s birthday and it would be a pleasant surprise to stop by. Darn, I had to be home in time to get ready for my date with my boyfriend then before 7. Otherwise I would be so busted.

Somehow he convinced me to meet his dad and stepmother. Hell we even picked up a present before showing up. Aside from this unexpected incident of “meet the parent” I thought we had a great time. I remember telling him how much I enjoyed the mini vacation as I was getting out of his car. And he promised to call me later that week.

Monday went by. Tuesday went by. I didn’t hear from him on Wednesday either. By the 5th day I received a call from him. He sounded rather cold and unfriendly on the phone. I thought to myself, “why bother calling me if you’re in such a lousy mood?! Do you wanna share your pain and sorrow?!”

“I told my friends about our trip to Monterey and we’re wondering why you haven’t called to thank me for such a great time yet. You’re ungrateful..” said this cold voice on the phone.

I was astounded to hear what he had to say. It just seemed so weird that I couldn’t finger on it. He disappeared for a few weeks and resurfaced again when I moved into Nob Hill. We went on a date and had dinner at House of Nanking. On the way back to my apartment he scolded me for being rude and insensitive to the waitress. WHAT?! You gotta kidding me…Thank god that we kissed and made up. In fact it was one amazing makeup sex. Otherwise I would continue to ridicule his sometimes weird behavior. Not long after that I left San Francisco for Taiwan. And we lost contact ever since.

In September 2007 the day I arrived in San Francisco for my 34th birthday he sent me an Email. He said that he was cleaning out inbox and came across the Email I’ve sent to all my friends upon my departure from San Francisco in 2004. That’s more than 3 & 1/2 years ago and he’s just reading it now?!

Isn’t that amazing? More than 3 & 1/2 years later he finally discovered my Email, not knowing that I’ve been gone all this time. I wrote him back immediately and he called me up right away. “I’ve thought about you over the years,” he said.

For some odd reason we didn’t get to meet up in person. My trip was extremely short. It was only a total of 9 days…unfortunately we missed each other again.

Usually prior to my arrival in San Francisco I would send an Email to friends and let them know where to find me during my stay. His Email address was bounced back. I didn’t think much about it until the day my date was late picking me up and I had a little extra time to kill. I began cleaning out my inbox and came across his Email from last year in which he provided new contact information.

I decided to give it a try and see what happens. And just like that only minutes after I left the house he called me up. It was so good to hear from him.

I had to get off the phone because dinner was about to start. He asked me to call him when I got home. It was late when I called it a night and he didn’t pick up when I tried to ring him up.

The next day I had a plan to meet up with friends for happy hour drinks. I invited him to join us or pick me up afterwards for dinner. I was very excited about meeting him after nearly 5 years. The moment when I laid my eyes on him, he stood next to his car in a purple velvet jacket. Oh man, I was in love all over again.

We first went to Houston’s and were told that the wait for a table was 30 minutes. We kept ourselves busy by staying inseparable. But then we didn’t feel like spending all that time waiting. So we went up to North Beach for some great Italian food where waiting in line was not required. I remember looking at him across the table, and thinking to myself, “We belong together.” While we waited for the valet boy he grabbed me by the waist and kissed me passionately. It was so passionate that we didn’t even care that we put on a free show by the curb for everyone to see!

The next day he called and I literally bust into tears hearing what he had to say, “You rock my world and I want more! I love you and you’re the person I would want to have my baby. I knew you’re the one for me five years ago when we first met. But you treated me like every other guy and we’re too young then. Would you like to try a You & Me thing?”

That kiss sealed the deal and I’ve found my knight in shiny armor – my king – my everything!

2009 New Year Resolution...Oops January New Month Resolution

I gave up making New Year resolutions a long time ago because usually by January 31 I would forget all about it as if it never happened. And yet most people still have a habit of making resolutions. A friend says that he will quit drinking for 10 months until the next holiday season comes along. A friend says she will drop 20 lbs. in one year. A friend says he will stop being a flake and show up when he promises to be there.

The cover story in this month’s Glamour magazine, CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN 31 DAYS, suggests that instead of trying to stick to your resolution for a whole year you should try it out for the first month of the year. And the results are quite surprising! One woman wore lipstick wherever she went and “I got my sexy back,” said the woman. One woman talked to strangers. She started out with small things like asking for the time to giving her number to a man on the street. She now feels more open than ever before. One woman wore dresses everyday and she not only gained more respect at work but also received more second looks on the street. One woman quit Starbucks for 30 days and saved $465!

My new month resolution is to quit drinking in the month of January. So far so good. No one has given me any hard time about it. Usually I leave my car at home since I know I’ll be intoxicated. Now I drive to all the dinners and parties so that I have the perfect excuse. It pisses me off when some guy said, “if you don’t drink with me you give me no face!” Dude, do I care about your face? I don’t even like you. Step aside before I will have to run you over with my car! Besides my car is valued like 100 times more than your freakin’ fucgly (fucking ugly) face!

One good advantage I discover from quitting drinking is that I don’t get the midnight cravings anymore. I wonder if there’s any correlation between alcohol consumption and

I also quit chewing guns due to doctor’s order. Unfortunately my face is still as round as the full moon. There is no sign of my face deflating from round to oval shape.

Time to think of a new month resolution for the month of February…what’s my next sin?

Miss Frenemy (Frienemy)

Frenemy or Frienemy: 取friend 的前半段和enemy合成的字，一般字典是查不到的

我真心誠意的說，最毒婦人心！

俗話說的好，最毒婦人心！如果你不相信這句話，那麼表示你沒有親身體驗過女人的心狠手辣，缺乏第一手經驗的你是很難理解到底女人的心機有多重！我真心誠意的說，最毒婦人心！唉，我非常同情男人，因為這年頭的女人實在是太愛搞心理戰術，男人根本就招架不住，

在我的社交圈裡，我曾經認識一些女人，尤其是三十五歲以上，要接近四十歲的單身熟女，她們心機頗重，也許是因為還小姑獨處，她們會為了心儀的男人而翻臉不認人。平時與其他女性朋友交往都相安無事，一旦有男人介入友情，頓時讓人搞不清楚她到底是敵是友，友情變調的速度比翻書還快！

從自己姐妹淘的社交圈認識到新的異性朋友安全性是比較高的，因為這就表示至少他是經過同性朋友的認可，這是好事。但是如果介紹你們認識的姐妹自己也對這個男人有興趣，甚至已經暗戀他一陣子，這一段友情從此受到嚴重的考驗。

我和Miss Frenemy認識至少七年了，這期間我們不但一起出國去旅行過，也常常一同參加不少吃喝玩樂的活動。不過，我們的友誼在一次香港之旅後起了變化，從此她對我的態度一百八十度變，我正式告示天下，她是我的Frenemy。

我可以感受到強烈的性暗示，他的食指不停的在我的手掌心畫圈圈

話說有一年聖誕節，我們十來個朋友相約在香港過節，一群感情不錯的朋友一起在異鄉過聖誕節是多麼的令人期待！

我們抵達香港的第一晚，Miss Frenemy約了一個原本來自紐約的ABC，目前在香港中環的金融圈工作的男性友人在蘭桂坊的酒吧碰面。

任誰也沒有想到，當晚在香港的蘭桂坊，一齣好戲正要上場！

當Miss Frenemy向我介紹這位年輕有為的ABC男，他的眼神很直接的告訴我：「I like you！You and I can be more than just friends！」

我是個觀察力很敏銳的人，尤其對於男女之間的事，我的第六感神準！在第一次見面的時候，如果男人用那種很溫馨卻又超級友善的表情看著我，經驗老道的我可是心中有數。再加上一個有力卻又溫暖的握手，我很清楚，這個男人的心已經隨我的裙襬在蕩漾不已！如果我當下邀他去跳海，他會傻不隆冬的跟我一起去跳！

ABC男滿臉笑容，他的大手緊握著我的小手，我可以感受到強烈的性暗示，他的食指不停的在我的手掌心畫圈圈。哇，我們才第一次見面就如此大膽的表示自己的慾望，好一陣子沒有遇到這麼直接的男人了！

一顰一笑，舉手投足都在在的表現出她對於這個ABC男的高度興趣和性趣。

我們三個坐在吧台，ABC男被我們像三明治一樣，夾坐在我們倆的中間。我坐在他的左手邊，坐在他右邊的Miss Frenemy使出渾身解數，大膽的用言語和肢體動作挑逗他。一顰一笑，舉手投足都在在的表現出她對於這個ABC男的高度興趣和性趣。她幾乎是整個胸部貼著ABC男的手肘，而她的右手也非常不安份的在ABC男的大腿上游走。

我不知道旁人看了有什麼想法，但是Miss Frenemy明顯的的佔有慾讓我目瞪口呆！她絲毫沒有要給ABC男任何空間呼吸，深怕他一轉身就會被別的女人搶走。有趣的是，ABC男很有禮貌的看著她，還不時面帶微笑，對於Miss Frenemy的熱情，卻完全不為所動。

然而就在這時候，他的左手卻開始不安分，我可以感覺到他的左手悄悄的在我的大腿之間移動。哈哈，檯面下的和檯面上的比起來毫不遜色，甚至更為精彩！

我想，Miss Frenemy一定很會憋尿，不然她的膀胱真的可以裝得比較多喔！因為她至少連喝了三杯調酒，但是卻連一次洗手間都沒去過。好不容易，她也終於有尿急的時候，Miss Frenemy匆忙的丟下一句話：「Don’t go anywhere！I’ll be right back。」之後便火速的衝向洗手間。

趁著Miss Frenemy不在現場的短短幾分鐘，我趕緊問ABC男：「You two know each other for some time now。Don’t tell me that you don’t know that she has the hots for you！Aren’t you supposed to do something about it？」？

ABC男回答：「I really appreciate it。But now that I’ve met you，I’m drawn to you。When it comes to something like this，you can’t force it。I gotta go with what my heart tells me！」

我還在思索ABC男的這一番話，還來不及反應，只見Miss Frenemy急急忙忙的跳上座位，大聲的對我們問道：「What have I missed？」

我和ABC男互相看了一眼，兩個人一句話也沒說，卻很有默契的同時搖搖頭。

夜深了，蘭桂坊也要打烊了，ABC男走到bartender面前去買單，卻不經意的讓之前解下來的領帶滑落地上。這時Miss Frenemy以迅雷不及掩耳的速度把領帶撿起來，然後就當著我的面，裝做若無其事的把領帶收進自己的手提包。

我還來不及思考這個動作代表著什麼意思，ABC男就吆喝我們往門口的方向移動。走沒幾步路，一輛計程車停在我們面前。在一陣陣擁抱和親吻臉頰，互道晚安之後，ABC男就把我們送上車。

那天晚上我和Miss Frenemy回到飯店，梳洗一番之後就各自上床睡覺，只有客套式的寒喧，隻字不提今晚在蘭桂坊發生的一切。但是我感覺的到，這不過只是戰爭前的寧靜，一場爭奪大戰正準備要上演！

你要像Miss Frenemy一樣，適時的懂得給自己創造機會！

第二天下午，我和Miss Frenemy在中環逛街。走著走著，她的腳步突然停下來，然後她對我說：「I just remember that he left his tie in my purse。I believe his office is somewhere nearby。Why don’t you keep shopping while I go find him and return his tie。I’ll call you later！」

這時我才恍然大悟，為什麼Miss Frenemy昨晚把領帶收到自己的皮包裡！這個女人的手段真的高招，要不是親眼目睹發生的經過，我大概也不會相信這種事情在現實生活發生！我終於知道為什麼女人的心思必須要細膩，就是為了將來要和其他女人競爭！有句話說：「機會是留給準備好的人！」果真沒錯，而且大家一定要像Miss Frenemy一樣，適時的懂得給自己創造機會，不然好運都沒有機會上門！

就在這時，我的手機響起，一聽，我差點沒笑出來；我對她說：「Let’s save you some troubles。The owner of this tie is on the phone，asking if we’re free to meet him for dinner！Should I tell him YES？」

Miss Frenemy一臉難以置信的表情，失望的連話都說不出來。她只能無奈的看著我點點頭。真是不好意思，簡單的一通電話讓她的計畫破局，她大概也沒料到會有這樣無言的結局！

本來我們之間的交情還算不錯的，但是自從那一次從香港回來之後，似乎她對我的態度就沒有以前熱絡，再也不見她約我一起去跑趴。

事隔沒多久，我們在一個共同朋友的生日派對上遇到，在一陣假惺惺的噓寒問暖和擁抱之後，她面帶得意的說：「Guess what？Yesterday I received an Email from him and he said he’s on his way to Taipei on a business trip。He’s going to stay for 2 to 3 days and we’ll probably meet for dinner！」

啊，妳來這一招，漂亮！

我清清我的喉嚨，雖然是帶著平常心，但是以頗為驕傲的態度對她說：「That’s nice！I met up with him for dinner last night and he asks me to say hi to you on his behalf！」

女人何必如此自相殘殺？我們更不需要為了男人而傷了友情！我相信男朋友是可以淘汰換新，但是姐妹淘是做一輩子的。如果Miss Frenemy沒有故意在我面前炫耀，我根本也懶得提我和ABC男吃飯的事。何必做這種互相傷感情的事呢？

女人最大的天敵就是女人

在一個週五晚上的聚餐，我的姐妹淘V小姐單槍匹馬出席一場聚會，Miss Frenemy約了一個叫Jason的朋友一起來。她萬萬想不到V小姐和Jason一見如故，兩人聊天之後發現更投緣，話匣子一開就沒完沒了。

就在這兩個新朋友正準備交換聯絡方式，Miss Frenemy卻在此時說她急著要先走，硬是把Jason整個人往門口的方向拉，說什麼她和Jason都住內湖，可以共乘一台計程車，一起回家。留下一臉茫然又措手不及的V小姐！

隔天晚上我們大夥又約出來喝小酒，V小姐特別打電話給Miss Frenemy，表示她對Jason有興趣，希望她可以幫忙約Jason一起來。邀請函都還沒送出去，Miss Frenemy就跟V小姐說不要抱著太大希望，因為Jason今晚應該有事不能來。

V小姐跟我抱怨Miss Frenemy這個朋友很不夠意思，居然不太願意幫忙自己的姐妹淘牽個好姻緣。

我心想：「什麼叫做應該有事？都還沒開口約，就可以未卜先知他不能來喔？難不成她是Jason的行事錄，對於他的行蹤非常清楚。我看，是希望他不要來吧！」

果然被我料到，當我和V小姐抵達台北知名的爵士樂俱樂部Brown Sugar的時候，不見一絲Jason的蹤影。

V小姐氣極敗壞的對我說：「Why is she doing this to me？I told her that I like this guy and I wanna see him again！」

當被問到為何Jason沒有來的原因，Miss Frenemy就一副無所謂，面無表情的樣子看著我們，一句話也沒說。

V小姐是個很有企圖心的女孩子。她不甘示弱的說：「Just give me Jason’s number and I’ll call him up myself！」

當著所有人面前做出這樣的要求，Miss Frenemy只能心不甘情不願的把號碼報上。

我相信類似這種女人和女人之間的戰爭每天都在上演。其實以友情的角度看來，女人還不及男人來得忠心！然而女人最大的天敵就是女人，一旦兩個原本是姐妹淘的女人看上同一個男人，從此明爭暗鬥的較勁不斷，除非這個男人有本事說服這兩個女人跟他在床上來一段三P，不然他也沒什麼好日子過。

女人啊女人，妳又何苦為難自己的姐妹，我們不是應該團結起來對付男人的嗎？妳怎麼可以在男人還沒脫褲子之前，就忘了誰才是站在妳這一邊的呢？

A Love That's Not Meant to Be

The first Tuesday of each month is free museum day at the Legion of Honor, de Young Museum and SF MOMA. He and I began our free museum day early, hoping to visit all three museums in one day. He told me that he was excited last night when he thought about spending a whole day with me. It was like our first date all over again. But the truth is that we first met in March 2003 and that’s more than five years ago.

The last time we saw each other was March 2006 and that’s when our relationship ended. Like most couples we had a lot of drama together but we had our fair share of fun as well. Not every relationship resulted in marriage but I always knew that he loved me wholeheartedly. When we were together, I felt very much loved. He could never take his hands off me. He would always hold my hand when we walked down the street. He would kiss me constantly, from my forehead, my cheeks, my lips, to my neck, my arms and even my feet. He would carry me in his arms or put me on his lap. He had so much love and affection for me that I don’t know if I’ll ever meet another person who loved me as much as he did. You may wonder why I gave up on such a loving relationship. Let’s just say that sometimes love ain’t enough.

Hanging out with an ex-boyfriend is something that I can get used to easily. I tend to keep in touch with men from my past. He understands me and knows all there is to know about me, including my pet peeves and my passion. He knows that I cannot stand messy apartments and my all-time favorite breakfast place is Home Plate on Lombard Street. By all means he knows me well and has figured me out long ago when we were still an item.

It’s a gorgeous day in San Francisco and we’ve just finished checking out the Legion of Honor. The fog was slowly disappearing and the view was absolutely stunning. And he asked the million dollar question:

“Do you still love me?”

Just like that, loud and clear he threw me off. He’s asked me that question before but I totally didn’t see it coming this time around.

Without saying a word, I just smiled.

“It’s either a YES or No, simple as that.” He pursued it further.

“I will take the Fifth on that question. I have a feeling that this is a tricky question.”

Honestly I don’t know how to answer his question and I probably need some time to think it over.

“You love me! I know you and you’re not the kind of person who has troubles making up her mind, especially when the answer is as simple as a YES or NO.” he grimes.

Is that right? Am I still in love with him or simply enjoying the affection from a man who still loves me dearly?

He said he thought about marrying me before I broke up with him. What?! Why tell me now? Why now? What does it mean?

“If we’ve gotten married, then you would become an instant grandmother!”

His younger son is 23 years old this year and a father of two little girls.

Me? A grandmother?! I don’t even plan on becoming a mother! Marrying you will be unthinkable!

Piecettes 小銅板牛排

Piecettes 小銅板牛排
Hours / 營業時間
Daily 11:00 am – 10:00 pm﹙last order by 9:30 pm﹚
每天 11:00 am – 10:00 pm﹙點餐最晚至9:30 pm﹚
02-2536-7553
2F No.112 Chung-Shan North Road Taipei﹙in-between Shuanglian & Minquan W. Road station﹚
台北市中山北路二段112號2樓﹙近雙連/民權西路捷運站﹚
Credit Cards Accepted / 10% Service Charge 可刷卡 / 一成服務費
www.piecettes.com.tw
www.小銅板牛排.com.tw

景氣即使惡化，美食還是不能少！小銅板牛排以米其林指南的美食消費標準推出平價西餐，佔地兩百坪的空間可以容納188位客人，在寬敞舒適的空間用餐，完全不輸五星級水準的牛排館！以開放式廚房讓客人了解烹煮過程，一旁的透明玻璃櫃展示著進口的大塊牛肉。

喜歡輕食的可以單點沙拉或湯品﹙均一價49元﹚，開胃菜59元。義大利麵價位只有169元和199元，主菜兩種價位—249元和349元。義大利麵和主菜皆可升級為套餐，僅加199元，便享有麵包、開胃菜、湯、沙拉、甜點及飲料一共六道的副餐。

11月29日開幕以來，周邊的上班族和學生族群絡繹不絕，對於鍾愛安格斯牛肉的消費者而言，小銅板牛排是個美夢成真，以如此平民的價位品嚐高檔的牛肉！重視健康的客人可以安心享用，因為安格斯牛必須在最自然的環境成長，完全沒有被注射抗生素或荷爾蒙。小銅板牛小排﹙349元﹚的肉質甜嫩，漢堡排義大利麵﹙199元﹚把孩子最愛的兩樣食物做成一道美味的菜，連大人也無法抗拒！芥茉香酥烤半雞﹙249元﹚香氣四溢，提供不吃牛肉客人的另一選擇。

The economy might worsen in the coming days. But life goes on and we still need to enjoy good food. Piecettes is about 7,200 square feet and this leisure dining space has a capacity of 188 people. It aims to provide quality food and services and yet its pricing is based on the Michelin Guideline for inexpensive gourmet. When you dine in this spacious restaurant you will feel as if you’re in a five star steakhouse. The open kitchen overlooks the dining room and customers can take a peak on the food preparation. And next to the open kitchen is the see-through meat storage where you’ll see huge blocks of frozen beef in the process of defrosting.

If you prefer light meals you can order a soup or salad﹙NT49 each﹚or appetizer﹙NT59﹚. Pasta is either priced NT169 or NT199 and two price ranges for main course: NT249 and NT349. With an additional of NT199 pasta and main courses can be upgraded to a set meal, including bread, appetizer, soup, salad, dessert and one beverage.

Since its opening on November 29th 2008 many students from an adjacent high school and people who work within the area have flocked to Piecettes. For fans of CAB – certified Angus Beef Piecettes is a dream comes true because it allows them to enjoy such high quality of beef with inexpensive prices. For fans of healthy diet you can assure that cattle grew up in a natural environment, are never injected antibiotics or hormones and only fed the top quality grains. CAB short ribs of beef﹙NT349﹚is tender and sweet. Kids as well as adults will love spaghetti with Hamburger steak﹙NT199﹚because it has two of everybody’s favorite food: Spaghetti and hamburger meat! Roasted half spring chicken﹙NT249﹚is juicy and full of aroma and it’s a popular alternative for those who cannot eat beef.

FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL﹙Chinese Title: 舊愛，還是最美﹚

FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL﹙Chinese Title: 舊愛，還是最美﹚
Releasing Date in Taiwan: January 30th 2009

Some say that Daniel Craig is by far the unsexiest 007 Bond ever but no one can deny the fact that he’s a great actor. He can star in a so-so film and his performance actually adds brownie points.

In FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL Daniel Craig plays Joe, an English actor who has fame & fortune but loses himself in drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex. He gets a call from his mother to inform him that his best friend from childhood has passed away. As Joe attempts suicide by drowning himself in the ocean then his memory takes us back to his adolescence years and unravels the mystery of his sudden departure from home 25 years ago. And it will help the viewers to understand why Joe’s life is in such a mess when he seems to have it all as a Hollywood star.

As adults we often forget how to live in the moment like kids and yet we’re affected (mentally or internally) by a major event took place in our younger years. It might be something tragic too. For Joe his bitter sweet teenage years left a permanent scar on him.

You might feel a sense of nostalgia or even sadness throughout this film. As Joe reminisces about his first love you begin to think about yours. Life waits for no one. So you just have to move on and be the best person you can be. Don’t dwell on the past. Let bygones be bygone!

By the way it’s surprising to see Eve﹙the singer﹚portray Joe’s housekeeper / assistant. Even though it’s a very small part at first I can hardly recognize her without the usual rapper outfit and makeup. She’s a convincing personal assistant with an attitude!

The theme song for FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL is If There Is Something by Roxy Music. The most important scene in the film is when Joe dances to this song with his first love in her living room. “…Shake your hair girl with your ponytail. Takes me right back (when you were young)…” There is love in the air!

If There Is Something by Roxy Music (Lyrics by Bryan Ferry)

If there is something that I might find
Look around corners
Try to find peace of mind I say
Where would you go if you were me
Try to keep a straight course not easy
Somebody special looking at me
A certain reaction we find
What should it try to be I mean
If there are many
Meaning the same
Be specific just a game

I would do anything for you
I would climb mountains
I would swim all the oceans blue
I would walk a thousand miles
Reveal my secrets
More than enough for me to share
I would put roses round our door
Sit in the garden
Growing potatoes by the score

Shake your hair girl with your ponytail
Takes me right back (when you were young)
Throw your precious gifts into the air
Watch them fall down (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The hills were higher (when we were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The trees were taller (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
The grass was greener (when you were young)
Lift up your feet and put them on the ground
You used to walk upon (when you were young)

BBQ at Bagel Bagel

We're Family! One big happy family...

Darts Mania Year End BBQ Party

Darts Mania was introduced to me by Vicky last September and ever since it has become one of my favorite hangouts in Taipei. Shooting darts is quite fun and it somehow relieves stress & pressure. And I was flattered to be invited to the year end party for Darts Mania.

After a week of cold weather a warm breeze came into town and we had a BBQ in a garden that belongs to Bagel Bagel, a private dining restaurant.

It was nice to have BBQ & marshmallows / beer & wine / boyz & girls all together for a relaxing sunny afternoon.

Darts Mania 花鳥風月: No.409-1 Section 4 Jen-Ai Road 仁愛路四段409號之一
02-2775-4800

Bagel Bagel 私宅餐廳: No.11 Lane 229 Lung-Chiang Road 龍江路229巷11號
02-2508-1601

Saturday Night

Chilling at the lounge bar inside of Hotel Sense...Can't believe it. I'm 35 and the man in the picture with me is 25 going on 26 in days. I remember my 25. The days when I only cared about being Happy go lucky / Happy Hapy Joy Joy!

Grand Torino 經典老爺車

Clint Eastwood may be a Hollywood legend but I never really care much for him as an actor. In all five of the Dirty Harry movies he had just one facial expression. During production period there were rumors about Grand Torino being number 6th in the Dirty Harry series. Also there have been speculations that GRAND TORINO may be the last film that Eastwood would star as the leading protagonist.

As the age of 78 Clint Eastwood starred in GRAND TORINO as Walt Kowalski. Walt is a disgruntled Korean War veteran in Detroit appears to be somewhat of a racist at first as he complains about Asian people taking over the neighborhood. Gradually he befriends his next door neighbors and becomes more and more involved in their lives. In the end he has to make a life-and-death decision in order to let justice prevail. GRNAD TORINO begins and ends with a funeral.

One of Eastwood’s children, Scott Eastwood has a small role in the film. Let’s see if you can find out which one is he. And the original music is produced by Eastwood’s eldest son, Kyle Eastwood. I know most people don’t sit through the credits in the end. But I highly recommend you stay tuned as the credits begin to roll. You’ll hear the title song performed by Clint Eastwood first and then followed by Jamie Callum. Eastwood’s vocal brings me a sense of nostalgia and it’s almost like an ending to an old era where all-American alpha-male was once powerful.

Releasing date in Taiwan：27th February 2009

我們曾經一起工作過 Once Upon A Time We Worked Together on TV Shopping

我們四個人曾經身為同一個購物台的購物專家，其實我並不眷戀過去的生活，但是不知道為什麼每次聚餐，話題總離不開購物台。難道就不能把活動圈往外拉大一點，除了購物台，這世界上還有很多成千上萬的工作啊!

The four of us used to work as the TV salesmen on momo shopping network. Honestly I don't really miss those days. But for some reason whenever we meet up for dinner the conversation is always surrounded the shopping network. Why can't we extend the social circle outward a bit? Aside from TV shopping there are tens and thousands of jobs in this world!

Hsiang The Brunch 向The Brunch

Hsiang The Brunch 向The Brunch
Hours / 營業時間
Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 10:30 pm; Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 10:30 pm﹙last order by 9:00 pm﹚
週一至週五8:00 am – 10:30 pm; 週六日10 am – 10:30 pm﹙點餐最晚至9:00 pm﹚
02-8771-8258
No.18 Lane 236 Section 1 Dun-Hua South Road Taipei
台北市敦化南路一段236巷18號
Credit Cards Accepted / 10% Service Charge 可刷卡 / 一成服務費

Louise Hsiang’s dream was to open a restaurant that specialized in brunch. Now she owns two – the second one just opened last November next to Dun-Nan SOGO department store. Residents in the neighborhood as well as parents whose children attend a nearby private school have changed their lifestyle because of Hsiang The Brunch. They rise and shine early for a hearty brunch. The dreamy looking building and the pink-purple interior provide a fairytale like dining environment, making it difficult for customers to wake up from this doll house!

All the newest items are marked with a star sign on the menu. Aside from the signature brunch dishes there are also pasta and risotto available as alternative choices. Recently many medical doctors and dieticians claim that breakfast is the more important meal of the day and therefore you should eat like a king. Italian style Hsiang’s brunch set menu﹙NT540﹚is luxurious and affordable, providing you enough energy for the entire day! The set includes mimosa﹙or cranberry yogurt smoothie﹚, vegetable frittata, bacon Caesar salad, three kinds of bread, soup of the day, risotto with sausages & mushrooms, pan-fried veal with mashed potato in rosemary sauce and vanilla panna cotta. Brunch is served all day long, using imported meat and organic vegetables and eggs. When ordering brunch a glass of treetop apple juice and a cup of tea or coffee are complimentary. Hsiang The Brunch only offers the finest coffee beans from Julius Meinl – Vienna’s leading specialty coffee for 145 years. It’s valued at NT550 per 1/2 lb. and its taste is unforgettable!

Spinach cheese egg benedict﹙NT340﹚is two open-face corn English muffins with spinach, cheddar cheese, two sunny side-up eggs, fresh hollandaise sauce and potato O’Brien. You’ll feel like a royalty. As for afternoon tea you can choose one dessert to go with one coffee drink for NT250. Fondant an chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream﹙NT200 / a la carte﹚and café Latte﹙NT160 / regular﹚are the most requested light meal combo! It is ideal for ladies who watch out for their figures and for one afternoon they can eat and drink like princesses.

立志要開一家專門提供早午餐的餐廳，向加如至今擁有兩家餐廳，去年11月在敦南SOGO旁開幕的第二家向The Brunch，吸引附近的住戶和貴族學校的家長一大早就上門吃豐盛的早午餐。如夢似夢的建築和粉紫色的裝潢讓顧客彷彿置身在童話世界裡，捨不得離開！

菜單上附有星號的都是最新推出的菜色，除了早午餐之外，也有義大利麵和燉飯。有醫生提倡最豐盛、最重要的一餐是早餐，義式早午餐套餐﹙540元﹚絕對讓你體驗到帝王般的豪華，一整天活力十足！法國香檳﹙或蔓越莓奶昔﹚、蔬菜雞蛋派、培根凱薩沙拉、三種麵包、熱湯、香腸野菇奶油燉飯、煎烤牛肋排和義大利奶酪。全天候提供早午餐，以進口肉類和有機蔬菜、雞蛋為食材，搭配美國進口的蘋果汁、茶或頂級奧地利咖啡﹙茉莉曼尼﹚，這個品牌已經有145年的歷史，在市面上稀有且昂貴﹙1/2磅550元﹚，這會是一杯讓你念念不忘的咖啡！

菠菜起司班尼迪克蛋﹙340元﹚採用手工做的玉米英式鬆餅配上菠菜、兩顆太陽蛋、巧達起司、奶油蛋黃醬，意猶未盡的貴族享受！公主式的下午茶，任一甜點搭配一款咖啡只要250元，建議巧克力岩漿蛋糕佐香草冰淇淋﹙單點200元 / 費時15分鐘﹚配拿鐵咖啡﹙單點160元﹚，最美味的輕食推薦給耐心等待的美人兒！

你是不識字啊?! Are you dyslexia?!

我傳簡訊給一個朋友，內容是：明晚七點半吃炭烤加陶鍋，要一起來嗎？

簡訊傳出不到30秒，我收到他的答覆：好啊好啊，明天晚上幾點？

「ㄟ，你是不識字喔？！還是像湯姆克魯斯一樣有閱讀障礙？！上封簡訊明明就註明七點半啊！」

I sent a text message to a friend and it said, “Tomorrow night at 7:30. BBQ + hotpot dinner. Wanna come?”

Within 30 seconds I received his reply. “Sure! So what time are we meeting up tomorrow night?”

“Dude. Can’t you read?! What are you? Tom Cruise?! Are you dyslexia too? My sms clearly stated 7:30!”

【大辣宣言】SEX WITH LOVE ﹙2003﹚

Different strokes for different folks. Some say that love comes before sex while other claim that sex is sex and love is love. Whatever your belief may be, you’ll find at least one character to identify with in SEX WITH LOVE. A housewife who is so certain that love conquers all and sex is overrated ﹙sometimes painful﹚; a perpetual cheating husband who sleeps with every woman he lays his eyes on but swears that he is still madly in love with his pregnant wife; a scholar who proclaims that love and sex can be separated ends up falling in love with his fu*k buddy; and a seemingly happy young woman who’s torn between her live-in artist boyfriend and her older distinguished lover. Do any of these people seem familiar to you?

This Chilean movie is quite self-explanatory. Does love come before sex or the other way around? You can decide for yourself. After all it’s your life and you should be the master of your own path. All I have to say is that love is a wonderful thing and sex can be a mind blowing experience! SEX WITH LOVE will make you laugh so hard that you clap your hands and stomp your feet.

I do have one question though and maybe you can share your thoughts on this. When incidents such as cheating occur why do we call the person we’re lusting after “LOVER”??? So what does that make our boyfriend / girlfriend / husband / wife?!

【大辣宣言】2009年1月16日 長春戲院獨家上映

開懷大笑可減肥

（中央社記者黃貞貞倫敦12日專電）經濟不景氣，很多人恐怕很難開懷大笑，英國一項最新研究發現，大笑有令人驚喜的好處，不僅有助身體健康，還可以減重。

英國神經學家皮契爾（Dr Helen Pilcher ）接受UKTV Gold 頻道委託進行的研究指出，大笑一小時可以燃燒 100卡路里的熱量，約是一小包洋芋片及小條巧克力含的熱量。

皮契爾指出，大笑對身體猶如是「小規模的有氧運動」，心跳因此加快，心臟釋放更多血液到身體其它部位，同時胸腔上下振動，使胃部肌肉必須劇烈運動，有助肌肉緊實。

研究報告還指出，大笑可以強化免疫系統，有助身體對抗感冒等症狀，臉部肌肉也可以藉此獲得運動，有助肌膚緊緻。

研究報告說，一般要消耗 100卡路里需要舉重半小時，或在家吸地毯約45分鐘，但大笑一小時卻有同樣的效果。

皮契爾說，研究人員並不主張為了減重，整天觀看喜劇節目，同時要提醒民眾，在看這些令人捧腹大笑的節目時，不要吃巧克力等甜食，否則達不到瘦身的效果。

看到這則新聞還蠻開心的，以後被陌生人抱怨笑聲太大時，我會跟他說：「不好意思，我在減肥！」哈哈哈哈哈‧‧‧‧

認識我的朋友應該都有見識過我的大笑威力，我永遠是人未到，聲先到。每次去參加媒體試片，很多朋友只要聽到笑聲就知道我今天有出席，而且可以很清楚的辨識我究竟坐在那個方向。最重要的是，看喜劇片時如果坐在我旁邊，比較能夠進入狀況，即使聽不懂英文、看不懂幽默，只要我大笑，就跟著一起笑，從頭笑到尾，這樣也消耗不少卡路里啊！尤其是在看美國喜劇時，我的笑聲不但具有指標性的意義，也可以帶動大家一起來，甚至讓平時不好意思大笑的人完全解放，這是一種潛移默化的功效！

有一回朋友聚餐，由於餐廳位置比較偏僻，以為大家會找不到。「一走進巷子就隱約可以聽到你的笑聲，就循著聲音走進來，一到餐廳門口，我非常確定你們在這裡面，你的笑聲可是聽的清清楚楚！」GPS算什麼，我的笑聲一樣可以提供準確的定位，也不受天氣的影響！

其實我一直好奇我的笑聲有多少分貝，環保局是否可以因此開罰單給我？

有一次和幾個朋友在一家有戶外空間的酒館共進晚餐，這個大多數是住宅戶的四維路一過晚上九點，就變得鴉雀無聲。我們吃飯喝酒，越來越開心，音量也越來越大聲，我彷彿可以聽到自己笑聲的回音。我們興高采烈的，卻把對面國宅的老婆婆給吵醒了，她使勁的把分貝數拉高，「你們這些洋鬼子不要再吵了，閉嘴，通通給我閉嘴，吵死了！」可惜我的朋友都聽不懂中文，待我解釋過之後，個性最火爆的Jeremy，立即站起來對著國宅方向大罵：「You crazy old lady, you shut up!」這下子把老婆婆給惹毛了，中美對抗賽在隔空開火，直到餐館的服務生把我們請到室內坐，Jeremy才肯罷休。

記得有一年農曆春節，朋友的媽媽請我們一大票人到她家吃飯，手藝之好的媽媽讓我們吃的太好，讓大家全癱在沙發上動彈不得，最後只好一起看電視選秀節目打發時間。七嘴八舌，討論越來越激烈，突然聽到一個高分貝的尖銳女聲：「你們這些人有完沒完啊，三更半夜不睡覺，搞什麼東西！再吵我要打電話報警了！」哇，永和市的巷弄也太狹窄了，我以為那聲音來自距離我們不到三公尺的地方，好像要殺過來了！朋友的媽媽解釋對面住著一個老姑婆，常常對著鄰居鬼吼鬼叫的，叫我們別放在心上。

有個願望不知道今生是否可以達成。如果可以把我的笑聲錄成手機的來電答鈴，應該很屌！

Word of the Day：Ex-Hole means Asshole ex-husband or ex-boyfriend

We just finished a birthday dinner that lasted more than three hours. We had too much fun and decided to move the party to a night club afterwards. How little I knew what’s in store for me later on that night.

Some of us arrived at the club a few minutes earlier. As soon as I approached the bar the hostess pointed at the corner and said, “That’s V’s boyfriend sitting at that table with his friends. Do you guys want to join them?”

HELL NO! Why would I wanna do that?! Do I look insane or bored to death?!

I leaned over and broke the news to her, “In case you haven’t heard - they broke up a couple of months ago.”

“Oh. Oops!” she was apologetic and yet it’s really none of her business whom the customers are dating or breaking up with. Both ways alcohol is always needed and she will probably sell more alcohol when a break-up occurs.

As a concerned friend I sent a text message to V and warned her that this ex-hole﹙Asshole ex-boyfriend﹚was also in the club.

It turned out that she already knew ‘cuz this ex-hole had called and invited her to come along as he entertained clients.

I guess my worry was unnecessary.

Then V came in, looking all happy. Her ex-hole wasted no time and literally carried her toward his table.

This ex-hole has two failed marriages under his belt. And his company just declared bankruptcy. He’s the classic example of a good for nothing man. Let truth be told: as her friends none of us liked him the moment we met him. But we had to be nice ‘cuz she was in love with him. He broke up with her with the lamest reason. Now that they broke up we can finally speak freely about him and say what’s really on our minds. No holds barred.

Some of us must be annoyed by the scene: V was sitting with her ex-hole and they seemed to be having a good time drinking and chatting. Next thing I knew someone went over and semi-forced V to leave that table.

But the ex-hole wasn’t having it. He came by the dance floor where V and friends were singing and dancing and tried to grab her by her arm. But V’s friends wouldn’t let go of her. Soon it became a tug of war while some of us began giving him the evil eyes. It was not only silly but ugly. To make matter worse V was sobbing. By now we’re agitated by this ex-hole and his foolish actions.

Then this dumb ex-hole decided to try a different approach. He turned to us – V’s friends and wanted to explain why they broke up. No one would even look at him. His attempts were in vain and nobody would pay attention to him.

In the midst of this mess he cornered me and asked the unthinkable, “Why are you mean to me?”

Dude, you’re the one who broke my friend’s heart and I’m the one who’s being mean to you?! You’re seriously delirious!

“Can you at least let me explain to you what happened? You don’t even know half of the story.” he begged me.

“Why bother wasting time on something like this? Let bygones by bygone. I don’t care if I only know half of the story or even less. I couldn’t care less. To us you’re nobody before you met her. Upon first encounter we didn’t like you but couldn’t say it. When you broke off the relationship you became our public enemy. It’s not you. It’s the fact that you’ve become an ex, just like all the ex-boyfriends in the past. An ex is an ex. You ain’t got a name. So don’t take it personally. I’m sure that you have your reasons but I don’t care to know. Every break-up is always a he says she says situation. So what if I’ll never find out what really happened between you two. All I can tell you is that it sucks to be you – our newest public enemy!”

He seemed puzzled and didn’t know what to say. I walked him out, put him in a cab and off he went. When I returned, I found V passed out on the couch. Apparently she’s been throwing up and literally backed up the toilet. Yikes. I feel terrible for the person who’s going to unclog the toilet.

Mr. Ex-Hole I wish you well but please stay out of my way if we ever run into each other in the future. Don’t try to cozy up to me. Don’t talk to me about why you two broke up. And do not act like we’re old friends ‘cuz to me you’re simply an ex-hole.

Bren Bren Tailored Shop Opening

The opening party started from 3 pm and ended at 10 pm. Lots of people came and went. I love this photo 'cuz Peter(R)and Paul(L)made me look tiny in-between them! Thanks boyz!!!

Bren Bren Tailored Fashion
http://brenbrentailor.blogspot.com
No. 6 Lane 12 Yong Kong Street
Daily 1-10 PM
永康街12巷六號

MAISON KAYSER新春禮盒

來自法國頂級麵包名店---MAISON KAYSER，今年新春首度推出法國傳統小點禮盒(可在常溫下放置1~3天)：

馬德蓮禮盒 NT$350 / 盒


法式禮盒 NT$380/盒

童言童語 Kids Know Best

剛看完一部超長的電影﹙想請問導演是否覺得拍長一點會讓觀眾覺得值回票價呢？﹚，我迫不及待的衝進女廁。隔壁間傳來一個女童的聲音，「媽咪，你為什麼也要上廁所？」

媽咪：你上完換我上啊，大人小孩都要上廁所的啊！

女童：是喔，那你可不可以快一點，因為我很無聊。

媽咪：ㄟ，你很沒良心ㄋㄟ，我每天幫你把屎把尿都沒抱怨過，你就稍等一下嘛，這位小姐！

女童：媽咪，我跟你一樣沒耐心啊！

媽咪：你好的不學盡是學些不好的！

女童：那外星人要不要上廁所？

媽咪：外星人不住在地球，他們不用上廁所。

女童：有很多外星人住在地球上ㄝ，像我們老師就長得很像外星人‧‧‧

電影大片

我和一個電影圈的朋友之間的MSN對話。

我：明天要看赤壁嗎?

朋友：沒辦法，早上一個會，下午一個會。

我：應該和上集一樣也是很長。

朋友：是的！

我：馬的！

朋友：第一集真的很爛，但第二集看預告好像比較好一點。

我：是因為這次志玲姐姐改配音嗎？

朋友：她的聲音會讓男人想入非非，聽的骨頭都酥了。

我：第一集她叫小馬站起來的那段可是笑死我了。

朋友：害我都想站起來了。

我：如果當時戲院的男人都跟著「站」起來，應該很屌！馬的，這樣明天早上不能喝咖啡，不然沒看完就想跑廁所。

朋友：真的。

我：現在電影越拍越長，真討厭。

朋友：這是「大」片啊！

我：我終於了解什麼叫大片，真是好「大」一片！

赤壁

我和一個影評人在討論明天要去看「赤壁下集」。

我：你覺得赤壁下集會很長嗎？

影評人：很有可能，沒有第三集吧

我：馬的，希望不要再演了。

影評人：我對上集很不爽。

我：為什麼？

影評人：一到赤壁就結束了。

我：怎麼說？

影評人：片名叫赤壁，才剛到赤壁上集就沒了。當時不知道，一直在等草船借箭。

我：所以要看下集啊。

影評人：那跟在前戲做完就射了，有什麼差別？

我：哈哈哈哈哈哈哈，我要跟吳宇森說！

2009屬牛的運勢

今年牛人的固執可派上用途了，今年你會有頗多的障礙，你的頑固可解決這些阻礙，尤其是1961年生的牛人。請你耐心等待適合的時間，總比心急好。關心家人及享受他們給你的支持，這有助你排除困難。你的朋友可助你減壓。多些聽取年長者的說話，會帶給你好運，尤其是1937年生的牛人。

工作：
做生意時要加倍小心。不要給別人太大壓力，不要令自己卷入是非中。1937年生的牛人今年在工作上有不少阻礙，宜堅付原位，不要作出改動。1949年生的牛人，結識新朋友會帶給你好運。

財運：
今年財運不佳，19 2 5年生的牛人除外，你今年會是順暢的一年。牛人今年應避免賭博，不要借錢給別人，會令你出現赤字。1937年生的牛人不宜搬屋或大事改動房屋。19 2 5年生的牛人不要聽信謠言！

健康：
今年牛人要小心身體，今年不宜作飛行活動及賽車。小心腸胃毛病。小心個人安全及意外。年輕的牛人請留心家中年長者的健康。

愛情及家庭：
單身的牛人今年會有愉快的愛情生活，尤其是1973年生的牛人,但你必須要嘗過一些苦才可得到快樂。你要對你的愛人忠誠及認真，才可嬴得他的心。已婚的牛人今年不太幸運，你很容易與伴侶吵架，請和氣地說話，不要用審問的口吻。

合襯生肖：雞、蛇、鼠
不合生肖：羊、兔
合拍伙伴：雞

此蘭非彼蘭

因為工作的關係，我經常參加為媒體舉辦的電影試片。近年來網路發達，電影部落客特別多，我也因看電影和這些人成為朋友。

一位曾經當了十年和尚後來還俗的電影部落客，有一天突然走到我身旁：「你知道．．．她是誰嗎？」他的手正指向一位戴著眼鏡的中年婦女，身邊的人一直叫她「老師老師」。

這年頭台灣有個奇特現象，各式各樣的老師都有，隨便什麼阿貓阿狗都在當老師﹙是不是有個叫狗狗的舞蹈老師啊？！﹚我已經對於「老師」這兩個字非常反感，因為被稱為老師的人滿街跑，命理老師、星座老師、彩粧老師也都是老師啊！老師這兩個字已經被過度消費，失去應有的尊嚴和格調。

眼前這一位滔滔不絕的退休老師，想必當年應該是講課像把機關槍。

電影部落客很神秘的跟我說：「她是蘇蘭老師，已經退休了，她是曾志朗的老婆。」

是喔？那關我啥事？因此我一直沒有把這件事放在心上。直到今天我逛書店時，猛然翻到一本書，作者叫做：洪蘭。哈哈，她怎麼也是曾志朗的老婆呢？

我的天啊，搞什麼烏龍，只能說此蘭非彼蘭啊！

New Haircut / Hair Color

After 3 hours in the hair salon this is what I walked out with.

農曆新年採買建議 Chinese New Year Preparation

Profile 小檔案
city’super
The Mall 遠企店
0809-088-680
Hours 營業時間
Sunday-Thursday 週日-週四11:00 am–9:30 pm；
Saturday & Sunday & the day before national holidays 週六日和例假日前一天 11:00 am –10:00 pm
B1 & B2 No.203 Section 2 Dun-Hua South Road Taipei
台北市敦化南路二段203號B1 & B2
SoGo Fu-Xin Store復興店
0809-070-010
Hours 營業時間
Sunday-Thursday週日-週四 9:00 am – 9:30 pm；
Saturday & Sunday & the day before national holidays
週六日和例假日前一天 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
B3 No.300 Section 3 Zhong-Xiao East Road Taipei 台北市忠孝東路三段300號B3
www.citysuper.com.tw

Profile 小檔案
B2 Shingong Mitsukoshi Xin-Yi New Life Square A11新光三越信義新天地A11館B2F
02-8780-1000
Hours 營業時間 Daily 每天11:00 am – 9:30 pm
﹙till 10:00 pm on the day before national holidays 例假日前一天營業到10:00 pm﹚
No. 11 Song-Shou Road Taipei 台北市松壽路11號
www.skm.com.tw

新時代的來臨：不再四處奔波，便捷年貨採買一次搞定

台北市大同區的迪化街是著名的年貨大街，每逢農曆春節前，迪化街總是人滿為患。今年的活動從1月9日開始起跑，為期17天。想必有很多人從電視新聞中看到年貨大街的場面，大家扶老攜幼、爭先恐後的，八成對於採買年貨也意興闌珊吧。

我們走在講求效率的時代，便捷已經成為生活方式。除了年貨商圈，是否有比較迅速、輕鬆、悠閒的購物場所，在同一個地方把所有需要的東西採買完畢？因此，我們走訪了兩家台北市知名的超級市場，接下來要為大家介紹如何不費吹灰之力，也不必東奔西跑，重要的是如何在寬敞的空間真正享受採購年貨的樂趣。

city’super：獨一無二的生活、美食與品味盡在其中

除夕夜對於中國人的意義有如美國人慶祝聖誕節，這是個全家團圓的日子。當全員到齊，就可以開始用餐。我的除夕夜都是在爺爺奶奶家度過，我們家族人口多，我父親有十三個兄弟姐妹，平時旅居在美國、加拿大的家族成員一一返鄉過節。光是吃一頓年夜飯至少需要開兩桌，而且年紀太輕的小孩子還分不到座位呢！有將近十年的時間，我因為在美國唸書，無法回到台灣吃年夜飯，但是家人還是會為我擺上一副碗筷。

除夕夜團圓飯是一整年最重要的一餐，因此家中的婆婆媽媽為了準備這團圓飯，早在過年兩個禮拜前就要開始採買，除夕夜前三天就已經忙得不可開交，搞得人仰馬翻的只為了一頓團圓飯。現代女性大多身兼數職，白天努力工作，晚上照顧家人，忙得分身乏術，實在無法像往昔的傳統家庭主婦，花費大量的時間和精力準備一年一次的年夜飯。

標榜是一站式購物中心的city’super於2004年12月進入台灣市場，至今有兩家分店，吸引許多追求優質生活品味與美食美酒的顧客。當你踏入city’super，準備採購年夜飯所需的美食酒水時，最好有個採買計畫，以免把自己弄得團團轉。

首先，建議除夕夜可以吃火鍋，按照傳統，團圓飯是吃越久越好，火鍋最適合因為可以煮整晚，因此必須準備大量的食物。city’super每到冬天都會有火鍋食材推薦區，光是火鍋湯底就有五六種選擇，注重養生的可以牛奶或是豆漿取代一般的湯底。食材包括各式各樣的新鮮菇類、各種丸子、海鮮、蔬菜、和肉類應有盡有。帶有特殊涵意的菜是必吃不可，魚丸和肉丸代表團圓的意思，吃豆干會升官，吃雞肉會起家，吃餛飩象徵元寶，財源廣進。

值得一提的是city’super的肉類區提供代客切肉的服務，這對於怕見血、害怕動刀的女性消費者而言是個很大的吸引力。無論想吃牛小排、沙朗還是菲力，都可以切成下火鍋用的肉片。

除夕夜除了要吃一頓很久的團圓飯之外，還必須要守歲，傳統習俗的守歲是為了祈求家中父母長壽，現代人守歲是為了打徹夜的麻將、撲克牌和骰子。既然要熬夜，一定要準備源源不斷的零食。city’super有個專區是獨家代理進口的日本零食和糖果，讓你不出遠門也可以吃到好吃的零嘴。如果想買巧克力，city’super也特別闢劃一區為世界巧克力專櫃，有來自法國、德國、比利時、瑞士、義大利、委內瑞拉、澳洲和日本，甚至有俄羅斯進口的巧克力。

長年在外打拚的遊子，返鄉過節要記得帶些禮物。city’super的水果大賞區，有最珍貴的本土水果之外，也有高檔的進口水果。我個人曾經在農曆春節收到一盒日本進口南水梨﹙150元/顆；900元/盒﹚，那真是人間美味，我自己又去買了好幾盒送給家中的長輩。

全家團圓的日子，小酌幾杯應該不為過。city’super的酒窖收藏非常豐富，如果不知道如何挑選，可以請專業人員協助，現場也提供試喝。適合送給長輩的天壽獻壽盃純金入清酒﹙720ml原價1,200元；特價690元﹚是city’super的獨家商品，帶有金箔的清酒不但喜氣洋洋，同時兼顧面子和裡子！另有一款來自葡萄牙的蘿瑟絲十年金色波特酒﹙1,680元﹚和蘿瑟絲精選紅色波特酒﹙840元﹚，波特酒是最適合在年夜飯後與家人分享的酒類，喝起來像是甜點，因此年輕人或是老人家都很容易接受。

如果有機會邀請外國朋友到家中共度除夕夜，可以到city’super復興店買起士和火腿，那裡有全台灣最大的乳酪火腿區，光是乳酪就有將近七百種，最棒的是你可以先試吃再買。熟食區有提供現烤豬腳﹙390元﹚，放到烤箱加熱三分鐘後直接上桌，老少咸宜的宵夜點心！

新光三越信義新天地A11館：來自全台灣老字號的傳統糕餅送禮自用兩相宜

今年的農曆春節假期特別長，從1月24日直到2月1日，一共有九天的連假。往年遇到這麼長的連假，大家都迫不及待的想去國外旅遊，但是今年受到景氣的影響，據說海外旅遊買氣非常冷清。既然大家決定要待在台灣過年，咱們民以食為天，那麼就應該準備豐富的美食佳餚，以犒賞自己過去一年的辛勞。再加上平時工作太忙，沒有太多機會和親朋好友相聚，趁著農曆新年四處去敘舊、串門子去！登門拜年的基本禮儀，伴手禮是一定不能少的！

在新光三越信義新天地A11館的B2逛了一圈之後，發現這裡充滿著百年歷史的傳統糕餅店，而且其中有很多童年愛吃的古早味零嘴。最方便的是雖在台北，但可以買到台灣各地的名產，真是人在家中坐，吃遍全天下啊！

中國習俗裡，在每年農曆12月24日必須以甜食祭拜灶神，吃了滿嘴甜蜜蜜的灶神才會在玉皇大帝面前說好話。所以有句俗話說：「吃甜甜，說好話，過好年。」提起台灣糕點，必定會想到創立於西元1877年、源自彰化鹿港的玉珍齋。許久不見的傳統糕點在這都可以找到，米栳﹙100元﹚、冬瓜糕﹙70元﹚、花生糖﹙220元﹚、黑芝麻糖﹙220元﹚、梅餅﹙150元﹚、糖麻花﹙100元﹚和蜜麻花﹙100元﹚，一吃到嘴裡彷彿又回到兒時過新年的歡樂氣氛。

創立於西元1890年來自高雄的舊振南餅店，有各式各樣的傳統甜食，生仁﹙155元﹚、棗枝﹙140元﹚、芝麻花生糖﹙135元﹚、棗泥核桃糕﹙220元﹚、牛軋糖、花生栳、杏仁栳、芝麻栳和米栳，都是代表著好兆頭。專櫃阿姨吳惠芬說，想要買到傳統甜食，每年只有一次，就是農曆春節前後大概六個禮拜的時間。為了送禮方便，同時推出禮盒包裝，如限量的春臨萬榮﹙950元﹚，有五種舊振南餅店最受歡迎的甜食，而且包裝一打開就像一個聚寶盆，漂亮又好吃，可以送給公司主管、學校老師等等，希望他們在未來能為自己的另一半和下一代說說好話。

新復珍源自新竹，從西元1898年至今，繼米粉和貢丸之後，新復珍的竹塹餅是新竹的第三大名產，內餡和粽子一樣，因而有新竹肉餅之稱。滷肉口味的水蒸蛋糕﹙85元﹚，不但少見，而且讓你的味蕾在吃過甜食之後，可以換個口味嚐點鹹的零嘴。新竹盛產柑桔，新復珍的美祿柑以柑桔為內餡，再外包麻糬，齒頰留香，柑桔代表大吉大利，因此美祿柑禮盒﹙20入/320元﹚適合送給客戶或是準備自行創業的朋友，祝福他們好運連連。

台中的寶泉食品，有道地的台中名產太陽餅禮盒﹙12入/264元﹚，春節吃年糕有步步高昇的意思，寶泉食品的年糕有紅豆、棗泥和桂圓三種口味，重達一斤的年糕禮盒是個賀歲好禮，或是送給努力工作但久未升官的朋友。過年吃菜頭帶來好彩頭，菜頭便是蘿蔔，港式蘿蔔糕也可做禮盒送給那些去年衰事不斷的朋友。

台灣歷史最悠久的和菓子老舖明月堂，有著我最愛吃的草莓大福﹙45元/顆﹚，每年只有在冬季限量提供、讓我吃到感動的草莓大福最適合送給心儀的對象，或是勞苦功高的婆婆媽媽。明月堂的桃和壽的和菓子象徵長壽，送給銀髮族是最貼心的禮物！

我記得小時候父親在過年前會到花市買很多金橘的盆栽，除了自家留個兩三盆之外，其餘送給親朋好友。宜蘭是金橘的故鄉，橘之鄉蜜餞形象館以宜蘭的金橘製作金橘花生糖﹙8片/120元﹚、果香金橘酥﹙8片/150元﹚、生津金橘汁﹙600克/200元﹚等等。最推薦的是大桔大利禮盒﹙12粒/800元﹚，金橘蜜餞完全不加糖、色素或是香料，非常健康天然，而且卡路里低，吃甜食卻沒負擔。目前橘之鄉推出買五盒打九折，到手的消費卷拿來使用剛剛好。

農曆春節大吃大喝之後，泡茶不但修身養性還可去油膩，更何況在寒冬喝熱茶是多麼享受的一件事！茶葉也適合拿來送禮。來自日本的LUPICIA綠碧紅茶苑引進世界各地茶葉的專門店，推出年節禮盒以供挑選，日本進口限量版的白桃烏龍茶禮盒﹙原價668元/優惠價600元﹚是第一首選，帶有日本白桃香氣的文山烏龍茶搭配一罐相同味道的茶蜜和精緻的茶葉專用杓子，相信必定討很多喜歡喝茶的女性朋友。也可以花一點時間和專櫃人員溝通，並試喝幾款不同的茶葉，一定會找到適合自己或是送禮的茶葉組合。

麻雀雖小，五臟俱全的室內年貨中心

今年的農曆春節比往年早，才慶祝完聖誕節，一個月之後就是除夕夜，相信很多讀者覺得似乎有過不完的節慶，為了準備周全，有些人大概已經開始焦慮。既然時間緊迫，不如找個省時省力的年貨採購方式。實地走訪過city’super和新光三越信義新天地A11館之後，再與迪化街採買的經驗相比，猛然發現其實相同處不少！除了一個在室內，一個在室外，販售的都是年節吃喝用品，也都提供試吃試喝。不過，如果自行去迪化街採買，可能一手牽著小孩，另一手忙著試吃，還得提著大包小包的在人群之中購物，只怕最後手忙腳亂，小孩走失了、東西忘了買，真是會把自己給累倒！在室內採買年貨不必擔心外面刮風下雨，也不用煩惱如何載貨回家。只要在新光三越信義新天地A11館消費超過2,000元，就可享受免費宅配到府的服務。city’super對於旗下的晶片卡和金卡會員也有提供宅配服務，詳情請洽遠企店和復興店的服務台。

印象最深刻的，台灣傳統糕餅店的老字號，如玉珍齋、舊振南餅店、新復珍和寶泉食品的專櫃皆是雇用非常和藹而且熱心的媽媽型店員，她們不但會跟客人閒話家常，聊天過程中還不時拿出好康讓大家試吃，逛街逛到最後都吃飽了。採買年貨就是應該這樣輕鬆、悠閒、零壓力！

A New Age Has Come: Everything You Need to Prepare For Chinese New Year Festivity in One Stop

Di-Hua Street in Taipei’s Da-Tong District is the most famous shopping center for Lunar New Year goodies. Every year just weeks before Chinese New Year tens of thousands of shoppers crowded the street. This year the shopping season begins on January 9th and will last for 17 days. Many will probably get discouraged when they learn through newspaper or TV news that it is quite chaotic to fight through the crowd within the shopping district for shopping.

We live in an era of convenience. Easy and convenient shopping is part of our lifestyle. Aside from the legendary Di-Hua street there has to be places that can provide relaxing, comfortable and yet speedy shopping. The goal is to search for a place that has it all. One-stop shopping is our mission. After thorough investigations we are pleased to introduce two of the most modern shopping centers and show you how to be a smart shopper for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Read on and get yourself ready for a brand new experience of shopping extravaganza!

City’super：Providing Unique Experience with Exceptional Taste in Food & Drink

Chinese New Year’s Eve is as important to Chinese people as Christmas is to the Americans. It is an annual family reunion. Dinner will be served when all members of the family are home for the holiday. I usually go to my grandparents’ house for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. My father has 13 siblings and each of them has a family of their own. For those who live abroad Chinese New Year is the time to be home for reunion. On Chinese New Year’s Eve we would need two large round tables in order to seat the adults. There was no room to kids to be sitting at the dinner table. For 10 years or so I couldn’t come back to Taiwan for the holiday and my parents would always save me a seat with food in my bowl as if I was home.

Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important meal of the year and the preparation work usually falls on the housewives. It takes a lot of time, effort and planning. Some would start shopping for Chinese New Year as early as two weeks prior to the festivity. Three days before Chinese New Year’s Eve they would be completely swamped, wishing they should have begun the preparation even earlier. Nowadays most women work nine to five and their schedule is already hectic enough. They simply don’t have all the time in the world to do just one thing: preparing for Chinese New Year.

City’super was first established in Taiwan in December 2004 and it has two branches so far. It is designed as a one-stop shopping center and has attracted high-end consumers who appreciate all the finer things in life. Before you start shopping for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner in city’super it’s best to have a game plan so that you’ll find everything you need within minutes.

First of all it will probably be the most convenient to have hotpot on Chinese New Year’s Eve. According to tradition this reunion dinner should go on as long as possible. Hotpot is very fitting because you only cook small amount each time. Throughout each winter city’super always has designated sections for recommended hotpot ingredients. As for soup stock there are five or six different flavors to choose from. If you are rather health conscious you may use fresh milk or soy bean milk as a substitute for regular soup stock. Ingredients include a variety of fresh mushrooms, meat balls, seafood, vegetables and meat. There are certain types of food are must-haves for good luck. Fish balls and meat balls symbolize reunion and soy bean curds are meant for promotions. Chicken means a family of your own in the near future. For wealth you should eat won-ton because it’s shaped like a gold nugget used as money in ancient China.

It’s worth noting that city’super has a full-service meat department and customers can order cuts to their liking. This is a major advantage for shoppers who have troubles slicing meat at home. Whether you feel like getting short ribs, rib eye or tenderloin for the hotpot, your order is their command.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve the purpose of having an all night long dinner is to stay up past midnight which is a thousand year old tradition. It will bring longevity to the elderly in the family. For modern Chinese people they stay up all night to play mahjong, poker or dice. And late night snacks are essential to help them survive through the night. City’super has a large section of exclusively imported Japanese candies and snacks. If you’re a chocolate lover there is an entire isle dedicated to chocolates from around the world, such as France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Venezuela, Australia, Japan and Russia. You can shop for these goodies right here in the comfort of city’super.

When you’re going home for the holiday be sure to bring gifts. For your parents healthy fruits are always popular. You can find top quality of local grown fruits as well as high-end imported ones. Japanese pears﹙NT150/each; NT900/box﹚are so delicious that your folks will ask you for more!

Occasions like a reunion call for a few drinks. The cellar at city’super provides extensive collections of fine liquor. You can seek professional advice from the clerks. Tasting is also available on site. For elderly who appreciate sake city’super has many exclusive brands of sake to choose from. Port is an excellent after dinner drink because it tastes like dessert. Portos Rozes reserve red bottle﹙NT840﹚and Portos Rozes gold bottle 10 years﹙NT1,680﹚are popular gifts!

If you happen to invite westerners to your house for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner cheese and cold cuts will be great appetizers. You can go to SoGo Fu-Xin store where you’ll find the largest selections of cheese and cold cuts in Taiwan, including 700 varieties of cheese! And best yet sampling is provided before you make up your mind on what to buy. Roasted German pig knuckles﹙NT390/each﹚can be served cold or warm ﹙3 minutes in microwave﹚and it makes a great late night snack!

Shingong Mitsukoshi Xin-Yi New Life Square A11：Legendary Pastry Shops All In One Floor

This Chinese New Year holiday will begin on January 24th and end on February 1st, a total of 9 days. In recent years most people will head overseas for such a long holiday. It seems that the current economic has taken a toll on the vacation moods. Instead of traveling abroad many have decided to stay put in Taiwan for the lunar New Year celebration. For 9 consecutive days you will have many opportunities to entertain guests at home and therefore you’ll need to stock up on food. Also you might visit friends to wish them a happy new year and you definitely cannot show up at the doorstep empty handed!

Take a walk around the level B2 of Shingong Mitsukoshi Xin-Yi New Life Square A11. Not only you’ll find many traditional pastry shops from all over Taiwan but also lots of snacks that you have not seen since childhood. You won’t need to drive across the island for these tasty childhood treats because they are all in one place!

According to Chinese tradition on December 24th (lunar year) people must pay respect to the Kitchen God with sweets so that Kitchen God will only speak of the good things when he reports to the higher authority of Almighty God. Hence there is a Chinese saying, “Eat sweets and then speak sweetly for a prosperous year.”

Speaking of Taiwanese pastry the first comes to mind is Yu-Chen-Chai, established in 1877. Originated from Lu-Kang Yu-Chen-Chai has been making traditional sweets for the last 131 years. Rice senbei﹙NT100﹚, squash cake﹙NT70﹚, peanut brittle﹙NT220﹚, black sesame brittle﹙NT220﹚, dry plum candy﹙NT150﹚, sugar coated twists﹙NT100﹚ and caramelized twists﹙NT100﹚are crowd pleasers. Seeing all these treats brings back all the childhood memory from Chinese New Year festivity!

Founded in 1890 Jiu-Zhen-Nan from Kaohsiung specializes in Taiwanese pastry. Sugar coated peanuts﹙NT155﹚, plum-flavored sticks﹙NT140﹚, sesame peanut brittle﹙NT135﹚, jujube walnut cake﹙NT220﹚and assorted flavors of nougat are good omens in Chinese culture. Ms. Wu Hui-Fen, the sales lady for Jiu-Zhen-Nan says that these traditional treats are only available for Chinese New Year. For the rest of the year Jiu-Zhen-Nan sells mostly traditional wedding pastry. The limited edition of gift pack contains a variety of most popular traditional treats and comes in a bowl that’s shaped like a jewelry box. It is very fitting for your supervisors at work or your children’s teachers in school. They will speak highly of you in the year to come.

Xin-Fu-Zhen started in 1898 and has become one of the top three specialties of Hsin-Chu followed by rice noodles and meat balls. Chu-Chan cake from Xin-Fu-Zhen is a savory pastry and the filling is the same as sticky bun. Therefore it’s also called the Hsin-Chu meat cake. Minced pork steam cake﹙NT85﹚is a rare pastry and a treat after having too many sweets. Tangerine is also a local specialty in Hsin-Chu. Xin-Fu-Zhen makes tangerine mochi﹙NT16/each﹚and the gift pack﹙NT320/box of 20﹚is a good present for your clients or friends who will soon become entrepreneurs.

From Taichung the 100-year-old Pao-Chuan pastry shop is famous for suncake﹙NT264/box of 12﹚. It is a tradition to eat rice cake for progress in the New Year to come. Pao-Chuan has 3 flavors available, red bean paste, jujube paste and longan tree fruit. Each comes in a half kilogram gift pack. You can give it to those who work hard but seem to be underappreciated at work. Radish is also a good omen during Chinese New Year. You may give Hong Kong style radish cake to friends who had a rough in 2008 and can’t wait for a brand new start.

Min-Yue-Tang is the longest running shop making Japanese pastry in Taiwan. My personal favorite strawberry red bean paste mochi﹙NT45/each﹚is only available in the winter. It makes a great gift for those you admire secretly or any female who has worked diligently last year. Min-Yue-Tang peach pastry is for longevity and anyone over the age of 60 will appreciate such a delicious treat!

I remember my father used to hit the flower market for tangerine plants not only as decorations in the house but also for relatives. Tangerine from I-Lan is juicy and sweet. Orange country, a candied fruits shop, makes tangerine peanut brittle﹙NT120﹚, tangerine cake﹙NT150﹚and tangerine concentrated juice﹙NT200﹚. This year’s most recommended gift pack is tangerine preserved fruit﹙NT800﹚because it is all natural with no sugar or artificial color added. And it’s low in calorie. You can enjoy sweets without the guilt trip.

Too much of a good thing can’t be good. After indulging in literally non-stop eating you might want to drink tea to wash off all the grease. Besides hot tea in the winter is always an enjoyable item. LUPICIA is a tea specialty shop from Japan, bringing in tea from all over the world. Imported from Japan momo oolong tea with white peach flavor gift pack﹙NT668/original; NT600/promotion﹚comes with tea leaves, tea honey, and silver serving spoon. If you’re not sure what flavor to purchase you can always seek help from the clerks. They have extensive knowledge in tea and may offer you free tasting until you find the perfect tea set as gifts!

All-In-One Indoor Shopping Central Is the Way to Go

This Chinese New Year comes earlier than usual. Exactly one month after Christmas here comes the lunar New Year. It seems like a never-ending holiday season. Some might suffer from holiday anxieties since there is little time left for Chinese New Year preparation. Your already hectic work schedule does not allow you to start shopping two weeks prior to Chinese New Year. Then you should try this one-stop shopping method to save time and energy. After visiting city’super and the level B2 of Shingong Mitsukoshi Xin-Yi New Life Square A11 I do see similarities between the indoor one-stop shopping center and Di-Hua shopping district. You will find everything you need for Chinese New Year from food to drink to decoration. However, at Di-Hua shopping district you will have to fight through the crowd for shopping, carry your own grocery while keeping an eye on your kids and reaching out for free samples. It’s just too chaotic. Shingong Mitsukoshi Xin-Yi New Life Square A11 provides complimentary delivery service for any purchase over NT2, 000. City’super also offers home delivery service for its e-card and e-gold card members. For details please check with the information desk at the Mall and SoGo Fu-Xin store.

This shopping experience has left a very good impression on me. I find the sales ladies at the Taiwanese pastry shops, such as Yu-Chen-Chai, Jiu-Zhen-Nan, Xin-Fu-Zhen and Pao-Chuan, extremely friendly and extra helpful. They are like the neighborhood moms, warm and generous. They will offer you free samples while chitchatting. In the end you’ll be so full from sampling! Now I know that shopping for Chinese New Year should be relaxing and stress-free!

2009 - Horoscope for Scorpio

Two Sides of the Same Coin

In 2009, be prepared for surprises, the likes of which you've never seen before. Each surprise will be like the proverbial two-sided coin. You'll be doing a lot of work in seclusion, but you'll do it so well that everyone will know about it. You'll make more money than you have in a long time, but you won't be able to think of anything you want to spend it on. You just might find your dream home, but you'll be either too busy or too tired to enjoy it. And in spite of the fact that you'll be playing the role of the solitary workaholic, you'll receive more social invitations than you ever dreamed of.

非常有意境而且浪漫的詩

西藏歷史上有名的浪漫詩人，聞名一世的六世達賴喇嘛倉央嘉措。

那一天
閉目在經閣香霧中
驀然聽見
你誦經中的真言
那一月
搖動所有的經筒
不為超度
只為觸摸你的指尖

那一世
轉山轉水
不為修來世
只為途中與你相見

那一年
磕長頭在山路
不為覲見
只為貼著你的溫暖