Time只关心三件事，环境，政治和技术。
环境问题又是嘚吧得最多的了，以至于弄得我心绪不宁，对家里的事物里里外外审查了一番，目前符合绿化的有：
1。我有两个米布袋子，是Trader Joe's买的，买菜买日用品基本不用塑料袋子了。唉，要记住出门前下车后随身带上布袋子，可不是一朝两日能养成的习惯，当初刚到米帝国时，使用塑料袋的习惯咋一点没有出现learning curve呢？
2。不买瓶装水，俺有reusable的塑料瓶。大家请注意啦，平常用的透明的water bottle，是一次性的，若反复用于身体健康又不利了，原因我就不罗嗦了，你可以查看瓶底三角型recycle 标志，中央数字为2，4，5的可以反复使用，别的不行。我上面提到的一次性的透明water bottle是 1。
3。在office坚决不用一次性纸杯，我有自己的瓷杯。好不容易也塞给了daddy一个水杯，千叮咛万嘱咐，万一走到kitchen发现没带杯子，走几步回去拿就是了，权当散步好了。
待改进的有：
1。不用napkin，我得去找找那种布的餐巾，在上面绣上每个人名字的开头字母，俺家正好有两个H，两个M，小的就用小写字母，大的就用大写字母好罗，以后洗碗，还得洗几片布。现在一用起napkin，就想起树们的惨惨白骨。待客还是得偶一用用，俺也不想把日子弄得太复杂；
2。把我家的van换成hybrid，我已下了7分决心，等涨到8分半，咱就说干就干了。
依我看，绿化就是一步回到解放前，嘛东西都得省着点，再省着点，用完随手一扔的资产阶级作风要整顿。
观念和习惯是重点。
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
When a country mouse visits another country mouse
为了给小的们展示未来生活模式，我和daddy决定坐bus到downtown再坐火车去另一个乡下回访另一只老鼠。
没想到这种模式其实早就盛行了，火车都坐满了，这在地大物博的米国是很难得一见的。
客人，也就是俺，进门来刚要落座，两只老鼠扑上来就问：
你对藏独怎么看？
你对抵制奥运怎么看？
俺很淡定的一一简短作答，鼠妈妈似乎对我的回答还满意，哦了一声就退下了。（好险，若答错了，会不会被扫地出门哪？）
俺于是从容的落座。
鼠爸爸似有不甘，笑眯眯的问道：你家的车库门关了吗？
俺于是也笑眯眯的点头答道：关了，俺和俺家daddy还相互作了见证的呢。
后来在书架上发现一摞摞结满蛛网的foreign affairs，于是对身在乡下心系国外的老鼠油然生了三分敬意。
从厨房望见vegetable garden里一丛丛小白花，我讶异道：“荠菜？”
鼠妈耸耸肩：maybe.
我于是四下里找菜篮子，被递给一只egg hunting basket.
进到园子里，发现是神农都没尝过的一种野草，vegi garden 还有一丛丛油菜开的是山花烂漫，无拘无束。
鼠爸爸遥指后院一角的一张白凳子骄傲的说道：那是风刮过去的，这么一路刮到树下，然后就一直坐那里了，我们这个院子充满野趣，而这个则叫风趣。
只见白椅子正襟危坐在一株樱花烂漫的树下，椅子前还有一株半椅子高的tulip正吐香喷艳，看来伊在花前树下打坐颇有些时日了。
当然乡下的日子主题是围着灶台转的，我于是从dim sum 的brunch吃到韩国的煎饼lunch，吃到海鲜加烤排的dinner，就这么吃啊吃，不禁羡慕起海边乡下的日子了，怀里揣把叉子勺子，漫步到海边，往里洒洒胡椒面就可以舀鱼汤喝了。于是鼠爸爸说起当年比我们现在还年轻的鼠爷爷裹着条床单在海边露营一星期的前辈往事，鼠辈们只有神往。
俺拿什么待见海耗子们捏？当某日海耗子们进得山来？这是个问题。
。。。看来俺还得再添新锅。
没想到这种模式其实早就盛行了，火车都坐满了，这在地大物博的米国是很难得一见的。
客人，也就是俺，进门来刚要落座，两只老鼠扑上来就问：
你对藏独怎么看？
你对抵制奥运怎么看？
俺很淡定的一一简短作答，鼠妈妈似乎对我的回答还满意，哦了一声就退下了。（好险，若答错了，会不会被扫地出门哪？）
俺于是从容的落座。
鼠爸爸似有不甘，笑眯眯的问道：你家的车库门关了吗？
俺于是也笑眯眯的点头答道：关了，俺和俺家daddy还相互作了见证的呢。
后来在书架上发现一摞摞结满蛛网的foreign affairs，于是对身在乡下心系国外的老鼠油然生了三分敬意。
从厨房望见vegetable garden里一丛丛小白花，我讶异道：“荠菜？”
鼠妈耸耸肩：maybe.
我于是四下里找菜篮子，被递给一只egg hunting basket.
进到园子里，发现是神农都没尝过的一种野草，vegi garden 还有一丛丛油菜开的是山花烂漫，无拘无束。
鼠爸爸遥指后院一角的一张白凳子骄傲的说道：那是风刮过去的，这么一路刮到树下，然后就一直坐那里了，我们这个院子充满野趣，而这个则叫风趣。
只见白椅子正襟危坐在一株樱花烂漫的树下，椅子前还有一株半椅子高的tulip正吐香喷艳，看来伊在花前树下打坐颇有些时日了。
当然乡下的日子主题是围着灶台转的，我于是从dim sum 的brunch吃到韩国的煎饼lunch，吃到海鲜加烤排的dinner，就这么吃啊吃，不禁羡慕起海边乡下的日子了，怀里揣把叉子勺子，漫步到海边，往里洒洒胡椒面就可以舀鱼汤喝了。于是鼠爸爸说起当年比我们现在还年轻的鼠爷爷裹着条床单在海边露营一星期的前辈往事，鼠辈们只有神往。
俺拿什么待见海耗子们捏？当某日海耗子们进得山来？这是个问题。
。。。看来俺还得再添新锅。
遗老遗少
高中语文老师很向往古代文人的生活，经常灌输一些前朝的思想，说“以前的女子，行如弱柳，声若黄莺，笑不露齿，那根本就不是现在这个样子”，顺手一指就指到俺的头上，我大笑，当即反击：“哼，清朝遗老！”老师笑了，顺手将手中的书朝我挥过来，我当然敏捷的闪开了。
--很好奇，老师最后娶了个什么样的奇女子呢？
回国见到W，公交车上，当车子行到北海后海（？）时，W说我们下去玩玩吧，天灰地冻的，我有些迟疑，W把我拽下车来，到了一处很僻静的所在，只有几处亭阁和松柏，拍着雕栏，W说：“是不是很美啊？”
“好冷哦。”-- 我说的是大实话，木房子可是一点隔缘材料都没有的。
“你送我一栋吧。”
我倒很想送她一栋，W是很配红砖碧瓦的。
游一处vineyard, 四遭的风景美的不真实，房子里布置得古色古香，我很喜欢一块大理石杯垫，画的是花园里的两位lady，精致的服饰，精致的小阳伞，反映着百年前精致的生活，画面朦朦胧胧，我拿给函函看：是不是很好看啊。函函说，一幅画远远的看很好看，可是走近了就不好看了，就看见脸上一坨一坨的painting。 扫兴。我告诉她油画就是这样的。
悲观主义者的话总是有一定道理的，世界上哪仅仅是油画有这毛病呢。
再加之星爸又在一旁侧击：要狠批资字一闪念。结果，我当然没买啦。
最近Texas Polygamy Sect Women 频频曝光，高高的盘髻，拖地的长裙，遗世而苍白的面容，我想我们是没法相互了解的，我们这精彩的世界在她们看来充满邪恶和物欲，她们洁白的圣殿在我看来则如闹鬼的坟场。如果她们走进小说，我或许可以感知一些她们的内心世界，可是，当她们从书中 suddenly复活，走到我的跟前，呼吸着，我就彻底懵了。
前人的生活，或远观，或想望，可以；进去？怕怕。
如果要我在过去和未来之间作选择，我想我会选未来，毕竟，未来令人兴奋好奇，过去，则令脊背生寒意。
--很好奇，老师最后娶了个什么样的奇女子呢？
回国见到W，公交车上，当车子行到北海后海（？）时，W说我们下去玩玩吧，天灰地冻的，我有些迟疑，W把我拽下车来，到了一处很僻静的所在，只有几处亭阁和松柏，拍着雕栏，W说：“是不是很美啊？”
“好冷哦。”-- 我说的是大实话，木房子可是一点隔缘材料都没有的。
“你送我一栋吧。”
我倒很想送她一栋，W是很配红砖碧瓦的。
游一处vineyard, 四遭的风景美的不真实，房子里布置得古色古香，我很喜欢一块大理石杯垫，画的是花园里的两位lady，精致的服饰，精致的小阳伞，反映着百年前精致的生活，画面朦朦胧胧，我拿给函函看：是不是很好看啊。函函说，一幅画远远的看很好看，可是走近了就不好看了，就看见脸上一坨一坨的painting。 扫兴。我告诉她油画就是这样的。
悲观主义者的话总是有一定道理的，世界上哪仅仅是油画有这毛病呢。
再加之星爸又在一旁侧击：要狠批资字一闪念。结果，我当然没买啦。
最近Texas Polygamy Sect Women 频频曝光，高高的盘髻，拖地的长裙，遗世而苍白的面容，我想我们是没法相互了解的，我们这精彩的世界在她们看来充满邪恶和物欲，她们洁白的圣殿在我看来则如闹鬼的坟场。如果她们走进小说，我或许可以感知一些她们的内心世界，可是，当她们从书中 suddenly复活，走到我的跟前，呼吸着，我就彻底懵了。
前人的生活，或远观，或想望，可以；进去？怕怕。
如果要我在过去和未来之间作选择，我想我会选未来，毕竟，未来令人兴奋好奇，过去，则令脊背生寒意。
少男少女
向星妈散播八卦：
“话说有一天，妹妹终于同意嫁人了（俺功不可没哦），接下来我就问了：
-- 妹妹，你准备嫁谁呀？
-- mommy.
-- 哦，那不可以的，你得找个boy 把自个儿给嫁罗。
-- I'll marry fengfeng.
-- 嗯，风风小了点吧。
-- When he turns 17, I turn 16, then we get married.
-- 你比风风大三岁，以后也会比他大三岁的。
（星妈纠正，只大两岁）
妹妹没主意了，我提醒她:
-- 哥哥怎么样？
-- No, he is Hannah's friend to marry."
一旁姐姐竖着耳朵，一五一十都进去了，抑制不住内心的喜悦（我猜蹄子压根儿就没想抑制），半带羞涩半带兴奋地问道：“我可以去告诉哥哥吗？”
我正准备说去吧，淑女出身的星妈不慌不忙道：“这种事情用不着咱们女孩子自己去说，阿姨去传达就可以啦。”-- 这顺手就传了一招玉女心经。
函函最后有没有去推销就只有三个人知道了。
“话说有一天，妹妹终于同意嫁人了（俺功不可没哦），接下来我就问了：
-- 妹妹，你准备嫁谁呀？
-- mommy.
-- 哦，那不可以的，你得找个boy 把自个儿给嫁罗。
-- I'll marry fengfeng.
-- 嗯，风风小了点吧。
-- When he turns 17, I turn 16, then we get married.
-- 你比风风大三岁，以后也会比他大三岁的。
（星妈纠正，只大两岁）
妹妹没主意了，我提醒她:
-- 哥哥怎么样？
-- No, he is Hannah's friend to marry."
一旁姐姐竖着耳朵，一五一十都进去了，抑制不住内心的喜悦（我猜蹄子压根儿就没想抑制），半带羞涩半带兴奋地问道：“我可以去告诉哥哥吗？”
我正准备说去吧，淑女出身的星妈不慌不忙道：“这种事情用不着咱们女孩子自己去说，阿姨去传达就可以啦。”-- 这顺手就传了一招玉女心经。
函函最后有没有去推销就只有三个人知道了。
Monday, April 14, 2008
“妹妹，when you turn 10, how old will Hannah be?"
"When I turn 5, Hannah will be 10;
when I turn 6, Hannah will be 11;
when I turn 7, Hannah will be ...12;
when I turn 8, Hannah will be ...13;
when I turn 9, Hannah will be 14;
when I turn 10, Hannah will be ...15!"
when I turn 6, Hannah will be 11;
when I turn 7, Hannah will be ...12;
when I turn 8, Hannah will be ...13;
when I turn 9, Hannah will be 14;
when I turn 10, Hannah will be ...15!"
妹妹表示不爽的三种方式
1。“You are not my friend"
-- 这句话已经被勒令禁止说了。
2。“I'm not happy"
-- like who cares.
3。"You can't be the winner"
-- 已悟 win-win 之道。
-- 这句话已经被勒令禁止说了。
2。“I'm not happy"
-- like who cares.
3。"You can't be the winner"
-- 已悟 win-win 之道。
Sunday, April 13, 2008
a book report: character trait
The name of my book is titled ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.’ The author is Mildred D. Taylor, and the main character is Cassie Logan.
In the story, the main problem is that a boy named T.J. Avery was always a pest and a bother. He stole Stacey’s coat and fired their mother’s job as a teacher. H was spoiled, and the Logans disliked him very much.
The solution was that one night; T.J. broke into a store with his “friends” R.W. and Melvin to get an expensive pearl-handled pistol. But then R.W. and Melvin ran away to tell the police, and the Avery family was arrested. But in T.J.’s absence, Cassie realized maybe T.J. wasn’t so bad after all. If he was there, they would have been friends.
A minor problem was that when Cassie and Little Man went to school, the front cover of the books showed a piece of information stating that the “nigras” treated the books “very poorly.” When they pointed it out to their teacher, Miss Crocker, they were whipped.
The solution was that when Miss Logan was presented the neglected books, instead of scolding Little Man and Cassie, pasted paper over all of the front covers of the books so they wouldn’t feel insulted.
I think Cassie Logan’s strongest trait is that she is attentive.
Evidence 1: This moon shows that Cassie was an attentive person. The author used action to show this trait.
“After Mr. Morrison had retired to his own house and Big Ma, the boys, and I had gone to bed, Papa and Mama remained on the porch, talking in hushed whispers. It was comforting listening to them, Mama’s voice a warm, lilting murmur, Papa’s a quiet, easy-flowing hum. After a few minutes they left the porch and their voices grew faint. I climbed from the bed, careful not to awaken Big Ma, and went to the window. They were walking slowly across the moon-soaked grass, their arms around each other.”
This evidence from the book shows that the main character, Cassie, was an attentive person. She was supposed to be in bed, but when she heard her parents talking outside, stayed up to listen, although her parents probably wouldn’t have wanted her to listen, which made her very attentive. The moon had come out that night, so that’s why I chose this moon for my item.
Evidence 2: These beans also prove that Cassie is attentive. Once again, the author used action to show this trait.
“As the three of them washed up on the back porch, Mama went to the end of the porch where Papa stood alone.
“What did Mr. Jamison want?” she asked, her voice barely audible. Papa took the towel but did not answer immediately. I was just outside dipping out the butter beans. I moved closer to the window so that I could hear his answer.”
This second piece of evidence also shows that Cassie was attentive. While preparing dinner, she heard her parents talking about important matters through an open window. Usually someone would just ignore other discussions, but for Cassie, it didn’t just slip by, which made her very attentive. She had been dipping out butter beans at the minute, so that’s why I brought some beans for my item.
Evidence 3: This quilt is something else that shows Cassie is attentive. The author used action to show this.
“A few moments later Big Ma came in, leaving the door to Mama’s room open. Knowing she would be suspicious of such an early surrender to sleep, I sighed softly and, making sleepy little sounds, turned onto my stomach, careful not to expose my shirtsleeves. Obviously satisfied by my performance, Big Ma tucked the covers more closely around me and smoothed my hair gently. Then she stooped and started fishing for something under our bed.”
Cassie pretended to be sleeping so her grandmother wouldn’t go away and find out what she was doing. That made her an attentive person, since she was trying to find out what her parents were doing that they didn’t want her to know. She had been “sleeping” while this happened, so I brought a quilt for my item.
Evidence 4: This flashlight shows that Cassie was attentive. The author used action again to show the trait.
“I started to climb back up the porch but froze as a caravan of headlights appeared suddenly in the east, coming fast along the rain-soaked road like cat eyes in the night. Jason whined loudly, growing skittish as the lights approached, and when they slowed and braked before the house he slunk beneath the porch. I wanted to follow, but I couldn’t. My legs wouldn’t move.
The lead car swung into the muddy driveway and a shadowy figure outlined by the headlights of the car behind him stepped out. The man walked slowly up the drive.”
This was the thing that Cassie’s parents had tried to keep her from seeing, but Cassie still went to look when she heard her dog whining, because it meant there was something wrong. This made her very attentive. The flashlight looks like the headlights, so that’s why I chose a flashlight for my item.
A second strong trait in Cassie is that she is very bold.
Evidence 1: This shopping list shows that Cassie was bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“The girl gazed at me strangely, but Mr. Barnett did not look up. I assumed that he had not heard me. I was near the end of the counter so I merely went to the other side of it and tugged on his shirtsleeve to get his attention.
He recoiled as if I had struck him.
“Y-you was helping us,” I said, backing to the front of the counter again.
“Well, you just get your little black self back over there and wait some more,” he said in a low, tight, voice.
I was hot. I had been as nice as I could to him and here he was talking like this. “We been waiting on you for nearly an hour,” I hissed, “while you go ‘round waiting on everybody else. And it ain’t fair. You got no right-“
“Whose little nigger is this!” bellowed Mr. Barnett.
This evidence from the book shows that Cassie is a bold person. When the owner of the store, Mr. Barnett, waits on everyone else in line although it is T.J.’s turn, she tried to remind him that he had been helping them, though she fails and was driven out by a furious Mr. Barnett. But it still was very bold of her to speak up like that to a grown white man while she was only a young 9-year old black in the early 1900’s. She was shopping with T.J. and Stacey at the time, so I chose a shopping list for my item.
Evidence 2: These shoes prove that the main character, Cassie, was bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“I did not feel like messing with Lillian Jean. I had other things on my mind. “Okay,” I said, starting past. “I’m sorry.”
Lillian Jean sidestepped in front of me. “That ain’t enough. Get down in the road.”
I looked up at her. “You crazy?”
“You can’t watch where you going, get down in the road. Maybe that way you won’t be bumping into decent white folks with your nasty self.”
This second insult of the day was almost more than I could bear. Only the thought of Big Ma up in Mr. Jamison’s office saved Lillian Jean’s lip. “I ain’t nasty,” I said, properly holding my temper in check, “and if you’re afraid of getting bumped, get down there yourself.”
This piece of evidence from the book shows that Cassie is bold. Instead of just surrendering and stepping down onto the road, Cassie stayed, believing she shouldn’t let herself be bossed around, although it was obvious this would infuriate Lillian Jean. This made Cassie a bold person. She had been walking down the street, so I chose a pair of shoes for my item.
Evidence 3: This speech bubble shows that Cassie is bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“Not ‘fore she ‘pologizes to my gal, y’all ain’t,” said Mr. Simms.
Big Ma gazed down at me, fear in her eyes, then back at the growing crowd. “She just’ a child-“
“Tell her, Aunty-“
Big Ma looked at me, her voice cracking as she spoke. “Go on child…apologize.”
“But, Big Ma-“
Her voice hardened. “Do like I say.”
I swallowed hard.
“Go on!”
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry, Miz Lillian Jean,” demanded Mr. Simms.
“Big Ma!” I balked.
“Say it, child.”
A painful tear slid down my cheek and my lips trembled. “I’m sorry…M-Miz …Lillian Jean.”
The evidence from the book proves that Cassie is bold. She didn’t believe in apologizing twice including a “Miss” just for accidentally bumping into Lillian Jean. That was very bold of her to do, although it mingled with a little bit of disobedience. She was basically saying “No, I don’t want to!”, so I chose a speech bubble for my item.
Evidence 4: This jar of water shows that Cassie is bold. The author used action to show this trait.
“When Stacey’s and my holes merged into one big hole with Little Man’s and Christopher-John’s, Stacey and I threw down our shovels and grabbed the extra buckets. Then the four of us ran back and forth to the gullies, hastily filling the buckets with murky water and dumping it into the hole.
Now understanding Stacey’s plan, we worked wordlessly until the water lay at the same level as the road. Then Stacey waded into the gully water and pulled himself up onto the forest bank. Finding three rocks, he stacked them to identify the spot.”
The evidence from ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ shows that Cassie is bold. A bus passes by everyday as the Logans went to school and the bus driver would amuse his passengers by splattering them with mud, so they decided to get back. They dug a large hole and disguised it as a large puddle, so the bus would fall in. Cassie was willing to risk being found out and getting into big trouble just for getting revenge. Because they made the hole into an innocent puddle, that’s why I brought a jar of water for my item.
I liked ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ because it gives a lot of information about how blacks were treated soon after slavery ended. It also is a loving story and proves the power of family and friends.
In the story, the main problem is that a boy named T.J. Avery was always a pest and a bother. He stole Stacey’s coat and fired their mother’s job as a teacher. H was spoiled, and the Logans disliked him very much.
The solution was that one night; T.J. broke into a store with his “friends” R.W. and Melvin to get an expensive pearl-handled pistol. But then R.W. and Melvin ran away to tell the police, and the Avery family was arrested. But in T.J.’s absence, Cassie realized maybe T.J. wasn’t so bad after all. If he was there, they would have been friends.
A minor problem was that when Cassie and Little Man went to school, the front cover of the books showed a piece of information stating that the “nigras” treated the books “very poorly.” When they pointed it out to their teacher, Miss Crocker, they were whipped.
The solution was that when Miss Logan was presented the neglected books, instead of scolding Little Man and Cassie, pasted paper over all of the front covers of the books so they wouldn’t feel insulted.
I think Cassie Logan’s strongest trait is that she is attentive.
Evidence 1: This moon shows that Cassie was an attentive person. The author used action to show this trait.
“After Mr. Morrison had retired to his own house and Big Ma, the boys, and I had gone to bed, Papa and Mama remained on the porch, talking in hushed whispers. It was comforting listening to them, Mama’s voice a warm, lilting murmur, Papa’s a quiet, easy-flowing hum. After a few minutes they left the porch and their voices grew faint. I climbed from the bed, careful not to awaken Big Ma, and went to the window. They were walking slowly across the moon-soaked grass, their arms around each other.”
This evidence from the book shows that the main character, Cassie, was an attentive person. She was supposed to be in bed, but when she heard her parents talking outside, stayed up to listen, although her parents probably wouldn’t have wanted her to listen, which made her very attentive. The moon had come out that night, so that’s why I chose this moon for my item.
Evidence 2: These beans also prove that Cassie is attentive. Once again, the author used action to show this trait.
“As the three of them washed up on the back porch, Mama went to the end of the porch where Papa stood alone.
“What did Mr. Jamison want?” she asked, her voice barely audible. Papa took the towel but did not answer immediately. I was just outside dipping out the butter beans. I moved closer to the window so that I could hear his answer.”
This second piece of evidence also shows that Cassie was attentive. While preparing dinner, she heard her parents talking about important matters through an open window. Usually someone would just ignore other discussions, but for Cassie, it didn’t just slip by, which made her very attentive. She had been dipping out butter beans at the minute, so that’s why I brought some beans for my item.
Evidence 3: This quilt is something else that shows Cassie is attentive. The author used action to show this.
“A few moments later Big Ma came in, leaving the door to Mama’s room open. Knowing she would be suspicious of such an early surrender to sleep, I sighed softly and, making sleepy little sounds, turned onto my stomach, careful not to expose my shirtsleeves. Obviously satisfied by my performance, Big Ma tucked the covers more closely around me and smoothed my hair gently. Then she stooped and started fishing for something under our bed.”
Cassie pretended to be sleeping so her grandmother wouldn’t go away and find out what she was doing. That made her an attentive person, since she was trying to find out what her parents were doing that they didn’t want her to know. She had been “sleeping” while this happened, so I brought a quilt for my item.
Evidence 4: This flashlight shows that Cassie was attentive. The author used action again to show the trait.
“I started to climb back up the porch but froze as a caravan of headlights appeared suddenly in the east, coming fast along the rain-soaked road like cat eyes in the night. Jason whined loudly, growing skittish as the lights approached, and when they slowed and braked before the house he slunk beneath the porch. I wanted to follow, but I couldn’t. My legs wouldn’t move.
The lead car swung into the muddy driveway and a shadowy figure outlined by the headlights of the car behind him stepped out. The man walked slowly up the drive.”
This was the thing that Cassie’s parents had tried to keep her from seeing, but Cassie still went to look when she heard her dog whining, because it meant there was something wrong. This made her very attentive. The flashlight looks like the headlights, so that’s why I chose a flashlight for my item.
A second strong trait in Cassie is that she is very bold.
Evidence 1: This shopping list shows that Cassie was bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“The girl gazed at me strangely, but Mr. Barnett did not look up. I assumed that he had not heard me. I was near the end of the counter so I merely went to the other side of it and tugged on his shirtsleeve to get his attention.
He recoiled as if I had struck him.
“Y-you was helping us,” I said, backing to the front of the counter again.
“Well, you just get your little black self back over there and wait some more,” he said in a low, tight, voice.
I was hot. I had been as nice as I could to him and here he was talking like this. “We been waiting on you for nearly an hour,” I hissed, “while you go ‘round waiting on everybody else. And it ain’t fair. You got no right-“
“Whose little nigger is this!” bellowed Mr. Barnett.
This evidence from the book shows that Cassie is a bold person. When the owner of the store, Mr. Barnett, waits on everyone else in line although it is T.J.’s turn, she tried to remind him that he had been helping them, though she fails and was driven out by a furious Mr. Barnett. But it still was very bold of her to speak up like that to a grown white man while she was only a young 9-year old black in the early 1900’s. She was shopping with T.J. and Stacey at the time, so I chose a shopping list for my item.
Evidence 2: These shoes prove that the main character, Cassie, was bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“I did not feel like messing with Lillian Jean. I had other things on my mind. “Okay,” I said, starting past. “I’m sorry.”
Lillian Jean sidestepped in front of me. “That ain’t enough. Get down in the road.”
I looked up at her. “You crazy?”
“You can’t watch where you going, get down in the road. Maybe that way you won’t be bumping into decent white folks with your nasty self.”
This second insult of the day was almost more than I could bear. Only the thought of Big Ma up in Mr. Jamison’s office saved Lillian Jean’s lip. “I ain’t nasty,” I said, properly holding my temper in check, “and if you’re afraid of getting bumped, get down there yourself.”
This piece of evidence from the book shows that Cassie is bold. Instead of just surrendering and stepping down onto the road, Cassie stayed, believing she shouldn’t let herself be bossed around, although it was obvious this would infuriate Lillian Jean. This made Cassie a bold person. She had been walking down the street, so I chose a pair of shoes for my item.
Evidence 3: This speech bubble shows that Cassie is bold. The author used dialogue to show this trait.
“Not ‘fore she ‘pologizes to my gal, y’all ain’t,” said Mr. Simms.
Big Ma gazed down at me, fear in her eyes, then back at the growing crowd. “She just’ a child-“
“Tell her, Aunty-“
Big Ma looked at me, her voice cracking as she spoke. “Go on child…apologize.”
“But, Big Ma-“
Her voice hardened. “Do like I say.”
I swallowed hard.
“Go on!”
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry, Miz Lillian Jean,” demanded Mr. Simms.
“Big Ma!” I balked.
“Say it, child.”
A painful tear slid down my cheek and my lips trembled. “I’m sorry…M-Miz …Lillian Jean.”
The evidence from the book proves that Cassie is bold. She didn’t believe in apologizing twice including a “Miss” just for accidentally bumping into Lillian Jean. That was very bold of her to do, although it mingled with a little bit of disobedience. She was basically saying “No, I don’t want to!”, so I chose a speech bubble for my item.
Evidence 4: This jar of water shows that Cassie is bold. The author used action to show this trait.
“When Stacey’s and my holes merged into one big hole with Little Man’s and Christopher-John’s, Stacey and I threw down our shovels and grabbed the extra buckets. Then the four of us ran back and forth to the gullies, hastily filling the buckets with murky water and dumping it into the hole.
Now understanding Stacey’s plan, we worked wordlessly until the water lay at the same level as the road. Then Stacey waded into the gully water and pulled himself up onto the forest bank. Finding three rocks, he stacked them to identify the spot.”
The evidence from ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ shows that Cassie is bold. A bus passes by everyday as the Logans went to school and the bus driver would amuse his passengers by splattering them with mud, so they decided to get back. They dug a large hole and disguised it as a large puddle, so the bus would fall in. Cassie was willing to risk being found out and getting into big trouble just for getting revenge. Because they made the hole into an innocent puddle, that’s why I brought a jar of water for my item.
I liked ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ because it gives a lot of information about how blacks were treated soon after slavery ended. It also is a loving story and proves the power of family and friends.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
happiness has a full day
一个莫名惊诧的bug，拎到某个email alias 上一问，e来e往不到15分钟，就找到了失主(owner)，塞(assign)出去了。the moral of this story is：要充分利用公司巨为庞大的 repository of geeks，找到正确的途径去打听，比自己关门苦干快捷，也长进。
在长达一年半的一三五面包，二四六面包的lunch menu之后，妹妹终于吃上了 hot meal，http://myorganicmeals.com/ 终于在昨天送饭送到妹妹的学校去了。
送妹妹上学，告诉她今天又有different hot meal，“another different hot meal?" 于是妹妹满怀期待拎着空空的红色 tote bag 走进校门；
接妹妹回家，妹妹骄傲的宣布：I finished all! I love hot meal!
我亲了下她的额头，告诉她，以后咱们天天都有 different hot meal.
daddy 自打搬了新楼，远离核心地带，楼下没有cafeteria, 吃饭也成了一个issue，后来他们的VP们一发善心，从今天起也有free lunch，是从外面order的 hot buffet，虽然只有周二周四有，也算实现了2/5个googlism.
晚饭时daddy发现妹妹书包里有一小小的本子，居然是数学题，3+5，2+8 什么的，并且都做对了，daddy 又好大喜功了：咦，妹妹会做数学了呢。我瞅了一眼，断定：这要不是老师念妹妹写的，就是妹妹抄别人的。我一想到妹妹抄别人的作业，心里居然很开心，想着从小就被别的小朋友抄，现在我家妹妹终于替她妈抄回来一些，妹妹确实有这个潜力的，玩游戏掷色子，妹妹急了，就会把色子翻到她想要的那面，然后平平的将色子送出去，还“耶！I got it!”
daddy 当然不会死心，“mommy， 考考妹妹，考考！”daddy 一个劲儿地怂恿mommy。
“妹妹，2+3 = ？”
妹妹转了转眼珠子，“5！”
咦，还心算呢，八成在心里掰手指头吧。
“4+3？”
“7!"
"3+8?"
"wait!" 妹妹跑到office去了，不一会儿，兴冲冲的冲过来，一边扬着手中的一张纸，一边乐不可支的尖叫着“ 11 !"
我拿过来那张纸，只见左上角画了两串小珠子，一串3个，一串8个。
大家冲着那堆珠子大笑不已，妹妹其实是很敏感的小人儿，可是我经常忘记了这一点，经常忍不住笑她。果然妹妹就不再去画珠子了。
“2 and 2 make a...?"
"22 !"
哈！逮着了。
“４！ both are right?"
"Both are right." 当然都对了，并且是 msft interview question 级别的。
接着又考了几道题，我终于用“4+11”把妹妹打趴下了，妹妹说 it's way too big.
2+8 比 8+2 做得稍慢一些，看来加法交换率还有待发明。但是3+10居然心算出来了，还是有些出乎我的意料。
给妹妹读书时，姑姑打来电话，说 happy birthday, 原来今天是俺的生日，农历3月3。大家都感到很遗憾怎么就忘了呢，不过还是唱了歌，还吹了蜡烛，当然蜡烛也只是凭空一吹，daddy 说周末再补。妹妹找来了一张卡，说是明天要在上面写happy birthday。
姐姐下楼去了，好一会，上来了，端着一个杯子，“Let's celebrate!" 原来姐姐做了一杯hot chocolate, 姐姐说她在楼下pantry里只发现了一些做hot chocolate 的 chips，就按照上面的recipe 做了，妹妹问姐姐不会 get hurt 吗，我说姐姐是用microwave oven 做的，不会烫着的。
每人都喝了几口热热的巧克力奶，妹妹尤其喜欢，喝掉了半杯。
等姐姐妹妹吉祥了，daddy 下楼检查厨房，发现牛奶没放进冰箱，巧克力的盒子敞开着，盖子找不着了（当然，只是daddy找不着，明天mommy去找相信找得到的），量杯量勺斜七歪八的散了一桌。。。
在长达一年半的一三五面包，二四六面包的lunch menu之后，妹妹终于吃上了 hot meal，http://myorganicmeals.com/ 终于在昨天送饭送到妹妹的学校去了。
送妹妹上学，告诉她今天又有different hot meal，“another different hot meal?" 于是妹妹满怀期待拎着空空的红色 tote bag 走进校门；
接妹妹回家，妹妹骄傲的宣布：I finished all! I love hot meal!
我亲了下她的额头，告诉她，以后咱们天天都有 different hot meal.
daddy 自打搬了新楼，远离核心地带，楼下没有cafeteria, 吃饭也成了一个issue，后来他们的VP们一发善心，从今天起也有free lunch，是从外面order的 hot buffet，虽然只有周二周四有，也算实现了2/5个googlism.
晚饭时daddy发现妹妹书包里有一小小的本子，居然是数学题，3+5，2+8 什么的，并且都做对了，daddy 又好大喜功了：咦，妹妹会做数学了呢。我瞅了一眼，断定：这要不是老师念妹妹写的，就是妹妹抄别人的。我一想到妹妹抄别人的作业，心里居然很开心，想着从小就被别的小朋友抄，现在我家妹妹终于替她妈抄回来一些，妹妹确实有这个潜力的，玩游戏掷色子，妹妹急了，就会把色子翻到她想要的那面，然后平平的将色子送出去，还“耶！I got it!”
daddy 当然不会死心，“mommy， 考考妹妹，考考！”daddy 一个劲儿地怂恿mommy。
“妹妹，2+3 = ？”
妹妹转了转眼珠子，“5！”
咦，还心算呢，八成在心里掰手指头吧。
“4+3？”
“7!"
"3+8?"
"wait!" 妹妹跑到office去了，不一会儿，兴冲冲的冲过来，一边扬着手中的一张纸，一边乐不可支的尖叫着“ 11 !"
我拿过来那张纸，只见左上角画了两串小珠子，一串3个，一串8个。
大家冲着那堆珠子大笑不已，妹妹其实是很敏感的小人儿，可是我经常忘记了这一点，经常忍不住笑她。果然妹妹就不再去画珠子了。
“2 and 2 make a...?"
"22 !"
哈！逮着了。
“４！ both are right?"
"Both are right." 当然都对了，并且是 msft interview question 级别的。
接着又考了几道题，我终于用“4+11”把妹妹打趴下了，妹妹说 it's way too big.
2+8 比 8+2 做得稍慢一些，看来加法交换率还有待发明。但是3+10居然心算出来了，还是有些出乎我的意料。
给妹妹读书时，姑姑打来电话，说 happy birthday, 原来今天是俺的生日，农历3月3。大家都感到很遗憾怎么就忘了呢，不过还是唱了歌，还吹了蜡烛，当然蜡烛也只是凭空一吹，daddy 说周末再补。妹妹找来了一张卡，说是明天要在上面写happy birthday。
姐姐下楼去了，好一会，上来了，端着一个杯子，“Let's celebrate!" 原来姐姐做了一杯hot chocolate, 姐姐说她在楼下pantry里只发现了一些做hot chocolate 的 chips，就按照上面的recipe 做了，妹妹问姐姐不会 get hurt 吗，我说姐姐是用microwave oven 做的，不会烫着的。
每人都喝了几口热热的巧克力奶，妹妹尤其喜欢，喝掉了半杯。
等姐姐妹妹吉祥了，daddy 下楼检查厨房，发现牛奶没放进冰箱，巧克力的盒子敞开着，盖子找不着了（当然，只是daddy找不着，明天mommy去找相信找得到的），量杯量勺斜七歪八的散了一桌。。。
Saturday, April 5, 2008
下个目标：青铜器？
自打上个圣诞我在网上定了两只锅子，美其曰：给自己的圣诞礼物-- 有点 Mr. Bean 的做派哈-- 收集 pots & pans 的欲望一发不可收拾。
“mommy,门口怎么扔了个纸箱子啊？”daddy 问道；
“哦，嘿嘿，是我订的锅吧”
“mommy，门口又有一个纸箱子。”
我径直过去把箱子打开，把锅子收了起来。
“mommy, ..."
今天早晨搬出来 Le Creuset Saucier Pan，我的是Cobalt-30（钴蓝色？），做了个omelet 的馅，celery,carrot,black pepper,rum,Kosher salt,ground beef,green pepper，陶瓷的cooking surface 让做饭成了一种享受，清洗是extremely easy，我掂着沉沉的锅锅向daddy显摆，“你来摸摸，比妹妹的脸还光滑呢。”“真的也。”于是两人一起温习了一遍高中课文“守财奴”葛朗台半夜三更数金币的那一节。
omelet 做法是：在All-Clad 12" Stainless Steel Fry Pan 里摊张薄饼，磕个鸡蛋，撒些现磨 Parmesans cheese, 放刚才做好的馅，不用翻面，鸡蛋set就好了，对折，搞掂。像不像煎饼果子的手法，尤其是那cheese，贼像了甜面腐乳酱，我可以考虑写写cooking 比较，按比较文学的套路写就成。
就是...煎饼果子不用All-Clad Le Creuset.
俺的麾下还有名将勇士若干...还未启用的：
Le Creuset Cobalt Iron Handle Skillet 11 ¾"
Le Creuset Caribbean Blue 5-Quart Oval French Ovens
Emile Henry Flame Top 4.2-Quart Round Oven
Emile Henry® Flame Top Clay Tagine，这个是做摩洛哥菜的，不要问我什么时候会用得上，摩洛哥王妃驾临，或许？
All-Clad Stainless 14-Inch Open Stir Fry
一并附上网上copy来的片片：
“mommy,门口怎么扔了个纸箱子啊？”daddy 问道；
“哦，嘿嘿，是我订的锅吧”
“mommy，门口又有一个纸箱子。”
我径直过去把箱子打开，把锅子收了起来。
“mommy, ..."
今天早晨搬出来 Le Creuset Saucier Pan，我的是Cobalt-30（钴蓝色？），做了个omelet 的馅，celery,carrot,black pepper,rum,Kosher salt,ground beef,green pepper，陶瓷的cooking surface 让做饭成了一种享受，清洗是extremely easy，我掂着沉沉的锅锅向daddy显摆，“你来摸摸，比妹妹的脸还光滑呢。”“真的也。”于是两人一起温习了一遍高中课文“守财奴”葛朗台半夜三更数金币的那一节。
omelet 做法是：在All-Clad 12" Stainless Steel Fry Pan 里摊张薄饼，磕个鸡蛋，撒些现磨 Parmesans cheese, 放刚才做好的馅，不用翻面，鸡蛋set就好了，对折，搞掂。像不像煎饼果子的手法，尤其是那cheese，贼像了甜面腐乳酱，我可以考虑写写cooking 比较，按比较文学的套路写就成。
就是...煎饼果子不用All-Clad Le Creuset.
俺的麾下还有名将勇士若干...还未启用的：
Le Creuset Cobalt Iron Handle Skillet 11 ¾"
Le Creuset Caribbean Blue 5-Quart Oval French Ovens
Emile Henry Flame Top 4.2-Quart Round Oven
Emile Henry® Flame Top Clay Tagine，这个是做摩洛哥菜的，不要问我什么时候会用得上，摩洛哥王妃驾临，或许？
All-Clad Stainless 14-Inch Open Stir Fry
一并附上网上copy来的片片：
社会改良家
姐姐四五岁那会，路上，
“oops!"
"怎么回事啦，妈妈？”坐在后排的函函关心地问道。
“刚才的stop sign我没有停。”
“那怎么办呢？ policeman 没有看近我们呀！”函函着急了，“他怎么给我们 write a ticket 呢？”
“是啊，”我也不知道该怎么办了，“要不我们给他写封信，告诉他我们闯 stop sign啦？这样他就知道了就可以给我们开 ticket 啦?"
一晃又蹦出来了个妹妹，也四岁了，路上，
“when you hit another car, a policeman will send you to hospital"
"对的”
“... and give you a new car!"
--都是很有创意的改良家。
“oops!"
"怎么回事啦，妈妈？”坐在后排的函函关心地问道。
“刚才的stop sign我没有停。”
“那怎么办呢？ policeman 没有看近我们呀！”函函着急了，“他怎么给我们 write a ticket 呢？”
“是啊，”我也不知道该怎么办了，“要不我们给他写封信，告诉他我们闯 stop sign啦？这样他就知道了就可以给我们开 ticket 啦?"
一晃又蹦出来了个妹妹，也四岁了，路上，
“when you hit another car, a policeman will send you to hospital"
"对的”
“... and give you a new car!"
--都是很有创意的改良家。
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
放出的卫星是如何收回来的
“妹妹，daddy is 37, next year I'll be ..."
"thirty-eight!"
于是daddy向妈妈宣布妹妹能count到40。做妈的不跟爹一般好糊弄，一把拽过妹妹，“妹妹，mommy is 39, next year I'll turn...?"
妹妹歪着头琢磨了半秒钟，笑道："one hundred ?"
虽然粉碎了daddy的泡沫，但心里跟吞了个苍蝇似的。
"thirty-eight!"
于是daddy向妈妈宣布妹妹能count到40。做妈的不跟爹一般好糊弄，一把拽过妹妹，“妹妹，mommy is 39, next year I'll turn...?"
妹妹歪着头琢磨了半秒钟，笑道："one hundred ?"
虽然粉碎了daddy的泡沫，但心里跟吞了个苍蝇似的。