I Know

The Empire Strikes Back不只给我们一览Jedi的奥秘，也为“女人都爱坏男人”作了个完美示范。

"I love you"
"I know"

这句对白几乎成了Han Solo浪子形象的最佳诠释；也把高不可攀的Princess Leia拉下凡间。有一种属于两性间的紧凑，在他们之前展开，蔓延，结果……

（在The New Hope时星际大战迷还不知道事情的真相，支持Han Solo+Princess Leia或Luke+Leia的或许各占一半，但在Return of Jedi真想揭晓后他俩的爱情就显得非常顺理成章了。）

翻箱倒柜

翻箱倒柜也得把马友友给找出来！或许他愿意为其中一两片CD签上大名也不错哦！

阿妈叉烧

我老妈子是非常神奇的。睡个午觉醒来，到厨房转了一圈，我家餐桌上就多了一碟叉烧了。

“怎么我都没吃过你做的叉烧？”我问。
“我还有很多东西会做都还没有做过给你吃”她答。

在我家，餐桌上随时都会有惊喜！

My Simple Yet Perfect Sunday Lunch

Not by me, of course!

Who has to cook when you have an excellent cook that can do wonders at home?

Harvest In Cafe Perfect Gathering

It's Jit Sin High School Chinese Orchestra Annual Concert again, and we have been looking forward for this gathering. I have been eyeing for Harvest In Cafe for quite some time but never have chance to try so I decided to organize our gathering there.

We reached there about 5:45pm and found that the shop will only open at 6pm. While wandering around the premises (and take photos, of course), I noticed that there's actually a lot of people already waiting there! Wait for the clock to strike 6! Must be very popular!

When the shop finally opened, we were the first to go in and I walked straight to this cosy corner that I have surveyed from the outside earlier. To my surprise, all the tables there were already reserved. Actually, MOST OF THE TABLES in the restaurant were already reserved. We were lucky to even have a table of our own!

Once we get the menu, I immediately understand the popularity. It's relatively cheap for well-decorated-Western-restaurant in Penang. (For reference, a black pepper chicken cost only RM9.90 and you can add RM4.90 for a non-canned-soup-of-the-day, a drink and dessert. The best part is, there's no service charge or government tax. What you see on the menu is what you pay!)

The main dishes that we had

How to go? Drive along Burmah Road (from New World Park towards Pulau Tikus direction). After Penang Chinese Chin Woo Athletic Association, turn right. Go to the end of Burmah Square and turn right again. You will see a very welcoming restaurant with Grey exterior. That is Harvest In Cafe, at 10, Irrawaddy Road 

Opening hour: 11.00-3.30pm, 6pm-10pm. Closed on Sunday. Closed for dinner on Tuesday.

天行者

大家都知道我们姐弟仨是超级Star Wars迷，但你可知道The Empire Strikes Back是我最爱的Star Wars电影呢？且让我在倒数的每个周五缓缓为你逐一道来。

Luke Skywalker一开始便以Tatoonie的单纯农家孩子讨尽了星际大战迷们的欢心。虽然他自The New Hope开始便是故事的重心所在，然而即使他在运用浑然天成的Force成功毁掉Death Star后，他也只不过是个初出茅庐的黄毛小子，就如武侠小说里那些不小心跌入山洞刚开始一段奇遇的小子。纯真、且对未来充满抱负的。

到了The Empire Strikes Back，当他开始了坎坷不平、充满斗争和痛苦的道路，他的人格才完全成型。

而我们作为观众的，在The New Hope里和Luke一起偷窥了Jedi能力的一角，到了The Empire Strikes Back，我们终于和Luke一起展开神奇的Jedi旅程。文明的、古典的、正面的、简朴的、高贵的。

George Lucas把最好的都给了Luke，又把最好的Luke都给了The Empire Strikes Back。

Thank you Micheal~

I booked a return ticket from Tiger Airline to Singapore a few months back. For those who know me must be asking. Why? What bring me to Singapore? Well, Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble (SSO) of course!!

I am so excited about this and have been looking forward for the trip. However, this afternoon, some Asia-Pacific tele-agent called me and told me that my flight on 30th April morning has been delayed to 9pm 30th April!!  DELAYED!!!! Expecting me to fly when Yo Yo Ma is playing his cello!!!??? NO WAY! I tried to explain to the tele-agent but obviously both of us need translator to translate our English to each other. Finally, I gave up and decided to call Singapore Office directly.

I was greeted by a gentleman name Micheal. Initially he offered me free ticket to fly to other places on the same day but I am not going anywhere when Yo Yo Ma is playing in Singapore! After offering me a few options that I keep on rejecting, he finally told me that "I will try to explain to my superior and get you on the flight one day earlier without additional charges". I am so glad!!

Everyone has been telling me all sorts of terrible stories about Tiger Airline, but, Micheal proved that a good warm customer service make a different!

Thank you Micheal~

荷叶裹幸福

繁忙地工作了一整天后，回到家，等着暖你的胃的，是一碟热腾腾的阿妈荷叶饭，幸福就是这么简单……

打开荷叶，香香的糯米饭就在圆形中央，很可爱~

有时候不是我吓赖，可是，住跟妈妈，想不肥也难~

The Empire Gives Back

经恩恩提醒，惊觉约莫再过一个月就是The Empire Strikes Back的三十周年纪念了！到官方网站走走瞧瞧，发觉Lucasfilm还举办了长达一年的“The Empire Gives Back”慈善活动，到真是把The Force用在正确的管道上了。

接下来的几个周五，就让我来告诉你为什么它会成为我心目中永远的最佳Star Wars电影吧！

Failure Is Not An Option

昨天出席了Leadership Training，讲师以Titanic和Apollo 13的电影片段作为领导能力的重要性的示范，我忍不住想和大家分享，也忍不住想起那一段日子……

看Apollo 13已经是十多年前的事了。（那时正年少轻狂，和泽灵等最疯狂的时候还曾经到戏院偷海报的。）基于Tom Hanks一直是我非常喜爱的演员，在那个时候，所有他的电影我都不曾错过。看了这部电影后，我当然也爱上了Ed Harris和Gary Sinise（我当然也非常喜欢Kevin Bacon，但他是更早前的发现了）。我天生“眼睛浅”，看Apollo 13也感动得泪流满面。以下这一个片断正是其中一个让我对Ed Harris（以及Gene Kranz）由衷钦佩的原因。（历史上Gene Kranz固然果断能干，电影中Ed Harris也适当地带出领袖应有的魄力。）

据说Gene Kranz在现实中并不曾说过"Failure is not an option"这句话，但他觉得这句电影对白和NASA成员们的使命感非常吻合，于是选了"Failure is not an option"作为他的自传标题。一个好的领袖，正需要具备这种永不言败的坚定，在艰苦的时刻，稳重而笃定的，适当地运用每一个人的专长渡过难关。

而我们，作为我们这个臭皮囊的领袖，正也需要同样的信念，领着这个臭皮囊潇洒走一趟红尘。失败？我们还嗤之以鼻呢！

无可救药的沉迷

我是那种对诱惑的抵抗力非常低的人。

从小到大，只要我一不小心坐在电脑/电子游戏机前打开了游戏，即使是普普通通简简单单的一个FreeCell我也会一玩就几个小时，更别说Sim City、Red Alert之类的游戏了。这一点，恩最清楚。有一阵子我时常“无意中”碰上他pause着的游戏，一碰上键盘就一发不可收拾，通常电脑就这样子被我霸占至我眼皮再也支撑不住为止。为了不想把我的生命挥霍在这些毫无意义的玩意上，再基于我极度了解自己的死性，无论我听闻有什么多特出、多好玩、多有型的游戏，我现在一律不碰了。（不过，在Facebook上我还是无可救药地沉迷于Bejeweled，时常为了破不了自己预定的目标而不眠不休，很不像样的。）

今天在Yahoo上看见Asteroids的世界纪录终于被打破了（有时候还真想念Atari那些简简单单的2D游戏），那个痴人竟然玩了58小时，以41,338,740的高分成为世界上最厉害玩Asteroids的人。或许很多人不解，那是1979年的老旧游戏，graphic简单得不可思议，在这日新月异的年代怎么还有人玩这游戏？然而，我理解，很多时候，graphic对我们这种易于沉迷的人根本不是决定性的关键，贪的，也只不过是想要不断超越自己的快感。

新纪录保持者John McAllister说"It's basically considered a Holy Grail. It was a title that a lot of people would want, and I wanted it."

忘食我做得到，废寝是我永远不可能达致的境界。

Salute!

中路点心小厨

爸爸错过了和我们到怡保吃点心的机会，星期天，我们到槟岛中路的点心小厨再吃一次点心。
食物比较起来虽然没有明阁的那么突出，但胜在环境不错，而且，在槟城，这样的点心水准就称得上价廉物美了。

Ah Wei's Post-Cameron Trip

阿薇从金马仑回来，我比她还兴奋。无他，就为了那一条条玉蜀黍和一朵朵玫瑰。

她花痴似的买了七十二朵玫瑰，害得我们整晚忙着找花瓶、剪枝、插花……忙得不可开交。当然，为了那一室的玫瑰和满屋的芳香，一切都是值得的。

玫瑰花本是娇生惯养的花卉，怎经得起舟车劳顿？所以，回到大山脚，好多花瓣也脱落了。而，这，我们也不浪费。找个透明盆子把花瓣装上，又是另一种风味的装饰。

隔天扫墓时，还可以为公公婆婆坟上安插玫瑰。

清明

莫忘种树前人……

机会

说起机会，大家一定在网路上或在forwarded emails上看过以下的笑话吧？

A big storm approaches. The weatherman urges everyone to get out of town. The priest says, "I won't worry, God will save me".
The morning of the storm, the police go through the neighborhood with a sound truck telling everyone to evacuate. The priest says "I won't worry, God will save me".

The storm drains back up and there is an inch of water standing in the street. A fire truck comes by to pick up the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises another foot. A National Guard truck comes by to rescue the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises some more. The priest is forced up to his roof. A boat comes by to rescue the priest. He tells them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises higher. The priest is forced up to the very top of his roof. A helicopter comes to rescue the priest. He shouts up at them "Don't worry, God will save me."

The water rises above his house, and the priest drowns.

When he gets up to heaven he says to God "I've been your faithful servant ever since I was born! Why didn't you save me?"

God replies "First I sent you a fire truck, then the national guard, then a boat, and then a helicopter. What more do you want from me!!??"

你可曾在机会敲门时消极地否定了一切可能？你可曾自以为是的痴痴等待一个自己也不知道的“救缓”？

是没有机会还是没有发现机会？
是没有发现机会还是没有把握机会？

山脚下度假式

我可以想象，薇和毓豪此刻一定是坐在Bala's Chalet的花园内吹着凉风、吃着scones、喝着金马伦奶茶。

我不甘示弱，泡了Nescafe Gold、拿了妈妈刚作好的cheese cake、拿了报纸坐在我们pagola下幌一个早上。

“大山脚也是山啊！” 呵呵，就这样阿Q一番~

我们家里的女人都是cheese cake的爱好者。妈爱的是baked cheese cake，向来不吃chilled cheese cake，但我和薇两者都爱。难得妈妈终于下定决心要研究chilled cheese cake，做个original recipe的。我当然要在这儿炫耀。她第一炮成功了，接下去将会有好多好多各种不同口味的chilled cheese cake出现吧？哈哈！

百多公里外的点心

小时候听说那些富太们特地飞到香港吃点心觉得很不可思议，然而，我没想过，我特地驾车到怡保吃点心也会让这么多人惊讶。

话说我家里的“大粒人”薇薇又回家了。她和男友要到金马伦避暑，竟然约我们一块儿到怡保吃点心，而偏偏我们也都能和她一起癫。于是我今天特地请假，然后一大早我另驾一辆车载着我妈和恩做领队带着大家到怡保去。

好久都没到怡保了，上一回来时Jelapang tol的迁移还未完成呢。改道后的路让我有点混淆，结果走错了路。不过，以我对怡保的了解，当然是可以轻而易举的转回目的地啦~

一到Jalan Leong Sin Nam，看见刚开张不久的富山茶楼装修得富丽堂皇，大家都非常心动，可是薇坚持这次是为了明阁的花生糊而来，我们只好约好了下一次再尝尝新的富山咯。（小时候我最爱富山，可是几年前开始觉得富山渐渐失去我童年的味道，于是我们这才转为明阁的支持者，今天富山不是主角，放张小照片就算）。

好不容易找到停车位，薇一下车就嚷“怡保拜五是不用做工读书的咩？”，真的，九点多了，富山、明阁都仍然人潮汹涌。真的好像都“晤使做”似的。我们在明阁痴痴地等，好不容易才等到一张桌子。一坐下来，薇就迫不及待地点了花生糊，“冇左”服务员说，阿薇气炸，只好点芝麻糊代替。我们去得迟，很多食物早就卖完了，连糯米鸡都没吃到呢！但是，我们仍然饿鬼似的，点了满满一桌的食物，吃了近一个小时，这才心满意足的离去。

我本身从来不是甜品的支持者，芝麻糊虽然弄得又香又滑但我吃了几口就喊怕。我最爱的是芋角。在外头吃芋头糕、芋头角或任何与芋头有关的食物，都很少吃到芋头味这么香浓的，而且外皮非常松脆，再加上里头的叉烧馅又香又多汁，真的是想到都流口水。

离开明阁后，薇意犹未尽，于是我又带他们到老街场大包了四包正宗白咖啡，这才带他们上highway。他们上他们的金马伦，我们回我们的大山脚。

到了霹雳河休息站，我忙转进去，不为什么，就是要我的御用阿四从这儿开始接手做司机的工作。就在我们上完厕所、松动完胫骨后，我和恩看见休息站有个瞭望台，按捺不住好奇心爬上去瞧了瞧，可惜哦，看不到霹雳河哦，但是毕竟是蓝天白云青绿山丘的配搭，又按捺不住拍了一张照片。

就在我们准备离去的时候，发觉老妈子不见了，原来她爱shopping的心又再跳跃，看见令郎满目的水果不买不快呢！

就这样舟车劳顿的，我的珍贵的假期就不见掉半天了……