Yipee!!!!! Secrets of creative tension.

I once read a book which mentioned on creative tension. Let me explain what is creative tension with my experiences.

I had envisioned sometime in my future that I would like to drive a car instead of taking the public transport or walking.

Till this afternoon (Aug 29), I did not have a driving license to drive a car. Thus, there was a disparity between the present and the future which created a mental tension, propelling me towards getting my car license.

Being endowed with a brain to study hard so I could get my head Permantly Damaged (re-arrangement of Ph.D.) but not with abilities for driving, I had to overcome my limitations by practising more.

To cut the whole story short, I finally got my driver license today! I can rent a car to drive myself around in USA. I am no longer a "prisoner" of bad public transport.

For those interested to know the juicy part, read on further.

I have to thank Delores Henson, my lab technician who has the guts to teach me on the roads. She is 61 year old. She kept insisting to bring me to the highway (expressway) which terrified me since I am no speed demon. I want to get comfortable with driving first before heading out there. Getting my license is just the beginning, driving safely is the end.

Special thanks to Ao Yang who "squeezed out" time from her busy schedule to teach me too.

I am grateful to Gregory Simon, my colleague who took me to Glen Burnie Motor Vehicle Administration for my test today.

We left work at 1pm for my 2.30pm appointment but he mistakenly took a longer way which left me with 30 minutes to practise with his car. I tried to do parallel parking with dismal result. Both of us had a rough idea where I stood for my test. However, since I had made an appointment, I decided to go for it, thinking if I failed, I could always try again. Skipping the test without trying would make me a complete failure.

Learning from my mistake with my application of learner's permit where I was rejected outright in the queue, I brought along my passport, social security card, working visa, bank statement and a void cheque, just in case some nasty and unhappy personnel was behind the desk.

Instead, I was just asked for my learner's permit and was sent to process my test application. The personnel serving me even wished me good luck.

I had to relief myself and calm me down before taking the test. The tester was reasonable and said I could ask questions if in doubt.

The first task was the turn about which I performed under 1 min 20 seconds (3-minute limit).

The second task was backing up (reversing) in a straight direction which was alright since the road was level.

The last task was the parallel parking which has a 3-minute limit too and the wheels must be within 12 inches from the kerb. In the midst of parking, I asked, "Can the wheels touched the kerb?" while the clock was ticking. I managed to clock 1 min 47 seconds and the wheels were way within 12 inches.

After this, he instructed me to drive out of the test circuit and told me I could collect my license on the spot. I was elated. My heart was pounding hard during the entire circuit. He also asked if I worked at Hopkins since I forgot to take down my badge.

When I recounted this to Vladimir who also got his license recently after a second attempt, he joked that he should have worn his badge too during his first attempt. His twist was that I got my license with my Ph.D. on the Hopkins badge. I rolled my eyes (implying, "Whatever"). I can sleep well tonight.

8 short minutes

Last Friday (8/24), I arranged for a driving practise to prepare for my driving test on this Wednesday.

The instructor called me at 8.52am to inform me that he had arrived. I told him that I was on my way to meet him. He was early since we fixed it at 9am.

When I reached my building lobby, I did not see his car so I waited till 9am before calling him. I found it strange that he should take 8 minutes to reach here wherever he was unless he was at a wrong place.

"Hello Mr. A, this is Paul. May I know where are you at?" I asked.

He replied, "Paul... bus ... back up ... crash... Re-schedule..." I could only picked up these words as he had a heavy accent.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I proceeded towards the Johns Hopkins shuttle and noticed there were more shuttles than usual. Sandwiched between two shuttles, there was a car. Its hood was crushed badly by the rear of the front shuttle. I realized the car belonged to my driving instructor. A good thing that no one was injured.

I felt bad that his livelihood was affected and was also reminded that life is fragile. Within a short span of 8 minutes, an accident happened. This episode served as a reminder to treasure each moment fully.

Getting my acts together

It has been 12 days since I last posted.

I am feeling lethargic lately and tend to procrastinate.

Need to gather myself together and focus on important things instead of letting precious time slips by.

Artscape 2007

I had been procrastinating with this post for three weeks since Artscape 2007 was held from July 20 - 22.

This annual event features the arts and crafts of artists. I was interested in the works of other photographers, trying to learn some tips from them.

There were outdoor performances, street theater and a section dedicated to children.

I was able to get onto a Ferris wheel, sponsored by McDonald's. Personally, I liked the shot of the Ferris wheel in motion.

More Artscape 2007 pictures here.

A love story by a male author?

As I was browsing for a new book to read, my eyes rested on the title "Dear John" written by a male author.

I found it odd that a guy would write about romance, so I decided to read it. I have always associated romance with female authors and the front cover has a picture of a man and a woman in embrace. I know I am stereotyping.

I was hooked after reading the first chapter and I could identify with some parts of the plot. Instead of describing the love making process between the lead characters (as in some romance novels), the author simply wrote in one sentence. The plot unraveled at the right pace and the ending was heart wrenching.

I had recommended this book to Heiny and would like to get feedback on whether males write romance differently from females.

Good morning, Baltimore

"Good morning, Baltimore" is the opening song of the movie musical, Hairspray. There is even a karaoke version of this song in YouTube.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this remake of the 1988 movie which was about misfit and racial segregation set in 1962 Baltimore. The tunes were catchy and sounded really 60's. I always commented that I am a old man trapped in a young man's body since I love the oldies. (Well, I cannot help it since I lived in a large family of uncles and aunts who listened to the latest hits then when I was very young). This is one superb movie soundtrack I will want to get my hand on. The dances were great too. I wish I could dance like that as my body is very rigid or I feel very conscious of myself dancing in public.

Finally, I can come out with a song that has Baltimore in it. I can usually sing a song from a word out of a conversation. Haha... People who know me knows I am a crazy guy who loves to sing.

Pre-42nd National Day celebration on Aug 3

I finally got to meet fellow Singaporeans at the Singapore Embassy since I arrived in USA 1.5 years ago; the occasion being celebration of Singapore's 42nd independence day.

Located in Washington D.C., I had to take JHU shuttle, MARC train and Metro, followed by walking to reach my destination. With so much hassle, it strengthened my resolve to get my driving license soon.

Since I had some time to spare, I visited the National Postal Museum which was located just outside the Union Station. There was no way I would be walking around in a long-sleeve shirt with temperatures soaring above 90 degree Fahrenheit.

Inside the museum, I saw some rare collection, the various modes of transportation to mail to the remotest parts of the country like Alaska or Grand Canyon. I also got to know some of the famous people and their achievements as they were commemorated on stamps. One way of learning a country's culture is through stamps.

After that, I proceeded to the embassy where I had a bottle of Singapore-brewed beer, Tiger to reminiscence things Singapore. Spring rolls were served as appetizers which tasted delicious but I felt left out because most of them came with family members. I was not the gregarious guy I thought I am.

As I went out to sit on a pinic table, I saw a familiar face. The stranger also found me familiar but we could not pinpoint where we could have met. We thought we were in the same unit in army but then his wife came over and asked if we were in the same polytechnic. That was when I realized he was my classmate but in a different clique.

We lost touch since then but met at a faraway place from home. We caught up while having Singapore dishes (chicken curry, fried tofu, fried beef). I had a great pigout where the cream from the cream puffs just burst in your mouth upon biting them. Yummy...

To end this post, I wish my country, a happy 42nd National Day!

Knowing how to pamper oneself

Occasionally, you may feel down because life is not rosy all the time. I have been feeling down for some time (God knows how long). Little things add up to my frustration.

Well, to snap out of it, talking with someone helps especially if that person gives you good advice to rethink. Once you think from a different angle, things do not seem so bad after all.

Exercising induces the body to secrete endorphin, the natural feel-good hormone. This evening, I swam hard and fast, keeping my mind from wandering by concentrating on gliding in the water.

Helping someone puts a smile back too. I did stroke corrections with someone who was swimming front crawl with difficulty. He was willing to pay me to teach him but I declined. Instead, I suggested that I could see him once a week to see if he had improved by practising what I had taught him.

I also treated myself to a sumptuous dinner at a restaurant where I could simply eat and pay without preparing the food and washing the dishes.

Life is good to me, I can sleep well tonight.

Practise makes perfect

After my fourth attempt at Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay, I managed to shave off four hours of handling time with sixteen mice without compromising on the number of viable splenocytes (cells from the spleen). ELISPOT is usually used for monitoring immune responses in humans and animals since I am researching on human flu vaccine.

This record time came with practise where I became familiar with the experiment and by planning ahead. I am looking forward to my result tomorrow.

Conquering the Impossible: My 12,000-Mile Journey Around the Arctic Circle by Mike Horn

My attention was caught by the front cover when I was browsing for a storybook at the Eisenhower Library. It looks very cold to me which reminded me of the past winter.

The author is Mike Horn, a professional adventurer and he was wearing a wolverine hood, which will never freeze even at -70 degree Fahrenheit (-56 degree Celsius).

From this nonfiction, I learnt a lot of vocabulary concerning the Arctic e.g. floe, tundra etc. Also got some tips on how to survive in the cold winter. For example, the human nose often form mucus at very cold temperature and it can be used as a natural moisturizer, as practiced by the Eskimos.

I also wondered why would anyone do such a feat of walking around the Arctic Circle on foot.

Personally, I find stepping out of one's comfort zone is an adventure itself. Different people in their own unique ways seek various options (physical, mental, spiritual) to conquer the impossible. Ultimately, the aim is to better ourselves and know what we are capable of accomplishing, where are the boundaries of our limits and our weaknesses.

Havre de Grace, MD

Havre de Grace, a quaint town with Victorian houses located in Harford County, MD offers a relaxing weekend where one can fish, boat, bird-watch or stroll on a boardwalk along the Susquehanna River which runs into the Chesapeake Bay.

To remind people of the importance of not polluting the Chesapeake Bay, there is a crab painted on the pavement next to a drainage. Protecting the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem helps to sustain the many habitats and wildlife organisms found there, and human activities such as fisheries, tourism etc.

There are many antiques shops lining along the Main street for antique collectors. Since Maryland is famous for making decoys for hunting ducks, there is a Decoy museum.

I found this signboard eye catching which served its purpose. There were two bronze sculptures of kids playing with bars outside MacGregor's Restaurant & Tavern where I had my lunch. The beef sandwich soaked in onion soup was marvelous.

Havre de Grace photos.

Chattering "magpies"

After a hard day of work, you would expect quiet and peace on your ride home. Well, it depends on your luck to avoid noisy and loud "magpies".

These "magpies" were so obnoxious where they had to talked so loud on the shuttle bus as though they were the only passengers on the bus. Their volume was loud even though they were sitting beside one another.

Either they are hard of hearing or they cannot control their volume! I am not interested to hear your conversations, so be civic minded and tone down your voice.

Horse back riding

He-ha, giddyup, rodeo, cowboy...

I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams on last Saturday when I went horse back riding. It was organized by The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) at Johns Hopkins.

Since I had no car, fellow members were kind to offer a ride to Misty Manor Riding Stable and back.

It is located in southeastern Carroll County, MD and there is no public transport. I arrived late since we could not find the stable. A handler was pushy in asking me to fill up the liability form quickly as the trail ride was beginning soon.

I was expecting some form of training lesson since I had no prior experience. They did (in less one minute). To go left, pull the left rein; go right; pull the right rein; to stop, pull both rein and say, "Hold" and to go forward was to kick except I was not shown how to kick. Lean forward when going uphill and lean backward when going downhill.

Anyway, my horse's name was Heather and she headed straight for the trough for a drink as the weather was hot. Heather was gentle and knew what to do. She moved forward without me kicking her and stopped when there was no space in front. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride and taking pictures. Along the trail, I leaned forward to pat her.

It was fun and refreshing walking in the river on a hot day. Since horses cannot perceived depth, I had to guide her to shallow grounds along the river bed and away from low branches. I also learnt that horses would not move a foot when they urinate, which was why I was behind the group at the river.

She did galloped at certain stretches of the trail which was exhilarating. However, my camera was hitting my back with every stride.

In future, I would like to go for a longer ride and maybe go for riding lessons.

Pictures taken.

Congratulation to my complex relationship friend's wedding

A BIG congratulation to a great couple, Edward and Jade on their marriage on 07-07-07!

Edward is my sergeant in the army, "investor" during my graduate study, godson in faith though I am younger than him and a bosom friend in general.

We were in the same team in army which was how I got to know him. We went through thick and thin during army exercises and had our fair share of funny army tales. After army, we went out often to cycle or explore since both of us like outdoors and were waiting for school to begin. He went to Australia for his degree while I studied locally.

After his overseas studies, he started working while I continued to pursue for a higher degree. He would often treat me to lunch since I was a poor student then. That was how he was also know as my "investor" and I, his "investment". He is thinking that someday when I make it big, I will treat him back.

One day, he asked me if he could attend mass at the church I attended regularly. I guess God was using me as His instrument to be a companion in faith. He was my last godson, I have five.

Jade is a very fine woman who is compatible with Edward. I knew of their courtship from what Edward told me. I am happy for him to find a good wife!

I was there during their engagement ceremony where I volunteered to be their photographer. Jade was "bragging" to her friends that she had a Dr. photographer. Haha...

It is sad that I cannot go back to attend their wedding but I called them on Skype to send my greetings from Baltimore. They were tired after a whole day of activities and Edward was drunk from sabotages because people wanted to get back at him for making them drunk when they were grooms.

So, there might be a truth in the saying, "What goes around, always come back around."

A nauseating experience at the gym

Now that I had recovered from my cough, I have been working out and exercising regularly to de-stress and get the natural high feeling from endorphin.

Yesterday while running on the treadmill, a long-haired guy came and used the treadmill beside me. He was running feverishly and began to perspire. That was when I started to smell a stale, sour foul air enveloping me.

As I was in the middle of my run, I did not wish to change machine. Besides, there was no free machine available. So, I had to put up with the odor.

I tried holding my breath several times but how long can one hold since he was doing aerobic exercise. Next, I tried to swing my towel to move the air away.

In the end, I just focus on running and was glad that my 30-minute run ended.

PS: For those who wish to reduce fats, you must do aerobic exercises (running, swimming, cycling etc) for at least 20 minutes for the body to burn away the excess fats. Usually, I go for 50 minutes. Do gradual increment of time and intensity based on your current health! Go for the long term goal of being healthy and not fast drop in weight only to gain it back more. There is no short cut to health.

Don't need to travel out of Maryland to get stuffs

What stuffs you would ask? Chinese stuffs like Chinese herbs, condiments, tidbits etc.

I went to the AA Supermarket at Security Boulevard on last Saturday with Ao Yang to do grocery. This supermarket is nearer than HMart and sells Chinese products. The prices are cheaper than HMart but the vegetables and fruits are not as fresh as those at HMart. Given that this supermarket just opened a few months ago, hopefully, it can bring in fresher products.

Meanwhile, I do not have to travel to Washington D.C. or New York Chinatowns to get Chinese stuffs now or even Singapore except for ingredients for Singapore dishes. I miss the spicy food of my homeland.

A controvesial novel?

Just read The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow about Mary of Magdala during Jesus' time.

She was depicted in the Bible as a prostitute and a sinner. But in this novel, she was the beloved disciple of Jesus and his close companion.

It tried to follow along the storyline of Jesus but that he did not raise from the dead.

This is a serious contention to the beliefs of many followers of Jesus Christ. Decide for yourself.

A keen eyesight for good sales

I spent the last weekend shopping at various malls, hunting for good deals.

For example, this Levi's Red Tab jacket would normally cost USD$69.99. I saw the discounted price at $19.99. When I paid at the counter, we (including the cashier) were amazed that the price was actually $9.99. She scanned a second time to confirm and it still registered as $9.99. I encouraged her to buy for her hubby or children since it was such a good bargain.

Sales in USA are really worth waiting for. The discounts can be up to 80% off. Singapore sales should emulate if it wants to be a shopping paradise and not offered only 50% off on off-season stuffs!

Taking a bite at The Big Apple (NYC)

I went to New York City (NYC) from June 15 - 17 with Fero who is leaving USA to go back to his homeland, Slovakia in July. We had free accommodation at Fero's friend, Isabelle's home in Brooklyn.

We took Greyhound from Downtown Baltimore at 4.15pm and the travel time was about four hours. We reached Manhattan at 9.30pm instead because the coach took a detour to Newark to pick up some passengers.

The next day, we toured Brooklyn Chinatown. I noticed that along the side walks, they had gates leading to the basements. This is a pedestrain hazard. So, do keep a lookout and not be engrossed in sightseeing.

Next, we walked across The Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan over The Hudson River. The sheer size of the bridge was impressive. After that, we headed towards Chinatown along Canal Road which was packed with tourists. Vendors were selling souvenirs, perfumes, watches etc.

We also took a free Staten Island ferry ride which allowed a good snap shot of the city scape of lower Manhattan and passed by the Statue of Liberty. On Staten Island, the buildings were mostly four-storey high in contrast to the towering skyscrapers in Manhattan. I actually preferred the tranquility of this island.

On Sunday, we attended mass at St. Patrick Cathedral which was packed with tourists and worshippers. The church looked grand but I could not worship fully with so much distractions. We walked around the main shopping belt and the items were pricey. Next, we visited the Bronx zoo where I had a good shot of the tiger up close.

Spending 4 days in the Big Apple was too short for me to cover everything. I will be visiting here again whenever I can.

NYC photo album.

A literally wet Thursday indoor and outdoor

I was woken from my sleep by my ringing cell. I checked my clock and the time was 2.48am. The call was from BJ, our lab manager. I was thinking it was strange for her to call me at such an odd hour.

I was shocked when I heard the bad news. "The laboratory is flooded and your new laptop is drenched," said she. She was informed by the night guard who noticed water flooding the ground level. My lab was located on the third level. You could imagine the amount of water flowing. Thinking that my experiment might be affected, she thus called me so that I would not be shocked when I reached the lab in the morning.

After our conversation, I could not get back to sleep as my mind was racing through the different possibilities of savaging the damages. I tried to get some sleep as I had been deprived of deep sleep by my persistent night cough which had kept me awake till 3am for the past few nights! Frustrated after tossing around, I read a chapter of The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow before sleep caught up with me again after 4am.

Before I left for the lab, I prayed from the prayer booklet which I got from joining the prayer group at Blessed Sacrament Church. What struck me was the aptness of the prayer, The Serenity Prayer with regards to my situation.

O God and Heavenly Father,

Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; the courage to change that which can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

I reached the lab before 9am and noticed puddles on staircase landings. Workers from house cleaning were busy drying the floor. I checked my work bench and was surprised to find that it was completely dry but not Vladimir's and Greg's.

The fire sprinkler at Greg's area had burst. Greg's new laptop (USD$2500) was spoilt. The irony was he would bring it home every night but yesterday he did not bring it back since he had social engagement. Also, the sprinkler was actually leaking a few weeks ago. Maintenance was informed but no action was followed up.

There were dark water marks on the walls, cupboards, etc. The damage ran up to more than $50 thousands. Fortunately, the departmental manager said the lab was insured. I helped Delores to throw away the heavy water-soaked stuffs. Vladimir had to pull out all the drawers to drain the water since it had seeped in.

The lab was running again by afternoon.

In the evening, the sky was overcast. So I checked with weather.com for the forecast. It stated 20% chance of precipitation. When I reached the bus stop, there was already a long line waiting for the shuttle bus heading towards Homewood campus. There was no way I could get on the first shuttle that arrived. Just as the late bus arrived, it started to rain and the front passengers were quickly loading up the bus. Since I could not get on this bus, I ran back to the lab to wait till the rain ceased. However, just as I was crossing the road, I heard the bus driver informing the passengers that the bus had broken down.

Today was like Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.