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What"s on my mind lately


Wednesday, January 25, 2006

The 24th day of January, 2006

I can feel the cold air outside my body. The white, thin jacket I wear is of no use in keeping out of the chill. Spring? I cannot even smell the scent of it.

The song lingers in my ear. I can always hear it (with my iPod).

The afternoon was a bliss... I almost spent the whole afternoon sleeping.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

The 23rd day of January, 2006

I was in the same coffee shop as I was in last month. The surroundings of my table was slightly different today - the giant chess broad has gone, as far as I have noticed. I ordered a slightly smaller cup of the same coffee this time and picked a sofa that looks most comforting.

It was quiet. Ten or so customers were in the spacey room doing various things. A staff came by and cleaned my table. He told me that I can stay there as long as I pleased.

I smiled and nodded a little.

Last month, when I walked into the coffee shop, I knew definitely what I wanted. I was sure what I liked. When I looked over the counter today, I didn't know why I had liked that. I was surprised when I took the first sip of the drink - even the flavour of the drink was different, more bitter than it used to. I am desperate to know what has changed. Is it the surrounding or is it just me?

I am officially confused.

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I miss my bro already.

Monday, January 23, 2006

The 22nd day of January, 2006

It's cold everywhere. I woke up at 11 o'clock, did some daily stuff, go out to town to have lunch... I felt I used up all the energy already. Why is that? Is my body too tired to generate the heat to keep me warm?

Then, I spent my entire afternoon laying down on my bed.

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"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell
in Love Actually.

Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends they are acting strange
And they shake their heads, and they tell me I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

Sunday, January 22, 2006

二零零六年一月二十一日

中四中五開始養成了看外國電視劇的習慣,那時其中一套喜歡看的節目是國際台的 Ally McBeal,主角是一個單身女律師在一間男性主導的律師行工作的故事。男女之間的鬥爭不是主題,「單身」、「結婚」才是。

其中一個我最喜愛的角色是 John Cage,是律師行的其中一位合夥人。他是一個古怪、膽小的人,他或許一位稱職的律師,但就一定不出色,不會是令人認為是成功的人物。他絕對不是聰明、醒目或吸引,只能夠搏取觀眾的同情。

他有自己的一套價值觀,就例如他認為在一段刻骨銘心的感情完結後,應保留一段「懷念期」,然後才開展一段新的感情。就是這樣,他錯過了一個機會。此後,不同的機會他因為不同的原因而錯過了、失敗了。

電視劇就是多麼的副戲劇性。在編劇作弄之下,John Cage 或許是一個頗為失敗的人。

不知道他那些所謂的原因是否只是一個藉口,或許背後另有故事,困擾著他的生活。

二零零六年一月十九日

談到吃自助餐,大多數會說到吃了幾多生蠔。同學笑說小朋友往自助餐廳,要求母親拿一份茄汁撈飯,因為很好吃,被母親罵了一頓。

我們會認為付了鈔去吃自助餐,要取回最大的利益,餐廳裡的生蠔、魚生等成為熱門的菜式,炒飯、粉麵等受到冷落。對於小朋友就來得簡單,就是要吃好吃的。

我們也曾經是小朋友,究竟從那時開始生活變得複雜?

Everyone likes the simple life, until it gets complicated.
- The Knack, Dilbert - The Complete Series.

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副代主陳俊文的網誌裡曾貼出陶傑的一篇文章《蠔情》,且在此分享一下。

最叫人惡心的景象,應該是在酒店的自助餐廳旅行團的中坑打尖掠奪餐桌上的生蠔。

大呼小叫之間,一個中國籍的麻甩佬,捧一盤共十多隻生蠔,堆得像一座髑髏的小丘,回到他的座位然後俯下頭來大吸小啜,一面滴檸檬汁,一看就知他急需壯陽,他赤裸裸地相信,生蠔是另類的春藥,公眾場合之中他毫不隱瞞,場面極盡猥褻。

測試一個男子有沒有養,只須看他怎樣喫生蠔。如果他在自助餐桌一下子掃來七八個,俯首就啜,不管他是 MIT 畢業、自稱在美國長大,在摩根史丹利高踞副行政總裁要職,終究是唐人街鑽出來的貨色,一頓晚宴,就此打住。

生蠔不是這樣子吃法的。在小說家狄更斯活的年代,英國的上流社會認為生蠔是賤價的蛋白質,到了愛德華時期——也就是鐵達尼號沉船那個年頭——生蠔和魚子醬,雙雙登上皇宮貴族的餐桌。

因為在海鮮之中,沙文魚、金、蝦和蟹,都是在水流中動感的一族,唯有生蠔,在海洋深處,蘊含一份靜態的深沉。牠緊閉,讓海洋拍打一個銀色的秘密。海的地理,海水的溫度,像紅酒一樣,蠔也擁有一份貴族的社會血統,例如英格蘭的高徹斯特,法國北岸的小不列顛,還有華盛頓市外的港灣,一個叫PugetSound的灘岬。

生蠔吸收了海洋的精華,味道是如此令人歡喜:三分鹹腥、六分清甜、還有一分少女一樣的羞澀和腴鮮,如此一掬海天一色的口感,是一份精細的性感。

就像蜜糖精聚了千杯的花氣,品嚐生蠔,是對海洋的一份感恩,須帶對神明的敬畏,以及一份沉澱了雜念的心情。與你共餐的這個男人,怎樣吃蠔,流露他懂不懂溫柔:如果他只識跟隨大流,滴檸檬汁,他很普通。如果他在食蠔時懂得佐以兩片黑包,塗一片牛油,他是風情中人。如果他點一小杯香檳佐膳,配兩片番茄、洋和一塊青椒,說這是他品蠔的獨門心得,邀你共享,這份富貴就有一份深沉的底蘊。

不幸周遭的消費暴男,吃蠔的食相,十之八九猥啜而狂吞,那副架勢像一個嫖客在事前把一隻生蛋打進波打酒舉頭鯨飲。女人的一生很苦,她的要求很卑微,有時只是一個吃相不叫她丟臉的男人,懂得品嚐生蠔澤潤豐盈的兩片鮮唇,含蓄地用舌尖擷探她海潮洞湧的清芬,讓他明白,他會視她如海鮮的精華,他欣賞她一夜濕漓漓的精膩,細嚐她銀閃閃的深處的鹹澀,他會以崇拜海洋的一生的激情永遠愛她。

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

二零零六年一月十七日

工業用索帶

今天,東鐵尚未停駛。

有幸於東鐵月台攝得工業用索帶之真面目。

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出遊,地點是一個主題公園,是香港的主題公園。

一向我都採取「零機動遊戲」的計劃,一個較為刺激的遊戲都不會玩,或許是以往的陰影吧,我第一個嘗試的機動遊戲是海盜船。

今次一進入樂園就選了一個看來十分刺激的機動遊戲,聰明的你應該知道是那一個吧!

People say there is nothing to lose, why not try once for the sake of it?

After going round and round for a few seconds, I agreed that. But there's nothing to gain, either.

數小時後,走出正門,背包放了一個海豚的毛公仔。

二零零六年一月十四日

前莊莊員生日,與幾位同學一起去湊熱鬧,找很久沒有見面的去屆同學。

活動是唱 K,正是本人之弱項,勉強點了首「小丸子的心事」,不需要理會唱功。那些例如《好人》等的歌曲還是留給其他人唱吧!坐在一旁吹吹水,胡亂拍攝,自娛一番。

離開 K 房,朱熙指著商場中央的三層扶手電梯說:「我要搭呢架 lift 落去!」第一:那不是升降機;第二:那扶手電梯是上行的。

凌晨二時,旺角街頭仍是熙來攘往,巴士坐滿乘客,沒有了深夜的靜寂。

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阿星說 depression 是有清楚的定義的。大概是一個長時間的情況,而這個情況是會為功作帶來影響等等。心情欠佳不是 depressed。

高不成,低不就,不知所謂就是我的心情。

Saturday, January 14, 2006

二零零六年一月十三日

這句之前本來還有一句,思前想後仍是收回了,這裡或許太過公開,那句或許太過誇張,免得麻煩。

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I do not have many choices. I know what are off-limits. I am losing sanity. I daydream. I control no one. Not you, not he, not me.

二零零六年一月十一日

窗外風光擦過,一片片的雲朵蓋了差不多整個天空。雲層之間隱約出現了缺口,黃金色的光線從空隙透出來,直至落到大地之上。一個好美的景色,拿出相機渴望將這個境象留住,但最美的就是不會讓人拍到。始終,就算更美的也有缺憾,能保持它的美,或許就是與它保持一段距離,讓自己留下一點幻想。

忘記這片美麗的景色,或許對自己更好,但我就是不能揮去這些片段。揮一揮衣袖,不帶走一片雲彩,就是多麼的瀟灑,多麼的理想。

回到現實,很是殘酷。現在的人,現在的事,全因為互相仍然有存在價值。明天,明日之後,又會如何?在所為存在價值消失之後,是否仍然有包容,仍然有友誼?現實就是殘酷的難以否定。

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

二零零六年一月九日

出師不利,今天大學生涯最後一個開學日,沒有一件工作能成事。

昨晚十時許喝了一杯咖啡之後,便久久未能入睡。在床上翻來翻去,失眠的感覺很痛苦。

更痛苦的仍是三四個小時後便要起床。一眾同學在咖啡角吃早餐之後,浩浩蕩蕩的往利黃瑤壁樓上堂。甫步進課室才知到課堂已取消,而且有可能因為少同學修讀而取消整個科目。心裡一團火就上來了,如果不上這堂課可以多睡幾個小時呀!而且教授不來做簡介,學生們又如何知道這門課是甚麼東東?算吧了,已對此科失去信心。改變計劃,四人浩浩蕩蕩出新城市,行書局、坐星巴克、吃意粉屋。

回到中大已經是一時許,本來的計劃是去坐「性學初探」的,可惜經過半日的玩樂已經太眼瞓,再次改變計劃,回宿睡覺。

晚上仍為崇基代表會會議,離開一眾同學獨自往眾志堂。到達後,坐了半小時,主席大人說應該流會了。唉,又破壞了原來的計劃,下星期二再來一次。回實驗室,繼續 hea 的生活。

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在此再次多謝鄧文俊同學的支持。

Sunday, January 08, 2006

二零零六年一月七日

這兩天天氣冷得要命,好不容易才能離開被窩,出門更是需要無比的勇氣。踏單車時,市區氣溫只有十一度,新界地區再低幾度的冷空氣迎面吹來,雙手凍得好像麻痺了。上了巴士,一陣陣的暖氣已是恩賜。

在家,開著了用了上十年的暖爐,看了一兩本書、一兩套電影,尚算可以。

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「孫仔」Stephen 仍是今年新莊莊員,與我做同一個職位因而叫「孫仔」。

我的應林同房剛剛走了,孫仔又剛得到應林宿位,巧合之下成為了我的新同房。他就好像一個小孩收到禮物般的興奮,入到房間將這樣那樣搬來搬去,奇望未來的宿舍生活。我漸漸覺得自己老了,這個房間就只會多住四個月。做小孩是好的,希望這一年的大學生活不會把他的童真打倒。

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Information for those who will be buying a computer this year:

If you ask me earlier for what to consider when buying a new computer, graphics card is never at the top of my list. But circumstances change and my new advice is: include a good graphics card.

The reason is that Windows Vista, the next generation Windows has a new feature called Aero Glass. For the non-technical folks, it is a feature to make Windows prettier. Aero Glass requires computers equipped with middle- or high-end graphics card. If your computer does not have one, Windows will resort to become non-pretty. It will be uglier than it is now, if you ask me.

Windows Vista Hardware Requirement is available at microsoft.com. Of course, you can ignore this bullshit altogether if you are going to buy a Mac. Information for the new stuff from Apple is available at macrumors.com.

I often feel frustrated to read documentation from Microsoft. There are just too many new things going on at once, and it is difficult to keep track of all of them. It is true that no single person can develop Windows further. Even no one knows every aspect of it to administer it.

Staying at the edge is harder than ever. And I fear I will lose it soon.

Friday, January 06, 2006

二零零六年一月五日

今天最大的功德,就是清理了廚房和書房的雜物,檯子上一半的垃圾得到清理。

話說屋中有三個廚房,只有一個發揮正常的功能,好讓我煮即食麵。另一個廚房在地面已經荒廢。餘下的一個放雜物,三分之一的雜物是我的書本與筆記,大部份可以棄置。

將會被棄置的包括了從中三起的課本,不計其數的筆記與陳年電腦書籍,例如有 MS-DOS 5.0、Lotus 1-2-3、Windows 3.1 等等。父親問會否留下讓將來的兒子看,我想應該不會了。翻開以往的答卷,看到的盡是已經失去的、朦朧的回憶,棄掉就等於放棄自己的回憶。回想往事,還記得一點點的趣事、錯事,忽然回傻笑、大叫,在旁的父親以為自己生了一個傻仔。

有一些東西留了下來,例如中五中七的數學教科書,一些令我得益不少的書籍,以及一點點的回憶。放在檯面,提醒自己仍是傻傻癲癲。

二零零六年一月四日

下午到北角探望姊姊及參觀她的新居。這句有兩處破綻,第一:那處準確來說不是北角,以本人有限之港島東知識未能道出該處之正確位置;第二:她們已經搬遷入接近兩個月,準確點 說也不是新居。(註:她是我的姊姊,這一點沒有懷疑。)

附近有一間大良八記的糖水舖,從兄姊的口吻看來是一間頗為有名的店舖,可惜我從未有聽聞,點了一碗燉奶,好甜、太甜。

姊姊的家很寬敞,感覺很溫暖,或許是牆身顏色營造的效果。從那裡看出去,雖然沒有海景,就只有樓海和馬路,反而覺得更特別。難度住在凱旋門從高處望去每天一樣的維港景色比起這裡人來人往更有生氣?

這裡距離巴士站只有一街之隔,地鐵站也是數分鐘的距離,交通之便可謂我這個在鄉下生活的細路夢寐以求。很難想像在一個這樣的社區生活會是如何滋味。

離開時就知道這滋味未必好,因為錯上一輛經遠路的巴士往灣仔,白白多花二十分鐘。

Monday, January 02, 2006

二零零六年一月一日

從零時零分起,我就獨自一人在房間內,對著電腦以及一部古怪的手提電話。閒來沒事,從電腦裏翻了《藍宇》來看,叮了一個肉絲炒麵,除了電腦發出的聲音之外,就沒有別的。

起床,用了幾個小時看完 AppleScript: The Definitive Guide。AppleScript 就是一種語法特別的電腦語言,就好像英語一樣。

tell application "Finder" to set name of file "A" to "B"

就是叫一個程式,去將一個叫作 "A" 的檔案改為叫作 "B"。原來的計劃是可以用法文或日文來寫的,後來取消了,很有意思。

晚上,又是獨自在家,特別踏單車吃麥當勞,去惠康買東西。回到家裏繼續坐在電腦旁,直至另一個零時零分。

今年過了一個平靜的元旦。

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As usual, the news reported new year celebrations around the world. The celebration at Times Square, New York City is a must-have. This year, I will know which step I should take.

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I HATE Xanga. Really. How can it just disclose people's secrets that easily? I am sure it is a bug somewhere in the system that makes it happened. I can do nothing but to let the leaked, leak.

I should consider moving to other weblog sites. LiveJournal, Blogger, whatever.

I also hate those knew without telling me, and they know that I can find out who.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy new year.