口语方面，我们当时有美国和平队（Peace Corps)的年轻美国人老师和美国外教。我记得那个叫Kevin Graves的很不错，另外的一个叫Tom的人就有点儿“圣人蛋”。美国老师要我们选英文名字，以便讲口语时可以互相称呼。我斟酌了下，选了Eddie做自己的名字。

之所以叫Eddie，主要有两方面的考虑。1. 主要原因，当时崔健的《新长征路上的摇滚》或《解决》的专辑里的吉他手叫Eddie。2. 次要原因，好像当时知道英国王室有位不爱江山爱美人的爱德华王子，多风流呀，并且有点高贵。Eddie和Edward,进可攻，退可守，就它了。当然我现在对英国王室的看法和当时可大不一样了。当时和不少年轻人一样，自卑和崇洋（主要是美）媚外的思潮很严重的。（美国的花拳绣腿－当然有不少真功夫要学－忽悠的全世界人民一愣一愣的。）

说起崔健，我是大粉丝。我能背下来《投机分子》的歌词，并且也能哼哼唧唧地唱：

突然来了一个机会,空空的没有目的
就象当初姑娘生了我们,我们没有说愿意
机会到底是什么,一时还不太清楚
可是行动已经是雷厉风行,而且严肃

我们根本没有什么经验,我们也不喜欢过去
可是心里明白干下去,一定会有新的结果
不知生活真的需要手段还是生活就应该苦干
反正事情已经重新开始就不能够怕乱

噢……我们有了机会就要表现我们的欲望
噢……我们有了机会就要表现我们的力量

真理总是在远方,姑娘总是在身旁
可是面对着她们的时候,总与她们较量
明天还要继续繁忙,虽然还是没有目的
只是充实着每个机会,就象坚持在天堂

朋友请你过来帮帮忙,不过不要你有太多知识
因为这儿的工作只需要感觉和胆量
朋友给你一个机会,试一试第一次办事
就象你十八岁的时候,给你一个姑娘

噢……我们有了机会就要表现我们的欲望
噢……我们有了机会就要表现我们的力量

总而言之，我在厦大的英语口语课上和人类学博物馆前有鲁迅雕像的小广场上的英语角里，都是用的这个名字。（人类学博物馆还在吗？傻逼如我，当时不懂得那玩意儿会有意思，好像走马观花看过一次）英语角里，月影婆娑，我们在火红的凤凰树下，用英语交流，我以Eddie或Edward自居，情绪稳定，感觉良好。还别说，对英语应当有帮助吧，虽然不乏天真，矫情，和年轻人的躁动，虽然我根本没有行动。

来美后，我倒没太想过给自己起个洋名，在前八年的时间里，我都是Haidong。不过在需要报名的时候和一些社交场合，稍有不便；有个洋名，会有点小便。在排号和餐馆等位的时候，我曾用过Jose和Julio等有点拉美风情的名字（注：J在这里发H音）。我曾跟老婆开玩笑，干脆我叫Fabio算了。这个Fabio是个“师奶”杀手，中老年妇女言情小说的主角，和一些人爱看的《故事会》一个性质：消遣和打发时间。当然《故事会》里小说的内容和手法很不一样，说不准比以Fabio为主角的故事有意思。说实话，要是罗大佑的《恋曲2000》早几年出，我自命为Fabio也不是没有可能的：因为一个叫花比傲的人在那张专辑的很多歌里演奏木吉他。我如叫自己Fabio，情有可原，因为我也有古铜色的皮肤！老婆很严肃地指出，那不行，你虽然身上有很多脑油，油不啦叽地，但和这哥们浑身涂满的橄榄油不可同日而语。

慢慢觉得没有洋名也挺烦人的：要给人解释，人也不容易记住，尤其是我这样的多音节名字。2003年获绿卡后，换了个工作，图省事儿，我打算给自己起个洋名。

Basil和Bartholomew等有点偏僻的名字当然出局。Bjorn, Lars，和Eric等都考虑过，因为也不想伤害瑞典人民的感情。鲍勃，约翰，米高等太多太平凡。挑来挑去，我选择了亚历克斯（Alex)，因为这名字不算太常见，但决不冷僻，还好像有点古典庄严的意思，说不定还能和性感沾点儿边儿。另一大优势是亚历克斯接受度较广：英美德法俄意西等都有或有变种，而我又喜欢旅行，所以有个万金油名字也算方便。

但也出现了一个很有趣的问题。我在上一个单位工作时，一位Loretta女士会经常用到我做数据库的东西，她为显示亲昵，开始称我为“Al”，阿尔，搞得我有点不爽。“阿尔”－“阿儿”，你这不是骂人吗？保罗西蒙有一首叫You can call me Al的歌，我真想告诉她You cannot call me Al！她一开始还好，竟然给我买过巧克力。但她属于那种很没安全感，大惊小怪，过河拆桥，喜欢搞办公室政治的人。后来因对事情的不同观点和做法，她开始厌恶我，不叫我“Al”。我落了个清爽，挺好。

后记，多谢SpicyGirl数年前的博客提供了灵感！她和拉伊王子都不写博客了，实在是一大憾事。

星期天又烤了一次。我买了点儿五花肉，瘦肉占主导地位。切成快儿，但不能小到从烤架缝隙里掉下去的程度，然后把肉放在酱油里，加了些姜末，切成小颗粒的蒜，八角面儿，黑胡椒，醋少许，泡了两天。结果是非常好吃。就着我烤的尖红辣椒，吃着我的猪肉，还有老婆烤的地蛋、芋头（红薯）、洋葱（家乡话叫洋蒜）、蘑菇、棒子（玉米）、和给儿子烤的鸡肉，我喝了点儿啤酒，觉得晕晕乎乎地，很好受。

我初中时，开始有啤酒这种东西。我们老家酿造“南极洲”啤酒，当时酒厂有送生啤（draft beer）到户的业务，可能这种业务现在已经不存在了。这和送牛奶的业务类似，只是在中午送冰凉的生啤而已。我记得生啤桶是桔黄色的塑料桶。我爸没订，但他隔壁宿舍的张老师订了，因为他的儿子在啤酒厂工作，会有折扣。我当时尝过，不感兴趣。在大学喝啤酒白酒也不觉得好受，但现在我好像喝出点儿味道了，当然百威、米勒等美国名牌啤酒，全是垃圾。还是本地的或者引进的好啤酒有味道。

我在院子里种的辣椒，结了几个。但我心急，没等成熟就把它们吃掉了，有点儿苦。我们种的那几颗地蛋，秧子长得像灌木一样高，一开始逗得我们两口子笑逐颜开，觉得这下有好地蛋吃了。几天前秧子开始东倒西歪，老婆好奇，小心地扒开些土看看，竟然没看到地蛋的影子。现在我们对于地蛋的收成，一点儿也不乐观。

可能因为现在骑车上班的缘故，在梦里突然出现了自行车。这个情况和大学不符，因为我不记得自己有钱买辆二手自行车。但梦里时空交错，决定骑车去福州或圣路易斯，然后一下子就醒了。

两天前忙里偷闲，去芝加哥公共图书馆，看了期《八小时之外》。这期《八小时之外》做了“2010毕业号”专题文章。因为我没多少时间，－读者朋友还没听腻我的没有时间的抱怨吧－，随便翻了翻，读了些全国各地毕业生对一些问题的回答，新近的、中年的、和年纪稍大些的从业人士对毕业生的寄语，怪有意思的。觉得从那里面2010年大学毕业的同学的感想，毕业后已从业人员的建议，能找到些共鸣，不觉莞尔一笑。

杂志的后部分专门有两页预测星相，有意思。

感谢图书馆，给了我虽然不多但可解乡愁的书和杂志看。

－－－－－－

说起学生，就记起我上个月从伦敦回来，飞机邻座是个北京来的留学英国高中的高三学生，个儿很高，好像已在英国呆了四年，包括一年的语言学校（据他说在语言学校就是玩儿）。我的感觉，他的英语不咋地，虽然可能爹娘以为“高中就留学英国，那英语还能不溜吗？”

他家听起来很阔，上学吃住学费不说，他还要去玩儿，对国航一等舱情有独钟。这次去美国，据他说，是最后一次老爸替他做决定，是要参观美国芝加哥的大学：伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校、伊利诺伊科技学院、DePaul University（不知怎么翻译）。一路抱怨累，不想来美国，不能和他“老婆”一起，不能复习迎考，等等。说下飞机就要去中国城吃饭。

我们谈了谈音乐，他说他喜欢周杰伦。我问了问他是否了解北京当前的摇滚乐和地下摇滚，并且有没有好的推荐一下。他提到“阴三儿”。我后来听了听，不觉得那有意思，可能是年龄的缘故。他喜欢电影《钢铁侠》，我无从评价，因为我没看过，也不会刻意找来看。看起来他是阿汤哥的影迷，喜欢《最后的武士》（我可能没看过）和阿汤哥演独眼龙刺杀希特勒的电影（这个我看了），名字我望掉了。他说《十月围城》好看，这个电影我看了个头，还没全看。他很不喜欢冯小刚。我们谈冯的贺岁片，他不太喜欢。我个人以为很经典的《天下无贼》，他说他看不懂。

说句实话，我觉得送孩子自己到国外上高中，已经傻逼到我不知从何处开始数落的地步。高中半年或一年的交换学生除外，因为那是住在也有孩子的家庭里，但那也要注意沟通和协商。即使是到了读大学本科的年龄，是否到国外就读，即便有这个钱，也要因人而异。

－－－－－－

搬家弄了好久，还没搞定，不过7月底非走不可了，因为房租到期。新家的钥匙三月中就拿到了，但刷漆，打扫，孩子，家庭，工作等都要时间。

在读《山楂树之恋》。我一般中文书和英文书交替着读。这次破例，《四世同堂》后又来一本中文书。还好，勾起很多回忆。像做鞋样子，鞋帮、纳鞋垫子，用结实的麻线把黑鞋帮沿着塑料鞋底周围的小洞里纳起来。在公社／镇代销店扯几尺布做（家乡话音“揍”）衣裳，给衣裳锁边儿。说起扯几尺布做衣裳，我又想起了我小学的时候，花被面子和花床单是结婚的常见礼物。

不写了。该洗洗睡了。要不是天热睡不着，我才不熬这个夜。到新家后，如果热急了，我开空调凉快凉快。

我读过高的《灵山》（英文）和《一个人的圣经》（英文），到现在为止读过老舍的《骆驼祥子》（中文）、《四世同堂》（中文）以及其它短文。我以为，高的小资情调和老舍的厚重、实在、犀利、幽默和爱比起来，差远了。

没时间，就写一下我记得起来的重点体会。

1 语言亲切，因为方言的相似处太多了。像书里的很多口语和词汇，我们鲁南家乡话里都有并且我都会用，像“硬棒”（健康）、“消停”（等下、小心）、“将将”（刚刚）、“窑子”（妓院。“下窑子”即上妓院）、“教”（让。如“钱先生教日本人抓走了”）、“出门子”（闺女出嫁）等等很多。遗憾的是，这本书是我从芝加哥公共图书馆借来的，所以不能做标记。回头我要自己买一本，好做笔记；

2 老舍的描写，并不单一和格式化，诸如淳朴、憨厚、善良的中国人PK阴险、狡诈、狠毒的日本人。那些当然有，但可贵的是，书中有很多的关于各种各样的人性的变化和挣扎，正因为如此，才更显得真实和可信。

3 书中的简短但个性鲜明的关于外国人的描写也很有意思。像虚伪的有点种族主义的传教士，热爱中国和北京的英国人富善先生，和那个善良的日本老太婆。老舍曾经信耶稣，一度是基督徒，但四十年代写《四世同堂》时，我的感觉，应当已经自愿放弃基督教很久了。刚才用“老舍 基督教”关键词在网上搜索，看到这篇文章，挺有意思。我以后可能还会去伦敦，应当抽空到老舍在伦敦的故居去看看。

实际上，我前几年去华盛顿特区教课时，曾专门到美国国家档案馆，当时主要就想查两个人的材料，来满足我的好奇心，如果他们有的话。这两个人就是老舍和孙中山。但很遗憾，去那里看资料并不如我想像的那么容易。我很希望能避开那个反映开国烈士先贤何等伟大的展览，有《独立宣言》和《宪法》。但不行，要排很长的队去浪费时间。其它的展览还很有意思。我抽空会到美国档案馆的芝加哥分部，那儿说不准有料。当然美国档案馆里的关于其他影响中国近现代历史的人物的资料，肯定也会很有意思。

4 书中瑞宣和富善的对话，瑞宣、瑞全和钱默吟的对话，瑞宣和日本老太太的对话，都很有深度。老舍对一些中国人对外国和外国人的看法，还有一些外国人对中国和中国人的看法，的描写，真是入木三分！老舍的儿子舒乙，曾在该书的后记里提到老舍在美国的经历。这段历史，应当有意思。

5 老舍关于祁天佑溺水自尽的描写，和他自己在太平湖的惨烈的死亡，让我感到一种毛骨悚然的小说和现实的相似。我景仰老舍先生，在他的书里，很明显地可以看出他对家乡和国家的诚挚朴实没有坏心眼儿的爱，还有他的善良、幽默、聪明、对人性的深刻认识和对未来的憧憬。他经历过丧父、家贫和求学的艰苦；接受过信佛的人的帮助；信过基督教；在我老家山东省教过书，并写了很多关于济南和青岛的文章。他应当懂不少的英文，游历过英国、新加坡和美国，想回国加入新中国的生活。但就是这样的一批和一两代人，在内忧外患结束之后，在充满激情和希望并且开始有起色的年代里，竟然经历了那么暴虐的折磨和自残。这一点，从我个人的角度，让我很难原谅老冒，虽然我不能抹杀他在解放前的领导和功勋；

6 我读的《四世同堂》，是北京十月文艺出版社2008年的第一版，内含第三部《饥荒》。这个也很有意思。当第三部《饥荒》于1950年出版时，老舍做了删节，主要是为了迎合当时的“政治正确”。但后来因为各种政治风暴，手稿遗失。这被删节的部分，又从在美国出版的英文版（《黄色风暴》，The Yellow Storm，多有趣的名字！）里重译过来。北京十月文艺出版社2008年的这一版，就包括了这个中译英后的英译中的部分。这个，在老舍的夫人和儿子写得《破镜重圆》的后记里，有记载。

我搞不太明白的是，北京十月文艺出版社2008年的版本里，把这三部分别命名为《小羊圈》、《偷生》和《事在人为》。

有时间的话，把新的老的《四世同堂》电视剧找来看看。

I used Dokuwiki as my wiki software, and spent some time making it to my liking, but didn’t document my process. I am currently doing a little father-son project and needed to set up an internal wiki. This time I want to document the main steps for future references. If it helps anybody else, man, that will be icing on the cake!

1. For template, I like Dokubook, because the sidebar navigation;

2. To get sidebar navigation working, creating navigation.txt file with something like this:

* [[Project1:master|Project 1]]
* [[Project2:master|Project 2]]

in the text body and save it under wiki/data/pages diretory

3. Use CAPTCHA plugin to fight spam. Take note that when you uncompress the tar ball file, it will be uncompressed with an awfully long directory name. You need to rename that long name to something short like captcha in order for it to be available. I learned this the hard way, after being spammed for a few weeks!

4. Once captcha plugin is enabled, you can adjust its settings at the wiki’s configuration page. Currently I picked “Text (manual only)” as my type and it seemed to work all right.

That’s it for now, I am already late for bed. 《四世同堂》is waiting…

好像从他进入四年级时，父子之间的肢体亲密就少了，甚至基本没有。说实话，打那以后，我对抱着他的感觉，和一起躺在床上读书的时光，开始留恋。今年初打冰球时，他和我一起在地上冲撞来模拟冰球的对抗，一起摔跤，那种感觉也很好。等有条件，我想和他打篮球。

儿子开始五年级时，我渐渐感觉到我的教子方式和方法需要调整。具体来说怎么调整，我也不太清楚。就觉得在一些东西上要给他更大的自主权的同时也要有明确的责任和界限，并且要把握好一种选择和管教的平衡。

教他中文是个挑战。我用马立平的教材，但要变着花样来。这玩意儿，没耐心不行。具体成果怎样，我不太清楚。我得出个卷子考考他摸底。我需要坐下来好好分析下进度、教程、规律化等问题，并且要和智多星老婆商量商量。

儿子好像对我的计算机技术稍有佩服，并提出想做个网站。我下载了MAMP，试了下，可以用。应当和他一起做一下，教一些计算机知识。我已经告诉他我们不会做一个公开在互联网上的东西，但做一个家庭内部的网站，还是不错的，正好他暑假有时间。

我虽然不以自己的为父之道为荣，因为有太多的地方需要改进，但我很以儿子为荣。以前的自私的想法好像是等孩子大一些，自己的时间会多一些。但以我现在的经验，正好相反。很想写下感想之类的东西，但老没时间。像现在在读老舍的《四世同堂》，喜欢得不得了，但那得等一下。因为读了王博的关于《叶问》和《黄飞鸿》的评论后，我很想看看那几部电影。前两天看完了《黄飞鸿》第一部，觉得王博写得真是太好了。

乱七八糟，无头无绪，大家将就着看吧。我这中文打字速度，太慢了。还是手写快，并且安静地用手写汉字笔记的过程，实际上是个放松、愉悦、反思的好时光；再有家人的声音飘来和茉莉花茶相伴，那就更是味儿了。

I highly recommend Golden Day, 好日子, a Hunanese restaurant on 118-120 Shaftesbury Avenue, phone number 020 7494 2381, not too far from Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus area. Here are some pictures.

干锅鸡

芹菜花生米

7 messages
wife Sat, May 22, 2010 at 11:44 PM
To: Haidong Ji
Hi

Hope you could catch some sleep on the plane.
Have fun exploring London. Don’t eat too much

Mom and Ben
Haidong Ji Sun, May 23, 2010 at 10:02 AM
To: wife
Thank you honey and Ben. Your message is very much appreciated.

It was a brilliant, using a word the Brits like to use, day. Clear sky, sunshine, pleasant temperature. I went to the British Library and spent a few hours there. Too bad the Asian and African reading room is closed on Sundays. But I’ve got the see the British Library treasure exhibition, very impressive: Shakespeare’s writing (or what most people believed to be his handwriting), the Beatle’s handwritten lyrics, the Magna Carta documents, old Bible, Koran, and other religious text, including some fascinating old Chinese publications from China.

Then I went downstairs to see the Map exhibition. Once again, impressive. London is such a place with so much history and culture.

Love you both. Got a busy week ahead of me. I will probably go to a Chinese place for dinner. And I also want get some Python coding done and tested, and make plans for what I want to accomplish here.

Dad

wife Tue, May 25, 2010 at 11:38 PM
To: Haidong Ji
Hi,

How ya doin? WeRfine. (see-I’m writing in American- Hope u still understand-OK I am simply brilliant would you not say?! ) It’s been very hot (+90F) since you left. I have trouble sleeping.

We planted the potatoes yesterday. I also bought a tomato plant. You will have to help me buy some more dirt this weekend since the bags are more or less impossible for me to lift. I managed to buy four but that won’t be enough. I’ve also bought a sprinkler and a “wooden” moose now named Hälge. He’s guarding the back door.

The restaurant business is going fine.

Have you tried fish and chips yet? It’s probably a deadly sin to have been in London twice and not have tried this.

And I am really expecting you to follow the semi finals of the Eurovision song contest this week (Sweden on Thursday night-Finland did not make it to the final ). It is mucho importante to all Europeans- and I really mean ALL!!!! So try to blend into the European culture while you’re there. I’m sure people aren’t talking about anything but this important event. The final is on Friday. I guess you’ll have to miss it. Too sad!

Have you responded to Alex Kw party invitation yet? It’s on Sunday so response is needed soon! I’ve bought him a card.

There will be a BBQ in Gary and Vicky’s garden on Sunday June 6th at 4pm. I was told it is cause the neighbors want to meet us………or perhaps they just like beer;-) Anyway I said we’ll be there. I did not tell her that I’m a vegetarian yet because I didn’t want anyone to feel they had to make special arrangement for me. I figure there will be more than one grill (maybe we will have bought ours by then) and I can be the master veggie grilling chef.

I will paint the walls in the sunroom tomorrow- Hawthorne pink of course.

Good night zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Haidong Ji Wed, May 26, 2010 at 12:05 PM
To: wife
I am doing just fine. Jet lag got me on Tuesday: I set the alarm at 6:50, it woke me up. Since I didn’t go to bed around midnight and was tossing around couldn’t fall asleep for a few hours earlier, so I figured I needed 15 more minutes. That 15 minutes turned to 3 hours…

Super busy though. Planned to go to the British Library again on Tuesday, because it opens longer Tuesday nights and I’d love to visit its Asian and African reading room. But since I woke up late so I worked to mignight on Tuesday evening. Too much work, too little time.

One of my co-workers told me about a good fish and chips place so I will probably go there tonight.

The Brits are a bit snobbish toward people from the Continent so I think they tend to have a sarcastic view towards it because they never win.

I will write to the KWs tonight. Nice to have a bbq over the weekends. Yeah, we should get a grill before then.

Terrific that the potatoes and tomatos are in. Hawthorne yellow is fine. Thanks.

Got to go back to work. Did I say I have been very busy?

Love.

wife Wed, May 26, 2010 at 10:54 PM
To: Haidong Ji
Hi,

I’m sorry you’re tired and too busy. Hope it’ll be better today.

Here it is still HOT. I take cold showers before I go to bed.

Almost finished the walls in the sunroom- only have the hard to paint places left to do.

I hope it will rain tonight. If not the lawn will need to be watered soon.

I bought a cordless electrical lawn mower from Sears (WORX ECO WG780 19-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower). The “sale” price is $450 (Ordinary price $550). The price at Amazon is the same. However since the mower is not sold by Amazon I would have to pay shipping charges +$50 if I bought it from there. AT sears I can pick it up at the store in 9-11 days. I also get an additional $100 mail in rebate which is nice since the cheapest cordless lawn mowers start around $350. It has good reviews and is supposedly good at mulching (cutting the grass in very small pieces-the grass can then be left on the lawn- will save a fortune since won’t need to use so many yard waste bags) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015GH5UG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p86_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1AB1J4GST8XJ09YV78QB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Please let me know that you have RSVPed to Alex Kw. It would be very rude not to have done so by now.

I’m doing laundry right now. I think i should move the bed down to the basement. It’s very nice and cool there.

I’m running out of meaningful things to tell you so…good night, sleep tight and don’t let he British bed bugs bite.

Haidong Ji Thu, May 27, 2010 at 5:08 AM
To: wife
Thanks a lot for the note, honey. I appreciate it very much. Nobody here seems willing to lend a shoulder for me to cry a river. What a cruel, cruel world it is…

Read through reviews for the mower. Looks nice. Thanks.

Anyway, went out for supper with a Chinese-Malaysian coworker at Golden Day. The guy does not drink. I hope he liked the food, although he did say the chicken was a bit spicy. Later we had bubble tea with the sago balls, and talked a bit about work, citizenship, green card, and such. Went back to the hotel and worked for a few more hours. I guess my Python prowess will improve if I keep at it like this.

Talked a bit about Eurovision song contest with a British co-worker. She thinks the whole thing is a bit political, and some people would watch this old fart making sarcastic and funny comments about it on TV. She mimicked last year’s winner’s violin playing, which was pretty funny. She told me Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote some songs for the event last year and did an active publicity campaign for it. This morning I picked up a copy of Daily Mail somebody left on the train to read, a practice that I’ve seen a number of people do, and didn’t see mention of the contest. It was all about a serial killer, David Cameron’s tax policy, Fergie and Sharon Osborn is even “bigger” in Hollywood now.

Speaking of the subway, the tube I took was absolutely packed in the morning a bit after 8:00. I did notice there are other lines that had a bit more room.

Will probably go for a fish and chips fare tonight. Hopefully I can catch a bit of the song contest and cheer on for my Swedish brethren.

Looked at a grocery market chain, the day I arrived, Sandbury’s (spelling?). Pretty decent selections. I debated if I should buy toothpaste there, but I got a dental kit from the hotel so that wasn’t necessary. I did notice no toothpaste advertising “whitening”, which I like. I looked for a type of regular toothpaste that does NOT advertising “whitening” in Chicago but couldn’t find it! Who knows what kind of rubbish they put in for this dubious “whitening” claim?

Had lunch at a butcher’s shop yesterday, went for the British Cornish, it was pretty good.

Seen this guy setting up his fruit stand on High Holbon street for a few days in a row now and hawking his ware. He was shouting some fruit names, I think, but I didn’t quite get it.

Haven’t seen a department store yet. I want to buy underwear here as the comfortable ones I got in Sweden a few years ago became a bit, shall we say, scanty.
I shall remember to get some crisps for Ben. Yeah, I did reply to the KWs, informing them our new address as well.

Should go back to work now. Later, give a hug to Ben for me.

Love

wife Fri, May 28, 2010 at 12:17 AM
To: Haidong Ji
Hi,

The fender on the car was damaged today when parked at Home Depot. It was hit by a truck from Stoughton Trucking. It’s not badly damaged. One corner is scratched and dented. The driver waited outside until i came out from the store. He has my information and I has the contact information for the safety supervisor at that company. Hopefully, everything will be taken care of smoothly.

I had a message from the realtor today. The village is arranging “bike to open houses” day on June 13th. She wants the house to be available for showings on that day. I will just tell her that’s OK but I can’t guarantee this place will be cleaned up.

I might be in the house painting tomorrow when you get home. Give me a call.

Hope you have a nice flight home.

See ya tomorrow dude.

Your dudette

今天又潇洒骑一回，搞得气喘吁吁，香汗淋淋。

我的车子，用家乡话说，叫小轮车。小轮车一般都是手闸，载人载物的后座稍小一点，并且后座上有带弹簧的夹子，好放点小东西，比较方便。车链子一般有链盒。车座是黑皮的。该车有独腿。车前把一般是平的。主要的牌子就是飞鸽、永久和凤凰。这种车，一般都是帅哥骑。帅哥骑高兴了，会来段大撒把，潇洒！该车是八十年代初的结婚三大件之一（洋车子，手表和缝纫机）。八十年代中后期，竟然开始有没大梁的小轮车，非农业的小孩会有，让我羡慕了很久。倒忘了都有什么牌子了。小轮车，骑起来，不蹬时，能听到车轮沙沙地响。

有小轮车，就得有大轮车。大轮车有脚闸，是后闸，前闸还是手闸，但一般不用。这种车有后支架。停车时，把后支架踢下，支撑起后轮。后支架左侧有弹簧，踢进去后有稳固支架的作用。该种车的后座较大，在后座两侧和前后会有弯钩，便于用绳子捆绑一些物品，像一袋子面呀，篮子啦，麻袋啦，赶集时买卖的一些商品等。这种车，特别是（好像只有）后轮的轮轴，会有加油的地方。那加油的口上会有个小盖儿，往侧面一掰，露出那个小眼儿。然后你拿着长嘴的小铁皮油葫芦，对准小眼儿，用大拇指在油壶底下摁几下加油，之后盖上小盖儿，就完了。这种车前把在中间往下弯，车座是皮革制成，很硬。一般是中年人骑，是当时一个家庭的非常重要的资产之一。有意思的是，儿子还很小，刘翔在希腊雅典奥运夺冠的时候，我们全家三口人在瑞典的Öland岛上租了一间小屋住了几天，竟然看到了漆成绿色的大轮车。我忘了自己有没有骑。好像那是瑞典陆军更换装备后淘汰的车子。顺便说一句，在野外的夏天租一个小屋（Stuga，cabin的意思）住几天，是很流行的瑞典休假方式。

我小的时候，家里有一个大金鹿，十几岁的时候，家里买了辆二手的小轮永久。

如今的车子，和我小时后的车子比，车把都很活。并且喃，为保持流线，身子要往前探很多，所以我过了段时间才适应。我今天的速度比昨天下降了些。今天去时平均每小时15.81公里，来时平均16.50公里。昨天的相应值分别是18.60和18.35。看来我当“快男”是不可能了，要做“慢男”，还是很有竞争力的。回家后，老婆做了炒白菜和炒鸡蛋犒劳我。菜本来就很不错，这又锻炼了下，吃嘛嘛香！

我骑着我的小轮车，累了，坐直了单手扶把歇一小会儿，还不大敢玩儿大撒把。不蹬时，能听到车轮沙沙地响。

My Novara, the front facing one.

My original plan was to find time riding in on a weekend for some field research. But with the move, house painting (where my wife did most of the work), teaching my son Chinese, my son’s baseball, and other family activities, I couldn’t find the time. This morning I woke up a bit after 5 and decided, what the hell, might as well take it all the way today!

It was not bad at all. In fact, I enjoyed the whole thing. Going in: total distance 14.69km, average speed 18.60km/hr, peak speed 25.13km/hr, total time 47 minutes. Coming back: total distance 14.29km, average speed 18.35km/hr, peak speed 27.93km/hr, total time 46 minutes. Thanks Liz for riding with me on the way back. It’s nice to have a partner returning with you, with more people milling out and about than in the morning.

Well, I went to work without shaving, breakfast and shower. Not that I am set out to win a bushy beard competition or anything like that. While I am at it, I gave up on hairy chest competition long time ago. I’ve got to say, it’s not bad. I was a bit tired in the early afternoon. A quick snack of a banana and cheese stick provided enough fuel on the way back. I did save up a set of toothbrush and toothpaste at work. It’s good to brush after lunch anyway.

I am really excited and look forward to do more of it! Time to bed. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. 早睡早起身体好！

伍佰这哥们儿不简单。最下面是这首歌的MTV，取自土豆网。

与你到永久
词、曲：伍佰

风儿轻轻的吹
雨也绵绵下个不停
望着走过的脚印
有崎岖有平静
看着你的眼睛
我最熟悉的表情
一路上有你
因为有了你
人生旅程不再冷清

迎着风
迎向远方的天空
路上也有艰难
也有那解脱
都走得从容
因为你是我
生命中的所有
将我的心放在你手中
陪你到永久

花儿开在雨中
雨水溅湿你的眼眸
怕我说得太晚
让你如此的承担
面对岁月的河
对你已经无法割舍
我是爱着你
深深爱着你
一首属于我俩的歌

迎着风
迎向远方的天空
路上也有艰难
也有那解脱
都走得从容

因为你是我
生命中的所有
将我的心放在你手中
陪你到永久

生命有了你
我已经无所求
将我的心放在你手中
陪你到永久

整个的心放在你手中
与你到永久