-
The Phoenix Seeks His Mate
This next piece, The Phoenix Seeks His Mate 鳳求凰, is an introduction to playing in the Shang tuning mode 商調 and is of the Mei’an school of guqin playing 梅庵琴派. The story of this song is about the poet Sima Xiangru 司馬相如 (179–113 BC) as recorded in the Shi Ji 史記. During an evening gathering at…
-
San Bernardino Peak
It started from a Facebook invitation, where I basically invited everyone who I thought would be interested in going. We all met in the Allen Way cul-de-sac just before 6:00 this morning and drove to the parking lot. There were orthopaedic residents, Ben, Mark with Sarah, and Lucas; medical students, Chris, Andrew, Charlie, Bjorn, and…
-
Leoni Meadows and San Antonio
This past week involved a lot of traveling. Instead of lugging around my dSLR, I decided to use my iPad. It generally took good pictures, but the dynamic range seems much lower than I’d like. I left Tuesday afternoon, after surgeries, and flew to Sacramento. From there, I rented a car and drove to Leoni…
-
Jobes’ Bees
Chris readies the smoke to subdue the bees. He dons the bee suit, and I put on the head and face protection. We head over to the grove. Chris injects some smoke into the hive, and we crack the lid open. The bees suddenly become very active, but we’re both in nearly full body armor.…
-
Spring Dawn at the Jade Tower
Like the two previous pieces, Tune of Utmost Joy and Three Repetitions at Yang Pass, Spring Dawn at the Jade Tower 玉樓春曉 is based on the RuiBin 蕤賓 tuning mode. The origin is from the MeiAn school of guqin playing 梅庵琴派, which is part of my teacher’s tradition. The tune employs numerous plucked unisons and…
-
Three Repetitions at Yang Pass
One of my favorite melodies, Three Repetitions at Yang Pass 陽關三疊 captures the essence of the poem by Wang Wei 王維. His work, titled Seeing Yuan Er Off to Anxi 送元二使安西, depicts two friends about to part ways: one staying within what was then civilized China, and the other leaving on an administrative post to…
-
Tune of Utmost Joy
It seems ironic that this song—Tune of Utmost Joy 極樂吟—sounds the most melancholy as set in a minor key. It isn’t truly in a minor key, but the guqin is tuned to the RuiBin 蕤賓 mode, where the fifth string is tightened a half step. In the modern tuning tradition, this changes the instrument from…
-
Forty Years Ago
Forty years ago, at this time of the year, my parents spent their honeymoon in Japan. We brought them for Japanese food to relive their memories.
-
Garden Harvest and Courtyard Barbeque
It’s almost the Fourth of July, and our vegetable garden has overgrown this year. Much of the produce for the menu came from the yard: field greens, broccoli, green beans, beets, onions, rosemary, lemons, and limes. With all the vegetables, we made: Roasted beet salad with goat cheese and field greens in balsamic vinaigrette Grilled…
-
National Harbor and DC
Very early on Wednesday morning, I leave home for the airport and arrive with the usual lead time to find the security line going across the entire baggage claim area and almost out the door. I nearly miss my flight. After transit through Dallas-Fort Worth, I make it to Reagan National Airport without any problems.…
-
2012 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Graduation
Congratulations to the graduating orthopaedic seniors: Chad Brockardt, George Gendy, Ray Grijalva, and Mark Mikhael. Also, congratulations to the research award recipients: Ben Chen and Ray Grijalva. The senior residents awarded Eric Lim Teacher of the Year. Paul Burton gave a nice salute to the seniors, taking snippets from their personal statements and interspersed into…
-
Inland Koi Society at the Nyiradys
Steve and Laura Nyirady invited me over to their home for the Inland Koi Society potluck and general meeting. The guest speaker gave a presentation on koi herpes virus and how to vaccinate against it. I didn’t know such a virus exists. As usual, the Nyiradys’ garden is beautiful, with several ponds fed by waterfalls…
-
Bridge Railing Construction
It has been months since putting the gazebo together. Last year, I also started the zig-zag bridge over the pond. I finally got some lumber and began the railing construction this weekend. After that’s done, the next goal is to make seats and backrests.
-
Wine Madness
While this is one of the most ancient of guqin tunes, it is also one of the most popular in today’s repertoire. Wine Madness 酒狂 dates from the third century and is attributed to the poet Ruan Ji 阮籍, who was one of the seven sages of Bamboo Grove. His father, Ruan Yu 阮瑀, studied…
-
Portland, Columbia River, and Silver Falls
Arriving in Portland on Tuesday gives a slow transition to the next part of this extended time away. Activities for the Western Orthopaedic Association starts on Wednesday. I spend most of Wednesday morning touring the Portland Chinese Garden 蘭蘇園, taking time to follow the self-guided tour explained in the brochure. For the last stop, I…
-
2012 Fathers’ Day
Just after getting back from the Western Orthopaedic Association, our family went to celebrate with Dad. Happy Fathers’ Day!!!!
-
Canada Trip Conclusion
On this last day in Canmore, we make comfort food for breakfast, mainly out of leftovers. The rice became zhou (porridge); and the eggs, deli slices, ginger, garlic, and green onions became toppings and condiments. Also, we have the rest of the pancakes with syrup. We arrive at the airport in good time and return…
-
Yoho and Icefields Parkway
The leek asparagus quiche that Andy worked on last night, served with breakfast patties on a bed of romaine and topped with fresh salsa, turns out to be amazingly good. The trip today takes us to Yoho National Park and Icefields Parkway. Enroute, we stop at an overlook to take pictures of aptly-named Castle Mountain.…
-
Kootenay National Park
This morning, we have tater tots, scrambled eggs, and fruit. Again, it’s more like brunch, rather than breakfast. Most of the snow melted off during the night. At the entrance to Banff National Park, there are two snowman, looking like what witches might look like when they’re splashed with water. The Alberta, Canadian, and British…
-
Around Banff
Now, it’s apparent why the resort advertised heated indoor parking. Last night, what was light rain turned into a mild snowstorm, and it’s getting heavier while we have pancakes and French toast for breakfast. Soon after breakfast, which is more like brunch, we peek outside to see that everything is covered in fresh fluffy blankets.…
-
Lake Louise and Surroundings
I’m the first to get up. Daylight hours are long here, and although a cloud layer covers the dawn sky, it’s already bright outside. I make coffee and take in some early morning fresh air from our balcony. Everyone sleeps in. For breakfast this morning, we have omelettes stuffed with onions, diced tomatoes, sliced black…
-
To Calgary and Canmore
It’s yet to be bright outside, but we’re all wide awake. I’m the first to have breakfast, and a few of us skip it for the time being. We all met up by the pond and load up the Expedition, ready to head to the airport. This is going to be a relaxing type of…
-
Prelude to a Serene Evening
The melody to Prelude to a Serene Evening 良宵引 dates to 1614. The piece is divided into three sections. The first 起, beginning with harmonics, is introductory. The second section consists of two parts—承 embarkment and 轉 transition—characterized by unison series, one note of the pair sounding as a pure tone from the open string,…
-
2012 Commencement Day Events
Commencement is, and has been, the highlight of Memorial Day weekend. This is no different, and luckily, cool weather settled in for the few days surrounding graduation to give us all relief from the unusually early heat. Joan Lunden gives the commencement address—titled Creating a Legacy of Purpose—sharing from her own experiences and of those…
-
2012 Baccalaureate
Today’s Baccalaureate for the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy started outside on the lawn. Faculty members arrived at 8:15, lining up by the Good Samaritan Statue. Students congregated just to the south of the church’s front entrance. The program started with the Sanctuary Brass and Organ playing Campra’s Rigaudon for the processional. Students from both…
-
2012 Hooding Ceremony
One of the more meaningful events for graduation weekend is the Hooding Ceremony. After the welcome by Dr. Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. Hadley presented the baby cups. The class showed photos from their medical school experience followed by an appeal to participate in their adoption of La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital in Belize. The hooding…
