2005手寫平安夜?2005 Send a "real" X'mas!

早上一打開信箱, 這個標題馬上就吸引了我...我向來都喜歡手寫卡片, 離上一次手寫耶誕卡, 好像也不是太久的事, 不過也是零零星星寫個幾張, 像國高中時期一次寄個五六十張的盛況不再, 一方面是因為"現代人"早已不來這套, 一方面是因為住在國外郵資挺嚇人.

說起來也挺感傷, 網路拉近了人的距離, 卻造成了另一種疏離.

仔細看了看活動, 順手貼上來, 也希望看到的人踴躍響應...我也會在稿子堆裡找時間寫的 ^_^

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想一想，距離上次收到親筆信、打開手寫卡片，是多久以前的事情了？

再想一想，距離上次提筆寫信、親自寫賀卡，又是多久以前的事情了？

在這2005年末的寒冬，讓我們重拾手寫的溫暖，將最深的祝福，天涯海角，送給我們最想祝福的人！

參加對象：所有渴望溫暖已久的朋友們。

活動時間：即日起至2005年12月31日。當然，你也可以繼續一直做下去…

活動方式：

1. 將整篇活動訊息以E-MAIL轉寄，或貼在部落格、電子報、新聞台等公開形式，讓你的親朋好友們知道。（也可以利用部落格的引用喔！）
2. 收到訊息的朋友，一方面可以再繼續傳給更多人知道，一方面則可以開始收集地址囉！
3. 在12月15日前，將親筆手寫的卡片寄出。（若在國外，那就得再提前一點寄出卡片囉！）
4. 最後，在2005年12月31日晚上以前，將你收到卡片的感動，或者收到的卡片內容，在跨年的夜晚與大家一起分享！

活動獎品：在渴望溫暖的生活中，你將收到一封一封來自天涯海角的手寫祝福，與最真實的感動。

備註：

1. 在寫地址的時候，希望大家也能用手寫哦！^^
2. 請將活動用貼紙一併轉寄或貼在部落格、電子報、新聞台喔！

How long haven't you received and opened a handwritten card?

How long haven't you sent a handwritten greeting card to someone?

At end of year 2005 , in such a cold winter season, let's call back the memories of handwriting wishes. Send the deepest wishes to whom you want.

To: those who long for warmth

Date: from now on to 31 Dec 2005. Sure, you may continue forever......

How:

1. Forward this message to your friends; or you can post it on your blog, e-paper, or on your website (or just quote by your blog).
2. Those who get this message, please forward to others, and open your address book, find someone you want to write to.
3. Send your handwriten card before 15 Dec 2005. If you wand to send cards abroad, remember to send them early.
4. Finally, if you get any handwritten card before 31 Dec 2005, please do not forget to share 　your happiness and feeling with us on X'mas eve. You can write down your feeling or quote some phrases on your blog or website.

Award: You will get the most unforgettable, truest handwriting wishes one by one from everywhere.

PS1. Please do not PRINT the address, but WRITE it too.
PS2. Please attach the logo of activity in email or post it on your blog, website.
PS3. If you feel the English version is not so well, you can foward this message by your perfect one.

05秋季日本行(第一天) Japan Trip 05 (Day I)

在機場等我們喝完咖啡的芊Chien awaiting us to finish our coffee

六點多起了個大早，就是為了趕九點多到東京的飛機。回台灣這一陣子很少這麼早起，加上前一晚照樣趕稿，一點也感受不到「出去玩」之前的那股興奮心情…
We got up around 6am to catch the flight at 9am to Tokyo. I rarely got up this early since I came back to Taiwan, and the night before I was still struggling with work, so I really couldn’t feel any excitement before leaving for a “pleasure trip”…

這也不是芊第一次坐飛機，幾個月前老哥就已經趁著去澳門表演的時候帶去了一趟。不過，因為老媽很久之前就開始跟芊預告要帶她去看小飛象、坐湯瑪士火車、坐新幹線，小鬼倒是挺興奮的，將近三個小時的飛機，也不見她吵鬧，乖乖地玩著空姐送給她的飛機模型，同時也小睡了一番。
It wasn’t Chien’s first flight. A few months ago, my brother took the chance and brought her to Macao when he went for a performance. However, because my mother started telling her that we’re going to see Dumbo, Thomas and take Shinkansen, she was actually quite excited. She was pretty good during the three-hour flight, staying quiet with the gift, the little airplane given by the airline, and also took a nap.

飛機按預定時間抵達了成田機場，不過當我們走到護照查驗時，卻被眼前的景象嚇了一跳…豈只是人山人海…上次進東京時也是同樣的景象，不過一直到這個節骨眼，我才想到這次得跟個不到三歲的娃兒通關，眼前也只好硬著頭皮去排隊…
We arrived Narita as scheduled. However, when we saw the lines in front of the passport control, we’re more than surprised… crowds of people… It’s the same situation that I faced when I came to Tokyo last time. But it’s not until the very moment that I remembered we had to face this with a three-year-old. Well, there’s nothing we can do but join the queue. So we did.

我們有一搭沒一搭地聊著，還遇上了很沒水準硬插隊的老外，好家在的是，排了沒幾分鐘，就有好心的旅客告訴我們，旁邊有兩個窗口是專門給老年人和帶著嬰兒的旅客使用的。儘管有點狐疑，我還是先去看了一下，果然是真的，於是就回去把老媽和嫂子一起找了過來，托芊的福，竟然可以省過那將近兩個小時的隊伍，迅速地過了關，拿行李去。
We chatted while queuing, and also bumped into a very rude westerner that tried to get into the line. Luckily, a few minutes later there’re some good-hearted passengers telling us about the two windows dedicated to seniors and people traveling with infant. I was suspicious but still went to check. It’s real! So I went back to call my mother and sis-in-law. It was because of Chien that we could save the two-hour line of passport control. We passed shortly and went to pick up the luggage.

坐上了前往京王飯店的巴士，好不容易可以鬆懈一點，不過心情卻也隨著大雨而沉了下去。原本計畫要去淺草走走，不過到飯店的時候也已經五點了，只好稍事休息，然後出發去吃晚餐。
Getting onto the airport limousine, we finally could rest a bit. However, the mood went down with the pouring rain… I was thinking to take them to Asakusa, but we arrived the hotel at 5pm and it was too late for any sightseeing. So we took some rest and then left for food hunting.

飯店離新宿車站很近，上次來東京的時候也是住在同一區，所以我對這一帶還挺熟的。下雨又帶著小鬼，我早就對自己念念不忘的立食壽司死了心，索性找了家日式烤肉店。店員不會講英文，菜單也全是日文，不過還好有一些圖片，加上老媽尚且可用的破日文，竟也讓我們吃了一頓豐盛的晚餐。
The Hotel is close to Shinjuku station. I stayed around the very same area during my last trip to Tokyo so I know it pretty well. The rain was pouring and there’s Chien with us, so I gave up the idea to go to my favorite stand-up sushi long ago. We went into a teriyaki place. People don’t speak English and the menu is in Japanese. Luckily there’re some pictures and my mom’s Japanese is good enough to order food for us, we had a great dinner.

吃完以後，我們在地下街逛了一下…在逛街的同時，竟然又有日本老公公跑來跟我問路。他問我JR要到哪裡搭，我聽是聽懂了，不過不知道怎麼回，索性一句「sumimasen」，老公公一聽馬上就發現我不是日本人，說了句對不起趕快閃人。我心裡頭還是免不了犯滴咕…我真的長得那麼像日本人嗎？
After we finished dining, we went to the underground shopping street for a walk. When we’re going around, a Japanese old man came up to me and asked for direction. He was looking for the JR station. I understood what he’s asking but couldn’t really answer him (because I don’t speak Japanese). So I just said “sumimasen” (I’m sorry) and he understood immediately that I’m not Japanese. He said “sorry” and went away immediately. I still can’t stop murmuring… Am I looking so much Japanese?

一方面是因為早上起太早，大家都累了，一方面也是因為朋友要到旅館和我碰頭拿個東西，所以我們決定早早回到旅館休息，養精蓄銳，為第二天的行程作準備。
Because we got up early and were feeling tired, and I was about to meet up with a friend at the hotel lobby, so we went back to the hotel quite early, to prepare ourselves for the next day.

05秋季日本行(前言) Japan Trip 05 (foreword)

我娘在我七月決定要回台灣參加好友婚禮以後，便開始計畫要趁著我在台灣的期間出國走一趟。幾經轉折，到了回台前一個月，終於決定要去日本玩個五天。
My mother started to plan the trip after I decided to come back for a friend’s wedding. My trip back in Taiwan was confirmed in July, but she didn’t make up her mind as to our destination until September. At the end she decided to go to Japan for five days.

只是，這次日本行是很不一樣的…因為，我們要帶著一個不到三歲的娃兒一起去。
However, it’s quite a different trip… because we’re taking a baby girl who is not yet three years old with us.

芊芊是小鬼的小名。自從我上次回台灣因為管她看電視而跟她結下樑子以後，家人就處心積慮地想要化解我跟她之間的「恩怨」。幾個月以後，某次她指著照片裡的我戲稱「pingu」，打死都不叫姑姑以後，娘就決定要趁著我在台灣的時候，帶著芊芊一起去旅行，好讓我們姑姪倆培養感情。
Her nickname is Chien-Chien. During my last trip in Taiwan, one time I was trying to make her stay back when watching tv. She wasn’t too happy about that and remembered that “gu-gu” (aunt from father’s side in Chinese) was mean to her. Some months later, one day she’s pointing at me in the photo calling me “pingu” continuously instead of “gugu”. My mother decided that she’d take the baby for a trip with me when I’ll be in Taiwan, and try to develop a more friendly relationship between the baby and me.

既然有了個小鬼同行，就得以小鬼會玩的地方為主，所以行程就變成：
Since there’s a baby with us, we had to choose places suitable for the baby. So our schedule became as follows:
第一天 First Day
台北飛往東京。
Taipei to Tokyo

第二天 Second Day
富士急樂園裡的湯瑪士樂園。
The Thomas Land of the Fujikyu Highland.

第三天 Third Day
早上到東京迪士尼，傍晚乘坐新幹線前往奈良外公外婆家。
Go to Tokyo Disneyland in the morning. In the late afternoon take the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Nara where my grandparents live.

第四天 Forth Day
可能可以把小鬼丟給大人，和嫂子一起去京都。
Possibly leave the baby with grandparents and mom, and go to Kyoto with my sister-in-law.

第五天 Fifth Day
回台。
Go back to Taiwan.

很多朋友聽說我要去日本，都發出了羨慕之語，大概只有米奇能夠想像我這次可能得面臨的奇怪狀況。雖然出發前我已經做好了心理準備，不過真正發生的時候，還是有點措手不及的感覺。
Many friends envied me when they heard that I’d go to Japan again. Probably only Michele was able to imagine what I’d have to face during the trip. Even though I was prepared psychologically, I still felt unprepared when it really happened.

DD怪貓 DD the Strange Cat

DD是我台灣家裡第一隻貓。其實我們本來都是養狗的，不過在幾年前狗狗死掉了以後，老爸老媽就打消了養寵物的念頭，畢竟每次出遠門，家裡頭有隻動物也是挺麻煩的事。那麼，DD又怎麼來的？其實是老哥和嫂子的傑作，至於到後來為什麼會在家裡，那可就說來話長了，今天姑且就略過吧。
DD is our first cat in Taiwan. We used to keep dog at home. When our last dog died a few years ago, my parents decided not to keep pets anymore. After all, it’s quite a troublesome thing to take care of, especially when you have to travel far away from home. So, how come there’s a DD now? Well, it’s actually the work of my brother and sister-in-law. It’s a long story as to how it finally arrived here. Let’s skip it today.

DD來到家裡的時候，我人在義大利。透過電話，我知道家裡多了一個新成員，據說還是隻漂亮的金吉拉。後來看到照片的時候，總覺得有點怪，也許是混到其他種的雜種…不過不管怎麼說，還是不減其丰采，毛茸茸的讓人好想摸一把，尤其是那長長的尾巴，走起路來翹在那裡晃啊晃的，那時的DD，像是個高貴的王子。
DD arrived when I was in Italy. I was told there’s a new addition at home, and it is said to be a beautiful Chinchilla cat. When I saw the photo, it seemed to be a bit weird. I think it might be a mix… Anyway it’s still a beautiful cat. So furry that makes you want to touch it. He likes to raise his long tail while walking, looking just like a noble prince.

可惜的是，因為氣候的關係，DD來到家裡不到一年，耳朵後方就開始長奇怪的東西。有獸醫說是黴菌感染，又有人說是耳疥蟲，不論如何，除了藥物治療以外，還得盡量維持清潔。DD是隻愛乾淨的貓，雖然不愛洗澡，不過沒法忍受人嫌牠髒，在你講兩三次「你好臭」以後，就會自動跑到浴室門前，甚至跳進浴缸要洗澡。
It’s a pity that after a while, something strange started to grow behind his ears. One vet said it’s fungus infection, the other said it’s ear mite. In any case, apart from medical care the best way is to keep it clean as much as possible. DD likes to be clean(ed). Though he doesn’t like being washed, he can’t stand to be dirty. After you say two or three times “you’re smelly” he will run to the door of the bathroom, sometimes even jumps into the bathtub waiting to be washed.

那時正值盛夏，牠每天熱到無精打采，還會搶著吹冷氣，小弟看牠這個的樣子，於是把牠帶去寵物美容，把毛剔個精光，留下頭部、尾巴尖端和四隻腳的毛，看起來像極了一隻穿著靴子的小獅子。貓兒剪毛以後害羞躲起來的事，我們是聽多了，為了不讓DD感到自卑，牠一回家，大家夥兒極盡能事地猛力稱讚，牠儘管因為剛剔毛的關係很不習慣，卻也覺得自己很漂亮。
It was during hot summer. DD was suffering heat, and even fighting for the air conditioner. My younger brother decided to take him for some “beauty care”… that is, shave him! Only hair around his head, on tip of the tail and on the feet was kept. It looked just like a little lion with boots. We heard that many cats hide away after shaving because they feel ashamed. To avoid this situation, we made him feel as much as possible that he’s beautiful. Though he’s not used to his new appearance, he felt pretty out of our surprise.

沒有了毛皮大衣，DD的夏天好過了很多，很快地，小弟也發現，耳後的傷口不僅癒合地快，也很好處理。自此以後，小弟三不五時就帶DD去剔個毛，皆大歡喜。
Without its fur, DD became happier in summer. In a short while, my younger brother also discovered that the wounds behind his ears heal much faster with short hair, and they’re much easier to be taken care of. Since then, DD is taken to be shaved periodically. Everyone is happy.

我剛回到台灣沒幾天，小弟又把DD帶去理毛了。也許是不小心剪了太短，就看牠回家以後抖個不停。這兩天看牠這樣不是辦法，小弟竟然起了幫DD買衣服的念頭，也真的趁著今天去逛街，買了一件小衣服回來給牠。
DD was taken for beauty care some days after I arrived Taiwan. Perhaps it was shaved too much this time and he keeps trembling when he comes back home. My younger brother was thinking what to do, and it came to his mind that he could dress him. And he did buy a piece of cat dress when we went out shopping today.

回到家迫不及待地幫DD穿上，就看牠定在那裡不動了，一臉不知所措的樣子…看樣子，牠還需要好一段時間才能夠適應這東西吧！
After we came back home, he just can’t wait to dress DD. Then we just saw DD “frozen”. He doesn’t seem to know how to deal with the situation. I think it’ll take a while for him to get used to this new stuff.