Thank you note from everyone, after the family vacation...

hi everyone,

I just want to thank everyone for making the trip to Maine a fun one. Like how the aunts would cook dinner, make lunch and breakfast and the girls who made that delicious butter chicken. All the boys/uncles that did stuff with me like canoeing/ kayaking and making fires. Uncle Laurie who made all the games for every night that they were here and was so much fun. Without all of you, I would be playing on my ds bored to death and have to do lots of chores.

It was a great vacation and it was a fun one because of all of you.
Hope we can do another family trip next year.

thanks,
MAX

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Hello family,

Max you said it best already but THANK YOU everyone who made this trip possible and for making this trip so memorable. I think I enjoyed this trip a little more than last years because of all the different activities including; billiards, ping pong, canoeing, hiking, roasting marshmallows, swing rope and of course Uncle Laurie's fun games.

I've uploaded all my pics on my flickr site. (Have a look before my account expires in two days -_- )

Matt

ps - I look forward to the next family vacation ;)

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Hi All,

Me and Su made it home safely this morning after spending two days in Princeton.
It will be a while before we sort out the photos and videos (those edits are time consuming and files are huge!)

I too had a lot of fun because of the lakeside activities and campfires. Of the last twelve years in California, I didn't go camping once, so I do miss all those outdoor times.

Game winners were everyone who had fun, but to recap:
M & M Guessing - Leigh-Ann
Guess the Drawings - Toni
Obstacle Course - Ching and Adri, consolation prize to Chris and Max for fastest time.
Photo Scavenger Hunt - Ruby
Pose Off - Ching
Anagrams - Toni
Charades - Morgan (team)

LP

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Hi Family!

This family vacation was very memorable! My favorite memories were swimming through the rapid waves with Matthew, Max, Calvin and Chris, I've never been so scared for my life before! I also liked all the family games, I loved pictionary, charades, the scavenger hunt and even the painful torturing pose-off, (Ching, next time I'll take you down!).

What made the trip even more memorable was everyone who was there and the effort from everyone to make every day fun and full (especially our bellies)! Thank you Aunt Nancy, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Keith for helping with every meal, Mom for all the cleaning, laundry and for supporting the trip and driving endless hours along with Matthew, Uncle Laurie for preparing all the entertainment and prizes, the cousins for all the fun and games and umm.. rememberable catch phrases "Chrispy-Chrisp-Holla-Bing-Ching!".

I hope to do this every year, because these are always my favorite. And I hope in the future the kids will continue this tradition of family vacations! I'll see many of you soon during the Christmas holidays, and if not then, I hope to see you soon! Take care and thanks again for everything!

Antoinette

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Hi family,

I would also like to add my thanks to the list. Again, thanks for the preparation of the trip, thanks for the food, the driving, the games, and the fun times.

I think my favourite part of the trip was the rope swing, jumping and cheering people on to jump (or in gong-gong`s case... hoping he didn`t jump!). I liked watching everyone overcome that five minute period of terrified paralysis.

So I agree with Toni, though the planning may be tough, the driving may be long and the expenses may be high, but in the end our family trips are always worth it... So I see no reason in NOT continuing them and enjoying ourselves as a family :)

Next year, back-packing through Europe? (HA)

Anyways, once again thank you AND.... ROLLERBLADES!!

Ruby :)

PS, to the beh-beh-juus, thanks for TB,S1+2 :D

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I also want to make a quick thank you to Aunt Su for her delicious meal! I forgot to write that down on my first email but it was something I wanted to point out! It was a dinner to remember! Thank you for it!

-Natalie

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A note from my daughter, after the family vacation...

Hey everyone,

Like Max and everyone after, I just want to say thank you too! Especially Aunt Nancy for the planning and discovery of the trip. I too, have posted my photos on Flickr. It's on my mom's account to post my photos. There are a lot of repeated photos because I am too lazy to take them off or because they are reference photos for personal future use (aka my job!). Anyways, enjoy the photos .

My summer of 2009 was such a great one! I first went to Banff and came back with so many new skills and even a firearm license! Banff also was a place for personal discovery for me and it was just a great place that words can't even describe. I met so many people, became friends with them, and now have future connections with. I also climbed a lot of mountains and went to all the surrounding areas around Banff (BC's national parks, Edmonton, Drumheller, Red Deer, Calgary...etc). I can't believe I actually got the chance to go there and I am so thankful. Thanks mom for paying and letting me go. You don't know who grateful I am of that, so thank you a thousand times and even more. I love you!

When I came back from Banff I had literally 4 days to recuperate from my trip and head off to Maine. At Maine, we attempted to do some hikes but always had a reason to stop and head back down the mountains. Also, there were games that all the cousins were involved with. They were super fun, sometimes painful, and I would like to thank Uncle Laurie for them; Thank you!

Dinners in Maine were always something different. Aunt Nancy, Uncle Keith (with the BBQ), and Aunt Margaret were so creative and intuitive with their delicious dinner creations! THANK YOU for that. Our house at Maine might have been a bummer (sort of) but the people there and the activities there made the trip worth every penny (from my mom's bank account)! ...thanks mom for my new clothes and also funding a lot more than I even know. I love you for everything you do for me.

My summer of 2009 was an unbelievable account. I will never forget this summer. I hope that you all had a summer as great (or even greater) than mine. Thank you all!

-Natalie

The main causes of liver damage

Sharing the following email with you:

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8... Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

DO TAKE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH...

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BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

Sharing the following email with you:

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

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The top five cancer-causing foods

Sharing the following email with you:


The top five cancer-causing foods are:

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitratea.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease.. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.


4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

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DDMBA - Sept 5 & 6 Chan Activities with Gilbert Gutierrez

In case you are interested:

Dear Friend,

DDMBA Ontario is pleased to announce that Dharma Teacher Gilbert Gutierrez will be coming to Toronto, to oversee a series of Chan events on the weekend of Saturday September 5 and Sunday September 6, 2009.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn the path, walk the path and stay on the path of Chan practice, under a seasoned Dharma Teacher.

About the Teacher: A practicing attorney and Dharma instructor, Gilbert Gutierrez leads regular Dharma talks and meditation classes in Riverside, California. Gilbert has practiced meditation for more than 25 years. He is one of only five lay practitioners to have received Dharma transmission from Venerable Master Sheng Yen.

* Please note: due to limited seating, registration for these events is required. Online Registration and Location details will be coming soon, and an email will be sent to you shortly. .


1) Chan 101 - Intro (for Beginners to Chan and Meditation)

An informative and comprehensive Introductory Workshop devoted to learning about Chan meditative practices and tradition. The workshop will be followed by a delicious vegetarian lunch at 12 pm.

When: Saturday September 5, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm *(online registration required)
Language: English Only


2) Chan 101 - Personal Clinic (for Current Chan Practitioners)

A personalized Chan Clinic for existing practitioners, designed to help answer people's questions or concerns about their practice of Chan under a seasoned Dharma teacher.

When: Saturday September 5, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm *(online registration required)
Language: English Only


3) Meditation and Repentance Prostration

Gilbert will lead Meditation and Repentance Prostration to purify our minds and deepen our practice. Suitable for everyone.

When: Saturday September 5, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Language: Chinese and English
Note: please contact us prior to the event if you require instruction on how to perform prostration.


4) One Day Meditation Retreat

Gilbert will oversee a One Day Meditation Retreat. Anyone is welcome to deepen his or her Chan practice for this extended period of time, in the company of fellow practitioners.

When: Sunday September 6, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm *(online registration required)
Language: English Only

For more information, visit our website at:
http://www.ddmba-ontario.ca

Reserve time on your calendar for these exciting events now, and watch for more updates to come!
Amitofuo!

p.s. due to technical difficulties, we are unable to send out advance notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.

DDMBA Ontario

For podcasts of Gilbert's regularly running Dharma talks, be sure to visit
http://dharmatalks.riversidechan.org

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Good or Bad, hard to say!

Sharing the following email with you:

Good or Bad, hard to say!

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his followers very much because he was very wise and always gave very useful advice. Therefore the king took him along wherever he went.

One day, the king was bitten by a dog, the finger was injured and the wound was getting worse. He asked the follower if that was a bad sign. The follower said, Good or bad, hard to say'. In the end, the finger of the king was too bad that had to be cut. The king asked the follower again if that was a bad sign. Again, the follower gave the same answer, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. The king became very angry and sent the follower to prison.

One day, the king went hunting in the jungle. He got excited when he was on the chase of a deer. Deeper and deeper he went inside the jungle. In the end he found himself lost in the jungle. To make thing worse, he got captured by the native people lived inside the jungle.

They wanted to sacrifice him to their god. But when they noticed that the king had one finger short, they released him immediately as he was not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice. The king managed to get back to his palace after all. And he finally understood the follower's wise quote, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. If he hadn't lost one finger,he could have been killed by the native people.

He ordered to release the follower, and apologized to him. But to the king amaze, the follower was not mad at him at all. Instead, the follower said, 'It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up.' Why? Because if the king hadn't locked the follower up, he would have brought the follower along to the jungle. If the native found that the king was not suitable, they would have used the follower. Again, the quote 'Good or bad, hard to say' stands.



The moral of the story:

Everything that happens in this world, there is no absolute good or bad. Sometimes good things turned out to be bad things eventually, while bad things become a gain.

Whatever good things that happen to you, enjoy it, but don't have to hold too tight to it, treat it as a
surprise in your life.

Whatever bad things that happen to you, don't have to feel too sad or despair, in the end, it might not be a total bad thing after all.

If one can understand this, he or she will find life much easier.

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Annual Dementia Test

Sharing the following test with you:

It's that time of the year to take our annual senior citizen test.

Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles.
As we grow older, it's important to keep mentally alert. If you don't use it, you lose it!

Below is a very private way to gauge your loss or non-loss of intelligence.
Take the test presented here to determine if you're losing it or not.
The spaces below are so you don't see the answers until you've made your answer.
So don't cheat!

OK, relax, clear your mind and begin.

1. What do you put in a toaster?

















Answer: 'bread.' If you said 'toast,' give up now and do something else.
Try not to hurt yourself. If you said, bread, go to Question 2.


2. Say ' silk' five times. Now spell 'silk.' What do cows drink?
















Answer: Cows drink water. If you said 'milk,' don't attempt the next question.
Your brain is over-stressed and may even overheat..
Content yourself with reading a more appropriate literature such as Auto World.
However, if you said 'water', proceed to question 3.


3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a greenhouse made from?
















Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said 'green bricks,' why are you still reading these???
If you said 'glass,' go on to Question 4.

4. It's twenty years ago, and a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany (If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany .)
Anyway, during the flight, two engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he can do so and the plane fatally crashes smack in the middle of 'no man's land' between East Germany and West Germany ..
Where would you bury the survivors? East Germany , West Germany , or no man's land'?
















Answer: You don't bury survivors.. If you said ANYTHING else, you're a dunce and you must stop.
If you said, 'You don't bury survivors', proceed to the next question.

5. Without using a calculator. You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales.
In London , 17 people get on the bus.
In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on..
In Swindon, two people get off and four get! on.
In Cardiff , 11 people get off and 16 people get on.
In Swansea , three people get off and five people get on ..
In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven.
What was the name of the bus driver?
















Answer: Oh, for crying out loud! Don't you remember your own name? It was YOU!!

Now pass this along to all your friends and pray they do better than you.
PS: 95% of people fail most of the questions!! So Don't feel too bad.

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In Algonquin Park - photos by Stephen Hung

In Algonquin Park
- photos by Stephen Hung
July 2009