My Scoop: RamSham: Fontana Dam! Passed 150 miles!

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01 May 2010

RamSham: Fontana Dam! Passed 150 miles!

Whee! We passed 150 milestone! We are now at the shelter in Fontana Dam. We stayed at Hike Inn in Fontana Dam last nite. Gosh.....their services were impeccible! Jeff & Nancy Hoch, owners of Hike Inn, went out of their way to make sure we are well-fed, cleaned-up, and well-rested. They did laundry of our clothings including folding 'em! They also took care of our boxes to be shipped out. Gee! Andrea, their hand-helper/driver, was a such sweet angel who drove us to Mexican restaurant to have a delicious dinner then to ATM to replenish our cash, and at last, at food store to re-supply our food for hiking through Great Smokies. Andrea's son, Bill, knew ASL, so he joined along to review his signs with us. It was so nice to stay at Hike Inn....especially 2 cats - Shasta and Catzilla - who love to be spoiled by hikers. Lol

So right now, the storm is brewing on my left....and the sun is setting on my right......I am facing south with the fire pit going on with people mingling. Like a ying yang....balance of storm and calm and I am center of that fire pit - warm and safe on line. Mmmm......for next few days, the forecast called for either isolated or scattered thunderstorms or rainstorms....it is tough call to leave shelter and hike out to next ones....we will decide at short notice to make a go either tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday.... Wait and see. My feet are gradually improving....not in excruiating pain anymore. Nantahla River blessed my feet with its cold and freshing water and took away some of its pain with it. Before Nantahala River, I thought my hiking days may be numbered....but, now it is no longer a factor, but I have to keep close watch on my feet along with my foot doctor's advices in mind. Descent is still hard on my feet....take one thing at a time. Anyhow, I better get going to preserve the battery on my pager. It may be long time before I get online as we are to hike 72 miles from end to end of Great Smoky Mountain National Park - perhaps 8 days of hiking plus some side trail visitation especially Schuckstawn Tower and Clingman's Dome. Catch ya next time. RamSham signing out.

01 May 2010 | Permalink

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Books I Read

Catherine Cate Coblentz: The Blue Cat of Castle Town
15-October-2009 The blue cat who is born under the blue moon learns on his journey of finding and teaching the mortals of the town named Castle Town in Vermont the song of the river. The theme of the song is beauty and peace and content. The town was beginning to engulf under the terrible spell of an individual who believes in the power of the money and haste. (*****)
Emily Cheney Neville: It's Like This, Cat
10-October-2009 I discovered this book via the feature: "The Celebration of Female Writers"....I enjoyed reading this book. It was easy and quick reading. It was about the teen boy living in Manhattan in 1960's and how his cat changes his life once he brought him home. Recommended for anyone who likes cat and easy and quick reading. (****)
David Richo: How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving
7-October-2009 I finally got a courage to read this book. It took me long while to read from cover to cover at slow pace - had to think/analyze about what I read from time to time. It helped me in many ways that I couldn't imagine that would take place at all. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand better about ourselves with open-mindness. The journey of work we need to do for ourselves may surprise any of us one way or other... (*****)
Waki Yamato: The Tale of Genji: 4 (Kodansha bilingual comics) (Japanese Edition)
15-September-2009 I bought this book in Tokyo, Japan. I read it in two days and liked it. However, I am a bit puzzled with the end or perhaps opening end of the story. I guess there is a difference between manga and novel. Recommended for anyone who likes manga and strangely good romantic story. (****)
Toru Sato: The Ever-Transcending Spirit: The Psychology of Human Relationships, Consciousness, and Development
5-December-2008 I bought this book last year and I finally found my courage and time to read this book at this time of the year. This book not only struck my inner chords, made me look back to my behaviors, thoughts and feelings since I became existed here on this planet. Wow....this book requires you to be open-minded, willingness to look within yourself and your relationship with yourself and others. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand better of her/himself and her/his relationship with human beings and nature. (*****)
Timothy Freke: The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God?
21-November-2008 Libby encouraged me to read this book, so I did at last 2 years later. It was a truly awakening call for me, both spiritually and personally. It re-affirmed my beliefs, thoughts and feelings since I first questioned the establishment of Christianity and other religions. If you have an open mind and want to get the in-depth details of history of Christianity and Paganism, then this book is one for you to read. Highly recommended for anyone who seeks the truth of purpose behind Christianity and Paganism. (*****)
26-October-2008: Boston and the American Revolution: Boston National Historical Park, Massachusetts (National Park Service Handbook)
I bought this book from Boston National Historic Park while I was visiting Boston this past May. This book explained the timeline of Boston and the American Revolution from 1650's thru 1780's. I enjoyed learning new things from this book such as how Bostonians didn't forecast that they would go their separate way from their mother country, England, until they were slammed with taxes without representatives in Parliament. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates American History. (*****)
Lisa Tuttle: The Mysteries
20-October-2008 Libby lent me this book and said that I should read this book. So did I. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gave some background information on Celtic, Irish and Scottish stories among fairy stories. When someone vanishes without a trace, people would say that the fairies may be responsible for that. Hence, the book came with title, "The Mysteries", based on a character, a young woman, who disappeared from her mother for 2 years. Her mother hired a private investigator to locate her daughter. The plot was good. Recommended for anyone who enjoys fairy, Irish, Scottish and Celtic stories. (*****)
Kathy Reichs: Deja Dead
26-September-2008 - Gosh, this book really kept me glued after reading half-way. It involved a character named Dr. Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist, who detects a pattern of killer's work with dead women over a few years in Montreal. She tries to figure out the killer's next move and with that, she put herself into the corner....in the hands of killer. Such a suspenseful book to read. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys grisly and forensic science plot. (*****)
Trisha Meili: I Am the Central Park Jogger : A Story of Hope and Possibility
21-August-08 - I attended to forum where Trisha gave a presentation at my company. I met her and she was truly an amazing person to chat with. I finally got around to read her book. I learned so much about her and her personal struggles and accomplishment with her disability. It was a good reading for anyone who wants to understand how she went through the episodes - violence, hospitalization, rehabitation, work and life, relationship and court. Even though her body was "violated", her spirit didn't leave her....she was determined person to get through and get better. She came to terms of accepting herself as a new person, not same person as she was before. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about "The Central Park Jogger" and head trauma injury. (*****)

Ski Resorts I Visited

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National Parks I Visited

October 2011

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Movies I Watched

10-Feb-2010: Tron (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
(*****)
10-Feb-2010: Cirque du Soleil - Varekai
(*****)
9-February-2010: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Widescreen Edition)
(**)
9-February-2010: Leon - The Professional (Uncut International Version)
(****)
9-February-2010: Stille Liebe/Amour Secret [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]
My friends from Germany gives me this DVD, so I get around to watch this. It is a Germany-released movie. based on true story of young Deaf woman who grew up in Switzerland. Shot in beautiful Switzerland, Stille Liebe tells the story of Antonia (Emmanuelle Laborit), a deaf nun who meets Mikas, a deaf pick-pocket while travelling to the homeless shelter where she assists in the kitchen. At the beginning, she felt comfortable in these surroundings at the Convent where the sisters take the vow of silence, but as she's grown older she begins to wonder if she made the right choice. Among some of the other characters is Mother Superior Verena (Renate Becker); a wonderfully loving, yet very disciplined woman who takes Antonia under her wing in the Convent. A new exciting world opens up for Antonia because, like herself, Mikas is also deaf. These two people, so different from each other, are able to converse in their common language – sign language. Antonia's relationship builds with Mikas to a point where she is torn between her faith and the man she has fallen in love with. However, what Antonia is not aware of is that Mikas is only pretending to be a circus artist and has in fact come to Switzerland to make some ready cash as a pickpocket. Unfortunately, their affair comes to an abrupt end when Mikas loses his life in an altercation with the police. Shattered by that experience and what she went through with Mikas, it has had a deep effect on her and she now has the feeling that the world has once and for all opened up for her too. Antonia decides to sever her ties with Verena and the convent and travels to the United States, where she applies to study at Gallaudet University, an internationally renowned college for the deaf where she resolves to start a new life among others like herself and pursues her dream at last. In summary, Antonia yearns for one thing – discover inner happiness. She wants to lead the sort of life that she hasn't been allowed to up until now, or a life she hasn't allowed herself to lead. She does not fit in the place where she is. Therefore, love arouses this interest in her and gives her the courage to make a complete break in her life. Although Antonia’s relationship with Mikas ends in tragedy, it doesn’t stop her from taking her life into her own hands. You can, perhaps, say that true love is really only true if it becomes the cause of something and when things happen as a result ... Co-written by director Christoph Schaub, this film is unique in the way it portrays a deaf character. Of course, the usual communication issues exist for a deaf person, but we see more of need and desire to be among people who are similar. The communication issues can be resolved on the most cases, but the desire to be among your own people, people who are like you, people who don't have the need for things to be explained to them... this is what really drives Antonia in the decisions she makes throughout the film. I am perplexed as Antonia’s decision when Mikas’ life was in dire, but I am going to let go at it. I am a bit taken aback from Antonia’s comments about moral to use the stolen money which she, herself, uses it to create a new life for herself. Guess she feels that it is her one-way ticket out of her old life with good intention. One small thing is that the sign language in the film is mostly IS – International Signs. In Switzerland, the Deaf people use DSGS – Switzerland Sign Language – which is not portrayed in the movie. Same goes for Lithuanian Sign Language. The movie is produced by Germany, so DGS – German Sign Language – is utilized most of time in the movie. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. (****)
1-Jan-2010: Der Große Diktator. DVD-Video
Jo and Daniela said that I should watch this movie and I did. I laughed for countless times and cried from laughing so hard from time to time. I loved the English and Deutsch subtitles to see how Charlie Chaplin was so gifted with mixing the falsetto Deutsch-English and Deutsch-Italian. So funny!!!! I cannot believe that this movie was made in 1940. (*****)
28-December-2009: Avatar [Theatrical Release]
Kathrin surprised Mia and me by taking us to Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany with 3D. I loved it so much that I cannot wait for open captioned version back in America! (*****)
12-November-2009: Trouble the Water
Jules loaned this DVD to me to watch. Wow, it really hit a home run for me to witness what these people went through before, during and after the Hurricane Katrina. It was more personal than what you might get from news on TV and newspapers. Highly recommended for teenagers or older since the colorful languages are used in the DVD. (****)
30-October-2009: Monsters vs. Aliens [Blu-ray]
JV and I watched this movie together. I laughed at pretty much of references and play with sounds/words they threw at me. Highly recommended for family to watch this movie together. (****)
8-October-2009: Finding Forrester
I enjoyed this movie so much. It is about the gifted young man who befriended with reclusive talented writer. Not only wisdom can be passed on one way, but both ways between these two people. Recommended for family with kids over age of 13 years old. (*****)