Busy and frustrating summertime

Working hard this summer! I'm working right now on a couple of textbooks I'm doing with my wife--EFL texts for votech grads who want to go into business. It's rather slow going and it's hard to concentrate. I haven't been sleeping really well for quite a while and the days are full of distractions and interruptions. Also working on a new song, a sort of Electric Company tribute, and another major project for a government grant. Hope I get the grant! It's hard to focus, that's a fact!
This week, Coral's been in Taichung with her cousin and a student from Japan who's visiting the Chen clan there. We only saw her on Wednesday when she was swimming with the girls in Dou Liu. Very tired and bummed. Oh well!
Sorry I haven't been keeping this blog running smoothly for a long time. Will try to do better! However, this is the one blog that's been really running at all, so don't complain too much!
Chris

Recentness

Well, the drama class fell through again. Rather a bummer. However, I've discovered a new entertainment: alternate reality gaming. It's really inspiring. I am now working on a new project and have recruited two people from abroad to collaborate. It's started. . .it's exciting.
it's coming.
Wow.
Eowyn's learning to inline skate, and to use an abacus. Chris and Coral are taking a test Saturday, to try to participate in Miami's Space Camp. Amy's writing a scholarly paper. Jonnie's learning to walk. It's a stirring time, but rather exhausting, as per norm.

New family pictures--Jonnie, Chris, and Coral

While babysitting, I took some photos to entertain Jonnie, and also a brief video:
Wanted to share with you, so here they are in Posterous. Also, here's a brief home vid from my MacBook (forgive the jerkiness--hard to film while moving).

Enjoy, friends and family members!
Chris

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Philosorapture!

Behind the Scenes: Coral's photo shoot; Chris's TV appearance

Wow, family fame based videos for you!
Two of Coral at her lovely catalog photo shoot last month, and one of my appearance on Taiwanese TV. Both groups of videos come from Tutze, "Rabbit", our friend, as they happened. I'm posting two of these here, but there's one more of Coral too. Visit one of these videos at YouTube (channel name is oshuhua) you can watch any of our videos there, including future ones.

Posted via email from Philosorapture!

Coral's Superb Catalog Photo Shoot Aug 2009

Coral had a great photo shoot two Saturdays ago for a Fido Dido catalog. Here are some of the behind-the-scenes photos by our agent's assistant, "Rabbit." Doesn't Coral look fabulous?? We feel she appears very mature for her age (9 years old).
You can see these as a photo gallery at my new Posterous blog!
Chris

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Philosorapture!

Chris on TV--

Now I'll attempt to add more photos from the same day in January of 2006.
With us in Washington, D. C. and Sterling, VA are some of my favorite people in the world: Alex and Lynne Franke and their darlings, and Allan and Elycia Lindsey and their delights. We had a magical day. . .one of the most recent ones that our own family has spent together in the USA.
Visit my new and elegantissimo Posterous blog to see the earlier ones before they routed through to Facebook and Twitter. I want to see if these will also be saved at Picasaweb. . .
Posterous, you are so swave and debonair.
Yahucka yahucka plah.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

Eowyn in hospital. Hope to leave it soon.

Eowyn is now in the IV League, but hopefully she'll be graduating tomorrow. She started to get fevery last-last Saturday and went to a local doctor for it, but the fever returned, so we went to our old doctor; still it returned last Tuesday (a week ago) so we took her to the hospital in Changhua. She's still there. Most of the time I've been with her.
She is not massively sick—mostly a runny nose—but the fevers are worrying, so she’s still there, and most of the time I’ve been here with her. They tested her mucus the other day and discovered another type of virus so she’s been getting more medicine for that and hopefully it’ll get her over the illness and she can go home. She’s not miserable; only bored of being here all the time. Me, too. Incredible that the sickness (another doctor classified it vaguely as "not a typical enterovirus") has lasted this long. Glad we are insured!
Today the news was better than it has been recently. She's basically been fever free since yesterday morning; if she can avoid reheating today she should probably be able to leave the hospital tomorrow. So far so good.

Coral's first appearance on Yoyo TV!

Hi everyone! Coral's latest TV appearance is now up online and translated for your consideration. Please enjoy!

Chris as Camp Teacher in News!

雲科大語言中心全國高中職數位英語夏令營全國各地踴躍參加-Yahoo!

Here I am on national news! My time to shine! Wish I knew what it said. Well, actually, here is a rough translation.
This was just taken this morning. I am mentioned by name at the bottom: Ou Shu-Hua. My dear former students, Joyce and Mario, alerted me to this today. It was great to hear from them again!

YouTube - Eowyn In Yogurt Competition--Whoops!

YouTube - Eowyn In Yogurt Competition--Whoops!
Here is the latest news. (No need for a symbologist here; it's translated.) Eowyn was selected for national news report. Story at eleven. Mommy's on TV too! Enjoy!

Composer Competition - The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

Composer Competition - The Loudoun Symphony Orchestra
Dad alerted me to this exciting competition. I may participate if I have time to come up with something and I feel my arranging and orchestration muscles are up to the challenge. I'd better hurry though!! My dad is on the board of the Loudoun Symphony and so it's extra enticing. Next year, Dad will be using his voice acting chops to make Peter and the Wolf an extra sensation for the LSO. Proud? Yes, much!

Very Moving

The big move happened on Saturday. Actually it was the third time we'd had help moving, with people in trucks assisting us, though we have done many car trips and STAIR trips ourselves too. BUSHED, yes, indeedy. Much zozzed out. Most big stuff moved. Must get rest out by Thursday. Owtch! Amazing how much crapola there was on the two floors of that house. . .and how much space it takes up in the new (old) house!! Crowdy, yes.
I got the four free copies of the textbook I revised today. Still has typos and other errors. They never gave me galleys to proof. Bluh! Pluh! Fuh!
And no CDs, either! Still, it was nice to hold them in my hands for the first time. If you want to teach speaking, listening, or tourism, get these and get me my 3% royalty! Wouldja?
I'm inviting my students to join the island's only seemingly active improv group, affiliated with Improv Everywhere. Already got people interested. Hope to stage something this year!
When I feed Johnnie he usually sticks his tongue out and won't drink from the bottle. Finally last night about 10:45 he had some warm milk I'd prepared after refusing many times. . .hurrah. At last!
Coral is at her "old" school today for the last time; tomorrow she'll start at her "new" one in Shetou instead of Yong Jing. Hope she's OK with that. . .
Busy busy busy. After this week it should be less hectic but not sure; have to finish my literature paper and prepare the slides for Saturday's conference, and also preregister for the other one. . .ONE of the others, I mean. Hoooo boy.
Gotta go get Eowyn back from K now. See you.

Jonnie's first video!

Here it is from the center of confinement in Yuan Lin, Taiwan! Sorry for the jerky video; my MacBook was running slowly!

Jonathan Aaron O'Brien born 2/21/2009!

Hi there everyone! We have emerged from the hospital today and moved over the center for "confinement" as they used to call it. She'll stay for two weeks here before moving back home for the rest of the baby's first month.
Actually I typed Jonnie's length wrong: it's not 53 inches, but instead 53 cm. 3910 grams. Very good looking--but don't take MY word for it; look at the photos!
I went back home last night to celebrate Coral's birthday with cake and singing. I'll take her out later this week to birthday shop with her. . .she has some specific hopes.
I think I won't try to finish this paper for Tuesday BY Tuesday; it's just too much for the time I have! I'll call them though and tell them my situation; it's possible they will let me have till Friday, in which case I'll prob. be OK. More conferences coming soon too; next deadline Mar 3rd.
All are well and happy. Amy is tired but recovering. No painkillers this time or either of the other two times, BTW; Dr said that half the people who use anaesthetics vomit or get dizzy and she didn't want that.
Pretty tired here. I stayed up with Amy all the time and slept little. Last night though stayed with my girls at home and returned hosp side to do paperwork and move Amy home.
Best wishes to you all! More news, photos, and maybe some video later.

Parodies Group Begun; Searching for Lodgings!

Heyo! Stressful as a box full of hanging fire. We hope to be able to go to America this summer--Eowyn and I do, that is--and I'm trying to find a place to hang my head during that time: a room for renk. Not easy so far away. Also got to write a full paper for several calls for papers that are due soon. Add to that the fact that Amy could have her baby ANY time now. . . see below for lots of other tasks looming o'erhead.
Also, I've started a social network thingy at Ning.com: "Parodies and Disparities." You wanna join? Be my guessed.

I've always loved parodies and have been exposed to many. I've even done a number of parodies of my own.
I love PDQ Bach, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Young Frankenstein, Airplane!, and even these swell new Mochries of our new President Obama.
I want to get others who are interested in this type of thing and discusss, analyze, and create parodies, travesties, breakfast teas, suchatease, burlesques, and the like. Join me? Please do!
Best to all and all for none.
Chris

Hoo Boy!

Photos of Coral and Eowyn and Amy Jan 27 2009 on PhotoPeach




Bizzy bizzy bizzy! Baby is coming along swell and Amy is swelling along big, baby! Should be born any time now. I hope I can finish all the calls for papers, and their respective papers, on time. I got word today that the first of the batch, a workshop on Studeous.com for English teachers in Taiwan, was accepted; conference May 16-17th.
Due to time constraints these days I've yoked my Twitter account (usually done, though, through http://itweet.net/) into this blog so I can make microblog notes on how things are going without the need for paragraphs.
I've also tied my other favorite journal, Memiary, into Twitter and thus into Forging Reputations as well. Recommended!
I've also been enjoying friend and family interaction on Facebook. Too bad few people want to play Word Twist or PathWords with me.
I've also been partaking of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Season 4 DVDs, graciously given to me by my dear family. Heaven! The best of times! And it's great to be able to tweet to LeVar Burton as I'm watching his episodes. He's quit smoking by the way. Good for him.
More soon, I hope. Will no doubt have several media extravaganzas, or at least a few availablganzas, as the baby Jonathan Aaron is born and develops. Wish me luck as the only adult who can drive in the family. . . .and can teach. . . . Geez!

My Tweets Friday the 13th of February

• 15:03 Rearranging my office as Amy suggested; applying for conferences; eating casserole! #
• 11:15 Enjoying seeing Geordi getting along better with Dr. Brahms! #
• 11:25 @Juniper37 Love you Jessica! I'm trying to get so much darn work done before the baby is born...it's delaying ticket purchase & room rental! #

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Vacations and more vacations

Hi, I'm busy still but glad to be done with the musical, at least! I'm working on a variety of t'ings.

1. Calls for Papers: need to do conferences etc. to pass for my reviews at school, so got lots of abstracts in the works, and papers. Many deadlines. Oy vey.
2. Old Projects 1: Caves Books: Reading House mistake catching.
3. Old Projects 2: GEPT English test writing.
   
4. Proposal for another project with Caves publishers
5. Planning for a trip to the States this summer with Eowyn
6. Cleaning the house and getting ready to move
7. Finding lodgings for the summer (see #5)
8. Incorporating more things into my digital lifestyle
9. Planning and preparing for next semester's classes
10. Dreading next fall's new drama at school
    
11. Reading new books including Eco and Rushdie, oh my!
12. Making lots and lots of outlines for above

Some of the things on my plate these days. . .I'm using Facebook more often than blogging nowadays too, and glad Sistah and Dad are both now on FB too!
Best to anyone
Chris

Speech Contest Preparation

Hi all, Coral and our English students are getting ready for a big speech contest that covers our whole county. We've been practicing intensively for weeks. Exhausting! However, tomorrow is the contest and we're pretty well ready. Thank goodness! Hope it goes OK. I will let you know.
Coral's speech is about her best friend at school:

Coral O'Brien 歐珊 89/2/2

My Friend

My best friend at school is my classmate, Tina. We’ve been good friends ever since I met her. On the first day of first grade, when I went into my classroom, I saw a shy girl sitting alone. She was pretty and sweet, but she looked a little scared, and she didn’t seem to have any friends. I wanted to be her friend, so I went over and told her who I was: Coral! I liked her sweet smile, so I gave her a sticker of mine to keep.

All last school year, we spent lots of time together and we always had a good time. We like to sing together, play together, and study together. She always makes me laugh!

This year, we’re still classmates, but next semester, she will transfer to a different school. I’ll miss her a lot, but we’ll keep in touch. I hope our hearts will stay close, and that we’ll always be great friends.

Lovely Eowyn

Photobucket Album

...and her ad is online too. . .just one photo, though. . . click on her picture to see a larger version of her wonderfulness. Please enjoy!
Chris