carrot juice and old buildings

I know that there is no relevance between carrot juice and old buildings.  I just can’t think of a better title for this post. J

I went to the city center one time to look for rechargeable batteries for my camera.  It was early afternoon and the strong sun discouraged me to start roaming around so I decided to stay for a while at a place that looks like a mini-food court with 4 food stalls to choose from – oriental to western. I ordered a carrot juice from one of the food stalls and ended up having a huge glass (450 ml) that took me more than an hour to finish it ‘til the last drop. The counter-lady told me that no available size of carrots for the small size juice that day.  I did not get the logic from her answer but when I observed the preparations I understood what she meant.  The ratio is 1:1; 1 carrot for 1 glass juice.  So, size here matters; small carrot for small size juice or large carrot for large size juice. 

After my glass was totally empty, I left to search for electronic shops in the area.  I had the chance as well to take photos of the old buildings around.  They were engraved of the year they were built; from 1930s to 1940s.  I wonder if the city government is helping to preserve or rehabilitate these buildings.  I noticed that some are poorly maintained.  I am not aware of the Land Use Plan or Building Code of the City but the way I looked at it, these buildings are not taken care of (my presumption) very well.   But they are beautiful and I am sure that I am not the only one who have seen their attractiveness.


I hope that locals are giving importance to these historic sights.

 

"He who loves an old house never loves in vain."

Conant, Isabel La Howe

over a cup of cappuccino

It’s a month that I have not updated my blog.  My brain was preoccupied from work-related to personal, trivial and senseless things lately that hindered me to write something. 

Lately, it’s so frustrating that the more efforts I tried to organize my thoughts or be logical, the more my brain goes awry - senior moments or maybe, I am just thinking too much or not thinking at all?

While having a cup of cappuccino on my own at a coffee shop somewhere in the city, my inactive neurons tried to decipher these statements:
   

·    “I want to inform you that I am (mentioned his profession) so basically I know all these things.  It’s so complex that you cannot just teach people how to do it in very short time....” (statement)

Ø   I said aloud, “I am on the same field. I can follow what you are talking about.” But what was in my mind was this.  Who cares about your title or degree.  At the end of the day, what people remember about you is your character and the way you treat or deal with them. (response of my brain)

·    “I am charging ________ per day for the ___, the transportation and communication are not included yet.”

Ø   I should have told that person that we (volunteers) are receiving that amount every month as our allowance which covers everything – our food, utilities, transportation.  And we have no salary.

·    “That price is good enough, everything is so expensive now and prices of goods are keep on increasing...blah..blah”

Ø   I said aloud.  “I understand.” What’s in my brain was this.  I can be emphatic with you and I can understand you if you belong to the marginalize group or if you are poor.  But you are not.

·    Well, maybe you can find a lower service fee than mine but not the same quality that I can deliver.

Ø    I did not utter a word.  But maybe this person is not aware about the principles of healthy competition. And, he should know a better way to promote his competencies.

·    “I am sincere to help.”

Ø    I have no idea if this person is convincing me or convincing himself.



a cup of cappuccino makes me awake the whole day

Well, life is pathetic sometimes.  I think it is so human to be selfish at certain level that becomes acceptable or can be justified. I cannot define what level is acceptable or unacceptable.  Or what and how much is enough not to be greedy and when and how to know to stop wanting more.

I finished my cappuccino without noticing it.  It was time for me to go.  I left at the shop whatever bad thoughts I had in my brain. I hope no one would catch them. 

“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."  Erich Fromm