Irene Eng The Kibbitzer

High Water .. It flowed into our blood .. Streaming down inside our veins .. takes me home .. – Rush ~ ~ ~   ~ ~   ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water – Loren Eisley  ~ ~   ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~   

Philately, history and Lionel trains may sound more in line as a hobby, but I define the things that I enjoy doing as hobby too: swimming or water sports in this regard is my drug that gets me high, can instantly get ride of my fever/pain/headache.  50-meter pool is my faved venue but have to make do with the junior size.  My best timing from a local meet in 1999 were 50 meter at 39.04 (the 2000 Olympics record was 24.32); 1,000 m at 17:47.47 and 500 m at 8:42.57, all in freestyle.  The half ironman that summer wasn’t too impressive: I found freestyle in the open water to be very difficult. Looking into the muddy water is scary,

Arriving New York armed with three badminton racquets but soon found out that tennis’ game in town. I almost pulled my arm when I first picked up a Prince: so heavy. I told myself that there’s no way I should, would and could stick to the sport. Should visit this thought often.

Woody Allen narrated a perfect metaphor in Match Point that there are moment in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second it can either go forward or fall back. With little luck, it goes forward and you win. Or maybe it doesn’t, and you lose.

02-24-2006 Whistler, the site of 2010 Winter Olympic. We watched the closing ceremony at Torino in a cafe. Ski has to be the most difficult sport I introduced my children to. Because if we didn’t stay at a ski-in/out resort, then I had to carry three sets of equipments. For a while King insisted that this was his favored sport. I didn’t fall much but I didn’t learn it well either. Hmmmmm…. no pain no gain.

It seems every Chinese can ride a bike (used to) but I learned in New York. Often wondered why there isn’t a Chinese Legstrong to win a Tour de France? Isn’t he handsome!? My most thrilling ride by far was the 30-mile Multiple Sclerosis ride around the isle of Manhattan.

10-28-1991 Schloss Mirabell at Salzburg. I enjoy opera as much as classic music which I picked it up in Beijing as a kid. One of the most memorable concerts I attended was at Salzburger Schlosskonzerte during Mozart’s bicentennial celebration. We rode bike there after dinner in Salzburg (Austria).

Obviously I love to travel too.