Cooling down / 沉澱

在所有起起伏伏的情緒告一段落之後，我試著拿起畫筆，很久沒有創作的心是忐忑的，果然，坐在椅子上沒多久，我開始嫌惡眼前的線條和顏色，怎麼看都不順眼，甚至開始懷疑整個想法是不是很愚蠢。

我的心還是太滿，它說，讓它再喘息一下吧！我也要學著放慢腳步，拾回原來的流暢‧‧‧

After all the ups and downs, I picked up my brushes again. Having taken a long lapse from painting, I was anxious. As I expected, I couldn't help finding fault with my lines and colors after sitting on the chair for a short while. I even started to doubt the whole idea.

My heart is still crowded with too many trivial thoughts. It says, "Let me breathe..." I have to learn how to slow down and retrieve my long-lost calm...

Postcard from my heart / 來自心底的明信片

圖攝於威尼斯

本來只是想默默地過完這一年，想不到，光是年尾的倒數兩個星期，我的生活像搭雲霄飛車一樣，忽高忽低，有失望有希望；本來也想安靜地從部落格消失一陣子，可是朋友們的問候接踵而至，我想寄出一張來自心底的明信片。

這幾個月在工作上有種迎面襲擊的無力感，好強如我，好像擋也擋不住這樣的挑戰，常常忙到必須犧牲創作的時間，偏偏又好運到不停地得到鼓勵，雖然今年沒有得到部落格生命紀錄類的大獎，不過被列為推薦優格，我已經夠開心了。人生嘛！總是有得有失，而且我得到的總是比失去多出許多。

據說今年我流年不利，但是我要用像圖中那樣的陽光走進下一年，謝謝你一直陪在我身旁，這樣，就夠了。

Picture taken in Venice

I planned to finish the year 2006 quietly. However, life turned out to be extremely dramatic even during the last two weeks this year. It was like a roller coaster ride, full of disappointment and hope. I also planned to remain silent in the blogsphere, but friends kept sending warm messages. I'd like to mail you a postcard from my heart.

In the past few months, I've been overwhelmed with strong feeling of helplessness at work. Firm-minded and optimistic as I am, it is unbelievable that I feel like surrendering sometimes. I sacrifice much time for painting this semester, but in the meanwhile, I am constantly encouraged in this area. I didn't win the first place for the blog contest, but my little room was chosen as one of the recommended blogs. That is more than enough for me. Well, in life, we all win some and lose some. What I win far outweighs what I lose.

I am said to have a bad year, according to the lot my parents drew in the temple. However, I am determined to go into next year with the sunshine in the postcard above. Thank you for always being there. For me, that is more than enough...

Hormone 12 / 荷爾蒙 12

"Give me some more hormone..."

"Where am I now?"

"I am so exhausted..."

"I can't go on anymore..."

Maybe it was because that everything went on too smoothly. I turned around and around with the heroine in the "Hormone" series, and then I suddenly felt dizzy. Before I knew it, I fell out of my story into the real life, from October, 2006 to the present moment. And I didn't know how to go back! I'd been racking my brain wondering how to end this story, which comes to its ending way earlier than expected. Before I found the answer, a cold and fatigue and helplessness came to knock at my door, requesting for a year-end party with me. Meanwhile, fans kept reminding me, "Hey, I follow up your story all the time..." So this is the most realistic ending I can think of. After all, we do not often hear comic artists say, "My inspiration is so dry..."

Since I am afraid that my brain might be as empty as a dried well by the time 2006 ends, I want to leave a short message for those who never cease to visit my little room. This has been a fantastic year in many senses. I've tried various sorts of challenges and made so much progress artistically speaking. Best of all, I am so loved and touched by all of you. I know you might laugh at me for wanting to say out loud my new year resolution, but go ahead and laugh. I still want to say it. I've had so much, but I still don't make enough efforts. I want to live my life with more passion and enthusiasm in the coming year. Before I set out for it, I have to wish myself some good luck. Of course, I do not forget to prepare tons for you.

Thank you all so much, and see you there my dear...

Hormone 11 / 荷爾蒙 11

Miss Hormone flew on cloud nine, and I danced day and night. "Hey look! What happened?" "It seems that we are landing...on the ground!" "Where is our Mr. Right?" "I ain't see him..."

Hormone 10 / 荷爾蒙 10

So I was in seventh heaven again. No more pain in the ass. I became a slim lass. I was so full of love that students were terribly scared. "Students, any question?"--the magnified picture of my love-filled eyes.

Hormone 9 / 荷爾蒙 9

During the date, I acted as if...I didn't know who I was. I was practically all over the guy.

"I was reborn!" Oh, so it was Miss Hormone!

Hormone 8 / 荷爾蒙 8

My passive attitude came near to freaking out my mama. She decided to put not only her nose but also her hands and feet into my love hunt. Oh, that was my dear blind date book! However, because of my age and self-dignity, there were never many entries. "Big son of the Chen family/ engineer/33 yrs old/ 170 cm, 55 kg" It looked like we were blessed with a superb candidate for my future love! Even Miss Hormone couldn't help exclaiming, "What a fantabulous opportunity!"