Laptop Crash: 7/23/25

To me, surviving each and every iPhone/Laptop crash feels like being reborn - as if I just came back from death! Each time, I am reminded of what’s most important. I usually come back with a renewed focus, a clear priority, an intense level of discipline to back up everything systematically - OFTEN!!

My laptop Leno died on 7/23/25, out of the blue!! Thanks to a good friend of mine, who has been in the computer hardware business for nearly three decades and was able to give me the last chance to back up my important files. Yeah, Leno was basically being resuscitated, put on a ventilator, undergone a series of surgeries, and finally, came back to life - for a very brief moment…

At that moment, it felt like I came back to life too. 

When you realize that your time is limited, you suddenly, truly understand your “priority.”

I just hope I can maintain this level of clarity - even in good times, when there is no crash, no drama…

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Dr. Michelle!

Here is a clip covering your footsteps from the past 35 years – Wow, what a journey!! Thank you for taking us with you on this incredible ride – it’s been FUN!

 

Found a little note you wrote at 12 – so precious to look back on the imaginary tale, and thank goodness you landed so close to Coronado Island, California.

 

“…In her free time, Michelle likes to shop, listen to music and read. She also enjoys figure skating and playing various instruments. “I like to do things that keep me upbeat during the day, and I write at night when it’s quiet and I can see stars.” She also loves to travel and often visits Mackinac Island, Michigan.

 

She now lives in Las Vegas with her two dogs, Puppy and Founder, working as a lawyer. She owns a beach house on Coronado Island, California and a ranch in Dallas, Texas.”

 

Love,

Mom

 

 

The Rubik's Cube

When I was in China back in February, my cousin's 10-yr old grandson Li gave me a 3x3 Rubik's cube as a gift. It was lined up so perfectly for all 6 sides and was placed in a fancy plastic box.

Little Li is one of the top cube players in his elementary school. He used his cube to show me all the patterns and moves - so elegant and smooth; so fast and incomprehensible... Apparently, all these patterns and moves need to be memorized. I showed real interest while watching his quick hand moves, asked adequate questions, and promised to study it when I have time.

It's been 56 days since I got back home. Today, I made time to study the cube. I considered it as a great opportunity to CHALLENGE myself; to beef up my "declining" learning capabilities; and to start a new memory exercise. Wow, it took me over 3 hours to learn from scratch, and finally, I MADE it!!

My goal is to practice it often; fully memorize all correct moves; and improve speed. Once I can master all above, I'll record my performance and send it back to little Li, my cube teacher -:))  

 

 

Greenland

Wow, for so many years traveling to so many places, I've never felt that planning a trip can be so unbearably difficult.

Greenland has been on top of my travel list for MANY years. No, I'm not looking for a cruse-ship trip circling along the shorelines. I wanted to stay on the island and take the small vassal out at night to Disko Bay - the pure arctic - to photograph the biggest icebergs in the world under the midnight sun... Just imagine that!! And - if needed - the attached photos can help you imagine.

My first planned trip to Greenland for 7/2020 was cancelled on 4/19/2020 due to the global pandemic. I posted attachment 1 on my Facebook to document the heartbreaking event.

Since 2020, I have been searching for photography groups that can organize similar type of trips with the same amazing scenery. After exploring all possible itineraries of National Geographic expeditions (my only other unwilling option), I decided to go with the group that can take us on a small vassal to see the BIG icebergs!!

The exciting trip is in early August 2025, and I booked it in 2024! Guess what happened this time? There are no tickets for my scheduled arrival and departure dates. In addition, the hotel accommodations are very limited outside of the group travel dates. Wow, what a bummer!!

After countless struggles with a different combination of less desirable traveling schedules, finally, today, 4/19/2025, I cancelled my 2nd Greenland trip. At this point, I don't know if I still have the courage to say: "Some day, Greenland, some day, I will go visit you!" Maybe I do need to downgrade my dream trip to a Greenland expedition by National Geographic.

Let There Be Snow, Japan

Yamagata, Japan

February, 2025

Red-crowned Crane - Hokkaido, Japan

The Japanese 丹顶鹤 (Tanchōzuru, 丹顶鶴), also known as the Red-crowned Crane, is a symbol of longevity, good fortune, and fidelity in Japanese culture. The Red-crowned cranes are native to Hokkaido, Japan, and can also be found in parts of northeastern China, Russia, and the Korean Peninsula.

In winter, many cranes gather at feeding grounds in Kushiro Wetland on Hokkaido, Japan, providing a spectacular view for bird watchers.

February 19-20, 2025

Hokkaido, Japan

 

Bear Blockade at Yellowstone: 3/24/2025

This is how humanity will be fooled by AI...

Bears Form Unprecedented Blockade at Yellowstone Entrance—Scientists Fear They Know Something We Don’t.

Yellowstone National Park – Tourists hoping to take in the breathtaking landscapes and geothermal wonders of Yellowstone were met with an unexpected natural phenomenon Monday morning: an impenetrable wall of bears. Hundreds—possibly thousands—of grizzly and black bears have gathered at the park’s entrances, blocking all roads and refusing to budge, causing traffic delays, camper evacuations, and an existential crisis among park rangers.

“We’ve seen bears near the gates before, but never like this,” said Yellowstone wildlife biologist Dr. Henry Clawson, watching nervously from a safe distance. “It’s almost as if they’re organizing. And that’s… deeply unsettling.”

The bears, appearing well-fed and unusually calm, have reportedly been standing shoulder to shoulder, occasionally exchanging nods and guttural grunts. Some are even holding up crude wooden signs that, while unreadable, have fueled concerns that bears may now be literate.

Scientists are scrambling to understand the cause of the gathering, with theories ranging from early hibernation confusion to Yellowstone finally becoming the first national park to unionize under bear leadership. However, the most chilling hypothesis is that the bears sense an impending event—one that human scientists have failed to detect.

“What if they’re trying to keep us out for a reason?” whispered park ranger Doug McAllister, staring wide-eyed at the bear barricade. “What do they know that we don’t?”

Adding to the tension, reports are surfacing of elk, moose, and even wolves retreating from the park’s interior at an alarming rate. Conspiracy theorists have already begun speculating about everything from an imminent super-volcano eruption to a long-overdue bison uprising.

For now, Yellowstone remains inaccessible, with local authorities unsure of how to proceed. Some have suggested negotiating with the bears, but others fear such talks could lead to the realization that humanity is, in fact, not at the top of the food chain.

Until more is known, scientists are urging the public to remain calm, avoid feeding the bears, and “maybe just… not go to Yellowstone for a bit.”

 

March 24, 2025

Yellowstone, MT