Sunday, March 25, 2007

我需要破冰船




明明要趕貨
卻寫了兩段就腦袋空空空空空~~
阿阿,破冰船快來把我結凍的腦子打碎吧!!!


about Chien-Ming Wang:right hamstring pull

前兩天老妹帶著她的「小犬」回來一泊好幾食,我這個助理褓姆兼管家也被小孩操得頗累。看來小外甥不用多久,就能增重到我抱不動的階段了(希望本人不至於抱小孩抱到腰椎骨折) ~_~!!!

放空了一整天才來上網,沒想到竟看到阿民在春訓尾聲遭遇右腿肌腱拉傷
,現在被列入傷兵名單的消息。原本看好他將在例行賽開幕戰擔任先發,變成因傷休養數週。雖說是輕微拉傷,但要到四月中、下旬才能再上場投球——可見肌肉拉傷不是休息一兩天就會好的,各位觀眾若在運動過後發現酸痛好幾天都沒改善,最好去看醫生,確認是否有肌肉拉傷的情形。

*Yahoo Sports/AP英文報導
03/24/2007 10:31 am EDT
Wang to start season on DL

*大聯盟/洋基官網英文報導
03/24/2007 10:32 AM ET
Wang to start season on disabled list
Right-hander out until late April with right hamstring injury

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

牽掛麵線

幫某機上雜誌(Mar~Apr)寫的文章。只是,三月都過了三分之二了,我還沒看到雜誌哩……

     ***     ***     ***     ***
憶中第一碗麵線是小學一年級過生日時母親特地煮的豬腳麵線,大大一碗不但看了就有點飽,而且麵線糾結亂纏,不善用筷的小朋友實在難以應付。父親對我拿筷的蠢樣極為不耐,很想破口大罵,母親為了緩解氣氛,說了麵線拉得越高越長,表示長壽的涵義。

那是我第一次知道麵線於飲食之外的意義,但生日中最精彩的永遠是唱歌吹蠟燭吃生日蛋糕的儀式,麵線逐漸被淡忘。隨著年歲漸增,生日儀式越來越簡略,很多時候甚至連生日都忘了。

即使對於生日吃麵線僅存印象,可吃豬腳麵線去霉運的習俗卻總記得,平常逛夜市也不免注意小吃攤的的大腸麵線、蚵仔麵線。尤其秋涼冬冷時節,熱呼呼冒著白煙的麵線真真切切就像「溫飽」二字,清甜的高湯、稠稠的紅麵線和鮮美的蚵仔,加上幾滴微酸的黑醋,簡樸卻也色香味俱全,不但暖胃,也暖了身心。

麵線雖是常見的台灣小吃,卻不能等閒視之。它可說是「平凡中的不平凡」--烹煮簡單快速,不需技巧也能輕鬆完成,相當方便。由於柔軟易咀嚼,適合小孩跟老人食用。麵線交織牽引,以筷挟食時拉高拉長,具有喜慶綿延無盡的象徵,因此成為祝壽、婚宴、過年時,桌上一定會出現的菜式。

麵線出現的場合如此多,跟麵線有關的台語俗諺也不少。像是形容做人沒誠意、裝模做樣或隨口說說的「用豆腐磕頭、用麵線吊投」(用麵線上吊的意思),比喻糾纏不清的「圓仔炒麵線」都十分生動有趣。年俗中提及的「初七麵線吃到飽」和童謠歌詞「七的蚵仔煮麵線」則顯示出它與生活的息息相關。

麵線在清朝時隨閩南先民傳入台灣。泉州、漳州的麵線在製作時加入米糠,福州派則沒有,因此前者會使湯頭較為黏稠,後者比較能維持湯頭清淡。由於泉、漳的麵線作法先傳入台灣、歷史較久,所以被稱為「本地麵線」,而福州作法的麵線就被叫做「福州麵線」。

手工麵線要經過搓、揉、捏、擠、壓、拉、甩……等製作程序,還要天然日曬,才能得到天地人合一的好風味。在崇尚傳統古法與精緻手工的今天,難得的手工麵線因此成為特色食品,如金門的馬家麵線就是觀光客心目中最實惠的紀念品兼伴手禮。白麵線蒸過後變成的紅麵線,雖然Q度略減,但更為耐煮,長時間加熱無損美味,最適合早昔因應農忙大鍋烹調之用。

作為主角的麵線工序繁複,身為靈魂的湯頭也馬虎不得,用雞骨、豬骨熬煮的大骨高湯是基礎,有些店家會再加柴魚、海帶或蝦米、魚乾增添鮮味。至於原本是加料的蚵仔跟大腸在強調「料多味美」的口號下,甚至比麵線還搶眼,雖有些喧賓奪主的嫌疑,卻成為許多食客判斷是否物超所值的基準。有趣的是,有店家也符合「多元化」趨勢,提供各種加料:蚵仔、大腸、肉羹、花枝、貢丸……都來一點,讓麵線看起來熱鬧豐盛。

儘管每個人在乎的「好料」不太一樣,然而麵線好吃的最後關鍵在於最後畫龍點睛的醬料卻是一致共識。黑醋或蒜泥醬油、蒜酥是許多人心目中的「王道」,吃到一半再加點辣椒醬換個口味更是完美句點。而醬料也是麵線店家的獨門絕招,每家都強調「自製」、「秘方」,讓吃上癮的人每每非此不吃、成為忠實主顧。

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

小外甥第一次週年慶

妹夫在兩週前曾眉飛色舞說著寶貝兒子的慶生計畫
到頭來沒吹蠟燭也沒吃蛋糕

小外甥的生日那天大致是這樣過的:
早上睡到11點多起來
喝奶玩耍混到2:00pm累了午睡
睡到4:30pm又起來喝奶
然後被媽媽帶出門到百貨公司跟阿姨【 i.e. 小學生tess我本人啦】、外婆逛街

晚餐時間在餐廳極不安分
不肯好好坐著,拼命想爬出兒童餐椅
老是對著服務生姐姐和廚師哥哥擠眉弄眼
尤其有女生經過必定對人家多看幾眼,甚至呼喊兩聲吸引人家注意

為了讓媽媽專心吃飯
外婆指示阿姨抱他出去巡視
覺得電扶梯會動很有意思,光是用手摸著電扶梯扶手就頗開心的
不過更棒的是有機會在賣場小小散步、伸手拿這拿那
只可惜媽媽跟阿姨常常把拿到的東西搶走

逛街完坐上計程車就睡著
睡醒怎麼在個不認識的地方
幸好媽媽說是到外婆家啦
賴床一下還是起來喝奶,就有精神繼續玩到半夜一點爸爸接回家
啊,生日就這樣過了……

Sunday, March 04, 2007

about Chien-Ming Wang:春訓熱身賽英文報導.下

過完年我的生理時鐘突然跳到「正常人模式」,所以那天半夜雖然設定鬧鐘,卻仍爬不起來看阿民熱身賽的現場轉播;重播也不巧都沒看到阿民投球。只能在此留下些許文章紀錄……這篇報導最有趣的部分是文末提及阿民賽後被台灣媒體包圍訪問的描寫。

今天凌晨我決定設法撐到看郭泓志上場,還看到胡金龍第一輪打擊--可惜郭表現不太穩定,胡猛力揮棒造成雙殺打(+_+)。

Perfection isn't great for Yankees' Wang
By PETER ABRAHAM
Original publication: March 2, 2007/THE JOURNAL NEWS

TAMPA, Fla. - Chien-Ming Wang faced six batters yesterday when the Yankees opened the exhibition season against the Minnesota Twins.

Five of the Twins grounded out, and one lined to left. Wang threw only 19 pitches and left the mound to loud cheers from the sellout crowd at Legends Field.

Great start to the season, right?

"No, my pitches were up," Wang said after the Yankees finished off a 6-1 victory. "It was just one game in the spring. No problem. But I need to do better."

It's hard to better perfection or the 19-6 record Wang had last season when he finished second in the Cy Young Award voting in the American League. But the 26-year-old is determined to find a way.

Wang made commercials for McDonald's, Nike and other companies during the offseason in his native Taiwan, more than doubling what he will earn playing baseball this season. But he broke away in January and spent a month in Arizona with a personal trainer.

He reported to Tampa with stronger legs and better defined abdominal muscles. Wang hopes his increased level of fitness will help him get through the summer.

"I got tired in some games last season," he said. "I want to change that."

Manager Joe Torre has been around Wang enough to know that his accomplishments of a year ago won't change the pitcher who has become his ace.

"He's got such a great way about him, especially for being in New York and having the success he had," Torre said. "He just looks like it as it's his job."

Catcher Jorge Posada stayed on Wang yesterday to tighten up his arm angle and put more sinking motion on his fastball. But even though his pitches were up, the Twins couldn't do much with them.

"That's what the sinker will do for you," Posada said. "But he missed a few times."

With two outs in the second, Wang wanted to bury a fastball against Jason Kubel. The ball floated, however, and Kubel was able to line it to left. But Hideki Matsui was there to make the catch.

"(Wang) wasn't happy with himself. But he had good stuff," Torre said. "He spoils you so much with how efficient he is. So if he misses by a little bit, he feels he's not right. But I was pleased."

Wang wants to incorporate his slider and changeup more often this season to keep hitters from focusing on his sinker. Posada is stressing game preparation, telling Wang to spend more time studying opposing hitters.

Can Wang be even better than he was last season? It's hard for Torre to imagine.

"I don't know if he can pitch better than that. I can't say if he struck out more people (he'd be better), but that's not his game," the manager said. "As far as I was concerned, I felt he was pretty consistent all year. He'll get better through experience but as far as his physical abilities, he's got a pretty good grip."

Wang's newfound status brings with it additional responsibilities, including answering questions from a growing number of reporters from Taiwanese media outlets. Playful with teammates and friends, he is introverted in interviews. But he's working on that, too.

"I know people in Taiwan are watching," he said. "I am proud of that. It's important for baseball in Taiwan."

It's equally as important for the Yankees.

"That guy can be special," Posada said. "He was great for us last season and he could get better if he does the work. He has all the tools."

about Chien-Ming Wang:春訓熱身賽英文報導.上

大聯盟洋基官網的文章好像不會有過期消失之虞,所以只放連結。

*03/01/2007 7:04 PM ET
Notes: Wang has work yet to do
Despite perfect stat line, righty admits to being rusty
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

*03/01/2007 4:00 PM ET
Wang, bats pace Yanks in opener
Damon's leadoff homer gets offense rolling in first spring game
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

02/28/2007 8:27 PM ET
Wang quietly going about his business
Right-hander flying under radar of busy Yankees spring camp
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com