Though this book wasn’t as relevant to my dissertation as I hoped, it was still an interesting read. It got be started on understanding the economic and social sides of sustainability. While reading the book, I couldn’t stop imagining myself pursuing a career in sustainable design.
According to the lunar calendar, today is the day to do cleanups before the Chinese New Year. Spent much of my afternoon pruning my plants, tending my aquarium, and dusting and sweeping my studio. It’s been awhile since my desk is this organized.
Since my uncle’s surgery last week, I started noticing the unceasing worried look on my father’s face. I’m usually not too observant towards my family’s looks or expressions, but the dark cloud around my father is too overwhelming to go unnoticed this time.
Dear Lord, please continue to heal my uncle. Have mercy on his soul and give him one more chance to reconcile with You.
I want to investigate whether high-density cities can be sustainable through proper design/planning, so <<Cities and the Environment>> seemed relevant. However, much of the papers included were emphasizing the political and economical factors, and sustainability was only vaguely mentioned.
So, I just skimmed through the book.
My father tagged me along to see my uncle at the hospital last night. My uncle’s cancerous cells had come back after operation a few years ago. There was nothing I could do other than quietly stand in the hospital room listening to my father’s brotherly conversation with my uncle.
The timely scheduled surgery started in the afternoon, I don’t remember ever seeing my father this worried waiting for the phone call. Thankful that my aunt finally called in the evening notifying him the completion of the operation, otherwise I don’t think my father will be able to sleep tonight.
I pray that the operation was a successful one, and that God would have mercy on my uncle and give him another chance.
Spent my day reading a short book to whet my appetite for a potentially long reading/writing period on my dissertation. Kind of enjoy this initial researching phase in which there are more questions than answers.
The past week was rather sluggish. Other than borrowing some books and going to a couple of lectures and a workshop, I had done nothing academically! Now that I’ve put aside all my freelance work and claimed myself to be a “full-time” student, I feel guilty to be wasting time like this.
Really need to pull myself together and start working on my dissertation full-time next week!
Bought a batch of 40+ tiny neon tetras on my way back home yesterday. A couple of them died, but the rest seems rather jolly in my small aquarium (rather big from the fish’s perspective). The tank seems so much more vibrant and interesting with these new inhabitants!
Went to see an exhibition on the Marvellous Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci at the Science Museum. MARVELLOUS indeed! A scientist, engineer, inventor, anatomist, architect, and also an exceptional artist, I cannot think of anyone as diversely talented as Leonardo da Vinci! I’m most impressed by his sketches and prototypes to experiment with new ideas.
My urge to rent a rundown industrial unit to start a small business grew stronger after this visit. I really want a place where I can research, design, and experiment with ideas and/or products. Kind of like a lab, but less formal. I want to create things that are good for the environment, so the more successful the business becomes, the more beneficial to the environment…
Decided to change my dissertation topic to one that I felt more interested to investigate, glad that it was approved today. I hope to find out how high-density cities fair in the many facets of sustainability. Lots to reading and writing in the coming months…
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