Dec 22nd. It's been a while since my last posting - the longest I've been away from the blogosphere. But as of today, I'm in my 30's, and it's time to usher in a new era. Well, the new era isn't all that different from the old.
It's been an up and down year. I stayed away from writing during the loss of my mother - although anyone who's kept up with my siblings' blogs would have gotten some updates on that. I spent a couple of months back in Vancouver, working from home and helping where I could with whatever needed to be done. My brother got married.
Anyway, I don't want to try to summarize the last 9-10 months here. Just wanted to say that I'm back (online).
The last few days have been enjoyable, having celebrated Christmas and my birthday with girlfriend, relatives, friends, and coworkers.
Minor significant changes include moving into a larger bachelor suite with a kitchen, working now as a Technical Marketer at the same company, and buying a new digital camera (Panasonic LX3). Doesn't sound like much, I know.
2009's going to be a tough year, but there's no doubt we will find little ways to make us smile. So, let's keep smiling, shall we?
December 23, 2008
February 19, 2008
Going, going back, back to Cali, Cali
Arrived in California today. I've got a conference/exhibition to attend tomorrow.
My luggage for this short 4-day trip includes an oversized pop-up booth. The pop-up booth's travel case measures L + W + H = 209 cm, exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 203cm. So, if Eva Air wanted to make a fuss, they could penalize me the cost of 3 luggage pieces (> $300 CAD). Fortunately, while they noticed it was big, they didn't bother measuring its dimensions. Although I got quite a few looks as a wheeled around that massive luggage.
Hint to those taking long-haul flights... request that you don't get seated in the first few rows behind the "baby row" (where the young parents with their crying babies are seated). I was behind a row of 3 babies. 3 babies do a lot of crying over a 10 hour flight. Fortunately, I had the foresight to bring my earplugs, so I wasn't annoyed by them nearly as much as the people around me, I bet.
After landing at SFO, I rented a car and drove to Fremont, CA. Chevy Impala. Big car, big trunk - perfect for my oversized luggage. Checked into my Holiday Inn - got a big room with a kitchen. Drove around the surrounding area, just to see what's around. It looks like Langley - with all the outlet type stores.
I had a Wendy's chicken club burger... just because I haven't had Wendy's in a long time, and because it was just around the corner from my hotel. But what's funny is that the guy behind me (in our two-person queue) ordered his meal in Spanish. Because he, and all the people behind the Wendy's counter were Hispanic. Not sure if I should be surprised.
Anyway, a pretty normal work day tomorrow. Driving down to San Jose after lunch for the conference. 3 hours on Wednesday, 3 hours on Thursday. Pretty short, and guaranteed to be uneventful.
My luggage for this short 4-day trip includes an oversized pop-up booth. The pop-up booth's travel case measures L + W + H = 209 cm, exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 203cm. So, if Eva Air wanted to make a fuss, they could penalize me the cost of 3 luggage pieces (> $300 CAD). Fortunately, while they noticed it was big, they didn't bother measuring its dimensions. Although I got quite a few looks as a wheeled around that massive luggage.
Hint to those taking long-haul flights... request that you don't get seated in the first few rows behind the "baby row" (where the young parents with their crying babies are seated). I was behind a row of 3 babies. 3 babies do a lot of crying over a 10 hour flight. Fortunately, I had the foresight to bring my earplugs, so I wasn't annoyed by them nearly as much as the people around me, I bet.
After landing at SFO, I rented a car and drove to Fremont, CA. Chevy Impala. Big car, big trunk - perfect for my oversized luggage. Checked into my Holiday Inn - got a big room with a kitchen. Drove around the surrounding area, just to see what's around. It looks like Langley - with all the outlet type stores.
I had a Wendy's chicken club burger... just because I haven't had Wendy's in a long time, and because it was just around the corner from my hotel. But what's funny is that the guy behind me (in our two-person queue) ordered his meal in Spanish. Because he, and all the people behind the Wendy's counter were Hispanic. Not sure if I should be surprised.
Anyway, a pretty normal work day tomorrow. Driving down to San Jose after lunch for the conference. 3 hours on Wednesday, 3 hours on Thursday. Pretty short, and guaranteed to be uneventful.
February 12, 2008
Happy Chinese New Year~!
恭喜發財!
Happy Chinese New Year!
First off, I'm typing this blog wearing fleece gloves because it's just so dang cold here in Hsinbchu. So, ther may bre spelloing mistgakesa, and theyt're not intentional./ But just to prove to anyone who suspects that it's esay to type with glooves on, that it's not.
It's a mere 17 dewgrees here in my office - pretty darned cold. Everyone's wearing their jackets or extra layers as we bare the cold wind current coming from China.
To pass the Chinese New Year holidays, I was with my sister and university frioend BC (visiting from Tokyo) on the East coast of Taiwan - Hualien County in particular. It was warmner out there/.
Just wanted to sayt Happy CNY. I'll post abouyt my holidfay travels. They aren't that interesting anyway.
Happy Chinese New Year!
First off, I'm typing this blog wearing fleece gloves because it's just so dang cold here in Hsinbchu. So, ther may bre spelloing mistgakesa, and theyt're not intentional./ But just to prove to anyone who suspects that it's esay to type with glooves on, that it's not.
It's a mere 17 dewgrees here in my office - pretty darned cold. Everyone's wearing their jackets or extra layers as we bare the cold wind current coming from China.
To pass the Chinese New Year holidays, I was with my sister and university frioend BC (visiting from Tokyo) on the East coast of Taiwan - Hualien County in particular. It was warmner out there/.
Just wanted to sayt Happy CNY. I'll post abouyt my holidfay travels. They aren't that interesting anyway.
January 20, 2008
Cuts
(Last, last Thursday's news)
I knocked over an empty glass and it shattered on my desk and onto the office carpet. When I picked up the bottom half of the cup (laying on its side), the weight of the base turned the cup in my hand, slicing a 1.5cm cut into my palm with its jagged top edge. My first thought was "F**k, how am I going to play in the foosball tournament this weekend?"
Went to the hospital emergency room, and lay down on a bed with my arm straight outwards ready to get stitched. I told the doctor "Can I raise my head to watch (you stitch my wound?" He replied, "Sure, if you want." I put my head down while the anesthetic was injected, wincing at the pain. Then the doctor lightly wiped my wound and asked me if it hurt. I said it did just a little. Then he starts rubbing it really hard, wiping it clean. And with the way he ruthlessly rubbed back and forth, I said "Uhh... I don't think I want to look any more."
It took about 5 minutes to give me 3 stitches, as seen in the photograph.
---
That Saturday, I still played in the annual Taiwan Foosball Tournament. Unfortunately, I couldn't really play to win, so I played to have fun and be a part of the event. I know a good number of foosball players in Taiwan (at least from Taipei, Hsinchu, and Taichung).
After a week of showering with my hand raised in a plastic bag, and bi-daily cleaning and dressing my cut, I had the stitches removed on Friday. I'm still showering with my hand in a plastic bag, but I don't really need to. I just want the wound to be more or less completely healed before I subject it to water. Should need just a couple more days.
End of update. Go out and play now.
I knocked over an empty glass and it shattered on my desk and onto the office carpet. When I picked up the bottom half of the cup (laying on its side), the weight of the base turned the cup in my hand, slicing a 1.5cm cut into my palm with its jagged top edge. My first thought was "F**k, how am I going to play in the foosball tournament this weekend?"
Went to the hospital emergency room, and lay down on a bed with my arm straight outwards ready to get stitched. I told the doctor "Can I raise my head to watch (you stitch my wound?" He replied, "Sure, if you want." I put my head down while the anesthetic was injected, wincing at the pain. Then the doctor lightly wiped my wound and asked me if it hurt. I said it did just a little. Then he starts rubbing it really hard, wiping it clean. And with the way he ruthlessly rubbed back and forth, I said "Uhh... I don't think I want to look any more."
It took about 5 minutes to give me 3 stitches, as seen in the photograph.
---
That Saturday, I still played in the annual Taiwan Foosball Tournament. Unfortunately, I couldn't really play to win, so I played to have fun and be a part of the event. I know a good number of foosball players in Taiwan (at least from Taipei, Hsinchu, and Taichung).
After a week of showering with my hand raised in a plastic bag, and bi-daily cleaning and dressing my cut, I had the stitches removed on Friday. I'm still showering with my hand in a plastic bag, but I don't really need to. I just want the wound to be more or less completely healed before I subject it to water. Should need just a couple more days.
End of update. Go out and play now.
January 18, 2008
Absent what?
I just put on a sock, and then I was looking left, right, and around me for the other sock. Then I found it... on my other foot.
I haven't blogged in a while, have been busy. I hope everyone's doing well out there. I'll try to blog a little more when I find the time.
I haven't blogged in a while, have been busy. I hope everyone's doing well out there. I'll try to blog a little more when I find the time.
January 02, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!
Wow, would you believe I haven't posted anything here for more than I month? It's been a busy time, and I guess there just hasn't been too much to post.
I hope everyone's had a great holiday season, and I'm sure you're all dreading going back to work. Fortunately, I don't share those feelings, because we don't take breaks here during the Christmas/New Year's holidays. Ok, not true. We had Jan 1 off.
My New Years was spent having a late hot pot, going to Taipei's City Hall to see the fireworks (watching the Taipei 101 fireworks, that is), and playing MJ until past 4am.
Since I couldn't be with everyone back home (nor everyone here in Taipei) to bring in the new year, let's do the countdown together right here, right now.
10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
[kiss kiss kiss] [drink drink drink]
I hope everyone's had a great holiday season, and I'm sure you're all dreading going back to work. Fortunately, I don't share those feelings, because we don't take breaks here during the Christmas/New Year's holidays. Ok, not true. We had Jan 1 off.
My New Years was spent having a late hot pot, going to Taipei's City Hall to see the fireworks (watching the Taipei 101 fireworks, that is), and playing MJ until past 4am.
Since I couldn't be with everyone back home (nor everyone here in Taipei) to bring in the new year, let's do the countdown together right here, right now.
10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
[kiss kiss kiss] [drink drink drink]
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