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.

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.