bits and pieces

Just some personal updates I want to share. I didn't feel like making a separate post for each of those events, so here they are:

Level 120 Herblore in RuneScape

I'll start by saying I got level 120 Herblore in RuneScape on the 4th. I now only have three more 120's left before I have all the skill levels needed for the completionist cape. Jagex does plan to increase the other skills to 120 in the future, but that is expected to take several years.

I'm planning to get 120 Archaeology next as I have less than one million XP to go. However, that will have to wait because the membership on this account expires in like an hour or so. It'll probably be a while before I resubscribe as I'm going to be busy preparing for graduate school in the next one or two months.

A literal trip down the memory lane

Dad decided to take us to Sanborn County Park on the 7th as we realized we had never been there in all the years we've lived in the Bay Area. Even though we didn't stay here for long as it was a bit hot outside, this was nice for a change. It's always fun to explore new places. However, one highlight of this day trip is it brought back childhood memories.

For one, our route took us through the area in Cupertino where my late maternal grandparents used to live. Mom and I would always stop by their house after my horseback riding lessons on Saturdays, and I'd spend the afternoon watching cartoons. I certainly still miss my grandparents from time to time. It's hard to believe they've been gone for over 15 years.

I should mention our old family friends, the Liangs, lived fairly close to my grandparents in Cupertino. It's been a long time since our families have gotten together as we had gradually lost contact over the years. I don't think I've seen Stacey in person since 2010, and Emily since the year before. It's apparently quite common for adults to grow apart from childhood friends. :-(

Of note is Sanborn County Park is located close to Walden West and and Via West — the latter formerly known as Camp Costonoan. Walden West was very popular among my old classmates at Springer. I didn't attend Walden West but did go to Camp Costonoan in sixth grade. On the whole, this day definitely brought back some childhood memories.

A few shots

I mentioned a few times that I'll be taking courses at UC Santa Cruz later this year. Due to the university's immunization requirements, there were a few shots I needed to get before I could register for classes. I first got the updated COVID-19 vaccine on the 14th. The side effects didn't become apparent until the evening and lasted all of Sunday. However, everything was back to normal by the 16th.

The university also requires two doses of the MMR vaccine. We looked through all my medical records and could only find evidence of one dose, so I had to get the second dose on the 17th. It wasn't without side effects as my arm became pretty sore afterwards. However, that went away after a few hours. I still have to get two chickenpox shots — one for July and another in August — so hopefully those go without issues.

On a related note, I'll be moving to Santa Cruz in less than two weeks. It's both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time!

Currently listening to: "War" by Edwin Starr

first time at a restaurant since COVID-19

It has been another awesome weekend as we visited a "new" state park and went out to lunch for the first time in three years!

Dad took us to Mount Diablo State Park on Saturday as it is famous for its wildflowers. Mom says we've been here before, but that was so long ago that I can't even remember. Of note is that the road leading to the park is windy and doesn't have guardrails. It was quite a scary drive.

We arrived at the park to find that the area with the wildflowers was closed this season due to storm damage. It was also quite windy and chilly outside. The three of us decided not to go hiking and left after lunch in the car. As much as I hate to say this, Mount Diablo State Park wasn't as fun as we expected.

However, the highlight of the weekend was we got to eat at a restaurant for the first time in over three years. Our family friend Linda had recently moved to a gated community called Rossmoor and had invited us and the Hsuehs to visit her. Our group met at a restaurant there called Creekside Grille. The food was delicious and wasn't too expensive. Considering that we hadn't been to a restaurant since the pandemic, this was quite a refreshing experience.

All of us then headed to Linda's new home. Linda had bought a blueberry pie from Fatapple's to share. It was so good that some of us had two slices. I mostly played RuneScape on my laptop afterwards as there was no one else my age, but that didn't make the gathering any less enjoyable. :-)

Currently listening to: "Here and Now" by Steps

a visit from afar

It has been pretty exciting this week as we invited my mom's friend Rong-Rong and her husband David to stay at our house for two nights. For those unaware, my mom is a member of a women writers association and became acquainted with Rong-Rong through the group. Although they kept in touch on Line, this was their first time meeting in person because Rong-Rong lives in Spokane.

Because the Lovelesses are passing through the Bay Area while en route to a wedding in Los Angeles, the couple asked to crash at our place. Mom had been looking forward to meeting Rong-Rong and was thrilled to host them.

I had to sleep in the master bedroom because we let the Lovelesses use my room. Giving them the master bedroom would have been the most convenient for everyone, but this is said to bring bad luck in some traditions. On the bright side, Rong-Rong gave me three bags of chocolate for my troubles. :-)

An impromptu party — our first in almost three years

We also treated the Lovelesses to a nice dinner yesterday. Rong-Rong also wanted to invite her friend Hong-Yeh over because they had known each other for some time. Mom was more than happy to oblige. Both the Lovelesses and Hong-Yeh also brought food to share. It's been a while since we had a party like this!

Another highlight is that my aunt Cynthia also stopped by our house. She had come to drop off a gift as Rong-Rong had done a big favor for her a while ago. Cynthia had other errands and couldn't stay for more than a few minutes, but at least I enjoyed hearing about her and Cathy's recent trip to Europe. Given that the pandemic has limited our opportunities to get together, this was nice for a change.

I was admittedly a little nervous because the pandemic isn't really over. COVID-19 numbers have actually gone up in the past several days. However, the "good" news is that Omicron and BA.2 have shorter incubation periods. I should be fine as long as I don't get sick after a few days or so.

In any case, let's hope the pandemic will finally end this year. I'd definitely love to have some "proper" gatherings without fear of catching the virus!

Currently listening to: "American Pie" by Don McLean

third time's the charm

I just got my booster shot at our local Safeway store. Let's hope that's the last one we'll ever need for this pandemic. Although there were several people in line, the process was pretty quick compared to getting my first and second shots. Another nice thing is that Safeway gave us a 10% discount for our next purchase. It should certainly come in handy because we go to Safeway all the time. :-)

Because it's only half of a normal dose, the side effects should be less severe. However, some people have reported the opposite. For example, my boss said he didn't feel well for a few after getting his booster. Let's hope that's not the case for me!

January 6 update: I felt a bit lethargic yesterday due to the side effects. However, the good news is that I'm feeling a lot better now after a good night's sleep.

Currently listening to: Rondo alla Turca by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

a hopeful start to 2022

Hope everyone had an awesome New Year's Eve. Due to the pandemic, things had mostly remained the same. We only left the house for essential reasons and didn't have anyone over. However, the holiday season has been pretty great so far. I actually still have a few more days to relax because we don't return to the office until the 4th. :-)

2021 in review

It seems 2021 was marginally better than 2020 at first glance. Life had been returning to normal now that vaccines are widely available. One highlight is we got to meet up with the Hsuehs last summer. But all changed when the Delta variant showed up. We're currently still in the middle of another surge.

To me, the worst thing that happened was when Dad hurt himself after falling from a ladder. Gardening isn't all fun and games as some make it out to be. We insisted that he go to the hospital to make sure he was fine. The good news is that the doctor said he had no serious injuries. I was definitely a little worried for a days.

On the flip side, the best thing about 2021 was getting my current job at Energous. It's no secret that Energous is going through growing pains. However, the company and its products seem to have great potential. We're actually going to be at CES 2022 in Las Vegas. Of course, the benefits are nice too. I can't complain about all the free lunches and snacks. :D

An optimistic 2022

One thing for sure is that 2022 has much to look forward to. According to some predictions, the pandemic will finally end this year. Let's hope there won't be more variants. Life has not been normal for almost two years. It's time to put this damn pandemic behind us.

For those curious, my New Year's resolutions are to kick some bad habits and get up to speed on the piano. Here's to a happy 2022 and a bright future!

Currently listening to: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 871 by J. S. Bach

first day at Energous

I just started working at Energous Corporation as a senior software QA engineer. Energous is a company based in San Jose that focuses on wireless power transfer. I'll be responsible for develop test plans and test automation for their wireless power systems.

Our receptionist Allison gave me some papers to sign when I showewd up. She then gave me a tour of the office before leading me to my cubicle. I took a few minutes to log into my laptop and make sure the e-mail works. On a related note, the laptop is a high-end mobile workstation with an octo-core Intel Core-i9 processor, 32 MB of memory and an Nvidia Quadro T2000 GPU. It's certainly comparable to the gaming laptop I got last September.

A short time later, my boss showed me around the labs and introduced me to my co-workers. Everyone was friendly and very helpful. It kind of sucks we weren't allowed to shake hands. The office feels a little empty as most people are working from home, but that's not a problem because I'm sure I'll get to know everyone soon enough. I spent the rest of the day studying the documentation and source code repositories.

Starting a new job is always an exciting experience. Although things were a little different this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that didn't make my first day any less enjoyable. Allison says we usually have free lunches five days a week — which is very generous in my opinion — but they have been suspended since the pandemic began. On the bright side, there's no shortage of snacks. I can't complain about the fact that my boss wants me at the office for the next few days. :P

Tuesday update

The company gave me a T-shirt and a goodie bag that includes a stainless steel water bottle, a 400 lumen flashlight and a multi-tool. It also contains sanitary items like wipes and masks. I'm so glad to work at Energous.

But things didn't go without a hitch. I must admit I forgot to bring my badge on the second day of the job. Yeah... that's what happens when you work from home for over a year.

In other news...

Happy anniversary to my parents!

Currently listening to: "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen

last day at Silicon Labs + the long road to normalcy

I mentioned in the previous post that I decided to resign from Silicon Labs. It was no easy decision because Silicon Labs is really one of the best companies ever. The only reason for my departure is the costs of moving to Boston was too high.

I'm definitely a little sad that I never had the chance to meet my co-workers in person. It was so hard to say goodbye even though I was only on the team for seven months. Hope we can reconnect after the pandemic.

Our first "normal" gathering in ages

One highlight of the weekend is that the Hsuehs invited us over for lunch. We have had to decline numerous invitations in the past because COVID-19 is no joke. But now that have all gotten the vaccine, there was no reason we couldn't get together. It's certainly nice to not have to wear a mask or social distance!

Lily and Aaron prepared a nice Korean barbecue with vegetables. All of the food was delicious. Of note is that their son Alan was also home. He was pretty busy but did take the time to enjoy lunch with us.

Our group then went to the Stanford University campus for a hike. Lily and Aaron showed us some spots that we had never been to. Because it was quite hot outside, the Hsuehs insisted we go back to their house for ice cream. As you can imagine, this was quite nice for a change!

I still don't feel comfortable enough to dine indoors or spend time with large crowds. But it's nice to see some normalcy on the horizon. Let's hope the pandemic winds down in the coming months.

Currently listening to: "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys

got my second COVID-19 shot

I just got my second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of note is that the lines were a lot shorter this time. I only had to wait around 15 minutes as opposed to over an hour.

However, one thing I've heard is the side effects are a lot more noticeable with the second dose. At least that's the case with the Moderna vaccine. I'm not sure about the Pfizer one, but so far I'm feeling fine. Looks like I just have to wait and see.

Friday update: Oh man... the side effects are intense. I've been fatigued the whole day and also have a headache. Good thing my co-workers were understanding because I couldn't get much work done. I also have some really bad chills. Hope this passes in a few days.

Currently listening to: "Africa" by Toto

giving the shot a shot

For those in the United States, the COVID-19 vaccine has been out for some time. Because my state recently opened up the vaccine to everyone 16 and older, this makes me eligible.

I've admittedly been on the fence about getting the vaccine due to potential side effects. At the risk of sounding like an anti-vaxxer, there is a common concern that the COVID-19 vaccines are being rushed out the door. I'm not worried about the flu shot as it's been around for many decades. We know it's safe because it has stood the test of time. However, the same cannot be said for COVID-19 vaccines.

But a few things made me reconsider. I ultimately figured it's worth a shot — pardon the pun — after some convincing from my parents. For one, everyone has a duty to do their part to put an end to this crisis. I also haven't seen many reports of adverse events even though the U.S. has already given out over 200 million doses. We would know by now if the vaccine is harmful.

Perhaps the biggest reason is that these are mRNA vaccines that "teach" our cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response. It's my understanding that these vaccines don't contain live virus. Your cells then produce antibodies that act against pathogens. Of course, my medical school friends probably know a lot better than I do. The experts are free to correct me. :-)

In any case, my appointment was at a site run by El Camino Health. The queue was long as there were probably around a hundred people. I was also wait-listed and had to remain in line for a bit longer. However, the actual shot took only about five minutes. We were told to wait in an observation area to ensure there were no adverse reactions. About 20 minutes later, they let me go after seeing there were no problems.

I also had some funny moments while getting the vaccine. It turned there was a health worker also named Danny at the vaccination site. So when his co-workers called him into the office, both of us tried to enter before they stopped me. Of note is that there was another guy at the clinic who had the same name. He even had a very similar last name as mine. What are the chances?

For those curious, the vaccine I received was from Pfizer. One thing I've heard is that this one has less severe side effects. I do have a sore arm but nothing too terrible. Let's hope this is as bad as it gets.

It's still going to be some time before life returns to normal. We don't know if vaccinated people can still spread the virus, and no vaccine is 100% effective. So we're going to have to continue practicing social distancing for the foreseeable future. But one thing for sure is that this nightmare is almost over. I can finally see hope on the horizon. The light at the end of the tunnel.

Currently listening to: "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship

the year the earth stood still

As you're probably aware, this was an awful year for so many obvious reasons. I'm relieved 2020 is finally over. Here's to what is hopefully a brighter future.

For the past five years, my family has celebrated the New Year by ourselves. This was especially the case due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the nice thing is that Dad made us a nice dinner. You read that right — he's just as good of a cook as my mother. On the whole, New Year's Eve wasn't too bad despite ongoing events.

2020 in review

I don't think anyone is going to disagree that 2020 was a terrible year. For one, the pandemic has affected so many of our lives. Although I don't know anyone who caught the virus, there has been other awful things. You may remember that my classmate Corinne from LAHS passed away last summer. Losing beloved celebrities – such as Kobe Bryant and Chadwick Boseman – was also tragic.

Besides the deaths, there has been other challenges. Being laid off from Intel really sucked even though it had nothing to do with my performance. Of course, that's not even going into the missed social opportunities. Our last time eating at a restaurant was well over 11 months ago.

However, the year also had its highlights. Working from home means I don't have to commute. It certainly gives me a lot more free time. Another great thing that happened is that I got a job at Silicon Labs as a senior software QA engineer. It's no doubt a major milestone in my life.

A new year comes with new hope. I'm extremely confident that things have already started to get better. Let's hope things will be back to normal in the near future. As for New Year's resolutions, my biggest goal for 2021 is to do well at my new job. I'm also hoping to max my RuneScape account this year. :-)

Currently listening to: "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond

a very different Thanksgiving

As you could imagine, Thanksgiving was very different this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was our first time in six years without any gatherings. I've also been pretty busy for the past four days. Because I just started a new job in November, this was a good time to study our documentation and catch up.

Even though we're all in this together, things have been tough at times. But one nice thing is that I received a care package from Silicon Labs. It contains some coffee, a mug and all sorts of snacks. I definitely appreciate this gesture.

Of course, there are many other things to be thankful for. Although life has been tough for us, the support from my parents has been invaluable. I'm also grateful for my current job. Silicon Labs is really one of the best companies out there. Let's hope things start getting better soon!

Currently listening to: "Heroes Tonight" by Janji

last day at Intel + future plans

It's a bittersweet day as I was laid off from Intel due to the pandemic. However, things are OK otherwise as I already have a job offer.

End of a chapter

As mentioned earlier, our group took a major hit due to coronavirus-related cancellations. For example, the 2020 Summer Olympics have been postponed for at least a year. To cut costs, upper management had to let people go. It's quite unfortunate because I've been an Intel fan a long time.

Despite recent events, my experience at Intel has been overwhelmingly positive. One memorable moment was going to Oregon last year. It was my first time flying on a private jet and also my first business trip. Oregon is also a beautiful state. Even though I wasn't there for leisure and didn't have time to visit any attractions, the trip certainly felt like a vacation to me.

We also had a Diversity Day event last April. It was cool to meet people from different cultures. I also enjoyed trying different foods and watching the performances. Imagine my disappointment when this year's event got canceled due to the pandemic.

I'm definitely a bit sad to leave this job. But what really sucks is not being able to properly say goodbye to my co-workers. Sending a farewell email or message on Slack just isn't the same. However, my manager said she'd love to put together a team reunion once the pandemic is over. It's certainly something I'm looking forward to.

A cross-country move?

The good news is that I already have a verbal offer from Silicon Labs. I'm still in the interview process, but the formal offer should come very soon. Everything certainly looks good so far.

But there are also challenges: the team is based all the way in Boston. Although this position is currently remote, the company has hinted that I may have to relocate when the pandemic ends. On the bright side, Boston is a pretty nice place. At least that was the case when we went there 15 year ago. I'm excited to see what the future has to offer.

October 16 update: Silicon Labs has sent me a formal offer. I accepted it as this is a company I want to work for. Here's to looking forward to the next chapter.

Currently listening to: Final Fantasy VII soundtrack - "Cid's Theme" by Uematsu Nobuo

a somewhat normal 35th birthday

I just turned 35 and had a pretty good birthday despite the recent craziness.

For starters, my parents took me to Nob Hill Foods to buy snacks. I didn't see too many things I wanted but did get some chocolates. Although I prefer to avoid public places for obvious reasons, birthdays only happen once a year. :-)

Dad later took us to Half Moon Bay after lunch. Our plan was to go shopping at a discount store called Twice as Nice, but we all needed to use the restroom after a long drive. Before there were no public restrooms in this store, my family decided to first go to Safeway and use the restrooms there. I took the opportunity to buy some snacks that weren't available at Nob Hill Foods. Having bought so much groceries, the three of us decided that we didn't really need to go to Twice as Nice after all.

So we then went for a stroll along Pillar Point Harbor. One thing that surprised me is that there were so many people — the waterfront was even more crowded than before the pandemic. However, the good news is that most people were wearing masks. Although it would have been fun to eat at one of the restaurants, this would have been pretty risky even though we don't have as many COVID-19 cases here.

All things considered, my 35th birthday rocked. I definitely hope things will be back to normal by next year. :-)

Currently listening to: Epic Battle Fantasy 5 soundtrack - "Blade & Switch" by Phyrnna

challenging times ahead

It looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is now having a bigger effect on my life. I've been told by my manager that I'm affected by a layoff and will be let go in mid-October unless I can secure an internal transfer.

I've mentioned before that I'm in the Intel Sports Group. Our organization provides a platform that allows users to experience sporting events in virtual reality. But due to the pandemic, several of our projects have been shelved indefinitely due to the cancelation of such events. As a result of these delays and an uncertain future, the company has announced that people will be let go.

This is unfortunate because Intel has always been one of my favorite companies. To make matters worse, chances are we won't get to properly say goodbye to our co-workers due to social distancing rules. One thing for sure is that job hunting is going to be much harder during a pandemic. However, the good news is that my boss has told me I don't actually need to work between now and my employment end date. I really appreciate that I can use this transition period to prepare for interviews. *crosses fingers*

social distancing and staying at home: four months in

It's been four months since I started working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we're all in this together, things are admittedly difficult at times. However, there have also been positive moments. For those curious, here's what has happened during the past four months.

A series of unfortunate events

As nice as it is to work at home, being away from the office has its downsides:

• Although I have everything I need for my tasks, not having access to certain equipment can be a major inconvenience.
• Our quarterly happy hours for March and June have been canceled.
• It's been a long time since we've celebrated people's birthdays. Posting pictures of cakes on Slack just isn't the same.
• A guy on our team recently left for another job. He took the time to show me the ropes when when I joined the company and was like a mentor to me. It sucks that we didn't get to properly say goodbye.
• During our last call on Skype, my boss lamented that we haven't had a team lunch in a long time. I certainly can't disagree.

Of course, the pandemic has also affected our personal lives:

• I haven't been able to attend my book club since December. Our latest meeting has been moved from March to July and will likely be postponed again.
• Dad had planned to take us to the Southwest U.S. in March but understandably had to cancel the trip.
• A few months ago, my childhood friend Connie came to drop something off at my house. It took all my restraint to not give her a hug after seeing her again for the first time in almost 11 years. Chances are she wouldn't have appreciated it either. Speaking to her over the phone just isn't the same.
• I had also hoped to see my cousin Cathy and her husband Andrew again during the summer. But it doesn't look like this will happen anymore.
• It's not just me as my parents have also had to turn down several invitations.

A new gazebo

However, one positive thing about staying at home is that we have all the time in the world to work on personal projects. Dad recently decided to add a gazebo to our backyard so that our master bedroom doesn't get too hot in the summer. He actually decided to build it mostly by himself so that we could save on the labor. It was hard work for us too because he sometimes needed our help with the heavy parts. On the bright side, our backyard now has a nice new addition. :-)

RuneScape achievements

Although I still have to work at home, the fact that I don't have to commute makes a huge difference. I haven't had so much for RuneScape since my college days. For those curious, here are my achievements from recent months:

• completed the elite Varrock and Wilderness tasks
• 2,700 skill total
• level 99 Divination
• level 99 Magic
• 2,000 and 2,100 skill total on my alternate account Traductus
• 2,000 skill total on my alternate account Ixfd64 Rs2

Even though I can't see my friends and co-workers, staying at home isn't without benefits. One can see why some people want this to last forever. But at the same time, the fact that people are getting sick and dying sucks. I hope things will be back to normal soon.

In other news...

On a somewhat related note: happy anniversary to Andrew and Cathy as they got married a year ago!

Currently listening to: "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John

an extended long weekend + level 99 Divination in RuneScape

To boost morale during the COVID-19 pandemic, my company recently gave employees an extra vacation day to be used by the end of June. Because the Memorial Day long weekend was just around the corner, our team agreed to take Friday off after deciding it be most convenient for everyone. It's certainly not often this happens!

Dad took us on a drive to Half Moon Bay on Friday after seeing we hadn't been anywhere in a long time. It was pretty fun even though we mostly just took pictures from the car. Otherwise, the weekend was uneventful as I've been doing extra work for my job. Even though a four-day weekend sounds nice, an extra day doesn't make a big difference when you're working from home.

I didn't feel like making two separate posts, but another thing I wanted to share is that I got level 99 Divination in RuneScape four days ago. People generally consider Divination to be among the slowest skills, but the recent double XP event and the protean memories certainly helped. Only eight more skill to go until I get my max cape!

Currently listening to: "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel

2,700 skill total in RuneScape

It's been two months since I started working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the workload is about the same, one nice thing about working from home is that I don't have to commute. Considering that it takes me around 50 minutes to get to the office, being able to save almost two hours makes a huge difference. It certainly gives me more time for hobbies.

I certainly wouldn't have 2,700 skill total in RuneScape so quickly otherwise. On a related note, I'm very close to level 99 Divination and should get there in a few days. Hopefully it won't be too long until I get my max cape. :-)

Currently listening to: "Under Pressure" by Queen

an unprecedented situation

As you're all probably aware, the COVID-19 outbreak has gotten so bad that it's now considered a pandemic. It's hard to believe a "mystery pneumonia" in China could turn into something so serious. Even my company has advised employees to work from home. At first I thought this would be for just a few days, but the situation hasn't gotten any better. Our entire state has locked down while COVID-19 cases are still going up. I must admit I'm actually a bit scared.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder if this is how the world ends. Perhaps I've watched too many disaster flicks, but it almost feels like the apocalypse is upon us. Although we're looking at an uncertain future, one thing for sure is that we're all in this together. Stay safe and wash your hands, everyone.

Currently listening to: "This Is Our Time" by WILD