Just wanted I had a pretty good Thanksgiving long weekend.
For starters, my family had a nice party at our house. We invited our family friends Jeff and Sheila over as they had hosted our last get-together. Our family friend Joseph happened to be in town and wanted to visit us, so we were more than happy to have the Tsais join us. Joseph also brought his brother Jeremy over. We didn't get to see Joseph's daughter Claire as she is currently on a trip to Europe, but I'm sure there will be future opportunities to catch up.
Mom made lots of delicious food as she usually does, and Jeff and Sheila also brought some to share. We felt like Jeff and Sheila were the ones hosting the party because they brought so much stuff over. It's been a while since I ate this much at a party. I put on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny for Jeremy because he seemed a little bored. He told us he enjoyed the movie. On the whole, everyone defintely had a great time.
The three of us watched Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on Saturday. We also rewatched Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as we were too busy chatting to pay attention to it during the party. Both were good movies, although we liked Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny a bit more.
I also reached level 120 Slayer in RuneScape last Tuesday and 3,000 skill total on Thursday. 120 Slayer didn't take that long thanks to all the efficient training methods these days, but it was still a grind for sure. I'm level 119 in three other skills and expect to reach 120 early next year. One step closer to the completionist cape. :D
This weekend wasn't all play and no work as I also completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera. The program consists of a series of eight courses offered by Google. It's targeted towards people with no cybersecurity experience, but I still learned a lot from the courses. As you can see, this weekend was quite productive!
I'll end this post by saying I'm very thankful that we have been able to live fairly comfortably despite the current economic situation. This is often not the case for many families. Even though the economy has been terrible for the past year or so, I am still hopeful for the future.
Currently watching: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Showing posts with label parties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parties. Show all posts
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Sunday, September 8, 2024
another exciting block party
You may remember our street had a block party last summer. Because that was our first such event in 28 years, everyone was more than excited to get together. People had such a great time that Saeed — whose family helped organize the party — said he wanted to plan another similar event in the future.
Saeed apparently made good on his promise because we just had our second block party since 1995. It's hard to believe how fast a year goes. We saw some familiar faces, as well as a few other neighbors who we had not talked to before. Just like last time, people brought lots of good food. Our homemade oyakodon was especially popular.
But one thing I noticed is there were fewer people from younger generations this year. I think the biggest reason is that school has already started for the college-aged kids, especially if their school uses a semester-based schedule. However, some teenagers who did show up didn't stay long except to get food. It seems younger generations don't go out much these days.
Even though the novelty factor had worn off — and most people didn't stay quite as long — this event was still pretty enjoyable. I'm definitely looking forward to the one next year.
Currently listening to: Ultimate Doom soundtrack – "Nobody Told Me About id" by Bobby Prince
Saeed apparently made good on his promise because we just had our second block party since 1995. It's hard to believe how fast a year goes. We saw some familiar faces, as well as a few other neighbors who we had not talked to before. Just like last time, people brought lots of good food. Our homemade oyakodon was especially popular.
But one thing I noticed is there were fewer people from younger generations this year. I think the biggest reason is that school has already started for the college-aged kids, especially if their school uses a semester-based schedule. However, some teenagers who did show up didn't stay long except to get food. It seems younger generations don't go out much these days.
Even though the novelty factor had worn off — and most people didn't stay quite as long — this event was still pretty enjoyable. I'm definitely looking forward to the one next year.
Currently listening to: Ultimate Doom soundtrack – "Nobody Told Me About id" by Bobby Prince
Sunday, August 27, 2023
first block party since 1995
Hope everyone had an awesome weekend. I definitely had an exciting one because our street had its first block party in almost 30 years!
Something I've noticed people in our area tend to be reclusive. People don't often talk to their neighbors except to say hello, ask them to look after their mail before going on a trip, or tell them their house is on fire. Unlike in school — where everyone was eager to make friends — people in our neighborhood mostly kept to themselves. I guess we weren't the only ones who felt this way because the Foudeh family decided to host a block party so people "can get to know each other."
Far more people showed up at the party anticipated. Because this was a potluck dinner, there were all kinds of dishes. I enjoyed meeting our neighbors and their kids. It's funny that we've lived on the same street for ages, yet never had the chance for a proper introduction. Several teenagers who attended the event happened to be recent LAHS graduates, so the party also doubled as a mini high school reunion to them. Some people had such a great time that they stayed well past the designed end time.
Given that we rarely ever have to chance to really get to know our neighbors, this was quite nice for a change. I'd like to thank the Foudehs for making this event possible. Saeed — who planned the event with his wife Mariam and daughter Ava — says he wants to make this an annual thing and promises we won't have to wait another 25 years for the next one. I'm looking forward to it for sure. :-)
Currently listening to: "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
Something I've noticed people in our area tend to be reclusive. People don't often talk to their neighbors except to say hello, ask them to look after their mail before going on a trip, or tell them their house is on fire. Unlike in school — where everyone was eager to make friends — people in our neighborhood mostly kept to themselves. I guess we weren't the only ones who felt this way because the Foudeh family decided to host a block party so people "can get to know each other."
Far more people showed up at the party anticipated. Because this was a potluck dinner, there were all kinds of dishes. I enjoyed meeting our neighbors and their kids. It's funny that we've lived on the same street for ages, yet never had the chance for a proper introduction. Several teenagers who attended the event happened to be recent LAHS graduates, so the party also doubled as a mini high school reunion to them. Some people had such a great time that they stayed well past the designed end time.
Given that we rarely ever have to chance to really get to know our neighbors, this was quite nice for a change. I'd like to thank the Foudehs for making this event possible. Saeed — who planned the event with his wife Mariam and daughter Ava — says he wants to make this an annual thing and promises we won't have to wait another 25 years for the next one. I'm looking forward to it for sure. :-)
Currently listening to: "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
Sunday, June 11, 2023
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
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
Sunday, May 21, 2023
three great weekends in a row
It's been a great month so far as we reconnected with people we hadn't seen in a while. We also had two parties for Mother's Day — one at Mom's friend Catherine's house, and the other at ours!
An overdue visit
You may recall we had planned to see our family friend George last year on New Year's Eve. However, he was very conscious about COVID-19 at the time and didn't want anyone over. But now that the situation has gotten a lot better, George was happy to have us visit him this time. He said he was so excited to see us that he barely had any sleep. I was just as thrilled as this was our first time seeing each other since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Mom brought some food so George didn't have to cook for us. We then had some ice cream and coffee afterwards. George also gave us some books that Eileen would have wanted us to have. On the whole, the day couldn't have been better.
Mother's Day
Another highlight is my mom's new friend Catherine invited us to her house on the 13th for a get-together. She made several great dishes, and we were full in no time. I then played RuneScape on my phone as there was no one my age, but overall enjoyed the atmosphere.
Some time later, Catherine mentioned she was having a problem setting up a new printer. Dad asked me to take a look because I'm good with computers. I was able to get the printer to work after installing a generic driver. I figure I must have saved Catherine and her husband around a hundred dollars. Or at least that's what Geek Squad charges for similar services. :P
It was our turn to host the next day. Mom invited several friends — both old and new — over for a Mother's Day lunch. She made lots of delicious food as usual. One highlight is that Jenny brought a green tea cake from her friend's bakery. Everyone loved it so "matcha." See what I did there?
Two more get-togethers
This weekend was also great as we went to George's house a second time. Dad had promised George we would help him clear out the overgrown bamboo in his garden. George got us some Japanese food and desserts while Mom brought a homemade salad. It was great to see get together again in just two weeks!
As we were on the way to George's house, my cousin Connie called to tell us that she was in town and wanted to meet up. Our original plan was to have a picnic near my aunt Cynthia's house in Cupertino. However, they decided to invite us inside as it was quite warm outside. Connie treated us to some ravioli and a mango custard cake. I wasn't expecting to see her and Cynthia this summer, so this was quite a pleasant surprise. :-)
However, there's also been some bad news: my aunt Yu-Hua informed us a week ago that Uncle Yeh-Wei was diagnosed with cancer. We're still not sure how far it's progressed as they are awaiting further tests. The good news is this form of cancer is generally considered treatable, but it's still no joke as my cousin Cathy's paternal grandfather-in-law died from it not too long ago. Here's to hoping Yeh-Wei beats the disease!
Currently listening to: "Rocket Man" by Elton John
An overdue visit
You may recall we had planned to see our family friend George last year on New Year's Eve. However, he was very conscious about COVID-19 at the time and didn't want anyone over. But now that the situation has gotten a lot better, George was happy to have us visit him this time. He said he was so excited to see us that he barely had any sleep. I was just as thrilled as this was our first time seeing each other since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Mom brought some food so George didn't have to cook for us. We then had some ice cream and coffee afterwards. George also gave us some books that Eileen would have wanted us to have. On the whole, the day couldn't have been better.
Mother's Day
Another highlight is my mom's new friend Catherine invited us to her house on the 13th for a get-together. She made several great dishes, and we were full in no time. I then played RuneScape on my phone as there was no one my age, but overall enjoyed the atmosphere.
Some time later, Catherine mentioned she was having a problem setting up a new printer. Dad asked me to take a look because I'm good with computers. I was able to get the printer to work after installing a generic driver. I figure I must have saved Catherine and her husband around a hundred dollars. Or at least that's what Geek Squad charges for similar services. :P
It was our turn to host the next day. Mom invited several friends — both old and new — over for a Mother's Day lunch. She made lots of delicious food as usual. One highlight is that Jenny brought a green tea cake from her friend's bakery. Everyone loved it so "matcha." See what I did there?
Two more get-togethers
This weekend was also great as we went to George's house a second time. Dad had promised George we would help him clear out the overgrown bamboo in his garden. George got us some Japanese food and desserts while Mom brought a homemade salad. It was great to see get together again in just two weeks!
As we were on the way to George's house, my cousin Connie called to tell us that she was in town and wanted to meet up. Our original plan was to have a picnic near my aunt Cynthia's house in Cupertino. However, they decided to invite us inside as it was quite warm outside. Connie treated us to some ravioli and a mango custard cake. I wasn't expecting to see her and Cynthia this summer, so this was quite a pleasant surprise. :-)
However, there's also been some bad news: my aunt Yu-Hua informed us a week ago that Uncle Yeh-Wei was diagnosed with cancer. We're still not sure how far it's progressed as they are awaiting further tests. The good news is this form of cancer is generally considered treatable, but it's still no joke as my cousin Cathy's paternal grandfather-in-law died from it not too long ago. Here's to hoping Yeh-Wei beats the disease!
Currently listening to: "Rocket Man" by Elton John
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
a busy but awesome weekend
It had been a busy few days as we had to replace some water pipes that had been leaking for a while. We also had to repair a fence gate. I also had to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for a work demo. However, the weekend wasn't too bad otherwise as we went to a party at my mom's friend Carol's house!
Several weeks ago, my dad noticed the water bill was much higher than normal. We did an inspection and found that some leaks in at least two pipes. I hate to think how much money and water was wasted as this had been going on for several months. However, our neighbor Bob was had kindly offered to help us with the repairs. We agreed to do this on Monday as Bob needed to get parts. In the meantime, my dad and I also repaired a gate to our backyard after it fell off its hinges.
The other thing is my BMW failed a smog check a while ago. We were told there was a problem with the oxygen sensor, and that the best way to reset it is to take the car on a drive of around 50 miles. Our plan was to go to WinCo Foods in Tracy on Sunday as that was about the right distance. But it just happened that Mom's friend Carol invited us to her house in Pleasanton for lunch. As you could imagine, the three of us were more than happy to oblige.
In any case, all the food was delicious. Everyone had such a great time that we stayed for several hours. I really enjoyed the party even though there was no one else my age. We had planned to still go to WinCo Foods afterwards. But the three of us decided to leave that to another time as it was a little late. I then had to work on a PowerPoint presentation for a demo scheduled for today at 10 a.m.
Bob came over this afternoon to help us replace the pipes. Even with his help, this was a huge job and took several hours. I was also quite busy today due to some work-related deadlines. However, the good news is I found some free time after dinner and managed to hit 2,600 skill total in RuneScape on my alt account Traductus. Didn't think that would happen so soon. :-)
Currently listening to: "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard
Several weeks ago, my dad noticed the water bill was much higher than normal. We did an inspection and found that some leaks in at least two pipes. I hate to think how much money and water was wasted as this had been going on for several months. However, our neighbor Bob was had kindly offered to help us with the repairs. We agreed to do this on Monday as Bob needed to get parts. In the meantime, my dad and I also repaired a gate to our backyard after it fell off its hinges.
The other thing is my BMW failed a smog check a while ago. We were told there was a problem with the oxygen sensor, and that the best way to reset it is to take the car on a drive of around 50 miles. Our plan was to go to WinCo Foods in Tracy on Sunday as that was about the right distance. But it just happened that Mom's friend Carol invited us to her house in Pleasanton for lunch. As you could imagine, the three of us were more than happy to oblige.
In any case, all the food was delicious. Everyone had such a great time that we stayed for several hours. I really enjoyed the party even though there was no one else my age. We had planned to still go to WinCo Foods afterwards. But the three of us decided to leave that to another time as it was a little late. I then had to work on a PowerPoint presentation for a demo scheduled for today at 10 a.m.
Bob came over this afternoon to help us replace the pipes. Even with his help, this was a huge job and took several hours. I was also quite busy today due to some work-related deadlines. However, the good news is I found some free time after dinner and managed to hit 2,600 skill total in RuneScape on my alt account Traductus. Didn't think that would happen so soon. :-)
Currently listening to: "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard
Friday, May 13, 2022
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
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
Sunday, December 8, 2019
another great book club party
Today was my book club's annual holiday party and book exchange. It's hard to believe I've been with them for over two years. Time certainly flies.
The event took place at Dane's house again as Elizabeth was in Hawaii. Because it was a potluck dinner, everyone brought something to share. I really liked the quiches and meatballs. There was no shortage of snacks and candies.
It was then time for the white elephant book exchange. Although things weren't as heated this time, the party still had a lively atmosphere. I gave away Good People by Marcus Sakey and received Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I've always liked her books and look forward to reading it soon.
Like last year, all of us then played Left Center Right afterwards. I had the most cash at first but soon lost it all after a few rounds. Although I later ended up being one of the last remaining players, the pot eventually went to someone else. Which is a shame because I was so close being $60 richer.
The party ended earlier than expected as most people decided to leave after the game was over. I took the time to chat with Dane and Che's friends while waiting for my parents to pick me up. On the whole, everyone definitely had a great time. A huge thank-you to Dane and Che for making this event possible.
In other news...
I got level 99 Herblore in RuneScape on Tuesday and 99 Dungeoneering two days later. Hopefully it won't be long until I get my max cape. :-)
Currently watching: American Sniper
The event took place at Dane's house again as Elizabeth was in Hawaii. Because it was a potluck dinner, everyone brought something to share. I really liked the quiches and meatballs. There was no shortage of snacks and candies.
It was then time for the white elephant book exchange. Although things weren't as heated this time, the party still had a lively atmosphere. I gave away Good People by Marcus Sakey and received Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I've always liked her books and look forward to reading it soon.
Like last year, all of us then played Left Center Right afterwards. I had the most cash at first but soon lost it all after a few rounds. Although I later ended up being one of the last remaining players, the pot eventually went to someone else. Which is a shame because I was so close being $60 richer.
The party ended earlier than expected as most people decided to leave after the game was over. I took the time to chat with Dane and Che's friends while waiting for my parents to pick me up. On the whole, everyone definitely had a great time. A huge thank-you to Dane and Che for making this event possible.
In other news...
I got level 99 Herblore in RuneScape on Tuesday and 99 Dungeoneering two days later. Hopefully it won't be long until I get my max cape. :-)
Currently watching: American Sniper
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Intel Sports family picnic
I just got back from the Intel Sports family picnic. Considering that we didn't have one at my last job, this was my first time attending such an event in over two years. All of us definitely had a great time!
The event took place at Saratoga Springs. It's apparently a popular venue because Amazon Lab126 had events here too. Even my college friends Danny and Caitlin got married at Saratoga Springs last year.
Although we're a fairly small group, many people from my team showed up. I was afraid my parents would feel awkward as the event was geared towards families with kids, but they enjoyed meeting my boss and co-workers. It definitely helps that Dad's first job was at Intel. Of note is that a few other people were also ex-Intel employees. Dad says it felt like a company reunion.
Like at similar events, there were games for both kids and adults. It was fun to watch the water balloon toss and the water relay race. Afterwards, there was a big water fight with squirt guns and more water balloons. I think I was wise to stay out of the crossfire!
On the whole, the picnic was quite enjoyable. It's certainly one of the best company picnics to date. I'm looking forward to next year's event for sure.
Currently reading: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley
The event took place at Saratoga Springs. It's apparently a popular venue because Amazon Lab126 had events here too. Even my college friends Danny and Caitlin got married at Saratoga Springs last year.
Although we're a fairly small group, many people from my team showed up. I was afraid my parents would feel awkward as the event was geared towards families with kids, but they enjoyed meeting my boss and co-workers. It definitely helps that Dad's first job was at Intel. Of note is that a few other people were also ex-Intel employees. Dad says it felt like a company reunion.
Like at similar events, there were games for both kids and adults. It was fun to watch the water balloon toss and the water relay race. Afterwards, there was a big water fight with squirt guns and more water balloons. I think I was wise to stay out of the crossfire!
On the whole, the picnic was quite enjoyable. It's certainly one of the best company picnics to date. I'm looking forward to next year's event for sure.
Currently reading: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley
Monday, July 8, 2019
Los Angeles trip report + congratulations to Andrew and Catherine!
"I'm not responsible if someone gets hurt." — me, after my cousins dragged me onto the dance floor
I had an awesome weekend as we went to Los Angeles for my cousin Cathy's wedding with my aunt Jill. Considering that we don't often get to see the Shiehs anymore, the family reunion was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. This was no doubt one of our best trips ever.
Day 1: a long-awaited family reunion
Dad wanted to start out early as the venue is over 360 miles from our house. Because there weren't many attractions along the route, our only stop along the way was Lost Hills for gas. The plan was to find a restaurant afterwards, but we decided to have a simple lunch in the car as there would so much food at the reception.
Due to the relatively light traffic — and our decision to not go to a restaurant — we arrived at our hotel much earlier than expected. Dad and I went to the front desk and were told that we could only check in after 3 p.m. However, management made an exception for us after hearing we had been on the road since 7 a.m. I truly appreciate their accommodation.
We had some rest before going to the nearby Longo Seafood Restaurant for the celebration. This was our first time seeing the Shiehs again since Connie's wedding five years ago. The reception began with a cocktail hour with appetizers and drinks. It was great to meet Cathy's husband Andrew and Connie's kids Dean and Desiree. I also got to meet Andrew's relatives and many of the couple's friends. The Frangos were especially friendly to us.
The MC invited the couple to perform their first dance before Andrew's and Cathy's relatives gave their toasts. They must have choreographed their dance because it was quite impressive. This was followed by a 10-course family-style dinner. Everything was absolutely delicious. The couple decided not to have a wedding cake, but that didn't make a difference because everyone was already full. There were actually enough leftovers to last us a few days!
The MC later asked everyone to gather together for a group picture before turning up the music and inviting people to dance. There were also games at each table, but people were more interested in dancing and socializing and barely touched the games. Connie and Cathy later insisted that I join them on the dance floor. Although I was very reluctant at first because I can't dance to save my life — especially when my RuneScape character is a better dancer than me — I eventually had to acquiesce. There was no way I was going to say no to my cousins. This turned out to be really fun and was the best part of our trip.
The only downside is that the dance ended early. Because many people have started leaving and the only ones on the dance floor were strangers, the couple decided to call it a day and suggested that we leave. This is unfortunate because there aren't many opportunities to dance outside of clubs, but the last thing we wanted was to make things difficult for the newlyweds.
Days 2 and 3: a sentimental farewell
All of us had trouble sleeping and ended up getting up around 6 a.m. There was more than enough time to get rest in our room. The breakfast at the hotel sucked as there were only pastries, but that wasn't an issue as we had leftovers from the night before.
We later headed to Griffith Park for the farewell picnic. I was pretty full from the leftovers and only had a single tamale and some drinks. However, there was more than enough time to chat with Andrew's and Cathy's friends. Even my parents had a great time talking to the Frangos. I also played Spikeball with the other young people. That was pretty fun.
As much as I wanted to spend more time with my cousins, all good things must come to an end. I'm not going to lie — three hours just weren't enough. Saying goodbye to the Shiehs and Frangos was the saddest part of the trip, especially knowing that it might be a long time before we see them again. I definitely hope they can visit the Bay Area in the not-too-distant future.
There was one place I wanted to visit before heading home: the nearby Griffith Observatory. Only Mom and I went in as Dad wasn't able to find a parking spot and Jill wanted to rest in the car. Therefore, I didn't want to stay too long and mainly focused on taking pictures. Of note is that the observatory is extremely popular during the summer. Getting from place to place was difficult due to the huge crowds. Where's Thanos when you need him? :-)
It was then time to head home after a busy trip. Because we left the observatory earlier than planned, Dad decided to use the extra time to take us to Costco after stopping for gas. I was getting a little hungry because I didn't eat much at the picnic, so we had some samples before continuing up north. The bad news is that there was much more traffic than we expected. The fact that there were no less than six accidents on I-5 didn't help the issue. On the bright side, we saw a colorful sunset on the way home. That was quite nice.
Mom and I went to In-N-Out Burger to get food after we stopped in Kettleman City for gas. The crazy thing is that both In-N-Out Burger and the nearby McDonald's were so crowded that people were sitting on the floor. This was like a scene straight out of a disaster movie. The good news is that there was little traffic for the last 100 miles, but it was still past midnight when we finally got home.
Conclusions
One thing that's hard to deny is that weddings are really fun. In addition to celebrating the love between two people, there's always great food and opportunities to socialize. Seeing my best friend get married was a most surreal experience. I'm so glad I got to celebrate Cathy's big day with her. On behalf of all of us, I'd like to congratulate the two and wish them all the best as they begin their life together.
Of note is that traveling to SoCal can be a pain in the ass. It would have been more relaxing to spend an extra day in Los Angeles, but we decided against it for several reasons. For one, Mom was concerned about the high crime rate and didn't want to stay longer than we needed to. She also needed to water our plants as our sprinkler system has been broken for a while. Perhaps the most important reason is that my company's current project's beta release is today and I wanted to be available in case any issues came up.
The not-so-fun part is that I have a bad case of the holiday blues. One thing for sure is that I'm already missing my cousins and our new friends. On the bright side, Dad is planning to take us on another road trip this coming weekend. So at least there's something else to look forward to. :-)
In the meantime, feel free to check out the pictures from the wedding and the rest of the trip.
July 11 update: the pictures are up.
Currently listening to: "Down" by Jay Sean
Saturday, April 6, 2019
the closest thing to spring break
Like most people with a job, I don't get a spring break anymore. However, there were so many great things going on lately that the last few weeks felt like spring break to me. It also helps that our team at Intel managed to release our latest app on time. That means we won't have to work late hours for a while. :-)
So there was an event at the San Jose Museum of Art on the 21st called Exotopia where people can explore exoplanets via a virtual reality installation. Because I've always been interested in astronomy - and my current job involves testing VR apps - this seemed like the perfect event for me. I also got to meet the Exotopia project's creator — Scott Kildall — which was a cool experience. Also worth mentioning is that my friend Claire works at the museum. It was definitely great to see her again after five and a half years.
You may recall that our family friend Eileen passed away about a year and a half ago. Because she was a highly respected community member, some people decided to dedicate a bench to her. Therefore, my family headed to Berkeley on the 24th to attend the ceremony before enjoying a potluck lunch. There was some free time, during which we went on a walk with some family friends. This was no doubt a wonderful experience.
Last week was great too, starting with a company happy hour on the 27th. Our team went to The Halford for drinks and appetizers. Everything was delicious, especially the deviled eggs and fish and chips.
We also went to a local restaurant called Pedro's on the 29th to celebrate the app launch. Although my parents say we've been there before, I honestly can't remember. In any case, the food there was delicious. I definitely need to go back there with my parents!
This week had a good start as we went to the Los Altos History Museum at my suggestion. The funny thing is that we had never thought to check out the museum despite having lived in the area for almost 25 years. I had no idea Los Altos had such a rich history. It happened that there was a closing reception at the museum, and there were food and drinks. Overall, we had a great time.
Last but not least, my boss took us to lunch at an Indian restaurant yesterday to celebrate a co-worker's promotion. I also saw several movies over the weekend with my parents, with Solo: A Star Wars Story being my favorite. So yeah, just because I don't have spring break doesn't mean I can't have fun. :D
Currently watching: Solo: A Star Wars Story
So there was an event at the San Jose Museum of Art on the 21st called Exotopia where people can explore exoplanets via a virtual reality installation. Because I've always been interested in astronomy - and my current job involves testing VR apps - this seemed like the perfect event for me. I also got to meet the Exotopia project's creator — Scott Kildall — which was a cool experience. Also worth mentioning is that my friend Claire works at the museum. It was definitely great to see her again after five and a half years.
You may recall that our family friend Eileen passed away about a year and a half ago. Because she was a highly respected community member, some people decided to dedicate a bench to her. Therefore, my family headed to Berkeley on the 24th to attend the ceremony before enjoying a potluck lunch. There was some free time, during which we went on a walk with some family friends. This was no doubt a wonderful experience.
Last week was great too, starting with a company happy hour on the 27th. Our team went to The Halford for drinks and appetizers. Everything was delicious, especially the deviled eggs and fish and chips.
We also went to a local restaurant called Pedro's on the 29th to celebrate the app launch. Although my parents say we've been there before, I honestly can't remember. In any case, the food there was delicious. I definitely need to go back there with my parents!
This week had a good start as we went to the Los Altos History Museum at my suggestion. The funny thing is that we had never thought to check out the museum despite having lived in the area for almost 25 years. I had no idea Los Altos had such a rich history. It happened that there was a closing reception at the museum, and there were food and drinks. Overall, we had a great time.
Last but not least, my boss took us to lunch at an Indian restaurant yesterday to celebrate a co-worker's promotion. I also saw several movies over the weekend with my parents, with Solo: A Star Wars Story being my favorite. So yeah, just because I don't have spring break doesn't mean I can't have fun. :D
Currently watching: Solo: A Star Wars Story
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
entering 2019 in style
It's hard to believe 2019 is already here. I can't believe how fast time goes. The good news is that I had a great holiday season even though we didn't go on any vacations.
The plan was to go skiing at Tahoe over the holidays, but we cancelled the trip due to a storm in the area. This wasn't a big deal because we had been there many times. The other thing is that I don't have any PTO saved up as I only joined Intel in December. I had to work for a few days between Christmas and the New Year, but the thing is that my boss took us to lunch at an Indian buffet on the 26th. The food was super spicy but also delicious. That was definitely a nice experience.
New Year's Eve
Although we technically have to work on New Year's Eve, my boss told me I could work from home. It was definitely relaxing to not have to commute.
One thing I noticed is that most people don't seem to celebrate New Year's Eve anymore. This year was no different as we didn't invite anyone over or vice versa. However, my mother and I did watch the Times Square countdown together. I can't believe Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve didn't show the ball drop. That was really lame.
I decided to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp on DVD afterwards. That was another great Marvel movie. I then watched the local countdown to 2019 before going to bed.
New Year's Day
Today was pretty fun as we attended the New Year's Day Rogue Run before having family friends over. I wanted to do a mock countdown to 2019 before starting lunch as I really missed the feeling of counting down to the New Year with friends. To my surprise, everyone actually agreed!
Some people brought desserts while the Chiangs brought a large platter of California rolls. Everything was delicious as always. The party also doubled as a celebration for Jim and Yeng-Feng as today is their 50th anniversary. This was definitely a very special get-together.
All of us then watched Mary Shelley together. The Chiangs and the Changs left early as they had other errands, but everyone else stayed until the late afternoon. On the whole, I had an amazing time even though there were no other young people.
2018 in review
Every year has its ups and downs. For me, the best part of 2018 was meeting The Martian author Andy Weir. Not many people get the chance to meet their favorite authors.
The worst thing that happened was when I got laid off in October. Although I had seen signs that the company was experiencing a cyclic downturn, this completely took me by surprise because I felt both my manager and our VP liked me. I did get an awesome new job a few weeks later, but this left a sour taste in my mouth for a while.
At any rate, it's best to look for the future. On that note, my New Year's resolutions for 2019 are to get a promotion and improve my social skills. Let's get serious!
Currently listening to: "Another Night" by Real McCoy
The plan was to go skiing at Tahoe over the holidays, but we cancelled the trip due to a storm in the area. This wasn't a big deal because we had been there many times. The other thing is that I don't have any PTO saved up as I only joined Intel in December. I had to work for a few days between Christmas and the New Year, but the thing is that my boss took us to lunch at an Indian buffet on the 26th. The food was super spicy but also delicious. That was definitely a nice experience.
New Year's Eve
Although we technically have to work on New Year's Eve, my boss told me I could work from home. It was definitely relaxing to not have to commute.
One thing I noticed is that most people don't seem to celebrate New Year's Eve anymore. This year was no different as we didn't invite anyone over or vice versa. However, my mother and I did watch the Times Square countdown together. I can't believe Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve didn't show the ball drop. That was really lame.
I decided to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp on DVD afterwards. That was another great Marvel movie. I then watched the local countdown to 2019 before going to bed.
New Year's Day
Today was pretty fun as we attended the New Year's Day Rogue Run before having family friends over. I wanted to do a mock countdown to 2019 before starting lunch as I really missed the feeling of counting down to the New Year with friends. To my surprise, everyone actually agreed!
Some people brought desserts while the Chiangs brought a large platter of California rolls. Everything was delicious as always. The party also doubled as a celebration for Jim and Yeng-Feng as today is their 50th anniversary. This was definitely a very special get-together.
All of us then watched Mary Shelley together. The Chiangs and the Changs left early as they had other errands, but everyone else stayed until the late afternoon. On the whole, I had an amazing time even though there were no other young people.
2018 in review
Every year has its ups and downs. For me, the best part of 2018 was meeting The Martian author Andy Weir. Not many people get the chance to meet their favorite authors.
The worst thing that happened was when I got laid off in October. Although I had seen signs that the company was experiencing a cyclic downturn, this completely took me by surprise because I felt both my manager and our VP liked me. I did get an awesome new job a few weeks later, but this left a sour taste in my mouth for a while.
At any rate, it's best to look for the future. On that note, my New Year's resolutions for 2019 are to get a promotion and improve my social skills. Let's get serious!
Currently listening to: "Another Night" by Real McCoy
Sunday, December 9, 2018
another awesome holiday party
Today was the annual book club holiday potluck and book exchange. I had been looking forward to it for a while. It was certainly lots of fun!
The event was supposed to be at Elizabeth's house like last year. But because she was going to be out of town this time, the party was moved to Dane's new house in San Jose.
Everyone brought lots of food as this was a potluck dinner. Everything was delicious, especially the IKEA meatballs. After we got desserts and drinks, it was time to do the white elephant gift exchange. It got pretty heated near the and as people kept stealing each other's books. That was hilarious!
We then played a round of Left Center Right afterwards. This was my first time playing this game, and it was pretty fun even though I didn't win. Although I left shortly afterwards because I'm starting my new job tomorrow and wanted time to prepare, this party was definitely one of the best ever. I certainly wish I could have stayed longer. At any rate, I'd like to thank Dane and Che for hosting this event and opening up their home.
In other news...
I mentioned earlier that I'm starting my new job tomorrow. I'm a little nervous but extremely excited at the same time!
Currently reading: The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The event was supposed to be at Elizabeth's house like last year. But because she was going to be out of town this time, the party was moved to Dane's new house in San Jose.
Everyone brought lots of food as this was a potluck dinner. Everything was delicious, especially the IKEA meatballs. After we got desserts and drinks, it was time to do the white elephant gift exchange. It got pretty heated near the and as people kept stealing each other's books. That was hilarious!
We then played a round of Left Center Right afterwards. This was my first time playing this game, and it was pretty fun even though I didn't win. Although I left shortly afterwards because I'm starting my new job tomorrow and wanted time to prepare, this party was definitely one of the best ever. I certainly wish I could have stayed longer. At any rate, I'd like to thank Dane and Che for hosting this event and opening up their home.
In other news...
I mentioned earlier that I'm starting my new job tomorrow. I'm a little nervous but extremely excited at the same time!
Currently reading: The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Monday, August 6, 2018
a bittersweet weekend
The weekend had its highs and lows. The nice thing is that we had a big party at our house. However, the RuneScape Classic shutdown was a bit of a downer.
Summer party report
Saturday was great as my parents invited several friends over. Mom made great food as usual, especially the cold sesame noodles. The guests later watched a documentary about a Chinese poet while I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl afterwards. The best part is that everyone brought high-quality desserts, none of which were cheap. On the whole, the party was one of our best ever. I really need to convince other young people to join us next time!
The end of an era: RuneScape Classic shut down
The bad news is that Jagex closed RuneScape Classic today after running the game for 17 and a half years. I figured this would eventually happen but didn't expect it to be so soon. Although I haven't played RSC much since the free version was removed, the game was a huge part of my childhood. Because I'm currently not a member, I couldn't even get a final screenshot of my character. :-(
But what sucks the most is that I had a bunch of rare items on my RSC account. They'd be worth billions of GP if Jagex allowed us to transfer them to the main game. I really wish I had transferred my items back to RS2 when I had the chance. Oh well.
In other news...
Congratulations to my friend Eddie on his recent marriage!
Currently watching: Starship Troopers: Invasion
Summer party report
Saturday was great as my parents invited several friends over. Mom made great food as usual, especially the cold sesame noodles. The guests later watched a documentary about a Chinese poet while I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl afterwards. The best part is that everyone brought high-quality desserts, none of which were cheap. On the whole, the party was one of our best ever. I really need to convince other young people to join us next time!
The end of an era: RuneScape Classic shut down
The bad news is that Jagex closed RuneScape Classic today after running the game for 17 and a half years. I figured this would eventually happen but didn't expect it to be so soon. Although I haven't played RSC much since the free version was removed, the game was a huge part of my childhood. Because I'm currently not a member, I couldn't even get a final screenshot of my character. :-(
But what sucks the most is that I had a bunch of rare items on my RSC account. They'd be worth billions of GP if Jagex allowed us to transfer them to the main game. I really wish I had transferred my items back to RS2 when I had the chance. Oh well.
In other news...
Congratulations to my friend Eddie on his recent marriage!
Currently watching: Starship Troopers: Invasion
Monday, January 1, 2018
an eventful New Year
I hope everyone had a great New Year. Though our New Year's Eve dinner sucked, the past two days went pretty well.
Linda's holiday party
The nice thing is that our family friend Linda invited us and several other friends over on the 30th. Our group met at the Oakland California Temple for pictures as the view from the church was quite nice. Everyone then headed over to Linda's house for tea and snacks. The gathering was to be on New Year's Eve, but Linda accepted my mother's suggestion to move it forward a day so that it would be convenient for others. This was pretty fun even though it was all old people.
New Year's Eve report
The day had a good start as my father and I watched The Sting together. Dad wanted to see that movie again, so we went to get it at the library. The three of us then headed to Black Angus Steakhouse for dinner. Having enjoyed my birthday dinner so much, my parents figured this would be the perfect place to celebrate New Year's Eve.
However, this experience wasn't exactly stellar. For one, the service was slow and terrible. In addition, the waiter forgot about our request for more bread. He also didn't bring us any hot water until we asked for the third time.
The waiter also got my father's order wrong three times. He wanted a steak soup but instead got a loaded baked potato soup. Dad likes his steak cooked to medium rare but got a well-done one. They made him a new one, but it was still overcooked. He begrudging accepted it because we had already wasted enough time. We also had to wait 20 minutes for the bill due to "computer problems." I ended up missing the Times Square ball drop due to all the delays, and my father ended up with a headache. Fuck them.
Though the restaurant had the decency to comp my father's meal, it's unlikely we'll ever return there. Back at home, the three of us finished watching The Sting before my parents went to bed. As midnight approached, I did a countdown with some people in RuneScape before calling it a day.
New Year's Day run
2018 had a great start as there was a Star Wars-themed New Year run in downtown Los Altos. Though we skipped the last one because it was too cold outside, the weather was just right today. This was definitely a great way to start the year!
2017 in review
The past year definitely had its ups and downs. Getting my new job was certainly the best thing that happened to me. Speaking of which, the company holiday cruise was one of the highlights of the year. The same could be said for our recent trip to Bakersfield.
But there were some not-so-glorious moments. The worst part was when our family friend Eileen passed away in the fall. She was one of the few people that really cared about us. Another thing was that I lost my job at Amazon Lab126 in March. Though I managed to get a new job just a few weeks later, being let go out of the blue certainly sucks.
All that having been said, one must look to the future. Speaking of which, my resolutions for 2018 are read more books and get a promotion at my new job. Challenge accepted!
Currently listening to: "Come a Little Bit Closer" by Jay and the Americans
Linda's holiday party
The nice thing is that our family friend Linda invited us and several other friends over on the 30th. Our group met at the Oakland California Temple for pictures as the view from the church was quite nice. Everyone then headed over to Linda's house for tea and snacks. The gathering was to be on New Year's Eve, but Linda accepted my mother's suggestion to move it forward a day so that it would be convenient for others. This was pretty fun even though it was all old people.
New Year's Eve report
The day had a good start as my father and I watched The Sting together. Dad wanted to see that movie again, so we went to get it at the library. The three of us then headed to Black Angus Steakhouse for dinner. Having enjoyed my birthday dinner so much, my parents figured this would be the perfect place to celebrate New Year's Eve.
However, this experience wasn't exactly stellar. For one, the service was slow and terrible. In addition, the waiter forgot about our request for more bread. He also didn't bring us any hot water until we asked for the third time.
The waiter also got my father's order wrong three times. He wanted a steak soup but instead got a loaded baked potato soup. Dad likes his steak cooked to medium rare but got a well-done one. They made him a new one, but it was still overcooked. He begrudging accepted it because we had already wasted enough time. We also had to wait 20 minutes for the bill due to "computer problems." I ended up missing the Times Square ball drop due to all the delays, and my father ended up with a headache. Fuck them.
Though the restaurant had the decency to comp my father's meal, it's unlikely we'll ever return there. Back at home, the three of us finished watching The Sting before my parents went to bed. As midnight approached, I did a countdown with some people in RuneScape before calling it a day.
New Year's Day run
2018 had a great start as there was a Star Wars-themed New Year run in downtown Los Altos. Though we skipped the last one because it was too cold outside, the weather was just right today. This was definitely a great way to start the year!
2017 in review
The past year definitely had its ups and downs. Getting my new job was certainly the best thing that happened to me. Speaking of which, the company holiday cruise was one of the highlights of the year. The same could be said for our recent trip to Bakersfield.
But there were some not-so-glorious moments. The worst part was when our family friend Eileen passed away in the fall. She was one of the few people that really cared about us. Another thing was that I lost my job at Amazon Lab126 in March. Though I managed to get a new job just a few weeks later, being let go out of the blue certainly sucks.
All that having been said, one must look to the future. Speaking of which, my resolutions for 2018 are read more books and get a promotion at my new job. Challenge accepted!
Currently listening to: "Come a Little Bit Closer" by Jay and the Americans
Friday, December 15, 2017
company holiday cruise
Today was my company's holiday cruise in San Francisco. It was so much fun!
I had to leave my house just after noon as boarding was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Dad wanted to start out early because the route to San Francisco is often congested. The good news is that we arrived in San Francisco with plenty of time to spare. Because nobody else was there, my family went for a short stroll around the pier in the meantime. They then dropped me off at the gate as my co-workers started to arrive.
It was soon time to board the California Hornblower and get the party started. The boat then set sail 30 minutes later as dinner was served. The food wasn't that extraordinary - mainly because the prime rib was too tough - but that wasn't a big deal as the main purpose of the cruise was to enjoy the atmosphere.
There was also a DJ on board. Though not many people got up to dance, our senior executive administrator Jonell was more than happy to hit the dance floor. She was the life of the party. A lot of people later got on the observation decks to watch the sunset. This was a wonderful experience and brought back memories of the dinner cruise during our trip to Hawaii in 2002. The cruise also reminded me of the Boat Dance at Berkeley during my freshman year.
On the whole, the cruise couldn't have been better. I'd like to thank Jonell for organizing this event and am definitely looking forward to the one next year. Feel free to check out my pictures from the cruise.
Currently watching: Wonder Woman (2017)
I had to leave my house just after noon as boarding was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Dad wanted to start out early because the route to San Francisco is often congested. The good news is that we arrived in San Francisco with plenty of time to spare. Because nobody else was there, my family went for a short stroll around the pier in the meantime. They then dropped me off at the gate as my co-workers started to arrive.
It was soon time to board the California Hornblower and get the party started. The boat then set sail 30 minutes later as dinner was served. The food wasn't that extraordinary - mainly because the prime rib was too tough - but that wasn't a big deal as the main purpose of the cruise was to enjoy the atmosphere.
There was also a DJ on board. Though not many people got up to dance, our senior executive administrator Jonell was more than happy to hit the dance floor. She was the life of the party. A lot of people later got on the observation decks to watch the sunset. This was a wonderful experience and brought back memories of the dinner cruise during our trip to Hawaii in 2002. The cruise also reminded me of the Boat Dance at Berkeley during my freshman year.
On the whole, the cruise couldn't have been better. I'd like to thank Jonell for organizing this event and am definitely looking forward to the one next year. Feel free to check out my pictures from the cruise.
Currently watching: Wonder Woman (2017)
Sunday, December 10, 2017
book club holiday party report
Two months ago, I joined a book club for people in their 20s and 30s on the recommendation of my father. The nice thing is that we just had our annual holiday potluck and book exchange!
This year's event took at Elizabeth's house. After everyone got some food, each of us introduced ourselves before participating in the book exchange. Because we were going by white elephant rules, people were allowed to "steal" others' books. The whole thing was pretty hilarious. I gave away The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and ultimately received Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. Though my top choice was "stolen" by others, I've heard Man's Search for Meaning is a great book too.
Our organizer Dane later brought out some board games. Everyone then decided to play the adult version of Codenames after the exchange. It definitely brought out the 14-year-old in all of us. I think our parents would freak out at all the dirty conversations being thrown around. :P
On the whole, the party was lots of fun. It was supposed to run from 4 to 8 p.m. per the invitation, but everyone had such a great time that some of us stayed for almost an extra hour. I'm glad I got into reading and am definitely looking forward to next year's holiday book exchange. For those of my San Francisco Bay Area readers who may also be interested in joining our club, here is a link to our Meetup group. :-)
Currently reading: Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
This year's event took at Elizabeth's house. After everyone got some food, each of us introduced ourselves before participating in the book exchange. Because we were going by white elephant rules, people were allowed to "steal" others' books. The whole thing was pretty hilarious. I gave away The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and ultimately received Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. Though my top choice was "stolen" by others, I've heard Man's Search for Meaning is a great book too.
Our organizer Dane later brought out some board games. Everyone then decided to play the adult version of Codenames after the exchange. It definitely brought out the 14-year-old in all of us. I think our parents would freak out at all the dirty conversations being thrown around. :P
On the whole, the party was lots of fun. It was supposed to run from 4 to 8 p.m. per the invitation, but everyone had such a great time that some of us stayed for almost an extra hour. I'm glad I got into reading and am definitely looking forward to next year's holiday book exchange. For those of my San Francisco Bay Area readers who may also be interested in joining our club, here is a link to our Meetup group. :-)
Currently reading: Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Monday, August 7, 2017
a final farewell to Eileen
You may remember that our family friend Eileen recently passed away a few days ago. Today was the celebration of her life.
Only my parents attended the viewing because I was at work and they didn't want it to impact me too much. Dad then picked me up at the BART station near my office before we met up with the other people at Eileen's house. It was pretty crowded as Eileen's family and other friends were all there.
This was followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant. There was lots of food, but I was admittedly feeling a bit emotional and didn't eat much. On the other hand, I got to meet many of Eileen's relatives. Though it was nice to get acquainted with them, this definitely wasn't the situation in which I wanted that to happen. The plan was to go back to Eileen's house afterwards, but we decided to head home because everyone was getting tired.
It's a little sad to realized that one of our closest family friends is gone. I'm going to miss Eileen for sure. :-(
Currently listening to: "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban
Only my parents attended the viewing because I was at work and they didn't want it to impact me too much. Dad then picked me up at the BART station near my office before we met up with the other people at Eileen's house. It was pretty crowded as Eileen's family and other friends were all there.
This was followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant. There was lots of food, but I was admittedly feeling a bit emotional and didn't eat much. On the other hand, I got to meet many of Eileen's relatives. Though it was nice to get acquainted with them, this definitely wasn't the situation in which I wanted that to happen. The plan was to go back to Eileen's house afterwards, but we decided to head home because everyone was getting tired.
It's a little sad to realized that one of our closest family friends is gone. I'm going to miss Eileen for sure. :-(
Currently listening to: "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Super Bowl weekend report
I had a pretty good weekend, especially considering that we went to our family friend Grace's birthday party and watched the Super Bowl!
To start off, my company had a Super Bowl happy hour on Friday. This was our first time doing something like this. It was really fun as there was good food and karaoke. The only downside is that the food ran out pretty quickly, but I can't complain about the quality of the event.
Saturday was also nice as we celebrated Grace's 70th birthday at a Thai restaurant. With about 40 people in attendance, the party was much larger than expected. There was lots of food, and everyone had a great time. The only issue is that the limited space made it hard to socialize. Grace's husband CY invited us to hang out at their house afterwards, but we decided to leave that to another time as Grace seemed exhausted.
I watched Justice League: Gods and Monsters on DVD after getting home. It was really good for an animated movie. This was a great way to end the evening.
I spent most of Sunday evening studying Android programming. However, Dad and I watched Super Bowl LI in the afternoon. I must say that the Patriots' comeback was hella impressive. It was overall a great game.
Currently listening to: "Waterloo" by ABBA
To start off, my company had a Super Bowl happy hour on Friday. This was our first time doing something like this. It was really fun as there was good food and karaoke. The only downside is that the food ran out pretty quickly, but I can't complain about the quality of the event.
Saturday was also nice as we celebrated Grace's 70th birthday at a Thai restaurant. With about 40 people in attendance, the party was much larger than expected. There was lots of food, and everyone had a great time. The only issue is that the limited space made it hard to socialize. Grace's husband CY invited us to hang out at their house afterwards, but we decided to leave that to another time as Grace seemed exhausted.
I watched Justice League: Gods and Monsters on DVD after getting home. It was really good for an animated movie. This was a great way to end the evening.
I spent most of Sunday evening studying Android programming. However, Dad and I watched Super Bowl LI in the afternoon. I must say that the Patriots' comeback was hella impressive. It was overall a great game.
Currently listening to: "Waterloo" by ABBA
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Chinese New Year weekend report
"Don't worry, I won't bug you about reviewing my code here." -- me to Desiree"
The Lunar New Year weekend was great as we had a big party at a family friend's farm. I also got to attend the Lab126 post-holiday event. :-)
Lunar New Year party report
I'll start with some background: my mother was elected as president of a Chinese writers' association sometime last year. Mom decided to organize a celebration for Chinese New Year that our family friend Charles was kind enough to host.
The party took place at the Won family's farm in Hollister. There was lots of food as this was a potluck lunch. After the meal, the Wons gave us a tour of their farm. It definitely brought back memories of New Zealand. There was nobody else my age, but I can't complain about a good party. :P
Lab126 post-holiday celebration
Later in the evening was my company's annual post-holiday celebration. This one took place at Levi's Stadium, where we had a similar event in 2015. However, unlike the last party, we also had a live band this time. That was a pretty nice touch. I was a little tired and didn't stay until the end this time, but I don't think I missed much.
Today was mostly eventful. Having done so much the day before, I spent most of the time studying search algorithms. Other than that, I managed to get level 86 dungeoneering in RuneScape. :-)(
Currently listening to: "Starman" by David Bowie
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