I mentioned in an earlier post that I was getting a MacBook Pro. Seeing that Macs have become popular in recent years, Dad figured a MacBook Pro would be a nice addition. He also felt it would be useful if I ever needed to work across platforms.
At any rate, my new computer just arrived. The laptop has a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB of disk space. It makes my IBM ThinkPad T42 seem slow in comparison. The 13" screen is nice too. Thanks, Dad!
I haven't used an Apple product in ages and don't know much about the latest Macs. Looks like I'll have to start reading Mac OS X for Dummies soon. :P
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Lobster Feed report
The Lobster Feed absolutely rocked. It was an epic birthday celebration!
I was in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park with my parents last weekend when a banner at the entrance caught our eye. Given that the park is one of our favorite destinations, my father immediately bought tickets. The fact that the event was on my 24th birthday was a deciding factor. :-)
Dad invited his cousin Susan and her husband Tony to join us after finding out they were visiting from China. Mom prepared some tea before we left our house. We also took the couple to Santana Row in San Jose so they could see what it's like, although there wasn't anything they needed.
The five of us then headed to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and made our way to the event venue. There was a problem: Dad didn't know about Tony and Susan's visit and had only bought three tickets. It looked like two of us would have to miss out. However, luck was on our side: my parents were about to give up their spots when a volunteer found two more tickets at the last minute - and only because two people didn't show up. That was a close call.
Due to our early arrival, there was plenty of time for a hike. The timing couldn't have been better: all of us got back to the picnic area just as the feast started. Had we returned a few minutes later, the lines would have been much longer.
At any rate, the lobsters were delicious. I was surprised at how fresh they tasted, considering that they were shipped from Maine. Though we enjoyed the meal, the food selection was limited. Aside from the corn, garlic bread and salad, there wasn't much else except ice cream and cookies for dessert.
A local band called Highway One played bluegrass after dinner. Some people got up to dance; there was an Irish couple who knew how to bust a move. Dad also asked the band to give me a birthday shout-out, to which they obliged. That was awesome and awkward at the same time. ^_^
I also couldn't resist the opportunity to show off my new 200 mW green laser. The steam from the pots made the beam highly visible. People definitely thought it was cool.
On the whole, the Lobster Feed was awesome. Besides the small selection of food, the only downside is that the music was limited to bluegrass. Don't get me wrong - bluegrass is one of our favorite genres - but too much of the same stuff makes it repetitive. Other than that, I don't have any complaints.
While the tickets were $50 each, the proceeds go towards the park through the Mountain Parks Foundation. It's certainly nice to eat good food for a good cause. All of us were more than happy to give back to the place we love so much. I've posted some pictures from the event. Please excuse the quality as I forgot to turn on flash.
I was in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park with my parents last weekend when a banner at the entrance caught our eye. Given that the park is one of our favorite destinations, my father immediately bought tickets. The fact that the event was on my 24th birthday was a deciding factor. :-)
Dad invited his cousin Susan and her husband Tony to join us after finding out they were visiting from China. Mom prepared some tea before we left our house. We also took the couple to Santana Row in San Jose so they could see what it's like, although there wasn't anything they needed.
The five of us then headed to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and made our way to the event venue. There was a problem: Dad didn't know about Tony and Susan's visit and had only bought three tickets. It looked like two of us would have to miss out. However, luck was on our side: my parents were about to give up their spots when a volunteer found two more tickets at the last minute - and only because two people didn't show up. That was a close call.
Due to our early arrival, there was plenty of time for a hike. The timing couldn't have been better: all of us got back to the picnic area just as the feast started. Had we returned a few minutes later, the lines would have been much longer.
At any rate, the lobsters were delicious. I was surprised at how fresh they tasted, considering that they were shipped from Maine. Though we enjoyed the meal, the food selection was limited. Aside from the corn, garlic bread and salad, there wasn't much else except ice cream and cookies for dessert.
A local band called Highway One played bluegrass after dinner. Some people got up to dance; there was an Irish couple who knew how to bust a move. Dad also asked the band to give me a birthday shout-out, to which they obliged. That was awesome and awkward at the same time. ^_^
I also couldn't resist the opportunity to show off my new 200 mW green laser. The steam from the pots made the beam highly visible. People definitely thought it was cool.
On the whole, the Lobster Feed was awesome. Besides the small selection of food, the only downside is that the music was limited to bluegrass. Don't get me wrong - bluegrass is one of our favorite genres - but too much of the same stuff makes it repetitive. Other than that, I don't have any complaints.
While the tickets were $50 each, the proceeds go towards the park through the Mountain Parks Foundation. It's certainly nice to eat good food for a good cause. All of us were more than happy to give back to the place we love so much. I've posted some pictures from the event. Please excuse the quality as I forgot to turn on flash.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
officially 24 today
I'm now officially 24 years old. Gosh, that makes me feel like an old man. ^_^
You may recall that we had an early birthday celebration to accommodate the delivery of a new refrigerator. The good news is that it came in the morning and was installed by noon, leaving the rest of the day free. As you could probably tell, the new fridge was more of a coincidence than a present. :P
Just because we already had a party doesn't mean the fun is over. Dad's cousin Susan and her husband Tony are visiting from China and coming over in the afternoon, and the plan is to take them to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for the Lobster Feed. This is something I'm greatly looking forward to. I'll post a report of the event after getting home.
The presents are nice too: the store where we purchased the Lobster Feed tickets gave us two natural history books as part of a promotion. Dad has also ordered a MacBook Pro that is due to arrive soon. This is going to be an awesome birthday for sure.
One thing I like to do on my birthday is to share three random facts about my childhood. So here they are:
You may recall that we had an early birthday celebration to accommodate the delivery of a new refrigerator. The good news is that it came in the morning and was installed by noon, leaving the rest of the day free. As you could probably tell, the new fridge was more of a coincidence than a present. :P
Just because we already had a party doesn't mean the fun is over. Dad's cousin Susan and her husband Tony are visiting from China and coming over in the afternoon, and the plan is to take them to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for the Lobster Feed. This is something I'm greatly looking forward to. I'll post a report of the event after getting home.
The presents are nice too: the store where we purchased the Lobster Feed tickets gave us two natural history books as part of a promotion. Dad has also ordered a MacBook Pro that is due to arrive soon. This is going to be an awesome birthday for sure.
One thing I like to do on my birthday is to share three random facts about my childhood. So here they are:
- I sometimes pretended to be a guy named Winston when I was little.
- Shortly after I started middle school, Mom wanted me to attend the first LAYC dance so I could see what it was like. However, she didn't have school dances back in her day and assumed they were all formal. I ended up being the only one in a tuxedo. Awkward!
- I used to think hugs always went with kisses. There was this one time when one of my elementary school teachers gave me a hug while I was waiting for my mother. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. *blush*
Friday, October 9, 2009
birthday bash!
I'm turning 24 tomorrow. However, our new refrigerator is arriving the same day and will likely take a while to set up. Therefore, my family decided to do an early celebration!
Although I generally don't have birthday parties anymore, Mom invited the Chus and the Liangs over for lunch. The reason is that Wen-Ko and I share a birthday on the 10th as do Carol and Dad on the 16th. So we're really celebrating four birthdays at once!
Wen-Ko brought a delicious green tea cake from Sogo Bakery for the occasion. Here is a picture for those interested. She is definitely one of our more generous friends. But considering that it's her birthday too, I couldn't help but feel guilty about her buying the cake. Haha.
The gathering was overall quite enjoyable. The only downside is that there were no other young people. Emily had to work while Stacey was at school. Of course, that's not a problem because I'm sure our families will get together again. :-)
Currently listening to: "Vad Heter Du?" by Caramell
Although I generally don't have birthday parties anymore, Mom invited the Chus and the Liangs over for lunch. The reason is that Wen-Ko and I share a birthday on the 10th as do Carol and Dad on the 16th. So we're really celebrating four birthdays at once!
Wen-Ko brought a delicious green tea cake from Sogo Bakery for the occasion. Here is a picture for those interested. She is definitely one of our more generous friends. But considering that it's her birthday too, I couldn't help but feel guilty about her buying the cake. Haha.
The gathering was overall quite enjoyable. The only downside is that there were no other young people. Emily had to work while Stacey was at school. Of course, that's not a problem because I'm sure our families will get together again. :-)
Currently listening to: "Vad Heter Du?" by Caramell
Friday, September 18, 2009
my maternal grandfather just passed away :-(
Mom just got word that my maternal grandfather Ching-Shang Yang has died. He was 98 years old. I'm not going to lie - 2009 hasn't been a good year. :\
The details are unclear, but early reports are pointing to gastrointestinal bleeding as the cause of death. Given Grandpa's age, this was surprising but not completely unexpected. The only consolation is that he probably didn't suffer too much.
Ching-Shang was the oldest of my grandparents and the last surviving one. Our dreams that he would become a centenarian will never be realized. On the bright side, I believe he has been reunited with my grandmother Pi-Tan and uncle Harrison in Heaven. Though Grandpa may no longer be with us in person, he'll remain in our hearts forever.
To those who have offered support during this difficult time, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Currently listening to: "Shine Your Light" by Robbie Robertson
The details are unclear, but early reports are pointing to gastrointestinal bleeding as the cause of death. Given Grandpa's age, this was surprising but not completely unexpected. The only consolation is that he probably didn't suffer too much.
Ching-Shang was the oldest of my grandparents and the last surviving one. Our dreams that he would become a centenarian will never be realized. On the bright side, I believe he has been reunited with my grandmother Pi-Tan and uncle Harrison in Heaven. Though Grandpa may no longer be with us in person, he'll remain in our hearts forever.
To those who have offered support during this difficult time, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Currently listening to: "Shine Your Light" by Robbie Robertson
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Labor Day weekend party report
The weekend has been pretty good so far as we had people over last night for an early Labor Day celebration. This was our first party in a while!
Dad was on a business trip and didn't get home until right before the guests arrived. Therefore, Mom and I did most of the work in cleaning up the house and setting up the table. Believe it or not, hosting a party isn't all fun and games. However, our efforts paid off because everyone had a great time.
The guests were the Lus, the Lees and our family friend Karen. Though Eddie and my cousins had other plans and didn't come, things couldn't have been better. The table was full of food as this was a potluck dinner. Because Karen is a lawyer, there were also the usual jokes. Haha.
Mei knew I recently finished my undergraduate studies at Berkeley and gave me a Swarovski crystal set with a graduation theme. Her generosity is truly appreciated. The set is quite beautiful and can be seen here.
The kids and I watched the 3:10 to Yuma remake after dinner while our parents chatted at the table. I later played cards with Thomas, Connie and Jenny instead as the movie wasn't that good. Though Tropic Thunder may have been a better choice, Thomas and Connie had seen it before. I also showed off my new 200 mW green laser. People definitely thought it was cool. :-)
The girls later played Text Twist while Thomas and I came up with words. This was another highlight of the evening. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end: our friends had to leave as it was getting late.
The not-so-fun part is that my laptop got infected with malware while Connie and Jenny were using it to browse the web. Before anyone asks, this wasn't their fault. The virus was relatively easy to remove, but the whole situation was a pain in the ass. Fuck the jerks who write these things.
On the whole, the party totally rocked. This was actually our first time having people over during the Labor Day weekend. It seems I now have a new favorite holiday!
Currently watching: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Dad was on a business trip and didn't get home until right before the guests arrived. Therefore, Mom and I did most of the work in cleaning up the house and setting up the table. Believe it or not, hosting a party isn't all fun and games. However, our efforts paid off because everyone had a great time.
The guests were the Lus, the Lees and our family friend Karen. Though Eddie and my cousins had other plans and didn't come, things couldn't have been better. The table was full of food as this was a potluck dinner. Because Karen is a lawyer, there were also the usual jokes. Haha.
Mei knew I recently finished my undergraduate studies at Berkeley and gave me a Swarovski crystal set with a graduation theme. Her generosity is truly appreciated. The set is quite beautiful and can be seen here.
The kids and I watched the 3:10 to Yuma remake after dinner while our parents chatted at the table. I later played cards with Thomas, Connie and Jenny instead as the movie wasn't that good. Though Tropic Thunder may have been a better choice, Thomas and Connie had seen it before. I also showed off my new 200 mW green laser. People definitely thought it was cool. :-)
The girls later played Text Twist while Thomas and I came up with words. This was another highlight of the evening. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end: our friends had to leave as it was getting late.
The not-so-fun part is that my laptop got infected with malware while Connie and Jenny were using it to browse the web. Before anyone asks, this wasn't their fault. The virus was relatively easy to remove, but the whole situation was a pain in the ass. Fuck the jerks who write these things.
On the whole, the party totally rocked. This was actually our first time having people over during the Labor Day weekend. It seems I now have a new favorite holiday!
Currently watching: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
new 200 mW laser
You probably won't believe this, but Wicked Lasers just sent me a really powerful green laser for free!
Some of you may have heard of a company called Wicked Lasers that sells high-powered lasers. The CEO has recently been sending samples to members of various forums in exchange for reviews. I was one of those who received the offer. This was just about the last thing I expected, especially considering that I've harshly criticized the company in the past two years.
The laser I received is the 200 mW model of the Spyder I Pro series. This thing is incredibly bright and actually burns stuff. I could play with it for hours. Unlike the previous laser I got from Wicked Lasers, the Spyder I Pro is extremely stable. I'd definitely like to thank Steve Liu for this amazing opportunity.
You can read my full and hopefully unbiased review of the Spyder I Pro at Laser Pointer Forums. I've posted the pictures and videos in this Flickr album. The videos are available on YouTube as well.
August 29 update: The review and media are now online.
Currently watching: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Some of you may have heard of a company called Wicked Lasers that sells high-powered lasers. The CEO has recently been sending samples to members of various forums in exchange for reviews. I was one of those who received the offer. This was just about the last thing I expected, especially considering that I've harshly criticized the company in the past two years.
The laser I received is the 200 mW model of the Spyder I Pro series. This thing is incredibly bright and actually burns stuff. I could play with it for hours. Unlike the previous laser I got from Wicked Lasers, the Spyder I Pro is extremely stable. I'd definitely like to thank Steve Liu for this amazing opportunity.
You can read my full and hopefully unbiased review of the Spyder I Pro at Laser Pointer Forums. I've posted the pictures and videos in this Flickr album. The videos are available on YouTube as well.
August 29 update: The review and media are now online.
Currently watching: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
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