a new friend...

A friend of mine visited LA last week...we got a chance to hang out between Friday and Monday. It was an interesting 4 days. To be honest, prior to meeting up with him...I wasn't sure what to expect. I have known him for a few years now...but mostly, we only talked briefly. I worried that this weekend would be one filled with awkward moments...not b/c either of us are poor individuals (I hope I am not too full of myself to think that way:P)...but sometimes ppl just don't (for the lack of a more succinct term) "click." And to be honest...since it was his vacation, I didn't want him to feel awkward. Haha, I guess at times, I think too much...

We got a chance to do some touristy things...went to Pasadena and Universal Studios on Saturday, Santa Monica, the Getty and celebrity stalking in Hollywood on Sunday...then the outlets on Monday evening. Celebrity stalking was boring...we were trying to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars as they headed into the Kodak theatre prior to the Oscars...but we were stopped short by barricades and LA's finest...but we spent 3.5 hours at the Cafe Sierra in Hilton Universal City stuffing ourselves at a all-u-can-eat seafood buffet:P We even got mistaken as Columbia University alumni (we went in the wrong entrance)...got the red carpet treatment...haha...GF and I will remember that for awhile:P

In that time, I think both of us were surprised...from different backgrounds, we found a common interest in IT things...and found that we had many similarities...even ones beyond simply tech toys. For many ppl, I think there's no doubt that he is a genius...and he clearly has a vision that few possess (yours truly included)...to be honest, I hope he realizes his dreams, b/c they have the chance to really make a difference. For me, I hope I have made a friend...the reason I say this...is that sometimes, we put so much stock in our judgement and our impressions of ppl...that it colours how we think of them, how we treat them. And in this way, my time with a friend, proved how wrong I can be...and THAT was eye-opening...perhaps for both of us ;-)

war and peace (calvin & hobbes style)...

Saw this on digg...testament to the genius of Bill Watterson...my favourite comic...hope you like too:)

welcome to the world...

Little, little guy (only MK and AY know what this means:P) was born today at 1:19 am...welcome to the world! And congratulations to little guy and kiwi turtle:) All the very best for Owen and you guys...from the bottom of my heart:)

Hope you guys don't mind me posting this:)

stanford workshop...

Attended a workshop at Stanford on Tuesday...was an interesting (albeit much too short) trip. After my road test on Monday (which amounted to a couple of times around the block:P) and a meeting...was off to LAX and SF...arrived at SFO around 845 pm...100 bucks later (was charged a 50% premium for going to Palo Alto (actually went to Mountain View first)...with a cab driver who was arguing with his wife about his tax return and lamenting to me about his choice of spouse)...finally met up with some friends for a late dinner/dessert. Was nice...though too short once again...met P's bf and his brother...and Kiwi and little guy too...btw, congrats on your new upcoming arrival...

A short snooze later...7 am Tuesday morning...walked over to the campus...got lost a few times...but finally found my way over to the right building. The session was very good...better than most conferences I have attended...only 12 attendees...2 research fellows from the medical school, 2 reps from AD Instruments and a researcher from one of the rodent transplant labs...learned a great deal...technically and theoretically...very cool indeed. One of funny moments happened as I left...a scientist from a Vancouver company asked me if I was interested in returning home...since she felt that it was always hard to find good ppl...I was a bit flattered...it was a nice compliment. I suppose she was paying attention when I was giving the tech guys a "hard" time about ECG software...maybe she thought I actually knew what I was talking about...haha...little does she know:P Immediately afterwards, it was back to the hotel to catch the shuttle (since it was cheaper than taking the yellow cab!). Well, my ride came...instead of a van, it turned out to be a Mercedes...and I was the only passenger...go figure:)

One thing I have to rant about...I absolutely hate LAX...was delayed in SFO for 1 hr b/c of weather conditions in LA...which is fair...but the place is crazy...had to wait for 1 hr for the shuttle (despite having made reservations in advance)...when the shuttle came, the driver decided to spend another 25 mins circling around LAX 3 times to try to rassle up more passengers...so for a 730 pm flight out of SFO, I returned home at 1230 am...the crappy thing is that the flight itself tok 57 mins:(

for one more day (mitch albom)...

Very funny...can't remember the last time I read a book cover to cover in one sitting...I did with this one...it's not long...less than 200 pages...but finished it rather quickly. Albom's latest book is not his best...I am still quite partial to The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Perhaps b/c certain aspects of this story was close to my heart...not sure. It is simple enough...it is the story of a man who wants to end his own life...but through an event, came to have the chance (real or imagined) to spend one more day with his mom. I won't give away too much of the story...but it does raise an important question. In this age where we spend so much time concentrating on our work...our goals...timelines...accumulating more material wealth...do we sometimes forget those who are dear to us? Do we take those ppl for granted?...b/c they have always been there...and with our internal logic...they will still be there tomorrow... And so day after day, we keep using this to comfort ourselves...while we concentrate on the "important" things...b/c there will always be time...once I finish what I am doing right now... I cannot speak for anyone else...but I am guilty...and perhaps this is why this simple story captured my attention for this brief moment...

my dad...

Talked to my dad tonight...haven't heard him this sad in a long time. It is times like this I wish I were home...he told me that my aunt called from HK...she had had cancer surgery earlier, but had to check back into the hospital...she told my dad that she feared that this may be the last time she would be able to talk to him. To be honest, my dad and my aunt almost never talk...they were never really that close...

It's funny...my dad and I were never really close. My sis and I have our moments...maybe best captured in the movements of a pendulum. And I don't know my aunt...I saw her once almost 20 years ago... I think this may be the humanity in all of us...I felt saddened...even though I told my dad to try to have hope...and try to be even...I really felt saddened...actually I don't really have the words to describe how I feel...b/c at times like these, words seem trivial...and maybe, my words sound hollow to my dad right now. And perhaps, though my aunt and I are strangers to the other...and though we know nothing of each other's world...we are tied together...b/c we are family...and sometimes, that means more than anything...

My dad has gone through a great deal...and though we went through those events as a family...I do feel sad. No matter what, b/c my sis and I are young...we are resilient... I wish with all my heart that at this point in his life...things would just be easy for him... I wish...

there is a reason for this:P...

Haha, like my frankenorange? Was a bit tired of reading on Wednesday...was going to eat my tangerine...and then the dusty light bulb came on...am it almost blew my mind...:P

These days, I spend too much time reading...and no time on practising my surgical skills:( So decided that with suture, tools and my trusty orange peel...I was going to practise!!! And here are the results...pretty creative, eh? :)

interesting few days...

Ha! The week is almost over...can't wait for the weekend...oh wait...what will I be doing this weekend? Oh right! Have to study and prepare for my workshop next week...sigh! Such is my mundane existence...

Had a half day seminar on diversity today...kinda interesting. To be honest...actually I said this to the instructor of the course during the class...prior to attending...I chalked this one up as another one of those required courses for new hires...another class to snooze through...where ppl will simply teach one the obvious...nothing more, nothing less...so to say that I wasn't bouncing out of my bed this morning...well, that would be an understatement!:P

Well...straight to the matter...I was WRONG! The session was facilitated by someone from a consulting company...he has been doing this sort of training for 17+ years...and to be frank, I learned something. Nothing specifically to enable me to act more professionally...though there were discussions regarding the usual suspects: race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. However...one point stuck with me...and this is true at work and also in one's personal life...it is the results that matter...intentions are important...but the things that impact other's perceptions and reactions...they are the products of those intentions. Of course, everyone can think of examples whereby one's intentions, though good, ended in less than ideal results. Honestly, I knew this...but sometimes I find...not just in this area, but when someone vocalizes an idea that I am aware of...it somehow brings it to the fore in my mind...not sure how to explain it better...

In other news, I was once again rejected at the DMV. Once (if) I get my license, I will be happy never to set foot in the $*&!)^ office again!!! Scheduled my road test on Wednesday...arrived there with my rental car...the main reason for this is that I had to return the loaner that afternoon...thus I would not have to try to find a parking space afterwards (as this is next to impossible during work hours)...it was a brilliant plan (if I say so myself:P)...but the execution left something to be desired! Unfortunately, though DMV states in their handbook a rental car is allowed, Hertz does not permit this...I have to admit partial blame for this...as I assumed it would be fine! But nonetheless...it was a nice drive in the middle of the afternoon...since I don't have better things to do... :)