Monday, January 21, 2002

Martin Luther King Jr. Day + Reno trip report

We just came back from a short trip to Reno. It sucked at first because there was barely anything to do. However, that's not a problem because we still had fun.

Day 1

Our trip to Reno with the Liangs in 1996 was awesome. I remember carpooling to Circus Circus Reno and checking out the attractions. But things were very different this time: the streets were empty and desolate. We had no idea what to do because I'm only 16 and too young to gamble. Reno is nothing like Las Vegas and didn't impress us.

I didn't take my laptop because Mom thought it made me look silly on our trip to Tahoe in December. To make matters worse, there was nothing good on TV — only some local channels. Leaving early and going home wasn't an option because the fees were non-refundable. However, the saving grace is we got a voucher for a complimentary hot dog and drink from the bar. So there's that.

Day 2

We didn't feel like skiing in this weather and decided to head directly home. Dad wanted to make the most out of our trip and took us on a drive around Lake Tahoe. Due to the cold temperatures, the ice on Donner Lake covered a larger area than before. It's quite satisfying to break the ice with a hammer.

I spotted a large snowball — likely the remains of a snowman — along the Truckee River some time later. Dad and I decided to push it into the river for shits and giggles. It rolled down the bank and made a gigantic splash as it smashed through the ice. Sometimes it's these little things that make the best memories. Our day ended with dinner at the Kowloon Chinese Restaurant in San Mateo.

Epilogue

Vacations can be fun even on bad days. I'm glad we decided to stay because we ended up having a great time. You generally have to be at least 21 to get the most out of a place like Reno. But that won't happen for another five years. Guess it's time to play the waiting game!

Currently playing: DragonHeart: Fire & Steel

Monday, January 7, 2002

back to LAHS after an eventful break

School has started for me. I'm excited to see everyone even though I still have the holiday blues.

An eventful Christmas break

We definitely had a good two weeks. For starters, the trip to Tahoe last month was quite enjoyable. Several days later, my grandfather Bien-Chuan and his partner Ms. Chen came from Taiwan to visit us. I'm thrilled to see them despite what happened on New Year's Eve. It's always nice to have family over.

However, the same can't be said for the wisdom tooth removal right after Christmas. I still can't eat some foods. But even during tough times, there are things to be grateful for. I really enjoyed the company of our relatives. It made studying for exams a lot easier, that's for sure.

On another positive note, the recovery is going well so far. It looks like things will be back to normal soon — just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and two teacher in-service days. :-)

Currently playing: Tamale Loco

Tuesday, January 1, 2002

a bittersweet evening + welcoming 2002

It's hard to believe how fast time goes. Hopefully everyone had a great New Year's Eve. Despite our best efforts, things didn't quite go according to plan.

A few days ago, my grandfather Bien-Chuan and his partner Ms. Chen arrived from Taiwan to spend the holidays with us. Dad decided to take us to a Chinese restaurant for dinner to celebrate the New Year. He also invited the Shiehs and my maternal grandparents.

Unfortunately — due to a recent operation — I reluctantly had to decline. Because I can't eat solid food for a while, my mother agreed that I should use the time to prepare for finals. Even though I didn't have anything better to do, being stuck at home sucks.

Further complicating matters is the fact that Ms. Chen blamed Mom for grounding me. For one, the decision was mine alone. She should have minded her own business as this had nothing to do with her. But that apparently didn't matter because Ms. Chen only stopped when Uncle Dong told her to shut the fuck up. Go figure.

However, the good news is that I got to play RuneScape in my free time. Some players celebrated the New Year by hosting virtual parties. People "danced" and even dropped items for others to take. It's cool to see the community come together.

2001 in review

Last year certainly had its ups and downs. One highlight was the trip to Canada in the summer. All of us love the outdoors and the unspoiled wilderness. I also enjoyed the recent trip to Tahoe. Vacations are always something to look forward to.

But this has also been a tough year. On a global scale, the world has not been the same since the 9/11 attacks. It's going to have far-reaching effects for generations. Of course, the loss of our classmate Cory also hit close to home. Hope his friends and family are doing fine.

Besides these events, there were also personal challenges. Like the time I caught the flu from a friend after he came over. I was so sick at one point that I couldn't attend school for a few days. Yeah... not my idea of a good time.

The wisdom tooth extraction wasn't exactly fun either. Although the operation went smoothly — at least for the most part — having a restricted diet for two weeks is a huge pain in the ass. It's probably going to be another 10 days before I recover. But hopefully sooner. :-)

In other news...

I recently started my own forum on ProBoards. Be sure to check it out as I spent a while setting it up!

Currently playing: RuneScape