It was an emotional day as we laid my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan to rest at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. You may recall that she passed away two and a half months ago. Her funeral was held in Taiwan, but we asked my aunt Jill to bring her ashes back because she loved America.
The service at was a fairly small affair. The only attendees were Jill, the Shiehs and two close family friends. The ceremony was about an hour long and a sobering experience. As we left the cemetery and headed out to lunch, I suddenly realized just how precious life really is. I'm going to miss Grandma for sure. :-(
In other news...
On a happier note, my family is leaving for Alaska in the afternoon. This will be our second summer trip!
Currently watching: The War of the Worlds
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Happy birthday to Casey!
Our family friend Mei's son Casey just turned 10 years old. She had a big party at her house and asked us to come over. It was just me and Mom as Dad has to work and couldn't take the day off.
Aside from a few high school girls, the guests were young children and their parents. Though I mostly played games on my laptop, the party was lots of fun. I'd definitely like to thank the Lees for having us over. Summer has been great so far, especially considering that my family just came back from an awesome trip to the Pacific Northwest earlier this month.
Currently listening to: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J. S. Bach
Aside from a few high school girls, the guests were young children and their parents. Though I mostly played games on my laptop, the party was lots of fun. I'd definitely like to thank the Lees for having us over. Summer has been great so far, especially considering that my family just came back from an awesome trip to the Pacific Northwest earlier this month.
Currently listening to: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J. S. Bach
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
level 99 Firemaking in RuneScape Classic
I finally reached level 99 Firemaking in RuneScape Classic after a long grind. Here is a screenshot of me leveling up. I know this achievement is kind of pointless, but having two 99's certainly gives me bragging rights. :-)
It's a shame RuneScape Classic is no longer being updated. Sometimes newer isn't better.
Currently playing: RuneScape Classic
It's a shame RuneScape Classic is no longer being updated. Sometimes newer isn't better.
Currently playing: RuneScape Classic
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Pacific Northwest trip report
"Looks like you're about to declare war on Canada." -- me to a kid in Port Angeles, on his firework stash
I just got back from Oregon and Washington with my parents. This was our first visit to the Pacific Northwest in years. It was one of our best vacations ever!
Day 1
The trip began with an afternoon flight to Portland. The plane landed at Portland International Airport a little less than two hours later. Dad rented an SUV and took us to our hotel, located in a quiet place in the suburbs. Lots of people were sitting outside enjoying the fresh air. The nice weather made for a perfect stroll around the area. I then spent the evening playing Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 4 and Hell to Pay on my laptop.
Day 2
The first stop of the day was Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington. The 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in modern times. Dad knew I loved geology and thought I'd like this place. The view from the Johnston Ridge Observatory was breathtaking - pictures don't do it justice at all. This was followed by lunch at Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center as it was almost noon.
We checked into our hotel in Enumclaw and headed to Mt. Rainier National Park afterwards. The mountain was beautiful, especially from a distance. One trail led to Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, the site of a former resort. The springs are quite small but still had water bubbling up.
Day 3
Happy 4th of July!
The three of us went back to Mt. Rainier National Park after checking out of our hotel. One place I really liked was the Sunrise Visitor Center. There was topographic jigsaw puzzle laid out on the table at the gift shop. Though it was quite a challenge, Mom and I managed to put some pieces together.
Dad took us to Olympic National Park in the late afternoon. The highlight of our visit was Olympic Hot Springs. The round trip was a little over 4.8 miles, but that wasn't a problem because the sun sets late at this time of the year. Mom suggested soaking our feet in the water, which we did. There was virtually nobody else the whole time. It was a surreal experience.
Our final destination of the day was Port Angeles. Lots of people started lighting fireworks after sunset. Some even shot them from their boats in the harbor. This was unlike anything in California. But because we didn't know fireworks were legal here, I didn't buy any and had to miss out. This was my biggest regret of the trip.
The city's own fireworks display was also nice. Someone blared "Take It to the Limit" during the finale, adding to the atmosphere. On the whole, Port Angeles was quite enjoyable. Looks like we'll have to come back here in the future.
Day 4
We took a walk along the harbor and made a short stop at Safeway before heading to Vancouver, Washington. The beauty of the Pacific Northwest made the drive worthwhile. Upon our arrival in Vancouver, Mom noticed there were traffic enforcement cameras at every intersection. Holy crap. Just how much money do they make from citations?
Day 5
Our journey brought us back to Oregon. A sign for a U-pick blueberry farm caught our eye as we passed Hood River. The berries weren't only dirt cheap, but also juicy and delicious. The downside is that we didn't have anything to clean them with. Speaking of which, Mom said her tongue felt numb after eating the berries. Yikes!
One of the best-known attractions in Oregon is Multnomah Falls. The three-tiered waterfall was an incredible sight and made for some great pictures. The nearby Multnomah Falls Trail was perfect for a hike. I also enjoyed browsing the gift shop at the center even though nothing was cheap.
The next stop was the Bonneville Fish Hatchery in Cascade Locks. Unlike most hatcheries, this one was beautiful and had a natural feel. It was a nice place to relax before heading to Portland.
Day 6
The flight back to San Francisco was in the early afternoon. Given the schedule, there wasn't much to do besides check out the airport shops. I wish the trip wasn't over so soon, but all good things must end.
Conclusions
All in all, this was one of our most memorable vacations in years. Hiking through the forest to Olympic Hot Springs was a rewarding experience. The same goes for our stay in Port Angeles and picking blueberries. It's hard to say which was my favorite part of the trip. The Pacific Northwest is easily one of the most scenic places in the world. I wouldn't mind moving there when I retire.
Currently listening to: "Take It to the Limit" by the Eagles
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
on being a RuneScape player moderator
I just accepted an invitation from Jagex to become a RuneScape player moderator. This means I can now send priority reports and mute players for serious rule violations. In addition to having a silver crown next to my name when sending messages, I can also post on the official forums as a free user. Besides these things, player moderators don't get any special perks.
For those concerned about us abusing our power, there are guidelines on when we can mute people. I can't disclose much else as the player moderator manual is confidential, but you needn't worry about being muted as long as you follow the rules. :-)
Currently playing: RuneScape
For those concerned about us abusing our power, there are guidelines on when we can mute people. I can't disclose much else as the player moderator manual is confidential, but you needn't worry about being muted as long as you follow the rules. :-)
Currently playing: RuneScape
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
back from CalSO
I just got back from the Cal Student Orientation with my parents. This was my first real taste of college life as I had to spend a night in the dorms. I was somewhat nervous but soon felt at home after finding out my roommate spoke Mandarin too.
The two-day event began with us meeting our counselors. They then divided us into small groups for the campus tour. The counselors also talked about life at Berkeley and went over things like majors, course selection, campus safety and student services. College is very different from high school, that's for sure. On the whole, CalSO was a worthwhile experience.
There was also an orientation for parents and supporters. Just as going to college is a major milestone in my life, it's also a big deal for Mom and Dad!
Currently watching: The Matrix Reloaded
The two-day event began with us meeting our counselors. They then divided us into small groups for the campus tour. The counselors also talked about life at Berkeley and went over things like majors, course selection, campus safety and student services. College is very different from high school, that's for sure. On the whole, CalSO was a worthwhile experience.
There was also an orientation for parents and supporters. Just as going to college is a major milestone in my life, it's also a big deal for Mom and Dad!
Currently watching: The Matrix Reloaded
Friday, June 11, 2004
done with high school
I've officially graduated from Los Altos High School. It's hard to believe how fast time goes. Class of 2004 forever!
Graduation report
The commencement was held on the athletic field. The band played "Pomp and Circumstance" as we filed in. The school officials and valedictorians then spoke about our achievements and our future. After everything was said and done, the seniors were called to the stage to collect their diplomas. This was the moment we had all been waiting for.
Of note is that there was no senior prank this year. Because some past pranks have gone too far and resulted in disciplinary action, our class decided to play it safe and ditch the idea altogether. Though several people blew up a beach ball and passed it around during the speeches, the commencement was overall uneventful.
Looking back
On the whole, my favorite part of high school was Mr. Shaull's choir class. I never knew it could be so much fun. One of my regrets is being so reluctant to take it when I first had the chance. I'll also miss our physics teacher Mr. Randall and his sense of humor. He certainly knew how to lighten up a bad day and make a difficult subject enjoyable.
Another great memory was when our English class threw a surprise party for Ms. Bang in 9th grade. Some of the girls had found out her birthday and decided to bake her a cake. Everyone then wished her a happy birthday as she walked in the door. She still gave us homework afterwards. Go figure.
Outside of academics, the dances were pretty fun too. Though I only went to the non-formal ones, they were always something to look forward to. The back-to-school dance in August was my favorite. There better be dances in college. :-)
One nice thing about LAHS is that bullying was rare. Even the guy who picked on me all the time at Egan generally left me alone. I'm guessing it was just a phase for him. To be fair, teenagers don't always have the best judgment.
Speaking of which, I got in trouble myself on more than one occasion. During my freshman year, Mrs. Roth sent me to the office for saying "shit" one too many times. The assistant principal said I could have been suspended but only gave me a warning as we knew each other fairly well. It's good to have friends in high places. *grin*
Another time was when I showed my friend Scott a complaint generator during a world literature workshop. In my infinite wisdom, I entered Mrs. McClelland as an example. The timing was unfortunate as she just happened to walk past us. Awkward.
There was also an incident with the net send command. I was bored after finishing an online exercise and decided to advertise RuneScape to my chemistry class. But what I didn't realize is that the message went out to every computer on the network and not just those in the classroom. Imagine my surprise when Ms. Bradley told me what happened. I still can't believe I only got a stern warning from her. Good times.
Perhaps the worst thing that happened was getting kicked out of Spanish III during my junior year. I was afraid I wouldn't get into a good college, but things turned out otherwise. It's nice to know schools don't just look at grades.
All in all, my four years at Los Altos High School went extremely well. I'm going to miss everyone for sure.
The obligatory celebration
The day ended with a school-sponsored party called Grad Night that runs from 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. I decided not to go as the tickets were about $100 per person. Instead, my family had a nice dinner at Sundance the Steakhouse in Palo Alto. I loved the Australian lobster tail that Mom ordered. It was very expensive - $42 to be exact - but turned out to be the best part of the meal. I definitely can't complain.
Currently listening to: Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition soundtrack - "Departure" by Lee Jackson
Historical note: Our pictures from the commencement are on Flickr. The official pictures have been removed from the LAHS website but are available at the Internet Archive.
Graduation report
The commencement was held on the athletic field. The band played "Pomp and Circumstance" as we filed in. The school officials and valedictorians then spoke about our achievements and our future. After everything was said and done, the seniors were called to the stage to collect their diplomas. This was the moment we had all been waiting for.
Of note is that there was no senior prank this year. Because some past pranks have gone too far and resulted in disciplinary action, our class decided to play it safe and ditch the idea altogether. Though several people blew up a beach ball and passed it around during the speeches, the commencement was overall uneventful.
Looking back
On the whole, my favorite part of high school was Mr. Shaull's choir class. I never knew it could be so much fun. One of my regrets is being so reluctant to take it when I first had the chance. I'll also miss our physics teacher Mr. Randall and his sense of humor. He certainly knew how to lighten up a bad day and make a difficult subject enjoyable.
Another great memory was when our English class threw a surprise party for Ms. Bang in 9th grade. Some of the girls had found out her birthday and decided to bake her a cake. Everyone then wished her a happy birthday as she walked in the door. She still gave us homework afterwards. Go figure.
Outside of academics, the dances were pretty fun too. Though I only went to the non-formal ones, they were always something to look forward to. The back-to-school dance in August was my favorite. There better be dances in college. :-)
One nice thing about LAHS is that bullying was rare. Even the guy who picked on me all the time at Egan generally left me alone. I'm guessing it was just a phase for him. To be fair, teenagers don't always have the best judgment.
Speaking of which, I got in trouble myself on more than one occasion. During my freshman year, Mrs. Roth sent me to the office for saying "shit" one too many times. The assistant principal said I could have been suspended but only gave me a warning as we knew each other fairly well. It's good to have friends in high places. *grin*
Another time was when I showed my friend Scott a complaint generator during a world literature workshop. In my infinite wisdom, I entered Mrs. McClelland as an example. The timing was unfortunate as she just happened to walk past us. Awkward.
There was also an incident with the net send command. I was bored after finishing an online exercise and decided to advertise RuneScape to my chemistry class. But what I didn't realize is that the message went out to every computer on the network and not just those in the classroom. Imagine my surprise when Ms. Bradley told me what happened. I still can't believe I only got a stern warning from her. Good times.
Perhaps the worst thing that happened was getting kicked out of Spanish III during my junior year. I was afraid I wouldn't get into a good college, but things turned out otherwise. It's nice to know schools don't just look at grades.
All in all, my four years at Los Altos High School went extremely well. I'm going to miss everyone for sure.
The obligatory celebration
The day ended with a school-sponsored party called Grad Night that runs from 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. I decided not to go as the tickets were about $100 per person. Instead, my family had a nice dinner at Sundance the Steakhouse in Palo Alto. I loved the Australian lobster tail that Mom ordered. It was very expensive - $42 to be exact - but turned out to be the best part of the meal. I definitely can't complain.
Currently listening to: Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition soundtrack - "Departure" by Lee Jackson
Historical note: Our pictures from the commencement are on Flickr. The official pictures have been removed from the LAHS website but are available at the Internet Archive.
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