So my family just got back from our week-long road trip to the American Southwest. I hadn't been there in almost five years, so it was quite exciting. You'll probably want to know more about our adventure, so that's what this post is for. :-)
Day 1
Before starting out, we first had to rent an SUV as neither of our cars could carry that much luggage. Both of them are also over ten years old, and we didn't feel comfortable taking them on such a long drive anyway. So our first stop was the Enterprise Rent-A-Car at San Jose International Airport.
Enterprise was one of those agencies that allow people to pick their own vehicles. One that we decided to pass on was a red Dodge Durango because we had an unpleasant experience with a similar car during our last vacation to the Southwest in 1996. During that trip, the interior of the car had a poor design, and my parents ended up with a bad case of back pain as a result. As soon as we decided the Durango wasn't for us, two young men gladly took it off our hands. As the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." In the end, my parents and I settled on a blue GMC Jimmy that we liked.
We then drove back to our house to load our stuff, and the trip had officially begun. The first leg of our journey was a 400-mile drive to Barstow. The sun sets early at this time of the year, and it was fairly late when we got there, so we called it a day after checking into our hotel.
Day 2
Not far from Barstow was a ghost town called Calico. I'm not a huge fan of ghost towns, but Calico was one of the most memorable places we visited on our trip. One unique landmark was the house that was built entirely with glass bottles. I imagine the greenhouse effect would make it very warm in the summer. The three of us also took a tour of the town on the Calico & Odessa Railroad. The train ride was somewhat short, but it was one of the things that made Calico so much fun.
It was then time to head to Las Vegas. Our hotel for the night was the Flamingo Las Vegas, one of the many resorts on the Strip. I'm not old enough to gamble - not that I'd want to - but we still had a great time checking out the various casinos there.
Day 3
Next on our itinerary was the picturesque Lake Powell, a large reservoir on the Colorado River. There wasn't much to do at the lake as it was primarily for boating, but we really enjoyed the peaceful scenery. I could easily contemplate here for hours - even though I'm not exactly a philosopher. :P
The final stop of the day was Page, located just south of the Utah-Arizona border. There wasn't much to do in this small town either, so we mostly rested in our hotel room. I spent much of the evening playing Final Doom on my laptop, and watching Battlestar Galactica and Futurama on the hotel's TV. I'd say both of them are awesome shows.
Day 4
Merry Christmas!
Our first destination in the morning was Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. From what I've seen in travel guides, the namesake volcano was supposed to be a beautiful sight. But there wasn't much to see because the snow had completely obscured the mountain, so all we did was take a couple of pictures. Sunset Crater is definitely one of those places I'd love to revisit in the spring or fall.
The main stop of the day was the famous Meteor Crater in Arizona, also known as Barringer Crater. On the way there, my parents and I passed two small towns with unusual names: Two Guns and Twin Arrows. I couldn't help but wonder who came up with them. However, the names were the only interesting thing about the towns; there didn't seem to be any real attractions in the area, so we only took a few pictures before continuing on.
It was already noon when we arrived at Meteor Crater, so the three of us had lunch in the parking lot before heading in. The attraction was privately owned, so the admission fee wasn't covered by our national park pass. That didn't stop us from going in - after all, my family didn't drive all the way here for nothing. It's a good thing the place was open on Christmas!
The crater was much larger than I had imagined. It was formed by an impact event about 50,000 years ago, with the energy released equal to about 20 million tons of TNT. The resulting hole was almost three-quarters of a mile in diameter - undoubtedly an impressive sight.
There was a three-mile trail that went around the crater, but it was closed to the public except during guided tours. However, just standing on the rim was awe-inspiring. I can only imagine the force of the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs; from what I've heard, that one was around five million times more powerful. I'm glad I wasn't there when that happened!
The visitor center was also quite fascinating. One exhibit that caught my attention was the simulator that allowed users to visualize various impact events - up to blowing up the Earth with a Texas-sized asteroid. I had lots of fun with that for sure. *evil laughter*
On the whole, this was by far the best day of the trip.
Day 5
I don't mean to sound racist, but what happened in the morning was kind of funny in hindsight: my parents and I were leaving the hotel after breakfast when I accidentally knocked over this black dude's coffee. I apologized profusely and immediately began cleaning it up, but the people in the room tensed up as if they were expecting the guy to do something to me. Much to everyone's collective relief, nothing of the sort happened; the guy and I merely had a good laugh about it before going our separate ways.
Continuing on, the main stop of the day was Grand Canyon National Park. This place wasn't new to my parents as came here for their 1984 honeymoon, but it was my first time seeing the majestic canyon in person. However, the weather was very cold, so all we did was take some pictures. I'd love to come back here when it's a bit warmer; from what I've heard, Grand Canyon is one of the best places for hiking.
It started getting late, so we began driving back to Las Vegas. The traffic suddenly ground to a halt as we neared Sin City. At first we thought it was due to the sheer number of tourists hoping to strike it rich, but it soon became apparent that the 15 mph speed limit at Hoover Dam was the culprit. How convenient.
The traffic began clearing up as soon as we got past Hoover Dam, and we didn't arrive in Las Vegas too late despite the congestion. It's nice to not be stuck in the desert in the middle of the night; that would have surely sucked. Our hotel for the night was again the Flamingo Las Vegas.
Day 6
Our original plan was to spend another night in Las Vegas and drive directly home from there. But that would have been very exhausting, not to mention we wouldn't have been able to go to too many other places. Therefore, Dad decided to cancel our second night in Las Vegas and book a hotel in Lee Vining instead.
The route took us through Death Valley National Park. There was a stretch of the freeway in the area that had many dips and inclines. That made the drive kind of fun - it was almost like a natural roller coaster!
Despite the name, Death Valley was actually a rather nice place - at least when the weather isn't unbearably hot. The scenery was very peaceful as there were few other people around. Funnily enough, we ran into our family friend Carol's brother at one of the vista points. It's indeed a small world after all.
One place I had wanted to see was Ubehebe Crater, located near the northern end of Death Valley. Unlike Meteor Crater, this one was formed by an ancient hydrothermal explosion. Regrettably, this excursion was not possible as we didn't have enough time. Lee Vining was a few hundred miles away even without the detour, so it was already around 11:00 p.m. when we got there.
Had we still gone to Ubehebe Crater, chances are we would not have been able to get to Lee Vining until early next morning. Dad was very thankful that I did not insist on going to the crater. I guess that's something we'll have to consider for a future trip.
Day 7
We made a brief stop at Mono Lake in the morning. While there, I noticed numerous underwater springs beneath the ice; they are apparently the source of the mineral deposits from which the tufa columns are formed. Mono Lake was no doubt a fascinating place.
This was the last day of our trip, but there was still so much to do. The scenery on Route 395 was very nice, and it was still early in the afternoon, so we decided to extend our trip by taking a detour through the Lake Tahoe area instead of Yosemite National Park.
Even though my family had been to Lake Tahoe many times before, I've never gotten tired of the mountains. While looking at a map of the area, I found a nearby attraction called Grover Hot Springs State Park that we decided to check out. While there was only one hot spring that was easily accessible, the main feature of the park was the mineral water-fed swimming pool.
Mom insisted that we go in for a soak, which we did. I had my reservations at first because the water was green from minerals in the spring, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise. I'd say Grover Hot Springs is one of those "hidden gems" in the mountains. There were also many hot girls at the pool, but I was too shy to talk to any of them. Oh well.
The three of us had a nice dinner at the Kowloon seafood restaurant in San Mateo on the way home. We frequently eat here at the end of a trip, so it has become a tradition of sorts. It wasn't long before we were back in our cozy little house. I helped my parents unload our belongings before we drove back to SJC to return the Jimmy, and only then did we consider our vacation to be truly over.
Conclusions
The Southwest U.S. has always been one of my favorite travel destinations. While many people are quick to dismiss the desert as boring, I think the American Southwest one of the most unique places in the world. Although we had been on many trips before, this was the first one I had truly come to appreciate. I thought the best part of our adventure was Meteor Crater; that alone made the trip very worthwhile.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and this vacation was no exception. On the other hand, New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and we'll be having a few other families over. It's always nice to have a party right after a vacation!
Currently listening to: Relaxation & Meditation with Music & Nature: Thunderstorm at Night
Thursday, December 28, 2000
Friday, December 15, 2000
school's out for the holidays!
This was the last day of school before Christmas break. In other words, I actually survived my first half of freshman year. Woohoo!
The nice thing was that my school had a "holiday faire" at lunch today. A lot of students gathered to sell their handmade goods; they were mostly food, but there were various arts and crafts as well. I'm quite impressed that LAHS did something like this; it's certainly a great way to kick off the holiday season. I didn't buy anything as most of the items were kind of expensive, but the event was nonetheless very enjoyable.
The semester doesn't actually end until mid-January, which means I'll have to study for the finals later on. But right now, it's time to enjoy my well-earned break. Speaking of which, my family will be going on a road trip to the Southwest U.S. in about a week. I haven't been there in almost five years, so I'm super excited!
Currently playing: Perdition's Gate
The nice thing was that my school had a "holiday faire" at lunch today. A lot of students gathered to sell their handmade goods; they were mostly food, but there were various arts and crafts as well. I'm quite impressed that LAHS did something like this; it's certainly a great way to kick off the holiday season. I didn't buy anything as most of the items were kind of expensive, but the event was nonetheless very enjoyable.
The semester doesn't actually end until mid-January, which means I'll have to study for the finals later on. But right now, it's time to enjoy my well-earned break. Speaking of which, my family will be going on a road trip to the Southwest U.S. in about a week. I haven't been there in almost five years, so I'm super excited!
Currently playing: Perdition's Gate
Saturday, December 2, 2000
finally beat Ultimate Doom without cheating
The Lin family invited me and my parents to their house for dinner, and I got to hang out with Moonway this evening. I'm very happy to say that I've finally beaten Ultimate Doom without cheat codes!
I had actually finished the original three episodes back in September, but I decided to take a break because the fourth one ("Thy Flesh Consumed") was supposed to be very hard. It was indeed quite challenging, but I still managed to complete it - although not without saving and reloading countless times.
You'll probably laugh at me for this, but I usually like to cheat my way through a game a few times before playing it normally. My rationale for doing so is that it lets me become familiar with the levels without having to worry about dying. This does kind of take away the fun, but it nonetheless provides good practice. To each their own, I guess.
I should mention that Moonway also recently completed Ultimate Doom legitimately. He says he's better than me because he finished the last boss with more health left. I guess I can't argue with that. :P
Currently playing: Ultimate Doom
I had actually finished the original three episodes back in September, but I decided to take a break because the fourth one ("Thy Flesh Consumed") was supposed to be very hard. It was indeed quite challenging, but I still managed to complete it - although not without saving and reloading countless times.
You'll probably laugh at me for this, but I usually like to cheat my way through a game a few times before playing it normally. My rationale for doing so is that it lets me become familiar with the levels without having to worry about dying. This does kind of take away the fun, but it nonetheless provides good practice. To each their own, I guess.
I should mention that Moonway also recently completed Ultimate Doom legitimately. He says he's better than me because he finished the last boss with more health left. I guess I can't argue with that. :P
Currently playing: Ultimate Doom
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
I'm 15 now!
I'm now 15 years old, so happy birthday to me!
Considering that I'm too old to be having a birthday party every year, my parents did not invite anybody over or anything. On the other hand, Mom gave me a beautiful sweater she had knit herself. The sweater took countless hours to make, and I really appreciate the effort she put into it. I'm truly blessed to have such an amazing Mom.
Considering that I'm too old to be having a birthday party every year, my parents did not invite anybody over or anything. On the other hand, Mom gave me a beautiful sweater she had knit herself. The sweater took countless hours to make, and I really appreciate the effort she put into it. I'm truly blessed to have such an amazing Mom.
Saturday, October 7, 2000
my first computer program + new math website!
I just finished my first real Visual Basic program. It takes in the radius of a circle and returns its diameter, circumference and area. I know it doesn't do much, but my geometry teacher was nevertheless impressed. Therefore, I've decided to release it to the public in hopes that someone will find it useful. :-)
Download information
You can get the program at my math website here. Please note that it requires the Visual Basic 5.0 run-time files to work. For the record, future updates regarding my software will usually be posted at my math website.
For those unaware, my website used to be a fan site for the game Terminal Velocity until my mother made me shut it down over concerns that I was breaking the law. It's not copyright infringement to post links to shareware or demo versions of software - as opposed to distributing full versions - but I didn't feel like arguing with her. In any case, at least my GeoCities account is being put to good use now. :-)
Historical note: GeoCities has been shut down, so I've replaced the link with one to a static mirror.
Download information
You can get the program at my math website here. Please note that it requires the Visual Basic 5.0 run-time files to work. For the record, future updates regarding my software will usually be posted at my math website.
For those unaware, my website used to be a fan site for the game Terminal Velocity until my mother made me shut it down over concerns that I was breaking the law. It's not copyright infringement to post links to shareware or demo versions of software - as opposed to distributing full versions - but I didn't feel like arguing with her. In any case, at least my GeoCities account is being put to good use now. :-)
Historical note: GeoCities has been shut down, so I've replaced the link with one to a static mirror.
Friday, September 15, 2000
Mr. Hagan guilty :-(
Three months ago, one of the teachers at Egan was arrested for having sex with underage girls. I am saddened to learn that Mr. Hagan has pleaded guilty to the charges. I was hoping he would be exonerated because those sluts had lied about their age, but things turned out otherwise.
If the Mountain View Voice article is accurate, then he may have to go to prison for several years. However, I really hope that won't be the case. From what I've heard, inmates don't treat sex offenders too kindly. Even if he doesn't have to do time, he'll probably still have to register as a sex offender and will likely be shunned by many people as a result. This just sucks on so many levels. My thoughts are with Mr. Hagan and his family during the difficult days ahead.
If the Mountain View Voice article is accurate, then he may have to go to prison for several years. However, I really hope that won't be the case. From what I've heard, inmates don't treat sex offenders too kindly. Even if he doesn't have to do time, he'll probably still have to register as a sex offender and will likely be shunned by many people as a result. This just sucks on so many levels. My thoughts are with Mr. Hagan and his family during the difficult days ahead.
Friday, September 8, 2000
my first high school dance
I just got back from the LAHS back-to-school dance. There's no better way to start high school than with a dance party if you ask me!
There was a $5 entrance fee, but I got to go in for free as I had bought an ASB card. The dance was very similar to the LAYC dances I attended in 7th grade, except the music was somewhat louder and the dance floor was larger. There were also some slow songs, although I still haven't had the courage to ask any girls to dance. Feel free to laugh at me. :P
As I'm still kind of nervous about high school, I was afraid there would be certain incidents at the dance - such as drinks being spiked and people making love in the restroom. But my fears were probably unfounded as none of that stuff happened. Perhaps I'm worrying too much, but I guess it also helps to have all those teachers there as chaperones.
I left about half an hour before the dance was supposed to end, but I nevertheless had a great time. I'm looking forward to the next dance for sure.
Currently listening to: Raptor: Call of the Shadows soundtrack
There was a $5 entrance fee, but I got to go in for free as I had bought an ASB card. The dance was very similar to the LAYC dances I attended in 7th grade, except the music was somewhat louder and the dance floor was larger. There were also some slow songs, although I still haven't had the courage to ask any girls to dance. Feel free to laugh at me. :P
As I'm still kind of nervous about high school, I was afraid there would be certain incidents at the dance - such as drinks being spiked and people making love in the restroom. But my fears were probably unfounded as none of that stuff happened. Perhaps I'm worrying too much, but I guess it also helps to have all those teachers there as chaperones.
I left about half an hour before the dance was supposed to end, but I nevertheless had a great time. I'm looking forward to the next dance for sure.
Currently listening to: Raptor: Call of the Shadows soundtrack
Thursday, August 24, 2000
first day of high school
So I started my freshman year at Los Altos High School this morning. I was obviously pretty nervous as high school is quite different from middle school. Mom had heard all kinds of horror stories about high school, such as people doing drugs and freshmen being forced to give seniors blowjobs in the restrooms, so she was also a little worried.
Much to our collective relief, the first day went fairly well, and there was no indication that LAHS was an unsafe place. The nice part was that I got back in touch with many of my Egan and Springer classmates. But the bad news is that Alex (the guy who loved to torment me at Egan) is also attending LAHS. I just hope he won't give me grief for another four years. *crosses fingers*
The other thing is that I'm taking a 0th period biology class that is held before regular school hours. The class starts at 7:20 a.m. and meets every day except Thursdays, meaning that I have to get up early in the morning almost every day. I'm definitely not excited about that. Just who the hell came up with the idea of 0th period classes?
On the bright side, I live just one block from school. This means I won't have to deal with the traffic and worry about being late. I could probably even go home for lunch every now and then. :-)
Oh yeah, and there's the back-to-school dance in two weeks. It's a great way to start the school year for sure. Count me in!
Currently playing: Raptor: Call of the Shadows
Much to our collective relief, the first day went fairly well, and there was no indication that LAHS was an unsafe place. The nice part was that I got back in touch with many of my Egan and Springer classmates. But the bad news is that Alex (the guy who loved to torment me at Egan) is also attending LAHS. I just hope he won't give me grief for another four years. *crosses fingers*
The other thing is that I'm taking a 0th period biology class that is held before regular school hours. The class starts at 7:20 a.m. and meets every day except Thursdays, meaning that I have to get up early in the morning almost every day. I'm definitely not excited about that. Just who the hell came up with the idea of 0th period classes?
On the bright side, I live just one block from school. This means I won't have to deal with the traffic and worry about being late. I could probably even go home for lunch every now and then. :-)
Oh yeah, and there's the back-to-school dance in two weeks. It's a great way to start the school year for sure. Count me in!
Currently playing: Raptor: Call of the Shadows
Sunday, August 6, 2000
back from Willits, CA
The weekend was pretty exciting as my parents and I went on a three-day trip to Willits. It was relatively short compared to our other summer getaways, but we nonetheless had a great time.
Day 1
Willits was relatively close at 180 miles from our house, so our itinerary also included a side trip to Mendocino and Fort Bragg. However, I'm not sure if the detour was worth it. While Mendocino was quite fun when we went there several years ago, the town didn't seem to have as many attractions as we remembered. To be honest, Fort Bragg wasn't that interesting either aside from the view of the ocean.
It was then time to continue on to Willits. The route took us through the scenic Jackson State Forest, making the drive very worthwhile. All of us were somewhat tired from the traveling, so we didn't do much in the evening besides going to a local grocery store for frozen dinners.
Day 2
As my family loves the great outdoors, the three of us went hiking in a nearby nature reserve after breakfast. There weren't many trails in the area, but the redwood groves were absolutely beautiful.
We took the Skunk Train to Northspur and back later in the afternoon. The round trip was just under 40 miles, but the leisurely pace at which the train traveled made the excursion seem like several hours. There was a guy on board that played bluegrass on the banjo, which was a nice touch. On top of that, I chatted with two cute girls on the train. Haha, I'm such a flirt.
Back at the hotel, Dad and I watched Deep Blue Sea before going to bed. It was an awesome movie, even though I had seen it before. This was undoubtedly the best day of the trip.
Day 3
Having had so much fun the day before, it was a little sad to realize that our trip was coming to an end. But there was still plenty of free time, so we spent much of the day checking out the local shops and restaurants, as well as some of the nearby scenic drives. It was well past dinner time when we finally arrived home!
Conclusions
The trip was pretty nice despite being so short. Although many of the places we visited were fairly mediocre, the awesome train ride totally made up for it. That was by far the best part of our vacation. I'm not sure if we'll go on another trip this summer, but at least I still have over two weeks before school starts. :-)
Currently watching: Deep Blue Sea
Day 1
Willits was relatively close at 180 miles from our house, so our itinerary also included a side trip to Mendocino and Fort Bragg. However, I'm not sure if the detour was worth it. While Mendocino was quite fun when we went there several years ago, the town didn't seem to have as many attractions as we remembered. To be honest, Fort Bragg wasn't that interesting either aside from the view of the ocean.
It was then time to continue on to Willits. The route took us through the scenic Jackson State Forest, making the drive very worthwhile. All of us were somewhat tired from the traveling, so we didn't do much in the evening besides going to a local grocery store for frozen dinners.
Day 2
As my family loves the great outdoors, the three of us went hiking in a nearby nature reserve after breakfast. There weren't many trails in the area, but the redwood groves were absolutely beautiful.
We took the Skunk Train to Northspur and back later in the afternoon. The round trip was just under 40 miles, but the leisurely pace at which the train traveled made the excursion seem like several hours. There was a guy on board that played bluegrass on the banjo, which was a nice touch. On top of that, I chatted with two cute girls on the train. Haha, I'm such a flirt.
Back at the hotel, Dad and I watched Deep Blue Sea before going to bed. It was an awesome movie, even though I had seen it before. This was undoubtedly the best day of the trip.
Day 3
Having had so much fun the day before, it was a little sad to realize that our trip was coming to an end. But there was still plenty of free time, so we spent much of the day checking out the local shops and restaurants, as well as some of the nearby scenic drives. It was well past dinner time when we finally arrived home!
Conclusions
The trip was pretty nice despite being so short. Although many of the places we visited were fairly mediocre, the awesome train ride totally made up for it. That was by far the best part of our vacation. I'm not sure if we'll go on another trip this summer, but at least I still have over two weeks before school starts. :-)
Currently watching: Deep Blue Sea
Saturday, July 1, 2000
company picnic report
Today was pretty fun as my parents and I went to Dad's company's summer picnic. The best part was that I got to see my friend Moonway as his father also works at Arcadia Design Systems, Inc.
Unlike the other company picnics we have been to, this one had fewer activities. I don't recall seeing any carnival games, raffles or anything of the sort. On the other hand, the venue was quite large, and there were several areas for sports. It was also nice to hang out with Moonway for almost the entire afternoon!
In other news...
I'm taking summer Spanish and reading classes at Foothill College right now. Reading generally isn't my favorite subject, but some of the books for the class are quite interesting. So at least it's not as boring as the other literature classes I've taken. :-)
Currently reading: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Unlike the other company picnics we have been to, this one had fewer activities. I don't recall seeing any carnival games, raffles or anything of the sort. On the other hand, the venue was quite large, and there were several areas for sports. It was also nice to hang out with Moonway for almost the entire afternoon!
In other news...
I'm taking summer Spanish and reading classes at Foothill College right now. Reading generally isn't my favorite subject, but some of the books for the class are quite interesting. So at least it's not as boring as the other literature classes I've taken. :-)
Currently reading: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
just graduated from middle school :-)
I graduated from Egan Junior High School today. Class of 2000, hell yeah!
Last day of school
The ceremony began with the 7th grade orchestra performing "Pomp and Circumstance." This was followed by the school administrators and valedictorians giving their speeches. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot outside, and we had to sit there for about two hours. I have no idea why the hell they picked the middle of the day for graduation. I'm equally surprised nobody thought of using the auditorium instead.
After the speeches and the handing out of the diplomas, it was time to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates. As a gesture of appreciation, I gave a thank-you card to every teacher I've ever had, as well as our principal and counselor. I even got a hug from my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Green, which was a little awkward as I always had a bit of a secret crush on her. *blush*
I'm also very proud to say that I've never been late or missed a single class. I admittedly took a couple of days off for family trips in elementary school. However, I decided to shoot for perfect attendance ever since I found out Springer recognized students who showed up every day. While it sadly turned out Egan didn't have such an award, that doesn't make it any less of an achievement!
Looking back
To me, the best part of middle school was Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. That alone made 8th grade very memorable. I also loved Ms. McLaughlin's science class; she always knew how to brighten up an otherwise dull day with her sense of humor. Another awesome teacher was Ms. Keon; she loved first-person shooters and was kind of cute. Hehe. It seems science teachers are cool like that. I'm also very fond of my computer teacher, Ms. Sessions, and my algebra teacher, Mrs. Massaro, both of whom were extremely kind.
The LAYC dances were also pretty fun, even though they weren't actually organized by Egan. I kind of regret only going to three of them in 7th grade. Funnily enough, I never went to Egan's own dances, although I'm sure there will be some in high school.
But middle school wasn't all fun and games: my least favorite experience was when this Russian kid named Alex kept picking on me. I certainly hope this guy won't show up at Los Altos High School in the fall. There were a few other kids who would make fun of me as well, but that changed after we found out we were all fans of first-person shooters. It seems common interests can turn bullies into buddies.
I must also admit that I've gotten into trouble a couple of times. In one instance, Mr. Smith sent me to the office because I cracked one too many inappropriate jokes in history class. To make matters worse, the teacher-in-charge had a reputation for being tough on students who break rules. But because Mr. Gonella and I knew each other pretty well, and all he did was make me pick up some trash during lunch. You see, it helps to have friends in high places.
There's also that time when my industrial technology teacher sent me outside for being annoying. Mr. Grijalva later admitted he was in a bad mood at the time; he never brought it up again, but I could tell he felt bad about it.
Despite the annoying kids and the run-ins with school rules, my two years at Egan weren't too bad. I definitely hope to go back and visit sometime. But right now, it's time to enjoy summer. :-)
Update: To celebrate graduation, my family went to a restaurant in Palo Alto for dinner. Their cranberry mashed potatoes were really good. Yum!
Currently playing: Melt Down by Jagex Software
Last day of school
The ceremony began with the 7th grade orchestra performing "Pomp and Circumstance." This was followed by the school administrators and valedictorians giving their speeches. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot outside, and we had to sit there for about two hours. I have no idea why the hell they picked the middle of the day for graduation. I'm equally surprised nobody thought of using the auditorium instead.
After the speeches and the handing out of the diplomas, it was time to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates. As a gesture of appreciation, I gave a thank-you card to every teacher I've ever had, as well as our principal and counselor. I even got a hug from my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Green, which was a little awkward as I always had a bit of a secret crush on her. *blush*
I'm also very proud to say that I've never been late or missed a single class. I admittedly took a couple of days off for family trips in elementary school. However, I decided to shoot for perfect attendance ever since I found out Springer recognized students who showed up every day. While it sadly turned out Egan didn't have such an award, that doesn't make it any less of an achievement!
Looking back
To me, the best part of middle school was Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. That alone made 8th grade very memorable. I also loved Ms. McLaughlin's science class; she always knew how to brighten up an otherwise dull day with her sense of humor. Another awesome teacher was Ms. Keon; she loved first-person shooters and was kind of cute. Hehe. It seems science teachers are cool like that. I'm also very fond of my computer teacher, Ms. Sessions, and my algebra teacher, Mrs. Massaro, both of whom were extremely kind.
The LAYC dances were also pretty fun, even though they weren't actually organized by Egan. I kind of regret only going to three of them in 7th grade. Funnily enough, I never went to Egan's own dances, although I'm sure there will be some in high school.
But middle school wasn't all fun and games: my least favorite experience was when this Russian kid named Alex kept picking on me. I certainly hope this guy won't show up at Los Altos High School in the fall. There were a few other kids who would make fun of me as well, but that changed after we found out we were all fans of first-person shooters. It seems common interests can turn bullies into buddies.
I must also admit that I've gotten into trouble a couple of times. In one instance, Mr. Smith sent me to the office because I cracked one too many inappropriate jokes in history class. To make matters worse, the teacher-in-charge had a reputation for being tough on students who break rules. But because Mr. Gonella and I knew each other pretty well, and all he did was make me pick up some trash during lunch. You see, it helps to have friends in high places.
There's also that time when my industrial technology teacher sent me outside for being annoying. Mr. Grijalva later admitted he was in a bad mood at the time; he never brought it up again, but I could tell he felt bad about it.
Despite the annoying kids and the run-ins with school rules, my two years at Egan weren't too bad. I definitely hope to go back and visit sometime. But right now, it's time to enjoy summer. :-)
Update: To celebrate graduation, my family went to a restaurant in Palo Alto for dinner. Their cranberry mashed potatoes were really good. Yum!
Currently playing: Melt Down by Jagex Software
Monday, May 29, 2000
Memorial Day weekend report
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!
The highlight of the long weekend was when my parents and I went hiking in Pinnacles National Monument with the Lin family. The place was very hot and dry when we went there for the first time a few years ago, so I had preferred to stay home at first. Moonway wasn't too interested in going either, and opted to play computer games at my house instead. Hell, even my mother wasn't a big fan of that place.
However, Dad insisted on going there anyway because this was something our two families had agreed on. The good news was that the weather turned out to be slightly cooler than expected. But to be honest, the monument wasn't super interesting save for two small caves and a handful of unique rock formations. That said, it was still nice to hang out with Moonway for the entire afternoon. I also suggested inviting his family back to our house for dinner, but Mom wouldn't hear any of it. Oh well.
Currently playing: Asphyx Assault Fighter
The highlight of the long weekend was when my parents and I went hiking in Pinnacles National Monument with the Lin family. The place was very hot and dry when we went there for the first time a few years ago, so I had preferred to stay home at first. Moonway wasn't too interested in going either, and opted to play computer games at my house instead. Hell, even my mother wasn't a big fan of that place.
However, Dad insisted on going there anyway because this was something our two families had agreed on. The good news was that the weather turned out to be slightly cooler than expected. But to be honest, the monument wasn't super interesting save for two small caves and a handful of unique rock formations. That said, it was still nice to hang out with Moonway for the entire afternoon. I also suggested inviting his family back to our house for dinner, but Mom wouldn't hear any of it. Oh well.
Currently playing: Asphyx Assault Fighter
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
Mr. Hagan charged with statutory rape :-(
I am in shock as I write this: one of the teachers at Egan, Mr. Hagan, was arrested yesterday for having sex with two underage high school girls. One of the bitches apparently couldn't keep her mouth shut and told her parents, so that's how the incident came to light. This hit very close to home as Mr. Hagan was one of my P.E. teachers.
The age of consent is 18 in California, which essentially means one must be an adult before they can legally (ahem) engage in sexual activity. But from what I've heard, the girls had lied about their age. If that's the case, then Mr. Hagan isn't to blame. He is one of the most well-liked teachers at my school, and I really hope the charges will be dropped.
May 19 update: The Mountain View Voice has published two articles relating to Mr. Hagan's arrest. You can read them here and here.
The age of consent is 18 in California, which essentially means one must be an adult before they can legally (ahem) engage in sexual activity. But from what I've heard, the girls had lied about their age. If that's the case, then Mr. Hagan isn't to blame. He is one of the most well-liked teachers at my school, and I really hope the charges will be dropped.
May 19 update: The Mountain View Voice has published two articles relating to Mr. Hagan's arrest. You can read them here and here.
Sunday, April 23, 2000
spring break + Taiwan trip report
The break was good as my family went to Taiwan. Mom and I came back yesterday without Dad as he is staying for business. The main reason for the trip was to see our relatives, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun!
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Monday, April 3, 2000
student of the day
We have a tradition at Egan where a student is chosen to be featured during the morning announcements. Only 8th graders are eligible. I wanted to share that I was today's "8th grader of the day." Imagine my surprise when they called my name!
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
Monday, March 6, 2000
return of swing dancing
We just started a dance unit in PE class. You may recall we did the same last year. I've always been shy around girls, but that didn't make it any less memorable.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
Monday, January 3, 2000
last semester at Egan
Christmas break has ended and school has started for me. It's hard to believe this is my last semester before I graduate.
So things were a little different this year. We're in the middle of a remodeling project and didn't have the chance to go anywhere during the holidays. On the bright side, the house already looks a lot better. I also had an awesome time celebrating the New Year at our family friend Carol's house. For me, that alone was a worthwhile experience.
One thing I'll miss for sure is Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. Too bad it's not longer. However, the good news is that Mr. Grijalva's industrial technology class looks fun too. I'm excited to see what it has to offer.
So things were a little different this year. We're in the middle of a remodeling project and didn't have the chance to go anywhere during the holidays. On the bright side, the house already looks a lot better. I also had an awesome time celebrating the New Year at our family friend Carol's house. For me, that alone was a worthwhile experience.
One thing I'll miss for sure is Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. Too bad it's not longer. However, the good news is that Mr. Grijalva's industrial technology class looks fun too. I'm excited to see what it has to offer.
Saturday, January 1, 2000
on the Year 2000 problem
Dad told me his company's security system went haywire. I guess the transition to the year 2000 wasn't exactly seamless. However, he says this was quickly fixed and didn't cause any damage. As far as I'm aware, there have been no major disruptions. So no power failures, plane crashes, nuclear meltdowns or accidental missile launches. Of course, the world didn't end either.
On the whole, this has been an uneventful day so far. Some argue that the money spent on Y2K — estimated at a few hundred billion dollars — was a waste. But there are many others who disagree. You can't take chances when it comes to critical infrastructure.
Currently playing: Duke Nukem
On the whole, this has been an uneventful day so far. Some argue that the money spent on Y2K — estimated at a few hundred billion dollars — was a waste. But there are many others who disagree. You can't take chances when it comes to critical infrastructure.
Currently playing: Duke Nukem
the party of a lifetime
Hope you guys had a great New Year's Eve. Or at least I did because the Liangs invited us to a big party at their house. :-)
We arrived at our family friend Carol's house in the evening and caught up with her. Carol ordered so much food that there was barely enough room on the table. After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to watch the Times Square ball drop. Imagine our anticipation as we counted down the seconds. One thing for sure is that this is a defining moment for our generation.
Some of us decided to watch The Matrix on video later. I enjoyed the special effects even though I didn't quite understand the movie. It ended pretty late — just before midnight Pacific time. Soon the year 2000 was upon us. Everyone was having so much fun that no one wanted to leave. We stayed for another hour or so before finally heading home.
One problem is that I'm socially awkward and don't have many close friends. I didn't know anyone except the Liangs and decided to take out my laptop. However, there were still opportunities to socialize. A guy saw me playing Quake and also wanted to give it a go. He turned out to be an expert at the game and even showed me some neat tricks. It's always nice to meet people with similar interests.
On the whole, the transition to the year 2000 couldn't have been better. It's hard to believe something like this only happens once every 1,000 years. Such an event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Perhaps science will one day allow us to live forever. But I digress.
Some predicted computers would crash and cause chaos. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. To my knowledge, there have been no incidents so far. At least my computers are working fine. Let's hope nothing too crazy happens. *crosses fingers*
1999 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise in the summer. Spending time with the Lins and the Shiehs made it even better. Our trip to Japan was pretty fun too.
Of course, there were also bad days. Dad wanted to take us to Tahoe in February but had to back out due to work commitments. Having the cancel the trip was a bummer. Although we invited the Liangs over for dinner — as a compensation of sorts — the mood was ruined when my dad and I got into an argument over trivial matters. I guess life doesn't always work out according to plan.
Currently playing: Quake
We arrived at our family friend Carol's house in the evening and caught up with her. Carol ordered so much food that there was barely enough room on the table. After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to watch the Times Square ball drop. Imagine our anticipation as we counted down the seconds. One thing for sure is that this is a defining moment for our generation.
Some of us decided to watch The Matrix on video later. I enjoyed the special effects even though I didn't quite understand the movie. It ended pretty late — just before midnight Pacific time. Soon the year 2000 was upon us. Everyone was having so much fun that no one wanted to leave. We stayed for another hour or so before finally heading home.
One problem is that I'm socially awkward and don't have many close friends. I didn't know anyone except the Liangs and decided to take out my laptop. However, there were still opportunities to socialize. A guy saw me playing Quake and also wanted to give it a go. He turned out to be an expert at the game and even showed me some neat tricks. It's always nice to meet people with similar interests.
On the whole, the transition to the year 2000 couldn't have been better. It's hard to believe something like this only happens once every 1,000 years. Such an event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Perhaps science will one day allow us to live forever. But I digress.
Some predicted computers would crash and cause chaos. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. To my knowledge, there have been no incidents so far. At least my computers are working fine. Let's hope nothing too crazy happens. *crosses fingers*
1999 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise in the summer. Spending time with the Lins and the Shiehs made it even better. Our trip to Japan was pretty fun too.
Of course, there were also bad days. Dad wanted to take us to Tahoe in February but had to back out due to work commitments. Having the cancel the trip was a bummer. Although we invited the Liangs over for dinner — as a compensation of sorts — the mood was ruined when my dad and I got into an argument over trivial matters. I guess life doesn't always work out according to plan.
Currently playing: Quake
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