Kindle App for IPAD

It took me a long time before I finally decided to get me a Kindle, but I finally broke down and got myself a Kindle Keyboard, without the 3G.  The Kindle Keyboard is the black and white version that gives the illusion of reading on paper. I loved my Kindle and the Kindle store, because I was able to get a lot of free books, to include classics and biographies of early revolutionary Americans.  I was happy with myself that I finally broke down and bought my e-reader, because I had in the past tried to read PDF books on my computer and just couldn't seem to get through a book due to the discomfort of reading on my laptop.  The downside of the Kindle, however, was that the PDF books were too hard to read once I imported them into the Kindle reader. I did, however, get through quite a few books on my Kindle... up until I got my IPad and installed the Kindle Reader app.

The upside of the IPad is that I can import those PDF books and read them comfortably without having to adjust the scale or zoom on them.  Now I can download PDF files from Google books and read them on my Kindle app.  There is a little glare on the IPad, but reading on my IPad is infinitely more comfortable and ocmvenient than my Kindle reader.  In all fairness, I initially chose the Kindle over the IPad because I was afraid I would spend too much time browsing the internet and playing games on the IPad.  Funny enough, I rarely play games on my IPad, and I don't even spend too much time browsing the internet... only when waiting for a car or during commercials while watching TV.  Given any real time to read, I will open the Kindle app and start reading.

My biggest problem now, however, is the Kindle version of magazines that I recently ordered. I am afraid it is going to be hard to focus on my serious reading for my enjoyment of the articles, photos and ads on these magazines.

For those who may be interested, I am three quarters of the way through with How I Found Livingstone written by Sir Henry Morton Stanley. This is a fascinating book of adventure in late 1800s East Africa, that I have been enjoying for a while now (mostly on airplanes and in airports during my travels). I picked it up on a whim while I was still reading Through the Brazilian Wilderness written by Theodore Roosevelt. I don't know why I love these stories of remote wilderness expeditions so much, given I spend enough time in the wilderness here in Vietnam.  It does remind me, however, that this stuff in Vietnam is nowhere near the wilderness these two authors experienced in their time.

In the meantime, I continue to buy other books and put them on the back burner.  I just picked up Bury Us Upside Down written by a former Vietnam era Misty Pilot (Fast Forward Air Controllers) on a recommendation by a friend. The first few pages already have me captivated and now I am stuck with the dilemma of whether I want to finish Stanley's book first or move on to this one. 

I am off to Hawaii next week for 10 days to participate in a command-level working group.  It should give me some time to catch up on my reading.  Cheescake Factory is also on the agenda...

Can't Seem to Catch My Breath

Not ironically, I don't have a lot of time to get this post in. Between Vietnam blocking Blogger and me out of the office and not having any free time at work (we have a VPN that allows us to access sites as if we were in the U.S.), I have had absolutely no time to update my "daily" blog.

So, here I am to say I am doing fine. My job is morphing into something different, and the change should be good. During the transition, however, I will be doing two jobs at once... and I am afraid this will make me not very good at either for a while.  But, as my last boss said often. "It is what it is." Whatever that means.

Megan is back in school and Diep is still satisfied with our new accommodations. I am satisfied as well, but my mission duties have kept me away from the house more often than not. It isn't likely that my home time will increase with the new job, but I think the stints will be longer in duration and less frequent.  That could be a good thing.

It look like I will get a few days back in Hawaii on work related business. The time in the U.S. will give me the time to make some much needed purchases in clothing and electronics. I can't buy clothes that fit here, and I can't order anything with a lithium battery in the mail.  This makes travel to the U.S. from time to time a necessity.

I changed my page photo to a pineapple plant I photographed in Quang Nam Province.  I am not sure why, but I really like it. It somehow looks alien to me. 

It may be a while before I am able to get a real update in. In the meantime, I hope this suffice.

Peace!

Bitter Melon

Every summer since I have been in Hanoi, I have experienced skin issues.  I attribute the skin problems to the sun, sweat and pollution in the poisonous Hanoi air. In the summer months of Hanoi, the humidity goes to extreme - usually 80 - 90 percent - and the breeze stops blowing. Any exercise outside feels like you are running in a giant plastic bag with the heater on, or that you are wrapped in Saran wrap.  The dust, dirt and pollution gets in my pores, on my arms and face mostly, and clog them up. The pores get infected and usually take a long time to heal, often getting re-infected before healing completely. I feel confident that I can blame this on the air quality in Hanoi, because when I go home to the U.S. for a couple of weeks in the summer, my skin clears up.

This year is different, however, and the only thing I can see as different this year from the others is that I began eating raw bitter melon in the morning.  Diep loves bitter melon and usually stews it stuffed with pork. I don't really like any of my vegetables stewed or boiled, so I have stayed away from it in the past; plus even when I did eat it, I never ate enough to make a difference. Even now, I don't eat it every morning, but I do whenever it is available which is two to three times a week.  Diep has always told me this vegetable was good for your skin, but I figured it was along the line of carrots are good for your eyes and apples are good for your health:  That is to say, I believed it but never thought I would see a dramatic change like this. My skin looks and feels smoother with few blemishes in general. I really don't care if I look younger, but I am very happy to see this summer skin nuisance go away. The bitter melon is, of course, very bitter.  But, if you mix a good heaping up with other vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, red and green bell peppers, olives and add a little bit of Italian dressing, it actually complements the other flavors well.

If you haven't tried this vegetable raw or cooked, it might be the thing you need to round out your diet and make you healthier. It was for me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon