I had to change my title page photo after reading somewhere that my sister just couldn't get into the Christmas spirit this year, even after admitting it has long been her favorite holiday of the year. I know what she means! Christmas has been my favorite holiday as well... Some of my fondest memories come from Christmas season. Some of those memories may lean toward the Christmas season because that is the time of year family photos are taken, family visitors arrive, and celebrations take place. Thus, the memories linger in the photos much longer than, say, even birthdays.
No doubt, this season for me will be the busiest ever. I will be traveling throughout the month of December, and even into January. Fortunately, I will be making a trip back home as well. It will be good to be in the U.S. during the holiday season this year. It seems like it has been forever!
Megan is really excited because she hopes to incorporate a trip to D.C. to see a friend when we get back to Mobile. My little girl is growing up.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Politics and Facebook Don't Mix
I guess different people manage their social media life in different ways. I am talking specifically about Facebook, though there are other social media applications out there that serve different purposes. For example, I have a Google + account that I like to follow what other people are "trending" about and I use Panoramio to geocache my photos and view some of the splendid photos other people post . I may have one or two other accounts out their, but I haven't used them in so long, it isn't likely I will return to them any time soon.
But back to Facebook, I imagine some people choose their friends on their like-mindedness while others chose their friends based on who they are related to, who they knew in high school, college, who they work with, who they play sports with, etc. And, sometimes that like-mindedness mixes in with the other categories; but, sometimes it doesn't.
I try to be liberal about the way I view other people's views. That is to say, I really don't care what people think, believe, adhere to, aspire to, compulse or obsess over as long as it doesn't affect me. Saying "I don't care" may sound like an exagerration, like maybe I really do care but I want to pretend I don't. In actuality, I don't care. That has put me in a bind of sorts, because now I have all of these friends from different walks of life, different sexual orientations, different beliefs and different politics. I thought it would be cool because, in my virtual world, I could learn about and impathize with other people.
Unfortunately, I find that I really don't want to impathize. Not in a malicious way, but more in an apathetical way. I think people expect so much out of life, in so many aspects of their life that they are very vocal - or whatever that is when you are typing instead of speaking - about what they think, believe, adhere to, etc. Also regrettably, some people tend to care what I think, believe, adhere to, etc, but in a way that wants to change my mind about something, or worse yet, in a way that I feel judged. Actually I don't feel judged because as I said before I really don't care. And, that is because I think I have thought my tenets in life through before going out to everyone in the virtual world and proclaiming things that BE. Actually, I thought it through so well that I will almost never spontaneously say something on FB that I think would make people disagree with me.
I keep it simple by posting pictures, and statuses - or is that stati for plural? - that are very finite, i.e. this is my family at this place, I am somewhere, I saw something - things that are very hard to dispute. I think people enjoy those posts and I know I like seeing that on other people's walls... no matter how boring those people may be.
I guess I am working something out in my own head right here on my blog. My dilemma is this: Though I try to respect everyone's opinion, I don't necessarily like to read it. Especially when that post makes me want to respond negatively - even when I don't care. So here I am trying to convince myself to ditch all of my "friends" who I consider to be the most politically vocal. Technically, I could just hide them and they would never be the wiser, but for whatever reason I really don't want to do that. And that is weird, because, with the innocuous posts that I put on, it is very unlikely that I would get any one of these people riled up enough to respond to one of my stati. Maybe it is because I feel my silence would be some sort of tacit approval to whatever it is they are posting, when in fact, on one hand I think it is distasteful to bait your friends with one-sided comments, reposts, shares, memes, etc, and on the other hand, I don't care. I was hoping the end of the election would be the end of all of these malicious posts, but it hasn't been. Not yet.
So all ultra-conservatives and liberals out there are on notice. My "friends" list may be getting smaller in the near future. Next on my list would be the people who post picture after picture of that cute dog or cat that needs a home. While I understand the sentiment, I just get tired of scrolling through them. My final goal is to cut my morning FB wake-up check down to around five minutes rather than the 20 it takes me to get through the night's updates at this time.
But back to Facebook, I imagine some people choose their friends on their like-mindedness while others chose their friends based on who they are related to, who they knew in high school, college, who they work with, who they play sports with, etc. And, sometimes that like-mindedness mixes in with the other categories; but, sometimes it doesn't.
I try to be liberal about the way I view other people's views. That is to say, I really don't care what people think, believe, adhere to, aspire to, compulse or obsess over as long as it doesn't affect me. Saying "I don't care" may sound like an exagerration, like maybe I really do care but I want to pretend I don't. In actuality, I don't care. That has put me in a bind of sorts, because now I have all of these friends from different walks of life, different sexual orientations, different beliefs and different politics. I thought it would be cool because, in my virtual world, I could learn about and impathize with other people.
Unfortunately, I find that I really don't want to impathize. Not in a malicious way, but more in an apathetical way. I think people expect so much out of life, in so many aspects of their life that they are very vocal - or whatever that is when you are typing instead of speaking - about what they think, believe, adhere to, etc. Also regrettably, some people tend to care what I think, believe, adhere to, etc, but in a way that wants to change my mind about something, or worse yet, in a way that I feel judged. Actually I don't feel judged because as I said before I really don't care. And, that is because I think I have thought my tenets in life through before going out to everyone in the virtual world and proclaiming things that BE. Actually, I thought it through so well that I will almost never spontaneously say something on FB that I think would make people disagree with me.
I keep it simple by posting pictures, and statuses - or is that stati for plural? - that are very finite, i.e. this is my family at this place, I am somewhere, I saw something - things that are very hard to dispute. I think people enjoy those posts and I know I like seeing that on other people's walls... no matter how boring those people may be.
I guess I am working something out in my own head right here on my blog. My dilemma is this: Though I try to respect everyone's opinion, I don't necessarily like to read it. Especially when that post makes me want to respond negatively - even when I don't care. So here I am trying to convince myself to ditch all of my "friends" who I consider to be the most politically vocal. Technically, I could just hide them and they would never be the wiser, but for whatever reason I really don't want to do that. And that is weird, because, with the innocuous posts that I put on, it is very unlikely that I would get any one of these people riled up enough to respond to one of my stati. Maybe it is because I feel my silence would be some sort of tacit approval to whatever it is they are posting, when in fact, on one hand I think it is distasteful to bait your friends with one-sided comments, reposts, shares, memes, etc, and on the other hand, I don't care. I was hoping the end of the election would be the end of all of these malicious posts, but it hasn't been. Not yet.
So all ultra-conservatives and liberals out there are on notice. My "friends" list may be getting smaller in the near future. Next on my list would be the people who post picture after picture of that cute dog or cat that needs a home. While I understand the sentiment, I just get tired of scrolling through them. My final goal is to cut my morning FB wake-up check down to around five minutes rather than the 20 it takes me to get through the night's updates at this time.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Firsts
I have been gone since the beginning of November and thought it might be time for an update. For those who are paying attention, my job has changed a little bit and now I work in investigations. I am currently the team leader for a miniature investigation team scheduled to work until next week. The idea is to address some investigations off the beaten track so a larger, more expensive team doesn't have to go off the grid to do the same thing. The concept is to save money without sacrificing quality.
Anyway, because of what I just explained, I have spent more waking hours in a vehicle or airplane than I have in a hotel or on a site. That is just the nature of the game. Through the mission, however, I have done a few more firsts in a country I thought there weren't very many firsts left for me. For example, during this trip, it was the first time I ate a coconut grub... actually about four of them. Not sure I could have eaten them raw, but these babies were stir fried, and filled with tasty warm grub juice. Actually, "tasty" might be a deceptive word, because it does seem to imply "good" when I wouldn't want that impression to get out. During that meal, we also allegedly had liquor made from a distillation of stewed mouse marrow, "rượu cao chuột". To top it off, we had fresh durian (stinky) fruit. It was a little ripe and resembled in no distant manner baby puke on a large, smooth seed pit.
Other firsts include riding on National Highway 14 from Saigon to Pleiku. One of the most miserable rides in Vietnam I have yet to take. Expressway? Not! First time? Yes. And, I experienced a first when I stepped on a thorn - several, actually - that were long, strong, and sharp enough to go right through the sole of my Merrel hiking boots, barely penetrating the sole of my foot. After the first one, I felt like I was in a mine field, constantly afraid the next thorn was going to be a little bit longer.
We are on a timing break in Danang before heading to Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province tomorrow. Nice to have a break from the driving, even though it is catch up time on reporting.
Sorry I have no pictures to post. I only have my work computer and due to security, can't download pictures from the camera to the work station. Hopefully I will get time to post after I return to Hanoi.
Anyway, because of what I just explained, I have spent more waking hours in a vehicle or airplane than I have in a hotel or on a site. That is just the nature of the game. Through the mission, however, I have done a few more firsts in a country I thought there weren't very many firsts left for me. For example, during this trip, it was the first time I ate a coconut grub... actually about four of them. Not sure I could have eaten them raw, but these babies were stir fried, and filled with tasty warm grub juice. Actually, "tasty" might be a deceptive word, because it does seem to imply "good" when I wouldn't want that impression to get out. During that meal, we also allegedly had liquor made from a distillation of stewed mouse marrow, "rượu cao chuột". To top it off, we had fresh durian (stinky) fruit. It was a little ripe and resembled in no distant manner baby puke on a large, smooth seed pit.
Other firsts include riding on National Highway 14 from Saigon to Pleiku. One of the most miserable rides in Vietnam I have yet to take. Expressway? Not! First time? Yes. And, I experienced a first when I stepped on a thorn - several, actually - that were long, strong, and sharp enough to go right through the sole of my Merrel hiking boots, barely penetrating the sole of my foot. After the first one, I felt like I was in a mine field, constantly afraid the next thorn was going to be a little bit longer.
We are on a timing break in Danang before heading to Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province tomorrow. Nice to have a break from the driving, even though it is catch up time on reporting.
Sorry I have no pictures to post. I only have my work computer and due to security, can't download pictures from the camera to the work station. Hopefully I will get time to post after I return to Hanoi.
Monday, October 15, 2012
A Little Vacation - Autumn Break
I just got back from a little vacation to Saigon and Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc is an Island that lies southwest of the southern portion of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast straddled between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Generally I had a good time, though I often get worn out with the travel portion of these trip... the driving to airport, waiting at airport, flying to destination, waiting for bags, driving to hotel, etc. I travel better by myself because I don't feel guilty when I pick up my Ipad and just start reading or browsing the web. With the family, that whole idea is frowned upon, and I find that I time myself making sure not to have my eyes on the Ipad longer than Diep approves. Megan is luckier, somehow she can get away with it.
Diep, Megan and I were last on Phu Quoc together 15 years ago. I have been twice on work projects since then, but I didn't get much time to enjoy it. Things have changed, but not too much. Progress on the island is moving along, with new roads being built and a new airport under construction, but things move at a snails pace there compared to the rest of the country.
We spent a little extra money on this trip, staying in a nicer hotel and spending more money than we usually would on tours to the fish sauce factory, peppercorn farm, pagoda, pearl farms and beaches. For the price, I think it was generally worth it, though it was probably higher than a local would pay for the same services.
In Saigon, we stayed close to the Ben Thanh Market and Diep appreciaed the location more than the places we had stayed before. The Ben Thanh Market is very central and makes for an easy walk to wherever you may want to go in First District.
Diep gave me one night off to myself and I got to catch up with a good friend there. He is one of only a couple of surviving friends I have left in Saigon from the old days. While I was walking with my friend on the streets to another establishment, I was talking about how I am becoming more ornery in my old age, especially on the streets. As if it was timed, about a minute later a man tried to pickpocket me. He had three fingers in my back pocket before I knocked his arm away and punched him in the shoulder. The incident was quick and I wasn't stupid enough to give chase or pummel the guy right on the street. It seems it was over just as quick as it got started.
I got some good pictures on this vacation, using both my DSLR and point and shoot. You can view them at:
(https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=wX#photos/117376873662186980648/albums/5799296521758550273)
I definitely needed the time off. I have felt broken lately, and though the feeling hasn't left me completely, I may be on the mend.
Generally I had a good time, though I often get worn out with the travel portion of these trip... the driving to airport, waiting at airport, flying to destination, waiting for bags, driving to hotel, etc. I travel better by myself because I don't feel guilty when I pick up my Ipad and just start reading or browsing the web. With the family, that whole idea is frowned upon, and I find that I time myself making sure not to have my eyes on the Ipad longer than Diep approves. Megan is luckier, somehow she can get away with it.
Diep, Megan and I were last on Phu Quoc together 15 years ago. I have been twice on work projects since then, but I didn't get much time to enjoy it. Things have changed, but not too much. Progress on the island is moving along, with new roads being built and a new airport under construction, but things move at a snails pace there compared to the rest of the country.
We spent a little extra money on this trip, staying in a nicer hotel and spending more money than we usually would on tours to the fish sauce factory, peppercorn farm, pagoda, pearl farms and beaches. For the price, I think it was generally worth it, though it was probably higher than a local would pay for the same services.
In Saigon, we stayed close to the Ben Thanh Market and Diep appreciaed the location more than the places we had stayed before. The Ben Thanh Market is very central and makes for an easy walk to wherever you may want to go in First District.
Diep gave me one night off to myself and I got to catch up with a good friend there. He is one of only a couple of surviving friends I have left in Saigon from the old days. While I was walking with my friend on the streets to another establishment, I was talking about how I am becoming more ornery in my old age, especially on the streets. As if it was timed, about a minute later a man tried to pickpocket me. He had three fingers in my back pocket before I knocked his arm away and punched him in the shoulder. The incident was quick and I wasn't stupid enough to give chase or pummel the guy right on the street. It seems it was over just as quick as it got started.
I got some good pictures on this vacation, using both my DSLR and point and shoot. You can view them at:
(https://plus.google.com/u/0/?tab=wX#photos/117376873662186980648/albums/5799296521758550273)
I definitely needed the time off. I have felt broken lately, and though the feeling hasn't left me completely, I may be on the mend.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Scientology Comes to Vietnam
Diep and I were watching VTV1 this morning, a national news broadcast station in Vietnam, and caught a piece on Vietnamese war veterans affected by dioxin (agent orange) receiving treatment at a facility in Thai Binh Province. The detoxification treatment these veterans were undergoing included an aerobics program, steam room treatment and vitamin supplements such as niacin, etc.
The broadcast was in Vietnamese, but the doctors who were interviewed and the reporter kept referring to a method that sounded like Hubut when they pronounced the name in Vietnamese. Afte a quick Google search on keywords "dioxin", "treatment" and "method". it became quickly clear the news report was referring to the Hubbard detoxification method. Yes, Lafayette Ron Hubbard of pulp fiction and scientology fame.
The symptoms these dioxin victims described were not necessarily those described by our own Vietnam war veterans, and more closely resembled those symptoms experienced from old age and inactivity. Clearly, exercise, nutrition and sweating out the body's toxins in a steam room can do wonders for the latter symptoms. Nevertheless, these veterans can thank L Ron Hubbard and the scientologists for their reportedly improved health and well-being.
Maybe Tom Cruise will be visiting Thai Binh Province in the near future.
The broadcast was in Vietnamese, but the doctors who were interviewed and the reporter kept referring to a method that sounded like Hubut when they pronounced the name in Vietnamese. Afte a quick Google search on keywords "dioxin", "treatment" and "method". it became quickly clear the news report was referring to the Hubbard detoxification method. Yes, Lafayette Ron Hubbard of pulp fiction and scientology fame.
The symptoms these dioxin victims described were not necessarily those described by our own Vietnam war veterans, and more closely resembled those symptoms experienced from old age and inactivity. Clearly, exercise, nutrition and sweating out the body's toxins in a steam room can do wonders for the latter symptoms. Nevertheless, these veterans can thank L Ron Hubbard and the scientologists for their reportedly improved health and well-being.
Maybe Tom Cruise will be visiting Thai Binh Province in the near future.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
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...
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...
Thursday, August 23, 2012
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!
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!
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