My brother said "... My little brother has a bright career in science, making a shitload of money is not his top priority in life. It's just like I am in business and you can't judge my success by counting how many research papers I have published...."
My mom heard "blah blah blah. Your second-born is a loser. blah blah blah. Your first-born is a failure. blah blah blah"
Seriously, WTF?
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
2009/09/26
Family website remodeling
I wonder how often a "normal" person would say "Hey, it's Friday night. Let's write some Perl scripts for fun!" But anyway, that's exactly what I just did.
Several years ago, I decided to setup a website for our family, mainly as a way for our parents in Taiwan to see the photos of their grandchildren. Gradually, the site evolved into a huge archive of all our family photos. It works out wonderfully for us because we all enjoy having convenient access to all the old photos; the kids always want to see what silly things they have done when they were babies. However, with the ever increasing capability of the digital camera, the file sizes (particularly for videos) have now become too big for our parents to view over the slow connection. Finally, I got the chance this evening and converted all the thousands of video files into flash format. Now, while I am waiting for the files to upload, let me polish my geek badge a bit. :)
Several years ago, I decided to setup a website for our family, mainly as a way for our parents in Taiwan to see the photos of their grandchildren. Gradually, the site evolved into a huge archive of all our family photos. It works out wonderfully for us because we all enjoy having convenient access to all the old photos; the kids always want to see what silly things they have done when they were babies. However, with the ever increasing capability of the digital camera, the file sizes (particularly for videos) have now become too big for our parents to view over the slow connection. Finally, I got the chance this evening and converted all the thousands of video files into flash format. Now, while I am waiting for the files to upload, let me polish my geek badge a bit. :)
2009/07/12
Finding a part of life that I missed
Just watched this great movie that was written and directed by Steve Stockman: Two weeks (Official website at http://www.twoweeksmovie.com/movie/, IMDB link at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448166/).
The story was about the days that four siblings spent with their terminally ill mother. The movie brought up a lot of feelings and emotions because it reminded me the fact that I was not there for it when my dad died. This is something that I can never make up for it for the rest of my life, and I can't help but having some mixed feelings of regret, sadness, and loss whenever I thought about my father's passing. Particularly, I feel sorry to my brother as I "cheated" by living in the U.S. and leave our parents to him all these years.
The story was about the days that four siblings spent with their terminally ill mother. The movie brought up a lot of feelings and emotions because it reminded me the fact that I was not there for it when my dad died. This is something that I can never make up for it for the rest of my life, and I can't help but having some mixed feelings of regret, sadness, and loss whenever I thought about my father's passing. Particularly, I feel sorry to my brother as I "cheated" by living in the U.S. and leave our parents to him all these years.
2009/07/10
Out of the sight, but not out of the mind
My mom had a minor stroke last week. Fortunately this happened when she was visiting my brother in Taipei so he was able to take her to the hospital at the first sign of trouble. It was really scary because if this has happened when she is in Tainan all by herself, who knows how bad it can get? I hate to think about it but there is no denying that mom is only getting older and having her lives alone is becoming more and more worrisome.
After staying in the hospital for several days, she is recovering quite well, although the doctors couldn't find any abnormality in all the tests and can't really provide us with any explanation of how this happened or any specific suggestion about how to prevent it from happening again. So now mom is out of the hospital and my brother is driving her back to Tainan. I tried to call them everyday since I heard about this and try to stay up-to-date about the situation, but honestly, there wasn't anything that I can do from here. It is very frustrating, and reminded me a lot about my father's passing.
Oh, and to add to my frustration, my mom's first words to me last week were "Why did your brother have to tell you about this? It was nothing!". Yeah, right. Just like the incidence that I have to know about my father's skin cancer surgery through my mother-in-law when she asked me how my father is doing, months after he had the surgery.
Maybe they are trying not to worry me and all, but I really don't like this. I also feel very bad about leaving all the responsibilities of taking care of our parents to my brother.
After staying in the hospital for several days, she is recovering quite well, although the doctors couldn't find any abnormality in all the tests and can't really provide us with any explanation of how this happened or any specific suggestion about how to prevent it from happening again. So now mom is out of the hospital and my brother is driving her back to Tainan. I tried to call them everyday since I heard about this and try to stay up-to-date about the situation, but honestly, there wasn't anything that I can do from here. It is very frustrating, and reminded me a lot about my father's passing.
Oh, and to add to my frustration, my mom's first words to me last week were "Why did your brother have to tell you about this? It was nothing!". Yeah, right. Just like the incidence that I have to know about my father's skin cancer surgery through my mother-in-law when she asked me how my father is doing, months after he had the surgery.
Maybe they are trying not to worry me and all, but I really don't like this. I also feel very bad about leaving all the responsibilities of taking care of our parents to my brother.
2008/09/15
Oh happy life
Step by step, we are adapting to our new life here in Tucson better and better and I am really enjoying it.
Work is interesting and challenging. I do enough to be productive and still wanting to do more. Those crazy 100-hour weeks (and the accompanying I-hate-myself-and-everyone-else feelings) are such a distant past it seems like they never happened.
Outside of the work, I got enough time to be with wife/kids and still got some chances to go out for short rides on my Ninja every once in a while (did I mention that some great winding roads are only minutes away from our home?).
Work is interesting and challenging. I do enough to be productive and still wanting to do more. Those crazy 100-hour weeks (and the accompanying I-hate-myself-and-everyone-else feelings) are such a distant past it seems like they never happened.
Outside of the work, I got enough time to be with wife/kids and still got some chances to go out for short rides on my Ninja every once in a while (did I mention that some great winding roads are only minutes away from our home?).
2008/02/07
Lost ring scare
I found my wedding ring was missing when I went to Life Sciences to attend a journal club this afternoon. Naturally this totally freaked me out as I've never lost something this important. A bunch of folks helped me to search the room after the meeting but we just couldn't find it. I was very sad and mad at myself on my way back to office. Fortunately, the minute I stepped into my office I saw the ring lying on the floor just next to my desk.
What happened this afternoon is a bit too much for me. I decided to take the ring off and ask Ann to keep it for me at least for a while.
NOTE TO MOM: While it might be a good idea to pick a size or two bigger than necessary when it comes to buy jackets for your son in high school, there really is NO need to do this when he is getting married and is looking for a ring. *Sigh*
What happened this afternoon is a bit too much for me. I decided to take the ring off and ask Ann to keep it for me at least for a while.
NOTE TO MOM: While it might be a good idea to pick a size or two bigger than necessary when it comes to buy jackets for your son in high school, there really is NO need to do this when he is getting married and is looking for a ring. *Sigh*
2008/01/11
My inheritance
While we are going through dad's stuff, we are (kind of) surprised to find that he has a collection of mechanical watches. I picked a Oris BC3 from his collection as a part of my inheritance.
Personally I love mechanical watches, even though they can be a pain in the a** to maintain. I am pretty happy about adding a new one to my collection.
Personally I love mechanical watches, even though they can be a pain in the a** to maintain. I am pretty happy about adding a new one to my collection.
2008/01/08
Closure
We had dad's funeral today and everything went pretty well. I never thought of it this way but all these formalities make an easier transition for everyone to accept the passing of their loved ones. Somehow I feel a bit relieved after the funeral and that I can start to put my sadness behind me.
2008/01/06
Back to Taiwan again
It's only been a month since our last visit and now I'm back to Taiwan again to attend dad's funeral. I didn't expect to be back again so soon but I guess this is not up to me.
2008/01/03
Dream of dad
Last night is the first time that I had a dream about dad since he passed away. Incidentally, this is the time when the deceased first come back to visit the family in Taiwanese culture/religion (first seven).
In the dream dad told me that he is very worried about whether I can be a good father and take good care of my kids, particularly Alyssa given her hospitalization incident when she was little. This is exactly what I expect he would say if he can talk to me. Maybe I am having some serious self doubt about my parenting ability at this time of reflection.
In the dream dad told me that he is very worried about whether I can be a good father and take good care of my kids, particularly Alyssa given her hospitalization incident when she was little. This is exactly what I expect he would say if he can talk to me. Maybe I am having some serious self doubt about my parenting ability at this time of reflection.
2007/12/28
Sleepless in Athens
I am having some difficulty to sleep over the past two days, possibly because of my dad's death. There is this strange feeling that creeps up when I am lying on the bed that just makes me space out but not fall asleep. It is not exactly sadness, like what I've experienced when my grandma died (which is the saddest event in my life so far). The feeling is more like some kind of emptiness and loneliness.
2007/12/26
Dad passed away
Dad just passed away after a two-year long battle with his liver cancer. Although we all see this coming for a very long time, it's still difficult to deal with the feelings.
Looking at the bright side, we are fortunate enough to be able to visit him twice and to spend some time with him when his health is still not too bad. We should be grateful for that.
Looking at the bright side, we are fortunate enough to be able to visit him twice and to spend some time with him when his health is still not too bad. We should be grateful for that.
2007/11/09
Blogging from Taiwan
After a 28+ hours trip, we finally made it back to Taiwan. The trip with three little kids was exhausting but not as bad as we expected. Tomorrow we'll drive from Hsin-Chu to Tainan to see my father, hope this will go well.
2007/10/16
Great news all the way around
This title is from Jessie's response to my email about two things happened last week.
First, I got an offer of postdoc position from the place that I really wanted to go. So that means I'll have a "semi-real" job next year, which is a great step toward a "real" job sometime in the future.
Second, dad had a successful surgery to take out the tumors in his backbone. The doctors also found that his liver function is better than expected, so some treatments should help to slow down the deterioration. Guess we'll see him in an okay condition when we go back to Taiwan next month.
First, I got an offer of postdoc position from the place that I really wanted to go. So that means I'll have a "semi-real" job next year, which is a great step toward a "real" job sometime in the future.
Second, dad had a successful surgery to take out the tumors in his backbone. The doctors also found that his liver function is better than expected, so some treatments should help to slow down the deterioration. Guess we'll see him in an okay condition when we go back to Taiwan next month.
2007/09/15
A very dark week
My mood over the past few days was very dark. In the beginning of the week I got the news that my dad's health is deteriorating fast due to his liver cancer. Although I've seen this coming for quite some time now, it is still a huge shock when I actually hear it.
So the whole week I've this strange feeling of sadness that I've never experienced before. Sometimes I'm just like usual but in a minute I'll have some very dark thoughts. It is also very difficult to concentrate on things. I feel dizzy most of the time. It took a couple days for the shock to wear off and I am starting to feel better now, mostly because my rational part is come back to control.
On a brighter note, I did finish another round of revision for my third chapter. The manuscript is one step closer to submission.
So the whole week I've this strange feeling of sadness that I've never experienced before. Sometimes I'm just like usual but in a minute I'll have some very dark thoughts. It is also very difficult to concentrate on things. I feel dizzy most of the time. It took a couple days for the shock to wear off and I am starting to feel better now, mostly because my rational part is come back to control.
On a brighter note, I did finish another round of revision for my third chapter. The manuscript is one step closer to submission.
2007/08/28
Treasure box by mail part 2
Our little pirates are very lucky recently. Not to be outdone by Ann's uncle in Japan, Ann's parents sent the kids an even bigger collection of goodies from Taiwan. When we got the package today the kids are so excited they are totally out of control. They are indeed spoiled rotten by their grandparents.
2007/08/16
Treasure box by mail
Every once in a while Ann's uncle will send us a big box full of goodies from Japan. Those Japanese snacks are amazingly good everytime.
We got another big box this week (11.5 kg!). Kids are thrilled when I opened the box and we had a great snack party after lunch.
It is funny to see some little personality differences through some very small things. Alyssa would look through all choices before making a decision (about which ones she's going to pick and which one she'll have first). This is just like me. It can take me a very long time to make a decision about buying anything. I just have to make sure that I've made "the best" decision at all times.
On the other hand, Vivian is just like Ann that she can make some very quick decisions and be happy with whatever decisions they made afterwards. I don't think that we've ever concisely taught them about these decision making business and yet they just turned out to be like us. Parenting can be a good mirror and sure is full of surprises.
We got another big box this week (11.5 kg!). Kids are thrilled when I opened the box and we had a great snack party after lunch.
It is funny to see some little personality differences through some very small things. Alyssa would look through all choices before making a decision (about which ones she's going to pick and which one she'll have first). This is just like me. It can take me a very long time to make a decision about buying anything. I just have to make sure that I've made "the best" decision at all times.
On the other hand, Vivian is just like Ann that she can make some very quick decisions and be happy with whatever decisions they made afterwards. I don't think that we've ever concisely taught them about these decision making business and yet they just turned out to be like us. Parenting can be a good mirror and sure is full of surprises.
2007/08/09
The good thing about leading a double life
People always say that cultural diversity is good. In my case of embracing both Taiwanese and American culture, sometime that means I can get twice as many holidays.
August 8th is the Father's day in Taiwan (in Mandarin 8-8 has the same pronunciation as father), so in addition to the American Father's day in June, I got another one today. Isn't that nice? (poor Ann, Mother's day seems to be the same day everywhere in the world)
Alyssa and Vivian both made a card for me and I picked up a couple DVDs from Circuit City for myself.
August 8th is the Father's day in Taiwan (in Mandarin 8-8 has the same pronunciation as father), so in addition to the American Father's day in June, I got another one today. Isn't that nice? (poor Ann, Mother's day seems to be the same day everywhere in the world)
Alyssa and Vivian both made a card for me and I picked up a couple DVDs from Circuit City for myself.
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