The pursuit of happiness

I'm taking 2 days off from Ga***ia to come to SF taking 2 interviews from 2 different companies. The beauty of it is that I could combine 2 interviews into only one trip - even though one of them might ask me to come up at least another time for the follow up interview. :(

The interviews went kind of well despite a few here and there small mistakes and awkwardness. After some rejections and the last 2 months full of phone interviews, I feel more confident talking to interviewers. I also learned from the mistakes I made in the previous interviews and needless to mention how much it helped me in the following interviews. Maybe it was a good thing to fail.

I'm still waiting for the results but I don't feel like the first company is going to take me. I am not sure about the second one since there might be another following interview sometimes next week or so.

I am enjoying the best past of this trip, is to spend time with my lovely wife.

EDIT: I got the job! The first interview which I didn't think I would pass. They called me back and offered me a position there. Read here.

Zucchini "egg-soup"

I decided to cook this after coming home from work today.

my home grown tomato. looks how meaty it is. and it was really sweet too.

I saute the sliced zucchini with butter. my backyard grown corn, tomatos. onion, garlic and cheese.

I added water, let it boiled then left it simmer while adding ingredients. sugar, nuoc mam, dried herbs, cajun seasoning..

The last step is to add eggs. I added 3 eggs in the pan.

The final product. Very healthy and delicious. My asked my mama to try and she loved it too. I wish my wife was here to taste it.

My second night flying

This was my second night flight with my Skywalker RC last weekend. 

I bought the fuselage extension from Crist. It makes a HUGE lot of difference! The plane flies much more smoother even better than the original design!!

My favorite uncle video-ed this.

I had a great time!

Hybrid Humans

This is just my theory after reading some books and watching some history channel series (plus some good old ufo series from National geographic as well). I strongly believe that humans are hybrid of God (maybe aliens who knows) and animals.

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created; male and female He created them"


There are animal traces in humans that everyone can tell from a human: sexual desires, power hunger, the desire to dominate others, kill other humans for own benefit, etc... with a somewhat balanced and common sensuality, this is what we called "human world" and it is normal that these are happening around the world as you read this. But if it passes over the so-called balance of our common sensuality, they become traces we see in rapists, murderers, cold blood dictators, kids who kill their parents for game money, humans who kill other humans out of hatred... And don't we agree this is animalistic.


However, as we are judging that, there is a part in us saying it is bad. There is a part in us crying and feeling the pain in other humans. There is always a part in us that tells us to stop doing what we think might hurt others... you know what part I am talking about. Or it has another name: conscience. Humans help other humans who are in pain. Humans love and laugh with each other while sharing peace and happiness. Humans think and solve problem logically..... Don't we agree this is what our generation calls humanitarian.


Now is the hard part. It is about the holiness of man. It is hard because we have never met a saint. We know from stories, from the bibles, from the sacred texts about the saintliness of saints. "What would Jesus do?" "What would Buddha do?" "What would Muhammad do?". I believe it is doing the the best for others, scarifying self, spreading the love of God, find life, love, stillness, balance and peace in all things....etc Of course these are just my personal interpretation of the holiness. And this, I call godliness.

I guess there is no "real" conclusion for this post since there is no physical evidence proving relation of humans DNA and God, angel DNAs.. since we can't even physically prove that there are angels. These are simply my thoughts.

You are already dead

Once upon a time, in old time Japan, there were two samurai clans fighting each other for their own right and wrong ideas. Right before the battle, there was a young samurai who was very scared of what was going to happen. He came to his master and seek for advice knowing that showing his fear right before battle was considered to be a coward action and that might bring him to a lot of troubles. The young samurai went into the cottage where his master was sitting with several other high ranking samurais and said:

- Master, I know what I am going to say now will lead me to trouble and shame for years to come. But I want to get myself ready for this battle. Yes, I am scared. I really want to fight, to die for our clan, for our ideas but at the same time I am so afraid of death.

- So have you ever been wounded in battles? - The master asked.

- Yes, sir I have, many times indeed.

- Then I bet you are not much afraid of being slashed anymore lately? - The master continued.

- No sir, I am not. I got used to it.

The master then laughed and said: 

- Good, you are already dead!!

The young samurai paused for a second and said thank to the master; then he asked for permission to dismiss and get ready for the battle. To everyone surprise, he fought vigorously in that battle as if he is not afraid of dying and in many more battles after that.

The young samurai's name was Sakamoto Ryōma (坂本 龍馬?, January 3, 1836 – December 10, 1867) who "was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan".

A photograph of Sakamoto Ryoma
Property of Miyoshi Harutaka (Ueda City)

Handling rejection with job interviews

I had many interviews and got rejected several times. I tried hard. I know I'm good but they still fail me. They fail my application but they can't fail me. I never fail. Thanks for giving me chances. Thanks for giving me a change to fight hard. I enjoyed the fights and I don't regret. I learned much from the interviews.

What's next?

Keep applying, wish me luck

Below are companies that actually looked at my resume and call among 20-30 companies that I sent my resume to. The position I am applying to is Software Developer

• Yelp: called by HR, no offer - failed hardware questions - aced software questions
• Tagged: called by HR, no offer - FHQ-ASQ
• X****te: 2 phone interviews, 1 project. Maybe there were better projects.
• L*** E****: 4 phone interviews, no project. Aced all interviews. Don't know why they failed me.
• Kabam: actually didn't call, but at least polite enough to email me back
• Coupons.com:  emailed back saying no.
• Twista***: screening call. Asked for face-to-face interview next week. I'm flying North on Thursday.

My July garden

Patio tomatoes

One of my last beets of the season

Harvested tomatoes

Skin viral infection

[EDIT 7/8/2011] After taking medication from my awesome allergist. All is well. The best allergist I have ever been to. Very detail oriented and all about patient. There are a few negative reviews about this doctor but my office visit was a pleasant one. He also discussed with me about what is/is not covered by my insurance. He talks kinda low so sometimes he tried to talk louder and I understand that it might sounds like yelling at the patients.

My palm looks fine, no more bump, as of today.

I was diagnosed with Herpes zoster. Not the STD Herpes, please calm down.

I thought I had skin cancer or something... man, 

Good thing I have my medical insurance covers.

And this is my regular skin hives from my chronic allergy. I do live with it peacefully now. It's alright, as long as it's not viral infection like what I am having right now.

Please pray for me, dear reader, yes you. Or else I will hack your facebook.

My New Car

You could tell i'm a Lost fan, right? 

I lerve it