Blog

Short blog posts, journal entries, and random thoughts. Topics include a mix of personal and the world at large.

To Fresno

This past weekend, I finally left the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time since the pandemic started. One of my good friends is a Chinatown enthusiasts, and he’s on a quest to visit all the major Chinatowns in this country and beyond. Now that I’m fully vaccinated - and so is my friend - I’ve decided to join him on one of these adventures. This time, it happened to be the central California city of Fresno.

The result: I’m pretty sure I got enough vitamin D to last the rest of May. It was a dry and sunny 90 degrees in the Central Valley, a complete weather opposite to the foggy mid 50s that I am used to in San Francisco. After more than a year in pseudo hibernation, perhaps it was a bit overboard to go from zero to that much sun exposure at once. I was certainly feeling the effects by the time we finished lunch (surprisingly good Chinese food in nearby town of Hanford): a mild headache and decently dehydrated.

Turns out, it was an exceptionally dry weekend in the San Joaquin valley, with a few wildfires igniting in the Merced area. We damn picked a good time to go and torture ourselves! It didn’t help that I was breaking in a new pair of Allbirds wool shoes, in what turns out of be a one size too small. My feet sure was feeling it being stuff in those things for 10 hours in the heat. I’m in the process of returning them for a pair one size larger.

Overall it’s nice to finally get out of the house for an extended period. I really miss going on road trips, and the three hour trek to Fresno is a good appetizer for things to come. My BMW M2 has yet to go on a long trip of any sorts, so that is something at the top of the list as California nears its fully reopen date. I’m sure my friend has other Chinatowns to explore in Southern California, and up the coast into Oregon and Washington.

I’m still recovering from being sun-drunk two days later, but this is good for my body. I’ve gotten too used to nature’s air conditioning, living in the west side of San Francisco. A little bit of heat now and then is beneficial.

Stock up!

One of the things I greatly miss about Japan is the sheer availability of drinks vending machines everywhere. You literally cannot go a few blocks without spotting one of them at a corner, ready to dispense refreshments. These vending machines are a godsend during Japan’s notoriously hot and humid summers. It’s also quite nice, too, to be able to have ice cold coffee practically anywhere, anytime, at a moment’s notice.

Obviously, such a concept of street-side vending machines everywhere would never work here in America. Our culture of rugged individualism would never allow such an enterprise to flourish. The machines would get vandalized and items stolen so quickly that they will never make any money from it. It’s a shame that we can’t have such convenience, though I guess there’s always the neighborhood Walgreens or CVS. Assuming the one local to you haven’t shutdown due to… vandalism and theft.

To sort of replicate having an arsenal of drinks at my disposable, I make weekly runs to Costco to stock up a on variety. Green tea is a given, plus cans of both Diet Coke and cold-brew coffee, and an aloe-vera drink. Whenever I’m hankering for something other than plain water - which is almost always - the cache of drinks is right there. Probably costs less than getting it from an actual vending machine, too.

Of course, it would be cheaper still - free, even - if I simply drink water from the tap. But that’s a terrible way to live: I make money so that I can enjoy tasty refreshments here and there. Until I actually move to an Asian country somewhere down the future, stocking up drinks at home is the way to go.

Go see your parents

As more and more people are vaccinated, it’s very heart-warming to see them visit their parents for the first time in over a year. The excitement, relief, and absolute joy is a lovely sight on my twitter feed.

Lucky for me, it’s a feeling I cannot relate to: I see my parents all the time. I was living with them when this pandemic began, and even after moving out of the house some six months ago, I still go home every weekend. I suppose the people who had to take an involuntary year off from seeing their loved ones will never take it for granted again.

I certainly don’t, which is why I still go see my parents every Sunday morning on a schedule. I’ve only moved to the other side of San Francisco, rather than somewhere far. No guarantees that won’t happen in the future, so I take the opportunity to visit my parents often while I still can. Though probably more than someone who have “moved out of the house” typical do.

Nevertheless, it’s already been half a year since I’ve moved out on my own. Routines and things have settled in quite nicely, and I often amazed at this little nest I’ve created. It’s truly wonderful to have absolute solitude whenever I want. In hindsight, I probably should have moved out a few years sooner, but then a Porsche 911 GT3 got in the way of my entire budget. Obviously, the pandemic created great impetus to make the move back in November, and I could not be happier having done so.

Primarily, it’s the massive decrease in stress that makes it worth all the money in rent. Living within walking distance from work, removing myself from a somewhat messy situation back home, and the sense of accomplishment in taking care of myself completely, are contributing factors in lowering my stress and anxiety. Having less disposable income takes some adjusting, but as of right now, I’m at a fine place to live how I want.

The only emotion I want to express, is gratitude.

Sell the M2?

Due to a global semiconductor shortage causing, amongst many other things, a shortage of new cars, the used car market is absolutely on fire. A twitter friend recently got offered more than what he paid on his Jeep Wrangler. Granted, he didn’t pay MSRP, but still: to have essentially driven the Jeep for only the cost of gas and insurance is pretty nice. It goes to show how desperate dealers and wholesalers are for vehicles.

The return of tourism and the demand for rental cars are also a contributing factor.

I’m massively tempted to check the value of my own BMW M2 Competition. I wonder how much I can get for a six-month old car, especially when German luxury brands like BMW are notorious for rapid deprecation. If it’s only a few thousand dollars (I paid about $63,XXX), that would be amazing. Amazing enough to make me think hard about actually selling it. If I do, it would be the shortest amount of time I have ever owned a car.

Truth is, I just don’t put that many miles on the M2. Being that I walk to work, and there’s a mall with a Target and Trader Joes three blocks away from home, I hardly ever need to drive. That’s by choice, of course, but nonetheless that means the M2 is parked on the street for about 90% of the week. I am paying way too much in insurance to have the car sit for so long. But then, what am I to do? Drive around in a loop for the heck of it? The recent high gas prices aren’t conducive to that, either.

I’ve gone without a car before, but that was in the process of saving up for a Porsche 911. The M2 is likely the endgame of internal-combustion cars for me. My next car - if I ever do purchase another - will be fully electric for sure. As a car enthusiast, I don’t think I can go car-less on sheer principle.

Good thing then that whenever I do drive the M2 Competition, I am reminded how much of a riot it is. It truly is the best modern M-car this side of a BMW 1M. I simply can’t sell it, even if its actual utility factor is very little these days.

Hanging out with friends again

This past Saturday was a super special occasion: my friends and I got together - indoors, unmasked - for the very first time since the the COVID-19 pandemic began. Going back to this normal part of our pre-pandemic life was weirdly surreal. Throughout the evening I paused to amaze at that we are indeed hanging out together without any safety precautions whatsoever. There were many hugs.

Well, aside from the fact that everyone in the group is fully vaccinated (so calm down, people). With the good mRNA stuff too, and not the Johnson & Johnson single-dose with an infinitesimal potential side effect of blood clots. It is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to effectively eliminate the worse of the coronavirus symptoms less than a year since the outbreak. And it’s also nothing short of a miracle that the Unites States is able to rollout the vaccines so proficiently.

It is thanks to the tireless work of countless others, from medical researchers to volunteers, that I was able to hang out with my friends so freely once again. I shall never take for granted the social joy of sitting around a dinner table, breaking bread (literally: we had sandwiches) with the people dear to me. As last Thanksgiving proved, socially-distanced gatherings and taking food back to our respective homes just cannot offer the same magic and merry. Even an ardent introvert like myself needs some proper social interactions every now and then.

There were lots to celebrate as well. Firstly, we are tremendously grateful that we’ve made it through the pandemic relatively okay. We and the people around us are healthy and employed. As for the rest: one friend just closed on a home, another is starting a new job, and another’s second child has his third birthday soon (it’s today, actually). That’s what these gatherings are all about: celebrating the milestones and turning points of our lives.

Once again, thank you to those that made it possible.

Your best, no matter what

It’s been said that if you’e not cynical or jaded about your job, you just haven't work there long enough. As a relatively younger person amongst the ranks, I often see it in coworkers who have been there longer. My optimism and willingness to go the extra steps often gets perceived not so much with disdain, but a disapproving head shake. It seems my more experienced colleagues have gone down this road before, keen to tamper my enthusiasm with the realities of the real world.

Perhaps they are right, and soon enough I too will collect enough years to become this apathetic. From my perspective right now, however, I think such cynicism is such a terrible way to go about work.

In a customer-facing job, there’s always going to be a certain percentage who are difficult to deal with. I don’t think that should mean we deal with those customers with any less attention and care than the rest. Even if some of them don’t deserve any amount of pleasant treatment, providing good service is still my job. Is it always going to be worth the effort? Probably not, but then again why should I change how I do things just because someone is tough to handle?

They deserve the same treatment as a customer who isn’t as needy.

Mind you this isn’t about immolating myself to keep other warm: outright rudeness will never be tolerated. Though it goes both ways, doesn’t it? I shouldn’t meet rudeness with more of it in return. It accomplishes nothing, only making the situation worse.

I greatly appreciate the guidance and wisdom of my older coworkers. I draw from their well of knowledge daily. However, I highly disagree with their learned cynicism, and I endeavor to not become like that the longer I stay on this job.

Finally a new iMac

Yesterday, Apple announced the awaited proliferation of its magnificent M1 chip to the iMac. However, it’s just not the one people like me are waiting for. Serving duty in the totally redesigned iMac is the same M1 chip in the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the Mac mini. An amazing chip in its own right, but us power-users are looking for something more worthy of a “pro” suffix.

This is just the beginning, of course: the new iMac announced yesterday is only the replacement for the entry level 21.5-inch. The 27-inch iMac we know and love soldiers on for awhile longer with the Intel chips, until more beefier Apple silicon is ready for the show. Apple have set the stage nicely for an iMac Pro lineup, whenever the more capable M1 chips arrive. I myself am waiting for that same chips to show up on a new 16-inch class MacBook Pro. Fingers crossed for later this year.

Nevertheless, the iMac gets a major design change in nearly a decade. It’s now essentially the biggest iPad imaginable (24-inch wide, this new entry-level iMac is) fixed on a display pedestal. That’s it: there’s no bulge, no curves, nothing extraneous. Due to the impossibly thinness, there’s now an external power-brick, which is something laptops users have been used to for the longest time. Finally there’s now a keyboard with Touch ID, again, something MacBook Pro users are familiar with, though it’s going to cost $50 dollars extra over the standard keyboard.

Very worth it to tick that option, I would say.

I think the new design looks fantastic, especially the return of colors that isn’t a shade of greyscale. If I were in the market for an M1 iMac, the blue would be the one. I do wonder if the forthcoming iMac Pro will keep such a colorful palette options. Probably not, because professionals are serious people, and only blacks and silvers will suffice!