3.20.20 SJ SHELTER-IN-PLACE – DAY 4: Friday Fun

Routines start setting in.  Wake up, make coffee, do some work, get on a bike around lunch time, eat and work some more.  If weather permits, Claudia & I would go for a hike or walk around the neighborhood.

Fun #1 – people love to complain

An employee (from a company I know) wrote in a weekly report “Challenges:  Not get used to home office , eating too much , missing the feeling be around with co-workers“.  The same employee complained about commute and having too much meeting.

I get to exercise twice a day, beautiful view from desk with birds visit me every so often.  Today I got a rare visit from a never seen before guest.  Orange chest and yellow beak.  Such a beautiful bird.  I think it’s an American Robins.

Fun #2 – the math guy

Read the tweet below:

Andrew, if you’re the math guy, you should have done your math BEFORE you entered the race.  And not after spent all your donors’ moneys.  It’s called gamble.

Fun #3 – our future

56% or 25.5M of us in California will be infected.  The number from Newsom to Trump made scientists scratched their heads.

So I came up with this math problem (*disclaimer: I am NOT a math guy):

~900 (# of patients on 3/18) * 8 weeks * 7days/week * Ro of 4 * ~125 patients/day rate = 25.2M.  Boys, aren’t we Vietnamese good with numbers?

Four months into the crisis and the total worldwide infection is ~250K.  If the data is off by a factor of 100x, the world is in real trouble.  I find it fascinating how everyone start a sentence with “The data this, the data that…etc” in recent years.  Here is an article about data Afiasco in the making? As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data.  

Fun #4 – dear toilet paper hoarders

Dear toilet paper hoarders, the city of San Jose has them out in every park.  Go steal them!

Fun #5 – the guard

In fuzzy hat and fluffy jacket, I guard my toilet paper stash in a secret location.

-D-

3.19.20 SJ SHELTER-IN-PLACE – DAY 3: POCKETS OF LIGHT

This morning my company issued me (and some other engineers) a letter/pass just in case I need to be on site for hands-on work.  During my bike ride last couple of days, I hardly see police stopping anyone to question their go about; but I guess in case they stop me, I can show them proof.  With today new estimate of 25.5M Californians will be infected, fears among people I know grow.  With the letter from my company, I feel as if we are at war and under strict foreign occupation.

Despite all of the darkness out there …

Spring is here!  Our little garden is full colors.  I called it a mini super bloom.  Some of the perennials are springing back to life.  Little morning droplets formed into glitters as the morning sun hit.  For a brief moment, I took in the morning light with peace and stillness as if nothing is happening.  I lied to myself!

-D-

3.18.20 SJ SHELTER-IN-PLACE – DAY 2: A YEAR WITH LESS

A perk of working from home is that I have full control of my schedule; between meetings I would sneak out for a short bike ride.  The roads seem empty but then I don’t have a frame of reference of what they were like at 11am before the pandemic hit.  The air quality appeared to be clean.  As I rode through Alum Rock park, I saw a fair amount of people out hiking while practicing their social distancing.  They seemed to carry on as normal.

I think people in the US hit the panic button about 3 weeks ago.  At that time, I was in Slovenia working.  I saw all sort of panic buying on the news and I thought to myself, “I will be ill prepared when I get back home”.  I guess I’ve been lucky enough until now – mostly crisis free.  Of all the people I know, probably mom can tell what it was like to survive 2 wars, a famine and who knows what else.

Spending a lot of time at home forced me to take a closer look at the things I own.  Exactly 2 years ago, I started a journey toward being a minimalist , so far some progress had been made. I’ve put things away in boxes and if I don’t touch them after a year, I’d donate them.  If 2020 is progressing as it is, I guess I don’t need a whole lot.

I definitely don’t need that many toilet papers.  Stay calm, the virus will be gone!

-D-

3.17.20 SJ shelter-in-place – day 1: welcome to our world

We introverts are no stranger to isolation and quietness.  Perhaps I am speaking for myself here.  I can go on for an entire day (even workday) without saying a whole lot that’s not work related.  Before shelter-in-place (SIP) was announced, my company already asked employees to work from home as much as possible.  For us hardware engineers, we’d do some lab work and take the data home to write up reports.  I am huge fan of working from home – less commute = less pollution, less face time = more productive.  For other folks, it seems like they have some adjustment to make.  A colleague of mine asked me “how are adjusting with the flex schedule?”.  I replied “It’s great! I get a lot of works done.  And the whole social distancing thing, I no longer have to make up lame excuses for not going out to lunch with others”.  Smiley face :), so I don’t sound like an ass.

The whole hands shaking thing also required adjustment for a lot of people.  That reminded me of my time working in Japan.  After 2 months of working there, the only person I shook hands with was a sushi chef because I went there almost every other night.  Other than that everyone greeted each other with a bow.

I wondered what are we going to learn from this when it’s over (and I hope it will).  Will we be more ready for the next virus?  Will corporate realize that 50% of their workforce don’t really need an office and they can work from home?

And remember to wash your hands.  Introverts are cats-like, we constantly clean ourselves.

-D-

Shades of Spring

From the distance it appears like someone dumped paints on these hills. All sort of colors you can imagine, I have never seen anything like this in my life. What I also find fascinating is the science behind super bloom – it is more than just a soaking wet rain season. On this segment of Science Friday,  Christopher Intagliata explained it best.

If it was not for my friends, Tony & Marcie, we would have missed this spectacular super bloom. The atmosphere at the Carrizo Plain was quite festive. Folks lounging in their camping chairs enjoyed their lunch while taking in beautiful view with dozen of flower varieties. Young parents dressed up their kids and submerged them in the ocean of flowers to capture the precious moment.

As a photographer Spring and Fall are my two favorite seasons to get out and photograph. Colors of the beginning and ending somehow collide and converge in a very beauty describable way.

We hiked the hills in silence and felt the light breeze gently brushed our skin. With my eyes closed and my back laid against a soft warm spring ground that have been bathing in the morning sun, I let my mind drift slowly as the cloud above float.

We were reminded of how beautiful and vibrant life is out there – even in the plain. Open yourself up and allow the simplest thing in life to take your breath away. The desert sunset and the morning fog could not be any prettier.

-D-

 

Holidays 2018

This holidays season I found in an unusual place.  I was writing Christmas card at Starbucks inside Target.  As I struggled to gather my thoughts and words to make these cards more meaningful, I realized that we’re now in a digital age.  People do all sort of things online: tweeting national security; text: ask someone out on a date, breaking up with someone, marriage proposal.  And yet I am here looking at hundreds of cards on the shelves wondering if it will please the receiver.  I find retail holidays less and less important.  The true meaning of love and thought for someone is lost in gift that is going to waste or never get used.

Growing up in Viet Nam, there was one  holiday that kids got a gift and it was Tet (lunar new year).  Not just any gift, red envelop with CASH.  Best gift ever!  I’ve seen my mom bought gifts for relatives when we visit them but mostly in form of foods: fruits, rice cake…etc, consumable stuff.  In western culture I got things that people “THINK” I would like.  I secretly pretend that I do.  So if you must buy me gift, here are some tips: cash (so I can save it for a rainy day), if that’s boring then something I can eat/drink to experience a culture, or ask if I need anything, or consumable like toilet papers (I do shit and I need to wipe my ass with something).

As part of my new minimalism lifestyle, I’ll put all my gifts throughout the year that I end up don’t using in a box, and after a year if I still don’t get to them, will probably get donated.

Wish  everyone a very merry Christmas and a wonderful 2019.

-D-

 

Where’s home and what’s important?

In 2017 I spent more than 50 days in Thailand, four weeks in Viet Nam and over a month in Japan.  If that’s not all, I had a few long weekend trips sleeping in the wilderness and visiting nearby folks.  During my times away from my house I frequently asked myself “where is home”?  I really don’t have the answer for it.  A luxurious Le Meriden hotel where I get up in the morning and roll down to the lobby for a buffet breakfast?  Or a wimpy tent that gives me a false sense of shelter in the middle of the Sierra?  In November I managed to travel in Japan for work and visiting Viet Nam with a carry on duffel bag.

And within that trip, I realized I do not need a whole lot to live on.  A few set of clothes were all I needed.  Going into 2018, I started going through my [stuff] and to my surprise, I’ve collected way more than I need.

My crutches reminded me to be thankful for still having all my limbs intact.

 

I was once an athlete or at least I tried.  I missed those long days on the bike saddle.  I tried so hard to prove to myself I can do something outside of my comfort zone.

 

I thought I would dive in every part of the planet earth so I geared up but that ONE DAY never came.  I used these fins once over 5 years ago.

 

I thought I would be someone else by wearing brand names but I was wrong.  These days a $20 pair of jeans are good enough.

 

I turned an empty room into a guest room  and filled it with [things].  The room hosted 3 over night guests, none of them were my guests.

 

I love the sound of the piano but it is not the same of playing it.

 

Going through everything I own gave me a new perspective in life,  gave me a chance to purge what is not important and distraction so that I can focus more on the important things around me.

-D-

Claiming Human Right

This is San Jose! These images are no more than 5 miles radius from my house. What has San Jose becoming?

Over the last 8 years since I first moved in the area had transformed quite a bit. More houses are being built. More homeless are found along my once favorite running trail. More burglaries. More trailers and sleeper van come and gone. Changes are part of life – some are good while others are not so much. We all have to pivot or persevere accordingly to cope.

For this project I focus mostly on homelessness side of the change and the housing inequality in the Bay Area. Both of these matters are also part of The Universal Declarations of Human Rights. Article 25 stated:

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

 

***This assignment will be displayed at Foothill College***

From NPR: A recent Homeless Population Rises, Driven By West Coast Affordable-Housing Crisis

Autumn in Japan

This year I got to experience the full spectrum of autumn.  First was the high eastern Sierra in October and then Fujinomiya, Japan in late November for work.

Though at the tail end of autumn, I am quite lucky there are still of foliage left.  The view from my 12th floor on my first day in Shinjuku before heading out to Fujinomiya was spectacular with Mt Fuji in the background and a park fills with red, yellow and orange.

As the name implies, Fujinomiya locates very close to Mt Fuji.  I can drive from my hotel to 5th station (highest parking lot to hike) in about one hour.  Fujinomiya is a sleepy little town.  Most shops and restaurants close by the time I get off work.  The people seem nice even though I don’t understand them most of the time.

I use translation app a lot to get around, read menu and communicate with the customers.  There are days I hardly speak a word.  Despite my lack of communication skill I manage to eat well and get around safely and see many beautiful places on the weekend.  The mountains, lakes and ocean are very beautiful.  I’d love to go back here during climbing season and try to make the summit.

Until next time, happy travel!

For more photos and video:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duclephotography/albums/72157688121599552

-D-

Le’s portraits

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