I go by pesto. This is my blog where I muse about my thoughts on life. Pesto pasta is my favorite pasta to make (with a pestle and mortar of course!) and...
I wonder if anyone else has experienced this, at least professionally: the feeling that, despite being capable of so much more, the work and projects given to you aren't all that engaging. I think I thrive on solving problems, issues, or projects that really interest me. Currently in my office, I'm not seeing too much of that. It makes me think "maybe I should find another job!", but…
I took a solo trip to Spain in the first two weeks of December, and went to Barcelona and Madrid. I arrived back home two Mondays ago. I've made some friends with the locals, and truly, Spain was a reminder of what's really important in life. Building wealth, retirement, and your education? Yes. Very important. But! It is meaningless without friends, family, or community to enjoy life with. Beer…
Things I've been enjoying this summer: long walks in greenlake 9pm sunsets going somewhat steady with a girl I like cooking (lots of cooking) reading It's been a fun few months so far, and I'm terrified for when I have to snap back into reality when September hits. School starting, desperately finding an internship, worrying about my career path as a UX Researcher... I think I took a moment this…
I've been working my way through Pico Iyer's new book Aflame: Learning From Silence . It's a fantastic read that describes Pico's multiple visits over decades to a Catholic Hermitage in the coast of California's Big Sur. The Hermitage is sparse of extravagant purpose; a retreat, so to speak, from the anguishes that may surround our hearts. It's situated on the coast, and (at least from photos) it…
I unequivocally love making food. And eating it, of course. I believe it's one of humanity's greatest sources of self-expression. Food is a source of life for all humans, and our cultures express food as a way of life. Independently, these foods express who we are, with each dish as varied as the person who's making it. Recently I've really been embracing the slow movement . I work in tech, and…
On Dec 17, 2024, I experienced an acoustic trauma by being next to a very loud speaker for a prolonged period of time. It fucked me. I experienced hearing loss on the left ear, tinnitus on both ears, and hyperacusis (a condition where it hurts to hear normal things, like cars passing or the supermarket). I went to the hospital on day 6, received a small 20mg dose of Prednisone, and went to an ENT…
The autumn quarter for my university is coming to an end, and I'll soon be finished with the rest of the quarter in just two weeks! I've learned a lot during my first quarter in my Master's program. The most notable insights are: Put yourself out there. Go to events, coffee chats, etc. People are more generous than you think. Which leads to... Don't be afraid to ask for help. They remember being…
It seems that, despite moving far away from my family, the events that unfolded in my youth still are trapped within me. The sound of keys dangling scares me. I want to hide when someone (accidentally) slams the door. A big "sigh" at work by a senior co-worker releases a spike of cortisol - reminding me of my father, who would make similar sighs before verbally berating me. Now, for a lot of…
I've been playing piano since I was 5, but I must admit that I haven't really been practicing for the past 3 years. Very on and off, messing around, not really truly learning anything new. I thought I'd change that this year by playing composers that I never really played as a kid - namely Bach. I used to hate playing Bach as a child - no rubato! No notations! How do you express yourself? It's so…
In the fall, I'll be moving to a new city to pursue graduate studies. I thought it'd be a good idea to move in a few months early to get a feel for the area - and also avoid fighting over good areas around campus, especially if I wait too long. Next week I'm flying out to visit some apartments. It dawned upon me that this would be the first time where I live truly alone - no housemates, roommates,…