Hieumor

Happy Birthday Nicholas!

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:16:00 +0000

nicholas
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

Nicholas celebrated his three cubed birthday yesterday! We started off the birthday week with a Dynamo/DC United soccer game complete with team gear. And last night we celebrated with dinner at our favorite restaurant. They treated us with drinks and a deliciously gooey banana rum volcano dessert!

Ahh, another year gone by. Here's to many many more! Cheers!

Mexico City (and Dallas)

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:35:00 +0000

This month I had two Student Leadership Seminars for my district, one in Dallas and the other in Mexico City, Mexico. While Dallas was pretty much the same as when I saw it last, there wasn't a lot of sight seeing to be done, however I did get to go visit friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. The Dallas trip was Mashimaro's first drive up to the Metroplex. Yaa Maro! And this trip to Mexico was my first time in Business/First Class - talk about sweeet.

Mexico City was a short trip, sadly, but it was a lot of fun. The Mexico City campus of the Instituto Tecnol�gico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey was beautiful and the students were amazing. I was picked up at the airport by a student who drove me to the campus in his red Peugeot 307 CC and got to listen to the latest latin pop music with the top down. The hosting students were very efficient and quite talented. A couple of them performed on stage with their dance troupe for an on-campus engineering festival. The food was generously provided by one of the students' mom. We're talking real, home cooked, delicious mexican food!

There's a huge chess set on campus. The pieces have rollers so they can be moved around. Each of the pieces represent a piece of Mexico's history.

This is the technology building on campus. The inside walls are all glass/plexi-glass. Even the elevator shaft is see-through. It houses just about every engineering and science lab with the latest technology and there's even an RTV and Digital Arts lab!

There's this well on campus that collects rainwater that gets pumped to a treatment center to be reused to water the landscaping.

Leaving the windows open

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:56:00 +0000

I don't usually get window seats because I have a fear of being squashed between a large person and the wall, but sometimes it is worth it when you can see things like:

A wind farm - part of the Nine Canyon Wind Farm Project

Mt. Adams

and Mt. St. Helens

Tokyo!

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Bright Lights
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

This month's trip took me to Tokyo Japan. Leaving the Tuesday after Hurricane Ike blew through, the airport was full of people relieved to feel air conditioning. It was a relatively uneventful but painful 13 hour flight. I have been convinced that economy seating is high priced torture. There's no being comfortable, even with empty seats next to you.

I spent just seven days in Tokyo in a small hotel near Akihabara Station. I got to visit a few places in between the drizzle and rain and took my first ride on a train! Immensely fun, and scary at the same time. I couldn't read anything, I had to rely on numbers, colors, and diagrams to get around and figure out where I was going. My pictures are posted on flickr, and you can watch the slide show here.

Ike

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:27:00 +0000

We were watching the news coverage of Ike making landfall in Galveston pushing water up and over into the streets. The winds picked up here near downtown, but we didn't get the crazy scary winds until around 2am. Power stayed on throughout the night and all of today, but we lost water pressure. Thankfully, Nicholas froze a bunch of water and loaded us up with the bottled stuff and filled our tub just in case.

Through out the night we could hear the trees slapping up against the building. We could also feel the building sway a little under the pressure of the winds. According to the news, we got anywhere between 80-90 mph winds. Pretty close to the wind storms we had up in Lubbock, but with more water and flying trees. Around 5am, just before we decided to try and get some sleep, the building's fire alarm went off. The city wasn't sending out any emergency vehicles until after the storm passed so we had to try and sleep through the loud and vibrating duck quacking. If there had been a fire, we would've been screwed inside or out.

By 8am, we were down to just bits of rain. The alarm gave up quacking and turned itself off. Nicholas and I checked on the cars and they did well. Drove around our area of town and saw tree branches and lots of leaves all over the road.

You can see how far the water came up on Mashimaro

The street lights were blown around, this one spun nearly 90 degrees

And the sunset tonight

Hieuston vs. Ike

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:40:00 +0000

We're going to be staying in town (at the homestead) as the storm blows through. Being far enough in town not to be hit by the surging waters of the Gulf, we'll probably see street flooding from the downpour and the overflowing storm drains.

No worries though, the balcony's been dusted off and the critters have their vittles. We still have the water and dry good from the last two hurricane scares that turned out to be nothing. And there's gas in the cars should we absolutely need to get somewhere.

We have a friend still on the island taking photos. My brother and his fiance (and puppies) are safely in the Metroplex. The Browns are tucked away out by the Beltway. Nicholas' family have boarded up. So, all there is to do now is watch for the massive rain and winds.

Stay tuned for more exciting hurricane news from Downtown Hieuston.

Stormpulse.com

Visit to the Middle East

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:55:00 +0000

Entrance way
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

Last month, I had a chance to visit the Middle East on a business trip. Munkie and I spent some time in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain seeing the beautiful sights and shopping at a couple of the largest malls in the world. We took over 200 pictures! The best ones are shared here in a Flickr set.

We got to see the Atlantis Resort out on the Palm Island

Ate dinner out at the marina in Dubai

The Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Food bowl attacks!

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:50:00 +0000

Nick comes home today after work to find the food bowl and part of the food bowl stand missing.

There's a leg. And there's another leg under the dining table.

And there's scattered dry food. Everywhere.

A bowl.

But the rest of the food bowl stand, and another food bowl are missing.

He looks, and he looks.

And there it is.

Under the bed. With Peanut's tags attached.

Apparently under one of Nutters routine 40 trips to the food bowl, his tags were caught in the stand. His struggle to free himself took him through the dining table, around the living room, and under our bed ripping out his tags from his collar. Poor guy. So traumatized, as soon as Nicholas got the food bowls all set up again, Peanut stopped in for another therapeutic snack.

Peanut's new shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:13:00 +0000

A quick stop at the Petsmart tiny doggie isle brought us to the most appropriate kitty shirt ever! Peanut now has a little Old Navy hoodie and the signature Hieu-household black t-shirt. (Everyone in this house has a black t-shirt) He's not quite as dressed up as say... my friends's pets, but he's starting to build up a wardobe.

So here's Peanut in his new "I really don't like the vacuum" T, sleeping on his Ikea mouse in his Ikea tent.

Beauty and the Brains

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:59:00 +0000

I got this link from the Today show sent to my email a couple of times today.

It's an article/video about a group of women who have joined together to show that women can be real engineers as well as easy on the eyes (as an old power plant friend put it).

As a girl in the engineering field, it's very uplifting to watch. Successful women engineers sitting together in a group, (not pulling out each other's hair talking smack) talking about what they do as if - meh - it was no big deal. Just something they liked to do.

My only question was... how come I'm not in this interview?

The Luce on the 4th

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:31:00 +0000

Miss Lucy Heinz Bradshaw the III
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

Friday before last, we spent the holiday with Nick's family. It was sunshiny as we left downtown, but 25 miles down the road the blue sky turned charcoal black real quick. Cool winds turned into fat drops of rain. Slowed to about 20mph and pulled the cloth top up. A big plus for the cloth top. (If I had gotten the power hard top, I would have had to come to a complete stop before the mechanism would even consider popping up.)

But enough about my awesome car.

This little trip to Nick's home was fun. The grilling highlight for me was the seasoned corn. I need to find that recipe - it involved peppers, garlic, cilantro, jalapenos, and butter. Mush, spread, grill and enjoy. And, for the first time ever, Miss Lucy Heinz Bradshaw the III let me get close enough to take a picture of her and her extra long tongue! Here she is in her Alvin High School Blanket and couch pillows.

Math + Science = Engineering

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:00 +0000

In this morning's SME newsletter, there's an article on "rebranding" the Engineering image.

...the image of engineering is suffering "despite great efforts and massive expenditures to...draw youngsters to the profession."

Hmm, I wonder why

The report found that there is a "strong association in the mind of the public between competency in mathematics and science and the ability to become an engineer."

You don't say.

The committee noted that "[a]dults and teenagers 'appear to consider this a negative."

Math and Science as negatives. Or is Competency the negative. Let's see. All the subjects we are exposed to in grade school: english, social studies, math, science, and physical education are pretty integral in our every day lives. Without them, we would not read, understand politics, balance our check books, have allergy meds, and be fatter than we already are.

So my question is why are math and science negatives? Is it because they're scary? Is it because they're "exact"? Is it because the teachers don't know what the hell they're doing? Is it because parent's don't know what the hell any of that stuff is either?

When I was in 3rd grade and still adding and subtracting, my dad thought I was lying to him because everywhere else in the world, everyone else my age knew their multiplication tables.

When I took driver's ed, we watched a film on the physics of car crashes. The kids in there didn't ''get it''. How does one drive a car, a 3000lb weapon, and not know understand its potential?

Watched Mythbusters' once and had someone remark that it was math and they didn't get it.

It's math on the Discovery Channel, people. Not math in NASA's board room.

Math and Science are not negatives, folks.

Math and Science are integral to our every day lives. The millions of pills we all take a day, the crap inside of them is science, the amount you take, that's math. That corn juice you put in your car, your car itself, science. What you pay for it, that's math.

Math and Science is not scary. What is scary is the people that walk around thinking Math and Science is scary. These people drive next to you on the highway, make your latte in the morning, and prepare your kids food at the day care.

Competency is the negative here. Because the citizens of this fine country are not willing to push their robot loving kids when it comes to the classroom. Just because you don't know what's going on, doesn't mean they shouldn't. And another thing, make sure your rug rats know how far it takes to stop a car going 50 miles per hour when they hit the brakes before you let them get into the car. Better yet, have them learn how to change a tire, check fluids, and change the oil before you let them use yours. And stop being stupid.

The Brass Knuckle Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:17:00 +0000

Nichole wins the 2008 award for most creative dream. Here are the details as she posted on my space:

Hi Hieu!
I had the wackiest dream last night.

You and your fiance were hosts of a radio show and for some reason I was there watching. You two were talking and I noticed your engagement ring and wanted to see it. When I looked at it I thought it was the most beautiful thing EVER! It was a Brass Knuckle. Actually looked a little like this:

But there were only diamonds on the ring on your ring finger. Then on the side of the last ring there was a little digital clock so you could see the time. HA!!

I woke up laughing.

Gives me an idea... "mr. & mrs." diamond studded grills... oh yeah.

Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:08:00 +0000

So it's been something on the order of 15 years that I've known some of my friends that I mention here. Friends from my days living in Austin and attending UT. Yesterday we commemorated the first time we sat at a dinner table as graduated and employed citizens. The past 15 years has seen quite a few ups and downs. Grad schools, just getting through school, marriages, baby scares, money woes, trips to the ER, and living just too far away.

We celebrated with dinner at my new favorite restaurant which I should write about later. A movie that everyone should see. And promises of future meetings now that we all have jobs and can travel.

Peanut bids farewell

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:25:00 +0000

Peanut bids farewell to his adoring fans
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

Our very own Spaceman Spiff made his way into his dryer-capsule high atop the stacking washer/dryer and spoke a very heartfelt farewell to his fans and family. Wasn't sure where he was going this time, or if he would make it back home. He thought for sure, he would go somewhere never seen by any kitty in history.

Hello Kitty + Mozzarella!

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:27:00 +0000

Couple of days ago, went shopping with a friend and stepped into Metropark in the Galleria and found this:

Eeeeeh! Hello Kitty + Mozza from Moofia! Brought to me by Tokidoki for Hello Kitty. Two cute characters that are so cute together! (Hello Kitty + Cows + Guns + Milk, and we know how I feel about milk)

M words

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:48:00 +0000

Talked to my little sis earlier today about our upcoming nuptials. Dates, places, and so forth. Threw around ideas and the like. It's the real deal. Exciting Stuff!

Over on my college best friend's page, she write about how marriage is such a sham. Shattered dreams, lots of money wasted on rock chips and metal, a dress that would only fit for one 12 hour instant in your life, and a binding contract with someone who could easily end up not being 'forever' material.

Yeah, I had dreams of a beautiful wedding. Me in a king size fitted sheet, plastic flowers, crawling around under the dining table that was my castle cathedral. All my beloved stuffed animals in my audience. Koolaid drinks and cracker hors d'oeuvre.

I also dreamed of one day being an asthma-free super hero. That's not happening either.

So, I might not have the celebrity wedding of the year, but I will have a celebration letting my friends and family know that I found the special someone who's willing to split the dinner bill with me for the rest of my life. Someone to help with the laundry if I promise to do the dishes. And someone who'll let me squeeze his hand in a scary movie. Don't think I could ask for more. We'll see how it goes from here. :-)

*m words = marriage, men.

Ibuki!

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:54:00 +0000

The Mazda Miata Hybrid Electric!

Late night reading lead me to the GreenCar.com article on the Ibuki, Mazda's hybrid electric concept car. According to the article, the body panels are made of light weight reinforced plastic and the engine frame is made of carbon fiber. Not to sure I'm crazy about the cartoony windshield, but I would love to add this to my collection!

The Boardwalk

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:25:00 +0000

Boardwalk
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

Oh yeah. I was in Florida for most of last week and was in meetings pretty much all day every day. Here is the one shot I snuck in after dinner on Monday night. The smoke is from the fireworks they had going on at Epcot. And that was all I got to see of the Disney 'magic'. See, I really was working!

You know?

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:57:00 +0000

There is that one person that I have the pleasure of working with who has substantially low confidence in my ability to do my job. To her, I must be the Crown Queen of Suck. Granted the job we are speaking of is a volunteer job. One I could easily walk away from. I choose to stay. Delete her scathing emails. Ignore her bitchy remarks on the phone. And carry on my merry way.

I did good today.

I didn't reach through the phone and pinch her head off. You know know I wanted to.

Hug A Dad Day

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Did you call your dad?

I did. Mine was guess where?... At work :o)

If I ever become a workaholic unable to put down the mechanical pencil and let go of a calculator long enough to brush my own hair, thank my dad. Because I got it from him.

He also gave me my excellent automotive mechanic slash ninja skills. So next time I rotate all four of your tires in under twenty minutes and save you from a drunken bar fight, thank him too.

Anime Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:32:00 +0000

J&A hosted Anime Weekend today and I finally got to meet a fabled friend J called "Heather". This Heather chick was spoken of many times in the past dozen years I've known J and had sort of become J's Harvey. Who ever it was they paid off to be "Heather" is a damn cool girl, lives ITL, and likes sushi. We will soo get along.

The movies for this weekend's selection were the two Death Note movies. Live-action Japanese films with incredibly teeny subtitles. I'm pretty picky when it comes to movies and I really really like these two. Incredibly dark and surprisingly enjoyable. There's death, angels of death, excessive cell phone charms, crazy japanese hair, and girly boys. Who wouldn't love it!

Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:59:00 +0000

My experience at the Annual Meeting was fairly rewarding. Got to meet and hang out with a lot of people I had met in the past when I was a student rep. Overall, I came back feeling better about having remained involved with this group. I hesitate to admit the past year has left me quite frustrated with the time and energy that I wasted initially with a certain division.

I have a busy year ahead of me planning a seminar for the students and possibly traveling quite a bit before this year is over.

On a more interesting note, this internship has provided me with a new mentor who shares my preference for water without ice, love of racing, and penchant for being problematic. A combination I can assure you is extremely rare.

Interning

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 05:20:00 +0000

This weekend and half of next week I am at the Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort for ASME's Annual Meeting. I am attending this year as an early career intern meeting key individuals within the organization and finding how I can continue to contribute. My intense involvement catches me off guard from time to time, but it is on the rare occasion that I get to read my mentors recommendation letters for me that makes me happy to do what I do.

Since I landed on Friday, I've been in meetings pretty much non-stop. And it'll be that way for the next few days. I'll be lucky if I can hit up a touristy gift shop before I leave. Thankfully, Nicholas packed his trusty sleepy-time-blankie so I can have something homey to help me sleep. Or else 6am would be a real beeatch.

Sand Sculpting on Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Hieu) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:53:00 +0000

Final Product
Originally uploaded by Tygriss.

My company entered the AIA Sandcastle Competition this year out on Galveston's East Beach. Nicholas and I sketched out the design of a simplistic downtown Houston skyline and a ball representing sports at the center that was unanimously selected for this year's entry. It was a theme we carried out through the t-shirt and sign designs for the team. (Nick's an expert in Illustrator now!) We definitely had the best shirts out there. Check out the rest of the photos from our build here.

Our friends Josiah and J&A came out to enjoy the experience with us bringing much needed breakfast food and sunscreens. A big thanks to you guys for spending your Saturday with us! And an extra big hug to Nicholas' family who came out to cheer us on! It made the day special.

We cut out early due to near heat-induced-coma-like conditions and recouped with some iced gulf shrimp at Galveston's oldest restaurant, Gaido's. Highly recommended.