Posted in Reflections at 11:08 pm by Kevin Dang
Happy New Year 2009, everyone!
I hope the new year brings you good health, happiness, and most of all, personal satisfaction.
Year 2009 will be an exciting new year for me. For starters, I have quit my lofty job as an Advisory Software Engineer at IBM as of December 31st, 2008. Yes it was a bold and, perhaps, a reckless move “considering the current economy,” but it was necessary because I am starting my own company. Actually, my brother-in-law and I started the company back in October/November 2008, but we got busy much sooner than we anticipated (which is GOOD NEWS) and so I could no longer work two jobs and had to quit my IBM job.
I am going into the construction business doing commercial and residential remodeling (kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, painting, plumbing, etc.) and new construction. New construction is kind of slow nowadays, but so far, we have not seen a slowdown of homeowners investing in their homes and remodeling them. OK, by now, those who know me for some years are all asking, what the heck do I know about the construction business?! So I will just tell you up front I don’t know enough, but I am learning fast. Those of you who truly know me, will know that I am quite a handyman and know that I do a lot of (minor) home remodeling myself! 
So I am not starting from square one. 
I did not come up with the idea of doing a construction business “out of the blue.” My brother-in-law (eldest sister) is a general contractor and has a construction business in Michigan. They recently moved back to California (for good) and so he approached me with the opportunity to start a new construction company here in the Bay Area. I grew up in a family of small business owners and so owning my own business is not a scary nor foreign idea to me. In fact, I have been thinking about what I wanted to do on my own for many many years. I knew. even before working for IBM, that one day I would run my own business. So my leaving IBM has nothing to do with my job there. In fact, I know I will miss it and the coworker friends there.
So the scariest thing, so far, is knowing that I will not be getting my bi-weekly paycheck from IBM… and that if I do get paid this year, that I would be lucky to get 1/3 of my IBM salary. ^_^;
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Posted in Rants at 2:13 pm by Kevin Dang
I picked up a copy of “Mario Kart” for the Nintendo Wii last week… and have been playing on a daily basis (at least whenever I could). This game is fun. It re-uses some of the tracks found in prior Nintendo “Mario Kart” series (N64, Game Cube) with some new ones thrown in. The best part of the game, however, is the online multiplayer aspect. You just select the Online play and the system will find other players of similar skill for you. If you win, your skill points add up, and you play better and better players. You can also create private games for friends and family. It’s pretty cool. The best part of this? This is all FREE; no subscription crap to pay. If you have a Wii, you need to get this game… Now. See ya online. 
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Posted in Events at 7:35 am by Kevin Dang
Yup, we dumped Verizon Wireless yesterday for AT&T Wireless after 4+ years with Verizon. I remember they used to have the best coverage in the Bay Area, but over the years, the competition (through mergers and such) have caught up. But it’s not only that, it seems like Verizon’s service has gotten worse since I keep getting missed calls (phone never rings, but shows a missed call). But I’m sure my crappy Motorola RAZR contributed to that.
So, when our terms were up, we quickly switched over to AT&T. And no, the iPhone has nothing to do with our choice for AT&T. It’s more because of our family… most of them are already on AT&T. I’m not a big fan of expensive fancy phones (unless, of course, if they’re FREE), so I just picked up the freebie Samsung SGH-a737. Phone works great so far. One of the thing I just realized about the phone is that it doesn’t have voice commands!?! Grr…
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Posted in Events at 3:16 pm by Kevin Dang
Ah, I’m finally re-united with my family in Korea. Youngbin and Danae (and my mother-in-law) came to pick me up at the airport on Monday (6/16). Danae was so happy to see me; well, as was I to see them. 
This is my 5th trip to Seoul, South Korea so I’m no stranger to this place. Only thing is, this is the first time I’m here during it’s MONSOON SEASON! @_@ So I just found out that Monsoon season has officially started on Tuesday, the day after I arrived. And right on que, this morning, the rain came pouring. Awesome… -_-
We went to Costco yesterday. Like all Costco locations, the place is huge and packed with lots of people. Youngbin tells me on weekends, there are lines waiting to enter the store. Okay… remind me to avoid this area. Another area to avoid nowadays is the downtown (old town, civic center) area of Seoul. There are daily protests being held there… over “madcow-ridden” beef from USA, over gasoline prices, and whatever else issues the propagandists care for.
Fortunately, over here in the Kangnam area, there are no protests. I just hope it stays this way….
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Posted in Events at 5:27 pm by Kevin Dang
Youngbin and Danae went to Korea today… leaving me behind. This is Danae’s third trip to Korea; she has been going every year since she was only 6 months old (at 6 mos, at 1.5 yrs old, and this time at 2.5 yrs old). This is, however, the first time that she’s going to Korea without her Daddy. 
We have been preparing her for this trip… I have been telling her that she would be traveling alone with Mommy this time and that she I would come later. While Mommy was getting the boarding passes, Danae and I were standing away from the lanes. I, again, reminded her to be a good baby and to listen to Mommy at all times. She reassured me by saying, “No baby, Danae big girl!” I was happy to hear that.
Danae finally realized that I was not coming with them when they started to enter the security check area and the TSA employee asked me to get out of the lane. From there on, only ticketed passengers were allowed. Danae motioned to me to ‘Come Daddy’… but all I could do was wave goodbye. I could see her facial appearance tensed up and her eyes wet, but the sudden and quickness of the separation prevented her from crying. And within minutes, they were out of my sight.
It will be another 20 days before I go to Korea and meet up with Youngbin and Danae. So sad…
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