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| I must say it really has been a while. Looks like I haven't made a post in over a year! I one upped myself since my last post! Awesome! 
Let's see what I can remember/find that's occurred since the last post. I mean what can happen in a little over a year, can't be that much right?
First there was a vacation over the summer with my friends Jonathan and Michael to Miami. Plenty of beach to go around and well, I can't really say much else. Their slushie, or margaritas in the case of the other two, were excessively expensive. Even with 50% off if I remember right the drinks were still over $20 each! 
Got to stock up for the beach
Awe inspiring
Hello from the hotel's beach
Hello from South beach
Now that's a drink, an expensive one at that...
The last night at Miami
Getting some Bubba Gump
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2505520&id=7951614&l=59a0f0a4c2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2505535&id=7951614&l=724e93df40
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2505611&id=7951614&l=1ea71dfbb3
Three links worth of Miami pictures! Whoa!
I went to two Houston Rocket playoff games, one in 2008 and 2009, where they of course won because I was there.  I was even able to get my mom to go to a basketball game with me which was a rarity!
My dad and I celebrating a Rockets beat down of the Utah Jazz in 2008
Everyone's celebrating the playoff win!
At a game in the 2009 season netting me some maracas!
I got my mom to go to a game as well!
Near the tail end of 2008, my mother and I took a trip to Japan and Hawaii. I have been to Japan and to me, it was not nothing too new or I haven't already experienced or unexpected. It did end though with a trip to a Universal Studio there which allowed me to drag my mother all over the place. She even went on all the rides!
Tons of people walking around
Some odd stone that was of no use
Halloween was coming up
That's some castle there
And here we are at Universal Studios!
Some nice props there
Oooo, a magical pony!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2559467&id=7951614&l=7c4f1014de
My facebook album of Japan pictures
Hawaii somewhat similar to Miami for me. Lots of beaches where we were at but I was able to see a little more of what that island had to offer since we took tours. I got to see some Hawaiian cultures and even went in a small submarine underwater to look at the native sea animals. Oh ya, let's not forget my mom even got up and danced (and I did as well) while on a small boat.
Something about a turtle? dinosaur? lizard? Godzilla?
Lots of water around this island
I wonder if anyone lives on that island
My mom enjoying herself as she danced
The hole I slept in when I was in Hawaii
My mom enjoying a stroll on the beach
Looking out from an underwater submarine
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2559493&id=7951614&l=540a4110aa
And the Hawaii album right here.
Of course with the end of the 2008 year, there was the Christmas dinner followed by my annual birthday party soon afterward. This year for Christmas we had a few extra guests so for dinner preparations I needed some help. My brother Pang helped out with the mashed potatoes, which turned out kind of salty. . . Anyway, I decided on having ham and tried my hand on making something more fancy with stuffed onion shells but they did not turn out too well I think. The soup was okay though which was probably the only thing good turnout out of the dinner. I was even unable to make the desert I wanted as I ran out materials. 
Dinner is prepared!
Everybody gets presents!
Hey look! Presents!
Here's to a Merry Christmas for 2008
My small reunion gathering of sorts was fun. I had bought Guitar Hero World Tour for the occasion and I everyone enjoyed playing (video game playing) instruments and singing. Michael I got to say has a nice voice for certain songs. There were the usual suspects there, some missing people that couldn't make it which was understandable, and some newer faces. Sadly, I forgot all about the cake until the end so really there were only like four or five others when we cut it.  Overall I would say it was a nice success!
Who's playing now?
Of course the billiard pool table
We got a Guitar Hero band here
A small little cake
A rag tag band
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2584989&id=7951614&l=9a2606b801
A few more pictures here and there of the party.
As this year began I decided to take yet another trip to Colorado along with my brother and others. I think I started off worse than when I last left but hopefully I got a bit better near the end as compared to the last time.
Alex and Frank getting ready to hit the slopes
Going up the gondola to the peak with everyone in front of me
Alex and Nin enjoying some hot cocoa
I am taking part in some hot cocoa myself
Walking around with snowboards
Let's go!
Dinner at the cabin
A pretty large cabin we stayed in
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2619468&id=7951614&l=b25efa4602
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2619472&id=7951614&l=134313a073
Yup, another two album worth of Colorado pictures.
Let's not forget though, that I am now an uncle (officially) as I have a nephew named Elston. Weird name right? I think my brother liked the ex-Rocket player Rafer Alston too much and when he was traded away he had changed his son's name slightly not to get caught with a non-Rocket basketball player name.  (just kidding) Joking aside, Elston is quite fat now which Pang says is muscle. I think he's blind, haha.
Just born... ain't that cute
Looks like Elston is ready to pounce
Elston is begging for some food
So instead of feeding him they give him a hat!
And a cake to top it off!
Pang and his son
A grandfather and his grandson
Oh and here are other random pictures since the last post.
Hubert hosting a barbecue and a movie night
A night out in town
Troy trying out his singing skills
Make love to the camera
Another group photo
Well, look here. . . Maybe a lot has happened since he last post. No wonder I'm broke all the time and now sick as I'm posting this up!  Actually I'm quite surprised all this has happened in a span of a year looking back. People say time moves fast, but to me it just seems to move so slowly that there is time to do things as long as you look clearly. At the very least, acknowledge the fact you gave it your best at the time and live with it. Also, I know now that I take quite a few pictures....
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| Um, how long has it been? Man time goes by fast I suppose...either that or going to work has consumed my life.... (the latter is a good guess I suppose)
Really, though I haven't been up to much since graduation and going to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. I found a job where it's actually been alright. I've taken one vacation since I started and that was to Brackenridge, Colorado. It was for four days and really just two days worth of snowboarding, one of which I spend taking lessons. Sadly I didn't really get injured and although I fell innumerable times, it was fun. For my first time snowboarding I still can't do carves without flipping and when I heard a snowmobile come by I immediately intentionally fall....well, just because.
Here's the progression of my sad snowboarding...
Of course, there was a Christmas/New Years in between of which was a first in a long time since the whole family was together on Christmas day. To that occasion I deep fried turkey and made dinner. (like I usually do but this time it was maybe within the non-vomiting range)
A Christmas Tree! (LATE Merry Christmas!)
Also as a last note I suppose, my birthday was quite a while back. As usual I had a little gathering just to keep in touch with those I have met in life. It just so happened to coincide with an unofficial high school reunion which seemed to be very successful. I haven't seen so many Hightower people since...well, high school.
I guess a bit has happened in nearly a year span since I last posted. It's been a fun not going to classes...oh wait I am still taking classes on the side, d'oh. In any case, it's been a pretty cool year so far and I hope it just keeps chugging along.
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| Just a week ago or so, I went on a trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. It was quite an eventful experience, not so much due to how much fun we were having but more along the lines of surviving. I will get to that a little later.
Anyway, Las Vegas. . . ya, it is pretty much what you expect. Somewhere along the way, I've been there upwards to five times now and it's really just a boring affair to me. Things you can expect are gambling, clubbing, food, lights, and all the gluttony a human being can handle. Definitely not the place for me, but for some it would be like paradise.
Below - This is when we were out sight seeing inside the Venetian Hotel.
Below - Here I am eating like a mad man. . . well, more trying than succeeding.
Below - This would be of us at Hoover Dam on our way to the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon though was the yang to the yin of Las Vegas. Here we got to experience, first hand, nature's wrath and a live style of abstinence. I admit there were a few close calls where we thought we were in dire straits. Two days and nights later though, we all came out alive with quite a story. I can say that one thing we won't be, it's being unprepared for the next physical endeavor! Oh, and we own the Grand Canyon! 
Below - This is us at the top of the South Kaibab trail about to head down. . . at 8:30PM!
Below - It's getting quite dark here but we're still happy. . . for now.
Below - Okay, now I think we're beginning to feel the effects of hiking combined with limited food and water.
Below - Long story short, we're back on top of the Grand Canyon and it ain't got nothing on us! 
For me, the Grand Canyon made it worthwhile. Coming up, I will be off to Taiwan for about a week then back to my never-ending job search. Congratulations to my brother and his fiance/wife. I wish them well and hope for a bright future ahead of them.
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| Actually I'm not totally sure. I am looking for a job, but I also feel like I should take a break from it all. A short vacation would be nice, but then again I've wasted an extra year getting my degree so I'm not 100% sure if that's really appropriate.
Anyway, I walked and "received" my diploma this past weekend. It was a nice event and in certain cases it could have been better. Can't complain though, someone did fly down from California to watch and hang out with me. Michael, working in Austin, also took some time to watch and hang out too. Overall everything went as expected as I walked, ate dinner, went out a little, and watched some fireworks. Can't really say I am missing the student life much since it has been less than a week, but a hint of nostalgia is already beginning to imbed itself, same as high school. Here is to the past which will either haunt us or push us along. Below as some pictures of the past weekend...
The BME365s project team that was so good that we earned a prize!
Quite possibly our last time together. . . . Team Titanium is the BESTest!
My brothers and I at the Frank Erwin Center.
The last is just of me...standing one of the last times I may ever be at UT, or Austin for that matter.
Overall my senior year was probably my most eventful year...may have been more eventful than the past four college years combined. Weird (or is it sad) huh? I wonder though if anything really changed these past five years as I just feel the same...just older I guess.
There's a chance that I will go out on a trip with either my dad or a group of friends. Not really sure how it'll come out but here's to hoping it all goes well. Also will be looking for a job over the summer and looking to getting into a Master's degree program...someday (hahaha). Well I'll close this blog at that, probably won't update until I have something interesting to say....in a year or so.
 
Here's to the graduating class of Spring 2007 at UT (pictures taken from Neeraj).
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| My undergraduate classes here at UT have now ended. Sadly, I still am working on a project prior to my finals, but other than that all that's left is my two finals Wednesday and Saturday.
Last week was interesting and fun. I hung out with my BME senior design group. I must say, this is on of the best groups I have ever been in as far as how well we work and just having fun while we're at it. There was even kite flying! Last week we went to eat dinner at Trubys and then went on to play hide-and-go-seek in the dark. Dangerous with those stairs....
Us at a Neeraj's apartment for his party!
That's us...red ... and blue....and green
Eating at Trubys.
Us finishing our presentation in style.
This is us after we finally finished our research, papers, and presentations...So exhausted, hahaha.
Also there was the TASA Alumni Dinner at Salt Lick. All you can eat barbecue along with new and old TASA members. It was pretty cool...Somehow I ended my night changing a tire and then helping to jump starting a different car! Weird story, but luckily my car didn't have any troubles like the weekend prior where I blew out a week old tire. Props goes to Dean who set it up, the TASA officers and members that made it so successful. Good luck to all the TASA people and maybe someday I'll be back...or not. (hah)
Quite a turn out I would say. I believe there were around 40 some people that came.
Good times, good times. Now all that's left is for me to finish off that programming project and take my finals. After that, I'll be packing up and taking my stuff back to Houston. In about a week and a half I will be graduating... May 18th and 19th I believe. While I'm at it, I need to find myself a job...hahaha. Til the next random update!
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