This is the cast of regular characters. These are the folks who, for better
or worse, are or have been the most influential in my life. They are composed
of mostly of family and friends. If you know me personally there's a good
chance you've met a number of them... Otherwise, this is a chance to finally
put the faces to the names.
 | | Aaron |  |
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| | Description: Distant workmate and good friend. Recently the one who turned me on to motorcycles. Had aspirations to save me. Trudy's kid brother. |
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|  |  | | Aileen |  |
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| Description: Aileen is my baby sister, one year my junior. Married to Fred. Easily one of my best friends. We went to college together, were roommates for a year, and even graduated at the same time. Perplexed that I keep an online journal. A rocket scientist who lives in Florida.
Quotes: "Happiness is a momentary illusion." |
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 | | Alex |  |
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| | Description: Alex is the only friend from high school who I still keep in touch with; we were two of only a handful of Asian students at the time. Also went on to study engineering. Each time we meet, we seem to pick up where we left off. He's funny, wise, and decicated. He and wife Connie live in Florida; I see him nearly every winter. |
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| | | | Allison | |
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| | Description: Allison is Ted's wife. I've known her now for a number of years. She too is an engineer so we occasionally talk shop. One of the few women gamers I know. She's a great listener and has a sharp wit... an all-around groovy chick. |
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| | Ana | |
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| Description: Ana is one of my dearest friends from college. An idealist. Always seems to live life to its fullest; if anyone I know could pull off living a fairy tale, it would be her. A wife and recent mother now. Like myself, also an avid Disney enthusiast.
Quotes: "You know the villain from the movie 'Blown Away'? You kind of remind me of him..." |
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| |  | | Ashu | |
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| | Description: Ashu is a good friend. We have spent a handful of evenings drowning our sorrows in beer. Like me, also struggles with mixed-couplehood. Has a sharp wit with a definite edge. Though I may not always agree with him about different issues, I always admire how passionately he feels about them. Borrowed a bear bell quite some time ago; I haven't seen it since. |
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 | | Ben | |
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| | Description: Ben is possibly the best trash-talker I know personally, which makes me reluctant to play games with him. Jokes with extreme, almost garish, sarcasm. Has this very perculiar habit of subconsciously calling people by the wrong name. Despite all that, he's honest and friendly. Whenever he speaks of his home of New Jersey, he reminds me of Radar O'Reilly talking about Ottumwa, Iowa. |
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| |  | | Carlos | |
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| Description: Carlos and I met when he was first an intern at work. He's great fun and has a sharp mind. We occasionally exchange stories on being minorities. Made the drunken mistake of having a pink tutu strapped to him once while juggling scarves; he's never lived it down since.
Quotes: "Never check in code on a Friday." |
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 | | Dad | |
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| | Description: My dad passed away of a stroke when I was nine. Incredibly funny and a great joker. Would often sing offkey to embarass us. Master chef and proud of his craft... a trait which I inherited from him. Made many lifelong friends and hated violence. Perhaps the gentlest person I know. |
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| |  | | Dalia | |
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| Description: Dalia is a good friend of Trudy and mother of Lucas. I met her a number of years ago. Dedicated mother and professional. Inexplicably allows a bonehead like me to spend time with her son.
Quotes: "I know how much you don't like to hear it, but you are a Nice Guy™." |
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 | | Dan | |
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| Description: Dan continually amazes me with his reluctance to peek over mental teenhood, despite that he's loyal and trustworthy. Has somehow concluded that I'm bisexual. Claims he can routinely defeat me at Tetris DX. We are neighbors and work out frequently.
Quotes: "Frank is evil." |
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| | | Description: Dave is a smartass, and thus we get along fabulously. One of my best baseball buddies, a lifetime monogamous (his words) Giants fan. Writes his own music and plays the saxophone. I'm always fascinated in the way he always speaks of his wife and son with such great fondness.
Quotes: "'Dave is a smartass'? What the crap?! ;-)" and "i am gorgeous" |
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 | | Dugan | |
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| Description: Dugan is a former boss... in some ways, the best boss I had. Like me, also born in Madrid, Spain. Also a night-owl though he occasionally tries to keep a normal schedule. Excellent table tennis player. Has a cuttingly dry British sense of humor. Maintains that he will move back to Spain someday soon.
Quotes: [When asked by stranger if he injured his braced left wrist masturbating] "I'm right-handed." |
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| | | | Description: Duncan is a classic car enthusiast. He has far more patience and dedication than I did when dealing with classic cars. I admire that. Also trilingual (English, Spanish, and French). He was a quick and sharp sense of humor that touches upon the wicked. In that sense, he and Ashu are a lethal combination. |
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| | Francis | |
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| Description: Francis is one of my friends from college. He's one of only a handful of classmates with whom I could speak Cantonese. Loves classical music. Engineer by trade. Funny, trusting, and honest. Now lives in California.
Quotes: "You're a banana... Yellow on the outside; white on the inside." |
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| |  | | Fred | |
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| | Description: Fred is my brother-in-law, specifically he's Aileen's husband. An avid Pittsburg Steelers enthusiast and truly exceptional cook. He's smart, funny, and tremendously well-read. We get along tremendously well and have spent many hours chatting away. Great listener. |
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| | George | |
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| | Description: George and I met when we were freshmen in college. In fact, he introduced me to Ted and Gwen. We were roommates for a year and also did tae kwon do together. He lived in the Seattle area for a while, though sadly has since moved away. Was an Army airborne ranger. |
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| | | | Gwen | |
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| Description: Gwen and I met in college. She's one of few college friends who was not an engineer. Although she didn't stay there for long, we have kept in touch since then. Though we rarely chat anymore, it seems like each time we do, we chat for hours.
Quotes: "This is Frank, my Chinese friend..." [Ugh...] |
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| | Iva | |
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| | Description: Iva was one of my classmates when I was in college. Had incredibly sharp wit with even a little venom, which naturally I really liked. Has since become a devout Christian and has aspirations to save me. Since she has changed so much, I feel as if I lost my friend; it saddens me. |
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| | | Description: Jim may be the funniest person I know. Since he is so horribly misguided about politics, we have spent many hours discussing it. He's an avid muscle car enthusiast and an exceptional illustrator. I sometimes refer to him as a blue-collar philosopher.
Quotes: "Talking to Frank is like walking through a minefield with snowshoes." |
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| Description: Jim is a brilliant programmer, and I've met many programmers. Though we met in Seattle, we are fellow Floridians. In fact, he lives there now. [Bastard! I'm so jealous!] Has an exceptionally dry sense of humor with a focus on geek humor and puns. I think I was the first non-gay person he came out to.
Quotes: "I though you were going to tell me that it was easier because of the slanted eyes..." |
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| |  | | John | |
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| Description: John is my brother-in-law. Specifically, he's Terry's husband. He's an avid sports fan; I don't think there's any sport he won't watch. He is sarcastically funny, and thus we get along well. An avid golfer. A big Miami Dolphins fanatic.
Quotes: "Frank... Everytime you come visit, it seems to be the coldest day of the year." |
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 | | Kyle | |
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| | Description: Kyle is originally from Memphis. We met a short time ago at work. We both like Hooters chicken wings, so we go pretty regularly. Though we may disagree about politics, he seems to be well informed about the issues. Spent many hours talking over beers and wings. A St. Louis Cardinals enthusiast. |
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| |  | | Len | |
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| Description: Len and I met when I first moved to Seattle. Has become one of my best friends. We had dinner practically every Sunday before he moved away. Once threatened to pee on my head. Also a Muppets enthusiast.
Quotes: [Alleging that I have a good memory...] "Mind like a steel trap." |
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 | | Ling | |
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| Description: Ling is one of my cousins. Though we've never lived in the same town, we have chatted many hours away. Wiser than I could hope to be and quite possibly the most selfless person I know.
Quotes: "My parents are driving me crazy!" |
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| |  | | Lino | |
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| Description: Lino and I met in college when we were sophomores. He's also trilingual (speaks Chinese, English, and Spanish). We were senior project partners (in VLSI). A natural, amazing illustrator mostly in inks. Now lives in Panama, where I attended his wedding.
Quotes: "I wonder if is my imagination or is it just that you like blue-colored automobiles!" |
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| Description: Lisa was my first online friend. An exceptional dart player. Though we have known each other for many years, we have yet to meet face to face. We have chatted and exchanged countless e-mails. She approaches life with contagious hope and optimism. I love that.
Quotes: "You have an artist's soul." |
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| | | | Lorena | |
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| | Description: Lorena and I met in college. Also an engineer. Quite possibly the happiest person I know, with similarly the biggest smile. Always seemed to know precisely what to say to make you feel better. Married and living in Florida. Another Disney enthusiast. |
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| | Loret | |
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| | Description: Loret was one of my classmates in college. We spent way too many hours studying the finers details of electrical circuits. Cuban, and thus we occasionally spoke in Spanish. Charming and driven. She and Madhavi were inseparable. |
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| |  | | Lucas | |
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| Description: Lucas is my little brother. Okay, he's not biologically my little brother; he's a young man I've been spending time with since he was twelve. Dalia's son. Spending time with him has been a truly rewarding experience. He's much older now, and I haven't spent much time with him in some time. That saddens me.
Quotes: "You're like an adult, but not a grownup." |
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| | Madhavi | |
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| | Description: Madhavi was one of my classmates in college. Among a number of (Eastern) Indian friends from school. Dedicated and driven. Funny, goofy, and charming. She's got a PhD now. It seems like she and Loret were always together. |
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| |  | | Magic | |
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| Description: Magic is my roommate. We met a number of years ago when he was a kitten. He was technically a house warming present. Great company. Though sometimes a bit surly, can be quite affectionate. Enjoys chess and has been known to dabble in carpentry. Kept an advice column.
Quotes: "You could call if you're going to be late..." |
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| Description: Matt is great fun. He enjoys all types of games and shows great sportsmanship, which is not to say he's any good at them. Plays games with a violent, chaotic vigor, and is thus affectionately known as "Force of Chaos". Inexplicably seems to like Cricket. Learning to solve the Rubik's cube.
Quotes: "Those [slanty] eyes give you away..." |
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| |  | | Michael | |
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| | Description: Michael is my oldest nephew. He's actually younger than Magic, and I refer to them as cousins. Though somewhat shy, he's warm and friendly once he's comfortable with you. He's protective of his kid brother and sister, which I find endearing. |
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| | Description: Michael and I met in college. In fact, he and Aileen were classmates and are good friends. We had spent most of that time debating Mac vs. PC. Since then we have exchanged many e-mails and have become good friends. He, like me, is also a gadget fanatic. Happily married to Jen, with more kids than I can seem to track. |
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| |  | | Mom | |
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| | Description: My mom is a dear woman. Lives in Florida with Terry. Survived much misfortune in her youth, and thus possibly the most resilient person I know. Uncommonly dedicated to our family. Speaks almost no English. Though still conservative, one of the most open-minded Chinese folks I know. |
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 | | Rick | |
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| Description: Rick and I started work around the same time many years ago. In many ways, he was my mentor when I first started here. A natural leader. Professionally, one of the few people I implicitly trust. I have great respect for him. A devoted husband and father.
Quotes: "Well, Frank is a bit of a purist..." |
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| | | Description: Scott is an avid skier. In fact, he has gotten a bad reputation for canceling plans in leiu of skiing. He is also a devilishly good card player. Seems to identify with every local sports team. Has been known to decorate my office. Has a nasty habit of borrowing things and forgetting them.
Quotes: [While riding in my car...] "We're going to die!" |
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| | Seema | |
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| | Description: Seema was another of my classmates in engineering school and a dear friend. We were part of the same study group and spent way too many hours in the library. The first vegan I met. Smart, funny, and kind. She's a wife and mother now. I hope she's doing well. |
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| | | | Suzanne | |
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| | Description: Suzanne is among my closest college friends. Intelligent and witty. One of the best practical jokers I know. Passionate and smart. Also an engineer, though we were never classmates. Saavy businesswoman who ran her own company for a number of years. |
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 | | Ted | |
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| Description: Ted and I met when we were freshmen in college and became roommates a year later. Also an engineer. We were very competitive in college. The closest thing I have to a big brother. Moved to Seattle area a number of years ago. Married to Allison. I see him several times a year.
Quotes: [To me...] "Stop squinting at me" |
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| |  | | Terry | |
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| | Description: Terry is my older sister, four years my senior. Married to John. Mother of three, including Michael. We have always been very competitive, and thus there has always been some friction between us. Sadly, I think we're so different that we can never really be that close. |
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 | | Tino | |
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| Description: Tino is my cousin. Okay... He's technically Fred's cousin. He, like me, is also a geek. He's funny and talented and horribly misguided about software development. We have spent more time chatting on IM rather than face to face.
Quotes: "And the question is: Has Frank's apartment been taken over by aliens?" |
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| |  | | Tom | |
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| Description: Tom and I worked together a few years ago and hit it off immediately. Can be very silly or calmly serious when appropriate. We somehow got started playing yo-yo's at about the same time. Dedicated father and husband. Races RC cars and plays the drums.
Quotes: "I need new friends. You guys suck." |
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 | | Trudy | |
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| Description: Trudy is a dear friend who I met when I first came to Seattle. Versatile, talented, and dedicated. Helped me through some rough times more than once. I had the privilege of designing the logo for her wedding invidation a number of years ago. Introduced me to Lucas and Dalia. Initially thought I was Native-American.
Quotes: "You're a Nice Guy™." [Ugh!!] |
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