Meeting old friends ...

Scott and Suzana were in town today, they were on holiday vacation in NY and drove to Boston to meet folks. We had coffee with Suzan at Starbuck in Central Sq and then dinner at Irving's old place. That place hasn't changed a lot, but the decoration on the wall were really nice, the plants were getting old since last time I saw them. So I met with Andrew, Alex, Lin and Upek (Lin's friend from Cornell). Dinner was yummy, so was the chats and catching ups.

I am meeting Scott in Feb when I am in KL. He told me lots about MUST and I'm in a way discouraged to even think about joining MUST now.

A white after-Christmas

A white after-Christmas - Boston view from my bedroom. Dec 26, 2004.

Christmas 2004 was my 3rd X'mas spent in Boston, technically it was my 4th X'mas since I came here as I spent my X'mas 2003 in Singapore attending LW's wedding. This year it wasn't white, but the day after X'mas was. It was a snowy view from my bed room. I can still feel the chill even the heater is powered up.

Was saddened by the news of Tsunami in Asia - Certain part of Malaysia were affected, it was scary comes to think about it, you cannot underestimate the power of nature.

Completed my paper on back-to-face stackin, will let Rafael and the IBM and DARPA folks to go through. Must submit to EDL before I go home.

Christmas Dinner at the Yangs

Christmas Dinner at the Yangs. Dec 25, 2004.

Joel and Ari were excellent host to our Christmas 2004 potluck dinner - There were beef, chicken and my favorite sambal shrimp (of course). It was a warm dinner and I enjoyed my card game "dai tee".

I inherited a rocking chair from Joel tonight - this will add pleasure to my TV viewing, I am sure. Thanks Joel !

Christmas Eve ...

I didn't do TMAH etch on the ground-back wafers even though that was on my mind this morning. I went to office though - wrote another paper on face-to-face stacking up to 4 layers. Should I send it to EDL or ECS Letters ? It is 75% complete now. It is Christmas eve and things were quiet, except for Andy, no one was in the office.

Watched Lion King 1.5 - Timon was adorable.

Another paper finally ...

I have had some interesting results lately thanks to the AME5000 O2 plasma that works incredibly well. Today I put together some important results that will tell a good story on back-to-face silicon layer stacking. It is 90% done and am thinking of submitting to EDL. One thing I really hate is the format for reference, every journal has their own and that make life very difficult for authors.

If things go well, I should have one more paper for face-to-face bonding, one for Cu bonding studies, one for effect of forming gas on surface oxide and thermal stress ! Can I manage them before going home for CNY ?

Had dinner with CH et al at Pho Pasteur in Harvard Sq. Was supposed to watch Lion King 1.5, but was in the office until 10:30 thanks to the heavy rain.

Shawshank Redemption 1994

Had lunch and dinner at the Mich's ... I didn't know Japanese curry is that good.

I got my TEM micrographs back from TI - JD and Pat really exceeded that expectation in getting them back to me before X'mas. There was a 22 Ang width of bonded region in the bonded SiO2-PETEOS interface. Also trace of F at the interface, I don't quite understand this - I can understand that the bond was not complete at the interface, but why the F ???

Shopped at Galleria with Mich and CL. Bought gloves, hat from GAP, Yankee candles, whey protein and exchanged my 30x30 AE pants with a 29x30.

The highlight of the day was Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman 1994 Shawshank Redemption at McGregor - It was about hope and real friendship based on Stephen King's novel. Two thumbs up, and Buxton ME is my next roadtrip spot.

Folks rolling dang yuan. Dong Zhi 2004. Dec 21, 2004.

Dang Yuan - Dong Zhi 2004. Dec 21, 2004.

My dinner at the Mich's. Dec 20, 2004.

So I worked in the lab till 7:30 PM today. Mich invited me over for dinner with CH and her friends from Cornell. Man, her cooking is just getting better and better - you can see for yourself. What feels more homely than Bak Kut Teh ??? Thanks Mich !!! Watched "Elf" with folks and came home.

Today was cold and snowy. I was almost pissed off having to make two trips to the procurement and IP Council offices regarding ANSYS software purchase. Unlike Comsol/FEMLAB, the legal shedule and the procedures were just too long winded I think.

Rachel Portman's "Cider House Rules" main theme is what fueling me at this hour.

Cambridge view from my office in MIT Building 39. It was a snowy day today. Dec 20, 2004.

Cambridge night view from my office. Dec 20, 2004.

Feel like zombie ...

I was awake all night and was trying to get some sleep this morning but I just couldn't sleeep. Folks were at the Jin Hock's to keep him awake so that he didn't miss his morning flight to Malaysia. There was cards game, there was music, there was gossips, there was bonding, and there was touchy-feely good bye.

And since I am home for CNY before he is back, I won't be seeing him until mid-Feb. And you just can't help missing each other. He ordered a cab but two came and there was a brief tension for a while, but things were under control. Luggage was 3.5 lb overweight, but we managed to squeeze the air out to keep it under the allowed 70 lb, is this a miracle or new science ?

I have 2 papers to write but I don't seem to have the mood to do that. I get attached to people and it can take a while to settle.

CS's first blog

So I have finally created my very first blog after months of procrastination - I figured that I had better start recording before I get too old to remember anything.

So what are these "khanti" and "upekkha" all about ? Will explain later.

Met with George and Ming Lee today for dim sum in Chinatown. I have not seen ML since last August when she went home and later Stanford. Catched up a little bit. We are planning a Christmas eve potluck makan with the Yangs (Joel and Ari). Can't believe this is my 4th Xmas in Boston. Last year I got to go home, but this year I plan for Chinese New Year in February instead.

Botanic Garden next to US Capitol, DC - Thanksgiving, Nov 26, 2004. (Photo credit: Michelle Teh)

MIT Killian Court, after first snow in Boston (Nov 13, 2004).