Ky Tran - A bit of everything

I got my wife into Stardew Valley, and now she’s completely hooked. We play it until 1AM every night, obsessing over our farm—planning crops, plotting fishing trips, and deciding which animals to raise. It’s been a blast. Now, we’re running on endless morning coffee just to get through the workday.  Have we learned our lesson? Nope—tonight, we’ll be back at it, making our farm even greater!  

This afternoon, I went to a coffee shop to work, and it turned out to be incredibly productive. The two hours flew by, and I accomplished a lot. I wasn’t the only one—many others were there studying and working as well. Perhaps being in that shared space motivated all of us to stay focused and get things done.  

My dachshund is living his best life! He enjoys snacking on carrots, broccoli, and watermelon, eats his chicken meals twice a day, stays hydrated, and never skips his daily long walk. Every night at 9 PM, he heads to bed on his own and wakes up early like clockwork. Though he’s slowed down a bit with age, he remains healthy and active. At 17 years old, he’s the equivalent of 88 in human years! It makes me wonder—could a diet full of vegetables, nutritious meals, plenty of water, and regular exercise be the secret to longevity? Maybe I should give it a try, and if I make it to 100, I’ll publish my findings!

When I first started working in tech, I felt intimidated when I was assigned tasks I had no clue how to handle. I struggled at first, but I kept learning and worked through the challenges. Over time, as I became more familiar with the tools, I gained confidence. Perhaps we fear things simply because we don’t know them well enough yet.

 Have you ever played your favorite song on repeat all day without getting tired of it, only to despise it a month later and never want to hear it again? I recently revisited some of my favorite songs from my teenage years. While I’m not obsessed with them anymore, I still enjoy listening to them. If you’re feeling burnt out on something right now, try stepping away from it for a while—you might find yourself appreciating it again later.    

 I spent last weekend gardening, and it was exhausting. Three hours of digging and moving things around felt like an eternity. The longer I worked, the more drained I became. I wish life were like a video game, where you could just take a potion and instantly restore your energy—that would be amazing.

 In my twenties, I loved late-night drives. The empty streets, no traffic, and cool breeze made for the perfect driving experience. Plus, I felt pretty cool being out so late. But looking back now, midnight drives don’t seem so ideal—poor visibility, sketchy people, stray animals darting across the road, and all sorts of unpredictable things. I guess I’m getting old.  

 I just started playing Stardew Valley —yeah, I know, I'm nine years late—but I'm completely hooked. It's only my third day, and I already know the town inside out, remember all the villagers, and have a solid plan to make my farm thrive. It got me thinking—if learning in school were as engaging as playing a game, we'd all be geniuses.  

I've been coughing a lot lately—I probably caught it from my wife, who picked it up at the hospital where she works. She started working there three years ago, and since then, we've been getting sick quite often. This makes me realize how often we take our health for granted. A simple breath, clear eyesight, and no sore throat—that’s all we really need for a happy life.