8/10/22

People with GERD are barred from most beverages. Almost none of my old go-to’s are allowed. I have to say no to kombucha, sugary soft drinks, carbonated water, pearl milk tea, and cold brew coffee. Coconut water is the only acceptable option from before. In fact, it is actually considered…

Mom and Dad had a minor quarrel about what their 32-year-old son should wear to bed. Dad insists that my long-sleeve green cotton shirt is too warm for summer and that a T-shirt should be fine. Mom disagrees, claiming the lows of 60F are chilly, especially since we leave the…

Thanks to my brother joining us for Stranger Things (and Ms Marvel), I’ve been watching a LOT of TV in the garage. Luckily, I’ve found a comfortable position that allows me to lie relatively flat. Previously, lying down on the garage couch coerced my neck into a bad posture. Not…

Instead of our typical movies, my dad and I finished watching Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 last weekend. Not that there was much of a difference; clocking in at 85min (for episode 8 on Saturday) and 150min (for episode 9 on Sunday), it was pretty much like watching a…

Velu and Robert (who is visiting the Bay for two weeks) planned on trying the new Voyager Craft Coffee at 2pm on Sunday. Tony and Eric wanted to have 4pm boba at the Fantasia in Cupertino Village. Tony has never met Robert, but last minute I managed to combine the…

In 2022, I often call home when I’m at the Trader Joe’s Bollinger. I’m unsure how this tradition started, but it probably began as a courtesy to the master chef of the Kang family (aka my mother), who hardly ever leaves the house. Oftentimes, I am asked to show her…

Choosing a pack of Tums at Walgreens was more complicated than expected. There were so many choices, including oddly enough, peppermint flavored. (From what I recall, peppermint is one of the most common triggers of acid reflux.) Anyway, I called back home to determine whether 750mg (aka “Extra Strength”) or…

Saturday ended my 2-week run of esomeprazole magnesium (aka “Nexium 24hr”). This popular PPI was started to combat my GERD. After a four day ramp-up period, I started seeing results. During the run, I can safely say that my stomach was no longer as bloated. Nexium showed its true power…

Three separate medical issues make bed pillows hard to choose for me: a weak neck, shoulder problems and acid reflux. Each of these issues requires different pillows; some don’t play nicely with the others. My neck prefers firm & contoured. My left shoulder wants low & soft. My stomach wants…