6/30/2005
Good Article of the Day
An insightful, bitingly amusing article about Shakespear in the park, a pleasure in which I have occasionally indulged. Don't agree with everything in there, but it's worth a read.
6/29/2005
Encounters
The past few days have been draining. Boyfriend and I have been having a lot of SERIOUS discussions about relocating. Boyfriend is depressed about having to move, I think, and I am depressed that he is depressed.
Neither of us are looking forward to living in a cramped, small apartment with a lease, with small stoves and small refrigerators, dirty carpets and bad insulation… Neither are we thrilled about having to move the company, having to hunt for an office with the appropriate lease terms and cost and location, and then physically moving the equipment…
And then, there is the prospect that we have to be apart for at least part of the time next year and all the emotional stress and trauma involved in constantly separating and reuniting are a little depressing, as well.
And then there’s law school, which I was never that excited about in the first place. In the past month alone, as many as 4 people have told me that the law school I’m going to has been a horrible experience either for themselves or for someone they know well. My stomach is now in a knot every time I think about it.
Now, on to lighter topics. Almost forgot to mention that while I was away this weekend I ran into several people in my hometown-to-be. While apartment hunting, I randomly ran into LT in the elevator. She is a former college classmate who hung out with some of my close friends and who was vaguely in the same “circle” as I was, and about whom I read every single month in the Alumni magazine, or so it seemed. She is one of those amazing women who managed to relocate form the west coast to the east coast AND transferred from one famous law school to another AND graduated AND got married AND had a daughter, all in the course of THREE years!
Amazing.
Also caught a glimpse of a friend, BH, from a summer camp I attended when I was in the 11th grade, whom I haven’t seen in 10 years, literally. I at first couldn’t believe my eyes, and since I was in a moving car at the time, I didn’t stop by to verify that it was actually him. Later, at home, I checked his Friendster profile, and found out that he is indeed living now in the city that I visited. What an amazing coincidence!
Neither of us are looking forward to living in a cramped, small apartment with a lease, with small stoves and small refrigerators, dirty carpets and bad insulation… Neither are we thrilled about having to move the company, having to hunt for an office with the appropriate lease terms and cost and location, and then physically moving the equipment…
And then, there is the prospect that we have to be apart for at least part of the time next year and all the emotional stress and trauma involved in constantly separating and reuniting are a little depressing, as well.
And then there’s law school, which I was never that excited about in the first place. In the past month alone, as many as 4 people have told me that the law school I’m going to has been a horrible experience either for themselves or for someone they know well. My stomach is now in a knot every time I think about it.
Now, on to lighter topics. Almost forgot to mention that while I was away this weekend I ran into several people in my hometown-to-be. While apartment hunting, I randomly ran into LT in the elevator. She is a former college classmate who hung out with some of my close friends and who was vaguely in the same “circle” as I was, and about whom I read every single month in the Alumni magazine, or so it seemed. She is one of those amazing women who managed to relocate form the west coast to the east coast AND transferred from one famous law school to another AND graduated AND got married AND had a daughter, all in the course of THREE years!
Amazing.
Also caught a glimpse of a friend, BH, from a summer camp I attended when I was in the 11th grade, whom I haven’t seen in 10 years, literally. I at first couldn’t believe my eyes, and since I was in a moving car at the time, I didn’t stop by to verify that it was actually him. Later, at home, I checked his Friendster profile, and found out that he is indeed living now in the city that I visited. What an amazing coincidence!
6/27/2005
Still Recovering
from my weekend. Didn’t even make it out of bed until 9:00 today, and didn’t go into the office except to cut paychecks for staff.
We had the worst weather possible for apartment hunting over the weekend. It was 95 on Saturday, and 92 on Sunday. It was so humid I couldn’t breathe when I was outside, and had to drink a bottle of water about every hour. My clothes were all clinging to me in sweat – and boy did I sweat.
Boyfriend, bless his heart, tagged along with me around town in this weather and never complained, even driving me part of the way. He was also very charming with our would-be renters and they loved him.
The apartments in town, as I described to friend A, were expensive, crappy, and small. The one passable apartment would have cost Boyfriend and I $1,800 per month WHILE sharing with a suitemate. The others were either strangely configured or dirty and smelly, or both.
One of the apartments we looked at across the river, about 15 minutes or walking from campus, was in a old building that looked like it could fall down any minute now. It was occupied by a fragile old lady who looked like she came straight out of a horror film from the 60s -- mass of white, uncombed hair, white virginal dressing gown, high-pitched thin voice, a dreamy and slightly crazed look in her eyes. I was literally afraid to step into her apartment by myself, and was greatly reassured when Boyfriend showed up in a taxi about 5 minutes later.
Her apartment was very, very smelly – I read somewhere that it was a sign of dementia to let your belongings begin to smell without noticing it.
None of the others was as weird as the first one, but none was that impressive, either. None gave me a sense of "wow! I want to live here!"
We were a little tempted by a small, university-affiliated apartment being subleted by an Indian business school student. But was put off by having to have a suitemate, and by his obvious anal-retentiveness. (He said 5 or 6 times HIMSELF that he was very “anal” about neatness, and kept on describing the apartment, which was SPOTLESS, as “a pig sty”.)
There was also a sublet that I visited alone from a visiting scholar from China, who was very eager to rent to me because “we are both Chinese”. Sadly, the apartment itself was smelly (in the worst way), greasy, and dirty. I stayed in there for about 5 minutes and then made my escape.
There was a charming little apartment that Boyfriend and I are considering, but it will not be furnished and we will have very little furniture, at least in the summer. The renter seemed to have really liked us, but we are still being indecisive.
The interviews with various job applicants went much better – in general, people were more energetic, more career-focused, and seemed more “high-powered” and impressive than around here.
Over all, the weekend was very educational and gave me a real sense of what to expect in the town that I will call home for the next 3 years.
Birthday was very good too. Boyfriend got me a gift certificate to a little seaside day spa around here. How did he know?!?
We had the worst weather possible for apartment hunting over the weekend. It was 95 on Saturday, and 92 on Sunday. It was so humid I couldn’t breathe when I was outside, and had to drink a bottle of water about every hour. My clothes were all clinging to me in sweat – and boy did I sweat.
Boyfriend, bless his heart, tagged along with me around town in this weather and never complained, even driving me part of the way. He was also very charming with our would-be renters and they loved him.
The apartments in town, as I described to friend A, were expensive, crappy, and small. The one passable apartment would have cost Boyfriend and I $1,800 per month WHILE sharing with a suitemate. The others were either strangely configured or dirty and smelly, or both.
One of the apartments we looked at across the river, about 15 minutes or walking from campus, was in a old building that looked like it could fall down any minute now. It was occupied by a fragile old lady who looked like she came straight out of a horror film from the 60s -- mass of white, uncombed hair, white virginal dressing gown, high-pitched thin voice, a dreamy and slightly crazed look in her eyes. I was literally afraid to step into her apartment by myself, and was greatly reassured when Boyfriend showed up in a taxi about 5 minutes later.
Her apartment was very, very smelly – I read somewhere that it was a sign of dementia to let your belongings begin to smell without noticing it.
None of the others was as weird as the first one, but none was that impressive, either. None gave me a sense of "wow! I want to live here!"
We were a little tempted by a small, university-affiliated apartment being subleted by an Indian business school student. But was put off by having to have a suitemate, and by his obvious anal-retentiveness. (He said 5 or 6 times HIMSELF that he was very “anal” about neatness, and kept on describing the apartment, which was SPOTLESS, as “a pig sty”.)
There was also a sublet that I visited alone from a visiting scholar from China, who was very eager to rent to me because “we are both Chinese”. Sadly, the apartment itself was smelly (in the worst way), greasy, and dirty. I stayed in there for about 5 minutes and then made my escape.
There was a charming little apartment that Boyfriend and I are considering, but it will not be furnished and we will have very little furniture, at least in the summer. The renter seemed to have really liked us, but we are still being indecisive.
The interviews with various job applicants went much better – in general, people were more energetic, more career-focused, and seemed more “high-powered” and impressive than around here.
Over all, the weekend was very educational and gave me a real sense of what to expect in the town that I will call home for the next 3 years.
Birthday was very good too. Boyfriend got me a gift certificate to a little seaside day spa around here. How did he know?!?
6/26/2005
Wow...
That was a very full two days.
And I'm now in the second half of my twentieth year!
Thank you, my friends, for all those birthday wishes! I feel blessed to be remembered by so many of you, and guilty that I myself have been so remiss in reciprocating. Perhaps next year I'll do a better job, be a better person, a better friend, and lead a better life.
Exhausted. At home. More later.
And I'm now in the second half of my twentieth year!
Thank you, my friends, for all those birthday wishes! I feel blessed to be remembered by so many of you, and guilty that I myself have been so remiss in reciprocating. Perhaps next year I'll do a better job, be a better person, a better friend, and lead a better life.
Exhausted. At home. More later.
6/25/2005
On the Run
Have about 5 minutes to write this and then have to go again. We are in the hotel now, about to leave to scout out sublets / apartments. The number of apartments that we are looking at has ballooned from 5 to 9. Let's hope that at least ONE of them is nice / appropriate.
Weather is unbelieveably hot. Hotel, which is in the city center, very very expensive, although has some nice spaces and the rooms are okay (citrus-scented soap! Every hotel should have this).
Well, if I'm not exhausted later tonight (which I am likely to be), I'll report back with my findings.
Weather is unbelieveably hot. Hotel, which is in the city center, very very expensive, although has some nice spaces and the rooms are okay (citrus-scented soap! Every hotel should have this).
Well, if I'm not exhausted later tonight (which I am likely to be), I'll report back with my findings.
6/24/2005
Insanity
As of this moment, I’m going to interview 11 people over two days this weekend, looking at 5 apartments/sublets, and putting up about 100 flyers around the city and neighboring towns in the various campus of the numerous universities around the area.
Right now, I’m frantically writing up my itinerary and trying to write myself little notes in the margin so I remember where to go and don’t mix the interviewees up with one another. (“So you graduated from Wellesley…? No, …Brown…? No… Duke? Okay, I give up. Who are you?”)
It’s going to be a very frantic weekend for me. Boyfriend is along for the ride and said that he’ll be staying in the hotel room relaxing. Damn him!
Right now, I’m frantically writing up my itinerary and trying to write myself little notes in the margin so I remember where to go and don’t mix the interviewees up with one another. (“So you graduated from Wellesley…? No, …Brown…? No… Duke? Okay, I give up. Who are you?”)
It’s going to be a very frantic weekend for me. Boyfriend is along for the ride and said that he’ll be staying in the hotel room relaxing. Damn him!
6/22/2005
Updates on Our Diet
Boyfriend and I are still sticking with the diet, although now that the strict phase is long over we are allowed to eat fruits, whole-grain bread, and to drink wine.
Boyfriend went to his doctor last week. Not only did he lose 12 lbs, but both his blood pressure and cholesterol level are waaaay down. His doctor was very pleased and told him to keep up with the good work.
Yay.
Boyfriend went to his doctor last week. Not only did he lose 12 lbs, but both his blood pressure and cholesterol level are waaaay down. His doctor was very pleased and told him to keep up with the good work.
Yay.
Biting the Bullet
Just made a last-minute decision to travel to the city where I’ll be for the next 3 years this weekend.
My missions this weekend: looking at summer sublets; interviewing half a dozen people for my company; putting recruiting flyers around the various campuses in the city.
There are more unstructured missions, as well.
I realized this week that in order to find an apartment that both Boyfriend and I will like, I first need to understand what we are looking for. And to do that, I need to first walk around the campus and the city and try to get a sense of neighborhoods, geography, atmosphere, distances, etc.
Right now, there are so many things I don’t know. I don’t know which neighborhood is better than others. I don’t know which street is hipper and which street is quiet. I don’t know where students “tend to” live. I have no idea whether “20 minutes walking to …” really means 20 minutes or just a figure of speech. All the names of places are meaningless to me. I have no idea whether the bus system and the subway are useful or just frustrating.
My ignorance is staggering. It’s depressing.
I guess I’ll start by just going there and being there, and try to learn as much as I can.
Just as important, I really need to begin to try to IMAGINE what it’s like to actually live in this city. I need to begin to picture myself going to school and going back home each day, settling into a routine, calling that place “home”.
Right now “moving” is such an abstract concept. Thinking about it gives me a headache every time. But it needs to be done soon, and I don’t have that much time. (This summer it’s going to be so busy it will be insane.)
When I’m actually there, I’ll be able to picture myself living there better. Perhaps I can be inspired, or at least just have more basis for deciding about where I would like to live; what an ideal arrangement would be; what’ the price range is; in what directions I should strive for.
God, it’s so hard to find a place in a city that you know nearly nothing about. But the only way I can overcome this obstacle is … to go there and begin to live there… NOW!
My missions this weekend: looking at summer sublets; interviewing half a dozen people for my company; putting recruiting flyers around the various campuses in the city.
There are more unstructured missions, as well.
I realized this week that in order to find an apartment that both Boyfriend and I will like, I first need to understand what we are looking for. And to do that, I need to first walk around the campus and the city and try to get a sense of neighborhoods, geography, atmosphere, distances, etc.
Right now, there are so many things I don’t know. I don’t know which neighborhood is better than others. I don’t know which street is hipper and which street is quiet. I don’t know where students “tend to” live. I have no idea whether “20 minutes walking to …” really means 20 minutes or just a figure of speech. All the names of places are meaningless to me. I have no idea whether the bus system and the subway are useful or just frustrating.
My ignorance is staggering. It’s depressing.
I guess I’ll start by just going there and being there, and try to learn as much as I can.
Just as important, I really need to begin to try to IMAGINE what it’s like to actually live in this city. I need to begin to picture myself going to school and going back home each day, settling into a routine, calling that place “home”.
Right now “moving” is such an abstract concept. Thinking about it gives me a headache every time. But it needs to be done soon, and I don’t have that much time. (This summer it’s going to be so busy it will be insane.)
When I’m actually there, I’ll be able to picture myself living there better. Perhaps I can be inspired, or at least just have more basis for deciding about where I would like to live; what an ideal arrangement would be; what’ the price range is; in what directions I should strive for.
God, it’s so hard to find a place in a city that you know nearly nothing about. But the only way I can overcome this obstacle is … to go there and begin to live there… NOW!
6/21/2005
Ohmigod...
Just got an email from my parents. My biological mother’s American husband apparently has leukemia. He is taking medication but cannot be operated on, and the doctor basically said that he has another year to live, maybe…
Now I feel REALLY guilty for feeling impatient with her.
Now I feel REALLY guilty for feeling impatient with her.
Another Blast from the Past
And this one was a shocker. I just got a Friendster request from a boy I used to know in middle school. (Yes, I’m on Friendster… I know, how clichéd. But I tracked down a lot of my old friends and acquaintances this way.) We actually “went out” during 7th grade, and went to a class dance together. I still have the photos – his sister lent me a pink lace dress, and he gave me a huge corsage… ahhh… memories…
But anyway, back to this boy, M. I always remembered M as kind of plump and a little dorky in middle school. He had dark hair, wore vests to school, and was very short. He was very sweet though, and had brilliant blue eyes, and my best friend C also had a crush on him.
So imagine my surprise when I went to M’s Friendster profile to check him out and found out that not only is he HOT now, he’s an actor, and he’s gay!
Think wet curly hair, intense blue eyes, a slight pout, and a 5-o’clock shadow. Think young Harrison Ford crossed with Orlando Bloom.
So, my slightly dorky first boyfriend has now turned into Mr. Adonis with a Hollywood dream. Wish him luck!
But anyway, back to this boy, M. I always remembered M as kind of plump and a little dorky in middle school. He had dark hair, wore vests to school, and was very short. He was very sweet though, and had brilliant blue eyes, and my best friend C also had a crush on him.
So imagine my surprise when I went to M’s Friendster profile to check him out and found out that not only is he HOT now, he’s an actor, and he’s gay!
Think wet curly hair, intense blue eyes, a slight pout, and a 5-o’clock shadow. Think young Harrison Ford crossed with Orlando Bloom.
So, my slightly dorky first boyfriend has now turned into Mr. Adonis with a Hollywood dream. Wish him luck!
6/20/2005
More on My Weekend
Slept almost immediately after I came home last night – simply too exhausted to write anything long and coherent.
So my time with the parents and biological mother was nice. I feel guilty, however, because I felt so impatient with my biological mother. I hope I didn’t show this too much, but I was inwardly very impatient. She’s a nice person, but so clueless of everything that I can’t really have a real conversation with her. It’s not her fault, but I think we are just very different people, and she has been out of my life for so long that it takes a lot of time to explain anything to her without exhausting myself.
Perhaps my expectations are too high. It IS much more effortless to talk with my own parents, even if the conversation also frustrates me at times. At least they have enough context of my life to understand what I talk about, and then we can carry on an interesting conversation.
So I took my biological mother to Six Flags. We started out late on Saturday and there were way too many people there, however, and just the prospect of waiting in line for hours and hours horrified us, so we decided to only go to the Safari. Lots of cute animals there. My favorite was definitely the giraffe, because they have pretty colors and really long eyelashes.
In the afternoon we went to a restaurant near Princeton to eat. I then took my mother and walked around the Princeton campus. Also took her to the French pastry shop on St. Tulane and bought some dessert. My friend A took me there last time we were on Princeton campus about a month ago and showed me the place, and it is really wonderful. (Thanks, A!)
The next day she went shopping in the morning, then we went to see Star Wars III. She had never seen any other Star Wars movie before, and was very, very confused about the chronology and the storyline, like the fact that there are 6 Star Wars so far and the original Star Wars was really episode 4, and that this latest Star War is the episode that comes right before that. Arrrrgh. (The fact that there was no word in Chinese for “prequel” greatly complicated things.) After a little bit of Star Wars we finally decided to sneak into Mr and Mrs. Smith, which was just starting. Surprisingly, it was very well-made. Parts of it were very funny. If you are into this kind of action comedies (which I am) I highly recommend it.
Then ate at my favorite Chinese restaurant in celebration of Father’s Day (I brought a bottle of Cabernet for my dad). Then I drove home and almost didn’t have any energy to interact with Boyfriend. Slept from 11:00 until 8:30 and finally felt a little better.
So my time with the parents and biological mother was nice. I feel guilty, however, because I felt so impatient with my biological mother. I hope I didn’t show this too much, but I was inwardly very impatient. She’s a nice person, but so clueless of everything that I can’t really have a real conversation with her. It’s not her fault, but I think we are just very different people, and she has been out of my life for so long that it takes a lot of time to explain anything to her without exhausting myself.
Perhaps my expectations are too high. It IS much more effortless to talk with my own parents, even if the conversation also frustrates me at times. At least they have enough context of my life to understand what I talk about, and then we can carry on an interesting conversation.
So I took my biological mother to Six Flags. We started out late on Saturday and there were way too many people there, however, and just the prospect of waiting in line for hours and hours horrified us, so we decided to only go to the Safari. Lots of cute animals there. My favorite was definitely the giraffe, because they have pretty colors and really long eyelashes.
In the afternoon we went to a restaurant near Princeton to eat. I then took my mother and walked around the Princeton campus. Also took her to the French pastry shop on St. Tulane and bought some dessert. My friend A took me there last time we were on Princeton campus about a month ago and showed me the place, and it is really wonderful. (Thanks, A!)
The next day she went shopping in the morning, then we went to see Star Wars III. She had never seen any other Star Wars movie before, and was very, very confused about the chronology and the storyline, like the fact that there are 6 Star Wars so far and the original Star Wars was really episode 4, and that this latest Star War is the episode that comes right before that. Arrrrgh. (The fact that there was no word in Chinese for “prequel” greatly complicated things.) After a little bit of Star Wars we finally decided to sneak into Mr and Mrs. Smith, which was just starting. Surprisingly, it was very well-made. Parts of it were very funny. If you are into this kind of action comedies (which I am) I highly recommend it.
Then ate at my favorite Chinese restaurant in celebration of Father’s Day (I brought a bottle of Cabernet for my dad). Then I drove home and almost didn’t have any energy to interact with Boyfriend. Slept from 11:00 until 8:30 and finally felt a little better.
6/19/2005
Weekend
Meant to write more this weekend, but just got back from a very full weekend with my parents and biological mother. We went to Six Flags, Princeton, and the movies (Mr and Mrs Smith). Also had some amazing Chinese food and took pictures in front our old town house in North Edison. Now I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, and a little sad.
Some serious discussions going on with Boyfriend over plans / logistics next year. My life is going to be so complicated in the next few months.
Some serious discussions going on with Boyfriend over plans / logistics next year. My life is going to be so complicated in the next few months.
6/16/2005
Gulp
Just had a blitzkrieg IM session with Dickie who is working at a DC firm this summer. Apparently, instead of the wining and dining treatment that I had expected him getting as a summer associate, he has been working long days, has pulled several all-nighters so far, and worked 2 weekends. His assignments are “grueling”, and he is really exhausted. No time to go to the gym, eat out, relax, or see his mom.
He chatted with me for like two minutes and then ran back to work again.
On the upside, he does have an office, a secretary, and tons and tons of free food.
But still, he looks forward to returning to law school… yikes… Is this my future? Thinking about this is enough to make my stomach turn.
He chatted with me for like two minutes and then ran back to work again.
On the upside, he does have an office, a secretary, and tons and tons of free food.
But still, he looks forward to returning to law school… yikes… Is this my future? Thinking about this is enough to make my stomach turn.
Happiest Day of My Life (So Far)
Let’s hope that by Saturday the weather will be… warmer, but hopefully not as humid as earlier this week, because I have decided to take my biological mother to Six Flags Great Adventure, in celebration of my 26th birthday, which is NEXT Sunday. (Feel free to send me birthday wishes! :) )
Some of my nicest memories from high school was at Six Flags. Almost ten years ago, for my sixteenth birthday, my dad took me and three of my friends there, and we spent a whole day riding roller coasters and eating ice cream and hamburgers. It was SO MUCH FUN. Even my dad went on a few rides, sadly, by himself (since he was the odd person out). My friends all agreed that my dad is the coolest dad ever.
Once when I was talking with Boyfriend, I described that day as “the happiest day of my life so far.” I realize that I probably shouldn’t have put it that way, since Boyfriend might have been sad that the happiest day in my life so far wasn’t a day spent with him. But really, you often only know these things in retrospect. While you are in the moment, you are mostly “happy but not yet knowing it.”
What made that day so perfect? I think it was a combination of being with BOTH all your favorite friends AND your parents, and seeing that they get along so beautifully. So often these two parts of our lives are kept separate, and when they come together it’s awkward and stressful. So when a day like that happens and all the most important and favorite people are together with you and everyone gets along and has a great time, it’s almost magical.
Oh, and riding many, many roller coasters.
Thanks, Dad!!!
Some of my nicest memories from high school was at Six Flags. Almost ten years ago, for my sixteenth birthday, my dad took me and three of my friends there, and we spent a whole day riding roller coasters and eating ice cream and hamburgers. It was SO MUCH FUN. Even my dad went on a few rides, sadly, by himself (since he was the odd person out). My friends all agreed that my dad is the coolest dad ever.
Once when I was talking with Boyfriend, I described that day as “the happiest day of my life so far.” I realize that I probably shouldn’t have put it that way, since Boyfriend might have been sad that the happiest day in my life so far wasn’t a day spent with him. But really, you often only know these things in retrospect. While you are in the moment, you are mostly “happy but not yet knowing it.”
What made that day so perfect? I think it was a combination of being with BOTH all your favorite friends AND your parents, and seeing that they get along so beautifully. So often these two parts of our lives are kept separate, and when they come together it’s awkward and stressful. So when a day like that happens and all the most important and favorite people are together with you and everyone gets along and has a great time, it’s almost magical.
Oh, and riding many, many roller coasters.
Thanks, Dad!!!
6/15/2005
News
Weather finally broke, and now it’s COLD. I’m sitting here on the top floor of my house in a button down shirt and skirts, and I’m shivering.
Argh, why can’t the weather just be comfortable here once? Not hot, not cold, just comfortable.
So, all my friends seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. Dickie has been swallowed up by some DC firm. My friend J, who also goes to law school, in my alma mater, no less, is working at TWO different firms this summer, in LA and DC. Friend S is touring Europe and apparently has no email access. Friend J and D? Who knows what they are doing? Haven’t heard from them in months and months (though I’m partly responsible for this.)
I suppose when you are in school, summer really means something different from all the other seasons. Whereas for a working gal like me, “summer” just means “air-conditioning in office” and that’s it.
In other news… I finally beat Resident Evil last night. The ending was almost anti-climactic. The monster at the end was hard, but not impossible, and the fight was over before I knew it. I think I actually died more time doing the water ski thing to race off the island than in actual combat with the monster. (For those of you for whom this doesn’t make any sense, don’t ask.)
Finally started looking for an apartment … up north. Craig’s List is really proving to be a rich source of information. They even have one for my town now! Theirs is another smart business that I admire.
Argh, why can’t the weather just be comfortable here once? Not hot, not cold, just comfortable.
So, all my friends seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. Dickie has been swallowed up by some DC firm. My friend J, who also goes to law school, in my alma mater, no less, is working at TWO different firms this summer, in LA and DC. Friend S is touring Europe and apparently has no email access. Friend J and D? Who knows what they are doing? Haven’t heard from them in months and months (though I’m partly responsible for this.)
I suppose when you are in school, summer really means something different from all the other seasons. Whereas for a working gal like me, “summer” just means “air-conditioning in office” and that’s it.
In other news… I finally beat Resident Evil last night. The ending was almost anti-climactic. The monster at the end was hard, but not impossible, and the fight was over before I knew it. I think I actually died more time doing the water ski thing to race off the island than in actual combat with the monster. (For those of you for whom this doesn’t make any sense, don’t ask.)
Finally started looking for an apartment … up north. Craig’s List is really proving to be a rich source of information. They even have one for my town now! Theirs is another smart business that I admire.
6/14/2005
Ew!
- Saw a dead deer on the beach as Boyfriend and I took a walk yesterday.
- Humidity approaches 80% today and yesterday.
- Michael Jackson got off! :(
- Humidity approaches 80% today and yesterday.
- Michael Jackson got off! :(
6/13/2005
Freakonomics
Since it is “the hottest book this spring”, and since I have long hours to kill on my flight back from CA, I discarded my “never-buy-hardcover-and-wait-for-paperbacks” rule and bought a brand new copy of Freakonomics.
What do I think of it? Well, it sure was entertaining. It’s perfect for airplane reading. I finished half of it that morning in my hotel, and the other half in the airplane. Altogether, for a fast reader it will last you only about 4-5 hours or so.
I remember the feature of Steven Levitt on NYT magazine when it came out. I was so intrigued by what I read that I even told Boyfriend to read it, and later told my parents about it (in a lament about how creative people widen their field while uncreative people (which I strongly suspect that I am) are destined to doing drudge work like perfecting the field and filling out the details. No doubt Levitt is an energetic and imaginative genius. He made economics fascinating to ordinary humanities majors like me again.
But the book, while entertaining, left me unsatisfied in the end. Maybe it was all the hype around it, so I was expecting something much more intricate and rigorous. Right now the book feels a bit lightweight, not just evidenced by the fact that I was able to speed through it in barely one sitting. It still feels more like a particularly long magazine article than a full-fledged book. It’s full of interesting tidbits and little sketches, yet weak on overarching theme, other than “Look! We are asking random freakish questions and answering them in cool, surprising, and smart ways!”
As for the claim about using economics to solve “everyday” problems, that seems a bit over-the-top as well. For one thing, the tools used in this book are hardly limited to economics. They are statistical tools common to all social scientists. No one denies that given the right questions and the right data set (and a lot of ingenuity) we get surprising and illuminating answers. Yet as to the subject that Levitt and Dubner says their book is about – “incentives that drives people to do stuff” (sorry, they put it more elegantly, obviously), the book isn’t really about that at all. If anything, it shows that even absent clear incentives people will still do things out of misconceptions they have about the world, such as in the case of parents who read to their children in the (mistaken) belief that it would affect the academic achievement of their children.
So, after reading the book, I’m left with some interesting tidbits that I could share with friends at a cocktail party or something, (which I proceeded to do on the drive back with Boyfriend), but no real overarching theme and no real change in my perception about the world. Of course this may be too high an expectation for any book, though I have encountered plenty of books in my life that have done so (one of them happened to be Principles of Microeconomics, from Econ 101b). Still, with all the publicity and fame, I expected a little bit more meat. Or at least a longer book.
But still, all in all, an enjoyable read. It just won’t knock your socks off. My socks, and every other article of clothing, stayed on, during the flight.
One positive thing I did take away from the book, however – apparently, I can be much more relaxed about childrearing when the time comes because apparently, most of the things that I’m going to DO as a parent won’t affect my children very much. I can also feel much less resentment towards my own parents for not raising me correctly, since such a concept apparently doesn’t exist. Good to know. Thanks, Steve and Steve!
What do I think of it? Well, it sure was entertaining. It’s perfect for airplane reading. I finished half of it that morning in my hotel, and the other half in the airplane. Altogether, for a fast reader it will last you only about 4-5 hours or so.
I remember the feature of Steven Levitt on NYT magazine when it came out. I was so intrigued by what I read that I even told Boyfriend to read it, and later told my parents about it (in a lament about how creative people widen their field while uncreative people (which I strongly suspect that I am) are destined to doing drudge work like perfecting the field and filling out the details. No doubt Levitt is an energetic and imaginative genius. He made economics fascinating to ordinary humanities majors like me again.
But the book, while entertaining, left me unsatisfied in the end. Maybe it was all the hype around it, so I was expecting something much more intricate and rigorous. Right now the book feels a bit lightweight, not just evidenced by the fact that I was able to speed through it in barely one sitting. It still feels more like a particularly long magazine article than a full-fledged book. It’s full of interesting tidbits and little sketches, yet weak on overarching theme, other than “Look! We are asking random freakish questions and answering them in cool, surprising, and smart ways!”
As for the claim about using economics to solve “everyday” problems, that seems a bit over-the-top as well. For one thing, the tools used in this book are hardly limited to economics. They are statistical tools common to all social scientists. No one denies that given the right questions and the right data set (and a lot of ingenuity) we get surprising and illuminating answers. Yet as to the subject that Levitt and Dubner says their book is about – “incentives that drives people to do stuff” (sorry, they put it more elegantly, obviously), the book isn’t really about that at all. If anything, it shows that even absent clear incentives people will still do things out of misconceptions they have about the world, such as in the case of parents who read to their children in the (mistaken) belief that it would affect the academic achievement of their children.
So, after reading the book, I’m left with some interesting tidbits that I could share with friends at a cocktail party or something, (which I proceeded to do on the drive back with Boyfriend), but no real overarching theme and no real change in my perception about the world. Of course this may be too high an expectation for any book, though I have encountered plenty of books in my life that have done so (one of them happened to be Principles of Microeconomics, from Econ 101b). Still, with all the publicity and fame, I expected a little bit more meat. Or at least a longer book.
But still, all in all, an enjoyable read. It just won’t knock your socks off. My socks, and every other article of clothing, stayed on, during the flight.
One positive thing I did take away from the book, however – apparently, I can be much more relaxed about childrearing when the time comes because apparently, most of the things that I’m going to DO as a parent won’t affect my children very much. I can also feel much less resentment towards my own parents for not raising me correctly, since such a concept apparently doesn’t exist. Good to know. Thanks, Steve and Steve!
Way Too Hot
Boyfriend and I got home yesterday, after I slept for about 10 hours in the hotel. After we got up, we braved the heat and the humidity (it was 65 when I left, and now it’s 85? WTF?) to get back home, turned our air conditioning to the max, and then basically lounged around, brain dead, for the rest of the day.
For Boyfriend, this meant watching TV and sleeping. For me, this meant playing video games for 7 hours straight.
Have to be in New Jersey this weekend, because biological mother is visiting and staying with (gasp!) my parents! Talk about awkward situations. This will be a weekend I do not look forward to.
For Boyfriend, this meant watching TV and sleeping. For me, this meant playing video games for 7 hours straight.
Have to be in New Jersey this weekend, because biological mother is visiting and staying with (gasp!) my parents! Talk about awkward situations. This will be a weekend I do not look forward to.
6/12/2005
Back in CT, Though Not Home Yet!
No longer in California. ☹ Although Boyfriend and I flew into JFK around midnight and decided just to stay at this nice Hampton Inn in Stamford that we’ve stayed at before. We are going to drive home tomorrow morning.
Event yesterday went spectacularly. This time the players were the regular associates at the company instead of management, and it was fascinating to see how differently they behaved compared to the senior and middle management. They were definitely the most relaxed of the group, but also much more tentative and hesitant during the Workshop.
We had a very good discussion afterwards, and then I cleaned up and packed everything up to ship back to corporate headquarters in Connecticut.
Had a nice dinner at the restaurant Boyfriend and I dined at on Wednesday – had red wine and lots of seafood. I’ll definitely miss all the seafood in the next week. After dinner we took a walk on the beach.
After that, … well, Boyfriend and I had a bit of crisis, because of a ferris wheel, as weird as it may sound. Perhaps when I’m less tired I will explain, but suffice it to say that we were upset for the rest of the evening. By morning, though, everything was okay again, and our last few hours in California was very pleasant.
As we boarded the plane, we vowed, just like the current governor of California once so famously did: “I’ll be back.”
Event yesterday went spectacularly. This time the players were the regular associates at the company instead of management, and it was fascinating to see how differently they behaved compared to the senior and middle management. They were definitely the most relaxed of the group, but also much more tentative and hesitant during the Workshop.
We had a very good discussion afterwards, and then I cleaned up and packed everything up to ship back to corporate headquarters in Connecticut.
Had a nice dinner at the restaurant Boyfriend and I dined at on Wednesday – had red wine and lots of seafood. I’ll definitely miss all the seafood in the next week. After dinner we took a walk on the beach.
After that, … well, Boyfriend and I had a bit of crisis, because of a ferris wheel, as weird as it may sound. Perhaps when I’m less tired I will explain, but suffice it to say that we were upset for the rest of the evening. By morning, though, everything was okay again, and our last few hours in California was very pleasant.
As we boarded the plane, we vowed, just like the current governor of California once so famously did: “I’ll be back.”
6/09/2005
Another Nice Day
Event went well again, though the number of people attending were a lot fewer than expected. Today’s audience was middle-management. Perhaps they all had too much work to do? Anyway, client seemed happy, which is all I care about.
After work, drove back to the hotel, picked up Boyfriend, and we went to Newport Beach. It was high tide, and we waded for a little while in the water, looking languidly out to sea. It was partly cloudy today and the water was a bit cold, otherwise we would have swum.
Boyfriend and I were both feeling a little tired. Ever since we got to California it has been nonstop activity. There are just so many things to do! Walking on one nice beach after another; exploring little towns; shopping; sitting around in the myriad Starbucks (the density of Starbucks in this area is just unbelievable. There are seven Starbucks that we know of within a 1 mile radius, and most of them in exceedingly nice malls with lovely outdoor seating.); discovering nice little restaurants to eat. Amidst all this activity we really didn’t leave too much time to sleep. I have been averaging seven hours a night, Boyfriend much, much less.
We are now both a bit depressed about the prospect of returning to Connecticut, to the crowded streets, restricted-access beaches, no sidewalks, indifferent or sullen residents, and bad weather. Quick! Come up with something nice about Connecticut to look forward to!
After work, drove back to the hotel, picked up Boyfriend, and we went to Newport Beach. It was high tide, and we waded for a little while in the water, looking languidly out to sea. It was partly cloudy today and the water was a bit cold, otherwise we would have swum.
Boyfriend and I were both feeling a little tired. Ever since we got to California it has been nonstop activity. There are just so many things to do! Walking on one nice beach after another; exploring little towns; shopping; sitting around in the myriad Starbucks (the density of Starbucks in this area is just unbelievable. There are seven Starbucks that we know of within a 1 mile radius, and most of them in exceedingly nice malls with lovely outdoor seating.); discovering nice little restaurants to eat. Amidst all this activity we really didn’t leave too much time to sleep. I have been averaging seven hours a night, Boyfriend much, much less.
We are now both a bit depressed about the prospect of returning to Connecticut, to the crowded streets, restricted-access beaches, no sidewalks, indifferent or sullen residents, and bad weather. Quick! Come up with something nice about Connecticut to look forward to!
6/08/2005
More Photos and Thoughts on California
Event (with senior corporate executives) went well today, although I felt that, not really knowing anything about working in a large corporate environment, I wasn't really qualified to teach them about teamwork, leadership, strategies, decision-making, etc. But they didn't seem to mind.
After work, Boyfriend and I decided to take another drive along the coast. This time we went even more south than last time, beyond Dana Point, to a town named San Clemente. Boyfriend said that this is the town that Richard Nixon retired to.
We loved this town immediately. It's also a beach town with breathtaking views, but much more down-to-earth, casual, and "real" than the other towns we've been to so far up north. People here are not as glamorous, but natural and civic-minded (evidenced by a pedestrian yelling after us after Boyfriend and I made an awkward illegal turn -- yes, we definitely looked like out-of-towners.).
Had dinner at a seafood restaurant -- although every single restaurant serves seafood around here, and even the crappiest place has amazing fresh fish. So far every meal we've had here has been phenomenal, and healthy to boot.
After dinner we strolled along the beach and on the pier, and witnessed the bluest water and a breathtaking sunset.
This is the color of paradise.
Palm trees swaying gently in the evening breeze.
And here is a random cool plant that we saw on our walk by the side of the road.
Parking was remarkably easy and free, unimaginable in the Northeast. A beach like this in Connecticut would have been mobbed and the city would have made a fortune on paid parking or writing parking tickets. This is another thing I like about California. Beauty is so democratic here. It is freely dispensed, and no one tries to interfere with your enjoyment of it, because space and beauty are so abundant here.
People here don't have the intense introspection of people back east, this is true. Instead, they are more calm and happy. I can see why Buddhism would have a big following here. You exist naturally in a zen-like state when you can step out every morning into fresh air, beach, and hassel-free parking.
So many things are making so much more sense now. I understand now why my friend J became so much happier after he's gone to Stanford for grad school after four years at Yale and an entire life growing up in the Northeast. I understand the laidback-ness of my friend SF, and SP.
Boyfriend said that he would love to move here, if I weren't going to law school in the northeast. We talked about what it would be like, waking up to perfect weather every day and going on a stroll on the beach every evening. Would we eventually find life boring in paradise? I can see myself getting bored with the routine after a while. Perhaps a month out of every year is good. Perhaps a timeshare or a summer house? :)
What these towns lack, I think, is a university. That would add some intellectual depth and focus to the cultures of the towns and add also some like-minded people with whom we can be friends with -- some nice bookstores and bookish cafes to hang out in. Then it would be perfect.
Have been reading the Tipping Point every night before I go to sleep. Amazingly entertaining and very provocative book. (I know, I'm about 5 years too late, but still, better late than never.)
After work, Boyfriend and I decided to take another drive along the coast. This time we went even more south than last time, beyond Dana Point, to a town named San Clemente. Boyfriend said that this is the town that Richard Nixon retired to.
We loved this town immediately. It's also a beach town with breathtaking views, but much more down-to-earth, casual, and "real" than the other towns we've been to so far up north. People here are not as glamorous, but natural and civic-minded (evidenced by a pedestrian yelling after us after Boyfriend and I made an awkward illegal turn -- yes, we definitely looked like out-of-towners.).
Had dinner at a seafood restaurant -- although every single restaurant serves seafood around here, and even the crappiest place has amazing fresh fish. So far every meal we've had here has been phenomenal, and healthy to boot.
After dinner we strolled along the beach and on the pier, and witnessed the bluest water and a breathtaking sunset.
This is the color of paradise.
Palm trees swaying gently in the evening breeze.
And here is a random cool plant that we saw on our walk by the side of the road.
Parking was remarkably easy and free, unimaginable in the Northeast. A beach like this in Connecticut would have been mobbed and the city would have made a fortune on paid parking or writing parking tickets. This is another thing I like about California. Beauty is so democratic here. It is freely dispensed, and no one tries to interfere with your enjoyment of it, because space and beauty are so abundant here.
People here don't have the intense introspection of people back east, this is true. Instead, they are more calm and happy. I can see why Buddhism would have a big following here. You exist naturally in a zen-like state when you can step out every morning into fresh air, beach, and hassel-free parking.
So many things are making so much more sense now. I understand now why my friend J became so much happier after he's gone to Stanford for grad school after four years at Yale and an entire life growing up in the Northeast. I understand the laidback-ness of my friend SF, and SP.
Boyfriend said that he would love to move here, if I weren't going to law school in the northeast. We talked about what it would be like, waking up to perfect weather every day and going on a stroll on the beach every evening. Would we eventually find life boring in paradise? I can see myself getting bored with the routine after a while. Perhaps a month out of every year is good. Perhaps a timeshare or a summer house? :)
What these towns lack, I think, is a university. That would add some intellectual depth and focus to the cultures of the towns and add also some like-minded people with whom we can be friends with -- some nice bookstores and bookish cafes to hang out in. Then it would be perfect.
Have been reading the Tipping Point every night before I go to sleep. Amazingly entertaining and very provocative book. (I know, I'm about 5 years too late, but still, better late than never.)
Laguna Beach
As promised, here are some photos I took from our 2.5 hour walk yesterday in Laguna Beach, CA.
There's something about palm trees that adds so much to the atmosphere of a place, doesn't it?
Here's how we solved the problem of not being able to take a picture together.
This picture reminds me of Italy and the Meditarrenean. Miss those days...
Another random picture of palm trees and the ocean. I took thousands of these yesterday.
This is actually not Laguna Beach, but the next town, Dana Point, which is also on the water AND has the largest marina I have ever seen. Thousands of boats all parked in a relatively small space. It must take people forever to get these boats out.
There's something about palm trees that adds so much to the atmosphere of a place, doesn't it?
Here's how we solved the problem of not being able to take a picture together.
This picture reminds me of Italy and the Meditarrenean. Miss those days...
Another random picture of palm trees and the ocean. I took thousands of these yesterday.
This is actually not Laguna Beach, but the next town, Dana Point, which is also on the water AND has the largest marina I have ever seen. Thousands of boats all parked in a relatively small space. It must take people forever to get these boats out.
6/07/2005
Ideal State
Pardon my silence from yesterday. A little “discussion” with Boyfriend last evening put me in a bad mood and therefore totally disinclined to write. But all was made up and well before bed, don’t worry, and today turned out to be a glorious day. (Though every day in California seems like a glorious day).
The question I am left with at the end of the day is: why isn’t everyone who has the means living in southern California? Beautiful weather (never dips below 65 or rises above 80, apparently), stunning public beaches (more pictures on this tomorrow); lovely mountains in the distance; totally relaxed lifestyle; gorgeous (though expensive) residences; nice people; and so much space!
Tomorrow, unfortunately, I have to actually start working. But today after meeting briefly with the client (a corporate client this time), Boyfriend and I drove out about 10 miles to the next town, Laguna Beach, with stretches and stretches of white sand beaches. Since it’s early in the season, not many people are on the beach yet, but the breeze was warm and the water was very inviting. The tall palm trees by the beach swayed in the wind. Everything was picture-perfect.
After about 20 minutes here, all Boyfriend and I could talk about was how much we want to live here; how nice life is in California. Perhaps I can find a nice little law firm in San Diego, and we would buy a house and live right around here.
We had a very nice salad in this little café, then had a more serious dinner at a steak / seafood house by the beach. Our diet’s strict phase was over yesterday. I celebrated with a glass of red wine and some fried calamari yesterday afternoon, and today, I ate some fruits (grapes and strawberries) and had a little bit (a VERY little bit) of mashed potato and rice at dinner.
Well, better go to sleep now, since tomorrow I work! But after work, you bet you’ll find me and Boyfriend at the beach again!
The question I am left with at the end of the day is: why isn’t everyone who has the means living in southern California? Beautiful weather (never dips below 65 or rises above 80, apparently), stunning public beaches (more pictures on this tomorrow); lovely mountains in the distance; totally relaxed lifestyle; gorgeous (though expensive) residences; nice people; and so much space!
Tomorrow, unfortunately, I have to actually start working. But today after meeting briefly with the client (a corporate client this time), Boyfriend and I drove out about 10 miles to the next town, Laguna Beach, with stretches and stretches of white sand beaches. Since it’s early in the season, not many people are on the beach yet, but the breeze was warm and the water was very inviting. The tall palm trees by the beach swayed in the wind. Everything was picture-perfect.
After about 20 minutes here, all Boyfriend and I could talk about was how much we want to live here; how nice life is in California. Perhaps I can find a nice little law firm in San Diego, and we would buy a house and live right around here.
We had a very nice salad in this little café, then had a more serious dinner at a steak / seafood house by the beach. Our diet’s strict phase was over yesterday. I celebrated with a glass of red wine and some fried calamari yesterday afternoon, and today, I ate some fruits (grapes and strawberries) and had a little bit (a VERY little bit) of mashed potato and rice at dinner.
Well, better go to sleep now, since tomorrow I work! But after work, you bet you’ll find me and Boyfriend at the beach again!
6/05/2005
6/04/2005
Golden Days Are Here Again
Boyfriend and I flew into LA this morning, and now we are in Newport Beach, CA.
The weather here is gorgeous, and the Hyatt we are staying at is lovely. Our hotel is a few minutes away from the Pacific Ocean, and the entire area is astonishingly beautiful – the architecture, the nature, the people. All the houses have deep tan walls and red clay roofs, which looks stunning by the blue sea and the white sand.
Drove around with Boyfriend for a bit around the beach area and the shopping districts, and each neighborhood we saw were better than the next, with large, beautiful houses facing the ocean and streets lined with palm trees. And, oh, the blinding, golden sunlight.
In the end, I think we were both feeling insanely envious that Californians enjoy such nice lives. Perhaps I should move here after law school…?
I’m suffering from serious withdraw symptoms from not playing RE.
And oh, really looking forward to “the strict phase” of the diet being over. I was bad yesterday (and a little bit today). Yesterday, while meeting a bunch of friends and classmates I haven’t seen for a few years, I decided to eat a slice of pizza and drank half a cup of beer. Also, when we got to the hotel by JFK the staff offered me a warm (WARM!) chocolate chip cookie, which I just couldn’t refuse.
Yes, I’m not proud of myself, but extraordinary times call for emergency measures. For the rest of the three days in my diet I will eat like a healthy Californian!
The weather here is gorgeous, and the Hyatt we are staying at is lovely. Our hotel is a few minutes away from the Pacific Ocean, and the entire area is astonishingly beautiful – the architecture, the nature, the people. All the houses have deep tan walls and red clay roofs, which looks stunning by the blue sea and the white sand.
Drove around with Boyfriend for a bit around the beach area and the shopping districts, and each neighborhood we saw were better than the next, with large, beautiful houses facing the ocean and streets lined with palm trees. And, oh, the blinding, golden sunlight.
In the end, I think we were both feeling insanely envious that Californians enjoy such nice lives. Perhaps I should move here after law school…?
I’m suffering from serious withdraw symptoms from not playing RE.
And oh, really looking forward to “the strict phase” of the diet being over. I was bad yesterday (and a little bit today). Yesterday, while meeting a bunch of friends and classmates I haven’t seen for a few years, I decided to eat a slice of pizza and drank half a cup of beer. Also, when we got to the hotel by JFK the staff offered me a warm (WARM!) chocolate chip cookie, which I just couldn’t refuse.
Yes, I’m not proud of myself, but extraordinary times call for emergency measures. For the rest of the three days in my diet I will eat like a healthy Californian!
6/03/2005
All Set to Fly Out!
Tumi bags are packed; cell phone, Powerbook, and Nintendo DS all charged; 5 books, half a dozen recent, unread New Yorkers, and two Allure magazines stuffed into my carry-on bag… Yes, I don’t give boredom a chance.
If I were flying JetBlue, then I’d probably be watching TV half the time. But Boyfriend and I are forced to fly American (yuck, yuck) because we acquired two vouchers from them quite a while ago and were anxious to use them.
Also, packed tons and tons and tons of freshly packed vegetables and cold cuts for a big healthy feast on the long airplane ride, so there is no way Boyfriend and I are even slightly inclined to break our diet.
We fly out ridiculously early tomorrow AM, so driving to JFK tonight and staying at a Doubletree near the airport.
Our hotels should have free wireless, so keeping up with my post will technically not be a problem. But will I be having way too much fun on the beach and by the hotel pool to tell you about my newest adventures? I guess only by checking back on this site will you find out!
If I were flying JetBlue, then I’d probably be watching TV half the time. But Boyfriend and I are forced to fly American (yuck, yuck) because we acquired two vouchers from them quite a while ago and were anxious to use them.
Also, packed tons and tons and tons of freshly packed vegetables and cold cuts for a big healthy feast on the long airplane ride, so there is no way Boyfriend and I are even slightly inclined to break our diet.
We fly out ridiculously early tomorrow AM, so driving to JFK tonight and staying at a Doubletree near the airport.
Our hotels should have free wireless, so keeping up with my post will technically not be a problem. But will I be having way too much fun on the beach and by the hotel pool to tell you about my newest adventures? I guess only by checking back on this site will you find out!
6/02/2005
Blast from the (Recent) Past
Not much happened today. Boyfriend and I are leaving tomorrow to stay overnight in a hotel near JFK, since our flight to LA is super-early on Saturday. We are going to be there for a week. Although the trip does involve some work for me, I’m nonetheless really excited about relaxing by the CA beach, especially since it’s been on the cool side here in New England in the past few days.
So frantically trying to tie all the loose ends around the office before I leave. I’m going to leave managing all the new staff in the capable hands of my coworker D, who’s one of my favorite coworkers, ever. If I didn’t have her, I’m sure the everyday work at the company wouldn’t be quite as fun.
Got an email from U from Germany. Am surprised to hear from him, actually. U had a crush on me in Germany, and was somewhat bitter that I didn’t reciprocate, which made our friendship always slightly off-key and tense.
We still hung out way too much that winter, mostly because in the beginning he was one of the only Germans I knew who could speak fluent English. So I frequented his little Potsdam apartment with no electrical or gas heat and the only way you can warm up a room was by shoving coal (yes, coal!) into this ceramic stove. And I had him over for dinner. A lot. And went on trips around Berlin. Yes, we spent a lot of time together that year.
U’s family was definitely one of those families that were worse off after the end of communism than before. His father was an economist in East Germany before the Wall fell, and after that, since Germany didn’t need socialist economists anymore, he began working at a casino. U himself was (and probably still is) a member of PDS, the descendant of the former German communist party that still advocates socialist ideals. He was with his party in a massive protest in 2002 when George W. visited Berlin, and he was not shy about expressing his disdain for both the moderate left (SPD) and the moderate right (CDU).
He studied music and was becoming a music teacher, and we shared our love for Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto. I still think of him every time I listen to it now.
After I returned to the States, he came too and spent a year in some college in the remote parts of Pennsylvania. We arranged to see each other in New York, but never connected. Then he went back to Germany and we didn’t talk for a long time.
Hearing from him was really nice and broght back a lot of memories. I have been missing Germany recently, and also missing the many people that I once spend so much time with there and then abruptly lost contact with. After coming back to the States, my life has changed so much and every single day was so exhausting and complicated for such a very long time (and still occasionally is) that I just didn’t have a moment to catch my breath and to reconnect with people I once knew (this includes college and high school friends).
Now I finally feel that I’m gradually coming out of the previous frantic, intense, breathless stage, and have moments of peace to think and reflect and reach out to reconnect to my past and the people that I liked or loved.
Of course, then I enter law school. Heh.
So frantically trying to tie all the loose ends around the office before I leave. I’m going to leave managing all the new staff in the capable hands of my coworker D, who’s one of my favorite coworkers, ever. If I didn’t have her, I’m sure the everyday work at the company wouldn’t be quite as fun.
Got an email from U from Germany. Am surprised to hear from him, actually. U had a crush on me in Germany, and was somewhat bitter that I didn’t reciprocate, which made our friendship always slightly off-key and tense.
We still hung out way too much that winter, mostly because in the beginning he was one of the only Germans I knew who could speak fluent English. So I frequented his little Potsdam apartment with no electrical or gas heat and the only way you can warm up a room was by shoving coal (yes, coal!) into this ceramic stove. And I had him over for dinner. A lot. And went on trips around Berlin. Yes, we spent a lot of time together that year.
U’s family was definitely one of those families that were worse off after the end of communism than before. His father was an economist in East Germany before the Wall fell, and after that, since Germany didn’t need socialist economists anymore, he began working at a casino. U himself was (and probably still is) a member of PDS, the descendant of the former German communist party that still advocates socialist ideals. He was with his party in a massive protest in 2002 when George W. visited Berlin, and he was not shy about expressing his disdain for both the moderate left (SPD) and the moderate right (CDU).
He studied music and was becoming a music teacher, and we shared our love for Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto. I still think of him every time I listen to it now.
After I returned to the States, he came too and spent a year in some college in the remote parts of Pennsylvania. We arranged to see each other in New York, but never connected. Then he went back to Germany and we didn’t talk for a long time.
Hearing from him was really nice and broght back a lot of memories. I have been missing Germany recently, and also missing the many people that I once spend so much time with there and then abruptly lost contact with. After coming back to the States, my life has changed so much and every single day was so exhausting and complicated for such a very long time (and still occasionally is) that I just didn’t have a moment to catch my breath and to reconnect with people I once knew (this includes college and high school friends).
Now I finally feel that I’m gradually coming out of the previous frantic, intense, breathless stage, and have moments of peace to think and reflect and reach out to reconnect to my past and the people that I liked or loved.
Of course, then I enter law school. Heh.
6/01/2005
Deep Throat Revealed
I suppose I should say something about the biggest news of today -- Deep Throat's identity being revealed.
But I have absolutely nothing to say.
As I commented to Boyfriend this evening, for my generation, Watergate was like the Civil War. We recognize its importance as a watershed event in history that changed many things forever, but the event just seems so far away that we can't really emotionally connect.
The same occurences that were so shocking and transformative for the last generation, to people alive at that time, we take for granted because we grew up with it and never knew anything different.
Someday, some younger generation will look at 9/11 the same way. In fact, some of these people are already a few years old. Thinking about this makes me feel very old.
But I have absolutely nothing to say.
As I commented to Boyfriend this evening, for my generation, Watergate was like the Civil War. We recognize its importance as a watershed event in history that changed many things forever, but the event just seems so far away that we can't really emotionally connect.
The same occurences that were so shocking and transformative for the last generation, to people alive at that time, we take for granted because we grew up with it and never knew anything different.
Someday, some younger generation will look at 9/11 the same way. In fact, some of these people are already a few years old. Thinking about this makes me feel very old.
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