Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
This is version two of the blog, which currently contains 110 published posts. To some extent, this blog represents the creative excesses of a design enthusiast who is somewhere in the process of applying to grad school, working at a law firm and resides in the Financial District of New York City.
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OMGZ. So, my phone has been cracked for about…six months now? Anyway, I’ve sort of just ignored it, but we have a new phone we can order according to our plan, so I finally, finally thought I’d look into what phones were available, and I’m not even kidding, minutes later, they announced the G2 (this one!) would be available for pre-order at the end of the month. So, yeah, that’s on the shortlist of things I desperately want.
The main thing that made me reluctant to get another phone was that I really like how seamlessly my contacts and gmail work with my current phone, the G1, and I don’t know how well a non-google phone would do the same. I also like that it has a full physical keyboard, as I have no patience for on-screen keyboards, and a lot of the other Android phones on the market don’t have them.
One option was just to get another G1 to replace my broken one, but it seemed wasteful, and the one thing I don’t like about it is that it doesn’t have the storage capacity to handle the latest versions of Android. Luckily, the G2 I’m sure will work equally seamlessly, has a full physical keyboard and I’m guessing it’ll be upgraded to handle the next few versions of Android. I’m excited! I hope they push this thing out before the end of the year; I don’t want to wait that long for a new phone.
Oh, also, I moved to Chicago. It’s great, but more on that later.
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On a lighter note, I was recently introduced to Fuck You! by Cee-Lo Green which I cannot stop listening to.
Other stuff I have recently come across and liked:
Crepes du Nord This place is the best lunch place ever if you work in the financial district. Shockingly, they serve crepes.
Del Posto Don took us here to celebrate a deal closing and it was amazing. It’s Mario Batali (he does great pasta), we had a five-course meal plus a lot of wine and cocktails. I went with my sister to Babo a while back, which is also Batali, but I thought this place was better. They had this cucumber-flavored gin drink slash concoction that I cannot even describe, but I miss it dearly. You know it’s a nice place when they give you complementary boxes of truffles when you leave. Well, that and the 4-figure bill. Anyway, I was impressed.
Dropbox I’ve been using this for a while now, but I finally upgraded to the paid version because it’s so useful. Simply stated, it’s cloud computing, which basically means that your files are saved on a server somewhere, so it’s accessible anywhere. I tried a number of these types of solutions, but Dropbox was by far the best. It basically syncs all the documents in one folder on each of the computers you link to your account, and it stores the files online in their server as well, so all your stuff is accessible through any web browser as well. It’s great because it’s simple, and it does performs a few functions incredibly seamlessly and correctly. If you have multiple computers you work from, or you just like having access to the contents of your hard drive from anywhere (they have an Android app, so I can get to basically all of my files using my cell phone, too), it’s an incredibly useful application.
Crazy Heart I didn’t think I would like this movie, but I did. It’s nothing fancy, but I liked it.
Justin Bieber I love him. Nah, I’m just kidding, he sucks. Sorry to those with Bieber Fever.
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So, right now, I’m sitting in a room, surrounded by boxes and packaging tape and hangers and plastic bags and…yeech. It’s moving time and it sucks. The most obnoxious thing is that damn painting, haha. I love it, partially because of the sentimental value it holds for me, but it doesn’t fit any box, it’s oversized and it’s just a pain to move/ship. I’ve fashioned something that resembles a box for it, but I’m worried that UPS will reject it when they see it cause it looks like a hot fucking mess — no joke. It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.
But anyway. I don’t have much to report — things are proceeding relatively smoothly, I think. I have seven days left in the city, and mostly I just want to finish packing and I’d ideally like to see everyone at least one more time before I go, but obviously there’s time constraints and I have a lot of administrative stuff to deal with, so I’ll do the best I can. Plus I’m still working as of right now. Nate’s in town this weekend, so I really hope we get to see him at some point, but we’ll see. It sucks that I was sort of sick last weekend and had to cancel on people, so I’m a little worried since I’m actually running out of time. Eeek.
I thought I would feel lonely and depressed the month before law school starts since I thought it would be a lot of nothing, but I’m actually getting really excited. Ali is living in Chicago now, my parents will be flying in when I first move and then Kendra will be visiting, then my sister, and then Dan and maybe Rita at some point that month — plus I realize that I actually know quite a few random people in Chicago already. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve given up reading stuff I actually like in order to spend time getting through The Bramble Bush and Getting to Maybe (which I’m also outlining) in order to prepare for school. It’s probably overkill, but considering how much the sticker price is for law school (without scholarship money, around $225,000 by the end of three years if you include interest that’s accumulating) — well, I figure I should do my best. Obviously, my loans will be nowhere near there, but even still, it’s a daunting figure to consider.
I have mixed feelings about leaving New York. I’m sad, but hopeful. It’s weird how people come in and out of your life. I remember a few months ago (I can’t remember who this conversation was with), but we were talking about the saying “a rolling stone gathers no moss” and whether that had a positive or negative connotation. On one hand, it’s referring to escaping responsibilities, on the other it’s about preventing stagnation. Wikipedia seems to think it could go either way…which I find annoying in a way — I keep wondering if I should make an active effort to stop moving around and changing career paths, and it would be easier if there were a clear answer.
I’ve said before, I hate the process of saying goodbye to things and people, of reformulating life plans, of trying to create social and support systems from scratch. At the same time, I’ve gotten to cross paths with a diverse swath of people and lifestyles, which is important, I think. Anyway, it’s just something that’s been on my mind. Maybe I’m just adverse to change, but I generally feel like I’m happy and positive about life, but still not entirely satisfied. Like, I don’t think I’ve ever felt entirely content.
Well, whatever. In a completely different tangent, I’ve finally gotten back to finishing up this blog which has been under construction for almost six months, haha. I really should just recode everything cause it was a mess the last time I did it — I didn’t take time to read up on the changes going from WordPress 2.x to 3 and I actually migrated the entire blog to a completely new installation and directory which complicated things. But, depending on how busy the next few weeks are, it may or may not ever happen. Oh well.
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So, I was in Seattle last weekend – great fun and I’m glad I got to spend time with my cousins. We went to a TON of happy hours, and Seattle is actually really nice (lots stuff to do, but still has greenery, is clean and there’s public art everywhere which is cool). I also got to hang out with my niece and nephew (once removed) Charlotte and Duncan, the two most adorable half-Chinese and half-Australian kids ever. The weather was perfect. I’m also excited about going to Florida for Memorial Day, but I’m pretty sure I need to not eat until then if I’m going to put on a bathing suit thanks to all those happy hours. Oops.
Traveling tends to wear me out and to leave my life in a state of general disarray, so I have been trying to go out less and to take care of some apartment stuff (cleaning, etc.) and administrative life stuff. So, yeah, I’ve been pretty anti-social lately and will probably stay that way for a little while. I just need to recharge.
Christina’s last day was on Friday, and I am utterly and totally heartbroken. For a while there when we were in the same office and pulling crazy hours, we were spending literally 50-60 hours a week together. I’m so used to consulting her on every minor decision and to confiding in her about … just everything … I feel like my life is going to suck a little (read: a lot) until I get used to it. I’m going to have to find things to occupy my time during the workday, though I’m not sure what. So yeah, it’s going to be pretty quiet at work unfortunately. And Ron’s gone this week. Sigh. Bleh.
Otherwise, things are pretty calm. No pressing life decisions looming up ahead, and I’m drama-free … for the time being, anyway. I’m looking into moving costs and housing options and thinking about whether I should try out for the Chicago Law School Winter Musical or for Scales of Justice, which is their law school a capella group. It’s dorky, I know, but I miss singing, and I REALLY miss performing and being on a stage.
Oh, on a side note, I found the funniest birthday card when I was looking for a card for Christina’s Going-Away. It’s a picture of a birthday candle and it says: If someone tried to ruin your birthday, I’d ruin their life. Happy birthday.
Well, I thought it was funny, anyway. Alright, I’m off to bed. Tschuss.
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I’m going to the University of Chicago for law school! It’s been decided, and I am more relieved than I can explain here.
Figuring out my next step has been exhausting, thrilling, stressful, uncertain and, well, all other sorts of adjectives, but I feel good about this, though a bit apprehensive about how hard it’ll be and how cold Chicago will be. I was at more or less a complete impasse until I had the aha! realization that a lot of my indecision had been stemming from my reluctance to give up my life in New York and uproot myself. But I’m determined to be back and, really, it’s nine months out of the year — now I’m just excited to choose housing, buy a UChicago hoodie and to find out what my 1L classes will be! (I know, the peppiness is nauseating, but cut me some slack. Life decisions are hard.)
I definitely realized that I’m glad I took time off, even if I did end up arriving at the conclusion that I’d anticipated two years ago. I know that I’m in a much better mindset to be able to succeed in law school — more focused, etc. I had time to figure out some stuff about, you know, life. I met a lot of wonderful people. I definitely have a clear idea about what I want and can expect out of a legal career, and I also have a better idea of what to or not to prioritize in law school and later on.
So, yeah, big week for me.
Getting out of career-planning-mode, I also had an IB Hot-Pot Party at my apartment when DK was in town, followed not long thereafter by IB Hot-Pot Party Part Deux to finish up the remaining food due to certain … miscalculations … of ideal meat to people ratios. (Ahem, Amy.)
We also had a farewell party for one of my co-workers at Havana Outpost, which has great margaritas. Yum. It was a lot of fun, but I wish I remembered more of it. I’m told I enjoyed myself, so that’s good, I suppose.
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My cousin Caroline came by to visit recently from California, and so I finally got a chance to see her – yay! We ended up going out the Friday before Easter only to discover that our bar of choice was – gasp! Closing early!? Wtf, New York? That’s what’s supposed to make you different from shitty cities like Boston. Come on. But anyway, I had a great time hanging out with her that weekend — we even got to see Mama Mia for about 20 bucks (standing room only), which was a fun time.
One of my favorite things about being in New York City in a job with fairly little responsibility is that there’s always people coming and going and it’s easy to make time for them and to take weekend trips, too. So, the itinerary for the next month or so –
Next weekend, Daniel, who I haven’t seen in over three years now, is dropping by for a visit. The weekend after, (the fantastically talented) Brooke will be here. The week after, I’m going to Seattle for a cousins’ reunion, minus Caroline, who’s off to China. And the week after that it’s off to Florida to hang out with the Emory/Just Loop It gang at Dan the Man’s place in Sarasota. And then, the following weekend, FINALLY, my sister is coming to visit! Which has been a long time coming — so, it’s shaping up like the next month and a half will pass by pretty quickly.
On a less upbeat note, but still pertaining to the topic of comings and goings, now that our two-year stints are up at the law firm, the old guard will be moving out to be replaced by newer, more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed legal assistants. Today was Peter’s last day which was great for him and sad for us, and it looks like at some point in May, Christina will be leaving the firm, which I know is going to colossally suck for me.
Also, I really need to figure out what I’m going to do about law school. I’m a little (read: very) heartbroken to leave New York, but it just seems way to expensive to stay. Even apart from tuition bills, the cost of living is really hard to justify if I have no income. Honestly, moving was not an easy process for me, not unlike how moving to Atlanta was for college. I feel like I finally created some sort of life here and now it’s time to go. At first I was considering just moving home for the sake of getting out of my job, but due to cost considerations, it makes more sense to just stay, work and only move once when it’s time for school — wherever that may be. I found that I was actually a relieved to be sticking around a little while longer.
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I’m on a bus on the way back from Charlottesville — I was at the University of Virginia, to be exact, home of the Cavaliers, or the “Hoos” as they refer to themselves. While UVA was lovely, getting there was … not. I got to Penn Station around noon and realized I had left my wallet in a different bag. Sigh. I ended up missing my bus to D.C., which caused me to miss my transfer to go from D.C. to Charlottesville.
While there are a LOT of ways to get from New York to D.C., there are only a few ways to get from Charlottesville to D.C. Namely, Greyhound, Amtrack (sold out) and by Air (very expensive). I ended up taking a Greyhound at 2:15 AM to arrive at Richmond at 4:30 AM. Then, I went from Richmond at 5:30 AM to arrive at Charlottesville at 6:50 AM. I finally, finally got to Sleep Inn at 7:30, unpacked, took at shower and called a cab to get to UVA at 8:45 — just 15 minutes before registration ended and with no sleep. I looked pretty rough that morning, haha.
Anyway, the rest of the trip proceeded much more smoothly, I really liked the current students I met, and I was really excited about the IP Law Curricular Session thing I attended, which reminded me of why I wanted to study law in the first place. The professor discussed why or why not and based on what grounds comedians would or could have a cause of action against other people who stole their jokes, haha.
OF course, I know I’ve been talking about not going to law school, but as much as I want to work in publishing, I do think I’d eventually want to go to law school – in which case, I’d rather do it now than later. Furthermore, I do think practicing publishing law wouldn’t be a complete impossibility from the sounds of it, which is still what I’d love to do. Most importantly, I like the idea of practicing law, which at the end of the day is what should determine whether someone does or does not go to law school.
As for UVA, while I am undoubtably glad I went to visit, the trip really wasn’t determinative. My main reservations are job prospects, location and diversity when it comes to UVA and honestly, I still have those fears.
So that’s where I am. Law school applications are behind me, and law school deposit deadlines loom ahead. I’ll see in the coming weeks how the situation develops.
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So, there’s been a variety of guy-drama going down in the past few months, and it’s been a bit of a complete wreck. Like a total fucking mess. I wish I could undo some things, and I think I misread some situations and realized too late that certain things would actually matter. Also, alcohol, used incorrectly, is a dangerous thing.
I could say a lot about it, but for various reasons discretion is required and because it’s not classy or ladylike to blab about these sorts of things (not that I usually describe myself in those terms) and because I honestly just sort of don’t want to talk about it, all I can really say is that I’m really starting to realize that I have a lot to learn about relationships and such, especially considering that I’m not really a kid anymore.
I’ve always shunned those teen magazines and Cosmopolitan and that sort of stuff with their articles about dating and “ASK A GUY” sections and advice columns. And I’m sure I’ve also ragged on self-help books and just corny stuff in general. I know I’ve always had a sort of fierce pride about not being dependent on other people. And I think most people who know me would agree that I have a very obvious aversion to being vulnerable, probably to my own detriment.
But at the same time, I’ve always said, even when I’m feeling like a complete gunner about work, that at the end of the day I never want to be a complete workaholic and that my personal life is important, more so than my career. I guess my point is, I think it’s time I started figuring things out that don’t have to do with banking regulations, law, coding errors, organizational systems for research or logic puzzles. I’m not really sure how to go about doing this, but I guess acknowledging the issue is step one. I think.
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So, I’m in the process of changing around my life plans, once again. I’ve done this a few times now, but each time it’s hard and scary and tiring. The first time was deciding to join the Journalism Program at Emory, a decision that was made a few days right before the deadline for applications.
The second time was after I decided to drop advertising and marketing in order to switch to a finance concentration in the b-school (resulting in me not being able to finish the journalism major) — that decision took place during add/drop/swap during the first semester of my senior year.
Later, around second semester, I made the decision to go to law school and applied to about 20 law firms in the span of a week and booked a flight to New York not long after to interview with a bunch of firms for paralegaling positions.
Now, here I am again, starting from scratch again. Each time I have to convince people that I know what I’m doing and that I know what I want to be doing. I think this is the right decision for me. Books are the only thing that have ever really stuck. Sigh.
I’m pretty much in the thick of the hard and tiring part — applying for jobs, figuring out how I’m going to make ends meet, scheduling interviews between work obligations. Christina and I got a new person in the FIG paralegaling crew, Emily, who we think is great and we’re really happy to have her, but training her is turning out to be quite a drain of time and energy.
I’m trying to keep my spirits up, but between general work stuff, training Emily, applying for publishing jobs, applying for secondary (paying) jobs, dealing with law school financial aid issues, dealing with certain health-related issues, waiting for responses from law schools, dealing with personal life issues, dealing with more personal life issues, dealing with other personal life issues — I just feel spent. I want to spend a weekend in my bed watching chick flicks and finally finishing reading Murders in the Rue Morgue, which I always seem to get interrupted from, even though the whole thing is so short. I need a vacation.
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As tends to be the case with all good things, an elaborate prank that the corporate boys at work cooked up some three months ago finally, finally came to an end. It was basically a hoax to convince one of the other guys, Peter, that one of our other co-workers was a disabled homeless man that shouted lewd things and performed various other…acts outside the Goldman Sachs building. I’m not entirely sure why guys are so into things like hobos and zombies, but boys will be boys, I guess.
It’s hard to explain, but it actually got to be pretty entertaining to hear him talk about this hobo that they nicknamed Otis for the past few months. We finally ended it yesterday, and the finale was extremely satisfying — Otis attempted to chase Peter down Broad Street while Pete tried to talk him down.
Anyway, I’m glad Peter was touched by the effort that went into the prank. And, despite my initial resistance to the idea, Otis will live on in our hearts.
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