Pastel Star

About that time again . . .

2011-06-30T22:41:00.001-04:00

Summah summah summah time!

I figured it's about time for me to update on my life (almost five months later following my previous "New Year" post).

+1: Completed the 21 day yoga challenge. Now I work out 5 days a week (at least).
+1: Got a bonus and a raise from the day job.
+1: Responsibilities at said day job have increased significantly (yay for job security).
+1: Got lots of snowboarding in during the winter.
+1: Flew a helicopter in April.
+1: Eradicated the H. Pylori infection I had after two therapies.
+1: My 2.5RS will be paid off by September.
+1: At least 1 of my student loans will be paid off by December.
+1: I bought a bicycle last year. I finally had it put together this year (after I left the night job) and am actually utilizing it well.
+1: Watched my sister graduate from college.
+1: Attended the 8th annual Women's Instructional Shoot.
+1: Joined NESIC of NASIOC. Found lots of Subaru geeks. Went to WBM and found even MORE Subaru enthusiasts.
+1: Will enjoy more time with the man as time goes on. :]
+1: Family and friend relationships are getting even better.

-1: Car repairs are not cheap.
-1: Due to allocation of 90% of my earnings to student loans (after immediate recurring bills have been paid), I have to cut down on spending. No more eating out at nice places. :[
-1: I have too many expensive hobbies.
-1: Work/life balance is still nonexistent.
-1: I want to buy a new bed and a new TV. I want to install a bike rack on my car. I want to invest in my Roth IRA. Too bad I don't have the money to do so.

I think that's about it. Otherwise, I am finally living the dream - doing what I want, spending time with those I love, and enjoying life. Hope everyone out there is doing the same.

New Year - Part 2

2011-02-06T19:40:00.001-05:00

So many changes in the last month - I can't believe it's already February!

Which brings us to Lunar New Year - Year of the Rabbit! Gong xi fa cai / gong hei fat choy!

It's been three days since the New Year fell on February 3. My family has yet to go out for dinner, mainly because my mother and brother have contracted flu-like symptoms. When we all do end up meeting up, I look forward to the red envelopes and good food!

As for changes, Friday, February 4 was my last day at the night job. I am melancholy from resigning, mainly because I'll miss the people who've become my family (albeit dysfunctional) in the sort, but in the end, it is a necessary professional step. I was invited to come back to the company in the future, which is a sign that I've established long-lasting ties from working well with my team and upper management. There's no end to the possibilities, should the economy fail again and I find myself needing employment.

In other news, I was away on business during the last full week of January for a kick off meeting. I learned a great deal about the other business units in our organization, and made some connections with the various teams I work on. I was also nominated and won an award presented by the leaders of the Commercial organization. I was awarded for "Vying to be better than yesterday," one of the themes of our mission. All in all, a very productive and professionally satisfying week that has opened more doors for me.

I'm determined to start working out again too. In addition to needing to be fit by the time AS's wedding is in June, I am finding that my mind works better when I feel better physically. I've always been a big fan of yoga (and any exercise that emphasizes motion by using the body as resistence). Since I've been working 14-16 hour days, I hadn't had much time during the week to really get into shape (unless it was snowboarding or TKD, but doing those activities only once a week resulted in soreness from lack of practice each day). I've started the 21 day Yoga Challenge, as a commitment to getting myself fit again. And in doing so, I'm following the sequences at this link (which actually have been helpful):

http://21daychallenge.yogajournal.com/

I've found that my flexibility has been increasing and my body is starting to remember what resistance was. Soon enough I can get myself back in the dojang to start training for the school World Championship, and perhaps doing some triathlons (if I can condition myself to be a good runner again). I do want to work on my strengthening my legs, particularly because I have become fond of snowboarding. So, we'll see how much I can fit in before the winter is over.

I hope that within the reaches of both the Julian new year and the Lunar New Year that I'm able to achieve some of the goals I've set for myself. It's going to be tough, but if it were easy, would any of this be meaningful?

I know that it wouldn't. Discipline is what I'll need to concentrate on over the coming weeks.

Anyway, wishes for wealth, prosperity and good health for the coming year!

May 2011 trump 2010 in awesomeness.

2011-01-05T14:45:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know this post is late. I don't have much time these days, despite only working two jobs during the weekdays. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010 in review:

- Graduated from Simmons a second time with my MBA
- Vacationed in Vegas for the second time in 4 months (August 2009 and January 2010)and met my current significant other there
- Started working full time at the pharma company I interned at for 7 months
- Took on more responsibility than required at said company (regional support along with program team support along with franchise team support)
- Moved to an apartment community 5 minutes away from my day job
- Became vested in the pension offered by the union at my night job
- Traveled back and forth to upstate NY, RI, CT, and throughout the New England area during the summer
- Attended 2 weddings
- Traveled to Toronto to meet the Canada team for 1 day, to Geneva for 1 week for training, and to Paris for 2 days for year-end meeting
- Planned my last day ever at my night job
- Went to a glass blowing demonstration
- Had my annual psychic reading done
- Spent more time with friends and family than I had in the past

Of course, lots more happened, but unfortunately, human minds fail in separating the memories when so much good stuff happens.

I hope 2011 turns out to be an excellent year, and that many more good things happen to me, my loved ones, and to the world. (Please, no hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano explosions, etc. near me, thanks.)

Changes are afoot.

2010-10-16T08:25:00.000-04:00

10 months after officially becoming an MBA, I've found myself in Toronto and Geneva for business. No longer am I stuck in the world of endless written assignments analyzing another case study, nor am I chained to the table in a study room in the new Management building. Instead, I've found myself constantly evolving over the past few years, from undergraduate to graduate student to an analyst who is now playing a role in my group's (and my company's) growth.

I looked back on the posts I wrote in '08 and '09 and found the complaining I'd tossed about to be quite trivial. I was such a different person in 2008, and in 2009. Ive decided not to rid myself of those memories, however negative and trivial they may be, for they document the person who I used to be and how I have become who I am today.

I've enjoyed my trip to Geneva immensely. I've gotten along well with the Swiss, and hospitality is everywhere. There are obvious differences between what exists here and what I'm used to in the States, and this drives me to want to explore Europe and other continents moreso. I have no idea what my future holds at this point, but I do know that travel will be a big part of this transformation. I've definitely gotta pick up some more languages throughout the process as well.

Lots to do when I get home; looking forward to more changes.

Big achievements trump the bad things.

2010-03-25T15:54:00.000-04:00

I have to say, ever since the Dean's reception, things have been going quite well with life (despite a few downs here and there).

It's already time for another month end, and we're well underway with our long-range plan at work. Times are busy, but it also means job security.

Speaking of job security, it is highly unusual for a person to be able to hold down two jobs in this economy (let alone the four I had last semester). As I mentioned in my post last month, I'm leaving the night job at year end, and for the first time in almost 6 years, I will have my weeknights back.

Recent and upcoming happenings:

+ Was an alumna guest speaker at the annual Scholarship Appreciation Brunch
+ Was a panelist for the cross-college Graduate School panel
+ Attending the annual Economics Liaison Networking Dinner tonight
+ Induction into the Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society
+ Will be an escort to the SVP and Treasurer of EMC for the annual Leadership Conference
+ Will be a panelist for recent MBA grads starting their careers

In other news, I am officially in a relationship (have been since January - brought a man home from Vegas . . . sort of . . . ). It's been a long time since that bit of personal life has occurred, and frankly, it's nice (albeit long distance even though T is now back in Syracuse). So, we'll see how that bit of life goes along in the coming future.

Other than that, I'm advancing quite nicely on the career front, I'm catching up with family members and old friends again, and slowly assimilating my schedule to accommodate personal life.

Work in progress.

Big 2-4

2010-03-02T08:33:00.001-05:00

Another year older, not sure if I'm wiser.

I'm determined to have a good year, whether it's the Lunar year or the Roman calendar year.

:)

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

2010-02-18T23:28:00.001-05:00

Just as the dolphins had said when they escaped Earth just before the huge demolition crew came through . . . oh, how I miss Douglas Adams and his antics.

It's been awhile, but that's life - when there's a spare moment to breathe, then we come back to the things that made us and got us through the day.

Since my multiple break ins, thefts, swine flu, and general graduate-itis, I've been much better. November 2009 was not a good month for me. In addition to my first post about my initial laptop theft, I had two more laptops stolen out of my car about three weeks following - my work laptop and my friend's laptop. Lesson learned - just don't leave anything of any value in my trunk or in my car in general. Too bad it took me three laptops to realize this - most people don't even go through that many laptops in a decade!

Swine flu was a general PITA. I caught that a week prior to Thanksgiving; developed some fantastic laryngitis (#sarcasm) and had a cough for two weeks following the disease. Tamiflu is apparently not covered by insurance, so that was $100 out of my pocket to pay for a bunch of bitter pills that sped along my recovery. Thankfully, I survived that too. By Thanksgiving, I had a LOT to be thankful for.

I survived grad school, which was a miracle given how many awful things had happened to me at the tail end of the race. I never thought I could pull two all-nighters within 48 hours of each other, but I did it, and got all my work done in high quality in the process. Foregoing all that sleep hurt, but the payoff was well worth it - receiving the Pfizer Women Leaders Award and the School of Management Peer Award, in addition to my degree, validated all that I had done for 5.5 years of my post-high school life.

Christmas and New Year's came and went, and Vegas . . . well, I'm sure I could write a screenplay about that particular vacation. I never thought I could pull off the stuff that is shown on Bravo, but my girl friend and I did and lived to talk about it. A free AirTran Airways round trip ticket and memories for life were just some of the perks.

I started as an FTE for the company I'd been interning for on January 11th. It's nice to know that my skills, knowledge, and potential were worth it enough to my boss and big boss to keep me on board following my graduation. I work with great people and I love what I do. Not many people can say this at my age. Of course, I still work the night job, but once I reach my goal there, I am resigning for good.

Trying to figure out life is like fighting the tide from pulling you out into certain death. I can only manage so many things simultaneously before life decides that I need more lemons thrown at my face, only to leak awfully painful juice into my eyes. In keeping with the Douglas Adams theme here to describe my life, "I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be." For now, I'm happy with that.

Just when I thought things were going smoothly . . .

2009-11-01T10:48:00.002-05:00

Something else happens that throws me off completely.

My Timbuktu schoolbag (containing my new Acer netbook, my Corporate Governance textbook, school files and my calendars) disappeared from my car between the time that I had left L's apartment and when we had parked at Boylston Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Hereford Street. While everything is replaceable, what I struggle with now is the fact that my personal items are gone and the feeling of violation. I don't know how my bag disappeared; I always put my bag in my trunk and I always make sure that my car is locked no matter where I go or what I do. The fact that my bag had disappeared without my car alarm going off makes this situation that much more confusing.

I've already reported my laptop theft/disappearance to the Boston Police. I've put up a "Lost" ad on Craigslist in hopes that someone might have picked it up. I keep hoping that someone found the bag and realized that I am a Simmons student and dropped the bag off at the lost and found in the MCB. I've put on alerts on eBay for any new postings of my poor netbook. And I've been scouring the computer ads on Craigslist to see if anyone put up something remotely similar to the specs of my netbook. I can only hope for so long, though.

I am lucky that I have such wonderful friends and classmates. B offered to lend me his netbook until the end of the semester. I am so grateful for that because that means I can still retain a semblance of normalcy while I finish up my degree. I've gotten multiple offers from friends/MBA classmates for helping me get through this time, from coursepacks to whatever they can do for me. I don't ask for anything from people, so I'm grateful that I got so many offers of help. I am grateful that I have an understanding employer - my boss at Shire told me to take care of the reporting things first and ensured that I'd be in on Tuesday - which I will be. Most importantly, though, I figured out who would be there to answer their phones at 2 in the morning when I came home and freaked out that my bag had disappeared from my car. C was that person, and she had accompanied me to both the Brookline and Boston Police Stations so that I could make my report, and tried to settle my mind as I retraced my steps from L's place to my car and the exact actions I took.

I think I need to stop blaming myself for what happened; it's not my fault that my bag disappeared, although I may or may not have contributed to it. Did I remember to lock my doors? Did I remember to secure my things? Did I remember to put my bag in my trunk? These details are fuzzy now to me because I want to believe that I was responsible, but I can't help but doubt myself at this point. It's been hard to have faith that things are going to be okay again, but I picked myself up and rebuilt the things I had lost in terms of information from my bag. I hope I didn't have any important information regarding appointments in my planner, seeing as how I might miss those now. My external hard drive is going to stay at my apartment from now on, and I know that I have to keep it updated continuously to ensure that my stuff stays backed up.

I know that life often throws lemons at people who are successful to see if they can handle how tough things get, but I'm tired of having lemons thrown at me. I know plenty of people have it worse off than I do, and I hate that shitty things always happen to good people. But that wouldn't be life if only good things happened all the time, now would it? It's too bittersweet for me.

Reflecting on the fact that I am done with my MBA in 7.5 weeks

2009-10-28T17:45:00.003-04:00

It's raining sideways outside; if I had a fireplace, I'd be sitting in front of it rather than hunched up over my desk attempting to do some schoolwork.

Five-and-a-half years of school and all it boils down to is a piece of paper that tangibly certifies that I have a master's degree and can effectively administer business.

Right.

Yes, there are skills that come along with an intense MBA program; there are things I've picked up at my jobs that will help me out in the long run. But after all this, all I really want is a break.

I've gotten reassurance that I am one of the higher performers in my class. I might not be a major class participator (in fact, I get bored easily and my way of participating is observing intently), but I can get the job done and done well. I've been told I'm a leader at any of my jobs, and I've been told I'm going to be very successful.

Problem now is that I have no idea what I really want to do. I'm overqualified for entry-level jobs, but underqualified for upper-level management. I have no idea where I fall, and no plans after partying for a week after graduation. For once, I have no plans.

Maybe I'll travel. I know I have to pay off those student loans sometime. Maybe I'll figure out that finance is not where I want to be (even though I enjoy what I do now). Maybe . . . so many maybes.

In the meantime, I have to write a visionary speech as if I were in the shoes of Taran Swan. Good luck to me.

An update.

2009-09-12T00:11:00.004-04:00

Rambling starts . . . now.

August and the beginning of this month have both been chaotic. Being one who likes to plan (and having at least two calendars on me at any given time), I didn't do as well in planning as I would have liked.

The first weekend of August I was in Rhode Island to visit Mai with the Simmons ladies. We spent a day there; I drove some of the ladies and we had a good day. Of course, I didn't fit this in properly with my 12 hour work day schedule/class schedule, and I paid for it by not sleeping. I still passed my classes with excellent marks, and performed well enough at my internship that my supervisor asked me to extend my contract.

After my classes ended the second week of August, I set out to find an apartment, as I discovered that I had to be out of the one I had been in for three years by the end of the month. I became a fanatic searcher of Craigslist and even enlisted several good friends to help me search when I couldn't do so. It was a game - trying to match myself up with people who had cheaper rent and making visits with potential locations. I ended up settling for an apartment outside of Boston in a building a friend's aunt owns - living with a month-to-month lease and all utilities included (plus a driveway) works amazingly for me. I moved after five days of searching for a place, and got some great friends and family to help with the four hour ordeal. I didn't sleep much the following week, either, setting up my new place and occasionally remembering to eat.

Then I went to Vegas for my first vacation in two years.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas (unless you're counting Facebook photos).

This week flew by - the fall semester just started and I've already had a midterm in my condensed course that ends either Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I'm struggling, but it will get better. (Or so I keep telling myself).

I wish I could elaborate more on what's been going on, but I've locked it all away in my brain that at this point, it's frustrating to try to remember the insanity of it all. I remember being stressed to the point of breaking down several times driving to and from work, and then having to put on a happy face in public. The inner turmoil was tremendous, and with several of these situations, I'd like nothing more than never to have to experience them again.

In the meantime, I've begun cooking again (which means delicious homemade food that I can be proud of), but I find that I have to schedule that into my day as well. It's either cooking dinner and lunch for the next day, or taekwondo. I choose sustenance at the moment - I know I need to work out but that's one of the less important things on my mind.

I had a conversation with someone the other day about why I work so hard to do what I do and get to where I want be. My goals stress me out, and while I can be unbearable to be around sometimes during these periods, I've found that I've grown a lot from my learnings and being able to multitask. However, I rather enjoy being healthy and not as stressed out as I have been, so that calls for some major changes in my life/style.

On that note, I really should do the dishes and get some much-needed rest - sleeping a cumulative 20 hours this week is definitely painful.

Understanding Limits and Venting

2009-06-06T10:15:00.002-04:00

I've realized my limits over the past semester (which, by the way, was probably the worst semester I've ever had in my academic career) - I can work a maximum of four jobs and still manage a full-time schedule (and wind up with a 3.6-something at the end of it all).

Is it sad that I still worry about my GPA in grad school?

I've also come to the conclusion that no matter how many good things happen, bad things still follow. I'm not the optimistic type; in fact, I've always seen the glass as half empty, and when things suddenly turn in my favor, I automatically assume that something horrendous is going to follow. Granted, these experiences are great to learn from, but I wish there were easier ways to learn than something completely shitty and out of the blue coming and hitting me in the face. And yes, I complain a lot. I realize that. It's something that I'm working on.

Lately I've been working 45-50 hour weeks. The money isn't bad, and the people I work with during the day are awesome. (Sidenote - I did land an internship for the summer at a pharmaceutical company in their corporate finance department.) It's the night job that's getting harder and harder to live with - another one of my coworkers quit a couple of weeks ago. Thus, who is there to pick up the slack? It's hard enough doing three people's jobs; now one of those responsibilities has three times the work. It's nice knowing that I'll get a workout every night running back and forth from my work station to the scanning table, but the time pressure is insane. This coming week I'll also be responsible for coming in early to set up the systems because the colleague who normally does that will be on vacation. Again, extra money, but no time to myself. I'm looking forward to the end of 2010, when I finally leave that place and have a life again.

I wish I could spit out something more meaningful than that of my employment complaints. I am lucky to have two jobs, especially in this economy - two well-paying jobs with excellent benefits. But this doesn't translate into the elusive happiness that I so crave. I mean, I am content most of the time, but I'm never really happy. Maybe that's overrated as well.

I think I need to do some traveling. I'm tired of Massachusetts and the East Coast and the same mundane things over and over. I'm tired of the same people and views and asshole drivers that nearly hit me every day on the morning commute. I'll be in Las Vegas in two months for a week - now there's something to look forward to.

End of my second MBA semester. (Or, stream of consciousness before a major exam.)

2009-04-24T10:46:00.004-04:00

*I'm taking my final exam for my Business, Government, and Global Economy course in 14 minutes.

*I'm testing for my second dan black belt tomorrow afternoon.

*I've met some amazing people over these past few weeks, all of whom are incredibly inspiring and will be here for me when I need them (and I for them).

*I refuse to get engulfed by Twitter.

*I can't wait to graduate.

*I want to learn graphic design (or at least how to use Photoshop properly).

*I hope I get the internship I've had second round interviews at.

*Triple Threat is demonstrating at the 2009 Hospitality Night next Friday night.

*The Simmons Leadership Conference is next Saturday (I have to be there at 5AM).

*I have a case study for Managerial Accounting due next Monday. And the final exam in two Mondays.

*My car is happy again . . . $1,300 later.

*MBAs know how to party. I know how to party.

*I've had some strange dreams. Perhaps they're a semblance of what my consciousness observes during the day that I don't realize.

*Tiramisu is DELICIOUS.

*We're all nervous. Very nervous.

*Tomorrow is going to be 80 degrees.

<3

I'm tired of second place.

2009-04-04T00:09:00.003-04:00

I want first place. Yes, I know, there's no such thing as first, blah, blah, blah.

I can do it. I just need to put my mind to it, and then I'll get somewhere. Perhaps my heart, too - I do need to care.

Alright. Next steps. Take it one day at a time.

I've got so many good things going on; why settle for less? In fact, why settle at all?

Motivation!

9 months out of my 23 years . . .

2009-03-23T17:27:00.002-04:00

There's only nine months left of this program. Nine more months to freedom (given that the economy isn't still down in the dumps)!

I've learned a lot about my limits and my interests since starting the MBA at Simmons. I know what my breaking point is now (4 jobs and full time classes), and where I can improve (quantitatively, as surprising as it is).

In addition, I'm training to test for my second degree black belt sometime in April. I got back into TKD about three months ago - it's been a great way for me to release stress and I'm learning a lot. It's true what they say about achieving your black belt - NOW you're starting to learn. I know I've improved since coming back, but I've still got a long way to go. My knee hasn't bothered me too much - I'm really grateful that I have the knee brace for backup. I think I'm going to schedule a PT appointment sometime soon though since I have pain in my right knee now . . . probably from overcompensating for my left knee's weaknesses.

I'm beginning to think more and more that finance might not be the field that's for me . . . but I need to have more experience to make a decision. Sometimes I just don't feel good enough.

It's been a busy few months - random social gatherings, flying down to Florida for a weekend, studying for hours on end, and working . . . I'm hoping that my burnt out feeling goes away.

My school life.

2009-02-05T15:47:00.001-05:00

more music charts

Verizon Wireless and Get It Now Applications.

2009-01-29T07:08:00.003-05:00

Beware when you utilize Verizon Wireless's Get It Now Applications. Most of these apps are those which are not affiliated with Verizon. If you download something, even accidentally, it's gonna cost an arm and a leg just to get it removed from your bill.

Just recently, my brother was charged over $65 for downloads he never made, right on his handset. Apparently, he downloaded an app called Sony Music Box onto his phone (during work hours . . . right, as if he had time to do so), which then proceeded to download 23 various songs, wallpapers, and such. He never did this. This happened in the past for Verizon Music Downloads as well, and we were able to get those charges removed (and the app blocked from his phone). I called Customer Service and they couldn't do a damn thing to remove the charges. We're not sure how it happened, and the customer reps I've called have no access to this information.

Now we're stuck with a $65 charge for stuff he has never downloaded, nor has access to, nor uses.

I'm beginning to loathe technological issues such as this one. As technology gets more complicated (or "advanced"), life gets more complicated. Can't we go back to the days when things were much simpler? When phones were primarily used for calls?

Long story short, be careful of what you use on your handset, who your carrier is, and what may seem suspicious.

Catch up.

2009-01-26T23:33:00.002-05:00

Some updates:

- Spring semester has started. Only two more semesters before I have an MBA.

I'm taking 6 classes (1 of which will end on Friday and another which ends by February 22). I'm also working four jobs (UPS, R.O., grader for MGMT 110, and writing tutor for MGMT 234) and competing in the Google Adwords Marketing Competition. UPS has delved into the whole cost-cutting deal, so my hours there have been reduced to 8:20-10PM, instead of the usual 8:20-10:20. Hours are no longer guaranteed, but as long as I still have benefits, I'll be okay.

- Knee shows more improvement.

I started working out again last Wednesday after a month hiatus from PT. My knee was sore, but that was from putting on too many weights and thinking I could be at the point where I had been. Now I'm trying to keep up a weekly workout routine. Also, I can finally bend my knee with full flexion! There's still swelling, but that's minimal. I'm starting get feeling back in the knee itself (underneath my kneecap where the surgeons had disrupted a nerve to get in there and harvest part of my hamstring), so that's awkward. Occasionally, I'll feel pins and needles there where feeling is coming back. The incision site is still tender, but that's to be expected.

- Chinese New Year is today. 15 days of being good!

- MUST STOP PROCRASTINATING.

- So much homework.

- Family is good.

I'm getting along a bit better with my parents and my siblings. Better now than later.

- Got so much going on.

I'm still in the Half.com book-selling business. So far I've gotten several people to use me as their middleman in selling on the site. Good reviews and good feedback! I have to search for an internship this summer like, RIGHT NOW. I'm glad I'm taking career strategies this early in the semester. I just revamped my resume and now working on a fantabulous cover letter.

That's it for now! :) Hope everyone is having a great start to 2009. Happy Lunar New Year!

Aunt + Mom + struggles of immigrants.

2009-01-16T23:20:00.003-05:00

My aunt passed the U.S. citizenship test on Thursday. She practiced for at least six months, and studied even harder when she found out her application had been put in the queue earlier than she expected. I quizzed her for about a week and a half before the test so that she could get a sense of other people's accents besides her teacher's (who spoke English with a Hong Kong accent). It was interesting to see the way she learned the answers to the citizenship questions - it was straight memorization of sounds, just like how Chinese is learned at a young age. She was freaking out just before the test, but she ended up doing well. She'll take her oath on March 4 at the Hynes.

When we were riding the train back towards the house (and I was on my way to work), we started talking about how the test was. The conversation wandered over to how hard my mother had worked to raise my siblings and I and the hardships she experienced during Communist China back in the '70s. My mom apparently had to work in the rice paddies when she graduated from high school at 16 (a government mandate, of course), along with my oldest and second oldest aunts. My mom had the worst working conditions, and the people who basically "owned" her wouldn't let her leave when her time was up because she was such a good worker. By the time she was allowed out, her personality had changed - she became a hardened, stubborn person. My aunt mentioned that out of her five siblings, my mom is the smartest. Had my mom not had to work in those conditions, she would have been much better than she is now (all mean, stubborn, close-minded, etc.). But life didn't favor her and she raised my siblings and I on her own while my father, whom she was forced to marry (conditions back then meant that you had arranged marriages), frittered away the little money he had when he came to America. He made some extremely stupid decisions, opting to purchase the shitty house we grew up in in Tewksbury instead of the three-family he had his hands on in Boston. Meanwhile, my mom, thinking that she had a better life in America than China, came here and struggled all over again. This time, she didn't have friends or relatives around to help her. She learned English on her own, worked a few jobs, raised us, put food on the table, a roof over our heads, and still managed to make life a little better for us.

And when I was a teenager, I made life miserable for her.

Of course, I didn't understand her past because she had never shared it with any of us. She would randomly yell at us, impose her traditional beliefs on our adopted American freedoms, and seemingly prevent us from having fun. When I was in high school, I gave her hell for never letting me hang out with my friends. She gave me hell for doing extracurricular activities, doing sports, and working. I did all these things to get out of the house. She couldn't understand why I would want to stay out all the time, but she also couldn't grasp the American culture. I threw many fits at her, she threw many fits at me. She felt that this was all for the greater good - to prevent me from becoming a drug addict-alcoholic-prostitute of her vision of American girls. I couldn't be farther from that stereotype.

Today, she rarely calls me to scold me for going out late, for hanging out with friends, for doing sports, for working. She still worries, but she knows she can't do anything about what I do - I've been living my life the way I want to for four years now (paying my own way through school, living, etc.). I'll still do her errands, speaking English for/as her, but not without balking at some of the things she requests me to do. In the end, I will feel bad for yelling and do what she asks. Guilt by the fact that she gave birth to me . . .

I think I had some revelations from learning about my mother's past a bit. Now that I see the "other side of the fence," I understand why she treated me the way she did when I was younger. I thought I was invincible, I thought I knew everything. That changes with age, of course, and life-changing events, such as ACL reconstruction surgery.

And while the relationship between my mom and me may be unrepairable, things may get a bit better from here.

It's a sad day for all Fenway residents and frequent visitors.

2009-01-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

The restaurants on Peterborough Street burnt down . . .

Boston 4-Alarm Fire Destroys Restaurants

I have so many nostalgic memories from that area. It's so sad that it's all gone. :(

2008 in a nutshell.

2008-12-16T23:07:00.001-05:00

January: went to India for two weeks.

February: fought Aramark for the Multicultural Organizations.

March: turned 22, continued fighting Aramark.

April: bought my 2000 2.5RS, awards night, senior stuff, won Aramark battle, Hospitality Night.

May: more awards, more senior stuff, GRADUATION (go Class of 2008!)

June: tore my ACL, helped my family buy a 2009 Forester.

July: had ACL reconstruction surgery.

August: fought with health insurance and started physical therapy, had Foundations in Business for Class of 2010 cohort.

September: started the Fall 2008 semester as a full MBA student, more rehab..

October: Alumnae Appreciation Dinner (or something), more rehab..

November: Management Alumnae Networking Dinner, some SOM get-togethers., slowing rehab.

December: SOM Alumnae Networking Event, SOM Holiday Party, SOM new building tour, FINISHED THIS SEMESTER ALIVE, lost health insurance, no rehab, having a social life.

Here's to an improved 2009.

Boston Parking Meter FAIL.

2008-12-07T13:23:00.004-05:00

I'm convinced that Boston needs to convert all of its parking meters into those automated systems they have available on Newbury Street. It'll make parking a helluva lot easier.

Thankful.

2008-11-29T19:47:00.004-05:00

It's two days after Thanksgiving, and now that I've had my fill of turkey, Chinese Thanksgiving dinner, and more dessert than I can think of, I've had some thought of what I'm thankful for:

- my family
- my friends
- all of my privileges
- what I do have (a roof over my head, jobs, a car, etc.)
- my professors
- my classmates
- my health
- my youth

It's hard to think outside of myself most of the time, especially when everything is never "good enough." I think I have a new definition of what's good enough these days - whatever I've tried for and achieved is good enough. Some standards can be too high and too draining, and as a result, I end up losing out on what makes life worth living. It's the simple things that make it so worth it. It's not the frills, the money, the high life - it's really the people who make situations the best they can be. I don't need money to have fun. I don't need to travel to Australia to meet new people. All of that is here.

I'm grateful that Thanksgiving exists as a holiday because it gives me time to think about all that I normally don't think about the rest of the year. This gives me more reason to think of and acknowledge the good things I have in life.

I just wish I could bring this thankfulness to people across the world.

Pedestrian FAIL.

2008-11-17T18:33:00.003-05:00

Student wearing headphones hit by Green Line trolley.

His music was THAT loud to drown out a trolley honking at him.

Good Samaritan #2.

2008-11-17T18:22:00.001-05:00

I was parking my car on East Charlesgate to go to a prep session for a networking event earlier today, and was stopped by a woman who needed directions.

I could have been the typical Bostonian and told her that I didn't have the time to guide her.

Instead, I finished parking and told her to pull over to the side of the road that I was parked on so I could help. She was looking to get to the ramp that leads to 90W. I couldn't explain well enough with my rudimentary guidance skills, so I used Google Maps to help her.

I hope that she makes it home. I don't know how she ended up near Comm. Ave. from New England Baptist, which is down by my part of town . . .

MBTA rider fail.

2008-11-17T14:06:00.004-05:00

Okay, so we had the cigarette ban from public indoor areas. The smokers moved outside, and everything was good.

Not really.

Every day, there's always one or two bus/subway riders at my stop who stand far away from everyone and chain smoke. It's great that they're standing far away - that lessens my risk of developing cancer from their secondhand smoke. HOWEVER, what they DON'T realize is that the wind blows all of that cigarette smoke back towards the crowd. Consequently, we nonsmokers end up breathing that shit back into our lungs and the efforts of the smokers standing far away from the crowd are for naught.

What's worse is that these smokers ignore the "NO SMOKING" signs posted up EVERYWHERE in the outdoor station areas. Seriously? Are you THAT ignorant? Do you need a cigarette THAT badly to damage everyone else's health around you?

Sadly, there's very little that passengers can do but complain to MBTA officials who rarely enforce the rules anyway. Perhaps Dan Grabauskas can use some of the revenue from increased fares to put up more signs, instead of pay for those employees standing around the fare machines who don't do a good job of explaining how to use them to riders. Or perhaps the MBTA can continue racking up debt by investing in failing projects.

Who knows.

Things of concern:

2008-11-13T00:32:00.004-05:00

1. Employment

The unemployment rate in the U.S. is at an all-time high - rising from 6.1 percent to 6.5 percent in October. At least 10.1 million Americans are jobless right now. What's worse is that those who just lost their jobs do NOT expect to be recalled to their original positions. This current Bureau of Labor Statistics article explains the situation in detail.

In candid conversation with one of my operations supervisors tonight, I learned that UPS may be up for layoffs. Since we are given benefits by seniority (i.e. whoever was here first stays here), anyone on the bottom of the totem pole may potentially lose their job - me being one of these people. In my functional area, I'm second from the bottom in seniority. I've been with the company for three years, but that doesn't mean my job is secure. Drivers are the first to be laid off - but that means they can take on any part-time position they want. For example, I may be laid off, and a driver laid off from his job could take my position in the sort.

Not fair, right?

But it doesn't matter. Seniority rules here. All those new guys they hired - they're the first to go. We're barely meeting budget at our location, and we're being encouraged to punch out earlier. My ops director is getting pressure from the top to cut jobs. First our time will get cut - then our positions will be cut.

That's scary.

When a company as big as UPS is facing layoffs, you KNOW the economy is in a bad place right now.

2. Health Insurance

Everyone in Massachusetts is required to have health insurance. If they cannot afford it, they can take up a plan offered by the state (as long as they are part of a certain income bracket). Otherwise, they face tax penalties. Information for 2009 is outlined here.

If I get laid off, I lose my health benefits. I've already lost them from November to January, since I wasn't able to work the required 225 hours during the July, August, and September quarter. I will have to pick them up through COBRA, which stipulates that I have to pay 110% the premiums that my union was covering in order to maintain my benefits. But once I become eligible for them again, I will only have to pay dues to cover myself.

That's a lot of money - I think $500 per individual.

And sadly, I will have to pay this if I lose my job. Corporate doesn't give a damn; they're not unionized so it doesn't matter whether or not people such as myself are cut. More money for them . . .

What's worse is that going onto a state plan would mean I wouldn't have the same level of access to doctors that I have now on my current plan. I'd have to pay more out-of-pocket costs, my deductible would be higher, and because I'm technically more at risk to use insurance than normal people (because of my injury), my premium would be much higher. My income is too high for me to qualify for free plans anyway (despite being a full time student and working 20 hours a week).

3. Massachusetts Tolls

There's been a proposal to raise toll fares for the tunnels (Ted Williams Tunnel, for instance) from $3.50 to $8.50. The voting for it happens pretty soon.

If this does happen, people will be going the long way around the airport and using local roads to get home from UPS. If we were to use the toll booths every night after the raise (also if this happens), then it wouldn't make working at UPS worth it. I earn $50 weekly after everything is taken out of my check. Tolls would cost about $50 leaving the airport every night. There's no point in working at UPS if this happens.

Employment and health insurance are major issues that everyone is facing right now. As if the economy wasn't enough to think about . . .

Go make some lemonade.

2008-11-06T19:47:00.003-05:00

Friend: Don't you want to be 22 forever?

Me: No, I want to be me forever. I don't want to be something I'm not; I don't want to be someone else.

Friend: Why?

Me: Age is just a number. It doesn't determine how you feel, how you are. It doesn't really determine YOU.

Good Samaritan.

2008-10-09T23:11:00.001-04:00

I drove one of the PM supervisors to the Beth Israel emergency room tonight - because Jimmy Chu didn't want to/said it was too out of the way.

It's nice to know that I've impacted someone's life positively - at least I'd like to hope so.

She WAS fired.

2008-07-08T20:57:00.013-04:00

Towards the middle of my final semester of my senior year, our president of almost two years sent an email to the entire community stating that she was leaving Simmons to pursue her goals in public health (or something along those lines).

We all speculated whether or not she had been fired by the Board of Trustees.

After we graduated, this was the follow-up email that was sent to the community:

To the Simmons Community:

Today, The Sage Colleges in New York announced that Dr. Susan Scrimshaw will serve as interim president beginning August 1, 2008. This interim presidency will afford Susan the opportunity to remain in higher education while continuing her commitment to public health issues that are important to her. One of those opportunities includes an upcoming appointment to a commission to explore new health care delivery systems for the 21st century. We wish Susan the very best in her new endeavors.

Many of you have expressed concerns and raised questions about Susan’s departure. The Simmons Board of Trustees acknowledges that there were differences with regard to internal management style. Regrettably, those differences could not be resolved despite our mutual efforts to do so.

When her departure was discussed, both the Board and Susan agreed not to make public the nature or causes of the differences between us. Although the Board recognizes that some of you desire more explanation, both Susan and the Board continue to believe that details of our differences should remain private.

We remain grateful to Susan for her contributions to Simmons, and we welcome Helen Drinan, whose commitment to Simmons and recognized leadership skills will assure that Simmons remains on a path of excellence.

So she didn't choose to leave on her own . . . this email CONFIRMS she had indeed been fired.

Our ex-president then sends us this email just before her departure:

Dear Simmons Community,

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president these past two years. I wish all of you and Simmons well in the coming months and years.

My Simmons email will still be active through July, 2008. After August 1, 2008 I can be reached at scrims@sage.edu.

With great affection for Simmons and all of you who contribute to Simmons' success.

Hasta luego.

Susan

So simple her words are, but their are subtle meanings to everything.

Then, our new interim president emails us this:

Dear Simmons Family:

I just finished my first day in office, and before everyone leaves for a much-deserved holiday, I wanted to tell you how absolutely delighted I am with your warm and gracious welcome.

Everywhere I turned, people were welcoming me in the hallways, on the phone, or via e-mail, telling me they looked forward to working together for this wonderful institution. I’ve been a part of Simmons in one way or the other for more than 30 years, but nothing could have prepared me for such a rich outpouring of good wishes. It is clear you love Simmons, and I promise you that I will do my utmost during my service to honor both you and Simmons.

I plan to spend the summer meeting as many of you as I can, and reading and reflecting on the challenges and exciting opportunities for Simmons. I want to listen and learn, to begin to get to know you and to explore all the wonderful ideas you have.

I’d like you to get to know me better, too–to know that I am deeply committed to academic excellence; to a truly multicultural and inclusive environment; to listening sincerely to all viewpoints; to honesty and transparency; and to a culture that is warm, lively, and dedicated to excellence in all that we do in serving our students.

The year ahead will be an important one, as we continue to focus on academic excellence, launch a successful campaign, promote a culture of inclusiveness and diversity, bring in more talented new students, and elevate our reputation.

I’m honored to serve as your president. As you enjoy the holiday weekend, please know that I am excited about working with you, and for you, to illuminate all that is special about Simmons

Have a wonderful summer.

Helen

As if we already accept her as the new president. Granted, she's nice and all, but we'll see where the vision of Simmons is going after this episode. The drama level at Simmons has been through the roof. I can't make any sense of it.

Roadkill.

2008-07-08T12:24:00.001-04:00

My sister just told me that my brother had run over a baby badger last night while he was driving.

I told him that this should teach him not to drive so quickly.

Then my sister proceeds to tell me that she almost ran over a beaver.

And THEN I told her I ran over a cat once.

We're terrible people.

Wouldn't you be angry if . . .

2008-07-05T01:47:00.002-04:00

immature college students were setting fireworks off NEAR YOUR CAR?

I would be.

Thankfully, my car is on a side street instead of on the hill tonight. (I hope that it's out of the line of fire. Literally.)

I feel sorry for those people whose cars have damage from exploding fireworks.

I love July 4th as much as the next person, but not with the damage of personal property.

These fireworks were across the street from my apartment, behind the opposing complex. i wonder how many people are going to be pissed at the stains left from ash.

Intense thunderstorm = sewers that can't hold floodwaters.

2008-06-27T14:23:00.002-04:00

The MBTA and I are not friends.

2008-06-25T10:43:00.006-04:00

After a session of attempting to drive my car (I drive a manual transmission car with a springy, heavy clutch) with my injured knee this past Sunday, I decided that it would probably be better for me to go to my vaccine session at Newton-Wellesley Hospital via public transit. My knee hadn't recovered yet from the Sunday joyriding session, and it would have been more convenient for me.

7:50AM
I took the 39 bus from my apartment to Hynes Convention Center, switching to the D line after realizing I should have gotten off at Dalton Street for an easier transition. The subway stations are not injured/disabled friendly, especially with a lack of escalators and elevators. Needless to say, my knee was already swollen greatly from having to traverse the stairs down to the Hynes subway station.

8:18AM
Then, I caught a D line subway (only one cab) and had to stand about half the way to the Woodland station. The crowding was usual (rush hour time) and at least people were courteous here. I was lucky enough to grab a seat by Newton Highlands. At this point, my knee was pulling at me and warning me that any more standing would most likely be detrimental to my leg's health.

9:00AM
I finally got off at Woodland, after enduring about 1.5 hours worth of public transit. I walked two blocks to the hospital and found myself in my doctor's office about six minutes past my appointed vaccination time. Six minutes later I was admitted and the shot was administered into my left arm. I was out of the office within 10 minutes.

9:12AM
I found my way back out of the hospital to Woodland and waited for the next D line train. This time I was not so lucky, as the train I caught was crowded and full of unhappy public transit riders. I could not get a seat until the Longwood stop, and even then, I was only riding up to Copley. By now, my knee was throbbing. No one would give up a seat to an injured person. I was almost appalled at the general populace's reaction, and then I remembered that I was in Boston.

10:15AM
I was able to get off the train relatively easily at Copley, but then I had to force myself up the stairs from the bottom of Copley, as there is no other way to get out of the station. As soon as I had exited the station, however, I saw a 39 bus pull away from the stop. Alas, I couldn't run after it, so I endured some more hobbling to wait at the other side of Copley Square for it to come around. By the time I got on the one heading outbound towards Heath Street, I wanted to collapse. Midway through my ride, a crazy Black woman started cussing out a Hispanic person, screaming about how they were disturbing her peace by speaking Spanish. She ended up having a hissy fit about how they shouldn't talk in their own language outside of the home. I wanted to turn around and say something, but she had already gotten off the bus. I also probably would have gotten attacked, and I have no way of defending myself with my dead knee.

10:42AM
I finally reached my apartment and boy, am I glad to be home. Thank god my visits to the orthopedic doctor are at Tufts-NEMC.

Seriously, I don't know why the subway and buses have to be so inconvenient. Boston could have figured out a way to make the routes less . . . stupid (for a lack of better vocabulary to describe the MBTA).

GO CELTICS!

2008-06-18T00:01:00.004-04:00

92 LA - 131 BOS = 2 LA - 4 BOS

The 2008 World Champions of the NBA are the Boston Celtics!

*17th World Championship!

*The first Celtics championship since 1986!

Boston is going insane, and I love it!