I had a lovely thanksgiving dinner today. Just me, Chef Choo and two neighbors, discussing foodie gossip and sipping wine over acorn squash soup and roast duck with fig demiglace.We made a few side dishes, including an roasted butternut squash soup with vanilla creme fraiche and sweet potato bacon hash with browned sage butter. Dessert was an amazing homemade buttermilk lavender granita, topped with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.
It's 12.45am now. The dishes have been washed and I'm bundled up beneath the comforter. The grad school essays await, but I can afford a wee bit of procrastination. I can hear Chef Choo's typing from the study-- he's probably working on Matlab while sneaking glances at espn.com.
I skimmed the latest reports on the Mumbai attacks. It's horribly heartbreaking-- the blood on the floor of the train station, the rudely interrupted wedding party, the family trip that was never meant to be.
It could happen here. It could happen anywhere.
I wonder for what, and to whom, would they give thanks for?
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Stream of Consciousness Dump
I haven't ranted about work in a while, but today I will.
Today, we were asked to ask our friends and family for donations....to fund our operating budget. We were given fundraising kits, heck we were even given a little chart to fill in people's names and signatures.
Sigh.
In today's world of bailouts, finger pointing and massive layoffs, I am thankful to have a job. I like the fact that I am ultimately working for a better cause, so much that I am willing to receive a pay that is 40% less from the industry standard, and no bonuses or pay raises for the past two years. Many of my colleagues are in the same situation.
There has been some good times and bad times, but this one takes the cake. I'm too tired for irony or pessimism these days, so I'll take the easy route and call it a classic case of good intentions gone wrong.
There are many ways of approaching a challenge, or at least, sweetening the deal. Make it a raffle or an auction. Ask one of the executives to donate a little something from their extensive coffers. Cancel the office party. Replace the electricity-hungry coffee machine.
But for heaven's sake, don't make us ask our friends and family for money, during a time when loved ones gather to give thanks during this difficult time.
Today, we were asked to ask our friends and family for donations....to fund our operating budget. We were given fundraising kits, heck we were even given a little chart to fill in people's names and signatures.
Sigh.
In today's world of bailouts, finger pointing and massive layoffs, I am thankful to have a job. I like the fact that I am ultimately working for a better cause, so much that I am willing to receive a pay that is 40% less from the industry standard, and no bonuses or pay raises for the past two years. Many of my colleagues are in the same situation.
There has been some good times and bad times, but this one takes the cake. I'm too tired for irony or pessimism these days, so I'll take the easy route and call it a classic case of good intentions gone wrong.
There are many ways of approaching a challenge, or at least, sweetening the deal. Make it a raffle or an auction. Ask one of the executives to donate a little something from their extensive coffers. Cancel the office party. Replace the electricity-hungry coffee machine.
But for heaven's sake, don't make us ask our friends and family for money, during a time when loved ones gather to give thanks during this difficult time.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
What would you do?
Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for a friend's mother. She had passed away after a year-long fight with cancer.
Times like these, you wonder about the Big Question in life. I wonder what would I do when the time comes.
Would I be able to face the issues of life and death with courage and strength? I can't adequately express the admiration I have for my friend, who had juggled the heartbreak and responsibilities of the past year with such composure.
Later in the day, it was off to a finger-lickin' hot pot session at HC's. Alcohol was imbibed, bawdy jokes abounded and debauchery of all forms reigned the night-- all further descriptions will be left to the imagination of you, the reader.
When I think about the highs and lows of all that happened yesterday, I give thanks for the carefree and lovely life that I have now. I know my time to mourn will eventually arrive, andI'm counting on my capacity to adjust and the do the right thing when that day, that email, that phone call in the dead of the night occurs.
Times like these, you wonder about the Big Question in life. I wonder what would I do when the time comes.
Would I be able to face the issues of life and death with courage and strength? I can't adequately express the admiration I have for my friend, who had juggled the heartbreak and responsibilities of the past year with such composure.
Later in the day, it was off to a finger-lickin' hot pot session at HC's. Alcohol was imbibed, bawdy jokes abounded and debauchery of all forms reigned the night-- all further descriptions will be left to the imagination of you, the reader.
When I think about the highs and lows of all that happened yesterday, I give thanks for the carefree and lovely life that I have now. I know my time to mourn will eventually arrive, andI'm counting on my capacity to adjust and the do the right thing when that day, that email, that phone call in the dead of the night occurs.
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