Long Weekend

Blustery snow day in Central Park











Wow.

This is the first weekend in 8 months that I can lounge around with no looming deadlines. Woke up at noon and spent 2 hours mindlessly blog-surfing. Add another half hour of watching snowflakes float outside my window, with FIFA09 blaring from the living room and Mr. Choo living his pipe dream of thrashing Chelsea.

I've broken all three of my resolutions. Mauled my middle finger while rushing the Stern application before the deadline. Celebrated by gorging on yummy CNY treats. I have three empty jars that once held pineapple tarts, tapioca cookies and arrowroot chips.

And of course, I feel obligated to give my two cents worth of the year that has been and will be. Last year: wars, campaign rhetoric, brief respite from the Olympics, never-ending bailouts and lost opportunities. This year: more of the same, a new president, an increasingly influential government in domestic affairs and hopefully, more soft diplomacy.

But enough about my uninformed ramblings on current affairs, let's talk about me.

During this time last year, I promised myself a new direction in life by getting into graduate school. The past eight months was pretty much a marathon of sorts, with me juggling my regular job before returning home to study and work on my applications for another 4-5 hours. Nick has been incredibly supportive during my emo lows, for which I truly love him for.

Today, I'm still waiting to hear from the admissions committee.

I tried to start an NGO with several friends. Didn't work out for various reasons. Finally, on one particular rainy and gray train ride home, Ying and I reflected on and discussed our efforts thus far-- we decided it was not working and we would have to scale down our original plans.

Today, I'm still figuring a way to make this work. I had a promising meeting with a social enterprise organization recently, but we'll see.

Some highlights last year-- business trip to Europe, with a three day break in Prague with Nick :) Helped out with NMF, tiring but absolutely worth it! Countless meals and awesome gatherings with friends. Long summer barbeques that end at 2am. Gorging on Lockhart BBQ and checking out Nick's old haunts in Austin. Birthday with old girlfriends in Roppongi. Too many to mention.

This year? Frankly, I do not know.

My best case scenario-- I'm admitted to HBS and quit my job in May. Spend summer lazing in the city, traveling around the world and spending time with the family. Successfully figure out how I will pay my $50K/year school fees. Return for school in September and finally live in the same city with a certain someone :)

Worst case-- No grad school accepts me. The merger gets approved later this month and our entire office becomes defunct. Lose job + no new job = lose work visa status. Take out 10K from my savings and travel back to Malaysia via land. Wave bye-bye to same certain someone and figure out Plan B.

Phew. Enough about predictions. Life is what it is, and in any case, there will always be time for good food and good lovin'