Scribbles

The recent traveling and long hours has taken its toll on me and my poor blog.  So this weekend, before I drive out to Pennsylvania tomorrow night on assignment, I'm taking it a bit easy.  And to do so and still blog, I'm keeping it simple and short on words.  More lengthy postings about thoughts of work and life will have to wait.  To share a slice of my day in NYC, here's an interesting sign; while waiting in line for some delicious Magnolia cupcakes, we spotted this sticker behind an SUV. 

Russian Heimlich maneuver – performed on all fours

Will have to get the Russian translated and update on what it means later.

Had some yum yum dim sum last Sunday to celebrate the first day of Chinese New Year's.  A troupe of dancing lions invaded the restaurant and shook us down for some red envelopes (filled with cash of course), to wish everyone a year of prosperity in the new year of the piggy.

Hungry lion almost took mom's hand off

Great news, I'm clocking only 65 hours this week and I'm making a post here before I step out of the office to begin the weekend.  Talk about tight schedules, I will be making a very brief appearance in the Bay Area this weekend for a wedding.  I count 33 hours from flight arrival to my Monday 6am departure straight to work in Atlanta.  Between work and personal travel, I seem to be a major contributor to a) carbon dioxide production, b) airline industry, and c) time spent at the airport or on a plane (which at this point will equal if not exceed time spent in my apartment.)  I'm beginning to feel a little concerned that I know Atlanta airport almost as well as my neighborhood, and how I frequently advise passengers in the security lines on how to get through quickly (ie carry your boarding pass on you before going through the metal detector, but leave your ID tucked away, etc)

For all the normal folks, I'm wishing you a happy Chinese New Year, one that will be prosperous for you in happiness and health.  And for the US folks, enjoy the long President's Day weekend.  Perhaps even kick it off with the new $1 coin bearing Washington's mug.

Light on the blogging, again, thanks to back to back 80-hour work weeks.  Nonetheless, I wish you all a happy day today, hopefully celebrated in a non-commercial fashion.  Show your loved ones your appreciation throughout the year, not just today, and not just with flowers and candy at inflated prices.  It's not about the money, it's all about heart.  Whether or not you have someone in your life, enjoy this day as if you would enjoy every other day (like you should!).  And for my fellow engineering majors, a little something to laugh at.

Been horribly light on the blogging lately, sigh.  The last two weeks at work have been a bit too hectic, so I took this past weekend off strenuous activities and planned on catching up on sleep and staying off coffee.  Yes, I actually succeeded in escaping the evil lure of Starbucks and the fancy espresso machine in the office.  To top that, I even managed to work out twice, eat relatively healthy, and sleep in on Saturday.  And during all that, my body sent me some clear signals of overload.  I felt lethargic and sleepy almost throughout the weekend.  Nature's way of telling me hey, slow down a bit.  Now I just need to make this a habit, or rather, my workload needs paring down. 

Too bad I slept late on Sunday night.  And alas no rest for the weary, I found myself back to the grind on Monday, working till 1am.  I'm flying out to Chicago tonight for a whole day of giving interviews at Kellogg.  (Such a shame I won't be able to visit the Windy City for my first time.)  After the 8-5 interview marathon, I'll be rushing myself back to the airport and to touch down at Atlanta around midnight.  That would make it flying every day for four days in a row.  I commented to my colleague that it's like being partner, to which he retorted, “except partners don't work late into the night on PowerPoint.”  That's right, instead of schmoozing clients or making back room deals, us lower rung simply take it from the Micro$oft Office suite in the orifice.  We're slide bitches.

The glamor part of consulting travel is pretty much non-existent.  Yes, you rack up a ton of hotel points and airline miles (actually not so many since domestic travel yields chump change), but what's the point if you don't even care about the amenities any more?  Just yesterday, I was all settled into my seat when the flight attendant informed me of my upgrade clearing and the chance to move up to the first class cabin.  Believe it or not, I promptly told her I don't feel like moving any more.  Before her surprised and exasperated expression even registered in my mind, I had passed out cold.  And all these good things I keep hearing about Atlanta and Chicago, I've yet to experience any of it, because by the end of Thursday, all I want to do is have a few nights of decent rest and food in the comfort of my own place, a challenge in its own with the distractions of NYC.

Wish me a smooth travel tonight and some entertaining interviewees.  I promise to be nice to the bright-eyed first year MBA students looking for a summer gig, but the someone who shows me a bit of wit and a sense of humor will earn her/himself some brownie points.