人與人之間

Even though we're all homo sapiens sapiens, we're all quite different in that I find that I need a different method of interaction with almost every person I know. I feel like I'm learning everyday about how to interact with different types of people-confrontational vs. nonconfrontational, oblivious vs. sensitive, selfish vs. selfless, etc. Oh how boring life would be if we were all the same.

I'll be watching you

My iPod shuffled to The Police's Every Breath You Take, and I couldn't help but think of this video.

To all those finance/econ nerds:

愛情顧問

I think most people, if not everyone, has one of these, a person they turn to to discuss problems related to liking someone. And, strangely, more people than I thought actually come to me. Enough to make me think I should start charging by the hour for my services. Lol, just kidding. Hopefully, I've been able to give constructive advice with my "plethora" of knowledge about love. To quote multiple satisfied customers, "what would I do without you?" Cheers to being a good friend.

Bowl cut!

Random

Occasionally, when I'm insanely bored during my lunch hour, I'll walk to A&P, and usually I end up in the cards aisle. I think this habit of mine started when I used to work at a supermarket. I'd browse cards, birthday cards, miss you cards, friendship cards, etc during my break. What's so fascinating about them? Not sure. Perhaps, I'm just easily amused. I've run across some funny/touching/cute/corny ones. And, I wonder who are the authors behind them. Do they understand humans so well they know how to convey emotions in a few lines or so? *shrugs*

Yea, I have my idiosyncrasies, this one being thinking about things that are completely irrelevant to my life.

From Where You Are - Lifehouse

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
So far away from where you are
Standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here

I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

Midsummer (+ 2 weeks) Evaluation

I remember I had a summer agenda for summer 2007, posted sometime in May last year. It is as follows (No laughing allowed):
"Agenda for summer:
1. lose 10 pounds
2. watch the sunrise/sunset at the beach
3. learn to cook
4. shop less
5. have a sleepover with the crew
6. meet someone famous in Taiwan
7. dress up and enjoy more expensive dinners in the city
8. dance in the rain
9. learn to swim
10. see Rain at MSG
11. stop being lazy
12. run cross country
To be continued...."

Looking at it now, I don't think I completed any of those tasks except for meeting someone famous in Taiwan. This year, I didn't officially write up a to-do list, but in May, it was probably the following (in no particular order):
1. teach myself comp sci (didn't happen)
2. figure out some sort of major/concentration direction (sorta happened)
3. get toned, especially in the abdomen area (kinda sorta happened)
4. relax and spend time with people (happened)

I'd say this list is a bit less idealistic and more realistic than last years. Dancing in the rain? Watching the sunrise/sunset at the beach? Come on, what was I thinking?

This year, it's been a strange, fruitful, and tiring summer. Strange in that I still don't believe some things are happening. Fruitful in that I've learned more than I thought from my internship. Tiring in that I've spent lots of time traveling, be it to work or to the city. Nonetheless, I've been having fun. Perhaps school in 6 weeks or so will be a welcomed change. But, with school comes a rearrangement of priorities. We'll see.

Currently listening to: Good Riddance - Green Day

Why so serious?

If there’s one thing I learned from The Dark Knight, it’d be from Joker. “Why so serious?” Obviously, I’m not going to be like him, having fun and killing people in the meantime. But, sometimes (or most of the time), I need to take things less seriously. If I just take a step back and place everything on the grand scale, some things are quite trivial. And, like my mom always says, “船到橋頭自然直啦”.

When life throws things (e.g. cars) your way (literally)

It’s times like these where I truly believe that there’s such a thing called destiny that one cannot control or that there’s a higher being up there writing the story of our lives. It was destiny or written somewhere for our beloved car to be at that intersection at that time to be hit by that car. Here’s a brief summary. Lexus (my dad) is at a stop sign at a cross section with a two way stop. SUV across the street does not stop and runs through the stop sign. Mercedes, driving on the other road, hits SUV. SUV doesn’t hit the brakes and once hit, it tilts. And all the while, SUV is still moving forward as its tilting and driving on two wheels. SUV hits driver side of Lexus. Lexus is totaled. Dad is okay. Let’s pause the videotape.

Seriously, why don’t people stop at stop signs? And, more importantly, why don’t people stop when they see that they’re going to hit or be hit by another car? My dad was just minding his own business, and out flies a car, smashing our hood. Our car that we’ve had for more than a decade and spent more than $100,000 to buy and maintain is gone within milliseconds. It probably seems silly to most people, but I nearly cried just thinking about the loss of the car. Of course, that reaction was given that my dad was okay. Just a bruise and burns from the airbags. I’m extremely grateful for that.

Talk about being snapped back to reality. It’s so easy and quick for accidents to happen, especially on the road. I never liked driving.

I thought it was all a dream when I woke up this morning. But, it wasn’t.

This is probably how life is usually. Unexpected things happen. And, we change and move on. Life is good.

Random thoughts on the economics of love

Lessons in Love, by Way of Economics - Ben Stein

Credits: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/business/13every.html?em&ex=1216267200&en=ff5eb790af565bed&ei=5087%0A

-"For most of us, diversification in love, at least beyond a very small number, is impossible, so it’s necessary to do a lot of research on the choice you make."

Lol, I guess portfolio diversification doesn't work when it comes to love. I suppose people do diversify when they casual date a couple people at a time. I follow the research idea. Hence, I can't like someone before I "do my research". However, I'm not sure whether or not my research always turns out correct.

-"Realistic expectations are everything. If you have unrealistic expectations, they will rarely be met. If you think that you can go from nowhere to having someone wonderful in love with you, you are probably wrong."

This is what's wrong with romantic comedies and dramas. They cause us to have unrealistic expectations of falling in love. But, I can't help but watch and believe them. Nothing wrong with being optimistic. I guess there's a difference between being optimistic and realistic.

-"When you have a winner, stick with your winner. Whether in love or in the stock market, winners are to be prized."

Why didn't Ben Stein tell me how do we know when we have a winner? I suppose that happens when you and your s/o fall in love. That's when you've found a winner. Someone once told me that s/he didn't like to start relationships because what if someone else better came along later. I think in that case, you would never find a winner since you're always waiting for him/her to appear.

After reading all this, I'm still not any closer to knowing what love is. What is love?

Dreams

I have had the strangest dreams lately. The plot lines aren't exactly strange, but certain aspects are. E.g. in my dream last night, there was a little boy, and I was wondering why he was so dark. Then, he just got darker as the dream progressed. And, my dreams usually aren't vivid, but lately, they have such that I actually remember bits and pieces of them. Weird. Maybe I'll start sleep talking and walking soon.

Weakness

I find that one of my greater weaknesses is my tendency to be easily persuaded. E.g. I walked into the hair salon yesterday, intending to just get my hair trimmed and spend $40. But, instead I walked out, $120 poorer with brown-red hair and doll bangs. I bet they love customers like me. Perhaps my hair stylist Ken is really good at giving suggestions. Or maybe I was charmed by his good looks and cute hair. Lol jk, I'm not that shallow.

男人不壞女人不愛

"I'm Chuck Bass."


Credits

Do I walk fast?

So today, I was showing this overweight guy where one of the hair labs is located. I'm walking my normal pace, and suddenly, he says, "*huffpuff* do I walk slow? or do you walk fast? I'm running trying to keep up with you." I smiled back awkwardly.

Dedication

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Thank you for always being there for me.

Love,
Christine

Update

I never thought I'd miss the Chou lab, but since working at L'Oreal, I have started to miss that place dearly. Although I had lots of questions, my PI and the grad students were always willing to help. People at work seem too tired to pay attention to you. Also, the atmosphere at the Chou lab was a lot more carefree and fun, while you always have to be careful of what you say at L'Oreal. I remember having random conversations with the grad students about partying and cockblocking. That conversation would probably never happen at work.

Is there really nothing to look forward to once you start working such that you're sighing 24/7? People at work sigh all the time. I now notice how annoying it is, since it brings people's spirits down. And, it makes you sound extremely frustrated. Also, people are always complaining about their age. 26 years old really ain't that bad. *shrugs* I'll probably feel their pain when I'm 26.

I had a good conversation today over lunch with a co-worker. She enlightened me with her experiences with finding and changing jobs, about corporate culture, and the like. I was considering concentrating in environmental science policy in Wharton (I'd like to help the world go green), but after talking with her (she double majored in environmental science and chemistry), she says there's really no job market for such a concentration. I'd likely end up working for the EPA and visiting factory plants to make sure they comply with regulations.

I also asked her a bunch of questions about L'Oreal, such as ease of changing departments within the company. People seem to switch departments often. And, it also takes 3+ years before you can work abroad. It's always been a goal of mine since high school to work in Asia, but for a U.S. corporation since there is better pay and benefits. But, now I'm thinking it's not very feasible unless I move there, become a local, and receive local wages. And, listening to stories about my aunts and uncles who work for firms in Taiwan, the corporate culture and lifestyle there doesn't sound very pleasant.

Catching my breath

The past four weeks have been fun, yet tiring - traveling to Penn for three of four weekends. I'm definitely willing to do it, but I've been getting somewhat worn out. So, it's nice to get a breather today in good ole' suburbia. I think I surprised everyone - friends and family- and mostly myself with how emotionally attached I could get with someone. I pondered over this for a bit last night. For some reason, I feel that the more I get attached, the more I should pull back. I guess it's a self-defense mechanism kicking in for fear of getting hurt. But, I've realized that I can't always live life on the defensive side. Sure, I should be a defensive driver, but other than that, life is so boring when you live cautiously. I'm not saying I'm going to live life on the edge and go crazy. But, just stop worrying and thinking too much. I think I'm already changing a bit. I'm calling this my "might as well" attitude toward life. E.g. if I ever get a chance to go skydiving, I might as well do it. Only got one life to live.

And, about that other thing balance. I'd say that the ideal that I talked about previously and strived for has been completely thrown off kilter. Everything - work, family, and friends - is second to Mr. Boyfriend. Thankfully, it's mutual. I'd say this is a symptom of it being summer right now. I've got a lot of time on my hands. About 85% of my time has been spent with him. Not saying it's a bad thing, just wondering what's going to happen when school starts.