Contemplating the whole cell phone incident (see previous post), I realized how dependent I am upon this tiny revolutionary invention.  Cell phones have really transformed the way we live and connect with people. 

For instance, I have a number with an area code from Orange County, California.  But I am currently a Washington resident, living permanently in Seattle.  For the summer, I can live in NYC, use the same phone number and talk to 1) Elei, a college friend now living in NYC, 2) Jason who lives in Seattle, but temporarily lived in Tacoma for a rotation, 3) my sister in Orange County, on her way to work at a restaurant, 4) my friends in the Bay Area on their commute home, 5) Nina and my old housemates in D.C., and 6) my friend Ellen who currently (temporarily) lives in Korea, while she works in the design studio.  

With the cell phone, I can live (almost) anywhere and still feel somewhat close to these beloved people.  Without the cell phone, a sense of isolation and distance swept over me... it seemed like this huge gulf lay between me and those folks who were just a phone call away. 

I have to wonder, though - do cell phones really bridge the distance, or do they send us running to the far corners of the earth?  Or a little of both?

Around 9pm this evening, I stood on the platform of the 66th St. (Lincoln Center) station.  It had started storming, and I was still carrying my wet umbrella.  Elei and I had gone pottery-painting for one of my team events and afterwards we couldn't decide whether or not we wanted to watch a movie.  We were both pretty tired, so we had called it an early night.  I had said goodbye to her and she had headed across the street to catch the downtown train.

So there I was... standing on the platform.  I decided to listen to some voicemail, and simultaneously tried to rearrange my bag and umbrella while dialing the phone.  My cell phone slipped out of my hand, hit the ground, bounced a few times on the cement platform and rolled onto the subway tracks!

Oh no! I cried.  For a split moment, I entertained the thought of scrambling down to rescue my poor little phone, glowing faintly within the darkened pit.  There it sat, in the mud... and at any moment, a train would crush it!!!

Sanity then returned, and I just felt like kicking myself.  Ergh!  I walked over the station attendant and gave them a dejected half-smile, and said pathetically, "I dropped my phone onto the train tracks."  The attendant wasn't impressed with my predicament.  Instead, she acted like it happened quite regularly.

"It'll take 30 minutes to get it."

"Will it get smashed by the train?"

"Naah.  Where is it?"

I then pointed to it.  "Well, it may not get crushed, but it's certain to have some water damage.  Plus with all the humidity..."

Aaaaack!  My poor phone! 

To make a long story short(er)... she told me it would take 30-45 minutes.  I waited in the Barnes & Noble above, tormented by the thought of needing to buy a new phone or switch plans or switch numbers, losing the address book with everyone's numbers in it... it was, after all, my only phone and connection to the whole world!  I ran back to the station later, and my phone had been retrieved.  Two men in orange jackets and hard hats were my heroes!  The phone still worked!  It was just rather muddy, and one of the men told me to clean it with antiseptic before putting the phone to my ear.  I then remembered seeing the mice that would run around near the tracks, and all that foul water and mud... obviously I listened to him.  An hour later, after much wrangling with the phone case, cleaning and re-cleaning it... my dear cell phone is back in order! 

Lesson of the day: Mind the gap!

THEY DID IT!

Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Elaine Lai!

The wedding ceremony was incredible - I tried really hard not to cry (after all, I had been bragging that I'd be the impenetrable rock and plus, I was afraid my eyeliner would run)  but when I saw the wetness on Bev's cheek, I lost my not-so-iron resolve.  As a bridesmaid, the vantage point during the ceremony is quite an experience.  I could see their joyful faces, and the sideview of the two of them singing praise songs, wholeheartedly and with such sincerity and devotion... it was quite moving. 

We also all had such a great time at the reception.  What a reunion of old friends!  Jason even remarked that I was so energetic after so little sleep in the last few nights... songs like "Dancing Queen" (ABBA), "Billy Jean" (Michael Jackson), "Bust a Move" (er, Tone Loc?) - let's just say that my crazy side takes over.  It was just like the Berkeley ABA/Crusade Dance of 1998!  (For those who were there, admit it - it was the funnest time ever!)

I'm tired but happy. 

The "photo documentary" is finally here.  Thanks for your patience.  Enjoy!

Slice of the Big Apple - Summer 2004
 
 
 
"New York" (U2)

In New York freedom looks like
Too many choices
In New York I found a friend
To drown out the other voices
Voices on a cell phone
Voices from home
Voices through the hard sell
Voices down a stairwell
In New York
Just got a place in New York

In New York summers get hot
Well into the hundreds
You can walk around the block
Without a change of clothing
Hot as a hair dryer in your face
Hot as handbag and a can of mace
New York
I just got a place in New York
New York
New York

In New York you can forget
Forget how to sit still
Tell yourself you will stay in
But it's down to Alphaville

New York
New York, New York
New York, New York
New York

The Irish been coming here for years
Feel like they own the place
They got the airport, city hall
The asphalt dance floor
They even got the police
Irish, Italians, Jews and Hispanics
Religious nuts, political fanatics in the stew
Happily not like me and you
That's where I lost you

New York
New York, New York
New York
New York, New York
New York
New York

In New York I lost it all
To you and your vices
Still I'm staying on to figure out
Midlife crisis
I hit an iceberg in my life
You know I'm still afloat
You lose your balance, lose your wife
In the queue for the lifeboat

You better put the women and children first
But you've got an unquenchable thirst for New York

New York
New York
New York, New York

In the stillness of the evening
When the sun has had its day
I heard your voice whispering
Come away now

New, New York
New...New York

New York

I uploaded my "Day in the Life" photos... but the Ofoto website was down.  Really, the photo documentary will go up one of these days!
 
The work week has been full and very busy.  I'm learning new things (e.g. corporate tax issues), which is really interesting, as well as practicing and polishing my research & writing skills.  Did I mention that I really like my firm, particularly the people that work there?  The attorneys are smart, competent, and for the most part, generally very down-to-earth and nice.  And what great secretaries!  Each time I get lost on a floor of our building, I only need to ask a secretary and they are always so obliging and kind!  Plus there's a great cafeteria - I ate portobello mushrooms for lunch, amazing!  And free coffee (too accessible, so I haven't given it up yet)! 
 
I attended Vision Church last Sunday, and really enjoyed it.  The roughly 100-person congregation is composed mostly of Asian-American (though mostly Chinese-American) young professionals.  They made me feel welcome and I felt pretty comfortable around them... it almost felt like college fellowship days again.  It was nice.  I'm still not sure where to commit to for church - admittedly, another month or isn't much, but consistency is still valuable. 
 
Tonight I hung out with Dave and a fellow UW Law classmate who flew out to interview for a court law clerk position.  Brunch plans galore for the weekend - tomorrow I'll meet up with Elei (who I haven't seen for 4 yrs) and Danielle (one of Joy's oldest friends) and Sunday, I'll get to see Shaila, Jeff Hui and Dave.   
 
Editing for Law Review continues.  Only two more edits for my own student piece, and it's off to the printers! 
 
I'm surprised at how adjusted I feel to this city.  I wonder if it's still the novelty and/or temporary nature of my stay here that makes it feel comfortable.  Or all the friends/acquaintances here?  Perhaps if NYC became my home for the indefinite future, I'd yearn far more for the West Coast.  However, making this place a home for a limited period (a few years?) is starting to look like a real possibility...
 
 
 
 

Grace, I took that test you posted (see results below.) This is hilarious! Now you know why we mix like oil and water!!!

Bev - what do you think of the first result?


20 Questions to a Better Personality

First Result:

Wackiness: 8/100
Rationality: 52/100
Constructiveness: 18/100
Leadership: 30/100

You are an SEDF--Sober Emotional Destructive Follower. This makes you an evil genius. You are extremely focused and difficult to distract from your tasks. With luck, you have learned to channel your energies into improving your intellect, rather than destroying the weak and unsuspecting.

Your friends may find you remote and a hard nut to crack. Few of your peers know you very well--even those you have known a long time--because you have expert control of the face you put forth to the world. You prefer to observe, calculate, discern and decide. Your decisions are final, and your desire to be right is impenetrable.

You are not to be messed with. You may explode.


Second Result:

Wackiness: 14/100
Rationality: 434/100
Constructiveness: 18/100
Leadership: 436/100

You are an SRDL--Sober Rational Destructive Leader. This makes you a mob boss. You are the ultimate alpha person and even your friends give you your space. You can't stand whiners, weaklings, schlemiels or schlemozzles. You don't make many jokes, but when you do, others laugh out loud. They must.

People often turn to you for advice, and wisely. You are calm in a crisis, cautious in a tempest, and attuned to even the finest details. Yours is the profile of a smart head for business and a dangerous enemy.

You have a natural knack for fashion and occupy a suit like a matinee idol. Your charisma is striking and without artifice. You are generous, thoughtful, and appreciate life's finer things.

Please don't kick my ass.

*********

So, which one is more fitting?

I haven't forgotten about the photo blog... I promise! It's just been a crazy time. Elaine and her troupe of bridesmaids (Janet, Bev, Stacey and I) had a fun bachelorette weekend in NYC over the July 4th holiday.

Thanks Bev, for taking all those awesome pics... I'll have to share some of them with you. Just not the wild ones. Whoo-wee.

And we saw Amdrew Hyun on Sunday - he preached at New Life Fellowship. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for blessing us with the Word, Drew.

I've got a bunch of work to do over the next week, but I hope to post the photos after the hurdle is overcome...

Three exciting things:
1. I got my first paycheck!
2. I hung out with office-mates and other associates after work!
3. I took a cab home at night by myself!

One miserable thing:
1. I am sick and coughing up a lung. (The nice cab driver even seemed to take sympathy on me and ask if I wanted the air-con off.)