Layoffs

We received an internal memo informing that layoffs will be carried out this week. The firm has a solid reputation on the street but nevertheless, this is an entire economy on a downturn - not a particular company not a sector. I am blessed to not be affected but the experience was a first and very surreal for me. I no longer see colleagues' names that were there on the company's directory last week. I saw empty desks as I walked around the floor. Teams were called to conference rooms and briefed by their MDs.

Wall Street layoff/firing typically goes like this:

- HR calls you to a conference room
- They tell you that you have to be let go and the severance pay that you'll get
- You can't get back to your desk. Not even to pick your jacket or personal belongings.

Moving on

I've done arguably the boldest thing in my life today.

Vacation Ideas

Not sure what to do during my one-week off before Christmas. Several ideas in this belt-tightening period of a recession

5-night cruise in the Caribbean
- very cliche but can be economical and relaxing
- need someone to go with though

Solo road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco
- My best holidays so far are road trips
- Can be pricey with car rental and Gas

Montreal
- 1.5 hours from NY but flight can be expensive
- Amex has a flight + hotel deal for $1200

Brother left for the UK after spending a month in NYC with me. Feel sad.

Newcomers Adjust, Eventually, to New York (NYTimes)

I find some truth in this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/nyregion/27arrival.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Look Who's in Town

Two Sundays ago, I came to me that my brother's rent in Aber for the next five weeks of doing nothing would cost more than a return flight to New York. So I bought him a ticket to fly in on this past Sunday.

Ramen

I used not to like noodle in soup until I came to New York and tried the ramen in the Ramen bars around Manhattan.



This one picture above is from Minca Ramen Factory in the East Village.

I'd rank the following two as the best Ramen places in the city.

1. Ramen Setagaya
2. Minca

Will you let me be your servant?

I was browsing youtube for WYD 2008 videos and stumble a very nice song that they had for the event.



Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav’lers on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to god in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.

Piano

I bought an electric piano last Saturday. An impulsive purchase after feeling satisfied that some work tasks were completed on a weekend. I spent nearly 2 hours at Sam Ash trying out the different sub-$1000 models. If I had a budget, it would not have been more than $800. Thankfully, making a decision was easy as the more expensive ones were meant for studio work with much more complicated functionalities. I don't want to add more complexities to my life. There's already enough from what I do for a living.

The piano is Yamaha P-85 with heavy weight keys. Minimal functionalities as my concern was more on the sound and the weighted keys. It cost $599 but after taxes and the stand, the damage almost reached $700. A friend was around which helped as the piano did not fit the cab. We actually hauled the piano and the stand on two subway rides and endured many stares to the life-size box that I was carrying.



This is one personal item that my parents, especially my dad, would encourage me to buy. I have not played for nearly a year and my fingers have been rusty (only for this purpose *wink). Part of the inspiration to pick up the piano again is the music at the evening masses at a Franciscan church that I regularly attend. The hymns are written by composers of contemporary Catholic hymns such as Marty Haugen, Paul Tate and David Haas. Now you know, you don't have to rely on Hill Songs or Don Moen for modern Christian songs anymore.

Suicide

About two Saturdays ago, I was at my colleague's birthday part in the UES, the upscale neighborhood currently being made famous by Gossip Girl. That morning, colleague woke up by the police on his door. There was a body lying right outside his bedroom window. Some doctor jumped to his death from the 27th floor of the apartment building and fell on the scaffolding right next to colleague's bedroom. Rumors said the doctor was upset by a recent break up with his partner.

It was the second suicide in Manhattan within a week. The previous weekend, a Russian model jumped from a 9th floor condo near Wall St.

Anti-Aging Treatment

I have been watching Season 5 of Nip/Tuck over the past week through hulu.com and got curious about all kinds of treatments that one can have to look better and younger. The second episode of the 30 Days is on anti-aging where this 34-year-old father of three decided to undertake an anti-aging treatment through a combination of hormone injection and heavy dosage of a variety of supplements.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/5295/30-days-anti-aging#x-0,vepisode,1

Very interesting. Should watch if you have access to this web site from your respective countries.

A friend's last weekend in the USA

A friend of ours is returning home to Malaysia this Tuesday and the weekend was for her. We decided to step out of Manhattan and spend the Saturday in Flushing, an area in Queens which is mainly populated by Chinese people. Just like Stella and her yuppy expat friends in Hong Kong, the New Yorkers are also always in pursuit of good food.


Dim Sum in Flushing. The was variety but lack the quality compared to Jin Foong.






Cheap daytime Karaoke. $15 for 3pm - 8pm.

New IKEA in Brooklyn

The new Ikea store opened in Brooklyn last Wednesday with very much anticipation from New Yorkers. I had to look for the bolts for my bed which were lost during the move. Ikea has a FREE water taxi service that ferries shoppers from Wall Street to its water front store in Brooklyn. This is the smartest way to view downtown manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Come during the late afternoon and return during sunset.

Another thing we all like about Ikea is its fancy yet cheap food.


Salmon salad $4.99


Swedish meatballs $4.99


Swedish Dessert Sampler $1.49


So naturally, I overate.

Photo Albums from May Vacation

May Vacation 2008

iPhone Photos from May 2008 Vacation

New Apartment

I took these photos right after getting the keys to our new Stuyesant Town apartment. Since it's in quite a mess right now, I'd like to share how it was like when the place was still immaculate.

Chikalicious

I have been waiting for a long time to visit this famous dessert bar located 4 blocks down where I live. Chika is the Japanese pastry chef who runs the place. Perhaps her male assistant is called licious. I went there on a Sunday afternoon when it was empty. This bar has a 4-person party size limit and there's always a line at night.

The menu differs every day. For a prix fixe price of $12, you get a 3-course dessert "meal" where you get to choose the second course. The serving size is small but they were prepared elegantly in front of you by Chika herself. Add another $7 and you'll get the a glass of fortified wine selected to be paired with your main dessert.

One to note is the music being played. I asked the host for the title. It's actually a compilation of jazz pieces mainly from John Coltrane's rehearsal thus not available out there for purchase.

Such restaurants inspires one someday - a small kolok/kampua bar like ramen bars. It won't be a messy kitchen greased by lard.

Chika preparing my dessert - I have no recollection of the what the name was.

On Being Vulgar

I realized that everytime my computer goes slow on me, I'll blurt out "Come on, bitch!". So you can say that a computer is a female.

Brunch at Blathazar, New York

It's a French bistro located near Spring St. Food was okay but the bread basket was good. Took us a reservation made 3 weeks earlier and an hour-long wait to get tables.

Blessed be those groups of friends with more than 4 people for they will be find restaurants that will seat them easily.

SMK Bintulu Revisited

My brother and I was out in town working on various errands when we decided to drop by in our old school. The last time I was back here was when I was soliciting for recommendation letters from my teachers. I don't think I have been back since the new principal took over.

It was during the school holidays so no students were in sight except for the marching band practicing. The school now has a new computer lab building located between blocks B and C. The old canteen is now the second teacher's office. The new canteen is now between the transition block and the lower secondary science labs.

Once in a while, I'll dream of being back in school wearing a school uniform and waiting for class to start even when form 5 was 7 years back. I do not miss SMK Bintulu as much as Carnegie Mellon.

College was the best time of my life. I've not been back to Pittsburgh for a year. I should do soon.

Kayan Wedding

Uma Juman, Asap, Belaga

Ironically, I did not take the photos of my newly-wed cousins.

More of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Stella looking at her world outside.

A very comfortable bed. The hotel brands it as the "blissful" bed.

E-mail Posting

Test

--
Crispin

Vacation May 2008

Where?
Hong Kong, KL, Bintulu, Sibu, Asap and Miri

Highlights?

• A bottle of really good tuak slipped from my hand the night before I left for NY. The broken glasses cut a deep gash near my right toe which got me 8 stitches.
  
• Attended a funeral (ngesah ka urang parai) where I contributed to the carving of the number 8 (for 2008) on the victim's temporary wooden cross. The last time I was back I was around for a relative's funeral as well.
• Made two overnight stopovers in Hong Kong. Met up with Stella and made shirts. The awesomeness of the island got me contemplating of moving here.
  

Photos from my 2-week vacation.

Avoiding Stalkers

Moving to http://myworldoutside.blogspot.com