So tomorrow, I'm taking a little trip back to Detroit because the first friend I made at the University of Michigan is getting married on Saturday. It's all so crazy, in that great fun-loving predictable way. Mikki and Ivan met via J-Date (that Jewish on-line dating service), started dating, got engaged nine months later, got pregnant 5 months after that, and they'll be married by Saturday night, starting their brand new life of utter domestic tranquility. I know what you're thinking... J-DATE?!? I mean, sure, people meet via the internet, but not us... THEM. Those vague people in the distance, those friends of friends, those people... not one of my best friends in the world in all her glamorous and beautiful and talented glory! But it's true. So... CONGRATULATIONS MIKKI & IVAN... it's a trip.
posted by phat tony 10:08 AM
Okay, way back when, I blogged about whether or not it was a good idea to kind of remove someone from your life... I never really answered the question, but I mentioned how sometimes, it's just not healthy for one to have another around and in mind because there's a lot of dwelling on the bad that can happen. Okay... so what happens when these people come back?
I'm a big fan of the "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." (feel free to substitute "fool" with any other word you feel may apply) I'm also a big fan of forgive and forget. But it's been harder to do that as the years go on. If it's something stupid, like over dumb mistakes or something, then if I have a good day one day and someone makes an effort again, chances are I'll totally forget everything that happened in the past. But how do you know that shit isn't going to hit the fan all over again?
What am I trying to say? I have no idea. But thanks for listening, regardless.
posted by phat tony 8:27 PM
Interviewing... ain't it a bitch.
There are so many assumptions that one has when approaching such events, and so many bits of wisdom (good and bad) that one gets out of it.
For the past two weeks, I've interviewed at over 20 NYC firms, some completely out of my league, some only vaguely out of my league. Despite the fact that I know I can do good work at any of these firms, the decision is not really up to me. Okay, granted that my grades aren't spectacular and, if interviewers are trying to somehow equalize a group of people that are fairly hard to tell apart at the end of the day, grades are a method to distinguish one from the next... however, I've been thinking that, for the most parts, the interviews have gone fairly well. But then... the rejections start pouring in. Well... not pouring, per se. I've heard from less than half the firms I interviewed for... with only 1 callback. Now, if this single callback results in a job, then fantastic, I've made it, no problem. But that's sort of a big "if." While I can go on with all these assumptions about interviews and what the ubiquitous "they" are looking for, in the end I don't really know what each person is really looking for. It's frustrating... but even more frustrating when all your friends in similar situations are, for the most part, finding success... it's either feast or famine with these sorts of things. And the thing is, there is no way I could be upset at them for their accomplishments, because lord knows they deserve them 100%... but I can get a bit jealous, and that just eats at me, you know? I can't believe I'm saying this, but it would be so much better if I didn't like them, so I could focus on some of their less than endearing qualities... but I think they're fantastic, so I can even come close to begrudging them. Isn't it funny how sometimes, the only way to feel better is to think there are people like you in a worse situation. Well, if any law students are reading this, here I am to make you feel better. Sheesh.
posted by phat tony 8:18 PM
So, when I came back to NYC a few days ago, I was completely in a state of pseudo-panic... I just had a whole bunch of crap to take care of, none of it that difficult or worrisome... just lots of stuff that added up... you know, one big unpacking, resume printing, transcipt acquiring, suit pressing, briefcase buying, apartment cleaning, conversation having day. The following day (Thursday) was the first day of the Columbia-sponsored early interview program for its 2Ls and 3Ls... I had 22 interviews scheduled total from Thursday until the following Wednesday. The first day, I had 6... HOWEVER, I was only able to get through 5 (all of them fairly decent) when all the lights went out. Truly bizarre. We were all just sort of in disbelief when people were reporting that the power was out in the entire Northeast portion of the U.S.... and being in NYC, half of us were convinced it was another terrorist attack. Regardless, we ended up leaving the hotel (after being assured that our interviews would be rescheduled) and walking the 4 miles north back to campus... stopping along the way, of course, to have a beer with the other 8 million people in NYC not knowing what to do next. That night was a wild one... it was almost pitch black in the city... you could actually see the stars... everyone was drinking and talking... candles were burning in apartments, creating instant mood for a city-wide hush. It was sort of beautiful. Okay, and smelly. (one pleasant side effect of no electricity is that in most highrises, such as my apartment, people end up having no water... thus no shower.) The next day, the power came back around 7am, but interviews for that day were still cancelled. Eating has sort of been weird because you don't know if the food as been cooked from products that may have gone bad during the power outtage. More people have actually been on the streets than usual, just because I think people are afraid of taking the subway and getting stuck underground. Believe it or not, I think NYC losing power was sort of healthy for its inhabitants... they actually took the time to take a flashlight and say hello to the people next to them.
posted by phat tony 3:41 AM
Okay, NOW I'm back in NYC... it feels much better.
posted by phat tony 1:48 PM
I'm back in Ohio. Thrilling, for sure.
posted by phat tony 6:33 PM
Okay, I've sort of been saying my goodbyes to people in L.A. and I'm actually really sad about leaving... I mean, I can't WAIT to get back to the city, but saying these goodbyes seem so... well... final, you know?
Regardless, as I said before, I'm starting my drive back soon (in about 12 hours, actually)... feel free to call me at will... I'll enjoy the company, for sure.
posted by phat tony 1:40 AM
Okay, I lost all my comments. I don't know what happened. The past two years of commentary is now just a fading memory. I'm so sad. Jon fixed what he could, but now I have to start anew...
posted by phat tony 2:08 PM
Well... my time in Southern California is coming to an end... on Thursday morning, I plan to set off on my trip back cross-country... a different route this time... Route 66 is tired, let's try Colorado this time.
posted by phat tony 9:35 PM
I love when you have one of those nights when you don't expect to really do anything special, but then, spontaneously, you end up having a great night. Tonight, I chilled with a few friends in Hollywood, had a few drinks, was feelin' fine, and now I'm home, drinking a glass of water, wondering if I'm going to survive my last day of work on only 3 hours of sleep. Eh, whatever, it'll have to happen whether I like it or not, I guess. Regardless, it was totally worth it. And now that I look back on tonight, I think it's great that I was chillin' with friends of friends... more specifically, I chilled with my good friend's boyfriend, another good friend's friend from chinese school, and this good friend's friend from chinese school's roommate (for those of you who might know them, they are Paul, Victor, and Steve). It was a hit! Some DDT, some good drinks, and some friendly faces. And really, that's a formula for an ideal night out... and to think I'd practically given up on L.A. nightlife... Salud!
posted by phat tony 5:55 AM
