ziasudra

To everyone who celebrates it, Happy Lunar New Year!

Whee, I have a five-day weekend! And the office closed early yesterday too. That's longer than my 4.5-day Thanksgiving break! I'm not completely off the hook from work duties, though. Mandatory New Year's parade participation on Saturday and Sunday, and the fact that I'm constantly in touch with the State and other non-Lunar New Year observing government/non-profit/for-profit agencies means I'll still be thinking about work stuff throughout the weekend. But at least I get to not set my alarm clock for a few days :)

I've officially been working at my current job for one year. I only started full-time in September, so I'm not eligible for any vacations yet. But my co-workers have known and seen me around for a year, and it's weird to think that when I first took the job, it was originally a sort of self-demotion to downgrade my work commitment from the full-time Internet job to my then part-time responsibilities.y

Looking back, I believe I made the right decision to turn down the initial offer of starting right off as a full-time employee. I had wanted to work less hours, so trading full-time with full-time would have been disastrous, and I very much doubt I'd still be working where I am now had I forced myself to take the offer. Starting as part-time gave me the opportunity to learn the ropes without being fully committed; it also meant less expectation pinned on me, so all my first blunders were overlooked quite graciously.

Strange journey, this past year. I like unpredictability and working a different schedule every week; I'd choose a job I love with low pay over a so-so job with high pay, hands down. Sometimes I look back at where I was and where I am now, and genuinely wonder how the heck did I end up in such a normal, white-collar office job.

And since it's Chinese New Year, I bring you the sage wisdom of The Fortune Cookie:

My Fortune Cookie told me:
Confucius say, it is time to lift a stone only to drop on your own feet.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Current Mood: full

Happy New Year! To start off this year's posting, here's a meme, just in time for all the election hooplas going on:

80% Hillary Clinton
78% Barack Obama
77% Dennis Kucinich
76% John Edwards
76% Mike Gravel
75% Chris Dodd
72% Bill Richardson
68% Joe Biden
41% John McCain
38% Rudy Giuliani
33% Mike Huckabee
33% Mitt Romney
33% Tom Tancredo
27% Ron Paul
20% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

I wonder if anyone got a mish-mash of answers (as opposed to the complete party split)? So far I haven't been able to manipulate my answers for a mixed-party ranking.

lampblack and

redpiratemel, I got your cards! They're both beautiful -- you're both very artistically gifted. Thank you very much!

Current Mood: awake
Current Music: Les Miserables -- the finale

Happy 3 year LJ anniversary to me!

Can't believe it's been three years already. I definitely don't post as much as I used to, but I'm still reading other people's journals a lot, and I've spent more face-to-face time in RL with some of you than last year. It's cool, to think back on how I ventured into NYC only knowing two people (my housemates), but then to discover great NYC people on LJ who are now my good friends ^_^

And to underscore just how cool you all are, here's the promised second part of the "cool friends" meme -- my response to those of you who signed up for me to tell you why you are cool (because you are!):

countouttheday – There are many great things about you. What jumps to mind at this moment was the time we hung out at NOLA together. Your being there made the trip so much more fun. And dinner last night was definitely yummy as much because of the great company as well as the food :)

frog_md – You are so talented in many, many ways, including venturing into the world of med school while still writing and betaing on the side. You're also cool because you seem to know exactly what my news reading tastes are. Every article you've forwarded to me has been very interesting.

lynkemma – I miss seeing you online! You always manage to make even the most mundane of topics interesting. Your "cheap living" experiment was lots of fun to follow, as were other things like talking about your jobs and travels.

shipchan – I like your insights and your comics and your LJ posts even if I don't always comment on them. And you're cool because asdjlkfa;fd being at the book tour?!? Such an awesome thing!

tanechigai – You're so cool for posting about your "Catholic journey." And for having your own character and house at Animal Crossing. The fact that my mom used to think you're Asian is proof that you very much belong to the Apt 6K community, even if you're thousands of miles away ;)

I have quite literally fallen off of the face of LJ. I have comments to reply to and I haven't even begun reading my very-backed-up friends' list. So, um, hi everybody.

In lieu of real content, here's a meme in my attempt to spread flist love, and because it's true, you all are cool. Ganked from

aubrem:

1. Reply to this post if you want me to tell you how cool you are.

2. Watch my journal over the next few days for a post just about you and why you rock my world.

3. Post these instructions in your journal and give your friends a much-needed dose of love and admiration!

Comments are screened.

Current Mood: bleary-eyed from tired
Current Music: Rain, the traffic, and what sounds like a street-cleaning truck

Ganked from all over my flist, but first seen at AbstractConcept's:

1. Go to http://careercruising.com
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top ten results.

1. Fast Food Worker [A]
2. Pet Groomer [B]
3. Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner [B]
4. Translator [C]
5. Massage Therapist [B]
6. Butcher [B]
7. Cashier [B]
8. Animal Trainer [B]
9. Waiter [A]
10. Dancer [B]

( the rest, plus some rambling, behind the cut )

Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Newsboys -- Shine

Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends!

And a completely pointless meme...

HumanForSale.com - I am for sale!

lol, check out The Oracle of Starbucks. Behold, the Oracle is 100% accurate! *g*

( My results behind the cut )

On a more serious (and sadder) note, I finally sat down today to write my "I'm leaving soon" letter to my Store Manager. The store's going to have an all-out renovation in October, and I've been in communication with a couple of the managers to see if I can reduce my schedule to weekends-only (or even just one day a week) until the renovation. We'll see.

Current Music: Al Green -- Lean On Me

Okay, so being done with the grant proposals of d00m means that the work that was piled undone in deference to the omg!urgent proposals must now be tackled... slowly. The pile of folders on my work desk is insane, teetering like the leaing tower of Pisa, ready to topple over anytime :\

So, I haven't read anything in the past ~two weeks, haven't answered to anything but the most urgent e-mails/correspondence, haven't read much of the news except a few like Bush vetoing the stem cell bill and Mayor Bloomberg of NYC changed affiliation from Republican to Independent, and just basic survival things like eating enough to not be hungry, and sleeping ~~barely~~ enough to not walk around like a zombie.

Which means, meme time! Ganked from all over.

( Beware! Quizzes ahead... )

Current Music: Hallelujah -- Leonard Cohen

Thought I'd pop in to say hi. Life's been busy. Remember that whole plan of working part-time so I'd have more time to write? Well, apparently May/June is crazy grant writing season and now I'm asked to go in every day I can at my other job. So much for part-time...

Anyway, good things:
♦ Apple -- I finally sucked it up and bought some Apple stock a couple of months ago. Great move, since with the excellent quarterly report and good outlook on the upcoming iPhone, Apple stocks have skyrocketed.

♦ Coconut -- I was thirsty while wandering Chinatown, so I bought a coconut -- the kind where you cut it open, stick a straw in, and drink. Yummmmy! I brought the coconut home so I could fetch a spoon and scraped up all the delicious coconut meat. For $1.50, that's the best refreshment I could possibly get.

♦ Spider -- I saw Spiderman 3 with

sparkly_stuff and

so_severus the other day. It was an entertaining movie, and since I never read the comics, I wasn't one of those fans who fumed at the storyline being changed. I loved all the action parts. The romance parts just sort of... dragged. In fact, the movie felt really long at points, and probably could be cut down 20 minutes or so. But still, good watch. I'd recommend it for sheer entertainment value.

♦ Starbucks -- People are leaving left and right. Students are going home for the summer, and shift supervisors are promoted to Assistant Store Managers and moving to other stores. The summer promotion is coming up soon though... think Zoolander and you'll have a pretty good guess of what the summer promotional drink is ;)

♦ Love -- Weddings are filling up my weekends! Still don't know how many I'm going to yet, but hopefully I'll get to go to at least one in early summer.

♦ Meme -- Didn't think I'd forget to include a meme, did you? Ganked from

lynkemma:

What Flavour Are You? I am a subtle taste, like Pine.

I am a subtle taste, like Pine.

I am a quiet, fresh taste, almost more of a scent than a flavour. You will be aware of me, but not quite remember me without being reminded. Not that I'm boring; on the contrary, I'm just a little outside the ordinary. What Flavour Are You?

It's beautiful outside today and I chose to walk home from my work instead of waiting for the NYU bus. Here are a couple of things I noticed that I found amusing:

♦ In the street market that I passed through, plums were going for 10 for $1, while strawberries were 3 lbs for $1. My first thought was: there must be something wrong with these fruits. I didn't end up buying any.

♦ Passing through a street where an infamous "Chinatown bus" was parked, I heard the ticketing guy trying to sell to a passerby: "Trip to Boston?" The passerby smiled and politely said, "No, thanks." This got me thinking: how exactly does one go about recruiting customers for a 5-hour bus trip? (The guy made it sound like he was merely selling a Metrocard to the next subway stop.)

And because no post is complete without a quiz/meme:
69% Geek Mingle2.com - Free Online Dating

Current Mood: better

Since everybody is doing it...

For now, it's a bobcat.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: Charlotte Church -- Last Rose of Summer

My Starbucks SIP stocks are deposited, which means I'm now a SBUX stock owner! Horrible timing though, the stock price has gone down and down since two days ago :\

The Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie is coming out tomorrow. IMDB gives it a 7.9 out of 10 rating, but frankly, I was planning to watch it even if it gets a horrible rating. Anyone want to come with?

Yesterday I brought our cable box, remote control, and wireless device thingie to Time Warner and officially cancelled our apartment's cable subscription. We've switched to Verizon for both phone and DSL (sorry for whose of you trying to call the past week, our phone refused to work 90% of the time). This means... absolutely no change in how I spend my free time, now that March Madness is over.

Finally, a very funny meme that's been passing around. I first saw it posted by

skuf:

If this makes you laugh, repost it in your journal and pass it around!

1. Go to Google Maps

2. Click on "Get Directions"

3. From New York, New York

4. To London, England

5. Read line #23

(It works with any cross-Atlantic direction inquiries, I believe)

Current Music: Happy Birthday -- it's someone's birthday in the small group meeting in my apt

Dear flist, you're wonderful, and I love you all...

But...

I've realized, a lot of times I'm motivated to update because I know a certain someone reads my entries. Wouldn't want to make her think something's up with me because I haven't updated in a while now, would I?

Well, since Mom's visiting me in NYC, I've sort of neglected LJ. I did the ?skip=300+ read, but if I missed anything, feel free to point me.

To make up for my silence, here's a variety of stuff for you all. Basketball and list and poll and meme and YouTube video... something for everyone! *g*

( Ten Things I Did with Mom... )

( March Madness Grumbles )

( A Different Kind of March Madness Bracket -- Harry Potter )

( Draw a picture, get it analyzed )

( Space Mountain Video -- the ride! )

Whew, I think that's all I've been saving up to post, for now. Glad to be back on LJ ~~and now it's time for bed~~!

Current Music: YouTube Space Mountain video

The Everything Test

There are many different types of tests on the internet today. Personality tests, purity tests, stereotype tests, political tests. But now, there is one test to rule them all.

Traditionally, online tests would ask certain questions about your musical tastes or clothing for a stereotype, your experiences for a purity test, or deep questions for a personality test.We're turning that upside down - all the questions affect all the results, and we've got some innovative results too! Enjoy :-)

Personality

You are more logical than emotional, more concerned about others than concerned about self, more religious than atheist, more dependent than loner, more lazy than workaholic, more traditional than rebel, more artistic mind than engineering mind, more idealist than cynical, more leader than follower, and more introverted than extroverted.

As for specific personality traits, you are adventurous (95%), religious (80%), intellectual (73%), artistic (62%).

Stereotypes
Old Geezer	50%
Geek	40%
College Student	38%

Life Experience
Sex	27%
Substances	3%
Travel	38%

Politics
Your political views would best be described as Liberal, whom you agree with around 64% of the time.

Socioeconomic
Your attitude toward life best associates you with Upper Class. You make more than 0% of those who have taken this test, and 31% less than the U.S. average.

If your life was a movie, it would be rated PG-13.
By the way, your hottness rank is 62%, hotter than 88% of other test takers.

TAKE THE TEST
brought to you by thatsurveysite

Current Music: Shrek 2 -- Livin' La Vida Loca

Create your own Friend Test here

Current Mood: amuse me... please?

YOUR REPORT CARD:
Category	Grade
Love	C
Friends and Family	A
Body	C
Mind	B
Finance / Career	A
Your Life's Average Grade: B
'What is your Life Grade?' at QuizGalaxy.com

-

Happy Superbowl Sunday, everyone!

Current Music: Something by George Lam

Get your own valentinr

Give me some love? *puppy eyes* And also spread the love!

And another quiz I've seen all over...

( Which Tarot Card Am I? )

Current Mood: exhausted

I just found out today that my Starbucks is going to open at 6 a.m. (instead of 5:30) from now on!!! This means I get to have an extra 15 minutes of sleep!!! Never mind that my hours are cut and workload is increasing by changing 4 openers with 30 min. prep time to only 3 openers with 45 min. prep time. Yes, I'm losing hours and the store is cutting labor, but EXTRA SLEEP! Fifteen whole minutes! w00t!

Random quiz of the day:
( What Fantasy Archetype Are You? )

For those of you interested, I started watching streaming videos of Urbana 06 online. Roommate A is there right now, being all staff workerly and probably having a blast. Despite her being there to work, I hope she gets refreshed by the conference too.

Current Music: Urbana Streaming Video -- Dr. Ajith Fernando on Eph. 1:1-14

2.
Create a snowflake! Each snowflake ups Popular Front's donation to Salvation Army. You can search for my flake under "Ziasudra" -- it's snowflake #3653120. Leave a message if you want!

3.
( Twelve Days of Christmas meme )

Christmas song of the day: For Unto Us A Child Is Born, from Handel's Messiah

Current Music: Third Day -- King of Glory

Seen all over, but first from Prof. S, I believe. It's quite a fun quiz!

Hmm... how come when everybody's getting "The Midas Touch," I get this?!?

Hehe, Roommate A always says that it'd take a very "special" person to date me. Special. Riiiight.

Current Music: Miami Boys Choir - Hinei Ma Tov

First news I've been really excited about: Giuliani files papers to test waters for White House bid. (Of course, Giuliani has made no confirmation -- way to keep me sitting on chair's edge.) Personally, I'd love to see a Giuliani-Obama run-off in 2008. Heck, even a McCain-Hillary race would be more exciting than the one we had back in 2004.

In other news, I've been fiddling around with Facebook lately. I don't plan to do much, seeing how I've imported my LJ so I don't have to do any blogging over there. But it's the new shiny for me at the moment, lol.

( Dear Santa... )

Current Music: Mulan -- Reflection

Comment with your username and I'll give you an honest compliment. Then post this in your journal (if you want to) and spread the love!

5:30 a.m., October 26, 2006
*supervisor unlocks doors to Starbucks*

*not even a minute passes*

*multiple customers entered, demanding copious amounts of coffee*

6 a.m., same day
Supervisor: "Maybe we should do a coffee tasting." (Coffee tastings are for times when the store is slow.)

*not even half a minute passes*

*massive customers appear out of nowhere and the line is out the door*

Ziasudra: *headdesks*

Not surprisingly, we didn't have the time for a coffee tasting, only a tea tasting I squeezed in during my break. Where, oh where, do people get the idea that caffeine can replace sleep?

Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: Evita -- Oh What A Circus

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
0
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

I was browsing the news and randomly came across this: Authorities on high alert for flesh-eating bug. This is from New Zealand. Scary.

Went to Pink Pony with a bunch of peepz last night, which was a lot of fun. It's a cafe/restaurant with a lot of atmosphere, quaint and personable and generally a nice place to be on the east side of SoHo. The place has a pretty interesting history too, you can read all about it here.

I went all-American and ordered steak with mashed potatoes. I don't know why, but I'm constantly craving meat lately. Must be because I'm all starched-out from all the Starbucks pastries. And all coffeed-out too.

We were going to go see a haunted house called Nightmare afterwards, but we didn't buy tickets in advance and when we got there, all the tours were completely sold out. Must be the Friday-the-Thirteenth influence.

Speaking of which, Happy Belated Friday the 13th :)

Current Mood: indescribable
Current Music: John Rutter -- Gloria

I have most of tomorrow off because Yom Kippur is considered a paid holiday at my Internet job. Yay. Speaking of which, to my Jewish friends: may your Yom Kippur be meaningful and full of blessings.

Brazilia election today. It's still unclear whether incumbent President Lula has the majority he needs to avoid a run-off Round 2. BBC reports that he has 49% of the votes so far, so almost there, but not quite.

[ETA: seems like there will be a second round of election. While the media focuses on Lula and Alckman, here's an article about the PSOL candidate, link courtesy of ptyx.]

In Starbucks news: NYC Starbucks to add breakfast sandwiches. They don't taste half bad, I was pleasantly surprised. But very greasy though, just like McDonalds, which I still love and eat ^_^;; But all I can think of right now is how backed up the line is going to be with the new menu items. I'm not looking forward to the morning rush.

I know I've taken this before, but I was curious and decided to take the Color Quiz again. Here's my result this time:

Ziasudra took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

"Alert and keenly observant. Is seeking fresh avenu..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.

Current Mood: apprehensive
Current Music: Disney -- Lilo & Stitch

Happy New Year | Job Musings

To everyone who celebrates it, Happy Lunar New Year!

Political Meme

Anniversary & Friends

Happy 3 year LJ anniversary to me!

I have cool friends, let me show you them

And they wonder why my favorite job is Starbucks...

L'Shana Tovah

The Starbucks Oracle

Sticks head above water to breathe...

Apple, Coconut, and Other Things

Cheap Plums and Bus Tickets

My Daemon

Baaaaa...

Starbucks, Talking Fast Food Characters, Cable, and a Meme

Mom in the City

Everything (Almost) About Me

The Everything Test

Friends Test!

I Pass at Life

Send Me A Valentine!

15 Minutes of Extra Sleep

Lots of Goodies Today

Well, that's something different...

News, Shiny, and Dear Santa

Caffeine, 1; Sleep, 0

Saturday the 14th just doesn't sound as nice...

News, Colors

Profile

January 2011

Syndicate

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags