想飛 I WANT TO FLY

沒想到這麼快就有後續。

小黛工作的地方是一間很大的會議室，每人桌前都有一台電腦，為了保密資訊的關係，這裡的規定是桌前的電腦無法上網，於是大家被逼著只能直愣愣地對著電腦工作，而不能跟以前一樣上網偷懶聽音樂（當然小黛也曾看到有人在電腦上玩接龍或者看電影）。要上網的話，只能到會議室的另一角靠近廚房的地方，有四台電腦可以讓人使用，每個人一次限時使用15分鐘。廚房裡，只有簡單的兩張長桌子供人吃飯用，旁邊有洗手台、咖啡機、飲水機和微波爐。每次小黛工作做得很煩躁鬱悶時，總會踱步到廚房倒水，或者去上上網，去外面洗手間，遇到人時便聊聊天。

一回到紐約後，我又開始了document review的工作，不過這次我做的不再是中文的document review，而是英文的document review，於是這次在這個擁有50名律師的project裡，我變成是唯一的non-English native speaker。

I feel so bad that I had to move back to NY. My stay in DC had been great. Though it was only a month, I had tried to go to as many places and experience as much as I could. Now I am back in NY, I just miss the street on my way to work in DC; I miss the convenience to be able to live in Dupont Circle that practically all the restaurants we dined are in Dupont Circle area; and I sure miss the quality of life there. Hopefully I can find a permanent job in DC in the future. Here is the summary of what I had done in DC:

Case 2--Mr. T

Mr. T is a senior attorney at a big investment bank. I met him through my friend Morgan, and Morgan met him through her 2 girl friends. He is 40, Jewish, bald and short with his big tummy sticking out. The first time we met, he treated Morgan and me for a nice dinner. He appeared to be a really nice and helpful person. Morgan wanted to treat him back by taking him out for a nice opera or movie, but never got a chance.

I don't know why, but I have met a lot of people who are A-holes lately. Instead of yelling at them and telling them what their crimes are, I just keep silent and delete them from my contact list and swear to god that I will never answer or return their calls again.

Listed below are the crimes committed by those people, so then next time if you happen to meet someone like that, suggest you to run away immediately.

前幾天去看了一部電影『Juno』。Ellen Page飾演一個十六歲的高中女生Juno，在第一次與青梅竹馬的好朋友Bleeker初嚐禁果後懷孕，因為實在不想墮胎，最終自己決定把小孩生下來，在報紙分類廣告中找了一對想要小孩的完美夫妻Mark及Vanessa來認養她的小孩。這部片不但有美國年輕人的有趣對白，Ellen Page飾演的這個聰明、說話行為都很中性、行事怪異、大剌剌什麼都不怕、不怕旁人眼光的小女生真的演得相當棒。這個小女生完全不像我之前想像的未成年少女未婚懷孕時遮遮掩掩一副很想躲起來咬舌自盡的樣子，她反而像沒有未婚懷孕一樣，任憑肚子一天天大了起來，她還是一樣每天挺著肚子上學，去學校cafeteria吃東西，在田徑場上等Bleeker，完全無視他人議論紛紛的眼光。故事的劇情在最後Juno跟Mark因為談論喜歡的音樂和恐怖電影中產生好感，並且發現原來Mark是個只想追逐自己成為rock star夢想，其實不想要小孩，不願意對家庭負責任的大小孩，才忽然對人生中所謂永久的愛情產生質疑，並且發現原來她一直都喜歡青梅竹馬的Bleeker。這部片非常cute，連音樂都很cute。本片得到最佳original screenplay，不過很可惜演技精湛的Ellen Page沒有得到Oscar最佳女主角獎。

以下截自當Juno確定自己懷孕後打給好朋友Leah的對白：

Leah: Yo Yo Yiggady Yo.
Juno: I'm at suicide risk.
Leah: Juno?
Juno: No, it's Morgan Freeman. Do you have any bones that need collecting?
Leah: Only the one in my pants...
Juno: I'm pregnant.
Leah: What? Honest to blog?
Juno: Yeah. Yeah, it's Bleekers.
Leah: It's probably just a food baby. Did you have a big lunch?
Juno: No, this is not a food baby all right? I've taken like three pregnancy tests, and I'm forshizz up the spout.
Leah: How did you even generate enough pee for three pregnancy tests? That's amazing...
Juno: I don't know, I drank like, ten tons of Sunny D... Anyway dude, I'm telling you I'm pregnant and you're acting shockingly cavalier.
Leah: Is this for real? Like, for real for real?
Juno: Unfortunately, yes.
Leah: Oh my GOD. Oh shit! Phuket, Thailand!
Juno: There we go. That was kind of the emotion that I was searching for on the first take.

------------------------------------------
以下截自當Juno在懷孕幾週後與爸爸Mac第一次與Vanessa與Mark夫婦及Vanessa與Mark的律師Gerta討論如何認養Juno生下來的孩子對白：

Vanessa: So... How are we going to do this?
Juno: What do you mean? Don't I just have the thing? Squeeze it on out and hand it over?
Gerta: Mark and Vanessa are willing to negotiate an open adoption...
Mac: What do you mean?
Juno: Wait... No! I mean, can't we just, like, kick this old school? Like, I have the baby, put it in a basket and send it your way, like, Moses and the reeds?
Mark: Technically, that would be kicking it Old Testament.
Gerta: ...So, we all agree that a closed adoption is the best decision for all involved?
Juno: SSHHIT! YES! Close it up!

有興趣的可以去看Juno的官方網站：http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/

Dupont Memorial Fountain

Dupont Circle is a historic district, now is being used as a residential area, and the neighborhood is centered around the traffic circle. Not only is it home to many restaurants and shops, but it is also a gay/lesbian friendly area. The park in the center of the circle is a gathering place for many gay/lesbian parades and political rallies each year. Around the corner is the farmer's market, where many fresh dairy products and bread are sold here every morning. Along with the Massachusetts Avenue lies the Embassy Row, where you can find numerous embassies.

為了這個位於DC的document review的工作，我在上星期二晚上搭了夜車來DC，在隔天凌晨四點半check in旅館。早上interview完，在傍晚時確定這個工作即將於兩天後開工後，我火速在craigslist上找到了個交通方便又可以每個星期付房租的地方後，我就在DC住下來了。

It's good not to have to work during the NYC's winter restaurant week, and it is also good to have a friend who knows where to eat. This new friend that I've just met seems to know every restaurant in New York and can immediately analyze the goods and bads of each and every restaurant which we passed by. We ended up with having food at this restaurant:

Perry St
176 Perry Street, NY

This is one of the restaurants opened by Jean-George, one of the world's famous chefs. It is located in West Village and is rated one star from Michelin Guide. Though fancy and modern from the outside, the price isn't too crazy. It is said that Perry St serves "contemporary American food", but I still have trouble understanding what that means. Anyway this is really a nice experience. They have good cocktail too.

Here is what I had:

跟這一大群大陸人混久了之後，在說說笑笑間，也開始對對岸教育、社會、政治層面有更進一步的瞭解。來自大陸的小孩也許是受一胎化的影響，男生、女生從小的資源皆相同，沒有太重的男尊女卑觀念，也沒有台灣社會裡對女生的種種要求。我看到的大陸女生，個個都很放得開，想說什麼就說什麼，想做什麼就做什麼，相當自在。他們也沒有台灣以前所謂的打罵教育，爸爸媽媽或學校老師從來沒有打過小孩，每個父母都是孝子孝女。做我隔壁的Chen說，她每次回家，爸爸一定會把水果一片片切好餵到她嘴邊上。除此之外，每個大陸人都很有企圖心，心態上與台灣人差異很大，除了他們的大國心態以外，大陸高於11%的經際成長，也讓他們想要回國貢獻，讓中國成為世界第一強國。跟他們聊天之後，突然覺得他們open up a whole new world for me，眼前的世界忽然寬廣了起來。

之前因為每天工作十幾個小時，回到家只是睡，寫一篇文章花了一星期才生出來，現在工作突然結束了，時間忽然多了出來，正好來寫寫回憶錄。

(Great view from the law firm--overlooking No. 2 and No. 3 World Financial Center)

The new year has started, and I've been busy working around the clock from last December.

Here is the basic info of my job:

I would consider this movie as one of the best romantic comedy movies. Jack Nicholson is such a great actor.

Quotes from the movie "As Good As It Gets":
Melvin (played by Jack Nicholson as a cranky writer) said to Carol (played by Helen Hunt as a waitress): "I might be the only person on the face of the earth that knows you're the greatest woman on earth. I might be the only one who appreciates how amazing you are in every single thing that you do, and how you are with Spencer, "Spence," and in every single thought that you have, and how you say what you mean, and how you almost always mean something that's all about being straight and good. I think most people miss that about you, and I watch them, wondering how they can watch you bring their food, and clear their tables and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive. And the fact that I get it makes me feel good, about me."

I think it somewhat reflects my inner desire of meeting someone who can understand and appreciate me. I am not greedy, just one person is enough.

由於待在家裡太悶了，拖了室友j一起去manhattan晃晃。

第一站：Burger Joint

Burger Joint被喻為是紐約的top burger store，喜愛漢堡的我當然非去嚐嚐不可。位於56th Street及Sixth Ave.交叉口，這家漢堡店躲在Le Parker Meridien飯店的lobby裡。沿著牆上的小小漢堡指標走進店裡，果然已經有很多人在排隊，應該都是在這附近上班的人吧。

I feel really uncomfortable for creating the first enemy in my life. This is really not me. Even though I've been negotiating for my clients and threatening their opponents as my career (actually I don't really need to shoot any oral threats to the clients' opponents; all I need to do is to serve a complaint to them), I feel uneasy to deal with a conflicting situation for myself. I don't know how to face the enemy once negotiation has failed and conversation turned hostile. Do you just ignore the enemy and turn your head away once you run into your enemy on the street? The thing that I can't settle the most is that I don't know how to face myself for being evil and doing something irrational, while ignoring the most important things in my life. Now I feel very silly and ashamed for trying to develop a strategy to make things even the whole night tonight. I just hope the work will come up soon and distract me from thinking about this mess.

最近時運不繼，很多鳥事接二連三發生，運氣不好到讓我不知所措不知道該怎麼辦才好。今天痛定思痛，深刻反省自己之後發現，很多事情會發生都是由於自己軟弱的個性所造成。

回應小貓的文章你平常在幹嘛，我也來說說對生活與工作的看法。

我念法律，唸書的時候一直以為作為一個法律人很屌，因為正義的化身/西裝筆挺在法庭上辯護/社會階級高/薪水高等等原因。我立志要做個financial/transactional lawyer，因為接觸的客戶都是大公司，接觸的案子都是幾百萬元幾億元的case，賺的錢比較多。且因為是專業領域，入門比較難，講行話時更可以顯出我的地位。

回台灣時進到律師事務所裡做非訟，也就是做所謂transactional的案子。譬如說哪家科技公司要發行員工認股權憑證、買/賣某機械原料需要簽約、在美國/香港上市、幫海外客戶設立公司，做公司併購/重組。聽起來感覺好像很厲害，但是說真的，我也只是幫那些有錢人大企業以「不違法」的手段幫他們達到他們要的目的，並沒有為這個社會實現多少正義或者帶給自己多大成就感，每次做完一個deal我總是不痛不癢，反而之前在美國的小事務所做訴訟時還有些意義，因為我接觸到的是一般individual，他們遇到的事情也都是在日常生活中會遇到的，譬如說有人要離婚，有人租房子後跟房東鬧糾紛，或者賣盜版包包被抓（雖然這種case是我最不想接觸的）。

每天穿上西裝高跟鞋，提著公事包進出辦公大樓，腳步匆匆，如果哪天早點下班在晚上9點多回家還可以遇到鄰居，鄰居們都用理解的語氣說：「加班呀？」。如果晚上8、9點多回家的日子變多，媽媽都會擔心地問一句：「怎麼最近比較早回家？是不是發生什麼事？」好像只有加班才是正常的，如果早回家，代表不受老闆重視。跟朋友約吃晚飯，如果誰約晚上7點在餐廳見，朋友間還會暗中較勁，想著「這人工作真閒呀」！好像加班愈晚工作愈忙才能顯出自己的價值。如果有一陣子天天加班到半夜，週末也要進辦公室，就要記得隔天中午跟同事吃飯時要「不小心」講出這個事實，讓大家知道我的價值。只有與不同的事務所之間的其他法律人聊天時，若得知誰可以「正常」下班，我們才會「真正」羨慕他，認為他的工作真好。

但是人生的價值究竟在哪裡？究竟這樣的cycle要重複多久？我還是很迷惑。我想甩開「台灣這個社會」（註：指父母+親戚朋友）帶給我的價值觀，找出自己的價值觀及方向。我擔心30歲的我如果再不動，就永遠沒有動力也沒有勇氣尋找改變了。所以等到我確定我出國後不會餓死，且休息一陣子之後回台灣也不會餓死之後，我馬上訂了機票來到美國，一下飛機馬上殺去西岸玩。我就像被關在鳥籠裡很久的鳥突然被放出來一樣，覺得天地寬闊了起來，心情非常愉快，充分enjoy旅行，孰料這個社會給我的價值觀已經是根深蒂固，在那次旅行之後，我突然一下子心虛了起來，我沒有在上班，也沒有在學校讀書，沒有準備什麼考試，我真的能理直氣壯的「什麼也不做」嗎？大部分的朋友都期待我只是來美國休息一個月，休息完後就回台灣，回到原來的「軌道」上。但是如果我休息三個月、六個月以上呢？是不是真的就對不起誰呢？連我的室友看到我在家看電視也忍不住問我，「你要不要去念點書，譬如說，去考個律師？」

但所謂什麼也不做的日子也不是真的無所事事，在這段日子裡除了磨練我的開車技術，又迷上了做菜，每天從廚房裡端出來的東西變成我成就感來源之一，三杯雞、麻婆豆腐、螞蟻上樹、排骨湯、烤羊排、玉米濃湯、義大利麵、蛋糕....覺得這輩子從沒這麼厲害過。且一個人住在美國，要面對的大小瑣事特別多，一個人面對處理也是種成就感，而不像以前與爸媽同住時只要把工作做好就可以了，回到家只要負責張嘴，當然也沒有什麼水電搬家等瑣事輪得到我處理。

但是當然很多問題不是一時之間可以理得清楚的，為了不讓自己在這段期間餓死，我很快地找到了一個工作，明天就要開始上班。我想，既然沒有什麼工作是錢多、事少、離家近、有成就感、同事老闆好相處的，於是我找到一個可以在最短的時間中賺最多錢的工作，就這樣，我把靈魂賣給devil。

於是我這段波西米亞式無所事事的日子終於要告了一個段落。希望在接下來的日子中，可以找到我想要的答案，或者，讓我更接近答案。

Finally I had the chance to revisit one of my favorite dessert shops Chikalicious in Manhattan. The shop was closed on my last night before I flew back to Taiwan 2 years ago, and I had to go back to Taiwan with regret. So this place is definitely a must go for me.

Chikalicious is a small dessert bar which features a prix fixe 3 course dessert that comes with Amuse (similar to the appetizer in a formal meal, it is usually gelato), a choice of menu (the main dessert), and Petite Fours (the last dessert) for US$12. By sitting at the bar you can see how the dessert chefs prepare our dessert, and it is quite a performance. You won't be having the same thing because from time to time the chefs try to change the dessert menu, so it is also quite an adventure for you don't usually know what you will get. Expect to have a 30 min wait because the shop is really popular!

The Amuse: vanilla sorbet and pumpkin cubes

Since living with my current roommate didn't work out, and my old roommate's roommate is also moving out, I've decided to move back to my old apartment in Elmhurst. I've been spending most of my time doing my furniture shopping for days, hoping that everything can be settled before my new job starts next week. Sometimes you just can't say you don't believe in fate--after 2 years now I am moving back to the exact apartment exact room where I lived before. And it surely feels good when my old roommate said "welcome back" to me.

Since I will be paying two rents for my two apartments from Dec. 1-Dec. 20, I will be happy to let you stay in my apartment if any of you want to visit New York during this period.

紅燒鑲油豆腐

材料：
油豆腐150克
絞肉150克

調味料：
調味料(1)：鹽3/4小匙、酒2小匙、蔥末3大匙、麻油1大匙、水2 ½大匙、白胡椒粉1小匙
調味料(2)：醬油2大匙、糖2大匙、熱水1杯、油2大匙

做法：
1. 絞肉加入調味料(1)拌勻
2. 油豆腐用熱水泡5分鐘，瀝乾，將油豆腐的一邊切開，鑲入肉餡，直到鑲滿為止。
3. 將調味料(2)加入油豆腐，蓋上保鮮膜以微波加熱7 分鐘，再以太白粉勾芡。

在天氣降到零度前，又做了一次New Hope半日遊，拍下秋天尾巴的蹤跡。


New Hope到處都是canal。沿著canal散步做canal walk相當舒服


New Hope & Ivyland Railroad--New Hope有名的火車站


New Hope車站的蒸汽火車（像不像Polar Express?）


連接賓州New Hope及紐澤西州Lamberville的橋。橋下是Delaware River。


Washington Crossing State Park的美景(from New Jersey side)


1776年的聖誕節George Washington就是在這裡成功阻止英軍的攻勢


Washington Crossing State Park的美景(from Pennsylvania side)

繞了一圈，我又回到了紐約。

最近閒來無事，在廚房裡面奮發圖強，培養我的第二興趣。做菜最害怕有時好吃有時不好吃的inconsistency了，以下是我找到的瓜子肉食譜，簡單又好吃，又不怕出錯，淋在白飯上超級下飯，與想念台灣菜的宅男宅女們分享：

瓜子肉

材料：味全花瓜一罐（鐵罐）、豬絞肉一斤、醬油1大匙、糖1小匙、酒1大匙
做法：
1.將花瓜取出剁碎，將其餘的汁倒掉不用。
2.取一個淺碗（高約4、5公分那種淺底的碗）將剁碎之花瓜及所有材料放進碗中拌勻，放入電鍋中，碗外放1.5杯水，蒸至電鍋自動跳起即可。

Montreal(蒙特屢)及Quebec(魁北克）都是位於加拿大Quebec Province(魁北克省)的城市，由於這裡是加拿大法國移民最多的地方，所以城市裡有許多法國風味的建築。很多住在美國東北邊的老美或者是加拿大人如果有三四天的假期，而想感染一些歐洲氣息的話，魁北克是最好的選擇。

SINCE my cousin lives in the suburbs of Toronto and the nearest store is almost an hour of walking distance away, in order for me to go out and get some fresh air, I have to get up early and go out with my cousin when she drives to work, and to be picked up on her way back to the house. So here I was, wandering around in downtown Toronto on my own today for 9 hours before my cousin found me at the shopping mall.

雖然說我一向討厭Las Vegas這種五光十色的城市，但因為這次我們的大峽谷行要從Las Vegas出發，因此我們也在Las Vegas待了兩個晚上。雖然對Las Vegas的整體印象還是沒有變，但卻也不再那麼排斥。Las Vegas依然是個過度人工化、俗氣的地方，晚上這裡到處都閃著ridiculous的霓虹燈，但我卻發現除了俗氣以外，在這裡也可以發現許多新鮮事。在Venetian裡面，遊客們不但可以一面在shopping area逛街，還可以一面看著運河在各精品店前流過，甚至還有gondola可以搭乘，讓我心理上部份滿足了上次丟了所有在威尼斯照的照片的遺憾。晚上，我們忙著趕場看各家飯店前的表演：Treasure Island上演的海盜船故事，Mirage前的火山爆發，還有Bellagio前的水舞。走進每一家飯店裡，第一眼看到的不是check in櫃台，而是一台台的吃角子老虎，還有穿得少少的waitress送上飲料給賭客，甚至在台上大跳鋼管舞。在Las Vegas的大部分飯店，除了提供賭場、shopping mall以及特別的秀以外，它們的buffet也很有名。來這裡，吃buffet最划算。以一個十幾塊美金的午晚餐來說，真的是比起外面大部分的餐廳便宜許多。我們住的飯店Golden Nugget還在遊泳池內加蓋一個20加侖的shark tank，裡面養了鯊魚等各式海洋生物。遊客可以從三層樓高的滑水道穿過shark tank裡面再滑出來！因此來到這裡的遊客說真的只要待在旅館裡，就已經可以享受到所有的設備了。

(ATTENTION: since my friend has asked me to write my trip in a more professional way (like something you will see in a travel book), I am going to try to do it this way and put less of my opinion in it. I apologize if this article bores you.)

大峽谷的背景介紹 (A bit background about Grand Canyon National Park)
大峽谷國家公園位於美國亞利桑那(Arizona)州，為被科羅拉多河(Colorado River)切割的峽谷地形。大峽谷占地將近50萬公頃，但若以Colorado River河長來衡量的話，大峽谷長為277哩，寬為18哩。這樣講還是無法想像大峽谷究竟有多大，Let's put it this way，不管我們從哪個角度看大峽谷，都看不到大峽谷的邊際，這樣講應該比較能想像吧！大峽谷的深度因地區的不同而有些微差距，South Rim(南緣)的深度主要介於1524-1829公尺之間。North Rim(北緣)又比South Rim高上一些。雖然大峽谷分成North Rim跟South Rim，但大部分觀光客都去South Rim觀光。South Rim的天氣比較宜人，夏天氣溫約為攝氏10度到20度，冬天的溫度加上wind chill可到零下18度。雖然South Rim全年皆開放，但觀光的最佳季節為春天、夏天或秋天。到North Rim的某些路段在每年十月到五月時會關閉。

Colorado River and the Canyon

So I went to watch Harry Potter 5. I always have the feeling that the movie is never as good as the novel, but I have to admit that this one is surprisingly better than I'd expected.

What's more is that on July 21, Saturday, I received my Harry Potter book 7 before 10 in the morning. It is so great to be able to own it while I know that the world's gone crazy for people are lining up in front of the book store to get one copy of it. I feel I am so lucky. But it seems that I cannot stop people from gossiping about the story. Though I didn't intend to, I still learned the Harry Potter story accidentally while I was browsing the Sunday newspaper because someone has made a story summary and told the readers who died in the story and who marries who. And I am only on page 50. Damn!

Thankfully my previous colleague has one additional ticket to Harry Potter movie 5 and has invited me to go (I almost forgot that big firms offer more benefits to their employees). So it will be great to watch this newly released Harry Potter movie 5 and receive newly published Harry Potter book 7 after a few days.