想飛 I WANT TO FLY

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.
He started to call me and ask me out since the first time we met, and every time we talked, he was talking about how he wants to buy a house, get married, and that he wants to go to France for vacation with a serious girlfriend, and he would be more than happy to take me there if I want to go with him. Morgan actually had to warn him not to talk about getting married too soon so I won't get scared. He was planning to visit me in DC on the weekend and check in to the hotel that is really close to my house, so then if I want to go somewhere, it would be convenient. Eventually I rejected his idea, because I don't feel any chemistry between us, and I didn't want to give him the wrong idea.
2 days ago Morgan found out that actually Mr. T had been calling her 2 girl friends, telling them that Morgan has been calling him, and he wondered if there is something wrong between Morgan and her husband....and that Morgan has introduced a woman to him, who works in DC and is also a lawyer (that's me), and that she has been calling him all the time. Since he doesn't want to settle down now, he doesn't know what to do....
I just can't believe what a stupid A-hole he is!! I mean, if he really wants to pretend and tell people how popular he is, and how all the girls want him, he could have told this stupid lies to his colleagues or friends who don't know Morgan and me. He is stupid enough to tell all that crap to Morgan's girl friends, and of course what he said was to be relayed to Morgan and to me.
Here I was just giving out examples of Mr. D and Mr. T to show how terrible these guys are, but honestly I've constantly met terrible guys like them over the past few years. Friends have been telling me that I am too picky with men, and that no one is perfect, blah blah blah. But I guess at least now I understand that the problem isn't me being too picky, but rather I am just not very lucky that all the men I met are terrible. Friends have been getting married over the past few years (I already know that 6 girl friends of mine are getting married this year), and I do get upset about how I haven't met the right guy yet. But I have heard happy stories and sad stories of married couples, and now I just think that actually it isn't so bad for me to stay single and didn't compromise on what I want in a man, rather than rushing into marriage with the wrong person just because everyone else is getting married.

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.
Case 1--Mr. D
Mr. D is a contract attorney whom I met through my current colleagues. About mid 30s, huge size, Italian American.
I guess there are certain rules about dating, and the first rule I think would be not to be late on your dates. It was ok when we went out for the first time. But then on the second time he was supposed to meet with me and my colleagues so we could go to KTV together, and he was late for half an hour and blamed it all on the delay of the subway.
Second, if you ask your dates out, make sure you pay for your dates for dinner or a movie or whatever. It is up to women to pay for it if she wants to, but guys should always, always take out his credit card first. However, it is my case here. I took out my credit card after having the breakfast together, and surprisingly, Mr. D didn't object nor did he show his appreciation by saying "thank you".
I guess the rest isn't about any dating rule, rather, it is about a person's personality. I found out more about Mr. D 2 days later when I went shopping and he came to meet me at the mall in the afternoon. I didn't eat anything the whole day, and he just had brunch with his friend. So I went to the McDonald at food court to get some fries and coke, didn't want to have a big meal in case we would have dinner later together. I didn't want to show up with food only for myself, so out of politeness, I asked if he wants anything too. He answered, "Can you get me juice? I am thirsty." (didn't say "please" or "thanks"). When 2 cups of juice and my fries were ready and paid for (by me)(and again, no "thank you"), although he had both hands free, he didn't take the cups or the fries, as if he was expecting me to get them. I was carrying my handbag and a huge shopping bag (with a pair of shoes, 2 pairs of jeans and a top that I just bought in it) already, and I was expecting him to offer to help carry my bags, or at least grab the drinks and the fries, but he did nothing and just walked away. So I grabbed the drinks and straws, asked him to hold them and asked (normally the guy will take over your bag without you asking him first) "Could you please help me with the bag?" And he said "No". Period. No explanation, no nothing. Period. So finally I had to carry the two bags and my French fries.
I thought that I might have heard it wrong. While I was all pissed, he started to drink his orange juice. When we were walking toward the parking lot a few minutes later, I tried again and said, "Could you help me with my bag? It is heavy." Finally he reluctantly took over my shopping bag for a few seconds, and shoved it back to me when he tried to pay for the parking ticket, because he needed his both hands free to dip his credit card into the ticket machine. As all of you can guess, I went home at around 10 pm that day without having dinner (he is not considerate enough to notice that I might be hungry).
The next day, he instant messaged me and asked me out for a lunch together. Of course after what happened I decided that this guy is not considerate at all, and I am not sure if it is a good idea to go out with him again, so I jokingly asked "Is it on you?" And this is what he answered: "Oh my....wow....I guess I will have to cancel then....I see I am the sugar daddy....I don't know if I can afford you....I am poor, I guess I can't go out with you if I am poor...." I was like, WOW. WHAT AN ASS!!!! It is only a less than $10 dollar lunch and you think you are already a sugar daddy?!!! Eventually I found out that he had once dated a girl, and she stopped going out with him after he stopped paying, and what I said just sort of got on his nerve. But anyway I still think no matter what his past experience was, there is no need to throw me all that sugar daddy crap. He is not considerate or polite and is very self-centered. And because of that, I blocked him from my contact list.

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?

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.
The building here is very cute and unique. They are Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne styles.
The description is as follows:
Richardsonian Romanesque 1870-1900 (Old Federal Building, 1892-1899)
Inspired by buildings designed by the Boston architect, Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886) in the 1870s and early 1880s, this style is characterized by heavy walls of rock-faced stone, openings set deep in the massive walls, large arches framing stacks of windows, and short heavy columns.
Queen Anne 1880-1900 (Milwaukee Club, 1884)
This style is characterized by its variety of forms, materials, colors, and surfaces, as well as asymmetry and irregularity. Buildings have multiple, steeply-pitched roofs; towers or corners turrets, usually at the most prominent corner; tall, elaborate chimneys; and bay or oriel (rounded projections) windows. Typically, several materials, such as stone, brick, wood, metal, and terra cotta, may be used together on a building exterior.
Within walking distance, there are numerous museums and attractions to go to in this area. And since they all belong to Smithsonian Institution, there is free admission. I've only been to Phillips Collection, and hopefully I will have a chance to see more!

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。
我住的地方叫Dupont Circle，剛好是DC的中心，街角有很多書店、餐廳、酒吧林立，但是一轉個彎，就是僻靜的巷子，我所居住的地方就是在這樣一個鬧中取靜的地方。
嚴格說起來，我住的地方是木制老式house裡頂樓的studio，我的studio裡面除了有張巨大的床以外，還有一個廁所，又有一個小廚房。我都快要忘記一個人住不用跟別人share廁所廚房是多麼一件方便的事了，所以雖然房租貴的要死，我還是開開心心地把它租下來了。雖然說我住的是studio，但是其實我還是與房東與其他六個房客住在同一個house裡。房東是個五十幾歲的猶太醫生，因為房子太大，所以索性把空出來的房間租出去，經營起旅館事業。因為我總是早出晚歸，其他的house guests雖然都知道有我這號人物存在，也聽到我每天爬樓梯上樓時發出的嘎嘎聲響，但就是從來不見我人影，我在這裡就像個幽靈般的存在。房東偶爾還會辦個dinner gathering與house guests們餐敘，然而因為我總是晚上9點以後才下班，無法參加房東精心策劃的dinner gathering，因為不好意思，我有次逼不得已跟房東約好在早上7點15分跟他們吃早餐，吃到8點我再出門上班。
剛開始我對DC還很不熟悉，不知道我住的地方究竟離上班的地方有多遠，只知道搭地鐵只要一站而已；直到有天同事提醒我，其實我可以試著走路上班看看，結果我一試之下才發現，原來我走路上班根本只要十三分鐘就到了。我從來沒有住在離上班或學校這麼近的地方，從來都是住在市中心以外、房租便宜、需要通車一小時左右的地方，這下子得知我住得這麼近，讓我開心死了。連情人節當天與同事們去酒吧喝醉酒，都還可以搖搖晃晃地走回家，忽然覺得住在這裡，自己很幸福。
在我住過的城市波士頓、紐約、DC中，我最喜歡的應該就是這裡了吧。我想來visit跟真正住在這裡在這裡生活的感受有很大不同。之前來過DC兩次，不過都是短暫的一兩天。真正住在這裡後，我才發現DC其實很小，坐metro（即subway）不管到哪裡，都要不到20分鐘，再久一些就要到隔壁的Virginia（維吉尼亞）或者Maryland（馬里蘭）州去了。只是很多在DC工作的人，因為距離近，都住在隔鄰的這兩州，然後再每天坐metro或開車來DC 上班。
DC雖然是美東四大都市之一，又是政府部門重鎮，但這裡絕對沒有如紐約一般的高樓大廈，也沒有與人們摩肩擦踵的擁擠或者大都市裡特有的孤寂感。如果說波士頓是個單純的學生城，那麼DC就是個介於紐約與波士頓中間的城市。跟紐約比起來，DC乾淨許多，就拿地鐵來比較好了，紐約的地鐵裡永遠有股抹不去的尿騷味，在鐵道間竄過來竄過去的老鼠多到我已經視而不見；地鐵進站時發出的刺耳的聲音大到我想地鐵搭多了不消幾年應該會嚴重重聽。DC的地鐵裡乾乾淨淨，一抬頭可以看到螢幕顯示下一班地鐵還有多久進站，並且地鐵進站時可以說是超靜音；坐椅是軟墊坐椅。又DC的人們不像紐約這麼sophisticated，這麼會耍心機，有一種down to earth的氣質。上次去酒吧時本來還很擔心自己是不是穿得不夠露不夠辣，結果瞄了一下在場其他女士們的穿著--我發覺我真是多慮了，連穿細肩帶的女生都沒有幾個，讓我鬆了一口氣。男人們都看起來乖乖笨笨的，不像紐約的男人一臉情場老手的樣子。昨天跟朋友為了找一間餐廳迷了路，朋友一開口問路人甲，這位路人甲旁邊雖然跟著一大群朋友，又帶著小孩，仍然二話不說把身上的GPS拿出來，先跟我們道歉可能會花很多時間喔，才幫我們用衛星定位，讓我感到很不可思議。我果然是適合住在這裡呀！

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:
Appetizer:
Cream of Tomato Soup
Sourdough, basil and cheddar
Entree:
Grilled Tenderloin of Steak Beef
Herbal Spinach and Liquid Gruyere (By having it medium rare, I like it for it is crispy from the outside but tender and flavorful in the inside)
Dessert:
White Chocolate and Meringue
Yuzu Sorbet, Mint (I love it very much. It practically melted in your mouth)
After having good food, going to a jazz bar seems like a great idea. Smalls offers a small, cozy place for the jazz musicians and jazz lovers. Compared to the over-priced and over-rated jazz clubs such as Blue Note or Village Vanguard, the jazz band at Smalls offers better music, and for only $20 per person, the music runs all night and you can stay as long as you like. Definitely a good place to revisit!
If interested, here is a list of jazz bars in NY to visit:
http://www.ny.com/clubs/jazz/

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。

跟大陸人說話說多了，不但說話腔調受了影響，也跟他們學了不少有趣又常用的用語，聽久了之後我也不知不覺朗朗上口了起來。整理如下：
「死活」沒想到=萬萬沒想到
「打車」=叫車
「打水」=倒水
「傍大款」=釣凱子
福利「特」好=福利非常好
「肯定」是....=應該是，絕對是....
我「估計」是....=我認為是，我猜是....
悠著點=放輕鬆一點
xx人被「開」掉=xx人被fire掉
電腦「死機」=電腦當機
「破罐破摔」=反正都已經這樣了，就更自暴自棄去了
對買包包很有「癮」=特愛買包包
這節目很「火」=這節目很熱門
這人很「牛」=這人很厲害
GG=哥哥
MM=妹妹
到底「怎麼著」=到底怎麼樣
很「二」=很儍
你「太儍了」=這應該不用翻譯了吧
你「太弱了」=你太遜了
「簡歷」=屨歷
聲音很「幼」=聲音很嫩
「取」錢=領錢
洗面奶=洗面乳
還有，若別人要搭飛機，千萬不能說「一路順風」，因為對他們來說，如果是要坐飛機走的，順風會對起飛及降落造成危險....我就曾經因為對某位要提早飛回中國的同事說了一路順風結果被大家圍剿....
做這份document review工作，最大的收穫是交了幾個很好的大陸朋友。也許是每天長時間的工作（聊天？）讓大家培養了革命情感，上班的最後一天，大家像是班上同學要畢業一樣，依依不捨了起來，紛紛擁抱、拍照留念、還相約下班後聚餐。連我們的supervisor看了都嘖嘖稱奇，說從來沒有看過哪個做document review的人之間感情這麼好，多半是工作結束之後就各自解散。這份工作，對我來說也算是相當美好有趣的經驗吧。

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。
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這間law firm給我們的福利很好，在我們工作的會議室裡，每天都有大量的Tropicana柳橙汁、咖啡、紅茶供應，偶爾還有baked cookies，穿著制服的侍者也會定時來更換新的咖啡及熱水。晚餐則是on the firm，每人每天有約加上小費US$17的預算， 有中國餐館、亞洲餐館或美式餐廳的menu讓我們點菜，之後再由paralegal負責幫大家在電腦上place order。一開始每人晚餐只點一道菜吃，到後來大家精了，開始合起來點菜，四五個人點了五道菜外加前菜甜點還不會超過預算，雖然不算豪華，但也算豐盛了。到後來law firm也精了起來，星期一到星期五改用catering的方式，由law firm的cafeteria為大家準備晚餐，只有難吃的烤魚、烤雞、義大利麵、沙拉、餅乾，簡陋許多。除了提供免費晚餐以外，law firm還安排car service每天晚上送我們回家，不論住得多遠、做得多晚，都有黑色林肯轎車送我們door to door到家門口，不用擔心晚上一個人回家或者天氣太冷之類的問題，非常幸福。
剛開始上班前幾天有些適應不良，想著這工作完全不需要用到頭腦很沒挑戰性，又因為90%以上的email是以中文寫成，一封email用眼睛掃一下就看完了，根本不消幾秒鐘就可以決定是否"responsive"或"non-responsive"，不禁有些失望；又我們全體不是大陸人就是台灣人，除了跟law firm的legal support staff溝通或跟paralegal聊天外，完全說不上半點英文，也是一大缺點。然而上了幾天班後仔細分析起來，才發覺這是我做過最開心的工作。這裡沒有老闆監督我們的工作（註一），同事之間相處愉快，沒有爾虞我詐打小報告的情況（註二），薪水多，而且一點壓力都沒有，所以除了得長時間坐在電腦桌前以外，真是格外輕鬆。至於工作時間，除了law firm規定的每天必須做滿 10 小時billable hours外，要做多久是自己可以決定的。一開始大家在會議室規定的開放時間內來上班（星期一到星期五是早上八點半到晚上十點半，週末早上十點到晚上十點，不過週末hour不require），後來有人發現不論多早來，會議室都是開的，於是開始有人早上7點就來報到，就連星期六、日都不放過，每天做足14小時，就為了搶錢賺夠加班費，連聖誕節、跨年也一樣在law firm度過。一星期累積下來，就有約98小時的working hours，比較起來，平均一週只有65個working hours的我，實在比不上他們賺錢的幹勁。這批中國人，實在很能衝（註三）。剛開始工作一星期後拿到pay check，看到只努力一星期就有不少的薪水，還覺得很開心，不過把旁邊的人的pay check拿起來比較一番之後發現稅後居然差上一千多元，一開始拿到pay check的喜悅瞬間減少好幾個百分點。
原先星期六上班星期天在家休息的我，被刺激到了之後，接下來的兩個星期天我也開始去上班了，不過因為週末不require上班，我總是睡到自然醒，又洗了衣服做了家事才去，往往到law firm時已經是下午了，還是免不了被其他大陸同事虧：『咦？這是Deborah嗎？我們都以為你今天不來上班....』或『你週末是不是都睡到自然醒啊？』之類的。後來才發現，有好多同事週末都拼早上七點就來上班（坐我旁邊的Chen居然早上六點起床洗衣服，晚上上班結束後還去clubbing，真是太神了....）。前一星期週末我決定發奮圖強，跟同事撂下狠話要跟他們拼了衝業績，結果星期天我早上八點多到時還被大家讚揚一番。所以，這工作也不是一點壓力都沒有的，還是可以感受到大家每天趕著早起來上班的"peer pressure"的呀。
前幾天上班大家都工作地很認真，但到後來一天十幾個小時被關在會議室裡對著電腦看開始覺得無聊，於是大家開始閒聊起來，大至海峽兩岸情勢、美伊戰爭，小至誰從小在農村長大、誰是靠結婚移民的、豆奶跟豆漿的差別、減肥、服裝，幾次的聊天八卦之後，大家已經對其他二十幾個律師（註四）的祖宗八代都瞭若指掌。
悶得發慌之後另一個明顯的改變就是--開始對一些微不足道的小事關注起來。譬如有人會對著晚餐menu皺著眉正經八百地研究老半天，並且開始討論哪個好吃哪個不好吃；吃fortune cookie時會把fortune拿出來跟別人的比較（大家真是太無聊了，如果不是這個project，我想沒有人會真的對fortune cookie有半點興趣....)，連檢查的email中出現的無聊的心理測驗或星座生肖分析，都能讓大家討論半天。若不小心看到公司的團體照，或者來應試者的照片，就會把大家吸引過來，並對著這些照片品頭論足起來，批評人家髮型不好看或眼睛太開等等。久了之後，大家甚至開始各顯神通，有人邊上班邊唱歌或吹口哨、有人上msn、有人在網路上購物看電影下棋玩遊戲、有人打瞌睡（甚至還戴上眼罩....），還有人把整本小說都看完了。最誇張的是還有人帶瓜子來嗑，整間辦公室瞬間像傳染病似的每個人都嗑起瓜子來，「ㄎㄚㄎㄚ」聲不絕於耳，連我們這群人裡唯一的老外及來監督我們的老美paralegal都開始有樣學樣，還聲稱吃我們的瓜子會上癮，就好像吃玉米花一樣，愈吃愈停不下來。
TO BE CONTINUED....
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註一：上面做second level review的律師因為不懂中文，無從監督或檢查我們的工作，我們做得好不好、稱不稱職他們根本無從判斷起，唯一有可能的，只有看我們寫的summary是否仔細而已。
註二：這裡不像其他的工作，同事之間有很大的的競爭，會耍心機使小手段。這裡因為是「有錢大家賺」，別人賺得多不會影響自己賺錢的多寡（唯一的可能是別人的工作時數愈長，這project就愈快結束），所以大家相處愉快，也居然沒有人打小報告說某某人在偷懶上網或溜出去之類的情事發生。
註三：比較起來，台灣人顯得閒散，除了我以外，另一個台灣來的女律師也請假了一星期跑去西岸玩。
註四：本來的30位律師，在第一個星期後被law firm刷掉幾個人，到project結束前幾天又發生坐在旁邊的男律師因為跟cafeteria裡準備食物的staff吵了一架而被fire掉的情形，以至真正留到最後的，只剩下21位。

(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 am hired by a legal staffing agency to work for one of the big law firms in New York for a litigation case. The client of the law firm is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, and its China operation is allegedly in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act ("FCPA").
Since this project involves a possible FCPA violation for the client's China practice, the US government has seized computers of 40 high-ranking officers of its China office to look for possible illegal operation (mostly from the emails). The emails were written in Chinese (simplified Chinese, of course), and that's how we came into place. Our job is to decipher the emails brought up from the seized computers, and help the firm decide if the client's operation or the order of the top notch officers is illegal.
Since the firm expects that there is whole lot of information to be brought up, several legal staffing agencys together have hired 30 Mandarin speaking attorneys to work on this project, and expect this project to last for 2-3 months.
The pay is somewhat equivalent to those who work for the big firms in New York, except we don't have bonus. It is paid at an hourly rate, and there is overtime ("OT") pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. In the beginning the law firm requires a minimum of 60 hours a week, possible to be pushed to 72-91 hours/week, but then we discovered that the firm is pretty flexible about the work hours. Since the pay is a lot higher compared to the average workers, and we can accumulate a good deal of money in a short time, some attorneys actually come from different states just for this project.
TO BE CONTINUED....

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。

這家店只賣兩種漢堡：cheeseburger及burger。裡面的topping可以選澤onions、pickles、lettuce、tomatoes、mayo、ketchup、mustard。我幫j要了全部（稱為the "Works"），而我因為不喜歡生洋蔥、不喜歡醃酸黃瓜，所以只要了lettuce及tomatoes（真是挑嘴呀）。這家漢堡店是採自助式的，去領了我們的漢堡後心裡就一沉：這漢堡居然是用白紙包的，而且重點是，怎麼這麼小呀，size大約跟麥當勞的cheeseburger差不多。把紙包裝打開來，心裡又更失望，除了長相不太好看以外，嗚嗚，怎麼漢堡麵包居然是溼的....j說他的漢堡由於有醃酸黃瓜搭配微辣的紅色洋蔥，味道不錯，不過我的吃起來就真的不怎麼樣了。兩個人點了兩個cheeseburger、兩杯汽水、一個薯條加起來共20.5元。
真懷念起波士頓的Mr. Bartley's的豪華burger。心裡暗暗發誓我一定要找到紐約好吃的漢堡店！
第二站：Time Warner Center
位於Columbus Circle的Time Warner Center最有名的應該就是依照Columbus Circle做出的圓弧狀建築外觀，及其glass windows吧。
Time Warner Center一樓的巨大女生雕像。
男生雕像（有沒發現有個地方特別閃亮？）
第三站：m&m's World
一走進位於48th Street及Broadway交叉口的m&m's World，我就開始手舞足蹈起來，因為裡面各式各樣m&m's的產品實在是太可愛了。這家公司真的太會做生意，連我都逛得很開心，什麼都想買，非常適合觀光客拜訪。
各式各樣表情的m&m's馬克杯。
每個m&m's都有自己的個性。
自由女神m&m's
除了m&m's馬克杯、浴巾、原子筆、冰箱磁鐵、運動衣外，當然還要有m&m's的主要產品--m&m's巧克力囉。二樓occupy三大面牆壁的m&m's巧克力機器，有peanut、dark chocolate及milk chocolate三種口味。還有各種市面上買不到的春天顏色的m&m's喔！拉住手把一拉，m&m's就嘩啦嘩啦地掉下來，好像在玩slot machine。

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.