Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Melvin’s 4 day USA tour (NYC à Miami à Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
At around 9:30 in the morning, I headed to Rivington House to do some volunteering. I have been volunteering here since 2006 and have grown to love/miss a handful of residents. Some have since past and others keep on fighting this awful disease. For the next 2 hours we forgot our problems and just focused on the present, making fun of each other and dancing to our favorite jams. I brought 2 rosaries from Christ the Redeemer (aka famous statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro) for very special residents and hope/pray it brings any kind of relief. I had the best time 2 hours at Rivington House and was especially touched when I saw the resident jump for joy when they saw me. The last time we spoke, I was off to Brasil and wouldn’t see them until TBD.
It was now noon and Claire and I were off to brunch but with a quick trip to 4th and Bowery. A good friend of mine, Arbi, was letting me crash at his 2nd apt in NYC. It is located in the best part of town, close to LES, SoHo, NoHo, Chinatown, the Village, etc.etc. I know this area very well, as it was the same block I was staying at for 4 weeks earlier this year. Arbi couldn’t join us for some brunch’ing at Dos because he was yet another finance friend of mine that had to work on Sunday. He gave me the keys, had a quick coffee, caught up and said Tchau. Thanks Arbi!
We all slowly started to arrive at Dos Caminos –SoHo and in the end the total count was a fierce 10. Effie/Marlon (ex PwC coworker and coned engineer), Erin (self employed), Kate/Darrick/Unidentified#1 (all MMC employees), Claire, Rebecca/Unidentified#2 (Fashion Week friend and her friend) and a cameo appearance from Ryan (Wharton grad) another finance friend who had to work on Sunday. As with any brunch at Dos Caminos, I had the best time. Good food, great drinks and best time catching up with friends. I am truly blessed to have you all in my life.
After brunch, I was in much need of some R&R, especially since I was still up from the day before traveling and what not. After my nap, I got ready for some much needed Hiro time. I went w/ my #1 club buddy and got home at around 3:30a.m. (only reason I know is unfortunately due to some drunk texting, teehee)
Day 2 – Monday
Got up at 7:00a.m. and went to the Bronx to take care of business (this is the main reason I came to USA). And after about 1hr, it was all over and I was good to go –YAY! I headed to Midtown and sat at Starbucks under 1166 (my ex-employer) and met with all my ex-coworkers while I waited for Maria to take me out to lunch. And boy was it lunch, she asked me where do I want to go and I was thinking pub, nearby café but instead blurted out the first that comes out of my mouth when someone within the midtown area asks, where do you want to go? I yell, Del Frisco’s, followed by but I can’t afford that, but to my surprise she says yes! YAY!!!
We had their famous crab cakes for app’s and I had their biz lunch (includes salad, filet and dessert). It was a heavy lunch, but thankfully was followed by another afternoon nap, teehee. I woke up just in time for Verlaine and headed over to Gerry’s work. We got to Verlaine a lil to early and so I thought what better place to wait than Sweet Sugar Sunshine (some version of this) bakery where they have NYC’s #1 cupcakes (for now at least). I do truly heart this place and their pistachio’s cupcake is – ME LIKEY LONG TIME!.
We headed back to Verlaine and slowly but surely the crew began arriving. Once again, I had the best time drinking, catching up and meeting new friends (mike’s new boo). And once again, I am just truly blessed to have the friends I have.
Day 3 – Tuesday
I woke up relatively early and headed out to Starbucks for some wifi’ing. It was the typical morning and nothing could have prepared me for what’s about to be written. I sat down at my usual spot and the store was relatively empty. One lady and one very young gentleman decided to 2 tables from me. He was definitely overdressed and I knew something wasn’t right (aka they weren’t old friends catching up) cuz he was a baby and she was in her 30’s. The next words out of her mouth were, “WHY MBA AND WHY COLUMBIA” :-O my mouth dropped. I was like, are you F’ING KIDDING ME. I am trying to not think about this and was doing it successfully and out of all the coffeeshops in NYC, you pick this one. So CLEARLY I dropped what I was doing, began fake typing and listened in. 3 main items he mentioned will stick w/ me forever. #1. Laid off in December #2. Was going to apply next year but due to current circumstances, doing it now #3 want to b CFO after graduation. I swear to you, if this lil kid is the reason why I wasn’t accepted then I’m glad the schools rejected me because I would have not had a good experience calling this guy a classmate.
It was time to head to the airport and I decided to go via MASS TRANS. It was going along very well until the A train just decided to stop for 30 minutes in Queens. This lead to me missing my flight in JFK, then taking a cab to LGA and by the grace of God I made the 4:30p.m. flight to MIA. I said grace because I was at the gate about to pick up my boarding pass when another flight to MIA was cancelled and everyone on that flight was transferred to my flight, meaning no way in hell I was getting on. But about 30 minutes prior to departure, the cancelled flight became un-cancelled and I literally took the last seat available. WHEW!
I got to Miami by 8p.m. and went directly to my favorite dive bar next to the airport, which we call the Columbian Restaurant. Another great night of catching up with old friends, family and seriously folks, I am truly blessed. Life may not be perfect and we all go thru our ups/downs but having good quality friends will make life a lil easier. After dive bar, the gays headed to SoBe and had a few rounds at Halo-hollerr.
Day 4 - Wednesday
Now it was time to say good-bye (for now) to USA. I hung out with the family all day and headed out to airport around 8p.m. And thanks to having family that works at airport, got VIP treatment with luggage check-in and met Claire at terminal E6. I decided to buy a JW-Green label to enjoy next week when I find out about Bschool. Good or Bad, I will b drinking quality Walker. At around 11pm, we were off to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Around the world in 24hrs (Rio de Janeiro à NYC)
Saturday – 7:00a.m.
Well it’s kind of around the world, haha. I started my day anxiously awaiting my flight back to the states. I am so excited to see all my friends at the various meet up times/locations. I know I won’t get to see everyone, but the ones that matter will definitely be there, all others are “would have been nice”. There is one person that matters that has not replied to any of my communications. I wish I could say I am surprised, but I am not. He is just that kind of person and there is that blog dedicated to him that could have rubbed him the wrong way, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s taking some time off from me. So, I am sad but not surprised I won’t get to see him. One thing is for sure, after 3 emails and a voicemail (yes I went there) I will not be calling/texting him while I’m in NYC. Who knows, I might be pleasantly surprised and get a response from him but I ain’t holding my breath.
Saturday – 8:00a.m.
Last night it stormed cats and dogs and I was a little sad because I thought the rain would continue this morning, ruining my last tanning session Brasil. To my surprise, I woke up and it was as if it never happened but I’m no fool I know how unpredictable Rio’s weather can be. So I jumped in the shower, drank my cafezinho, got my rollerblades and stormed out of that apt!
Saturday – 10:00a.m.
Figured since I hadn’t seen 24 in over a month, I get pumped and write this blog ala Jack! I got on the train at 8:40a.m. and by 9:30a.m. I was at the beginning of Copacabana. The sky was clear and the sun was already burning hot. I walked over to the beach, which is about a 10 minute walk from the train station (for those future Rio travelers). Once I got to the beach side, I said goodbye to my havaianas and strapped on my skates en route to Leblon. I really do enjoy skating from Copacabana, through Ipanema and ending up in Leblon. It’s such a great view and soo many rest stops where I can get fresh coconut water and a nice shade, while I people watch!
Saturday – 12:00p.m.
After 2 great hours of going from one side of the beach and back, I decided it was time to head back. My body was definitely overheated and I unfortunately left my swim trunks home, because normally I would jump in the ocean to cool off (even though the water here is disgusting –compared to Recreio, Buzios, Angras…). Before I got to the train station, it is a tradition of mine to get Acai and an empanada.
Saturday – 2p.m.
Every time I head to the beach, you better believe it is followed with nap time. I think the sun puts my body through hell that it requires some down time. So I got an uninterrupted 1.5hrs of sleep. Awww
Saturday – 4p.m.
After finding out I didn’t have a ride to the airport, ughh. I got a taxi and headed to the airport. Normally I would be cutting it close, but if I have learned anything while in Rio is that nothing is ever ontime! LOL. I actually ended up getting there with no time to spare, no one was at the check-in counter, got to the security line and waited a lil. Once I cleared the machine I walked to my gate and walked right in. Now that’s what I call – THE WAY TO TRAVEL!
Saturday – 7p.m.
I got into Sao Paolo, Brasil and was asked to deboard the same exact plane that is taking me to NYC. Same flight #, same gate. Arghh, but it gave me some time for a quick snack because my body is now use to eating every 3’ish hrs. Got on the plane at 9p.m. and headed to NYC!
Sunday – 6a.m.
Landed on this beautiful, magnificent country I’d like to call good ole USofA. The customs line took forever but that’s just because I was sitting at the end of the plane and pretty much had the entire plane in front of me (US citizen’s of course). I was w/o a doubt better off than the visitor’s line, LOL. That was super long and moving at a glacial pace. So I got to the US custom’s lady and she said cool shirt, I went ahead and said thanks. Agreeing w/ everything she said cuz I just didn’t want to go into the “special” room. LOL. When she scanned my passport she said, how long have u been in brasil (with a tone of slight concern)? I told her, I left around Feb 4th, so a lil over a month. She said, what’s your occupation? I replied, UNEMPLOYED, to which she said “Good for you” and let me go. God I love how the economy sucks and I don’t have to back my story up any further!
Sunday – 8:30a.m.
So after MTA train delays, shuttle transfers, I finally got off the F train stop DELANCEY. The stop I called home for so many years and when I got out, I felt such a sense of disconnection. I’ve never felt this way so I’m continuing to process this. Now I’m at starbucks, wifi’ing away until I do some volunteering at Rivington House at 9:30a.m. then some brunch’ing w/ great friends at 1pm. Oh and for those following my bschool updates, today I found out I was yet again rejected from UMichigan (Ross). This is now the 4th rejection and I gotta be honest, it didn’t really have an impact on my feelings. I guess I’m becoming null to rejections, I just can’t wait until first week of April when I get the answers to all schools and I can finally start planning for PLAN B.
This is the end to an untypical 24hr day, from one side of the equator to the other.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Business School Update
It is now Sunday, March 8 6PM and Talena left about 2 hours ago. It is the first time I have had to myself and one of the first things I want to do is update my “blog fans” with what’s been going on with my life. As most of you know, in early January I applied to business schools (nine to be exact) and slowly I am getting feedback. Unfortunately, but not surprising, I have gotten 3 rejections, 1 high unlikely, 1 not looking good, 1 “looking good” and still waiting for 3 other schools. Here’s the detail update: Emory, UVA and Yale have officially rejected me. I gave little to no effort on my UVA application, so I just can’t be surprise. I am however surprised from Emory/Yale’s decision. They were supposed to be my safety schools and as you can imagine my self esteem was pretty low when I got all 3 rejections. Most schools give a deadline on when they will send out their invitations to interview and for most schools if you don’t get one by the deadline, you’re not getting in. HBS and Stanford have both sent out the majority of the invitations and I have yet to receive one, so I’m pretty much banking on these will turn into rejections (both of which were programs I wanted to attend). Again feeling a lil sad, :-(
When Wharton’s invitation deadline approached, I was certain I would not get one and unlike Harvard/Stanford, Wharton sends out all invitation and if you don’t get on, you get a rejection letter. As you can imagine, I was checking/refreshing my emails every 5 minutes. It was already 5PM rio time and I had to meet Orlando for dinner, so I just assumed I wasn’t getting one and would see Rejection letter the following morning. I was talking with Orlando at dinner and telling him about the situation and he pulled out his blackberry and said, “let’s check your email and see once and for all, if it’s bad news we can drink your sorrows away”. While his intentions were kind, we had issues connecting on his blackberry and I decided to go to the nearby internet café. I signed onto gmail and my heart stopped when I read “Wharton Invitation to Interview”. I was just shocked and in disbelief that tears started falling from my eyes.
So here’s the deal with Wharton, I am not just applying for an MBA. I decided to apply to their dual degree program MBA/MA. The MA part will be in language (Portuguese) and they only accept approx 50 folks, whereas the MBA program accepts over 800. The fact that I was being considered for the dual degree program left me stumppyfied. Then I started asking my other friends, if they got an invitation to interview and none of them got one. I knew from the beginning that this would be a very competitive year and I honestly thought Wharton wouldn’t even be an option, but now I’m slowly realizing that YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE IS THINKING.
On the week of March 2, I had both my Lauder and Wharton interview (unfortunately separately, which meant wearing suits 2x in Rio’s HOT weather). The Lauder interview left me confused and I just don’t know if I provided the information he wanted. You know how sometimes you leave an interview feeling good or bad? I left this interview just confused, so we’ll see the end results. As for my Wharton interview, I TOTALLY NAILED IT! It’s just nice to hear the interviewer say, “Well I got what I needed, you are a strong candidate….” Now if only the admission’s decision were based on interview alone, I know I got in. But alas, I spoke from an ex-admin person and the process goes as such: After interview, the admission committee meets again and re-evaluates my candidacy. I think they use the information from the interview to cross reference my app and then make a decision, so basically what I’m saying is I got a 50/50 chance of getting in. So while I am still scared I won’t get in, “I am happy to have been nominated…” LOL.
U-Michigan will release their decision on March 15. UNC on March 23 and NYU has not provided any indications. As for Wharton, I think their deadline to make decisions is March 27, but I really would like to know earlier (good/bad). I just hate waiting and waiting and waiting and then getting a HNJN! But alas, I will have a very busy next 3 weeks with the nonprofit and my mini-trip to NYC/Miami next weekend. Yeah, I have to go take care of something in NYC and will get there early Sunday morning, 3/15. I leave NYC the following Tuesday, 3/17 to Miami for one night and back to Rio on 3/18 with Claire who’s also helping out with the NGO. I feel like I’m traveling like a total ROCKSTAR, except I’m in coach-LOL.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Say Goodbye
"Say Goodbye"
Look we gotta talk
Dang I know
I know it's just
It's just...
Some things I gotta get of my chest alright....
Yeahhhh...
Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, oh, whoa...
Listen..
Baby come here and sit down, let's talk
I got a lot to say so I guess I'll start by
Saying that I love you,
But you know, this thing ain't been
No walk in the park for us
I swear it'll only take a minute
You'll understand when I finish, yeah
And I don't wanna see you cry
But I don't wanna be the one to tell you a lie so
[Hook]
How do you let it go? When you,
You just don't know? What's on,
The other side of the door
When you're walking out, talk about it
Everything I tried to remember to say
Just went out my head
So I'ma do the best I can to get you to understand
'cause I know
[Chorus]
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you, it's me
I kinda gotta figure out what I need (oh)
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But we know that we gotta go
Our separate ways
And I know it's hard but I gotta do it,
And it's killing me
Cause there's never a right time
Right time to say goodbye
Girl I know your heart is breaking
And a thousand times I
Found myself asking, "Why? Why?"
Why am I taking so long to say this?
But trust me, girl I never
Meant to crush your world
And I never
Thought I would see the day we grew apart
And I wanna know
[Hook]
How do you let it go? When you,
You just don't know? What's on,
The other side of the door
When you're walking out, talk about it
Girl I hope you understand
What I'm tryna say.
We just can't go on
Pretending that we get along
Girl how you not gonna see it?
[Chorus]
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you it's me.
I kinda gotta figure out what I need (oh)
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But we know that we gotta go
Our separate ways
And I know it's hard but I gotta do it,
And it's killing me
Cause there's never a right time
Right time to say goodbye
Listen to your heart
Girl you know,
We should be apart, baby I
I just can't do it
I, I just can't do it
Listen to your heart
Girl you know,
We should be apart, baby I
I just can't do it
And sometimes it makes me wanna cry
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh [4x]
Do you hear me crying?
Oh, oh, oh [4x]
[Chorus]
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you it's me.
I kinda gotta figure out what I need (oh)
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But we know that we gotta go
Our separate ways
And I know it's hard but I gotta do it,
And it's killing me
Cause there's never a right time
Right time to say goodbye
[Chorus]
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you it's me.
I kinda gotta figure out what I need (oh)
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But we know that we gotta go
Our separate ways
And I know it's hard but I gotta do it,
And it's killing me
Cause there's never a right time
Right time to say goodbye
Where is your heart?
I don't believe
In the smile that you leave
When you walk away
And say goodbye
Well I don't expect
The world to move underneath me
But for God's sake
Could you try?
I know that you're true to me
You're always there
You say you care
I know that you want to be mine
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?
I don't understand
Your love is so cold
It's always me that's reaching out
For your hand
And I've always dreamed
That love would be effortless
Like a petal fallin' to the ground
A dreamer followin' his dream
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
And that's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?
It seems so much is left unsaid
So much is left unsaid
But you can say anything
Oh, anytime you need
Baby, it's just you and me
Oh yeah
I know that you're true to me
You're always there
You say you care
I know that you want to be mine
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh yeah
Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
And that's all I'm asking for
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart?
Where is your heart?
--The end.
There are no words....
So I went to Copa on a Friday and this woman was in front of us the entire time. what was I suppose to do but click RECORD!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Winner's Parade Carnival 2009
