My apologies. It’s been a minute since I last updated this blog. Summer is here and it’s been a busy season for me. From running at Central Park to wrapping up important tasks before the end of fiscal year at work, summer in the city is neither “slow” nor “quiet,” but rather packed with plans.

Perhaps it’s the only time of the year when New Yorkers come out of their shells to soak up the sun and take advantage of the longer daylight. I, for sure, am one of those people.

Summer, this year, has been rainy and humid. I usually plan picnic gatherings with friends, but those had to be canceled due to rain. It’s unpredictable.

On a brighter note, I’ve managed to go outdoors and stay active by running, practicing tennis, and checking out new spots in the city.

I had planned to visit Colorado in early July but I had to cancel the trip when I got the dreadful news. Sadly, I will be joining the layoff party. One of my colleagues got laid off after the Memorial Day weekend, and he worked for the institution for more than 30 years. The way how they handled the situation and laid him off was shady and cold. I have until end of this year to find a new job. Unfortunately, our current job market doesn’t look promising. In fact, there are way too many “ghost” jobs or these employers take advantage of the job scarcity and demand unreasonable requirements from candidates. At this point, employers want “unicorns.”

Remember the “Great Resignation” period after COVID? Great times. But here’s the reality of trends and patterns–especially with human behaviors. Whenever there’s a surge, there’s always a downfall. The question is, how far down can we fall where there’s minimal damage and suffering? I pray that we don’t collapse. That’s all.

In the midst of anxiety and uncertainty, I have created my own “escapism” by reading and practicing tennis.

I finished reading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. I was intrigued by Plath’s dry humor and her perspective on gender, race, and mental health. During the 1950’s, women were expected to find their husbands, get married, and procreate. And the protagonist, Esther Greenwood–who mirrors Plath and her experiences–explores her role as a young woman while struggling with her mental illness. Like Plath, Esther receives “electric shock treatment.” Barbaric approach to mental health, but essential to understanding how far we’ve come in regards to accepting mental illness in our lives. Oh also, Plath uses troubling language when describing people of color. Again, it was the Fifties, and she was a White woman from the suburbs of Massachusetts. Not to give her an excuse, but it explains why she used racist remarks and how that was common during the Segregation. I very much enjoyed the book and I’m so glad that I got to read it when the weather was warm and mostly, sunny. If you’re going through a seasonal depression or you’re mentally vulnerable, avoid the book.

And now, I’m reading All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Maria Remarque. I read excerpts of the book when I was a sophomore in college, but after watching the film (2022 version), I wanted to re-visit the timeless classic and read it from start to finish.

The film, directed by Edward Berger, depicts the brutality of World War I thoroughly and vividly, that I became John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Just kidding. But in all seriousness, they did a phenomenal job — illustrating how traumatic the trenches were and at the end of the day, soldiers were just numbers who unfortunately, fell for pro-war propaganda by the government. I could see why and how the horrors of the war heavily shaped the post-WWI cultures of Europe. As a History nerd, I loved the film and now, it’s one of my favorite historical films. I hope more people watch it. Perhaps it will give them an emotional connection to our current state of affairs–especially across seas.

Aside from reading, I have been practicing tennis. I started two years ago, and it’s not an easy sport. I’m still learning the basics. Out of 20 serves, I might get one right–and that’s just the forehand. My backhand is…atrocious.

Back in May, I invited a friend to play at Central Park Tennis, and boy…was that a mistake! He was exceptionally good. Whereas for me, I could barely hit the balls and missed all of his serves. I felt bad for him. Poor thing.

However, the experience motivated me to take lessons so I now have a private tennis instructor. He is a professional tennis player who’s not only talented on the courts but also patient to be a reliable teacher. Side note: he’s very handsome. When he was showing me how to swing the racquet, I drooled. A gifted tennis player who’s tall (6’4”) and good looking. I mean… how fun is that?

I got the impression that he’s quite famous in the tennis world. One day, after my lesson, I’m going take a selfie with him and ask for an autograph. I am fan-girling hard!

July is about to end. August is near. Soon, it will be autumn. Like Vivaldi’s Summer Presto, I feel like the days are going by fast. Once it’s Fall, routines resume. It’s “hustle and no play” kind of mode. Lord have mercy… Praying for more hopeful news.

Hope y’all are enjoying the summer! I’m sure many of us are having better days than the ex-CEO of Astronomer and the HR director. Divorce lawyers are making a bank now. Good for them!

Cheers,