Slice of Pink

Decidering, Part 10

My law school friend, Mary, would like to know whether she should join Law Review.

I decide: Yes! Absolutely Yes!

The reason I decide Yes! (and so enthusiastically, I might add) is that I don't want to be the reason that Mary does not get the Top 100, starting at $165,000/year, crazy over-the-top major law firm job. So, yes. Definitely, yes.

That being said, I am not joining the law review. Law review is a great big deal. I get it. It's everything we ever hoped for when we signed up for law school--lots of prestige, long hours, extra work, boredom. (Am I really saying this on the Internet right now? Hello future employers reading through my archives!)

I have these rules for my life. They go like this:
1. If I really want to do something, I do it. And I follow through on it, no matter how badly it ends up sucking.
2. But, if I don't want to do something, I don't. Sometimes there are consequences for the not doing and I accept that.

Sometimes people say that you have to live for today, in case you die tomorrow. Thing is, I don't care if I live to be 120, I don't want to waste a year banging my head against a wall. You know? So that what? I can do it for another 20 years? Awesome. (Dudes! I am going to have to password protect this post. I am so never getting hired.)

So, last week? We had this paper due and my closet? Went from tidy to this:

I can't be on law review because, people, I have laundry to do.

(Actually, Will does all the laundry but I have to move my dirty items to the laundry basket on top of the dryer and that takes time.)

(Mom, it's okay. No, you don't need to drive to Davis. I cleaned the toilet yesterday. I swear.)

Anyway, point being: I'm not looking for a crazy 2200 billable hour job making $165,000 to start. I'm just looking for something decent with some time for taking photos and drinking wine and sitting in a summer dress on a Saturday in the park. Despite the word in the hallways at school, we're all gonna be okay. Law review or not (seriously, 30 people make law review. Do 170 people end up on the street? Okay, then.)

We're all gonna be okay. Even Professor Hills says so.

So, yes! If you want to be highly competitive in the job market and make lots of cash, then yes! But, if not, then we can ride downtown and enjoy some wine and sunshine.

Readers! Law review? What is law review anyway, right? Put your vote in regardless because look! I got a fancy new poll taking thing whereby you can cast your vote for Mary.

Decidering, Part 9

I'm back to making decisions! In case you are new 'round these parts, I have been making lots decisions in April, for better or worse. There is still time if you have decisions that need to be made. Email me soon; in May I go back to being terribly indecisive.

Lindsey needs to decide between two jobs at the hospital where she works. Here's her dliemma:

"If I choose to stay on the cardiac floor, I have a day shift. I will make decent money, I love the people I will work with, and I really enjoy cardiac patients and their disease processes. I will have 6-8 patients at a time, which will run me ragged, but I can handle it.

If I choose the CICU, I will work 12 hour night shifts on the weekends. Yuck. But I could probably transfer to weeknights in the next 6 months. I will make $5 an hour more…that is a lot of money in my part of the world! I will also gain invaluable experience, that could help me if I ever want to go to graduate school (don’t even know if I want to!). And I will only have 1 or 2 critically ill patients to care for, which will keep me running just as much as the other job."

I decide: Night shift! My husband, the mathematician around here, says that $5 an hour adds up to $10,000 per year, assuming you are working a 40-hour work week. That's a lot of shoes. If you are really on the fence, and would enjoy either job equally well, you might as well go for the money and then buy yourself something nice.

In fact, I might as well help you spend it. Let's take a look at what $10,000 can get you.

I thought that would get us close, but all that only adds up to $4,500. Looks like I am going to need to do some more shopping.

Such lovely things! But, that only brings us to $6,755. I continue shopping after the jump.

Decidering, Part 8

Nancy is going to a 1st birthday party for her godson on Sunday and she is the official cupcake committee. She needs about three dozen cupcakes and can't decide whether she should make them herself or buy them from Vanilla or Sprinkles.

I decide: Put on your apron, I think you should bake them. Believe me, I love a gourmet vanilla bean cupcake with thick Madagascar Bourbon frosting. I love it with all my heart, I do. But I did the math, and three dozen cupcakes is going to set you back about $120. I suspect that you could make some amazing cupcakes for a quarter of the price and, just think, you can bake in love.

(My decision, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that I myself need to whip up a dessert for a party tonight and it's nice to know that we are all in this together.)

Some delicious cupcake recipes can be found at Chockylit Cupcake Bakeshop. Yum!

Or, how about one of these fabulous recipes from Martha:

Lollipop Cupcakes, Carrot Cupcakes, Swirly Cupcakes, or (well, well) Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes.

Plus--and maybe this is the most important point of all--if you do it yourself, you get to lick the bowl.

Decidering, Part 7

I have received quite a few emails asking me to help make career decisions. Whoa, people, this is so totally not my area. I have already had a boatload of jobs and still? No career.

But, hey! I'm the Decider! And, for better or worse, I'm making choices.

Elysa wants to know whether she should go back to school for a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Art & Technology or choose a whole new career?

I decide: MFA. My philosophy is this: the longer you can further your education at an institute of higher learning, the better. Let's face it, being in school is awesome. It really is. I know a lot of people get all huffy over this and say that extending your education is just putting off the "real world" and ignoring the inevitable. To this I say: Yes! Exactly! Tomorrow I have class for two hours, after which I will be having lunch downtown, getting my hair done, and riding my bike. The real world is for suckers.

Unless, of course, you want to make loads of cash. In which case you have what I see as three options:

a) Professional degree
b) Business
c) Marry well

Or, you could always attempt to merge the college life with an attempt to make lots of cash in an unfortunate venture called law school.

Stay tuned: more career decisions to come, plus I will get involved in making relationship decisions. Things could fall apart. In the meantime: cast your vote for Elysa: MFA or career change?

After the jump: my many jobs.

Decidering, Part 6

Dawn wants to know if she should keep these recently purchased Sperry Topsiders:

I decide: Unless you own a boat, take 'em back. You know, I really wanted to tell you to keep them. Really, I did. I can understand that they are comfortable and practical, but they just really aren't that cute. I spent a lot of time searching the Internet for photographs of people pulling off the topsider look. My hours of research yielded one set of photographs of women pulling off topsiders, from Refinery 29:

Note: all the models are on a boat. Or on a dock, waiting for the boat to arrive. And, also, there is a man wearing a bow tie with shorts.

I'm thinking that unless you are accessorizing with your yacht and you are wearing them so that you don't fall off of your yacht into the great blue sea, you would probably be better off with a pair of ballet flats or sandals. Some things require a lot of money to pull off--poodles and topsiders among them.

(On a completely personal note, my husband talks a lot about having a pair of topsiders during his youth and I have seen photos of him during that era and, wow, there was a lot of Aquanet involved. And probably a hair dryer. Also, a bright teal suit and some shirts made of silk. Somehow, I associate topsiders with this and so I just can't get on board.)

However! Sperry Topsider does have these nauticalesque beach-to-street flats and wedges, which I think would be a good compromise between comfort and casual style.

Lots more decisions coming soon. In the meantime, please weigh in on the topic of topsiders.

Decidering, Part 5

Lidija can't decide where to go on holiday. She has narrowed it down to three options: USA, Iceland, or Japan.

I decide: Japan! Sushi, Japanese gardens, traditional arts, temples and palaces, Japanese beer, Mt. Fuji, and hot springs.

Plus, this from Wikitravel:

Karaoke (カラオケ) can be found in virtually every Japanese city...Most karaoke places occupy several floors of a building. You and your friends have a room to yourself--no strangers involved--and the standard hourly rate often includes all-you-can-drink booze, with refills ordered through a phone on the wall or through the karaoke machine itself. The major chains all have good English-language song selections.

Japan, obviously.

Of course, if you come to Northern California, I'll take you out for a glass of wine. Not that a glass of wine beats private karaoke with pay-by-the-hour booze, but there you go.

More decisions to come soon! In the meantime, help Lidija decide: USA, Iceland, or Japan?

Decidering, Part 4

The deciding continues...

Violet recently gave notice at her job. She doesn't have another job lined up yet, and would like to take some time off to travel a bit, perhaps visiting some freaders in England. Should she take an extended vacation or spend her time finding another job?

I decide: Pack your bags and book a flight! Between jobs seems to me the perfect time to take an extended holiday. No need to use vacation days, no worries about the work piling up on your desk back in the states, no boss calling your cell to ask where you put that one file, no email box filling up with hundreds of messages. Plus, with some Internet access, you can start your job search in England. Set aside an hour a day to search the web for some employment opportunities, upload your resume, and {voila!} a fabulous hoilday minus the guilt. Enjoy the pubs and definitely send me a postcard!

Need help deciding something? Email me at sliceofpink at gmail dot com or leave a comment. And please put in your two cents: should Violet stay or should she go now?

Decidering, Part 3

Last night I had to make two decisions: where to grab a quick bite for dinner and which frozen yogurt to select at the Yogurt Shack (Chipotle, Cherries Jubilee). Easy.

Tashya wasn't having any of that easy decision making crap, though, so she sent me some decisions that almost made me waffle under the pressure.

Tashya wants to know:

Should she apply to graduate school for a Master's of Public Health if her GPA is low?
I decide: Yes! OMG, I totally know the answer to this one, hands down, because my husband is a school counselor and this is what he does all day. Definitely apply. It's better to apply, whatever the result, than not apply and regret not taking the chance. I would suggest applying to two dream schools, three schools that are right in your GPA range, and two safety schools. And study up for the GRE.

Should she move out of her mom’s house? If so, when?
I decide: Yes, eventually. But, really, you should stay as long as possible. My friend Jose* lived with his parents for a good deal of his twenties, even though he was a working professional at the time. Let me tell you--that man has got some seriously nice clothing and has a seriously nice collection of wine and has a seriously paid-for new car and gets some seriously expensive haircuts--all because he was living rent free. So, I say: live with the mom until either:
a) you have a chunk o' change in the bank;
b) you just can't take it anymore;
c) school or career necessitate a move;
d) you get married;
e) you turn 35; or
f) you accumulate more than 10 cats.

She just totaled her car and does not have money for a down payment. When should she look at getting a new car?
I decide: Get a bicycle tomorrow! You won't have a car payment, you'll get awesome calves, and you'll never have to get gas. This is how I roll. However, if not having a car is detrimental to your employment or social life and you absolutely, positively cannot live without one, I say decide on a payment that you know you can afford and stick to that. Stick to it even when the salesman tries to convince you that if you just don't buy lattes you can afford to tack another $50 onto your monthly payment. (Did I ever mention I used to work in a car dealership?)

Remember: I am decidering for all of April, so send decisions that need to be made. Also, feel free to put in your two cents--should Tashya apply for an MPH program? Move out? Get a new car?

*Single and hott, ladies, and once brought me back a fake Burberry purse from one of his many trips to NYC. A good fake. Loves tapas, traveling, and mixes cheap red wine with Pepsi. {Hi Jose!}**

**This is all my doing. This ad was not approved by Jose. It was not solicited by Jose. In fact, Jose is probably going to be mad at me. But, you know what? Jose can drive himself up to Davis to tell me all about it. And then we will all go out for tapas.

Decidering, Part 2 (With Photos!)

I found the definition for "decider" on the urban dictionary: a decider is someone who makes decisions on issues using a lack of judgment and intelligence. Which? What! I am taking this very seriously! Y'all, I am doing research!

Okay, so hair decisions are hard. This is usually an arena left to Whoorl, but since I am The Decider, I am going to give it a go.

The beautiful Nicole is trying to decide: short or long?

I decide: Mid-length. Honestly, Nicole's hair is so thick and shiny that it looks lovely at all lengths, but the midlength style is so sassy, sexy, and smart. Plus, it looks cute flippy-out (as pictured) and also flippy-in (as in my imagination) and options are always nice.

Heidikins is getting her hair cut. Should she trim with no changes or add side-swoopy bangs?

I decide: Swoopy bangs! Swoopy, sweepy, side-swept--even talking about them is fun. In addition to bangs being very vogue, one eyebrow will be hidden by the sweep meaning that you can pluck that side less often. (Not that I ever allow my bangs to cover my unplucked brow. Nope. Never. Not at all.)

Lani is getting married! Congratulations, Lani! She needs to know: robin egg blue or lettuce?

I decide: Lettuce. Lettuce choose lettuce! (The Decider: Now with Fancy Word Play!) The lettuce seems decidedly more fallish for a September wedding. And I love all these fabulous wedding palettes that use lettucey colors in their color schemes: muted green, white, and champagne, light green and red, or (to include both options) green with a touch of eggshell blue (emphasis on the green). Happy planning!

Your opinion? Should Nicole go short, midlength, or long? Should Heidikins get some swoopy bangs? Should Lani go egg blue or lettuce green?

More decisions coming soon! Have you sent me yours?

Decidering, Part 1

Slice of Pink is falling apart. Once again, I forgot to pay the hosting people, so home now consists of links to debt consolidation and Elton John tickets. And then I rearranged a few things (if you can't see the changes, try reloading), which killed the Blogher ads and I cannot, for the life of me, get them to come back. I've emailed all the relevant people, so all we can do is wait patiently for people who are much smarter than me to tell me where to click.

In the meantime, we still have each other. And leftover Easter candy. And my stellar decision making skillz. So, let's carry on.

Sarah, one of my former students, is choosing a college. Should she go to UCLA or UCSD?

I decide: UCSD. It's in sunny San Diego, the beach is within walking distance, and, most importantly, there is a Dick's Last Resort restaurant. And let's be frank, if you are choosing between a city with Dick's and a city without Dick's, you should obviously go for the city with. Right?

Auburn Kat is moving. Should she go to NYC, Buffalo, or Raleigh, NC?

I decide: Raleigh, NC. Although I am madly in love with NYC, I can't go against my southern roots (which are entirely phony and made up, but I remain true to them nevertheless). You get to say "y'all" a lot, macaroni and cheese is served in fancy restaurants, all the sodas are called "Coke," and you can practice your Southern charm over a mint julep.

Stay tuned, more decision making to come shortly! Please feel free to leave your opinions in the comments. Should Sarah go to UCLA or UCSD? Where should Auburn Kat move--Buffalo, NYC, or Raleigh?

And, finally, be sure to send me decisions that need to be made!

The Decider

Will and I are really bad at making decisions. Really bad. When we have to decide where to go eat dinner, it goes something like this:

Will: Where do you want to go?

Me: I don't know. Where do you want to go?

Will: I don't care. What do you feel like?

Me: Anything really. What do you feel like?

Will: I don't care. What sounds good?

Me: Well, maybe Crepeville or Cafe Bernardo or Plutos...

Will: Which one?

Me: I don't know.

And then we ride around for twenty minutes playing the elimination game and then maybe, once we decide on someplace and park the bikes, I might decide that this place doesn't seem like the best option after all and we really ought to go for Italian instead. It's awesome being us.

Having to decide on dinner is relatively easy. Choosing a hotel for a vacation? That might take two hours or more of searching the Internet, narrowing down options on Travelocity and Expedia, weighing the alternatives (Hilton (four stars, $199/night) or Best Western (two stars, $100/night)).

This month, however, I have a goal to make decisions. I'm just gonna make a choice when a choice has to be made. No pro and con lists. No lengthy debates about crepes versus pasta or Hilton versus Hyatt.

I am the Decider.

And, you know what? I am so excited about this month of decision making--so confident that I am going to be making some really superb decisions--that I want to make your decisions, too. Please send me decisions that need to be made and I will make them for you.

Can't decide between two great spring dresses? Send me the links and I'll make a choice! Choosing between two colleges? I'll pick! Can't decide on a menu for a dinner party this weekend? Let me know! I'll decide! Wondering whether you should go to karaoke on Saturday? Yes, yes you should.

I'll post my decisions right here, so we can all benefit from my decision making. There's no guarantee, of course, that the decisions will be perfect, but at least they will be made.

Feel free to leave a comment or Email Me. I'll be making decisions through the month of April, after which I will go back to not knowing.

Now then, what to have for dinner?