Monday, July 27, 2009

Apple Chiffon Review and Dreams

The cake turned out quite wonderful. My family and I quickly devoured half of it in a day's time and the rest of it got put into the freezer. Mom said that we were all going to become fatties if we didn't pace ourselves. She's right. I'm sure I've easily put on a few pounds here.

I have to say that there wasn't much apple taste to the cake. The apple sauce didn't quite give it that much apple oomph. It was really light and fluffy, though, the 6 eggs don't exactly make it a light cake. I didn't use all the sugar as called for in the recipe about 3/4 of it instead of the full amount. But for someone who's not big on really sweet desserts and leans towards fruitier desserts, it was really tasty. I may try a lemon chiffon in the future, but I'd like to figure out if I can skip out on the egg yolks if the recipe calls for 4 or 5 eggs.

On a totally unrelated note, I've been having these CRAZY dreams. Like the one KDavis has. The ones where you SWEAR its real and you're exhausted when you wake up.

My brother, F, has been playing a lot of zombie shooting games- Dead or Alive and Gears of War. Since my earthly retarded and klunkiness translates to being inept and uncoordinated when having too many button choices on video game controllers, I've abstained from playing. Last week, I had a dream about hiding from zombies. I remember very vividly hiding under the sink in a bathroom with F. For some reason the cabinets had been divided and we were really concerned with making too much noise to attract zombies. This was important because we needed to lay flat under the sink and in order to do so, had to kick a hole in the divider. I think my mom was hiding in a hole in the floor under some floorboards. Unlike most of my dreams, this one was in shades of gray. I also distinctly remember trying to lay perfectly still so the zombies wouldn't find us. This was an interesting note since I was physically in a really awkward position and utterly unwilling to move.

The next night I had some dream about playing hockey with Pokemon looking characters. This dream was in color and everything seemed to be in anime. Weird. There were penguins and weird aardvark/ armadillo looking animals on little ice skates pushing a ball around. Actually it was probably more of a cross between curling and hockey. There weren't pucks, but def nets and face off circles. I played goalie for part of the dream and then it became this crazed free for all, when the net tenders were pulled and playing as another player and an extra player was on the ice. I think there was even a baby rhino in there somewhere.

I'm sure this has something to do with moving and uprooting my life. They are really entertaining to think back on, but they are SO exhausting! Wonder what I will dream about tonite....!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Grumpy makes Apple Chiffon Cake

I'm really bored tonite. Having wasted my day sitting on the phone, I've been in a grumpy mood this evening. I decided to bake a cake. Who does that?

Oh, I'm bored, let me bake a cake?!

I do and did.

Currently sitting in the oven for the next hour is an Apple Chiffon Cake. I wanted to make a lemon one, but we have no lemons and I figured it wasn't worth the gas money to go and get some. Gas in T-town is running about $2.40 right now. I think I'll get into some cleaning while it bakes.

Here's the recipe that I pulled from AllRecipes. Review to come later of course! Directions


Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups cake flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1 cup applesauce
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar until soft moist peaks are formed. Gradually add the white sugar and beat until very stiff and shiny.
  3. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon together. Blend in the brown sugar.
  4. Beat together until smooth the vegetable oil, egg yolks, and applesauce. Add to the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Fold batter into the beaten egg whites. Pour batter into one 10 inch ungreased tube pan.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 55 to 65 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Invert and cool in pan. When cake is cool loosen edges and remove cake from pan.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Chiffon-Cake/Detail.aspx

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Public Serviced Annoucement Part Two

My resignation email to the management group didn't turn out to be a lamer version of the original. I'm not sure how it was received because stupidly, I sent it right before I went to turn in my laptop and forgot to set the reply to address to a different email. But I doubt that people respond to these emails anyways. I also stupidly cc-ed everyone instead of bcc. I suppose that could be one that you could send a message to those who outed you or you just plain don't like. (Only two fit into that category- at least that I can think of at the moment)

One thing that I do wish that I had done, that I didn't consider, is sending a message to all those who I worked with outside of my office. There were a few of them. Oh well. I can get a hold of those folks another way.

I should post my KPMG email in here sometime. That was was pretty fun to write too. Who know that I was so good at writing these good bye emails- or so I've been told. Hopefully it won't be a skill that I will be using often.
-----------------------
Hi Friends at the Manager, Senior Manager, Partner and Scheduling positions:

As all of you already know, the current mass TSRS senior exodus ends today with my and Eric D___'s departures. I'm glad to hear that none of you have become so panicked to go and set overturned couches or cars ablaze. We are not in Columbus, Ohio, where that would have occurred.

Now that you all have had a few weeks to recover/ get used to the gapping holes created by of all the departures, some more, eloquent thoughts for you:

My deepest and sincerest thanks to each of you who have offered a listening ear, friendly smile, or whimsical emoticon through the long hours and seemingly never-ending test procedures. Your leadership and support has undoubtedly been treasured. Thank you for marking my time in Atlanta with your great friendships and great professional lessons. I wish you all the best- where ever your journeys in this life take you and end. I have learned a lot from all of you. I may have introvert tendencies but do know that I have watched, listened and learned.

Today is my last day here at E&Y and this weekend also marks my departure from Atlanta.

My next adventure takes me to Georgetown this fall, where I will be pursuing my MBA. If you should find yourself in the DC Metro area in the future, please don’t be a stranger! We can join the legions of others who have shared stories of battle and triumph in the haunts of DC.
Please stay in touch! I can be reached at ______.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need to pick my brain about any of my clients. I’ll do my best to remember what I can to help the next senior/ staff if I have not yet replaced that client information with “What is a Hoya?” (Lamest joke ever- but I guess Georgetown isn't known for producing great comedians)

Cheers!
Sabrina

Atlanta to Tampa Trek

On Sunday, my brother and I made our trek back to Florida. I call it a trek because it became one by virtue of my car not having air conditioning. Yes, you read that right. Here in the South, I didn't have AC in my vehicle for over 2 months. Summer became sticky, sweaty and well, mostly spent inside with errands consolidated. It quickly reminded me of my childhood summers in Taiwan, where AC is a luxury, only to be turned on when the heat and humidity is unbearable or one is trying to get some rest with an afternoon nap. If only I could have strapped a window unit into my car.

With temperatures in the high 90's for the last month or so and my car thermometer seemingly happy to report that asphalt can hit over 100 when baking in the sun, we were faced with perhaps the hottest and most uncomfortable ride ever. Thankfully I took my father's advice and we left early in the morning- 4 AM early.

For kicks, we decided to take sporatic photos of the time and the temperature as we cruised along I-75 southbound. (Mostly when someone was wake and not driving to take them.) The ride was nice and cool and with few cars on the road, made it an easy drive. We arrived home in just under 7 hours. A few bathroom breaks and a trip to McD's added a few minutes, but it was still a good fast drive.

For the first 4 hours or so, the temperatures hovered between 72-76. Keep in mind that this would have been around the 4:30-8:30 AM time slot. Despite what the first photo says- it was taken on the gravel parking area of CB and SP's house- the starting temp was 72 when we hit the Connector.

It finally started feeling a little hot around High Springs/ Lake City, FL when the temps were in the mid 80's- steady and rising.

We pulled into Tampa as the thermometer flirted on and off with 90 and the dark clouds were rolling in for a morning shower.

Ah, Florida.









Sunday, July 5, 2009

The Roman Statue- International Criminal Court

Published: July 1, 2009

THE HAGUE — In 1998, more than 100 states adopted the Rome Statute to end impunity for those crimes that we had thought, over and over, would never happen again, only to see them occur, again and again: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The states accepted their shared duty to punish massive atrocities and created a new actor, a judicial actor, on the international scene: a permanent International Criminal Court, which would step in when national courts failed to act.

An independent, permanent court with a global reach was the object of strong debate in Rome and, for some states, a motive to oppose the court.

The drafters of the Rome Statute were not naïve idealists. They were the ultimate realists. In their lifetimes, they had watched the Khmer Rouge kill millions, they had let Srebrenica happen and they had let Rwanda happen. They had failed the “never again” promises of their fathers.

During their careers as political leaders, diplomats and negotiators, they had tried every solution: They shook hands with devils, sent them off to golden exiles, tried to appease them with promises of immunity, power and wealth. Each time they gambled on impunity and each time they lost.

They learned the need to adjust tactics to a lasting solution. By integrating in one justice system states and an independent international court, the drafters provided incentives for states to prosecute the worst crimes themselves. If the states didn’t do it, the I.C.C. would.

Less than four years after its adoption in Rome, more than 60 states ratified the statute and it entered into force. In 2003, 18 judges representing the five continents were appointed, and I was given responsibility to be the prosecutor. Together, we had to transform the idea of ending impunity into a reality.

During our first year, we found that the gravest crimes under our jurisdiction were committed in Uganda and Congo. The presidents of these countries decided to refer those situations to the court. One year later, in March 2005, Britain and France spearheaded the U.N. Security Council decision to refer Darfur to the court.

No one could have predicted the speed of this integration between the international system of peace and security and the new permanent system of international justice.

Central African Republic and the Ivory Coast also asked for an intervention by the court. Georgia, a party to the Rome Statute, but also Russia, a non-party, sent the court more than 3,000 communications regarding allegations of war crimes committed in Georgia. This year, the Palestinian National Authority accepted the jurisdiction of the court. A month ago the Arab League sent the court its first-ever fact-finding report on crimes committed in Gaza.

Supported by dozens of states — parties and nonparties — we are investigating those most responsible for the most serious crimes and collecting evidence in ongoing conflicts. As a result, the court has issued 13 arrest warrants and one summons.

The days of fearing a frivolous court are over. But there are new challenges created by a serious, operational institution. Arrest has become the biggest test. Some individuals sought by the court are enjoying the protection of their own militias, such as Jean Bosco Ntaganda in Congo. Others, like President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Ahmad Harun of Sudan, are officials of governments eager to shield them from justice.

They are still committing massive crimes. But their destiny is to face justice. The court is not going away. But the victims do not have the luxury of time. In Congo, in Darfur, rapes — rapes of women, rapes of girls — are destroying entire communities, entire generations, now.

There is hope. Congo executed arrest warrants against three militia leaders for enlisting child soldiers and making sexual slavery a weapon of war. Belgium has executed on its territory an arrest warrant against Jean-Pierre Bemba for his massive campaign of rape and pillage in the Central African Republic. The first trial is under way and a second and third are starting soon.

Decisions of the I.C.C. are felt well beyond the courtroom. The monitoring of allegations of crimes that my office is conducting in Afghanistan, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Palestine and Georgia can promote national justice efforts. Colombia is prosecuting hundreds of paramilitaries and guerrillas. In Kenya, our existence triggered discussions on accountability for crimes committed during the last elections. Impunity is no longer an option.

Armies around the world, even from non-signatory countries, are adjusting their standards and rules of engagement to the Rome Statute. This is the way to prevent crimes. The law makes the difference between a soldier or a terrorist, a policeman or a criminal.

Ratifications keep growing. This week, Chile becomes the 109th state party. But universal ratification is required to apply one standard all over the world. Today the court has no jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes committed in Iraq, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Burma or Somalia.

The states of 1998 supported the idea of the court. The states of 2009 are beginning to show the leadership required to implement the concept. They are aware that the court has a strong constituency: a new generation of global citizens in the making. Thousands of teenagers and 20-somethings from different countries, gathered in a group called “Invisible Children,” are calling for the execution of the I.C.C. arrest warrant for Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord Resistance Army, a man who abducted thousands of children in the last 23 years, turning boys into killing machines and girls into his so-called “wives.”

Step by step, the Rome Statute is in motion, moving ahead. Even critics of the court are talking about ending impunity. Sometimes the process is painful and sometimes it is controversial, but it is changing international relations forever.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo is the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Friday, July 3, 2009

My Life in a Box


My life stuffed in 10 x 10 storage unit. Well, most it and then some (F's mattress and dresser and a few boxes for him). Longest transition ever.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Last Day at EY

My last day at EY was much different than what I had expected. The last time I left a firm, I came in, turned in my stuff, and left. This time, I was really nervous- heart pounding nervous. I think its because I know that I'm leaving something that I've been doing for awhile and jumping into the unknown. I hadn't had any conscious reactions to this idea until yesterday.

It's not unusual to have the feeling that there isn't enough time to get everything done at work. There never is. But yesterday, as I was sending my final goodbye email, saving my performance reviews and getting ready to turn in my laptop, I felt like I was never going to get everything that I needed done. I didn't have enough time. Even with my exit checkout pushed back an hour, I felt anxious, nervous and rushed. But in this case, time was up for good. I made it out in 4 hours, a little longer than planned, but done nonetheless- closing out my time in Atlanta and in public accounting.

One last thing worth mentioning is the PCABO's review of Earthlink's 2008 audit file. Seeing CC in a tie with purple flowers minus is cowboy boots was quite a sight. But AF and my hard work on the audit was clear and concise. CC got 2 questions related to the IT portion of the audit- both related to the GAMx tool. That's right folks, my first clean audit with a passing grade from the PCAOB- no questions on procedures or documentation or strategy. That's got to be a record! EPICALLY AWESOME.

Relief- none in sight

Applications submitted- check
Interviews completed- check
Admitted to schools- check
Deposit submitted- check
Resignation given- check
Work wrapped up- check
Belongings stored- check
Last day complete- check

I keep waiting for this feeling of relief to come- satisfaction that I completed something- like the way you felt playing Super Mario Brothers and opened up a new stage. Throughout all of this, I kept thinking that at any given moment or stage in this whole process, busy season included too, that at one point I'd feel good about what I had done and that I had accomplished something. I got accepted into several programs. I was offered a scholarship. I'm going to Georgetown. That feeling has yet to hit me. I'm still waiting for it.

If anything has hit me, it is UTTER EXHAUSTION. The stress of wrapping up my work and moving has manifested itself in organizing things and cleaning things. Now that I finally put the last of my belongings that I won't need in July into storage, I'm STILL waiting for that feeling of accomplishment and relief and LOOKING FORWARD to it.

I contend that moving back to the FL will finally bring some relief and peace of mind. But I suspect that it might not really come until I'm moved into DC-- still several weeks down the road. I've never considered myself to be a dramatic person, but this sure does feel dramatic. ridiculous and self-inflicted.

Here's to hoping that sun and sand and family brings relief and relaxation.