When my whole family gets together it's always a hoot.  My dad's like Oscar the Grouch.  My mom acts like she's a kid with ADHD, and my sister and I talk trash to one another.  When they came to visit last week, here are a few of the conversations...

Dad: Go get gas.
Me: Umm... I still have half a tank of gas.
Dad: GO GET GAS.
Me: ok.

Dad: You're driving too fast.  The speed limit is 60 you're going 80.
Me: I'm going as fast as everyone else on the road.
Dad: That's too fast you're going to get a ticket
Me: Fine... (slowing down to 65)
NOTE: I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in the last 10 years of driving.

Me: Where do you want to eat lunch?
Dad: How about that place XXX took us last time?
Me: Rose Tea?  That's Taiwanese food, you just came from Taiwan and you want to eat that?  How bout something that you normally don't get to eat.
Dad: No, it's ok.  I like chinese food.
Me: You sure?  We have Thai....Vietnamense...Korean....
Dad: No, chinese is good.

Me: You know I read somewhere when you get old you get grumpy, like in the movie "Grumpy Old Men"
Sis: What if the person's already grumpy to begin with?
Me: You get dad.

Recently I got some "bad" news.  I put it in quotes because to me, it's not ideal.  I'm staying in Pittsburgh for at least another half year.  Once I get done with school, my startup will be in Pittsburgh to start.  For awhile, I had hoped that I could end up in CA doing the startup, but now the plan has been sidetracked sadly. :(  My hope is that I'll still end up there, but it'll be delayed.  The decision was a tough one.  I could always work for a big company in the Bay area, so it's not like I can't end up there.  It's about what matters most.
My decision came down to 2 factors, social life and following a dream.   The first is something I've really neglected in the last year.  It's because of the pressures of the dream that I was willing to sacrifice alot of the social aspects of my life.  But I've learned to deal with it well (I think) because I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.   I was going to move to CA, get back my social life, and do my startup, and be rich and famous in a few years.  Of course that was the fantasy.   CA was going to be the place where I continued to build up my networks, as I had in the past.  Here in Pittsburgh, I could continue to meet people, but they're far too young and it would be more looking for future talent as opposed to moving up the engineering food chain by networking with the big honchos in CA.  It's about growth.  I've grown alot in Pittsburgh; learned how to deal with different situations better;  became a better powerpoint person; learned what it takes to be a researcher. 
But my goal is to eventually move away from engineering and into management. In my mind there are several ways to do that.  First, go the slow route like my dad.  The good is that he's able to start a family and does a fair job of balancing both (however we always wish we could see him more, but isn't that what every family wants).  Will never become uber rich, but lives a comfortable life.  Second, get an MBA or consulting and make my way up the BS (yes I said it) ladder.  I could do this route, though I want to stand out more.  I just don't see many asians at the top of the ladder through traditional routes of MBA.  But maybe it's my limited view of the world.  Third, be uber smart and have VCs throw money at me.  I wish, but it's not going to happen.  I'm not experienced or talented enough in that regard.  I know my limitations.  I'm good at resolving problems and a hard worker.  I'm loyal.  I'm genuine. But I'm not ready to lead in that way yet.  I need to build a network and build up a vision.  Finally the last option (in my opinion) is to follow someone that knows what they are doing and learn the ropes.  This is my current path.  I may not turn out to be a uber rich dude the first time around, but the goal is to learn.  But there's lots of sacrifices in this route.  Whenever anyone asks me what my position will be.  I always answer "Head Bitch", though what I really mean to say is apprentice.  My only wish was that it was in CA, where I could continue to grow.  Network.  The limitations of Pittsburgh is precisely why everyone moves away.  There's no tech network in Pittsburgh aside from CMU.
I spoke with several people for advice, and what it really came down to is what I need right now.  I could go to CA now.  Work for an Intel or an Apple, and live contently on my 6 figure income.  Settle down, have my 2.5 kids and save up for a nice house and live out the rest of my life on the beach...or... I can stay in Pittsburgh awhile longer, and see this whole thing through.  Do I trust my advisor enough to believe he can lead me to the promiseland?  Can I sacrifice my social life a bit longer for a chance to be a big shot.  I have to take the chance... even if it fails, to say I tried is good right?  I know the chances of failure is high, but I have to believe in myself, that I will do everything I can to make it succeed.