The Movies, My Way

So S and I went to see "The Wolfman" on Friday. So romantic, I know. But, I do love Anthony Hopkins. The theatre was packed.

We had ventured out to see Sherlock Holmes on its opening day, and ended up sitting in the front row, which sucks. Viewing the movie from 5 feet away leaves one with an aching neck and the whole movie is distorted. So this time, we planned ahead.

We arrived plenty early and got a good place in line. Armed with popcorn and drinks, I hustled town the corridor towards the movie, with S chugging along 5 feet behind. I was not going to sit in the front row again, damnit, so I urged him to hurry it up. Nicely, of course.

We found decent seats midway up the theatre. I sat down one seat away from the next person, S. on my right, and an empty seat next to him, then the aisle. We were waaaay early and watched people streaming in to the theatre looking for seats. I do not like sitting near total strangers and wanted to make sure I didn't have to. A little water dribbled out from my water bottle ensured that did not happen. Anyone who asked if S & I could scoot down a seat would be met with a sad face and the explanation that sorry, the seat was wet! Since it was the last showing for the night, I didn't feel bad, since it would dry before the next day.

The movie wasn't all that great, sort of a bad role for someone of Sir Anthony Hopkins stature; but the important thing was that I wasn't in the front rown and had plenty of arm space, so I will call it a win.

Several years ago, in Indianapolis, I went to see Stepford Wives at the dollar theatre. I went with a former friend Kelly and her friend Tim. Before the movie, we went to O'Charleys, where I stole a cloth covered napkin and silverware. After dinner, we bought pints of Haagen-Daz and smuggled them into the theatre. Somehow, eating great ice cream with a cloth napkin and a non plastic spoon classed up the dollar theatre.

I am one of those people that will but candy or munchies somewhere else, not at the movies. Seriously, $3 for a bag of Skittles? Not happening. So far I have been smuggling food in undercover for at least 10 years. I willusually succumb to the chemical goodness of popcorn and buy some at the concession stand, but that is about my limit.

I laugh now because I sem cheap, and maybe I am. But that is a trait of my fathers. All of the years worrying that I would turn out like mom, and here comes the frugality of my father, who will squeeze a nickel until it screams. Although for what its worth, I bet dad waits for DVD rentals, and outcheaps me still. I'm ok with that.

Doh!

I missed my new book club tonight. We read a book I was really looking forward to discussing, and I screwed up and thought it was tomorrow. Yeah, and I have been a staffing coordinator before, so you would think I could figure out a calendar.

Work continues - I was hired at the same time as another person, with me as the lead. She got fired on Friday and it was sort of my fault. Long story short, the other chick was on her cell texting most of the day, and worked crazy amounts of overtime for a new job. Problem was, after hours she would have her girlfriend and sisters, and probably random other people come to the office. The company I work for deals with medical stuff, so thereis a LOT of cinfidential paperwork around - names, DOB's, social security numbers. So, not smart to have people come and visit you for half an hour at a time. BUT, it was her birthday, and getting fired on your birthday has got to suck like nothing else.

So, good that she is not there wasting company time and money. Bad because there is a HUGE amount of backog to plow through, and no idea when another person will be hired. I was replacing a guy who stayed around for a week and a half to train me, but there isn't a person to train the other person, because our jobs are sort of different, so this should be interesting. And by interesting I mean stressful. I do like my new boss though and I think I will get along well with her and even though it is a lot of work I think I can do really well at it.

Exhaustion is creeping in though. The Online Predator (and really,I need to find a better alias for him) will be back this week, so that is good. Hopefully we can have a couple of early nights so I don't stay up past my bedtime.

I saw Quarantine on Sunday. Save your money folks. It is a cross between The Blair Witch Project and a cheesy carnival haunted house ride. So since the movie sucked, I bought myself two new pairs of shoes and then I felt better. Retail therapy is not as effective as I would like, but a momentary happiness is achieved. Plus the shoes are cute so I am gonna call it a win win.

Bad news for my brother G. He was laid off from his job. He has a very cool job of making neon signs - bending the glass, adding the neon, being crafty and arty. Unfortunately the evil compnay Yahoo pulled their account and layoffs were made. This really sucks for him because he has a degenerative spine condition and his former boss had been very willing to work around G's ability to work day to day. And his cat is due for vaccinations and has a little infection on his chin. I am going to send him a hundred bucks or so when I get paid this week, but that isn't alot of money. If I can figure out who and where his cats vet is I may try and prepay for the annual exam and any meds. I know what it is like to have a sick cat and no job, so I will help him as much as I can. And he knows I have dibs on a kidney if I ever need one...

G and I were never close growing up. It has really only been the last couple of years that we have talked about anything real - my family is generally not open to discussing anything other than the most banal subjects, and never discussing the flock of pink elephants in the room. It is such a pleasant surprise to be getting to know him, even if it has taken this long. I haven't actually seen him in over 10 years, but maybe soon we can arrange a visit. He is in California, and I would love to see the Pacific, so maybe when I accrue some vacation time I could fly out and see him. I don't think I will ever have a relationship with my sister or my other two brothers, and will likely never be on speaking terms with either of my parents. But I want to keep G a little closer.

I am alive!

I survived my date with my online predator!

We went to a really late showing of Lakeview Terrace. Loved the movie.

And I loved sitting in the dark wondering if there was going to be hand holding or whether there would be a good night kiss, and all the other things. There was. And holy crap I can see why people have one night stands - not that I did that! I have not been hugged by anyone but coworkers in 4-5 months. So there is temptation and craving of touch. And as much as I would love to be in a long term, stable relationship, there is something so exhilarating about being out with someone new and different and unknown.

And a tiny yay for me and my little blgo - I hit 50 posts!

OMG

OK, first the job interviews.

1. Interview for job I don't think I want. Interviewing chick was late. Only like 5 minutes, but no apology or acknowledgement of her lateness, which bothers me. Also, she asked if I had children which is one of the top ten HR no-no's. On the plus side, I get to go for a drug screen tomorrow. Whoo hoo? And a 2nd interview with interview chick and distruct manager on Tuesday.

2. Interview for the job I wanted. The doctor asked me what kind of medical practice I worked for before, I told him hair replacement. NO not plugs! Individually cut and placed hair follicles thankyouverymuch, which is a long and expensive procedure. Anyway, interviewing doc is losing hair and spent 15 minutes discussing surgical options with me before telling me he thought I was over qualified. Then WHY THE FUCK did he even have me come in for an interview??? I don't wish anyone harm, because that karma is a bitch, yo. HOWEVER, If maybe he was uneligible for hair replacement surgery I would feel vindicated somehow.

The good news? One, I bought a pair of jeans in a size smaller than I was, so yay freaking me! and Two? I have a date, sort of, tonight. I am meeting the email guy from Craigslist. Best friend GEM is referring to him as My Online Predator, which amuses him to no end. GEM works in a prison as a nurse and is able to screen any potential dates he has to see if they have ever been arrested. I don't have that info available to me, so if I don't post for a week or so, someone please inform the local authorities... We are going to see the new flick with Samuel L. Jackson - "pleasant terrace" or something. Yeah I am that lazy not to look online for a movie title.

This is so exciting, because I was in a very boring and bad relationship for 4 years, so new and interesting is a big deal to me.

I also had a couple of epiphanies about my life and what I need to do. More on that later.

My new book club selection is Come Back, by the Fontaines. I finished it last night and it was a very difficult read for me, and made me think a whole lot of not easy things about myself. More on that later too. Not going to do anything today that makes me weepy. Plus I am a little PMS-y so anything weepy could snowball. Happy thoughts only, kthxbai!

One good thing, and OMG

The good thing. I have an online penpal. Its a divorced older guy, neither one of us is looking to hook up, and I am not sure we will even ever meet IRL, BUT it is a live person I can talk to, and I so needed that.

The OMG?
Tropic Thunder.
So I have always loved Robert Downey Junior. Back in the 90's I figured if I could just get to Hollywood, I could have him married, divorced and cashed the first alimony check before he even sobered up. Not great for a long term relationship, but one hell of a fun ride while it lasted, right?

But the best part is not even RDJ, though it saddens me to say it. Tom "Batshit Crazy" Cruise had the best fucking part in the movie, and I would have been willing to watch 15 more minutes of his roayl craziness. It is that funny.

I don't buy a lot of movies. There are very few that I will re-watch, and those that I do are always on re-runs - Steel Magnolias (Don't talk about me like I'm not here!), The Breakfast Club, etc. But I am for sure for sure renting this one for the special effects, and may eventually buy it on Amazon when it goes for five bucks or less. Cause I'm cheap.

And thank you, to Loyal Reader Jen for all the kind comments and just letting me know someone out there is hearing (reading?) me.

Birthday Loot and a movie review

I am now officially loving my job. When I interviewed, the owner told me all about how every one there was part of a big family and every person was just so special. Well, cynical little old me sort of blew that off as just a standard interview team player kind of speech. The other employees had told me that since the pay was not great and the benefits non-existent, that the owner tried to really make us happy anyway. I sort of blew that off too, since I am so new to the company, and again more than a little suspicious and cynical.

I was so wrong. I had mentioned that I am going through a bad breakup and didn't want to make my own cake, so the owner baked a cheesecake for me. Thats right. Homemade, with fresh strawberries on top!!!!

And there were streamers, balloons and GIFTS! I was blown away by the generosity, especially since I have only worked there for a month. I received the Happy perfume, along with the Clinique freebie bag (they are so expensive, but their giveaways are great!), a Lancome freebie bag with all sorts of goodies in it, a quilted gold travel toiletry bag (prettier than it sounds), oodles of bath and body works lotions and potions in a very pretty spring-y tote bag, lip balms (I am an addict), and assorted mani-pedi type things.

Not only was all of this a complete surprise to me, but it came at just the right time too. I have to think it is karma, and that for the moment, things are going exactly as they are meant to for me, and will only keep getting better.

I also received a package of goodies from GEM - 8 rings, 2 necklaces, a beaded lipstick holder and a wall hanging thing that says "wish upon a star". GEM is the worlds best shopper of thrift stores and flea markets and always finds amazing things, although some of my goodies were new. He is incredibly kind and generous, as well as thoughtful - and he sends funny little cards for virtually every holiday. I will have to send my next boyfriend to a boot camp with GEM on how to treat a person really well and find little trinkets for special occasions! He has been very supportive of me during all the issues with S., and though he does not always take my side, he is looking out for what is best for me and offers oints of view I might not have thought of otherwise. I hope all of you out there have such a great person in their lives.

On to the movies!

I watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" on Tuesday. Reader(s), save your money. I had read, and enjoyed, the Phillippa Gregory book it was based on, but the movie was so so much less than what it could have been. I had also read that Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls) was in the movie. But she didn't have a speaking role that I heard, and I didn't even see her, which was disapointing. Anne just seemed like a petty bitch, and not the very smart and scheming person she seemed to be in her life. And Mary was a total pushover patsy, but I think in reality she was probably just as aware of the political climate she was living in as Anne, but the portrayal was so weak in this movie.

So the movie sort of sucked, but I was out and about enjoying myself on my birthday, so it wasn't a total loss. I think I want to see the ovie about Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose next, not sure if it is out on DVD yet, but hopefully it will be soon if not already.

I am pleased with myself for another reason - I have three cards, written in, signed, sealed, addressed and stamped to go out in the mail tomorrow. I love getting non-bill mail, so I am sending it to other people as well, and I hope to do it more frequently. In GEM's card, I sent him a little sampler from the "Subversive Cross-stitch" line that says "Please don't do coke in the bathroom". GEM is not a former club kid per se, but he was very much on the prowl in the 80's and will hopefully get a kick out of it. I am also sending him a lovely purple crocus/lily one that I got the pattern for free online. I am getting craftier in my older age!

My new coworkers have also given me the heads up on some possible apartments to check out as well as some to avoid. All in all, things are going pretty well here in Marias World. And still I am not taking antidepressants. I think maybe I am just getting better because I am taking more control over my life, and I am going to keep moving forward and being more positive.