It's snowing like crazy outside so it's time for the Christmas Movie edition of the marathon.
A Charlie Brown Christmas - It's funny how cute and how universal this movie continues to be. I think it really has to do with the music and the lovely Linus on stage telling the true meaning of Christmas part. It doesn't really have much of a plot so it's obviously not the story. A classic and vital part of the Christmas tradition.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie - This is a little too topical to become a classic but watching Kermit get really frustrated and lose hope is a first for the Muppets, I think. Whoopi Goldberg as God is always awesome and Pepe The Prawn makes me laugh my ass off.
It's A Wonderful Life - People dog this movie as too sacharine but I'm surprised as how truly bitter George is about his entire life, not just at the end when the shit hits the fan. He is very angry the whole time. The scene where he explodes in front of his family and screams at the teacher over the phone is truly frightening. I try to imagine if my husband came home and screamed at the kids for nothing and then took off, what I would do. The ending is sickly sweet but I think it balances the bitterness of the rest of the movie well.
Love Actually - I find this movie rather sad at times. I really enjoy watching it but the lost love stories - Laura Linney and Emma Thompson especially - that really get to me. You so want Laura Linney to get together with the hot guy and it just doesn't happen. Bill Nighy always makes me laugh in a truly naughty way so this will continue to be one of my favorites. I didn't really like it at first but with repeated viewings, it has ingrained itself in me.
The Nightmare Before Christmas - I always think of this a Halloween movie and it's not one of my favorites at Christmas time but it's a joy to watch anyway. I love how animation can capture with live action just simply cannot. You can be nasty and talk about killing Santa if you're a little goblin.
Scrooged - Oh my God, Carol Kane kills me in this! "Some times you have to slap them in the face to get their attention!" I could watch her scenes over and over again. And it's just a clever retelling of the Dickens story. Whereas so many others get sickly sweet, this one really avoids it. And that's due to Bill Murray's genious comedy and nastiness.
Trading Places - Yes, this is actually a Christmas movie. Most people forget that. Jamie Lee Curtis really makes this movie for me as she is the ultimate hooker with a heart. And good business sense. The scenes with Aykroyd and Murphy together are my favorite. They're a great foil for each other.
White Christmas - The penultimate Christmas movie in my opinion. Why do I love this movie so much? No kids! No family! No cliche transformation of a bad attitude! It's just a love story about performers who get together to try and do something nice for someone who is important to them. I want to be Rosemary Clooney in that black dress with the rhinestone broach on the butt! And again at the end in that red dress with the white fur trim! The costumes in this movie are fantastic. Edith Head I believe. The songs are fantastic, the dancing is amazing, the business between Kaye and Crosby in the dressing room scene is a master class. It's got a ton of exposition but it's not heavy or dragged down with dialogue. I shall forever use "Give me one good reason . . . " "Well, it's not good but it's a reason." and "Like honesty needs a little plus, fate needs a little push." A must see every year.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - F2/G
Funny Face - "Take the picture!" "Stop!" "I don't want to stop, take the picture!" Such fabulous costumes in this film. I wouldn't say that it's one of my favorite musicals but hey, anything with Audrey Hepburn works for me.
Funny Girl - This, on the whole, is a sad film. Fanny's relationship with Nick is doomed to fail from the beginning but the way it plays out is difficult to watch. But the songs are great and it's Barbra so I watch with joy nonetheless.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - I watched this movie so many times as a kid. I just loved it. Who knew then that SJP would turn into the fabulous fashion icon of SATC? And an early Helen Hunt is super cool. Another awesome 80's dance movie.
Get Shorty - This is a fun movie but not one of my favorites. I'll save my love of Renae Russo for The Thomas Crown Affair. I think I got this free with my DVD player. Clever but. . . eh.
Gosford Park - Saw this movie for the first time in London. I love the conversational, ensemble nature of the direction and of course, anything with Emily Watson works for me. I wish she was in more American film.
Grosse Pointe Blank - This is by far the best John Cusak film, in my humble opinion. I love that he fully admits that he's an assassin and people just go with it because they think he's kidding. His scenes with Minnie Driver have such connection and attraction, I could watch them over and over. And I have. Rather violent in spots but it's so funny that you forgive.
Good Will Hunting - Another Minnie Driver example of awesomeness. I can't really say anything about this film that hasn't already been said. Only that I wish Matt/Ben would write another film. It could only be a good thing.
Funny Girl - This, on the whole, is a sad film. Fanny's relationship with Nick is doomed to fail from the beginning but the way it plays out is difficult to watch. But the songs are great and it's Barbra so I watch with joy nonetheless.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - I watched this movie so many times as a kid. I just loved it. Who knew then that SJP would turn into the fabulous fashion icon of SATC? And an early Helen Hunt is super cool. Another awesome 80's dance movie.
Get Shorty - This is a fun movie but not one of my favorites. I'll save my love of Renae Russo for The Thomas Crown Affair. I think I got this free with my DVD player. Clever but. . . eh.
Gosford Park - Saw this movie for the first time in London. I love the conversational, ensemble nature of the direction and of course, anything with Emily Watson works for me. I wish she was in more American film.
Grosse Pointe Blank - This is by far the best John Cusak film, in my humble opinion. I love that he fully admits that he's an assassin and people just go with it because they think he's kidding. His scenes with Minnie Driver have such connection and attraction, I could watch them over and over. And I have. Rather violent in spots but it's so funny that you forgive.
Good Will Hunting - Another Minnie Driver example of awesomeness. I can't really say anything about this film that hasn't already been said. Only that I wish Matt/Ben would write another film. It could only be a good thing.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - 1 Forgotten E & F2
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Wrapping your brain around the plot of this movie is really difficult and that's one of the reasons I love it. It's challenging and completely illogical and totally original. And who wouldn't want to wipe out the memories of a relationship that ended badly? It's a very common movie theme that you don't know what you got until it's gone but rarely is it done with such emotional rawness and pain. It's a love story but it's messy and messed up and fraught with fear. Just like life.
Frida - I love bio-pics about artists. Especially ones in which you see the actor actually paint. So far this and Pollock are the only ones I've come across. Being able to see what inspires the artist to come up with all that crazy shit is really fascinating to me. You literally see Frida's soul spew out onto the canvases. And Julie Taymore's direction, the colors, the animation dream sequences - it's all captivating. It also includes the best wedding speech ever. I'll include it here in the hopes that I'll be able to repeat it at an actual wedding someday.
Frida - I love bio-pics about artists. Especially ones in which you see the actor actually paint. So far this and Pollock are the only ones I've come across. Being able to see what inspires the artist to come up with all that crazy shit is really fascinating to me. You literally see Frida's soul spew out onto the canvases. And Julie Taymore's direction, the colors, the animation dream sequences - it's all captivating. It also includes the best wedding speech ever. I'll include it here in the hopes that I'll be able to repeat it at an actual wedding someday.
"I don't believe in marriage, really I don't. At it's worst it's a hostile political act, a way for small minded men to keep women in the house and out of the way, wrapped up in the guise of tradition and conservative religious nonsense. At best, it's a happy delusion - these two people who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they're about to make each other. But, but, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don't think it's conservative or delusional. I think it's radical and couragous and very romantic."
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - F
Fabulous Baker Boys - LOVE. This is a recent addition to the library and I've watched it at least five times since I got it. The music is fabulous and this fits right in with my love of watching people do things with their hands like cook, build things and play fabulous piano. It's not just a movie it's part of the cultural lexicon (re, the scene on the piano). Michelle Pfeifer's greatest role to date.
40 Year-old Virgin - What I love about this film is that while it's a "guy" movie, it's very sincere and emotional and respectful of women. It has a certain sweetness and intelligence to it and you can tell that the writer doesn't have much fear of looking silly and expressing his feelings. It's not about getting with girls but getting THE girl, even though she's a grandmother. Very much like American Pie, you like they guys and want them to be happy despite the stupid "guy" things they do. The chest waxing scene will go down in movie history as the most painful thing an actor has ever willingly done for a role. The on-screen chemistry between Steve Carell and Catherin Keener is really cool and the final number is killer.
A Fish Called Wanda - "Asshole!" is my favorite line and one I use quite often. Especially while driving. "Disappointed!" is also very useful. Again with the British comedy. I just dig it. There's a certain self-effacing quality and no fear of making an ass of ones self. Maybe is the contrast between the uptight pompious English attitude and the sheer stupidity of the circumstances in which they find themselves. You know a movie is funny when a guy actually dies watching because he was laughing so hard.
Flashdance/Footloose - Lets take these together, shall we? To amazing dance movies with awesome 80's vibe and superb music. Both have scenes that have become culturally iconic touchstones and have been reference repeatedly in pop culture. I think people under appreciate these but it may be because I was just at the right age to be all over these films when they came out. It's probably because of the hair (or the low self-esteem) but Jennifer Beales always reminds me of my sister. I love that Kevin Bacon stands up to radical Christianity and uses the Bible to reason with them. And when they are denied anyway, the find a way to make the dance happen.
40 Year-old Virgin - What I love about this film is that while it's a "guy" movie, it's very sincere and emotional and respectful of women. It has a certain sweetness and intelligence to it and you can tell that the writer doesn't have much fear of looking silly and expressing his feelings. It's not about getting with girls but getting THE girl, even though she's a grandmother. Very much like American Pie, you like they guys and want them to be happy despite the stupid "guy" things they do. The chest waxing scene will go down in movie history as the most painful thing an actor has ever willingly done for a role. The on-screen chemistry between Steve Carell and Catherin Keener is really cool and the final number is killer.
A Fish Called Wanda - "Asshole!" is my favorite line and one I use quite often. Especially while driving. "Disappointed!" is also very useful. Again with the British comedy. I just dig it. There's a certain self-effacing quality and no fear of making an ass of ones self. Maybe is the contrast between the uptight pompious English attitude and the sheer stupidity of the circumstances in which they find themselves. You know a movie is funny when a guy actually dies watching because he was laughing so hard.
Flashdance/Footloose - Lets take these together, shall we? To amazing dance movies with awesome 80's vibe and superb music. Both have scenes that have become culturally iconic touchstones and have been reference repeatedly in pop culture. I think people under appreciate these but it may be because I was just at the right age to be all over these films when they came out. It's probably because of the hair (or the low self-esteem) but Jennifer Beales always reminds me of my sister. I love that Kevin Bacon stands up to radical Christianity and uses the Bible to reason with them. And when they are denied anyway, the find a way to make the dance happen.
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - E
Yes, it's been a while so I figured I had better catch up on my viewing activities before I jump into the Christmas Movie Marathon next week.
Elizabeth - Cate Blanchett was robbed of that Oscar. She should have received it for this film. This is a knock-down, drag-out performance. She carries this movie and doesn't even look like she's working at it. The costumes are amazing and the transformation of her appearance and bearing from young niave princess to formidable and historically integral ruler is really amazing to watch. Very powerful woman indeed, actress and subject.
Extras - I have friends who don't much like Ricky Gervais, but I think he's hilarious. Of course, a good bit of English humor always got me giggling. And Extras is full of not just humor but rolling on the floor laughing and peeing your pants funny shit. Maggie is really my favorite. She's got that Bridget Jones way of being stupidly sweet. This is a great series to watch because it's quick and dirty - six 30 minute episodes per season and a totally awesome and surprisingly heartfelt final episode that sends up reality TV.
Enchanted - Ah, Disney. I didn't have high hopes. But so cool, this movie. I've always loved stories that start in animation and transition into live-action. I remember a Raggedy-ann and Andy film from years ago that was the opposite. And they did figure out how to do away with the simpering princess waiting for the prince to come and save her. She saves him in the end. I'm willing to forgive the tragic under utilization of Susan Sarandon and why in god's name they would cast Edina Menzel and not have her sing in a musical is beyond me. I enjoy the movie's modern touches anyway. The rats, pidgeons and cockroaches cleaning the apartment is super clever.
Elizabeth - Cate Blanchett was robbed of that Oscar. She should have received it for this film. This is a knock-down, drag-out performance. She carries this movie and doesn't even look like she's working at it. The costumes are amazing and the transformation of her appearance and bearing from young niave princess to formidable and historically integral ruler is really amazing to watch. Very powerful woman indeed, actress and subject.
Extras - I have friends who don't much like Ricky Gervais, but I think he's hilarious. Of course, a good bit of English humor always got me giggling. And Extras is full of not just humor but rolling on the floor laughing and peeing your pants funny shit. Maggie is really my favorite. She's got that Bridget Jones way of being stupidly sweet. This is a great series to watch because it's quick and dirty - six 30 minute episodes per season and a totally awesome and surprisingly heartfelt final episode that sends up reality TV.
Enchanted - Ah, Disney. I didn't have high hopes. But so cool, this movie. I've always loved stories that start in animation and transition into live-action. I remember a Raggedy-ann and Andy film from years ago that was the opposite. And they did figure out how to do away with the simpering princess waiting for the prince to come and save her. She saves him in the end. I'm willing to forgive the tragic under utilization of Susan Sarandon and why in god's name they would cast Edina Menzel and not have her sing in a musical is beyond me. I enjoy the movie's modern touches anyway. The rats, pidgeons and cockroaches cleaning the apartment is super clever.
Job Offer in the Works and Another Interview
So, yeah, I think I have a job now. Unfortunately it's at one of my old employers as a contractor again. I'm not crazy about that but it's better than nothing. It's a 2 year contract which is cool and the interview was with two rather cool chicks that I'll be working with. I'm excited to get back into the land of the living again. I'm not excited about no insurance, no vacation, no holiday pay and all that not being rewarded the way my co-workers are being rewarded but hey, beggars can't be choosers. It's a mixed blessing. I also just sent in my loan-modification paperwork so I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen now. It's unfortunate that I waited so long in that any changes they would have made would have been permanent but . . .
I also had an interview today, which I think went well. It pays better than the contractor job, is permanent and includes benefits. In talking with my placement guy, he said I should accept the contractor job and then I can always quit when I find out about this one. Of course, I'll be taking this one if I get an offer for it. It's just better and I'll always chose the devil I don't know, cuz that's just me. As I told a friend who was offered a job by her old employer after being laid off, going back to an old employer is like going back to a boyfriend who broke up with you and then wants you back. There's just a lot of hard feelings and bad history there.
I also had an interview today, which I think went well. It pays better than the contractor job, is permanent and includes benefits. In talking with my placement guy, he said I should accept the contractor job and then I can always quit when I find out about this one. Of course, I'll be taking this one if I get an offer for it. It's just better and I'll always chose the devil I don't know, cuz that's just me. As I told a friend who was offered a job by her old employer after being laid off, going back to an old employer is like going back to a boyfriend who broke up with you and then wants you back. There's just a lot of hard feelings and bad history there.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - D2
Dirty Dancing - Ah, the world has lost a great man in Patrick Swayze. It really is sad. I was watching both this film and Too Wong Foo and just sad that we won't see any really daring hotness anymore. A muscle-bound, man's man not afraid to dance and wear a dress. Now that's a man. This film (and Pretty Woman, which we'll get to later) are kind of "family movies." My mother, sister and I can quote freely from these movies and instantly have a reference. This film reminds me in spirit of American Beauty in the sense that she is living her life the way she is supposed to and is awakened by circumstance to the possibilities. I think everyone wishes that had happened to them at 18. I could watch the scene where he's teaching her to dance and they pass the camera past the rippling muscles on his back. Very yummy. The world is less sexy without him.
Don Juan DeMarco - This is a funny little movie. Of course, Johnny Depp is amazing but the plot is so sweet and gentle that it's hard not to love this. Faye Dunaway, though older than most leading actresses now, has got to still be one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Deadwood - A little out of order because I forgot about this one. I had watched this entire series right before starting the marathon and didn't want to start it again but I can't finish the Ds without it. This is simply a great movie-quality show. Which is unfortunately why they're not making it anymore and never got the chance to finish the story in a satisfying way but it's still amazing to watch. I love what this show can teach us about the roll of women in previous centuries. It's hard to talk specifics because the plot is so intensely packed per episode and there are so many episodes so I'll leave it at "Watch it. It'll be good for you. You'll swear more."
Dreamgirls - I saw this film the first time in the theater and wasn't all that impressed with the opening number. However, Eddie Murphie teaching the girls to be his back up singers seamlessly sliding into him performing onstage with them in front of a cheering crowd made me thing "Oh, this is gonna be good." And I wasn't disappointed. I had the same reaction to this film ending as I did to Moulin Rouge - "Can we watch it again?"
Don Juan DeMarco - This is a funny little movie. Of course, Johnny Depp is amazing but the plot is so sweet and gentle that it's hard not to love this. Faye Dunaway, though older than most leading actresses now, has got to still be one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Deadwood - A little out of order because I forgot about this one. I had watched this entire series right before starting the marathon and didn't want to start it again but I can't finish the Ds without it. This is simply a great movie-quality show. Which is unfortunately why they're not making it anymore and never got the chance to finish the story in a satisfying way but it's still amazing to watch. I love what this show can teach us about the roll of women in previous centuries. It's hard to talk specifics because the plot is so intensely packed per episode and there are so many episodes so I'll leave it at "Watch it. It'll be good for you. You'll swear more."
Dreamgirls - I saw this film the first time in the theater and wasn't all that impressed with the opening number. However, Eddie Murphie teaching the girls to be his back up singers seamlessly sliding into him performing onstage with them in front of a cheering crowd made me thing "Oh, this is gonna be good." And I wasn't disappointed. I had the same reaction to this film ending as I did to Moulin Rouge - "Can we watch it again?"
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - D
Dangerous Liaisons - I think this is the coolest costume drama ever made. The sheer vengeance factor will blow you away to say nothing of the costumes, the sets, makeup, music and the joy of seeing John Malkovich and Glenn Close throw daggers at each other. Unfortunately, you've got to sit through a few scenes with Keanu Reeves trying to act his way out of a paper bag with a pair of scissors but it's worth it to get to Michelle Pfeiffer. A good film to watch when you're really really pissed at someone.
Dead Again - Full disclosure: I'm a huge Kenneth Brannagh fan. So the fact that I love this movie shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I kinda believe in the possibility of reincarnation so I'm very willing to just go along with the plot, which is pretty complicated. Just love the scenes with Robin Williams "Fcukin' knife her, man. Do her before she does you!" And the clothes. Good low key thriller for the person who doesn't like horror movies.
Desperately Seeking Susan - Isn't it amazing how fashions come full circle? I saw shoulder pads in the mall the other day. This is the ultimate fantasy for every uptight housewife - follow a cool girl, get amnesia, accidentally steal her identity, find a great guy and fall in love with him. And Aidan Quinn? Hello. I'd sleep on his floor anytime. Great clothes, great music. A good movie for when you're missing the 80's.
Devil Wears Prada - Another great fashiom movie. And who doesn't love Anne Hathaway? I don't have much to say about this movie. I got it for free left over at our bar from an event that we arrived after. Fun to watch when you're in the sassy fashion mood, though.
Dead Again - Full disclosure: I'm a huge Kenneth Brannagh fan. So the fact that I love this movie shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. I kinda believe in the possibility of reincarnation so I'm very willing to just go along with the plot, which is pretty complicated. Just love the scenes with Robin Williams "Fcukin' knife her, man. Do her before she does you!" And the clothes. Good low key thriller for the person who doesn't like horror movies.
Desperately Seeking Susan - Isn't it amazing how fashions come full circle? I saw shoulder pads in the mall the other day. This is the ultimate fantasy for every uptight housewife - follow a cool girl, get amnesia, accidentally steal her identity, find a great guy and fall in love with him. And Aidan Quinn? Hello. I'd sleep on his floor anytime. Great clothes, great music. A good movie for when you're missing the 80's.
Devil Wears Prada - Another great fashiom movie. And who doesn't love Anne Hathaway? I don't have much to say about this movie. I got it for free left over at our bar from an event that we arrived after. Fun to watch when you're in the sassy fashion mood, though.
Unemployment Update
Holy crap, it's been a month since I've posted! Amazing how time flies when you're completely bored and miserable and broke, isn't it? OK, truth be told, I'm not totally miserable or broke but I'm definitely getting there. And no, I don't have a job yet please stop asking for crap sake.
So, I know I said this would be an update but there's not really that much to update on. Still looking for a job and still not finding one. Actually, I kinda feel like I've given up finding a job the traditional way. I've applied for over 150 jobs through Monster and CareerBuilder and not getting any responses. I'm still at the flower shop and enjoying it especially now that the Christmas decorations are coming out. They really do it up big in the entire store so it's really easy to get in the spirit even before Halloween/Thanksgiving. Have applied at the perfume counter's competitor (at the same mall) and have an interview on Monday. We'll see if they pay more than $7.75/hour or not. Might not even be worth it.
So, I know I said this would be an update but there's not really that much to update on. Still looking for a job and still not finding one. Actually, I kinda feel like I've given up finding a job the traditional way. I've applied for over 150 jobs through Monster and CareerBuilder and not getting any responses. I'm still at the flower shop and enjoying it especially now that the Christmas decorations are coming out. They really do it up big in the entire store so it's really easy to get in the spirit even before Halloween/Thanksgiving. Have applied at the perfume counter's competitor (at the same mall) and have an interview on Monday. We'll see if they pay more than $7.75/hour or not. Might not even be worth it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - C3
I've been a little remiss in writing so I'll try to catch up a bit.
Chocolat - Do not watch this movie if you're on a diet. It will just make you want to eat chocolate, make chocolate, smear chocolate all over yourself. And Johnny Depp. I'm not sure that I like the changes they made in plot from the book but I enjoy it just the same.
Chorus Line - So classic. Such a great musical. Rare is the musical that doesn't have a star or a main character. Much beloved.
Clue - Communism is just a red herring. Love the triple ending options. I always watch them all in a row as the last one is really the only one that makes sense.
The Color Purple - I still have a hard time believing that this is Steven Spielberg. From Jaws to this is really an amazing show of flexibility.
Company - Can I just eat Raul Esparza for lunch? I find this a fabulous stage production to watch in the place where I am right now. Bobby's realizations about his life and where it's going as far as relationships is really illustrative for me. "Sorry, Grateful" is my favorite song other than the finale. So lovely to see him in Pushing Daisies.
Chocolat - Do not watch this movie if you're on a diet. It will just make you want to eat chocolate, make chocolate, smear chocolate all over yourself. And Johnny Depp. I'm not sure that I like the changes they made in plot from the book but I enjoy it just the same.
Chorus Line - So classic. Such a great musical. Rare is the musical that doesn't have a star or a main character. Much beloved.
Clue - Communism is just a red herring. Love the triple ending options. I always watch them all in a row as the last one is really the only one that makes sense.
The Color Purple - I still have a hard time believing that this is Steven Spielberg. From Jaws to this is really an amazing show of flexibility.
Company - Can I just eat Raul Esparza for lunch? I find this a fabulous stage production to watch in the place where I am right now. Bobby's realizations about his life and where it's going as far as relationships is really illustrative for me. "Sorry, Grateful" is my favorite song other than the finale. So lovely to see him in Pushing Daisies.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - C2
Casino Royalle - Sorry to all the James Bond fans out there but I just couldn't watch this movie. I waited through the first 15 minutes or so and decided to turn it off. There was nothing but running after shooting after fighting - on and on and on and no clue about the plot or anything. I'll just wait until I get to the Ts and can watch The Thomas Crowne Affair.
Cast Away - I have a friend who cannot watch this movie. She's terrified to fly in the first place and watching the plane crash in this film would just put her over the edge. It really is a terrifying scene and what he has to go through to survive and eventually escape the island makes you change your mind about the romantic notion of being stranded on a desert island. I see many similarities between this film and American Beauty. Both are about men just lost in their lives and not being aware of what they're doing. It takes a major event to wake them up. I just love the scene at the end where he is literally at a crossroads and has the opportunity to decide how he wants the rest of his life to turn out. How many of us really get that chance?
Chicago - Another movie musical. Some people didn't like the scenes and dialogue being added to this film but I never really liked how the stage presentation just jumped from song to song without connecting them. I continue to be impressed by Renee Zelwiger's talent and was glad to see Gere and Zeta Jones singing and dancing. I remember when I heard that Queen Latifa was going to play Mama Morton and thinking "Of course! Who could play it better." I just can't believe there haven't been more musicals or serious mainstream roles for her. I would pay to see them. Very pissed, though, that they cut the "Class" song.
Cast Away - I have a friend who cannot watch this movie. She's terrified to fly in the first place and watching the plane crash in this film would just put her over the edge. It really is a terrifying scene and what he has to go through to survive and eventually escape the island makes you change your mind about the romantic notion of being stranded on a desert island. I see many similarities between this film and American Beauty. Both are about men just lost in their lives and not being aware of what they're doing. It takes a major event to wake them up. I just love the scene at the end where he is literally at a crossroads and has the opportunity to decide how he wants the rest of his life to turn out. How many of us really get that chance?
Chicago - Another movie musical. Some people didn't like the scenes and dialogue being added to this film but I never really liked how the stage presentation just jumped from song to song without connecting them. I continue to be impressed by Renee Zelwiger's talent and was glad to see Gere and Zeta Jones singing and dancing. I remember when I heard that Queen Latifa was going to play Mama Morton and thinking "Of course! Who could play it better." I just can't believe there haven't been more musicals or serious mainstream roles for her. I would pay to see them. Very pissed, though, that they cut the "Class" song.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - C1
Cabaret: I know this musical like the back of my hand having stage managed it a few years ago and I'm surprised to realize how much dialogue they added/changed in the movie from the original production. I don't think it's necessarily bad, though. It seems rather normal when transitioning a musical to film so I guess it makes sense. I love how daring a commentary on society this movie is, and I wish more filmmakers had the courage to do that these days. How many films do you know deal with prejudice, abortion, sexuality, homosexuality, war, etc., and do it in a way that is so entertaining? And Liza is . . . well, Liza. So fabulous and dark and emotionally raw.
Caddyshack: Do I really even need to say anything about this film? It's just so classic that nothing I could say would do it justice.
CAMP: This is the experience I wish I would have had as a highschooler. I would have loved to go to theater camp. The plot is really lacking and filled with holes you could drive a truck through but it's just so sincere and lovely and nerdy. I can't resist. The pain of being a nerd and being completely outcast at home and finding a place where everyone understands and has the same heroes is something that every non-cool person yearns for. Ad a cameo appearace by the greatest living musical creator of our time, Steven Sondheim and well, you've got a pretty damn good movie in my humble opinion. Great soundtrack. Seeing a 16 year old sing "Ladies Who Lunch" though is just wrong in so many ways. But very All About Eve.
Caddyshack: Do I really even need to say anything about this film? It's just so classic that nothing I could say would do it justice.
CAMP: This is the experience I wish I would have had as a highschooler. I would have loved to go to theater camp. The plot is really lacking and filled with holes you could drive a truck through but it's just so sincere and lovely and nerdy. I can't resist. The pain of being a nerd and being completely outcast at home and finding a place where everyone understands and has the same heroes is something that every non-cool person yearns for. Ad a cameo appearace by the greatest living musical creator of our time, Steven Sondheim and well, you've got a pretty damn good movie in my humble opinion. Great soundtrack. Seeing a 16 year old sing "Ladies Who Lunch" though is just wrong in so many ways. But very All About Eve.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon B6
Buffy, The Vampire Slayer - This is a little Season One preview disk that I got for free. It only contains Episodes 1 & 2. I'm not sure why I don't own the whole series. It's so fabulous. I love that Buffy is such a strong female character who doesn't have to surrender her feminity to be so. She's blond and skinny and sexy but also strong, smart and courageous. And has great fashion sense and good friends behind her. We should all be so lucky. And David Boreanaz is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, in my opinion.
Bull Durham - Best sports movie ever. Bar none. And the thing that sets it apart is that it has nothing to do with winning. It's about the relationships built through the love of baseball and the search for life meaning in the sport. And Susan Sarandon is amazing. A goddess! And I don't use that term lightly, my friends. She is the woman we all aspire to be. Uber sexy, in control, wise, gorgeous and not afraid to ask for what she wants. (Susan herself and her character, just to be clear.) I'm really starting to see a theme here in the strong female character category.
Bull Durham - Best sports movie ever. Bar none. And the thing that sets it apart is that it has nothing to do with winning. It's about the relationships built through the love of baseball and the search for life meaning in the sport. And Susan Sarandon is amazing. A goddess! And I don't use that term lightly, my friends. She is the woman we all aspire to be. Uber sexy, in control, wise, gorgeous and not afraid to ask for what she wants. (Susan herself and her character, just to be clear.) I'm really starting to see a theme here in the strong female character category.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon B5
Braveheart - I used to love this movie. Then Mel Gibson went crazy and became a hypocrite. Just cannot enjoy it so much anymore. I will say that I love how dirty this movie is. There is mud and rain and dirty faces everywhere. And not the kind of dirty faces created by the costume department. But, yeah, then good ol' Mel went and preached the uber-Catholicism but somehow thought it was OK to divorce his wife for a new young chippy so, I just can't enjoy his work now. Maybe someday, like Whitney Houston, he'll find a middle ground and come back to us. Oh, but I forgot about Angus Macfadyen. Hmmm. He's really yummy. Maybe I'll just fast forward to his scenes.
Bridget Jones's Diary - Colin Firth and Hugh Grant - what more could a girl want? This film is so fun to watch. I'll bet I've seen it at least 25 times. The non-skinny, single girl who says and does stupid things . . . wait. . . that's me! Well, I never slept with my boss (and never really wanted to since most of them were either women or gay) but the other stuff is pretty close. I love thinking that I someday may be with a man as good looking, successful and socially conscious as Mark Darcy. I also hope to someday quit my job in such a glorious fashion. Someday a lovely man will say to me "I like you, very much. Just as you are." Not thinner, not cleverer, with slightly bigger breasts and a slightly smaller nose. And the Jane Austen tie-in is just too good to resist. I wonder how much of the current blogging trend is attributable to Bridget's diary.
Some choice quotes:
Bridget Jones's Diary - Colin Firth and Hugh Grant - what more could a girl want? This film is so fun to watch. I'll bet I've seen it at least 25 times. The non-skinny, single girl who says and does stupid things . . . wait. . . that's me! Well, I never slept with my boss (and never really wanted to since most of them were either women or gay) but the other stuff is pretty close. I love thinking that I someday may be with a man as good looking, successful and socially conscious as Mark Darcy. I also hope to someday quit my job in such a glorious fashion. Someday a lovely man will say to me "I like you, very much. Just as you are." Not thinner, not cleverer, with slightly bigger breasts and a slightly smaller nose. And the Jane Austen tie-in is just too good to resist. I wonder how much of the current blogging trend is attributable to Bridget's diary.
Some choice quotes:
"Every time I see you, you seem to go out of your
way to make me feel like a complete idiot. And you really needn't
bother. I already look like an idiot most of the time anyway."
"After all, it's only a diary. Everyone knows that diaries are just full of crap."
"F*ck me, I love Keats."
"I will not be defeated by an bad man and an American stick insect. Instead, I choose Vodka. And Chaka Kahn."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Crunch Time
So, yeah, I think the unemployment just ran out. Hard to tell sometimes since the website isn't really specific. I had to click on the "Apply For Benefits" button and enter all my information again on Monday. When I looked yesterday, there was the same message there usually is about when I can again request my payment so I guess we'll see next week if that button works. I may have to break down and ask L if I can work in the customer service call center he does. But the drive and the low pay! I'm not sure I can handle that for too long. The U Bookstore called again for the fall rush. That pays OK and it is really relaxing and fun. Nice to be around so many young people who aren't weighed down by the realities of the working (or non working) world.
I cancelled the gym membership today. Am thinking about getting rid of the text messaging option on my phone if they'll let me. May downgrade the cable and/or the Netflix although I really do need entertainment right now. I'm on a strict grocery budget as I did some calculating and was spending WAY to much to feed myself. The same as a family of 4 in some cases. Oh well, no more rotisserie chicken or Red Bull. I'm shopping to recipes specifically now and only on Saturdays. Although I did break the rules today and buy a cinnamon roll at the convenience store when I bought my Powerball ticket. Fingers crossed! $186 Million could really help right now. Even if half of it would go to taxes. I could live with that. I know I shouldn't spend the dollar but the hope of winning is worth it for the few hours between buying the ticket and hearing the numbers.
I cancelled the gym membership today. Am thinking about getting rid of the text messaging option on my phone if they'll let me. May downgrade the cable and/or the Netflix although I really do need entertainment right now. I'm on a strict grocery budget as I did some calculating and was spending WAY to much to feed myself. The same as a family of 4 in some cases. Oh well, no more rotisserie chicken or Red Bull. I'm shopping to recipes specifically now and only on Saturdays. Although I did break the rules today and buy a cinnamon roll at the convenience store when I bought my Powerball ticket. Fingers crossed! $186 Million could really help right now. Even if half of it would go to taxes. I could live with that. I know I shouldn't spend the dollar but the hope of winning is worth it for the few hours between buying the ticket and hearing the numbers.
Alphabetical Movie Marathon B4
Bottle Shock - The newest addition to my catalog. A must view for anyone who loves wine or is planning on going to the Napa/Sonoma region. Which I just did, as a matter of fact. This is a great film about how California was put on the international wine map. As we discovered when we visited Chateau Montelena, the the first CA winery that won a blind tasting against the French in 1976, the plot is total B.S. but somehow that's OK. I can forgive the artistic license taken in this film because of the sheer grass-roots, Americanism of the story. Not that I don't love France, but the US wins and California looks stunning and you just can't beat that. The only bad point is the obligatory token woman thrown in for romance. Rather unnecessary there but also forgivven for the focus on the mexican immigrant's important role in the history and development of the 4th largest wine region in the world. Great 70's music, great wine, great cinematography, only self-aware condescension, America on top.
The Bourne Identity - Matt Damon as an action hero? Who knew after Good Will Hunting, but boy does it work. It's got an amazingly intelligent and realistic plot (except for one short action scene involving falling three stories down the center of a staircase while shooting the enemy). This is the thinking woman's action film with a sexy star and a female character with realistic reactions to what is happening around her but is not a wilting flower. I heart Franka Potente. Really makes me want to pick up a copy of Run, Lola, Run. Not that I can afford it.
The Bourne Identity - Matt Damon as an action hero? Who knew after Good Will Hunting, but boy does it work. It's got an amazingly intelligent and realistic plot (except for one short action scene involving falling three stories down the center of a staircase while shooting the enemy). This is the thinking woman's action film with a sexy star and a female character with realistic reactions to what is happening around her but is not a wilting flower. I heart Franka Potente. Really makes me want to pick up a copy of Run, Lola, Run. Not that I can afford it.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - B3
Breakfast Club - So, I'm going to go a little bit out of order here in honor of the recently late but perpetually great John Hughes. What can I say about how great his films are? They really define the defining time of my life, the hideous and involuntary horror that is highschool. How, as an adult, he managed to so honestly and accurately depict the 80's highschool angst is beyond me. I was (and still am a little) a cross between Brian and Allison, the geek and the basketcase. Because I was smart but didn't have parents who cared enough to push me I was at the top of the regular classes but not in the advanced college-prep classes where I could get some individualized attention and an actual education. And because I behaved myself and didn't cause any one any problems I was basically ignored by teachers. Except by the one homeroom teacher who teased me because I read too much during announcements and the kids who teased me because my hair wasn't right, my clothes weren't right, so much of me wasn't right I can't even remember it all. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I can watch this film again and imagine that I had an experience like this where I connected with the people in my class and they really understood me and I them. Never happened, of course, but it could have. It could have happened like this. Someone could have come along and changed things for a little while. And that makes me feel better about the shitty experience I call my childhood. Awesome music that defines the genre and an era.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon B2
Best in Show - ROFLMAO dahlings. And I do not use text message shortcuts lightly. This has got to be my favorite of the Christopher Guest movies. And I include Waiting For Guffman in that - it just hits a little to close to home. But Best in Show plays to my hatred of people who go overboard over their animals or children. And boy do these people go overboard. I won't go on about the plot as that's not really the main joy of this film. You really do have to see it to get the comedy. Maybe I love it because Harlan Pepper reminds me of my ex-brother-in-law? I'll just finish with "I Heart Parker Posey." And the look on Jane Lyunch's face when they announce the winner is just priceless. Improv Comedy, over-the-top dog love, neuroses.
The Bodyguard - This is still a great movie even after almost 20 years. It sounds a little silly to say that this is a major part of my childhood since I was 18 when it came out but I remember listening to the soundtrack over and over again in the car. I really miss that time in the late last century when it didn't matter that she was black and he was white. It just wasn't even discussed. They were just people. I really hope that Whitney Houston comes back to herself and does some more work like this. She's absolutely radiant in this film. The ultimate modern Diva. I think she has a 2nd wind in her. She'll pull a John Travolta some day soon and be back in the game in a major way. Super plot, great romance, hot stars and music to die for.
The Bodyguard - This is still a great movie even after almost 20 years. It sounds a little silly to say that this is a major part of my childhood since I was 18 when it came out but I remember listening to the soundtrack over and over again in the car. I really miss that time in the late last century when it didn't matter that she was black and he was white. It just wasn't even discussed. They were just people. I really hope that Whitney Houston comes back to herself and does some more work like this. She's absolutely radiant in this film. The ultimate modern Diva. I think she has a 2nd wind in her. She'll pull a John Travolta some day soon and be back in the game in a major way. Super plot, great romance, hot stars and music to die for.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon B
Beaches - Well, Bette Midler. Enough said to recommend this movie right there, I suppose. Beaches is an 80's classic and holds really good memories for me. Especially with the theme song since it was really popular when I was a senior in high school. I love the total girl centric nature of this film and the acting/singing part of it. The fight between Cece and Hillary that separates them for so many years is reminiscent of a fight I had with a good friend which is not really solved but we just pretend that it's OK now. Of course, that friend is now in a fight with another mutual friend so . . . maybe I wasn't the complete bitch in our situation. Hmmm. I still cry at the end of this film, even though I've seen it at least 15 times. Friendship, women, love, illness, death, fights, life choices.
Bend It Like Beckam - Another total girl-power film. I love the cultural dichotomy in this film and the choice that Jess must make between her Indian heritage and her very English football future. Also fabu is that this film is written, produced and directed by a woman. I love when English centric films are popular in the US. Not sure why, maybe it's the Anglophile part of me coming out. Maybe it's the fact that everything sounds better with an English accent. "At least I taught her a full Indian dinner. The rest is up to God." Culture, growing up, parents, 2nd generation, following your dreams, girl-power.
Bend It Like Beckam - Another total girl-power film. I love the cultural dichotomy in this film and the choice that Jess must make between her Indian heritage and her very English football future. Also fabu is that this film is written, produced and directed by a woman. I love when English centric films are popular in the US. Not sure why, maybe it's the Anglophile part of me coming out. Maybe it's the fact that everything sounds better with an English accent. "At least I taught her a full Indian dinner. The rest is up to God." Culture, growing up, parents, 2nd generation, following your dreams, girl-power.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon A3
Angels in America - What can I say about this film that hasn't already been said? A true work of genius. AIDS, power, politics, Reaganomics, hypocrisy, religion, homosexuality, love, sickness, forgiveness, hope, Judaism, Mormonism. There is just so much in this movie to think about. It's a little like Shakespeare - you can't get it all at first. The more you watch it the more connections you make and the more you understand. It's interesting to hear about the fears and questions people had about the millennium before it occurred without our experiences now coloring the wonder of what might happen. This script is really such a product of the time in which it was written but also so universal and still timely. It's so specific to 1985 yet not dated when you watch it now. Maybe it's because so little progress has been made to make all people free to marry and live their lives without getting the shit kicked out of them because they're gay. The fact that gay bashing is still not really treated as a hate crime is sickening but maybe films like this and Milk as well as the popularity of Ellen . . . I don't know. Are we even making strides? It's interesting that the film discusses stopping, being still, and other metaphors for the antithesis of change and here we are with a black president in an era of great and momentous change. Conservatives want us to stop progressing, stop learning, go back to the way things were forgetting that the "good old days" weren't really all that good for most of us. Liberals want to move foreward, learn, try, they have hope for an unknown but better future. Was Kushner foreshadowing the era of (hopefully) great change that we're in the midst of? God, I hope so.
There are miles of quotes but here are a few of my favorites:
"I don't understand why I'm not dead. When your heart breaks you should die."
"Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions."
"I usually say fuck the truth, but usually the truth fucks you."
"The white cracker who wrote the National Anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody could reach it."
". . . And we are not going away. We won't die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come."
There are miles of quotes but here are a few of my favorites:
"I don't understand why I'm not dead. When your heart breaks you should die."
"Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions."
"I usually say fuck the truth, but usually the truth fucks you."
"The white cracker who wrote the National Anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody could reach it."
". . . And we are not going away. We won't die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sour grapes, sour grapes, sour grapes.
So . . . I suppose I should write about the phone interview that I'm pretty sure I screwed up on Friday. I think one of my problems is that I'm just too honest. Sure, I could load these guys up with niceties and placations, tell them what they want to hear but I just can't seem to drink the cool aid. I have an unfortunate feeling that my life would be a hell of a lot easier if I could just turn myself into a big fat liar. I need to learn to spew the niceties. See, when the interviewer asks you what kind of job you're looking for, you really should say something like "well, the job for which you are currently interviewing me" and specify with some statements taken directly from the previously forwarded job description. But here was my honest answer: "Well, unfortunately after being out of work for a year, I don't really have the luxury of looking for something specific. I kinda have to take whatever comes along." I'm pretty sure that was it word for word. But I meant to continue with something like "but this job really interests me because it's a non-profit that works for the greater good" which is totally true. But she cut me off with another question and I never got back to it. She asked me if I had any questions and I of course did. Because you should. I asked how much of the job entails fund raising. She answered the question and we were done. At 15 minutes. After saying at the beginning of the conversation that even though she scheduled 20 minutes, most are taking 30. Sigh.
Now, I'm fully aware that people want to hire someone excited about the job and who may have been leading up to it their entire lives. Maybe she had already interviewed someone for whom that was true and was just going through the motions with me. That's a luxury hiring managers have these days. They can have the pick of the litter. But this chick didn't even want to pretend to be interested in me. Which I guess I should be grateful for, but dang. I've been doing this for a year. It's getting a little old, ya know? Oh, well. I guess it should go to the person for whom this would be the ideal job. The person for whom $16/hr will be a blessing and not an $18,000 pay cut. It just would be nice to have something.
P.S. I know this story would read better in chronological order but I don't have the emotional energy to rewrite it now.
Now, I'm fully aware that people want to hire someone excited about the job and who may have been leading up to it their entire lives. Maybe she had already interviewed someone for whom that was true and was just going through the motions with me. That's a luxury hiring managers have these days. They can have the pick of the litter. But this chick didn't even want to pretend to be interested in me. Which I guess I should be grateful for, but dang. I've been doing this for a year. It's getting a little old, ya know? Oh, well. I guess it should go to the person for whom this would be the ideal job. The person for whom $16/hr will be a blessing and not an $18,000 pay cut. It just would be nice to have something.
P.S. I know this story would read better in chronological order but I don't have the emotional energy to rewrite it now.
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - A2
Amelie - Such a sweet and heartwarming movie. Just can't get over it. Such longing and sadness and I love how she turns her own sadness into helping others find happiness. The color saturation is so beautiful. Audrey Tautou, can't believe she's not in more American movies. Her and Marion Cotillard. I'm sure they're doing wonderful work in France but they certainly add a sophistication to movies that we could use nowadays. The French always add a little something.
American Beauty - A little scary but I love movies about people who come into their own and wake up from the slumber of their lives. Guess I should get on with that, huh? This one doesn't end well, but at least he had his realizations before the unfortunate ending. (See how I'm not giving it away? I try.) I also love watching what happens when one person in a family decides that things are going to change and how those with a vested interest in the status quo resist but eventually are encouraged to make their own changes. I hope to someday quit a job like that. The humiliation of having to tell management what you do, how you contribute and why you should keep your job is just so universal. I shall quote:
American Beauty - A little scary but I love movies about people who come into their own and wake up from the slumber of their lives. Guess I should get on with that, huh? This one doesn't end well, but at least he had his realizations before the unfortunate ending. (See how I'm not giving it away? I try.) I also love watching what happens when one person in a family decides that things are going to change and how those with a vested interest in the status quo resist but eventually are encouraged to make their own changes. I hope to someday quit a job like that. The humiliation of having to tell management what you do, how you contribute and why you should keep your job is just so universal. I shall quote:
"My job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge, and, at least once a day, retiring to the men's room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life which doesn't so closely resemble hell."
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Alphabetical Movie Marathon - A
So, I started the movie marathon to watch every movie in my collection in alphabetical order and see what commonalities I might discover about my choices and basically fill some really boring days. Let's begin with . . .
About A Boy - lovely movie with Toni Collette and Hugh Grant. There's something about this movie that I really like, despite it being so different plot-wise from the book. I'm sure it has something to do with the stars and the very calm, British way of . . . I don't know. . . just being. I really relate to the young boy, Marcus, who is basically watching his mother lose her shit. While I never really had the worry that M would go crazy, it would have been nice if there was another being around who actually cared what happened to me and wouldn't always be busy with something or someone else. I especially relate when he says "Some people have an easy time in life. I was beginning to realize, I wasn't one of those people." But also, Hugh Grant's line "I'll tell you one thing; men are bastards" is always good for a laugh. The basic tenant of the film is about not being alone. People need backup. I agree. Suicide, depression, father figure, backup, help, admittance, search for connection.
All About Eve - classic with a badass woman in the lead. And I mean Betty Davis, of course. She's fantastic in this. Wry, witty, sarcastic, knowing. Anne Baxter's Eve is a menace but you have to respect her for her ability to manipulate the situation into her favor and go after what she wants. "Eve would ask Abbot to give her Costello." To have two such strong women in a film from 1950 is really cool. Where are those women's parts in films now? Despite the pages of exposition, it has a way of not making this a treatise on woman-kind, just a story about these particular women. Jealousy, envy, strength, aging, youth.
All That Jazz - great film about Bob Fosse's physical and emotional breakdown and the character's death, although Fosse did not actually die after this incident. What's interesting is how much of a womanizer he is but how important the three particular women in the story are to him. Even death is personified as a woman. You also see how much he loved choreographing for women and the female form. Not hard to figure out where Michael Jackson got so many of his great moves. The dancing is as contemporary and lively today as it was in 1979 showing that true talent and class never gets dated. An interesting connection to All About Eve, though. Both concern an older woman playing a younger part in a production. And in both, the character being playing by the older woman is 24 years old. A lack of good mature women's parts in film and stage is not exactly a new thing I guess. Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance - the five stages of death, grieving and pretty much any emotional event in life makes a very interesting story through. Death, talent, dance, love, regret.
Amadeus - Ah jealousy. Mediocrity. "I speak for the mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint." A constant feeling of not being good enough - can definitely relate to that. "Why implant the desire, like a lust in my body, and then deny me the talent?" Why does God do that to people? Is it just that they don't have a realistic idea about how their life is going to turn out? And of course, getting to listen to Mozart's music for three hours. Such an amazingly made film. I tend to really like films in which you get to see where the art came from. What in the artist's life inspired them to produce that particular piece at that particular time. Jealousy, Mediocrity, Revenge, God, Talent.
About A Boy - lovely movie with Toni Collette and Hugh Grant. There's something about this movie that I really like, despite it being so different plot-wise from the book. I'm sure it has something to do with the stars and the very calm, British way of . . . I don't know. . . just being. I really relate to the young boy, Marcus, who is basically watching his mother lose her shit. While I never really had the worry that M would go crazy, it would have been nice if there was another being around who actually cared what happened to me and wouldn't always be busy with something or someone else. I especially relate when he says "Some people have an easy time in life. I was beginning to realize, I wasn't one of those people." But also, Hugh Grant's line "I'll tell you one thing; men are bastards" is always good for a laugh. The basic tenant of the film is about not being alone. People need backup. I agree. Suicide, depression, father figure, backup, help, admittance, search for connection.
All About Eve - classic with a badass woman in the lead. And I mean Betty Davis, of course. She's fantastic in this. Wry, witty, sarcastic, knowing. Anne Baxter's Eve is a menace but you have to respect her for her ability to manipulate the situation into her favor and go after what she wants. "Eve would ask Abbot to give her Costello." To have two such strong women in a film from 1950 is really cool. Where are those women's parts in films now? Despite the pages of exposition, it has a way of not making this a treatise on woman-kind, just a story about these particular women. Jealousy, envy, strength, aging, youth.
All That Jazz - great film about Bob Fosse's physical and emotional breakdown and the character's death, although Fosse did not actually die after this incident. What's interesting is how much of a womanizer he is but how important the three particular women in the story are to him. Even death is personified as a woman. You also see how much he loved choreographing for women and the female form. Not hard to figure out where Michael Jackson got so many of his great moves. The dancing is as contemporary and lively today as it was in 1979 showing that true talent and class never gets dated. An interesting connection to All About Eve, though. Both concern an older woman playing a younger part in a production. And in both, the character being playing by the older woman is 24 years old. A lack of good mature women's parts in film and stage is not exactly a new thing I guess. Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance - the five stages of death, grieving and pretty much any emotional event in life makes a very interesting story through. Death, talent, dance, love, regret.
Amadeus - Ah jealousy. Mediocrity. "I speak for the mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint." A constant feeling of not being good enough - can definitely relate to that. "Why implant the desire, like a lust in my body, and then deny me the talent?" Why does God do that to people? Is it just that they don't have a realistic idea about how their life is going to turn out? And of course, getting to listen to Mozart's music for three hours. Such an amazingly made film. I tend to really like films in which you get to see where the art came from. What in the artist's life inspired them to produce that particular piece at that particular time. Jealousy, Mediocrity, Revenge, God, Talent.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Been too Bored to Write
Holy crap, it's been a long time since I've written. No, it doesn't mean I've found a job. I wish. No, I just haven't had much to say. Same basic bitching about the economy and job hunting so I figured I'd refrain. Why am I writing now? Not sure. Don't really care. Also don't care about the intro I've used in past posts. The numbers are just too depressing to track. Although, I know that I have now applied for over 120 jobs and am coming up on a full year of unemployment. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on that but for now . . .
Had a nice little distraction last month when I visited K in San Francisco for a few days. Visited Alcatraz, shopped, when on a historic architecture tour, drank tons of wine, was treated like shit by our host's husband, sat around and waited for K and L to get ready in the morning. Lovely city. Also visited Napa and Sonoma and am now addicted to the idea of going out there temporarily to work the harvest in beautiful and historic winery. Have even applied to one that had housing available. Can't get my mind off of it and really want it to happen which, of course, probably means that it won't but it sure is fun to fantasize about it.
I have decided on an interesting way to spend some time. I'm going to watch every DVD I own in order alphabetically. I'm sure I'll have some witty observations about what the collection I've chosen represents in my life.
Also to come, the depressing nature of reading James Lipton's Inside Inside and realizing that my life has been seriously boring up to now. He was a pimp in Paris, produced numerous Bob Hope specials and Jimmy Carter's inagural concert and is married to a former model. Note to self: get a more interesting life!
Had a nice little distraction last month when I visited K in San Francisco for a few days. Visited Alcatraz, shopped, when on a historic architecture tour, drank tons of wine, was treated like shit by our host's husband, sat around and waited for K and L to get ready in the morning. Lovely city. Also visited Napa and Sonoma and am now addicted to the idea of going out there temporarily to work the harvest in beautiful and historic winery. Have even applied to one that had housing available. Can't get my mind off of it and really want it to happen which, of course, probably means that it won't but it sure is fun to fantasize about it.
I have decided on an interesting way to spend some time. I'm going to watch every DVD I own in order alphabetically. I'm sure I'll have some witty observations about what the collection I've chosen represents in my life.
Also to come, the depressing nature of reading James Lipton's Inside Inside and realizing that my life has been seriously boring up to now. He was a pimp in Paris, produced numerous Bob Hope specials and Jimmy Carter's inagural concert and is married to a former model. Note to self: get a more interesting life!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Short Cuts (Because I have nothing to write about)
Days Unemployed: 246
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 33 Extension Weeks
Jobs Applied To Date: 87
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: American Idol, Michael J Fox on Oprah, Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Lunch of the Day: Left over ham and Sun Dried Tomato and Olive Oil Triscuits
Short ideas today, merely because I can't think of anything interesting to write about. Why? Because being unemployed is BORING!!!
1. I can't watch Keith Olberman any more. Not because I don't like him, but because I just get too inscensed about the news.
2. I wish I were a lesbian just so I could count myself in a group with Rachel Maddow.
3. I think the people next door are drug dealers. They totally trump the crazy alchy lady across the hall who vandalized the light fixture. One of them was throwing rocks at the ducks in the puddles and flipped me off/mooned me when I tried to photograph it. And where do they think they live with their baggy jeans and hoodie hip hop gear, the south side of Chicago? This is like the whitest, most senior neighborhood in Minnesota. Must have MB come and properly install the currently useless deadbolt in the front door. Don't worry, police notification has occured. I can't believe with all the neighbor problems M and D have had that I now have to deal with this too.
4. Why is going to take until April 12th to ship my movies from Amazon? That's two weeks from the order date. Dang, it's Deadwood, Weeds and Extras. It's not like I'm ordering a never before released pirated Chris LeDoux on cassette. It was all I could do to spend the money. They better send them fast before I change my mind.
5. I hate writing cover letters. Had to write one today. I never quite know what to say. However, cover e-mails flow with no problem. Must be careful not to be seduced by the casual communication medium into being less than professional.
6. God bless John Stewart.
7. If friends show up late to the PBS special viewing night, they don't get to spend the rest of the two hour show asking questions about what they missed. Dag nabbit! And this is a 14 hour Dickens series. I'll be damned if they're going to be lost on the plot the entire time. How hard is it to show up by eight to watch a show that starts by eight? This is not rocket science people!
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 33 Extension Weeks
Jobs Applied To Date: 87
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: American Idol, Michael J Fox on Oprah, Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Lunch of the Day: Left over ham and Sun Dried Tomato and Olive Oil Triscuits
Short ideas today, merely because I can't think of anything interesting to write about. Why? Because being unemployed is BORING!!!
1. I can't watch Keith Olberman any more. Not because I don't like him, but because I just get too inscensed about the news.
2. I wish I were a lesbian just so I could count myself in a group with Rachel Maddow.
3. I think the people next door are drug dealers. They totally trump the crazy alchy lady across the hall who vandalized the light fixture. One of them was throwing rocks at the ducks in the puddles and flipped me off/mooned me when I tried to photograph it. And where do they think they live with their baggy jeans and hoodie hip hop gear, the south side of Chicago? This is like the whitest, most senior neighborhood in Minnesota. Must have MB come and properly install the currently useless deadbolt in the front door. Don't worry, police notification has occured. I can't believe with all the neighbor problems M and D have had that I now have to deal with this too.
4. Why is going to take until April 12th to ship my movies from Amazon? That's two weeks from the order date. Dang, it's Deadwood, Weeds and Extras. It's not like I'm ordering a never before released pirated Chris LeDoux on cassette. It was all I could do to spend the money. They better send them fast before I change my mind.
5. I hate writing cover letters. Had to write one today. I never quite know what to say. However, cover e-mails flow with no problem. Must be careful not to be seduced by the casual communication medium into being less than professional.
6. God bless John Stewart.
7. If friends show up late to the PBS special viewing night, they don't get to spend the rest of the two hour show asking questions about what they missed. Dag nabbit! And this is a 14 hour Dickens series. I'll be damned if they're going to be lost on the plot the entire time. How hard is it to show up by eight to watch a show that starts by eight? This is not rocket science people!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Job Fairs Suck
Days Unemployed: 240
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 0 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 85
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Not needed during the day (See Below), The President's Press Conference (instead of American Idol)
Lunch of the Day: Lee Ann Chin Oyster Wings and Lemon Chicken w/KK
Went to a Monster.com job fair today. I will admit that despite my post's title it didn't totally suck but it wasn't great either. It was at a nice hotel, with fairly reasonable parking but KK really needs to get a nicer car. One with automatic transmission. I hate, hate, hate riding in constant jerky motions and a noisy soft-top. I'm glad I went, mainly so that I can feel like (and say) that I'm taking action beyond searching the eternal internet abyss.
I brought 5 resumes with me, which I knew was going to be too few. Luckily there was not a long line at the registration as we had arrived about an hour after it started (KK being 30 minutes late picking me up, again! Aaargh! But still glad to have companionship in a potentially volatile situation.). Didn't really matter in the end though because most places didn't have actual positions that I would be right for. Unless I wanted to work at a call center in Eden Prairie for ten bucks an hour (easily a 40 minute commute). There were a fair amount of people there. Lots of older gentlemen in suits and ties. Poor guys must be freaking out about being out of work and looking for job in competition with all the young college grads who'll work for half and do twice the work because the don't know when they're being taken advantage of. There were quite a few lines of people waiting to talk to the reps only to be told "well, I'll take your resume but you really should go on line and apply there." Which, having been in recruiting, I know they'll have to do eventually anyway, even if they do get an interview. I can't believe now, that with all the top talent floating around desperate for work, that a career fair attendance would get you the job over someone who is more perfect for it. But, you never know, I suppose.
The one good thing is meeting the reps for the placement companies. For them, meeting you face to face is a major first step as they've got to know they're not sending their client some schlump who would show up in a tank top and dirty hair. Something could come of that. Perhaps I'm fooling myself but I'll take that for a while. It's like buying a lottery ticket. The dollar is worth the few hours of hope that you'll actually win $70 Million between buying the ticket and seeing the Powerball neon at the gas station driving to work the day after the drawing.
Did do some shopping today. I know: naughty, naughty. But it had to be done. Bought some books at Borders (buy 4 and the 5th was free!) and a pair of sweat pants with a tattoo design on the thigh. Hey, it's my work uniform these days! Also bought LL's birthday present today. (I'm actually related to a seven year old girl who wants a chess set for her birthday. I have no idea how that happened.) All this in addition to the Coach purse two weeks ago (full post about said purse coming soon). I feel slightly guilty, and not enough to take any of it back. So shut up.
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 0 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 85
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Not needed during the day (See Below), The President's Press Conference (instead of American Idol)
Lunch of the Day: Lee Ann Chin Oyster Wings and Lemon Chicken w/KK
Went to a Monster.com job fair today. I will admit that despite my post's title it didn't totally suck but it wasn't great either. It was at a nice hotel, with fairly reasonable parking but KK really needs to get a nicer car. One with automatic transmission. I hate, hate, hate riding in constant jerky motions and a noisy soft-top. I'm glad I went, mainly so that I can feel like (and say) that I'm taking action beyond searching the eternal internet abyss.
I brought 5 resumes with me, which I knew was going to be too few. Luckily there was not a long line at the registration as we had arrived about an hour after it started (KK being 30 minutes late picking me up, again! Aaargh! But still glad to have companionship in a potentially volatile situation.). Didn't really matter in the end though because most places didn't have actual positions that I would be right for. Unless I wanted to work at a call center in Eden Prairie for ten bucks an hour (easily a 40 minute commute). There were a fair amount of people there. Lots of older gentlemen in suits and ties. Poor guys must be freaking out about being out of work and looking for job in competition with all the young college grads who'll work for half and do twice the work because the don't know when they're being taken advantage of. There were quite a few lines of people waiting to talk to the reps only to be told "well, I'll take your resume but you really should go on line and apply there." Which, having been in recruiting, I know they'll have to do eventually anyway, even if they do get an interview. I can't believe now, that with all the top talent floating around desperate for work, that a career fair attendance would get you the job over someone who is more perfect for it. But, you never know, I suppose.
The one good thing is meeting the reps for the placement companies. For them, meeting you face to face is a major first step as they've got to know they're not sending their client some schlump who would show up in a tank top and dirty hair. Something could come of that. Perhaps I'm fooling myself but I'll take that for a while. It's like buying a lottery ticket. The dollar is worth the few hours of hope that you'll actually win $70 Million between buying the ticket and seeing the Powerball neon at the gas station driving to work the day after the drawing.
Did do some shopping today. I know: naughty, naughty. But it had to be done. Bought some books at Borders (buy 4 and the 5th was free!) and a pair of sweat pants with a tattoo design on the thigh. Hey, it's my work uniform these days! Also bought LL's birthday present today. (I'm actually related to a seven year old girl who wants a chess set for her birthday. I have no idea how that happened.) All this in addition to the Coach purse two weeks ago (full post about said purse coming soon). I feel slightly guilty, and not enough to take any of it back. So shut up.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Part-Time Job
Days Unemployed: 232
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 1 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 81
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 9
Entertainment of the Day: Sex & The City, S5 E1-3, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, sleep
Lunch of the Day: Rotisserie Chicken w/mashed yams and Andouille sausage
Part-time jobs suck. In addition to working for less than a third the hourly wage I was making before is the complete lack of a stake in what happens there. I seriously could not care less how much scented water we sell at more than $50/ounce. To many of the women there, who apparently have been full time associates since 1985, the women's fragrance counter is the whole world. Nothing is more important than the new Vera Wang gift with purchase or the Hanai Mori $5 spiff. Nothing more tragic than the mean customer on the phone or the bitch working the Chanel counter. They get upset about the smallest, stupidest things! But these bitch sessions and major dramas are just chicken scratches. Now, granted, I like perfume. Particularly Prada Milano and the new True Religion. But selling it is not rocket science and we're definitely not curing cancer. I used to raise money for breast cancer research, run programs for teen development, plan parties for 3 year olds with Lymphoma. I did important things. I made a difference to real people who were grateful for our help. I helped a major corporation give away Millions and Millions of dollars to literally hundreds of charities. I fed the poor with my bare hands, made the sick feel better, built something where nothing existed before. Now I sell perfume.
Unemployment article of the week:
Unemployment statistic of the week: $25.8 Billion: that's how much less employees were paid in the month of January
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 1 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 81
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 9
Entertainment of the Day: Sex & The City, S5 E1-3, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, sleep
Lunch of the Day: Rotisserie Chicken w/mashed yams and Andouille sausage
Part-time jobs suck. In addition to working for less than a third the hourly wage I was making before is the complete lack of a stake in what happens there. I seriously could not care less how much scented water we sell at more than $50/ounce. To many of the women there, who apparently have been full time associates since 1985, the women's fragrance counter is the whole world. Nothing is more important than the new Vera Wang gift with purchase or the Hanai Mori $5 spiff. Nothing more tragic than the mean customer on the phone or the bitch working the Chanel counter. They get upset about the smallest, stupidest things! But these bitch sessions and major dramas are just chicken scratches. Now, granted, I like perfume. Particularly Prada Milano and the new True Religion. But selling it is not rocket science and we're definitely not curing cancer. I used to raise money for breast cancer research, run programs for teen development, plan parties for 3 year olds with Lymphoma. I did important things. I made a difference to real people who were grateful for our help. I helped a major corporation give away Millions and Millions of dollars to literally hundreds of charities. I fed the poor with my bare hands, made the sick feel better, built something where nothing existed before. Now I sell perfume.
Unemployment article of the week:
Unemployment statistic of the week: $25.8 Billion: that's how much less employees were paid in the month of January
Friday, March 13, 2009
Things I miss about working #1
Days Unemployed: 229
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Grocery Shopping, Rome S2 E1-2, Dead Again, Secret Diary of a Call Girl S1 E1-4.
Lunch of the Day: Salad
Weekends. I miss the glory. There are no weekends if you don't work. No TGIF, no leaving early on Friday, no relief that the long hard week is over, no Friday department lunches with your favorite co-workers or Happy Hours at the bar across the street. Without an office to go to there is no office to come home from, no joy at staying up late and knowing that you don't have to get up early in the morning. It was looking forward to these things that used to get me through the week. Now it has to be the occasional new recipe, Netflix delivery and surfing Craig's List. The best thing about working was not having to go to work. The worst thing about not working is not being able to enjoy not working.
One of the great joys of my life was making sure the alarm was OFF. I don't remember the last time I set the alarm to go off in the single digits.
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Grocery Shopping, Rome S2 E1-2, Dead Again, Secret Diary of a Call Girl S1 E1-4.
Lunch of the Day: Salad
Weekends. I miss the glory. There are no weekends if you don't work. No TGIF, no leaving early on Friday, no relief that the long hard week is over, no Friday department lunches with your favorite co-workers or Happy Hours at the bar across the street. Without an office to go to there is no office to come home from, no joy at staying up late and knowing that you don't have to get up early in the morning. It was looking forward to these things that used to get me through the week. Now it has to be the occasional new recipe, Netflix delivery and surfing Craig's List. The best thing about working was not having to go to work. The worst thing about not working is not being able to enjoy not working.
One of the great joys of my life was making sure the alarm was OFF. I don't remember the last time I set the alarm to go off in the single digits.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Things that make me glad I'm unemployed.
Days Unemployed: 226
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Shopping at Ikea, visiting Cat Adoption Center at PetSmart
Lunch of the Day: McDonalds Happy Meal
File this under the heading: Things that make me glad I'm unemployed.
Copied From Cary Tennis on salon.com
http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2009/03/12/working_too_hard/
You know all those inflated executive salaries we hear about? And you know all these long hours underlings are working? You ever think about how they might be connected? Say (and this is just me speculating) there are 10 employees who are being worked like dogs. Say each one is making $100,000 a year. Say each one is working 60 hours a week instead of 40. What is being done with that extra 20 hours a week times 10? That's 200 hours a week, or the equivalent of five extra employees. You follow? Perhaps under ordinary circumstances their boss might be worth $150,000 a year. But because of the extra hours each employee is working, that executive actually has the equivalent of five extra phantom employees working for him. They would be making $100,000 a year each if they existed. But only their labor exists -- labor on which no salary is being paid! That's $500,000 a year in uncompensated labor. Where does that $500,000 go? Well, maybe it goes to the executive, and maybe that's why he's making $650,000 a year instead of $150,000.
Just a thought. I'm no economist, but I can count and multiply.
So make your own choices. You can work this job if you want. But you don't need to. You can walk away. You can walk away and get on your bike and ride until your lungs fill with air and you remember what it feels like to be truly alive.
Sing it sister!
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Shopping at Ikea, visiting Cat Adoption Center at PetSmart
Lunch of the Day: McDonalds Happy Meal
File this under the heading: Things that make me glad I'm unemployed.
Copied From Cary Tennis on salon.com
http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2009/03/12/working_too_hard/
You know all those inflated executive salaries we hear about? And you know all these long hours underlings are working? You ever think about how they might be connected? Say (and this is just me speculating) there are 10 employees who are being worked like dogs. Say each one is making $100,000 a year. Say each one is working 60 hours a week instead of 40. What is being done with that extra 20 hours a week times 10? That's 200 hours a week, or the equivalent of five extra employees. You follow? Perhaps under ordinary circumstances their boss might be worth $150,000 a year. But because of the extra hours each employee is working, that executive actually has the equivalent of five extra phantom employees working for him. They would be making $100,000 a year each if they existed. But only their labor exists -- labor on which no salary is being paid! That's $500,000 a year in uncompensated labor. Where does that $500,000 go? Well, maybe it goes to the executive, and maybe that's why he's making $650,000 a year instead of $150,000.
Just a thought. I'm no economist, but I can count and multiply.
So make your own choices. You can work this job if you want. But you don't need to. You can walk away. You can walk away and get on your bike and ride until your lungs fill with air and you remember what it feels like to be truly alive.
Sing it sister!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Days Unemployed: 225
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Rome S1 E10-12 (so far), Oprah, American Idol, Target Shopping
Lunch of the Day: Leftover Roasted corn and goat cheese quesadilla
I've decided not to discuss interviews and job prospects with friends and family anymore. This recent round of unsuccessful interviews were discussed with several people in the course of natural conversation. And the number kept growing as the four week process was drawn out. Now that I know for sure that nothing is to come of them I have to recount the story and explanation of why three people decided that I wasn't good enough for them over and over again. Even with casual people I don't see very often. I probably won't see many of them for a month now so I'll have to draw out the process of spreading the news even longer.
How's the job hunt going? I'm so cotton picking sick of that question. How the hell do you think it's going? Did I tell you that I got a job? No? Then what do you think, fool, IT SUCKS!!!! And ever single time I have to answer that question it's like someone is twisting the knife. Why don't you give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?
I know people ask because they care, because they're interested, because they need to know how long I can make do before they need to give me money so I won't lose my home (Mom), but enough is enough. It's been seven months. When I have news, I'll tell you. Until then, the subject is on moratorium.
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: 80
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Rome S1 E10-12 (so far), Oprah, American Idol, Target Shopping
Lunch of the Day: Leftover Roasted corn and goat cheese quesadilla
I've decided not to discuss interviews and job prospects with friends and family anymore. This recent round of unsuccessful interviews were discussed with several people in the course of natural conversation. And the number kept growing as the four week process was drawn out. Now that I know for sure that nothing is to come of them I have to recount the story and explanation of why three people decided that I wasn't good enough for them over and over again. Even with casual people I don't see very often. I probably won't see many of them for a month now so I'll have to draw out the process of spreading the news even longer.
How's the job hunt going? I'm so cotton picking sick of that question. How the hell do you think it's going? Did I tell you that I got a job? No? Then what do you think, fool, IT SUCKS!!!! And ever single time I have to answer that question it's like someone is twisting the knife. Why don't you give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?
I know people ask because they care, because they're interested, because they need to know how long I can make do before they need to give me money so I won't lose my home (Mom), but enough is enough. It's been seven months. When I have news, I'll tell you. Until then, the subject is on moratorium.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Where's my noun?
Days Unemployed: 224
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: E-mail files support 53 applications but it's gotta be at least 80 so I'll start there.
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Rome S1 E3-5 (so far), Oprah, creating blog
Lunch of the Day: Roasted corn and goat cheese quesadilla
Welcome to the first post. If, of course, anyone actually reads this. I guess we'll see. I've created this blog in order to prevent myself from going crazy. You see, being jobless has it's obvious problems (lack of money, frustration at not being able to find work, shame, dejection, etc.) but in my opinion the worst is boredom. Finding activities to fill the day is difficult given the sorry state of daytime television. This may relieve that, it may not. And I might just get bored with blogging. But it at least has kept me busy for the last few hours.
Speaking of dejection, though, I've begun this today because today I received two miserable job related pieces of news:
1. I did not get a job offer from my interview two weeks ago even though I knew the recruiter personally and worked closely with her at my last POE. Even with a personal reference from the person recommending me for the job it didn't happen. This is particularly sucky but it means that I can't even get jobs that I don't really want with really long commutes in an industry I could care less about. (It's always harder getting rejected by someone you're not interested in in the first place.) Tears were wiped. Cat was obviously uncomfortable. There was somone more qualified who got the job. I guess the main question is: when won't there be?
2. I recieved notice that my regular unemployment insurance will run out in two weeks. Now, I will say that recieving anything in the mail on the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance letterhead is a harrowing experience these days. This is, of course, not good news but all is not lost (like my home, ha ha), as there are extension instructions.
In naming this blog I came across an interesting dilemma: there is no traditionally accepted word to mean "jobless person who doesn't really want to be jobless." Jobless is a state of being, not really a title. It's an adjective, not a noun. A person with a job is a worker, administrator, coordinator, employee, associate, etc. But a person who has been laid off has no single word to describe themselves that doesn't take into account their past status as a no-longer-needed reject. I find this frustrating because I meet many people who ask me what I do. A single word descriptor would be preferable to a full sentence explanation with adverbs and adjectives. I can't just say "I'm unemployed" as that has such negative connotations and seems to imply that I am therefore unemployable, which is not true (at least in my mind, anyway). Talk about a conversation killer. I want a noun to describe what I am now, not what I was before. Something without the negative connotations that come with what's been floating around in my head the last few days: loafer, idle, layabout, ne'er-do-well, waster, slacker, disenfranchised, laid-off,
A person without a job has no noun. Sigh. I want my noun.
Unemployment Article of the Day: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/opinion/08friedman.html?em
Unemployment Statistic of the Day: The unemployment rate rose from 7.6 to 8.1 percent. Good times.
Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Remaining: 2 and then on to the extension
Jobs Applied To Date: E-mail files support 53 applications but it's gotta be at least 80 so I'll start there.
Phone Interviews To Date: 1
In-Person Interviews To Date: 3
Pounds Gained To Date: 8
Entertainment of the Day: Rome S1 E3-5 (so far), Oprah, creating blog
Lunch of the Day: Roasted corn and goat cheese quesadilla
Welcome to the first post. If, of course, anyone actually reads this. I guess we'll see. I've created this blog in order to prevent myself from going crazy. You see, being jobless has it's obvious problems (lack of money, frustration at not being able to find work, shame, dejection, etc.) but in my opinion the worst is boredom. Finding activities to fill the day is difficult given the sorry state of daytime television. This may relieve that, it may not. And I might just get bored with blogging. But it at least has kept me busy for the last few hours.
Speaking of dejection, though, I've begun this today because today I received two miserable job related pieces of news:
1. I did not get a job offer from my interview two weeks ago even though I knew the recruiter personally and worked closely with her at my last POE. Even with a personal reference from the person recommending me for the job it didn't happen. This is particularly sucky but it means that I can't even get jobs that I don't really want with really long commutes in an industry I could care less about. (It's always harder getting rejected by someone you're not interested in in the first place.) Tears were wiped. Cat was obviously uncomfortable. There was somone more qualified who got the job. I guess the main question is: when won't there be?
2. I recieved notice that my regular unemployment insurance will run out in two weeks. Now, I will say that recieving anything in the mail on the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance letterhead is a harrowing experience these days. This is, of course, not good news but all is not lost (like my home, ha ha), as there are extension instructions.
In naming this blog I came across an interesting dilemma: there is no traditionally accepted word to mean "jobless person who doesn't really want to be jobless." Jobless is a state of being, not really a title. It's an adjective, not a noun. A person with a job is a worker, administrator, coordinator, employee, associate, etc. But a person who has been laid off has no single word to describe themselves that doesn't take into account their past status as a no-longer-needed reject. I find this frustrating because I meet many people who ask me what I do. A single word descriptor would be preferable to a full sentence explanation with adverbs and adjectives. I can't just say "I'm unemployed" as that has such negative connotations and seems to imply that I am therefore unemployable, which is not true (at least in my mind, anyway). Talk about a conversation killer. I want a noun to describe what I am now, not what I was before. Something without the negative connotations that come with what's been floating around in my head the last few days: loafer, idle, layabout, ne'er-do-well, waster, slacker, disenfranchised, laid-off,
A person without a job has no noun. Sigh. I want my noun.
Unemployment Article of the Day: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/opinion/08friedman.html?em
Unemployment Statistic of the Day: The unemployment rate rose from 7.6 to 8.1 percent. Good times.
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