Ha...weren't expecting an update so soon after the last one, were you? Here's what you get: a less meaty entry. Definitely not a Campbell's sort of entry.

Annoyances
I hate my job. Every time I work three consecutive days, I die a little bit more inside. I probably shouldn't complain. It's good part-time work, the pay's decent, the food's good, and most of the people that work there are very cool. That said, it wears on me.

I needed a few weeks off for the holiday. As a concession, I agreed to work tonight...New Years' Eve. This frustrated me a great deal as every New Year's Eve aside from one, I've been with my family. In recent years, I've had quite a few friends around also. In fact, there are essentially four holidays each year when I feel like I should be around my family: Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, and New Year's Eve.

Anyway, I'd agreed to make the concession and made peace with it. Will, one of the managers, asked if I'd also like to work the 30th also to make my trip to Auburn worthwhile. I was reluctant, but I saw the sense in it. On the 30th, we were absolutely packed. I turned 17 tables, and there were moments that I had five tables at a time. I get a little stressed out when 22 people are waiting on me to do various tasks, but I worked through it. The only major insult that resulted was a $5 tip on a $73 check.

This evening, I slogged through work - running into two tips of less than 10% (I threatened to walk if it happened a third time) - but I was upbeat with the thought that I'd be going home tomorrow. Then, someone informed me that I was scheduled to work tomorrow. You see, unlike most sensible businesses, we'll be open tomorrow. The decision was made this past week. We will likely make very little money, and the negatives will far outweigh the positive. Well, apparently, Janet, one of the owners, decided to schedule me without talking to me or directly informing me. Thus, I'm stuck here another day. And, as I mentioned before, I will die a little bit more inside.

The problem with working three consecutive days is that it begins to overwhelm my life. I work. Then, I go home and sleep. Then, I work. Then, I go home and sleep. Then, I work. Most of my meals and human contact come at work during that span. Oh, I get to watch a little tv or hang out with friends for an hour or two, but it's not enough to stave off the monotony. Life and work intertwine, becoming synonymous. I begin to feel like I live there. I like living in a home as opposed to a restaurant. I have comfy furniture. They do not. I make my own decisions here. There, I do not.

More Movies
I guess I just needed to vent. I'm actually in a cheerier mood than this conveys. Kev and I just got through watching "Anchorman". One hyphentated word: hilar-i-oy. "I'm gonna put it out there, and if you like it, you can take it. If you don't, send it right back."

I also recently saw a couple of movies in theatres. While visiting the cousins (only two of the four were around this year), we decided to go see Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". I have to say that based on limited perspective, I liked it better than Anderson's other films - which I also enjoyed. Like his other movies, it's populated with quirky, rich characters, but in this instance, he adds a bit more adventure and a prettier setting to the mix.

After the first movie, I decided to stay for "Spanglish". David A was likely right to avoid it. He wouldn't have enjoyed it. It's not like any movie that Sandler has done before. It's not like his comedies and it's not offbeat/independent-feeling like "Punch-Drunk Love". It's a drama punctuated with humor and intensity of emotion. Most prominently, it deals with culture clash and the meaning of family on an individual scale. The characters are deeply drawn and their interactions are extremely engaging.

Oh, and finally...I generally avoid crushing on celebrities...but Paz Vega from "Spanglish" and Scarlett Johansson from "Lost In Translation" and the upcoming "In Good Company"...wow...