Habitualchaos

All I had was a sore throat earlier, goddamnit.

I cant complain though since thats surprisingly went away... but I can complain since its been replaced with a slow, stuffy build up... which brings us to now, waking up in the way-too-early morning because I can only breathe through one nostril.

Could someone get this plunger off my face?

Ever since my days working at a local movie theater, both as an usher and later as an assistant manager... Ive been somewhat of an entertainment geek, at least when it comes to movies. I am, by no means, an expert or encyclopedia of info... but I try to keep track of whats going on in movies.

This is despite my distaste for the mundane attention the celebrity world gets... as I think "the 25 hottest starlets" and news programs based on celebrity relationships are among the biggest wastes of time.

Lately, the old saying about "art imitating life" has been very disturbingly accurate, as Hollywood has postponed more than a couple movies based on the fact their contents are strangely close to tragedies in the world. These are some very scary coincidence, three examples as follows:

1) The Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Colateral Damage was indefinitely postponed from its original October 5th, 2001 release date based on the September 11th attacks, because the movie concerned a NYC fireman seeking out the terrorists who killed his family.

2 The Colin Farrel movie Phone Booth was postponed from its oroginal release of November 15th, 2002 by 20th Century Fox based on the DC and Virginia sniper attacks because the film conerned a publicist trapped in a New York City phone booth by a sniper hiding in a skyscraper, who threatens to kill him if he hangs up.

3) The Hilary Swank movie The Core has been talked about lately, but isnt confirmed yet to be postponed. The subject matter of the movie isnt in conflict with the direct happenings of the world... but Paramount has asked theater chains to pull the latest trailer for the movie based on the Shuttle Columbia tragedy. One of the first scenes in the movie, also shown in the trailer shows "one of the early F/X sequences that leads into the movie's disasters is one in which a NASA space shuttle encounters problems just minutes before landing."

I know there are many, many movies that come out each year... so occasionally there are some where their content is gonna negatively impact someone. These are just movies postponed based on world events... there are prolly far more movies that come out on time that impact something going on in peoples lives. And, there are bound to be more than just the three I listed here... there have to be.

Its just really strange to think how close all these things happen. Little scary to me.

1. Since Ive recently reverted to my vampire-like sleeping habits, this morning at a little after 5am... I finished watching half my 6-disc DVD set of the TV show Sports Night: The Complete Series. Half the set equals out to the first season of the show... and I didnt watch it all straight, Ive been drizzling it through this last week or so. If you havrnt seen the show, then ur stupid... but Im willing to look past that.

2. Im still pretty pissed off the Publishers Clearing House people still havent found my apartment. How hard can it be?

3. Ive been looking around my apartment, at some of the boxes I still have for various reasons... trying to piece together in my head what my new home will look like and how much of my current stuff will fit, when the fear catches up to me and I imagine Im forced to live in one.

4. My latest dream of becoming a midnight stock-person at our local Giant Eagle seems to be taking shape, as Im waiting for a call from a manager to discuss it. Not sure why its taking so long, as I tried to be as honest as possible going through their 800 number automated interview system.

5. The Chicken Carbonara sub made by Quiznos, that Ive mentioned before... still fucking rules!

6. My birthday is coming up in exactly 17 days... and Im still waiting for someone to get me one of these. Well... that, and a job if its not too much trouble, since Im still hoping to get back to regular employment.

Thats all the thoughts in my head, least all the ones I wanna share... you may go.

The before mentioned dream of becoming a midnight stock person at my local Giant Eagle has officially become a reality as of 11:30 this afternoon.

Ive been playing phone tag with their HR person for the past few days, but finally got a hold of her today. Went for an interview at 11:00 this afternoon and was officially given a position. I go in on Friday for 4-6 hours of automated (computer generated) orientation. After that, 32 hours through 4 days a week... on a shift that runs 10pm to 6am, making just under $6 an hour.

Im not sure how I feel right now, Im just a little conflicted about this. I did want something on a late shift to supplement what Im making doing freelance... but its still a small blow to my pride. Course my pride has been taking quite a beating given the last year... so at least this is mild compared to what Ive begun to get used to. I wonder what kind of impact having a Bachelors Degree in graphic design had on my newly acquired employment?!

Course thats being just a smidge cynical considering the freelance design work Im am doing... but fuck off, Im allowed to be every now and then. Im not too high and mighty to take thid job to help myself... but I also dont have to like it.

Course I cant ignore the help this is gonna give me on the possible new apartment I might be taking as soon as Thursday afternoon. Basically the same cost as my current apartment... just better surroundings, which I think will be good for me. Feel free to take a look.

The way I figure if my income doesnt work out like I thought, either being here or the new place... the end result is the same. I might as well be able to enjoy my surroundings for as long as I have them, whether that be 2 or so months or for a lot longer. Its on the top floor of an old courthouse, so theres also the other perks... no neighbors, no lease and access to a small bell tower from one of the rooms.

Yeah, thats right... just think of me as a college educated Quasimodo.

In my future home, there will be a sound-proof room... so that I can have somewhere to fucking scream till my lungs are raw, without bothering anyone. In this room, there will also be easily replaced, breakable stuff... so that in the midst of my screaming, I can snap and physically destroy something in the process.

Cant help me right now... but at least I'll be prepared later.

Well, as much as I am one of those people that completely despises VDay... one of those people that glare at people enjoying it, I have to admit that mine wasnt a total loss. In fact, it wasnt nearly as bad as VDays past.

Two things stick out:

The first (and most important to me), being the Valentines Day gift "from" my 4 yr old niece and my 3 yr old nephew, in the form of three trays of cheesecake truffles (pictured below). Anyone who knows me, knows the fastest way to get on my good side is to buy me anything cheesecake related. It (very much) made my day since, as Ive mentioned in the past, my niece and nephew are two people that Id kill you all for. It might also have something to do with the fact Im one of their favorite people... but just maybe.

The second being something which has put my impending new career being a midnight stock person at Giant Eagle, on hold. More specifically, the call I got to set up and design job interview at Gund Arena in Cleveland. This was actually the 2nd time Ive applied for a design position at the Gund... but considering the circumstances, I am not complaining one teeny-tiny little bit.

I could actually list a third thing, that being taking the apartment I mentioned last time... but I knew I was gonna take it a little bit ago, I just needed to remind myself. The sheer fact of what Im gonna owe all the friends who help me move in, considering this place is on the 3rd floor of an old courthouse... is making me think I should a couple more jobs to pay back what I feel Id owe them.

In closing, this VDay was by far one of the best Ive ever had... but it doesnt change my feeling that anyone of you who get to actually enjoy VDay for the holiday it is... should be dragged out into the street, and either killed or severely beaten publically.

In the immortal words of Dennis Miller... thats just my opinion, I could be wrong

Today kids, Id like to offer some helpful hints as things to do when ur (technically) self-employed, are having a slow day and have some time to kill... or maybe you just simply have some time to kill during any given day.

Something you can do to help pass the time, and/or get a good healthy laugh while getting some use from a $.60 bag of carrots... is to go to an unsuspecting friends house while hes away at work, and build a snowman right in the middle of the driveway of his recently purchased house.

Why do you something like this? Im glad you asked. Having a couple friends offer to buy you dinner if you do is always incentive... but more than that, its just fucking funny and I did have the time on my hands.

Thats all for that, please reflect on it for a little while.

Something Ive forgotten to mention was the results of my recent interview for the graphic designers job at Gund Arena. Looking back on it, as it was just this past Tuesday... in my opinion I think it went very well. I cant speak for the interviewers… basically cause I forgot my pants that have psychic powers at the cleaners, but I thought it did go pretty well.

Anyone who knows me, knows if there was anything off about the whole thing... I would mention it here, potential employer or not. But I cant say anything to that effect because there wasnt anything off about it, really.

My only regret, after the fact came when I came home and stopped by the hospital to see how my Dad was doing after his shoulder surgery. Oh yeah, my Dad went in for surgery to repair a small tear in his shoulder… anyway, I was sitting in the waiting room with my mom and my grandparents (on my moms side), talking about the interview. My grandfather mentioned something from his experience relating to that if I really wanted the job, based on the good things I said about the interview itself... I should have made it clear that I did want it, when I was there.

As I said, the interview went very well (in my opinion) and I honestly do want this job... but I cant remember, thinking back, how clear I made it that I wanted it. I answered their questions... there was a nice chemistry there... I impressed them with my portfolio and experience... but I still cant remember if I actually made it clear that I did want the position.

It bothers me a little, since I cant remember... and Im hoping even with my uncertainty, that I did at least give the impression I wanted it. I dont know if feeling bad about it right now means I (somehow) know I didnt make it clear and Im kicking myself for it... or maybe just the paranoid part of me is taking over, making me think I might not have since I cant remember if I did.

Can anyone point me in the direction of somewhere I can buy a better memory?

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me... I look like a monkey, and I smell like one too... and many mo-o-o-o-re!

Its days like today, considering the emtional roller coaster I go through on my bad days... that I can say, theres not a day that goes by when I curse my situation and think the worlds gonna collapse... that I dont also thank God for all those who care about me, family and friends.

You all know who you are, and I thank you... every day, even if you dont hear it.

In the all the hussle + bussle of the quite limited amount of things I actually do in any given day... I forgot to update my most recent happenings, which is the Gund Arena situation.

Last Friday, only three days after my intial intreview, I got a call from Gund asking if Id like to come in for a 2nd interview. The first interview entailed meeting with their print and web supervisors, who Id be working under... this 2nd one, was to meet with them again but also talk to their Director and VP of Marketing, the supervisors bosses.

After going through a short Q+A session with an HR guy, I met with everyone I just mentioned. It was a very comfortable setting, I felt strangely at home and relaxed... their Director and VP were two serious, but fun loving people.

Some questions were asked... some portfolio pieces were shown... some jokes were exchanged throughout... to me, this one went just as well as the 1st one I went through. Although I do (kind of) wish I could go back and slightly change my answer to the question about who my ideal boss was. Not that I think I answered it badly... but I would reword some of my answer, and made it a little shorter.

Nonetheless, I think this one went well too... the whole thing boils down to me and one other person being considered. Just as much as I took some pride in making it to the final 3 out of 300 for the web designers position at OU... I can say the same for making it to the final two for this position.

Thats not to say Im not gonna kick, scream, maybe cry, prolly throw stuff and throw a little cursing of God in there if I dont get it... but eventually I'll see the proud moment. Im prolly jumping the gun a little though... as even if I do get it I'll prolly kick, scream and maybe cry... itll just be the last two I leave out.

We'll find out soon enough... as I should know sometime early next week.

Other than that... Im back on a mission to redesign this little slice of Heaven I call my website. Ive always been consumed with making my sites better than the last one... as when I started designing version 2, I went through 14 different template looks before deciding on this one. I dont think its gonna be the same with version 3 though... as Im thinking of going back to basics and doing something simple.

Good design doesnt have to be some elaborate, complicated thing... I think Im gonna use that this time.