Yes, I'm STILL Unemployed . . .

Well, I know it's been a while since I've posted . . . but I haven't really had much to say. I'm been holed up in my apartment, counting the endless days, carving the manadatory counter-line into the wall like some POW as I keep track of my unemployment status.

Been working on my portfolio some. It should be ready by (viewable online) Monday.

Two nights ago I watched "Frailty" . . . what a whacked out movie. The religious notions that some people have . . . visitations . . . visions . . . miraculous healings . . . speaking in tongues . . . it can all be scary, scary stuff. I mean, what would you do if YOU'RE father or mother said, "Son, come in here a minute. Jesus has appeared to me and told me to give everything to Salvation Army and we're going to build a boat and sail to Guam." Mmhmm. I'd be all, "well, have fun in your oceanic endevours, but I'm going to live with Grandma."

Actually, my great-aunt (whom I don't remember, but left me an inheritance, bless her) was psychic or something. She wrote some books . . . not that I've read any of them . . . (and NO, her name was NOT Miss Cleo.) Apparently, things talked to her. Objects. Not just people. Her husband died (not sure how) and a few weeks later, her pillow told her that if she didn't sell everything and move that "they'd" get her too. Well, she was like "yah, whatever." And then two weeks later and several sessions of pillow-talk, her dog died. That freaked her out, I guess, and she sold everything but a few picture frames with family pictures and such (to my understanding) -- and then -- two weeks later -- she died.

Scary shit, man.

I don't need to be all super-natural. Normal (used ever-so-loosely) is fine by me.

The Good Wife's Guide

Taken from "Housekeeping Monthly" -- May 13, 1955 --

1.) Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

2.) Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair, and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people!

3.) Be a little gay and a little intersting for him. His boring day may need a life and one your duties is to provide it.

4.) Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

5.) Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

6.) Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

7.) Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimze all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

8.) Be happy to see him.

9.) Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

10.) Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first -- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

11.) Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

12.) Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

13.) Don't greet him with complaints or problems.

14.) Don't copmlain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through during the day.

15.) Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

16.) Arrange his pillow or offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing, and pleasant voice.

17.) Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfullness. You have no right to question him.

18.) A good wife always knows her place.

Idaho, Snow, and Bad Hair

Well, here it is -- Saturday. My first chance to get to a computer (ack, this keyboard is terrible! How can anyone type on it!?). The viewing for my aunt was on Thursday night with the funeral following the next day.

It was all very nice. A lot of flowers were sent and parts of extended family that I've never met before showed up. All of my cousins were there with the exception of 1 and it was a nice family gathering. I was asked to sing at the funeral -- a song called "Return to His Arms." It was a pretty song that I learned the night before the funeral. Was brave --- didn't cry. At least not during that song. Then all of us cousins gathered and sang some of the childrens songs that Brenda (my aunt) had loved. Of course, they were religiously themed and I saw my cousin, Renee (Brenda's daughter) start to cry, then I started the cry -- then Annie started to cry -- and then Erick . . . and it just looped. Was sad.

I also had the chance to see (for the first time) my grandmother's grave. She died while I was in Brazil 5 years ago (almost to the day) and I was not able to attend the funeral. I brought a rose for her grave. She always grew the most beautiful roses, and I knew that she would appreciate the particular rose I had picked out.

So -- all in all, it was a nice funeral. Nice viewing, nice grave-side service. Mind you, it was colder than a freezer outside and the wind was something fierce. Needless to say, it was a VERY quick grave-side service.

So as we've been wandering about out here, I couldn't help but notice that all the women here have REALLY bad hair! (Not my family, of course, just the local townsfolk) I mean, I don't know if Sally's was having a sale on home-perms or what . . . but all their hair looks SO unhealthy and so damaged. Frizzled at the end. Perhaps it's because it's so dry up here. Maybe it really was just a season for bad perms. I don't know. But it's scary. And oh -- the bangs. It's amazing. I haven't seen bangs that high since . . . well . . . since I was in junior high in the very very early 90s. Glad I live in Houston.

We went to a mall in Idaho to get my dad another dress shirt and I told him "Oh, we should go to Structure or Express cuz they have really nice (modern) dress-shirts." So I asked the lady at the counter if there was an Express in the mall. She said, no, the closest train station was a good ways away and didn't come close to the mall. I was stunned. Especially since she worked in Dillards. *sigh* So I found a GAP in the mall with no one working there (oddly enough) so I went across the hall to American Eagle and asked the oh-so lovely girl at the counter if there was a Structure or Express in the mall. She just laughed and said no. I asked where the closest one was and she said it was in Salt Lake City -- about 6 hours away at the Crossroads mall. (I find it amazing that people know the name of a mall 6 hours away in another state . . . ) So Dad stuck with a shirt from Dillards.

Anyway -- I'm ready to go home. The snow is lovely, the mountains are great. But I'm tired, and I feel . . . not at home. But I'll be home tomorrow at 4:45pm. :)

BTW -- thank you all for your kind words and condolences. It's much much appreciated.

Tired and Waiting

Ok -- 8:46am -- and I've been up since about 5am (about 4-5 hours before I normally get up) (well, at least "normal" being defined by my current date with unemployment.) I didn't get to bed until about 2am last nite trying to pack and make all the arrangements necessary for my stint away from home.

So, yes, I'm very tired. I'm currently sitting in my mother's office waiting to go the airport in approximately an hour. I will be arriving in Salt Lake City tonite at about 7pm . . . which makes for a very long day.

I picked up a book yesterday so that I might have something better to do on the plane than peruse the In-Flight magazines (reading about the movies I won't get to watch during the flight). Michael Cunningham's "The Hours." I'm now on page 14. Loved the movie - and have thus far enjoyed the book. (Thank god for good writing styles. I hate poorly written novels.)

I also spent a part of the evening burning some cds for my trip. Most of them are very quiet cds . . . one, religious in nature (The Prayer Cycle by Johnathan Elias), another of crazy whacked out funk, yo . . . and the third is music by the Beatles -- but all covers, half of it instrumental (from Paul Schwartz's "Revoultion") and then some spattering from the "I Am Sam" soundtrack.

Thank God for Kazaa.

Ya know -- looking around my mother's office building reminds me of how much I hate corporate America. The one place we spend about half of our lives -- the office -- is made to be such a boring a drab place (gray walls, gray patterend carpet -- splash of color from the not-so-conservative employee two cubicles down). The staunch and stodgy clothes that required an "acquired taste" for as to be comfortable in . . . the men with their starched (usually a muted white-blue) collared shirts -- women in their suit/dresses always in red or some bright gaudy green. (What is up with that color!? And where does one find such attrocities!?)

My office was always very colorful -- playful -- inviting. Warm and condusive to creative work. Well . . . maybe not so warm temperature-wise -- in fact, it was usualy sub-Arctic, but we still had plenty of good times. (For Christmas, for example, I bought 4 sets of lights and we lined the ceiling with Christmas lites and covered up that damn little motion detector thing that would always make the lights come on. Was very nice.)

Anway -- Momma needs her comptuer now. So I'll be back to write again just as soon as I can.

Gone for a few days

Well, sad news. My dad phoned this morning to tell me that aunt passed away last nite. So I'm off to Idaho until Sunday to help with all the arrangements. Afraid I won't have e-mail and what not -- so I may or may not be able to post.

Unemployment . . .death . . . what next? A visit from Liza Minelli?

Chinese New Year from a British View

So I came across this little piece off scary information today. The article is entitled: British second graders at a Chinese New Year assembly. I found it via this site. Laughed my ass off -- but was kind'a freaked out by the picture as well. The comments on his site killed me. Particularly, "Wait, do they even have arms? What kind of British school is this anyway?"

Please . . . Save the Kittens

While doing my normal blog-hopping -- (really unproductive, bad habit) -- I came across this very fun image. I found it to be a worthy cause . . . so PLEASE, I beg of you! Save the kittens!

Valentine's Day Rush

Ya know -- for a lovey-dovey, laid-back holiday -- I have been super busy! I finished my sample website today for a company that will HOPEFULLY hire me based on the work I've done . . . (here is what I did -- www.veryopinionated.com/digitex/ -- and here is what they have now. I redesigned their logo and front page, that's about it right now.

After I finished that, I ran off to give a massage. I've given two massages in the past 24 hours and have earned some MUCH needed cash. Was nice and relaxing for me as well. (I even worked up a sweat today!!! Mercy me!)

So then I called my mom (as usual) after the massage to let her know that I wasn't kidnapped or murdered or some other awful mishap, and she said she was going to the mall to look for something that she could wear for a wedding dress for when the get married at the Justice of the Peace on March 5th. SOoooo -- I went shopping for a dress. All I can say is that women's formal wear is YUK. Who would want to wear that!? And it's all so gawdy and ugly -- and if I see one more cloth flower on a dress *gag* -- I'm gonna rip it off and burn it. Needless to say, she didn't get anything today.

I am currently in the process of making a White Chocolate Truffle cake for Valentine's Day. Didn't realize I had to chill the icing for 3 hours. heh - oops! :)

Anyway -- I hope everyone has a most excellent Valentine's Day with those you love (or those you hate -- or even those you love to hate).

BTW -- took the recommendation on Donnie Darko -- will watch it tonite. :) Thanks for the recomendations. Next on my list is that Nice Girls Don't Explode one. Lol sounds intriguing.

Looking for a good time . . .

For starters -- I had this really strange dream last nite. I dreamt that I was at my mother's old house in Friendswood getting ready to go to a funeral or some other sad event. I am in the shower (which, oddly enough was not the same shower that was at my mother's house . . .) and there is this girl getting ready right outside the shower. Then . . . in walks this priest (who is supposed to my uncle -- but he was really Christopher Lee . . .) and starts harassing this girl to have sex with him. Something happens for a little while and then she decides she's done. He apparently wasn't ready for her to be done yet and started strangling her.

So then she falls down dead right at my feet by the shower. It apparently kind'a pissed me off cuz I ended up killing the priest with a knife or razor or something. Well, mom got kind'a pissed cuz I killed her brother . . . and then I woke up.

But man -- what an ODD feeling I had when I woke up.

So -- weird dreams aside -- I'm looking for some good movies to watch that aren't mainstream. I like "odd" movies -- and I LOVE horror movies. So drop me some suggestions. (Preferably with a brief synopsis.)

Bitches Signing In As Me on AIM

So, I'm talking to my very good friend Rick (Hi, Rick!!!) having a rather down conversation when all of a sudden a little box pops up that says "Lo and behold, someone has signed in as you in another place. You've been disconnected, bi-atch." I was like "wh-wh-what?"

Which makes me think . . . 1.) Who knows my password . . . ? 2.) Who would want to sign in as me . . .? and 3.) Why would they want to sign in as me?

So I raised an eyebrow, threw on a smirk, and tapped my temple. I have an idea of who it may have been (one of two people). And if it's YOU (and you know who you are), I've changed my password, bitch, so you can't do it again. And I KNOW you don't this one. So there!

X-Files . . . in an eerily bluntng

So Ryan and I watched an episode of The X-Files tonite (episode was "Three of a Kind" from Season 6) (yes, I'm a geek -- but at least it's not Star Trek.) Anyway -- I was really taken back by theng of this episode. It was one of those "off" episodes that starred The Lone Gunmen. Byers said this in the beginning:

My name is John Fitzgerald Byers. I was named after our 35th president, and I keep having this beautiful dream. In my dream, the events of November 22nd, 1963, never happened. In it, my namesake was never assassinated. Other things are different, too, in my dream. My country is hopeful and innocent; young again. Young in spirit. My fellow citizens trust their elect officials, never once having been betrayed by them. My government is truly "of the people, by the people, for the people." All my hopes for my country, for myself ...all are fulfilled. I have everything a person could want: home and family ...and love. Everything that counts for anything in life ... I have it. But the dream ends the same way every time. I lose it all.

Let's hope our dream doesn't turn out the same way. Here's for Peace.

Lil' Ditty I Found Somewhere

I found this here, but the author is unknown.

Sing To the tune of "If you're happy and you know it (clap your hands)"

If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq.

If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq.
If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq.
So to hell with the inspections,
Let's look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions,
Bomb Iraq.

If it's "pre-emptive non-aggression," bomb Iraq.
Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq.
They've got weapons we can't see,
And that's good enough for me
Cuz it's all the proof I need
Bomb Iraq.

If you never were elected, bomb Iraq.
If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq.
If you think Saddam's gone mad,
With the weapons that he had,
(And he tried to kill your dad),
Bomb Iraq.

If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq.
If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq.
If your politics are sleazy,
And hiding that ain't easy,
And your manhood's getting queasy,
Bomb Iraq.

Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq.
For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq.
Disagree? We'll call it treason,
Let's make war, not love this season,
Even if we have no reason,
Bomb Iraq.

Funny Little Commercials

I was cleaning up my computer today and I came across these funny little commercials. There are two for the same product. One is of a woman. One is of a man. Makes me wonder what else I might find on my pc that has gotten covered in dust.

Hello Kitty #2!!!

This actually made me laugh tonite. Poor kitty!

Hello Kitty!!!

This is just weird. Who comes up with this stuff?? Wait, better question: who actually buys this stuff!?

Unemployed. Days 3 and 4

Yes, the seach goes on. I have managed to land a couple of side web design things, but that won't pay the bills for long. More like a one-time fee thing, sadly enough.

I visisted a placement service today -- Quest Personnel -- great if you're looking for clerical or administrative assistant type work that pays less than $12 an hour. I, unfortunately, seem to be somewhat over experienced to be a secretary just becasue I can type 70 wpm and know MS Office inside and out. (Well, almost. I don't know Access that well.) So -- I'm stuck. I'm too good for the small jobs -- and not good enough for the big jobs.

In the meantime, I've been working with some friends to help set up a company's web site. We're making logos at the moment to vote on. Here's the one I made.

What do you think? Useable?

Oh Ick! Fatty LuPone as Fosca!!!?

It's a good thing I have eaten dinner yet today as it would all displayed on my monitor for you all to see. I just read that Fatty LuPone will be playing Fosca in Stephen Sondheim's "Passion." Oh ICK. Who's idea was this? Why not cast Liza Minelli in her place . . . with Michael Jackson as Giorgo . . . BLEH.

Read it.

Unemployed: Day 2

I got an early start on the day today . . . out of the apartment by 8:30 (that's a record, I think). So I went down to the Harris County Office and filled out two applications (both for administrative assistants -- which i'm overqualified for -- but hey, a job is a job.) After I turned them in the lady was like "do you want to take your skills test now?" I was like "Uh . . . sure." So I sat down at a computer and took two typing tests. I must say, I was disappointed. It was two tests: the first was two minutes, the second was five minutes. I averaged only 61 wpm. That's terrible for me. My normal average is 74!

So I take the apptitude tests and did wonderfully. And what was the response? "Well, this has to go to our recruiter, who will verify if you qualify for this position. If you do, they will pass it on to the department and they will decide if they want to hire you."

The job fair sucked. It was all medical. And I only play doctor.

And then (after getting quite lost) I went and applied to be staff at Cirque Du Soleil's Alegria. Filled out my app -- waited an hour -- had my interview -- and the girl loved me. So -- with her very positive blessing, she sent me upstairs where I filed for employment with the temp agency that handles Cirque's staffing.

Orientation on February 20th. THEN, I have to another damn interview with Cirque Personnel to make sure they want me. Bleh. They better want me. I'm the best there is, dammit.

Anyway -- what will the day bring tomorrow? News of funding from Mongoose (my former employer)? Because I've rather exhausted my job resources.

Day 1 of Unemployment

Well -- today was my first business day of being unemployed. You'd think it'd be a little more light hearted being that I don't have the normal work responsibility.

I DID have an interview today. With a company called Powers Imports. I think it ended up being one of those door-to-door sales things -- and while I was in the interview (which honestly lasted 5 minutes) I asked the girl -- so is this one of those door-to-door sales things and she said "why, are you interested in doing that?" And immediately said "not at all." They said they'd call back this evening and let me know -- and surprisingly -- I haven't heard a thing. Shocker.

So what does tomorrow bring? A job fair -- and a visit to apply to work for the Cirque Du Soleil show Alegria which will be here in March. Surely they'll hire me. I mean, I know more about Cirque than most people in Houston.

So -- wish me luck that some poor, unfortunate soul will smile down upon me in pity and say "damn, you're cute. I want you in my office."

New Music in the Mixes

Being a new month, I changed the songs in this month's mix. Check em out and let me know what you think!

AbFab Is Ready For A Round 5

Looks like Jennifer Saunders is back at it for another 6 episode season of AbFab. Over Christmas a special was recorded (called "Gay") where Eddie and Patsy go to New York in seach of her son Serge. I missed it. (Did anyone catch it? I think it was only aired on the BBC.)

Anyway -- there is another special that is going to air on Comedy Central on February 8th (check your listings). And this special will have guests on it -- like Rufus Wainwright (YUMMY) and Whoopi Goldberg.

Shooting for season 5 is expected to start this summer.

Columbia Memorial

I was driving to dinner tonite, going down Nasa Rd. 1, and we passed Johnson Space Center. It was dark, rather overcast, and fairly humid. Traffic was slow and I saw a police car -- figured there had a been a wreck. It wasn't a wreck. It wasn't even traffic. It was a memorial for the Columbia astronauts. A mass of people had gathered in front of the NASA roadsign bringing flowers, balloons, candles, and various other items. Solemn.

My candles burn in their honor. We will go tomorrow to pay our respects.

I spoke to my mother today. It turns out one of the astronaughts lived six houses down from her. He lived alone and no one really knew him.

VeryOpinionated Gets a New Look

I woke up this morning with the odd desire to redesign my website. So . . . 5 hours late, here we go, VeryOpinionated 3.0. I will be adding a new mix to the mixes section either today or tomorrow.

So what do you think? Is this a better look? There are some bigger pics of me on the About page. Check it. Let me know what ya think.