The Week Grab-Bag: The Novella Version

Hello friends.

I deeply apologize for my lack of posting in the last week. Sure, I posted my (in some of your opinions) good review of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE on Wednesday, but I actually have not posted a real blog since last Monday. And now it's Monday again. Wow. Time sure does fly!

Well now it is October (yeah, I can't believe it either) and there are, get this, 84 shopping days left til Christmas. Wow again. That actually has nothing to do with anything, except that it's already October and the holiday season is right around the corner. I'm gonna try to recap an entire week, but I'm not sure what I'll be able to recall at this time. Here we go!

And, as always (and it has been always - Cy and I checked out my archives on my initial GRAB-BAG) my readers, the following is entirely the opposite of chronological. Enjoy!

- I worked on Thursday night and Saturday night and made significant bank both nights. I actually walked outta there with $100 cash both nights! I worked my ass off, but I also made some good money. My GM (good ol' Charlie - not!) has decided to screw me again, dear readers. Apparently, the manager who is doing the TT schedules submitted a schedule with yours truly carrying four days a week, much like the other TTs (no one would have less than 3). However, Charlie has taken a little power trip and reduced my schedule to two days! The three other TTs have either 3 or 4 days! If it wasn't for Jennifer (my great manager) and Chris (my fellow TT who has really become a good buddy of mine), then I would be stuck with that awful schedule. Because Chris has 4 days, we have agreed that we will alternate Tuesday nights. That way I can have 3 days a week at least every other week. That will help a bit. Thanks bud!

- Last night was a marathon of a night for myself, Cy, Justin, Emily, and Manny. We were all over at Justin's house and began a poker game a little after 2200. Why so late, you might ask. . . Well, Emily was watching stupid DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and did not want us to start without her. We're nice, so we didn't. We started and it was good fun. However, it turned into a crazy-long game that looked like it would have no end in sight. Instead of knock-outs, there were 3 double-ups in the latter part of the first two hours. Cy did get knocked out first around 2330 and became the dealer (you lose, you deal is the unwritten rule). When Cy began to deal, I began to come back to life. I had been low in chips, and I started to work my way back up the ladder. I got pretty high, but I came crashing down on one ridiculous hand. I was in the small blind and called Manny's big blind with a JACK/SIX of HEARTS (J/6 is unofficially my favorite hand). Emily was also in. The flop came down with three hearts, giving me a flush! I slow-played it, checking when it was my turn. After the turn (which put two QUEENS on the board) Manny bet (as usual - he is quite aggressive) and Emily called. I saw this as a great opportunity and I went ALL-IN (thus putting Manny ALL-IN and challenging the chip leader, Emily). Manny called and Emily folded. Manny turned over a QUEEN/TEN, giving him three QUEENS, but I had the leading hand. The only thing that could beat me was the fourth QUEEN or one of three remaining TENS. Manny had an 8% chance to win the hand. When Cy turned over the TEN of CLUBS on the river, I was absolutely stupified. I was pissed, actually. I was left with what we began with at the beginning, and I would have to begin working on improving my chip stack. The only problem was that I was on TILT. I folded two straight hands (once when I could have checked - I didn't care) and had to step outside for a minute. When I came back in, I preceded to fold the next ten hands or so. I was not only still upset, but I was on a cold streak with cards. Either way, I worked my way back up (and watched Justin finally go out around 0030) and was the chip leader again. Emily and Manny took me down a little bit, but when I took down Manny (revenge was o so sweet - I got QUAD ACES!) Emily and I were almost even. By the time I actually flopped anything (I had been playing well HEADS-UP, my favorite time to play!) I was really low in chips. I eventually went ALL-IN, got called, and Emily beat me with her gigantic stack. This was the first week I haven't won in a long time, so I'm ok with my second place finish, although I always want to win! Good game Em. I'll win next time :D

O, and I didn't get home until 0200. Yeah.

- My LB day was great like every other. Heather and I ate lunch at Mimi's Cafe, a really cool, laid back restaurant in the LB and then soon headed to San Clemente to see her dad and his wife Claudia. We got down there earlier than when they were done with work, so we parked down by the beach (their house is less than a mile from the shore) and walked near the waves for almost an hour. We watched these birds called Sand Pipers, which were probably the second cutest things I had seen all day (the first being my wonderful counterpart. . .). When our walk was done we headed to their house and sat in their kitchen (at the counter, or whatever) and chatted with her dad while he cooked dinner. You see, whenever we go down there they either take us out to a nice restaurant (one example is a French restaurant that's pretty dang good) or they make us dinner (the usual decision). Now, this is not a microwaved dinner or anything like that. O no. Dinner usually requires a three-hour long process that results in something very very tasty. Friday night was no different. We ended up enjoying Tri-Tip, twice-baked potatoes, and asparagus (that is not my favorite - in fact, I really don't like asparagus, but like a trooper, I ate most of it). It was really good, my friends. Very good indeed.

- Saturday morning meant the tux fitting for Manny and Jenn's wedding. As I may have mentioned here before (It's hard to recall what I write all the time) I am a Groomsmen in their wedding on November 4th. AND, my little brother Caleb is going to be the Ring Bearer! So we were both there to get our measurements done for our snazzy tuxedos. It was quick and kinda fun. The wedding should be really nice, and I'm excited to be a part of it all!

- So while I was watching the last episode of HOUSE (currently my favorite television show but being chased down by the new show STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP), I came to some startling (to me) conclusions. I suddenly realized why I enjoy television shows, movies, and the like. The reason why I continually seek refuge in the entertainment medium finally occurred to me. And what reason is that? Good point. . . Here it is (and beware - it's not all that happy): Dear reader, I'm not happy with what I have right now and so often wish to have what the characters I'm watching have. Do I have an incredible family? Yes. Do I have the best (not to mention prettiest) girlfriend in the world? You bet. Am I currently a college student with only good things being lined up for him with a only a future in front of him. Of course. HOWEVER, I do not want to be in this place anymore. I want to jump ahead about three years. And sure, I know what you're thinking: "When you get passed this time period and look back you're gonna wish you were back there." And you know what? You're probably right! But I really do not care. I wanna be done with this no say, no influence, no money (well not entirely, but basically), no time thing. I want to be working for a living. No mas escuela por favor! I want to be married and share a bed every night with my wonderful Heather. I want a dog (preferably one that will run with Heather so she'll be happy). I want my own entertainment center with only my television shows on the TIVO. I want to invite people over for dinner to my house. I want people to be upset with me for not accepting their work because I know better. I want to know better. I want to make all the right decisions. I don't want to fail. I want to be able to go on a vacation with Heather. Just the two of us. I want to BBQ with my guys and just shoot the breeze over a cold one. I want to be able to go a casino and play live poker. I want to have sex (can't blame me for being honest). I want to know a famous person (someone the public would be jealous of me for knowing). I want to be a famous person (thus taking care of the last one). I want "the good life". And you know what else? All those things could happen. But guess what? Being the natural cynic I am, I truly believe that either they won't happen or if they do, I'm just gonna end up having to wait and wait and wait (and did I mention wait) for all the things that I want. I'm sure that I sound like a complete ______ (fill in the blank with whatever adjective you feel necessary) but it's how I feel.

That's what I was feeling the other day. Kinda depressing actually.

- On Sunday I went into school for two hours to take a look at how the paper was coming along. My articles look pretty good. For those of you who were keeping tabs on it, the Editor-In-Chief and our teacher decided to go with the original reviews I wrote (and edited by them) and left my most recent review out completely. So it's the original INDIE MOVIE MARATHON (with editing), but now it's titled CINEMA DOUBLE FEATURE, I think. Meh. I am starting to get more accustomed to this whole "You have no say and you will like what we do to your stuff" angle. It sucks, but I'm getting over it. The paper comes out a week from today. Pick up a copy if you can (all 3 of my articles are in there!) and if you can't (out of state relatives, non-AVC people) then I'll get you one. Just e-mail me or comment here if you want one!

- Since I'm already in the midst of a novel here, I might as well throw a little sports at ya! I went 8-5 this weekend with the Monday night game going on right now. If Philly holds on (as they should) then I'll be 9-5 which is ok I guess. If you combine that with the 11-3 last week then I'm still averaging my ten wins a week. I'm confident that I'll finish in fourth place again; just out of reach of the money. Again, that's the cynicism talking. Either way, I have to admit I'm impressed with my Super Bowl picks. The Chicago Bears, after their complete destruction of the formerly undefeated Seattle Seahawks, are becoming trendy picks to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. But, dear friends, you heard it here first! My Bengals lost this week, but they'll get it back and come back from their BYE WEEK strong. The MLB playoffs begin tomorrow night, and I have some predictions there for you too!

NLDS:
Cardinals over Padres (3-1)
Mets over Dodgers (3-2)

ALDS:
Yankees over Tigers (3-1)
Twins over A's (3-0)

NLCS:
Mets over Cardinals (4-2)

ALCS:
Twins over Yankees (4-3)

WORLD SERIES:
Twins over Mets (4-2)

There you have it! Give the MVP trophy to young Joe Mauer and the World Series trophy to the Minnesota Twins! You heard it here first!

Furthermore, the NBA season is only 28 days away and I can't wait! Expect a complete NBA preview before the season begins (you non-sports fans will want to stay away from that one!). I'm excited baby! This year could very well be my SUNS' year!!!

- Friday is mine and Heather's big date! "Give 'em the ol' razzle dazzle. . ."

Well it's just about bowling time! I'm ready tonight! I had kind of a rough day (lost my BIOLOGY LAB BOOK, found out that my "better" BIO test was really another C) so I'm ready to take out my anger on some pins! Wish me luck!!!

Take it easy folks! I'll talk at ya tomorrow!

- - - "But as the philosopher Jagger once said,
'You can't always get what you want'."
- - - Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) on HOUSE

JUSTIN