I went to see The Day After Tomorrow last night. It was actually pretty dumb, but it was fun to watch...a great popcorn movie. Also, the special effects were intense.
I recommend it, but just make sure to suspend your disbelief on the way in.
I can't beleive that it's almost June. The times goes so fast, it's not even funny. I don't even have that much to show for it! Soon, I'll be getting my resume together so that I can look for a new job. Not that I dislike the one I have now, but I certainly can't do it forever. I guess I need a new challenge. I'll try the New York area, but we'll see what opens up.

A friend that I work with is considering heading of to Chatanooga, Tenn, for school. I guess if you're eager to get out of New Jersey, it's as good a place as any. It'll be a bummer to see her go, but so it goes.
I remember 5 years ago, almost moving to Knoxville, Tn., after I graduated from school. It had everything I wanted: family close by, decent record stores, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. However, it was nearly impossible to find work, and my one contact at the newspaper there didn't pan out.
And then I came up to New Jersey, where I got my first job, at a dumb Web site that no one saw. Next was a stint at an internet advertising company. I should have really thought a little harder about that one. Ouch.
I'm not even going to mention Dow Jones.
And then, a few years at Borders. I've met many fun people, and slowly realized that it's a transitory place. I've also realized that once you say "goodbye," it's pretty likely that you say goodbye, as the chance of seeing them again is kinda slim. As Brian Wilson sang, "Won't last forever. That's kinda sad." But that's life, and if I do get a chance to see those folks again, it's that much more of a pleasant surprise.
However, all that being said, I wish I would have taken the opportunity to get to know Smokey-Mountain-bound girl better, as I think she rocks. Well, she's still around for a while.
Thinking about Knoxville, I think I would have loved it there. Who knows how different my life may have turned out. I could be married with kids, for all I know. I may be fitter. It may have been easier to make friends.
All I'm certain of is that I wouldn't have the memories I have now, which would be a real drag.

So, I am back from Florida, slighty burned but in one piece. The flight down was uneventful, which is the exact way I want a flight to be. Actually, I'll even take mind-numbingly boring.
Overall impression: the more things change, the more they stay the same. We drove by International Drive, which is built up to the point that it's almost unrecognizable. Also visited the old house in Orlando. It was a lot more lush and green than I remember, with a canopy of trees over the road on which I used to play street football. The house looked very much the same, but the lawn seemed smaller. (Maybe because I haven't had to mow it in 15 years?)
Also hit Tampa and saw some killer homes on Bayshore. Also got to meet J.'s new girlfriend during lunch on Monday. Seems like a very nice girl, but a rebulican, brother, a republican?! Just kidding. I hope the next time we all get to spend more time together.
G. and I met up with a girl he's been seeing for a while. She's easy going and quite a bit of fun. I still owe them a drink.
It's nice to have friends where one doesn't have to try to hard. Everything seems to fall into place, and it's like I hadn't left Florida five years ago. I sometimes wonder how my life would be different had I never left, but I guess it's not that good an idea to start playing with illusions.
I wouldn't mind if the facility that I have with my friends in Fla. would somehow transfer to here, but I imagine that has quite a bit to do with me and not only with the people I've met here. Well, I can analyze that later. Back to work.

I'm going to Orlando and Tampa this weekend! I'm veddy veddy excited, as I get a chance to hang out with good friends. I've met nice people here, but they can't match the friends i have in fla. Hard to make friends here, or at least friends that last for more than a few conversations.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to my trip, but not at all excited to fly. Thankfully, it's only a two hour flight. But, still, tight seat, gravity-defying steel cylinder 30000ft above ground, and soda that's just trying to prove murphy's law.
We plan to go to EPCOT and just mess about for the rest of the weekend. Ybor, Channelside, the beach, etc. Ahhh, Florida.
Now, just in case I feel too good, I have to go iron clothes for work tomorrow. The roommie's watching Cricket.

I usually go to work on Sunday in a good mood. However, that bookstore seems to have a special magic that enables it to sap all of my energy. I feel drained after I leave that place. I don't know if it's all the people I see. or the fact that I'm stuck at the register. I leave there frustrated and down.

I usually try to avoid posting after I get home from work, as what I write tends to come all negative. And, I usually don't believe it a few days later. It just seems to me that it doesn't really matter that I'm there. Basically, a monkey could do what I do. And it would do it more entertainingly. I don't know why I try to be interesting to the folks there; i think i would have the same effect by not speaking at all.

OK, time to stop the self-absorption. It should be a good week ahead. Will be going to Orlando in a few weeks to see good friends, so that should be cool.

I went to check out Van Helsing Frday night. It was a decen movie, I guess, but I wasn't that impressed. Actually, I had to fight the temptation to leave in the first 20 minutes; there were just a few scenes that were ripe for parody. In particular, a scene where Dracula and his three wives watched as Dr. Frankenstein and his monster were presumably killed in a fire. The three wives were bunched together, crying, with their arms outstretched. It looked like acting, and direction, from a silent movie. It was kinda pretentious and pathetic. I think it somewhat redeemed itself in one of the battle scenes when one of the wives tossed a cow through a second floor church window. I guess flying cows are funny.

The castle was sufficiently gothic, so that was cool. But, overall, the movie was bloated. A better movie may have gotten me to reread Dracula and Frankenstein, but I think for the moment, I'll just keep them on the shelf.

Just saw the final episode of Friends. I always liked that show. I can't believe that it's been on the air for 10 years. I know that it doesn't represent "life in NY" at all accurately, but I still liked it. I thought, 10 years ago, that "Man, I'd dig living there."

I always related most to chandler...sarcastic, who would always try to make a joke in uncomfortable situations.

What was I up to 10 years ago.
* I was beginning my junior year at University of Florida, studying English, figuring I'd be a teacher. (oops)
* Lived in my first apartment. I still can't get over how cool my apartment was relative to the price compared with what i live in now. ERG.
* Trying to figure out what I'd do after school.

I guess one thing hasn't changed, is that i still like escapist crap TV.

Notes from a Tuesday
*As I drove on the bridge over the train tracks into Plainsboro, the full moon was almost perfectly framed. Kinda puts it all into perspective. Not exactly sure what the "it" is, but it's in perspective. It was a light orange color. Another thing that's cool, is that when i get home late and it's clear, the stars are so bright. And they make everything here seem small.
*Last year some time, I got a fortune cookie fortune that said "Now is the time to ask that certain someone out on a date." I had a certain someone in mind, but i think the expiration ran out on that fortune. She wasn't interested. I need to get more fortune cookies.
*Looking forward to Van Helsing opening up on Friday. Two words: Kate Beckinsale.

The weekend was rather quiet, as apposed to a friend who rode 150km Saturday and Sunday for an MS charity ride. Saturday, I managed to fit in doing as little as possible in as many hours of the day as possible. It's the one day I don't have to be anywhere at a specific time, so I try to go by intuition. If I'm driving and I feel like taking a left at the next light, I take a left at the next light. Sometimes I take a right just to be counterintuitive. :)

A few weeks ago, I began harbouring the idea of not working at Borders on Sunday, but rather two nights during the week, so that I could have my weekends back. I'm backing off that now, as that would mean a really long day: 9-5 at Caliper and 7-1130 at Borders. Not to mention waking up the next morning would be harsh. Also, I'm liking the group I work with on Sunday. When it's not too busy, I can have good conversations with them. I don't really have the frustration and boredom that I had a while ago with Borders. I'm hopeful that it stays that way for a while.