:: Venting Insanity ::

:: Monday, June 02, 2003 ::

finishing up
I'm going over to GEICO today to finish up the application process. I have a screening interview and a PC skills test to take before I have a regular interview. I can't believe how complicated this is.

other things
If there's enough time, I'm going to stop by NBTY. If not, I'll go to them tomorrow.

I'm also waiting on someone to call me back. A woman named Sarah called in reference to my résumé and I called back. Unfortunately, I don't have her extension. The automated phone system said it was a company called Oaktree.

I had answered a bunch of blind ads. {{shrugs}} I don't know half the companies I applied to. I'm not a big fan of blind ads. If I get anymore calls, I'm probably not going to find out what the companies are until after I get called.

not what i thought
I stopped over at the open house at Acclaim on Saturday. It wasn't exactly what I expected. We all sat around for hours. There were an awful lot of people there. Then, I find out in the interview that it's a temporary position that only pays $8 an hour. Temporary means no benefits. While it's good experience, I don't know if I want to drive all the way to Glen Cove (it's like an hour and a half) for a position that has such measely pay and no benefits. I'll be spending my pay check on gas. I have to think about it.

evening fun
I went over to Estelle's later. We dropped the baby off at her inlaws (since that's where Johnny was anyway) and went to The Matrix Reloaded. We then went up to Houlihan's for dinner. Johnny had gone over to Paul's, so we headed back to the grandparents' house and picked up the sleeping baby. He was out like a light. I hung out for a while and we looked at some different videos and stuff on the computer before I headed home. I left at like 2 am.

movie review
The Matrix Reloaded, starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, picks up almost where the last one left off. Neo has really become a part of the resistance now. It seems that there's been some time since the end of the last movie. Word of Neo's abilities has spread through the human city of Zion and Neo has reached almost a god-like status among them. People bring him offerings and ask him to help them in ways that he's not sure he can. He's still unsure of certain abilities and is almost held back by his own perceived limitations.

The city of Zion is in danger as the machines are mounting an attack. In the small movie, The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris, that aired with Dreamcatcher, they talk of an attack mounting against Zion. The fastest way they could think of to get a message there was to broadcast and go through the Matrix. They leave off with you not sure if the message made it.

Anyway, we come into the story knowing that there's an attack mounting. Did the message make it to Zion? Doesn't matter. Zion operations people have seen the signs. They know the machines are drilling. Now, they're planning on a defense. Meanwhile, Morpheus and the others on his ship insist on waiting for a message from the Oracle. A message they believe will be for Neo.

The movie was an excellent example of technical work. The special effects, the camera angles, the acting, the directing. I really enjoyed it. The story pulled you in and held you for almost the entire movie. The fight scenes and coreography were amazing, not to mention the huge car chase.

I was disappointed, however, with the ending. All those thrills and all the excitement throughout build you up and you're expecting this huge ending. All I got was a huge let down. It screamed of 'coming soon'. There's nothing I hate more than movies that scream sequel. Yes, we all know that The Matrix was destined to be a trilogy, but they don't have to plaster it in huge letters to the end of the movie. They could have left off the last few minutes.

other events
Estelle and I hit Houlihan's after the movie. It had been a long time since I had been there. The last time I went was when I was still going out with Stephen 2 years ago. Estelle had never been there before.

Either way, we really enjoyed ourselves. The prices were great, the refills on the soda were free, and they gave you a ton of food. I left stuffed. We didn't bother with dessert. It was good.

home again
I showed Estelle the videos at Toonami Digital Arsenal. My favorite is the Kryptonite video done with Gundam Wing clips. One of my favorite songs that someone used clips from one of my favorite anime shows to make a video for? How could I not like it?

We also worked a bit on a prequel for her story. She's been wanting to concentrate more on another character instead of the main one, but she wasn't sure how. With the way her story is written, there really isn't much room for a side story, so I suggested a prequel. A story of the supporting character's life before she meets the main character. She liked that idea, so we came up with some names and places and a place to start. Now that she has her inspiration, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she gets going again on writing it.

Speaking of stories... I haven't touched any of mine in years. And I have a lot of them that aren't finished. I've been inspired, but I have so many different ideas on where to go with them, I can't decide on what exactly it is I want to do.

I'll figure something out. Eventually...