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Wednesday, 19 November 2003 (counting in polish) 9:00am After looking into the possibility of getting a new(ish) engine, I'm going with the original suggestion of replacing the head gasket. It'll cost about three hundred less, and the engine my mechanic had found had only about fifteen thousand less miles on it than my current one. So, this seems the best approach. I hope. Of course, had I done this in the first place I'd probably have it back by now, but at least this way the next time something goes wrong, I'll know I researched it and made what seemed like the best decision. Not that making the best decision ever seems to matter. Rehearsals for Hitch-hiker's Guide were last night. They've actually been going on for a few weeks, since before Night of the Living Dead ended, but this was the first time I was there. Since Tarin had to be at a reading elsewhere, it had been suggested I might read her part, but it didn't happen. Just as well, really, since I needed to focus on other things. Like figuring out what being "assistant director" actually entails. Lynnee has a small role—two, actually—but he rocks while he's onstage. In one scene, he's working with Sid, the leading man from Night. Watching them, I had one of those weird moments of witnessing different life circles converging. The truth, of course, is that those circles were already connected. They all are. It just isn't always obvious at first.
Meanwhile, it turns out that once upon a time, Eminem might have been just a little tiny bit racist. It's okay, though—he was all angry and stuff at the time, but he's doing much better now.
He called me into his office a little while later, to discuss not my horrible taste in music (if you call it music, which really, you shouldn't) but my Future with the Company. We talked about a position that's opening up which I'm vaguely qualified for, one that doesn't involve answering phones and watering plants. At least, there's no immediate reason I can see that I can't learn to do it, like having to learn C++ or something like that. And, yes, as he pointed out several times without me having to bring it up, I would get paid more. Didn't ask how much. One step at a time. It'll almost certainly still be more than anyone else is offering. For not the first time since I started here, he asked me about my writing skills. Per usual, I said they're pretty good depending on the style. I've never mentioned doing readings or any of that to him. Just doesn't seem relevant. That's my life away from this place.
Besides, looking over my writing on this page lately...well, let's just say I'm worried.
nothing is ever personal.
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Tuesday, 18 November 2003 (beast of burden beast of prey) 9:54am My old employer has acquired mp3.com. (They can't screw it up any worse than Vivendi Universal, that's for sure.) It doesn't mean they're any more likely to rehire me—why would it? no reason, no reason at all, and besides, they haven't even called me back as a temp in over a year—but it's made the pangs return all the same. As a child of divorce, I really ought to know better.
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Monday, 17 November 2003 (black sea) 9:23am Allegra had to start from scratch on her makeup for health reasons, so she organized a (murder? gaggle?) of goths to descend upon Sephora on Saturday afternoon. It was fun, even though I didn't buy anything. (The only time I've ever gotten anything from Sephora was with a gift certificate from Pike; even when I was making a whole heck a lot more than I am now, Walgreen's was still much more in my range.) Judging from the looks of some of the employees, I don't think they were really expecting this somewhat loud group of people dressed most in black to spend any money at all. I suspect they were pleasantly surprised. Sephora's new location is at Powell and Market, aka The Heart of Darkness (one of 'em, anyway), and it's the first time I've been in such a bustley public place for some time. For that matter, it was the also the first time I've actually taken the Muni anywhere in at least a month, if not longer. My life has gotten very insular in some ways, and it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Venturing deep into consumer culture reminded me of one of the comparatively nice things about my job, that all-important silver lining: isolation from xmas. This doesn't seem like the kind of place which puts up decorations or otherwise really acknowledges it (other than, one would hope, time off), and my commute is largely advertisement-free. So, while I'll continue to look for a better job closer to home, at least the next six weeks won't be quite so painful. After the Sephora excursion (and lunch at Blondie's Pizza—good lord but their salads are better than they have any right to be), Maddy and I went to the main library. For as much as the others were indulging themselves at Sephora, that's what I did at the library. In spite of my aforementioned lack of reading time, I got a stack of books. Okay, only three, but still. It's my candy store. Even if I have no idea when I'll eat the candy. Of course, maybe I'd have more time to read if I wasn't always filling my schedule: I'm going to be the assistant director on The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's being directed by Spanganga's house manager and resident techie Jim Fourniadis, and featuring—among other people—Tarin Towers and Lynnee. Although I'd hoped to act in it, I really need to learn more about the nuts and bolts of putting together a stage-bound play (which Night of the Living Dead wasn't), so this'll work out nicely. On Sunday afternoon we went to the Junk ‘n’ Jam at Spanganga, a sidewalk sale at Spanganga for San Francisco Liberation Radio. We brought three bags of stuff, things which we had vague plans to donate or sell on eBay or something. That didn't seem likely to happen anytime soon, so this was the next best thing, and the very definition of a good cause.
Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with bad automojo these days: Jim and Erin's van was stolen on Saturday night,
the second time that week and the third altogether. Obviously they got it back both times before, so we're keeping
the collective fingers crossed that the third time will be a charm as well.
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Sunday, 16 November 2003 (oh comely) 11:48pm Sure. Okay. Besides cars and cigars, [new governor (sworn in tomorrow, folks!) Arnold Schwarzenegger] has a fancy for timepieces. His collection includes nearly two dozen watches from Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet.And to think, I once doubted that he has what it takes to cure what ills California. I hope the majority of the voters in this state—you know, the ones who typically don't vote but were lured to the polls by the Big Movie Star—can find it in their hearts to forgive me.
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Saturday, 15 November 2003 (ghost) 11:48pm This weekend has been all about Modern Times, it seems. Maddy and I were there last night for Jennifer Bennett's book release reading (she kicked ass, as I knew she would), and tonight to hear Dan Perkins speak. These sorts of things are why we love our wicked little City so much. I finally spoke to the person who books the readings; it looks like I'll be doing one with Lauren Wheeler and David West sometime in February or March. (The Dolores Park Cafe gig fell through altogether, but that's okay.) That should give me more than enough time to finally put together some new chapbooks. I'm way overdue on that. After flirting with "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" and "Time Enough at Last," I've finally settled upon "It's a Good Life" as the Twilight Zone I'm going to direct at Spanganga. Small cast (with Maddy in the lead) and a fair amount of flexibility in terms of the setting, staging, et cetera. If I didn't bite off more than I can chew, I'd starve to death.
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Friday, 14 November 2003 (communist daughter) 3:38pm Haven't heard back yet about the car. Probably won't until Monday, at this rate.
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