Chapter 5: Wherein I Watch A Lot of Movies and Inexplicably Cry

January 23, 2008 at 7:21 am (trip preparations)

Today was meant to be all about trip preparations.  To wit: I got my hair colored and cut.  V. v. important.  But more importantly, in the last 24 hours, I have seen two movies that are not tear jerkers that, nevertheless, made Niagara Falls. 

First was Juno, which I recommend for the whole family.  For some reason, as soon as they introduced the uptight, wannabe mother Jennifer Garner character, I immediately teared up.  Kinda like when I watch Love Story and start crying 25 minutes in when they get married.  Cause you know it’s going to end badly for them. 

Then tonight I watched Holiday, a 1938 rom-com with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant.  And, what are the chances, Grant plays a 30-year-old investment banker who gets fed up with his job and decides to quit and travel to figure out “what it’s all about.”  Of course, the father of his rich NYC socialite fiancee thinks that is “Un-American.”  Awesome.  [I mean, I guess I am going to a communist country.  Though I don't think that Uncle Ho envisioned a tri-life crisis as part of his communist manifesto.]

It was hard to figure out who I identified with the most, Grant (as the disgruntled corporate cog), Hepburn (who I heart, as the articulate, yet goofy sister), or the alcoholic brother.  His way of drinking his pain away looked sooo sophisticated.  Plus he played a mean banjo.  Perhaps if I could have done my job blotto . . .

Anywhos, a must see for anyone who is considering dropping out of the Corporate Machine.  Or anyone considering marrying into an NYC top family in the 1930’s. 

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A Long Weekend of Cheese and Other Fun

January 22, 2008 at 5:34 am (adventures in eating)

I am currently on Day 4 of Unemployment 2008.  And, so far, it’s working out pretty well for me. 

I had my last day of work at Evil Corporate Law Firm (love you, Uncle S) on Thursday.  It did really feel fantastic until after I entered my billable hours for (here’s hoping) the last time ever.  Then there was some minor dancing in the hallways.  You know what people on the 9th floor who still have to go to work every day for the foreseeable future hate?  People who are quiting dancing in the hallways.  Mark one point against me for tacky gloating. 

After work, I had my Departure Party, care of Uncle S, at a bar near work.  A 2nd year associate and I decided to have our parties at the same place.  Good thing to because I got two booths smack in the middle of the bar area, crowded with long-black-coat-wearing analysts, and she got the VIP room.  What up with that?  So I brought the 6 people who had come to see me off to her room and partied in style.

The real highlight of the night was dinner at Artisanal with 10 friends from work.  Much fondue eating and hilarity ensued.  We actually shut the restaurant down.  You know it’s bad when they refuse to give you more alcohol because the bar is closed, even after you ask nicely, twice.

Then Friday I drove up to Vermont with friends for the 2nd Annual (at least for me) weekend in Stratton.  And that can only mean one thing – - a trip to Stew Leonard’s.  Where else can you get (two) samples of mini pastrami sandwiches and have a cow mascot wave at you?  I think we ended up with about ten different kinds of cheese and, obviously, pastrami.  That Stew is a sneaky marketer.  But, according to Wikipedia (a shady source at best, I know), he is not a defrauder of his customers, as we were told in Vermont.  He just “forgot” to pay $6.8 million in taxes.  But he passed the savings on to us!!

vermont2.jpgThe trip to Stratton was supposed to mean two days of uninterrupted skiing.  I mean, I brought all my gear, including my helmet, and I rode in the car, both ways, with Kevin’s snowboard as a headrest.  But laziness, my desire to embroider, and Maura S’s cozy fire all kept me safely lazy.  vermont1.jpg[And Vermonteers, for the record, Hestia and Vesta are both Goddesses of the Hearth.  The former is just older and more Greek than the latter.]   I mean, god forbid I fall and twist my ankle before the Big Trip.  So instead, I Helped Save The American Economy by buying things I didn’t need at the outlets in Manchester, Vermont.  Hey, I’ll need warm sweaters when I am back in the States for two weeks in March.  An unemployed girl’s gotta stay warm somehow. 

Unfortch, I forgot to bring my beloved camera with me on the trip.  Thanks to Ben, Michele and the good, non-defrauding people in charge of Stew’s website for keeping iamsd in pictures. 

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Notice Given

January 2, 2008 at 8:57 pm (i quit my job for this?)

notice.jpgWell, there is no backing out now.  I officially gave my notice.  Oddly, there were no tears, on either side, and none of that begging of me to stay.  But the countdown (which has silently been going on in my head since May) is now ticking for all to hear.  Huzzah!

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