As Good As It Wants

Hey there all...

So, instead of being a productive member of society this weekend I mainly slacked off: I didn't get to watch anything but the opening 30 minutes of Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" (even though that was very impressive), I didn't make the review LJ, I didn't update this one, and I got no writing done whatsoever.

I *did* however, christen my new chess set with a win against Silver (good for me, because I'm very unlikely to ever win another game again), bug the crap out of everyone trying to find a cribbage partner, quit Ramadan (more on that, later) and hang out with a bunch of people. I also officially plan to move out in 4 - 6 weeks. So, in a lot of ways the weekend was pretty productive, but in the ways I would have liked, it was a complete and total failure.

Saw "Harry Potter 2" in theatres and "Gattaca" on video. Sometime tonight I'm going to have to sit down and write reviews for them, and later this week I'd like to see "Spirited Away" and the aforementioned "Romeo + Juliet." I'd also like to keep writing Attempt No. 5, read The Last Unicorn in time to send it back up to KC with Ryngs and get started on the ??Salvation?? website design. Not to mention I should probably write the first two months or so and send them to potoroo. So many things, so little time. <:) Joey came by and learned me how to drive one o' dem vehicles. I killed the car about three times before I finally moved it (it's a standard), and I couldn't get it into second gear without making it throw fits afterwards, but generally I guess it was a good first lesson. Joey was *amazingly* patient; he's a really good teacher when he wants to be. I think that was the first time I've ever seen him realize the potential he has as far as his temper goes. It made me feel really good. Anyway, next weekend there'll be more lessons, and I have to start packing up any and all non-essentials. I'm just moving back into Fayetteville-proper, and my other three roommates have a house to move, so there's no hurry for me. In fact, I'm fully expecting to be moved in last. I'm paying full rent for December at the place I'm in now, but the rent for the new place is pro-rated, so thankfully that eases expenses up a bit. Some Christmas presents might be a little late, but if I work hard I can get the writing done on time. It's been a very long time since I've felt passionately. I still feel, and I'm feeling more than I have in quite a while, but to love something or be focused on something so intently that it's a very important part of who you are is something I've been missing. I think mainly it's a reaction against obsession I've seen in people over the past year or so. Like self-assuredness vs. egotism, I think passion vs. obsession is something that I need to figure out here in a bit. I don't think you can create real, purposeful art if you're not passionate about it on some level. Work is...settling, a bit more. We're all a bit less stressed about things, even though Katy keeps saying that I'm creating more work than necessary with my idea of re-organization. Maybe, but I think the end result will be worth all the extra hours I'm putting into it. We'll see. A primer on workmates: Don is one of the owners. He's pretty cool, laid-back and tends to trust us with what we do more than anyone. He likes jazz, cats and the theatre. We get along great, though I'm not always sure what to say to him because we're both kind of quiet. His wife, Faith, died of cancer when I started working here, and I can tell he's been affected by it but I'm not sure how much. Charles is the old and crotchety owner of the Bookshop. He's Irish (like, *really* 'I hate the British, love potatoes' kind of Irish), has a pretty big temper and control problem. Despite that, he's a really cool guy. Knows quite a bit about books and what sells, but mainly just wants to create a comfortable atmosphere rather than a profitable business. Bernadette has the History section, among other things. She's a divorced mother of two; one daughter's in college, the other is home-schooled. She's really nutty, and out of everyone here I tell her the most about my personal life. She knows I'm a fur, has read "Nightswimming" and is really passionate about politics and the First Amendment. She knows everything about Banned and Challenged Books. Katy is the perennial discontent. She has the Literature section, among other things. She's really great to debate with, but sometimes I suspect she disagrees with things people say just to challenge them and make them think. A very noble thing to do, but it gives her a very contrary attitude sometimes. We talk a lot about race and gender issues in society. Her boyfriend, AK, is a musician who plays the didgeridoo and an all-around groovy guy. Heidi is Katy's sister. Heidi's a lot more laidback, and tends to go the hippie/bohemian route of non-aggression. She has the paperback and children's sections. She's also a lot more worldly than Katy; while Katy's read about a lot of intellectual things, Heidi's lived around a lot more 'seedy' things. She has a baby, Zamisce, whom she adores. John prices books and works the desk, mainly. He's frighteningly intelligent, and knows a little bit abuot just about anything. It's *awesome* to just sit and listen about what he knows about Kansas City, or the Green Man, or this poet or that author. He's a font of useless knowledge. :) And then there's me. I think I'm viewed as the eccentric (which is saying a lot with this crowd), superstitious, spiritualist of the group. Out of everyone here (mostly agnostic/atheist) I know the most about various religions. I have the Religion and Philosophy section. Not sure why I put that in...but I'm going to be talking about work a lot more, so I thought I'd let everyone know about the cast and characters first and foremost. :) I'm excited...life is entering a new phase, etc. etc. Now if I could just shake off this laziness, I'll be set. :)