Movie Weekend

I finally had a chance to catch up on a few movies this weekend instead of worrying about work or other obligations in my professional life. I have been buying a movie here and there for the past few weeks. This weekend I enjoyed (500) Days of Summer, On Our Merry Way, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, and Bell, Book, and Candle. The only one I didn't particularly enjoy was the X-Files movie. I have been a fan of that show since I was 12 and did not think that the storyline lived up to any sort of a true X-Files mystery. (500) Days of Summer was great because it's smart and funny. The only problem is that I couldn't enjoy it with others. When I tried to watch it with friends or family, they were easily distracted and didn't appreciate the intelligence of the storyline. The two classics I saw on TCM last year and were also better enjoyed alone. While nearly everyone enjoys Jimmy Stewart movies, I think I've pushed it a little too far. I'm quickly acquiring a large Stewart collection. My goal is to have a complete collection of his movies on DVD someday. I just didn't know it would be this big already!!

I guess it's time to leave the fun of movies behind and get back to work. But since there are still a couple of movies coming in the mail, I'm sure I'll be able to schedule another movie marathon soon.

Writers are writers

I realized today that I am a writer. Not that I didn't know this before, but this was one of those days where I tried to take time for myself and enjoy the fact that I am alive. Well that really didn't work. Instead of enjoying all the Jimmy Stewart movies on TCM, I raced back and forth from the living room to the office all day to see if I missed something on Twitter. Of course I didn't – at least nothing that could not wait until the end of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

Anyway, this all brought me to the conclusion that I am a writer. I cannot go a single day, let alone eight hours, without writing a single word. This is good when it comes to work because I obviously need the money. And it's true that most money isn't easy money – people just won't click on your ads everyday, and you shouldn't expect them to. But I'm getting off topic.

Knowing that I can't avoid writing also helps to sooth me. I worry that one day I'll just forget I like to write fiction and poetry because other writing is more important. And even though I got two more rejection letters for poetry today (I believe these should be the last ones for this cycle...) I am confident I'll continue. Now I have to get a new batch of work ready to be submitted. That's always a pain, but worth it if someone bothers to publish my work.

Ooh, and just to brag about myself (which I honestly don't like doing) I did receive a better rating on one of my jobs recently, opening up a lot more work for me. That's really going to help pay off all those ugly credit cards with their brand-spankin' new interest rates.

Nearly mid-week updates

For me, it feels like the middle of the week already. I'm ahead of schedule, which means I'll definitely be able to take off work most of the day tomorrow. It's silly but TCM is running a Jimmy Stewart marathon to celebrate his birthday. While I have seen all the movies being shown, I would like to catch Vertigo and Bell, Book, and Candle again. So really I only have to sacrifice 4 hours... and during that time I can multitask by editing the last two chapters of 277 Miles. It got lost in the shuffle of packing away office junk two weeks ago, and I just recovered it from the depths of the closet. Don't know how it ended up in there, but stranger things have happened...

Other work is going great. Either I'm getting better or people are tired of having me fix things, because I haven't had a major editing disaster in almost two weeks. Yay! But I'm also working at a slower pace. Maybe that was all I needed. Once I get used to a format, I tend to speed up, but maybe I get a little sloppy sometimes. Wouldn't be the first time someone told me that. I'm just finally able to recognize it in myself. So now the schedule is finally working for me.

But now comes the real work. For the next two months, I have to write, pack, clean, and keep my sanity at the same time. I might have to call in reinforcements in a couple of weeks to really pack it all in and live on only the essentials. I did it last summer, and it made me realize just how materialistic I am. I didn't need anything that was packed in a box, so why keep it? I should have gotten rid of it when I had the chance, but at least I have not collected many more possessions since that time. I think this whole year I've bought 2 DVDs and an iPod dock. That's it.

Well, it's back to work for me now. I really want to get everything out of the way so I can finally start something new. Short stories... here I come!

Back and more determined than ever

Well, I'm back from my working hiatus. I did manage to finish 95% of my work before the end of the month deadlines approach. Now all I really have to do is wait for any edits to come back.

I also worked a lot on that travel series I talked about. But because it's such a fun topic for me, I want to make sure I can get everything right -- that means although I worked hard, I only made a nice dent in the work. My goal is to finish the Indianapolis articles by the end of May, but we'll see. I keep coming up with new article topics all the time, so when I get one written, I'm still at the same number I started with!

To reward myself for all that hard work, I bought a movie. I purchased Rope -- probably my second favorite Alfred Hitchcock/Jimmy Stewart movie. Top of that list of course is Vertigo.

And this is why I am working so hard. Even though this economic crisis (or whatever the government is calling it these days) is still very apparent, everyone has to have their little indulgences now and then. Mine just happens to be classic movies.

Latest Movie Review

To relax last night, I wrote a new movie review. I saw it yesterday on TCM for the third or forth time, and I thought I would share my opinion.

Strategic Air Command

Those that love patriotic movies, Jimmy Stewart, and a big slice of Americana will love Strategic Air Command released by Paramount Pictures in 1955.

Strategic Air Command is a flag-waver of a movie. Not only does it contain appreciation for those that served in American wars (particularly World War II), it also stresses the importance of serving your country in peace time.

...Continue reading my review

Progression

I worked hard this morning and am very proud of myself. I easily knocked out 6 articles in just a few hours. Unfortunately, it's Monday and I can't do much more than that. House, Heroes, and a Jimmy Stewart movie called On our Merry Way are all on tonight. Plus, if I really want to get no sleep, I can catch Harold and Maude at 11:45 on TCM tonight. I'm still debating. Either way, I have to work twice as hard tomorrow. My goal is to clear out my article queue. That would mean writing more than 20 articles. I gotta get it done anyway, so why not all in one day? I think I'll get the coffee ready for the morning.

No Sleep

I really don't need to be up this early. I just went and paid my rent in the overnight box to avoid going into the office. And I have article to make up--already! But by the end of the weekend I should be way ahead, because the number is small. But, I also have to clean the apartment and make cupcakes for a birthday party tomorrow. And in between all of that work and cleaning The Stratton Story is on TCM at 12. And I've only seen it once, so I'm definitely going to watch it again. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a Jimmy Stewart movie.

And I will get to that movie review for New Port South
. I promise! I think I may have to watch it again once more though.

Have a happy Saturday!