I took a pre-employment drug screening on Friday. I hope I passed it. I went to 420 and bought a drink, which is supposed to help you detox. Then, I drank water and cranberry juice for the next two days. I hope I pass because this job would give me about a thousand extra dollars a month. Sweet! Plus, I'd have my own office and wear business clothes, which I enjoy.
The party was lots of fun. The margarita machine was a hit. I knew less than 25% of the people here, but that signals a good party. I was the only one who didn't feel like shit the next day. I took a multi-vitamin and a Pepcid with lots of water before I went to bed. Some of the Rice Kids from next door came over. I actually hung out with them last night. Good times.
Lets see... I'm supposed to go Galveston to see Carrie tonight. She's moving to Tyler, which is about four hours away, close to Dallas I believe, to take a job at a crisis center. Good for her. She needs to get out of here. She's wanted by the feds for muling. Just kidding.
Jessica and Joel are supposed to come to Houston for Memorial Day weekend. I spoke to Jessica on Monday, but flaked when I didn't call her on Tuesday, as I said I would. Speaking of Monday, this Monday is the two-hour season finale of 24! I'm excited!
Well, I need to shower and write. It's a beautiful day. I might just go to the park.
A slow day on Sunday. I went to Catherine's apartment and faxed some resumes and she smoked me up. Now, I'm awake and watching TV and my mind is wandering.
So, I was flipping through the cable guide and turned on a religious channel so I could hear it in the background. Let me tell you something: People are not bright. I would totally go and speak at one of these big, evangelical congregations. This fucking guy is totally losing the crowd and seriously saying to them, "Uh, uh, a dragon is a snake." I swear to God, who, by the way, hates dragons to a large degree. This guy will be on a roll and then stumble quickly for like three seconds, it's so funny. I'm not completley cold-hearted by the way. Believe what you want. Make fun of what I believe if you feel the need to defends yours. Anyway, this guy's podium is a fucking star and his hair looks like a small, tightly fitting cap. That's right, it's a cap. It doesn't even exist, in the Hat Realm. It falls under Cap. You know how there are some people who have helmet hair? To Cap Hair, riding a jet ski is on level with skydiving.
He said "methodologies." He also got the crowd to say, "Lets say no to exaggerations." This guy doesn't mess around. Reaching right into the thick of the problems, isn't he? He just got the crowd to say, "The Devil is slick." You know, Satan's, hanging out in his layer, fanning himself, snottily, "Yeah, I know."
I am going to bed. I'm tired.
This weekend was pretty tame. I didn't mind, though. Next weekend is the big party and I'm excited. Good times, shall be had. Shall be, I say, shall be!
Oh, my maddened reader, this week has been trying. My boss is a crazy geriatric with a disorder, diagnosed by yours truly, akin to that of a mind-rattled syphillis sufferer. He yells and he screams, the old man has really lost his mind. I left early on Monday, 4:20 to be specific. I was enraged and I did not return to work until Friday. I tried to return on Thursday, but he yelled at me for coming back while I still felt, as I put it, "icky". The fact that I've allowed such a crazy fool to affect me so much is a testament to the state I've been in since I moved to Houston. My skin has become thin and internalizing negativity has become rampant. My skin used to be thick, so to speak, and I'm determined to have it thick once more. I'm going to stick this crappy job out until I find another. I haven't been thinking, only acting. It's time I got my ass back in gear. I've been unhappy far too long.
While taking a walk after dinner yesterday, I came upon an International Festival in Hermann Park. Indian culture was the focus and there was dancing in the amphitheater (spelling, spelling, anyone?). It was a nice, cool evening and I sat down on the grass and watched the first two dances. It was neat. I really like walking around the city and coming upon events like that. It sho' does make me happy.
I'm going to wipe the Mac clean of everything and reinstall Panther. I can't afford Tiger, which looks so sweet. Something is definitely messed up with the ol' laptop and I need to fix it. By the way, Jessica, I haven't forgotten about the four hundred. It's coming, woman.
Entertainment News: There are only three more episodes of 24... On That 70's Show, Eric and Kelso will leave the show this week... Speaking of Topher Grace, everyone should rent In Good Company. It's good... Check out the Brothers Quay. They've been highly influential on the makers of the Tool videos, and I believe, the video for Closer... Speaking of NIN, the new album is pretty damn good. I'm a big fan of it... Paula Abdul likes to sleep with contestants on her show, you heard it here sixth... Sam Rockwell saves Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from complete destruction, making it a fun movie... That's all.
I tried to go to St. Anne's today, but I was 20 minutes late and there was no parking. The irony of the situation was not lost on me. 'Sorry, God, I couldn't make it - Parking.' I went back to my apartment and Catherine called me. Something was wrong. She had decided she longer needed to take one of her pills, but that's not a decision one makes on a whim. Add the horrible feeling of withdrawl to whatever she went through the night before, and you've got one sad lady.
We went to Lakewood. It's a church, but you'd never know that by the name or architectural stylings. It's called the Lakewood International Center and it looks like it sounds. The church is featured on national broadcasts. They have a choir with three, gigantic television screens above them. A camera man with a crane operates near the stage (it can't be considered an altar, can it?). On the walls, on either side of the stage, are huge, well-printed posters announcing the move of the Lakewood International Center to the Compaq center in July. Beside them, there were two, big U.S. flags. A subtle glow emanated from below the red, white, and blue. The pastor, Pastor Joel Osteen (www.joelosteen.com), and his wife, are the hosts and they welcome each and everyone of you into their house of worship. Praise Jesus.
I would never actually attend on a worship scale, but I wouldn't mind going once in a while to watch, though. It's prime grounds for sociological observations. I wonder what life is like for the important people of a large church like Lakewood. What words do they choose to use when describing their world? What kind of material items do they value? What's sex like for a couple that heads a huge congregation? There were a few things about Lakewood that I didn't like. It maintained security staff, fit with earpieces and all; no guns, at least none I saw. If you're coming to worship and you don't live in the Middle East, have enough faith in humanity or at least God, to believe that bullets won't be blazing when people come to worship the All Mighty. Then, again, maybe security is needed. I don't agree with monetary exchanges in a house of worship, unless it's the exchange from your wallet to the poor box.
While the choir sang, sometimes, for way, way too long, I had time to think. I need more ritual in my religion. I think I like Catholicism because it's old. Honestly. There are elements of paganism in its rituals. The Blood and the Body are interesting ideas of spiritual consumption. You're eating the physical lifeforce of your God. I'm also a huge fan of the "peace be with you."
Catherine really likes that place. She recognizes its cheese, but I think loves it all the same. It makes her happy to see people feeling good about something so pure. Catherine and I are very similar, but where as Lakewood makes her feel good, Catholicism provides me with the shame I need to feel guilty about a variety of things I do every day. And that makes me happy.