contrast can really screw up your perceptions. six weeks ago i was sort of going crazy because i didn’t have enough work to do and for the first time, my work day was dragging and making me doubt myself. then it turned into september and i’ve been working 10-12 hour days consistently. last weekend i worked nine hours on sunday and then a full normal week, but we got everything done we needed to. now by comparison, just having a few moments to collect my thoughts feels like vacation in comparison. luckily, everybody likes vacations, right?

the weekend, being two days instead of one, felt equally luxurious, and i feel rejuvenated and relaxed and happy in its wake. it was somewhat uneventful as far as action-packed nights on the town, but still good. friday night i walked a mile down the street to a yuppie mall to use my apple store gift cards (ipod car charger for the matrix, extra firewire cable for the backpack in case of emergency downloads & uploads to my work computer). i figure, with free money i can buy things i would never pay real money for otherwise without guilt. similarly, i bought more comic books with an amazon gift certificate my boss got me for working so much overtime last week. i can’t wait to read watchmen after hearing everyone in the world pretty much nut over allan moore’s masterpiece.

saturday i was even up 3 bucks at nickel poker (i have learned to prefer texas hold’em over 5-card draw), which went directly toward some mozzarella sticks at the nearest IHOP at 3am. can you believe jack in the box had the nerve to take them off their menu? now i can only get them if i go to a sit-down restaurant! if anyone knows another fast-food chain or even short-order stand that has good cheese sticks, please please help ease my pain.

and to top it all off, with all this seemingly-vast-in-comparison amount of leisure time, i went to lunch and a movie with my dear friend emily, dinner with my dear friend jen freshly back from japan (she even bought me this totally sweet shirt that will be sure to impress the hipster chicks), re-entered my netflix habit, AND finished a book! for a weekend of lounging i really packed it in, n’est pas?

hence, expect reviews of lost in translation, wonder boys, and a wild sheep chase to follow tonight or tomorrow.

[now hearing this: braid – frame and canvas. and after years and years, i still can’t say i’ve heard many cd’s better than this one either.]