What's wrong with Prada?

I haven’t written much lately, due to a lack of anything exciting. I joined Netflix, and bought the Burning Crusade expansion pack to the World of Warcraft online game. And they say Americans are gaining weight because we’re too sedentary…

Yesterday I got a Netflix delivery of The Devil Wears Prada. I hadn’t seen it yet, and was looking forward to some fabulousness. For about an hour and 45 minutes, I loved the movie. Then the ending came, and slapped you over the head with some right-wing family values, and left me rather angry. I hope I am not the only one to have noticed this. Andrea gives up the rising career at a hugely successful organization and a relationship with a successful writer who is captivated by her and is trying to connect her with some of his editor colleagues to further advance her career. She chooses instead the indie-grunge boyfriend who never supported her career choices, just sat at home whining about her long hours, and a job at a little local newspaper. And why?? The only reason the movie states is that the sleek choices are the “dark side”. That’s not proof, that’s an opinionated label. Salt of the earth isn’t better simply because it is salt.

As someone who has been on the wrong end of the family values stick for quite some time, I would like to know why her being a personal assistant with long hours is a relationship-killer, but his being one (if you’ve seen Top Chef or Iron Chef America, you know that a sous-chef is the cooking world’s version of a personal assistant) 200 miles away in Boston is something they can work out. Andrea makes the comment that successful men are praised while a woman in the same situation is vilified. The responding line in the movie is “You’re defending her?” Apparently the women are supposed to wear frumpy clothes and have menial jobs so they can spend all their time supporting the egos of the men. For a movie in 2006 to offer a job at a small newspaper organization as a good career move is insane. As subscription rates plummet nationwide thanks to internet news, print offices are going belly-up left and right. Couldn’t Andrea be a “happy” or “friendly” person while still wearing nice clothes, and working at a job with a future, and being with a successful boyfriend? Is it still 1954? What values is this movie really praising? The best friend sure snapped up the lovely bag fast enough, but whipped out an “I don’t even know you” the instant the status quo was threatened. Don’t even get me started on the shamed avoidance of gayness, in a movie about the fashion business! I did not read the book, so I can’t speak to that text, but the screenplay seems a cleverly disguised attack on whatever it is the red-state family values supporters are against.

Dammit

Well, Tiffany sent a rejection letter today. So, no word from Saint Gobain probably means I was rejected there, as well. That means I am back down to selling the condo. Aggravating. I can't quit my job, yet! Aughhh.

I guess tomorrow I need to have a chat with the real estate agent. My alternate paths failed, so back to pressuring the main course of action.

Stuck

Well, I am still at 171. I went to the gym last night, but part-way through my cardio I felt very weak in the legs, and almost passed out. So, I called it quits early and grabbed a cheeseburger on the way home. I figured I was low on iron or something. Of course, the cheeseburger was Actually a bacon-double-cheeseburger with a side of fries... So, why do you think I can't manage to lose this weight?!?

They've been mentioning the word 'layoff' at work. I know that I am not on the list, but would SO love to be... I'd slash the asking price, dump the condo, and move out west with a steady paycheck for six months! What better way to uproot your life than with state-subsidized paychecks!

Tiffany

Well, I have not heard back from Saint Gobain, but today I had another interview. This one was with Tiffany & Co. The Quality director talk with me about an hour. It seemed to go very well. He basically said that I will be considered in round two.

Working at a Tiffany plant would be rather interesting. You are not allowed to wear jewelry there. Since they manufacture products made of expensive metals (sterling silver, gold, platinum), you have to go through a metal detector on the way out. Like at the airport, shoes and belt go in the little plastic bin, as well as belt, glasses, etc. I even put my wallet in. The only conceivable metal I had on me at all was the zipper in my pants, and the buzzer still went off. I do have one filling...

The plant is down in Rhode Island, so it would be a significantly longer commute than my current 5 minute drive to work (4 if the lights are all green). But I imagine it would be a WAY more exciting place to work than where I am at now!