Thursday, October 15, 2009

Giving Blood - Part 8

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Today has just been absolutely strange. Allow me to run you through my day. First, I wake up, get ready for work...and head down to the apartment offices to get in on a 6 month lease because I haven't heard from any jobs out there & everything considered I'm going to be staying here for the next little while. While there I also picked up a package (thus completing my Jay-Z audio collection...except the Unplugged because...really? Do I have to explain that one?). I go to work...and I have a wonderful message from JJ about her upcoming wedding plans. Always good to hear from her. Being in a merry mood, I decided to do a little something for my two-time $tevie-winning drinking buddy Bubbles. See, she LOVES the "I Saw You" personals in the City Weekly...but doesn't get this SLC-based free paper in Vegas...so I copied them on an email and sent them to her. She was overjoyed...as was I. The day was going splendidly. I got another email shortly after...FROM TAHOE!!! Apparently Boss Man B had sent an email to possible future Boss Men & Women there...and they were looking into the possibility of a position in my field of expertise...and were asking me the usual questions like salary desired, etc. REALLY? The DAY I sign a lease, you guys finally call me back...after about six weeks of NOTHING? Sigh...that's always the way it is with me. So I'm panicking...because the lease is pretty specific & I'm pretty sure that it's going to end up with me pitching a fit and/or feces in an office somewhere (again) and it's just going to be messy all around if I move. So then I went from stressful to super stressful...

I was Donating Blood again for a company drive...and more importantly, for the kids in dire need of my O-Positive blood across the globe. The worst part was...being a blood drive...in the month of October...there were vampires. Also, I thought that one of them might actually be a vampire...because in my experience (of watching movies & TV series) you can always tell who the evil vampire is going to be...because it's usually the really really hot one with the mystical blue (or cat) eyes...and there was one of them at the signup counter. Other than that though, it went without a hitch. The only part even worth mentioning was during the wrap-up when it was all done. "Okay Dr Love, just keep this bandage on for 4-5 hours, no heavy lifting for the rest of the day, drink plenty of fluids for the next few days and here's a paper with an 800-number if anything happens and you don't know what to do. Any questions?" "So wait, I can't even go to the bathroom?" "Yeah you can. Why wouldn't you be able to?" "You said no heavy lifting." (Belly laugh) "Well, as long as you can lift using your left arm you should be fine." "Oh good. Well, I guess that'll be it then. You have my number. Say hi to the kids for me." I was even back working within about 45 minutes...and still stressing a bit about the whole lease / possible move thing. I quickly quelched that by calling the apartments and they can do a month to month...for about 20% more rent. Sigh...this had better work out soon. I even got another email from Tahoe later in the day asking, "If this position opens, would you be interested?" so we'll see if that comes to pass. Oh...and for donating blood, I won a hat in a raffle...from Lake Tahoe. I know. Spooky, right?

THEN I started getting a little email correspondence going with my possible future boss at Tahoe...and eventually she just asked me to call her to discuss the position. Yeah, I know. So I did immediately...and after a quick conversation enjoying...what I think might've been a slight English accent, she told me that she would keep me posted and that she was really looking forward to opening up this position in my field of expertise...and that she's heard nothing but great things about me (Thanks Boss Man B!!!). I don't know how to react to all of this. It's all just a sudden surprise...but I'll probably calm down & rationalize within a few hours like I normally do. Still, I'll have to keep an eye out for apartments again. Sigh...and I'll probably be moving just in time for winter to hit. Oh well, it could be a LOT worse. Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Here's the news...

DaVinci Code - A portrait of a young woman thought to be created by a 19th century German artist and sold two years ago for about $19,000 is now being attributed by art experts to Leonardo da Vinci and valued at more than $150 million (SHAZAM!!!). The unsigned chalk, ink and pencil drawing, known as "La Bella Principessa," was matched to Leonardo via a technique more suited to a crime lab than an art studio — a fingerprint and palm print found on the 13 1/2-inch-by-10-inch work. Peter Paul Biro, a Montreal-based forensic art expert, said the print of an index or middle finger matched a fingerprint found on Leonardo's "St. Jerome" in the Vatican. Technical, stylistic and material composition evidence (including carbon dating) had art experts believing as early as last year that they had found another work by the creator of the "Mona Lisa." The discovery of the fingerprint has them convinced the work was by Leonardo, whose myth and mystery already put him at the center of such best-sellers as "The Da Vinci Code" and "The Lost Symbol." Biro examined multispectral images of the drawing taken by the Lumiere Technology laboratory in Paris, which used a special digital scanner to show successive layers of the work. "Leonardo used his hands liberally and frequently as part of his painting technique. His fingerprints are found on many of his works. I was able to make use of multispectral images to make a little smudge a very readable fingerprint." Alessandro Vezzosi, director of a museum dedicated to Leonardo in the artist's hometown of Vinci, Italy, said Wednesday he was "very happy" to hear about the fingerprint analysis, saying it confirmed his own conclusion that the portrait can be attributed to Leonardo with "reasonable certainty." "For me, it's extraordinary there is confirmation" through the fingerprint, although "it's not like I had any doubt," he said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Even before the fingerprint discovery, Vezzosi said several experts agreed with his conclusion, which was based on "historical, artistic, stylistic (and) aesthetic" considerations. Based on its style, the portrait has been dated to 1485-1490, placing it at a time when Leonardo (1452-1519) was living in Milan. Canadian-born art collector Peter Silverman bought "La Bella Principessa" (The Beautiful Princess, which on a side note I've often called my mom) at the gallery in New York on behalf of an anonymous Swiss collector in 2007 for about $19,000. New York art dealer Kate Ganz had owned it for about nine years after buying it at auction for a similar price. One London art dealer now says it could be worth more than $150 million. If experts are correct, it will be the first major work by Leonardo to be identified in 100 years. Ganz still doesn't believe it is a Leonardo. "Nothing that I have seen or read in the past two years has changed my mind. I do not believe that this drawing is by Leonardo da Vinci," Ganz told the AP on Wednesday. She declined to comment further (I wouldn't either if I found out that I had lost $150 million). Silverman said he didn't expect Ganz to acknowledge it's a Leonardo because that would damage her credibility, adding that if she wants to "go against science and say the Earth is not round," then that's her prerogative. "Thank God, we have the fingerprint because there will still be those doubting Thomases out there saying it couldn't possibly be and giving all sorts of reasons for it. We not only have a fingerprint, but a palm print." He said the palm print was found in the neck of the portrait's subject, who is believed to be the daughter of a 15th century Milanese duke. Biro said the two main ideas to emerge from the news are the discovery of "an important lost work by Leonardo," and how "science, technology, scholars and art historians are learning to work together to solve these incredibly complex puzzles." Yeah, that's the story here. Not the $150 million painting that somebody sold for less than a fully equipped Ford Escort. I just thought that I'd share this with you because...hey, it'd be cool if it were a DaVinci work. Why not? Now it's just a matter of finding out...how this picture will bring about the doom of Man through theological mysteries. What is the symbolism of the hair braid? Is it the Serpent from the Garden of Eden? Wait, that's the mark of the Free Masons in the ruffles on her shoulder. My GOD!!! P.S. I've never seen "DaVinci Code" or "Angels & Demons" nor do I ever plan to. Just throwing that out there.

Lavigne's Divine Divorce - Court records show Avril Lavigne has filed for divorce (she was married?) from her musician husband (OH!!! One of those) after three years of marriage. Lavigne filed for divorce from Sum 41 singer Deryck Jason Whibley on Friday in Los Angeles. The couple were married in July 2006 and have no children together (thank God, could you imagine not only the child...but the ridiculous name possibilities of the offspring of Avril & Deryck? Avryck? Derril? Punkin?). Lavigne cited "irreconcilable differences." (Basically she was making money...and he hasn't for a while) The 25-year-old punk-pop singer burst to fame with her 2002 debut album "Let's Go." Lavigne is asking a ruling to block Whibley from receiving spousal support (See?). Best part: Court records show Whibley was granted a request to add Lavigne's last name to his name in December 2007. That's right, HE took on HER name. Isn't that sweet? Gee, nobody could've seen this coming. It's impossible to predict that some pseudo-punk-pop princess would divorce her rocker husband who burst onto the scene with a single entitled "FAT LIP"!!! Great song by the way. Oh well, I just wanted to share that with you...for the celebrity gossip, silly names & most importantly...a dude taking on the wife's name...and then getting dropped. Ouch! Sorry playa. You'll be okay though. I'm sure you're still collecting some royalties from the "All Killer No Filler" album...and you banged Avril Lavigne. There's only like...a few people I know that can say that.

Government Mandated 2nd Honeymoon - Divorce rates are at an all-time high. Some say it's because of the lowered standards...or tax benefits...or the mixture of Vegas & alcohol...but regardless of the cause, the effects are evident. Families torn apart, the legal system tied up with meaningless bullspit, far too many tears being shed & gun being fired into crowds. If only there was a solution. Well, for the first time in a long time, we can thank the Muslims for a great idea (that might've been a low blow...but you bombed my peeps) and it might've helped Avril & Deryck. Malaysia's eastern state of Terengganu is offering free honeymoons worth up to $440 each to rekindle the romance between married couples on the brink of divorce. The honeymoon package comes with some counseling and is an attempt to slow soaring divorce rates in the state, according to The Star newspaper reported on Monday. "We can understand newlyweds having problems understanding one another, where a slight skirmish could lead to a separation but it is unacceptable for those married more than two decades to file for divorce," the paper quoted Terengganu Welfare Community Development and Women Affairs committee chairman, Ashaari Idris, as saying. The conservative Muslim state did not disclose divorce rates (probably less than 1%). Idris said the state had carried out a successful pilot project where 25 couples facing marital woes were selected for three-day honeymoon package that cost around 1,500 ringgit ($440) per couple. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country. Under Islam, divorce is allowed, but frowned upon, with the Prophet Mohammed saying divorce was, in the eyes of God, the most distasteful lawful act (that's right, FAR WORSE than suicide bombing apparently). Regardless of where the idea came from, I think it's a great idea. Is your marriage on the skids? Has the fiery passion of your Love been reduced to a warming glow of a lava lamp? Well, how about a weekend getaway to San Diego? Miami? New England? Oh wait, if it's going to be around $440 per couple...then you might have to settle for the beautiful sandy beaches of Mississippi...but Filly can confirm that they do exist...and are rather nice. She told me so yesterday. I wouldn't recommend Vegas for this kind of a trip...but hey, if that's where you guys hooked up, then maybe the volcano show at the Mirage will help spark that Passion again. It's worth a shot...and a LOT cheaper than counseling and/or a divorce lawyer. Just keep it in mind...and Barack, once this Healthcare thing is taken care of, let's get to work on this too, okay?

Anyway, that'll do it for today. I'm really in a staggered state at this point. This morning, I was basically at a point where moving to Lake Tahoe was kind of an afterthought and pushed aside...but then within a few hours, I went from signing a lease to stay in Slick City until my birthday to getting ready to start packing for a quick move to another mountain town because Boss Man B hooked me up once again. I guess it really isn't what you know but who you know in this game after all. My mind is just going a thousand miles a minute right now...but I'm sure I'll think it all through & get it straightened out. I don't want to get too excited about it all...seeing as technically, there isn't a job yet...and I would still be going up against the 12% unemployment of Cali, plus plenty of others who would be interested in this job (even a few good friends) so we shall see how it goes...but I think it's a good sign that she has already called to talk to me, right? Don't I have a good reason to be excited about this again? Cheese & Rice, it's just like this time last year. Almost EXACTLY like last year. What is it about the month of October seriously rocking my world the past few years? Sigh...I'll keep you all posted. Have a great day everybody!!!

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