Oscar Prep
Ok, so, first week back from The Event, and first week totally throwing myself into the job hunt. I'm officially on unemployment now, so can't do that piecework stuff I was looking into, like audio transcription (unless it pays more than unemployment). I've had a lot of calls from recruiters. There's a certain class of recruiter - almost all of East Asian descent, who want to submit me for jobs in faraway cities or jobs that I don't actually have qualifications for (paralegal? really?), and i get a ton of those calls, but I've learned my spiel - no, New Jersey and Long Island really is too far away for me to commute, for instance.
But also calls from real recruiters and one in particular has helped me clean up my resume and submitted me for an interesting job, which I'll give more details on if I actually get it. I have a Skype interview tomorrow for it, and the recruiter is very hands-on about 'and make sure you review the company website thoroughly, and also the hiriing manager's LinkedIn profile'. OK, i can do that. Nice to have someone actively trying to get me a job - ok, I know what she's trying to do is fill the position, but it works out the same.
Other than that, I've been doing taxes and going skating and cleaning house and making frittatas and oatmeal. Oh, the big annual tradeshow (LegalTech) for my old business line was this week and my old boss was in town for it, so we had dinner on Monday. Neither of us had met the other's spouse, so that was really nice all around. Doug got me credentials to get into the trade show, and I went on Wednesday. I was hoping it would translate into maybe job opportunities, and it didn't, but it was worth the effort - plus running into old co-workers and so on.
On Friday, I had two doctor's appointments hours apart, but both in Manhattan, so I spent the intervening time at the Gay Community Center at a computer center desk with my own laptop, working as best I could. That actually wasn't bad and I have to remember when I need a temporary place to set up in town, that's good and free and they've got a cafe right there for caffeine requirements.
Next week, i have this interview tomorrow and whatever that turns into, and also a mandatory meeting with the Unemployment People on Friday morning. Thursday night, we'll have pre-Valentine's dinner at Becco, that will be nice.
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Tonight, we're gathering with our upstairs neighbors for the Oscars, and have done more prepwork than usual, mostly this week, ignoring the political shitshow that we usually watch (and wasn't this a week for that, huh?) and watching nominated movies (all on streaming). Let's see:
Ford vs Ferrari: I saw this with Sam and Dad last week, C hasn't seen it yet. I loved it, it's a lot of fun. Christian Bale is great fun on screen.
The Irishman: we watched this on Netflix last week. It's beautiful and very well-performed and the CGI anti-aging didn't bother me at all.ab
Jojo Rabbit: we saw it this week, didn't love it, but loved the two young actors in it (and funny Hitler)
Joker: also this week. Neither of us wanted to see it particularly, and it wasn't our cup of tea at all, but we can certainly see why Phoenix is getting all the accolades.
Marriage Story: really good, really sad. I agree with my film reviewer friends that it does a good job of not letting you pick sides. and I liked the resolution at the end.
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood : this was a lot of fun, and I really liked the ending. Very very well acted.
We have not seen Little Women, 1917 or Parasite. Only Parasite is avaiable on streaming right now, and we've shied away because subtitles, although we do want to see it.
I can't say I have a favorite among these, will be happy with almost any of them.
We also saw The Two Popes, which is not up for best picture, but the two principal actors are nominated, and they are both fantastic. I'd love it if Jonathan Pryce won, but he won't.
Oddly enough, we've managed to see all of the best animated feature nominees. We had already seen The Last Dragon, Toy Story 4, and Klaus, and watched I Lost My Body and Missing Link the last two nights. Missing LInk was fine, but didn't do a lot of me. I Lost My Body is a beautiful and sad movie - unusual, but probably not if you watch a lot of foreign films. I think of these 5, I want "Klaus" to win.
But also calls from real recruiters and one in particular has helped me clean up my resume and submitted me for an interesting job, which I'll give more details on if I actually get it. I have a Skype interview tomorrow for it, and the recruiter is very hands-on about 'and make sure you review the company website thoroughly, and also the hiriing manager's LinkedIn profile'. OK, i can do that. Nice to have someone actively trying to get me a job - ok, I know what she's trying to do is fill the position, but it works out the same.
Other than that, I've been doing taxes and going skating and cleaning house and making frittatas and oatmeal. Oh, the big annual tradeshow (LegalTech) for my old business line was this week and my old boss was in town for it, so we had dinner on Monday. Neither of us had met the other's spouse, so that was really nice all around. Doug got me credentials to get into the trade show, and I went on Wednesday. I was hoping it would translate into maybe job opportunities, and it didn't, but it was worth the effort - plus running into old co-workers and so on.
On Friday, I had two doctor's appointments hours apart, but both in Manhattan, so I spent the intervening time at the Gay Community Center at a computer center desk with my own laptop, working as best I could. That actually wasn't bad and I have to remember when I need a temporary place to set up in town, that's good and free and they've got a cafe right there for caffeine requirements.
Next week, i have this interview tomorrow and whatever that turns into, and also a mandatory meeting with the Unemployment People on Friday morning. Thursday night, we'll have pre-Valentine's dinner at Becco, that will be nice.
---
Tonight, we're gathering with our upstairs neighbors for the Oscars, and have done more prepwork than usual, mostly this week, ignoring the political shitshow that we usually watch (and wasn't this a week for that, huh?) and watching nominated movies (all on streaming). Let's see:
Ford vs Ferrari: I saw this with Sam and Dad last week, C hasn't seen it yet. I loved it, it's a lot of fun. Christian Bale is great fun on screen.
The Irishman: we watched this on Netflix last week. It's beautiful and very well-performed and the CGI anti-aging didn't bother me at all.ab
Jojo Rabbit: we saw it this week, didn't love it, but loved the two young actors in it (and funny Hitler)
Joker: also this week. Neither of us wanted to see it particularly, and it wasn't our cup of tea at all, but we can certainly see why Phoenix is getting all the accolades.
Marriage Story: really good, really sad. I agree with my film reviewer friends that it does a good job of not letting you pick sides. and I liked the resolution at the end.
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood : this was a lot of fun, and I really liked the ending. Very very well acted.
We have not seen Little Women, 1917 or Parasite. Only Parasite is avaiable on streaming right now, and we've shied away because subtitles, although we do want to see it.
I can't say I have a favorite among these, will be happy with almost any of them.
We also saw The Two Popes, which is not up for best picture, but the two principal actors are nominated, and they are both fantastic. I'd love it if Jonathan Pryce won, but he won't.
Oddly enough, we've managed to see all of the best animated feature nominees. We had already seen The Last Dragon, Toy Story 4, and Klaus, and watched I Lost My Body and Missing Link the last two nights. Missing LInk was fine, but didn't do a lot of me. I Lost My Body is a beautiful and sad movie - unusual, but probably not if you watch a lot of foreign films. I think of these 5, I want "Klaus" to win.