The Break

Since I started my new job late in the year, I don't get any vacation until January. So you better believe I took advantage of having a four day weekend for Thanksgiving. Twas so nice.

Spent half a day in western Virginia with my sister, then the last couple of days in Richmond. Man, I miss Richmond. Virginia Beach is nice, but I really miss the character Richmond has. All the restaurants are very unique. It's easy to commute around. All the music and art and shopping. Oh and Chipotle. God I wish Virginia Beach had a Chipotle. How does it not? It's way bigger than Richmond, and Richmond has a ton of them. How many in the whole Hampton Roads area? Zero.

Well I did get some Chipotle. Also went to Carytown Teas to load up on some tasty leaves. Got to see lots of friends. Got some drinks (with a '50's rockabilly singer rambling behind a mic for 90 minutes). Two loaded Thanksgiving meals. Also went to Plan 9.

Now it's funny, I still haven't found a good music store here. I've been going to Best Buy or buying online. I did check out this big place called Planet Music, which seemed like an old Tower Records (I'll stick to Best Buy). I was very excited to hit up Plan 9. I found a couple of Sigur Rós and Palace Brothers albums used. Very nice. But I didn't buy a single one. I don't know why exactly. I finally get a nice big indie music store again, and I don't get anything. Hm, oh well.

It's back to work tomorrow. Things are getting much better at work. I'm getting more relaxed and people are slowing down with their "this guy is nuts" stares I get. Was very nice getting out of town. I miss Richmond, but it's nice here too.

The End of the Earth

....I did not fall off of it.

I've just been incredibly busy and haven't had much time for fun. I've been working a minimum of nine hours a day..... busy days too. Not a lot of sitting around. I took over a department without much structure recently. Also been training in pretty much every position in the department. It's been pretty tough lately, but I'm getting there.

Anyhoo, personally things are great. I haven't done too much since moving here, but I've been enjoying myself. I love living near the beach. Check this out....

That's a ten minute drive from my apartment. Pretty sweet. Of course, it's been pretty chilly lately, so it's not like I've been in that water. It's pretty cool to look at though.

I picked up Guitar Hero III last weekend. That's been a major thing in my life. I think my hand is now deformed into a claw-shape because of it. I found myself struggling to use a pen on Monday after a weekend full of shredding.

Also saw The Darjeeling Limited two weeks ago. Good stuff. Probably not Wes Anderson's best, but still enjoyable. To me, it lacked some of the humor and emotion of the rest of his films. Artistically, however, it may be his most beautiful film.

Well, that's about it. Just working and relaxing. I picked up a couple of new albums this week, Jens Lekman's Night Falls Over Kortedala and the Fiery Furnaces' Widow City. Both are fabulous. Go get them.

My family is getting into town this afternoon. I'm going to give them a tour of a city I don't know very well. I guess I could show them the nearest Target. That's been my most frequently visited place since I moved here. We'll figure out. Later.