tilex bottle

I looked through the cabinet under my bathroom sink when I was looking for possible fluids to help with getting the ice and frost off my car windshield tonight. one of the items found was a bottle of Tilex, but there wasn't much left so I dumped the small remaining amount in the toilet. I had hoped to get to the karaoke bar but it was not to be. getting the snow off the car, and shoveled away around it, was no big deal. but the ice was thicker than usual. I worked on it for a while and decided to just stay home because I knew it would be hard to find a good parking spot after I leave the one I am in. best to wait for the snow plows to do their job. I went out to my car four times. first was to clear off the snow. then it was to clear the frost. third time I tried dumping water on the windshield and back glass, but it was only limited success. fourth time was after watching the 10pm news. during my first trip to work on the car, I fell on the pavement so there must have been some thick ice as I wasn't going that fast in my walking. I am still not sure how long ago that I bought the bottle of Tilex, but it looked like it had been a while as some of the lettering on the bottle had faded.
   I had no problem staying in when I saw how much snow was falling. I was to have a phone interview this morning, but the call I got was to move it to the next morning. he said the system was down. I still ended up with another phone interview, in the late afternoon. and now I have an in-person interview Friday morning as well, related to the phone interview that took place today. I spent some time applying on indeed, otherwise I laid down for a little while. then I had a late lunch when I woke up. and I did more online surveys for airline miles.
   

perks of being a wallflower movie

I watched a movie on loan from the library this morning, 'perks of being a wallflower'. I recognized some of the actors in it, mostly the ones playing adults. this included paul rudd, melanie Lynskey, and joan cusack. I liked how the setting was Pittsburgh, although the city's name is never mentioned. but I saw things like the green road signs saying 'fort duquesne' and things like a steelers logo on a coat, as well as talk of the penguins- so two of their sports teams. it is a coming of age story, and what made the mental health issues easier to stomach was how it is depicted on a limited basis. only a scene or two was in a mental hospital. of course I like the setting as I have been to Pittsburgh and would like to make a return visit. even a scene at a Kings restaurant reminded me of being there, as I ate at one near my hotel. I correctly predicted there would be a fight, in a cafeteria scene. I saw it as odd to see a pickup truck in it being used by the main characters, since one doesn't see them much in big cities. I very much enjoyed the music in it, one of the songs was 'low' by cracker.
    in the afternoon I went to the library to print some things and get two more DVDs to watch. in the evening I went to perform, and sub teacher was the show closer. I said I was at the bar when the show runner called for me. I was unsure where I was in the lineup, but at this show I am usually on early. a comic I hadn't seen in a while said he had a sunday show, I said I had been to that venue before. not much activity on the job front, but I got an email inviting me to another phone interview, it will be on Thursday. I am still looking at what is out there, even though I have accepted an offer it is something that doesn't start until more than a week from now. 

it's a group home

i had a job interview at midday, but it seemed less than professional to me on their part. for one thing, I had to contact them a second time to confirm that the appointment was agreed to by them and where it would be. although I found their website, I prefer to hear it from them. so about 2 hours prior, they got back to me. and I found out upon arrival that it was to be in a group home, and the interview was in the basement. it was also hard to understand this interviewer, and I am told there will be no benefits for this position. and I have no experience working in group homes. I spoke of having family that worked in nursing homes, but when the job title said 'administrator' it was confusing as this usually means 'in charge of everybody'. so it is no big deal if they don't hire me, as I don't think I would want the job anyway. I went to the drug test in the afternoon, and I needed help to get the sample as it was at a time of day when I didn't need to go to the bathroom. so I was given some bottled water, and drank some more from the water fountain, and eventually I was ready to go. first drug test for work in 20 years. it was in west st. paul, close to a costume shop I had been to before. I was expecting to get a call mid-morning about yet another job, but they never called me. so I am not sure what that means, but I also know he called me on Monday after I said by email that I didn't have time to talk right them so I already don't have a good impression of the company.
    I made it to the family dollar in the evening after my meal as I was still hungry, and needed a few other things besides food. I got some peanut butter crackers, potato chips, and the non-food items I bought were soap. I noticed how snow removal was happening near the store even though it hadn't quit snowing just yet. then later on I went to perform. and it meant a lot to get to this venue as I skipped it last week, too cold. I didn't recognize the fill-in MC, but caught their cue being kind of like another show runner doing the 'daunte culpepper gesture' as a way of 'lighting' me.

10 years on facebook

i saw a video celebrating 10 years on facebook today. I shared it and I said '10 years at anything is a big deal'. it was just under a minute. I got started fairly early on things, with wanting to get to the library to return a movie and print some things. I did a 180 in my car on the way there as it was still icy out there, and thankfully nobody was coming in either direction so I didn't hit anything. then I got ready for an interview in the afternoon. it was hard to understand the interviewer as he had a heavy accent. then I had another appointment, but it didn't take long as I was at an agency that wanted a passport copy and a tax form completed. I made it interesting by missing my turn on my way there. I performed at the comedy club tonight. yemen native gave me a ride back to my car after the show. there was a weird lady in the bar area after the show. I noticed she was wearing a bart simpson shirt, and had some gaudy yellow sunglasses, which made me think of what Elton john would wear.

never been kissed movie

I watched a DVD on loan from the library this morning, 'never been kissed' starring drew Barrymore. I do recall hearing about this movie when it was released 20 years ago, but this was the first time seeing it. there was a good cast besides just drew, as there also was john c. reilly, molly Shannon, and garry marshall. I liked the mention of the Shakespeare play 'as you like it' in this movie. the part about being more confident when becoming someone else rings true with me as I know this describes being a performer well. I found it to be predictable in some places, but such is the case when it is a movie about high school. especially when it comes to clashes between cliques. I just knew that a prank was coming, and I was right. naturally I liked how the setting was Chicago, as we all know how I have an affinity for that city. david Arquette, playing her brother, added plenty to the movie as well, even though his character was a dimwit, a slacker. I also liked what drew's character said about going back to high school, as it was her job to find a story as an under-cover reporter.
    in the afternoon I went to see the st. paul winter carnival, as it was the final day for it. I got my button pinned on to my coat. it had to move to Kellogg park as rice park is still unavailable, due to construction. it might have been a good idea to see the ice sculptures a little earlier, as they were starting to melt. but one never knows what the weather will be like. it was kind of muddy walking around there. before I entered, I dealt with a man who wanted to give me a beaded bracelet for a donation, but I said I didn't have any money so I gave it back. one of the sculptures appeared to be a teapot on wheels. I also tried to look at the heritage exhibit at the landmark center but it was locked. I liked looking around at the front desk of the building, I picked up a few brochures. there was a button there as well, 'bold north', so I got one as I like buttons.
   I made it home well before the super bowl began, and I started off with popping some popcorn. I recall my dad eating popcorn when watching it many years ago, the first one I saw when I was very young. the patriots beat the rams 13-3. later on I did the dishes, and I looked for more sheet protectors to shave from the binders. I freed up three more, and have re-deployed one of them as I filled up another page of my set lists from performing. the others will likely get re-used quickly.

you smell barn, ames center

i saw a church basement ladies play at the ames center in Burnsville this afternoon, 'you smell barn', the seventh in the series. what made the show for me was the new character, an Irishman. some of the jokes worked for me well, such as mention of hotdish. I also know it isn't the first time where meeting a catholic was a big deal when they are Lutherans. first time at this venue, the previous plays I had seen in the series were all in Plymouth. But I am aware of how the troupe had to move. there was two stages there, and I was sitting in the back row in the corner. I could see most things well except for if it was something at the actor's feet as we were on 'risers'. I am not sure which stage is larger as I did not see the other one. there was an art gallery as well, but it was vacant. looks like the most recent display had just closed. I liked having plenty of parking nearby in a ramp.
   after the show I drove home and watched the news. then I needed to get to the grocery store. but I don't mind going through when it is less than an hour until closing time, as it is less crowded. I went to a comedy show tonight, the crow was performing as well as laundry comic. hopefully I get stage time at this show again soon. then I went across town to do some karaoke, and sang 'fell on black days' by soundgarden. I am thankful I still got to sing, as it was in doubt based on the announcement I heard from the karaoke jockey when I had just arrived. but I got my song request in right away, although I usually arrive much earlier.

benchwarmers 2 movie

i watched a redbox rental today, 'benchwarmers 2', using up a free night before it expired. I got it because it was a baseball/softball movie. but I saw it as largely a rip-off of 'the bad news bears'. and one scene in it was a rip-off of 'the natural'. jon lovitz is in it, he was the only actor that I recognized. I checked Wikipedia and I was unfamiliar with the original movie, but noted how it had more actors I am familiar with, such as david spade. I said 'farce!' multiple times while watching, as it was no doubt ridiculous and unlikely, the true definition of the word. this was a 'straight to video' movie that had just been released to redbox apparently, and it is just as well as some movies are more worth the time when they are on video as opposed to seeing them in theaters.
   more things happened on the job front, as there was an interview this morning. but I didn't like the vibe of the place. for one thing, they said I had to leave my cell phone in my coat and hang it up. I am not used to hearing this. and it sounded like 'bait and switch' in terms of what I applied to on indeed, compared to what I was interviewing for. in the afternoon I joined a conference call about the offer I just accepted, and then was sent onboarding documents by email to complete. there was also a phone screen, this was after the conference call but with a different company. the interviewer wanted to move it up a few minutes as I was told there was a 'no call-no show'.
   in the evening I went to a friend's comedy show. it was an album release party, and yes it was on LP record. there were some others that I recognized, including one from a fringe play I did. I even liked getting a shout-out from the headliner. nit sure if he has a blog nickname, but I think he will be called Dracula after the name of his album.
   in other issues, I have an email that may lead to the end of this blog. but it is too early to tell. some mention of google plus going away in a few months. but I need to find out more. I also performed karaoke, one song. it was 'joey' by concrete blonde.