not so much seek to be consoled as to console...

So when last we left our intrepid hero, spreadnparanoia's arrival on Cape Cod was imminent. Her visit came and went and was generally quite good - rainy weather on Wednesday as expected, but otherwise the weather ranged from patchy to downright cooperative. Sam got to see all of the excellent Chatham sights (i.e. the beach, the harbor seals, downtown, the Candy Manor and the band concert. That's pretty much all there is to see.) I was sort of sad that it started drizzling during the band concert, otherwise I might've urged Sam to stick it out for a slow dance. Chatham's weekly summer band concerts are really excellent vintage Americana, and I hadn't been to one in a couple of years. Tonight we're gonna party like its 1959...

Allie hardly got to meet Sam, mostly because she went up to Boston for what was apparently the last Dispatch concert ever. I can't say as I blame her. In fact I'm really a little jealous, although of course I wouldn't have missed just getting to spend some relaxing time with Sam for the world. My puppy Mia had still further medical problems while she was here, namely a urinary tract infection. My parents are getting to be on a first name basis with the folks at the Animal Hospital. But oh well, we've had really good luck with her health so far, so I'm not too worried. Sam's visit ended with a near-disastrous rush to get to Providence. She nearly missed her flight because I severely underestimated how hard it would be to get off Cape Cod. Fortunately against all odds (which were due in no way to the fact that, once out of the traffic snarl, I drove pretty much 90 mph the whole way) she made it into her seat before the plane took off. Now she's in Colorado.

Got back to Evanston and am now reading the South Beach Diet at my father's insistence. We do have a family history of heart disease, but I'm not sure who he thinks he's kidding. Yes, I'm heavier than I used to be, because my eating habits are atrocious and I don't exercise. And yes I am unhappy with that, when you get right down to it. But at most this book has inspired me to cook at home more... I am miles away from being ready to go on South Beach. At least I think I am.

Saw Manchurian Candidate last night with pax_malificus and inediblebuddha. Meh. Chris pretty much summed up everyone's feelings on the matter: that was a movie. I think all of our potential enjoyment was spoiled by having seen the original version. But really I think this version didn't do anything particularly new or innovative, and in fact failed in some of its ambitions. That's just my personal opinion, of course.

This morning I went to something resembling an interview with the Vice President in charge of the Chicago regional office for Discover Re (the company that Chris Cartland's dad is president of, and George Estes of Kingswood-Oxford fame is the CEO.) Overall I think the interview went very well, but after at least an hour of chatting with a couple of people in that office they were forced to admit that they don't particularly have a job to offer me, that they know about. Even following Discover's normal progam, I would have to spend a year doing training in Farmington, CT first. And that training wouldn't begin until next Spring when they could hire me. So that was disappointing, particularly since Discover is kind of an interesting company. Although the woman I spoke with primarily, who's name is Paula, said she was going to call Dick Cartland and see if there was anything else she could do for me. I know enough not to pin any hopes on that, but something could turn up I suppose.

Que será, será.