Shit-tonne of FINALLY!

Yesterday was copious with the sensation of FINALLY!!!. My first day back to work after a long weekend at home in Michigan is always unbearable. The grasp on reality that being home temporarily affords me makes it even more difficult to tolerate the skewed priorities and bullshit games I'm exposed to at the office. Fortunately, this time I was interrupted by a providential phone call from my fiancé.

For the past, well, since the first of October when he left me stranded here, alone and cold went back to Spain, he's been attempting to get his first post-collegiate job. Countless interviews yielded no results, until now. His first "real" job will be working for the same bank for which he's been an on/off temporary teller for four years. The job even comes equipped with great hours and decent pay. I'm so proud of him! And so relieved for both of us! One of the most difficult of the significant challenges we'll have faced in this journey has been resolved, and it feels mighty good!

In other news, I've finally seen Le fabuleaux destin d'Amélie Poulain! I know this comes extremely late, in fact, almost nine years late. (That's a scary thought. I still haven't gotten comfortable with having adult-like memories that date back over a decade.) However, you must understand that I developed an aversion to this film before it was even released. This aversion was entirely due to the (quite literally) IN YOUR FACE marketing campaign launched in Mexico City, where I was living at the time. In addition to the numerous billboards scattered throughout the sprawling metropolis, every single bus stop featured one of these enormous posters:

I took the bus at least ten times a week, since I had to at least give the impression I was still going to school Monday through Friday. Imagine waiting for the bus with those penetrating eyes, scaled to the size of an average human's head, bearing down on you. It was traumatizing! I took to waiting near the bus stop until my ride arrived. Long after the posters were torn down and the superb reviews were in from both critics and friends alike, I still avoided Audrey Tautou like the plague. I know it's not fair to judge a book by its cover, but is it not justifiable to avoid a movie soley based on the pretense that its protagonist's gaze gives you the heebie-jeebies?

So, years later, I was introduced to one of my all-time favorite movies, L'auberge Espagnole.

In this movie, Audrey has a minor (albeit majorly annoying) role, and it showed me that despite Amélie's freaky marketing, she can be somewhat normal-looking. (I just noticed that this cover implies she's the star of the film, but I assure, there are at least seven roles more prominent than hers.) I decided maybe it was worth facing my fear, and low and behold, just three short years later, I've done it!

Oh. And it was worth it. That movie totally rocked! It boasted the quirky humor and subtle wit that few American films (save Matilda) possess. If you haven't seen this movie yet (which is doubtful, unless you're Shelly, who refuses to watch movies with subtitles-- don't get me started,) I highly suggest you get right on that!

Also, I've been meaning to post something about the ongoing Proposition 8 trial, which I've been relentlessly following via Twitter and prop8trialtracker.com, but my comments on that topic are, as of yet, too numerous and too unorganized. I do intend to get around to it this weekend, however, so, as Scar would tell you, be prepared!