it's been five days since i posted.

i worked from 9 am to 10 pm today.

my hair is starting to do the northwest iowa flip.

tomorrow we drive to kingman for a wedding.

next week we drive to eugene for the shindig of the new year.

72 days seperate us from marital agreements.

my hair is a different color.

we watched this movie, me and you and everyone we know. it's a weird one. i kinda liked it, in that, mmm, that's odd sort of way.

i love jasmine for ever and ever and ever.

Posted by jack. |

mmmmm. work.

i'm working. i'm working a lot. this week, i've put in, count 'em, 37 hours. and i'm going in at nine in the am tomorrow, and don't expect to get out until seven. it's weird though, i don't mind working a whole lot if there is work to be done--especially editing work. i like it. and i got to put in some of the final fully rendered uncompressed footage today, and let me tell you, it rocked. i really really, like it. it's weird to say, but it looks fantastic. so that's really reall cool.

unfortunatly that's all i've been doing lately. i see jasmine after i'm done working, but it's so much less than we used to when we were both unemployed. i'm not complaining, i want a middle ground.

christmas is around the corner. it's mom's bday today/yesterday. i'm happy for her being one year older. we had a nice chat today at my lunch break.

back to christmas. i'm happy it's christmas. there is a lot of packages and envelops coming our way--which is exciting. i'm excited to open gifts, and to have those afar open my gifts to them. i hope they like them, even if they have to wait ever so impatiently.

i guess that's all i have. i've been a selfish blogger lately, reading lots and typing less.

Posted by jack. |

i might make a movie. i just thought about it. something short and sweet. using simple effects, but powerful. more to come.

church was good. i enjoyed it. we had to leave early because were planning on seeing king kong with my roomie tim. but he got help up in a meeting. so we watched, RENT. i really liked it. seriously. it was really good. i really didn't know anything about it, which i think helped. i knew that it was mostly about homosexuals, newyork, and that it was a musical. that's about it. i bet the live broadway show is amazing. i'd reccomend seeing it, you may have to travel for it, or wait for the rentalness. i guess it's been out for a while. very powerful. it remined me of reading angels in america, which i haven't seen, live or on film either. i'd like too.

i realized i blogged already today, but i was feelin' like writing, so here i am again. writing. i want to be like ross. that's pretty much all.

by the way, does anyone have a duplication machine? we need to make a copy of ross. the trick is, it only needs to be for one three days, and he needs to be able to remember and act like he should in both places.

i've been working on walking through walls, so, i haven't tackled the whole duplication idea yet.

speaking of which. i haven't been working on anything screenplay oriented. how sad.

we ate at in and out burger today. i like that place. they make good food. even if there is really only three menu options.

someone at work got really mad today. he threw something and it broke. i was kinda scared. don't worry, it wasn't aimed at anyone, it was just a frustration type thing. like, i can't believe this is happening. anyone who's dealt with computers has felt that urge. i know i have.

i hope the christmas season is treating you well.

Posted by jack. |

i'm working this day. i didn't work yesterday. i will be able to attend church though, at 4:30.

Yesterday we ate dinner/supper whatever you might call it, with some friends from church. it was a good time. conversation ranged from the big lebowski to unemployment to movies we like, and movies we'd like to write. it was a very pleasant evening.

there is slight hope that i'll be able to start working days maybe next week some time. my employers have purchased a mac-mini to do some offline cutting. i'm excited about that.

at the moment i'm contemplating lunch. i'm hungry, and i know that church will and always seems to go a little long which will accentuate my hunger. so i should probably eat something here, but i'm not sure what to eat, and if i go where to go and grab something. you'd think i could find something.

i have most of my christmas shopping done. a few more items to find and then i'm done.

even though i'm working during the day today, no one else is here. a common theme it seems. i'm having some issues with quicktime compression right now. it just doesn't compress the file like it should and gives me this error... "-50".

i'm excited for christmas...

Posted by jack. |

hi.

how are you?

i am well.

having daytime off is weird. i feel like i should do stuff, so i do. today i bought christmas gifts for the entire maatman family. and almost all of it was from amazon.com. which was crazy. there is a lot of stuff on there.

in other news, my job is going well. i feel like i'm getting into the swing of things. i'm able to do stuff that is helpful to other people and isn't boring either.

i talked to iowastudentloan for an hour today. i can't say it sucked, but it wasn't pleasant either. i feel like i've been dealing with money all day long. who and how much and what for and how long.

packages have started to arrive here from far off places. iowa....north carolina...bed bath and beyond...amazon....it's nice to recieve such things. i'm excited to open them all.

my ear kinda hurts from being on the phone today.

i'm out.

Posted by jack. |

well, i don't have that much media to talk about. i saw narnia last thursday eve/friday morning. despite my roomies criticisms of the movie, i really liked it. I have not read the books. i know gasp. what kind of christian am i? well, i'm the kind that always wanted to, but never did read the narnia books. i know, i know everyone did. and then again in high school, and then in college for kicks, but i didn't. so i was fascinated by the story. i thought it was fantastic. i could see some parts coming like, aslan sacrificing himself, but i didn't know he'd be back so soon. i was truely intrigued and interested by the film. so many people are comparing it to lord of the rings. my roomies hail it as the one of the best series/films ever and they praise peter jackson for his epic abilities. it's so much different than lotr though. it's not an epic 12 hour story. it's one story. it actually ends after one movie. i really like that. lotr is great, but it never ends. it keeps going and going and going and going. it's my constant battle against long movies. unless i never have to look at my watch, it's usually too long. what a bold statement. this from a guy who claims dogville as one of his favorites which is how long jack? well....umm....it's like, 2.5-3 hours of pure torture.

anywho. i like it. both, i guess, dogville, narnia, mmmgoood. and i didn't think disney killed it. and i think the next ones could be even better. but i don't know the stories. because....i haven't read the books.

family guy volume three. that's the other thing i watched recently. it may have just been the episodes that i watched, but, man, they are really mean to meg in the third volume. i was honestly taken aback. i guess that's family guy's thing though. nothing is sacred. mostly i just didn't see it coming. but it's funny. stewie rocks. as do brian and chris.

in other news, they are redoing our street, which means we can't park there, which is really, really not cool. everybody has a car. everybody parks on the street. when i get back at 12am-3am it's hard enough to find a spot, now i can't even park on our street along with everyone else!

well. that's about it. jasmine and i have the day off tomorrow together. that'll be fun.

jack.

Posted by jack. |

well. it has happened. and in the same week. jasmine and i both have jobs. i'm an assistant editor and she is a volunteer manager and special event coordinator.

we are very glad to have work.

i'm still working nights this week. which i'm okay with, but it means i wont see jasmine much at all thie week. that middle time between jobs ending/starting to eat may be the only time.

unfortunately we had to miss church last night due to a volunteer appreciation event at jasmine's work. it was nice to meet all of her co-workers, but we missed church.

i'm not sure what to do with my self today. i have all day to do stuff, and i kinda feel motivated. i think i have a list somewheres.

i hope all those who have exams and whatknot are bearing the load. i miss the iowa friendships.

i think i might drive to dane/joshua/amanda/nates place if i was in sioux center right now. see if they are up and doing stuff. maybe watch some dvd with them.

i hope you are well.

Posted by jack. |

sylvia.

arnola.

bermuda.

sad man angry.

frech fries.

sanitarium.

saint augustine.

walter.

a mad adam.

sincere.

sandie.

align.

two fallen men ride horses.

stop.

Posted by jack. |

well, i'm still working. that's right kids, it'a, 1:07 am and i'm still on the clock. i really can't complain. right now i'm waiting for things to export, burn and copy, so i'm sitting, blogging and whatknot.

my job is good. i've signed on for 3 weeks, but i'm guessing it's going to be a lot longer. just my guess for now, that may change.

today was weird. i didn't get out of bed until noon, didn't shower until 5ish. but it felt okay, because i was starting work at 7pm. i have another interview tomorrow, at ten am! holy craps. that's early. tomorrow will be long, especially with that 12:01 showing of Narnia. mmmm. i'm excited for that too. i'm a little worried too, that it might ruin the books. (which i haven't read, *gasp* i know it's crazy, but it just never happened.)

jasmine is supposed to find out tomorrow if she has work. i'm excited for her. i'm not seeing her as much these days--working all hours of the night.

so i've had a headache for about three days now, any solutions? i've self diagnoised these things: i'm drinking far less caffiene and soda than ever before (minus the two pepsi's i had at work today). with that also, i think i'm taking in less sugar than before, although i'm less positive about that one. and lastly, i did have it once where my neck was sore due to messing up my neck--out of alignment or something.

the good news is it doesn't keep me awake, and isn't super strong hurt, but a mild in and out.

i looked a little online for some help, no dice.

well time is crunching and i'm not sure if i'm going to get it all done before two.

arg.

Posted by jack. |

today was my first day working at extra large technologies. i never looked to see if they have a website. i might do that now. they do. how nice. you'll never guess what i'm working on. before i left someone asked me, i can't remember who, i wish i could, "so, if you are offered a job working for some reality tv show, you'll take it?" and i answered "probably. i know a guy working for elimidate, that would be the worst i think." well, it's not reality tv. i'm thankful for that. but it is an interactive dvd of the popular BRATZ dolls. that's right kids. i'm working on turning bratz into another dvd your nine year old will truely appreciate. it's actually kindof a cool concept. it's an intereactive dvd. so the kids pick which character they want to watch, and then which story they want to do. it's something they can watch over and over again--seeing different things each time. it's pretty cool. i mean, i can't say that i'm excited to be making films about BRATZ, but it is cool to work with 3d animation--where if you want a new angle, you just ask the director for it, and the next day you have it. i got to cut a segment today--a first pass type thing. it was pretty cool. mostly i'm going to be getting things ready for the DVD authoring house. adding loops at the end of segments and things like that--making things ready to be interactive.

all in all today was a really good day. i went to another interview (two down, two to go.) i don't really need the work with this company--they do music videos mostly, but it was nice to go there meet the people, and see what they do.

i meet at arclight cinemas on thursday, i'm hoping for a part time job there, the pay isn't great, but it would be extra work, so the pay isn't as important, and i get to see free movies again. i like free movies.

in other news, we're designing the wedding invitations. that has become my day job...so to say...while work nights for a while.

it felt really good to work again--espcially on final cut. mmm. i like editing.

jack is finished writing now.

Posted by jack. |

well.

i know the tension is rising. the answer to the quiz is:

1. Harry Potter aka (i don't even know his real name! i'm proud)

2. STAIND

3. George Clooney

4. Reese Witherspoon

that's all for the quiz.

in other news, i have a job!

it starts tomorrow. it will be a few days this week and then start normal type hours next week.

i'm really excited for it. you see, i thought i'd spend about a year or two doing grunt type labor. assistant editing/shipping/vault/i don't know what. but last week, my old boss ryan from tandemarts gives me a call, and is like, i think i have a job for you. i went to the interview today and bam, a job. and it's freelance type work. this one will last until probably the middle to end of december. and then they might need me again in january. so, i'm now thinking that i might try and work at a movie theatre--i have an interview on thursday--to do my constant sort of income and then edit like this--gig to gig so to say, gaining experience and contacts.

so i'm excited. it's great to have something that isn't just a possibility or a maybe, but a for sure, i'm going to work tomorrow night. that's the other thing. for, now, it'll be at night. which i'm okay with. it means i get to sleep in. even if i still get the same amount of sleep, it feels like i'm sleeping in.

so yea. things are looking up! jasmine has another (different) interview tomorrow and then another (third round) on wednesday. we both might have jobs by the end of the week!

so. i will be editing. how grand!

thend.

Posted by jack. |

these are different celebrity's answers to what they are watching/what they thing the best thing to happen in 2005. can you guess who said these quotes?

1. "The best album of the year so far is Arcade Fire's Funeral. The title makes it sound like it's all doom and gloom, but it's actually not. The reason it's called Funeral is because seven members of the band's family died when they were making it. But it's just the most beautiful, sometimes sad and sometimes really uplifting album I've heard recently. Absolutely brilliant."

2. "There is no TV show that means that much to me. But my wife gets sucked into all the reality shows - all of 'em - and forces me to watch. A record that meant something to me this year? Probably Elliot Smith's X0 - I listened to that a lot. For DVD it was Dave Chapelle's Show, for sure. It's a staple. All the episodes are funny. He just pushes the line all the time. I like that."

3. "Capote. It wasn't a straight biopic; it takes a very specific moment in someone's life and talks about that, which is an interesting way of doing things. For music I liked Peter Cincotti - an amazing CD. I listen to a lot of old jazz, and this guy sounds like the real deal. My favorite show is Jon Stewart. He still kills me. It's just so good and he's so smart. "

4. "My favorite movie of the year is probably Constant Gardener. I really like Rachel Weisz; she's such a talented actress and I thought her character was a really strong woman."

Posted by jack. |

have you ever been sunburned? i think almost everyone has. This summer, i had the worst sunburn of my life.

It was an august day. jasmine and i were meeting some friends, derek and cayla to go boating. this was an event that happened many times last summer, but since the birth of their sun, mason, the boating events had fallen on the wayside. This was to be the one boating event this season. I was kinda excited. The boating memories i have are with the plaiser family(s) and i was much younger. i recalled tubing and skiing and general boating type things. today, i was to boat with out any of my parents, i know this seems trivial, but it was a big deal in my head. what i mean is that i always associated boating with jerry and my dad. so, to go, without them seemed strange. but we got there just fine and got going without any problems. the day wasn't really that eventful. i tubed, derek and cayla skiied and jasmine tubed as well. i was thinking about sun block, but kinda forgot about it half way through the day. as jasmine noticed she was turning a little redder she decided to put on some sun block--i followed suit. later we jumped in the water and floated around for a while. it was a very good day. when we got back to small town minnesota to finish off the day, i noticed that jasmine was a little red, and she noticed i was too. it was expected really. we drove home. it got worse. it started to hurt. i applied some lotion. the green stuff, you know, aloe. i couldn't sleep. at least not very well. the next day it went away for a while. it returned, it started to itch, i applied more aloe. aloe, aloe, aloe. and itch cream stuff that my parents had. one night i could not sleep at all. it was horrible. it just itched and itched. more and more. i find it hard to recall a time when i felt more powerless. especially about things about me. i can't control lots of things, but thinks in my body, and around me, i can. or at least i choose not too. there was no choosing here. i was to itch all night long until i couldn't keep my eyes open. that was the worst. i did so much not itching it was crazy!

and then it slowly went away. there was nothing i could do really. nothing i did really, but wait. wait. wait.

i guess this is how i feel about jobs. there are so many possibilities, cures for the itch, but when it comes down to it, i have to wait. i do apply the lotion as often as i can, reply to job ads and make connections, but then i wait. and wait.

it feels like i've turned a corner. like that horrible night is over. i've decided to apply for jobs at places like circuit city and best buy and arclight cinemas. i have an interview at arclight already. i also have an interview with a post production house. i may have two jobs! who knows.

things are well here. jasmine is all moved in. she has more interviews coming her way as well. we've found a church. we have the beginnings of friends out here. things are going good.

signing off.

jack.

Posted by jack. |