Oh-Mah-Gah

Folks! I was all set to blog yesterday about my plans for resolution number I-forget, which was to find a little more religion in my life. And I will address that issue. But while I was twiddling my thumbs at work, I was called to talk to one of our higher-ups here. Turns out, there's some opportunities to leave the organization within the next 12 months and I won't have to worry about breaking my contract.
Hallelujah!!!!
That being said, there's some incentive if I can get my shit together and leave by October 1st - and of course, I have to commit to this by the end of the month. Otherwise, I'll be obligated to leave by February 1st of next year. So I'm starting to actively work some contacts, push out my resume, and see how warm the waters are for an October departure. Fortunately, I don't have a family to consider, so I just have to worry about getting my own ass in gear. I've also got Wednesday and Thursday off, so I'll be getting a lot of research, planning, and applications work accomplished. I'm honestly not leaning any one way right now, so this may be a difficult decision (timing, that is, not leaving).

On a different note, before this whole work thing came up, I was starting to plan my whole religion agenda: i.e. Lent. It's that time of year folks. And, like the truly lapsed Catholic I am, it's actually been awhile since I've even attempted to follow the rules. So I've made plans to get my heathen arse to mass on Wednesday and abstain from meat on the requisite days. While I recognize I'm also supposed to fast, I can tell you that just is not going to happen. Then there's the other abstenance part ... you know, everyone always asks what you're giving up for Lent. To be honest, I can't really remember the actual rules and rationale behind this (if, in fact, there are any), but I can give up some stuff for 40 days. It'll do me some good in the long run, and it'll definitely help some of my other resolutions from January (which, I'm ashamed to say, I've done completely awful at keeping). So, beginning tomorrow, I'll be giving up alcohol (ALL booze), cigarettes (yes, I've been a habitual smoker on and off for years now. shaddup), and take-out food. Why the take-out food you ask? Well, in my high-rise apartment living, there are many a service that will schlepp to local restaurants and deliver you delishis fare of noms so you don't have to eat in a restaurant all by yourself. And I'm really lazy when I get home from work. So there you go. This will definitely help same a ton of money and really help me break ground on my neverending quest to lose weight.

But, you know, there's going to be a nice little farewell party for my three amigos when I get off work tonight. You can count on it.

Xenophobia

I am a HUGE fan of Shonda Rimes. Ever since I got seasons 1 and 2 of Grey's Anatomy as a Christmas present, I've been hooked. I was even able to follow along as Private Practice was created. Both are staples of my Thursday night drinkfests. So when I heard about Rimes making a new show called Off the Map, I was totally on board. I tuned in last night to see the premiere episode with the highest of expectations.

Oh.
So.
WRONG.

It's like this show catered to the least educated, least traveled of White America. Seriously. I mean, the folks there are bustling around an oasis of a hospital "somewhere in South America" (clearly Hawaii). The newbie doesn't even know what gringo means. It's all very privileged, and the episode is "Saved by the Great White Hope", because clearly your life can only be saved by a white American (although a differently-colored American may, in some cases, do).
It drives me nuts. I'm not the most well-traveled person, but even I know when producers/writes/whatever are catering to the lowest common denominator. You know you've seen that. Scenes in movies so fantastical, you know someone is playing to a stereotype. If you don't know? See the opening scene in Transformers. I mean really. If you think the military base is open to have some local kid just hanging around is just ridiculous. Especially if you've been there. And thank God no one has ever forced me to see Sex in the City 2. Because I know I would have had words. I mean, they went to Dubai of all places. I've never been there, but I know it's fucking amazing.
I think the idea that pissed me off the most was that Americans would go out into a foreign country to get away from their problems, ignorant of the culture and language. I mean seriously. As much as I like to go around thinking people who are in American should speak Ah-mrrrr-ican, it doesn't happen. Almost everyone knows some rudimentary Spanish. Plus, there are plenty of folks doing the same thing in real life who take this shit seriously (even they do hate the military).

So please. Do yourself a favor and ignore this crapfest of a show. Or don't. Revel in the white man's awesomeness. Your choice.