Alpha Dog

Originally I was going to go see Casino Royale again with Suzanne but it was sold out (still?) so the only other reasonable choice was this movie. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't just a typical drug movie. Sharon Stone put in a surprisingly powerful performance which just might garner a Best Supporting Actress nod. And for all you teenagers out there, yes, Justin Timberlake is in this movie, and for a debut he was pretty good.

Back to the Dungeon now.

No Comparison

To this day, and probably forevermore, the most beautiful woman of all time. Thanks Johnny.

Summary

The year has been both dull and interesting, if that makes any sense. Work is work... same shit different day. I've opened up a lot to Mel over the past few days, something I hope I won't regret having done (that's some weird grammar there). I've pretty much told her everything about my life, something I have not done to anybody else. And even though right now I'll have to say there's nothing serious, at least I have her as a confidante. Maybe the future will bring us together, but at least in the present we aren't apart.

Tomorrow is a graveyard shift, one of those rarities. Then my schedule is going to get weird, some midshifts, some graveyard shifts and even some day shifts thrown in. Just part of my job.

2007

And so begins another new year. I had a graveyard shift on January 1 and it was dreadfully slow. As a result, the night was pretty boring and dull and I ended up just walking around the casino for 8 hours. But at least it was less stressful and relaxing for once.

I don't know what 2007 will bring, hopefully more joy and happiness for me. There are a lot of unanswered questions about life, and worries about my future. But I guess that's part of every year.

The Calm Before the Storm

My first experience as a floor manager on New Year's Eve. It's going to be crazy with sick calls. I hope things aren't half as bad as I'm sensing they will be. My next post will probably be in 2007, so we'll see if it's a HAPPY one.

Bye Bye '06

The end of the year is near. Whoever had Saddam Hussein in the Death Pool before the end of the year must have made some money. OK I'm in a weird mood tonight. Long post will be coming soon when I feel like writing.

A Night at the Museum

No date, no plans, so when all else fails take self to movie. I thought a nice comedy would hopefully cheer me up and this movie did. The story was outrageous but the film itself was quite enjoyable. Ben Stiller is funny as usual, and any movie with Robin Williams in it can't be all that bad. I had a great time.

And now, once again, I shall wake up alone.

December 24

Merry Christmas to all. Remember those that are less fortunate than we are.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

A gem from a long, time ago!

Rocky! Rocky!

How can I resist one of the greatest underdog movies of all time? Even thought it's been almost 30 years since the original Rocky (how time flies) and my gut feeling was that this movie was going to suck, how could I, the perennial underdog, pass up the movie? Well, I wasn't disappointed. While the premise of the story is still a bit far fetched, I identified with the movie. So much of the movie mirrored my own life. No, I'm not a secret boxer or anything, but my underdog story is a lot like Rocky's.

And what can I say, when Rocky starts training for the fight and you hear the notes of Bill Conti's immortal theme, how can you not be inspired? During the fight itself, many of the moviegoers were shouting "Rocky! Rocky!" as if it were a real fight. And in some ways (for me at least), it's been a real fight. When you know you are up against unbeatable odds, when you know you are fighting an unwinnable fight, do you still fight? After all that's gone on for me in the last few months, perhaps it's only fitting that it ends with this movie. I end with an inspirational line from the movie, spoken by Rocky himself:

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very rough, mean place... and no matter how tough you think you are, it'll always bring you to your knees and keep you there, permanently... if you let it. You or nobody ain't never gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit... it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward. If you know what you're worth, go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit."

Crying

I can't remember the last time I cried because of something other than a movie. And now I feel so much pain and confusion inside.

48 Hours

This Tuesday is the Christmas Party at work. While normally I'd be waiting anxiously to get drunk and act silly around my staff, I'm worried this year; worried I'll do something silly. There are a lot of things I don't mind embarrassing myself to do, such as karaoke, dancing on tables, taking my shirt off, etc. But the one thing I'm scared to (and hope I don't) do is do something regrettable in front of Mel. Yes, we are just friends (and very good friends at that) and she knows how much I care for her. So hopefully I don't make a COMPLETE fool of myself. Maybe I just won't drink. And Mel, if you happen to be reading this (since I did give you the link), whatever happens happens. If at the end of this all we are just good friends, that's fine. But if somehow in all of this craziness in the world we end up together, than it was worth the journey. I'm crazy about you. And right now you probably don't feel the same way about me yet, but I'm here for you anytime. I hope you know that by now.

Return to Graveyard (for one night)

Just got called into work today for the graveyard shift. It's been a while, as I've been on midshift for the last month. I hope I remember everything. Efficiency has been my motto but things can be quite challenging if the casino is busy at night. We shall soon see.

In the meantime, I hope my pretty little Mel gets better from her ugly little flu.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Mel
Happy Birthday to you

My Way

Ol' Blue Eyes

8 More Hours

Short week for me. After Friday-Saturday off, I'm back to Tuesday-Wednesday off for two weeks, so it's my Friday again. I'm glad. These days off are quite precious now, because I don't want to suffer burnout from work. Hopefully I'll find something productive to do on my days off. Then again, doing absolutely nothing can be productive in its own special way.

Return of the Blues

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I'm relaxing after quite the momentuous week at work. I made a number of what turned out to be incorrect decisions at work, and generally my heart wasn't into it. Bonnie had talked about that passion for work that is necessary and I lost it this week. The stress, however small, has gotten to me again and it's affecting my performance. I could use a vacation, but what happens when I come back? Same shit different day again? There must be something better, I only hope I can find it soon.

Stranger Than Fiction

With nowhere to go and nobody to do anything with, I decided to go see this movie last night. I'm not a big Will Farrell fan, as I don't really like his brand of humor. But the movie was a pleasant surprise as there were elements of true drama in it. There were great performances from Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson (where has she been?), and I believe I saw Maggie Gyllenhaal for the first time in a movie, and she was radiant. She combines the innocence of Scarlett Johansson with the sexiness of Angelina Jolie. She could be the next breakout actress.

All I Ask of You

Never was there a more appropriate song.

Week End

And so ends another week in the life and times of a random guy in the universe. It's been a strange week, filled with confusion and worry, but in the end, things weren't as catastrophic as I originally thought. There is still a long road ahead to reach my goals and aspirations.

Deja Vu

I decided to brave the snow and catch this new flick with Denzel Washington. It was a standard drama with some weird things thrown in. I won't spoil it for anyone but suffice to say it was OK. I wish that the premise in the movie was something that actually existed in real life.

Snowing in November?

Yup, it's snowing big time in Vancouver. Who would have thought. Does this mean the water is going to be cleaner now?

SSDD

Another week has ended. Work is work. It's been a bit of a challenge this week, as I've had to deal with a number of sick calls at work. But it's all part of the job. I've learned to deal with situations as they arise. If these people want to call in sick, then I could really care less. If they don't give a shit about their job then so be it. I'm trying to do my job too.

Meanwhile, I've been losing sleep because maybe, just maybe, after all these years, I've found "her". It's so weird, I've been so used to failure I'm actually scared of success. I just don't want to screw things up for the 8724th time.

Boiled Water My Ass

For those of you who do not live in the Lower Mainland, well, we are under what is called a boiled water advisory. Because of recent rainfall, dirt fell into the reservoirs or something like that. As a result, our water is undrinkable (yes, Vancouver water undrinkable). What this means is that we have to boil water before we brush our teeth and make, well, things with water. The big downside to all this is we don't have any friggin' ice anywhere. So there are no fountain drinks available ANYWHERE. I go to McDonald's, I can't order a friggin' combo. They have bottled water, whoopee doo. This is dumb. Can't get a bloody cold drink anywhere unless it's bottled. The end of the world is near.

Maybe This Time

So beautiful...

Casino Royale

I am a huge 007 fan; as a result, I go to each and every new Bond movie as a harsh critic, expecting and hoping for the very best. With all the negative publicity that had surrounded the new movie, I wasn't expecting much. But I was wrong.

Daniel Craig's interpretation was more than adequate, and he reminded me a lot of the Sean Connery days, with a more grittier and meaner Bond, while Roger Moore was more comedic. And it's good to see Dame Judi Dench doing another fine performance as the bitchy M.

But for me, the thing that did it for me was the appearance of the delicious and ravishing Eva Green. For many, many years Barbara Bach (Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me) was my favorite Bond girl of all time, a title that I never thought could be relinquished. And it's a tough choice this time. Eva Green stole the show in this movie. I laughed, I cried, I gasped (that dress at the poker game). They dressed pretty nice in this movie. I even gasped when Bond appeared in that $10,000 Brioni tuxedo. Yikes, where can I buy one?

I only wished I could have seen it with the equally ravishing Melody. But I shall see her tomorrow...

Ultimate Poker School

I attended the poker seminar yesterday; I didn't know it would go on for 9 hours! It was OK, most of the things they talked about was stuff I'd already known before. Even Phil Hellmuth's lecture was about topics he'd written about in his books. But Johnny Chan signed my bobblehead, Phil signed two of my books, and all the lecturers signed my shirt. I also got some pictures taken (I shall post these shortly). The first speaker was an incredibly beautiful girl who I'd never heard about from the poker world. But damn, she was hot. I'll keep everybody in suspense as to who she is.

Manager Perks

I was lucky enough to be invited to a lecture by a number of renowned poker players tomorrow (well technically today) at the River Rock Casino, including one of my heroes, Johnny Chan! The tickets for the seminar cost $495 but a number of us got to go for free. I'm going to get Johnny to sign my Johnny Chan bobblehead! Other lecturers include Phil Hellmuth (sorry, never really liked the guy) and two other guys. Who cares, Johnny Chan will be there! I can't wait.

Rocky Balboa

I supposed the movie will suck but anything just to hear the greatest music notes in movie history...

Long Weekend

Last weekend was supposed to be my long weekend but I had to work on the middle day, so instead it was this weekend. It's been an easy week workwise, everything has run smoothly at work with a few little hiccups, but that's part of the job. And now it's time to relax and see how many times I will see Casino Royale. But of course this weekend I hope to set up a date with one very special lady. We shall see what happens. Deal or No Deal (by the way, I should be hearing soon if I get chosen for an audition soon).

Bond, James Bond

November 17, the new James Bond movie will be out, Casino Royale. As it was Ian Fleming's first novel, the movie will be a prequel of sort, about how it all began. With all the negative buzz regarding Daniel Craig, I will go to this film not expecting much but we shall see. Let's hope I can convince Mel to see it with me.

Deal or No Deal

I just spent two hours filling out the online form to apply as a contestant for the limited Canadian production of the game show. Now it's me against probably 20,000 people in BC. But you never know.

Just in case, I won't quit my day job just yet.

Babel

Not that I'm a Brad Pitt fan, but with all the critical acclaim of this movie, I decided to go see it, and I must admit it was quite enjoyable. The story was interwoven with subplots that all connected at the end (a la 21 Grams), and the whole movie for me was excellent... except for the ending which left me with questions (perhaps that is the intention). I think the Oscar buzz will begin for this movie.

Blind Date

For the second time in my life (as far as I can remember), I was set up for a blind date from a coworker. I went to White Spot and met Sandi. I think we were both nervous and sizing each other up. I'm not sure what she thinks of me, and currently, I'm not sure what I think of her. She is somewhat shy (as am I) but we'll see what happens.

In the meantime, there is still the matter of a pretty young lady at work that I've set my sights on. As Vandy always tells me, why do I always pick the difficult ones?

Work as Usual

Two more nights of supervising and then it will be midshift floor managing for about a month. I look forward to this time as I will have a lot of time to finetune and develop my managing skills. There is still a lot to learn but with what I know so far, I'm getting into the rhythm of things. This will give me time to concentrate on other things.

The Prestige

I finally went to see this movie (with Lily), and although it wasn't as fabulous as I'd originally thought, I still enjoyed it. Scarlett Johansson was absolutely radiant and lit up the screen. I was a bit disappointed with the ending but I still recommend the movie.

Football Pool

I won the casino pool last week, for a cool $360! It was quite exciting because New England had to win (which they did) and the total points scored had to be 41 and under. After three quarters 38 points had already been scored but luckily nobody scored in the fourth quarter. Time to celebrate and party!

Happy Hallowe'en

I'm off so I don't have to dress up as a woman this year, even though 50% of the players wanted me to. It was a weird week at work and I'm glad it's over. Let's hope I can accomplish some things on my days off (very cryptic, isn't it?).

Time Flew By

Has it been a week since my last post? Well, nothing much had happened, until last night. We were absolutely busy at work and there was so much OT everywhere. But I remained calm as a manager even though it was incredibly stressful. Tonight will be more of the same, because added to the possibility of keeping tables open, we are also setting clocks back, in which case some dealers will be doing 9 hour shifts at the end of the night. Oh well, OT is OT.

Wired

I was stupid enough to drink a Rock Star around midnight. Now I'm wide awake. And I have an appointment at 12pm to taste test some coffee!??! I'm getting $30 so I'll be even more wired. Meanwhile, The Prestige opens, but perhaps I should wait until next week so I can go see it with Lily (or someone else?). There is also Marie Antoinette. And very soon... Casino Royale!

Man of the Year

As a big fan of Robin Williams, I decided to go watch his latest movie, and as usual, he was funny. He was able to do a lot of his improv stuff. The movie itself was average, with nothing special about it. But I got to see the preview for Casino Royale, which I am look forward to. Also next week is the premiere of The Prestige, a movie I am very anxious to see because of two words: Scarlett and Johansson.

The Lake House

I had dinner with Lily and then went to her place to watch this video, a reunion between Sandra Bullock and Keana Reeves from that bus movie years ago. This movie was rather confusing and complicated and I still couldn't figure out the ending. So I must say thumbs down.

Then we watched Russell Peters Outsourced and that was awesome.

Next Time

I just got the call from my boss that I did not get the promotion to full-time floor manager. It was to be expected as I had to be realistic about my chances. I do not know who did get the position, but in the meantime, there is always next time

Good Morning

I am still feeling the after effects of my tiny bout with the flu. It's been over two weeks now and my nose is still a little stuffed up and my throat is still itchy. I guess it's not as bad as some other people at work.

Tomorrow (and I believe Thursday too) I get to start at the previously unheard of 7:15am. These are my first daytime FM shifts since the 24 hour started so it will be interesting to see what kind of zombie-like state I'm in at work. Starbucks better be open.

Against All Odds (Again)

The interview is over, it didn't help I was a little bit late, and as usual I could have done better. Added to that, I am up against formidable competition. But you never know...

Wordplay

Maybe I should have stayed at home but I needed to get out so I went to see this much talked about movie. I figured since I'd begun my crossword constructing career I should see this film, and it was quite interesting. I must pay more attention to independent films, as I have seen two very good ones this year (the other was Little Miss Sunshine). And now it's off to bed, or at least try to somehow get rid of this illness I have.

P.S. I'm waiting to hear some good news Johnny

Precious Time Off

Two days off to recuperate from my flu (which appears to be getting worse), and then on Thursday 9am, I have an interview for the full-time Floor Manager position. I know I am up against incredible odds based on my low seniority and lack of experience, but you never know. I just hope I feel good enough to put forward a great interview. Time will tell.

Cough Cough

Just when I thought my dry throat and minor cough was getting better, I think I'm feeling the onset of a flu. My nose is starting to run and my throat is sore. Plus the minor cough is getting a bit major. And I sneezed a couple of times at work.

Translation: I feel like shit

Sigh

Will I ever find true happiness?

Sick and Tired

It's been a rough week for me. We've been running around at work getting the 24-hour thing going and it hasn't been easy. We are understaffed and as a result the managers must efficiently run the casino as much as possible. Luckily we just got some new staff which should help a bit.

It also doesn't help at all that I've come down with a bit of the flu; cough and a bit of a sore throat. I bought a bottle of Benylin and drank it up in 24 hours (not a good idea). Hopefully I can get better soon.

The Battle

There is a promotion opportunity at work as a salaried/permanent floor manager (as opposed to my current position of Relief Floor Manager). What it essentially means is that I am on salary, will not get any more supervising shifts, and get better benefits (days off in lieu of stats, improved medical/dental, etc.). It will be a tough fight as I know there are a lot of candidates (some from other locations). But to not apply because I don't think I have a chance would be stupid. I never thought I'd have a chance to come back to the casino, let alone as a supervisor. I never thought I'd be able to get promoted to relief floor manager 17 months after coming back. So while this will be a tough battle, I shall fight the fight. David vs. Goliath.

Cruciverbalist

I've discovered a new hobby, the wonderful world of creating crosswords. I came across a book "Grid Lock" which perked my interest into this interesting pastime. It won't be easy but it will be something to do in my spare time. From what I've gathered, I can be paid anywhere from $50US to the hundreds for one good crossword puzzle. It won't be easy but I love a good challenge.

24

No, this isn't a post about the TV show, it's about my casino. As of today we are open 24 hours. It was a challenge to get used to the new lineups and figuring out new procedures. But the transition went pretty well, now let's hope we can make a lot more money!

Boredom

Back to work, back to boredom as a supervisor. But next week will be interesting as the casino will go 24 hours. I'm still unsure of most of my shifts so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Time Went By... So Quickly

So much for my holiday, back to work in a couple of hours. But it was wonderful while it lasted. As opposed to going somewhere, I decided to hibernate and do as little as possible. I did go out and see some movies, and drove to the Seattle Premium Outlets with Albert, Mei, and Lil. But other than that, it was couch potato time. I caught up on sleep and now I'm refreshed. Let's see what I have waiting for me at work.

Meanwhile, I'm waiting anxiously for October 20, as that is the premiere of The Prestige. This looks like a good movie. I'd seen The Illusionist last week and since I love the word of magic, The Prestige will hopefully be just as good.

The Wicker Man

Yikes, unfortunately I just saw the worst movie of the year. Why in the world did Nicholas Cage agree to star in this piece of trash? The only thing reasonably worthwhile in the movie was the supporting role of Leelee Sobieski, who I haven't seen in ages. Sister Honey, how appropriate a name was that?

The Illusionist

I briefly came out of hibernation to watch this movie and I'm glad I did. All I knew about the film was that it was about (guess) an illusionist in olden times. But the story was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Edward Norton played his starring role well and Paul Giamatti was his usual Oscar-caliber self. Rufus Sewell is very underrated as an actor, and his role as the evil Austrian prince was done masterfully. I was most impressed with Jessica Biel as the Duchess. Who knew she could actually act?

Hibernation

I shall return in 9 days.

Holidays

One more 11pm-7am shift and I am off for 9 days! I haven't had a long holiday like that in a long while. I've decided I'm just going to take it easy, although I'll probably go to the States on the weekend to the outlets for some shirt shopping. Meanwhile, I'll probably stay in bed for two days just to catch up on all the lost sleep this year.

Memories

Recently there was a posting for relief floor managers (2 for Richmond). As it turned out, there was also one that was promoted and sent to my location. This is good for me as it means that I am no longer the bottom of the totem pole. I do feel bad for some of my friends who applied but did not get the promotion. I remember how difficult it was when I did not get promoted twice before I finally did. It's a tough feeling, so I hope those friends (that read this blog) do not give up and strive for success the next time.

When Do I Work?

Another week of work is over for the time being. It was an interesting week because my schedule consisted of two opening shifts (9am-5pm) followed by a relief shift (4:30pm-12:30am) and ending with a night shift (11pm-7am). And now it's time to relax. Tomorrow, Michael and I will be going to the States to play some golf.

Snakes on a Plane

With all the Internet hype surrounding this movie I of course had to see it. I went in expecting an incredibly dumb movie but I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how "decent" it was. It obviously won't win any major awards but in the end, I'll give it two thumbs up. Let's just say the best parts were when certain people were bitten in some interesting places.

Addendum to Previous Post

...and it sucks. I can't believe she samples Grease on one of her songs. Then again, she IS kinda greasy.

Important News

The Paris Hilton CD is out today.

I'm Back

My Internet was acting weird so I haven't been on for a few days, but I'm back. Did anybody miss me? All this coincided with a soso week at work. The weekends were busy at work and so I had to hand out OT for the supervisors, something I don't like to do but must when demand dictates it. It was also "challenging" to take the floor at night from a relief floor manager who is from River Rock. They run the floor differently over there based on the fact they have more staff. I don't think it is feasible to open every table in the casino at our location when there is little or no backup.

After tonight's closing shift, I have my two days off (hopefully) and then a couple of daytime floor shifts!???! I can't believe I have to go from working at 11pm-7am to the dreadful (but normal for others??) 9am-5pm shift. Well, that's the way things go.

I hope everyone is well.

Little Miss Sunshine

I went to see this dark comedy with Kim tonight, and it was much better than I'd expected. I would never have seen this movie if Kim hadn't suggested it. The ending was hilarious.

Creativity

My work week ended on a somewhat high note, as I finished off with a challenging but "successful" night of managing. It was surprisingly busy for a Monday night (compared to Sunday night) and it took a lot of creativity to avoid handing out OT. But somehow things worked out perfectly. And now it's time to relax for two days (hopefully).

The Streak is Over

After all those easy nights as closing manager, everything fell apart tonight, as the casino was considerably busy for a Saturday night. As a result I had to give OT to some of the supervisors. I'd had a streak going where there was no OT, but last night the streak ended. Well, at least I still have the "no OT for dealers" streak going.

It Wasn't Me

Well I didn't win the 6/49 jackpot, let's hope NOBODY else did so the Wednesday jackpot will be something ridiculous.

You Never Know

The jackpot for the Lotto 6/49 is estimated at $42 million (I'm sure the final amount will be higher) so I guess I should buy some tickets just in case. Wow, imagine if...

Music of the Night

I just returned from watching Phantom of the Opera with Lily. It was as wonderful as I'd remembered. The lead roles were done by unknown actors but they did a pretty good job. The story was just as sad and heartbreaking. I had a great time.

And so ends my one day off. I'm back to the grind tomorrow as a supervisor, then it's managing for a while I'd assume.

Bad Drivers

Who the f*ck scratched the front of my car? It's a barely noticeable little nick on the fender, probably caused by some bad driver who backed into me. It is theoretically possible that I bumped into something myself but I don't think so. Oh well, it was bound to happen. A little Vivid Blue Pearl paint will get it back to new. Just have to make sure it's the right blue.

I'm picking up Lily in about 2 hours and off we go to see Phantom. I can't wait.

And by the way, here's my usual "I had a wonderful night at work" post. Even Rosey (my shift manager that night) was saying I'm doing well now, and mentioned I'm quite meticulous in my work. That must be a good friend.

I'm back to supervising tomorrow night and then I'm assuming it's closing shifts for a while since one of the managers will be working the PNE.

Phantom

Another great week at work is about to end, hopefully tonight is just as easy as the other nights have been. It seems that all I want to post about is how great work has been, but that's the truth. I really am comfortable now, and yes, there are still things I can improve upon but overall everything is becoming second nature.

My days off will be busy, even with the slight change in my days off (Tuesday/Thursday instead of Tuesday/Wednesday). I'm going to see Phantom of the Opera on Thursday with Lily (haven't seen her in eons). Meanwhile I'm going out with Christie on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Movie Reviews

I saw two movies on my days off.

You, Me, and Dupree: much better than I'd expected, and Kate Hudson looked pretty hot.
Miami Vice: worst movie I've seen in a long time; predictable. But the delicious Gong Li was in it. Nevertheless, two thumbs down

Life is Good

I ended my work week with a fabulous night at work, free of any problems (unsolvable ones at least). Even though we were short supervisors I managed to pull off another one of my patented "no OT" miracles, and managed to spend the last hours or so relaxing and chatting with Rosey, my shift supervisor. Even she told me to just relax. It was nice to end on a good note and now I have two days to relax.

Johnny, I hope things work out for you in your accident claim.

Work Hangover?

After a series of supervising shifts, I've spent the last two nights (as well as tonight) as night time manager. Things were a bit hectic but my obsession with "no OT" paid off as I managed to send everybody home on time. I had to spend some time on the floor myself as supervisor but somehow I managed. I hope I can end my "Friday" tonight on an easy note.

Golf Hangover?

As predicted, I can barely move from my 41 rounds of golf yesterday.

Golf, Golf and More Golf

In an act of sheer lunacy, Michael and I drove to the Avalon Golf Links in Washington State (exit 236) and played in their "all you can play" thing, mainly because on Wednesdays Canadian dollars are at par! So as it was we paid $40CDN plus $20 for the cart. We ended up playing 41 holes of golf from about 10:30am to 8:00pm! My body is starting to ache and I'd hate to think how I'm going to feel in the morning. But it was worth it. We also had dinner at the Tulalip Casino afterwards before driving home. Michael made a bit of money on craps, and I just walked around and watched.

Miss Universe 2006

How can Miss Japan not have won?

johnnymc

It was nice to hear from my friend Johnny after all this time. I hope things turn out well for you. Hopefully I can come visit in October, or even sooner if I can put together some consecutive days off. Keep well.

Off to work now.

Hot

Thank goodness I live in a basement. Yeah, it's freezing in the wintertime but in the summertime, I can sleep like a baby. I feel bad for my landlords, as they've said that they're in an oven upstairs in the attic where their bedrooms are.

A Question

As a casino manager (or any manager for that matter), what is more important... pleasing your fellow managers or pleasing your staff? Think about it. I'm trying to answer it myself.

The Devil Wears Prada

Since I've become somewhat of a fashion "guru" at work (both customers and staff have complimented me on some of my suit/tie/shirt combos), I figured it was my duty to watch this movie. Also, I've heard a lot about how wonderful Meryl Streep is in the role of Miranda Priestley. And might I say she definitely was. She reminded me a lot about Glenn Close as Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmatians. Ms. Streep was bitchy enough that they might just give her another one of those Oscar nominations. Her character also reminded me of some people I have worked with (no names of course!).

I was surprisingly touched by some of the plotlines in the movie, about getting so caught up in your work that you forget your family and friends. I've noticed that since my managing shifts have increased, my family gatherings have decreased. And I see less and less of my friends. I know I must change this. Yes, I must pay attention to work, but I must not let it consume me.

Consecutive Days Off (Maybe)

Well it's been a wonderful week. The car runs wonderfully and work has been hectic but fun. Although not all of my managing shifts are stress-free, I still enjoy them immensely. Last night was no exception. Things went wonderfully even though I had to try some strange things.

Unfortunately after my possibly two consecutive days off, it's back to supervising for four shifts in a row. After all the managing I've done in the last month it will be interesting (boring?) to go back to walking around four tables (instead of the whole casino).

Jason Feng, Car Owner

Yes, at last, I shelled out a big down payment but now I'm the owner of a new car, the 2007 Honda Fit Hatchback. It's a nice Blue Pearl color. I'll take some pictures when there's light out.

80's Memories

I may have found my favorite website in the world! It shows a bunch of vintage 80's videos, some of which I haven't seen in ages. They sure bring back a lot of memories. Making Love Out of Nothing at All (Air Supply) and Don't Answer Me (Alan Parsons Project) were silly videos but they almost brought a tear to my eye. Johnny, I know you'll love this site! Anyways, the link is below.

80's Videos

Disregard Previous Post

So much for two consecutive days off. I was awakened from my slumber yesterday, as my services were needed for yet another closing shift (instead I was to get today off). That meant out of the last 18 days, I was closing manager for 9 of them.

It was a busy night and I avoided giving out OT for the most part. But two little hiccups meant there was 30 minutes handed out. But all in all it was an OK night. Now HOPEFULLY I can relax tonight.

Consecutive Days Off!

Unbelievably I have two days off in a row (Monday Tuesday). Mind you, that can change anytime. The last THREE weeks I've had split days off (Sunday/Friday, Monday/Saturday, and the weird Thursday/Saturday). I've had mostly night shifts but they threw in a day shift on the Friday of my "days off sandwich". Hopefully I can find time to relax, get that car, show it off to Jack, and then who knows. And now to hibernation I shall go.

Captain Jack Sparrow

I was one of the many people who braved the long lineup to watch Pirates of the Caribbean 2 on Friday. I did not really have high expectations for the movie, as I did not find the first one that spectacular. Perhaps I'm just not a big Johnny Depp fan.

But then the first scene of the movie featured one of the most beautiful creatures in the world, Keira Knightley. She was breathtaking. But unfortunately even she couldn't get me to say I really liked the movie. In fact, I found myself taking a little nap in the middle of the film.

I did find the love triangle interesting (although you could argue it was really a love rectangle with that other guy in it too), does Elizabeth Swann choose the dashing and handsome Will Turner or the brash rogue Captain Jack Sparrow? Well, I guess we'll find out in Part 3.

Relief

After all those night shifts, I had a relief shift tonight, and I must say it was full of drama. Good things and bad things happen but in the end, I think it was a good night for me. Now I get one day off followed by the ever-so-rare daytime managing shift, then another day off. How do I keep track?

July 4 and Beyond

Happy Belated Independence Day to my American friends and readers.

I had another closing shift tonight, that makes 7 out of 8 closing shifts. I made a little mistake on one of the tables (which I won't get into here as it won't make sense) but other than that running the floor gets easier and easier. I think I'm actually getting the respect that I'd so long desired. But it still takes time. I've even started looking a bit grumpy now and then, just so they don't think I'm Mr. Happy Go Lucky.

On July 7 I have a daytime managing shift (9am!). That will be weird and I hope that Red Bull can keep me going throughout the day.

Life is Good

I had probably the best night ever as a night manager. Things worked out so perfectly, even though I was afraid of giving out overtime earlier in the evening, and the casino was busy. But Somebody upstairs was watching out for me and the tables closed perfectly. I was left with two pits of four tables and roulette. It couldn't have been any better. Back to business in 16 hours, I can't wait.

Weekly Movies

I forgot to mention that last week I went to see Adam Sandler's new movie, Click. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. The most amazing thing of all is that the last half of the movie was quite sad and hit very close to home. It was very reflective for me as there were a lot of parts that affected me. And as well, Kate Beckinsale was in the movie and she was about as hot as humanly possible.

I also went to see Superman Returns. I did not expect much from the movie but it was pretty good nevertheless.

News from Work

Big news at work. The top shift manager was promoted to GM at our casino up North in Dawson Creek. This means of course that there are now more shifts available for me. But I sense that one of two things will happen: 1) a current manager will transfer from one of the other locations 2) there will be promotions for floor manager. Option 2 sounds more plausible as other locations have also lost managers to promotions (I believe each location is now one short). So we'll see. Meanwhile my schedule is now officially mixed up, with day shifts and night shifts and miscellaneous days off. But that paycheque is gonna be nice.

Old

It didn't take long at work before the clock struck midnight and I officially became old. But it was so hectic that I really didn't have time to sit back and enjoy things. But overall it was a great night despite a lot of things going on. We had to get a lot of staff training for the new game, Texas Hold'em Bonus, which is being set up as I write these words. Overall work is getting easier, but each night always brings a new and different challenge. That's what makes it enjoyable. Is it possible that I'm falling in love with my job?

---> 40 <---

Yikes. The next time I post on this blog I will be 40 years old. This birthday comes with great trepidation and fear but I have to realize it's a part of life. Maybe it's ironic and fitting that I will spend it at work with my closing shifts. Whether people know or not is irrelevant. If anything, at least I'm fairly content with life. It can of course be better, but it could have turned out much worse.

Meanwhile, work was pretty easy. I took some chances at work to avoid OT and it just worked out. OK off to bed now. While everybody is enjoying the sun I'll be sleeping like a baby.

More Closing Shifts

Evidently I'm going to be closing manager for the next three nights (some sort of training?). As usual, I look forward to them, and with each shift, I strive to learn something more.

Just an Update

And so begins the second of my "weird days off" weeks? Last week was Sunday/Friday off, this week will be Monday/Saturday? There is a lot of stuff going on at work and of course as the "bottom" manager, I must take whatever shifts I am offered. I'm not complaining, as I've had a LOT of managing shifts this month; 4 closing shifts in two weeks, and the usual spattering of relief shifts. It's given me the opportunity to develop that rhythm that I so desired. Things have gone well and hopefully they get better. I have mixed emotions about the upcoming 24-hour opening, but we will see. It will be a challenge to motivate my staff, because a lot of them have let the news affect them negatively.

Once again I might be able to get the financing on a new car. I won't say much this time because it's all up in the air. I wish myself luck.

Work, cars, what's last? Women... Things have been so hectic at work I haven't had time to go out. I haven't had time to think about my future in terms of finding a soulmate/wife/girlfriend. I have to search my feelings and decide what to do. I have a number of female friends, and they are very dear to me. But is it my pessimistic nature holding me back again? Is it worth pursuing? Let's hope I get this car as it will make things easier. I just hope my potential soulmate has a bit of patience.

OK enough rambling. Hope everyone is well.

Shitty Week

Not the best day as relief tonight. I think I'm coming down with a flu, plus I still have that nagging toothache. I'm grumpy.

Great Week

And so ends a wonderful week for me. It's as if I've awakened from a somber sleep and now I'm totally refreshed about work. I still made a few little mistakes but overall everything seems comfortable. I look forward to work again.

There are still personal issues to deal with but to be honest, they can wait. Yes, it's nice to have a car and I will soon. But my life won't end if I have to wait. Same with the girl (did I just say that?). But first things first; when I'm good and ready.

Two days off to relax. Too bad I have the toothache from hell.