--Archive--
March 20 - March 23

Well, my loan went through, but the $275 a month (up from $180) is going to hurt big time. Of course, I am getting an extra $2500 to play with, but you really don't want to entrust me with that kind of cash. I have the intangible ability to spend every dollar I have very quickly.

Talked to Ericka but never told her about the loan. I was too busy steeped in the problem we had this morning. It turns out that last night I had gotten a partial ATM transaction file and processed it. How it balanced we'll never know, but anyway this morning I pulled in the complete file and processed that one. Then I had to go back and process the partial one again so we could reverse the transations (otherwise the transactions from the partial file would've posted twice you see). But, there's a catch: since we printed statements last night those people who got statements, and who also had transactions in that partial file that we reversed, will have non-posting transactions to their accounts. This means that the reversals won't post (as far as I understand it) but our head bookkeeper can work out those details. We only had 130 transactions and if I were a betting man, I'd say that not more than 10 made their way onto statements last night.

Okay, so. What to do. I still need to finish typing up a list of completed projects, as well as type up a list of all the money we've spent since the new vice pres came in. Then I need to see if I can work on printing forms using the last printer as well as getting a Frame Relay line for our bookkeeping department.

Now, is it me, or is the solution to a slow ethernet line from bookkeeping to the main building NOT in getting an entirely seperate frame relay line? This means we'll have to get a router, set up an account with bellsouth, and have more line IDs, Circuit IDs, and PVC Ids to deal with. I say just get some better cable and run it up to the main branch, some 300MB or so. Or maybe it's just me.

Been listening a bit to the I Am Sam soundtrack. Some really great stuff on there. Unfortunately one of my favorite bands, Grandaddy (they're great, go find some mp3s of em), drops the ball on "Revolution," but their record, "The Software Slump,"is certainly one of the best albums I have in my catalogue.

Also downloaded the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack. What a wonderful piece of work. It's missing a few tracks but that film and soundtrack are musts for your CD Player and/or Winamp playlists. Okay, time for more work. cya

Evan Erwin from URL @ 1:35 PM

My first thougths on the Episode 2 score: eh. It's not bad, because John Williams is certainly not a bad composer, it's just a lot of the same. While the last few tracks did have a really great take on some old material, and the Love Theme was pretty damn good I must say, most of it was the basic fast-horns-for-action slow-horn-for-emotion blah that made Harry Potter such a mess. God I hated that score.

Talked to my sister a good long while this evening. Probably an hour or more. We caught up, she found out about mom's little fuckover of myself and Ericka and expressed her sympathies and wanted us to get together sometime. My sister is so cool, I'm glad we still keep in touch so much. We can tell each other anything and usually do, and that intimacy is rare I've found. She's a keeper. While this sounds a little mushy, what can I say, she used to keep the assholes off of me in High School. For that I owe her my life, though I've not said as much.

Got some good writing and reading done this evening. Got some good pages done on my novel and I got another 30 pages read on Hour of Chaos. That script doesn't need a lot of work, as of right now I've got one major complaint and only a few questions, so the last half should be no problem. That's the most solid part of the script anyway, and always has been. We'll see how that goes when I finally edit the script (possibly tomorrow?) and post notes for Ron. I'm sure he'll bitch and whine about my complaints but I know he'll get over it.

Anyway, the $2500 loan for me and Ericka looks like its going to go through tomorrow. I had to fill out a loan application for legitimacy purposes (the first time I've had to do so), but otherwise we'll get it as long as she co-signs it, which is no problem. It's either now or later we'll be paying each others bills.

We'll put down a deposit and first months rent if we can on the place Saturday, and as long as the loan thing goes fine tomorrow (which I have no doubt of) we'll start putting furniture and junk in the place as soon as possible. I suppose we'll have to use my bed, but if there's one thing I know of, it's that we're getting some new mattresses. The springs have come loose and are poking through on mine (no shit, you ever woken up on one of those bastards, you know it), so more are needed. We can get some cheap ones for like $200 or so, but Ericka will complain about the "softness" if we don't shop around. I've told her we're getting $2000 not $2500 so we can put some of that away for her two months she'll be taking off for the baby. That should be fun, scrimping and saving for weeks on end. Oh well, we'll have a little screamer in the house. Won't that be great (of course it will, I'm just kidding). Well, time to go home and watch The Sopranos. Maybe I can get in an episode or two this evening. We'll see

Evan Erwin from URL @ 7:24 PM

Just bought tickets for me and Ericka to go see John Mayer at the Tennessee Theater Wednesday May 1st. Anyone near should come, Mayer's a really good singer/songwriter. His album, No Room For Squares, is a nice gem with only a few unlistenables.

Got two different packages today. Remember how in my prior post I said I ordered the second season of The Sopranos and the first season of Oz? Well, now I have two copies of The Sopranos Second Season. Ugh. I had to write the people who supposed to send me Oz and somehow work out an exchange.

Some deep, evil part of me just imagines myself going to an electronics store, telling them I got it as a gift, already had it, and would like to exchange it. They won't give you cash without a receipt, but an exchange is normally possible. It's worked before.

True story. A few years ago I bought an N64 as well as the Zelda game that had just come out. I played it for...a few hours, tops. Then I played it again the next day for a few hours. By the end of the week, I was sure of two things: One, I didn't really like this new Zelda. And two, that the N64 would just collect dust there on my bedroom floor. Note, this is when I was living with my sister in Greeneville, so I actually had bills to pay. This made the fact that I just spent $250 or so all the more important. So, seeing that I had saved the N64 packaging, headed off back to Wal-Mart. This is the story I told them:

"I bought the N64 for my nephew for christmas and wanted to surprise him when he came home from visiting up in Pennsylvania. I set it up in front of the TV, had it going and everything, and here he comes in the door with another N64 his grandmother gave him. Is there any way I could possibly get my money back? I put everything back in the plastic..."

They bought it. Seriously. My heart was pounding (I had never told such an elaborate lie before and was sure I'd get caught), but it worked. I gave them my receipt and walked away with some-odd $200 bucks. To this day I can't believe the woman never saw through my bullshit.

Speaking of video games and ripoffs, there was the one time where my ole bud John stole 4 Playstations when they first debuted then opened them and took them to a Disc Exchange, McKay's Used Book Store, and pawn shops where he earned around $600 for em. This has never been confirmed, but I certainly believed it at the time. And hell, though I haven't spoken to John in years, he's the kind of slick guy who's capable of such acts. Maybe one day I'll get the truth.

Evan Erwin from URL @ 1:57 PM

So another day dawns and strangely enough, even though I got less sleep than yesterday, I feel more alert. Hmm..

Got some work done on both the novel and my old script "Hour of Chaos." I've found some problems in the script that I just said 'eh' to a few months ago, but now glare out at me. I'm reading this draft as a director. Imagining the scenes, blocking them out, picturing camera angles and editing possibilities. Out of the first 35 pages or so only one thing really strikes me, but it's important, and I've got to figure out a way to convince Ron (ex-writing partner and now in cahoots with Ben Stein) that we need to change them. If he doesn't want to that's fine, but I think it can be improved. As for my own short film script, it's been ignored lately, sad to say.

Ducked out of responsibility last night and, instead of teaching Jeremy's parents, opted instead to spend time with Ericka. We needed to get our finances straight and after much consideration came up with a plan to do so. Here's how it lies right now:

We need $350 to pay for the rest of the condo (The other $250 and the $100 deposit we get back after we leave).

We need $250 for the apartment deposit, and $420 for the first month's rent. Total of $670.

We need deposits on water and electricity and phone. This will run probably in the $200 range

We need money for kitchen utensils, small appliances, forks and spoons, plates, etc. I'm guessing $150 or so all said and done

We need a washer and dryer. Dryer all by itself (and I know this from experience) is about $300. I think we could get a package deal and get them for $500, but that's just my wishful thinking.

Sadly enough, we don't have any money for the excursions. So, basically, I had to go talk to my bud Brent the Loan Officer this morning and ask him to re-up my just-renewed loan from $6k to $8.5k. I told him if it couldn't go through as a personal loan (ie, no collateral) then I'd have me and Ericka co-sign for it. Maybe that would work. I don't really have the collateral for such an endeavor, so if they turn me down...I'm not sure what to do. Credit cards are evil, evil things and I don't have one. I have an overdraft protection line, basically a Demand Deposit Line of Credit, of $1000. That means if I use it, it automatically gives me cash to cover what I spend, and if I have a deposit, it automatically pays itself off as much as possible. Interest rate of 13.5%. But, considering how often it gets used and paid back, that's not a large concern. As of yesterday I had no money and my DDL was sitting at $750. It's a sad, sad world out there I tell ya, especially considering that I just renewed my loan to move out, then didn't move out, so I got a cell phone (which cost $300 or so--and yes, I do plan on sending back that rebate tomorrow, thanks).
I also bought some DVD's I shouldn't have. Including The Sopranos Second Season and Oz Complete First Season. Did I really need these? Nope. I just got em because I wanted them and I had extra cash. At least, I THOUGHT I had the extra cash. Things have changed.

Anyway, here I am at work, and I've got a lot to get done. I've got a meeting handout to write (we're having a big computer dept. meeting next week), I've got to finish an install of Lotus 123 (yes, the 1994 version) to complete (and no, it won't run without the floppies, no copy-the-files-on-the-server-disk-by-disk-and-just-run-setup.exe here, and I know, becuase I tried it) as well as convincing my bosses to give me lots of cash and also convincing them of using Credit Commander on the web (check it out, it's neat) instead of their clunky ass program we've been suffering with for years.

Also downloaded the Attack of the Clones soundtrack from the newsgroups. I'll give you my impressions soon.

Buh-bye.

Evan Erwin from URL @ 8:52 AM

Haha, how great is it to get your submitted article on slashdot? It's such a rare occurance that is must be noted. While my comment didn't get modded up (though it should have, dammit), this marks only the second time in some-odd four years on Slashdot that my stories have been used. Just a note. It also seems I destroyed DVDFile.com's servers for a little while too ;)

Anyway, back to the grind...

Evan Erwin from URL @ 2:16 PM

Ah, what a wonderful day it is! Late last night, as soon as I went to bed of course, the specs for the upcoming Lord of the Rings 2 DVD set were announced. Best of all though will be the 4-disc version coming out November 12th though. It'll feature the flick on the first two discs, 30 minutes of extra footage, a reported 3 commentaries, 6 hours of bonus materials on top of that (at least, I hope so), etc etc. Man, I'm so fuckin psyched. I loved this film from top to bottom and you better believe I'll be there this weekend to see the new footage from The Two Towers. It is going to all theaters playing LOTR...right?

Otherwise, last night was ho-hum though I did get some great writing in, a good 4 pages or so. Again, at this rate I should be completed with it just about the time the baby gets here. Crazy to think of two such great events (an achievement and a new life) colliding. Great stuff :)

Of course, the money issue hangs over both of our heads but me and Ericka are tough and can weather most of it. We'll have to come up with a thousand bucks somewhere, and wherever that somewhere is, I'd certainly like to know.

Anyway, so that's the latest. Today is me flying solo (no boss in sight for the rest of the week), so things should be calm and I should have a chance to get some stuff done. Peace out my friends.

Evan Erwin from URL @ 8:18 AM

Well, I got the dates changed on my vacation rental this morning from the 20th-27th to 13th-20th. Also got it changed from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom. It's better that way< I guess. We didn't need all that room and we still got the same rate. I suggest CRS if anybody's looking for a place to stay in Myrtle Beach anytime soon. Nice people.

A woman who I've worked with for 4 years now has just lost her mother today to a massive heart attack. I feel bad for her and I never got to express sympathies.

My ex-writing partner apparently got a good reception by Ben Stein. Yes, that Ben Stein, as in the money and Bueller. He's excited, so that's cool. We need to get our script off to Nicholl, and so I plan on printing it this evening.

Tonight supposed to be the unveiling of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring DVD plans. I'm fucking PSYCHED :)

Haven't talked much to Ericka today, apart from us leaving the house at the same time. Meant to call and get the number for College Square Apartments, where we had almost gotten an apartment a few weeks ago. Back then they said there would be another vacancy in 2 weeks or so (ie, now), so it's time for a callback.

Funny thing last night. Got home and my dad was there. We had a little "chat" about how I "talked to my mother." Yeah, right. It was me vs. them and it couldn't possibly be more one-sided. Anyway, my Dad, being my dad and very much like myself in ways that are almost scary, can see both sides and he understood that I was pissed. Yeah, I said some things I should've taken back but it happens. I don't care what happens now. Now the only thing I'm worried about is getting a place for me, Ericka, and the baby.

My boss is leaving today for the rest of the week. This means I'm Wed-Fri by myself, as well as filling in for ATM duty this weekend. Hell, I need the extra time. I'm broke as a joke.

I finished The Corrections. My God, that is a fantastic novel. Just utterly brilliant. I shit you not. Go read that book.

Started on King's Everything's Eventual. Some decent stuff in there. I really like a good short story. I just read "The Man In The Black Suit," the one that won all the awards a few years ago. It was good, sure, but good enough to get all the attention it deserved? Nah. Hell, even King comments that he didn't like it that much and didn't think it was that special. Apparently the early 20th century decor as well as the whole young-boy-meets-the-devil thing works. Maybe I should try it ;)

On that note, some writing shall be done today. My novel awaits, as does the script I keep putting off. It's just not very good, and I'm dying to put it in a new direction. Screenplays have to be the most aborted medium of any literary work. Hell, they're not even that literary. You have to be clear, precise, minimalistic. You can't elaborate. No emotions. No feelings. Just descriptions of such. The undercurrents are all there on the screen, and that would fall to me, the director. The writer just has to keep us guessing. The director has to make it sell. Editing has to make it work. Cinema 101.

So, there's an update. We'll see what happens, won't we?

Evan Erwin from URL @ 5:08 PM

In what could possibly be the greatest twist of irony yet, I got a great deal for a condo in Myrtle Beach. 2 Bedroom, Whirpool tub, oceanfront...$500. Can you believe it?

Then what did I do? I got the wrong dates. The 20th thru the 27th instead of the 13th through the 20th. Shit! This also collides with Jeremy's wedding, and I do NOT want to back out of that. If they charge my card and can't change the dates, I am so fucked :(

Well, let's not get too discouraged. Me and Ericka's spirits have picked back up and she's coming down despite going home this afternoon. I got a few pages on my novel, dragged out of my body by sheer force of will, just so I can say that I wrote on it. I'm beginning to enjoy one of the two stories I have running through it more than the other, so this presents a strange problem: should I drop all but the most interesting story, or should I push on with both? The simple truth is is that the one I don't like writing as much now is probably the more interesting of the two, and is also the story I began with. I shall mush on and come to completion one of these days.

Adios

Evan Erwin from URL @ 8:06 PM

Today inevitably has to be one of the worst in recent memory.

Let's start with the good news, shall we? First up, I'm not going to be living in my mother's house any longer. After I told her I might tell her big secret, she promptly hung up on me. She's only been promising for FOUR MONTHS to leave the house, now, of course, she's "not comfortable" there. What a crock of shit. It's unreal to me and then she bitches about me being angry about it. "You're making me take the blame for everything," she says. "No," I say, "I'm just telling you the consequences of your action." This includes, but is not limited to:

Cancelling my vacation plans on Apr. 12-19th

Destroying any hopes of me getting a camera and/or new computer and/or big screen set

Destroying any hope of me getting to live with my fiance before we have a small child

Destroys any hope of me getting new furniture and/or clothes.

There we a part of me, a single, tiny shred of me, that thought that somehow I might be able to get her out of the house. All she needed in it was a stove, refridgerator, and bed. Those things I could move in a night with help from a friend. No more. What can I say? I feel betrayed, heartbroken, weary from the possibilities that lie ahead. There will be a silver lining somewhere, but I'm still straining to see it.

The Oscars unequivicably sucked. Apart from Halle Barry and her emotional speech, everyone else drug out the notes, the pages, the business cards full of names of people that no one, absolutely no one, other than the winner cares about. I had read that in the pre-Oscar dinner they had encouraged short speeches and emotions, such as how it felt like to win such an award, not lists of names that would drone on forever. The latter happened anyway. Whoopi wasn't even a host. She was more like a prop. She made a few quips (wore out a joke about the Liza wedding) and left no impression. Steve Martin was a fantastic host last year, but stepped on too many toes I guess.

Anyway, here's work, everything crumbling as fast as we can put up supports. The Frame Relay WAN has been down innumerable times today, was down all morning in fact (until 11:30), and the cruel irony of it was that by the time we got a hold of Bellsouth, the damn thing would be up again. Sometimes branches themselves were down or the main office T1 was down, which would force everyone not in the main branch to go poof. What a world, I tell ya.

On the book front I just got the new Stephen King which unfortunately includes two stories that were already included in his Blood & Smoke audio book that I've listened to. Oh well, it does feature Riding the Bullet, which will undoubtedly cool my thirst for the man's writing. The more I read up on him the more I like Stephen King and his honesty with the fact that he is beginning to repeat himself and that he doesn't know why he's such a popular writer, just that he enjoys it and hopes to keep on doing so. I like that attitude. I think it's a great way to be.

Almost finished with the Corrections. That's a great book. I don't want it to end :)

Well, tonight I will be by myself thanks to my mother's strep throat. Boy, I can't wait to come home to a bitchy parental unit and now I get to hear about the sorrows of being away from the one I love. Fuck me man, fuck me.

Evan Erwin from URL @ 4:47 PM

How awful to have to sit here through the "Boring" part of the oscars. That is, the first hour or so. We did get the supporting actress (did I call it or did I call it? - See below) out of the way, and I'm glad the cinematographer award went to Lord of the Rings. For now Ericka is on her way and she isn't too happy. I'm a little afraid. :)

Evan Erwin from URL @ 9:50 PM

Shit! This is the second time I'm writing this post. Ugh.

Got some serious pages done on the novel. Had a nice hour and a half at the lake. The story is coming together nicely and I'm about 1/3rd or so finished. I'm diggin it.

Anyway, Blade 2 was awesome! Pure, absolute, popcorn entertainment. Del Toro is one hell of a director. The Devil's Backbone is a stunningly great film.

Well, the oscars are coming on now, and it's gonna be fun.

And the winners are:

Picture, Beautiful Mind

Director, Peter Jackson

Actor: Crowe

Actress: Spacek

Supp. Actor: Ian McKellen

Supp. Actress: Jennifer Connelly

Score: LOTR

Song: Sting, "Until"

Editing: Black Hawk Down

And a few biggies:

Best Original Script: Monster's Ball (though I would love for The Royal Tenenbaums to get a little man)

Best Adapted Script: Beautiful Mind (though Ghost World deserves it)

Oh well, time to watch Oscars.

Evan Erwin from URL @ 8:09 PM