Snow Day

Had a snow day today. We got about 3 inches of snow overnight; not considerable. But it was the freezing rain that kept most people indoors today. Social Security, my employer, didn't think to close for the day--and I really think the person in charge who made such a decision had to be a bit out of his mind. When I call to let them know I wasn't coming for the day, the guy who picked up the phone said that only two people had showed up and that there were fifty-something callouts. Considering that the call center I work at has hundreds of employees, I think most people wisely chose to stay home today.

I sometimes hate snow days, because I can't find anything useful to do while stuck at home all day, but I did manage to be productive. I dug out my car a bit, did some cleaning, and started reaning CRYPTOLOGY, a film script Pierre Walters asked me to read about two weeks ago. I have to finish reading it in the next day or so and give Pierre my thoughts.

It's Valentine's Day, but the day has little to no significance for me as I'm single. But, hey, Happy Valentine's Day to you, dear reader, out there, whoever you may be.

I have started my Spring class at UMBC. Yesterday was my third sessions. I'm taking a class titled 'Writing for Film', and it meets once a week on Tuesday nights. It's very, very strange being back there, sitting in the same room where I took film courses over ten years ago. I still feel very uncomfortable, like a fish out of water, even on my third session. I'm sitting there with kids who are in their twenties, and there I am, 13 years older than them, with very mature, and different, ideas as to what constitutes great filmmaking. The teacher seems oright, but I don't think she cares for me much--I attempted to introduce myself to her last week, and told her a bit about my special situation (returning to UMBC after 10 years to finish my Film degree), but she couldn't care less. Either that, or her attention span was just too taxed by too many twenty-year undergrads asking her questions.

Oh, well.. I know what my purpose is for taking the class, so I don't care if I strike a connection with the teacher--I'm there for unfinished business. I'm there to move forward with my life, my goals as a filmmaker. I gotta keep my eyes on that prize.

So far, winter's treating me ok.. It's probably because I've become such a habitual coffee drinker that I'm doing much better this winter season than I did the past couple of years. I'm being more productive, and haven't felt too depressed.

Things are tight for me on the financial front because of paying my school tuition and really buckling down and deciding to start killing my considerable credit card debt. I must be extremely discipline with my spending, and saving, thru the rest of the spring. It's going to be tough... paying all that debt, but I gotta keep my credit if I'm going to buy a house, or another car, or maybe even finance a feature film, in the next two years or so. I've been looking for a part-time job since the holidays... something not to hard that I can get paid to do on weekends, but so far, no such luck. That part-time weekend job hasn't materialized. I will keep looking, though.

I've budgeted to take a trip out of town in about a couple of weeks. I'll be going back to the Nevermore Film Festival in Durham, NC. I'll be enjoying horror films and reporting on the festival for my site, Horror-101.com. I'm looking forward to it. I can really use a break from the bleak Baltimore winter weather.

Lastly, I've been doing lots of thinking about my life. I'm very focused on my goals--school, indie film, Horror-101, etc. I've started to consider that I might just move out of Baltimore in the next couple of years. The main reason is that my life just doesn't seem to be 'blossoming' here, in terms of romantic relationships. Certainly, many of my close friendships are no longer such. I've begun to feel that my life is somewhere out there, not here in Baltimore. I really don't want to move.. but I just can't continue to have lonely Christmases and Holiday seasons. Perhaps a move to New York, or Los Angeles, is just what I need to make to find some happiness.

It would be very hard to move out of Baltimore. I really wanted (still want) to make significant indie films in this town.. to put it on the map.. But the town, the people, the film community.. just doesn't seem to be giving me much back. I dunno.. maybe things will change.

Gotta go and get me some grub. Happy Valentine's Day, Armando.. Maybe no one's in love with you, but you must give it to yourself.