I've been re-watching Batman: The Animated Series and am amazed again by what a high quality cartoon this was. It incorporated many of the plots from the series, introduced a totally new character that was eventually included in the actual comics (Harley Quinn aka Harleen Quinzel who I LOVE), and managed to create a cartoon that I enjoy just as much now, if not more than I did, when I was in middle and high school.

It's funny that I'm quite the comic book geek (so to speak) even though I've never read more than a single issue of any given series. My interest was piqued by the X-Men, Gargoyles, and Batman cartoons of the early and mid 90's, and fan fiction taught me the major plot arcs, characters not included in the cartoons, and the range of emotions and storylines contained in the comics. I've been thrilled to see the resurgence of comics yet again with the movies coming out since 2000, and it's wonderful to see this niche medium reaching an audience spanning all ages and barriers (Iron Man, X2, and most notably The Dark Knight judging simply by box office receipts and critical acclaim).

I may be more of a geek than most of these viewers, but Comic-Con in NY is now an annual event for me, and I'm owning up to my geekdom with pride. Kevin Smith also receives major props for his unabashed love of comics and integrating them into his intelligent, hilarious, and taboo-breaking films (of which I am TOTALLY going to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno on opening weekend). According to him, Watchmen is going to blow people away, and while I still have to read the graphic novel, having seen the trailer pre-Dark Knight, it looks like a major re-imagining of what graphic novels can do and I cannot wait.

The age of the geek is here.

Where to start? I'm better from the cold, but I've been exhausted from being sick and working anyway, and from having commitments every weekend (August booked up fast for some reason). Next weekend is the first time in a month where I can just relax, and it's a 3 day weekend, thank God.

Even at work things have slowed down to a crawl for the last days of summer, so I'm just conserving my energy and preparing for the coming stretch into year-end. I was talking with my friend who's a teacher, and of course gets the summer off. She likened it to going full throttle and this was the necessary resting period. I'm learning through the few years I've worked that in order to last, the key is to switch into neutral year-round to prevent burning out. It's funny, since they would get better and faster work out of me if I did have a significant amount of time off (and my time off isn't bad compared to most places), but without that, I'm learning to preserve my energy first, then add some to work.

Boring post, I know, but my life's been static. I'll come up with something better next time, I promise.

I've managed to have a stellar week. I got a cold Tues., threw out my back last night sleeping on two pillows (my back has never been right since I was in that car accident in Jan 2005), and have PMS cramps to boot. Good thing I've been performing well in pool for the past two weeks, winning decisively and playing well, including (most importantly for league) playing smart.

The real kicker to all of this is that I was supposed to see Counting Crows tomorrow night at PNC Bank Arts Center. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a total groupie, courtesy especially of Jason, however, the prospect of almost 6 hours at work, followed with a 1 and 1/2 hour bus ride, a 1/2 hour ride to the venue, and an hour ride back (probably at my parents' house by 1 am), followed by a 5:30 am waking and 7 am bus back into the city is too much for my back to bear. If it was only the cold, I'd still be there, but walking home after work was painful with every 3rd step, so I know, despite my regrets, that I have to put myself first in terms of health and for the interest of keeping my current job.

For now I'm too tired and sore to try to do much else besides rest and hope my back recovers quickly. I think I need a new body. Until then, time to keep on truckin' with the usual. Back to work tomorrow, and hope that I don't have to leave early for a change. At least I have the time to take off, a luxury that was not really afforded to me as a temp. I try to remind myself how much worse things were for me a little over a year ago. Progress is incremental, it takes long term comparisons to really understand how much things have improved, so for this sucky week, I have to focus on that. This too shall pass.