More Benefits of Being Unemployed

Well for those of you that don't know I'm still out on the job hunt. I'll actually be working next week at a temp job for the first time in about a month so that's something. Plus, I actually turned down a job offer this week so at least there's been movement. In the meantime I've found two more benefits to being unemployed.

Benefit #15: Can go to the great Minnesota State Fair in the middle of a weekday.
For those outstaters that don't know, the Minnesota State Fair is the granddaddy of all Fairs. Every year the fairgrounds are overrun by the old, the fat, the young, the obese, the city folk, the big and tall shoppers, the country folk and, did I mention, people as wide as their trailers. Yes the fair is a celebration of food above all else and I am no different when it comes to indulging in the deep fried treats. Take a look at my eating itinerary on Tuesday:
1:25pm Arrive at Fair, eat a bag of Tom Thumb Mini Donuts (if they're not Tom Thumb then they ain't donuts)
1:55pm Bratwurst in Beer Batter deep fried on a stick (Bought a water so that's kind of healthy, righty?)
2:05pm Spicy Nacho Sausage (sausage wrapped in puff pastry with nacho cheese sauce for dipping)
2:40pm Apple Carmel Malt from the Dairy Stand in Empire Commons (After going to the fair for over 15 years I just found out last year I was getting my malts from the wrong place. Now that I've tried the real deal I'm living in a world full of regret.)
3:20pm Buffalo Chicken Wontons (These actually had a nice kick to 'em.)
3:35pm Deep Fried Cheese Curds (Gotta get the ones in the food building or like the donuts, your just eating a wannabe.)
4:00pm Macaroni & Cheese on a Stick (These are really just nuggets of deep fried mac & cheese and the stick serves no real purpose but damn it's sinfully good.)
4:40pm Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies (Thankfully this year I just got the small cone but between my moms and me they were all gone by the time we reached the exit around 5pm)

Benefit #16: Catch up on Netflix queue
I've made such a dent in my Netflix queue that I actually downgraded to a cheaper program (probably a wise move given my employment situation). In the last week I've gone through 2 seasons of the animated show Home Movies. If you missed Home Movies when it debuted on UPN in 1999 then you're not alone. Thankfully Cartoon Network and Adult Swim came to the rescue and ordered up more Home Movies right up until it's fourth and final season. The show looks like Dr. Katz and has a similar comic sensibility as 3 kids try to produce quality independent films while dealing with their parents and mostly drunk soccer coach. Perhaps I like it so much because of my film background or maybe it's just because it's damn funny. Also caught V for Vendetta last week. I honestly expected to hate this flick. The last 2 Matrix movies really soured me on the Warchowski brothers and I was afraid what they and their puppet director would do with this classic graphic novel. The outcome shocked me. It was a bold and brave adaptation that screamed volumes about the world we lived in back in '84 (when the book was written) and even more so about today. Scary good plus anytime Natalie Portman plays dress up prostitute you can count me in. My last recommendation is a film that will not be for everyone, Brick. It's a film noir set in a present day high school where everyone talks like they're in a film noir from the 40's. I think some people will need subtitles to keep up with the dialogue but I loved it. First time director/writer Rian Johnson creates a beautifully brutal world and while some of the plot is telegraphed this is a flick that's all about the journey. I'm adding this to my early top 10 list but again if you have trouble keeping up with difficult dialogue then take a pass on this one.