Back in Austin!

I came back to Austin Wednesday morning to get settled and begin looking for a new job. I am currently incredibly broke-- living off of PBJ's and microwavable oatmeal. I spent all day Thursday job hunting, and took the first one that was offered to me. I am now working at Sampaio's, an upscale Brazilian restaurant relatively close to my place. My first night of training was tonight-- the staff and manager seems cool, the food looks and smells amazing, the money is defintley there, and overall, I am happy :)

I always go through what seems to be withdrawal after breaks/holidays from being home and spending time with my best friends. This year, after J left, I was really frustrated that we live half a country away from each other. She has truly been my rock over the past few years, as I hope I have been with her, and I always feel like life would overall be much better if we lived closer to one another. As far as my family goes, when I am home I feel like I am in high school again and feel the need to let my mom know everytime I leave the house (even though I have realized that my younger sister who actually still lives at home doesn't even do that), and when I go back to Austin, there is a sudden silence when I do things completely on my own.

School starts on the 20th. I think I am really going to like my schedule, seeing as only one of the classes I am taking is actually required. Until then, I am just going to try to make as much money as I can, get the apartment organized for the upcoming semester, and do things that I never get much of a chance to do when classes start back-- i.e. running at Town Lake, taking El to the dog park, casual reading, bike rides, and seeing some shows.

I have been very up-to-date (and probably one of the main reasons I am so broke) with the movies that are in the theater. Last year I tried to see all the movies that were nominated for the Golden Globes/Oscars and saw all but "No Country for Old Men," which just so happens to be the only one that really counted. This time I hope to see all of them before the Oscars, I am really only lacking "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader." There are sooo many good movies out this year, the awards should be really interesting. As of now, these are who I think should win:
- Movie/Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
- Actress/Drama: Meryl Streep/ Doubt
- Actor/ Drama: Frank Langella/ Frost-Nixon
- Musical/Comedy: Mamma Mia!
- Actor/Comedy: James Franco/ Pinapple Express
- Supporting Actress: Amy Adams/ Doubt
- Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger/ Dark Knight
- Best Screenplay: Benjamin Button

Have a good weekend :)