Distracted

A late post.  I was distracted this evening as I was looking at the cost of flights to the UK over Christmas.  I still haven't decided whether I'm going to go or not.  I'm weighing up the pros and cons.  But if I'm going to go, I should book my flights soon before they start to get even more expensive.  Which is a major issue, because they are already really expensive.  Some conclusions I reached.  If I'm going to fly back, I would have to get a flight that arrives in London on Christmas Eve.  Less than ideal, but anything that arrives before then is significantly pricier.  And similarly for the return flight, the only affordable options are either on 29 December (which would mean shelling out an awful lot of money for just 4 full days back) or on 6 January (which would cost me a whole week's work of valuable vacation allowance).  Anything in between these dates is also significantly pricier.  Neither of these are particularly good options.  So I'm in a quandary because I don't want to let people (well, really only one person - my mum) down...  

Casino Royale

The good news - Casino Royale is going to be re-released at cinemas to celebrate its 20th anniversary.  I would happily watch what is arguably the best contemporary Bond film on the big screen.

The bad news - they haven't announced exact dates for the screenings yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was on James Bond Day (October 5th).  That will be a problem - I am going to be in California that week for work, with no opportunity to get to a cinema.  

Union Jack Classic

I saw an advert today for a sports event being held at Wembley this weekend - named the Union Jack Classic.  The first of what is apparently going to be an annual event.  And I don't get it.  Of all the American sports to bring to the UK, I don't see this one working.  It doesn't have a built-in UK audience.  At all.  And it is not even a sport I follow.  We are talking about college football.  Yes, American football played by university students.  Why is there a game being played in London?  I suspect some half-baked scheme for international expansion.  Which is nonsensical to me.  Plus, of course, I'm sure there are financial reasons.  The inaugural game is not even being played between two particularly good teams (the Kansas Jayhawks and the Arizona State Sun Devils, if you're interested).  But apparently 60,000 tickets have been sold.  Frankly I'm gobsmacked at so many.  I suspect mostly to traveling Americans or American expats - I don't imagine anyone British would want to go.           

Job (Dis)satisfaction

I completed an employee survey today.  And let's just say that my responses were less than positive.  I've become extremely disillusioned with my job again.  I was supposed to transition to a new role, but we've only recently got a new head of our department and the transition has been put on hold.  It's the same thing that happens whenever someone new comes in, they always want to change things up.  So who knows where my job is heading.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I wouldn't mind at all if I get laid off.  I'd rather that than have to quit.  But what I would really like to do is take a sabbatical. I said I would do that when I turn 50, so I have to seriously consider requesting a leave of absence sometime soon.  I'm busy through to the end of the year, but don't have any scheduled work yet for next year - so maybe then if I'm still employed. 

Celebrity Traitors

The Celebrity Traitors trailer that came out today even made it into the US pop culture news.  Let's hope they don't mess up the US streaming of the show.  The key is to make each episode available on streaming simultaneously or immediately after they have aired in the UK.  But I fear that is not going to be the case.  The indications are that it's only going to be available to stream after the full broadcast run has concluded in the UK.  In which case, it is going to be next to impossible to avoid spoilers.  What a shame.  On a related note, the next season of the US version of The Traitors (titled "New Blood") is actually airing on network TV (starting this week) and not exclusively on streaming.  This feels like an expansion of the franchise - especially since it will be the first US season that won't feature "celebrities".  However, when you consider adverts then each episode will only be about 45 minutes in length - so I fear it will feel quite rushed.  But I will probably check it out.  And I stand by my opinion that Alan Cumming is a MUCH better host than Claudia Winkleman. 

COVID Vaccination

Thanks to the current administration's anti-vax stance, it is so difficult to obtain details about COVID vaccinations.  Apparently four formulations were approved within the last week, but don't expect any federal guidance on getting these shots.  But the vaccines should start to be available soon.  Considering September and October are the best months to get your annual vaccination, it's all rather last minute.  It doesn't help that they are no longer universally free for everyone, and I have recently changed my health insurance provider.  Naturally my new provider has absolutely no details yet on how to get a vaccination.  But I think I have to get it through them, otherwise I'll have to pay out-of-pocket.  What a pain in the ass.  As a high-risk individual, it is important I get my COVID shot - ideally at the same time as my flu shot.

NFL

The American football season started this weekend.  Well, strictly speaking, it began on Wednesday (!) night with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots in a low-scoring affair, and a rematch of last year's Superbowl.  Cue the fireworks.  I used to really love watching American football.  I was a fan even before I first came to the US.  But nowadays, I don't care for it much at all.  It's a very difficult game to watch live, because of the constant commercial interruptions.  It's a game where the teams are owned by rich assholes who don't care about their players (although this is a common occurrence across sports, it feels particularly acute in American football).  And as with many other sports, an emphasis on changing the rules to make the game safer has also made the game more boring.  It doesn't help that my team - the San Diego Chargers - doesn't even exist any more...