Back in Baltimore

I'm back in Baltimore, tired from the day of driving yesterday but ready for a nice long workout today before I head to the restaurant to work my last ever New Year's Eve. I don't know what the reservations look like, but apparently it's been busy this past week - the possible result of a recent very positive review by the Sun's notably picky (but awesome) Elizabeth Large - so hopefully we'll have a good crowd in for our $75/person New Year's Eve fancy-smancy dinner, and I'll make good tips. The first year I waited tables, I was at around $350 after that night, but it's been steadily less in the three New Year's Eves since then. Still a good night, but not a almost-pay-rent-for-the-month type of night. My tuition bill is due on Jan. 2, so I could use the cash.

The holidays were fine. Nice and sloooow. I re-watched the first two seasons of The Wire. I have spent a lot of the last few years just quietly nodding in agreement when people talk about The Wire; I didn't really have too much first-hand knowledge of it, other than a marathon of watching it a couple of years before. Now, I got it, though. Now I know the difference between Barksdale and Stringer Bell. I think I totally missed episodes before, too, because how could I not have remembered the scene where Wallace is killed? Wow.

Season one is much better than Season two, though. I think Ziggy's character is akin to Jar Jar Binks. I just want to throw my shoe at the television whenever he's on. I haven't finished season two yet, and have no recollection of what happens, so maybe he gets his redemption or something. I've heard that Season 3 and Season 4 return to the quality of Season 1. Season 2 isn't bad, it's just... eh... too many white people not season one.

Other things I watched (I use Christmas vacation to catch up on movie watching):

Charlie Wilson's War: Excellent. Funny. Tom Hanks' best movie in years, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman is great.

The Great Debaters: Also excellent. Not cheesy when it looks like it could be. I was disappointed later to read some of the liberties the script took with the truth, but still a cool movie.

The Kingdom: Entertaining film, cheesy at times but well-made.

The Simpsons Movie: A bit of a letdown, but good for some chuckles.

Superbad: Why do I always end up watching the dirtiest movies with my parents? Pretty funny, though.

I also - ugh - graded a lot of papers. I literally spent all of Thursday grading, plus a lot of Wednesday night, and much of Friday morning. Still not done. Hopefully by the time we return to school...