Promotion Update

After getting home from the gym on Saturday, I got the mail from the mailbox and went inside to get ready for the CMC concert (which was great by the way, both cincycub and _decibel_ look so good in tuxedos). I had a letter from my office's human resource division.

I opened up the letter which had my name and address on the envelope and on the header, and the letter announced that I was selected for the specialist position in my office. I was excited, but then on closer inspection I saw the opening greeting which deflated my enthusiasm...

"Dear Mr. Vitillo...."

Ummm... huh? I wondered for a moment whether my office's HR department had grown so cruel and bitter as to send a congratulatory letter not only to the person who got the position, but also to everyone else on the selection list to rub their noses in it. I can envision some airhead bigwig thinking this would be a great idea, grinning like a idiot with a vacant look in her eyes, twirling her hair with a single finger, while jamming to Britney Spears on her iPod, both earphones shoved ceremoniously up her nose. That image makes me smile for some reason. As cincycub is fond of saying, "Bygones..."

In reality, I assume that this is a form letter and the secretary changed all the necessary information but the greeting as all other data points to my position and my office. Still, I called my boss on Saturday to let him know the news and I swear I could hear him roll his eyes over the phone. He congratulated me and told me there was no Mr. Vitillo on the selection list and that my office would request a corrected letter be sent to me.

So what does this mean? Well, more money for one and likely more travel for another. I guess I'll deal with it as it comes. I was chatting on the phone yesterday to my Brazillian buddy Gil in Florida who has traveled the world and he has almost sold me on a trip to India for work. Again, we'll see. Sadly, I had already ordered new business cards without the specialist title. Oh well... My office still doesn't know as the director has to make the official announcement. I think I'll bring bagels in to work tomorrow.

300

Gerard Butler stars as the Spartan king in "300"
My director finally announced my promotion to the masses about 15 minutes before I left today. It was a good feeling. I made it to the Levee after work for dinner with Brian (cincycub) and then met up with the Cincinnati Movie Bears for an evening showing of 300.

Spartan King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) leads 300 of his best warriors to stop a coming Persian invasion from wiping out the Spartan kingdom. As Leonidas leads his troops into battle against Spartan law, he's unaware that the Persian ruler Xerxes has spies in the Spartan council. Xerxes sends wave after wave of troops against the 300, leading to one bloody battle after another.

The film is visually amazing. The story moves quickly and no one can scream a manly charge like Butler. The backgrounds alone are detailed and artistic and the film seems to almost be like a painting, with eerie lighting and shading of the scenery and the characters. The action scenes are brutally graphic, with slaughter of opposing forces in slow motion, blood splatters and spurts being suspended in mid-air. Muscular guys with spears, swords, and shields against heavily armored masses.. and winning. it is always good to root for the underdogs. I make no assessment of the historical accuracy, but the film as a whole was very entertaining.

The only negative of the evening is that I got home to discover my cell phone had fallen out of my pocket at the theater and had to go back and get it. Thankfully the ushers found it and left it at the desk.

Did I enjoy the movie? Loved it!
Would I watch it again? I hope to.
Buy the DVD? Oh yeah, it's worth it for the eye candy alone...