Una omnis manet nox…

Out of a possible 20 hours available, I worked 16 hours of OT over the weekend. It was good to get some extra hours done cause it allowed me to make up for a day I missed last week due to migraines, and I also got to get some extra time which will help out when I make some sweet purchases at the end of the month. My team leader is actually worried about all the extra time I’m working and is afraid I’m going to burn myself out. What he doesn’t realize is that for the last two years, I’ve been taking OT all the time. I do it for the $$$$, and do lots of it all the time. Usually when I start to feel like I can’t do no more, I have the sense to pull the plug and call it a day. Which is why I only did 8 hours a day over the weekend instead of 10. I couldn’t make it the whole ten hours and just called it a day rather than burn myself out. I still managed to get a good bit of work done and that’s what counted. Some thing I’m crazy to do that, but who will be crazy on payday? Not me!

So this morning, my arms and chest are sore but in a good way. I went to the gym and did my chest/tricep workout, and I can tell the difference it’s making so far. After working on it for two weeks, I’m starting to increase the weights on some machines just a little because the weights I’m using right now are starting to become a little too easy. When I reach the end of rep, I want to be clinching teeth and fighting to finish the last few. So with a few adjustments, I was able to get that kind of finish with each rep, and I’m starting to see a change. Nothing earthshattering, but every step counts. My arms are a little sore but I like getting the workouts out of the way in the morning before going to work. That way I can head home and enjoy supper early and do other things if I can.

The title of this entry comes from last night’s new episode of the West Wing. Una omnis manet nox translates into ‘The same night waits for us all’ which was a fitting theme for the episode that finally declared a winner in the year long campaign to replace Martin Sheen’s President. Last night was also the episode when Jon Spencer’s character (Leo) was finally written off the show. Spencer passed away in December, but they held off his character’s passing till now. With the show ending this year, they won’t have to take his name out of the credits during the entire series. The episode was great, and I like the fact that Jimmy Smits’ character won the election. I thought it was even better when Alan Alda’s character told his lawyers not to contest the close count. The best line of the show was when Alda was telling off his staff for suggesting to fight the final result. He said, “I’ll be a winner or I’ll be a loser, but I won’t be a sore loser.” I also thought how they wrote out Jon Spencer’s charcter (Leo) was very well done. They had Leo pass away during election night, which made his death not sway the result of the election. It was a beautifully written episode as there was plenty of emotion. Josh cried in Donna’s arms, Jed cried in CJ’s arms. The “Thanks boss” comment at the end was perfect.

I don’t think they could have mixed the emotion with the moment any better. It was a great episode, and from what I heard, a lot of tissues were being used that night. Shows like this make us wish that we’d get another season, but it’s over as of May 14th. At least it’s going to end in a good way, with Martin Sheen’s character finishing his final term and handing the reigns over to the new President. Such a shame Martin Sheen himself doesn’t consider politics, just based on his performance alone… I bet he would win easily. Seven years is still a good run, but I will be missing the show big time come next September. I’m been watching The West Wing since the first episode of the first season, so with only five episodes left, it will be an interesting and hopefully a memorable good bye.

But in their absence will be other great shows like House, NCIS, The Unit, Commander In Cheif and 24 to fill the void So it’s not like I don’t have anything to watch, I’ll just miss my current favorite when it’s gone. I’ve also been watching the Sopranos since it came back on TV as well. I specifically picked up ‘The Movie Network’ just so I could watch all the new episodes and save them on my DVR. It’s been an interesting season so far, and I’m also checking out HBO’s new show titled ‘Big Love’ which stars Bill Paxton as a poligimyst who has three wives. I can barely support one, so I can’t imagine a fool who would want to have three. It’s an interesting show, and I’ll keep watching to see where they take this premise.

So I’ve got stuff to keep me occupied and when I get really bored, that’s where the Playstation 2 comes in handy. Hope everyone is have a decent monday and since it seems pretty slow here at the center, I might come back to post a few notes and likely leave another entry. Until then, take care…

Peter