Attempts by music video directors to make the switch to feature film-making are a series of hits and misses. Spike Jonze, yes. Mark Pellington, no. Thank goodness Michel Gondry managed to make this work - gritty, irresistible cinematography, narration under constant revision (as the subject matter of the film is), haunting musical score. I have to say that the biggest surprise is the fact that Jim Carrey CAN work in a dramatic role without coming off like an idiot. And so, the plan to have a movie marathon of three shrank to one. I couldn't bear to watch The Village after Eternal. From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to eternal ruminations. Lately, my life here in lovely LB as moody prof to hundreds of unsuspecting students is again being challenged by the de-lovely thing called contract renewal. Just when I thought I've managed to set aside my insecurities and hesitations and convince myself 'This will work,' the itch is beckoning. The itch to fly. The itch to be somewhere else. The itch to do something else. Reactions to the unwelcomed letter calling for our intent to renew have ranged from disgust to sheer resignation. Where do I put myself? Enough disgust for me to crumple the letter and enough doses of being blase about the be-all-and-end-all-ness of this sick dance. I am reminded that from Day One, I already told myself that I will not last in this place, let alone last in this profession. That I will get to fulfill young-adult mission to be one of several things (all if possible) - make-up artist during Fashion Week in NY/Milan/Paris, aesthete-for-hire, artist and writer at large...the list goes on. But first, I have to ponder on this de-lovely thing called contract renewal. While I do that, I will continue to suck, savor, lick everything that I could from lovely LB. Am I singing my swan song? Maybe just humming it for now. There IS one thing that I am relishing from all this - people are just too deliciously reckless these days. Love it, love it, love it.