Zzzzz

Heya Hoya. I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm not sure why. i think some part of my body has decided that thew new cue for sleepy-time is the rising sun. This doesn't really work for me, as I usually have plans during the day, and scheduling plans for 3Am is something of a hassle.

I spent most of yesterday working on a show for Parks Canada. We were missing a couple of actors, so I needed to do my Colonel By scene with our commander-in-chief, John Muggleton. This event was more than just a scene, though. We were attending a 1830s theme night, and we were part of the entertainment. I wound up getting asked many questions about the construction of the Rideau Canal, perhaps half of which I answered correctly. There was also food, though, so that was a very fine motivator. Overall, we did a good job, I believe.

On Thursday, there was an excellent episode of "The Office" entitled "Cocktails". This one was directed by J.J. Abrams, the guy who was responsible for "Alias" and co-created "Lost". I thought it was one of the better episodes of the season.

The main plot concerns a soiree being held by the CFO of Dunder-Mifflin. Michael is excited about it, because he and Jan have decided to go public with their relationship. Jim is going with Karen, but really really doesn't want to go. "I don't like to discuss paper outside of work (mumbles) or at work". Dwight is riding along with Michael.

The "B" story concerns the rest of the office-mates, who are meeting up in a bar. Pam has decided to become more assertive, so when Roy says that he wants to get hammered with his brother instead, she puts her foot down. She also says "I'm going to start telling people what I want, directly. So, look out, world, 'cause... old Pammy is getting what she wants. And... don't call me "Pammy!" At the bar, it's revealed that Kevin has set a date with his lady, but when pressed for details he testily says "It's complicated, and I would appreciate some space on this." Annoyed Kevin is funny. After Pam mentions how cute it is, Toby spends much of the evening trying to win a stuffed animal from a claw machine.

Outside the party, Jan has the following to say to the camera: "I am taking a calculated risk. What’s the upside, I overcome my nausea, fall deeply in love, babies, normalcy, no more self-loathing. Downside, I, uh date Michael Scott publicly, and collapse in on myself like a dying star. Why is this so hard?....That’s what she said. Oh my god. What am I saying?"

At the party, Michael is, true to form, making an ass of himself. He uses every opportunity to mention that he and Jan are "lovers", to the point of making everyone uncomfortable. Karen is making Jim uncomfortable by pointing out the various people in the party with whom she had a previous relationship. Finally, Dwight is making everyone uncomfortable by asking questions about the house (square footage, construction, value, etc), eventually deciding to investigate for himself. At one point, the scene shows him waiting on a chair as a child wakes up in his bed. As soon as the kid's awake, Dwight starts asking more questions about the house. When the kids says "I don't know" too many times, Dwight derisively comments "What "do" you know?"
After one too many of Michael's awkward conversations, Jan excuses them away from the others, apparently to chastise him. She then, surprsiingly, starts making out with him, against his complaints. She wants him to slam her against a wall, but he resists repeatedly. When he says "You're acting inappropriately", she becomes frustrated and leaves.

At the bar, Pam has decided to clear the air with Roy. She decides that if the relationship is going to get a fresh start, she needs to tell him about the Jim-kiss. After everyone else has left, she tells him about it. He goes ballistic, yelling at her, then throwing his drink at the bar mirror. This part was pretty shocking. He and his brother start tearing up the bar while Pam quickly leaves and says "This is over."

At the party, Michael is frightened of Jan, Jim finds out he has been pranked by Karen (she hasn't been in relationships with any of these people) and Dwight concludes that the house is sound, and thus it was a good party. The trip home in Michael's car is similar to the cliche of parents making up after a fight at a party, with Dwight playing the child's role, Jan playing the
apologetic father, and Michael playing the slighted mother. It was actually a pretty good scene.

The quick scene after the credits had Roy declaring to his brother that he was going to kill Jim Halpert. Nice little cliffhanger there.