Um, I'm not sure what to make of this article:



Strippers Win Right to Meal Breaks, OT


SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Australian strippers have won the right to take time off after taking their clothes off.

The country's Industrial Relations Commission on Friday approved new workplace rules for members of the strippers' union, the Striptease Artists Australia.

``We've got rights to have public holiday pay now, which we've never had in our career before,'' said a union spokeswoman called Mystical Melody. ``We've got rosters and set hours. We can't work more than 10 hours a shift.''

The award also entitles unionized strippers to overtime, rest periods, meal breaks and maternity leave, she added.

``The majority of workers in the industry are women,'' Melody said, ``so it's probably a really great thing for them to be able to feel confident of having a job after they've had their babies.''

Industrial relations commissioner Bill Mansfield said the award set out minimum working conditions but did not set out pay rates.

It was not immediately clear how many members the union has. Its members are believed to work mainly in strip bars and as erotic dancers.

In the past, other strippers have criticized the union, saying its demands for better pay and conditions could lead to job losses.

Reread yesterday's blog.

Decision: NO MORE BITCHING. At least, not about that. I will still rant about the total strangers that drive me nuts, but honestly, my life AIN'T THAT BAD!

I think that I figured out most of my problem anyway. I broke up with my boyfriend. Big deal. People do it everyday, right? But I also lost a really good friend.

That has always been a problem for me.

Anyway, enough of the boring crap.

Check this website out: I want one!

http://www.hiddenpassageway.com/

First thing first: check out this very cool video I heard about this weekend.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw

Secondly, Happy Post Oscars Day!

Some thoughts on last night's show:

1. George Clooney as best Supporting actor. Meh. But who was that dude sitting next to him? THAT'S what I want to know. That was MY seat, dammit.

2. Rachel Weisz - best supporting actress. Didn't see the movie. Didn't really see any of the others, either, so no judgement.

3. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Best Actor. Ok. Good performance. Don't think it was much of a leap, if you catch my drift. Guy could've tried to look a little more OSCAR - a haircut, perhaps. Some styling gel? Awful. Awful.

4. Reese Witherspoon - Best Actress. I like her. Very classy. Good mother. Grew up watching her - she's my age, and I remember watching her very first movie in junior high school and loving it. She also sang in 'Walk The Line,' and I just must say - Reese has a better voice than June Carter.

5. Crash - Best Picture. I picked this in the Oscar pool. So, yay for me.

What else? hmmm.

Saw Van Morrison on Saturday night. Very unexpected. My ticket said 7:30. Van Morrison (or is it just Van?) walked on stage at ... 7:30! He then sang for nearly 2 hours straight. Half the audience was still at the bar for his first 3 songs. It was an interesting night - he performed mainly country western and covers, only giving in to the audience twice with Moondance and Brown-Eyed Girl. My favorite part, though, was his backup singers. 2 women, clearly in the later end of their 50's, haircuts like my mom and on the more Botticelli side. Fantastic! All in all though, a fun night of good, blue-sy music.

Feigned good spirits is over. Stop reading here. I'll be ranting for a few.

And on the personal side: Not good. Living situation is not as I expected. (note to my Jersey readers - NOT TO GET BACK TO THE PARENTS PLEASE).

I'm also feeling very humiliated these days. Is that normal? I feel like I was once a really smart girl. No nonsense, no bullshit, really smart. But I was duped into believing something that was a total and complete lie. I was embarrassed in front of my friends, and proven to be a total fool. And to top it off, after being humiliated like that, I'm still being punished by having to return to a life I thought I left in Hollywood. Yes, it was a choice, but not the one I would have liked to have made. I would have liked for something else. I would have liked to not been living a lie for months. I would have liked to not be continually punished for it. I didn't do anything wrong, GODDAMNIT. It's not fucking fair.

Yes, I'm being petty and selfish right now. There are many more important things happening in the world. I could be dying. I could be homeless. But for once, that thought doesn't seem to be helping. I gave up an awful lot just because someone decided he didn't love me anymore. Because I was apparently a horrible roommate, a horrible girlfriend, a horrible friend. And yet, I had to leave. Strange.

Angry today. Sorry.

Much better today.

I didn't win the lottery last night. That stinks. I really thought I had it this time.

That's okay...now I'm battling it out for tix to see Van Morrison on Saturday. Gotta love Ebay.

I had an interesting conversation with my dad the other day. It really made me think.

"Jaime, I know I never talked to you about this sort of thing when you were growing up. But I think it's important for you to know."

"What's that, Dad?"

"You don't need a boyfriend, you know? You don't need a man in your life."

I thought it was cute. Defending his role as the only man in my life that I need.

I didn't tell him the truth though.

Which is this:

Mom taught me that years ago.