J.C. Patrick

I'm overweight, despise change, and rarely, if ever, initiate anything. Unlike my friends, I__e had no drama in my life which might qualify as box office material. If a little more drama came my way, however, I would probably need to purchase some courage in order to withstand it. Oh well, if a bit of change equals a bit of drama, I__ willing to risk it.

After a few more minutes of daydreaming about how fabulous I could become, I look down at the heading on my paper: Janey's Reinvention Plan. It appears lonely at the top of the page. I should probably add some bullets beneath, but I've never been much of a list maker.

Professional is an apt definition for me, professional slouch, that is. I can be very professional at seeming to do work, but the real work is trying to do as little as possible, without getting caught by Trip or any nosey busybodies.

I sneak quietly up the stairs and toward my door. It__ not very late, but I don__ want to arouse Cyclops Eye next door. I__e stopped looking as I walk past, but it__ difficult not to notice her window open just a few inches and her sitting right next to it, ready at a moment__ notice to give me her big one-eyed look. Maybe I should get her a monocle for Christmas, so she can make more of a statement.

He stares at me, not saying a word. I stare right back, lost in his eyes and determined to get my point across. If he wants to have a staring contest, he__l lose, hands down. I know a good thing when I see it.

I took a couple steps away from him and stopped in front of a framed colored poster of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable from the movie Gone with the Wind. I studied the pair, Gable with his mysterious mustache and Leigh in her red ball gown. I__ become a fan of the classic, partially because of my mother__ suggestion that I looked a lot like a younger Vivien Leigh, with my dark wavy hair and sea green eyes. And as usual, I__ believed her for a little while.

My life was full of drama, with the highs and lows of Tyler__ daily mood swings and my private innuendos with Vandenberg. There__ never been a movie made that could permanently shift my mood away from my disappointment with myself.

I got home a little after seven, but didn__ feel hungry. Instead, I crawled into my pajamas and pulled out my Jimmy Stewart movie It__ a Wonderful Life. I fixed myself a cup of herbal tea and settled in for the night. Normally, I__ save such a classic movie for the holidays, when I tended to feel sorry for myself, but today__ need felt urgent. If Jimmy was able to accept that he had a wonderful life, maybe I could, too.

My mother had tried to fool me into thinking I was a natural beauty, and I__ believed her for a little while, that is, until I moved to the land of beautiful people.

I could feel the spring in my step as I walked up one flight of stairs from the parking garage into the company__ lobby. Although I wore my old blue suit, a remnant of all my previous job interviews, I felt the day had new possibilities. After all, I was interviewing at a company that made something I loved _ movies!

I notice being noticed immediately _ I__ a freeway goddess! In the past five minutes of gridlock, I have been checked out by a bald man in convertible Mustang, a cowboy in an F-150, and a body-builder in a Lincoln Navigator. Watch out road warriors! I don__ want to be responsible for any accidents. If only I had a car decal that advertised: Available _ if you meet my eligibility criteria!

The old Janey only drank cheap wine and light beer. The new Janey is classy, prefers cocktails, and even drinks alone.