Archive for September, 2006
a letter and a theory
Just sent: Senator McCain, Last week I wrote to tell you how proud I was that my state’s Senator was standing up to George Bush in defense of the Geneva Conventions. That was an easy letter to compose, written in a glow of pride. This week, I’m having a much harder time finding the words […]
scheduling and fusses
I have one week and one day of work left here, two weeks and a day until I leave. Plans of one sort: today Rudder met with the movers, to talk about what’s going when. Tonight we’ll go buy a weight set and drop off the mountain of clothing we’re giving away. The landscapers came […]
thistles and weeds, thorns and ants
People keep asking if I’m excited about the move. I’m not entirely sure why, or if they think I’m likely to say no. Or maybe, since we’re moving with Rudder’s company they think he or the company have pushed me into it. It’s actually been the complete opposite, with me being the one who’s pushed […]
extreme minority
Wikipedia actually has an entire article specifically on Jews in Eindhoven. Apparently after I move there (assuming 1998 numbers are still correct) there will be 103 of us, in a city of over 200000. This is going to be even weirder than Texas was. (I doiubt I’ll be going to synagogue to meet the […]
morning surprise
This morning I was drying off after a shower when the doorbell rang. I debated not answering, but couldn’t figure any reason someone might be ringing it that wasn’t important, and it’s a fairly safe neighborhood. Thank goodness for big fluffy robes. The landscaper guy Rudder had booked for tomorrow and his team apparently decided to […]
memoriam for a stranger
I’m feeling very saddened today by the news of John M. Ford’s death. Admittedly, that’s a bit silly, as I’ve never met him and have only read his poems. But it’s always sad when talent dies, and those are some phenomenal poems. People who knew him well are posting memories, and so I’m sad for […]
going for a record
Well, so. I decided that doing the marathon, or even half, on Rosh Hashana just didn’t feel right. Being Jewish is part of who I am; rowing marathons is not (not the way it is part of who Rudder is). For the last two years, I’d made a conscious decision to row in the Marathon […]
not marathoning
You know what, I just couldn’t bring myself to do the marathon (or half-) on Rosh Hashana, and my body is backing my brain up in saying “Nope!” I will go later on and help scrape up the survivors and take the ergs back – they need my pick-up and a body that’s not exhausted […]
good news
There’s a bunch of good news in the last 24 hours. First and biggest: I can’t believe how little news coverage there’s been of Mahmoud Abbas’s statement that the Palestinian Unity govenment would recognize Israel. My mother was nearly crying when I told her – what a wonderful way to go into the new year. […]
to marathon or not
Today’s cafeteria special was “Broadway deli” Based on the evidence I’d have to conclude that no one involved with the menu planning has ever been anywhere near a New York deli or reasonable facsimile. No salami, no corned beef, and the only available type of bread that looked anything like rye had raisins in it. […]