What up, kids? We begin the recap of recent events with the Saturday before Spring Break, both because it was a lovely day, and because I anticipate that this Saturday will be quite similar - lazy, gorgeous day, followed by super-anxious packing all night, with intermittent hysterical internet breaks.
Saturday:
1. I forgot to turn my phone off before Shabbat. This was a good thing, primarily because the buzzing woke me up when the management called - leaving me with exactly 37 seconds from the time of the missed to jump into clothes, before they showed up to tour the apartment.
2. And then I spent the bulk of the day reading in bed.
3. It was completely gorgeous outside...and incredibly quiet, since everyone was already gone.
4. "As a proud member of the NBC familia, we continue to broadcast this...nonsense."
5. Ok Go does it again (and, I think, significantly better) - behold a music video that is engaging without being distracting (for those unfamiliar with the original "treadmill video," click here):
6. Finally made it to Satchel's, a Gainesville institution. YUM.
7. Surprisingly humorous:
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
I Just Might be the Shabbos Ema
Friday:
1. Today was an abnormally short work day. Or rather, an abnormally short at-work day - being at home to cook for students and do laundry for ASB counts as work, right? Right?
2. I got to host a Shabbat meal for the first time in ages! (Hillel work usually precludes me from doing so, but Spring Break = no Hillel).
3. Not only did I get to cook up a storm - the whole thing was dairy and primarily gluten-free. Can you tell I'm proud?
4. Before dinner, we went to a gymnastics tri-meet (against UNC - go Heels!, even when times are tough in other athletic areas - and Ball State)! It was about as awesome as you'd expect.
Number 4 Florida won, but UNC held their own. Ball State...well, they have room for improvement.
As a bonus, I discovered that many other people watch Make It or Break It. I no longer feel I have to hide my love for its entertaining mix of melodrama and feats of strength.
5. Dinner was lovely. Apparently, my students find me so entertaining, they've created a sitcom about me, complete with theme song. I don't know whether to be flattered or worried.
6. One of the guests went on USY on Wheels with Seffi...and recounted a lovely little story about how he told her that her chose of name-spelling (for her own name) was unacceptable. Oh Sefster...thank goodness you've grown up. Mostly.
7. The students stuck around until 2 a.m. It was so refreshing to have a "civilian" Shabbat...if only I could have them more often.
1. Today was an abnormally short work day. Or rather, an abnormally short at-work day - being at home to cook for students and do laundry for ASB counts as work, right? Right?
2. I got to host a Shabbat meal for the first time in ages! (Hillel work usually precludes me from doing so, but Spring Break = no Hillel).
3. Not only did I get to cook up a storm - the whole thing was dairy and primarily gluten-free. Can you tell I'm proud?
4. Before dinner, we went to a gymnastics tri-meet (against UNC - go Heels!, even when times are tough in other athletic areas - and Ball State)! It was about as awesome as you'd expect.
Number 4 Florida won, but UNC held their own. Ball State...well, they have room for improvement.
As a bonus, I discovered that many other people watch Make It or Break It. I no longer feel I have to hide my love for its entertaining mix of melodrama and feats of strength.
5. Dinner was lovely. Apparently, my students find me so entertaining, they've created a sitcom about me, complete with theme song. I don't know whether to be flattered or worried.
6. One of the guests went on USY on Wheels with Seffi...and recounted a lovely little story about how he told her that her chose of name-spelling (for her own name) was unacceptable. Oh Sefster...thank goodness you've grown up. Mostly.
7. The students stuck around until 2 a.m. It was so refreshing to have a "civilian" Shabbat...if only I could have them more often.
Today was a sentence!
...March Fourth. Get it? Wa wa waaaaa.
Thursday:
1. See above.
2. I woke up to...a wild Seffi chase. It's like a wild goose chase, but sillier and more complicated. Basically, it's what happens when your brother forgets to bring his charger places, allows his phone to die while in another country and talking to your mother, and said mother then makes you call lots of your brother's friends that you're not really in touch with, in order to ascertain whether or not he is still alive. Nice talking to you, Raffi, Haley, and LeeAnn!
3. I don't always love Nicholas Kristof. But he certainly does get that if you educate and empower women, your whole country will be smarter, safer, and stronger. Now why can't world leaders grasp that?
4. Urban Meyer was at Hillel today! And is surprisingly tall. And I didn't get a picture because...
5. Java with Navah was back with a vengeance. The highlight was my discovery of the existence of the Slap Chop (TM), and soon afterward, my introduction to the Slap Chop Remix:
Bonus: Vince Offer was born in Israel. His real name is Offer Shlomi. Now the whole huckster act is beginning to make sense...
6. Way to go, Purim PR team: Today when I walked by Turlington, I found Purim fliers in all of the newspaper machines.
Which kind of makes me wonder...are all those publications now defunct?
6. Watch this Tiny Desk concert. I promise, it will make your day better.
Thanks to Avigail for sharing the link!
Thursday:
1. See above.
2. I woke up to...a wild Seffi chase. It's like a wild goose chase, but sillier and more complicated. Basically, it's what happens when your brother forgets to bring his charger places, allows his phone to die while in another country and talking to your mother, and said mother then makes you call lots of your brother's friends that you're not really in touch with, in order to ascertain whether or not he is still alive. Nice talking to you, Raffi, Haley, and LeeAnn!
3. I don't always love Nicholas Kristof. But he certainly does get that if you educate and empower women, your whole country will be smarter, safer, and stronger. Now why can't world leaders grasp that?
4. Urban Meyer was at Hillel today! And is surprisingly tall. And I didn't get a picture because...
5. Java with Navah was back with a vengeance. The highlight was my discovery of the existence of the Slap Chop (TM), and soon afterward, my introduction to the Slap Chop Remix:
Bonus: Vince Offer was born in Israel. His real name is Offer Shlomi. Now the whole huckster act is beginning to make sense...
6. Way to go, Purim PR team: Today when I walked by Turlington, I found Purim fliers in all of the newspaper machines.
Which kind of makes me wonder...are all those publications now defunct?
6. Watch this Tiny Desk concert. I promise, it will make your day better.
Thanks to Avigail for sharing the link!
Gotta Get, Get
Zero comments on the big comeback post? I've got to work on that.
Wednesday:
1. Somewhere near Gainesville, there was a Model T convention. I know this because on my way home from work, there was an absurd traffic jam of Model Ts cramming University Avenue. Surreal, but awesome.
2. Had an unexpectedly intense and uplifting conversation with a student who's been struggling with depression. It feels good to know that once in awhile I can make a difference.
3. I remembered to pay my rent. Not that I've ever forgotten, but this time I cut it pretty close.
4. I have now eaten asparagus 4 days in a row. In-season vegetables make my heart sing (and potentially, my pee smell. But I live alone, so who cares?).
5. Just...wow.
6. Finally received and signed the long awaited bus contract - I guess we're going to New Orleans after all.
7. Tucker Haas is awesome - and thank goodness, healthy (read the description of the video here):
Wednesday:
1. Somewhere near Gainesville, there was a Model T convention. I know this because on my way home from work, there was an absurd traffic jam of Model Ts cramming University Avenue. Surreal, but awesome.
2. Had an unexpectedly intense and uplifting conversation with a student who's been struggling with depression. It feels good to know that once in awhile I can make a difference.
3. I remembered to pay my rent. Not that I've ever forgotten, but this time I cut it pretty close.
4. I have now eaten asparagus 4 days in a row. In-season vegetables make my heart sing (and potentially, my pee smell. But I live alone, so who cares?).
5. Just...wow.
6. Finally received and signed the long awaited bus contract - I guess we're going to New Orleans after all.
7. Tucker Haas is awesome - and thank goodness, healthy (read the description of the video here):
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
She's Baaaack
Fine, I went AWOL for awhile. I couldn't help it - life's been nuts. And simultaneously boring. Which I think isn't all that uncommon, so I'm back to embrace it (though I leave to run an Alternative Spring Break trip Sunday morning, so I get sporadic again for a bit there). Also Seffi called the blog "defunct," which was a swift kick in the pants.
Rather than bore you with the details of my time away, I'm going Letterman, and providing you with a Top 20 list - 1 tidbit for every day of my absence (I have been keeping a full transcript of my days, and would be happy to send it to anyone who's interested - along with a helpful collection of more reliable procrastination options.).
Ready for the longest blog post in the history of online diarists? In no particular order...
1. It's party pop. It's ASL. It's unabashed enthusiasm for something slightly nerdy. What could be bad?
2. Spent many hours looking for pictures of my students at the Kotel (for some development materials). Turns out, they did have a meaningful experience. Point for Navah.
3. Tanni (my 10-year-old brother) has a gmail account. It's a long story...he felt left out. Recently he was actually online for a bit, and his status was, "I'm doing fine." If only the rest of us took it so literally...
4. Julie, my roommate from Nativ (gap-year Israel program) is an extraordinarily talented photographer. Recently, she was privileged to captured her friends' engagement. It was difficult to choose, but I think these two are my favorites:
Isn't she awesome?
5. For a very brief period a few weeks ago, the lights in the breezeway (outdoor hallway - who knew?) were out. Normally, they stream directly through the window above my bed. The nights when it was dark were glorious.
6. Of course Stephen Colbert was reading Cat Fancy at the Olympics. This does not surprise me in the slightest.
7. There's another Navah in Gainesville! Well, it's Nava, not Navah. And she's in her 60s. Still, it was an exciting discovery. How did I come across said Nava[h]? When I saw this:
Apparently, she owns a vintage clothing and costume store...and sells some of her own creations on the side.
8. Sometimes, crime does pay - this act of vandalism around the corner from my apartment is hysterical. And no, in the 2 weeks since I took this picture, the "ENT" has not been replaced.
9. Some very belated Valentine's love and pride for Jake Goodman (former drama educator extraordinaire at Ramah Darom), who was arrested on the Friday before Valentine's Day during a protest for gay marriage. Couldn't be prouder to know you, Jake.
10. In other cute love-related news, this was in the parking lot of the Baptist Stud Center the other day:
11. Skyping with Seffi and the Tanster. Even when I'm not with them, it's good to see some of us together.
12. Seffi and I have a not-so-secret obsession with all competitive food shows - Iron Chef, Chopped, and of course, Throwdown. So I was more than willing to live the dream, by judging the annual Koach vs. Kesher Hamentaschen Bake-off. As you can see, it was awesome:
P.S. Koach won.
13. Choice Zoe quote from my blog hiatus [picture a 3-year-old, cookie in hand] :
"Ema said I could have one cookie [raises body slightly off couch]...don't tell Ema I'm sitting on another cookie!
[I told Ema.]
14. I have no idea what this store sells...but I might buy it, on the basis of awesomely unique aesthetic alone.
15. Phenomenally restorative long weekend with Grandma and the Cuban cousins in Miami:
16. One of the best parts was actually dusting off my rusty high school Spanish - I even managed to translate 90% of the sermon at Temple Menorah for my grandmother (she's fluent, she just couldn't hear it). That, and eating biscochos. And people-watching on Lincoln Road. And visiting with some cousins I last saw in 1991. And the weather. I love Miami.
17. John Legend came to UF!
...and is apparently not only a talented singer, but a remarkably articulate advocate for public education reform. Oh, and he gave Jeffrey Sachs a sustainability shoutout. Triple threat.
18. PURIM! A recap:
a. Awesome flier - which for some reason won't upload.
b. Awesome costumes -
[10 points to anyone who can guess what I was dressed up as]
c. We hit capacity at the club we rented out - 526 people!
d. And...
19. Someone called in a noise violation at 1:30 am (since when do downtown clubs have residential neighbors?), and the owners had to clear the club. So instead of still cleaning up at 3:30, I was in pajamas at 2. Lovely.
20. Purim morning = more megillah and kids in adorable costumes. Meet the princess and the elephant:
Rather than bore you with the details of my time away, I'm going Letterman, and providing you with a Top 20 list - 1 tidbit for every day of my absence (I have been keeping a full transcript of my days, and would be happy to send it to anyone who's interested - along with a helpful collection of more reliable procrastination options.).
Ready for the longest blog post in the history of online diarists? In no particular order...
1. It's party pop. It's ASL. It's unabashed enthusiasm for something slightly nerdy. What could be bad?
2. Spent many hours looking for pictures of my students at the Kotel (for some development materials). Turns out, they did have a meaningful experience. Point for Navah.
3. Tanni (my 10-year-old brother) has a gmail account. It's a long story...he felt left out. Recently he was actually online for a bit, and his status was, "I'm doing fine." If only the rest of us took it so literally...
4. Julie, my roommate from Nativ (gap-year Israel program) is an extraordinarily talented photographer. Recently, she was privileged to captured her friends' engagement. It was difficult to choose, but I think these two are my favorites:
Isn't she awesome?
5. For a very brief period a few weeks ago, the lights in the breezeway (outdoor hallway - who knew?) were out. Normally, they stream directly through the window above my bed. The nights when it was dark were glorious.
6. Of course Stephen Colbert was reading Cat Fancy at the Olympics. This does not surprise me in the slightest.
7. There's another Navah in Gainesville! Well, it's Nava, not Navah. And she's in her 60s. Still, it was an exciting discovery. How did I come across said Nava[h]? When I saw this:
Apparently, she owns a vintage clothing and costume store...and sells some of her own creations on the side.
8. Sometimes, crime does pay - this act of vandalism around the corner from my apartment is hysterical. And no, in the 2 weeks since I took this picture, the "ENT" has not been replaced.
9. Some very belated Valentine's love and pride for Jake Goodman (former drama educator extraordinaire at Ramah Darom), who was arrested on the Friday before Valentine's Day during a protest for gay marriage. Couldn't be prouder to know you, Jake.
10. In other cute love-related news, this was in the parking lot of the Baptist Stud Center the other day:
11. Skyping with Seffi and the Tanster. Even when I'm not with them, it's good to see some of us together.
12. Seffi and I have a not-so-secret obsession with all competitive food shows - Iron Chef, Chopped, and of course, Throwdown. So I was more than willing to live the dream, by judging the annual Koach vs. Kesher Hamentaschen Bake-off. As you can see, it was awesome:
P.S. Koach won.
13. Choice Zoe quote from my blog hiatus [picture a 3-year-old, cookie in hand] :
"Ema said I could have one cookie [raises body slightly off couch]...don't tell Ema I'm sitting on another cookie!
[I told Ema.]
14. I have no idea what this store sells...but I might buy it, on the basis of awesomely unique aesthetic alone.
15. Phenomenally restorative long weekend with Grandma and the Cuban cousins in Miami:
16. One of the best parts was actually dusting off my rusty high school Spanish - I even managed to translate 90% of the sermon at Temple Menorah for my grandmother (she's fluent, she just couldn't hear it). That, and eating biscochos. And people-watching on Lincoln Road. And visiting with some cousins I last saw in 1991. And the weather. I love Miami.
17. John Legend came to UF!
...and is apparently not only a talented singer, but a remarkably articulate advocate for public education reform. Oh, and he gave Jeffrey Sachs a sustainability shoutout. Triple threat.
18. PURIM! A recap:
a. Awesome flier - which for some reason won't upload.
b. Awesome costumes -
[10 points to anyone who can guess what I was dressed up as]
c. We hit capacity at the club we rented out - 526 people!
d. And...
19. Someone called in a noise violation at 1:30 am (since when do downtown clubs have residential neighbors?), and the owners had to clear the club. So instead of still cleaning up at 3:30, I was in pajamas at 2. Lovely.
20. Purim morning = more megillah and kids in adorable costumes. Meet the princess and the elephant:
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Second-Favorite Daughter
Monday:
1. Cold morning. I LOVE cold mornings - almost makes me feel like I live in a place that believes in winter.
2. Didn't run in the morning because of the cold....so instead I left work, ran smack in the middle of the day, and stayed at the office late to compensate. I love my job.
3. Lovely catch-up talk with Alyssa.
4. And another with Aviva. My friends lead such interesting lives!
5. Funny how I'm the only girl in the family, but still not my mother's favorite daughter. To wit:
6. The above conversation was in reference to the fact that I discovered I have a distant cousin named Herbert Haselden Hickmott the 3rd. There's also a 4th and a 5th.
7. Karma cream. Delicious ice cream place and vegan bakery. Until now I have managed to avoid their delicious-looking baked goods. Tonight I caved and bought this:
Yes, it was that good.
1. Cold morning. I LOVE cold mornings - almost makes me feel like I live in a place that believes in winter.
2. Didn't run in the morning because of the cold....so instead I left work, ran smack in the middle of the day, and stayed at the office late to compensate. I love my job.
3. Lovely catch-up talk with Alyssa.
4. And another with Aviva. My friends lead such interesting lives!
5. Funny how I'm the only girl in the family, but still not my mother's favorite daughter. To wit:
| 5 minutes |
4:48 PM Sarit: wow
hysterical
dear linda, i love you. love, sarita
4:49 PM me: hahaha
i'll pass along the message
Sarit: ok
| 6 minutes |
4:56 PM me: lindaripps: tell her I love her back
y'all should just be gchat friends
and get it over with
Sarit: does she love me because i can make kippot?
me: haha...i hate you
Sarit: i know :)
| 5 minutes |
5:01 PM me: lindaripps: no - I love her because she is Sarit!
6. The above conversation was in reference to the fact that I discovered I have a distant cousin named Herbert Haselden Hickmott the 3rd. There's also a 4th and a 5th.
7. Karma cream. Delicious ice cream place and vegan bakery. Until now I have managed to avoid their delicious-looking baked goods. Tonight I caved and bought this:
Yes, it was that good.
Perhaps a String Around My Finger?
Sunday:
1. Slept in.
2. A student started a new initiative at Hillel - art from recycled objects. I like creativity, in all forms.
3. I walked to Walgreens. It's more of a production than you'd think.
4. On the way back, I stopped at a sporting goods store to buy a fleece headband - you know, the kind that would be excellent to cover your ears with while running? At first, the guy behind the register looked at me quizzically. Then he asked me to repeat my request. Then he was fascinated by the concept, but had never heard of such a product. Oh, silly Florida.
5. Thing of the Day: I invented a new recipe for carrot spice muffins.
...I'm going to keep trying.
6. I also invented a new roasted eggplant dish. That was much more successful.
7. For #7, I have in my notes only the word "picture." As Sunday was 5 days ago, I have no idea what this means. However, I think my continual persistence in leaving myself shorthand notes which I will never understand and therefore can only laugh at, is certainly a reason why life is good.
1. Slept in.
2. A student started a new initiative at Hillel - art from recycled objects. I like creativity, in all forms.
3. I walked to Walgreens. It's more of a production than you'd think.
4. On the way back, I stopped at a sporting goods store to buy a fleece headband - you know, the kind that would be excellent to cover your ears with while running? At first, the guy behind the register looked at me quizzically. Then he asked me to repeat my request. Then he was fascinated by the concept, but had never heard of such a product. Oh, silly Florida.
5. Thing of the Day: I invented a new recipe for carrot spice muffins.
...I'm going to keep trying.
6. I also invented a new roasted eggplant dish. That was much more successful.
7. For #7, I have in my notes only the word "picture." As Sunday was 5 days ago, I have no idea what this means. However, I think my continual persistence in leaving myself shorthand notes which I will never understand and therefore can only laugh at, is certainly a reason why life is good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
