just another MLK birthday

It's eight forty-five on Tuesday night, and I'm cozy in my sweatpants and slippers, eating rice-a-roni and watching a PBS special on Quantum Mechanics. Have you ever heard of Bose-Einstein Condensates? Me neither. I can't say that I appreciate that such states of matter exist, but it's cool when people devote their lives to the pursuit of science. One guy actually just said, "Why build a quantum computer? Because we can!" It reminds me of when I was reading a National Geographic article on alternative fuels and decided that after teaching, I'm going to devote myself to the study of algae production. Did you know they are trying to figure out how to get fuel from algae? We humans are amazing.

A nasty flu is spreading around my class and the kids are dropping like flies. On Friday, we finished the day with only eleven kids. Normally a small group is preferable, but only when you've planned on it. I can feel it in my throat that I'm going to get sick.

Lastly: I can type eighty words a minute.

Omigod, I'm totally crying here watching Hillary Clinton's winning speech. It's been so long since I've been moved by a politician. I don't even know if I like her best, but the fact that she is articulate, (unlike Bush), female, (inspiring), and preaching the evils of health insurance companies and greedy rich people (Democrat).

I'm an Edwards supporter, but I'll vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. If they nominate a can of corn, I'll vote for it. And it will be more intelligent than W.

Amen

pitch black and quite silent

On New Year's Eve, I went home at around two in the morning. It was pitch black and quite silent. I bumped into one of my neighbors in the courtyard, he was leaving and I was coming in. I think he was holding a Slurpee. I wished him a happy new year and he wished it back, then asked me my name. I gave it and he told me his.

There was a short awkward moment and I turned to go, but he called out, Wait! I looked back expectantly, and there was another pause, and then he said, "Can I have a hug?"

Last night I lit a million candles in my bedroom and living room, giving the whole house a glowy feel and a nice smell. It was very cozy with the sound of rain outside. But then the smoke alarm went off.

the year 2007

spend New Year's Day with pregnant Haley and baby Charlie
give my red car, "Juegato" to charity
first gyno appt with a man
several non-dates with BJ
watch Alpha Dog with the Jew Crew and cry uncontrollably
Burke Williams massage
WRITE A THESIS
siblings picture in Benja's front yard
UCLA Wednesday night classes, oh how they sucked
Ischia sushi and dancing birthday
spearhead Ella Fitzgerald unit for third grade
faculty meeting in my classroom
Abbey's Orthodox/African wedding in Boston
disastrous New York trip
fuck buddies (continuing feature)
thank God Stephanie moves out of the apt
Mike moves in with his turtle (surprise!)
take Tova to Big Sunday at my school
bad, bad sinus infection
two cases of strep throat
Cinco de Mayo with BJ (he gets drunk, we talk sex)
Aaron and girlfriend break up
Mother's Day brunch spread at Benja's house
Hustler store with Sierra
LACMA kid's art and Western Landscapes
Elisheva's wedding (Linda and I both get some)
Karen's make-your-own pizza dinner
see Knocked Up with uncomfortable company
parents announce they are separating
get my Master's Degree (was it really worth it?)
faculty year-end party and my interpretive dance
Nederlands and Belgium with mother dearest
Aunt Janey's wedding in Providence
Liz and Dale reunion at CPK
summer of Nicole, pt IV!
apartment hunting
visit Haley
Jury Duty! I dress cute! Hot lawyer!
roommate Mike's play, Twelfth Night
hang out at Phyllis's pool
move out of ex-fabulous apartment
full medical physical: prognosis healthy
The Lion in Winter with mum and Phyllis at LACMA
delusions about Wicked rush tickets with Karen
house sit at Glenda's
dates with lawyer / singer David (bar, bowling, painting)
audition for choirs
visit Haley Bojangles and her fat baby, Luke
move in to glorious one bed apartment!!!
paint the walls!
buy green velvet chair
buy orange velvet couch
buy refrigerator
baby Hadar's Simchat Bat
sell white chaise lounge
cavity filling without novocain
join Angel Chorale
third grade teacher, take two
Haley fancy dinner and Death statue present
Entourage marathons with Karen
Naomi visits my classroom
Mummy publishes a book!
BTSA year two sucks just as much as BTSA year one
Tova, Margaret, Karen at Gaslight karaoke bar
long babysitting of cousins with Stephanie, by mistake
Shabbat dinner at Margaret's, with her dad
I turn twenty six
awesome first dinner date with Bradd
new cell phone with camera!
family birthday dinner at Pink Taco
awesome hike date with Bradd
dermatology fuck-ups at Kaiser
weird napping / not kissing with Bradd
eating twelve Clementines at Thanksgiving dinner
Angel City winter concerts
Angel City Tour of Hope
Ezra publishes a book!
faculty holiday party at Mimi's: gingerbread houses
winter break illnesses begin
Wicked with Daddy and Israeli teachers
visit Haley, drop the kids off at church
TIOH classroom / hallway visit
minor surgery
Courtney and Liz and Dale and Jayita reunion
Nick reunion (so fun, shame)
Watts Towers pre-field trip with Naomi
serious LOST Netflixing
brunch at Jayita's parent's almost ranch house
ice skating in Santa Monica with cousins
game night New Year's at Margaret's (and lame after-party)

perspective

I guess it's exciting that we have a black man and a white woman running for president, but I haven't really given it much thought. It's quite a big deal. The type of thing that could be featured, years from now, in soft-focus lenses with swelling music in the background. Some kind of PBS documentary about civil rights or women's suffrage or dreaming big. Bringing me to tears. I'd like to start caring. Maybe this is my new year's resolution? Follow politics? That's not quite reasonable. Think smaller: Follow the election.

Maybe here I should state that I desperately want a Democratic president. The past eight years have pretty much sucked, government-wise, and have you seen the Republican candidates? Scary.

happy two thousand eight

It's a good omen to start the new year with a man between your legs. 2008 is going to rock.