Hi. It’s late. Or else I’m just really tired. But I think it actually is pretty late cuz I’m starting to get visions. Well, you know, just really strange double vision that gives these words a life of their own -- in the literal sense, because sometimes it seems that they’re in motion, fading in and out…ok, I admit it, maybe I should go to bed. But then again, it would be cool to have visions – the real kind, I mean, prophecies and the like. But while I’m thinking about it, how would you know if what you’re seeing is a vision/prophecy or just a type of hallucination/daydream or something of the sort, resulting from severe fatigue or sleep deprivation? I think I’ll sleep on that one.
Fri. May 12, 2006
Good morning! That’s a classic, it’s like the one phrase that everyone knows and uses --- and this holds true for other languages as well: Buenos dias. Boker tov. Bom dia. Guten morgen. Sabaah al-khayr. You get the point. I think it means that someone a long time ago decided that we should all wake up optimistic and start things off on the right foot (pardon the cliche). But as the day progresses, in English-speaking America we apparently lose some of this optimism after lunch and regain it again around dinner time. Maybe you’ll disagree with me, but I can’t remember the last time anyone told me “Good afternoon” in English. It just sounds formal and all, you know. So we just say ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ or ‘Hi. How are you?’ instead. But later on, the optimism magically returns! So it is with a smile that I bid you ‘Good night’ (at 7 in the morning). But no matter. Actually, I don’t see what’s wrong with wishing someone a good night when it’s not technically considered ‘night’ yet. What’s wrong with showing a little hope for the future (even if we’re only talking about a future just hours away)? I think I’ll start doing that on occasion…just to see what kind of reaction I get. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Sat. May 13, 2006
It’s raining. Again. Just another one of those dreary days where everything’s gray outside and you just feel like renting a good movie, making some hot chocolate and snuggling up on the couch to watch it. Even if your dog is the only one you have to cuddle with…and I hate to say it, but man, he really needs a mint or something! And, oh no, here he comes again. Down, bud! Billie, get down! Ok, come here then. That’s good, good boy, hey, settle down now, there you go. Whoa, wait a second, I just got a nice whiff again and man that is amazing. Better not waste it on me, bud, save it for that special someone. Anyway, the rain just keeps washing the sky outside, falling like there’s no tomorrow, and I just keep watching the film and thinking about stuff. You know, philosophical kinds of stuff. Like what’s going to happen to the planet and the human race a thousand years from now (given the planet still exists), how it would be to meet someone like Martin Luther King, Jr., or to actually come face to face with God (at least in the figurative sense), why I was born, and if we’re really on Earth in the first place or just imagining it… you know, rainy days are great like that for inspiration.
Tues. May 16, 2006
Live for each other. That’s a great phrase. If you can believe it, it was actually attached to my teabag this morning, sort of a kind of morning inspirational thing. But it got me started thinking. It’s one of those great expressions that can be interpreted in so many different ways; that’s what makes it so cool, cuz it’s got a touch of the universal. Know what I mean? It’s like, you could think of it as pertaining to couples and ‘lovebirds’, or to the fact that we all (as in all of humanity) should ‘live for each other’. And it may refer to living our lives in a way that shows our love for each other (perhaps just by living them to the fullest), or then again, maybe it’s just trying to tell us not to commit suicide. I still think it’s a cool phrase though! By the way, apparently it’s already midnight again, so I think I’m gonna head to bed. You know, it just occurred to me that that’s actually a rather appropriate expression. If you take it literally, it actually makes sense: head to bed. Unless you’re one of those who prefers sleeping standing up or something, with no need for a bed. Weird, but possible. Well, anyway, it’s time to put that phrase in action so…good night!
Thurs. May 18, 2006
Good night! See, I did it, I’ve been wanting to try out that expression again -- in an anachronistic way, of course (i.e. in the morning or the afternoon!). I really hope you’re reading this during one of those times --- that would mean that I accomplished my purpose! Cuz when you’re writing (unless you’re using instant messages or something where you have dialogue that occurs in real-time), there’s really nothing wrong with me saying ‘it’s five o’clock in the morning’ even if it’s actually seven at night when I’m writing that. It’s normal, just a kind of literary freedom, I guess. But I want you to imagine that right now, we’re actually having a real, in person conversation. So just think of the ‘good night’ in that sense. I really hope it is morning or something where you are, cuz that would make it all more fun and meaningful. Or at least more unusual, in a good kind of way.
A few hours later, Thurs. May 18, 2006
Have you ever just sat and stared blankly at something, trying to focus but completely unable to see anything clearly. It’s like you’re there, but you’re not really there. Know what I mean? That’s what just happened with me and my computer screen and it was actually pretty hard to snap out of it and get myself to start writing again. But I managed to do it! But anyway, I wanted to ask you something. Have you ever had fresh, cold (perhaps I should say chilled) snap peas? Like for snack, or something – maybe with raw carrots, tomatoes, and dip? Cuz I had them for the second time last night at my friend’s house (the first time was at an Oneg after Friday night Shabbat services) and man, were they good! I think I dominated the fresh vegetable section of the snacks available for consumption at the gathering last night. That sounds funny. Oh well, it’s true so I stand by it. Well, to make a long story short, you should try them. End of discussion. See ya later.
May 21, 2006
Hola. ¿Cómo andas? That’s Spanish for Hi, how’s it going? (well, literally it means something like “Hi, how are you walking”? and it makes sense when you say it in Argentina, though in Costa Rica people just look at you like you’re nuts!). But it’s useful info, just in case we wind up getting a second national language someday, or in case you ever go to Miami or southern California, where no one speaks English anymore. It’s weird, but you know, that way you don’t actually have to visit Mexico to get a real taste of what the Hispanic culture is like. No sir, these days Mexico just comes to you! I’m just exaggerating, no offense intended, but there is a grain of truth in that, don’t you think? Anyway, I hope you had a good night and woke up this morning feeling fresh and rested. Cuz I know I didn’t, so I’m hoping I can feed off of your energy. Haha. That’s a good one, right? Like who actually gets enough sleep anymore, it’s like an impossible dream. Except for my friend Dov, he somehow manages to get around eight hours of sleep on a regular basis. And around exam time, then seven and a half. HOW does he do it, I want to know? That’s a talent I definitely don’t have and I bet you don’t either. So we’ve gotta work on it, ok? Deal? I say we try to increase our ‘sleep intake’ gradually, say, averaging 30 more minutes a night and making these 30 minute gains every two weeks or so – until we get up to about eight hours a night on average. Confused? Me too, but c’mon, how hard can it be? I’m averaging around six and a half hours of sleep right now (around five or six during the school year), so in about six weeks (if our plan works), I should be up to eight hours a night in the summer. But how can we make the plan effective? Gosh, that’s a toughie…think I’ll sleep on it. And I know it’s early, but I’m gonna go ahead and say it: Boa noite. Buenas noches. Good night. Now you’re trilingual! Congrats. Wanna keep going? Ok, fine by me. Layla tov. Tasbuh ala’ khayr. Satisfied? Good. See ya.
May 22, 2006
You ever feel that you don’t really belong anywhere? Like you’re just a ‘speck of dust’ in a universe in which nothing really has any meaning and nothing you do really makes a difference? (that’s the philosophy of Yair, the older brother in Knafayim Shvurot, until he has an epiphany and starts to actually live again --- it’s a great movie, like I said, so go see it, why don’t you? Anyway, the point is, I find myself feeling like that a lot. And it just makes me sad and angry, I guess. I don’t know why I’m telling you this, maybe just cuz this morning I woke up feeling like that and I just started crying. That’s it, just stupid crying for no reason, when there are so many people that are going through a billion times more ‘trials and tribulations’ than I am. But sometimes, I’m just a lost cause. Know what I mean?
May 23, 2006
It’s nice out. But inside, it’s raining. Think I once heard that phrase somewhere, though I can’t remember who might have said it. Probably somebody famous though. A singer, I’ll bet. Sometimes I just think of the randomest things. “Randomest”? Where’d I come up with that one? It’s like, when you start getting really into other languages and all, your brain decides to play games with you and you start ‘forgetting’ some basic stuff about your ‘mother tongue’. It’s a riot, I know, to the big man upstairs, but honestly, I don’t find it very funny. You hear me? Not funny! I’m really crazy sometimes, I really am. But don’t be alarmed, I promise I’m harmless…for now
May 24, 2006
Hey. I almost forgot to mention one more thing that just makes me sad every time I think about it. I went to karate training yesterday and I was just getting dressed like usual, listening to the conversations going on around me, and I heard my friend Vickie say to another woman: “Have a good workout.” And it made me so sad, I can’t even explain. But I’ll try to put it in context for you. You know those people who work long hours every day, same old job, lousy hours, bad pay, not many perks, practically no vacation time, and little or no opportunity for advancement? Well, Vickie, who works in the women’s locker room, has a job like that. Sure, it’s cool that she gets to talk to lots of different people (and let me tell you, she’s really good at that, a real sweet lady), but when it comes down to it, this one only wants her towel washed and that one just wants to say a few words to get revved up for her workout and so on and so forth. I do acknowledge that there are some who honestly enjoy having good conversations, but many people just put on these superficial smiles, say a few superficial friendly words (generic social phrases 101, anybody?), and waltz on out of there to do what ever it is that they came to do. And every time, good ole’ Vickie wishes them a ‘good workout’ and all. While she herself hardly ever gets the opportunity. And the worst part is that I know she would enjoy it. Maybe I should suggest that to the management. I mean, the idea that in addition to lunch break and all, all full-time Recreational employees should get another hour that’s designated as an official “Workout break”. Just cuz you know they’ve earned a good workout more than any of us. And for God’s sake, when you smile at someone, you should mean it. At least 99.9% of the time. I mean, c’mon, a smile means friendship, solidarity, hope, happiness, respect, and even love. And what good are these things if they’re superficial? Answer: no good! So just smile and be honest, why don’t you?
Sorry for the verbal onslaught, I just got on a roll. Anyway, I’ll be in touch. Take care.
Aaaaah, bad weather alert! Let’s listen in, shall we, as our friendly local weatherman explains it all and tries not to look nervous while doing so. Not as easy as it looks. But anyway, here he is: Should a tornado warning arise, be prepared to take shelter on the lowest floor possible of your home or other four-walled enclosure, away from windows, preferably under a heavy piece of furniture, and be sure to cover your head. Then pray like crazy. This just in: If you live in a mobile home, basically you’re screwed. My apologies. Please stay with us as we keep you updated on any new developments with respect to the storm system that’s passing through. Wait a second, it appears…
June 1, 2006
So much to do, and I just can’t seem to concentrate on anything. It’s like I’m paralyzed before I’ve even started to fight. You know what I mean? Hey, if you’re a good reader, maybe you could help me read some of the many interesting and exciting works that grace the countless pages of the list. You know, the LIST (of doom). I hope I don’t sound sarcastic because in this case, that would be an understatement. I should probably mention that it’s all in Spanish, though, so it might help to know a little of the lengua. But then again, when you’re desperate, you’re desperate. So how bout it? Sorry, you know I’m just playin’ with ya. Unless you were thinking about doing it for real, cuz in that case, my books are your books. Man, that was cheesy. Actually, I’ve been wondering how these expressions originated in the first place. I mean, who decided that stuff that’s not so cool (or that’s kind of stupid) could be described as “cheesy” or “corny”? What’s wrong with cheese or corn, for that matter? Why is being “corny” a bad thing? I mean, corn is a major food source for a great deal of humanity (including me!), so I think being “corny” should be a good thing. Hey, but maybe the “cheesy” one makes sense, now that I think about it. At least if you think of something that’s “cheesy” as being ‘over the top’, you know, too much of a good thing. Cuz a pizza with too much cheese also lends itself to being too much of a good thing. I mean, if the pizza’s too cheesy, it’s just gross. Grease dripping everywhere and big mounds of cheese that make the poor pizza grossly overweight, kind of like the majority of American society… and kind of scary, actually. But I think we must all be embarrassed to be scared of just a little bit of excess cheese, so we started saying (in a sarcastic, disinterested tone, of course): that’s just cheesy or that’s cheesy. And that’s how it all started. Hey, it’s possible.
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