Monkey Land

2002-09-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

It's embarrassing to write after not writing for 7 months... Oh well...

So here's the quick update:

I'm living in LA - on the campus of the University of Judaism. I'm in my second year there - I'm in a 3 year joint masters program. I'm still on campus, but I have a roommate now and we even each have our own rooms!!! What a nice change....

I'm dating this amazing amazing woman named Sarah... It's so much fun!! I'm really crazy about her... It's so much fun to be in a relationship that's FUN!

Other than that, things are going along... I'm working like crazy. I work for 3 organizations: Los Angeles Hebrew High School, Adat Ari El (Kadima), and Valley Beth Shalom. I'm doing an adminstrative internship at LAHHS, running the Kadima (the youngest youth group - 4-6th grades) at AAE, and doing an e-mail curriculum at VBS. It's very busy, but it's good....

Ok. I don't even know if anyone ever sees this, so I won't spend more time here now... I have to remember about this so that I can write on it more often! Then maybe I'd want other people to read it...

- R

2002-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

Since I lost cable-modem access, I haven't been signing on... but I just got an e-mail from some yellow pages thing telling me that they want to link to me. I guess that's cool.. Who knows if it'll actually happen, but it'd be fun to think that people might actually look at this... WELOME TO ME...
I'm in LA now, since June... what a weird city...

2001-04-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

The past week has been interesting... I've been working a lot... the SAT course is going a lot better than it had been... figures that there's only 2 courses left, but... at least I'm feeling more inclined to continue teaching for them.

I've been exchanging e-mails with a wonderful woman from LA... she's a little bit older, 27, and she's absolutely fascinating... We're both into talking and free thinking... it's been really interesting... I have no idea what'll happen when I get out there, but I can't wait to meet her and talk without typing.

In other news, I'm really spending a lot of time thinking about my move... They are in the process of hiring a new person for my job... it's very weird... I'm sad that I'm leaving. This past Friday I went down to Kitty O'Shea's with some old friends and it was just surreal to realize that I'd see them maybe once more? I just can't fathom not being here...

Off to bed.

2001-04-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

Ow.

Went to Manray last night with P., A., and Pete... It was a lot of fun, but as has been true lately, I felt REALLY old... But still it was really fun - got to work off some energy. And Amy wasn't there (I had moments of fear before I went out!!) so all went smoothly.

However, I got home around 3 and got up at 7:30. It's 9:10 now (I'm at work) and I'm feeling it. I can't wait to go home and take a nap! :)

2001-04-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

2001-04-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

2001-04-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well. Amy has blocked all methods of conversation. Not a f#cking clue where this came from. So something happened and she clearly does't want to talk about it. I think I'm going to let this one go, at least for a while. Strange...

Dinner with Pete last night, it was great. We sat and talked for hours.... I wish I were interested in him, we have such a great time together! :)

2001-04-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a mini-road trip with The Ex. It was nice. I wanted to get out of here for a little while - I think I also subconciously (not a clue) knew that I'd have a really hard time sleeping tonight, so it was better to spend that time out and not lying in bed stressing over the fact that I can't sleep. I always have a hard time sleeping when I'm not completely exhausted. We went up to his office in Chelmsford and wandered around. We talked about Amy and about other things. Its always a little strained between us, but it's getting better. I'd never get back together with him, but it's nice to think that someday we might be friends again.

I think it's a dangerous thing that on M.'s computer the posting window is much bigger and the type is smaller. I feel welcome to write more. Oh well. Tomorrow he'll be home and I won't have as open access to his computer. I hope mine comes back soon.

2001-04-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well... My computer has been down, that's the reason behind the long break. It's at the shop now, so hopefully it'll get fixed soon. I did end up seeing Amy on Thursday down at The Midway Cafe in JP. It was a very weird night. It was great to see her again (cuter than I remembered), but I felt really uncomfortable and out of my element. I didn't really like the music and I couldn't think of any stupid chatty things to say. :( I thought that all wasn't lost as I asked her if she still wanted to come down here on Friday night (as we had planned) and she said, of course! However, on Friday I got an e-mail saying that she was wicked sick, had been sick since she got home from the Club and so couldn't come down. Ok, now I'm sad. I wrote back that I hoped she felt better. Fast forward to that afternoon, I got back on line (using my roommate's computer as I am now) and I wrote her another e-mail saying that I hoped she was feeling better and I wanted to know if she'd like company or if she thought she'd like to reschedule... I also sent her an e-card. Then I went over to Josh's apartment for dinner and we went out to Woburn to see Bridget Jones' Diary, which was really good. Got home around 3. Slept until noon or so. Mid afternoon I was starting to (honestly) get worried about Amy - she's usually on line as much as I am and she hadn't gotten that card I sent her (you can check a box to tell you when they pick it up). So I wrote her an e-mail asking her to call me when she got it, just so I'd know she was ok. That was more than 24 hrs ago. So apparently I fucked up somewhere. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I kind of am. Oh well....

Just over 2 hours left of passover. I'm in the mood for a drive - Josh said he'd go with me... I was thinking about going to the cape or something - but I don't know... I talked to M. last night for quite some time - I was drinking and crying and he kept telling me that all was ok and I should get away today... and call out tomorrow. I'm just so damn bad at doing that. Ok. Enough for now.

2001-04-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Street Bonding:
The act of sharing an amusing moment on the street with a complete stranger and both acknowledging it.

My street bonding experience for today: Walking down Harvard Street from not picking up my photos at CVS and a guy (mid 40's) is standing in front of an apartment building on his cell phone. Yelling: "Stop nagging me. Don't yell at me. You're turning into Grandma. Don't say that to me. You're turning into your mother, you know that don't you." I nearly burst into laughter it was so comical! Then, about 1/2 a block later this guy who had been about 10 paces ahead of me for the incident turned around and saw that I was laughing, too and said "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that was hysterical."

I'm in NY now for Passover. I'm completely exhausted. I'm talking to Amy about what I should do to come out to my parents... oy...

2001-04-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

Boker Tov... I can't believe it's Passover already. I still feel like it's winter... or at least not yet spring. But it's been so beautiful... I took my 4th graders outside and just read to them for class yesterday - It was too beautiful to be in the classroom.

So some updates: I got offered an internship for next year! A synagogue, Kehillath Maarav offered me their 4th grade teaching position :) It takes some of the stress away to not worry about finding a place.

And, I'm going to see Amy next Thursday at a club in JP... :) We had such a nice conversation last night... oy.... :)

2001-04-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

hmmmm.... if anyone reads this and knows how to make the "hotblocks" icon not so big.... THANKS!!!

2001-04-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey, blogging from work.... :) The youth group I work for hosted an overnight on Saturday night. I slept less than an hour and a half, on the floor. It hurt. I'm still over tired.

Still no new Amy news.... Mandy thinks I really need to keep bringing up seeing her, but I feel uncomfortable. I did ask her over to see QAF last night, but she didn't get the e-mail in time (or so I'm assuming since she neither signed onto AOL nor called me!)...

2001-03-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

"There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it."
- Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

What a great quote. I love to read, but only for the first reason. I usually can't even remember the names of the books I read, but they each alter me... I also often read books multiple times if they are good. The Barbara Kingsolver books, for example, I can almost rewrite from memory...

That top quote came from a great website - On Focus. I highly recommend it.

But alas, I must now stop playing on my computer and start cleaning my room...

2001-03-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

Well, no more Amy news.... I've been talking to her every night, but haven't seen her again... She's really busy, working a lot. This may go no further than this, but that's ok... not ideal, but ok.

:)

2001-03-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Yawn... I need sleep...

Talking to Amy again... I'm still wondering, but enjoying it regardless of where it goes... :)

I'm not up for class tomorrow night. I'm teaching the math half of an SAT prep course for The Princeton Review and it's tiring. But its a good job, so I'm ok...

2001-03-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

eeee.... talking to Amy on IM.... :)

2001-03-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I should be asleep, but of course I'm not... What a day... been thinking about Amy, the girl from last night, all day... I know I shouldn't want anything, I'm moving and all, but... Also I got some more information about school... at least now I feel confident that I'll have a place to live and all that jazz. I'm not going to be an RA, but that's ok. I'm accepting of the fact that I'm REALLY going to be in debt for these next few years...

2001-03-26T04:44:00.000-08:00

I could not sleep last night. Combination of the coffee and just being worked up... I fell asleep around 2:45am... yawn.... I'm really feeling it now... We have a meeting with the architect who's redesigning our building this morning and I have to pick up the volunteer who's going to answer the phones... I'm up and dressed and all and it's just barely 8 am... ouch.

2001-03-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

So okay, I cancelled on the party because I decided to go on a very impromptu date. I got an e-mail yesterday morning based on a personal profile I listed on Planet Out and then I was talking with her on im and just decided that I was going to go up to New Hampshire and meet her. It was very unlike me, but I had a really good time... :)

2001-03-25T05:37:00.000-08:00

ow ow ow ow ow. I woke up with a pounding headache. I had only 2 drinks last night - not enough to deserve this! I think my body is telling me to sleep more...

I'm teaching in the morning (it's a parent day - yeah!), then babysitting, then going to an Oscar's party (UGH). I might have to cancel on that party if I still feel like this.

2001-03-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

Slow day... I have to be back at work at 5, but until then... I'm cooking some more - trying to avoid doing take out next week. I'm making vegetarian chili (YUM) and potato-broccoli-cheese soup... I've made the chili before, but the soup is an invention, so we'll see... I wish tripod were working so that I could get the recipes up, but... for now, check out Epicurious.com, a pretty good website. I've tried some other food websites, too.

2001-03-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Ahh.... big dinner... the education director at my school invited me and two other teachers (one of whom is my roommate) over for shabbat dinner tonight... It was really nice. BIG MEAL. I made carrot-pineapple cake... it didn't work so well at first but it turned out ok in the end. I think my oven is screwed up - it didn't bake enough.... but man did it taste good!! I'll get the recipe up, my storage space just isn't working too well right now.

2001-03-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Ok. Good morning. Feeling much better this morning except that I forgot to set my first (of 3) alarm, so I woke up later than usual!

2001-03-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

I'm really grumpy today... I feel like I'm working against a major force that is opposing me... I know I'm just feeling sorry for myself. Why? Why do I feel like this? I'd like to know the cause... it can't be the depression again, can it? No, it's not like that... I'd recognize that, right? I even broke down and called Jeff to go get coffee, but he wasn't up for it... I'm kind of glad he said no, I hate relying on him...

GRRR.

I have no good links today. My computer was down at work half the day. That'd be immediately after it took me 1 hr to get to work due to all the flooded out roads. Hasn't it ever rained around here before? Why didn't they build the roads to drain??? And apparently Kenmore flooded out too.... flashbacks....

2001-03-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

Heee... Heee... I found a blog that has great links! Raya's Website...

And from there.... I found a fun time waster: Globe Explorer... and freaky side note: it's created by my ex's company... Can't I escape him ever?

Ok, I've found one better. It's a gender identity test. He He He.
"Your Femininity Score is 5.2.
Your Masculinity Score is 5.05.
You are sex-typed in neither direction. You are androgynous."

I'm so amused....

2001-03-10T14:40:00.000-08:00

Wow. So I haven't blogged in ages... At least I don't have to feel guilty as I don't think anyone else reads this!! :)

I got into Graduate school... I'm going to go to The University of Judaism for Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service. I'm even starting a new program there --- they've never had a Jewish Communal Service major before let alone a Joint Masters program. Its kinda exciting to think that I'm going to be their first! :) I also got accepted to HUC, but I decided not to go there... largely due to the Reform nature.

Ok. I'm going to find something interesting to write about...

2000-12-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

My computer has been acting up... ate a few posts...
I ACED THE GRE'S

ok, now I just have to actually get in...

2000-11-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

turkey for you and turkey for me... can't believe the mets traded daryl strawberry...

2000-11-20T22:02:00.000-08:00

I am beyond fustrated. I know it's nothing worthwhile, but damn it. All I ask is that for my rent I get a quiet clean kind place to live. WHY IS THIS NOT POSSIBLE??? The same fucking roommate woke me up at 10:30 am on Saturday by his damn band practice and now I can't have a friend over tomorrow because he's having a board overnight for the youth group he works for. I knew about this probably 2 months ago, but I forgot. I haven't slept more than 6 hrs in weeks, tomorrow I REALLY needed to just come home, maybe have my friend over, watch a movie and go to bed early. There will be none of that, thank you very much. I'm so angry!!! Why do I let people do this to me? Do I let people walk over me? I try to be fair and kind, that's all. Fuck this. I'm so aggrevated. I'm not officially being cut out of the apartment tomorrow night but I don't want to be around these kids, not on my day off and not in my gay-friendly room... damn. I don't know where I'm sleeping tomorrow night and I need to get sleep so that I can leave at 9 pm Wednesday and drive to NY. fuck. I'm going to sleep.

2000-11-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

grrr... aggrivation with websites!!
I'm trying to put pictures from my roommate's birthday up on the web, using either Tripod or I-drive and each one will get almost there and then it crashes... grrr...

2000-11-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, date wasn't so good... well, it was fine, just no chemistry. It was mutual at least, which was good. I had fun anyway, it was an experience!

I have some new links. Just found the Feminist Majority website. It has some interesting news postings. I'm not a hard-core feminist, but I like to keep up with the news... Also found an amusing concept, a dating company called Women's Table. It's a dating service that sets a woman up with 5 other women who go to dinner together. A twist...
And the Pink Pages are a Boston (they have other areas, too, I think) based yellow-pages type deal for the GLBT community. I haven't really used them much, but I got a hard copy when I was at Boston Pride this past year.

2000-11-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am beat. I feel like have been run over by a steamroller. I am still plugging away at the grad school applications. It's exhausting. However, I do have some good news, I HAVE A DATE ON MONDAY. I'm kinda excited... It's a very casual thing, just coffee, but I'm still happy. I'll report afterwards...

2000-11-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

Road Ramblings
Driving home from my friend Pete's apartment tonight I ran into a section of Watertown where they are repainting the roads. I have worked at night, but I never really thought about how there is a whole culture that works at night. My dad was into that for a while, but said that he never fully adjusted.

2000-10-30T18:35:00.000-08:00

What a pain in my arse. I get a call at work this evening from my downstairs neighbor that his celing is leaking. So I run home to find out that the heat was blasting in my apartment and as a result, my radiator was leaking. The plumber came right away and it's all fixed but what a pain. Why do I keep dealing with this kind of shit?

In other news, I'm still working away at the grad school thing... My top choice right now is Hebrew Union College in LA. They have a joint masters program which will give me an MA in Judaic studies and an MA in Jewish Communal Services. It starts with a year in Jerusalem and then two years in LA. I've gotten really good feedback from the school, to. Now I just have to get everything into them in time to have my interview in January.... oh my....

2000-10-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Taking a morning off, my mom was up to hear Ellen Goodman (Boston Globe columnist) speak in Brookline, so I got to sleep in and eat a nice breakfast before she left. I've got a little time left before I have to head into the dreaded office...
I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing next year... I've been collecting graduate school applications from different programs all over the world. I'm planning to apply to Hebrew University in Jerusalem, The University of Judaism in LA and a few other places I haven't nailed down yet. It's so complicated though... I haven't taken the GREs, I feel kind of overwhelmed by the whole situation...

2000-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Went pumpkin picking today. It's an incredible fall day... I went up to the north shore with Mandy & went to Goodale/Russell Orchards in Ipswich. It was really nice to get out of the city and just relax a little. We even went on a hay ride (can't remember the last time I did that!!).

2000-10-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe what's going on... I've been sheltered, I don't know how to swallow it. Ha'aretz tells me about the latest news, but I don't want to read it.

2000-10-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog...

In recent happenings, I found a new book by my favorite author, Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I'm very excited about this, I didn't even know one was coming out!

A friend just gave me a nice way to ruin people's friday nights: Movie Pooper, a site that tells you the endings to movies. It doesn't really give you enough detail, but it's kinda amusing.

I really haven't been on my computer a lot lately. I've been at work at lot lately, both the office and the store... I'm having two friends over tomorrow for dinner, one is a long crush of mine who I haven't been spending a lot of time with lately, so I'm strangely nervous. My roommate will be there along with this other friend, so I'm hoping that will dispell my nervousness.

2000-10-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

I don't want to make this a political weblog but I can't help it if I'm talking about what I'm thinking about and almost all I'm thinking about is Israel. At work I'm checking Ha'aretz every other hour to see what's going on. Wednesday night the synagogue had a HUGE rally (the article) that about 2,000 people attended. Luckily, it was peaceful, I was worried. What needs to happen for Israel to have peace???

2000-10-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

I have entered that post-honeymoon lack-of-blog stage... must sleep more...

2000-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Still no good links to report, but this: I went to ManRay (Campus) for the first time in over a month and I had so much fun!!! One of the best nights I've ever had there! So many cute people... But, it is late. I'm going back to NY tomorrow - I'll spend the night in Albany with my friend Kelly and then head home on Saturday...

2000-10-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

What is going on? Why do I have insomnia again?
It's not fair.

2000-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Just checking in from New York... Shana Tovah to all... I'm doing a massive search on line for ways to study in Israel next year towards a graduate degree in Jewish Education... any hints, please e-mail me.

2000-09-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

Why is it that I work non-stop and I never have any money???!!! I work around 60 hours a week and still I'm broke! I'm doing things I enjoy and things I love, but man, oh man. I need a sugar-momma something fierce! I wish someone could sit down with me and tell me what I'm doing wrong. I promise I'll listen! I need a life-advisor...

2000-09-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

I'm grumpy tonight. Too much work to be done and too little motivation to do it. I'm having fun looking for flights to LA though. I may attend a conference there in January, if I can find a flight I can afford. I found a round trip flight for $356, no stop-overs. This would be pretty good... Now I just have to see if I'm going to attend the conference! Some good changes to the website, I spent a lot of time last night working on it. Here are some links to the discounted-airline sites that gave me decent fares:

Ok. I'm off to bed. I'm going to need sleep to be able to tackle my desk tomorrow.

2000-09-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

YIPPIE!!!
I'm listed on BLOGGER!!!
This makes me really, really, really happy. I have no idea how this will possibly change my life in any way, shape, or form. But it makes me happy!

2000-09-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Real life gets in the way of Blogging... I hate when that happens... I am going home to Cold Spring, NY (the street right above the 301 sign is my street). I'm very happy about this, I haven't been home since April.

2000-09-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

I've found a *very* funny website: Cue Tip Homepage. hee, hee....

2000-09-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

What a crazy few days it has been. Last night (Wednesday) I babysat for a family in Needham. It was fun, nothing too exciting. It was my first Parents In A Pinch job in over a year! Parents in a Pinch is a Boston babysitting company that I've been registered with since '97, but hadn't worked for in a while. And tonight I babysat for the Cantor's (I work in a synagogue) baby, Benjamin Raphael, who's 8 weeks old. What a cutie! He slept almost the whole time. I actually watched a good section of the Olympics, the first time I've watched this whole time. I don't know why, I'm just not into it this year. Could be the lack of time!!

2000-09-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

So, I'm going to be a bridesmaid for my friend Nadine's wedding. Here's what I'm going to wear and this is what she's wearing: Nadine's dress. I'm excited - the dresses are really pretty and I've never been in a wedding before! It's not until next June, but I'm looking forward to it already.

2000-09-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

Grr. I hate customer service lines. MCI Wireless has one of the worst customer service lines I've ever sat through. I was on hold for 45 minutes this morning. It was unbelievable. I wanted to stay just so that I could hear someone try to explain that one to me, but I had to take another call. What is going on?

2000-09-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

Arrugh. Blogger just ATE my post!! It was a nice happy big post with already 6 links. Damn. Ok, this is going to be short & sweet now. Just links, no commentary.
View Askew Productions -- Check out Kevin Smith's website - home of Clerks, Mall Rats, Chasing Amy, & Dogma, 4 of the finest movies ever to come out of NJ if not the US.
Virtual Bubble Wrap -- It's almost better than the real thing. Turn your speakers up nice & high.
Online Acroymns (?) Dictionary or Online Dictionary -- These are two very handy reference materials, especially when you need to know what something stands for!
Ok, I had more before. I'm annoyed. I need a real website. I need time to learn how to do a real website.... grrr...

2000-09-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

So, let's review today. 8 hours with a 2.5 yr old who isn't dealing too well with her mom having had a baby 3 months ago and the family moving from Brookline to Cambridge. Now, I love this child. I have been watching her since she was 3 months old (I was her nanny for a summer) and we are super close. However, it was a very tiring day. See pics of her at Claire's Page. Also, during the course of the day we walked to a park in Cambridge with her on a tricycle (if anyone EVER thinks taking a 2 year old for a walk on a tricycle is a good idea, think again!) and then ALL OVER Brookline Hills. Up, down, up, down, up, up, up. She slept through almost all of it, she was in the stroller! Anyway... Then I got called into work at Sructure, but that's not so bad, we're in the running for a paid day off (5 hrs for associates) and if we win it goes to every employee who was working that day wins. I love my managers for calling me and my roommate to come in for the last 3 hrs! Then to Ruby Tuesday's for drinks... Now I need sleep. I have class in 8 hrs and I don't have a lesson plan... it's too early in the year for this...

2000-09-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

LINK TIME
Ok, So I've found someone with a similar web-surfing taste : kiWired.

I'd also like to present some links that I think are worth checking out:
The Onion This is a GREAT satirical e-newspaper.
Comedy Central. Home to most things funny.
Mr.Hat's Hell Hole. A complete source of South Park Stuff
Sweeet. Another great website for SP fans

WebMonkey. This is that site I couldn't remember earlier today! Great resource for web developers (or web developer wanna be's!)
TuCows. The best shareware site around. Get whatever you might be looking for here.
The File Mine. Another shareware site. I haven't gotten a chance to do too much on here but it looks great.

2000-09-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, definately a great link: Make My Grumpy Cat Dance.

2000-09-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Shirt Fustration

So, I'm aggrivated again. I bought a pair of shirts last Sunday at Express (I work nights at Structure, so I get a discount!) and they were too small. Not too much too small so today I just went in and got the next bigger size (the biggest size, I'm pretty sure). I didn't try them on and they don't fit!! Grrr. I hate having big boobs!

2000-09-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, last night I enjoyed my insomnia-driven tutorial in HTML. I can do some fun stuff now. I got information from Suite 101 and another site that I don't recall... that's aggrivating... why didn't I bookmark it? hmmm... have to go searching again, it was really basic but really really clear...

2000-09-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

INSOMNIA.

It's painful. I'm not feeling full-fledged insomnia, I haven't in years, thank G-d, but... I'm so tired during the day and then around 11pm I get a BURST of engery. I think I'm just not cut out for the real world. I functioned so much better in the college world of writing until 4am, getting up for the 9 am class by convincing myself that I could go back to sleep at 11:30am. I'm not cut out for getting up at 8 knowing that the first possible chance for sleep is 8pm.

I'm thinking a lot too...

What should I do next year?
Where do I want to go to grad school?
How am I going to pay for anything?
What defines me? What do I want to define me? Do I get to choose?
What am I going to teach on Sunday? What can a 22 year old possibly know about the LifeCycles only having been through 2 of them myself. How can I, with a straight face, teach about marraige? I don't know anything about getting married!!! I know about getting engaged, but I wouldn't want my class to follow my example (chas v'challilah!!)...

2000-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

I think I've found my favorite weblog (so far anyway): that *was the bright side. It's sweet and clunky (the clunkiness is like mine!!) and honest.

2000-09-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, So tonight I decided that it would be a good time to finally check out this Jewish website that has been doing an incredible amount of advertising around Boston, especially at the Israel Festival this past May: Zipple.com. Well, I applaud their efforts, but it sure seems like they are trying to be WAY too big WAY too quickly. A lot of links go to areas which aren't up yet, and yet they still take minutes for my DSL connected computer to load. Also in my 15 minute tour I hit 2 links which were out of date. So, I'm going back to the old way of finding Jewish information: The USCJ Website. I'll let you know what else I find.

2000-09-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

So, tonight I went to Axis (a local Boston club) to see a friend's band, C60. What an ordeal! I brought my friend Pete and we got there right at 7pm because my friend said they'd be the 2nd of 4 bands to be playing. Well, needless to say, I didn't get to see them because they were the LAST and the 3rd band started at 10 and I have to be at work first thing tomorrow morning! Anyway, the first band ("Mancain") neither of us really enjoyed, but the second band ("Darkbuster") was pretty entertaining. They seemed like a drunk cross between Green Day and The Beastie Boys. The third band ("Scissorfight") we didn't end up staying through. It was a 4 man group with each person being at least 40! Very unlike the previous two bands and unlike C60. But hey, it was free, (WBCN Sponsored it) so I can't knock it.

2000-09-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

So, tonight was the first meeting of this year's KI USY group. What a bunch! USY is United Synagogue Youth, the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). They have a website that has some good links and information. Their website is The USY Website. We're part of the New England Region (NERUSY) one of 17 (?) regions throughout the US.

2000-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

Let's see if I can put a link up
Congregation Kehillath Israel
This is the website for where I work! It's not the greatest, but it functions.

2000-09-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, this is the first post to Racheland. Welcome! I hope this will become better and better as time goes on. I welcome all suggestions and feedback! So, since this is my first blog, I don't really have too much to be imputing. I will post soon.