Birthday!

I don't use exclamation marks much at all- they make me feel silly, but today, or more accurately, this evening, really merits one. Work was Very quiet- it was another afternoon where all I did was sit and read and sub in for the receptionist. I left, walked over to Dad's office, and Carole (his boss, of whom I am quite fond and who is rather fond of me- she's the one who came up with the idea of me working there, two summers ago) gave me a card. I figured I knew I was dancing that evening, and that the card and an anticipated phone call from Efi would be my birthday highlights. As fleurdelis28 commented, that's what I Thought.

I got in the door at home, and pretty much first thing, Mom handed me a package from Dave- a rather large box, with a Lot of packing paper inside, and a small wrapped box with a lovely necklace and a letter. But just as I'd finally figured out how to seperate said necklace from teh box, I looked up, and there were thevortex, shorr, fleurdelis28, and pallasrosalind in my doorway with a lit cake. (Oops- that is, a cake with a lit shabbat candle in the middle. As Mom put it, "I recognize that candle." Not a cake on fire- that'd be a waste.) I was pretty darn surprised- I think I stood there and sort of gibbered for a bit- I had to be instructed to a. take the cake, and b. blow out the candle already. So I had delightful company for the evening, and they even came to dancing for a bit before they headed back to the vicinity of Boston. ANd they were wonderful and ate Mom's food (not to say that I don't like it- I'm very fond of Mom's potato salad, but well- it's hardly a really kosher kitchen. I was quite touched. And it was really nice to see folks.

Dancing, in comparison to my surprise, and to a string of phone calls that I got (Efi, Ari and Dave, in that order. Ari called while I was talkign to Efi- impressive and amusing, and they're brothers and sound disturbingly similar on the phone. I couldn't tell to whom I was talking at first, switching between them. It was briefly embarassing, but very much appreciated.), was sort of a down. Just a low energy night, as far as I could tell. But the rest of the night was a real thrill. I don't get to say that often- most people don't. But this one will stand out. For a birthday that I almost wasn't noticing- I'd sort of forgotten, and it was being a pretty low impact birthday- wow. Just a real bright spot. THank you all.

Birthday!

I don't use exclamation marks much at all- they make me feel silly, but today, or more accurately, this evening, really merits one. Work was Very quiet- it was another afternoon where all I did was sit and read and sub in for the receptionist. I left, walked over to Dad's office, and Carole (his boss, of whom I am quite fond and who is rather fond of me- she's the one who came up with the idea of me working there, two summers ago) gave me a card. I figured I knew I was dancing that evening, and that the card and an anticipated phone call from Efi would be my birthday highlights. As fleurdelis28 commented, that's what I Thought.

I got in the door at home, and pretty much first thing, Mom handed me a package from Dave- a rather large box, with a Lot of packing paper inside, and a small wrapped box with a lovely necklace and a letter. But just as I'd finally figured out how to seperate said necklace from teh box, I looked up, and there were thevortex, shorr, fleurdelis28, and pallasrosalind in my doorway with a lit cake. (Oops- that is, a cake with a lit shabbat candle in the middle. As Mom put it, "I recognize that candle." Not a cake on fire- that'd be a waste.) I was pretty darn surprised- I think I stood there and sort of gibbered for a bit- I had to be instructed to a. take the cake, and b. blow out the candle already. So I had delightful company for the evening, and they even came to dancing for a bit before they headed back to the vicinity of Boston. ANd they were wonderful and ate Mom's food (not to say that I don't like it- I'm very fond of Mom's potato salad, but well- it's hardly a really kosher kitchen. I was quite touched. And it was really nice to see folks.

Dancing, in comparison to my surprise, and to a string of phone calls that I got (Efi, Ari and Dave, in that order. Ari called while I was talkign to Efi- impressive and amusing, and they're brothers and sound disturbingly similar on the phone. I couldn't tell to whom I was talking at first, switching between them. It was briefly embarassing, but very much appreciated.), was sort of a down. Just a low energy night, as far as I could tell. But the rest of the night was a real thrill. I don't get to say that often- most people don't. But this one will stand out. For a birthday that I almost wasn't noticing- I'd sort of forgotten, and it was being a pretty low impact birthday- wow. Just a real bright spot. THank you all.

Kliban

After dinner, I introduced the crowd (ok, by the two's ocmpany, three's a crowd definition) mentioned in the last post to Kliban cartoons, and was astounded, upon looking over their shoulders, at quite how dirty a certain portion of it is. On my own, it never quite registered. On the other hand, I don't think it was as bad as when my sib put on Hair while I had a friend over in middle school, and the Sodomy song came on... And the rest of Kliban is incredibly clever. Or at least, much of it is.

Kliban

After dinner, I introduced the crowd (ok, by the two's ocmpany, three's a crowd definition) mentioned in the last post to Kliban cartoons, and was astounded, upon looking over their shoulders, at quite how dirty a certain portion of it is. On my own, it never quite registered. On the other hand, I don't think it was as bad as when my sib put on Hair while I had a friend over in middle school, and the Sodomy song came on... And the rest of Kliban is incredibly clever. Or at least, much of it is.

In Which I Get A Bit ANnoyed

I just got a phoen call from Catherine, one of the women from where I work. She says that they're not sure if Amy, teh head of the center, will actually be in on Tuesday or not, and if not, they have no work for me, so I shouldn't come in- I should call around 11 to find out of Amy's in or not (translation: if I left at 11, the earliest I could possibly get there would be 11:45). When I was hired, I was hired for a loose number of hours, but Amy was saying 35-40 hours a week. What I'm getting is closer to 25 this week. Once Amy gets back, it should be better, but still... I'm not incompetent. I can do more than file, sort, and copy: all they need to do is tell me what to do. Heck, when I was working at Youth Continuum, I calculated leins, and worked on the paperwork for a very small grant. I guess I should be glad that I have a job at all for this summer...

On another (more) interesting note- Em left yesterday to return to Chicago. The house is palpably quieter. I'm going to be interested to see how family dynamics shift again, with just the parents and me around.

In Which I Get A Bit ANnoyed

I just got a phoen call from Catherine, one of the women from where I work. She says that they're not sure if Amy, teh head of the center, will actually be in on Tuesday or not, and if not, they have no work for me, so I shouldn't come in- I should call around 11 to find out of Amy's in or not (translation: if I left at 11, the earliest I could possibly get there would be 11:45). When I was hired, I was hired for a loose number of hours, but Amy was saying 35-40 hours a week. What I'm getting is closer to 25 this week. Once Amy gets back, it should be better, but still... I'm not incompetent. I can do more than file, sort, and copy: all they need to do is tell me what to do. Heck, when I was working at Youth Continuum, I calculated leins, and worked on the paperwork for a very small grant. I guess I should be glad that I have a job at all for this summer...

On another (more) interesting note- Em left yesterday to return to Chicago. The house is palpably quieter. I'm going to be interested to see how family dynamics shift again, with just the parents and me around.

Mulberries

Someone remind me to plant a mulberry tree someday when I have a house at which to plant it. Really. One of our neighbors down the street has a mulberry tree right by hte street, and they don't seem to ever pick the berries, which are now in season. So occasionally when I walk by, I pick a handful of mulberries, and keep on walking. Mulberries don't seem to be the sort of thing one buys, but I'm quite fond of them. And it seems so sad that they're going to waste.

Mulberries

Someone remind me to plant a mulberry tree someday when I have a house at which to plant it. Really. One of our neighbors down the street has a mulberry tree right by hte street, and they don't seem to ever pick the berries, which are now in season. So occasionally when I walk by, I pick a handful of mulberries, and keep on walking. Mulberries don't seem to be the sort of thing one buys, but I'm quite fond of them. And it seems so sad that they're going to waste.