Do You Know What's Coming?

Before I forget- Friday morning, I was walking by someone I know from BORG, and he complained about being tired, and my response was, really and truly and honestly "Shabbos is coming". Sorry to those to whom that means zilch. But believe me, it's funny, and it Shouldn't have come from my mouth.

That said, Shabbos was quite nice overall: Friday davening I was sort of out of it, but it worked out. Went to a potluck dinner- for which I'd carried over vegetable soup with kneidlakh (translation: matzah balls) earlier, and had a fabulous time: zodiacmg was in the mood to be funny and between that and the rest of the insanity that ensued, I had a very fun time. Now I just need to figure out which Rosh HaShanah meal I'm making- probably a lunch. Possibly two meals, if I get inspired. Needless to say, tomorrow is getting spent doing homework and cooking. The cooking time should overlap well with phone time- the customary call home, and whatever else inspires me. Need to clean too. I really don't want to start a new year with a bathroom sink where I can See the combination of hair and dust.

This evening zodiacmg and I went to see the performance of the 24-hour theater project, which did Wicked. Very impressive for such a short and concentrated effort, and quite a bit of fun. I'm going to have to go and reread a few of the Oz books now, if only to clear up a few details about where they took liberties with the background about Nick Chopper- the TinMan, whom they named Bok. But it was a good show, and I was remarkable wrapped up in it, considering that it was twisting about one of the pillars of my childhood to make its point. But it did some very interesting things with the pain of growing up, and of growing up differently, and in dealing with the idea that bad things can come from well-intentioned actions. Suggesting that one should stop doing good if trying to do good doesn't succeed seems unfortunate to me, but it seems like a very realistic position to take. I'm just not ready to be that cynical. And well, the leap from "doing good often creates bad results" to "I might as well just do bad things to start with" seems larger than the play made it out to be: at least when one is trying to do good, there's a chance that it will come out for the better. I'd think that passivity would be a more likely reaction. But that wouldn't make for good drama. The show didn't allow for the entire plot of The Marvelous Land of Oz to exist, I'm just realizing. But in and of itself- a very worthwhile piece of art. I really ought to read the book itself.

Spent some time afterwards hanging out, and am finally home and ought to sleep. I'm not particularly tired at the moment though- I was before, but I seem to have found a second wind. Eh, I'll get myself to bed soon: as soon as I lay down, I'll be tired. It usually works. I could always read a bit more of the soul-candy book (OK, OK, Lawrence Kushner's God was in this Place and I, i did not know" It's good, if not marvelously meaningful in the long run- but it has a couple of nice midrashim, a few very interesting presentations of historical figures, and a nice boost.).

Do You Know What's Coming?

Before I forget- Friday morning, I was walking by someone I know from BORG, and he complained about being tired, and my response was, really and truly and honestly "Shabbos is coming". Sorry to those to whom that means zilch. But believe me, it's funny, and it Shouldn't have come from my mouth.

That said, Shabbos was quite nice overall: Friday davening I was sort of out of it, but it worked out. Went to a potluck dinner- for which I'd carried over vegetable soup with kneidlakh (translation: matzah balls) earlier, and had a fabulous time: zodiacmg was in the mood to be funny and between that and the rest of the insanity that ensued, I had a very fun time. Now I just need to figure out which Rosh HaShanah meal I'm making- probably a lunch. Possibly two meals, if I get inspired. Needless to say, tomorrow is getting spent doing homework and cooking. The cooking time should overlap well with phone time- the customary call home, and whatever else inspires me. Need to clean too. I really don't want to start a new year with a bathroom sink where I can See the combination of hair and dust.

This evening zodiacmg and I went to see the performance of the 24-hour theater project, which did Wicked. Very impressive for such a short and concentrated effort, and quite a bit of fun. I'm going to have to go and reread a few of the Oz books now, if only to clear up a few details about where they took liberties with the background about Nick Chopper- the TinMan, whom they named Bok. But it was a good show, and I was remarkable wrapped up in it, considering that it was twisting about one of the pillars of my childhood to make its point. But it did some very interesting things with the pain of growing up, and of growing up differently, and in dealing with the idea that bad things can come from well-intentioned actions. Suggesting that one should stop doing good if trying to do good doesn't succeed seems unfortunate to me, but it seems like a very realistic position to take. I'm just not ready to be that cynical. And well, the leap from "doing good often creates bad results" to "I might as well just do bad things to start with" seems larger than the play made it out to be: at least when one is trying to do good, there's a chance that it will come out for the better. I'd think that passivity would be a more likely reaction. But that wouldn't make for good drama. The show didn't allow for the entire plot of The Marvelous Land of Oz to exist, I'm just realizing. But in and of itself- a very worthwhile piece of art. I really ought to read the book itself.

Spent some time afterwards hanging out, and am finally home and ought to sleep. I'm not particularly tired at the moment though- I was before, but I seem to have found a second wind. Eh, I'll get myself to bed soon: as soon as I lay down, I'll be tired. It usually works. I could always read a bit more of the soul-candy book (OK, OK, Lawrence Kushner's God was in this Place and I, i did not know" It's good, if not marvelously meaningful in the long run- but it has a couple of nice midrashim, a few very interesting presentations of historical figures, and a nice boost.).

My Smoke Detector

I now officially hate my smoke detector. Or at the very least, I don't understand its functioning. Yes, my apartment was smokey- I was taking cookies out of the oven. But I don't know how the heck to shut it off once I know that yes, indeed, there is smoke. So I openned all the windows, and that didn't help right away, so I stood on a stool and held my hand over the thing to muffle it so it wouldn't bother the neighbors (or me) quite so much. So now my back is sort of creatively sore (that shouldn't last for too long, I hope), and I feel mildly idiotic. And it was really annoying. And my oven is evil- I can't tell what temperature it is, ever, and it almost always manages to burn things. So my muffins are a bit blackened on top. And my cookies are slightly burnt on the bottom. It's all still qutie eatible, but it Looks funny. Grrrrr.

My Smoke Detector

I now officially hate my smoke detector. Or at the very least, I don't understand its functioning. Yes, my apartment was smokey- I was taking cookies out of the oven. But I don't know how the heck to shut it off once I know that yes, indeed, there is smoke. So I openned all the windows, and that didn't help right away, so I stood on a stool and held my hand over the thing to muffle it so it wouldn't bother the neighbors (or me) quite so much. So now my back is sort of creatively sore (that shouldn't last for too long, I hope), and I feel mildly idiotic. And it was really annoying. And my oven is evil- I can't tell what temperature it is, ever, and it almost always manages to burn things. So my muffins are a bit blackened on top. And my cookies are slightly burnt on the bottom. It's all still qutie eatible, but it Looks funny. Grrrrr.