| Hello |
[Jan. 16th, 2010|09:50 pm] |
So, does anybody actually check on anybody else's Livejournal-brand livejournal these days? There seemed to be a mass exodus to more "grown-up" seeming blog services, ensuring that without one cohesive friend-list, we would all be equally unread.
Update: I lived and worked in Maine for a while. My jobs were uninteresting at best. In the summer, Bard College hired me to be a sort of academic fixer for its Arabic study-abroad program in Morocco, which was a blast. Then I moved to Texas with Nicole, where I am now, getting an MA in Arabic Studies at UT-Austin. I may be going to Egypt or Syria next year. I'd prefer Syria. If you're reading this, I miss you. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 15th, 2009|10:45 pm] |
Things I like:
Wild Turkey 101
straight razors
capoeira
her
words I don't understand
confusion
Tom Waits
liturgy
cigars
financial independence
the cat (I'm as surprised as anyone)
shadows made by ceiling fans
you |
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| Eek |
[Oct. 13th, 2008|08:06 pm] |
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I am currently unemployed. I'm applying to graduate schools. I've been having dreams about elections. Today was the first day that I was struck with serious apprehension about what the current economic state might mean for me personally. And if you are reading this, know that I'm happy to know you, and most likely miss you and wish that we were geographically closer than we are. |
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| Delayed |
[Sep. 13th, 2008|08:59 pm] |
Too many things to recount--
I took a job as a carpenter, framing houses. The work was interesting and educational, the pay decent, but the hours were rather grueling--ostensibly 7 AM-5 PM every weekday. The lengthy workday was basically insurance against inclement weather, but combined with a forty-minute commute each way, I didn't have time to do much else (correspond with any of you, look for other work, play the harmonica, etc.)
Having squirreled away most of my earnings, I prepared to quit this job and visit Nicole in Maine for a few weeks before attempting a move to Boston. My boss was quite reasonable when I informed him of my intentions--in fact, he thanked me for doing so at all: "The way most people give notice in this business is by not showing up."
On Friday, September 5, my last day on the job, I was nailing together an interior wall with a nail gun. The frame consisted of 2x4 boards, one on top, one on the bottom and several more spaced perpendicular to them at regular intervals. As I began to nail, the recoil of the nail gun sent it bouncing off another unassembled wall and back to my right index finger, which received a 3" spike at the first joint from the knuckle. Zany emergency-room hijinks followed. Exciting photos may be seen on Facebook, or I can send you some, if you're interested.
It is thus that I have no job, a surprisingly uncomplicated fracture, and several weeks of physical therapy ahead of me. They say I can expect to recover completely, playing piano and picking my nose, within about six weeks. (There's increased risk of arthritis in the coming decades, but not much medical science can do on that front at this point.)
Things that my newly convalescent lifestyle is letting me appreciate:
The Crying of Lot 49, by Thomas Pynchon
Little Jackie's "The Stoop"
E-Prime
and the season's last peaches.
And how are you? |
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| The Traveler Returns |
[Aug. 13th, 2008|08:01 pm] |
So I'm back.
Morocco was fun, amazing, frustrating, educational and very very different. Ask me to tell you about it if I haven't already.
It is nice to be back in a country that doesn't have a National Livejournal Firewall. Perhaps I'll start posting for real again soon! |
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| LJ drama dooms nations |
[Oct. 30th, 2007|09:42 pm] |
Dear peoples--
For some reason, Livejournal fails to work at any computer in Morocco. It is entirely possible that the King, in his divine wisdom, has decided that Livejournal poses a threat to the security of the country.
Right now I'm in Barcelona, which is why I can write.
I've also started another journal, www.el-gaouri.blogspot.com, but it contains one single entry that was written when I was really, really tired.
So now you know. Come visit me in Morocco! |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 4th, 2007|04:48 pm] |
Nova Scotia: excellent.
Ragweed: blecch. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 20th, 2007|12:36 am] |
It seems I'm working in Morocco next year.
Come visit. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 29th, 2007|12:05 pm] |
Hey party people:
It is my job to create and enter lists of Arabic vocabulary into a database. I'm now entering the phase where I need to devise lists on various subjects, so help a brother out.
What are words that you would want to know if you were to have a basic discussion about
Politics?
Religion?
Travel?
What other subjects can you think of?
Thanks. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 20th, 2007|12:15 pm] |
So these days I work at the Campus Center front desk. Seventy-five percent of my job involves directing people to the bathrooms. Another ten percent has been helping polite British actors figure out how to use their phone cards.
There is a peculiar breed of person who asks for directions and, exasperated by my inability to reply within 0.01 seconds, hurries on, regardless of whether I actually have an answer to their query. It happens, on average, once per shift, but today's was the best.
Two women, one around my age and another in (I would guess) her late forties, sprinted into the building. The older of the two asks me if I know where the Photo Caucus is, then immediately says to her companion "let's keep moving" as they go into what I know to be a large, empty room. They then scamper past me up some stairs towards what I know more large, empty rooms. I am amused.
On their way down, I stood up and said "I really would be happy to help you..." The older woman replies snippily that I "obviously didn't know" (and couldn't find out) the answer to her question. She then asked if she could use the phone.
She then asked me if I would dial it for her.
I acquiesced, and upon doing so, she expressed strong personal doubt in my ability to dial a phone properly.
I had, in fact, done a creditable job, and after a brief conversation, she hissed off in the direction of the film building.
I am known for the sweetness of my nature and the gentleness of my disposition, but I fear that if I set eyes on her again, I will be compelled to do something... unprofessional. |
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| Inside on a sunny day... |
[Jun. 9th, 2007|11:46 am] |
Wow. How time flies.
I graduated. Michael Bloomberg spoke at us with anticlimactically little disruption from Bard's more radical elements. My diploma has a lot of Latin on it. People I don't see often came. It was alternately fun and exhausting, and people disappeared too quickly, but I guess that's how it works.
Leon Botstein spoke to us at the senior dinner. He made jokes and talked about his bowtie, and admitted that he had never, in fact, been a child. It explained a lot, and it was nice to hear him say it. In my imagination, he sprang from his mother's forehead, fully grown, shiny-domed and bow-tied, like an intellectual atheist-Jewish Athena.
http://www.colbertnation.com/?p=896
Then I went home and unpacked and ate good food and got to spend time with my lovely family. I did not, however, spend enough time playing outside in the dirt, encouraging plants to grow into tasty food. Something to remedy when I get back.
Then I returned to Bardland--the hamlet of Tivoli, actually. I'm living in a charmingly decrepit apartment with a scary attic and enough accumulated canned and frozen food to survive at least a few months. I'm currently working two jobs: one is sitting at various desks in the campus center, making sure that people don't steal things or get lost. The other is doing various stuff online for the Arabic department. The neat thing about these two jobs is that I can accomplish them both at once, and since Bard does NOT want to pay me overtime, I can work my 21 hours and actually work all 40, leaving me plenty of time to goof off.
Because of this condensed work-schedule, I've been spending a lot of time being quietly alone. It's not normal for me. I like the bustle of people around--often it seems that I can accomplish little without it. Without the judgemental eyes of others watching me, I also have a deplorable tendency to fritter away the hours doing nothing in particular. If somebody else were around, I would at least try to look somewhat productive. Practice the harmonica. Sweep the floor.
I would lounge on the porch of our decrepit apartment, but a friendly alcoholic named Mike always seems to take up residence there exactly when I would be inclined to do so myself. Last night he was wearing a white robe, which emphasized his already Christlike hairdo and beard. The effect was somewhat reduced by the 5 iron that he carried over his shoulder, and his being too drunk to form many legitimate words.
He's still on the porch, and reportedly more incoherent than he was last night.
My job at the desk also leaves me much time to diddle around on the internet. I am compelled to share the following wasted time with you all:
Albania loves George W. Bush, apparently:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/09/world/europe/09albania.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
At least a few of these were directed at me during my time in dorms:
http://passiveaggressivenotes.wordpress.com/
And finally, there is something supremely wrong, yet perversely fascinating, satisfying and hilarious, about this site and its Schadenfreude-laden premise:
http://www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com/
Time for dish-doing, a shower and a walk. |
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| I'd be a bastard if I didn't... |
[Apr. 27th, 2007|12:22 pm] |
Leave a comment and I will....
1 - Tell you why I friended you.
2 - Associate you with a song/film.
3 - Tell a random fact about you.
4 - Tell a first memory about you.
5 - Associate you with a character/pairing.
6 - Ask something I've always wanted to know about you.
7 - Tell you my favorite user pic of yours [if it pertains].
8 - In response, you must spread this disease in your journal. must.
Jacked from Heather. |
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| Save small publishers! |
[Apr. 18th, 2007|12:07 pm] |
Alright, kids, I'm not one to do this much, but I think in this case it's important:
Postal regulators have accepted a proposal from media giant Time Warner that would stifle small and independent publishers in America. The plan unfairly burdens smaller publishers with higher postage rates while locking in special privileges for bigger media companies.
In establishing the U.S. postal system, the nation's founders wanted to ensure that a diversity of viewpoints were available to "the whole mass of the people." Time Warner's rate increase reverses this egalitarian ideal and threatens the marketplace of ideas on which our democracy depends.
It's time stand up for independent media. Demand that Congress step in to stop the unfair rate hikes. The deadline for comments to the Postal Service is fast approaching.
Sign the petition before April 23 to alert Congress and put the Postal Board of Governors on notice:
action.freepress.net/campaign/postal
____________
This is a huge issue for small presses in America. The USPS is planning to hike up media rates 30 percent for small publishers, but under 10 percent for major conglomerate publishers. This was proposed by Time Warner and could go into effect as soon as April 23rd. It will kill many small presses, whose largest expenses are often shipping. This will be bad for everyone who works in or consumes media...which means everyone. Sign the petition, spread the word, contact you representatives in Washington. Thanks. |
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| bzzzzz... |
[Apr. 15th, 2007|01:14 pm] |
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I think I like the taste of soy coffee better than the taste of real coffee. I fear the ridicule and shame that will undoubtedly follow this revelation. |
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| Poll: |
[Mar. 8th, 2007|02:17 am] |
A b c d e f g
H i j k l m n o p
Q r s
T u v
W, x, y and z
Now I know my ABCs
(--what's the next line?) |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 7th, 2007|11:11 pm] |
Spektor = Saudade.
I'm really tired. Yesterday I drank two cups of coffee around 5:00, which is two cups more than I normally drink. I was up until at least 3 AM, but I did get to write in my journal, which is something that I haven't done in a while.
Jobs are a crazy thing. I'm currently applying for and researching those potential employments that allow me to go to other places and teach English. Hong Kong? Yemen? Korea? Morocco? Lebanon? Nigeria? Tunis?
I'd sure like a job. After I graduate. That would give me personal satisfaction and leave me some extra time to play the harmonica and dance the fandango, and enough cash to afford the occasional scotch.
Yep. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 3rd, 2007|09:35 pm] |
The star's superb,
but that's no reason
why we can't drink to the ladies
who are incalculably closer.
-W. Szymborska |
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