LSAT: 164. All considered, I'm taking this as a win. Also, have I mentioned lately that @understudiesrok are playing Wunderland in March?

At Great Lakes Brewery. Awesome.

They also make crepes. if only i was hungry!

ok. sam adams pub has bar, glasses. smuttynose has plastic cups, but has (a) smutty and (b) chimay & duvel 750s. in an airport. smuttywins

AFI: Up In The Air at 7:20. Me, Beth, Laura... YOU??

if I do go into law, I want to work for these guys: http://ping.fm/PGcSM

Whoops. http://ping.fm/CiUJg

Just hooked my phone up to Google Voicemail.. I now get transcriptions texted to my phone. Some are hilarious. So far, me likey.

Excited for band practice tomorrow.. getting ready to play Wonderland in March. You're coming, right? @understudiesrok

LSAT: taken! holycrap

You can smell Whole Foods' Christmas trees all the way over on Fenton.

Lived in Silver Spring for 2.5 years now... just made my first visit to the library. I R SERIOS SKOLAR.

saw Beth through security, now grabbing lunch at Bateman's. Gotta love a place with Fordham's on tap and pictures of D12 on the wall.

My God... how had I missed this correlation? http://ping.fm/d2fJb

Problem solved! Message posted from my old Palestine/Israel phone number. Right now, some poor Arab/Israeli/Tourist is very, very confused.

I didn't go to a dentist. I think Ping.fm is on crack. Grr.

umm... i didn't go to the dentist. WTF is sending messages via my Ping account?

Been to the dentist for toothache - now got a headache over the cost!

Just met a gentleman named Ed who recognized me from Adega. I had always hoped my voice would be popular for something other than "order 57, please!"

How much of a beer person am I? I just realized that the "Brew Crew" t-shirts at Mayorga refer to... coffee, and not their draft beer.

http://ping.fm/zlj8v -- Might be on to something... I'm in.

A google search for "real american heroes" turns up Bud Light commercials. Not sure if this is sad or awesome

Heading into the second fun-filled hour of Guy Replacing The Garbage Disposal.

Em's verse on Drake's cut: Fire.

My job search consists of over 150+ websites. Blargh.

Starting score: 169. A little over one month to see if I can up that by 10. For fun.

I am now registered for the Dec. 5th LSAT. This, folks, is what we call post-graduate degree career uncertainty!

at the MVA (in the DMV the DMV is called the MVA).

santos is a pimp.

Seriously. http://ping.fm/rtV1Z

Collective Soul's "Run" is playing as I grab my fish to go. What a great song from an underrated album. (and band)

at bateman's in bwi. just saw beth through security. will miss!

happy birthday, beth!

Region 8. (DC/MD/WV/PA). I'll know more specifics in the next few days.

Death by suspense!

apparently its tuesday and wednesday, not this weekend. crap.

Right now, people are gathering in Chicago to decide my fate. Film at 11.

Go to VegFest tomorrow! See my Beth and cute dogs! Also.... R.I.P. Larry Gelbart. One of my (and American TV's) biggest inspirations..

Currently watching my roommate shadowbox to a fitness training dvd. I laugh. I am also weak and out of shape. Ah well.

Here come the Irish.

Best weekend in a while. Felt... normal. Like normal used to be.

just saw transformers (the REAL one) on the big screen. AWESOME.

Adegra

"This is a nice respite from chain hell in the immediate downtown area of Silver Spring. The food is nice...the only disappointment I had was a very bland yet remarkably greasy flatbread. I'm a big fan of both the sweet potato fries and the eggplant fries - good stuff. The wine selection is quite good...I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but I've never had a bad bottle here. Prices by the glass and bottle are reasonable, and they have a special on Saturday nights - $35 for two entrees, an appetizer, and a bottle wine.

I'm slightly sad, however, because I haven't seen (or heard) my favorite Adega employee in quite some time. He is (or was) their official Number Calling Guy and had an absolute perfect carnival barker voice. It was shocking to see such a diminutive guy (five foot six, at best) bust out such an authoritative bellow. Now they have those stupid vibrating thingies to let you know when your food's ready. Damn you, cruel technology. Another step closer to the robot takeover. We're all doomed."


Review from Yelp.com.

(I'm 5'4", for the record.)

Just had my first arab food since being home. Falafel, arabic music.. I found myself missing it. Weird.

just bought my first ever radiohead albums. seriously. first trip to cd exchange since return: success!

Goodbye, Les. :(

Last call isn't what it used to be. Now to finish up a sermon for tomorrow.

I mentioned a singing gorilla telegram in an email, and now Gmail will only show me advertisements for singing telegrams. Where's a butler with a gun when you need him?

Anyone else remember 8stops7?

@johndellaporta Also watching Angel, for the first time. Then off to Quarry!

celebrating dom & eliz's moving!

Understudies (my band) Demo Release Party @ Across The Street Cafe (across from AFI, next to Ray's) in SS tonight! 9:30-12:??.

"De Leeuw responded by ripping the man's pants off..." http://ping.fm/CjQ0S

Just opened the boxes I mailed myself from Palestine. All is intact, unbroken, and uncensored. Prize item: Book signed by Mordechi Vanunu.

Ok, this seems awesome to me. http://ping.fm/1i3kq

Done with my assignment forms. Just waiting for an OK from some references. And yes, I know these have to be submitted by tomorrow. Shh.

Not at your home computer, and need that one specific song to serve as soundtrack to your writing? IMEEM to the rescue! Thankfully.

this is toby, beth's cat. IN A CONE.

Ok... finally making sense of life back in the states. Updates to follow more regularly (I hope).

Home in Silver Spring. New apartment/phone number soon. For now, well... don't look for me ;).

Guinness (the place) + Jameson (the place) = Awesome.

Munich!

So... Munich has been epic.

Got in, spent the first night wandering around town and then hanging out at the hostel bar with a guy from west Germany and some cats from Salt Lake City. Much great beer was had by all.

(Age Creep Watch: 1:30am, and a bottle of Hacker-Pschorr is placed in front of you. You know that you probably shouldn't have anything else, and get some sleep. The 22 year old me would just deal with it and go on with the night. Apparently the 27-year-old me actually says 'no, thanks.' To Hacker-Pschorr. I am getting old.)

Yesterday was great... took the hostel free tour, which ended up winding its way into four and a half hours. Great guide. Saw most of the tourist side of Munich. Ate delicious sausage. Drank delicious helles lager while wandering the streets. (Woo no open container laws!). Ended up at the English Gardens (think Central Park, only about 4 times bigger.) Had more delicious beer.

Wandered home with Andrew, an Australian gentlemen who might be the only person in the hostel older than me. More delicious beer was had, pool was played, suckage at pool did not happen rampantly (only sporadically). We went to the Augustiner brewery's on-site restaurant for dinner. Food was amazing. Beer was better.

Spent the rest of the night playing pool and such. I represented our country well, playing with the Aussie versus various Germans and other random nationalities. Morning light saw me wandering the city with the aforementioned Utah-ians and an assortment of other guys still awake a whatever god-awful hour that was. More delicious beer was had on the streets. (I mentioned no container laws, right? And that one can just purchase helles lager in convenience stores? I could get used to this place..)

Made it back to the hostel safe, where we kept a good floor's worth of people awake, I'm sure. Sleep happened. I'm awake now, at 11:30. Spaten Brewery is on the docket for today at 3. Not sure what before that. Beer is probably involved.

I have no idea how I'm awake and functioning. The beer here must be magical.

It is magical.

Munich (Written on subway)

On the metro from the airport. I'm pretty sure I just overpaid by purchasing a day pass vs. a one-trip ticket, but it was the only thing I could figure out how to purchase given my zero knowledge of German.

Oh, and the button that changes the ticket machine to English? It doesn't translate any information.. just the payment process. Brilliant.

My brain is already struggling to process having left. It keeps trying to switch into dealing-with-occupation mode, no matter how much I tell it to relax. It just doesn't wanna.

The announcements on the subway are in English now... that's weird. I may have just missed a vital transfer. Ah well. Adventure ensues.

(editor's note: I hadn't missed my stop. I managed to find my hostel, which looks to be an adventure in and of itself. I'm going out now. I here they have delicious beer here in Munich, and I am going to go make hte locals tell me where it is!*)

* Hint: It's EVERYWHERE.

Safe in Germany! Updates on the blog. http://ping.fm/mA3qU

Munich! (Written at the airport)

Landed in Munich. Successfully turned all the shekels I had on me into 20 Euro. If only our economy was this resilient.

Ben Gurion was no problem at all. My bag wasn't even looked through. I name-dropped Mike Powell during the "do you know anyone in Israel" portion of the Q&A session, and that seemed to be the golden ticket. Make a note of it.

Having trouble not salaam alekuming people here. And replacing 'shukran' with 'danke.' Upshot.. most of these people's english is better than mine.

Managed to acquire toiletries, and a seat at the Erdinger bar in the center of the terminal. Currently drinking a pint of their dunkel, and realizing that they have better beer in their airport than Israel had in most of their bars. Yes, oh, yes, this is going to be a great trip.

One step forward, two steps back.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5503NA20090601


This is not the answer.

So... we're going to (a) force people to buy insurance, from (b) private insurers, without revisiting the question as to whether or not healthcare is something that even belongs in the private sector to begin with, and then (c) pray that healthcare providers take it upon themselves to meet affordability guidelines at their own expense, and not by equalizing the margin via loopholes and unforseen modifications to the system itself?

And people say I'm an idealistic dreamer.

Dear policymakers... don't rush forward a plan just to pass something. Wait until we have a viable option that's worth overhauling the system to implement. Y'know, like, a system endorsed by healthcare providers, like a single-payer system. Maybe even like the one proposed in HR676.

It's viable. It's ethical. And it's not just a press-release opportunity. It's not just "change". It's progress.

Action Hero Jesus

I think I know why Lutherans are hesitant to capitalize on the "Bibleman" phenomenon.

Can you imagine a Lutheran super-hero Jesus? Each episode finding him glaring at the bad guy and delivering one of his signature lines:

"Don't make me forgive you!"

or the classic

"You wouldn't like me when I'm gracious."

It'd be horrible. Horrible.

Last night in the apartment. Crikey.

And so the end begins.

Staying up 'til 5 am
Watching the sun come up again,
I'd do it all again if I could...

...the nights that we wasted,
Got us through the days that
Seemed never ending...

...40 oz intoxicated dream,
All our faded memories,
That's made us who we are
Today.
- Mest

Last Wednesday night at the Mount of Olives.

Just met Michael Palin. http://ping.fm/4PQqp

On my way to see Michael Palin at the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.

It feels as weird as it sounds. Also, awesome.

Dear Mr. US Dollar, Please kindly wait for me to be done traveling internationally before continuing your plummet into the abyss? http://ping.fm/3D312

Sermon for Sunday, draft 1: Completed.

Yes, I'm preaching in Jerusalem. Go figure.

The whole "leaving in less than two weeks" just hit me full-force. Beginning the packing/seperation process.

I have a place to live when I get home! I'm moving in with Justin (taking JC's spot). And just in time for summer. One word: EPIC.

Random Chicago song stuck in my head: "No Tell Lover" from Hot Streets. I have no idea where this gem came from, but it's welcome to stay.

85 degrees. 97 heat index. Not even June.

85 degrees. Heat index of 97. Not even June yet.

I just trimmed my beard for the first time in... a month and a half. It looked like a hedgehog exploded in my sink.

Just applied for a job as a cable TV host. Why not? In other news: Grotto tonight, Cosmos tomorrow..it's a real weekend!

Took Tyler's advice and went to see Tony in the Christian Quarter. Just told him "no shabab cut." It's not bad.. but he's no Ian. :(

Wandering around the Christian Quarter in search of a haircut. Pray for me.

It was worth the try.

Attempt at crashing the Pontifical Mass in Bethlehem: Failure.

So. Pope's in Bethlehem Square today, being all papal and whatnot. I never got around to finding a ticket to the mass, but figured I might as well try and get in.

I managed to get one of the police who knows me to let me through the first checkpoint, but the second checkpoint was a no-go. I might've been able to sweettalk them into it, but I hit right at the time as they were shutting down entrance for anyone, invitation or no. Ah well. I have a few pictures of people's backs.

I backtracked to George's shop and watched some of the mass on television, then went on to teach at Beit Sahour. It was interesting to see how the school was going about its business, with only a mention here or there about "Baba" being in town. A very Lutheran moment in many ways.. to have the Pope in Bethlehem itself, and yet continuing on in daily life. Looking back, I probably got more out of being with the kids than I would've by being 100 yards away from the Pontiff, barely participating in a service I couldn't consummate because of a word choice in my definition of Real Presence.

Ah well. I just hope that I can get through to Jerusalem tonight. The walk-through checkpoint is closed entirely (wouldn't want to let anyone get to work on Pope Day, after all).

I can currently hear "Angels We Have Heard on High" being blasted outside. I think there's a concert on Manger Square. Strange things happen when Popes visit.

I have joined the ranks of Twitter. Follow me at http://ping.fm/nhhlW if you dare. Also http://www.ping.fm is awesome.

Meet the new boss...

...same as the old boss.

Worth five minutes of your time.

Read this.

Cabbage!

Today, on my way back from Beit Sahour, I stopped by the produce stand for some fresh vegetables. I grab:

(2) Tomatoes
(2) Potatoes
(1) Personal-sized head of lettuce*.

Total cost: 4 shekels (about 96 cents).


* Upon further inspection, I realize that this is probably cabbage. I have subverted the German half of me which, upon realization, demanded I turn it immediately into cole slaw.

So now, I am enjoying a freshly-tossed caesar-tomato-cabbage salad, for a cost of, I estimate, about 25 cents.

There are some things I am reeeeally going to miss about here.

Erp.

I've just made "The Calendar" ... on my little whiteboard that I bought at the local "whatever" store for three bucks. Four and a half weeks, roughly, until I leave.

Time to get some local travelin' in.

Italy: Day One

A misnomer, perhaps, since today we are in... Athens!

A one-day stopover in Athens. Airport / immigration is nothing. No questions asked, even. Just a stamp and I'm on my way. Metro's closed for renovations, so bussed it downtown. Stopped in at Backpacker's Hostel, an aptly-if-obviously named hostel in the center of the city which is apparently one of the top-ranked hostels in the world.

It certainly lived up to the hype.

The Aussie who was on duty was more than friendly and helpful, and I was soon on my way to see the sights. About a block away (seriously) stood the Acropolis, and I made my way through the ruins. Spent a good half hour just sitting at the theatre of Dionysus, which, for you non-theatre types, is where (roughly) drama as we know it was born. (Of course, the roots of drama go back to the first time one caveman turned to another and told them a story, but let's not split hairs.)

Exploring all the ruins Athens had to offer took... surprisingly less time than I'd imagined. I might've stayed longer if they were accessible -- Here in Israel/Palestine, I've gotten used to ruins just being open for the exploring -- but alas, the Greeks have some sense of preservationism (the horror!), so I was quickly on my way. Had lunch in the medieval part of town, which was so delicious that I've forgotten what it was. I had some sort of Greek beer to go with, which was also forgettable. I really should've been taking notes.

Back at the hostel, my guru told me to grab a bottle or two and head up to Philopapos Hill to watch the sunset. I did, and had a nice short hike through a park to arrive at what's left of the monument there. Had a great view of Athens by night, and the sunset, while hazy, was gorgeous.

Rounded off the night by enjoying a few local Greek microbrews back at the hostel with the random assortment of travelers who were staying there. Myself and a fellow traveler, a Thai-Australian who'd just quit her job and set off to see the world in six months, managed to not get lost in the older part of town when we went to find a decent gyro shop for dinner. Apparently if you order take out, the gyro is about 90% cheaper than dining in. Go figure. Interesting people: the two Australian stewardesses who work for Royal Jordanian, and their tales of life in the air. Amusing people: The three chaps from Iowa, who I'm sure were the life of the party well into the next day. And a girl from New Hampshire, about ten minutes from where my family is based in the state, who left early for a flight to Barcelona.

Decided against going on the pub crawl at 11pm, as my flight to Italy was due out in the morning and I didn't feel like being hung over when I saw Beth. Had a transit scare, as there were strikes looming for the next day, so myself and Mitri, a Greek-Canadian decided we were making a break for the airport around 3am. I caught a bit of a nap, and then we went out and grabbed the bus. Spent some time at the airport trying to keep each other awake before finding a food court, where I treated myself to a delicious dinner/midnight/early breakfast of pizza and Murphy's. In the correct glass. At a self-service food court. Europe is weird.

Mitri and I had to part ways after checking in, as we were in different terminals. I spent the remaining three hours napping in a TV lounge, before boarding an Aegean flight to Milan.

Recap:
SIGHTS: The Acropolis, Parthenon, Theatre of Dionysus (I could've stayed for a day just there), a whole lot of rocks, drunken Iowans (go figure).

FOOD: I forget lunch. Dinner, which was a whole lot cheaper, was amazingly good. I passed on the gyro (shwarma here is the same thing) and went for the non-shaved meat. Delicious.

DRINK: Mythos (standard lager). Alfa, much the same. Zeos, a smaller brewery, with a blue bottle holding a pilsner with little hop bite. And Athenian Brewing's hefeweizen, which was...passable? In all, Greece should probably stick with the Ouzo (from which I refrained entirely).

Italy: Day Zero

(0) Tel Aviv: Arrived at Ben Gurion at...1am? Something like that. The last train running. Somehow it was easier to train in than take a nesher, given that they won't pick me up on my side of the wall, and it was going to be boring standing outside the Old City all night. Instead, I spent the evening in Jerusalem; had the best sushi I've found (so far) at a place on Feingold, then spent an hour or so at Barood, which is a really cozy wood-warm bar a few doors down. Made my way to the train station, and on to Tel Aviv. I posted up against a wall in the airport, laptop in hand, and wasted a few hours. 4am, and I get in line for security. Now, future Israel travelers: simply knowing your reservation number will not impress security. You must have it printed out. Trust me on this one. Otherwise, you too will end up in a 'special room' with your pants down around your ankles as some random guard runs a metal detector over your all-together. While this is going on, the security folks outside will be taking everything out of your bag and plugging in anything that plugs in to make sure it doesn't explode. They will ask you all sorts of questions...family, friends, the complete history of how you came to acquire the stuffed raccoon with which you travel (I am not kidding about any of this). Once they have figured out that you're not a security risk, there'll be a walk through the rest of security and, if you're lucky, some sort of well-wish or goodbye. (I was not lucky. I mean, "sorry for wasting your time" would've been great, but I've learned not to expect that. Seriously, though, not even a 'good bye' or 'have a good flight'? New Yorkers have nothing on security guards at TLV.) Made my way into the retail zone. Was amused by the two separate McDonalds (one for dairy, one for meat) that were nonetheless attached to each other. (Things like this should be a clue that, perhaps, adherence to/skirting of kosher laws has gone past intent and dived straight into absurdity.) Found a breakfast nook/bar (really), and had a Stella to calm the nerves, which, post-strip search, were a bit raw. When I act/perform on stage, I have the blessing of not having stagefright/nerves beforehand so much as I get them immediately after, when the adrenaline overloads. This was much the same feeling I had post-security. Then again... I guess it was a decent performance. I'd somehow just managed to convince security that I'd spent three months in Israel as a tourist, living off of what I had fit in a backpack.

It sucks when you have to lie about teaching kids to act, just to leave the country.

RECAP:
* SIGHTS: None, although me standing in my party clothes getting scanned must've been amusing to someone.
* FOOD: Sakura- Best sushi in Jerusalem (so far), which still isn't as good as Sushi Jin. I miss you, Sushi Jin :(.
* DRINK: Duvel (bottle) at Barood, first time I found it here. A gift. Stella at the airport. Passable as always, but really, really calming.

For the more visually/audially inclined

I think I just made up "audially".

With Bated Breath.

While you await the thrilling novella that shall be my description of Italy (please note the fast-growing puddle of sarcasm), I figured you might enjoy a sampling of some of the writings and outlooks of people I work with here in the Holy Lands. They tend to be a little more political/topical than I am, and are probably better examples of what this blog should be ;).

Peter is here with the Mennonite Central Committee, working at Sabeel, which is a Liberation Theology center here. He also looks like a red-headed settler, although don't tell him that to his face.

Bethany also works at Sabeel, and arrived here roughly the same time I did. For a little while she was living with nuns.

Faith (aptly named) works for Dar Annadwa here in Bethlehem. She refuses to let anything, including 19th century steep stone stairs taken while on crutches, stop her.

Mike is the intern at Our Redeemer in Jerusalem. We once played flag football against each other. His team won handily.

Brandy and Travis are grads from Luther Seminary who are studying at Tantur, an ecumenical center in Bethlehem. Travis rocks a vest better than anyone I've seen.

David is a person I've never met, who supposedly lives in DC. Go figure.

I'm still not sure I believe this.

Trip reports coming soon... I need to get my tasting notes from Beth first, as a description of a trip to Italy that didn't include a description of the wine would border on the irrelevant.

That, and the next two days are taken up by me celebrating Easter in Jerusalem.

Yeah, I don't believe it, either.

And we're back!

I'll write up a full post about Italy/Greece soon, but suffice to say I'm home, and it was amazing, and I miss Beth already :(.

------

Random thought: The Helen Hayes nominees for this year prove, once again, that the only good theatre in DC is done by the top seven or eight professional, equity theatres.

and/or that it's all a load of bull.

Onwards!

Made it to Tel Aviv, via a completely unnecessary three-part train trip that had me following directions to get off at one station, wait half an hour, catch another train to take me one stop further, and then catch a train going back the other way that made a stop at the station I was just at.

I have no idea why.

So I'm sitting on the floor at Ben Gurion. Two hours to go until my ticket counter opens, five until take off, god willing.

Wee.

And we're off!

On the train headed to Tel Aviv. My flight doesn't leave until 7am, but whatever. It was easier than wandering the empty streets of Jerusalem until four in the morning.

First up, Greece. Then Italy, and Beth!

Just in case...

Just in case you're one of those who believes that ignorant conspiracy theorists/jingoists/idiots only exist on the conservative side of things...


http://greenville.craigslist.org/vnn/1095776301.html

Epicurious.

How did Epicurus ever come to give his name to Epicurean? Is there some logical explanation?

Yikes.

Hi. Despite lack of evidence to support the matter, I am, in fact, alive.

Random thoughts....


*) Dad sent me a deep fryer! Making french fries is so much easier now.. although I'm in the market for good fried chicken batter recipes. Attempt #1 is kind of ... bland.

*) The dish soap here does precisely jack on pots coated in oil.

*) Macaroni and cheese made with Laughing Cow (You know...those processed cheese wedges you always get with your 'continental breakfast' in Europe... the ones that are slightly better than Velveeta) is... different, and doesn't have a lot of flavor.

*) I get to see Beth in less than a week!! In Italy!!

*) I think I'll be home in June.

*) I have no idea what I'm doing when I get there. Erf.

*) Met with some CPTers (Christian Peacemaker Team) yesterday... interesting folk. The fight out in the less-populated areas of Palestine is similar in origin, but entirely different in nature, it seems, than the one here in Bethlehem.

*) You have to walk through two separate security checkpoints to get into the Mosque of al-Ibrahim in Hebron. Apparently even the Israeli Police don't trust the IDF.

*) I am horrible at frisbee golf.

*) Ruffino Chianti is worth the 8 bucks you should spend on it. And not a penny more. Why was this featured on the Sopranos? They were rich! They could have afforded something better! Would $13 a bottle have killed them?

*) This time a year and a half ago, I would've loved Ruffino. I blame you for this, Captain.

*) Did I mention Beth and I are going to be in Italy next week?

Don’t be late,
Just come with us;
And know you’re not the kind to make a fuss.
It’s gonna be great,
It’s gonna be cool,
It’s going to separate you from the fools.

Life inside - like a holiday.
‘Cause when it’s time to leave you’ll do almost anything to stay..

We’re gonna need every ounce of strength you have,
Because it’s hard to lead an army through the din.
We’re gonna need everyone to show some class,
Only true believers hear the violins.

And so you feel
Alone again,
Even when you’re with your closest friends.
It’s not a game
You need to play,
Sheep don’t often stand by what they say.

We’re trying to save you from a mediocre soundtrack
Because we know how hard it is to look on back

We’re gonna need every ounce of strength you have,
Because it’s hard to lead an army through the din.
We’re gonna need everyone to show some class,
Only true believers hear the violins.
- Face, "Hear the Violins"
(l: Andy Waldeck, m: Tony Lopacinski. One of the last/lost ETA songs..)

Ireland Day in Palestine!

...isn't celebrated by very many people, I'm finding. Including the internationals, it seems. Thus, St. Patrick's Day 2009 is, at the moment, myself, a liter of Jameson's, and this:

(And no, I'm not planning on drinking a liter of Jameson's on my own today... that's just the only bottle size I could find. The four Guinness, however, may very well disappear. We shall see.

Originally, here, I was going to post a link to something describing the truth behind the whole "St. Patrick Drove Away the Snakes" for Beth, but I can't find anything academic enough to pass muster, so just remember as you drink, that St. Patrick converted a nation, and if Christian history teaches us one thing, that it's highly likely that he didn't do it with just shamrocks and a staff.

So be sure to take a shot for the druids!

"Relapse" is due out sometime this year.

How did I just, now, finally get around to listening to "No Apologies" from Eminem?

I think he's toying with me. After 8 Mile I had a (perhaps unrealistic) fantasy wherein the next album from Em would be consistently of the caliber of "Lose Yourself" and "Rabbit Run." Encore was.. not quite that.

"No Apologies" is.. if not at the same level as "Lose Yourself," at least worthy of sharing space on the same disc... so now starts the (potentially deflating) process of (once again) waiting for an album that I can only pray will be as good as it could be.

(If the first single off the new album is another "The Real Slim Shady" clone, I swear I'll fly to Chicago and very diplomatically -- and in a Christian manner -- smack Em upside the head. I will then flee, very very quickly, before I get shot.)

Three and a half minutes.. felt like a lifetime.

Had a chance to watch "Once" the other day with Paul, and was astounded. It's exceptionally crafted, and apart from that, the story is beautiful. If there's any hint of a musicians' soul trapped inside of you, it's bound to make you want to drop everything and make music.

In a similar current, the Understudies' EP is now available on ITunes. Check for it there, or go to http://www.understudies.net for a direct link. It's slightly re-mixed from the originals, which helps out, although I'm still not impressed with the drums in the mix. The vocals shine, and guitars and piano are great; Ryan and I kind of get lost in the background. For the bass, it's a shame, as Ryan is rock-solid; for the drums, this is a mixed blessing.. the drums on the tracks are probably the least appealing of the ensemble, so the more you can tune them out, the better! Someday the band will realize this and find a capable drummer, and then their rise to the top will be unstoppable. Really, check it out, if for nothing else than the songwriting; Laura and Mike have real gifts.

Also, go check out the band tonight, if you're around Silver Spring. DO IT.

In search of Stephen

Thursday, my usual "wander Jerusalem" day. It's no DC, but it's got its own certain charms.

Today was an al-Quds day, rather than venturing into the modern end of things. Stopped off at Geo's, near Our Redeemer, which makes decent sandwiches. Had a Budvar, which, long story short, is made by the "other" and/or "original" (depending on who you ask) Budweiser brewery in the Czech Republic. Not the greatest, but much better than its American counterpart.

Went in search of the Lion's Gate/St. Stephen's gate. Apparently there's a church dedicated to St. Stephen outside of said gate, where he is said to have been stoned.

It's horribly marked, or I'm horribly blind, because I failed to find it. I did walk up near the grotto, and the Church of All Nations/Gethsemane, on the other side of the Mount of Olives. Was invited to share the lunch of a local Arab man at the grotto; we talked for a while, turns out he's from a Bedouin family from Sudan. (His family's been in Jerusalem over 200 years, but he still claims that he is a Bedouin. Nationality over here is not transient, even a little.) Interesting fellow.

Made my way back into the Old City and wandered back home. Turns out, there's debate (Oh! Everlasting debate!) as to where Stephen was stoned, and it may be more likely that it was outside of the Damascus Gate. Blargh.

Speaking of deacons... here's a little bit that I missed in "Early Church and Creeds" class.. apparently, not only were the first deacons ordained (that much I knew...grrr, ELCA), but some were made Bishops.

ELCA, we have to talk, again. And that talk begins with everyone getting over their fear of desecrating the sacred office of the pastor (which, btw, is a fear grounded in nothing confessional, and I would submit, stands in stark opposition to Luther's teachings). Ordaining our deacons isn't going to ruin the church forever. All that it would do is put us at parity with the global church, and...that's it. Unless you're scared that it would make it legal for deacons to be elected bishop..but, well, I can imagine worse things than someone whose life is dedicated to service at the margin of church and world being given a crozier.

Hamburgers!

Today was a cooking and sauce day.

First up: red wine reduction. I used Cremisan Cotes du Cremisan for this, a blended red of indeterminate makeup. Whatev. I need to swipe Walter's recipe for this, 'cause I know for a fact I'm missing a ton of ingredients.

While that was reducing, I moved on to balsalmic vinagrette, which is probably the easiest thing in the world to make. Turned out pretty well.. now, to find lettuce that looks appetizing. It's not easy.

About four hours after starting, I finally had my burger, which was marinated and then cooked on my hot plate, in a sauce pan. Yeesh.

Reduction worked well, but the overall product is still lacking due to the quality of beef. (Hint: There is very little quality in the beef.)

Miss of the night: dijon mustard mayo. The French, apparently, have a very different idea of what dijon mayo should taste (and smell!) like than we do in the states. Yikes. So regular mustard-mayo it is.

The end.

I readily admit to liking dc Talk.

"I need divine intervention,
Your divine intervention,
You're divine, you're the vine,
I'm the branch, you're the vine,
I'm the fig leaf, you're the branch,
You're divine.."


- Kevin (K-Max) Max, 'Blind.'

Disclaimer

Hello, gentle readers.

It has recently come to my attention that there may be a demographic in my readership which I might offend (unintentionally) by some of my various word choices.

It's been a very hard day, going back and forth on this subject. With myself and in conversation with others.

This is an interesting position to be in. This blog is intended to be informal. It's public in that I don't limit who reads it, but I am not advertising it nor seeking out a 'general readership.' It exists for my family and friends to gain glimpses into my life and what's going on in my brain.

I have been intentional in not using it as a diary or a memoir. I realize it is a public forum. That being said, I am not writing for the public. While I do not seek to offend, use inflammatory language for shock value, or aim to cause anyone emotional discomfort, I have come to the conclusion that, on occasion, something may slip out. When these words and phrases do come out, it is because they (in my opinion) most accurately reflect the emotional state which I wish to convey with the thought I am making at the time. They are not chosen arbitrarily. There is a reason that some words are considered "strong language." It is because they are, indeed, strong, and have a power not otherwise accessible.

I have spent quite a while reconsidering the possibly offensive word choices I have used since arriving in Palestine. I believe I can find four. As I see it, if I've lived for over two months in an occupied zone, watching an entire race of people being treated so inhumanely that radicals therein resort to equally inhumane terrorism, if I've managed to only swear four times, I'll take it as a victory. That being said, I have reconsidered two of the four word choices, as in retrospect they were unnecessary by my own definition. The other two I've left in. I apologize to any that may take offense therewith.

Questions/comments/witch burnings, hit me up. Be glad to hear them.

Little Things Taken For Granted.

I was reading this (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2737443520090227) this morning, and I realized how nice it's been to be able to go to most restaurants here in Palestine and not be limited to one choice of drink provider. Usually they have Coke, and then either Pepsi or RC. Or you might find a local or Arab soft drink. Usually there's water, and many times you can find juice*.

Hell, many places, they'll squeeze the oranges, carrots, whatever, right there in front of you.

Too bad I had to come to what many Americans believe to be an anti-democracy terrorist enclave to experience what life without exclusivity contracts in a supposed "free market" could look like.

[ * : And no, I don't mean Cokepicana Concentrated Orange Juice Product Drink. Christ, can't we force companies to sell all their products under one company name, printed nice and large on the front of the label so that we can start getting over the idea that there's more than two of them? Can you imagine? Call it Pepsiade instead of Gatorade. Or at least Gatorade (by Pepsi). I want Americans to start feeling depressed when they walk down shelf after shelf of their supermarket and see that every item on the shelf is owned by two companies. Competition? Bullshit.]

A Warning About Voltages

And now, a Public Service Announcement.

When travelling in foriegn countries, heed the warnings not to plug electrical devices into wall sockets directly if they do not have a converter attached to them. Failure to heed these cautions may cause you to fry your beard trimmer, and, after a month of going trimless, you will look like Paul Bunyan.

In other news, new beard trimmers are delightful. Remember when you first got that electric trimmer/razor and the blade was brand new and didn't pull out your hair by the root with each swipe?

Oh...heavenly. I gave my beard a good many more swipes even after it was good and trimmed, just to feel the smoothness of New Trimmer Blades.

Now my beard is nice and trimmed (probably much shorter than Beth would like it.. sorry babe), and all is right with the world.

Now to write plays for fifth graders. From scratch. Yikes.

p.s. It's storming like it means it outside. Good: We need the rain. Bad: I need to do laundry.

A (Praise) Chorus of Random Thoughts

Wow, what a difference some positive reaffirmation can make.

Yesterday I was a mess, trying to write a play for fifth graders with a far lesser reading level. Today, they really seemed to get into it and enjoy it, and it turns out my understanding of their comprehension level isn't too far off. I'm still not looking forward to the work, per se, but I feel a lot better about my chances of actually pulling this off.

Then...oh, saving grace, I got to work with my 9th/10th graders at Beit Sahour. In the space of an hour, we went from the outlines of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet and cranked out a decent plot outline of a brand new farce, merging the two. It's not, shall I say, Shakespeare, but it's really quite exciting. Sophmoric, but we must consider our sources. I'm actually looking forward to this part of my job here, which is a blessing.

Part of it is the students I have; they're excited to do the work; that, and if the little I saw in auditions holds true, there are at least two of them that should prove to be decent actors, the kind where I really, really wish I could see them work in their own language, without the barrier.

------

It's never gonna be quite what you want
Even at 25, you gotta start sometime..

That particular line is starting to depress me.. maybe that's too harsh, but it rings differently now that I'm past 25. Before, it was a gentle reminder that 22 wasn't the end-all for figuring life out, now, even my lyrical benchmark is behind me.

Part of it is that nagging feeling I have that, even now that I'm done with grad school and argueably "doing" my life's work, I still feel every now and then that I'm not being true to myself..that if I really did just get up and do what I wanted, I would leave this all behind, convince Laura, Ryan and Pokey to quit their jobs and make a go at it. And I think we could make it, honestly enough, through no fault of my own -- I've been listening to a lot of Stewart Copeland lately, and it just shames me..shame, I say -- but because of the songwriting and style that they've created. I just want to be in a band and travel around the world and not have to worry about anything else, damnit. Is that so much to ask?

Do not answer that.

-----

Anyway. Things to do tonight.... write a play for tomorrow's 6th-10th group. Start writing the five or six plays for Wednesday's 6th graders..finish writing 3 more plays for the 5th graders.

Also, tonight, I think I'm going to try making french fries, on my hotplate. I think it's hot enough to heat oil..we'll see. Else I'll just have some really raw french fries.

One of my fondest memories growing up is eating dad's homemade french fries. They're not that difficult as far as food goes, but they were one of the things that proved to me the difference between things that took time and caring and things that didn't. Eating homemade french fries teaches you just what you miss when you go to McDonald's. There's a sappy novel-turned-Oscar-potential-movie in here somewhere, I just know it.

------

Speaking of the finer things, I have one back in the States that should just be waking up. It's still strange to me that I can wake up, get ready, go to work and be home all in the same hours that Beth is asleep. I remember how peaceful she looks, how soft her features are when she's asleep. It's something very much missed.

------

Apparently, I am supposed to go play pool tomorrow with the brother of George, the guy who runs the shop where I get my daily sundries at the end of my block. I'm still not quite sure what this all entails.

------

And now, to go and try to not burn myself with hot oil. Film at eleven.

Did I mention...

...how much I've missed having music playing at all times?

I can physically feel my well-being improve. Is that a sign of addiction?

I'm okay with it, if it is.

A Praise (Chorus)

Are you gonna live your life wonderin'?
Standing in the back?
Looking around?

I finally got around to installing Quintessential, and thus playing music on my laptop. Jimmy, of course, was the first track selected. I guess this means they've officially overtaken Filter in the "favorite band" department, if anyone over the age of 17 even keeps track of that anymore.

I have acquired internet in the apartment. It is slow, spotty, over a cellular network and being pulled in from across the wall, but I'll take it. I cannot tell you how much this changes my life.

I woke up this morning, and instantly grabbed the remote. Until now, I've been relying on television -- The BBC, anything -- to make me feel like I was connected to the rest of the world. I missed this instant connection; it's not so much a need for stimulation as it is the need to feel a part of the ongoing conversation. I have that back now.

So television, so long, and thanks for all the memories; the badly-edited movies, the same commercials every commercial break, the passive-aggressive battle I had with the BBC Weather Reporters. You've been a good friend, and I may visit from time to time, but for now it's over.

Life can return to its normal routine: wake up, press "play," let the music set me up for the day.

I'm on my feet
I'm on the floor
I'm good to go,
Now all I need
Is just to hear
A song I know..

Holy Sites

So, I live about a minute's walk from the Church of the Nativity.

It dawned on me today that this could be the same as living a minute's walk from the Ka'bah or some other parallel.

I had this discussion in brief with a few folks at bible study a few weeks back, but thought I'd open it up to the general public..what, if anything, is Christianity's "Holiest Site"? Non-Christians are welcome to respond as well..

The choices below are by no means exhaustive. Feel free to defend your answer/provide insight in comments (and by feel free I mean please do.)

I've included some obvious choices (Nativity, Sepulchre), some not so obvious (River Jordan), some ecumenical (Western Wall, even St. Anne's for you Catholic-types). I haven't distinguished between the traditional places and their actual places (i.e., if you think Jesus' tomb would be the holiest place, but don't believe that the Holy Sepulchre is the right spot, choose that answer anyway...let's not split hairs at the moment. This means you, Lieutenant Laughlin.)

It is set up so that you can choose more than one answer. It will be more useful to me if you only choose one. The power is in your hands.

Online Surveys & Market Research

If it asks for a password, use "holycrap". I know. I know.

My Trip To The Ramallah Checkpoint

1:11 pm: Arrive at the Checkpoint. Queue up for the First Turnstile. Roughly fifteenth in line.

1:28 pm: Allowed through the First Turnstile. Make my way to Gate 2. Again, roughly 20th in line.

1:38 pm: Gate 2 is arbitrarily closed. Gate 1 is opened. When the dust settles, I am once again about 20th in line.

1:48 pm: Now first in line, but the three gentlemen who just went through are being yelled at and coming back out.

1:51 pm: Informed that Gate 1 has now been closed, and Gate 2 is open. I go from being next in line to (you guessed it) somewhere around 20th.

2:02 pm: Make it through the checkpoint.

Multiple Choice Quiz:

1. I was trying to get from:
(a) A Palestinian territory to an Israeli territory.
(b) A Palestinian territory to a Palestinian territory.

Correct answer: B

2. I am a:
(a) Terrorist
(b) Filthy Terrorist
(c) Devil
(d) Citizen of the one country currently keeping Israel from being "reclaimed" by the rest of the Middle East

Correct answer: D

3) If the United States subjected its own citizens to this kind of treatment, there would be:
(a) Rejoicing
(b) Riots in the street
(c) Revolution

Correct answer: B and/or C

4) If the United States subjected Israeli citizens to arbitrary checkpoints and baggage searches when they visited our country, Israel would:

(a) Thank us
(b) Be indifferent
(c) Accuse us of being anti-Semetic, anti-Jewish, and probably find some reason why we were responsible for the Holocaust

Correct Answer: C

5) The Ramallah Checkpoint is strategically placed so as to stop:

(a) Terrorists from blowing up Israeli towns
(b) Palestinians from traveling in Palestine

Correct Answer: B

How'd you score?

Surprised it took me this long...

Here it is! You know you've been waiting for it!

Camisan Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon (2003) Bethlehem, Palestine

I purchased this at the corner store next to where I live. Since then, I've found that most places are carrying the 05 vintage, which explains the slight "turning" sensation. Anyway, here it is, review number 1:

The Cabernet, poured into the closest thing I can find to a wine glass (more like a brandy glass than a wine glass, bulbous and smaller, but will do the trick). A dark-medium dark ruby coloring that would seem pale to those raised on California cabernets; the wine nevertheless bears a nose true to type. More specifically, a slight anise overtone leads to black cherry with an odd blend of tobacco and menthol. When tasted, the wine is apparently already beginning to turn... this is not a wine given to aging, it seems. The tannins are, as expected, smoothed out, but retain a certain gumminess, and the oak only shows its spice on the finish, which still manages to linger on the top of the pallate even while it disappears from the tongue. I cannot describe the taste in the mouth except to say that the wine is past its prime.

Whoops.

I'll try again soon with the 05 vintage, and see if that's a more appropriate launching point into the wines of the Holy Land.

As for now, I've acquired two different kinds of Arak (an anise-based liquor), both brewed locally. I'll have a comparison (I didn't know there could be different Araks.. everything I've had to this point has the same flavor: liquified black licorice) soon.

QUICK! Buy me things!

Hey? Always wondered how YOU can support ME while I'm here in Palestine? Quick! Go here! It ends today: http://www.goats.com/store/enigma/

Buy shirts for me! They're awesome! Have them shipped to:

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer
attn: Jarrod Jabre
POB 14076 Muristan Road
91140 Jerusalem VIA ISRAEL

But do it quick! The sale ends today! (the 31st, your time, I *think*. You can always try afterwards..maybe Jon will be nice/forgetful.)

Not in the spending mood? At least go to www.goats.com and read through some of the comics...I suggest starting all the way at the beginning (trust me). **Warning: Contains content that may be unsuitable for minors, or may be offensive to some folks reading these entries. To the point of near gratuity. I think his art and brilliance is worth the risk, even if he has been meandering for two or so years.**

So..uh...anyhow. Enough of me begging. GOODBYE.

Selling Holy Land by the Pound

Last night the streets smelled of Vegas. There was a distinct presence of vanilla.. not the real vanilla, or even the vanilla from scented candles, but the vanilla from whatever it is that casinos use to keep their floors and elevators from smelling like whiskey and sex.

Strangely, Vegas is one of the few cities that has ever truly captivated me, to the point of calling me to return after I departed. Incongruous as that might sound for a faux-socialist seminarian to say about a city built on the illicit, underhanded and amoral, but you have to admire a city that truly knows itself. So many cities and towns try to be something they're not; the farming town that wants to be an industrial giant, the burgeoning city that believes that building bigger arts centers will magically make them an arts capital. Vegas... has none of these pretensions. It seems to enjoy being precisely what it is, and finds new avenues only in advancing and refining its set course.

Bethlehem, despite thousands of years of history, seems to have less of a grasp on itself...which makes sense for city living through as much turmoil and uncertainty as this town sees daily. A tourist town, for about three blocks. Then a rural village. Then a few blocks of growth and modernization. A block of random tourist attractions..the kinds that, you can tell, are only visited when the owner's cousin brings their tour bus to that certain olive wood shop and conveniently placed falafel stand. (Easy way to spot these: their doors are closed and locked, any time of day or week, unless a tinted-window bus is parked outside.) Be sure to stock up on all your once-in-a-lifetime opportunities of glass, wood, and even samples of the dirt off the sidewalks: today, lucky shoppers, they're selling Holy Land by the pound, and just for you, just today, at a very special price.

The tragedy is that they have to sell the ground in plastic bags...everything else worth having has been taken from them.

Bethlehem..birthplace of Christ, and now barely 30% of its people are Christian, in a town that was once a bastion of Christians in the Holy Land. Continued war, oppression and occupation, with the resulting and mirroring growth in Islamic fundamentalism, have forced many former occupants, Christian and Muslim alike, to leave. The town, the country, the region. The percentages have not been even. If the occupation continues as it is, we stand the very real chance of having the monks at the Church of the Nativity remain as the only Christians in town.

Explain that to your die-hard "Defending Israel is a Christian's Duty!" friends. The ones who don't care that the ancestors of the Apostles still live in this land: the ones who, when you read the itineraries of their "Holy Land" tour groups do not even list Bethlehem...so scared, or prejudiced -- or both -- are they that they cannot step foot behind the wall long enough to ride a plush-seated bus through the streets where tired shepherds once ran to catch a glimpse of their Messiah.

There, the strange and tragic disparity between The City of Sin and the Town of David. Las Vegas is selling itself willingly; Bethlehem has been unwillingly sold out.

Credit Where Credit is Due

Interesting dichotomy... on Arab satellite television, usually the credits at the end of movies are cut off midway, to make time for another repeat of the same "coming soon" teaser ad they've run during every commercial break.

Yet, at the end of every music video, is a full listing of every person (and I mean every person) involved with the filming thereof.

So screw you, American key dolly grips. If you aren't working on Amr Diab's latest video, you can kiss your fleeting five seconds of scrolling screentime sayonara!

Variance

I laugh, to myself, each and every time I pass a barber shop with the word "saloon" in its name. I wonder if it's a case of widespread Engrish, if it's a pronunciation variance, or if the word is etymologically a cognate that just happens to have a variant meaning in English.

It's easy to imagine that the place where you are isn't so different as where you left, when you sit in your apartment and hear the happy chiming of the ice cream truck outside. Sure, it's odd that the truck is still making it's rounds at 9pm, but maybe that's a cultural thing.

Until you see the ice cream truck one random morning, playing it's happy ice cream truck jingle, and you realize it's the propane delivery truck.

In many ways, I believe it might be more disjarring to live in a world that so closely resembles your own, and yet is so very different in so many simple, integral ways.

(It took me three minutes to think of the word "integral." Maybe alcohol does kill off brain cells, and this is my punishment. Perhaps, alternatively, I've been out of school for too long.)

Carrots are delicious.

Woke up late today, thanks to not having classes on holy days, which makes for the world's oddest weekend (consisting of Friday and Sunday).

Had a hot shower, which requires waiting half an hour for the water heater to warm up (there is warm water available via solar tank, but sometimes I just really want hot water). Left the space heater in the bathroom and closed the door, which meant by the time I was out of the shower, it wasn't deathly cold, but almost...almost...temperate.

Walked down towards Dar Annadwa; stopped to talk to Alan, a local shopkeeper, for a while, and enjoyed a delicious carrot while we watched absolutely zero tourists and shoppers walk by.

Dear Potential Tourists: Unless you see on the news the words "Intifada," "West Bank on Fire," or one of these words -- "Israel," "Palestine," "Syria," -- used in conjunction with the phrase "has gone (very) insane," there is no reason to not travel to the Holy Lands. Ever wanted holy sites to yourself? Now is the perfect time. And the economy here needs you. For many people, tourism is the only industry they've got left.

Did I mention the carrot was delicious?

Real Madrid 3 - Manchester United 1

I'm in Tel Aviv. I'm not entirely sure why.

Let me back up.

For the past week, I've been trying to track down a mobile/cellular internet card for my laptop, as there is zero internet in my apartment. I finally found a company that covers Bethlehem, but they won't deliver there. Nor will they deliver to the LWF compound in Jerusalem. I guess that was my initial excuse for taking a day trip to Tel Aviv, so that I could give them a "safe" address.

What's the real reason? I guess I missed 'civilization', at least as I've come to know it.

So, I hopped the #21 from Bethlehem, did the dance at the checkpoint (everybody off the bus, stand in line, passports out, checked one at a time), and made my way to Jerusalem. Off at Damascus Gate, pay way too much for a taxi to the train station, all the way assuring the cab driver that, no, I did not feel like paying 300 NIS to have him drive me to Tel Aviv.

Onto the train, and no sleeping, because none of the announcements are in English, so I have to crane my neck to find the one sign on each platform that had the stop's name in English.

Arrive in Tel Aviv, wander around for fifteen minutes, finally find the right bus. The bus driver claims the stop I want isn't a real stop. I get on anyway..what's the worst that could happen? Get lost in a strange city halfway across the world wherein I speak neither of the languages spoken?

I could deal with that.

Fast forward, I didn't get lost, and I'm at a bar across from the US Embassy called "Mike's Place." The real reason I came...to sit at a bar, eat a burger, have a beer and talk to a bartender in fluent, unbroken American English. My bartender's name is Elad. We talk a little, small talk, the usual. I'm from DC, he's from Israel, by way of New York. It explains his accent, or rather, lack thereof. He asks if I'm with Birthright, I explain I'm Christian. Conversation continues. I hide my disgust at hearing the name "Birthright," and he hides his distrust of anyone who will be spending a large amount of time in the West Bank. We bury our real emotions underneath the veneer of barroom camaraderie...either that, or we honestly just get along despite our differences. One and a half weeks here and I've already started to default to assuming that everyone is secretly disapproving of everyone else. Welcome to the Holy Lands, eh?

I sit, and drink my Paulaner. I was excited to find it on draft..but this tastes like a hefeweizen rather than a helles. I have my burger. It's huge, and the kitchen understands what a real 'rare' burger looks like. I watch soccer (football...oy) on the television. Real Madrid vs. Manchester United. About twenty minutes in, Beckham's name flashes by on a red jersey, and I realize I must be watching the Israeli equivalent of ESPN Classics. I continue to watch anyway.

I catch myself staring at the Red Bull sign, written in Hebrew, and hearing the mix of Hebrew and English pass around me. Burger's done, and beer's gone. I pay out and leave. Halfway home, I realize I'm walking feet from the beach (and the Atlantic), underneath exotic trees in a country halfway around the world, and I'm not even paying attention. In Tel Aviv it is all to easy to forget you're not home..it looks so normal. So real, so modern. And yet, there's something nagging. Something that's been nagging since the bar.

I'd manufactured this trip. I wanted to replicate what, at home, would've been just another night, but here, had to go two hours and half a country out of my way. As comforting as it might feel for a moment, it catches up to me, and it is all the more apparent just how fabricated it all has been.

To anyone who's worked with me on a show, or seen one of my shows, since about 2001, I apologize, but my "ridiculous obsession with love the real" has yet to subside. It makes for an interesting study in this land; a land where (I believe) the Great Real became even more real, and yet, now, everything -- from the Western makeup of the "secular city," to the charade of security at checkpoints, to the 'friendship' for an American, from impoverished storekeepers and cab drivers in an occupied country -- everything has a glossy shine of falsehood.

Bishops, Bishops Everywhere

So.... the bishops are here. ELCA, ELCC, and ELCJHL, all cavorting and frolicking through the holy lands
I was able to attend service at Our Redeemer (the Lutheran church in Bethlehem) yesterday, for a joint English-Arabic service. It was heartening to hear Bishop Hanson (presiding Bishop, ELCA) speak so passionately on behalf of Palestine and peace, and inspiring to receive communion from Bishop Younan (Bishop, ELCJHL).

Still settling into the apartment. Still working on the internet issue, although Dar Annadwa seems to have capitulated and no longer asks me to leave. I think it has to do with me being in the cafe now rather than the lobby. (Have I mentioned Taybeh yet? It's delicious.)

There are 38 students in the 5th grade class at Beit Sahour. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Is it sad that the 3rd graders there speak better English than I do Arabic?

I seem to have made a friend. Josef, a cab driver, who now insists on driving me from the 21 bus to my apartment. This would be, keep in mind, all of about a fifteen minute walk. Yesterday he took me to meet his friend who runs a gift shop downtown. Oh, the joys of being an American in an impoverished country. I can't seem to explain to them that I'm in debt up to my eyeballs and can't afford to prop up the Bethlehem economy on my own, try as I might (and they need it...Gaza is keeping tourists away. Which is stupid.)

I am accepting gifts of TV on DVD. I'm almost done with season 1 of the IT Crowd, and if I don't replenish my supply soon I will be forced to watch whatever tripe is on one of the FOX stations (although I have now officially caught up on all those Ben Stiller movies I missed. I was right. I wasn't missing much.)

Last night a child positioned himself so that I couldn't shut my outer door while he repeatedly begged for change. Unfortunately, there's no one around from whom I could find out if he actually needs it. He hangs around the corner store by my alley, and the lady inside has told me not to give to him, but there's always motivations apart from the obvious. I figure a shekel a day, times about 170, divided by 3.5 would come out to about fifty bucks for the duration, but I'm afraid of starting something that could snowball.

Hopefully, when I acquire internet in my home, I'll be able to post these things when I'm being introspective, and not just when I'm listening to Al-Jazeera in Arabic while typing on a tiny laptop. (and I mean tiny. This thing is awesome, but typing is a bit of a learning experience.)

Peace.

Throw Away Your Television

So, I have yet to acquire internet in my apartment here, which has led me to try and find other diversions. Monday, I decided to see what was on my NILESAT satellite tv other than BBC World. For some reason, I figured that going through each channel individually would be a great idea.

At first, I began by simply writing down any channel I found with English content....and it all went downhill from there.

(For the sake of not breaking anyone's RSS feed -- or eyes -- I've posted the List here.)

So This Is Christmas...

... again.

Today's Christmas (rather, "Nativity of our Lord") for the Armenians, followed by another Nativity tomorrow for the Orthodox at large. For a few days, at least, the bells of the Church of the Nativity are going toe-to-toe with the calls to prayer.

Spent yesterday with Sr. Sylvia, getting to know some of the kids at the two schools by sitting in on talks given by Tim Frakes. (The Lutherans among you may know Tim's work, if you've ever watched 'Mosaic,' the ELCA's old video program, or seen Dr. Stjerna's program on Katie Luther). Tim no longer works for ELCA Churchwide, but his passion for exploring faith seems unabated. He's a great guy to talk to, and intensely dedicated to justice and peace... if you have a moment, visit http://www.frakesproductions.com and check out his shots from his trip to Palestine/Israel.

My apartment is like nothing I could've envisioned. I'm staying in the house where the mother of the husband of one of Beit Sahour's kindergarden teachers was raised. (Follow that? Good.) The rooms are huge, if unheated. Me and my lone space heater are quick becoming best of friends. I'll post a video tour as soon as my camera gets juiced up -- it'll give me a chance to try some techniques gleaned from Tim's workshops.

I have no internet in the apartment yet..not sure if that will change or not. I'm going to try. At the moment I'm sitting in the lobby of the International Center at Christmas Church (the Lutheran congregation in Bethlehem.)

Got a chance to hang out with Mike (from Trinity Seminary, now interning in Jerusalem) on Sunday, and meeting up with more ELCA folks on Friday night, I think. Until then, I've got a week on my own to bumble around Bethlehem, trying to figure out how to say "I need to buy a towel."

Because I do. Whoops.

I'm going to refrain on talking Gaza right now, because if you're anything like me you're probably overloaded. Of course, it might just be me, given that 24-hour news is the most interesting channel available on my television. (For more television adventures, tune in to a future post, where I reveal the results of yesterday's marathon "Try Every Channel Available" test run.)

I'm out. Hungry. More later.

p.s. Huh...just realized I'd labeled these as "Israel" rather than "Palestine." How non-factual of me. Redacted.

Holy Lands...

... holy shit.

It finally dawned on me, on the plane ride over, that I'd agreed to move halfway across the world.

I'm here. Safe. No troubles, no "Fun with Immigration Services" like last time. I'm in Jerusalem tonight, Bethlehem tomorrow.

It's begun.


Here I am. (God help me.)