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.]
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, February 23, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, February 20, 2009
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.
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..
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..
Friday, February 13, 2009
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.
If it asks for a password, use "holycrap". I know. I know.
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.
If it asks for a password, use "holycrap". I know. I know.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
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?
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?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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.
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.
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