There's a small town in Alabama with a rapidly shrinking Jewish community (happening in a lot of small towns in the south -- the younger people are mostly moving out to the cities) where the synagogue is offering grants of up to $50,000 to Jewish families who'll agree to move there for at least five years. The grants are split into specific amounts to cover moving expenses, synagogue membership, private school tuition for kids, and small business loans. It's an interesting idea -- New Orleans is doing something similar, since a lot of the Jewish population left after Katrina, and the synagogues are kind of struggling to stay solvent -- but it's different in a small town than in a city.

Being Jewish in Pensacola must have had it's problems for yor hub at times. It's not exactly known for its Jewish community.

Actually, Pensacola has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the south, with his family having been there since 1876 and was very integrated into the business, political, and social life of the city. Add to that the fact that his immediate family was very Reform, it wasn't a huge issue.

But yeah, Pensacola has got some definite armpit of the universe aspects to it. Right now, I'm not feeling too kindly towards Jacksonville either and if it wasn't for the fact that we've only been in this house for a year and I'd hate to uproot the kids after we've only really gotten them settled, I'd SO be looking for somewhere else to live.

Glad the swelling is reducing. I had a friend with a pretty severe burn scar on her cheek from childhood. She didn't hide it much, but when she did, holy shit. You couldn't tell she was hiding anything unless she smiled really wide (skin pulled oddly and even then, you kinda needed to know it was there to notice.) I'm trying to remember the cosmetic she used. I'm pretty sure it was designed especially for disguising bad facial scars.

I wish I had my camera at the vet's. Vet did too. When he walked into the room, I was hunched over uncomfortably in a chair with Devi wrapped across my shoulders, forcing my head forward and my sweater back, MK in my lap. Dr. Berry started laughing. What he didn't know was that I'd been in that position for 15 minutes and was cramping up.

I like Dr. Berry. Don't totally get him, but he handled Devi really well when she was freaking the fuck out and trying to climb on his head.

Pensacola has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the south

Really? I'm probably just not remembering that aspect of it right now. I've been away for a bit, though.

I've lived in Jacksonville, too. Most of the places I've lived in Florida have that definite armpit of the universe quality to them. If Hub's job didn't have us secured to this place, there is no way we'd still be here!

Have y'all read Heart of a Wife: Diary of a Southern Jewish Woman ?

It was quite interesting. First part of the 20th century in Georgia.

Have y'all read Heart of a Wife: Diary of a Southern Jewish Woman ?

No, but I'll add it to my list!

Have y'all read Heart of a Wife: Diary of a Southern Jewish Woman ?

Ditto. For me, that was always one of the most endearing things about Driving Miss Daisy-- that relationship between the poor, black chauffeur and the wealthy, old Atlanta Jewish lady-- polar opposites, but both outcasts in the south of that era.

Eep. This is a little stronger language than you usually see out of the National Weather Service:

-- People sheltering at ground level at Galveston Bay when Hurricane Ike hits face "certain death," the weather service warns.

But I have a cut on my lip that is still swollen and I'd like to think it's going to go away soon.

My unstitched but deepish cuts stayed swollen a couple weeks. Looks like this one which went right through the lip might be at least symmetrical in 10 days, if still big. It's so hard to say. I'm in that phase where I really hate TV injury makeup and injuries in narrative because they're so damned trivial and never swell.

Unfair.

I don't think I ever want to see the National Weather Service say "certain death." Even if they're not lying.

I'm still having the world's worst headache, in case you're keeping track. But it's only been since morning, so no ER for me.

Well, that isn't mincing...

Insiders who are also by some way outsiders have always fascinated me, probably because it is a feeling I'm familiar with. Whether by birth or psychological quirk (both,) I've felt it keenly. I was not part of the dominant culture I grew up in, but that culture was one that helped define me, even as I am not it. And I was a nerd in an even smaller circle that wasn't defined by that culture (well, not totally.) Yet another set of circles. And now? Well, the workplace finds me with similar weirdos as I sink into yet another living culture where I'm not like and never will be, but welcome me still. I'm their weirdo, I guess. I don't know that I'll ever be common in wherever I call home, for one reason or the other. Yet, on the surface, I'm ridiculously common. I've just never felt so. But you know what? It doesn't matter. I like 'em all, and I'm glad to be where I am. Everywhere. It's still a curiosity.