Yep. Rockets did land in north of Israel. Joy.
Oh, great.
There was some newscast or TV program or something I watched a few years ago, that had one segment where an elderly Arab Israeli man walked a reporter around the remains of the village where he grew up, and then they were sitting on a bench on the beach (I'm pretty sure it was in Tel Aviv), talking about the situation. Elderly man says, "...and peace will be good for everyone -- good for the Jews, good for the Muslims,..." Random surfer dude walking by adds, "Good for the surfers!" Elderly man, without missing a beat, continues, "...good for the surfers, good for everybody." It was hysterical. I'm trying to find this clip again, but I can't remember enough about the program to get the right search terms.
I'm with you Hil. Torn about how to enjoy the Inauguration with as little agita as possible.
My landlord is actually considering sleeping in the store Monday night so that he can be open on the day. Chances are good he won't be able to get in from MD otherwise.
I almost offered to let him crash in my office but, you know what? I'm just not that good.
I WILL lend him my -5 rated sleeping bag and large Therma-rest though. Must make a note to offer.
Given the maps of closures we've seen, the friend with the fireplace and plasma screen is looking better all the time.
OMG, y'all. This has been such a long week and it's only freaking Tuesday.
We told our die-hard drama kids (which is about 100 kids...15% of the student body) that their beloved program is in jeopardy today. I gotta say, pissed off and righteous middle schoolers are a sight to behold. There are petitions, posters, letters to the school board, letters to the local paper, buttons being designed. Parents are already emailing and asking what to do. The PTO met tonight and it was part of their agenda. It's being addressed at the union meeting tomorrow (which should be interesting!). College students and high school students who went through the program are contacting the school board and paper.
I've been compiling research that shows how the arts, and drama in particular, aid in student learning, especially helping to raise those blasted test scores. I've also put together a chart detailing all the language arts standards that I actually address in my drama classes (frankly, it surprised even me how many I hit). All this research will be put together in a packet for the school board.
Considering none of this became public until yesterday, it's amazing how fast people are moving.
Maybe I'm living here too long, but it sounds very reasonable comment to me.
Truth be told, I'm on the hunt after the people who don't want peace here. Just to ask what their fucking agenda is, because even the extremists want peace - they only differ on the way to get it. I just want to find those people, look them in the eye, and ask them if it's worth it, whatever it is they're getting from the current situation.
Given the maps of closures we've seen, the friend with the fireplace and plasma screen is looking better all the time.
I live within the area where streets are going to be closed, so I can pretty much walk to anywhere I'd want to be. The security checkpoints for the parade look like a pain -- the parade gets pretty close to my apartment, but the closest checkpoint to actually get in to view the parade is several blocks further away.
Oh, it's very good. It shows how much people care about the program and don't want to see it demolished. I just hope the school board sees that and does what the community wants.
And, frankly, we need to move fast. The "new and improved" middle school schedule is being presented to the school board on the 26th and they will vote on it on Feb. 2nd.
Sigh.
People in the Upper Galilee are being asked to stay within shelters this morning.
Bonny, Shir, Kristin - all of you are in my thoughts right now. I wish I could think of a better secular equivalent to 'In my prayers' - in my heart? It sounds cheesy (and indeed rather gruesome) but it's about right.
Anyway. Love and hope and peace in various forms to all of you and your loved ones.
In completely trivial memememe news:
(1) I think that I have a new OTP (for the first time since Season 1 of
Smallville,
oh gloriously glittery rose-pink-tinged days of yore) thanks to the arrival of Castiel in
Supernatural.
That would be my button being pushed like crazy right there; much as I love SPN, and although I can understand why people are aboard the Wincest train, ultimately it isn't my beautiful cake. But Dean/HotAngelGuy? Holy mother of blaspheme, I am SO there.
(2) I can haz Wii! Woohoo! Much merriment ensued. Although I was sad that my
Clone Wars
Jedi warrior game didn't work, and that the shop had run out of PotC games. Still, much fun!
(3) I am wearing this lovely taffata skirt to teach in. (And a black t shirt and a complimentary scarf, obviously. Not just a skirt.) Although, since the model in that photo is from the planet of the giraffe people, and I am five foot two and a bit, on me it's closer to ankle length. Which is how I like my skirts - if I don't need to pick it up in handfuls when I go up a flight of stairs, I don't feel like there's enough skirt going on.
(4) The winter chill here in Bangkok is sufficient to neccesitate the kids to wear cardigans, and indeed I've been wearing a warm scarf over my shoulders atop the T shirt all day, and have even switched the AC off several times! (And on again, when it warmed up.) Which means that it's strawberry weather! Hurrah! I bought a bag of fresh strawberries on the street at lunch time, to go with the strawberry cheesecake I made for breakfast and the basket of strawberries sitting in my fridge. Hurrah!
