Hello, board. I originally planned writing this post last night after I got back from the con, but tiredness succumbed me (warning: LONG!).
But first, buckets of ~mas to Bartleby, Barb and beth's DH. You're in my thoughts. I also need to say again that I love this board, so much. Also, Happy Birthday, Sail!
It's been long 40-something hours. In which, I started thinking seriously, and not just heart wishfully, about my future. There are stuff I look forward to, and stuff that's I'm less excited about.
But first, con reviews!
Well, it's been pretty empty (compare to usual). Icon missed the atmosphere it usually has, and that has to do with some inter community politics things I won't post about here, but it did brought to life Reverticon as an alternative for those who are missing more community-based cons (or as I call it in my mind fondly, "perverticon". Shame on me I won't be there).
Anyway, the lectures. The one about urban crimes wasn't as interesting as I thought it'll be. I guess it would have been better if the lecturer had more time, but it sounded more like one of his classes (he's an academic clinical criminologist) than a lecture to sci-fi fans - he mostly gave examples out of Clockwork Orange and Blade Runner. I believe that the problem of the lecture, as some people in the audience said, is that it was missing zombies; give the man to lecture about the undead and/or gore movies, and he'll be vibrant and infectious with his enthusiasm. There was a very interesting part of the lecture which I already forgot about crime theories and two kick-ass researches from the early 90's. Alas, cannot remember anymore.
The second lecture was a hell lot better. A lively, interesting panel about Malay, Indonesia and Singapore, on which I heard a lot about history and the place of memory in both society and architecture (in Singapore, after the Japanese conquer) and about liberal Islam (Indonesia). Also learned that except for the past 400 years, most of everything - commerce, culture and people are/were from Asia, and it's retaking it's place. And that none of us could name an Asian tea or coffee brand, because we're all getting it from Westerns companies even though most plantations of coffee and tea are in Asia. Also learned more about the history of The Netherlands is those regions. Absolutely fascinating.
The third lecture was absolutely wonderful. From Le passe-muraille, Rapunzel, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the legend about Rashi's mother, the lecturer talked about the wall's place in stories and myths, about Berlin wall and the Great Wall. How the wall can function as a barrier and can change too, and why talking to the wall can be a very smart thing to do.
Also, I'm now a member of The Israeli Society for Science-Fiction and Fantasy. Got a cool, fantastically written annual from them when I signed up (and, umm, this was mostly why I signed up), which is an absolute pleasure to read.
Now, as for the other parts of life.
I found only 4 new that-maybe-could-be-optional offers from the internet. It seems like we'll live in Maa'le Adumim. I'm not fully in agreement with that, of course, and although I know that will never happen, I'd be partying if the government will decide to kick out the settlement (but they won't. It's too big).
I realized some things. I chose to be mostly blind to that part of Israel, dismissing it as "them", "those people", etc.. It's not them. It's a whole system planned to support those settlements, from the Very Affordable Living (Israel's housing prices are one the highest in the world. That's one of the reasons my family always rented) to the supposedly love-hate relationships with the public opinion about it. But it is a part of Israel. A part that I hate, but part nonetheless. And it would be wrong of me trying to ignore it. And since I'm planning very specific academic career, it can be (continued...)
( continues...) enlightening to live there and get to know this part and it's rationality better. I still have the urge to tear up the place bear handed, but I can't blame the ones who live there - they do get full governmental support and benefits. I'm tired and tense from the anxiety of worrying about it. Some of the mussels in my body are aching.
There's also a chance that until we'll move and university will start, I'll live with one of the greatest women I have the privilege to know. She's the widow of my late grandfather's brother. Born in 1923, have graduated history and sociology in Oxford (and sat in some of the lectures of C.S. Lewis!), was the head of English Department in HUJI, prof. emeritus for years, one of the founders of Israeli Academic Women Organization. She's a kick-ass, spicy, lively (to her age) woman which I respect and cherish, and I'll be glad crushing her place for about two-three weeks, if we'll manage to do that.
ION, my sis, who just got back to the army from the weekend, was sent back to the ER. She was doing better, but got worse in the past few hours. If she'll be hospitalized, my mom will go to be with her. I wanna say that my life can stop being interesting any minute now, but hey, some surprises were interesting for the better. Friends and accidental meet with a professor on her sabbatical made wonders to my feeling about life.
And hey, Chuck Bass just told Blair Waldrof on my TV screen last night that he loves her, in a badly done season finale of Gossip Girl and a badly directed and/or written scene. So maybe some things do and can change.
Oh, and I was also introduced to the awesomeness of the kosher, vegan bacon salt.
My first post here that had to be split.
Wow.
I am wet and cold.
Yesterday at work I went out to my car for lunch, and it ran rough. I opened the hood and my 3rd spark plug wire had been chewed by rodent teeth.
I limped home on 5 cylinders because it was raining and although I had duct tape, I didn't want to deal with it.
This morning I got up early and it was pouring out.
Oh well.
Slogged out to the car, and took a look in daylight. It appeared that they had not eaten it through, but my plan was to shorten the wire (they had eaten near the end) as a temp fix.
However, it was cold and I managed to get part of the boot area they had chewed cut off with a side cutters. at that point I could see the wire intact at the "cut" so I wrapped the wire in gobs of electrical tape and so far the engine ran fr a few minutes without problem.
That should hold it for a dry day. Or until I can move stuff out of the way in my garage and work inside.
Still? a temporary win, if it holds...
joins in the Shir snuggle
I almost forgot. I came in here to pass on mixed news. It seems dad is coming home tonight from the nursing home. At first blush, this sounds great. Until you hear the rest of the message, that he didn't like it there and was being uncooperative, so they will finish the physical therapy at home.
Good luck with the car, Daniel. God knows we have a lot of car troubles of ourselves here too, which can be a pain in the ass.
While I'll fondly indulge in every type (or just most types...?) of Buffista snuggling, I am OK and sorry if I overwhelmed the thread. I accept this is gonna be my reality, and this is complicated shit. I'm looking forward to finding the good stuff which will have to come along the way, while restraining myself from taking my rage on random people/property of the settlement, because I don't think I'd like jail very much. I'm accepting this; just not fully, not yet.
A lot of ~ma to your dad and his surroundings, omnis.
Shir, I was too sleepy to post last night but I'm really glad to read that you've found a way to come to some sort of peace with where it looks like you may be living. It's not what you would choose, but it's not entirely in your control, so finding a way to live with it is important. And your temporary host sounds like a fascinating woman.
Shir, I am fascinated by your posts; they're teaching me so much about Israel and all of the complications that are involved with living day to day life. Please don't feel like you can't or shouldn't post about it. We're here for you (even though I am more lurker than poster these days, due to life).
