It was my mom's 60th birthday yesterday. That's a big one. We sort of celebrated her birthday when we were in the States a few weeks ago, but it was watered down (coupled with my 30th birthday, Matt's 31st birthday, my parents' 38th anniversary...). I do feel bad, though, that we couldn't go home for brunch/dinner. Sorry.
Not too much going on this week. Matt is very busy at work, because lots is going on in Vietnam right now (25.2% inflation!).
Our friend, Mandy (the apartment hunter) left yesterday.
The cat has meowed a lot at night - and on alternative nights she has been super sweet and cozy.
We got to see our friends Lauren and Mo tonight. We haven't seen them in forever, and we really like them. That was nice.
Our friends here had a baby. Mazal tov!
It was Jo's birthday yesterday. 30. Biggie.
We saw the new Indiana Jones. Matt's work rented out the theater. Eh. It was entertaining, but it wasn't very good. Embarassingly it was my first Indiana Jones. I should see the others. I heard they're better. Oh - one exciting thing - Tenley and I met up to go to that movie, and we had about five minutes to buy and scarf down dinner before it started. We got FAST FOOD! I ate a bean burrito from Taco Bell. This was my first since high school, and other than the time in Phuket when we had BK, this was my first fast food in so freaking long. The burrito was bad, but the french fries (who knew they go together? SINGAPOREANS!) were good.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The View
Our friend, Mandy is in Singapore looking for apartments. Matt and I went with her. Here are some pictures of the views from those apartments. All over Singapore (or really just the east coast). The second one, with all of the buildings that look the same are HDBs - public housing that 85% of Singaporeans live in. The houses in front of it are where about 5% live. There are TONS of HDB complexes near where we live. Also - the rug has a cat hidden in it. She loves doing that. it's funny.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A Great Saturday
I have already written about how much I love Saturdays. This will be another post that supports that claim.
Today wasn't so abnormal, but it was great.
I walked to the doctor that ruled in August to get more bcp. Mind you I haven't had a pap, or whatever you should have to get that stuff, in about two years. The doctor asked me if I was feeling alright, and he took my blood pressure, and then gave me six months' supply. They rule again!! By the way - I think I'm almost dead. My blood pressure has gone into the double digits - 95/60. Kind of scares me. The cute-little-chinese-doctor told me that as long as I'm not giddy, I'll be fine, and I will even live a long time. Okay, I guess.
I did my weekly trip to the market where I got beautiful fruits and vegetables, fresh fish cake and tofu, peanut pancake and lots of happiness.
Our air conditioning was fixed. At least we can sleep in tomorrow morning. This will be the first time since we got back from the US. I know, I know - when you have kids you don't even remember what it's like to sleep in, but we don't, so we appreciate that we can.
Matt and I played two man settlers (with the smaller board that I discovered the other day). It was really fun - but he won a lot.
I cleaned the poo off the toilets. Sad that we have to wait for a friend to come stay with us to get me to do that (when I'm not doing a normal house clean). I wonder if it's normal to just have poo sitting on your toilet. I don't remember it from my house growing up. Maybe the toilet bowls are shaped differently so it doesn't really leave a mark? I don't remember.
Matt went to play basketball with the guys (Christian, our friend Evan, John, and my co-worker, Tom), so I took a bus to a mall called "Kallang Leisure Park." They have an ICE SKATING RINK!!! AND A BOWLING ALLEY!!! This is obviously new, and it's very exciting. My first thought was - eh - who needs another mall, but apparently I do. It's not too far from our house - a half hour bus ride, or probably a 10 minute taxi ride. They also have a fancy expat grocery store there, so I got a lot of fancy expat foods and spent about three times what I spent at the market and got about a third of the amount of food.
I saw Made of Honor. It was cute. I must say that I can't deal with movies when people love each other, but they can't be together. I don't know why, but they make me so sad. I don't think I had a traumatic experience with that at any time - just a long distance relationship in college, but is that enough to scar me this much? They make me really sad. The good news is that they almost always end up together, so I don't have to worry. I know I didn't ruin the ending of this movie for any of you, because it's totally obvious from the beginning.
Funny/weird things today:
1. The lady who runs the doctor's office clearly had a bad cold. Super stuffy and coughing all over the place. She didn't cover her mouth. They even have posters up in the waiting area telling people to cover their mouths.
2. I saw a cat that had a face just like our cat. Obviously he/she was very cute.
3. I saw a full-grown lady riding a bike with training wheels. Who said you ever really have to learn to ride a bike?
4. I got ice coffee at a hawker stall near the doctor, and they gave me luke warm coffee and melted ice (within two seconds). I was a demanding American and asked for more ice. It still melted too soon, and it was gross. I didn't drink much of it. :(
Today wasn't so abnormal, but it was great.
I walked to the doctor that ruled in August to get more bcp. Mind you I haven't had a pap, or whatever you should have to get that stuff, in about two years. The doctor asked me if I was feeling alright, and he took my blood pressure, and then gave me six months' supply. They rule again!! By the way - I think I'm almost dead. My blood pressure has gone into the double digits - 95/60. Kind of scares me. The cute-little-chinese-doctor told me that as long as I'm not giddy, I'll be fine, and I will even live a long time. Okay, I guess.
I did my weekly trip to the market where I got beautiful fruits and vegetables, fresh fish cake and tofu, peanut pancake and lots of happiness.
Our air conditioning was fixed. At least we can sleep in tomorrow morning. This will be the first time since we got back from the US. I know, I know - when you have kids you don't even remember what it's like to sleep in, but we don't, so we appreciate that we can.
Matt and I played two man settlers (with the smaller board that I discovered the other day). It was really fun - but he won a lot.
I cleaned the poo off the toilets. Sad that we have to wait for a friend to come stay with us to get me to do that (when I'm not doing a normal house clean). I wonder if it's normal to just have poo sitting on your toilet. I don't remember it from my house growing up. Maybe the toilet bowls are shaped differently so it doesn't really leave a mark? I don't remember.
Matt went to play basketball with the guys (Christian, our friend Evan, John, and my co-worker, Tom), so I took a bus to a mall called "Kallang Leisure Park." They have an ICE SKATING RINK!!! AND A BOWLING ALLEY!!! This is obviously new, and it's very exciting. My first thought was - eh - who needs another mall, but apparently I do. It's not too far from our house - a half hour bus ride, or probably a 10 minute taxi ride. They also have a fancy expat grocery store there, so I got a lot of fancy expat foods and spent about three times what I spent at the market and got about a third of the amount of food.
I saw Made of Honor. It was cute. I must say that I can't deal with movies when people love each other, but they can't be together. I don't know why, but they make me so sad. I don't think I had a traumatic experience with that at any time - just a long distance relationship in college, but is that enough to scar me this much? They make me really sad. The good news is that they almost always end up together, so I don't have to worry. I know I didn't ruin the ending of this movie for any of you, because it's totally obvious from the beginning.
Funny/weird things today:
1. The lady who runs the doctor's office clearly had a bad cold. Super stuffy and coughing all over the place. She didn't cover her mouth. They even have posters up in the waiting area telling people to cover their mouths.
2. I saw a cat that had a face just like our cat. Obviously he/she was very cute.
3. I saw a full-grown lady riding a bike with training wheels. Who said you ever really have to learn to ride a bike?
4. I got ice coffee at a hawker stall near the doctor, and they gave me luke warm coffee and melted ice (within two seconds). I was a demanding American and asked for more ice. It still melted too soon, and it was gross. I didn't drink much of it. :(
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Says Matthew Hildebrandt, Smarty-pants Economist
"As long as inflation is high, real policy rates are actually falling, so policy makers do not have to cut by as much as you might think," said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JPMorgan.
"They are already having what we would consider looser monetary conditions by doing nothing, simply because inflation is rising," he said.
International Herald Tribune - Feb
``The budget makes it very clear that the government and central bank's main priority is to boost the economy,'' said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JPMorgan Chase Bank in Singapore.
Bloomberg - Feb
According to the economist with JPMorgan Chase Hildebrandt inflation will increase to an average of 16.1% for the current year and the dong will also consolidate by 1%.
Asia Economy Watch - March
"Inflation is generally a problem in Vietnam, but it's specifically a problem in food prices, especially imported food, and oil prices," said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JPMorgan Chase Bank in Singapore. "You need to find a way to limit the impact from imported goods."
Thanh Nien News - March
Mr Hildebrandt said: “Negative effects from any of these factors could be particularly harmful, given that risks to private sector investment have already risen from deterioration in global demand and credit conditions.”
Times Online - March
"Today's labour market report reconfirms our view that domestic price pressures will push inflation higher in the second half of the year," said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JP Morgan.
The Brunei Times - August
MATTHEW HILDEBRANDT, ECONOMIST AT JP MORGAN
"This makes the currency stronger and depresses imported inflation. It helps bring down food and oil prices and any sort of imported price.
"We are surprised by the move. Central banks are forward-looking and given that inflation is expected to come off, growth will come off, the general consensus was there would be no change to policy."
Reuters - April
``Bank Negara is balancing global growth concerns with those from inflation,'' said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JP
Morgan Chase Bank in Singapore. ``Until risks from either global growth or inflation move decisively in one direction, I expect Bank Negara to remain sidelined.''
Bloomberg - February
"We'll probably see a fairly populist government budget, but one that does not deviate too far from their goal of narrowing the federal government fiscal deficit during the Ninth Malaysia Plan," said Matthew Hildebrandt, a JP Morgan economist.
Asia One News / Reuters - September
"They are already having what we would consider looser monetary conditions by doing nothing, simply because inflation is rising," he said.
International Herald Tribune - Feb
``The budget makes it very clear that the government and central bank's main priority is to boost the economy,'' said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JPMorgan Chase Bank in Singapore.
Bloomberg - Feb
According to the economist with JPMorgan Chase Hildebrandt inflation will increase to an average of 16.1% for the current year and the dong will also consolidate by 1%.
Asia Economy Watch - March
"Inflation is generally a problem in Vietnam, but it's specifically a problem in food prices, especially imported food, and oil prices," said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JPMorgan Chase Bank in Singapore. "You need to find a way to limit the impact from imported goods."
Thanh Nien News - March
Mr Hildebrandt said: “Negative effects from any of these factors could be particularly harmful, given that risks to private sector investment have already risen from deterioration in global demand and credit conditions.”
Times Online - March
"Today's labour market report reconfirms our view that domestic price pressures will push inflation higher in the second half of the year," said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JP Morgan.
The Brunei Times - August
MATTHEW HILDEBRANDT, ECONOMIST AT JP MORGAN
"This makes the currency stronger and depresses imported inflation. It helps bring down food and oil prices and any sort of imported price.
"We are surprised by the move. Central banks are forward-looking and given that inflation is expected to come off, growth will come off, the general consensus was there would be no change to policy."
Reuters - April
``Bank Negara is balancing global growth concerns with those from inflation,'' said Matthew Hildebrandt, an economist at JP
Morgan Chase Bank in Singapore. ``Until risks from either global growth or inflation move decisively in one direction, I expect Bank Negara to remain sidelined.''
Bloomberg - February
"We'll probably see a fairly populist government budget, but one that does not deviate too far from their goal of narrowing the federal government fiscal deficit during the Ninth Malaysia Plan," said Matthew Hildebrandt, a JP Morgan economist.
Asia One News / Reuters - September
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Ode to Dan
We’d like to apologize.
We really did err.
This ode to you
will prove that we care.
We want to say it loudly.
We even want to shout.
After four long years,
you’re finally moving out.
George can’t believe it.
He’s really gonna miss ya.
No roaches or mice,
now you’ve got Elissa!
It’s taken you so long.
My, you have stalled
Luckily you proposed
Before you went totally bald.
We’re glad you found Elissa
After her stint in Japan.
We wish you both health and happiness.
Dan – YOU ARE THE MAN!
MAZAL TOV!!!
We really did err.
This ode to you
will prove that we care.
We want to say it loudly.
We even want to shout.
After four long years,
you’re finally moving out.
George can’t believe it.
He’s really gonna miss ya.
No roaches or mice,
now you’ve got Elissa!
It’s taken you so long.
My, you have stalled
Luckily you proposed
Before you went totally bald.
We’re glad you found Elissa
After her stint in Japan.
We wish you both health and happiness.
Dan – YOU ARE THE MAN!
MAZAL TOV!!!
Top Three Favorite Names
These are the top three favorite names I have heard since I moved here.
3. Iskandar
It's actually a development region in S. Malaysia that Matt went to last week, but since I heard the name, I cannot get it out of my head. Christian told us it's Alexander in Arabic. I definitely want to name my first kid Iskandar. You can call him Issy, Kandy or Dari for short. My preference is obviously Kandy.
2. Billy Koo
It just sort of rolls off your tongue. This is the name of one of the guys who works in admin in the building that I work in. I just love the name.
1. Cherry Ho
Clearly the best. I worked with her in my last job (she didn't work at the org, but we did a small project together). I just can't imagine a happier name.
By the way - it's 7:30 at night, and it's 90 degrees (and so humid). The heat is SO HORRIBLE again. Our air conditioning will be fixed on Saturday, so at least if we want to use it we can (which we probably won't, but just the option is liberating).
Oy.
3. Iskandar
It's actually a development region in S. Malaysia that Matt went to last week, but since I heard the name, I cannot get it out of my head. Christian told us it's Alexander in Arabic. I definitely want to name my first kid Iskandar. You can call him Issy, Kandy or Dari for short. My preference is obviously Kandy.
2. Billy Koo
It just sort of rolls off your tongue. This is the name of one of the guys who works in admin in the building that I work in. I just love the name.
1. Cherry Ho
Clearly the best. I worked with her in my last job (she didn't work at the org, but we did a small project together). I just can't imagine a happier name.
By the way - it's 7:30 at night, and it's 90 degrees (and so humid). The heat is SO HORRIBLE again. Our air conditioning will be fixed on Saturday, so at least if we want to use it we can (which we probably won't, but just the option is liberating).
Oy.
What Kind of Jew are you?
I went to a friend's house for a nice dinner with a bunch of ladies last night. It was a long weekend - Buddha's birthday or something similar (Vesak Day). The dinner was super fun and super nice and really really yummy. I loved the company.
One funny thing happened. It came up that I speak Hebrew, and they asked if I was Jewish. I said yes, but then one woman thought I was joking. I tried to convince them that, yes, I really was Jewish. I'm 95% sure this was the first Jew she had met. Then I was asked what kind of Jew I was (from another person). I thought at first she meant Ashkenazi or Sephardi, but I thought that was a complicated question for someone who didn't know a lot of Jews. Finally I got her to give me some examples - she said "are you a Messianic Jew, like do you believe in Jesus?" I said, "we call those people Christians."
One funny thing happened. It came up that I speak Hebrew, and they asked if I was Jewish. I said yes, but then one woman thought I was joking. I tried to convince them that, yes, I really was Jewish. I'm 95% sure this was the first Jew she had met. Then I was asked what kind of Jew I was (from another person). I thought at first she meant Ashkenazi or Sephardi, but I thought that was a complicated question for someone who didn't know a lot of Jews. Finally I got her to give me some examples - she said "are you a Messianic Jew, like do you believe in Jesus?" I said, "we call those people Christians."
Sunday, May 18, 2008
St. John's Island
Today Matt, our friend Peter, and I decided to go to St. John's Island. It's a three day weekend, we didn't go diving, so why not. Well, I can give you a few reasons why not! It was the most boring place in the world. It's an island off the south of Singapore. You go to this pretty ferry terminal, get on an exciting boat, drive for about 20 minutes, and you end up absolutely nowhere.
Please click here and hereto read some people's descriptions of this place. I don't know what St. John's Island they went to.
Much of the land must have been "reclaimed" (fake), because there were not so many trees. There were only cement trails leading to nowhere, so we couldn't even go hiking. I don't think that walking on concrete is ever hiking. Luckily I like Matt and Peter a lot, so talking was fun, and we had a small picnic and nice game of hearts (I shot the moon and made Matt lose!!).
We came back sweaty and uninspired - so we swam, relaxed and played two man settlers. This time, though, we made the board smaller - took out one of each resources, one port and one water, and I arranged the numbers in a specific way. I have to say it was WAY more fun! I also have to say that I WON TWICE! I am winning a lot of games lately.
Pictures are of the skyline from the boat, the
picnic and hearts playing facility and the prettiest picture I could take o
f this boring island.
Please click here and hereto read some people's descriptions of this place. I don't know what St. John's Island they went to.
Much of the land must have been "reclaimed" (fake), because there were not so many trees. There were only cement trails leading to nowhere, so we couldn't even go hiking. I don't think that walking on concrete is ever hiking. Luckily I like Matt and Peter a lot, so talking was fun, and we had a small picnic and nice game of hearts (I shot the moon and made Matt lose!!).
We came back sweaty and uninspired - so we swam, relaxed and played two man settlers. This time, though, we made the board smaller - took out one of each resources, one port and one water, and I arranged the numbers in a specific way. I have to say it was WAY more fun! I also have to say that I WON TWICE! I am winning a lot of games lately.
Pictures are of the skyline from the boat, the
picnic and hearts playing facility and the prettiest picture I could take o
f this boring island.
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Girl Who Couldn't Live Without Chewing Gum
Everyone knows that you can't have chewing gum in Singapore. It's really the only thing that most people knew about this place when I said we were moving here - "ha - don't bring any chewing gum!"
Well, it's true. You don't see it on the floor. You don't have to worry about it on the bottom of tables and desks (just boogers), people don't chew it annoyingly in your face. It's nowhere. There are signs when you enter Singapore warning that you are not allowed to bring it into Singapore (unless you have a prescription or it's for quitting smoking or something like that).
I did see a piece of gum stuck on a part of an escalator, but it hasn't been a part of my life.
...Until my taxi ride home tonight. I found out that a friend of ours here is addicted to gum. She said it's the one thing in her life (and cigarettes...) that should could not give up. She smuggles it in. She asks her friends to (risk their life?) bring it into Singapore in large quantities. She is stocked up. She even offered us a piece!!! I just didn't know that these people existed in Singapore. I just didn't.
Update on my back: It's feeling much better, but it hurts still. I'm almost fully functional.
Update on China: It's WAY worse than they thought. The pictures are horrifying. So sad.
Update on Myanmar: seems like they're getting something, but I don't really get what's happening.
Update on our lives...We had a pretty regular week (other than me not working for two days...). Matt went to a region in southern peninsular Malaysia - a region that they're trying to develop. He got a tour. He enjoyed the day, and he ended up having a few beers with my colleague. Tonight we went to the last UHC Shabbat service and dinner of the year. They take a break for the summer, since most of the ex-pats go home for the summer. It was actually a really fun and funny night. Rachel announced to the community that she's going to Rabbinical school and getting married, there was a violinist who played through most of the service, there were some pretty amusing characters there...The vegetarian meal was two pieces of roasted pepper, two mushrooms, two pieces of asparagus and a couple of pieces of zucchini. I actually can't believe I paid $30 for that. Whoa - it was terrible. We were really hungry. Some meat eaters donated a few potatoes to our cause. We got in a fight about what a ground cherry and what a gooseberry looks like (the gum addict won). Also, Matt had sworn that this one guy who's part of our community had been part of a Jewish community he remembered when he was in college in Indonesia. He said that this man that he remembered had a Malaysian wife, and he remembered going to the son's bar mitzva. Well, he has an Indonesian wife now, and he has four kids (aged 13 or so to 2 or so), and I said there was no way it was the same guy. Well it is. Matt confirmed. Apparently he has a new wife now, but the kid is still his - he's 24 now. Pretty funny. I guess Jewish Asia isn't so big. We went out for a few drinks. All in all - I guess tonight had way more exciting things than the rest of the week!
Well, it's true. You don't see it on the floor. You don't have to worry about it on the bottom of tables and desks (just boogers), people don't chew it annoyingly in your face. It's nowhere. There are signs when you enter Singapore warning that you are not allowed to bring it into Singapore (unless you have a prescription or it's for quitting smoking or something like that).
I did see a piece of gum stuck on a part of an escalator, but it hasn't been a part of my life.
...Until my taxi ride home tonight. I found out that a friend of ours here is addicted to gum. She said it's the one thing in her life (and cigarettes...) that should could not give up. She smuggles it in. She asks her friends to (risk their life?) bring it into Singapore in large quantities. She is stocked up. She even offered us a piece!!! I just didn't know that these people existed in Singapore. I just didn't.
Update on my back: It's feeling much better, but it hurts still. I'm almost fully functional.
Update on China: It's WAY worse than they thought. The pictures are horrifying. So sad.
Update on Myanmar: seems like they're getting something, but I don't really get what's happening.
Update on our lives...We had a pretty regular week (other than me not working for two days...). Matt went to a region in southern peninsular Malaysia - a region that they're trying to develop. He got a tour. He enjoyed the day, and he ended up having a few beers with my colleague. Tonight we went to the last UHC Shabbat service and dinner of the year. They take a break for the summer, since most of the ex-pats go home for the summer. It was actually a really fun and funny night. Rachel announced to the community that she's going to Rabbinical school and getting married, there was a violinist who played through most of the service, there were some pretty amusing characters there...The vegetarian meal was two pieces of roasted pepper, two mushrooms, two pieces of asparagus and a couple of pieces of zucchini. I actually can't believe I paid $30 for that. Whoa - it was terrible. We were really hungry. Some meat eaters donated a few potatoes to our cause. We got in a fight about what a ground cherry and what a gooseberry looks like (the gum addict won). Also, Matt had sworn that this one guy who's part of our community had been part of a Jewish community he remembered when he was in college in Indonesia. He said that this man that he remembered had a Malaysian wife, and he remembered going to the son's bar mitzva. Well, he has an Indonesian wife now, and he has four kids (aged 13 or so to 2 or so), and I said there was no way it was the same guy. Well it is. Matt confirmed. Apparently he has a new wife now, but the kid is still his - he's 24 now. Pretty funny. I guess Jewish Asia isn't so big. We went out for a few drinks. All in all - I guess tonight had way more exciting things than the rest of the week!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pain - Big and Small
First for the small pain. I went running yesterday morning, and I super pulled something in my back. It was pretty miserable at work yesterday, but last night I didn't sleep most of the night, and there was no position where I could relax and my back wouldn't spasm. So uncomfortable. I got muscle relaxers and pain killers at the doctor today, so hopefully it will start to get better. I think, though, that the muscle relaxer only makes me tired and feel weird, and it's not really helping the pain. Hopefully tomorrow will be better than today.
Big pain - we are right in the middle of natural disaster struck Asia. I cannot believe what is going on in Myanmar, and I hope somehow that the people there get what they need. What a mess. Then China - I think the paper this morning said that a few hundred were dead, but now I'm seeing 18,000? That's a lot of people, and it's so horrible.
Must sleep.
Good news - Mustache man is back (he's the cat who disappeared). I will do a blog posting about all the cats soon.
Big pain - we are right in the middle of natural disaster struck Asia. I cannot believe what is going on in Myanmar, and I hope somehow that the people there get what they need. What a mess. Then China - I think the paper this morning said that a few hundred were dead, but now I'm seeing 18,000? That's a lot of people, and it's so horrible.
Must sleep.
Good news - Mustache man is back (he's the cat who disappeared). I will do a blog posting about all the cats soon.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Weird and Happy
Weird:
First I was in the water near the swimming area at Michigania and
boats kept almost hitting me, including Mark and Paula on (formerly)
our boat. Then lots of us were getting on a pontoon boat on the
boating dock. Bubby was yelling at me to make sure we had enough gas.
I was trying to figure out where the gas went and asked Simon (John's
ex) -- because, y'know, he had worked at boating
(though they only allowed him to help people sign up boats, so he
couldn't answer my question). There were others there too but I don't remember who.
Then we took off for the middle of the lake, plowing through a yellow
snow fence that had inexplicably been set up in the mooring area. We
started going pretty fast, and then we took off after hitting a wave
and caught some 'air' and were flying. We landed in Charlevoix a
couple blocks from the beach. We then carried the pontoon boat back to
the beach, where we ran into my (Toronto) roommate Neal.
This all happened after I was driving my car someplace up north and
stayed at a place that seemed vaguely like the Lacy's, but was also a
camp. I had 3 flat tires overnight and these strange guys in a van
showed up to try to change the tires while I was trying to find the
number for AAA in my cell phone (yet another instance of inability to
dial a phone in a nightmare of mine). Brenda Cohn was at this camp as
an apparent administrator, but this was the only familiar thing there.
(That was my brother's dream)
Happy:
Two friends are pregnant and one got engaged - and I found out about all of it in the last few days. YAY!!! I don't know how the preggers feel, so I won't broadcast here, though at least one of them is an avid blog-reader, so she can comment for her self if she so chooses to self-identify. The engaged one is my friend, Rachel, here in Singapore, whom I study Talmud with each week. She's excellent.
First I was in the water near the swimming area at Michigania and
boats kept almost hitting me, including Mark and Paula on (formerly)
our boat. Then lots of us were getting on a pontoon boat on the
boating dock. Bubby was yelling at me to make sure we had enough gas.
I was trying to figure out where the gas went and asked Simon (John's
ex) -- because, y'know, he had worked at boating
(though they only allowed him to help people sign up boats, so he
couldn't answer my question). There were others there too but I don't remember who.
Then we took off for the middle of the lake, plowing through a yellow
snow fence that had inexplicably been set up in the mooring area. We
started going pretty fast, and then we took off after hitting a wave
and caught some 'air' and were flying. We landed in Charlevoix a
couple blocks from the beach. We then carried the pontoon boat back to
the beach, where we ran into my (Toronto) roommate Neal.
This all happened after I was driving my car someplace up north and
stayed at a place that seemed vaguely like the Lacy's, but was also a
camp. I had 3 flat tires overnight and these strange guys in a van
showed up to try to change the tires while I was trying to find the
number for AAA in my cell phone (yet another instance of inability to
dial a phone in a nightmare of mine). Brenda Cohn was at this camp as
an apparent administrator, but this was the only familiar thing there.
(That was my brother's dream)
Happy:
Two friends are pregnant and one got engaged - and I found out about all of it in the last few days. YAY!!! I don't know how the preggers feel, so I won't broadcast here, though at least one of them is an avid blog-reader, so she can comment for her self if she so chooses to self-identify. The engaged one is my friend, Rachel, here in Singapore, whom I study Talmud with each week. She's excellent.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
May they Rest in Peace (and get the hell out of my house)
Matt and I got home late Monday night. Our apartment smelled moldy (that's what happens when no fresh air comes in for 2.5 weeks, and it's a million degrees and humid), and it was just gross. I found ants in my cereal, I found a cockroach carcass in the corner of our bedroom, and I didn't enjoy being home, because it was so gross, but I was too tired to clean.
Last night Matt and I dedicated to cleaning. Matt was better than me (as usual). We first got the kitchen - with no major finds - and then I got the two bathrooms, also with no major accomplishments. Then, once Matt started sweeping, he found cockroach carcasses all over the place. There were two in our pile of laundry (including one that juiced all over my nice shirt - in the DRY CLEANING (for nice clothes!) pile. There were a few under the bed. Yuck, yuck and yuck.
Considering the cat has brought in at least five cockroaches in the past two days, I think what happened is that our neighbor left our door cracked for the cat at night, so she went out, brought them in, and then she tortured them to death and left them. They were all in her hiding spots. Usually we are here when she goes out, and we see her bring them back (or we hear her torturing them) so we kill them. This was two weeks' supply of cockroach hunting. I wonder where the rest are.
I must concede that her real name is Hunter.
Last night Matt and I dedicated to cleaning. Matt was better than me (as usual). We first got the kitchen - with no major finds - and then I got the two bathrooms, also with no major accomplishments. Then, once Matt started sweeping, he found cockroach carcasses all over the place. There were two in our pile of laundry (including one that juiced all over my nice shirt - in the DRY CLEANING (for nice clothes!) pile. There were a few under the bed. Yuck, yuck and yuck.
Considering the cat has brought in at least five cockroaches in the past two days, I think what happened is that our neighbor left our door cracked for the cat at night, so she went out, brought them in, and then she tortured them to death and left them. They were all in her hiding spots. Usually we are here when she goes out, and we see her bring them back (or we hear her torturing them) so we kill them. This was two weeks' supply of cockroach hunting. I wonder where the rest are.
I must concede that her real name is Hunter.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Back to my Homophobic Life
So first my friend sends me this link. Which basically says that a tv station was fined $15,000 for the serious offense of showing (therefore promoting) gay lifestyle during a time when kids might be watching - on Sunday morning. Apparently there was a show that had a gay couple and their kid. I had no idea that this was still possible. Sounds like something out of the 50s.
Then in Spanish class last night we had to fill in some blanks with random statements we were given, and one of the answers was that two people were going dancing on Friday. I wrote Juan and Nacho, because that fit. My teacher first explained that the book is traditional, so they would never have a gay reference. Then she explained - well, Melanie, they're going dancing! Two men wouldn't go dancing! (with a "yuck" face). I asked her if she had ever been to a gay club. I think it disturbed me a lot, because she's young and seems progressive.
BTW - this is all after my keen realization that there are way more gay people than one in ten. One day we were hanging out with some friends, and out of five of us, two of us had gay siblings, and one of us was gay. I know - small sample size, whatever - there are a lot of gay people in this world, and we had better start treating that as normal!
I must say that being back isn't all that "returning home" is cracked up to be. It's so hot here. I forgot how hot it is. Apparently May and June are the hottest months of the year. I have completely sweat through all of my clothes the two days I have been home. I sweat at night. I sweat in the morning. I'm so freaking sweaty.
Luckily, there is the kitty. She has been really excited to see us - especially at night when we're trying to sleep. This morning she was playing with everything possible - a string that hangs from our duvet cover (that definitely has no duvet in it - it's too hot!), a string from my shorts in the laundry, a red ball that she put in my new shoe and then played with, a rug, and just about everything else. She is extremely sweet.
Re: Jetlag - we got back at 2am on Monday night. We basically couldn't sleep that night, but we both made it through work the next day. We went to sleep at nine and slept 'till six. Then last night to bed at ten and slept until six again. I think we're on our way to recovery. I guess it doesn't get much harder than a 12 hour difference.
Then in Spanish class last night we had to fill in some blanks with random statements we were given, and one of the answers was that two people were going dancing on Friday. I wrote Juan and Nacho, because that fit. My teacher first explained that the book is traditional, so they would never have a gay reference. Then she explained - well, Melanie, they're going dancing! Two men wouldn't go dancing! (with a "yuck" face). I asked her if she had ever been to a gay club. I think it disturbed me a lot, because she's young and seems progressive.
BTW - this is all after my keen realization that there are way more gay people than one in ten. One day we were hanging out with some friends, and out of five of us, two of us had gay siblings, and one of us was gay. I know - small sample size, whatever - there are a lot of gay people in this world, and we had better start treating that as normal!
I must say that being back isn't all that "returning home" is cracked up to be. It's so hot here. I forgot how hot it is. Apparently May and June are the hottest months of the year. I have completely sweat through all of my clothes the two days I have been home. I sweat at night. I sweat in the morning. I'm so freaking sweaty.
Luckily, there is the kitty. She has been really excited to see us - especially at night when we're trying to sleep. This morning she was playing with everything possible - a string that hangs from our duvet cover (that definitely has no duvet in it - it's too hot!), a string from my shorts in the laundry, a red ball that she put in my new shoe and then played with, a rug, and just about everything else. She is extremely sweet.
Re: Jetlag - we got back at 2am on Monday night. We basically couldn't sleep that night, but we both made it through work the next day. We went to sleep at nine and slept 'till six. Then last night to bed at ten and slept until six again. I think we're on our way to recovery. I guess it doesn't get much harder than a 12 hour difference.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Heading Back
Tomorrow we'll be on our way back to the 'Pore.
Though the death of Matt's grandfather was terrible, we were happy to be home and with his family during this time.
I have to say - other than that, the trip was amazing. We saw so many people we love and ate a lot of good food. I drink a lot of Bell's Amber (probably too much).
Since we last spoke we went to Ann Arbor and saw Daniel and Annie - which was wonderful. We have spent time with our families, Jill and Ben, Settlers and more food.
Tonight we went out with my parents to celebrate:
Their 38th wedding anniversary this Tuesday (the 6th)
My mom's SIXTIETH birthday (the 28th of May)
My thirtieth birthday (January 6th, but we hadn't seen each other!)
Matt's 31st birthday (last Saturday - the 26th)
My dad (just generally)
We also attended our first Derby party at Jill's parents' house. It was so fun - except that Matt's horse came in second and then died. That is terrible. I need to learn more about these horses' lives before I make a judgment that they shouldn't be doing this to horses, but it's really pretty terrible.
Tomorrow we'll be heading to Tokyo and then straight to Singapore. We arrive in the middle of the night on Monday/Tuesday, and then go to work on Tuesday. Oy.
I must say that I'm not dreading going back, but the only thing I'm actively looking forward to is the Kitty.
Though the death of Matt's grandfather was terrible, we were happy to be home and with his family during this time.
I have to say - other than that, the trip was amazing. We saw so many people we love and ate a lot of good food. I drink a lot of Bell's Amber (probably too much).
Since we last spoke we went to Ann Arbor and saw Daniel and Annie - which was wonderful. We have spent time with our families, Jill and Ben, Settlers and more food.
Tonight we went out with my parents to celebrate:
Their 38th wedding anniversary this Tuesday (the 6th)
My mom's SIXTIETH birthday (the 28th of May)
My thirtieth birthday (January 6th, but we hadn't seen each other!)
Matt's 31st birthday (last Saturday - the 26th)
My dad (just generally)
We also attended our first Derby party at Jill's parents' house. It was so fun - except that Matt's horse came in second and then died. That is terrible. I need to learn more about these horses' lives before I make a judgment that they shouldn't be doing this to horses, but it's really pretty terrible.
Tomorrow we'll be heading to Tokyo and then straight to Singapore. We arrive in the middle of the night on Monday/Tuesday, and then go to work on Tuesday. Oy.
I must say that I'm not dreading going back, but the only thing I'm actively looking forward to is the Kitty.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Up North
For the first 22 or so years of my life, I could say "I'm going up north," and everyone would understand what I'm saying. Then I left Michigan, and I could have been going to the Golan, New York, Upstate New York, or Malaysia.
Anyways, the real "Up North" is in the tips of your fingers if you hold out your hand like you're showing someone the map of Michigan. For me, it's mostly the tip of the pinky, ring finger and middle finger - then you start moving east of Mackinaw City, and I just don't know that part. Right now we are at my aunt and uncle's cottage in Harbor Springs, which is just around Little Traverse Bay from Petoskey. We love it here, and I have been trying to figure out what it is that I'm so attached to.
Right now it's in the 40's, there are very few leaves on the trees, almost none of the restaurants and stores are open, we can't swim, can't boat, can barely go for a walk outside...if I were on this vacation and had never been here before, I might even say it was boring. But for us it's not. Mostly for me.
I think this is why I love it up here.
Anyways, the real "Up North" is in the tips of your fingers if you hold out your hand like you're showing someone the map of Michigan. For me, it's mostly the tip of the pinky, ring finger and middle finger - then you start moving east of Mackinaw City, and I just don't know that part. Right now we are at my aunt and uncle's cottage in Harbor Springs, which is just around Little Traverse Bay from Petoskey. We love it here, and I have been trying to figure out what it is that I'm so attached to.
Right now it's in the 40's, there are very few leaves on the trees, almost none of the restaurants and stores are open, we can't swim, can't boat, can barely go for a walk outside...if I were on this vacation and had never been here before, I might even say it was boring. But for us it's not. Mostly for me.
I think this is why I love it up here.
- My family came up here every summer for Michigania (this summer will be 31 consecutive years).
- My family came up here almost every winter after 1988 to ski.
- We have rented random houses in Harbor Springs as a family - and had some weird experiences with it (including rotten meat).
- My college friends (and Jeremy) and I started the tradition of renting a house up here on MLK weekend. I think we had about 15 people once, and somehow we all fit in beds (or almost...) in these little cottages that we found. I recall watching the Rose Bowl in 98 on a fuzzy channel on a crappy tv. I also recall throwing a shard of ice and hitting Jessie in the face - causing blood and so much guilt.
- Matt and I came up here when we had been dating for about a month. We stayed in an inn that doesn't exist anymore in Harbor Springs - it was owned my by Jessie's dad's friend (Jessie was my college roommate). We walked all around this area, and it was our first vacation together. I asked him if he would be friends with me if I spoke with a Russian accent. He said he would.
- Mike and I came up here sometime after college and went camping and biking for a few days. I don't remember much other than Bell's beer and a guitar and a beautiful camp ground.
- My family and I came up here over Christmas 2003, when I was working at GW Hillel, and went skiing and hiking. That was the last time I saw my brother alive.
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