No Child Left Behind Modified

Very short article in the NY Times about some proposed changes to the No Child Left Behind Act. Interesting.

Catching Up

I've managed to friend a few high school classmates on Facebook in the last week or so. It was a little bit bizarre to me at first, it's been a number of years, I haven't kept up with anyone from high school and I just feel like I can barely remember who I was back then, along with the fact that I like to believe that I've gotten better with age ;) But it's really interesting to see where everyone from high school is now and what they are doing. My high school classmates have turned into quite the accomplishments (not that I'm surprised coming from a public high school that has been ranked within the top four public high schools in the nation for the last three years). But there's no one else up here in the Big Apple. They sure are smart.

Home

I've finished unpacking my apartment. The one last big thing that needs to be done is hanging pictures, and since I have a long weekend, I figure that might be the time. It's officially my home now - I hung my mezzuzah on my door last night and I'm having a guest for Shabbos. Home Sweet Home.

LOTD

Haven't felt much like blogging lately (see part of my reason for this) but I did hear this song course through my Ipod this morning and it's still stuck, so I figured I should pass it along:


Plain White Tees
Hate (Really, Really, Really Don't Like You)

Love love love love love love

You were everything I wanted
You were everything a girl could be
Then you left me brokenhearted
Now you don't mean a thing to me

All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

Hate is a strong word
But i really, really, really don't like you
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you
Brought you around and you just brought me down
Hate is a strong word
But I really, really, really don't like you

Thought that everything was perfect (perfect)
Isn't that how it's supposed to be?
Thought you thought that I was worth it
Now I think a little differently

All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

Hate is a strong word

But i really, really, really don't like you
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you
Brought you around and you just brought me down
Hate is a strong word
But I really, really, really don't like you

Now that it's over you can't hurt me
Now that it's over you can't bring me down

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

All I wanted was your
Love love love love love love

(Hate) Hate is a strong word
But I really, really, really don't like you (I really don't like you)
Now that it's over
I don't even know what I liked about you (liked about you)
Brought you around and you just brought me down
(Hate) Hate is a strong word
But I really, really, really don't like you
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I really don't like you
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I really don't like you
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I really don't like you
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)

And the video:

LOTD

Third Eye Blind
How's It Going to Be

I'm only pretty sure that I can't take anymore,
Before you take a swing, I wonder what are we fighting for,
When I say out loud, I want to get out of this, I wonder,
Is there anything I'm going to miss, I wonder
How's it going to be, When you don't know me,
How's it going to be, When you're sure I'm not there,
How's it going to be, When there is no one there to talk to,
Between you and me, 'Cause I don't care,
How's it going to be,
How's it going to be,

Where we used to laugh, There's a shouting match,
Sharp as a thumbnail scratch,
A silence I can't ignore,
Like . . The hammock by the doorway we spent time in,
Swings empty,
don't see lightning like last fall when it was always about to hit me,
I wonder

How's it going to be, When it goes down,
How's it going to be, When you're not around,
How's it going to be, When you find out there was nothing,
Between you and me, 'Cause I don't care,
How's it going to be,

How's it going to be
When you don't know me, any more
And How's it going to be

Want to get myself back in again,
The soft dive of oblivion.
Want to taste the salt of your skin
The soft dive of oblivion, oblivion

How's it going to be, When you don't know me, anymore,
How's it going to be,
How's it going to be,
How's it going to be.

Kibbutz

NY Times article about the return to the kibbutz. Interesting - check it out.

Postcard of the Day

This is the PostSecret postcard that speaks most to me this week. Enjoy!

Qualified?

This is exactly the kind of issue I have with many of the teachers that are in the Jewish schools these days. Tell me again, what are parents paying all that tuition for?

Thoughtful

Check out my latest post about the thoughtfulness of others over at Kindness Happens. And, as always, don't forget to contact me if you would like to be a contributor to Kindness Happens or if you have a story of kindness that you would like to share.

Otherwise Occupied

I apologize for the lack of blogging lately. Initially, it was because I was just so overwhelmed with my move that I couldn't keep up with anything else. However, there us a different reason now. Facebook, to which I was previously addicted, has added an application where you can play Scrabble online with your friends. I have become incapable of doing anything else at the moment. Sorry. Hopefully, I'll manage to get over this addiction soon. Maybe once I actually win a game.

In other news - my new furniture has arrived! I can't wait to go home to see it! Yay!

LOTD

Today's LOTD is by one of my all-time favorite bands, The Counting Crows (who I saw in concert many, many years ago):

Anna Begins

My friend assures me its all or nothing
I am not worried- I am not overly concerned
My friend implores me for one time only,
Make an exception. I am not not worried
Wrap her up in a package of lies
Send her off to a coconut island
I am not worried - I am not overly concerned
With the status of my emotions
Oh, she says, were changing.
But were always changing
It does not bother me to say this isnt love
Because if you dont want to talk about it then it isnt love
And I guess Im going to have to live that
But, Im sure theres something in a shade of gray
Or something in between
And I can always change my name if thats what you mean
My friend assures me its all or nothing`
But I am not really worried
I am not overly concerned
You try to tell your self the things you try tell your self to make
Yourself forget
To make your self forget
I am not worried
If its love she said, then were gonna have to think about the
Consequences
She cant stop shaking and I can t stop touching her and.....
This time when kindness falls like rain
It washes her away and anna begins to change her mind
These seconds when Im shaking leave me shuddering
For days she says.
And Im not ready for this sort of thing
But Im not gonna break
And Im not going to worry about it anymore
Im not gonna bend. and Im not gonna break and
Im not gonna worry about it anymore
It seems like I should say as long as this is love...
But its not all that easy so maybe I should just
Snap her up in a butterfly net-
Pin her down on a photograph album
I am not worried
Ive done this sort of thing before
But then I start to think about the consequences
Because I dont get no sleep in a quiet room and...
The time when kindness falls like rain
It washes me away and anna begins change my mind
And every time she sneezes I believe its love
And oh lord.... Im not ready for this sort of thing
She s talking in her sleep-it s keeping me awake
And anna begins to toss and turn
And every word is nonsense but I understand it and
Oh lord. I m not ready for this sort of thing
Her kindness bangs a gong
Its moving me along and anna begins to fade away
It s chasing me away. she dissappears, and oh lord Im not ready for this sort of thing

Woo Hoo

I ordered some sticky notes when I put in our supply order yesterday and now that I received our order, I see that some of the sticky notes are purple! Woo hoo! And it's not even sparkly purple Thursday!

Union Issues?

There's something weird going on at the construction site across from my office. Every so often this morning, the workmen start shouting out - whether they are cheering or jeering, I'm not really sure. My co-workers seem to think it is some kind of union/non-union issue, which is very possibly true. It's quite interesting though. NY. Sigh.

Grown-up Choices

I bought a couch! And a chair with ottoman. It's super-comfy. It was the one set that I sat down on and really didn't want to get off of. It's being delivered on Thursday and I can NOT wait. Yay! (I do admit it is weird to make such an adult purchase, not quite sure how I feel about that part.)

Virtual Us?

Interesting article from the NY Times about how this life could all be someone else's video game, a thought that I have had on occasion. Interesting.

Hottest Catholic School

It's a Newsweek day. My school has been named the "Hottest Catholic University". I think it's pretty funny - I don't usually think of the words "Hot" and "Catholic" together. But, as Sarah points out, the do go together - in hell ;)

I'm Not the Only One

Addicted to Facebook. Which is kinda disappointed to me, since I always try to buck the trends. Oh well, it's just too hard to resist.

Always Something

I went away for Shabbos and came back very late Saturday night. As it was so late and ark, I just parked wherever. Sunday morning, when I came outside to go run errands before taking a trek to Connecticut to see a friend, my car was gone.

Looking around, I realize that I parked my car in front of someone's driveway and have probably been towed. I go back inside and call the police station to see where my car is and what I have to do in order to have it returned to my possession.

The policeman tells me that I need to bring my registration, insurance card (both are in my car that has been towed) and my license to the police station to get a release for my car. But, he tells me, the towing yard is closed on Sundays, I will have to wait until the next day.

I decide to try the towing yard anyway, can't hurt to call. I'm told by the towing yard that they are open for the next hour if I can manage to get there, get my paperwork out of the car, get to the police station and then get back to the yard with the money for the towing. Yay! Now who has a car who can take me to do all that?

I call a friend with a car, and she rushes to pick me and we run around town from the towing lot to the police station and back. $85, a few tears and plenty of aggravation later, I have my car back. Phew. It's always something.

Hell's Kitchen

Interesting article in the NY Times about the neighborhood I had only heard of from the book, "Sleepers" before I started working here. I think I'm really glad this is not pre-1980's.

LOTD

Tonight's is an old favorite:


Lisa Loeb
Lisa Listen

Who would steal on sunday?
Whod made them believe make believe?
Whod buy a prayer when you can pray for free?
If the way you drank your coffee was the way you looked at me,
Then I could take both my hands off the tv.
Ive been sleeping on half of my bed lately,
And thinking about what you said to me,
youre tipsy, youre turning, you are alive, you are burning.
Lisa, wont you listen?
The moon shines for you.
Youre tipsy, youre turning, you are alive, you are burning.
A sweet man will sing a seafaring song,
And a dear, strong woman coos gently along.
Good guys at the cozy are servin folks for free.
Did you ever notice there are so many people in bands in the city?
Ive been sleeping on half of my bed lately,
And thinking about what you said to me,
youre tipsy, youre turning, you are alive, you are burning.
And I will not judge you by the way you play your instrument.
No, thats true as fiction, sometimes I do,
But the moon shines halfway sometimes too.
Lisa, wont you listen?
The moon shines for you:
Youre tipsy and turning, youve got one foot on the floor.
Youre alive, you are burning.
You always wanted more.

WAY Weird

This article about a man who was really, really close with his twin. Hat-tip to my rarely-commenting friend.

Another Bad Name

It's bad enough that hurricanes have awful names. Now, a Chinese couple wants to name their kid "@". Right, that's not going to annoy the kid for the rest of his life. Don't parents want to at least get some chance of having a decent relationship with their children? Naming them after the symbol inside an e-mail address is not the way to begin a happy family.

LOTD

Cold Play
Why Does it Always Rain on Me

I can't sleep tonight
Everybody saying everything's alright
Still I can't close my eyes
I'm seeing a tunnel at the end of all these lights

Sunny days
Where have you gone?
I get the strangest feeling you belong
Why does it always rain on me?
Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?
Why does it always rain on me?
Even when the sun is shining
I can't avoid the lightning

I can't stand myself
I'm being held up by an invisible man
Still life on a shelf when
I got my mind on something else

Sunny days
Where have you gone?
I get the strangest feeling you belong
Why does it always rain on me?
Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?
Why does it always rain on me?
Even when the sun is shining
I can't avoid the lightning

Oh, where did the blue skies go?
And why is it raining so?
It's so cold
I can't sleep tonight
Everybody's saying everything's all right
Still I can't close my eyes
I'm seeing a tunnel at the end of all these lights

Sunny days
Where have you gone?
I get the strangest feeling you belong
Why does it always rain on me?
Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?
Even when the sun is shining
I can't avoid the lightning
Oh, where did the blue skies go?
And why is it raining so?
It's so cold
Why does it always rain on me?
Why does it always rain on....

Spazz Cadet

Yep. That's me. This morning, my co-worker handed me a card to sign. I signed it with nice happy birthday wishes and then passed it on to the next person. The next person looked at it and asked me what I had done. Oblivious, I had signed a condolence card with birthday wishes. Oops. So I had to white-out (on a blue card) my mistaken birthday greetings and write something a little more appropriate. Next time, I think I will make sure to read the card before signing it.

Flossie

Where on earth do they get these names for hurricanes??? Google isn't finding Flossie on the list - she must be way angry at her parents for that one...

Only Simchas

I am not a huge fan of the site, but this is a way cool posting.

Moving

My move is over, for now. There is lots of unpacking still to do, but I see lots of potential for my new apartment, it really is a nice place. The move itself was, of course, stressful, but it's over. Thank you very much to the kind, caring, wonderful friends who were there for me.

Baruch Dayan Emes

I've been asked to let the Blogosphere know some very sad news. Unfortunately, Sarah's mother, Gittel Chava bas Pessia, who had been in critical condition, passed away over Shabbos. Baruch Dayan Emes. May Sarah and her family be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and her family.

Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B'Soch She'ar Avalei Tzion V'Yerushalayim.

Moving Day Cometh

Moving day is Sunday - my apartment is packed and just about ready. Hopefully, once this move is over, my life will return to some semblance of normalcy (at least for the next couple weeks until school starts). Thanks again to everyone for your support - wish me luck with the actual move! (And don't worry, I will have Internet access set up in my apartment as soon as humanly possible after the move.)

It's a Small World...

Even in this largest city in the U.S., I manage to randomly run into people. I was having lunch with my friend who works just a tiny bit closer to me than she lives (2 blocks) when all of a sudden, Princess D walked up (major points and perhaps a medal for that one). She was accompanied by another former Balti-moron who works in the vicinity. Only thing I want to know is - where was SaraK?

Insanity

Apparently, there was a little rain last night. By the time I left my house, the rain was over and I didn't even get wet. I was at work on time like usual. However, almost all of my co-workers were unable to get in, because of the subways being shut down in Brooklyn and some of the Long Island Railroad trains being canceled. It's such a weird experience sitting in my office, the sun shining, and no one here. It reminds me of the transit strike. This city is surreal without its transit. Finally, a good reason to live in New Jersey! ;)

Packing

There are people in this world who are good at packing and there are people who aren't (I have a friend who could tell you exactly why this is, I'm sure). I fall into the latter category. I'm not organized, I don't like labeling things, and I just like to throw everything in a box and be done with it. Fortunately, I have friends who are good packers, as was demonstrated last night. In a couple short hours last night, my two friends packed up almost my entire apartment, a feat that would have taken me days, and that I would not have done nearly as well. I didn't even know packing could be like that. Thanks guys!

Top Shelves

I hate top shelves. They are always just out of my reach. It's not very nice :(

Revenge?

I've been having a lot of trouble with my landlord during this move. He has not been following through the way in which he keeps promising he will, and he has been causing me a lot of stress that is totally unnecessary. I was complaining to one of my co-workers who mentioned that I should do damage to my apartment in order to get back at my landlord, especially if I don't get my deposit back (which I do think I will get, it just hasn't yet happened). I told my co-worker that I would prefer to take him to court if that was the case, and my co-worker countered that it wouldn't be worth the cost - that I would end up spending more in legal fees than my deposit is worth and that I should just trash the apartment. I told him that I am not the type to do such a thing, and he replied that I am just playing the role of victim if I don't.

I don't agree with this reasoning. The stress my landlord is putting me through is wrong. But I don't think it would make it better by my compromising my values and integrity and in turn trashing my apartment. I've never been able to understand the revenge mindset, which is what trashing my apartment seems to me to be. Because I feel like I lose even more if I would engage in such an act.

I'm not planning on trashing my apartment, though I will fight tooth and nail to get my deposit back and my moving expenses covered, as my landlord promised. But can someone explain to me how trashing the place causes me to not be a victim?

Makes Me Shudder

This is very scary for someone who lives only 15 minutes away from where it happened. Is it time to leave New Jersey yet?

The Brain

One of my favorite topics. Check out this interesting article about the many, many things that we still don't understand about how our brains work.

Lots of Kindness

You knew this one was coming - just a sample of the amazing kindness of those in my life.

LOTD

Old favorite from The Little Mermaid

Part of that World

Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here you think
Sure, she's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs?
I've got twenty!
But who cares?
No big deal
I want more

I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'
Walking around on those - what do you call 'em?
Oh - feet!

Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumping, dancing
Strolling along down a - what's that word again?
Street

Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free - wish I could be
Part of that world

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Bet'cha on land they understand
That they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women sick of swimmin'
Ready to stand

I'm ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions and get some answers
What's a fire and why does it - what's the word?
Burn?

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

Deep Thoughts from the Nail Place

I just got back from getting my toes painted (because I decided that I deserved some pampering after this last couple weeks) and two things struck me while I was there.

1) A human being of the male persuasion walked in to get pampered and I decided it gave a whole new meaning to the word "MAN-icure."

2) Jane magazine has got to be the skankiest magazine out there. It was devoid of even a single thoughtful or issue-related article and the majority of people featured were wearing nothing (I'm guessing they don't consider it a fashion magazine). I will NOT be wasting another second of my life perusing that one again.

I'm Not Going to be Homeless!!!

YAY!! I have a place to live! Thank you so much to everyone who had been supportive, it really means a lot. I'm moving into my new digs a week from Sunday so the next week will be keep me busy packing!

Actively Seeking to Destroy

What the **** is wrong with the chareidi leaders in Israel? Are they actively seeking to weed out every single person who might actually have the audacity to try to enjoy his or her life? Now, even religious music is banned? Isn't it bad enough that Jewish music lacks any kind of originality or personality and generally, is horrible? But now, even that is not acceptable? What's next? Banning eating food that tastes good, because, G-d forbid, someone might like eating it? Give people a break.

Circular Reasoning

Our company received a new machine so that we can ring up credit card transactions. The machine didn't work because we don't have a normal phone system to dedicate a dial-up line to the machine. So, the company that sent us the machine gave us the option of hooking it up through the Internet. Great! Let me run out and spend $40 to be able to do that. Now, the company says the machine needs an update in order to use the Internet connection. How does the machine need to be updated? Using a normal phone line. Do you remember the part about how we don't have one of those to use, which is why we are trying to set it up via the Internet? Right.

LOTD

Today's LOTD is courtesy of my dad, who was kind enough to feed my Grey's Anatomy addiction by sending me the soundtrack.


Rilo Kiley
Portions for Foxes

There's blood in my mouth 'cause I've been biting my tongue all week
I keep on talkin' trash but I never say anything
And the talkin' leads to touchin'
and the touchin' leads to sex
and then there is no mystery left

And it's bad news
Baby I'm bad news
I'm just bad news, bad news, bad news

I know I'm alone if I'm with or without you
but just bein' around you offers me another form of relief
When the lonliness leads to bad dreams
and the bad dreams lead me to callin' you
and I call you and say "C'MERE!"

And it's bad news
Baby I'm bad news
I'm just bad news, bad news, bad news

And it's bad news
Baby it's bad news
It's just bad news, bad news, bad news

'Cause you're just damage control
for a walking corpse like me - like you

'Cause we'll all be
Portions for foxes
Yeah we'll all be
Portions for foxes

There's a pretty young thing in front of you
and she's real pretty and she's real into you
and then she's sleepin' inside of you
and the talkin' leads to touchin'
and the touchin' leads to sex
and then there is no mystery left

And it's bad news
I don't blame you
I do the same thing
I get lonely too

And you're bad news
My friends tell me to leave you
That you're bad news, bad news, bad news

You're bad news
Baby you're bad news
and you're bad news
Baby you're bad news
and you're bad news
I don't care I like you
and you're bad news
I don't care I like you
I like you


And the video: