Congratulations – you will be great. Now we just need to find three talented people to replace you . . .

whoa. again...

I should make a rule of never rereading my superb university papers. (My usual debilitating modesty doesn't prevent me from saying this--they were well-written, well-researched, and well-argued.) I doubt that level of eloquence is still within my grasp, in an academic context, and the thought is extremely depressing.

I was once asked whether I look back at previous work and think, "that was brilliant." When I answered no, I was told that I wasn't old enough, yet, to do so...

Yes, I'm sure that manual will be very useful for the three people we hire to replace you.

oh man.
*sob*

f's phrase of the year

[after finding a "mini seedless watermelon" sticker attached to her sweater]

Darling, I've just thought of something. You picked up a mini seedless watermelon. See?

سال نو مبارک

دوستانم، عزیزانم،
wishing you the warmest year
the smell of spring
the sun always on your face

spell: futility

i feel ridiculous. 

i feel ridiculous because i haven't written, and i feel too ridiculous to write. 

i feel ridiculous.

I have not read one intelligent, well-reasoned argument that has convinced me of Israel's need to remain a Jewish-majority state. This experiment has failed--and failed miserably--on so many levels, beginning with injustice and ending with something that strongly resembles apartheid, whether or not you're brave enough to actually use that word.

I advocate for the two-state solution because there is no other, at this point, that realistically provides for Palestinian self-determination. But ethically, logically, the only reasonable solution is one state, granting equal citizenship and rights for all, granting the full right of return, and--come what may--a provision for the rights of a sizeable Jewish minority.

Until quite recently, listening to "Famous Blue Raincoat" had been searingly painful--memories, longings, regrets... the fortunes and misfortunes of the past wrapped up in Cohen's deep, dark voice. The sting is gone now, and in its place the peaceful melancholy of acceptance... of untroubled nostalgia.