Magic Jewball

Hey, remember how much extra time I said I had? Like today, I left my place at 9am, got home at 9pm, and just got off a 2 hour online conference with my collaborators on a final project for one of my classes. I know how fried I am because I just realize I spelled “place” wrong. Yes, I fixed it. So you know what would be cool? If I took on another project. Yes, I’ve been elected to my co-op board. Most people said they were sorry, as though I had said I was just transferred to Uzbekistan, but I am excited! I just like knowing what’s going on behind the scenes with things. It stems from a childhood going to a school where my parents were on the board, a camp where my father was the chairman and my mother on the board, and a synagogue where my father was the president. I get upset when I don’t find out why so-and-so got fired and such. Plus, I live in a tiny building and I like the other people on the board. Now. But who cares? People liked me better than the other losers who live here!

Anyhoo, another Jewish holiday is upon us, I know because I finally joined the rest of the wired world and got a Google calendar (how else would I suddenly find out that I have three mid-terms/papers due in one week?). And Google calendar says it’s the Festival of Booths so it must be. Also, that the Yankees are playing at 7:08pm tomorrow. That site knows everything! It could also tell you how little time I have (although, wait, I just did that myself) which is why I shall refer you to all my previous Sukkot posts for your personal edification, should you wish to know more. Chag Sameach!

Sukkot 2006
(A couple of my readers may recognize their very own Sukkah there!)

Jew & A: Sukkot

Title comes from:
Iggy Pop – I’m Bored

Most of my readers are from outside the New York area, but even you, I know, visit. For you and for residents of the beautiful neighborhood I call home, the Upper West Side, please check out my friend’s new blog My Upper West. It’s full of the things people in other NY ‘hoods have been enjoying on their own local blogs for years: news, events, store openings & closing, real estate reports, star sightings, and so much more. He and his wife blog all day and night, just for us.

Seriously, this place rocks and now we finally have a blog! Woot!

It’s been a busy week and I’ve been to both the doctor AND the dentist so you know it was another period of pain and Vicodin. But never mind that. While I was in the waiting room of the doctor’s office (and I mostly get the last appointment of the day because I work late so things are usually pretty empty), I listened to two kids making prank phone calls with the older kid’s cell phone. It was a tween girl and maybe a ten-year-old boy and the boy did the talking while the girl clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle uproarious laughter. In a thick Bronx accent, he would say, “Hello, I’m calling from Bank of Amerikuh and yo loan is expiuhed. Hello? Hello?” He seemed genuinely surprised each time someone hung up on him, which everyone did within three seconds. And then it hit me why kids’ prank phone calls fail. Because kids sound like kids! This may seem entirely obvious to you but it did not to me when I was an adolescent. I mean, say he had said, “Good evening, sir, I am calling from Bank of America regarding your loan, there is a problem,” it still would have come out in the voice of a ten-year-old. Click.

The other thing that struck me is, “your loan has expiuhed” has become the new “I have your sister locked up in my car.” Because these days, that’s a lot more terrifying and realistic. Even the youts know.

Title comes from:
Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone

You know how people who are afraid of dying in plane crashes are obsessed with plane crash news? Having worked on this blog for nearly three years, my fear is losing everything, and so I am obsessed with a blog service I’ve never heard of called Journalspace crashing and losing all its members’ blogs. Everything. Apparently they had a stupid (read: nonexistent) back up system set up by their sketchy IT guy who then erased everything right after he was fired. People, we can learn some lessons from this:

1. Back up your work!
2. Always escort fired employees out of the building.
3. Never lose track of what’s going on in your own world, even if you have delegated.
4. Back up your work!

True story, at one label where I worked, a guy got laid off, went to say goodbye to his friends on another floor, and got trapped in the stairwell when they cut off his card access. Security had to come rescue him. That was sucky. But this is a good segue to say, happy new year! How so? Well, think for a moment. Do you know anyone who had a good 2008? Because I surely don’t. And getting canned is one big reason it blew for lots of people. But it wasn’t just that, remarkably. Everyone seems to have their own unique reasons why it both sucked and blew. I know I do.

But the good news is, it’s over. Fresh start! I know where David Nalbandian is next week! The Yankees bought every free agent available! One day, no construction people will be expected at my home! Peace in the Middle East!

No, really!

And this is your year, dear reader. I’m sure of it. Unless you blogged with Journalspace. 2010 will work for you folks.

Morrissey – In the Future When All’s Well

Hope everyone had a delightful Purim and/or is having a happy Easter!

First off, the bake sale is over but thank you so much! It was hugely successful and we’ll have another one late this year with a different kind of treat (maybe rugelach will make a repeat appearance). Sorry for the lack of posts but I wanted that one to stay on top, plus I was busy baking. And will be for a while!

Second, for those who are interested in the aftermath of the Station Fire, there is a special tonight at 10pm on VH1. There was a tribute concert and excerpts of that will be shown as well.

Lastly, I did not, in fact, win the contest on Randa Clay’s site for my Just.Do.It post (boo! hiss!) but I think it was more meant for tech and practical blogs, rather than personal ones. As well, I was going to write that post anyway if not exactly framed that way, so it’s OK. And I was glad to inspire and get inspired by the various comments.

Oh, and an update on something I mentioned on a Page: Nalby lost at Indian Wells this week. But I don’t mind! He lost to Chokemaster Mardy Fish, my second favorite player who then went on to beat… Roger Federer! He’s in the final today. Godspeed, Chokemaster!