Yes?

Goodbye

kale_eater — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:27:13 GMT

The main page says it's been 60 weeks since my last post. That might be a new record, even for me.

Truth is, lots is going in my life and lots has changed since that last post of mine. But unlike glib_dichotomy, I don't have good friends who are regular LJers, and unlike rincemaj I haven't made lots of freinds through LJ. So while I know my life now has too few people in it, posting to LJ feels less like connecting or reaching out and more like isolation. I mean, if I wanted to write just to hear myself think on paper, I'd keep a journal (actually, I probably should).

It seems to me that the whole point of journaling in public like this is to connect to other people. When I post here, 9 times out of 10, no one responds. That's more depressing than not posting at all.

I promised glib_dichotomy that I'd read her journal so she doesn't have to remember to tell me things. I'm not sure I like reading about it instead of actually being told, but I'll do my best to give it a try.

I won't be posting anymore as kale_eater, though. I mean, really, what's the point?

Yoo hoo

kale_eater — Tue, 09 May 2006 02:02:00 GMT

Just poking my head in to say hi. At this very moment I am juggling 2 radio freelance gigs, working in a cool restaurant, running neck and neck with some other very qualified people for an amazing (and rare) fulltime radio job, and never getting any time off to see my friedns or girlfriend or to post to YOU!!!

Love you all.
xoxo

huh?

kale_eater — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 01:31:28 GMT

um, no

Apparently, some trucker in Ohio has chosen to run for Senate on a platform that includes supporting the death penalty for homosexualty. Why don't I think that's going to go so well for him? Even in Ohio.

Ode to Cabots

kale_eater — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 05:05:53 GMT

Saving the best for last.....

WE WENT TO CABOTS!!!!!!!!!

Those of you not from suburban Boston and, more specifically, Newton (which I think is all of you) cannot possibly appreciate what this means. Since Stariel moved to Boston over a year ago I have been telling her about this amazing 50s-style icecream parlor and burger joint called Cabots. And last Thursday night, we finally went.

Now Cabots is a very special place. They make amazing potato skins. Their ice cream menu is six pages long! Their sundaes are still only $5 and so gigantic, it easily takes two to eat a small. Everything they serve is incredible.

But, more importantly, Cabots is special because I've always gone there for very special occassions: every year K-12 after dance recitals with my entire extended family, for my 16th birthday with friends, and on the only Very Very High School Date I ever went on (which didn't happen during high school, btw). Cabots is special.

And Stariel and I had an excellent time :-)

Blarg

kale_eater — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:26:26 GMT

Today was something less than spectacular. After several hours of anxiously sitting around thinking about all the things I must do before setting foot in the classroom on Monday--several hours during which I was unable to do any of these things!!--I finally ended up subbing 3 periods. Disaster! The regular teacher has been out every afternoon for a week, so the kids are off the wall at this point. And they're starting to catch wind that I'm not just a regular sub, so the questions are endless.

yikes.

I'm zonked.

knit knit kint

kale_eater — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 04:48:56 GMT

WARNING: you have me back, but at the price of what will probably be endless posts on knitting. Here's the first of many.

I made my first hat today. Wow, was that easy! And FAST! It was so much fun watching it shape up and seeing it go from being flat to *gasp* hat shaped!!!!!! You'll forgive me, but this is the first thing I've ever made that wasn't a scarf, so the idea that you can change the shape of knitted objects at will simply by adding or subtracting stitches and it ACTUALLY WORKS is pretty damn cool.

In sadder knitting news, I ripped out about 18" of a blue and grey striped ribbed scarf I was making for myself because I decided that it's the project from hell. It's going to be reinvented as a scarf in a different stitch pattern on bigger needles--mistake rib this time, I think--and I'm hoping it'll be better behaved in it's new incarnation. I also have made the painful decision to frog an entire wavy ribbed scarf that I made for my little sister. I do love the yarn, I really do! And the color is to die for. But I should have used bigger needles, and D probably wouldn't think it's soft enough anyway, so I think this one is going to come back as a schnazy felted tote bag. I can whip up a different, softer hat and scarf set for D in a jiffy. It's just that the wavy scarf was so HARD and it took me so LONG and SO MANY tries! I feel like that's the project where I really gained knitting confidence in terms of my ability to follow complicated patterns and fix mistakes. Clearly, I'll have to buy myself some more suitable yarn and make it again. I just have to find someone to give it to!

Phew! Congratulations, all you non-knitters. You've just survived your first knitting post. A+ job! And now you can read rincemaj's inevitable comments about how I'm such a stereotype--no, wait, make that a stereoDYKE--for becoming a knitter.

It's been a long time!

kale_eater — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 06:17:25 GMT

Wow! Has it really been 2.5 months since my last post? Why yes, yes it has. Nutty. Since August 15, all sorts of things have happened. I moved back to DC where I spent a lot of time sending out resumes, making phone calls, sitting on the couch watching Law & Order while other people went to work, and being depressed. I almost moved back to Boston because no radio stations or schools wanted to hire me.

And then.... the week before last I was offered a job out of the clear blue teaching 9th grade social studies. I accepted, and now I've got my very first real, full-time job doing something I couldn't be happier about! My subjects are Ethics & Democracy and Speech & Debate. The school is a charter school for black kids from DC's poorest and most under-performing communities. My co-workers are fabulous. I can't wait!

What else has happened since August 15? I've taken up knitting and become totally obsessed. I've become an expert at navigating the Grey Hound NYC-DC bus schedule. I've learned to drive around Washington. I've totally abandoned finishing my summer radio project because I'm lazy, and I keep promising myself that I will, in fact get it done.

I think that's about all. Life is good. Life would be better if B and I could find a way to be in the same city. Life would be *even* better if, on top of that, The Boy got off his ass and moved to my neighborhood. We're working on it ;-)

Count down

kale_eater — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 18:38:03 GMT

Two more days till I'm on the road, headed back to DC!
That's right, I leave here on Wednesday afternoon, just as soon as I squeeze in a couple more interviews and turn in my keys. This has certainly not been a fun summer, but it has been very interesting. In the end, I'm glad I came down here; it gave me a lot to think about. This is really the topic for a much longer discussion, and I don't have time now (I'm at work). Soon, though, I'll try to set a little more of what I'm thinking down in writing.

In the meantime, Hi everyone! Sorry for being awol (again) for so long! I'll try to be around a little more often :-)

Prepare to be amused!

kale_eater — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:44:11 GMT

1. Go to google
2. Do a search on the word "failure"
3. Click on the first listing that comes up

So sad

kale_eater — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 22:02:02 GMT

A friend of mine gave birth yesterday to a stillborn baby. The baby boy was almost to term.
And two other friends had to put their old, beloved pets to sleep.

::sigh::

On the road again

kale_eater — Sun, 05 Jun 2005 23:04:29 GMT

Here I am in North Carolina. I left my aunt and uncle's house in DC at 2:30pm yesterday, and I rolled into Chapel hill a loooooong six and a half hours later. That's two hours longer than the drive is supposed to take, by the way.

My new housemates seem very nice. Chapel Hill is one never-ending big-box store. I'm serious! Today I went to Target to get a few things (Super Target, actually), and next to the Target were a Sam's Club, a KMart, and a Super Kroger. Insane! I was so overwhelmed, I didn't get any groceries, so I'll have to go back later or else have nothing to eat.

The house here is okay. Still, in my first effort at getting my room set up, I managed to blow a fuse. Not good. And I don't know where the fuse box is, although it's nowhere obvious, so I'll have to wait for someone else to get home and show me.

lalalala. That is all. I'm bored. It's only 7pm, it's still light out, and I wish I had something to do or somewhere to go. Wanna come hang out with me in North Carolina?

Well poo on you!

kale_eater — Sun, 15 May 2005 15:35:31 GMT

I'm in Barcelona. It's beautiful, and I can actually talk to people, which is a major plus. I'm excited about being in Spain, but I'm missing having someone around to really talk to. Rachel's been a decent traveling companion--at times fun, at times infuriating--but she's not someone to really *talk* to. I had Hamish in France, which was great. I've done the tons of the introspective stare spacily out the plane window, write endless pages in my journal thing. And now I keep logging on hoping to find some friendly screenames online and NO ONE IS THERE!!!! And no email either.

Yes, this is a guilt trip. I'm grumpy and looking for company, and I can whine if I want to. So there!

Rome!

kale_eater — Sat, 14 May 2005 18:31:04 GMT

So somehow, I managed not to post a damned thing yet about my trip to Paris. It was wonderful. Eight days of fun times with The Boy, seeing the sites, wanderin the streets, and sitting in the cafes. I could get used to Paris..... if I spoke the language. The Boy, whose French is, of course, nearly perfect, started teaching me to read and pronounce it. Now that I can do that reasonably, I should probably make an effort to understand what I'm saying!

And Rome? Well, it's very different. It feels very Mediterranean (duh) with its salmon-colored buildings and flat facades. Of course, the churches are exquisite, but they do all start to run together after a while.

A few quick observations, since I'm tired:
1. The pigeons here are exceptionally healthy. They also walk exceptionally fast.
2. Staring at oppulent ceilings for too lon really does a number on your neck!
3. It's always better when you're with someone who knows their way around. Luckily, I was: my dad's cousin, who lives here.
4. This is veggie heaven! Especially compared to France. The pizza is incredible. So is the mozzarella.
5. I am SO glad we're going to Barcelona tomorrow! Hurray for non-religious art. Also hurray for being on my own very, very soon.

Greetings from Budapest

kale_eater — Tue, 03 May 2005 08:34:47 GMT

I made it! The skeezy British ex-pat sitting next to me on the plane was determined to ensure I wouldn't make it awake or in one piece, but I did both nonetheless. And now I'm having a fab time wandering around Budapest with Hamish. We spent our first night in Buda, then switched over to Pest, the infinitely more-schnazy 1/2. I could absolutely never live here (apart from anything else, the language is impossible to learn), but I'd certainly come back for another visit.

This is the sort of city ideally designed for wandering and chatting, with plenty of beautiful old buildings thrown in for good measure. It seems there must have been a mass exodus after the end of Communism, because many buildings in the heart of otherwise thriving, clearly wealthy areas, are either condemned or have vacant and ramshackle lower levels. Which only means, I suppose, that the place is ripe for a serious boom.

What else? The synagogue here is huge, gorgeous, and looks more than vaguely like a mosque. Before I came my uncle warned me that this is the scamiest city in Eastern Europe, but so far that has proved entirely false. Maybe we just look remarkably untouristy? But that can't be it since (a) I'm sure my uncle doesn't look touristy here either and (b) Hamish and I have been yammering on in loud English for all to hear. So basically, he's full of it, and there's not much to worry about here. Also, Hungarians seem to be very friendly. A woman and her husband actually stopped to ask if we needed directions when they saw us looking at our map the other day. They also all have very lovely, genuine, friendly smiles. And eerily pale green eyes, usualyl with auburn or nearly black hair. It's an unusual and intriguing combination.

Well, I think that does it for my assorted random observations thus far. Today we're headed for the zoo.

Two days and counting!

kale_eater — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:34:59 GMT

By the end of tomorrow, my NPR internshp will be over and the phase generally known as FRANTIC GROVELLING FOR PAID WORK will have begun.

By the following morning, I'll be on a bus to New York, getting ready to be on a plane to Budapest. Wow. Am I ready? I can't wait! But no.... my room's a mess, my stuff's not packed, I still have more errands to run. Deep breaths. And, of course, (almost) anything I need that I don't get to I can get in Europe.

Hurray for having an apartment!

kale_eater — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 02:19:40 GMT

Yep, I've got one for the summer in Chapel Hill. Phew! Man, would it ever have sucked to leave the country without having that sorted. Now I can get back to frantic packing. lol.

One week from today....

kale_eater — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:10:35 GMT

....I'll be in Budapest with H!!!!
Before I go, I must:

*Pack up everything I own in Washington and put it in my aunt and uncle's basement
*Get new contacts
*Buy some books
*Buy some clothes
*Get my hair cut
*Go to the bank
*Photocopy my passport
*Find my money belt
*Sew up a sleep sack
*Get a day pack
*Clean my water bottle
*Find my travel-sized toothpaste
*Stock up on pens
*Collect addresses
*Print out reservation info
*Call my cousin in Rome
*Talk to the boy
*Send my resume all over NPR
*Buy a thank you gift for my DC fam
*Say goodbye to my intern friends
*Buy some socks
*Talk to my new boss in Chapel Hill
*Talk to my other (i hope!) new boss.... also in Chapel Hill
*Call David

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

this is cute

kale_eater — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 03:00:24 GMT

I wish it would tell me which choices it associates with which region of the United States! Some I know, either from home, or because they're obvious/stereotypical, or from living in Michigan. But others I really just dont know! I also realized taking it that the way I say things has gotten pretty garbled being out of the Northeast for a while.... I don't remember how we say "caramel" at home. haha.

Your Linguistic Profile:

45% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

10% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Mysterious good news.....

kale_eater — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 18:56:36 GMT

....is on it's way. Check back soon for details.

Fun times at the gay bar, Part II

kale_eater — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 22:11:02 GMT

My conversation with the Really drunk, cute middle-aged gay guy (rdcmgg):

RDCMGG: You're.... haha.... I was gonna say handsome! You're... what's your name?
Me:            Rachel
RDCMGG:   Well, you're gorgeous! I mean, for a boy or girl....
Me:            Thanks?
RDCMGG:   I mean, your hair, and your face, and your eyes, and.... you're beautiful!
Me:               Uh huh
RDCMGG:   I'm Jeremy
Me:               Uh huh, nice to meet you
RDCMGG:    Hey Dan, come look at this..... person. Isn't, um...
Me:               SHE!!!!!
RDCMGG:    Isn't she hot? Ya know, honey, I'm a gay man, so if I think you're hot.....

If he thinks I'm hot, what? All the dykes will come flocking? Gah! Who knew I was so attractive to the older gay set?

My new bud Sharaon and I are heading back there tonight for a drag king show with some friends; should be fun. Man, oh, man, it's been way too long since I've hung out with the queers. lol.

Fun times at the gay bar.....

kale_eater — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 07:19:43 GMT

Yeah, that's all I'm sayin for now; it's late, and I need to get some sleep. Sufice it to say, between the Jewish Lesbian Potluck Shabbos Dinner and the latest chapter of Rachel & Sharon's Dykey Adventure, it was an entertaining night!

My non-nonsensical hiakus

kale_eater — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 07:03:16 GMT

work zipping along
the streets from the shop to home
i remembered

your number on the
ground parents began taking
their children out to

in cheap trousers and
an even cheaper navy
blue sports jacket maybe

yay!

kale_eater — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:22:00 GMT

I rode to work today. Wow, it was wondeful! I haven't arrived to work so energized in, well, since I've been here. And my route on the way home made me realize why I love living in a smaller, pretty city. Since we changed the clocks over the weekend, it's light out, and I ride home past people out walking the dog, talking to friends on the street corner, carrying groceries home, lounging in coffeeshops and sidewalk cafes. Plus the neighborhoods I ride through are the hip and the gay. haha. That always makes for fun people watching! Maybe I will stay here for the summer.... now that I've got friends and a bike, it could be lots of fun!

It's hard to be unhappy....

kale_eater — Sun, 03 Apr 2005 21:46:42 GMT

On baseball's opening night! Fenway's open, the radio announcers are getting ready, and spring is here.

I got my bike tuned up today. Tomorrow I'll finally be able to start riding to work. Zipping along the streets from the shop to home, I remembered why I love this clunky-looking commuter so much: total freedom and perfect exhilaration on two wheels. It doesn't get better than that!

And in more disturbing news....

kale_eater — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 02:55:44 GMT

Read this article from The Advocate. A judge in Ohio has just ruled that, under the state's new "marriage protection" constitutional amendment, unmarried couples--including, obviously, gay couples--are no longer covered by the state's domestic violence laws. Apparently, if you're living in sin, you don't deserve protection from physical violence.