January 2007

Israel for June & July of this Year (Confirmed!)!!/Mac is in for Repair/Heading back to Buffalo

moocowinthecity 2007-01-10 No Comments

Israel for June & July of this Year (Confirmed!)!!/Mac is in for Repair/Heading back to Buffalo

moocowinthecity 2007-01-10 No Comments

Matan’s Israel Trip June-July 2007!

“If you can’t go over, you must go under.” – Jewish Proverb

So tonight driving to Dinner, Mom and I were discussing “what’s next” and I have the plan firmly set for what I want to do, where I want to do it, how I’m going to do it, and what I demand out of life and what I’m going to get out of it.

And while getting to the point I want to be at scares the shit out of me (because it’s the unknown, the unplanned, the unexpected) I’ve never backed down from a challenge (I have the scars to prove it) and this time is no different. This shouldn’t be seen, however, as any doubt in myself. I have complete faith in myself, and I know for an absolute fact, that I’m going to make it…the journey is just exciting, and scary, and a tough road…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Frederick Douglas had a powerful saying:

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

So as we were talking, my Mother referenced my investment account, which has a nice portion of cash in it; but which I haven’t wanted to touch because the money was not put there by me and so even though the account was in my name, I didn’t feel comfortable touching it, having not been the one to fund it.

She said that her and my father discussed it; and that even though they put the money in their originally to pay for my college education, which was since paid for by another account, that even though it was transferred to my name (in NYS, all accounts that are held for minors revert to them when they turn 21) and the cash is theirs and not mine, and even though it was originally intended to pay for my school, that I could use it to send myself to Israel.

I’m doing so.

I’m calling my broker tomorrow and having him wipe the account and wire me the money, and then I’m booking myself a round trip ticket to Tel Aviv and I’m flying out the first week in June and coming back the last week in July, and I’m doing my first Israel experience my way; not on tour busses, not with a tour guide (though I’m sure a native or oleh or two would be more than happy to show me some of the sites for a couple of days over the two month period).

I’m handling things the way that I want to, and on my terms (which is important to me). I know that I could go for free, I’d really rather travel alone and meet new people when I feel like being social, and be by myself when I’m feeling spiritual, when I want to pray, and if I’m moved, cry freely; and I really want to dance. If I see a site and it bores me, I can just move on, if I see a site and it enthrals me, I can stay for days.

So then we got to the Diner, and my Father (who’s currently in the proverbial dog house – another story, for another time – it’s a doozy) asked me “so what’s next?” and I asked him to qualify what he meant by that (since that could mean so many things with him), and he said “hmm, okay, tell me what’s happening for one year, give me the layout” and I said:

“Well let’s see, I finish this semester – coming home once a month for more shots because I’m getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A, B & E – then I’m lecturing in Toronto again for three-ish days. Then in June I’m flying to Israel where I’ll be for two months, staying in Hostels, Couch Surfing and maybe on a Donkey Farm, getting lost so I can learn the streets by foot, taking pictures, hanging out in Cafe’s, dancing in clubs, going to the sites, connecting with my people’s history, praying and crying at the wailing wall, going to office’s of programs of study that I want to participate in and getting brochoures and leaving my card, meeting with Nefesh B’Nefesh in Israel just to “say hi”, writing poetry, smoking Hookah and playing Shesh Besh like a pro (thank you Eli, for teaching me). Then I come back and will have two weeks off before classes, then in the Fall Semester I take my final four classes, I head down to Washington to sit for a professional exam, then I sit for two licensing exams in the state of New York, then in December I Graduate with a B.A., CPhT, CIPP, P.I., after my name. I’m not walking through graduation since they don’t have one in December and I don’t want to sit through graduation ceremonies myself, why on earth would I make anyone else do that on my behalf. However, we’re going to have a dinner with the grandparents and friends as a sort of graduation/going away dinner, then I put on a backpack – and I get on a plane, and I land in Tel Aviv and I begin an adventure. Then, after I finish learning the two languages to completion – however long that takes, I sit for the ATA Exams, then I enter a masters program, complete that, then I enter the masters program to get my MBA, then I get my Ph.D. because that’s important to me.”

It was a non-confrontationl, totally factual, totally calm explanation of what was going to happen; and then the unexpected happened…my Father said he’d like to fly out with Mom sometime while I’m in Israel this summer and visit me and show me the Kibbutz he used to live on, see some of the sites with me, and maybe hop a plane to Egypt or Greece; and I told him he was more than welcome to join me – but I’m booking my trip on my own. If he wants to book a trip and let me know when he and mom are going to be there I’ll meet up with them; I don’t do five star hotels, I don’t even do motels, why spend money on a nice place to sleep if you aren’t going to be sleeping all that much, and that kind of fru-fru trip isn’t the kind I want.

So now he sort of understands reality and I also explained to him what I’ll be studying in Israel, where I want to do my graduate work, when I’ll be doing my graduate work, what graduate degrees I want, and just why it’s so important for me to go to Israel and become fluent in two more languages before I even think about graduate school; and I think he really understands. The basic order of things is: Fluency in Israel (Arabic and Hebrew, Arabic in an Intensive Study and Hebrew in an Ulpan), ATA Arabic Exam in the U.S. (you have to sit for it there) (Credentials), IPA Transcription Exam in London, Masters in Translation Studies (a few university options), MBA (Baruch College in NYC), Ph.D. (in Linguistics, a few options).

Reasonably, I can finish all of this by the time I’m 30 (while of course working in between). I’m okay with that…you can chase men and you can win or you can loose, or you can chase academic dreams and the only option is to soar. It’s going to take me across a few continents, in quite a few countries, with very few comforts of home…but the benefits after all of the work, the sweat, the blood, the tears…will be worth every investment of money and time. And the stories that I want to hear, the local flavor that I want to record, all no doubt will write themselves into one awesome adventure.

The picture, while not totally in focus, is no longer nearly as fuzzy as it once was.

And I’m taking that first step.

New Shuffle!!

My Mom Got me a new shiny, aluminum iPod Shuffle!! So Happy!! Music Again, without being called old school for carrying a CD Player! It’s so tiny! And so powerful…awesome sound, and no screen to suck battery power (I hate the screens, I know what order I put my songs in…the same way I do on my CD player which didn’t have a screen, I’d rather have more hours of listening time).

The Mac is in for Repair

I love Apple. My Mac got a little crack on the top part next to where the touch pad is, and I had the service plan “No problem, no charge…give us three days for an in-store repair” so I’ll be without the computer for a few days, but Mom will overnight it to me when it comes in and of course they’ll do the cleaning on the exterior and stuff, not that it’s all that dirty, but it’s had hard use this semester and can use a good wipe down. I picked up a USB charger for the aformentioned shuffle while I was there, since it charges via USB port and I didn’t want to be out of music for a few days.

Also a plus is – and I wasn’t aware of this previously – that apple sells an “international kit” so all you have to do is pull off one part of the charger, snap in a different end, and you can use your laptop safely in all major countries! How cool is that! This means that I will be blogging from Israel, providing I can find some wifi hotspots…I’m going to pick up the wifi finder keychain that lets you know when a wifi spot is near as well when I purchase the transformer kit.

Heading Back to Buffalo

I’m heading back to Buffalo Tonight, which means I’ll talk to all of you beautiful people when I get back there! See you soon!

~ me

1. Tunes: :The Sticker Song – HaDag NaChash

Spring Schedule 2007

moocowinthecity 2007-01-09 No Comments

This schedule seems to work best, placing Cardio early in the morning as well as Yoga right after it as a cool down/stretching period, and after the blood’s flowing, studying, followed by a wrap up prep-time to get materials prepared for the next day. I’ve allotted myself more time for commuting in the Afternoon because towards the end of the day busses run far less often (and are far more packed) than in the morning. It’s my goal this semester to always be at the campus no later than 11am and, of course, to stick with the health plan. I sort of want people to know that I can be relied on, to be on campus from 11am to 7pm (which is a standard eight hour day) and the benefit to a Cardio/Yoga routine is that if I want, for the cardio hour I can walk at a brisk pace around campus with someone if they need to talk with me, or if I have a paper coming up, I can read source documents while on a stationary bike, and I can always listen to audio drills of arabic while doing Yoga, so it allows for maximal flexibility in multi-tasking.

I refuse to do ‘work’ on Shabbat, that doesn’t mean that I won’t go out dancing, it just means that I take a break from my average duties during the week. This year Heather and I are making an effort to go do shabbat in a few different places since Hillel sort of just took a flying leap off the deep end into the abyss, leaving sanity, judaism and logic well behind.

Sunday’s Dance workout should be something special, it’s a weighted work out and is the lest holistic of the workout routines, as it’s where I’m coming up with my new drag routine.

I’ve printed out one of these for each week of class and I’m binding it together so I can keep track of how often I meet my goal. For those who think the schedule is ‘too insane’ If you look carefully, my day ends at 7:00pm so I’ve also alloted myself a ton of personal time to do really whatever it is that I want; and if one day I say “screw it, I’m having a movie marathon” as long as I do the morning work outs, and I’m caught up on my work, I may take that day and not study.

So, here’s to 2007!

Spring Schedule 2007

moocowinthecity 2007-01-09 No Comments

This schedule seems to work best, placing Cardio early in the morning as well as Yoga right after it as a cool down/stretching period, and after the blood’s flowing, studying, followed by a wrap up prep-time to get materials prepared for the next day. I’ve allotted myself more time for commuting in the Afternoon because towards the end of the day busses run far less often (and are far more packed) than in the morning. It’s my goal this semester to always be at the campus no later than 11am and, of course, to stick with the health plan. I sort of want people to know that I can be relied on, to be on campus from 11am to 7pm (which is a standard eight hour day) and the benefit to a Cardio/Yoga routine is that if I want, for the cardio hour I can walk at a brisk pace around campus with someone if they need to talk with me, or if I have a paper coming up, I can read source documents while on a stationary bike, and I can always listen to audio drills of arabic while doing Yoga, so it allows for maximal flexibility in multi-tasking.

I refuse to do ‘work’ on Shabbat, that doesn’t mean that I won’t go out dancing, it just means that I take a break from my average duties during the week. This year Heather and I are making an effort to go do shabbat in a few different places since Hillel sort of just took a flying leap off the deep end into the abyss, leaving sanity, judaism and logic well behind.

Sunday’s Dance workout should be something special, it’s a weighted work out and is the lest holistic of the workout routines, as it’s where I’m coming up with my new drag routine.

I’ve printed out one of these for each week of class and I’m binding it together so I can keep track of how often I meet my goal. For those who think the schedule is ‘too insane’ If you look carefully, my day ends at 7:00pm so I’ve also alloted myself a ton of personal time to do really whatever it is that I want; and if one day I say “screw it, I’m having a movie marathon” as long as I do the morning work outs, and I’m caught up on my work, I may take that day and not study.

So, here’s to 2007!

Midnight Prayers

moocowinthecity 2007-01-08 No Comments

Midnight Prayers
Jericho, New York
Matthew L. Schwartz

And as I enter my synagogue, the lights on low; the eternal flame over the ark burning bright highlighting the Hebrew above the Ark with our eternal flame: Know Before Whom You Stand:as angels tremble in awe/I bow my head in respect and I begin to beat my chest as I admit my transgressions and make them known before God/my tears streak down my cheeks as they bear witness against me:I cast myself away from my sins in this midnight hour/seeking this midnight reprieve and in the darkened halls of my shule/where I was raised:I raise my voice to heaven and pray that my words are carried to God, blessed be he, on the backs of angels’ wings as synagogue mice daven next to me as equals/for we stand as one creation before the lord in our darkest hours/both made by his hands and both to return to dust/and as I scream with my head flung high to the heavens while I face East, as the clock turns so too shall I face the gallows of ignorance and hate/my voice shattering, so primordial, I hear his voice calling back to me:

I will take you, I will hold you, I will love you, I will redeem you, I will sanctify you: breathe in my scent, feel my presence behind you/if you fall I will catch you/I will count you among my portion but not among my flock:you are not a sheep passing under my staff meant to walk placidly among the many. Go forth a soldier in the service of your lord/combat hate:hunger:war:greed:apathy/do my work and within my arms you shall be secure/in my tabernacle you shall be safe from harm/my heart will be your strength and the Torah your guidance:hold it and hold me/know it and know me, stand up for the weak/feed the widow and the poor:with your body protect the children:the infirm:the weak:let your body not be used as a vessel for war but let it become a symbol for peace and a physical shield for those too weak to defend themselves for I will heal all wounds and your flesh will tell the story of righteousness.

And as I anoint myself with oil and bind myself with the words of the lord upon my hand and between mine eyes: the leather of tefillin wrapping me in safety, the sun begins to rise and from darkness comes light, from chaos comes order and as I walk outside to confront my accusers/their fingers are pointed at me, people testifying and bearing false witness as they stare me in the eye, forked tongues shouting out lies about who and what I love/but I do not fear as I am lifted up among mine enemies and though I can see their camps as they surround me I shall fear no evil for the lord is my salvation and though in their hands they hold the rocks of bigotry:ignorance:hate I know I am not forsaken for he who is exalted has his hands cupped around me as angels guard my steps, taken in trepidation as I step forth into the future, so unknown but ordained/as it is written so it shall be:as I begin to walk from the hushed quiet center of this storm, making my way through these blind fools who cannot see as lighting and thunder resonate with each step as the wind blows and they look up at me in condemnation while they hurl stones that would shatter their own windows/I respond in tongues for all to hear me and for all to understand as they tell me that I have no heroes, that I am an abomination, that I have cast myself in sin, that I am in darkness so thick that the lord cannot see me/that I lie with a man as I would lie with a woman.

My heroes are my people/the same ones who you say want me oppressed: I turn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and I live in the spirit of Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca and Leah and I walk the path between the physical and spiritual planes with Miriam as my guide: no human being is an abomination for we are all made in the divine light of God; it is our actions that determine our place among the stars as six million shed their blood so too did my brothers and sisters who bore the weight of the triangle at the camps and the sin that I am cast into is the sin brought upon by circumstance/though from a wealthy background I am but to you a second class citizen and though I hang out with Rogues and Slags and Hookers and Thieves there is honor in preaching to my congregation because I would rather be counted among those who are true to their nature and who are honest with me about who they are and what they believe than among a thousand congregations who cannot crawl through the eye of a needle/there is no darkness which can hide me from the grace of the lord, for grace is bestowed upon those who suffer persecution in the pursuit of peace and mine is the kingdom of heaven and I will not relinquish my birthright for if the lord were to make a stone which he could not lift it would be his word/his promise alone, that would leave that stone upon the ground. I do not lie with a man as I would lie with a woman and I know of no man who would lie with me in such a way: they lie with me like they would with another man:masculine and beautiful and blessed by God and though I be forsaken by some who say that they are of my flesh and my blood I am taken up by God and though I may be beaten the lord will by my salve and my healer and though I may be lost in a sea of confusion all I have to do is look up to the eternal flame and I have once again found my way.

I continue to push through the crowd as cuts appear on my skin, my clothing tattered and as I reach the outer edge of this chaos/this evil, I turn around to see nothing but an empty parking lot, the morning newspaper strewn upon the ground, blowing around: headlines so cutting, of a world gone insane and the voices, so quiet now in the leaves shrouded by free speech and opinions and spin, I walk through this mess swiftly, because I can feel the presence of another Hitler in the winds.

Midnight Prayers

moocowinthecity 2007-01-08 No Comments

Midnight Prayers
Jericho, New York
Matthew L. Schwartz

And as I enter my synagogue, the lights on low; the eternal flame over the ark burning bright highlighting the Hebrew above the Ark with our eternal flame: Know Before Whom You Stand:as angels tremble in awe/I bow my head in respect and I begin to beat my chest as I admit my transgressions and make them known before God/my tears streak down my cheeks as they bear witness against me:I cast myself away from my sins in this midnight hour/seeking this midnight reprieve and in the darkened halls of my shule/where I was raised:I raise my voice to heaven and pray that my words are carried to God, blessed be he, on the backs of angels’ wings as synagogue mice daven next to me as equals/for we stand as one creation before the lord in our darkest hours/both made by his hands and both to return to dust/and as I scream with my head flung high to the heavens while I face East, as the clock turns so too shall I face the gallows of ignorance and hate/my voice shattering, so primordial, I hear his voice calling back to me:

I will take you, I will hold you, I will love you, I will redeem you, I will sanctify you: breathe in my scent, feel my presence behind you/if you fall I will catch you/I will count you among my portion but not among my flock:you are not a sheep passing under my staff meant to walk placidly among the many. Go forth a soldier in the service of your lord/combat hate:hunger:war:greed:apathy/do my work and within my arms you shall be secure/in my tabernacle you shall be safe from harm/my heart will be your strength and the Torah your guidance:hold it and hold me/know it and know me, stand up for the weak/feed the widow and the poor:with your body protect the children:the infirm:the weak:let your body not be used as a vessel for war but let it become a symbol for peace and a physical shield for those too weak to defend themselves for I will heal all wounds and your flesh will tell the story of righteousness.

And as I anoint myself with oil and bind myself with the words of the lord upon my hand and between mine eyes: the leather of tefillin wrapping me in safety, the sun begins to rise and from darkness comes light, from chaos comes order and as I walk outside to confront my accusers/their fingers are pointed at me, people testifying and bearing false witness as they stare me in the eye, forked tongues shouting out lies about who and what I love/but I do not fear as I am lifted up among mine enemies and though I can see their camps as they surround me I shall fear no evil for the lord is my salvation and though in their hands they hold the rocks of bigotry:ignorance:hate I know I am not forsaken for he who is exalted has his hands cupped around me as angels guard my steps, taken in trepidation as I step forth into the future, so unknown but ordained/as it is written so it shall be:as I begin to walk from the hushed quiet center of this storm, making my way through these blind fools who cannot see as lighting and thunder resonate with each step as the wind blows and they look up at me in condemnation while they hurl stones that would shatter their own windows/I respond in tongues for all to hear me and for all to understand as they tell me that I have no heroes, that I am an abomination, that I have cast myself in sin, that I am in darkness so thick that the lord cannot see me/that I lie with a man as I would lie with a woman.

My heroes are my people/the same ones who you say want me oppressed: I turn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and I live in the spirit of Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca and Leah and I walk the path between the physical and spiritual planes with Miriam as my guide: no human being is an abomination for we are all made in the divine light of God; it is our actions that determine our place among the stars as six million shed their blood so too did my brothers and sisters who bore the weight of the triangle at the camps and the sin that I am cast into is the sin brought upon by circumstance/though from a wealthy background I am but to you a second class citizen and though I hang out with Rogues and Slags and Hookers and Thieves there is honor in preaching to my congregation because I would rather be counted among those who are true to their nature and who are honest with me about who they are and what they believe than among a thousand congregations who cannot crawl through the eye of a needle/there is no darkness which can hide me from the grace of the lord, for grace is bestowed upon those who suffer persecution in the pursuit of peace and mine is the kingdom of heaven and I will not relinquish my birthright for if the lord were to make a stone which he could not lift it would be his word/his promise alone, that would leave that stone upon the ground. I do not lie with a man as I would lie with a woman and I know of no man who would lie with me in such a way: they lie with me like they would with another man:masculine and beautiful and blessed by God and though I be forsaken by some who say that they are of my flesh and my blood I am taken up by God and though I may be beaten the lord will by my salve and my healer and though I may be lost in a sea of confusion all I have to do is look up to the eternal flame and I have once again found my way.

I continue to push through the crowd as cuts appear on my skin, my clothing tattered and as I reach the outer edge of this chaos/this evil, I turn around to see nothing but an empty parking lot, the morning newspaper strewn upon the ground, blowing around: headlines so cutting, of a world gone insane and the voices, so quiet now in the leaves shrouded by free speech and opinions and spin, I walk through this mess swiftly, because I can feel the presence of another Hitler in the winds.

So I Finally Figured Out What The Hebrew Graffiti Means

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

So it took me awhile but I was able to figure out what the Hebrew Graffiti Means (the writing on the wall, if you will). For those of you who don’t remember, I found some awesome Graffiti at the stop right after the Briarwood Station on the F line to Queens from The City; Steve (stevivor) was kind enough to take a photo for me, which I’ve now stolen from his site and added to my picture page to save him bandwidth (don’t sue me Steve =P):

The Graffiti 

The above reads:

ב”ה

Now, after some internet research as to the meaning, I came across something that helped over at FAQs.org)

B”H
	(Baruch Hashem) + Translation: Blessed be G-d (occasionally) (B’Ezras/Ezer Hashem) + Translation: With G-d’s help (i.e. at top of papers, sometimes with an ayin following the beis)

(Source)

So I Finally Figured Out What The Hebrew Graffiti Means

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

So it took me awhile but I was able to figure out what the Hebrew Graffiti Means (the writing on the wall, if you will). For those of you who don’t remember, I found some awesome Graffiti at the stop right after the Briarwood Station on the F line to Queens from The City; Steve (

stevivor) was kind enough to take a photo for me, which I’ve now stolen from his site and added to my picture page to save him bandwidth (don’t sue me Steve =P):

The Graffiti

The above reads:

ב”ה

Now, after some internet research as to the meaning, I came across something that helped over at FAQs.org)

B”H(Baruch Hashem)
+ Translation: Blessed be G-d (occasionally) (B’Ezras/Ezer Hashem)
+ Translation: With G-d’s help (i.e. at top of papers, sometimes with an ayin following the beis)
(Source)

Update of Spiffyness

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

A Big Update But You Should Read It =P

I know I haven’t updated in a while, between the splint on my hand, the holidays and the normal Mishugas of life, I was just broadsided (literally, and figuratively); however I’m back in the groove…and if you read the whole thing, I’ll give you…a cookie.

North Carolina

North Carolina was amazing, it was so good to see family friends again, Mom and I had an amazing time just hanging out with everyone and sharing in their traditions, It was so wonderful to see everyone again. We really love their family and I’m glad that they’ve become a part of ours.

Grades & Reflections

This semester’s grades are finally in:

A- in Arabic III
B- in Linguistic Analysis I
B in Linguistic Analysis II
A in Paauw’s class

And yes, they came in that order…if you’re astute you can see that this spells out ABBA which means that, like Margaret Cho, my fairy godmother is a Drag Queen. If you’re even more astute, you’ll see that Arabic has a – next to it, which means I need to work even harder next semester to bring that up to an A…bring it on.

I’m looking forward to this coming semester with great anticipation, one syllabus is online already that I’m aware of (which can be found here in *.pdf format) and it’s eight pages long with a reading list of a little over three and a half pages long and footnotes…and I’m chomping at the bit for it to start. It’s reading, writing and research intensive with options for presentations and no exams (my kind of course). The professor informs us that he’s put together a reader, but as a student who’s been at the University for five years, I’m sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and for him to go “hahahaha, the reader wasn’t able to be printed, go buy the books.” Ahh experience…one of life’s better teachers.

In my other course I’m studying under the European Union’s lead authority and advisor on Minority Language Rights (he spends half his year in the U.S. and half elsewhere and calls three continents his home)…he’s amazing, and quite frankly, he could read the phonebook to me and make it sound interesting and I’d do what most have never seen me do – sit perfectly still in a chair, on the edge of my seat, in dazed and utter bliss – he has a wicked, tawdry, roguish sense of humor and I love every minute of it.

CPhT, IAPP, CIPP or Alphabet Soup

I’m in the process of completing my Continuing Education Requirements (I have to do 20 CEs over two years for re-certification) for the CPhT this year. I have to say, however, that of the CEs I have the option of doing, none have been terribly thrilling this time around (the next one I get to take in the line is “Safe Bowel Preparation with Sodium Phosphate”). The last time I was in the CE process they had some really fun ones, this year they’re all rather disappointing. I did find a couple of them really instructive though, the Assessing and Managing Risk in Pharmaceutical Settings one, most notably.

I sent in my application to join the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) yesterday, so I can begin to get ready to take the CIPP Certification Exam (Certified Information Privacy Professional); I took their practice exam blind (with no studying) and did fairly well (well enough to pass). I’m fairly astute with computers and I have a strong medical support staff background (I worked in a nursing home for three years as a volunteer, an audiologists office for four years doing clerical and insurance claims work, and at a pharmacy for four years, three of which were as their lead technician).

The IAPP says you should dedicate 15-20 hours studying for the CIPP Exam, I’m scheduling in 30 hours of study time and adding on an additional 10 so I can complete their reading list of books and case studies to make sure that I’m prepared. After that, I’m taking a follow up practice exam (to see progress over time) and if I’m satisfied, then registering to take it this Summer in Washington, D.C. (or New York City if they’re offering it there again) or this coming Fall depending on scheduling.

I have to say that the really impressive thing about the IAPP is that the study guides for the exam and practice tests are free to download on their website, compared with other certification exams that I’ve taken where you had to pay for a ton of materials (all of which had varying degrees of usability).

I’m also taking a follow up/support class for my Certificate in Paralegal studies this semester at UB from the same instructor I had when I was taking the Certificate Course through the Millard Fillmore College

Of course, things like this leave my grandmother perplexed, because I’m going into translation, so I try to elucidate it for her: Paralegal, Pharmacy directly relate to the ATA Exams (Legal and Medical Translation) and are invaluable for knowledge in the fields I’d be likely to translate in (as well as provide me with practical skills to function as support staff: the paralegal notably with the ability to use a law library, they also provide ways of getting cash until I get to where I want to be). The CIPP Exam illustrates that I know how to keep both Medical and Legal records as well as Sensitive Data properly secured, and the NIH course I took really just illustrates that I know how to not kill or maim research participants. So they’re all sort of related and all reinforce the same message: that I can be trusted with your works to be translated in confidence and will treat them with the confidentiality, security and respect that they deserve. Now I just have to finish learning the languages I want to work in.

I’m hoping Candie (covarla) will come with me sometime in the first few weeks of the semester to sit for the Notary Licensing Exam as well, I’m taking the P.I. exam at the end of the semester, which means that by graduation (providing things go according to plan) I’ll have a B.A,, CPhT, CIPP, P.I. after my name (I’ve already taken and passed quite a few of the certification and certificate exams i want, I just need to take a few more before I graduate)…alphabet soup man, alphabet soup.

Oh…I’m also taking the bartender certification course this year, I’ve been practicing my bottle flipping too.

My Left Wrist

I went to the orthopedist the other day and it turns out it was just a really, really bad sprain with a burn and it’s healing up nicely (and I’m out of the splint!) so I’m quite happy. He said if I feel any pain or need any hand therapy to come back, but I don’t foresee that in my future…first, because I don’t think it’ll be necessary, and secondly because I waited an hour and a half to see him and knowing that my number one pet peeve is when people are late/don’t respect other people’s time then I’m setting up a confrontational Doctor/Patient relationship every time I’d be going to see him and I’d probably be resistive to therapy because of that kind of relationship and therefore I’d essentially be setting us both up for failure. I’d like to avoid that, so if I need it I’ll find another professional.

New Years

blue02dude came up for New Years Eve Weekend and we had a good time hanging out in New York City, going to Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon, and doing our thing. We attempted New Years Eve at Times Square which turned out to be a bust because we were ten blocks away (we didn’t get up at 6am…) which means not only can’t you see anything, but you can’t hear anything either, add to that the fact that my back was acting up (a side effect of the accident I had a few years ago) that it was just easier to go home (and pick up some champagne on the way) and actually get to see the ball drop from my house on the big screen T.V. in surround. Towards the end of his stay unfortunately I started getting sick so we had to take things mellow but we made it into NYC a good two or three times.

The Non-Existant Long Island LGBT Scene

Long Island has a large amount of social justice organizations that are geared towards LGBT issues and causes and I do recall a few dance clubs at one time in the past, however most of them, it appears, are no longer active. I went to a bar with Chris when he was here and it was just disappointing. Buffalo has an amazing club scene with clubs that rival some you’ll find in NYC (I know, who’d have thought?) and bars that equal or at least come close to those you’ll find in NYC. Toronto has an amazing LGBT scene (Woody’s, Goodhandy’s to name just a few) and on Long Island it’s just not existent or apparently incredibly underground (which I doubt given the prevalence of the social justice organizations that are quite in the open). Also, I enjoy the company of not only Gay and Straight men and Lesbian and Straight women, but a large portion of gender bending, inter-sexed, trans-everything people and I’m just sort of amazed that Buffalo has venues for everyone and that The Island doesn’t, it seems sort of backwards.

Medical Update

The ‘cold’ turned out t be a full blown Upper Respiratory Infection so I feel like shit (though getting better), but I was given a Z-Pack and cough medicine at the doctors so that’s good and it’s clearing up.

I did, however, ask him to prescribe me the Hepatitis B Vaccine (which also, I’m told, vaccinates you against Hepatitis A) which is a series of shots over three months; and while incredibly expensive (since insurance, bless them, doesn’t cover it) is worth it’s weight in gold. I’m a big fan of preventative medicine. I’ll be going in for my first shot(s?) this Monday.

That said, this semester I’ve scheduled a lot of training hours that I have to stick with, including weight vest training (84lbs X-Vest Weighted Training Vest & Tethered Suicides Cardio), Drop in Yoga and Pilates.

I’ve had an overall weight loss (since I started dieting the Summer of my Freshman Year) of 133lbs. I need to loose another 30-50 and more importantly, I need to build flexibility and muscle mass. Work in progress my ass…I’m ready to be the finished product.

Ruminations of a Mad Man Volume I

I head back to Buffalo this Thursday (the 11th) since Sarah had to push it back a day so she could go see Miki’s concert (Miki is her Sister).

Anyways, time to go take my next dose of Z-Pack, more updates later =)

Update of Spiffyness

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

A Big Update But You Should Read It =P

I know I haven’t updated in a while, between the splint on my hand, the holidays and the normal Mishugas of life, I was just broadsided (literally, and figuratively); however I’m back in the groove…and if you read the whole thing, I’ll give you…a cookie.

North Carolina

North Carolina was amazing, it was so good to see family friends again, Mom and I had an amazing time just hanging out with everyone and sharing in their traditions, It was so wonderful to see everyone again. We really love their family and I’m glad that they’ve become a part of ours.

Grades & Reflections

This semester’s grades are finally in:

A- in Arabic III
B- in Linguistic Analysis I
B in Linguistic Analysis II
A in Paauw’s class

And yes, they came in that order…if you’re astute you can see that this spells out ABBA which means that, like Margaret Cho, my fairy godmother is a Drag Queen. If you’re even more astute, you’ll see that Arabic has a – next to it, which means I need to work even harder next semester to bring that up to an A…bring it on.

I’m looking forward to this coming semester with great anticipation, one syllabus is online already that I’m aware of (which can be found here in *.pdf format) and it’s eight pages long with a reading list of a little over three and a half pages long and footnotes…and I’m chomping at the bit for it to start. It’s reading, writing and research intensive with options for presentations and no exams (my kind of course). The professor informs us that he’s put together a reader, but as a student who’s been at the University for five years, I’m sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and for him to go “hahahaha, the reader wasn’t able to be printed, go buy the books.” Ahh experience…one of life’s better teachers.

In my other course I’m studying under the European Union’s lead authority and advisor on Minority Language Rights (he spends half his year in the U.S. and half elsewhere and calls three continents his home)…he’s amazing, and quite frankly, he could read the phonebook to me and make it sound interesting and I’d do what most have never seen me do – sit perfectly still in a chair, on the edge of my seat, in dazed and utter bliss – he has a wicked, tawdry, roguish sense of humor and I love every minute of it.

CPhT, IAPP, CIPP or Alphabet Soup

I’m in the process of completing my Continuing Education Requirements (I have to do 20 CEs over two years for re-certification) for the CPhT this year. I have to say, however, that of the CEs I have the option of doing, none have been terribly thrilling this time around (the next one I get to take in the line is “Safe Bowel Preparation with Sodium Phosphate”). The last time I was in the CE process they had some really fun ones, this year they’re all rather disappointing. I did find a couple of them really instructive though, the Assessing and Managing Risk in Pharmaceutical Settings one, most notably.

I sent in my application to join the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) yesterday, so I can begin to get ready to take the CIPP Certification Exam (Certified Information Privacy Professional); I took their practice exam blind (with no studying) and did fairly well (well enough to pass). I’m fairly astute with computers and I have a strong medical support staff background (I worked in a nursing home for three years as a volunteer, an audiologists office for four years doing clerical and insurance claims work, and at a pharmacy for four years, three of which were as their lead technician).

The IAPP says you should dedicate 15-20 hours studying for the CIPP Exam, I’m scheduling in 30 hours of study time and adding on an additional 10 so I can complete their reading list of books and case studies to make sure that I’m prepared. After that, I’m taking a follow up practice exam (to see progress over time) and if I’m satisfied, then registering to take it this Summer in Washington, D.C. (or New York City if they’re offering it there again) or this coming Fall depending on scheduling.

I have to say that the really impressive thing about the IAPP is that the study guides for the exam and practice tests are free to download on their website, compared with other certification exams that I’ve taken where you had to pay for a ton of materials (all of which had varying degrees of usability).

I’m also taking a follow up/support class for my Certificate in Paralegal studies this semester at UB from the same instructor I had when I was taking the Certificate Course through the Millard Fillmore College

Of course, things like this leave my grandmother perplexed, because I’m going into translation, so I try to elucidate it for her: Paralegal, Pharmacy directly relate to the ATA Exams (Legal and Medical Translation) and are invaluable for knowledge in the fields I’d be likely to translate in (as well as provide me with practical skills to function as support staff: the paralegal notably with the ability to use a law library, they also provide ways of getting cash until I get to where I want to be). The CIPP Exam illustrates that I know how to keep both Medical and Legal records as well as Sensitive Data properly secured, and the NIH course I took really just illustrates that I know how to not kill or maim research participants. So they’re all sort of related and all reinforce the same message: that I can be trusted with your works to be translated in confidence and will treat them with the confidentiality, security and respect that they deserve. Now I just have to finish learning the languages I want to work in.

I’m hoping Candie (

covarla) will come with me sometime in the first few weeks of the semester to sit for the Notary Licensing Exam as well, I’m taking the P.I. exam at the end of the semester, which means that by graduation (providing things go according to plan) I’ll have a B.A,, CPhT, CIPP, P.I. after my name (I’ve already taken and passed quite a few of the certification and certificate exams i want, I just need to take a few more before I graduate)…alphabet soup man, alphabet soup.

Oh…I’m also taking the bartender certification course this year, I’ve been practicing my bottle flipping too.

My Left Wrist

I went to the orthopedist the other day and it turns out it was just a really, really bad sprain with a burn and it’s healing up nicely (and I’m out of the splint!) so I’m quite happy. He said if I feel any pain or need any hand therapy to come back, but I don’t foresee that in my future…first, because I don’t think it’ll be necessary, and secondly because I waited an hour and a half to see him and knowing that my number one pet peeve is when people are late/don’t respect other people’s time then I’m setting up a confrontational Doctor/Patient relationship every time I’d be going to see him and I’d probably be resistive to therapy because of that kind of relationship and therefore I’d essentially be setting us both up for failure. I’d like to avoid that, so if I need it I’ll find another professional.

New Years

blue02dude came up for New Years Eve Weekend and we had a good time hanging out in New York City, going to Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon, and doing our thing. We attempted New Years Eve at Times Square which turned out to be a bust because we were ten blocks away (we didn’t get up at 6am…) which means not only can’t you see anything, but you can’t hear anything either, add to that the fact that my back was acting up (a side effect of the accident I had a few years ago) that it was just easier to go home (and pick up some champagne on the way) and actually get to see the ball drop from my house on the big screen T.V. in surround. Towards the end of his stay unfortunately I started getting sick so we had to take things mellow but we made it into NYC a good two or three times.

The Non-Existant Long Island LGBT Scene

Long Island has a large amount of social justice organizations that are geared towards LGBT issues and causes and I do recall a few dance clubs at one time in the past, however most of them, it appears, are no longer active. I went to a bar with Chris when he was here and it was just disappointing. Buffalo has an amazing club scene with clubs that rival some you’ll find in NYC (I know, who’d have thought?) and bars that equal or at least come close to those you’ll find in NYC. Toronto has an amazing LGBT scene (Woody’s, Goodhandy’s to name just a few) and on Long Island it’s just not existent or apparently incredibly underground (which I doubt given the prevalence of the social justice organizations that are quite in the open). Also, I enjoy the company of not only Gay and Straight men and Lesbian and Straight women, but a large portion of gender bending, inter-sexed, trans-everything people and I’m just sort of amazed that Buffalo has venues for everyone and that The Island doesn’t, it seems sort of backwards.

Medical Update

The ‘cold’ turned out t be a full blown Upper Respiratory Infection so I feel like shit (though getting better), but I was given a Z-Pack and cough medicine at the doctors so that’s good and it’s clearing up.

I did, however, ask him to prescribe me the Hepatitis B Vaccine (which also, I’m told, vaccinates you against Hepatitis A) which is a series of shots over three months; and while incredibly expensive (since insurance, bless them, doesn’t cover it) is worth it’s weight in gold. I’m a big fan of preventative medicine. I’ll be going in for my first shot(s?) this Monday.

That said, this semester I’ve scheduled a lot of training hours that I have to stick with, including weight vest training (84lbs X-Vest Weighted Training Vest & Tethered Suicides Cardio), Drop in Yoga and Pilates.

I’ve had an overall weight loss (since I started dieting the Summer of my Freshman Year) of 133lbs. I need to loose another 30-50 and more importantly, I need to build flexibility and muscle mass. Work in progress my ass…I’m ready to be the finished product.

Ruminations of a Mad Man Volume I

I head back to Buffalo this Thursday (the 11th) since Sarah had to push it back a day so she could go see Miki’s concert (Miki is her Sister).

Anyways, time to go take my next dose of Z-Pack, more updates later =)