August 2009

Schedule

moocowinthecity 2009-08-29 No Comments

One Year in the Army, E-mails & Things of that Nature

I have emails written to a slew of people, lacking computer time, they’re currently on my notebook…as in…my spiral notebook…I’ll get them sent out tomorrow morning at work (as always, thank you for your continued patience). August 20, 2009 marked the date that I’ve been in the army for a year, there’s a post coming on that tomorrow or this weekend or whenever I have long enough to type it from my notebook into a journal entry.

Travel Schedule

There’s still some people I need to work things out with:
irenefinlay – Will you and Stephen be able to make it down to Buffalo? I’d love to see you both!
dadmirald – When are you free in NYC?
Tyler – Any chance of meeting up in West Palm Beach?
Danny – Any chance of meeting up in West Palm Beach?

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Israel

• • Jogging

• • Work

• • Get passport from safe

• • Finish writing reports

• • Morning meetings

• • Administering exams

Monday, August 31, 2009
Israel

• • Jogging

• • Work

• • Administering exams

• • Teaching

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Israel

• • Jogging

• • Work

• • Administering exams

• • Teaching

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Israel

• • My 25th birthday

• • Jogging

• • Work

• • Administering exams

• • Teaching

Thursday, September 3, 2009
Israel

• • Head to Tel Aviv (drop off bags)

• • Head to Jerusalem

• • Kotel

• • Sepulcher

• • Head to Tel Aviv

• • Chai tea with Gene

Friday, September 4, 2009
Israel

• • Tel Aviv

Saturday, September 5, 2009
Israel

• • Tel Aviv

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tel Aviv / New York City

• • Leave TLV for JFK

Monday, September 7, 2009
Long Island

• • Pizza

• • Plainview Scoobies Roll Call

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New York City

• • Natural History Museum

• • Lunch with Grandparents

• • 7PM Kathy Griffin book signing with Mom & Rachel

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Long Island

• • Hanging out in general

• • Harass ladymaidmarian & Twitchy

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Long Island

• • Packing for Florida

• • Playing with my poodle

• • Coffee With twisty_mirror

Friday, September 11, 2009
Leave for West Palm Beach

• • Vodka on the plane…much better than those pesky snakes…

Saturday, September 12, 2009
West Palm Beach

• • Visiting Grandma

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Leave for Long Island

• • Vodka on the plane…still better than those pesky snakes…

• • Recovery night – Chinese food
    • Vegetarian General Tso’s

Monday, September 14, 2009
Long Island

• • Matt & Dave’s Sort of Late 25th Birthday Party

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

• • Dinner with the QCPRG Crew in NYC

• • Sleeping over at Christine’s

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

• • Movies & drinks at Christine’s

• • Sleeping over at Christine’s

Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

• • Movies & drinks at Christine’s

• • Sleeping over at Christine’s

Friday, September 18, 2009
Long Island, Erev Rosh HaShanah

• • Happy New Year!

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Long Island, Rosh HaShanah

• • Happy New Year!

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Long Island, Rosh HaShanah

• • Happy New Year!

Monday, September 21, 2009
Buffalo, New York

• • East Amherst Youth Hostel

• • Kaymar Crew

• • Lovable and Squishy Pagans

• • primana

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Buffalo, New York

• • East Amherst Youth Hostel

• • Kaymar Crew

• • Lovable and Squishy Pagans

• • SPoT Coffee

• • Strange Brew

• • primana

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Buffalo, New York

• • East Amherst Youth Hostel

• • Kaymar Crew

• • Lovable and Squishy Pagans

• • Hillel

• • Department of Linguistics

• • The Buffalo, NY Store

• • Elmwood Avenue

• • Dinner With Christine Babin

• • primana

Thursday, September 24, 2009
Buffalo, New York

• • East Amherst Youth Hostel

• • Kaymar Crew

• • Lovable and Squishy Pagans

• • Gay Clubs/Bars

• • primana

Friday, September 25, 2009
Depart for Long Island

• • Shabbat services

Saturday, September 26, 2009
Long Island

• • Saturday morning services

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Long Island, Erev Yom Kippur

• • Repenting like whoa

Monday, September 28, 2009
Long Island, Yom Kippur

• • Repenting like whoa

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
New York City

• • 364 more days to fuck up until next year

• • Picking up things people have asked for

• 8pm – Henry Miller Theater – Seeing John Stamos in Bye Bye Birdie with Rachel!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Long Island

• • Jeruen is staying over

• • General hanging out

• • Did someone say Friendly’s?

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Long Island

• • General hanging out

• • I think someone said Friendly’s again…

Friday, October 2, 2009
Long Island

• • General hanging out

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Long Island

• • General hanging out

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Long Island

• • General hanging out

Monday, October 5, 2009
Depart for Tel Aviv

• Back to work on October 6, 2009

Schedule

moocowinthecity 2009-08-29 No Comments

One Year in the Army, E-mails & Things of that Nature

I have emails written to a slew of people, lacking computer time, they’re currently on my notebook…as in…my spiral notebook…I’ll get them sent out tomorrow morning at work (as always, thank you for your continued patience). August 20, 2009 marked the date that I’ve been in the army for a year, there’s a post coming on that tomorrow or this weekend or whenever I have long enough to type it from my notebook into a journal entry.

Travel Schedule

There’s still some people I need to work things out with:

irenefinlay – Will you and Stephen be able to make it down to Buffalo? I’d love to see you both!
dadmirald – When are you free in NYC?
Tyler – Any chance of meeting up in West Palm Beach?
Danny – Any chance of meeting up in West Palm Beach?

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Israel

2. Jogging

2. Work

2. Get passport from safe

2. Finish writing reports

2. Morning meetings

2. Administering exams

Monday, August 31, 2009
Israel

2. Jogging

2. Work

2. Administering exams

2. Teaching

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Israel

2. Jogging

2. Work

2. Administering exams

2. Teaching

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Israel

2. My 25th birthday

2. Jogging

2. Work

2. Administering exams

2. Teaching

Thursday, September 3, 2009
Israel

2. Head to Tel Aviv (drop off bags)

2. Head to Jerusalem

2. Kotel

2. Sepulcher

2. Head to Tel Aviv

2. Chai tea with Gene

Friday, September 4, 2009
Israel

2. Tel Aviv

Saturday, September 5, 2009
Israel

2. Tel Aviv

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tel Aviv / New York City

2. Leave TLV for JFK

Monday, September 7, 2009
Long Island

2. Pizza

2. Plainview Scoobies Roll Call

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New York City

2. Natural History Museum

2. Lunch with Grandparents

2. 7PM Kathy Griffin book signing with Mom & Rachel

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Long Island

2. Hanging out in general

2. Harass

ladymaidmarian & Twitchy

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Long Island

2. Packing for Florida

2. Playing with my poodle

2. Coffee With

twisty_mirror

Friday, September 11, 2009
Leave for West Palm Beach

2. Vodka on the plane…much better than those pesky snakes…

Saturday, September 12, 2009
West Palm Beach

2. Visiting Grandma

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Leave for Long Island

2. Vodka on the plane…still better than those pesky snakes…

2. Recovery night – Chinese food
3. Vegetarian General Tso’s

Monday, September 14, 2009
Long Island

2. Matt & Dave’s Sort of Late 25th Birthday Party

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

2. Dinner with the QCPRG Crew in NYC

2. Sleeping over at Christine’s

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

2. Movies & drinks at Christine’s

2. Sleeping over at Christine’s

Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Desert to Garden Tour

2. Movies & drinks at Christine’s

2. Sleeping over at Christine’s

Friday, September 18, 2009
Long Island, Erev Rosh HaShanah

2. Happy New Year!

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Long Island, Rosh HaShanah

2. Happy New Year!

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Long Island, Rosh HaShanah

2. Happy New Year!

Monday, September 21, 2009
Buffalo, New York

2. East Amherst Youth Hostel

2. Kaymar Crew

2. Lovable and Squishy Pagans

primana

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Buffalo, New York

2. East Amherst Youth Hostel

2. Kaymar Crew

2. Lovable and Squishy Pagans

2. SPoT Coffee

2. Strange Brew

primana

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Buffalo, New York

2. East Amherst Youth Hostel

2. Kaymar Crew

2. Lovable and Squishy Pagans

2. Hillel

2. Department of Linguistics

2. The Buffalo, NY Store

2. Elmwood Avenue

2. Dinner With Christine Babin

primana

Thursday, September 24, 2009
Buffalo, New York

2. East Amherst Youth Hostel

2. Kaymar Crew

2. Lovable and Squishy Pagans

2. Gay Clubs/Bars

primana

Friday, September 25, 2009
Depart for Long Island

2. Shabbat services

Saturday, September 26, 2009
Long Island

2. Saturday morning services

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Long Island, Erev Yom Kippur

2. Repenting like whoa

Monday, September 28, 2009
Long Island, Yom Kippur

2. Repenting like whoa

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
New York City

2. 364 more days to fuck up until next year

2. Picking up things people have asked for

1. 8pm – Henry Miller Theater – Seeing John Stamos in Bye Bye Birdie with Rachel!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Long Island

2. Jeruen is staying over

2. General hanging out

2. Did someone say Friendly’s?

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Long Island

2. General hanging out

2. I think someone said Friendly’s again…

Friday, October 2, 2009
Long Island

2. General hanging out

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Long Island

2. General hanging out

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Long Island

2. General hanging out

Monday, October 5, 2009
Depart for Tel Aviv

1. Back to work on October 6, 2009

I’m Okay

moocowinthecity 2009-08-13 No Comments

You may read today that there was an attempted kidnapping or a kidnapping of an Israeli soldier; I’ve just finished doing a Doch 1 (דוח 1) (basically a really, really important sheet that says where everyone is) and all of my Officers, Warrant Officers, and Soldiers are accounted for…I don’t have much information at the moment other than that we’re all on lockdown for the time being…this could be for another five minutes or another few hours. I’ll keep everyone updated.

I’m Okay

moocowinthecity 2009-08-13 No Comments

You may read today that there was an attempted kidnapping or a kidnapping of an Israeli soldier; I’ve just finished doing a Doch 1 (דוח 1) (basically a really, really important sheet that says where everyone is) and all of my Officers, Warrant Officers, and Soldiers are accounted for…I don’t have much information at the moment other than that we’re all on lockdown for the time being…this could be for another five minutes or another few hours. I’ll keep everyone updated.

Update

moocowinthecity 2009-08-13 No Comments

The base is still on lock down for anyone (officers and soldiers alike) who has to get home via bus or walking. Fortunately, I was able to call my kibbutz family and have them borrow a kibbutz car and pick me up, so I’ve made it home for Shabbat safe and sound.

I’ll be spending Friday morning teaching in Gadera, then later teaching in Tel Aviv and then couch surfing at a friends apartment Friday night and (probably a different friends place) on Saturday.

Saturday night my Commander and I are seeing Fiddler on the Roof together in Tel Aviv (it will be the first time I’m seeing Fiddler on the Roof in Hebrew).

Updates as I have them. For those of you who believe in a higher power(s) let’s all pray that no soldier was abducted (which is still a possibility) and that this is all a false alarm…but let’s also pray that if a soldier has been abducted, that they’ll soon be seen home safely and without harm.

I’m drained, it’s 23:09 and I have to pack and straighten out my room before I can head to bed. Tomorrow’s wakeup time is 0630hrs.

Goodnight everyone.

Update

moocowinthecity 2009-08-13 No Comments

The base is still on lock down for anyone (officers and soldiers alike) who has to get home via bus or walking. Fortunately, I was able to call my kibbutz family and have them borrow a kibbutz car and pick me up, so I’ve made it home for Shabbat safe and sound.

I’ll be spending Friday morning teaching in Gadera, then later teaching in Tel Aviv and then couch surfing at a friends apartment Friday night and (probably a different friends place) on Saturday.

Saturday night my Commander and I are seeing Fiddler on the Roof together in Tel Aviv (it will be the first time I’m seeing Fiddler on the Roof in Hebrew).

Updates as I have them. For those of you who believe in a higher power(s) let’s all pray that no soldier was abducted (which is still a possibility) and that this is all a false alarm…but let’s also pray that if a soldier has been abducted, that they’ll soon be seen home safely and without harm.

I’m drained, it’s 23:09 and I have to pack and straighten out my room before I can head to bed. Tomorrow’s wakeup time is 0630hrs.

Goodnight everyone.

@#&#%^*$%&(%^&*(%^&($!

moocowinthecity 2009-08-10 No Comments

$^W$%&E# I want to be able to blog again daily, keep up with my friends online, their lives, their musings, writings, blogs…not to mention do my own writing and writing challenges…oh and email…which I’m tackling this weekend (thank you everyone, especially those who have waited months, for not coming together, forming a mob with pitch forks, and burning me at the stake)…if I don’t get my own laptop again sometime soon, I may go postal…if I find the guy who stole my laptop I will go postal…5769 will be known as the year in which a compulsive blogger was thrown into rehab against his will 5770 will be known as the year when the compulsive blogger busted out of rehab and beat people with whatever computer he was able to procure before sitting down with a half liter cup of black coffee (and…as a side note, black coffee is black, no milk, no sugar…) and then sighing a breath of relief as he signs onto messenger for the first time in, oh, around nine months.

On a side note, to the people who took four hundred hours to order their snacks in front of me at the canteen today on base…if you’re having three or five candy bars apiece…you don’t need to then order Diet Cola…just drink rocket fuel, it’s quicker.

@#&#%^*$%&(%^&*(%^&($!

moocowinthecity 2009-08-10 No Comments

$^W$%&E# I want to be able to blog again daily, keep up with my friends online, their lives, their musings, writings, blogs…not to mention do my own writing and writing challenges…oh and email…which I’m tackling this weekend (thank you everyone, especially those who have waited months, for not coming together, forming a mob with pitch forks, and burning me at the stake)…if I don’t get my own laptop again sometime soon, I may go postal…if I find the guy who stole my laptop I will go postal…5769 will be known as the year in which a compulsive blogger was thrown into rehab against his will 5770 will be known as the year when the compulsive blogger busted out of rehab and beat people with whatever computer he was able to procure before sitting down with a half liter cup of black coffee (and…as a side note, black coffee is black, no milk, no sugar…) and then sighing a breath of relief as he signs onto messenger for the first time in, oh, around nine months.

On a side note, to the people who took four hundred hours to order their snacks in front of me at the canteen today on base…if you’re having three or five candy bars apiece…you don’t need to then order Diet Cola…just drink rocket fuel, it’s quicker.

Attacks in Tel Aviv

moocowinthecity 2009-08-03 No Comments

At 10:40PM this past Saturday there was an attack on an LGBT youth center in Tel Aviv. Those gathered were having a coming out support group on a typically warm night, when the shooter entered the building and shots rang out. Moments later, 11 people were injured (three of them critically) and 2 were dead.

Those who are no longer among the living are Liz Tarbushi, a 17 year old High School Student and Nir Katz, a 26 year old retired IDF Officer. Nir – who volunteered at the center for the past three years – was volunteering his time there as a leader, helping youth come to terms with their sexuality.

The community that night was left in a state of shock.

In Israel, terrorism doesn’t work. When a suicide bomber blows up a cafe, we go out for coffee. When a bus is hijacked, we go on a bus trip to Eilat. When someone uses a bulldozer as a weapon in Jerusalem the next day we gather up our friends and go on a trip to tour the Old City…what we do not do is cave into fear.

I have a lot of things to say right now, but I find that I lack the words to say them. I urge everyone in Israel to come to Tel Aviv this weekend – first to pray, then to show your support of the LGBT community (restaurants, clubs, bars) and then to demonstrate…loudly:

Saturday, August 8, 2009: 8:00PM
Kikar Rabin, Tel Aviv: come out against hate.

Attacks in Tel Aviv

moocowinthecity 2009-08-03 No Comments

At 10:40PM this past Saturday there was an attack on an LGBT youth center in Tel Aviv. Those gathered were having a coming out support group on a typically warm night, when the shooter entered the building and shots rang out. Moments later, 11 people were injured (three of them critically) and 2 were dead.

Those who are no longer among the living are Liz Tarbushi, a 17 year old High School Student and Nir Katz, a 26 year old retired IDF Officer. Nir – who volunteered at the center for the past three years – was volunteering his time there as a leader, helping youth come to terms with their sexuality.

The community that night was left in a state of shock.

In Israel, terrorism doesn’t work. When a suicide bomber blows up a cafe, we go out for coffee. When a bus is hijacked, we go on a bus trip to Eilat. When someone uses a bulldozer as a weapon in Jerusalem the next day we gather up our friends and go on a trip to tour the Old City…what we do not do is cave into fear.

I have a lot of things to say right now, but I find that I lack the words to say them. I urge everyone in Israel to come to Tel Aviv this weekend – first to pray, then to show your support of the LGBT community (restaurants, clubs, bars) and then to demonstrate…loudly:

Saturday, August 8, 2009: 8:00PM
Kikar Rabin, Tel Aviv: come out against hate.