moocowinthecity

one cow. many pastures.

open pasture

open pasture

My Dad & I

moocowinthecity No Comments

So my Dad called me today, just to talk which was nice (he’s in Virginia at the moment on his way to doing a Civil War Re-Enactment). Ever since I brought him to synagogue on the High Holy days and did some construction work with him, he’s been happier…and he’s talking about returning to the synagogue which really just makes me so happy…Baruch Hashem, it’s about time.

So we spoke for an hour, part of the reason he called though was because (he owns his own business on Long Island) and he’s arranged for the guy who owns the company that investigates his employees for him (the guy who he hires, owns this investigative firm which also does bodyguard and security detail for celebrities in NYC, among other things) to train me in security over December break before I move to Tel Aviv in 13 months which was very generous of him and an offer I took him up on. I also haven’t used a hand gun or rifle since I was sixteen so I’m going to go down to Pennsylvania next time Chris (gryvon) and Candie (covarla) go down to their parents and do some target practice (no, I will NOT go snipe hunting…I know what snipe hunting is…not cool…not cool at all =P though I’ll be more than happy to play with your puppies…oh, I should bring my camera too…).

One of the designers who he works with is from Egypt and flies back and forth, and he’s talking to him as well on my behalf, it’d be cool if I can get to know him, if nothing else to practice Arabic with while I’m on break from school…I can practice my Hebrew with Rabbi Harvey.

Dad doesn’t really understand what I study yet, so I really need to finish typing out the five page “So what is Linguistics, Phonetics and Applied Sociolinguistics anyway?”

Ron Smyth (the researcher and professor in Toronto) wrote back to me…I’m so excited. I’m driving up with my research assistant (yes, I’ve already formed my base team) on Wednesday and I’ll be staying over night at a hostel in Toronto, (or…perhaps in the car…depending on just how poor we are) and we’ll be driving back on Thursday. Paauw gave me permission to miss his class…ohh…maybe I’ll find George and convince him to marry me on the way (for those of you who don’t recall, George is the hot guy from Carrie’s (irenefinlay) wedding…I firmly believe, based on his dress, beer choice, and manner of drinking that he’s a kinky bastard in bed and would love the chance to prove my hypothesis true).

This is the shit dreams are made of man, a little bit of craziness, two academics (me and Brigitte) and a whole lot of faith.

I rock a lawsuit when I’m going to court, a white suit when I’m getting divorced, a black suit at the funeral home and my birthday suit when I’m home alone – Good Charlotte

I have my Arabic Mid-Term this Tuesday. This weekend will be spent studying. As I thought, the general exam outline is vocabulary, sentences, and bi-directional translation. I spoke to Prof. Roustum about missing his class on Thursday and he said “Matthew, no problem! We’ll help you get there!” – he’s awesome…just truly, truly awesome. He also said he’d teach us the bad words after we graduate. I’m taking him up on that.

I have so much reading to do over Thanksgiving (three text books need to be post-it flagged, formulas written down, binders organized). Five weeks of instruction left kiddies! it really isn’t funny but it’s gunna happen.

I also have 20 CE’s that I need to do so I can re-certify in a year (I just want them out of the way) and I have to start studying for the CIPP exam.

Five weeks more of instruction…then Finals.

This December I won’t be in the Middle East (that’s for a friended post later today, when I have the time and energy to do one) however I will be meeting with Nefesh B’Nefesh, then getting security training on Long Island (apparently), then Vermont to say hello to Cows, and then me and the Kaymar Crew will be in Salem, Mass. where I get to be Candie’s (covarla) research assistant…she got her grant…so now we have money to stay a hotel! Other benefits than the fact that I really just enjoy research as well as watching Candie work, is the Irish Pub, Mexican Restaurant, awesome little shops and boats.

Oh, and I just want to put this out there:

You can lead a horse to water and make him drink, all you need is a hose and some duct tape. Persistence people, it pays off.

open pasture

My Dad & I

moocowinthecity No Comments

So my Dad called me today, just to talk which was nice (he’s in Virginia at the moment on his way to doing a Civil War Re-Enactment). Ever since I brought him to synagogue on the High Holy days and did some construction work with him, he’s been happier…and he’s talking about returning to the synagogue which really just makes me so happy…Baruch Hashem, it’s about time.

So we spoke for an hour, part of the reason he called though was because (he owns his own business on Long Island) and he’s arranged for the guy who owns the company that investigates his employees for him (the guy who he hires, owns this investigative firm which also does bodyguard and security detail for celebrities in NYC, among other things) to train me in security over December break before I move to Tel Aviv in 13 months which was very generous of him and an offer I took him up on. I also haven’t used a hand gun or rifle since I was sixteen so I’m going to go down to Pennsylvania next time Chris (

gryvon) and Candie ( covarla) go down to their parents and do some target practice (no, I will NOT go snipe hunting…I know what snipe hunting is…not cool…not cool at all =P though I’ll be more than happy to play with your puppies…oh, I should bring my camera too…).

One of the designers who he works with is from Egypt and flies back and forth, and he’s talking to him as well on my behalf, it’d be cool if I can get to know him, if nothing else to practice Arabic with while I’m on break from school…I can practice my Hebrew with Rabbi Harvey.

Dad doesn’t really understand what I study yet, so I really need to finish typing out the five page “So what is Linguistics, Phonetics and Applied Sociolinguistics anyway?”

Ron Smyth (the researcher and professor in Toronto) wrote back to me…I’m so excited. I’m driving up with my research assistant (yes, I’ve already formed my base team) on Wednesday and I’ll be staying over night at a hostel in Toronto, (or…perhaps in the car…depending on just how poor we are) and we’ll be driving back on Thursday. Paauw gave me permission to miss his class…ohh…maybe I’ll find George and convince him to marry me on the way (for those of you who don’t recall, George is the hot guy from Carrie’s (

irenefinlay) wedding…I firmly believe, based on his dress, beer choice, and manner of drinking that he’s a kinky bastard in bed and would love the chance to prove my hypothesis true).

This is the shit dreams are made of man, a little bit of craziness, two academics (me and Brigitte) and a whole lot of faith.

I rock a lawsuit when I’m going to court, a white suit when I’m getting divorced, a black suit at the funeral home and my birthday suit when I’m home alone – Good Charlotte

I have my Arabic Mid-Term this Tuesday. This weekend will be spent studying. As I thought, the general exam outline is vocabulary, sentences, and bi-directional translation. I spoke to Prof. Roustum about missing his class on Thursday and he said “Matthew, no problem! We’ll help you get there!” – he’s awesome…just truly, truly awesome. He also said he’d teach us the bad words after we graduate. I’m taking him up on that.

I have so much reading to do over Thanksgiving (three text books need to be post-it flagged, formulas written down, binders organized). Five weeks of instruction left kiddies! it really isn’t funny but it’s gunna happen.

I also have 20 CE’s that I need to do so I can re-certify in a year (I just want them out of the way) and I have to start studying for the CIPP exam.

Five weeks more of instruction…then Finals.

This December I won’t be in the Middle East (that’s for a friended post later today, when I have the time and energy to do one) however I will be meeting with Nefesh B’Nefesh, then getting security training on Long Island (apparently), then Vermont to say hello to Cows, and then me and the Kaymar Crew will be in Salem, Mass. where I get to be Candie’s (

covarla) research assistant…she got her grant…so now we have money to stay a hotel! Other benefits than the fact that I really just enjoy research as well as watching Candie work, is the Irish Pub, Mexican Restaurant, awesome little shops and boats.

Oh, and I just want to put this out there:

You can lead a horse to water and make him drink, all you need is a hose and some duct tape. Persistence people, it pays off.

open pasture

What is sleep?/Travel/Course Work so Far/etc.

moocowinthecity No Comments

There’s plenty time to sleep when you’re dead.

Classes for Next Semester:
Arabic IV with Prof. Roustum
Structure of English: Sound System with Karen E. Michelson
Structure of English: Grammar & Lexicon with David Zubin
Linguistic Anthropology – they’re seeing about getting me into the class, it’s full at the moment.
Advanced Sociolinguistics with Wolfgang Wölck – I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be taking a course from this legend.

Classes this Summer:
Finishing my last two GenEds

Final Fall Semester:
Phonetics with Dr. Jaeger (let’s be real: who else?)
Arabic Independent Study with Prof. Roustum unless magically the university sees fit to fund an Arabic V…I mean, why would anyone ever study Arabic…let’s fund Sanskrit instead – no seriously, I’ve taken Sanskrit at UB from R.D. Woodard).
TA-ship – Wherever I best fit in, though I’m hoping with Jaeger just because there’s a lot I can learn from her as a TA that I won’t be able to learn as a student, however I also want the most qualified person to TA so if that person isn’t me, then it’s all cool…always admit what you don’t know right off the bat, admitting you don’t know something allows you to succeed.
And then (at my count) one more class (I forget which one)…though I could be wrong…it happens every now and then.

Then Graduation in December of 07!

I don’t believe I’ll be walking as the walking part is held in June, though maybe they’ll hold a special session of the Lavender Ceremony for me and the other Queer students graduating at the December session, at the IDC…if not, it really doesn’t bother me. I do hope my grandparents in NJ will come up just so I can show them where I’ve been going to school these five and a half years. Dad should come up again so I can take him to the Frank Lloyd Wright House (he’s one of our favorite designers) and Mom should come up again (she comes up once or twice a year) just to come up (I’ve shown her my life up here already). Plus, it’d be December…they can all use some Buffalo snow.

In all honesty, walking isn’t that important to me. I didn’t go to my high school graduation (I went to Gay Pride in Bryant Park instead, clearly I made the better choice…I think my twin brother slept in). I’ll walk…maybe…when I get the third stripe on my robes…I don’t really feel the need to do it for my B.A., or my Masters…I mean, if the G-Parents really want a picture of me shaking hands with my adviser or the dean I’ll rent the robe, stand outside of an official looking place, and have someone take a digital picture for them.

Then, after I make sure the last of my belongings is either sold, or fits into (at max) two bankers boxes, I strap on my backpack with what’s coming with me to the Middle East, head to JFK International Air Port and get on a plane, go to sleep, and wake up in Tel Aviv.

Paauw said I wasn’t allowed to take 25 years off like he did before I start grad work…but I don’t view this next phase as “taking off” – I’m getting myself prepared to contend. I’m going to finish fluency…I’m going to experience another culture, I’m going to experience stress, fear, apprehension, joy, and numerous other emotions. I’m going to experience things that I haven’t encountered yet challenging myself to come up with new, innovative and creative solutions to handle them and I’ll also be experiencing some beautiful men and for that too, I’m excited. This is in no way the end of my higher education, in fact, it’s barely a start.

I meet with Nefesh B’Nefesh this December; they’re very nice over there, I’ve been speaking with them. After I figure out how the whole process works with one of their counsellors, I’ll determine when I can apply to TAU and then think, about possibly, making a decision about when.

“There’s only so much you can learn in one place, the more that I wait, the more time that I waste…I haven’t got much time to waste, it’s time to make my way. I’m not afraid of what I’ll face, but I’m afraid to stay, I’m going down my own road and I can make it alone, I’m working, I’m fighting, I’ll find a place of my own…are you ready to jump? Get ready to jump. Don’t ever look back oh baby, yes I’m ready to jump, just take my hand, get ready to jump.” – Madonna

I’ve often found going “yup” can solve a lot of things…like when I really don’t feel like listening to someone.

“It’s going to be incredibly hard, you won’t be able to take it, you’ll never make it, you’ll fail and die and you’ll be crushed to death by a thousand pink poodles with horrendous hair cuts” and I reply with a simple “yup” and then they ask “so you’re not going to go?” and I go “nope, I’m still going to go, now I’ll just make sure to send you a post card” and they just stand there and stare at me.

It’s a pretty basic philosophy: I don’t care if it’s hard, I don’t care if I get cut, banged up, bruised or seriously battered during it. The only determining question I ask myself is “was someone else able to do it?” and if the answer is Yes, than I know I can do it too. If the answer is No…then I’m going to be the first to do so, or at least the first (or maybe another in a long line) to try. There is NOTHING embarrassing or humiliating about failing, the only embarrassing or humiliating thing is if you give in to others past failures or fears that they have about themselves and subsequently project on to you, and don’t even try.

No fear…best slogan a company ever came up with.

My mom had a good email signature for a while, not quoting exactly, but something to the effect of:

You should not arrive on time to your funeral, in a well preserved body, but rather, late, screeching to a stop, smoking, as you fall into your coffin, banged, bruised, cut, hollering “Good God what an awesome ride!”

The only thing that can stop us short of chains of bondage from doing what we want in life…is ourselves.

99.99% of the time, when I announce that I’m going to do something (as Alice – maleficentseyes – can probably tell you best) it means I’ve already thought about it for a long time, held the town hall meeting with myself, campaigned, voted, and now I’m just publicly releasing the results…I’m not actually looking for comment.

Life happens folks, get a mop. Clean it up, then get back out there…life is for living not existing.

I hope to have an awesome experience: if I do, awesome.
If I have a gut wrenching, awful, experience, where I’m miserable: awesome. It’s still an experience, and an important one to have. Life is all about experiences, some good, some bad, all required and all make you a better person.

How can you possibly know the joy of having someone say “yes” when you ask them on a date, until you have a few people say “no” first? How can you know the joy of life unless you have been touched by death? How can you rejoice if you have never known sorrow? How can you be full if you’ve never known hunger? How can you fight for freedom with your whole heart if you have never felt oppression?

I’m never lost, wherever my feet are, is where I’m supposed to be.

And on that note, it’s time for my feet to take me to my bedroom so I can get up for class tomorrow.

  • Currently Feeling: :needing iced tea
  • Tunes: :Face the Music (Kascade Club Mix Edit)-Conjure One-Face the Music – EP
open pasture

What is sleep?/Travel/Course Work so Far/etc.

moocowinthecity No Comments

There’s plenty time to sleep when you’re dead.

Classes for Next Semester:
Arabic IV with Prof. Roustum
Structure of English: Sound System with Karen E. Michelson
Structure of English: Grammar & Lexicon with David Zubin
Linguistic Anthropology – they’re seeing about getting me into the class, it’s full at the moment.
Advanced Sociolinguistics with Wolfgang Wölck – I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be taking a course from this legend.

Classes this Summer:
Finishing my last two GenEds

Final Fall Semester:
Phonetics with Dr. Jaeger (let’s be real: who else?)
Arabic Independent Study with Prof. Roustum unless magically the university sees fit to fund an Arabic V…I mean, why would anyone ever study Arabic…let’s fund Sanskrit instead – no seriously, I’ve taken Sanskrit at UB from R.D. Woodard).
TA-ship – Wherever I best fit in, though I’m hoping with Jaeger just because there’s a lot I can learn from her as a TA that I won’t be able to learn as a student, however I also want the most qualified person to TA so if that person isn’t me, then it’s all cool…always admit what you don’t know right off the bat, admitting you don’t know something allows you to succeed.
And then (at my count) one more class (I forget which one)…though I could be wrong…it happens every now and then.

Then Graduation in December of 07!

I don’t believe I’ll be walking as the walking part is held in June, though maybe they’ll hold a special session of the Lavender Ceremony for me and the other Queer students graduating at the December session, at the IDC…if not, it really doesn’t bother me. I do hope my grandparents in NJ will come up just so I can show them where I’ve been going to school these five and a half years. Dad should come up again so I can take him to the Frank Lloyd Wright House (he’s one of our favorite designers) and Mom should come up again (she comes up once or twice a year) just to come up (I’ve shown her my life up here already). Plus, it’d be December…they can all use some Buffalo snow.

In all honesty, walking isn’t that important to me. I didn’t go to my high school graduation (I went to Gay Pride in Bryant Park instead, clearly I made the better choice…I think my twin brother slept in). I’ll walk…maybe…when I get the third stripe on my robes…I don’t really feel the need to do it for my B.A., or my Masters…I mean, if the G-Parents really want a picture of me shaking hands with my adviser or the dean I’ll rent the robe, stand outside of an official looking place, and have someone take a digital picture for them.

Then, after I make sure the last of my belongings is either sold, or fits into (at max) two bankers boxes, I strap on my backpack with what’s coming with me to the Middle East, head to JFK International Air Port and get on a plane, go to sleep, and wake up in Tel Aviv.

Paauw said I wasn’t allowed to take 25 years off like he did before I start grad work…but I don’t view this next phase as “taking off” – I’m getting myself prepared to contend. I’m going to finish fluency…I’m going to experience another culture, I’m going to experience stress, fear, apprehension, joy, and numerous other emotions. I’m going to experience things that I haven’t encountered yet challenging myself to come up with new, innovative and creative solutions to handle them and I’ll also be experiencing some beautiful men and for that too, I’m excited. This is in no way the end of my higher education, in fact, it’s barely a start.

I meet with Nefesh B’Nefesh this December; they’re very nice over there, I’ve been speaking with them. After I figure out how the whole process works with one of their counsellors, I’ll determine when I can apply to TAU and then think, about possibly, making a decision about when.

“There’s only so much you can learn in one place, the more that I wait, the more time that I waste…I haven’t got much time to waste, it’s time to make my way. I’m not afraid of what I’ll face, but I’m afraid to stay, I’m going down my own road and I can make it alone, I’m working, I’m fighting, I’ll find a place of my own…are you ready to jump? Get ready to jump. Don’t ever look back oh baby, yes I’m ready to jump, just take my hand, get ready to jump.” – Madonna

I’ve often found going “yup” can solve a lot of things…like when I really don’t feel like listening to someone.

“It’s going to be incredibly hard, you won’t be able to take it, you’ll never make it, you’ll fail and die and you’ll be crushed to death by a thousand pink poodles with horrendous hair cuts” and I reply with a simple “yup” and then they ask “so you’re not going to go?” and I go “nope, I’m still going to go, now I’ll just make sure to send you a post card” and they just stand there and stare at me.

It’s a pretty basic philosophy: I don’t care if it’s hard, I don’t care if I get cut, banged up, bruised or seriously battered during it. The only determining question I ask myself is “was someone else able to do it?” and if the answer is Yes, than I know I can do it too. If the answer is No…then I’m going to be the first to do so, or at least the first (or maybe another in a long line) to try. There is NOTHING embarrassing or humiliating about failing, the only embarrassing or humiliating thing is if you give in to others past failures or fears that they have about themselves and subsequently project on to you, and don’t even try.

No fear…best slogan a company ever came up with.

My mom had a good email signature for a while, not quoting exactly, but something to the effect of:

You should not arrive on time to your funeral, in a well preserved body, but rather, late, screeching to a stop, smoking, as you fall into your coffin, banged, bruised, cut, hollering “Good God what an awesome ride!”

The only thing that can stop us short of chains of bondage from doing what we want in life…is ourselves.

99.99% of the time, when I announce that I’m going to do something (as Alice –

maleficentseyes – can probably tell you best) it means I’ve already thought about it for a long time, held the town hall meeting with myself, campaigned, voted, and now I’m just publicly releasing the results…I’m not actually looking for comment.

Life happens folks, get a mop. Clean it up, then get back out there…life is for living not existing.

I hope to have an awesome experience: if I do, awesome.
If I have a gut wrenching, awful, experience, where I’m miserable: awesome. It’s still an experience, and an important one to have. Life is all about experiences, some good, some bad, all required and all make you a better person.

How can you possibly know the joy of having someone say “yes” when you ask them on a date, until you have a few people say “no” first? How can you know the joy of life unless you have been touched by death? How can you rejoice if you have never known sorrow? How can you be full if you’ve never known hunger? How can you fight for freedom with your whole heart if you have never felt oppression?

I’m never lost, wherever my feet are, is where I’m supposed to be.

And on that note, it’s time for my feet to take me to my bedroom so I can get up for class tomorrow.

  1. Currently Feeling: :needing iced tea
  1. Tunes: :Face the Music (Kascade Club Mix Edit)-Conjure One-Face the Music – EP

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