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September 4th, 2009
 | 10:09 am - The wedding
I've been meaning to talk about wedding. It was beautiful. My pictures are up here. It was at the Four Seasons overlooking the Boston Garden on what was probably the nicest day of the year, clear and slightly cool, so that being in dress clothing wasn't horrible. We sat with two of my coworkers, Deb and Mark, with Carl and Mrs. Carl behind us and Elaine and Jack across the way. We weren't sure whether there was a bride side/groom side.
They used white zinfandel for their ceremonial wine. The Chupah was stunning, like an open Sukkah, just covered with white roses and other flowers, and greenery. When the bride entered, Hoppie asked me if I could see her. I said all I could see was flowers and her hair. He said, "that's basically all there is." She is a really tiny woman. The dress was lovely, a mermaid style strapless that was really flattering.
The food was amazing, a fabulous Sunday buffet with an omelet station, including egg white and egg beater options, spinach, asparagus, and the usual vegetables, and the choice of cheddar or swiss cheese. They had a sushi station, and a Belgian waffle station, and a bagel station with all the trimmings, lox, cream cheese, butter, egg, tomato onion, capers, etc. Salad, pasta salad. And on and on. The desserts were stunning too, a blackberry bread pudding, cream puffs, wedding cake, chocolate covered strawberries dipped in pistachio nuts, and stuff I'm forgetting.
They had a jazzy band playing in a very swanky big bang/lounge style. Lots of Sinatra. Lots of classics. A great version of "Brown Eyed Girl." Hoppie has been so Richard Cheesified that he has a hard time listening to it without hearing Richard Cheese's "Ice, Ice, Baby", but I thought it was lovely. We only danced one song together (recovering), but we had great conversation, with very little work talk, which is amazing. People who take vacations, ie: not like me and Hoppie, talked about that. Deb and Mark went to the Islands. Sal recently returned from Italy. We talked about books and shopping and just, we really had fun.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/smile.gif) accomplished
Current Music: Opie and Anthony
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May 7th, 2009
 | 05:22 pm - Small victories
Today was a day of small successes.
I finished a bunch of stuff for a 6:00 checkin.
I had my first work/fitness conflict which ended up resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
I did my first lower body weight training. (I'm looking forward to that tomorrow!)
I finally managed to buy printer ink.
I had lunch with Lolo.
I mailed my Mom a card for mother's day (and MeeMaw a card too)
I didn't get back to the post office to mail a "thinking of you" thing I have, but I have hopes of doing that tomorrow. While I was buying printer ink, I also purchased large bubble envelopes good for that sort of thing. I'm sorta glad I haven't mailed it yet. I really should make a card to go with it. Maybe I'll take the weekend to do that and then send the present out early next week.
Yawn. I think I could fall asleep while typing this. I didn't get to sleep until after 3 last night.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/snore.gif) sleepy
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April 21st, 2009
 | 10:34 am - Amid all else
I've been searching for something profound to say for Holocaust Remembrance Day, but its hard to find something that doesn't sound trite or overdone.
When I was a kid, they used to set up a black oven in the corner of the JCC as part of the display. The oven was always alight. Always ready to receive the bodies. When we devote ourselves to good works, we can cure disease, save lives, help people, and when we devote ourselves to evil, we can create disease, end lives, ruin families and destroy hope. The choice is ours. And so today is a today to decide between good and evil. Between the choices that face us every day; whether we live a life of honor or a life of a shame. Whether the world will remember us with honor, or curse our names. Today, when we stand on the ashes of those who were burned in ovens like the ones at the JCC of my chiildhood, when we remember those who were hunted, shot, burned, starved, tortured, enslaved, and slaughtered by the millions, we should remember also to make our lives as blessing and redeem their loss as best we can, with good works of loving kindness.
In conclusion, I'd just like to add, as a counterpoint, this idea: Jew's on first. I should link the Dennis Leary audio from a few years ago where he and Lenny Clarke talk about how Mel Gibson is in rehab, and we've got a Jew playing first.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/tearful.gif) melancholy
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January 22nd, 2009
 | 07:25 am - Oh fine, now I'm onboard
I just bought my Valentine's Day cards from Diesel Sweeties. If you want to be on my card list, feel free to reply to this message. Comments are screened.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/determined.gif) cynical
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January 11th, 2009
 | 09:03 am - Whistle why you work...
I thought I had posted this as part of the holiday wrap-up, but apparently I've just been telling people about it in individually.
( In case you haven't heard about Dad's present )
Current Mood: cheerful
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December 13th, 2008
| 07:38 pm - Today's happy thing
Hoppie is coming home for the weekend. Not with me, strictly speaking, but at least he'll be there for the party.
Current Mood: calm
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November 26th, 2008
| 01:14 pm - Thankful thoughts
The original title of this post was "Oh, I'm a failure because I haven't got a brain" and it was going to talk about my kitchen failures, specifically the cranberry sauce I made the other day which didn't gel, and fact that I didn't buy enough Kosher gelatin at the store yesterday for my minis. (Recipe, which I did not have with me when I purchased this final ingredients, called for two boxes)
Undaunted (relatively), I set out to half the recipe. And I was doing okay until I realized the cranberry sauce didn't gel properly AGAIN! Hoppie suggested I call his mother and ask for advice. Her advice was twofold. Cook it longer and check the Splenda website to see what they recommend. So I went over to their website and their recipe calls for cornstarch; a known thickening agent. Hrm. Maybe it's not all my fault.
I'll cook again later in the afternoon with cornstarch and let it rest overnight and see how it comes out. Hopefully the gelatin in the minis will be enough to make up for the lack of gel power in the cranberry sauce.
Not that matters, because no one will try them except me and Hoppie.
Anyway, this thanksgiving I'm grateful for the health of my family. Enough things have happened this year to make me appreciate that. I'm also glad I have a job that I love and that constantly challenges me.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/working.gif) busy
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May 2nd, 2008
| 08:39 am - Not exactly a Hallmark holiday...
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Take a few extra minutes to be nicer to people who are different than you are.
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April 24th, 2008
 | 05:05 pm - Booking through Thursday
Booking Through Thursday
Do your reading habits change in the Spring? Do you read gardening books?Even if you don't have a garden? More light fiction than during the Winter? Less? Travel books? Light paperbacks you can stick in a knapsack?
Or do you pretty much read the same kinds of things in the Spring as you do the rest of the year?
I tend to mix my reading up quite a bit anyway, but I've not noticed any seasonal variance, unless you count that I tend to read annotated novels at the first of the year, but that's because I spent any bookshop gift certificates buying them. (There's a "great" reason for that, and by great, I mean it makes sense only to me - I don't feel like I'm worth the money normally, but if it's found money than I can spend it however I wish, and that's what I wish!) So, no.
Brisket is in the oven with red potatoes and onions, spices and chicken broth. It should cook for round about 3 hours. I just had lunch (at 4:40!) of marshmallows, fruit leather, and chocolate covered macaroons. Gotta love Passover! I'm thinking of making stuffing of quiche (from a mix) with dinner, but there's a lot of food. I'll ask wassisname when he gets home.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/blah.gif) lethargic
Current Music: Red Sox losing. Bah.
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| 09:04 am - Shall Jonathan, who has accomplished this great victory in Israel, die? G-d forbid!
( Dream of doppleGreg )
Scott sent me a pair of buttons. I'll catch a picture of myself wearing one of them. Hoppie swiped the other one. It says, "Paying it forward since 1995." I'm very keen on it. Speaking of buttons and pins, this has been my week for them. I got a Derby pin while I was in town and...(oooh, segway time!)
I heard this rendition of Chad Gad Ya (Had Gadya) on Chaggigah. It's beautiful. The mp3 link is about 2/3rds the way down the page. Look for Chava Albertstein. There was a kickass "Echod Mi Yodeah" too.
( Maker's Mark )
My local Curves in Kentucky (which everyone is quick to point out is not my local Curves as many more have sprung up) has a stretching machine. That think is awesome. The stretching from that is incredible. Good enforced positions.
Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Styx "The Best of Times"
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April 15th, 2008
| 11:36 am - Is that Thunder, or just the foolish beat of my heart?
Well, it was Thunder of Louisville this weekend, and we all know what that means....yes, it's Hoppie's and my anniversary. First time the anniversary has fallen on Sunday, the same day of the week we got married.
Oddly enough, we had Thunder on Saturday in Boston as well, of the natural kind. And some lovely storm showers.
It was a good anniversary, and I want to talk about it, but not now.
Language and Baseball: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7342495.stm
I like this shirt. I'm debating getting it for Hoppie. http://www.scarygoround.com/shop-tshirts.php#mathsiseasy
Freaking love this job. I just scripted some search and replace operations to compensate for limitations in the software I'm using.
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April 7th, 2008
 | 11:13 am - Didn't we almost do it all?
Ah, yesterday. I spent most of it completely wired from lack of sleep.
When we got home from Rocker's Saturday night, I went straight to bed and then spent the next bunch of hours NOT SLEEPING. I refused to allow myself to get out of bed to do some work I needed to do the on the computer and was finally rewarded with the amount of sleep that makes a cat nap look restful by comparison.
Anyway, after a modicum of sleep, I got up and did stuff. First all that grooming stuff, then typing up last week's class notes (which I should post), then off to the bank for some money, then to the store for paper and batteries. While at the store, I realized I didn't have my keyboard (must have left it at the office again, damnit). With no time to go retrieve it, I went home and grabbed hoppie's laptop (my laptop has 45 minutes of battery life on a good day. His has 2-5 hours). I was in too big of a hurry to even find the case, just grabbed the laptop, looked briefly for the case and got to class with 3 minutes to spare.
Then I had to endure a bunch of mocking about how "the little girl had grown up" from the Palm/Keyboard combo to a 17" Powerbook. It's not growing up. It's cheating! Anyone can use a laptop. It takes real skill to use a tiny little microcomputer with a folding keyboard so the entire ensemble weighs less than 2 pounds.
Instead of a single-concept class, he gave us a bunch of short ideas to bring to the Seder. I'll post those later. Haven't done the cleanup yet. I was also able to buy 3 lbs of Shmura matzah. I may have mentioned that before.
From there I went to the gym. I've noticed that I've started to do what I've always thought of as the Greg thing (unless it's after 10, then it's the Brian thing), where while in transit, you call and gab with someone. It's like more productive use of your transit time. After that, I went home, took another shower and went to Liz's to BEAD!
I finished the last bits of the commission I've been working on since Channukah. So that's all good. Liz was finishing up a peyote stitch class, so it was crowded, but the women were very sweet and didn't seem to resent me for shoving myself in. I got to show off Robbie a bit. He is looking fine, although I haven't progressed any. My initial problem was I didn't have my drums with me. I've finally figured out how to do the catch. I'm still working on the head. I meant to buy some more of the rootbeer (or whatever colour that was) in 8s, but I forgot. We'll see how it goes.
Got home (slightly late, but not badly so) and Hoppie and I went to Manchester for ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) karnil's Women Spiirt Song concert. It was a great programme. I kept thinking of Greg and Maya throughout the concert. For different reasons. They did one song that I thought, "Ooooh, Maya would love this." and then later when they were talking about the importance of each person in the universe, I thought, yeah. That's it exactly. And that's why this is all so wrong. They did a piece for two choirs that was SENSATIONAL. Just incredible. It was Vivaldi's Antiphonal Gloria and I'm not sure I've heard anything more beautiful.
Hoppie laughed when I told him and said they'd make a good Christian of me yet.
They also had a modern piece using the music from Civ IV and the Swahili translation of the Lord's prayer. Proving that I'm not yet the good Christian, I asked hoppie to remind me what that was. Proving that he's not a good Christian either, it took him awhile to come up with the answer. I think we both said something about the debtors/tresspassers, and then refocused on the song. 8-) At the same moment midway through the piece we leaned over to each other and said, "Our Father, who art..." Hoppie wasn't crazy about the first drumming intro, but I sorta liked it. There was a family sitting next to me and Hoppie, and the kids moved around alot, but they weren't noisy, and I was alternately annoyed that their parents brought them and impressed that they were getting cultured so early.
Then we hightailed it out of there at top speed to go to Hoppie's parents house. We arrived during cocktail hour and about halfway through the slideshow of hoppie's parents vacation to Florida. Then Heather and I played computer games, I did a little crochet, and completely impressed everyone with the fact that I'm pretty stupid when I haven't gotten enough sleep. I can't remember all the stupid conclusions I came to yesterday but here's a random sampling.
We passed a place on the way to Delia's concert serving "Authentic Nepalese Cuisine" and I couldn't figure out what that was. I was debating between Southeast Asian and Italian. Hoppie pointed out that Italian would have been Neopolitan, not Nepalese, but admitted he wasn't sure what constituted the cuisine of Nepal and what differentiated it from other cuisines of similar regions.
Then I gave Chip 24$ to pay for 2 16$ tickets. Well, actually I gave him 23 and told Tom give him the additional dollar. Apparently that would have passed without comment because Chip wasn't totally paying attention and Hoppie was just following orders until I started to explain how I'd added 16 and 16 and gotten 24$. I would like to say that Hoppie handed over the addition 9$ without comment, but, he didn't. He had plenty of comments. I think Chip and Hoppie pretty much decided to discount any further brilliant insights on my part for the rest of the day.
We got home and it took me awhile to settle down to sleep. First I took Hoppie's computer and mailed myself the class notes. Then I redefined his defaults to open the version of Microsoft Word we actually own a proper license for as opposed to the demo crap his machine came with. Then I downloaded some songs from Itunes (including "Somewhere out there" which makes me cry). Then I went upstairs to bed. I listened to music to relax me for 30 minutes then turned off the ipod and I think I fell asleep within 10 minutes after that. I fell asleep with the ipod once, I think, since the, I've been using it controlled measure to help me relax enough to fall asleep. I know, it's strange. What else is new.
And today is today. So far today, I accidentally uninstalled Winzip, so I'm excited to see what the rest of day holds.
Oh, after all that you're wondering what I didn't do yesterday. I didn't pick up our Passover wines. I'll pick them up Wednesday. 8-)
Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Salt 'n Pepper "Push It"
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March 18th, 2008
| 10:43 am - Book learning....
This is last week's class. I haven't written up my notes from this week's class yet. (still) I don't know when I'll have time to do. Tonight we're shopping for Purim, Wednesday is majjong, Thursday is Purim, Friday is Shabbos as is most of Saturday, and then Saturday night is Rocker, maybe?, and Sunday I'm officially behind. 8-)
I got CDs from the previous years' classes. If people are interested, I've been told I'm allowed to copy them. I think I'll bring a set home at Passover time for my dad. He enjoys listening to classes on audio in the car.
( Until their students came to inform them, 'My masters, it is time for the morning Shema' )
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Mary Jane Girls "In My House"
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January 18th, 2008
| 11:14 am - Happy birthday Sissy!
Happy Birthday, Sissy. Many happy returns.
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: The Writers Radio
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December 27th, 2007
 | 02:53 pm - While I'm ranting anyway...
I'm not a Christian. I have no vested interest in Christianity or any of the trappings of Christianity.
And yet...
I really, really hate this trend of referring to Christmas as Hogswatch and Santa Claus as the Hogsfather. It's not cute, it's not charming or funny. It's deliberately insulting, intentionally belittling, and petty. In this age of religious tolerance that includes being tolerant of those who do not believe in religion, it's ridiculous that this term has proliferated the way it has. Yes, I get it. Not everyone believes in Christmas. And all those who do are clearly too stupid to live because OH NOES, they believe in a god. Now STFU and let people enjoy themselves.
If you don't like having a day off for NOT MY HOLIDAY! OMG! Then work and ask for a comp day.
Do you think if I liked the Discworld novels, I'd be less offended?
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/annoyed.gif) annoyed
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December 26th, 2007
 | 04:25 pm - I get this feeling I'm in motion
The other day's sinfest cracked me up.
http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2666
I love the way J walking away looks like a Christmas tree. I wonder if that was intentional. I've had conversations like this.
Speaking of things we don't tell our mothers, remind me not to show her this: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/LIFE/711260317/1004. But at least it's not my fault!
( Small details - Birthday )
( Betwixt and Between )
( Christmas day )
On the way to Barbie's house, it occurred to me that I was content. No mind racing, no dreading people around people, no psychotic preparing myself, nothing like that. I was relaxed and, dare I say it? (Dare! Dare!) Happy. Not like manic happy, on a high, but generally, happy. A comfortable feeling of contentment generally.
( At the home of Buddy and Barbie )
My coworkers must stop giving me gifts. 1. I feel like a jerk because I didn't think to get anyone anything and 2. I'm running out of space to put them!
Go me! I have officially used all the money in my cafeteria plan!
( Footnote )
Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: The Writers Radio - December 20th, 2007
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December 12th, 2007
| 10:33 am - Trip highlights
I wanted to talk a bit about the trip. We ate at Brian Norman's restaurant.
Someone I used to know is not called by the name I knew him by, he's now called Miles Gordon, and he has a radio show. More than that I don't know, except his wife is very sweet.
Robin, Kevin, Hoppie, and I played music trivia and discussed Hilary's book for NANOWRIMO.
Asher is talking more. It's incredible how different he and Natty were at that age. Asher is much more explorative rather than observational in some ways, and then he's tentative in others, like he's waiting for permission to be himself. It's fascinating, really.
Oh, I have pictures, which I realize now I've uploaded to the wrong place. There. That's better. http://www.yesowitch.org/DigitalPhotography/Channukah07
I also "found" these pictures, unlinked, on the website. I'll have to go through and make sure the pictures are linked up correctly. Channukah 2000 Wow. There's actually two albums built into that directory. Here's the second.
Channukah party 2000.
Edit: Fixed link and date.
Current Mood: multitasking
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December 7th, 2007
| 06:52 am - And there was evening and there was morning: Channukah - Night 3
In the truest spirit of celebrating the miracles of years past at this season, I offer you this thought from 2003.
( Hoppie's mom )
[And it has been. B'H]
Current Location: Louisville, KY
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/dwaggins/up.gif) grateful
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December 6th, 2007
| 07:32 am - Channukah: The second night
"In years past at this season." December 5th, 2005
( Lizzie's secret santa )
And in an odd coincidence, ,Marilyn Manson got married this weekend. I say odd and coincidence because he just came up in conversation, and that happens very rarely.
[Happy anniversary, Marilyn, assuming your still married, lo these many years later!]
( And finally, a meme - 5 quirks, all still true, mind you. )
Current Mood: content
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December 4th, 2007
 | 08:28 pm - First Night of Channukah
Channukah celebrates the miracles that happened at this time in years past. So, I will pick a thought from a previous year's post on this English date (because it's easier to calculate without requiring any brain power) and repost it as a celebration of what happened.
We'll just skip over last year entirely, shall we?
So, from December 4th, 2003:
The ( How evil are you meme )
Current Mood: cheerful
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