Friday 5

1. Primetime is back. It feels weird to feel a commitment to watch a show. I skipped Ugly Betty because I was on the phone, but I did watch Grey’s. I think that I still like Grey’s. I definitely adore Sandra Oh (Christina) still. She’s my fave. I will catch up with Betty via the internet.

2. Teaching 7th grade girls Hebrew makes me nervous. But, I’m learning a lot about lip reading and keeping my face available for the deaf student in my class.

3. I think I have a new, workable life plan that isn’t going to change Yay! Details later.

4. The weather is beautiful! I wish I could spend all my time outside gallivanting.

5. Last weekend, we drove up to Spring Green and visited Tower Hill State Park. The drive up was stunning. We took the scenic route (literally) through the hills and bluffs near the Wisconsin river. And, we stopped at Talesian (Frank Lloyd Wright’s visitor center). I wish that we could have visited his barn and residence, which we saw from the road. Very beautiful.

up high, over the net

As part of a little life-modification I’ve been working on–entitled “having something like a life”–I decided to sign up for Badminton through the Madison Rec department. I chose badminton because I always have enjoyed playing tennis. In fact, I took tennis lessons throughout elementary school and played on the middle school team (this was in addition to all my other extra-curriculars…dance, piano, Odyssey of the Mind, Hebrew School, etc.).  Upon entering high school, I had to choose between marching band and tennis team. Obviously, being the nerd I am, I chose marching band.

Anyway, Badminton it was. I had no idea what to expect. The little blurb said, lessons available as well as free-play. After getting lost in the massive amounts of gyms at Memorial High School (I went extra early, because I still remember getting lost in the maze of halls during my PSAT sophomore year). I eventually found the gym and met a lovely married couple who played last year.

The majority of the players are either really serious and maybe younger or recreational and older. But, it was fun. I played with some moms who walk together and a 60-year old diehard. She was amazing, although difficult as a partner. I was on the younger end of the recreational players, but it was alright.

I had fun. Lots of fun. I smiled while playing, which seemed strange. I will be back, and not just because I paid for the season. It will be fun.  And, it is quite a work-out. Bonus!

For the love of music

There’s something about playing music that makes me feel whole. I have a feeling that it may have to do with what part of the brain I’m using. But, that’s unsentimental. Just to be cheesy, it’s about the feeling of unity from playing with a group, the beautiful sound emanating from my horn, and the amazing skill of the composer’s music. I adore Eric Whitacre. Everytime I play a piece of his, I’m wowed. This season, my new community band, Edgewood Community Band, is playing Ghost Train. Oh my! This piece is different than October and Cloudburst, but similar. The sounds that are created stun me. I just want to swallow and keep it (the piece) inside, to listen to again and again.

Last night was my first rehearsal with the band. I missed the first 2 because of Rosh Hashanah and Hebrew School orientation. I gave sight reading my all, even though I was exhausted from a long day at Starbucks and Hebrew school. I’m playing with 2 men, in the back row. Both are older than me and one didn’t even speak to me. It’s ok though, I’ll chat him up next time. The tuba player is a woman, which is exciting. I did miss my VFW section-mates, but this music and the director are worth it. I do like the other pieces we’re playing. It should be a fun concert. And, the euphonium parts are nothing to shirk at, which is refreshing. (no da, da, da stuff for me!)

I’m happy to be back in a band that I enjoy again.

It doesn’t feel like home anymore

Those that know me know that I have mixed feelings about institutional Jewish congregations and movements. I don’t really fit in to a movement and haven’t often found a Jewish “home”. I feel most comfortable in independent minyanim/havurot. In Madison, life is made a bit easier because my parents are here, I was confirmed here, and there just aren’t that many choices. I move back and forth between my “home” congregation and the reconstructionist congregation depending upon my needs/activities.

For High Holidays, we were going to attend the “home” congregation, where my dad would be on the bimah with the choir for most of the services. I asked my mom if I needed to check in about tickets, since I am no longer a college student. She said no, she was sure it would be fine. After a lovely dinner on erev RH, we drove over to Temple, my dad rushed in the door to get to choir and we stopped to say hi to the ticket checkers. A woman asked my mom if she had tickets for “the girls”. She said “no, they are Sunday School and Hebrew School teachers, their dad’s in the choir, so I didn’t think they needed them.” She (the woman) pulled us to the side and went to get the program director. While waiting, I said hi to a family that I used to babysit for–whose daughter would be in my Heb. School class.  Finally the P.D. came over and told us that we could come in for this service, but we would need to email her our names so that we could have a free year-long membership. In all the Temple papers that my parent’s have received, it never said anything about the possibility of a complimentary membership for recent college grads.(of course, this only lasts one year, and most 20-somethings are unable to afford the $500 + necessary to belong to a synagogue just for 4 services a year).

I went into services feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable. For the first time, I felt uncomfortable in what I feel is my congregational home. No matter if I differ on liturgical issues or anything else, I’ve always felt that I could come back there. I couldn’t wait to leave.

In year’s past, it’s been a burden messing with tickets/finding “free” services to attend during the High Holidays. I know that for Yom Kippur, I’ll be at the Reconstructionist service. I’m fine with this, although I know that my mom will have to sit alone at the “home” temple, because my dad will be on the bimah. But, I’m not going to apply for a complimentary membership to a congregation where I don’t want to be a member. I will participate through teaching, volunteering, etc. But, I feel strange committing myself even on paper.

My mom did call and say that many people apologized to her the next day for the ticket incident. The board is going to examine the issue of young adults after the holidays. (not that this is a new issue). I did not attend RH day services, because I felt upset and out-0f-place. I did some journaling at home instead.

Friday 5

1. Shana Tova. I hope that everyone enjoys a new year full of happiness and goodness and grace.

2. I am behind on everything. I forgot about Rosh Hashana being this week and agreed to deadlines thinking I had more time than I really do/did. I feel buried and can’t wait to be out from under the pile.

3. I love fall weather! It’s 5o degrees today and smells great. There’s something about the crispness that just makes me happy. The humidity and heat of July and August made me feel draggy. I keep thinking of Maine…

4. In regards to my 20-something angst. I have a solution of sorts. I don’t think I’m ready to make a decision on what to study in grad school and I want to continue writing. I also would like to have a steady salary (even if it’s small) and benefits.  So, this is my official announcement that I’m looking for a reporter/writer position in either a newspaper, magazine, or higher education public relations outfit anywhere in the country/world.  Let me know if you have a lead!

5.  I begin teaching religious school on Sunday to 4th graders and Hebrew School on Monday. I’m very excited!

To Smith and back again

I flew out to Northampton, Massachusetts this weekend for a training conference at Smith.  If I hadn’t been in love with Smith since the moment I set foot on its campus in 2000, I would be now. I have never had a better conference/training experience and felt so well cared for. Most things ran smoothly (there were some minor glitches, which I would attribute to the beginning of the school year), the food was healthy and tasty, and timing amazing.

The intent of the conference was to train alumnae volunteers, which included class officers, reunion officers, club officers, Alumnae Admissions Coordinators (me!), NAAC (Network of Alumnae Admission Coordinators), Affinity group volunteers, and RCC (Regional Coordinator). Besides specific trainings, we had ample opportunities to network and socialize. Our keynote speaker talked about Women in ages and stages, which was so interesting. Hetty Snyder Fore ‘90 works for Roper Reports, and was able to show us all sorts of interesting demographic information about 20th century women.

I can’t decide what the best part of the conference was, but I felt so proud to be part of the same legacy as these amazing older women (graduates of ‘42 and up!) who flew, by themselves, to Northampton from across the country. I hope that I can be just like them when I’m older.

 Smith felt like home from the moment I arrived at the Alumnae House. I had the opportunity to meet up with a couple of ‘06 Lamonsters, 2 of which were visiting to hang out with another conference attendee. I popped over to the Kosher K to chat with Rabbi Bruce, and I met their new daughter, Mayaan, who is beautiful! I enjoyed a stroll by the pond during Saturday’s hot and muggy, pre-thunderstorm weather.

All in all, I had an enjoyable weekend.  Now, I’m in a rush to get things done around Rosh Hashana!  On that note: L’shana Tovah!

oh boy

I wasn’t lying when I said that this blog is about being in transition. Here it goes. After going through the Salt experience, I didn’t know how to take the next step. I know that I love learning and that I wanted a graduate level degree, but what to study? I looked at folklore programs, because I’m interested in oral history. But, they were too focused on theory, which didn’t interest me. So, I thought about my goals. I want to write and get paid for it, I want to teach writing, I want to tell people’s stories (different, because I could write fiction…). I realized that I really enjoyed Salt’s workshop situation and working with a group of peers to better my craft. I decided that I would apply to MFA non-fiction programs. Great. Started doing research, chose my schools, and decided that it was time to start asking my recommenders. My writing teacher suggested that it may be better to study something that I want to write about about then the other way around. She suggested that I think about grad school programs that deal with issues of identity–development of identity in communities and individuals. I was like “wow! that makes so much sense.” But, now I’m back to square 1. Researching schools, figuring out what interests me and where to apply. The only word that fits how I feel is boulversed (franglish). I found one program that I am wowed by: Cultural Production at Brandeis. I’m thinking there must be other programs like this out there. I’ve also started considering comparative religion and anthropology…

Here are my interests that I’d like to find in a program:

• Modern Jewish identity
• Queer identity
• creating a community identity through culture, religion, and may political systems

Blog readers! I know that you don’t comment, but do exist. Please give me suggestions.

–a confused Phred