Thank God for low centers of gravity. Sometimes being short has its perks. Susannah, Ethan and I defying hurricane-like winds to complete the 2004 Walk for PKD on 9/18/04.  

Neither Rain Nor Sleet...

This past Saturday was not the most ideal day to schlep around Liberty State Park with the remains of hurricane Frances or Ivan or whichever wreaking havoc on the weather, but we managed to complete the 5k Walk for PKD nonetheless. Fear not, generous donors--your contributions did not go to waste. In fact, the NJ chapter more than raised its goal of $42,000, making the walk a complete and utter success. We were all glad to be a part of it!

We woke up at 8:00 am to heavy rains and flooding, but, thankfully, the skies cleared in time for the actual walk. The wind, however, was another story. For the first 2.5k it was our friend, pushing us along our way. The way back was brutal. I felt like a mime, except with real wind. So I guess that's not really miming, but you get my meaning...

Who knew walking 5k was such a workout? We were useless the rest of the day, relaxing and watching movies. Sunday we slept until 3:00 pm, did laundry and then visited the Shingletons for a bit.

My first two days at the new job have gone relatively smoothly. Right now I'm in charge of booking CME presentations on Stress Urinary Incontinence (check out the "clinical tools" on www.stressui.org for a good giggle. I highly recommend the pelvic floor muscle assessment and physical exam tipsheet--I can laugh, I've had Stress UI). I have 4 all but booked out of 9. Apparently I'm doing better than my two counterparts working on the same project, so I may need to reign it in so as to a) not piss them off and b) keep my bosses from expecting so much effort on a regular basis. At least I know I'm making a decent impression.

I barely have a cube. Since I'm on the end I have no back wall, so my back is completely exposed. I hate that. I have a Wild Bill Hickock complex, I always like to have my back to a wall so I can survey the entire room. I feel unprotected. I also startle easily, so maybe they'll move me to a better cube after 2 or 3 occurrences of someone coming up behind me and me screaming "JESUS!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

In other news: This Friday at sundown begins Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement and (sigh...) fasting. We'll see how good we do on the second half of that--the atoning we have down pat. It's the not-stuffing-our-faces-for-24-hours that needs some work.

I'm off to bed. The only reason I'm still up this late is because I passed out on the couch from 8:30-11:00 pm. Getting up an extra half hour early really f's up your whole groove, man.

Good Yuntiff!

Technically, Rosh Hashanah ended at sundown, but l'shanah tovah to any readers of the Jewish persuasion.

Tonight we went to Ethan's Uncle Joe and Aunt Eileen's in Brooklyn for Rosh Hashanah dinner. There were about 16 Jews gossiping and stuffing their faces with gefilte fish (I tried it for the first time ever. Not a fan, frankly), brisket, turkey, kasha varnishkas, potatoes, etc. etc. We had a blast. It was my first opportunity to see how a normal(ish) Reform Jewish family spends the holidays so I know what to do when we have our own family. I'll be leaving out the gefilte fish, however.

As Ethan mentioned on his blog, we were at their house on Tuesday as well--which was another first for me, my first live boxing match. I was excited to go as we're all big fans of the main eventer Dimitriy "Star of David" Salita. He's an up and coming Jewish boxer. Cute kid originally from Odessa, Ukraine now fighting out of Brooklyn. As Ethan says, he's a great technical fighter, but it's difficult to tell if he has any power punches.

I love watching him because, as an observant orthodox Jew, he often comes out to the ring with his spiritual advisor/rabbi with stars of David containing his initials emblazoned on his robe and trunks. This night the rabbi didn't accompany him to the ring, but in his stead were what can only be called a "hardcore klezmer band." Maybe even "hardcore surf klezmer." Imagine Korn, The Beach Boys and The Klezmatics rolled into one. He really likes to push the Jewish angle. It amuses me greatly. If you go to his website, www.dsalita.com, and go to the photo gallery, among the photos of him training and beating the crap out of his opponents, there's one of him in his prayer shawl strapping on his tefillin.

I must say that watching boxing live is a lot different than watching on TV. Watching on TV gives you that extra layer of detachment that keeps you from really being affected by the violence happening in the ring. I was actually a little squeamish at first, witnessing it live. One of the Irish brothers who fought, whom Ethan mentioned on his post, was knocked out cold by a Puerto Rican fighter. I missed the punch, but when I turned back to the ring he was lying face down and his legs were twitching. For one second I was afraid he'd be a vegetable and I'd be traumatized for life--never being able to watch boxing ever again. Alas, he was ok.

As E also mentioned, this took place in very Russian Brighton Beach. Salita Being Ukrainian and Jewish, there were tons of Russians and Jews (and Russian Jews, I'm sure) in the audience. They were all rabid fans--they have their own cheers and everything. I was shocked to see so many orthodox (and I'm talking ORTHODOX, not this modern orthodox or metrodox bullshit) Jews were there. I thought the orthodox were strictly opposed to violence. I guess I was wrong. Maybe that's just the Chasidim. Or maybe there's some technical reason that it's ok that Dimitriy boxes that makes it ok for other orthodox Jews to watch. I have no idea.

Anyhoo, I'm sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy. Will write more when I actually have something interesting to say.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Sincoff...

I've been too busy to post the last week, but had to take a second today to say Happy Birthday to my dearest husband! He is 34 VERY SEXY years old today.

I've been telling him that all week, but he didn't believe me until his 32 year old best friend's 23 year old babe of a girlfriend said, "Ethan, you're looking JACKED!" Now his already huge pumpkinhead is even more inflated. Thanks, Kate--you bought me at least a day or two of not having to listen to him groan about his weight or how old he is! Why he doesn't believe his own wife is beyond me, however.

Anyhoo, happiest of birthdays, toots! Many thanks to your parents for having sex 34 years and 7 mos. ago. Where would I be if they hadn't??? I'd probably still be a single gentile living in DC. Perish the thought...

Business Ethics and Other Oxymorons...

So I got the job at the new joint. They made me an offer yesterday and I handed in my letter of resignation. Not a huge salary jump to start, but it's a lateral move after all. Their yearly raises are roughly 1 1/2 to 2 times larger than my current company's and we get a year-end bonus, so I figured it's worthwhile. On top of that, my friend and everyone I talked to there assures me that they're quick to promote people from within and recognize and reward hard work--none of which my current company does.

I've sat here for two years watching my company hemorrhage good people to competing companies who pay more competitively. Those who remain do so with little hope of promotion or a significant pay raise. My boss actually tried to convince me when I met with her yesterday that there was room for advancement here. There are three people ahead of me for promotion here looking to fill one management position--and guess what?? The company is looking to the outside to fill that position, completely overlooking its hardworking employees who are more than qualified and who have been slugging away at their current positions for at least two years now (some have been with the company for as many as five).

Management cannot seem to put two and two together. I don't think they're stupid, I just think their hands are tied by the parent company, Thomson. Thomson seems to be very big on downsizing and promotion freezes. They certainly don't care about employee retention. It's a real shame.

Still, I'll miss a lot of great people I've gotten to know here. I'll have to try headhunting them as the opportunity arises like my friend did me. I have no compunctions about stealing good people from a company that doesn't appreciate them.

In other news: I've decided Jenna Bush is REALLY weird looking. She looks like the worst possible combo of her mother, her father and a hideous elf. I get the feeling that of the two siblings, she's the "W" and Barbara is the "Jeb." She seems to have that same mischievous/clueless appeal her father has. I haven't heard her speak yet, so I've no idea if she also has her father's oratorical eloquence as well.

OK, so the heading is "....Oxymorons." What's this about the Bush campaing returning to its 2000 era compassionate conservatism spiel?? What's so compassionate about the 2004 Republican platform? There's certainly no compassion for gays or young pregnant women in crisis or public schools or....Bah!

Dick Cheney's snarling face will be all over the tube tonight, but I don't think I'll watch it. I'm surprised that kid managed to get so close to him at the convention. I'd be afraid he'd bite my hand off. If he were a dog, he'd be muzzled. Kudos to the Veep, however, for finally coming out in support of his gay daughter, no matter how politically motivated it may be.

John Kerry isn't getting another red cent from me...

He's raised over $230 million so far--more than any other democrat ever. WHAT IS HE DOING WITH IT????

He has two months to bring out the big guns and spend the bulk of the cash his supporters worked so hard to raise for him and he'd better do it.

I'm an eternal optimist, so I still think he's just picking his moment very carefully. We shall see. The suspense is killing me.

I work hard (sometimes) for my money and I want to know it's being spent wisely and for its intended purpose--to defeat Bush.

I'm sure I don't need to point out...

That the content of the previous posting constitutes a


FLIP FLOP


on the part of the Bush administration--though apparently he denied that they had altered their view on this matter even though it's well documented that they have. Idiot.

Hell Freezes Over (While the Polar Ice Caps Melt)

In a new report to congress, Bush and his administration have finally admitted that carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases "are the only likely explanation for global warming over the last three decades."

In a separate statement Bush conceded that the earth was, indeed, spherical and that "maybe there's somethin' to this whole evolution monkey business after all."

In the News

The number of Americans living in poverty has increased by 1.3 million in the past year and the number of uninsured by 1.4 million. Chew on that for a while. Still turning that corner, I guess.

On a lighter note, the banana split turned 100 yrs. old yesterday! Happy Birthday to one of America's favorite desserts. I think the Bush administration should hand out free banana splits to the 36 million Americans living in poverty. It might make them feel better about being so poor. I know when I'm sad about something, a banana split sure turns my frown upside down.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

About 4 to 6 weeks ago I interviewed with a company similar to my current one. You can check out their website, though it's not even remotely interesting to anyone outside the medical education and pharmaceutical communities (www. cognimed.net).

I interviewed with two different people and it seemed to go really well--and I don't say that lightly. I'm very clueless when it comes to sensing whether others like me and even I could tell it went well. So I was surprised when I didn't here back and chalked it up to me wanting too much money. Lo and behold, last week I get a call out of the blue that they want me to return to interview with the company's president who happens to be a member of the tribe (though I didn't use that to my advantage:)). So I meet with him and one other individual this afternoon and it goes really well again--the president says "You'll definitely here from us within a week" and the other dude says he thinks I'd be a "good fit" and that the other people I'd met with had all good stuff to say about me.

So I'm thinking it's pretty much in the bag (knocking on wood as I type this) and now I just need to sit tight and wait for an offer. Hopefully it'll be significantly more than what I'm making now (I'd even settle for 5k more at this point).

Anyhoo, keep your fingers crossed for me. We can use a lucky break after the year we've had. And keep your fingers crossed for Ethan, too. Sitting around the house with only animals for company is making him a little kookoo for cocoa puffs. If we could ever use a dose of good karma, it's now.

In other news:

1. We've started going back to the gym after months of lethargy and girth expansion. I haven't walked without a limp in about a week. Still, it's a good hurt.

2. Is John Kerry TRYING to lose the election? He really needs to come out with a stronger rebuttal to the Swift Boat Veterans for Diabolical Deception than what he's put out so far. I appreciate that he's trying to stay positive and not sink to their level, but one can only turn the other cheek so many times, and that would be once. When you run out of cheeks, it's time for the gloves to come off and my money's on Kerry in a bare knuckle brawl against Georgie any day.

I'm counting on the K-Man to whoop the "Speaker of Very Short Sentences" (as Garrison Keillor referred to him) in the upcoming debates. So long as he doesn't show obvious signs of frustration and exasperation like Gore, I think it's a lock. A girl can dream....

Which is exactly what I'm off to do. It's late and I can't go kamikaze at the old job until the offer letter for the new one is signed (assuming it's coming, that is--don't want to jinx anything).

Night night. Sleep tight. Don't let the Republicans bite.

Little Things Make Me Happy

I finally got around to buying myself a radio to put in my cube so I can listen to Air America while I work. Now I can listen to Al Franken and my new Jewish boyfriend, Marc Maron, at work as well as at home and in the car. Good stuff.

Have you heard the laughably propagandistic commercials from the Saudi govt. re: the 9/11 commission? Pathetic. That's it. I have nothing insightful to say about it. The news is pretty thin today, sadly.

My Dogs Hate Me

For making them wear embarrassing shit like this. It wasn't enough that they had to endure going to the groomer's today, but we got home to find that my order from Glamour Dog had arrived.

What you can't see in the picture is that Lulu's hoodie sweatshirt has a flower and the phrase "Daddy's Girl" embroidered on it. Freddie has one in blue with a dog and the words "Mommy's Boy" on it. To my knowledge, he is still under the couch, humiliated, but hasn't actually tried to chew it off yet. Maybe if he comes out I can get a decent picture of him in it.

Lulu fantasizing about the night I sleep soundly enough that she can gnaw all the way through my jugular with her little chiclet teeth without waking me up.  

Sorry, Charley

As the two (?) of you who occasionally read this know, Ethan is in Florida looking after his father who just had surgery. He's slated to return home tomorrow afternoon. For two weeks I have been looking forward to tomorrow, so if Hurricane Charley thinks he's going to throw a monkey wrench in my plans (or an uprooted palm tree), he's got another think comin'.

Neither Hell nor hurricane hath wrath like a woman in the throes of PMS who hasn't been in close proximity to a man in a fortnight. I'm already mere millimeters from insanity at this point, Charley. Don't push me. You still have a chance to veer off at the last minute and go whirling out into the Atlantic. You might want to consider that if you know what's good for you.

Aside: You know someone's egotistical when they threaten the weather.

In Other News: A 480 lb. woman in Florida died as rescue workers tried to remove her from her couch to which she had grown fast after six years of not moving from it. See article here. Her skin had literally become one with the fabric of the couch. My question is, how long do you have to stay put before you start to grow fast? In six years of couch sitting, assuming she wasn't the full 480 pounds at the beginning, wouldn't you change position occasionally? Maybe get up to fluff the cushions? Or go to the bathroom for crying out loud? Why didn't the man living with her seek help? Did she ever ask for it? I feel so terrible for her.

Ethan, if I ever reach 480 lbs. and can no longer remove myself from the futon please, please, PLEASE promise me you'll get help. I can't imagine being so fat that I'm unable to even get up to get more food, though sometimes I feel like I'm well on my way. Imagine being such a couch potato that you actually put down roots!

That's it for now kids. Time to work.

That's more like it

Big ups to France for arresting the culprits so quickly. Way to put your argent where your bouche is, for a change. I retract my "France, schmance" comment for now. On peut lire l'article ici.

Like I said: France, Schmance

Jewish Graves Desecrated in France

LYON, France (AP) -- Vandals scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti on dozens of tombstones in Lyon overnight, authorities said Tuesday, the third time a Jewish cemetery has been desecrated this year.
Swastikas and inscriptions with Adolf Hitler's name were painted on headstones in de la Mouche cemetery in this southern French city, the same burial site that was desecrated by skinheads in 1992.
Richard Wertenschlag, Lyon's chief rabbi, told France Info radio that the vandalism was an affront to the Jewish community and to France's values.
"How is it that after the Holocaust, someone can still attack Jews -- even those who are dead -- for the simple reason that they are Jews?" he said.
The vandalized graves were at the back of the cemetery, a distance from the guardian's house, and among its oldest tombs. A monument to Jewish World War II soldiers was also covered with graffiti, the French Veterans Affairs Ministry said.
The crime drew the swift condemnation of the French government.
"The perpetrators of this outrage are being actively pursued," President Jacques Chirac said in a letter to Marcel Dreyfus, a local Jewish leader in Lyon. "They will be punished to the maximum extent the law allows."
In the Czech Republic, dozens of tombstones have been found toppled at a Jewish cemetery in the eastern of town Hranice, police said Tuesday.
Spokeswoman Michaela Sedlackova said that some 80 tombstones were overturned in the cemetery in the town 187 miles east of Prague. She said it was not clear when the incident happened. The cemetery dates to the 17th century. Sigmund Freud's brother, Julius, was buried there in 1858.
In France in May, swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti were scrawled on 127 headstones at a Jewish cemetery in the Alsatian town of Herrlisheim. And last month, vandals painted swastikas and Satanic symbols on 32 tombstones at a Jewish cemetery in Saverne, also in Alsace. Muslim and Christian cemeteries have also been vandalized.
Despite a series of government measures, anti-Semitic violence has increased in recent years in France, coinciding with rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Authorities have blamed young French Muslims for some of the violence.
A recent report by the French Interior Ministry found 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of the year, compared with 593 for all of 2003.

Jewish students attacked at Auschwitz

The headline alone sent me into a rage-induced seizure before I even read the article.

Liberal as I am, I'm starting to think that Sharon's call to French Jews to emigrate to Israel was not so irrational after all. It's clear the French have a real problem with anti-semitism and that they're doing very little to control it.

And don't give me that "What do you expect with the Israeli occupation of Palestine" bullshit. America isn't so popular right now either, but you hear far fewer tales of American tourists being attacked in Europe--if any.

So now, a message to every Jew in France:

Get out while you can, bubbe. It's not safe there. Neither is Israel. Come to New York, we'll take care of you. One or two of you can even crash on our futon. France, SCHMANCE!!

Heaven Isn't too Far Away...

Never were Warrant lyrics so dead on. Heaven isn't too far away, it's in the snack machine in my very own office. I went there just now expecting to find the usual pedestrian snacks when mine eyes did fall upon the most beauteous sight they have ever beheld--Reese's Inside Out peanut butter cups. Peanut butter on the outside, chocolate within.

Now, regular Reese's peanut butter cups are still my number one chocolaty treat of choice, but as I tend to crave peanut butter when I'm "hormonal," I could not have stumbled upon a more perfect snack. God bless the good folks at Reese's and keep up the good work!

A Call to Minorities Thinking of Voting Republican...

This past Friday Bush came out against legacy admissions to colleges.

Take a second and read that one again.

This past Friday Bush came out against legacy admissions to colleges.

You wanna know why? Because our anti-affirmative action president thinks that legacy admissions limit university access to minorities!! And, unlike affirmative action, eliminating legacy admissions doesn't cost taxpayers one red cent.

Now, I'm all for eliminating legacy admissions, but in conjunction with affirmative action. If nothing else, eliminating legacy admissions means that knuckleheads like the POTUS will not be taking up valuable seats in our nation's finest halls of learning. If it weren't for legacy, he'd be lucky to have a degree from Midland Community College (if there is such an institution).

So I say unto my non-caucasian friends: George Bush does not give one rat's ass if you go to college, receive a quality education and make a better life for yourself and your family. The legacy bs is pure appeasement and sleight of hand. He wants you to think he supports greater access to universities for minorities, but he could not care less. This is one more example of his compassionless conservatism--he's just gotten better at packaging it. Don't be duped like the 50% of my fellow caucasians who still think he's the best man for the nation's highest office. I beg you.

No Comment Necessary

I heard about this yesterday and just had to share.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

full article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040805-1048-bushism.html