Sunday, May 28, 2006

All's well in the world

The boy left early for his Saturday gig, then off to a friends sleep-over birthday in wine country. I had to work Sunday, so I headed for the hills with a good friend bright and early. It was pretty cloudy down in the city, but clear and warm in the mountains. The creek was ours for a couple of hours, and then others started trickling in, and taking their places on the basking rocks. Quite an idyllic scene.

We hiked down to the point where the creek meets another (Alder). Three or four large pools spill into each other, and we braved the chilly water, wading thru the fish and aquatic life. Birds and a few croaking frogs filling the air with their chirping.

The sun was just fantastic, and we both enjoyed time sprawled on the rocks like basking sea lions.

Back home in the early evening, a much enjoyed shower to remove the accumulated grime of a sweaty sunny day, then took myself to dinner at the corner sushi place. Feeling adventurous I ordered sashimi - yellowtail and Spanish mackerel. Yum.

Rented "Closer" - which is another spectacular performance by Natalie Portman, then to bed at 09:30 PM - a very sleepy, and sated, boy.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Spring has sprung

It's quite amazing - all of a sudden it is nearly June, and the hot weather has arrived. Yay!
The air is heavy and heady with the scent of jasmine and the like. The streets are filled with convertibles and cavorting friends, out for an evening drive. It is jovial and light.
One could almost forget the continuing mess that is festering in Washington, the fear that brews in the middle east (although things seem to be looking up on the peace front, perhaps).
I have a patch of red and tender skin on my left hip which reminds me that I was careless on Wednesday when I was laying out in the sun high in the mountains beside the creek. It is a bitter-sweet reminder of a stolen absence from the city and it's controls, which I must say I delight in.
I plan a return this weekend...

Sunday, May 14, 2006

A word from A.B. Yehoshua

A.B. (aka "aleph bayt") Yehoshua was recently said in an article in Ha'Aretz;
"... My youngest son phoned from Israel and told me about how moved he was by the memorial ceremony, in which he and his wife and toddler daughter had just taken part, for the fallen of Israel's wars. I made a brief comment to the panel's moderator about the fact that the symposium was taking place on the eve of Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, and I hoped that, amid the many congratulatory speeches at the start of the evening, this would be noted and that we might also all be asked to honor the Israeli Memorial Day, as customary, with a minute of silence. But this didn't happen. And Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, due to be marked the following day, received only faint and brief mention from the speakers.
I do not cite this as a grievance, but rather as a symptomatic example that may also explain my gloomy state of mind at that symposium, given that the deep and natural identification that a large portion of American Jewry once felt with Israeli life has been steadily and seriously weakening in recent years. All of the participants in the subsequent discussions agreed that, for some years now, a slow process of disengagement of American Jewry from Israel has been intensifying. The reasons are numerous and complex, and relate both to the fact that the "Israeli drama" has lost many of its attractive features for American Jews, and to the accelerated processes of assimilation occurring to varying degrees within America itself. ..."
He really is quite a spectacular writer, I have enjoyed his translated work for years now. My first favorite was "The Lover", and have gone on to enjoy his commentary a lot also. The article is incredible, he makes some right-on observations, and is really upsetting some of the the Jews here.
I'm reading his novel set in the middle ages, two Jews from Spain making their first timid steps into Paris as a small town on an island, in the middle of the river. The imagery is amazing, I'd love for it to be made into a drama series of the ilk of HBO's "Rome".

Sunday, May 07, 2006

a bit of a lull?

So, here we are then...

The scholastic year is all but finished, and soon it will be summer vacation, tho not really. Summer school in NYC for two weeks and then back here, and two weeks at camp. He'll be busy, and I guess I'll sort myself out a bit. He gets his MAHL next Monday, too. Phew! A worthy accomplishment, and one not lightly gained. I'm very proud how hard he has worked, very proud.

Things are feeling a little stagnant right now. I feel stuck, and, I am loathe to admit it bored. Bored of me, that is. Sure, there are many opportunities to do something, but I am kind of anti-action at the moment.

We are going to DC in a few weeks, I think that will make all the difference. A change of scenery and catch-up with a good friend whom I miss horribly...

I volunteered yesterday at what I guess is my pet fund raiser. "Single de Mayo" is a huge "Meet the guy/gal of your dreams" bash, with lots of drinks, food, fun and laughter. Not as many boys this year, made for an odd vibe, which was much different than previous years. I wasn't completely thrilled with the experience. Kind of bitchy girl energy.

Fun, of course, to see my favorite local lesbians, and watch them have fun. Did meet a very nice couple of boys, newish to LA, from some small minded "you can't be gay, and in an inter-racial relationship, and be welcome here in your family home" kind of place. My heart almost broke hearing the story - just can't believe it at all. I don't get people some times.

So I drank too many margaritas (3 1/2), ate too many deep fried cheese-stuffed jalapenos, and breathed in too much second hand smoke I wouldn't wonder, to be able to face anything but a quiet (very quiet) day at home.

Back into the fray tomorrow, when my tummy feels less explosive.