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A Day in the Life of a Jerusalem Anglo  I spend an inordinate amount of time at my job worrying about whether we're showing enough minorities in our books. (No one ever thinks about--let alone NOTICES--these things except an editor, but that's the subject of a whole other posting.) For those who are wondering, minorities include: African Americans, Asians, Latinos, women, and people with physical handicaps, to name a few. So today I was proofreading a coworker's book, and I came across an illustration that was so ridiculous I figured it had to be a mistake. The book is about a group of kids playing soccer. It is, of course, a mixed-gender and mixed-ethnicity team, and the illustrations are very cute. However, one of the kids is also physically handicapped. How, you might ask? He's missing a leg. Yes, that's right: He's actually *missing* a leg. At first I thought there was something wrong with the illustration, but apparently this was done on purpose. How on earth could a kid with only one leg play SOCCER, of all things? Could the editor not have included the handicapped kid in another book instead? Or could the handicap have been something NOT involving a leg (like maybe the kid could be missing an arm, if we're going for amputations)? Sometimes you have to wonder... I went to Star this morning to buy a few things for the weekend: 3 Gala apples (my favorites!) a small container of raspberries a container of cherry tomatoes 2 red peppers a small bottle (single serving size) of apple cider (which I haven't had in YEARS!) The bagger used four bags to pack up my groceries. Yes, that's right: FOUR BAGS. That's almost one bag for each kind of food, since I only bought five kinds. WHY?!?!? (And when I told her I only really needed one, she threw the other three away.) I do NOT understand. This is why I usually bring my own reusable bag. I just got home and found something fun in my mailbox -- a T shirt proclaiming the Cubs the Central Division Champs of the National League. Too bad they already blew it. (But thanks for the shirt, Dad!) My feet hurt a lot after walking so much the last few days. And I guess they hurt so much that I actually fell over again. This time, just to make it more exciting, I fell down in the middle of the street. Luckily it was almost midnight on Thursday night and there were no cars coming, so I was okay. But okay, I've had enough of this falling over thing... I'm ready to go back to the not-graceful but also not-injured state I had been in since I moved back to this country. Today I was walking down the street, minding my own business, laughing with Brooke, when suddenly I was flying through the air, my face pointing down. In other words, I fell. Most of you will NOT be surprised to hear this. You have known me through the broken finger in junior high (I really *was* going up for that rebound!), that broken toe in high school (and yes, I really *did* walk into the wall and break my toe), and countless other accidents. There was even that several month period in Israel where I fell every week, but (thankfully) didn't hurt myself. Today was similar. I landed flat on my face, but was fortunate enough to mildly scrape my hands and knees but talented enough to not rip my skirt or get dirty. How many people can say *that*?!? I'm working from home today... well, not my home, but Brooke's home in NY. I have to say, working from home is pretty great. You don't have to worry about looking busy if you're not. You don't have to worry about checking your email and having your boss come up behind you. (You can even check LJ!) And best of all, you can wear your pajamas while working! (And let me reassure all of you, I actually *am* working today -- this is my lunch break.) I guess I sort of fell off the face of LJ -- sorry, everyone. Many of you have been complaining about me not updating here, so I apologize. But it's been a busy month! Here are some of the things I'm doing these days: 1. I broke down and bought myself an elliptical. I know, I know -- those of you who really know me can pick yourselves up off the floor now. It's not really my thing, but I'm sick and tired of not being physically tired enough to sleep. Besides, once I'm listening to music, it's not *so* bad. 2. I started my class at BC. For those who don't know, I'm taking a class on testing and assessment. It's for work (obviously) -- with a title like that, it couldn't be for my own person growth. Welcome back to the world of homework! 3. I went to a poetry reading for a co-worker of mine. She's really talented, and it was fun to hear her read. As my dad says, "That's a really hard field to make your living in." To which I replied, "You'll notice I said she's my CO-WORKER." 4. I went to St Louis for Rosh Hashanah. It was great to see some friends there, and it was great to have the closest thing to a vacation I'll have this year. (Maybe next year will be different...) The problem came this week, when the fact that I'm allergic to their cat finally caught up with me. I've spent all week trying to get rid of an annoying cough. 5. I got to catch up with a friend from Boston who moved away last month... She was actually back in town for a few days. Hooray! :) 6. I was here in Boston for Yom Kippur, which went pretty well. Not a bad fast, all things considered. 7. Working: Yes, although some of my co-workers probably feel differently, I am actually working too. I keep disappearing for a couple of days at a time for Jewish holidays. (And this week and next won't be any different!) Granted, I'm working in between all the other things I have going on. I seem to be working many hours when no one else is in the office, which is why when THEY come in, there are things waiting for them on their desks. Does that excuse my disappearance, just a little bit? I hope you can all forgive me! :) I've been talking about joining Zipcar since I moved to Boston, and I only just managed to do it. So today became the first day I have ever driven in this state! Of course, the way to start out a driving career is by getting lost, so I made sure to do that. In all fairness, though, I had a little help from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which does not seem to believe in posting street signs. I was *very* lost; I really couldn't tell you where I was. What I do know is that I was near 93 (I know, that narrows it down, right?). Fortunately, some very nice women on the street were able to give me good street-name-less directions, and I made it to my destination. Mission accomplished! I love books. I'm sure this, as an opening line, would be much more shocking if I had never used it before (which I have) or if I weren't an editor (which I am). I'm also sure it would be more shocking if you had never met me before. But since I'm sure all of you reading this know me, I imagine this opening line hasn't drawn you in to read today's rant. (I'll give myself a B- for today's lead.) Nevertheless, the line is an appropriate one, mainly because of the great number of important book-filled places that there are. Aside from used book stores (which completely stress me out, probably because frequently the books are in no particular order and are therefore very difficult to sort through), I love rooms full of books. In bookstores, I’m drawn in by the endless rows of new books with unbroken spines. Most of my own books are like these, to the point that I have been asked whether I have actually read the books on my bookshelves. (I have. I just like keeping new books in good condition.) I also love those shiny, enticing book covers, the ones that compel you to pick them up and prove that old adage true: You *can* judge a book by its cover. At the library, I often wind up with the books that are worn and seem to be well-loved. Reading such a book is like meeting an old friend; it’s comfortable and surprising, all at once. And I had forgotten about college bookstores. There’s really nothing like a college bookstore before the semester starts. All those books, organized by course number and bursting with information, ready to be studied and absorbed, and waiting for someone to create a new theory or idea from them. I forgot the feeling of opportunity I get from entering a store like that. Just looking at all those titles, I got excited about starting the school year all over again. Like when I was a kid (and yes, I was one of those excited kids at the beginning of the school year), I couldn’t wait for the school year to start so I could dive headfirst into a new subject. Amazingly, I managed to get out of the store with just the one book I had gone in to buy. (That may be because that one textbook cost me—-used-—$80. I had also forgotten how expensive textbooks are.) Now I just have to hope I can maintain all this enthusiasm throughout the semester! I just went to see Hairspray with some of the girls from work. You should all see it -- it was really cute. And John Travolta dressed as a woman was pretty entertaining in and of itself! |
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