Everything, Nothing, and I'm a Middle Child

Happy Ayyam'i'Ha!!!

This is seriously my favorite holiday. Here's a useful little blurb about the Baha'i holiday [from BWNS]:

Baha'is throughout the world celebrate their annual festive period with hospitality, gift giving, charity, and social gatherings. These activities, which run from the evening of 25 February until sunset on March 1, serve as a spiritual preparation for the annual Baha'i fast, which begins on March 2 and ends on March 20.

Of this period, known as the "Ayyam-i-Ha," Baha'u'llah wrote: "It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name."

Just a note: Ayyam-i-Ha means, literally, "Five Days". I thought I'd point that out just to make it clear that there isn't really a religious significance to this holiday. In this way, it differs dramatically from Christmas. Clearly, it embodies what people refer to as 'the spirit of Christmas', but Baha'u'llah's birthday is in November. It is a wonderful holiday given to us simply to be happy!

As for spring, I imagine most of you think I am absolutely insane, however it is clearly spring here! The raining is largely done with, which sort of depresses me. We probably won't see rain again until October - ick. It is gorgeous out now though - sweater weather - my favorite! And I love the smell of spring - of fresh soil, blossoms, and a hint of rain. Mmmm!

Have a great weekend!

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1. While I was reading some of my earlier blog entries (i.e. Nov. 2003, etc...) I suddenly realized I felt like I was reading someone else's blog. Huh. Weird.

2. I am SOOOOO excited about the Arts & Crafts Show on Saturday!! I submitted the first ever scarf I knit (okay, I knit one way back when I was like 14, but I totally had to relearn). And it's beautiful and cool - and I managed to not drop or add any stitches. I've learned that no matter how meditative knitting might be, I absolutely cannot knit when I have a migraine coming on. Nope, nope.

Anyway, the Show will be so awesome! Oh, I submitted some rice bags, too - and it seems everyone is pretty psyched about them. Too bad I couldn't get my act together to make more. (sigh)

3. The people who lived in our flat before we did have returned for a few months. They love the garden, so in exchange for their gardening services Mark is going to help them get their laptop set up. Woohoo - we all feel like winners. Getting others to barter comes so easily to me :-) I wonder if their reappearance will strike fear in the heart of our downstairs neighbor. They never really got along (go figure).

4. I've been asked to teach jewelry making to a few people - exciting! I haven't done it in awhile, but I've been wanting to do it and simply was not motivated... (see n. 2 - is this endemic?)

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I was looking back at some of my old entries, after a friend had asked me what I blogged about, and I realized I used to discuss my journey in Israel much more. I wondered whether it had to do with something more than just having changed the name of my blog (formerly: Journey in Israel). Is it because I've gotten comfortable? Does getting comfortable imply I'm losing touch with the sacredness of the land in which I live? I don't want to do that.

Comfortable with my surroundings, okay. I like having a pharmacist that knows which drug to pull for me before I even walk in the door. But I don't want to forget all of the struggles that went into building and tending the beautiful surroundings I now enjoy. I don't want to forget the holiness of the people buried in the shrines I walk by on my way to and from work every day. I don't want to forget what a privilege it is to be here - that for millions of people it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to come here for a mere 9 days - if that.

Beyond that, I've been thinking about Iran a lot lately. Probably for two reasons: 1. I'm studying the Kitab-i-Iqan (Baha'u'llah's defense of the Babi Faith to one of the Bab's uncles before Baha'u'llah declared His own mission), which focuses on Islam and Muslims to a great extent and 2. I proofread a number of Persian translations - so they make me think. The Baha'is in Iran have been so oppressed by the government for so long one would be likely to think they are worn down, worn out and generally a mean set of people. And yet they aren't (this is general knowledge - I'm not sharing stuff from work). They have recently written an open letter to the President of Iran demanding redress for all the injustices continuously heaped upon them. It being an open letter many, many people have seen it in Iran, which means the Baha'is are being recognized by many and vilified by some. And yet they dare and they dream and they love and they give - as unrelenting as the government is in being heinous, they are in remaining dignified and noble. Granted, I am well aware that they are not the only set of people in the world who are suffering injustices heaped upon them.

But when I think of these people, a number of which who have left the country, told their story and are my friends, I know I can do more. They who fear nothing, and often get just that in return, are such an example to me.

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Anyone else got stories about their clothes?

I seem to have a story about almost all of mine. Seriously. Here's a sample:

I don't just have combat boots. I got them while taking classes with the Army. And when those died, my brother (in the Marines) got me another pair.

Trench coat: It's over ten years old - I got it for the World Congress!

Jeans: well, after a harrowing search for jeans in Israel that covered the nether regions of my body, I made a pilgrimage to the Gap Outlet at home and got myself a respectable pair for a cool $15 (clothes in Israel tend to be expensive!).

Socks: some are pairs I 'inherited' from my grandfather.

Wedding ring: family heirloom - my great aunt made it, my mother gave it to me for my 21st birthday and I decided then and there I wanted it to be my wedding band (had a duplicate made for Mark to match).

Scarf: my mother made it for me.

Black shirt: went shopping w/ roomie, she chose the shirt, didn't fit her, threw it over the stall and said "Put this on, it'll look great on you" - and it did. I'd never have picked it up myself.

I can go on forever. And I have a feeling some people think I do. I don't just say "thanks" when someone says 'I like your...", I have to tell a story. Sometimes, on the rare occasion that I don't have a story, I feel bummed. Maybe I'm just totally self-absorbed, or materialistic - but heck - clothes stories are fun. I suppose that's why I collect them. Anyway, have any that you'd like to share?

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I'm seriously beginning to think about editing. I love it, I know I'm capable - now I just have to work on the network connection ... we'll see. I think I have some good leads.

Get this, women of the world: you know those high-end jobs we're not getting? Check out NewScientist - they have an article (October 2004) that says some of that is because we simply don't apply for jobs if we don't meet all the qualifications, whereas men will apply for a job if they have 50% of the qualifications. Hmm - that seriously would have never occurred to me. In my mind, if something is missing it's because I'm not qualified! Well, who'd have known. I'll have to work on that one - no wonder women think they're being managed by incompetent buffoons (drr!). Okay, okay, that was mean - but think about how many women are most likely more qualified than certain men who are in higher-ranking positions? Hmm....

Something else the article said was that some companies (research firms & universities) are beginning to get much more 'family friendly' because it's good economics. Money may just save us in the end. People are finally figuring out that having women on board (basically, diversity in general) means higher profits. Yeah, 'cause we rule! :-) Oh man is Nathan going to have something to say about this! I know I'm being simplistic about the details, and slightly anti-andro in my lilt, but this is a blog - and mine at that.

In any case, that is really exciting for me as I've been talking about needing a paradigm shift in the concept of work, work hours, work advancement, etc. This article tackled these issues, and discussed how some companies are doing just that - and finding that it's good for business (and job retention) too. How exciting!

Another exciting note is that I have been able to implement my thesis in my work! That is so exciting for me! I knew there was a reason I put myself (and a few choice others, Mark primarily) through that hell. Woohoo!! [Thanks to Joany & Ian for their super-supportive and generous guidance!!]

Oh, so if Mark get's an MBA, he'll need to take the GMAT, not the GRE - so anyone have GMAT study materials?

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College: the joys of choosing a major are many, and many of us either have, or know friends who have had difficulties in choosing one. I always found it particularly ridiculous when the aforementioned people would actually go through the hassle of changing their major on paper. Oof - too much hassle for me. I just told people when I changed my mind about a major: international business, teaching English as a second language, sociology ... finally, almost by default - French.

Well, in essence this is what this post is about. Mark and I change our minds so frequently about what we want to do next that each of you probably has a different perception about just what we'll be doing...

So, here goes:

Basically, Mark wants to open a restaurant, we want to have children, and somewhere in there I'd like to figure out just what I want to do besides raising children.

Some possibilities:

1. Austin
2. Portland (Oregon)
3. Pittsburgh
4. Chicago
5. Ohio (Cleveland/Columbus area)

Now, these look like they're in a specific order, but I wouldn't count on it. Some of them are definitely on the list because that's where family lives rather than where our heart is set. And sometimes family just wins - cause it just does.

Recently, we were speaking with some awesome friends of ours, Eric & Tricia, on the way back from some yummy food in Herzliyya. Tricia happens to have a PhD in psychology - her dissertation was about the struggle women face between work and family - jackpot! And, of course, she got her PhD while raising children, and Eric got his masters while raising the same children (the degrees were obtained at different times) (double jackpot).

So, a current idea is that when we return, Mark gets his MBA (Chicago probably - either Northwestern or U. of Chicago), I work while he does that - children may factor in once that's done, he then starts up said restaurant - and once the children are out of infancy, and hopefully I've had enough time to figure out just what I'd like a Phd in, I can return to school. Of course, once the MBA is completed, who knows where we'd go.

But anyway, now you have an idea. For now. This week.

And if anyone's got a copy of the Princeton Review for the GRE, would you mind mailing it to us? We'd be most appreciative!

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Okay, granted I imagine only people who shave their armpits could relate to this.

But anyway, have you ever noticed how sticky armpit skin feels?

I'm talking about clean armpit skin. You know - wash the armpit with soap, scrub with a sponge/washcloth/puff thing - randomly touch skin. I swear, it's sticky. Why? No other skin on my body feels this way. Is this because of the glands that hang out there (subaceous?)? I know it's not the hair - for example, my legs don't feel like that.

It doesn't matter the kind of soap. It doesn't matter if you wash with the soap for 30 seconds or 10 minutes. It doesn't matter how long or hard you scrub with whatever you may or may not scrub with. Armpit skin is sticky. Without deodorant (or anti-perspirant, I'm using the term to encompass both), it remains sticky and usually gets stickier throughout the day.

And don't go telling me its the deodorant I use or do not use. I've used the 'crystal' deodorant, and frankly, other than possibly being a weapon of mass destruction it is useless (at least for me). I've gone without deodorant, and for that I apologize to everyone who had to be in any confined space with me for any amount of time.

I've taken human genetics, I've taken chemistry (and studied deodorant & anti-perspirant in the class) - I know the science behind our armpits and the products we use on them. I still don't understand why they have to be sticky. This is not skin you would wish to run your fingers over in a distracted manner. They might get stuck.

Anyway. Armpits.

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