An awful, immature, jerk of a manager at my job quit without any warning this week, so I had to come in early, stay late, and cover his shift. Even worse, he worked in a department that I don't usually cover, so I was there all day with only a new hire who knew even less than I did! Ugh! I was asked to do so many things that I had no clue how to do ( Read more... )

Just when I thought the High Holy Days were over, along comes Sukkot. Our congregation had a little hamotzi and kiddush under the sukkah on the lawn after services tonight. The weather was perfect for it -- cool and crisp and autumn-y. But everyone from the temple tried to fit under the sukkah (Mr. G said, "It's as crowded as a New York City ( Read more... )

Almost every time I turn on the radio now, I hear "Good," by Carrie Underwood. I'm ashamed to say I actually like it, but geez, there's a limit to how much I can take. (Edit: I just googled the lyrics, and it's actually called "Mama's Song." Ugh.) But it is better than the Christmas music that some stations are playing. Today I heard that awful ( Read more... )

Mom, Ben, Adam, and I took a trip to Houston on Saturday, and unlike most trips anywhere with my family, it was actually enjoyable, even though it's a lot frickin' colder in Houston than it is here. Easily the best part was eating lunch at Star Pizza in the village. We had an appetizer of baked goat cheese with olive oil and tomato on bread, and I ( Read more... )

Well, Adam and I drove to Houston on Wednesday, and I finally found Roger's grave! The cemetery where he's buried is massive: over 45,000 graves! But it's very organized, divided into sections with each plot labeled and numbered, so finding his grave wasn't hard at all. I took some pictures and wanted to stay longer, like I usually do in cemeteries ( Read more... )

Rebecca actually did some hard work this week. I put a new coat of varnish and finish on Grandma’s porch swing and picnic table. It may not be what everyone would consider hard work, but it made my shoulders hurt. I didn’t ask Grandma to pay me for it, but of course she did, and I decided to finally go to the one place in town that sells ... goat ( Read more... )

Being back home feels ... weird. I don't think anyone who's never been in this kind of situation can really understand. I've done a most of the things that I was looking forward to while I was away: written more comments in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, eaten an entire jar of Kroger-brand pickles, updated my iPod, taken my dog for a walk. ( Read more... )

What Rebecca did yesterday, for reasons that remain unknown (warning: grossness ahead)...

• Ate one meal, breakfast, around 7:30 am.
•  Took a shower in the middle of the day (which I never do, and you wouldn't either, if students and teachers were walking by outside the door).
• Tried to get to the school nurse's office while dizzy, nauseous, and wearing  ( Read more... )

I got back to Villers-Cotterêts early yesterday afternoon, after seeing Sara off on her plane. As good as it feels to be back at the lycée again, that's how depressing it feels to think about how soon I'll have to leave. But when life gives Rebecca problems, she eats goat cheese, and she's going to have some as soon as she finishes this entry.

( Read more... )