Adventures in..

A Nice Jewish Boy who lives in Arlington, Virginia is one of 8 finalists in the Washington Post's Date Lab "Re-date for Charity" contest. Here's the story:

The Post sent him and Robert Falk on a blind date back in October, and they interviewed them and wrote about it in the Sunday Magazine a few weeks ago. They had a great date and both gave it a perfect score- even though they didn't match romantically. I loved reading this Date Lab in particular (I love em all, but this one was gay and fabulous).

Anyhow, they asked him back, with a twist. Instead of a completely blind date, if he's chosen as the guy who gets to go out on a second date, he'll get to choose from 3 candidates. But more important than that is the fact that, if he's the top male vote-getter, they'll donate $500 to his favorite local charity. He chose the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (he's been a member for 16 years!)

To vote, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/datelab/redate/index.html

Dan also runs an awesome small grass-roots campaign to help fight the dehumanization of the GLBT community. Check it out at I am Your Neighbor.

Have I ever mentioned my bad luck with mascots? I was just talking with a few friends about this um, contentious, topic. In high school we were the Indians. I grew up in northern Westchester county in a town that has a history that include american indians. And when I can sometimes understand (but can never condone) the "we call our team the Indians because we love and respect the Indians who helped make our town special" excuse, I cannot get behind the stereotypical representation that was the Ossining Indian.
How the hell did a Sioux end up in Ossining? Other things I can't get behind? Our school store. Called Teepee. Our newspaper (edited, quite well, I must say, by many a smart kid), Smoke Signals. Could I make this up? The marching band, led by a another smart kid (namely, me, on this one, among others) played a song called Cherokee. Daaahh, Daaahh, DaDaDaahhhh! DaDaDaDaDahDahhhDahhhDaaaaah! Seriously. Our war chant. What the hell?

To make this worse Ossining was (and still is) a hugely diverse place that had some history of race struggles. To fix these "struggles" the school board instituted a complete busing plan to integrate neighborhood schools. The Ossining Plan created mini communities of learning on grade level clusters. It also created a sense self that leans towards multicultural and progressive. Ossining was a great place to grow up but the Indian stereotype, long a hero for the high school, didn't have a place in the community.

In 2001 or so Governor Pataki insisted that all public schools in NY State who currently used the Indian as a mascot needed to switch to something less racist. Ossining chose the Riverhawk. The townies revolted, started pro-Indian clubs, protested, groused and all together spent wayyyyy too much time and energy fighting to keep our town Sioux.

Anyhow the point of the story is not the Indian. It's not the Riverhawk. It's the Big O. Yes, ladies and gentlemen the students of dear old, Ossinin' High have voted to change the mascot to, well, a letter I guess. Minimalist. As my friend Matt said, "Oh no! We're one step from becoming the school formerly known as the letter O." Another friend made a Sesame Street reference.

And then ofcourse is the orgasm. It's no wonder I'm a dyke. Have I ever told you about my college team? The Conts (say it loud and proud folks, conts!conts!conts!conts!conts!)

Could I make this up? If you could see the back of this swimmer's speedo? You would see it plastered right there- CONTS

Wow.

The bride (Amy) and youngest sister (Sam)

by bgood15

My gramma boogies

by bgood15

Can you say kippah with a chin strap?

by bgood15

Emily (middle sister of the bride), her baby Jakob, Cruise-Ship Rabbi Marvin (could I make that up?), and Grandpa/My Uncle Bruce.

by bgood15 Here's to another baby named for my grandpa Ray. In Hebrew they call him Yurachameal- a mouthful, eh?

I went to my cousin Amy's wedding back in early November. My dad flew in and we three drove up to Columbia together. Well, we started to go together and we got there together but my father had to leave pretty much immediately to drive up to the Delaware/MD border to rescue my aunt, uncle and two cousins who were stuck on the road. My dad, ever the big brother went and made the rescue and made it back in time for the ceremony. Here are a few pictures.

The first is from the nephew of the bride the day after the wedding. He had a baby naming ceremony where he got his Hebrew name. Interesting that they waited, but with family from so far away it really made sense. He's a cutie, isn't he? And that plaid skirt? Mine. :) He's in that 9-month, I'm obsessed with my reflection phase. Cute!

by bgood15