Downriver, Detroit, Michigan.
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Did you see ER last night? Dr. Kovac's friend from Croatia visits and there was a bunch of dialog in Croatian. Yay for prime time-representation-of-Slavic-languages!
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The medical officer of the agency I'm applying to reviewed my physical and now wants my doctor to answer some questions about my asthma. I think he can respond in my favor. Tjaa, I'm not applying to the freekin' Army, what is it they want?
S [11:00 AM]
I'm no drama queen but sometimes my foot-dragging gets me into situations.
I've had over two weeks to finish a ream of paperwork for my job application. It has to be postmarked by today. Apart from fighting general lackadaisicality (Is that a word?), I wavered on answering one question casuistically or straight on (I went with the latter. We'll see if honesty is the best policy) and
on naming a third character reference.
My first references are my priest and someone else from church. I wanted the third to be a female friend of long standing but there were two difficulties. First, she's working out of the country and might be inconveniently located for those checking my background. Second, she's a foreign national and that may lead to additional--though easily answerable--questions for my security clearance.
So I thought hard on who might replace her. It's not like I've made a ton of friends in recent years. One of my old roommates could stand in, but I ought to give him a call first. I reach him at the fourth number I try. He's of course cool with it.
I pen the final additions while my nephew flutters at my elbow. I need to reach the post office by 6 to make their last pick up. Before that I need to make copies. I only have enough cash on me to pay postage. I borrow $2 from Mom's purse.
Copy-making proceeds flawlessly, but on the 25 minute drive to the post office (it's one with extended hours) I realize I forgot to include one of my driver's license. I bank on them having one of their expensive, 25 cent copiers. They do.
The line seems to be moving nicely as I determine whether I need registered or certified mail. Finding the correct form, I step into the line which immediately slows down. There's a hang-up at one of the two windows. The clerk tapes this sign: No debit cards at this window. Damn. I have $3. If I can't use a credit card I can't afford certification.
Next, the other clerk goes on break. Progress slows to centimeters per minute. Remarkably, I hear no grumbling from the crowd and people are performing little kindnesses for one another.
My big moment arrives. Yes, she can accept a credit card, it's only the debit system that's down. She processes the transaction. The metering machine jams having printed half a label. She tears it off and prints another. Same result. The removes the cover, fiddles, replaces it. Nothing prints. She decides to replace the roll of labels. This takes four minutes.
This is God getting back at me for not taking Lent seriously enough. This is purgatorial waiting. I need to see that label slapped on the envelope; I need to know it's marked with today's date.
Her transfer was successful. She hands me the slips this transaction's generated in a cellophane envelope. I cheerily thank her and step out into the rain with relief.
S [11:11 PM]
Went to see Fischerspooner last night at St. Andrew's with my brother and his girlfriend.
I'm tired now. Maybe I'll write more on it later.
S [11:58 PM]
I did my taxes today. I never wait to the last moment, but I made so little last year I didn't want to be bothered.
Michigan managed to create a new form this year. Instead of simply stapling W-2s to the return, now you handwrite the information onto 'Schedule W.' Yes, this timesaver is brought to you by the former Republican governor and legislature.
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The final acts to disgust me in the Bushite war on Iraq: the looting of the National Museum and the conflagration at the National Library and Archives. The war planners received a comprehensive list of culturally sensitive locations: A#1 was the National Museum. Is this a ramification of Rumsfeld's 'lean and mean' strategy? Couldn't some Kuwaiti police have been borrowed if there were not troops to spare? Fucking unforgivable.
"Here's your freedom, Iraqis. Hope you still have a storytelling tradition because the best of your material culture has been destroyed."
S [6:11 PM]
On Tuesday I went for the physical and fitness test. Naturally, this comes at a time when I haven't been to the gym in 8 weeks. I couldn't fall asleep 'til after 2am worrying how I'd do. I needn't have. They tested limberness, pulse after 3min up 'n down a step, how many sit ups, push ups, and times I could rise from kneeling in a minute. I think I did acceptable well.
The four days following I had a pain under the left shoulder blade which made it hard to turn the torso and thus hard to sleep. I thought I was entering a episode of The Twilight Zone: "Yes, we'd offer you this position but the fitness test left you unable to perform the duties." But it's better now.
S [6:59 PM]
Palm Sunday
We had a priest from another parish for Liturgy as ours went into the hospital with double pneumonia Wednesday. He's getting better; shouldn't have been so stubborn about going in the first place.
Kathy and I distributed the paska bread after Liturgy. Two or three people at a time were handing me money. Minor sensory overload mann mußt Ordnung haben!, I got confused making change, though nobody was going to cheat me. But I think one kid ended up not paying, "my dad has the money." Hm.
Thursday we baked the paska. It took Kathy and I twenty minutes to remember how to use the industrial mixer, during which time she had a tiff with one of the teacher's at the school. The teachers weren't supposed to cut through the kitchen because we needed it warm so the dough would rise. I cringed. It could have been handled more diplomatically.
Anyway, a total of eight of us worked that day. We did two batches, 25 lbs of flour each, to make 45 paskas. Sue, an exellent baker, made cinnamon rolls out of the extra dough. Mmm.
As in the past few years, I decorated the butter lambs which Phyllis had moulded. Black peppercorns for the eyes and a red ribbon tied around the neck.
S [3:20 PM]
I was thinking -- if the Bush administration hasn't uncovered the anthrax mailer in 18 months maybe maybe it's time to bring in O.J. to find the "real 'thraxer."
S [1:11 PM]
When I woke up around 10 no one else was home but the tv was on. All the stations were showing a rope around the neck of a Saddam statue in Baghdad. Fifty minutes later it was toppled. The crowd, all men, rushed to jump on it. Later the statue's head was dragged around with two guys riding on it like a hobby horse. A happy moment. Now let's get the troops home.
S [12:04 PM]
From the BBC reporters' blog today:
Baghdad :: Andrew Gilligan :: 1608GMT
It is in the interest of both sides to make wild and unrealistic claims of their successes.
We are seeing a curious limbo here, the gates of Baghdad remain open, there are no checkpoints. The Americans could come in by bus if they wanted, the buses are still running from the suburbs.
Funny.
S [7:31 PM]
Sister got a call from Matt 3:30 this morning. A BBC correspondent let him use a satellite phone for two minutes. She was groggy and trying to ask questions but he told her to just listen. He's apparently in Iraq, following behind one of the one of the advancing groups. He asked why she hadn't mailed him anything. She's mailed plenty often but he's received nothing from either the old address or the new. We should use the old, he says.
Our cousin Colleen's first grade class is making care packages for soldiers and asked for Matt's address. I had to call her place today and give her husband the old one.
One of her kids asked if he should draw someone in a bunker. "No. You're supposed to draw happy pictures of you riding a bike or walking the dog."
S [5:22 PM]
I ran all over town so that I could bring Arab pastries and tea (decaf) to class tonight. The teacher gave us the names of the sweets I brought. We did a worksheet with the most useful Arabic expressions. I wonder how many we'll have for the continuation "next semester" on the 29th. We're hoping no new people show up so that we can build from what we've already covered.
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I received a notice from the federal agency I'm applying to that I need to show up for a physical, an eye exam and a urine test in the next 10 days. They, of course, will foot the bill.
S [11:11 PM]
Last night, Arabic class dwindled to four souls. I think we'll all sign up for the 5 week continuation starting at the end of the month. A couple of the girls are on vacation, whether here or in Lebanon.
The teacher has really taken a liking to Tarek, the one Arab-American boy we have. He moved to Michigan from Connecticut to go to school and she feels a bit protective of him. She gave him her work number, "If you need anything, honey, you call." It's kinda cute. She wants to be his aunty.
I think I missed a cantoring lecture last night. I signed up then forgot because Arabic's on Tuesdays. I don't want the guy to get resentful, he's the only other cantor we've got.
S [11:59 AM]
Downriver, Detroit, Michigan.
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