Casting for Contacts...

Today I called the three synagogues I plan to do reasearch in.  One of them, Mishkan Shalom, has already been the subject of a Bryn Mawr student's thesis.  I also wanted to get in touch with a Reform congregation whose Hebrew school was featured in another thesis, but it appears that that particular congregation isn't around anymore.  So I found a different one, Rodeph Shalom.

Philadelphia has a GBLT Reform congregation, by the way.  That shul would make a good thesis subject in and of itself, but I'm already committed to my comparative study.  I think someone may have already written a thesis on them anyway.

I called the three places and left messages for the rabbis.  Some of you may know that I am something of a verbal klutz when it comes to talking on the phone.  It's even worse when I have to leave a message and there's nobody on the other end.  And, of course, I'm nervous that those synagogues might not let me do reasearch.  The nervousness certainly came across in my messages, I think.  I just hope I didn't sound like a complete idiot.

Well, I should hear back from those places soon, and if one of them doesn't like the idea of my doing thesis research there, I know how to look up other places.  But I think it will be quite a scramble, so I'm hoping that doesn't happen.

Productive Day

Well, I've had a pretty good day.  I got the books for my literature review straightened out with one of my professors, and I know where to look for examples and additional sources when I need them.  I've also done my reading for the next two weeks of Chinese Civilization, and plan to try to do the same for my other classes this week so I can concentrate on reading for my literature review.  If this sounds manic to you, you just don't know me that well.

I got a call back from one of the synagogues I want to study - the cantor of the Conservative congregation called me back, and I'm going to meet him on Monday and take a tour of the place.  It will be good to have notes on the synagogues for my thesis proposal.  I'll call the other places again if they haven't responded by Friday.

Saw another two episodes of Firefly tonight in Doublestar.  Once I've seen all of them I must find a fic in which Mal and Inara get together.  And if Simon and Kaylee aren't at least dating by the time I've run out of episodes I'll have to find a shipper fic for them too - or better yet, one that has both couples finally getting together.  Yay!

One thing about this whole stress affair is that it's made me lose weight.  It's been three days and I've lost five or six pounds.  I don't think I look that much different, though.  Now let's see if I can keep it off...