Stuff!

Well, got some work done today, which I'm proud of.  I watched the original Swept Away with some other people in my Comparative Lit class (it was an assignment).  Very weird movie.  It's the ending part of our unit on Shakespeare's The Tempest.  We're examining themes of colonialism and civilization vs. savagery and all that good stuff.

I also worked on my thesis budget today.  Daniella, another Anthro major, told me I could cut travel costs by taking the R100 instead of the R5 into Philly.  I can do that but I need to figure out how to get to the subways and buses from there.  Still, if it's cheaper, that will do me good.

Tomorrow I'm visiting Rodeph Shalom, the Reform congregation.  Hope I won't embarass myself like I did at the last place I went to.  I should call the cantor there some time soon, to ask for contact info for regular Torah readers.

Saw more Firefly tonight at Doublestar.  I think a plot bunny is gestating in my head.  It had better wait until I'm done with my original story and my Ruse fanfic.

Another Thesis Trip...

I went to Rodeph Shalom this evening to meet with the head of the religious practices committee.  Rodeph Shalom is a Reform congregation.  They have this impressive white brick building with mosaics above the doors.  The main sanctuary is beautifully decorated - I got to see it even though it's under renovation - with a vaulted ceiling that has a big round light fixture design thing (I don't know the proper name) in the middle and geometric patterns in gold and blue and red all over the walls.  The Ark is stone with pillars of red marble and has big bronze doors.  Apparently the design of the whole building, particularly the sanctuary, is based on Byzantine architecture.

I didn't embarass myself the way I did at Beth Zion-Beth Israel, although I did get lost on the way there and ended up wandering around on foot for quite a while.  Mostly because I confused the clock tower of the Philadelphia Inquirer building with that of City Hall.  But I got there and had a good interview and found out who else I should talk to.  Rodeph Shalom does not have many regular Torah readers (certain lay people read on special occasions, but usually it's done by a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or, if not, the senior rabbi), so I won't have many people to interview there.  Still, I think it's worth talking about in my thesis, for the sake of the comparison.  And Mishkan Shalom, if it's like my congregation, will have lots of readers.

Well, I have a literary magazine staff meeting later tonight.  I had better finish the reading I have for class and then work on one of my stories or something.  Haven't been writing enough lately.

Oh, one other thing - I borrowed a disc from a friend's set of Firefly DVD's and watched "Out of Gas" and "War Stories" with the commentary.  I'm so pathetic.

Another Random Thought

You know what would be cool?  A Firefly music video of the song Addicted to Stress.  I mean, there's already a Cowboy Bebop video of it, but it that only makes it funnier, in my opinion.