December 24, 2003

My Goodness

You know, when you've read 669 pages of a book, you'd expect to be almost finished, right? Unfortunately (Or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the book in question is James Clavell's Shogun, which means I have about 500 pages to go. Craziness. I haven't read a book this long since The Fountainhead. Or maybe one of those Tom Clancy things. In any case, it's long. Really really long. Yup. Just thought I'd say that.

Posted by blue at 09:47 PM | Comments (3)

December 20, 2003

Home for the Holidays

Ah, the holiday season. I'm back home for a month just in time for the second night of Hanukah, no thanks to my evil, evil finals, which didn't end until yesterday.

Anyway...it's almost surreal, going back to my old patterns of living after being absorbed in dorm life for so long. We went to a Hanukah party at a traditional location, I saw some old friends (Hi Maya!), we had the candle lighting and the song marathon and the dreidels and far too much gelt and it was lovely. And I haven't slept in...37 hours now. Yeesh. I'm tired. Off to bed. :)


What I'm reading today: Shogun, by James Clavell

I mock you, Tom Cruise!

Posted by blue at 10:50 PM

December 11, 2003

Cashman's Lament

Just like Cain and Abel
You pulled a sneak attack
I thought that we were brothers
Then you stabbed me in the back!
Betrayed!
Oh boy, I'm so betrayed!
Like Samson and Delilah
Your love began to fade
I'm crying in the clubhouse
You're in Houston getting laid!
Betrayed!
Let's face it, I'm betrayed!
Boy, have I been taken
Oy, I'm so forsaken
I should have seen what came to pass
I should have known to watch my ass!
I feel like Othello
Everything is lost
Andy is Iago
The Yanks are double-crossed!
I'm so dismayed
Did I mention I'm betrayed?

Sing it, Nathan. Andy Pettitte, Yankee farm product and an anchor in the rotation for nine years, has signed with the Houston Astros. Now, I could talk about the specifics of the deal, the years and money. I could tell you that this leaves the Yankees with 41-year-old "I don't work out and I'm proud of it" David Wells as their only starting lefty. I'll probably think about all those things pretty soon, but right now I'm hurt.

Why, Andy, why? I know Steinbrenner never liked you much, but did you really feel that unloved? Is Houston's flattery and the promise of playing closer to home enough to negate any loyalty after nine years in pinstripes?

Wait, that was a rhetorical question. Seriously, though- Pettitte will no doubt be getting better defensive support in Houston. He'll also be close to his family and his beloved mentor Roger Clemens. (And don't get me started on the Rocket's role in this debacle.) So maybe some of his numbers will improve; who knows? A rather quiet man, he'll probably appreciate being away from the New York media. And there's no doubt he'll like being away from Steinbrenner, whose relationship with the pitcher has been shaky at best. But he's also switching leagues, giving up the support of one of the best offenses in baseball, and dramatically reducing his chances for another championship. But I guess four rings were enough, huh?

Thanks for everything, Andy. It's been fun.


Just like Julius Caesar
Was betrayed by Brutus
Who'd think that this lefty
Would turn out to be my Judas?
I'm so dismayed
Is this how I'm repaid?
To be...
Betrayed!

BETRAYED!

Lyrics courtesy of: The Producers
What I'm reading today: Keeping the Compound Republic, by Martha Derthick

Posted by blue at 01:55 PM | Comments (3)

December 06, 2003

Change of Plans

Alright, yes, I'm a hypocrite. I realize I wrote only a little while ago that I wouldn't be blogging for a while...but I can't help myself. We've gotten our first snowstorm here at the little college in Pennsylvania, and it's a doozy. Of course, there's absolutely no possibility of a snow day unless the professor can't make it to class, but blizzards are so much more fun when you're not the one shoveling. Some people even played snow football outside my window for about three hours. (Snow football, for the uninitiaited is basically the same as touch football, only with a lot more slipping and falling on your ass.) Good times.

What I'm reading: The Venture of Islam, Volume 2, by Marshall G.S. Hodgson

Posted by blue at 04:13 AM

December 05, 2003

Priorities

Though I have a tendency to forget it every once in a while, the reason I have this pretty computer to type away on while sitting in my dorm room in this lovely college is to get an education. Not to lurk on message boards, not to read Slate...not even to blog.

*sigh*

I have four papers and two exams to attend to, not to mention an unspeakable amount of reading, all of which need to be finished in the next couple of weeks. So, to get my priorities in order, I won't be making many entries until the end of finals around the 20th or so.

What I'm reading: The Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldun

Posted by blue at 12:45 AM