Crossing One Off

Back in 2007, I mentioned that I would be taking part in the BSF 2008 challenge in an attempt to, as my tai chi instructor tells it, "honor myself." In reality, I just need impetus to get shit done.

Here is the list again:

• Actually attempt NaNoWriMo 2008, not just sign up for it and lose courage before writing a single word.
• Learn enough Hebrew to puttering around in Israel this summer and be conversational by year's end.
• Save money for a Scotland spring break. If I don't actually get to Scotland, then at least I have some money.
• Graduate college.
• Get a temporary job-- preferably with health insurance.
• Send something to get published. Poem, short story, essay, anything.
  
• Lose 10 pounds. Any more would be icing on the cake that I won't be allowing myself to have. :)

As you can see, I've crossed something off. Happily, I did in fact send two things in for submission. One of those is "To the Fruitflies in My Drain" to my university journal. Whether I get in or not isn't important-- I've already begun my Big Wall o' Rejection (Thanks, Image). The point is that I actually got off my butt and sent something. Nothing gets published if nobody sees it.

Wish me luck.

K.

PS. Just a note: You should check out Rachel's blog over at that night. She's been nominated for a 2008 Bloggie Award! So go, read, and vote!

Ani Lo Mehveena Evrit. Boo.

I was watching BBC America today and realized that I was terribly behind on one of my resolutions.

"Coupling" was on and one of the terribly inept guys was trying to pull a gorgeous girl at the bar. Typically, he was tripping over his tongue, telling her that he collects women's ears in an "ear bucket," ultimately making a fool of himself. She sits there silently, then says this:

"Blah blah blah blah slicha."

My first reaction: "Oh, she doesn't speak English."

My second reaction: "Wait, did she say 'slicha'?"

My final reaction: "Holy crap, that's Hebrew. And all I understood was 'excuse me'."

Yep, she was Israeli. And yep, I've been failing miserably in my quest to become conversational in Hebrew by the summer.

Granted, later on, I caught "Ani lo mehveena" (I don't understand), "Ani yoda'at." (I know), and a couple other phrases. And I did figure out that she entirely misunderstood the conversation. And I did find the humor of the guy running up and down the El Al terminal yelling "Shadai'im! Shadai'im!*" But I didn't get nearly enough of the conversation that I should have.

My father, on the other hand, is busy learning the ninth unit of the Pimsleur lessons. He told me that the couple is having some relationship troubles (I knew there was a story there), but won't let me in on the details. I just have to learn them for myself.

I've been taking 18 credits, with three of those credits including a load of 12 textbooks. My eyelids can barely stay open for two minutes. I just can't sit a listen to those two people natter on and on with the random interruptions by the English instructor.

Oh well, I guess I just have to soldier on.

Shalom,

K.

PS. I can't spell transliterated Hebrew. Sorry.

*"Breasts! Breasts!" He thought that was her name. Aha hah.

Snail Mail Sunday (Done on Monday) #2

Dear Big, Fun, and Scary Goals 2008,

As I always need something to do in life, I've decided to join your noble crew. Here's my list for BSF 2008 awesomeness.

• Actually attempt NaNoWriMo 2008, not just sign up for it and lose courage before writing a single word.
• Learn enough Hebrew to puttering around in Israel this summer and be conversational by year's end.
• Save money for a Scotland spring break. If I don't actually get to Scotland, then at least I have some money.
• Graduate college.
• Get a temporary job-- preferably with health insurance.
• Send something to get published. Poem, short story, essay, anything.
• Lose 10 pounds. Any more would be icing on the cake that I won't be allowing myself to have. :)
• Read 17 books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Spreadsheet. Apparently, I need to read 17 a year in order to complete all 1001, so, here's the beginning.
• Get my finances in order.

BSF 2008, I hope I'll be able to complete all the goals I set out for this year. 'Cause I want to win, dammit.

Yours truly,

K.

As I mentioned yesterday, I think I might take up the Big, Fun, Scary Goal Challenge for 2008. It's going to be a year of big changes anyway, so I might as well make it a year to remember. So here's a temporary list-- hopefully I'll have a permanent list before New Years.

• Actually attempt NaNoWriMo 2008, not just sign up for it and lose courage before writing a single word.
• Learn enough Hebrew to puttering around in Israel this summer and be conversational by year's end.
• Save money for a Scotland spring break. If I don't actually get to Scotland, then at least I have some money.
• Graduate college.
• Get a temporary job-- preferably with health insurance.
• Send something to get published. Poem, short story, essay, anything.
  
• Lose 10 pounds. Any more would be icing on the cake that I won't be allowing myself to have. :)

I'll add more as I think of it.

K.