I went to church today.
It started with five dozen leftover rolls from the barbecue. Rolls don't last very long, and throwing away five dozen seemed like a crying shame. I could make stuffing, but one can only make so much stuffing. I could make breadcrumbs, but who has the time?
Stumped, I looked up the local soup kitchen schedule online. Tonight's location: Woodland Presbyterian Church. I called them up, and the man on the other line happily accepted my gift of bread. He invited me to come join them in their supper tonight.
"Oh, I can't," I said. "Actually, I'm Jewish."
"Oh! Yes, you have to get ready for Shabbat!"
We agreed to meet at noon. I stood there at the door in the light drizzle, reading a message board that said something about the word of Jesus and admiring the flying buttresses that probably were more for show than architectural integrity. Then, the clock struck twelve - literally. It sounded kind of like the intro to AC/DC's "Hell's Bells", sans electric guitar.
Soon, a kind looking older man opened the door.
"Hi," I said. "I'm Yoni"
"I'm Jonathan"
It was like we were meant to meet each other. He accepted the bread graciously and promised to leave a note saying who it was from. I wished him a peaceful Sabbath, and he smiled, and wished me one in return.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Zero hour
Chemistry seems to bring out the blogger in me.
First came Blorgo, my organic chemistry blog. Here, I wrote little rhymes about sulfanations and outlined the chapters with cheerleader-like pep. Those were heady, romantic days. I loved orgo. The mechanisms tickled me with their elegance and understandability. The blog, originally intended as a study aid for my peers (I still can't believe this never caught on) instead became a diary in which I documented my lovely reactions.
But then I entered the bleak netherworld of physical chemistry, and the verdant leaves of orgo withered in the autumn chill of wavefunctions and Eigenvalues. Once again I stood on the mountaintop that was my blog and I shouted out - this time in pain, in agony. I lamented the lost SN1/2 and E1/2 reactions. I missed the predictable leaving groups, the strong nucleophiles, the syntheses of yore.
For this entire year I have trudged through the mire. I have dwelt in the shadows of p-chem. And tomorrow morning I will take the final exam and leave this accursed realm forever. The demons of Schroedinger, Gibbs, Helmholz, Bolzmann pursue me as I take flight, but in 12 mere hours I will evade their wiry clutches.
And though my journey has been wearisome
Though it has shaken me to the core
I know now I will visit
This subject nevermore
First came Blorgo, my organic chemistry blog. Here, I wrote little rhymes about sulfanations and outlined the chapters with cheerleader-like pep. Those were heady, romantic days. I loved orgo. The mechanisms tickled me with their elegance and understandability. The blog, originally intended as a study aid for my peers (I still can't believe this never caught on) instead became a diary in which I documented my lovely reactions.
But then I entered the bleak netherworld of physical chemistry, and the verdant leaves of orgo withered in the autumn chill of wavefunctions and Eigenvalues. Once again I stood on the mountaintop that was my blog and I shouted out - this time in pain, in agony. I lamented the lost SN1/2 and E1/2 reactions. I missed the predictable leaving groups, the strong nucleophiles, the syntheses of yore.
For this entire year I have trudged through the mire. I have dwelt in the shadows of p-chem. And tomorrow morning I will take the final exam and leave this accursed realm forever. The demons of Schroedinger, Gibbs, Helmholz, Bolzmann pursue me as I take flight, but in 12 mere hours I will evade their wiry clutches.
And though my journey has been wearisome
Though it has shaken me to the core
I know now I will visit
This subject nevermore
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