Law School Dad

OK, so my life didn't exactly flash before my eyes, but tonight provided a good example of what passes for drama in the Goldberger household, summarized, for your reading convenience, in a series of 3-word capsules:

10.45 pm EST. LSD purportedly studying. Alternatively: reading Soccernet. Wife grilling mushrooms. Oven catches fire. Smoke fills kitchen. Fire department summoned. Concerned neighbours calling. Parents in underwear. Firemen troop in. Kids clap delightedly. Oven smoldering, RIP. Firemen troop out. Portobellos well done.

11.00 pm EST. Back to Torts.

-LSD

Wanted to give the folks a genuine Northeast experience yesterday, so took them apple picking in Rockland County, NY. For the most part, they seemed underwhelmed by the exercise. And I have to wonder myself what the big deal is. After all, we drove for nearly an hour to get to the farm, picked a bagful of apples in approximately 10 minutes ... then what? The appeal of fresh country air did nothing to dull the awareness that it was BLOODY cold. Still, the kids had a good time on the overpriced, lame-o rides. No doubt I'll be ruing the day they reach the age at which they become more discerning in their quest for thrills, and a mold-ridden, listing jumping castle doesn't cut it any more.

-LSD

Happy birthday Ad!

This its why it's hard to be a Jew: you spend hours putting up your Sukkah, then watch it blow over in the wind, then build it again ... all for the privilege of two or three days of "dwelling therein" (read: "eating really fast so we can get back inside where its warm.") Today it's raining, and the weatherman has cheerfully forecast continuing precipitation right through... Tuesday, at which point both the rain and the festival will come to an end.

Also today, we start Property, reputedly the toughest first year course. Full of curious jargon like fee simple detererminable, possibility of reverter, contingent remainders, as well as the dreaded Rule Against Perpetuities, the mention of which invariably causes upper classmen to smile sympathetically - or cackle gleefully at your pending misfortune.

-LSD

Elements of Law final exam tomorrow morning.

Checklist:

• Laptop
• Pens (just in case laptop crashes)
• Stone tablets and chisel (just in case pens run dry)
• Brown underwear

-LSD

Well done the Chicago White Sox - my parents and the lavatory-using public at 245 Carlton Terrace salute you!

Goldberger Senior and I began the arduous task of constructing our tabernacle for the Feast of Booths yesterday. While I was making my construction debut, Dad is a sukkah-building veteran. A gentleman always, his scorn for my feeble knot-tying abilities was largely unspoken. Still, the structure is still standing after a night of howling wind, a fact from which I take no small measure of pride.

Predictably, a quick check of the forecast confirms classic Succot weather on tap for next week - rain, wind, cold, with a touch of frost. In a word, BloodyAwful. Just confirms my theory that, every now and then, G-d likes to have His fun with us Diaspora Jews.

-LSD

I'm not really much of a baseball fan, but I find myself avidly rooting for White to beat Red in the current Battle of the Sox (Chicago are currently up 2-0 in their playoff series).

No, I haven't suddenly developed an affinity for the NY Yankees, who no doubt would actually relish a Red Sox victory and the chance to gain vengeance over their hated northern rivals for last year's American League championship series debacle. Nor do I care much one way or the other about the fortunes of the Chicagoans (I had to look that up), though the fact that they haven't won a World Series in four score and seven years does engender a little sympathy for their cause.

Rather, my visiting parents, currently ensconced at the homestead in Teaneck, have expressed an interest in travelling to the Mass. capital in the next couple of weeks. Naturally they have no concept of playoff time in Boston, where drunken mobs, with evil in their hearts, roam the streets in search of stray New Yorkers and, when none can be found, turn their attention to any unfortunate non-New Englanders in their midst.

So I'm counting on an early Red Sox departure from the playoffs picture, to ensure my parents' trip goes ahead. They'll get to see a new city - and I get to reclaim the toliet from Dad for a couple of days at least.

-LSD

Shana tova to all.

-LSD