MHSeattle, Neal Schindler, 1/31/2009

I just returned on Monday from my ten-day East Coast trip, which included two nights in Washington, D.C., where I witnessed the Inauguration, albeit on a Jumbo-Tron in a crowded field of people just north of the Washington Monument. The mood was, as you might expect, distinctly joyous, and it's worth mentioning that my companions at the event were Rivka, Adam, and Steven of Moishe House D.C., plus their friend Maura. Our toes were cold, but we still enjoyed the festivities, and when President-elect Obama finally stood opposite Chief Justice Roberts to become President Obama, we weren't paying attention to how chilly it was. If you're interested in my experience, I suggest you check out the article I wrote for Jew-ish.com.

Winter is proceeding fairly comfortably here in Seattle; today there's even sun. I have a new part-time job, at Childhaven, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic child care for kids one month through five years old who have been affected by abuse or neglect. It's a great organization that does really good work, and I like my coworkers a lot. It's also the first job I've ever had that requires business casual attire, something I've grown to appreciate in the last few weeks, since almost everyone looks better in a dress shirt and slacks than in jeans and a sweatshirt. I think not looking like a college student every day of my life is a plus, not a burden.

Anyway, I have to go upstairs and bake some chocolate-chip cookies for a friend, and then maybe watch Mad Men in my room, unless the sunshine compels me to get back outside and enjoy it. Hope all's well at your various Moishe Houses!

MHSeattle, Neal Schindler, 11/4/2008

Election fever has consumed my social circle, and more and more of my Facebook friends' statuses are reflecting either having voted already or intending to vote very soon. Last night at the house we hosted an Election Eve discussion that included all the down-ticket items, which gave a number of people a chance to learn about measures and local candidates they had little knowledge of. One attendee in particular spends a lot of time doing local political activism, and he was extremely thorough and eloquent in talking about the pros and cons surrounding each initiative and candidate.

I have to admit, it's hard to focus my energy today; I scheduled a call from a friend in Jerusalem for this morning, and all I want to do is vote. I will, of course, but it's hard to calm the urgency I'm feeling about it. It's also a poignant day for me, as I'm missing people -- my father, who died in 2003 and would have loved to see this day; my ex-girlfriend, with whom I followed the Obama campaign from its beginning until this past August, when we decided to break off communication; another ex-girlfriend, from college, with whom I've just recently gotten back in touch, and who traveled from Oakland, where she lives, to Nevada to canvass; my mother, though I'll certainly call her during the returns tonight; and my friends in New York, whom I miss without always realizing how much.