tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:16:24 +0000Stuff I've written, that I am not too embarassed to post. All items here are the property of Leon Adato. No reprinting, copying, etc. You get the point. Don't be a jerk.http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Leon)Blogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-8929080141833688671Sun, 31 May 2009 13:50:00 +00002009-10-15T09:51:09.872-04:00PreludeThe Kabalists tell us the story of creation through their mystical lens:Hashem, infused in every moleculespinning inside each atom and neutrino.The first act of creation was to make the nothingness,hanging holiness like lanterns to light the way.The spherote shattered in a-dam/dirtperson's first sinGodliness spilling, blending, twisting, merging,ruining the perfect havdallahPremiseOur http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/QmcY08MMUj4/homecoming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/QmcY08MMUj4" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2009/05/homecoming.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-831334948373885615Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:43:00 +00002008-08-01T08:17:09.540-04:00You will walk wide streets under waving palms signs writ large in alien characters names as foreign as the soil underfoot yet familiar, as your voice to earslet the sun which warmed our Fathers and Mothers infuse your skin, kiss your hair tickle your noseWithout parents near, still you are nurtured.You will open like a flower in the afternoon light childhood's canopy, the tent of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/GpAGc6Pfhx0/for-heather-on-her-arrival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/GpAGc6Pfhx0" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-heather-on-her-arrival.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-115656054947303709Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:39:00 +00002006-08-25T22:49:09.483-04:00For a long time, I have carried around with me a very depressing mental image for the Beatles song "Blackbird". I would relate it here, but I've been told by enough people that it ruined their enjoyment of the song so I usually just keep it to myself.Not that my mental image inhibited my own love of the song. I took a fond, if somewhat morbidly melancholy, pleasure in singing it and hearing it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/g5vPSXcqba0/you-were-only-waiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/g5vPSXcqba0" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2006/08/you-were-only-waiting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-114973009218506154Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:24:00 +00002006-06-07T21:40:56.956-04:00You wail in counterpoint to the church bellsRinging down the road from the clinic9 times they tolled, as if to say "enough, enough"Or perhaps "so soon" My mind a study of indecision. In my heart, I am holding off deathIn one momentAnd urging it on in the next "It's not fair to let them suffer"But are you "them", or am I?Who is spared, and who condemned? I watch the syringe deliver sleep intohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/zjo-1mOhAgo/poem-elegy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/zjo-1mOhAgo" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2006/06/poem-elegy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-114973020470685197Thu, 08 Jun 2006 01:29:00 +00002006-06-07T21:30:04.713-04:00You: Eyes wide like a horse about to spookSideways staring at my fingers on the keyboardAs if they are medusae-snakes, ready to betray you at any momentCapture you and bind you and force you intoThe impossible labor of sentences and grammar Me:Head thrown back, eyes unfocused, fingers bucking and jumping on the keys like 15 year old driving a stick-shiftBrain firing on all cylenders at the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/aHISUEsNdAw/poem-work-session.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/aHISUEsNdAw" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2006/06/poem-work-session.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-115157970207637774Sun, 04 Sep 2005 11:14:00 +00002006-06-29T07:15:02.090-04:00"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978) It was an uncomfortable Shabbat. The sense of sanctuary we normally enjoyed, the suspension of work-week pressures and petty stresses was absent. We all knew why, but even that knowledge didn't comfort us. Our group of friends - a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/sea_WayEQM4/shabbat-katrina.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/sea_WayEQM4" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2005/09/shabbat-katrina.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-115043372572173233Sat, 29 May 2004 23:16:00 +00002012-01-03T12:08:06.169-05:00My wife and I are pretty fanatic when it comes to the tooth fairy. Being Jewish, there aren't a whole lot of other imaginary visitors in the lives of our kids. Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.  all don't make stops at our house. Sure, there's Elijah, the kindly old prophet who visits during Passover and drinks a cup of sickly-sweet wine. That just doesn't stack up against bunnies and elves who http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/cf9t5ML0z68/essay-tooth-faerie-delayed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/cf9t5ML0z68" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2004/05/essay-tooth-faerie-delayed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-105944570990597928Tue, 29 Jul 2003 02:28:00 +00002003-07-28T22:28:29.970-04:00"Dad, I want to cut my hair". Heather, my 10 year old, is telling me how she plans to rip out my heart and drag it around the back yard. I've tried very hard over the years to keep my personal preferences on hairstyles just that - personal. The fact is that I love long hair. Not for myself - my personal coif has only ever grown straight out from my head until I look like a chia pet. But on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/6JCgW4b0pWc/hair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/6JCgW4b0pWc" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2003/07/hair.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-105898879293639771Wed, 23 Jul 2003 19:33:00 +00002003-07-23T17:49:49.150-04:00This story always begins when we are sitting in a fast-food restaurant (or at least sitting with fast food) and there are too many straws lying around. I pick one up and very emphatically state "A straw once saved my life!". Usually this causes people to snort milkshakes up their nose, so I have to wait a few minutes while the spray is cleaned off of shirts, walls, and nearby toddlers. Afterhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/FOvKro0mAcQ/straw-once-saved-my-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/FOvKro0mAcQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2003/07/straw-once-saved-my-life.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-7776634885073492200Sun, 19 May 2002 13:42:00 +00002009-10-15T09:42:14.078-04:00 Dear friends and family: This is it - the final diary entry written (mostly) from Switzerland and the entry that marks our full return to the US. Like many transitions, this one is bittersweet. There is the inevitable combination of what must be left behind, what awaits ahead, and all the could-have-beens that fall somewhere in between. In Switzerland, Leon made the last trip to the house tohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/AfZ_Z55KJb4/diary-5192002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/AfZ_Z55KJb4" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/05/diary-5192002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-7531168998863493248Sun, 12 May 2002 13:41:00 +00002009-10-15T09:41:52.735-04:00 Dear friends and family: Before starting with the Adato Diaries proper, we wanted to congratulate two different blessed events: First, we wanted to wish Art and Barbara our best wishes on the birth of their son Ryan David Rosenfeld - born Tuesday at 11:45. Second, the exact same wishes go to Paul and Rory on the birth of Kemmett Malaya Saunders Nazareth - born Thursday at 6:07pm This week http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/JaIfpKsenPg/diary-5122002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/JaIfpKsenPg" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/05/diary-5122002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-2639840351367152577Sun, 05 May 2002 13:41:00 +00002009-10-15T09:41:27.611-04:00 Dear friends and family, This note marks the second-to-last Diary entry from Switzerland. Only 12 days and a few hours left (depending on which time zone you are counting from) to go! In America, Debbie and the kids went to see a concert with Sam Glazer at Temple on Monday. They actually got to hang out with him a bit and watch the rehearsal, and Debbie and Heather actually got to see two http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/pL2SVtaziHA/diary-552002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/pL2SVtaziHA" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/05/diary-552002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-7060743797015569865Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:40:00 +00002009-10-15T09:41:05.561-04:00 Dear friends and family This is just too important not to put at the top. If you want our new address and phone number, here it is:The Adato Family:34091 SummersetSolon, OH 44139phone: 440-542-9659 OK. Back to the regularly scheduled weekly letter.... It was another exciting week, but relatively positive all around. On Monday, Leon was able to finalize his return date to the US: May 17 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/RQ5YtRkna-c/diary-4282002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/RQ5YtRkna-c" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/04/diary-4282002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-8359341688487706085Sun, 21 Apr 2002 13:40:00 +00002009-10-15T09:40:43.665-04:00 Dear friends and family: Given the amount of things to be done, this was a remarkably slow week for us, on both sides of the Atlantic. Leon spent a large part of his time training Martin, his replacement. This went amazingly well, and they covered a great deal of ground in a short period. Of course, in the name of being a supportive team member and helping Martin to find his way around the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/JeXp1Cyu-LI/diary-4212002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/JeXp1Cyu-LI" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/04/diary-4212002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-2248383519618585339Sun, 14 Apr 2002 13:40:00 +00002009-10-15T09:40:17.435-04:00 Dear friends and family: Welcome to the first of (hopefully only a few) Schizophrenic Diaries. In these issues, you will hear about happenings from both the Swiss and US side of our lives. Hopefully in some kind of coherent order. Back in the land of cheese and chocolate, Leon arrived home and found out, early Sunday, that all the windows and the cars were dirty. Really dirty. He didn't givehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/Uo1Fy-TytDw/diary-4142002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/Uo1Fy-TytDw" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/04/diary-4142002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-3209558250113241117Sun, 07 Apr 2002 13:39:00 +00002009-10-15T09:39:58.658-04:00 Dear Friends and Family: The rollercoaster picked up speed again this week, just as Leon was preparing to leave for Switzerland again. The beginning of the week was very slow, with not much happening. It is hard not to let panic set in when you hit a lull in course of things, and we did our best to focus on what we could accomplish, and what we wanted to do as a family during this week. On http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/ky0iou6k26M/diary-472002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/ky0iou6k26M" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/04/diary-472002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-8765280135195122517Sun, 31 Mar 2002 14:39:00 +00002009-10-15T09:39:36.448-04:00 Dear friends and family: A wonderful, stable, quiet week was had by all, with no major breakthroughs but also no great complications. Getting back into the groove with shopping, Debbie and the kids ventured to the Disney store. While we didn't really need much, it was fun to look. They did make one great discovery. Do you know "Peeps", those marshmallow sugar-coated chick-shaped things? Wellhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/7POO5R9iv6I/diary-3312002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/7POO5R9iv6I" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/03/diary-3312002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-4144317118847100529Sun, 24 Mar 2002 14:38:00 +00002009-10-15T09:39:03.169-04:00 Dear friends and family: This week has been both exciting and calming, busy and quiet. We feel a great sense of relief to finally be home, but are also nervous and apprehensive about all the work we have at hand. Our goals for this week were to make the 3 major purchases of adult life: a car, a house, and a cell phone. We found the cellphone first. You can now reach Debbie at (440) 570-7411http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/i53JEhGkGQs/diary-3242002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/i53JEhGkGQs" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/03/diary-3242002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-4070314189308920031Sun, 17 Mar 2002 14:37:00 +00002009-10-15T09:38:41.032-04:00 (with apologies once again to Simon and Garfunkel)Many's the time I've been mistaken, and many times confusedYes and I've often felt forsaken, and certainly misusedAh but I'm alright, I'm alright, I'm just weary thru my bonesStill you don't expect to be bright and bon-vivantSo far away from home, so far away from home After days of activity and weeks of planning, our family is on the plane. *http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/-uyME-Ik5zs/diary-3172002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/-uyME-Ik5zs" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/03/diary-3172002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-9084179452689079074Sun, 10 Mar 2002 14:35:00 +00002009-10-15T09:37:31.234-04:00 Dear friends and family: Yes, many of you have noted that a note went out on Thursday, and dated for March 17. Leon would love to blame it on a bad flux-time capacitor that accidentally sent a future issue back over a week through the space-time continuum. Or a surge in the number of chono-particles in this part of Switzerland. But of course, the real answer is that Leon just hit "send" whenhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/AEbMYyv2fBU/diary-3102002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/AEbMYyv2fBU" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/03/diary-3102002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-5275116781388527527Sun, 03 Mar 2002 14:34:00 +00002009-10-15T09:34:50.428-04:00 Dear friends and family: The outpouring of support, warmth and friendship from last week's note was truly overwhelming. We feel blessed to have people in our lives that care so much. Thank you. At this point our countdown clock is set and we are watching the days, hours, and minutes tick away. There is a lot to do, but still a lot of waiting also, which is the hardest part. I want to take ahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/ozNRckwHwJ4/diary-332002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/ozNRckwHwJ4" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/03/diary-332002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-7451365537543382722Tue, 26 Feb 2002 14:34:00 +00002009-10-15T09:34:20.419-04:00 Dear friends and family: We had a small debate this week on whether to save our biggest news for last, or to put it at the beginning of our note so that people who just scan these quickly wouldn't miss it. In the end, it is more important for you to know than for you to hear things in chronological order. To make a long story short, we are coming home. For those who would prefer a little http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/oYCcj0mquSQ/diary-2262002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/oYCcj0mquSQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/02/diary-2262002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-6474640836753323367Sun, 17 Feb 2002 14:33:00 +00002009-10-15T09:33:55.929-04:00 Dear Friends and Family: Believe it or not, this was an extremely quiet week. Debbie was still recovering from her illness, but managed to make it through the week without too much strife. By Friday, she was tired, but definitely better than a couple of weeks ago. Let it be said, however, that a 1 1/2 year old is not the best companion while recovering, as they are unimpressed with excuses http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/zeZpUNYQHbs/diary-2172002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/zeZpUNYQHbs" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/02/diary-2172002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-5370257630558671115Sun, 10 Feb 2002 14:33:00 +00002009-10-15T09:33:30.654-04:00 Dear friends and family On the one hand, a quiet week. On the other, it was another one of those "We don't want a week like this again" weeks. Debbie and Joram spend all weekend, and most of the week, getting over their cold/flu/creeping crud/whatever it is. For Debbie it manifested as extreme exhaustion, coughing fits, and headaches. For Joram it was stellar fevers, runny noses, and a lighthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/gqd4Im_0-oU/diary-2102002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/gqd4Im_0-oU" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/02/diary-2102002.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608237.post-5979140983618655461Sun, 03 Feb 2002 14:32:00 +00002009-10-15T09:32:32.143-04:00 Dear friends and family A comparatively quiet week this week. First, to answer the question upper-most in your minds, the dryer is doing fine. Monday-Wednesday were fairly uneventful. Work, school, dinner, bed. A pretty straight routine. Debbie arrived Thursday morning. The flights had been long but without problems. Debbie was just happy to be home. She also wasn't feeling 100%, but it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~3/UN7S7Lwc7Lw/diary-232002.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leon)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LeonsLiterature/~4/UN7S7Lwc7Lw" height="1" width="1"/>http://leonsliterature.blogspot.com/2002/02/diary-232002.html