Trex Treks

Findings

trextrek — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:55:15 +0000

On the MAX on the way to PDX after visiting Portland for a friend’s wedding.

Meshugna Gay Man (about in his 40s/50s): Well, they were right. It cooled down into the 70s. It was in the 80s/90s last week.

LT: Yeah, it’s nice.

MGM: You know, I grew up in South Georgia. It’s just humid there.

LT: I know. I grew up in North Florida.

MGM: I grew up in Thomasville. It’s about 25-30 miles from Tallahasssee.

LT: Oh, yeah? I grew up in Tallahassee!

MGM: I called home on Mother’s Day and they said it was 100 and asked if I missed home. I said I was home.

Postscript to MGM conversation: He really didn’t seem to register that I grew up in Tallahassee and know Thomasville well. He talked about his cousins who are gay and how their mother thinks they’re dead. And her daughter can’t have kids. The aunt probably won’t have anyone to take care of her when she grows older and her husband passes. The cousins own a wedding/flower business in Tallahassee. MGM thinks something is different about the South than it was in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s — ignorance has increased. [In my head I thought, "Well ignorance has always been there. But when you go to a place like Portland you feel better about humanity, even if diversity is slim.]

MGM may have been a “transient” but he spoke some kind of “truth” to me. He was honest and friendly and thoroughly Southern.

—

Story found in a journal from several years ago.

We were bored and really unmotivated to get what we needed done for the yearbook junior year of high school. So we took a break to play a cat and mouse-chase-you-are-it-ha-ha game through the halls of the three story, 150-year-old brick building high school that was more our home away from home. We were in teams of two running around on all three floors. Old buildings make lots of “settling” noises. My friend and I had a tub of ice cream in our hands when we heard a noise. It was at the other end of the hallway. So we ran back to the end of the hallway where the journalism room was located, laughing so hard — the kind of laughing that takes energy from every muscle of your body. As we grew closer to the classroom I was screaming that I had to to the bathroom and couldn’t contain it any longer. I had done an almost unmentionable thing — well embarrassing for sure — ESPECIALLY for a 16-year-old. I made my friend promise that she would go downstairs to her car and get her extra change of clothes that was there and I was change into them and then come back into the journalism room like nothing happened. She would tell NO ONE of “the incident.” She gets the clothes, I change, walk back into the room and one of my other classmates asks me: “How you doing, P-Trex?”

I led services!

trextrek — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:25:27 +0000

On April 29th, an auspicious date for my family, I led Thursday morning Sachrit services (morning services, on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, of course Torah is read at these morning services) at school. I was super nervous! I led with cantorial student and friend, Rachel Harrison. She sang and played lots of amazing melodies. It wouldn’t have been successful without her. Since it was April 29th I gave a kavannah (it can be a reading or a very short speech or poem to give the congregation something to think about before prayer, basically that’s what it is) before the Yotzer Or (one of the prayers part of the Sh’ma and its blessing rubric) about him:

Hayden, my nephew, 3 months old

And…

Here is the kavannah I gave:

3 years ago today I watched my nephew come into this world. It was a rather ineffable experience. I watched a life come into the world. I was able to hold a tiny human being when he was only moments old. I’ve heard from parents that giving birth and watching their children being born is one of those moments where they begin to believe in God. How could you not, after witnessing this moment?

The words Yotzer Or, creating light. It makes me think of illumination. God illuminates all that is in the world. The day my nephew was born he illuminated the lives of our family. As we give thanks for all that God has given us in our lives and on this day I urge you to think of someone or something that brightens up life, that makes you smile, that makes you realize this world and the life we are living has significance and that we owe thanks to God, the being who has given us light to see all that is good in the world.

D’var Torah

trextrek — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:14:02 +0000

April 17th I gave a D’var Torah (words of Torah) at Shabbat Services. I recorded it. I’m in my “schleppy” clothes (and hair) and I fidget a bit too much. And mis-pronounce some of the Hebrew words, but I didn’t feel like re-recording it. Despite all my “negativity” I was pretty happy with the result, though there is always room for improvement. I hope my message came across and that I can strive for my message…

Click here to view the recording.

Remix: Trekking through Fall 2009

trextrek — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:54:10 +0000

To back track a bit….

Kickball Birthday!

Blowing out birthday cupcakes courtesy of Jodie!

Best birthday gift: enthusaism for kickball!

Fellow Education classmate, Rachel at bat!

Thanksgiving in Ceasara! Yum! Thanks, Jodie for being born so we could all celebrate together!

This is my friend Todd. He's funny.

Hiking to the beach.

Shabbat Thanksgiving Dinner. It was YUMMY!

Sitting in front on ruins at the port in Caesara.

Jesus’ Birthday in Bethlehem. For reals.

Brandon Bernstein. Lauren Trexler. Hannah Rubin-Schlanksy. Andrew Terkel. All of those names must include the surname. This is who I shared Erev Christmas with this year.

The night had some scarey parts.

There were some "American-esque" decorations.

There was Mary and Joseph?!

There were birthday candles! (I know those are not birthday candles. Sheesh, give me a little credit!)

There was MUCH waiting to see where the Baby Jesus was born. It felt like I was waiting for the Messiah. Oh, wait....(Insert laughter now.)

This is where Jesus was born. They say.

A haunting midnight mass.

There was more in between. These were the highlights/I had to borrow these pictures from fine folks like Andrew, Brandon, and Jodie. I’m still pretty much sans camera. Yeah, I know…

Trex Trekking through the Desert

trextrek — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:57:52 +0000

Here are some of my classmates and me after we finished Shabbat services in the desert while on tiyul (field trip). It was desolate and quiet. A very unique setting for Shabbat. (Yes, be jealous that we are wearing shorts in February!)

Trex Trekking a Mountain

trextrek — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:48:46 +0000

A couple of weeks ago our class went south and it was glorious. I love the desert. One day we were able to pick a hike. I choose the “more difficult” one, Mt. Shlomo. It was amazing. In the middle of the Eilat Mountains. Definitely one of the highlights of the year so far.

29 years and counting! (or Trex Treks to Wisdom)

trextrek — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:55:05 +0000

It is no secret that I LOVE, LOVE my birthday. I don’t know why, it is just awesome! My parents didn’t necessarily make a huge deal about it growing up, probably because I made a big deal about it. Anyway. I am SO glad that I’m 29 today. Life has been good to me. I have a great family and amazing friends. I may not be the wisest person ever, I still have lots to learn and I truly believe that once we stop seeking we lose all life and die. (Even if it is a metaphorical death.) I don’t want to stop. I’ll trekking on for some time. Wow! That was a lot of “feeling talk.” I’ve learned a few things during my short life:

Friends are the best people to have in your life. The only thing better is family.
My mom is usually correct about most things.
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Crazy eyes make your double chins disappear in pictures.
“Fart” is not a lady-like word, you should say “traf” instead. Thanks, Grandma!
A good meal with good friends — perfection.
Kickball brings people together. Israelis love it.

So today I’m going to eat some good meals, play some kickball, and count my blessings because there are many. LIFE IS GOOD.

And with that I promise the corny feelings portion of this blog will conclude.

Trex Treks to Istanbul

trextrek — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:32:52 +0000

During Sukkot break at the beginning of October I trekked to Istanbul — just a short 2 and half hour-ish flight from Tel Aviv — with Allie Harris, Jordan & Marni, and Albert & Rachel Kaplan. Pictures are always better than words…

Shekels, dollars, and lira! Wowzer!

It may be blasphemy to drink Starbucks in a foreign land, but I miss America!

Turkish coffee!!! This was a fancy presentation at a cafe in the Bazzar. Sue me, I was playing tourist.

The Basilica Cistern. It was romantic in a very strange way. I have an alternate worldview, perhaps.

Jordan is picking Medusa's nose.

We saw a performance of "Whirling Dervishes." This was the photograph in the lobby of the theatre.

Allie, me, Rachel, Marni "fruming" it up at the Blue Mosque.

The Hippodrome

Aya Sofya

Allie and me at the palace.

Synagogue w/ major security.

There have been too many attacks at this synagogue now there are hard hats under the chairs. Depressing.

More of the synagogue, Neveh Shalom.

Topaki Palace

Yes, we went to the Turkish baths. The end.

Really delicious fish dinner on our last night in Istanbul.

Yep, it was that good that I ate all of it!

Galata Tower

Kids, don't start smoking. Warnings at Duty Free.

And, that is my trip to Istanbul in a nutshell.

Trex Treks to Rome

trextrek — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:24:41 +0000

If this blog is called TrexTrek I guess I should discuss excursions. So hopefully blog posts from now on will be more “traveled” themed, though I still need to obtain a working camera, so it may be a bit of challenge. Thank goodness for Facebook. [And my friend, Mindy who let me borrow her camera while I was traveling in Rome.]

So. Rome. Some friends from Portland were already planning a big European vacation and their first stop was in Rome which coinceided with the break between Ulpan (intensive Hebrew) and the Fall Semester. I’ve never been to Europe and I don’t know the next time I’ll be in this part of the world, so why not take advantage to the proximity and economical advantages of traveling from the Middle East?!

That's me. At the Vatican. Like I don't get enough holy sites.

The Pieta. I've wanted to see this since Humanities in high school.

In the Vatican garden. This is supposed to represent modernity's ruin of the world. I like it.

Fountain at the Spanish Steps.

The Pantheon.

Zach and me.

All of these folks work for Intel. We ran into one of the vice-president's of the company. They were really excited. The VP is the 3rd from the left.

Showing my love in front of the synagogue in Rome.

So, that was Trex trekking through Rome. Stay tuned for Trex Treks to Istanbul and Trex Treks through HUC.

David & Randa

trextrek — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:33:16 +0000

Today is my little brother’s wedding anniversary. He and Randa have been married 3 years!!! Wowzers!

Adorable.

They do!

David and Randa are a great couple. I love them lots! This one also thinks they are pretty great …

Trexlers like to eat!

Happy Hayden at 3 months old