That would be unsuper-Monday for those keeping track.

Rather than attempt to explain the Freud-1940s Baghdad connection alluded to earlier (something to do with memory), or why I’m partially translating a Wikipedia entry on an Iranian revolutionary for Arabic language class (needed an interesting biography that could use this chapter’s vocab., thanks Mirza Jahangir Khan), I’ll just say that today started late and ended later, and the stuff that was supposed to happen in between largely did.

I’d complain about the weather, but since the next week will be the same dreary gray with rain (for the variety, I’d be happier with snow at this point), I need to save some irritation for later on.

Also there’s some sort of election to-do tomorrow. County screwed up, so I can’t vote in the primary. With Clinton v. Obama, I don’t mind that so much. Both are fundamentally flawed. Neither is as likely to get people killed in pointless wars or sent to the gulag as the opposing party’s leaders (Republicans). Based on that admittedly low standard, I’ll take Obama over Clinton, and either one over any Republican, but without much enthusiasm.

(For enthusiasm, I’d need a candidate who’d promise to pursue each and every one of the Bush administration’s criminals with the same single-mindedness and creativity that said administration has applied to destroying the Constitution and rule of law in this country.)

Weather forecast finally comes through. Mostly. Sunny. Rather clear. Lots of folks out enjoying the rarity of blue skies and over-40 degree temperatures. Clouds arrived just in time to spoil the sunset.

More reading about Baghdad in the ’40s. Author (native) writes of his argument (then) with a friend over whether Iraqis are (were) ready for democracy. Sound familiar?

Congrats, NY Giants. Not really a football fan, but I do support upsets on principle. Now the newspapers can go back to pontificating about (not-so-)Super Tuesday.

Not to be overly critical, but this is the 3rd day in a row that the weather forecast (thanks weather.com) has been substantially inaccurate. Mostly sunny? Yeah right. So much for afternoon and sunset photos.

My vast and interesting life? Limited to reading excerpts of Freud and various other unreadable articles.

Desultory search for better lenses has ended. Fast glass is big, heavy and expensive. Oddly enough, I’d be willing to pay more for smaller, but hey, I’m weird. Meanwhile my unfocusable fast normal Sigma prime lens is with service (conveniently located in Ronkonkoma NY?). Yay?

What do they bring? Should know shortly since it has been deliciously soggy all day.

My printer works again, i.e. the photos printed from it look half-decent. Not sure which of the 8 million settings in HP’s Deskjet 970cxi driver did the trick, but there we are.

Meanwhile, sanity continues its losing battle against Arabic grammar. I’d guess that only English grammar is equally bizarre. Fortunately, our wonderful educational system has insured that I am blissfully unaware of either (English grammar or its craziness).

Now, waiting for the latest episode of Friday Night Lights to reach the usual suspects. Given the hopeful sounds about the WGA strike in the press, perhaps next week won’t be the end of FNL’s season?

Not as weird as last Thursday, but still…

Left my gloves in Arabic this morning. Losing useful possessions isn’t usually my strong suit.

Thursday lunch with grandma at the typical spot. First time I’ve examined the receipt closely though. Our server was “Pookie SexyGal”? Really?

I am now reading Freud for a history class. A Middle Eastern history class. To be fair, a ‘cultural studies’ approach to most topics could probably allow for Freud.

(With apologies to “Casablanca” and Capt. Renault)

Uneventful day for me, NYU student. Class. Schoolwork. Disappointing attempt at sunset photography (not enough haze for good colors). Visit to a camera store in search of the holy grail of cameras (small, ergonomic, full-featured SLR body with similarly specced lenses). Dinner. More schoolwork. And so on.

Elsewhere, the range of presidential possibilities has decreased markedly. John Edwards is out. We can forget about a campaign against poverty and Wall St. now. Good news for the establishment. Bad news for us.

On the bright side, now that there’s no progressive in the race, I don’t have to feel guilty about not being able to vote in the primary due to a county screw-up. Although writing-in George McGovern seems increasingly appealing.

Oops, have to run now. Story of my day.

Still, it’s nice when everything somehow manages to fit itself into the time allotted. Nice and rare. Paper-chase, Arabic homework, presentation and so forth.

All is not flowers and sunshine though (both in short supply at the moment here). Crazy Mac (John M) wins Florida’s primary and Nikon fails to announce any nice new camera bodies before PMA ’08. Armageddon and grainy images are likely consequences (respectively).

First Monday of last semester (I hope) at NYU. Got that?

Languages are weird. What does one call a language that is written, largely as it is spoken, with some added formalisms to improve style, in a different script from the standard written language? Judeo-Arabic (12th century edition).

Otherwise, the day frittered itself away nicely on unfruitful pursuits like reading, reading and reading.

Sunday afternoons I hate. Especially.

The only thing worse are Sunday evenings, spent feverishly typing and editing, at the library. After a morning and afternoon spent doing the same.

P.S. Washington Square is a mess right now. Whoever thought fencing off most of it and ripping out the central fountain was a bright idea clearly hates America, apple pie, and what’s left of my sanity.

Barack Obama wins South Carolina primary. Celebrates.

Darius Jahromi types a lot, deletes a lot, and types some more. Feels like a chump. Does not celebrate.

Even the afternoon walk was gray.