It stopped raining! It's not quite warm out, but it is an improvement over the last few days.

Hit the library for a few afternoon hours, intending to write but allowing myself to be steered pleasantly from my course by leaving my Instant Messenger window open. I finally permitted myself to accept that my head hurt and that it was probably due to staring at computer screens all the time, and left earlier than planned to explore Newton on foot. To say truth, “explore” is generous; I merely walked a mile or two up Walnut Street to Newtonville and swiveled my head frequently en route. Ultimately belying any claim I might make to explorerhood, I purchased a map of Boston and an atlas of New England, which I studied on my return. This is not unusual for me: I did the same in Cleveland, and in Chicago before that. I like to know where I am and how to get elsewhere. And, ideally, back.

Aya was at a function of some sort, and neither Rami nor I had the inclination to cook, so we took dinner at a Thai restaurant quite close to my T stop (mental note taken!) called Jamjuli. Against my automatic judgment, I forwent duck in favor of the compelling Beef Macadamia. This proved to be a good move, though I can't yet fairly assert that it outclasses their duck offerings. In fact, considering the elevated quality of their beef preparation, their duck may well outshine both their beef and the duck of other establishments I have frequented. Yea, verily, it could be thus.

I refreshed myself with the best Thai iced tea in recent memory (in mine, anyway) and some coconutty but regrettably also icy coconut ice cream. My preference runs toward more coconut and cream, and less ice. Still, good. And they have ginger and green tea ice cream too. I shall have to go there often.

All the while, Rami and I discussed classical music, and how strange it is that such a giant swath of Americans aren't interested in it. When he was growing up in Israel, he related, it was impossible to obtain season tickets to the symphony — not because there were none, but because they were all taken. An Israeli who didn't like classical music, he continued, was considered uncultured. And such Israelis were rare. I am heartened to have friends my age who know and dig the good stuff, but I recognize that for some reason, in our culture, we are somehow exceptional.

Another funny thing about Americans is our affinity for cold cereal for breakfast. It's quick, and maybe that's why it's so prevalent, but it's not satisfying like yogurt, cheese, eggs, and fruit (breakfast staples during Rami's youth). I've always been surprised at the ubiquity of cereal because I can personally eat a box or two at a sitting and still not be truly full. Perhaps I am an oddity. Wouldn't that be a surprise?