Standing here screaming

2 posts in one

2006-10-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

Nobody reads me anymore since I haven't been blogging as steady anymore so since I have two posts that won't be read anyway, I'm putting them together. They're short.

#1 The most annoying thing ever:

Right now If asked what the most annoying thing is, I would probably try to be funny by answering the screaming sound that jim carrey does in dumb and dumber, "wanna hear the most annoying sound?"
But in truth the most annoying thing to me is that sticker that is put on a new cd. You know the one that is under the plastic wrap? The excitement of getting a new cd is overwhelming. You rush home to listen to it, or rather rush to pop it into your cd player in your car. Rip open the plastic, get ready to open the case and nothing. You absolutely cannot open it. There is a long sticker the length of the side of the cd holding it shut. Getting this sticker off is not a simple task either. I think it takes me about 20 minutes every time. You get a little corner, are all ready to peel and come up with a tiny sliver of sticker, over and over again. What, I ask, is the exact purpose of this little sticker? Is it just in case someone opens trys to steal the cd in the store? Cuz if that's the case, they'd first have to rip all the plastic off and open the cd case. Why wouldn't they just steal the whole thing? I can't imagine it is for the safety of the cd. Isn't the plastic wrap enough. Who thought of this silly little sticker anyway? I think I need to write them a letter.

#2 Ladies: who wants to be the first to throw a pie in Aaron's face?

The following conversation was exchanged between Aaron and I yesterday.
Aaron burned his finger while sauteeing onions

Me: How's your finger Aaron?
Him: it's fine, I don't feel pain anymore since I broke my ankle.
Me: that's good for you but I still feel pain from things after giving birth.
Him: (major pause) um. I hate to say this but I think the pain from me breaking my ankle is a lot worse than giving birth.

What??!!! he must be joking. That's it. Funny funny har har. Because if he's not, he has completely lost his mind. lost it. There is a reason men don't give birth. Besides for the obvious body part issue, there is no way they could handle it. Seriously. They can't even handle being sick. But I digress. If you are a lady who has experienced the joys and pains of childbirth and would get great pleasure of throwing a pie in my husband's face please feel free to contact me at your convenience. You supply the pie.

American idol part 2

2006-10-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Back at the beginning of this blog I revealed some skeletons in my closet in regards to American Idol. I love singing. I am not a good judge on whether I'm any good but who cares, I love it.
Last week I was walking into the office in school when I saw a sign on the bulletin board with the heading "American Idol....." Being that I love this show, I went to see what the sign was all about. Basically, all the schools in my agency are having an agency wide american idol talent competition. Wow. For a moment I thought of doing it. I wish I could. It is so hard when you are torn between something you really want to do and the standards in your religion. I was just curious if anyone else has an an experience wherein they had to pass up an opportunity for something they really wanted because of religion.

I can write a book

2006-09-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

My kids at school say and do the funniest things. Today I was laughing all day long. I decided that I should probably write down the things that happen because I will probably forget. The things that happened today:
(ps- my kids are 3 and 4)

-My assistant was taking a meal replacement drink out of the fridge and a boy asks her "is that your beer?"

-a new boy started today and he had a tough time transitioning. he was crying a lot when his father laughed but shortly after, he did really well. During lunch he thought our garbage can was weird and said "what the heck is this?" I had to turn around to laugh. But then he was having his milk container talk to someone else's milk and he said "this is cow sh**" The first time he said it we all just looked at eachother to see if we heard right. The second time he said it I had to walk away and my assistant explained to him that there are some words that we do not use in school.

Stories from other days:
-There is a boy in our class who speaks only chinese and no english what so ever. Considering this, he is doing very well. He is really funny and copies everything we do even gestures because he is trying to learn. He is at times very independant because he cannot request things so he just does them. We have a toy in the class that is basically a bunch of plastic straws with connectors to build (look at the link) Well, one day during lunch, I turned around and saw that he had one of them in his milk and he was drinking out of it. he walked over to where we keep it in the classroom and took one because he didn't know how to ask for a straw.
-Same boy: Every day we take the class to the bathroom as a class. three children come in at a time while the others wait outside with the other teacher. I was helping a child wash her hands and there were children in the stalls when this boy came into the bathroom. He opened a stall that had a girl in it, she said "hey!" and he went into the next stall. When I turned around the stall that the girl had been in was open. She was standing with her pants around her ankles and a horrified look on her face and he was peeing in her toilet. I screamed

There are a ton more stories but this is all I can think of right now.

some things you may not know about me:

2006-09-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

-I have a really bad addiction to candy
-I sing, and sometimes dance in the shower
-When I listen to a song on the radio, I somtimes harmonize
-If I am really into a good rock song that I am listening to, I sing the guitar solos too.
-Sometimes I get so excited about a song that I just shout out the words I know (I tend to do this with beastie boys songs because I only know the last few words in each line)
-I am terrified of bridges
- I love rollercoasters, especially the drops
-I need to sit in the front seat of the car so I don't get car-sick
-I make random conversations with strangers
-I don't like shopping, just getting things
-I love surprises
- I usually ruin every surprise by playing detective and figuring it out
- I can't buy a present for someone and then wait to give it to them
- I have no patience for stupid adults
-I have all the patience in the world for children and children and adults with special needs
- I love the smell of dryer
- I have had a crush on Eddie Vedder since I was 10
- I like teeny bopper movies (10 things I hate about you, never been kissed, all of those...)
- I'm a republican
-I'm a yankee fan
- I used to play basketball volleyball and softball
- I haven't seen a movie in the theatre in over a year and am really dying to
- I am deathly allergic to dogs and wish I wasn't
- I like suck my hershey kisses like candies
- I like to open my oreos, eat the side without cream then fold the cookie with cream in half to get extra
- Some things I wish I did proffessionally: draw, paint, photography, sing

This isn't a meme but it could be, so if you wanna do it, go for it.

some of my pictures: (warning some may think the last one is inappropriate so don't scroll down if you don't want to see it) These were all made in 2000, I don't really have much time anymore.

my favorite pictures are hanging in places that aren't here so I couldn't take pictures of them

A bit hectic

2006-09-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

School started last Wednesday and I am pretty much wiped out at the end of the day. Although I have had so much material for great posts, I had little desire to type them up. But I do have a few stories from my first week of school that will help you better understand why I am so tired!
The first day went as follows: my morning started off with 15 children. 5 of which were in hysterics missing their mothers. I had three moms, a father, and a grandmother in my class all day watching their children. I had one girl who wants to do her own thing at all times including getting up during circle and going over to the "kitchen" to play. I had 4 mothers tell me that under no circumstances can my male assistant take their daughters to the bathroom. 1 was rationale the rest were not. The rationale mother explained that she teaches her child that men and boys should not touch or look at her private parts so she wouldn't feel comfortable with the situation. This issue was ongoing throughout the week. I spoke with my mentor, the supervisor and finally the principal. The principal had to call her superior to figure out an ultimate plan. Through all of it, I felt extremely horrible for my assistant. He is a wonderful man and an amazing assistant. He is great with the kids and I feel 100 percent comfortable leaving him alone with the class if I have to run an errand or do paper work. Furthermore, he has two daughters of his own and has been an assistant in the school for 12 years. It is so sad that our world is such a disgusting and perverted place that a good person like that has to suffer. In the end the principal placed the floater assistant in my class as a second assistant because there was no possible way that I could take all those girls to the bathroom on a regular basis. One girl is completely toilet trained, one is somewhat but needs to go to the bathroom every 1/2 hr and the other two wear pull ups. crazy...
Back to the girl who wants to do her own thing. I can tell she is going to be an ongoing problem throughout the year and her mother is not going to be on my side at all. Last year I had the best parents ever! This year I guess I am paying the price. The first conversation I had with this girl's mother was something like this
mom- "my daughter doesn't listen much. But it's the age."
No, not really mom....but okay. The mother was right about one thing, she does not listen!! So yesterday she took her snack out and proceeded to drink her milk out of a sippy cup. This girl is a typically developing child (my class is integrated so not all of them are) and is 4 years old and in the universal pre-k program. I do not allow anyone to drink from sippy cups in my class but even more so someone like this. I told her that in school we drink from a big girl cup and poured her milk into a plastic cup. She took her cup and attempted to throw it in the garbage. Every time someone tried to put it in front of her, she pushed it away. When a teacher attempted to talk to her she turned her head and ignored the teacher. For the rest of the morning she acted completely defiant in all ways. I wrote the mother a note in the communication notebook letting her know what occurred. I explained why we do not allow sippy cups from a speech therapist's point of view but also explained that we promote independace in our children and part of that is drinking from a cup. (etc, etc.) I spoke with her about it after school as well and she was so defensive. "I would appreciate if you would tell me things first before my child...." "oh...she didn't know the rules, that's why she got upset, right honey?"
The girl kept throwing her backpack down and stomping on it and her mother kept telling her how silly she was being.
In the morning, today, we discussed the matter further and it seemed to be okay until I read her response in the communication notebook:
(I wish I had the exact words...)
My daughter is very smart but also very sensative. She gets very upset when people are too tough with her and I think you are very impatient with her. She did not know she could not have a sippy cup....blah blah blah....
please don't make my daughter feel badly in the future....blah blah blah.
I brought the note straight to the principal and called the mother to set up a meeting after school. The problem was fixed in the conversation instead. It boiled down to the fact that the mom thought we were scolding her child for doing something that she didnt know she couldn't do but in fact we were addressing the behavior that resulted from us telling her she couldn't drink from the sippy cup. Once that was clarified the mother was okay. But today the child was completely defiant once again. During breakfast she had yogurt in her hair and an assistant tried to wipe it out and she wacked her hand out of the way. Another assistant praised her for sitting nicely and attempted to give her a sticker and she grunted and got angry. I keep having to let her know that she should use her words because we don't know why she is upset/ignorning, etc. We shall see what this will bring...

Some interesting things that happened at the end of my day:
On my way home I had to make a stop. I went to pull into the only spot near the store when I noticed a woman standing in the spot waving me on. "it's taken..." she said. After the day I had you wouldn't be surprised that I rolled down my window and said"I really don't think you are allowed to do that."
I came home from shoe shopping with Estee and I saw a woman staring straight at a tree on my front lawn as if there was someone there that was talking to her. I looked at my downstairs neighbor's window in hopes of seeing someone there that may be communicating with her. Nope. She said something and then I realized who she was talking to. A squirrel. When she noticed me starting at her she apologized. What was she apologizing for? talking to the squirrel? talking to the squirrel on my property? being in my way or just being crazy?
I was taking Estee for a walk and when I got to the corner of a busy intersection I heard someone screaming in a way that sounded like they were also crying "why did you do thaaaaaaaaaat?!!!?" It took me a while to figure out where it was coming from and it was a woman in a car stopped at a light of the intersecting street, on her cell phone. I understand that she was upset. I get upset sometimes too when I am on the phone in the car but for goodness sakes, roll up your window, everyone was staring at her.
So all in all it's been a rough week. A really rough day...
could use some rest, and some cheer!

The yummy!

2006-09-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

I love to cook. I'm not sure if y'all know that about me but it's one of my passions. I love everything from the easy to the most intricate gourmet. A few years ago for mother's day I had all the mothers and grandmothers over for a fancy dinner. I decorated the table with rose petals and tea lights. This was the menu:
When everyone came their strawberry mango mesculun salad was served inside half an acorn squash (that was the bowl) The appetizer was Salmon En Croute with cucumber dill sauce. I poured some sauce over the salmon (in a puff pastry-so it was in a slice on the plate) and then put extra inside a cucumber well on the side. The main course was plum chicken, Asparagus Tivoli, and Rosemary shallot and mushroom potatoes. Along the rim of the plate I sprayed some margarine and shook on some pretty spices to decorate the plate. For dessert I served a "beggars purse" which is a warm pastry with fruit chocolate and cinnamon inside. On the side was a scoop of sorbet, either chocolate or mango.
I have the pictures on a different computer, hopefully after my long weekend, I will put them up.
I also really enjoy good easy recipes. When it is going to be just the two of us for dinner or for shabbos, I experiment. Either with new recipes or I throw together whatever I find in the cabinets.
This past week I made two made-up recipes that were delicious and I thought I would share them, hey why not?

The first one was a cross between a meatball dish and a chinese lo-mein so I therefore call it Chinese chopped meat casserole, how creative of me!

1 lb chopped meat
onion
celery
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 can mushrooms
can chow mein noodles

I sauteed the chopped onion and celery then mixed all the ingredients (except for a little bit of the noodles) all together and put it in a casserole dish. I topped it with the leftover noodles and baked uncovered for an hour on 350. The noodles on top were crunchy but the ones inside the casserole were soft and lo-meinish :)
bteavon!

The next one was real quick. I had to go out but needed to cook dinner. I love chicken recipes that are covered really tightly and cooked for 3 hours. They come out so soft. I cleaned chicken bottoms and covered them with marinara sauce. I added lots of italian spices- basil (my fav), oregano, etc. I threw in some cut up veggies- zuccini, string beans, carrots, whatever you want. Then I covered it really tightly with foil. (btw, make sure everything in the pan is swimming in sauce. I used a 16 oz can of marinara) I baked it on 350 for 3 hours. The chicken melted in my mouth!!!

I can go on and on with recipes that I love or that I've made up but I will stop here. Have a wonderful shabbos!

Nice video!

2006-08-31T06:14:00.000-07:00


Too bad I didn't have this much fun at camp!

The joy of bad service

2006-08-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

Back in February, we decided that for a friend's birthday we would do something nice because her birthday falls out on the same day as her daughter's and she never really gets to celebrate. All the girls took her out to carvel and she was surprised. It was so nice for all of us to leave our kids behind (sleeping) with the hubbies even if it was just for an hour or so. We vowed that night that we would do this for everyone's birthday. The next friend also got to be surprised. After that it was expected and the element of surprise was somewhat lost but the evening remained fun. We've changed our venue to accomodate different needs at the time. We've been to tcby, coldstone and a local cafe. My friends had decided to take me to the local cafe. (which is going to remain nameless because of loshon horah)
My friend told me that she called to confirm the reservation three times that day because she had a bad experience with this place a different time. When we got there, not only were sheva brachos going on in half the store but the rest of the store was packed. When the waitress asked us how many we said "reservation for 7- Gropper?" You can tell she had a nervous look on her face. She went to the back and spoke with a couple of more waiters and waitresses and they were scrambling for ideas. She came back and said "I am so sorry. There was a mistake. Someone came in earlier and we thought it was you so we gave away your table. we will get you a table in a few minutes so please just wait outside." (yeah okay another party of 7 Gropper came in on the same day, sure lady whatever you say!)
We were going to just get dessert but most of us were hungry so we all started with soup. I had the pumpkin soup which was amazing and a few of my friends had the french onion. A friend called her husband to see if he wanted anything and she ordered another french onion soup to go. She was trying to explain to the waitress that the piece of bread with melted cheese that is placed in the soup, she would like on the side so it doesn't get soggy. Her explanation lasted atleast 20 minutes. I sat in awe as the waitress struggled to understand what the heck my friend was asking and another friend hid her head as she laughed hysterically. "You know the bread with the cheese on it that you put in the soup? can you place it on the side instead of inside the soup?"
Waitress- "You want bread with cheese on the side?"
friend- "yes."
Waitress- "let me ask if we are allowed to do that."
Friend- "You are going to put it in the soup anyway, just leave it on the side."
Waitress- "Where do you want your cheese?"
Another waitress came over and said "I'm sorry we cannot put the bread on the side."
oysh.
10 minutes later a waiter came to the table with a bowl of french onion soup and my friend explained to him that she wanted it to go. "excuse me" I said, "do you mind just removing that piece of bread from inside the soup and wrapping it up for my friend? she's taking it home and doesn't want it to get soggy. Thanks so much!"
The waiter told us yes but he is going to get a whole new soup.
When we finished our soups and had chatted a bit we were wondering why no one asked us if we wanted to see the menu for dessert. So, I asked the waitress for a dessert menu. She came back and said "we have no crepes or cake left so I will just tell you what we have." No cake? Good thing we didn't just come in for dessert!
Her list was as follows: "strawberries with whipped cream, apple pie, or special ice cream."
My friend said "what is so special about it?"
well. it has 4 scoops, fruit and whipped cream. hmmmmm...
My friend asked if she can just have two scoops of ice cream. man where we being difficult?
my birthday candle came in a parfait glass of strawberries in whipped cream. It was nice.
When we got the bill it took us a minute to figure out why we were coming up short once everyone had paid their share. We finally realized that they charged us for an extra onion soup. "Oh!" I said. "They probably accidentally charged us for the one he brought out when it was supposed to be to go."
My friend went up to the register to rectify the situation. When she came back she was enraged. She said when she got there all she said was "I have a question about our bill..." and right away they handed her a new one and said "here's the correct one." They charged us on purpose! I said the tip should be the price of the soup but we ended up tipping standard.

It's too bad the service is terrible there because I love that place. This is the first time I experienced the service, I usually go much earlier, maybe that is why.

I tried to block out everything from the picture that will tell you what restaurant this is but a good detective could probably still guess:

celebrity look alikes?

2006-08-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Baleboostah for this cute idea. Do I really look like any of these? Funny how the one person I always got compared to in highschool isn't even on this!

what do you think?

what's your fortune?

2006-08-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Click Here to get this from FreeFlashToys.com!

This may be illegal

2006-08-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am not sure of the official rules of a meme. I tend to make up rules as I go along anyway so therefore I have now officially tagged myself with the book meme. I enjoyed mcaryeh's so much that I just couldn't resist.

1. One book that changed your life?
This may sound a little corny but the Torah because a big life change was becoming more religious. Also, I'd say the journal I kept in poland because Poland was really the place that changed my life in that way.

2. One book you have read more than once?
I have read many books more than once. Sometimes if I want to read but have nothing new around I will read books I already own. But books I have read more than once by choice would have to be all of The Harry Potter books. Every time I read a new analysis of the plot I am compelled to read the book again just to see how the analysis fits. I also always re-read the book right before the movie comes out. Other books I have read over and over are Naomi Ragen's books- Jephte's Daughter, Sacrifice of Tamar, and Sotah. Also, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. He is my favorite author but this is the only book by him that is different from all the rest and makes me bawl every time.
3. One book you would want on a desert island?
Any far side book because I can read them over and over and still laugh out loud at the jokes.
4. One book that made you laugh?
"Bridget Jones' Diary" by Helen Fielding. Any of the Far side galleries. And Jay Lenos biography all made me laugh out loud. Also, any of Janet Evanovitch's books crack me up.
5. One book that made you cry?
Suzzane's diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, The last two Harry Potter books and now being that I am quite more emotional after having children, any book where a child is hurt or dies I cry a lot. Also there is a book, and I cannot remember the name. It is a true story and written from the point of view of a boy who is abused by his mother.
6. One book you wish had been written?
How to take off the baby weight without doing any work.

7. One book you wish had never been written?
Mein Kampf by Hitler

8. One book you are currently reading?
Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

9. One book you've been meaning to read?
She's come undone by Wally Lamb
See the problem is, unless highly recommended, I usually read the same few authors because I know they are good. It is very hard for me to remember names and authors of other books but the books I stick with are James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, Sandra Brown (for my light reading), Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovitch.
So I have been meaning to read a lot of books. Gotta broaden my horizons a bit.

10. Now tag 5 people:
Stacey,
MM
Ayelet,
Frum with questions, and Jewcess

Good bye dear friend

2006-08-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

This coming Tuesday I will sadly be saying good bye to a dear friend. I have known this friend since 1996. I have been through so much with this friend. I shared many meals, my first driving experiences, my pregnancy and many long trips and late nights with this friend. Tuesday will be a sad day indeed. I am not so good at goodbyes. Usually I just say "see you later.." so that I don't cry. I am not even quite sure where my good friend is going. All I know is that a new friend will be taking it's place. On Tuesday I will be trading my good friend 96 ford taurus in for a 2006 model. It will be a bittersweet day. Happy to get a new car. Sad to lose my old friend.
This is the car I learned how to drive in, this is the car I had my first car accident in, this is the car that took me everywhere and was loyal to me the whole way through. This is the car that took me to my destinations safetly throughout my pregnancy. This is the car that drove my daugther home from the hospital. This is the car I love. Goodbye my car, goodbye my old friend!

sad but true

2006-08-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

And look at the rest here and here and also here.

Motzei Tisha Baav meme

2006-08-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

When Estee napped today I decided to lay down. All I could think about was the yummy cheesy saucy lasagne that I was going to give her for lunch. I imagined myself cutting into it and the beautiful layers oozing with cheesy saucy mixture. yum.
I decided I would for once start my own meme. Is that allowed? I never fully understood the meme....but here goes....

The food I thought about all day: lasagne and the cheerios Estee was munching on that I kept craving to snatch
The drink I thought about all day: Must have water!
What I broke my fast on (Since I didn't break my fast yet, I will add it later, but you must be descriptive..the more adjectives the better!) Ex- A light, airy, seedy, soft and hard in all the right places bagel, spread with luscious, thick, white, cream cheese....and a glass of cool, crisp, refreshing vitamin water.

okay? got it?

So I tag: Stacey, Jack, Ezzie, Pearl, and Chana
Boy am I hungry!!

Great Quote

2006-08-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview, General Norman Schwarzkopf was asked if he thought
there was room for forgiveness toward Hezbollah
The General said, " I believe that forgiving Hezbollah is God's function.
The Israelis' job is to arrange the meeting."

Hat tip: my Dad

The good and the bad, I love Israel!

2006-07-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

The disgusting news is, I was walking with Estee the other day and I saw signs all over the place with a picture of a dead man that read in big letters"STOP ISRAELI TERRORISTS! STOP ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE! STOP US FUNDING TO ISRAELI TERRORISTS" needless to say, I was sickened! I had my neighbors tear down as many signs as they can find. Here is the information on the rally they are having for this stopping of israeli terrorists....
It really disgusts me. Ignorant people will see signs such as this and believe it. What disgusts me even more are these pictures The second one in particular really boils my blood. Don't even get me started on that so-called group of Jews!

I came home today with an email filled with beautiful pictures of Israeli soldiers. After watching Jack's videos on the filth that we are fighting against, it made me happy to see Hashem's side of the fight. Look at the kiddush hashem these soliders are making. But, unfortunately we will never see a single one of these pictures in the news....

GO ISRAEL GO!!

I apologize that the wrong pictures were in here, here is a real picture of an Israeli soldier. Check out Balaboosteh for more war images

My trip to Poland

2006-07-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

I recently came across the journal I kept when I went to Poland on Heritage my year in Israel. We spent a few days in Praugue before taking a 12 hour bus ride through the night to Poland. I wrote about a lot of things. What I saw. What the historian on the trip told us, and of course, my feelings. Some of the emotion that I experienced may be a bit intense but it is so real.
I decided that I am interested in forming a blog where each post will be a different day's entry. I am interested in doing this because I want to share my experience. All of it. Even the raw emotions. I will not change any of the grammar errors. because I want it to be the same as when I wrote it at 18 years old.
With everything going on in the world today, I think it is important to remember a little more often what Amalek is capable of.

Please let me know if you are interested.
Thank you

Yashar Koach

2006-07-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Despite the current situation, these people among many others did not change their plans to make aliyah.
I admire these people.

B'chol Dor Vador

2006-07-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

I got tears in my eyes from this video. You must watch it, it's only a minute long.

What we can do..

2006-07-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

I got the following email that lists what we can do for our brothers and sisters in Israel:

The public is asked to pray for 4 children, some unconscience,
critically injured in Tsfat:
Michal bat Revital
Bat-tzion bat Revital
Avraham Natan bat Revital
Odel Hannah bat Revital

Rabbis are calling on Jews around the world to recite a special prayer
for those Israelis in danger, in areas within rocket range, both in
northern and southern Israel.

In addition, as women light Sabbath candles, they are requested to
recite a special prayer for the hostage soldiers;
Gilad ben Aviva (Shalit)
Eldad ben Tova (Regev)
Ehud ben Malka (Goldwasser)

One of our members asked me to forward this to you:

Please tell your list that it is important to:
- Make all your brachos OUT LOUD and say AMEN.
- Daven for Eretz Yisrael when taking challah and hadlakas neros.
- Get as many people to say tehillim as possible especially people who
don't usually say them, or people without an observant background.
- Work on our middos, especially judging favorably, because that can
draw Hashem's mercy and He will then judge us favorably. We should
overlook slights and wrongdoing and then Hashem will overlook our
wrongdoing.
- Any one mitzva you do could tip the balance to merit our winning over
enemy.
- TV and news won't help you, but tehillim, tfilla. Chessed and Torah
learning will.

And remember: trust Hashem, think good and it will be good. Speak
positively about the future and don't focus on the negative.

Jameel has a full list of people to daven for in case my list is missing any.

All in a day's work

2006-07-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Just some pictures of some of the fun activities at work! I blocked out the children to respect their privacy. The first picture is of me at the kid's graduation. The second picture is when the fire men came to visit school during community helper's week (I had a crush on the one on the left...My assistant embaressed me and made them take pictures with me!!) The next one is when the police man visited. The last two are from when the lizard guy came to visit. He brought tons of reptiles and for some reason I must have a "pick one me please" sign on my head because the reptile guy kept chasing me around the room with his animals. I was trying to get the kids to touch the snake so I had to touch it.

Happy 4th of July

2006-07-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't get a chance to see fireworks, here are some of the ones I saw:

I am angry

2006-06-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

It is the only emotion to truly describe what I am feeling. We are not dealing with human beings. We are dealing with animals. Animals don't know how to compramise. If an animal sees something it wants in front of them, they will just take it and want more. You can't say to an animal, here take this yummy hay just let me eat the carrots...
We cannot keep giving away land to murderers, kidnappers, and animals. It is serving absolutely no purpose whatsoever. Haven't we learned our lesson? Did oslo work? NO! so, why keep trying? Let me propose an idea...To fix the border control problem with Mexico...why don't we just give them back California or New Mexico (eventhough we fought to get it) just to fix the problem? Do you think that would go over well? I don't! Why should Israel keep doing it. Why does everyone in this world still think it is an effective solution? Okay I feel a little better. But I'm not better enough. Our people are still being murdered and kidnapped. Poor Gilad Shalit is still missing and suffering G-d knows what kind of torture. It is so hard to have hope that he will return safetly to his family....but hashem works in mysterious ways. I got the following email...please pray for him!!

א נ א קראו פרק קצר זה (אם אפשר ברגע זה,כי מניסיון - כשדוחים)

לשחרורו של החטוף - גלעד שליט

שיר למעלות , אשא עיני אל ההרים , מאין יבוא עזרי
עזרי מעם ה ' עושה שמים וארץ , אל ייתן למוט רגלך
אל ינום שומרך . הנה לא ינום ולא ישן שומר ישראל
ה ' שומרך, ה' צילך על יד ימינך .
יומם השמש לא יככה וירח בלילה
ה ' ישמרך מכל רע, ישמור את נפשך
ה' ישמור צאתך ובואך מעתה ועד עולם
( מזמור קכ"א בתהילים )
אנא ! אל תהיה זה שמפסיק את השרשרת
הנפלאה הזו . אלא תעביר/י לכל מכרייך , תודה .
שתזכו לרפואה טובה ושלמה עד 120
אתם ומשפחתכם וכל עם ישראל !!
בשורות טובות
ו ת ו ד ה ר ב ה !

I'm Ernie who are you?

2006-06-22T17:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Ayelet for pointing out this site once again. Being that I've been listening to sesame street day and night I had to take this quiz....who are you?

You Are Ernie

Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times.

You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained

You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun.

How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

I'm Ernie who are you?

2006-06-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ayelet for pointing out this site once again. Being that I've been listening to sesame street day and night I had to take this quiz....who are you?

You Are Ernie

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

And, you're a teacher?

2006-06-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Why is it that just because I am a teacher I always have to do and say smart things? Why is it that I can never make an intellectual mistake. Today someone was trying to fit a toy basketball hoop through a doorway bottom side first. The bottom side was much wider than the top and could not fit through the door way. As I walked by I kindly suggested "why don't you put the other side in first?" He clearly pointed out that the bottom part would still have to get in later and wouldn't fit then either. As I was walking away he said "and, you're a teacher..." So? I'm not allowed to have a ditsy moment? Can a speech therapist have a freudian slip or mess up your words accidentally (like affle tappy)? Can a doctor not get a fever? For goodness sakes!!! A couple of weeks ago I was doing an art project with my students that required bandaids. There were not enough bandaids in the school so I ran to the quickie mart on the corner to buy some before the kids came in for the day. They only had the mini packs with 8 each. I told the woman I need enough for 24 kids. I asked the guy next to me "that's 4 packs right? 4x8= 24 right?" he said "I don't know you're the teacher...." Turns out it was 32, but hey do I have to remember ALL my times tables at 8:30 in the morning? It was a simple mistake!! :)

negiah, etiquette, and a barrel of laughs

2006-06-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the story portion of my post, I would just like to tell you how this past Sunday went for me. Beginning at 7:45 AM I was to be in Melville NY to take one of my 4 teacher/special educator exams. (I already passed the first one being 8 months pregnant with a broken air conditioner in the room so I can do anything!) I was registered for two tests. I finished the first one at 10:30 and the second one started at 1. I drove around Melville looking for caffeine and things to kill time. It just so happened that Aaron and I were invited to a wedding that same evening and luckily it was 5 minutes away so after I finished my second test, I went out to the car to get my stuff and I changed in the bathroom. I probably looked so funny to the examiners with my bandana and jean skirt going in and my sheital and ball gown skirt coming out. They were probably wondering how a woman can possibly do her hair so fast....haha, my little secret!!

So, the wedding....

upscale weddings are so fun...because I am so not upscale and I am taken aback by any upscale gesture thrown my way. For example, when it was time to leave the wedding, we went out to get the car. I realized that we would probably get stuck in traffic and I would regret the decision to hold in my pee until arriving home so I ran in to use the bathroom while Aaron waited for the car. As I was walking back to the car, the woman in charge of the valet walked over and opened the passenger door. I must've looked bewildered because in my head I was wondering what she had to say to Aaron that required her opening the door. When I realized what was going on, I must've had a look of recognition on my face because she joked that I must not get the door opened for me enough!
When it was time to go into the main dining room for dinner, (yes I know I am going backwards but it is kinda like one of those really intense movies that are really confusing...like what's that one where the guy has no short term memory and it keeps going back a little so we understand what happened before and how he got there?) a waiter rang a very pleasant bell- kinda like the ones in the theatre indicating that intermission is now over. When we walked into the dining room, the waiters were standing side by side in two rows and one of them asked me "what table?" I answered "20" figuring he would just point me in the right direction. When he began to move his hand that is what I thought he was doing until he put his hand on his hip and pointed the hook of his arm in my direction. I looked at him, I looked at my husband...what the heck was I to do? Aaron didn't say anything so I figured why not and took the guys arm. We were both laughing all the way to the table. The funniest part about it isn't that I felt so uncomfortable but that in this very upscale tradition, the men are left behind to follow their wives/girlfriends/dates and their escort. How strange is that??
No matter how inappropriate it may be, I love non-religious weddings because I get to dance with my husband. How inappropriate can it possibly be? he IS my husband!!!

I'm serious

2006-06-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

I am in no way trying to make fun or make a joke here, this is a serious question. I was just having a conversation with someone about my serious allergy to dogs (I get bad asthma, stuffy nose and just itchy all over, it's terrible!)
and it sparked the following questiong:
What accomodations can be made for a blind person who has serious dog allergies like myself? Seeing eye dogs happen to shed a lot!! any ideas?

Not really listening

2006-06-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

I feel like such a terrible person for actually admitting this but hey, hopefully this person doesn't read my blog. Honestly though, I bet every single one of you feels this way and I am actually just admitting it!
There is a woman I work with who I happen to really like. I enjoy her company, we joke around with eachother, etc. But, she talks a lot. Usually I don't mind but she's always telling me stories about people I don't know and she always uses the names of the people as if I know them. Her stories are full of tremendous details that are insignificant and make the stories rather boring. One story went on for 5 minutes and it was about people in her family falling asleep while watching a movie or something like that, I'm not really sure. The reason I'm not too sure is because now, whenever she starts telling me a story my brain automatically shuts down and I immediately tune her out. I feel horrible about this. Like I said, I really do like her. It's not my fault really. I'm not doing it on purpose. It's an involuntary biological thing going on in my brain, right? Well, today I had a bit of a problem. I may have to start working extra hard to listen to her stories because two things happened that may have caused her to catch on to my little "problem."
#1 she was telling me a story about something and I responded stupidly with "wow, that's really great" (with amazing enthusiasm) She kind of looked at me funny. It turns out what she was saying wasn't really great at all so I had to make an excuse that my mind isn't working properly today, sorry!
#2 She was telling me another story about something else and halfway through said "did I tell you the story about Janice?" (definitely not the real name and don't even ask me what the real name was because I wasn't listening!!!) I answered no because I don't remember hearing a story about her, I just hope that was right. She re-told the story and this time I listened!!! Go me!
What the heck am I supposed to do?

The raw chicken dilemma

2006-05-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

I was always very careful when touching raw chicken, meat or eggs. But now with the baby here and the fact that she touches everything and I put my fingers in her mouth, I am extra extra careful. I clean all areas that may have come in contact with the raw food with lysol and I scrub my hands with kitchen soap, bath soap and then purell. Yes, I'm a nut. This evening as I was washing the dishes from my shavuos cooking I came across an interesting dilemma. I made a chicken that involved dipping the chicken into three different bowls, each containing a different item, one after another. While scrubbing the bowls with a sponge I wondered to myself. Now, what happens when I use this sponge on another dirty dish later? What happens if I scrub out a pot and then use that pot to make Estee macaroni and cheese? Is she or someone else now getting the remnants of the raw chicken from the sponge? Do I need to have two separate sponges? One clearly labeled: normal every day use, and one clearly labeled: raw food, possible salmonella, e-coli, etc, stay back!? What is the proper protocol for this matter and why on earth has this not been addressed sooner?

Shavuos help

2006-05-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm having a ton of people over for Shavous and I had all my preparations planned out until it dawned on me 5 minutes ago. Yom tov starts Thursday night, I can't cook Thursday night. I made a shopping list for Aaron and he told me he'd get some of the stuff tonight when he goes out to Maariv and the rest tommorow night. But, now that I came to my realization, I can't get some things tommorrow night, I have to cook tommorrow night!
It's so exciting to cook for Shavuos every year. I love trying out all my milchig (dairy) recipes (my best one last year was french toast souffle) and of course being able to make milchig(dairy) desserts (can anyone say cheesecake?)
Of course, I'm hosting the shabbos day meal so that kinda puts a damper on that one! So, it's the usual cholent and regular shabbos day stuff. bleh, nothing exciting! (I do have half of that tri-color kugel frozen from when I made it the last time. It serves 14 so there are a good 7 pieces left, that's okay right?)I'm sick of the same old breaded shabbos day chicken so I'm making the coconut chicken I make sometimes.
I was thinking that a great dessert would be pareve ice cream. Why do all pareve ice cream recipes have eggs in them? Should we really be eating raw eggs? Anyone have an egg free version?
I am going to attempt a cheesecake this year. The recipe calls for 5 blocks of cream cheese. That can't be healthy. That's also atleast 10 dollars right there, is it really worth it?

universal male thing?

2006-05-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

This past sunday was my last day at hebrew school. We spent the first 20 minutes of class practicing for our moving up ceremony that would be that day. While we were waiting for children to use the bathroom I was shmoozing with some of the kids. I don't recall how exactly it came up but one of the boys in my class (they are in second grade) told one of his friends that he sometimes pees in the shower. I looked at him with utter disgust and was surprised actually to find myself responding with "ew, that's gross." I was even more surprised with myself that I allowed the conversation to go on as long as I did. He continued to tell me that all boys do it and sometimes you just have to go while you're in the shower so rather than getting out and getting the floor all wet you just pee in the shower. He said "it goes down the drain anyway...." I think I had a valid response to him. (but lets just put aside the fact that I am their hebrew school teacher for a moment)
me: do you wash your feet in the shower?
him: yeah why?
me:well now you're standing in pee water so you have to wash them again, wouldn't it be easier to get the bathroom floor wet and just dry it with a towel?

He took the conversation further by telling me "well my mom does it. but, only when someone is using the toilet." Wait. Hold on a second. First of all, his poor mother would probably be mortified to know that her son shared that with me and all his friends. Futhermore, I am confused about something. Is it common practice for people to use the toilet while someone else is in the shower? If so, I can't imagine just peeing in front of them too. That's so weird. Am I wrong?
When I was in Israel for a year I thought the guys only peed in the shower because they were hiding from the dorm counselor there and they just had to go. I never realized that this is a universal practice. Is it?

You gotta love the mario bros

2006-05-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you to my sister Karen for sending me this. I laughed for 4 minutes and 58 seconds!!

Mario Brothers/Talent show

(this was done by students at a college for a talent show, that's talent!!!)

Happy Birthday Israel!

2006-05-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my father for sending this to me:

Happy Birthday Israel!

This is impressive! Is it any wonder that the Arabs are jealous?

The Middle East has been growing date palms for centuries. The average tree is about 18-20 feet tall and yields about 38 pounds of dates a year.

Israeli date trees are now yielding 400 pounds/year and are short enough to be harvested from the ground or a short ladder.

Israel, the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can lay claim to the following:

The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.

The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.

Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centering processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.

The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.

Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.

The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.

Israel has the fourth largest air force in the world (after the U.S, Russia and China). In addition to a large variety of other aircraft, Israel's air force has an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16's. This is the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the U. S.

Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.

According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. US officials now look (finally) to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people --as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.

In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the U.S. (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world -- apart from the Silicon Valley, U. S.

Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the U. S.

Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East.

The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.

On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups.

Twenty-four per cent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees, ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland and 12 per cent hold advanced degrees.

Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews (Operation Solomon) at Risk in Ethiopia, to safety in Israel.

When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times.

When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day -- and saved three victims from the rubble.

Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship -- and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world.

Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of
democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. (Hundreds of thousands from the former Soviet Union)

Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free."

Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.

Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.

Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from
treatment mistakes.

Israel's Givun Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, cancer and digestive disorders.

Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.

Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U. S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions. Israel places first in this category as well.

A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the Clear Light device, produces a high-intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct -- all without damaging surrounding skin or tissue.

An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave desert.

All the above while engaged in regular wars with an implacable enemy that seeks its destruction, and an economy continuously under strain by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other county on earth.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.

THE STATE OF ISRAEL.. .continues to EXCEL! Happy Birthday Israel.

The big bad fly

2006-04-30T04:44:00.000-07:00

During havdallah, Aaron and I noticed one of those big fat flys flying around our kitchen. (we started doing havdallah in our tiny little kitchen a couple of weeks ago because the smoke from our candle kept setting off the smoke alarm)While Aaron was making havdallah I kept trying to annoy the fly with the smoke but it wasn't working. After havdallah Aaron attempted to kill the fly with two paper towels, one in each hand. He tried this by closing in on the fly. It was quite funny watching how slowly he would open up the paper towels with a look of anticipation on his face only to find that there was no fly in there and it was still flying around. I was giving him all the encouragement I could by chanting "kill it kill it, die die!"
When the paper towel method did not work, he moved on to the handle from our swiffer duster. When that didn't work he tried the broom. I was laughing so hard because how on earth can you kill a fast moving fly with a broom?
Aaron's father came over a little while later and was able to kill the fly in seconds. He says there's a method. He says flies fly down after being stationary. I guess he's just the master fly killer.

The Meme, A-Z

2006-04-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

Okay I've been dying to do this meme but no one tagged me so I took it upon myself to do it anyway!

Accent: American although my husband says that every so often I say things with a british accent, perhaps I am picking it up from people I work with? Unfortunately at times it's a very ny accent.
Booze: I really don't like to drink much anymore (since my year in Israel haha) but I really like girly drinks daquiris and the like. I also have a soft spot for Tequila slammers....
Chore I Hate: cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the cholent pot
Dogs/Cats: very cute but I'm very allergic!
Essential Electronics: My cell phone and digital camera. Would I be able to take 5000 pics and videos of Estee without it?
Favorite Perfume/Cologne: cool water

Gold/Silver: Silver, white gold, or platinum
Hometown: NY
Insomnia: What's the oppositte of Insomnia? wiped out? yeah, that's me!
Job Title: Mommy Wife and special Ed teacher
Kids:Yes, And I love her
Living Arrangements: 2 bedroom apartment on a second floor garden apartment, hence no elevator, very hard to get stroller up and down!
Most Admired Trait: The thing I most admire about myself or what people admire about me?

Number of sexual partners: one

Overnight Hospital Stays: once when I was born, once when I had false labor and they were monitoring my water, and once when I gave birth for real to Estee.
Phobia: I am scared of bridges, the midtown tunnel, and ladders. I have one more real fear but I am too afraid to publicize it.

Quote:
"You're supposed to stop the q-tip when it reaches resistance."
(when asked what pants look good for hunting:)
"Imagine you're the deer. You're walking along and you get thirsty, you spot a brook, so you put your little deer lips down to the cool clear water, and bam! A
f%#*in bullet rips off part of your head, your brains are lying in pieces all over the place. Now I ask you, do you give a f*&% what the son of b*%# who shot you was wearing?"

Religion: I'm a Jew and proud!

Siblings: Yup 3!

Time I usually wake up: depends on what time Estee wakes up. hopefully after 6 usually, but it ranges from 4-7

Unusual Talent: I'm just unusual
Vegetable I refuse to eat: I think I like em all.
Worst Habit: procrastination, definitely!
X-Rays: many many. all the sprained ankles broken wrists, etc!
Yummy Foods I make: corned beef, salads of all kind, I can go on for days, I love my cooking, sorry to be a bit vain!

Zodiac Sign: virgo.

Tagging: Mcaryeh (in hopes he may come back to us, we miss you!)
mustgum, Stacey and Sarah

A little funnier

2006-04-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

Whoever said pinatas were stupid or dangerous had to have been crazy!!!

enjoy! http://d04.webmail.aol.com/17385/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.12997587&folder=New+Mail&partId=4&saveAs=Lafiesta.wmv

Not so nice

2006-04-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Feel like having your blood boil? Well, if so, check out this video

Note: he says Walt Disney Jewish company....wasn't Walt an anti-semite?

What the guy is saying is so far fetched but what's scary is the students he is lecturing to. Watch how serious they are writing down every word he is saying as if he is speaking fact as opposed to his crazy opinion. sick, sick, sick!

Oh the woes of the day after Pesach

2006-04-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

Since I was off today, and I have use of my babysitter, I decided to take advantage and run some errands that I have been putting off for a while. Instead of using my lovely gift certificate that my mother in law got for me for a spa manicure and pedicure, I just got a regular one so that I would have time to shop and cook a nice meal for shabbos. It has been a while since I went all out being that I have no time and I decided that today would be a good day. BAD MISTAKE!!! I decided to get an early start with my mani/pedi and then run the errands, go food shopping and cook for the rest of the time (in that order.) I got to the manicure place, closed. I decided to go to babies r us first and figured I could get my manicure after then run the rest of the errands. I got to babies r us and realized that they wouldn't open until 9:30 (it was 8:30) so I went back to KGH to do my food shopping which meant that my whole schedule was thrown off, which I hate. I now had to stop home, drop of the groceries and then go back out. I would have chosen to go to a particular Jewish supermarket (I am not going to mention it's name...) but my husband threatened violence if I did stating that they are too overpriced. Although that may be true, they have more room and a much wider selection of items than any other market. The better of the two remaining markets has no fresh produce so I was left to do a big shopping (requiring a cart) in the tiny market with no room to push a cart (this made even worse by the high volume the store had today since it is the day after pesach.) I was frustrated to find that some of the items that I needed were not available yet and I would either need to come back later or go to the store I had originally wanted to go to. When I finished with my nails I went to the store I had originally wanted to go to. I had three items in my hand but still had to wait behind 5 people with atleast 300 dollars worth of groceries each, leaving me with no time to go to babies r us. So annoyed. Definitely blame Aaron.
Finally, I decided to make the famous tri-color kugel. What could be hard? Well lets see. I made a complete mess, my food processor doesn't hold all of each vegetable so I had to do it in parts, the recipe called for 9 eggs (all the eggs I had left) leaving me with no more to make a yerushalmi kugel and no desire or time to go back out and wait behind 5 more people with 300 dollars worth of groceries to get more eggs. To top it all off the phone was ringing while I was cooking and I didn't read the recipe properly. The whole time I was making it, I was wondering how it could possibly come out nicely in layers when it is so liquidly. Too bad, I didn't read the part that said to cook each layer one by one before adding on the next layer. I was wondering how entire kugel can cook for 20-25 minutes. Too bad I didn't realize that was talking about each layer. Who know's how it came out, it's still in the oven 1 hour later. We shall see.
I need a vacation from this vacation!

husband update

2006-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has taken so long to write an update, it has been so hectic. Thank G-d Aaron is okay. Basically, this is what happened last Tuesday:
They did the angiogram and found that the artery with the problem is behind the bone. The vascular surgeon, the orthopedic surgeon, and a new radiologist came to talk to us. They pretty much told us that there is a way around breaking the bone and re-doing the surgery. There is a procedure called an embolization in which, similarly to the angiogram they go in through the groin using coils and knock out the problem orthoscopically (I think that's right) The only problem is, it's not 100 percent guaranteed that it will work and the possibility of them knocking out the functioning of that artery is great. Since he is only 26 they explained that he won't get a circulatory problem because of this. A leg really only needs 2 arteries to function and once one is knocked out, the others will take over the functioning of it. By the time he is old enough to have a problem, the two remaining arteries will be much stronger. We elected to go with this procedure because it is less invasive, no incision and he will have almost no recovery time. They allowed him to go home for the sedarim and we scheduled the procedure for Tuesday of Chol Hamoed (today)
I left the hospital not long ago and he was doing well. The procedure was a success, thank G-d. He will be leaving the hospital at about 3 pm giving him enough time to get ready for yom tov, yay!
On a lighter note, I have a huge crush on the vascular surgeon. Not because I think he's cute or anything but because he gave us so much attention. He sat and explained everything to us over and over until we explained it. He drew diagrams on his hand and used cell phones to show us what is going on in his leg. Then, he came back 15 minutes after he spoke with us to say that he knows it's a lot of information so he came back to see if once it was processed if we had any more questions. That is a great doctor!!

back to square one?

2006-04-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today is Aaron's birthday. I and my parents and his parents got him the coolest present. (we have one at work. It's so cool. we also got him a million coffees)
Aaron had a follow up Dr's appointment this morning for his foot, then he was going to go to work and then have a physical therapy appointment in the evening. On my way home from work I was speaking with my mother and she said "I can't really talk, but how's Aaron." How's Aaron? what's wrong with Aaron?
"what do you mean?" I asked her. "you mean you don't know?"
Rewind to shabbos......
Over shabbos Aaron kept trying to point out a bump on his foot. "Rebecca this bump is weird, I think they did the surgery wrong." I kept reasuring him that everything was fine and I didn't see a bump.
Fast forward back to today. When the doctor was looking at his ankle he noticed that very bump and sent him to have a sonogram of it. Turns out he has what is called a Pseudo-Aneurysm in his foot. But of course my mother told me it was an aneurysm and I completely broke down. (I have heard many stories where friends husbands have had brain aneurysms in their sleep....scary...) Turns out, what he has is not an aneurysm but has similar features. Don't ask me to remember the explanation but take my word for it.
In between Estee's Dr's appointment that she had today, I was getting phone calls from Aaron and his father giving me updates, basically none, just going for more sonograms. He finally just told me that they have a bed for him at the hospital so they can do the an angiogram first thing in the morning. He is going to come home first, I guess we can celebrate for an hour or two. Poor guy...
When they do the angiogram it is basically to determine where the pseudo-aneurysm is. If it is accessible, they will remove it. If it isn't they will have to call in his ankle surgeons to re-break the bone and re-do that surgery. oy oy oy oy. How can he go through the past two months again??
I know we should be thankful because it could be much worse but let's please hope it will be accessible to them tommorow. Estee really wants to play with her Abba!
Once again, I ask that you please daven for Aharon Gershon ben Freida
thank you.

The competative side of Rebecca..

2006-04-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

I am quite competative. I also tend to be a little bit of a sore loser and perhaps a sore winner too. If a game, contest or competition is started, no matter how small, I really get into it. A few years ago before I was married or even engaged...(seems like eons ago) a bunch of friends and I went to Hershey Park for the day (the good old days when we were off for the summer, wow what a concept!) On the way back the driver started a game called the land of doubles. I honestly have blocked the story so much out of my mind (because I am crazy!) that I don't recall exactly how it works but the basic premis is this: he knew the secret of the game and he would say two words. Based on that everyone would take turns saying two words and he would tell you if you were right or wrong. From hearing the right words you would have to guess what the secret is of the game. We were in a mini van. I was in the front seat (I get car sick...), another friend was in the middle, and a third friend was in the back row with her boyfriend of the time (she's now married to someone else). The boyfriend said he wasn't going to play because he already knew the game. Halfway through the game, he whispered in my friends ear the secret of the game. Because of this she began to say words that were definitely right. I began to get really annoyed because she was cheating but she was also acting so smart that she knew it and I didn't know it yet and I was getting majorly frustrated. I think I may have even yelled at her. Who knows. I just get really competative. It shows a bad side of me.
At work, throughout the month of march, there were many fun things for the staff to take part in. One thing was the baby game. Whoever chose to participate would submit their baby picture to the office manager and it would be posted on the bulletin board outside the office. The pictures were up for about a week. After a week, she put up current pictures of the people who submitted a baby photo so we would know who to choose from. Every time I walked by the office whether I was going to the bathroom, walking with a student, or anything, I would stop and analyze the bulletin board. It would have only taken me a minute or two to look each time, but, somebody was always there ready to discuss their newest theory of who a particular baby is. "No." I would reply, "look at the face. you gotta look at the face, this person has the same face!" Or I would say "well, it's gotta be so and so...look at the scenery in the picture, she is the only person who comes from a country that has that type of scenery..." Needless to say, I was absolutely addicted. The principal even commented that every time she walks out of her office I am standing by that bulletin board. It became such an addiction that I would think about the babies I was having difficulty with on my ride home from work or as I was falling asleep that night. AFter a few days, the office manager posted answer sheets for us to fill out with our answers and place in her box. Last Tuesday at 2:15 the winners would be announced. 1st place goes to....prize of 100 dollar gift certificate to non-kosher restaurant. phew, not me! 2nd place with only two babies wrong goes to Rebecca, winner of the starbucks gift basket. You mean, I actually win a prize? All I needed was my name in big letters. REBECCA WINS!! (or Rebecca is the best, you decide...)
The next day though there was a nice sign on the bulletin board with mine and the 1st place winner's picture describing our skills and what we want. I do have to also add that I clearly remember playing a board game or a card game with someone, (kar was it you?) and I got annoyed that the person said something happened that didn't so I messed up the whole board and threw everything around. Is there a support group for problems like this?

A bit refreshing...

2006-03-31T04:23:00.000-08:00

My sister sent me this link. It looks like aljahzeera, I'm not quite sure. The woman speaking seems to be arabic. What do you think?

http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=null

On the road to the five towns

2006-03-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to post this since last Tuesday but I haven't had a chance. Stupidly, I didn't write any of my thoughts down and I have sadly lost most of them. One of my doctors is in the five towns and whenever I have to go there I get a bit nostalgic because I went to school not far from my doctor's office. Driving down Penninsula blvd, I pass by some streets where I used to get together with friends at their houses. After the appointment, I stopped in central perk to get some dinner. This didn't exist then but I parked a little far and had to walk by the cheese store and the hallmark, two places that I frequented very often in highschool. The cheese store- home of the yummiest coffee that got me through my finals and the hallmark where our favorite Indian friend- Saby- would sell us Nirvana t-shirts and candy. As I walked further I saw that the schitzophrenic man who (or is it whom, I'm so tired!) used to walk up and down central ave. scaring all of us was still there, talking to a tree. (disclaimer: I am not making fun of schizophrenic people, I worked with them for two years....just as a 14 year old we were afraid of him because he often acted a bit scary)
On my way home I was able to do some thinking and I came up with this list:
1. why are cops able to violate traffic laws? I mean, they just run red lights when their sirens aren't even on!
2. I sometimes really miss my hair. In no way do I resent covering my hair or being frum or any other thing you may read into this. I just mean it how it sounds. I miss being able to throw my hair in a bun and not have to wear a headband almost every day.
3. Things I really would like to do in the near future:
a. take photography lessons. I love taking pictures. Wherever I go I look around and see beautiful photo ops. And of course, now, I have the perfect subject!
b. take a cake decorating course
c. take voice lessons, which brings me to #4....
4. Is there a way that kol isha does not have to stand in the way of people's talents? I know my American Idol dream is a bit silly but the truth of the matter is, I really enjoy singing. I miss getting up on stage and singing, which I used to do a lot. oh well...
5. I would really like to start a cooking blog. I often am at a loss for things to make when it is just Aaron and me and find myself playing my own version of Iron Chef and just throwing whatever together. I have a bunch of recipes that have come out of this. For example: chicken cutlets dipped into raspberry dressing and then dipped into crushed up saltines. A yummy alternative to the regular shabbos afternoon breaded chicken.

Unfortunately I know this is really not the way I intended this post to come out, I did my best remembering. But, I do have one more story to add about the next night. Wednesday night I took Aaron to the Dr. He got his cast removed and they put a boot on. Close to the Dr's office is a great restaurant that we tried the week before that just recently went under the Vaad (after being tablet k for many years). We decided to stop again. Aaron waited in the car. I left it running so he can listen to music. As I walked away I noticed him turn the battery on instead. After waiting for forever for our food, I got back to the car very excited that it was still early enough that I would be able to shower, bathe Estee and make it in time for American Idol. I started the car and once again, sputter sputter. The battery was dead. Aaron said to call AAA but I had a better idea. I went back into the store and asked the mashgiach if him or any of his workers have jumper cables. He told me he does. I went out with him, popped my hood and he jump started my car. I was quite impressed with how resourceful I was. I made our minor mishap last 10 minutes instead of a possible hour. And, of course, I still made it home in time for American Idol.

I found some fun pre-pregnancy pics of me and my family! (well I'm the only one who is pre-preg)

2006-02-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

my all time fav "Rabbi Becca"
---->

At our wedding (obviously)

Not even engaged yet!

me and my cousin Ryan

<------Grandparents from my father's side and all the grandkids. (no one knew but I was barely pregnant here!)

A bunch of us and the prizes we won from Jillian's

Me and my sis Karen

At my cousin Rachel's bat mitzvah

"Excuse me, you have something in your teeth"

2006-02-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

I would hereby like to start an official international rule. If you are with someone, even if it is someone that you do not know well and they have some dirt on their face, or their fly is open, or they have some food in their teeth, TELL THEM!! Who cares if you feel funny saying something. Why not spare the person of the embaressment? Imagine this scenario: I'm sure this has happened often to many people. You are out with a group of people. You eat lunch. You carry on with your day meeting and greeting people, seeing sites, etc. You get home, take off your shoes, stop in the bathroom for a pitstop, wash your hands, look up in the mirror and wham....how long has that piece of broccoli been in my front tooth? Have I been walking around with that all day long? How many people did I give a bright green smile to? How awfully embarassing!!
This has happened to me many times and once again occurred last night. I was at a wedding. I enjoyed a couple of things at the shmorgesboard (no idea how to spell that, and don't tell weight watchers!) chatted with some old friends, enjoyed the beautiful chuppah ceremony, sat down to have my soup and salad, danced up a storm, started on the main course and then went home. When I got home I got the run down from my in laws on the behavior of my child, (another post, another day) and then rushed off to the bathroom.
To my horror there was a nice piece of food in not one but two teeth. Did this piece of food get stuck during the shmorgesboard or during the meal? Did I sit through the chuppah and numerous smiles to people with this stuff in my teeth. If so, why on earth did no one tell me? How horrible! You see, usually when I am out eating somewhere, Aaron is with me and I can ask him about the food in teeth situation. It usually works quite well. I look up at him with a big smile and he tells me yes or no. This time, Aaron was no where to be found at the wedding, for he was at home stewing over his broken ankle. I think though that my new rule will help a lot of situations especially when your official tooth checker is not available!

update

2006-02-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Friday morning the surgery was scheduled for 11:30 am. I had to go to work because it was the last day before vacation and I had a very important meeting at 8:30 to discuss the placement for three children. The whole summer program was waiting for my meeting. At 10:30 I couldn't take it anymore. My principal told me to leave and I broke many traffic laws getting to LIJ by 11. I found parking and was by Aaron's side at 11:20. He was in great spirits and we joked about the procedure. When it was time for him to be taken in I wished him well and said "bye, have fun!"
My father in law and I enjoyed a delicious lunch at parker jewish nursing home, which I highly recommend everyone try. (YUM!)
We went back afterwards and waited in the waiting room watching The nanny, and watching our little beeper that they gave us that would light up when we could go see Aaron. At 2:00 his surgeon came out to tell us the surgery was over and went well. He answered all our questions and told us they would beep us when Aaron was awake. At 3:00 we tried to see what was going on and the nurse told Aaron's father that he was in a lot of pain and if we came back we would over stimulate him too much. Finally at 3:15 I couldn't wait around anymore. I had to get home to the babysitter and get things ready for shabbos. I called our Rabbi and asked what we should do if Aaron doesn't get discharged until shabbos and they won't admit him. He said he could take a cab home. At 4:15 Aaron's father got a beep and went in to see him. I got home and my mother took care of the baby so I could shower and put all my food up to warm. 20 minutes before Shabbos started Aaron's father called to say that they cannot get his pain under control. They gave him pain medication 7 times and it isn't working. In addition his blood pressure went up because he was so agitated from the pain. They booked a bed for him and said he had to stay over night because of the pain. I said that I will pack my things and come but the hospital said no because until his blood pressure stablizes, he had to say in ICU and there is no where for me to stay there. Aaron's parents also guaranteed that they would stay with him and be with him off and on throughout shabbos. I quickly packed all of my things and Estee's things and went with my mother to stay there. I went into shabbos not knowing a clue about how Aaron was doing and I was pretty much a nervous wreck the whole time. Last night Aaron came home. He was in a lot of pain and very cranky. He was mad at the hospital, mad about his pain, and therefore mad at me and everyone else. We put him into bed and he woke up this morning in much better spirits. I finally got to shower a few minutes ago because thank G-d both my babies are taking a nap!

Daven please

2006-02-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

Please daven for Aaron, he is getting surgery tommorow at 11:30 am.
Aharon Gershon ben Freida

Thanks!

Always carry your cell phone

2006-02-13T14:16:00.000-08:00

(A bit of background information that you will need later in the story: Early in the afternoon Aaron and I started to watch the Godfather. I kept telling him that I was in the mood for popcorn with melted chocolate on it. No, I'm not pregnant, I just get weird cravings sometimes, I swear!)
Yesterday in the late afternoon, Aaron began to dig my car out of it's fort of snow. He had to stop 1/4 of the way into his job to go to mincha maariv. When he came in to quickly grab his stuff he told me that on the way back he will buy fruit for a tu bshvat seder and will stop at my mother's house to pick up Estee's laudry. I also would like to mention to him that rather than expressing my graditude towards him for starting the big project of digging out my car, out of frustration, I yelled at him for standing and talking to the neighbor while I was trying to get Estee to take a nap for 45 minutes. A little while after he left, I remembered something I wanted to tell him and called his cell phone. When I heard it ringing in the other room, I realized that in his rush, he forgot it at home. I called my mother to ask her if he had gone there yet. She said no. A short while after that, my mother called to tell me that Aaron just left, and is on his way home. I started to wash the dishes so that when he came home we could eat dinner. Halfway through the dishes my phone rang again. You know when you feel something is about to happen before it does or when you know who is calling and guess why before they do? The second I heard the phone I thought "something happened to Aaron."
"Aaron's hurt. He fell in the snow," My mother said. My heart was racing. All I could think about was that I was annoyed at him before he left. How could I be so stupid??? My mother said that someone saw him fall and he gave them her number and my mother called Hatzalah. My brother was on his w ay over to meet them. I was pacing and crying. I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't know what was wrong or where he got hurt. My brother called when he got to Aaron and all I could hear was Aaron screaming in the background. It was so horrible. My brother said that he hurt his ankle badly and they think it might be broken. For reasons unbeknownst to me, Hatzolah wouldn't let my brother go with them so he brought my mother to my house to watch the baby and he took me to meet Aaron. When my mother got to me she gave me the baby's laundry and the bag of Tu Bshvat fruit he bought. At the top of the bag was a big bag of popcorn. How sweet...
When I got to the hospital I foundhim laying in bed wincing with pain. He looked up at me with red rimmed eyes and said in a soft voice "It really hurts Rebecca." Oy the pain I felt for him. They gave him a shot of morphine which I assured him would kick in soon. A while later they took him for x-rays. They wouldn't let me in the room and it felt like hours that I was waiting. I paced the hall in between pushing my ear up to the door and trying to hear what was going on. Every so often I would hear his screams of pain and it made me pace even more. The radiologist came out and assured me it wouldn't be much longer. He walked away and came back shortly with the resident that had been seeing Aaron. She went into the room with him and then came out and left and came back with the doctor that had been seeing Aaron. I knew something was going on. When the doctor came out I asked him what was going on. He said it is definitely broken in a few places but they would like an orthopedic surgeon to come down and look to see if he will require surgery. Of course that was one of Aaron's concerns and I didn't want to scare him quite yet with that information. As we waited for Aaron to be pushed back to his little area in the ER, he began to shiver. uh oh I thought, signs of shock. I covered him with my down coat and he was shivering so hard his teeth were clattering really loudly. I got 5 more blankets and covered him with those. Finally he stopped shivering.
To make a long story short, the orthopedist casted his foot but told him to follow up with an orthopedic surgeon who will most likely say he requires surgery. Aaron''s first question to him was "will we still be able to go to florida on Monday?"
Aaron mastered his crutches beautifully and was able to get up the stairs in apartment with great speed. He got into bed and I propped up his foot with 4 pillows. Shortly after he fell asleep. In the middle of the night while I was feeding Estee I heard him calling for me. He was shivering again. With Estee in my arms I covered him with a few more blankets, finished with her and went back to bed myself.
Leaving for work this morning was even harder than it is when I have to leave my cutie. The poor guy was in so much pain. It took us a half an hour to get him out of bed. Ever time I tried to help him or he pulled his leg up a 1/4 of an inch, he screamed with pain. I felt better knowing that atleast the babysitter was here and he wasn't fully alone.
Right now he is sleeping peacefully in the living room chair. Codeine will do that to you. I just hope he feels better soon.

Some blizzard pics

2006-02-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

The first one is Estee and I enjoying the snowfall from the comfort of our heated home. This second one is my car, the rest I took of Aaron. All the pictures (except for him in the doorway) were taken from the warmth of my living room.

music can alter moods

2006-02-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

I am cranky. Maybe I didn't put enough caffeine into my blood this morning or maybe an incident that really annoyed me set me off. Either way, I am cranky and I was cranky an entire day. Because of my crankiness, little things throughout the day really irked me. Some things may have angered me regardless but other things were kinda silly but my already sour mood caused me to get annoyed with them. I tend to be very nice. I usually go out of my way to make sure everyone is okay and taken care of. I try to thank people for little things they do for me, ask someone if they are all right if they don't seem like their cheerful self, and help people if they are in need. More often than not, this usually comes back to bite me in the tushy. Either I bite off more than I can chew, I don't get the same respect in return, or my niceness is misinterpreted for fakeness or flirting. Today was different. Today someone actually seemed annoyed with me for trying to help. There is a woman that I work with, lets call her Diane. Diane has a health issue that causes her to be in pain often. She expressed to me a while ago that she has been having trouble with her doctor and I recommended my doctor to her. She was having trouble getting her files sent over and kept forgetting to call so I kept reminding her to call. Every time I see her I ask her how she is feeling. I recommended a product that may help her pain and every time I asked her if she bought it she said no. I went out and bought it for her and left it in her mailbox. She always seemed quite greatful and thanked me for taking care of her. Today she came in with a terrible look on her face. I asked her if she was okay (assuming it was the usual pain) and she told me she threw her back out. I offered to get her ice, she said no thank you. I offered to carry her stuff for her, she said no thank you. I told her that I would make her photocopies for her so she could go and sit down and she said "please stop advertising my pain." I'm not quite sure what she meant by that but I was a little offended because I was only trying to help. Not long after, I saw someone else helping her carry her stuff. Maybe I am overreacting but I was upset. Later on in the day something very silly happened but because it was along the same lines of me trying to help and people brushing me off, I got very down. All in all it was a very annoying day and I am very cranky. To top it all off, I have blue food coloring all over my hands. ugh! My whole drive home I thought that seeing my little cutie pie would cheer me up. When I got home I found her napping. So, I was still cranky. I feel a little bit better now because I held one of my fake American idol auditions in the shower which was quite fun. I belted out a few songs and danced to a few others. I was in my own little world. Which brings me (finally!) to the point of this post. Music can alter moods. If it doesn't alter a mood it can have a simple effect on your emotions for that moment. No matter what kind of mood I am in, if a great song comes on the radio or if I pop in a great cd, getting wrapped up in the song always makes me feel good. I have compiled a list of songs and the emotions they cause:
Songs that make me cry:
1. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
2. Dance with my father by Luther Vandross - I thought it was just because I was pregnant but I listened to it the other day and I still bawled my eyes out.
3. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton- The whole story is so sad
I am sure there are other songs that should be on this list but I can't think of any right now. But, at certain times in our life, certain songs hold significance and make us think of things. For example, if I had just broken up with a boyfriend, "our song" would make me cry.

Songs that make me excited or happy:
1. Anything by Soulfarm, moshav band, or Eitan and Shlomo Katz
2. State of love and trust by Pearl Jam
3. Blue by Eifel 65
4. Rage against the machine- anything because their songs are so highstrung.
5. The lion sleeps tonight
6. Blink 182
this list can basically go on and on. Most songs make me happy and as you can see the list is very ecclectic.

Songs that calm me down or chill me out:
1. Fiona Apple- I used to listen to her while taking a bubble bath. Don't have time for that anymore!
2. Sarah Mclauglin- anything!
3. oh darn, I had a whole bunch of songs to put on this list and they just escaped me. Lets add that to the list of things that have made me cranky today!

Songs that give me chills:
1. Posession by Sarah Mclaughlin- this was a letter she received from a stalker, pretty scary!

What songs change your mood???

ps- something else that cheered me up today: http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGrossOutTheWorld.swf

Pop quiz hot shot

2006-02-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

Okay what movie is that quote from(easy, I think)? and, try to guess where this picture was taken. I took it with my camera phone while waiting at a light. Camera phones are so cool!

My deep dark secret

2006-01-31T08:34:00.000-08:00

Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Everyone has sometihng that no one really knows. Mine isn't such a big deal really but here goes. I confess. I want to be on American Idol. Okay so do a lot of people but my secret goes much deeper than this. You see, being frum kind of prohibits me really going on the show. The singing is an issue, I don't see Simon appreciating my long skirts or 3/4 sleeved shirts, and they probably don't have kosher food in the house (if of course, I made it that far). So I just do what anyone in my situation would do. I pretend. Many people use their car driving time to unwind, sing along with the radio or a CD and just forget all your worries. I use that time to "practice." I flip through the stations singing different songs of different genres to see how good I would be with each kind for the show. When there is nothing good on the radio I turn it off and sing the songs I already know. The songs I would use when I get to choose the song. There are a few songs that I like how I sound singing. The rose by Bette Midler, Angel by Sarah Mclaughlin, and Change in my life by M-pact.
I know it's possible that I am just like William Hung or some of the others that go onto the show thinking they are great. Let me just get this clear. I don't think I am great. Nor do I think I would ever be the American idol. It's just a fantasy. But, these three songs that I have chosen are songs that I have gotten complements on singing so I don't know...
So anyway I think I've gotten all the genres down pat. I'm having a bit of trouble with country. Maybe it is because I am not so into it. But lately, I have been a little hoarse and I give a little raspy edge and maybe that's all I really needed. I think I do okay singing Picture by kid rock and Sheryl crow. Only problem is, that's a duet, and I'm only one person. But, I'll keep practicing.
So there it is. My secret's out. Next time you pass me on the road, you'll know what I'm really doing in my car.

and then they move away

2006-01-30T04:13:00.000-08:00

I know this post may seem a bit sad but it is just something I was thinking about. Throughout every stage in my life, like most people, there is someone that I am very close with. A "best" friend we can call it. Although at this point in my life we don't say to each other "wanna be my best friend?" In my head the person who I am closest with at that point, by definition, is my "best" friend. For as long as I could remember this particular "best" friend for me has constantly changed. Whether it is because the summer was over and we all went back to our own homes or because the year in Israel was over and we all scattered all over the country or world, keeping in touch never lasted very long. I think it all began when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. There was a girl who lived down the block from me and we would play together almost every day. Whether she would come to my house or I would come to hers. It started off small. She moved across town. She still went to my shul and we still played together but suddenly she had more friends and they would be at her house when I came over too. This was okay, I figured, the more the merrier. It gave us more back-up dancers when making up dances to Paula Abdul and New kids on the block songs. But then she moved back to Israel (her family were shlichim). The letters were frequent initially and then they kind of just tapered off. It was nice to see her when I was in Israel for the year but our lives were so different, it just wasn't the same. Moving away. This seems to be the recurring theme with my friends. Keeping in touch always works initially but for whatever reasons, time difference, different schedules, it stops working after a while. Fast forward to my year in Israel. There were a few girls that I was very close with. One who I spent most of my time with. We never really did anything without seeing if the other wanted to join. We consulted eachother about all our life issues of the moment and our other friends joked around that we were "married." Of course it was a known fact that this friend planned to stay in Israel after our year and eventaully make aliyah. She was not someone that decided this halfway into the year. She had known this since she was a little girl, so this was a definite. The year came to an end and we said our sad goodbyes. She bought me a siddur with a beautiful letter inscribed on the front page. We called eachother, we emailed. It was working, we were actually keeping in touch. Every time she came to America to visit her family we got together. I slept over her house a couple of times, we got together for dinner in the city. This still happens but we don't really speak as much and of course it isn't the same. She has her life and I have mine and we really don't know the details of each. Once a year now when we meet for that occasional dinner or coffee we try to fill in the blanks but like I said, it could never be the same. Finally, since I got married we have been involved in a wonderful minyan. Everyone is young, either single or newly married. We immediately got a close group of friends. We constantly went out on Saturday nights and ate over at eachother's houses on Shabbos. I talked on the phone often with one particular woman. It was so exciting when she told me she was pregnant! I knew of course, that I was pregnant too. I couldn't tell her yet so it was absolute torture. When I was finally able to tell her it was so great. I was about a month behind her. We talked daily about everything we were going through. "did you get this funny pain? oh!! that's normal!! great!" She was two weeks late to deliver and I was 10 days early so our babies are only two weeks apart. They haven't met eachother yet though because shortly before she gave birth, her and her husband moved to her parent's basement in Monsey. That's not so far so you'd think we would keep in touch right? I haven't spoken to her since erev Yom Kippur. I've got to start wondering why this keeps happening to me. Why do my close friends keep moving away? The saddest part is the community we live in is kind of a drifter community. None of our friends plan to stay. They either plan to make Aliyah in a few years or can't afford to buy a house here and plan to do so in another state. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to even get close to people that I am just going to have to say goodbye to shortly.
I think I will call my friend (the one with the baby) and make a rule that no matter what we need to speak to eachother once a month. There is no time difference so we can make it work right? I hope so.

My new blog

2006-01-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

Since starting Life with Estee I often experience things that I would like to share but don't because they aren't Estee related. Today I had an epiphany. Why not start a second blog just so I can rant and rave or just tell a story. So, here it is. I will start this blog with something that happened this past Thursday night. My hair has been getting very long. I keep putting off getting a haircut for simple reasons- too expensive, no time, etc.
This week though, I pretty much couldn't take it anymore. My fall was beginning to look all bunchy and not so nice and I decided, enough is enough. I asked Aaron if he would give me a haircut after my shower. Some of you that know me already know that this same exchange took place last April only to end in disaster. Why you ask did I ask him to do this again? Well, this time I was prepared! This time I had a wonderful idea. I slipped on a simple two-tone striped shirt and told Aaron "easy, all you have to do is cut along this line..." (and I pointed to a line that fell at the length I would want.) Halfyway through his cutting I noticed that he was paying more attention to CSI and not enough attention to my hair. I reached back to feel my hair and didn't feel any where I expected it. I moved my hand up a little more and realized it was way shorter that I had wanted. "Aaron!! why is it so short?" I asked.
"You told me to cut along this line..." he said as he pointed to a line 3 up from the one I actually said. "Don't worry," he said confidently,"I'll just cut the other side a little longer. Great!
My hair is not straight so of course, it dried much shorter. I now have uneven very short hair. All I could do was "cry" and say "Now, not only am I fat but now I have ugly hair too!!" He said "Who cares, no one sees it anyway!!" oysh..