So years ago, one of my most favorite things that still keeps me laughing was something I saw on Oprah. There was a married couple on the show one day talking about something to do with marital relations--I really don't remember at this point, but bottom line, the wife was imitating the husband's response that he gives her every night when she wants some nookie............... now, you must say this with your worst drawn out country hick hillbilly accent..........
"Oh baby I'm sooo tirrrrd!"
And that's what's on my mind right now............not the whole hillbilly nookie thing, but the fact that I'm sooooo tired...........and it's keeping me smiling. But really, am I the only one who saw this/remembers this? It would be soooo cool if out of the 6 of you who read this blog, if at least one of you had any clue what I was talking about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had such a nice day today.......hubby and I actually got to go out last night (thanks Cori!!!) , but boy were we tired this morning. But I must say, our boys this morning were AWESOME! They played and played and played and played, and despite the noise, let us sleep till 10 am!!!! Granted, they had every single little car "parked" all around the living room, but I gladly helped cleaned them up as thanks for them letting me sleep! :) So after some coffee and breakfast (brunch really), we all packed up, got dressed and went for a picnic in Gan HaPaamon, Liberty Bell Park where the boys rode bikes, scooters, and roller skated in the little outdoor skating rink there. It was so much fun!
ok, we're watching a movie that hubby downloaded from the net. I really need to go watch, it's hysterical! ok..........bye!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
10 questions I ask of the universe...........
1. How is it that 2 little boys, ages 3 and a half and almost 6, both less than 3 ft. tall (I think, haven't measured them in a while, but still you get the point...). So where was I? How is it that 2 little boys are able to get TOOTHBRUSHING SPLATTERS on a mirror at eye level for a grown-up???? amazing.....
2. Why is it that within 3 hours, and sometimes less, of me sweeping and mopping the floor is it almost GUARANTEED that someone will spill, drop, or throw some sort of juice, crumbs, dirt or vomit ONTO SAID CLEAN FLOOR??? (and no, I haven't gotten used to the whole sponga thinggie yet!)
3. Why is it that my husband has not touched a dirty dish in the sink, except to put it there, in months, or at least weeks??? And, NO the response "MY husband doesn't even know we HAVE a dishwasher!" isn't helpful.
4. Why is it that those same little boys, whose male parts are closest to the toilet bowl, have such a difficult time getting their pee into said toilet???
5. And why must they shake it AFTER they have stepped away from the toilet????
6. And WHY oh WHY did my almost 6 year old wake me up the other morning to tell me that he had made a "Doodie" and to ask me if he could flush, or would it wake me up????
AARGH!!!!
7. And wait, there's more.................HOW is it that a family of 4 can produce so much laundry and consume so much food each week yet there never anything to wear and never anything to eat........so they say!
8. And why is it that the BIGGEST bills always come in the mail the week that you're feeling so far deep in the whole and that you're never going to get out? It's as if the universe is saying....."and you thought that was bad, just you wait...."
9. OH wait, here's a good one............back to those little people who live in my house again..............HOW is it that such small people can make such loud noises, big fusses, and whoa! such smelly farts!!!????
10. And last, but not least.................WHY oh why can kids not wait TWO MINUTES for someone to fill their juice cups, bring the ketchup, cut their shnitzel, or give them a snack......but when you ask them to put on their shoes, socks, pajamas, clothes, backpacks, ....................WHY OH WHY does it take at least 20 minutes for them to do what I ask????
Ok, there, I feel better now, thanks for listening.........any questions to add for the universe, while the universe is listening??? I'm sure there are more we could add to this list.........
2. Why is it that within 3 hours, and sometimes less, of me sweeping and mopping the floor is it almost GUARANTEED that someone will spill, drop, or throw some sort of juice, crumbs, dirt or vomit ONTO SAID CLEAN FLOOR??? (and no, I haven't gotten used to the whole sponga thinggie yet!)
3. Why is it that my husband has not touched a dirty dish in the sink, except to put it there, in months, or at least weeks??? And, NO the response "MY husband doesn't even know we HAVE a dishwasher!" isn't helpful.
4. Why is it that those same little boys, whose male parts are closest to the toilet bowl, have such a difficult time getting their pee into said toilet???
5. And why must they shake it AFTER they have stepped away from the toilet????
6. And WHY oh WHY did my almost 6 year old wake me up the other morning to tell me that he had made a "Doodie" and to ask me if he could flush, or would it wake me up????
AARGH!!!!
7. And wait, there's more.................HOW is it that a family of 4 can produce so much laundry and consume so much food each week yet there never anything to wear and never anything to eat........so they say!
8. And why is it that the BIGGEST bills always come in the mail the week that you're feeling so far deep in the whole and that you're never going to get out? It's as if the universe is saying....."and you thought that was bad, just you wait...."
9. OH wait, here's a good one............back to those little people who live in my house again..............HOW is it that such small people can make such loud noises, big fusses, and whoa! such smelly farts!!!????
10. And last, but not least.................WHY oh why can kids not wait TWO MINUTES for someone to fill their juice cups, bring the ketchup, cut their shnitzel, or give them a snack......but when you ask them to put on their shoes, socks, pajamas, clothes, backpacks, ....................WHY OH WHY does it take at least 20 minutes for them to do what I ask????
Ok, there, I feel better now, thanks for listening.........any questions to add for the universe, while the universe is listening??? I'm sure there are more we could add to this list.........
Sunday, January 14, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!
I am so thrilled for my pal bec...........she had her baby today!
Go, go, go......if bec has anything to do with it,
she'll be home in an hour posting her birth story!!!
HUGS!!!
Go, go, go......if bec has anything to do with it,
she'll be home in an hour posting her birth story!!!
HUGS!!!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
6month-i-versary plus Fruit and Veggie Seasons
So wow, I didn't write about it, but we have been here for 6 months....as of last Saturday. It's so wild to think about how much has changed in our lives in this time and how far away from the reality that was our life just 7 months ago. And how do we feel? Are we happy? Do we like it here? Why did we come anyway? the questions come at me sometimes and I feel like I've answered them a thousand times.........feeling good so far, the kids are really happy, we're happy too; hubby's job satisfaction is a bit low now, plus his awful commute, yes we really do love it here, and why did we come? well you all know that story.......(if not, go find out why in the archives, ain li koach). But it's wierd to think we're passing this monument of time.....just had to note it.
And wanted to mention my fascination with the fruit and vegetables here in this country. Hubby always used to boast how the fruit and veggies here in Israel were 10 times better than in the states, fresher, etc. I never fully got it. Till now........ I find it so amazing that over the past 6 months, we have seen the change not only in the seasons of the weather, but also a change in the available veggies, and the size of the fruit and veggies. For example, there's the obvious, like watermelon...when we got here in July, we had watermelon daily, always kept some in the fridge, and love love loved it! Grapes too, WITH NO SEEDS, your choice, green or purple (red). That progressed into peaches and nectarines, and the grapes slowly stopped being so ripe. Suddenly one day, all of the grapes in the shuk and in the supermarket had SEEDS in them......a pain in the butt if you're a grown-up, and even worse if your a kid or if you're the parent of that kid who is suddenly forced to take all seeds out of each grape that the child eats. Bye-bye grapes.
Celery did a wierd thing in my eyes too........I may have even mentioned this before: in the late summer, the celery was tiny, skinny! I was convinced that my whole life of eating celery that I must have been duped, and must have been eating celery on mega hormones, cuz it was so much bigger than what I was finding here. But lo and behold........the celery all over has GROWN now, and I am finding normal gargantuan sized celery like I grew up eating. *Whew!*
So what else? Afarsimon (Parsimmons)--yuumy! started out hard, but still sweet, just crunchy like an apple, turned much softer as the weeks went on and seem to be on their way out.
Oh, and peppers, the red and yellow ones are my favorites......they were really cheap over the summer, skyrocketed now and definitely taste less sweet. Oh well, they'll be worth the wait.
Regular apples are pretty much a stagnant thing, I always maintain a basket on the counter. Oh, but the CLEMENTINAS.........they started out about a month ago really tiny....the ones we got this week are more like small orange size! And sweet!! yummmm. But sorry to report, that the clementinas here (essentially tangerines) are NOT seedless like the clementines in the states.
And what else? Pumpkin has been pretty popular lately, as are more winter squashes. I think they were more prevalent in Florida too as "winter veggies," but I didn't pay much attention.
Oh, one last thing..........STRAWBERRIES! I know this is similar as to in the states, cuz these guys were also exorbitant in the off season. They are finally starting to go down in price here, bought some last week in the shuk for 10 shekel a HALF kilo, that's about $2.50 a pound. But in the weeks before that, we bought some for double the price. oh well, they're sweet and delicious and the kids love them!
So that's my take on the fruit and veggie thing here. I know I'm forgetting some of my favorites, but the main point is that I've noticed how it keeps us more excited about when things get ripe and in season. I can't wait to see what the next 'hot' fruit or veggie is.........and that, my friends, is way different than in the states when a majority of the fruits and veggies in the produce dept. were imported from all over the world, or they were genetically grown in some greenhouse somewhere on the west coast!
ps. feeling better, just had a head cold. Now it's a crick in my back, fun. Need to get back in bed, it's 5 am here and I've been up for over an hour. Not smart.
And wanted to mention my fascination with the fruit and vegetables here in this country. Hubby always used to boast how the fruit and veggies here in Israel were 10 times better than in the states, fresher, etc. I never fully got it. Till now........ I find it so amazing that over the past 6 months, we have seen the change not only in the seasons of the weather, but also a change in the available veggies, and the size of the fruit and veggies. For example, there's the obvious, like watermelon...when we got here in July, we had watermelon daily, always kept some in the fridge, and love love loved it! Grapes too, WITH NO SEEDS, your choice, green or purple (red). That progressed into peaches and nectarines, and the grapes slowly stopped being so ripe. Suddenly one day, all of the grapes in the shuk and in the supermarket had SEEDS in them......a pain in the butt if you're a grown-up, and even worse if your a kid or if you're the parent of that kid who is suddenly forced to take all seeds out of each grape that the child eats. Bye-bye grapes.
Celery did a wierd thing in my eyes too........I may have even mentioned this before: in the late summer, the celery was tiny, skinny! I was convinced that my whole life of eating celery that I must have been duped, and must have been eating celery on mega hormones, cuz it was so much bigger than what I was finding here. But lo and behold........the celery all over has GROWN now, and I am finding normal gargantuan sized celery like I grew up eating. *Whew!*
So what else? Afarsimon (Parsimmons)--yuumy! started out hard, but still sweet, just crunchy like an apple, turned much softer as the weeks went on and seem to be on their way out.
Oh, and peppers, the red and yellow ones are my favorites......they were really cheap over the summer, skyrocketed now and definitely taste less sweet. Oh well, they'll be worth the wait.
Regular apples are pretty much a stagnant thing, I always maintain a basket on the counter. Oh, but the CLEMENTINAS.........they started out about a month ago really tiny....the ones we got this week are more like small orange size! And sweet!! yummmm. But sorry to report, that the clementinas here (essentially tangerines) are NOT seedless like the clementines in the states.
And what else? Pumpkin has been pretty popular lately, as are more winter squashes. I think they were more prevalent in Florida too as "winter veggies," but I didn't pay much attention.
Oh, one last thing..........STRAWBERRIES! I know this is similar as to in the states, cuz these guys were also exorbitant in the off season. They are finally starting to go down in price here, bought some last week in the shuk for 10 shekel a HALF kilo, that's about $2.50 a pound. But in the weeks before that, we bought some for double the price. oh well, they're sweet and delicious and the kids love them!
So that's my take on the fruit and veggie thing here. I know I'm forgetting some of my favorites, but the main point is that I've noticed how it keeps us more excited about when things get ripe and in season. I can't wait to see what the next 'hot' fruit or veggie is.........and that, my friends, is way different than in the states when a majority of the fruits and veggies in the produce dept. were imported from all over the world, or they were genetically grown in some greenhouse somewhere on the west coast!
ps. feeling better, just had a head cold. Now it's a crick in my back, fun. Need to get back in bed, it's 5 am here and I've been up for over an hour. Not smart.
Monday, January 08, 2007
GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY....
So I'm sitting on my couch (where else would I be sitting if I'm posting?) Anyway....here I am, on my couch watching (or half watching) "A Simple Life" with a stuffed up nose, spinning head, and freezing apt. (yes I'm sick again and no our heat is not working). My in-laws felt bad about me not feeling well, so they offered to have their cleaning girl come here today instead of to their place. So I'm sitting here while "Hadas" is cleaning like mad!
I've never gotten used to having someone clean for me. don't get me wrong, I LOVE A CLEAN HOUSE, especially when I'm not the one who has cleaned it, but still....I still feel awkward while I'm sitting on the couch and she's working her a$$ off cleaning. And yes, she's getting paid, but still the whole bourgeois (who knows if this is even the right word to use) thing is so odd to me........and even wierder, to think that she's Jewish too, it's just so bizarre to me........
But then again I should feel good that I'm helping this gal out.........she's a single mom from an abusive relationship, works like mad to make ends meet, yadda yadda yadda.........
ok, going to go fold some laundry so that I don't feel COMPLETELY guilty and spoiled. Any thoughts?
I've never gotten used to having someone clean for me. don't get me wrong, I LOVE A CLEAN HOUSE, especially when I'm not the one who has cleaned it, but still....I still feel awkward while I'm sitting on the couch and she's working her a$$ off cleaning. And yes, she's getting paid, but still the whole bourgeois (who knows if this is even the right word to use) thing is so odd to me........and even wierder, to think that she's Jewish too, it's just so bizarre to me........
But then again I should feel good that I'm helping this gal out.........she's a single mom from an abusive relationship, works like mad to make ends meet, yadda yadda yadda.........
ok, going to go fold some laundry so that I don't feel COMPLETELY guilty and spoiled. Any thoughts?
Saturday, January 06, 2007
What a nice day..........
I have been a Primo Couch Potato today!!! Well, sort of anyway. Hubby took the kids around 11am to meet a friend of his and his kids........they all went bowling! Then, hubby wanted to take the boys to a movie, which doesn't start till a few hours later, so they have been hanging out at the friend's house, the movie starts around 5:30, and they'll be home in time to get pjs on and go to bed.
So me, what have I "accomplished" today??? I DID go to the gym, worked out for about an hour and a half, came home, had lunch, watched some tv, played around on the computer......ooooh, wait, I just cleaned the kitchen, got another load of dishes into the dishwasher......and now, here I am back online. I think I'm going to go take a nap, as hubby and I are going out tonight. His parents are leaving next weekend for the states....they'll be gone for TWO MONTHS!!! Soooo, we are getting our last bits of free babysitting benefits.
Speaking of babysitters, it's so much cheaper here than in the states. In the states, I had to pay $10 AN HOUR for a sitter to spend the evening sitting on my couch watching my tv and eating my food. Here, I pay 20-25 shekel an hour (equivalent of $4.75 to $5.95), and although they sit on my couch and watch my tv just the same, they don't seem to eat like the sitters in the states did! Pretty cool. So I guess it won't be so bad having to pay a sitter now and again when Saba and Safta are gone.
Anyway.........going to go, watching a movie on cable, and my eyes are feeling heavy........thanks for listening to the rambling. Guess maybe the house is a bit *too* quiet today, huh? :)
So me, what have I "accomplished" today??? I DID go to the gym, worked out for about an hour and a half, came home, had lunch, watched some tv, played around on the computer......ooooh, wait, I just cleaned the kitchen, got another load of dishes into the dishwasher......and now, here I am back online. I think I'm going to go take a nap, as hubby and I are going out tonight. His parents are leaving next weekend for the states....they'll be gone for TWO MONTHS!!! Soooo, we are getting our last bits of free babysitting benefits.
Speaking of babysitters, it's so much cheaper here than in the states. In the states, I had to pay $10 AN HOUR for a sitter to spend the evening sitting on my couch watching my tv and eating my food. Here, I pay 20-25 shekel an hour (equivalent of $4.75 to $5.95), and although they sit on my couch and watch my tv just the same, they don't seem to eat like the sitters in the states did! Pretty cool. So I guess it won't be so bad having to pay a sitter now and again when Saba and Safta are gone.
Anyway.........going to go, watching a movie on cable, and my eyes are feeling heavy........thanks for listening to the rambling. Guess maybe the house is a bit *too* quiet today, huh? :)
Thursday, January 04, 2007
funny kid...
My 3 1/2 year old is hysterical sometimes without meaning to be. He's trying to get out of his bath tonight, so I'm making conditions as undesirable as possible to entice him to get in. I've told him that if he doesn't want to take a bath, that he has to go get his pajamas on and get straight into bed, no story, no nothing. He's trying hard to "stick to his guns" per say, and he's stretching out everything that he is doing.
Just now, he came into the living room (I am luxuriously sitting on the couch with laptop on lap)......his shirt is off and his pants are around his ankles. He was having trouble pulling them off, so I told him to come to me and I would help him. So, he's taking little waddling penguin steps, and hopping every 3rd or 4th step.........
....step, step, step, HOP!.....step, step, step, HOP!.....step, step, step, HOP!......
hee hee..........all with his pants (and undies) around his ankles! hee hee
gotta love it!
ps. after his clothes were all off he saw his brother was having fun in the tub and decided to join him! Good thing I also stuck to my guns!
Just now, he came into the living room (I am luxuriously sitting on the couch with laptop on lap)......his shirt is off and his pants are around his ankles. He was having trouble pulling them off, so I told him to come to me and I would help him. So, he's taking little waddling penguin steps, and hopping every 3rd or 4th step.........
....step, step, step, HOP!.....step, step, step, HOP!.....step, step, step, HOP!......
hee hee..........all with his pants (and undies) around his ankles! hee hee
gotta love it!
ps. after his clothes were all off he saw his brother was having fun in the tub and decided to join him! Good thing I also stuck to my guns!
Monday, January 01, 2007
I'm not THAT wierd, am I????
Ok, so my Bagelfriend over at The Daily Bagel tagged me with the listing of 6 wierd things about me. So..........here goes...........
"According to the rules... Each player of this game starts with the "6 Weird Things about You". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"
1. Now, the first part of this is on the normal side of wierd.....ya see, I LOVE to eat Peanut butter and Bananas..........on a sandwich, or on their own, with the pb slathered on the banana. But this is where it gets a little gross to some people...........I love also to eat bananas with MAYONAISE! (ugh, ew, I know, I know, sorry!) And yes, I can eat it in a sandwich, or slathered on top. Just simply gross.
2. I'm not INTO INTO music. I like music, don't get me wrong, but I have never been INTO buying cds for myself, don't know most of the names of musical artists, and just don't care. I would rather read a book on the treadmill than listen stam (in hebrew-for the heck of it) to music.
3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reality tv!!! I'm educated, went to college, went even to graduate school, have my Master's degree, and now I LOVE WATCHING reality tv! Big Brother, the dating shows, the plastic surgery shows, the shows about kids who want to be MADE, What not to wear, trading spaces, Iron chef, and even the shows that catch people's significant others cheating. I could watch it all all day long!
4. I like hanging clothes out to dry..............this is a new thing for me. All growing up, we've always had a clothes DRYER in my house, so I never grew up with the whole hanging clothes to dry thing. BUT NOW that I live in a place where it is more common to hang laundry. So I hang my laundry...........but not because of the fact that it is cheaper of course than running the dryer, but truly, I LIKE to do it. Oh, and another benefit is that when you put a wet load of laundry into the dryer, you have to take them out immediately when they are through so that they don't wrinkle. Hanging dry is a different story.......you can let something hang for a few days if you don't get around to folding and putting away, and it won't wrinkle any more! very cool, huh?
5. this one was taken from Meshugganah Mommy.......NONE of my real life friends and family (other than hubby) are aware of this blog, nor do they know I read other blogs or blog about my life. I like the separation and the ability to be to some extent anonymous. Funny though, I enjoy the friends that I have met through blogging, but I do not tell people that are separate from my blogging about my blogging.
6. I like to GROOM others..........hee hee............let me explain.........no, this does not mean that if you come over to my house that I will start to pluck your eyebrows for you or anything! But I am slightly obsessed with clipping my kids' nails, helping my hubby take care of a cut, and making sure the kids' ears are not filled with wax. (I know, I know, nothing smaller than their elbow should be going in the ear....). This is the mother in me I guess.......
ok, now who to tag????? How about Cori, bec (if you haven't birthed that baby yet), and Aliyah06.
"According to the rules... Each player of this game starts with the "6 Weird Things about You". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"
1. Now, the first part of this is on the normal side of wierd.....ya see, I LOVE to eat Peanut butter and Bananas..........on a sandwich, or on their own, with the pb slathered on the banana. But this is where it gets a little gross to some people...........I love also to eat bananas with MAYONAISE! (ugh, ew, I know, I know, sorry!) And yes, I can eat it in a sandwich, or slathered on top. Just simply gross.
2. I'm not INTO INTO music. I like music, don't get me wrong, but I have never been INTO buying cds for myself, don't know most of the names of musical artists, and just don't care. I would rather read a book on the treadmill than listen stam (in hebrew-for the heck of it) to music.
3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE reality tv!!! I'm educated, went to college, went even to graduate school, have my Master's degree, and now I LOVE WATCHING reality tv! Big Brother, the dating shows, the plastic surgery shows, the shows about kids who want to be MADE, What not to wear, trading spaces, Iron chef, and even the shows that catch people's significant others cheating. I could watch it all all day long!
4. I like hanging clothes out to dry..............this is a new thing for me. All growing up, we've always had a clothes DRYER in my house, so I never grew up with the whole hanging clothes to dry thing. BUT NOW that I live in a place where it is more common to hang laundry. So I hang my laundry...........but not because of the fact that it is cheaper of course than running the dryer, but truly, I LIKE to do it. Oh, and another benefit is that when you put a wet load of laundry into the dryer, you have to take them out immediately when they are through so that they don't wrinkle. Hanging dry is a different story.......you can let something hang for a few days if you don't get around to folding and putting away, and it won't wrinkle any more! very cool, huh?
5. this one was taken from Meshugganah Mommy.......NONE of my real life friends and family (other than hubby) are aware of this blog, nor do they know I read other blogs or blog about my life. I like the separation and the ability to be to some extent anonymous. Funny though, I enjoy the friends that I have met through blogging, but I do not tell people that are separate from my blogging about my blogging.
6. I like to GROOM others..........hee hee............let me explain.........no, this does not mean that if you come over to my house that I will start to pluck your eyebrows for you or anything! But I am slightly obsessed with clipping my kids' nails, helping my hubby take care of a cut, and making sure the kids' ears are not filled with wax. (I know, I know, nothing smaller than their elbow should be going in the ear....). This is the mother in me I guess.......
ok, now who to tag????? How about Cori, bec (if you haven't birthed that baby yet), and Aliyah06.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Oh my, cannot believe that it is 2007! wow. Very strange to be in Israel for New Year's Eve. There is stuff going on, people going out and to parties etc, but not us. We're sort of feeling like we've maxed out Saba's babysitting services (saba is hubby's dad, it's Hebrew for grandpa). But on the other hand, he and safta (grandma) are going to the states in 2 weeks for 2 MONTHS!...........but no, we feel like we can't ask again. ugh.
So for those of you who are going out celebrating, blow one of those noise makers for me!!!
So for those of you who are going out celebrating, blow one of those noise makers for me!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Friday, December 29, 2006
MAZAL TOV to DANNY!!!
Sooooo.........through the magic of the crazy world of BLOGGING, I have "met" bec........she's an hysterical writer, thus a great blogger, and now, through the magic of email, a great friend. Anyway, when we came to Israel this past summer (yes people, we are here almost 6 months!), she gave us her cousin Danny's "pratim" (phone number and email), and told us we should call him. Of course we didn't mind and were happy to invite him over for a shabbat dinner back in the late days of the summer. The FUNNY thing is that when we had Danny over, he had no idea that bec and I still to this day had not met face to face!!! So here he is, sitting at some random shabbat table (with an incredible view I might add), and he's like, "What? so how do you know her???" to which I had to admit that I didn't really KNOW bec, but I just KNEW her through emails and reading each other's blogs! Gotta love living in 2006 (yes I know, almost 2007). AND, ya gotta love ISRAEL, cuz I don't think elsewhere it would have been so normal to just invite over a random "email-friend's" cousin. hee hee
Anyway, so why am I wishing Danny a MAZAL TOV??? Danny, an OLEH CHADASH (new Israeli immigrant), just had his swearing in ceremony for the Israeli Army!!! You'll see in the pictures below that the ceremony was last night at the kotel, in the big promenade/plaza area that essentially overlooks the praying holy area. There were no kidding, THOUSANDS of people there! AND IT WAS FREEZING COLD!!!
But we were happy to be there for him, got some cool pictures to send home to his family, and then came back to the warmth of our place to hang out and shoot the breeze till wee hours of the morning. It was fun and with Danny's permission I am posting these pics. Notice his new tag on the shoulder (in the pic where it looks like he is doing a sideways muscle man pose!) . He is very proud, and we are all proud of him!!!
Showing off his new tag
Don't mess with this guy in a dark alley...
This last pic was really to show the mass amounts of people there,
it was like Mardi Gras at the kotel! Too funny!
MAZAL TOV DANNY!!!
Anyway, so why am I wishing Danny a MAZAL TOV??? Danny, an OLEH CHADASH (new Israeli immigrant), just had his swearing in ceremony for the Israeli Army!!! You'll see in the pictures below that the ceremony was last night at the kotel, in the big promenade/plaza area that essentially overlooks the praying holy area. There were no kidding, THOUSANDS of people there! AND IT WAS FREEZING COLD!!!
But we were happy to be there for him, got some cool pictures to send home to his family, and then came back to the warmth of our place to hang out and shoot the breeze till wee hours of the morning. It was fun and with Danny's permission I am posting these pics. Notice his new tag on the shoulder (in the pic where it looks like he is doing a sideways muscle man pose!) . He is very proud, and we are all proud of him!!!
Here's a shot of Danny and I (kotel in the background)
Showing off his new tag
Don't mess with this guy in a dark alley...
This last pic was really to show the mass amounts of people there,
it was like Mardi Gras at the kotel! Too funny!
MAZAL TOV DANNY!!!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
SNOW IN JERUSALEM!!!
HOW FUN............IT SNOWED THIS AFTERNOON...........and it's actually still snowing!
Here's a pic of the boys and I....Cori is hanging with us so she took it for us.
Ilan (3 1/2) is in my arms, and Aviv is making a silly face in front of me!
The boys made do with what snow they could gather to make little snowmen!
Ilan stopped for a quick bite.......I guess I don't feed him enough that he has to eat snow!!!
And a final picture of the neighborhood below........those are red roofs you see, and even now, 2 hours later, it is all covered even more! so cool!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Too much time on my hands....or would that be my feet?
Soooooo yes somehow, somewhere on the internet I read that CROCS can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Yes, apparently the instructions are to place your nasty, stinky, possibly fungus infected footwear into the machine where you put your dishes, utensils, and glassware. And even more amazing, I found nothing wrong with this! hee hee Really, it's true, check out the picture below. The first one is of the CROCS on their way to the bath of a lifetime....
and the second one shows how they emerged, so brand spanking sparkling new it made me smile! Let's see how long they stay this way............
PRETTY COOL, HUH?
and yes, my son is FINALLY doing better! We took him in on shabbat to the TEREM clinic in J'lem. His ears were hurting the night before so we figured he had an ear infection. The ears were red but it was the throat that was infected. Which by the way, note to self: go to maccabi online to check the strep results. ANYWAY, 45 minutes after the first dose of antibiotics and he was a new kid! amazing. He is in gan today for the second day in a row and having a ball!
and the second one shows how they emerged, so brand spanking sparkling new it made me smile! Let's see how long they stay this way............
PRETTY COOL, HUH?and yes, my son is FINALLY doing better! We took him in on shabbat to the TEREM clinic in J'lem. His ears were hurting the night before so we figured he had an ear infection. The ears were red but it was the throat that was infected. Which by the way, note to self: go to maccabi online to check the strep results. ANYWAY, 45 minutes after the first dose of antibiotics and he was a new kid! amazing. He is in gan today for the second day in a row and having a ball!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
AARGH..........
Update: I took ilan to the appt. at noon. The doc didn't seem to mind that he couldn't run the card through, as I reminded him that last time I left the other one with him, and he could do the same again. He checked him over and all is ok, no ear infection, throat infection, urine infection, or chest infection. Essentially, it's flu stuff we're seeing and it needs to run it's course with treatement continuing of tylenol/acamol and ibuprofren. AND, after the appt. he had the little guy go pee in the cup to check for ur. inf. By the time that happened and we brought it back into him, he checked it while I waited, and then tried the card again. Which, since it was now 12:30 and the other doctors must have closed their office, WORKED! Sooooooooo, I at least didn't leave there feeling put off at all. Unfortunately there is nothing specific we can do for him other than treat the symptoms of the fever and congestion/coughing. AND BOY WAS HE COUGHING LAST NIGHT. aargh.
****THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN AND SUGGESTIONS!!!
UGH.......having one of those I HATE THIS COUNTRY moments. It's by no means political and far from ideological. It's purely medical.
As you know, for the past 2 months someone in this household has been sick. Both boys have been to a set of pediatricians here in the area, and I was like, "well, they're ok." Then, my older one came down with strep. He was put on antibiotics, and 2 days later, in the middle of the night, woke up with a 103.5 F/39.7C fever! I freaked out, did what I know to do, and got the fever down a bit, but it was still fever. I didn't want to rush him in, so I called the doctor's office and left a message (because with these specific pediatricians you don't reach someone when you call, just a machine). I explained the situation and left the message that I wanted to speak to a doctor to see what I should do with him. Well, that was at 8am. At 10:30 i got a phone call from the doctor's office:
p/t receptionisht: "Hi, do you want an appointment?"
me: UM, no, I left a message, I wanted to SPEAK with someone about what I should do.
p/t R: "Oh, ok, I'll give the message to the doctor and he will call you back."
~~~so I waited and waited, and didn't hear a thing from any doctor!!!
My son thank g-d got better that afternoon, I was able to keep the fever down with a combo of tylenol/ibuprofren from the states, but I still hadn't heard from the doctor. Until the next morning. Around 9:30 the phone rings:
me: hello?
p/t r: "Hi, do you want an appointment?"
me: huh? who is this?
p/t r: "It's the doctor's office, do you want an appointment?"
INSERT BOILING BLOOD HERE
me: no, I WANTED to talk to a doctor YESTERDAY.
p/t r, remembering who I was: OH, nobody called you?
me: ......
this is where I went on to tell her how upset and disappointed I was that nobody cared to call, etc. I went on and on using whatever hebrew words I could come up with. She apologized on their behalf (sort of), and said she would relay the message.
At this point I thought for sure I would get a phone call. I didn't need an apology, but just show me some compassion, some? This is my kid we're talking about! BUT NO! not a word til this day! So, as can be expected, a week later my little one was sick. I called the main office for the health kupah and asked to switch doctors. I was told that I had to wait until the first of the first (Jan 1) to do that since he was already entered into the system with the other docs. AARGH! In the end we figured out that I could call the family doc that I had been to and take him there. The catch was that if the pediatri. office was open at the same time, then their computers are open and my boys are locked into their system. AARGH We figured a way around it though, and I left the insurance card for my older son with the doc for him to run it through the next am.
Fast forward 2 more weeks to today. Little guy is having these fevers again and still has the congestion and coughing. Phone call to the family doctor, receptionist answers, who last time just made the appt. with no questions. This time she's asking too many questions and figures out that my son is not in the system at their office. We were back at square one and she was telling me I could not bring him in. You have to wait till the first of January, she tells me. AARGH. This is where I lost it.....the tears came......."But my kid is sick today!" she told me I needed to bring him to the other doctors' office. "But he was in your office last week!" I proclaimed. I could barely speak through the tears. Long story short, she gave in and gave me an appointment on the premis that we were already there the week before.
BUT HOW FRUSTRATING!!!!!
Anyway, thanks for listening, we've got an appointment today for noon. Let's hope there isn't too much trouble, and that I'm just being an overprotective parent and that he's fine.
****THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN AND SUGGESTIONS!!!
UGH.......having one of those I HATE THIS COUNTRY moments. It's by no means political and far from ideological. It's purely medical.
As you know, for the past 2 months someone in this household has been sick. Both boys have been to a set of pediatricians here in the area, and I was like, "well, they're ok." Then, my older one came down with strep. He was put on antibiotics, and 2 days later, in the middle of the night, woke up with a 103.5 F/39.7C fever! I freaked out, did what I know to do, and got the fever down a bit, but it was still fever. I didn't want to rush him in, so I called the doctor's office and left a message (because with these specific pediatricians you don't reach someone when you call, just a machine). I explained the situation and left the message that I wanted to speak to a doctor to see what I should do with him. Well, that was at 8am. At 10:30 i got a phone call from the doctor's office:
p/t receptionisht: "Hi, do you want an appointment?"
me: UM, no, I left a message, I wanted to SPEAK with someone about what I should do.
p/t R: "Oh, ok, I'll give the message to the doctor and he will call you back."
~~~so I waited and waited, and didn't hear a thing from any doctor!!!
My son thank g-d got better that afternoon, I was able to keep the fever down with a combo of tylenol/ibuprofren from the states, but I still hadn't heard from the doctor. Until the next morning. Around 9:30 the phone rings:
me: hello?
p/t r: "Hi, do you want an appointment?"
me: huh? who is this?
p/t r: "It's the doctor's office, do you want an appointment?"
INSERT BOILING BLOOD HERE
me: no, I WANTED to talk to a doctor YESTERDAY.
p/t r, remembering who I was: OH, nobody called you?
me: ......
this is where I went on to tell her how upset and disappointed I was that nobody cared to call, etc. I went on and on using whatever hebrew words I could come up with. She apologized on their behalf (sort of), and said she would relay the message.
At this point I thought for sure I would get a phone call. I didn't need an apology, but just show me some compassion, some? This is my kid we're talking about! BUT NO! not a word til this day! So, as can be expected, a week later my little one was sick. I called the main office for the health kupah and asked to switch doctors. I was told that I had to wait until the first of the first (Jan 1) to do that since he was already entered into the system with the other docs. AARGH! In the end we figured out that I could call the family doc that I had been to and take him there. The catch was that if the pediatri. office was open at the same time, then their computers are open and my boys are locked into their system. AARGH We figured a way around it though, and I left the insurance card for my older son with the doc for him to run it through the next am.
Fast forward 2 more weeks to today. Little guy is having these fevers again and still has the congestion and coughing. Phone call to the family doctor, receptionist answers, who last time just made the appt. with no questions. This time she's asking too many questions and figures out that my son is not in the system at their office. We were back at square one and she was telling me I could not bring him in. You have to wait till the first of January, she tells me. AARGH. This is where I lost it.....the tears came......."But my kid is sick today!" she told me I needed to bring him to the other doctors' office. "But he was in your office last week!" I proclaimed. I could barely speak through the tears. Long story short, she gave in and gave me an appointment on the premis that we were already there the week before.
BUT HOW FRUSTRATING!!!!!
Anyway, thanks for listening, we've got an appointment today for noon. Let's hope there isn't too much trouble, and that I'm just being an overprotective parent and that he's fine.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Great Throw together dinner....
So about a half hour before hubby was due to arrive home and I hadn't even thought about cooking dinner! aargh. Sometimes I think about it the night before and plan to take something out to defrost, but today, nothing, nada, cloom, zilch, zero.
Anyway, not sure where this eventually came from, but I was able to throw together a
DELICIOUS CAULIFLOWER CURRY TOFU DISH
that I thought I would share.........
Ingredients:
1 small onion cut into chunks
1 large baking potato (microwave for 3-4 minutes then cut in cubes)
1 block of firm tofu cut into cubes
1 red pepper cut into cubes
1/3 cauliflower (approx) broken into pieces
curry powder
season salt
1/2 cup (again approx) water and 2 tsp (approx) of soy sauce mixed with a couple of spoons of soup mix
Start by poking your potato with a fork and cooking in the microwave for 3 minutes, or was it 4??? Hmmmm... either way, just get it softer than it was to start with. After you get that going, spray your big pan with whatever spray you use {I use the pump thingie that I put my own olive oil into---not own as in I pressed it, but own as in it's real olive oil and not PAM}. Anyway, spray the pan, add the onions, get them going, then add the tofu chunks and sprinkle with curry powder and season salt. Do I need to say it here: approximate!
Just about now the potato should be finishing, and you can cut it up and add to the pan. It was here that I realized I needed some juice cuz it was all starting to stick to the bottom. So add the water-soup mix-soy sauce mix. Sprinkle some more curry powder (I kept adding more till it smelled the way our old house used to smell when we bought it from an Indian family!), and add the cauliflower "Florets" and the red pepper.
If there doesn't seem to be enough liquid, add more, same with the spices.........then cover and lower the heat to a simmer to allow the cauli and the pepper to steam and soften and to allow for a "Marriage" of the flavors. {I read that term once somewhere, makes sense though, don't you think?} Anyway...........that's that............voila! You have a full dinner, veggies, protein and a startch.
ENJOY! and let me know IF you try it!!!
Anyway, not sure where this eventually came from, but I was able to throw together a
DELICIOUS CAULIFLOWER CURRY TOFU DISH
that I thought I would share.........
Ingredients:
1 small onion cut into chunks
1 large baking potato (microwave for 3-4 minutes then cut in cubes)
1 block of firm tofu cut into cubes
1 red pepper cut into cubes
1/3 cauliflower (approx) broken into pieces
curry powder
season salt
1/2 cup (again approx) water and 2 tsp (approx) of soy sauce mixed with a couple of spoons of soup mix
Start by poking your potato with a fork and cooking in the microwave for 3 minutes, or was it 4??? Hmmmm... either way, just get it softer than it was to start with. After you get that going, spray your big pan with whatever spray you use {I use the pump thingie that I put my own olive oil into---not own as in I pressed it, but own as in it's real olive oil and not PAM}. Anyway, spray the pan, add the onions, get them going, then add the tofu chunks and sprinkle with curry powder and season salt. Do I need to say it here: approximate!
Just about now the potato should be finishing, and you can cut it up and add to the pan. It was here that I realized I needed some juice cuz it was all starting to stick to the bottom. So add the water-soup mix-soy sauce mix. Sprinkle some more curry powder (I kept adding more till it smelled the way our old house used to smell when we bought it from an Indian family!), and add the cauliflower "Florets" and the red pepper.
If there doesn't seem to be enough liquid, add more, same with the spices.........then cover and lower the heat to a simmer to allow the cauli and the pepper to steam and soften and to allow for a "Marriage" of the flavors. {I read that term once somewhere, makes sense though, don't you think?} Anyway...........that's that............voila! You have a full dinner, veggies, protein and a startch.
ENJOY! and let me know IF you try it!!!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Identify that fish!
Ok, so back up (as usual), my in-laws have this fabulous little old lady whom they befriended almost 30 years ago when they were in Ulpan. Her name is Gerda (say it again to yourself but with a Dr. Ruth Westheimer accent) and she's now pushing 90. So Gerda lives in Jerusalem in a Retirement Home. My kids have been with Saba on a few occasions to pick her up and she has noticed that they were mezmerized by the HUGE fishtank that they have in their lobby.
Soooooooo, Gerda decided that she wanted to buy the boys goldfish cuz they liked the fish so much. She asked my permission before talking to the boys about it, cuz of course we all know what happens when a 3 and a 5 year old get goldfish....................yup, you guessed it, the mom cleans the fish and takes care of them while the kids after about 5 minutes forget the darn things are even there.
Well, to make a long story short, THIS mom isn't the greatest at cleaning and maintaining fish bowls. So, well, um, I'm embarrassed to say, but I failed, and yes, there have been numerous times that the bowl remained murky for a day or two before getting cleaned. And, well, I'm not up on Fish Medicine, but I think one of the fishies is sick............he has grown a MUSTACHE!!!
OR................is he just in disguise???? You be the judge.............what evil man does this fish remind you of? Freaky huh? (click to see a really big pic of him--the one on the right)
Soooooooo, Gerda decided that she wanted to buy the boys goldfish cuz they liked the fish so much. She asked my permission before talking to the boys about it, cuz of course we all know what happens when a 3 and a 5 year old get goldfish....................yup, you guessed it, the mom cleans the fish and takes care of them while the kids after about 5 minutes forget the darn things are even there.
Well, to make a long story short, THIS mom isn't the greatest at cleaning and maintaining fish bowls. So, well, um, I'm embarrassed to say, but I failed, and yes, there have been numerous times that the bowl remained murky for a day or two before getting cleaned. And, well, I'm not up on Fish Medicine, but I think one of the fishies is sick............he has grown a MUSTACHE!!!
OR................is he just in disguise???? You be the judge.............what evil man does this fish remind you of? Freaky huh? (click to see a really big pic of him--the one on the right)
Monday, December 04, 2006
Crazy Neighbor Lady strikes again!!!
Just a recap of my lovely neighbor TZIPI who lives down below..........and no, the name has not been changed to protect the guilty! Anyway, we've only lived here since just before August 1st, we're talking 4 months here, 4 and a half max, and do you remember what she has complained about??? Let me refresh your memories..............
- Tzipi had a leak in her ceiling of her bathroom towards the end of August; we had to arrange schedules to have a plumber come out numerous times; eventually, they broke up the tile on the side of the tub, my kids in the heat of the summer couldn't bathe for like a week or two (we showered them, much to their dismay), and eventually, the final story was that the leak was fixed from going in through the ceiling of HER BATHROOM, and the whole tile break up mess in my kids' bathroom was unnecessary!
- A few weeks later, Tzipi calls again. (ugh, another leak I'm thinking?) But no, now it's my Washer/Dryer that is making so much noise that she cannot stay even in her house for one minute! "There's a vibration all over my whole house when you do it!" she told me. "You must call a technician to level the machine so that it won't make so much noise." she told me. So, sweet, kind, (pushover) me calls in a technician who tells me that the machine is level, it's just in an architechturally ridiculous space, fits perfectly, and as a result sends the noise to her. Plus, it's standing on the floor which isn't separated much from her ceiling. So, with this report, sweet, kind, (pushover) me says, "Well Tzipi, tell me when you work and I will try my best to do the laundry only when you are not home." So now, I have a shedule taped to my machine and I only operate during her working hours. Luckily, my boys don't flinch if I run it at like 11pm on the nights that she works the night shift. (and I only do this if I know I'm going to be up watching a movie or something).
- So yes, there's more.........I got another call from Tzipi yesterday........she has been smelling something burning in her apartment every time that we use our heating system. For a few days she wasn't sure where it was coming from, then she had a friend over who works with heating systems. This friend tells her that the smell is coming from our heating unit and we need to put in a chimney of sorts because the noxious fumes are entering her apartment and it is impossible to sit on her mirpeset (porch), or to have the windows opened. Well, remember that we rent, and now I get smart. I tell her that I want her to deal directly with the owner of the apartment and I get the two of them to talk. The owner sends out the technician from the Gas Company who checks they system and finds that it is all "L'fee ha chok", within the law, and tough. Sorry that she smells something, he tells her, it is double the distance that it needs to be from her window, and what the heck is she doing opening her window in the winter anyway?
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Things I've done.......
hmmmm..........ok, so Liza over at Something Something posted this, and I owed her a meme from one I ignored previously, so here goes. If you feel like it, copy and apply to your life. It's actually more fun reading through and changing the bold to fit the things you've done.
So, if it's in bold, I've done it......and you?
Things I've Done
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon.
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
So, if it's in bold, I've done it......and you?
Things I've Done
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon.
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Miscellaneous stuff.....
ugh, up at 2:30 am with sick kid (my 5 year old) in my lap. He's fallen asleep, but I want to be sure his fever is on the way down from the 103.6 that it was an hour and a half ago when he woke me! We've done the warm washcloth thing, tried to get him to drink (he refuses), and have pumped him with both Tylenol at 1am and then ibuprofen a little over an hour later. ugh. no fun.
Strike tomorrow at the GAN (kindergarten); apparently there is a government strike tomorrow that involves certain sectors, the teacher's aide is part of this sector and therefore is not working. Thank goodness for Saba, (Hebrew for grandpa, hubby's dad) cuz tomorrow I have my class that only meets once a week.
Which brings me to......my new class. I am taking a Teacher's Course to get certified to teach English here in Israel. Essentially it will transfer my teaching certificate from the states so that it is recognized and enables me to teach here. Do I want to teach here? Do I want to teach English here? questions that still do not have answers. At least if the answer is yes, I'll be certified. (and maybe certifiable?)
CHINA.......my dad (who passed away in Feb. 1995 z''l) used to be in the import business in the states. He worked for a company that imported all sorts of things from Hong Kong and Taiwan and traveled there at least 3 or 4 times a year. My mom went with him every summer, and after graduating high school and then after getting my Master's degree, I joined them. On the trip after college, my mom and I also took a side trip to Beijing, traveled around on a tour and even climbed The Great Wall!!! My most memorable moment though of that trip was one morning when I had woken up early to work out in the hotel gym with my dad. We were walking on the treadmills next to each other and he was talking about how lucky I was to be spending this time with him...that he didn't have these quality moments with his father, and that one day I'd look back on this moment and remember fondly working out with him in the silly little hotel gym. He passed away 6 months later. It is a special memory.
Another good book I've read recently: My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult; fabulous read!
Strike tomorrow at the GAN (kindergarten); apparently there is a government strike tomorrow that involves certain sectors, the teacher's aide is part of this sector and therefore is not working. Thank goodness for Saba, (Hebrew for grandpa, hubby's dad) cuz tomorrow I have my class that only meets once a week.
Which brings me to......my new class. I am taking a Teacher's Course to get certified to teach English here in Israel. Essentially it will transfer my teaching certificate from the states so that it is recognized and enables me to teach here. Do I want to teach here? Do I want to teach English here? questions that still do not have answers. At least if the answer is yes, I'll be certified. (and maybe certifiable?)
CHINA.......my dad (who passed away in Feb. 1995 z''l) used to be in the import business in the states. He worked for a company that imported all sorts of things from Hong Kong and Taiwan and traveled there at least 3 or 4 times a year. My mom went with him every summer, and after graduating high school and then after getting my Master's degree, I joined them. On the trip after college, my mom and I also took a side trip to Beijing, traveled around on a tour and even climbed The Great Wall!!! My most memorable moment though of that trip was one morning when I had woken up early to work out in the hotel gym with my dad. We were walking on the treadmills next to each other and he was talking about how lucky I was to be spending this time with him...that he didn't have these quality moments with his father, and that one day I'd look back on this moment and remember fondly working out with him in the silly little hotel gym. He passed away 6 months later. It is a special memory.
Another good book I've read recently: My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult; fabulous read!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.......
Ok, so my friend from childhood who is still a very close friend but lives in San fran, wrote and asked me if I had read the book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See. Since I'm always looking for the next good read, I decided to ask my mom to find the book, read it, and send it to me with the next person coming from Fla. So she did, and now I'm reading it and wow.....
I am most disturbed by the whole concept of FOOTBINDING that is mentioned and talked about in the book. I don't know how I never knew about this. I mean, I've even BEEN TO CHINA! I know I always just thought Chinese women had small feet, but they are for the most part smaller than I am, but I had no idea. It even disturbed my sleep last night. Now this is so far a FABULOUS book, and I am really into it and want to know what is happening next, but the whole concept of the footbinding has really thrown me off.
Am I alone in my own clueless bubble of not having known that this was part of the way of life of these women way back when? It's just wild, so wild.
any thoughts?
I am most disturbed by the whole concept of FOOTBINDING that is mentioned and talked about in the book. I don't know how I never knew about this. I mean, I've even BEEN TO CHINA! I know I always just thought Chinese women had small feet, but they are for the most part smaller than I am, but I had no idea. It even disturbed my sleep last night. Now this is so far a FABULOUS book, and I am really into it and want to know what is happening next, but the whole concept of the footbinding has really thrown me off.
Am I alone in my own clueless bubble of not having known that this was part of the way of life of these women way back when? It's just wild, so wild.
any thoughts?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
REGA........
Riding home from Ulpan the other day, I was already on the bus when we stopped at a bustop to pick up quite a few people who were waiting. One was a little girl who was in my estimation about 10 years old, maybe a little older. As she got on, she made some sort of gesture that she had to get the bus pass or the money from her father, mother, or whichever adult was traveling with her. So she passed the driver and went to her seat. The driver wasn't phased, as this must happen often. He continued on his route and moments later shouted back to her.........
"Giveret.....boee l'shalem....nu? Giveret?" translated: "Miss....come here and pay....nu? Miss?"
......to which someone (maybe the girl, maybe her grown-up?) replied, "REGA!!!" (which most Israeli's use coupled with the hand gesture that many Americans find rude, but it's just a cultural thing).
.....to which the driver replied.....................
"Oh, Em zeh REGA, zeh b'seder!" trans: "Oh, if it's REGA, then it's ok."
made me laugh, thought it might make you laugh too...........Maybe it's one of those "Guess you had to be there" things....... :)
"Giveret.....boee l'shalem....nu? Giveret?" translated: "Miss....come here and pay....nu? Miss?"
......to which someone (maybe the girl, maybe her grown-up?) replied, "REGA!!!" (which most Israeli's use coupled with the hand gesture that many Americans find rude, but it's just a cultural thing).
.....to which the driver replied.....................
"Oh, Em zeh REGA, zeh b'seder!" trans: "Oh, if it's REGA, then it's ok."
made me laugh, thought it might make you laugh too...........Maybe it's one of those "Guess you had to be there" things....... :)
Friday, November 24, 2006
We've given enough Thanks for a while...
So yes, not only did we have a THANKSGIVING DINNER yesterday with friends at their home (she's american, he's a brit), but we also were invited to a THANKSGIVING (belated) shabbat dinner tonight at friends of my 'laws (in-laws in translation). It was nice eating some of the old favorites......Turkey, stuffing, CRANBERRY SAUCE (my favorite), sweet potato casserole made by moi (soooo easy, maybe I'll post the recipe?), some roasted veggies, and of course Pumpkin (ok squash) Pie, Pecan Pie, and whipped cream! yummmmmmy......... tonight actually, there was a slight variation on the menu.........she served coleslaw (?) and instead of any stuffing, she made a nice wild rice/mushroom dish. Interesting how different people have different "MUST HAVES" for the same holiday.
We had friends back in Florida whose Thanksgiving menu consisted of many of the favorites mentioned above, PLUS..........macaroni and cheese! (no, they didn't keep kosher, nor are they jewish), and something else I remember was this dessert concoction that they used to serve that was some sort of layered thing with vanilla pudding, bananas, and 'Nilla Wafers......anyone know this dish??? It was delish delish!
So when I was growing up, way down south in the 'burbs of New Orleans, or what used to be the 'burbs of New Orleans, we also had some different dishes on our Thanksgiving table. We did not have a kosher kitchen; we never had any pork products, but seafood was allowed, go figure? Anyway, my mom used to make this TO DIE FOR stuffing for the turkey that had Oysters in it.........in N'awlins, people called that "Oyster Dressing", and wow, it was good! I also remember how we always had pumpkin pie, made from the JackO'lantern from Halloween, and when each person's pie was served on their plate, mom would also put ON TOP OF THE PIECE, not next to it, your COOL WHIP! This leads me to a funny family story................
I must have been about 8 or 9, which made my older brother about 11 or 12. We were all in the dining room on Thanksgiving, stuffed like the turkey had been, and sitting down to the GRAND FINALE, mom's homemade Pumpkin Pie!!!! Anyway, my brother was sitting next to my Dad, and he had asked (or convinced) my mom to give him a HUGE plop of cool whip. My dad's of course wasn't much smaller, but what? My dad said that there was something wrong with the cool whip! He took a small taste, made a face, then smelled his. He told my mom that he thought the cool whip had gone sour, and asked my brother to smell his.......................hee hee...........as my brother bent over the HUGE plop of cool whip on his plate, my Dad pushed his face into it!!!!!! hee hehe heehe It makes me laugh even to this day, and I smile as I remember my dad this way, laughing and joking, and wiping his eyes from truly laughing so hard!! It's amazing how certain foods bring back certain memories of people in our lives, and people who are no longer with us. I'm really THANKFUL that we have such fun memories of my dad, times that we laughed so hard together. But really, I can do without eating any more turkey for a while.....a long while!
So tell me, what sort of funky foods did you eat at your THANKSGIVING TABLES???
gobble, gobble.
We had friends back in Florida whose Thanksgiving menu consisted of many of the favorites mentioned above, PLUS..........macaroni and cheese! (no, they didn't keep kosher, nor are they jewish), and something else I remember was this dessert concoction that they used to serve that was some sort of layered thing with vanilla pudding, bananas, and 'Nilla Wafers......anyone know this dish??? It was delish delish!
So when I was growing up, way down south in the 'burbs of New Orleans, or what used to be the 'burbs of New Orleans, we also had some different dishes on our Thanksgiving table. We did not have a kosher kitchen; we never had any pork products, but seafood was allowed, go figure? Anyway, my mom used to make this TO DIE FOR stuffing for the turkey that had Oysters in it.........in N'awlins, people called that "Oyster Dressing", and wow, it was good! I also remember how we always had pumpkin pie, made from the JackO'lantern from Halloween, and when each person's pie was served on their plate, mom would also put ON TOP OF THE PIECE, not next to it, your COOL WHIP! This leads me to a funny family story................
I must have been about 8 or 9, which made my older brother about 11 or 12. We were all in the dining room on Thanksgiving, stuffed like the turkey had been, and sitting down to the GRAND FINALE, mom's homemade Pumpkin Pie!!!! Anyway, my brother was sitting next to my Dad, and he had asked (or convinced) my mom to give him a HUGE plop of cool whip. My dad's of course wasn't much smaller, but what? My dad said that there was something wrong with the cool whip! He took a small taste, made a face, then smelled his. He told my mom that he thought the cool whip had gone sour, and asked my brother to smell his.......................hee hee...........as my brother bent over the HUGE plop of cool whip on his plate, my Dad pushed his face into it!!!!!! hee hehe heehe It makes me laugh even to this day, and I smile as I remember my dad this way, laughing and joking, and wiping his eyes from truly laughing so hard!! It's amazing how certain foods bring back certain memories of people in our lives, and people who are no longer with us. I'm really THANKFUL that we have such fun memories of my dad, times that we laughed so hard together. But really, I can do without eating any more turkey for a while.....a long while!
So tell me, what sort of funky foods did you eat at your THANKSGIVING TABLES???
gobble, gobble.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Only in Israel.....
A few ONLY IN ISRAEL moments for westbankmama.............
1. Went shopping last week cuz as a Floridian, I have made aliyah with a less than suitable winter wardrobe. I had a brief only in israel moment when I saw a woman trying on a bra over her clothes in the lingerie department!! hee he
2. Shortly after, I found a few things and took them into the dressing room to try them on. I was in there only briefly when on the radio loudspeaker I heard the theme to the LOVE BOAT!!! "Love....exciting and new....come aboard, we're expecting you!!!!" hee hee
3. The intercom in our building is broken, hasn't worked since we moved in Aug. 1st. Come to find out that it has NEVER worked in the 2 years people have lived here!!!
4. One set of neighbors have a back door that leads out into the communal parking garage. We call them the family that lives in the garage, like how Harry Potter lived under the stairs. Anyway, only in israel..........it is completely normal for them to do a sponga (the mop thing with the rag) in their home and always pour the bucket out of their backdoor, flooding the floor of the garage!
5. Unheard of in the U.S.---a mom from the Gan (kindergarten), in the first or second week of school called and invited herself and 2 of her 3 kids over for a playdate and a coffee. "You don't need to fuss or anything, just make me a coffee when I come. My daughter wants to play at your house." hee hee She is now one of my closest friends, but it was very odd for me when she called that day. I'm glad she did though!
6. Only in Israel do the bus drivers open their doors after closing them to leave a bus stop if they see someone running late towards the tachana (bus stop).
7. Only in Israel does the children's channel on tv (HOP!) run features for the jewish holidays and break for Yom Kippur.
I'm sure there are many many more ONLY IN ISRAEL moments that I could come up with, but I'll stop here. If you haven't noticed, half of my blogging is about those type of moments to begin with!!! Thanks though wbmama for the nudge, always fun to have reason behind posts! :)
1. Went shopping last week cuz as a Floridian, I have made aliyah with a less than suitable winter wardrobe. I had a brief only in israel moment when I saw a woman trying on a bra over her clothes in the lingerie department!! hee he
2. Shortly after, I found a few things and took them into the dressing room to try them on. I was in there only briefly when on the radio loudspeaker I heard the theme to the LOVE BOAT!!! "Love....exciting and new....come aboard, we're expecting you!!!!" hee hee
3. The intercom in our building is broken, hasn't worked since we moved in Aug. 1st. Come to find out that it has NEVER worked in the 2 years people have lived here!!!
4. One set of neighbors have a back door that leads out into the communal parking garage. We call them the family that lives in the garage, like how Harry Potter lived under the stairs. Anyway, only in israel..........it is completely normal for them to do a sponga (the mop thing with the rag) in their home and always pour the bucket out of their backdoor, flooding the floor of the garage!
5. Unheard of in the U.S.---a mom from the Gan (kindergarten), in the first or second week of school called and invited herself and 2 of her 3 kids over for a playdate and a coffee. "You don't need to fuss or anything, just make me a coffee when I come. My daughter wants to play at your house." hee hee She is now one of my closest friends, but it was very odd for me when she called that day. I'm glad she did though!
6. Only in Israel do the bus drivers open their doors after closing them to leave a bus stop if they see someone running late towards the tachana (bus stop).
7. Only in Israel does the children's channel on tv (HOP!) run features for the jewish holidays and break for Yom Kippur.
I'm sure there are many many more ONLY IN ISRAEL moments that I could come up with, but I'll stop here. If you haven't noticed, half of my blogging is about those type of moments to begin with!!! Thanks though wbmama for the nudge, always fun to have reason behind posts! :)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
later gaters......
We're going down to Eilat for 3 nights! Hopefully I'll either feel better by the morning, or will at least benefit from getting into the warmer air. I'm currently on antibiotics for my STREP THROAT......and I thought I was feeling better from the cold earlier in the week! hah! Ilan and I are both on the antiB's (and yes, for any concerned parties, we are also taking pro-biotics/acidophilus to balance the system). It turns out that even though he was feeling better, his strep test came back positive the same day that I woke up with knives in my throat. So, I later went to the doc and he said yes my throat did look suspicious. Luckily I knew about my son's diagnosis, he said, or he would have dismissed it as a virus and not treated it with anything. So, here I am 24 hours later, and yes, I feel the antiB's working their magic. I'm still feeling a bit dizzy and scratchy in the throat, and last night was up all night coughing, but I'm hanging in there. Thank goodness I've got a lifestyle that allows me to just relax all day when the kids are in gan. I mean I skipped ulpan, but I'll live. I promise to talk in Hebrew while in Eilat.
So yes, back to Eilat..........yaay!!! We're going away, with kids, for a fun 3 night 4 day vacation to a hotel that has a swimming pool, 80 degree weather, and a kids club for the kids to get a break from us for an hour or two here and there (oh yeah, and us from them). :) Hubby has just been working so hard, and he's one of these people who love to get away. I'm fine once we're in the car, but the excitement is more like a pain in the a$$ for me when I need to prepare everything to get away. But I'm getting better about it.
Anyway, so that's my scoop in a nutshell. I'll be back next week! Have a great weekend!
So yes, back to Eilat..........yaay!!! We're going away, with kids, for a fun 3 night 4 day vacation to a hotel that has a swimming pool, 80 degree weather, and a kids club for the kids to get a break from us for an hour or two here and there (oh yeah, and us from them). :) Hubby has just been working so hard, and he's one of these people who love to get away. I'm fine once we're in the car, but the excitement is more like a pain in the a$$ for me when I need to prepare everything to get away. But I'm getting better about it.
Anyway, so that's my scoop in a nutshell. I'll be back next week! Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
And now, from the mind of a 5 year old....
As you saw in my last post, Ilan, my 3 year old can often turn stubborn and strong willed. He is a matok (sweetie), don't get me wrong, and I love him dearly from the top of his head to the tip of his toes, but this is how his pendulum swings...between cute and funny to stubborn and strongwilled. On the other hand, my 5 1/2 year old's pendulum swings to the side of SAP and just pure sweetness.
He has been known to offer a hug and say, "I love you more than you love me!", or to just come over and ask for a hug as well. He is just like that. He is sensitive to the core, and can be brought to tears when a voice is raised at him, even if the voice raiser is justified.
Anyway, we had one of those "WOW, SAPPY" moments this afternoon.......Aviv was playing on his own while Ilan was 'helping' me hang laundry. So after about 10 or so minutes and we hadn't heard from Aviv, he came outside to join us and to proclaim that he had MADE UP HIS OWN SONG...........IN HEBREW!!!!
So, here goes, Aviv's song..............oh wait, the guide to the hebrew: geshem=rain; perach yafeh=pretty flower; Ma?=what?
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Perach Yafeh...Perach Yafeh....
Ma? Ma? Perach Yafeh! Ma? Ma? Perach Yafeh!
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Perach Yafeh!!!
I'm kvelling...........
He has been known to offer a hug and say, "I love you more than you love me!", or to just come over and ask for a hug as well. He is just like that. He is sensitive to the core, and can be brought to tears when a voice is raised at him, even if the voice raiser is justified.
Anyway, we had one of those "WOW, SAPPY" moments this afternoon.......Aviv was playing on his own while Ilan was 'helping' me hang laundry. So after about 10 or so minutes and we hadn't heard from Aviv, he came outside to join us and to proclaim that he had MADE UP HIS OWN SONG...........IN HEBREW!!!!
So, here goes, Aviv's song..............oh wait, the guide to the hebrew: geshem=rain; perach yafeh=pretty flower; Ma?=what?
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Perach Yafeh...Perach Yafeh....
Ma? Ma? Perach Yafeh! Ma? Ma? Perach Yafeh!
Geshem, geshem, geshem, geshem,
Perach Yafeh!!!
I'm kvelling...........
Monday, November 06, 2006
Only when you're 3...........
So my strong willed child wanted to wear his RED COOL PANTS (RCP) last week, but they were dirty. He was having a major fit and wanted ONLY to wear his RCPs. At first he wouldn't even take off his pajamas, he was really standing strong on this one. I could have easily taken them out of the laundry bag, but I had already told him they were dirty and that he needed to pick another pair. I didn't want to give in to him, and bottom line, I didn't want him wear dirty pants. I finally pulled the pajamas off of him (yes, with a bit of a struggle), and he sat naked on the carpet in his room, except for his socks, crying "I want my RCP" over and over.
It was all I could do to keep from laughing. It doesn't end here though.
I did all of the right things: I took out 3 other pairs of pants that he could choose from; one even had red on them; I told him I would wash the pants and he could wear them tomorrow; and I sympathized with him saying "I know you love the pants and I know you want to wear them, but we do not wear dirty clothes."
But nothing worked. :(
I got frustrated and started to say things I shouldn't. The volume of my voice raised, and the tone was not exactly kind and compassionate. And then I said IT, the "THREAT" that came back to bite me in the a$$..........................
"I'M LEAVING IN 3 MINUTES. IF YOU DO NOT GET DRESSED, YOU'RE GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE CAR NAKED!"
So picture this...............and you have to picture it, because as is already evident, my brain wasn't working too well that am, and I didn't think quickly enough to grab a camera or to snap a shot with my phone.
Anyway, as you can guess...........he picked up his pile of clothes that I decided in the end was his only choice, picked up his backpack, put on his Crocs, and calmly left the apt, NAKED AS A JAYBIRD, stood for the elevator, rode it down the 4 flights to the parking garage, and walked to the car as if it was a normal morning and he didn't spend 40 minutes arguing over his clothes, and as if he were ACTUALLY WEARING CLOTHES!!!
AARGH................CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!!!!
It was all I could do to keep from laughing. It doesn't end here though.
I did all of the right things: I took out 3 other pairs of pants that he could choose from; one even had red on them; I told him I would wash the pants and he could wear them tomorrow; and I sympathized with him saying "I know you love the pants and I know you want to wear them, but we do not wear dirty clothes."
But nothing worked. :(
I got frustrated and started to say things I shouldn't. The volume of my voice raised, and the tone was not exactly kind and compassionate. And then I said IT, the "THREAT" that came back to bite me in the a$$..........................
"I'M LEAVING IN 3 MINUTES. IF YOU DO NOT GET DRESSED, YOU'RE GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE CAR NAKED!"
So picture this...............and you have to picture it, because as is already evident, my brain wasn't working too well that am, and I didn't think quickly enough to grab a camera or to snap a shot with my phone.
Anyway, as you can guess...........he picked up his pile of clothes that I decided in the end was his only choice, picked up his backpack, put on his Crocs, and calmly left the apt, NAKED AS A JAYBIRD, stood for the elevator, rode it down the 4 flights to the parking garage, and walked to the car as if it was a normal morning and he didn't spend 40 minutes arguing over his clothes, and as if he were ACTUALLY WEARING CLOTHES!!!
AARGH................CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!!!!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Prayers.....
I've been meaning to post this for a while...........the mom of an old childhood friend of mine needs your prayers. On Yom Kippur, she fell and suffered an injury to her head. I have no medical background, so I don't want to try to explain it incorrectly. She has been in ICU after they operated on her to relieve the pressure, and is communicating with her family through gestures and notes. She is telling them that she wants to go home! At this point they are thrilled that she seems to be on the road to recovery, but it will be a long one. From what I remember of her (it's been at least 10 years since I've seen her), she is a smart, funny woman with a dynamic personality. I know the family is praying that she returns to herself soon.
If you or anyone you know is involved in any sort of prayer list or group that sends out prayers and thoughts of healing, please do so for
Rifka bat Etal v'Hershel
If you or anyone you know is involved in any sort of prayer list or group that sends out prayers and thoughts of healing, please do so for
Rifka bat Etal v'Hershel
Tidbits.......
Ok, so I'm watching OPRAH right now, just sort of switched it on at the end. She and Robert Downey Jr. are picking names from a huge vat of postcards and calling out the names. I guess the picked people win something, I didn't catch that part yet. The funny thing is though that it took me a second to realize that I was actually listening and feeling like "pick me, pick me" for a split second or two. Then I remembered that I have no idea what this drawing is for NOR did I send in a postcard! hee hee Just a brain fart moment.
Anyway, so I'm feeling a bit better, but not yet 100%. Trying to get my act together, get the house cleaned, laundry done, etc. But hmmm, doesn't exactly happen sitting on the couch, does it. oops, washing machine stopped, I'll be right back..........
ok, back and YUCK!!! I just found a backpack in my room that felt a little heavy when I picked it up. (Any other moms of little ones will know that backpacks of all sizes are often used for day trips here and there to hold changes of clothes, hats, and yup, you guessed it, FOOD). Anyway, me being the Psuedo healthy mom that I am, I always try to pack fruit and healthy stuff for my kids to snack on here and there as we go places. So yes, you guessed again, this backpack had been there for at least 3 weeks, and yes, there was food in it, and yes, when I opened it up swarms of fruit flies or something flew out! YUCK Yuck YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!!!!
So I wanted to tell you about my washer/dryer.........you remember how crazy life was for me before it actually came on the lift....I was shlepping a load or two a day over to my in-laws' house to wash, returning it here to hang and dry, etc. etc. Not fun. ANYWAY.....when the lift arrived and they hooked our machine up finally, I was so thrilled I didn't care that it was/is a bit noisy. My kids sleep through anything, and often i actually felt that the noise helped to put them to sleep at night since the machine is right by their room and blocked the noise from the tv. So 2 nights ago I get a phone call from the neighbor downstairs who originally got on our shit list because she complained that our tub was leaking and had us tear up the tile all around our tub two times to find the leak that ended up needing to be replaced from her side of the ceiling! So she called and the next day came over to complain more about how noisy the washer and dryer are and how it's so noisy she cannot be in her home when we have it on, blah blah blah. She has no kids and doesn't know what it's like to need to do a load or two a DAY! So now I have an appt. for the service people to come on thurs. to check why it is so noisy. I just don't want to hear her bitching anymore. ugh. no fun. the only bitching allowed around here is mine, doesn't she know that?
So what else can I tell you? Ya know, I think I remember reading somewhere about how to kill these fruit flies...........going to go look that up and will let you know if it works. I know, I should just throw out the entire backpack, contents and all, but I sort of like this bag, it's a decent one, and there was a hat in there and a great travel coffee cup that we were wondering where it had disappeared.
ok, I'm off, no more procrastinating. Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far. Have a great day!
Anyway, so I'm feeling a bit better, but not yet 100%. Trying to get my act together, get the house cleaned, laundry done, etc. But hmmm, doesn't exactly happen sitting on the couch, does it. oops, washing machine stopped, I'll be right back..........
ok, back and YUCK!!! I just found a backpack in my room that felt a little heavy when I picked it up. (Any other moms of little ones will know that backpacks of all sizes are often used for day trips here and there to hold changes of clothes, hats, and yup, you guessed it, FOOD). Anyway, me being the Psuedo healthy mom that I am, I always try to pack fruit and healthy stuff for my kids to snack on here and there as we go places. So yes, you guessed again, this backpack had been there for at least 3 weeks, and yes, there was food in it, and yes, when I opened it up swarms of fruit flies or something flew out! YUCK Yuck YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!!!!
So I wanted to tell you about my washer/dryer.........you remember how crazy life was for me before it actually came on the lift....I was shlepping a load or two a day over to my in-laws' house to wash, returning it here to hang and dry, etc. etc. Not fun. ANYWAY.....when the lift arrived and they hooked our machine up finally, I was so thrilled I didn't care that it was/is a bit noisy. My kids sleep through anything, and often i actually felt that the noise helped to put them to sleep at night since the machine is right by their room and blocked the noise from the tv. So 2 nights ago I get a phone call from the neighbor downstairs who originally got on our shit list because she complained that our tub was leaking and had us tear up the tile all around our tub two times to find the leak that ended up needing to be replaced from her side of the ceiling! So she called and the next day came over to complain more about how noisy the washer and dryer are and how it's so noisy she cannot be in her home when we have it on, blah blah blah. She has no kids and doesn't know what it's like to need to do a load or two a DAY! So now I have an appt. for the service people to come on thurs. to check why it is so noisy. I just don't want to hear her bitching anymore. ugh. no fun. the only bitching allowed around here is mine, doesn't she know that?
So what else can I tell you? Ya know, I think I remember reading somewhere about how to kill these fruit flies...........going to go look that up and will let you know if it works. I know, I should just throw out the entire backpack, contents and all, but I sort of like this bag, it's a decent one, and there was a hat in there and a great travel coffee cup that we were wondering where it had disappeared.
ok, I'm off, no more procrastinating. Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far. Have a great day!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
ugh
4am sitting on the couch trying not to cough my head off. wiping away a dripping nose, sipping heartily at the concoction friends suggested of hot water over ginger, with honey and shot of whiskey. feeling the whiskey, still coughing, frustrated and tired.
hope to be back on track soon, sorry for the delay. kol tuv everyone.............me
hope to be back on track soon, sorry for the delay. kol tuv everyone.............me
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Mardi Gras in Mevasseret???
So last night I'm sitting in the living room, boys were in the bathtub (right next to the LR) and I started to hear some loud blaring music. Let me rewind a bit and explain that behind our building is a big grassy area where birthday parties for kids are often held. (the one the kids went to a while back while we were in the Dead Sea area was there).
So when this music began, the first thought that went through my head was: "What a-hole is having a dance party out there at this hour???" It was 6pm and I was thinking, "geez, I've got to put my kids to bed in an hour, I hope this doesn't continue." But I didn't get up to investigate. I enjoyed the time alone while the kids happily played in the bath, until the music seemed to be moving.
MOVING? huh?
So I look outside my mirpeset (patio) and what do I see????? A van with a huge lit up crown on top was blaring the music, and going down the street following the van was a crowd of about 75 people--dancing clapping, and passing around a torah! It was wild.
Needless to say, I ran in the house, pulled the boys out of the bathtub, wrapped them each in a towel and together we watched the "Parade" from our Mirpeset. It was truly an ONLY IN ISRAEL experience!
On the down side however, they stopped traffic in our town area for almost a half hour, at an hour when people were coming home from work, tired after a long day, hungry and needing to eat or feed kids. I know I would have been pissed off if I was one who was seeing it from that other point of view.
*Having grown up in the suburbs of New Orleans, parades to me usually bring back memories of Mardi Gras, this didn't exactly compare! :)
So when this music began, the first thought that went through my head was: "What a-hole is having a dance party out there at this hour???" It was 6pm and I was thinking, "geez, I've got to put my kids to bed in an hour, I hope this doesn't continue." But I didn't get up to investigate. I enjoyed the time alone while the kids happily played in the bath, until the music seemed to be moving.
MOVING? huh?
So I look outside my mirpeset (patio) and what do I see????? A van with a huge lit up crown on top was blaring the music, and going down the street following the van was a crowd of about 75 people--dancing clapping, and passing around a torah! It was wild.
Needless to say, I ran in the house, pulled the boys out of the bathtub, wrapped them each in a towel and together we watched the "Parade" from our Mirpeset. It was truly an ONLY IN ISRAEL experience!
On the down side however, they stopped traffic in our town area for almost a half hour, at an hour when people were coming home from work, tired after a long day, hungry and needing to eat or feed kids. I know I would have been pissed off if I was one who was seeing it from that other point of view.
*Having grown up in the suburbs of New Orleans, parades to me usually bring back memories of Mardi Gras, this didn't exactly compare! :)
Sunday, October 15, 2006
RAIN...........
It rained this morning! Even after growing up in the humidity and heavy rains of New Orleans, and then living in Florida for over 15 years, I was actually happy to see the rain this morning! It was most exciting as the first drops came down in our area. The weather is distinctively colder today and the change has begun. I love the feeling of everything being a first.....our first apartment here, the kids' first time in gan, our first chaggim here, the first rain, etc. I'm enjoying being a 'newlywed' again! :)
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Therapy....
So, wow, the chaggim (holidays, usually referred to as the High Holidays in English) are over and were just filled with many "Wow, we live in Israel" moments!!! Rosh Hashanah, realizing how laid back and welcoming the local synagogue was, Yom Kippur with the kids and the bicycles, and the intense intense yizkor, a super long fast, and then my favorite: sukkot! wow, I completely enjoyed seeing sukkot on people's patios, in their backyards, and outside of resuraunts on the street. It was just wild!
But wow............it has been INTENSE to say the least! My mom has been here visiting, left last night, after being here ONE MONTH.........whew! I have a nice relationship with her, love her, know I can count on her, etc. But it was too close for comfort and in the end she was feeling upset cuz the kids weren't warming to her as she would have liked. not good. but they did make up for it with pictures and hugs and kisses before she left.
So last night, after dropping my mom off at the airport ( a few tears, the bittersweet feeling of seeing her go and knowing it was time), hubby and I drove into town (Tel Aviv). We drove down Dizengoff St. and after a short detour, founds ourselves in the direction of the port. We were in search of our Therapy location...........and before long, we found the perfect place!
THE PLACE was incredible........a perfect place for SUSHI THERAPY,......nice music, perfect lighting, and ambiance galore! We sat at the bar, ordered some sake, and began to take plates from the little track that passed before us. The sushi chefs were hard at work on the other side of the bar filling the little plates with sushi and placing them onto the revolving track. If you ever wondered which sushi would be appearing next, or how the chefs made the sushi, you could look to the right at the flat screen tv on the wall of the restaruant which featured the sushi chefs' every move with the knife!
We had a lovely time, and as we rolled ourselves out o YAKUZA, we both decided that "We needed that," and then decided we had just been through SUSHI THERAPY!!!!
I highly recommend it! :)
But wow............it has been INTENSE to say the least! My mom has been here visiting, left last night, after being here ONE MONTH.........whew! I have a nice relationship with her, love her, know I can count on her, etc. But it was too close for comfort and in the end she was feeling upset cuz the kids weren't warming to her as she would have liked. not good. but they did make up for it with pictures and hugs and kisses before she left.
So last night, after dropping my mom off at the airport ( a few tears, the bittersweet feeling of seeing her go and knowing it was time), hubby and I drove into town (Tel Aviv). We drove down Dizengoff St. and after a short detour, founds ourselves in the direction of the port. We were in search of our Therapy location...........and before long, we found the perfect place!
THE PLACE was incredible........a perfect place for SUSHI THERAPY,......nice music, perfect lighting, and ambiance galore! We sat at the bar, ordered some sake, and began to take plates from the little track that passed before us. The sushi chefs were hard at work on the other side of the bar filling the little plates with sushi and placing them onto the revolving track. If you ever wondered which sushi would be appearing next, or how the chefs made the sushi, you could look to the right at the flat screen tv on the wall of the restaruant which featured the sushi chefs' every move with the knife!
We had a lovely time, and as we rolled ourselves out o YAKUZA, we both decided that "We needed that," and then decided we had just been through SUSHI THERAPY!!!!
I highly recommend it! :)
Sunday, October 08, 2006
I'm Starting a MeMe.......you've been tagged!
Ok, here's the deal, I just read JerusalemGypsy's post about some major things that have happened in her life (and her family's) this past year, and it sparked a thought. It felt like a perfect opportunity to start something............a Memory MeMe . So, here goes.
OH, and if you're reading this, YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED! hee hee, got ya!
MEMORY MEME
List at least 5 things that have happened in your life or your family's life this past year. They can be life changing moments, events, or simple moments. They can be easy experiences or traumatic times. Now, go...........and don't forget to pass the MEME on by tagging some of your favorite readers! :)
1. Is of course the obvious..........we sold our cars, quit our jobs, rented out our house, sold half of our crap, packed up the rest, and moved to ISRAEL! pretty life changing I think.
2. I passed the 11th anniversary of my father's death. This year's yizkor service (memorial service during Yom Kippur) was for some reason (maybe cuz I'm in Israel?) extremely intense.....very real and emotional, but cleansing nonetheless.
3. Making new friends has been a biggie for me this year. For many years I had been surrounded by many of the same people, and with this move, through the internet and locally now in our town, I have made some new friends whom I have come to rely on. It's nice. (not to diminish the importance of old friends or their place in my heart, life, etc.)
4. My little guy graduated out of diapers. This was the change for me from having one big boy and one baby to having 2 big boys! It's been a growing experience for me as I have been learning to step back and allow them to increase their independence.
5. ugh, I'm stumped with this one. I think i've listed enough in the others to cover though.
....hope you've enjoyed reading. If you've gotten this far, it's time to go to your own blog and list yours, and if you don't have a blog, or you're feeling lazy, list yours on my comments!
Have a great day........wishing you all a coming year filled with special moments, non traumatic stuff, etc. etc. hugs, me
OH, and if you're reading this, YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED! hee hee, got ya!
MEMORY MEME
List at least 5 things that have happened in your life or your family's life this past year. They can be life changing moments, events, or simple moments. They can be easy experiences or traumatic times. Now, go...........and don't forget to pass the MEME on by tagging some of your favorite readers! :)
1. Is of course the obvious..........we sold our cars, quit our jobs, rented out our house, sold half of our crap, packed up the rest, and moved to ISRAEL! pretty life changing I think.
2. I passed the 11th anniversary of my father's death. This year's yizkor service (memorial service during Yom Kippur) was for some reason (maybe cuz I'm in Israel?) extremely intense.....very real and emotional, but cleansing nonetheless.
3. Making new friends has been a biggie for me this year. For many years I had been surrounded by many of the same people, and with this move, through the internet and locally now in our town, I have made some new friends whom I have come to rely on. It's nice. (not to diminish the importance of old friends or their place in my heart, life, etc.)
4. My little guy graduated out of diapers. This was the change for me from having one big boy and one baby to having 2 big boys! It's been a growing experience for me as I have been learning to step back and allow them to increase their independence.
5. ugh, I'm stumped with this one. I think i've listed enough in the others to cover though.
....hope you've enjoyed reading. If you've gotten this far, it's time to go to your own blog and list yours, and if you don't have a blog, or you're feeling lazy, list yours on my comments!
Have a great day........wishing you all a coming year filled with special moments, non traumatic stuff, etc. etc. hugs, me
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Bedoins, the Dead Sea, and a Birthday Party...
So I know, I know, I shouldn't be back online so soon.....I mean really, the massage oil can still be felt on my skin even though I've been in the pool, the hot tub, the warm tub, and the shower. But well, what can I say? I'm addicted......I feel the need to come on here and report! hee hee....as if what I do here can truly be called reporting, yeah right!
ANYWAY.......hubby and I went down to Yam HaMelach (the Dead Sea); left yesterday morning after bringing the kids to their ganim....we were on the road at a record timeof 9:15am! I must say, the drive from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is incredible. I love just sitting and watching it all go by. I did a little wave at Maale Adumim for bec, tried to peek into the bedouin's homes as we sped past them, then began to enjoy the terrain that was spread out before us........a feast for the eyes!
So here's a funny...........we were talking about the Bedoins, how cool it is the way they live, and how just wild it is that they are living this way in the year 2006! And hubby chimes in..........
"Yeah, and what's the deal with them living always right on the highway, I mean, if they're already living like this, why don't you think they would want to be for example, a hill or two over there??"
I was laughing so hard! hee hee but it's true when you think about it....why do they build these tents right near the highway? And even IF, (which is possible, very possible) they were there FIRST, like before the highways were built, they're bedoins, nomads, people who MOVE AROUND, that's who they are..........do they LIKE breathing in carbon monoxide? bizarre, just bizarre.
So, anyway......more on our little vacation.............we stayed HERE...........very cool, huh??? we had a great time just relaxing, got my pedicure and a massage as planned, and they were both heaven! Most of all, I must admit it, it was nice to not deal with the rugrats for 33 hours, but who's counting? I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my children, but I love them even more after not being around them for a while. :)
And please, they had tons of fun with their Saba and Safta today (my mom had the day off apparantly, and went to a museum with one of their friends). So S&S took them to a birthday party which just happened to be in the public park area right behind our building. There were bounce houses, pita making, a huge cake, tons of junk, a popcorn maker, and a cotton candy machine! whew! Sounds like fun, ugh, too bad I missed it.
Anyway, going to go hang out with hubby and watch some of the tube. Wishing those of you who fast an easy one...........
ANYWAY.......hubby and I went down to Yam HaMelach (the Dead Sea); left yesterday morning after bringing the kids to their ganim....we were on the road at a record timeof 9:15am! I must say, the drive from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is incredible. I love just sitting and watching it all go by. I did a little wave at Maale Adumim for bec, tried to peek into the bedouin's homes as we sped past them, then began to enjoy the terrain that was spread out before us........a feast for the eyes!
So here's a funny...........we were talking about the Bedoins, how cool it is the way they live, and how just wild it is that they are living this way in the year 2006! And hubby chimes in..........
"Yeah, and what's the deal with them living always right on the highway, I mean, if they're already living like this, why don't you think they would want to be for example, a hill or two over there??"
I was laughing so hard! hee hee but it's true when you think about it....why do they build these tents right near the highway? And even IF, (which is possible, very possible) they were there FIRST, like before the highways were built, they're bedoins, nomads, people who MOVE AROUND, that's who they are..........do they LIKE breathing in carbon monoxide? bizarre, just bizarre.
So, anyway......more on our little vacation.............we stayed HERE...........very cool, huh??? we had a great time just relaxing, got my pedicure and a massage as planned, and they were both heaven! Most of all, I must admit it, it was nice to not deal with the rugrats for 33 hours, but who's counting? I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my children, but I love them even more after not being around them for a while. :)
And please, they had tons of fun with their Saba and Safta today (my mom had the day off apparantly, and went to a museum with one of their friends). So S&S took them to a birthday party which just happened to be in the public park area right behind our building. There were bounce houses, pita making, a huge cake, tons of junk, a popcorn maker, and a cotton candy machine! whew! Sounds like fun, ugh, too bad I missed it.
Anyway, going to go hang out with hubby and watch some of the tube. Wishing those of you who fast an easy one...........
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Happy Dance time.........
Hubby and I are off tomorrow for 2 days, 1 night of
RELAXATION ALONE WITHOUT CHILDREN IN A NICE HOTEL ON THE DEAD SEA!!!!
(insert happy dance here!)
And my BIGGEST plans for the time there...........(get your minds out of the gutter, this is not THAT KIND of blog) include a pedicure and a massage! Guess I better go shave my legs, huh?
ANYWAY......If I don't have blogability when I get home, I wish you all a Gamar Chatima Tova......may you be written in the good book for the coming year, and may this year bring you nothing but the good things in life that you deserve (like pedicures and massages at a hotel on the Dead Sea! hee hee)
L'hitraot!!!
ps. I just noticed that this is post #102 for me! very cool, didn't know I had passed into my second century! How fitting for the timing of the New Year! :) oh, and all you Israeli folk out there, don't forget to move your clocks forward 1 hour Sat. night!!! Can someone PLEASE tell my children not to wake up doubly early???
ok, really going now, bye!
RELAXATION ALONE WITHOUT CHILDREN IN A NICE HOTEL ON THE DEAD SEA!!!!
(insert happy dance here!)
And my BIGGEST plans for the time there...........(get your minds out of the gutter, this is not THAT KIND of blog) include a pedicure and a massage! Guess I better go shave my legs, huh?
ANYWAY......If I don't have blogability when I get home, I wish you all a Gamar Chatima Tova......may you be written in the good book for the coming year, and may this year bring you nothing but the good things in life that you deserve (like pedicures and massages at a hotel on the Dead Sea! hee hee)
L'hitraot!!!
ps. I just noticed that this is post #102 for me! very cool, didn't know I had passed into my second century! How fitting for the timing of the New Year! :) oh, and all you Israeli folk out there, don't forget to move your clocks forward 1 hour Sat. night!!! Can someone PLEASE tell my children not to wake up doubly early???
ok, really going now, bye!
Monday, September 25, 2006
CALGON......take me away!!! or, at least let me sleep!
so yes, it is 4am and I have been up since 2:15ish. Ilan started then with the "im thirsty" routine, it progressed to crying and holding his nose....... "Does it hurt? is it runny?" I asked......... "No, it's smelling" WHAT? "It's smelling the room" he tells me. Now, knowing that I had not (yet) passed anything offensive in his room, I knew this kid was bonkers and needed some sort of placebo to pacify him. So I gave him a wipe and sent him to bed. Luckily, I thought it might be a good idea to allow myself to be drawn to the laptop and the couch. I say luckily because sure enough, over the next 2 hours he has proceeded to call "emah............." at least a half dozen times. I finally brought him out to the living room with me, he slept and snored on the couch for a half hour, and just woke up to pee (yes, partly in the jammies that had to then be changed). Now, he has proclaimed he is hungry and is eating graham crackers and a cheese stick.
CALGON..............TAKE ME AWAY!!!!
CALGON..............TAKE ME AWAY!!!!
Gotta love it!
So, my little one (3 years old) goes to a "Religious" gan (preschool). Ok, stop laughing, those that know, it's not exactly religious, as it is connected to the Reform Synagogue of our area. But still, their focus of learning is on the chagim (holidays), brachot (blessings), and living jewishly---very similar to the Jewish Preschools in the states. We decided to send him there for a couple of reasons. One being that the class sizes are in the 20's rather than the 30's, another being that we wanted him to get a similar background to what his brother got in his preschool years in the states.
Needless to say, all is great, he loves going to gan, and his gannenot (teachers) are fabulous. The main Ganenet (teacher) is an English speaker who made aliyah when she was 3, so he is not in any way feeling lost in his hebrew speaking environment.
Anyway, back to the story of the day...........they were talking today about the Kotel, about the New Year, and about the things that they wished for themselves for the New Year. They went around and asked each child what he wished for for himself. I'm sure they got some of the typical answers from kids who wished for hugs and kisses from their Mommies and Daddies.
As I was picking Ilan up today, the teacher came over to me in a completely serious manner and proceeded to tell me about this activity. I was waiting with anticipation for her to tell me that my kid enlightened the rest of the class with his wishes for World Peace, or something intense and earth shattering. Instead, what does she tell me that my enlightened son shared with the class??????
He said, "I wish for myself that my emah will get me new batteries for my robot."
hee hee
oh well, maybe next year a little more of the sense of the year will sink in.......... gotta love it!
Needless to say, all is great, he loves going to gan, and his gannenot (teachers) are fabulous. The main Ganenet (teacher) is an English speaker who made aliyah when she was 3, so he is not in any way feeling lost in his hebrew speaking environment.
Anyway, back to the story of the day...........they were talking today about the Kotel, about the New Year, and about the things that they wished for themselves for the New Year. They went around and asked each child what he wished for for himself. I'm sure they got some of the typical answers from kids who wished for hugs and kisses from their Mommies and Daddies.
As I was picking Ilan up today, the teacher came over to me in a completely serious manner and proceeded to tell me about this activity. I was waiting with anticipation for her to tell me that my kid enlightened the rest of the class with his wishes for World Peace, or something intense and earth shattering. Instead, what does she tell me that my enlightened son shared with the class??????
He said, "I wish for myself that my emah will get me new batteries for my robot."
hee hee
oh well, maybe next year a little more of the sense of the year will sink in.......... gotta love it!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
SHANA TOVA!!!
Woke up this morning and of course decided to peruse my email, which led me back to my blog when I found notices of new comments. And when I was led back here, I realized that the post before was not a really NICE one to be leaving up as my "last post of the year".
I've been trying to change my outlook, change my attitude and am working on remaining NICE and sweet and not condescending in the New Year!
Wishing you all a SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY, FUN, PROSPEROUS new year!!!
I've been trying to change my outlook, change my attitude and am working on remaining NICE and sweet and not condescending in the New Year!
Wishing you all a SWEET, HAPPY, HEALTHY, FUN, PROSPEROUS new year!!!
Monday, September 18, 2006
How SWEET it is.......
The boys were riding their scooters round and round the table on the mirpeset (patio) yesterday afternoon singing, "Shana Tova, Shana Tova...." unfortunately that is all they know. So we heard it over and over and over and over again!!! But oh, how SWEET it is to hear the excitement in their voices as we talk about the chag (holiday) coming up and the different things they are learning in their Ganim (preschool and kindergarten).
The little one asks me each day if I know what "such and such" means in hebrew. Here are a few of the things that he has "taught" me:
Ilan's version: Bo weeshtot.
Ilan's meaning: "Come drink some water because it's hot outside."
True meaning: Come, drink.
Ilan's version: Al ha rosh.
Ilan's meaning: "head."
True meaning: On the head. (from a kids game/song)
Ilan's version: shev
Ilan's meaning: Sit
True meaning: he got this one 100%!!!
..............so as you see, even in the sample above, the language learning is progressing. Last night in his bath, 'Batman' was saying, "Ayzey yom hayom?" (what day is today) over and over again. It was too cute.
Aviv on the other hand isn't talking as much, but he seems to be surely building his vocabulary. It's such an amazing thing to say goodbye to them both each morning knowing that even though they are spending the day that is being conducted fully in hebrew, and they are HAPPY!!! so cool.
As a ROSH HASHANAH wish from me to you.........may you all know the sweetness and happiness that children feel. Have a SWEET and HAPPY New Year; Shana Tova U'metuka!
---Susie and the gang......
The little one asks me each day if I know what "such and such" means in hebrew. Here are a few of the things that he has "taught" me:
Ilan's version: Bo weeshtot.
Ilan's meaning: "Come drink some water because it's hot outside."
True meaning: Come, drink.
Ilan's version: Al ha rosh.
Ilan's meaning: "head."
True meaning: On the head. (from a kids game/song)
Ilan's version: shev
Ilan's meaning: Sit
True meaning: he got this one 100%!!!
..............so as you see, even in the sample above, the language learning is progressing. Last night in his bath, 'Batman' was saying, "Ayzey yom hayom?" (what day is today) over and over again. It was too cute.
Aviv on the other hand isn't talking as much, but he seems to be surely building his vocabulary. It's such an amazing thing to say goodbye to them both each morning knowing that even though they are spending the day that is being conducted fully in hebrew, and they are HAPPY!!! so cool.
As a ROSH HASHANAH wish from me to you.........may you all know the sweetness and happiness that children feel. Have a SWEET and HAPPY New Year; Shana Tova U'metuka!
---Susie and the gang......
Friday, September 15, 2006
You spin me right round, baby, right round......
go on, sing the rest..........."Like a record baby, right round, right round!" or something like that!
hee hee, I am besides myself because we now have a working WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER IN OUR HOME!!! (insert happy dance here!) For 6 weeks now I have been shlepping a load of laundry each day (and sometimes more) to my in-law's house to wash. Then at least an hour later, sometimes more, I would go back there to get the laundry, and shlepp it home to hang on our patio.
It feels like a true luxury to wash it here and 1/2 hour later to hang it up!!!!
MAYTAG ROCKS!!!!
hee hee, I am besides myself because we now have a working WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER IN OUR HOME!!! (insert happy dance here!) For 6 weeks now I have been shlepping a load of laundry each day (and sometimes more) to my in-law's house to wash. Then at least an hour later, sometimes more, I would go back there to get the laundry, and shlepp it home to hang on our patio.
It feels like a true luxury to wash it here and 1/2 hour later to hang it up!!!!
MAYTAG ROCKS!!!!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
CALGON......take me away!!!
Ok, so I KNOW my problems or stresses are teeny-tiny in comparison to others that are experienced in this crazy world of ours.
But AARGH.....it's my life, my blog, etc. etc. and I'm stressed out!!!
My mom is coming tomorrow to stay with us for a month! We're all very excited (hubby even admitted the other night that he missed her, it was sweet), but aargh....so much to do!!! It doesn't help that my washer/dryer still is not able to be hooked up yet and I'm having to do laundry still at my in-laws (5 min away, in the neighborhood, but still a shlepp). They tried to hook it up for us the other day, but it has a "Teka Briti" (british plug) and needs an israeli one, or the Sheka (the outlet) needs to be switched to a "Briti" one. And speaking of the Sheka, it's on the SIDE of the washer/dryer space, and does not give enough room really to actually plug in the Teka. Teka-Sheka......what fun words! And the coolest thing was that we actually learned those in Ulpan (hebrew class) the same day that the technai (technician) came to my house to hook me up. cool.
Anyway, the boys are stressed too, guess they are feeling my energy. OH, and did I mention that the Instalator (plumber) is also coming back this afternoon to hopefully fix the guest bathroom that was leaking down to the neighbors' below. yeah, fun to be using one bathroom for a whole family, esp. when that one bathroom is tiny and inside of my bedroom.
aargh, I hear crying and it's possible someone may get hurt. I should stop blogging now and go be a referree (do I have to really? ) yes, Ido. bye!
But AARGH.....it's my life, my blog, etc. etc. and I'm stressed out!!!
My mom is coming tomorrow to stay with us for a month! We're all very excited (hubby even admitted the other night that he missed her, it was sweet), but aargh....so much to do!!! It doesn't help that my washer/dryer still is not able to be hooked up yet and I'm having to do laundry still at my in-laws (5 min away, in the neighborhood, but still a shlepp). They tried to hook it up for us the other day, but it has a "Teka Briti" (british plug) and needs an israeli one, or the Sheka (the outlet) needs to be switched to a "Briti" one. And speaking of the Sheka, it's on the SIDE of the washer/dryer space, and does not give enough room really to actually plug in the Teka. Teka-Sheka......what fun words! And the coolest thing was that we actually learned those in Ulpan (hebrew class) the same day that the technai (technician) came to my house to hook me up. cool.
Anyway, the boys are stressed too, guess they are feeling my energy. OH, and did I mention that the Instalator (plumber) is also coming back this afternoon to hopefully fix the guest bathroom that was leaking down to the neighbors' below. yeah, fun to be using one bathroom for a whole family, esp. when that one bathroom is tiny and inside of my bedroom.
aargh, I hear crying and it's possible someone may get hurt. I should stop blogging now and go be a referree (do I have to really? ) yes, Ido. bye!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Tribute.....Douglas MacMillan Cherry
Ok, so in true SusieStyle, I signed up (or at least I must have, because my name is there, but really I don't remember doing it....anyway) to participate in the 2996 memorials in tribute to victims of the 9-11-01 terror attack on the twin towers.
I have been assigned to DOUGLAS MACMILLAN CHERRY. I did not know him, and I have no connection to his family or friends. But when kvetch commented on my last post and mentioned that she was looking forward to my post, I felt awful dropping the ball.
So please, take a moment to meet DOUG CHERRY..... he was only 38. He had a wife and 3 children. If you go to the link, you'll see messages posted by family and friends. It's very moving.
And my eyes tear up, because I think of the children, and the wife, and the number of times each day that my own children ask when their father will be home from work. I am lucky to have an answer that they want to hear. My eyes tear up because I think of the thousands of children who are still waiting for their Daddies or Mommies or Aunts or Uncles or Grandparents to come home again. But they never will.
Thinking of all of the children today.......especially Doug Cherry's children.....
I have been assigned to DOUGLAS MACMILLAN CHERRY. I did not know him, and I have no connection to his family or friends. But when kvetch commented on my last post and mentioned that she was looking forward to my post, I felt awful dropping the ball.
So please, take a moment to meet DOUG CHERRY..... he was only 38. He had a wife and 3 children. If you go to the link, you'll see messages posted by family and friends. It's very moving.
And my eyes tear up, because I think of the children, and the wife, and the number of times each day that my own children ask when their father will be home from work. I am lucky to have an answer that they want to hear. My eyes tear up because I think of the thousands of children who are still waiting for their Daddies or Mommies or Aunts or Uncles or Grandparents to come home again. But they never will.
Thinking of all of the children today.......especially Doug Cherry's children.....
Thursday, September 07, 2006
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!
WHOOO-HOOOOO, Happy dance, happy dance!!!!
The movers are coming this afternoon with our stuff!!!!!
YIPPEEE!!!!!
I GET TO SLEEP IN MY BED TONIGHT!!!
HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!
The movers are coming this afternoon with our stuff!!!!!
YIPPEEE!!!!!
I GET TO SLEEP IN MY BED TONIGHT!!!
HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
another fyi
it appears that if you do not have a blogger beta account, that you cannot publish a comment here, is that true? My blog and my account were merged with my google account and turned beta and now it's not letting people comment. so, for those of you having this trouble, I miss your comments, and can only suggest that if you are dying to comment and cannot, you can open a new beta account with blogger under a different name. I think they're working to fix this problem.
thanks for your patience. me
thanks for your patience. me
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Update.........
Just an update into our world.....a few things of interest in case you are wonderin'........
*NO, our stuff has not arrived, still in customs here in Israel, so close we can taste it, but so far nothing in sight. ugh.
*Boys both started GAN (preschool for the little guy and Gan Chova--kindergarten for the big guy) this week. BOTH are doing well, are happy, and having a great time!
*I started Ulpan this week! I'm in a daled level class (level 4), and I go 3 times a week. The class has about 12 people in it, some haven't decided yet if they're staying. There are 3 Americans, I think 2 English, 2 Russian, and about 4 French, give or take a few Nationalities here and there! :) The teacher is fab and I'm enjoying it, even though I have to rush to be there for 8:30 after dropping the kids off around 7:30.
*I sat with Aliyah06 aka. BakaDiary during the break....it was nice to meet after only reading each other's blogs! (ps. we're still on for Thurs. unless i hear from the shippers...)
*My MOM is coming in a week to visit and stay for a month!!! We are all very excited to see her and to have her be with us, but we hope that we will have a bed to offer her. ugh.
and I think that's that.......gotta get moving on cleaning this place up. I'm meeting a new friend for coffee around 11 in the mall. hugs to all............me
*NO, our stuff has not arrived, still in customs here in Israel, so close we can taste it, but so far nothing in sight. ugh.
*Boys both started GAN (preschool for the little guy and Gan Chova--kindergarten for the big guy) this week. BOTH are doing well, are happy, and having a great time!
*I started Ulpan this week! I'm in a daled level class (level 4), and I go 3 times a week. The class has about 12 people in it, some haven't decided yet if they're staying. There are 3 Americans, I think 2 English, 2 Russian, and about 4 French, give or take a few Nationalities here and there! :) The teacher is fab and I'm enjoying it, even though I have to rush to be there for 8:30 after dropping the kids off around 7:30.
*I sat with Aliyah06 aka. BakaDiary during the break....it was nice to meet after only reading each other's blogs! (ps. we're still on for Thurs. unless i hear from the shippers...)
*My MOM is coming in a week to visit and stay for a month!!! We are all very excited to see her and to have her be with us, but we hope that we will have a bed to offer her. ugh.
and I think that's that.......gotta get moving on cleaning this place up. I'm meeting a new friend for coffee around 11 in the mall. hugs to all............me
Monday, September 04, 2006
fyi.........
just so you know..........I have been having trouble for a few days now trying to post comments on other people's blogs. I somehow had my blogger account merged with my google account and with blogger beta or something like that. So, I keep getting the message that I am not able to publish comments on non-beta blogs??? I don't know, they say they are working on this, so for now I have created another blogger login that allows me to publish comments on the non-beta blogs. So look for me again soon talking away on your blogs! :) hugs, me
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Ri ron't Rink Ro!!!
hee hee...........so hubby was reading stories tonight, and the first pick was a Scooby-Doo mystery.
Anyway, Hubby was telling the kids about our dog that we had in college, whose name was, yes, you guessed it, Scooby; and we often called him Scooby-Doo.
Ilan(3) replied, "Abba, were you Shaggy?"
hee hee!
So hubby replies to him, "Yes, and Emah was Velma!"
tooo funny...........
Anyway, Hubby was telling the kids about our dog that we had in college, whose name was, yes, you guessed it, Scooby; and we often called him Scooby-Doo.
Ilan(3) replied, "Abba, were you Shaggy?"
hee hee!
So hubby replies to him, "Yes, and Emah was Velma!"
tooo funny...........
Saturday, September 02, 2006
It's a Small, Small, world..........
So this week has been a busy one......both boys had their beginning Gan (preschool) meetings, we had a parents' meeting for the little one's private gan (ridiculous waste of time---I mean really, how much time REALLY needs to be spent talking about what these kids are offered for lunch!) Anyway, and Fri. morning the little one had 2 hours of gan, to which we were informed Wed. night that parents were encouraged to stay with them if they were hesitant. So, WE went to gan, Ilan and I. It was fun, and contrary to my belief after the parents' meeting, the moms that I talked to were nice. They were all surprised to see that Ilan didn't speak ANY hebrew, and were encouraging that Hoo Yilmad Maher (he will learn fast).
This week has also been busy in that we opened our home to a new Olah, a new immigrant. This girl sent a note out on the nbn yahoo group asking for a place to stay before her kibbutz ulpan starts. It turned out that she is going to the SAME kibbutz that I lived on for 2 months as a part of my Young Judaea Year Course program in 1988-89. Anyway, I figured that was a nice coincidence and invited her to stay with us. Well, long story short, it turns out, our guest, CORI, is a BLOGGER!!! too wild! Small, small world!
But wait, it gets smaller......my good friend bec whom I have never met, and had never even spoken to on the phone, ever, told me that her cousin Danny was coming back to Israel after a short visit abroad, that he had recently made aliyah, and he was starting in the Army. So, we invited him over for shabbat dinner. As it turns out, he had no clue that bec and I had never met! too funny. So while we were all hanging out, we called bec and completely freaked her out.......she had no idea who I was, and even took a moment to figure out who Danny was!
Anyway, it was a fun night, good to be hanging out with friends, we had shabbat dinner on the mirpeset (patio), the one that overlooks the Jerusalem (new city not old people) skyline, and as we sat and talked the sun set, and the sky gave us a show of colors, then turned dark but lit up with the lights of the city........it is just an amazing view!
The whole Jewish Jeopardy blog world, who-knows-who scenario is always such an amzing thing to me! Have a great week everyone.................I hope to get back to blog, but we'll be busy this week............ Gan starting for both boys (preschool for Ilan and Kindergarten for Aviv), Ulpan starting for me (hebrew language class, after talking to the woman in charge on the phone, she says I can start in class level Daled--4th level!!!), and we HOPE, HOPE, HOPE, we are going to get our MECHOLA (lift, shipment, all of our crap....). Keep your fingers crossed on the last one!
So that's it for now........have a great day/week, etc.!!!
This week has also been busy in that we opened our home to a new Olah, a new immigrant. This girl sent a note out on the nbn yahoo group asking for a place to stay before her kibbutz ulpan starts. It turned out that she is going to the SAME kibbutz that I lived on for 2 months as a part of my Young Judaea Year Course program in 1988-89. Anyway, I figured that was a nice coincidence and invited her to stay with us. Well, long story short, it turns out, our guest, CORI, is a BLOGGER!!! too wild! Small, small world!
But wait, it gets smaller......my good friend bec whom I have never met, and had never even spoken to on the phone, ever, told me that her cousin Danny was coming back to Israel after a short visit abroad, that he had recently made aliyah, and he was starting in the Army. So, we invited him over for shabbat dinner. As it turns out, he had no clue that bec and I had never met! too funny. So while we were all hanging out, we called bec and completely freaked her out.......she had no idea who I was, and even took a moment to figure out who Danny was!
Anyway, it was a fun night, good to be hanging out with friends, we had shabbat dinner on the mirpeset (patio), the one that overlooks the Jerusalem (new city not old people) skyline, and as we sat and talked the sun set, and the sky gave us a show of colors, then turned dark but lit up with the lights of the city........it is just an amazing view!
The whole Jewish Jeopardy blog world, who-knows-who scenario is always such an amzing thing to me! Have a great week everyone.................I hope to get back to blog, but we'll be busy this week............ Gan starting for both boys (preschool for Ilan and Kindergarten for Aviv), Ulpan starting for me (hebrew language class, after talking to the woman in charge on the phone, she says I can start in class level Daled--4th level!!!), and we HOPE, HOPE, HOPE, we are going to get our MECHOLA (lift, shipment, all of our crap....). Keep your fingers crossed on the last one!
So that's it for now........have a great day/week, etc.!!!
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