I got my cold Chinese food today. Yay.
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. Yuck.
Churn churn bubble bubble goes the pregnant lady's stomach.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Cold Chinese food
I would kill for cold Chinese food right about now. I'm an odd duck. One of my favorite things about Chinese take-out is eating the left-overs cold. I like it better cold than when it's fresh.
Unfortunately, there is no Chinese food in our house which therefore makes cold Chinese food impossible.
GAH!
Unfortunately, there is no Chinese food in our house which therefore makes cold Chinese food impossible.
GAH!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Awe-inspiring people
Have you ever been truly in awe of someone? There's so much stupidity around us, so when I find someone that amazes me (in a good way, not in a "Oh my stars and garters, these people have actually reproduced" way), I hold it dear.
About a year ago, I got back in touch with an old friend. In high school, we were just acquaintances. We had AP Physics together and he was nice, but we never hung out. I ran into him at a rest stop on my way back to college (we both went to school out of state--the same state, different schools) on more than one occasion and we stopped to chat then moved on.
Well, now he's a doctor, a pediatrician. And what is he doing with his time and talents? He's touring truly underprivileged places in the world providing care at his own cost. He's not advertising this fact as a way to get attention. He only mentioned it when I wrote to ask.
When my cousin passed away last year, this friend wrote me a quick note that was very sweet. I was truly touched. He didn't have to do that. We hadn't really kept in touch. Heck, I didn't even tell him about my cousin. He found out indirectly and went out of his way to write.
Mind you, we were never romantically linked, so don't get the wrong idea. He's a newlywed (his wife is gorgeous. They make such a cute couple) and I've been happily married for a long time. So it's nothing of that sort.
I'm just amazed at the person he has become. He's the type of person that you sometime doubt exists. To know that there are truly kind-hearted people out there really helps renew my faith in humanity. If you need a definition of mensch, he fits it perfectly.
About a year ago, I got back in touch with an old friend. In high school, we were just acquaintances. We had AP Physics together and he was nice, but we never hung out. I ran into him at a rest stop on my way back to college (we both went to school out of state--the same state, different schools) on more than one occasion and we stopped to chat then moved on.
Well, now he's a doctor, a pediatrician. And what is he doing with his time and talents? He's touring truly underprivileged places in the world providing care at his own cost. He's not advertising this fact as a way to get attention. He only mentioned it when I wrote to ask.
When my cousin passed away last year, this friend wrote me a quick note that was very sweet. I was truly touched. He didn't have to do that. We hadn't really kept in touch. Heck, I didn't even tell him about my cousin. He found out indirectly and went out of his way to write.
Mind you, we were never romantically linked, so don't get the wrong idea. He's a newlywed (his wife is gorgeous. They make such a cute couple) and I've been happily married for a long time. So it's nothing of that sort.
I'm just amazed at the person he has become. He's the type of person that you sometime doubt exists. To know that there are truly kind-hearted people out there really helps renew my faith in humanity. If you need a definition of mensch, he fits it perfectly.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Morning sickness is evil.
I'm still here. I am, however, very sick. Morning sickness hates me and refuses to leave. I'm so freaking exhausted all the time. I keep meaning to post, but it just hasn't been a priority. Sorry, all.
I'm inching closer to my second trimester and I'm hoping that once I get there, I'll feel a lot better.
Until then, I'll leave you with this bizarre, but cute encounter.
The other day, TheBoy was playing with a toy remote control while I watched the news. They featured a deployed Marine who, via web cam, got his first view of his 2-day-old daughter. The newborn little girl got TheBoy's attention. When the clip was over, he said, "Want see baby again." When I told him that wasn't going to happen, he came over to me, said, "See your baby. Hi, baby," kissing my stomach. He then held his remote up to my stomach and said, "Remote for your baby." He was very insistent that the baby was to have that remote. At one point he told me, "You hold wit two hands. Hold remote for baby. Hold for when baby here." I thought it was sweet.
Oh and when asked what we should name the baby, TheBoy offered, "Somebody Else."
I'm inching closer to my second trimester and I'm hoping that once I get there, I'll feel a lot better.
Until then, I'll leave you with this bizarre, but cute encounter.
The other day, TheBoy was playing with a toy remote control while I watched the news. They featured a deployed Marine who, via web cam, got his first view of his 2-day-old daughter. The newborn little girl got TheBoy's attention. When the clip was over, he said, "Want see baby again." When I told him that wasn't going to happen, he came over to me, said, "See your baby. Hi, baby," kissing my stomach. He then held his remote up to my stomach and said, "Remote for your baby." He was very insistent that the baby was to have that remote. At one point he told me, "You hold wit two hands. Hold remote for baby. Hold for when baby here." I thought it was sweet.
Oh and when asked what we should name the baby, TheBoy offered, "Somebody Else."
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Finding ballance
This parenting thing doesn't get any easier. Just when you adapt to one stage, a whole new set of subtleties and considerations go into effect.
How do you balance it all? Last year, we took a break and didn't have any sport-related classes. In the past, they danced for two years and took a break from that to explore karate. We tried Softball a while ago, but I was really put off by the whole thing. I was there for my kids to learn the game and have fun. Everyone else was there to prep their kids for the Olympics. We learned very quickly that it wasn't for us and we ran far far away.
Starting very soon, the big kids will have Hebrew school on Mondays. They'll have Sunday school too. We don't do sports on Shabbat.
I'm not the type who wants my kids to play 5 different sports. I'd like them to do one or two things to stay active and to learn what they're capable of. At the same time, religion is very important to us. I didn't have the opportunity to learn Hebrew. Dh just learned enough to read from the Torah for his bar mitzvah portion and he immediately forgot it all. Our children will have better.
I danced every week day and had gymnastics on the weekend. Dh's parents are VERY involved in local sports (my MIL is in her town's sports hall of fame). So that drives us, but so too does the love of Judaism.
We had to pass up the dance school where I really wanted to send the girls because the class for their age group is the same day/time as Hebrew school. They want to take gymnastics too, but we can't do it. I'm not comfortable with them shoving so much into the evenings. If I can find a homeschool class that meets during the day, we can do that, but once you're out of that pre-k age, it's difficult to find much during daytime hours.
Gah! How do you find the right balance? How do you resist becoming a stereotype one way or another? I will not be the parent who confronts the Hebrew school teacher demanding to know, "How is he supposed to improve at baseball when you want him here during practices?" How do we teach our children to value their beliefs and heritage if we so obviously value the physical over all else? Although, I also refuse to raise a mensch with absolutely no appreciation for his physical ability. Can you truly appreciate G-d if you can't recognize the power in yourself?
How do you balance it all? Last year, we took a break and didn't have any sport-related classes. In the past, they danced for two years and took a break from that to explore karate. We tried Softball a while ago, but I was really put off by the whole thing. I was there for my kids to learn the game and have fun. Everyone else was there to prep their kids for the Olympics. We learned very quickly that it wasn't for us and we ran far far away.
Starting very soon, the big kids will have Hebrew school on Mondays. They'll have Sunday school too. We don't do sports on Shabbat.
I'm not the type who wants my kids to play 5 different sports. I'd like them to do one or two things to stay active and to learn what they're capable of. At the same time, religion is very important to us. I didn't have the opportunity to learn Hebrew. Dh just learned enough to read from the Torah for his bar mitzvah portion and he immediately forgot it all. Our children will have better.
I danced every week day and had gymnastics on the weekend. Dh's parents are VERY involved in local sports (my MIL is in her town's sports hall of fame). So that drives us, but so too does the love of Judaism.
We had to pass up the dance school where I really wanted to send the girls because the class for their age group is the same day/time as Hebrew school. They want to take gymnastics too, but we can't do it. I'm not comfortable with them shoving so much into the evenings. If I can find a homeschool class that meets during the day, we can do that, but once you're out of that pre-k age, it's difficult to find much during daytime hours.
Gah! How do you find the right balance? How do you resist becoming a stereotype one way or another? I will not be the parent who confronts the Hebrew school teacher demanding to know, "How is he supposed to improve at baseball when you want him here during practices?" How do we teach our children to value their beliefs and heritage if we so obviously value the physical over all else? Although, I also refuse to raise a mensch with absolutely no appreciation for his physical ability. Can you truly appreciate G-d if you can't recognize the power in yourself?
Friday, August 08, 2008
An update
My FIL has to decide between surgery or radiation. With one, he risks impotence. With the other, incontinence.
He seems to be in good spirits. He joked the whole time he was on the phone with dh. Yes, he spoke to dh even though he wanted to keep it quiet. I think now that he has some more information, he feels more comfortable telling the family.
I'm feeling a lot better about the situation, but I'm still shell-shocked. I've seen a lot of cancer in my family and I've never had anyone survive it. I know it's possible, but it's not anything I have any experience with. Even with dh, his paternal grandfather died of cancer. So survival is foreign to us. I'm looking forward to my FIL being the first.
Although, now this raises more questions and compels us to stand back and take a closer look at our lives and our lifestyle. From the research I've done, 5-10% of prostate cancer cases are hereditary. That comforted me until I found that having a close relative with it doubles my husband's risk. Should his brother or uncle (who has been estranged from the family for decades, so we wouldn't even have a way of knowing) develop it (G-d forbid), dh's risk increases to 5 times.
We're pretty healthy, but we can do more. Dh doesn't exercise at all and I have a penchant for eating out. We're going to have to evaluate things and come up with a concrete plan to be certain we live life in the healthiest way possible.
He seems to be in good spirits. He joked the whole time he was on the phone with dh. Yes, he spoke to dh even though he wanted to keep it quiet. I think now that he has some more information, he feels more comfortable telling the family.
I'm feeling a lot better about the situation, but I'm still shell-shocked. I've seen a lot of cancer in my family and I've never had anyone survive it. I know it's possible, but it's not anything I have any experience with. Even with dh, his paternal grandfather died of cancer. So survival is foreign to us. I'm looking forward to my FIL being the first.
Although, now this raises more questions and compels us to stand back and take a closer look at our lives and our lifestyle. From the research I've done, 5-10% of prostate cancer cases are hereditary. That comforted me until I found that having a close relative with it doubles my husband's risk. Should his brother or uncle (who has been estranged from the family for decades, so we wouldn't even have a way of knowing) develop it (G-d forbid), dh's risk increases to 5 times.
We're pretty healthy, but we can do more. Dh doesn't exercise at all and I have a penchant for eating out. We're going to have to evaluate things and come up with a concrete plan to be certain we live life in the healthiest way possible.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
The Waiting Place
Ever read Dr. Seuss' Oh The Places You'll Go? The title is a reference to that.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
My father-in-law meets with the doctor today. I've been waiting rather impatiently all day, but we haven't heard anything. We don't want to call because we're not even supposed to know about it (my FIL doesn't want us worrying. My FIL has apparently never met me).
Please, G-d, let the news be good. Please let the treatment be quick, simple, relatively pain-free and successful.
And please let them call soon.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
My father-in-law meets with the doctor today. I've been waiting rather impatiently all day, but we haven't heard anything. We don't want to call because we're not even supposed to know about it (my FIL doesn't want us worrying. My FIL has apparently never met me).
Please, G-d, let the news be good. Please let the treatment be quick, simple, relatively pain-free and successful.
And please let them call soon.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Not again.
We've been asked to keep this quiet from family, so I'm only posting details here where that part of the family doesn't visit (at least as far as I know. Please, G-d don't let them know about this place).
My MIL called today to tell dh that his father has prostate cancer.
My initial reaction was absolute shock. I wanted to cry. I wanted to hug my husband. It didn't help that we were in the middle of Target at the time. Great place to raid the dollar spot or find a cute top, but not the best place for a breakdown.
Now, my thoughts are, "Not again. Please, G-d, not again."
Mi-sheberakh
Mi-sheberakh avoteinu v’imoteinu, Avraham v’Sarah, Yitzhak v’Rivkah, Ya’akov, Rachel v’Leah hu y’varekh et Ezra Ben Avraham v’yavi aleihem refuat hanefesh u’refuat haguf yachad im kol cholei amo Yisrael. Barukh atah Hashem, rofeh ha’cholim.
My MIL called today to tell dh that his father has prostate cancer.
My initial reaction was absolute shock. I wanted to cry. I wanted to hug my husband. It didn't help that we were in the middle of Target at the time. Great place to raid the dollar spot or find a cute top, but not the best place for a breakdown.
Now, my thoughts are, "Not again. Please, G-d, not again."
Mi-sheberakh
Mi-sheberakh avoteinu v’imoteinu, Avraham v’Sarah, Yitzhak v’Rivkah, Ya’akov, Rachel v’Leah hu y’varekh et Ezra Ben Avraham v’yavi aleihem refuat hanefesh u’refuat haguf yachad im kol cholei amo Yisrael. Barukh atah Hashem, rofeh ha’cholim.
Monday, July 28, 2008
CNN loses its ever-loving mind.
Dear CNN,
I love you. When my husband was deployed, I damn-near moved in at Headline News. Now that he's home, I still regularly watch both CNN and Headline News. I find your reporting to be even-handed and fair. I may not always agree with what is reported, but it's presented in a balanced fashion. This is in stark contrast to your competition.
So I find it rather baffling that I need to compose a letter in which I tell you that a kangaroo kicking a zoo keeper is not news. It is normal animal behavior. Should you decide to show that video a handful of times during the day, so be it. I suppose it has its entertainment value. Although, under no circumstances should you air that footage EVERY FIVE MINUTES. You are a news network. That is not news. It's a kangaroo that kicks. This does not compare to war, famine, disease or even a freaking religious image burned into toast.
Any random idiot who happens to be holding a camera is NOT an "IReporter." They most certainly should not be refered to on the air as, "Our IReporter." They are not your hired staff. They are neither yours nor are they reporters.
While it is true that occasionally, an amateur will capture an astounding or truly important moment on camera, this is not one of those moments.
Please cut this shit out. I watch CNN and Headline News (both of which have been airing this video every 5 minutes) for the news, not to see some random kangaroo doing what kangaroos do.
I love you. When my husband was deployed, I damn-near moved in at Headline News. Now that he's home, I still regularly watch both CNN and Headline News. I find your reporting to be even-handed and fair. I may not always agree with what is reported, but it's presented in a balanced fashion. This is in stark contrast to your competition.
So I find it rather baffling that I need to compose a letter in which I tell you that a kangaroo kicking a zoo keeper is not news. It is normal animal behavior. Should you decide to show that video a handful of times during the day, so be it. I suppose it has its entertainment value. Although, under no circumstances should you air that footage EVERY FIVE MINUTES. You are a news network. That is not news. It's a kangaroo that kicks. This does not compare to war, famine, disease or even a freaking religious image burned into toast.
Any random idiot who happens to be holding a camera is NOT an "IReporter." They most certainly should not be refered to on the air as, "Our IReporter." They are not your hired staff. They are neither yours nor are they reporters.
While it is true that occasionally, an amateur will capture an astounding or truly important moment on camera, this is not one of those moments.
Please cut this shit out. I watch CNN and Headline News (both of which have been airing this video every 5 minutes) for the news, not to see some random kangaroo doing what kangaroos do.
13 going on 30
Forgive me for being absent lately. I'm stuck in a bit of a block.
So, instead of writing anything of substance, I will once again share kids' conversations with you.
My kids are young. My biggest kids are elementary school aged. So when they started asking me about colleges, I was more than a bit surprised.
Here, to the best of my recollection, is the conversation they had with me yesterday.
Girl2: Are there Jewish colleges?
Me: Yes
Girl2: Good. I want to go to a Jewish college. That way, I can find a Jewish boy there.
Me: Okay
Girl2: Are there Jewish colleges is Israel?
Me: Yep.
Girl2: Good. Then I'll go to a Jewish college in Israel and I'll find a Jewish boy who speaks Hebrew to marry.
Girl1: When we go to Israel for our bat mitzvah, we can look at colleges then to find one we like.
AHHHHHHHH. Wait. What? Where did these kids come from? They're far too young for this. Although, as a Jewish mother, I admit to being quite pleased with the conversation. I'm certainly not complaining. Complaining? No. Startled? Absolutely.
So, instead of writing anything of substance, I will once again share kids' conversations with you.
My kids are young. My biggest kids are elementary school aged. So when they started asking me about colleges, I was more than a bit surprised.
Here, to the best of my recollection, is the conversation they had with me yesterday.
Girl2: Are there Jewish colleges?
Me: Yes
Girl2: Good. I want to go to a Jewish college. That way, I can find a Jewish boy there.
Me: Okay
Girl2: Are there Jewish colleges is Israel?
Me: Yep.
Girl2: Good. Then I'll go to a Jewish college in Israel and I'll find a Jewish boy who speaks Hebrew to marry.
Girl1: When we go to Israel for our bat mitzvah, we can look at colleges then to find one we like.
AHHHHHHHH. Wait. What? Where did these kids come from? They're far too young for this. Although, as a Jewish mother, I admit to being quite pleased with the conversation. I'm certainly not complaining. Complaining? No. Startled? Absolutely.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Quotation on parenting
I love this one and simply had to share.
"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." Anna Quindlen
"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." Anna Quindlen
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Why can't they take perfection and run?
Girl2 is forever singing. She loves making up her own songs and singing some of her favorite staples over and over again. Among her list of career aspirations, you'll find "Mermaid," "Singer" and "Rabbi."
A local congregation just got a new cantor and suddenly it hit me, that would be the PERFECT job for that child.
I sit there for a moment, thinking I'm absolutely brilliant. I'm completely in awe of the genius that is my recent observation. Then I share my suggestion with her. Dh immediately agrees.
My daughter, the singer--the aspiring mermaid rabbi singer, responds with, "Nah. I don't think so."
WHAT? I have just handed you the perfect career and rather than, "Oh my goodness! Thank you, mother. I am once again floored by your brilliance. Yes, from this point on, I will go forth and work hard at becoming a fine cantor," her response was, "Nah."
Gah! These kids! What the heck am I supposed to do with them? Obviously, not mold them into cantors.
A local congregation just got a new cantor and suddenly it hit me, that would be the PERFECT job for that child.
I sit there for a moment, thinking I'm absolutely brilliant. I'm completely in awe of the genius that is my recent observation. Then I share my suggestion with her. Dh immediately agrees.
My daughter, the singer--the aspiring mermaid rabbi singer, responds with, "Nah. I don't think so."
WHAT? I have just handed you the perfect career and rather than, "Oh my goodness! Thank you, mother. I am once again floored by your brilliance. Yes, from this point on, I will go forth and work hard at becoming a fine cantor," her response was, "Nah."
Gah! These kids! What the heck am I supposed to do with them? Obviously, not mold them into cantors.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Fox News hits an all new low.
I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think Fox News could get any lower. Then I read this from Jews On First.
You can read more here and here. You really have to see the video because you don't fully appreciate their audacity/stupidity until you actually see the assholes in action.
They altered (poorly) images of a reporter and editor who wrote negative pieces on Fox News. The ears, hair and nose on the (assumed) Jewish reporter were enlarged in an anti-semitic fashion and his teeth were yellowed. His editor's forehead was enlarged so that his hairline appeared further back. Dark circles were also added under his eyes. This was not done in a joking fashion. These were aired as actual photographs.
I'm just stunned. This is an all new low. This is absolutely disgusting.
Video commentary on the matter
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
On lunchboxes and customer service
I have a good customer service story to share. I'm addicted to the Consumerist where you'll often find unbelievably awful horror stories about the customer service provided by some companies. So when there's a GOOD story to share, I'm all over it.
I ordered two of the Stephen Joseph Flower lunch boxes for my daughters from Amazon. They're adorable. The girls were thrilled.
Well, after using the lunch boxes for only three days, one got a tear in the lining. I contacted Stephen Joseph directly and they immediately offered to send another one right away. The rep was friendly and very helpful.
I'm impressed.
August 3, 2008 UPDATE: I forgot to post an update sooner, but the lunch box came a week after I posted this. The newer version has a sort of grid in the lining which appears to have made it stronger. I'm happy to report that the lunch boxes made it through the rest of camp tear-free. They're in great shape. I will definitely by from Stephen Joseph again.
I ordered two of the Stephen Joseph Flower lunch boxes for my daughters from Amazon. They're adorable. The girls were thrilled.
Well, after using the lunch boxes for only three days, one got a tear in the lining. I contacted Stephen Joseph directly and they immediately offered to send another one right away. The rep was friendly and very helpful.
I'm impressed.
August 3, 2008 UPDATE: I forgot to post an update sooner, but the lunch box came a week after I posted this. The newer version has a sort of grid in the lining which appears to have made it stronger. I'm happy to report that the lunch boxes made it through the rest of camp tear-free. They're in great shape. I will definitely by from Stephen Joseph again.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Other people's kids say funny things too.
A friend called to relay a conversation she had with her son and I have to share.
He asked questions about why my kids don't eat certain things. She was trying to explain our religious dietary restrictions.
She explained that we don't eat pork because pigs are "Unclean."
So he asked, "Can't they just give them a bath?"
She called to tell me and I cracked up.
He asked questions about why my kids don't eat certain things. She was trying to explain our religious dietary restrictions.
She explained that we don't eat pork because pigs are "Unclean."
So he asked, "Can't they just give them a bath?"
She called to tell me and I cracked up.
Deep Thoughts from Patton Oswald
Yeah, I'm surprised to see that combo of words too. Still, his speech to the graduating class of his old high school, while a bit long-winded (he spends too much time rambling before actually getting into the heart of the message), is very interesting (in a good kind of way).
And now, the actual speech
And now, the actual speech
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Need a feel good story?
I love these stories of big corporations actually doing the right thing. In this case, Costco went above and beyond.
Costco Saves Christmas...In July
The brief version of the story is that a woman sent gifts to her friend. They were packaged in a mattress cover box. Someone stole the box from her porch. The theif returned the box to Costco for $170. Someone else recently bought the mattress cover (or so they thought) and found the gifts inside. Costco went out of their way to track down the real owner of the gifts and offered to expedite shipping at their own cost.
How neat is that?
I know I sure as hell needed a happy uplifting, "See, not everyone and everything is evil," story. I figured you might as well. Enjoy.
Costco Saves Christmas...In July
The brief version of the story is that a woman sent gifts to her friend. They were packaged in a mattress cover box. Someone stole the box from her porch. The theif returned the box to Costco for $170. Someone else recently bought the mattress cover (or so they thought) and found the gifts inside. Costco went out of their way to track down the real owner of the gifts and offered to expedite shipping at their own cost.
How neat is that?
I know I sure as hell needed a happy uplifting, "See, not everyone and everything is evil," story. I figured you might as well. Enjoy.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Do you speak Jewish?
I first heard about this language survey over at Jspot.
I took it and I found it fascinating. Who knew that some of my speech quirks are Jewish-related? I realize the Yiddish/Hebrew is pretty obvious (although I have several non-Jewish friends, including a former nun who use Yiddish fairly regularly in their daily speech), but even the way I compose sentences is influenced by Judaism. I had no idea.
The survey was pretty quick (It suggests 15-20 minutes, but it took me about 10 minutes). They're asking for Jews and non-Jews to take it. Some questions were specifically Jewish, but there's always a "None," or "NA" response.
If you have a moment, please go take it. It's pretty interesting. I'm curious about the results.
I took it and I found it fascinating. Who knew that some of my speech quirks are Jewish-related? I realize the Yiddish/Hebrew is pretty obvious (although I have several non-Jewish friends, including a former nun who use Yiddish fairly regularly in their daily speech), but even the way I compose sentences is influenced by Judaism. I had no idea.
The survey was pretty quick (It suggests 15-20 minutes, but it took me about 10 minutes). They're asking for Jews and non-Jews to take it. Some questions were specifically Jewish, but there's always a "None," or "NA" response.
If you have a moment, please go take it. It's pretty interesting. I'm curious about the results.
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