Sleepless in .........well its not Seattle

. . . . . . . I am not Meg Ryan, and Tom Hanks isnt around.  

What will happen in the morning when 8 o'clock comes and goes, and I still cant crawl out of bed. Sleep is just not meant to be tonight. Am I turning into u no hoo. Sorry only my nearest and dearest will get that  one. 

This is Israel, and I have been here almost a month.  The Emunah Convention came and went.  Perhaps I should have participated in more of it, but I  just  didnt have the stamina.  I must say that those parts I did go to, were really well done and very interesting.  The stand out speakers were Rav Lau, and Rav Benny Lau; Gil Troy never disappoints.  He has such passion for this country. 

It is interesting to me to note how some of the Israel Emunah ladies have evolved in their positions.  Given the opportunity to lead some certainly grew into leadership roles.

Eva and Jane were great company for as long as that lasted, but now I have to get down to the business of serious living.  Got to find a satisfying routine.  

Of course, now it is Chanukah, and again a week's delay in settling into real life.   But one thing I can do tomorrow morning is get up and get out.  My trajectory is straight up the hill for the 20 minute walk to a good cup o' coffee and 20 minutes back.  That is not a bad beginning for this sedentary soul.  We'll see what new excuse tomorrow will bring.  

Respect or the lack of it

A few weeks ago I knew what my next blog entry would be about. At the time, I was just coming home from Toronto and "respect" seemed like a burning issue. And when I say "respect" please read "the lack of it". Rodney Dangerfield built a career on the concept titling his autobiography (in part): A Lifetime of No Respect

I am that mother who thought her kids' friends should call me Mrs., (now, of course, it is Ms.) much to the dismay and embarrassment of some of my kids. This says something about me, doesn't it?

Well it doesnt seem to translate in my day to day existence. Should I spell it out? I am invariably left to introduce myself to my children's friends & guilted into doing so by first name.

I have virtually confessed my age in this blog, so am I not entitled to slow down the pace of my life, without being "damned" as a 95 year old? My baby - OK he's 37 and certainly no baby - is constantly on my case: but Ma you're not 95. Well, what if I figure I have earned the right to act 95 at one time and act 45 or even16 at another time. Surely I have earned that right.

Behaving the appropriate grandmotherly type, is such a drain; so stressful, and definitely no fun. I insist on my right to be cool, play Nintendo; shut the world out with MY IPod; yes and even have a blog of my own. All of this and respect PLEASE.

And it is also my right (truth, be told this comes with the territory and has nothing to do with rights) to forget:

• your name moments after we are introduced;
• 3 of the 4 items on your shopping list (and the shopping list itself)
• that I ALREADY called you back
  

Yes the list goes on and on. Perhaps the right I demand is to be forgiven and not mocked for these frequent 'faux pas', and indeed respect thru it all.

I assert here and now that my behaviour shall in no way impact on the respect due me, as a mother, grandmother, aunt, older cousin or your friend's parent.

Written with love and respect and love (I know I said 'love' 2X)

Shana Tova

To my dear friends, family, and Rachel. Sorry but for more than a week I've had both hands tied behind my back. In '07, that is what happens when you experience computer meltdown (well, maybe not you, but definitely me). Now I only have one hand in restraints, that is because.........Mazal Tov........ I have pristine new white Mac. It is beautiful, but I have no idea how to use it.

Can anyone out there recommend a "dummies" type book that would help me out with the basics?

I have been obsessing about my computer for some weeks now. I certainly didn't realize the extent to which I have been using the laptop as a virtual kitchen accessory. It is an indispensable aid to reading the newspaper. I constantly look up definitions, as I am reading, or jump into Google to locate some piece of info that I need to corroborate or complement what I am reading; not to mention the constant cooking support, but I have already told you about that.

It had been my intention to write, before Rosh Hashana and address this to the bulk of my contact list. Well I am often late, in such things, but it is never too late for good wishes. So here are mine. To all who give me the courtesy of reading my 'shtuyot', I take this occasion to wish you all the best in this New Year. We need and pray for Good Health and Peace. When that is taken care of we can move on to wishes for prosperity and happiness and Nachat.

5767 was a good year for yours truly. Each of you has done your small part to enhance my life this past year, and I thank you all. I look forward to your friendship, support and love (only where applicable) in 5768.

Gmar Chatima Tova

People watching

Here I am in NY, the Big Apple and went down to Starbucks to jump start my day. I took a window seat on Broadway @ 75th street, and all of a sudden I realized that right here, more that 50 years ago I sat with my parents having breakfast in a restaurant call Starks. We stayed in the Beacon Hotel which is still right there on B'way on the other side of 75th.

Although I brought a book along, people watching is far more interesting. The flow of people into Starbucks was relentless. In the hour I sat there were always at least 3 people in line. From my vantage point I studied the passing crowds, and, yes, there were crowds. I always pick out certain types and try to figure out what they are all about. This being Labour Day, the dress was casual to very casual, but I invariably imagined that the guy in flip flops, baggy shorts and tank top would tomorrow put on a well pressed formal shirt, neat slacks and perhaps even a tie. The women in very short shorts, or very tight jeans, would they also put on a straight laced business look for the work week.

And how many of them were dog walkers? probably more than half. It also struck me that for every woman I saw with child there were as many as 4 dads with 1, 2 or even 3 kids. Was this proof of the dominant single parent families in contemporary society, and was holday Monday Dad's turn with the kids. This thought really saddened me.

New York........This is an amazing city. You can feel its energy. I love to experience it, but at the end of the day, let me go home.

New Beginning (or not?)

The sombre backdrop to my writing is public television's 2 hour history of Islamic history in Spain and the occasional peaceful coexistence between Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Truly remarkable with today's frame of reference. Truly remarkable to see the sophistication of a luxurious Islamic lifestyle in Granada; a lifestyle that Christians and Jews in Christian Spain sought to replicate by importing the Islamic expertise from Granada.

Far be it from me to discuss or analyze this history, but how did the centuries since that golden period in Spain evolve - from the Inquisition to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and on through the many years to the end of the 2nd millenium and the violent conflicts we have today.

Perhaps we really know part of the answer, so the better question may be: Could events have been controlled so that the 21st century, that we are now living, could have been different

I really will have to stay away from Public Television, I dont like this kind of provocative programming. I much prefer the Tuscan cooking of David Rocco and his co-chefs on the Food Network. I have to strive for an appropriate balance. 'Nuff said

Now u see me

I have added my photo. Here I am with my crowning white glory. I am fond of saying that I honestly earned (as opposed to stealing) every single one of my gray hairs - which is why I would never hide it. It is hard to imagine living life for 65+ years, raising a family, running a home and household for many years, enjoying relative success in business and reaching retirement, without turning gray. And believe me if I tell you: it is not just an age thing

My house guests are still in house, but not in my house. I followed my kids to their next stop: Toronto. I have very limited responsibilities here. I do have to behave myself, and diapering is optional, but pleasurable. Since it isnt My Coffee or My Newspaper, nothing seems quite so pressing in the morning. I can almost be sociable.

We are into the second half of Aug so looking toward the fall, conversation turns to the chagim and the inevitable menu planning for many consecutive festive meals.

Do you know that much of the preparation I did in May and June for the summer invasion remains untouched in the freezer. I told you about the great leftovers, but menu planning with the girls, reached new heights. In the week before departure there were still 6 weeks worth of planned menus to execute (I just dont know if we were really expected to eat them as well). My freezer is ready for the Chagim, I can turn my attention to some of the many other pursuits that entice me.

I guess the serious blog will have to wait another little while.

peace and quiet-I survived the summer of '07

It doesnt get any better than this. I can bellyache "b'li sof", but you all know the truth. The summer, so far was amazing.

Isnt it great? the appreciation of what was until now - the full house; lots of work; lots of shopping; lots of noise and lots of tripping over the Fisher Price people that spill out of the school bus as it was noisily yanked and jerked around my home.

Yesterday there was silence, the toys were collected, I didnt have to do anything at all if that is what I wanted. And I didnt turn into a maudlin empty nester, bemoaning my lonely existence. This too is great. Everything fell into its familiar rhythm very quickly.

The truth is I cant believe I was actually anxious about the summer, as I anticipated the house guests.

And then the new baby arrived and more guests wanted in on the Simcha of naming a baby girl. My heart was filled with joy and pleasure and Nachat. We missed you and your family, Ellen. Yaffa would surely have said: dont worry, Mom, there's room, it'll be OK. But you had already gone home and it wasnt to be.

For the next posting, it will be time to get serious. I will dig deep and come up with something.

My turn to party

After 5 long weeks of non stop house guests, it is almost my turn to party, or veg, depending on how I feel when I get back from the airport Sunday morning.

Picture it: I am a little old lady living alone in a condo and in the last five weeks my space has been variously invaded by anwhere between 5 and 10 house guests. Need I say more? You completely lose control. No square inch of space is your own.

My daily newspapers are massacred before I see them, and the baby's 'pooie' diapers beg my attention..........and this is often even before I have my morning coffee. The Mother is off running and father, well he'd rather just not do it, or maybe he is running too. Then it is baby's breakfast, and on and on. It just never stopped.

The daily menus were planned way in advanced and required multiple google searches for best recipes, not to mention the renown "Fine Cooking" magazine' recipes that must be followed to the letter. There was home made fettucine and lasagna, gnocchi twice. Can you believe we actually found a YouTube video on how to make it. At least the freezer will be well stocked with yummy leftovers.

Next up I'll tell you about the denouement, and report on my survival.