Terrorists!
This is how Egypt deals with Palestinians. I personally love it.
Yes its sad that people died, yet look at the caliber of people that died. They are smugglers. They are corrupting their own country in order to profit on other peoples continuous misery.
Yet, this story and others that relate to how Egypt deals with Palestinians I feel shows exactly how the Arab world feels about Palestine. They (Palestinians) are only tolerated by their Arab brothers because they have the ability to destroy there ultimate enemy, Israel. If not for there one and only task in there miserable existence, the Palestinians would not be tolerated at all. They would probably go through a genocide and become extinct.
Yet again proof that Palestinians do not deserve their own country. How could they manage a whole country when they can't even manage a small aspect of it (Gaza).
The fact is, there are constant reminders (bulldozer in Jerusalem, suicide bombers, etc) that Palestinians cannot be trusted for peace, security or anything else that they say they will uphold.
They have not lived up to any promise that they have ever made to Israel or the rest of the world. So, the question remains: Why are they allowed ANY freedoms at all.
There is no way of dealing with these animals other than by shipping them to a huge territory of land so that they can live happily with their brothers, Iran, Iraq, Libya, or Egypt. Yet none of their charitable brothers want to take them, and the Jewish people are stuck with this on going war, between feuding brothers.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Home Made Challah!
If anybody ever doubts my baking abilities here is some proof!
Yesterday, I finally, FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MY OWN!!! Made Challah! I made enough to make a brocha, which turned out to be 8 Challah’s! Now, it may not impress everyone, but then again that was not my goal. My goals were to do a mitzvah, make tasty bread for Rosh Hashanah, and feel empowered.
I am not sure why, but when making Challah, I totally felt empowered! I felt as though NOW, I could really do anything I set as a goal in the kitchen. Now, it must be noted that this was not the first time I have ever baked. In fact I make desserts all the time, but for some reason that is unexplainable this was truly amazing!
Of course we have to taste it and see how it came out. Yet, even with the unknown of what it tastes like, I totally felt like a woman taking care of her family!
Anyhow, I love it, I hope that I keep doing it, and I’ll report back on the taste :-)
Yesterday, I finally, FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MY OWN!!! Made Challah! I made enough to make a brocha, which turned out to be 8 Challah’s! Now, it may not impress everyone, but then again that was not my goal. My goals were to do a mitzvah, make tasty bread for Rosh Hashanah, and feel empowered.
I am not sure why, but when making Challah, I totally felt empowered! I felt as though NOW, I could really do anything I set as a goal in the kitchen. Now, it must be noted that this was not the first time I have ever baked. In fact I make desserts all the time, but for some reason that is unexplainable this was truly amazing!
Of course we have to taste it and see how it came out. Yet, even with the unknown of what it tastes like, I totally felt like a woman taking care of her family!
Anyhow, I love it, I hope that I keep doing it, and I’ll report back on the taste :-)
P.S= totally worth staying up till 1am to finish!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sales
I know this post is a little later than all the ones I've read on blogger sites about the astronomical price of school supplies. Well, today I was at super Target. The greatest store of all! School supplies were 75% off. Dorm supplies, including bedding was 30-75% off. Literally a steal. I bought a few things I need for the house for the low, low prices (paper for $0.12 for 150 sheets).
Just a thought;
Why not shop for next year...THIS YEAR at the discounted rates?
For sure prices are great. How much does paper change? Or binders? Or other school supplies?
That would be my money saviour tip of the day.
Enjoy.
Just a thought;
Why not shop for next year...THIS YEAR at the discounted rates?
For sure prices are great. How much does paper change? Or binders? Or other school supplies?
That would be my money saviour tip of the day.
Enjoy.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Is that real?
This question seems to follow me and my purse around everywhere we go. It happens to be that I have a nice purse. What I can’t figure out is: do other people with nice purses get approached and asked: “Is that real”? Or do I just emit a vibe that says…nope that can’t be real she wouldn’t be wearing such a real purse.
Usually I just say…”I don’t know” and leave it at that. On Saturday night in the parking garage somebody asked me this particular question and I said “I don’t know”. They could not let it go. How could I not know? What is going on that I don’t know if my purse is real or not, and on it went.
Then I realized: I DON”T CARE and excused myself and walked away.
What I still don’t understand is how people have the audacity to come up to a relative stranger and ask such a question? When I’m wearing my engagement ring do people come up to me and ask: “Is that real”….NO, they don’t. So why is it appropriate to do that when I’m wearing my purse?
So frustrating!
Usually I just say…”I don’t know” and leave it at that. On Saturday night in the parking garage somebody asked me this particular question and I said “I don’t know”. They could not let it go. How could I not know? What is going on that I don’t know if my purse is real or not, and on it went.
Then I realized: I DON”T CARE and excused myself and walked away.
What I still don’t understand is how people have the audacity to come up to a relative stranger and ask such a question? When I’m wearing my engagement ring do people come up to me and ask: “Is that real”….NO, they don’t. So why is it appropriate to do that when I’m wearing my purse?
So frustrating!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Neighbors!
This blog is one of those that my husband calls Emotional Rants.
Well, here it goes anyway. As I was doing laundry today I was headed off by a neighbor who apparently thought their laundry is more important. What happened is that they took out my laundry from the washer (once the cycle was complete) and put it on top of the drier and then put their laundry into the washer.
Now here is where the problem lays. I do not want anyone touching my laundry. AND OF COURSE THIS WAS ALL Personal laundry which for me is sooo much worse than if it were just sheets or something of that nature.
To say that I was livid would be somewhat of an understatement. I knocked on my neighbors doors I yelled and then fumed and of course nobody confessed. SO, I had to resort to waiting for the culprit to come and get their wash from the washer to the drier. Of course I was fuming the whole time because I would have to re wash all of my stuff.
So, I sat there really aggravated, and fuming thinking of all the things I could do with the persons laundry and all the things I would tell them of what I think about them and all that good stuff.
Finally their laundry finished and I took it all out and put it in their basket and left it on top of the washer and drier like they did to me! Then, of course I put all my stuff back in to be re washed.
Well by the time that I had come back to my house to drop off all of the detergent supplies I saw who the neighbor was (I had a suspicion) that it was this particular neighbor.
We happen to have a younger guy living in the building who happens to be a little bit sick mentally. He is fully functioning just not completely there. He lives alone and I often see him in the elevator. He is always friendly.
So, I came up to him and with as much un hateful, un resenting, un scathing tone I could muster told him “Hey Neighbor, next time you see my stuff in the washer let me know and I’ll transfer it over to the drier. That way you won’t have to do it for me, and I won’t have to rewash all my stuff”. He was like: “Oh yah, sure no problem. I didn’t see your number on the display there”. So I said yah, some of us put it there for this exact reason. So that if someone else wants to use the washer and drier they can just come and knock on the door of whoever is currently using it and then the problem is solved”. He said: Oh okay. I said thank you, he said thank you and that was it.
In the end I learned two things:
1. Judge people favorably (my good friends favorite saying to me)
2. I need time to think and then act. As proven today I had time to think, then when I acted it was not as bad as it would have been had he opened his door and I would have unleashed the wrath!
Well, here it goes anyway. As I was doing laundry today I was headed off by a neighbor who apparently thought their laundry is more important. What happened is that they took out my laundry from the washer (once the cycle was complete) and put it on top of the drier and then put their laundry into the washer.
Now here is where the problem lays. I do not want anyone touching my laundry. AND OF COURSE THIS WAS ALL Personal laundry which for me is sooo much worse than if it were just sheets or something of that nature.
To say that I was livid would be somewhat of an understatement. I knocked on my neighbors doors I yelled and then fumed and of course nobody confessed. SO, I had to resort to waiting for the culprit to come and get their wash from the washer to the drier. Of course I was fuming the whole time because I would have to re wash all of my stuff.
So, I sat there really aggravated, and fuming thinking of all the things I could do with the persons laundry and all the things I would tell them of what I think about them and all that good stuff.
Finally their laundry finished and I took it all out and put it in their basket and left it on top of the washer and drier like they did to me! Then, of course I put all my stuff back in to be re washed.
Well by the time that I had come back to my house to drop off all of the detergent supplies I saw who the neighbor was (I had a suspicion) that it was this particular neighbor.
We happen to have a younger guy living in the building who happens to be a little bit sick mentally. He is fully functioning just not completely there. He lives alone and I often see him in the elevator. He is always friendly.
So, I came up to him and with as much un hateful, un resenting, un scathing tone I could muster told him “Hey Neighbor, next time you see my stuff in the washer let me know and I’ll transfer it over to the drier. That way you won’t have to do it for me, and I won’t have to rewash all my stuff”. He was like: “Oh yah, sure no problem. I didn’t see your number on the display there”. So I said yah, some of us put it there for this exact reason. So that if someone else wants to use the washer and drier they can just come and knock on the door of whoever is currently using it and then the problem is solved”. He said: Oh okay. I said thank you, he said thank you and that was it.
In the end I learned two things:
1. Judge people favorably (my good friends favorite saying to me)
2. I need time to think and then act. As proven today I had time to think, then when I acted it was not as bad as it would have been had he opened his door and I would have unleashed the wrath!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Activism!
Driving home from work yesterday I was interested in a little talk radio. Since all the FM talk stations are full of garbage in the afternoon I tuned into AM 560 with Michael Medved as the talk show host. Usually I like what he is talking about and yesterday was the case as well. His show was focused on the fact that Cultural decisions matter. That what we do as a culture and what an individual does to fit into a certain culture s(he) wants to belong to, matters. Some of his examples included: that some people choose to send their kids to private school, others give donations to their spiritual organizations and other still do nothing. His main point was that Cultural decisions have more impact on your day to day life then politics do.
Well, I could not agree more! It happens to be that as orthodox Jews we have some cultural decisions that are expected of us. One of these decisions is sending children to private schools. Another cultural expectation is for women to wear shaitals (they range anywhere from $10-4000+). Now, let’s think about politics. Will it affect me one way or another if McCain gets elected over Obama? Absolutely not. Both are crooks as all politicians are. They will both implement “changes” and stimulus packages that are dictated to them by the house and senate. So will it effect me personally, maybe but on a much smaller level than if all of a sudden beef Jerky became Kosher!
How then are cultural decisions impacting my life? Well, one other interesting point that Michael Medved had was that if you are poor in America it is your own decision to stay poor in America. He mentions cultural and societal pressures and influences that will keep you down and will keep the poor, poor. At first I disagreed with him, and then I thought about being an Orthodox Jew and what that entails culturally. Then I went back on some recent discussions I’ve had with a variety of different people, and some interesting blogs that I’ve read about TUITION!!! That is when what Mr.Medved said started to become absolutely true. People in our communities complain about tuition. They complain that they cannot get on top because they have to pay tuition, no matter how little the amount it is still larger than public school which is FREE. They complain that they can no longer maintain any resemblance of the life style that they once had because these tuition bills are burdening them and are really keeping them down. So then here it is, is it a cultural decision of the orthodox Jews to keep people poor? Is it a cultural decision to work hard, and then still have to tell your child no to something that you would rather say yes to if you did have a disposable income? Is it that we as a nation in America and in other parts of the world other than Israel, are doing this to ourselves? Well, according to Michael Medved, yes we are. And I for one agree with him. As orthodox Jews we cannot send our children to PUBLIC school because of all of the negative influences, yet private tuition is not something that everyone can readily afford. What are the options? On the blogosphere there is talk about people who are at their ropes end, unable to stand it any longer have pulled their children out of private school and have put them into public school with tutors on the sides for Jewish education. Eliminating the stress of paying tuition, lifting that weight has strengthened their perspective on life and in some cases has saved marriages that were very fragile from all of the financial stress. Not everyone is built to be able to stand the stress of being in debt and unless you can afford tuition for all of your children it seems(1) that the average working middle class Orthodox American is in debt.
It seems that Americans once upon a time had an aura of Activism. America in general stood for something and somebody! Today a statistic on the Michael Medved show said that 78% of College aged Americans believe that recycling is a form of Activism! Oi is what I have to say to that. Yet, at least there is some understanding of doing something for someone else, or for something else such as the environment. So, if I were conducting a poll: what would the average Orthodox Jewish person say activism is? And, what are they making a stance for? What do you think they will say?
1. From my personal experience which includes reading blogs, papers, and speaking to people on a daily basis. Papers include: Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, CNN.com, MSN.com, bbc.com.
Well, I could not agree more! It happens to be that as orthodox Jews we have some cultural decisions that are expected of us. One of these decisions is sending children to private schools. Another cultural expectation is for women to wear shaitals (they range anywhere from $10-4000+). Now, let’s think about politics. Will it affect me one way or another if McCain gets elected over Obama? Absolutely not. Both are crooks as all politicians are. They will both implement “changes” and stimulus packages that are dictated to them by the house and senate. So will it effect me personally, maybe but on a much smaller level than if all of a sudden beef Jerky became Kosher!
How then are cultural decisions impacting my life? Well, one other interesting point that Michael Medved had was that if you are poor in America it is your own decision to stay poor in America. He mentions cultural and societal pressures and influences that will keep you down and will keep the poor, poor. At first I disagreed with him, and then I thought about being an Orthodox Jew and what that entails culturally. Then I went back on some recent discussions I’ve had with a variety of different people, and some interesting blogs that I’ve read about TUITION!!! That is when what Mr.Medved said started to become absolutely true. People in our communities complain about tuition. They complain that they cannot get on top because they have to pay tuition, no matter how little the amount it is still larger than public school which is FREE. They complain that they can no longer maintain any resemblance of the life style that they once had because these tuition bills are burdening them and are really keeping them down. So then here it is, is it a cultural decision of the orthodox Jews to keep people poor? Is it a cultural decision to work hard, and then still have to tell your child no to something that you would rather say yes to if you did have a disposable income? Is it that we as a nation in America and in other parts of the world other than Israel, are doing this to ourselves? Well, according to Michael Medved, yes we are. And I for one agree with him. As orthodox Jews we cannot send our children to PUBLIC school because of all of the negative influences, yet private tuition is not something that everyone can readily afford. What are the options? On the blogosphere there is talk about people who are at their ropes end, unable to stand it any longer have pulled their children out of private school and have put them into public school with tutors on the sides for Jewish education. Eliminating the stress of paying tuition, lifting that weight has strengthened their perspective on life and in some cases has saved marriages that were very fragile from all of the financial stress. Not everyone is built to be able to stand the stress of being in debt and unless you can afford tuition for all of your children it seems(1) that the average working middle class Orthodox American is in debt.
It seems that Americans once upon a time had an aura of Activism. America in general stood for something and somebody! Today a statistic on the Michael Medved show said that 78% of College aged Americans believe that recycling is a form of Activism! Oi is what I have to say to that. Yet, at least there is some understanding of doing something for someone else, or for something else such as the environment. So, if I were conducting a poll: what would the average Orthodox Jewish person say activism is? And, what are they making a stance for? What do you think they will say?
1. From my personal experience which includes reading blogs, papers, and speaking to people on a daily basis. Papers include: Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, CNN.com, MSN.com, bbc.com.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Cleaning!
I’ve decided that no matter what, today I have to put up a post.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure what to write about. I have many ideas, and conflicting thoughts and they are one jumbled mess. So, to a lot of people’s disappointment this is just going to be one of “those” posts.
In preparations for Rosh Hashanah I’ve decided I want the house to be all done up. Meaning, the frames that my husband was so nice to hang up two weeks ago…I WANT TO PUT PICTURES IN THEM! I want all and I mean all of the frames that I wanted to put up for the last year to be UP! No exceptions. I want everything I don’t want thrown out and lastly I DON”T WANT CLUTTER! I maybe an obsessive little cleaner but I am not sure for whatever reason this have magnified 100 fold. I think it could be that I no longer have a job to keep my mind occupied with so while I am at work I think of all of the wonderful things I could be doing at home! I have been on a de-cluttering attack since we got back from Detroit. This weekend this peeked with me completely rearranging the guest bedroom….ah perfection (NOT). AND WHY is it not perfection, because I have not put up the pictures for that room! Oh, but wait I am so into this that I even want to attack the basement…possibly this weekend!
You see I really feel it’s because my family doesn’t visit enough. I need to get everything done the way that I want it before they come for Rosh Hashanah and then they won’t come back probably till next Rosh Hashanah so they won’t see any improvements that I do afterwards, so I feel like I need to rush all of the improvements into the next week an a half!
You may be thinking to yourself…how decorating can be such a monumental task for this girl. AND I answer with…ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
It’s not all about decorating! It’s about cleaning, organizing, cleaning some more it’s all about a house that you can eat off the floors and has no clutter.
Am I close to achieving that, well maybe? Yet, every time I walk into the office (the epitome of all things bad in the world of cleanliness) I feel as though it sets me back about 100%
Yet, I will try to persevere, I will try to improve, I will try ever so hard not to go crazy about it and realize…hey at least it’s better than some other people’s houses. Yet the bottom line remains: “If Rifki jumped off the bridge would you”? My answer was always no, therefore just because someone else is all cluttered and dusty does not mean that I have to be that way too!
On that note, I’m going to leave work and run 100 errands before Ice cream and dinner.
With two weddings on the horizon BEFORE ROSH HASHANNA! I urge everyone to stay tuned for much cooler posts to come…
Unfortunately, I’m not sure what to write about. I have many ideas, and conflicting thoughts and they are one jumbled mess. So, to a lot of people’s disappointment this is just going to be one of “those” posts.
In preparations for Rosh Hashanah I’ve decided I want the house to be all done up. Meaning, the frames that my husband was so nice to hang up two weeks ago…I WANT TO PUT PICTURES IN THEM! I want all and I mean all of the frames that I wanted to put up for the last year to be UP! No exceptions. I want everything I don’t want thrown out and lastly I DON”T WANT CLUTTER! I maybe an obsessive little cleaner but I am not sure for whatever reason this have magnified 100 fold. I think it could be that I no longer have a job to keep my mind occupied with so while I am at work I think of all of the wonderful things I could be doing at home! I have been on a de-cluttering attack since we got back from Detroit. This weekend this peeked with me completely rearranging the guest bedroom….ah perfection (NOT). AND WHY is it not perfection, because I have not put up the pictures for that room! Oh, but wait I am so into this that I even want to attack the basement…possibly this weekend!
You see I really feel it’s because my family doesn’t visit enough. I need to get everything done the way that I want it before they come for Rosh Hashanah and then they won’t come back probably till next Rosh Hashanah so they won’t see any improvements that I do afterwards, so I feel like I need to rush all of the improvements into the next week an a half!
You may be thinking to yourself…how decorating can be such a monumental task for this girl. AND I answer with…ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
It’s not all about decorating! It’s about cleaning, organizing, cleaning some more it’s all about a house that you can eat off the floors and has no clutter.
Am I close to achieving that, well maybe? Yet, every time I walk into the office (the epitome of all things bad in the world of cleanliness) I feel as though it sets me back about 100%
Yet, I will try to persevere, I will try to improve, I will try ever so hard not to go crazy about it and realize…hey at least it’s better than some other people’s houses. Yet the bottom line remains: “If Rifki jumped off the bridge would you”? My answer was always no, therefore just because someone else is all cluttered and dusty does not mean that I have to be that way too!
On that note, I’m going to leave work and run 100 errands before Ice cream and dinner.
With two weddings on the horizon BEFORE ROSH HASHANNA! I urge everyone to stay tuned for much cooler posts to come…
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Calling your attention
Just calling attention to something disturbing that I've read on a few posts. Here are a couple links to the situation with Dr. Rabbi Twersky and him stepping down as group leader for special task sexual abused victims in the frum community. Apparently, he and mainly his family were threatened to the point where he felt that he needs to step down.
I am truly appalled by this. How dare people threaten a man that dedicates his life to helping people over come vicious crimes that were committed to them.
This link from Rabbi Horowitz is interesting take a read. I am shocked!
My source was the blog wofishmusings, with this post.
I guess no matter what environment we live in we always have to be on the guard and on the look out for the bad guys!
I am truly appalled by this. How dare people threaten a man that dedicates his life to helping people over come vicious crimes that were committed to them.
This link from Rabbi Horowitz is interesting take a read. I am shocked!
My source was the blog wofishmusings, with this post.
I guess no matter what environment we live in we always have to be on the guard and on the look out for the bad guys!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Dry Cleaning
As some of my readers know I am interested in finance. So of course when a topic such as dry cleaning comes up I have a great deal of input with numbers and figures.
While talking to my mom I mentioned that my terrific husband was steaming our clothes (sort of like ironing only with a way cooler set up). Anyhow, she said that sometimes I am wrong to just wash my clothing and that really I should dry clean some items more often. So that’s when I get all on the offensive. Here are my calculations: I buy my husband a shirt (usually at T.J maxx or the like for approximately $20/$30 he says that we pay less than $20 I say we pay in between but for this example we’ll take $20 a standard amount per white shirt. He wears between two and three white shirts within a standard week (usually only for Shabbat, but sometimes there is another function). So, I took three as a standard number. So, if I were to take his three white shirts to be dry cleaned for one week I would pay $2.29 per item times 3 items $6.87. That would be for one week. Therefore the three shirts would pay for themselves after being dry cleaned approximately 9 times. That would mean that if I were to dry clean every week three shirts in two months the dry cleaning bill would equal the price of the three shirts, after that it would (naturally) exceed the price.
SO, here is my argument. Why not WASH your shirts with bleach (which is what they do at the dry cleaners too), until they are no longer in wearable condition and then buy a new shirt. Since we of course follow this rule, my husband has been wearing the same $20 shirts for the past two years and we have not replaced any yet. Of course we have bought more shirts, but we have yet to throw any out. So that means not only do I save because I wash them with all the other laundry and not dry clean them I also continue to save because it is not an item that just falls apart. So instead of paying $714.48. on dry cleaning for two years, for three shirts I spent $60 and that was it!
This is not to say that nothing should be dry cleaned. We do dry clean. Just not on a weekly basis!
While talking to my mom I mentioned that my terrific husband was steaming our clothes (sort of like ironing only with a way cooler set up). Anyhow, she said that sometimes I am wrong to just wash my clothing and that really I should dry clean some items more often. So that’s when I get all on the offensive. Here are my calculations: I buy my husband a shirt (usually at T.J maxx or the like for approximately $20/$30 he says that we pay less than $20 I say we pay in between but for this example we’ll take $20 a standard amount per white shirt. He wears between two and three white shirts within a standard week (usually only for Shabbat, but sometimes there is another function). So, I took three as a standard number. So, if I were to take his three white shirts to be dry cleaned for one week I would pay $2.29 per item times 3 items $6.87. That would be for one week. Therefore the three shirts would pay for themselves after being dry cleaned approximately 9 times. That would mean that if I were to dry clean every week three shirts in two months the dry cleaning bill would equal the price of the three shirts, after that it would (naturally) exceed the price.
SO, here is my argument. Why not WASH your shirts with bleach (which is what they do at the dry cleaners too), until they are no longer in wearable condition and then buy a new shirt. Since we of course follow this rule, my husband has been wearing the same $20 shirts for the past two years and we have not replaced any yet. Of course we have bought more shirts, but we have yet to throw any out. So that means not only do I save because I wash them with all the other laundry and not dry clean them I also continue to save because it is not an item that just falls apart. So instead of paying $714.48. on dry cleaning for two years, for three shirts I spent $60 and that was it!
This is not to say that nothing should be dry cleaned. We do dry clean. Just not on a weekly basis!
Traffic!!!
I would like to start out by saying that I have the out most respect for construction people. They have a very hard job. They battle all sorts of weather conditions, and all for the pleasure of people like me to have a 35 mile (55 km) commute a smooth ride.
Yesterday, while sitting in construction traffic for a little over 11/2 hours I noticed something that gave me a laugh. The traffic was bumper to bumper with no end in site. I could not only see the new road that was laid, but I could also count the groves in it. Then to my complete surprise and astonishment comes out the sign person (the person holding the sign to slow down, or stop as they need). She set up post on a nearby ramp that had approximately the same speed as the rest of us that were on the main highway… 0 mph/kmph. Even when my car did move the arrow indicating speed did not flinch I was still at 0 mph/kmph. Yet, here is this person setting up shop. I thought maybe she was going to let a truck through or something of that nature. BUT, nope I was wrong. She stood there with her sign saying SLOW down. I couldn’t help but laugh considering that out of all of the times to be actually holding this particular sign this was not one of the times.
Just a thought.
Yesterday, while sitting in construction traffic for a little over 11/2 hours I noticed something that gave me a laugh. The traffic was bumper to bumper with no end in site. I could not only see the new road that was laid, but I could also count the groves in it. Then to my complete surprise and astonishment comes out the sign person (the person holding the sign to slow down, or stop as they need). She set up post on a nearby ramp that had approximately the same speed as the rest of us that were on the main highway… 0 mph/kmph. Even when my car did move the arrow indicating speed did not flinch I was still at 0 mph/kmph. Yet, here is this person setting up shop. I thought maybe she was going to let a truck through or something of that nature. BUT, nope I was wrong. She stood there with her sign saying SLOW down. I couldn’t help but laugh considering that out of all of the times to be actually holding this particular sign this was not one of the times.
Just a thought.
Monday, September 8, 2008
How I love Ambiguous statements.
Over the past weekend I had the privilege of celebrating many simchas within our community. During one such event I got caught up in a conversation that I usually hate having. Yet, my interest was tweaked by a friend that was truly looking for advice in a ‘scientific’ category.
We started talking about organic foods and how the world has become so evil in the use of plastics everywhere and all these other EVIL things that are going on. This is where my attention usually gets exhausted and I find something else to occupy myself with, then to keep listening/ participating in such rubbish. Yet, again a phrase yanked me right back into this particular conversation. One person was stating to another that they know someone that eats exceptionally healthy, and unfortunately they were diagnosed with cancer…BUT because they ate so healthy and were so strong they were able to battle their cancer and thank g-d beat it. Now, I know this particular story (and the person whom the conversation was about). It is true that this person eats exceptionally well, and it is true that this person’s cancer is in remission. However the problem in this story is not the out come but the way the facts were presented.
The fact is this person had chemotherapy and that is why the cancer is in remission. Weather or not this person’s diet helped get them back on their feet faster or not is a point of contention, maybe, maybe not.
Then there was another blanket statement that went something on the grounds of “well, people that eat organic food are just healthier and are able to fight off infections and diseases better”. That’s when I decided that all glove were off and made a few blanket statements as well, really just to see the reaction I would draw from the crowd. Some statements went on the grounds of: “well most people that I’ve seen articles written about drank like fish smoked like it was their job and were really fat and lived to be 100 years old, so how do you explain that”? At which point some around said well that’s ridiculous, as to which I said “no more ridiculous than your ambiguous most people that eat blah blah blah are healthier”. How do you know what they ate, and how it affected them? Give me hard core statistics to prove anything organic is better than anything that isn’t? Give me numbers, theories or anything other than complete speculation and ambiguity. Apparently after that people were thinking way to hard to respond with anything other than, “well you know it’s just a topic to talk about”. I guess I always think that if someone is going to bring up points then the least they could do is prove that those points are accurate.
We started talking about organic foods and how the world has become so evil in the use of plastics everywhere and all these other EVIL things that are going on. This is where my attention usually gets exhausted and I find something else to occupy myself with, then to keep listening/ participating in such rubbish. Yet, again a phrase yanked me right back into this particular conversation. One person was stating to another that they know someone that eats exceptionally healthy, and unfortunately they were diagnosed with cancer…BUT because they ate so healthy and were so strong they were able to battle their cancer and thank g-d beat it. Now, I know this particular story (and the person whom the conversation was about). It is true that this person eats exceptionally well, and it is true that this person’s cancer is in remission. However the problem in this story is not the out come but the way the facts were presented.
The fact is this person had chemotherapy and that is why the cancer is in remission. Weather or not this person’s diet helped get them back on their feet faster or not is a point of contention, maybe, maybe not.
Then there was another blanket statement that went something on the grounds of “well, people that eat organic food are just healthier and are able to fight off infections and diseases better”. That’s when I decided that all glove were off and made a few blanket statements as well, really just to see the reaction I would draw from the crowd. Some statements went on the grounds of: “well most people that I’ve seen articles written about drank like fish smoked like it was their job and were really fat and lived to be 100 years old, so how do you explain that”? At which point some around said well that’s ridiculous, as to which I said “no more ridiculous than your ambiguous most people that eat blah blah blah are healthier”. How do you know what they ate, and how it affected them? Give me hard core statistics to prove anything organic is better than anything that isn’t? Give me numbers, theories or anything other than complete speculation and ambiguity. Apparently after that people were thinking way to hard to respond with anything other than, “well you know it’s just a topic to talk about”. I guess I always think that if someone is going to bring up points then the least they could do is prove that those points are accurate.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Materialism
“And I am a material girl, living in a material world” (Song by Madonna)
It is interesting that sometimes a person can have an entire thought process stop, and change because of something they hear in the background noise that is playing on the radio. Yesterday as my 35 mile (55 km) commute from work to home was coming to its end I switched stations to one that was playing that song. It started me thinking on our world. With so much going on in our lives I started to get all introspective about that one line in the song.
Wikipedia says the following: Materialistic describes a person who is markedly more concerned with material things than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values; an adherent of materialism.
So, that got me to think about where I stand on the matter. Do we live in a material world? Yes. Am I materialistic? Not completely. Why do I say that I am not completely materialistic? That is really for a few reasons. I can’t deny the premise completely because a little bit does exist in my life. For example, I live in a condo. If I were completely non-materialistic then I would live in a tent in wilderness, or at least in an apartment. My condo has furniture in it; if I were completely non-materialistic then it would have boxes, crates, or bins. Yet, the part of me that says that I’m not really materialistic is viewing the fact that I drive an older car that I love and don’t really want a new one. Yet another part of me says that hey, lets get real I live in a condo not a house if I was truly materialistic then I would have to live in a house. So the train of thought got me going on another very interesting point: does the meaning of materialism depend on your society, on your social standing and in what environment you live in?
My answer is yes, it does. For one group of people being materialistic is having a home (be it a condo or a house), having new furniture, and driving a new car, or any variation of the list. For another group being materialistic is wearing a $3000 wig, rather than a $10 hat or a $2 snood. For yet another group being materialistic is driving a Mercedes or a BMW rather than an Acura or a Lexus. I believe it all maters on personal belief and the environment where you live, where you choose to live. An example that I’ve seen being mentioned on blogs around is having a cleaning lady versus not having a cleaning lady. To one family having a cleaning lady is part of the family budget and is living within their means, to another it is living out of their means and it is more a case of keeping up with the Joneses (or Goldberg’s).
The truth behind it all is that materialism really doesn’t bother me. I think mainly because I’ve never really cared what other people do or say and I do what is right for me and my family. I don’t look down on people that are materialistic and I don’t look down on people that are not. However, what I do absolutely hate are people who say that they are one thing but behave and act as though they are another. That I’ve always hated.
I just cannot understand why people can’t be honest with themselves. Why is it that they stand their and portray one image and then turn around and do something that this image definitely is not a portrayal off. It reminds of the people that just wear the garb to be a religious Jew. They wear a black hat, and act high and mighty but then on a date with a girl they ask her if she wants to go to a hotel room (yup, this happened to my friend, if you are wondering she said no and told the shudhan, I’m so proud of her). So it is on this level that I am speaking about. What is the purpose of being fake? I guess that is one that has to be explored further. Whatever you are, just be proud of yourself. We are not put on this world to act for others in a way that you think that they think that you should be acting, unless of course you are an actor.
It is interesting that sometimes a person can have an entire thought process stop, and change because of something they hear in the background noise that is playing on the radio. Yesterday as my 35 mile (55 km) commute from work to home was coming to its end I switched stations to one that was playing that song. It started me thinking on our world. With so much going on in our lives I started to get all introspective about that one line in the song.
Wikipedia says the following: Materialistic describes a person who is markedly more concerned with material things than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values; an adherent of materialism.
So, that got me to think about where I stand on the matter. Do we live in a material world? Yes. Am I materialistic? Not completely. Why do I say that I am not completely materialistic? That is really for a few reasons. I can’t deny the premise completely because a little bit does exist in my life. For example, I live in a condo. If I were completely non-materialistic then I would live in a tent in wilderness, or at least in an apartment. My condo has furniture in it; if I were completely non-materialistic then it would have boxes, crates, or bins. Yet, the part of me that says that I’m not really materialistic is viewing the fact that I drive an older car that I love and don’t really want a new one. Yet another part of me says that hey, lets get real I live in a condo not a house if I was truly materialistic then I would have to live in a house. So the train of thought got me going on another very interesting point: does the meaning of materialism depend on your society, on your social standing and in what environment you live in?
My answer is yes, it does. For one group of people being materialistic is having a home (be it a condo or a house), having new furniture, and driving a new car, or any variation of the list. For another group being materialistic is wearing a $3000 wig, rather than a $10 hat or a $2 snood. For yet another group being materialistic is driving a Mercedes or a BMW rather than an Acura or a Lexus. I believe it all maters on personal belief and the environment where you live, where you choose to live. An example that I’ve seen being mentioned on blogs around is having a cleaning lady versus not having a cleaning lady. To one family having a cleaning lady is part of the family budget and is living within their means, to another it is living out of their means and it is more a case of keeping up with the Joneses (or Goldberg’s).
The truth behind it all is that materialism really doesn’t bother me. I think mainly because I’ve never really cared what other people do or say and I do what is right for me and my family. I don’t look down on people that are materialistic and I don’t look down on people that are not. However, what I do absolutely hate are people who say that they are one thing but behave and act as though they are another. That I’ve always hated.
I just cannot understand why people can’t be honest with themselves. Why is it that they stand their and portray one image and then turn around and do something that this image definitely is not a portrayal off. It reminds of the people that just wear the garb to be a religious Jew. They wear a black hat, and act high and mighty but then on a date with a girl they ask her if she wants to go to a hotel room (yup, this happened to my friend, if you are wondering she said no and told the shudhan, I’m so proud of her). So it is on this level that I am speaking about. What is the purpose of being fake? I guess that is one that has to be explored further. Whatever you are, just be proud of yourself. We are not put on this world to act for others in a way that you think that they think that you should be acting, unless of course you are an actor.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Anniversary Part 2
Seriously,
When we went to Niagara Falls this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary we kept joking around that at night they turn off the falls....WHO KNEW WE WERE RIGHT!
Check this out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dryniagara.jpg
Cool huh?
When we went to Niagara Falls this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary we kept joking around that at night they turn off the falls....WHO KNEW WE WERE RIGHT!
Check this out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dryniagara.jpg
Cool huh?
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 2 years!!!
Wow,
Today is our two year anniversary. The time literally flew by. I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. It was awesome. So much fun and excitement, truly great!
On that note, I figured that hopefully really soon I’ll have our wedding pictures done!
Yes it’s taken two years but hey we’ve done loads of things in that time. I rarely have time to sit and relax and just stare out the window. Yet, I am quickly running out of excuses. It’ll be done, g-d willing by the end of the week.
Today is our two year anniversary. The time literally flew by. I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. It was awesome. So much fun and excitement, truly great!
On that note, I figured that hopefully really soon I’ll have our wedding pictures done!
Yes it’s taken two years but hey we’ve done loads of things in that time. I rarely have time to sit and relax and just stare out the window. Yet, I am quickly running out of excuses. It’ll be done, g-d willing by the end of the week.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Corporate America
I am writing this post after saying that I will no longer write posts without sitting on the topic for a few hours. I’m writing now, in the heat of the moment. Sorry if it sucks.
As I’ve mentioned before I have been laid off. I will reserve what is known in America as a severance package if I’m a good little girl and keep coming to work till October 27. YET, today I am mad!
I have been given the fantastic ASSIGNMENT (YES LIKE IN SCHOOL NOT LIKE AT WORK) of SCANNING certificates of analysis into the computer and then logging them into our main system. Fantastic as this sounds its absolutely freaking ridiculous!
I have been demoted to the status of an intern. THANK YOU CORPORATE AMERICA.
Not only was I not given any deadlines but apparently when I was away on my lovely vacation I missed some backstabbing that was going on. APPARENTLY I’m NOT WORKING FAST ENOUGH FOR THESE CORPORATE LOSERS.
So naturally today I did nothing!
My manager who I happen to really hold in high esteem is awesome. He knows that this is all asinine, he thank g-d has my back. Literally the man went to bat for me. Nothing that he says or does past this point will make me not regard him with complete honor and awe. It is people like my manager that make Corporate America barable.
Yet, I keep thinking….should I work for a smaller company. Have less layers of management and have more obligations? All questions to be pondered, probably over a little wine.
As I’ve mentioned before I have been laid off. I will reserve what is known in America as a severance package if I’m a good little girl and keep coming to work till October 27. YET, today I am mad!
I have been given the fantastic ASSIGNMENT (YES LIKE IN SCHOOL NOT LIKE AT WORK) of SCANNING certificates of analysis into the computer and then logging them into our main system. Fantastic as this sounds its absolutely freaking ridiculous!
I have been demoted to the status of an intern. THANK YOU CORPORATE AMERICA.
Not only was I not given any deadlines but apparently when I was away on my lovely vacation I missed some backstabbing that was going on. APPARENTLY I’m NOT WORKING FAST ENOUGH FOR THESE CORPORATE LOSERS.
So naturally today I did nothing!
My manager who I happen to really hold in high esteem is awesome. He knows that this is all asinine, he thank g-d has my back. Literally the man went to bat for me. Nothing that he says or does past this point will make me not regard him with complete honor and awe. It is people like my manager that make Corporate America barable.
Yet, I keep thinking….should I work for a smaller company. Have less layers of management and have more obligations? All questions to be pondered, probably over a little wine.
Work?
Yes, I do have original thought...Well at least I think I do.
With all of the blogging articles that I've read about the Yishivish world and their inability to want to work I thought I would chime in...why not right?
On my latest visit 'home' I stopped by the local kosher food supermarket.
(SIDE NOTE) I truly do not believe that I am a racist. I work with people of all nationalities and beliefs and we all get along. (END SIDE NOTE)
Yet, when I walk into a KOSHER supermarket and don't know if its being held up by all the gangster looking thugs congregating near the cash registers I truly feel that this is a problem. I quickly realized that within the last 21/2 years since I've been gone and the last year since I've been inside this (the only all kosher supermarket) the employees have changed. The jobs that were occupied by frum women are now occupied by boys who look like thugs robbing the place. Maybe that has something to do with the location of this store. That is the dominant population of the area so I suppose hiring them to work in our store is okay. Yet, I just keep thinking none of the stores that I drive by that have the local population as the dominant user have any white, jewish, frum women working there. Nor do they have any notably jewish men working there. Is it just a case of discrimination from their part and us being the better nationality? Or maybe it is the fact that frum, jewish, women, feel that it is beneath them to work in a grocery store? Or maybe, just maybe the frum, jewish, women are tired of being overworked, under paid, and under appreciated? Or maybe its a nice combination of all the great reasons. In any way, I will no longer be so inclined as to visit this particular store and my family will not go either, Honestly I'm worried for their safety.
With all of the blogging articles that I've read about the Yishivish world and their inability to want to work I thought I would chime in...why not right?
On my latest visit 'home' I stopped by the local kosher food supermarket.
(SIDE NOTE) I truly do not believe that I am a racist. I work with people of all nationalities and beliefs and we all get along. (END SIDE NOTE)
Yet, when I walk into a KOSHER supermarket and don't know if its being held up by all the gangster looking thugs congregating near the cash registers I truly feel that this is a problem. I quickly realized that within the last 21/2 years since I've been gone and the last year since I've been inside this (the only all kosher supermarket) the employees have changed. The jobs that were occupied by frum women are now occupied by boys who look like thugs robbing the place. Maybe that has something to do with the location of this store. That is the dominant population of the area so I suppose hiring them to work in our store is okay. Yet, I just keep thinking none of the stores that I drive by that have the local population as the dominant user have any white, jewish, frum women working there. Nor do they have any notably jewish men working there. Is it just a case of discrimination from their part and us being the better nationality? Or maybe it is the fact that frum, jewish, women, feel that it is beneath them to work in a grocery store? Or maybe, just maybe the frum, jewish, women are tired of being overworked, under paid, and under appreciated? Or maybe its a nice combination of all the great reasons. In any way, I will no longer be so inclined as to visit this particular store and my family will not go either, Honestly I'm worried for their safety.
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