tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33638963419211235822024-02-21T04:11:37.551+02:00Bliss YouNewlymarried-ness, impending motherhood, Orthodox Judaism and other unlikely uses of a drama degree.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-71254599718798336372012-09-19T20:56:00.004+03:002012-09-19T20:56:49.320+03:00New blogJust as I have many journals with only a few pages written, I seem to have caught the virtual "starting over" blog bug.<br />
<br />
Follow our latest adventures over at <a href="http://campgeshmack.wordpress.com/">Camp Geshmack</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-91308842743965725452011-05-18T03:30:00.000+03:002011-05-18T03:30:02.562+03:00Is Social Media Boxing Us In?After reading the great article, <a href="http://technmarketing.com/web/top-5-reasons-to-tweet/">Top 5 Reasons To Tweet</a>, a few discussions about this with my <a href="http://omrology.tumblr.com/">husband</a>, and months to mull this over without a chance to sit down and write (thanks, baby girl!), I'm left with a question.<br />
<br />
How does today's 20-something market himself in a world that (in my opinion) hasn't caught up? Social media marketing repeatedly requires someone to sum himself up in a one-liner. Which, for my grandfather, for instance, would have been easy. Expert maritime lawyer. Done. But today, we're not so willing to sum ourselves up--most people I know are more interested in developing a variety of often totally unrelated interests.<br />
<br />
Take, for instance, my friend <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/FarynEinhorn">Faryn's </a>Twitter profile (she's funny for money, so this has to be): "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">One ninth of the sketch comedy group Harvard Sailing Team. One half of the baking co. Fanny & Jane. One third of a casting team. So-so at fractions."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #777777; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
My point exactly. <br />
<br />
So how would I sum myself up?<br />
<br />
I could go from my professional side and pick: elementary school teacher or website producer.<br />
I could go from the family side and write about being a wife and/or young mother.<br />
I could go from the spiritual side and brand myself based on my interest in Torah learning and Jewish philosophy.<br />
<br />
I doubt anyone is looking to find a tweeter with that particular combination, but I'm loathe to drop any one of them. I'd like to develop each into an expertise over time, and while I don't need to tweet about the progress Adina is or isn't making with her crawling, I do think that being a work-at-home mom involves its own challenges, and Twitter is a great place to get support and ideas. Obviously continuing to work on the internet and hopefully becoming more of an expert in website development and design lends itself well to Twitter. And if, though this is far-fetched, I ever get my act together to start putting together regular classes or blogs on Jewish thought, that is something I would certainly want to share.<br />
<br />
Does/did anyone else have this issue?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-21880588060637146402011-02-27T07:26:00.001+02:002011-02-27T07:26:54.390+02:00Breaking News: Baby Sucks Thumb!<p><object width='425' height='355'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/f-mpvVQfWEw&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/f-mpvVQfWEw&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object></p>3 months. Enjoy!<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-7763904547753993752011-02-17T02:05:00.000+02:002011-02-17T02:05:55.198+02:00The song I sang throughout my pregnancy...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pqyc7lWi9xc" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Don't know much about you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Don't know who you are</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">We've been doing fine without you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">But, we could only go so far</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Don't know why you chose us</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Were you watching from above</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Is there someone there that knows us</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Said we'd give you all our love</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will you laugh just like your mother</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will you sigh like your old man</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will some things skip a generation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Like I've heard they often can</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Are you a poet or a dancer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">A devil or a clown</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Or a strange new combination of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">The things we've handed down</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">I wonder who you'll look like</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will your hair fall down and curl</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will you be a mama's boy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Or daddy's little girl</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Will you be a sad reminder</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Of what's been lost along the way</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Maybe you can help me find her</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">In the things you do and say</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">And these things that we have given you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">They are not so easily found</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">But you can thank us later</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">For the things we've handed down</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">You may not always be so grateful</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">For the way that you were made</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Some feature of your father's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">That you'd gladly sell or trade</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">And one day you may look at us</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">And say that you were cursed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">But over time that line has been</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Extremely well rehearsed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">By our fathers, and their fathers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">In some old and distant town</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">From places no one here remembers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;">Come the things we've handed down</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-47256846016201364482011-02-16T07:28:00.001+02:002011-02-16T07:29:48.094+02:00Day 1 of Urban OrganicsIts kindof like a CSA. <br/> <br/> Tonight's dinner: <br/> Green chard sauteed in evoo, garlic and onion YUM! <br/> Huge red leaf lettuce and spinach salad with lots of toppings and my first crack at my own italian dressing. <br/> Veggie chips- carrots yams and potatoes baked with salt pepper and paprika. <br/> Whole wheat couscous with green olives and cranberries. <br/> <br/> Still loooots of veggies to go before next week! More veggie chips and soup and maybe smoothies on the menu....<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-31958368321725904072011-02-11T03:55:00.000+02:002011-02-11T03:55:39.901+02:00What's Adina like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VN0vDvcIeI/TVR0_FnW4lI/AAAAAAAACPk/GSdzmVNuLQ8/s1600/2011-02-03+20.55.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VN0vDvcIeI/TVR0_FnW4lI/AAAAAAAACPk/GSdzmVNuLQ8/s320/2011-02-03+20.55.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Who knows how much of this will be accurate down the line, but we think we see some definite character traits.<br />
<br />
First of all, she is, bli eyin hara (literally: "without the evil eye), a very easy baby. She is often described as "gentle," which is the meaning of her name, Adina. (Actually, after seeing this strong correlation, Noach/Omri and I are determined to start naming our children by easy-going character traits.)<br />
<br />
I guess all babies seem funny, but I have to say it. Each morning I wake up next to her (I rarely have the energy to get her back into her cradle after nursing at night) and watch her sleep. When she wakes up, if I'm still there, she looks at me and is soon smiling as if we share the most fabulous secret in the world. It's such an adult expression that I forget she's a baby for a while. She loves cooing at people and stuffed animals. Sometimes she'll lie in my bed as I'm getting ready in the morning and just coo at the room. <br />
<br />
This morning, after getting up for a few minutes, I was crawling (sick) back into bed and found her sleeping on her back with her arms completely spread open. At not even three months, she's managed to take up my. entire. spot. on the bed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn0irZfQ6RU/TVR-0C_FsHI/AAAAAAAACPs/mHWOLn3eBW0/s1600/2011-01-13+07.20.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn0irZfQ6RU/TVR-0C_FsHI/AAAAAAAACPs/mHWOLn3eBW0/s320/2011-01-13+07.20.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh... and sometimes she smiles like she's laughing at me. I wouldn't be surprised. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New pictures and videos on our <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/kate.w.levin/AdinaYear1?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_Lj93d3qWh0QE#">Picasa album</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-28593078906462016212011-02-09T06:09:00.002+02:002011-02-11T01:25:18.989+02:00soccerdeentz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1FMzdAwlPmg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6hy74Xe9VHU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-80848146205911324652011-01-31T19:07:00.001+02:002011-01-31T19:07:12.904+02:00adinavid<p><object width='425' height='355'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/6hy74Xe9VHU&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/6hy74Xe9VHU&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object></p><div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-27282125020430276892011-01-28T03:02:00.003+02:002011-01-28T15:52:00.850+02:00TV free.. again?<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Two great discoveries of the day: One, the <a href="http://www.flylady.com/">FlyLady </a>chat where, I kid you not, we cheered each other on all day. Every time I sat down and could have gotten distracted by the computer, I pulled up that tab and within a minute or two I was sent off to do another "mission."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My second great discovery was that I can create a smart playlist on iTunes that plays unheard podcasts. This will be much-used. I re-subscribed to a bunch of NPR stations. I un-subscribed to all the teacher stations. I stayed subscribed to FlyLady. Groupie, I know.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And the failed <a href="http://blissyou.blogspot.com/2010/02/tv-free.html">TV-free home experiment</a> from ages back is a bit back up and running. We now have "weekly goals" in the house (I'm super excited about this). Now when Shabbos comes along, we can see how we did on one specific thing over the last week. One week is just long enough to see what life is like with your goal being implemented, and short enough to stick with it. Well, we agreed to do a shared goal: no TV (well, Hulu) or movies. Man, this one is HARD. But we're almost to Shabbos and I have to admit, I got a LOT more done, did much more reading than I usually do (which still isn't enough but I only have so much down time), and we got to bed much earlier than we otherwise would have. So TV free is awesome. But I am looking forward to catching up on the Shonda Rhimes trifecta.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-10663976472436883492011-01-28T03:01:00.000+02:002011-01-28T03:01:51.619+02:00Vacation!Our plans for next year are very up-in-the-air at the moment. One thing that is up in the air is whether or not I will be able to be teaching next year.<br />
<br />
So every day off now is like a trial day. Can I do this? Be home with the baby all day? <br />
<br />
One concern was whether I would be productive. I learned today to be more specific with my concerns. Oh, I was productive. Six or seven freshly made challot (challah loaves), heaps of chocolate chip cookies, cranberry and cranberry/blueberry scones. Dinner just about on the table, hubs about to walk in the door... this was a full day of work, easily. (Add in taking care of The Deentz and leaving the house tidy after all that baking!) <br />
<br />
The problem is, this isn't the kind of productive I meant when I created that concern.<br />
<br />
I meant, can I run the house, get good bonding time in with the baby (being a work-from-home-mom hardly pays if you're just shoving a toy in front of the baby and working the whole time) and DO MY JOB from home? <br />
<br />
I hope today isn't cause for concern. <br />
<br />
I have plenty to be doing and lots of exciting articles going up (<a href="http://www.cheapism.com/">stay tuned!</a>). But I just couldn't get myself to stay here in front of the computer. The only argument in my defense is that this chair is AWFUL. I literally start to ache within a minute of sitting down. Maybe it's time to cash in the massage hubs bought me for last Rosh Chodesh........<br />
<br />
So there's my conundrum of the day. I've learned how to get off my tush and get to work... but how to stop getting to the wrong kind of work and refocus?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-78708349013138220402011-01-21T16:22:00.000+02:002011-01-21T16:22:44.551+02:00New Study Reveals Most Children Unrepentant Sociopaths<h2 class="title" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font: normal normal bold 27px/normal Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">From <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-study-reveals-most-children-unrepentant-sociop,2870/">TheOnion.com</a></span></h2><div><br />
</div><h2 class="title" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; font: normal normal bold 27px/normal Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; width: 640px; zoom: 1;">New Study Reveals Most Children Unrepentant Sociopaths</h2><div class="meta" style="color: #999999; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; zoom: 1;">DECEMBER 7, 2009 | <a href="http://www.theonion.com/issue/4550/" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="The Onion: Issue 4550">ISSUE 45•50</a></div><div class="article_photo_lead" style="color: #555555; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;"></div><div class="article_body" style="color: #555555; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">MINNEAPOLIS—A study published Monday in <i>The Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry</i> has concluded that an estimated 98 percent of children under the age of 10 are remorseless sociopaths with little regard for anything other than their own egocentric interests and pleasures.</div><span class="image" rel="http://media.theonion.com/images/articles/article/2870/New-Study-R_jpg_600x1000_q85.jpg" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><img alt="" src="http://media.theonion.com/images/articles/article/2870/New-Study-R_jpg_250x1000_q85.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 3px;" title="" /><span class="caption" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif !important; font-size: 11px !important; line-height: 13px !important; width: 250px;">Data shows that many seemingly innocent children—such as this one—are not to be trusted.</span></span><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">According to Dr. Leonard Mateo, a developmental psychologist at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the study, most adults are completely unaware that they could be living among callous monsters who would remorselessly exploit them to obtain something as insignificant as an ice cream cone or a new toy.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"The most disturbing facet of this ubiquitous childhood disorder is an utter lack of empathy," Mateo said. "These people—if you can even call them that—deliberately violate every social norm without ever pausing to consider how their selfish behavior might affect others. It's as if they have no concept of anyone but themselves."</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"The depths of depravity that these tiny psychopaths are capable of reaching are really quite chilling," Mateo added.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">According to the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, a clinical diagnostic tool, sociopaths often display superficial charm, pathological lying, manipulative behaviors, and a grandiose sense of self-importance. After observing 700 children engaged in everyday activities, Mateo and his colleagues found that 684 exhibited these behaviors at a severe or profound level.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">The children studied also displayed many secondary hallmarks of antisocial personality disorder, most notably poor impulse control, an inability to plan ahead, and a proclivity for violence—often in the form of extended tantrums—when their needs were not immediately met.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"Children will use any tool at their disposal to secure gratification," Mateo said. "And as soon as the desire is fulfilled, be it some material want or simply an insatiable and narcissistic desire for validation, they quickly become bored and lose interest in their victims, all the while thinking only of satisfying whatever their next hedonistic craving might be."</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">Because children are so skilled at mimicking normal human emotions and will say anything without consideration for accuracy or truth, Mateo said that people often don't realize that they've been exploited until it is too late. Though he maintained that anyone can fall victim to a child's egocentric behavior, Mateo warned that grandmothers were especially susceptible to the self- serving machinations of tiny little sociopaths.Mateo added that even when subjects were directly confronted with the consequences of their inexplicable behavior, they had little or no capacity for expressing guilt, other than insincere utterances of "sorry" that were usually coerced.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">Despite the overwhelming evidence presented in the study, its findings have been met with heavy criticism from people who associate with children on a regular basis.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">Batavia, NY resident and 38-year-old mother Mary Corcoran echoed the sentiments of many other adults who refuse to believe they are sharing their homes with merciless predators.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"Not my Jimmy. Just this morning, he told me I was the best mommy in the whole world," Corcoran said of her son, 5. "In fact, he's been such a sweet little boy this month that Santa just may bring him everything he asks for."</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">According to renowned child psychologist Dr. Pritha Singh, author of<i>Born Without Souls</i>, diagnosing preadolecents as sociopaths is primarily a theoretical interest, as the disorder is considered untreatable.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"We've tried behavior modification therapies, but children actually learn from our techniques and become even more adept at manipulating others while concealing their shameless misanthropy," Singh said. "Sadly, experience has taught us there is little hope for rehabilitation."</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">"Just look at the way most adults act," Singh added.<br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-study-reveals-most-children-unrepentant-sociop,2870/">TheOnion.com</a><img src="http://o.onionstatic.com/img/icons/terminator.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;" /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-19583154043268658112011-01-21T16:17:00.000+02:002011-01-21T16:17:13.943+02:00Bring some beauty into your day.Check out the new short by the amazing <a href="http://merylandmarina.com/">Meryl&Marina</a>, <a href="http://vimeo.com/18855327">"Every Day I Wake Up And Try Not To Die."</a><div><br />
</div><div>Amazing filming, performances, and music. And, as it says, "it sounds morbid, but it's not." At 4 minutes, you have no excuse not to watch it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Watching this reminded me that film is truly an art form, and that most of what I see is definitely NOT art. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Enjoy! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-67855283559822170412011-01-21T15:55:00.001+02:002011-01-21T15:55:44.195+02:00Jerseyku2Redeem yourself now<br />
<div>Dirty cold white on my street.</div><div>Yes. Snow Day. Well played.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-23399149899516215092011-01-21T04:59:00.001+02:002011-01-21T04:59:49.207+02:00AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING!!!MUST see!<br />
<br />
<object height="326" width="334"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/SirKenRobinson_2006-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/SirKenRobinson-2006.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=66&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity;year=2006;theme=how_we_learn;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=master_storytellers;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;event=TED2006;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="334" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/SirKenRobinson_2006-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/SirKenRobinson-2006.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=66&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity;year=2006;theme=how_we_learn;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=master_storytellers;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;event=TED2006;"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-49132394734031982712011-01-21T02:19:00.001+02:002011-01-21T02:19:03.589+02:00TED talk on success<object height="326" width="334"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/JohnWooden_2001-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/JohnWooden-2001.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=498&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_succe;year=2001;theme=how_we_learn;theme=master_storytellers;theme=what_makes_us_happy;event=TED2001;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="334" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/JohnWooden_2001-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/JohnWooden-2001.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=498&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_succe;year=2001;theme=how_we_learn;theme=master_storytellers;theme=what_makes_us_happy;event=TED2001;"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-83080286849244764852011-01-20T00:28:00.001+02:002011-01-20T00:28:12.053+02:00Jersey haikuPiles of dirty snow <br/> Chairs save spots to park between <br/> Get me out of here<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-31234574772488804412011-01-13T06:21:00.001+02:002011-01-13T06:21:30.616+02:00Ode to stretch marksThe baby may as well have scrawled "Adina wuz here" across my torso. Nevertheless, even though I vividly remember my horror over seeing on other mommies the battle scars of pregnancy, I love my shifted shape. Maybe because I got sick of passing for a highschooler, or maybe because this pregnancy was so difficult and scary that to come out unscathed would seem anticlimactic. But my stretch marks remind me that the stork did not do the heavy lifting on our baby girl. I did. Its surprisingly easy to overcome body issues once the body has been repurposed. It is not here for aesthetic pleasure. It housed a life, fed it and protected it and strengthened it. Stretch marks are my evidence of the amazing fact that Hashem had the wisdom to encase our skeletons in something that CAN stretch. <br/> <br/> The downside, however, is that I still need to find the motivation to get my body back. Its so hard to be enthusiastic when I am sooo tired. I understand all those daytime talk show women who pointed to their children as when they started to lose control and gain weight. I understand them but do not want to be one of them. Hm... any ideas for inspiration?<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-28743524411951636882010-11-29T02:10:00.002+02:002011-01-21T16:25:22.657+02:00She's teensy!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KZTl921bNyU/TPLvdDm87dI/AAAAAAAAB00/2VQC0iY9C_o/She%27s%20teensy%21%21_img_1.jpg"><img height="320" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KZTl921bNyU/TPLvdDm87dI/AAAAAAAAB00/2VQC0iY9C_o/She%27s%20teensy%21%21_img_1.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Its not worth trying to update this with everything from the last month of pregnancy, the labor, delivery, first days with her in the hospital, and our first week home. Suffice it to say, its been a whirlwind. These days we are sticking around the house, obsessing over our new little one, and learning to function without sleep. Conclusion... i had no idea a baby could be sooooo tiny!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-68310934664314865042010-09-13T05:35:00.002+02:002010-09-13T05:59:12.511+02:00The Toolbox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://extendingthekingdom.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/toolbox.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="304" src="http://extendingthekingdom.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/toolbox.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One concept in Jewish thought that I always liked is written about beautifully in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Practical-Classic-Aspirations-Artscroll/dp/0899063810?ie=UTF8&tag=blis06-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Woman to Woman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=blis06-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0899063810" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (which is based on a series of lectures by Rebbetzin Esther Greenberg). Basically, the idea goes like this: if you were a construction worker with some kind with an intelligent foreman for a boss, you could show up at work one day and, based entirely on what is in your toolbox and where you are, figure out what you are meant to do that day at work. Of course, we are the worker and Gd is the foreman. Our gifts and passions are within our toolbox and our life's circumstances are the setting. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, now that I've butchered that I can move on. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was recently fortunate to spend a Shabbos meal with some NYU students, including a woman who recently graduated from the same theater program I went to. We discussed our shared feelings of conflict over being theater artists who had become passionate about our Judaism. We came to term our Torah learning a "wakening of the sleeping giant." Inconvenient, but ultimately not something one can ignore. There's a giant in the room. An awake one. That changes the situation.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So here we are, albeit still in two somewhat different places, trying to figure out this delicate balance between our creative gifts and passions and the indescribable beauty of Torah and a Torah lifestyle. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And I think it is starting to be time to check out that back burner which has been caring for my artistic soul for the last two years while I've explored a new part of myself. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While I am happy with the choices I've made and certainly wouldn't take anything back, I am inarguably in a different place than I ever expected to be. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mentsch tracht, Gott lacht.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (Yiddish proverb- Man plans and Gd laughs.)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Forget the Orthodox Jewish bit (if you can fit that pink elephant into the corner for a moment, thank you). How about the married bit? The imminently arriving BABY bit? The--dare I say it--living in SUBURBAN NEW JERSEY bit?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">This was not the plan. And I'd spent a good decade crafting this plan. And I spent much of the last two years trying to craft a NEW fabulous plan that would make this all fit neatly together. Way to learn the lesson, self.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And yet, I wouldn't change a thing. No, this is not the route to my Oscar. Nor are we buying our one-way tickets to Israel any time soon. How unglamorous of us.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">On the other hand, I am currently engaged in the single most creative act known to mankind. THIS SECOND. And this one. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's time to accept that this is not the workplace I anticipated. The needs of the world I live in now are not the needs I thought I would one day fill. What I have to offer will not be received the way I had planned out. Nu? It's taken me two years to come to terms with this? I've been observing this phenomenon for all this time without swallowing that pill (which ultimately I don't think is even such a bad pill to swallow!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's time to look into the toolbox, get a good lay of the land, and start building.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-16573255079219708562010-08-26T21:17:00.001+03:002010-08-26T21:24:54.162+03:00Thoughts on Pregnancy or... Birth Control For The Weak-Hearted or... Things I'd Post On Facebook But I Think You'd Judge Me1. I was under the mistaken impression that an unborn child couldn't keep you up all night.<br />
In reality, I feel like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:EdmT4oUO_m34WM:http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/g_perdue/pregnant.jpg&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:EdmT4oUO_m34WM:http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w89/g_perdue/pregnant.jpg&t=1" /></a></div>All the time.<br />
<br />
2. It used to seem logical that if you were exhausted at 9 PM, you could probably go to bed. <br />
In reality, exhaustion at 9 PM is really just your body playing a cruel trick because really, right before you fall asleep, you'll bounce back and be full of energy until about 3 AM at which point you've read enough about the Salmonella crisis to finally peel your eyelids off your hairline and consider nodding off. Oh, and that Camomile tea (which I haven't been able to sleep one night without) will make sure that you're up again around 5 AM. And wired. Because who can sleep after three nightmares in a row about a missing nursery and nowhere to put the baby? (Why THIS bothers me is a bit confusing... we know we won't have a nursery so it's a moot point. Wouldn't my brain be more entertained with anxiety over birth or car seats?)<br />
<br />
3. If a pregnant woman's appetite is supposed to be justified by the phrase "eating for two," I'm taking it upon myself to release this PSA to all expecting women. Sometimes baby invites thirty friends over for a dinner party, and you'll be expected to feed them all. NOW. Gd help anyone who gets in your way.<br />
<br />
4. I was also certain until recently that the baby could not get a hold of bricks and Leggos until after the actual birth. But, having reviewed human anatomy and finding nothing that could possibly be so hard and stabby as what's sticking out of my tummy, I'm convinced that somebody's providing toys to baby. And I'm thinking of suing.<br />
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Thank Gd for new shoes, new makeup, (so at least I don't look quite as bad as I feel) and a hubby who's learned very quickly that when I stop using full sentences, he's going to be in charge of dishes that night.<br />
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And when I never managed a full sentence in the first place, we'll be ordering pizza.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-13559276833813620802010-08-25T18:55:00.001+03:002010-08-25T18:58:40.984+03:00My Reaction to the "Emerging Adulthood" DebatePerhaps it's a misnomer even to say there's a debate. It seems that the new phase of "Emerging Adulthood" has been pretty well accepted since the NY Times came out with their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html">article</a> dubbing the 20's as a new phase (remember, adolescence had to be accepted onto the world stage, too--imagine, a world without Wet Seal). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVstudies/GrowingUpInTheLord/Girls/MotherMeasuring.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVstudies/GrowingUpInTheLord/Girls/MotherMeasuring.gif" width="290" /></a></div>I guess the debate lies more in how we feel about it. Are 20-somethings just more self-involved and immature, or are they boldly exploring their individuality and daring to take risks--wisely, <i>before</i> bringing external commitments onto the scene? <br />
<br />
20-something writer Jessie Rosen wrote a great reaction to the Times article, defending <a href="http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/08/19/nyt-op-ed-what-is-it-about-20-somethings">her position</a>. <br />
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Ultimately, since nobody was a 20-something then and is <i>also</i> a 20-something now, we're just looking at one another's generations and trying to piece together a case for our preconceived notions. Having one good self-absorbed 20-something in your life could tip the scales pretty neatly towards the Times debate. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/08/25/Your-twenties-by-the-numbers-lemondrop-s-exclusive-lifestyle-survey/?icid=main|aim|dl8|sec1_lnk3|165991">Lemondrop.com</a> published an article defending my generation with a barrel of additional statistics--look how few are divorced, look how many have higher education. We aren't sitting around waiting for life to come and get us, we just don't have as clear a path to saunter down as perhaps we would have had a generation ago. Global economy, new employment structures, choices choices choices... We're busy doing research.<br />
<br />
Ok, so this brings me to my obviously less-traditional perspective on the whole thing. Here I (and hubby) are, <i>married,</i> <i><b>expecting</b></i>, with an apartment, a car, weekly errands and even a financial advisor helping us figure out how to save for a down payment! All before we hit the 25 year-old mark! Where did we go wrong? Did we not watch enough commercials growing up? <br />
<br />
And are we really just a throwback to an earlier generation? <br />
<br />
For full disclosure, I have to say that my comparison is generally with my own parents and they weren't particularly traditional themselves. While they married at about the same age, they were artsy bohemian types more than anything who tried out a few different gigs and living situations (did they prefer the houseboat or the deserted mansion?) and I'd argue that only one of my parents really did settle down in the end--at least, the way the NY Times would want them to.<br />
<br />
But I guess my theory on all this is that despite the obvious life decisions that have set hubby and I apart from our peers (who barely recovered from the grown-upness of our marriage only to find me boasting a baby bump) there's a lot that keeps us similar. And not like the generation before us. I think there is something to our generation that we don't take many things as a given. Where to live, for instance. We've spent two years researching and examining communities in a few different countries, trying to make a careful decision about where we let the roots settle, while I think a generation before we wouldn't have even gotten this far away from our parents in the first place--or we'd be much more likely to be hurrying back to familiar territory. Career-wise, I may have landed in a good gig now that I'm teaching, but who knows once we become a family of three. And hubby is still finding himself professionally.<br />
<br />
And while we were pretty clear about wanting to be married and start a family right away (and not primarily for religious reasons--we both wanted to be married young and start a family young long before Shabbat meant no TV), I'd argue that in both of our cases that was just as counter-culture a decision (based on where we were coming from and our peer groups) as someone deciding to go live in the Outback for a year and develop her photography hobby. I guess the main difference is that while our peers are being careful to "finish" finding themselves before making any major commitments, we're happy to be going on this search together.<br />
<br />
The NY Times and Lemondrop are both using statistics and popular life markers to try and understand the mentality of a generation. From someone who's hitting each milestone in stride (or even earlier), I just don't think that it's as clear-cut as that. I don't think it's so obvious that because our generation is hitting milestones at different times, we're so essentially different--nor that those of us who are hitting the milestones at "traditional" ages are doing it with the same feelings and for the same reasons as the generation before ours.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-22063626960230240332010-07-21T19:01:00.000+03:002010-07-21T19:01:23.053+03:00Frightening article about what's happening to female American peace-activists in Palestine.Please share <a href="http://www.jewlicious.com/2010/07/palestinian-activism-dangers-for-female-foreign-volunteers-or-go-protest-the-israeli-security-barrier-and-enjoy-the-hookups/">this article</a> with any women you may know who are considering doing this kind of work.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-86480408493418307142010-07-19T16:42:00.000+03:002010-07-19T16:42:43.789+03:00Surprising NY Times ArticleHere's a really interesting <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/opinion/19douthat.html">NY Times article</a> about the university-created cultural divide between rural white Americans vs liberals and minorities. Really surprising findings. <br />
<br />
What do you think? It makes sense to me, being from NYU and remembering a classmate crying because she was so embarrassed to come "out" as a Republican after classes were turned into group-therapy sessions upon the Bush re-election. But that's NYU--the left of the left.<br />
<br />
Was your school the same?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-90758380338999256422010-07-18T18:30:00.000+03:002010-07-18T18:30:20.547+03:00Rebbetzin Levitan is a FlyBaby?I've written about <a href="http://www.flylady.com/">FlyLady</a> before, but this takes the cake! <br />
<br />
Today, Rebbetzin Levitan, super-shadchan, marriage and dating counselor/speaker extroardinaaire, and author of the very popular new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Only-Want-Get-Married-Once/dp/9652294985?ie=UTF8&tag=blis06-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">I Only Want to Get Married Once: Dating Secrets for Getting It Right the First Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=blis06-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9652294985" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, just wrote in a testimonial to FlyLady!<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=blis06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=9652294985&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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I was so surprised to see this in my inbox! Check it out!<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dear FlyLady,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The book you are holding would not have been written if not for a very special email I received from you in 2008. I am writing to thank you and to share my experience with you. The words in your email that really impacted me were:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"So how do we stop this sensory overload? We have to pull the plugs! Let's practice turning off and tuning in… This is how I wrote my first book. I had made myself a strict routine for the morning… My goal was to write ten pages or three hours whichever came first. To accomplish this goal I had some rules for myself."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You then listed a bunch of very important rules including: Doing morning routines, not turning on the email, browser or instant messenger program and most importantly, no answering the phone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You then wrote, "I started my day at 7:30am by 8:00am. I was ready to start writing and by 11:00am I was finished with ten pages or I worked for three hours. In two weeks I had a manuscript. Do you see what you can accomplish when you turn off the distractions and tune into your brain power.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I read your email, I was literally blown away. I never heard of someone writing a book in 2 weeks. I was amazed. Now, I had been considering writing a book based on my lecture series on relationships. Many people were pushing me to put my lectures into writing, but I always said, "I don't have time to write a book. I run a lively home, together with my husband. We have a handful of beautiful kids and I also have five teaching jobs. On top of this, I also freelance lecture and counsel people. When exactly do you expect me to write a book???"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All of a sudden, after reading your email, my excuses didn't hold water. If a book could be written in a short time, well then I could do it. I just needed some focused time. So that was it. I said to myself, "If FlyLady could write a book in two weeks, I could write one in four!" And that's exactly what I set out to do.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In June 2008, I sat down to write my book. I wasn't as good with my morning routines as you were. And I didn't stop writing after three hours. Actually, as soon as I started writing I couldn't stop… until it all came out. Although I didn't quite make my four week deadline, seven weeks later, I had a manuscript! (Thanks to a lot of patience and support from my husband and kids as well) But FlyLady, if not for you email, I am convinced that I never would've written my book. It was published iin February, 2010 and I have already received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from people who have been helped by my book. This is all in your merit! I cannot thank you enough! Perhaps other people will be inspired to accomplish big projects based on your email together with my response. If you want to print this email as a testimonial, it would be my pleasure.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">FlyLady, once again, I have no words to thank you. You are an inspiration to so many people, may you always be blessed with the wisdom, strength, health and good heart that you have to continue making a difference in so many people's lives.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">With endless gratitude,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Chana Levitan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jerusalem Israel"</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363896341921123582.post-86365181061786958112010-07-15T17:27:00.002+03:002010-07-15T17:29:33.662+03:00Where did I leave my keyboard?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.families.com/media/pregnancy-brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogs.families.com/media/pregnancy-brain.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>In case you were wondering, Pregnancy Brain for sure exists. I've had three really terrible run-ins with my new identity as a forgetful mom-to-be but (I kid you not) can only remember two of them. <br />
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My case began gradually. I found myself walking around the apartment much more looking for things. Every once and a while I do something silly (even before I was pregnant) like look for my glasses while they're on or ask my friend on the phone why I can never find my phone. I think I get that from my father, the classic absent minded professor. So it wasn't so much new levels of forgetfulness, just increased frequency.<br />
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But then I graduated.<br />
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The first (and therefore most unnerving) situation came up when I was serving Omri juice for breakfast. I opened the fridge, took out the bottle of juice, went to the cupboard, took out a glass.... and the bottle of juice was gone. It was like a maniacal magician was playing tricks on me. So I tried to think of what brilliant place I had thought of to leave the juice while I got the glass... did I put the juice back in the fridge? Is it on the counter somewhere? Maybe I put it on top of the microwave for some reason? I started wandering the whole apartment--the dining room table? The fridge? Again the fridge? Maybe further back in the fridge? ...the FREEZER? <br />
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Ok, if you already figured it out, just don't tell me.<br />
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I had neatly replaced the glass with the bottle of juice. No logic. No, a bottle of Naked juice will not last long in my cupboard. It took me a good five minutes to find the sucker. I spent the rest of the day scared of myself.<br />
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But if I had only known what was in store for me I would have seen the many advantages of that mistake. It was only within our small one-bedroom apartment, so how many places could I possibly need to check? Much more critically... it was PRIVATE. <br />
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Not yesterday. Oh, no.<br />
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Yesterday, on my way to my milestone halfway-through-pregnancy super ultrasound (healthy, albeit hyperactive baby growing nicely!) I was Miss Efficiency and decided to return our Redbox movie from the night before (Did You Hear About the Morgans? Nothing spectacular, but what we needed.). So I took our Redbox movie, went to the movie rental machine, and returned it. The only problem was, it was the BLOCKBUSTER movie rental machine. So I watched as the machine courteously reported that "No Media Was Detected" and then promptly switched to "Out of Order."<br />
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I stared at the machine. I was mortified. I was also multi-tasking (big no-no if you ask <a href="http://www.fullcolorliving.blogspot.com/">my mom</a>)--ironically, by being on the phone... with my mom. And then the yetzer hara reared it's ugly head and I fully embraced his excuses. "This is way too embarrassing, you can't do this, it probably happens all the time, you'll deal with it later but you'll be late for your appointment. Just leave."<br />
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I left. <br />
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Which, of course, just makes it all the more awkward and embarrassing. Y"h did NOT have my back.<br />
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So I spent the very long ultrasound appointment planning my attack and imagining all the old gnarly Dollar Store employees screaming at me for ruining their business and breaking their machine and demanding I buy them a new one.<br />
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Luckily, the managers are actually chilled-out twenty somethings. Who, quite frankly, laughed in my face (as politely as one can laugh in someone's face when not laughing is just not an option) when I told them what I'd done. I gave them my name and number, reported the Out of Order machine to Blockbuster (India), and went home. A few hours later I get a call from the next on-duty manager. <br />
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"Hi, is this Kayla?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"This is Somethingorother from Dollar Saver."<br />
"Oh, hi..." (I hadn't really heard him.)<br />
"Yeah, I have your (barely suppressed giggle) Redbox DVD."<br />
"Ohhh. Yes. Yup. Ok. I'll be in shortly. Thank you sooooo much."<br />
(Outright laughter.) "Yeah, ok, see you then."<br />
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When I went in, I found Mr. Somethingorother, asked him if he worked there, and then identified myself as "the ditz with the Redbox DVD." He actually finished that sentence for me. <br />
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Then he told me it was his opinion that "they make it a <b>Big Red Box</b> for a reason." In as friendly a way as possible.<br />
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I guess it's as good a time as any to really understand what they meant in theater school when they said to "check your ego at the door." This is a whole new level.<br />
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All I have to say is, thank Gd this baby will be attached to my body for another many months so I don't have to worry about misplacing it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117073562753781088noreply@blogger.com2