Monday, August 27, 2007

Vacation Experience

OK, I really should be writing what I did during vacation, but at the moment, I just don't feel like it. I'll give a couple of examples of what I did during vacation though, just to start it off. But, I'm warning you, I'm not going in order, so if you notice inconsistencies, that's why.
Last shabbos we(my mother, brother, and I) were supposed to stay in a hotel/resort. You'll notice I said "supposed". What really ended up happening was we spent shabbos on the side of the road in our car, in the middle of Georgia. No, I am not kidding, it really did happen. It was definitely an...experience. One I would not care to repeat but an experience nonetheless. You're probably wondering how we ended up there in the first place right? Well, we were coming from South I-75 and we were using map quest directions. Now, either the place had moved or, the directions weren't put in right, but first we got off on the wrong exit. We called them and they said, "Oh, you're supposed to get off at exit 101, which was 20 miles down the road. Then we called them again, and told them we were coming from the south, which way should we go? Left or right? They told us we should go left, we'd travel for another 10-12 miles, see a state park, and they'd be right next to it. Well, we made a left, and went 12 miles down the road, 13, 14, it turned out they were in the exact opposite direction. It was 2 minutes before shabbos, and I told my mother to turn around, I had seen some trailer houses, a minute away. So, we pulled in to the dirt road, and it was shabbos. We opened the doors of the car before that so we could get out though. So my mother went to different trailers knocking on the doors to see if someone would be able to drive our car to their "driveway" and turn off our battery so we could spend shabbos in the car. Sure enough, there was a family who drove our car up to the driveway and turned off our battery for us. But, these people had NO IDEA what Jews are. The only person who did have any idea, was the grandmother of the family, who lived next door. So we ate dinner in the car (we had brought our food with us in coolers) and basically just sat in the car. We tried to fall asleep, but that was almost impossible, especially in a car full of luggage and you have three full grown people. (By the way, our "car" is a minivan.) And, though we didn't find this out till later, we were in rattlesnake country. The next day, we ate lunch in the car, while the family piled into their truck and went to the local school for a ceremony of some sort. The air kept getting hotter and hotter, I think it went up to 100 degrees that day. Fortunately, when the family came back, they offered to let us into the house, and we gladly accepted. My mother sat and chatted with the mother and grandmother (my mother will talk anyone she meets) and I sat and read a book I had brought. Actually I think I went through two books. The family had two small dogs who were continually jumping all over the place, but they were cute and friendly, so it didn't bother us. It's a very good thing my family loves animals, or else we'd have been in trouble. So, we were inside till shabbos ended, and then we re-connected the battery and drove down to a place right on the border between Georgia and Florida. It was SO good to sleep in a bed again. I think that's all I'll write for now, though I may update parts of this post later. And I shall share with you some more experiences from my vacation soon.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Kitten Alert!!!

I saw saw the kittens for the first time today! They are so incredibly cute!!!! There are for and for the most part, look like thier father. And, amazingly enough, I was able to get close enough to pet them! EEEEEEEE!!!!! I'm REALLY excited if you can't tell. I also was able to get pics of them which I will put up, that is as soon as they load. Did I mention they're cute? Because they really are. And, they are also only three weeks old. And they are so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Daddy's Poem

I was going through my e-mail, clearing it up, when I came across this poem that had been sent to me by a friend. It's extremely....well, I let you decide what exactly it is, but I will tell you I cried. Hope you enjoy.

"Daddy's Poem"

Her hair was up in a pony tail,

her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school,

and she c ouldn't wait to go.


But her mommy tried to tell her,

that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,

if she went to school alone.


But she was not afraid;

she knew just what to say.

What to tell her classmates

of why he wasn't there today.


But still her mother worried,

for her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again,

she tried to keep her daughter home.


But the little girl went to school

eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees

a dad who never calls.


There were daddies along the wall in back,

for everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently,

anxious in their seats


One by one the teacher called

a student from the class.

To introduce their daddy,

as seconds slowly passed.


At last the teacher called her name,

every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching,

for a man who wasn't there.


"Where's her daddy at?"

she heard a boy call out.

"She probably doesn't have one,"

another student dared to shout.


And from somewhere near the back,

she heard a daddy say,

"Looks like another deadbeat dad,

too busy to waste his day."


The words did not offend her,

as she smiled up at her Mom.

And looked back at her teacher,

who told her to go on.


And with hands behind her back,

slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,

came words incredibly unique.


"My Daddy couldn't be here,

because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be,

since this is such a special day.


And though you cannot meet him,

I wanted you to know.

All about my daddy,

and how much he loves me so.


He loved to tell me stories

he taught me to ride my bike.

He surprised me with pink roses,

and taught me to fly a kite.


We used to share fudge sundaes,

and ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him.

I'm not standing here alone.


"Cause my daddy's always with me,

even though we are apart

I know because he told me,

he'll forever be in my heart"


With that, her little hand reached up,

and lay across her chest.

Feeling her own heartbeat,

beneath her favorite dress.


And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,

her mother stood in tears.

Proudly watching her daughter,

who was wise beyond her years.


For she stood up for the love

of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her,

doing what was right.


And when she dropped her hand back down,

staring straight into the crowd.

She finished with a voice so soft,

but its message clear and loud.


"I love my daddy very much,

he's my shining star.

And if he could, he'd be here,

but heaven's just too far.


You see he was a policeman

and died just this past year

When airplanes hit the towers

and taught Americans to fear.


But sometimes when I close my eyes,

it's like he never went away."

And then she closed her eyes,

and saw him there that day.


And to her mother's amazement,

she witnessed with surprise.

A room full of daddies and children,

all starting to close their eyes.


Who knows what they saw before them,

who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for merely a second,

they saw him at her side.


"I know you're with me Daddy,"

to the silence she called out.

And what happened next made believers,

of those once filled with doubt.


Not one in that room could explain it,

for each of their eyes had been closed.

But there on the desk beside her,

was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.


And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,

by the love of her shining star.

And given the gift of believing,

that heaven is never too far.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends. Take the time... to live and love.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

North Carolina Aquarium


Octopus


Shark!!!


Cuttlefish and the little white things are sand fleas.
We saw the cuttlefish eat one of them. It was actually kind of funny because right before that, my brother said "Oh, look at the sand flea jumping!" CHOMP, cuttlefish eats it and now it's history. He was so devastated.



Jellyfish (they were SO cool to watch, wouldn't want to be in the water with them though)
We went to the NC Aquarium on Sunday, here are some pics that I took, enjoy, and I'll give a full report on my vacation when I get back.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Sorry




Sorry I haven't been blogging, but it's been a busy few days and I proabably won't really be able to blog till I get back. (And start school) In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of pics, taken on my new camera!

Friday, August 03, 2007

My pets!


Suki


Boots


Wishbone


Little Bird


Baby




Thursday, August 02, 2007

Baruch Hash-m!

So I was taking an online course this semester and for the first three weeks I was doing fine. Then I got sick for a week. So of course I was behind on EVERYTHING. I got it all done though, handed it in (late of course) and my teacher told me that the grades had already been handed in. "Oh no," I thought, "that's it, I failed." So, I wrote her an e-mail asking her if there was anything I could do to get a passing grade. And while I waited for her to respond, I prayed. I said, "Hash-m, if you help me pass, I will say Mincha every day no matter what." I'll admit, I've always been a little bit lax on that. So, right after I said that I went and davened mincha. A short while later, when I was driving my brother over to a friend, I got a call from my teacher, and she said that she took my first three esssays (which I had done pretty well on) and made my grade from those, so I passed. Baruch Hash-m! Hash-m is great in His glory!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Mazel Tov!

My cat Boots had kittens! We haven't seen them and we don't know where she put them, but we know she had them because we saw when she went into labor, and now she's all skinny again. We probably won't get to see them for at least a month, that's what happened the last time she had kittens. And before anyone asks "Why don't you have her spayed?" or "What are you going to do with the kittens?" Ok, first of all, she is an outdoor cat, she won't even let me hold her for very long, never mind take her to the vet! Secondly, she teaches her kittens to be scared of people so the moment they see us they run. And a few weeks after we get to see them, she'll chase them off. So, it's not really up to us to decide. Though I would LOVE to try to get one of them. When we actually do finally see them, I'll try to get pics (that is if they don't run at the sight of me) and post them. Also, about my vacation, I'll probably still be blogging, I'll take my compy with me.