My First Day of Class

Never finished this, but it was started the first day of class. Hope you enjoy anyways. Oh, and there are pictures!

I walked to the building and looked up. *sigh* Yes, this WAS the right building, unfortunately. Somewhat daunted, I pushed open the door and entered the building. OK, my classroom was 209 so that meant…I had to go to the second floor. Where were the stairs? Turning to my right, I saw the men’s room, and across from that, the well-worn grey stairs. I trudged up, taking my time. After all, class wouldn’t start for another fifteen minutes. I got to the top of the stairs and saw a glass door in front of me, over the door, there was an emblem that said “South Florida Juvenile Correction Center”. Huh? Am I in the right place? I mentally shrugged there was no other building with a big number 10 on it, so maybe this was left over from when this building was used for something else. I pushed open the door, and entered a small hallway. To the right was a door with 218 over it. Ok…looking for 209…hmmm. Oh, there it is! The door to the room stood wide open. I looked inside and bit back a groan. Something told me this class was not going to be what I had expected. The room looked like an aerobics room, complete with mirrors, stepping stones and a laminate floor. The desks and whiteboard currently taking up most of the space looked completely out of place. Walking to the front of the class, I chose one of the desks near the teacher’s desk. I always sit near the front. It used to be because I had a hardtime seeing the board, but I no longer had that problem. Now I sat in the front so the teacher would know who I am, and would be more likely to be lenient with me. I was also more likely to actually pay attention when sitting at the front of the class, if only because I knew it would be obvious to the teacher when I wasn’t. I sat down and took my iPod out of my purse, but didn’t even get a chance to turn it on before the teacher and the first of the students came into the classroom. The teacher was chatting away with the student, who clearly must have been in one of her classes before. I listened with half an ear to the conversation while I took stock. The teacher looked nice, a mother-ish black woman probably in her early to mid 40’s (though I am notoriously bad at guessing ages so I could be WAY off the mark). Despite that, she looked fit, which made sense for a teacher of a wellness class. I decided I could like this teacher, and she would probably be receptive to the fact that I’d be missing the last day of class. Slowly, more people trickled into the classroom and took seats.

An E-mail that my mom sent me

Enjoy.
Haven't verified if this is true.
And I don't care.
Pictures are cute anyway.
WATCH THAT DOGGY DOOR
Could you imagine coming home from work to find this tiny creature napping on your couch with your dog? Guess who came home for dinner?
It followed this beagle home, right through the doggy door. This happened in Maryland recently. The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home. This hit the 6 o'clock news big time.

Isn't this adorable?

Treasure Hunter

She ducked and rolled, keeping her mouth shut and inhaling through her nose, trying not to inhale too much smoke. She slunk along behind the burning crates, staying close enough to the flames that her own body heat wouldn’t show up on radar, but far enough away that she wouldn’t be roasted. Her eyes were locked on the goal just 15 feet in front of her, only a short sprint away in normal circumstances. However between she and her goal was not only a blazing inferno, but a yawning pit, filled with spikes.
Who still uses pits filled with spikes? She thought, starting to panic. Then she mentally kicked herself. Get a GRIP, Rhea, you can DO this. Just focus on what’s right in front of you. Examine the situation calmly and without panicking. She glared at the deep pit, calculating it to be about 15 feet deep and 30 feet across, no way she could get across without some kind of tool. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a long piece of wood that was only mildly singed, but still serviceable and sturdy. She lifted up one end, grunting with effort, it was heavier than it had first appeared, which was all to the good as far as she was concerned, that meant it was more likely to hold her weight. Once Rhea got her board to the edge of the pit however, she realized she had a problem. The board fell short of the end by ten feet.
She groaned quietly. Why was nothing ever easy? Just once it would be nice if everything fell into place. She shrugged off her brief bout of self pity and got back to the situation at hand. Okay, so the board was too short, was there anything else around, and don’t just look at the ground but look…up. She craned her neck, and looked above her. There, in the rafters was a rope swinging, if she could only get to it. But once she got it, would it be able to support her weight? Were the rafters so weakened by the fire that she’d go tumbling to her death? It didn’t matter, she had to take the chance, there was no choice, and no other way out. Once she got past the pit and grabbed what she had come for, she’d be out that final door and on her way to freedom. Or if not freedom, at least on her way to getting paid, which was close enough.
She clambered onto a nearby crate and grabbed the rope as it swung past her. She tugged a little, making sure it was actually attached at the top, and not just hanging over a rafter. Having assured herself that she would not immediately plunge to her death, she took a firm hold of the rope, took a deep breath, and leapt from the crate. The hot air choked in her throat, and blurred her eyes, making it all that much harder. On the first swing, she saw that she wasn’t going to quite make it across, but if she made herself a human pendulum…maybe she could gain enough momentum and then jump for it. As she swung, the thought crossed her mind that she had watched Indiana Jones WAY too much as a child. One swing, two swings, three swings…at the top of the arc she jumped, launching herself away from the rope. For a brief second, she had the glorious feeling of flight, and then she landed, rolling in the ash on the other side of the pit. Coughing and retching, she stood up. Not even bothering to brush off all the ash that had accumulated on her hair and clothes, she took off running. The time was over for stealth, it was now time to grab the artifact and run like hell. Good thing she had lots of practice with that.
There, just in her reach, was the object she had come for. It was a peculiar looking thing, but she didn’t have the time to stop and look it over. She could do that once she was out of the burning warehouse, which even now was beginning to creak, the fire taking its toll on the already ancient building. She reached out and grabbed it from its alcove inside I small box. When her hand touched it, she felt a small jolt, like electricity. She tucked it in to her jacket, so there would be less likely to be damage to it. The less damaged it was, the more money she’d get.
Turning, she saw the open door and ran for it, once she got outside, she dropped and rolled, just in case any of the snipers had escaped the inferno. After looking around and seeing that no one was shooting at her, she ran for the pier, and jumped into one of the boats waiting tied to the dock. Feverishly, she untied it, and pulled the boat away from the dock. Then she headed out to the ocean, for the planned rendezvous with her employer. Right on time.

I went a little camera happy...

Dragon on the back of the car!!!!!

Boots wonders why I bother her the only time the dog is NOT bothering her.

Suki decided my suitcase was a good place to sleep.

Mariner just wants to be played with.

Little Bird didn't like me so close to his cage.

And Mittens of course, thinks I'm crazy.

My Trip to NY and Other things

I had a great time in NY, went to my friend's wedding, met Child Ish and Moshe, visited my aunt in the Upper West Side, and enjoyed myself overall. I stayed by my friend M.A., who was my roomie in sem, and stayed over at my house two years ago for a week. M.A. came with me over to Moshe's for Friday night dinner, and got a kick out of it, though I think she was a bit horrified over the fish. Good food, good company, good conversation, and didn't get home till about 1:30 in the morning. Actually, were it not for her insistence that her mother would be worried, we might have stayed even longer, but as it was, we were exhausted too, and walking back took WAY too long. Left NY early this morning, but for those bloggers upset that they missed me, don't worry, planning on coming back to NY in December, for a bit longer stay than just a long weekend.

And the other stuff? Pictures of Mariner of course! He graduated from puppy obedience training and they had a little graduation party. Including graduation caps...the owners were thrilled about this, the dogs less so.

Going to NY

Tomorrow I'm going to Brooklyn, NY for a friend from seminary's wedding. Staying there only till Sunday though, because I'm starting classes (again) on Monday. I just finished my semester today, and this is my "break", not very long, is it? On the other hand, only taking one class twice a week next semester, so it shouldn't be too bad.
Whenever I get into a discussion with a NYer about living in NY, I tell them I like visiting, but I wouldn't want to live there. For some reason, every NYer I have told this to, then decides to take it upon themselves to convince me how great NY is, and why I should live there instead of South Florida. I've heard it all, and I'm still not convinced. Then again, maybe I'm just biased. Both of my parents were born in NY and grew up there, and both of them hated it (which is why they moved down here obviously) so it's quite possible that I'm just brainwashed. But that doesn't mean I'm changing my mind, I love FL!

Good Joke

The sign reads:
WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS
WITH 1000 ARAB TERRORISTS
THAN WITH A SINGLE JEW.

This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a businessin Philadelphia. Most would be outraged at the thought of such aninflammatory statement...
One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the countrywould be marching on this business and that the National Guardmight have to be called to keep the angry crowds back...
But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to letthe proprietors simply make their statement. We are a society whohold Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty and afterall it is just a sign...
You may be asking what business would dare post such a sign?
.........Goldberg's Funeral Home!

This is interesting...

No Pain, No Gain

It's a common saying, for good reason. Anything worth getting, is worth working hard for. That which does not break us, makes us stronger. Pain builds character. While I may have my doubts about that last one (if only because I read it far too often in Calvin and Hobbes,) it's all true. However, we humans are creatures who enjoy our comfort, and pain is looked at with horror and fear. However, what in this life is not painful? And the pain DOES contribute to our growth, whether it be physical pain, emotional pain, or spiritual pain. We shudder, but we get through it, and hopefully come out better for what we have gone through.

Yet Another Odd Dream

Lately I hadn't been remembering my dreams as much, but this past shabbos, I had one that acutally stuck with me when I awoke. What exactly prompted this dream I have not the faintest idea, but it's a dream I kinda liked because it involved beating bad guys, and we all know how much I love to do that. Anyways, here's the dream.

I'm standing in the middle of an airforce base next to an airplane hangar, and a large guy stumbles out, holding onto something, he gives me this kind of bleary grin, like he's wondering what I'm doing there. I tell him that I'm an emotions wizard, and I get my power from people's emotions. (for some reason I feel the need to explain this to every person I stand near in my dream.) He shrugs, and asks me if I want some weed, I tell him no, he gets high and very happy and I get the power from his emotions. Apparently, I figure out after meeting a few people, it doesn't matter what KIND of emotions, I get power from any equally. Anyways, I transport myself to this little bazaar, with camels, and a guy who wants my power (of course). And apparently camels have emotions too, so I was able to get power from them. Suddenly there was a horde of zombies coming to attack, and I found out zombies have emotions too, which gave me the power I needed to destroy them.

I seriously wish I could interpret my dreams sometimes.

Mango Tree

Very Funny Ad (warning: bad language)

Subconcsious Dreams

I believe my subconscious is trying to tell me something though I'm not entirely clear on what...
I've had the secind dream in 2 nights about saving the world. Which means I either have a hero?heroine complex or or that I think that the world is in serious need of some saving. Or possibly both.
What I KNOW my subconscious is telling me is that Diet Pepsi is evil....since apparently it had an evil prescence trapped in a bottle. Clearly I need some intervention either way.

Driving in the Rain

I took this video while driving (holding the video camera to the side while I payed attention to the road, don't think of it too much or it will just scare you.) I had the radio on while driving, and it was pouring, there are parts of the video that sound like interference but that was just the rain coming down on the car. Bit of a long video, but I think it will give a good idea for those who have never driven in Florida rain before. For those who have, it will just bring back wonderful memories I'm sure.

Hurricane Season

Today is the first day of Hurricane Season. So we're now on the watch for any storms shaping up on the Atlantic ocean, and ready to freak out when one starts heading our way. The only season that lasts half the year, and even when it's over isn't necessarily completely over. Three years ago, they ran out of names for the Hurricanes and started naming them for greek letters. I believe Hurricanes kept forming until sometime in December that year. (I wouldn't know for sure, because I was in Isreal that year.) But now we will get the typical list of things to do before a storm, numbers to call, the radar following a storm..etc. All I can say is I hope we're as lucky as we've been the past couple of years.

Admittedly, it's 3:30 in the morning as I'm typing this which will mean that it's probably not going to be entirely comprehesible, but I shall do my best. Shavuos was nice, I visited with a friend who came down from Baltimore to visit her brother, and I slept and read. Actually tonight I went out with her till 2 a.m. at a restaurant, and then we went back since she has a flight to catch tomorrow. This week is my brother's 18th birthday, I got him a card, and I'm not sure how much he'll like it, but hey, it's the thought that counts right? (I just keep telling myself that...) Tomorrow (or I guess technically today) I'm going with my dad to see Night at the Musuem and am looking forward to that. And then I get to study for my comp test on Monday and my cognitive psychology test I have on Thursday. Anyways, I think I shall stop babbling and actually get some sleep. Hopefully I will have something more postworthy this week.

Memorial Day

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their county, for us. All we can do is remember."-- Ronald Wilson ReaganRemarks at Veteran's Day ceremony, Arlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia, November 11, 1985

The Glorious 25th of May and Towel Day

For the fans of Terry Pratchett's "Night Watch" and Douglas Adam's "The Hithchiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

Joke

A Jewish father, Moisha, was paid a visit by his eldestson Yitzak...
"Father, I am going to marry!"
His father begins to dance with joy and sing Hava Nagila...
"Tell me, is she a good Jewish girl?" says the father. "What is her name?"
"O'Brien," replies the son... "She's Catholic..."
"Oy!" says the father.... "But are you happy?"
"I'm very, very happy," says the son.
"OK...as long as you're happy ... my blessings to you both,"replies Moisha.
But the father is still counting on his remaining sons, Schlemiel and Chutzpah.
Schlemiel calls on his father the next evening."Father... I too will be married soon!"
Again, Moisha breaks out in a dance and sings God's praises...
"What is her name?," implores the father.
"Kazalopodopolous," says the son. "She's Greek Orthodox."
"Oy," says Moisha. "But are you happy?"
"I'm happy, Father."
"OK ... then you, too, have my blessing," intones Moisha.
Dejected, Moisha goes to the Temple to pray."Please God... let my remaining son, Chutzpah, marry a nice Jewish girl to raise nice Jewish childrenin your eyes ... PLEASE," he cries out.
The very next week, Chutzpah comes to his father excitedly andexclaims, "Father, I am to wed in the spring!"
"HER NAME? WHAT IS HER NAME?", his father immediately demands."Goldberg!" says Chutzpah! Moisha is beside himself with joy!
"Praise God! Praise theProphets!" Turning to Chutzpah, he asks, "Is she DoctorGoldberg's daughter Shelley, from Los Angeles?"
"No," says Chutzpah.
"Hmmm," says ! Moisha... "Must be Attorney Goldberg's daughterRachel from Beverly Hills?"
"Ah... no, Father," says Chutzpah..."What is her first name, my youngest, truest, most handsome son?"
"Whoopi."

College

I'm taking 2 courses this summer, one is a basic computer class, the other is cognitive psychology. Now, technology, especially computers, is a wonderful thing. When it works. When it doesn't, I'm very tempted to go "Office Space" on them, with a good dose of some heavy artillary. I have a test in cog psych tomorrow, and I just hope that I don't completely mess it up. It's an interesting field, but a little bit much when packed into only 5 weeks of class.
I also went to a Bake Sale for Shavuos tonight, and we bought a very choclatey choclate cake ( I know, techically cheese cake is the food of the yom tov, but my brother and I get sick of it VERY easily). We listened to a fantastic speaker, Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, and watched a couple of BY girls put on a very amusing skit. All in all, a very enjoyable evening.
Now if only I could get out of this test, tomorrow evening would be nice too....

Computer class

Those two smiley's just about sum up my feelings about this computer class.

Summer in South Florida Through the Senses

Starting with Smell:

Air before a afternoon thundersorm, the air after a thunderstorm, the overpowering sweetness of mangoes ripening and rotting, the strong chemical odor of chlorine, greasy barbecue, and salty ocean.

Sight:

People wearing a bit less than usual, seeing the rain coming pour down, a sheet of water on one side of the street, while being bright and sunny on the other, seeing the wind blow the trees before a thundersotrm, and the waves crash on the shore, the sand between toes, the grass turning greener as it finally gets watered after a long dry winter.

Sound:

The roll and crash of thunder, the rain pouring down, the splash of water in the pool, the sizzle of a barbecue, people laughing and playing, AC blasting, and the bugs coming out in the twilight, the muted roar of the waves, quietly hissing as it laps on the sandy beach, birds chirping throughout the day and night.

Touch:

The humidity of the air on skin, coolness of AC, wind preceding a storm, refreshing rain, hot metal on the car, hot seats in the car, and hot seatbelt (ouch)

Taste:

Barbecued hamburgers, hotdogs etc., sweet delicious mangoes, salty seawater (or chlorinated poolwater), juice and soda, cold water (and before you debate that, yes it does have a taste) and corn on the cob.

These are the things I associate with summer, different people most likely would pick different things.

"Quotes"

"Life is a stage, and all the men and women merely actors upon it. They have thier entrances and they have thier exits. And one man in his lifetime plays many parts." - King Henry VIII, William Shakespeare

The only reason I know this quote by heart (though it may be slightly off) is because I had it quoted at me throughout high school by CJ, since she made it her goal to memorize at least one part of almost every Shakespeare play. This was the only one that really stuck in my head however. Perhaps because unlike the others, there was a message behind it. And so it has stuck in my head ever since, for the past 6 years. Funny what things manage to stick with you in your memory forever.

Key West

Key West was fun, we checked out the college, which was really nice, and the director of the program gave us a tour, which was cool. After that we went to what was probably the only Kosher restaurant in Key West. It wasn't even a restaurant exactly, it was a little shack with a kitchen inside, and two tables and a counter in front of it. But the food there was VERY good. After we had lunch, we walked down Duval Street, which is just a lot of shops, we went in to a few and aI got a new skirt, nice and light, perfect for the summer. And a shirt that says "Margaritaville". After that we went to Earnest Hemingway's house and took the tour there. Though it's very cool to see a famous author's house (and a VERY nice house it was, even though there was no central AC and everyone was very hot, but they had fans in all the rooms) I really just went for the cats. There are 45 cats living there, just wandering all over the place. After that we left Key West and went to one of the State parks in the Keys. My mother and brother waded out into the water, while I sat in the car and finished a book. I was too tired to get out of the car and go wading. We got home by 8:30 at night, and Mariner was thrilled to see us. Then this morning I was supposed to have my first class, but the teacher didn't show, so apparently my first class will actually be tomorrow. I'm already counting down the days until the semester is over.

A Trip to Key West

Tomorrow is my birthday and we're going down to Key West for the day. Tomorrow is also Lag B'Omer, and this is the first time I can recall it being on the same day as my english birthday. So on the way down to Key West, I'll be able to listen to my ipod! As to what we're actually going to do down there I have no idea. We're going to be looking at a scuba diving college for my brother (Yes, unusual, but then again so is he, and currently he's not even sure he wants to go to college, though I'm trying to convince him that he should, especially since he wants to open up his own business.)

My Philosophies on Life

If you've read my posts for a while, you probably can guess at at least one of my basic philosophies on life. Whether or not you agree with it, is another matter. In any case, up until now I had two basic philosophies:

1. "People are people." - no matter what race, religion, culture, etc. people will always be people. This ties directly in to
2. "People are idiots." - this is self-explanatory.

My third philosophy has nothing to do with people.

3. "Life = Irony" - This should be self explanatory as well, but if anyone feels it needs clarification I would be happy to provide example after example after example.

Ears

Mariner seems to have a thing for other animal's ears, he likes to chew on them. The other dogs at teh dog park don't usually mind this, not even the smaller ones. The only problem with this is he especially loves to eat Boots' ears, and when he tries to do this since she has tiny ears, it looks like he's eating her entire head. Mariner seems to be under the impression that the cats are just like small dogs and like to be played with in the same way. Needless to say, the cats are not very happy about that. He bowls Boots over and begins to bat her around with his paws that are ar almost half her size, she goes bolting for the door, he chases her thinking what a great game this is, once they are at the door, he bowls her over again and then either me or my mom take pity on the kitty and let her outside. Mittens in the meantime is usually smugly sitting curled up in her cat tree, high above all the abuse taking place or watching with detached interest from a chair. She knows that all she has to do is stay high up off the ground. But since Boots is under the impression that she lost her ability to jump after she got sick, she just runs and mews pitifully. It's funny and yet at the same time kind of painful to watch. There's a reason there;s a saying " they get along like cats and dogs"

Happy Mother's Day!

K is for Klutz

I have finally realized after almost 22 years, I am a complete klutz. I constantly discover new bruises that I have no memory of getting. I once got a black eye, from what I have not the faintest idea. I walk into walls and doors, and have shut doors on myself more times than I can count. I've tripped over my own feet, and banged into anything in my way.
And yet, I have yet to do anything quite serious to myslef, B'H"

Mangos, Shopping, and Books

YAY!!! I got to eat a mango from our tree, yesterday I got one that was ripe off the tree. I LOVE mangoes, best fruit on the planet in my opinion.
I stayed overnight at my grandmother's, even though I'll be seeing on her on Sunday for Mother's Day. I got another one of Robert Asprin's books, and I went shirt shopping since I didn't have any light shirts to wear this summer. And now I am sick of shopping, I don't have that much patience with it to begin with. The most time I can spend in a store/mall is an hour, then I get very antsy and want to leave. I know, that's not what most people think of as typical for a woman, however, put me ina bookstore and I can stay there all day long....that's where my impulse buys usually are. So while I'm not likely to spend $30 on a rock, excuse me, a meteorite like Child Ish, I will spend $30 on a book by an author I like because I can't wait to read it. So unless I actually have money on me, I try to stay away from the bookstore, it's much too tempting.
Addendum: Today is the 13 Iyar, which means it's my hebrew birthday! And my English one is in 5 days. YAY!!!

STUFF

Today I went shooting with my father and brother (though I was the one who did most of the shooting.) I didn't do too bad, at least I never missed the target, and I even got one shot near the bulls eye! My brother brought one of his school books that he hated, and used up a clip on that. Some guys in the shooting lane next to us saw that, laughed and said that was a great idea.
I bought a book at Border's and one of the managers rung me up. WHen he saw the title of the book, he exclaimed "I love this series!" I replied that I did too, and so for the next 10 minutes we discussed the series (Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures). After I left the store, I passed by another store, and saw graffitti written on the wall that sobered me right up. "The Party is Over, America" was written on the wall. Definite downer.
And currently I'm staring longingly at the mangos on our tree which I want very much...only problem is they're about 40 feet up in the air...so until they come down...or we can get someone to take them down, no mangos for me. *sigh*

The Semester is OVER...Among other things

I took my last final last night, and got it over with in 20 minutes. I'm SO glad the semester is finally over, freedom at last...for about a week. And then starts summer class, oh joy. Oh well at least it's only 1 class as opposed to 4, and it will only last 6 weeks as opposed to 16. So there is a bright side. I still have work and will be looking for another job, for when the school year is over.
I took some new pics, and decided to show how big Mariner's gotten by comparison pics. In the first pic, he is 8 weeks old and about 10 lbs. In the most recent (taken today) he is 7 months old and weighs 50 lbs. He's huge. He steals food off the counter ( he LOVES peanut butter) and he goes for "drags" not "walks". He is also going to puppy training class starting tonight. The last picture is the back of a pick-up truck I saw in the Walmart parking lot. It looked so cool, couldn't resist sharing.

The Omer

I'm not entirely sure which is worse, not listening to music at all or listening to acapella over and over and over again until Lag B'Omer. Either way, I may feel like going crazy before then (I think I say this every year, but especially in recent years when I spend so much time in my car.) Now I know that there are other things to listen to, such as torah tapes, comedy tapes, etc. However considering my tendency to zone out what the person is actually saying on those tapes when I'm driving it's not such a fantastic idea. I know, because I bought myself an audiobook last year. I thought "Hey, this is a great idea, I know this book and I'm sure it'll keep me from wishing for music!" Yeah, right. I barely made it past the first chapter before I got bored and started wishing for more music. How am I going to make it another 3 weeks?!

Pesach is Coming!

Yes I know that everyone who reads my blog must already be aware of this fact, but since everywhere I look I see blog talking about it, I figured I may as well add in my two cents, before the chag is actually here. Other than the insane things people do to get ready for pesach ( a topic which has already been beaten to death with a sledgehammer several times over) and the complaints of family members suddently inconvenitly (or conveniently) reappearing at you, neither of which is the case at my home, there is not all that much to blog about...well there's been family issues, but that's not exaclty a pesach theme. Actually this post is really just to wish everyone a happy, kosher, chametz free pesach, and enjoy your seder and your family. Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

Anyone know some sure-fire cures for stress?

On top of everything that needs to be done for pesach, I have two tests this week, a paper due next week (on the last day of pesach no less) and the week after that I begin finals. Talk about stress... by the end of this month I may be on the roof howling at the moon (hey, that was how people reacted to stress in the middle ages...)

The Argument for Crazy

When I listen to the radio, there is this advertisement that comes on that always makes me laugh. It starts; "Men and women are so different in so many ways. For example; men are crazy, women are not..." Excuse me, but I beg to differ. As a woman myself and from all I have observed...women are a LOT crazier then men. Men usually have rational explanations for what they did, though that does not include things that "seemed like a good idea at the time." But honestly? Women, quite frankly, are nuts, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

The Dog Park

The dog park is an interesting place, and you meet some very interesting people there. Even if you have nothing else in common with them, you can talk about dogs, after all that’s why they’re there. They love their dog enough to bring him/her to the park to get some exercise and socialize with other dogs. Some people spend the time on their phone, or read a book. Some play with their dogs, throwing whatever they find lying around or bring toys for their dog to the park. I remember the first time I brought Mariner to the park, I had to practically drag him inside the gate and he stuck to me like a burr the entire time, being somewhat afraid of the other dogs. Now however, HE drags ME into the park, and the moment I let him off the leash, he’s off playing with the other dogs. Or if there are no other dogs there, I throw a stick, he fetches it, and then he makes me chase him for the stick. He’ll fetch sticks, and even rocks, but he will not fetch a ball more than once. Though, that makes my life a bit easier, since you can just pick up a stick or rock from the ground, whereas you usually have to buy a ball, which then inevitably gets lost.

Happy Purim!!!

Freileche Purim one and all! I made hamantashen, for the first time in years...it's turned out very good, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to the costume shop in time this year....so I cheated. I'm a pirate again...really all I need is a sword....but considering last year my sword brokw within an hour of my getting it, I think swords are overrated. Anyways, I hope everyone has a wonderful Purim!

Random Fun Things

At work, my mother's office is next to the sixth grade boys classroom, and it is very easy to hear them. This week was color war for the boys abd they were being a bit loud about it. I asked my mother, "Does it ever occur to you that being in your office is rather like being in an office next to the monkey enclosure at the zoo?" She said, "Yes" The reason I had brought it up in the first place was that the boys were making sounds rather similiar to chimps....

I went to the dog park and was priveliged to play with threee adorable 8 week old jack russel terrier puppies. I was SOOOO happy, as you can imagine. I got some pics of them on my phone which I am going to try to load onto the computer so everyone can bask in thier cuteness.

Oh, and Moshe asked for a video of Mariner, well, I have one, though since i took it from a kneeling/ sitting position (after being knocked over by Mariner) it's a lil bit dizzying, so here's a warning, don't watch it if you get motion sickness easily.

Spring Break

Ah, first of all I'd like to apologize for the Hiatus, I just did not feel like I was getting any news to write about. Now, however, there seems to be plenty. For one, I started a job as a secretary at an all boys middle school. My mom happens to be one of the principals, which is how I got the job to begin with. It involves a lot of typing, which, fortunately for me, I'm good at. So working there should provide me with lots of blogworthy material. Another thing is the dog park. Three weeks ago, I started taking Mariner to the dog park...there is SO much you can talk about there, the people, the dogs, the park itself, the weather....you get my drift. What else is new...oh, I got a new phone, the Samsung Instinct, which I love. It's pink. I would have preferred blue, but sadly they don't make it in blue...considering it took them this long that if they sold phones in pink and red, women would buy it, I'm not really surprised. I'm on Spring Break now, was planning on going to NY, but not happening, this time at least. oh, and I just took new photos of Mariner to put up. As a side note, he's now 5 months and 40 lbs.

At what price is friendship?

You can't pay someone to be your friend, as I think everyone knows. a friendship, like any relationship is one of give and take. Sometimes you gotta know when to give and when to accept help. I'll admit, one of my greatest weaknesses is my reluctance to ask for help. Why? I think it has something to do with my pride, I view asking for help as a sign of weakness, though when I see no other option, I will ask. Sometimes however, I do that when it's already far too late. It was an issue in school, and it's been an issue for throughout my life. It's something I try to work on, but when it comes to asking for any sort of help, my first reaction is to balk, and say, no, I can do this on my own. Fortunately for me, I have some good friends who see that I need help, even if I can't ask for it. This is just a shout out to those good friends, to say thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Tests and Winter

Well, I got my test back....and let's just say it's a very good thing he give us a nice big curve. But at least now I know what his tests are like and I'll know how to study for the next one. Thanks to everyone who wished me luck, I really appreciated that.
On a side note, this has been such a ridiulously cold winter! I'm wearing pants under my skirt for the 6th time this winter, and considering in years past I could go the entire winter months wihout doing that....it's just driving me crazy, though I have to say the cold is better than heat...at least there's always the possibility of putting on more clothes.
And in other news....there isn't that much. When there actually is, I'll post it...in the meantime, why don't I put up pics of Mariner, showing how much he's grown?

Studying for a Test

I've always found that the easiest way for me to study for a test is to read the material right before the test. Though this time I'm a bit nervous because I don't know how this teacher will test and from what I've heard, his tests are hard...also the fact that he wasn't able to finish the material that will be on the test in class hardly inspires my confidence. On the other hand, MOST of the stuff on this test I've learned about 3 times before, perhaps more. So it can't be TOO hard, right?
I hate studying....wish me luck everyone!

GCF: Bachelor Food Storage Guide

Here it is, the secret chart used by bachelors worldwide, because they don't have wives who can recognize on sight (and sometimes before) when the Big Mac has become one with the special sauce.
FREEZER FOODS:
ICE CREAM - If you can't tell the difference between your ice cubes and your ice cream, it's time to throw BOTH out.
FROZEN FOODS - Frozen foods that have become an integral part of the defrosting problem in your freezer compartment will probably be spoiled (or wrecked anyway) by the time you pry them out with a kitchen knife.
IN THE FRIDGE:
EGGS - When something starts pecking its way out of the shell, the egg is probably past its prime.
DAIRY PRODUCTS - Milk is spoiled when it starts to look like yogurt. Yogurt is spoiled when it starts to look like cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is spoiled when it starts to look like regular cheese. Regular cheese is nothing but spoiled milk anyway -- if you can dig down and still find something non-green, bon appetite!.
MEAT - If opening the refrigerator door causes stray animals from a three-block radius to congregate outside your house, toss the meat.
LETTUCE - Bibb lettuce is spoiled when you can't get it off the bottom of the vegetable crisper without Comet and a brillo pad. Romaine lettuce is spoiled when it turns liquid. Endive never spoils, but you will never eat it anyway.
MAYONNAISE: If it makes you violently ill after you eat it, the mayonnaise is spoiled. Permanently.
CARROTS - A carrot you can tie into a clove hitch in is no longer fresh.
CHIP DIP - If you can take it out of its container and bounce it on the floor, it has gone bad.
UNMARKED ITEMS: You know it is well beyond prime when you're tempted to discard the Tupperware along with the food. Generally speaking, Tupperware containers should not burp when you open them. If the original can you put it away in has finally lost it's label, it's probably done.
EMPTY CONTAINERS: Putting empty containers back into the refrigerator is a fine old trick, but it only works if you live with someone else.
ON THE SHELF:
CANNED GOODS - Any canned goods that have become the size or shape of a softball should be disposed of ... Very carefully.
WINE - Should not be confused with salad dressing.
POTATOES - Fresh potatoes do not have roots, branches, or dense, leafy undergrowth.
THE GAG TEST - Anything that makes you gag is spoiled (except for leftovers from what you cooked for yourself last night).
GENERAL RULE OF THUMB: - Most food cannot be kept longer than the average life span of a hamster. Keep a hamster in your refrigerator to gauge this.
BREAD: Sesame seeds and Poppy seeds are the only officially acceptable "spots" that should be seen on the surface of any loaf of bread. Fuzzy and hairy looking white or green growth areas are good indications that your bread has turned into a pharmaceutical laboratory experiment. You may wish to discard it at this time, depending on your interest in pharmaceuticals.

CEREAL: It is generally a good rule of thumb that cereal should be discarded when it is two years or longer beyond the expiration date, or when it will no longer fall out of the box by itself.
FLOUR: Flour is spoiled when it wiggles, or things fly out when you open it.
PRETZELS: Normally eternal, pretzels may be discarded if they can no longer be picked up without falling apart. Otherwise, there's nothing to stop you from eating a pretzel that the Pharaoh put down only 4000 years ago.
RAISINS: Raisins should not usually be harder than your teeth.
SALT: It never spoils. However, if you can't chip off reasonable amounts from the block, maybe another box is in order, as fresh salt usually pours.
SPICES: Most spices cannot die, they just fade away. They will be fine on your shelf, forever. Put them in your will.
VINEGAR: If your grandmother made it, it is probably still good.
EXPIRATION DATES: This is not a marketing ploy to encourage you to throw away perfectly good food so that you'll spend more on groceries. Even dry foods older than you are may be ready to replace. Perhaps you'd benefit by having a calendar in your kitchen.

Graffitti in Bathrooms

Today after class I went to the Barnes and Noble across the street, I got a drink from the cafe and used their restroom. When I closed the door behind me, I noticed there was graffiti on the door. While I don't really understand WHY some ppl feel possessed to write on the door, I thought it was amusing and took some pictures, I will now put them up for your viewing pleasure.
This one is my favorite:

My Apologies....Yet Again

Today was the Presidential Inauguration....Barack Obama is now the President of the United States. Ok, I know I usually don't go into anything having to do with politics on my blog (for good reason, I have no wish to get into any political deabtes) but this is a historic day and should be noted....ok, it's been noted, that's all I have to say on it.
Anyways, I started my classes, I love all of them so far, which is a good way to start the semester. A bad way to start the semester however is getting a parking citation for not having a decal at one of my colleges. I'm taking 4 classes this semester: Personality and Social Development, Human Development, American History (with the same teacher that let me skip a final last semester) and Intro to Religion, which I haven't started yet and don't start till the 27th.
CJ came back from NY for a week, I hung out with her a total of twice in the time she was home. But at least I spent SOME time with her. She was enchanted with the pup (of course) though he kept on making spirited attempts to eat her clothes. (Which he does to me on a daily basis, he seems to think my skirt is very tasty)
Hmmm, what else...my brother is going back-packing with his best friend for two days, he's leaving on Sunday. And then on the 28th he's leaving to Chicago for a week to visit his rebbe, who just moved up there. Can't think of any other news now, but we'll see how the week goes.

Happy New Year...albeight a day late....

OK, yes, I know, sould have done a new years post, but never got around to it. Did absolutely nada on New Years Eve, just was bored. On New Years, I spent the day putting together a schedule for next semester....which starts on Monday...and i don't even know all of the classes I'm taking yet. Talk about very last minute! Anyways, finally got the pics on my comp, so here are a few from Disney. Enjoy!!!

Fun Times

Okay, blogger is officially a pain...actually, I dunno if it's blogger or my comp, but one of them is frustrating me. I know, it's been a while since I updated...was going to after I got back from Orlando....and as you saw, that didn't happen. Chanukah was fun....especially lighting the candles in the middle of the parking lot in 40 degree weather (ok, not that cold compared to some places, but I was freezing) It was lots of fun having SC here, we had an...interesting time. We went to Magic Kingdom (which she thought was boring, and too kiddie) then MGM, which she liked...we went on the Rockin Roller Coaster 3 times. Then we went to Islands of Adventure, on her birthday...went on the Hulk roller coaster twice, Dr. Doom's Fall twice, and Dueling Dragons 3 times...all in all very fun. I got several pins, which I put on my hat, which I then lost bec I forgot to take it off before I went on the rollercoaster. Which was dumb of me, and I've been kicking myself over that. Okay...well, I think that's all for now, I'll be posting pics when I get them on my comp....and I hopefully won't be as long in posting next time!

End of the Semester and things to come

So the semester is finally over. I am SO glad. No more finals, no more papers, free for the next three weeks, life is good. I know I have been neglecting the blog, but hopefully, more updates will be forthcoming since I am no longer overwhelmed by school. Though I don't know how much I'll be updating when my friend SC is here, I'll certainly make some updates after that, and maybe include pics of where we went. So look forward to more updates, especially those on Mariner. I think he grows overnight...he's so big now! Will be putting up more pics once I load them on my comp, I think I lost my sd card adapter....but whatever. Eventually, you will be seeing more.

New Comp and Finals

Got up at 3 am Friday morning to get my new comp...went to Office Depot and waited 2 and a half hours for the store to open. I made friends with a couple of people already on line, an Isreali guy and his British girlfriend. Apparently his parents own a bakery in our area....and I found out later that my step-father knows the owner of the bakery. So I got my new comp finally, and now I have some pics of the pup on it. I also have finals this week whicdh means I prob won't really be updating till next week. In the meantime, enjoy pictures of the oh-so-cute puppy, Mariner!

Newsworthy

Well, Blogger seems to be working for me now...kinda...in a weird sort of fashion, but at least it's working. Anyways, what's newsworthy? First off, my computer died, a problem with a corrupted hard drive and can't save anything that had been on it. Doesn't really make sense to pay for a new hard drive when I can get a new computer for just a bit more. But that's not gonna happen till the end of this week. In the meantime, I get use of my bro's computer...sporadically. When he's not home or is otherwise occupied. We got the puppy on Sunday, he is cute beyond belief, but pics won't be up till I have my own comp....oh, well. His name is Mariner (for the Mercury Mariner, the car my brother likes) and he'll be nine weeks old tomorrow, which is also when he's going to our vet. That should be fun....considering last week when I took my cats to the vet they peed in their carriers and got it all over themselves....yeah, anything would be an improvement over THAT. Thank goodness the cats only need go to the vet once a year. Well, that's all the current news I can think of, can't say when I'll next update...maybe when I have a new comp. Oh, and one last thing, all you northeners are gonna hate me for saying this but we no longer have a cold front...it's aboojut 75 here....and as my teacher said, one of the worst things is an 84 degree Thanksgiving. I LOVE FLORIDA.

Colds, Bookfairs, and Other Things

I know, haven't posted for a while. acually, right after my brother and I drove up to look at the puppies, I got a cold two days later, and I don't deal with colds well. I'm generally miserable and don't feel like doing anything. Thank goodness, it's almost gone now, except for a slightly stuffy nose and a cough, I'm doing pretty good. I actually caught the cold from my brother, who was sick, and we shared the driving....and sitting in a small enclosed space (namely the car) with someone who is sick for nine hours total is a pretty good gauruntee you'll get sick too.....
Yesterday I went to the Bookfair with my friend SS, and a friend of hers. It was lots of fun, I had a blast. Got 5 books, two of which I got signed by the authors there, which was cool. Also, the weather was awesome, it didn't go above 70 and it's supposed to be cool like that for the rest of this week. I LOVE this weather. Last winter was pretty warm, but this winter we've gotten at least two cold fronts. I just wish it would stay like this for the next couple of months, but we're lucky when it lasts a week.
A friend of mine will be coming down from Baltimore in December and I can't wait! Actually, this is the same friend I always stay by when I'm in Baltimore, so it'll be nice to be able to return the favor, and we'll be able to do lots of stuff. I'm hoping that we'll go to Disney...anyways, I gotta go now, have to run to class. Just wanted to post an update since I've been pretty neglectful lately. THough as I mentioned, unless you wanted to hear how miserable my cold made me, not much to tell....

Puppies Puppies Puppies!!!!!

Yes, I know, I'm ridiculously hyper. I saw the puppies today!!!! They were SO CUTE!!!! I'll post some pictures up of them, and I just have to mention we're gonna be bringing one home in two weeks!!! YAY!!!!

The trip was good, my bro didn't drive me crazy at all (though I might have driven him a lil nuts with me being so hyper....) And the trip actually took more than I thought, about 9 hours total. I know, my family is nuts....anyways, here are some pics of the pups, enjoy!

Just a Few More Days....

Ok, I know I often talk about my brother, I live with him, I'm pretty close with him, but he has a tendency to drive me bonkers, that's what brother's do after all....problem is, he's 17, four years younger than me, but he often acts more like he's 7. And it's not that he has issues with long car rides, we've both done much longer car rides than a mere three and a half hours each way...but this time, for the first time, it's just the two of us, without my mother in the car. The good thing though is that since I'll be driving for the most part (he hates driving my car, but I'm hoping he'll take over some as well) there are parts where I will have to say, don't bother me I have to concentrate,and I know he WILL shut up then. That, and I went out and bought some things to keep him entertained. CDs, a movie, maybe even a book....whatever, anything that will keep his mouth shut. Maybe I should get duct tape too, just in case.....nah, I'm kidding, though I think during the trip I might be tempted.
I've been asked, why do we go to a breeder to get our dog, why not a shelter? We have several reasons not to get from a shelter, or a puppy store. Often times, pups that are in shelters came from something called a "puppymill" meaning that there was no pedigree involved, there is a good chance that later on the dog will develop problems, and get sick. By that point of course, the owner is too attached to the dog to bring it back and will spend thousands of dollars on vet bills. Secondly, with dogs in a shelter, you can't tell what their temperment will be like when you bring them home. Will they get along with the cats, will they be scared of everything they see, will they be aggresive towards everything and everyone, and those are not questions the people working at the shelters can answer. With a reliable breeder, they bring the puppies up by hand, make sure they're used to ppl and will get along with the family, they can pick out the pp most likely to get along with our family lifestyle, the pups are less likely to develop problems later on bec they have been bred from good lines with healthy bones. A reliable breeder will keep in touch with you, and you can always call them up to ask questions. Yes, it's a bit more money, but in my opinion it is totally worth it.
I think this answers a couple of questions, yes? If not, feel free to ask away, I'll answer the best that I can. Anyways, I got to go study for my test today, wish me luck!
FINAL NOTE: The last and probably biggest reason, *I* am not the one making the decision, not am I the one dishing out the money. My mother is. You have issues, take it to her, she'd be more than happy to explain why she'd rather go to a breeder than to a shelter.

Lakewood, Voting and Puppies

Lakewood was interesting, though to quote my friend that I was staying by its also "one of the most messed up places ever." The weekend I was there, there was a chicken shortage, apparently no chicken to be found anywhere in Lakewood, which was to me amusing, to the people of Lakewood, rather less so. I went to the wedding, had a blast, got to see friends I hadn't seen in a year, and the friend I stayed by I hadn't seen in two years, since she got married as a matter of fact. All in all, a great time, though I have definetly decided I never want to move to Lakewood.
Today I'm going to go vote after my afternoon class, and hope that it doesn't take TOO long, I'd like to be able to get to my evening class on time. Luckily, the place where I vote is within walking distance so it should all be good.
And on Sunday I'm going up to Tampa with my brother to look at the puppies. No, we're not bringing one home yet, they're only six weeks old, can't leave their mother till they're eight weeks. So two weeks after that, we'll be bringing one home. I can't wait to see them, so excited about that. However, the one thing I am most certainly NOT excited about, is sppending 6 to 8 hours in the car with my brother.... I really hope he doesn't drive me too nuts.

I'm in New Jersey!

I got in a few hours ago and now am using my aunt's computer for this update, I know, I've not been updating as of late, but hacven't had much to say. Lessee...I learned how to play hearts (the card game) lost the first game miserably because most of my attention was on a psychology textbook (not my own, CJ's sister's) the next day i played again and won because the textbook wasn't in front of me.
So tomorrow I'm going to Lakewood, and going to see one of my roommates for the first time since she got married, which was two years ago almost! Looki8ng forward to seeing her and one of my other roomie who will be there for shabbos. And I have decided that I am SO glad I don't live up north, I am FREEZING here. I'm glad I'm only up here a few days, I don't think I'd be able to stand a lot longer of this! Anywaysm just making up for my lack of posts and once i have a computer again. I'll update on how the wedding was adnd my impressions of Lakewood.

Or Not....

Apparently we're NOT going up to North Carolina this weekend. It appears that the woman was advertising herself as something other than the actual deal, so our plan fell through. On the other hand, next week , G-d willing, my mother and brother will be going up to a breeder in Tampa to look at puppies. No, we won't e getting one right away, they can't generally leave the mother till they are 8 weeks old, and these puppies will only be four weeks old. I will not be going because I will be in New Jersey and going to a friend's wedding. Oh, and it was not wet during succos, except for a bit of drizzle here and there, the weather was gorgeous with a nice breeze and not unbearably hot, thank goodness for that. The sukkah was only wet the first night, we had a gigantic puddle in the sukkah, but it pretty much disappeared by the second day.
And while driving today, I have decided for perhaps the millionth time, that people can't drive.

Eeeeeeeeeek!

Ok...maybe that's not the most mature response I could have had...but guess what? I don't really care. That was my response this afternoon when my mother called me and told me that we would be driving up to NC to look at PUPPIES!!!!!! English Golden Retriever puppies! I'm SO excited! On my way home I had a hard time keeping a big stupid grin off my face and if I hadn't been driving at the time, I would have been hopping around like a demented bunny. Have I mentioned I'm REALLY excited? Oh, and it looks like tonight, the first night of sukkos, will be rainy....sigh, I hate sitting in wet sukkahs...
And shockingly, my brother is spending the first two days of sukkos by one of his rebbeim. I am speechless.

I got a hairbrush stuck...

in my hair, and I had to have it in all shabbos. And then, after shabbos it took 6 hours to get it out of my hair, because my mother refused to cut my hair. I never want to smell olive oil again. I had it in my hair, and after a while, I got REALLY sick of the smell. How did a hairbrush get stuck in my hair? My mother was trying to blowdry it, but she used this small round brush, that was a little bit odd...and it didn't really work with my hair...so it was stuck in my hair for about a total of 30 hours...I don't think I'll ever use a round brush again, at least, not without a professional hairdresser weilding it. The last time I got a hairbrush stuck in my hair (yes, it happened before, but this time at least, it wasn't my fault) My mother just chopped it off, because it was right before carpool came for school, and I was only 8. Wouldn't have had the patience for her to work on my hair. Hopefully, never again. And I'll make sure not to have those brushes in my house so that my kids don't tdo that, because unlike my mother, I'm not sure I have that much patience!

Rosh Hashanah

Yeah, I know, I haven't blogged in a few days, but there's not been much to blog about. How was Rosh Hashanah? Fine, I got rained on, but otherwise it was good. Oh wait, my favorite lines over Rosh Hashanah:
"I never want th hear a New Yorker complain about going out in the rain {in New York} again!" - CJ, as we were walking back to her house during a thunderstorm.
"Ha! I know what facebook is and you don't! I'm hip and cool!" - my mother to my step-father. She actually had no idea what facebook was until 2 that afternoon when I had told her about it.
And having my brother not home for Rosh Hashanah felt weird, but otherwise I was perfectly happy with that. And he won't be home for Shabbas either, he'll be spending it on the Beach (Miami Beach) for a friend's bar mitzvah. Not much else to report....anyways, will blog when I can actually think of something. I know I thought of some over Rosh Hashanah, but now I can't recall a single one! Oh well, that's the way it always is.