Hurricane Ike

I hate hurricanes. Currently, there's Hurricane Ike, it's a cat. 4 (really bad) and if it stays it's current course, it'll hit us, still at cat. 4 strength (even worse) I just really really hope it either decreases in strength, or turns some other way. We still have four days, so it's just wait and see.

New York and Florida: How Different Are We? Part 3

In Shidduchim: Ok, maybe this is just me and the class I went to school with, but there isn't as much pressure to get married so soon. My class had 40 girls in it in highschool. Of my class now, only 10 are married. Also, I don't feel as much pressure, but that might be in part because neither of my best friends are. They aren't even dating at the moment, they're too busy with college. So I never feel the pressure that some of the New York bloggies talk about, most of the girls are fine with waiting, and trying to get a little further along before settling down. Take me for instance, I won't start going out till this semester is over. (If I survive it, that is.) Ok, I need to work on my paper now, so I may or may not put up more later, if I can think of anything. Actually, if you guys could suggest something it would be much appreciated!

New York and Florida: How Different Are We? Part 2

I'm not sure how many "parts" this will end up being, until I run out of things to say I guess. Anyways, back to topic. I was actually talking about the whole thing with my mother on shabbos about how different schools are in NY as compared to Florida, specifically South Florida. The girls' schools all have a much broader...range? of girls than any NY Bais Yaakov.As for the boys' schools, I can't really say because I don't have that much idea, I just know what my brother tells me and he's not exactly un-biased. Neither am I....but that is neither here nor there. I think that the major difference between the communities is how much the central community varies. While down here we have several shuls all within two to three blocks of one another, we still count the community as a whole, no matter which shul you go to. Ok, I just re-read that last sentence, and I'm not sure that I'm getting myself across very clearly...gah. How do I say this? The actual level of frumkeit within the community varies from ultra-orthodox to very modern orthodox, which is why you won't see some of the issues that are in NY down here. Take the tznius issues for example that has everyone up in such a fuss. (Not that I'm not upset by it too) but down here it doesn't have quite so much of an effect, maybe because Miami is a bit more relaxed. I know that when some New Yorkers come down for winter they wear things they would not wear in NY, and that they don't feel so closed in. All right, I'm not sure that I'm making sense anymore, so I'll just post this now, and continue when I'm more sane. Again, please feel free to tell me if I have things wrong.

New York and Florida: How Different Are We?

Y'know, I read a lot of blogs, mostly from New York, and it really leads me to wonder sometimes. I mean, Florida and NY are on the same continent, in the same country, right? But in some things we might as well be planets apart. Take schools for girls for instance. There are tons of BYs all over NY and not just BYs but other schools as well. Here in Florida, you have a total of three, no four choices: the BYM, the Lubavitch girls school. or another girl's school, that's a "wannabe" Bais Yaakov. In BYM itself, there are such a range of different girls, there's no one "type". I went to the same seminary as one other girl in my class. With the new yorkers you could tell they were all from NY, same with the Baltimorians, same with those from Lakewood, but with me and this other girl. we are such opposites no one realized we both came from Florida and had known each other since fourth grade. Another difference of NY and florida, also about girls, it does not really matter so much down here when a girl wears a jean skirt or not, we have such a diverse little community, no one is going to comment. Ok, not quite so "little", we havethe largest community on the East Coast outside of the North-East area, and we're still growing. Anyways, I think you see where this is headed. More comparisons another time. Feel free to comment and tell me if you feel I'm missing something.

And Now...

For a lecture on Florida Weather. Typically, in most of the US of A, there are four seasons, yes?

Well, in Florida there are three. These are: Wet Season, Dry Season, and Hurricane Season. The Wet Season begins around April and continues till mid October, during this time there are many thunderstorms, quick pouring showers that go off and on throught the afternoon, and general humidity. Then after the Wet Season the Dry season begins. All the grass becomes withered, and the broadcasters start predicting a drought (they do this EVERY year by the way, you'd think they'd learn better by now). And finally, there is Hurricane Season, which starts June 1 and ends November 31. Fortunately, the last couple of years there have been no hurricanes that hit Florida, from either coast, and it would be nice to think that that trend would continue, though I sincerely doubt that.

So, JDJ, when you come down to Miami, I really don't think you'll encounter much rain....unless you go the Everglades, then you might.

This post brought to you by: NOT WANTING TO STUDY FOR FINALS

Snowbirds and Tourons

For those who do not know what Snowbirds are, I am NOT referring to a type of bird. No, I am reffering to those who come down from the cold, snowy north to sunny, warm south Florida (though they do go to central Florida too, but since I don't live there...) It's not the Snowbirds that usually bug me, it's the Tourons. You probably are wondering "What are Tourons?" My brother came up with the term and it's basically "Tourist Morons" Those who come down here, and act like everything is supposed to revolve around them. They cross in the middle of the road when the crosswalk is only twenty feet away, but NO, they can't walk that far, they'll just cross here, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY CAR!!! So I have to worry about not hitting them, try to swerve and not hit the car next to me... And then, there are the driving Tourons. They're the ones driving 25 miles an hour in a 45 mile speed zone, because they want to slow down and take pictures. GRRRRR Usually use the term, even if the people concerned are not tourists, but the are sure acting it! Anyways, I think I'll stop the rant now.

Pros and Cons of Sukkos in Florida

Ok, so Florida is known for it's lovely sunny weather. After all, we are called the Sunshine State. However, around Sukkos, it's usually not sunny. It's actually quite....rainy. Which means, we go out into the sukkah for a total of 10 minutes, get drenched while my step-father says kiddush and does hamotzei and rush back in. There's a tendency for it to rain at night, when it's not raining and we can sit in the (dripping) sukkah, there are mosquitoes and bees, oh, and humidity, can't forget humidity. Also, there is always the threat of a hurricane, I mean living in Florida you know there are going to be hurricanes. Baruch Hash-m, there have been no hurricanes in Florida this hurricane season, but the season isn't over yet, so you never know. Two years ago, at the end of Sukkos, Hurricane Wilma came crashing through. Fortunatly, it was Simchas Torah, so my family didn't need the sukkah anymore but...the hurricane made something of a mess you could say.

Alright, so I've gone through a few cons of Sukkos in Florida, there are good things too, don't get me wrong. After all, there are 7 days to the chag and not EVERY day is bad. There are days when you are sitting in the sukkah and there are beautiful breezes. You don't need to worry about freezing in the sukkah (unlike in NY, or Mass.) I spent sukkos up in Monsey one year, and I was freezing my tuchus off, I was so glad the next year to be back in Florida and not have to go through THAT again. And, for my family at least, there is always the chance that yet another cat will wander into our life and take off with the challah cover.

I think that is all I will ruminate about sukkos for now, until next time, when I shall discuss "Snowbirds and Tourons"!