It Wasn't Easy, But it Was Fun

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=75015&id=774981951&l=93dd2a73ac

Shalom:

If you ever have a chance to go to a Murder Mystery, by all means go.

And they are even more fun to host.

This is the second one Mark and I have attended and by the same couple. The first was a Wild West Theme. This time was the Rockers and Movie stars of the 80s.

Dispite the title, they are non-violent. You spend the evening going over clues with food, drink and other players to find out who the murder is.

And sometimes, there is more than one murder :)

There are so many theme and they can be as tame or as wild as you wish. There are now games for teens and children. Great idea for anniversaries, birthdays, bridal showers, etc.

Frankly, knowing Mark and I, the characters we were asked to protrait were not easy. The research was dark, creepy and gave us both nightmares. The sites we visited and the articles we read were black and held the air of death. There was a different feel, a different spirit. And for all the laughs and fun we had, this is as close the dark side Mark and I ever wish to get. Ozzy and Elivra were fun, but so hard for they are everything we are not.

Or are they?

Yes, we are children of Light; they are children of the Darkness.

They are judged for their life style, attire and beliefs that seem against the norm.

They are comfortable in their own skin and really don't care what others think of them and when you are with them, there is never a dull moment.

You know where they stand and what they stand for.

Funny that sounds like Mark and I.

A Totally Tubular 80's Mystery Party

Polly Abdool hosted a totally tubular album release party for her friend, Debbie Gribson. Debbie Gribson was a top international pop idol and was scheduled to release her new album soon, Eclectic Youth, along with a new fragrance line of the same name! The celebrity guests hit the scene in outrageous '80s fashion and enjoyed a relaxing appetizer hour full of challenging '80s trivia and '80s dance contests. With the exception of a few scuffles between catty guests, the party was totally radical!
Polly got the party rolling by serving a delicious meal as she hosted an entertaining '80s movie trivia challenge. The great food mixed with fun challenges got the guests into an enjoyable, competitive state of mind. The guest include the Prince of Darkness, Nozzy Nosbourn, retired Rocker and now a Vampire Bat Farmer.
And that icon of the 80s, hostness of the Famed TV Horror Show, the Diva of the Darkness and Nozzy's beloved dark lady, El Vampira.

Then, the party guests were totally 'grossed out to the max' when somebody was murdered! To minimize negative
media attention, the guests avoided calling the police immediately so they could figure out whodunit! So the frantic murder investigation ensued. Following intense interrogations and analyses, each guest submitted their final guesses of whodunit to Polly. The guests accused
who they believed the murderer was other over a delectable dessert. Finally, seeing no other option... the murderer confessed!

While waiting on the police to arrive, the guests overtook a hilarious '80s charade challenge followed by a few other ‘80s-worthy games to cap off the night's excitement. And no one got bit.

Such a shame.

Summer is Coming

Boka Tov (Good Morning);
Finally warm weather here in Virginia.
This weekend it got as highs as 95.
And as cold and wet as it has been this Spring, no one is complaining.
Which made for a wonderful weekend and week.
I have PT today and then come home for the real work.
After I pick up the apartment, I have to review a dance; for tomorrow evening I am teaching my first dance in several months.
I am so looking forward to this.
It is a simple dance and easy enough to teach. And it gives a friend of mine a break.
Hopefully, this evening I will be able to come back on and share more about our weekend.
I shall leave you with a tease:

The Holocaust

Natalie asked the following ...
dear Elayne and Mark,what an extraordinarycomment!I think it is very appropo of the President's comments on the UN's meeting about racism.he said that the holocaust never happened for the upteenth time andhe said that Israel should be prosecuted in international courts for lying about the holocaust. Did you see this? and would you please talk about it if only to calm me down?
sigh

To Natalie: There are people today who do not believe the Holocaust ever occured. But there are many, many witnesses; living witnesses.
Having worked for Jewish Family Services as a Nurse's Aide, I have seen the arms with the numbers burned into fresh. I have seen sweaters with yellow Stars of David. I have held elderly men and women as they told me their story. In 2004, Mark visited one of the former camps and has pictures.
Kowing what the U.N. meeting was about, no we did not feel the need to watch. Our rabbi lost half his family in those camps.
The President of Iran is a mad-man, full of hate and frankly a liar. He wishes to be the next Hitler, turning the world against the Jewish people. He will not rest until every Jewish man, woman and child is driven into the sea and then he will come after America.
But he forgets his history: every hand that has ever been raised agaisnt Isreal has been destroyed.
And therefore, I don't lose any sleep over it.
Though it does bother me that our President wishes to meet with this mad-man.
We pray for our President and leave it at that.

Catching Up :)

Shalom Y'all :)
It has been crazy around here.
After Passover, Mark's birthday.
After Mark's birthday, another birthday party to get ready for.
I am including the link from fcebook which has the rest of the pictures celebrating Mark's birthday. How it works :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=74030&id=774981951&l=88e95beb27
Anyway, we have recovered from a very busy weekend and now cleaning our apartment. The next big thing is preparing for the upcoming deployment. Because of the increased danger, there isn't alot I can share. But i am thankful for all of the friends who hold us close to their hearts and keep us in their prayers.
Update: as many remember, several Snyagogues got hit with racism and anti-semtic messages. One security cameria caught a full face shot of one of the men involved. We believe arrest are coming soon. As soon as I hear anything, we will let you know.

TheSimhaofOurLives: Yom Hashoah#links#links

TheSimhaofOurLives: Yom Hashoah#links#links

Those who forgive the past are condmen to repect it.

Mark's Birthday

(Based on the 12 days of Christmas)
"On the first day of my birthday (April 15) my L'Dodi came to me:
A Mocha Buuuny."
My birthday dinner: Poached Salmon with red and yellow peppers, onions and garlic. Mash pototoes and spring green salad with a Cherry Wine.

Doesn't my beloved set a lovely table?

Ah, No

Shalom:
Taking a break from rearranging the apartment. I am half way through.

Liking the way things are shaping up.

When I realize: I did this all by myself with no pain.

Yippee Skippie!!!!

I recieved an e-mail from someone who didn't leave a comment, but wondered why I didn't post a picture of the stickers on my blog.

In a word; They are Offended (ok, three words)

I see no sense to post them. They were hateful and offence to decent folk and I don't need to shock my friends further with thoses imgaines. What point would it serve? Stir up more feelings of guilt and hatred?

Or worse, give those who commit such crimes the plateform the they crave.

Not me.

What am I going to do?

Finish arrranging my lovely home, take a shower, make sugar cookies for my beloved and then head out to find a coustom for a friend's birthday party.

I will be back on later to post pictures from Mark's birthday celebration and then finish watch the BBC verison of Henry the 8th.

I am going to go on and enjoy my life :)

Love ya

Moving On

My heart goes out to you and Mark and all of those affected by this. Please take some comfort in knowing that these people are in the minority, and the vast majority of us find their acts abhorrent.
Much love and big hugs, Beth

you are absolutely right; Jesus would have prayed for them and forgave them; we can only hope they will come to know our risen Lord and put their hope in him for without him, they have no hope again, I'm so sorry for this atrocity to have happened :(betty

Boka Tov:
The above just amoung the words of support we have recieved since yesterday's blog entry. Such things will not change until the Messiah returns. But until then, it is people of faith and good will that will lessed these atrocities. As I wrote Beth yesterday; such thugs don't remain silent. They tend to brag about their handy work and more often than not, will brag to the wrong someone and thrus get bursted.
Plus several of the places hit had security camerias. The police are hoping to get good pictures.
Yesterday afternoon, our friends Debbie and Sturat took Mark and I out to Starbucks for Mark's birthday and as always, we had a wonderful time. We made plans to go to an India Feastival next Sunday and then out for supper.
The weather is been great the past three days, but about 5p.m. the temps began to drop.
We had Pizza last night and for the very first time, the Pizza did not set well with me. Great Pizza, but heartburn followed.
I had to pop Tums, but it was worth it. :)

But it Did Not Ruin Our Day

Shalom:
It is a sad reality. In this wonderful country of ours, we still have people who feel they have the right to attack others because of race and/religion.
On April 19, Shabbat, Mark and I visited Temple Isreal and were shocked to see the glass doors covered with stickers. They read: F* Jews. All had the offence gesture of the middle finger and in some they used the imagine of Yeshua with his finger us. All saying the same thing.
Needing to drop something off our place of worship, we found security sitting outside, the door had been covered also with the same stickers. The police had just left and there was a sign tp not touch to touch the stickers since they were being dusted for prints.
We live in the arena hardest hit. There were not only stickers addressing Jews, but blacks and one against gays. These were found on street signs.
I shook my head sadly, but we have chosen not to react in hatred or fear. For then the vandels win.
True believers would ever used an imagine so dear to so many as a sign of hate. Yeshua Himself was a Jew. And just because thugs use the imagine of Yeshua doesn't mean they are Christians. No more than Hilter was.
Just as I would not white wash all people of faith with these persons actions, I would not do that to whites because the stickers were aimed at blacks too.
No, these were the acts of sick minds and I thank G-d no one was hurt.
I pray that they are caught and punished as the law allows. But I also pray for their souls.
Just as the Real Yeshua would.
No, we did not allow this to ruin our day. We had lunch with new friends we met at temple Isreal. We caught up with friends we hadn't seen in awhile, came home and took naps and then Mark opened another of his birthday gifts.
Pictures of the evening to follow.

Norfolk Synagogues Marred By Anti-Semitic Messages

Norfolk synagogues marred by anti-Semitic messages

By Patrick WilsonThe Virginian-Pilot© April 19, 2009
NORFOLK
Several synagogues and streets were vandalized with anti-Semitic and racial messages discovered by worshippers early Saturday morning, a Norfolk police spokeswoman said.
Police are investigating reports of vandalism in at least five places in the Ghent neighborhood and on Granby Street, said Karen Parker-Chesson, a police department spokeswoman. An anti-gay slur was reported at one location.
“There is an investigation under way and we don’t have any suspects at this time,” Parker-Chesson said Saturday night.
Police did not say which synagogues were vandalized.
Police investigators think the slurs might have been done to mark the birth of Adolf Hitler, Parker-Chesson said. Hitler was born April 20.
The Anti-Defamation League says hate groups are planning gatherings in Florida, Missouri and North Carolina to commemorate Hitler’s birth.
Some hate groups are encouraging loyalists to distribute racist leaflets in the run-up to Hitler’s birthday, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s Web site.
Rabbi Michael Panitz of Temple Israel on Granby Street said worshippers arrived to find small, anti-Semitic stickers on window panes on the side of the building.
Police arrived quickly to do forensic work, he said.
Worshippers continued with their 9:30 a.m. service while police investigated outside.
The stickers shocked worshippers at first, Panitz said.
“People were certainly sobered and in some cases, it triggered some very personal, some very sad memories because our worship congregation includes people who are refugees from lands of oppression,” he said. “But there was certainly a collective, quiet resolve that we will not be terrorized … from worshipping in public together.”
In the 17 years he has been rabbi at Temple Israel, Panitz said, there have been a couple of comparable vandalisms at the synagogue.
Patrick Wilson, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com

Bed Time

Shalom:
As you all know, I usually don't write this last. But I need to write so that my brain will catch up with my tired body.
Tonight ended the Feast of Unleaven Bread. Funny, I told Mark I was sad to see it end. It has been an awesome time; both physical and spiritual.
And so as I type this I am enjoying a Mocha Latte. Hey: I am still human :) I did miss Starbucks :)
Tonight was the second night of Mark's birthday and part of his gift was a concert by a friend of ours. Dr. Klein is a Professor of Music at ODU and one of her students, another friend were both conducting. A wonderful concert and I got great pictures.
There are also the pictures of Mark's birthday. Again I have pictures.
But we are both very tired and the Sandman callth.
So, good night and sweet dreams.
Hopefully, pictures tomorrow.

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby

Shalom:
On this day, G-d's greatest gift to me, next to Yeshua and my son Aries, my beloved Mark was born.
I give thanks to G-d and his parents, Bill Reel and Anne H. Reel (of blessed memory) for this precious man that I am so honoured to call my husband.
I remember the day I met him; on my birthday (G-d's birhtday gift to me) and for a split second I truly thought I was looking in the eyes of Yeshua.
The Scriptures say that "husbands are to love their wives as Yeshua loves His Bride." and while Mark is not perfect, he does love me is this fashion. I feel the love of G-d through my husband and with such love, is it any wonder I walk about with a smile on my face :)
So, Happy birthday, my beloved.
Here are the words to the Happy Birthday Song by the Beatles (see video on sidebar)
"You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance, yeah I would like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you

And Who's Dog is it?

Shalom:

With all the problems this nation is facing, one of the top ten news reports is the type of dog the first family has chosen and why some groups are up in arms.

Bo, the Portuguese water dog, a gift from Sen. Edward Kenndy, seems to have disappointed those who felt Mr.Obama broke a promise that the first dog would be a rescued dog such as one from a shelter.

But there is a problem with such dogs. Having asthma myself, when Mark and I finally chose a dog, we have to take the same precautions as Mr. and Mrs Obama did when concerning a recuse dog. Theirs as ours is complicated by daughter Malia's allergies, which would rule out many of the "mutts" the president has said he would preferred.

So, who should be Mr. Obama's concern when picking a pet for his daughters?

Animal right folks or his daughters?

Mr. Obama promised a dog to his daughters and it is their wealthfare that is and must be the concern of Mr. Obama.

As many of you know, I did not support Mr.Obama when he ran for office. But one of the things I do admire is his love and committment to wife and his children. He is a husband and father first, president second.

And that is how it should be.

Welcome to the White House Bo.

I know you shall be happy there.

Passover And How I Survived

Shalom:
Well I hope everyone had a wonderful holidy weekend. Mark and I would like to thank all who stopped and wished a Happy Passover.

And it was.

I am beginning to recover.....

Again, this Passover was great. One night, we shared the Seder with another family and Firday night, we hosted our own. We had three sisters from our congregation. Because Mark did not drive Friday, we could fully partake of Passover wine instead of grape juice.

And since Elijah didn't show up, I drank it for him.

Everyone loved the Spring Veggie soup and it for my non-meat eating friends, this is a soup you would love because it is just Spring Veggies.

I added my matza balls to the soup and it was a winner.

The lamb came out great and friends took leftovers.

Shabbat morning @ 9:15a.m my eye opened. About 15 miuntes later, I could open the left one.

Torah study went into the reason for the Holy Day: that we were once slaves, but now we are free, a freedom won not by the U.N (we would still be in chains) but by the Mightly Hand of G-d. His was a Way one could not only believe in, but saying no cost one's life.

Ask the late Pharoah.

But there was a point brought out that is often missed: the egyptians were the creation of G-d as well. And He did not rejoice over Pharaoh or his armies deaths.

There is a Talmudic story that says the angels rejoiced over Pharoah's death, until the Almightly stopped them.

"How can you rejoice over the destuction of My Creation." On this day, while His Chosen People were saved, others of His creation deid because of their stuff-neck and harden hearts. That is why we have a saying: "we do not rejoice over the death of our enemy, but are sadden that thaings came to this point."

The Seder reminds us that each one of us were there and if he hadn't stepped in, we as a people may be no more.

And there would have been no Messiah.

How thankful I am for the Passover Lamb.

The 3nd Day of Unleaven Bread

Boka Tov:
I love this time of year.
Can't you tell :)
First, to Betty, Beth and Marty; thank you for your good wishes as we celebrate. We add your names to those we ask G-d's blessings for.
Last night was fun. We shared it with our friends Howard and Melissa who's wedding we helped host last year. This was their first Passover as a family and we were honoured to share it with them.
I'd share more when I wake up.
This is often call Passover season, when it is really two hoildays. The first night is Peach, Passover, the night the L-rd saw the lamb's blood and "Passover the homes of the Hebrews." The next seven days are the Feast of Unleaven bread. And for the next seven days we don't eat anything that comtains leavens.
Lots of matzoh.
But this can also be a very healthy times. We make lots of salads, salmon, and of course (if the weather permits) a great time to fire up the grill and roast salmon, chicken, lamb and even goat.
This is the time I start making Moroccan ice tea since the sun is warmer and out longer. This morning we had a breakfast of eggs, cheese and the sweetest strawberries this side of heaven.
Melons are good now too.
Tonight is another seder and this time it will be in our home.
So, now, back to my kitchen I go, its air still scented with roasted lamb from last night.
Oh I love Passover.

Chag Peach Samech!

Which means" Happy PassOver;

I am taking a break as we prepare to go to friends for a PassOver Sedar.
The lamb is roasting, matzo balls are doing their thing, green beans with almonds, done and when the matza balls are finish, I'll work on the collard greens.
Hey....we live in the south. Yes, it isn't what Yeshua would have eaten; but it is green.
The table is set for our guest tomorrow.
Mark has pull out his High Holy Days clothes and I am about to do the same.
It is a wonderful, holy time, a time we reflect upon all G-d has done.
We left the land that held us slaves quickly and in haste. Tonight we will reflect upon that freedom and eat our meal in ease and in peace.
But as I prepare, I am aware that many of our people are not going to enjoy this meal in peace.
Jewish servicemen and woman have partaken the Passover in wartore land, lands they are trying to bring the same peace and freedom we enjoy here. There are Jews who must celebrate in secret, who have as leaders who would love to see every Jewish man, woman and child removed from the face of the earth.
One day we shall partake of the Passover in world-wide peace; when the Messiah returns.
But until that day, we shall still enjoy in the love of G-d.
For whenever our enemie try to destroy us; it is they that end up thrown into the Sea.
Sadly, those who do not learn from the past, are condemn to repeat it.
Have blessed Passover (Baruch Ha Ba Bashem Adonai LaShanna Ha Ba Yerusalyim) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD, Next year in Jerusalem with our Messiah!!

The Cry of PassOver

This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt.

Let all who are hungry come and eat.

Let all who are in need come and celebrate Passover.

This year we are here: Next year, in the land of Israel.

This year we are slaves: Next year may we all be free.

Shalom in The Home.

Chag Samech:
It is a few hours before PassOver.
Mark is picking a few bits and pieces.
The first of three lambs is roasting.
It is the first night of PassOver.
Tonight, Mark and I will enjoy a quiet evening, reading the Torah and sharing PassOver memories and the goodness of G-d in our lives.
Tororrow we will join members of our spiritual family for the Second night of PassOver and take part in the beauty of the Sedar.
Friday we will host our own.
So, before the wirlwind begins, I am taking a moment to enjoy the quiet.
To enjoy the peace and freedom given to us from G-d.
Shalom.

New Year Jerusalem

Boka Tov;
It is a beauiful Spring day here. Almost ready for Passover.
Soon, we will burn the last of the bread we collected last night and we will then be free of leaven.
Mark was saying last night as we did the search of the bread crumbs that "it is true we recieve forgivness, but we must take an action part in removing the sin in our lives."
In Torah, leaven is pictured as sin; it not only makes things tasty, but also puffs thing up, as in being 'puffed in with pride, arrongance.
Son these next eight days, after we and G-d has searched our lives of sin and it has been removed, we are now ready to prepare the Passover meal.
With ritual foods we remember our deliverance by G-d from Egypt, and for those of us who believe in Messiah our freedom from sin and death.
"Next Year in Jerusalem." are the words we end the Seder will end.
It is the rerain of a homesick people in exile since the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70A.D. It is looking back to our homeland that has kept us going as a people.
For Mark and I, it is the cry of our hearts. One day, we shall not only eat the Sedar in Jerusalm, but return to our home.
The place where it all began.
One day, Jerusalem.

The Sun Blessing.

Every 28 years the sun returns to the same position, at the same time of the week, that it occupied at the time of its creation—at the beginning of the fourth day of creation.

A special blessing – called Birkat Hachamah, "the sun blessing" – is recited to mark this event. Due to the rarity of this event, this blessing is customarily recited amid large public gatherings of men, women and children.

This year, 5769, we will perform this special mitzvah on the morning of April 8 (the morning before Passover).The blessing is traditionally preceded and followed by a short selection of Psalms and prayers. The existence of nearly all life on Earth is fueled by light from the sun. Every morning without fail, the sun rises in the east and bathes us with its sustaining rays, causing flora to grow and, through the process of photosynthesis, providing oxygen for all fauna.

Some may call this phenomenon nature.

The Blessing and the Accompanying Service: How, When and Where?
The blessing on the sun should be recited on Wednesday morning, April 8, 2009, after sunrise and before a quarter of the day has elapsed—the earlier the better. If one missed this time, the blessing can be recited until midday.
Click here to find out these exact times for any location.
Ideally, the blessing should be recited outdoors after the morning prayers, amidst a grand gathering of men, women and children—as befits the excitement accompanying the fulfillment of such a rare mitzvah.
Make sure to bring along the kids and have them say the blessing. It's a memory for a lifetime!
If possible, try to wear a new garment while reciting the blessing.1
The actual prayer service consists of:
Psalm 148:1-6.
The blessing: "Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who reenacts the works of creation."
The Shehecheyanu blessing.
Psalm 19.
Psalm 121.
Psalm 150.
A brief section from the Talmud (Brachot 59b), the source of the obligation to recite the blessing on the sun.
Psalm 67.
The Aleinu prayer.
Mourners Kaddish (if there is a minyan present).
Click for the entire text of the Blessing of the Sun in English or Hebrew.
Before reciting the actual blessing on the sun, stand at attention with feet together and look at the sun.2 Do not, however, look at the sun while reciting the blessing.
At the conclusion of the service it is customary for everyone to donate money to charity.3

President Obama's Suprise Visit to Iraq (My Thoughts)

Hello everyone; this is Mark here.
I know it has been a while since I'd written. And since Laini is tired of me making my statements forcely (I, Laini call it yelling the TV) she graciouly in her own sweet way, told me to "put up or shut up", I have decided to add a few of my thoughts.
I have been watching the press coverage of President Obama's first official trip as President to Europe, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. After, his visit to Turkey, he pulled a suprise visit to Camp Victory in Iraq, and while there, he spoke to approximately 500 servicemembers at Camp Victory. During his speech, he commented that the Servicemembers there had done a marvelous job and promised to beef up the Veteran's Administration so that they "would not have to fight to get the support at home." At first, these comments seem laudible, yet as an Army Officer who served three tours in Iraq and is now preparing to serve a tour in Afghanistan, I have many mixed emotions about his comments and his commitment to the US Servicemembers.
I remember his comments he made while as a Senator and also while he was running for the Presidency. For those who do not remember, he said that US Servicemen were bombing villages and killing innocent people with their bombs and missiles. I believe he also said that they were murdering innocent people, terrorizing them during their "midnight raids," and raping women in Iraq and Afghanistan. From that time until now, I have not heard him either retract or apologize for making these remarks despite his recent statements of support. Since I was serving in Iraq at that time, his comments would have lumped me in with the few who did do these dispicable acts. Sadly, President Obama made the same mistake that so Americans have made by broad brushing all Servicemen with those few who really did commit these crimes. As much as I really would like to believe that our President is firmly behind our Servicemembers, because of his earlier statements, little since he was elected as President gives me confidence that this is true. Right now, I will take a "wait and see" attitude.
Of course this is just one Servicemember's opinion.

Ah! It's Cold!!!!!

Shalom:
The weather has changed.
Again.
It is cold once again and once again the heat is on and we are drinking coffee. We have to go to the store later, finish up our food shopping for the next nine days. After all; nothing with yeast. We are finishing leftovers before sunset for that the house is leaven free.
Last night, we took two bags of food with our former church. This way, that which we cannot eat can be used by others.
I was telling Mark about a movie I saw many years ago called The Late, Great Planet Earth, based on the Hal Lindsy book by the same title.
So while out getting coffee, mark stopped by the Naro, our local video show and they indeed carried the DVD.
So, we are about to have lunch and watch the movie.
An afternoon cozy with a movie and my honey.
Ahhhhhhhh :)

A Real Man

Shalom:
I'd heard bits and pieces about Levi Johnston's interview about he and Bristol. After reading about the interview on Beth's Blog ( Nutwood Juction) I decided to throw my two cent in. I agree with Beth; the whole thing is sad.
Sad that Levi Johnston would shame himself, his family, his child and yes, even the Palin family in that matter. For his interview was a revealer of his charater.
And Bristrol is well rid of him.
I have no daughters, just a son.
And if my son treated Sarah Palin's daughter or any girl the way Levi Johnston treated Bristol, I would have kicked his butt from one end of this country to the other. I raised my son to treat a woman with honour, respect and dignaty. That he was a human being, not a dog in heat and don't go about treating women like KFC legs, breasts anf thighs. A woman is the highest of G-d's creation and not your personal plaything.
I don't care what today's morals are: there is a way that man, a real man, not a male, treats a woman. And going about to TV Shows to relate how he "slept with and her mum knew," is just plain wrong and no one's busniess. Even if it is true. A male will bragg about the woman(women0 he has laid with. A gentleman is more discreet. Today young women are sending nake pictures of themselves to their boyfriends and their boyfriends show them around to their friends. Myabe it is me and my 1950's values.
Sorry, but if you have any self-respect, you don't pose like that in the first place and if he loved you, no one esle would see those pictures. Or the guys who video tape their private moments and then when there is a breakup, it become public fair.
Funny, how Mark and I got called religious fools because we chose to wait until our wedding night. Interesting how I never have to worry about pictures or videos popping up because of I chose to keep my skirt down. Hmmm, who's laughing now?
Bristol, and all the other Bristols out there: waiting is worth it. You make your mistake and sadly there are people out there who wouldn't let you forget it. Keep your head up, finish school and one day, when the time is right, G-d will bring the right man of His choicing; not a boy, not a male, not a dog or pig walking on two legs, but a real man worthy of the treasure you are.
But first you must treasure yourself.
Just swear off the Pork and you'll be fine.

Good Monday

Shalom:
It is a beautiful, sunny afternoon. It was cloudly this morning and had a downpour around noon, but the sun is now out and the weather is warming.
Mark is out getting the lamb for Passover. We have been invited to share Passover with another family the first night and will host a Sedar Friday evening.
I love this time of year.
It is a time of renewal, of in a real sense being reborn.
We clean the house of all leaven; any and everything that contains yeast goes. Leaven is used in scripture as a type for sin and we are to remove the sin from our homes. When one bakes, yeast gets into the air and travels. Which is why everything is washed and shaked out.
Yes, Spring cleaning.
Once the house is clean, we prepare the Passover meal, the meal that reminds us we were once slaves in another land and now free.
And the cost of that freedom.
For eight days, our food fresh, products from the earth. No yeast products; cakes, pies cookies, etc unless made from unleaven meal. Our bodies and souls and detoxes.
Do we live to eat?
Or eat to live?
It is a time of reflection and renewal, reconnection with our G-d and family.
It is the beginning of the Religious New Year, thrus called the Grand Shabbat, the Great or Grand Rest.
What a way to begin again; in peace.

This is So Sad

Such a sad afternoon: Pray for the community of Binghamton, N.Y. Right now it has been confirmed 13 dead and the lone shooter is reported amoung them. The story below is just as sad and even more heartaching...


Woman's Death Unnoticed for 18 Months
By SEANNA ADCOX,
AP
posted: 4 HOURS 54 MINUTES AGO
SANDY RUN, S.C. (April 1)
Death That Nobody Noticed: Mary Sue Merchant, 74, died of natural causes in her Orangeburg,
'S.C., home 18 months before her body was found in March. The 74-year-old's electricity had been cut off, and her property had even been sold at a tax auction because of unpaid tax bills. "It just blows my mind," a neighbor told a local paper. "If we would have known she didn't have anyone checking on her, me and my husband would have.
"We didn't know this lady existed," Sheriff Thomas Summers said.
Only after the 72-year-old woman's body was found last week did it occur to neighbors they hadn't seen her in a while. And some people wonder if they've lost a fundamental connection of small-town life.
"We've lost the community," said the Rev. Neil Flowers, who plans to talk about Merchant on Sunday at Beulah United Methodist Church, a few miles from where Merchant died. "We do our own thing. We lead busy lives. We go and go and go ... and stay within our comfort zone."
By all accounts, Merchant and her husband kept to themselves. They had no children. The sheriff and coroner say one neighbor told them David Merchant was once a prison guard who feared retribution from former inmates — but officials couldn't confirm if he worked for the state.
David Merchant died in October 1985 at age 53 and his widow apparently lost touch with her own older sister years ago, said Calhoun County Coroner Donnie Porth, who's trying to determine that woman's last name and track her down. A sister-in-law who tried to call — once — found the phone disconnected and assumed Merchant had gotten a cell phone, Porth said. Through the coroner, the woman declined to speak to The Associated Press.
"It's a sad tragedy this lady had absolutely nobody who cared enough to check on her — very sad," the sheriff said.
His deputies check on about 200 senior citizens monthly in this county of less than 15,000, about 20 miles south of Columbia in central South Carolina. "But we have to know they're there," he said.
Sandy Run, which lacks even a traffic light, is an unincorporated community: a wide spot in the road that drivers could miss if they blink.
It's the kind of place where locals can usually be counted on to say that everybody knows everybody else.
But safety nets for seniors who live alone failed in Merchant's case, or didn't exist. Authorities believe she didn't attend church. Her only prescribed medicine was for glaucoma, so she wasn't on any medical check list.
Many older people rely on family to check in on them, especially in rural areas, said Mary Beth Fields, aging services coordinator for the area.
"You'd hope neighbors would call," she said.
Mail should've been a red flag. But Merchant had a post office box, so no mail piled up for neighbors or a carrier to notice. Her electricity was cut off in February 2008 after three months of unpaid bills.
Meanwhile, the brick ranch home sat partly obscured by trees and brush from the road, Merchant's white four-door Chevy parked in front and a faded "Beware of Dog" sign on a telephone pole.
Four days after Merchant's body was discovered with a loaded .38-caliber revolver beneath her pillow, neighbor Ed Spradley heard the news from a reporter. He said he never talked to Merchant, but realized it had been a while since her car had moved.
Across the street, neighbor Tonya Craven said if she'd known Merchant was all alone, she'd have checked on her. But she said they spoke only once when Craven's dog ran away.
Merchant fed and cared for about 15 wild dogs, so Craven wanted to see if her dog had joined the pack. "She was very generous to them," Craven said.
While talking with a reporter, it occurred to Craven she hadn't seen those dogs in some time.
Merchant's unpaid property taxes led to her discovery.
When she didn't pay a $234 bill in January 2008, the county mailed delinquency notices to her post office box, which came back as undeliverable. The property, worth about $160,000 according to county records, was sold Dec. 1, 2008, for $20,000, said county administrator Lee Prickett.
The buyer, local real estate agent Thomas Kohn, did not return messages seeking comment.
No one from the county walked the property before selling it. Prickett said that's considered trespassing because owners in debt have a year to pay.
But authorities say Kohn noticed Merchant's car never moved, so he asked deputies to check.
Officially, it's only assumed the remains discovered Thursday are Merchant's. Dental records are being checked before she is buried beside her husband in a prepaid plot in Newberry. An autopsy Friday determined she died of natural causes, though specifics are unknown due to the condition of the remains, said Porth. How long the dog — breed undetermined — lived without its owner is unknown; there was plenty of dog food in the house, but no water, Porth said.
Becky Rucker, owner of the local florist for 30 years, said she vaguely remembers David Merchant, but has been trying to recall what Mary Sue Merchant looked like.
"It's so sad. It makes me feel bad for our community," she said. "In this day, we're supposed to be out of everybody's business, but I think sometimes that goes too far."

Good Friday

Shalom:
Finally: Spring!!!!
It is so beauiful outside, i have taken some pictures and will post soon.
Right now, I am opening windows to air out the apartment and allow the flesh, Spring afternoon in.
It is nice, warm and sunny.
And after the night I had last night (Chrohns attack, I shall never use ground chicken again) the weather even makes me feel better.
Mark brought home a few days ago a wonderful piece of Corn Beef. I have already cooked it and with add it to the Stew I am making for Shabbat. There is enough to feed upon until we have to clean out the kitchen for Passover. So I really don't have to cook.
Now, I am getting away form the Laptop and enjoying this wonderful afternoon.
Cheers

The Joys of Being Spehardic on Passover

Boka Tov:
I enjoyed reading Rabbi Brad Hirschfield's thoughts this morning. While I don't always agree, I love his take on the various traditon we as a people enjoy. And should learn to celebrate our different traditions instead of fighting over them.

From Windows and Doors:
The Joys of Being Sephardic on Passover
Wednesday April 1, 2009

I don't know the joy of peanut butter on matzah, pop corn on passover or rice alongside the matzah balls in my soup. And that's just a few of the foods that will not be on my table for eight days starting Wednesday. But Sephardic Jews (those of Iberian, Arabian, or central Asian descent), including the most strictly observant, enjoy them all freely. It's one of the secret, or not so secret jealosies harbared by Ashkenazic Jews (those from central and eastern Europe).
The reason for the distinction is the way in which the legumes and legume-like products from which Ashkenazim abstain, can be milled into flour. Because part of the passover experience is not only about what we do and don't eat, but about the conciousness we bring to it, Eropean rabbis said no to such products. In this case, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, even though it's not a duck, we still treat it like one.
The other possible reason for this practice is that,
in Europe at least, beans, peas, rice and corn were often stored along with grain. Because on passover, even the tiniest amount of leavened grain is prohibited, the rabbis declared all legumes a no-no.
Whatever the reason, it makes articles like this one about the best places to eat Hummus (which my Sephardic brothers and sisters can also enjoy on passover) in New York, especially tempting. Well, not so tempting that I will change my practice, but worthy of mention. While not all the places are kosher, I can personally vouch for the ones that are, and rely on friends as committed to hummus as I am, to reccomend the others.
Enjoy!

A Yankee in the Queen's Court

Shalom:
Like many, I have been following the news about Mr.Obama's first trip to England.
Yes, the British for the most part love him.
Even the Royals.
Since this was not an 'Offical Visit' to see the Queen, she did not have to recieve the Obamas. But Her Majesty broke with tradition and recieved the President and the First Lady.
Clearly, Her Majesty was interested in meeting this young man.
And of course, there were those who watched, hoping to catch Mr. or Mrs, Obama in a slip up. Like they would have remained cool, calm and collected in the Royal Presence.
As the First Lady it was right and proper for Mrs. Obama not to curtsy to the Queen as you or I might have, since her husband is head of state. Though I did see Mr.Obama bow his head in respect.
Nicely done.
Yes, is wasn't proper for Mrs. Obama to touch The Queen. But those who flew into an uproar fail to notice if the Quessn wasn't fond of Mrs Obama, she woulld have not only returned the gesture by wrapping her arm around Mrs. Obama, but Mrs. Obama herself would have recieved the icey stare her Majesty is noticed for.
The iPod: another matter since Prince Andrew had already given her one. But hey, as any good Grannie, the Queen may have passed it onto a grandchild.
No, I have not convented and become an Obama supporter.
I just think the "she touched the Queen" was blown up by folks, who were really jealous because they weren't invite to take tea with the Queen.

The Next Blog: are we there yet?

I confess: one of the times I enjoy doing (when I have the time) is follow that littl line on above the blog and on the left that says, "The Next Blog." I have found some of the most forgettable and interesting blogs that way.
One is http://rwetheryet.blogspot.com/ by one of my former Pastors and and still friend. It is funny and insightful. More political than I, Richard has a style of his own that while one may not agree with him, he isn't a boring read.

When They Came For Me

Boka Tov;

The people who gave us the Reformation, Max Ernst, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Strauss, Kant and Nietzsche gave us ha'shoah or the Holocaust.
Martin Niemoller was a German pastor and theologian who actually believed in the promises that Hitler made to the German people. When he became disillusioned with the Nazis and what they were doing he wrote:
"When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
Then they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.
Then they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak out; I was not a Jew .When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.
"There is room on the American stage for all voices.
Even the ones we disagree with.

Is That Coffee I Smell?

Boka Tov:
I am starting to get use to this early morning thing.
Yuck!
But I spending time with Mark before he leaves for work, so it's cool.
And he still makes the coffee.
Even better.
It looks like another sweat-shirt day as i prepare for PT. I am down to two days a week. The last time, I took the long way home. It was so beautiful: the sun was out, the birds were singing and the scent of flesh cut grass filled the air.
Now it is cold and grey outside.
I have stopped looking for Spring and now long for Summer.
Tonight is a stew night, getting the fridge cleaned out for Shabbat and Passover.
Shabbat. 24 hours of no news, no drama over ipods or bailouts.
Just peace.
Ahhhhhh

OK, Where's The Sun?

Boka Tov:
Ok, I am starting to take this personal.
Is it something I have done that has caused the sun to stay in hiding?
After two beauiful Spring days, high in the 60's, the sun has gone back into hiding, taking with it the warmth and the singing of the birds.
I miss hearing the birds singing outside my window this morning.
Atleast the heat is on.
But it shouldn't be.
It's Spring!