Will the torture never end?! The food is never enough. I managed to make that ball disappear for almost two days, but the finally found it. Then, on Sunday Jennifer brought home a cat torture device. I don't know what it is yet, but it's red and strappy. Jennifer put it over my head and around my neck, then buckled something across my chest. It's wasn't uncomfortable, but I could tell it was not something a cat should even wear. They took it off after a minute, but it's still in the kitchen. I fear it's something I will have to endure in my stoic silence.
Pray for me.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Rob Ford and Jesus
Some Saturday nights when we're back in standard time, we tend to have impromptu gatherings at our home or the home of others. Sometimes there's actual communication. Sometimes we or others simply show up. Last Saturday night was one such evening. Like our ridiculous dinner table conversation, the conversation among the adults tends to wander, although there's usually some discussion on topics of substance. Of course this week Rob Ford was a topic. It seems the whole world is following the amazing and unbelievable Rob Ford saga. His ability to remain in office is epic. I finally discovered why. Rob Ford is emulating Jesus.
Important point of information- this is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Jesus nor his followers. Hear me out.
Conversation on Saturday had fully covered, or so we thought, the Rob Ford scandal. Eventually talk turned to the Pope (completely unconnected). Everyone around the table was a big fan. We are impressed with his piety, his humbleness, and his desire to open the church to all who come to seek God. I pointed out that Jesus went to the sinners. He didn't expect only those of perfect faith to come to him. (As Jews we tend to steer clear of anything Christian, probably due to a difficult history at times. However, a lot of what Jesus said bears repeating.) I pointed out that Jesus sat with thieves and prostitutes. He didn't say only come to me when you've cleaned up your act. Then it hit me- Rob Ford! He's emulating Jesus. With all that's happening his approval rating is holding steady. His constituents seems to love him no matter what. He will talk to anyone (expect the press). He's certainly not a high and mighty politician locked away from the "lowly" citizenship. So here it is- Rob Ford is emulating Jesus. He may even have miracles to his name if you include managing to stay in office this long and not being indicted. Now if he can get reelected he may even qualify for sainthood. I think his riding would support him.
Important point of information- this is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Jesus nor his followers. Hear me out.
Conversation on Saturday had fully covered, or so we thought, the Rob Ford scandal. Eventually talk turned to the Pope (completely unconnected). Everyone around the table was a big fan. We are impressed with his piety, his humbleness, and his desire to open the church to all who come to seek God. I pointed out that Jesus went to the sinners. He didn't expect only those of perfect faith to come to him. (As Jews we tend to steer clear of anything Christian, probably due to a difficult history at times. However, a lot of what Jesus said bears repeating.) I pointed out that Jesus sat with thieves and prostitutes. He didn't say only come to me when you've cleaned up your act. Then it hit me- Rob Ford! He's emulating Jesus. With all that's happening his approval rating is holding steady. His constituents seems to love him no matter what. He will talk to anyone (expect the press). He's certainly not a high and mighty politician locked away from the "lowly" citizenship. So here it is- Rob Ford is emulating Jesus. He may even have miracles to his name if you include managing to stay in office this long and not being indicted. Now if he can get reelected he may even qualify for sainthood. I think his riding would support him.
Blogging and Life
Blogging is a funny thing. To have an interesting blog, you should have an interesting life, or be very creative about mediocrity. Unfortunately, when life gets interesting it also get busy. This means I have less and less time to blog. While I am getting this down, we are listening to "May the Circle be Unbroken" sung by the Grand Ole Opry, followed by "Wading in the Water" sung by the South Canton Baptist Church, although Sean has begun to sing new words about the cat and Gavi and pasta which was dropped on the floor. I should mention that the family is eating dinner behind me.
I have always wanted to write a book called "At the Rabbis' Table." Tonight at dinner conversation has wandered from the Fudgery and their singing fudge makers to "May the Circle be Unbroken" and the Grand Ole Opry to Baptist services to doing the Kedusha to "Wading in the Water" to Kol Nidre to everyone's favourite comic character to Opus the penguin to whether he is dead (He's not. He's just sleeping according to creator Berke Breathed) to Sean making up new words to "May the Turtle Be Unbroken" (Google it. When I once played it for my brother he said, "That's 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back." But the family loves it.) Dinner is always interesting.
Anyway, I have lots to blog about, and maybe I'll soon find some time.
Thanks for reading.
May the circle be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by....
I have always wanted to write a book called "At the Rabbis' Table." Tonight at dinner conversation has wandered from the Fudgery and their singing fudge makers to "May the Circle be Unbroken" and the Grand Ole Opry to Baptist services to doing the Kedusha to "Wading in the Water" to Kol Nidre to everyone's favourite comic character to Opus the penguin to whether he is dead (He's not. He's just sleeping according to creator Berke Breathed) to Sean making up new words to "May the Turtle Be Unbroken" (Google it. When I once played it for my brother he said, "That's 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back." But the family loves it.) Dinner is always interesting.
Anyway, I have lots to blog about, and maybe I'll soon find some time.
Thanks for reading.
May the circle be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by....
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Comedy in the Second Person
There's a famous saying, "Tragedy is in the first person. Comedy is in the second person." That is to say that when something happens to me it is a tragedy, but when something happens to you it is comedy. A friend of mine (with a degree in theatre) used to say "Anything truly tragic can also be truly funny."
Nothing truly tragic happened this week. We're all fine. Okay, I strained my back Shabbat morning, and it still hurts, but this is minor and will soon pass. Meanwhile, I'm going to work. I picked up the kids and took them to karate yesterday, and am presiding over the monthly RA meeting today. Although sore, my life isn't really changed. There are the normal ups and downs, a temper tantrum here and there, nonsense picking on each other (Have I mentioned we're solidly in the teen years?), and probably less than the normal family drama we should.
Still, some weeks are tough. Last Thursday (or was it Wednesday? It's become a blur) our microwave decided not to work. We purchase this microwave in June, so it came as quite a surprise. Of course the labor warranty expired just a week or so prior, plus we'd have to pay shipping and insurance if we want it fixed. That's almost 1/2 the cost of the microwave new before we add in the labor. It's simply crazy. So for now we are simply living without. Sean complains daily. On Friday the oven broke mid-challah. The oven is decades old. It has given its all for God and family. On Tuesday the oven was fixed. A wire burnt out. A new oven would cost about $1000. The fix- less than $200. Given the age of the oven, we wanted to know if it was worth fixing. The repairman said definitely. These old appliances were made to last, and this oven could give us another decade.
As if that series of breakdowns (add in my back on Shabbat morning) wasn't comedic enough, Tuesday evening the spring that holds the dishwasher door broke. SERIOUSLY?! Luckily we can fix this ourselves. I just started laughing. There is no other possible reaction.
The fridge, washer, dryer, furnace, and hot water heater are all new within the last 4 years, and we just had a new roof put on. Last winter it was raining in the coat closet. Hopefully this is it for a while.
Smiles and laughter to all.
Nothing truly tragic happened this week. We're all fine. Okay, I strained my back Shabbat morning, and it still hurts, but this is minor and will soon pass. Meanwhile, I'm going to work. I picked up the kids and took them to karate yesterday, and am presiding over the monthly RA meeting today. Although sore, my life isn't really changed. There are the normal ups and downs, a temper tantrum here and there, nonsense picking on each other (Have I mentioned we're solidly in the teen years?), and probably less than the normal family drama we should.
Still, some weeks are tough. Last Thursday (or was it Wednesday? It's become a blur) our microwave decided not to work. We purchase this microwave in June, so it came as quite a surprise. Of course the labor warranty expired just a week or so prior, plus we'd have to pay shipping and insurance if we want it fixed. That's almost 1/2 the cost of the microwave new before we add in the labor. It's simply crazy. So for now we are simply living without. Sean complains daily. On Friday the oven broke mid-challah. The oven is decades old. It has given its all for God and family. On Tuesday the oven was fixed. A wire burnt out. A new oven would cost about $1000. The fix- less than $200. Given the age of the oven, we wanted to know if it was worth fixing. The repairman said definitely. These old appliances were made to last, and this oven could give us another decade.
As if that series of breakdowns (add in my back on Shabbat morning) wasn't comedic enough, Tuesday evening the spring that holds the dishwasher door broke. SERIOUSLY?! Luckily we can fix this ourselves. I just started laughing. There is no other possible reaction.
The fridge, washer, dryer, furnace, and hot water heater are all new within the last 4 years, and we just had a new roof put on. Last winter it was raining in the coat closet. Hopefully this is it for a while.
Smiles and laughter to all.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
"I Hate Comedy."
I have 3 teenagers. Okay, Keren's a tween, but she might as well be a teen. This means 3 moody, annoying people who either never speak to us or speak at us nonstop. In Jesse and Keren, who have always had their moods, it's just more intense, but in Gavriel, who has always been the happy child, this up and down moodiness is making me crazy.
Today was the ECRUSY opening program. ECRUSY stands for Eastern Canadian Region of United Synagogue Youth. It has 2 groups- Kadima for grades 5-8, and USY for grades 8-12. The 8th graders switch hit. My kids all love Kadima/USY, and always want to attend programming. However, when we told the kids to get ready for the program, an "Epic Pool Battle," Gavi decided to take a stand.
"What? I didn't know about that." although I am sure I asked him before I registered him. He then spent 25 minutes moping about going to a program he was sure to enjoy with people he likes and pizza. What could be bad? Jesse, who was there already, said Gavi looked pretty miserable when he arrived.
Nevertheless, when Sean and I arrived home after the kids, Jesse and Gavi talked at us for 45 minutes about how cool the evening was and the funny things that happened and the great plans for the year and and and and and... You get the picture. Finally we abandoned them in the kitchen to go to bed. Actually, with the abandonment Gavi headed to bed too. He didn't want to talk at Jesse. Being there, Jesse already knew.
A couple of years ago we took the kids to see "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience." It's an amazing rendition of the 7 Harry Potter books, including a live quidditch match on stage in just 70 minutes. If you ever have the opportunity, even if you have never heard of or (amazingly) hate Harry Potter, go see it! It's playing in Nashville next week. Anyway, Gavi decided he didn't want to go. He couldn't argue that he hated Harry Potter, so he finally said, lips pursed, arms crossed, foot stomping down, "I hate comedy!" After we stopped laughing, we made him go anyway. Gavi actually fell out of his seat he was laughing so hard. The kids still quote lines from the evening. Hating Comedy has become the name for anything the kids just don't want to do for no good reason. During Sukkot Keren just didn't want to go to a friend's house- "Oh so you hate comedy" is our comment. (She had a great time.) You don't want to go to the great pool for the fun event with your friends- "So I guess you hate comedy too." Usually it elicits a laugh. Tonight Gavi was determined to mope. He made it almost to the pool door.
Today was the ECRUSY opening program. ECRUSY stands for Eastern Canadian Region of United Synagogue Youth. It has 2 groups- Kadima for grades 5-8, and USY for grades 8-12. The 8th graders switch hit. My kids all love Kadima/USY, and always want to attend programming. However, when we told the kids to get ready for the program, an "Epic Pool Battle," Gavi decided to take a stand.
"What? I didn't know about that." although I am sure I asked him before I registered him. He then spent 25 minutes moping about going to a program he was sure to enjoy with people he likes and pizza. What could be bad? Jesse, who was there already, said Gavi looked pretty miserable when he arrived.
Nevertheless, when Sean and I arrived home after the kids, Jesse and Gavi talked at us for 45 minutes about how cool the evening was and the funny things that happened and the great plans for the year and and and and and... You get the picture. Finally we abandoned them in the kitchen to go to bed. Actually, with the abandonment Gavi headed to bed too. He didn't want to talk at Jesse. Being there, Jesse already knew.
A couple of years ago we took the kids to see "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience." It's an amazing rendition of the 7 Harry Potter books, including a live quidditch match on stage in just 70 minutes. If you ever have the opportunity, even if you have never heard of or (amazingly) hate Harry Potter, go see it! It's playing in Nashville next week. Anyway, Gavi decided he didn't want to go. He couldn't argue that he hated Harry Potter, so he finally said, lips pursed, arms crossed, foot stomping down, "I hate comedy!" After we stopped laughing, we made him go anyway. Gavi actually fell out of his seat he was laughing so hard. The kids still quote lines from the evening. Hating Comedy has become the name for anything the kids just don't want to do for no good reason. During Sukkot Keren just didn't want to go to a friend's house- "Oh so you hate comedy" is our comment. (She had a great time.) You don't want to go to the great pool for the fun event with your friends- "So I guess you hate comedy too." Usually it elicits a laugh. Tonight Gavi was determined to mope. He made it almost to the pool door.
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