Ellen

My favorite talk show host of all time is Ellen Degeneres. Not only is she funny but she includes the audiences and member's at home as well. The prizes she gives away are awesome and she infiltrates charities to give on her show as well. Every morning while getting ready for work I play through my DVR from the day before. It starts my day in a great mood because after all laughter is the best medicine. I hope to one day go out to California and get tickets so I can see it live but for now I'll enjoy her on my 32"

Shavuot

The holiday of Shavuot is coming up next week. This commemorates the time the Jewish People left Egypt and were in the dessert for 40 years when Moses finally received the 10 commandments from Gd. The best experience I ever had on this holiday was in Israel. Late at night after we eat a big festive meal with family and friends we start our "walk" towards the western wall. Some people live very far so there walk takes longer but as we are walking we sees Jews coming out from little alleyways and eventually join the masses in the streets. It is the only time of year that it is understood for the Arabs to "leave us alone" and we are allowed to walk through the Arab quarter in the old city. When we finally get there, the courtyard is filled with thousands of Jews from all over, of all ages. There is barely room to move but there are hushed tones as we wait to watch the sunrise. Finally the sun starts to rise and people begin their prayers together. Their is such a holiness that is spread it is hard to describe. But one of my most memorable experiences to date.

Reality T.V. when its not scripted...

Some post back I already talked about reality T.V. a little and how most of them are scripted. But some are actually real. For example: "First 48" which is a homicide detective show that takes you through the crime and eventually a confession from the criminal. The show makes the faces of people in suspect fuzzy but the one who is guilty is fully shown. The producers have to get permission from the victims family to allow them to appear on the show but apparently the criminal has no say in the editing. It makes me wonder if it's exploiting the criminal? Although I feel pretty strongly that a person who can take a life in front of G-d basically disowns any rights they have on privacy laws.

Stabbing on my street

The other night I was lying in bed falling asleep. I get a text from my roomate who is actually at the airport waiting to board a flight to Israel. her text said " ummm did u hear what happ. on the corner of our street?" I started to wake up a little more, "Uh no I didnt", I replied. My roomate then sent me a message back basically saying our neighbor had texted her he parked down the street and their were a bunch of cop cars and yellow tape. He found out there was a stabbing about half an hour previously. I ran into the other room to tell my third roommate and we both peered through our porch window but couldn't see anything. We immediately locked the double lock. Our neighborhood is becoming more dangerous and it's causing me to want to move.

Lost

I drove to Baltimore today
not using a GPS because I always know my way.
The passenger next to me talked to no end,
15 minutes from my destination, I missed the last bend.
It lead me into unnecessary traffic,
all the while I was starting to feel sick.
I landed downtown in the city,
my passenger appeasing me with jokes somehow now didn't seem witty.
The signs and streets looked vaguely familiar,
but I couldn't quite place on the map where we were.
There were bars and drunkards walking the streets,
not necessarily the best place to meet.
Picking up my cell I called a friend for directions,
getting nervous I was in the city's bad section.
He traced me from my exact location,
and was finally able to get me to the correct destination.
The only LOST I like happens to be on T.V.
Otherwise, once in a lifetime is enough for me.

Torture device

One torture device is called "necklacing". Basically created in the 80's and 90's in South Africa as a lethal death sentence. The idea is to use a tire filled with petrol and force it around the victim's chest and arms and set it on fire. Causing a long and painful death with severe burning. This practice of lynching is also found in the Carri bean country of Haiti from 1986 to 1990. Necklacing returned to South-Africa in 2008 when people turned against immigrants from Zimbabwe. The influx of immigrants led to violence, looting and murder in some of South Africa’s poorest areas, this violence included necklace lynching.

A walk through Far Rock

The neighborhood I live in now is as different as night and day from where I grew up. I live in Far Rockaway, NY now and walking around the neighborhood I feel very enclosed. The buildings, houses and apartments are right next door to each other. Some city dwellers say that Far Rock is "out of town", but if they visited Atlanta, they would know what a real out of town neighborhood looks like. No matter how much I am getting used to it, it will never be as green and as beautiful as Atlanta, Georgia.

Walking down the narrow sidewalk I glance down at the broken pavement, the ridges move up and down, almost as if they were dancing in a pattern. There are parked cars on each side of the street since most people are without driveways here. Looking back at my three story apartment building, it’s much newer than the rest of the houses or buildings on the block, and I am thankful for that. As I walk along I notice all sorts of different people of color and cultures. Closer to my home are little Jewish children riding their tricycles up and down the sidewalk, almost knocking me over out of excitement to be out of their small family homes. But, as I walk down I see more people of ethnic decent. Hispanics and Blacks mostly. Some gathering around an ice cream truck because it’s never too cold for ice cream. I personally have grown to hate the music it makes since it’s reverberating and annoying while I try to relax in the evenings. About two blocks further, as I turn the corner, it is completely ghetto looking. There are no more Jewish kids and no more run down houses even. It all looks like government housing to me. There are metal bars on the windows and the doors of some apartments look worn and tattered. There is a gated tiny convenience store I walk into. It’s owned by Arabs. All the jokes start running through my mind now. “A Jewish girl walks into an Arab convenience store..." I giggle to myself. No worries, I know these guys since I come here in a pinch sometimes for milk or OJ. They smile at me and say, "hello, how are you", in their broken English. I smile back and slide around the clustered line forming out the door and isles, to find what I need. I leave with not yet ripe bananas and a carton of Tropicana. Walking back home I notice even though the neighborhood seems more sketchy to me, there are still people going about there business outside. Little black girls jumping rope while chanting poetic songs, a Hispanic mother dressed like she's going to a fiesta, clutching her little boy's hand so he doesn't run in the street. It gets me to thinking, that even though they don't have yards to play in and they need to watch their children more because they are without fences; they live their lives like any other person would. As I get closer to my building I see warn down houses again, some have yards and fences, others do not. There is a red bricked public school behind the houses that I notice through the driveways. We don’t have schools back in the ATL behind our houses. I close my eyes for a minute and think back to Atlanta, the green plush grass, big driveways, renovated houses, and no one parking on the street...unless you’re having a party. The sprinkler systems watering the gardens people work so hard on with beautiful colored roses and lilies and…” BEEP, BEEP, BEEP”, I am rudely interrupted by the sound of cars incessantly honking their horns at each other. I begrudgingly open my eyes. Once again, I am back in Far Rockaway.

Boredom

My eyes are tired, I'm staring at my computer at my desk, and I am bored. All my work is complete for the day and I have two more hours to go. I sign into Facebook, checking any new status's that seem interesting and commenting on them. I am bored. I sign off facebook and notice only 15 minutes have passed by. I pick up my cell to see if any new texts have come in. To my disappointment they have not. I text a friend, no answer. The phone at work rings. "Hello, Dr. Schum's office, can I help you?", I ask with a smile. Its for my co-worker. My smile fades. I look down at my nails, I really need a manicure I think to myself. I glance at the clock. Only seven more minutes have passed?! Are you bored yet reading this? Now you know how I feel ;)

http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/dress/burka.html

This article along with the short essay "Shrouded in a Contradiction," by : Gelareh Asayesh are about muslim women and their cultures. But they couldn't be more opposing views on their roles. Unlike the short essay where Asayesh describes her distaste for the very strict ways the women in Afghanistan are forced to dress, this article states its not that big of a deal. Women of this decent don't all own "Burkas." Explaning that its like stating all Mexicans have sombreros. The writers continue to go on to say that Muslim women are diverse and their problems stem from lack of freedom through religion. It has nothing to do with how they dress.

I relate more to this article than the short essay by Asayesh. I too was raised to dress a certain way due to religion and while growing up and questioning its strict ways I came to a realization as I matured. What you wear doesn't define who you are. Its done out of respect for others. While its not always easy being religious, sometimes we have to step outside ourselves to respect others. Asayesh could dress however she wanted to when she was on her own but if she was in THAT culture she should be respectful and go about her own business at a different time. She should focus on whats more important in life.

15 simple pleasures in life.

1. TCBY
2. flip flops
3. lipgloss
4. additional 25% off sale items.
5. frozen grapes
6. my 3 yr old niece calling me and saying " auntie fayga, can u come over to my house?"
7. cool sand between my toes
8. winning scratch off lottery tickets
9. pedicures
10. Febreeze
11. when someone cooks you dinner
12. when people write on your "wall"
13. getting a GOOD parking spot
14. Sushi
15. Disney World ( which is not so simple but a HUGE pleasure )

My top 12 things to do when the power's out

1. Use a flashlight and snuggle with a blanket and a funny book.
2. Get flashlights and play boardgames with friends or family.
3. Meditate.
4. Take a walk outside.
5. Use your cell to phone a friend you usually talk to on Facebook.
6. Go for a drive to see who has power and who doesn't.
7. Light a campfire in your backyard and tell ghost stories and roast marshmallows.
8. Get your old family photos out and laugh with them at how times have changed.
9. Light scented candles and take a bath.
10. Get someone to give you a massage and return the favor.
11. Sleep.
12. Use your cell and call the power co. to complain that the power is out

Natural phenomenon or sign from G-d?

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/15/icelands-volcanic-ash-halts-flights-europe-137061971/

I believe that this volcano erupting is G-d sending us a message. Since the main effect of it was people's flights being canceled I think G-d is communicating us to slow down and appreciate what we have more. Why do millions of people fly around the world every year? I think its because people feel a lack of completion. The need to conquer a new place by visiting it or to escape there life for whatever reason. We need to take this as a lesson to slow down and not feel the need to run away to feel good. Or the fact that running away from your problems will never solve anything.

Radio giveaways...

Everyday at work we leave the radio on. The patients like it and it keeps the office less stressful. All day long I hear the DJ's announce "Listen to these five songs and be the 100th caller"... or "call right now and tell us whose celebrity voice this...get it right and we''ll give you tickets to..." I pick up the phone and dial over and over again. Busy, busy , busy...then it'll finally ring and I get sent to their voicemail or worse " ehh ehh ehh...you must dial a 1 before dialing this number...blah blah blah." So annoying! But there is always a winner. How did they get through? Sometimes I think theyre not even real but then I remember going to a Britney Spears concert at madison square gardens courtesy of my friends husband calling in at the right time. So I continue to run this rat race in hopes of maybe oneday being the right caller at the right time!

Last thing I ate...

The last things I ate today were delicious but not very filling. It was green flat pieces with red and green chunks. On top I put a shredded expensive protein that some use in Japanese foods. And then a low fat creamy base to add flavor. On the side I had crudites of orange sticks and light and dark green crunchiness. For dessert there was my little wedges of plump pulp right off the rind. I had sliced it in quarters since its easier to eat and the strong smell wouldn't linger into my fingernail bedding. I polished it all off with a cold liquid of Columbian decent with frothy white waves and a glaze of dark drizzle.

World's Greatest Klutz

Lately Ive been very clumsy. I'm not sure what makes a person clumsy. Is it a physical imbalance? Or just a person not paying enough attention?
I work in a plastic surgeon's office. There are two people that work the front desk but my coworker doesnt get there until at least 11 am so more often than not it's super busy in the morning and I am the only one there. Well two days ago, I kept getting up and down because faxes were coming through and the phones were ringing and at one point I went to sit down on my chair and wouldn't you know it? The chair fell out from under me and my bum popped straight to the floor. It really hurt but because no one was there to see I just burst into laughter. The phones kept ringing and I was sitting on the floor laughing. then it occurred to me that we have a security camera and the thought of my boss watching my klutziness only made me giggle more. I finally composed myself and answered the phone. I don't always love the fact that I'm clumsy but if it can make me laugh a little throughout my day Ill take it anyhow.

Language and Power

Humans communicate through many ways but the most common is speech. There is a plethora of languages and because of this in each culture words have different meanings. For example: Ass is found in the bible to mean a donkey but nowadays people use it derogatorily regarding a person who is acting in a not nice manner.
However the power of a word can change based on context even in the same language. For example : The word "Nigger", a very strong word derogatorily referring to a black person. It has changed over time. During slavery before The Revolutionary War. Many white "owners" would refer to their slaves as their Niggers. Nowadays if a white person calls a black person this in the streets, its considered racist. But the Blacks have given Power to this word. As I have read in Gloria Naylor's essay on "What's in a name" she states, "When used with a possessive adjective by a woman- " my nigger", it became a term of endearment..." Furthermore, she goes on to explain they did this to signify it didn't matter what people called them, they would rise above it's original derogatory decent. This is one of the many intricacies between Language and Power.

Picklejuice Kid

When I was younger my family called me by many different nicknames, one of them being "picklejuice kid." I didnt particularly love the juice from pickles, although lots of kids my age did but we had this kids book my mom used to read us and the title was "Picklejuice." Not sure really how it caught on but it may have been something like this: I am a very expressive person and when I didnt like something I would scrounge up my nose and pucker my lips, like a kid who just ate something sour. When we started reading the book, my mom said I looked just like the kid in the pictures when I made my "face." So she started calling me that. It didnt last that long because my sister liked to call me by a different nickname, "Peg." Im not even sure I wanna know how that one started, but I think I like "picklejuice kid" better :)

Passover Madness

Every year without fail, the same wonderful holiday known as Passover rolls around. And every year without fail it is crazy! First we start about a month in advance cleaning our entire house. From top to bottom we go through drawers, couch crevices, and the like in search of what we call "unleavened bread."We only have "matzoh" in our house when the holiday finally arrives. This commemorates the time the Jewish people were brought out of Egypt by Moses and did not have time to let their bread rise so instead the sun baked these large crackers known as matzoh. After cleaning for about a month we start to cook, cook, cook... I never in my life cook as much as I do for Passover. Its kinda like Thanksgiving but for eight days! The family comes together and you have all these big meals where you eat and drink... its a celebration so it makes sense that we eat so much but my stomach is starting to hurt me ;)

Health Care Reform

http://www.thegrio.com/health/with-the-bombardment-of-speeches.php

What exactly is Obama thinking??? Passing these bills to change healthcare coverage is only going to cause more problems. Although at a bird's eye veiw it looks like people that have not had healthcare will now have coverage. For those of us who have been paying for it, our benefits will go down to suit everyone else's. Our taxes will be higher as well. Basically I equivalate it to communism. Everyone gets the same, we share the goods equally. But this is not fair. What about people who have worked hard to get where they are in life or what they have acquired. These things will be taken from them and given to those who dont have. Whats will Obama do next? Tell people they can only own one car or one house? What will happen at grocery stores? People will stand in line to receive 10 potatoes, 2 loaves of bread, etc per household a week? This is America people! Free of oppurtunity...the harder you work, the more stuff you should be able to aquire!

A Look Into My Future...

When I look 5 years ahead I see myself married, living in a nice, big apartment with maybe two children. I will have finished Nursing school and been at a nice start up job for maybe a yr. making at least 60K per year. My husband will also have a great job and even if he has to work overtime will still have time to take lots of family vacations to Disney World, the Bahamas, and Israel.

When I look 10 years ahead I see myself in a beautifully decorated house with my husband and children. My husband will have a 9-5 job which he'll make a nice living but will be able to be home in the evenings with the family. I hope to be a registered nurse specializing for a Dr. and working PT so I can still take care of my family. I hope to live near my family because I'd love for my kids to grow up with their cousins. I never had that and I think it's important.

Fit or Fat ?

I have been dealing with weight issues ever since I can remember. When I was about 10 my parents brought me to a hospital teen support group for heavy pre-teens, called "Shape Down." I dreaded going every week to sit with all the shlubby kids, often bigger than me, or so I thought. They would have weigh-ins and let you know if you were on the right track or you were slacking off. The directors were these peppy upbeat individuals who iritated me to my very core. "Why do you care so much about how I look?", I would cry to my parents in the back seat of their Buick. My mother would always give me the same answer, she'd look at me lovingly and say "Fayga, your beautiful and we love you just the way you are, we just want you to be healthier." I only understood and appreciated her words as I got older.
It was in my early twenties that it truly hit me. We would periodically go to Baltimore to visit my father's mother. She loved to take us shopping. So my sister whose 4 years older than me and I wanted to go to this cute boutique shop. Everything I tried on and liked either looked horrible or didnt even fit. My sister would come out of the dressing room looking adorable of course"modeling" for my family. While I was still in the dressing room wiggling out of the last size in a top I liked, I heard my Grandma's whisper." That Fayga, I'm worried about her, she's gotten so big." As we purchased the clothes for my sister I fought back tears. As soon as we dropped off my grandmother and got back to where we were staying I let it all out. Twenty something years of pent up frustration with the hurtful remarks from classmates and boys, to my Grandmother's honest but stingful words. My mother listening to me and wiping away my tears said very calmly, " So if your that upset, do something about it ." Now I'm sure she said this to me a million times growing up but it was as if I heard them for the first time. And you know what? I did do something. I hired a nutritionist and trainer and lost 40 lbs! This was about 5 years ago. I eventually stopped seeing them because I could no longer afford it and it was life consuming. But I am forever grateful of that time in my life.
Now, although I've put back on some of the weight. I have a totally different veiw on dieting. Its shouldn't be a fad or because you want to fit into a dress for an event. It's for your health. Its a way of life. Eating right and excersing regularly has more than a weighloss benefit. Its keeps you healthy physically and mentally! Even if I slack off I know I can wake up the next morning and start again. Afterall tommorow is another day.

When is "Enough" enough?

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/When-Enough-Is-Enough-Elizabeth-Lesser


This article really hit the nail on the head for me. Often I feel like I have to keep buying or keep doing or else I'm not successful. If I don't have the best phone , I feel like I'm behind the times. Or the need to shop every season instead of looking in my closet and finding cute things I own I might've forgotten about. Do these things really matter? Are they going to make me feel like a better person? Probably not. I wrote a paper for English class on the American Dream where I basically discussed a need for people to acquire things in life but at what cost. It was based on an article the teacher handed out...basically I agreed with the author stating, things are futile in life when they become obsessive. One has to weed out the cost of something internally as well as externally. I think we would all be better off living in a world where we would KNOW when enough is enough.

The College Dreams of Undocumented Students

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/22/undocumented.students/

I dont agree that the government should give financial aid to these undocumented students. They are being rewarded for illegal behavior? That will definitely lead to more chaos of all people outside the U.S. thinking they can do the same. I , as an American have to go through the system of giving the right documents to obtain financial aid or get a passport to leave the country, why should they get special treatment? I too have been in a school abroad, there's a lot of crap I had to go through to live there, because the government required it of me. I know that everyone wants the American Dream, and foreign people flee here for freedom but why does America have to be a country that always says "YES"? Can't we sometimes use the freedom to say no?

First Job Ever

When I was 13 years old I had my first job. I was a junior camp counselor for preschool age children. I think I made $6-7 an hour. The children were adorable. There were some that you had to sit with for an hour every morning because they cried their little hearts out when they're parents dropped them off. It was pitiful. I didn't know how to convince them they weren't be abandoned, only dropped off to play with us for a couple hours, so Mommy and Daddy could work. There were others though who loved joining us every morning, with big grins on their faces they greeted their little friends and danced and played so well with each other. The only bad part was the cleaning up after them. Its gross and annoying. Its gross because they'd call out to you from the bathroom needed you to help them. Its annoying because no matter how much you teach them, they make a mess regardless. Mostly though I felt it was rewarding. To this day I see children in my community that were my campers and no matter how old they are, I giggle to myself because I can still hear them say, " Teacher, I need to be wiped."

What was I thinking?

I went to bed last night at 1 only to wake up at 7, what was I thinking?
I had a cavity that needed to be filled a year ago and waited until now to fill it, what was I thinking?
I chose to work full time and be in school every night, what was I thinking?
I bought a dress because it was 75% off but I have yet to wear it, what was I thinking?
I made a phone call in my car the other day while driving and got a ticket, what was I thinking?
I threw away a receipt to clothes I meant to return to the store the next day, what was I thinking?
I decided to visit friends one weekend 3 hours away when I had a final to study for, what was I thinking?
I bought a one way airline ticket and forgot to buy the return trip, what was I thinking?
I got a 95 on my first Bio test and a 65 on my second, what was I thinking?
Apparently I wasn't.

( most of these are true but some are not, can you find the ones I lied about? ) :)

Oprah to end daytime talk show Sept. 2011!

On Nov 20th, 2009, Oprah Winfrey, one of America's most beloved talk show hosts announced her show will come to an end. Most viewers had heard a couple days before this would be happening but didnt believe until Oprah confirmed on air.
Oprah told us,"I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye," she said, holding back tears. "Twenty-five years feels right in my bones, and it feels right in my spirit. It's the perfect number, the exact right time."It will be at the end of its 25th season, a remarkable run.
This show has brought Ms. Winfrey a fortune estimating at 2.7 billion. But more importantly to her is the impact she's made on so many, especially her imprint on children.
Even though networks were not sure why there's been a dip in ratings, one thing is, her face will surely be missed!

"Late Blooming"

It's a new epidemic for Americans to go back to school and either finish a college degree or start a whole new career. I don't know if its due to the economy or late bloomers who never completed college. I myself am 28 years old and have just started taking my pre reqs for a RN associates degree. After high school I was sick of school and just wanted to make money already. I decided to attend beauty school which was a 4 month program, got my license in 2 months after that and started working right away. That was in 2001. Now in 2010, people are lucky to just keep a job and not get laid off. So many people are going back to school. Many Americans are trying a Nursing degree because it's a good stable job that is always needed. Additionally, in about 10 years from now there will be a turnover of Nurses that retire, from baby-boomers. Therefore , there will be even more Nursing positions to be filled. At this age I can honestly say I enjoy school more because I'm older and more mature. It was a decision I made. Although I look forward to finishing soon so I can grab a good nursing job before they're all taken ;)

Why there aren't more novels like "Twilight" and "Harry Potter?"

My mom is an English teacher. She taught English to elementary ages for over 30 years. My mom has written two children stories over 10 years ago and even though writes articles for newspaper/magazines, hasn't written any books since. I told her she needs to think more outside the box and write a novel like "Harry Potter" or "Twilight." Those kind of storys reach millions and became popular over night. Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight", although fun, and a quick read to me was not as popular or original as J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter." This women was literally broke and would soothe her children at night with bedtime stories of Harry and his friends at Hogwarts. I'm shocked that more authors in the the writing business don't think of these eccentric stories. Because I feel the best way to become as popular as these did was to come up with something so imaginative, that when people read it it's like a new idea.

I beleive...

This I believe, that all men were not created equal.
This I believe, that babies choose their parents.
This I believe, I believe I wake up every morning because G-d allows me to.
This I believe, my roommates don't take out the garbage because I have spoiled them.
This I believe, that Santa Claus's "look" was created by Coca Cola Co. and is just a publicity stunt.
This I believe, I believe there is an afterlife, I'm just not sure WHAT it is.
This I believe, that I can get all A's in my college classes.
This I believe, that men, no matter how hard they try, will never be a "mommy."
This I believe, I believe that the presidential voting system is rigged.
This I believe, that ultimately Israel is my HOME, and I'm living in America because it's easier.
This I believe, that my nieces and nephews are smarter than me.
This I believe, I believe in my mother.
This I believe, that when bad things happen to me, its because I'm being punished or challenged, but not always sure how to differentiate.
This I believe, that drinking calories is a waste of calories.
This I believe, I believe I did not attend college until now because I wasn't ready.
This I believe, that a person can have more than one soul mate at different times in their life.
This I believe, that true love at first sight does NOT exist.
This I believe, I believe in Karma.
This I believe, that many beliefs are a product of one's environment.
This I believe, that I say "yes" too much.
This I believe, I believe I will make a great wife and mother.
This I believe, that the weather worsens each year as the ozone layer deteriorates.
This I believe, that everyone needs a "lunchbreak."
This I believe, I believe there is not enough time in the day.
This I believe, that I will never be a size 0.
This I believe, that my family doesn't call me enough.
This I believe, I believe that when I've met the RIGHT one, I will know it!
This I believe, that Harry Potter was the smartest storyline anyone could've imagined.
This I believe, that TV/movies help to relax my brain at night.
This I believe, I believe that moving from Atlanta to NY has been the hardest move I've ever done.

Female Orthodox Rabbi???

http://www.heebmagazine.com/blog/view/2824

I strongly disagree that there should be female orthodox Rabbi's in the Jewish communities. Growing up Orthodox myself, its been taught to me that the definition of a Rabbi is someone who is in a position to answer questions regarding Jewish law and is an authoritative figure. How can a women have the knowledge to learn and understand the intricate laws given to us. By nature men and women think differently. For example, is a women supposed to answer as objectively as a Rabbi would on questions regarding everyday life? Women are more emotional, she might get too involved and base her answer on that emotion. Would that then be the best advice for her disciple?
Furthermore, a women who is in this position probably has a family. How will she choose an emergency needed by her community over taking care of her family? Should her husband play the role of the mom? Maybe, but I feel its unnatural. Additionally, whats so wrong about the wife of a Rabbi's role? She has a big part in her community,its just more hidden. I would even go as far to say it's bigger than the Rabbis , she has to be his backbone and make sure all the decisions he executes run smoothly. All in all I feel this is a very bad idea and will destroy the Orthodox World if it's allowed in.

Dumpster Diving

Our "all in one printer" broke at work one Wednesday morning. This machine is like our control center and you can pretty much assume, if its not in working condition, the office does NOT run smoothly. We had to quickly buy a new one and because of this all the unused ink cartridges had to be exchanged to accommodate the new one. I gathered all of them into a plastic "Stop N'Shop" bag and placed them under my desk to remind myself to bring them to Staples in the morning for the exchange. Unfortunately, I had to run out so quickly that day and left them there. I wasn't too worried though because I thought I'll just do it the following day.
So the next morning, I sit down at my desk. I reach my hand under to grab the bag so I can put it in a better place to remind myself not to leave it again. Alas, its not there! I scanned my eyes across the office area in hopes someone moved it and I may spot it elsewhere. I realized within about 3 minutes, the cleaning crew had come the night before. There is also a garbage can under my desk. Gosh Darn it! I must've placed the bag of ink next to the garbage bag and the cleaning guys mistook it for waste. We have a big green dumpster at the side of the parking lot downstairs. I knew what I had to do. By far the craziest thing I've ever done for a job. I begrudgingly grabbed two latex gloves, all the while grumbling to myself, and went downstairs on a mission. I half climbed into the dumpster and opened the enormous bags of garbage that were in there to find my "treasure." it took me about 10 minutes but I finally found it. I only truly felt it was a real treasure after looking down at the return receipt. $140. Well worth it, wouldn't you say?

Babies and Manicures

I'm sitting at work today and my cellphone goes off in the ringtone notifying me its my mom. I get this pit in my stomach because she barely calls me at work, its usually vice versa. "Hello?", I say nervously. " Fayga, your sister is in labor and she's early, will you pray for her?" Now most people hearing this would be nervous but this is my sister's 7th baby and she's ALWAYS 2-4 weeks early! As I tell my mom to relax and convince her everything will be find, I still end up saying some psalms because, well, that's just how I was raised.
I got off the phone and noticed it was lunchbreak. I really wanted to get a manicure, I have a date tomorrow and between work and school, I wont have time.
So there I am sitting at the nail spa having my nails filed and buffed and I start thinking about how my sister is right now, at this very moment maybe, pushing out her baby.
I couldn't believe how relaxed I felt to get my nails done during my lunchbreak when my sister is laboring a child into the world. I doubt my sister ever has time to get her nails done and at this moment even though I look forward to having a baby, I'm really grateful I still have time for manicures.

Reality T.V.

There is a phenomenon that has expanded across the world in the milenium and that is Reality Television. These are shows about anything and everything you could think of.
Firstly, there is watching how a family or friends interact with each other week after week, including shows such as The Newlyweds, The Hills, and Keeping up with the Kardashians. From their fighting, crying, and caddy ways to the emotional outpours of love; its so hard not to get sucked into their life. You almost feel like you're living with them!
Secondly, there are the sport shows that have people competing against each other in natural environments for a prize. To name a few: Survivor, The Amazing race, and Wipe Out. Its almost unbelievable to see the extreme measures people take putting their lives at risk to win a large sum of money.
Thirdly, we have talent shows. Of my favorites there is American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Who doesn't enjoy hearing a soulful voice or watching graceful dancing slide across your T.V. screen? I mean seriously.

Breathe

6:30 am, alarm goes off. BEEP BEEP BEEP..."ssshhhhhhhh", I moan at it. As if this will majically make it stop. I'm too tired this morning. Wait...haven't I said this every morning this week? I roll out of bed hazily as I grunt to myself for staying up too late watching Grey's Anatomy. I mean I have DVR for a reason!
7:45 am, chopping up veggies for lunch and packing other foods for dinner at school. Squeezing out the mayo for tuna salad I realize its almost empty, I text my roommate its her turn to buy as I put the container in the correct bin for recycling to avoid a misdemeanor.
8:30-8:45 am ( depending on the day), with my arms filled with my lunch bag, purse, bookbag, and garbage bag from the past few days, I finally head out the door. My back is killing me, I think as my textbooks are weighing me down. I wonder whats doing with my Insurance? I meant to call the chiropractor to see if they'll cover more treatments...I better do that during my lunch break. Breathe.
9:00 am, so starts my workday. With my steaming cup of coffee in hand I sit down at my desk and read over all the notes of things that need to be done today. Call Insurance companies, they didn't pay correctly for this claim...John Smith wants to know if he can come in earlier for his followup, find out what time the Dr. will be back in from surgery and if it's earlier call him and give the ok...fax a copy of all medical notes regarding Jane Sawyer to the lawyer, she's suing her job because worker's comp failed to pay her bill...check phone messages/emails...confirm appointments/pull charts...where the heck is Jane Sawyer's chart? I know I saw it yesterday during billing? Breathe.
3:00 pm, rush out the door from work. Shoot, I left my cell phone on my desk. As I run back to get it I wonder if there will be traffic on the Cross Island today. I can't be late for my first Anatomy and Physiology exam, what will my professor think? I think he has it out for me anyway so whats the difference? Breathe.
4:00 pm, YAY! I made it! Take that New York drivers ;)
6:15 pm, trudging up the stairs to my English class, why did they put me on the 4th floor???
Breathe. Oh wait, I cant!
8:00 pm, class is finito! Time to go home...where did I park? Oh yeah, all the way down the street because they're doing construction to make it look prettier here. I have a construction idea...build more parking!
9:00 pm, "Honey I'm home", I call to my roommates playfully. I dump my bags on the couch, throw my coat over the chair and remove my wet snow covered boots. I walk into my room and grin at the site of my penguin pajama pants, sticking out from under my rumbled comforter. I'll change in a minute, I think to myself as I fall onto my big bed. For now I just breathe.

Eggs falling from the heavens?

It was a blistering day in "Hotlanta", and I was walking on the sidewalk as I did every weekend. Unlike most Saturdays, where I strolled back with friends from Synagogue, chatting about the newly engaged couples or new babies that were there, I found myself alone.
Sometimes I enjoyed walking by myself. I had a chance to decompress after the social craziness that happens after services end. Lost in my thoughts somewhere between wondering if I had sweat stains running down the back of my dress and whether or not I'm really interested in eating a large meal now, I felt something quite hard hit my back. " Ouch", I yelped! I peer around to look for an object that seemed to have fallen from the sky...or maybe a fruit from a tree? Quickly , sticking out of the plush green grass, I noticed a white ball. What the heck is that? I thought, as I picked it up. Almost simultaneously, I heard people yelling out at me and laughter from a car nearby. As I realize this white round ball is an egg I also realize what the words they are yelling out the window to me "you ___ Jew." I am dumbfounded. The car drives off to the sound of laughter that eventually dies. I peer to see if anyone else had seen this... but once again I am alone.
I stared down at the egg in the palm of my hand. Not really sure what to do, I just kept walking. I was trying not to focus on the pain emanating from my back. but apparently an egg being thrown from a car window hurts like heck!
A part of me wanted to cry and the other part wanted to laugh. Seriously, what idiots! I never experienced bigotry growing up in this decade, where everything is politically correct. But it got me to thinking.
On the rest of my walk home, I wasnt only hurting on the outside. I started to think of all the Jews during the time of persecution in the Holocaust and the Blacks in the time of the Civil War. How their pride must have been taken from them time and time again by acts of social injustices. It made me pain for all of them.
By the time I got home, I told my family a very detailed story of getting egged and by the end asking " and did you know getting egged really hurts!" They had all gotten very quiet from my story, but then everyone burst into laughter. I guess sometimes the best thing to do is laugh, hold your head up high, and move on. I changed and ate a very large , deliciously filling lunch :)

Ode to the ATL !

Atlanta, Georgia...home of the Braves, Coca Cola, and Turner Broadcasting. I'm proud to be a native Atlantan. Even though I made the move to the big apple two years ago, I miss my hometown and all its "splendor."
Whether doing something trivial like taking a walk in Piedmont Park or feeling the need to be more social and go shopping at Lenox Mall. There's always something to do. Although my favorite pastime might very well be grocery shopping in Kroger at midnight, running into friends from the community.
I've come across all sorts of people growing up. From the red necks hangin' out at Stone Mountain... the wealthy "buckheaders" grabbing a bite to eat at Atlanta's finest dining... or the hobos who beg you for a buck in little five points.
Atlanta is also known to be the birthing place of many celebrities such as Ryan Seacrest, Kanye West, and even many American Idols contestants.
The street names are the best! I've gotten lost so many times because everything is pretty much named after the Georgia "peach." There's a story that's been going around for years about 4 streets parallel to each other in my neighborhood, Toco Hills. The names are : Merry, Christmas, Jody, Bramble...apparently the guy who paved them was trying to get a message out to his girl :)

Even though I'm starting to get used to New York now and take comfort in the sounds and smells that first turned me off, I'll always have a special place in my heart for where I grew up, the ATL!

The Dating Game...

Kudos to all ya'll out there who have mastered the art of finding a mate because I'm in awe. To all the single ladies, Im right there with you.
I just got back last night from yet another unsuccessful attempt. Honestly, the whole thing is very draining. Im an orthodox jew and for those of you who don't know the process of our how we date, let me explain.
Basically, from the time we're a teenager we are told to dress smart, watch what we say, and pretty much watch what we eat. " You need a good match, and boys like girls who..."says our mothers. So begins the pressure.
A couple years out of high school, depending on the girl, we start what's called "being in the scene." This is strictly for marriage purposes.
Matchmakers or friends contact us or our mothers to "read" the boys and convince us why they think this is our husband. Once we say yes, we might talk on the phone a couple times and then set up the first date.
Sometimes first dates go well and other times they are disastrous. I eventually call these outright hilarious since all there is to do is laugh at some point :)
The awkwardness is what gets me the most. What a more uncomfortable way to meet a guy you barely know. Spending usually 2-4 hours with him while deciding at the end if you could possibly see him standing next to you while delivering his babies...yikes!
So here I am 2 years shy from my 30's and wondering is there a purpose to all this? I don't need a hundred cute, fun, charismatic, "perfect" guys to sweep me off my feet. I just need the one who'll fit perfect for me. Just one. Are you out there??? I look forward to that day when I meet him and, with a big grin across my face, say " Honey, it was well worth the wait!"

I Remember...

I remember frizzy Afro hair...
I remember "skip its" and pogo balls...
I remember having my tonsils taken out when I was 7 and waking up to a Minnie Mouse puppet waving hello in my face....
I remember sharing a room with my sister and always "sshhhhh" her because I couldn't fall asleep...
I remember Mrs. Kaufman, my 5th grade English teacher, who would reward us with toys from "happy meals"...
I remember watching "Raid of the Antebi"in 3rd grade and being terrified for days!
I remember the feeling each time I hugged my parents goodbye to go back to school out of town...
I remember "say say, my playmate" and "have a coke and a smile"...
I remember the dentist always telling me to floss and me coming back with cavities :(
I remember getting my braces off...
I remember Thanksgiving with the Fishers...
I remember Aunt Sara...
I remember A/S/L ...
I remember Braves Games...
I remember falling down my friends stairs that led to her backyard and getting a huge gash in my shin that eventually led to a big ol' scar :(
I remember "Faces By Faye"...
I remember watching my father take his last breath and crying out to the Dr. to check his pulse again, just to be sure...
I remember being in denial...
I remember being angry at G-d...
I remember acceptance...
I remember you.